Serendipity at work!

So I'm digging around on my desk looking for a tiny stamp set that has "you are my sunshine" in it. My desk is a huge mess, and I'm moving things around to look underneath them, when I found these three ornament die cuts AND the vellum circles. Ta-da! Still can't find the stamp set I'm looking for, but I've got my Merry Monday card made :)

Supplies: ornaments from K & Co; sentiment from Stampendous; Worn Lipstick & Spun Sugar distress inks; Neat & Tangled sequins; vellum, pink embroidery thread

The sequins were a last-minute add. I think there are too many BUT they're there to stay now!

xoxo,

Jessi

PS - there will be more purple. Swear to peanuts!

It's a purple week...

...with quite a few challenges asking for purple creations. I've been using it more anyway, thanks to a friend whose favourite colour is purple - I realized that I rarely use it. So, to add to my ALL FAIRIES ALL THE TIME I will now be working on ALL PURPLE ALL THE TIME. Well, maybe MORE PURPLE SOME OF THE TIME?

It's early, and I haven't had enough coffee just yet. Let's say it's that.

So, here's my purple card for the current Flourishes challenge. 

Supplies: Dahlia stamp from Flourishes; sentiment from PTI; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic Markers; papers from Memory Box

The layout I quite like - it was one of  those 'I want to use this scrap!' inspired bits, but perhaps I will convert it to a sketch. I like the smidge of the larger-scale pattern peeking out.

xoxo,
Jessi

Seize the Sketch #12 - Reminder!

**For my Shopping our Stash post, please scroll down or click here**

**For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post, please scroll down 2 or click here**

Thank you SO much for coming to visit!

We're halfway through the current Seize the Sketch challenge, and so there's some more eye candy from the design team to share! This time I used the sketch horizontally, and brought out one of my favourite stamps to play - this little monstah!

Supplies: sentiment & monster from Daisy Bucket; 'splat' stamp from Neat & Tangled; papers from Bo Bunny; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Versamark & black detail EP; white Sharpie paint pen; black Sharpie; googly eyes; classic small circle Nesties

I just love this guy's teeth! And of course he's gotta have googly eyes to go with :)

Here's the sketch: 

Head on over to the Seize the Sketch blog to see who else is playing today, and link up with us by Sunday February 2nd!

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #136 - Cabin Fever!

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

Cabin fever...aren't all of us in the northern hemisphere starting to suffer from it about now?? I know I am. So, at Shopping our Stash this week, we want you to create something outdoorsy! (wouldn't a tropical beach be really nice right now?)

I struggled with this for a bit, until I got the bright idea to combine it with the current inchie/twinchie challenge at Jingle Belles, and  then BOOM!  I found this previously uninked stamp while I was looking for some ribbon I KNEW I HAD SOMEWHERE, and ta-da:

Supplies: image stamp from Heartfelt Creations; sentiment from Stampendous; Barn Door distress ink; black Sharpie

I failed to measure a precise border when trimming the stamped image, so I have two rows of inchies and one row of "three quarter inchies", lol! I edged each piece with black Sharpie to have them stand out more against the white background. A pretty simple card in the end but I like it!

 Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday, February 3rd - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Michelle

Chana

Donna

Chris

Barb

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #234 - Sweet & Sassy Stamps!

Good morning! We're still working our way through each designer's favourite sketches from 2013 over at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and this week it's Jenee's fave! Our sponsor is Sweet & Sassy Stamps,  so you'll definitely want to make time to play this week :)

I pulled out a new-to-me Stampendous set that I hadn't yet inked up:

Supplies: sentiment & iguana stamps from Stampendous; heart background stamp from Market Street Stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Tumbled Glass distress ink; Bic markers; Offray ribbon; pink rhinestones from Dollarama

Of course I love a good pun. Or a bad one, lol!

Here's the sketch:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, February 2nd - be sure to hop around & see what the rest of the team created!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Kris

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

Furry Friends

Andrea's current challenge is Furry Friends, in honour of her crafting buddy. I had first intended to make something soft & fuzzy, and then the same silly that had a hold of me for yesterday's skull card came to play.

