Stampin! with 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

Bring on the Cake

Hi Everyone.

Happy Wednesday night.  I hope you all had a great day.  It's almost the weekend!  yay.... and that has an added benefit for me this week.... my new crafting table is still on track to arrive on Friday!  I am so excited.  It feels like Christmas all over again!

Talking about Christmas..... I am still doing reasonably well with my new year goals.  Well, at least in the crafting department that is!  Tonight's card was created using the wonderful challenge across at cardpositioningsystems and Stacey's color challenge this week.... And it is another bright challenge.  Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Real Red and Whisper White.... Which is a wonderfully, bright and challenge color scheme.... Well... it certainly challenged me, cos when I went to prep the photo for this post I realized something important... I'd forgotten the Real Red! Ooooops.  I am hoping I am not the only person to have ever done that! :-)  The silly thing is... it would have been so easy to incorporate the red!

Here's my card using the sketch from CPS and most of the colors from Stacey's challenge!

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

• Card stock:  Pumplin Pie, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
• Inks:  Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi and Pacific Point markers
• Accessories:  Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, brights buttons, linen thread, silver pearls (non SU)
• Stamp set:  Bring on the Cake (121899 wood, 121958 clear)
• Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, labels 11 die (nestabilities) 

I hope you pop along to CPS and Stacey to check out their challenges.

 A couple of you have left questions on my comments over the last couple of days.  Let me take a moment to answer them here.

Adelle, you asked how I colored the focal layer from last night's post.  If I don't have to work this weekend, I will actually make a video of this quick technique.  It really is easy.  Using a blending sponge/tool, ink and the frame from your nestabilities.  The key is to try not to get the center of the layer too dark, because that is where you want to put the stamped image.

Beverly, you asked about the flower.  Isn't it the cutest.  In the new minion page 15 you can see them.  They really are pretty easy to miss.  They come in three colors.  Baja Breeze, Rose Red and Very Vanilla.  They are hard and are easily attached using your favorite embellishment glue.  In this case I used several mini glue dots.  The item number for these little beauties is 121879.  Unlike the buttons or brads, these flowers don't have "legs"

Patricia, you asked about the Of the Earth set that I used on this card.  The bird image is actually the debossed portion, so always comes out the color of your base card.  It really is a gorgeous stamp set - thanks for reminding me about it.  When using a solid stamp like this, don't forget to condition your stamp by rubbing over it lightly with a sanding block and then giving it a good clean with Stampin' Mist - or your favorite stamp cleaner to get a nice crisp image.  I also find that inking it up and stamping it onto scratch paper a couple of times helps to get the image even crisper!

More call outs in my shout outs tomorrow night....

Warm thoughts and prayers tonight for Rose.  Mary Jo.  Adelle.  Maria.  Vickie.  Germaine and Pri.  and for those of you who need a little lift tonight.  My prayers also for those still being affected by the floods in Australia and Brazil.

Have a fabulous Thursday everyone

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Happy Birthday.......

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday night.

I generally don't post on Sunday's, but wanted to say Happy Birthday to two great guys.

Now, I don't know about you, but I really, really, really, find it hard to make "man" cards.  In fact, I find many of the "masculine" stamp sets a little cliched.  So, because I don't use the general "masculine" stamp sets, I get even more lost!

Tonight's card is to say Happy Birthday to John L and Mike C. 

John is the hubby of my best friend.  John personifies the sentiment on tonight's cards.  I swear, that guy gets up in the morning and doesn't shave like normal men.  He just gets up and sprinkles pixie dust over his head.  He never gets any older.  In the 30 years that I have known John, he really has hardly aged at all.  Happy Birthday, John.  We love you!

Mike is a work colleague.  Mike is a wonderful guy.  I remember Mike from my days working with customers "in the field".  Sometimes I would be working on a critical customer situation and desperately need someone who really "knew their stuff" on database.  Mike was always amazingly responsive, always eager to help and never made me feel like an idiot because I didn't understand database as much as he did!  Mike - Happy 50th Birthday!

Lou told me NO RIBBON! for the card.  Man, seriously.  Me!  No ribbon.  Aaaaaarrrrrggghhh!  I felt like a child whose favorite doll had been taken away from her :-)

John and Mike - here's your card

   

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

• Card stock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White
• Accessories:  Library clip
• DSP:  Patterns Pack - Regals
• Sentiment:  congratulations....Inside & Out (Baby) - Papertrey Ink.  Quote... Wordsworth - Lincoln Collection

Several of you have written comments saying how much you are enjoying the "white space" cards.  I think Rach was right, it may be a reaction to the more overly decorated cards from the festive season.  Since I got back, so many of the cards I have made are very definitely clean and simple.

I have been very blessed to meet some  talented crafters and all round amazing ladies through my blog.  Over the next few nights I would like to give a shout out to them.  Tonight....Robin K - the first person to ever buy anything from my via my blog.  Beverly who was introduced to me by Robin.   Adelle one of my earliest blog followers.  Rach who lets me live with children vicariously through her blog!  Beth and Missy, two of my most loyal blog commenters.  Lesley, who found my blog and asked me to be a member of her design team...... of course, I cannot do a shout out without mentioning Trish!  there are so many others, but rather than just list them all tonight, I really want to call out just a few every night, so am going to space it out a little. :-) 

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Maria, Vickie, Brien, Germaine, Pri.  For those of you who need a little lift.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know that your visits and your comments are greatly appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Moxiefabworld - Gray is the New Black - Happy 90th

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday night.    If you are looking for Saturday's "missing" post - click here.  That's the post that disappeared into cyberspace and is the PaperPlayers Challenge 29 post.  Consequently, two posts for today!

My dear cyber friend, the wonderful Sue Berker, asked her blog readers to help her reach a goal of 90 cards to celebrate her husband John's upcoming 90th birthday.  It was an appeal I absolutely could not resist. 

Before we got on the plane a week or so ago, I stopped into my local bookseller and purchased the latest copy of Papercrafts magazine.  There was a great article in there about gray being the new black.  I loved the idea, so decided that John's card would be grey.  I also noticed that Moxiefabworld were doing a challenge on this theme this week..... (A quick - non-paid plug for Papercrafts... they also have a special out called Color Inspiration for card makers.  If you haven't seen it yet, you really need to.  So many great color combinations to try.   Now, back to our scheduled programming.....

Sue is the queen of clean and simple, so I decided to keep to that for John's card.  I also searched to find the perfect quote for the inside.  I used a little ribbon, but I think it is OK because of the color and the horizontal stripes in the DSP.  You have seen me use this layout many times before, but I'd love to hear what you think about this card.

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

• Card stock:  Basic Grey, Whisper White
• DSP:  Neutrals Patterns Pack
• Accessories:  Vellum, Basic Gray Satin ribbon, Silver pearls (non-SU)
• Sentiment:  Typefont from my word processing program, printed onto vellum

• type the sentiment in dark grey and then adding the 90 in a paler grey and printed that onto a sheet of vellum in my printer.  I then cut it out to 4 3/4" x 3 1/2
• cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to the same size and placed a piece of the DSP, cut at 1' by 4 3/4"
• adhere the grey DSP using snail and then placed the vellum sheet on top.  I secured the vellum sheet using special vellum "glue dots" 
• wrapped the satin ribbon around - securing it with a little snail at the back
• adhere frontspiece to the card base using dimensionals
• Add silver pearls

Here's a pic of the inside:

 

Isn't that just the coolest quote?  It took me a little while to find the right one, but I love it.  So, Sue, the card will be winging its way to you.  It was my honor to be able to add to your collection for John's birthday.

Tomorrow I will have some pics of my holiday to share with you, as well as the deets on the Stylish Blogger award I received from Ann.

Prayers tonight for:  Rose, Adelle, Vickie, Maria, Brien, Germaine and Pri.  As well as those of you who need a little lift.

Have a wonderful Monday everyone.... me... grrrrr my first day back at work!!!! 

Hugs

Jaydee

 

 

 

Medallion Sunshine for MoxieFabWorld Version 1

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday night.

