Stampin! with Jaydee

Baby Bundle - Paper Players Challenge #58

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.  I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend.

Well, you all know what Saturday means!  Yep, it's the reveal of my card for the Paper Players weekly challenge.

The very talented Anne Marie has a great color challenge for us this week.

Now, I have to admit that I am not really a pinky type of girl, so this challenge pushed me waaaay outside of my comfort zone.  However, that's the greatest reason to do challenges that you aren't comfortable with.  They stretch you and grow you creatively.  It helps if you remember to use Pretty in Pink instead of Pink Pirouette.... don't ask me how I know that Pink Pirouette isn't as pretty with Regal Rose and Rose Red... nope...don't ask!!!  :-)

The colors screamed girl to me - and I immediately thought of a baby girl card.  I hadn't made one for OWH yet, so thought this was the ideal opportunity.  I have to tell you that Lou said he really liked this card... so... it was good to be pushed out of my zone!

 

So, what do you think... suitable for a boy :-)  Maybe not, but I think it's perfect for a baby girl and a mommy who loves pink!

Here's what I used:

• Card stock:  Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Baby Bundle, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Inks: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
• DSP:  Patterns Pack - Subtles
• Accessories:  Bling.... of course.... I couldn't resist, so I pulled out my Basic Rhinestones, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon
• Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin' Dimensionals, Modern Label Punch (adjusted to make it short enough to fit the sentiment), I drew the little ribbon for her hair and cut around it with my paper snips and added a tiny little rhinestone. ****** I also used my Bow Easy to make the double bow. 
• Tip:  to tone down the Very Vanilla, I took a Sponge Dauber and some PiP classic ink and sponged the edges a little.

Now, it's over to you.  Don't forget to pop along to the Paper Players and check out the fabulous design team cards.  They really have gone out of their way to provide you with a wide variety of inspiration and I know you will find something you love.  Then, why not join us and show Anne Marie what great creations you can make with her color challenge?

You can check out the fabulous design team cards at their blogs:

• Ann Schach
• Anne Marie Hile
• Carrie Gaskin
• Lauri Ingram
• LeAnne Pugliese
• Lesley Groghan
• Nance Leedy
• Sandra Azzopardi

On a personal note:

Lou and I have been busy checking out tiling and what color flooring we want.... a new bath for me... oh yeah.... you have to see my new bath!  Of course, we needed a new toilet to go into the master bathroom, too.  Then ... new faucets... then Lou decided it was about time we really put in a heated towel rack.  We had great fun this afternoon arguing over granite choices.  It's so exciting and I promise I will share pics with you of the before and after as we finish up each of the spaces.

Today the weather was glorious and tomorrow is going to be even better.  Highs in the upper 70's, very little humidity, sunny..... GORGEOUS!

Hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  Oh... and for those of you who have followed the story of Rachel, the little girl who wanted to help children in poor countries get access to better drinking water.... check out this link for the updated totals.  AWESOME... and if you ever thought $9 couldn't make a difference.... this proved us all wrong!

Hugs

Jaydee

***** at convention I met Carrie Gaskin, aka Artistic Avenger and she was wearing these fabulous little fascinators that she made out of SU products.  I thought of Carrie when I put this little bow in her hair... this morning I remembered why it reminded me of Carrie even more.... she put a bow in the hair of her monster card - if you missed it, you can check out her fabulous card here.  So, Carrie, thanks for inspiring me indirectly and directly!  While you are on Carrie's blog - check out this great card, too.  You will definitely be inspired to buy the Snow Much Fun set!

Baby Welcome to the World - Baby Bundle meets Word for You - blog question

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

Happy 1st day of summer!  Yes, it's the summer solstice.  Aren't I supposed be covered in wode, in a long flowing hemp or linen dress camped out at Stonehenge? :-)  Nah... not this year, maybe I will just sit here and enjoy typing up my blog post and celebrating the official start of summer a little differently!!!

I made tonight's card using the Paper Players CAS sketch from our challenge this week.  The Players realized that this is our 52nd sketch!  So, not only are we celebrating the first official day of summer - but 1 whole year of Paper Players challenges. I am totally indebted to Lesley for inviting me to be a member of this team.  It's the coolest bunch of crazy talented, errr. all round crazy... stampin ladies.  I hope they won't mind me calling them crazy - but I am crazy mad about all of them!

