Stampin! with Jaydee

Every Moment for Embellish Magazine

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday.

I don't normally post on Sunday's, but as I missed two night's posting this week, I felt I really needed to!  I also wanted to give you an update on the Operation Write Home card drive, too.

Let's start with a card tonight.  I saw this challenge across at Embellish Magazine and couldn't wait to bring out my Every Moment stamp set.  I was lucky to have a little stamping time last weekend to make this card, but wasn't able to load it before today!  In fact, I have ones I made nearly three weeks ago to show you still! Don't forget to pop along to Embellish Magazine and check out the fabulous design team and submission cards.

Now, the challenge was to 1) use the colors in the photo and 2) to use an image on your card that required coloring.  Now, y'all know that I never turn down an excuse to bring out my inks!!!!  The colors are not ones that I am naturally drawn to, but I decided to give it a try.

My first decision was that the card focal color would be Crumb Cake and that I would make the green, pink and yellow my highlight colors.  I also wanted to bring in just a tad of the darker brown used on the "flying house studios" to add a little grounding to the card.

Although Crumb Cake was my base, I wanted to darken the striped background a little, so I sponged it with a little Soft Suede.  This allowed the focal point to really pop from it's Crumb Cake tag.  (This layout really has become a fall to layout for me!)  Of course, the bird in the bulrushes needed just a little blue sky, but just enough to make him pop and took that inspiration from the little blue flower on the necklace.

Here's what I came up with:

I used a mixture of my Stampin' Write markers and Copics to color the image.  Here's the deets of the card:

• Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Every Moment, Perfect Words.  En Francais (lightly stamped onto the tag).  Wonderfully Worn (lightly stamped onto the tag.
• Inks: Soft Suede classic ink.  Stampin' Write Markers:  Lucky Limeade (stalks), Crumb Cake (bulrush heads).  Bird colored with Copics
• Accessories:  Pear Pizzazz and Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon.  Naturals Button.  Early Espresso Baker's Twine
• Tools:  Paper snips for the fussy cutting of the bird.  Stampin Dimensionals - each layer is on dimensionals.  Bow Easy for the two toned bow, double tied to make 4 bows on either side. Sizzix tag die and Big Shot.  Color Spritzer tool - used with Crumb Cake Stampin' Write marker on the Striped Embossing folder layer to help add dimension and shadow.

So, what do you think?  I hope I managed to incorporate the colors and I really did enjoy coloring the focal point!

Operation Write Home Card Drive update:

Two weeks to go to get your cards to me.  As a reminder, these are cards that the service man or woman will choose on base to send home to a family member.  Just about anything goes in terms of requirements, but Happy Birthday, Love You, etc. are especially welcome.  You can check out my original detailed blog post on what to do and what is preferred.  A2 cards are definitely the preferred card size.  Cards can be made using any stamp products.  Don't forget .... every 20 cards with envelopes that you send, will give you one entry into the draw for Stampin' Up! product courtesy of MOI.  As an added incentive, everyone who does send me cards will receive a little thank you present from me, too.  So, even if you are not the main prize winners, you will still receive a little Stampin' Up! memento from Convention - just as my way of saying thank you.

If you have any questions at all on the card drive, need any advice, etc. Please just drop me an email.  You can find the link right under my photo - taken with my handsome hubby and the fabulous Fox the Camel!

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

Hugs

Jaydee

Paper Players Challenge #51 - Every Moment

Hi Everyone

Happy Sunday. 

I am waaaaay late with my posts this weekend.  Unfortunately I worked a fair number of hours on Friday (from 2.30a.m - 6.30 p.m.  We were out all day yesterday in Minneapolis getting our car serviced and running around.  I also had to work this morning.  Consequently, I had no time to make my Paper Players challenge card - and had nothing to put on my blog for you!!!  However, I did get a couple of hours in my stamping space today.  I got my Paper Players Challenge card done for you.  The challenge this week is a COLOR CHALLENGE.

Fabulous summer colors for you.  However, the are generally colors I don't use.  So.... it was a bit of a challenge, but that's the whole key to challenges, right! :-)

I decided to pull out one of my neglected stamp sets - Every Moment.  Generally I use the bird from this set, but decided to use the flower instead.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White.  Daffodil Delight textured
• Stamps:  Every Moment.  Sentiment: A Word for You.  Pattern on vase - Confetti
• DSP:  Subtles Patterns Pack
• Inks:  Sentiment: Basic Black.  Flowers:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi
• Accessories:  Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric Brad
• Tools:  Oval punch (for the vase), paper snips, stampin' dimensionals

It took me a while to make this card.... never mind how long it took to snip out the flowers!

