Fall Brad Mashup!

 Well, I'm sad to say that this is my last posting as a guest designer for the Friday Mashup!  I have thoroughly enjoyed my opportunity to work with these talented ladies.  The mashup is a fun concept and I will continue to work on these weekly challenges!  So - for this final Friday of September the mash up, which is a Fan Favorite Pick created by Lisa Runyon, is:

• Make a "Fall themed" project
• Or Make a Project that uses "Brads...lots and lots of Brads".
• Or "Mash it Up" and create a fun "Fall themed project that uses lots and lots of Brads".

One thing I love about fall beside the crunchy leaves on the ground, are the Black Eyed Susans which come into perfect bloom at this time of year.  I walk past a yard which has a whole bed full of them, and some other little groupings scattered around in other beds.  I smile each day I pass and see this one little grouping, standing tall and unwilted while the other plants around them are beginning to fade.  They're just so happy looking.  So - they were my inspiration for this card - and I chose to use brads to highlight the "eyes".

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

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

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

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Coffee anyone?

Got my challenge done early today - then I can do some business stuff after school today.  The colours for this card are: Sahara Sand, Pool Party and Basic Black - the combo from over at Create with Connie and Mary this week.  I'm sorry that I kept painting the Pool Party re-inker onto the coffee pot - it has deepened the colour considerably and looks more aqua.  Well, I guess that's a pool sort of colour too.  The sketch is from this weeks' Mojo Monday.

It wasn't the look I was going for - but that scallop circle - punched from watercolor paper, looks like a used coffee filter.  :)


Well, I'm ready for another cup of coffee myself.  Hope your day goes well.  I'm looking forward to school this afternoon because I have more than 40 little munchkins who are interested in joining an elementary choir.  I've never done a school one before, and I expect I'll lose a few - but I'm excited to get them going! 
Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Simple Christmas

That carpet of leaves outside is getting deeper and deeper - and crunchier and crunchier - so I know that the days are numbered before Christmas will be here.  I have read on a couple of websites how many weeks or days there are - but I don't really want to give the fall up yet.

Today's card uses the sketch from Just Add Ink this week, and has a simple nature to it for keeping it simple over at Stampin' Royalty.  What simpler way to dress up a wintery or Christmasy card than with either the snowflake embossing folder or the Northern Frost Strip Die.  On top of that, the Silver Glimmer paper makes it supper easy to add glitz to the snowflakes.

I had my first practice with the Grade 4 handchimes today at lunch - they're so excited, and did pretty well for the first day.  Looking forward to a good year.
Thanks for dropping by for a visit - Joan

Halloween Sentiments

 Well, I kinda think that the two day headache I had squelched some of my Mojo - I'm not that happy with this card - sorry.  The sketch is from Stampin' Royalty and this week the ladies over at Hand Stamped Sentiments are looking for Halloween cards.

I need to get some workshop business done this afternoon, and then I get to go out for dinner with my husband - gotta love Groupons!  Hope your evening is enjoyable too.  Thanks for dropping by!  Joan

A Pool Party Day

Okay - so I'm talking about the colour and not an actual pool party - but believe me you certainly could have one here today.  The leaves are falling off the trees creating a wonderful golden carpet on the street - and yet the breeze is sooooo warm, it's an incredible September afternoon.

So - I'm working with the Paper Players sketch for this card and I incorporated two pieces  which were sitting on my craft table just waiting to be used.  The Pool Party matt had been distressed and then opted against for a card last week, and the centre medallion was made a number of weeks ago when I first got my SIMPLY SCORED and was playing around.    Ya almost need a box in order to give it to anyone - it's so high in the middle.  Oh well, gotta create something challenging every once in a while - right?

I had a fantastic time yesterday at our Extravaganza - it wasn't a big crowd, but a fun one.  Next weekend I have a music workshop to go to - so I may never get a Saturday to sleep in.  Maybe that's why I'm napping in the afternoon?  Hee Hee.

