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

Time's running out!

I'm just popping in to remind you that there are only 16 days left to take advantage of our August MY DIGITAL 2 promotion.

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 of August!

All cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags....print any photobook, board book, swatch book, individual pages, greeting cards, postcards, trifold cars, or tags - all for 31 % off

I'm getting ready to make an order myself because I just finished working on a book about our two weeks in Halifax.  Contact me for more information on how you can save your memories, and more!

Gone to the Mountains....

I'm going to be in Banff until Thursday so I won't be posting any paper crafting.  I was going to take paper with me....but decided I needed to focus on the MDS stuff that I'm working on.  I don't have to go to meetings like my husband does, so I'll be enjoying the mountain air and crafting digitally.  I may post some creations....we'll see. Catch ya later.....Joan

Embossing & Dancing

No - I wasn't dancing while embossing today.  In fact, I was pretty close, on a number of occasions today, to just stop what I was doing and walk away.  I'd be nearly finished something and then there would be a smudge or smear.  I'm shutting the craft room down for the night after this post.

So, here is my first majorly embossed creation using the Dynamic Duos colours - Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink.   I had a couple of the dry embossed pieces left over from a class. I embossed the Pleasant Poppies on velum with black embossing powder and then coloured in the flowers and stems.

Next is the page for 31 Pages in 31 Days.  I did not keep to Lyssa's colour example today - and I added a circle and flipped the "sketch".  I've had these dance pictures cut and tucked away on my craft table since LAST summer!  When I saw the circles on Lyssa's example today, I decided that it was high time I got something done with them.  I still fought with it, but I think I won in the end.....up until I smudged some of the silver Dazzling Details....and then rectified the situation.

I had fun babysitting Elliot last night.  He spent a good half hour gnawing on his toys.  I just sat and took pictures....poor little guy.  I love the intent look on his face in some of them....here are just a couple to share.

And I'm off - I won't be posting a card tomorrow for Sunday Stamps as our fearless leader is in the midst of moving....but we will be back.  I will most likely post a scrapbook page tomorrow....then I'm headed to Banff for a couple of days.

Hope you've had a day free of smudges and smears!!!

Thanks for visiting.

Joan

Mashup! Forever and Always

Oh how I love black and white cards!  And that's what today's Friday Mashup! involves - including the Bling!

1. Make a project using " Black N' White Only ."
2. Or Make a project with " Some Bling ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Black N' White Project with some Bling! "

I've used Everything Eleanor and fussy cut the "mat" and the flowers; so everything is popped up with dimensionals.  The rhinestones are in the centres of the flowers.

This is today's "31 Pages in 31 Days" sketch by Lyssa Zwolanek.  I knew when I saw the little squares that I should use some of my old photos - of me - when photographs were square and matted and black and white.  I thought of cutting off the white edges of the photos, but because they have their rough edges, I thought they sort of added something.

These two people, my paternal grandparents, meant the absolute world to me.  They raised me in more ways than my parents did.  

Lyssa's example is done in Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red and Daffodil Delight.  I changed out the Daffodil for Basic Grey and the Riding Hood Red for Cherry Cobbler.  I added a little Basic Grey ribbon, and bit of punched lace and some butterflies.  I will scribe something for the circle section but I want it to be perfect.

It has been a wonderfully perfect day so far....two challenges done and my beautiful daughter, Allison, came down to ask if I'd eaten breakfast and would I like her to make some blueberry pancakes for us.  Duh!

Now I'm off to do some shopping - 

Hope your day turns out perfectly!  Thanks for dropping by to visit.

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

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! 

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