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

Sweet Valentine Shaker

I'm slowing down on the Valentine's cards but they're so much fun I can't resist still making a few :) This one is using an image from Mo Manning, and it makes me think of my darling Abby dog!

Supplies: digi stamp from Mo Manning; Spectrum Noir markers; Making Memories rub-on 'sweet'; Paper Smooches heart stamp; Picked Raspberry Distress ink; classic small circle Nesties; various sequins & confetti, microbeads as filler for the shaker

She likes to make sure I take regular breaks from crafting - you know, for my health. lol!

I'm entering my card in three challenges:

Just Us Girls - LOVE

The Pink Elephant - Be My Valentine

Virginia's View: Shaker Cards

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #188 - TP or not TP

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

We have a really fun challenge for you this week at Shopping our Stash - toilet paper. Paper Towel. I'm serious! There are lots of fun ways to incorporate these into your crafty projects - toilet paper casting, embossing, inking, using blender solution to add texture...the design team has used a variety of techniques and there are loads more. So - we want to see you use your TP! You can also create a project inspired by the patterns on your toilet paper or paper towels. 

Although I definitely had some epic fail moments while getting started, I enjoyed the messy play of toilet paper casting! My finished project includes embossed toilet paper and the reverse side of a casted piece. I did the embossing by trial and error -  the error? Do not run the toilet paper and embossing folder through while they are wet. Just don't. You'll have to clean your entire machine, and will shred the TP into teeeny itty bits that stick everywhere. 

I didn't take pictures while I was working because I didn't know if it would turn out, but what worked to create the embossing was: four sheets of toilet paper stacked, dampened (really just use enough water to dampen the entire piece, not soak it). Spray mist if desired. Place inside the embossing folder and close it, burnishing it with your hand (do NOT run through the machine!) Open the folder and dry carefully with your heat gun, keeping the paper inside the folder. Once it's dry, run it through the machine for a crisper embossing.

Supplies: toilet paper; Cuttlebug embossing folder; Flourishes heart stamp; PTI and Stampendous background stamps; Tattered Angels spray mists in Yellow Daisy, Turquoise Blue; Candy Apple; Distress Crackle paint in Broken China; Tim Holtz bubbles stencil; Distress inks in Broken China & Festive Berries; Paper Smooches swirls dies; Ranger Perfect Pearls spray in turquoise; Dress it Up "love" button; buttons, seam binding, doily, gems all from stash

I stopped several times while making this to say to myself OH GOD WHAT AM I DOING? I began the background panel by using Distress Crackle Paint and the bubble stencil. Once that was dry I stamped the various background swirls and splots and sponged to soften the white. I added the embossed corners, and the doily, and was stumped. Buttons to the rescue! The heart had terrific detail from the casting, but a very distracting heavy layer of shimmer that I didn't care for, so I used the reverse side. The splotchy inky mottled look was exactly what I wanted. I trimmed carefully along the edge of the stamped image. The seam binding bow is sewn on. The swirls were cut from a piece of pre-misted paper I'd done before Christmas. And the 'love' button was the perfect final 'something' it needed!

Besides the Toilet Paper challenge at Shopping our Stash, I kept the Tic Tac Toe board from Our Creative Corner at hand while I was making this. 

I did end up using more than three of the options, but my goal was the centre vertical row of die cuts, stamps, and embossing folders. 

So are you ready to play with your TP? join in with the SOS crew: 

Leslie

Alica

Deena

Lauren

Donna

Chris

Barb

And you have until Monday,February 16th to join in!

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #287 - Stitchy Bear!

We're at the last of our favourite 2014 sketches at Tuesday Morning Sketches, and this week it's Nina's pick!  I made two cards with images from our sponsor, Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet.

Supplies: Hello Butterfly digi stamp from Stitchy Bear; Spectrum Noir markers; Dusty Concord & Milled Lavender distress inks; Versamark & clear EP; classic small circle Nesties; Wink of Stella clear glitter pen; sentiment from Paper Smooches 

I used Versamark on the sentiment and then Dusty Concord so that I could emboss it in purple. The circle was sponged with both purple inks, and I glammed up the eyeshadow & butterfly with Wink of Stella. 

Supplies: Belladonna digi stamp from Stitchy Bear; Spectrum Noir markers; sentiment from Whimsie Doodles; classic small circle Nesties; Peacock Feathers distress ink; Cuttlebug embossing folder

I sponged all the edges and the embossed layer with distress ink. Since this one is a little saucier I'm also entering this second card at Naughty or Nice's Valentines challenge. 

