A card for the Papertrey Ink June 2012 Blog Hop....

Hello,
Today I needed a card for my cousin's birthday so I decided to use the Papertrey Blog Hop inspiration for my card.  You can find the blog hop info: HERE

Here is the inspiration photo:

(photo credit on Nichole's blog linked above)

I was inspired by the yellow and aqua and green colors (though I don't have new leaf ink yet) and by the ruffles. 

Here are some pictures of my card: 

 It is a dark and rainy afternoon here in Seattle so I had a hard time getting the color right on my photos even though I took them with the daylight I had available and attempted to adjust them in my photo software.

The card base is lemon tart, the stamped patterned paper I made is on aqua mist cardstock with the following inks:   simply chartreuse ink (PTI); Yellow citrus (colorbox) and Soft Pool (Hero Arts). 
This is the first time I have made an entire sheet of patterned paper by hand.  I really like the way it turned out and I still have a lot of the sheet leftover to make more cards with.  I made a long card 7.5in long x 4 in wide just to try a different size card for fun.  I was so excited that my new stamps arrived in the mail today in time for me to use them for the blog hop.  The stamps I used are "Lovely Layers" and "Love Lives Here" for the background paper.  The sentiment is from "Think Big Favorites #16".  I was trying to keep the card fairly simple.  And once the patterned paper was made it didn't take long to finish my card.  I am still not sure about the bling I added - I wish I had thought to dot the "i" in "wishes" with one of the bling.  I tried to switch it but it would have left a mark on the cardstock so I left it as is....oh well....next time.

Happy Hopping everyone!
: )   Jill

A card for the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #102

I needed a baby card for a friend who is going to have a little girl so I used the sketch for this weeks Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge to make my card.  You can find the info on the Waltzing Mouse sketch challenge site:  HERE

Here are a few more pictures of my card:

Thanks for taking a look.  I hope you join in the Waltzing Mouse Sketch challenge too!  It is so fun to see what everyone comes up with using the same sketch!  Happy crafting!

                                                                  : )  Jill

A project for the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #32 - Roses

Hello Sweet Friends,
My post today is of a personal nature.  As some of you may know my life was touched by cancer over the past few years when my husband was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumor.  June 15th was the 4 month anniversary of his death and today is our first Father's Day without him.  Each one of us has a journey in life that cancer touches.  Some of us have very personal stories like I do, but these days, unfortunately, everyone knows someone that is fighting, or has fought, the cancer battle.  

I find myself often reflecting on the events in my life and in the lives of my friends that are battling this disease. HOPE is such a huge part of this fight.  And it is HOPE that inspired my project today.  I plan on giving this to someone special in my life who is fighting the cancer battle right now...she has breast cancer and our sons are the same age and have known each other since preschool.  I am hoping and praying for full healing for her and for everyone that is fighting cancer! 

Here is a picture of my project -  (you can click on the picture to see a larger view):

I have been wanting to use the French Flair Scalloped dies with felt and fabric since I received them.  And I really wanted to do something special for the Cheery Lynn Roses challenge in particular as roses are my favorite flower.  This is the project that came into my head after seeing a Unity Stamp video on You Tube which involved stamping on fabric.  I made a little door hanging pillow full of HOPE! 

The dies I used are all from Cheery Lynn Designs.  You can find their website:HERE

I used dies:

XL-13 French Flair Scalloped

B-155 Large Rose

B-152 Mini Rose

I need to order the medium rose too - these dies are wonderful and cut felt like butter!

The stamp set I used is called Faith and Hope and you can purchase it at Papertrey Ink.

I did all of the sewing by hand on this pillow using my favorite "Twendy Twine" color of Strawberry Cupcake.  You can purchase this twine: HERE

Here are a few more close up shots and a view of the back of the pillow:

The creamy white felt is from Benize Bazaar:  HERE.  The felt used to make the roses is from Papertrey Ink.

A close up shot of the lovely felt roses created with the rose dies from Cheery Lynn.  The large flower was made with 3 layers of the large rose die and 3 layers of the small.  The small flowers are 3 layers of the small only.  The crystal topped brads are from Making Memories. 

The ombre pink ribbon is from May Arts and is 7/8".  The buttons are from my stash...and may be vintage?

The reverse side of the pillow has the bible quote sentiment of "I am the Lord who heals you" from the book of Exodus.  This is also from the Faith and Hope stamp set. 

I made a little guardian angel for the embellishment on the reverse side of the pillow.  I kept this side fairly non-dimensional so that it would hang flat against the door still.  The little pink wings are from "Frost it Pink".  The felt angel body is actually the leaf portion of the mini rose die and the button is from my stash. 

