Saturday, December 31, 2011

Irridescent Celebration

The last day of 2011!  It's hard to believe; this year has gone by so quickly!  A lot of good things happened in 2011 and I am anticipating a fantastic 2012!
Today's card uses the Friday Mash Up!...
  1. Make a project that "Sparkles".
  2. Or Make a project "Celebrating the New Year".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "Celebrating the New Year that Sparkles" . 
...and the colours are from Our Creative Corner:
Bright Pink (Melon Mambo), Bright Green (Wild Wasabi), Bright Yellow (Daffodil Delight), and Bright Purple (Elegant Eggplant).

The "fancy" heart from "I (Heart) Hearts" was done with Versamark and Irridescent Ice on each of the colours and then cut out and raised on top of hearts I created using the new Hearts Collection Framelits.  I used one of the flower centres from "Greenhouse Garden" to create the bursts in the background.  I honestly think I use that stamp more often for a background then I do for the centre of a flower!

A bit more bling was added to the Celebrate sentiment which comes from one of the Sale-a-bration sets.

I am now off to do more playing around with new sets - I also vowed I would do some cleaning today too.

I hope you have a safe and fun eventful last day to 2011 - and Best Wishes to you in the New Year!
Thanks for visiting...Joan

Friday, December 30, 2011

Poppin Thanks

I've been busy today creating projects and e-mails for upcoming events....and worked in a challenge as well using the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary.

I used a couple of the new products which are in the upcoming Occasions Mini:  The Mixed Bunch stamp set - which I used the Poppin' Pastels technique on to create the two different colours on the one image.  I also used one of the new Edgelits Dies.  Next time I'll have to use the same die and then emboss it with the Impressions Folder.  

So many new things to play with - glad I'm on the holdiay break!

I'm also sharing a picture of the little purses I created for three young ladies this Christmas season - I put gift cards into them.  I got the tutorial for the patterns over at Inking Idaho.  There are three different patterns in the tutorial - I'll be experimenting with the others soon.

Hope you are having a wonderful day - Thanks for taking time out to visit.  Joan

Friday, December 23, 2011

Thank You Snow Much!

Yipee - 1) It's Friday....2) I have the morning off to play in my stamping room before going to school... 3) it's the last day of school...4) Life is peachy keen....5) - It's Friday Mashup! day.  What more can be said?!

I used today's Friday Mashup! and Splitcoasts Color Challenge for this week to create this card to give to our school secretary from my husband and I.   She took care of our concert programs (for his band concert and my elementary concert) without a blink and created a wonderful display table at the entrance of the gym for the programs to be available.  I'm always appreciative of the people in the world who take initiative to do things while some of us have our heads full of other things at the time.

Today's Mashup! was a sketch and/or the use of watercolours.  The colours from Splitcoast were Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade.  Not really for this particular season - which is what they were trying to move away from for the week - but a snowman can be dressed in anything so it all works out.  I thought this snowman image was perfect two because of the two little birds singing out their thanks!

I'm off to finish some more gift card holders and maybe do a bit of cleaning before heading to school.  Hope your day is fantastic and that someone helps you out in some way today.  Thanks for taking the time to visit.
Joan

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Snow Day

At this point, I'm not sure we'll ever have a snow day this year - but winter has only just begun I guess, January could have a whole lot of snow in store. 

My creation today covers three challenges:
Hand Stamped Sentiments - is looking for a unique fold this week so I created an easel card, with the top part of the easel resting against a small pile of "snow" created with Dazzling Details.
Stampin' Royalty is challenging people to create a Winter or Christmas themed card.
SUO Challenges - is to create a Merry, Happy, and Everything Joyous card.

I added Dazzling Details to the tops of the letters to create the illusion of snow having fallen on them.  The Bear's toque is actually Sock Monkey's Santa Hat with the point removed; and I drew the snowy hills freehand.

Only one more day of school - and I must say - teaching until December 23 is NUTS - I can only imagine what the kids will be like tomorrow knowing the next day is Christmas Eve.  However, on a positive note - my two concerts went very well - as I knew they would in the end.

