Catching Up and a Sympathy Card

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Maple Walnut coffee

Surprise! I am back! :)

I know that I have been away for a VERY long time, but so much has been going on over here. for those of you who have stuck around, I am very thankful. sending you big hugs and much love! :)

I am still dealing with seizures. yeah, yuck, I know. have several a day still. am trying something different that SEEMS to be working, but they haven't gone away yet. crossing fingers, toes, eyes, ears, and everything else I can think of in hopes that it helps. those things wear me OUT! ;)

had another health scare that we are trying to figure out on top of that. yeah, when it rains and all of that fun. but hey, still blessed! :D Palmer & Moon Pie keep me smiling every day, as do the lovely birds I watch at the feeder and the squirrels & chippies that scamper along below it. gotta keep smiling!

I am also working behind the scenes on Ryan & Elizabeth's wedding as well as getting things ready to hopefully open my Etsy store in February. exciting stuff!

Dave's dad passed away on Christmas Day. just going to say that it's been very difficult for everyone for many reasons.

a dear friend's son passed away suddenly, leaving behind a wife and children. it has devastated them, needless to say. a card seems so inadequate, but it is something that I can do, in addition to prayer. so I went into my craft room and made this....

used the "Waterfront" stamp set by SU! and sentiment is from the Reverse Confetti set, "Tall Blooms."  it was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest using the Waterfront set. the gingham plaid paper is my favorite from Authentique. card base is stamped with the "Burlap" bg stamp, also by SU!

vintage buttons & ticket are from my stash, little flowers & leaves are by Petaloo, linen thread is from SU!, washer is a found item (much to hubby's embarrassment when I picked it up off of the ground! grins!), and tab punch is by EK Success. celery green ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

I will have blog candy to post, hopefully over the weekend, to say thank you to those of you who have so kindly stayed as followers of my blog. you will need to be a follower to be eligible, which I don't normally do. this is just my way to show my appreciation for those of you who have hung around! :)

much love to you and have an absolutely fantastic day! :)
Jennifer

Challenges:
Crop Stop - anything goes w/a vendor carried in the Crop Stop store (Authentique, EK Success, Scotch foam mounting tape - for main image)
Get Creative - anything goes
Make My Monday - use words or a sentiment
Fashionable Stamping - anything goes w/rubber stamping
Corrosive - anything goes
Inkspirational - use kraft (card base and one of the ink colors)
Artistic Stamper - anything goes w/rubber stamping
Happy Craft - anything goes
Southern Girls - anything goes
Dream Valley - anything goes

So Proud of You Steampunk Chemistry Card

Top Pick at Pile it On
Coffee/Tea of the Day - Tea Thyme (currant, citrus, and thyme - without a doubt one of my very favorite teas!)

Hello, everyone! Before I forget, the place in Ann Arbor, Michigan where I order all of my delicious teas is having a sale on some of their classic Japanese green tea. they only charge a very minimal shipping fee, so check out the store if you think you might be interested.  the sale is for a limited time only, so hurry over! my hubby only likes green tea, so we have tried several of these. we also enjoy many of their herbal blends. I like all kinds of tea, and have yet to find any of theirs that I don't enjoy. they are great both hot and cold. :)

The card I am sharing today is made for our oldest son. You might remember that he moved to Delaware this spring to start a new job. We just learned that not only has he done well in his job, but he has received a promotion! :) Tyler works in a laboratory and now oversees the entire operation as the Supervisor. They are training him to be the Department Manager! I am so very proud of him! :)

so of course I had to make a card for him. that is what all crafty moms do, right?!

the images come from The Graphics Fairy and Create with TLC. papers are from my beloved Basic Grey stash, this time from the Origins collection.  I used the mini gears stencil from The Crafters Workshop over the base sheet of designer paper, which was then edged in Sensational Sage embossing powder by WOW!.

main image die is by Spellbinders, banner die is by SU!, and wheel cog dies are by Tim Holtz. tag is stamped with Prima stamps and tied with seam binding  from Zipper Stop which has been distressed with several shades of ink. burlap flower is from Petaloo. vintage buttons and metal cogs are from my stash.

for those of you who have asked and left such kind comments, I am still dealing with my seizures on a daily basis. sometimes they are really bad and it's hard to get out of bed. other days I am able to get to my craft room for a few hours. at this point we are just hoping I am able to go to Tyler and Danielle's wedding next month. most of the time just trying to get Palmer outside to go to the bathroom causes me to go into seizures, so getting to a wedding is a big prayer. I can't ride in a car without them taking place either. but we have lots of hope and faith. :) and in the scheme of things, I have so very much to be thankful for. these are more annoying than anything.

