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

IBSIC #29 - Guest Designer! Eek!

Good morning & happy Thursday! I'm so thrilled & honoured to be a guest designer for this week's Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge . Look at the gorgeous photo we're inspired by this week:

Besides being inspired by the picture, make sure to use BROWNS, GREENS, and CREAM/WHITE as your main colours. 

I was inspired by the great clusters of flowers surrounding the teeny pumpkins, the fabric bow, and the lattice in the upper portion of the picture, and used LOTS of fibres in my card. Looky:

Supplies: patterned paper from Basic Grey "little black dress;"
brads from various BG collection;s
sentiment stamp from Stampendous;
Vintage Photo distress ink;
flowers from Prima;
standard small circle Nesties

The sentiment is stamped on canvas (found at a dollar store, score!);
the burlap leaves are cut freehand. The green leaves are two-layered - one layer is scrap cardstock,
and the other is a sheer, shiny fabric that I got in a collage ephemera pack from Michael's. 

Check out the design team's creations here, and I hope you can find some time to play along! The IBSIC challenge is a weekly challenge, with new challenges posted every Thursday. The deadline is Wednesday nights. The challenges vary - sketches, photo inspirations, etc - so give them a look :) 

Thanks so much for having me, Joanna! I love playing along as often as possible :)

xoxo,

Jessi

IBSIC - Squee!

Maybe it's early (it is), but since that rhymed I had to go with it :) I was so honoured & excited to be chosen as the winner in last week's sketch challenge, and can't wait to be a guest designer for a future challenge! I love the gorgeous projects IBSIC has to share every week & love playing along...and it doesn't hurt that Tammy's sweet as sugar either :)

Here's my card for this week's challenge:

Supplies: paper from K & Co;
sentiment from Stampendous;
Peeled Paint distress ink;
Sakura Stardust glitter pen;
stick pins from Little Yellow Bicycle;
ribbon from Offray;
oval pearls from stash

My ribbon flower is not only inspired by the pattern on the container, but by Tammy's tutorial on tissue paper flowers. The stick pins reminded me of the knitting needles tucked into the yarn. Here's the inspiration photo:

Beautiful, right? The IBSIC challenge is open until Wednesday night, so you've got some time left to play - I'll be back tomorrow with some more to share. Apparently I'm going to overload you before I'm away & down to a paltry 3 posts a week, lol!

xoxo,

Jessi

Buttons & a sketch!

I almost blew the deadline for the current sketch challenge at IBSIC - I've been busy preparing ahead for my DT commitments for September, and though my card's been made for days I forgot to, you know, photograph it and post it? Minor things, but important. I've also joined in with the buttons challenge at Confessions of a DeNami Addict. Here's my card - might want to get some sunglasses first:

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny;
standard oval, labels 4, butterfly Nesties;
Purple Twilight Adirondack ink;
Versamark, clear EP;
Maya Road resin flower;
buttons from stash;
scrap vellum & purple cardstock

The oval and label are each on a layer of foam tape for dimension.
The butterfly is made from 2 different dies.

The IBSIC sketch challenge ends Wednesday night (tonight), and the DeNami Addict button challenge runs until September 8th. 

So why am I going so far against my usual last-minute method for DT assignments? Because in 2 weeks, I'm going to Vancouver for 2 weeks to see my little sister get married :) It hasn't quite sunk in fully that it's in 2 weeks - time to drop those dresses off at the cleaners, find a nice pair of shoes, maybe some Spanx...(or maybe not, if you've seen this article at Crappy Pictures!) Nearly time to run around panicking...you'll hear me hollering from wherever you are ;)

xoxo,

Jessi

Last-minute entries & inspired by Lindsey!

I was definitely flattered to see that I was in the top 3 over at Inspired By Stampin' Inspiration Challenge for last week's sketch  - I knew I wanted to play along with the inspiration photo this week, but for some reason I just couldn't get an idea going until this morning. There are only 7 hours left in the challenge - hey, still lots of time! IBSIC has a bit of a different take for their inspiration challenges - they provide a photo, and some guidance as well. Here's the inspiration photo:

And the directions: This week we have a Garden Theme for the challenge. Please use Pink, Green and Creams as your main colors.

