One last Halloween card!

I had printed out this adorable pumpkin image from Tiddly Inks & thought I'd put together one last Halloween card before tucking all those fun supplies away for next year.

Supplies: paper from We R Memory Keepers;
pumpkin image from Tiddly Inks;
Spiced Marmalade & Peeled Paint distress inks;
standard small circle Nesties

Did you ever read the Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer? Doesn't that little spider on the leaf (he's a sticker) remind you of the one that follows Little Critter around?

My kids loved those books :) 

This card is perfect for this week's little red wagon challenge - Halloween treats! What's more Halloweeny than pumpkin-flavoured everything?

It looks like we'll probably be trick-or-treating in the rain - we have a second storm front meeting up with the remnants of Hurricane Sandy, so it'll be wet the next few days. Nothing too drastic or dramatic - and our hearts go out to those so badly affected by the recent weather.

Have a fun and SAFE Halloween!

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #75 - Flower Power!

**For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post, please scroll down or click here. Thank you!**

This feels like such an easy challenge this week at Shopping our Stash...how many of us have every.single.colour of Primas on hand? Or eleventy billion dies to make our own? This week we want you to 

Use your handmade or 3-d flowers!  (your project can include stamped images but it also needs to have at least one flower that is either handmade or a 3-d flower you bought.  Think Wild Orchid Crafts, puffy stickers, Primas, etc.)

Here's the funny thing...I *did* have lots of flowers. Past tense. I stopped buying them, and eventually used them up or gave them away. But, my recent goodie bag from Scrapbooker's Paradise had some of these neat flowers from Bo Bunny. That part is new, but the rest of my card is stash :)

Supplies: Bo Bunny flower;
papers from My Mind's Eye;
lacy circle Nesties;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
Palette Noir ink
So, you've got flowers kicking around, right? This challenge will be open until next Monday, November 5th. Don't forget to see what the rest of the SOS team has been up to!

• Carla
• Leslie
• Alica
• Deena
• Paige
• Lauren
• Lynn
• Linda
• Michelle
• Sandie
• xoxo,
• Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #170 - Meljen's

Happy Tuesday! Theresa has designed a fun & funky sketch for us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches - check this out:

Speaking of Theresa, don't forget to link up your PINK for her virtual birthday party by Halloween night for a chance to win an awesome mystery prize package! 

Meljen's Designs is our sponsor at TMS this week, and generously provided the design team with some super sweet images to work with! I couldn't resist these adorable Caroling Snowmen:

Shiny lights & buttons, & fluffy trim on their hats!

Supplies: Caroling Snowmen from Meljen's;
sentiment & lights from Lawn Fawn (from Barb!);
Palette Noir ink; Tumbled Glass distress ink;
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic;
Liquid Applique 

For the snow, I've torn some plain white cardstock & inked the edges with Tumbled Glass distress ink, and then adhered it to the image panel in 2 layers.

This sketch linky will be open until Sunday November 4th. Don't forget to check out what my teammates have been up to:

Best of the Best designer Alison

Angela 

Bonnie

Cheryl

Dawn

Debbie

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

See you shortly with my SOS post!

xoxo,

Jessi

(CAS)e This Sketch #3 - Shell-ebrate!

I know, another CAS card? It feels weird to me too. I've got more googly eyes (whew!) and I really do think I used them on nearly every card I made this week...including this one with the sketch at (CAS)e this Sketch:

Supplies: paper from Simple Stories 'summer fresh;'
stamps and twine from Paper Smooches;
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic;
Palette Noir ink;
standard small circle Nesties

His shell & toenails are glammed up with the Dimensional Magic :)

Mr. Turtle was stamped on 2 colours of green card stock, and his shell is popped up on foam tape. I used a marker to colour in those toenails, though :)

See the twine wrap on the sentiment? Annette at My Clever Creations has done that lots of times, and FINALLY I remembered to try it myself! Here's the sketch (which is open until Tuesday):

xoxo,
Jessi

Let's go WILD!

I haven't played along with CAS-ology in weeks, and it's not for lack of trying - more like lack of ideas. This week I pretty much played along by accident - I found this already stamped & embossed envelope in my stash, and decided to make a card to match it.

Supplies: deer stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms;
sentiment from Digital Princess;
Versamark, Faded Jeans distress ink;
white & clear EP

A very nearly one-layer card, perfect for the cue card this week:

There's 3.5 hours left to play if you've got something up your sleeve :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing in Paradise #90 - Nautical Things

Happy Friday! This week at Playing in Paradise Nina is our hostess, and she's challenging us to use a nautical theme in our projects.

I find nautical images to be one of my go-to standards for masculine cards, and I haven't deviated from that here:

Supplies: paper from My Mind's Eye;
Memento Gray Flannel ink;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
image from The Graphics Fairy;
paper piercer, needle, and embroidery floss;
Tonic edge distresser (LOVE THIS TOOL!)

A closer look at the stitches & gently distressed edges

A couple of cross-stitches in opposite corners provides some balance with the detailed image without overwhelming it - and gives some embellishment without weight or taking away from the masculine feel.

What can you create with a nautical feel? Share it with us over at Scrapbooker's Paradise by next Thursday, November 1st, for a chance to win a great prize! 

Don't forget to see what the other Paradise designers have been up to:

Nina

Angela

Allison

Merlie

xoxo,

Jessi

Halloween Spooks!

I thought I was done with making Halloween cards this year, but I *had* to play along with Crafty Creations Challenges #193, Halloween spooks. HAD TO! And, although this Mo Manning digi was offered as a freebie years ago, can you believe it's the first time I've used it?

Supplies: papers from We R Memory Keepers;
image from Mo Manning;
standard circle Nesties;
sentiment from MFT; Palette Noir ink;
Sakura Stardust gel pen

There's Bella and Bronte, and how cute an idea to dress up a dog as a cat? I don't think my Abby would stand for it :) Especially anything attached to her tail!

If you've got another Halloween project up your sleeve, the CCC193 linky is open until Tuesday night - the night before Halloween. BOO!

xoxo,

Jessi

Drunken Stampers - my kind of challenge!

So, last week my bloggy pal Tammy had a card for the Drunken Stampers challenge, and I thinks to myself, who are these people? And how didn't I know about them? Based on the name alone I knew I had to figure that out ;)

AND THEN, this week's challenge involves buttons? Well, count me in.

I was all set to go with buttons, and then thought to myself, "I think it's brads OR buttons, but maybe it's brads AND buttons?" Now what? Amy to the rescue with these nifty fabric brads from Basic Grey :) 

Supplies: paper & brad from Basic Grey, from AMY!;
sentiment sticker from Doodlebug;
buttons from stash

I shared this on Facebook earlier this week, but it just seems SO appropriate for this post I've got to share it here too:

I'm pouring myself a VIRGIN Coke Zero when my 12 year old son Riley walks into the kitchen, and calmly says, "boozing it up already, huh?"

Yep. The Drunken Stampers may just be my people :)

You can join in with the current challenge by tonight (Friday night).

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #74 - Out of the Jar!

**For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post, please scroll down or click here - Thanks!**

So, first I want to start by saying this card is Barb's fault :) Her absolutely gorgeous card for Theresa's Virtual Birthday Party uses Frantage Embossing Powder like a dream, and I thought I CAN DO THAT! And, even better, here's this week's prompt for Shopping our Stash #74 - 

use anything that came in a jar- flower soft, glitter, perfect pearls, embossing powder, etc.,  OR a jar image - or make something using a Jar! (decorate a jar)

See, this is great! I have Frantage powders, and they're pretty much stash since except for embossing a swatch of each one, I really haven't used them since I got them. (Mostly because every time I try, I spill. Truth.)

So, with this, and the DYSU Vintage challenge fresh in my head, I set to work. Embossing an entire DOILY. Sure....you have little experience heating things from below, why wouldn't you begin by working with a delicate piece of paper? I scorched the paper I was using to catch the flyaway bits (there are heavier bits of enamel mixed in  with the glitter and EP), and then I wasn't sure if it was all melting. So I touched it. Definitely melting. Definitely burning my finger.

But look - I still think it was totally worth it!

