Fall Silhouette

Howdy Friends - It's been forever....sorry.

I found out shortly after school started that my surgery for my knee replacement would not be in December - it's set for October 3!!! I'm happy and scared, and now doing all the little things that need to be done before I go in. Yesterday, I had my son help me dig out all the Christmas decorations to have easy access to once Advent arrives. I literally mean digging them out too - from underneath the stairs. My daughter says she'll do the decorating when the time comes.

This coming week we have a swap amongst our Edmonton Stampin'Up! team for those who were at convention. We're swapping cards using stamp sets we received in Salt Lake City. That way we have a variety of examples of sketches for each set. I cased my own card for this one. Originally it was monchromatic -now I've created a silhouette. I almost wish I could have a goose flying over that sun-set type background!

I hope everyone is well - thanks for stopping by. - JOAN

Orange Coffee

This challenge is from last week's Limited Supply Challenge. The limitations were any shades of orange and coffee. Well, I used Tangerine Tango and the new Haiku paper.
It feels as though it took me a week to get this card made. I had one little cup completely finished and when I got back to my desk do you think I could find it - nope. I think I made 6 cups in the process of finishing this card....I did not however drink that much coffee. (Although I am capable!!!!!)

Thanks for visiting - JOAN

Young Artist

Since I don't seem to be finding any time to sit down and get some cards made during this start up of the school year - I'm posting a couple of 6x6 scrapbook pages I made quite a while ago.

Allison was always doing something artsy and that girl could make just about anything out of paper at a very early age. I have her pictured here at various ages, and using various mediums. I was so excited that she came to our workshop this past week - she used to stamp with Amy and I every week until she decided that what she was making wasn't good enough - silly girl. But a friend of hers is excited about stamping and made her come along to stamp. Yipee & Thanks Kelsey! (She's 17 now)
At convention this summer we got some FANTASTIC instruction on taking a 6x6 page -
done up at a workshop - and then showing people how they can use that page as the basis of either a 8-1/2 x 11 or a 12x12 page. I will be turning these two into 12x12 eventually.

I will get back into the routine of stamping each day - we had "Meet the Teacher" at one of my schools tonight. It was fun seeing the former students and meeting new parents....but I didn't get home until after 7:30 - so at that point I want to hunker down and read - but I thought I'd better get something posted.

Thanks for stopping by - Hope everyone is well....JOAN

Green Leaves

I'm late completing last weeks' Color Throwdown #8 ...maybe I'll use their new one today and be "caught up". Last week's colours were Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Cameo Coral. I ALMOST left this a monochromatic card because I had the two pieces and couldn't decide how to incorporate the coral. It's not flashy, but it's there.

I got the idea for the front frame from Julie over at Paper Pleasing Ideas on September 2. She has some fantastic ideas - this is using the new scallop punch on a 2-3/4" square piece of paper. She has fantastic pictoral directions on her blog.

I've been lucky so far this week - Tuesday and Wednesday I only taught half days at the two schools I'm at. Today - I go whole hog flying from one to the other and teacher all day. I may be tired by the end of the day - so I'm glad my husband hasn't started choir yet. I'm having a blast though -

I hope you have a fantastic day and thanks for dropping by. JOAN

Loving the Baja Breeze Paper!

These pieces of designer paper (Urban Garden) were still sitting on my stamping table from a card I made the other day - since they blended so well together I decided to use them for today's sketch challenge and yesterday's monochromatic colour challenge.

Ya gotta love the designer paper because it allows you to put a piece together quickly and easily.

Hope everyone is having a great day - my life is a song right now and I'm loving it!!!! JOAN

It Must Be Wrong...

It must be wrong, on so many levels, to give a beer to a sock monkey. But as I was looking through the catalogue trying to decide what set to co-ordinate with "Cheers to You"...this little guy, with that happy little grin, jumped out and said..."pick me!!!!". So I did.

I'm not sure that this is totally monochromatic, as I think of it, but that was the colour challenge for today.

My first day of school went well - I love teaching music because I can be my immature silly self most of the time. It was good to see the kids again, and I didn't forget many names at all. Tomorrow....I will begin to tackle the approximately 150 more names at the second school.

Cheers to you - thanks for visiting. JOAN

Who Knew...

Even though I did a number of things this summer to prepare for my music classes this fall - I still have been totally absorbed in preparation - thus the lack of stamping and postings.

