October Christmas Stack

My October Christmas Stack will be held

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Afternoon stack - 2:00-5:00 use this link to register

 http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ewa66ubab&oeidk=a07ebo8t3ex45706078

Evening Stack - 6:00-9:00pm use this link to register

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ewa66ubab&oeidk=a07ebo8t3nmb292142e

Where - Joan's House

Cost - $35.00

All registration MUST BE MADE by October 21.  I will be out of town at a conference after that and I want to be as prepared as possible before I get home from the conference.  

Here are the rest of the cards you will be creating.

You can e-mail me if you would like more information.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Today's post is a collection of items from yesterday, today, and for tomorrow as part of an application process.

YESTERDAY
I had to pull out the flower garden, shown above, which I created with fabrics, ribbon and cardstock.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, but there's still tons of snow on the ground.  So this is a good reminder that spring will come!

Two Sunday's ago, I had my Chicks and Chocolate event and it was a great success.  I created little flags to co-ordinate with all the cards which were named after different kinds of chocolate.

This is an event I will definitely do again.

TODAY

One of today's cards was created for the Friday Mashup!  The Mashup was to use lined paper and have a distressed look.  This is my second package of Fan Fair DSP - I just love it!

Another card for today is for Merry Monday - it was a tic-tac-toe board for this challenge and I love the options you get!  I created an ombre background and then tore paper to create a bit of a landscape for these three to stand on.  They have been fussy cut and raised off the background.....and because it's a Christmas card, I just had to give them ribbons around their necks.

and TOMORROW....

Well - April's Technique Class...One of the techniques we'll be doing is the  Chalkboard technique.  To get the "chalk" line around the edge of both pieces, I traced the inside of the framelit before cutting it out.

and finally - for one of the scrapbook layouts for Stamp with Me Monday we'll create this sketch.  If you'd like a different coloured background, let me know.

That's it for today - Hope you are enjoying your Easter Weekend.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Christmas Bells

I did up a card for the Merry Monday Challenge - Love the sketches because they are quick and easy...and yet you can add to them too. (I added the bit of crochet trim)

I took a tip from the current "Stampin' Success" magazine that we get as Demonstrators....The music paper is actually a piece of our Natural Composition Designer Series Paper - it's already embossed and all I did was ink up the paper using a sponge and wiped the excess off the embossed areas.  I love the effect....especially since it's musical!

I embossed the holly leaves in gold on Always Artichoke paper and then embossed the bells on Very Vanilla and coloured them in by putting marker on the "shaded" areas and pulling the ink into the rest of the image with a blender pen.

Both the greeting and the bells have been raised with dimensionals.

Hope your week is moving along Merrily!

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Pearly Christmas Greeting

A quick post today with a card created for the Merry Monday Challenge.  I think these challenges are a bonus for me on two counts - 1) I get to have a stash of Christmas cards ready for December - some of which I'm sure I'll be able to use for the seasonal stacks. and 2) the sketches are such that I don't have too much difficulty thinking about what I'd like to do - which is good because I have tons of things on my plate right now.  Simplicity is best.....so thank you to Lesley and the gals on her team!

Here's the sketch....

Hope you are having a wonderful day - 

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Merry Snowflakes

Well, with the temperatures outside today - this card is fitting!!! Yikes!  Although I actually think it's too cold to snow!!!  The Merry Monday challenge this week was a TicTacToe challenge - I love those....it's fun to decide which direction to go in...

I went across the top row using the Northern Flurry Embossing Folder and stamping the Snowflake Soiree onto a torn piece of Vellum cardstock.

Hope you are keeping warm in your little corner of the world.

Thanks for dropping by.

Joan

Merry Monday Chickadee

I haven't used this chickadee for along time - I don't even think he came out to play during this past holiday season - so he's gearing up for 2013!  The sketch from Merry Monday was clean and simple and once I decided on the chickadee it really didn't take me long to decide on the rest - which is a good thing on a busy evening.  I used watercolour paper for the base of the chickadee using the aquapainter to colour him in.

Stamp Set - Beautiful Season

Paper - Very Vanilla,  Be of Good Cheer DSP, Watercolour Paper

Ink - Black Staz-On, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, So Saffron, Basic Gray

Tools - Decorative Label Punch, Aqua Painter

Embellishments - Natural Trim, Designer Vintage Faceted Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

Here's one of my favorite mandalas in my altered book.  I sponged the entire page with Tempting Turquoise before drawing the mandala and I coloured in the spots with our white gel pen.  Let me say - I think our gel pens really are the best.  I have the most success with them!

I'm off to do more arting and crafting.  I'm almost ready to create the cover for this little book.  I'm a bit scared about it - but ya gotta jump in.

Hope your week is off to a great start.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Noel for the future

I know - Christmas is over, but I'm going to try to join Merry Monday this year and get a jump start on unique Christmas cards for next season.