Well, I am back at home and managed to get a few minutes - about an hour - in my stamping room tonight.  It was really good to get my hands on my scissors, paper and glue!  It's considerably colder here than where I was though! 

I got home to some new goodies, too!  I managed to unpack them and mount the stamps, but haven't had the chance to play with them yet.  Hopefully you will be getting some sneak previews of the new occasions mini over the next few days.

I saw the challenge across at Moxiefabworld - to create an "all occasions" card.  Well, I needed a couple and had this idea in my head around the Medallion stamp.  I really did resist buying this stamp - but am loving it now.  Don't you find you do that?  I bought a couple of MUST HAVE stamp sets - and have hardly touched them... and yet, others, like this one... well... you get the picture!

I have a non-SU sentiment stamp that I bought at a local mega store.  I bought it purely because I love the sentiment and have found it very useful.  The sentiment gave me an idea....mmmm..... "wishing you a day bright with sunshine"..... well, two things struck me.... BRIGHT and SUNSHINE.  Which got me to a color scheme.  Daffodil Delight.  A color I hardly ever use - and it is certainly BRIGHT.  So, bright?  Check!  Now.... SUNSHINE....mmmmm..... AH.... got it!  SUNSHINE?  Check! 

I liked the idea so much that I decided to make two entirely different cards using exactly the same colors and stamps.  I will show you version 1 and version 2 on different nights.  Then you can tell me which you like best.  Here's Version 1

   

I was really pleased with the way it came out.  It's also really simple to make.  I made the Medallion the sun :-)

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

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
• Stamps:  Medallion Background stamp ( 115223), sentiment non-SU
• Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones (119246) (such great value!), Daffodil Delight Satin Ribbon (119750)

Creating this card is so easy.  All you need to do is

• create a Daffodil Delight layer - 5-1/4 x 4.  Stamp the sentiment into the lower right hand corner.
• Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to 5" by 2 5/8. 
• Ink up the Medallion using Daffodil Delight and stamp it onto the Whisper White piece - stamping off the bottom onto a piece of scrap paper.  Tip:  To make the medallion look "right" make sure that you stamp it off the top and side, too.  This anchors the stamp onto the page and also makes it fit into the "thirds" rule. 
• Adhere Whisper White layer to Daffodil Delight layer.  Wrap ribbon around - secure at the back and tie into a knot.  Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the Daffodil Delight layer and place this layer on the card base.
• Lastly, add the bling!
• Tip:  For the inside - I cut a piece of Daffodil Delight and made it the same size as the front Daffodil Delight layer.  I inked up my Medallion stamp again and stamped it off the bottom left corner.  This helps to tie the front and inside together.  It also leaves lots of space for you to write inside.

So, what do you thinik?   You know I really love to hear what you have to say.  Your feedback helps me to decide what to place on my blog for your viewing pleasure.

Don't forget to pop along to moxieworld.  They are having several challenges right now and there are lots of wonderful goodies for you to drool over.

On a personal note:

It is wonderful to be home.  I really miss my bath, my bed, my pussycats, my husband and my tea!  Not necessarily in that order!

Talking of husbands, in my absence Lou finished decorating the outside of the house.  It looks fabulous.  I'll take some pics to show you.  With the snow - it all really feels very festive.

I was saddened to hear of Elizabeth Edward's passing yesterday.  Regardless of your political stance, that woman showed immense courage as she faced down her disease - and her husband! 

Well, I am off to maybe make a card with my new goodies!  Oooh... talking of new goodies - Beverly had the second of her workshops this past weekend.  Her projects were fabulous and I heard from your stampers that they had a fabulous time.  Way to go, Beverly!  Robin, I bet you wish you could have been there for the party!  Cherie, I hope you had a great week vacation.  Brenda, I hope you and your mom had a fabulous time at the retreat.  Rach, sounds like you had a good time at yours!

Prayers tonight for:  Germaine, Pri, Adelle, Arthur, Rose.  Soozie, I am adding you and your mom to my prayer list.  I saw your post on SCS today saying that you were visiting the nursing home. 

 

Gingerbread Birthday

Hi Everyone.

Happy Sunday night.  I hope you all had a truly fabulous long weekend.

As many of you seem to have had birthdays in the last two weeks, I thought I  would combine a brand new stamp set I bought with the Moxiefabworld challenge this week.  the challenge?  Snow and Gingerbread.  The inspiration photograph was this wonderful gingerbread snowflake from Martha Stewart.  I saw this and thought... mmmm... that stamp set I bought would work perfectly. 

My regular readers will know by now that I have a slightly warped sense of humour, so this set really appealed to me.  Before I show you the inside and the outside though, I must tell you that Lou thought the card was very funny -)

 

and.... here's the inside:

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

• Card stock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
• Ribbon:  Soft Suede polka dot (retired
• Buttons:  Neutrals
• Stamp Set: Non-SU (Skipping Stones)
• Paper: Elegant Soiree
• Pearls:  Basic Pearls
• Tools:  Big Shot, Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Versamark, White Embossing Powder

Card instructions:

• Cut Soft Suede card to A2 8 1/2 x 5 1/2.  Score and fold on top
• Ink up gingerbread man stamp and stamp twice onto Soft Suede card stock.  Cover with embossing powder and heat set.  Cut off head of the second gingerbread man using a scallop punch
• Apply colored pearls down the middle and neutral ones to his cheeks.
• Ink up outside and inside sentiments with Versamark, cover with white embossing powder and heat set
• Adhere second gingerbread man on the inside using snail or other adhesive
• Adhere first gingerbread man to the Very Vanilla Oval (which has been sponged) using Stampin' Dimensionals.  Adhere Oval to the Scallop Oval, also using Stampin' Dimensionals
• Take buttons, wrap linen thread through and knot.  Adhere to card using mini glue dots
• Adhere ribbon and then add the DSP layer and the Oval layers

On a personal note:

Ann, it must have been great fun at the pet store buying your Boxer blankets yesterday.  I bet you bought them some Christmas presents whilst you were there, too.  :-)  Beverly, sounds like some sweet crafting steals you got yesterday.  I can't believe the deal you got on your cricuit.... and oh yes, love the roomba sweeper! 

We did a little more bargain hunting.  We have been looking to change out our washer and dryer (they are both 12 years old).  For months we have been looking at the steam washer and managed to get them today - both for the price of one.  So, we are done shopping now.  It's great knowing that we will be able to save energy - and money - with both of them from rebates and the general cost of running them.

Beth, I was thinking about you this weekend and thinking how tough it must be for your family.  

Continued prayers for:  Germaine.  For Rose.  For Beth and her family.  For Adelle.  For Pri.  I have taken T of the prayer list for a while.  It seems your prayers have been working well and she is doing really well!  For Arthur.  For those of you who need a little lift.  For the families of the 29 miners lost in New Zealand this week.

Hope your Monday is a wonderful one - filled with love, laughter and time spent with those who make you happy!

Hugs

Jaydee

Red, Black and White Dandelion Wishes

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.  I am so glad that it is ALMOST the weekend!

It was another long day again today!  However, I did manage to get to visit a couple of challenge blogs and noticed a couple of wonderful projects that I wanted to callout.  So, World Wide Web Wednesday - is occurring on Thursday!

My card for you tonight was based on our color challenge across at the Paper Players.  I love this card!  Cherry Cobbler, Black, Whisper White and a little touch of grey.  What a beautiful combination!

I saw this stamp set and fell in love with it - all of the elements on here are separate elements.  Every flower, each layer of the sentiment, etc..  The funny thing is, on the rare occasions I buy a non-SU stamp set, I always see it with SU stamps, inks and accessories.  So.. let me show you tonight's card first and then we will go and visit some absolute masterpieces.  In fact, these master pieces are so amazing that I almost didn't put up a card tonight!

I'm sorry... but I just couldn't get a good pic .. something was just not right with my lighting.  You all know how rich and luscious Cherry Cobbler is, so you will just have to believe me that this looks lovely IRL.

