Vintage Christmas

It's just about time for me to start decorating some envelopes to go with all the Christmas cards I've been making! Here are two more, in vintage style for the current jingle belles challenge.

Supplies: papers from Graphic 45; Spellbinders Snowflake die; Hero Arts adhesive lace; angel charm from Just Enough Stuff

I fussy-cut the little angels from a piece of the patterned paper, and adhered them with foam tape so that I could hide the 'loop' at the top of the angel charm. Don't look toooo closely at that snowflake...let me just say, that die & I are not friends. Never have been, likely never will be. Tricky little bugger.

Supplies: Graphic 45 paper; poinsettia & sentiment die cut from K & Co; gorgeous doily from Just Enough Stuff

The doily wasn't part of my original plan, but the patterned piece of paper had a collage of Santas. The lower right corner ended up having a super-creepy stalker-ish looking Santa and he just really had to be covered up. It was no bueno - Christmas really shouldn't give you the heebie-jeebies. 

I'm also going to toss these in over at Simon Says Stamp since you can of course get Spellbinders dies, K & Co, Graphic 45, and Hero Arts products there :) 

I have a meeting with Connor's school today - he is really having a rough start to high school, and I'm certain that today's meeting will bring some good changes. It's been a looooong time since I was able to get a September meeting - probably 6 or 7 years? - which is a very positive sign. The last few years of 'let's wait and see if he can do it' have been miserable for everyone. It's still anxiety provoking, though, as a parent, to go in alone as an advocate for your child - no matter how accommodating and helpful the staff are. 

Wish me luck - and Connor. He could use a break.

And, one last thing - 

PUPPY NOSE!

xoxo,

Jessi

Andrea's Savvy Challenge!

Andrea, from Savvy Handmade Cards, is launching a new challenge on her blog - and I *had* to play along! She's chosen a photo of a bouquet from her husband as the first photo inspiration:

So I printed it out, and it stared at me most of the week...until Andrea posted this card  and I decided that I also needed to try the Faux Patina technique. Of course, I didn't watch the video, I winged it. *koff* so first there was a failure. No photos of that - I'm still trying to rescue it into something else! So here's my card, inspired by both Andrea's faux patina card & her flowers:

Supplies: Cuttlebug folder; Versamark; Pirate Gold EP & sentiment stamp from Stampendous; Distress inks in Pumice Stone, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, and Seedless Preserves

I'm also going to throw this in the current Simon Says Stamp challenge because that's where I got my last batch of Distress inks - and of course they have all sorts of Stampendous & Cuttlebug products too!

*And I can't believe I spaced out & forgot to link up with Moxie Fab World's "All That Glitters is Gold" challenge! I had planned to, and then *poof* forgot. Thanks Barb & Nance :)

You have 2 days left to play along in Andrea's challenge - go check it out :)

xoxo,

Jessi

You're on my Mind

Oh, this week. In the overall scheme of things it's all just a bunch of little things, but you know how sometimes your brain just makes everything seem like SUCH A BIG DEAL?  That's where I am this week, wallowing.

I accidentally deleted an entire folder of edited card photographs - I'm talking about 50 cards - that I'd never uploaded anywhere. And they are most definitely GONE gone. I've retaken the photos that I could, but I'm still bummed. Add in some crappy health news & I am just feeling pretty blargh. (That's a technical  term, by the way.)

In positive news, I've been back to a regular Zumba schedule - which feels good! - and even made it out for a walk with a friend & our dogs this week. Why is it so hard to remember beforehand that exercise makes me feel good? Little changes, but they add up.

I had grand fun playing around & making this card - using Kraft and embossing to go along with the Crafty Creations & Simon Says challenges. The ribbon was actually laying on the floor (thank you cats) and I dropped a button & saw it - serendipity. I love how it turned out:

Supplies: patterned paper from Amy Tangerine; kraft card stock; Martha Stewart butterfly stamp; PTI sentiment; Frayed Burlap & Antique Linen distress inks; Versamark & Stampendous White Detail EP; buttons & ribbon from stash

I'd already decided to sew the buttons on as a border when I found the ribbon - it's subtle but I really love the effect of the sheer ribbon over the buttons. It was difficult to show in the photographs without distorting the colour, but the butterfly does stand out better in person. I considered doing a little bit of emboss resist to make it stand out more but decided not to play with inky fire :)

So, self? It could be worse. At least you still have your mojo!

