Playing with Tissue Paper Doilies for Cheery Lynn Designs...

Hello Friends,
I'm back!!!!  I have been away for a bit from my blog.  I was enjoying some warmer temperatures in Maui with most of my extended family to celebrate my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary for the past couple weeks.  It was my son Tim's first airplane ride, first trip to Hawaii and our first vacation in several years.  We had a lovely time away but it is also nice to come home and back to all that is familiar - including my craft room and some card making.

Welcome to all of my new subscribers too!  So fun to have new crafty friends to share with! 

Now that I am back I am hoping to get around to everyone's blogs this week to see what everyone has been creating while I was away! 

First, however, upon my return I had an email asking if I could do a guest design spot at Cheery Lynn Designs today so this post shows what I have been putting together over the past couple days. 

You can see my cards for the guest design team post at Cheery Lynn's blog: HERE.  Or below:

As most of you know I just love Cheery Lynn Doily Dies.  They are intricate and beautiful and there are so many to choose from!  I have been wanting to experiment with tissue paper doilies so that is what I played with for my guest design project.  All of the doilies on this card are made from tissue paper that I cut after folding a couple pieces up to fit into my Vagabond.  I cut them all at one time using my metal shim and making several passes back and forth through the machine after taping the die in place. 

The butterflies are also from Cheery Lynn Designs.   The larger one is called the "Small Lace Butterfly with angel wing" die - DL156.  The smaller butterflies are called "Exotic Butterfly Mini - DL112/DL112A(angel wing).  I cut all of the butterflies from sweet blush cardstock and then used the coordinating angel wings to create a tissue paper back for each of them.  I added stickles to all of the openings on the fronts to make these beautiful glittery butterfly embellishments.  The tissue paper becomes saturated with the glitter glue and the butterflies can be seen through in the light once everything dries.  Some pearls added for the butterflies bodies finish them off nicely I think.

Same card design but in Fuschia:

And last but not least a circle doily card:

The sentiment panels are all from a newer die set called: "Sentiment Frame #1" - B189.  I cut them out of both vellum and cardstock and layered various pieces together and embellished with pearls.

Thanks for taking a look at my cards.  I hope you will visit Cheery Lynn Designs main blog as well as their challenge blog and hopefully join in this weeks Doily challenge!  There is always a lovely prize up for grabs (usually a $20.00 Cheery Lynn Designs gift certificate) so that you can get some lovely new things.  Like some Cheery Lynn Dies!  They are also looking for guest designers so throw your hat in the ring and join the fun!

These cards made me feel like spring!  I came home to a front yard full of purple and yellow crocus and mini iris reticulata!  Even my daffodils are coming up and some of the tulips are pushing their greenery up from the ground.  Spring is on its way...at least here.  But for those of you that are buried in snow there is always virtual spring in our card-making! 

Thanks BJ and Sandy!  I enjoyed guest designing so much!!  If anyone has questions about how I put the butterfly embellishments together let me know in the comments.  I can always make a quick YouTube video to show you!

Enjoy your day!
Crafty Hugs,
Jill
 

February 2013 Blog Hop Challenge- Papertrey Ink: Marvelous Monograms

Hello Friends,
Here with a card for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge for February 2013 - Marvelous Monograms.

Here are the inspiration photos from Nichole's Blog:

 

 I had so many ideas floating around in my head for this challenge after viewing these photos and browsing through Pinterest.  I even created a new board on Pinterest with some of my favorite monogram related pins:  HERE.  But alas as I am very limited for time I was only able to complete this card:

I used some beautiful pearl pink card stock for my card base.  I also used sweet blush and white.  The focal point frame is from the mat stack two collection and was embossed in gold embossing powder.  I then stamped a "J" in sweet blush ink with some Anna Griffin alphabet stamps that are at least 9 or 10 years old!  I surrounded my die cut window which was made with the Mat Stack 1 layering dies with some additional stamps from the Mat Stack two collection to finish the card off.  I made a bow and some embossed flowers to add to the card front but decided I liked it with just the stamping - simple and elegant!

P.S.  I alway struggle with embossing but really wanted to add the gold so I really, really, really rubbed my white card stock with a dryer sheet before embossing and this seemed to help with the embossing powder ONLY sticking to the image I stamped in versamark ink.  Yeah!