Thanks so much for stopping by! love to all of you!
Jennifer

Challenges:
Shopping Our Stash - get krafty (card base, matting piece, cog die cuts)
TTCRD - anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes
Card Mania - anything goes
Creative Crafters - anything goes
Use Your Stuff - anything goes (with a title or sentiment)
Pile it On - vintage/retro
A Vintage Journey - get sentimental
Crafting by Designs - anything goes
Simon Says Stamp Wed - anything goes
WAW - anything encouraging goes

Magical Coffee Unicorn Cup

Coffee/Tea of the Day - Butter Rum coffee

Today's card showcases lots of new things for me. isn't it fun to try out new techniques and products on your projects from time to time? :)

over at the Coffee Loving Cardmaker's blog, there is a neat mini challenge going on to use products from any of the Super Sponsors. I was blessed to receive a great kit from WOW embossing powders, so I knew that I wanted to use some of the things included. But during the last blog hop, I also picked up this great 'Unicorn Coffee Cup image' from Crafting Desert Divas. so this seemed like the perfect time to put all of these fun items together onto a card!

I created the background paper by taking several shades of distress oxide inks and sponging them onto white cardstock. The distress oxide ink pads can be found at Super Sponsor Ellen Hutson. I then spritzed with water.

I took the Prima Crackle stencil, added WOW clear embossing ink and the WOW bonding powder, heat set, and then the gold foil that is also available from WOW.  there is a bit of a learning curve with the bonding powder and the foil, as the foil needs to be applied while the melted powder is still warm. I sure do love the way this looks, especially with that stencil. it creates a gorgeous veining similar to what you would find  in rock formations. so cool!!! EH also carries the WOW products in the USA.

I used the distress oxide inks to color most of the cutey unicorn cup. not so sure I will use them for watercoloring again.  I think they are better suited for regular stamping due to the nature of the ink. but for my first time using these inks, it was fun to experiment.  I added touches of a wink of stella glitter pen to the horn and little pearls to the flower centers.

ribbon & gold cord are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. flowers are from Petaloo and Wild Orchid Crafts.

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Challenges:
Coffee Loving Cardmakers Super Sponsors Challenge - Crafting Desert Divas, WOW embossing powders, Ellen Hutson
Cute Card Thursday - ribbons & bows
Crafting With an Attitude - anything goes
Crafting by Designs - anything goes
The Crafty Addicts - anything goes w/optional pets theme (why yes, I would love to have a pet unicorn!)
Tuesday Throwdown - color challenge
Always Fun - anything goes
613 Avenue Create - create your own bg paper
Crafty Friends - fairy or fantasy
Di's Digi - try something new (distress oxide inks, foils)
Simply Create Too - no pattern paper

Under the Sea Altered Nuts Can

Top 3 Pick at Sparkles Monthly Challenge
Highlighted Project at Use Your Stuff
Winner at Sunsational Stamps
Top 3 Pick at The Fairy and the Unicorn
Coffee/Tea of the Day - Sweet Pear tea

Hello! Happy Monday! :)
I hope you had a great weekend! I apologize that I haven't had a craft project to share with you in a while.  These seizures and migraines are really doing a number on me. Unfortunately they seem to be getting worse rather than better, much to my dismay. I am using my cane to get around much more often, as opposed to just 'holding on to the walls' as I usually do to get around the house. Yesterday it was easier to just stay in bed, because I found myself falling down  every time I tried to stand or walk.  this is not fun, folks. :( I want to be out enjoying the sunshine and bird songs and the smell of grass and good stuff of summer. oh well. maybe soon.

 anyhow, enough of the icky stuff.  I had wanted to have this project completed in time to celebrate World Oceans Day and the March for the Oceans. I had planned to attend a nearby march, but of course I couldn't. taking care of our waterways and the beautiful creatures that live in them is very important to me.

