Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - O is for...

....Outer Space! The Sistahs would like to see your intergalactic creations. I can't believe it but I have no snark for ya this morning:

Supplies: Distress inks in Black Soot, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire; Versamark & Moonstone EP; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; all stamps from PTI; Spectrum Noir markers; Diamond Stickles

There's a better shot of the glittery flames & glossy window :)

Check out the amazing Sisterhood's creations -

Majo

Dotty Jo

Peggy

Barb

Chris

Lee

Lindsey

Lynne 

Michelle

And don't forget to leave some love for our guest designer, SHARON!

You have until July 8 to come play along :)

xoxo,
Jessi

Shopping our Stash #243 - Oh Me Lucky Charms!

It's almost St. Patty's day, and at Shopping our Stash we want to see your projects inspired by all things green & lucky! I pulled out a never-been-used Stampendous set to play along:

Supplies: Stampendous sentiment; Mowed Lawn & Twisted Citron distress inks; classic oval Nesties; 1.5" circle punch; unknown shamrock die

I have enough shamrock confetti to last beyond my life expectancy, so any chance to include it in a shaker card :)

Check out what the rest of my awesome teammates made!

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday March 21 to come play!

I'm also popping in over at JUGs' Shaker Card challenge & Open-Minding Crafting Fun's Luck/St. Patrick's Day challenge :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #343 - Craftin' Desert Divas!

Good morning lovelies! We have a fun new sketch up at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and a fantastic sponsor, Craftin' Desert Divas. I got to play with the absolutely adorable Coffee Couple, and the random winner this week gets to pick two digis from the store!

Supplies: Coffee Couple digi from Craftin' Desert Divas; sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps; Picked Raspberry & Mermaid Lagoon distress inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Lil Inkers stitched rectangle die; classic small circle Nesties; Sharpies; Googly eyes; button & papers from stash

Seriously adorable, right?? And what goes better with coffee than more coffee?

Melissa designed this great sketch for this week:

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, March 20 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! And make sure to give a warm welcome to our two new team members, Patti & Wanda!

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Lee

Melissa 

Patti

Wanda

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #239 - Fantastic Plastic!

This challenge at Shopping our Stash is a really fun one - use plastic! I buy "Shrinky Dinks" plastic sheets to use for the window pieces in my shaker cards because it's much easier to find than overhead projector sheets these days, and I decided to actually use some of the little scraps to make shrinky pieces for this project. I die-cut hearts to use inside the shaker:

Supplies: Waltzingmouse Stamps sentiment; Versamark; White EP; unknown heart dies; classic small circle Nesties; scraps; sequins

As usual, once I'd finished my all white card I thought well, that's not going to photograph well. The sentiment reads "sending oodles of love and hugs to you." I've used this card as a Valentine but that sentiment is really perfect for any time of year. 

The team really knocked this challenge out of the park - everybody's creations are so wonderfully different! Go check them out: 

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday February 22 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #238 - Bent out of Shape!

This week at Shopping our Stash we'd like to see (gasp!) shaped cards. These are definitely not my forte, so I invented some curse words along the way - but I do love how it turned out!

Supplies: Oh the stash! Sentiment & sun from Green Grass Stamps, never inked before. Cloud, heart, & rainbow dies unknown; Sunshine WOW EP; Versamark; Diamond stickles; Tumbled Glass distress ink; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; googly eyes; lots of scraps of card stock

I cut the cloud cardbase allowing for a fold - and then an extra cloud to serve as the card front. The rainbow was die-cut 7 times to get all the colours, and then reassembled onto another piece of cardstock for stability. I left little 'tabs' on it so I could attach it to the card base and layer the card front on top. It was difficult to get a photo of the yellow embossing because of the light at my desk, but I really am pleased with how this worked, especially given my lack of paper engineering skills lol.

The team really knocked this challenge out of the park - everybody's creations are so wonderfully different! Go check them out: 

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday February 15 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Cool Colours with Little Red Wagon

Little red wagon is looking for cards made with cool colours this week - greens, blues, purples - and conveniently I am truly addicted to that colour combination right now!

Supplies: floral stamp from PTI; sentiment from Reverse Confetti; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; distress inks in Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, and Wilted Violet; Spectrum Noir markers; Diamond stickles; Tim Holtz design ruler & embroidery supplies; Sakura Stardust glitter pen

I'd initially intended for the flower to be a single layer but found my markers reacted with the distress inks and I didn't like it. So I stamped the flower again, coloured & fussy cut it, and painted it with Diamond Stickles before paper-piecing it to the base. The sentiment is traced with the Stardust pen, and then I used the Tim Holtz design ruler to pierce a simple stitched border. 

You have until Tuesday to enter your cool card over at little red wagon :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Glitter at CASology

Finally a card for CASology that was ready in time!

Supplies: scraps of glitter paper; classic small circle Nesties; unknown heart dies; Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Versamark, Festive Berries distress ink; Zing red glitter (from Lindsey!) & Stampendous clear EP; unknown sentiment stamp; "always" stamp from Uniko Studio; Corner Chomper

Getting the "always" to stay red & glittery was a challenge. What finally worked was inking the stamp first with Versamark & then Festive Berries, and embossing with the sparkle EP. Then I carefully stamped over it with just Versamark, and embossed with clear EP. 