Here's hoping you are as ready as necessary for your holiday celebrations.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy

I'm not sure how happy these fellows are about the temperatures right now - but they're happy about coming out to play today.

I've used the Mojo Monday sketch today - turned on it's side and the colours are from Our Creative Corner....light pink, light blue, red and white.

I attached the small strip of Pretty in Pink to the end of a Bashful Blue piece and then put it through the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  The "seam" of the two pieces of cardstock is covered with a piece of Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon.

Silver Glimmer Paper was used for the small strip above the snowmen and for the large and small scallops highlighting the snowflake.  I added Dazzling Details to the snowmen's hats and a bit of Crystal Effects to their buttons.

Well, let me tell ya - our Christmas Concert should be spectacular on Wednesday if today's 1st run through was any indication.  I'm so glad we can do it again tomorrow before it's "for real".  I know you don't want a perfect practice before a performance - but seriously!  I'm really not worried though - I know everything will be wonderful in the end!

Hope the beginning of your week has been good - thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Cherry Gold Christmas

Well, I'm two for two (two days in a row!) ...not what I'd call a "roll" but it's a start.  I need to get the craft room cleaned up a bit after all the events I've done and then the groove will get settled into some more!

Today I joined the challenges at The Paper Players and Create with Connie and Mary.

The Paper Players are playing with Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and Gold until the end of the year.  What a rich combination!  I hadn't used my gold embossing powder all season - and I haven't used this Snow Swirled set either, and I really like this tree - especially when you mix embossing powders!

The sketch I've used is from Create with Connie and Mary - I've tweaked it a wee bit because of the tree.  It's a fabulous sketch - so many things could be done with it!

Well, the morning is almost over and I need to go over to the school to put all my instruments onto the stage for our 1st dress rehearsal tomorrow morning.  I will be a very happy person once Thursday comes along this week!
Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Silver Hope

Well, it's been almost a month to the day since I last posted - and I feel like a stampin' newbie!  Gonna have to get my mojo into action again over the next little while.  I've been busy, busy, busy with stampin' activities and having a blast with it.  I've just missed the time to sit and do challenges also.  So, it felt good to be stamping for myself today, even though I'm not thoroughly impressed with what I created.

I chose to use the Friday MashUp! for this week......
  1. Make a project featuring "Chipboard (Precut or Diecut )".
  2. Or Make a project with "Distressing ( ink, scissors or the Cutter Tool Kit)".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Distressed Project featuring Chipboard"
 I have a whole tin full of chipboard pieces, not counting some that are still in their packages, so it was nice to pull them out to use them.  I found this "hope" from an old Christmas set and inked it up, along with the little stars, with Silver ink.  The Brushed Silver paper was put through the Big Shot with the Snow Burst embossing folder.

I couldn't find a solid star in my stash of stamps, so I opted to use the one from Floral Fillers.

Tombow Glue is keeping the Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter in place and Rhinestones were added to the stars.....making it full of glittery goodness for the Just Add Ink challenge this week to "Just Add
Glitter"  to your projects.

So, there ya have it.  I can hear my husband and daughter making all sorts of noise watching the Canucks tonight.  Guess I'd better get supper started!

I hope you've had a wonderful day and have a little something to cheer about.  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Holiday Sale is Here


Woo Hoo - the Holiday sale is here.  It was exciting waking up this morning and finding out what goodies were going to be available at fabulous prices!

Don't miss out on getting the Simply Scored or the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps at a reduced price until the end of today ONLY!

Click here for all the details on this Online Extravaganza at my online store.  Remember, anyone who places an order through my online store gets a gift from me.

Happy Shopping -

As a side note - I have been flying off my feet with card camps and trade fairs - once the dust has settled in my stamping room - and I've put everything away - it will be time to do a challenge or two and get ready for the next set of events.

Hope your having a fantastic day!
Joan

Monday, November 14, 2011

Holly Snowmen

Well I had fun with these little guys this afternoon!  I used the colours from this weeks' Paper Players  - River Rock, Always Artichoke and Riding Hood Red.  The sketch is the Mojo Monday Sketch.  I must say that I love this combination of colours and I can see me doing this sketch again. 