So I created this altered project using a mixed nuts can. Since becoming a vegetarian over the past few years, we eat lots of nuts. :) I save the cans for my projects, and thought it would be fun to make this for Tyler and Danielle to put the shells and beach glass they collect on their honeymoon this fall.

I gathered images from The Graphic Fairy (anchors), Create with TLC (fish), and SU! (fish rubber stamp).  papers are from the Authentique Sea Maiden collection, and flowers are from both Wild Orchid Crafts & Petaloo. all ribbons and trims are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. sea horse and sand dollar dies are by Tim Holtz.

The background base paper was sprayed with Tattered Angels pearl glimmer mist. This is one of my favorite sprays for a glorious all over sparkle, but especially for water scenes. Essentially every piece of paper or cardstock used on here was sprayed with this glimmer mist at least once. :)

From there I created the sand portion. I used the actual sand designer paper from Authentique, but then sprayed it with the Tattered Angels walnut gold & pearl regular glimmer mists and the Hot Chocolate Chalkboard glimmer mist. once these had dried I stippled a bit of gesso over the top to give a bit of texture. this piece of dsp was then adhered around the bottom with foam tape.

The seahorses were distressed with white craft and crumb cake inks and then sprayed with the pearl & Atlantic glimmer mists. I added a little bead for the eyes. torn cardboard was distressed with white craft ink. the floral anchor piece was edged in gold glitter glass. I used a little fern punch by Martha Stewart to replicate sea plants. they were distressed and inked. The top has a wonderful burlap doily and neat flower that I came across a few years ago in my travels, knowing that it would be perfect on some project. looks like this was the one! :)

Pearl beads and metallic beads by Prima add more texture along the ocean floor. Real shells & beach glass pieces, along with postage stamps and vintage laces & buttons help to complete the project.

I hope you have enjoyed my little altered project today. Enjoy your day!
Jennifer

Challenges:
Canvas Corp - To the Sea (Tattered Angels pearl, walnut gold, Hot Chocolate, & Atlantic glimmer mists)
613 Avenue Create - anything goes w/optional buttons & bows theme
Dragonfly Dreams - anything goes
Corrosive Challenges - anything goes
Catch the Bug - make a splash
Fairy and the Unicorn - anything mystical/mythical (mermaids, on card)
Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media - layers
Let's Craft and Create - anything goes w/punch it optional theme (Martha Stewart fern punch)
Not Just Cards - anything goes
Sparkles - sea shells
Sunsational Stamps - beach
Crafter's Cafe - tic tac toe: lace, patterned paper, ribbon
CRAFT - add ribbon and sparkle (sparkle comes from the numerous glimmer mists, pearl beads, and beach glass. it has a lovely shine irl)
Use Your Stuff - magical (mermaids, on card)
Altered Eclectics - anything altered or mixed media

Holiday Die Exchange Cards

Coffee of the Day - Bourbon Pecan with Eggnog

Woooo Hoooo! It's Saturday!

So have all of you recovered from holiday and new year festivities? has life gotten back to whatever form of normal is at your house? hopefully it will at our home in the next few days. we have had company in and out ever since before Christmas. it's been wonderful seeing so many people, but I do confess it will be nice to have a bit less stressful environment again. ;)

The Digi Bells Design Team had a fun card and gift exchange over the holidays. Each of us created a card for one team member and then also sent a collection of dies. it was a wonderful treat to receive such a beautiful handmade card from one of our teammates and know that they had spent so much time creating it just for us. :)

I'm sharing with you both the card I made as well as the fabulous gift package I received. I sent my card to Alethea along with some fun dies I found from Whimsy Stamps. I also included one of Elisabeth's lovely rubber stamps, because at the time, Alethea had been having trouble with her printer. this way she would have a back-up anytime she wanted to use one of Elisabeth's wonderful images! :)

First up is the card I made. I used 'Sweet Country Christmas' and lots of fun holiday embellies. papers are from a pack I found at Hobby Lobby, buttons and holly sprigs are from my vintage stash, and distressed seam binding is from Zipper Stop. 'Believe' wood veneer is from Michael's, poinsettia is by Petaloo, and other flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. main image and matting dies are by Spellbinders. banner die is from SU!

