Saturday, May 2, 2015

Out of Hibernation with a Mashup!



Well, I think I have come out of hibernation!  And I'm gearing up to stamp again - although I need to be careful that I don't overwhelm myself with doing too much too fast!
But - I'm planning cards for a workshop this month, and decided to see what some of my challenge blogs had for me to do - Friday Mashup - of course - didn't fail me.  I love this challenge blog!

Their challenge is below….
This week's Mashup! Challenge:
  • Create a project using "the sketch".
  • Create a project using "your favorite Retired/Retiring/Forgotten Stamp". 
  • or Mash it Up! and create a project using your Favorite Retired Stamp set and the Sketch". 

Hope your day has been going well.
It's that happy changing time of the year!  
Joan

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Easy Access…..

I'm going to be keeping this post at the top for a while…..it will give you easy access to two previous postings so you don't have to go hunting for them.

Information about Sale-A-Bration - Whether you want to Shop, Host, or Join the information is available HERE.

To view any of the 14 video tutorials Stampin'Up! has created featuring products from the new Occasions Catalogue or products you can earn for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration brochure - link HERE.  Be patient, it takes a few seconds for them to all load in the post.  Happy Viewing!

Monday, January 12, 2015

It's Your Day

It has been AGES since I've done a Sunday Stamps Challenge!!!! This week they had a sketch to do. I tell ya, I'm loving these HUGE sentiment stamps that are in the new Occasions 2015 catalogue! Makes it super easy to put together a quick, clean and easy card- with the help of the new washi tape too, of course.

Hope you have a fabulous day,
Thanks for stopping by,
Joan

Grandson's Birthday Card

I got some stamping done yesterday afternoon before the family came over for dinner.  It was my Grandson's 3rd birthday this past week, his party was on Saturday and we had family dinner last night. 

I used the Lego pieces out the the "Boys will be Boys" set.  I made two little masks so that I could create a pile of blocks and then I stamped and cut out some individual blocks so I could do more scattering, and layering.  

Fun, fun, fun.
Hope your day is great - Thanks for visiting
Joan

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Video Tutorials from Stampin'Up!

Stampin'Up! has created fourteen new video tutorials highlighting products and techniques from the new Sale-A-Bration Brochure and Occasions Catalog. Woowzers!  If you see any products that you just have to have, let me know or you can order through my on-line store.
Happy Viewing…..

The video headers with the pink backgrounds feature products which are available in the Occasions catalogue and the yellow backgrounds feature products from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure.  Do you want to know more about Sale-A-Bration…..see this post.




Sale-A-Bration - Wooo Hoooo!

It's Here…..it's here…...
Sale-A-Bration, one of Stampin' Up!'s biggest sales events of the year runs Jan. 6 - March 31, 2015!  Check out these three ways you can earn free products!

 
FREE PRODUCT!  For every $60 in product you spend (before shipping and tax), get a Sale-A-Bration gift FREE.  Click "See Them Now" to download the Sale-A-Bration brochure( through my website HERE)
to see the FREE gift choices.
 
Book a workshop with me to stamp with your friends and family or  you could EARN BONUS HOST DOLLARS ON-LINE! Stock up for yourself or combine your order with a friend(s) to place an on-line order of $200 or more (before shipping and tax) and earn a $25 host dollar bonus.  Bonus Host Dollars are available with on-line orders, too--not just parties! This bonus is in addition to earning a FREE gift for every $60 you spend (before shipping and tax) during Sale-A-Bration. 
Shop at my on-line store
 
A HOBBY STAMPER'S DREAM!  During Sale-A-Bration, sweeten the $125 Starter Kit Deal (a kit filled with $155 of your choice of products) when you choose between two FREE product BONUS options.  
             
