Elephants and Mega Trials

Today's "main event" comes courtesy of a Tic Tack Toe challenge at The Paper Players -

My combination was Birthday-Dry Embossing-Ribbon.

I also used the sketch challenge from the New Catalogue Edition over at Create with Connie and Mary

I'm actually quite pleased with how my elephant card turned out - he's from You're Amazing.  I coloured his body using an aqua painter and ink.  I was also happy to use one of those fantastic brads that match the Summer Smooches paper.  I was disappointed that they were a limited time thing!

Yesterday I also played around with Christmas ideas for my Christmas in August.   I spotted the video tutorial by Dawn Olchefske  (on Stampin' Connection) using the design below.  I decided to try it out with Bells and Boughs.  What you see below is the final product....it's followed by my first attempt using the flourish from  Everything Eleanor  and colouring in the flowers.  I decided that was too busy and time intensive for a card stack.

 I tried a variety of spritzing ideas before settling on the Gold Glow Smooch Spritz.  I tried using Old Olive and More Mustard reinker with water in the new Stampin' Spritzer.  I do love how that new Spritzer works - and especially how you can spritz with any of our colours now!

So - I guess that's why some days it takes so long to get a post finished!!!

Today holds some garage clean up and babysitting Elliot this afternoon.

Here he is yesterday afternoon, playing at our house with his dad's hat on!

Ta ta for now - Hope you have a day full of smiles!

Thanks for dropping by.

Joan

WooHooo - My First Sketch

I'm so excited because today at Sunday Stamps it's sketch day - and today - it's my sketch.  It's a totally new experience for me - what fun, fun, fun.  Please feel free to use whatever shape you want where the ovals are.  I love sketch challenges because, although most of the time I follow sketches to the T, there are times where they end up being a jumping off place for creativity to go in it's own direction.  That's the beauty of it!

I used Rich Razzleberry for under my ovals and I was glad to find a stray piece of polka dot Rich Razzleberry ribbon.....I love the polka dot ribbons!

When you've finished creating, be sure to post it over at Sunday Stamps; I'd love to see what you come up with!  And if you're looking for more inspiration, pop over there to see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with.

We're busy here today - Grant has a meeting at work so we're having a family lunch instead of family dinner.  That works out perfectly because we're going to see Mary Poppins on stage tonight.  Fun, fun, fun.

Hope you have good things planned - or not planned - with friends and family today.

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Sweet Gingerbread

My craft room smells like sugar and spice this morning after working with these little guys!  YUM!  The gingerbread men are from the Scentsational Season set in the upcoming Holiday Mini along with co-ordinating framelit dies.

I've used the colours from Dynamic Duos today - Crumb Cake and Early Espresso (Wow - it's a food sort of day I guess!)

The base of the card is Very Vanilla with an Early Espresso Mat.  The embossed section is the new Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Can you tell I'm getting ready for an Open House to showcase items from the new Mini?!

It's cool, overcast and thundering today (no rain yet) - so maybe I will bake the cookies I promised my daughter a day or two ago.  It was way too hot to turn on the oven then.

I've been meaning to share this video of this year's theme song from convention.  I love this song - I play it almost every day just to boost me up for crafting.

Hope your day has aromas which make you smile.  Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Snowy Believe

It seems like forever since I've done a Friday Mashup!  I'm glad I can participate today..... I've taken the sketch from the very first Merry Monday sketch.  I will be working on the ones that I missed before I found that challenge.

The Friday Mashup challenge is timely because I'm working on cards for my "Christmas in August"

1. Make a project "For Christmas."
2. Or Make a "Greeting Card & Decorate the Inside."
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Christmas Card & Decorate the Inside."

I've used the "Snowflake Soiree" which is in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  I love these snowflakes and the font for the two words that are included in the set.  The snowflakes were stamped on their own piece of card stock and edged with a piece of Midnight Muse cut with the Finishing Touches Edgelits. The "Labels Collections Framelits"  were used to cut a piece of Midnight Muse and I stamped the snowflakes using matching ink.  

The piece had to be rubbed with an Embossing Buddy to ensure that white embossing powder didn't stick to the snowflakes when I embossed the greeting.  Honestly, I did end up with a few tiny flakes around the word, so to cover them up I spritzed the piece with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  It worked wonderfully.

For the inside of my card - the second part of the Mashup Challenge - I used the edgelit on a scrap piece of paper and used a sponge dauber to colour the edge.  Then I used two pieces of scrap paper to create a "window" to stamp in for the snowflakes....masking what I didn't want snowflakes to hit.  I like the effect it created.

My house is now empty of workers doing the shingles.  My husband and his friends have been working on reshingling the house and garage.  It's been a full week long process with some repairs and rain delays - but today I can do a final floor cleaning of the dirt that's been tracked in.  

I'll clean the floors, watch the Opening Ceremonies, craft a bit.....and then we get to babysit Elliot tonight.  What a fantastic way to end a week!

