My Paper Pumpkin Arrived

Ya know how there's that knock at the door and you wonder - who on earth can that be? - well that's what happened today - and much to my surprise, it was my Paper Pumpkin arriving.  I was so excited, I   tore it open so see what was inside and went to work creating the "instructed" card and three more of my own variations...

This is the suggested creation - except I added more splatters through the card.

Next I decided to separate the words on the text stamp by using a marker.

Then the "throw away bits" caught my eye and I added them along the side.  The DSP has been cut and re-cut to create more banners.

and lastly - I masked the area under the "throw away banner bit" to create a new little banner and added a splattered scallop punch.  I just got the Basic Gray ribbon and love it!

So - You can stick to the instructions or add bits and pieces of what you have available.  If you'd like to learn more about My Paper Pumpkin - and get a wonderful surprise package in the mail each month  - here is the link

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Amazing Friend

Hello everyone.  It's a sketch day here at Sunday Stamps this week, and the sketch is presented by - me.

I decided to use a framelit for the central focal piece and used the "Amazing Family" set.  This sketch is great for using up little bits of ribbon, cardstock or DSP.  I have added three sets of brads/embellishments in the sketch, but when I created the card I left two sets out.  Great thing about challenges, they help get you started, but you can go into any direction you wish.

I hope you'll join us for the challenge.  Check out the Sunday Stamps blog to see what inspiration can be found from the other Design Team Members.  Be sure to link your project back to us at the challenge blog so we can drop by and see what you've created.  All entries are due by Friday, March 8, 2013 for this challenge.

Hope you try it out!

Joan

Friends Accept Us...

Hayley has an awesome sketch for us today at Sunday Stamps -  I love the simplicity of it and the shapes are wide, wide open to interpretation!

These Flower Trim flowers have been on my desk, so I decided to use them for this card and added little black brads as their centres.  It ends up being a quick and easy card to put together.  So - I'm now off to get more crafting done.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you join us in this challenge.  

1. Please provide a Link back to us in your Post.

2. Please link directly to your blog post for the challenge.

3. Feel free to use any Brand of product.

4. Deadline is Friday February 22nd @6pm EST.

5. Have FUN!!

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the design team has come up with not one of us used a trio of stars - so you'll be truly inspired!

MashUp! and Catch Up!

Even though there hasn't been a lot of blogging since I got home from the mountains - there has been a lot of scrapbooking in order to catch up on my 31 pages in 31 days.....

But first - I participated in the Friday Mashup! this week which was...

1. Make a project with "the Sketch".
2. Or Make a project w/ a "flower or multiple flowers".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project w/ "the Sketch and a flower or multiple flowers".

I just happened to have some of these newsprint flowers left over on my desk from a scrapbook page - so I decided to put them to good use.

And now here are 8 days worth of scrapbook layouts to catch up on the 31 Pages in 31 Days.  I'm actually going to end up with more than 31 pages because some of the layouts are double spreads.

I had this page completed before I left for Banff, but when I took a picture of it the light wasn't very good.  My Day 12 colours are a bit different than Lyssa's who is leading the charge with this 31 pages in 31 Days.  I kept the layout pretty much the same, except where I elongated some of the mats so that I could get more of the picture in.  I also chose to use Gumball Green instead of Wisteria Wonder.

For Day 13 I decided to use Grant's Grad Photo and a couple of photos from that day.  He sure did look good in his kilt that day!  In order to add a little bit "extra" to the Crumb Cake bases, I spritzed them with the Silver Smooch Spritz.

 For Day 14 I ended up changing quite a few features - Lyssa's focal point was a hand made film strip along the side.  I've ended up with bubbles all over the page.  I had quite a bit of fun doing this.  I cut circles from our window sheets and used them to mat both the pictures and the letters.  The letters have been adhered with glue dots and then the "bubbles" have been raised with dimensionals.

Lyssa's layout for Day 15 had 6 photos...I opted for 5 because of the sizes.  I kept everything else pretty much the same except for the sentiment and I've added the hearts that I punched out from the glimmer paper......gotta love that glimmer paper!  I also love the rhinestones that are connected in a string - makes them a whole lot easier to put around a shape.

I've done a number of MDS pages for Elliot, but had't given him his own paper page yet.  I changed this Day 16 layout a bit by separating the "boxes".  Lyssa had the smaller one inside the bigger one, but I wanted to put Elliots photo in it - so used the smaller box to write the details in.  

