Bunny for Christmas

Welcome back to another sketch from MDS Monday - this one has been designed by Holly.  With the two photo sections I thought it worked perfectly to celebrate Elliot getting his bunny from his Great Grandma (my mother).  She lives in Ontario and hasn't met him yet, so I thought it was cute she had her picture taken with the bunny before she mailed it.

I haven't used any special techniques this week - just a chevron overlay on top of the Bashful Blue background.

Hope you have fun with the sketch - HERE are some simple rules to help you when playing along with us.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

Also - we're giving away another MDS Download with this week's challenge.  Up for grabs is any MDS Download up to a $9.99 value.  All you have to do is join us for this challenge for your chance to win....and remember you can enter as many times as you can create with this sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you have a safe and fun New Year's Eve.

All the best to you in 2013!

Joan

Here are the supplies for my Bunny page:

Background
     Color = BASHFUL BLUE 177,217,242
Embellishments
    _Designer Kits/Fan Fair - embellishments/Fan Fair - stitching black 4 (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits/Fan Fair - embellishments/Fan Fair - stitching black 4 (re-colored)
    Timeless Taffeta Trimmings/Timeless Taffeta Trimmings - ruffle bow whisper white
    Timeless Taffeta Trimmings/Timeless Taffeta Trimmings - ruffle bow whisper white (re-colored)
    Round Buttons/Whisper White - button
    Brads/Bashful Blue - brad
    _Designer Kits/Storytime - embellishments/Storytime - bunny 2
    _Designer Kits/Pinwheels on Parade - embellishments/Pinwheels on Parade - label 6 (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits/Fan Fair - embellishments/Fan Fair - stitching black 4 (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits/Fan Fair - embellishments/Fan Fair - stitching black 4 (re-colored)
Stamps
    Decorative Overlays/Decorative Overlays - chevron 2, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255     

Happiness

Finally made some time to play with some of the upcoming products for the New Mini and to create cards for my January Technique Class.  I've also used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches - it's been months and months since I've joined a challenge....feels good.

To colour in the flowers from the Secret Garden set, I used the Spreading Ink technique; and it was easy peasy "cutting" them out with the Secret Garden Framelits.  I've used a piece of Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP and one of the new HUGE rhinestones which I know I'm going to love.  The white strip across the middle has been embossed with the Vine Street Embossing Folder which won't be available until Sale-a-bration.

My technique class is Friday, January 11, 2013.

Let me know if you like to join in.

A pot and a spoon....

Wow, it feels like forever since I've posted anything - having two week challenges, and then the busy holiday season sort of did me in.    I hope you had a wonderful holiday with friends and family.  Ours sure was fun with a new little one in the family!

This week's colour challenge at Sunday Stamps was put together by me - and then I ended up using the wrong blue on my MDS page.  I used Not Quite Navy instead of Night of Navy - so feel free to use any dark blue you like on your project. 

The sketch for this page came from one created by Martha Inchley during the MDS 30 Days of Christmas Class.  I've changed the colours of the DSP to work with this week's challenge and I created the heart using the Free Form feature on MDS2.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you join us.

1. Please provide a Link back to us in your Post.

2. Please link directly to your blog post for the challenge.

3. Feel free to use any Brand of product.

4. Deadline is Sat.January 5, 2013 @12am EST.

5. Have FUN!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Fluffy Memories

Hey everyone - it's a new sketch for MDS Monday created by our talented Tara!  And...not only do we have a sketch this week - but also a technique.  Everyone on the design team used the "photo filled grouped boxes" on their page also - what an awesome technique!  Follow the link to give it a try on your own page.  Don't forget we have a whole index of MDS videos/How To's available for you use here on the blog.

Here's the sketch for you to follow - and be sure to jump over to MDS Monday to see what the rest of the design team has come up with.  And remember to link your project back to the blog so we can see what you've created.

Happy Holidays and Happy Crafting!

I've got my school concert rehearsal today - Breathe in, breathe out.....