I put the Always Artichoke mat through the Big Shot with the Striped Embossing folder going in two directions.  After I cut out the holly leaves using the Stocking Accents die, I folded them and slipped them through the crimper.  The holly berries are raised on dimensionals and have Crystal Effects added to make them glisten, and I added Dazzling Details to each of the snowmen's hats that have pompoms.

I cutting away to get ready for two nights of Christmas Stacks this weekend and another trade fair.  I'm glad I have Allison to help out.  I'm "paying" her with a hair appointment tomorrow. Works for me!

Hope things are working out your way too.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Friday, November 11, 2011

Embossed MashUp!

 I've been working on Christmas cards all week so I was thrilled this morning when I saw that this weeks' Friday MashUp! was moving away from seasonal cards.  The SUO Challenge this week was to create a card for someone you're thinking about - my aunt hasn't been feeling very well lately, so I will be sending this her way.  The mashup today is:
  1. Make a project featuring "A Girly Theme".
  2. Or Make a project using "Your Favorite Technique".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Girly project using your Favorite Technique
I love embossing - both heat and "dry".  Heat embossing is just so magical!  I used white embossing on the Melon Mambo piece and then coloured in the leaves with white gel pen.  The flower pieces were put through the Big Shot with the Finial Press embossing folder.  (I don't believe I've ever written down that folder name before! Ha ha)

I haven't shared any pages from my anniversary book for a while - so here are the next two in line.....

 My husband has come to my classroom a couple of times on Valentines day delivering a huge Hershey Kiss for me and  packages of small ones for my students.

Laughter is an important part of any relationship - good for the spirit, good for the soul, good for our health.

Hope you find something you can laugh about today - I'm off to get ready for a class tomorrow.  Have a good one!  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fresh Creation

 I do not like how my camera deals with Cherry Cobbler paper!  It's always so dark - even when I "fix" it through editing, it just doesn't look like it does in real life.

Oh well - today's card comes courtesy of Create with Connie and Mary and Freshly Made Sketches.  I knew as soon as I saw the sketch that I wanted to create a scene that I split into panels.  Unfortunately I don't have many sets that can work that way - and I'm NOT getting more!!!! (Who am I kidding - of course I'll get more as soon as the new mini comes out! - Duh!)  The colours today are from Create with Connie and Mary - Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard and Basic Black.

I created a second card for my Mother's friend since I wasn't sure how happy I was with the Concord one.  I'm going to send both of them to her and she can make her selection.

The sky looks like it's not quite sure what kind of weather it wants to throw at us today - I got all my plant pots and deck furniture dealt with yesterday so I'm pretty much ready for anything now.

Hope you're having a wonderful day - and thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Recipe to Create

I love when there is a specified "recipe" to follow on challenge blogs.    This week at The Paper Players they have a "Let's get Cooking" recipe challenge which means a project that includes:
  •  3 different patterned papers
  • 2 different ribbons
  • at least one punch
  • and a sprinkling of glitter
I've used 3 different designs from the Beau Chateau DSP.  I've included the Chantilly crochet trim and the Velvet Stitched Ribbon.  I used some Linen Thread to gather up one edge of the crochet trim to create the rosette.  Three punches were used - Modern Label, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border and I used the Decorative Label punch to create the curved edges on the central piece.  The dressmaker's mannequin is covered in Dazzling Diamonds.

I hope your day is going well for you!  Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Joan

Monday, November 7, 2011

Mucho Mojo

 I ended up creating two cards using today's Mojo Monday sketch.  The Soft Suede Butterfly was my first creation with a background collage using images from Established Elegance.  It took a while to get to that point because I was dead set on using Mocha Morning paper - but it just didn't work out.  I do, however, like this final result.

The second card might be a birthday card for a friend of my Mother's.  This photo didn't turn out very well.  I used Concord Crush, and I may just do it over again using a lighter background so that the collage of images shows up better - they are the important part of this card.  I'll give it another try tomorrow.

