Be Yourself Thanks

It's a Happy Monday today - last Monday of the school year and I'm celebrating with some cool papers on Rochelle's card sketch for MDS Monday.

I absolutely love the assortment of papers in the "Be Yourself" download.  I know it's not a new one - but sometimes I purchase downloads and then forget about them - or what they're called.  I guess I love the papers because they have a watercolour effect that I've been trying to achieve in other areas lately.

I've used the "Smitten" punch letters because they can be filled with paper too.    Here is the sketch - which I've not quite kept to....

Check out the MDS Monday blog for some more inspiration.....remember, the sketch doesn't HAVE to used for a card if you'd prefer creating a scrap page with it.

Have a Marvelous Monday - Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Bubbles in Da House!

Welcome to a scrap sketch day at MDS Monday  - this week's sketch is created by Heidi; and boy did I have fun with this one!

I absolutely love blowing bubbles!  When I taught full time, I would sneak them out onto the playground on my supervision days, climb to a high spot and start blowing.  It was great seeing the children spot them, wonder where they came from, and then spend the rest of recess chasing after them - no matter what grade they were in.

So - it's not surprising that I'm MORE THAN WILLING to blow bubbles in the house for Elliot.  He has such a wonderful little sound of delight as they float down around him.  I think this was the second time I'd blown them for him - during a time when he was quite sick too.  I did the blowing and my darling daughter just kept snapping pictures on her i-phone and caught this one with his fingers just touching the bubble.

For Heidi's "any shape" pieces, I grabbed one of the bubbles and changed the shape of the photo box to a circle before duplicating it.  The background is a blurry photo of a bunch of  bubbles which I've decreased to opacity on.

I hope you have fun with this sketch - and you HAVE to check out the the MDS Monday Challenge Blog because there's an  awesome assortment of variations on the "any shape" to inspire you

.

Make sure you link your project back to the blog so we can check it out.  I love visiting the blogs to see everyone's work.

It's a busy week - I've got my list that I keep getting at least one thing crossed off and another one or two added - but I will persevere and everything will get done in the end.

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday.  

Thanks for visiting

Joan

I'll Take......Queens

Sunday Stamps hits New York.....I wish!  I'm not headed to New York, but Holly does have a great sketch for us this week!  The Design Team, once again,  has a great selection to inspire you!

I know I will be enjoying this new Soho Subway DSP through this year.  I love the sheet with the different New York sights...so I just cut out one of the "labels" and roughed up the edges to use in the sketch.  I would have used "Manhattan, but it was too big for this sketch - LOL.

I realized that the only ink I was going to have was the distressing around the little banners, so I pulled out the Clockworks set to add a bit of grunge in the background.  I can't wait to get the "Gorgeous Grunge" set at convention....I would have loved to use it on this card.

Here's the sketch.....

Have fun with it - be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created and link your project to the blog for all to enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful Sunday.

Happy Father's Day.

Joan

Coffee and Friends

I got my box of new goodies this week and did a wee bit of playing yesterday.

I am loving this new Eastern Elegance DSP and the Beautifully Baroque embossing folder!

The background is created by masking the coffee cup and then I stamped ink off before putting it to the background.  Wasn't quite the effect I was looking for - but it's okay.

The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches - I opted not to do a square card because of a lack of envelopes.

I've been extremely busy - which is why I haven't had as many posted as I'd like - and I'm not done with the busyness yet; there's still lots to do before the end of the month.  Including packing up my entire music room.  I got some new instruments this week and after unpacking to look at them, I have to repack them, along with everything else, to move across town.  Fun times!

 I have also been doing some other "artsy" stuff.  This is something I finished last night in my BIG found paper book.  (can you see the "inside" of one of the paper bags we got our Make and Takes in at Convention last year?  I can't wait to doodle on it.  Anyway - I've used reindeers and the aqua painter  for this page in my book - it's done on piece of watercolour paper.  I always include at least one page of watercolour paper in my found paper books! 

I would never profess to be an artist - but I do have fun pretending!  

Hope you find a bit of creating time in your day.  Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

You Did It!...

Happy card sketch day at MDS Monday and this week it is brought to us by Tara. 

While creating this, I changed my mind a couple of times as to what type of card I wanted to make...so I think I may be using this sketch again to create some of my other ideas.

