Paper Piecing with Fresh Air

Coffee of the Day - French Vanilla

Good morning to all of you! Today I want to show you a card I made using the free digi you receive from Shady Tree Studio with any purchase - and free is always fun! :)

The image is called 'Fresh Air' and you can almost feel the wind blowing through the window. I used papers from the Julliane collection by K & Co., paper piecing the curtains. This is a pretty simple card for me - something I thought I would give a try! Everyone in my family loves to cook with fresh herbs, so it was fun to use this empty seed packet on my card. Basil is a 'must have' in almost everything we prepare. Garlic and rosemary are right up there as well. What herbs do you use most often?
Anyhow, I added some crinkled seam tape, tea dyed tea tag twine, and a vintage button.

Have a great day!
Jennifer


City Crafter - sketch (flipped on its side)
Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Patriotic Butterfly & news

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Truffle

Good morning, everyone! with the 4th of July just around the corner, I realized I hadn't made anything yet to celebrate this wonderful holiday! horrors! I am so proud of being a United States citizen. while I might not always support the choices made by politicians, I am more proud of my country than you can imagine. it's the every day people you meet at the post office, the grocery store, craft store (tee hee!), schools, & churches that make up this amazing country. Guess that is why I am always drawn to anything in the Americana style.

So as soon as I saw this wonderful patriotic butterfly from Nina at Paper Cupcakes, I knew it would be perfect for a project! it doesn't show so well in the scan, but there is actually a 2nd butterfly layered over the base that is attached only at the body. the wings fold up to give such beautiful dimension irl. the stars and white stripes were covered in stickles for some glittery shine. I accented the antennae with my spica glitter pen. the flower in the upper right corner was sprayed with walnut gold glimmer mist for vintage age & shine. papers are K & Co. Americana (so fitting!) while the buttons actually came from a shirt David was throwing out. he knows to put everything on my craft desk first so I can take all the fun stuff! I used my crumb cake ink pad to lightly distress that fabby red, white, & blue baker's twine. it took some of the starkness out of the white perfectly.

Which leads me to announce that Nina has so kindly asked me to join her Design Team over at There's Magic in the Air with Paper Cupcakes! I am so excited to be part of her team and these fun challenges! The big announcement will take place in a few weeks, so I do hope you join me there!

have a great day! love ya, Jennifer

Daisy Doodles - stars & stripes
HappiLeigh Scrappin - stars & stripes
Kraft Journal - something old (vintage paper for flower & Dave's buttons!), something new (digi) & kraft (cs)
Paper Playtime - digi plus red, white, & blue
Scrapbookaholic - red, white & blue
Woodware - patriotic
Sentimental Sundays - patriotic plus sentiment (this one word seemed to sum up my feelings)
Stamptacular Sunday - stars & stripes plus stamp (sentiment is SU!)
Cupcake Inspirations - inspiration photo
Designed 2 Delight - red, white, & blue and/or Christmas too
Stamp Something - celebrate with red, white, & blue
Craft us Crazy - red, white, & blue and/or summer
Paper Play - stars & stripes
Party Time Tuesdays - 4th of July
Tuesday Throwdown - red, white, & blue
Celebrate the Occasion - 4th of July
Use it Tuesday - red, white, & blue (can't even tell you how old the Prima flower is.... black shimmerz paint is almost dried up in the pot. trim is about a year or so old)

Hear Me ROAR!!!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Nut

A happy Sunday morning to all of you! May this day find you full of joy & peace & above all else, love!

Well today is the last day to get your applications in for the Jellypark Challenges Design Team! I have been busy working behind the scenes getting things ready for the new team, as well as working more on the challenge blog. So much fun is in store that I really hope a lot of you plan to stop by!

I made a card using more of Claire's adorable images, this time with a masculine feel. This little guy in his dino suit has always brought a smile to my face. When I ran the dsp through the printer for the trees, my printer grabbed the paper funny and printed them off crooked. so not one to waste a piece of my beloved Basic Grey paper, I decided to have fun with it anyhow. Papers are BG Recess, a very old collection, but perfect for the guys in our lives! design is based on the My Favorite Things current sketch challenge, but using supplies I have. You can find some of Claire's images at MFT in actual stamps as opposed to digi if you prefer that method. or sometimes it is fun to have both! grins! the grass die is MFT and one I use a LOT! buttons are all from my vintage stash and that amazing burlap flower is Prima. the sentiment is stamped on a piece die cut from an actual vintage book page.

