Stampin! with Jaydee

Polka Dot, Blingy Birthday.

Hi Everyone. Happy Monday. 

Quick post for you tonight as I am running very late!

There's a great challenge across at CAS-UAL Fridays this week to celebrate their 100th challenge.

 

I love Tic-Tac-Toe challenges and had so much fun with this one that I made two cards.  I went right through the middle:  Polka Dots; Bling; Black and White

I used my PTI set - Star Gazer and paired it with some SU Silver Glimmer Paper (for the little stars) and some black and white polka dot paper that I had in my stash.

Here's my card

The Leo constellation stamp puts little stars in the design.  I cut out some silver glimmer stars with a die and added those over the black stars.  It looks really cool when you see it in real life and I love the idea of being able to personalize a card for the recipient's star sign!

On a personal note:

I saw a little flash of blue in our woodland today.  I knew it wasn't the blue jay, because the bird was too small.  Sure enough.... our little blue birds are back and are checking out the blue bird house that we put up at the edge of our wetland.   I hope they like it enough to stay!   We so enjoyed having them nest in our woodpecker box last year and watch the fledglings grow up! 

Yesterday we had a low of 30 and a high of 58.    Tomorrow, we are heading for a low of 58 and a high of 92!   92!   It's crazy!  Why can't we just sit around in the 60s and 70s for a few days and at least make it feel as though it is spring!  I think the airconditioning might be put to good use tomorrow!

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card ingredients - Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Basic Black.  Whisper White
• Ink:  StazOn
• DSP:   Silver Glimmer Specialty Paper.   Polka Dot (Amuse)
• Stamp:  Star Gazer (PTI)

Sneak Peek: Express Yourself meets Quatrefancy

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday... Oh! yes!  We are on the countdown to the weekend!

I have another birthday card for you tonight.  This one didn't start out being a birthday card.  I was creating a card for the deconstructed sketch challenge (oops... missed the deadline).  I had the idea for the card, and the papers that I would use and went to my Whisper White folder to get some card stock to use for the focal image.  However, when I opened the Whisper White scraps folder, out dropped this really cute digi image that I had printed yonks ago.   I looked at it and decided that would be perfect for the focal image instead.  

Anyway, here's the sketch

It's an unusal sketch for me because all of the elements are in the top left corner.   I never do that with cards and decided that this sketch would push me out of my comfort zone and that was a good thing.

I knew that I wanted to use Strawberry Slush.... LOOOOOOOVVVVVING this color.   As does Rach.  So, I pulled out the card stock and ran it through my mosaic madness embossing folder.  I then looked at the matching DSP and pulled out two corresponding patterns that went with the Strawberry color scheme.

I had great fun coloring the little birthday doggie and especially enjoyed coloring the balloons.  Once I was done doing that, I realized I needed a sentiment and remembered my brand new set - it's a hostess set from the new catty - called Express Yourself.  It's a super useful set with basic sentiments and the Happy Birthday sentiment was the perfect size for the digital image.   However, I realized I needed another element on the bottom of the focal image to match with the sketch.   I had a lightbulb moment!  I would use my Mosaic Madness punch and create that element - and use the Designer Typeset photopolymer set to add the "2U" on it.

Here's my card:

I love that the shapes on the DSP echo the shapes from the embossed background and the punched element.   See how perfectly sized the sentiment is for the image?  I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of this new sentiment set.  Oh... I'll probably get a let of use out of the embossing folder, too!

I know you can't see it, but I did add a little bit of gel roller pen to the eyes, tongue and nose of the dog.  I also did the same to the highlight section of the balloons.  This card will definitely go in the next round of OWH cards :-)

On a personal note:

Another gorgeous day here today.  I got to spend about 10 minutes sitting outside whilst I had my lunch.  I also caught sight of the Oriole.  YAY!   Good to know that he is still around.

I was woken up at 3.30 this morning.  We had a raider in the garden.   I heard something rattling and then the fall of metal.  Sam our ever vigilant norwegian growled and went rushing to the bedroom window.  I got out of bed and looked out, but couldn't see the culprit.  This morning I noticed that someone had pulled one of the bird feeders from the feeder system and that it was sitting in the wetland - minus the peanuts it used to contain!  I'm guessing it must have been a raccoon as we don't have a raccoon baffle on that feeder system, just the squirrel baffle.  I think we might have to move that particular feeder to the other system.

Rain is forecast for tonight.  I'm really happy about that.  it means that the frogs will be singing up a storm tonight and I must admit, I love being seranaded to sleep by the sounds of the frogs calling!

Oh... this week I have been kissed by Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.  yep.  All in one week.  No, Lou isn't jealous!  It's just that I've been playing a lot of Grand Slam Tennis on the Wii and have been trying out different doubles partners to see who matches my game the most.   So far, Pete and Roger are my favs.  Boris was for a while, but he makes too many mistakes with his serves :-)  I must admit, my little avatar is much lighter on her feet that the real version.  Oh... ans she's skinner, too!   But, the whole point of getting up and playing a quick round of tennis in between conference calls is to get me moving more during the day and I must admit I'm loving it.  If I can spend just 10 minutes several times a day playing a quick game, I free up the cobwebs in my head and release a little tension.  The added exercise doesn't hurt either!

Rach, I hope little Bit is doing OK.

As always, thank you for stopping by my neck of the stamping woods.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.   I'll be back on Friday with another card.   In the meantime have a blessed Thursday

Hugs

Jaydee

Card ingredients - all SU unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Strawberry Slush.  Xpress it blending paper
• Inks:  Copic markers.   Basic Black for the sentiment
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Mosaic Madness embossing folder.  Mosaic Madness punch
• DSP:  Mosaic Madness

Birthday wishes and it's all pink!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday.

In last night's post I promised to share the feminine version of the card that I made.  I used exactly the same stamps and sketch - the one from clean and simple on sunday

Last night's card might have been all masculine, but this version is all girl.  Pink isn't generally my go to color, but I love Pink Pirouette with this shimmer pink card stock.  The card stock has a very similar color to the new SU Strawberry Slush and it is absolutely yummy.  I paired it with Basic Grey ink and some Silver Glimmer specialty paper.

Here's my feminine version of the card:

With this version you can see the star gazer additions constellation much better and I love the silver stars with the pink.

Why not pop along to casonsunday and play along - entries close on Friday. :-)

On a personal note:

Another gorgeous day here.  Temps in the 70s with low humidity.  I am starting to see little pops of green on the trees and coming up in our garden.   With the warmer weather, hopefully everything will start to bud and flourish quickly.  I checked the long range weather forecast and we are expecting gorgeous weather for the next 10 days!

Lots of birds at the feeder and I even saw the turkey's yesterday.  They have finally reappeared!  However, I have had no sighting of the Oriole since yesterday.  Mmmm... seems the jelly and fresh oranges aren't quite enough for him!  We still have a lot of red shouldered blackbirds hogging the feeder and I think that might be part of the problem!

As always, thank you for visiting my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  I'll be back tomorrow with another card.  In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card ingredients:

• Card Stock:  Pink Pirouette (SU).  Shimmer Pink (PTI).  Silver Glimmer Specialty Paper (SU)
• Stamps:  Star Gazer and Star Gazer Additions (PTI)
• Ink:  Basic Grey
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Star die (PTI).  Stampin' Dimensionals

Birthday wishes for Cas on Sunday

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

Quick post for you tonight.

I saw this great sketch across at cleanandsimple on Sunday and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I have a couple of new stamp sets and thought this sketch was a great way to combine them both.

As the theme across at onlinecardclasses has been to create masculine and feminine cards, I decided to do that with this sketch, too.  I'll be sharing the masculine version with you tonight.

I purchased a set called Star Gazer and Star Gazer additions from PTI.  I loved the idea of being able to make personalized birthday cards based on the astrological sign of the recipient.  This card uses the additions background stamp and a sentiment from the Star Gazer set.  I paired it with some shimmery black card stock and loved the result.

Lou gave it two thumbs up for confirming to a masculine design!  That has to be good, right :-)

I clear embossed the constellation chart onto the base shimmer black cardstock and added a few tiny silver stars die cut from Silver Glimmer specialty paper.  I cut a large star from my sizzix framelits and adhered that to a die cut tag using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment onto the tag and added a little star next to the sentiment.  The tag was then adhered to the card base using dimensionals.

The card base was really hard to photograph because of the shimmer in it, but it really is a strong contrast with the silver stars when you see it in hand.  I'll be sharing the feminine version with you tomorrow.

Don't forget to pop along to cas on sundays and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards for inspiration.  I know the design team would love it if you played along, too. 

On a personal note:

It was 76 degrees here today.  Yes, siree, it was gorgeous.   I managed to sit outside on the deck for about 20 minutes after work.  I just looked out over the wetland and watched the birds, squirrels and deer go about their business.  Whilst I was sitting there I was very surprised to see the two wood ducks come into land on the stump.  I really wanted to snap a photo, but as soon as I moved my arm in my chair, they saw me and flew of.   A couple of minutes later I saw the Eastern Kingbird (first sighting this year) and then I saw the Coopers Hawk come into the feeder!  It was a great way to end a very long day!

Now, I am off to go feed the kittycats and cook some supper and then settle down to watch the Voice!    As always, thank you for stopping by my little neck of the woods.  Warm hugs and prayers to those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card ingredients :

• Card stock:  Shimmer Black (PTI).  Silver Glimmer (SU)
• Stamps:  Star Gazer and Star Gazer additions (PTI)
• Ink:  Basic Black (SU).  Versamark embossing
• Tools:  Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sizzix Tag Die, Clear Embossing Powder (SU).  Dimensionals (SU).  Star gazer die cut (PTI)

 

Tiffany Boxes for Retrosketches

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.  It's 7.15 and I'm running really late... however, I did want to share my last challenge card of the week with you.

Retro has a great sketch - it's one I can see myself using often

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it when I saw this sketch.   I know there are many of you out in blogland who will feel the same way as I do about little blue boxes wrapped with a fabulous satin bow.... from a little jewelry company called Tiffany :-)

Here's my version of a Tiffany box for a birthday card

Pool Party card stock and some glimmer specialty card stock were all that I needed to replicate the Tiffany box.  The sentiment is from SU's A Word for You - and it is perfect for a birthday card or even a wedding card! 

Don't forget to pop along to retro and check out their new sketch this weekend.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  Continued prayers for Beverlee as well as the victims of the Boston and West, Tx tragedies.

Hugs

Jaydee

Swallowtail Birthday for Paper Players #139

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday.   Oh!  Yes!  We are on the countdown to the weekend!

You may remember that it is my turn to host the Paper Players challenge this week and it's a Tic Tac Toe challenge.  You can see my original card here.  As a reminder, here's the challenge again.

This time I decided to go straight across the middle and create a birthday card using blue and pink, as well as a tag. 

I've been waiting to find another use for the swallowtail digital stamp and this seemed like the ideal opportunity.   I had such fun coloring the swallowtail.   Now the analytical engineer in me says.... a swallowtaill isn't blue and pink... the creative in me says... who cares, it's my butterfly and I'll color it any way I want :-)  Mmmmm.... is that the creative in me, or the 5-year old?  Anyway, I digress!

Once I had colored the butterfly, I got out my magical low shine, fabulous, glitter and covered the butterfly wings with it.  I left two patches unglittered.  (Is there such a word?)  I left the two blue "windows" colored, but not glittered - just to add a little change in texture.   I then cut a tag using Pink Pirouette and stamped the sentiment onto the tag and mounted the butterfly.

Here's my completed card:

I combined two different prints from the Patterns Pack DSPs - Pacific Point and Pink Pirouette.  I used the print on one and the stripe on the other.  Of course, I HAD to pull out my cuttlebug embossing folder.  I really am in love with it!

Here's a look at the detail.  I know you can't see the shine .. but I wanted to show you the difference in the area where I did not add the glitter.  I really think it makes it a little more interesting.

I was really happy with the overall card.  I think the swallowtail image is gorgeous, and I love being able to resize it in MDS.

Some of you have asked about our feral friend.  He's been back a couple of times in the past two weeks, but I only actually caught sight of him once.  He's pretty good about popping by and not being seen.  He hasn't been back for 4 or 5 days now and I'm thinking that food is a little easier to come by now that the weather is warming up.  We'll continue to put food out for him though, just in case he gets hungry.

As always, thank you for stopping by my little space in the stamping blogosphere.  I do appreciated your visit.  Warm hugs and prayers to those of you who need a little lift tonight.

I'll be back on Friday with another card.

Hugs

Jaydee

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

• Card stock:  Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette
• Stamp:  My Digital Studio:  Swallowtail
• Inks:  Copic markers
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Cuttlebug Charles embossing folder.  Distress glitter
• DSP:  Patterns Pack - Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette

Happy Birthday for Seize the Birthday

Hi Everyone.

Happy Sunday.

I managed to get into my craft room twice this weekend and crafted just for the heck of it!  These days I seem to be in such a rush that I run into my craft room and make just the card I need for the Paper Players challenge and try to rush a couple of others in as well.  However, this weekend, I did my Paper Players card and sat and played... and I had such fun.

I decided to go check out some inspiration with challenges.  It's always a great way to restart my mojo.

I saw a fabulous sketch across at the fabulous Lesley's challenge site - Seize the Birthday.  Here's the great sketch:

I see this layout becoming a fall to layout for me!

Immediately I saw the sketch I knew that I wanted to pull out a die that I have had in my collection and never used.  The reason I never used it?  Because it is so fiddeley and I didn't know how I was going to get the thing stuck down, cos the stems of the flower are so minute!   However, on the onlinecardclass I did recently, I saw one of the instructors use a nifty little tool called a Sticker Maker.   Now, I may have been sleeping, but I had never seen one before.   I have one now... and it was perfect for this die cut!

Here's my card:

See what I mean?  I could never have applied that die cut to paper even with a glue pen.  With the sticker maker it was a breeze.  I ran the die through my Big Shot with Wild Wasabi card stock and a piece of Calypso Coral dsp from the Sent with Love set.   I used a piece of that same DSP for the vertical layer on the left hand side, too.

Well, you know the drill :-)  Pop along to seize the birthday and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards.  Lots of great inspiration for you there.

On a personal note:

No sighting of Archimedes today!  We think he must have been holed up for the day in another part of his range.  We hope he comes back tomorrow.

Today we bumped into our next door neighbors parents.  They were checking out the progress on their daughter's house.  Well, they are building two houses down from us and will be moving in a couple of months after our next door neighbors.  They are a fabulous couple and just as passionate about the wetland and nature as their daughter!  So, we now have three houses out of the 4 who are restoring their gardens, taking down the buckthorn, replacing with native planting and putting up bird houses and feeders!   It was really wonderful to hear that they were so excited.   As for us?  Well, anything that improves the lot for our wild friends is a good thing!

Oh... before I go.  I wanted to share a photo of a fabulous light fitting I found.   We liked the one in the stairwell going up to the bedroom level.  It was nice.   But, I saw this stunning one online and couldn't resist it.  It was really hard to get a photo of it with any sort of scale.  It's nearly two feet in diameter, but doesn't look that in the photo.

Here's a calose up of the detail.... It's awesome!

Now, I don't know about you... but that reminds me of the NY city skyline.   Or the Hong Kong skyline.  and... I LOVE IT!!!!

That's all for tonight!  Have a fabulous Monday and, as always, thank you for stopping by my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits and your comments do mean a great deal to me.