Here are the supplies that I used for this card -

Hope your weekend has been warm and wonderful - thanks for stopping by for a visit.  Joan

Bleached out Paper

 Today at our Extravaganza I am doing a technique demonstration and I decided to try the Bleaching Technique.  That means that the last couple of days I've been experimenting with bleach and paper and having a ton of fun doing it!  It's almost as magical as embossing powder!  I really don't like sharing so many cards at once - but since they all centre on the same thing I guess I will. 

For this first card (above) I used Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder.  After punching out the flowers I also sponged bleach around the edges to change the colour.

 Soft Suede created a yellow bleached area - and as long as the stamp isn't saturated with bleach the writing comes out okay too.

 Baroque Motif worked well for this technique, and again, I sponged around the edges just to add a bit.

 I love the colour that gets bleached out with the Pacific Point.  I loved it so much that I bleached a whole strip after punching out the lace border.  The butterfly from Creative Elements was a bit hard to do with bleach - the lines were a bit too delicate.

Finally - just for fun - I crumpled up a piece of Poppy Parade after wetting it with a bit of water.  Then I dabbed it onto the little towel of bleach  and let it dry.  When I opened it there was a cool yellow colour in a "sort-of" tie-dyed effect.  After I tore my piece, I punched out circles to create the matching pumpkin.


It just takes patience, willingness to experiment, and be sure that you recondition your stamps with Stampin' Mist before putting them away again!

I know I'll be having tons of fun at the Extravaganza, and I'll share those projects with you later.  Hope you are having a fun day too!
Joan

Mash(ed) up Directions

 WooHoo - it's Friday again- and Mashup time.  I can't believe how fast this week has gone.  I've been holed up with My Digital Studio finishing off my Anniversary Alphabet book for my husband (25th next month) and I finally got it sent off for printing last night.    So now I can stay focused -   Today's Mashup is:

1. Make a card using the "Sketch above that is Square".
2. Or Make a Project that has a "Masculine" theme.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Square Project with the Sketch above that is Masculine".

I love this sketch - so many things could be placed where the stars are.  I'm just not sure if I really want to trust this bear with all his arrows?  He has such a mischievous look on his face, holding all those arrows. There are just so many options for young people out there today - it's hard to make a decision!  You need a lot of confidence.

Be sure to find your way over to the Friday Mashup! to check out all the wonderful creations from the design team.  When posting your creations be sure to tag it with FM25 on public galleries.


So - hope you have a path to follow today - it's Friday, so my walking path to work veers off towards a 7-11 where I can get a more special coffee than I get at home.  Gotta love Fridays!  Hope yours is fantastic.

"Quilted" Leaves

 

Oh, I just love these huge buttons - I just got my first package yesterday.  I didn't think I'd like them, but then I worked with them helping Tamye get her swaps ready for Founder's Circle....and I changed my mind!  I just may have to get more!

Today's card covers two challenges....Hand Stamped Sentiments is looking for embossing - either with an embossing folder or powder - I used both because I love how the square lattice embossing folder embeds punched pieces into the background so that it's almost quilted.  SUO Challenges are looking for fall colours.  

I absolutely love fall colours - they're just so me.  I miss the wide range of colours available in Ontario with the huge oaks and maples - however, on my walk to school this morning I noticed that Mountain Ash trees give a wonderful shade of red.  So it's all good...and...since I walked home by myself, I did some major shuffling!  Happy, happy, happy!

Hope you find something to bring a smile to your face today - and thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Joan

Baby Mojo Dino

I really wasn't sure until the last minute what image I was going to use on this card - but I'm glad I picked the Dino.  The sketch is the Mojo Monday sketch for the week - it was fun to work with - to decide what to use for each of the panels.  There is "suppose" to be a bow in the upper corner - but I opted out for the nest that this little guy flew from.

The colours spoke "baby" to me, so it fits with the Just Add Ink challenge this week which was "Just Add Baby".

Hope your Monday was fabulous - Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Lazing the day away...

I must say I have been fairly lazy today - it's all I can do to keep my eyes open.  Ridiculous!!!  I did, however, have a great time at Regionals yesterday.  Lots of see and learn!