Have a great day and don't forget to send in your application! :)


MFTWSC25 - sketch
Challenge Up Your Life - circles
My Mum's Craft Shop - one of the boys
My Time to Craft - more than one image
Pile it On - round in circles

You're Too Kind

I finally had a chance to do some crafting today. and gosh, did it feel good! :)

I made this card with several challenges in mind. One is over at Squigglefly. their challenge is to create something using your fave image from the SF store. Since I lost all of my images when my compy crashed this winter, I have come to appreciate Squigglefly so much more. Not only do they represent some amazing artists, but they are the only digital store I have found that actually has downloads that don't expire. So this weekend I was able to collect all of the images I have purchased and put them on my new computer! It was just like Christmas Day! as I was going through each image and putting them in the proper folder and on a flashstick, I realized just how much I really love this image, 'Bouquet For You'. She was one of the very first I bought from SF, even before I served on their DT. So it was an easy choice for which image to use!

my new fave Basic Grey paper collection, Sweet Threads, happens to have both pink & orange, a fun color combo I wanted to try. lots of sparkle and shine on this card that doesn't really show in scan. You will find following this post some other challenges I am also joining.

See you tomorrow! :)

Sugar Creek Hollow - tic tac toe (buttons, die cut, lace, but I also added a flower. sure hope that is okay 'cause it looks so pretty on there! grins!)
Basic Grey - stitching (along right side)
Just Some Lines - spots & dots (white gel pen polka dots on tights, pocket, & hair bow)
Our Creative Corner - your style (PINK, using Basic Grey, buttons, trim, and shabby/vintage but not too overdone)
Alphabet - 'H' half dozen (buttons)
Stampin' For the Weekend - favorite things
CCEE - pink (with pleasure!!)
Rainbow Lady's - digi
Crafts & Me - stitches
Digital Tuesday - ice cream combo (raspberry or rainbow sherbet for me!)
Bows and Berries - thank you/appreciation
Creative Inspirations - stitching

Pink Saturday

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog (my last bit from the holidays & it is a nice treat on this cool day!)

Happy Pink Saturday to you! I wasn't sure if I would be able to participate after our E.R. mole adventure of yesterday. I wasn't able to get any crafting done like I wanted, so didn't have anything papercrafty to show you.

As you may know, I am a HUGE follower of Etsy. (and now Pinterest) I am so inspired by the beauty of photographs. they can truly take my breath away. I just happened upon a new-to-me photographer, Anna Dykema, who happens to hail from Texas, my home state (long may she reign & hook 'em horns!) I want to share just a few beauties from her Etsy shop. please please stop by & visit her. She has an amazing talent. Some day I will own one of her pretties to place upon my wall. Enjoy!

Just when you think life is on an even keel.....

......you get that text that makes you go, "what?"

early this afternoon I received a text from David, who is still in D.C., telling me that Ryan had been bitten by a mole. what did I know about rabies and its treatment? ummmmmm..... hang on a sec..... I was in the middle of happy crafty blurffing and you are telling me a MOLE bit Ryan and he might have rabies?!

so after several conversations between David in Washington D.C, our local dr. who was attending a conference himself, and Ryan out at Camp, it was decided that I was going to take Ry to the E.R. God has blessed us indeed with sons who have such amazing personalities! through it all Ryan stayed so cool and calm. He was nervous at the thought of rounds of rabies shots, which he thankfully did not have to get, and was such a trooper.

He is home with me now, resting in bed with his PSP, and a bit sore from the tetnus shot he did need. will stay on antibiotics for a week and go back in for a checkup. The nurse at Camp will keep an eye on him, too.

Phew.....

A Long Hello! :)

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Spice

I have a long hello for you - a long hello CARD that is! sorry, I just could not resist myself on this one! giggles!

I was so inspired by the beautiful photo over at the Paper Cupcakes blog this week as well as the colors above that I just knew I had to play along in the challenges. I combined all kinds of things from all different mfgs., which I'm sure will have them all spinning in circles, but gosh, I kinda think that is part of the fun of having all of these supplies! :)

the flower stamp you will recognize from yesterday's post - those beautiful flowers from Shady Tree Studios Backyard Spring set. I watercolored the flowers, again used the white gel pen on the stamens, and added little highlights in the center with a gold glitter pen. The jar comes from PTI, as does the little matching ruffle die. the water was stamped onto vellum cs which adds a neat effect irl. I wrinkled the little ruffle bit before adhering to help it look more like fabric. Papers are from K & Co. Ancestory. com collection, as is that gorgeous leaf border sticker. you will see more from that sticker pack in my upcoming moleskin journal I just know! :) lace ruffle was a leftover scrap I applied to the back of the main image using double sided tape. the sentiment is a SU! rub-on. they truly make the very best rub-ons, in my opinion. and I think it is one of those products of theirs that rarely gets noticed, but is absolutely FABULOUS!!!!

the card is sized to fit in a legal envie. edges were inked with vanilla craft.

have a most amazing day! love ya!
Jennifer

p.s. Nancy at Shady Tree Studios has just posted 2 wonderful FREE digital images that are perfect for 4th of July projects! go check them out!