Now.... on to a treat for you all.... some of the amazing projects that I saw during a couple of brief stops at challenge sites tonight.

Ghoulish cake

Golden scallops

Antiques

There are two others for you - but I couldn't find a direct link to either of them.  So I am going to point to the page and tell you what to look for:

The best ever - all time - Elements of Style card - look for teneale's card - blue with a black bow

Go to papercrafts - at this link and check out the first card - embellished tree

With that... I am definitely going to pack up my paper snips and dump all of my goodies on the sidewalk with a big sign saying "please take me"!   Seriously, those are some awesome projects!

On a personal note:  Lou is off to Australia for the weekend.  He tells me Singapore is incredibly hot and humid.  Yep.  It's summer!  He also tells me that it has changed a lot since we lived there.  Apparently there are the ubiquitous Starbucks everywhere now!  Lou will be spending the weekend with his family down-under... as for me... I will be spending time with Cherie and Brenda finishing off the cards for OWH.  I  have been working my way through them when I can this week.  But as Brenda and Cherie have almost 600 between them.... it's going to be a busy morning!  I'm really looking forward to time spent with treasured friends doing something good for someone!

Prayers tonight for Germaine (so glad to hear from you, my friend - and also that you are feeling a little relief).  T and Pri.  John and Sue.  Rach, Adelle, Lesley and their furbabies.  For those of you who need a little lift.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know I appreciate it - and I appreciate your comments.

Tomorrow... Feel Good Friday.  This Feel Good story made we cry more than just about any other story - ever - but tears of joy!

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Herd it's your birthday!

Hi Everyone.

I saw this set and couldn't resist it... I had a couple of people in mind who I knew would appreciate a card from this set.  So, the first one is a work colleague, who turns 50 this week!  I saw this fabulous Folk Art painting on the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie..... wow... what a gorgeous painting!  Anyway, I saw it - immediately thought of this set.... and away I went.

There is such a quirkiness about this stamp set that makes it ideal for certain people in my life!  Once again, the red farm barns make an appearance (see my post last night for the reason as to why red farm barns are important in my life :-))

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
• Stamp set:  The Funny Farm, Gina K designs
• Inks: Copics

Card instructions:

• Card base is A2 - scored and folded on the side
• I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored using Copic markers
• I stamped 3 cows and colored them each a little differently.  I used my paper snips to cut them out
• Once the background had been colored, I adhered two of the cows using Stampin' Dimensionals and one directly to the card base (the middle one)
• The sentiment was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black (because I had colored using Copics)
• I adhered the top layer and the Cherry Cobbler layer using Stampin' Dimensionals

I hope you enjoy this little bit of whimsy.  I hope that Al enjoys his 50th birthday card!

On a personal note:  It has been beautiful here the last two days.  Way beyond average temperature wise.  We managed to sit on our deck on Friday night until midnight.  We listened to our new fountain, looked at our new lighting, and enjoyed the warmth and the gentle breeze.  It was fabulous. A great start to the weekend.  Yesterday, our anniversary, was chaos, but our celebration was wonderful.  I promise, that tomorrow, I will dig out a couple of photographs to share with you.

I managed to make a couple of cards today. I even mounted my Shalom Sayings and put that to good use.  My Hanukkah cards are simple and nothing compared to the absolutely amazing Hanukkah cards that Beth created.  They were truly works of art.  I tried to use the simplicity of the Israeli flag as my inspiration for the cards that I created for troops of the Jewish faith as part of our Operation Write Home card drive.  This weekend Brenda, Cherie and I are meeting up and will be finishing up the last of the cards.

Prayers tonight for Germaine, T, Pri.  John & Sue.  For Adelle, Lesley, Rach and their furbabies and for those of you who need a little life.

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

Have a fabulous Monday

Hugs

Jaydee

 

 

Tuesday Trigger and Feel Good Friday

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday. 

I hope you are all ready for a long weekend.  Me.... I am thrilled!

My card tonight was created from the Trigger Tuesday photograph across at moxiefabworld.  The trigger inspiration photograph is full of these rich luscious colors. If you expand the photograph you will get a really good look at the fabulous shades of blue, yellow, red, cream and white. 

So... what inspired me....

The rug is textured - so I created a textured backdrop

There are many squares and hard lines - the chair seat, the chair back, the cushions, the rectangular windows.... So I decided to create a card with squares

Even though there is so much blue, yellow, cream, white, green...... the red draws my eye again and again - so, I chose to make it a focal color - and use red ribbon.

The room seems like a great place to stand, look out at the sea and drink a cocktail..... ah.... hence the choice of stamp set!

So..... now that you have my inspiration - here's my card..... Pity I couldn't get a decent photograph of it!  I really couldn't get the right light... the  background is so rich and creamy and the Cherry Cobbler is so much richer....anyway.. here it is!

  

Of course, I had to use Crystal effects on the drinks and on the fruit!  Sure looks like a dirty Martini to me!

So.... what's Feel Good Friday, I can hear you ask?

There is so much in the world to depress me... but occasionally... I read something which brightens my entire day.  So, I have decided to share a story on Friday's with you.

If any of you get through this story dry eyed..... It means you will have managed your emotions better than I did.   How many of us haven't lost someone - or something (a beloved pet) and wished we could hold them and bring them back to life.....

Well.... sometimes.... it takes a Mother - and a miracle!

Kangaroo care

Prayers for:  Trish, Germaine, John and Sue, Arthur, T, Pri, Cyrus

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.

Hugs

Jaydee

Happy Bird'day

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.

Tonight's card was inspired by two challenges across on splitcoaststampers.  One was the clean and simple challenge - garden and the other was the TLC challenge - rebus.  So... mmm... something that represents my garden and substitute an image for a word!  Oh... and keep it clean and simple... that's right up my alley.  However, I can hear Mrs Tucker grumbling at me... how dare I take an image and use it instead of a word! :-) (For those of you who didn't read my teacher homage - Mrs Tucker was my very formidable English teacher in high school!)

As many of you will know, I love the fact that we get so many birds in our garden.  Additionally, we have a section of reeds just down the road from us and the birds who nest there come to our feeders in early and late summer.  I found this Memory Box stamp and decided.... I absolutely had to have it.  Yes... it is one of only 10 non SU stamps that I own.

I decided to create the card using texture and framing - to make it feel as though the focal image was framed.  Using textured background paper is the ideal way to accomplish this.

So, here is my rebus clean and simple garden card!

I love the fact that there are only 3 colors on this card.  The textured Crumb Cake (aka Kraft) paper really works so well, especially when it is popped off the base card using dimensionals.

Card recipe: (note - all products Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)

• Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
• Inks:  Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso (markers)
• Stamp:  non - SU.  Sentiment Picture This
• Accessories:  half pearls (non SU)

Card instructions:

• Cut Cherry Cobbler card stock to A2 - 4 1/4 x 11.  Scored and folded at the 5 1/2" mark.  Fold on the top.
• Cut Crumb Cake to 4 x 5.  Adhere to card base using dimensionals
• Ink up stamp with markers and stamp onto Whisper White.
• Cut around the focal image - finished size is 2 3/4 x 3 1/2.  Adhere to Cherry Cobbler layer using dimensionals.  This layer has been cut to 3 x 3 3/4.  
• Ink up sentiment stamp with Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso markers and stamp.  Punch out with the Modern Label Punch.
• Adhere sentiment to focal image and add two half pearls for the final touch.

This is one card that I think is actually nice in real life than it is in the photograph.  It is such a serene and delicate image and the textured and smooth backgrounds really do frame it well.  The two half pearls are just about exactly the same color as the Cherry Cobbler.  I love the fact that nothing overpowers anything else on the card.  There is a sense of serenity about it... and it isn't just the image.  For once, I was actually pleased with the card.  I also love the fact that the sentiment (matched with the focal stamp) was perfect for the rebus challenge!

On the personal front.... today has been another long day.  My days are much longer when Lou isnt around - cos I have double the amount of chores to do.  I finally sat down to dinner at 8.30.  By that time I wasn't even hungry and ended up having 4 cocktail samosas.  Mmm. not a particularly good dinner considering I didn't get time for lunch either!  However, I was just too tired to cook.

Trish, I am not sure if you are doing your blog visits, but I did want you to know that you have been on my mind and in my prayers even more than normal.  I hope things went OK at the specialist.

Some of you may be wondering how our stray is doing?  Well, Charlie is recovering very nicely from his ....errr... "operation" and is even managing to sit down on his haunches.  How... I am not sure... it still has to be painful!  Mind you, nothing puts him off his food!  I went to play with him in the garage today and he ran up to his chair, jumped on "his" chair and proceeded to play with his feather.  So, we enjoyed some play time and then he went off to lie on his favorite perch.  What is his favorite perch.  Well.... I don't know what it is about Stampin' Up boxes, but the cat learned fast!  He has cushions, blankets and even a very cushy bed we bought.. but no... he wants to lie on the SU box!  So, thank you to all of you who were concerned, he is feeling a little like himself!  The vet hates him... but I don't think he has any reason to love the vet either - considering what she did to his eerrrr.. private parts!

Prayers tonight for Trish, Germaine (I do hope they get to the bottom of it Germaine), Arthur (surgery soon - I HOPE!), Angela, T, Pri, Hugo and, of course, for John and Sue.

Thank you all so much for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your support and your comments are ALWAYS greatly appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Monochromatic Purple

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday night.

I hope your weekend was fabulous.  Tonight's card features one of SU's single stamps For Your Flower.  This card was created for the Pals Paper Arts - monochromatic purple challenge.  Monochromatic challenges are always great fun.  It becomes all about shades and textures. 

Here's my take on the challenge:

You can see that I used texture on the background and on the lower portion of the card.  Additionally, I created more layering and texture on the flower focal point - by stamping it twice and layering it off angle and adding little  half pearls.  The flower mimics the flower shapes on the embossed background.

Card recipe:  (all supplies Stampin' Up! unless specifically noted)

• Card stock:  Concord Crush and Whisper White
• Inks:  Concord Crush
• Accessories:  Concord Crush ribbon, Basic Pearls, In Colors DSP (level 1 hostess), Concord Crush In Color polyester ribbon
• Tools:  Big Shot, embossing folder (non-SU), paper snips, Fancy Flower Extra Large Punch

Card instructions:

• Cut Concord Crush to 11 x 4 1/4 scoring and folding at 5 1/2:.
• Cut a second piece of Concord Crush 4 x 3 1/2 and run through your Big Shot with your favorite embossing folder.  In this case the embossing folder is a birthday folder.  Adhere to card base using snail
• Cut a pice of DSP to 4 1/4 x 2 1/8 and adhere to card base
• Wrap Concord Crush ribbon around the card and adhere under where the flower will be placed
• Ink up the For You Flower stamp with Concord Crush and stamp.  Repeat.  Adhere the two flower pieces together using dimensionals - off-setting the petals
• Adhere these two flowers to the card base using Pop Up Glue Dots
• Last think you need to do - adhere the half pearls in the joins of the top flower

Tips:

• Adding texture and repeating elements or shapes is essential with a monochromatic card - it really is what adds the interest
• Adding dimension also helps - especially when you have a layer of ribbon beneath.  Adding a dimensional underneath the top layer and then pop up glue dots underneath the two flower images adds additional depth and more interest
• Don't forget to condition your stamp - especially with a stamp that has a lot of surface area

That's it.  You are done.  Very quick and very easy.  Additionally, it can be any color combo you want!

On a personal note:  well, today was an interesting day.  We went out to do a little shopping this afternoon and didn't get more than 1/8" of a mile.  We ran over a bicycle allen wrench and put a hole in the tire.  2 1/2 hours later we were back on the road.  By that time, it was really late in the afternoon.  Well, at least Lou has an Allen wrench for his bike.  Well, he's never bought one of these particular Allen wrenches because he didn't need one.... however, for the cost of the repaired tire - at least he got something from it :-)

On the other hand.... our dinner was the result of our trip to the Farmer's Market yesterday.  Fabulous purple carrots, divine cucumber, Arugula salad and bread and rustic cheddar cheese from our local deli.  Fabulous!

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday and a fabulous weekend.  Thank you to all of you who commented on my milestone last night.  I really appreciate it.

As always, prayers for Trish, Germaine, Arthur, T, Pri and John - and Lou's dad, too.

Thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visits are much appreciated.

Have a fabulus Monday everyone

Hugs

Jaydee

Hugs

Jaydee

It's a Monster Mash

Hi Everyone.  Happy Wednesday night.  Hope you all had a fabulous day.

Today's card is inspired by two great challenges.  The sketch for the talented team at Waltzingmouse and the mid-week throwdown from OWH to create a card that service man/woman could send home to their child.  Well, I couldn't resit that challenge, now could I?  I loved the sketch at waltzingmouse and kept pretty true to the sketch.  I made only two small changes - I ran my card on the vertical instead of horizontal, put the central panel at an angle and I put the circular treatment on the side of the focal panel.

I had so much fun creating this card.  One of my purchases from the new IB&C was the Make a Monster set.  In fact, I bought this set especially to make cards for OWH.  So, it was a pleasure to take it out and use it.  Why was I inspired to use it.... well... take a look at the sketch ... the button seemed to me like a single eye and the single eye got me thinking about the Monster set...and then I was off!

It was also a great excuse to bring out some of my new DSP.  This particular piece of DSP really looked as though it needed the Bot or Monster stamp sets!   I also loved the three stripes at the bottom of the sketch.  It really seemed to fit with the stripes and dots of the background DSP.

Of course, the paper then led me to my color scheme.  Pacific Point, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue and Baja Breeze.

Creating the monsters was the most fun I've had in a long time.  All the piece parts are interchangeable.  The only thing that remains static is the body outline.  I really think its such a fun set.

So, here's what I did with the sketch and the theme.

  

You can see that my Signo white pen got a work out, too.  I mean, I just had to give them white teeth and white eyes!

Card Recipe:

• Card stock:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Old Olive
• Stamps:  Make a Monster (118742W, 120606C), Sentiment:  Lots of Bots (114293W, 120009C)
• Accessories:  Brights Buttons (119747), Celebrations DSP (117164)
• Tools:  Word Window Punch, glue dots

Card Instructions:

• Card base is A2 - vertical.
• DSP is cut to 5 1/4 x 4"
• Pacific Point layer is cut to 3 1/4 x 3 1/2
• Real Red layer is 3 5/16 x 3 1/4
• Whisper White layer is 2 7/8 x 3 1/8
• Lay out the two body shapes on a single clear block and stamp using StazOn.  Stamp onto Whisper White layer.  Color with your favorite mediums.
• Adhere all layers using snail.
• Cut strips of Pacific Point, Ral Red and Old Olive and arrange along the bottom of the card layering and alternating layers - in no particular sequence and adhere to DSP
• Ink "Happy Birthday, Human" sentiment from the Bots set using markers.  In this case I carried the theme through and used Old Olive, Pacific Point and Real Red.  Punch out with word window punch
• Adhere sentiment over the strips using dimensionals.  Add a matching button to either end of the sentiment.
• Choose three matching buttons and place in the top left hand corner.  For me - they resembled a strange sort of space ship and satellite mini ships!

Tips:

• When creating a card like this, try not to be too particular about the layers being straight and even - it creates a more informal feel ... this is particularly hard for me, because I spend ages agonizing over something when it is slightly off.... I had to put that behind me for this card :-)
• The repetition of the bright circles on the paper is echoed by the bright buttons and even the monsters themselves - creating a sense of continuity.
• Color the bodies to make them feel reptilian - anything other than human :-)

On a personal note:  Oh boy.... it was hot and really, really humid today.  The temps were in the 90s and the air was the heaviest it has been all year.  I went outside to bring in the garbage cans and was enveloped by a stifling layer of hot, wet, air.  We have been under a heat advisory and tornado watch all day.  The heat index pushed us up to nearly 110 this afternoon.  WAAAAAAAY too hot for me.  I stayed in the cool of the house all day, except when I had to meet the landscape gardener.  So far, no severe weather in our town and it looks as though we should be good through the night.  Hopefully, we are due for a cool down soon.

