I love the smell of new stamps...

...in the morning. Any time, really. I am still over the moon that I won the July release from Flourishes, and I'm having a great time getting them inky :) I have a rare-for-me triple challenge card to share this morning - for the Birthday Card challenge at Moxie Fab World, the paper-piecing challenge at little red wagon, and the Texture challenge at The Pink Elephant. 

Supplies: stamps from Flourishes - pinwheels & popsicles; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic Markers; rhinestone strips from Dollarama; paper piercer, black embroidery thread; yellow sparkle fabric paint from Tulip

I've coloured all the lanterns twice - once on the card panel, and once on another sheet. I then cut then out, rolled each one around a pencil, and attached with a thin piece of foam tape in the middle. This lets the lanterns have a rounded appearance (I really did squeal when I attached them - it worked just like I'd hoped!). This is my paper-pieced section - I hope it still counts. 

For texture, I've stitched along the 'wire' lines of the stamp, used foam tape to pop up the lanterns, added rhinestones; and painted around the lanterns with textured dimensional fabric paint. I love how the yellow glitter gives the same soft glow as lantern light! 

The 'birthday' challenge is pretty clear, I think. 

xoxo,

Jessi

Quilling for the Ribbon Reel

I've never played along over at the ribbon reel - I've written down ideas for their challenges for months, and never ended up making anything (or more usually, forgetting to add the ribbon, lol). My dear Tammy is on the DT over there. Anyway, for once my ideas translated into a card that not only fits the challenge but even meets the requirement to add ribbon. Woot!
I'm also playing along over at one crazy stamper 's August birthday challenge :)

Supplies: chevron paper from Amy Tangerine; Hero Arts sentiment; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Sakura Black Glaze pen; crinkled seam binding; big orange rhinestone from Dress it Up (the rest from Dollarama); rose-patterned washi tape from Recollections; flowers quilled by me

Quilling is very hard to photograph. This is one of those 'I swear it looks better in person!' things. I swear. 

I fussy-cut along the chevron pattern (challenging with this teeny chevron) and layered it over the washi strips. I arranged the quilled flowers, and stamped the sentiment, and promptly forgot about adding  the ribbon. It's doubled & tied in a bow, and then I sewed the bow on. I traced the sentiment with the black glaze pen, and added a couple of extra dots. 

Here is the inspiration photo from the ribbon reel: and the directions, to create a project 

using the COLOURS in the photo PLUS CHEVRONS, FLOWERS & RIBBON.

Check, check, and check! woohoo!
I suppose now instead of going back to paper puttering, I should consider making some supper...that doesn't sound like nearly as much fun.
xoxo,
Jessi

Wedding Sequins

Sequins are of course one of the hottest paper crafting  trends at the moment - I am usually not the first on a trend, but this one is definitely growing on me! This time of year I tend to make a LOT of wedding cards, and I made these two similar cards - one in silver, one in gold.

Supplies for both cards: Martha Stewart wedding cake stickers; sequins; Liquid Pearls; lacy circle/oval Nesties; Bazzill cardstock; gold mirror paper

I got a little carried away with the sequins on the gold card - they just kept jumping on :)

There's a sequin challenge over at Catered Crop until August 17. 

Back to the crafty salt mines - I've been spending so much time playing that &*%^# Candy Crush that I'm neglecting my stamps. You know it's bad when your kids walk by & say "You're STILL on Level 65? How long are you going to be there?" Forever, apparently. *sobs*

xoxo,

Jessi

Shopping our Stash #113 - The Sun, The Moon, the Stars....

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

This week at Shopping our Stash we want you to reach for the sky - or at least your sky-themed stuff! Use something that you'd find in the sky - clouds, sun, moon, stars, planes, helicopters, birds, pigs...

Supplies: Bo Bunny paper; sentiment from The Cat's Pajamas; pig & balloons from The Greeting Farm; Wplus9 banner die; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic markers; Cotton Ball Fun Flock from Stampendous; Mod Podge Dimensional Magic; Inksentials white gel pen

OK, so maybe pigs aren't generally in the sky, but this guy is. Mr. Pig is all flocked up, and the balloons are glossified. After this card I tucked away the Bo Bunny pad - I have been reaching for it just about constantly, so time to mix it up a bit ;)

Come & play along with this challenge until next Monday, August 12th - hop on by & leave the rest of my teamies some love!

Carla

Leslie

Alica

Deena 

Lauren

Michelle

xoxo,

Jessi

Tuesday Morning Sketches #210 - Imagine That!