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card ingredients - all SU unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Calypso Coral, Whisper White
• DSP:  Sent with Love
• Die:  My favorite things
• Sentiment:  Skipping Stones - Dandelion Wishes
• Inks:  Basic Black
• Accessories:  Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

Easy Events for Enchanted Makeovers and card drive updates

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday.

Firstly, continued thoughts and prayers for all those people who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  The devastation that has emerged is so hard to grasp and my hearts go out to those families who have lost loved ones and their homes.

During the last week or so, I have been busy trying to make cards for Enchanted Makeovers.  In case you missed my post on this particular card drive, or need a refresher on how you can help, you can check out the post here.  One lucky participant will win a place on one of Jennifer McGuire's onlinecardclasses.  This is a great prize, as you get to choose the card class that you want to attend.  I'm currently enrolled in the Holiday Card Workshop and it's fantastic.  We are only finished day 4, but I have already learned so many techniques and neat things to do with holiday cards.

So, if you would like the chance to win a free spot - as well as the SU candy that I am offering up, all you need to do is participate.  :-)  I've set myself a goal of 1000 cards... and could really do with some more help. 

On that note, I would like to say a big thank you.... a HUGE THANK YOU... to Rosie, Judi and Pam who have already sent me their cards.  They are fabulous cards and I can't wait to share them with you.... and I know the recipients will love them, too!

You have until 11/23 to get cards in to me, so there is still time to let me know that you will be participating :-)

I also wanted to give you an update on the OWH card drive.  400 cards winged their way to OWH this past week.  Once again, my blog readers came through and helped out with that card drive.  You guys rock!

Here's one of the cards that I made using the Easy Events set.  I paired it with the Nursery Nest DSP.  I don't normally make cards with this color scheme, but I thought it was perfect for a female card and, I have to admit, actually enjoyed playing with these colors!   I also couldn't help myself and had to get my gelly roller and some some sparkle.  Sadly, you can't see that... but I promise you it's all over the cupcake topping and on cake plate base! 

I've also tried to stamp a little something for interest on the envelopes and on the inside of the cards.  For this one, I forgot to take a photo of that, but I stamped a couple of the birds from the Aviary set in Wisteria on both the left corner of the card, and the envelope.

I'm off to go and make some more cards, as I am WAAAAAAAY behind on the number of cards I need to make each day.  WAAAAAY behind.  What with work, and the fact that Lou is traveling every week, it's really tough to get the time in my stamp room that I need.

As always, thank you for stopping by my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Warm hugs and prayers for those who need a lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe:  All ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz
• Stamps:  Aviary, Easy Events
• Inks:  Copic Markers
• DSP:  Nursery Nest
• Accessories:  In Color brads
• Tools:  EK Success punch, Sizzix tag die.  Big Shot.  Stampin' Dimensionals

I Dig You - Paper Players 119

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.

The fabulous Nance has a great sketch for us this week.  I had so much fun playing with it and, from what I have seen of ther other design team member's cards - they did, too!

My regular readers will know that I am currently involved in a card drive to support women and children in shelters around the country for Enchanted Makeovers.  You can read more about this on this post.  Consequently, almost all of the cards I am making right now are for this drive.  I knew that I needed more children's cards and decided this layout would be a great one for one of my all time favorite boys stamps - I Dig You.

I had even more fun with my grater and some Early Espresso card stock.   Here's what I did... you cal click to photos to make the bigger:

Isn't that cool?  I was going to use some flocking powder, but I didn't have the right color, so took out an old grater with a very fine grating surface and went to work.  The result was great!  I really cannot remember where I first read about this - I think it was on splitcoaststampers.  But its a cool way to create texture if you don't have flocking powder.

The other thing that I did was add Crystal Effects to my digger.

I really love the new Crystal Effects that SU is shipping.  One of my biggest issues with CE has been the fact that it gums up and makes it so difficult to use.  I tried putting a pin in there and all that happened was that the glue made the pin rusty!  So, I was thrilled when I found that the new CE from SU has a stopper inside the top that stops the CE from gumming up.  AWESOME!

Here's my full card:

• Of course, I had to get out my Wonderfully Worn background stamp to create some dirt.  I had inked it up with Crumb Cake ink and then decided that it needed a little more dirt for dimension, so I got out my Early Espresso marker and my Color Spritzer and added some darker dirt. 
•  I inked up the animals in the set in More Mustard and stamped them onto a spare piece of Very Vanilla.  I fussy cut around the giraffe and colored his spots, the top of his horns and his mane with Early Espresso marker.  I added him onto the page after the Crystal Effects had dried.
• I inked along the edges of the Very Vanilla circle with Cajun Craze ink

I was really pleased with the overall outcome and hope that it brings joy to some little boy!

Don't forget to check out what the other Design Team members have created for your inspiration - you won't be disappointed.  Then, pop along to the Paper Players and join us this week.

 

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil

Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

As always, thank you for stopping by my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  Thoughts and prayers for those of you in the path of Hurricane Sandy.  Have a safe Sunday.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
• Inks:  Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
• Staps:  I Dig You
• Tools:  Big shot.  Nestabilities circle dies.  Cheese grater.  Crystal Effects.  Color Spritzer
• DSP:  Regals Patterns Pack

Watercolor Winter for FabFridays

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday.

This will be a short post as Lou and I are celebrating our anniversary tonight!

FabFridays have a great sketch challenge that I almost missed!  I think I am squeaking in just under the wire on this one.

Here's the sketch:

I decided to do something a little different with the Watercolor Winter set.  I know it's a great Christmas set, but got to thinking that it should be good for other cards around this time of the year.  I pulled out some gold embossing powder and Always Artichoke ink, did some masking - and this is what I came up with

Of course, I had to use my new SU labels and piercing template :-)  I also decided to do the base of the card in Gold Metallic card stock to help complement the gold embossing.

Don't forget to pop along to the FabFriday site and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards.

On a personal note:

I did have to share a couple of photos with you tonight.  Here's a photo of the pumpkins that we carved (sorry its a little blurry..... but I think you still get the idea :-) )

I've always wanted to put hay bales on a front porch.  This year is the first year that we have been able to do that - as it's the first year we have had a front porch :-)   The spider... LOVE the spider... we got him at Pottery Barn.  His name is Fred :-)

Here's what it looks like at night

As always, thank you for visiting my little corner of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visits and support are very much appreciated - as are your comments :-)

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

jaydee

Carry On

Hi Everyone.

I've been dying to use the new SU hostess set called Carry On.  I saw two challenges that inspired me to get it out and ink it up!

Fab Fridays color challenge  and Retro Sketches sketch challenge

  

I LOVE the colors - so hot and on trend.  I loved the retro sketch cos it allowed me to use multiple stamps from the Carry On set.

Here's my card

I used the little handbag stamp on the Sahara Sand DSP layer, as well as on the squares. Of course, every girl needs a little bling, right?

You really should check out the design team and submission cards for both of these great sites.

On a personal note:

Just a couple more days and our list of things to do seems not to be shrinking!  I think we underestimated how long some of these jobs would take.  Of course, we are still trying to settle into the house now that furniture has arrived :-)  If the furniture had arrived earlier, we wouldn't be in this mad frantic rush.  However, it is really starting to feel like home now that the furniture is here, boxes are totally unpacked (except for a couple), some paintings are on the wall.  One of the great things about having Pam and John here is that we will finally get to enjoy our house as just about everything will be done and we will be able to live in it as opposed to settling in :-)

The weather was COLD today.  It got to 60 as a high.  We noticed a very large flock of red shouldered blackbirds, grackles and a couple of stragglers gathering on the spare lots in front of the house.  The bluebirds and the robins are also gathering.  They can feel the cold weather coming in.

The birds are going to have a tough time this year on their migration.  With the massive drought there is a huge lack of nectar flowers, insects and seeds.   So, if you are thinking about putting out feeders - now is the time to do it.  Any food you can put out, or water, you will be helping those millions of birds who will be battling to find food and water on their migration route.  

Feeding the hummers is easy.   All you need is plain old granulated sugar (no artificial sweetners).   Mix 1/4 cup of granulated sugar with 1 cup of hot water.  Let it cool and put it into a hummer feeder. Make sure you clean it out with hot water (no soap) every couple of days and refill.  The hummers will thank you for doing it and all it takes is the outlay of a hummer feeder.  The mini humzinger feeder is by FAR the best hummer feeder out there.  I've tried so many over the years.  This is easy to fill and really, really easy to clean.  An outlay of $12 dollars, some sugar and hot water, will bring you much joy as you watch the little hummers.    

So, I hope you will join all of us who want to make this migration season as easy as we can for our feathered friends.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits - and your comments - do mean a great deal to me.

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe - all SU unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, So Saffron
• DSP:  Sahara Sand Patterns pack
• Stamps:  Carry On.   sentiment - W9Plus
• Inks:  Basic Gray, So Saffron
• Ribbon:  Satin Stitched Summer Startfruit - I hope the FabFri team are OK that I substituted this because I didn't have So Saffron ribbon. :-)

I Dig You - Paper Players 108

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.

The Paper Players challenge this week is a great color challenge from the talented Ann.  When I have a color challenge, I generally go looking for a sketch for inspiration.  I found a fabulous one across at retrosketches.

Here's the color scheme and the sketch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This color scheme really felt masculine to me, so I decided to go with that.  Then I looked at the sketch and that gave me an idea for the stamp set.  Not one I use very often, but love!  I pulled out the I Dig You set and stamped it onto very vanilla card stock.  However, I felt it needed much more ooooomppppph.  So I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler and then again in Not Quite Navy.  After I stamped it, I felt it needed something more!  So, I took out my markers and colored over the stamped areas.  I then cut it out and covered it with Crystal Effects.  I left it to the side for several hours to let it dry whilst I carried on with other things.  

Here's what I came up with

Of course, I had to get out my Color Spritzer and use my Crumb Cake and Early Espresso markers to make some dirt!

Instead of the normal wheels, I added two mis-matched buttons instead.  I used my craft knife to cut out the window of the truck.  I mounted the Crumb Cake circle above the Cherry Cobbler circle with dimensionals.  Talking about dimension, I really thought it needed some on the base layer, so out came my scoring board :-)  All that was left to do was to raise the truck on dimensionals and adhere the buttons.

Here's a close up of the truck and buttons

I love the fact that the truck is so shiny.  I think it really does add something to the focal image.

The Paper Players would love you to play along with Ann's color challenge this week.  I know that the design team at Retrosketches would love it if you played along with them, too. 

Don't forget to check out the Paper Player design team inspiration cards - they've outdone themselves again this week.

• Jen
• Dawn
• Helen
• Nance
• Anne Marie
• LeAnne
• Ann
• Amy

On a personal note:

It's been a very long week and it felt good to actually get into my stamping space to do a little playing.  I got three cards made and Lou and I managed to get some jobs done around the house.  I hemmed 4 curtains.  Lou hung the curtain rod.  We hung a 120# mirror in the dining room.  That was quite some feat I can tell you!!!!  We also put up our first piece of "decorative stuff"!!  It's fabulous!  When I bought it, I wasn't quite sure what the right spot would be.  However, once it arrived, I knew exactly where it would go.  I'll take a photo for you and share it with you sometime this week.

The house is starting to take shape and we are loving being here.  Every day I pinch myself just to make sure that it is real.  Mind you, it is just over 5 weeks until Pam and John arrive to visit with us and we still have SO much to get done before they arrive!

Whilst standing on the deck today, I noticed today that our Blue Birds have flown the coop.  I also realized that the House Wren has left.  We still have the Orioles though - oh, and our sugar obsessed Hoary woodpecker!  I swear I am going to have to do an intervention with him one of these days. :-)

As always, thank you for visiting my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Have a beautiful Sunday

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Open Sea for my darling hubby

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

Tomorrow is August 7.  Tomorrow is my darling hubby's birthday.  Lou is currently on his way back from Texas.  He left home at 5.30 am on Saturday morning and will be getting on a plane to come home just about now.  Since he left home on Saturday morning, he has had 3 hours sleep!  He worked straight through the weekend and I know he is going to be really tired tomorrow.  So, tonight's post is for Lou.

Even though Lou has travelled so much this year, he has done his best to do as many jobs around the house as he could since we moved into our new home.  That included painting the porch at 1.30 am on July 4th.  yep... it was the only time he could do it.  He soldiered through the heat, the dark and the humungous mosquitoes, just cos I wanted the porch painted!  He repainted the study, he painted a wall in the master bedroom and he painted walls in the basement family room... just because I thought they would look better!  He really is pretty amazing.  On top of that, he is the only man I know who would hold my Louis Vuitton handbag outside a restaurant because I wanted to run around taking pictures.  

Don't you think it suits him? :-)

Lou.... thank you for everything you do for me.  Happy, happy, birthday!

About the card..... As we both love cruising, I thought the nautical themed card was the right idea.  I paired it with some Wonderfully Worn DSP and my new favorite color - Midnight Muse.   I made the tag out of Very Vanilla card stock, but it was a little too bright, so I used the Tea Stain distress ink from the distressing kit to tone it down. The new Early Espresso ribbon was the perfect thing to finish off the tag.  (I used a non-SU button) and some linen twine to secure the ribbon.  I really do love this set and I hope Lou likes his card.

As Lou and I are going out to dinner tomorrow night, I will not be posting tomorrow.  But I will be back on Wednesday.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  I really do appreciate your visits and your comments.

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Have a wonderful Tuesday....... Lou... have a wonderful birthday and I hope this year brings you all that you wish for yourself.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

PP106 - Lesley's Theme Challenge and blog candy

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.

Before Lesley went on her blogging break, she created a great Tic Tac Toe theme challenge for us this week.  I had fun playing along with this and actually used it to make 3 cards today.  We really hope you will join us across at the Paper Players for this very fun challenge.

For this particular card I started from the top left - Circles, then thru the center - dry embossing and all the way to the bottom right - Punches.  After I had completed my card I realized that it also worked horizontally across the top row!  Circles, Birthday and Favorite Color.

I really wanted to keep the feel clean and simple and, once again, used my new favorite color - Summer Starfruit.  Starfruit is similar in feel to Kiwi Kiss, but is actually a softer color.  I really love it.  I paired it, once again!, with my other favorite color - Midnight Muse.   I SO prefer this color to Night of Navy. 

• Creating the circle elements was fun.  I pulled out my flower die and some of my favorite Patio Party DSP.  I also used some rhinestones to keep the circle theme going.
• For the dry embossing, I used my Fancy Fan embossing folder and chose the debossed side for this card
• For the punch - I used my new butterfly punch and punched out a butterfly from both a piece of Whisper White cardstock and a piece of Vellum.

Here's what I came up with:

I was really pleased with it.  It took me forever... in fact all my cards seem to be taking me forever to complete.  I think it's because I'm not spending a lot of time in my crafting space.  When I don't get much time to play, I really do get rusty.  It takes me longer to compose the layout.  Much longer to figure out what I'm going to do... all round... everything just seems to take longer!

Now that you have seen what I made, pop along to the other design team members and see the fabulous inspiration they have for you.

