Thursday, September 30, 2010

Digital Stamp Tuesday, Card Patterns

This card is for Digital Tuesday and Card Patterns challenges.

Digital Tuesday: Thank you/Give Thanks

Card Patterns sketch:
Digi Image from Clear Dollar Stamps, Harvest Bounty
Words are a stamp from Studio G. (Michaels dollar bin)
Chalk Ink Chestnut Brown
Watercolor paper, watercolor crayons, aquabrush
CM oval cutting system
Spellbinders Nesties Scalloped ovals
dp Paper Studio Hobby Lobby
CB embossing folder
Ribbon??? My drawer!!!

Thank YOU for stopping by!

CPS, Pile it On, Stamp Something, Simon Says

This card is for CPS, Pile it On, Stamp Something & Simon Says challenges.

CPS: Sketch

Pile it On: Cute & Charming (Charlie horse is always cute & charming, but rolling in these leaves, well, you can't beat that!)

Stamp Something: Fall colors (if only we had those in South Texas)

Simon Says: It's Autumn! (Praise God we had a touch of it this week!)

Details: Digi Images from Clear Dollar Stamps: Charlie Autumn (they sell this image as a stamp, too)
Watercolor paper, cardstock from Hobby Lobby, flowers & glitter dot from HL

Ink: Distress orange marmalade. I used my finger to dab it around the pumpkin (too lazy to look for my sponge)

Cuttlebug pumpkin folder

Thanks for coming by to frolic in the leaves!

Clearly Inspired, My Time to Craft, MMSC card challenges

Finally I got to sit & make some cards! Woo-hoo! This is for the Clearly Inspired Challenge, My Time to Craft, and Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge.

CIC: Owl and/or their habitat--I have no owl stamps. I know, WHOOOOOOOOOO doesn't have at least ONE owl stamp. This is a digi stamp & I think an owl is definitely living in this tree. ; )

My Time to Craft: Looks like Autumn

MMSC: Sketch Challenge
Details:
Stamps: Digis---scene image Harvest Bounty from Clear Dollar Stamps, words from Autumn Joy, Clear Dollar Stamps
Watercolor Crayons & Aquabrush
Buttons from Jesse James Dress It Up, Fall Collection
Glitter dots, Hobby Lobby

Dork details: You probably thought, "Wow, what a cool technique to have the brown shading around the tree!" Okay, maybe not. I realized when I was assembling the card I forgot to paint the leaves. So, I did that, but when I did, it picked up brown from the tree & smudged. The more I tried to make it better the worse it got. I decided to go with it & made the whole tree smudgy looking. I don't like it, but it is what it is! LOL!

Happy Fall Y'all!
DP: Paper Studio from Hobby Lobby

Monday, September 27, 2010

Microwave corn on the cob made PERFECT

If you are tired of hearing about these amazing baking bags, you REALLY need to try one & you'll see why I am so excited! Tonight's new adventure was corn on the cob. 4 ears fit in that bag! 5 might, but I only have 2 kids whose ears I could try (though I should've used dh's since his hearing could only be improved). Just kidding! 4 ears of CORN went into that bag. We shucked them, rinsed them, and tucked them into the amazing veggie microwave baking bag. Tater Sack sounds cuter, but it does SO many veggies, I'm learning, plus more. 10 minutes on high. I thought they needed a tad more, so added 2 minutes. WOW! YUMMY! Now, if I'd remembered to put my Pampered Chef corn cob nobs on BEFORE cooking it would have made life perfect.

Seriously, I hope to sell a BUNCH of these at my craft fairs, or to anyone who wants one. Cooooooool beans! Okay, beans might not be the right choice as they probably wouldn't work in the bag. Still WAY COOL! : )

Stop for thanksing by. THat's what happens when your brain & hands don't communicate.

Night!
Lori

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Happy Birthday House Mouse Challenge Card


This is Natalie's latest creation. It is for the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge. They are celebrating their 2nd birthday.

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Amazing Potato/Sweet Potato/Tortilla/Squash/Corn/Bread Bag!!!!

Did you see this picture in my list of craft fair items? I said it was a potato bag. I think I had used it once. It was amazing for a potato. Then I did a sweet potato in it. Wow. I don't even typically like sweet potatoes! Of course my daughter "doctored" them up with so much brown sugar, cinnamon & butter that I suppose that helped the taste. Still, they were so soft & fluffy.

Well, let me tell you what ELSE this little bag can do. My friend Mary thought about tortillas, so I tried both flour AND corn tortillas in mine today. I had to because my daughter wanted "Mrs. Clark's tacos" (my friend Kathy makes breakfast tacos every time Natalie spends the night there with her girls). Being the kind of mom who lets her kids have ANYTHING they want (that's sarcasm in case you didn't know--ha, ha!), I had to make them. They were SO soft and tender and these were not new tortillas.