Tara has also asked us to use "Faux Embossing" on our projects this week.

I took advantage of the 25% off print products during May (and it lasts until June 15!!!) and ordered some of the two other cards I've created since we've added the card sketch to our challenge.

I was totally excited to get them in the mail on Thursday!

Hope you have fun creating this week - don't forget to link your project to the challenge blog so we can enjoy it.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

A World to Discover

Hi everyone - it's my turn for the sketch challenge over at MDS Monday.  I've decided to challenge myself this week - to try to keep the background of my page as "clean" as possible.  I always want to fill every space with colour, texture, embellishments....so I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try my best to keep it simple.  The additional challenge this week was to add text to a shape.

HERE is the tutorial on how to add text to a shape.

          

And here is the sketch for this week.....  I hope you have fun with it - remember to link your creation back to the MDS Monday blog so we can see what you've designed!

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope your Monday is Marvelous!

Joan

Wishi Washi

Oh what a fabulous set of bright colours we have today at Sunday Stamps - Kathya is getting us ready for summer!

Today I used my new Gingham wheel to create the base of the card.  That's right - I have not matting - one layer (except for the salutation) - Pretty surprised with myself.  Anyway - when I rolled the first yellow strip at the top, I "accidentally" tore the image - not quite sure how, but I was able to duplicate it with the Sahara Sand and Melon Mambo stripes.  So, because it looked like washi tape that had been torn, I decided to add some of our new Gingham Garden Washi Tape to add a bit of difference.

I've used the  new Chalk Talk set for the greeting - I can't wait to get the framelits that match this set so I don't have to fussy cut the pieces anymore.  

Hope you play along with us this week - check out what the rest of the Design Team has come up with - not everyone create cards this week - so much fun!

Have a super Sunday!  Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Hello, Hello

Welcome to a card sketch day at MDS Monday.  Heidi has created a cute card sketch for us to use this week, and she's added an extra challenge for us to use the Stamp Colour Tool.  I love being able to colour stamps on MDS!

Here is a video tutorial for you if you haven't tried it yet.  

          

Here is Heidi's sketch - I hope you give it a try and link your creation to the MDS Monday blog.

Remember - you have two weeks to create the card - but we'll be having another scrap sketch next Monday.

Have fun!  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Strawberry Slush Thanks

Here we are at the last Sunday in May - and it's a Sketch day at Sunday Stamps.  Steph has created a wonderful sketch this week - one that is quick and easy to put together.

I've used the Mosaic Madness set and the co-ordinating Quatrefancy Specialty DSP.  I've used the Window Sheet that is included with this DSP as an overlay on the Strawberry Slush cardstock. (which is the reason for the bit of glare at the bottom of the card!)

I matched the mosaic theme with the three punched images, and I'm sure there are a wide variety of different ways this sketch could be interpreted.  Hope you give it a try and link your creation to the Sunday Stamps blog so the rest of the Design Team can enjoy it.

Have a super Sunday!  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Marbles & a Butterfly

Wow - what a lot of white space!  Sort of out of character for me....but I'm happy with this clean and simple card!

It's featuring the technique we'll be doing at the June Technique class....the Rolling Marble Background.  I haven't done it in YEARS - and it's really so much fun!  I've posted a tutorial HERE from Splitcoast for doing the technique.

Hope your Friday turns out to be fantastic!

Thanks for stopping by.

Silly Selfies with Grandma

I'm still working on Elliot's first year book - but I'm at the finish line!  I just have to tweak a few things for the cover and then it's off to the printer!

I generally hate pictures of myself - I can't seem to find the person in the photo that I see in the mirror....but I've discovered I need to take more selfies of me and Elliot because I'm always behind the camera!  So - we'll go with silly.  

I love the top right photo because he's looking at me like I'm nuts - which I am so it's all good.

Hope your day is fabulous - remember to document yourself!

Thanks for stopping by -

Joan

Simple Watercolour

I was playing around with the Watercolour Resist Technique.  I found that I don't really have images big enough to do it justice.....so I ended up spreading the colour across the little square.  I like the effect nonetheless.

The sketch today is from Hand Stamped Sentiments

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful - we've got beautiful blue skies here.