So, here's my second card using the sketch.  I called it "Baby, Bling my Wheels!"   It also serves as an intro to a new blog question.... more about that, after the card!

Isn't that cute?  I mean, seriously, what male doesn't like blue and a little bit of bling on his wheels!  And he does have the rather smug look on his face! :-)

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up, unless otherwise noted:

• Stamps:  Baby Bundle, A Word for You
• Inks:  Pool Party, Night of Navy, Basic Grey, Not Quite Navy.  I used copics to color "Charlie's" face and my blender pens and Basic Grey ink to create the shadow under the pram.
• Card stock:  Whisper White, Night of Navy
• Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

I stamped the focal image onto the focal layer and then again onto a spare piece of card stock.  I colored all elements of the initial stamped image, except for the carriage.  I colored that on the spare piece that I had stamped.  I snipped around it and then stuck it down on top of the original focal image.  I did the same for the baby face.  It gives it just a little bit of depth and texture and makes little "charlie" - yep, I named him over a year ago! - look as though he is sitting inside the carriage. 

To bling his wheels - I took basic rhinestones and colored them using a Sharpie marker.  These basic rhinestones are fabulous and the fact that you can color them really easily, makes them even more versatile.

Now... as you have all enjoyed reading the responses to the blog questions over the past week - I thought we should use the upcoming HUMP DAY to establish a weekly blog question.  I thought answering a question mid-way through the week seemed like a good idea :-)

BLOG QUESTION FOR THIS WEEK:..... and what it has to do with this card!

As it's the first day of summer and school's out for most children and teachers are taking a well deserved rest.... I thought it would be a good idea to ask a teacher question.

QUESTION: WHO was your favorite teacher at school - any grade - and why? 

To add to the fun, I will be sending a little bit of bling in the post to one lucky person who answers the question.  The name will be drawn at random and will be announced on my blog before the new question is asked next week.

I'll start you off......

It's tough to decide on a single teacher.  Mrs Bingham and Mr Carter were my two favorite teachers from junior school.  We also had a brand new teacher in my last semester of junior school.  I was all of almost 11.  This was her first teaching assignment and she brought us all take aways from her recent trip to Japan.  A pair of chopsticks and mint topped toothpicks.  For some of you that might not sound exotic... but it sure was for me!  She arrived dressed in traditional Japanese garb, in the most amazing robe, with her hair pinned back and wearing black flat silk Mary Janes.  She looked so exotic and amazing.  She told us all about Japan and her trip. A pity I cannot remember her name - but I sure remember her.  She really reinforced what a biiiig world this is - and how this world really needed exploring.

High school.   by far.... my two most favorite all time teachers..... the Great Mrs Tucker and the fabulous Mr Clarke.  Mr Clarke taught geography.  I think he would be amazed to know that I have visited over 30% of the world's countries and still remember so much of what he taught.  In fact, I think he'd be VERY surprised!

But.. the overall winner is definitely the very venerable, much maligned, sometimes greatly appreciated MRS TUCKER!  (My best friend Pam - if she is reading this - will be shuddering at my choice!) 

Mrs T was my class form teacher, my Religious Instruction teacher, as well as my English teacher in my first year of high school.  She taught me to appreciate - NO LOVE - the English language and the written word.  She taught me to stretch my vocabulary beyond the bounds of an 11 year old.  She taught me that you can be firm, control a class, but be kind and compassionate.  Ultimately, she taught me something I would never have expected.  How sometimes, the strongest, most amazingly together people, can fall apart.  10 years after I left school, I went back to England and decided I wanted to look up Mrs T.  Only to find that her husband had died a year earlier and Mrs T had decided that she could no longer continue to live without him and had taken her own life.  Seriously... it broke my heart.  However, she has stayed with me for over 40 years and the lessons she taught me back then, continue to this day.  Mrs T... you were the greatest. 

Actually, I have a photograph of my first year - taken with Mrs Tucker.  Anyone correctly guessing which one of these cute little girls is me - will get a brand new roll of ribbon from the new catalog.  How about that?  Another incentive to add your own favorite teacher memories and have a look at this picture!