You have until tomorrow to play along at CASology :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - K is for...

Kiss! Here's the best part, though - this is an opportunity to make a Valentine - or an anti-Valentine ;) Being a Snarky Sister I had to go with door #2 of course!

Supplies: Stella & sentiment from Bugaboo; Lil Inkers dies; Pebbles paper; Spectrum Noir markers; Diamond stickles; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Of course she's glossed & glimmered, and perfect for your friend who maybe just had an ugly breakup (or a horrible horrible blind date!)

Go see what the Sistahs made, and then make your own & link up!  You have until Friday, February 5 to play along. 

Barb

Chris

Donna 

Karen 

Lee

Lindsey

Lynne 

Michelle

Don't forget to leave some love for this week's guest designer, DOTTY JO! I am totally stealing her sentiment ;) 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #237 - Dreaming of Something Warm

This week at Shopping our Stash we'd like you to show us something warm you're dreaming of - a cup of tea, a sandy beach, or even a hug. I had to choose the hug :)

Supplies: image from Sami Stamps; sentiment from Uniko Studio; Liquid Applique; shabby white embossing enamel; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; Wilted Violet distress ink (sentiment); Spectrum Noir markers; background made with Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet distress inks; Fresh Snow PTI ink; circle stamps from PTI; homemade pearl glimmer mist

I printed out two copies of the image on cardstock - one I used for the background, and one I trimmed out just the couple to paper-piece into the scene when it was finished. 

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday February 8 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #337 - Our own Kris!

Good morning sketch fans! This is our last flashback favourite sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches (all new sketches starting next week!) and our sponsor is our very own Kris, with a fab prize package of goodies!

Supplies: papers from American crafts; small classic circle Nesties

A super simple card from me - love those paper packs that make it easy! Here's the sketch:

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, February 7 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Melissa 

xoxo,

Jessi

FUSION cards

I have a couple of cards for the current FUSION challenge - before the deadline, unlike the last couple times. (Go me!) I have still not figured out why being at the computer is painful when being at my crafting desk is not - I blame the keyboard. I've been in for a massage therapy appointment, and tomorrow I get in to see the physiotherapist, so I'm really hoping for some improvement soon!

Anyways, here are my cards:

Supplies: All papers from a kit from eons ago - no idea who made it; Doodlebug red doily; blue button from stash; heart button from Dress it Up; classic small circle Nesties

The first card was inspired by the sketch & by the floral wreath - the neutral tones to a lesser extent, as they informed my background paper choice & then I ran with what I had. 

Supplies: Mouse & balloons from Bugaboo; Spectrum Noir & sharpie markers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; sentiments from Paper Smooches; black Wink of Stella pen; Diamond Stickles. Doodlebug papers; Tumbled Glass distress ink for sponging

The second card is purely based on the sketch - it seemed like an ideal layout for this card!

You still have 2 days left to link up your projects at FUSION:

xoxo,
Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #336 - Debbie Foster!

Good morning sketchers! This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches our own Debbie is the sponsor - head over to the main blog for a peek at the adorable prize up for grabs! She has also chosen her favourite 2015 sketch for the challenge this week:

Supplies: papers from American Crafts; Memory Box leaf frond die; resin flower from Recollections

This is a perfect sketch to use up some of the bits & bobs of patterned paper we all hoard save :)

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, January 31 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Melissa 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #235 - 3-2-1!

Welcome back to Shopping our Stash! We've got a fun mini-recipe challenge for you this week - use 3-2-1. If you haven't played before, make sure you check out the design team to see how it's done. This is one of my favourite types of challenges because it's so broad in how you can interpret it. For my card, I used

3 stamps

2 patterned papers

1 wood veneer embellishment

Supplies: Stamps from Paper Smooches; Memento Tuxedo Black & Gray Flannel ink; Basic Grey papers; Spectrum Noir markers; cat veneer piece from Lindsey :)

The DT made sure to share how each of us interpreted the recipe - make sure you do in your post too! 

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday January 25 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #335 - Jennifer Tomasic Sinsley, CTMH Demo!

Good morning! Glad to have you back to play with us at Tuesday Morning Sketches! This week we're sponsored by  Jennifer Tomasic Sinsley, a Close to My Heart demo - and there's a fab stamp set up for grabs for the lucky random winner! We're playing with Melissa's favourite sketch from 2015 this week:

Supplies: stamps from Lil Inker Designs; Spectrum Noir markers; Wink of Stella clear glitter pen; paper from Authentique; classic small circle Nesties; googly eyes; bling strips and washi from stash

Here's the sketch:

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, January 24 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Melissa 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #225 - Go Paperless!

For my TMS post, please click here. Thanks!!