xoxo,

Jessi

Simon Says Animal Antics

I can't believe it took me this long to ink up the kitties from Paper Smooches - these stamps arrived while we were camping, and I guess I just needed to hold them & pet them & think about them for a while first :)

Supplies: stamps from Paper Smooches; Palette Noir ink; Versamark; Stampendous black detail EP; Worn Lipstick & Mustard Seed distress inks; Prismacolor pencils; Stampin' Up buttons; plaid paper from Memory Box; classic small circle Nesties

This plaid piece was a rescue - I'd cut the circle in the wrong place for the card it was originally intended for. I embossed the sentiment, sewed on the buttons, & added the twine wrap/bow, and then adhered it to the card base with foam tape. Since the cat was going directly on the base, I chose to use pencils for colouring. The shadow from Hot Concoctions was a good size for a little mat for the cat (resisting the urge to keep rhyming there...barely...).  

Simon Says is having an Animal Antics challenge this week, so I'm throwing this one into the BIG ring.

xoxo,

Jessi

Simon Says "Pin It!"

Gold is so trendy right now - I must say, if I'm reaching for a metallic colour my first instinct is silver. I made a definite point of pulling out the gold this time. This pin was one left over from my grandmother's birthday card (you can see that here) - I made extra just to be sure I had enough. This one lonely pin was perfect for this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge to "Pin it."

Supplies: Stampendous medallion stamp; Paper Smooches sentiment; Stampendous Pirate Gold embossing powder; Versamark; corsage pin from Michaels; beads & seam binding from stash

I trimmed the card stock down after embossing to allow a smidge of the white card base to show, and to give the poky part of the pin room to be tucked in behind. After poking the pin through the paper, I used foam tape to make sure it was stuck tight, and to attach it to the base. You don't want your recipient pricking their finger when they open the envelope!

xoxo,

Jessi

Wanna Sketch #6

So one more thank you card from last week's blitz (which will continue this week, lol). This one uses the fab sketch from Lisa Arana's Wanna Sketch? #6. 

Supplies: paper from stash; Wplus9 banner die; Paper Smooches sentiment; Barn Door distress ink; Picket Fence stickles; yellow sparkle fabric paint

This paper's been on my desk for ages, and every time I tried to use it it just didn't work for me. Using a smidge made for a quick & easy card. I fussy-cut one of the blooms & popped it up over another at an angle for some fun dimension, and sparkled up the large flower centres. I used the largest die in the banner set & then gave each end a twist with my fingers to get the whimsical feel of the banner element in the sketch.

I'm also going to throw this in over at Simon Says Stamp for their Anything Goes challenge.

On Saturday I did a little shopping in my dear friend Barb's stash - and guess what? YOU CAN TOO! She has some really awesome stuff listed on her blog...check it out here.  There are a bunch of Paper Smooches sets...and Nesties....and if I talk much more about it I'm going to go buy more, so please save me from myself.  LOL!

xoxo,
Jessi

Textured Krafty Layers

Another three-fer for you this morning - the current challenge at The Kraft Journal is to use ink, paint, or markers. I've used crackle paint, which is FULL of texture for the Textured Layers challenge at Let's Get Trendy Now 3; and Simon Says Stamp is having an anything goes week. 

Supplies: kraft card stock; misc. patterned paper; Antique Linen Distress crackle paint; Tonic edge distresser; Spellbinders butterfly die; Hero Arts sentiment stamp; Colorbox Frost White pigment ink; Stampendous White EP

I die cut the butterfly from kraft card stock before painting it with the crackle paint. It curled as it dried, but I was able to fiddle with it & get it back to shape by bending & flexing it. The edge distresser was used on the kraft layer after the smudges of paint dried. I used double-sided tape to adhere it to the white card base but left all the corners loose for extra dimension. The patterned paper flag panel was hand-cut, I tied the floss bow around it, and then attached it with foam tape. The butterfly is also adhered with foam tape. I was a little off plumb with my sentiment stamping (of course, my last touch before sticking it to the card) so I adapted that by adding the panel to the base at an angle. The sentiment is parallel with the card base. And it even looks like I did it on purpose! Woot!

xoxo,

Jessi

Simon Says Transport

So back to my comfortable black & white Father's Day colour scheme...I swear I've made loads using other colours. They're just apparently not making it to the blog!

Supplies: Memento Tuxedo Black & Gray Flannel ink; Amy R sentiment stamps (CC Designs); bicycle stamp from CTMH; We R Memory Keepers washi tape; rhinestones from Dollarama

Perfect for this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge, Transport!

xoxo,

Jessi

Friends with Studly Flair!

