Shopping our Stash #87 - Valentine Choice

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

This week at Shopping our Stash, we want you to dig into your stash and pull out things that fit into one of these categories - your choice:

Valentine/Love/Hearts/Red

I've gone with Valentine & hearts :)

Supplies: paper from MME Indie Chic; chipboard bear & tag from Jenny; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on the cellophane on the heart lollipop & bear's nose

This was a very quick & simple card - the chipboard is adhered with foam tape, and then I used a toothpick to paint the nose & cellophane with Dimensional Magic. 

This Shopping our Stash challenge is open until Monday February 4th.  Don't forget to check out what everyone else has been up to!

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

Tuesday Morning Sketches #183 - Lil' Inker Designs

Good morning! Our sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches this week was designed by the lovely Laura, and I think it's perfect for incorporating lots of fun patterned paper. Our sponsor this week is Lil' Inker Designs, home to fabulous dies and super-sweet stamp collections...I have a mile-long wish list for their products :)

Supplies: all papers & Love die-cut from K&Co; heart buttons from Dress it Up!

With any luck (and Canada Post cooperating) I'll have another card with this sketch to share with you shortly when my image arrives :) My guess is that it's walking here from Moncton, lol! Once again I've turned the sketch:

This sketch will be open until next Sunday, February 3rd. Make sure to hop over to the design blog and see the amazing creations by all my teamies: 

Angela 

Bonnie

Dawn

Debbie
Jenee

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

CAS(E) this Sketch #12

I really, really love this sentiment...probably because I am younger than most of my friends ;)

Supplies: papers all from Fancy Pants "summer soul;" stamps from Raisin Boat; Palette Noir ink; Victorian embossing folder (on the damask pattern)

An incredibly literal take on the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch (#12 - open until noon on Tuesday): 

and with the paper-pieced flamingo (including those feet, one of which I dropped on the floor after cutting out...and miraculously found again!), for the paper-piecing challenge at Simon Says Stamp which is open until Wednesday morning. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Moxie Fab text!

That 10 Embellishments challenge at Moxie Fab is going to keep me hopping until it closes, I have a feeling! This card started out as a text card for the current little red wagon challenge - I haven't played along there in ages, and I've missed it! Then again, I've just missed playing with paper in general.  Anyhow, what began with various texty items quickly became a fun mix of embellishments. I feel like I channeled Lauren  with this card. I can't think of a specific card of hers that I've CASEd, but I just feel a Laureny vibe when I look at it. I love how it turned out :)

Supplies: patterned paper, journaling cards, paper strip all from Fancy Pants; pink tickets from JJ!; sentiment from Studio G; Versamark & white EP; Wilton doily; buttons from Dress it Up!; Tonic edge distresser; Spun Sugar distress ink

And there be all me embellishments numbered ;)

OK, three posts is probably enough for one day! I'll save the rest of my Friday blitz cards for tomorrow :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Jingle Belles - Red, White & Jul!

It's getting a leeetle bit harder to work on Christmas projects - it's not that I wasn't inspired by the gorgeous photo prompt up at Jingle Belles this fortnight

 

but that my brain has tried to move on to lovey-dovey Valentines. In fact, the patterned paper that I've used here came from a Valentine's package - and just happened to be a perfect starting point for my card:

Supplies: paper from Fancy Pants; sentiment stamp from PTI; Versamark & white EP; standard and lacy circle Nesties; mat crocheted by me 

You've got until Wednesday (Jan 30) to link up - you know you want to!

xoxo,

Jessi

Seize the Birthday #3 - Feminine

I don't know what it is about this peacock stamp that has me pulling out crepe paper, but every single time I use it I do. I had a bit of a fiddly time thinking of what to use for the heart elements in the sketch at Seize the Birthday, but once I knew what I wanted to use - and I love how it turned out. Super fun & feminine!

Supplies: patterned paper from Basic Grey "Piccadilly;" stamp & sentiment from Raisin Boat; Palette Noir ink; Martha Stewart markers, Peacock Feathers distress ink (natch!); Picket Fence distress marker; Sakura Stardust gelly roll pen; 1/2" square punch (for banner notch); buttons from Basic Grey; ribbon from May Arts

A little touch of glitter in the centre of those beautiful feathers! 

And here's the sketch - the linky will be open until Tuesday at noon:

xoxo,

Jessi

Moxie Fab Buttons!