Thanks for taking a look at my card! 

:) Jill   

Casing Dawn McVey....

Hello,
One final quick card to post for Papertrey Ink's 6th Anniversary celebration and contest.  This time I am CASEing the lovely and oh so talented Dawn McVey.

Here are her favorite 6 picks:

 

 

I tried to case her card on the top right.  I love this card from the book paper to the glorious morning glory flowers!  Dawn has such a way with florals doesn't she!  Her cards always speak to the gardener in my heart!  My second passion for SURE!  I just love her use of color and her signature greetings and other fun and vintage sentiments are many of my favorites!!!  But my all time favorite set of Dawn's is of course those beautiful pine cones!  Ahhh! I could use that set EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!

Anyway...as with most of my cards tonight this one is not perfect.....I made it with my leftovers from Rosie Posie since time is running out on the grand prize clock so to speak!

 

As with most things my imitation is no match for Dawn's original!  But my card does have a feel of your card and I used vintage music paper in your honor...delicate stuff I have learned!   

 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking a look!  I am probably going to be taking a little crafting break after the past couple weeks once the wonderful Papertrey Anniversary festivities draw to a close!  I need to get back to finishing my craft room reboot!!!  More posts on that coming in March!


Hugs,
Jill

A card dedicted to Danielle Flanders of Papertrey Ink

Hello again,
I know you are probably getting tired of my posting as this is my third one of the day.  The deadline for the grand prize of Papertrey Ink's 6th Anniversary Celebration draws near.....less then 7 hours left folks!!!

So I am here to case one of these lovely cards made by Danielle Flanders:

 

 

 

I chose to case the 2nd card down on the right side.  I loved ALL of these cards too and it was hard to choose but I haven't used Rosie Posie in way to long so it won!  I just love Danielle's design style. She has such a way with embellishments and details on her cards....the unexpected little finishing touch is what comes to mind!  She adds a special magic to all of her projects and I love visiting her blog to see what she is up to.  Plus she also designs for Lily Bee and Pink Paislee, not to mention the big SC!, and they are some of my favorite design paper companies!  This card is for you Danielle! 

 

My CASE:

 

I loved this card...right up until I screwed up the stamp under the sentiment!  I felt it needed something under so I added a stamp from Mat Stack 1 but didn't like the way it looked.

 Did I ever tell you I used to work at a bank.  Sometimes I would have to re-do checks and we would use this liquid that erases the bank number and amount at the base of the check.  Then we programmed a machine and re-printed the numbers.  How I wish I could have done that with this card - just erase that last little stamp and do something else!  Or nothing as I adore the sentiment from Signature Greetings!!!!  My embossing in white was perfect - that never happens by the way - and then I end up not liking the very last thing I did to this card...ho hum!  The absolute beauty of Danielle's original design is still there but....ugh that one little (HUGE) mistake!!!

Thanks for looking!

:) Jill


 

A card dedicated to the wonderful Melissa Phillips...

Hello Friends,
In my last post, earlier today, I mentioned that I was in the process of working on a card dedicted to the wonderfully talented Melissa Phillips.  Here are her favorite projects chosen for the 6th Anniversary Celebration at Papertrey Ink:

The card I chose to try and case is in the top left.  I just love this card and its felt layers and flowers!  I believe that Melissa has a special talent for combining ingredients into a perfect card recipe with each project she makes.  It is a special gift!  Believe me!  I have tried to do the same and I always feel that I fall short of the mark.  Even when trying to "copy and steal everything" or "CASE" this card I still struggled!!!! You would think duplicating a card would be fairly simple....but not for me! LOL!
I do like how my card turned out - but it took me three days of working and walking away from it before I figured it out!  That being said my hat is off to Melissa!  I think she is AWESOME and INCREDIBLE!  I love her shabby, vintage and homespun cards and projects! Each visit to her blog sends a warm feeling to my heart - and those of the many others that visit as you read through the comments posted there.  Her blog can be found: HERE.  Grab a nice cup of coffee in the morning and enjoy some lovely sites!!!  Each designer contributes something special at Papertrey Ink which comes together to form a team that always inspires me.  Melissa - this post is for you!  Thanks for all you do to inspire me!  And thanks for your warm blog voice which is a lovely way to start the day for me on many a morning!