Hope you have something to look forward to today.

Thanks for dropping by!

Joan

No. 1 Friend

This is one of the sets we received to do Make & Takes at Convention.  It's called "Affection Collection" and it's in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  I was using it a fair bit yesterday, getting my Make & Takes from Convention finished, so I decided to pull it out again today.

The sketch is from Create with Connie and Mary - I've missed doing these challenges being away from my craft room for three weeks.

I'm off to do more crafting - I didn't get as much done yesterday as I intended.  I've realized I'm becoming more distractible - must be an age thing!

Hope you have something you can stay focused on today - thanks for visiting.

Joan

You Are

I am....working outside my comfort zone today!  

The sketch for today is from Freshly Made Sketches,  I'm using buttons and brads from SUO Challenges and the colours are from Splitcoast Stampers this week.  That's where I feel outside my comfort zone - every time I see Real Red requested in a challenge I cringe a little.  I love red - I just don't grab it to combine it with anything other than black, white or navy blue.

The images for this card are from the "I Am..." set which we won at convention if you collected 6 or more "secret words" from the sessions you attended.  I've used this Paper Piercing Mat for the first time...easy peasy!!!!  Love it!

Thought I'd share Elliot with you today.  I missed him the three weeks I was away and was glad to go over to his house for dinner when I got home from convention.  I took a bunch of pictures and a video of the cute way he has of maneuvering himself across the room.  Grandma and Grandpa will need to get a gate soon!

Hope you're having a wonderful day - Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Revamped Typewriter

Not so long ago, May 22, I created the card below....

I was happy with this card - but I've had the need to revamp it.  During our holiday in the Maritimes, we stayed at the Bluenose Lodge for one night in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

What an incredible establishment!  So - I wanted to send a thank you card after we returned home....Andrea had an old typewriter in her foyer on a table where she checked people in for the night. I thought that my "old" card was perfect - I just needed to make it a bit more feminine.  I created a paper flower using the First Edition DSP and I also put rhinestones into the centres of the little brads that I initially used.  I also distressed the edges of the centre piece.  Viola - a vintage card for a wonderfully vintage house.  I would highly recommend this lodge if you are needing a place to stay a night or two in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

One more thing checked off of my to do list - Yay!

This is the second post of the day - so thanks for stopping by!

Finally - I'd like to mention two more sessions I attended at convention -  during "I am Open for Business" Carrie Cudney spoke about how to find new customers and how to make the most of new leads that come our way.  

'I am Reaching Out", presented by Emily Montoya, focused on how to attract the "Generation Y" group of women - which took us right back to the Keynote speaker Jason Dorsey.  Emily gave us lots to think about and I've already incorporated some of her ideas into my business.  So - convention was the perfect mix of fun, information and excitement!

A quote from Emily's session.....

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!

Too true!

JJ

Travelling Adventure

Guess I'm still in a travelling frame of mind....and so are the gals over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Their challenge for today was an inspiration challenge of "Beach/Pacific Coast Highway".  Not sure that I'd want to ride a bike on the highway but I don't have any car or shell images.  I do on MDS - but I'm itching for ink right now. (I did a lot of MDS pages while I was gone!)

The sketch for this card is from The Paper Players, which I've turned on its side.

I've used the faceted buttons for the first time, and I have had this twine in a little drawer for a while and had forgotten about it....

I'm going to spend the first part of this afternoon reading over notes I took at convention and making plans for the rest of the summer and the fall.  Bonnie Turber presented a session at convention titled "I am doing Business My Way" with Rhonda Wade and Tami White giving tips on how they run their businesses.  I have some things I'm going to tweak "My Way" also incorporating some of the ideas I got from Shannon West during her session "I am Having Fun".  I loved how she focused on the 5 senses during her presentation.

I got things put away yesterday but didn't get any stamping done because my daughter asked if I wanted to go to West Edmonton Mall with her.  Since she hadn't really seen me for the past 3 weeks I thought that was the best idea.

Hope you have someone special to spend time with today - thanks for visiting me for a bit.
Joan

I am - Inspired!

Yay - I'm back home and can settle into my usual summer routine for a wee bit.  However, just because I'm settling in, this doesn't mean I'm not going to be planning, and crafting, and posting.

I was so inspired by the Stampin'Up! Convention this last number of days!  I attended a session titled "I am earning the Incentive Trip" put on by Karen Hauley.  She invited three different demonstrators to give tips on how they earned the trip this year - Cynthia Millan, Jill Hilliard, and Meg Holland.

 I am pumped and earning that trip with my daughter!  I was texting her during the trip announcement, and last night we sat and looked at the cruise line website.  We are both pumped.  I know I will be feeding off her energy through this year.

This is just a mini - coffee on the deck post - I'm itching to get stamping...so I'll probably be posting again later today.

