A card for the MFT sketch challenge: MFTWSC74

Hello,
Here is my card for this weeks MFTStamps sketch challenge.  You can find the information for this challenge:  HERE.

This week's sketch looks like this:

Here is my card:

I made this card for a dear friend of mine that has been so sweet and supportive over the past 2 years while my husband was ill with brain cancer.  Now I just need to make about 50 more to thank all of the amazing people that have helped our family through my husband's illness and passing.   My son and I are so blessed because we are surrounded by love, prayers, and amazing support.  I also appreciate all of the friendships and cyber hugs and prayers of support that we have received on line.  You are all such wonderful people!  Creating is such a balm to my soul and to hear your sweet comments and support means so much!  So thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Happy Crafting!

:)  Jill

A card for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #68: Pocket Cards

Hi everyone,
Today is my nephew Cole's birthday!  Happy Birthday Cole!  Hope this year is full of blessings and adventures as you graduate from high school and begin to follow your dreams where they lead you.  In honor of Cole's birthday I made a birthday pocket card for the Make it Monday challenge over at Nichole's blog: HERE 

I loved the cards that Heather made but I am always intimidated when it comes to stamping my own backgrounds.  I know, however, that the only way to get good at something is to practice, practice, practice.  So....today I tried to make my own pocket card background for Cole's birthday card.  I did more stamping on this card than, I think, any card I have ever made before....and there are lots of stamping problems with it...but you know what - I am not going to worry about it anymore.  I had a great time making it and I did my best and learned A LOT!!!!  A lot about what to do differently next time LOL!!!!!  I want to do another card so I can correct some of the mistakes I made with this one but I have lots to do today and then we are off to a party in Cole's honor so this card will have to do.

Anyway here are some pictures of Cole's birthday card....it was made with love for one of the most special people in my life - my sweet nephew!  Love you TONS Cole!

Thanks for taking a look at my card making endeavor today. Does anyone else struggle with stamping their own backgrounds ?   Just curious...  As long as I am having fun I am going to keep trying...and I always have fun getting inky!  I just realized I didn't use a single die cut on this card - wow it has been a long time since that has happened too!  Maybe too long!!! Ha Ha!

   I have all week to play so hopefully I will get to try this challenge again before the week is over! 

                                                                      : )   Jill

A card for this weeks Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #99...

Hello all,
Tonight I had some time to sit down and play with the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #99. 

 I decided to make a masculine card for Father's Day which is just around the corner.  It will be Tim and my first Father's Day without our beloved Stuart, Tim's "Papa Stu".  I thought I would be best served by getting my Dad's and Father-in-law's cards done early as doing them closer to the day may be a time when my mojo is sadly lacking. 

Here are some pictures of the card I came up with.  I was inspired by ALL of the wonderful cards by the mischief makers and loved the medallion on Lenet's card.  I hadn't made a medallion in a long time so I decided it would be a nice jump off point for a Father's Day card :


The sentiment stamps are from Waltzing Mouse's "Say it Loud" set.  The heart bling is from prima, and all of the papers are scraps from my stash.  The cardstock is papertrey ink's vintage cream.  The medallion is made with a die from MFT stamps and paper from a CD from Crafty Secrets - although I just received the chicken wire background set from Waltzing Mouse so I can now make my own chicken wire background paper in any color under the rainbow - so excited about that!!!!



 The letters I used are from a Studio Calico kit and are by Basic Grey.  I thought they looked very masculine!

The border is from a Martha Stewart punch around the page set.  I don't remember the name of it though - wish they were on the punches for me!  I used a piece of felt cut from a "sun" die for the center of my medallion and inked it up with some pumice stone distress ink to help it show up a little bit better and give it some dimension. It is topped with a button and twine from my stash. The black ink for the sentiments is archival ink - jet black.