Supplies: cork patterned paper from Fancy Pants; alphabet paper from Studio Calico; cork from Karen Foster; stamps from Cosmo Cricket; Brushed Corduroy distress ink; Wonky Rectangles, Labels 5, classic small oval Nesties; 1.5" circle punch

I love this sentiment!

xoxo,

Jessi

Contrasts!

There are so many possibilities with this week's CASology prompt, CONTRAST.  I needed to make some more sympathy cards for my stash, and clean & simple cards are perfect.

Supplies: Unity sentiment; Stampendous medallion; Distress inks in Faded Jeans & Tumbled Glass; Versamark & clear detail EP

I used light & dark blue inks for colour contrast, and embossed the sentiment for textural contrast. I inked the edges of the panel as well, for contrast from the white card base. I really love this sympathy sentiment because it acknowledges the truth that grieving happens on its own timetable. 

 

xoxo,

Jessi

Wanna Sketch? 12

Sometimes insomnia gives me ideas...sometimes good ones! I'd been mulling over the latest Wanna Sketch, and I was puzzling over what to use for the 'falling' dots. Voila!

Supplies: skull stamp from Inkadinkado; sentiment stamp from Unity; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Studio Calico veneer arrows; Versamark & black detail EP; black rhinestones from Dollarama

I embossed the arrows with 3 coats of embossing powder, so they're nice & glossy. This card is cracking me up - maybe I need a nap ;)

xoxo,
Jessi

Merry Monday Chickadee

Well! This Merry Monday challenge was quite the challenge - this is the 3rd version of this card (the other 2 were never finished due to UGHness, lol)

Supplies: Inkadinkado chickadee stamp; Stampin Up tree stamp; Brushed Corduroy & Barn Door distress inks; classic small & lacy circle Nesties; ribbon from stash; Corner Chomper; crochet mat by me

xoxo,
Jessi

Blog Candy Winner!

BARB GODDEN! 

Woohoo! Congratulations :) And how convenient that I already have your address - I should be headed to the post office by Friday with a package for you!

And some eye candy?

Supplies: Prima paper doing the heavy lifting!; sentiment from PTI; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Dress it Up heart button; twine from stash; Bow Easy

I'm starting to think "just because" cards are really my favourite to make - who doesn't like a surprise in the mail?

xoxo,

Jessi

Seize the Sketch #12!

**For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post, please click here**

**For my Shopping our Stash post, please click here**

I'm still pinching myself - this is my first post as a design team member for Seize the Sketch!  This sketch was designed by Stacey, and wait until you see how the team interpreted it - absolutely gorgeous, and it's got me bowing down & saying a la Wayne & Garth, "I'm not worthy!"

Supplies: all papers from Basic Grey; sentiment from PTI; Versamark & black detail EP; Martha Stewart clay kit; black Sharpie for borders

I was pleasantly surprised that I managed to combine the right mix of colours in the clay to match the papers - it's about half white, a quarter brown, and a quarter red. The sentiment is just a beautiful thing to say to someone just because - and inspired by Amy Tsuruta I'm trying to send more happy mail this year! 

Here's the fabulous sketch:

Here is how to play along with us:

1. Create a card based on the sketch provided.

2. Link up your card to the linky...make sure you link up your post with the card in it and not your whole blog.

3. Comment on the other cards in the gallery...at least 5!

4. Combine us with as many other challenges as you would like...EXCEPT other sketches...because that wouldn't work! LOL!!!

5. Have fun!

Don't forget to stop by & see all the fabulous interpretations of the sketch from the design team! 

Amy

Cathy

Jen N 

Jen M

Jessica

Jessi - that's me!

Lesley

Lori

Lori T

Rose

Sarah

Sherry

Stacey

Tangii

Vicki

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #135 - Winter Blues

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

It's that time of year again - the winter blahs in the Northern Hemisphere. At Shopping our Stash, we want you to create something using BLUE as your primary colour to make the Winter Blues a fun thing!

Supplies: butterfly embossing folder; Spellbinders butterfly dies; distress inks in Salty Ocean, Dusty Concord, and Broken China; glimmer mists; scraps of vellum, glitter paper, and beads from stash

This is one of those great cards that uses a bunch of unidentifiable stash that's been around too long for me to remember where it came from. I love that! The beads are sewn on - I traced a circle Nestie with pencil, and pierced around it, then erased the pencil lines. Those beads aren't going anywhere.

 Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday, January 27th - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Michelle

Chana

Donna

Chris

Barb

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #233 - Doodle Pantry!

Tuesdays have been busy around here for a while, and today I'll have three posts for design teams (eek!) so make sure you come back later & check out my Shopping our Stash post and my first post for Seize the Sketch! I am so lucky to be working with such fabulously talented people on all these teams :)

This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, we're sponsored by Doodle Pantry, and we're continuing with our designers' favourite sketches from 2013. This week Debbie chose this fun sketch that is a great way to use a larger image & feature fun papers.

Each of the designers got to choose images from Doodle Pantry to work with today, and I just HAD to have the new set Monster Mash - it's ADORABLE!!

Supplies: all papers, sentiment, and image are from Doodle Pantry "Monster Mash;" classic small oval Nesties; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; twine snippet from stash

I printed out the papers in the collection in different sizes/scales, and two of the monster so I could paper-piece him. I glossed his eyeballs up, of course :) 

Here's the sketch:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, January 26th - be sure to hop around & see what the rest of the team created!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Kris

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

A wee little bit of excitement...

ah, no. Try LOTS of it!

Check out the official announcement here, and tomorrow you'll see my first card as a design team member. I'm still pinching myself!!!

And how about a card? I shared this on my Facebook page over the weekend but thought I'd share it here too - so far this is my favourite Valentine of this year.

Supplies: digi stamp fairy from Sweet Pea Stamps; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers; skull stamp from Inkadinkado; Versamark & clear detail EP; Tonic edge distresser; classic small circle Nesties; Martha Stewart glitter in black, silver, and crystal; ribbon scraps & beaded pin made by me

My first time colouring black hair - still needs some work but I like it. And what's more Valentiney than skulls & a black glittery heart? lol!

Remember, you have until tonight to leave a comment on my 1000th post for some blog candy...definitely some crochet mats, some beaded pins....who knows what else will end up in there?

xoxo,
Jessi

Going Dotty!

I couldn`t resist the title. Forgive me.
**Reminder - you can still leave a comment on my 1000th post for a chance to win blog candy!**

I`ve made 2 cards for the current CASology prompt, DOT, and I`ve used my Paper Smooches stamps so I`ll add them in for the Anything Goes challenge at SPARKS this week. I was in the middle of making the fish card when I got the idea for the puppy card...but since I like that one better I`m sharing it first.

Supplies: Paper Smooches stamps (all but the circles in red here, from PTI); Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Barn Door & Brushed Corduroy distress inks; Bic Markers; Sharpie white paint pen; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (on eye, nose, and collar); classic small oval Nesties; red rhinestones from Dollarama

Supplies: fish & sentiment stamps from Paper Smooches; circle stamps from PTI; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic Markers; Broken China & Tumbled Glass distress inks; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; classic small circle Nesties; orange cardstock scraps; googly eyes

I traced the scales & tails with glitter pen, and bent the tails up for some dimension. Love these fish!

CASology: DOT

SPARKS: Anything Goes

xoxo,

Jessi

The Pink Elephant recipe challenge

This week's recipe challenge at The Pink Elephant was a tough one for me, since I really don't use border punches. I persevered, though, and OMG I'm so stinking pleased with myself! I love how it turned out. The recipe is two patterned papers, one border punch, and one heart.

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny; digi image from Sweet Pea stamps (link to the artist's selection); Martha Stewart butterfly border punch & fine crystal glitter; American Crafts yellow glitter; Studio Calico heart veneer (embossed with versamark & black detail EP); Paper Smooches twine; Bic & spectrum noir markers; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; black & red rhinestones from Dollarama

I embossed the veneer heart with two layers of embossing powder for a more even coat. I've been enjoying my fairies so much that I went & bought five more images to work with (ching chou kuik has a fabulous selection of fairies & mermaids!) and have lots of fun cards made with them. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Ice Skating Snowman

A quick no-nonsense post for this week's Merry Monday challenge - I had printed out a bunch of these cute snowmen before Christmas & finally got one done up for this card.

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny; snowman digi from Pink Cat Studios; Bic markers; Basic Grey button; classic small oval Nesties; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; Martha Stewart coarse crystal glitter

I freehanded some ice for the snowman to skate on with the Dimensional Magic, and then sprinkled it with glitter for extra sparkle.

xoxo,
Jessi

Seize the Sketch!