I knew I wanted to use this particular rose sticker - it just took me some time to bring it all together.

Supplies: rose sticker from PSX;
all papers from Bo Bunny;
standard & lacy circle Nesties;
Peeled Paint distress ink;
Hero Arts sentiment

The cream circle is on a layer of foam tape, and the pink is on another. If you have time in the next 7 hours (or so, lol), check out this challenge at IBSIC - and stay tuned for the new one, posted Thursday.

And talk about mulling over a design for a long time - the Young Crafters Unite button challenge (#12) has been open for weeks, and I kept adding buttons to cards that were for other challenges. This morning, I was adamant that I would make a new card, with a button frame - something I love to do. What popped into my head was this really lovely card that Lindsey at Bashful Blogging posted on Monday, clean & simple tulips. I love how she embossed the tulips in white, and kept a white border around the main panel, and I included that in my card. Thanks for the inspiration, Lindsey :)

Supplies: tulips stamp from PSX;
Versamark & white EP (Stampendous);
Dusty Concord distress ink (for envelope & inked edges);
standard circle Nesties;
corner rounder; purple buttons from stash

Because I sew my button frames, I wanted to do that on an extra layer of card stock to hide the back of the stitching. Once I was done, I trimmed the edges carefully & rounded the corners of the panel, and inked the edges directly with the ink pad. The panel is then glued directly to the card base.

There are 10 hours left for the Young Crafters Unite challenge, so hardly last minute at all! Actually, that's enough time that I might end up being able to come up with another card...stay tuned :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Triple Challenge

Three challenges, three cards to share today. I'm not against combining challenges in moderation, but I know I find it off-putting when I check out someone's entry somewhere & find they've linked one project up with 20 different challenges. Somehow it doesn't seem in the spirit of things. Just my two cents :)
It's been hot & humid here, and we've all got a massive case of cranky. Rob & I have had headaches for most of the week, the kids have been monstrous, and Abby has rolled in something gross in the backyard for the second time in 3 days. I checked the yard & couldn't find whatever it was after bathing her before 6 am on Friday (not fun!) and although I'm refusing to be the one to give her another bath, it's looking like if I want it done, I'm going to have to give in. She's only slightly less difficult to bathe than the cats ;)
So what do I do when everyone is driving me crazy? Hide in plain sight at my desk. It's so messy over there that I can pass for just more clutter!

First up is my card for this week's little red wagon challenge #144, a girlfriends card. And since you're my girlfriends, and I've already venti'd, this sentiment is perfect :) This card has a great CAS vibe that I'm loving. I rotated my acrylic block for each bean I stamped, and the cup was stamped twice on white paper, once on kraft, so I could pop up the lid & the cozy. This challenge is open until Monday night.

Supplies: papers from Kaisercraft "Madame Boutique;"
Stamps from Paper Smooches "Hot Concoctions" (from dear sweet Barbles!)
Palette Noir & Old Paper distress inks

Next up is a sketch card for this week's IBSIC challenge #20, to work with this sketch:

Supplies: papers from Kaisercraft "Madame Boutique;"
butterfly diecut from K&Co;
lace from Hero Arts;
sentiment from MFT;
Palette Noir ink & Sakura Stardust pen

The IBSIC challenge is open until Wednesday night. 

And, finally, a perfect challenge for this gross hot weather - Cool Summer Treats, over at Crafty Creations Challenges.  This one is open until Tuesday night. I've gone with ice cream...not that I'm supposed to eat it, but I did indulge earlier this week. I'm only human!

Supplies: everything from the 12x12 collection from
MemoryWorks, "Happy Day"

I hesitate to use specific months on cards (since I sell them, I find that limits their usefulness), but this was just too perfect too pass up. The banner, dots, and word-fetti stickers are all layered onto the ice cream journaling card. The 'sweet memories' and 'birthday bliss' pieces are popped up on foam tape. 