 

 
Option #1 or Option #2.  Which one is right for YOU?  Choose one of the limited time Sale-a-Bration product offers when you join between January 6 - March 31, 2015
  • Option 1)  Receive a FREE Simply Created Project Kit from the occasions catalog.Option 2)  Receive two FREE Sale-a-Bration items of your choice. 
  • The $125 Starter Kit can be ordered through me HERE
  • For a limited time!  The Starter Kit Special runs from January 6 - March 31, 2015.
  • You decide!  Choose up to $155 in Stampin' Up! products for your kit (including 15% off bundles).  
  • Free Shipping!  The kit ships FREE for another 10% savings.
  • Stock up!  Once you join, you receive a one-time 30% off discount on a product order of $200 or more placed within 45 days.
  • 20% discount!  Enjoy a minimum of a 20% demonstrator discount every day.  
  • No risk!  You'll have through June 30, 2015 to "test drive" demonstrator discounts and benefits.  
  • No penalty!  If you reach $400 in sales by the end of the first FULL quarter, you will renew and remain active for another quarter. If you don't reach $400 in sales, you can "drop" with no penalty.
  • No catch!  There's no obligation to hold workshops or parties, sell products to others or personally purchase anything beyond the kit.  
Contact me for further information, or if I can help you in any way.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

World's Greatest Grandpa


It's been a very lazy day - getting energy stored for the first day back at school I suppose.
  After Family Dinner tonight, I decided to do the Freshly Made Sketch challenge for this week.   I pulled out the new stamp set from the Occasions catalogue - which begins on the 6th - "Guy Greetings"  -  love the array of hats!
It's a pretty clean, simple and monochromatic card - but it's also been a very lazy day.  So that's all I've got for today.

Hope your Christmas Break has been good and restful for beginning the new year.
Thanks for dropping by,
Joan

Friday, January 2, 2015

Snow, Brrrrrr, Snow



I got to the Friday Mashup today - and this time I'm linking it to their challenge blog - because I haven't missed the deadline!  Their mashup this time round is a winter themed card with snowflakes.

Before Christmas I was unable to get these particular snowflakes to stamp properly.  At the Diva Breakfast I went to at the beginning of December I was given the tip to stamp the photopolymer images on the paper piercing pad - to add a little give.  Sure enough, it worked.

I added a few extra "r's" to Brr.  I just figured since we're heading into the coldest part of the year it made sense.

Hope your keeping warm in your little corner of the world.
Thanks for dropping by,
Joan

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year

It has been a very very long time since I've posted - and I'm sorry.  Yesterday I created this card - the first "random" non-Christmas card in months and I did it according to the Friday Mashup Challenge - which was to use the sketch, keep it simple, and add some grunge in the background.  
I did all of that, and then forgot about posting it here, or to their challenge website.  duh!
Time to get back in the swing of things!

Stampin'Up! has some wonderful stamp sets coming up in the new Occasions catalogue - and don't forget, Sale-a-bration will be starting soon too!  January 6 - March 31.

Stay posted!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
Thanks for dropping by.
Joan

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Past Paper Pumpkins

I spent some time today putting together a couple of the Paper Pumpkins that are stacked on my desk.  I haven't added many embellishments from outside the pumpkin kit.


With Christmas just around the corner, it's a great time to take advantage of the prepaid subscriptions that can be bought as gifts. It's a fantastic gift idea for crafters on your list - and the nice thing is that it's not all just about cards - some kits contain home decor items too. Subscriptions are available for 1,3,6,or 12 months. Contact me for more information.

Have a good one!
Joan

Monday, October 13, 2014

Merry, Merry, Merry

I now have only one Christmas card left to design for the upcoming Christmas Stack…

Date - October 24, 2014
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Place  - Joan's House
Cost $30.00

If you live in my area and would like to attend you can register through the following link



Saturday, September 27, 2014

Fall Conference

I attended the Fall Conference in Edmonton last night and am heading back again today.  It was good to see friends and I enjoyed the structure of the make and takes!  We rotated around to stations making bits and pieces for the projects we put together at the very last table.  We didn't know what things were going to look like until the end.  