I feel like this is a double-dog dare card...Jen not only emailed me when the 10 Embellishments challenge started at Moxie Fab World, but then she mentioned it in her post - which, omg, you have never seen a cuter bunch of itty bitty people....go look at her card! Then Amy emailed me when Papercraft Star posted their challenge #129, buttons.  Can I just say how cool it is to have crafty friends who see this stuff & think of me? Squee :)
Anyhow, challenges accepted! A button card - and I really really love it:

Supplies: journaling tags from Fancy Pants; Bow Easy & cream twine; teensy red buttons from Dress it Up!

I do love button frames! There are a whopping 29 buttons on this card. The multi-loop bow is one that I learned from Emily's tutorial . 

So, again, I'm entering this card over at Papercraft Star #129, which is open until Tuesday; and the 10 Embellishments Challenge at Moxie Fab World, which is open until February 4. Honestly, I have so many cards to share this weekend that I'm kind of giddy! Now time to pack up for the market :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Crocheted Blankets

I did manage to get some pictures of the blankets I've made since Christmas yesterday, with the traditional pet-related scuffle surrounding it. My fault: I used a chair, and basically made a fort. Irresistible, I know. My mojo is back in full force, so I imagine crochet will take a backseat now that I'm actually making cards again. I confirmed with Rob last night - that was the longest mojo-block I've had since I started making cards. I was starting to worry :(

This is the one I just finished - a small afghan, or 'lap-ghan,' which is a lavender colour in an open lacy pattern - so light & really girly. It measures about 50x62 inches.

The blue/green baby blanket is my go-to baby blanket pattern - a soft ripple done up fast in double crochet. I've seriously lost track of how many blankets I've made with that adapted pattern (the original calls for single crochet). This time around it measures 30x34 inches. 

The pink? I made it up. I winged it. (Wung it?) and just went for it. It's also done in double crochet (back post double crochet) - and a cool 'third try's a charm' ruffly border:

Now to go back & count the stitches so that I can write up the pattern for it! It is a smaller blanket at 24x32 inches, but could easily be adapted to a larger size.

Yesterday I got a whole bunch of cards made for a whole bunch of challenges - so I'll be back as soon as I get THOSE photos edited. Sheesh but it's good to be back :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing in Paradise #101 - Using Mists!

Good morning! It's my turn to host over at Playing in Paradise, and I want to see you use mists!

For all the details, you'll have to hop over to the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog :)

Supplies: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists (Starfish, Candy Apple Red, Cherub Pink); Flourishes stamps;  Palette Noir ink; Wilton doily; Dress it Up! heart button; Corner Chomper; Cuttlebug tag die; standard small circle Nesties

This challenge will be open until next Thursday, January 31st. To add your NEW project to the linky & see what the rest of  the team has created, click on over to the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog, and check out the DT on their blogs too:

Allison

Nina

Dawn

Linda

With any luck I'll get a few good photos of the 3 blankets I've crocheted since Christmas - it's been a while since I shared a larger project! And I'll finally be back to the farmer's market tomorrow - I haven't been since before Christmas, and I'm so looking forward to being back :)

xoxo,

Jessi

A DRINKing MUSE!

FINALLY I've felt the mojo start to come back! Playing for fun makes a big difference. I just sat down, put P!nk's new CD on loud enough to bother the kids, sang along (with the wrong words, natch) and MADE CARDS! And I like them!

***angels singing***

The one I'm going to share is for two challenges - the brand-spankin'-new Muse Challenge #1, and CASology #28. And, exactly how Muse is supposed to work, I was not only inspired by Amy's card, but by Jenny's card that was inspired by Amy's. Clear as mud?

So, my creative process here - I made a sketch of Amy's card, and wrote down a couple of notes about the elements she used: stripes, white space, white pearls, yellow flower, black sentiment. I started out by laying out papers to go with the sketch, and then decided to try to incorporate CASology's DRINK prompt. That reminded me of Jenny's card - and took care of my yellow image!

Supplies: papers from Fancy Pants & Sassafras; stamps from Paper Smooches; Palette Noir ink; Sharpie; white pearls. 

The striped paper is adhered directly to the card base, and then the white cardstock on top. The orange paper is adhered with strips of foam tape, and so are the cup & the white square. Thanks to Jenny for the polka-dotty cup inspiration, and to Amy for being the first Muse designer! 

                                                  

xoxo,
Jessi

Shopping our Stash #86 - Use Your Oldest Ribbon!