Joan

Feel Well Butterflies

Yay! It's a sketch day at Sunday Stamps today - I love sketches - especially when I really don't have a whole lot of time to think - the sketch provides a perfect jumping off place and I love this fabulous design by Steph.  There's no end to what could be the focal point could be where the shapes are. 

I've decided to take a wee break from the Christmas theme and use some of the upcoming Sunshine and Sprinkles Designer Series Paper and one of the new Hearts a Fluter Framelits.  I'm pretty sure I'll be spending a good amount of time playing with my new toys once my school Christmas concert is over!

I hope you have fun with this challenge - we'd love to see what you come up with.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when you join us.

1)  Please provide a link back to us at Sunday Stamps in your post.

2) Please link directly to your blog post for the challenge.

3) Feel free to use any brand of product

4) Deadline is Saturday, December 22 @ 12am EST

5) Have FUN!  

Thanks for dropping by!  Hope you're having a productive weekend.

Joan

Glittery Glasses

I feel so bad that I haven't been posting things as often as I'm used to.  Life is such a flurry right now1

Allison wanted to decorate some glasses for part of her friends' Christmas present this year - I think she did an awesome job - we worked together on it - she taped off the stems with painter's tape and then I applied spray adhesive and the glitter.  Once they were set, Allison sprayed 3 layers of lacquer.  That should keep the glitter from going anywhere!

Quick post as I try to clean my craft room so I can begin all over again.

Happy Holidays!

Joan

Cheers!

Holly was in charge of the colour challenge this week over at Sunday Stamps - and it's one of my all time favourites!  It's perfect for this time of year too - with all the celebrating. ( I'm not quite sure what's going on with my camera right now - so I apologize for the photo - my photos all look a bit wonky right now.)

I love these glasses in the Embellished Events set - the rhinestones work perfectly for the bubbles and I added some Crystal Effects also.

Take a look at what the Design Team has come up with over at the Sunday Stamps challenge blog - all the ideas are fabulous this week.

Once you've done your own creating be sure to link your creation to Sunday Stamps so we can take a peak.   I love seeing what you've come up with.

Hope your day is fabulous - thanks for visiting.

Joan

First off, I want to thank everyone who entered our first challenge over at MDS Monday - what a fantastic turnout of entries - it was difficult to pick a favourite but a whole lot of fun looking at everyone's take on the sketch.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making our first challenge so much fun and such a success!

This week is my sketch design.  Funny how I can come up with a design and then have a bit of difficulty working with it.  Boy, I had a hard time coming up with background pieces for this layout....ha ha ha!  I wanted it wintery because of the photos I was using, but I also wanted it a bit grungy because it was my son and his friends. 

I used some cloud as puffs of snow....at least I hope that's how they come across.

The photos are duplicated and stacked - I love that look!

The last technique was attaching my Title Text to a Free Form shape.....I love that ability with MDS2!

HERE is a link to the video from Stampin'Up! on how to add your text to a line shape.  

We have a few simple rules to keep it fair and fun for everyone participating in our challenges.

1.  In your blog post you must mention that you are playing along with MDS Monday - we'd love it if you went one step further and linked back to the challenge blog and posted our challenge photo!

2. Your project must be new and not posted prior to the MDS Monday Challenge date.

3. Enter as many times as you like!

4. When linking your entry, please link directly to your blog post,  not your entire blog.

5. Entries must be in by 11:59pm EST the following Friday (that means you have 12 full days to enter!)

6. Have fun!!!!!

Be sure to check our the MDS Monday Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with this week.

AND - Have you see the Mega Massive My Digital Studio Giveaway on Facebook right now.  You can enter every day until December 30......

AND - Don't forget that the On-Line Extravaganza lasts until December 16th.

That's it for today - thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing what you create for this second MDS Monday Sketch.

Joan

It's a sketch challenge today at Sunday Stamps - a fabulous sketch brought to you by Monica.  I went outside of the parameters a bit with all the bits and pieces....but that's what I love about sketch challenges.  