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Crisp Canteloupe Christmas

I'm running out of Christmas paper - can you tell?  As a result I'm coming up with interesting combinations for cards for the Merry Monday challenges.

I enjoyed the sketch again today - I'm going to have an easy time preparing cards for the different Christmas stacks I do!  By then I'll probably have some appropriate Christmas themed paper - but until then I'm having fun.

Hope your Tuesday has been terrific so far.  Thanks for dropping in for a visit.

Joan

Mister Music Please

This week at MDS Monday, Beth has a fabulous scrap sketch for us.  I love the opportunity to fill the whole top of the spread with a photo.  I must say, looking through photos, that I take a lot more vertical photos than horizontal. 

Now that Elliot can beetle around on his own and is spending time outside, there aren't as many "piano recitals" - and even this was set of pictures was taken in March.  I do love watching his little fingers on the keys.

Check out what the rest of the MDS Monday Design Team has come up with using this sketch and then post your creation so we can take a peak.

Thanks for visiting - happy creating!

Joan

Gee Thanks, Betsy

Welcome to Hayley's bright and beautiful colour combination for Sunday Stamps this week. I love this combo!

The Betsy's Blossom set has been around for a year now, and I have never paired up this stamp image with this paper - so today was the day.  I stamped the image on the white creped filter paper (again) - stamping twice with each inking so I ended up with the two shades of flowers.  This time I used the large scalloped circle punch and the 1 1/4" scallop punch for the flower....and this time I didn't crinkle up the paper at all.

Since the paper was so busy with the blossoms, I decided just to "niggle" the greeting right onto the DSP.  That is one of the things I love about the clear stamps - you an easily see where your image is going to fit.

I hope you give this colour challenge a try - be sure to link your project over to the Sunday Stamps blog because we love seeing what you come up with.

Thanks for stopping by here for a visit today - Hope my fellow Canadians are enjoying the long weekend!

Monochromatic Mashup

It's a bright sunny start to a long weekend and I have one challenge already completed - Thanks to Holly! (LOL)

I love doing the Friday Mashups and today includes one of my favorite "techniques" - creating a monochromatic project and/or using twine.

I haven't used enough of this Core'dinations paper, so I pulled the Pool Party out and was also able to use my last two Pool Party brads. The shoe has been embossed with the Pool Party powder.

I'm heading into Edmonton for the weekend.  My husband has meetings and I get to lounge around.  I have plans to go to the art gallery tomorrow - and of course there's shopping to be done.

Hope you have a fabulous Friday!  Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Joan

1. Create a project using "A Monochromatic Color Scheme".
2. Create a project "using Baker's Twine".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Monochromatic project using some Baker's Twine".

Amazing You

I got to play with a couple new toys yesterday while using Freshly Made Sketches

I put together the Chalk Talk stamp set and I can't wait to get the Framelits that go with it...so for now I "fussy cut" the swirly image.  I've also used one of the new Hostess Sets - Express Yourself.  I like the font and it has a wide variety of greetings to use.

A Very Vintage button has been tied on with Espresso Ribbon and I've used some of the new Soho Subway paper.  

Just 15 days until the new catalogue goes live - so much new fabulous stuff.

Hope you are having a sun shiny day - Thanks for visiting!

Joan

Merry Silent NIght

It's the middle of the week already - Sheesh!  And only one day of school left before the long weekend - WooHoo!

Today I'm posting the card I created for the Merry Monday Challenge.  It's a sketch that I think I'll use this upcoming season!  Of course I'll use newer paper than I have for my post here...but it's fun using up old scraps.

A quick post today - hope your day is going along fine.

Thanks for dropping by -

Joan

Gingham Garden Quartet

Last Friday's Mashup was to create a set of cards and/or use the sketch that was provided.   I sort of goofed with the sketch however - I didn't notice that the sections were two different sizes.  

I used a few of the upcoming products from the new catalogue:  "Gingham Garden" DSP, the Label Love stamp set and some of the new Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape.

Fun, fun, fun!

Hope you're having a fabulous day - Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.

Joan

Subway Art Thank You

Good Monday Morning...

We have a surprise for you today at MDS Monday - we're changing things around a wee bit.  Starting this week we're going to be offering a sketch every week - and as usual,  each sketch will be be open for two for you to play along.

