No Transportation

Okay....this is a stretch for the Ways to Use it Challenge this week. We were to "pack our bags" and the cards could be anything about traveling. Well, I don't have any modes of transportation to use...although I remembered later that I do have that little rocket from Pun Fun. But I don't think you'd actually pack a suitcase for a rocket.

Anyway....I decided that we were travelling to a sister's house to visit the family. It took me quite a while to get the tag from AtoZ Accents stretched out to fit everyone's label, but I used my stamp-a-ma-jig. I'm regretting adding ink around the edges of the tags, they may have been better clean, oh well, they'd get mussed up travelling anyway.

I've also centered the card around this weeks colour challenge.

I've been absent from blogging because I've been puttering in the garden after school. By the end of all that I'm exhausted. Greg and I are off today to a choir practice to sing at a friend's ordination into the ministry tomorrow. So, tata for now.

Thanks for dropping by - Happy Stampin' - Joan

A Card and a Recommendation

Well....today I got the card created after school...got some cards put into envelopes for people....and now I'm posting...not as late as the other night.

This card is a combination of this weeks Colour Challenge (Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow and Chocolate Chip) and the Sketch Challenge. I used craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder with the Tres Chic background stamp. I used Carte Postale again; you can't really see the image on the band that goes across because it's covered up by the chocolate chip taffeta ribbon. I also finally got around to using the idea I've seen of putting small dots underneath the brads....when they're that small it sure is hard to "centre" the brad!!!! I would have liked to have highlighted the word "imagine" somehow...but I guess being central on the card is good enough.

I have to mention Diane's Designs - a blog that I would recommend visiting. I stopped by there yesterday for the first time on Lee's recommendation, and I really like the projects that Diane has shown. She is offering blog candy right now...but if you scroll down there are wonderful cards.

I hope you are having wonderful evening/morning/day....Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Note of Thanks

Okay, so I shouldn't be deciding at 10:00 at night..."Oh, maybe I should quickly do a challenge before I go to bed"...when I should already be in bed reading. But, I did this in half an hour....fairly happy with it....and here it is.

Today's challenge was to combine a Technique Challenge, Colour Challenge and Sketch Challenge....but they had to be from the first 10 published from each set. So, I incuded Technique #1 which was kissing. I Kissed the emblem from Carte Postal onto the small writing piece from Elegant Notes...does it count even if you can't actually read the writing?
The colours are from Challenge #5 - Black and White and this is a bit of a stretch on the #9 Sketch Challenge.

I've also included the Faux Linen for the "Stamp Something" challenge this week. I love that technique.

I'm pretty happy considering it was a rush job. I'll concentrate more tomorrow....
Thanks for dropping by....Happy Stampin- Joan

Inspired Blue Floral

Yesterday's inspiration challenge came from F.Schumacher. I've posted a
thumbnail of the chair and upholstery fabric that I selected for the inspiration. I love blue. (and greens and browns lol). As I was working on this card I decided to use the cracked glass technique since I hadn't for quite a while. The coluzzle was used to make the circles, but I had to cut the Night of Navy circle by hand because I wanted narrower matting.

This sketch is from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge.

Can't decide if I want to watch movies, nap, or stamp this afternoon. I broke my glasses this morning though, so don't know how enjoyable tv viewing will be for too long. It's gloomy and rainy....napping sounds good.....but I want to stamp. Decisions, decisions. LOL

Thanks for stopping by....Hope you're having a wonderful weekend wherever you are! - Joan

Challenge Catchup Begins...

Thought I'd try to put some things together before heading back over to Amy's for today's card camp. We had a lot of fun last night with the ladies who came by to stamp. 18 cards in 4 hours....Woo Hoo!!!!

My card this morning covers four challenges....First, the "Sketch Challenge". Second, the "Colour Challenge" this week was Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Certainly Celery. I guess I like my combination, but I've seen some breathtaking cards done with these colours this week so be sure to check out the gallery!

