Nature's Thoughts

 Just a quick post today after completing the challenge over at Fab Friday.  They've been asking for creations using all of the new In Colours.  Not always an easy feat - but I'm happy with my result although it has no greeting right now.

I chose to use Positive Thoughts with the coordinating dies.  This is a set that I bought mostly because of the sentiments it included.  I need to work on grouping foliage together - just needs practice.

That's all for now

Thanks for dropping by,

Joan

Positive Thoughts - 151490 - $29.00

Nature's Thoughts - 153586 - $39.00

Green Thank You

Today I've created a card to meet two challenge requirements - Freshly Made Sketches and Just Add Ink.  Although, my card isn't right on with the sketch... I've got the vase hanging below the circle.

I've used Designer Series Paper from the "In Good Taste" series and the stamps come from the "Boho Indigo Product Medley as does the ribbon.  When I saw the inspiration photo from Just Add Ink, I immediately thought of the basket looking vase from this set.  To colour the leaves, I sponged Pear Pizzazz and Garden Green onto the stamp.  I wanted the leaves to echo the ones on the DSP.   The trim comes from the "Ornate Borders" dies.

That's all for today.

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

A Day Without Coffee

 It's been quite a while since I've posted to my blog....I've been busy creating for and doing my Facebook Lives.   I had my "Nothing's Better Than" stamp set on my desk when I checked out what the Color Throwdown was challenging us with this week and decided it was time to do a challenge....the colours and design of this stamp set went together for me.

I've used Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Delight and Balmy Blue for my colours.  The background is created from the Swirly Frames set.  It all just says 1960's to me, or makes me think of The Jetsons.  I love this new set with all the words and images it offers.

That's it for today.....think I'll grab a cup of coffee, a book and go sit on my deck in the sun.

Hope you can relax today too.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Nothing's Better Than - 152507 - $30.00

Swirly Frames - 146519 - $29.00

How Do I Use This? - Sponge Brayer

 Last night I had my "How Do I Use This?" Facebook Live and today I'm sharing the cards I created to demonstrate the different things you can do with sponge brayers.

The first technique I shared was the Ombre technique.  I used Soft Seafoam, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive.  I brayered the Soft Seafoam down first then added the next  colours in line trying to create a smooth transition from one shade to the next.  The accent is from the upcoming Forever Gold Laser Cut Specialty Paper. The Hello is from the new Forever Fern stamp set.

 Next, I did the Emboss Resist Technique.  The technique works with either sponge daubers or the sponge brayer, but you can cover more area with the brayer.  I covered the paper with the blossom  and foliage from Tasteful Touches stamp set using Versa Mark and White Embossing Powder.  After embossing, I used Rococo Rose ink and brayered until I got the desired shade.  You need to remember to gently wipe off the ink that sits on the embossed area.

 I don't know that there is a name for this technique - I brayered the inside cover of the Parisian Flourish Embossing Folder with Crumb Cake ink.  When I put it through the Big Shot, the ink went into the depressed areas of the design.  The stamp set I used is Very Versailles using Pretty Peacock ink.

Finally, I tried to create some movement on the paper by curving the brayer as I applied the ink.  You could create more of an effect if you did this on larger paper and then cut it down to size.  The colours I used were Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry.

Any of the new stamp sets I've used will be available from the new catalogue when it goes live on June 3.  If you would like a copy of the catalogue, let me know and I'll get one out to you.

I hope you found some inspiration to pull out a brayer and use it.  All the techniques can be done with either the sponge brayer, or the rubber brayer that we used to sell.

Thanks for visiting today.

Stay Safe,

Joan

Someone's Blessing

Today I thought I'd do the challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  These colours work so well together.

The images are from Beautiful Moments and I love this sentiment.  I used some of my Seaside Spray Scalloped Linen Ribbon - cut in half so the linen part doesn't show.  The little girl's dress is paper pieced from the In Colour DSP.  Finally, I used my Stampin' Blends to colour three pearls in the matching colours to add a bit more to the card.

Short and sweet for today.  I have some work to finish up on for tonight's "How Do I Use This" Facebook Live.  Tonight's session is on the Sponge Brayers.  Fun, fun, fun.

I hope you are staying safe and healthy.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Smile and Thanks

 Just a quick post with two cards I created to use up some Designer Series Paper.  I really enjoyed working with the paper we had this year and the coordinating stamp sets.

The above card was created for a challenge, but then time passed and I missed the deadline for posting.  I'll use this layout again, it's clean and simple.  Maybe I'll even use it for a Mystery Card Monday some time.

I've layered both sizes of daisies after adding some veins on them...just to perk them up a bit.

