Surprise Gift Box Card

Check out my La-La Land Crafts blog for a sneak peek of the new Halloween release and to enter into the Blog Candy!!

I couldn't decide what to do for the third card for my "Shaped Cards" class at Cranberry Hill Merantlie, so I turned to Splitcoaststampers for ideas.. I found this card by Valita, followed to her blog post for this card and then from there to the instructions on the Stampohmania website. It looked interesting and I decided to give it a try.. The template from Stampohmania was for a smaller card, and I of course just had to make a bigger one. I used their template as a reference and made one of my own.. My card measures approximately 5 1/4" X 6".

This is the third card for this class, to see the other two cards please click here and here. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 3rd, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 3rd, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 6th, 12 pm to 3 pm

Please bring pop-up dots (foam tape) and you favorite adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max.

Class Kits will be available until September 6th, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sigh up for the class and/or purchase you kit/s.

I have had hard time photographing this card.. This is the best I could do.. The lines of the card are straight in real life, I did work hard on my angles :-) It is a pretty cool card, I am very pleased how it has turned out.. When you lift the top of the box up, the tag inside pulls out!! I have not seen anything like this before!! I LIKE it!!


Designer paper is by Imagenisce, it is from their new Christmas collection, but I do love the sparkly dots and stripes and I think it worked quite well for the Birthday Card. The embellishment on the top of the box was made with Scalloped Cirlce Punches, I used two sizes.. I cut into every scallop and then folded cirlces in half. The Birthday Mice stamp is by Penny Black, it's called "Cheescake Party". The image was colored with Copic Markers and I added Stickles for the sparkle. The sentiment is by Savvy..

All of the supplies used to design this card are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. If you don't live in the area, you can call the store at 408-736-9151 to place your order.

Check out my La-La Land Crafts blog for a sneak peek of the new Halloween release and to enter into the Blog Candy!!

Hugs!!
:) Irina

Best Witches

Check out my La-La Land Crafts blog for a sneak peek of the new Halloween release and to enter into the Blog Candy!!

I feel like I am all over the place trying to catch up with all these new classes that I had put on the schedule. I was working on the Christmas cards for a few days, tomorrow will be working on a Birthday card, but today it was all about Halloween!!

This is one of the cards for my upcoming "Impression Obsession Halloween" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make three cards in this class, I am still working on the other two. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 17th, 11 to 2 pm
Thursday, September 17th, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 29th, 12 to 3 pm

Please bring pop-up dots (foam tape) and your favorite dry adhesive to the class.

All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max

Class kits will be available until September 29th, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up for the class and/or purchase your kit/s.

This card measures 6" x 6".




This is not one of your cutesy Halloween cards, this one is pretty sophisticated, hehehe. Isn't that funny how the witch is taking a bubble bath in her cauldron. And doesn't it look like she has an avocado facial mask on her face ;-). This stamp is from Impression Obsession, love it!! The image was colored with Copic Markers, then I added stickles in Orange Peel, Purple and Lime Green. Ovals were cut with Nestabilites. Designer paper is by Best Creations. Black swirls on the bottom of the card and also on the inside are the Fiskars punch. Orange Dew Drops for the bubbles and black ones in the corners and on the swirls. The sentiment inside of the card is from Whipper Snapper.

All supplies used to design this card are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. If you don't live in the area, you can call the store to place your order over the phone, 408-736-9151.

Hugs!!
:) Irina

JustRite Joy of Christmas

Still playing with my new JustRite set called "Christmas Treasures" and yet another new set of Shapeabiliteis Fleur de Lis Pendant. I was resisting so hard and did not buy any of the Shapeabiliteis until I saw this JustRite Set, I couldn't stand it any longer, they are a perfect pair!!

This is the second card for my upcoming "JustRite Christmas" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make three cards in this class, I am still working on the third card. To see the first card, please click here. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 10th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 10th, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 22nd, 12 pm to 3 pm

Please bring your Cuttlebug with shims and rubber mat for Nestabilites (if you have them), pop-up dots (foam tape) and your favorite dry adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max

Class kits will be available until September 22nd, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up for the class and/or purchase your kit/s.

This card measures 6" x 6".

Really, this card looks SO MUCH better in real life!! Believe me, it's looks so pretty in metallic navy blue cardstock and the white cardstock has pretty shimmer in it!!