Thanks for taking a look at my card.  I so appreciate reading everyone's comments and going to look at how everyone interprets the sketch.  It makes me realize how unique and special each one of us is in God's eyes when I see how much beauty we can create out of a single sketch idea!
Happy Crafting!
: )  Jill

A card for Papertrey Ink's May 2012 Blog Hop

Hello friends,
I just made the fastest card decisions in my life today for the Papertrey Ink blog hop.  I was so busy working on my crafty project last night for the Waltzing Mouse Hop (which I still haven't finished and have probably missed the deadline on...) that I forgot about the PTI hop today!  I  LOVE the great inspiration photo!   HERE is the blog post it originated from....and here is the photo they chose for this month's inspiration:





I had tons of errands today and went to visit my Mom who has not been feeling well to check on her.  When I got home I logged on to check emails etc. and realized the PTI hop was today.  How can it already be the 25th of May?  Time is flying for me lately! I decided to try and race through a card using the photo for my design.  Here is the card I came up with...

 I did not have the exact ink color I needed to make the very light chartreuse colored hydrangea flower that was in the bowl.  Soooo I improvised by combining two ink colors that I did have and using a blending tool.  Then I overstamped the "In Bloom" largest flower with the darker ink when I was done. 

I also didn't have a harlequin or diamond shaped stamp so I used an embossing folder on the limitless layers circle below the flower and blended some black ink over the top to bring out the diamonds....however most of this effort was covered by the flower....oh well...

I struggled with how to put the sentiment on the card and ended up cutting some flag pieces and splitting the sentiment between the two.  I am still not sure that this card is balanced....that it doesn't need something else?  But due to time constraints I decided to just go with it....and call it GOOD!  I had fun whipping it together and I still have time to finish the laundry before I pick up my little one from school.  Happy hopping  everyone!

: )  Jill

A card for Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #98

Baby daffodils....

Hi,
Just a quick card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #98.  This is my second entry for a Waltzing Mouse challenge and I am enjoying them immensely.  

Here are some pictures of my card:

I used two Waltzing Mouse stamp sets:  Compact Sentiments and Oval Classic Frames.  And some flower and foilage dies from MFT Stamps.

 I love this little foilage stamp with the heart in the middle!  So sweet!

 The bling is from doodlebug design inc.  Cardstock is from Papertrey Ink and patterned papers are scraps from my stash and a 6x6 sheet of yellow flowered paper from Jillibean Soup.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I tried really hard not to use pink and still used it a little bit!  Oops!

Edited to add:  I also uploaded my card to the Thankful Thursdays Challenge #21 at my sweet new friend Rhonda's blog:  HERE .    I hope you will join in too!  Hugs!

:)  Jill

A card for Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 29 - add a door or window...

Hi everyone,
Here with a card for the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge #29.  Add a door or window to your project. You can find all the details on their blog post:  HERE.

I had kind of a hard time deciding what to do for this challenge because I don't have one of Cheery Lynn's awesome window dies or door dies to play with.  Finally I found some Maya Road chipboard and set about painting it with pink and white paint.  Adding lines for siding on the main part of the house and stamping for the roof.  I also added a whimsical touch of some doodling in the windows by making curtains and myself in the window looking out - LOL! 

To me home is where my heart is and where LOVE for my family lives in our little two bedroom cottage here in Seattle.  I used a wonderful stamp set from Papertrey Ink called "Love Lives Here" to add my sentiment.  I also used a tiny tag cut in half to make a welcome mat just outside of the front door.  The door is made with a piece of silver cardstock and some more doodling.

The chimney is made with a chipboard heart and a bow made from twine.  I made some bushes and trees using Cheery Lynn Designs dies.  The "trees" are die B147 Olive Branches; and the flower bushes are from the mini rose die.  I folded the flower pieces in half to make a bush shape and then added a flower bling to each one. 

Here you can see a closer view of the lines I made with my paper piercer to make the house chipboard look like it has siding on it.  Along with my hilarious doodling....did I mention I can't draw worth beans?

