Spring is in the Air

As soon as I saw the challenge at Stampin' Royalty - "Spring Things", I knew I had to get busy with the project I had planned.....I was inspired by the photo on page 5 of the April Stampin' Success Magazine. 

 I have put this bird cage at our front door for the past two years.  Sometimes it's empty; last year I stuck a chickadee inside (ceramic of course).  When I saw the example in the magazine I knew I had to duplicate it.  I literally had to cram in  the wreath I used as a nest, and the eggs are drastically oversized, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

I've been using pearls or rhinestones as the bodies of my butterflies, but I like the added flowers too.  Linen thread was used of the antennae....it worked well.

The styrofoam eggs are covered with layers of the Blossom Bouquet Triple flower and then spritzed with Soft Suede.  I moistened the paper a bit to make it more pliable, and attached the layers with a hot glue gun.

These little flowers are standard....the Boho Blossoms punch - largest blossom in 5 layers.  Each layer was spritzed with water first before crumpling it up.  I used sewing pins through the middle to hold them together.

Finally, I used the left over butterflies for a card using the sketch from Stamping 411.

I've been babysitting Elliot the past three afternoons while his mom and dad get moved into their new place.  I'm bushed!  But I had a good time.

Hope your weekend is off to a good start.  Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Joan

Kite Mashup

Today's Friday MashUp! is...

1. Make a project using "Colorful Twines".
2. Or Make a "Kite themed" project.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Kite themed project using some colorful Twine".

The little set with the kites is one of the few out of the Occasions Mini that I didn't end up getting.  So I had to get a kite shape from someplace else - I actually ended up tracing Laureen's image off my computer screen.  I used a wee bit of the Pool Party Coloured Twine - I love it and must remember to use it more!  Hopefully it will continue to be available.

Well, I've decided today is the day I'm going to purge one of our basement rooms that gets stuff thrown into it.  Gonna crank up the music and get to work.  

Hope you have a fantastic Friday!  Thanks for dropping in for a visit.

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

Easter Crosses

This card went through a bit of an evolution  through it's design.  I've used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, colours are from Color Throwdown - (Regal Rose, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Basic Grey) and the Easter theme is from Hand Stamped Sentiments.

I struggled with the sketch a bit, just because I was trying to add two pieces of coloured DSP in the background, and it just wasn't working - so I opted for simplicity.  The two background crosses were initially stamped grey on white.  I like this effect much better - white craft ink stamped on black.

Today holds bag prep for stampers and movie watching.  Later, I'll do some sweater knitting, and movie watching.  It's just that kind of day.

Hope your day pans out the way you like!  Thanks for stopping here for a visit.

Joan

Sunshine Smooches

I am loving this design from the upcoming "Summer Smooches" Designer Series Paper.  It's just so bright and fun.  

Today's card uses the sketch from The Paper Players.  Quick and easy to work with.  In addition to the new DSP, I used one of the Designer Fabric Summer Smooches Brads.  Oh, my, word!!!  I love these because they're covered with fabric.  Rich elegant fabric!

And to make things more fun - Stampin'Up! is opening up this Summer Smooches Special to EVERYONE from April 1-30.  You can purchase these items and more, which will be in the upcoming 2012-13 Idea Book and Catalogue.  EXCEPT for these fabulous fabric brads - they are exclusive to this special....your not going to want to miss them - they're so gorgeous.

e-mail me if you want to find out more.

I'm off to work on my Newsletter - busy busy day...I'm aiming towards a movie and knitting tonight!

Hope your day is great!  Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Quilted Birthday Mashup

Now that I'm officially on Spring Break, I can do the Friday Mashup ON Friday!  WoooHooo!  This one took me most of the morning - but I got it done.

The mash up today is:

1. Make a project using the "Quilted Cards Technique".
2. Or Make a project using "Something that's been forgotten (sitting in your stash forever)".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Quilted card with something you've forgotten about".

I had fun making this little "Quilt" and putting it through the Big Shot with the embossing folder.  The item that was forgotten in my stash of stuff was the little crocheted flower.  I bought these before Christmas with plans to create a "Flower Tree" with them and never got around to it.....so they got put away and buried.  I used reinker and an aqua painter to colour it blue.  The pink rhinestone brad is also something I rarely use.

I'm off to get some correspondence done and then maybe hit a few scrapbook pages.  Who know what the rest of the day will hold.  It's snowing, so I'm happy to stay inside and craft.

Hope you day moves in a direction you enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by,

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

Umbrella Thanks

I'm sorry I haven't used this set more often - I really like the images - this umbrella and the corset.

Today's creation is a blend of Stampin' Royalty for the sketch, Handstamped Sentiments asks for watercolour this week  and Color Throwdown for the colours - Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and I used Baha Breeze instead of Brocade Blue.