Jen

Vicki

Dawn

Nance

LeAnne

Anne Marie

Ann

Amy

Helen

On a personal note:

Well, I am not sure about you, but we certainly watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last night.  I absolutely loved it.  It was so incredibly high tech, but so low tech.  Rowan Atkinson was a scream!  The new BOND girl is AWESOME!  (I screamed with laughter when I realized what was going to happen!)  The smoke stacks appearing out of the ground, the tree rising to let a flood of people come out from underneath it; the children and staff of GOSH brought tears to my eyes.  I didn't want to turn away as there were so many cultural, humorous and historical references that I was worried I would miss something.  I think I got all of them except one.   The pink parade of polyester people!   That really threw me for a loop.  (Found out later that it was a parade of Sargent Peppers.  Mmmmm... not exactly a musical, or fashion - or anything icon - that I like to remember! :-) ) 

I did think that it would have been pretty hard for non-Brits to understand a lot of it, but Danny Boyle had said that these opening games were a homage to the Brits, for the Brits and for the thousands of volunteers.  I loved that the 500 construction workers lined the entry into the arena.  I LOVED the moments of silence for those who had lost their lives in both World Wars.

It was a display of Brits at their best.  Self-deprecating, understated, ridiculous humor, patience and a passion for the "common man"!  So, my hat goes off to Danny Boyle for making me proud - oh, and for keeping me entertained for over 3 hours.  Hats off, too, for managing to capture Brits who are no longer with us in the videos - and for sharing the spotlight with Mohammed Ali.   I also loved the fact that the flame was lit, not by the Olympians themselves - but a nod to the future of athletics.

My gobsmacking moment came when I realized that they were actually going to forge a ring from the firey molten liquid and raise it to become the fifth ring of the Olympic rings.  AWESOME.  Then, watching the joy on the faces of the athletes as they took their walk of pride.  I loved the cauldron and the way it all came together.  So many great moments. 

So, what about you?  What did you all think about the ceremony.  What was your favorite part?  What sport will you be following over the next 16 days?  Leave me a comment on this post and I will draw a winner for a spot blog candy prize.   What is it?   Oooo.... you will have to wait and find out. :-)

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

Hugs

Jaydee

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

• Card stock:  Summer Starfruit.  Whisper White.  Vellum
• Inks:  Midnight Muse
• DSP: Patio Party
• Sentiment:  Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)
• Accessories:  Rhinestones - non-SU
• Tools:  Big Shot.  Flower Die.  Butterfly Punch.  Fancy Fan embossing folder

 

Patio Party Cupcake

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday.  I don't know about you, but I am so looking forward to the weekend!

You may remember that I made a card for my friend the baker in this post.  Well, I had forgotten that I had made a card that was the absolute opposite of this clean and simple card.

I really do try, occasionally, to get outside of my CAS comfort zone, especially when I try a challenge that does exactly that!  This card came from a challenge, I can't remember what sketch challenge it was, but it had more layers than I would normally use and thought it would be a good thing to stretch my wings a little.

Well, I don't know.  Sometimes I think I should just stick with my usual style.  It's not that there is anything wrong with the sketch, it's just that I didn't do as Coco Chanel advised.  "Look in the mirror before you leave the house and remove at least 3 accessories!"  errrrr... in this case... she was so right!

Here's my card anyway... just in case it spurs any creative thoughts for you on any of the elements - or if you just like the layout!

I REALLY do love this DSP, btw.  If you haven't looked at the Patio Party DSP, you really should go check it out again.  I did have fun coloring this digital image and thought it was great that it matched the DSP!

On a personal note:

Cherie, thank you for reminding me about the cashmere sweater, snapping turtle episode!  I had forgotten all about that! 

Well, our mattress arrived today.  I think it is a hit.  It arrived whilst I was on one of my interminable conference calls, so wasn't really able to do much except look at it and sign the paperwork.  So, after I finished work tonight, I went upstairs to get a better look.  Er.  Ummmm... There were 4 cats sprawled out across the bed and it was just one big purr fest!  So, I think it must be comfortable!

I wanted to share a picture of Gilberta with you tonight!

She discovered some bread that Lou had put out.  She sniffed around and decided that there might be something there that she was interested in.  

So, she settled down on her haunches and decided to investigate further!

Nope... she didn't eat the bread.  She was actually picking out the raisins from inside the slices!  Very smart.

Ooooo... furniture arrives tomorrow.  However, the furniture delivery has, honestly, been like a Buster Keaton meets the Three Stooges meets the Keystone Cops routine.  It has been a disaster.  It would take me an hour, and a bottle of wine, to tell you all the things that have gone wrong with these furniture orders.  It's gotten to the point now where all I can do is laugh.  Laughing is the only way I maintain my temper :-)

So... tomorrow... something is arriving.  However, 3 different people have told me 3 different things about what is actually being delivered.  I checked all three lists and tried to find the commonalities.  So far, the only thing that is common across the 3 lists is the cupboard for Lou's office and a mirror!   I'll let you know what really does arrive when I know :-)

As always, thank you for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits and your comments do mean a great deal to me.  Also, just a reminder, it is your comments that drive what you see on my blog.  Without feedback I don't know that you are getting what you want from my posts :-)

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Have a beautiful Thursday

Jaydee

Summer Starfruit, Fancy Fan kinda birthday!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.  I hope you all had a great week!

I have a quick card for you tonight, using two of my favorite all time colors.  Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse.  I really do LOVE these colors.   I saw this great layout across and cleanandsimple stamping and couldn't wait to use it.

I needed a birthday card for a colleague who is an awesome baker!  For her birthday I bought herthe "Sweet Holidays" Pressed Cookie Stamps and the Season of Sweets Designer Kit.  I thought those, along with this birthday card, would be just the ticket.  I didn't have the right sentiment - so off to MDS again....  Ann R...... MDS is My Digital Studio! :-)  I love MDS and am thrilled that the new version is coming out VERY soon.  I will certainly be getting an upgrade.  

Here's my card

I just love SU's new butterfly punch.  It is such a pretty shape.  I thought that I would create the butterfly from the butterfly DSP in Patio Party.  It really is such a pretty DSP pack.  All that was needed to added a little bling was some non-SU glass pearls.  I hope she likes her present!

On a personal note:

Oh... more furniture arrived today!  Yes... two chairs for the great room arrived and we LOVE them.   Yes, LOVE them.  They might be the only thing we have in the great room... but it is better than two camping chairs!  Tonight we get to move around the furniture that arrived for the basement.  I wasn't able to move it around when it - finally - arrived on Thursday, as Lou was out of town (again!) and it was much too heavy for me to move alone.  We don't actually have a single room that is complete.  I mean, it's pretty hard to hang paintings and decorative pieces, when you actually don't have furniture.   :-)  But, it is getting there!   We now have a full bedroom suite - yes, the bed finally arrived.  However, we don't have a mattress for the new bed, so have to go organize that tomorrow!

The weather finally broke... but only for a short time.  It was wonderful whilst it lasted though!  This heatwave is really exhausting and I find myself yearning for the cooler weather of fall.

I can't close my blog tonight without talking about that wretched shooting in Colorado.   Kids.  How can you deliberately shoot young kids?  I just DONT GET IT!!!!  I just don't know how to verbalize my feelings.  It makes me angry.  It makes me sad.  It makes me....well... I just can't say.  All I can say is that my heart, and my prayers, go out to the victims and families of all of those affected by this heinous act.

Warm hugs and prayers for all of you who need a little lift tonight.  I hope your Saturday is filled with the sound of laughter and the feel of a warm hug.

Jaydee

 

Fantabulous You for Freshly Made

Hi Everyone. Happy Monday

The talented gals across at Freshly Made had a great sketch this week.  I really knew what I wanted to do with it the minute I saw it.... but.... I'm not sure what came out on my crafting table, was quite what I had in mind!

Here's the sketch

I changed out the central element from being oval to a label instead.  That's because I knew that I wanted to use one of the sentiments from the SU MDS Digital Stamp set - Fantabulous You.  Once I saw the sentiment, I knew that I had to pull out my most favorite DSP - Patio Party!

Here's what I came up with

I am really in love with Summer Startfruit - and I really didn't think I would be!  I madly in love with Midnight Muse and I am in love with this DSP.  I honestly think that these are the best In Colors that SU has come out with and I hope they stick around.  Summer Starfruit reminds me of Kiwi Kiss, but is much softer.  The DSP - is AWESOME.  I haven't found a sheet that I don't like.

Because the image of the cupcakes and pinwheels is pretty bold, I decided to soften it with vellum.  Always my go to technique when I want to send a pattern "to the back".  I am really excited that SU is coming out with MDS2 later this year.  This upgrade will definitely be on my purchase list.  One of the great features it is going to have........ you can print a "stamp" with more than one color!

Well, I know that the lovely gals across at Freshly Made will love you to pop by on Wednesday when they reveal a new sketch.  The sketches really are fresh!

On a personal note

Oh... yeah!!!!! This is me doing the happy dance.   Twist. Turn. Jump. Shout.  Scream!  Why?  Furniture is arriving tomorrow!  Some of our furniture for the great room is arriving.  Our chairs for the dining table are arriving.  Lou's desk chair is arriving.  Our media console for the downstairs family room is arriving.   Our bedside tables and dresser are arriving.  mmmmmm... Pity the bed isn't arriving, too!  We still have lots of holes.  For example, dinette chairs with no dinette table!  A media console but no furniture.  Our side chairs for the great room are not arriving for another week.  Oh.... and our coffee table for the great room.  Mmmm... sometime in OCTOBER!  We can't get paintings on the wall and things until the furniture is in place, so it's going to be a little while until we are settled... but I am so happy that we will have something to sit on other than a camp chair!

Linda.... as you enjoy seeing the pics of the "animal of the day" :-)  I have a new bird picture for you.  This little fella has been hanging around on top of the hummer feeder shepherd hook.  It took me a while to work out what he is.... He's and Eastern Phoebe.  You can learn more about him here. 

I can't leave without another pic of my very handsome Bailey.  He loves the new scratching post we bought.  You might be wondering why on earth it is in the middle of the carpet in the entry hall.  Ah.. that's because they have been using the carpet as a scratching post!  So, we bought a new scratching post, covered it in catnip, all in the hopes that it will cure them of scratching our gorgeous carpet.   Bailey... well, he really is a bit of a catnip addict!

I have a favor to ask all of you with prayer lists.  Please can you list the daughter of the young couple who have purchased our old house to your prayer list.  She is going in for brain surgery and I'd like to be able to send her, and her parents, all the positive vibes and prayers that I can send through the universe.

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  May Tuesday bring you joy and happiness.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe - all ingredients SU unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse
• Stamp:  MDS Fantabulous You
• Ink:  Midnight Muse
• DSP:  Patio Party
• Tools:  Labels die - Nestabilities.  White satin ribbon courtesy of Tiffany (from a present Lou bought me years ago!).  Basic pearls.  Vellum

Sketch and Cupcakes for the Monkey

HI Everyone.  Happy Saturday.  Hope you are all have a great weekend so far.

I was honored to be chosen as a guest designer across at alacardmonkey this week after this card was chosen as a winner.

The team have a fabulous challenge this week and I really enjoyed playing along. 

I didn't actually have a cupcake stamp - so surfed the net and found a fabulous digi image that was just perfect.  Using a cupcake also gave me a great excuse to use some more of the Le Pouf and add some glitter on top:-)

Here's my take on the challenge:

I printed the cupcake out on card stock and then colored it and adorned it with the Le Pouf, left it to dry and then heated it with my heat gun.  That gives it that fabulous puffy appearance - just like frosting.  I then added some Crystal Effects and sprinkled some glitter on top of the "frosting".  Here's a closer look:

 

Of course, I HAD to add a little Crystal Effects on the cherry, too!  The base of the card is layered with some of my new favorite card stock from Amuse.  I really do love the look of this venetian pattern and the color is the perfect color of hot Italian coffee - what better thing to go with a cupcake:-)

We hope that you will join us across at alacardmonkey this week.  I can't wait to see what all of you could do with this fun challenge.

On a personal note:

This week has been crazy.  The house is chaos.  Boxes everywhere.  10 years of paper work that needs shredding.  Cupboards opened, emptied and cleaned.  Bags of stuff to be tossed all over the garage.   It's CRAZY.  The cats are a lttle discombobulated by all of this and even Bailey, who is normally very calm and collected, is really not sure what this is all about.   We have guys coming to clean furniture this week.  We'd much rather clean the couches on our old flooring than on the new!  We have had electricians in, plumbers in, a handyman in and this week the builder is coming to replace a tiny little piece of siding that is peeling.   We know for sure that our house is in better condition when we hand it over, than it was when it was handed to us!

We were at the house again today planning out the patio spaces, the driveway and the walkway with the builder.  The painters are still in the house and there are cupboard doors and drawers all over drying.  All of the cupboards have been stained and they are covered up - as are the floors and every other surface!   Lou and I are debating not going to see the inside again until the day we do the walkthrough.  Because so much is covered and is still not complete, we think it will be fabulous to see it all together when it is finished.  We still haven't seen any of the countertops, backsplash tile, fireplace tile, stained doors, our front door - none of that stuff.  Let's see if we can hold out :-)

We were pleased to see that our little chickadees are still nesting in the tree in front of our deck.  We got our chairs out this afternoon and had a take away lunch on the deck and enjoyed the sunshine and peace and quiet.  Needless to say, we weren't looking forward to coming home to the mess that is our current house.

Oh... yeah... and the least said about Lou's speeding fine the better!  He got it on the way back from the house.  He was doing 72mph - and accelerating  - in what he discovered was a 55mph zone!  I don't know what it is about him when he's driving around the metro area..... as my regular blog readers will remember what happened at our anniversary dinner!!!!

Tomorrow its more packing, more sorting, more cleaning and doing stuff around the garden.  We need to wash the deck and lay down mulch and put some annuals in the beds - all to make the house look extra pretty!

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday night and that you will come back and visit with me tomorrow when I reveal my card for the Paper Players challenge this week.

As always, thank you for your visit.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a lift tonight.

Hugs
Jaydee

Card recipe:

Card stock:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Whisper White.  (Stampin' Up!) Venetian patterned card stock (Amuse).  Stamps: - sentiment - So Happy For You (Stampin' Up!).  Tools/Accessories:  Le Pouf (Amuse).  Dazzling Diamonds glitter (SU).  Scalloped Border Punch (SU)

Happy Birthday for Casestudy

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

Before anything else I'd like to give a shout out to Jeanne!   Jeanne, thank you so much for your card.  It was a wonderful surprise - and it is a gorgeous card!  You really made my day.  Thank you for remembering me.  Big hugs.

I saw a fabulous card across at casestudy again this last week. Laura's clean and simple style is fabulous and I was really attracted to the white space, the colors and the peaks of the houses.

Click on the link and go check out her truly gorgeous card.  You can also see the many amazing ways the design team and the submission cards have gone.   Great inspiration.

Here's my take on it

You can see that I was obviously inspired by the color scheme!   Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard and Old Olive are a gorgeous combination and one that I have not put together before.   To create the feel of the peaks, I used a chevron stamp that I colored using markers.  I did the same with the Happy Birthday sentiment, as well.  Can you see the inspiration?

On a personal note:

Lou and I were up doing things for the house the last couple of days.  I need to take advantage of the fact that he is actually in town for a few days!   We went shopping for furniture... it was only when we did a review of what furniture was coming with us, that we realized we had a lot of empty spaces.  It was great fun visiting Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, West Elm and Pottery Barn looking at furniture.  We found some awesome stuff - now we just need to agree on it before we order!!!!

We also met with the landscaper's today and got a surprise.  Part of the wooden wetland that we didn't think is part of our property is, in fact, our property.  On the converse of that... part of the open area right on the side of the house that we thought was on our property - is part of the spare block next door.  We think the people who might build next door would have been a little surprised to find that we had already created a patio and a little garden for them as a housewarming present:-)    However, having more of the wooded wetland is a fabulous thing!  So, we just have to find a new place for the patio.   We also found today that the city is starting to restore the wetland to its natural plantings which is wonderful for us.  So, a very eventful couple of days!

