Fishy Fishy...

I am a whole lot later posting this than I expected to be....and I have two scrapbook pages to share - but I didn't like the lighting in my stamping room tonight - so I'll re-photo them tomorrow and post them then.

This little silver fish is part of two challenges; the sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches and the colours come from an Inspiration challenge over at Stampin' Royalty.

The base of the card has been "scored" with the diagonal plate and embossing folders were used for the large turquoise piece, the fish and one of the little banners.  I've used the wing from the bird punch to create all of his little fins sponging the edges with white craft ink.

It's been a very busy day - I got a lot accomplished...and now I'm off to bed.

I hope your week has been productive in the areas you want - thanks for dropping by!

Joan

In Colour Butterflies

Wow - I got totally diverted today!  I created this card in the morning, photographed it....and I'm not sure what happened to the rest of the day - except that it has rained and my head desperately wants to ache.  I'm laying low until the clock says it's a god time to go to bed.

Anyway - the butterfly dreams is for the Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge today using the new set of In Colours.  I know CAS and no texture is outside of my usual realm of stamping - but that's what I went with today.  I guess that's what was needed since I did finish designing the cards for my Christmas in August on the 23rd.

Here is the layout for Lyssa's 31 pages in 31 days.  I kept the colours the same, and the layout is close - I adjusted the size of some of the squares.  I left the one photo off because I want to be sure that I have another copy of it.  It's one of my favourite pictures of Allison - I want to enlarge it before I use it for this layout.

Based on Lyssa's inspiration - I added little dots of Crystal Effects around the centre scallop and I created the butterflies with card stock vellum.

Well - lets see if the basement has cooled off.  I tell ya - if anyone complains about not having summer this year........

Hope things cool off in the evenings where you are - thanks for dropping in!

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

Sunday Stamps Hello

Happy Sunday Stamps...where we alternate between colour challenge and sketch challenges.  This week Lisa is challenging us with Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive.  I have to admit that whenever I see Pacific Point I sort of cringe - but look....this week I used it for the entire background...yay Lisa for coming up with an awesome combination.

I used the masking technique with the Lacy & Lovely set.  

The Pacific Point has been embossed with the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder and I used the Large Scallop Edgelit to cut out the Delicate Designs Embossing Folder.

Finally - it's unnoticeable in the photo - but the blue flower and it's centre are raised with dimensionals.  

So - give the colours a try.  We'd love to see what you come up with when you're finished, so be sure to post your creation at Sunday Stamps.  For more inspiration you can visit the Designer Team's blogs

Holly Endress - Hollybeary Creations

Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin - Can't Stamp the Rain

Monica Hornof - Stamps'n Jewels

Hayley Kew - Stampin'Up! with Haley Kew

Lisa Johansen - Snowy Moose Creations
Joan Jeffery (me) - JJ Creations

Thanks for stopping by here today - Hope you have a fantastic day!
Joan

Vintage Mashup

I pulled out the new Core'dinations card stock to demonstrate at my Holiday Catalogue Kickoff yesterday and I am loving it.  The card that follows is the one I put together for my Kickoff....but since the paper was out I decided to use it for this weeks' Friday Mashup because they're looking for....

1. Make a project with a "Stick Pin on it."
2. Or Make a "Vintage" project.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Vintage project with a Stick Pin on it."

This Core'dinations card stock and the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder works perfectly for a vintage look.  I also pulled out the Natural Composition Specialty paper.  I took a sponge and rubbed Early Espresso ink onto the paper so that the images popped - reminded me of the specialty paper we had a year or so ago where the images appeared when you sponged ink on.

I used the flowers and medallion from Everything Eleanor...fussy cutting the flowers to layer them for dimension.  It was also good to get into my tin of left over Pretties Kit stuff to create a pin to attach.  The sketch, which is from Stamping 411, helped to pull everything together!

Here is what I created for demonstrating the Core'dination paper yesterday - LOVE IT.  I love the Watercolour Winter set too.  I took a piece of watercolour paper - covered it with water before stamping the pine needles and then the cones.  I stamped off some of the Early Espresso ink for the "inside" image of the pinecone. 

Yesterday afternoon I also created a scrapbook page using two of the left over Snow Festival Design Printed Tags.  I had made up a set of note cards....as per Bonnie Thurber's inspiration from Convention.  This scrapbook page is a total case from Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek - she is doing "31 pages in 31 days" and I'm going to see if I can keep up.  I've been doing a ton of MDS scrapbooking and am falling behind on my paper pages.  I've done two pages with Grant now.....so I'd better do a couple with Allison for the next little bit!