However, the fun exciting part is that we are going to be rotating between Card Sketches,  Scrap page sketches, or other projects that can be created with MDS.  This way we'll be able to showcase all the fabulous ways you can use MDS to it's full potential!

Today I've created a small Subway Art feature for my Thank You card.  It's so easy to do with MDS because the images can be changed to whatever size you need.  You could send the card electronically, but I'm looking forward to printing these off and then adding a bit of bling in the middle of the flower to make it a hybrid project.

Here's the sketch - 

And....feel free to use the sketch as a scrap page base if you need.  Some of our Design Team did just that and they look great.

Check out what the rest of the team has come up with this week by going to the MDS Monday challenge blog - you have until 11:59pm May 24 to complete and link your project to the challenge so we can see what you've created.

Have a fabulous day!

Joan

Coral Thank You

Welcome to a Sunday Stamps day - today it's my turn to present the sketch for the week.  Please feel free to use any shapes in your creation and change up the embellishments if you wish also.

I created my flower using the White Crepe Filter paper and the blossom punch.  I filled one of the Stampin' Spritzers with alcohol and some Calypso Coral reinker.  I love the texture that these flowers end up having and they're quick and easy to make.

Once you've finished your project please link it to our Sunday Stamps challenge blog so all of the Design Team can take a peak.  You have until Friday, May 17 at 6pm EST.

Have fun and thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Puddle Lessons

WooHoo - It's a MDS Monday  and Rochelle has a fabulous sketch and one of my favorite types of challenges.....creating a monochromatic project - using tints, tones and shades of a single hue.  I've paired this challenge along with the "Retiring Colours" challenge of the MDS website so I've chosen Bashful Blue and Not Quite Navy as my main colours.  I even used the blues as my drop shadows instead of black.

The striped ribbon has been cropped with a punch, and the lowest layer of "paper" is a photobox filled with DSP so that the edges could be torn.

Here's the sketch....

be sure to link your creation to the MDS Monday Challenge blog. You have until Friday, May 17 at 11:59 EST - 12 full days - to submit your entry.  I look forward to viewing your creations!

Thanks for stopping by today - hope your Monday is Marvelous!

Joan

Project Supplies
Background
     Color = WHISPER WHITE
Embellishments
    Striped Grosgrain Ribbon/Marina Mist (re-colored)
Stamps
    Decorative Overlays/Decorative Overlays - starbursts, Color = NOT QUITE NAVY 52,103,120
Punches
    Basics/1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = BASHFUL BLUE 177,217,242
    Basics/1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper/Small Polka Dot/Bashful Blue Small Polka Dot
Photos
    Designer Series Paper/_Designer Kits/Think Back - designer series paper/Think Back - not quite navy diamonds     

Embossed Thank You

Good Sunday Stamps Morning - This week Tara has a wonderful colour combination for us - Gold is part of the combination - so you can feel free to use our wonderful Gold Glimmer paper, or go for the gold embossing like I did.

I featured the Everything Eleanor stamp set this week, using 6 of the 8 images.  The only things I didn't use were the stems for the flowers and the little bird.  I really like this combo that Tara came up with - check out what the rest of the design team has come up with this week at the Sunday Stamps blog.

You have until Friday May 10 at 6:00 EST to post a link to your creation for us to see.

Thanks for stopping by - Have a fantabulous day.

Joan

Baja Mosaic

Oh what a wonderful sunny day today - I'm finishing up this post and then heading outside to do a bit of spring tidying up.

Today I combined the Dynamic Duo colour challenge with the Just Add Ink Sketch while playing with some of the new products that will be available in the new catalogue as of May 31.

Gotta Love New Toys!

Hope your day is sunny and bright - thanks for dropping by.

Joan

Happy Graduation

Good Grief - I forgot to do any embossing on this card I created this morning for the Friday Mashup    and  Freshly Made Sketches.  I think I was so focused on wanting to do something for the challenge, that I forgot the mashup part.

The Friday Mashup is to create a graduation card and/or a card with some sort of embossing.  I think I was probably excited about using the Washi tape on a card too - I'm so excited that we carry it now.

Don't forget that May is the perfect time to work on and print off some of your MDS projects.... Get 25% off from May 1 - June 15!!!!

Get more details at my website  HERE

Hope you have a fantastic weekend - I'm looking forward to do a bunch of stamping and arting.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan