Shopping Our Stash #39 - Metal Mania!

And here it comes, the first of a whole bunch of challenge posts. I've been a busy bee :)
(As an aside, does it drive anybody else crazy to see one card with a list of 20+ challenges it fits right underneath? I can see combining 2 or 3, but once you get up that high aren't you kind of just looking for other things it happens to fit into? Anyway.)

This round at Shopping our Stash is Metal Mania - use anything metal from your stash. Gotcha! Once again squeaking in last minutey with only 10 hours left to link up - but I bet you've got brads, eyelets, etc. in your stash to work with!

Supplies: Paper from K&Co;
Martha Stewart butterfly stamp;
Stampendous Pirate Gold EP;
'thanks' stamp from Stampin' Up (Versamark);
Tsukineko Pssst! Spray;
stash:brads, microbeads, vellum

Glittery! And four sets of wings...

I found exactly four brads in this gold tone (the closest match to the Pirate Gold EP), and then thought hey, I have metallic microbeads too, don't I? Yep. 2 packages (unopened) in this gold colour alone. I might run out. Ahem.

The butterfly wings lay flat to go in the envelope, as I only glued along the body. I embossed first on the card base, then layered vellum-matching paper-vellum to give some extra lift. I've got to say, it felt nice to use something UP here (even if it was 'only' one colour of brad...still progress!)

xoxo,
Jessi

Chiclectic! Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger...

Well, it's been a while since you & I have gotten together, Trigger, and I feel bad about that. I was determined to make time for you this week, no matter what. And then, Cath picked this photo:

And a little part of me said "well, you didn't tell anyone ELSE that you promised to do the Trigger this week...no one will know."

Yikes.

But I kept my promise, and made a card, and got it photographed & ready before the deadline. All good, right? Here it is:

Supplies: all papers from Basic Grey "Sweet Threads"
except aqua cardstock from MFP;
sentiment sticker from Doodlebug;
various circle punches from Marvy; 3 spot embossing folders from Cuttlebug;
Colorbox Frost White pigment ink 

Poppy-uppy!

I thought of this pink & orange paper right away, but what else to do with it? Throw everything I had at it? Funny thing is, I really like the way the room looks, but trying to separate elements from the photo and make it into a pleasing card? HARD. So I went for the standby of colours, and stuck with the pink & orange, with a pop of aqua. Once I added the birthday sentiment I wanted some more white, so grabbed a Q-tip and painted some ink onto the embossed areas (since of course everything was already attached to the card and adding more white was a last-minute idea). Anyhow, if you've been thinking about joining up with this week's Trigger, it ends tonight, so skedaddle!

I haven't blogged for a few days longer than I anticipated - finally, after joking about it all winter, I fell on the ice! I'm very lucky that I didn't break anything, and I have no dignity anyhow, so no worries there. I do have some very tender areas but I'm a big wimp & have been taking advantage of my owies to rest :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Playing in Paradise #53 - Musically Inspired!

THERE IS NO WAY I'M GONNA BE LATE THIS WEEK, I said to myself after blowing last week's PIP deadline by only a couple of hours....so yay me, there's nearly 2 days left! And besides that, I have two cards to share. For For Playing in Paradise #53 you've got to be ....

Supplies: gorgeous brolly paper from MME (from dear sweet Emily!);
cardstock from MFP; standard oval & labels 4 Nesties;
stamps from Market Street Stamps;
Palette Noir ink; versamark & clear EP (raindrops);
Offray ribbon, Bow-Easy, loads of foam tape;
3/4" circle punch for ribbon 'tabs'

I received a care package from Emily  the week before last, and as soon as I saw this pattern I knew I had to finally break in my sad face sun from Market Street Stamps. If the song isn't already playing in your head, this sentiment is (well, I imagine it is, anyway) inspired by Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine.' And it plays in my head every time I look at the sentiment... 