A few clouds and a banner over the roof with the sentiment.  You can also see the Tiffany border die B137 cut out of pink cardstock running behind the house. 

Here is a close up of the pink "flower bushes" and the "trees".  You can also see a "white picket fence" made with the Queen Anne's Lace Border Die B160.

Well that is it for me today.  Thanks for taking a look at my card.  I just realized that it has both a door and 4 windows so I think I met the challenge requirements.   You may be wondering why I didn't use one of Cheery Lynn's fabulous doily dies on this project....hmmmm I just wasn't thinking.  I had the doily laying out on my desk from the previous card and slipped it under the house and liked the way it looked and then forgot that I was making this card specifically for a Cheery Lynn entry! 

How quickly I forget what I am doing these days!  LOL!  

Happy Crafting my friends!

:)  Jill

Make it Monday #67 - Card #2

Hello,
Still playing with the Make it Monday challenge #67 over at Nichole Heady's blog for Papertrey Ink.  You can find the challenge: HERE.

Here is my second card using purple scraps from my scrap basket (which has way to many scraps in it by the way so I am glad this is whittling it down a bit! LOL!)

I used the new notched flower dies for my flower and another felt heart border on this card.  I used banner dies from MFTstamps.com to create the patterned paper banners for the background on this one.  This was a very quick card for me which I just love!!!!

A close-up of the flower.  Added some glue and some Martha Stewart glitter to punch it up a bit.  Along with some twine and a vintage button from my stash.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I am enjoying this challenge and building up some birthday cards that I need for June and July!

:)  Jill

A card for Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #67: Step-it-Up: Mixing Patterned Papers

Hello Crafty friends,
I found some time to play with Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday #67: "Step it up mixing pattern papers" challenge over at Nichole's blog: Capture the Moment:  HERE

Here is a picture of my card:

I used scraps from my stash.  Some of the papers are scraps from one of my all time favorite designers Margie Romney Aslett of "The Girl's Paperie" line from a couple years ago.  She is now designing over at Bazzill Basics Papers and has some great new papers out that I just received and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!  I also used my favorite new twine in a blue sky and brown combination and some delicious pink felt for my heart border.  The lovely brown and blue twine is from "Trendy Twine" and also comes in pink and brown too.  I just love the colors of twine that Trendy Twine produces!!  You can purchase it at Annie's Paper Boutique at Big Cartel:  HERE

The sentiment stamp is one of my favorite's from a set called "Signature Series Dress Form" in the Raspberry Suite line by Dawn McVey for Papertrey Ink.  It is a wonderful little $5.00 stamp set with 4 awesome sentiments and a dress form in it!  The dress form also has a matching die.  Adorable!

I hope you take time to join in the Make it Monday challenge over at Papertrey Ink this week.  And the upcoming blog hop on the 25th too!  I would love to hear what you think of my card and of patterned paper combining.  I always struggle a little bit with combining patterns.  It takes me a while.  This card was no exception though it helped that I had lots of scraps in the pink/blue/green color families. Thank Goodness!!!  I may even try to make another card using scraps but with the colors for the blog hop coming up...we will see how my week goes. 

: )  Jill

Make It Monday #66: Felt Flowers From Border Dies

Hello,
Here today with a card for the Make it Monday challenge over at Papertrey Ink.  The challenge asks us to make Felt Flowers from border dies.  I chose to use the edgers #2 card border dies to make my flowers after experimenting a little bit.  I ended up making two sets of 3 flowers each - enough to make one more card this weekend if I can find some more time. 

Here are some pictures of the card I ended up making:

Thanks for takig a look at my card.  I had fun trying this technique out and I liked the detailed edge on my flowers that I was able to get with the dies I used.  I hope you have time to join in this challenge too!  Happy Crafting!

:)  Jill

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #97–May 2012

Hello Everyone,
Today I have a card I made for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #97.  You can find the challenge information: HERE . 