My distressing of the central section was a bit of an accident.  I had the stamped section matted on a piece of Crumb Cake....when I lay it on the card it was a bit too big, so I began to gently tear it apart......I ended up leaving the wee bit of trim at the top and I tore the edges a bit more.  The two punched stamps got crumpled up before I popped them up on the card.

If you're looking for more inspiration check out the Design Team member's creations on Sunday Stamps.   Here are some things to keep in mind when joining our challenge...

1. Please provide a link back to us in your post

2. Please link directly to your blog post for the challenge

3.  Feel free to use any brand of product

4. The deadline is Saturday, December 8th at 12amEST

5. Have FUN!!! 

Today may be a bit of a slow day - I'm hoping.  Allison and I spent yesterday making  dozens and dozens of chocolates with 15 other people.  It was a great day - and well worth it - but tiring.  

This photo is only from the beginning of the day.  

I hope you succeed in all your Christmas preparations - thanks for taking time to visit here.

Joan

Fun in the Snow

It's Tara's turn at being the Host over at Sunday Stamps this week and she has a great color combination for us to work with...

I'm always a little nervous when I have to use Real Red - but I'm pleased with what I came up with this week - I even used more red than just a teeny tiny bit!  Once again, I've created an MDS layout that is all ready to be filled with pictures as the occasion occurs.  I'm planning to put some pictures in here of Elliot in the snow. 

I've added some stitching along my polka dot layer - and I learned a technique for "cutting" the edges of the MDS ribbon.

So - give our colour combo a try this week.  If you're looking for more inspiration, you can check out the projects the rest of the Design Team has come up with....

Holly Endress - Hollybeary Creations

Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin - Can't Stamp the Rain

Monica Hornof - Stamps'n Jewels

Hayley Kew - Stampin'Up! with Haley Kew
Melissa - Mommy's Stampin' Creations

Steph - Hofkissed
Joan Jeffery (me) - JJ Creations

***Don't forget we are offering up 2/$25 Stampin'Up! Gift Certificates this month.  Each time you enter a challenge you are entered to win***
So settle down in your craft room this week - and post your link over at Sunday Stamps so we can see what you've created.

Thanks for stopping by
Joan

Supplies for this MDS page...

Background
     Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131

Embellishments
    Staple & Stitching/Whisper White - Stiching Zigzag
    Scallop Dots Ribbon/Scallop Dots Ribbon - marina mist (re-colored)
    Scallop Dots Ribbon/Scallop Dots Ribbon - cherry cobbler

Stamps
    Splatters/A Split Second/A Split Second - splatter 3, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255

Punches
    Basics/1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = REAL RED 199,44,58
    Basics/1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/12 Days of Christmas - designer series paper/12 Days of Christmas - 9
    Extras/Snowflake Punch, Fill Color = BASHFUL BLUE 177,217,242
    Extras/Snowflake Punch, Fill Color = REAL RED 199,44,58
    Extras/Snowflake Punch, Fill Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255   

Ready for Baking

Just a quick post this morning before heading off to school.  I'm prepping a bunch of pages to be ready for slipping photos into once the holiday season hits.

Allison is planning on doing some baking for her friends as gifts, so I'll be getting some shots of her in the kitchen.....might have to use my zoom lens so she doesn't see me!

I had fun using the painting tool to add dots to the oven mitt and to colour in the spoon....boy that paintbrush gets small!  I used the "free form" function to colour in the spoon and the spot behind the design on the "mug" that I transformed into a bowl.

Off I go - there's a Christmas concert I still have to get ahold of.....only 4 weeks - Yikes!

Have a great day.

Remember that MDS2 is 50% off this week!  

Check out the deals at my website store - and don't forget to look into the Clearance Rack - you may be able to get a whole whack of stocking stuffers!!!