Paper Cupcakes - photo inspiration
Lily Pad Cards - inspiration - Kathy's Lily Pad Palette
House That Stamps Built - watercoloring
Ruby's Rainbow - flowers
Word Play Weekend - blue
SCS Ways to Use it - no white cs
Daring Cardmakers - something old (vellum - found it in a box.... & vintage button), new (PTI stamps & die), blue (paper, inks, flower)

Painted Shady Tree Flowers

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Creme

Good morning! whew.... I had quite the scare on my compy just a bit ago...... after I downloaded the day's updates, I logged onto the internet to discover the dreaded Internet Explorer 9 had snuck its evil little way onto my beloved Sheldon!!!! oh no, I was NOT about to let that happen! after dealing with that monstrosity for a while on David's computer, Sheldor the Conqueror quickly took out the Sword of Justice and sent the horrid infiltrator on its way....... all is safe again and I can peacefully resume my blurffing and inspirational jaunts across cyberspace. disaster averted and joy has returned! grins!

now onto a project - FINALLY you say! I was so inspired by several projects I saw on Nichole Heady's blog recently featuring these glorious swaths of paint that I had to try it for myself. and of course I just HAD to use pink paint! ;) I really like the way it turned out, in my own shabby little style, and will do this again some day soon. I used the flower trio stamps from the Backyard Spring set by Shady Tree Studio. I stamped these in brown staz-on directly over the pink acrylic paint that I brushed onto a page from an old book. the aging on the page's edges is natural, not done with inks this time. Papers are from Basic Grey Curio and Sweet Threads. the little banner die in the upper right corner is from PTI. I adore these sparkly roses from Making Memories! they come with glitter already on them, but I added a bit of stickles to the leaves for a bit more shine. the same stickles was added to the centers of the stamped flowers. I also highlighted the stamens on those same flowers with white gel pen to help them stand out a little from the paint. Couldn't for the life of me find my label maker, which is what I wanted to use to make a sentiment, so opted for these metal tiles I received in a swap eons ago......

All of you have a wonderful day! and big new stuff is coming from Shady Tree in the next few weeks! keep your eyes open for fun! :)

OH MY GOSH I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY IS PINK DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO! GO CELEBRATE! :)

Deep Ocean - flowers
Use it Tuesday - die cut or punch not used before or in a while (banner die)
Hooked on Crafts - Anything Goes
Karen's Doodles - flowers
Simon Says Stamp and Show - metal
Pile it On - metal
Stampin Sisters in Christ - doodles (around the banner die, but gosh, I didn't do a very good job of it.....sigh)
Crafty Emma's - sparkly flowers
Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle - photo inspiration
Stamp Something - pretty papers
Totally Papercrafts - diecuts and punches
Southern Girls - anything goes

Jellypark DT reminder.....

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Nut

Just wanted to post a quickie reminder to everyone that the deadline for Design Team applications for Jellypark is quickly approaching....... hurry hurry and get yours in! you don't want to miss the fun! click here for all of the info.

The new DT will be announced on July 1 and challenges will begin mid month. The newly vamped Jellypark store will also open on the 1st of July. Claire has some little sneak peeks of what is inside over on her art blog.

Hope to be back later to post some crafties! I seem to have been sucked into the beautiful vortex which is Pinterest of late. you can check out my boards by clicking the link on the side bar. I'll also be happy to send you an invite. and yes, if you are on the side bar you will also notice I have entered the world of Twitter. slowly but surely making my way into the Social Network! grins!

ME in my MoleskinE - online class

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

Happy day to all of you! I hope it is grand wherever you find yourself this morning. :)

I want to tell you about an online class I have signed up to take with Kirsty Wiseman - ME in my MoleskinE. Participants will be creating personal, one of a kind journals that reflect so much about the uniqueness of us as CREATIVE individuals. I am super-dee-duper excited about this venture! We have a separate forum where we can all go to chat, ask questions, and just get to know one another before the class begins next week. If you are interested, check out Kirsty's blog here. well gosh, just go check out Kirsty's blog anyway 'cause she is so neat and fun and has some cute little stamps & digis, too! ;) her little geek bug is my fave and will probably play a part in my book, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to any of you who read this blog.............