I'm letting the DSP do all the work for this card.  I love these big bold flowers and I get to use some red accents which I don't do very often.

Like I said this is short and sweet.

Thanks for visiting.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Joan

How Do I Use This? - Stamparatus

Wednesday night I had my How Do I Use This Facebook Live using the Stamparatus.  Today's post shows the various cards I created using this awesome stamp positioning tool.  My first card was also created for this week's challenge over at Sunday Stamps.

With regard to the Stamparatus, I used it to make sure that this negative image from Silhouette Scenes was crisp and dark.  I have difficulty with getting negative images dark enough the first try. So the Stamparatus allows me to restamp the image with no worries.

Two step stamping is made easy with the Stamparatus.   You can play around with the stamps until you get them perfectly placed, and then create as many cards as you want without having to worry about repositioning the stamps. I used Soft Spring for this card.

Stamping multiples of the same images is easy with the Stamparatus because of the removable hinged plates.  The leaf from Rooted in Nature was used for the first card.  I've also used DSP as the base of the card.  I included a piece of cardstock on the inside for writing.

The Collar Fold was used for this second card with the See a Silhouette DSP.  The little Hello is from the Honey Bee stamp set.

I was having difficulty positioning this greeting nicely over the bee hive using the clear blocks....but when I put the two stamps together on the Stamparatus it worked out perfectly.  I'm going to miss this Honey Bee stamp set - I really like the little bees.

The technique for this card is called Round & Round.  You need to create a template first, but once you have the template you can make any number of these little wreaths using  flowers, leaves, hearts, and butterflies.  There's no limit to your imagination.  I used the tiny butterfly from Butterfly Wishes for this card.

That's it for today

If you would like to watch my Facebook Live on the Stamparatus, where I demo each of these techniques you can find me at JJCreations247 and the video is labeled the same as today's post.

Thanks for dropping by.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Joan

Catching Up -Mystery Card Monday

 

Monday was my Mystery Card Monday night and these are the cards that I created from the recipe which is shown below.  I had a number of people participate  and I always enjoy seeing what they created when they post their cards on my Facebook business page.

Each of these cards is pretty straight forward in design using embossing folders to add texture and a bit of Designer Series Paper.

 

For the above card, I coloured three pearls with the Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends Marker.  Because the markers are alcohol based, you can colour your embellishments to match your card. 

 

Today I've used stamp sets which are continuing into the new catalogue which goes live June 3.  If you would like to reserve your copy, send me an e-mail and I'll set one aside for you once I get them.

If you'd like to join me for next week's Mystery Card Monday, you can find me at JJCreations on Facebook.  I go live at 7:00pm MT.  

Thanks for dropping by today,

Stay Safe,

Joan

Rococo Rose Wishes

 I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted anything.  I've been busy making cards, and when we had sunshine I was busy cleaning out my garden.  It's overcast today so I decided to do a challenge....from Just Add Ink.

I've used Healing Hugs...and a lot of layers.  I took the coordinating Rococo Rose Ribbon and coloured in the Crumb Cake linen with my Basic Gray marker, making it coordinate perfectly with the card.   I imagine you could do this with most dark inks. I also added some veins on the leaves - that's a me thing.

That is all for today. Short and sweet.

I hope you are well in your corner of the world.

Thanks for visiting

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Joan

Fabulous Balloons

Today's card makes me remember watching hot air balloons rise and sail over the downtown Edmonton sky.  I must say I'm partial to these styles of balloons rather than the character shapes they can have nowadays.  Would I like to ride in one?  I'm not sure; part of me says yes, part of me says no way.  However, they always look so peaceful sailing through the sky.

I've used the colours set out by the Fab Friday Challenge Blog...

Above the Clouds is one of the stamp sets that is going to be retiring at the end of May, along with its coordinating punch.  So, if you've had your eye on this set, now is the time to get it.

You can shop my on-line store  HERE and if you use the host code

 

DV6QGZ9E

 

you will get your name put in a draw to receive the host benefits.  You can also check out the Last Chance Items at the website.  Remember, so things are at a reduced price and everything is available only while supplies last.

That's it for today.

Thanks for dropping by.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Joan

 

 

How Do I Use This? - Sponge Daubers

 This week's "How Do I Use This?" was all about sponge daubers.  A simple tool that most everyone knows how to use.  I was just hoping to give at least one new idea to people who tuned in the my Facebook Live on Wednesday.

For my first technique card, I sponged ink around the edges of the tag.  This is the most common way of using sponge daubers.  I layered two colours - Petal Pink and Flirty Flamingo.  The stamp set I used, Colorful Seasons, is going to be retiring at the end of May.

