Wahoo!

A quick, easy card using BIG words for the "As You See It" challenge, and the sketch comes from "Create with Connie and Mary" - although I rotated it so I can continue to use up this dot embossed paper. Anyone else have stashes of leftovers they keep working away at?

I'm going to start working on a newsletter now and then maybe create some collages.

Hope your Saturday is full of fun stuff!

Joan

Busy Week

Wow - it has been a very busy, productive, fantastic week - sorry I didn't get anything posted between last Sunday and now.  I was frantically prepping to get ready for the North Central Teachers' Convention this past Thursday and Friday.

Wednesday night I had finally gotten everything created, and packed and used my toboggan to help haul everything to the car in one-fell-swoop.  (Toboggans are wonderful things)  Sorry the photo is blurry!

Wednesday afternoon was spent setting up the booth... I had created this banner Monday and Tuesday....it says  "We can go way beyond just cards!".....'cause we can!

I'm happy to say that I got rid of a lot of my retired stamp sets, and quite a number of my cards got sold also!  I had tons of teacher's coming by and it was fantastic to see old friends I hadn't seen in a while, and current colleagues that I don't get to see very often.  It was fun working with Colette and Allison in the booth too.

Wednesday evening I snapped the view out of the hotel window - I love reflections in buildings!

Thursday and....

Friday were beautiful mornings!  

I had a fantastic time, and today I'm working on some creative deadlines, unpacking and cleaning, and then gearing up for the next event - this Friday!

To leave you with something creative - this is an 8X8 piece that I created pretty much exactly from the tutorial from the "Spring Edition 2013" from Create with Connie and Mary.  I used different paper for the bird, and the stamps I added are different, but everything else is the same.  The instructions were wonderful and I got lots of compliments on it at Convention.  I thank Connie, Mary and the rest of their Design Team for the inspiration they provide in their Tutorials.

Off to get more things crossed off my "To Do" list.  Thanks for stopping by - Have a Great Day.

Joan

All caught up.....for now

Today's main feature is a sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  And look at me...another clean/white card AND I added Pacific Point without it being required.  What's up with that?

I used paper from International Bazaar - cutting the design just to keep it interesting.  For the mat on the "greeting" I traced the outside of the Apothecary Accent framelit and fussy cut it.

Now for my catch up items for the 31 Pages in 31 Days... with Lyssa Zwolanek

Day 7 - I've used the same layout that Lyssa did on her example, and I've used the same package of paper - but I've changed it up to be a "boy" page instead of a girlie page.  I didn't know what sort of "accents" to use so I crumpled up a couple strips of paper, used twine and did some doodling around the pictures that were matted.... although it doesn't really show up in the picture.

When I saw Lyssa's layout and colours for Day 8 I automatically thought of this picture of my dad taken around either Banff or Jasper in the mid to late 60's.  The colours and the images from Nature Walk were perfect.  I also added trees from Lovely as a Tree.  I copied all of Lyssa's elements...right down to distressing the piece of balsa wood that I'll add words to later.

Finally - Day 9's page - TODAY!!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Again, I kept everything the same as Lyssa's example on this one too except that I added the little snowflakes around the edges.  I guess I've done so many clean cards lately that I need to fill in the empty space on other projects.

That's it for today.  I have some chores to do and then I'm going to go shopping for a toy or two.  We're babysitting Elliot tomorrow night and he's requiring some stabler toys to pull himself up on.

I can't wait.

Hope things are happy and healthy in your corner of the world.

Thanks for visiting

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

Happy Summer Holidays!

Well, I got into my usual summer routine right away this morning - coffee on the deck in the sun with the daily crossword from the newspaper.  I won't be able to do that again until we get home from holiday - but that's fine!

Today's card is a combination of two challenges -

The sketch is from Mojo Monday and the colours are from Create with Connie and Mary - Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Grey.  I always get a little nervous when I see Real Red.   I thought of flowers when I put the three colour scraps on my table and so I tried doing the spreading ink technique.  Now that I actually look back at my technique card, I see that I should have used glossy white paper.  Ah well.

Have a fantabulous Saturday - I'm off to get some stamping business done while doing laundry and packing.  I want to have everything ready for our trip today so that I can enjoy Canada Day tomorrow.  Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Happiness Quilt

The days of making quilts are gone for me - but it's fun putting paper ones together....Quilts was the challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I've used the Floral Districts DSP for the flowers in the middle of each square.  The squares were mounted on white card stock before being cut with the Top Note Die and then embossed with the Fancy Fan Folder.  I'm not sure about the two random strips of ribbon - but that's where I went.  