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes yesterday! y'all are just the best! my friend, Cec, who lives in Canada even surprised me with a personal phone call and her own rendition of the Happy Birthday song! oh she makes my heart overflow with laughter! will call you back today, dear friend!

Well I must toodle off as David leaves today for the church district conference in Washington D.C. and I need to sew some buttons on his blazer. He will be one of the speakers as well as playing in a big golf tournament. funny how those guys sneak in golf as much as they can! tee hee! kinda like some folks I know who find ways to papercraft whenever & wherever..........

p.s. Kirsty has a few cute FREE digis to download if you are interested. click here to be taken to the page in her shop.

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Coffee of the Day - Maple Pecan

I know it is weird to say Happy Birthday to myself, but I am really enjoying this day. it is quiet here - all of the guys are away at Camp, so it is just the dogs, our cat Eliza, and me here at home. I started the day with my delish coffee. I have just been browsing the internet, spending way too much time on Pinterest, but gosh, that place is addicting with so many absolutely gorgeous photos. so much of my inspiration and peace comes from pictures it seems, so I am really enjoying that site. Have great tunes playing in the background - started with the latest Plain White T's CD and now have some David Benoit lite jazz going........

plan to start crafting here in just a bit, but wanted to say to all of YOU how much you are loved & appreciated! you are my gift every day of the year! you bring me joy and smiles and make my heart sing! thank you for being there!

love ya! Jennifer

TLC Blog Candy

Just saw this over at Create with TLC..............

some fun digi blog candy going on so please check it out. every day Paulette faithfully gives away the most amazing digi sentiments and images. I have used many on my papercrafting creations. my flashstick is FILLED with her ditital creations! go check her out at TLC! you will be so happy you did! :)

Happy Father's Day!

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

Good morning and Happy Father's Day to all of you! sorry to have been away..... I was without a computer all week. but I am glad to say that as of today that will no longer be a problem. my family surprised me a brand new compy last night! and in honor of my geekdom I have named it Sheldon after my fave t.v. show, Big Bang Theory. oh how I am loving playing on this beauty! it is truly fabby fabby fabby! they spoil me so....... and I am blessed beyond measure! :)

if any of you have sent me your info for the Jellypark DT, I will be sending out responses later today. I am in the process of getting the compy set up and going through my thousands of emails. we had a cookout with friends last night to celebrate Father's Day early since everyone had to be back at Camp by 10pm. So today is my day to get caught up on the tech stuff. If you don't receive a response back by tonight, then I most likely did not get your app and it is on vaca in cyberspace somewhere.

have a great day and big hugs to you all! love ya!

Check out this video for Jellypark!

Coffee of the Day - Pumpkin Spice



You have GOT to go over to Claire's personal blog for Jellypark, Jellypark Art. She has put up a little promo video that gives a sneak peek into the opening of her store on July 1. oh my gosh, it is just beautiful! her sister sings in the bg and has the most lovely of voices. [ the song comes from 'Sweeney Todd' which I just happened to have watched last week! I was on a Johhny Depp kick, ( well, really who wouldn't be?! tee hee hee! ) and that was one in the collection. ]

please race over and see it! and don't forget about the Design Team call we have going until June 26! Please send in your application. We would love to have you as part of the team! :)

A Fairy Pink Saturday!

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

Happy Pink Saturday to you! oh I love me some pinkyness! :) be sure to stop by all of the pretty blogs to see what other neat things are being shown to you this weekend. I know you will come away smiling!

My card features an image from Jellypark and papers from the Basic Grey Sweet Threads collection. The doily, seam tape, and little punched squares on the tickets were sprayed with frost shimmer to give a pretty sparkle. the fairy's pretty shoes were painted with pink shimmerz & her wings with pearl shimmerz. the grass die comes from My Favorite Things. flowers are Prima and vintage buttons are an Etsy find. the wings on the right of the card are popped up on foam tape an then curled on the ends for some extra dimension. the entire main image oval is adhered with extra thick foam tape. I love this pretty little fairy!

Don't forget that Jellypark is having a DT call until June 26. check out the new challenge blog for more information.

Have a wonderful pink weekend!