I'm hoping to get a little time in my stamping studio tonight.  I haven't crafted since Sunday and am really itching to do something.  There are lots of goodies in my cupboard just waiting for me to take them out and ink them up!

I did see a couple of projects I wanted to share with you...... its a journey that will take you around the world - literally and you don't need a passport, to stand in line, or have your baggage thrown around even when it has "handle with care" stickers on it!

a wonderful baby sensory book.

Talking about chocolate oatmeal

A jar of flowers

Get well wishes

Hello, Baby

A parliament of owls

Continued prayers for Trish, Jim/Lynn - Lynn, hope everything went OK at the ticker tocker today, Pri, T. Rach I'll be really thinking about you these next few days.  Germaine, so glad to hear that you are feeling so much better!

As always, thank you so much for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your support and your comments are much appreciated.  Have a fabulous Thursday.

Hugs - and remember, smile at a stranger, it may change their life.

Jaydee

Vintage Care Ruffles

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

Tonight's card has a distinct vintage feel, but with clean modern lines.  I really am enjoying playing around with these vintage elements. 

Talking about playing... I also got to give some love to new goodies today.  In fact, I managed to make 5 new cards to share with you over this next week.  I think my mojo might be on the return.  I have seriously found it tough making cards this last week or so.  I sit at my table and stare at my black work mat.  Thumb through the catty and take out a stamp set.  Put it back.  Take something else out.  I don't know what happened, but it has been really tough.  Making the baby card for the challenge this week was really tough.... I had made several baby cards over the last couple of weeks and just felt stumped.  Do you ever get like that?  Really doubting whether you can actually do this and thinking that everyone else has something you don't - like talent?  Well... I certainly felt that way this past week or so.

However, after today, and a couple of nice cards under my belt, I felt a little better.  I am not sure if it's being on vacation for a couple of days that helped, or an influx of new goodies to spur inspiration.  Whatever it was... it was a little better today!

I have 3 cards (so far) to show you with ribbon techniques.  I've seen so many great things done with ribbon this last month or so, that I knew I had to play around with it some time!  Tonight's card is one of the few that I managed to make this weekend.  I couldn't help but use "Because I Care" again.... I really do love this set.  I am so grateful that SU gave us this set... cos I would not have ordered it as my hostess set otherwise.  Coloring it gives me a great sense of calmness

One of the things that Trish asked me to add to my blog.. what sparks a particular card.   Well.... here's the inspiration for tonight's card.  I really wanted to do hydrangea's in a different color, but wasn't sure what to do.  So, I went to trusty google and typed in hydrangea photos - and it came up with this beauty... oh boy.. the colors really floated my boat :-)

I decided to use the Finial embossing folder (LOVE IT!), a layout that you have seen me use often, and then add the interest of ribbon treatment.  Here's what I came up with:

Isn't it rich and luscious.  I just love this new Cherry Cobbler.... LOVE IT!!!

Trish, I hope you can see the colors from the inspiration photo in my coloring? 

So... the ribbon..... We don't have a Cherry Cobbler ribbon - as you have probably all discovered by now... So I created my own using my brayer, my ink pad and my Whisper White satin ribbon.  The thing about dying the ribbon directly on the ink pad, you get a VERY saturated look.  I generally don't do it this way, but wanted that darker look to the ribbon.  The ribbon is REALLY easy to do - all it needs is sticky strip and your ribbon.  You apply the sticky strip and pleat the ribbon as you go.  That way you can make the folds as deep or as shallow as you want... I decided to go for more ruffles.

I also highlighted the flowers, by adding white gel pen to the middle of the flowers.  The sentiment is a retired rub-on.

On a personal note... it's still hot and dreadfully humid... I swear this weather makes my grumpy!!! Mind you, Rach told me that its 110 and humid where she is.... I think I would have to migrate to a bath full of ice cubes in that weather!!!!!

My customers should be receiving their new catalog customer care parcels tomorrow, so I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what I did for them.

 

I am really hoping that my wonderful clients enjoy what I put together for them..... I will be sharing some of the goodies over the next couple of nights. 

Now... you still have a little time to let me know what you would like to see on my blog... I am compiling the list from your comments and the number 1 request - VIDEOS..... Oh, man!  I guess I knew that was coming - and the number 1 requested video - BOW TYING.  So... I am considering doing this.  I have no idea what I am going to do - and really, seriously, whether you are going to want to listen to me rabbit on... and get interrupted by the cats.  You all know that Bailey will not be able to hold himself back from participating!  But, we will be going to look at some video cameras this weekend! 

As always, I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday.  Prayers for Trish, Germaine, Pri, T, Missy, Jim, Arthur, Rach.

Thank you so much for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your support - and your comments are much appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Showcasing DSP - Melon Mambo and Blushing Bride

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday night.  I really hope you all had a fun filled 4th and time off today. 

Tonight's card showcases DSP.  I really am trying to do more of that.  This DSP was one of the retired sets on clearance.  WOW... I hadn't really even looked at this side of the paper until I saw a challenge on Forfun.  The talented design team challenged us to create a birthday card.  I was thinking about a girly birthday card and thought... Pink... now I don't often use pink.... but decided I actually like Blushing Bride, especially when it's mixed with Melon Mambo.

Here's my take on a girly birthday card.  This one will be going off to the troops as part of our card drive.

I had seen a card on the cover of the new cards magazine when I was looking at the challenge on the cards blog and thought..... mmmmm..... I need to play around with that.  It was the perfect inspiration for this card.  If you haven't seen the card, you should check it out.

I really don't know how I missed this DSP.  I am really in love with it - and it was a perfect foil for the pearls.  I am really loving the Melon Mambo and Blushing Bride combo.

Card recipe:

• card stock:  Melon Mambo, Blushing Bride
• DSP:  Georgia Peach (retired)
• Stamp:  Terrific Tags (retired)
• Inks:  Melon Mambo
• Accessories:  Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, half pearls in dark pink, pale pink and cream

Card instructions:

• Cut Blushing Bride to A2 vertical
• Cut Melon Mambo to 3 5/8" w x 4 3/4" H
• Cut Georgia Peach to 3 3/8"W x 4 1/2"H
• Adhere Georgia Peach to Melon Mambo using snail. 
• Wrap Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon around the Melon Mambo/Georgia Peach layer and tie.
• Stamp "Happy Birthday" tag in Melon Mambo onto Whisper White and cut around the image
• Punch out a tag from the Blushing Bride and mount the printed tag onto the punched tag using snail
• Adhere Melon/Georgia layer to card base using dimensionals
• Adhere tag using dimensionals just underneath the bow of the ribbon
• Use a couple of pearls or rhinestones to bling up the card

On a personal note:  It has been another hot day.  We visited the nursery today to look at doing a little landscaping around our deck and to put in a little water feature.  Hopefully we can get this deck finished, soon!

I also spent some time working on unmounting some of the sets that are staying around for another year.  After all, I do have to make room for the incoming goodies :-)   I found instructions from a fellow demonstrator on splitcoast who had used My Digital Studio to create inserts for the CD cases for sets that are being unmounted.   What a find!  There are some really talented people out there.  Tomorrow, I will go and check on SCS to find her name so that I can give her the credit she deserves.  The cases look great with the new inserts.   I changed her layout a little so that I could print two inserts on one sheet of A4 paper as opposed to one per page.  If you have MDS and would like the file, just send me an email or leave me a comment with your email address and I will send it off to you.  You will have to change out the images to suit the sets you need, but at least you will have a layout to start off with.

As always, prayers for Trish - it's almost chemo day and our thoughts continue to be with you.  For Germaine, Arthur (Brenda, we haven't heard anything, so I am hoping that everything is ok), T, Pri, Germaine, Missy's family and not least to Rach.  Who will need our prayers over the next couple of weeks. 