PLUS - the fact that someone/thing hacked into/stole my hotmail e-mail has had me dealing with that. If you are a blogger who ended up with an e-mail saying I'm in Malaysia - I'M NOT! (And don't send money!!!!)

So - the first card shown here is for yesterday's Featured Stamper Challenge - Niki. She used a Hanna teacher so I pulled out my Bella teacher and used the new Urban Garden Designer Paper.

The second card is a Thank You I received from DeAnna (deestampstoo on Splitcoast) . I love the colours and the designer paper - she put it inside the card also - it's so nice!!!
I know I'm going to one of my schools this afternoon just to take in some supplies - then I hope to get some more stamping done this evening. So many grooves to get back into at this time of year.

Hope all is well with everyone - Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

Thinking of a Wonderful Friend

Yesterday's Inspiration Challenge was from Marimekko Petrooli Umbrellas - wow - what fun!!!!! I chose the one shown on the side.
I also used the sketch challenge from LAST WEEK's challenge at Our Creative Corner. (They now have a colour challenge up - so I'll have to work on that next.) I'm loving the new scallop punch!!!! Gone are the days of using the corner rounder to create scallops - wooohooo!!!
I added some non-SU bobbles on the bottom set of flowers. They are tinted pink, but you really can't tell in the photo. Oh well.
I decided this afternoon, that I had better give my Big Shot a try. What fun too!!!!!! I sponged the edges of the flowers and then used my gel pen to add the white dots. (I bought a couple of new ones so I'm not using white-out anymore!!!) At convention we saw how we could remove the rhinestones from the "brad" so I did that for the centres of the flowers.
The colours for this card are from over at Colour Throw Down (Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue and Apricot Appeal) - my apricot is a bit washed out in this photo. I think I must create a little photo corner for myself so that things turn out truer to life.

I'm off to do a bit more music planning. The count down is on, but the days are still passing relatively slowly - Yipeee!!!!
Thanks for stopping by,

Celebrate Your Day

I finally have cupcake stamps!!!!! Wheeeee!

This card covers a number of different challenges. Last week's Colour Challenge was Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, and Ruby Red. I used the new Bella Rose Designer Paper for the one triangle. This is also the Sketch Challenge for this past week - although I added the "scallops" around the central image.
You can't really tell from the photo, but I added some Dazzing Diamonds to each of the cherries on top of the cupcakes.

I've also made it a Birthday card (although I guess it doesn't actually say that word on it - oops) - for Stamp Something's Birthday Something Challenge.

I hope you are all enjoying your Saturday. Thanks for stopping by -

Finally, New Cards...

I finally got these two cards done last night.....I've been to medical appointments and starting to get ready for school, so I haven't been doing much creating lately . I think I was more consistent with my blogging when I was at school - go figure.

Anyway - This first floral card is for last weeks Inspiration Challenge from Athleta Swimwear. I chose the top that's shown in the thumbnail. I embossed the flowers on
Glossy paper using the Craft Ink and Clear Embossing powder. To add the bit of white I embossed the flowers in white on the coloured paper I'd chosen and used dimensionals to attach them.

This second card is a total case from Stephanie at Inkgenious Inkling. I loved the way she used the word window as a way to use up scrap pieces of designer paper - which I'm sure we all keep waiting to use them - not waste them.

I don't think I've completely lost my mojo, but I'm certainly going with the plain and simple cards lately. HOWEVER - I got my big Stampin' Up! Order yesterday full of new wonderful stuff. I've unpacked it, but I HAVE to do some cleaning, school work and Knee exercises before I play!
Thanks for stopping by - Have a great day - JOAN

Rich Colours

Here are two cards which I created with this past week's Colour Challenge - Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Taken with Teal.

For the Good Works card I used a sketch idea from Shelly Zeeland at Stamp with Shelly - it was on her August 5 post and I thought it was a cool idea - sort of like masking, but not.










The second card is also using this past week's Sketch Challenge. I used Craft Ink to do the Teal "Hope" and I also used the craft ink to "colour" in the brad. It was an idea from convention.


Hope Everyone Has a Fantastic Weekend - Joan

Late Night or Early Morning????

The thumbnail photo is from the gallery of this past week's Featured Stamper - Kim. She has awesome work in her gallery! In order to create my "case" of her card, I made a frame....daubed it with mellow moss and a sponge dauber. Afterwards, I added the grass. Next, I lifted the frame, inked the flower with Mellow Moss Craft pad, stamped and added clear embossing powder.