I used my Scor-Pal to make the grid on the background layer. To create the snowflake medallion behind the image, I cut and embossed two squares with Shapeabiliteis Fleur de Lis Pendant, I then layered them together by offsetting one over the other. Sentiment inside of the card is from the same JustRite stamp set. Both sentiments and the image in the circle on the front of the card were heat embossed with JudiKins Embossing Powder in Lapis Lazul, it looks oh so beautiful in real life!! You might be able to see it better if you enlarge the close up photo of the medallion. Circles were cut and embossed with Nestabilites.

I wanted to show you how I made these beautiful filigree corners. I took some photos too so you can see.. First I cut and embossed squares with the smaller die from the same Shapeabiliteis set and then cut the squares diagonally in half. The last step is to clean them by trimming, see photo 2. Those swirly things on the top and the bottom of the sentiment inside of the card were done the same way, but I also cut off the sides of the triangles. I don't know if I am making much sense, it is late at night, around 2 am ;-) .



You just have to check out La-La Land Crafts Blog!! There is a Sneak Peek for you there of my new Halloween Stamps and also a Blog Candy!! And, while you are there take a look at our Challenge this week, it is Stitching!! Everyone can participate, you don't even have to use our stamps!!

Hugs!!
Irina

Hand Stitched Banjo Maya

This week's challenge at La-La Land Crafts is Stitching. Our Design Team member Lisa is hosting the challenge and here is what she had to say:

"Hello everyone! My name is Lisa Hjulberg, and it's my privilege to host the La-La Land Weekly Wednesday Challenge. The challenge this week is Stitching. Please use stitching somewhere in your card or other papercraft project. It can be machine stitching, hand stitching or faux stitching. Personally, this is one of my favorite things to do when making a card. I hope you do too... or will, once you've tried it. Remember, anyone can play!"

I really wanted to participate in this challenge, I have not done stitching on my cards ever, used to do it all the time on the scrapbook pages, but never on the cards. That's because most of the cards that I make are designed for my classes, and there is no way we can stitch the cards during the class.. So, I asked my son to pull the boxes out and find my sewing machine (we have moved about a year ago, and the sewing machine was one of the things that had never got unpacked ;-) ).. I got all excited, even cleaned out the place on my not so neat table to put the sewing machine on!! Opened the box.. machine was there, but not the peddle!!?? I was so disappointed!! I am sure I have it in some other box.. just don't which one.. So.. what was girl to do??? I was really determined to stitch my card and just couldn't settle for faux stitching.. Then I thought, if my Design Team can do it by hand, so CAN I!!! I first pierced the layers and then made every single stitch by hand with the needle and the thread, one by one..

Please visit La-La Land Crafts' blog for more details about this Challenge. Everyone can participate, you don't have to use our stamps!! You have until Sunday night to enter.

I used this week's sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers, just turned the triangle a bit to fit my card better..

This card measures 6" x 6".




I really like how this card has turned out!! Paper by BoBunny. Fiskars Border punch. Martha Steward Flower and Leaf punches. Marvy small flower punch. Memory Box pearl stickers in the centers of the flowers. Maya was colored with Copic Markers and cut out. What about the flower in Maya's "hair", I think she looks so cute!!

You can purchase this stamp at La-La Land Crafts online store, click here.

Hugs!!
:) Irina

JustRite Christmas - Peace on Earth

Have you seen this new set from JustRite, it's called "Christmas Treasures". I fell in love with it the minute I saw it, you can call it love at first sight!!

This will be one of the cards for my upcoming "JustRite Christmas" card class (I know, I am just too clever with the name of the class... not!!) at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make three cards in this class, I am still working on the other two. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 10th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 10th, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Tuesday, September 22nd, 12 pm to 3 pm

Please bring your Cuttlebug with shims and rubber mat for Nestabilites (if you have them), pop-up dots (foam tape) and your favorite dry adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max

Class kits will be available until September 22nd, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up for the class and/or purchase your kit/s.

This card measures 6" x 6".






I used metalic cardstock in Emerald from Paper Cuts with absolutely gorgeous paper from My Minds Eye. New Spellbinders Shapeabiliteis Pendant in Renaissance Hearts made a beautiful center piece for this card. I cut two of the larger shapes in this set and offset them. Corners are from the same set, I couldn't resist and added the same corners inside of the card.

The greeting and the main image were heat embossed with Superior Filigree Embossing Powder in Bavarian Bronze. Circles were cut with Nestabilites. Memory Box rhinestones in the centers of the corners and on the pendant.