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

***For my Playing in Paradise #100 post, please scroll down 2 posts or click here. Thanks!!***

Here's another supply-busting challenge from Shopping our Stash - this week we want you to dig out some of your oldest ribbon & use it on your project! Ribbon seems to be one of the only supplies that I'm good about 'using or losing' - I cleaned out & organized my ribbon not too long ago, leaving out several that had been languishing in the bottom of the basket. This gorgeous velvet ribbon was crumpled up in a corner, covered in dust. That is definitely shopping your stash, when you have to DUST your supplies before you can use them...lol! I remember buying multiple packages of velvet ribbon at Dollarama - every colour available, naturally - and this is the last of it. It's probably been in the basket under my desk for 3 years at least.

Supplies: stamp from Inkadinkado; Versamark & Palette Noir ink; clear EP; Corner Chomper; Cuttlebug tag; Studio G sentiment; Vintage Photo distress ink; velvet ribon & jute twine; various Glimmer Mists for watercoloring; paper unknown (maybe MME?)

This Shopping our Stash challenge is open until Monday January 28th.  Don't forget to check out what everyone else has been up to!

• Carla
• Leslie
• Alica
• Deena
• Paige
• Lauren
• Linda
• Michelle
• Sandie
• xoxo,
• Jessi
• PS - Don't forget to play along this week over at Scrapbooker's Paradise #100 - there are 3 prize packs up for grabs. With a broad challenge theme of "Celebration," it would pair up beautifully with this challenge! :)
  
  

Tuesday Morning Sketches #182 - Doodle Pantry!

Good morning! I had really hoped to get some more posts up this week than last, but as it is I've just been keeping up with my design team commitments. I had some extra time yesterday, but as you'll see at the end of this post, a small roadblock got in the way of time at my desk. This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, we have the always-fun Doodle Pantry as a sponsor - they have some really fun new releases! Here's the sketch we're working with:

and here's my card - I've turned the sketch 90 degrees for a vertical card.

Supplies: papers from My Mind's Eye (from the lovely Tammy!); another fun hedgie ssticker from Penny Black; sentiment stamp from Paper Smooches; Gray Flannel Memento ink; Timeless Twine; button from Basic Grey; Corner Chomper.

(an aside about the Corner Chomper - I notice it makes a rather rough cut - is that normal?)

And now for the roadblock....I went to sit down at my desk yesterday morning, and saw this:

Kleenex. Lots and lots of Kleenex. The culprit? Maggie the cat. She may be cute, but her current love of disemboweling Kleenex boxes has GOT to go. While pulling all this tissue out, she also knocked over the jar where I keep tools & scissors, pulled pens out of the box, knocked over the recycling bin, etc. I've cropped the picture of the complete damage because otherwise I'd be sneaking future design team information (on the left, behind my Distress inks, is where I clip up the following month's worth of DT assignments). 

And while I was holding the camera, someone else had to come and say hi:

If I'm taking pictures, Miss Abby must be the subject, right?

This sketch will be open until next Sunday, January 27. Make sure to hop over to the design blog and see the amazing creations by all my teamies: 

Angela 

Bonnie

Dawn

Debbie
Jenee

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

PS - Don't forget to play along this week over at Scrapbooker's Paradise #100 - there are 3 prize packs up for grabs. With a broad challenge theme of "Celebration," it would pair up beautifully with this sketch :)

Playing in Paradise #100!!!! Let's CELEBRATE!

Good morning, happy Friday, and happy 100 challenges at Playing in Paradise! We're celebrating with 3 awesome prize packs this week - you will DEFINITELY want to make time to play along. Make a project to celebrate any special occasion - retirement, New Year's, birthdays, new babies, any and every kind of celebration. 

My project is one to celebrate the birth of a new baby:

Supplies: Salty Ocean distress ink; Citrus Adirondack ink; Penny Black sticker; sentiment from Paper Smooches; pattern stamp from Annabelle Stamps

Our HUGE celebration will last all week long - we really hope to see you play along! Link up your NEW project with us by noon, Thursday January 24th, for a chance to win one of those awesome prize packs - check out the bottom of the blog post for details. Check out the DT on their blogs too:

Nina

Allison

Dawn

Linda

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #85 - Suits ME to a T!

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

This week at Shopping our Stash we want you to dig into your stash and use at least 2 items that begin with the letter T: tag, tape, twine, trees, tinsel, tattered angels products, tin foil, tin cans, trim, tea bag, tea cup, tomahawk, tangerine, tigers, turtle,  etc.  Be sure to list what they are in your post!

I was all full of ideas until I sat down. ACK! And then, I spied this little turtle, and it went from there.

Supplies: turtle & butterfly stickers from Penny Black; grass die cut from (I think) K&Co; label, tag, and papers from Kaisercraft; Timeless Twine; polka-dot embossing folder from Cuttlebug. 