It's suppose to be a more masculine card for the "Ways to Use It" Challenge. I suppose mine is, although I could easily use it for Allison because she's a volleyball nut - however, it isn't her school colours!!! The Limited Supply Challenge this week was to use NO hardware of any type....no brads, eyelets, dodads, etc.; but to use stamped images instead...thus the stars across the top. I perked them up a bit with dimensionals though....they're soft!!

I also got some Happy Mail this week from Nardi in Australia. I always liked this butterfly and I love blue and brown together! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thanks for dropping by. I will be back with something else soon....I am excited about doing the Faux Something Challenge over at the STAMP SOMETHING blog!

Happy Stampin - Joan

Quick Post

Here is the card I created for this past Sunday's Featured Stamper Challenge.....The Stamper was Dawnsing and I have the thumbnail of her card that I chose to case. My flowers were a bit bigger than hers so I could only fit three nicely across the middle. I like how hers dance across the middle!!!!

Well, I must hit the sack....Greg and I just got home from seeing the Jully Black concert tonight. It was fantastic!!!!!

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day. - Happy Stampin - Joan

A Bag full of Thanks

Well, between laundry, saying goodbye to the kitten, cutting paper for the card camp and putting together dinosaurs, I managed to get these projects finished today. (I got up early)

The bag was for today's New Technique Challenge: it's a double pocket bag and it is super easy...the tutorial for it is here. I also created the bag and contents for the "Stamp Something Challenge". There's a new one every Friday and I just thought it would be fun to add another challenge to the list....at least for the long weekend. And Hey, summer is around the corner! LOL) Anyway, the challenge was to create a Thank You of some sort: card, package, anything. I filled the bag with 3 Thank You cards that incorporated different sketch challenges from the past couple of weeks.

For the first card shown I used Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. I'm not sure about the white gel pen on the flower, but I thought I'd try. I really can't tell exactly what colour this designer paper is suppose to be....not guava, not rose, thought it was coral....but it doesn't look that way in the photo.













The second card uses that circular sketch again....I also cut out the flower and leaves from the designer paper. Not totally fussy about all the sheets in this designer series, so gotta use them up somehow.










For the third card, I've managed to cover a whole whack of challenges without really intending to. I didn't use any stamps at all, instead I used the rub-ons for the words. I also stacked the flowers using the paper-tole technique.


Grant came over this afternoon and Allison & I knew right away he had come to take his kitten to her new home. I was so annoyed when those kittens were brought here, and knew they'd cause issues with the older cats in the house, but we've all grown attached to the shinanigins that they got into. Grant's answer to our heart-break....come to his place to visit. Will Do!!!!

I'd better hit the sack, just 'cause I've got an appointment tomorrow doesn't mean I should stay up later!!!!!!

Thanks for visiting - Happy Stamin' - Joan

Birthday Card Camp Next Weekend

Here are the creations for next week's Birthday Card Camp....

• Friday, May 23: 6:00-10:00,
• Saturday May 24: 1:00-5:00 OR 6:00-10:00.

• Cost: $30.00 (All Club members - $25.00)
• 6 Designs with envelopes
• BRING YOUR OWN ADHESIVE!!!!
• Bring a friend who has not stamped with us before and get $5.00 off your registration fee and get your name put in a draw for a free stamp set.

CONTACT JOAN OR AMY TO BOOK YOUR SPOT.

May 16

Today's Inspiration Challenge comes from Papyrus Candles. I knew I wanted to use the yellow candle, and decided right away that the Blooming Beautiful Bouquet could work well. I've embossed everything in black...I'm not exactly sure why except that it makes it bolder. I wanted to keep the vase white because I usually use clear or white vases myself. I'm not sure about the stark white around the outside of it, but I didn't want to muck about with it and mess it up!!! I've also used Wednesday's Sketch Challenge again. I'm not really a yellow person, but I'm happy with the way this turned out.