Supplies: Wilton doily;
versamark & Stampendous Frantage EP (pink);
Hero Arts Lace;
papers from MME;
Bundled Sage distress ink;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
butterfly stickers from Kaisercraft;
buttons & pearls from stash

The layout was born of necessity - the gingham & doily papers were only so big ;) Except for the largest green butterfly, each butterfly is only adhered by one wing with doubled foam tape to add to the sense of movement.  Those Kaisercraft stickers haven't been out since the last time I broke them out for an SOS project, the papers were scraps, and I finished the package of blue pearls. PLUS, besides melting my own skin, I had a successful outing with the Frantage powder! I didn't even spill any on the dog ;)

So, what do you have in a jar that's waiting patiently to be used? Or, maybe you have a jar kicking around just waiting to be altered? Get going! This challenge will be open until next Monday, October 29. Don't forget to see what the rest of the SOS team has been up to!

• Carla
• Leslie
• Alica
• Deena
• Paige
• Lauren
• Lynn
• Linda
• Michelle
• Sandie

I'm also linking this up to DYSU #94 - Vintage - pearls, buttons, pastel colours, doilies, all of those say vintage to me :) The DYSU challenge ends this evening. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #169 - Stamp Fairy!

Good morning! If I do say so myself, I have an adorable card to show you this morning - all thanks to Stamp Fairy, who generously provided the DT at Tuesday Morning Sketches with images of our choice to showcase! I picked this SUPER sweet teddy image knowing it would work perfectly with this week's sketch by Melissa:

Supplies: papers & sentiment from My Mind's Eye;
image from Stamp Fairy;
Liquid Pearls, clear glitter glue;
Stampendous Fun Flock - Cotton Ball;
Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo distress inks;
vintage buttons from stash

There is so much fun dimension going on! I printed out 4 copies of the image so that I could do some layering. My printer ink doesn't set well, so I spray it with sealant (when I can find it) or hairspray (if I can't). These images were sprayed with hairspray, and look at the fun texture that created! Even my husband said it looked like fur & touched it. 

After colouring in the 4 images, I trimmed out - the bear & snowball (without the scarf tail) and then the paw & snowball, popping up each layer on foam tape. I've also added some Fun Flock to the fuzzy parts of his hat, and some Liquid Pearls & glitter glue to the curve of the snowball. I'm ridiculously pleased with how this turned out :)

**REMINDER**

Theresa's PINK virtual birthday party is still going strong! Link up your PINK creations by October 31 for a chance to win a FABULOUS mystery prize package. Full details, rules, linky, etc. all available on that original post here. 

This sketch linky will be open until Sunday October 28 (holy moly, time to get Halloween costumes going already!), and don't forget to check out what my teammates have been up to:

Best of the Best designer Alison

Angela 

Bonnie

Cheryl

Dawn

Debbie

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

See you shortly with my SOS post!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Trigger - Val de Victorian

When I first looked at this edition of the Tuesday Trigger - Val de Victorian, open until Sunday October 28 - I didn't have any ideas. I drew out a bit of a sketch, and didn't think much about it again until I was looking for something else & saw this Basic Grey paper - ding ding!

Supplies: paper from Basic Grey "What's Up;"
sentiment from Market Street Stamps;
Memento Gray Flannel ink

I fussy-cut this element from the 'leftover' part of the patterned paper.

Here's the gorgeous inspiration pic:

I was drawn to the row of buildings. 

You've got almost a full week left to play along!

xoxo,

Jessi

Eerie Inspiration at Simon Says Stamp

As soon as I saw the Eerie Inspiration collection at Simon Says Stamp this week, I knew what I wanted to do! Those M&Ms reminded me instantly of Pamela's circles sketch!

Simon Says Stamp inspiration collection:

Sketch from Pamela - c13, on page 54 of her sketchbook.

Supplies: papers from Recollections;
sentiment & spiders & pumpkin brad from stash;
1" circle punch

The background paper is a charcoal grey, so although it looks like washed-out black this really is a pretty accurate photo colour-wise. Spider placement may or may not be associated with the fact that I tried sticking the sentiment sticker directly on the bottom layer of the card where it got lost...and then peeled up perfectly except for one spot. Pumpkin placement may or may not be associated with the fact that then said spider was swinging out of space. Not sure how falling out of the pumpkin's butt is better, but it just is. 

One more card from my challenge spree this weekend!

xoxo,

Jessi

Crafty Creations #192 - Get Well!

It's that time of year when kids go back to school & share all their icky germs with each other, and with us. Perfect time for this challenge from Crafty Creations Challenges, to create a Get Well card. I can't believe I only made one - there will be more this week, but not in time for the challenge deadline (Tuesday night).

Supplies: Studio G sentiment;
Versamark & Pirate Gold EP;
Spellbinders butterfly & scrap vellum;
Japanese handmade paper

I bought a package of handmade Japanese paper while I was in Vancouver, and put it in a safe place. Whoops. And then I found it while I was making room for Christmas supplies - so now it has a proper home where I can hoard it BUT look through it occasionally. There are a few handpainted pieces like this tucked in, and I knew I didn't want to cover it up! 

xoxo,

Jessi

Another sketch from Pamela

I'm back with another of Pamela's fabulous sketches - I've been hoarding minuscule pieces of this paper pad, and this sketch works PERFECTLY for it! I cannot figure out how to show you just this one sketch, but it's #c1, on page 59 of Pamela's sketchbook.  

As part of her Sketch Challenge 225, you're welcome to use other sketches for bonus entries once you've entered a creation for the current challenge. Here's my first bonus entry - and yes, there's already one more in my queue of draft posts, and I see me making more! The deadline for all entries is Halloween, October 31st. 

Supplies: papers from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2;
Bazzill cardstock;
Vintage Photo distress ink;
sentiment from Kaisercraft

To my non-musical eye it looks like the music note paper is upside down here - but clicky to biggen and you'll see that there are lyrics printed underneath, and yep, it's right side up ;) Had a moment of panic there during the process, lol!

xoxo,

Jessi

Ren-Yi's smallhanded QuAC #2 - Fall

I love this idea! Ren-Yi at smallhanded adventures is hosting another QuAC challenge - first she hosts a poll for her readers to vote in, and then bases a challenge on the most popular answer! The poll for QuAC #3 is active right now (at the top right of her blog) - check it out :)
This challenge is open until November 8, so there is LOTS of time to play along, but I wanted to make sure & post early to hopefully spread the word about Ren-Yi's fabulous idea. I've got 2 projects to share with you today:

Supplies: Bazzill cardstock;
patterned paper from Basic Grey "Origins;"
salvaged burlap from soap wrapping;
recycled tissue from a package;
wheat stamp from Inkadinkado;
Versamark & Old Paper distress EP;
birthday sticker from Mrs. Grossman

To create this layered look, first I laid down a strip of Scor-tape and ruffled the tissue paper. Then I used clear tape to secure the burlap to the patterned paper strip, and foam tape to attach it to the card without squishing the tissue ruffles. Clear as mud?

Supplies: paper from Basic Grey "Plumeria;"
leaves from Prima;
sentiment from Stampendous;
Spiced Marmalade & Vintage Photo distress ink;
corner rounder

I think I might have to give in & get a corner chomper - I've already broken one corner rounder punch, and if I keep punching through layers of cardstock I can see me breaking another one, or possibly my thumb ;)

I had hoped to stamp the sentiment in orange ink, but it just wouldn't show up enough on the background, so I double-inked by using first orange, then brown ink. 

Unfortunately there was a big run on sympathy cards this weekend at the market - so I'll need to set aside a day this week to work on some more. 

Make sure you hop on over & check out Ren-Yi's current QuAC #3 poll, and see if autumn inspires you to join in the QuAC #2 challenge! I bet it will :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Little Red Wagon #155 - Bow-dacious!

This week at little red wagon #155 the prompt is to use a bow on your card. I've been using less ribbon on my cards, I've noticed, and more twine or thread. I pulled out some recycled-from-a-package ribbon I'd been hoarding that's green on one side & brown on the other....and discovered that it was too short to tie a nice bow, because of its width. I got the bright idea to trim it & fray the edges - and voila! Nice bow, that totally did not work on this card.

BUT

When I pulled the threads out to fray the edges, they came out easily & untangled. Maybe they would make a nice bow? YES! The feather is glued underneath the patterned paper layer, and then I've sewn on the thread bow, the button, and finally the bitty twine bow.

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey "Oxford;"
button from Basic Grey;
twine from Paper Smooches;
birthday sticker from Mrs. Grossman;
peacock feather

I love that the threads are striped - such a cool look!

And the cool frayed bow? Now it's taken the place of the twine bow, just waiting for its own perfect project to turn up :)

xoxo,

Jessi

IBSIC & CAS(e) This Sketch!

