Stampin! with Jaydee

Cardinal Christmas - Silent Night - Paper Players Challenge #66

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday.

I finally managed to get into my stamping space and had to whip up a card for the Paper Players Challenge this week.  The fabulous LeAnne has a theme challenge for us this week, and I know it will get your creative juices flowing!

Isn't that a cool theme!  Make a card inspired by your favorite song... or include music on your card.  Don't forget to pop along to the Paper Players to see what our fabulous design team have composed for you... ha. ha. ha.  I am so funny :-)  I must have had my Corny Flakes for breakfast :-)

Ok... enough of my terrible jokes... let's get back to the reason you are here.  This is my take on the challenge... You will noticed that I used some Christmas DSP from the 2010 catalog as the background.  The words from Silent Night are printed on the DSP.

I then took a piece of Vellum and inked up the Cardinal from Cardinal Christmas.  To get the variations in color, I used my Stampin' Write markers and huffed and puffed on the stamp as soon as I was ready to stamp onto my vellum.

It's critical to let the ink on the vellum dry before you do anything with it.  It takes a little while, but I fixed up the rest of my card, did some emails, etc. whilst waiting for it to dry.  Here's the finished card:

I'm sorry the photograph isn't that great!  It looks a little muddy, and it really isn't. I obviously had the wrong setting on my camera.

I do loive the simplicity of the image and the subtle wording in the background.  The fact that the background is stamped on a Crumb Cake color base, helps to soften the overall effect of the starkness of the vellum.  I added a little pop of Elegant Eggplant for the berries to lift the color scheme a little.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Cherry Cobbler
• Stamp Set:  Cardinal Christmas
• Colors:  Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant
• Accessories:  Vellum; Riding Hood Red striped ribbon (retired)

I had all sorts of other ideas in my brain... like Monster Mash.... I really thought using the Make a Monster set on a Halloween card would be fabulous.... but, my creative juices just aren't functioning that well.  I really don't know whether it's because I'm tired, or whether sitting on my you know what on conference calls all day has just jaded my creativity.  Whatever it is... I hope my creative juices come back soon, cos the drought is bothering me :-)

Don't forget to visit the other design team members and check out their fabulous creations:

Ann

Lesley

Rita

Tara

Julie

Cindy

LeAnne

Nance

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.  As always, thank you so much for visiting my blog.  Warm hugs and prayers for all those who need a lift.

Jaydee

Welcome Christmas meets Lovely as a Tree meets Cardinal Christmas

Hi everyone.

Second post for tonight.  If you are looking to win blog candy for a cause - check out this post.

Tonight's card was created using the sketch challenge from ourcreativecorner.  I knew the sketch would challenge me - because it uses circles and more layers than I normally use.  As you all know, that's the reason I do challenges - to challenge myself.  Guess what?  I really enjoyed working with the sketch and had great fun creating this card.  Don't forget to pop along to ourcreativecorner and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards.

 
Isn't that cute?

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Welcome Christmas, Cardinal Christmas (sentiment)
• DSP:  Jolly Holiday
• Accessories:  Basic Pearls (colored)
• Tools:  Big Shot, Scalloped circles die (nestabilities), circle scissors plus, stamp-a-majig, Stampin' Dimensionals

On a personal note:  It is officially COLD.  Yep.  Really cold.  Best Buy arrived this morning to install a new washer and dryer for us.  High Efficiency, energy efficient washer and dryer.  our old ones were way past their sell by date and took forever to do a cycle.  The poor guys who came to install it had to take the backdoor off in order to get the dryer through.  That meant they had the garage door open, the back door off and it was -25!  I felt really sorry for them.  Anyway, I can't wait to try out the new goodies.

I'll be posting the winter shots for you tomorrow night.

Last night I watched the end of the Amazing Race... finally an all female team won!  They were brilliant competitors, too - as were the couple  who came in second - also an all female team.  The second team are two young ladies from a home shopping network.  One of them... oh, man... I wish I had 1/10th of her energy, her enthusiasm, her amazing upbeat attitude.  She is an amazing young lady.  Nothing got her down, she was always so positive and supportive - loved her!

This weekend Lou and I watched a movie - How to Train your Dragon.  I am guessing that some of you may have seen this movie.  If you have, we found Charlie the cat's doppelganger.  He is, without a doubt who they based "toothless" the night flyer on.  Cute and wonderful one minute and aaaaarrrgh the next!  Those of you who have seen the movie will know what I mean.  We decided that he even has the same shaped head!

Well, I am off to cook my dinner and warm up the house a little.  Don't forget to check the link to see what you can do to be in a position to earn some blog candy for a cause.  I hope you will join me.

Prayers tonight for Adelle.  Soozie.  Rach.  Lesley.  Arthur.  Rose and Pammie.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone.

Hugs

Jaydee

Red and White Cardinal

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.

Tonight's card uses one of my favorite sets from the SU catty this year.  Cardinal Christmas. 