We had expected to be able to take some pictures of great progress.... errrrr... not really.... they were supposed to have put all the siding up over the last week or so, but we got there and found that they are only doing it this week!!!  However, we did get to see some of the flooring being layed today.  That was really exciting.

As always, thank you for visiting my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visits and your support are much appreciated.    Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift today.

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Cajun Craze, Whisper White.  (SU)
• Inks:  More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Old Olive (SU)
• Stamps:  Chevrons, Birthday Greetings (Amuse Studio)
• Accessories:  Buttons (Bag 'o Buttons)

PP83 - Clean and Simple Masculine Challenge

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.

The fabulous Anne Marie has a great challenge for us across at the Paper Players this week.

I was tempted to go the route of dark colors and wildlife or nautical but decided that it was a good time to challenge myself and make a child's card.   I never make cards for children and decided it was about time that I did. 

Now... the card that you see, is NOT the card that I started out to make.  I had chosen the harlequin paper from the Big Top Birthday DSP.  I loved the turquoise, red and white color scheme.  I was getting ready to cut a piece to act as the backdrop to my sentiment when I turned over the DSP and noticed that the big top would fit perfectly on my card base.  Ah.  Ha.  Light bulb moment!  That changed the whole card!  Of course, I had to dress up the inside, too!

Here's my take on the challenge

I used a non-SU sentiment and stamped it in red craft ink and used clear embossing powder and heat set it.  That gave a little shine to the sentiment, which I thought was perfect.  All that was needed to finish it off was a few silver pearls.  I was really pleased with it - and it was much better than my original card idea!  I added two smaller, flat, pearls to the top of the posts to add a little more interest.

Here's what I did with the inside.  I used some of the same DSP and adhered that to the inside card base and covered it with vellum to allow for the stamped sentiment and a hand-written greeting.

As I adhered the vellum only at the top of the card, the recipient can lift the vellum and have a good look at the strong man and lion underneath.

Supplies - all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

• Card stock:  Tempting Turqouise, Whisper White
• DSP:  Big Top Birthday
• Ink:  Real Red craft ink.  Basic Black for the inside sentiment
• Accessories:  Silver pearls (non SU)

Well, now it's your turn.  We hope that you join the Paper Players this week - we can't wait to see what you do with this great challenge.  Don't forget to pop along to see what the fabulous team have cooked up for you in terms of inspiration, too!

On a personal note

Lou and I couldn't resist a trip up to the house yesterday and a side trip to West Elm, Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel.  As the cats are now fine, it was safe to spend a few hours away from them, knowing that they wouldn't need pills or other medications!  So, we made the most of the time that we had and really made a day of it.   Not much had happened at the house as they are waiting for the framing inspection.... but... they had marked out the cupboards and so we found this on the floor!

Yes... a marker for the cooktop!!!!!  I could stand there and look out and see the view that I would have whilst cooking.  Generally the builder puts the sink in this spot (in the center island) and the cooktop against the wall.  We changed that.... I really wanted to have the cooktop in the island so that I could see the view and enjoy it - rather than looking at the wall.   It took a lot of rearranging and stuff to get it there... but in the end, we managed to get it agreed to!

I also took a photo of the place where the patio is going next to the trees.  We want to put down a patio with a picnic table and a fire pit here.  The views are fabulous from here and we think it will be wonderful in spring, summer and fall.... so long as we use Citronella Candles that is!!!

Well, I am off to go try to make another card.  It felt good to get into my stamping space knowing that I could hang out there for a couple of hours and that no-one needed me for anything.  Well, the house needed some cleaning... but I decided that could wait!!!

Warm hugs and prayers for those who need a little lift tonight.  Beth, it was so good to see you comment. I was worried about you and was thinking on the way back from the house that I should send you an email and check that you were OK... and... then saw your message!

Have a beautiful Sunday everyone.

Hugs

Jaydee

Kick Up Your Heels and Have Fun!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

I'd like to start tonight by thanking all of you who read my Lest We Forget post and left comments, or sent emails, providing your own remembrances on 9/11 and how it changed your life.  I really appreciated you sharing.  Pammie, who had not read my post, sent me an email reminding me that she had no idea where I was on that day, all she knew was that both Lou and I travelled extensively, well, weekly and all she could do was hope that we were not affected.  She also reminded me that we should celebrate friends, as so many friends were affected that day.  I thought it was a wonderful idea.  I celebrate not only my friend of almost 50 years... Pammie... but all of you my cyber-friends.

I have a quick card for you tonight... Lou and I are still trying to enjoy a little down time at home where the weather is in the 90s.  Yep.  the 90s!!!

I made this card for the splitcoast clean and simple challenge.  As well as being a CAS card, they asked that you include images of footwear.  Well, as a collector of shoes... this set was a perfect set for me and I couldn't wait to bling it up.  Of course, this card was one of those included in the OWH box!

So.... for all of you... I hope that on Tuesday you, too, are able to do something that allows you to kick up your heels and have a little fun!

As always, thank you for your visit and warm hugs and prayers for all of you who need a little lift tonight.  As well as a warm hug for those of you who sent one to me!

Hugs

Jaydee

I Dig You - Paper Players Challenge #62

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.

Tonight's card was made for the Paper Players Challenge #62.  The lovely Lesley has a great challenge for you all this week - and one that is so easy to play along with.  It's a theme challenge and we hope you will join us and play along.  We say goodbye to our fabulous summer design team and August guest designer this week - they did an amazing job.  However, we also say hello to our fabulous Fall Design Team and September guest designer, who are making their debut with this weeks challenge.  I promise you - there are so many great cards to inspire you - you need to go check out the blog post tomorrow.

As I am deep in the middle of getting all the cards ready for delivery to Operation Write Home, I decided I needed to make a birthday card for a little boy.  That gave me a great excuse to use one of the sets that I got from the new catalog in July - I DIG YOU.  In fact, I was sooooo deep in the middle of prepping the cards, that I forgot that I had to make a card for tomorrow's challenge!  Ooooppps... not much time to create this one - about 30 minutes!

I wanted to use fairly bright colors.  As I had just received my Domestic Goddess DSP, I thought this was a great opportunity to use it.  Now, for those of you who have seen the DG DSP, you might be surprised that I used it on a little boy's card, especially considering the fact that it has lots of ironing boards and baking spoons and stuff all over it... well, there are some pieces that are much more versatile! :-)

Here's what I came up with.

I really wasn't sure what sketch to use for the card this week, so I checked out the card sketches across at splitcoast and used sketch number 346.  I think it works really well for this image.

Here's the verse that I printed up for the inside of the card.

Here are the deets on the card - all products Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
• Stamp Set:  I Dig You (clear 122722, wood 122720.  Background "dirt" is from the Wonderfully Worn background stamp.
• Inks:  Basic Gray, Poppy Parade, Pool Party
• DSP: Domestic Goddess (122355)
• Accessories:  Mini silver brads (122941), retired ribbon
• The sentiment is actually from the I Dig You set, but it wasn't quite large enough for my needs.  So I typed up the sentiment and the inside verse on my PC and printed them out.
• Tools:  Stampin' Dimensionals; Paper Snips; Oval and Oval Scallop Punches

On a personal note:

I was privileged today to be able to spend some quality time with all of the cards that you have sent in for our Operation Write Home card drive.   I won't give  you a number yet - not until all the final cards have been received this week, but you guys did well!!!! :-)   I spent from 9pm to 2am this morning going through the cards and again from 10am until 5pm today going through all the cards, stamping the OWH logo on the back, putting them into their envelopes, sorting them, etc. etc. etc.  It's amazing how long it actually takes to do all of that, but the upside of that, means that I get to have a really good look at all those fabulous cards - and fabulous they are!!!

I know that the servicemen/women who are lucky enough to receive these wonderful cards will enjoy them - as will the recipients.  The cards were gorgeous.  So many of you took the time to color, fussy cut images, pop up elements, add wonderful embellishments, stamp the envelopes.... all the cards were fabulous.   I managed to get through all the cards from the following wonderful ladies.... GUYS..... YOU ROCK..... I can't wait to receive the rest of them.

In alphabetical order - here are the very kind submitters of cards for the drive:

Adelle

Andrea

Beth

Brenda

Cam

Cindy

Jan A - all the way from Down Under!

Kelli

Lori

Marcia

Patricia

I can't wait to showcase some of the wonderful cards these fabulous ladies submitted.  I promise you that you will have so much inspiration to draw from.  They really did us all proud.  I am so grateful to you all.    I am eagerly awaiting the cards from Soozie and Rach this week, which will, I believe, round out the people who helped us on this card drive.   If I have missed your name from this list and you have sent me cards, please send me an email and let me know.  You can find my email right under the picture of me, Lou and Fox the Camel.

Shout out to my darling hubby, tonight, who is still in China.  Hurry home will 'ya!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.  I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and that for my blog readers on the East Coast - your power has been restored and life is returning to normal.  For those in the South - stay dry!

Hugs and prayers for those who need a lift tonight.

Jaydee

 

It's a Celebration for Moxie

Hi Everyone.  Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far.

Tonight's card was created from an inspiration photograph across at Moxie.  Cath always manages to find some interesting photographs - often very provocative.  This one was no exception.  The colors are strong.  The design statements very bold.  Always, there is one very unexpected feature.  Sometimes with images such as this, it is hard to find the features you want to focus on.

Here's the photo

My inspiration? This time... it was easy.  The pink background, the black and white carpet, the chartreuse stripe that literally (well visually) goes all the way across the middle of the room.  Finally.  bling.  Whatever happened, it was certain that this card had to have bling!

So, here's what I came up with

 

So, can you see the inspiration?  I even used up some of my exceptionally precious satin Kiwi Kiss and Vanilla ribbon for this card.  It really need the pop of green horizontally to pick up one of the key elements in the inspiration photo.  I decided to take some rhinestones and run them horizontally across the ribbon, and then wrap around the knot.  I thought that wrapping it around the knot helped pick up the chandelier from the inspiration picture.

Here's what is on the card - all components Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Blushing Bride, Basic Black
• Ink: Basic Black
• DSP: Timeless Portrait
• Ribbon: Kiwi Kiss and Very Vanilla satin ribbon (retired)
• Accessories: Basic Rhinestones
• Sentiment: Papertrey Ink

I also thought that, as this is supposed to be a girly card, a double bow on the ribbon was in order!

Don't forget to pop along to moxie and check out the fabulous inspiration and submission cards.  It's always interesting to see how others have interpreted these inspiration photos.

On a personal note:

Windy and warm here today.  The heat index certainly shot up and there were garbage cans flying everywhere up and down the road today.  It's always interesting when one lives on a hill, and its a windy day, and it's garbage day!  Needless to say, I had to go out during the middle of a meeting and secure the garbage can and pick up all sorts of flotsam and jetsam that had landed on the lawn:-)

Thanks to all of you who left such wonderful comments on our deck photos!  We really appreciated it.

Tonight, a huge shout out to KELLY.   Kelly let me know today that she is shipping off cards for our Operation Write Home card drive.  Kelly, thank you so much.  You know that it makes me very happy that you are contributing your time and creative effort to our card drive... but, even more importantly, you now how much it means to the troops and their family members that you have done it! 

Also, I'd like to answer Linda's question tonight... Linda wanted to know what "fussy cutting" is.  Fussy cutting, for me, is when I take a pair of paper snips and cut around every single piece of the image - including all the nooks and crannies and right up to the edge of the image, too.  It takes much longer to "fussy cut" an image, because you really are trying to get the entire image as free of "white space" as you possibly can.   Linda, I hope that helps explain it.

As always, thank you for stopping by my blog.  Your visits, and your comments, are greatly appreciated.  Have a wonderful Thursday, filled with love and laugther.  Hugs and prayers for those in need of a little lift.

Jaydee

Love & Care for Embellish

Hi Everyone.

Happy Tuesday.  I hope you are all having a great week so far.

The challenge across at Embellish Magazine was to create a card using a specific color scheme - and an embossed flower!   Here was the color scheme:

 
I really wanted to keep my image clean and simple.  However, I couldn't decide whether it needed an extra pearl or not... so... I photographed it without - and with - the pearl.  Which do you prefer?

 

The embossed element is, of course, the flower from Love & Care.  I finally got to use some of the fabulous Melon Mambo embossing powder that Brenda shared with me.  Thank you, Brenda!  I stamped the image with Versamark and then embossed it and fussy cut around it and mounted it to the base using Stampin' Dimensionals.  

Here's a closeup for you.  As you can see I placed the pearls onto a circle that I punched out of Very Vanilla card stock.

I stamped the background from Flores Suaves in Crumb Cake onto a Very Vanilla Background.  The sentiment is from Happiest Birthday Wishes, and was stamped in Wild Wasabi.  So, I managed to incorporate all the colors from the challenge, as well as the embossed flower, and still kept it clean and simple. 

Card deets:

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Love & Care, Happiest Birthday Wishes
• Inks:  Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
• Accessories:  Pearls
• Tools:  Melon Mambo embossing powder; Stampin Dimensionals.

On a personal note:

I promised to share the rest of the shots that I took of our deck this weekend.  This is a continuation of last night's post.  Here's a shot from the other side of the deck, our dining section.

 

Then looking back over the dining section, to the relaxing section.

Then, back to where we started.... looking from the garden back to the deck

and I couldn't resist a photo of my favorite little bistro table

Now, all I need to do is show you the before picture.  I need to go trawl through some old photographs and find one to show you.  Then you will realize just how amazingly different the after is.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, filled with love, laughter and time spent doing the things you love.

Hugs and prayers for those who need a lift today.

Hugs

Jaydee

Field Flowers Birthday

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday.  I hope you are all having a great week!

Tonight's card was a quick one that I threw together for the Operation Write Home card drive.  For those of you still contemplating joining us on our card drive, you can find all the details here.  Shout out to Cindy who sent along her cards for the drive.  Way to go, Cindy!  You know you made the day for those troops who will benefit from your lovely creations.

For the card, I wanted to see if I could use the new embossing folder for something other than Christmas.  This embossing folder might be named Snow Burst, but the "bursts" have eight sides and, as most of you will recall, snow flakes actually only have six.  So, I decided to test out my theory of using the embossing folder for something other than Christmas.

I also thought it was a great opportunity to try out the new Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.  Love the stuff.... but.... it does tend to get everywhere, so make sure that you always use your embossing buddy when you are using it. 

Here's my card.  What do you think about the embossing folder - yes or no to something other than Christmas?  I'd really love to hear what you think.  I know you can't see it, but the texture on the embossed flowers is really pretty.

   


Card deets:

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler
• Stamps:  Field Flowers.  Sentiment:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
• Inks: Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
• Tools:  Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Snow Burst Embossing Folder

On a personal note:

The weather has been glorious today.  I had forgotten how gorgeous this weather can be.  In the 70's with low humidity and a slight breeze.  Ah!  Fabulous!  This run of really hot and humid weather has not made me a happy camper.  I hate running the air conditioning so much, but seriously, there was no other option!

Lou and I are going to be changing out the flooring on our main floor.  Right now it's a mixture of wood and carpet.  We really want to take out the carpet and put wood all the way through.  We looked at Lyptus flooring and fell instantly in love.  It is just gorgeous!  It's also a really hard, very sustainable, wood.  It also comes in three luscious colors.  I'll take before and after pics to show you what it looks like.  We are so excited and can't wait to get started.