I guess it's time for me to go & bathe the dog...I have a bad feeling that she's hidden herself away in my bed, and so I guess after the bath it's time for some laundry. (oh boy! Can't wait! lol)

xoxo,

Jessi

IBSIC, SOS, DYSU, oh my!

We finally got some thunderstorms yesterday (I think three by the time they were all done), and lost power in the morning, but the humidity is down to 75% today. It seems strange to regard that as a relief, but for weeks it's been 90% or higher. Yesterday was 96%. It feels like breathing water at that point. One of our dehumidifiers died for good - for the last month both of them have been running 24/7 trying to keep the air in the basement manageable. We had yet another sewage backup (that makes 3), this one a week after the last. We are the next job, but it's hard to wait for the crew to show up when every time I go downstairs I half expect to be greeted by sewage. We won't know until they start, but we're beginning to suspect that the pipe may in fact be the original put in place when they added indoor plumbing, which would make it over 60 years old. Right now we can't even clean up (other than to remove the water) because it could back up again any time. 

What am I doing to avoid thinking of all this? Besides rocking & sucking my thumb (hey, it works), I've been catching up on packets to go in the mail, crocheting mats like crazy to get those sent out to the people I've promised them to, making cards, reading (today it's the latest True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse novel, "Deadlocked"), and watching season one of "Rescue Me". I picked up seasons two and three at the library yesterday & can't wait to see what happens next. I am sucked right in. 

I've got a couple of cards to share today for 3 challenges altogether - this first one is for IBSIC #16, a sketch (open until Wednesday), and Shopping our Stash #58 (open until Monday), my second take. For SOS #58, the challenge is:

use at least three items from the following list on your card: ribbon, flowers, lace, pearls, glimmer mists, punched elements or die cut elements, rhinestones, doilies (stamped will work, too), dry embossing or scoring -OR- use three of one type of embellishment.

And here's the sketch from IBSIC:

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny;
Lace/ribbon from October Afternoon;
Wilton Doily;
Astrid's lilac chalkboard glimmer mist (Tattered Angels);
flowers from Recollections;
pins from Little Yellow Bicycle;
corner rounded (for scallops);
Purple Twilight adirondack ink; sentiment from Studio G;
pearls & button from stash;
Sakura stardust pen

I used quite a number of things from the SOS #58 list this time: lace, ribbon, pearls, flowers, glimmer mist, and a doily. The doily is sprayed with the chalkboard mist, and then I dried it with my heat gun to keep the paper from warping. The pins are tucked in behind the green ribbon, and then I made sure to stitch them to the card when I sewed on the button. Pins make me nervous, but it turns out it's relatively easy to secure them to cards without risking someone poking their finger. 

My next card is for the Red challenge for DYSU #79 - I've been so busy lately that I haven't done any quilling, and I'm completely out of quilled cards in my stash. Not a single one. As soon as I saw the DYSU challenge (open until Tuesday at 5) I knew I wanted to make a big ol' flower. 

Supplies: Barn Door distress ink; Tonic edge distresser;
sentiment stamp from AmyR Designs (CC Designs);
swirl stamp on envelope from Autumn Leaves;
flower quilled by me (2 layers);
red & clear rhinestones

As always, you can click  to view photos full-size for more detail

For some reason, my camera finds red quilling very hard to photograph, so I've tried to emphasize the contrast while editing the photo. The flower is made in two layers of 8 petals each - the large petals are made with full 24" strips of quilling paper, and the small ones are made with 6" strips. The edges of the mat were first distressed with the Tonic edge distresser, and then I carefully swiped them along the Barn Door ink pad...very carefully, because I'd already adhered the flower at that point!

With any luck we'll be off to the beach this afternoon - I hope you're having a fabulous weekend!

xoxo,

Jessi

A whole gaggle of challenges for a Saturday

I got all the teacher stuff ready *phew* and will dole most of it out in pictures over the coming week - some of them are for things I can't show you yet *squeal!* Crafty secrets are so much fun!

I didn't get a chance to play along with several challenges last week due to the stupid sewage adventure (no sign of the backhoe yet, but we had a lot of rain this week as well.) I was determined to get in there & play this week, and so I have 4 to share with you today (for 5 challenges).