I loved how Lyssa took the Modern Label punch and folded it back on itself to attach it to the page with brads.

Allison was not happy when she saw this page.  She had been annoyed that I kept taken pictures as she got Grant to show her how to flick her fingers....she decided it must be a "boy" thing 'cause she just couldn't do it.  Lyssa's original Day 17 layout had tiny banners from a Simply Scrappin Kit.  I used one of the framelits with the International Bazaar DSP to create my "banners".  It took a couple tries before I got the colours and papers figured out for this one.

I worked on this Day 18 layout today - and I know what photo I'm going to use, but I need to get it enlarged and changed to black and white.  This is my first "hybrid" page because I used MDS to create the title banner.  There are two things to note about this layout.  Lyssa used our First Edition DSP and layered a bit on the top and bottom after distressing it.  I like how the buttons and ribbons were used at the top....and the fancy little lace piece sticking out from under the banner is actually a piece of wax paper put through an embossing folder - awesome idea that I would never have come up with myself.

Finally - Day 19.  I had some things that I had to do today, so I pretty much did the sketch exactly as Lyssa laid it out.  I did realize as I was putting it together that my dimensions were off - but I'll make it work with pictures I have.  I was amazed that I actually found the piece of last year's Christmas DSP that Lyssa had used for a base.

That is it for today!  I'm desperately trying to get rid of a two day headache before going with my husband to see "Jersey Boys" tonight.  Mind over matter!

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend....thanks for stopping by....sorry there was so much to look at!
Joan

All caught up.....for now

Today's main feature is a sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.  And look at me...another clean/white card AND I added Pacific Point without it being required.  What's up with that?

I used paper from International Bazaar - cutting the design just to keep it interesting.  For the mat on the "greeting" I traced the outside of the Apothecary Accent framelit and fussy cut it.

Now for my catch up items for the 31 Pages in 31 Days... with Lyssa Zwolanek

Day 7 - I've used the same layout that Lyssa did on her example, and I've used the same package of paper - but I've changed it up to be a "boy" page instead of a girlie page.  I didn't know what sort of "accents" to use so I crumpled up a couple strips of paper, used twine and did some doodling around the pictures that were matted.... although it doesn't really show up in the picture.

When I saw Lyssa's layout and colours for Day 8 I automatically thought of this picture of my dad taken around either Banff or Jasper in the mid to late 60's.  The colours and the images from Nature Walk were perfect.  I also added trees from Lovely as a Tree.  I copied all of Lyssa's elements...right down to distressing the piece of balsa wood that I'll add words to later.

Finally - Day 9's page - TODAY!!!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Again, I kept everything the same as Lyssa's example on this one too except that I added the little snowflakes around the edges.  I guess I've done so many clean cards lately that I need to fill in the empty space on other projects.

That's it for today.  I have some chores to do and then I'm going to go shopping for a toy or two.  We're babysitting Elliot tomorrow night and he's requiring some stabler toys to pull himself up on.

I can't wait.

Hope things are happy and healthy in your corner of the world.

Thanks for visiting

Joan

No. 1 Friend

This is one of the sets we received to do Make & Takes at Convention.  It's called "Affection Collection" and it's in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  I was using it a fair bit yesterday, getting my Make & Takes from Convention finished, so I decided to pull it out again today.

The sketch is from Create with Connie and Mary - I've missed doing these challenges being away from my craft room for three weeks.

I'm off to do more crafting - I didn't get as much done yesterday as I intended.  I've realized I'm becoming more distractible - must be an age thing!

Hope you have something you can stay focused on today - thanks for visiting.

Joan

Biking with my Friend

I'm so excited.....there's a new challenge blog and I've been asked to be on the design team...I was absolutely thrilled to be invited.  The blog is Sunday Stamps and the creator is the talented Holly Endress from HollyBeary Creations.  Each week will alternate between sketch and colour challenges....which are two of my favourite challenges to do!

Here is this week's sketch challenge.  I love it 'cause you can incorporate a lot of different shapes....although I stuck with circles for today.

For my creation I've pulled out some more new toys.  I'm loving the "Finishing Touches Edgelit".  I like punches - but these edgeless are SOOOO much easier and remove the need to line up holes.  I've also used one of the doilies from the "Delicate Doilies Sizzlit".  The base of the card has been embossed with the new Argyle Folder. 