Okay.....here is my card dedicted to Melissa Phillips: note: I took the photos tonight indoors in my light tent...not outside so I apologize for the dark tones...I will try to retake tomorrow morning!

Please ignore my crooked sewing line along the top....think homespun and lovely please....LOL!

The flowers on this card are actually flower pins that can be removed.  This card is going to my sister for her birthday.  She travels a lot and I thought she could pin these to her suitcase on a ribbon to make it easy to find when it is coming through baggage claim.  I have some on mine and it sure does help when you have a huge sea of suitcases on the belt and you are trying to spy your own! 

Thanks for taking a look at my card/gift!
:) Hugs,
Jill


Card recipe:
Stamps:  Stitched Sentiments, Pretty Peonies - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock:  Vintage Cream - PTI
Designer Paper:  Lily Bee Designs - Head Over Heels - 6x6
Felt:  Various colors: PTI and Benzie - ETSY
Dies: Papertrey Ink - various blooms and banner for sentiment; sending you leaves.
Other: silk ribbon - PTI; Janome mini sewing machine, thread, glue dots, safety pins, dimensionals

Boutique Accessory Challenge - Papertey Ink

Hello Everyone,
Well...I was hoping to post a card for each one of the design team members from their 6 favorites each....I am working on Melissa Phillips right now but I am not sure I will be able to do one for each before the deadline...we will see how much crafting time and mojo I have!  Isn't it hard to choose what project to case when they are all so wonderful!

Today I whipped together a headband with flower for the Boutique Accessory Challenge and to give as a gift in just a few minutes time for Valentine's Day!  Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Here is what I created:

 It is a sweet little headband with a sewn together flower and a little floss bow.  The headbands are in my stash...they sell them 6 for a $1.00 at the dollar store near my home.  I keep a stash on hand for quick little gifts.  You can also see a view in my backyard which is so brown and dead looking at this time of year...though there are crocus trying very hard to bloom out in my front yard! Yeah!

 I wrapped the headband in some vintage trim I found in my stash, hot-gluing as I wrapped on the inside of each turn.  And then matched the felts as best I could to create the flower bloom which I sewed together with the blue floss...

I used the 1/14" scalloped circle limitless layers to create the backer to attach the flower.  The hot glue is between the cream layer and blue layer of this scalloped circle die.  All dies are from Papertrey Ink!

Thanks for taking a look!  The little girl I presented it to gave me the sweetest little hug! It made my day!  She is just 4 years old and I think she felt just like a little princess with a crown of flowers!  So sweet!

Hugs,
Jill

Blessed to have you to lean on...Watercolor Challenge at PTI

Hello,
One more quick card as I just got home and switched the laundry again.  This is one of the quickest water color cards I have ever managed thanks to my heat gun!  It is for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary fesitivites over at Nichole Heady's blog: HERE

I would just like to say a big thank you to Nichole and all of the behind the scene staff who make up Papertrey Ink.  Thanks for your dedication to creating wonderful products each month and providing all of the inspiration we need to utilize them in fun and new ways!  What a blessing you are to my crafty life! 

And here is my card:

 I used the "blessed" die cut word and "wonderful words additions" stamp set.   The reinkers I used are aqua mist, hawaiian shores, new leaf, and sweet blush. 

Thanks for taking a look at my card! I love all the projects that are being made for the 6th Anniversary celebration!  I am having so much fun!

:) Jill

Cranberry Sauce Color Challenge - Waltzing Mouse Stamps

Hello,
Here this morning with a quick card as I am tackling the laundry which is right next to my basement crafty cave....

I am joining in the Cranberry Sauce Color Challenge over at Waltzing Mouse Stamps: HERE

Here is the color graphic Claire supplied:

And here is the card that I came up with:

I am (as always it seems) in a rush this morning with too many things going on but I wanted a wee bit of crafty time so I whipped this card together in just 11 minutes and I am afraid the spacing on the last heart is off...but no time to re-do and I need it to send off in the mail TODAY!  So I am posting it anyway....it has that home-made look - yes?!  And it allowed me to warm up my dark clothes in the dryer so I could fold them sans wrinkles! LOL!