Isn't that just a motley crew.... seriously?  But there is Mrs T, God Bless her!  So... which one do you think is me?  No, Lou.  You can't play cos you know!!!!  And anyway, what would you do with another roll of ribbon in the house!!! 

I know that so many of you are teachers and I say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you for what you have done!

As always, thank you for visiting my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visit means a great deal to me - and your comments are enjoyed by not only me - but each other!  Over to you to tell us about your favorite teacher.

Prayers and warm hugs for those of you whe need a little lift.

Hugs

Jaydee

Welcome Baby Boy - Clean and Fairly Simple!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday night

Tonight's card is another one that I made for one of my blogging friends.  Now, normally I wouldn't show you these cards... however, as I haven't been able to craft since I made these cards.... they are the only ones I have to show you.  I REALLY am having withdrawl symptoms.  I really wonder if I will have any mojo when I get back into my studio!

I love making cards for occasions.  The birth of a new baby is always a wonderful occasion to celebrate.  I decided to use the fabulous Baby Bundle set.  I REALLY love this set.  I hope they don't retire it this year.  Mind you, even if they did - it wouldn't stop me using it!

I decided to follow the same sketch that I had used for the baby girl card, but clean it up a little.  I went for Night of Navy and Marina Mist as my main colors and used the textured card stock on the base layer.  Clean and Simple seemed the right thing for a baby boy.

Here's what I came up with

 

Keeping with the theme of three.... I decided to add three pieces of the Marina Mist ribbon.  However, as my fingers were in a pretty sad state, it took me ages to tie these bows.  It really was pretty frustrating.  Mind you... it didn't stop me doing it three times did it!!! :-)

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Whisper White
• Stamps:  Baby Bundle.  Sentiment - Inside Out Baby Papertrey
• Accessories:  Marina Mist ribbon
• Inks:  Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Real Red.  Browns are Copics

On a personal note:

I was a good girl today.. I exercised before I did my blog update.  In fact, I stopped work at 5.15 so that I could get 45 minutes in before starting my tasks for the night.  I also did a 2 mile walk after dinner last night as well as the exercise before dinner.  I could feel it in my legs a little this morning.  How sad is that!!! However, I did feel that I had done some exercise - so that was good.  I do find that exercise helps to clear my mind and I suppose that is all part of the relaxing and dealing with stress!

I won't get into my stampin space until this weekend, but have some ideas I am playing around with and can't wait to try them out.  Mind you... sometimes what goes on inside my head isnt exactly great when it gets out onto paper!  Anyone else have that problem? 

ooh.... and the 1st April is coming up.  That means one thing. No, not April Fool's Day!  It means that I get to order the MASCULINE goodies out of the new summer mini.  I really do have some ideas on what to do with those goodies.  One of the great things about being a demo is getting to pre-order things that you really want to get.  Mind you, I am counting down the weeks to the sneak peek of the new catty, too!

If anyone is looking for an update on the kitten that Lou picked up whilst riding his bicycle one night last year.... he has become my constant companion.  Doesn't matter where I am, he can be guaranteed to be pretty close.  Right now he is fast asleep on "his" chair opposite my crafting table.  he is still absolutely fascinated with water.  He hates getting wet, but is fascinated with water.  Strange animal!  He's an absolute sweetie though and has really settled into the house and has really calmed down a great deal.  Luckily he still chitters at me when he sees me or wants to communicate.  I love it and hope he never grows out of that.  He's still a dinky little thing and makes my other cats look like giants!

Prayers tonight for those of you who need a warm hug or a little lift.  I hope you have a wonderful Thursday and that you get time to spend doing the things you love, with those you love.

Hugs

Jaydee

Baby Bundle

Hi Everyone.  Hope you are having a great week.

Quick post for you tonight. 

I created a card using the color challenge across at 4craftychicks.  The colors... Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink and Basic Grey.  I also used sketch number 31 from the papercrafts go to sketches to create my card.  Don't forget to pop along to the craftychicks site and check out the design and submission cards.

I haven't used the Baby Bundle set for a while, and decided it was time it came out for a little ink-love.  I did this version.... then I did a 3 minute version!  Whenever I create a card, I have been trying to force myself to make two cards - a simple one layer card and a more complex card.  I'll show you the sime 3 minute card using the same theme and same colors in a different post.