Thanks for visiting,

Joan

Here are the supplies I used for this page:

Background

     Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Domestic Goddess - designer series paper/Domestic Goddess - 9

Embellishments

    Staple & Stitching/White - Simple Stitches line 2

    Staple & Stitching/White - Simple Stitches line 2

    Staple & Stitching/White - Simple Stitches line 2

    Staple & Stitching/White - Simple Stitches scallop 2

    Staple & Stitching/White - Simple Stitches corner 2

Stamps

    Compliments to the Chef/Compliments to the Chef - silverware, Color = 0,0,0

    Now You're Cookin'/Now You're Cookin' - glove

    Now You're Cookin'/Now You're Cookin' - spatula

    _Designer Kits/Friendship Preserves/Friendship Preserves - yum, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255

    Now You're Cookin'/Now You're Cookin' - mug, Color = 249,216,123

Punches

    Basics/1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = POOL PARTY 169,221,199

    Basics/1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Domestic Goddess - designer series paper/Domestic Goddess - 7

    Basics/1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Domestic Goddess - designer series paper/Domestic Goddess - 4

    Basics/1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255

    Labels & Tags/Friendship Preserves - frame, Fill Color = POPPY PARADE 218,57,49

Photos

    Card Stock/Whisper White

    Card Stock/Whisper White

    Card Stock/Whisper White     

MDS Monday is HERE!!!!

Today's the Day....It's the kickoff for a NEW CHALLENGE BLOG dedicated to digital designing with My Digital Studio. I am SOOOOOO excited to be on the Design Team.

We will be posting a new challenge every other Monday (Bi-weekly) and the challenge will be open until the following Friday.  You will have 12 days to enter the challenge.  Top Picks will be announced on Sunday after the challenge closes.  Although the Design Team members will be using My Digital Studio (MDS) from Stampin'Up!, you are welcome to use any digital design software you have to make scrapbook pages, cards, home decor, or whatever you like - as long as you follow the sketch provided in the challenge....and so....

Here is our first Sketch Challenge...

and here is the page I created using it.

Elliot watched Allison quite intently for quite a while as she was doing some math homework.  Then he got interested in the calculator and started distracting her more.  It was a fun evening.

This is a fairly simple  page - using a lot of punches filled with the Newsprint DSP.  I added the School Days II  stamps to a circle punch to co-ordinate with the mathematical theme of the page.  The only real technique I used this week was to colour match the blue matt of one of the banners with a blue from Elliot's shirt.  And "texture" was added to the Very Vanilla with a texture overlay from Be Awesome Today.

So - come join the challenge.  Pop over to the  MDS Monday Blog to see the inspiring creations from the other Design Team Members.  When you've finished your creation AND linked it to the MDS Monday blog, you will have your name put in a draw for a MDS2 download of your choice valued at $9.95.

The MDS Monday Design Team are...

Holly

Tara

Heidi

Joan (Me)

If you don't have MDS yet - this is the PERFECT time to  get it - Thanks to our On-Line Extravaganza, you can get MDS2 at 50% off!!!

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have a fantastic Monday.....

Don't forget about the On-Line Extravaganza which begins today until Nov 28.

The list of everything that's on sale is HERE

Remember for 24 Hours ONLY...

Diagonal Plates - $12.76

Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine - $98.36

Big Shot Doctor Bag - $75.16

Contact me to place your order.

On-line Extravaganza Begins Tomorrow

November 19 - 28, 2012

It's our biggest sale of the year, with discounts up to 50% off some of your favourite products for 10 days only.

Door Crasher -Monday, November 19 - 24 Hours Only

Save 20% on the following items!

Simply Scored Diagonal Scoring Plate

Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

Big Shot Doctor's Bag

Door Crasher - Wednesday, November 28 - 24 Hours Only

Save 20% on the following items!

Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)

Clear Block Storage Caddy

Stack & Store Caddy

Check out a PDF of all the items on sale HERE

Discounts range between 20-50% - Awesome!
There's no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion - Sale On!
For product bundles, you need to use the bundle item numbers provided.  If you use the individual item numbers, you won't get the discount - bummer!
You can buy additional products from any of our current catalogues on the same order.

Order On-line at my website store or contact me by phone or e-mail and I'll get your order put in.