 

I used my beautiful new stamp set from Waltzing Mouse Stamps called My heart!  Oooh I LOVE the woodgrain in this set!  Aren't those vines just precious!  And the small heart I used too?!  I also love the fonts!  I selectively inked the "Belongs to You" sentiment to spread it between the 3 small heart stamps.  Claire - thanks for this set!  It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

 

 

And since Valentine's Day is just two days away.....

Here are a couple photos of my son stamping his valentine's for 2013 on this past Friday night! 

 

 

He loves when we see people with their hands in the shape of hearts on Pinterest.  So we took this shot too.  His Valentine's this year are little chocolate kisses with the saying "100% SWEETNESS" which Tim decided would work for boys and girls.  A very important attribute in second grade!  He also made a special one for his teacher.  NOTE:  These products are from Creative Time for Me.

Thanks for taking a look!
Hugs,
Jill

 

Papertrey Ink Color Inspiration Challenge - 6th Anniversary Celebration

Here tonight with two quick cards inspired by Melissa's post at her blog Just Dandy: HERE.  I just loved the technique she used to make her cards and I decided to try it using this color inspiration from Nichole Heady's post: HERE

I used a ton of different sets from Papertrey Ink.  If you have questions leave me a note in the comments.  The sentiment on the card above that says "Teachers truly make a difference....Thank You!" is the only non-PTI product I used.  It is from MFT.

Thanks for taking a look!
:) Jill

Papertrey Ink - Sketch Challenge

Hello,
I found some time tonight to make a card for today's sketch challenge over at Nichole's blog for Papertrey Ink: HERE

Here is the sketch I used:

 And my card:

I impressed the card base with a clouds impression plate and then colored the outlines with a BG10 copic and a spica glitter pen.  I don't think you can see the glitter in the photo...sorry.  I used the Fabulous Frames Dies from PTI.  And a heart die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

This card is going over the miles to a special friend....
Goodnight!
:) Jill

3 Cousins @ Grandma's...a scrapbook layout in honor of Heather NIchols and Stuart Norwood...

Hello Friends,
I was looking at the Designers favorite project photos tonight over on Nichole's blog: HERE.  When I got to Heather Nichol's I noticed a scrapbook layout.  Here are her favorite picks:

 

I love it when scrapbook layouts are featured on the designers blogs at Papertrey Ink.  I was so happy that Heather included this layout as one of her favorite projects this past year.

   Over the past couple of years I have made many more cards than scrapbook pages but I do want to record the important memories of our little family especially now that Stuart has passed on.  I want Tim to remember his Dad but also remember his growing up years.  The fun times, the hard times, the learning times and even the sad times.  So tonight I made my first scrapbook page of 2013.  I downloaded a new app to my I-phone a couple of weeks ago called Pocketbooth.  With it you can take picture strips like the kind that we made when we were young.  Here is my page utilizing one of these photo strips which I printed out at home.  This one is horizontal instead of vertical:

 I used metal tape (from Home Depot) to diecut the three cousins (using MFT boy/girl dies) and embossed them with 3 different Papertrey Ink Embossing Plates - woodgrain, picnic plaid, and knitting.  They represent Russell, Ruby and Tim.  I added a small bag (with sequins floating in the bottom) behind the photo strip and cut a PTI tag from black cardstock to write my journaling.  The patterned paper is from the Pure Poppy Patterned Pack.

They spent last Saturday bowling and playing at Grandma's house and I captured these photos while they were being silly!

I got the idea to use the alphabet stencil from the new number dies from PTI!  I wanted to use them as a stencil tonight but alas I cannot find them......my craft room is a mess right now as I am in the middle of a remodel...   Anyway I finally found an old plastic alphabet stencil (my son's) in my stash to use with some silver glimmer mist.

       I love that my sweet husband Stu's name is on both the upper and lower portions of this layout.  You can see the T and U but it is hard to see the S in the pictures on the lower section.  Tim has always loved that Papa Stu's name is in the alphabet....it seemed appropriate tonight to have it be on this layout as he will have been gone for 1 year on the 15th of February and we know he is always with us in spirit! 

Thanks for taking a look at my scrapbook layout.

Hugs,

Jill

A Chalkboard card in honor of Betsy Veldman

Hello Everyone,
I am here tonight with a card to honor the lovely Betsy Veldman of the Papertrey Ink Design Team.  There is a lovely prize up for grabs as part of the 6th Anniversary celebration over at Nichole's blog.  I hope you join in all the fun. 

