More Purple!

I've already played along in the PURPLE challenges at FLOURISHES and CASOLOGY, but I thought I'd give it one more kick at the can & combine them both with the love challenge at The Pink Elephant. 

Supplies: stamps from Flourishes; Versamark & Dusty Concord distress ink; clear embossing powder; paper from Basic Grey; classic small oval Nesties; clear dew drops from Dollarama; glimmer mists in Cherub Pink, Blue Skies, and Lilac Chalkboard

To make it easier to paint with the glimmer mists, I embossed the heart & sentiment first, and then dabbed in the different colours of mist. I only have one colour of purple mist (the horror) and it's not very vibrant, so I added in the other two colours to give some variation.

I've had lots of card mojo the last week or so, so I have LOTS to share in the next bit - not even all purple!
xoxo,
Jessi

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

Flourishes Release Challenge

By now I guess you all know I can't pass up a chance to win Flourishes stamps...although my heart sank a little when I saw it was a shaped card challenge. ACK THAT'S HARD! But not only did I stick with it, I even decorated the inside. Go me!

Definitely a challenge to photograph this card, since it didn't want to cooperate by standing up.

Supplies: Flourishes' Dahlia stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black & Gray Flannel inks; Milled Lavender distress ink; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; classic small & lacy ovals; crochet mat by me

After colouring the dahlias, I added Dimensional Magic to the vases for a bit of shine, and lightly sponged the edges of the oval panel with Milled Lavender ink. 

For the inside of the card, I stamped the same dahlia image with Milled Lavender ink, and stamped the sentiment in Gray Flannel. I think that this card is going to head out to my little sister :)

This Flourishes challenge ends tomorrow, so still some time to give a shaped card a try! 

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #252 - Shake it Up!

Oh em gee, it's finally here! Today I'm the guest designer at Flourishes - eeeeeeeek! This week's challenge is to make a shaker card - with all the sequins taking the crafty world by storm you're sure to have some fun stuff to shake! Here is a quick link to a Splitcoaststampers tutorial on how to make a basic shaker card, click here!

First I'll show you my finished card, and then I'll share some of the step-by-step photos I took while I was making it:

Supplies: Flourishes stamp set Joy is In the Air; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; Tumbled Glass distress ink; May Arts ribbons; foam tape; acetate; bits & bobs for the shaker; Sakura Stardust glitter pen

This set with its snow globe fillers is such a natural setting for a shaker card! Stamp the snow globe twice, and on one panel stamp the inside scene as well. That will be the piece that shows through for the shaker scene. 

The 'unfilled' snow globe will form the aperture for your shaker - carefully trim out the inside of the globe with a craft knife.

Colour the base of the globe, stamp the background if desired (I desired! lol)  and turn the panel over to adhere your piece of acetate

 

Colour the scene inside the snow globe - I've coloured the base again, even though it won't show in the final card just in case :) 

I like to make my shaker cards nice and thick so  there's lots of room for STUFF to shake - I use foam tape on a roll from the dollar store, doubled. Make a frame around your image, making sure not to leave any gaps where filler can leak out (especially if you're using microbeads...those suckers are escape artists!)

FILL WITH STUFF! I've used shaped confetti, microbeads, and glitter. You can use sequins, buttons, anything that is thinner than your foam layer will work. 

Carefully remove the adhesive from the foam frame (so much static - the next couple minutes will be spent picking confetti off of the exposed adhesive. I've never found a way around that yet!) and line up your top panel & adhere. Make sure you press all around to ensure a good seal!

Finish your card however you like! I've added ribbons here. This card & scene are perfect for a wintery thank you card! 

SHINY!

You definitely need to head over to the design team's blogs & see what they've created for this challenge - I can't wait!

Allison Cope

Cheryl Lea

Deborah Anton

Jenny Gropp

Katie Sims

And even more? I can't wait to see what YOU create for this challenge! You don't have to use Flourishes stamps to participate (but if you do, you get 2 chances to win!) Link up at the Flourishes blog by Monday January 6! 

xoxo,

Jessi

White on White

Oh, how this card makes me happy - so many fussy bits, and it was so fun to just not look at the clock & play! (This feeds into my 'don't think about the housework or 6 days until Christmas' plan really well). The white-on-white colour scheme was inspired by The Paper Players' current challenge, and the vellum layers were inspired by the Flourishes' challenge to use vellum - this week Greta is the guest hostess!