I have two new orders from Unity, including one that came today...and yet here I am once again sharing a card I've made with my all-time favourite, HEY STUD. What can I say, Father's Day looms large ;) I'm linking up over at Friends with Flair, and also at Simon Says Stamp's Masculine/Father's Day challenge!

Supplies: stamps from Unity; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; classic small circle Nesties; patterned papers from Amy Tangerine; buttons from Basic Grey & Dollarama. 

I swear I have made non-black Father's Day cards this year. Honest. It just appears to be my go-to at the moment ;)

Busy busy busy around here with special orders & design team stuff...and trying to get said special orders finished to go home with my mom! Hopefully I'll be around to comment shortly :)

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

So many cards...

I learned a little bit from last year, realizing that there was NO WAY I was ever going to be able to blog all the Christmas cards I make. I didn't even bother photographing all my cards this time around, and I still have a bunch to share (and no more time). Here's a few more of them, and I'm linking up again with DYSU's "Anything Goes" challenge and Simon Says Stamp's "Merry Christmas" challenge.

Supplies: paper from Memory Box; washi tape from We R Memory Keepers (thanks to Lindsey!!); deer die cut from K&Co; Frost White pigment ink (Colorbox); standard & lacy circle Nesties; Fun Flock; sentiment rub-on from EAD Designs

Supplies: Fancy Pants paper ((from Jen!!); EAD Designs rub-on; bling strips from Dollarama

And I even have more challenge cards to share...last minute crafting burst last weekend :) I'll be back tomorrow with a new (fabulous!) challenge for Tuesday Morning Sketches, but I've already written that post - so for now I'll wish you a very Merry Christmas! Time to go wrap some presents...finally...

xoxo,

Jessi

Is it food? Well, there ARE olives...

The challenge home for all my favourite cards....Drunken Stampers' lastest challenge is Eat, Pray, Love. It doesn't mention drink, but how could I not share this?

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny; awesome Stella image from Bugaboo; computer-generated sentiment inspired by the Appletini set from MFT; bells from Dollarama; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; exasperated bird rub-on from Basic Grey; watercoloured with Glimmer Mists and Distress inks

You have until next Friday the 28th to enter!

I'm also going to toss this into these challenges:

DYSU #103, Anything Goes: because I totally feel like anything goes after swimming in a martini ;)

and 

Simon Says Stamp - Merry Christmas; because ELF! 

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

The craziness is upon me...

I'm there. That panicked part of getting ready for a big trip. I'm going to forget something, probably something important. I have lists, and more lists. I'll probably have to make at least 2 more lists. In the midst of my scattered thoughts, I wanted to come & share a few cards, link up one last time to Simon Says Stamp (Anything Goes), and freak out a little!

I will be online sparingly in the next few weeks - all my DT posts are drafted, but not ready to go quite yet...that's on a list. I feel so very attached to visiting with all of you that I know I'm going to miss you - but I also know catching up will be beyond me. I can't wait to see what you've been up to when I come back!

So, before I start supper, here's a few cards:

Supplies: sentiments from Paper Smooches;
flowers from Stampin' Up!;
Palette Noir ink;
Spun Sugar & Tumbled Glass distress ink;
pink & blue rhinestones

Supplies: papers from Kaisercraft;
stamps from Paper Smooches (from Barb!);
Antique Linen, Barn Door, Vintage Photo distress inks;
Palette Noir ink;
GOOGLY EYES!

Just for fun cards? Paper Smooches to the rescue :) 

Love you guys - I'm gonna miss you!

xoxo,

Jessi

Numbers Game at little red wagon

One of my regular customers is actually the whole family - since they moved to the area I've made a personalized card for each child for their birthday. This little man has one for every year - I still remember getting to snuggle him as a wee babe! Every year the parents give me a heads up for what the kids are into (or the party theme they requested) and off I go. In fact, delivering this card this morning, his sister asked where HER card was (her birthday's coming up in October). I love that they look forward to receiving them - and as a kid who could NEVER find my name on anything, I love being able to put nontraditional spellings on things. 