Here's the fabulous sketch:

This challenge is open until next Sunday, February 15 - hop on over & see what the design team has created for you! 

Debbie

Jenee 

Kris 

Melissa 

Nina

xoxo,

Jessi

My World is Brighter

I'd pulled this stamp out with my Valentines stuff weeks ago and then it got buried underneath all that stuff. *koff need to clean my desk koff* I didn't really have a plan in mind other than wanting something bright, and I think I did it!

Supplies: Studio G sentiment; Memory Box sunburst stencil; Distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, and Spiced Marmalade; Versamark & clear EP

I inked the sentiment in Versamark & then the Spiced Marmalade ink to be able to emboss it. I then tore a piece of paper to act as a mask before applying the stencil & blending the inks. Finally I sponged the edges of the panel with Mustard Seed to help make it pop.

I had three challenges in mind while creating:

CASology - HOT

Simon Says Stamp - All Things Bright & Beautiful 

Open-Minded Crafting Fun - NO pink and NO red

xoxo,

Jessi

A Simple Valentine

Hey, for once I'm entering Vicki's Flashback challenge before the last minute! Woot! I kept several challenges in mind while creating this card. The Kraft Journal is celebrating Valentine's Day, and at Little Red Wagon they're playing Peek a Boo.

Everything on this card has been in my stash for at least a year - the rose button is probably closer to 6 or 7 years, as is the embossing folder. The Studio G sentiment has got to be 3 or 4 years old, and this is the only time I've used it this year, even though I absolutely love the font.

Supplies: kraft card stock; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder; Studio G sentiment; Brushed Corduroy distress ink; Labels 5 Nesties; Paper Smooches kraft twine; Bow Easy; rose button from Dress it Up

I embossed the card stock and then die-cut the label. I used foam tape to adhere it to the card base for some dimension - which also made it easier to attach the rose button, since despite my 20 minutes of sawing away at it I was unable to remove the shank backing. (grumble)

xoxo,

Jessi

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - G is for...(and blog candy winner!)

Grey. As in, 50 shades!

Never fear - the sisters have ample inspiration for both choices here! I of course went with the naughtier option...

Supplies: Digi stamp from The Stamping Chef; Spectrum Noir markers; wink of stella clear glitter pen; classic small oval Nesties; purple rhinestones

Since this is definitely a naughtier Valentine I'm entering over at Naughty or Nice as well :)

Check out the huge variety of cards from the Sistahs:

Barb

Chris

Donna

Karen

Lee

Lindsey

Lynne 

Michelle

You've got until Friday, February 20th, to join in with us! 

And don't forget to stop by and leave our guest designer AMY some love for her project! (I must tell you, the sisters REALLY love it!)

And, now, drumroll for the blog candy winner for the Anniversary Challenge - Random.Riley picked comment #15, which is Carol L.! Yippee! Carol, shoot me an email at onecraftymama@hotmail.com with your mailing address and I'll get that in the mail for you :)

xoxo,

Jessi

The Crooked Stamper Sketch Challenge!

ERMAGERD! Leslie (aka The Crooked Stamper) has started a sketch challenge! *cheers* As soon as I saw it I knew I was going to be a faithful player - and if you're the least bit leery of sketches, she has a fab post showing you lots of ways to interpret a sketch. Woot!

Supplies: Bugaboo dragon digi; Spectrum Noir markers; PSX alphabet stamps; Festive Berries distress ink; Dress it Up heart button; Cuttlebug embossing folder; W plus 9 banner die; Wink of Stella clear glitter pen; googly eyes

I added a smidge of glitter to the little hearts & to the sentiment. 

Here's the awesome sketch:

You have tons of time to play along - I hope to play again, since this is a great versatile sketch!

xoxo,
Jessi

I Dig You!

A triple threat card - these little Paper Smooches doggies make the cutest Valentines!

Supplies: Paper Smooches "woofers and tweeters" stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black & Gray Flannel ink; Distress inks in Spun Sugar & Barn Door; Spectrum Noir markers; K&Co paper; Doodlebug twine; Wink of Stella black glitter pen; Corner Chomper; pink gemstones; Labels 5 Nesties

I'm playing along with three challenges with this card:

The Paper Players - Critter-Tine

Make the Day Special - sketch

Paper Smooches SPARKS - Anything Goes

xoxo,

Jessi