Almost forgot! Little Red Wagon #119 - Cupid's Arrow

For the Cupid's Arrow Challenge at little red wagon, you don't necessarily have to go with a Valentine theme, but you do have to include arrows in your design. I went with both:

Supplies: papers from Basic Grey "Hopscotch;"
Fluffles & his gal from Stampendous; stamped with Palette Noir ink;
coloured with Prismacolor pencils;
Fun Flock (Cotton Ball) from Stampendous;
sentiment from Inkadinkado; stamped with versamark &
Tumbled Glass distress ink; embossed with clear EP;
Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (on bows & eyes)

Fuzzy! Shiny! Poppy-uppy!

I love adding texture - especially when it can be done with lightweight touches like flock & glaze. And what's not to like about being able to pet your card? lol

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #38 - Hearts, Valentines, &/or Lace

A timely challenge, right? I'm definitely enjoying the challenge of digging for the older supplies in my stash (and finally use some of the stuff that I've been hoarding for no particular reason).
Once again I'm uploading at the last minute, 10 hours left until the linky closes, but anyhow....go have a peek at the 80+ entries this week at Shopping our Stash.
Here's mine:

Supplies: patterned paper is stationery from at least 8+ years ago;
large violin & sentiment stickers from PSX;
vellum violin - unknown;
envelope - stamp from Inkadinkado, Vintage Photo distress ink

It's -30C with the windchill today...I was going to try and take some pictures of the snowfall, but I'm scared to take the camera outside when it's that cold. I would NEVER hear the end of it if it got damaged! I do have a 3 km walk to the doctor's office later, and I'm bribing myself with a stop at Tim Horton's on the way there...

xoxo,

Jessi

I love the Internet...

...because it makes wonderful things like this happen. There's a sweet little boy named Sebastian who is having yet another surgery, and his amazing teacher wants him to be showered with cards while he recuperates. I found out about Sebastian from my dear bloggy buddy Emily Keaton, who linked to Amy Tsuruta's blog post, and to Ginger's original post telling all of us about this sweet little boy. What struck me the most about Ginger's words was how Sebastian is so cheerful, and she shares some great photos with his infectious grin. So here's my card (going in the mail tomorrow once we've dug out of the latest snowstorm):

Supplies: papers from MME;
stamp & sentiment from Daisy Bucket;
GOOGLY EYES! and white Inksentials pen;
standard oval Nesties

Given that Sebastian's medical issues mean he'll have more surgeries ahead of him, I wanted my card to be a cheerful encouragement rather than 'get well' in nature, so there it is :) I dare you to not be moved by the spirit this little man embodies!
xoxo,
Jessi

Wonders will never cease...

...I have something weird to share today. Weird for me, anyway. Cards, based on sketches. Not just one, but two.

(Sorry about that - I should have asked if you were sitting down first. Are you ok?)

I've been making a concerted effort to play in more challenges, but sketches just really don't seem to be my 'thing'. This week's Playing in Paradise #52 challenge for Scrapbooker's Paradise  is a sketch by the lovely Allison, though, and I wanted to give it a shot. And I don't hate it. Just call me last-minute Lucy again, because this challenge is only open until midnight!

ETA: I blew that one - the challenge ended at noon :( Boo, hiss!

Supplies: Papers, stickers from Simple Stories;
Fired Brick & Antique Linen distress inks (for sponging edges);
Sakura clear glaze pen; Mod Podge dimensional magic

I used the Dimensional Magic on the stars, dots, and 'birthday.' Oooh, shiny!

This next card is for a challenge I've followed for a while via my blogging buddy Theresa at My Sassy Cards, who practically DARED me to join in....so I gave it a whirl. This is a two-hour card...but I think it's worth it! The Tuesday Morning Sketch  is open until 8 PM Sunday each week.