This is the GORGEOUS card and die assortment I received from the VERY talented, Lynda! isn't it fabulous??!!!? and I know that I will use these dies quite a bit on projects. :) she used the cutey 'Meadow Magic' image on the card she made for me.

Enjoy your weekend! :)

Challenges:
Crafty Friends - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Ch - anything Christmas goes
Creative Corner - anything goes
Creative Fingers - anything goes
Jingle Belles - no time like the presents
Fab 'n Funky - little girls

Merry Christmas, Little Elf!

Winner at Glitter 'N Sparkle

Coffee of the Day - Bourbon Pecan

Merry Christmas! the day we've all been waiting for is here! :) I hope and pray you are surrounded by people who love you and appreciate the fabulous person you are!!!!!

I am sharing the last of my Christmas creations with all of you today. this one was made for a very special young lady, and I am told she really liked it. :)

I used the adorable "Elf 3" image from Bugaboo and the current sketch for their Stella Says Sketch challenge. stickles, shimmerz paint, Viva Decor pearl pen, and a clear wink of stella glitter pen were used to accent the main image.

papers are from the Authentique Retro Christmas collection. sentiment above the image is by Create with TLC and the stamped sentiment is from Unity Stamps. main die is by Spellbinders and holly flourish die is by Cheery Lynn. little poinsettias are from Petaloo. lace trim and buttons are vintage. tiny jingle bell is by SU!

after my crazy, crazy past few weeks, I am taking several days off to recuperate! I will be back on Tuesday to post the winners of my GIU week though. see you then! :)

Challenges:
Stella Says Sketch - blast from the past
Creative Knockouts - Christmas Delight
Come and Get It - Christmas
Glitter 'N Sparkle - Christmas with glitter
Crafty Friends - sparkle
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - add a sentiment

A Joyous Season Non-Traditional Christmas Card

Coffee of the Day - Eggnog

Christmas Eve is upon us and the mice are certainly stirring at my house! we are busy busy busy getting ready for the big day! :)

I had so much fun with my Growing in Unity week that I thought I would give all of you a bonus day! :)

The card I am sharing with you is one that Tyler gave to his future in-laws. they are big nature buffs like we are, so it might be a bit non-traditional, but it fit them to a T!

I first created the base by mixing up a modge podge of colors using gelatos and SU! ink refills on watercolor paper. this was sprayed very lightly with water.

once it dried, I stamped the trees from "A Joyous Season" stamp set. the deer were fussy cut from SU! natural vanilla cs. 

little smidgens of moss and flowers by Petaloo were added. a bow made from natural ribbon that I picked up last year at World Market wraps around the upper portion of the card. red tinsel trim holds a few rusty bells.

I'll have a post tomorrow, but completely understand if you are too busy with your family to stop by. Merry Christmas to all of you! may your day overflow with happiness and joy! :)

Jennifer

An Altered Bottle for GIU, but you have to keep it a secret!!! shhhh.......

Coffee of the Day - Black Nutty Fudge

oh so sad...... today is my final Growing in Unity (GIU) day..... I have had a wonderful time both making and sharing my projects with all of you! I hope you have enjoyed stopping by for your daily coffee and inspiration! :)

I've saved the biggest of my projects for last, but you have to keep it a secret. you see, this is a present for my husband and he can't see it before Christmas! ;) I tell ya, keeping him from seeing it as I was making it was a doozy! all of the layers took a while to dry, so keeping this in different places he wouldn't come across it was quite the challenge!

I started with an empty bottle of his favorite Rye whiskey. after first painting with a layer of gesso, I added at least 8 different layers of various colors of acrylic paint. I then lightly sanded the bottle to reveal the assorted layers underneath, at times sanding all the way down to the bare glass.

I then stamped leaves from the Layers of Life "Love Never Leaves" set all over the bottle with Prima chalk ink. I used the SU! ink squirty tool to spray ink droplets.

one side of the bottle is stamped with the "What the Buck" stamp. the other side is stamped with trees and the deer from the "...A Joyous Season" sentiment set.

seed pods and moss, in addition to mulberry flowers, decorate the bottle.