I used the set called:  Afternoon Tea Sentiments.  You can purchase it on their website:  HERE
I absolutely ADORE beautiful antique teacups and saucers so I of course wanted to use this set!

I also want to give a shout out of inspriation to Kelly S.  I had seen a card by Kelly S - Gingham Girl that inspired me to want to ink up my teacup stamp and stamp on patterned paper!  You can see the post on her blog that inspired me:  HERE 

I love that Kelly's blog title is "Gingham Girl" because gingham ribbon and patterns and fabric is one of my favorite things!!!  I love watching for her new posts!  So fun to see what she creates!!!

Here are some pictures of the card I created this morning:

The flowers and leaves are from Prima.  The patterned papers are My Mind's Eye and The Girl's Paperie - two of my favorite companies ever!!!  Have you seen the new lines Margie is desiging at Bazzill?  Gorgeous!!!!!  So happy to be able to get her designs again!!!  Yeah! 

I added some Stickels diamond to the roses to make them shimmer. 

I used more prima flowers and cut some baby leaves for the sentiment strip and popped it up and scored the sides to make it stand out from the card base.  I also tipped it at an angle to add some interest to the card and because I just didn't think it looked good covering up too much of my gorgeous Martha Stewart punched border on the pink paptterned paper. 

Love all the dimension...I like to use cards like this for gift giving and have some gorgeous pink and kraft bags that I used as envelopes...then I just add some of my favorite packaged tea bags and some little cookies and the person is all set for a hot cup of tea to warm themselves up and make them smile!

One more shot of the whole card taken on my back porch to catch the light....

I would like to dedicate this card to Claire Brennan ( owner and creator of Watlzing Mouse Stamps) and her entire family.  Claire's Mom just passed away and I know how hard it is to lose the one's we love.  I send my heartfelt sympathy to her and her family.  We never stop missing the one's we love so I will be keeping them in my prayers and I hope you will too.  The Waltzing Mouse Stamp company is such a huge part of my enjoyment of this card-making craft and I am honored to use Claire's truly beautiful products to bring a little love and smile into other people's lives.  God Bless you and your family Claire and your angel Mother!!!

xoHUGSxo
Jill 

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 28 - Bling it Up!

Hi Everyone,
I am here with a card for the "Bling it up" challenge #28 over at the Cheery Lynn Designs blog:  HERE

I made a birthday card for a cousin and decided to even add bling to the ice cream!  I used three Cheery Lynn Designs Dies:  DL103 Italian Flourish; B136 Anastasia Border and DL129 Border Carnivale.

Here are some pictures:

You can see the Italian Flourish doily peaking out from behind the store bought one as a border. 

Here is a close-up of the two border dies....and a bow to add a finishing touch!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day weekend.  It was Tim's and my first Mother's Day without Papa Stu and it was very hard.  The day after Mother's Day also marked 3 month's since Stuart went up to heaven after his long battle with brain cancer.  Stuart's cancer truly taught me to treasure the people I love each day, each moment, for we never know what God's plan is or when we might not be able to say or more importantly show them that we love them by our actions and words and deeds.  This life truly is a blessing each and every day....I am learning now to see it that way without my husband being a part of each moment.  It is hard but there are still daily gifts and love surrounding both of us.  Here are some of the Mother's Day cards I made for the special women in my life:

I hope you join in the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge and also take a look at their new dies that were just released.  Happy Crafting my friends!

: )   Jill

Teacher Appreciation Day 2012

Here are a few cards that I have been working on for Teacher Appreciation Week at my son's school.  It is a week long celebration of the teacher's and staff that make our school such a wonderful place to learn and grow.  Here are my cards:

Thanks for taking a look at my cards.  I used stamps from MFTstamps.com; and Red Lead as well as Papertrey Ink.  I used dies from Cheery Lynn Designs and Papertrey Ink.  The cardstock is from Papertrey Ink and the patterened paper is from Michael's - Recollections collection.

: )  Jill