Krafty SPARKS

Linking up to The Kraft Journal's Clean and Simple challenge, and the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge to use flowers:

Supplies: kraft card stock base; patterned paper from Amy Tangerine; Paper Smooches stamps; Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy distress inks

I used an oval die to lightly mark the paper with pencil for a rough layout, and then stamped the flowers. This floral set from Paper Smooches got a great workout this week! One more post from me today (all these last-minute challenge entries...sorry!)

xoxo, 

Jessi

Blue Cupcakes

Blue cupcakes completely inspired this card - although of course there isn't a cupcake to be seen. Papercraft Star has a fabulous picture for inspiration this week - and right away I thought of using it as a sketch:

Loosely, of course. I liked the variety of blues in the picture, and I first tried to replicate that with stamps & ink, and then punching out 1" circles. That was a fail. Plan B involved patterned paper and was successful:

Supplies: papers from MME; 1" circle punch; scrap vellum; Versamark; Stampendous Sapphire EP; Paper Smooches sentiment; buttons from stash

The Sapphire EP has a metallic sheen to it that I really like. I should use it more often! I like this concept for using up smaller scraps of paper - you may see this layout again & again.

xoxo,

Jessi

Congrats on your new home!

With the real estate market being as sluggish as it is I haven't had much need for 'new home' cards lately, but they are still fun to make. Mostly because I dream of moving out of our way-too-small-house!

This card was inspired by the CAS on Sunday "welcome home" challenge & the colours of the current Unity "be inspired" challenge:

Supplies: Unity stamps; Fancy Pants paper; Bic Markers; Corner Chomper; brown rhinestones from Dollarama

A single layer card! Whoa. 

Here's the challenge graphic for Unity:

I had a super productive crafty week - all that singing along to loud music had me in a fabulous mood & feeling creative. I made more than 40 cards! I won't subject you to them all but there will be a flurry of posts in the next couple of days :)

xoxo,

Jessi

Drunken Stampers #140 - BUTTONS!

So this week I had to barge in & invite myself to be an honourary Tropical Hooter, because "Thing" is up in our 'person/place/thing' challenges at Drunken Stampers, and this thing? It's kinda my thing.

STAND BACK, I GOT THIS!

Supplies: Stamps from Unity; Mustard Seed distress ink; Colorbox Frost White pigment ink; Stampendous White Detail EP; paper from Basic Grey; BUTTONS from my enormous stash

I bought this stamp during one of Unity's awesome sales because of that fabulous freakin' sentiment....and then blanked on ideas for using it. It was waiting for this card, see.

The button challenge runs until next Friday, September 13, and playing along are the Tropical Hooters team: 

Wendy

Lee

Diane

Linda

Karen

and my evil doublemint twin

Chris

xoxo,

Jessi

Forgotten Things

I am not an organized crafter. I have LOTS of forgotten things in my crafty stash, simply by virtue of forgetting where I put it &  then never looking in the right spot to see it. So when I saw the current Our Creative Corner challenge to USE one of those forgotten things....I wrote it down, thought "hey, that sounds fun!" and then waited to find something.

I figured if I went looking for something then it wasn't forgotten, see. Luckily it didn't take me long to rediscover something - ages ago Barb gave me this awesome little tree & leaves die set from MFT, and I tucked them in with the PTI jars dies.  I really don't know how long it's been since I've seen them - I'm going to say it was before Christmas, because that's the last time I remember using the jar dies.

Anyway, here's the card I made:

Supplies: MFT tree dies; Paper Smooches clouds dies & sentiment; K&Co sun; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Antique Linen distress ink; little skunk from stash

I used scraps of three different green card stocks for the leaves, and with Abby's help/interference cut way more than necessary. Lots for next time, lol. She licked me every time the plates cranked through - she likes to lay down right in front of the Cuttlebug, and takes it personally whenever I use it. 