I combined two challenges - Lesley's Christmas challenge for the Paper Players this week - who could resist that challenge? Don't forget to join us this week.

I also checked out the challenge at Playdatecafe this week and they were having a color challenge.  So, I combined the two challenges.  I don't often just work with red and white, but actually had great fun. 

  

Of course, the red that I chose had to be Cherry Cobbler. I stamped the Medallion background stamp on the base of the card and embossed it with White embossing powder.  It's really subtle, but adds a little texture to the plain card stock.  You can see it better in the bottom of the photo.

Card recipe - all supplies SU unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
• Stamps:  Cardinal Christmas, Medallion background stamp
• Accessories:  Basic Pearls colored to match the card, Cherry Cobbler Seam binding ribbon
• Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Riding Hood Red, Regal Rose
• Tools:  Versamark, White Embossing powder, Stampin Dimensionals, heat gun, Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels #11 (non-SU)

On a personal note: 

Lots of fabulous, fluffy white stuff fell yesterday!  It certainly is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.  We must have had about 8 inches in the snow on our deck can be believed.  We are finally putting up the decorations and lighting up the new arbovitae's that we planted earlier this year.

Today, we went shopping for toys.  It is the annual local TV station toy drive for Christmas Anonymous.  It's the one time of the year when I am able to go shopping for dolls and trucks and skateboards and snowbards and hot wheels and lego.  All the sorts of things that I hope some deserving, under-privileged children around the area will love to find under their tree this Christmas.

As always prayers for Germaine, Arthur, Rose, Pri and Adelle.  Also for those of you who need a little lift.

I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday - filled with love, laughter and time spent doing the things you love.

Hugs

Jayde

 

Cardinal Christmas - Paper Players Challenge # 24

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday.  I do hope you all had a fabulous week.

The Paper Players challenge this week is being hosted by Ann.  Ann chose a fabulous color scheme for us all to use.

Always Artichoke

Cherry Cobbler

and a neutral

It can be any occasion, any style, any stamp set..... it just has to be these three colors.

I decided it was time to pull out one of my favorite new sets.  The cardinals are some of the brightest spots in the garden at any time of the year, but especially in winter.  When their bright red is showcased against the white of snow.

Here's my card for the challenge.

I really do love this stamp set.  Even though the lines of this card are very clean, the background stamping, the scalloped oval, the ribbon, and the typeface of the sentiment, all lead to a traditional feel.

I had tremendous fun coloring the image.   When I color an image such as this, I find a photograph on the internet and use that as my inspiration.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla (my neutral)
• Stamp:  Cardinal Christmas
• Accessories:  Always Artichoke seam binding ribbon
• Tools:  Big Shot, inks, gold embossing powder, Crystal Effects (for the eye of the bird and the berries)

Don't forget to go along to thepaperplayers challenge site and play along with us.

On a personal note:  sadly, my two weeks with my hubby are coming to an end.  So we are both back to work on Monday and back to our normal schedule.

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone.

As always, prayers for those in need, and those that need a lift.

Hugs

Jaydee

Cardinal Christmas

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

Tonight's card, was one of those that I made this weekend for a challenge.  The challenge?  Sweetstop.  It's one of those challenges that pushed me out of my comfort zone... and that's the reason I do them.  I really find that I have grown as a card creator since forcing myself to use colors and sketches that are alien to my "fall to layouts".  I really suggest you pop along to the site and see the great inspiration cards from the design team and also the cards that have been submitted.

I looked at the layout and thought.... mmm..  this card calls for a vertical central element.  My newly arrived Cardinal Christmas came to mind.  That led me in all sorts of directions with embossing folders, DSP and, my favorite, coloring.

   

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

• Card stock:  Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
• Stamps:  Cardinal Christmas
• Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Concord Crush and a little Copic coloring to add dimension over the watercolored image of the Cardinal
• Accessories:  Nestabilities classic large rectangles; Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler seam binding; Regals Buttons, Gold Elastic cord
• Tools:  My Big Shot.... one of my best investments! Holly embossing folder (non-SU); Stampin' Dimensionals

This was another card that I felt didn't need a sentiment.  Thank you, Brenda, for freeing me from my obsession of always putting a sentiment on a card.

I did, however, add a little to the inside.  Something plain and simple and something to tie the outside to the inside.

So.. I had to take a quick photograph for you whilst I was doing my blog update!