We used the new Gift Box Punch Board - I wasn't going to get it…..but I just may have to now!

Well - we didn't created pieces at every station - this is the picture I created with a blind fold on according to the verbal instructions that were given to us.  In a nutshell….
*Draw Niagara Falls on a sunny day
*Draw a maple tree to the left of the falls
*Draw three maple leaves on the tree.
*Draw yourself to the right of the falls - put a bag in your right hand, put some money in your left hand.  Write the word FREE under the bag.
*Draw three of your friends up in the sky
*Ink up the stamp on the table and stamp it on the paper and write your name beside it.
Totally fun!

Have a great day!
Joan


Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Designing for Christmas

This past weekend I was working on designs for my October Christmas Stack.  So - of course I went to Merry Monday to see what they had for a challenge this week.  It was a bingo - so I picked…Red, Ribbon and Embossing.  I think for my Chrtistmas stack I will forgo the ribbon - I like it - but want to keep it as simple as possible for my stampers.

I do love this new Christmas set - It's not really evident, but the branch and cones are done in gold embossing.

I love, love, love the new washi tape in the Holiday Catalogue!  I'm going to have to buy more though if I'm planning on using it at the stack!  I'm going to be using this set at more than one stack this season I'm sure!

Hope your fall is off to a great start and that you can enjoy it before gearing up for the holidays!

Thanks for stopping by,
Joan



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Hello Tags

Here is another card that we'll be working on this Friday at the All Occasion Stack.  I used the sketch from Sunday Stamps, knowing I wanted to use the new tag punch.  I ran into the problem of not having very many greetings that fit into it…..I'll have to fix that.  So, because of the set I chose to use, I ended up flipping the sketch.


Things are starting to slow down and speed up at the same time - gotta love life! 
Hope your day is going well!
Joan

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Grungy Thank You


Another quick post today - another PD day at school - and we're going to be taking Elliot for a little bit this evening.  This grungy creation is…..you guessed it…..going to be included in the All Occasion Stack.  I will have details up very soon for registering.

And - in honour of that, I'll share a couple of pics from a week ago when he and his auntie were running through the sprinkler…..they had a great time - but it wasn't that hot out!





They had a blast - thanks for visiting today.
Joan


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Sprinkler Fun!

Wow - it's been a busy day!  I had to be at school today and spent a lot of time cleaning up a room that I will be using as an art room this year.  Then, when I came home we had to tear apart our master bedroom in preparation for hardwood flooring - all the other spaces were ready - we were waiting on the bedroom until the last minute.  So I've done some heavy labour today - and now I've relaxed with a bit of arting and an MDS Monday page.  Feels weird not being on the DT anymore - but I'm thrilled to see that Yapha has joined the team.  I ALWAYS enjoyed her challenge entries!

So - for My entry this week - I've used photos we took a couple weeks ago (I now realize I need to go back and add the date).  My husband had put the sprinkler on because the grass needed it - and I coaxed my daughter to play with Elliot in the sprinkler.  Oh, they had a good time.

Holly has us using overlays this week - and I love, love, love overlays!  I used the Epic Overlay letters and for the bit in the background….Natural Composition Overlays - both of which are favourites of mine.

Here is the sketch…..

I hope you've had a fabulous day!
Thanks for stopping by to visit.
Joan

World Map Birthday

I'm going to be at school all day today - Professional Development and setting things up - so I'm not sure if I'll be getting a challenge done today or not.  So I'm leaving you with a card I created earlier this week - and it's also going to be included in the All Occasion Stack on September 19th.

Have a totally fantastic day!
Thanks for visiting!
Joan

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Clean and Simple


I just love creating backgrounds with out small flower stamps.  Over the years (and it's coming up 9 for me) there has always been at least one little flower in the catalogue that I like doing this with.  I've created this Clean and Simple card specifically for the SUO Challenges today - but I had an ulterior motive too - I'm going to be using this design for one of the cards in my All Occasion Stack on September 19 - Keep the date in mind - more details about registering will be coming soon.