Lou really enjoyed his birthday weekend and was very touched by all of you who stopped by to leave him birthday wishes.  Thank you to all of you who did!

Don't forget... I'm still looking for wonderful blog visitors to join my stamping family!  The first person who signs up before August 14 gets a wonderful gift from me.  I will include the fabulous new Spice Cake suite from the new mini catty.  That's fabric, matching buttons and DSP and a gorgeous new stamp set.  That's a gift of over a $50 value from me, in addition to the wonderful deal on the starter kit sign up.  All you need to do is send me an email ... you can find my email address under my photograph at the top right of my blog page - and I'll send you all the details.  I'd really love to have you as part of my team.... I'd love to be able to send you your fabulous thank you gift - and you'd make me happy!  :-)  In addition, there is no pressure to buy anything more if you don't want to.

Warm hugs and prayers to all of you.  I hope you have a wonderful Thursday.  A day filled with love, laughter and time spent doing the things you love - with those you love!

Hugs

Jaydee

Cherry on Top

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday night.

Firstly, a quick thank you to all of you who provided input on my stencil card from Wednesday.  I really appreciated you all taking the time to do that.

Secondly, a shout out tonight for Marcia.  She let me know that she has already packaged up 180 cards for the Operation Write Home card drive and that she is prepping more... WAY TO GO, Marcia.  That is, absolutely, phenomenal!

Now, on to tonight's card using the two sets:  Cherish Friendship and A Word for You.  I don't know, but sometimes it just takes me a while to "get into" my sets.  I think this year is going to be no exception.  I loved this cherry image from Cherish Friendship and immediately thought of the sentiment from a Word for You.  However, it took me ages to get the card to come together.  It started to feel like a Goldilocks story!  I tried it with a single image.  too small.  I tried it with a yellow bowl.  too bright.  I tried it with four images.  too big.  honestly, I putzed for ever.

I finall colored the three images, put Crystal Effects on the cherries and left them overnight.  This is what I ended up with... sorry you can't see that the cherries are really nice and shiny!

 

And... let's not forget that I colored the leaves in with my Old Olive marker on one of them instead of Pear Pizazz.  Note to self.  Put pens away immediately after use in THEIR CORRECT SPOT! :-)

I cut out a "spare" cherry from one of my discarded images, snipped it out, and put it as the dot on the "i" in birthday.  This is the only one, I think, that you can see the Crystal Effects.  Yes, Brenda, snipping out the cherry was ultra putzy! :-)

Here's the card deets - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

• Card stock:  Marina Mist, Real Red, Water color paper
• Inks:  Real Red classic ink, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive markers, StazOn, Bashful Blue marker, Night of Navy marker
• Stamps:  Cherish Friendship, A Word for You
• Tools:  paper snips, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-majig

I  couldn't leave without a picture of the sleeping Bailey.  Now, Bailey is a very handsome, very regal, quite large, cat.  However, he is, without a doubt, a big girls blouse.  He loves soft things and has been known to be heard purring from two rooms away when he discovers a soft blanket, or warm sheets taken from the dryer!  He also sleeps with  his mouth open.  I caught this picture of him last night.  Can this be comfortable?  Seriously?

He looks like an old floor mop :-)  Sorry, Bailey :-)

Rach, you know I am still thinking about you, my friend!  Prayers and hugs to everyone who needs a little lift today.

Have a wonderful Saturday.  I hope it is a beautiful day for you, whereever you are.

Hugs

Jaydee

Word Play - Wish Big - for Stamping411

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night. 

I was going to show you a 3D project that I made this weekend.... however, the pictures haven't come out right, so I am going to have to try again to get better pictures later this week!  In the meantime, I have a card to share with you that I made for Stamping411 this week.  This was a challenge that took me out of my right angle comfort zone!  Which is a good thing, right? 

As I was outside my comfort zone, I decided to stay there for a little while longer and actually use a) a stamp set I rarely use.  b) DSP I have only used once and c) embellishments that I hardly use... buttons!

Firstly, here's the great sketch from the operators at 411

Now, I guess you would like to see what I did with it? :-)

OK... put your sunglasses on - you will need them :-)

Now isn't that something different for me?  Actually, I quite like it.  I must admit it made me very happy looking at it after I had stuck down the last button!

The "dot" above the i in "wish" is a star on the stamp.  I looked at it and thought... mmm... needs something different.  I found this little button in my Brights Buttons stack and decided that it reminded me of one of those smiley birthday balloons..... a couple of small Basic Rhinestones really added to that.  Well.. what it really reminded me of, if any of you play Super Mario, was a Luma!  A little yellow Luma!  So, on my card it went.

I also like the fact that it bridged the gap between the three buttons on the top right and the single button on the top left.

The button colors were chosen to bring the colors of the DSP together - and I think they work very well.

Using only the buttons as embellishment, really helped to keep the focus firmly on the sentiment.  As this card is one that I have made for the Operation Write Home card drive, I made it in the hope that some service man or woman would look at it and think it was ideal for their child.  Well, I hope so anyway!

Here are the deets - all supplies Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Pacific Point, Whisper White
• DSP: Celebrations (due to retire 6.30)
• Accessories:  Brights Buttons, Playground Buttons (retired).  Basic Rhinestones
• Stamp:  Word Play
• Inks:  Pacific Point and Real Red markers
• Tools:  nestabilities circles die - but you could just as easily use your Circle Scissors Plus.  I also used lots of mini glue dots to adhere the buttons.

Following the designer "rules of three" - I used the circles on the DSP, on the focal point and again on the buttons.  :-)

So, what do you think?  I think it took me out of my comfort zone - but I am so glad that I did go that route as I was pleased with the end result.  Don't forget to pop along to stamping411 and check out the great design team and submission cards.  I think the operators would also appreciate it if you decided to play along!

On a personal note:

As Rach noted on her comment this morning - Lou is indeed coming home a day earlier!  Yippee! so he gets to come home Thursday instead of Friday.  Great considering we are going into a long weekend.

Thank you to those of you who have let me know that you will be participating in the Operation Write Home Card drive!!!!  I was thrilled that many of you are deciding to help out again.  Your generosity is boundless.  I was also thrilled to see that there are a few new fabulous blog readers who will be joining us for the first time.  I will be putting up a blog post on Sunday with all the details on what to do, kinds of cards, etc - just as a reminder for everyone.  Next week, I will send out my snail mail address to those of you who will be sending cards along.

Thoughts and prayers again tonight for those who have been affected by the floods up north and the fires down south and out west.  It seems that there is just no right place to be right now.  Warm hugs and prayers also for those of you who need a little lift.

As always, thank you so much for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits - and your comments - really are much appreciated.   ONE LAST night to guess which one is me in the picture in this post.  A brand new roll of ribbon is up for grabs for anyone who guesses correctly. Tomorrow I will be posting a new question for us all.

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

Hugs

Jaydee

Paper Players Challenge #53 - Artistic Etchings

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.  I hope you are all having a great weekend so far.

Tonight's card was created using the fabulous sketch from Lesley.  I really sat for a long time pondering how I was going to make this sketch clean and simple.  My original route was much less simple, but, you all know me..... I am always drawn to making a sketch clean and simple if I can.

Here's Lesley's sketch:

Isn't that a cool sketch?   So, I guess you would like to see what I did with it?  Well, your wish is my command!

I used a Stampin' Up! clear block, inked with the new Pool Party color, as the way to get three vertical panels - without adding another layer of card stock.   I love this new color, it really is incredibly fresh.  Unfortunately, it has been another very dull and rainy day here, so I was not able to get a good photograph.  If the weather gets better tomorrow, then I will try and take another pic, as this pic really doesn't do the Pool Party justice!

Card recipe:

• Card Stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Pool Party
• Inks:  Basic Black Marker (for the Eiffel Tower), Always Artichoke for the foliage, Pool Party for the background layers
• Accessories:  Black and White gingham ribbon - retired and of course, I couldn't go without a little bling from the Basic Rhinestones.
• Stamps:  Sentiment- Something to Celebrate.  Focal Image - Artistic Etchings

I needed a little more foliage around the bottom of the tower, so I took my Always Artichoke marker and, using the fine tip end, filled in some foliage at the bottom of either side.  I used light side to side movements and it added just the extra bit of foliage that I needed.  And... seriously.... what isn't there to celebrate about being in Paris!!!!   That's why I used this sentiment.  It's perfect for a birthday card, an anniversary card, or a card to celebrate an upcoming trip!

This is the last week that we will have Cindy as Guest Designer.  Cindy, you have been a fabulous addition to this team and I have really enjoyed seeing your cards as part of the Design Team challenge. 

So, it's over to you.  What will you do with Lesley's sketch?  You can pop along to the Paper Players tomorrow and check out the fabulous things the design team did with it.  I know you will find something to inspire you as everyone has taken a different path with it.  We can't wait to see your interpretation of the sketch.

On a personal note:

My hubby is out of town again.  I think I should start reporting when he is in town as that seems to be more of a rarity :-)  He has another long flight as he is back in Malaysia for three days.  So... two days to get there, two days to get back.. all for 3 days in country!

We were not really expecting more rain today.  We were lucky to get a little break in the weather to have breakfast on the deck.  It's been the first time in forever that we have been able to do that!  Looking at the flooding in North Dakota should give you an idea of just how much rain we have had.  The farmer's are way behind on planting and the corn in most of the fields is looking just a little waterlogged.

The good thing is... it's cool... and you all know how I love cool weather!  It really was fabulous sitting on the deck.  The number of birds flying in and out was incredible and they were all signing.  Sadly, no sighting of our Orioles - although Brenda did have a brief visit from one in her garden.  Oh... and being just a little jealous of Brenda and her quick visit from the Oriole made me remember this comment from Linda.... now... this made me totally GREEN with envy... err.. except for the ticks that is!!!!

This is what Linda saw......."You would have loved to be with me this past Sunday. Driving home from the lake I found patches of wild flowers in the ditches.  The first one was huge yellow lady slippers. The second one of note was humungous pink lady slippers, with some wild iris thrown in for colour contrast. Back at the bush line were columbine, wild roses and (I think) dogwood. Wandering among them taking photos was worth the two ticks I picked up."  Seriously Lady Slippers, Wild Irish and Colombines, altogether, in the wild....... wow... that was SO worth the two ticks!  Thanks for sharing, Linda, reading this left me with such a fabulous image.

Talking about sharing... I am still really enjoying your stories of school.  We have just a couple more days for this question.  I will be posting a new question on Tuesday night and picking a winner for the Basic Rhinestones.   IF anyone is right about which cutie patootie is me in the photograph on the school teacher question post..... they will receive a brand new roll of the brand new, yet to be released, ribbon from the 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! catalog.

Chris R, I loved the story of your teacher and how she was still asking about you 30-40 years after you left school.  That really shows just how much our teacher's care and remember!

Linda, I love that Miss LaMoin taught you Spanish back in the 60's.  That is pretty cool!

Ruth, your story of Miss Witchhart took me back to a time and place in my distant youth.  When such manners were drilled into boys!  Oh... and we weren't let off easy, either!  I know that I am a modern woman, but there is a part of me that really misses the age of manners - we do seem to have lost some of those basics and I miss them. 

Prayers tonight for those affected by the floods, and for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

I will be back on Monday with a brand new post for you.  In fact, Monday's post is a 3D with Jaydee project, so I hope you will come back and join me on Monday.

In the meantime, don't forget to pop along to the Paper Players and join our challenge this week.

Hugs

Jaydee

Celebrate - it's your day

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday.

I hope you are all ready for the weekend... I sure am.  I am also ready for a long weekend, so can't wait for Memorial Day! 

Tonight, I went the more girly route.  As much as I enjoyed playing with the "guy stamps", I really, really, really, needed to feel some ribbon between my fingers! :-)

I saw the sketch challenge across at Waltzingmouse.  The sketch called for an additional twist - stamp your own scalloped border. 

I decided to use a color scheme I had never used before:  Blushing Bride, Pale Plum and the ribbon is from the retired Purely Pomegranate.  (I LOVE this color... I bought several roles of ribbon on the clearance rack!)

Here's what I came up with:

  

Of course, I couldn't resist a little bling!

I so rarely use Pale Plum - in fact hardly ever, unless it's a color challenge... but I must admit, I do rather like it with Blushing Bride.

I have a garden pic to share with you tonight.  One of the most amazing sights in our garden, in fact. 

Isn't he just amazing.  There is something incredibly prehistoric about him.  He always announces his arrival and it always makes me smile.  We bought this woodpecker feeder especially for him.  It's one of the few that will actually accommodate a Pileated comfortably.  The long panel at the bottom allows him to balance his tailfeathers against it to give him a better grip and more security.  I couldn't get close enough to him to get a really good pic - he's very shy - so, I had to use my zoom lens to get this pic.  We get several species of woodpecker visiting our feeders, but the Pileated holds a very special place in my heart.

And, even though the ungrateful little beasts have flown the coop... I couldn't help but share this pic with you.  It gives a whole new meanting to BOTTOMS UP!

On a personal note.

Well, Lou is finally going to be getting on a plane to come home on Friday.  He's been gone for two weeks and isn't going to believe the difference in the garden since he left.  The change in these two weeks has been astonishing.  The weather has also been relatively cool and it has been phenomenal sitting out on the deck even for a few minutes when I can squeeze it in.  It's quiet and peaceful and the sounds of the birds always make me happy.  It really is a very tranquil little spot.  

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday.  As always, thank you for visiting my blog, for spending a little time in your day with me, and for leaving a comment.  You know that they all mean a great deal to me.

Prayers for those tonight who need a little lift or a warm hug

Hugs

Jaydee

Fabulous Florets - Beyond the Garden - Guess it's no longer masculine week!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.

I hope you all enjoyed your day.  Mine.... well... I can tell you one thing.... the weather outside was absolutely glorious.  There was a slight cool breeze, a warmish sun, the birds were singing, the sky was almost cloudless - perfect.  Pity I had to stay inside and work!  However, I did get out for 10 minutes at lunch time and it was gorgeous.

I do want to thank all of you who have been playing along with the trivia question.  It has been a hoot reading your comments.  Lou has really enjoyed them, too.  He's been checking them out from down under.  Still a couple more hours to go tonight if anyone else wants to join the fun.  Tomorrow I will announce the winners of the blog candy and also reveal the truth :-)  I'm thrilled that you have all enjoyed it as much I have!

Now... tonight's card is, as you could discern from the title, back to flowers and pearls!  I mean, seriously, I had to play with something pretty for a change!  Mind you, I can honestly say that I really and I mean really enjoyed making masculine cards.  I can honestly say that I believe my fear of making them is officially over.  The layout from the cleanandsimple stamping site really seemed to work - and inspire me.

   


I really do love this set and this paper, is fabulous!  I really can't wait to see what new goodies are coming in the catty!

Brenda and Cherie - I hope you had a fabulous run yesterday.  I had these wonderful images of the two of you running along in your green and yellow tutus!  One day, Cherie, we are going to get you in a purple and gold tutu!!!  I am jealous that you saw a sandhill crane.

Have a wonderful day everyone.  Prayers for those of you who need a lift or a warm hug.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog - and for your comments.  They are greatly appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee 

Masculine Week - Day 4: Bravo Burgundy and Blog Candy Alert

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday.  Yay!! Tomorrow is Friday!