Link to the challenge post here

Supplies: dark blue  cardstock from PTI (from JJ!);
patterned papers from Basic Grey "Hello Luscious;"
each embossed with Cuttlebug folders and sponged with
Broken China & Faded Jeans distress inks;
Peacock clip art from The Graphics Fairy; Sakura Stardust glitter pen;
Peacock feather, rhinestones, standard circle Nesties

Oooh, shiny! I used the glitter pen to trace the edge of the circle panel, and
around the embossed swirls, and heck, on the peacock's feathers as well.

Part of my reason for taking two hours (besides that I misplaced the dang peacock after die-cutting it and spent about 10 minutes looking for it) was that I couldn't get the feather to look right in the same orientation as the tickets in the sketch...and then I just couldn't get happy with the bottom banner detail. AGH! But, the whole idea is to be inspired by the sketch, not to drive yourself crazy, so I call it good. And I love the final card - I want to marry it :) 

xoxo,

Jessi

Little Red Wagon #118 - Valentines!

It was very easy to keep this week's little red wagon challenge (open until tonight!) in mind while making cards - Valentine's Day or love themed. That's not the only type of cards I've been making, but it's certainly the lion's share!

Here are a bunch:

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny;
alien sticker from Recollections (I added the googly eyes, because they make everything better...)
sentiment from MFT; hand-drawn speech bubble; Palette Noir ink;
standard circle Nesties;
black Sharpie for outlining the bubble & the stripy strip

Supplies: Red paper from Echo Park "For the Record;"
blue polka-dot paper from MME;
owl clip from Fancy Pants;
corner rounder; edges done with black Sharpie;
sentiment from CHF; Palette Noir ink;
Stardust pen on sentiment & owl's heart;
standard oval Nesties; polka dot embossing folder

Supplies: papers from Bo Bunny;
porcupine stamp from Michaels;
Palette Noir ink;
coloured with Martha Stewart markers;
standard circle Nesties

Supplies: paper from Bo Bunny;
sentiment from MFT;
Versamark & white EP;
blue rhinestones; Sakura Stardust pen

Supplies: paper from Fancy Pants;
heart stickers from PSX;
vellum clip from stash; sewn on with embroidery floss

I was trying to come up with anything else to say, and I got nothin'! Abby woke me up at about 3:30 to go to the bathroom, which is better than going on the floor, but not so good for me going back to sleep. And I have a dentist appointment shortly, so a nap will have to wait until after that...but at this rate I might fall asleep while they're cleaning my teeth. At least it's not my turn to clean something!
xoxo,
Jessi

Shopping our Stash #37 -People who need People

OK, this card is a little bit risque. Not too much, but a little bit...

Supplies: image from MFT;
Palette Noir ink; watercoloured with inkpads;
letter stickers from Basic Grey;
arrow and paper from ancient stash; corner rounder

This little doctor is so adorable that my goofy mind has to twist him up to use him :) Once again I'm squeaking in near the end of this challenge, which ends at midnight (right now there's 19 hours left) so quick! link up to Shopping our Stash #37, People who need People.... if only because now that song is playing on an endless loop in your head. You're welcome ;)

And for Emily's inquiring mind, I have some really poor photos of my hair! I had about 6 inches cut off, and  two sets of foils done - blonde and PINK! The pink is a temporary 3-week colour, and once it washes out all the pink parts will be blonde. Different & fun - the kids love it, and so do I :)

I'll try to remember to get a better picture!

xoxo,

Jessi

Flashback Friday 20.0 - Woot! woot!

Well, it feels like it took for.e.ver to find my first mostly black & white card for Flashback Friday Challenge 20.0, but I did it (yay me, pats self on back...) This is from May 2011:

Original post here

There's a ginormous prize up for grabs for commenting on the celebration hop & participating in this round of the Flashback Friday Challenge - and you have 3 weeks to get yourself linked up, so what are you waiting for?
Seriously, go.
Like, now.
I mean, you HAVE three weeks, doesn't mean you have to take THAT LONG.
(Oddly, this is starting to sound like my husband when I have a deadline that I'm procrastinating about....ahem.)
But I digress.
Thanks, Amy, for all the fun!
xoxo,
Jessi