I also made clay leaves by stamping the leaves from the same Layers of Life "Love Never Leaves" set right into clay and then baking. small holes for hanging were made prior to baking.

distress crackle paint was applied once all of the other elements were added. I just love the way this ages and distresses any project! it is great on these altered bottles! :)

Thank you again for all of your lovely, encouraging comments this week! you have brought such joy into my heart, that is for certain!

be sure to leave a comment on any of my GIU posts for a chance to win your very own Unity grab bag of stamps!

I hope for you and yours a most blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! I'll be seeing you in 2017! may your days overflow with peace and joy! :)
Jennifer

Challenges:
Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes
Sunny Day - anything goes
Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends - anything goes
We Love to Create - anything mixed media goes
Crafting with an Attitude - anything goes

A Vintage Merry Christmas for GIU

Coffee of the Day - Butter Rum

We're to my mid week project for Growing in Unity (GIU) and I am going to show all of you what my typical card style is really like....  :)

As I was browsing through the Unity store one day looking for stamps for this week, I came across this gorgeous stamp by Susan Weckesser called "World of Christmas." I instantly fell in love!

oh good golly, look at all of that vintage glory!!! doesn't it just make you swoon right in your computer chair?! into my shopping cart it went!

I stamped the image onto natural vanilla cs from Stampin' Up! and only used a q-tip to shade it. this helps give such an ethereal, shabby look to the piece.

papers are from the Basic Grey Evergreen collection, flowers are an assortment from Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo, and Hobby Lobby, and lace & buttons are from my vintage stash.

corner snowflake die is by Creative Expressions and large rectangular die is by Spellbinders. a gold doily, distressed seam binding snippet tied with linen thread, and rusty jingle bell finish the card. a wink of stella glitter pen was brushed over the 'Merry Christmas' to give it a light sparkle.

thank you so much for stopping by today for my coffee of the day! I hope you have enjoyed the things I've created for you so far! :)

be sure to leave a comment on any of my GIU posts for a chance to win a Unity grab bag of stamps!

see you tomorrow! :)
Jennifer

Challenges:
Fussy and Fancy - angels and fairies or winter
Morgan's Art World - anything goes
QKR - Christmas cards
Holly Jolly Christmas - Christmas card or abc
Inky Chicks - Christmas in traditional colors

Christmas is Love AND Gingerbread Men

Top Pick at Crafty Catz

Coffee of the Day - Starbuck's Holiday Blend

It's Saturday and Christmas is right around the corner! How are your preparations coming? I feel a bit like a hamster on a treadmill, to tell you quite honestly. ;) lots of running and running and not getting anywhere! grins!

I'm sharing a new card with all of you today, made with one of the cutey freebies Elisabeth Bell so graciously sends into the mailboxes of all of her newsletter subscribers. I sure hope each of YOU has signed up for the newsletter! if not, just pop over here right away.

The little image is called "Gingerbread Man Corner" and I've paired it with a sentiment from Create with TLC. by using png formatted images, layering is super easy!

papers are some fun ones I found on a recent trip to Michael's. main and matting die are by Spellbinders, tree die  from Sizzix, and holly flourish die is by Cheery Lynn. little poinsettias are from Petaloo. vintage buttons and twine are from my stahs. some little accent dots were added to the card base border with my white gel pen for interest.

enjoy your weekend!
Jennifer

Challenges:
Art by Miran - anything goes
Crafty Catz - anything goes
Jingle Belles - I think it's an anything Christmas theme?
DL Art - any winter holiday
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - cute Christmas
Die Cut Divas - layer it up
Polkadoodles - traditional Christmas

A Bittersweet Christmas Post....

Winner at Holly Jolly Christmas Challenges

Coffee of the Day - Maple Fudge

Today's Christmas card marks my last as a Design Team member over at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra challenge blog. it makes me sad, but all good things come to a close so new ones can begin. :) I am so grateful to the time I had with these lovely ladies!

