Sunshine Rainboots

Okay - I digressed as I was writing, so I'm going with the card details first and then if you feel like reading on you can...

I used an old sketch from Just Add Ink from quite a while ago and the colours are from Create with Connie and Mary - Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Early Espresso.  I love these little boots - they're just so cute.  They come from a Hostess set that will be available....TOMORROW!  I almost added some "mud" to the bottom of one boot - but decided agains it.

Anyway...

What a wonderful day it has been.  At school I got to see a couple of women friends who I haven't seen in a while and the morning was full of hugs.  Then I had a fantastic lunch with my dear friend, Lori, who I hadn't seen in a while - Thanks again Lori ......so I'm living in the sunshine today - in colourful rain boots!

Gosh I wish we had rain boots like the ones I see the kids wearing sometimes.  I remember as a young adult having a pair of white gum boots that I wore when I took Brownies to camp.....

.....I'm pretty sure that if I had those white gum boots today, I'd be stamping on them with Staz-On ink!  Which reminds me - I never shared my iPhone cover that I stamped over a month ago.  Actually, this is the second edition.  I stamped the white case with Staz-On Black, but the images did start rubbing off after a couple of weeks.  So I took everything off, with nail polish remover, and started over.  This time, I added a coat of Crystal Effects overtop and it has endured a month of use.  I may put another coat on eventually.

I like it because it's just so - Me!

Thanks for stopping by to visit - Hope your day has been full of sunshine!

Joan

Pool Party Daisy

The middle of the week is nearly gone - and the month of May is on it's way out.  It's unbelievable how quickly the school year is coming to an end....and how quickly summer is approaching.  WoooHooo!

The sketch today is from Freshly Made Sketches and I've been thinking about this Daisy die for the Big Shot for a couple of days now, so decided to use it today.  

Well.....off to do more prep work.  Hope you've enjoyed your Hump Day!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Joan

Blossoms, Blossoms, Blossoms

This afternoon has been full of blossoms, live and paper.  I bought some bedding plants before coming home from school, and have spent the afternoon using Betsy's Blossoms in my stamp room.  Ya know, when I got this set I never anticipated using it as much as I have already.  Now, that may just be because it's one of the few new ones that I own.  Just wait until June 1 hits!!!!!!

The sketch for today is yesterday's Mojo Monday sketch and the "theme" is "Bright Summer Days"  from the SUO Challenge blog.

I've been bopping, while stamping, to the music from the SMASH soundtrack.  I wonder if the neighbours will mind if I continue to blast the music while I putter in the garden.  Hmmmm, never know until ya try.

Hope you're having a wonderful be-bopping day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Mixed Butterflies

Good Monday Morning - I decided to play with some new paper today while doing the sketch challenge from Just Add Ink.  The Designer Series Paper is Patio Party - available staring Friday.  I love the little butterflies on the one sheet - they go well with the Embosslit butterflies.

I'm off to school now - I like these particular afternoons because I'm teaching grades 3-6 - I like working with the older ones at this time of year.....well, except for the fact that some of them are just DONE with school.    It's all good!

Thanks for visiting - hope you had a great start to your week.

Joan

RockinRoll Seasons

It's such a sunshiny day today, that I just had to use bright colours for today's creation.  

I've started with the sketch from The Paper Players - and since the central focus was circular, I decided to try out the new "Four Seasons" set - it's one of the Hostess sets that will become available in 5 days!

I've used the Rock and Roll technique for both the scallop image and the little flowers .  The little bird is punched out and popped up.  The colours I've used are:  Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Tangerine Tango.  The tiny tag is tied on with Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine.

Hope you're having a super Sunday!  Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Masculine Balloon MashUp!

I'm really enjoying this "Up Up & Away" set - I only recently got it, and I'm having fun with these balloons.  Today would be a wonderful day to go soaring too; it's absolutely beautiful outside.

Yesterday's Friday Mashup! was:

1. Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
2. Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

The card I created has my husband in mind.....the reason for the addition of the music on the lower layer.  Father's day is coming up and his birthday is at the beginning of July - so I'm all set for either occasion.

I've got a lot to do over the next week to get ready for my Open House next Saturday - and I'd like to putter around in the garden a bit too.  So....of I go...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I enjoy reading the comments that people leave.  Ta ta for now.