All the supplies used to design this card are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. If you don't live in the area, you can call the store during business hours at 408-736-9151 to place your order.

Check out my La-La Land Crafts blog, there is a new Challenge this week!!

Hugs!!
Irina

Special Moments Tea Cup

I have mixed emotions about this card. It looks pretty and I like it.. BUT.. It does not have enough LAYERS!! It feels like I am missing something.. But the card turned out pretty. Believe me, the card was resisting so much and wouldn't let me add anything else to it.. I just had to let it be..

This is the second card for my upcoming "Shaped Cards" class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make three different cards in this class, I am still working on the third one. To see the first card please click here. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 3rd, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 3rd, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 6th, 12 pm to 3 pm

Please bring pop-up dots (foam tape) and you favorite adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max.

Class Kits will be available until September 6th, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sigh up for the class and/or purchase you kit/s.

This card measures 5 1/2" x 5 3/4".




Again, I had made the template for this card all on my own ;-) I used very pretty white cardstock from Paper Cuts, it is almost like Shimmery White from Stampin Up but a little bit heavier. You can't see on the photos but it has a very pretty shimmer to it when it heats the light. The front of the cup was embossed with the Diamonds Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. Ovals were cut with Nestabilites.

The flower and the sentiment are from the same Cling Mount stamp set by Hero Arts. I think this sentiment is just perfect for the tea cup!! Both the sentiment and the flower were heat embossed with Ranger's Embossing Pearl in Gold, this is the first time I have used this embossing powder, it matches the gold cardstock perfectly!!! I embossed the flower three times, cut out the flower to layer on the front of the card and another flower and the leafs for the inside. Image was colored with Twinkling H2Os. I also added a light wash of blue color to the cup for some dimension.

Hugs!!
:) Irina

a little birdie told me...

It's not too late to enter into La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge at La-La Land Crafts Blog, you can do it until Monday!! This week's challenge is "Flower Power".

I am back to making cards, and my head is exploding with ideas!! I have decided to write them down and try to make one at a time. I just couldn't concentrate otherwise, felt like I was all over the place :-) .

This is one of the cards for my upcoming "Shaped Cards" class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make three different cards in this class, I will make two other ones within a few days. This class is scheduled for:

Thursday, September 3rd, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, September 3rd, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 6th, 12 pm to 3 pm

Please bring pop-up dots (foam tape) and you favorite adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

$30, 10 participants max.

Class Kits will be available until September 6th, $35 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sigh up for the class and/or purchase you kit/s.

This card measures 5 3/4" X 6".



I made my own template for the bird house. It is a "window" card. I used circle Nestabilites to cut out the opening. The sentiment on the scalloped circle was stamped and then cut and embossed with Nestabilites. All the stamps used on this card are from the clear stamp set by Impression Obsession. Martha Steward border, flower and leaf punches. Small flower is the punch from Marvy. Hero Arts pearls in the centers of the flowers. Mark Richards' Nailheads for the bird's eye. The designer paper is by BoBunny.

Hugs!!
Irina

Summer Tilda on the Inner Tube

Finally I got to make the second card for my upcoming "Lazy Days of Summer" card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. We will make two different design cards plus custom envelopes in this class. To see the first card please click here. We will make two different design cards plus custom envelopes in this class. This class is scheduled for:

Sunday, August 23rd, 12 pm to 3:00 pm
Thursday, August 27th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, August 27th, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

The cost of the class is $30.00, 10 participants max.

Please bring Enveloper (if you have one), foam tape (pop-up dots) and your favorite dry adhesive to the class. All other supplies will be provided.

Class Kits will be available until August 27th, $35.00 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up for the class and/or to purchase your kit/s.

This card measures 6" x 6".






Tilda and Inner Tube stamps are from the Lazy Days Collection by Magnolia. Best Creations Designer Paper. Copic Markers for coloring. Diamond Glaze on the Inner Tube. Imagenisce flowers. Dew Drops.

Envelope was made with the enveloper. Nestabilites Labels One on the front of the envelope.

All the supplies used to design this card are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile, just give store a call during business hours at 408-736-9151.

I also want to remind you about the challenge at La-La Land Crafts blog, you have until Monday, August 23 to enter. Check it out!!

Hugs!!
Irina

Sweet, sweet Rosie!!