The Merry Monday challenge this week is to use these colours

It's hard to believe that a year ago today a precious, beloved, child of God was welcomed into our family - Elliot is a year today.  Wooooo Hooooo!

Love the baby, love the baby!!!!

Have an awesome day today folks.

Joan

Gold Greetings

I haven't done a challenge for a while so decided to play along with the Merry Monday crew.  Their sketch was easy to use this week  and since I was working with quite a bitt of glimmer paper this weekend, I decided to keep up the trend.

Hope you had a great Tuesday - Thanks for dropping by!

Joan

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians!

Lisa has a great sketch for us today at Sunday Stamps.  I love cards that use a strip through the card - and this shows how that particular layout can be expanded.  

I've used Ornament Keepsakes along with the matching Framelit die.  For my strip along the middle, I brayered Rich Razzleberry and Elegant Eggplant onto the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder before placing the paper in and putting it through the Big Shot.

Our Design Team members have some great creations with this sketch, so be sure to check out the Challenge blog for that.  Then, once you've finished your project, please link it to Sunday Stamps so we can see what you've come up with.  You may be chosen as a Guest Designer.

Grant is all excited about having everyone to their place for Thanksgiving dinner today.  Should be lots of fun.

I haven't shared any photos of Elliot for a while - he's growing!  I can't believe he's 9 months tomorrow!

Hope you have a fantastic day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Merry Monday Bananas

Oh Yeah - back in the swing of Christmas Cards on Monday......It was a fun easy sketch today - I added an extra element, but for the most part I stuck to Lesley's design.  I was glad to use these scraps to create the card - that was an extra bonus!

Allison was glad to see another set of her dance pictures make it to a page today for the 31 pages in 31 days - headed by Lyssa Zwolanek.  Lyssa used the Floral District paper today which was bright and "girlie" - that's what made me go through the dance pictures to see what I could use.  Subsequently, my page isn't quite as bright as Lyssa's sketch (I used the flip side of the paper she chose), but I had tons of fun creating it. 

I delved into my retired paper scraps to use the Glorious Green to go with the costumes, and then I just had to add some chunky glitter to the page.  What's a dance page without glitter!

The Title is done on MDS and then cut with a Framelit die.

Those little bananas are not Stampin'Up! of course...but we had purchased them to go with this page.

I finished my daily challenges, did some chores,  and finally had a wonderful evening visiting with family.  It's been a fabulous day - the beginning of a fabulous week.

Hope things are Fabulous in your little corner of the world.

Thanks for dropping by.

Joan

Cards, Scrapbooks and Guest Books...

Look Out....There's lots to look at today!

First - Here is my card for the Merry Monday Challenge - It's straight forward enough that I think I'm going to use as one of the designs for my Christmas in August.  I'm very happy to have happened across this challenge - although I've known Lesley for a while now.  It's helping me plan ahead better!  

I love two step stamping and used watercolour paper with this image.

Now - here are the scrapbook pages that I've created as I follow Lyssa Griffin Zwalonek's "31 Pages in 31 Days...trying to get some paper scrapping done in the midst of all the MDS scrapping. I worked on a number of them yesterday to get caught up - please excuse the cement background - I found the sunlight a lot better to photograph in yesterday than my basement.

Day 2 - Allison groaned when she saw this, but I like this photo.

Day 3 - a double spread.  I copied Lyssa's leaves exactly, but my arrangement of photos is different.  I wanted to use a bunch of the photos my Mother has taken over the years.  I miss the autumn colours of the east!

Day 4 - This sketch centred around the "page element" which was created....the Two Tags with the heading on them.  I created the tags the same way, but changed up the papers for the flower and the page arrangement is different too.  I loved the idea of all the little bits of paper along the edge - great way to use up little pieces - however I did go looking for words that worked with the subject matter.

Day 5 - By the time I started working on this sketch I decided that I needed to go get some more of my pictures copied and enlarged.  The only one I had that I thought I could work with on this sketch was of me in the early 60's.  I've also discovered that my camera now has two little specks on the lens that I can't get off....hmmmm must look into that.

Finally - I'm sharing a book that I was asked to create for a co-worker who is getting married this month and needed a guest book.  I based the cover on her invitation, and actually cut out the names from her invitation so that things co-ordinated.  On the inside I took the "Everything Eleanor" swirl and stamped the top and bottom (alternately) of each page just to add a bit of colour on the inside of the book.

That's it for right now - I'm waiting for some Crystal Effects to dry for today's scrapbook sketch - so I may post that page later this evening....and yes - it may take that long for the Crystal Effects to dry.

Hope you are enjoying your summer day - and the last of the long weekend.  Thanks for stopping by to take a peak.

