The Rubber Cafe'- January Guest Designer Gloria Stengel

This month we have Gloria Stengel joining us at The Rubber Cafe' - as our Guest Designer for the month of January. I'm especially excited about this because not only is Gloria super talented but she is also a close special friend of mine!

Gloria has been on a number of design teams over the past few years, including Graphic 45 (2010, 2011, and 2012), Hampton Art Stamps (2012), and Spellbinders (2011). In addition to those commitments, she graciously has accepted various guest design spots and work with online stores, including Really Reasonable Ribbon and CropStop. Most recently in addition to being published in several magazines, Gloria has been writing blog articles for Crafts 'n things Magazine, where she shares tutorials, and advice on her favorite products, and paper crafting.

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My name is Gloria Stengel and I live in Oceanside, CA. I’ve been a CA resident since March 2005, after living in five other states. I live with my husband Matt and our three children, Nathan (21), Laura (17), and Jonah (12). I homeschool my two youngest children, but my oldest son has graduated and now attends college full-time. We also have a brand new kitten named Milo. He was born August 2012, and he is making my life crazy, but he's so cute that I am willing to sacrifice the occasional ribbon or button!

I have been hooked on paper crafts all of my life. In 1990, I discovered rubber stamping and in 1996, I stumbled across "modern" scrapbooking. I love all aspects of paper crafting: card making, scrapbooking, mini albums, altered art, up-cycling, you name it! I am happiest when I am making a mess! It's the cleaning up part that I don't care for!

Gloria's Blog, "Scraps of Life" at www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com.

Welcome Gloria! All of us here at The Rubber Cafe', are looking forward to having you with us this month and look forward to seeing what you have to share using products from The Rubber Cafe'!

2013- New Year's Resolution - Tag Book

Here we are just about to cross over into the new year! If you are like me you're probably asking yourself where this past year went! You may also like me be reflecting on the past year, and thinking about what is to come in the year 2013. In the past I've had trouble with the concept of resolutions. But this year, I think it would be good to set some personal goals and write them down in order to achieve them. Having said that, I've come up with a project that will enable me to capture my "New Years' Resolution" and display it in my studio as a constant reminder.

Here's a sneak peek - you can see the rest at The Rubber Cafe' - here!
Happy New Year!


 

Lake News and Views from Minnesota... the Eagles have Landed!

Hi Everyone!   Well - 2012 is winding to a close!  It's so hard to believe.  That just a year ago I was planning and creating my Blog.   As I reflect back- it's been a fun and rewarding process. 

Right now I'm still in Minnesota, visiting with my family who all still live here.  Today - together with my Sister and Mother took a quick trip to Lake City, MN - to check out some local Quilt Shops!

Driving through this fun town, I was quickly reminded of how Lake City got it's name, situated right on Lake Pepin which ultimately connects to the Mississippi River the Marina was full of ships all dry docked for the winter!  Living in San Diego now, I found the contrast of this harbor to ours interesting so I took some pics!

 

Snow covered these boats as we've had probably a foot of snow just while I've been here !

Many had tarps and covers that looked like shrink wrap to protect the decks and exposed portions of these summer fun vessels.

 

Driving around town it became evident most businesses are very seasonal. 

 

One of the other wonderful sites along this area of Olmsted and Wabasha counties are the Eagles that live all along the Mississpi River and area Lakes.  In the summer months hundreds of Bald Eagles, nest and feed here, and in the winter hundreds more migrate here, looking for open water in and around Wabasha.  Here is where you'll find The National Eagle Center- home for rescued Bald Eagles that can no longer survive in the wild on their own- and where studies and tracking is organized for Bald Eagles and now also the Golden Eagle!

 

 

Both of these pics - were from National Eagle Center

 

 

These amazing regal creatures are wonderful to watch in the wild - and this is the time of year to do just that!

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

The Rubber Cafe' - Triangle Origami Gift Box

Greetings Everyone!! - I'm writing today from Minnesota- let me say we're definitely going to have a White Christmas- and for me today it was a bit cold being in the low 20's and upper teens! I was born and raised in SE Minnesota, but living in So California for the past 20 years, I'm not as used to these colder climes as I used to be!!

