My apologies!

I'm so sorry for my late posting for TMS & SOS - I have been sick as a dog this week & only now managing to sit at the computer. Popping them both in the same post to save my bones a little :)

Tuesday Morning Sketches is being sponsored by Di's Digis this week - you don't want to miss out on a chance to win some cute images!

Supplies: Bunny from Paper Smooches; sentiment from TAWS; WRMK embossing folder; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; dipped papers made with various distress inks

Here's the sketch: 

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, March 27 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Lee

Melissa 

Patti

Wanda

And at Shopping our Stash this week, we're going cuckoo - cuckoo for you! We want to see clocks in your designs :)

Supplies: Unknown stamp set; Versamark; Pirate Gold EP; Antique Linen & Brushed Corduroy distress inks; Dreamweaver embossing paste; unknown stencil

I've had this stamp set a while and not used it, so bonus for NBUS! 

Check out what the rest of my awesome teammates made!

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday March 28 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I'm sharing two cards I've made for the Tiddly Inks Anything Goes challenge, and for Curtain Call's Beginnings. 

Supplies: Emma Hoppy Easter digi from Tiddly Inks;  Spectrum Noir markers; sentiment from Pink Cat Studio; labels Nesties; 1.5" circle punch; Lil' Inkers sun & clouds dies; Mowed Lawn & Broken China distress inks; Stampin' Up flower buttons

Supplies: Chloe and her Peeps digi stamp from Tiddly Inks;  Spectrum Noir markers; AC papers; Tim Holtz design ruler & embroidery supplies; sentiment from Reverse Confetti; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

These are my very favourite Easter stamps - those little girls are just beyond precious & fun to colour. 

The Curtain Call photo prompt:

Tiddly Inks Anything Goes with Tiddly Inks. 

I hope your Easter is full of joy!

xoxo,

Jessi

Have a Hoppy Day!

Finally got myself together to play along ON TIME with the JUGs challenge! Yay! AND the Doodle Pantry challenge - it's been a while for both, so yay me :) 

Supplies: image & sentiment from Doodle Pantry; papers from AC; Spectrum Noir markers; 1.5" circle punch; embroidery supplies; Crushed Velvet flock from Doodlebug

Some more of my quickly-becoming-addictive random stitching, and a layout designed to let me use some of the adorable scraps from this paper pad. 

Here's the photo prompt from JUGs:

xoxo,

Jessi

Sunny Funny Bunny!

Creative Card Crew wants to see your Easter Critters this time around, and The Pink Elephant has a great Eastery inspiration photo. 

Supplies: Bugaboo bunny digi; Pink Cat Studio sentiment; Sizzix embossing folder; scalloped oval Nesties; Li'l Inkers sun & clouds dies; 1.5" circle punch; Spectrum Noir markers; Mowed Lawn & Broken China distress inks

Here's the inspiration photo from The Pink Elephant: 

xoxo,

Jessi

Tenia is my MUSE!

ok, so everybody knows the ever-fab Tenia Nelson from Jazzy Paper Designs, right? She's the guest MUSE at MUSE this week, and as soon as I saw her card I thought OOOOOH! (As an aside - she is also one of the organizing forces behind a terrific blog hop coming up on April 2 in support of Autism Awareness - Light it Up Blue for Autism Awareness - come join the Facebook group & check out all the fab crafters & sponsors coming together for a cause that is so close to my heart.)

So my card - I was inspired by Tenia's layout, the smidge of vellum, the embossing, the kraft, the splatters - and came up with this:

Supplies: Gladiolus & splatter stamps from PTI; FAITH stamp from Stampabilities; Frayed Burlap distress ink; Versamark & Pirate gold EP; Tim Holtz tissue tape; kraft card stock; cream vellum; stitching supplies

As an extra wink to Tenia I used the music tape :) Here's her card:

I'm also entering my card over at The Kraft Journal for this week's CAS-Faith challenge. 

Whew, three posts before 5 a.m....gotta love it!
xoxo,
Jessi

Curtain Call: Jelly Bean!

Squeaking in at the last minute for the current Curtain Call challenge, Jelly Bean.  I am really going to have to start writing down dates with my list of challenges (I missed Fusion again, dangnabbit!)

Supplies: Bunny stamp from The Alley Way Stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; woodgrain paper from MME; buttons from PTI

I stamped the bunny three times so I could pop up the head/ears and paw. She's sitting in a field of buttons :) I was inspired by the woodgrain in the image, the bright blue mug, and the pastel colours of the eggs!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #293 - Sweet Pea Stamps!