I met with my beautiful friend Tamye Dunbar today - it was so good to see her.  Caught up and enjoyed her company.  We got top notch service too because we were the only ones in the restaurant for quite a while.  

Hope you are enjoying this long weekend......it's a gorgeous one.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit.

Joan

CAS & KickOff

It's Friday!

It's Summer!

It's the long weekend - WoooHooo!

I'm keeping things Clean and Simple today 'cause there's a lot to get done and I'm raring to go!

For today's main feature I used the colours from Create with Connie and Mary (Basic Black, Real Red and Sahara Sand) and the sketch from   Just Add Ink....which creates a perfect Clean and Simple card.  It's always difficult for me to leave crisp clean card stock - but I backed away today.  The butterfly has some texture - I combined the Elegant Butterfly punch with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit die.

Now on to even more texture....this is the card that my guests will be creating at my Holiday Catalogue Kickoff today.  It contains absolutely NOTHING from the Holiday catalogue - but I've got displays of lots of things that were created with the new toys.....

So - off I go - Hope your day is full of fun stuff to do.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Joan

Season of Sweets and Beyond

This week's challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments is "Anything But a Card"...and while my last project is a card, the rest of the projects are not.  My goal today was to use some of the new products from the Holiday Catalogue.  I was reminded at Convention, by Bonnie Thurber, to show ideas to do with various products outside of what they are "suppose" to be used for.

All of my projects are based on the little envelopes included in the Season of Sweets Designer Kit.  For the project shown above, I used the envelope as a little frame, tucking Elliot's picture inside and decorating the outside.  

To ensure the "frame" stays standing, I added an "anchor" using the Modern Label punch.

Next, I created a scrapbook page using the envelope as a frame again, but adhering it to the page.  (That's Elliot's father, Grant, at his second Christmas.)  I stamped snowflakes from Snowflake Soiree, and used the Snow Flurry  Big Shot die to create the snowflakes with Very Vanilla Cardstock and the Champagne Glimmer Paper.

Finally, I used the envelope as the base of a card.  I covered the inside with card stock and created a belly band to keep it shut using a strip of the die cut elements from the Design Kit; including the little holly leaves and berries.  The berries are covered with Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details to add a bit of bling.

I'm on a roll here - so I'm off to play some more.  Thanks for stopping to visit.
Joan

FINALLY.... it's August!

YES!!! - It's live today!

View the 2012 Holiday Catalogue On-Line

August is finally here!   There are so many fantastic things going on this month, I'm shaking with excitement!

The Stampin'Up! Holiday Catalogue goes LIVE today so you can finally place an order of your favourite products.  Be sure to check out the NEW HOLIDAY CATALOGUE BUNDLES!  You can save money on nine different coordinating product bundles throughout this catalogue - saving you $$$ (up to 15%). The details are listed on pg. 2 of the Holiday 

  Stampin' Up! Halloween Spooktacular Starter Kit Special!

                 

WoooHoooo - Get it Now!  Purchase the Stampin'Up! $125 Starter Kit and receive everything needed to complete the Howl-O-ween Printer's Tray Project Kit FREE!  This offer is available to everyone who joins my team between now and August 31.

The Howl-O-Ween Printer's Tray Project Kit includes:

• Products needed to create the adorable kit on the left (photo above).  Ink and clear blocks not included.
• You will receive the Stampin' Up! Toxic Treats stamp set (Holiday Catalog) in your choice of wood or clear-mount.   
• Also included is a full pack of Rhinestone Basic Jewels, full Baker's Twine and partial products (enough to create the project) of the ribbon and buttons shown.
• The Howl-O-Ween project kit is only available as part of this promotion!
• 
  

 NEW!!!  SAVE 31% ON DIGITAL FOR 31 DAYS! 

 If you're even the least bit curious about what digital designing is all about - August is the month to give it a try!  Get 31% off 31 digital content options and most of Stampin' Up! print products for all 31 days in August! 

What's on sale? 

ALL cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags.That's right: print any photobook, board book, swatchbook, individual pages, greeting card, postcard, trifold card, or tag-all for 31% off.