In the meantime, here's my baby bundle

I decided to incorporate the grey into the individual items.  Each square has the grey, pink and concord incorporated into it.  I had great fun cutting around those tiny little individual pieces, I can tell you :-)

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink
• DSP:  Lap of Luxury (120436)
• Stamps: Baby Bundle (120576); sentiment "welcome baby. sweetness unlimited" - sweetness unlimited (115562)
• Accessories:  Ribbon:  Concord Crush In Color ribbon; Pearls - Basic Pearls
• Inks:  Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey

What do you think?  Sometimes, I want a baby card that is a little more sophisticated and I thought that this sketch really did lend itself to using the little pieces from the set, as opposed to the baby and the pram.  Is that a word they use in America?  A pram?  Or is that really a left over from my birthplace?

I had passed over the sentiment - but it really is super cute.  I got it as part of Sale-A-Bration and am so glad that I did.  I really think it is a perfect sentiment.

On a personal note:  Another long day today and Lou is, of course, out of town!  This time he's in rainy Seattle - at least he is on the same continent for a change :-)  I have got to finish up some stuff for work, then go make my dinner, feed the pussy cats and.. oh yeah... find my father's death certificate.  I have an appointment at the clinic tomorrow and need to take that along.  Now... finding that could take a while.  Especially as it is amongst all my other genealogy stuff!

Continued prayers tonight for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  It must have been wonderful for the rescue workers when they found a 70 year old woman and rescued her after 4 days.  It must have made them feel so good.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday filled with love and joy.  Don't forget to reach out to say hi to someone you haven't spoken to in a while... just because.

Hugs

Jaydee

The cycle of life and shout out to Germaine

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.  I hope you are all enjoying a fabulous week.

Well, I logged on to do my blog update tonight and was just about to check on Leslie's website to see if there had been any change.  Before I even got there, I noticed that there was an updated from Janna, who had asked us for prayers for Leslie.  Here was Janna's message on my blog post for yesterday.  "Thank you everyone for the prayers for Leslie. I found out that she has gone to be with our Heavenly Father. Please continue to pray for Mark, his kids, and her family through this difficult time.
On a positive note, one oft best friends gave birth to a healthy baby girl a few hours ago!"

Such incredibly sad news.  The loss of a young mother, a woman filled with love and youth and so much to give, is so sad and brings sorrow to my heart.  So, my prayers to Mark and Leslie's family and friends as they try to come to terms with this loss and begin their grieving and mourning. 

However, Janna's second comment really got me thinking about the cycle of life.  How often one life is lost and another is created - often very close together.  It should make us all appreciate how special this life is that we have, appreciate every moment in every day - regardless of how difficult that must be..... if we feel pain - any emotion at all... even unpleasant ones... then we are alive.  That in itself is a wonderful thing.

So... tonight's post is dedicated to the cycle of life - welcome baby!  As soon as I read about the beautiful new baby girl, I knew which card I had to post tonight.

Janna - this one is for you, my friend

I'd like to give a huge shout out to Germaine tonight.....  Germaine.... girl, you ROCK!   I got back from the vet tonight (no.... I wasn't there for me... but for my poor little Muffin cat)..... and there was a box on the doorstep.  It certainly looked as though it had done the rounds... a dinged corner - and I mean really dinged.... well... imagine my surprise when Lou shouted.... IT'S ROYAL MAIL!  I screamed, "Germaine!!!!!"  So.... there was a box of gorgeous cards hand crafted by Germaine.  

Now.... there are three special things about that..... 1) Germaine joins the ranks of you wonderful ladies who have donated to the Operation Write Home card drives that we have run.  That's a very select group!   2)  Germaine suffers from Fibromyalgia and other ailments that make it very difficult for her to craft, as she is in constant - often excrutiating - pain.... and 3......  Germaine lives in England and these cards are going to US troops!!!   And... on top of that... the cards are GORGEOUS!  Germaine, my friend, you are one very special lady!   And... I got goodies for ME!!! Germaine, you have made some troops and their families, very, very happy!