Here's a closeup so that you can see the texture of the vase, with the Confetti stamped in Versarmark and the snipped out flowers

 

I used the Confetti stamp on the vase to mimic the dots on the background DSP and also the dots on the flowers,  It also broke up the brightness of the Daffodil Delight a little, too.

I also have to thank my hubby for helping me out on this one.  I was battling with the background and had it as yellow.  Lou said, "you know, that would look better green!"  He was right!

The design team have created some amazing cards again this week.  Don't forget to pop along to the Paper Players - check out the design teams fabulous creations, and then make a card and play along with us.  We do hope you will join us.

On a personal note:

We have had a regular visitor to our garden the last couple of days.

Isn't she fabulous?  Well, we think she is.  This morning the cats decided that there was something WAAAAAAYYYY interesting going on outside the window.  None of them getting too close I might tell you.  So, we had a look and....... well.... I am not surprised who was more surprised to see who!

She was on the deck, standing on the bench!  I had to take the pic through the window - through the blind - so it's not the best!  I knew that if I opened the blind to get the pic, she would be gone.  Isn't this amazing?  The cats didn't know what to think of it.

Then..... the hummer - who has his feeder just behind her - decided she was waaay too close to the feeder and decided to dive bomb her to get her out of the way!

Prayers tonight for my dear friend Susie.  Susie's mom passed away yesterday and my thoughts, prayers and hugs go out to Susie and her family.  Her mother was an amazing woman whom I remember very fondly.

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

Hugs

Jaydee

 

Little Pink Birdy

Hi Everyone. Happy Thursday night.

Very quick post for you tonight.  It's 9.49 and I have only just managed to get to updating my blog.

Tonight's card uses Every Moment and was created for the color challenge across at embellishmagazine.  If you haven't found this challenge site, you really should go and check it out. It's amazing! I only found it a couple of weeks ago and this is the first time that I have made a card and got it in on time - although JUST under the wire.  The inspiration colors are so rich and luscious.  The challenge this week was to use Pink, Olive and Brown and to include a bird!

Mmmmm..... the color choices were easy - all I had to do was decide it was time to bring out the bird from Every Moment and color him in again!  I LOVE these colors together.  It really is a very sophisticated color scheme.  Considering I didn't want this stamp set - I have really enjoyed using it!

Isn't that such a rich and luscious color scheme.  Of course, I absolutely had to use the Old Olive Satin ribbon and it works so beautifully with the Early Espresso.

I was very happy with the card.  I also decided not to do anything to the background card stock - but just to leave it.  I feel that if I had embossed it, it would have drawn away from the pink bird.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Whisper White
• Stamp:  Every Moment
• Inks:  Whisper White craft ink, Rose Red, Melon Mambo, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black
• Accessories:  Old Olive Satin Ribon
• Tools"  Stampin' Dimensionals

Card instructions:

• Cut Early Espresso card stock to A2 5 1/2 x 8 1/2.  Score and fold at 4 1/4 with the fold on the top
• Cut Old Olive to 3 x 2 3/8
• Stamp focal image onto Whisper White Card stock using Classic Basic Black ink and color.  The cut image to 2 3/4 x 2 1/8
• Adhere focal image to Old Olive layer using dimensionals.  Adhere Old Olive layer to card base using dimensionals.
• Wrap ribbon around card and underneath the focal image and tie into a knot
• Ink sentiment with Craft Whisper White ink and stamp just below the knot

I love the mix of pinks on his feather and his belly.  The shading of the brown helps give dimension and texture to the bulrushes and the color scheme really is beautiful.  I have I said that already :-)

Trish.... I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday. :-)

Prayers for Trish, Germaine, T, Pri, Arthur, Hugo and Angela.  Missy, I hope that your family can now begin the healing process.

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday... oh yeah... it's FRIDAY! 

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

Hugs

Jaydee

I'll be back a little later to give you all the details and a close up.  I need to get this post done so that I can (hopefully) make my feedburner feed

Hugs

Jaydee

Watercolor bluebird

Hi Everyone.  Happy Saturday night.