Tonight I would like to introduce to you Sweet Rosie, she is one of the images from a Rosie Collection from La-La Land Crafts. She is so sweet and so fun to color!!

This card measures 6" x 6".

If you look closely, you will notice that I have used the same layout on this card as on the card with Fairy Lala (you can see it here). Different paper, different color scheme, different stamp and embellishments give it a totally different feel!!

This pretty paper is from Best Creations, it is double sided and I've used both sides on this card. Stampin Up corner punch. Martha Stewart fence border punch, flower punch and leaf punch. Marvy small flower punch. Pearls from Hero Arts in the centers of the flowers and on the corners. Rosie was colored with Copics, cut and popped up. Crystal Stickles on her hair, her dress and shoes.

You can find Sweet Rosie in La-La Land Crafts store here. And, if you enter into the Blog Candy at Sue's Blog, you will have a chance to win this stamp!!!

Hugs!!
Irina

Introducing La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge

Starting today we are going to have a challenge every week at La-La Land Crafts Blog, we call it La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge. The first challenge is a "Flower Power"!!

Everyone is welcome to participate, the rules are pretty simple and you don't even have to use any of La-La Land Crafts stamps!!

There are some prizes there too, make sure to check it out!! Here is the link.

Hugs!!
Irina

Dreaming of Purple Lollipops..

"I will take you to the sky with my wand and my wings, we will dream of purple lollipops and other sweet things."

Oh, I love this LaLa SO MUCH, she is one of my favorites!!! She is so pretty with her hair done like that, the fairy wings and the wand!! This is one of the stamps from LaLa collection by La-La Land Crafts. You can find her and other LaLa stamps on La-La Land Crafts website.

This card measures 6" x 6".



This is a pretty simple layout, but I really LOVE how it makes the image stand out. Designer paper I believe is by K and Company, but not sure, it is from my old, very old stack of paper. I cut DP half an inch smaller then the purple cardstock layer and then cut it diagonally in fourth. The square behind LaLa was paper pierced. Flowers are from Imagenisce, they were pink and I have airbrushed them with a couple shades of purple with my Copics. Hero Arts pearl stickers in the centers of the flowers. LaLa was colored with Copics, cut out and popped in the center of the card. Crystal Stickles on her wings.

Click here to purchase this Fairy LaLa stamp.

Hugs!!
Irina

is Prince Charming somewhere out there?

Tonight I would like to introduce you to LaLa!! If you visit La-La Land Crafts website, you will see that we have eight different images of LaLa in our first release. The card below was designed with "Window LaLa". Here is the description of "Window LaLa" from our website:

"Lala is at the window and she has a dreamy stare, she knows there is Prince Charming somewhere out there. She'll smile and sigh, but never never cry, she knows someday she'll meet that special guy."

This card measures 6" x 6". I created window with square Nestabilites, cut and embossed the larger square first and then cut and embossed the smaller square inside to create the frame. For the awning I used Fiskars border scalloped punch. Flowers were done with two punches, the larger flower is from Martha Steward and the smaller one is by Fiskars. Blue pearl stickers in the centers of the flowers. LaLa was colored with Copic Markers, cut out and popped up on foam tape.



Please visit La-La Land Crafts online store to purchase this and other LaLa stamps!!

Hugs!!
Irina

Lazy Days of Summer - I am back!!

Hi all, I know I have not posted about anything besides my new baby, my new company, La-La Land Crafts for awhile.. You know why? I have been SUPER BUSY with it!!! But now I am BACK!! I made a card today with Tilda stamp from the new Lazy Days of Summer Collection. I just adore her!!! So CUTE!!!

This will be one of the cards for my upcoming card class at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. Yes, yes, yes, I am back to teaching classes too ;-) !!! We will make two different design cards plus custom envelopes in this class. This class is scheduled for:

Sunday, August 23rd, 12 pm to 3:00 pm
Thursday, August 27th, 11 am to 2 pm
Thursday, August 27th, 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm

The cost of the class is $30.00, 10 participants max.

Class Kits will be available until August 27th, $35.00 each.

Please call Cranberry Hill Mercantile at 408-736-9151 to sign up for the class and/or to purchase your kit/s.