I have the fourth card in the series for you tonight.  This one is very clean.  Only a single embellishment, no coloring, just focusing on the sentiment.  I so rarely use Bravo Burgundy.  It's a fabulous color and I think works really well for a masculine card.

When you have a sentiment as fabulous as this, I really don't think it needs much in the way of "dress up".  However, I really felt it needed a little something.  The star brad works well because the shape echoes the circles on the background paper.  Also... it's hardware! :-)

Now... as you seem to have been enjoying the pics of the garden... I thought I would amuse you with some pics from our birdbath today.  I actually caught the Oriole having a bath, but couldn't get to my camera fast enough.  So, I am hoping that they will come back again tomorrow - at a time when I happen to be passing through the family room!

Before we get to the fountain pics, I had to share this!   I set all the pics for you to be able to zoom them by clicking on them.  I had to take the pics thru the window... so they aren't as clear as I would like them to be....but you get the picture :-)  (ha. ha. ha!)

Isn't he just gorgeous????

So... on to Penn Street Station... or is that Jaydee Fountain Street Station?

  
What is happier than a cowbird having a bath?

Two cowbirds having a bath?  Or,

 
A bathing Cowbird splashing the competition ??? :-)  Or,

Hogging the fountain while the cowardly goldfinch plays, I think I can. I think I can?

As the Orioles seem to be le loving the jelly and the oranges that we put out for them, I decided to mix up some Oriole syrup and put it into an Oriole feeder.   So, what did the Oriole do?

Yep, the Oriole drank from the hummer feeder!

That's all for tonight... I promise some more pics for you tomorrow.

On a personal note....

I am hoping to get some time to stamp this weekend.  I had better, especially as I have not done my Paper Players challenge card yet and... guess what... yes.. it's my challenge this week!  So, I had better get my you know what into gear!   Talking about stamping.... SU demos got a tiny little sneak peek of goodies coming in the new catty.  Oh, it was but the teesiest, eensiest, weensiest peek.... but at this stage we are all eager for anything!   I must say, I really did like what I saw.  I will be putting in an order on June 1 so hopefully will have a few goodies to share with you a couple of days after that.

Thank you to all of you who have left messages about my garden and my pics - oh yes, and my cards!  You know that I greatly appreciate all of them. 

I especially appreciate it when someone stops me from making a total twit of myself.  Beverly, thanks for reminding me that I had changed out the butterfly bush picture and put in the Peony instead!  DUH!!!   So, I have renamed that particular plant to the Peoniebutter plant.  I was going to call it the Peoniebutt plant, but somehow it just didn't seem quite right :-)

Talking about comments... I am coming up to a huge milestone on my blog.  Well, for me it's a huge milestone.   5000 comments.  Yep, sometime very soon, I will be reaching 5,000 comments on my blog.  I am, quite honestly, astounded.  I know that for a lot of SU demos that is nothing... but considering I am a very low key demo who started this blog with no expectations of getting more than a couple of comments a week... I am in awe of the fact that so many of you have been commenting for so long and become a part of the jaydee community.   Consequently, I decided it was time we had some JAYDEE BLOG CANDY.  More info tomorrow.

JAYDEE BLOG CANDY will go to the person who leaves me the 5,000th comment.  We still have a ways to go and it may take a little while, but just wanted to let you know that I do appreciate you all and wanted a good excuse to offer up blog candy, and say thank you at the same time.

Also... as the new catty is coming up very soon, I am thinking its time for another OPERATION WRITE HOME CARD DRIVE.  I will be offering up the usual incentives of free goodies from the catty.  This time - they are from the new catty.  How exciting is that?  I will give more info on the OWH card drive this weekend.

Prayers tonight for those affected by the never ending storms.  Prayers also for those of you who need a lift, or a warm hug.

As always... thank you for visiting my blog - you know I appreciate it - and I appreciate your comments.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Masculine Week - Day 2. In Wilderness

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night. 

Very little chatter for you tonight, I wanted to share some pics instead!  However, here's the second of the masculine cards I made this weekend.  It also happens to be the one that I think is the least successful.  I tried it on Whisper White and it was just too bright, so tried it on Sahara Sand... and I'm just not sure.

I love the colors for a guy, I added a little hardware, no ribbon anywhere!  I used the Unibal White pen to create the white highlights on the head and underneath the tail feathers.  Daffodil Delight marker was used for the claws and the beak.  Everything is SU except for the sentiment.

Now.. I have a couple of pictures to share with you.  I was jealous of Rach's garden pics, so decided it was time I took you on a little tour.  Give you an update on my last garden tour.  You remember, the one that produced not a hint of green!

 Here are the bleeding hearts at the front of the house.  They are a little further along than the ones in the back garden.  I can't wait until they are fully grown.

Here's the picture of THE fountain.  I swear sometimes it's like Penn Street Station with all the birds and critters trying to get to it.  It's much taller than it looks - its well over 3 feet high.  You can see the "green stuff" trying to make a comeback around it.  I know that the nursery still has to come and plant some stuff that they didn't do at the end of last year, but I'm thinking of putting some low level ferns around the bottom of the fountain.  When there is a slight breeze, this area is immensely cool because of the water.  It will be even cooler once the tree get its leaves.  I'll take another picture for you later in summer when everything is as it should be. 

Here's another picture - maybe you get a better sense of how fabulous it is.... well, I think it's fabulous!

Now.... Lynn, just wanted to show you that one of your hummers is at home!

The Eagle... I mean HUMMER has landed...... :-)

Now... here's a sneak peek of what you can expect on day 3 of Masculine week. 

As always, thank you so much for spending time in my little stamping space.  You know I greatly appreciate it - and I always appreciate your comments.

Prayers for those of you who need a lift or a warm hug tonight.

Have a fabulous Wednesday

Hugs
Jaydee

 

Masculine Moxie - Sail Away - Sneak Peek

Hi Everyone.  Happy Good Friday.  Happy Earth Day.  Chag Sameach!

Whatever you are celebrating today, I hope it was a fabulous day!

I saw this great challenge across at Moxiefabworld.  The challenge?  To use tissue paper in an innovative way.  Well... as you can imagine, my first thought was flowers.  Then I thought... no... I need to challenge myself a little more. Don't forget to pop over to moxiefabworld to check out the great cards and inspiration pic!

I decided I wanted to work with another new set from the Summer Mini - Sail Away.   I thought about creating the sails in tissue paper, but then had a brain wave.  Well, I think it was a brain wave anyway. :-)

I got out my brayer and brayered Night of Navy and Not Quite Navy onto a piece of tissue paper. I then spritzed it with Vanilla Smooch Spritz.  My last task was to crinkle up and then cut out little pieces.  Here's what I came up with.

Here's a closeup of the waves for you:

 I applied some glue to the card stock and then cut out pieces of my brayered/spritzed tissue paper and gently laid them over the glued area.  I wanted it to look as though the sail boat was riding through the waves.  I left little gaps behind areas of the tissue paper pieces to give the waves a feeling of movement and dimensionality.   I love the spritz, it just catches the light and throws back a little florescence from the "waves".

So, what do you think?  I'd really love to hear what you think about this use of tissue paper.  Brenda... yes.. I can hear you.... putzy!!! I know I can hear you saying that!  But I think it was worth it :-) 

I must say.... I am in love with this twine!  I really think the pop of red helps lift the card, and the twine has that nautical feel.

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

• Card stock:  Whisper White (plain and textured); Night of Navy.  Tissue Paper (non SU)
• Stamp Set:  Sail Away (focal image).  Something to Celebrate - sentiment
• Inks:  StazOn (for the sail boat).  Night of Navy for the sentiment.  Night of Navy and Not Quite Navy for the waves.  Cherry Cobbler for the flag.  Early Espresso for the birds.  Crumb Cake marker used to shade the sails.
• Accessories:  Circular metal elements from the Game Spinner Hands.  Baker's Twine.
• Tools:  Modern Label punch.  Crystal Effects (to adhere the circular elements).  Snail.  Stampin' Dimensionals

I stamped the focal image twice.  Once on the card stock, and then again on scrap card stock.  I cut the second image out and mounted it over the first image using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I also put dimensionals behind the sentiment.

On a personal note.

A little time in my stamping space today - yes... to make this card.  I must admit, I was exhausted when I finally finished work today, but grateful to have a little time to play.  The weather here is still pretty miserable... It has now been snowing and/or raining since Tuesday.  I know it is fabulous for the grass and for the plants, but we were hoping to get a little time on our deck this weekend.  Maybe not!

Have a fabulous Easter Weekend.  I'll be back tomorrow with the Paper Players challenge card.

Hugs

Jaydee

The Open Sea - and Happy Birthday Beanie

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

Tonight's card uses the fabulous sketch across at stamping411.  I loved the sketch and decided it was an opportunity to try another masculine card using the new stampin set The Open Sea.  This, along with Fabulous Florets, has proven to be my two favorite stamp sets for quite a while. 

Before I show you tonight's card, I'd also like to give a shout out to the operators at 411 
and thank them for chosing my Fabulous Florets card HERE as an operators choice last week.  I am always thrilled when my card is chosen.  There are so many fabulous entries, and it is wonderful to be in such great company.  The operators work hard on their challenge site, are a very talented group of ladies...  and I hope you will visit them and play along.

Here's my take on the sketch

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  The Open Sea
• DSP: Botanical Gazette
• Accessores:  Baker's Twine.  Neutrals Buttons
• Inks: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Early Espresso

I really had fun coloring this image.  I honestly find coloring so relaxing.  I have to zone out to all the little conversations going on in my head, my list making of things that I need to do tomorrow, etc.  A little relaxing classical music and my markers... and I can generally switch off and concentrate on not going outside the lines :-  Mommy would be proud of me! :-)

Talking about mommies.... I want to give a huge shout out to Rach tonight.  Her little Beanie is 1 year old today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!  I so clearly remember when Rach was very, very, pregnant last year and went for a walk... and, of course, her water's broke on the walk!  Rach has been fabulous about sharing the stories of Lily and Ellie as they have grown this year, both independently - and together as sisters.  Rach, thank you for your blog.  It is a little spot of family haven for me every day.  I hope you all had a truly fabulous day celebrating The Beanie's birthday. If you want to check out pics of the Beanie at 1 year old - click this link.

On a personal note:

I'd like you all to know that the world is white.  YEP!  We have had about 3 inches of snow.  Everything that was even remotely green is now smothered in white.  I should have known that this was coming.  How?  Well, the Junco's have not yet returned north.  They are still hanging around their winter area - our garden for instance!  I was wondering why on earth they were still here considering how gorgeous the weather has been the last couple of weeks.  Well, they knew something I didn't know.  The snow was wet, heavy, with very big flakes.  It seemed so surreal watching the little green buds (yes... we do have some now!) being covered in a thick layer of sticky snow.

Margaret... I looked at Charlie's nose markings... you are right... they do look like the decorative label punch!  How very observant of you!  I love the idea of a Cat Painting Angel.  I think the Angel had been imbibing in a little to much heavenly wine when she painted Charlie :-)

Prayers tonight for those affected by the storms down South.  Also for those of you who need a little lift - or a warm hug tonight.  Missy, we haven't heard from you for a little while - just wanted to let you know that I am still thinking of you.

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone... or as Cherie would say, Happy Hump Day

Hugs

Jaydee

Nautical Expedition - The Open Sea. Sneek Peak

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

I have a sneek peak for you tonight.  I was REALLY excited about this set - and this DSP - 
when I saw it in the Summer Mini preview.  I couldn't wait to get it.  I HAD to make a card tonight.  I know I will be getting lots of use out of the DSP and this stamp set.  I love everything about the DSP.  The theme; the colors; the masculine feel; the versatility for occasion.  The stamp set is just as cool. I used several of the stamps on the inside and outside of the card.

This card also gave me a great excuse to pull out my spinners!  I thought they were ideal with the compass stamp from this set.

Here's the inside of the card.  Left blank for any occasion.  (I thought that was appropriate as this card will be going off to the troops.)

I used a strip of the DSP from the outside on the lower part of the inside.  I also used the compass stamp to tie the inside and outside together.  I then stamped the map of the world onto the middle of the card.

Here's the outside:

 

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White
• Stamps:  The Open Sea (available May 1 - 123032 - clear)
• DSP:  Nautical Expedition (available May 1 - 122343)
• Inks:  Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, River Rock, Soft Suede (all markers)
• Accessories:  Game Spinner Hands (121893)

On a personal note....

mmmm... now I am off to finish the taxes.  Yep, not finished yet :-)  But I had to take a little break between work and finishing my taxes and at least play with my new goodies.  I really was excited about receiving this set!

Today we finally saw the first green buds.  6 little daffodils are showing about 2 inches above the soil.  Green stuff - finally!!! :-) There were three little tulip bulbs about 5 inches above the soil, too.  However, the white tails like tulips.  So, we are left with about 1 inch showing above the soil!

This morning was cold and gray.  This afternoon was warm (in the 50s), sunny and absolutely glorious.  I really can't wait for the warmer temperatures.

Oooooh.... before I go.....  shout out to Lynn tonight... she is a proud new grammy to little Madeline!  Congrats, Lynn.  How absolutely wonderful for you all.

Warm hugs and prayers for those who need it tonight.

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Just Believe - Celebrate

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday night.

Firstly, I would like to thank all of you who were kind enough to leave me such warm wishes for my birthday.  It meant a great deal to me and I enjoyed reading each and every one of them.  I had a great day and a relaxing weekend.  Not much stamping done - unfortunately my index finger was not co-operating when it came to tying bows, cutting, stamping... well, pretty much anything.  It was really just a purple/blue and swollen finger that wasn't much good in the crafting room.  However, it is getting much better and at least I am able to type!  I owe a couple of you emails and I will be able to respond to you tomorrow! 

I made a card a week or so ago just the Just Believe set.  It's a fabulous set, but not one that I ink up often enough.  I decided to do the emboss resist technique and sponge daubers.   I have found that I am gravitating toward the textured papers a lot these days.  I really didn't think I would fall in love with them, but I certainly have.

For the focal image, I decided to use watercolor paper.  That way, I could sponge the colors and then spritz a little water onto the paper and soften up the colors just a little.

Here's what I came up with:

 

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

• Card stock:  Marina Mist, Watercolor paper, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
• Stamps:  Just Believe, Something to Celebrate, Clearly for you
• Inks:  Sentiment:  Night of Navy.  Main image:  Marina Mist, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Versamark
• Ribbon:  some of my very precious Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon
• Tag die:  Ribbon trio (non SU)

I love the fresh, summery colors.  I think when I was making this card, I really had summer in mind.  (In fact, the latter part of last week really made me think that spring was on her way.  Errr.... yesterday, Mother Nature had other ideas and our garden now has a fresh carpet of snow.)  So, what do you think of the card?

On a personal note:

Talking of spring.... yesterday Lou and I were in the family room drinking tea and watching the weather.  About 50 robins flew into the garden.  It was the most amazing site.  Obviously one of them must have remembered eating in our garden before the migration south and decided he and his friends would pop in to see if the joint was still open!  Then, if that wasn't enough - about 30 red wing blackbird males flew in and tried out the buffet, too.  It really was an absolutely incredible afternoon.  It is so satisfying when the cycle of life repeats itself.  There really is something about it which just feels right.  For me, it was pretty emotional!  I get emotional about all sorts of things :-)

Tonight, I wouldn't want to finish my blog post without noting the passing of Elizabeth Taylor.  Not only was she one of the most beautiful women ever to grace this earth, she was a great actress.  More importantly, she really was an amazing human being.  A woman whose grace, heart, tolerance and work for AIDS and other charitable causes will, sadly, always be overshadowed by her very public love life.  A remarkable individual who, hopefully, will be reunited with the true great love of her life, Richard Burton.