I did succeed in finding Dinosaur Bones yesterday...and no I wasn't making soup with them. LOL. We have a Canada Day Week at our school...thanks to the Canamaniac Amy Barry!!!! We have contests and prizes all week. Our Canada Day Assembly has been gradually growing bigger until, for the second year, we're hosting a Pancake Breakfast and I have the students performing various Canadian folksongs and such. This year one small idea, which has EXPLODED into a major production, is the reciting of Robert Heidbreder's "Drumheller Dinosaur Dance". I'm doing it with black light....(I hope) it's going to be SO COOL!!!!......so, that's the reason I needed some dinosaur bones. LOL.

Well, I'm off to the garden before it gets too too hot. I hope you all have a wonderful day and thanks for dropping by. - Happy Stampin' -Joan

Dragonflies for You

I finally got around to last Saturday's Inspiration Challenge....We were to find something from the Dreaming in Colour website to inspire us. As soon as I saw this cup I was hooked...I love it.









I decided to do the Ways to Use it Challenge which was to use Inchies. If you didn't have any, which I don't, then you could make little 1" pieces yourself. I've also incorporated today's Limited Supplies Challenge which was to use an alphabet set for the sentiment.

Yeah, well.....silly me for thinking I could stamp black letters on glossy paper without smudging....grrrr. And then I noticed later that there's a tiny little thumb print, which doesn't show up too much on the photo. Oh well, it's just me putting myself into my cards...LOL.

I've added just a hint of Dazzling Diamonds to small parts of the wings. It looks like sunlight hitting them in real life.

It's a beautiful day in Fort Saskatchewan today....wind has even died down a bit. I'm heading into a day of errands in Edmonton....looking for dinosaur bones and other such interesting stuff.

Thanks for dropping by.....Happy Stampin' - Joan
I've given you links to the galleries for the challenges in case you'd like to see all the fantastic creations by other people.

Two in One

Tonight I worked on combining the Sketch challenge for this week and the TRUE colour challenge....it seems I jumped the gun and didn't wait for the Official Colour Challenge. I've added a thumbnail of the sketch and the colours are Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red and Soft Sky.

The centre of my large flower is coloured in soft sky, but covered with Dazzling Diamonds so the colour didn't show up very well in the photo. I guess I could include the Embossed Watercolour from the Technique Challenge this week....but I used the ink pads and blender pens on regular cardstock, so I didn't really end up with a true watercolour effect this time. The black is embossed though. I kind of like that effect. Godelieve in Belgium at Stamping Mathilda uses embossing a lot. I was easily able to wipe away glue and diamonds, and could colour over the black without worrying about dulling it.

I'm all set to clean and stamp this weekend....although not necessarily in that order. I have to go to school to get a couple of things organized...school is nuts right now, but otherwise I'm set to stamp. I'd like to get into my yard too and would usually go gung ho until I finished but I'm not sure if my knees will let me do that this year. We'll have to see.

Reminder to the ladies in our area that our Birthday Card Camp is next weekend.....let us know which sitting you will be attending. I will be posting the cards on this blog this weekend.

See ya through the weekend....Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Happy Mail

My mailbox was happy again today...and so was I. I received this wonderful card from Alex who is California Stampin'. She also nominated us for an award....but I don't want to post it until I figure out the three bloggers I want to pass it on to. It's a long weekend coming up though so I should be able to figure it out!!! Alex is such a sweetheart and always full of enthusiasm and encouragement and has great projects on her blog. Be sure to visit her and say hi!

Since Allison got her drivers licence yesterday (yippeee, woohooo, yipeeeki yi yay) she was at a friends house for supper and so my dear husband took me to a new restaurant in town. Then, I watched the final episode of America's Next Top Model with Allison....her favorite won. Afterwards, I planted some herbs in a window box to take to school for my Plant & Growth Unit. Subsequently, I didn't get any stamping of my own done tonight, but I am looking forward to these next four days to get some projects finished....and started.