I've also used the sketch from Seize the Birthday's first challenge, with the feminine twist (linky open until noon today!):

This Shopping our Stash challenge is open until Monday January 21st.  Don't forget to check out what everyone else has been up to!

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

Tuesday Morning Sketches #181 - Stamp Fairy!

Good morning to you! It's Judged Challenge week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, which means that in addition to using the sketch, your card should also have the *twist* - this time around, use 2 ribbons!

Stamp Fairy is our lovely sponsor this week, and provided some fun images for the DT to play with - I got to choose the super cute Barry Balloons.  

Supplies: Barry Balloons digi from Stamp Fairy; Prismacolor pencils; all but the orange button from Basic Grey; ribbons & orange button from stash

Here's the sketch:

You won't believe the amazing range of interpretations the DT has come up with! We're lucky to have some of Stamp Fairy's designers playing with us this week as well - head on over to the Tuesday Morning Sketches blog & be sure to link up your card using the twist to be eligible for the prize! 

This sketch will be open until next Sunday, January 13. Make sure to hop over to the design blog and see the amazing creations by all my teamies: 

Angela 

Bonnie

Dawn

Debbie
Jenee

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

See you in a few!

xoxo,

Jessi

CAS(E) this Sketch #10

I'm having a time of it with cards lately - as you can probably tell from how quiet the blog has been. Getting my crafty mojo back after the holidays & being sick is apparently taking a while. I've made 2 baby blankets...but I'd like my PAPER mojo back. If you see it, send it home. I promise not to yell ;)

When I saw the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch! this week, I had an idea right away - which hasn't happened in what feels like AGES - so I quickly got to work before I lost it. And then I got cocky & made some other things that are now pretty trash, and went & took a cranky nap...I even tried sewing buttons onto  a card you'll see tomorrow (in its 3rd incarnation) and messed up so badly on the first button that I had to cut the thread & start over. 

Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield, right? I firmly believe in admitting defeat at moments like that!

Anyhow, here's my card (THIS ONE I like!):

Supplies: Paper Smooches stamp; chipboard from Fancy Pants; patterned paper from Sassafras; Vintage Photo distress ink; my NEW CORNER CHOMPER!; yellow & brown gems

And here's the sketch - the deadline is tomorrow at noon:

 

Beautiful and versatile in its simplicity - I can see going back to this as a classic layout again & again.

Did you also see that Jackie is beginning a new blog venture called Muse? You must go check it out - I'm intrigued & excited to see what's around the corner!

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing in Paradise #99 - A Place in Time

Last week we welcomed Dawn to the Playing in Paradise challenge team, and this week we're welcoming Linda Pekrul, our second addition to the DT! Check out her blog at BlueSkyScrapping & say hello! She's our hostess this week, and would like us to create a project inspired by "A Place in Time." Check out this gorgeous prompt:

 

and here's my project:

Supplies: Kaisercraft stickers (label, sentiment, Eiffel Tower); Martha Stewart Doily stamps; Antique Linen distress ink

This challenge, "A Place in Time," will be open until next Thursday, January 17th. To add your project to the linky & see what the rest of  the team has created, click on over to the Scrapbooker's Paradise blog, and check out the DT on their blogs too:

Allison

Nina

Dawn

Linda

Next week will be our 100th challenge - and have we ever got some fun prizes in store for you! 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #84 - Buttons!

Button, button, who's got the button? This marks the beginning of a new series of challenges at Shopping our Stash (which will be running every OTHER challenge, so every two weeks) to use a specific item from your stash. This week: BUTTONS! So we're asking you to dig deep into your crafty hoard & use up some of those buttons you've been saving for a special occasion. This is it.

Yes, it's January. Yes, I have a Christmas card to share. But here's the thing - I made one crafty resolution this year: to keep making Christmas cards through the year so that November & December might not be QUITE as crazy as they usually are. I have no doubt that they still will be, but this should help. One of my team-mates at Shopping our Stash , the lovely Lauren, also has a Christmas challenge blog, Jingle Belles, and I'm going to do my best to play along with them all year long!

Supplies: paper from My Mind's Eye; standard circle Nesties; sticker from House Mouse; Cuttlebug label die; Memento Gray Flannel ink; PTI Holiday Jar Fillers sentiment; buttons from stash

This week at Jingle Belles the challenge is to use something new - and obviously at Shopping our Stash the challenge is to use something old. How have I managed to combine the two of these??? Well, my definition of new is kind of fluid here. Barb gave me the PTI set, and this was the first time using this stamp. The bells were also new - part of my "OMG WHAT IF I RUN OUT" stocking up on bells right before Christmas.

