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

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     

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

Sunday Stamps...and Me

Howdy, Howdy, Howdy - it's a colour challenge day  at Sunday Stamps and Monica has a great combination for us.  

I had a display table at the Fine Arts Conference this week, so was busy getting ready for that - so I opted for a project done on My Digital Studio.  I hadn't used these medallions yet - I love how you can recolour them to match your project.  I'm not sure what the title for this page will be - don't usually use myself as a subject matter!

I had fun working with these colours though - so give them a try and be sure to let us see what you've created.

ALSO.....

Starting this Sunday 10/28 - 12/1 anyone who enters a project into the weekly challenges will be entered to win a GC! You will get one entry for each project you enter! Play every challenge and you'll get more entries...

Each project must be new (no back linking) and created for that week's challenge. Please link directly to your Blog post and put a link back to our site in your post! The winner will be announced on Sat. Dec 1st with the Top Pick.

Woo Hoo - looking forward to seeing what you come up!

I'm busy with a card stack this afternoon - and tomorrow I'll be posting what may become a new obsession.

Ta Ta for now!  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan 

Digital Stamping

I've been spending lots of available time playing with the new MDS2 (My Digital Studio 2) - Creating scrapbook pages, treat packages and, like the above, "subway art" pieces.  I can't believe how my brain is working overtime on ideas using this program.  I'll be printing off and framing the Halloween poster to put at my front door in October.

I'm holding my Scrap with Me Monday class on September 17th - BUT even if you don't want to scrap and you'd like to come and see what MDS2 has to offer - drop on by!

These sour cream containers were created and printed off at Staples - I put them together and gave each member of the staff one at our first meeting of the year.

I learned how to put one photo in multiple boxes - super easy!

Elliot got a patriotic page for his first Canada Day.  

Using the templates that the program has already made makes it quick and easy to put a page together....and you have the ability to change things and make it your own too.

I'm having a great time getting Elliot moments scrapped.

Hope you have a fabulous Monday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Counting Down

I was so busy scrapping yesterday that I missed Merry Monday - This challenge blog is surely going to help me plan the cards for my Christmas Stacks this year!  I held my August Christmas stack last week and the next one is October 27.

I decided to use "Four Seasons" for todays' card along with the Northern Flurry embossing folder.  The little blue bird in the middle is raised up on dimensionals and the only reason that the greeting is punched and raised is that I stamped the greeting after I embossed the paper and it got muddled in with a snowflake.  I'll need to remember that when I do the class!

Thank you ladies for challenging me to Keep it Simple and getting these Christmas cards done ahead of time.  

I'm a bit behind on the 31 Pages in 31 Days - but I will finish on time.  I actually have more than 31 pages done now because of the double spreads...but that doesn't count.  This is actually Day 26.  Lyssa used one of those pieces of DSP that I NEVER use....they don't come in every package, but the ones with the stripes of designs are left alone by me.  So - this pushed me out of my box.  I did go looking through my retired pieces for something to use.  And, in the end, I like how it turned out.  I now have to dig through things to determine when this picture of Allison was taken.  Yikes.

I don't think I can say enough about how excited I am about the MDS2.  I am loving so many features!  Being able to colour stamps easily with multiple colours ROCKS, being able to make words fit a shape ROCKS...it all just ROCKS!

If you're at all interested in seeing what I'm so excited about - you can download the MDS2 FREE for 30 days by going to my website.

Well - I'd better get going to school.  It's a bit later than I wanted, but if I stay focused I can get a lot done, come home and do more scrappin'

Hope your day is full of good plans - that pan out!

Thanks for stopping by.

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

A Digital Day

 

I didn't get a chance to do a challenge this afternoon...I was busy making phone calls and getting ready for some ladies this evening.  So, as a way of winding down for the night I blasted off these two digital pages.  The above picture was taken two weeks ago.  Elliot was so interested watching his dad play piano, and then Grant took his hand and started making him play.  I have bigger plans for this photo believe me!

These were taken one afternoon and I'm so pleased with how they turned out....there are a bunch more - but this runs a pretty good range of expressions.

Tomorrow I have our Team Meeting - Our fearless leader, Tamye Dunbar, won't be with us - so three of us are taking over her job.   I will try to get a challenge done before I head into the city.

Hope your April is off to a great start.  I'm pretty happy with my life right now!  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Remember When

Leaves, leaves, lots of leaves...Hand Stamped Sentiments is challenging the use of Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy - which works with SUO challenges of including leaves in your project and I've used the sketch from Stamping 411.