Thanks for dropping by.....Happy Stampin' - Joan

Well, I went back to my stamping room...remembered the Try a New Technique Challenge....Embossed Watercolouring. I stamped the sunflowers onto watercolour paper, used markers and the aquapainter to colour them in. I also embossed the little butterflies, but just on regular paper and coloured them in with marker. I wasn't sure if I should have added a sky or not, but my husband liked it on the green...so there ya go.
Embossed Watercolouring Gallery
Off to bed.....Thanks for dropping by - Joan

Definite Challenge....

Okay....so someone was concerned last week on Splitcoast about dear Lovely Lilac having never been used in a challenge.....I have no problems with it being in the spotlight two weeks in a row.....but boy of boy did I have difficulty with what to do with Lovely Lilac, Summer Sun and Basic Grey (well, I actually used Going Grey).
And I guess I need to look at other sketch challenges...but I do like this one. Three cards using it is enough though.

I'm back to the stamp room.....maybe I'll use the colour wheel. LOL.

Thanks for visiting .....Joan

Sorry

I apologize for no postings in the last couple of days. I dealt with a migraine all weekend and ended up tidying my stamping room yesterday so I could work in it tonight. So, I'll post after school.
In the meantime, I'll bore you with pets....
Belle....the hunter, stalker

Tigger...who has no modest, but will scratch you if you try to rub his tummy






Button....the wacked out kitten who gets into everything...she also plays piano.









and Captain Jack Sparrow....safely in his enclosure!!!!! He only escaped once, the day he arrived. I make sure that zipper is shut tight....believe me!!!!





Thanks for visiting....I'll have something more creative tonight. Have a great day - Joan

Extravaganza Projects

These are 5 of the 7 projects we did at our extravaganza - Rena Thie designed them using the Boho Blend Simply Scrappin Kits. That woman is the Queen of Stampin' Kits!!!! She does amazing projects with them. I just have to put some finishing touches on the other two and then I'll post them...Thanks again for visiting - Joan

Extravaganza WooHoo

Amy and I are so absolutely lucky to belong to a fantastic Stampin'Up team. Tamye Dunbar and Lori Waples put on Extravaganza's about 3 times a year - sort of mini conventions, with Make & Takes, wrist band and prizes, Products on Parade and Show & Shares, wonderful stories and always something to cry about. We had a fantastic day although I ended up having to excuse myself because of a migrain after lunch....daw-gone weather system I think.

Here I am making one of the wonderful cards designed by Rena Thie....5 out of the 7 projects are shown in the previous post...









Here are Amy and her Mom working away like busy little bees....











Here we are with Tamye....she's our Up up line. So full of excitement, energy, inspiration and WoooHooo!








Thanks for visiting....Happy Stampin' - Joan

New Pumpkin Paper...

This card covers Wednesday's Sketch Challenge and today's Limited Supplies Challege....NO STAMPS!!! The UPS guy delivered the Pumpkin Pie Designer Paper yesterday, just in time to go with these little felt flowers that I haven't used in a while.

I'm also glad that I finally purchased a coluzzle so I can do all these cool circle challenges.

Excited about our Team Extravaganza tomorrow....an all day gig of stamping and learning new stuff.

Thanks for dropping by, I'll post the projects we do tomorrow when I get home.
Happy Stampin' - Joan

Happy Birthday to you, Mom!

Hello everyone, I am just posting to wish my mom a very, very happy birthday! I am looking forward to going out for supper tomorrow night and of course watching her open her gifts. (I won't mention what she's getting just in case she looks at the blog in the morning.)
I just finished her card and thought I would post it tonight as I will not have time tomorrow. Her favourite colour is green and she loves elephants so that should explain my interesting colour choice - lol! I also had to add a little bling with the rhinestone brad and of course dazzlin' diamonds.
I hope you have a wonderful day mom, see you soon!
Nighty-night!
Amy

May 8

I seem to be a day behind in the challenges...but that's okay considering some weeks I barely get them done.

Amy already posted a couple of cards for the challenge earlier this morning.