We have a brand-new sponsor this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches - Sweet Pea Stamps! I have been in love with their images for quite some time, so I'm excited to have them partner with us. I chose the lovely Regan Kubecek's Easter fairy to showcase:

Supplies:  Regan Kubecek's Easter fairy from Sweet Pea Stamps; Spectrum Noir markers; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; Diamond Stickles; Petal Pink liquid pearls; papers from american crafts; classic small circle Nesties; wood veneer banner from Studio Calico; MME enamel dots

I'm still playing around with my desk set-up - especially the lamp, because now that I've moved my shelves around I'm stuck with backlighting, too high, or too low. Work in progress. 

I added a smidge of glitter to her eyeshadow, and wanted her wings to be colourful and sparkly. The little bunny on the veneer is fussy-cut from the paper pad. 

Here's the sketch this week, designed by Debbie: 

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, March 29 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made!

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris 

Melissa 

Nina

xoxo,

Jessi

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - E is for...

Easter! And doesn't Edna look gorgeous with those fluffy bunny ears - she's totally into the Easter spirit :) So an easy challenge this time around with the Snarky Stampers - we want to see your Easter creations. Once again I'm snark-less...I attempted a bunny poop card, but the finished card got resounding "um, nope"s from everyone at my house, so I went with cute. Cute never fails. (Note to manufacturers - there aren't enough choices for embellishments that look like feces. You might wanna get on that.)

Supplies: Penny Black stamp; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; papers from American Crafts; Spectrum Noir markers; embroidery supplies

I stamped two images so that I could pop up the ribbon & the body of the chick, and played around with paper scraps to come up with the layout. I'm really loving the stitching in the opposite corners from the paper - and for once I got the corners perfectly aligned! Go me!

Easter is just a couple weeks away, so perfect time for you to join in with the Sistahs: 

Barb

Chris

Donna

Karen

Lee

Lindsey

Lynne 

Michelle

You've got until Friday, April 3rd, to join in with us! 

And don't forget to stop by and leave our guest designer MAJO some love for her project! 

Easter Lilies

I've been cleaning out my desk area this week - in about a million years I might be done. Besides finding some awesome fun stuff I'm mostly disgusted by just how many things I put under my desk because I "might" use them - old pair of jeans? Package of sponges? EGG CARTONS?? Dear heaven. And I won't even mention the size of the dust animals under there. I'm taking a break from it for a couple of days so I can make some pretty things & remember exactly why I am spending all this time *ugh* cleaning.

Supplies: Inkadinkado lily stamp & sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Mowed Lawn distress ink; Spectrum Noir markers; yellow glitter fabric paint; Timeless Twine (peapod); white and kraft card stock

A very simple layout letting the lilies be the stars - and it has such a different feel from the card I shared with this same stamp earlier in the week! Love that.

I'm popping this in the linky at The Kraft Journal for "anything goes - spring!"

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #193 - I made this!

For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post, please click here. Thanks!!

This week at Shopping our Stash we want to see your hand made backgrounds - (not just stamping a background stamp) - could be collage, paint, tape, stamp, stencil, or even to alter patterned paper with doodles. I made two cards using the same background technique and stamps, but I think you'll agree they've made entirely different cards!

Supplies: Flourishes daisy stamps; Paper Smooches sentiment; PSX dragonfly; watercolor paper; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; Versamark & black detail EP; Festive Berries & Spiced Marmalade distress inks; classic small & lacy circle Nesties; dark red rhinestones from Dollarama

Supplies: Flourishes daisy stamps; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Faded Jeans & Mowed Lawn distress inks; clip art from The Graphics Fairy; doily from stash; Tonic edge distresser

To create the backgrounds I began by stamping the daisies with the listed colours of Distress inks, and then painted over them with water. On the dragonfly card I used the inks as well, resulting in a much more saturated colour. Once it was dry, I stamped the daisies again - on the red/orange card, I used the distress inks again and then added some black with the smaller daisy stamp. On the blue/green I used just the grey ink and lined the daisies up with their initial impressions. I also sponged the vintage clip with some Mowed Lawn ink to help it match the background better. 

The only thing I found difficult with this challenge was deciding what to do! There are just so many options when it comes to creating your own background.   Join in with the SOS crew: 

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

And you have until Monday,March 23rd to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Cute Crooked Sketch!

Ever make a card and think to yourself "THIS. This is why I love making cards!" That was me with this card - I really love how it turned out. I used the second Crooked Stamper sketch (again) and since this is such a cute image I'm entering over at little red wagon as well.

