Easter Wishes Card...

Happy Sunday to you! I finished the card I mentioned in my post yesterday and would like to share it with you. Brace yourself...I almost can't believe it myself...I bought and used a wood mounted rubber stamp. Yes, I did! I know...I don't usually enjoy stamping when I can't see what I am doing, but in this case, I made an exception(and I even discovered, after I sat down to use the stamp, the stamp on the block is mounted upside down! Gosh, it's enough to make me a nervous wreck!) It's ALL Archiver's fault. They had this card on display in the store and I totally fell in love with the coloring on the image. The artist used markers and lots of sparkle, it's just captivating. Actually, the link I shared does NOT do the card justice at all. I don't know that my card does either, but here's my version...

I purposely made the photo a little bit bigger so you can see the details better. Hopefully, it's not too big for your screen.  I chose to use my Koh-i-noor pencils, odorless mineral spirits and blending stumps to color this image in rather than mess it up by using markers. After I was done coloring, I added some Shimmerz paints...Wheat and Celery. It's hard to see the shimmer in the photo though. I added Icicle Stickles to the flowers. (That's what I was waiting on to dry before I could finish the card yesterday). In my mind I initially thought to use just white and maybe a border punch, but I decided the image was too large and I wanted the focus to be on it rather than it competing with other things. Then I thought using glitter cardstock would enhance the sparkle in the image. I kept it super simple as you can see. Do you think it was worth my breaking down and actually using a woodie? LOL

I will be back in just a bit because I have another project to share, but I think this card deserves to stand alone.

Stamps: Egg with Violets (Northwoods Rubber Stamps), Mixed Messages (PTI)
Cardstock: White, Glittered Cardstock (DCWV)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)
Accessories: Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots, Koh-i-noor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, blending stumps, Shimmerz paints, Pink Carnation Organdy ribbon (CTMH), White textured ribbon (Walmart), Stickles, Rectangle Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by. Check back in a bit for the next post.

Jeanne

Captured Card Case, Mini Cards & a Butterfly...

Hi there!

What a post title, huh? I've got a couple of things to show you today, yea! First off, I copied Lauren Meader's Captured Card Case and Mini Cards today. She shared how to make it in a video on her blog here as part of this month's Papertrey Ink release sneak peeks. I just loved the whole presentation, especially how she showed to make custom envies with liners. Now, I don't own the Wishing You set she used in the video, (but I'd love to...someday) so I improvised with another PTI set called Floral Frenzy. Here's the result of my efforts...

The pattern paper I used is from my stash. I've had it forever and keep my "old" paper tucked away in a box. I guess there is something to be said for not purging everything old, huh? I used Holiday Red from CTMH and some black from my stash. The ink colors are from CTMH, Clover Meadow and Holiday Red. I took the second picture to show the green ribbon slide. It's from CTMH and comes white. I sponged Clover Meadow ink on it and just slid the ribbon through the holes to tie it. If you watch Lauren's video (be prepared...it's a long one...22 minutes) she takes you step by step through the making of the cards and envelopes. She also has all the dimensions for the project typed up in the post. I used Fiskars Scallop border punch and EK Sucess' new zig-zag border punch. It adds a little bit of embossing, which is neat.

I finished another little Amigurumi Eggling the other night...it's a friend for Jessica's other butterfly. I have to say though, this one's wings came together much more easily than the wings on the previous one I made. LOL  On this one I even added some pink chalk to make the cheeks a little rosy. *Ü*

I had hoped to get at least one other card done today, but began working on the card case while waiting for the other image to dry (it's a little sparkly).I ran out of time/motivation to finish it today. Hopefully I can get it done tomorrow...

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope your first weekend of spring is going well so far! We may get a thunderstorm before the day is out...we'll see. Oh and while it's in the 70s today...there is also a possibility of snow on Monday! Gotta love living in Colorado, the weather is never boring...LOL

Jeanne

 

Walden and Schtuff...

Happy Wednesday to you! I hope you are having a good week. I have been busy cleaning up around the house, which is why I have not posted...haven't been to my little corner since the weekend.

Are you like me and able to ignore the mess around you for a while, then one day, it's like you see it all at once? Please tell me I'm not the only one this happens to? Well, the other night Steve wandered by where I was sitting, on his way to the printer. He glanced at the TV and exclaimed, "I don't know how you can SEE the TV it's so dusty." He proceeded to grab some cleaner and paper towels and cleaned off the screen (insert guilty blush on my face-I hadn't noticed) I realized, in my knitting/crocheting/crafty frenzy recently, I've let a lot of things "slide" around the house. I mean, really slide. Down toward the "it's downright embarrassing how messy things are around here" end of the slide (hanging head in shame).