I used ink and aqua painter for the umbrella and for the faces of each of the watches I added a bit of Crystal Effects.  I absolutely love this pleated ribbon; it's so easy to work with.

We've only got one more day of school before spring break.  Wooo Hooo!  

I haven't shared a picture of Elliot since he was born - he's such a precious calm baby! 

Have an enjoyable day!

Thanks for visiting! 

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

Beads and Blues

Oh how I loved this set!  My daughter asked me to create a card for a friend of hers who turned 21 on the weekend - Allison was pinched for time and I was glad to be able to help her.  The specifications were purple and glitter.  We both agreed that this dress was perfect too.  After that I had free rein.  

I always loved putting microbeads on this dress.....so that's what I did.  I coloured it with Elegant Eggplant, applied Crystal Effects and then added the Microbeads.  The background is done with the Baroque Motif image with Versa Mark and Irridescent Ice was added to give it the subtle bling.  The final bit of bling is the little rhinestone of the dot of the I.  Allison was happy with what I came up with. 

I actually have another dress made up with silver microbeads......waiting for something to use that one for now.

This is one of the cards we do at my in-home workshops.  Quick, easy, and I love this blue.  To be honest...as the workshops continue, the sketch will stay the same, but the colours will change because I'm using pieces that are left over from my Teacher's Convention make-and-takes.

That's it for today.  I'm planning on doing a challenge when I get home from school today...wooohooo!!

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday!  I'm looking forward to mine. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Two Down, One to go...

Busy, busy, busy.  Conventions and report cards are now done - kids get their report cards at the end of this next week, but I've met the deadline for having marks in!  Now, I just have to get through Music Festival on Monday and Tuesday and I'm clear to look for other stressors.  Ha ha ha!

So - I was very pleased to be able to actually create one of my own cards today before moving on to cutting and prepping for next weekend.

I've used the Everybunny set from the Occasions Mini and incorporated the colours from the Friday Mashup - ....yellows and greens and the sketch from Stamping 411.  I'm sure this is the first time that I've only done one part of the Friday Mashup - the second part this week was to create a treat basket - this bunny's basket probably doesn't count for that.

Well, I'm off to cut paper for an event next weekend, and I just realized that I have to make sub plans for tomorrow - yeuk!  Oh well.....

Hope, if you are busy with chores and activities today, that you enjoy doing them.  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

In the Spotlight

I haven't done the spotlight technique in quite a while....and of course I got carried away with things again yesterday.  Actually, I decided that the card I created for the challenge at The Paper Players (the sketch is from this weeks challenge) and SUO Challenges (creating a birthday card) was a bit too much for my technique class, so I revamped it using last weeks' Freshly Made Sketch to simplify it a bit.

I think these "Packed for..." stamps are perfect for this technique!  I stamped the image three times in a row and then punched out the small circles, to be coloured and backed with the large Not Quite Navy circle to create the spotlight.

Because everything is pretty straight forward of this card, my stampers will be given the option of which "Packed for" image they'd like to use.  The sentiment goes with all of them - Mom, Dad and Birthday.

I'm all packed for my next convention and looking forward to having a fantabulous time with Tamye!

Hope you have something to look forward to this week.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Clipboard Diversion

I am SUPPOSE to be getting my stuff together and packed for another Teacher's Convention.....but what did I get side-tracked into doing yesterday afternoon????? - decorating the clipboards I use for people to sign up for classes.

I have never done anything like this before - and you can sort of tell.  The Baroque Motif board on the side was my first one - done with black Staz-On.  I added the black velvet piece from Mocha Morning - so seriously - velvet on a clipboard - a bit over the top!

Next, I put dragonflies only along the edge of the second board and added a piece of dotted paper from the Playful Polkadots Simply Scrappin Kit, and I used three different kinds of ribbon. Far simpler than the first attempt.

Finally, I used Inspired by Nature with Soft Suede and Early Espresso Ink.  The butterfly from "Nature's Nest" is fluttering around the edge and the clip is covered with a piece from Attic Boutique.  I also punched out some butterflies with the Big Shot and added pearl bodies to the ones at the top of the board.

For all three boards I used the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets to make the paper stick to the clip, and the board in the case of the butterflies.

All in all a productive afternoon - not just quite what I expected.

Hope your day is productive today - Thanks for stopping for a visit.

Joan

Get Well Stamps

Good Monday Morning - Just flying out the door to school but wanted to post this card I created yesterday in preparation for the March technique class.  This is not the technique of the month - just a case of a Christmas Card that I got from my fellow stamper, Amy Barry.  I've used the SAB Designer Series Paper and the matching Fresh Vintage stamp set, ribbon and brads.

Hope you have a marvellous start to your week.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Birthday Stamp-a-Stack Coming Up

Wow, life is busy - but that's what keeps us out of trouble - right?  I've got literature, music and stamping on the brain right now - a bit of an overload but we just work through one day at a time and it all works out in the end.