I'm a challenge-combining machine :)
This card is for the current CAS(e) This Sketch! #2, and IBSIC #31, which is to create something with black, orange, and white/cream, and inspired by this photo:

Supplies: paper & stamp from We R Memory Keepers
stickers from stash - out of package

I would have added googly eyes, but I am OUT OF LITTLE GOOGLY EYES. This must be fixed, like, RIGHT NOW. 

Besides the overall Halloween feel of the inspiration photo, I immediately thought of trick-or-treating - how much do you want to bet that this house is the kind that gives out full-size chocolate bars? lol

The IBSIC #31 challenge is open until Wednesday Oct. 24th, and the CAS(e) This Sketch #2 challenge is open until Tuesday Oct. 23rd. 

xoxo,

Jessi

10 Minute Craft Dash + a Sketch Challenge

I've combined 2 challenges with this card - Pamela is hosting more sketch challenges, and I thought it would work perfectly with the current colours for 10 Minute Craft Dash #5. I managed to squeak in at between 9 and 10 minutes - I wasn't close enough to the clock to see the second hand. I swear it would have been faster if I hadn't dropped the flower stamp EVERY SINGLE TIME I stamped it.

Supplies: floral stamp from Inkadinkado;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade distress inks;
We R Memory Keepers washi tape

Sketch 225c, open until October 31

Open until October 27

I couldn't sleep this morning - very early  this morning - so got up just before 3 and made even more challenge cards...prepare for a barrage of posts! 

xoxo,

Jessi

Fall in the Circle - Our Creative Corner

"Fall in the Circle" - normally I fall on the stairs, but I decided I'd see what I could do!

Ba-dum-ching.

<crickets>

Sooooo, Our Creative Corner is challenging us this week to create a Fall card incorporating circle elements. I haven't played along with OCC in ages & was determined to do it this week, and I'm squeaking in right under tonight's deadline!

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey;
leaves from Prima;
sentiment from Stampendous;
Vintage Photo distress ink;
standard small circle Nesties;
vintage cream buttons

I love the sheen on the buttons & dab of glitter on the leaves!

Besides using the circle die cut, I've stitched buttons around its edge to emphasize the circular shape - and the buttons themselves are all circular :) 

I managed to create cards for 7 challenges today - this weekend will have a whole bunch of posts coming up!

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing in Paradise #89 - Colour Inspiration!

Good morning! I have finally climbed out of the basement - I was searching for Christmas supplies. After I found them, though, it was making room for them in my crafty corner. I have an L-shaped section in the middle of the house, and keeping things stored yet accessible is a challenge. I ended up getting right down to the nitty-gritty and sorting through drawers & changing how I store everyday things as well. So far the new set-up is working...and it will, until I forget where I re-homed something.

Without further ado, today is of course the new Playing in Paradise challenge. Last week we had 9 players - which is fabulous! - but of course we'd love to see those numbers grow! Remember, there is always a fabulous prize - every week - AND there are no limits on what products you use. This week, Merlie is our hostess, and she's challenging us to create a project using this colour story:

I have been reaching for more & more white cardstock lately, and especially when working with a colour challenge. This time around, I was actually playing around with this background paper for another card, and realized I had the perfect start for this challenge!

Supplies: paper & label from Kaisercraft "Madame Boutique;"
stick pins from little yellow bicycle;
Tumbled Glass distress ink;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
Offray ribbon, vintage buttons;
mesh tape from my dear friend Barbles!

The vintage buttons are from my mother-in-law's big jar...love this flower!

For the label/embellishment cluster, I wanted to minimize how much everything stuck out - I wanted the dimension, but I also wanted it to fit in a standard envelope! Here's what I did:

-stamped greeting on label

-adhered label with doubled foam tape ONLY in upper left corner

-sewed bow through the centre knot - being careful to sew through both the label & the card base.

-sewed on cream button - the 'top' hole is sewn through the label & card base, the 'bottom' hole through only the card base

-tucked pins in behind the bow & cream button

-glued on the flower button with a very generous dab of glue.

 So, what do you think you'd like to make with these colours? We'd love to have you play along! Check out what the other Playing in Paradise designers have made, and link up with us before next Thursday, October 25. 

Nina

Angela

Allison

Merlie

xoxo,

Jessi