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

Have a fabulous Tuesday everyone.

hugs

jaydee

Marina, Pacific and Suede

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

I hope you all had a fabulous Tuesday.  Tonight's card uses one of the sets that doesn't get enough ink in my stamping space - it's also one that I was really pleased that SU kept around this year!  I decided to use a new color combination for this card - Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Soft Suede and Old Olive.  I have very rarely used Soft Suede during the year that it has been an In Color.  However, since the color renovation - somehow it now just seems to fit! How strange is that?  It was also the perfect brown for tonight's card.

In addition to my card tonight, I am featuring the first 3 of Lynn's cards that she created for the servicemen/woman for our Operation Write Home card drive.

I used the sketch from a new challenge site - new for me that is-  for my card tonight.  Here's the link to the challenge card on cardpatterns.  I love finding new challenge sites because they invariably take me out of my comfort zone.  This sketch certainly did.... circle on squares on a square.  Well, you all know that I'm a bit of a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to A2 rectangles... I was inspired by the great DT and submission cards and was very pleased that I had played along.  

About a month ago, I had seen Lesley - across at alwaysplayingwithpaper color her echinacea a shade of blue.  I'd never done that and decided that this was the perfect opportunity to do just that - especially as it allowed me to pair Marina Mist and Soft Suede.  So, thanks for the inspiration to use blue, Lesley. 

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Whisper White
• Stamps:  Inspired by Nature
• Inks:  Versmark for grass, Old Olive for stems, Marina Mist and Pacific Point markers for flowers, Soft Suede for seed head
• Accessories:  Rub-ons, Beautiful Wings embosslit butterflies 
• Tools:  Big Shot, round nestie, paper snips, dimensionals

Card instructions:

• Cut Marina Mist card stock to make card 5 1/4" square
• Cut Soft Suede into 4 pieces of 2 1/2"
• Run DSP through big shot and using the Beautiful Wings embosslit 
• Ink stamp with markers.  Use the Pacific Point marker to kiss the ends of the flower to create the darker blue edge.  Huff and puff on the stamp and stamp onto Whisper White card stock.
• Snip around the flowers
• Ink the grass side of the stamp with Versmark and stamp onto the Old Olive circle
• Adhered the squares on to the card base with snail.
• Adhere the circle onto the squares with snail
• Adhere the flower onto the circle with dimensionals.
• Add the sentiment
• Adhere the butterflies.

Tips:

• With the butteflies.... I always adhere one full wing onto the paper using snail.  This leaves one side up and gives the impression of flight.  
• I use the left over bits from the dimensionals - the long side pieces - to cut pieces small enough - and long enough to adhere behind the stems of the flowers.
• The texture on the Soft Suede provides a great background to the smooth Old Olive and the color of the squares echoes the texture and the color of the seed head

It's a really easy card - a little putzy to cut out and place the flowers, but I think worth the effort.  I really enjoyed playing with this sketch.

Talking about sketch challenges.  I was thrilled to see that my card from this post glittering tiffany boxes was chosen by the team across at Littleredwagon as one of the featured cards.  I was really very honored!  So, thank you to the design team!

And.. talking about challenges... don't forget its the Paper Players sketch challenge this week - we'd love it if you would play along with us.  You can get the details on this post.

OPERATION WRITE HOME CARD DRIVE UPDATE
Now, I have a little treat for you tonight..... I want to feature a couple of the great cards that Lynn sent for the OWH card drive.  I love Lynn's style.  Her cards are always colorful and have a lot of detail - and yet retain that clean and simple feel we all love.  I have handled quite a few of Lynn's cards through our two card drives - and I am always inspired by her fabulous creations.  I will be featuring a couple of cards every night from the collection and will do the same for any others that arrive.  Hint... Hint.... Just 8 more days to go..... to get your cards in....  I promise it's worth it - to support two great causes and win a chance to spend $100 on goodies from the new SU catty!

Now seriously, what serviceman/woman wouldn't want to send this gorgeous card to their daughter... and what daughter wouldn't squeal with delight.  I know I did !

I just love the little ants wandering off along the bottom of the page!  The colors are amazing... and even the dragonfly has bling and the caterpillars have shine and sparkle... I love this card!

So.... I roared with laughter at this card.  Once again, so much detail - the coloring, the red and white gingham, the bow on the tail and the brads..... all add up to a fabulous card.  I find myself looking at the card a second time and finding fun things that I missed the first time. 

and a final one for tonight.... clean and simple perfection.  the black with the blue really stands out and takes this card to a whole other level.  Just beautiful.

As always... thank you so much for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visits, your support and your comments are always appreciated.

Germaine, it was wonderful to "hear" your voice today - glad that you are feeling just a little better. Welcome back.  Prayers as always to Trish, Germaine, Beth, Lynn and T....Rach, extra prayers for you over the next few weeks, too.

and a special shout out to the South African soccer team -Bafana Bafana.... for beating the French and sending their sorry excuse for a soccer team back to France where I hope the French will justifiably boo them when they got off the plane.  They really behaved like a bunch of mardy little boys (sorry... mardy is a yorkshire expression meaning pouting, spoilt, petulant) instead of the runners up for the world cup in 2006.  The French people and fans deserved so much more from their team than they got.   South Africa are ranked 83 in the world and managed to kick the butt of a team ranked at number 8.  They played amazingly well and really out played the French team.  So....WTG Bafana, Bafana - you made us all proud!  

And on that note, I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday.  May your day be filled with laughter, love and time spent doing the things you enjoy.  Brenda... I know it has to rain in NW England sometime:-)

Remember - smile at a stranger, you may very well change their life!

Hugs

Jaydee

Glittering little Tiffany boxes

Hi Everyone.

Happy Wednesday night.  Happy Hump Day!

I found a new challenge site with the cutest name.... Littleredwagon.  The challenge?  Use beads!  Well...mmmm... once I read that, I was hooked.  I mean, you know I can't resist my pearl beads!  So this card is for the bead challenge.  Pop along and check out the site - they have great inspirations not only for cards, but also for scrapping pages.

This card is for Trish.  It was her birthday yesterday.  Happy Belated Birthday, Trish.  Your little box of goodies should arrive tomorrow.  They aren't in pretty little blue boxes though - USPS prefers brown boxes.  Mind you... it is an SU box and, for me these days, that's even more exciting than little blue boxes with white ribbon from a famous jewelry store :-)

   

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Whisper White
• Inks:  Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze
• Accessories:  Silver elastic cord, brass embossing template (non SU), sponge daubers, half pearls, Iridescent Ice embossing powder
• Tools: scoring pad, stampin dimensionals, paper snips, heat gun

Instructions:

• I used the embossing folder and three shades of blue ink to create the little boxes.  I used my sponge daubers to apply the layers of ink to get three slightly different shades of the same color combination
• I let the ink dry and then used my Versamark pad and dabbed all over the boxes.  I then applied Iridescent Ice embossing powder and heat set.
• I snipped around the individual boxes
• The middle box is adhered using snail
• the left and right boxes are adhered using dimensionals.  This gives depth to the parcels.
• I scored two lines underneath the boxes
• I stamped the sentiment in Pacifc Point and then wrapped a piece of the silver elastic cord around the card

Voila.... quick and easy and clean and simple.  Another card that has visual interest and looks much more than it cost to put together. 

Tips:

    To add interest to the envelope, you could also use the embossing tool and some ink to create a little     box in the bottom corner of the stamp - or on the back flap.

    You could also emboss the boxes prior to coloring them for added dimension.

On a personal note:  It finally stopped raining today, so I managed to get out and have a quick lunch on the deck.  Oh yes.  It was fabulous.  We also saw our first little fawn today.  She was gamboling around the garden after her mother.... who was never out of sight for more than a couple of seconds.  The baby rabbit was also out - he's a tiny little thing, but is very brave.  He was also eating some of the garden greens ....you know... the things that most people spray because they are weeds but actually make great salads!   :-)

Don't forget the new catty is just a couple of weeks away.   I already have my order ready to put in on July 1.  I really can't wait.  Tomorrow's card is another sneak peek for you.  If features one of my favorite color combos - Cajun Craze and Old Olive.  I hope you will join me tomorrow.