Joan

In-Colour Floral Thanks

I finally got back into my stamping room after being hit with some sort of bug for two days - it hit hard, fast and left...thank goodness!

So - I decided to play with a few of the new In-Colours.  Gumball Green is Great!  Midnight Muse is bordering on Not Quite Navy - but nice and bright.  And Summer Starfruit - well, I'm just going to have to see how that one goes - it's a funny colour on it's own!

The sketch is from this weeks' Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

I also created some bookmarks which I'm going to include with the New Catalogue at my Open House - among other goodies - on June 2.  I was inspired by a set that Brenda Quintana had posted on Stampin'Connection.

Hope you're geared up for a fun weekend.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Joan

Masculine Mojo

I created two cards for the Monday Mojo sketch this week.  Monday I was still in Calgary so I created a card on MDS that I'll use for a Thank You (that card is shown below).  Tuesday after school, I created a masculine version of the sketch to go along with the challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

As you can see, I have already used something from this weeks available MDS downloads.....I'm going to enjoy the Soft Blooms!!!

I was happy to come home to an apple tree full of blossoms!!!!!  I just love the apples from our tree - no idea what kind they are - just good to eat!  It's been raining all day, and that's been nice too.  Can't go out to play in the garden, so I can stay inside playing with paper this afternoon.

Hope your day has been good - thanks for dropping by!

Joan

When not at home.....MDS

As I mentioned the other day - I'm in Calgary with my husband, who is attending meetings.  I got some shopping done yesterday, but I also worked on a challenge using My Digital Studio; that's what I'm sharing today.

The above layout is using a photo for colour inspiration from Our Creative Corner.  The colours were blues, oranges and a bit of brown.  I chose to use a couple of pictures of Elliot taken a couple of months ago when he was beginning to be able to hold on to things.  This bunny was so soft and the perfect size for him to seize onto.  Of course "playing" really translates into "chewing".

Today's challenge over at The Paper Players was using polka dots.  Ironically, I  used polka dots on the sketch I did yesterday, but I decided to do a second layout using polka dots specifically for this challenge. I took the sketch from Love the Journey - a blog I stumbled upon today.  It was a pleasant surprise to find out that the owner of the blog - Lee Anne - is an Albertan also.  It's a small world!  I took her sketch quite literally because I liked how her hexagons were placed.

Well, enough of being inside....I think I'll go take a walk before dinner.  Hope you are enjoying your long weekend.  Thanks for taking time to stop by.

Joan

Gumballs and Blossoms

Happy Friday - WooHoo it's the long weekend.

I'm travelling to Calgary today, so got up in enough time to get the Friday Mashup! completed and posted.  However, in my haste, I only did one part of the challenge this week....duh!?

1. Make a project " with a Decorative Edge! "
2. Or Make a project with " Ribbon and or a Bow. "
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project " with a Decorative Edge & Ribbon ". 

I guess I was so excited about using the new Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon, that I neglected to put on a decorative edge.  Guess I'll have to create another card later!

The bird and branch are from Betsy's Blossoms and the co-ordinating wheel was used with Rich Razzleberry at the bottom.  There is a wee bit of the Floral District DSP peaking from behind the centre piece.

I've used a recent sketch from Stamping 411 that I hadn't gotten around to using.

Well, I'd better get packed and ready to head on the road.  It's the Annual Representatives Assembly for the Alberta Teacher's Association this weekend.  My husband attends all the meetings and I just tag along for a mini holiday....walking, shopping, etc.

I can hear a robin singing outside my window....it's going to be a great day!

Have a great day yourself - thanks for the visit.

Joan

Poppy Sunshine

Wow - I got ready for school a bit faster this morning and came to look at the challenges - This came together quite easily.  Means there'll be more time for crafting this afternoon!  WoooHoooo!

I've taken the colours from Create with Connie and Mary - Poppy Parade, Pool Party and Basic Black - gave me a chance to use this paper again.  SUO Challenges is looking for 3-D Flowers this week and the sketch is an old one from Splitcoast.

Well, I'm flying off to school.  Hope your day is full of time to do what you like as well as enough time to do what needs to be done.

Thanks for visiting
Joan

Ballooning Thanks

When I lived in Edmonton, during the summer, you'd see the hot air balloons rising from the river valley.  I don't know if I'd ever have the guts to ride in one - but there is something so peaceful about them floating through the air.