I'll be on the lookout for a new year round Christmas challenge blog to join, so will keep all of you posted as to how that goes. I love to make Christmas cards! :)

for my card, I used the cutey Winter Bird House image by Bugaboo, our constant, image was printed onto kraft cs and snow was colored with a pencil.  stickles was added over the top for a touch of shine and sparkle. wonderful sponsor. papers are from a neat pad I picked up at Target.

holiday twine was wrapped around the main image, which was cut with a Spellbinders die. upper corner is embellished with a poinsettia by Petaloo and holly leaves & berries from Wild Orchid Crafts. a little ribbon snippet peaks out for a touch of fun and whimsy. :) a doily and vintage button add interest along the border while a Unity Stamps sentiment completes the card.

enjoy your day and I'll see you back here tomorrow with another crafty project! :)

Challenges:
Creative Moments - anything goes
Fab 'n Funky - glitter & sparkle
Holly Jolly Christmas - anything Christmas
Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes
Christmas with the Cuteys - anything Christmas and cute
Dream Valley - Christmas
Melonheadz - winter is here
Creative Knockouts - winter wonderland/festive fun

Christmas Curls in July

Coffee of the Day - Pecan Toffee

Hello and Happy Friday!

It's Christmas in July! have you made any of your holiday cards yet? there are so many cuties available in Elisabeth Bell's digi shop, and if you subscribe to her newsletter, you just might find a few popping into your mailbox, too! :)

One of those freebies that showed up in my inbox was this adorable image, 'Christmas Curls.' isn't she precious with her little kitty?! since we have just rescued a cat here in our home, this one really struck a chord with me. in face my own kitty cat is sitting in his special bed right here on top of the desk beside me as I type this post! yes, he might just be a bit spoiled, but as a rescue, he has a right to be! :)

papers are from the Basic Grey Evergreen collection, main die is by Spellbinders, pretty snowflake border die is by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions, and little flower is by Petaloo. lace along bottom, buttons, and holly sprig are all vintage stash. pink seam binding (distressed) and gold cord are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. tag was sprayed with glimmer mist. distress stickles were added to holly berries and shimmerz was painted onto bells of main image. some faux stitching and a burlap doily complete the card.

this is my last post on the Digi Bell blog as a guest designer, and I have had such a lovely time! I still have a few more posts with them, but no more on the blog. it's sure been a fun ride!

it's also a mid month posting over at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra challenge, so be sure to link up those Christmas cards you are making!

have a great weekend! :)
Jennifer

Challenges:
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - anything Christmas goes
Whoopsi Daisy - Christmas in July
Crafty Sentiments - anything goes
Classic DT Challenge - anything goes
World Wide Open DT Challenge - anything goes
Craft Rocket - anything goes
Crafting With an Attitude - anything goes
Crimbo Crackers - anything Christmas goes
DL Art July linky party - anything goes
Little Miss Muffet - anything goes
Kraftin' Kimmie's Wonderful Wed - anything goes
Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Candy Cane Stocking Sketch

Coffee of the Day - Caramel Bread Pudding

As part of the week long Christmas in July fun going on over at the Bugaboo challenge and inspiration blog, today is all about using a cool sketch. don't forget the great sale in the store, too! half off of everything until the end of the month is a deal that can't be beat! :)

for my card I'm using the pretty 'Candy Cane Stocking' image and papers from the Basic Grey 25th and Pine collection. you'll be seeing quite a bit from this collection during this week! :)

the shine from the gold doily threw the camera off, so I do apologize for that. my photo editing skills are not the greatest either, as we all know. so very sorry.

pretty flower is from Petaloo, ribbon snippets are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, while lace and twine are from my stash. buttons are from my vintage collection. I used a gold glitter gel pen to add accents to the main image and a gold marker to add dots to the card base.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope your day is filled with all that makes you smile! :)

Challenges:
Ike's World - Christmas in July
Art by Miran - anything goes
TTCRD - anything goes
The Crazy Ch - lace
Glory of Christmas - 2 or more patterned papers (I have used 3)
Broken Fairy - Christmas in July
Fab 'n Funky - 2 or more designer papers (I have used 3)
12 Months of Christmas - anything Christmas goes with optional bloom theme

Message in a Bottle Mermaid

Crafting By Designs Spotlight
World Wide Open Design Team Favorite

Coffee of the Day - Maple Fudge

Hello to all of you! the weekend is just around the corner! can you see signs of it yet? ;)

We have a new challenge over on the Aud Sentiments blog with an 'Under the Sea plus a sentiment' theme. our sponsor is the ever so lovely Aurora Wings, and we all know you want a chance to win that prize! there are some gorgeous projects on the blog to inspire your creativity, so go take a looksie!