I used the marker right on the bike from "Moving Forward".  Because the sentiment was at the bottom of the stamp I didn't add one with a tag - so I added a bow instead.  Like I said - it's a sketch you can tweak in a number of ways.

Try it out and link your creation to Sunday Stamps - and see what the other members of the design team  have created for inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by - Hope you're having a great start to your week.

Joan

Blossoms, Blossoms, Blossoms

This afternoon has been full of blossoms, live and paper.  I bought some bedding plants before coming home from school, and have spent the afternoon using Betsy's Blossoms in my stamp room.  Ya know, when I got this set I never anticipated using it as much as I have already.  Now, that may just be because it's one of the few new ones that I own.  Just wait until June 1 hits!!!!!!

The sketch for today is yesterday's Mojo Monday sketch and the "theme" is "Bright Summer Days"  from the SUO Challenge blog.

I've been bopping, while stamping, to the music from the SMASH soundtrack.  I wonder if the neighbours will mind if I continue to blast the music while I putter in the garden.  Hmmmm, never know until ya try.

Hope you're having a wonderful be-bopping day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Gem of a Friend

Mojo Monday - WoooHooo!  Very cool sketch today.  I pulled out my Beau Chateau DSP and decided to go with a totally Marina Mist card - not hard for me to do really - it's my favorite blue right now.  I guess I really only used one piece of the DSP, and coordinated with stamping from Vintage Vogue. 

I tried out the new Peekaboo Frames Bigz Die for the Big Shot.  I love the idea of being able to make little windows easily for cards, scrapbook pages and crafts.

I remember when the Big Shot came out I thought- "I just can't see myself using this enough to buy one"  Wow, I'm glad I broke down, got one with the Convention Special - I have used it sooooo much.  And now, Stampin' Up! is giving one for FREE to whoever purchases the Starter Kit in October.  Fabulous!

If you're interested in paying for your hobby or paying some bills AND getting a FREE Big Shot and a discount for your stamping or crafting , just contact me and I can help that happen for you.

I hope you've had a wonderful day -  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Smudged Cherry Friends

Lesson Learned:  Don't start putting your card pieces together if your hands are a bit sweaty from the heat!!! You'll notice the Cherry Cobbler smudges on the homemade DSP - I made one smudge accidentally and decided just to make marks over the whole thing to make it look like I did it on purpose.  Our inks dry pretty fast - so I obviously inked the image a bit too much - on top of the moist fingers.

Upon returning from Banff I had a box of stuff from Stampin'Up! waiting for me...which included the new Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  I have been waiting for SU to come out with their equivalent of the Scor-Pal for quite a while and am so excited it's finally here!  I didn't use it a lot on this piece - but did create the small "embossed" squares along the right side of the card.

Today's sketch is from The Sweet Stop,  I've used the SCS Colour Challenge from this past week - Crumb Cake, a yellow (Daffodil Delight) a red (Cherry Cobbler) and a green (Lucky Limeade).  I've also used the challenge from Our Creative Corner to include fruit.

I'll have to remember to go out to our garden this afternoon to pick the raspberries which ripened while I was gone.  Mus'n't be wasted!

We're enjoying a wonderfully sunny day today - hope things are sunny and bright in your neck of the woods too.  Thanks for dropping by!
Joan

ps - Just checked my e-mail and found out I was picked by The Paper Players:

  for my school card which I posted HERE.  Thank you so much ladies - it's an honour and I'm tickled pink!  I love playing along with your challenges and I'm so happy to have found your site.

Clean and Simple for Tuesday

It's a fairly clean and simple card for today.  The simple clean sketch is from this week's challenge over at The Paper Players.  I moved the matted section to the left in order to reveal more of the embossing.  Except for the colouring, this would be a great card for a workshop - simple, quick and easy.

I've finally used some of the new paper - I am loving these two new colours together (Pool Party and Island Indigo).  The chair is also from a new set called "Cherish Friendship".

It looks like we're in for more rain this evening.  I walked on the lawn this afternoon and it's still moist from the previous numerous days of rain.....and the mushrooms are starting to grow.

Ah well - counting down the days of school - that's something to look forward too.  I hope you have something to look forward to also.  Thanks for stopping by!  Joan