I found this blossom on my table and lucky me it had the colours for Tuesday's colour challenge, so it was just begging to be used.

I have more ideas for this sketch....it really calls out to me for some bizarre reason, so you'll probably see a few more in the future.
Click these links for:
Tuesday's Colour Challenge Gallery
Yesterday's Sketch Challenge Gallery


This next little guy is one of the adorable frogs I received in the mail from Danielle Kennedy at Wild Dragonfly Designs. I am fairly happy with the way I coloured the image and the Dazzling Diamonds added to the Daisies. I
had thought that I could do the sketch challenge with this image and add "lily pads" on either side of him....but his rock was too wide....so I did half a sketch. (LOL) I'm not totally happy with the daisy I created with the scallop punch....this is the second one I did....the first, well let's just say it was distressed!!!

I love this little frog and I'm so thankful for Danielle's thoughtfulness.

I'm off to see if the daughter wants to practise driving.
Thanks for dropping by....Happy Stampin' - Joan

Time to stamp challenges...

Last night I decided to take a break and get some stamping done so I was able to do 2 challenges this week. I finally used my coluzzle for the second time ever! For some reason I am suprised at how easy it is to use and I love the idea of layering circles on cards. My first card is for the SCS colour challenge (CC165) and for the sketch challenge (SC175). I used versamark and Iridescent Ice Embossing powder on the Lovely Lilac half circles so they are all sparkly. I really like that technique but haven't used it in a long time.
For the second card I wanted something a little more masculine so I pulled out one of my favourite stamp sets - Lovely as a Tree. I am pleased with how it turned out and maybe we will do it at a workshop one day. I am so excited about going to convention and super relieved to be registered. I always get nervous that I won't get in. Now that registration is done all we have to do is count down the days - oh and start making swaps! lol

I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Amy

This Week's Colour Challenge

This week's colour challenge was Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery. (Apparently Lovely Lilac has never been selected for a colour challenge....ever....and a number of people on Splitcoast were feeling sorry for it - LOL)

I knew right away that I wanted a pink hippo....not sure why. I ended up stamping her on watercolour paper and using my markers and aqua-painter to colour her in.

Allison asked what the "h" was for.....Hip-Hippo-Ray!! - of course.

I've noticed that a couple of bloggers have glitzed up their nails with our coloured glitter....so I decided Ms. Hippo needed a bit of bling on her toes too.

I had really, really, really wanted to do the sketch challenge today 'cause I thought it would be cool. However, I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow because I got working on a different card that didn't work with the challenge.....so, until tomorrow....

Happy Stampin' - Joan

Wasn't What I Expected...

Okay....so I came home, looked up what the colour challenge for the day was.....made a card...went to take a picture....and yeah, the batteries are dead. In fact, I knew that last night!!! But I was more focused on getting to bed so that I could get up in the wee hours of the morning to register for convention. Both Amy, myself and Amy's mom are registered with a group from our Edmonton Team. Yipee, here we come!!!!!

Anyway....back to the posting.
I finally finished this little purse photo-album that I found at Stamp with Heather on April 14. She credits the design to Jan Tink at Stamps, Paper, Scissors on March 17. Both designs are fantastic, and both ladies provide instructions. It's a cute little way to send 6-8 photos as a gift and another way to use the carousel notes.

I'm charging my batteries overnight and will post my colour challenge tomorrow.













Happy Spring....Happy Stampin' - Joan

Quick Addition

I created this card yesterday for our upcoming Birthday Card Camp. I used Laura's "Wheelin' Frames" technique from Scrapnextras....April 29

It really was quite easy and quick to do...once I had some sort of plan. I'm still not all that sure that the colours are perfect together...but they are bright. I'm also not sure that the punched flowers go with the Baroque wheel...but it's all good. We look for quick and easy for the card camps.
Thank you Laura for your inspiration....I've linked to her blog so you can scroll down and see her tutorial.

Hope your Monday was good.....Happy Stampin' - Joan