I've got two cards to share for the current Seize the Sketch challenge - both using the same paper package. Love the simplicity of this sketch!

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Supplies: papers from Fancy Pants; Studio Calico veneer hearts; Versamark & black detail EP; sentiment from Stampin Up

Supplies: papers from Fancy Pants; heart & arrow veneers from Studio Calico; sentiment from Studio G; Versamark & clear detail EP; Picked Raspberry distress ink; 1 1/8" circle punch; lacy circle Nesties

This sketch linky is open until Sunday January 20th if you've been thinking of playing along! 

And now I'm back to colouring fairies - I found digital versions of the recent GORGEOUS fairies I've been playing with, and so now I have some new ones to colour. ALL FAIRIES ALL THE TIME!
xoxo,
Jessi

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Another Christmas card - the current challenge at jingle belles had me scratching my head since I really didn't get any new Christmasy bits & bobs...but I did finally get an idea.

Supplies: Neat & Tangled sunburst stamp; Stampin' Up! santa & Ho!; Mustard Seed & Peacock Feathers distress inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers; Yellow Daisy Tattered Angels glimmer mist

I masked the star Santa so I could have the rays shining out from him, and goofed around with two inks. Then I painted over it with glimmer mist in an attempt to help the inks blend better, and well, it's not my favourite. But the sunburst stamp hadn't yet been inked up, and  that Santa set from Stampin' Up has been in my stash forever (the copyright is 1999).

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #134 - Miss You

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

I know, I shared a fairy card last week for Shopping our Stash - but this image is just so far beyond perfect for this week's challenge to create a Miss You card. I HAD TO USE IT.

Supplies: paper makeup fairy stamp; sentiment from Paper Smooches; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Salty Ocean distress ink; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers; Simple Stories patterned paper; fabric, felt snowflakes from stash; Martha Stewart fine crystal glitter; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; pink rhinestones from Dollarama; Making Memories brads

I've carefully added crystal glitter on the wings & on her, uh, crystal ball? The thingy in her hand :) I then traced other details with the glitter pen (eyes, hair, etc). The fabric piece is one that had already been cut & heated with the heat tool to crumple it up, and then sat on my desk since it didn't work for the project I originally intended it for. The felt snowflakes have been in my stash FOREVER, and they're adhered with pewter brads you can hardly see.

I don't generally make cards with a recipient in mind, but I thought of the same person pretty much the entire time I was making this, so I'm thinking that's a sign that I should just send it!

 Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday, January 20th - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Michelle

Chana

Donna

Chris

Barb

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #232 - Me!

Well look at that, it's Tuesday again! Time for a new sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and the sponsor this week is me :) With Valentine's Day approaching, I'm offering the winner 12 crocheted circle mats in Valentine colours:

This is also TWIST WEEK, which means for a chance to be our handpicked winner, you will need to follow the sketch AND the twist, which is MONOCHROMATIC.

Supplies: PTI sentiment; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Cuttlebug embossing folders; Versamark & white detail EP; classic small & lacy circles Nesties; Martha Stewart clay kit flower; crochet mat by me

How are there so many different shades of white? Boggles my mind sometimes. I used vellum for the circle & the banner to tie them together, and added the embossing to add yet another shade of white. 

Here's the sketch:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, January 19th - be sure to hop around & see what the rest of the team created!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Kris

Melissa

xoxo,
Jessi

Pink Feathers & Sassy Britches!

Andrea's Savvy challenge  is a photo inspiration this time around, with gorgeous pink feathers...and looking through my paper pads I found this great dark pink feather patterned paper....and then got sassy with it!

Supplies: papers from Prima; clip art from Crafty Secrets; sentiment from Dylusions; Versamark & black detail EP; Martha Stewart clay rose; paper smooches twine

To get the curly ends on my bow, I wound the twine around a pencil & heated it with my heat gun....which is great unless you heat it too long & melt the varnish on the pencil. You'll notice a super-curly bit there, which I'm pretty sure is due to the words it heard while the varnish was bubbling & I was trying to not burn the house down. 

Note: I always have my sassy britches on. You've been warned.

Here's the inspiration photo (the challenge closes tomorrow night):

xoxo,

Jessi