Joan

Sweet Gingerbread

My craft room smells like sugar and spice this morning after working with these little guys!  YUM!  The gingerbread men are from the Scentsational Season set in the upcoming Holiday Mini along with co-ordinating framelit dies.

I've used the colours from Dynamic Duos today - Crumb Cake and Early Espresso (Wow - it's a food sort of day I guess!)

The base of the card is Very Vanilla with an Early Espresso Mat.  The embossed section is the new Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Can you tell I'm getting ready for an Open House to showcase items from the new Mini?!

It's cool, overcast and thundering today (no rain yet) - so maybe I will bake the cookies I promised my daughter a day or two ago.  It was way too hot to turn on the oven then.

I've been meaning to share this video of this year's theme song from convention.  I love this song - I play it almost every day just to boost me up for crafting.

Hope your day has aromas which make you smile.  Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Snowy Believe

It seems like forever since I've done a Friday Mashup!  I'm glad I can participate today..... I've taken the sketch from the very first Merry Monday sketch.  I will be working on the ones that I missed before I found that challenge.

The Friday Mashup challenge is timely because I'm working on cards for my "Christmas in August"

1. Make a project "For Christmas."
2. Or Make a "Greeting Card & Decorate the Inside."
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Christmas Card & Decorate the Inside."

I've used the "Snowflake Soiree" which is in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  I love these snowflakes and the font for the two words that are included in the set.  The snowflakes were stamped on their own piece of card stock and edged with a piece of Midnight Muse cut with the Finishing Touches Edgelits. The "Labels Collections Framelits"  were used to cut a piece of Midnight Muse and I stamped the snowflakes using matching ink.  

The piece had to be rubbed with an Embossing Buddy to ensure that white embossing powder didn't stick to the snowflakes when I embossed the greeting.  Honestly, I did end up with a few tiny flakes around the word, so to cover them up I spritzed the piece with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  It worked wonderfully.

For the inside of my card - the second part of the Mashup Challenge - I used the edgelit on a scrap piece of paper and used a sponge dauber to colour the edge.  Then I used two pieces of scrap paper to create a "window" to stamp in for the snowflakes....masking what I didn't want snowflakes to hit.  I like the effect it created.

My house is now empty of workers doing the shingles.  My husband and his friends have been working on reshingling the house and garage.  It's been a full week long process with some repairs and rain delays - but today I can do a final floor cleaning of the dirt that's been tracked in.  

I'll clean the floors, watch the Opening Ceremonies, craft a bit.....and then we get to babysit Elliot tonight.  What a fantastic way to end a week!

Hope you have something to look forward to today.

Thanks for dropping by!

Joan

Christmas Mittens

I pulled out one of my new Christmas sets for the Merry Monday Challenge this week - Chock Full of Cheer.  I love the little mittens that come with it - I used markers directly on the stamp to give the two tones on the middle mitten. The sentiment is included in this set too; as you can see below.  I've used the new "Be of Good Cheer" DSP - I love that this series has straight red and green traditional Christmas colours - this stamp set co-ordinates with the paper perfectly.

Seems a bit funny that the first post I have after changing my banner to something bright and summery  is a Christmas card.  Ah well.

I'm hoping that my son gets to come home today.  They've been camping in the mountains over the weekend and the highway has been closed due to flooding.  He's a bit concerned about getting stuck in traffic for an endless amount of time and not being near anywhere to warm up a bottle for Elliot.  So - any thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.  

Hope you experience safe travels this week.  Thanks for visiting here for a bit.

Joan

Monochromatic Marina Christmas

WoooHooo!  Another Christmas challenge done.  Thank You, Lesley!  

I've started to remember to go to Lesley's Merry Monday Challenge - and I just may have a variety of Christmas cards produced before the season arrives.  I like to be able to give people cards that are different from the ones I do at my Christmas Stacks....this challenge will help that!!!

I've now used three of the four "Four Seasons" stamps.  This time I have the little bird down inside the scallop which is raised with dimensionals.  I used one of the Delicate Designs embossing folders for the section through the centre.

Last night I did another one of Michelle Zindorf's tutorials.  I do believe I need new gel pens!  I didn't include all the finishing touches that she used....but I'm feeling a bit better about the brayer-ing on this one.

Hope your Tuesday is moving along nicely - thanks for stopping by for a peak.
Joan

Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy

I'm not sure how happy these fellows are about the temperatures right now - but they're happy about coming out to play today.

I've used the Mojo Monday sketch today - turned on it's side and the colours are from Our Creative Corner....light pink, light blue, red and white.

I attached the small strip of Pretty in Pink to the end of a Bashful Blue piece and then put it through the Big Shot with the Snow Burst Embossing Folder.  The "seam" of the two pieces of cardstock is covered with a piece of Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon.