Some of our best digital content. 30 downloads and 1 content disc. Yup, that equals 31.

 AND NOW...

MDS2 IS HERE!!!!!

Not sure if you're ready to take on a new pastime?  In August you can do it risk free!  Try our FREE MDS2 30-day Trial and make something cool with our brand-new software.  Then print it for 31% off!

Download the FREE trial through my website HERE

Elephants and Mega Trials

Today's "main event" comes courtesy of a Tic Tack Toe challenge at The Paper Players -

My combination was Birthday-Dry Embossing-Ribbon.

I also used the sketch challenge from the New Catalogue Edition over at Create with Connie and Mary

I'm actually quite pleased with how my elephant card turned out - he's from You're Amazing.  I coloured his body using an aqua painter and ink.  I was also happy to use one of those fantastic brads that match the Summer Smooches paper.  I was disappointed that they were a limited time thing!

Yesterday I also played around with Christmas ideas for my Christmas in August.   I spotted the video tutorial by Dawn Olchefske  (on Stampin' Connection) using the design below.  I decided to try it out with Bells and Boughs.  What you see below is the final product....it's followed by my first attempt using the flourish from  Everything Eleanor  and colouring in the flowers.  I decided that was too busy and time intensive for a card stack.

 I tried a variety of spritzing ideas before settling on the Gold Glow Smooch Spritz.  I tried using Old Olive and More Mustard reinker with water in the new Stampin' Spritzer.  I do love how that new Spritzer works - and especially how you can spritz with any of our colours now!

So - I guess that's why some days it takes so long to get a post finished!!!

Today holds some garage clean up and babysitting Elliot this afternoon.

Here he is yesterday afternoon, playing at our house with his dad's hat on!

Ta ta for now - Hope you have a day full of smiles!

Thanks for dropping by.

Joan

WooHooo - My First Sketch

I'm so excited because today at Sunday Stamps it's sketch day - and today - it's my sketch.  It's a totally new experience for me - what fun, fun, fun.  Please feel free to use whatever shape you want where the ovals are.  I love sketch challenges because, although most of the time I follow sketches to the T, there are times where they end up being a jumping off place for creativity to go in it's own direction.  That's the beauty of it!

I used Rich Razzleberry for under my ovals and I was glad to find a stray piece of polka dot Rich Razzleberry ribbon.....I love the polka dot ribbons!

When you've finished creating, be sure to post it over at Sunday Stamps; I'd love to see what you come up with!  And if you're looking for more inspiration, pop over there to see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with.

We're busy here today - Grant has a meeting at work so we're having a family lunch instead of family dinner.  That works out perfectly because we're going to see Mary Poppins on stage tonight.  Fun, fun, fun.

Hope you have good things planned - or not planned - with friends and family today.

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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

You Are

I am....working outside my comfort zone today!  

The sketch for today is from Freshly Made Sketches,  I'm using buttons and brads from SUO Challenges and the colours are from Splitcoast Stampers this week.  That's where I feel outside my comfort zone - every time I see Real Red requested in a challenge I cringe a little.  I love red - I just don't grab it to combine it with anything other than black, white or navy blue.

The images for this card are from the "I Am..." set which we won at convention if you collected 6 or more "secret words" from the sessions you attended.  I've used this Paper Piercing Mat for the first time...easy peasy!!!!  Love it!

Thought I'd share Elliot with you today.  I missed him the three weeks I was away and was glad to go over to his house for dinner when I got home from convention.  I took a bunch of pictures and a video of the cute way he has of maneuvering himself across the room.  Grandma and Grandpa will need to get a gate soon!

Hope you're having a wonderful day - Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Revamped Typewriter

Not so long ago, May 22, I created the card below....

I was happy with this card - but I've had the need to revamp it.  During our holiday in the Maritimes, we stayed at the Bluenose Lodge for one night in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

What an incredible establishment!  So - I wanted to send a thank you card after we returned home....Andrea had an old typewriter in her foyer on a table where she checked people in for the night. I thought that my "old" card was perfect - I just needed to make it a bit more feminine.  I created a paper flower using the First Edition DSP and I also put rhinestones into the centres of the little brads that I initially used.  I also distressed the edges of the centre piece.  Viola - a vintage card for a wonderfully vintage house.  I would highly recommend this lodge if you are needing a place to stay a night or two in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

One more thing checked off of my to do list - Yay!

This is the second post of the day - so thanks for stopping by!