Supplies: image from Tiddly Inks; sentiment from Pink Cat Studio; 1.5" circle punch; Spectrum Noir markers; Mowed Lawn, Broken China, and Mustard Seed distress inks; Tim Holtz design ruler & embroidery supplies

Making the sentiment into the sun wasn't planned but that's what made me fall in love with this card. I sponged each panel with the appropriate colour of ink to suggest the scene, and used my design ruler to pierce the sun's rays & guidelines for adding cross stitching (which would appear to be my latest crafty addiction). At this rate I may use the embroidery thread from my cross-stitching days (20 years ago) by the time I'm 50!

Here's Leslie's sketch:

xoxo,

Jessi

Take Your Pick at the Kraft Journal

It's been quiet I know - I put my stupid back out again just as it was starting to get better. Honestly. However, on the bright side? I was pathetic enough this time to rate hubby going out &  finally buying a heating pad, so there's a new love of my life ;) I got my vintage Easter fix playing along with The Kraft Journal this week.  I used the choices of white, button, and bunny (I figured the girl's costume counts!)

Supplies: Clip art image from The Graphics Fairy; kraft card stock; Tim Holtz bubbles stencil; Dreamweaver embossing paste & white detail EP; Basic Grey button; Timeless Twine; Tonic edge distresser; Wilton doily

This was my first time using embossing powder on paste - I was a little heavy-handed with the paste, so a little bit of smudging of the stencil. The paste bubbled when heated & gave it a really neat distressed feel so I carried that through with distressing the edges of the panel. I used my Bow Easy to make the multi-loop bow and stitched it into place with the button to keep it aligned how I wanted it. 

Here's the chart with the options for the challenge:

xoxo,

Jessi

Rubber Dance March Challenge

I've had Rubber Dance's challenges on my list to play for ages, but me and colours....it always takes a left turn. When I was looking for my Easter stamps (seriously - I looked through everything in the basement, and then where were they? In a box under my desk. Ugh!) I found this little Easter chick with her crazy hat, and I thought of this sentiment...and thus I made a card that is just so me it makes me happy.

Supplies: sentiment from Rubber Dance; Stampendous chick; tiny flower from Lawn Fawn; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; distress inks in Dried Marigold and Squeezed Lemonade; striped paper from Carta Bella

To my delight all my friends agree THAT'S ME! lol

For March our colours are fresh, spring pastels

In addition to our colour scheme we also have an optional THEME: SPRING

What's more springy than Easter chicks? 

I'll be back later in the morning with my guest design post for Merry Monday - eep!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #246 - Dies R Us!

Good morning! It's Tuesday, so time for a Tuesday Morning Sketch - and I have two cards to share with you today. First of all, though, we have a new sponsor joining us - Dies R Us, and you could win a $15 voucher (cool!)
I have two cards to show because when I was creating my first card, I forgot that the sketch was going live after Easter (whoops!) BUT I just love this cute little Tiddly Inks image - and this works perfectly for my first time entering the Tiddly Inks challenge! 

Supplies: Tiddly Inks Chloe and her Peeps; Spectrum Noir markers; yellow fun flock; WPlus9 banner dies; classic small circle Nesties; Fancy Pants papers; sentiment & chick stamp from Michaels; Evergreen Boughs distress ink; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

I had a grand time colouring little Chloe, and her peeps are fluffed up with a smidge of fun flock. The chick/egg is paper pieced, and I bent up the ends of the banners for some extra dimension. 

Supplies: Paper Smooches pup; Unity sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic markers; DCWV papers; Wplus9 banner dies; classic small circle Nesties

Now I may be biased since it is my own sketch design, but I could keep going with this sketch - those banners are perfect for using up those little scraps of paper that I hoard!

Here's the sketch:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, April 27th  - be sure to hop around & see what the rest of the team created!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Kris

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

Happy Easter!

Good morning & Happy Easter! I realized that I still had a few Easter cards to share (and three challenges to pop them in to) and so I figured I'd combine everything in one monster post :)

Supplies: Doodlebug bunny sticker; MME papers; Martha Stewart fringe scissors; Pink Cat Studio sentiment; Paper Smooches cloud dies; 1" and 1 1/8" circle punches

Supplies: Doodlebug bunny sticker; Fancy Pants papers; Stampendous medallion stamp; Inkadinkado Easter sentiment; Worn Lipstick distress ink; Memento Gray Flannel ink

Supplies: Stampendous chick stamp; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic markers; Corner Chomper

Supplies: Doodlebug stickers; classic small circle Nesties; Tim Holtz bubble stencil; Dreamweaver embossing paste; Corner Chomper

Still futzing with my camera - getting better with it, but I find it hard to photograph white still. To do the grass I cut out two partial circles and free-hand cut them, popping up the top layer and the chick for some fun dimension.