I hope you all had a fabulous Saturday.  Tonight's card features one of my favorite sets - Every Moment... there is something about this set that really makes me smile.  Brenda can attest to the fact that when I saw it I grumbled and mumbled about the fact that it was obviously a Goldfinch and that I had never seen a Goldfinch on a bulrush.  However, once I got it and started playing around it with - I got over the "correctness" and just fell in love with the image.  This time, I decided to make the bird into a blue and yellow bird - straight out of my own imagination... but hey, that's what imagi nation is all about, right?

I saw this fabulous sketch on icsketches.  It's an incredibly versatile sketch and I realized  that it was an ideal sketch to use some of the new DSP, too.  I really loved the sketch and I am in love with this Elegant Soiree DSP.

So, here's my imaginary blue/yellow/black bird amongst the bulrushes

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
• Stamps:  Every Moment, Matchbox Messages (sentiment)
• Inks:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Sahara Sand
• DSP:  Elegant Soiree
• Tools:  Scallop border punch, circle punches, Stampin' Dimensionals

Card instructions:

• Cut Soft Suede to A2 (score and fold at 5 1/2" with the fold on the left hand side)
• Cut a piece of Baja Breeze to 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 and adhere to card base
• Cut Elegant Soiree strips to 3 1/2" x 4 and adhere to Baja Breeze
• Cut strip of Soft Suede and punch using scallop border punch.  Adhere this strip over the Elegant Soiree. 
• Cut complementary Elegant Soiree piece 2" x 4" and adhere over the Baja Breeze and Soft Suede scallop strip
• Cut 3 squares - Soft Suede 2 7/8" x 3 1/8".   Baja Breeze 2 3/4 x 2 15/16.  Very Vanilla 2 5/8 x 2 3/4
• Stamp focal image using Stazon and color with your favorite markers. 
• Adhere Soft Suede layer to card base using snail.  Adhere Baja Breeze layer using dimensionals.  Adhere very Vanilla layer using Dimensionals
• Ink "just a little thanks" stamp using markers - I used Soft Suede, Baja Breeze and Always Artichoke and stamp onto Very Vanilla.  Punch out using 1 1/4" circular punch.  Punch out Baja Breeze layer using 1 3/8" punch.  Adhere to card.

Tips:

• Some of you have seen this tip before - but when coloring the eyes of anything - leave a little white spot - this gives life to the eye (thank  you Big Brother - I miss you :)...)
• When adding a sentiment layer to a focal point that has dimensionals underneath, ensure that you build up the layer that is against the card base.  In this case, I adhered the left side of the sentiment with Snail - but built up the right side of the sentiment with two layers of dimensionals.  Why two layers?  Because the Baja Breeze and the Very Vanilla layers were both built up using dimensionals.  Doing this, ensures that your sentiment is at the same level as the image
• When coloring something - like the bulrushes.  Look for a photograph that you can use for inspiration.  In this case, I used this photograph.  It's not a perfect match for what I did, but it did show me a couple of extra pieces to add to the coloring for interest.  The darker shadow on the left hand side of the bulrush heads.  The whiter/lighter part at the top and the brown stems.  I added the green to the leaves for additional interest.  So, you don't have to color it exactly, but it helps when you can see something and use it for inspiration

On a personal note.  The rain hasn't stopped.  This morning though was very cool - it felt almost fall like.  What a pleasant change from the heat and humidity.  Trish, I hope some of this is coming your way.

Our trip to the Farmer's Market was great this morning.  Lots of yummy stuff... mind you, not wonderful juicy, chin dripping peaches that Rach said she got from her Farmer's Market.  I cannot remember the last time I ate a peach that juicy.  I was jealous!

Shout out to Bethany tonight..... she is the most amazing young lady.  Brenda - you did good :-)

Adelle, I saw your question about making the flowers.  I'll do a photo tutorial next week for you to show you how I did them.  They really are easy - the key is breaking down the fibers to make the paper more pliable.

As always, prayers for Trish, Germaine (back on the list for her pain), T, Pri, Arthur. 

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend - filled with love, laughter and joy.  Thank you for visiting my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  Your visits, your comments and your support are greatly appreciated.

Hugs

Jaydee

Every Moment

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday night.  I hope you all have a fabulous day.

