Quickie Stick Chick Mother's Day with Sparkle!

Coffee of the Day - Seattle's Best Cinnabon

Just a quick post today, as I am starting to get behind on some stamping commitments. yep, horrible I know. I HAVE to stamp this weekend. feel my pain?!?! ;)

Anyhoooooo...... my son, Tyler, has a best friend, Nathan, who is a Marine. Nate has been home for 2 weeks on leave and it has truly been wonderful to see him again. All of the boys really love Nate - he is a friend to all of them - more like another brother. Well, he will deploy to Iraq again soon and I wanted to send some cards with him for the soldiers to have to send back home, even from their base in SC. So I loaded him up with a little over 100 cards, some I had made, some I have collected from friends and SU! demos who know that I send cards out to the Marines. This is one that I tossed in the mix.

You know how I love my American Art Stamps stick chicks and Basic Grey! So both came to good use on this card. I added some great sparkly cord & vintage lace trim that I found on Etsy, punched a few flowers & added rhinestones to the centers, inked up a chipboard flower, and then finished it off by doing some paper piercing. I haven't pulled out my paper piercing tool in a while (mainly 'cause I always end up poking myself with the darn thing! ), so decided to give it a go. Thought it was a pretty simple card that will hopefully make some Mom of a Marine somewhere very happy!

When saying your prayers today, please add a special one for all those serving in the armed forces. It isn't about whether or not you agree with the war, they are there putting their lives on the line regardless. And if not in Iraq, then somewhere in the world. Thank you to the American soldiers! We salute you!!!! :)

Jennifer

Celebrate Easter with A Hatching Stick Chick!

Coffee of the Day - Cinnamon Dolce Latte` from Starbucks - yum!

I received my wonderful new stamps from the Janlynn Corporation today! They are so cool and much larger than I was anticipating. Can't wait to start playing with them! The stamps are manufactured under the name 'Stamps Happen' so I'm sure you have seen them in stores everywhere. Be sure to check out the website. Cool stuff to be found for sure! I'll be posting some things from them in the next few days.

I realized that I hadn't shared any Easter cards with you yet - GASP!!! It's horrible, I know! ;) So I pulled out my lovely stick chicks from American Art Stamps and started playing. This card is very simple in style for me, as I'm sure you will notice. Not sure that I care much for it, but hopefully the family I share it with will like it anyhow. The paper is from Doodlebug Designs. Bright colors are just a challenge for me to stamp with. and of course you can imagine how I stuggle with simple!

I hope that all of you are as excited this week as I am! I know that Easter is my all time fave holiday ever! I just love this week!!! now Thursday and Friday tear me to pieces because of the significance of what Jesus did for each and every one of us, and I struggle with the enormity of it all every year (actually every time I stop and think about it, but that is a whole other story if you have several hours!). But gosh, it is also the most beautiful story I could ever think of as well. and so personal to each and every one of us. I hope that you think so, too. My family and I are going to a way cool church this Sunday that has us all excited. The people there are just the most amazing and God-filled you could ever find anywhere. We are so blessed to be able to meet with them and call them friends. So to be able to spend such a phenomenal occassion as Easter with them is just a triple scoop of blessing with a cherry on top!!! :)

Have a great day! May it be all that you hope for!

Jennifer

April Showers bring, well, APRIL flowers!! ;)

Coffee of the Day - Irish Cream (c'mon, get the accent goin' again!)

Well, lo and behold when I woke up this morning it was pouring, pouring, pouring down rain. But I happen to be one of those odd sorts who just loves rainy days, so YIPPPEEEE!!! Don't you just love the way it makes the earth smell and the colors of nature so much more vibrant?!

So in honor of this glorious day, I'm posting this stick chick creation I made yesterday using one of my fave lines of stamps from American Art Stamps. This stamp is called 'Picking Daisies' and is just so much fun! I decided to pair it with papers from Daisy D's, which sadly is going out of business. I love their products, so this makes me quite sad. Lindsey over at Jacksonbelle Embellishments has found some great deals on several of their remaining products, so head over to her store if you have a chance. I kept this card simple, which was tough for me, but did add the polka dots to her top and a little flower in her hat to spruce up things a bit! ;) Buttons are Etsy vintage and SU!, stitching is free hand faux, a big step for me since I'm so freakin' shaky all the time. Between that and the little hat flower I was quite stressed since my hands just don't co-operate, but I think this turned out fun anyhow!

Have a great day! I challenge you in the next few days of crafting to add a little somethin' somethin' extra (like the polka dots or flower) to your creation. Be bold - you can do it! :)

Jennifer

SHINE Personality Challenge Card - Angel Faith

Coffee of the Day - Irish Creme

I am a member of the Christian stampers group, SHINE, over at Paper Crafts Planet. The first challenge was to make a card that reflects your personality with an emphasis on how your faith in Jesus has shaped who you are today. This verse has brought me great comfort during difficult times. I don't think it shows well in the scan, so I will post it here.