After my nap....a waste of time, but necessary....I went to my stamp room to create this card for The Paper Players challenge to include a plant or animal on your project.  I was centering on the lion, but I guess I have a bit of flora happening too.

The two semi-circles are glossy paper which I rubbed with So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, and Marina Mist with the edges accented with Not Quite Navy.

I hope you have had time to relax a bit this weekend to prepare for the upcoming week.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Simply Black & White

I think some of my mojo has gotten blown away by the wind today.  It was a good day, but I'm feeling tired again - I guess the wind can do that to you.

I've created this simple card today for the clean and simple sketch over at Stamping 411.  I had been using this fantastic Mocha Morning paper earlier in the day, and hadn't noticed this particular piece - I just HAD to use it and created the ribbon flower - I wish some of the petals didn't stay so square!

Today I am in the city at a Stampin' Up! Regional event. Sooooooo exciting!  I'm sure I'll have something to post for you tomorrow.

Hope there is something you're able to get excited about today!  Thanks for visiting - Joan

Fall Mashup!

Have you shuffled through any leaves yet?  I have a little bit - I'm waiting for the big piles though!  Fall is my favorite season and so I was excited about this weeks Mashup! - Here it is...

1. Create a project with an "Autumn" theme.
2. Or Create a project using shades of "Yellow & Orange".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Autumn project using shades of Yellow & Orange".

I haven't used Autumn Splendor yet this season, and I have never embossed these leaves either.  Wow - they look fabulous embossed in gold.  I used Peach Parfait, So Saffron and Cajun Craze for the leaves as well as stamping those colours on the background piece. 

I really wish we had big oak trees here in Alberta - but alas, we only have small oaks, not like the ones in Ontario or the Okanagan.  But believe me, I'll take any kind of crunchy leaves to shuffle through - nope, never gonna grow up!

So, don't forget to pop over to the Friday Mashup! to check out the beautiful creations by the Design Team and remember to use FM24 as a tag when you are uploading your creation to a public gallery and also link it back to the Mashup! blog.

Hope you're enjoying some autumn splendor - thanks for visiting

Cajun Flowers

Today's card is fairly clean and simple - although I'm not that happy with how it photographed.  I was inspired by Lee Conrey yesterday with her  Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon which she coloured to go with her card.  I tried it today - but I had to use the Crumb Cake Ribbon instead.  It matches well on the card, but the photo made it a bit darker. 

These colours - Basic Gray, Old Olive and Cajun Craze - are from Create with Connie and Mary and the sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches.

I'm yawning my face off right now, so I'll probably be calling it an early night.  There are too many fun things coming up in the near future for me to be tired for.  Hope your day is going well and you are enjoying the fall colours in your area.  Thanks for stopping by.

Be Yourself - Be Muddy

 I'm so sorry to the ladies over at Stampin' Royalty - I saw the wonderful delicious looking cupcakes (even though they're candles they look good enough to eat - and who wouldn't want a waffer cookie on top of a cupcake!!!!!)  for their Picture Inspiration Challenge -  I immediately saw little piggies in mud.  I opted for two clean piggies and one who's been playing in the mud.  I even daubed some Chocolate Chip on the button to dirty it up a bit.

Now I'm hungry staring at these "cupcakes" - gotta go find something sweet.  Have a wonderful day - and thanks for visiting.

Marine Dino Birthday

What a busy day! Walked to work AND went to the gym with my daughter.  That was a first and fun and I plan to use her as my personal coach just to keep me motivated!  Had to clean a bit to get ready for my workshop tomorrow night and then helped Allison put some of the Tres Chic words up in her room.  The brown words on a  blue wall looks fantastic (the blue is close to Marina Mist).  After that we crashed and watched "A League of Their Own" while I iced my knee.  Oh, and I guess I created this cute little dino card - that was before the movie!!!  I plan to sleep well tonight!