Supplies: So much random stuff! Angel stamp from Inkadinkado; sentiment from Stampendous; Versamark; Moonstone EP; White detail EP; Mulberry paper; plain vellum; holly patterned acetate; stick pins from Little Yellow Bicycle; Offray ribbon; Tonic edge distresser; classic small circle Nesties; We R Memory Keepers stitch thingy

The holly acetate is from ??? - we still had a local craft store when I bought it, so at least 6-7 years ago. I purposely cut it off-set so that some of the plain white base would show, and stitched a snowflake pattern along 2 of the edges. The vellum was stamped & embossed, then distressed & curled. The mulberry circles help to hide the adhesive behind the vellum, and also anchor the pins & bow. I really, really love how this turned out....as you'll see from my next card!

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes Sketch Challenge

I was definitely inspired by the sketches Flourishes has for this month's release challenge - but when I sat down to create, I found myself, well, CHALLENGED. I persevered & made something that I'm really proud of!

Supplies: Flourishes stamps; Basic Grey papers & button; Bic Markers; WPlus9 banner die; picket fence Distress Stickles; Sakura black Glaze pen; twine from stash

I used a black Glaze pen on the snowman's face & buttons, and Distress Stickles for the reflections on the snowglobe & the snow. 

I've used sketch B :) The Release Challenge is open until Friday!

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes Lace & Pearls

So the current (for a couple more hours) Flourishes challenge to use Lace & Pearls was kind of a challenge - not so much because I wasn't sure what to use, but I had too many ideas. I think just about every set I own by Flourishes works well for this theme! Anyhow, I went with Dahlias, and one of my crocheted mats:

Supplies: Dahlias stamp set from Flourishes; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers; Prismacolor pencils; gingham paper from MME; sentiment from PTI; pearl strips from Dollarama; classic small & lacy oval Nesties; crocheted mat by me

I'm trying to practice colouring a bit, and I really find using markers to lay down the base colour, and Prismacolor pencils to shade makes it easier for me. I'm pretty happy with how this turned out!

xoxo,
Jessi

Paper-Piecing Flourishes

I was so excited to read the challenge this week at Timeless Tuesday - a chance to be a guest designer for Flourishes?  How cool would that be? And conveniently paper-piecing is one of my favourite techniques!

There are some specific rules this time around - you may not combine other challenges, and you may only enter once. Check & check! Here's my card:

Supplies: Flourishes stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; papers from Basic Grey Konnichiwa; yellow  glitter paint; Prismacolor pencils; black Sharpie; bling strip from Dollarama

The nitty gritties:

I stamped the lanterns 3 times - once on the main panel, and twice on the patterned papers. The first patterned lanterns were paper-pieced directly onto the main panel, and the second layers were first shaded with Prismacolor pencils (um, LOVE how that turned out!), wrapped around a pencil to add some curve, and then adhered with a double layer of foam tape. I then painted a very thin layer of yellow glitter paint to add a lantern glow :)

This challenge is open until next Monday night - so get your paper-piecing scissors out & have fun :)
xoxo,
Jessi

Flourishes - In Distress

So the current Flourishes challenge is to distress something on your project - I've used distress inks & an edge distresser on mine, and it was fun to get messy.

Supplies: Flourishes stamp set - Dahlias; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Tumbled Glass & Milled Lavender distress inks; Spectrum Noir markers; Memory Box, Fancy Pants, and Bazzill papers; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; Tonic Edge Distresser

I stamped the image on a distressed pattern cream panel (Fancy Pants) and lightly distressed the edges with the tool & inks. The floral patterned paper & cardstock were a lot more distress-able & it shows a lot more. I inked them lightly directly with the pad after cutting & distressing them. The vases have a thin layer of Dimensional Magic for that glassy gloss. I really like the layout & may have to convert it to a sketch :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes - Autumn Colours

This is the first time the Dahlias set from Flourishes has seen ink - and although I have no idea if dahlias actually come in this colour, it seemed perfect for the current Autumn Colours challenge! 

Supplies: Dahlias stamp from Flourishes; Bic and Spectrum Noir markers; classic small Oval and Lacy Oval Nesties; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; crochet mat by me

Once I finished colouring, I decided to forgo a sentiment & build up my stash of any occasion cards. I realized when starting to type up this post that I have a whole bunch of challenge cards to share that apparently I spaced on during the week, so get a coffee or your favourite beverage & prepare for a barrage of posts from me!

xoxo,

Jessi

Seeing Clearly

The Timeless Tuesday challenge this week at Flourishes is to use acetate.

WELL.