Happy Crafting.

Sketch for a Birthday

It's sketch day at Sunday Stamps and our host Hayley has a great one for us.  I love all the lines in the sketch although I opted for adding circular shapes on my card.

My son turned 24 yesterday and this is the card I created for him - I crossed out the "me" and turned it into "us" before giving it to him.  He's a musical boy, so the music sheet from the Natural Composition Specialty Paper was perfect.  You can't really tell from the picture, but I've punched out and popped up the little globe.

I hope you have fun with this sketch - you can use any colours and create it for any occasion....so the sky's the limit.  Once you've finished share it with us over at Sunday Stamps.  We love seeing what you come  up with - and this month - each time you enter a challenge you get your name put into a draw for   one of two $25 Stampin'Up! Gift Certificates.

If you need some inspiration before starting - check out what the rest of the Design Team has come up with this week.  It's always fun to see what take everyone has on a sketch.

Hope you have a fabulous Sunday.  Thanks for taking time to visit.

Joan

Tags for Christmas

I finally got around to making up the Tag-a-palooza packages I had left over from the event.  I created some new tags and will now be packaging them up as door prizes for upcoming events.

Gotta go clean up my craft room and start messing it up again.  Hope you have a wonderful day.

Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Christmas Placemats

Today I'm sharing a project I completed in the MDS class I'm taking with Heather Summers and Martha Inchley.  One of the assignments was to create placemats.  It's so easy to do now that we can customize the dimension of our projects.  Each of my placemats is 11X17 and I'll be sending them off to Staples to be printed.  I'll then get them lamented and we'll be ready for December dinners.

It will cost about $0.89 to print each one so I can design a whole new batch next year....or tweak and reprint these ones.

The world of possibilities with MDS just keeps getting bigger.

Don't forget to check out the new challenge blog on Monday

We'll have a great sketch to start things off with.

ALSO ON MONDAY......

BEGINS!  

You're not going to want to miss out on this fabulous sale from November 19-28, 2012.

It's the biggest on-line sale of the year with savings up to 50%.

It's the most wonderful time of the year......

Hope you're having a great day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

I've been working on some MDS pages.  For this layout I used some photos I had fun with this fall on a solo walk in the woods.  I got some great tree shots, cat tails and a butterfly....and then I decided to capture my shadow - don't really know why.   I was just enjoying the fabulous fall day.

  I've also taken one of my photos and used it as the "background" paper.  The MDS items I've used for the page are:

Embellishments

    _Designer Kits/World Traveler - embellishments/World Traveler - tag saffron

    Baker's Twine/Baker's Twine - Early Espresso knot

Punches

    Extras/Leaves #2/Leaves #2 - 2,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Autumn Traditions - designer series paper/Autumn Traditions - 1

    Extras/Leaves #2/Leaves #2 - 2,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Autumn Traditions - designer series paper/Autumn Traditions - 11

    Extras/Leaves #2/Leaves #2 - 2,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Autumn Traditions - designer series paper/Autumn Traditions - 6

A technique I love with the new MDS2 is being able to attach your text to a shape....tons of fun.

What else is tons of fun.......a brand new challenge blog!

Do you want to find out all the cool new things (or "old" things) that My Digital Studio can do to help you create fantastic projects?  Or do you have a whole whack of pictures that you've downloaded but haven't done anything with yet?

Make sure you check things out on Monday.....

We'll have sketches, tips, tricks and surprises.  Click the banner above to check it out and then get ready to join us on Monday.

Hope you have a fantastic Thursday.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

More Altered Journal Pages

I've been working in my altered book almost everyday - experimenting with different things.  I drew in these flowers first and then I covered the page with our Watercolor Wonder Crayons and used the aqua painter to blend in the colour.  I suppose the crayons would react differently depending on what kind of paper the book was made from...I was happy with this result.

I must admit I used regular sharpies for this page - I stuck my ipad music on shuffle and incorporated the names of the artists within the doodles.  My main objective for this page was to practice my swirls.  They still need work.