'These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.' 1Peter 1:7

I of course used Basic Grey papers, Periphery collection, vintage laces and button, my fave American Art stamps, Adriana Cirstea angel with palm. and finished off with a beautiful prima flower and rhinestones. Shimmerz paints were used here and there (thanks Lindsey, for the tip to paint the edges!) and I brought back out my SU! Linen bg stamp again. The rhinestones are a bit much, but the card was kinda empty without them, and sometimes I'm pretty over the top! (just ask hubby and sons!!!)

Stamper's Dream Challenge - Thanksgiving window card

Coffee of the Day - Irish Creme

Stamper's Dream has a challenge over on the blog to create a Fall card using a window of some sort. Join the challenge, but hurry because the contest ends tomorrow! I'm sorry for posting this late, but I just found about it late last night. Sorry about that! If you upload a card to your SCS gallery, use the code SDDC2 so Michelle can find it. Also as a wonderful side note, she has terrific sale going on at Stamper's Dream until Nov. 30 - 15% off all Holiday stamps and 50% off selected Just Rite products. nope, don't work for her and don't get kick-backs (grins!!) just happen to think she's pretty wonderful and runs a great store!

So I got to stamping today with my lovely stick chicks from American Art Stamps. I had asked last week 'what is your favorite stamp company?'. Several of you responded with some great companies. If I had to choose just one, (and thank goodness I don't!!) it would definitely be this company. I love these stick chicks and the angels by Adriana Cirstea. I could probably be happy to stamp with them forever. But I digress........ (hubby, be quiet, yes I know I do that a LOT!!)

on to the card..... I used this cute "Turkey Dinner" stamp because I wanted to make a Thanksgiving card for the new neighbors moving in next door this week. The sentiment is actually stamped on the interior of the card. Decorative papers are Basic Grey Mellow. All ribbons are May Arts. The leaf in the lower left corner is a felt one with cut-outs that don't show well in the scan for some reason. There are matching felt flowers on the inside of the card. Everyone stay warm today! We have white-out conditions here! So coooooooool - in more ways than one! ;)

SCS Blogger Challenge - Holiday Sparkles Stick Chick & Blog Candy Winner!

Coffee of the Day - Hazelnut Cream
Tea of the Evening - Orange Ginger Mint by The Republic of Tea
(it was cold and rainy tonight and a cuppa tea hit the spot!)

Here is my entry for the Split Coast Stampers Blogger Group 2 Sketch Challenge. Danielle drew up this amazing sketch last week (we have 2 weeks to complete each challenge). and wouldn't you know it - my stampin' mojo just up and disappeared today! I had the best intentions in my wonky head, but man oh man, it didn't transfer to my card AT ALL!!! so sorry, Charlie! I'll try again later if I can get the time because her sketch really is cool.

My papers are from the phenom Basic Grey Wassail collection. Ribbons are May Arts and Stampin' Up! Way cool stamp is American Art Stamps stick chick "Big Ornament". The ornament is covered in crystal effects and the boot tops, dress ruffles, hat pom pom, ornament top, and boot jingle bells are all painted in shimmerz. Poinsettia dew drops are placed in the center of SU! felt snowflakes.

Our Blog Candy Winner for this time is Tiffany! Way to go! In case you wonder how I go about picking a winner - everyone is assigned a number and I ask my middle son to pick a number. (he is totally clueless as to why he is doing this by the way! grins!!!) he has done this twice now and has no idea that he has helped 2 lucky people win some great prizes! well, what do you expect from a teenage boy who has a certain girl and computer games on his mind?!!

Everyone stay warm and dry!

Stick Chick Birthday and Snow Slushies!

Coffee of the Day - Starbucks Cafe Verona with Cinnamon Spice

This is the last of the World Card Making Day cards. It features my fave stick chick by American Art Stamps. These stamps are just so much fun to play with! Not only are there stamps for every holiday and season, but the stamps themselves are top notch, high quality. Papers here are Basic Grey Cupcake. Sentiment, card stock, and ribbon are from Stampin' Up! Buttons came from a great find at Etsy.

We've started up one of our fave winter traditions again - snow slushies! Living here in the heart of the snow belt, we get well over 100" of snow each winter. So when it starts getting thick, the boys and I get our cups and go collect good, clean snow. Pack it tight, then fill with your favorite juice. Voila! a snow slushie! Sometimes we combine several juices to create a delicious treat - cranberry and orange juice is one of my favorites. These are sooooooooo good! Try one for yourself! :)

Crate Paper Stick Chick Love

Coffee of the Day - Starbucks Cafe Verona with Cinnamon Spice

Sorry to be late posting today. Spent the morning at the doctor's office and clinic. Ended up getting x-rays. The dr. thinks that I may have fractured some of my ribs when I fell a few weeks ago. pffftttt........ I am such a clumsy oaf! :) I always say - Can you imagine what I would be like if I DIDN'T have those 8 years of ballet??!!? So I am whooppped after being poked and bent into really weird shapes by the x-ray tech. Gonna try to hit the House Mouse Monday Challenge in a bit. Enjoying some coffee first! GRINS!!