On a personal note:

I spent a several hours prepping cards to send in a box to OWH last night.  I stamped the backs of 400 cards and put them into a box.  and that, ladies and gentlemen, is only part of our card drive.  I couldn't believe the variations in styles and colors and layouts..... it took me far longer than it should have to stamp the backs of the cards because I couldn't stop looking at each and every one and then stopping to take pictures for you to see later in the month.  I am going to dedicate a week at the beginning of November and showcase the fabulous creations from each of you who participated in our card drive.   Once we are done we will have over 1,400 Christmas cards for the drive.... LET ME REPEAT THAT.... REALLY, REALLY LOUDLY!!!!!  THIS CARD DRIVE WILL HAVE GARNERED OVER 1,400 CARDS....  ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED CARDS!!!!! Amazing... You guys really are amazing.  So, the first box will be going off on Saturday.

We managed to stand in the little area they are landscaping next to the deck to0day.  Oh... it is going to be lovely.  We bought a fountain back in July (yep... that long ago).... it is an urn shaped like an Ali Baba jar and the water tinkles down it with an almost metallic sound.  It got installed today and the plants went in.   Of course, being a woman... I decided I wanted a little change..... right now we have slate flagstones steppers down and are waiting for the river rock to fill in the spaces...... when I stood underneath the tree next to the fountain I decided that a little patio area would be perfect.  It's in the shade, under the tree and next to the fountain.   Lou had bought me a marble top bistro table and bistro chairs years ago when we lived in California.... I now think they have found their place.  mmmmm..... now I have to tell the landscape designer.  ooops~

Prayers tonight for Leslie's friends and family and especially her husband, Mark.  For Germaine - you rock my friend.  For T and Pri.  Interesting that their names should sound the same and they suffer from the same ailment!  John and Sue... I hope John is progressing Sue.  For Lesley, Rach, Adelle and their furbabies.  And for all of you who need a little lift.

Remember..... LIVE each moment of each day.

Hugs to you all

Jaydee

 

Hello Baby!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.

Tonight's card features one of my favorite sets from the new catty - Baby Bundle.  I just love this set.  You may remember my diaper/nappy card - well, I used some of the same DSP (retired from the SU clearance rack) just because I love it with this pram.

I saw this great sketch on sweetstop.  I don't often do square cards, but loved this layout and decided to use it for this card.  It really allowed me to play around with some of the cool DSP that I have in my stash and bring out some new colors.  I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying the color renovation.  I am sooooo pleased that SU did it... and... you know I have said this before - I wasn't too impressed at the time..... but now that I am playing with it.  Awesome!

Pop along to sweetstop and check out the challenge, as well as the design team and submission cards.  I know you will find something to inspire you.  So, here's my take on the sketch.

I named this baby... his name is Charlie... why?  I have absolutely no idea - but I just love him ! :-)

I'm also in love with this color combo - I think the Riding Hood Red and the Baja Breeze go beautifully together.  The dots on the paper led my color choices for the rest of the card.  I also love the checkered background paper from the retired DSP kit!  I can't tell you how much fun I had making this card!

I bought a couple of English crafting magazines for Trish and had a quick look through them at the bookstore before I bought them and sent them off.  One of the things I noticed was that they were using a lot of charms as embellishments.  I realized that I had seen some of these beady things at the local craft store and decided I would give them a try on a card someday.  Well, the little scallops seemed just the right place to put 4 of them and made a great change from the normal sentiment.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red
• Inks:  Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Going Grey
• Accessories:  alphabet beads from LSS, Whisper White satin ribbon, died with my Baja Breeze marker - again I wanted the white lines on the edge to stay white, so used my marker to color it instead of my brayer
• Tools, big shot, nestabilities (large square), mini glue dots for "baby" and ribbon.  Dimensionals for both layers of the focal image.  Scallop border punch.  Stam-a-ma-jig for pram, "Charlie", bottle and rattle

Card instructions:

• Cut card stock to make a 5 1/4" square card
• Stamp image with StazOn and color with your favorite colors.  You can see that I used two other stamps from the stamp set - the rattle and the babies bottle.  I placed them both on the ground, because that's what babies always do.... and I thought that the look on "Charlie's" face seemed to say... ooooops :-)
• The blue checkered paper is 5" square.  The spotted paper is 3" W x 2 1/5" H
• The scallop border finished size is 5 1/4W x 2H
• The checkered strip is 5 1/4"w x 1"H

So, I hope you like Charlie's card.  Luckily I do have somewhere to send this card - but the baby isn't named Charlie! 