The grass was cut freehand - I really love the layered look - and the little skunk & 'dang' made me giggle. I wanted a critter and I have a little sheet of card stock animals in my stash. I envision this as a 'dang, that sucks!' kind of card, sort of a consolation for a breakup, or even a belated birthday card. 

Next up on my list - recreating this tree in autumn colours :)

Can you tell - the boys headed back to school this morning? I feel like a new woman. The music is blasting, I'm singing along (with no one claiming they're "going to suicide if you keep humming") and generally making a dork of myself. My kind of awesome day! I hope your day rocks too!

xoxo,

Jessi

Allison's Jingle Belles Sketch

The fabulous Allison of Stampin' When I Can is the guestie this challenge at jingle belles, and even if I weren't already playing along all year I'd have to hop in & play with her prompt! She's designed a sketch, and I made 2 cards with it:

Supplies: papers from Fancy Pants; Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder; Basic Grey chipboard; sentiment from PTI; Versamark; Moonstone EP from Stampendous; rhinestones from Dollarama; Pearl Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels

Oooooooh, shiny! Sparkly! 

Supplies: papers & chipboard pieces from Prima; sentiment from PTI; Vintage Photo distress ink; rhinestone from Dollarama

The first card is definitely my favourite :) Although the rhinestone strips were an afterthought, and getting them lined up partly underneath that raised strip? Not my favourite procedure, but worth it in the end. 

Here's Allison's sketch: 

Sooooo easy & versatile. I can see me playing again before the challenge ends next Wednesday. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #117 - School/Office

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

This week at Shopping our Stash we're heading back to school - school/office supplies that is: use something that depicts school or a workplace/office theme- careers, office humour, or use a school supply or office supply on your card- paperclip, sticky note, ruler sticker,  etc.

It took me a while but I think I got it :)

Supplies: Flourishes stamp set; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Konnichiwa papers from Basic Grey; Prismacolor pencils; staple, spiral clip from stash

I used snippets of other papers in the collection to paper-piece the lanterns, and then added extra shading with my Prismacolor pencils. *love* how it turned out. 

And a close-up of my 'supplies' - the spiral clip, because if I worked in an office I would use cool supplies, and a staple. 

Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday,September 9th - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Leslie

Alica

Deena 

Lauren

Michelle

Paige

Chana

Back to counting down the minutes until school starts Thursday....

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #214 - Floppy Latte!

Back to a Christmas card from me - I'm really going to have to pull out my autumn-themed stuff soon! This week's Tuesday Morning Sketches sponsor is Floppy Latte, and I chose this sweet snow globe image to work with:

Supplies: Snow Globe image from Floppy Latte; papers from Crate Paper; Timeless Twine; Ribbon from stash; Bic and Spectrum Noir markers

Laura designed this week's sketch - I love how versatile this layout is!

This sketch will be open until next Sunday, September 8th. Don't forget to check out what everyone else made:

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Laura

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

Use a Number!

One of my favourite kinds of card to make are personalized ones - somehow as the recipients get older they enjoy having the age on there a little less, though. Here's a super-sparkly card for a precious granddaughter:

Supplies: bee stamp from Annabelle Stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Nesties Labels 5; Bic Markers; AC Thickers (name & number); chevron paper from Recollections; yellow glitter fabric paint; rhinestone strip from Dollarama

The last few days before school starts are here - our schools begin on Thursday. I can not wait. I really, really can't. It may be bad form but I am counting those minutes!

xoxo,

Jessi

Piggy Dots

So they aren't exactly polka dots, but the girls at little red wagon want us to get dotty! (haha, I think I might already be there!) 

Supplies: stamps from Paper Smooches; papers from Amy Tangerine; birthday stickers from Mrs. Grossman's; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Worn Lipstick distress ink; Bic markers; classic small circle Nesties; Cotton Ball Fun Flock (Stampendous)

Just a quick post - I have one more coming up.
xoxo,
Jessi