Monday, September 28, 2009

Clean & Simple Christmas

Here are two of a few cards I made this weekend using the "Christmas Jingle" Simply Scrappin' Kit. I don't have them all done yet..hopefully after school today.

I used the gold elastic cord to act as "hangers" on the bulb trio. For the REALLY clean and simple one I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds in the centres of each of the little snowflakes. I'm finding this kit a bit harder to make cards with...but it will come.

Hope you're having a great day - we're getting into the fall weather here.
Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Gift/Party Boxes




During the summer I worked on putting together some of the little gift boxes which were created by BJ Peters from Stampin'Up! There was a photo of these cute little boxes on the demonstrator website and I thought I'd give them a try. I changed the pumpkin a bit by adding the vine and leaves across the front. I'm also using a different box base than was used in the originals because it was the only one I had.

Everything is made with the Big Shot dies and SU punches. There are a few more designs which I'd like to make and some others I'll share later.

Hope all is well your way - thanks for dropping by.
JOAN

Friday, September 25, 2009

Early Christmas

Here is a trio of cards from the 24 I made using one of last year's Christmas Simply Stampin' kits from SU!. I really am getting used to using brown as a Christmas colour - although I am a die hard red and green girl!

I like these kits because it's so quick and easy to whip up a set of cards - and you can keep them simple or spruce them up with embellishments you have on hand.

I'm hoping to delve into this years Christmas Kit this weekend.
Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by. JOAN

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Razzlebird

Here is my card for this weeks Colour Challenge and Sketch Challenge from Splitcoast. The colours were Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry and Basic Black. I liked the combo!

My pieces for the sketch are a bit smaller than they "should" be. I took apart three clear rhinestones to attached to the circles in the corner....love how they caught the flash from the camera!

I didn't have a lot of luck with black ink on this bird image - a hostess set - Wings of Friendship. Instead, I did it with versamark and black embossing. You can't see in the photo, but I've also spritzed some black around the bird.

Hope you're having a razzleberry type of day. Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Inspired Rose


This past Saturday's inspiration challenge on Splitcoast was from LAMA (Latin America in the Modern Age) I went into the kitchen section and selected the glass that is shown because it made me think of the medallion stamp that we have. I used Rose Red cardstock and embossed the medallion in white.

It is incredibly warm here today - it was suppose to get up to 33*C and I'm sure we're pretty close. Fantastic "fall" day!

Hope things are warm, sunny and happy in your neck of the woods. Thanks for dropping by. JOAN

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Clean and Simple

I really think I'm going to enjoy the Monday "Clean and Simple" challenges on Splitcoast. That area is a challenge for me....so it all works out. This week's challenge was a sketch. It took a lot of courage to keep the card base plain and without a first layer.
I stamped the two little pumpkins onto Only Orange and then "whited out" the stars and band with white gel pen.

I'm going to have to find people to send all these Halloween cards to.

Thanks for dropping by - hope you're having a great day! JOAN

Monday, September 21, 2009

Boo

I've had the Crystal Effects drying on this....for a very long time. I made the pumpkins last week - took a while to put together.

I really like some of the Halloween paper we have right now. I don't go for the skulls, but some of the reverse sides are vintage scarey. I embossed the house onto Old Olive with black (not sure why it looks uneven, but it adds to the effect). I put a glue dot on top of my brads and then dipped them in purple SU! glitter. The pumpkins, as mentioned before, are covered with Crystal Effects. Everything has been raised with dimensionals.

My daughter got fabric on the weekend for her Halloween costume....I haven't sewn in so long, I hope I remember how!!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend - the weather was wonderful in Banff while I was there. Now back to the grind of another week. Enjoy. JOAN

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Late Grad...

I guess since I was busy with grad I didn't getting around to posting a picture of our princess. It was a wonderful time and we are so proud of her. I was surprised to find that one of our local scrapbook stores had die cuts of various High School from the area. I got two so I could use it when I do my sons....which has already passed!

I actually think I need something else on the blue page, but I'm not sure what.....I'm NOT cutting out anymore grad hats! (Cute though they may be.)

I'm in Banff this weekend with my husband. Hope you're having a good one! JOAN

Friday, September 18, 2009

Summer Work

There was one day this summer when I was very productive with my son's scrapbook.... four pages in one afternoon. Unheard of for a newby like me! I was using up old Simply Scrappin' Kits and I've promised my self not to purchase anything new until they're all used up. So.....I better get back to work on them soon. I have his to do and then his sisters!

Thanks for dropping by - Have a wonderful day!
JOAN


Thursday, September 17, 2009

Early Halloween...


This is from Saturday's Inspiration Challenge - the Halloween clothing for kids on the CWD website are too cute. I picked this pair of pants just because they have all the cool Halloween Colours. The designer paper didn't turn out too well in the photo - but the colours are vibrant. I embossed the tree and the greeting with black embossing powder. The green and orange pumpkins that are on the second layer of paper are "popped" out using Crystal Effects. I haven't used that in quite a while.

I have a second Halloween card to share....but I have to let the Crystal Effects dry.
Have a wonderful day - JOAN

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Challenges...

I haven't done a challenge in a VERY long time.....I'm happy to see a new challenge on Mondays on Splitcoast - "Clean and Simple". I have a lot of difficulty with that so will be happy to see all the wonderful creations people have. I am thinking of this as clean and simple...the extra criteria for this particular challenge was to use dimensionals - which are holding up each of the shells.
I've also used the colours for Tuesday's Colour Challenge...Whisper White, Soft Suede and Pretty in Pink.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for dropping by - Thank you also for all the "welcome backs"! They're appreciated! JOAN

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Cased Ornaments

It's never too early to begin making Christmas Cards. I cased this idea from Tamye Dunbar at our last team meetings. I loved the simplicity of it and the glitter!

I used the Delightful Decorations set with the matching punch as well as Baroque Motifs for the background. Elastic Cord was used so the ornament swings freely. This design is so quick and easy and looks great in all seasonal colours.

Hope you are having a wonderful day - JOAN

Monday, September 14, 2009

Fall is on the way....

Fall may be on it's way, but the weather is still beautiful here - I'm able to walk to school this year and I'm enjoying it.....including the fact that I get to walk with my husband!

I guess I used the colours from the "Autumn Meadows" designer paper as an inspiration for this card. I love the colours together - Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard and Taken with Teal.
I stamped and embossed the Autumn Splendor leaves onto regular white cardstock and then used the sponge daubers to fill in the empty spaces. The "Wandering Words" were stamped onto velum and then attached under the strip of designer paper - attached with the corduroy buttons.

Hope you have a wonderful day - Thanks for dropping by - JOAN

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Been Too Long.....

I can't believe I went the entire summer without posting to the blog - Wow! Can't say it was that busy - school start up has been hectic and now I'm trying to get back into the stamping world. I'm teaching a variety of things this year so it may be tough to get the stamping in there- but I'm going to try!

I love, love, love this black and white paper (Night and Day Specialty) from the Occasions Mini. I have a reputation for making black and white cards with - just a touch of teal.

I'll be making this card at an upcoming workshop.
More projects to come! - Promise!

Thanks for dropping by - Joan