Here is another of my World Card Making Day projects. love, love, love those stick chicks! This paper is actually from a Christmas collection by Crate Paper. It is both sides - dots and green. The diagonal stripe is also from their holiday collection. I challenge you to 'think outside the box' when it comes to holiday/theme papers. You'd be surprised at how often you can use these for something other than the holiday they were intended for. The heart is from Prima and is sooooo glittery shiny!! The sentiment is Clearly Wordsworth, brads are Stampin' Up!, and ric rac is from Walmart in the notions aisle. (great trims to be found there, by the way!)

It snowed here last night and all day today! yipppeeeeeee! I'm lovin' it! We have about an 1"-2" accumulated on the ground. It is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Thank you, God, for this beautiful treat!

Have a wonderful day! and thank you so much for all of your kind and gracious comments. It makes my day!

Jennifer

It's a GLORIOUS Day!

Coffee of the Day - Chocolate Cream

I hope that you are having a great day so far! A friend of mine loves to use the word 'glorious', and I truly believe that is what today is - GLORIOUS!!!!

So to honor that, I am posting a card that I made for the Paper Crafts World Card Making Day contest. I obviously didn't win, but love this card anyhow. (I'll be showing you the cards I made for the contest over the next few days.)

It uses the American Art Stamp Angel by Adriana Cirstea. I also used my fave 'go to' papers, Basic Grey Stella Ruby. The music comes from an old hymnal, and the lace is vintage as well. The flower circle pieces are covered in butter cream shimmerz, as is the main image. The whole thing just GLOWS! What I didn't show in this scan was the little flower that I added under the slanted sentiment at the bottom. (not sure what I was thinking when I scanned it early - probably just in too big a hurry!) Anyhow, I hope that you like this card. It is pretty special to me. Glad to know that Paper Crafts sent all cards that didn't win to our troops stationed overseas. Isn't that just so cool?!

Well I hope and pray that your day is GLORIOUS! God has something beautiful to show you today - just for YOU! Keep your eyes open!

and don't forget that today is the last day to sign up for blog candy! hurry, hurry!

Double Fun Card Design

Coffee of the Day - Starbucks Decaf Verona with a pinch of cinnamon spice!

Good morning! I hope that you are having a wonderful Sunday! Thank you to everyone for the kind comments about my blog! They sure do mean a lot to me! I'm in the process of 'prettying up' my blog, so each time you check back there may be something new and a little different than before.

I wanted to show you 2 cards that I made yesterday. I had a stick chick stamp from American Art Stamps that was begging to see ink, so I decided to try something a little different. I used the same image and layout to create 2 totally different cards. Goes to show you how papers, embellishments, and colors can completely change the feel of a project.

Give it a try today and then post back here. I would love to see your creations! Add a link so that we can all visit!





Everyone have a wonderful day! Enjoy!
Jennifer

Hello and Welcome!! :)

Coffee of the Day - Butter Pecan

How exciting! My first post on my brand, spankin' new blog! just gives me goosebumps!

I hope that all of you enjoy visiting here. I am an avid stamper and papercrafter who just loves the creativity of playing with paper and embellishments! I also find it very relaxing, unless of course I'm working on a deadline! ;)

I hope to post here several times a week, showing various items that I have made. You will also find my faith in God coming through, as my relationship with Him is my most prized. I am a mother of 3 amazing teenage boys, married to my college sweetheart. Yes, I am blessed indeed! :) I am also a coffee addict, so you will see my 'coffee of the day' listed with each post. just a little something fun to add to your day!

now for one of my creations.....

I made this card using the MOST AMAZING stamps from American Art Stamp Company. The angels are designed by Adriana Cirstea. These are probably some of my most fave stamps ever designed!!! I wanted my first post to reflect my belief that God loves us so very much and never leaves our sides. This card was made for someone who just discovered that they have advanced cancer. The inside reads "God Bless." I'm hoping that it brings a certain degree of comfort.

The papers are by Basic Grey from the Stella Ruby collection. I think that is probably one of my favorite lines by them. The main angel image was first painted with Butter Cream Shimmerz and then stamped. From there I used a blender pen to fill in the image. I used a white gel pen to accent the wings. I am really into the shabby chic/vintage look, so I pulled out some vintage laces, seam binding, and a button from my wonderful stash of supplies. The edges were distressed with ink and the paper distressing tool to complete the aged look. Check out the Shimmerz blog for lots of wonderful ideas and contests!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I will be posting some 'welcome' blog candy in the next week or so, so be sure to check back soon!

Have a wonderful weekend! :)
Jennifer