I got my report cards done today - I told myself I had to before I got to play.  The other thing I have got to do this week is get my head around what I'm going to have the kids doing for this years' Christmas Concert.  Time will fly by once this little break is over.

Hope your mojo is working for you today.  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Silvery, Snowy Thanks

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted a card - AND the fact that I missed an entire Friday Mashup!  I have been busy these past two weekends, and I did spend this whole last week preparing for a Christmas Trade Show - but still!  Well, I have this whole week off - so in between doing report cards and tweaking things for the next Trade Fair - I will be catching up on my usual challenges.

So - this week at the Friday Mashup they were looking for heat embossing and gratitude.  We've celebrated our Thanksgiving already - so I thought I'd gear my card towards thanks at Christmas or in the winter.  The sketch is from Stamping 411.

I embossed these wonderful Serene Snowflakes with silver embossing powder.  I used the Versa Mark Pen to touch the snowman's buttons and added embossing to them also.  The Lace Ribbon Border was punched from the Brushed Silver Paper as well as the one little Northern Frost snowflake which I had leftover in a drawer waiting to be used.

Well - I am thankful for this week off - I've got lots of upcoming events planned and need the time to prepare, in addition to necessary jobs, reading, cleaning, napping! 

Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday afternoon.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Simple Fall Gratitude

It's been a very busy weekend, and I'm glad to be home - frustrated with a stuffy nose - but glad to get home.  I had a great time at the Fine Arts Conference and learned a lot of new stuff to take into the classroom!  So - I've created a relatively simple card this afternoon to fulfill my stamping need. 

The Paper Players are looking for a fall element in this week's challenge - the trees are pretty much bare here and the leaves on the street have even been picked up so that's why I selected these lovely bare trees.  The sketch for today's card comes from Stamping 411 and the colours are inspired by a photo at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

I have a lot to look forward this week - hope you do to!  Thanks for stopping by.
Joan

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

So....I lied.....

I thought that the card I made last week was the last Halloween card - but when I saw the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary - I absolutely envisioned the haunted house as the focal point - so here we are!  The card also goes with the spooky/creepy Halloween challenge this week at Stampin' Royalty.

I'm keeping this short and sweet - my husband and I are heading to Calgary this weekend to a Fine Arts Conference.  I'm looking forward to a number of the classes that I'm going to be taking.

Hope your weekend turns into something you're looking forward to.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Sunday, October 23, 2011

One Last Halloween Card?

 I'm not sure, but this may be the last Halloween Card I create this season.....we'll see.  I've incorporated the Friday Mashup and the Paper Player's Sketch for this card.  The Friday Mashup! was:

  1. Make a project featuring "A Belly Band".
  2. Or Make a project using "Twine".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "Using Twine with a "Belly Band"
Below is the card without the belly band so you can see the sketch better.

 
 I had to use those little bats again, and although you can't tell from the photo - I added their eyes with white gel pen and then coloured them yellow.  I was sort of hoping to use rhinestones, but the smallest weren't small enough.

Next are the I and J pages of the anniversary book:
 I did case part of this page from someone on the My Digital Studio website.  She had used some sort of tag and I used the arrows. 
This page just has photos of the Jeffery family from the wedding reception to 2009.  Not every year is represented, but I sure am thankful for my Mother taking pictures of the four of us when she came to visit!

It's been a beautiful Sunday afternoon - hope you are enjoying fabulous fall weather where you are too.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Global Snow

 Gotta love supportive husbands!  Mine came home this afternoon, and after the usual "Make a Card!" greeting - I showed him what I had done.  "That's nice, but..."  And then I noticed - I've got animals from two different poles - so we decided that it was globally friendly!  LOL

I used the Crayon Resist technique to keep the polar bear & penguin tummy white while sponging Marina Mist onto the Glossy White Paper.  Over at Hand Stamped Sentiments you could use the Shaving Cream, Crayon, or Popping Pastels as a technique for your project. The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches.  I suppose in hindsight I should have used the snowflake embossing folder, but I was using up pieces of embossed paper which I already had.