Thanks for stopping by - Have a great day!
Joan

Monday, August 25, 2014

Christmas Wreath

This week over at Merry Monday they are looking for wreaths on your creations.  I don't have a wreath stamp anymore - so I ended up creating one with the "Daydream Medallions" set.  This is one set that I have not used enough!  Sort of gets forgotten!
I just may be using this, or a variation of it for one of my Christmas stack cards in October.

It's a busy busy week - our railings are being put in today (slowly but surely), the flooring gets done - and we head back to school - to get ready for the kids next Tuesday.  And quick - just like that - the gears are changed!

Hope your day is going well!
Thanks for dropping by.
Joan


Sunday, August 24, 2014

You did It!

This afternoon I created a card using the Paper Players sketch and Sunday Stamps colours.  I found the colour challenge a bit had - but I'm relatively happy with the end result.
The Old Olive sheet was embossed with the Large Polka Dot embossing folder before I stamped it with the Gorgeous Grundge splatter.  Gave it a bit of an unusual effect.  I punched the large circle out of the centre of the piece and lined it with a piece of Sweet Taffy DSP.
I was very pleased with how well the new Satin ribbon took the Stazon ink.

Hope you're having a wonderful day.  I think I may head to school tomorrow to see what's up - and when I come home we'll have new stair railings!  Most of the major removal work has been finished - now we're heading into a week of new decor.  Should be fun!

Thanks for stopping by!
Joan



Saturday, August 23, 2014

Bokeh Mashup!

Yay - I learned a new technique!  This week's Friday Mashup was to use a die cut of some sort and the Bokeh Technique.  It was supper easy and I've even created a background in one of my arting journals - all ready for a mandala.

I created two cards for this challenge only because when I finished the first one I realized I'd forgotten to use a die cut - and I always try to do both of the mashups!  It was just as well, anyway, because I didn't let my greeting dry and ended up creating some "shadows" when I was adding the circles.  That's why my greeting is on a label rather than the technique piece.  I like how both cards turned out, and will be using  bokeh for one of my techniques this fall.


In the process of creating the cards, I ended up creating my own circle stencil using the circle thinlit dies….



The "base" of the bokeh technique is a watercolour background.  Cut a piece of watercolour slightly bigger than you want for your card, coat it completely with water and, using an aqua painter and re-inkers, drop your desired colours onto the watered paper.  Gently brush the colours around until you get the effect you want, and let it dry.




Here is the background I created in my art journal - you can see the different layers of circles a bit better - and the smallest, darkest circles are just the sponge dauber - daubed!


I hope this all makes sense - the video that Friday Mashup has provided - and I linked to above - is very helpful.

Have fun! - That's the important thing!
Joan




Thursday, August 21, 2014

Kick up you Heals

I joined two challenges today and used the new Hearts and Stars decorative mask!  I love the scattered effect it has.  I sponged Calypso Coral on the left side and gradually worked to Crisp Cantaloupe.  The boot is coloured with Lost Lagoon ink and a blender pen - that way I was able to get a lighter shade on the bottom of the boot.  
The colour selection is from the Colour Me! challenge and the Paper Players are looking for children's Birthday cards this week.

Be sure to read to information about the SHORT & SWEET deal Stampin'Up! is offering right now.
see THIS post.

Have a fantastic day!
Joan



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Hey!

I love the simple little "hello" greetings from the new "Hi There" stamp set.  Quick, short, sweet little words for cards that could be used for anything.  I've used the Freshly Made Sketches sketch today.  I often have trouble keeping my cards  clean and simple - so it's a good challenge to participate in - even though this is a bit geometrically busy!  LOL.

Here's their sketch - lots of opportunity for wonderful interpretation!


Hope your day is going well.  We're starting to paint the ceilings - the home renos have begun!  Hope we're able to get settled back in before school starts!

Have a good one!
Joan