Here are Betsy's favorite projects for the 6th Anniversary:

I love the chalkboard card at the top left on the pine colored card stock.  And since I needed another teacher card for Valentine's Day I decided to use this card for my inspiration! 

Betsy's blog is chalk full of inspiration - no pun intended LOL - and I so enjoy the cards she makes not to mention the projects that she does that are beyond the card!  Thanks Betsy!  So glad you are here for another year at Papertrey Ink!

Here is my card:

 

I used the stamp set "Teach and Inspire".  And white ink (colorbox) with clear embossing powder as I am out of white embossing powder.  I over-colored the pencil and banner images with Copic markers.  And after a little trouble with the apple stamp portion of the card I die cut a second one and popped it up on top of the embossed one which I didn't like the look of.  

 Here is a close up of the sweet apple die cut!  I liked it so much that I put a green apple on the inside:

Thanks for looking at my card!
Hugs,
Jill

A card in honor of Christina Kowalczyk...

Hi all,
Here with another card tonight for the Papertrey Ink 6th Anniversary Celebration....this one is from Christina Kowalczyk's favorites.  Her incredible card that I attempted to CASE is pictured here:

I attempted the card on the bottom right...here is my version:

I needed a card for a friend who is getting married in March.  Thanks for the wonderful inspiration Christina! You are so talented!!!

Thanks for looking friends!
:) Jill

Everything is coming up roses....

Hello Friends,
Here tonight with a card of roses to celebrate today's Year of Flowers festivities for Papertrey Ink's 6th Anniversary over on Nichole's blog: HERE

Here is my card using Year of Flowers: Roses.  This is the only Year of Flowers stamp set that I currently own.  I have many on my wish list and I hope to add to my collection one day soon.

 I colored the roses and leaves with Copic Markers and then added stickles diamond glue and some Martha Stewart glitter.  I was inspired by a vintage-looking card with roses and glitter that I saw at the store the other day.

 I added a blue outline to the areas around the stamping to help bring out the pink colors in the roses.  I blended lots of different pink markers to get this multi-toned look. It reminds me of some of the roses in my garden that look so striking and change colors as they open fully and also depending on the type and amount of light at any given moment. As you know I adore roses and my favorite one is a very old floribunda rose in a light pink color that changes to a blush pink color as it opens and then ages - it just gets lighter and lighter as it blooms.  And it smells like HEAVEN!  Thanks for taking a look at my card!

Hugs,
Jill

A new challenge in town....Festive Friday Challenge #1

Hello,
It is Friday night and it seemed like the perfect time to join in one of the newest challenges in town the Festive Friday Challenge.  The design team is absolutely incredible!!!! - just go take a look - and they have completely inspired me with all of their GORGEOUS creations!  This is the very first challenge and it is a color challenge:  Here is the inspiration graphic from their website:

I hope you will decide to play along too!  I love these colors and was inspired tonight when I visited my friend Geri's blog "Paper Wishes".  She had just posted this stunning card: HERE.  I loved the silver embossing on her card and immediately wanted to try it....but guess what - no silver powder in my stash...just gold!  Ho Hum...but alas an idea did pop into my mind when I glanced at some red burlap I recently purchased at Hobby Lobby...and here is my card:

 

One of my very favorite Christmas sentiments is "Have yourself a Merry little Christmas".  It just makes my heart smile!  This sweet little stamp is from Lili of the Valley stamps in the UK and is from a set called "Christmas Grungy Messages".  It is set #33.  You can find it: HERE

I die cut 6 small rectangles into my white card stock (using this die from MFT) and then threaded the burlap through to create this ribbon decoration.  NOTE: I first stamped the sentiment in silver ink, embossed it with clear embossing powder, and added some red COPIC marker to dress it up.  I then ran the white panel through my vagabond with the burlap embossing plate from Cheery Lynn Designs: HERE   After these steps were done I threaded the burlap through the die cut holes in the white card stock piece.

To finish the card I matted the white panel on some silver metallic paper and a red card base. I then embellished with three little glass and silver heart buttons with some metallic red floss threaded through them. I sure love how this turned out.  The idea in my head translated well into the finished card!


Thanks for taking a look at my card.  I hope you get to join in the challenge or at least go and check out all the beautiful cards and leave some comment love!
Happy Weekend!
:) Jill