Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - R is for...

...resist! There are so many resist techniques, and the Sistahs have a great mix of old & new that we tried. I found a tutorial for Watercolour Lifting on Splitcoaststampers, which is like a reverse resist. (As a note, I found I needed a LOT of water for the colour lifting - instead of my water brush I used a regular paint brush and dish of water)

Supplies: Distress inks for background & watercolouring; Waltzingmouse sentiment; Ranger embossing ink & clear EP; wonky rectangles Nesties

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, HELEN!

You have until August 5 to come play along :)

xoxo,
Jessi

Shopping our Stash #247 - You stamped with WHAAAA?

This is a super fun and unique challenge this week at Shopping our Stash - stamp with something not intended for stamping :) I tried a number of things - felt flower, sea urchin, bottom of a banana, cd case...and finally went with the lid of a nail polish bottle!

Supplies: Lil INkers sentiment and sun/cloud dies; Memory Box 'splat' die; distress inks; Versamark, clear EP, Palette Noir ink

I stamped the background onto watercolour paper and then lightly brushed with my water brush so as not to eliminate the double circles from stamping. 

So what other crazy things did we stamp with? Check out what the rest of my awesome teammates made!

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday April 18 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #342 - DRS Designs!

Good morning! I'm the sketcher this week at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and as happens whenever that's the case I'm so impressed by how a simple layout can result in such a great variety of unique cards. Wait until you see what the DT came up with! DRS Designs is our sponsor this week, and we all got to work with our choice of images:

Supplies: Josephine the Bold image from DRS Designs;  Sharpie & Spectrum Noir markers; various scraps & bits of designer papers (MME mostly); Paper Smooches sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; black Wink of Stella pen; Tim Holtz design ruler & embroidery supplies

Just a wee bit of sparkle on the sentiment :) 

Here's the sketch:

And here's my card that inspired it:

Supplies: all papers from AC; Tim Holtz design ruler & embroidery supplies

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, March 13 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Lee

Melissa 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #234 - Something New!

This week at Shopping our Stash we want to see you break open some of your new stuff - hopefully Santa knows you're crafty ;) You've already seen the products I'm about to show you BUT I did make this card first - using my new Distress Ink colours, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, and Wilted Violet:

Supplies: Distress inks in Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet; stamps from Waltzingmouse; Versamark and white EP

My first play with these inks was to try them together with Becca's dipping technique - ooooooooh they are gorgeous together! I amped up the splashy factor with splat stamps and then embossed the sentiment - as you can see, I didn't wait quite long enough after stamping the purple paint strokes, but I kinda like the excess embossing powder there. Happy accident. 

So what's your newest stash? Get ready to play with it - and check out my teammates for some more inspiration:

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday January 18 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #334 - Stitchy Bear!

Like I mentioned yesterday, I need to stock up on other kinds of cards now that Christmas is finished - so both my posts today have thank you cards :) We're revisiting the design team's favourite sketches of 2015 over at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and this week is Jenee's pick. We also have Stitchy Bear returning as our generous sponsor.

Supplies: unknown image & text stamps; Thanks sentiment from Lil Inkers; Nesties label die; Doodlebug paper; watercoloured using distress inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Festive Berries; Versamark & clear EP

Here's the sketch:

This challenge will be open until next Sunday, January 17 - hop on over & see what the rest of the team has made! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris

Melissa 

xoxo,

Jessi

Thank You Butterfly

Now that the Christmas rush is over, time to start stocking up the other card categories - I was down to a single thank you card. Conveniently little red wagon is hosting a thank you challenge this week!

Supplies: butterfly stamp from Gina K; sentiment from PTI; Sizzix embossing folder; Tim Holtz stencil; May Arts twine; Versamark & black detail EP; Distress Inks in Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, and Wilted Violet

I began by embossing the butterfly on watercolour paper and painting it with distress inks. After stamping the sentiment I wanted a little something else for the background, so I sponged Twisted Citron ink using the bubbles stencil. I didn't mask the butterfly but rather just sponged lightly towards the middle of the panel. Having the time to just play and create again is awesome :)

If you'd also like to enter the little red wagon challenge the details can be found here. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #228 - Thanks!