First up, Tuesday Morning Sketches #152 - as always, their linky is open until Sunday night. Here's the sketch, which I rotated to vertical:

Supplies: papers & die cuts from Kaisercraft "Class of 87;"
twine from Paper Smooches;
letter stickers from Basic Grey

This was for Riley's French teacher - he wanted for her greeting to be en francais. The checkered layer and apple notepaper layers are each on foam tape. 

Next up, IBSIC #15, which is to be inspired by this photo's colours:

Being in Canada I don't have any need for a fourth of July card, but I still loved the celebratory feel of the window display. I thought the striped cupcake wrapper was a fun substitute, and the Stardust pen & gemstones are my nod to the stars! IBSIC #15 is open until Wednesday.

Supplies: Autumn Leaves cardstock;
'you take the cake' from MFT;
'birthday wishes' from AmyR Designs (CC Designs);
cupcakeabella from Stamping Bella;
Palette Noir ink;
Sakura Stardust pen;
standard small circle Nesties; various size circle punches

Next is my card for Do You Stack Up #78, where *my Barbles* is a new design team member! This week we're to use blue skies & clouds- and my Simple Stories Summer Fresh pad is perfect for this - I am in love with this card!

Supplies: Simple Stories "Summer Fresh;"
white clouds stamp from The Greeting Farm;
Palette Noir ink;
buttons from Dress it Up

The extra gingham cloud is fussy-cut from another sheet of the collection. It's hard to see in the formatted photo, but the top 3 buttons are stars, and the bottom 3 are flowers. (You can clickit to bigit). I'm also entering this card over at Moxie Fab World's gingham challenge (which has been extended to Monday July 2).

I find it hard to put away my Summer Fresh (given that it's summer and all, lol), so I kept it out to play along with Crafty Creations Challenge #176,  to use at least 3 types of embellishments on your card. I've fussy-cut paper embellishments (the 'happy' card, the banner at upper left), used alphabet stickers, twine, and buttons. This card turned out super busy, but I love the patterns all mixed together. I hope to get a chance to play along again with this challenge -it's a fun one! It ends on Tuesday night.

Supplies: All the paper embellishments from Simple Stories "Summer Fresh;"
letter stickers from October Afternoon;
buttons from stash;
kraft twine from Paper Smooches

Off to tackle the neverending mountain of laundry, and have a nap! I was up at 3 AM this morning...no one remembered to let the dog out before bedtime last night. On top of that, I began day one of the Couch to 5K running program. I hate running. I plan on only running in the dark, so that the fewest people possible have to hear me gasp and sputter like a landed fish. My Zumba instructor is off for the summer, but I've got to keep moving - so it's worth a shot. I figure by putting it out on the blog, that may be enough to keep me doing it - whether or not I keep it up after Zumba resumes depends on whether I start liking it. I can do anything for two months. (well, not ANYTHING, and that's not a dare or a challenge, Lord, so don't get any ideas. Thank you!). I'm still pretty impressed with myself that even after getting up at 3, I still did what I said I would do, rather than using the early wake up call as an excuse not to run. Yay, me (that means I can have a donut now, right?)

Oh yeah, lots of coffee to make up for that early hour. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Inspired by Tuesday Morning Sketches!

A couple more cards to share with you today - squeaking in at the last minute for IBSIC #13, Beach Inspiration. I tried more than once to capture the scene in the photo (and filled up my little recycle bin...) and finally decided that I wasn't going to go with the beach theme, but rather with the colours. And then this happened:

Supplies: paper from Fancy Pants "summer soul;"
sentiment & cream lace from Hero Arts;
teal lace from the girls paperie;
button from Basic Grey; flower from Prima;
Sakura Stardust glitter pen;
Bundled Sage distress ink

The beach crept in anyhow. It's subtle, but I think I managed to include all the colours of the inspiration photo as well:

IBSIC #13 ends tonight, if you want to play along!