I've used this weeks' sketch from Stamping 411 and the challenge at Just Add Ink this week was to use white and one other colour.   I used pieces from the Extreme Element set to work with the darling dinosaur.  The splotch was stamped with Marina Mist on Whisper White and then I took the little set of circles and stamped with White Craft Ink.  The Birthday greeting has been embossed so that it's sharper and stands out more.  You can tell I used two pieces of Marina Mist Seam Binding Ribbon across the joint of the paper.

I got some happy mail today - My name tag for Regionals this weekend.  WooHoo!!!! Can't wait!!!!!

That's all for now - thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Halloween Bats

I know we've only just begun the month of September, but these colours today spoke Halloween to me.  The combo are the colours for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Gray, Old Olive and Whisper White.  The sketch is from Create with Connie and Mary.  The area where the bats are (retired punch), is where the sketch has a folded ribbon.  I wasn't happy with any of the ribbon I have for this particular colour scheme, so I add the trio of winged creatures.  I can't believe that I cut out that jagged edge around the frame. - but once I started I had to keep going.  Finally there is the parade of spiders around the edge which I stamped with Basic Gray and then "coloured" in with a Versa Mark Pen so that they weren't too dark.


Hope that your weekend has gone well - It's been a busy weekend here - I've got to get my MDS book done this coming week - that's the goal I've set for myself.  I'll be sharing some of those pages with you in the future.

Have a great end to your weekend - Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

School Stitching Mashup!

 WooHoooo - it's time for the Friday Mashup!  I had fun creating the card for this week and made it especially for our new Assistant Principal.  The "Mash  Up!" challenge this week is:

1. Create a project with "Stitching or Faux Stitching".

 
2. Or Create a project for "Back To School or a Teacher Gift".

 
3. Or "Mash it Up!" and create a "Back To School Project with Stitching"!

Since I don't have any apple stamps at the present time, and I already used the little school bus from the "Every Little Bit" set a couple of weeks ago - I decided to get out the wise old Owl punch and to borrow this clever apple from Angela McKay - the North Shore Stamper.  When I was doing the faux stitching I didn't add any paper piercing to it because the stitches on the letters were going to be too small.

Be sure to stop over at the Friday MashUp! challenge blog to check out all the wonderful designs from the design team!  And when you upload your creation be sure you tag it with FM23 on public galleries.

Another quick project that I created for myself was to use some of my leftover Decore Elements Flourishes on this Daytimer from Staples - which I will use at school since we didn't get Agendas this year.

Love, love, loving the warm September weather right now.....in addition to eating the apples right off the tree.  Hope you have some things to brighten your day!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

Team Meeting Cards

 Coloured with re-inker and aquapainter - love the little pearl added on the side of the pear.

 Stamped with Craft ink and finished with clear embossing powder then sponged with colour.

 Only two layers - one colour - even more CAS than my card yesterday!

 Two Step Stamping - with chocolate attached!  WoooooHooooo/!!!!

Oh, it is nice that the summer is over and I can get together with my Stampin' friends again.  We had our first team meeting this evening and it was soooooooo good to catch up!  We made these four cards at our meeting tonight and I told Tamye that she has provided me with ideas (if not exact) cards that I'll use for my workshops in September/October.  All of them are quick, easy, but effective.    And I so love the idea of punching out a hole in the card for the wrapped up chocolate to fit in.  That is SUCH an easy idea for any season or event that the two "Wrap" sets provide.

I've taught today, been to meet the teacher, AND dealt with two sort of flat tires......I'm ready for bed, but looking forward to tomorrow and having lunch with a very dear friend.
Hope you have something to look forward to also!  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Clean and Simple Leaves

 I truly believe I have NEVER made a card quite as clean and simple as this - which is probably why I went ahead and tried another less clean one below.  The challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week is for Clean and Simple - and I must admit that I do like this crisp gold embossed card.  

I made things even simpler in creating it but putting all of my clear-mount stamps on the large block and stamping them all at once.  I used the SIMPLY SCORED to create the subtle lines in the background.