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

With American Thanksgiving right around the corner, it's a perfect time to have a thanks theme at Shopping our Stash!  I went for items that were already laying on my desk (the oval die cut, the stamp, Versamark, even the yellow embossing powder...someone should really clean up around here):

Supplies: Waltzingmouse stamp; Versamark; yellow EP' classic small oval Nesties; MME paper; May Arts twine; Basic Grey button

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, as Connor likes to say :)

Surely you have something to give thanks for! Check out the DT:

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday November 23 to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Sparkly Thanks!

So there's this Hop to Stop, eh? I've now added a tag (duh!) so you can access all my Hop to Stop posts in the same place for purple gloriousness!

I'm also entering this in the current Doodle Pantry challenge - finally using this gorgeous hydrangea precoloured digi I've had for ages. 

Supplies: Again with the dip-dyed background - seedless preserves & broken china, plus Dylusions purple; Waltzingmouse Stamps sentiment; Hydrangea digi from Doodle Pantry; classic small circle Nesties; Liquid Pearls; Sakura Stardust glitter pen; homemade pearl glimmer mist

I printed two copies of the digi so I could selectively fussy-cut some of the blooms. I added a dab of Liquid Pearls to the centres, and traced the sentiment & circle panel with the glitter pen. 

192!!! So close to 200 :)

xoxo,

Jessi

   

You Are Awesome!

I've been working on cards for the Hop to Stop all week, but have been slow getting them photographed and blogged (what can I say, it's more fun to MAKE the stuff!) Check out Becca's blog for all the nitty gritty details!

Supplies: Dusty Concord distress ink; Versamark & white detail EP; stamps from Neat & Tangled, PTI, and unknown

I just used the one purple ink, using generational stamping to create the different tones. 

C'mon and play!! You've got until the 14th to link up :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Inspired by FUSION

I was inspired by the photo prompt at FUSION to use these colours, and the pattern of different circles, by the flowers on that luscious cake!

Supplies: Stamps from tons of different sets; Peacock Feathers & Scattered Straw distress inks; Versamark & white detail EP; yellow & white sequins

I like the subtlety of the embossed white circles - it pops without totally overwhelming the rest of the card. And who doesn't like to be told they're awesome? I mean really.

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #301 - Stitchy Bear!

Good morning! This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches we have Stitchy Bear back as a terrific sponsor - such a huge variety of images they offer! We've also got a fun and funky sketch for you:

Supplies: papers from MME; sentiment from Reverse Confetti; versamark & detail white EP; buttons from stash; emery board to distress the orange panel

After embossing the sentiment I distressed the edges with an emery board - rather than the fuzzy distressed edge I was going for the scratchy look. Check! 

Here's the sketch - I've tilted it on its side:

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

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris 

Melissa 

Nina

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #199 - Opposite Day!

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

This week at Shopping our Stash we have a challenge that I found quite difficult - create something outside your usual style. Ack! We all have our comfort zones - and they are comfortable. We like it there. After dithering around for a while I decided the least-like-me thing to do would be to create a clean and graphic card. No splashes of colour. No embellishments. (yes, I'm feeling itchy thinking about it again). 

Supplies: stamps from PTI; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; black Sharpie for border

I masked off the sentiment frame to stamp the circles & splotches - but this is quite probably the simplest design I've ever made. I so admire those that comfortably and flawlessly execute CAS cards but usually that's not me ;)

So what kind of opposite day projects do my teammates have to share? Check out the SOS crew: 

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday,May 4th to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Always read the fine print...

...like the date a challenge ends! The Challenge is switching to a weekly format and I missed the anniversary challenge because my pea brain didn't absorb that! I'm back again with a thank you card that took a few attempts to get right.

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny; stamps from PTI; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Versamark & black detail EP; Wplus9 banner die; Paper Smooches black twine; button from stash

I was determined to use this paper, and what took so long to finish the card was the multiple attempts at a sentiment. I just could not get it to work - I tried it on black, on white, and finally settled on this smidge of krafty patterned paper. I had to cobble together the rectangular mat to tie in the colour somehow (it's actually 2 pieces of paper...luckily enough to do the job!)

So note to self, The Challenge is now WEEKLY!! 



xoxo,
Jessi

Shopping our Stash #196 - The Earth Has Music

For my Tuesday Morning Sketches post click here - Thanks!! 

It's a collaboration week at Shopping our Stash! We are teaming up with Words 2 Scrap By for our challenge this week - when you make a card for SOS, you can enter it at W2SB too. There are so many ways to interpret the challenge theme this week. Here's what inspired it:

So, this month's words celebrate this first full month of spring and come from renowned author and philosopher George Santayana. 