 The next technique was to sponge ink onto vellum.  I used Blackberry Bliss, which is a dark purple ink.  But by sponging it on vellum you end up with a lighter shade and the flowers coordinate with the ones on the DSP.  You do need to be careful to use circular motions when adding the ink...you don't want to end up with a "daub" on ink on your image.

Adding ink to a stamp was the third technique.  I sponged Old Olive onto the big tree from the Rooted in Nature set.  To create shading in the leaves I sponged some Mossy Meadow over top of the Old Olive.   I huffed on the stamp and then stamped on the cardstock.

 Colouring in an image is another way to use sponge daubers, although they are difficult for small spaces.  I began colouring this hibiscus by using Grapefruit Grove and colouring from the edges of the flower down toward the middle.  Next, I took Real Red and coloured from the centre of the flower out toward the edges.  I was trying to duplicate the flowers which were on the DSP.

 I used one of our Pattern Party Decorative Masks for my fifth technique.  I wasn't concerned about covering the whole piece of cardstock or with having some of the spaces darker/lighter than others.  It was just to provide a background for the flourish.  Flourishing Phrases is another stamp set, along with its' dies, that will be retiring this year.

Finally, I simply used the sponge dauber as a stamp itself.  I like how the sponge creates fuzzy little circles.

That's it for sharing today.  I'd love to have you join me on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm MT for "How do I Use This?".  I think once I end up running out of products to demonstrate, I will turn it into a technique class.  You can find me at JJ Creations on Facebook.

Hope you are surviving the wind in this spring weather.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Mystery Card Monday #3

 Wow, it's almost the end of the week and I haven't shared the cards I made on Monday for my Mystery Card Monday Facebook Live.  It must have been a busy week for the days to have passed so quickly.  But I can't recall what I was busy with.  Time can pass quickly in isolation.

Anyway - the recipe for this week's card is shown below.  I'm trying to use up DSP as we're coming to the end of the stamping catalogue.  The pieces I've used (on both cards) are from the same sheet.  I love how Stampin'Up! coordinates their papers.  I fussy cut the flowers out of a separate piece of Parisian Blossoms Specialty DSP, arranged them somewhat in a circle, and added rhinestones to the centre of each blossom.  Participants were to pick one-three focal images to put on the white square.

 This butterfly has sat on my desk for a week - since the vellum class I had last Wednesday.  I decided to find some DSP that it coordinated with and I wasn't disappointed with the Best Dressed DSP.

I actually have a third card that I used this recipe for, but I used it for my Wednesday "How Do I Use This?" class so I will share it tomorrow.

That's it for today.  I'm enjoying these Mystery Card Monday's and then seeing what other people create using the same recipe.  If you'd like to join me you can find me on Facebook at JJ Creations.

Thanks for stopping by

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Joan

Last Chance Products

WoooHooo!  Today the Retiring Products list came out. The easiest way to see what is retiring is to go to my website, click on "Shop Now" and then on "Last Chance". That way you can see each item rather than going from a list. If you want the list, let me know and I can get a PDF to you. 

Click HERE to get to my website

Don't forget to use the April Host code. When you shop AND use the code you will get your name put in a draw for a prize. April host code is DV6QGZ9E

Act quickly, some items will disappear fast and products on this list are only while supplies last.

Happy Shopping, Happy Stamping.
Joan

Hope

 I had an extra piece of embossed vellum on my desktop and decided to use it for the background on this card for the Fab Friday Sketch Challenge.

The vellum is embossed with the Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder.  I've used a piece of See a Silhouette DSP for the hexagon behind the cross.  I love how this paper is looks like a dark cloudy sky.  The cross is from the Cross of Hope Dies. I love its stained glass look.  Finally, I've added the greeting on another little hexagon and embellished it with two pearls that I've coloured with the Night of Navy Dark Stampin' Blends.  To get just the word Hope, I used a marker to colour in just that word before stamping.

Because tomorrow is Mystery Card Monday, I thought I would give you the recipe for tomorrow's card.  Simply cut out your choice of papers to coordinate together and join me on my facebook page tomorrow night at 7:00pm MT.  You can find me at JJ Creations.  We will create the card together, but you won't see what I'm doing, although I will give you some directions.  At the end people are invited to post their creation so everyone can see what has been created by using the same recipe by different people.  I also have a prize to give to someone who posts.

Here is tomorrow's recipe.

That is it for today.

I hope you are doing well and staying safe and sound.

Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Hold on to Hope - 151243 - $29.00

Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder - 151474 - $14.00

Cross of Hope - 145654 - $37.00

Stitched Nested Labels - 149638 - $48.00