I apparently going to have a lot of fun with this stamp from convention!!!!!



Thanks for stopping by -

Workshops & Scrapbooks

Okay.....I know I'm being ridiculous - it's a better picture of Tigger than the project. He just came by and plopped himself down while I was shooting, but I had to add his shot - What exactly does that expression say???
The little booklet is one of the projects we'll be featuring at our September Technique workshop. We made them at convention from two "Love Notes" and the envelopes. Quick and easy. I used one of the rub-ons we received on the little card that fits into the back "envelope".

The rest of the time I've been doing a few more scrapbook pages and thought I'd share just this one. I'm proud of all the chipboard I'm using. For the little letters I covered them with Apricot Appeal Craft Ink, and the large letters are covered with paper from the Simply Scrappin' Kit I'm using.

Got some errands to run today, and a GIGANTIC newsletter to put out. Thought I'd better get some music class work done too. I'm still not really thinking about school starting again though...not yet!

Thanks for stopping by -

ATC Lunch Notes

For yesterday's "Limited Supply Challenge" we were asked to make little ATC notes that could be put into our loved ones lunches as the school year begins - or business day begins I suppose. This card is just 3.5X2.5". I've made this size for technique samples before - but not for a note itself. It's sort of useful in it's small way!
Thursday's Way's to Use it Challenge was to add jewels to the projects - thus the square rhinestone brads!!!!

I've used two of the new In-Colours with this card. I finally decided to crack them open - wanted to use up this past years - but couldn't stand it any longer. The two I've used are Pink Pirouette and Pacific Point. I just love this blue!!!
I CAN'T WAIT until the 11th to order from the new catalogue.....and to finally order the Big Shot!!!! I'm doing scrapbook pages - and boy is that tool going to come in handy for titles!!!!

For our customer gals - stay tuned to your e-mail for a newsletter full of wild and crazy new stuff!!!!!

Have a great day - If you're heading to the Edmonton Folk Festival - Have a great time! JOAN

Mom's Gift for Memories

Well, I'm pretty impressed with my self that I got something put together for my Mother for her birthday - without being late! I must take it to the post office today though - sending it to Ontario. She enjoys the trips she takes to Newfoundland and I'm sure would like to settle their. She likes to beetle around and take photographs soooo! I found a pattern for this in our August edition of Stampin'Success - a magazine published for demonstrators. I had to make it longer to accomodate a 12-letter word!
Cover - the words are "Sights, Sounds, Scenery"

Tags for her to note where she was each day.

Two little "pockets" made from envelopes to put things in - one is a clear envelope

Journal pages to write on - She'll have to put the date and place on the little lines

Long pocket to slip printed photos into

A small frame to put a photo in. (I've left the sticky strip covered so she can adhere it herself)

An envelope pocket to put the disc of photos into and a spot to put another small photo.

Thanks for stopping by - Have a great day - JOAN

Quick and Easy!!!

Oh Wow, I love this week's Sketch Challenge! I know it's going to be used a lot. Today's card is perfect for people with limited supplies too -
One Stamp Set
One Pkg of Neutral Cardstock
One Pkg of Coloured Cardstock (Single colour or assorted)
One Pkg of Designer Series Paper (Single colour or assorted)
One Colour of Ink
One roll of Ribbon

The examples in the gallery are fantastic too. Be sure to check them out. I'm off to continue working on a present for my Mom. Thanks for stopping by - JOAN

New Stamps & New Folds

Yesterday's Technique Challenge was this cool and easy Square Spring Fold. I combined it with today's colour challenge which was to use only to soon to be gone forever In Colours. I pulled out three of the stamp sets we received in Utah - Flight of the Butterflies, Eastern Blooms and Inspired by Nature. You can't really see the beautiful grass that is created by this stamp - There will be more projects with that stamp though - I promise.
I stamped the butterflies on the Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate and then stamped their spots onto Vellum cardstock, cut them out and adhered them with a rolled up mini glue dot.

This fold would be awesome to use for placeholders at a dinner!!!!
Glad to be back in action - I hope everyone is enjoying summer still!!!! JOAN

A Thank You from Amy

I just had to share this. Every year Amy hosts a fantabulous Canada Day Celebration at her house. Family and friends gather in her yard to share company, eat awesome food, and play the games that Amy organizes - Her and her mother are the master games girls!!!!!
She sent my family this Thank you - I how she watercoloured the space around the rocket. Awesome Card Amy !!!