The earth has music for those who listen.

Music? Nature? Both? Spoiled for choice with this one!

For me one of nature's most magical creations is the rainbow - so that was my starting point for my card.

Supplies: Distress inks in Barn Door, Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves; Palette Noir and clear EP; vellum; Inkadinkado music background stamp; embroidery supplies

I used distress inks to create a watercoloured rainbow background. I added more swipes of colour with a dry brush after creating the initial background for more texture. The sentiment is embossed on vellum and then stitched on with a rainbow of embroidery floss (that took longer than waiting for the background to dry, lol) 

I can't wait to see how everyone has fun with this! Check out the SOS crew: 

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

Chana

And you have until Monday,April 13th to come play!

xoxo,

Jessi

Hey Dude!

I tried several times to make a card for this edition of The Challenge and kept getting sidetracked - and then this one just sort of happened without me planning to use the sketch. Go figure!

Supplies: Stamps from Paper Smooches; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Spectrum Noir markers; Versamark & black detail EP; classic small circle Nesties; Wplus9 banner dies; Echo Park papers; googly eyes

The "hey dude" was an unplanned part of the sentiment but it totally works as far as I'm concerned. And I love this spazzy excited little monster :)

xoxo,

Jessi

The Challenge Sketch

For whatever reason, if there's a butterfly on a sketch, I end up going with a butterfly. I know you can change the shapes, but butterflies...they make my crafty heart happy! Here's my card using just the sketch from the current Challenge at Always Playing with Paper:

Supplies: all papers from Basic Grey; smidge of pink vellum; Wplus9 banner die; classic small oval Nesties; Spellbinders butterfly die; Lawn Fawn sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink

You'll see in a few hours why I had this paper pad out to play...and just kept playing :)

I had another card started with the colours, but as usually happens I made a left turn and kept going :) 

xoxo,

Jessi

Inlaid Die Technique...oh my!

You know those crafty ideas that sound so great before you get started, and once you're halfway through you're questioning your sanity & wondering what the heck you were thinking? Yeah, this card.

Supplies: Memory Box floral die; two colours of kraft cardstock; Paper Smooches sentiment; Antique Linen distress ink; Corner Chomper

Swear to peanuts, the sentiment is legible in real life. I wanted it to be tone-on-tone, and the camera just wouldn't cooperate nor would my editing software. (ya gets what ya pays for). Everybody and then some seems to be using this inlaid die technique all over the place, and famous last words I thought ohhhhh how hard can it be? Some of those pieces are really little. I said some bad words. I picked lots of little pieces off my shirt after they magically flung themselves away from the paper. All that said, OHHHH EMMM GEEEE look I did it! (possibly never again). 

I was inspired to try this lunacy because of the Kraft Journal's challenge to create a CAS one layer card. I did have to trim my card & place it on a white base because crooked sentiment. Keeping it really real this morning ;)

xoxo,

Jessi

Thank You!

A second card for the Stamp Smiles Geometric challenge, and using the sketch from The Paper Players!  My oldest shaped stash besides my circle punches are my circle Nesties, and here they are.

Supplies: Memory Box leaf frond die; small classic circle Nesties; Wplus9 banner die; sentiment from PTI; vellum; patterned papers from AC and Bo Bunny; Peeled Paint distress ink; button and burlap thread from stash

My circle Nesties were the very first ones I bought - probably about eight years ago. I use them nearly every single day! 

xoxo,

Jessi

A Colour Challenge? Whoa.

I am colour-challenge challenged...I start out with good intentions and then usually make a left turn somewhere, but darn it, I stuck with it this time for the Just Us Girls colour combo - paired with the sketch from Fusion. 

Supplies: papers from AC; flower stamp from PTI; sentiment from Stampin' Up; Picked Raspberry distress ink; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Labels 5 Nesties; buttons from stash

Just Us Girls:

Fusion:

ETA: I missed the linky for Fusion AGAIN (like the third time in a row...lol)
xoxo,
Jessi

Crooked Stamper Sketch redux

Leslie's first sketch challenge inspired me again!

Supplies: Studio Calico veneer hearts; everything else from Pebbles

This was really straightforward - the hearts were a last-minute thought as it just needed....something. 

Here's the sketch for CSSC #1

xoxo,

Jessi