I had all sorts of grand plans, and then I discovered that my Staz-On was completely dried up. I'm not talking a little dry, I'm talking bone dry. Not a smidge of ink to be had. Well. I tested some Memento ink just to see, and nope. Well. Harumph. I modified my plans, deciding to do a popped-up panel. I'm not going to step-by-step the rest of the UGH moments that happened during  the making of this card, but let's just say I love the end result, and it was a hard-fought battle. LOL!

Supplies: Flourishes stamp set - Hearts and Flowers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Mustard Seed Distress ink; Spectrum Noir markers; black rhinestones, black & white seam binding; acetate; classic small oval Nesties

The sentiment and single daisy heart are stamped on the card base. The acetate was adhered at the edges with foam tape, and the top stamped panel adhered directly to the acetate. I stamped the same daisy heart all around the top panel, trying not to overlap in too many places, and then trimmed it down to size. I think this would make a lovely sentiment for a wedding card! 

OK, I suppose that's enough to share with you for one day ;) I'll be back tomorrow with lots more to share!

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes Sketchy Release Challenge

As soon as I saw the sketch for July's release challenge I knew I wanted to use my very-well-loved Gerbera Daisies. I also got brave & coloured them again - one of these days I'll feel like I did a good job of it. Today is not that day, lol.

Supplies: Gerbera Daisies stamp from Flourishes; sentiment stamp from Paper Smooches; Memento Gray Flannel ink; classic small circle Nesties; buttons from stash; Bic markers; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; pink microbeads

For the three centre flowers, I coloured 2 sets, and fussy-cut one, leaving the blooms joined to one another. I used foam tape to secure them to the bottom piece, and then gently curled up the ends of the petals with my fingers. Dimensional Magic was added to each of the flower centres, and then I covered them with microbeads for some extra texture & dimension. The patterned paper is also adhered with foam to emphasize the window aspect. 

I'm not 100% happy with my colouring, but I do love how the card turned out. Definitely worth all the fussing! 

Here's the sketch - you have until Friday June 12 to play along as well!

As a follow-up to yesterday's post - yes, I convinced the family to go to the beach. But, in true Fogan style, it was a bit of a gong show. Here's what I wrote in my Facebook status after we got home:

The Fogans went to the beach in true Fogan style - upon getting out of the car Abby broke her leash clasp. On tying the leash to her collar...she slipped her collar entirely. And on reaching the sand, she took a great big crap. On reaching the water, she....took a great big crap. (Don't forget the hundreds of people watching me scoop poop out of the ocean with my hands....). And, just as we were exiting the water after an hour & a half of great fun, she stopped for one last giant yellow puddle piddle. RIGHT IN THE WATER. Don't forget the audience...no one can say I didn't teach her how to behave like a lady. 

Oh em gee. The hour and a half in the middle was awesome, though. 

xoxo,
Jessi

Flourishes in my Little Red Wagon

Like I said yesterday, I managed to complete a whole bunch of challenges - after the madness of the Mother's Day blitz I really needed a list to know what to do next. I knew I wanted to ink up this gorgeous Gerbera Daisies stamp from Flourishes again (I'll share my first card at the end - I never did get a chance to post it before Mother's Day) and thought their Timeless Tuesday challenge of "green & blue" this week would be a perfect way to do that. I'm also linking up over at little red wagon because I've used one of my crochet mats, which I think counts as a doily.

Supplies: Gerbera Daisies stamp from Flourishes; paper from Memory Box; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Spectrum Noir, Bic, and Sharpie markers; Sakura Stardust clear glitter pen; classic small oval & lacy circle Nesties; crochet mat - available here.

It took far too long to colour these. I don't particularly want to talk about it.

I trimmed the three darker blue flowers, and the top aqua one, and adhered them with a tiny bit of glue, bending up the petals for a bit of dimension.

And here's the first card I made with this stamp - 

Once again, linking up the first card to these two challenges:

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday - blue & green

little red wagon - use a doily

xoxo,

Jessi

Flourishes 'All in the Date' Challenge

I've been writing down the Flourishes challenges for at least a few months, and finally found the time to play. Check out this neat concept:

Your challenge corresponds to your birthday month, so mine is the challenge for November. Here's my card:

Supplies: Flourishes stained glass stamp set; sentiments from PTI; Gray Flannel Memento ink; Versamark & Moonstone EP (Stampendous); papers from Memory Box; buttons from stash; Spectrum Noir markers; vellum

This was a hard one to photograph - the colours are a little more intense on the stained glass panel than they seem here. It was stamped & embossed on vellum, and then coloured with markers.

The Flourishes challenge is open until Monday, and you don't need to use Flourishes products to play along, so you should totally give it a shot!

xoxo,

Jessi