This isn't one of the new sets I got yesterday, but it is new to me and it worked best with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches today.  I did use one of the "Itty Bitty Banners" with its matching Framelit.

I took the colours from the inspiration photo at Stampin' Royalty.  The photo was of  bright beautiful flowers, which I've transferred to the balloons.  I've used a piece of upcoming DSP called "Comfort Cafe" and the Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain ribbon is new too.

I do like when I have my morning off from school - I can get the challenge of the day done, and putter around a bit with Stampin' stuff.  When I get home this afternoon I'm going to have to start getting to work on some masks for my concert.  Busy, busy, busy.

Hope you have a marvellous day - thanks for visiting.

Joan

Certainly Pacific Pool

I got Happy Tuesday mail today....my Stampin'Up! order arrived earlier today than I expected.  I am exercising extreme self control to get a challenge done AND clean up from my technique class before I open the box!

Today I have used the Mojo Monday Sketch and added an element of Embossed Resist which is the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge this week.  

The colours are left over from yesterday's Colour Throwdown - I had one little banner that I didn't use, so I popped it on today - they are the rage right now!  I apologize  for the glare on the flower!  I was more interested in the colours being true.

Well, off to do my chores.  Hope your day is going well.  Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Joan

Perk Up!

I enjoyed this colour challenge from Color Throwdown this past week - Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Pool Party and Pacific Point.....yeah, there's not a whole lot of Pacific Point 'cause I have a difficult time with that colour - but it's peaking in one tea cup!

The sketch is from Create with Connie and Mary.  I couldn't bring myself to hang the little banners off the paper.  I can go outside the box, but not that far - today anyway.

I went and cleaned up my stamp room thinking I'd be getting a delivery of new stuff this afternoon.  Much to my disappointment the UPS gal did not bring a Stampin'Up! box to the door.  The flip side is knowing I WILL be getting it tomorrow.  

Happiness is something to look forward to! (how many of you remember the whole Peanuts series of Happiness is????)

Hope there's tons of happiness in your life - thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Fresh Hello

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers.  I hope it is an enjoyable day for you.

I've gotten off to a good start - able to do some creating this morning.  I've used the colours from The Paper Players ( Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight and Baja Breeze)  and the sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches.

I've always liked this fancy Hello and haven't used it near enough.  Two of the images have been used from the "My Friend" set and one flower from "Mixed Bunch.  The "band" across the card was created using the "Framed Tulips" embossing folder which I've trimmed around.

Hope your day is fantastic.  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Celebrate Mocha

Today's challenge at Create with Connie and Mary was to create a "celebrate" card and to use your favourite Designer Series Paper.  I've taken the sketch from this weeks' Mojo Monday challenge.

I fell in love with Mocha Morning as soon as I saw it in the catalogue last June.  I loved the name, the tones and the elegance.

I'm almost ready for my All Occasion Stack tomorrow - I'll probably bake some chocolate chip cookies tomorrow afternoon.  I wouldn't mind hiring Allison to do some baking again.  She did an awesome job last weekend for my Sunday afternoon tea.  She made these "Slutty Brownies" - Oh My Word - they were to die for!

HERE is the link to the recipe -

In a nutshell - Chocolate Chip Cookie dough on the bottom, Oreo Cookies layered in the middle and Brownie dough on top - all baked together.....need I say more?????

Have a marvellous end to your week.  Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Spreading Ink Flowers

I just MIGHT have gotten this technique figured out.  We were going to do the Spreading Ink Technique at our Team Meeting tonight (it got cancelled due to low registration because our fearless leader, Tamye, is in Orlando on the incentive trip) ......I was suppose to help run the meeting, and figured I better try this technique YET AGAIN, to see if I could do it.

I followed the tutorial on our demonstrator website and achieved a bit more success.  I think the trick is to remember to dab the ink onto the soaked paper - use the aqua painter to brush the water on instead of just spritzing the paper with water.  I also used glossy paper for the first time.  I've tried regular card stock and shimmer card stock in the past.

Also - I like the above flower best (I created 4) - and I think it's because I used only one colour so there was no chance for "mud" to form.

Because I created the 4 flowers, I used this Poppy Parade one on the sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Again - I used just the one colour.

I'm frantically getting ready for my All Occasion Card Stack this weekend.....hope you've got some excitement planned for the near future - something to look forward to.

Thanks for visiting for a while.

Joan