I also finished off a  Mini Album using the Serene Silhouette set.  I used a tutorial from the 2012-13 New Catalogue Edition from Create with Connie and Mary.  I had to make a few adjustments because I didn't have everything that was used in the tutorial.

My cover is pretty much the same.  I didn't have a coiling machine so I used ribbons to join all the pages together.

I don't have the English Ivy Simple Sentiments stationary - so I used the flourish from Creative Elements on Very Vanilla card stock  for the pieces that used the stationary.

Of course, since I didn't have the stationary - I didn't have the envelopes with the fancy insides or the fancy edges.  So, I "cut" off the envelope glue off a regular Vanilla envelope using one of the Adorning Accents Edgelits.

I also chose to use the Finishing Touches Edgelit for some of the parts instead of the scallop border punch.

I like the final results.....now I just have to decide who to give it to.  I must commend this group of women who create things for the tutorials.  The steps are always straight forward and easy to follow.  And they are such an inspiration!

Hope you are finding inspiration in your life today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Only three days left of school....whooooohooooo!!!!!
Joan

Tea and Bling

I love cards that have diagonal lines, but I don't think to do them....thank you to Create with Connie and Mary - 'cause this is their sketch for today.

After looking at what the Design Team had created, my mind saw tea cups going across the one band...so out came Tea Shoppe, then I browsed through my DSP and decided on the floral piece from Twitterpated.  When I pulled out the matching colours of card stock, I happened to grab a piece of Baha Breeze that had already been embossed ...yay!  I also decided that the new edgelit was a perfect addition for a tea cup sort of card.

Now - about the bling.  I initially thought ..."I need a small strip of something dark ....Island Indigo....or....use some of the strings of rhinestones.  So that's what I went with.  

A bit over the top perhaps - but the sun is shining beautifully and I'm not teaching this morning so I'm missing track and field - oh gosh darn!!!!  Instead, I get to do something different this afternoon and watch hoop dancers for our FNMI  activity (First Nations/Meti/Inuit).  That I'm looking forward to.

So, all in all - it's 10:15am and the day is going fabulously.  

Hope yours is too - thanks for stopping by!

Joan

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

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

Vintage Elements

Today's card has the colour combination featured on Create with Connie and Mary...Poppy Parade, So Saffron and Basic Grey.  I must say, I'm not really going to miss Poppy Parade when it leaves the palate at the end of May - I find it a funny sort of shade.  But, it does work well with the Saffron and Grey, so Thank You, Connie & Mary, for getting me to work outside my box!  The sketch for today is from Mojo Monday.

Remember there are only three days left of Sale-a-bration!  Visit my on-line store to place your orders before the end of day on Saturday, March 31.  And, if you've been humming and hawing about getting the Starter Kit, you can't miss this fanastic Sale-a-bration deal!  Pop me an e-mail and I'll help you with it.

It is a beautiful day here today, and I get to babysit Elliot while Grandpa helps Mom and Dad move into their new place.  Exciting!

I hope warm weather and the blessings of family move you through today.  Thanks for visiting!
Joan

Tea Party Prep

After taking advantage of Create with Connie & Mary's Occasion Mini Tutorials - I've decided to host an Afternoon Tea in April and create this card along with the Tea Shoppe Explosion Box.  Since I'm in the midst of doing that planning, it worked perfectly that today (Create with) Connie & Mary had a sketch as their challenge - so I used it.  

I created the background with the Delicate Doilies set with Pool Party ink on Pool Party paper.  I'll share the Explosion box later on - 

I've been creating all afternoon - 5 cards done for the upcoming All Occasion Stack in May.  I am NOT usually this prepared, but because I have a number of in-home workshops coming up, I wanted to be able to show them what stamping opportunities I'm having in my home in the future.

So - busy, busy, busy - Wooo Hooo - Hip hip Horray!

We've had a dump of snow today - on the eve of Spring Break.  I'm sure anyone who was going to the mountains to ski is thrilled.  My daughter is leaving for Mexico on Sunday - so she can't wait to get out of here!

I'm staying put - and happy to do so.

Hope you are happy with whatever plans are on your calendar - Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Joan

Lucky Peach Pool

There's only a limited time before this paper and stamp set are gone for good.  Sale-a-bration ends March 31 and these two items could be selected for FREE with your $60 purchase.  Check out my on-line store and get yours for FREE.

For this card I've used the colours set out last week by Create with Connie and Mary, ( Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party) and the sketch is from yesterday's Mojo Monday Sketch.