For my project today I have a quick and fun little gift box that I first made last week for a bunch of my co-workers.  I used a simple stamp and die set from Stampin'UP! to complete these.  And the kraft christmas paper pad from Hobby Lobby  - too cute right?

 I liked them so much I decided to make another using the Ornamental Holiday set, from The Rubber Cafe' and share a simple message for the season with you!

Enjoy the Magic of the Season!

Here's a side view...

I took pictures of this cute box as I made it to show you how simple it is once you get the proper scoring done. But just was not pleased with how the pictures came out. I think the tutorial I used from Splitcoaststampers by Deb Feltz, is so much better, so I will share that link with you here!

They're fun cute easy to make and for a 2" Triangular box you only need 1- 6" square pc of paper, and for the cover or flap 2" x 4 1/4" scored in half at 2 1/8".

I close mine with these new velcro closeures you can buy here at The Rubber Cafe (I just love these)

Give them a try wouldn't they be fun as treats next to everyone's place setting your Christmas dinners??

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Supplies:

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe' - Ornamental Holiday set

Paper: We R Memory Keepers Vintage pack

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Adhesives: 3d Foam Squares

Embellishments: Velcro Closures

Tools: Score-Pal

Ornamental Holiday	Memento Ink- Cocoa	Score-Pal	Kool Tak Hook & Loop
3D Foam Squares - 1/4" White	3D Foam Squares - 1/2" White

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The Rubber Cafe'- New Release Blog Hop Winner Revealed!

Well it's that time to reveal the lucky Grand Prize Winner of our New Release Blog Hop!

Drum roll please!!

Congratulations to Teresa Godines !!!

Teresa, you have until Sunday, December 23 at midnight to contact us at marketing@therubbercafe.com and claim your Grand Prize!

Thank you to all of you that particpated in the fun and 'hopped' along with us as we celebrated our latest releases by Artist and Designer Jamie Dougherty

We appreciate you, our customers and followers so much!

The Rubber Cafe' - Tinsel Trees

Hi There- today I'm taking a break from Card making and sharing with you some fun paper folded trees I made to sit as a center piece.  I love how simplistic and grogeous these are, I don't think the pictures quite do them justice though.

 

I have more pictures, and step by step tutorial on how I made these if you head over to The Rubber Cafe' blog here!

 

 

Rockin' Santas- and Tutorial

Today I want to share a fun little item, that I saw and was inspired to make some of own. I saw Beate Johns blog and tutorial first but her blog will also lead you to the tutorial featured Splitcoaststampers by Judi Maddigan. You'll find her tutorial here.

Here's my Rockin' Santa, using The Rubber Cafe' 'Oh Santa's stamp. I made about a dozen of these cute little fellas! And although the still shot does not show them rockin' out, you can see them in motion on Beate's Blog.

Here's a close-up of my Santa, I stamped and used all but his legs, as these were replaced by the paperclips. I backed him with a die-cut tree using Tim Holtz' Tree die. You can see one of the 'Santa' rockin' in the background to the right- I set him in motion when I snapped the picture so you could see how they move side-to-side!

Here's another group shot! Together like this they just make me smile!

Our Hula Santa stamp would be cute to use as well can't you just see the grass skirt sway as it rocks!

I hope you can pick a fun character and get 'em rockin' too!

They are so worth the time, and effort. These were gift favors at a crop, but I think I'm going to need to make some more for Christmas Eve dinner and place them at everyone's place setting!

What do you think ? Too cute for words right??

Supplies:

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe' - Oh Santa

Paper: The Rubber Cafe' - Pugnacious White, Christmas Kraft Paper pad from Hobby Lobby

Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Adhesives: The Rubber Cafe' - One and Only Tape

Tools: Tim Holt- Big Shot Sizzix Tree die

Other: Hershey chocolate Nuggets, Paper clips (I found color coated ones at .99 store)

Oh Santa

Pugnacious Paper, White

The One and Only Tape