So, I have been working hard on "earning my keep" around here. The bathrooms got a good scrub down on Monday and yesterday it was the kitchen's turn. I cleared off my housekeeping nemesis, the breakfast bar. I love that thing when it's cleaned up, but I also hate it cleaned up. I've got a hubby who thinks any clear and open space is fair game for plunking down whatever he happens to have in his hands. So, the breakfast bar looked great...until he got home! LOL Then I moved onto the fridge. The inside at least. I don't know how so much gets spilled in the cracks and crevices of a fridge. I cleaned and scrubbed and threw out the budding science experiments (it was trash day). I even drew blood three of my fingers. I'd take a picture, but they are on my right hand...suffice it to say, I worked through the discomfort. The inside of the fridge is gleaming...well, all except one shelf.

I meant to finish that last shelf, but it was gorgeous outside and my white van was...well...beige. And I thought, I'll take advantage of the fact that both girls are in school right and the beautiful day, and give the van a good scrub down. Then I was going to finish up that last shelf on the fridge door. After I washed the van on the outside, the inside looked white instead of blue/gray, so it got a thorough cleaning, too. When I took the vacuum back into the house, I looked at the clock and realized it was time to pick up the girls! Wow that time went fast! After we got home, I was plumb tuckered out and never did get to that shelf. I haven't mustered up the motivation to get to it just yet. I had to put band-aids and Neo on my knuckles when I went to bed last night, they were so sore. LOL

Oh and get this (then I'll share Walden), on the way to school we passed by a house (well, lots of them, but this one in particular caught my eye) that had a bunch of logs on the front lawn with a sign that said: free, free, free. Apparently the owner cut down a tree and put the logs out for the taking. I thought about trying to load some up in the van, but they were too big for me to get on my own. So I told Steve when he got home from work. While Amy and I were at her Brownie meeting last night, he took Jess and went to the house (that it was right next to the house we rented before we got married meant he knew exactly where to go) and brought home ALL the logs! Cool...free firewood that will last us through most of a good, cold winter....NEXT year! He even vacuumed the mess from the logs in the back of the van. Nice, huh?

Okay...so if you got this far, thanks! It's not been ALL work all the time. In my spare time (ha, ha) I have been working on the third and final character in my Wubbzy pattern book. This one is Walden, the ever-so curious critter on the show.

There are 22 of those white polka dots on the shirt! And his head...it's huge compared to his body (but he's that disproportionate on the show, too). I had a devil of a time finding some light blue yarn of the weight I needed. You can find light blue baby yarn up the ying-yang, but that weight is too narrow for the size hook I needed to use. I tried some and it looked awful. I finally found some cotton yarn that sort of worked. It's still a little darker than I would ideally like, but I think it is okay. Heck, I know the girls don't care and I probably shouldn't either. I also ended up buying a huge skein of yarn for that bitty tie. That's a difficult color to find as well. Ah well...I'm sure I can use the yarn on other projects.

The characters were fun to make for the most part, but I have to admit, I'm glad to be done making those fingers and hands! LOL The girls can fight over who gets Walden...I'm not making another one!

Well goodness...I got windy today. Sorry about that! If you didn't read all of my blather and just looked at the picture...thanks for stopping by! I may try to create something else today, but I have to finish the fridge, first, and it's early release day, so I get a shortened "kid-free" time. So, I'm not making any promises...

Jeanne

Fun With Lauren Meader's Templates...

Last night was Papertrey Ink's monthly release party. While I rarely join in on the fun, I'm always excited to see, in their entirety, what the fabulous designers have come up with. I subscribe to many of their blogs and enjoy the week leading up to the release with the sneak peeks they share. Lauren Meader, of My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence, has been designing templates to be released each month. For $5 you not only get the template, you also receive an idea file with 5 not seen before projects and the directions on how to make them. Lauren's enthusiasm for her creations is contagious! While I love the stamp sets being offered this month, I'm going to have to save my pennies before getting any of them. I did however, indulge in buying some of Lauren's templates. And I spent this afternoon playing with them. Here's what I came up with...
 

This is the File It With Flair template. Here is one post that sold me on the template. And this is the other post with a project I loved (you'll have to scroll down a bit-although the first project is adorable and made me get that template, too. I told you Lauren was good). I would LOVE to own that tulip stamp set~someday!!) I "made do" with another PTI stamp set called Floral Frenzy. I wanted something with a spring feel, so I used Pink Carnation, Kiwi and Sunkiss Yellow. I punched the Martha Stewart Butterfly Trio butterflies with Pink Carnation cardstock (all CTMH except the punch).