I am using the beautiful 'Mermaid's Wish' image on my card today. isn't she gorgeous? the paper is some I had made originally for Mick's set of octopus cards. I made enough knowing that I had this beauty to create, too. ;) they were made with gelatos, glimmer mist, and SU! ink refills on watercolor paper. doily is sprayed with a lovely glimmer mist mixture as well.

flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts & Petaloo, a Martha Stewart fern punch was used to replicate coral and seaweed, dies are both by Spellbinders, and buttons are from my vintage stash. sentiment, cheesecloth bg stamp (hard to see on the handmade paper), and my ever fave little banner punch are by SU!

moss mini ric rac ties a bow made from foxglove hand dyed silk ribbon and natural burlap string. I had to add some little shells to complete the card. they seemed the perfect touch for this undersea world! :) touches of shimmerz paint and the wink of stella glitter pen were added to the main image for some extra shine and sparkle.

thank you so much for stopping by! enjoy your day!
Jennifer

Challenges:
Aurora Wings - a touch of class
Classic DT Open Ch - anything for a DT
Crafting By Designs - once upon a time (I think mermaids work with a fairy tales, don't you?)
House That Stamps Built - use 2 or more stamps (3 here - digital main image as well as sentiment and cheesecloth bg stamp on handmade paper)
World Wide Open DT Ch - anything goes
Emerald Faeries - anything goes
Paper Shelter - sentimental
Crafty Creations - tic tac toe (sentiment, image, tag)
Digi Choosday - add a sentiment
Craft Dee BowZ - anything goes with a bow
Use Your Stuff - color challenge
Ribbon Girls - any card with ribbon
Cupcake Inspiration - photo inspiration
Pile it On - tic tac toe (twine/ribbon, image, tag/ticket)
Creative Craft Cottage - fave color combo (I am really enjoying using these jewel tones lately)

Thank You Camping Scene

Coffee of the Day - Maple Fudge

Thought today I would share with you a card requested by Ryan before he took off for his summer internship in Indiana. he actually requested 3, so will share them bit by bit when other commitments don't need to be posted. plus, it gives me an excuse to think about him! :) this one is for a friend of his who loves to go camping.

The images are from one of my favorite, although retired, stores - The Doodle Garden by Jenn Nilson. I was honored to be on her Design Team for a while. what a truly lovely person!

papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy collection, small flower and leaf are by Petaloo, long leaf if by Prima, sentiment is by Create with TLC, banner die is from SU, and main image die is Spellbinders. some brown twill ribbon wraps around the top of the banner, a bit of inked, torn cardboard placed in the corner, and then faux stitching added for interest. a few buttons from my stash complete the card.

enjoy your day! :)

Challenges:
Allsorts - the great outdoors
A Gem of a Challenge - weather
Crafty Calendar - Father's Day/for a male
Creative Corner - just for men
Dragon's Lair - one for the guys
Kitty Bee - masculine cards/cards for Dad
Polkadoodles - one for the boys
Sasayaki Glitter - for a male

Follow Your Heart Sailor Pup

Coffee of the Day - Spiced Pecan

As we begin a new month, I am so excited to share with all of you the news that I have been asked to be a Guest Designer over at Sandra Caldwell Stamps' Facebook group for all of February! this is going to be so much fun!!!! if you aren't a member of the group yet, it's super easy to join. and everyone there is super nice and encouraging. there's also a neat progressive challenge going on that lasts for 2 months. do join us! :)

Every Monday, Sandra has been adding new images to her Etsy store. today she'll be adding this cutie I used on my card, 'Doggie Sailor, #254' in addition to several others. head on over to see what's new!

papers are from the Basic Grey Adrift collection. I hand cut the half circle for the sun, using my protractor as a guide. triangles were punched with a SU! punch.

the sentiment on the tag is a stamp is from My Favorite Things. main image die is Spellbinders and light house die is by Whimsy Stamps. flower is by Petaloo, sequins are from Lawn Fawn, and poppy red diamond satin ribbon & light blue burlap string are from Really Reasonable Ribbon. buttons are from my vintage stash. accent dots were made with a white gel pen.