I have an early (for me!) entry for this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch (151), which is open until Sunday night. As I mentioned in my last post, I'm working on cranking out thank you cards:

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny;
sentiment from Studio G;
Colorbox Frost White pigment ink; white EP;
Basic Grey brads; K&Co floral die cut;
standard & lacey circle Nesties;
crocheted mat by me

I love the diagonal pieces, and the triple embellishment in opposite corners. I think in retrospect the centre paper is pretty busy, though. Here's the sketch:

OK, time to feed the troops!

xoxo,

Jessi

Last minute scramble times four!

For some reason, challenges that end mid-week just don't compute in my brain! So here are last minute entries for 4 different challenges:
Inspired By #27 - ends tonight
Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge #12 - ends tonight
Young Crafters Unite Challenge - which ends Friday, not today like I'd written down...
Yes, Virginia, I'm Inspired (which I missed the deadline for, so 'after the last minute?')

Swear to peanuts, I might actually be organized about SOME things.

Stop laughing.

Seriously, guys!

OK, so I'll start with Inspired by #27, where we're to create something inspired by this photo:

I was primarily inspired by the colours (yellow and lime green), but also by the lovely sugar sparkles.

Supplies: floral stamp from Inkadinkado; sentiment from Studio G;
Adirondack Citrus dye ink; Mustard Seed distress ink;
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; Martha Stewart coarse crystal glitter;
Sakura Stardust glitter pen

I dabbed Dimensional Magic onto the flowers with a toothpick, and then sprinkled glitter over them. The DM dries raised (like glossy accents) so it has more dimension than using glitter glue. I used the glitter pen over the stamped sentiment, and then inked the edges of the card with the Citrus ink pad. 

Tammy  introduced me to the IBSIC Challenges, and wasn't I lucky enough to be part of their top 3 last week? (Squeal! Does winning things ever get boring? I don't see it.) This week's challenge is a sketch, and here it is:

Supplies: chickie stamp & yellow fun flock from Stampendous;
Palette Noir ink;
sentiment stamp from Hero Arts;
brads from Basic Grey; washi tape from K & Co;
embossing folder from Cuttlebug;
star stickers from stash

Fluffy! Pet it!

This card does double-duty for Young Crafters Unite and Virginia's challenge - I used flowers for YCU, and rainbow colours for Virginia's challenge.

Supplies: Colorbox Frost White pigment ink; white EP;
Tsukineko Psst shimmer spray;
TAC sentiment; London Fog memento ink; assorted gems;
flower stamp from Stampin' Up;
distress inks: Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed,
Peeled Paint, Broken China, Dusty Concord;
Sakura Stardust glitter pen

Stardust pen along bottom edge of card, and the word 'whimsy'

Having endured the mother of all homework sessions - I'm ready for bed, and it's only 8 PM. Having two kids experiencing homework meltdowns at the same time...no. I don't recommend it. Especially don't recommend the part when, distracted by the children freaking out I ignored the dog's single solitary warning bark before she peed...on unfinished wood flooring by the back door.

Yeah, is it bedtime yet? Ah, it's all over & cleaned up now.

xoxo,

Jessi

IBSIC #11 & Little Red Wagon

I've been meaning to play along with my blog pal Tammy over at Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge for the last few weeks, and kept running out of time. Look at this week's inspiration photo and challenge, though - use crochet trim or lace, and be inspired by this pic:

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey "Hopscotch;"
Martha Stewart butterfly punch;
Doodlebug 'happy birthday' sticker;
blue pearls; standard small & lacey circle Nesties;
mat crocheted by me

A challenge practically made for a crocheted mat, right? 

IBSIC #11 is open until Wednesday night, and you can find all their challenge details here.

I've also got a last-minute card for little red wagon's current woodgrain challenge, which ends Tuesday night. 

Supplies: papers from My Mind's Eye;
chipboard ruler from Fancy Pants;
sentiment stamp from Studio G;
vintage photo distress ink;
vintage buttons from my sweet mother-in-law

This is another 'use up those paper pads!' cards - there is a strip of woodgrain paper nestled into the middle, and I used some funky vintage buttons from the container that my mother-in-law gave me. A couple of them have a faint wood pattern (the largest ones).

xoxo,

Jessi