I've been busy planning, cutting and prepping for upcoming events.  It's a busy time of year - but lots of fun too.  Hope things are going tickety-boo for you this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.
Joan

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Merry Chickadee

 I finally got around to using this wonderful little chickadee - they're my favorite little bird.  The leaves and berries have been coloured with Frost White Shimmer Paint with a bit of re-inker added.  That way they  shimmer nicely on the card.  I applied the paint with an old blender pen that had lost its "stuff".   An Old Olive marker was used to colour the shading of the leaves.  I also used the shimmer mixture to distress the edge of the oval.

I really should have thought out what paper I was going to use for the rest of the card before I coloured the image though - the image uses Old Olive and the DSP and mat are Garden Green.  But that's okay - the Challenge over at The Paper Players this week is to use traditional red and green colours for a Christmas card - and both greens work.  Stampin' Royalty has provided the sketch for this card.  I have adjusted it a bit because my image was so large and I used 3 little Merry tags on the side.

This is the anniversary card my daughter made for my husband to give to me.  It wasn't what she had had in mind because she couldn't find the stamp set she wanted to use - that threw her for a bit of a loop  (It would throw me for a while too) - but I love what she's come up with.  She didn't realize until later that she put the world on upside down - I said her dad turns my world upside down anyway - so it's all good.   My gift from him was a trip to anywhere in the world I want to go - so the card is fitting!

Hope something turns your world upside down in a good way today - Thanks for stopping by! Joan

Friday, October 14, 2011

Let it snow...well, not yet!!!!!

 I'm fine with the fallen leaves right now, and the crisp clear air - don't want the white stuff yet - but I do like snowflakes - and that's what the Friday Mashup is all about -
  1. Make a project featuring "Snowflakes".
  2. Or Make an "Easel Card".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create an "Easel Card featuring Snowflakes"

Easel cards are fun - and I do enjoy making them, now that the initial fear of them has subsided!  And as the quote on the Friday Mashup states - "A Snowflake is winter's butterfly".  I think that's wonderful!  So - I used the "Snow Much Fun" 'cause these snowmen are so cute - and I used the silver glimmer paper with the Northern Frost die.  I just HAD to add rhinestones to the centres of the snowflakes, and a mini jingle bell to the end of the snowman's hat!

Here are the next two pages in the anniversary book.....

 Grant - our musically talented son - who drums in a band and creates wonderful piano pieces that  make me stop and listen

I'm looking forward to more  holidays together!

Hope your working into a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Heartfelt Kisses

 I have a coupler of challenges meshed into today's card - Hand Stamped Sentiments have a Think Pink Challenge out because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - so I pulled out some pinks and decided I had to use the lips again - and when I glanced at the "Floral Fillers" set, I wondered if I could use the Kissing Technique with the lips - and it worked perfectly.  The sketch is the Saturday Sketch from Stamping 411 and although I missed the deadline for posting a link, there was a die cut challenge at Just Add Ink - so that's why I added the swirls along the bottom.

I noticed once I saw the card on the computer that I added absolutely no bling of any sort - I may have to fix that - add some rhinestones or something.

Below are the next two pages in my anniversary book...
 I had fun stringing these little people together.  And one of the main logos for our school board has been the apple with the check mark in it - so that worked well too.  I LOVE the grunge set - especially the little pieces of tape!

This flower page is a case from someone on MDS - I regret not writing down whose ideas I borrowed for a couple of my pages!

It's pretty windy here today - still walked to school though and it wasn't too bad.  I hope your day has been a good one - and thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

25th Anniversary

Today, 25 years ago, I married a wonderful man, who I have grown to love more over these 25 years.

I had loads of fun creating the alphabet book on MDS and this very silvery card.  I knew when I saw the sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary, that it would work perfectly with what I had in mind.  I am so thankful for that silver glimmer paper!

I'm keeping this short today - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Monday, October 10, 2011

Gem of a Friend

Mojo Monday - WoooHooo!  Very cool sketch today.  I pulled out my Beau Chateau DSP and decided to go with a totally Marina Mist card - not hard for me to do really - it's my favorite blue right now.  I guess I really only used one piece of the DSP, and coordinated with stamping from Vintage Vogue. 