I used the brayer and ink pads for the base of this page...going from Summer Starfruit, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango up to Cajun Craze.  Sharpie was used for the Mandala.

Hope you have a creative day - Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Sunday Stamps Lion

We may have a whole whack of snow on the ground here in Northern Alberta - but it's wonderful autumn colours for our Colour Challenge from Holly today at Sunday Stamps.

Although the colours do make me think of fall I've chosen to take on a more masculine theme with the colours.  I love this lion and felt the colours worked pretty well for him.  I just added a bit of green for the grass.  The glimmer paper seemed to go well to - although it changes the masculine feel.  (I have so many bits and pieces of glimmer paper in my craft room from Christmas projects - it's ridiculous.)

I hope you give these colours a try - my American friends can use them perfectly for Thanksgiving projects.  When you've finished your creation, be sure to connect a link to the Sunday Stamps Blog so we can enjoy it too.  We have some new Design Team Members this week also to help inspire you.  Welcome to Raquelle, Melissa and Steph.

Hope everything is going well your way.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Joan

Gift-a-Palooza coming up....

I'm hosting a Gift-a-Palooza on

November 30, 2012

Begin dropping in at 3:00 to end the evening at 8:00pm

You pick only the  project kits you want to create to meet your gift giving needs of the season.  You can order more than one of any project kit.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY - so your projects will be prepared and ready for you to work on when you arrive - or to stamp and take home to work on at your leisure.

Christmas Memories Flip Album - opens up to provide 7 sections for photos/journaling memories

$7.50 each

REGISTER HERE

Gift Card Holder - Belly Band slides off to open where a pocket with a pull-out tab is available to attach your gift card to.

$2.50 each

REGISTER HERE

Stocking Stuffer - good for holding thin chocolate bars, gift certificates or Hot Chocolate Packages

$3.50 each

REGSTER HERE

Festive Gift Bag

$5.50 each

REGISTER HERE

To my out of town stampers - I will package up your "kits" and put them in the mail.  Postage will be determined on an individual basis.

Tis the season to be crafting....

Thanks for stopping by

Joan

Snowy Sunday Stamps

Happy Sunday Stamps Day - Today it's my sketch and, as you can see,  I've deviated a fair bit.  I didn't put an embellishment in the corner and my sentiment is not where I designed it.  Just goes to show that the sketches are just a starting off place.

I liked creating the strip of blues - I used a piece of glossy white and the Faux Layer Tearing technique.  This is the technique I'm doing at my class on the 9th this month.

We've got a variety of inspirational pieces over at the Sunday Stamps Blog - so be sure to stop by to see what inspires you - either using paper or MDS.  Once you've finished your creation, link it to the challenge blog so we can take a peak at it.

It's getting to be that busy time of year - classes, projects, report cards - wow - Hope things are active and creative in your little corner of the world.  Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Altered Books - A new obsession

I mentioned on Sunday that I had found a new passion - First let me say that altered books were introduced to me at the Stampin'Up! convention this summer.  I thought - cool, I could do that!  I finally went out and found a little book at the beginning of October and replaced the end pages at the front of the book.  Then life got busy and I set it aside.

This past weekend, I had a table set up at the Fine Arts Conference in Edmonton.  Two tables away from me there was a woman set up with a number of her personal altered journals and some books her daughter had bound using "found papers".  What talented women.  The light bulb went on in my head and I finally understood the whole concept and the magnitude of directions I could go in.

I will be sharing the pages I create on this blog because I'm intending to use Stampin'Up products as much as possible in my altering of the pages.  I've used sponge daubers with our inks for these first three pages and incorporated the Faux Layer Tearing technique on the "Inspired" page (which has actually evolved a bit further than what you see here.

Emily also introduced me to the mandalas, and I'm hooked on creating them.  They take the doodling I've done in the past to a whole other level!

That's it for today - I have a whole whack of classes coming up in November - so there's a lot of prep involved.

Hope you have things keeping you busy and out of trouble.

Thanks for visiting.

Joan