Thanks for taking a look at my project.  I think I will make more of these in the future but next time I will stamp and sew on the smaller panels before sewing and stuffing the pillow itself.  I learned a lot of "what not to do" while making this one...LOL!  I hope you join in the Cheery Lynn Roses challenge too - you can find the info:  HERE

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dad's, Uncle's, and Grandfather's out there!   Especially our service men and women who may be far from loved one's today. 

: )   Jill 

annettes paper bistro: Craftroom Blues

annettes paper bistro: Craftroom Blues

A little summer card...

Just a quick fairly simple card for the end of the school year to wish the teacher a Happy Summer.  I need to make a few more of these before school gets out at the end of next week.  I used a sketch from a couple weeks back from the Retro Sketches blog but now cannot find the link...anyway here is my card:

I think it should say:  "I'm walkin' on sunshine!

The orange paper is from my new-to-me Crafty Secrets CD #3 - Creating with vintage typography.  It is chalk full of total lovliness and I hope to spend some more crafting time exploring all its possibilities very soon!

Thanks for taking a look at my little card!

: )    Jill

Stamps:  Flipping Out - Papertrey Ink

Paper:  Cardstock: Papertrey Ink; Orange Sun ray paper:  Crafty Secrets CD #3; Yellow: scrap from my stash - My Mind's Eye maybe?

A card for Make it Monday #70 - Puffed Accents

Just a quick post with a card for this week's Make it Monday challenge over at Nichole Heady's blog - Capture the Moment:  HERE

Unfortunately it is a cloudy and rainy afternoon here in Seattle and even though I went outside to take these pictures I still didn't have enough light to show all the details of this card or the correct colors.  The center purple pearl paper is impressed with the In bloom impression plate.  I attempted the white pencil coloring but did not have the best colored pencil so I need to invest in a better one from a good art store.  I tried to get a shot of the dimension of the butterfly.  Hope you can see it. 

Stamps used:  Peaceful Garden - sentiment

Lace Bouquet - background flowers

Thanks for taking a look at my card!

I will definitely be doing this type of card again.  It was a lot of fun to use fabric in this way and create such pretty dimension.

: ) Jill

Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #100 - Sending Hugs!

Hello,
It is Friday night and I finally got a card made for the 100th Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge.  It is my second time participating and I had fun picking out which stamps to use for my card.
You can find the challenge info:  HERE

And here is the sketch:

I loved all of the inspiration cards from the Mischief Makers.  I loved Lenet Mos's card and used a similar color scheme.  Here is my card:

Below is a close up of the sentiment panel.  I had fun using the various stamps to create the sentiment background.

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I had fun getting inky tonight and might have another card to post tomorrow if I find some time to spend in my craft room.  Happy Crafting!
                                                                         : )   Jill
 Supplies:
Stamps:  Waltzing Mouse
Inks:  Jenni Bowlin - brown, Quick Quotes - powder puff  tahiti
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink;
Paper:  iraliamija - Etsy - digital rose paper; digital gingham background; pink text - my stash - Making Memories possibly?
Dies:  Cheery Lynn Designs, MFT Stamps;
Other:  Decorative corner punch:  Fiskars; bling - Kaiser; Twine: Trendy Twine; Felt: Benzie Felt - see sidebar to etsy shop link.  pompom trim:  stash.  ribbon: ETSY - not sure what store?

A card for Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #31

Edited on 6-8-2012:  Added updated photos taken with natural light.

Hello all,
Here tonight with a card for the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #31 - Make it Manly.  You can find the information about the challenge:  HERE.

Here is a picture of my manly card and the Cheery Lynn Designs dies that I used to make it:

This photo taken on 6-8-12 - natural daylight.

I don't have a lot of masculine stamps so I used a wreath and went with masculine colors of kraft, ripe avocado, dark chocolate, fine linen, and rustic cream.  The card has an old time vintagey feel to it in person...but I don't know that the photo translates it well.  All of the cardstock is from Papertrey Ink.  The only non-cheery lynn die is the banner at the top of the card which is from

Taylored Expressions.   

Below are the Cheery Lynn dies that I used for the square diecuts and border on my masculine card.  Not pictured is the old parchmant embossing plate which I used on the two square mats to give them texture. NOTE:  I will try to get some "daylight" pictures tomorrow - these were taken with lighting in my basement so they do not show details like I would want.

These Cheery Lynn dies were used to create the flower and greenery around it:

 

 A close-up of the flower and other details - photos taken on 6-8-12 with natural daylight:

The flower itself is made from some cardboard paper protectors that are used to ship the cardstock I purchase from Papertrey Ink.  I try to re-use my packaging from all my products as much as possible to be GREEN!

The stamps are from two different companies:  The Square border is from Our Daily Bread Designs.
The wreath and both sentiments are from Papertrey Ink.  Inks: Jenni Bowlin and Distress. The heart chipboard is from Michael's.  The button is Papertrey Ink and the ribbon is from my stash and very old!