All that to say, I also include the age of each child on these cards, so it's easy to look back & remember when each card was for - and so enters this week's little red wagon challenge, Numbers Game:

Supplies: Pokemon clipart from web;
sentiment rub-on from Pebbles;
small letter stickers - Basic Grey;
large letter stickers - October Afternoon;
circle punches, standard circle Nesties;
Dimensional Magic - Mod Podge

I printed 2 copies of the Pikachu image so I could pop it up, and then used a toothpick
to apply the Dimensional Magic to the letters, number 6, and the facial features. 

I'm also throwing this in for Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes Challenge :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Best intentions, and all that

I really did mean to come back & post yesterday, and then life happened. You know how that works :) Simon Says Stamp is having an Anything Goes challenge this week, so I've got to throw my crafty hat in that ring. And some of my favourite challenges made their way into cards this week - starting with A Summer Scene over at Crafty Creations Challenges. I made two cards, reflecting two very different summer feelings: the ocean & the fair!

Supplies: carousel sticker from Jolee's;
polka dot embossing folder from Cuttlebug

Supplies: clipart from the Graphics Fairy;
patterned paper from MME;
sentiment from Annabelle Stamps;
Palette Noir ink

I printed two copies of the digi image, and fussy cut & popped the sailboat
on a layer of foam tape for some dimension.

I've entered the 'chicken with its head cut off' phase of readying for the trip. We finished getting the last of the school supplies today, so now I just need to get those labeled & ready. And now I've been staring at the screen thinking of the rest of my to-do list, so I think I'd better go DO some of it soon!

xoxo,

Jessi

Animal Antics at Simon Says Stamp!

Animal Antics? How could I pass up playing in the new challenge at Simon Says Stamp? Well, I couldn't. So here's my card:

Supplies: Paper Smooches stamps;
Palette Noir ink;
papers from Simple Stories "Summer Fresh;"
standard circle Nesties;
speech balloon die cut from Jenny

The quilted piece of paper there is upside down - I had cut the circle piece out to use on another project, and it was laying on my desk upside down & I thought hey.....that little hamster would fit in there, I bet! I popped the quilted piece on one layer of foam tape, and the balloon is on two layers.

And since the theme is animal antics, I thought I'd tuck in a couple of pictures of a couple of my animals too. Abby is doing her normal "but, why are you sitting at your desk? Why aren't you petting ME? sad routine:

And Maggie, the 6-toed behemoth, showed me finally how the back cushion on the chair keeps getting flattened out. A 20-lb cat plunking her furry butt on it, that's how. (And I wondered recently about the six toes...so I went around counting cat toes. Our 'normal' toed cat has four on each foot, plus the 'dewclaw' up on her front feet. Is it called that on a cat? Gertie, our other 6-toed cat, has 6 on each front paw, and 5 on each back paw, plus the 'dewclaws' on the front. Maggie has 6 on each, front & back, plus the dewclaws. She originally had 7 on her right front paw, but it had to be removed, poor little girl. Anyway, I suppose not all 6-toed cats are the same. I wonder what genetics are at play there?)

I knew using the flash would make her leave, and it did. But I got her tongue sticking out first :)

The Simon Says Stamp challenge is open until Wednesday morning - lots of time left to play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Simon Says Do you Stack Up, TMS?

**If you're here for my guest designer post at Our Creative Corner, please scroll down or click here**

Well, I cracked myself up with that title, anyway ;) lol!
First up, Happy Father's Day to my husband, who is a great dad, and since he doesn't read my blog anyway, that's enough of that nonsense!
My friend Barb just joined the design team over at Do You Stack Up, so I HAD to play along. In the last-minute spree of Father's Day crafting, I knew I could make something with a "boys/men" theme. I'm also playing along with Tuesday Morning Sketches #150 - this week is a judged challenge, so there's a twist: use black, kraft, and ONE other colour (I went with white), along with the sketch. Here's my card:

Supplies: Antique Linen distress ink; Palette Noir ink;
burlap stamp from Market Street Stamps;
sentiment from Ditto; Basic Grey buttons; hemp cord;
standard oval Nesties

TMS challenges always end Sunday night, so head to your craft room & make something quick! Here's the sketch:

The DYSU challenge is open until Tuesday at 5, so you've lots of time to link up there. 

And what did Simon say? Simon said to use this photo board as inspiration this week: (linky closes on Tuesday night)

I went with the over-arching theme of "summer" for my card, and I love how it turned out! Nothing says summertime to me quite like the beach, and bright fun colours:

Supplies: stamps from Inkadinkado;
Palette Noir ink; standard circle & oval Nesties;
buttons from Dress it Up!;
antique linen distress embossing powder;
papers from Fancy Pants "summer soul" 

Distress EP sets off my smoke alarm (it's right above the desk) so I've taken to using my little pot of it as sand. It's the perfect colour & texture for it! I adhere it using ZIG two-way glue pen, and it stays put through repeated touching.