Online I have seen some other ideas: Squash (winter squash like acorn or spaghetti), breads, and even corn on the cob! I will have to make some bigger bags to fit the corn in.

While I made my first ones in muslin, I will be making some in prints. I've seen some done in prints, so I guess it's okay to use them. I'm still going to stick to the unprinted ones just in case that color does something funky to my food! Now wondering to myself if there is any gluten in fabric dyes. Hmmmmm.

If you are interested in buying a bag or more, I will take pre-orders. This bag is about 10" wide by 11" tall. I will sell this size for $10. I will be making larger ones for $15, but have not yet determined the size. I need to buy some corn on the cob to see what size these need to be.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

2 bags & Craft Fair Preview

Opinions wanted, please!!!

I would LOVE feedback on these items. Please let me know if this is something you might be interested in at a Craft Fair or think others might be. You can comment here, send me an e-mail, or leave a reply on facebook.


Craft Fair season is upon us and my first one is in less than 2 weeks! ACK!!!! I have been furiously ATTEMPTING to get some things finished so I can have several of each type item ready to sell. I see all kinds of ideas online, at stores, in magazines, etc. I've opted to sort through those and find only the ones that seem to me useful, sell-able and easily reproducible. Oh, yes, and profitable. Of course, my primary focus is on Loribelle Bags. Because I do make custom bags, I want to have a good sampling of different styles available, and hope I can get an album of some sort put together by the 25th to show some I've made. Here are 2 I just finished (these are quick shots, so need to retake pics for Etsy):


Here are more of my "Funky Chicken" pincushions, but these are unstuffed and blind. Natalie arranged them as an "army of chickens." When I asked why they were fighting, she said, "Well, the ones with pink ribbons are fighting breast cancer. Smart kid I have!
Next, I've made some "Cone Cozies" or ice cream cone drip catchers. My kids need these! Now if I could find some Gluten free sugar cones. Guess I'll have to make my own.




I decided I'll set up one area as a "Cozy Corner" and will put can cozies there, too. I'm not loving the stitching on these, but I like the idea. Couldn't find a can, so I used a leftover cup from Taco Bell. Why hasn't someone thrown this away since Sunday? What kind of mom lets her kids leave cups around? Oh, yeah, my kind. LOL!


Another pincushion. Needs a button on the top in the middle.


My favorite. I THINK I read about these somewhere, but until Saturday I never thought much of them. On Saturday a lady at the quilt shop told me she had a friend who made "Tater Bags" for a craft fair and sold 50 of them at $15 EACH by 10 a.m. I don't think I'll get $50 made, and I'll only charge $10 I think, but HELLO! That could pay some bills! I started reading about these things & got a bit panicked. Several people mentioned theirs catching on fire, melting, etc. What I found is that you must use 100% cotton in ALL materials (fabric, batting & thread). Today I took potatoes to our homeschool co-op where we have small microwaves, not super powerful. I just washed off the potatoes, patted dry & placed in the bags. I cooked them per micro instructions (which means I hit the button marked "potatoes" in this case). This was the FLUFFIEST potato I'd ever had! This thing is great. No pricking the potato and it keeps it nice & moist b/c it's damp when you put it in the bag & the bag heats it evenly, plus makes it steam, keeping it moist. The bag will hold about 4 baking potatoes at a time. I liked it so much I stopped at a different quilt store near our co-op & bought some potato print fabric which I want to cut & applique on the bags!
I also have cut out reversible table runners (fall/Christmas) & some casserole carriers. I don't plan to try any NEW crafts but must get these sewn. I also have some cards to put together to have on hand as well. My girls need to make "Pig Wands" which sell like hot cakes.

AND I need to find the parts to my friend's "Basket tree" (she was a Longerberger consultant once upon a time) which she is letting me use for my bags to display. AFter my last craft fair last year I put the pieces somewhere. I know where the pole is but need to hunt for the rest.

Please leave thoughts & opinions! Thanks!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Natalie's House Mouse & Midnight Madness card


My daughter Natalie made this card for the House Mouse & Friends Challenge, which is "make a splash" (anything water related) and the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. She stamped the image with Stazon & watercolored with pencils & crayons. She cut the image with a Creative Memories circle cutter. She sponged around the edges with Ballet Blue. She added some bling with stick on rhinestones. She came up with the computer generated saying.

Thanks for looking!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

How Funky is your Chicken?



Remember the cheer from junior high? How funky is your chicken, how loose is your goose, come on all you Bobcats and shake your caboose. Okay, maybe better not to remember some things.

I saw some Chicken pincushions in Houston & had to make one. The pictures aren't very good, but this one is made of breast cancer awareness fabric for my friend Kathy. More of these in the works for sure!