Don't forget - the Paper Players easel card challenge is going on through Friday.  We'd love to see what you create - and they really are easy cards to make and can get pretty addictive.  You can find the details on the challenge here

On a personal note:  I have to say that the postman must think it is my birthday.  4 boxes arrived via USPS today... Lou couldn't work out what I'd ordered - especially as two parcels arrived from SU earlier in the day (catalogs for my customers and the long lost Itty Bitty Buttons!).

Well,  the 4 boxes are 4 boxes of cards for the OWH card drive... Oh YEAY!!!!!  So, thank you to Beth, Rach, Soozie and Cam.  I can't wait to open them up and take them out and admire each and every single one of them.  I promise you all that I will take pics from cards chosen at random from each of our fabulous contributors and post them on my blog for you to admire.  I don't know who was happier - me or Bailey and Bilbo.  They inspected each box, rubbed against them and then sat on them!  So, I know they approved.  I think it's their way of saying thank you to you all.  In addition, Trish let me know via an electronic card today that she has also posted cards for the drive.  WOW, Trish.  with all that you have going on, I cannot thank you enough!  Adelle and Terri also let me know that they are sending cards... You have already seen some of Lynn's and I still have to show you Brenda's..... So, I think it's going to be a bumper crop to send to OWH.  The next few days are going to be very exciting.  Bilbo is looking forward to drawing the winner of the $100 shopping spree and I can promise you that spending $100 on stuff from the new catty is going to be easy for you!  So huge thank you to all of you - and to others who may have sent cards that I haven't received yet.

I did get to spend some quality time in my stamping space this weekend.  I made a few cards for challenges - rare that I seem to get those done these days.... but I mostly concentrated on making cards for the card drive. 

Here's one that I made using a non-SU set.  It's very rare that I buy non SU sets and working with this set made me realize why.... it took me 6 goes to get the image stamped evenly.  Now, it's not as though I'm a novice stamper - and it's not as though I don't make a lot of cards.... so, it really is just the stamp and not my stamping ability.  I almost never mis-stamp a card using an SU set.  However, the image was worth it... you all know that there was no way that I couldn't water color this cat using shades of orange... Bailey wouldn't have it any other way!  It also gave me a great excuse to pull out Cajun Craze... I am SO loving this color.

I know you can't see it in this pic, but I did use a glitter pen on the flowers, his eyes and nose and his collar.  Of course, I had to pull out the polka dot embossing folder, because it really echoed the spots on the pussycat's coat.  I hope someone gets a kick out of receiving this card from their loved one/friend in the forces.

Well, I am off to make some more cards and to finish packing up the care packages for my SU customers.  My catalogs arrived today and I will be putting them together with some cards made with the new goodies, new color paper samples, information sheets, and a couple of surprises.  It's my way of saying thank you to my customers ... thank you guys!   Then, we will get to sit outside on the deck and have dinner tonight.  Finally!  It hasn't rained the whole day.... AMAZING!

On the prayer list tonight, Trish, Lynn, Arthur, T, Pri, Germaine and Rach - so please keep them in your thoughts.

Tomorrow - I'll be posing a question for you all.  I really want to know what you would like to see on my blog that you don't see today and what you like, and wouldn't miss if I it wasn't there.  So, tomorrow, I will ask that question and ask you to please leave a comment - or send me an email.

As always, thank you to all of you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your support and your comments are always greatly appreciated.

Don't forget - smile at a stranger, it may change their life.

Hugs

Jaydee

Sneak Peek: Baby Bundle and Occasional Quotes

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.

Tonight's card is a sneak peek for you - as is tomorrow's card:-)   I was looking for a really cute little baby set and had even considered buying a non-SU set that I had seen.  Lo and behold, in the new 2010-2011 catty is the cutest set.  It's called Baby Bundle.

I made two cards with it today and will share them both with you over the next week.  Tonight's took me out of my comfort zone!