I tried out the new Peekaboo Frames Bigz Die for the Big Shot.  I love the idea of being able to make little windows easily for cards, scrapbook pages and crafts.

I remember when the Big Shot came out I thought- "I just can't see myself using this enough to buy one"  Wow, I'm glad I broke down, got one with the Convention Special - I have used it sooooo much.  And now, Stampin' Up! is giving one for FREE to whoever purchases the Starter Kit in October.  Fabulous!

If you're interested in paying for your hobby or paying some bills AND getting a FREE Big Shot and a discount for your stamping or crafting , just contact me and I can help that happen for you.

I hope you've had a wonderful day -  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Dino Birthday

 I do so love these little dinosaurs - they're just so cute.  I've used the sketch from this past week's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge and the colours - More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla are from The Paper Players

I stamped the little dinos onto the vertical Vanilla strip with Staz-On Black so that they wouldn't run with the blender pen.  I didn't really pay attention to their placement, so when I was going to put on the square focal piece, I realized that one of the heads would be covered - so I just cut it away so that it would overlap onto the matting.

Here are the next two pages of my anniversary book - I still have to wait two days before giving it to my husband.  I have, however, decided how I am going to package it and "give" it to him.
 The choir pictures range from going on our first Concordia Choir tour,  the Concordia Community Choir, the two church choirs we've sung in and a small church choral group.

I know I cased this page - at least parts of it from someone I saw on the MDS website.
Hope your weekend has been wonderful - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Saturday, October 8, 2011

One Huge Spider!

 I feel like I haven't posted anything since - forever.  It really hasn't been that long, but it's been busy.  Thursday night was taken up with an event, and on top of having a Professional Development day for school on Friday, our family had our Thanksgiving dinner since it was the only time both kids would be around.  So - it's was busy - but it's nice to know that the rest of the long weekend will be relaxing!

So - today - once I gutted out my stamping room - AGAIN - I worked on the Friday Mashup!
  1. Make a "Halloween themed" Project.
  2. Or Make a Project using the colors: "Black, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade & Concord Crush".
  3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Halloween project using the Colors listed above".
Honestly, I have been wanting to make a spider using the same method I've been making pumpkins with - and today was the day.  He is made with the Concord Crush - just to make him more deadly - and once I put the pieces together I spritzed them with the glimmer paint.  Finally, I just HAD to add some googly eyes which I have from past crafting days.

I brayered the raised side of the spider web embossing folder before putting in the paper.  I don't mind the little bit of smudging around the edging that happened while brayering. 

I used the Halloween image from the "It's a Wrap Holidays" and coloured in the "empty" words with the Versa Mark Pen.

This is a banner I worked on last week - I TOTALLY cased it from a demonstration at Regionals.  Well, all except the Y - for some reason I didn't take a picture of the Y.  Duh!!! 

Well, I'm off.  Tonight we are helping a friend celebrate her 50th birthday.  Should be a good time!  Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far - Thanks for visiting.  Joan

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Gratitude Tea

Just a quick post before I run out the door to head to the city for our team meeting - well, and to be honest - browsing around one of the shopping centres first.

I used today's sketch from Freshly Made Sketches along with the colours from Stampin' Royalty: So Saffron, More Mustard, Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant.

For the main matt - I rolled More Mustard onto the Striped Embossing Folder with a brayer before putting the Saffron paper in to emboss it; so the Mustard is embedded in the "lower" stripes.  The teacup was done on watercolour paper and I had to do two to get one I liked.  Fancy teacups always remind me of my Grandma and going to the back lane neighbors for tea when I was a little girl.  I do remember proper tea parties too - I just don't recall what the "real" purpose of them were.    I do remember being dressed up and offering around the plate of goodies to the guests.  Good Times!  Good Memories!

And I'm off .... to more good times with Stampin' Friends - hope your day is enjoyable too!  Thanks for stopping by!
 Joan

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Remember When


Leaves, leaves, lots of leaves...Hand Stamped Sentiments is challenging the use of Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy - which works with SUO challenges of including leaves in your project and I've used the sketch from Stamping 411.

