Stampin! with Jaydee

Clean and Simple - Artistic Etchings, Define your Life, Countryside

Hi Everyone.  Happy Thursday night.

Tonight I have two more swaps from the regional for you.  These cards are so fabulous and I hope that you will appreciate them, too. 

It's 9.30 here and I have just finished work, so this will be a very quick post.  However, I did want to give you an opportunity to appreciate the wonderful creativity of your fellow crafters.

This card by MaryLou Kleveland, really showcases the simple things in life.  I loved it.  The twine added just the right touch.  The sepia colors worked so amazingly well together.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso
• DSP:  Newsprint DSP
• Stamps:  Countryside, Define Your Life
• Acceessories:  Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals, Hemp Twine, Sponges

I loved this card from Nikki Rueth.  The black, vanilla and crumb cake really worked so well, together.  As did the bird punch.  It was just the accessory to make this card pop.

• Card stock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla
• Stamps: Artistic Etchings
• Accessories:  Grosgrain ribbon, bird punch

So thanks to Niki and Mary Lou for swapping with me.  These cards are fabulous!

On a personal note:  It was another long day, but I did get one of my projects - due for completion on Monday - completed today.  That gives me time to try to get the two projects I needed to complete, completed by Monday - oh yeah... I forgot... and then the two projects my manager added to my list today:-)  Some of you may be asking and wondering why on earth I work the hours that I do.  It's simple.  I have worked for the same company since 1982.  I work for a Fortune 30 company.  I have had 5 different roles in my company in 4 years.  The company I work for has had multiple layoffs since 1992.  In fact, thousands upon thousands of people have been laid off.  Sadly, many of those jobs have gone overseas.  As my tenure was broken, I don't have the pension cushion that many have.  I also live in a very small town, with a small number of employers.  Consequently, like so many of us, I work the hours that I need to work to keep my job, knowing that the company I work for is looking to cut more people and move more jobs overseas.  I don't tell  you this because I want to get into a discussion about politics, or the economy - or anything serious like that.  Just to let you know why I work the hours that I do.  The job that I do is seriously in jeopardy of being moved off-shore.  I know that.  All the people doing what I do know that.  Every day we are asked to train off-shore employees to do what we do.  So... I do the work to the very best of my ability!

This means it totally disrupts my compulsion to get into my stamping space and create.  Creating is one of those things that keeps me somewhat sane!!!!  It really is very cathartic, and a change from my everyday job.  Like so many of us who are juggling jobs, life, children, parents, friends - life in general, I wish I had more time to spend doing the things I love.  Crafting is one of those things.

Prayers tonight for those who need a lift or a warm hug.  My thoughts and prayers, too, are with those in New Zealand.  The decision the rescue workers had to make to decide to move into recovery instead of rescue reminded me of 9/11.  The saddest thing for me yesterday..... looking at a picture of a little white coffin carrying the remains of a 9 month old child.  A victim of the earthquake.  My heart broke for the parents.

You know... when I sit down to write my blog... I have no agenda.  I do not know what I am going to say.  The words come from somewhere inside of me.... unplanned.. unedited... unscripted.  Tonight, was obviously one of those few nights where the happy side of life obviously wasn't coming through!

To quote to words of the immortal Scarlet O'Hara - tomorrow IS another day!

Have a wonderful Friday everyone

Hugs

Jaydee

Botanical Gazette meets Define your Life meets FYI

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday.

Well, y'all know by now that I am really trying to use different stamp sets  - ones that really don't get enough love - and also trying different things.  It's great that one of my new year goals is on track!  Now, I have to work on the exercise one ! :-)

Tonight's card is another one for the troops.  I know that there are many men who really don't like giving really feminine cards to their wives.  Sometimes, their wives or family members just aren't into very feminine cards.  Sometimes men just aren't comfortable with all that pink and bling and all the stuff that I love.  So, I decided to try something entirely different tonight.  A little distressing, a little less feminine.  Colors I don't generally use.  Altogether - right outside of my comfort zone.

I saw this great sketch across at cardpositioning systems and decided it was an ideal one to use with the FYI set.  This set is such a great set and I really don't use it often enough at all.  You can see that I put the sketch on its side to make best use of the FYI.

I also decided that it was about time that I used Define Your Life.  I really wanted to feature it on the front.  Next thing I decided - I really wanted to show an empty bird cage.  I first started with stamping and cutting out the birdcage from the Nature Walk set, but it was just too small.  Then I decided to pull out the Botanical Gazette DSP and cut around one of the bird cages on the DSP.

Why the birdcage?  Well, I thought the I MISS YOU went really well with an empty bird cage. :-)

I used one of the antique brads for the attachment to the birdcage.  However, it was way too brassy looking, so I used one of my Copic markers to color it Early Espresso.

Here's what I came up with

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

• Card stock:  Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
• DSP:  Botanical Gazette -the cage, the focal point backdrop and the script are all from the Botanical Gazette DSP
• Accessories:  Early Espresso ribbon, Antique Brad
• Tools:  Distressing Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals, Copic marker (non SU) to color Antique Brad, Oval Punch for the FYI sentiment
• Stamp sets:  FYI, Define Your Life

On a personal note:

looks like this week isn't going to be that much easier than last week.  I was assigned another project today that meant a 13 hour day today and will probably mean that for the rest of the week, too.  So, no stamping for me this week!  At least Lou is home so he can pick up a little of the slack for me on the household duties, which really does help a little. 

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Maria, Germaine.  For those Australians who are expecting yet another massive storm - a Cyclone with expected speeds of 175mph and expected to drop 3 feet of water.  For my readers on the East Coast who are dealing with yet another major storm.  Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

As always - thank you for visiting my blog.  You know I really appreciate it.  I also appreciate those of you who commented on my card last night.  Seems like a pretty even split on whether the card with the bow or without the bow is better.  I was surprised that it was such an even split!

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone.  As Cherie would say - Happy Hump Day

Hugs

Jaydee