Prayers tonight for those of you who need a lift or a warm hug.

Germaine, special hug for you, my friend!!!!!

Don't forget - reach out and send a card to someone - just because you can.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Cheers to You - Four Up

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night. 

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  I got to spend a little time in my stamping room and managed to make some cards to play along with a couple of challenges.  Any weekend I get to spend in my stamping room and still get housework done... is a good weekend!

I loved the sketch across at stamping411 this week.  It's the 4-up sketch.  It's one of my favorite all time layouts and couldn't wait to play along.  I decided it was time to pull out the Cheers to You set and show it a little ink love.  Don't forget to pop along to the challenge site and see what fabulous things the 411 team have cooked up for you.

Here's my creation

 

 

I couldn't resist using some Crystal Effects on the drinks and the bottom of the glasses to get that liquid and glass effect.  The only problem... getting a pic where all of them looked good!  The light refracting from the Crystal Effects didn't always work to my advantage.  :-)

I loved the Pacific Point, especially paired with the blue of the drinks.  I also had a great excuse to use on my texturz plates and some of the retired Pacific Point ribbon that I got on the clearance rack.

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Pacific Point
• Stamp Set:  Cheers to You (114914)
• Inks:  Basic Black for the sentiment.  Pacific Point, Cherry Cobbler, Peach Parfait, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Real Red
• Tools:  Texturz Plate, Big Shot, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-ma-jig
• Ribbon:  Pacific Point striped ribbon (retired)

So what do you think?  I love the bright colors and the texture behind the focal images.  I had to put the sentiment on the right hand side - unusual for me - so that I could even up the drinks and not have the two blue cocktails next to each other.

On a personal note.  I think the tragedy in Japan has struck everyone.  The devastation that can be caused by a 13 foot tsunami from an earth quake just off shore is incredible.  I watched with horror home video footage of the wave - not very high - but immensely powerful - come up what looks to have been an estuary and carrying along vehicles, boats and other debris as though they were little plastic toy representations of themselves.  It was absolutely mind-blowing.  Now... the nuclear reactor containment breaches.  The horror of this event will continue for many weeks yet.  All my prayers tonight are for those affected by this immense tragedy.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone.  Remember to hug those who are near and dear to you.  If you can't hug them and tell them you love them, call them, send an email - or send a card.  Tragedies like this remind us all of the fragility of life.

Hugs

Jaydee

In Wilderness

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.

It's not often I create masculine cards.  In fact I get completely flumoxed by them.  So, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone after seeing Terri's card featured on this post.

I really do love the In Wilderness set.  It just doesn't get ink-love as often as it should.  I also love Always Artichoke - it is absolutely one of my go-to greens.  For tonight's card I also used my new background stamp, too!

 

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!:

• Card stock:  Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake
• Inks: Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip. (The buffalo is actually Chocolate Chip on the back end and Early Espresso on the front.)  Buffalo image was inked with Stampin' Write markers
• Stamps:  In Wilderness, Wonderfully Worn, Bring on the Cake (sentiment)
• Accessories:  Linen Thread, Neutrals button
• Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin' Dimensionals

Tomorrow is the new Paper Players challenge and I have a little sneak peek for you.  In fact, you get a sneak peek of my card for tomorrow - and my card tomorrow features a sneak peak of a brand new set!

 It's a really cool stamp set - and for a very good cause.  I'll be sharing all the details with you tomorrow night with the Paper Players Challenge reveal.  I hope you will play along with us this coming week.  It's a great challenge hosted by the fabulous Ann Schach.  This week also sees the return of the wonderful Anne Marie Hile.  Marian is our guest designer again this week.

 

On a personal note...... It got to the low 40s today... yes.... the low 40s.  We awoke this morning to hoar crystals coating every available surface.  It was magical.  Even though I am truly tired of winter now, I can still feel awed by the beauty of Mother Nature.

Then.... I can be awestruck by the might of Mother Nature.  The earthquake that struck off Japan this morning was devastating.  It never ceases to amaze me how far the tsunami waves will travel.  What scares me even more, is that radiation is now 1000 higher than normal around the nuclear plant in Japan.  I am still not sure why we build nuclear reactors on such active geographic faults.

Continued prayers tonight for Missy.  Prayers too for those in Australia who were affected by massive storms  - and are now affected by flooding.  For those affected by the Tsunami in Japan.

I hope you all have a fabulous Saturday, one filled with love, laughter and time spent doing the things you love with those you love.

I will close out tonight's post with a quick photo of Mr Charlie sitting on top of my desk organizer whilst I work.

Look maw.... aren't I cute?

Hugs

Jaydee

Bring on the Cake meets Medallion

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday.

Well, you know.... sometimes you have this great idea in your head and you spend time creating something and somehow what comes out isn't quite what was in your head.  Then you add a little something to see if that makes a difference, then a little something else.  Then maybe a rhinestone and... sadly, still it doesn't match the image you had of this great creation......

Tonight, I am revealing one of those cards.  It has potential.  I know it does... but somehow the potential eluded me.

This is how it started:

 
 and then I added a little something else, and another rhinestone... and this is what I got:

    

Nah... still not right!  On top of that, I couldnt get a decent pic of the updated version, either!

So, the question for you tonight... .anyone else have this problem?

Prayers tonight for Missy and the family of her friend.  For those of you who need a little lift or a warm hug.

Have a fabulous Friday everyone

Hugs

Jaydee

Bookmark, Butterflies and Buffalo

Hi everyone... now I bet that headline caught you and you wondered what on earth I'm going on about! :-)  Well, at least I've proven that I know a little about alliteration:-)

I wanted to share with you a couple more swaps from the regional.  The swaps were really all very different, there wasn't two that I got even somewhat alike.  I love that.

I have three cards I wanted to share with you tonight, some of them using things I had forgotten about - and one using something I hadn't even noticed in the catalog!  How on earth did that happen?  You will see:  Two Tags Die, In Wilderness, Beautiful Wings, Pom Pom Trim, Texturz Plates and Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric.  So, lots of variation for you tonight.

Firstly, though, I want to give a shout out to Jan A.  Jan lives down under in Western Australia.  I was wonderfully surprised - nay, gobsmacked - when Jan sent me a whole packet of cards for the troops.  How amazing is that?!  All the way from Oz.  She really wanted to help all of us and I thought it was so darn cool.  So, now we have had cards for Australia, Canada and the England joining the ones that we have collected locally.  So, Jan.   YOU ROCK!!!!!  I will be photographing some of Jan's cards and posting them for you to see.

Also.... I will be doing a video this weekend on how I made the ribbon flowers for this card and this card.  Its really quick and easy - and I love it :-)  So, I will do a video for you this weekend.

Now... on to the swap cards

I loved this card from Carla Heckathorne.  The pom pom trim is perfect with this card.  The thin grosgrain ribbon and piece of linen thread acting as the body and antennae of the butterfly is so cute.  I loved the use of the fabric for the butterfly itself.  Really pretty cool card!

This card from Katie Johnson used something I had never even noticed in the catalog.  The two tags die!  Yep... we have one... and I will have one tomorrow when mine arrives from SU, too!  So, thanks, Katie for enabling me.  Like I needed another enabler :-)  She used the two tags die to create the fabulous bookmark.  The bookmark was attached to the card with a magnet and was folded over the front and the inside of the card.  I loved the Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White colors.

Terri Thill at terrisstampingspot.blogspot.com created this fabulous masculine card. She did a fabulous job with distressing on the focal image and I loved the textured layers of green and not quite navy.  The Birthday Wishes was popped on dimensionals and added even more interest.  I thought this was a great masculine card.

On a personal note:  another 5 inches of very wet, soggy, heavy, snow today.  I keep telling myself 13 more days til Spring!  I haven't had any time in my stamping space yet this week, but hope that will change this weekend!

Continued prayers for Missy and the family of her friend.  Prayers and warm hugs for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Have a fabulous Thursday everyone.  I hope it is a wonderful day wherever you are.

Hugs

Jaydee

Paper Pieced Awash with Flowers

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday.

I don't normally post on Sunday, but as I have a very long day tomorrow, I thought I would post tonight and take tomorrow off instead.  Also, it gave me an opportunity to participate in the moxiefabworld Paper Piecing challenge. 

It's been a while since I did any paper piecing, so it was a great excuse to bring out my snips and some DSP.

I love the Awash with Flower stamp set and it was perfect for this challenge.  I was able to stamp the outline on the Very Vanilla card stock and then restamp onto 3 different pieces of the Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper. 

Continuing my new year resolution of using colors I don't often use.... tonight I decided to feature Pink Pirouette and Concord Crush.

Here's what I came up with

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

• Card stock:  Concord Crush, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette
• Stamps:  Awash with Flowers (120549 clear, 117062 wood), Celebrate sentiment from Something to Celebrate (121955 clear, 121897 wood)
• DSP:  Lap of Luxury (120436)
• Accessories:  Concord Crush ribbon (119266), Pearls (non SU), ribbon tag die (non SU)

On a personal note:  1 more card made today... yep, that makes 2 whole cards this weekend! Mmmm... going to have to do better than that!  However, it's always good to get dirty with ink and glue!

Prayers tonight for Missy.  Missy I am so sorry for your loss.  I cannot imagine how devastated you feel.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  (Please would you email me your address to jaydeestamping@charter.net.).  Prayers also for those of you who need a little lift or a warm hug.

Have a fabulous Monday everyone, I'll be back on Tuesday with my next post.

Hugs
Jaydee

Clean and Simple - Plane and Simple

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.. Oh... yes...that's right...it's Friday :-)  Yay!!!

Tonight's cards feature the fabulous Plane & Simple (121903 wood, 121964 clear) set from the occasions mini. 

Yesterday I quoted Scarlett O'Hara..... and her famous "tomorrow IS another day"!  I thought it would be a good idea to share a photograph I took on the way to the Minnesota Regionals..... boy.... what a totally gorgeous, unbelievable start to the day.  I forced Lou to stop at the side of the road because I really needed to take a picture.  We missed the most picturesque location, with a perfectly placed farmhouse, redbarn and grain barn... but I settled for what I could get anyway.

This picture is completely unedited... the colors really were these colors!

Isn't Mother Nature glorious!

I hope to get some stamping time tomorrow and then will be able to have some cards to share with you.  In the meantime I wanted to share a couple more fabulous projects from the regionals.

This card was created by Julie Frakie.  I loved the colors she used. I never use Wild Wasabi, but really should.  It's wonderful with the Chocolate Chip.  This is a really great masculine card.  I also loved the embossed layer under the focal layer and the two little brads on the happy birthday tag.

Unfortunately, the person who created this particular card didn't leave any details on the back of the card with their name.  So, I can't credit the creator.  I can tell you though that it is fabulous IRL.  The background uses dry embossing and she used wet embossing on the plane.  It also looks as though she has used the stone technique to create the fabulous background behind the plane.

Both of these cards are fabulous and I couldn't wait to share them with you, especially as I don't have this set personally.  I hope you found some inspiration in both of them.

On a personal note:

Thank you to those of you who left comments of support for me last night... you really have no idea how much they mean.  They meant a great deal to me!

I did manage to get another project finished today! At 5.00 I decided enough was enough for today and got away from my projects!  I wanted to get my blog post done early, get my project loaded for tomorrow's Paper Players challenge, get chores done for tonight and then spend a little me time with the pussycats.  Lou is coming home tomorrow evening, which is also a reason to celebrate :-)

Cherie.... you might want to know that Mr Charlie is starting to really mature.  He is much calmer now and much more serene.  Not an adjective I would ever have thought we would ever use to describe his lordship!  He is still my constant companion and the boys are still trying to teach him what is right, and what is wrong.  It's really interesting to watch the cats discipline the little tyke!

Prayers tonight for those of you who need a little lift or a warm hug.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Saturday.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

More swaps from the Regionals

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday night.  I hope you all had a great week.

It's Friday..... Oh! Yeah!  I managed to get my challenge card done tonight for the Paper Players challenge.  I rarely get my card done before the very last minute.  This week, I was a whole 18 hours early!  Mmmmm.... took me 3 goes before I got a card I was happy with - but I got it done!

I wanted to share a special card with you tonight.  I loved this card when I got it in the regional swap.  Diane, who made the card, made them in 4 different base colors.  I thought they were amazing.  There is so much detail and thought in this card.  It made me happy.

Well, it was so good, that Shelli Gardner (CEO and co-founder of Stampin' Up!) judged it as 1 of 2 of the best cards entered into the swap box at regionals.  I know you will love it, too!

Isn't that just the cutest thing!!! I love the way she cut out the hole in the "tree".  I love the way she cut out the "tree".  I love the vest on the owl!  I love the punched out heart.  I love the leaves and the branches.  I love the black to play off of the Poppy Parade.  I love the triple punched circles for the owls eyes..... and I absolutely love the googly eyes on the owl!  Just absolutely fabulous.  No other words needed.  Pure fantabulous-ness.

Now, I would love to give you a link to Diane's blog, but unfortunately she didn't put a blog address on her card.  However, Diane D'Allesandro - you rock - and so does this card!

On a personal note:  Housework and stamping tomorrow.. hopefully.  I need to get some cards made for the upcoming week.  So, hopefully my mojo will be flowing and I can get some cards made.  Not before I have done housework though.   Last weekend, I made up some of the fabulous air freshner concoction that I learned from the fabulous Rach.  For some reason, it really hung around the house this week.  I could still get snippets of smell from the mixture on Wednesday.  So, Rach, thank you!!!!!  You can see Rach's original post here.

Prayers tonight for those who need a little lift - or a warm hug.  Continued prayers also for those in New Zealand.  I saw a slide show on MSNBC today.  It really brings home the devastation.

Hugs

Jaydee

Birthday Bird and Two Minute Video tip

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night. I hope you all had a great weekend.

I have a card and a video for you tonight.

I saw the combined challenge across at the Play Date Cafe and Casestudy challenge.  Casestudy has an inspiration challenge and Play Date has a color challenge.  The colors?  Red, Green and Black!  Mmm. not colors that I put together often, hence the reason for me doing this combined challenge :-)  I still love the name "play date cafe"!  Y'all know that you should go check out the challenge sites.  Once again wonderful inspiration cards from the design team- and some amazing submission cards, too!

In keeping with my new year resolution to use tools/stamps that I don't generally use and do challenges that... well challenge me.... I chose to highlight the 2-step bird punch.   I have never used this punch before and it really is a pity!

I went with the theme of black, red and green.  I chose Cherry Cobbler for my red and Old Olive for the green. 

I also used a punch that I haven't used before.  The Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch is a punch that I bought when it first came out and, yep, it has sat there in my drawer all lonely! 

I decided that the image and the frame worked really well with the new So Happy For You stamp set.  I love the font from this set! I especially love the fact that I got it for free as part of Sale-A-Bration!

To carry the black of the base card to the front of the card, I added a black wing to the bird.  You all know that I like repetitions of shapes/items... so the circle of the pearls fits with the circles in the dotted border punch frame, which in turn fits with the circles on the background DSP!  You will also notice that I added a little pearl for the eye of the bird.