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

Please keep Germaine and Trish in your prayers.  Happy Birthday, again Trish. 

Hugs - and smiles to everyone

Jaydee

Happy Birthday, Mom & Happy Flag Day Cherie

Hi Everyone.

Happy Monday night.  I hope you all had a great Monday.  Tonight's card is one of the ones that I made for the Paper Players challenge this week.  I made three and had to decide which one to post and kept this one for tonight.

It uses the new Because I Care level 1 hostess set (120118).  I must admit when I first saw this set on the pre-order preview I wasn't that crazy about it.  However, now that I have started to use it, I am really loving it.  So, once again, you have to try something before you decide whether it works for you!  I also LOVE the sentiment.

This card is more complex than my normal cards.  Why?  Because it is in honor of my Mother.  Today would have been her 89th birthday and the one thing that my mother taught me was caring for people.  My mother was happiest when she was caring for others.  That's why her chosen profession was nursing.  In her later years she was matron of an old-age nursing home and absolutely loved her job.  She loved spreading a little love and cheer to those who were sometimes forgotten and she would sometimes shed tears remembering the ladies who had dressed up on Sunday hoping that someone would come and visit them.  She really did care a tremendous amount about people and animals.  Something she instilled in me at a very early age.  She was also very forgiving of my decision to become a vegetarian quite early in life, for which I will always be grateful. 

My mother's favorite color was blue and she loved flowers and poetry.  So, I combined them all on this card in honor of my mother.  Happy Birthday, Mom.  I really miss you.

 

Just a reminder, the colors are Pacific Point, Bashful Blue/Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Old Olive.

I used Pacific Point for the base card and the label tag.

I used Baja Breeze for the 3rd layer and stamped En Francais in Versamark on this layer.  I intentionally made the En Francais in some areas of this layer lighter than others, especially around the flowers.

I stamped the flower from the Because I Care set three times.  Once in Pacific Point, once in Bashful Blue and once in Baja Breeze. I then cut around each one using my paper snips.   I then arranged them in the "vase".  The vase was run through the big shot and the Polka Dot embossing folder.

The leaves were stamped in Old Olive and cut with my snips and arranged at opposite ends to add a little balance.

I tied the bow and cut it to frame the lower portion of the card.  The sentiment was embossed with white embossing powder.

This card is a great way to showcase the three colors and how different they are, too.

Mom would have loved this card.  She really had a tough life.  She met a handsome young soldier in a park and married him before he went off to war.  He came back a man - and a much changed man.  She gave birth to 7 children and buried 5 of them.  She was plagued with severe depression for so much of my early life, interspersed with suicide attempts.  The one thing I didn't realize about my mother until much later was how amazingly strong she was.  She had her issues fighting her depression, but she was resilient and her resilience was what made her so successful in her later life. My mother was also the reason why I really wanted to become a psychiatrist.  However, she was the one person who knew that this profession would not suit me and set out to prove it.  She did! She also had the most amazing sense of humor and an inate sense of fairness. She really loved nature and was appalled by what man could do so selfishly (she would not have approved of BP!!!!) I really did inherit so much from her.    Unfortunately, I didn't inherit the tall, skinny gene!  Pity I couldn't decide what I was going to inherit whilst I was in the womb. :-)

Mom would have also been thrilled by those of you who are contributing to the card drive.  She was the reason I chose the two charities that I did - sick children and servicemen.  She would have thanked you all.

Today is also another celebration..... Cherie is celebrating Flag Day.  Cherie celebrates Flag Day in lieu of birthdays.  So, my dear, wonderful friend.  Happy Flag Day.  I hope you had a fabulous Day.  Not only do you share a birthday with my mother, but you have some wonderful traits that remind me of her in so many positive ways.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I wanted to share a link to a story that I found quite by accident today.  Sometimes you know that people are put in specific places for specific jobs.  Regardless of whether you believe it is orchestrated by God, the universe, or just pure chance.  This wonderful man has done a truly wonderful thing with his life.  I know that my mother would have truly appreciated his work. She would have also appreciated the fact that a smile can change destiny.

Tomorrow's card will show you how to add dimension to these flowers.  So, remember to stop by tomorrow.

I hope that all of you have a fabulous Tuesday.  Remember, smile at a stranger - it could change someone's life.

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

Hugs to all of you

Jaydee

Paper Players Challenge # 2 - Color Inspiration

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.

Tonight's card was one of three.. yes... three... cards I made using the color combination for the APP challenge number 2. Tonight's card features one of my all time favorite stamp sets - Asian Artistry.  This hostess set retires on June 31, but it is one that I will not be donating to Ronald McDonald House, as I really love using it.

Today's challenge is a really interesting combination, and one that took me out of my comfort zone!  I did change it up just a fraction.  I used Marina Mist instead of Bashful Blue.  Lesley was gracious enough to let me change it out. :-)

Of course, I absolutely HAD to use Pacific Point. I know I have said this before, but I am SOOOO enjoying this color renovation.  I have been really inspired by the new colors and combinations I have been able to put together. 

I will post the other two cards that I made for you later this week.  They both use the same stamp set - but are entirely different.  Really different!

When I looked at this pic that Lesley provided, it was obvious that blues were the predominant color, with a touch of green.  I kept that same theme on the card.  The inspiration has lots of petal shapes, but I decided to change it up and was inspired to go with a strong shape, but a more angular shape.  The argyle print texturz plate really seems to fit with this image for me. 

I added the pearls to echo the dots in the inspiration pic.  The ribbon was perfect for this.  When I first got this thin ribbon in my pre-order, I really didn't think I would find many uses for it... Well... you know what thought did!!! Cos, I have certainly managed to find a few uses for it in the last week.

So, here's my card for APP#2

You can check out the other great inspiration cards at the following DT's sites

Corie

LeAnne

Jeannie

Lesley

Remember, you have until Saturday to play along with us.  We really look forward to seeing your creations and thank you to all of you who played along last week in the masculine challenge.  

I love the combination of Pacific Point and Marina Mist.  You can see that on the flower on the left I used Pacific Point.  The flower on the right is Marina Mist.  The flower in the middle - is both :-)

Card recipe:

• Card stock:    Pacific Point (card base), Old Olive (layer 1), Marina Mist (layer 2), Whisper White (focal layer)
• Inks:  Old Olive, Pacific Point, Marina Mist
• Stamps:  Asian Artistry.  Sentiment:  Because I Care - new level 1 hostess set
• Accessories:  Marina Mist 1/8th" inch ribbon, Modern Label Punch (for sentiment), half pearls, stampin dimensionals for top two layers.  Texturz plate for background.  Sanding block.

Instructions:

• Cut card to A2 - vertical
• Cut layer 1 - Old Olive 3" W x 3 3/4"H
• Cut layer 2 - Marina Mist 2 3/4"W x 3 5/8"H
• Cut layer 3 - Whisper White 2 5/8"W x 3 1/2"H
• Run card base through Big Shot.  TIP: Take sanding block and lightly sand top layer of embossed image.  This really brings out the embossing as you can see in the pic.
• Ink stamp using markers.  TIP:  This is a great way to get multiple colors on a stamp and add interest to the focal image
• Layer the Whisper White to the Marina Mist using stampin dimensionals.
• Layer Marina Mist to Old Olive using stampin dimensionals
• Wrap Marina Mist ribbon around front and underneath the sides of the 3 layers.  Adhere using snail or other adhesive
• Adhere stamped sentiment over ribbon and place two half pearls on either end of the stamped sentiment.  TIP:  Using a stamp-a-ma-jig is the best way to get perfect alignment.

On a personal note.  Well.  It rained again today.  So no eating out for breakfast, or for dinner.  Adelle... I think this has something to do with you :-)  I know that you tried to clean out your garage for quite a while, but couldn't due to the rain.  Well, you obviously sent it our way!