JOAN

Back from Convention - WooooHooooo!!!!!!

Well....after a considerable absence...I'm back from Convention where I had a FANTABULOUS time. Today, I'm posting the pictures of the swaps Amy and I took with us. We didn't make many, but we had a lot of fun swapping! I'm relaxing today and will probably get to creating tomorrow. Stay tuned....

This is the swap I made with Bugs and Kisses. I told you I loved this sketch!!! It's such a versatile one. I also had scads of these soft subtle brads to use up.


Here is Amy's swap. I just love how the camera picked upthe sparkle of the Dazzling Diamonds on the butterfly.
















Amy's Mom, Lin, came along with us this year. She is a hobbiest and I believe she had a fantastic time at convention. This is Lin's gorgeous swap. When I saw the background it made me think of rich fabric. This photo doesn't do it justice.


Thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone has been safe and sound. JOAN

Life is a Challenge.....

....or life is full of Challenges! Wow, it's hard to keep up with all the challenges that are flying on Splitcoast this week. I love it. I haven't done all the current challenges yet, but once a few "necessary" chores are out of the way....BRING IT ON!!!! :)

The first card today is from Julie's "Dare to Get Dirty 08" (DTGD08) which was making a card with mostly white space. I decided to use one of the corner rub-ons and then the card fell into place from there. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the two step stamping flowers. I HAD to do a turquoise and black card because I hadn't for a while.

I've noticed over the past number of weeks that I've been using a lot of greens. I've been wanting to pull myself out of that colour rut, and yesterday's DTGD08 from Lauren was perfect. She wanted us to make a monochromatic card, so I picked purples. Christine's DTGD08 was watercolouring so
I encorporated that into this card. I used Heartfelt Thanks and coloured right onto the stamp using the Watercolour Wonder Crayons. Then I spritzed the stamp with water before stamping onto watercolour paper. To create the background I used the aquapainter to pick up colour right off of the crayon to paint with. I'm getting a bit better at watercolour, but I still have a long way to go with a lot more practice!!
I used yesterday's sketch challenge for this card too.

Well, I'm off to Amy's to spend the day putting together swaps for Utah.
Hope your day is full of sunshine....ours is right now!! JOAN

Running Horses

There were three different "Dare to Get Dirty" Challenges today. The first from, Michelle, was to make a masculine card. It's not the focus that is foremost in my mind when I sit to create....I probably should though, just to have them one hand.
I used the repetitive stamping technique to create the illusion of the horse running across the card......ya just have to remember to have the darker image where you want the image to be going to....not coming from, and work backwards from it.

Have a pleasant evening. I'm going to do a bit of music prep and then more stamping if time allows. Happy Stamping - JOAN

River Music

Today's Colour Challenge Colours are River Rock, Soft Sky and Vanilla. Wow, are they ever peaceful. I saw a card in the gallery that was done mostly in the Soft Sky and it immediately reminded me of the water in Jasper or Banff. It was gorgeous....Anyway....
The second of yesterday's Dare to Get Dirty challenges was to use ribbon. I didn't want to use the plain colours so I dug around and found this piece of musical ribbon. (It wasn't until I saw someone elses posting that I remember the Ribbon Originals - Duhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!) Oh well, I can always use Musical Thank You's.

I want to do some scrapbooking this afternoon, so I have to go get some duplicate pictures. I'm hoping the rain has passed on. The electricity went out last night for quite a while as I headed to bed....so there I sat on my bed, reading "New Moon" with a flashlight and the lightening and thunder rolling - Vampires, Werewolves and Storms......YEEEE HAAA! I digress - Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. JOAN

Wonderful Butterflies

Yesterday's Featured Stamper was Susiestampalot.....and goodness gracious did she have a lot
of fantastic cards to choose from to case. I chose the pink and black card of
Susan's because of the butterfly wings coming out from the paper. While I was creating the card though, I was also keeping in mind the Colour Throw Down (Barely Banana, Pumpkin Pie and Soft Sky - the challenge called for Cool Caribean, but I don't have any of that left.). It also meets criteria for Our Creative Corner's dry embossing and today's "Dare to Get Dirty" challenge at Splitcoast. Laurie was challenging us to use vellum. I like working with vellum....I just don't do it enough. The butterflies are velum with beads attached as their bodies.

Great day to stamp in the basement....it's so hot outside. Have a pleasant evening. JOAN