This card measures 6" x 6". There is tons of stuff going on on this card, I had tons of fun making it and took tons of photos to show you everything ;-)







Can you tell I really LOVE this new paper by Best Creations!! It has such summery look and is just perfect to use with Tilda. This Tilda stamp is from the new Lazy Days of Summer Collection by Magnolia, she is called Strawberry Tilda. Tilda was stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copics and cut out. I applied Crystal Effect to the water can and also the flower. Crystal Stickles on the flower, Tilda's hair and her shoes. I got a GREAT tip from my friend (and my DT Coordinator) Jane, she advised me to store my White Gel pen vertically upside down, this way it is always "juicy". It makes such a huge difference, thanks for the tip Jane!!

For the fence I cut the strips of the Coconut Swirl cardstock and used the corner punch to make the points on the top of the planks. I then run them through the Cuttlebug with one of my Cuttlebug embossing folders (don't remember the name of it, sorry) to give them some texture. Copper brads for the nail heads.

For the grass on the bottom of the fence I have used Flower Soft in Shamrock Green. Flowers were punched out with Fiskars punch. Pink pearl stickers in the centers of the flowers.

The envelope was made out of double sided designer paper (again by Best Creations) using the Enveloper. I made a dimensional envelope for this card so it is displayed inside of it nicely.. And, because the paper is double sided, I got an instant lining!! Nestabilites Labels One on the front of the envelope.

All of the supplies used to design this card (including this Tilda stamp) are available for purchase at Cranberry Hill Mercantile. If you don't live in the area, please call the store at 408-736-9151 during business hours to place your order.

I will be out of town for a few days, I will show you the second card for this class when I come back..

Hugs!!
Irina

Oh Happy Day!!!

The La-La Gala at Cranberry Hill Mercantile was SO MUCH FUN!! You can read all about it and see some photos on the company blog here. The website is live too, check it out!!!

What a better card to show you today then the one made with Happy Maya!! Happy Maya is one of the stamps from our Animals Collection, you can find her here.. When you are on the website, make sure to read the description of Maya by the stamp, isn't that cute??!!

This card measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4". Maya was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Copic Markers. I used E00, E02 on her face and udder, W2 to outline her and W6 for the black spots, E33 and E35 on her hooves and horns, and YG03 and YG63 for the grass.



The background was stamped with Florish Design Block from Hero Arts. Stampin' Up corners. Flowers are from Imagenisce and Pearl Stickers from Hero Arts. The leafs were punched out with Martha Stewart punch.

Click Here to purchase this Stamp.

I am going to show you a card a day with my new stamps. And as soon as my Design Team gets theirs, there will be even more cards to see!!

Hugs!!
Irina

tomorrow.. tomorrow!!!

I feel like I am dreaming, I feel like I am on cloud nine, I feel like I am in the La-La Land!! Tomorrow is the Great Opening of my store, La-La Land Crafts, and it still does not feel real. Somebody pinch me!!

Just to remind you, the celebration will start with the reveal of the stamps at Cranberry Hill Mercantile in Sunnyvale, CA. The party is scheduled from 6 pm to 9 pm (see details here).

The website will go live at 11 pm PST. To celebrate the Grand Opening in our online store, we are offering a 10% discount storewide!! This is a limited time offer, it will only last for the first 24 hours!!

As a special treat for those of you coming to Cranberry Hill, we are going to have two very special guests there!! Jane Matsumoto is my Design Team coordinator and she will be doing a make-and-take at the store with you. If you have not met Jane before you will see why I have chosen her, she is as sweet as she is talented!! The other guest is Mark Peterson. You don't know Mark yet.. Mark is my friend and a writer. As soon as my website goes live you will see very cute character descriptions there for every single stamp. Mark writes those for me!!!

See you tomorrow at Cranberry Hill or in my online store, see you in my La-La Land!!!

Oh, and we will ship internationally too and will also sell wholesale.

Hugs to all!!
Irina

La-La Land Crafts Design Team Announcement

I got over 200 applications, can you believe it?? I would have never imagined!!! That was quiet a task to pick six, let me tell you!! To see who they are visit my post here.

Hugs!!
Irina

an Update to the Desing Team call

I have not expected to get so many applications to my Design Team call!! In less then three days I have gotten over 150 emails!! This is so overwhelming, and I appreciate your interest SO MUCH!! I have been reading all of your emails and checking out all the blogs!! There are so many talented crafters out there!! I will wait a couple of more days before making a final decision, I want to give everyone time and chance to apply.. I will not be able to reply to every email, so sorry..

Hugs!!
Irina