I'm off this afternoon to stamp with a bunch of teachers in their art room - fun, fun, fun!!!  Hope your day holds some fun for you too!

Thanks for dropping in for a visit....Joan

Blushes and Banners

I'm gearing up for an upcoming Extravaganza with our extended Stampin'Up! Team next weekend.  I'm going to be doing a demonstration using the new Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz and I'm taking the ideas right out of the January Stampin' Success Magazine.  

For the card above, which uses the sketch from Stamping 411 (positioned horizontally), I've used the Smooch by spritzing it right onto the rubber stamp image and then stamping it.  You have to spray lightly or stamp lightly otherwise the image is fuzzy; and the areas where there is more of the spray glistens very nicely.

Next I'm sharing a Valentines banner I created using a tutorial from Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012.  Check out their website if you're interested in getting a whole whack of fantastic creative ideas with products from the Occasions Mini and the SAB mini!

I had to change some of the things on my banner because I didn't have the same supplies as were used in the tutorial, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  I also added a central heart to the banner, just to make it a bit longer.

As I sit in my stamping room in the basement this afternoon, I can hear the water on the road in front of the house as the cars drive by.  Very bizarre for January 29 in Northern Alberta!  Hope it doesn't rain like it's expected to later!  However, precipitation is precipitation - and the farmers will be needing it!!!

Hope you are having a great end to your weekend.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.

Joan

Challenging Challenge

I kind of struggled with this card today - don't know if it's the weather, the headache trying to come on or what - but here we go!

I've used the Friday Mash-up and the sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  The Mashup! is:

1. Make a project using "Paper Piercing".  
2. Or Make a project using the colors "Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red & Early Espresso".  
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Color Combo & Paper Piercing". 

The colours are good together, I'm just not happy with the way my coloured ones turned out.  The poor things are a wee bit pilled from the blender pen!  Oh well, texture is good!  I added the paper piercing around the edge of the tag.

Here is a picture of dear little Elliot with his eyes opened and duded out in a scarf and hat knit by an Auntie.

Hope your weekend is turning out well.  I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon concentrating on not letting this headache take hold!  I will win!!!  Have a good one - and thanks for stopping by!

Joan

A New Chapter -

I've missed an entire week of completing and posting challenges - but that's because I became a Grandma on January 8 for the first time - so things have been pretty exciting around here!  

The challenge I completed tonight uses the colours from Create with Connie and Mary and the sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches.  The colours are Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade - I've used a piece of the upcoming Sale-a-Bration Everyday Enchantment DSP, and the Fresh Vintage stamp set.  I took one of the stamps and  stamped onto a piece of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon with the Calypso Coral ink.

Here is a picture of me with Elliot Alan James Jeffery - such a sweet bundle of joy, producing emotions in me I never thought could be so strong.

Hope you are having a wonderful week - thanks for stopping by - Joan

Cherry Gold Christmas

Well, I'm two for two (two days in a row!) ...not what I'd call a "roll" but it's a start.  I need to get the craft room cleaned up a bit after all the events I've done and then the groove will get settled into some more!

Today I joined the challenges at The Paper Players and Create with Connie and Mary.

The Paper Players are playing with Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and Gold until the end of the year.  What a rich combination!  I hadn't used my gold embossing powder all season - and I haven't used this Snow Swirled set either, and I really like this tree - especially when you mix embossing powders!

The sketch I've used is from Create with Connie and Mary - I've tweaked it a wee bit because of the tree.  It's a fabulous sketch - so many things could be done with it!

Well, the morning is almost over and I need to go over to the school to put all my instruments onto the stage for our 1st dress rehearsal tomorrow morning.  I will be a very happy person once Thursday comes along this week!
Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

So....I lied.....

I thought that the card I made last week was the last Halloween card - but when I saw the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary - I absolutely envisioned the haunted house as the focal point - so here we are!  The card also goes with the spooky/creepy Halloween challenge this week at Stampin' Royalty.

I'm keeping this short and sweet - my husband and I are heading to Calgary this weekend to a Fine Arts Conference.  I'm looking forward to a number of the classes that I'm going to be taking.

Hope your weekend turns into something you're looking forward to.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

25th Anniversary

Today, 25 years ago, I married a wonderful man, who I have grown to love more over these 25 years.

I had loads of fun creating the alphabet book on MDS and this very silvery card.  I knew when I saw the sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary, that it would work perfectly with what I had in mind.  I am so thankful for that silver glimmer paper!

I'm keeping this short today - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
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

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.