Clearly Inspired - distressing
Stampin Sisters in Christ - something new ( my new SU! postage stamp punch!)
Stamp Something - punched or die cut
Crafty Sentiments - sparkle
Pals Paper Arts - signature style (pink & shabby! grins!)
Rainbow Lady - ticket to ride
Digi Stamps 4 Joy - on the wings...
Creative Card Crew - wings
Digital Tuesday - in the garden/outdoors
Kaboodle Doodles - mystical creatures
Magical Monday - recipe
Basic Grey - shabby chic
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Big Big News!!!!!

Coffee of the Day - French Vanilla

Okay, so I was going to wait until this weekend to post this most amazing, fantabulous, exciting, phenom fabby news, but Claire and I just couldn't wait!



Claire of Jellypark is starting a challenge blog and Design Team & she has asked me to help her as co-ordinator of the team! yeah, I know! GET OUT!!!!! was I ever slap me silly, over the top, fallin' outta my chair, screaming out the window happy or WHAT?!?!

you can get all of the info on the challenge blog here. In a nutshell, the DT call is open until Sunday, June 26.it is gonna be soooooooooooooo much fun! and boy-o, are we excited! ;)

Hello!

Coffee of the Day - Toasted Coconut

Hello everyone! no card to post today, but wanted to let you know that yes, I am alive and well. just having troubles getting a computer to use of late. David is staying so late at Camp since things have started, and he oftentimes forgets to bring his laptop home. So that means I not only can't go online, but I can't access any of my digis to print either..... He forgot to take the compy with him today, so I am racing like a madwoman to print out a bunch of images to work on as well as catch up on my bajillions of emails and try to do a bit of blurfing.

In the mean time, check out my right sidebar for some neat blog candy opportunities. free crafty stuff is always fun! :)

and for another bit of great news here on the homefront, both Tyler and Mick made the Dean's List at their respective colleges for this past semester! woooooooooooo hooooooooooo! am I ever one proud Mom!!!! what smart guys! and I am sure Ryan did well, too. can't forget my Super Ry! ;)

y'all take care and I will check back in with ya soon...... oh for a Mysterious Benefactor to get me another computer! tee hee! love ya!

International Skull Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

Coffee of the Day - Vanilla Macadamia Nut

Welcome to my stop on the world famous International Skull Appreciation Day Blog Hop! whew, that is one big mouthful! ;) if you have arrived here from the fabby blog of ***BARB***, then you are right on track. if you get lost during the hop at any time, just jump right over HERE to see the full list.

As I was planning for this most amazing day, I realized that I wanted to make something pretty spectacular to share with someone pretty spectacular who, most importantly, needs to know just how spectacular he really is! 'He' is a 4th grade boy we are just beginning to know thanks to Camp and our Church District. This young guy and his mom have had a pretty tough go of things and he has a few learning disabilities on top of it all. I am so excited that he is going to attend a week of Camp this summer. The Summer Camp theme this year is, "Anchors Away", which is ideal for my project! I thought if our new friend had this waiting for him when he arrived at his cabin, it might remind him just how cool he is and how much God loves him! Plus, coming from the Scull fam, whom he already knows, just adds to the fun! :)

I took a page from a chipboard album and covered both sides in papers from the October Afternoon Night Light collection. sides were sanded and covered in vanilla craft ink. A page from Treasure Island was copied, wrinkled, sprayed with walnut ink, and then burned along the edges to age. I added a wooden pirate ship, foam flag & skull pirate head that were inked along the edges, and a tag made with cardboard. I just love the quote from Thoreau! The mesh fiber trim was then added along the bottom.


Now for that waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cute image - this cutie pirate comes from Claire at Jellypark. isn't he so much fun?!?! he reminds me so much of my guys when they were younger. as with most of my stamping, it was done with inks & watercolor brushes. I did sponge vanilla craft ink over the top of the box to help makes it more like a real cardboard box. Btw - be on the lookout for more news coming here from Jellypark! ;)

just a reminder that there are some intensely cool prizes available during this hop. deets can be found at the beginning, at Terra's blog.

Now sail on over to the wonderful blog of ***TERI***!!!!


Craft Your Days Away - Father's Day/Special Guy
Designed 2 Delight - masculine with no flowers
One Stop Craft - texture
Delicious Doodles - texture
Fussy and Fancy - for a guy
Stamp Something - digi
Fresh Brewed Designs - it's a guy thing
Craft Your Passion - what a guy
Simon Says Stamp - for a guy
Sweet Stamps - masculine