Finally - I'd like to mention two more sessions I attended at convention -  during "I am Open for Business" Carrie Cudney spoke about how to find new customers and how to make the most of new leads that come our way.  

'I am Reaching Out", presented by Emily Montoya, focused on how to attract the "Generation Y" group of women - which took us right back to the Keynote speaker Jason Dorsey.  Emily gave us lots to think about and I've already incorporated some of her ideas into my business.  So - convention was the perfect mix of fun, information and excitement!

A quote from Emily's session.....

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!

Too true!

JJ

Travelling Adventure

Guess I'm still in a travelling frame of mind....and so are the gals over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Their challenge for today was an inspiration challenge of "Beach/Pacific Coast Highway".  Not sure that I'd want to ride a bike on the highway but I don't have any car or shell images.  I do on MDS - but I'm itching for ink right now. (I did a lot of MDS pages while I was gone!)

The sketch for this card is from The Paper Players, which I've turned on its side.

I've used the faceted buttons for the first time, and I have had this twine in a little drawer for a while and had forgotten about it....

I'm going to spend the first part of this afternoon reading over notes I took at convention and making plans for the rest of the summer and the fall.  Bonnie Turber presented a session at convention titled "I am doing Business My Way" with Rhonda Wade and Tami White giving tips on how they run their businesses.  I have some things I'm going to tweak "My Way" also incorporating some of the ideas I got from Shannon West during her session "I am Having Fun".  I loved how she focused on the 5 senses during her presentation.

I got things put away yesterday but didn't get any stamping done because my daughter asked if I wanted to go to West Edmonton Mall with her.  Since she hadn't really seen me for the past 3 weeks I thought that was the best idea.

Hope you have someone special to spend time with today - thanks for visiting me for a bit.
Joan

I am - Inspired!

Yay - I'm back home and can settle into my usual summer routine for a wee bit.  However, just because I'm settling in, this doesn't mean I'm not going to be planning, and crafting, and posting.

I was so inspired by the Stampin'Up! Convention this last number of days!  I attended a session titled "I am earning the Incentive Trip" put on by Karen Hauley.  She invited three different demonstrators to give tips on how they earned the trip this year - Cynthia Millan, Jill Hilliard, and Meg Holland.

 I am pumped and earning that trip with my daughter!  I was texting her during the trip announcement, and last night we sat and looked at the cruise line website.  We are both pumped.  I know I will be feeding off her energy through this year.

This is just a mini - coffee on the deck post - I'm itching to get stamping...so I'll probably be posting again later today.

I'm cooler sitting here on the deck than I've been for the past 3 weeks - but it's still nice outside.  I'm trusting the rain holds off for my husband and his friends who are shingling our roof.

Hope you are inspired by something or someone today.  Thanks for stopping by!  Joan

Sunday Stamps Saffron Smiles

Welcome to another Sunday Stamps Challenge - and this week it's a Colour Challenge - 

 I was excited about using the Reason to Smile Stamp set.  (Remember when you purchase $60 in product you can get the Reason to Smile set for ONLY $5.00)  I love the two step stamping sets.  I used the large flower on the So Saffron strip.  It may look like there are flowers stamped on the Riding Hood Red strip, but it's actually an embossing folder.

Give this colour challenge a try - there are lots of different directions it can go in.  If you'd like some additional inspiration be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has come up with.  I love seeing how people accent colours differently.   Also, once you've come up with your creation, be sure to link it back to the Sunday Stamps blog.   I enjoy seeing what other people come up with and you just may be selected as a Top Pick.

Today I will be back home from Convention and ready to get on with my summer, and especially getting busy in my craft room.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

I am....having a great time

I am having a fantastic time at convention - the first day was over and it was marvellous.  

Jason Dorsey was a incredibly funny, and inspirational speaker this morning - loved all the information he gave us....and all the laughing that we did.

Brian Pilling presented a great presentation on being a good leader - I loved his use of the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears throughout his presentation!  I'm going home with goals to improve my leadership within my own downline.

It will be totally exciting to go back and work up some projects with inspirational ideas  I got from the I am Savvy session with Donna Griffith, Meg Wheeler, Dawn Griffith and Laura Milligan.  These ladies gave fantastic ideas for using ribbon, fabric and Simply Scrappin' Kits.

Woo Hooo!!!!  I am having a GREAT time!

Joan