That is it for me tonight.  I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the card and the pictures need to be retaken during daylight so I may update this post tomorrow morning.  (If I have time! )  (NOTE: Post updated on 6-8-2012 at 2:34pm.)  I hope you find some time to play along with the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge.  It is a lot of fun! 

                                                Happy Crafting Everybody!
                                                          : ) Jill

A card for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge MFTWSC75

Hello everyone,

I have a card to share today for the weekly sketch challenge over at My Favorite Things. Here is the sketch:

Here is a picture of the card I made:

This was a fun sketch.  I like the circle element with the squares.  I had some trouble with my paper piecing and coloring but I know I will improve with practice - especially if I keep doing the sketch challenges.  You may know that I am new to paper piecing and Copic markers so I am just learning - if you have any tips on good videos or tutorials to watch let me know in the comments.  Hopefully someday I can take a class!  I tried to make the background of the stamped image look like the uneven surface of a cement wall to help balance the bright colors in the image and papers.  I don't know that I succeeded but I had fun trying which to me is what crafting is all about.   

Thanks for taking a look at my card!  I hope you join in the sketch challenge too.  You can find all the info:  HERE

Happy Crafting!

: ) Jill

A card and tag for Cheery Lynn Designs - Challenge #30: For the Grad

Hi Everyone,
My nephew Cole - whose birthday was this past week - is graduating from High School this month.  So today I made a graduation card for him and a coordinating tag to add to the bag that his gift will go in.
I am linking them to challenge #30 at the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge blog:  HERE 

Here is a picture of my creations:

Unfortunately I didn't finish these until 10pm so the picture was taken in my studio with as much light as I could shed...sorry the quality isn't the best.  I used the Coved Rectangle-Scalloped Stacker Nesting Dies (XL-11) for my card and tag bases.  I also used the L-10 Coved Ractangle Classic Silver Stacker layers for additional layers on my card and tag.  I also used Cheery Lynn Designs Border Carnivale die - one of my favorites!  You can find Cheery Lynn's wonderful dies at www.cheerylynndeisgns.com.

Thanks for taking a look at my card and tag!  I hope you also found some time to do some crafting or other wonderful things this weekend.   I spent lots of time pulling weeds while admiring my garden full of blooms and watching for the humminbirds! Though it rained off and on (this is Seattle afterall) the sun did make its way out in the afternoon and early evening.  And I took advantage of every minute!

: )  Smiles,
Jill

A card for Make it Monday #68 - Pocket Cards - round 2

Hello Everyone,
One more pocket card to share with you for this week's Make it Monday over at Nichole Heady's blog for Papertrey Ink:  HERE

I recently read a wonderful post from Melissa Phillips about her process for making her shabby and totally gorgeous creations!  I have long admired her style and how she adds such homey sweet touches to everything she makes!  I love that Papertrey has so many different types of designers on their creative team - they are all wonderful!  It is fun to see how they go about designing their cards and creations and to learn from each one of these incredible women!  I feel blessed to learn new things each time I visit their wonderful blogs!  Melissa's blog post is the inspiration for my card today....I tried to channel some of her "shabby-gorgeousness" after spending some time looking at all of her wonderful creations!  You can see the post by Melissa that I am referring to entitled "Sharing the Shabby":  HERE

The card I made is for a dear friend of mine named Alka who has a birthday this week and has also just recently finished treatments for breast cancer.  It is a yummy pink and cream cupcake in honor of her fight with breast cancer and to wish her everything wonderful in life on her birthday and always!  Here are some pictures:

This picture was taken outside and shows the tag partially out so you can see the sentiment.

This picture shows the tag outside of the card. I used one "lil inker" heart die pictured: HERE as part of the tab for the removable tag - it was the exact size I needed.  All of the rest of the dies are from Papertrey Ink HERE including that lovely cupcake card  die!  The felt is from Benize:Felt at http://www.benziebazaar.etsy.com/.  She has some very lovely lighter shades of felt (including blush and pink and icicle) which help with some of the colors that Papertrey Ink has yet to add to their line-up of products.

A view of the inside of the card

A view of the card with the tag tucked in fully

That is it for me today! Thanks for taking a look at my second card for this challenge.  I sure had fun getting my "shabby" on - thanks Melissa for your inspiration!  Happy Crafting everyone!
                                                               : )   Jill
   
Products used: 
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink
Papers:  The Girl's Paperie; and scraps from my stash
Dies:  Lil Inker: heart; All others PTI  (cupcake card die; heart border die; parisian doily die; limitless layers scalloped circle die; Love Lives Here dies; Scalloped button dies; Various flower dies, tag and border dies.)
Ink:  Ranger Distress and Jenni Bowlin
Other:  Buttons - PTI; Felt - Benzie:Felt on Etsy; Glitter: Martha Stewart; Glue: The rubber cafe; Glue Dots; Embossing folder; Score Tape, sewing machine, thread, hemp twine.