I did end up using Early Espresso for the bases of the leaves - and in hindsight figured that using the Not Quite Navy would have been pretty cool too.  I tried twisting the Seam Binding Ribbon, holding the twists in place with glue dots.  The punched leaf has been stamped with the veins from "Gently Falling" and then crumpled up.

The following are the A and B pages for the alphabet book I created for my husband for our 25th anniversary next week....all done on My Digital Studio.  I love the capability of being able to change the sizes of stamps - connecting them and manipulating them.

Hope your week is going well - thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Leafy Smiles

 

Today's card uses the sketch from over at Mojo Monday.  I finally used the Gently Falling set in the manner to which is was created - two step stamping.  I do love two step stamping!!!!

I used the wreath from the Warmest of Wishes hostess set - the centre is punched out and the layer of circles have been raised above the wreath using two layers of dimensionals....because, of course, the wreath has been attached with dimensionals.

I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED - because the book I have poured my heart into for the past number of months finally arrived today from Stampin' Up!  Oh my word it's fabulous.  It's a book I created for my husband for our 25th anniversary using My Digital Studio.
The cover is below - perhaps I'll share some of the other pages along the way.

Don't ya just love how cats will sleep anywhere. 

Nothing too special about this page.  I used a dotted piece of paper and then added the overlay.

That's the last page of my cat book......so far.  They're in no particular order and I'm looking forward to working on more.


I'll be home soon and I'll be delving into my stamping room - I was smart enough to put in an order from the NEW CATALOGUE before I left home.  It's going to be like Christmas when I get back!  I can hardly wait!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you haven't been too bored with cat pictures over the last number of days.

Happy Stamping,
Joan

This is Button.  She is one whacked out cat.  She looks like a kitten, but is full grown.  She is our son's cat, and we were looking after her while he was between houses.  She can be very entertaining.

This is another sketch that was featured on MDS website waaaaayyyy back when it first began.  It took me a while to figure out what I wanted in the circles.  I tried a variety of different papers and colours, but I  am happy with the final result.  I like being able to drag my paper into the shape that I create - catching whatever images from the paper that I want.

Stay safe out there!  No hanging through the railings!

Happy Stamping,
Joan

Seriously???

Okay - I LOVE this page.
I used a sketch from Splitcoast from a couple of weeks ago and it worked perfectly for "dissecting" pictures and bringing certain features into focus.

Tigger was so tolerant!!!  Wonderful rotund member of the family - I mean seriously (pardon the pun) look at that body in the centre of the page!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Joan

Not a Care in the World

I ended up getting some help with this page through the My Digital Studio website.  I couldn't figure out how to change the side that the drop shadow appeared on.  These "pillows" are actually hearts turned on their sides.  On the original sketch from the MDS website HERE,  Alesha used the Blossoms punch.  I didn't have that on my program (yet), so I tried using the hearts.  They worked out okay, and Alesha was able to explain to me how to get my shadow on the "top" side of the pillows.

Ta Ta for now,
Joan

Sleeping Among the Stars

I'm sorry that the large picture is so dark here - the joys of children photographing their pets with less than great cameras.  Oh well, I'm thankful for the photos regardless of what they look like.

I'm getting used to using images more than one time on a page.  I sort of made the stars "glow" a bit by making their dropped shadow in  a yellow.  I placed a bunch, grouped them, and then copied them around the page rotating them a bit so they didn't always look the same.

Anyone camping under the stars during the holidays?

Thanks for dropping in.
Joan

I know You're There....

Tigger did seem to get photographed more often than Belle - I think because he was so big!  And I don't seriously know why I took so many pictures of him in this pose; maybe I was waiting for him to look up or something - who knows.  Anyways - the Soft Suede paper matches him pretty well.

No special effects today - a pretty simple page.

Hope you are either enjoying your deck or the flowers!

Thanks for stopping by,
Joan

Basking in the Sun

This page took a bit of work and thinking....

I have three different colours of the tree and have set them just off each other to give the impression of more leaves.

It also took a bit to get the butterflies the way I wanted them.  However - once I got my first one created, I went off onto a "new" sheet of paper as a working space - recoloured the butterfly and then copied and pasted it onto this page.  That way the alignment didn't change .

We'll still be beetling around the Eastern Coast of Canada at this time.  I look forward to basking on my deck when I get home!

Thanks for stopping by,
Joan

I Love Sleeping in Shoes

 

This is one of my favorite pages so far.  I zoomed out of the photo from the top to the bottom so you can see that Tigger is surrounded by my daughter's shoes.

I think one of the things I like most about digital stamping is being able to adjust the size of the stamped image to whatever you need - like I've done with the different sizes of stamped cats lying on Tigger's picture.

Hope you're finding a sunny place to hang out this July day!
Thanks for stopping by.
Joan