I also added highlights to the main image with my wink of stella glitter pen & spica clear glitter pen.

thank you so very much for stopping by my blog today! :)

Challenges:
Creative Fingers - anything goes
Jo's Scrap Shack - anything goes
The Stamping Boutique - punches (triangle & tag)/dies (light house & main image)
Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wed - anything goes
Crafty Friends - animals or birds
Simon Says Stamp Mon Ch - ray of sunshine

A Pirate Parrot's Adventure

Coffee of the Day - Maple Fudge

Happy New Year to all of you!
yes, I just shared a card with you a short time ago and now have another! no, it's not going to be like this all year long in 2016, I promise!  just at the beginning of every month, so I hope you will bear with me. :)

Crafts Galore Encore is sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy Digi Stamps in January, and our theme for the challenge is 'Anything Goes.'

I have used the cutey Pirate Parrot 2 on my card. he just makes me smile and was such a joy to paint! :)  designer papers and anchor sticker are from the Basic Grey Adrift collection, little flower is by Petaloo, and enamel dots are some I made. Black burlap string is from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I used my SU! ink squirty tool on the main image. some day I'll figure out the name of that thing! ;) little banner punch is also by SU!  oh yes, I partially embossed the card base with the parquet embossing folder by Crafter's Companion.

Enjoy your day! I look forward to what 2016 has in store for all of us! :)

Challenges:
QKR - Feathers or Fur
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
Paper Shelter - anything goes
Creative Card Crew - anything goes
Allsorts - anything but Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes
CRAFT - anything goes

Snow Much Fun Album for the RRR Blog Hop

Winner at Paradise of Stamps
Runner Up Winner at World Wide Open Design Team Challenges

Coffee of the Day - Blueberry Coffee Cake

Welcome to my stop on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop! :) You should have come here from the gorgeous blog of GINNY! man oh man, can that lady craft! I know you were inspired by what she showed you. :)

if at any time you lose your way along the hop, just head over to the RRR blog, and you will find the complete list there. :)

we are all showcasing projects made with this month's beautiful collection of ribbons and trims in the monthly club kit. every kit is amazing, but I really really REALLY like this one! I think I have ordered more of every one of these at least a few times already!

I've been super busy making many of my Christmas gifts this year. today's project is no exception. I have created an album for a special friend that can be filled with fun, outdoor photos.

as you can see, lots of ribbons were used here to help add some texture and interest, as well as just look pretty! :) flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, Petaloo, and Prima.

paper and tags are from the Simple Stories Snow Fun collection.

buttons are from my vintage stash.

close up of the hot cocoa page. :)

stamps are all from Kraftin' Kimmie.

 lots of stickles used on the images. plenty of re-purposed items in the album, too. :)

glimmer mist and Tim Holtz distress stains added to the wooden album cover and back.

Your next stop on the hop will be AMBER's oh so wonderful blog! be sure to leave her a comment letting her know how much you are inspired by her fabby project!

thanks for stopping by! :)
Jennifer

Challenges:
Kraftin' Kimmie Wonderful Wed. - anything goes
Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - hot cocoa theme for the one page
613 Avenue Create - anything goes with create your own challenge twist (1: image, sentiment, patterned paper; 2: die cut; 3: stickles, glimmer mist; 4: pearls, bling, buttons, flowers; 5: ribbon, lace)
Crafty Calendar - let it snow
Brown Sugar - buttons
Pile it On - anything Christmas or winter
QKR - snow scene
One Crazy Stamper - Christmas/winter with no digi
Paradise of Stamps - snow
World Wide Open DT Ch - anything goes
WAW - anything encouraging goes
Double Click Skittles - use a snowman
Little Red Wagon - snow much fun