The challenges I'm entering:

Little Red Wagon: Easter Parade

The Pink Elephant: Easter

Open-Minded Crafting Challenges #8: Easter/Pastel

xoxo,

Jessi

Seize the Sketch #18

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

**For my Shopping our Stash post, please scroll down 1 or click here**

Thank you!

I just recently bought my first bunch of Tiddly Inks digis, and this SWEET little girl was perfect for Jessica's sketch at Seize the Sketch!

Supplies: digi image from Tiddly Inks; papers from Fancy Pants; classic small oval Nesties; Spectrum Noir markers; Doodlebug Crushed Velvet flock - white & pink; button from my stash; Tumbled Glass distress ink

After colouring this little cutie, I added flocking to her costume. I do love a touchable card :) I also sponged Tumbled Glass ink around  the edge of the panel to make it pop a little more.

Here's the sketch:

The linky is open until Sunday April 27 - be sure to check out what all the gals have been up to!

Amy 

Cathy

Jen

Jessica

Jessi (that's me!)

Katie

Lee Ann

Lesley

Lori Tecler

Lori Turner

Rose

Sarah

Sherry

Tangii

Vicki

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #245 - Sami Stamps!

Good morning! We have a fun new sketch for you to try this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and a brand-new sponsor - Sami Stamps! You can find Sami Stamps store HERE and her blog HERE.  The prize is a voucher for $12 which would equate to 3 digis of the winner's choice.  

I tried a new-to-me technique, inlaid die cutting, and made the eggy panel resting behind that sweet little chick (available here)

Supplies: Sami Stamps Easter Chick digi; Memory Box egg die; Wplus9 banner die' American Crafts cardstock & patterned paper; Bic Markers; Doodlebug flower stickers; Adirondack Citrus ink; classic small circle Nesties

I had some issues getting my coloured eggs to fit well in the spaces I'd cut, likely because I'd cut over the edges of the panel & so the white card stock piece became a little too flexible - I'm looking forward to trying this again. I sponged the edges of the Easter Chick panel with Citrus ink to give it a bit more pop.

Here's the sketch, designed by Melissa:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, April 20th  - be sure to hop around & see what the rest of the team created!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Kris

Melissa

Because I used a whole whack of dies on my card, I'm also entering it in the April Challenge at Stamping Sensations: dies & punches! 

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing with Easter Stencils

I still can't figure out how Blogger is making my photos look better than they do on the computer, but I will TAKE IT! While I was in Vancouver I bought some embossing paste & a couple of stencils to try out, and I am loving the messy fun! Now to branch out & try something other than just paste on paper :)

Supplies: Tim Holtz stencil; Dreamweaver embossing paste; Doodlebug stickers; American Crafts card stock; classic small oval Nesties

This was my very first stenciled background, so I trimmed along the edges whimsically to feature the parts of it I liked ;) To create the little scene, I cut out two partial green ovals and freehand cut some hills - the top one is popped up on foam tape so that the chick & bunny could be tucked behind. 

This is perfect for the current Simon Says Stamp challenge to make Easter cards! And now back to my regularly scheduled (ha!) cleaning of the bathroom. I shared this on Facebook but in case you missed it, you might get a chuckle:

Connor: MOMmmmmm, can you come dry Mimi off? She's soaked!
Me: I'm cleaning the toilet right now
Connor: But she's really wet!
Me: OK, you come clean the toilet & I'll dry her off
Connor: ummmmmm....cleaning bathrooms is really not my speciality (exactly how he pronounced it, lol). I'll dry the dog.

Ah, kids are fun. Sometimes ;)

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #146 - Pieces of April

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

This week at Shopping our Stash we want you to revisit a technique that I know I hadn't done in a while - paper piecing! I used to do so much of it, and now that I'm happier with my colouring I've been doing more of that. It took me a while to think of what I wanted to do!

Supplies: stamps from Paper Smooches; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; MME papers; stickers from Doodlebug; classic small oval Nesties

Surprisingly (to me) I don't have many Easter sentiments, so adding the eggs & jelly beans 'Easters' up this card :)

So, ready to do some paper piecing?  Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday, April 14th - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Michelle

Chana

Donna

Chris

Barb

xoxo,

Jessi