With this second try - I did exactly the same thing as above except I coloured the leaves with sponge daubers, not minding if I went outside the embossing.  I was going to leave the background plain, but the leaves looked a bit odd.  The bit of ribbon is slipped through holes created by the retired double slit punch; I then used the crop-a-dile to punch through the cardstock and ribbon to put the brad on.  To be honest - I really think I prefer my first attempt.

It was gorgeous today - I was happy to walk to and from school today with my husband.  He walks almost every day - even if it means walking home to pick up his car to go to a meeting.  I think I may be able to keep up with him this year - Knees complain a bit, but the walking should make them stronger!  Hope your day was fabulous to - thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Creative Element Welcome

Got a relatively early start in the craft room this morning - now I can go outside and play!

I've combined the colours from Picture Perfect Creations (Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Rose Red, Island Indigo) and the sketch from Just Add Ink; although I shortened the main section so that I could add the welcome without interfering with the swirls.

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful holiday Monday.  I'm off to play outside while my husband watches the annual CFL rival games.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit - Toodles -
Joan

Fall Birthday Wishes

 We're having beautiful weather this weekend, but you can still feel the fall season moving into place with the crisp air in the early morning.  I just love that crisp fall air!  I also love shuffling my feet through the leaves once they've hit the ground.  Thankfully we aren't that far into the season yet.

Today's card is a combination of The Paper Players request for a Birthday card (it's amazing how many people I know who are born in September, so this is a very timely challenge!) and the sketch is from Stampin' 411.

Hope you are enjoying your long weekend - Thanks for visiting!
Joan

Gatefold Numbers MashUp!

Wooohooo!  I am so excited to share with you today that I have been invited to be a guest designer with The Friday Mashup! for the month of September.  I have thoroughly enjoyed doing these challenges each week since I found the blog - I always look forward to see what things have been chosen to Mash together.  I am so absolutely honored to be working with these wonderfully talented ladies!  I know I'm going to have a blast!  So, for this week the Mash Up is -

1. Create a card that uses a "Gatefold" .
2. or Create a card that uses "Numbers". (stamped, die cut, chip board etc)
3. or "Mash it Up!" and create a "Gatefold Card using Numbers"!

For my creation - I've used Calypso Coral and Pool Party with the "Elizabeth" stamp.  I'm a bit sad that the colour looks so dark on the one side of the photo - it's really a soft looking card in real life.  I used some of my billions of chipboard for the numbers.  At first I inked them with white craft ink - but then sponged some pool party on top.

Upon seeing this card, my daughter remarked that it couldn't be her card even though it's pretty.  She may end up using it for a friend since they'll all be turning 21 this coming year.

Be sure to go on over to the Friday Mashup and check out the wonderful creations the Design Team has come up with.  And remember to use FM22 when posting to a public gallery.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a fantastic Labour Day Weekend!

Joan

Floral Filler Butterflies

It's amazing what you discover when you use something properly!  I have used this Fancy Fan Letterpress plate a couple of times on previous cards, but I neglected to put in the impressions pad.  I'm not sure why I thought of it today, but image my surprise when I ended up with a totally different result!  Duh! The areas without ink are raised ever so slightly.  I had liked the effect I was getting before - so now I have options.

Today's colours are from Create with Connie and Mary.  I wasn't sure what direction I was going to go in with this combo; there are so many possibilities.  The colours are Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, and Pumpkin Pie.  I saw Halloween, Fall, last take at Summer - totally cool combo!

Initially when I embossed these glossy butterflies with the Floral Fillers I thought I'd swirl each of the colours on them as we do with the embossing resist technique; but I opted for leaving each level it's own colour and like how it turned out.  The little banner is cut from the Petal Cone die.  I distressed the paper fibers by pulling the Bone Folder over it like you do to curl ribbon.  That made it easier to "billow" across the bottom.

I can't believe tomorrow is Friday already - this week has gone by quickly - amazing what going back to work does to time!  Be sure to check back tomorrow - I've been keeping a secret and am so excited I can finally tell tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by today - Hope your September is off to a great start!
Joan