I really wanted to make a diaper - or as my English friends would say - a nappy.  It took me a little while to get it done... much cutting and scoring of paper.  In the end though, I got the template right and managed to use many of the little stamps in the set and get the effect I was looking for.  One of our colleagues is expecting their first baby in about 2 weeks and we are hoping it's a little boy.  If not, then I will remake the card with girlie colors!

Here's the first view of the card.

I bet you are all wondering why I chose spotted paper for the diaper?  All will be revealed in a second.  Did you notice the new ribbon?  Yep, that is ribbon from the new catty.  The Congratulations stamp is from the Baby Bundle set - as are the little booties you can see hanging from the button.

I stamped the booties onto a Whisper White card stock scrap and then colored them in with my Marina Mist marker.   Talking about that... can you see that the blue card stock is different, too.  Yep.  That is Marina Mist - and the green.... well - that's one of the new In Colors - Pear Pizzazz.  It is my favorite green.  It's a little darker than Certainly Celery and less yellow.  So a little more saturated.  I am loving the Marina Mist.

So.... back to why the spotted paper.

Yep, the baby carriage has spots on it!  So, I colored the dots on the pram(baby carriage) to match the paper.  I used Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz and Riding Hood Red markers to color the dots, the wheels, hubcaps and heart.

The baby is a separate stamp.  I used my stamp-a-majig to place the baby in the spot I wanted him and colored his top with Marina Mist.   Did I tell you already I was in love with Marina Mist :-)

I used my Versamark to stamp the other images around the baby - bottles, rubber ducks, hearts, rattles... it seems to be that babies always come with a lot of accoutrement - and I wanted the card to reflect that.  Also, the images are really cute!

Here's a view of the pull out

The "hello baby" is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Of course, I had to put something on the inside.  Luckily, the new catty comes with the choice of a level 3 Hostess Set which is absolutely amazing - Occasional Quotes.  The quotes are perfect for inside - and even outside cards. 

The inside sentiment for this card is a quote from Carl Sandburg:  "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on".  Isn't that cool!

 

What a pity I didn't press down with as much force on the bottom of the stamp as I had with the rest of it... if I had then maybe Mr Sandburg's name wouldn't look as though it was printed in Going Grey!!

Trish - I knew you would want to look inside!  I got to spend some quality time with Brenda and Cherie again today - twice in two days.  That's pretty amazing.  We were talking about you Trish - about how brave you are and how beautiful you are.  I know how hard it is to lose your hair.  It was the one thing that my brother commented on and lamented.  He was blessed with a full head of thick hair right up until he started chemo and it really bothered him - really bothered him when it started to fall out.  You know what.... he looked even more handsome afterward and we got to really see his deep brown eyes and the shape of his face.  Trish, you are such a beautiful person that there is no way that your beauty isn't going to be shining  through like the sun after a rain shower.  Hang in there my friend, keep your eye on the end goal and go buy some gorgeous hats and .....remember to look in the mirror with your buzz cut and tell yourself that this is temporary and that you are indeed still a beautiful woman.  As Missy said - you are our hero.

Tomorrow is the start of the Paper Players challenges.  Tomorrow's challenge is a theme challenge.  Lesley will be updating her blog sometime around lunch time Eastern Standard Time.  So, check out the Paper Player's inspiration cards tomorrow and please....... won't you play along?  We are really hoping you will.  Here's the website link Paper Players - we really look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Brenda is having a card drive for the troops at her stamp camp tomorrow.  Brenda - thank you... you know that those cards will make so many people happy.  The rest of you - and I know that many of you are participating :-)  thank you!!!! - You have until the end of June to get your cards to me for hugsandhope and/or operation write home.  I promise you, if you are the lucky winner of the $100 SU shopping spree - you will find lots of things to buy from the new catty!

I love this new Baby Bundle set and the Occasional Quotes.  I can't wait to play around with more of the sets that I got.  UPDATED:  I realized that I had forgotten to put a link to the template that I found for the diaper.  I adjusted the size, adjusted the middle portion and made it much wider and I also made it longer to create a tuckover at the top.  But this was the best template I found.  You can find it at this link.

I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday, filled with love, laughter and moments of beauty.  Cherie... you'd better say confession for the June bug tomorrow.....  

Hugs to you all

Jaydee