So - one upcoming stamping event is my Birthday Card Stamp-a-Stack.

March 3, 2012

1:00-4:00   OR 5:00-8:00

Cost $25.00 (OR $20.00 for Club Members)

Cost includes 15 Birthday Cards with co-ordinating envelopes, light snacks, door prizes

Bring along a friend who has never stamped with me before and get a gift from me.

Here are the 5 designs - you'll create 3 of each

Saturday afternoon - 1:00-4:00pm   RSVP HERE

Saturday evening - 5:00-8:00pm  RSVP HERE

Hope you have a great day - coming back soon with some challenge inspirations.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Final Spritzing

I had a fantastic day yesterday stamping with friends at the Extravaganza.  Lots of wonderful projects I'll share over the next few days - but today I'm showing the last two projects from my demonstration.  I used the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for both examples.

For the card above, I took two of the paper daisies and "painted" the Smooch Spritz onto them with the Aquapainter.  What a wonderful effect - the petals take on the shimmer of the spritz.

Finally - I used the last "technique" suggested in the January Stampin' Success Magazine - "Direct and Deliberate".  That's exactly what I did - spritzed the piece of Blushing Bride card stock until there was no original card stock unspritzed.  Glorious Shimmer!  I  also painted the flowers, from the Bordering on Romance set, with the smooch.

So that's it for spritzing - I'm excited to see what's coming up for the Summer Smooches Suite later this spring.  Now I turn my attention to preparing for a booth at an upcoming Teacher's convention.  

Fun, fun, fun!  Can't wait!

Hope you have things to look forward to in your near or distant future!  Thanks for stopping for a visit.

Joan

Smooch Spritz Mashup!

Even though this post is coming in late I'm pleased that I got the Friday Mashup done on Friday.  I will be using this card in my demonstration tomorrow.  First - the Friday Mashup begins with an inspiration photo

1. Make a project using the "Inspiration Photo".
2. Or Make a project using the colors "Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "Inspired by the photo using the colors Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".

I used the Paper Doily Sizzlits die and used it as a mask for spritzing the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz over top.  It got a bit heavy in some section, but was okay once it had dried.

I think I'm ready for our Extravaganza tomorrow - I'll have more to share with you then - and one more spritz idea.  Have a wonderful weeked - thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Smooch Painting

This morning I tried painting with the Smooch Spritz.  Again - I'm using the suggestions from the January Stampin' Success.  I sprayed some of the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz into an empty brad container and for this first card I used water-colour paper, and an aqua painter to apply the spritz to the image.  I love how it makes the flower shimmer.  And - just to keep with the theme, I spritzed one of the crocheted flowers - it's very subtle, but you can see the glimmer on the thread (in person).

I've used the Mojo Monday sketch for this card (however, I left the card rectangular instead of square or round.  I also used the challenge from SUO Challenges to use a favourite item from the Occasions Mini.  I must say I am enjoying this Smooch Spritz and I love the pleated satin ribbon.  I have discovered, however, that if you are wanting an image to straddle the ribbon, you need to stack two dimensionals together so that the image remains flat, and not bent over the ribbon.

Here is a second card, using the same two challenges, but for the image, I used regular Whisper White card stock and a blender pen to "paint" on the Smooch Spritz.  The card also includes another new favourite - I think these little buttons are adorable - I love the designs!

On the weekend I used the Lace Ribbon Border Punch to help create this background design with the Blushing Bride Spritz.  For the Chocolate Covered Strawberries I coloured the chocolate with marker and then added Crystal Effects to gloss it up.  The tops of the strawberries have the new Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details.  The strawberries have been raised up with dimensionals - but the stem is on the little white base.

I'm still doing some experimenting with this spritz. Fun, Fun, Fun.  

Done for the day though - hoping my hubby and I can go out to dinner for my birthday this evening.  Hope you have something wonderful planned for your evening - or sometime this week.

Thanks for stopping by -

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

Celebrate Mashup!

I honestly don't know where last week went!  There were things I was suppose to do, people I was suppose to call and suddenly it was Friday - now it's Saturday and I hadn't even checked on yesterday's Friday Mashup!  I'm losing my head!  It's all okay though - I've been in my craft room all day - finishing up a banner and working on the Mashup!  So here we go.

This week's Mash Up was....

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using "Something NEW in your stash". (Stamps, ribbon, pretty paper...anything!)
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "using the Sketch & something NEW in your stash" 

I hadn't used the Everyday Enchantment brads that are included in the Sale-a-Bration Ribbon and Brad Pack.  And I love that thin ribbon, it's so easy to work with!

The colours I used for the sketch are from Create with Connie and Mary....Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Lucky Limeade.

I'll share the banner I created once I check on some logistics!

Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday!  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan