Time flies…

Posted on May 25, 2012 by loricraig| 8 Comments

It seems like it’s been 3 months since my last post, not just 3 weeks. I’ve been spending a lot of time this month taking care of my family and my home. No apologies from me, we’re all doing well and in much better shape than we were at the beginning of the month, and I’m convinced a step backward is really what’s helped us move forward so quickly.

If you’ve been a visitor for the last few years, you know I love Taylored Expressions. Today mark’s the final set of Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenges. We’ve got 4 beauties, I hope you find a few minutes to play.

I chose TESC #159. I’ve been coloring and creating from my father-in-law’s river house this week, so my available supplies were minimal. I kind of like it that way.

As we farewell to TESC, we thought we’d at least go out with a bang!  We will draw random winners for the following challenges:
  • All of the sketch playing info is here.
  • One winner from each sketch to receive a $10 gift certificate to the TE Store
  • One lucky person that participates in ALL 4 sketches will receive a $40 gift certificate to the TE Store
As today marks the end of our beloved sketch challenges, we wanted you to still be able to come back and play with those favorites or ones you never had time to play with.  Check out a full selection of past sketches HERE.
If you need a little sketch-spiration to get you started, check out the sketch-crew:
  • Supplies:
  • Stamps: Make it Amazing stamps and dies – Taylored Expressions
  • Cardstock: Kraft, XPress It Blending Card, Simply Fabulous – Simple Stories
  • Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento
  • Accs: Copic Markers, oval die – Spellbinders, seam binding, stick pen

→ 8 Comments

Posted in Copics, Taylored Expressions

Exquisite Embellishments Blog Hop

Posted on May 4, 2012 by loricraig| 96 Comments

It’s been a little quiet here on my blog. I realize that, and trust me, I’ve missed getting inky. Several members of my family have kept me hopping the last 10 days with broken bones, doctor appointments and hospital stays. Thankfully, everyone is going to be just fine in 6-8 weeks (I’m so very grateful!), but it sure has cut into my therapy crafty sessions.

Today I’m excited to share the newest publication from Annie’s Attic, Exquisite Embellishments for Paper Crafts. I was honored to share a project in this collection put together by Keri Lee Sereika because I love the idea of creating your own handmade trinkets to cards and paper projects, and Annie’s Attic books are always so beautifully done.

Here’s a snippet of my project that’s in the book, Hey Gnomie! I love this little guy, illustrated by Tami Mayberry. Isn’t he sweet?

It wouldn’t be a Blog Hop without pretty inspiration and prizes! So, check out the other talented designers who contributed to this book (I’m blown away by this inspiration list of designers!), and try to leave a comment on each one of their blogs for your chance at three prize copies to be given away. :)

I’d love to snag a little crafty time this weekend, but to be honest, we’re in the middle of some painting and a little remodel in my office and kitchen (because we don’t know how to do anything easy or simple at the Craig house – so, sure! let’s tear up the house and run back and forth to the hospital and doctor appointments at the same time!), and the entire contents of my craft studio/office are stacked in my dining room. I’d share a picture, but the chaos really is enough to upset your stomach.  When we’re  done, I’ll do a new stamping space tour. I really can’t wait!! In the meantime, here’s hoping I’ll have a CPS sketch sample to share with you on Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed!
Happy Weekend! (and good luck on the blog hop candy!)
  • Stamps: Gnome One Like You –  Gina K Designs
  • Ink: Black Tuxedo Memento Ink (Tsukineko), Jasmine Mix’d Media Ink (Clearsnap)
  • Accessories: Markers: Copic Markers (BG15, E00, R22, R24, BG11, Y32), Buttons & cream twine, Well Worn Dienamics – MFT Stamps
  • Xpress It Double Sided Adhesive (Imagination International)

→ 96 Comments

Posted in Copics, Gina K Designs, Published Projects

Chase Your Dreams

Posted on April 22, 2012 by loricraig| 12 Comments

I’ve got a My Favorite Things treat for you today! They are sponsoring the CPS Sketch this week. That means there is a fun prize for one of this week’s sketch participants.

I paired my sketch with MFT’s Vertical Greetings and a few fun Die-namic dies. I love this sentiment…You really do have to work towards making your dreams a reality. The magic doesn’t just happen. I chase one of my dreams for 4-5 miles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings…one foot after the other.

See you tomorrow!

  • Stamps: Vertical Greetings – My Favorite Things
  • Paper: Simple Stories – Fabulous paper & Core’dinations
  • Ink: Truffle Mix’d Media Ink – Clearsnap & clear embossing powder
  • Accs: Fishtail Flag STAX, Mini Doily Circles & Butterflies Die-namics – My Favorite Things, Clear Smooch Glitz – Clearsnap & paper flowers

 

→ 12 Comments

Posted in CPS Sketches, My Favorite Things

Thank You For Being My Friend

Posted on April 13, 2012 by loricraig| 6 Comments

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #156 – That’s today! I’ll definitely be using this sketch again from time to time. LOVED it. I paired it with Rosy Posey and the coordinating dies. I hope you get a chance to play along. You can see the sketch and see the sharing and prize details here.

You can see plenty of pretty sketches by visiting:

Thanks for stopping by? Have a wonderful weekend!

 

→ 6 Comments

Posted in Taylored Expressions

Is Your Imagination ‘Out of Focus’

Posted on April 10, 2012 by loricraig| 4 Comments

CPS Sketch this week is a fun one. It was sponsored by the Sharp Crochet Hook. Even though I didn’t make this one myself, I love crocheted trims.

I love those balloons. I wanted to keep die-cutting and stamping…Maybe I’ll make 10 more of these cuties. :) I used MFT’s Up, Up and Away set and die-namics. The shading on the stamps means you don’t have to color, and makes them a perfect choice for quick & easy, clean & simple.

It’s been a rough morning, so I’m going to see if I can put my imagination in focus for an hour or two!

Happy Tuesday!

→ 4 Comments

Posted in CPS Sketches, My Favorite Things

One of a Kind

Posted on April 4, 2012 by loricraig| 18 Comments

I’m a day early with a very special birthday surprise….tomorrow is my friend Korin Sutherland’s birthday! Since tomorrow is the April release for Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps, we are surprising her with a birthday hop today. (We didn’t want to take the spotlight from the big release.) So please join us as we celebrate Korin’s birthday a little early!  You can never have too much celebration, can you?!?!

I used a digital stamp from Sweet N Sassy called, One of a Kind, for the birthday girl’s card. Super sweet little birds! I colored mine with Copic Marker and cut and matted them with die-namics.

Below is the whole birthday party train….prepare yourself for some fantastic cupcakes and ice cream from these talented ladies!!

Lori Craig <- you are here
And feel free to leave Korin some early birthday love, either on her blog, her Facebook page, or the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps Facebook page! Happy Birthday!
 

→ 18 Comments

Posted in Copics, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Palm Sunday: Glory Be!

Posted on April 1, 2012 by loricraig| 5 Comments

It’s a beautiful Palm Sunday here in Missouri, and I have a fun CPS Sketch sample to share with you. Sketch 259 looks a little intimidating, at first, but, I flipped it and it came together very quickly. I did double duty with a Creative Scrap from Crafty Secrets to go vintage for the very first Crafty Friends Challenge hosted by Beate. Prizes with either challenge, so if you get inky this week, check them out.

I started the day off here, on my porch swing with a cup of coffee. It’s supposed to be in the low 90s today. Palm Sunday is special regardless the weather, but I’ll take it today with a smile and a heart of gratitude. Thank you, Lord.

P.S. I may live in Missouri, but I’m a Kansas girl, and our Jayhawks are still in it! March Madness extends to April! NO FOOLIN’ …. ROCK CHALK!

  • Main image: Creative Scraps – Crafty Secrets dusted with Smooch Glitz from Clearsnap
  • Ink: Clearsnap
  • Paper: Simple Stories & kraft cardstock
  • Accs: bling – Want2Scrap, colored with Copic Marker (YR18)

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Copics, CPS Sketches, Crafty Secrets, Splitcoast Challenges

Today is Your Day!

Posted on March 30, 2012 by loricraig| 2 Comments

Here’s a quick card that I created for the Perfect Layers Product Focus at Splitcoaststampers.  Perfect Layers are acrylic layering guides to help you create different size matted layers for your images. The thing that I really like is that my image gets set down on the cardstock that I’m going to use as a mat and then trimmed all the way around, with a perfectly centered main image and even layered mat. (I used my old Creative Memories cutting mat and a cutting knife.) It was easy after I watched the video, and they are a real time saver because you don’t have to do math – especially for odd size mat layers.

I have a date with my husband tonight for a hospital benefit dinner and auction. We are going with friends, and I’ve been looking forward to that. I hope it’s a good hair day! :)

See you Sunday!

  • Stamps: Vintage Dreamer – Taylored Expressions
  • Cardstock: Ocean Tide & Kraft – PTI
  • Ink: Vintage Cream – PTI
  • Accs: Journaling card from KaiserCraft, seam binding (colored with E79 Copic Marker) and Prima flower

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Taylored Expressions

The Sky’s the Limit

Posted on March 25, 2012 by loricraig| 3 Comments

The CPS Sketch was fun this week. I created my card yesterday between basketball games. My daughter’s tournament is home this weekend, and that meant a 5 minute ride over to the courts vs. an hour away. I could easily jet back and forth from the house.

The {Stamps} of Life were our gracious sponsors this week, and I adore this set, Kites2Fly. I paired it with Picadilly paper from Basic Grey and some sweet little cloud dies from MFT. Ink is Mix’d Media Truffle from Clearsnap.

If you find some time to sketch along with us, make sure and enter at the CPS Blog, you could win a prize from The {Stamps} of Life.

After church, I’ll be watching a lot of basketball today. My daughter has two games and then I’ll be watching Kansas in their Elite Eight game against North Carolina! Go Jayhawks! Squeezing in dinner with a friend from out of town. It’s going to be a beautiful day! Thanks for stopping by!

→ 3 Comments

Posted in CPS Sketches

Your Friendship…

Posted on March 23, 2012 by loricraig| 5 Comments

It’s FRIDAY! I’m teaching a Standard Certification for Copic Marker today in Phoenix. I’ve been looking forward to that. I booked the trip for spring because I always get the winter blues, but we’re well into spring in Missouri that the winter blues are GONE.  Mild temps. Trees and flowers in bloom. It’s been just lovely. None-the-less, glad to be in Phoenix today!

This is my sample for Taylor’s Sketch Challenge. The sketch was drawn by the fabulous Jen Shults (another Show-Me stamper that I got to color with one night last week at Archiver’s!) I used papers and embellishments from my Taylor’s Kit of the Month. Loved the full pad of 6×6 Echo Park paper that’s been in the last two month’s kits. This month it was from the This ‘N That Graceful line. The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions stamp set, Rosy Posey. I love how everything just coordinates for easy stamping.

I’ll be flying home tonight, and I’m going to miss most of the NCAA Sweet 16 game between North Carolina State and the Kansas Jayhawks. Here’s me cheering for a Jayhawk victory!

 

 

 

 

As for sketch-spiration, make sure you check out all of the sketch samplers and their beautiful cards:

See you soon!

Supplies:

  • Stamps: Rosy Posey – Taylored Expressions
  • Cardstock: This & That Graceful – Echo Park
  • Ink: Purely Pomegranate – Stampin’ Up!
  • Accs: Brads – Graceful – Echo Park, Die-namics (Open Scallop Ovals, Stacker Ovals and Vertical Greetings) – MFT

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Taylored Expressions