Tonight's card is clean and simple and uses a new color combination, using a color I have never used before - River Rock.  I really wasn't sure what to make of this color before I started to play with it.  Now, I think it might become one of my favorite colors.  It also fits in with the papertake weekly challenge - which is to create a card that features anything you would find in a garden.  A perfect challenge for me!  I really recommend you go check out not only the fabulous design team cards, but also the submissions.  I know you will find something to inspire you.

The stamp set is a new one from the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog.  Every Moment.  I had great fun coloring the image of the bird on the bulrushes, but can't say it's my best coloring job!

We have the Goldfinches in our garden throughout the year and they really do bring me joy.  So, this card is my little homage to my cheerful Goldfinches.

Card recipe:

• Card stock:  River Rock, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla,
• Inks:  Stazon Black, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Peach Parfait (for the beak and legs), Crumb Cake (for the underside of the tail)
• Stamp sets:  Every Moment,  Apple Blossoms - sentiment
• Tools:  Stampin' Dimensionals

Card Recipe:

• Cut River Rock card stock to A2 - card stand vertically
• Cut Always Artichoke to 3" W x 3 3/4" H
• Cut Very Vanilla to 2 3/4"W x 3 1/2"H
• Ink bird image with StazOn and stamp onto the Very Vanilla layer
• Use your favorite markers to color the images
• Mount the Very Vanilla Layer to the Always Artichoke layer using dimensionals.  Then adhere this layer to the card base using another round of dimensionals
• Ink "just a little note" sentiment in Early Espresso and stamp onto card base

Tips:

• When coloring eyes, leave a little white spot.  (My brother taught me that nearly half a century ago!)  It really does help to add a little life to the eye.
• When coloring feathers, remember they are never straight, so catch the light a little differently.  When I created the white stripes on the wing feathers, I made sure that I left a squiggly shape to make them look more natural
• I tried to create the soft textured look on the bulrushes by using different color browns and left some lighter and darker areas

Very quick and simple, the "hardest" part of making this card was coloring.  For me... coloring really is a form of meditation and I really do enjoy it.

On a personal note:   the house is very quiet as Lou is in Buenos Aires.  Needless to say his journey was not without the usual drama.  He got to Atlanta and half an hour later they closed down the airport.  No planes could leave and none could land.  A major thunderstorm.  That made his departure nearly 2 hours late  and, of course, he arrived late, too!  So it was straight to the hotel for a quick shower before going to the client.  Errrrr...mmmmm... seems the corporate travel agent had given the hotel the incorrect credit card number - oh and the name didn't match either.  So, the hotel canceled his booking.  Oh... and they were fully booked when he arrived.   One day... he might just have a very uneventful trip. :-)

I did promise to share with you the contents of the care box that my customers received..  so, here's a quick peek at their parcel to say thank you for supporting me during the 2009/2010 catalog.  I consider it to be Christmas - Stampin' Up! style - in July!

Inside were a few essentials - newsletter  

 Then of course, you can't have a play kit without examples of the new colors of card stock - and samples of DSP.  A full size sample of each of the new colors and 6x6 samples from the new Greenhouse Gala DSP.  The new thin grosgrain ribbon was the perfect thing to wrap around the card stock.

And, of course, a post-it holder - customized with a cover containing a stamp from the new Friends Never Fade set.   Along with a Stampin' Up pen.  I also made them customized punch templates on a ring binder, accompanied by a punch list.  The laminated punch templates have a number on the back - that corresponds to the number in the catalog - and on the punch list.

I did add some other things - including the ribbon wrapped catalog; a reference sheet for the colors by family, etc.  Everything was shipped in a working project box.   I had great fun putting them together, and from what I hear - they were greatly appreciated.  My customers are great and I really do appreciate them. 

Hopefully, you might have found a couple of ideas for your own space (like the punch template), punch list, etc. 

Well, I am off to make a quick card - well try at least! 

As always, thank you to all of you for your visit, your support and your comments.  As you can see from each other - it's not just me who enjoys your comments.  Germaine, it was great to see you blogging and back to making cards.  I did try to add comments to your blog to say HI and YAY - unfortunately, I couldnt as it kept kicking back my google id and I don't have a blogger id.  So - I'm saying hey and congratulations, here instead!

Trish, good luck tomorrow.  I bought a couple of other things to add to your chemo care pack and will be posting them off to you later this week. 

Prayers for Trish, Germaine, T, Pri, Arthur, Rach, Lynn/Jim, Missy.

Have a fabulous Wednesday everyone. - Enjoy Every Moment :-)

Hugs

Jaydee