Card instructions:

• Cut Always Artichoke card stock to A2 11 x 4 1/4.  Score and fold at 5 1/2 - fold on the top.
• Cut Cherry Cobbler layer to 4 1/8 x 5 3/8
• Cut DSP (Deck the Halls) to 4 x 5 1/4
• Adhere 3 base layers using snail.
• Cut 2nd Always Artichoke layer to 3 x 4 3/8
• Cut Cherry Cobbler layer to 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 and run through Big Shot with embossing folder.  Adhere these two layers using snail  Adhere these two layers to the card base - placing at an angle.  I used snail to secure the layers together
• Cut third Always Artichoke layer to 2 3/16 x 3 3/8
• Cut third Cherry Cobbler layer to 2 9/16 x 3 3/8.  Adhere these two layers using snail
• Cut Very Vanilla layer to fit the nestabilities and run through the Big Shot.  I then kept the frame of the nestabilities in place and, using my sponges, colored the inside area using Crumb Cake ink.  I left a darker Crumb Cake imprint on the outside and less on the inner parts of this layer.  Doing this with the nestabilities frame still in place, allows you to keep a crisp clean Very Vanilla border
• I inked up the Cardinal Stamp with Cherry Cobbler for the bird, Always Artichoke for the leaves and branches and Concord Crush for the berries.  I then went back in with my Cherry Cobbler classic ink and a blender pen and colored in the "white spaces".  I colored the face and chin in Basic Black and a very pale beak was created with a light application of Cherry Cobbler ink and my blender brush.  To add just a little dimension, I went in with a Copic marker and finished off the colors.  
• I know that they are not the traditional colors for a Cardinal - but I needed them to match with my card stock and ribbon.
• I snipped him out and adhered him using Stampin' Dimensionals to the Very Vanilla base. 
• The last thing that I did.... put the Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler ribbon together, tie around the base - underneath the focal layers and tie into a knot.
• Take a button, wrap a little Gold Elastic Cord through the button, underneath the knot on the ribbon and tie

I know it sounds like a lot of steps... but really - it was very simple and I think is a very pretty card.  The touch of Concord Crush is the unexpected touch on this card.   And, for me... the multiple layers.

On a personal note:

Well, my voice has finally gone and I have a temperature.  So... one minute I'm hot - and the next minute I'm cold.  Now.... add that to Menopausal hot flashes... and you have energy surges for sure.  Or, as my friend Brenda told me... they are my own little trips to somewhere tropical!  Me... I'm just looking forward to a trip somewhere cold!

Every time I have done a post for the past few months, I have wondered if Trish would be up to commenting - and also asked you for prayers for her.  It seems so strange not to consciously do that every post.  I really will miss her!  We were blessed to have her visit our blogs, support us all so wholeheartedly and to have her in our little "group".  Thank you to all of you who have said you will be sending a card of condolence to her family.  Her participation in our blogs and her support of or work, are not well known to her family.  It was Trish's little refuge.  So, anything you can do to show Bob and Nichole how much our stamping community appreciated Trish will be much appreciated.

NOW.... We are working our way to FEEL GOOD FRIDAY.  If any of you have a feel good link that you would like to submit, please send it my way.  I'd love to feature some of your choices for FEEL GOOD FRIDAY.  So, please think about it and send me an email.

NEXT.... you get to choose the next videos I make.  Adelle, I will do a quick video showing you how I made the flower on this Baja Wedding card.  

BUT... you have to let me know what video you would like me to do after that.  If my voice is back, I would like to do a couple of videos this weekend for placing on my blog over the next couple of weeks.  Just send me an email, or leave me a comment, on what you would like to see me do next.

To those of you who have viewed my videos - and commented - thank you so much.  Your feedback helps me tremendously.  Sue, I need to go check out Dawn's video to see how she ties a bow.  Adelle, thank you for noticing my "manicure"!  A quick coat of nail polish before I made my video.  What I hadn't realized though is how NEON the pink is.  I think a more subdued color for the next set of videos is in order!

Beth... you asked me why nestabilities vs Cricut.  This is my own personal feeling.  I LOVE... LOVE... LOVE... my Big Shot and love being able to use something else that goes with it.  requires no electiricity.  it is really simple. etc.   In fact, I donated my Cricuit to the local Ronald McDonald house, with all my paraphanalia.  I found I just didn't use it.  The nestabilities suit me because they work with my big shot and I love the fact that I can cut and emboss the same image.  Also, I can use the frame of the nestability - like I did on tonight's card - to use it as a way to contain the coloring.  So... my personal preference is nestabilities every time.  I think it really is a truly personal preference.  As I said, for me the Cricuit was a tool that I didn't use.  My mantra at home... if something comes in... something must go out.  So, once I had realized I loved my Big Shot... the Cricuit was the thing that went.  I know the Ronald McDonald guys will be loving it, though.  I hope that answered your question.

If any of you have any other questions.... please just leave me a comment or send me an email.  I am never short of opinions... as the guys I work with will attest!  But seriously, I am always happy to give an opinion on something I use or have tried, the techniques I use on my cards, or anything to do with card making!

Remember...... as Cam reminded us.... Hug someone... just because you can.  You never know how much longer you will have them to hug.  Appreciate every minute of this amazing life.  Even in the midst of the bad days, or the bad times, there is something positive to find in every day.

Prayers tonight for:  Bob and Nichole, Germaine, T, Pri, John & Sue, Lesley and Cyrus - and Arthur.

hugs to all of you

Jaydee