I'm cooler sitting here on the deck than I've been for the past 3 weeks - but it's still nice outside.  I'm trusting the rain holds off for my husband and his friends who are shingling our roof.

Hope you are inspired by something or someone today.  Thanks for stopping by!  Joan

Sunday Stamps Saffron Smiles

Welcome to another Sunday Stamps Challenge - and this week it's a Colour Challenge - 

 I was excited about using the Reason to Smile Stamp set.  (Remember when you purchase $60 in product you can get the Reason to Smile set for ONLY $5.00)  I love the two step stamping sets.  I used the large flower on the So Saffron strip.  It may look like there are flowers stamped on the Riding Hood Red strip, but it's actually an embossing folder.

Give this colour challenge a try - there are lots of different directions it can go in.  If you'd like some additional inspiration be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has come up with.  I love seeing how people accent colours differently.   Also, once you've come up with your creation, be sure to link it back to the Sunday Stamps blog.   I enjoy seeing what other people come up with and you just may be selected as a Top Pick.

Today I will be back home from Convention and ready to get on with my summer, and especially getting busy in my craft room.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

I am....having a great time

I am having a fantastic time at convention - the first day was over and it was marvellous.  

Jason Dorsey was a incredibly funny, and inspirational speaker this morning - loved all the information he gave us....and all the laughing that we did.

Brian Pilling presented a great presentation on being a good leader - I loved his use of the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears throughout his presentation!  I'm going home with goals to improve my leadership within my own downline.

It will be totally exciting to go back and work up some projects with inspirational ideas  I got from the I am Savvy session with Donna Griffith, Meg Wheeler, Dawn Griffith and Laura Milligan.  These ladies gave fantastic ideas for using ribbon, fabric and Simply Scrappin' Kits.

Woo Hooo!!!!  I am having a GREAT time!

Joan

Patio Lanterns

Today is a sketch day at Sunday Stamps... and what a fun one it is.  You MUST check out the Sunday Stamps Challenge blog to see all the different ways that this sketch has been interpreted.  I'm so excited to be working with such a group of creative ladies!

I've chosen to use Patio Party DSP and pop out the patio lanterns.  I punched out 6 circles, folded them in half and then attached them to each other.  The large scallop edgelit was used to cut the edge of the Delicate Designs Folder.

Today I will be home from my first holiday of the year....We've been in the Maritimes since July 2 and had a wonderful time!

Next stop - Salt Lake City for the Stampin'Up! Convention.  I have one day to do laundry and repack.

Hope you have plans that keep you busy and having a great time.

Thanks for stopping by....once I'm back from Salt Lake I'll be very excited to be back in my craft room on a regular basis!

Joan

Sunday Sketch Poppies

WoooHooo - it's a colour challenge today at Sunday Stamps.  Our combination is

Basic Gray

Summer Starfruit

Primrose Petals

I enjoyed working with this combination - as soon as I saw the Primrose Petals I knew I wanted to pull out my Pleasant Poppies and try them out for the first time.  I embossed the image with Black on regular Whisper White card stock.  Using an aqua painter and ink pressed into the lid of the ink pad, I painted the flowers for a watercolour look.  I tried doing it on watecolour paper, but the colours bled out of the embossing quite a bit.   

I love poppies, but I don't seem to be able to grow them very well.

Have fun with this combination.  When you've finished, be sure to link your project  up to the Sunday Stamps Challenge Blog so we can take a look.  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog, no matter what, to see what the other members of the Design Team have come up with.

Hope your day is blooming with goodness!

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Canada Day Sunday Stamp Duo

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

We'll be having a busy day here today - Pancake Breakfast, Trivia Questions before the Parade, Lunch and fun and games at my Canamaniac friend Amy's house.  It will be Elliot's first Canada Day, so we're looking forward to spending the whole day with him too!  Don't think we'll be going to the fireworks though since we have to be on a plane at 1:00am tomorrow morning.  WooooHoooo!

AND it's also 

Sunday Stamps!

It's a sketch day at Sunday Stamps - and it's a perfect sketch if you're needing to make a card in a pinch.  Any shape could be used where the circle is  - and that's exactly how this card duo ended up being created.

I had initially created the card with the sail boat - a week ago when I knew I needed to get some of my challenges done ahead of time before travelling on holidays.  Then I realized that this post would go live on Canada Day - so I turned around and created a second card, which you see above, using today's holiday as a theme;   proving that any shape can be used where the circle is in the sketch!

  The two bands across the middle of the sketch provide a lot of room for creativity and for this sail boat I chose to use fibers for both - I'm loving the new stitched ribbon for the new In Colours....and the twine is a wee bit nautical.

 Here's the sketch for you to go by and for more inspiration, be sure to stop by the Sunday Stamps Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team came up with this week.  Be sure to link your project back to Sunday Stamps so we can see what you've created.

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians.

Have a safe and fun celebration!

Joan