I thought the idea of a woven basket was too fun to resist. This was released in February, but I was slow in getting it. LOL I liked they way she has you do the weaving. I added an extra piece to weave a third time and folded the edges that extended above the basket edge down and glued them so they wouldn't flip back up. I could have cut them off I suppose, especially since I covered the top edge, but I wasn't sure at that point what I was going to do to finish the basket. Then I got the idea to use the Martha Stewart lace doily border punch to mimic a doily folded over the edges of the basket. I punched Vanilla Cream cardstock and sponged Parchment ink on the edges to give it a vintage look. The ribbon is from CTMH from my consultant days...I don't even know if they sell it anymore. The basket itself is made with kraft cardstock and sponged with Brown Bag ink. I'm thinking of maybe using it as a teacher gift. 

No cards from me today, but hopefully these are just as fun to see. If you haven't checked out Lauren's blog, you really should. She is super energetic, super talented and I wish I had an ounce of her creativity!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a terrific week!

Jeanne

 

Hello Friend...

In keeping with the coloring I've been practicing, I found an adorable little chick on one of my DJ Inkers CDs. Unfortunately, I just scrolled through and copied ones I liked for printing and didn't note the name of the CD I got it from. (I have several) I had fun coloring this with my Koh-i-noor woodless pencils, odorless mineral spirits and blending stumps. I actually colored the image last week, but added some Pink Shimmerz and set it aside to dry, then never got back to it. I have to admit that I just love how I colored those shoes! Today, I had an idea for how to finish it and this is the result...

I took a break the other night after dinner and went to Archiver's to wander around. Imagine my surprise when I saw that they had Nestabilities on display! They had just gotten them in and while I already own the basics, I eagerly picked up the Labels One set! That I had a coupon made the purchase that much more fun. I've been itching to use the dies since then.

I decided to use a Cuttlebug embossing folder (and I've not yet labeled them, so I don't remember the name-it came with some dies, though) and I added more of the Pink Shimmerz to the centers of the flowers. I popped the focal image up with pop dots.

 
Digital Image from DJ Inkers CD
Cardstock: Bubblegum, White (CTMH)
Stamps: Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink: Bubblegum (CTMH)
Accessories: Pink Shimmerz, paintbrush, Cuttlebug/embossing folder, pop dots, pink satin ribbon from Michaels, Koh-i-noor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, blending stumps

I hope you are enjoying your weekend so far! Thanks for stopping by and hopefully, I'll be back again soon (not necessarily today) with more fun stuff to share.

Jeanne

I Am SUCH a Copycat...

Happy Saturday! It's been a beautiful day here in our neighborhood. Amy seems perkier than she has been and that's good in my book.

I was able to create a few cards today, finally. I will admit, as my title states, I am SUCH a copycat. But hey, Kathi makes such wonderful cards, I just can't help myself! Check out these cards that I copied...aren't they fabulous?

And if you don't mind the repeat...here are my versions...

Birthday Wishes Card:
Stamps: Out on a Limb, Mixed Messages (PTI)
Cardstock: Sweet Blush (PTI), White (CTMH)
Ink: Blush, Cocoa (CTMH)
Accessories: jewels (Hobby Lobby), Cotton Candy Stickles, Sizzix embossing folder/Cuttlebug

With Sympathy Card:
Stamps: Out on a Limb, Mixed Message (PTI)
Cardstock: New England Ivy, White (CTMH)
Ink: Garden Green, Cocoa, New England Ivy (CTMH)
Accessories: small flower punch, embossing tool, pearl stickers

I have another card to share, but I will do that in a separate post. Thanks, Kathi, for the inspiration!

Jeanne

Amigurumi Dinosaur~T-Rex

Happy Friday! I wish I could report that Amy went to school today, but alas, her fever crept back up to 101, so she stayed home once again. For most of the day, it's been normal or about 99, but a little while ago, once again...101. I figure now she'll have the weekend to recover more and hopefully be back to school on Monday. Yesterday, Jessica's teacher actually went home 1/2 way through the day because she was sick and she had a sub today. There definitely is something racing around the school.

Last week, one of Amy's friends that we hang out with after school asked me if I had any patterns to make dinosaurs (He got the penquin I made at Christmas). He really wanted a T-Rex. Unfortunately, I had to tell him I didn't. But when we got home I searched online (because I knew someone somewhere had to have made up a dinosaur) and found this pattern at Gourmet Crochet. Amy saw it and asked me ever so sweetly if I was going to get it. I ordered it and it came this week...really quickly, I have to say. Anyway, I made up one for Hunter and we gave it to him today when we picked up Jessica. He was thrilled. I hadn't told him I'd found a pattern so it was a complete surprise to him. Love doing that!

He's only about 8 inches tall or so...I didn't measure...so he's not a huge dinosaur, but he came out cute...if you can call a dinosaur cute. LOL Amy wants one in purple! (Not Barney purple...a pretty lavendar color-makes me think it might be a girly dinosaur...LOL)

Not much else to report today, so I'll close for now. Hope you have a lovely weekend! Thanks ever so much for stopping by!

Jeanne