We drove to the Twin Cities today to do a little shopping for our new deck.  We couldn't get everything we needed, but at least it was a start.  Hopefully, we will get to eat out tomorrow. 

We are currently watching the recorded England vs USA match played in Rustenburg, South Africa earlier today.  A 1:1 draw was the result. 

Cherie, I hope Chloe's 5K went really well today - good luck for tomorrow.

As always, thank you to all of you for spending a little time in my area of the stamping blogosphere.  I know that there are many of you who visit very regularly but don't comment..... your visits are appreciated:-)

Thoughts and prayers to Trish, Germaine, Lynn and Beth again tonight.  I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday, filled with love, laughter and time to do the things you love - with those you love.

Hugs

Jaydee

hugs

jaydee

Pink Chocolate Happy Birthday

Hi everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.

Quick update for all of you who have been thinking about - and praying for Trish today.  I got an update email from Trish's daughter to let me know that Trish did really well in surgery.  She is off the ventilator and is breathing on her own.  She will be in hospital for 2+ days - they aren't sure how many just yet.  This is fabulous news.  I confess to shedding a tear of happiness when I read the email.  I know that Trish would want me to thank you, on her behalf, for all your thoughts and prayers.  She really is a special lady - as you all know :-) 

I also have a shout out tonight for BETH.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH on 3/31!!!  Please wish Beth a happy birthday - it's a BIG birthday for her.  Beth I know you will be out celebrating tonight - and I have a card ready to put into the post - but I wanted to dedicate this card to you tonight to say happy birthday.

Tonights card is a redo of my blooper card.  I know many of you will remember my blooper card.  This card uses the Sending Love DSP ( - which I love btw :-) and is one of the 9+ cards I made this weekend.  It also uses my favorite Stem Sayings.   It's also a color scheme I don't think I've used before... sticking with my new year's resolutions :-).... oh... yes... and I have exercised 3 nights in a row!  So... doing well on my resolutions!!!!  Mmmmm..... taken me 3 months to get focused on this one - but better late than never, right?

 
  OK... so the sentiment really is stamped correctly, for some reason when I lightened the background it made it look as though it stamped unevenly :-)

Isn't that rich and yummy.  Reminds me of a neopolitan icecream!  Of course, such rich luscious DSP and creamy satin ribbon needs a card stock to match - I used Shimmery White card stock for the sentiment.

Card recipe:

card stock:    Shimmery White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

DSP:    Sending Love (117153)

Ribbon:  Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon (117287)

Stamp:  Stem Sayings (115078)

It's quick and easy and I actually made 4 different cards with this same layout. but using different papers.  Some have embellishments, and some don't.  You will be seeing those over the next week.

I'm off back to work.  I took a break to work out and do a quick blog udpate.  I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday, filled with love and laughter.  Don't forget - send a card to someone to show you care.  Why?  Just because you can!

As always, thank you for stopping by my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits are always much appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Birthday Blessings

Hi Everyone.  Happy Friday.

It's the weekened.. oh yeah!  me doing a happy dance!  Hopefully some time in my stamping studio... and of course, housecleaning.  Why oh why can't I wiggle my nose and the house fairies come and clean the house for me?

Tonight I wanted to share some of the gorgeous birthday cards I received from some of you.  I love the fact that the styles are all so different, the colors so varied and all the fabulous detailing.  Thank you to all of you.  I know you will enjoy this little gallery.

Brenda sent me a flap card - slip off the flower and there's a flap card underneath.  just fabulous.  I love the fact that the embossing on the top note echoes the lines of the DSP and the flower.  Lovely spring colors, too!

Adelle went the bright and cheerful route.  I love the Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry together and the fact that the rounded corners carry all the way through the card.  I also love the pop of white on the flowers.   Oh.. and note.. the twine in the button was dyed Bermuda Bay!  Gorgeous!

Yvonne used a sophisticated color scheme of blues.  I love the way they all tie together.  The layers are beautiful and the ribbon adds just the right touch of softness to the squares.  With so many interesting things to look at, the eye still goes back to the focal point - the f for friends and its pretty blue bow.  Love it!

Beth took the summer route with this clean and simple butterfly card.  You all know I love my butterflies.:-)  I loved the fact that each of the butterflies is a different color and they are all perfectly aligned in a row.  Please note... the dots on the butterflies match the dots on the card stock.  Amazing!

So... I loved them all.  They are creative and crafted with so much care and love.  I enjoyed opening each and every one of them and reading their messages.  A talented group of people and I am very blessed to have you all think of me on my day.

talking about thinking.... please all keep Trish in our prayers as she prepares for her surgery on Tuesday.  Thank you to all of you who have reached out to me to ask me for her address. 

Have a fabulous Friday night everyone.  Thank you for taking the time to visit my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You know your visits are much appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Flower Lines

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night!

I got to spend a little time in my stamping studio tonight - YAY!  Always a good day when that happens. Lou is in Austin this week, so no distractions :-)  Tonight's card uses Lovely Lines - which is the stamp set from the Level 3 Hostess Set - Lovely Flowers Bundle.  You know I love the paper from that set!

I've really been playing around a lot with clean and simple cards.  Sometimes they are the most difficult to make for me.  Knowing when enough is enough and just a little bit more is way too much... is often a fine line.  I know we all have different feelings about what is clean and simple - but for me, it is often two colors and two layers..... sometimes its lots of white space.... i don't know that there are rules - I think it's what feels restful to the eye.  Who knows... :-)

I made tonight's card a couple of weeks ago.  Variations on a theme for me.  In this post I brought you the first variation.  It was based on a challenge from Cleanandsimple#81.  I actually made several cards with this layout. 

 I liked tonight's because it really took   me out of my comfort zone in terms of color.  Way outside of my comfort zone.  Whenever have you seen me use Orchid Opulence with Perfect Plum!

Now.... I have to tell you that my mother would dress me in Lilac or Lavender as often as she could when I was a child.  She really felt it brought out the green in my eyes and went perfectly with my hair color and pale English (never seen the sun) complexion.  Maybe that's why I don't use those colors :-)  

I decided to mix up the sketch just a little and frame the boxes with ribbon - something else I don't usually do.  Here I am sticking with my new year's resolutions... well some of them... let's not discuss the one about giving up chocolate :-)

Anyway - here's the card

I stamped one of the images from the Lovely Lines sets in Perfect Plum onto Whisper White card stock and then punched them out.  I punched out co-ordinating matts in Perfect Plum and adhered them under the focal image.  Instead of a 4th square, I decided to use the "Happy Birthday" stamp from Happy Moments and embossed it in white.

I mounted the flower images onto Orchid Opulence card stock using dimensionals.  The ribbon goes all the way around the card and I stamped one of the images in Perfect Plum on the inside of the card and inserted the sentiment.

A very different card in terms of colors, but I like the softer feminine feel without it being too fussy.

Card recipe:

Card stock:  Perfect Plum (101889), Orchid Opulence (100969) and Whisper White (100730)

Ink:  Perfect Plum (101437) and Whisper White (craft) (101731)

Stamp Set:  Lovely Lines - hostess level 3 combo set Lovely Flowers Bundle (116916)

The days creep closer to the end of Sale A Bration... don't forget to put in your last orders to take advantage of the great free goodies.... and the special offer on the startup kit - a real deal.....

They also creep closer to April 1st when I can put in my pre-order for the new mini... OH YEAH! and there's something else coming up... oh yeah!  my birthday!!!  Lou is taking me to the Symphony on Friday, Spa treatments for two on Saturday and then to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Saturday night.  Could it get any better than that?   Thanks to Adelle for suggesting that I spend a whole month celebrating my birthday... she sent me an email about a month ago ...... and I thought about it and decided.... great idea...

I'm off to make dinner - it's always strange cooking just for myself...mmmm... what to eat... and no.. i don't want to do warm up pre-packaged... although that would be really easy!  mmmmm.... off to the fridge to investigate!

Have a happy Tuesday Wednesday everyone.  Laugh tomorrow and find an excuse to send someone a card to brighten their day... why... just because you can!

Hugs

Jaydee