Wellllll only sort of. At Shopping our Stash we want to see you go PATTERNED paperless. Paperless entirely would be just....no. *shudder*

This was a super easy challenge for me, since I've become addicted to Becca's distress ink dipping technique.  To get some subtle shimmer I've been using pearl glimmer mist AND water for spritzing - if you just use glimmer mist it's a little too much (I know, too much sparkle doesn't seem like a thing).

Supplies: Stamps from Neat & Tangled; Lil Inkers stitched rectangle die; Worn Lipstick, Seedless Preserves, and Mowed Lawn distress inks; homemade pearl glimmer mist; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; May Arts twine; doily, feather, fabric, button from stash

Of course sparkly :) The background has shimmer too but you'll just hafta trust me on that one. The green feather was in my drawer of 'hmmm...might be useful' things, and the purple fabric is a piece of organza that I frayed & then melted with the heat gun. Organza ribbon will melt the same way as long as you take the edges off if you want to give this a whirl. 

SO will you make your own background or go utterly CAS? What did the DT come up with?

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

And you have until Monday November 2 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #224 - Caffeine Fix!

For my TMS post, please click here - thanks!!

This week at Shopping our Stash we want to see something caffeinated - coffee, tea, you get the idea! I grabbed my oldest mug, and a tea sentiment, and made my first tea card in a loonnnnng time (coffee does have my heart, after all!)

Supplies: mug from Market Street Stamps; sentiment from Reverse Confetti; 'steam swirl' from PTI; Palette Noir ink; Versamark & clear EP; distress inks for watercolouring; papers from American Crafts; enamel dots from MME

Who doesn't love a warm cup of happy? Come see what we made:

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

And you have until Monday October 26 to come play!

It's been a hell of a week, personally - I was in the hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis, and am slowly adjusting to using insulin. Months of slowly rising sugars led to a spectacular surge last week, and my doctor kept saying 'better get those down' instead of making adaptations to my medication. I'm definitely looking forward to not being exhausted all the time! I won't be complacent about my diabetes again either - this was extremely scary, and the number of times I've been yelled at that "YOU COULD HAVE DIED..." I scared everyone else too. Live & learn, and I'll be a better advocate for myself - I never would have accepted this approach if it were my kids, so I shouldn't have accepted it for myself. 

xoxo,

Jessi

OODLES of love!

Something just so fun about the word OODLES :) hehehe

Playing along again with the Hop to Stop - my previous posts are here, here, and here. 

Supplies: Dylusions Grape spray; Gina K butterfly stamp; Waltzingmouse Stamps sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Versamark pad & pen; clear detail embossing powder; Spectrum Noir markers; Corner Chomper

So there may need to be an intervention to stop me from making these amazing Becca-inspired dip-dyed backgrounds - but they just turn out so freaking cool every dang time. And if they don't, you DIP THEM AGAIN AND IT'S AMAZING. I initially planned to stamp the background of the white panel so embossed the butterfly & sentiment...and then I changed my mind.



175 cards linked up as of right now - and a little over 2 days left to add yours! 

xoxo,
Jessi

The Hop to Stop.

I am so honoured to be participating in The Hop to Stop, an incredible show of support, awareness, and information spearheaded by the one & only Becca Cruger, The Damsel of Distressed.  I shared my own experience with domestic violence last October, and besides the support from the blogging community (you guys are awesome) I also learned more about my friends' stories. 

In the province of Nova Scotia, transition house information can be found here.  Information about domestic violence and recognizing the signs in people you know and love can be found here. 

For the hop, we're all creating with purple - the awareness colour for domestic violence. The theme is your choice - as long as you feature purple. I decided with my first card to also celebrate love.

Supplies: stamps from PTI; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Versamark; clear detail EP; Moonstone EP; Sakura clear glitter pen; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; Distress inks in Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, and Chipped Sapphire; Spectrum Noir markers

I stamped & embossed the sentiment first, and then the moon. Before embossing I tapped off the clear powder & resprinkled it with moonstone powder to get the sort of pocky moonscape look. Then I stamped & coloured the rocket, coated it with Dimensional Magic, sponged the inky background, and finally clear-embossed the stars. *whew* Lots of steps for a single layer! 

Becca's blog has all the information you need to participate in the hop - and I hope you will! Link up before October 14 to join us.

xoxo,

Jessi

It's NBUS time!

ermagerd, I'm posting for a challenge where I'm not on the design team! That's how you can tell SCHOOL'S BACK ON! (insert cheering here). I fell so far behind on commenting it's ridiculous, and this morning I finally accepted that nope, I'll never catch up. I deleted my feed & am starting fresh - so hopefully this week I'll be getting around and commenting, instead of looking and going OH DEAR GOD how will I catch up?

The fabulous Darnell is once again hosting an NBUS challenge (Never Been Used Schtuff), and I pulled out this cute Avery Elle set to make a fun wedding card:

Supplies: Avery Elle stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; Festive Berries distress ink; MME paper; Doodlebug doily; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic

Of course I had to gloss up the windows!

I imagine I'll be playing again - just have to peek through my stash and see what needs loving!

If you don't already follow Darnell, you crazy! Sweet, sassy, and a little nutty, her posts always make me smile :)

xoxo,

Jessi