In the interest of not having a post a mile along, I'm going to tuck my other challenge cards into a second post!

xoxo,

Jessi

Flowers from my Stash

None of you were any help for naming posts! lol
Maybe I should ask the kids to start naming them for me...oh em gee, that's what I'll do. Of course, that means that said kids will have to be around while I'm blogging. File it as an idea, anyhow.

The current Shopping our Stash challenge, #53, is to use flowers. Easy-peasy! And since Simon Says Stamp is hosting an Anything Goes challenge this week, I'm linking up to them too :) Shopping our Stash ends Monday night, and Simon Says ends Tuesday night.

Supplies: cardstock from Coredinations;
embossed with Cuttlebug folder, sanded, traced with Sakura Stardust pen;
standard circle Nesties;
flower die cut from K&Co

Supplies: flower digi stamp from Squigglefly;
watercoloured with reinkers sooooo long ago;
yellow paper from Basic Grey "Piccadilly;"
orange paper from scrap bin;
sentiment from Kaisercraft; Palette Noir ink;
bamboo crochet thread

The first card is an all-stash star - that embossed piece of paper has been rustling around in the ol' scrap bin for a very long time, with a circle cut out of it. I made a recessed-frame sort of thing by popping that piece up on foam tape over the card base, and then tucking the flower die cut partially into the frame.
As for the second card, the flower is the stash here - my printer doesn't like digis. Well, to be fair, what I mean is that no matter what I do, no matter what sealant, heat gun, whatever, I apply, the ink smudges. So, I thought to myself, after applying a coat of sealant, why don't I emboss over the lines? So I used a glue pen and clear EP to super smudge-proof the image....without thinking ahead that as it melted, the EP would cover slightly more area since I don't have the steadiest hand. I finished colouring, let it dry, and tossed it in the scrap bin for another day when I wasn't annoyed with how long it had taken.
Riley's teacher had her baby over the weekend - everyone is healthy, which is fantastic.
There's no way to follow that without seeming churlish, but I'm going to anyway. It's really difficult for any child to lose their teacher partway through the year. Add several other factors: large, difficult class; last year at that school (as in, many transition meetings for staff between the elementary & middle schools); and less than a month before the end of the year & report cards; and autism? I have no idea how the school plans to compensate for these things, and I know things will fall through the cracks. One small saving grace is that the school was prepared enough to have a substitute already hired & ready to finish the school year (last time, when Connor was in her class, it took nearly 6 weeks to find a permanent substitute.)
Add to all these things the fact that the grade 6 class had some pretty in-depth lessons about procreation this year? Boy howdy, have I been getting interesting questions. Parenting is not for wimps!
xoxo,
Jessi

Father's Day challenges abound!

I can't believe I almost missed the deadline for these - I was so excited to share my spattered butterfly card that I did that first :) Anyway, squeaking in just on time with a few Father's Day cards for two challenges, the Simon Says...Father's Day/Special Male challenge and the little red wagon Oh-Daddy-Oh challenge, both of which are ending tonight. I find Father's Day cards particularly challenging - not the masculine aspect, the father aspect. It's a long story, but I've spent most of my life estranged from my father, and so it makes it difficult to celebrate other fathers. Probably because it means I spend a lot more time thinking of my dad, and how I wish things were different.

Anyway!

Supplies: Clip art from the Graphics Fairy;
anchor button from Dress it Up!;
paper from My Mind's Eye;
Faded Jeans distress ink;
sentiment from Ditto (Michaels)

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny (love these!);
robot from My Favorite Things; Palette Noir ink;
Prismacolor pencils & Dove blender;
White Souffle pen; black glaze pen (Sakura);
sentiment from Ditto;
gear finding from Tim Holtz

Love how the colouring turned out!

Supplies: woodgrain paper from Cosmo Cricket;
Clip art from the Graphics Fairy;
Vintage photo distress ink;
twine & 'Dad' stamp from Paper Smooches

the clip art was printed twice, so that I could layer it with foam tape

Like I said earlier in the week, I have so much to share this week - and once again I've been keeping up with how many cards I've made in the month of May. Do you think I'll beat April's total of 83? Three days left...hmmm....
xoxo,
Jessi