As for stash - I've had the label die as long as I've had my Cuttlebug, which is going on 5 or 6 years. The paper is from last year, and the buttons? That's a hard one. I get Riley to sort them by colour, and I just get him to throw the new in with the old. But the layout is definitely old - if you've been here before, you've DEFINITELY seen me make a card that has a button frame of some kind on it ;)

This challenge is open until Monday January 14th,  and don't forget to check out what everyone else has been up to!

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

We have a grand day planned...the boys get a day off school to visit the dentist. Our excitement knows no bounds, truly.
xoxo,
Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #180 - Freckled Fawn!

Have you been to visit Freckled Fawn? Do you love washi tape, or doilies, or embellishments? You've GOT to play along with us this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, because look at this sweet prize:

And here's this week's sketch (perfect for incorporating washi tape, by the way):

Supplies: papers unknown; stamps & twine from Paper Smooches; woodgrain washi from the lovely Jen!; yellow washis from We R Memory Keepers; Palette Noir ink & prismacolor pencils; Sizzix label die; Mustard Seed distress ink

Since this is the very first card I've made since Christmas break, I've broken out some new stuff - the Paper Smooches stamps are SO CUTE and I can't wait to use  them more. And the woodgrain washi is making its debut as well :) 

This sketch will be open until next Sunday, January 13. Make sure to hop over to the design blog and see the amazing creations by all my teamies: 

Angela 

Bonnie

Dawn

Debbie
Jenee

Laura

Theresa

Melissa

Finally a regularly scheduled week around here - I'll be back shortly for SOS!

xoxo,

Jessi

Happy Birthday, Connor & Happy (Belated!) Birthday, Barb!

Before I do ANYTHING, I've got to tell you - today is Connor's birthday. My oldest *baby* turns 14 years old. We've always been relatively low-key with birthdays - for years the noise & chaos were just too much for him to enjoy, and now he likes to stick with what we've always done. Fair enough! This of course includes cake - now he prefers to go & pick from what's at the bakery that day. And I overheard him talking to himself Saturday about getting McDonald's....our drive-thru has just re-opened after having the whole restaurant closed for 4 months.
"I like to eat McDonald's every year for my birthday because it makes me feel young."
But he's not as young anymore - yesterday we went to Chapters, and "just in case" Connor had brought his wallet with him. He found a nifty little test tube kit for growing rainbow crystals, and decided he wanted to buy it. I went to another aisle to check on Riley, and as we had a deal that no one would leave the children's area....when I saw Connor about 5 minutes later trying to fit the package into his jacket, I squawked & told him "You can't do that! They'll think you're stealing it!!"

Connor: "I'm not stealing it!"
Mom: "I know that, but the store people don't know that. You can't put it in your coat before you pay for it. Let me carry it."
Connor: "But I paid already!"
Mom: "When?"
Connor: "Right now, when you went to look for Riley."
Mom: "What? Why don't you have a bag?"
Connor: "I don't need to waste a bag. It will fit in my pocket."
Mom: "Do you have the receipt?"
Connor: "Of course I do!"
And he produces it from his wallet, hands it to me, and loudly says "I told you I wasn't stealing it!"

I felt mortified! The poor kid. Even a year ago I wouldn't have imagined this scenario - but in the last year the leaps & bounds Connor has made are astonishing. To complete the entire transaction on his own? Connor's speech is difficult for a lot of people to understand, and to be without a 'translator' for the whole purchase - that takes courage that I don't think I have. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my *little* man (who is now a whole nose taller than I am) and who proves to me all the time that it is a fool's game to predict how a child will grow & develop & achieve. I don't in the least mind being wrong on that level :)

Now, I have to also wish a happy belated birthday to my dear Barbles - best laid plans being what they are, Barb & I have been trying to meet up since before Christmas but yesterday managed to have a drive-by quickie in the parking lot ;) LOL! (That sounds terrible but I'm leaving it in.) I was lucky enough to meet Barb in person this year, and I want to adopt her. She's a beautiful, loving person, and I'm so incredibly grateful that I'm getting to know her. Here's the card that I gave her yesterday:

Supplies: papers from Pink Paislee; clip art & type from Crafty Secrets; 'chica' rub-on from EAD Designs; flower from Offray; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; Sizzix label dies

And something that gave me great joy? I got to wrap her present (which like a dork I forgot to take a picture of) in the SEAWEED BOX! (The story on that is at the bottom of this post)

xoxo,

Jessi