I did end up using Early Espresso for the bases of the leaves - and in hindsight figured that using the Not Quite Navy would have been pretty cool too.  I tried twisting the Seam Binding Ribbon, holding the twists in place with glue dots.  The punched leaf has been stamped with the veins from "Gently Falling" and then crumpled up.

The following are the A and B pages for the alphabet book I created for my husband for our 25th anniversary next week....all done on My Digital Studio.  I love the capability of being able to change the sizes of stamps - connecting them and manipulating them.


Hope your week is going well - thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Monday, October 3, 2011

Leafy Smiles



Today's card uses the sketch from over at Mojo Monday.  I finally used the Gently Falling set in the manner to which is was created - two step stamping.  I do love two step stamping!!!!

I used the wreath from the Warmest of Wishes hostess set - the centre is punched out and the layer of circles have been raised above the wreath using two layers of dimensionals....because, of course, the wreath has been attached with dimensionals.

I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED - because the book I have poured my heart into for the past number of months finally arrived today from Stampin' Up!  Oh my word it's fabulous.  It's a book I created for my husband for our 25th anniversary using My Digital Studio.
The cover is below - perhaps I'll share some of the other pages along the way.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Daring Adventures

It's been a busy weekend - and we're heading into a busy week - but  it's all good!  I got this card ready today - covering 3 challenges - and then I spent the afternoon working on simple sketches to take to school for our newly formed "Birthday Bridgade" to work on for handing out to students on their birthday.

The three challenges for my Adventure card come from
The Paper Players - Have music on your card - I rolled the notes onto vellum and also used a small piece for the wing of the bird.

Freshly Made Sketches - the Sketch - I found a chipboard tag in my stash - I had to cut it down a bit to fit the card - but it feels good to get rid of another one of those tid bits lying around waiting to be used.

Create, Ink! - the Colours - Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray.  These colours could so easily be Halloween in nature - but I moved completely away with that - using the quote from one of the first inspirational women I was introduced through a child's level biography.  Helen Keller and Florence Nightingale were the first biographies I owned.

I don't read a lot of biographies anymore - but perhaps I should.  I hope you had a good weekend, and that there are things for you to look forward to through the week.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
Joan

Friday, September 30, 2011

Fall Brad Mashup!

 Well, I'm sad to say that this is my last posting as a guest designer for the Friday Mashup!  I have thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to work with these talented ladies.  The mashup is a fun concept and I will continue to work on these weekly challenges!  So - for this final Friday of September the mash up, which is a Fan Favorite Pick created by Lisa Runyon, is:
  • Make a "Fall themed" project
  • Or Make a Project that uses "Brads...lots and lots of Brads".
  • Or "Mash it Up" and create a fun "Fall themed project that uses lots and lots of Brads".
One thing I love about fall beside the crunchy leaves on the ground, are the Black Eyed Susans which come into perfect bloom at this time of year.  I walk past a yard which has a whole bed full of them, and some other little groupings scattered around in other beds.  I smile each day I pass and see this one little grouping, standing tall and unwilted while the other plants around them are beginning to fade.  They're just so happy looking.  So - they were my inspiration for this card - and I chose to use brads to highlight the "eyes".

The Crochet Trim has been changed up a bit.  At the Regionals I was at two weeks ago, one of the home-office demonstrators showed how to colour the trim with ink.  You need to wash it out a bit first to remove the chemical that is on it - otherwise the ink sort of beads on top of the fibers.  I just rinsed the trim out with a bit of handsoap, dried it with my heat gun and then applied the ink from the ink pad with a sponge dauber.

Be sure to head over to The Friday Mashup! to see all the FALL-icious cards the DT have come up with.  Be sure to link your own creation to that blogsite and when posting on a public gallery remember to use FM26.

The last two Saturdays have been spent at Stampin'Up! events - now tomorrow I'm attending an Orff workshop.  Should be full of musical fun, fun, fun.  Hope your weekend is gearing up with things to look forward to.  And thanks again to Holly for the opportunity and privilege of being a guest designer for September!

Thanks for stopping by,
Joan