I made a quick video for you showing how to create this wonderful little frame.  All you have to do is click on the image below and it will take you to the video. 
Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Whisper White, Old Olive
• DSP:  Regals Patterns Pack (117154)
• Stamp:  So Happy for You (121853 wood, 123220 clear)
• Tools:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275), 2-step Bird Punch (117191), Stampin Dimensionals
• Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon (120992)

I popped the frame on Stampin' Dimensionals.  I glued the leaves onto the base and then popped the bird up on dimensionals to give a little depth.  The wing was adhered at an upward angle using snail.

I was really happy with the card.  What do you all think?  I love this frame and know that it will be make a few more appearances on my cards!

I hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday - one filled with love, laughter and time spent doing the things you love, with those you love.  Me... errr.... conference calls most of the day!  Looking out of my office window at the wonderful, fresh, new layer of snow courtesy of the storm this weekend!

Prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Valentine Defined meets So Happy For You

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.  I hope you are all having a great week.

I managed to get off work at 4.30 tonight!  Yeah.. it feels like a half day :-)

My card for tonight combines a sketch challenge - the fall to layout across at cleanandsimplestamping with the color challenge across at colordare.  Both the sketch and the colors of Basic Black, Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight, took me outside of my comfort zone.... which is a good reason to do challenges, right?

As is often the case, I might have been challenged, but really enjoyed working with both the sketch and the colors.

I am LOVING this Valentine Defined set.  I really wanted to create something other than a love/valentine card and, once again, pulled out the So Happy for You set.

Here's what I came up with

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

• Card stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight (textured)
• Inks:  Daffodil Delight, Basic Black and Marina Mist markers for the tree.  Black StazOn for the sentiment
• Stamps:  Valentine Defined 123057, So Happy for You (sentiment) (121853 wood), 123220 clear)
• DSP: First Edition Speciality DSP (121878)
• Accessories:  Black Satin Ribbon (117285)
• Tools: 2 1/2 circle punch (120906).  Scallop circle die cut - nestabilities non-SU, Stampin' Dimensionals - the focal image is popped using dimensionals

I was really happy that I could use this great set for something other than a valentine or love themed card and think that the typeface from the new So Happy for You set work so well together.   The So Happy for You set is from the new Sale A Bration catalog - and I love that this came free with my order!

I also think that the newsprint helps to tie together the black and the white elsewhere on the page and that the black tones down the very strong yellow that is Daffodil Delight.  I was a little stumped by the horizontal element that is behind the focal point on the sketch.... mmmm... it took me a little while to realize that a piece of black ribbon would work well.  In the end, I was very pleased with the card.

On a personal note:

Hoping to get a little stamping time in tonight.  I am really starting to get to grips with my new space.  In fact, I think I will share a couple of sneak peek photos for you.  Then, next week, I will have a post devoted to my new space because I need you guys to help me "pimp my space"!  Yep!  I will be offering up chance to win a little blog candy if you help me "pimp my space".  In the meantime here is a sneak peek

Here's one side of my crafting desk.  You can see the chair that used to be a bar stool - its been sitting in our garage for years.... It works perfectly for little Charlie to sleep on whilst I work.  You can see him curled up on his chair!

The milk crate storage works so well for me and I have them on both sides of my craft space.  The work top is a wonderfully spacious 55" wide x 38" deep.  It is big enough for two people to work - one on either side.  The great thing is that I spend most of my time standing - its 38" high.  So, I do a lot of my work standing rather than sitting.  Also, this amount of space is a huge improvement over my L-shaped desk that I was using.  My desk is now used for my computer and doing my blog, etc.  No longer do I have to share my stamping space with my computer space.   LOVING IT.  The craft desk also fits perfectly with my storage cupboard.

My cupboard was my alltime favorite purchase - but I think my craft desk has now taken that place!  I love that I can work on all 4 sides of my craft desk and easily reach into my cupboard for stamps, DSP, embellishments, etc.  In the foreground you can see my old desk.. which is now my desk - but used to be my stamping space and desk!

That's enough sneak peeks for now.  I promise that next week I will show you the rest of the space, my Big Shot station - yes, my Big Shot has its own station! and I will also reveal my challenge to help me pimp my space!

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Jan A, Erin, Germaine.  For those of you who need a little lift or a warm hug tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

Elegant Trio Stencil Set

Hi Everyone.

Happy Monday night.  Hope you are having a fabulous start to your week.

Well, it seems that you were pretty split on which of the 3 cards was "just right" from last night's post.  For the record, Lou said #2 is his favorite. 

I decided to combine two challenges today.  A color challenge and a sketch challenge.  I love being able to combine both, as it really forces me to think outside of my normal comfort zone box.

For tonight's challenge, I used the JUSTUSGIRLS challenge and CR84FN color challenge.  The color challenge was to use light pink, bright pink and chocolate.

I sponged the flower image from the stencil set onto Whisper White using Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette inks.  You can see that the overall sponging is very bright.  A little brighter than I wanted.  I also needed to solve the issue of where I put the sentiment on something so bright.

You can see the colors are very vibrant.   I love the mixture of the two colors and the sponging gives a really cool effect.  However, for the final card, I decided to overlay it with two layers of vellum to soften it up.

Here's my final card  You still get the brighter and lighter pinks showing, but it allowed me to stamp a sentiment onto the vellum layer and soften the overall flowers.

 

Of course, I couldn't help adding a little Chocolate Chip ribbon to the top of the card!

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

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
• Stamps:  Elegant Trio Stencil set (118262).  Sentiment - non SU - signature greetings
• Inks:  Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
• Accessories:  Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon (retired).  Basic Pearl

I do love using stencils on my cards.  In fact, I love doing it so much, that I actually created a video to show you how easy it is.  You can click on the photo before to go visit the how to video

Don't forget to pop along to the two challenge sites and check out the design team and submission cards.

On a personal note:

It was a great weekend this weekend, time to relax and just chill.  I spent a fair amount of time in my stamping space on Sunday listening to KDFC classic radio via iTunes.  I really find classical music so relaxing (so long as it isn't baroque or organ music! :-)...)  I find that it helps to keep the other side of my brain occupied whilst I stamp.  It turns of the little voices in my head that constantly babble amongst themselves.  Am I the only person that has little voices?  Mine seem to keep a running list of the things I have to do, things I need to worry about at the office... The movie that we watched on Friday, the latest book that I am reading.... There's always something I seem to be thinking about.  However, listening to the music seems to switch some of that off.

So, question for you all....what was your favorite super bowl commercial.   Now, I watched all of about 5 minutes of the SB last night, but did check out the ads on the internet today.  I had two favorites.... MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE - CLICK HERE.  My second favorite - click here.   So, why don't you leave a comment and a link to your favorite super bowl commercial.  It could be from a past year - I'd love to see what you chose.

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Jan A, Germaine and for Rach's friend Erin and her family.  For those of you who need a little lift today.

Hugs

Jaydee

Awash with Flowers meets So Happy For You

Hi Everyone, happy Sunday night.  I hope you are all having a great weekend.  For Cherie, it was a great weekend... youngest turning 18... and the PACKERS WON!!!!

I don't generally post on Sunday, but I got so many challenge cards done this weekend, that I thought I should post one of the cards that I made.

It's one of those that, you know, starts simple, then you add a little something, then you add a little something else and then, before you know it, you don't know when to stop!

I still don't know which I like best.  So, how about you decide for me? 

I used the color sketch from stampinwithstacey - stacey always has the most amazing color combos, and my mouth virtually watered to try these colors!  Again, way outside of my comfort zone - but they screamed spring.  The colors:  Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo.

Then, I decided to combine it with the fabulously versatile sketch across at Stamping411.  I loved the vertical focal point and matching sentiment.

In keeping with trying to use stamps I don't give enough love to, I decided it was time to use Awash with Flowers again.  It is such a happy set, that I felt it went beautifully with the color scheme - and matched the vertical focal point of the sketch.  I realized that the new set - So Happy for You - one of the sets that you can get free during Sale a Bration.

This is how it started out:

Then, I decided maybe it needed something.  I added one little pearl before the "birthday wishes".  But, that didn't seem quite enough.... so...

 

Then, I don't know, it kind of needed just a little something more!

  

I know that I could have used the matching stamps to color in the flowers - but I decided that I really wanted to use my ink and blender pen technique to color them instead.  I love the soft look that it gives.  It also allowed me to mix the two pinks to get various shades.  One of the problems with this technique, is that the inks can flow a little outside the stamped image.  Normally that drives me crazy, but with this set, it just seems to be OK.

Anyway, let me know when you think I should have stopped.  I am still not sure when :-)

Want to see how I use my blender pens and inks to color?  Check out this video:

 

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card stock:  Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
• Stamp sets:  Awash with Flowers, sentiment: So Happy for You - SAB (121953 wood, 123220 clear)
• Inks:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Black Stazon.  Basfhful Blue - to outline the images
• Accessories:  Basic Pearls, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon

I wanted to share a couple of pics with you tonight.  As part of my new stampin space - YAY to my new stamping space!  I bought a two drawer organizer from Pottery Barn.  It goes perfectly in the corner of my new crafting desk and gives me space to stand up my cards as I make them.  I can also photograph them from there.  Well, little ratfink aka toothless aka Charlie has decided that it makes a REALLY great place to spend a little relaxing time under the warmth of the lamp.  Oh yeah, and on top of that - he hates and I mean REALLY HATES paper.  Wherever he finds paper he rearranges it and throws it on the floor.

So... this evening - this is what he did with my cards

You can see that I was busy crafting and had stood up a couple of cards.  Well, he got onto the paper organizer, threw the cards off onto my crafting desk  and on to the floor and then

Yep... he has got that... hey... don't mess with me... it's my space.  I hate paper.  AND I'm comfortable so go away and leave me alone - or else! look on his face!  Oh, and he's nice and warm under the Daylight lamp!

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Jan A, Germaine and those affected by the floods and fires in Oz.

Have a wonderful Monday and don't forget to visit the stamping411 and stampinwithstacey sites to check out the design team and submission cards.

As always, thanks for spending time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits are always appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Happy Birthday, Friend and Get Well Soon

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.

It's Friday! Oh, yeah!  You all know that makes me happy.  I know I will have to work this weekend, but right now, I am enjoying some down time.  In fact, I managed to get away from my desk at 4pm and Lou and I went to the movies.  I felt as though I was playing hookie from school!

I wanted to share two different variations on the card that I showed you last night.  The one from last night was the first of the cards that I did.  I changed things up a little for the second and third variation.  For both, I cut around the rectangle and the flowers with a pair of paper snips.  I love my SU paper snips!  I mounted the focal point on Stampin' Dimensionals.  The only thing different between the two of them, is that for the Get Well Soon version, I stamped the focal image and then restamped it.  I colored the second image, snipped that out and put it over the original image. 

For the Happy Birthday, Friend one, I colored around the image with bashful blue, just to add a little depth.

Once again, I took myself out of my comfort zone and used a color I rarely use.... Peach Parfait.  It is such a gorgeous color, but I have used it so little.  However, I loved it on this card!

 

  Both of these cards will be going to the troops, I hope the recipient enjoys them.  I certainly enjoyed creating them!

On a personal note:

Lou and I went to see The King's Speech tonight.  I've been wanting to see it since it was first released.  However, they weren't showing it in my town.  It was only after it started to garner so much award attention that the movie house decided to show it.  I was enthralled.  Being English, all of the occurences were still fresh in the minds of the people when I was growing up.  My Father served in the war, my mother gave up her career to become one of the "Women of Steel".  Growing up, people still had bomb shelters in their gardens and it was unsafe to play in empty lots.  Lots that were empty because the buildings they once housed had been bombed. Unexploded bombs were still found in these lots.  Edward's abdication was still talked about.  Social status still kept so much of Britain's aristocracy from ever meeting or having communications with "the common people".  All of these things were exposed so eloquently in this movie.

I have to admit that I am one of those women who thinks that Colin Firth is gorgeous!  His portrayal of Bertie was amazing.  Colin Firth is naturally so eloquent, that it was amazing to see him battle so hard to speak.  Astonishing movie.  Loved it!

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Maria, Germaine.  For those of you on the east coast of both Australia and the US.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and get to spend time doing the things you love with those you love the most.

Cherie.... just for you... GO PACKERS!

Hugs

Jaydee

Butterfly Kisses for Moxie and Casestudy

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.

Firstly, my apologies for not posting last night.  It was another very, very, long day.  At the end of the day I was so tired and... I didn't have a card to show you, either!  Today I started at 5am and did manage to take a couple of hours break at 4.30pm.  I decided to come down to my stamping space, make a card and then go back and finish off what I had to do.  I really needed - really needed - to switch off and do something different.

As my mojo is not flowing that freely - it's amazing how stress will do that, I decided it was definitely a night for inspiration.  So, I checked out moxiefabworld and casestudy.  Moxie are showcasing their fabulous Color Inspirations special edition of Papercrafts.  I decided to use the jewel tones to work with.  Always one of my favorite ranges of colors.  I love the Stampin' Up regals, and they work so well for this color challenge.  I then popped along to casestudy and saw this fabulous card.  However, as this is a card that will go to the troops, I decided to keep it to an A2.

 

I hope you like it.  Coloring in the butterflies was incredibly relaxing for me and really allowed me to switch off from the day.

Now, I'm off to go feed the pussy cats, check in with what needs to be finished at work and then cook a little supper for myself.

Prayers tonight for Madiba - aka Nelson Mandela.  Madiba was admitted to hospital today with a collapsed lung.  I know he's 90 - but its going to be really tough when he does finally leave this earth.  Prayers also for Rose, Adelle, John and Sue, Maria,  and Germaine.  Warm thoughts and prayers to those who need a little lift.

Have a fabulous Friday, everyone.  If you are on the East Coast..... stay warm!

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Don't try this at home and UPS is a big tease!

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.

Quick post for you tonight.  I started work at 6am this morning, had lunch - whilst on a conference call at 3.30pm and stopped work at 8.00!  Consequently, I am pretty shot!

I did want to share a card with you tonight.  I bought a non-SU set - A Beautiful Life from Gina K.  I loved the look of it, I love the sentiments, but seriously, only I would insist on using an exacto knife to cut around the inside of the frame and the flowers - and then on coloring it!  Aaargh!  After all that effort, I am still not sure what I thought about the card.  On top of that - I used the color challenge from colorthrowdown and missed the challenge deadline!  The colors... yep... my favorite pinks and blues!  However, I did the challenge, I used colors I don't normally use - so that was a good thing

If my day wasn't interesting enough... guess what UPS did to me. Yep, they came tramping up the garden path with a humongous box, rang the doorbell, left the box.  Yippeee... my desk has arrived early.  Huh?  What's the problem here.  The big teases delivered just the top of the crafting desk and not the legs.  Are you kidding me.  Seriously.  How can you do that!  what am I supposed to do with it, put it up on bricks!  Sigh.  I really was all excited thinking it had arrived a day earlier than planned.  Oh, well!  At least I have something to look forward to tomorrow - the rest of my desk arriving!

Now... on to tonight's card.  I warn you, do not try this exacto-knifing at home :-)  Especially, when I am really not sure it was worth the effort!  I do love the sentiment though.  It's from Papertrey Ink's Signature Greetings.

The colors are, of course, Melon Mambo, Marina Mist and Early Espresso.  The color challenge asked for Soft Sky, but I didn;t have that, so substituted with what I had.

Warm thoughts and prayers tonight for Rose, Mary Jo, who is recovering from her operation, Maria, Vickie, Germaine, Pri and Adelle.

Have a wonderful Friday everyone

Hugs

Jaydee