Silver Glimmer Paper was used for the small strip above the snowmen and for the large and small scallops highlighting the snowflake.  I added Dazzling Details to the snowmen's hats and a bit of Crystal Effects to their buttons.

Well, let me tell ya - our Christmas Concert should be spectacular on Wednesday if today's 1st run through was any indication.  I'm so glad we can do it again tomorrow before it's "for real".  I know you don't want a perfect practice before a performance - but seriously!  I'm really not worried though - I know everything will be wonderful in the end!

Hope the beginning of your week has been good - thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Cherry Gold Christmas

Well, I'm two for two (two days in a row!) ...not what I'd call a "roll" but it's a start.  I need to get the craft room cleaned up a bit after all the events I've done and then the groove will get settled into some more!

Today I joined the challenges at The Paper Players and Create with Connie and Mary.

The Paper Players are playing with Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and Gold until the end of the year.  What a rich combination!  I hadn't used my gold embossing powder all season - and I haven't used this Snow Swirled set either, and I really like this tree - especially when you mix embossing powders!

The sketch I've used is from Create with Connie and Mary - I've tweaked it a wee bit because of the tree.  It's a fabulous sketch - so many things could be done with it!

Well, the morning is almost over and I need to go over to the school to put all my instruments onto the stage for our 1st dress rehearsal tomorrow morning.  I will be a very happy person once Thursday comes along this week!
Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Silver Hope

Well, it's been almost a month to the day since I last posted - and I feel like a stampin' newbie!  Gonna have to get my mojo into action again over the next little while.  I've been busy, busy, busy with stampin' activities and having a blast with it.  I've just missed the time to sit and do challenges also.  So, it felt good to be stamping for myself today, even though I'm not thoroughly impressed with what I created.

I chose to use the Friday MashUp! for this week......

1. Make a project featuring "Chipboard (Precut or Diecut )".
2. Or Make a project with "Distressing ( ink, scissors or the Cutter Tool Kit)".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Distressed Project featuring Chipboard"

 I have a whole tin full of chipboard pieces, not counting some that are still in their packages, so it was nice to pull them out to use them.  I found this "hope" from an old Christmas set and inked it up, along with the little stars, with Silver ink.  The Brushed Silver paper was put through the Big Shot with the Snow Burst embossing folder.

I couldn't find a solid star in my stash of stamps, so I opted to use the one from Floral Fillers.

Tombow Glue is keeping the Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter in place and Rhinestones were added to the stars.....making it full of glittery goodness for the Just Add Ink challenge this week to "Just Add
Glitter"  to your projects.

So, there ya have it.  I can hear my husband and daughter making all sorts of noise watching the Canucks tonight.  Guess I'd better get supper started!

I hope you've had a wonderful day and have a little something to cheer about.  Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Holly Snowmen

Well I had fun with these little guys this afternoon!  I used the colours from this weeks' Paper Players  - River Rock, Always Artichoke and Riding Hood Red.  The sketch is the Mojo Monday Sketch.  I must say that I love this combination of colours and I can see me doing this sketch again. 

I put the Always Artichoke mat through the Big Shot with the Striped Embossing folder going in two directions.  After I cut out the holly leaves using the Stocking Accents die, I folded them and slipped them through the crimper.  The holly berries are raised on dimensionals and have Crystal Effects added to make them glisten, and I added Dazzling Details to each of the snowmen's hats that have pompoms.

I cutting away to get ready for two nights of Christmas Stacks this weekend and another trade fair.  I'm glad I have Allison to help out.  I'm "paying" her with a hair appointment tomorrow. Works for me!

Hope things are working out your way too.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Merry Chickadee

 I finally got around to using this wonderful little chickadee - they're my favorite little bird.  The leaves and berries have been coloured with Frost White Shimmer Paint with a bit of re-inker added.  That way they  shimmer nicely on the card.  I applied the paint with an old blender pen that had lost its "stuff".   An Old Olive marker was used to colour the shading of the leaves.  I also used the shimmer mixture to distress the edge of the oval.

I really should have thought out what paper I was going to use for the rest of the card before I coloured the image though - the image uses Old Olive and the DSP and mat are Garden Green.  But that's okay - the Challenge over at The Paper Players this week is to use traditional red and green colours for a Christmas card - and both greens work.  Stampin' Royalty has provided the sketch for this card.  I have adjusted it a bit because my image was so large and I used 3 little Merry tags on the side.

This is the anniversary card my daughter made for my husband to give to me.  It wasn't what she had had in mind because she couldn't find the stamp set she wanted to use - that threw her for a bit of a loop  (It would throw me for a while too) - but I love what she's come up with.  She didn't realize until later that she put the world on upside down - I said her dad turns my world upside down anyway - so it's all good.   My gift from him was a trip to anywhere in the world I want to go - so the card is fitting!

Hope something turns your world upside down in a good way today - Thanks for stopping by! Joan