Happy Tuesday, everybody :) Time for a brand-new Tuesday Morning Sketch, and this week our sponsor is Imagine That!...digis by Kris. Kris provided us with some great images to work with - I couldn't resist this gorgeous hummingbird:

Supplies: Pretty Petunias colour digi from Imagine That!; Amy Tangerine papers; classic small circle Nesties; Sakura Stardust glitter pen

Lots of fiddly fussy-cutting here - I cut out the hummingbird and the upper portion of the petunias, and popped them up on a tiny bit of foam tape for dimension. I added a bit of glitter pen as well. I've also cut along the lace edge pattern of the Amy Tangerine papers (you can see that on the green & blue lace pieces in the close up) to change up the pattern a bit. 

Debbie designed the sketch for us  this week - it's so incredibly versatile! I think this is going to be a very popular one:

This sketch is open until next Sunday, August 11th

Don't forget to visit the rest of my teamies!

Angela

Bonnie

Debbie

Jenee

Laura

Melissa

xoxo,

Jessi

PS SPARKS - Anything Goes!

I've CASEd myself - this fun frame card that I made a few weeks ago just had to be re-tried. I had one more sheet of that fun paper, after all. I've also realized over the last few weeks that the Memento ink smudging when I coloured wasn't because I was using patterned paper, but because the humidity is so high. Luckily we are starting to get some relief there - even with a dehumidifier running 24 hours a day, my envelopes are sealing (no!!!) and paper warping (nooooo!!!!).

Well how's that for an aside? Anyhow, it was cooler/drier so I decided to try the design again. I used a horizontal layout to change it up a bit, and once again just went for the stamp sets within reach, not particularly planning - but I ended up using 9! I also had to go pick up some more googly eyes :)

Supplies: Amy Tangerine patterned paper; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Bic Markers; assorted googly eyes; and the following Paper Smooches stamp sets:

Chit Chat, Birthday Buddies, Zoo Crew, Party Posse, A Little Lovin', Chubby Chums, Little Fella, My Peeps, Woofers + Tweeters

This just makes me happy, all those crazy little faces! Of course I'm linking up in the last minutes of the current PS SPARKS challenge, "Anything Goes." 

xoxo,

Jessi

ETA: I'm also popping this in Savannah's MASKING challenge over at Do More With Less! Thanks, Sav! 

Curtain Call - Watermelon Wonder!

When I knew that my dear sweet pal Barb had joined the fabulous team at Curtain Call, I knew I was going to be playing along as much as I could! This inspiration board had me, well, INSPIRED, right away, and I practically ran over to my desk to make my card.

I found myself inspired by the colours, and especially the photo at the top left - simultaneously making me think of polka dots & flowers. Check it out:

Supplies: solid circle stamps from PTI; sentiment from Hero Arts; 1/8" quilling strips; yellow & aqua gems; Memento Gray Flannel ink; Distress inks: Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold

I used a variety of inks stamping the circles, and used generational stamping to get more shades. The stamped panel was cut a little smaller than the card base, and swiped against the Gray Flannel pad for definition.

Watermelon Wonder at Curtain Call is open until August 10th, so you have lots of time to create something & join in!

xoxo,

Jessi

Christmas in August

I think I might be getting into the hang of the Christmas all year long thing! little red wagon wants to see Christmas projects this week.

Supplies: recycled card front (iridescent dove panel); 'peace' stamp from PTI; Versamark; Moonstone EP from Stampendous

This dove has been waiting for me to use it for at least a few years - quite a few people save me their prettiest Christmas cards for recycling, and it took a long time to finally use this one. It needed a super CAS card where it could be the star!

xoxo,

Jessi

Drunken Stampers #135 - Person: ATHLETE

This term at the Drunken Stampers our themes will be 'Person, Place, or Thing'! Up first is the Yellow Canary team, and we've got an athletic challenge for you this week.

I'll show you my card, and then introduce you to the awesome ladies joining the Yellow Canaries!

Supplies: image & sentiment from Bugaboo; Polaroid stamp from Lawn Fawn; Labels 5 Nesties; Bic & Spectrum Noir markers

If you've been tuning in to the Drunken Stampers blog this week, you've met the new girls already. Reading those questionnaires is always a blast!  Team Yellow Canary is the following drunks designers:

Barb - Barb's Creative Corner

Donna - Challenge Host - Yellow Dog Greetings

Jacki - Scullduggery

Jessi - that's me!

Lindsey - Bashful Blogging

Lynne - Scrapbook Lynne's

Vicki - The Cheerful Stamp Pad

I'm so excited to be hanging out with these great ladies! I hope to see you come play along with this challenge - link up by Friday night, August 9.

xoxo,

Jessi

Feel better soon, Reesa!

One of my regular customers wanted to know if I could make a get well card for a friend's dog who'd just had knee surgery. My first thought was "Woofers & Tweeters" - so she chose the closest dog, gave me some colour direction for her fur, and I went to work!

Supplies: Cloud dies, doggie, and sentiment all from Paper Smooches; classic small oval Nesties; paper from Bo Bunny; Bic markers; AC foam Thickers; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Ranger Inkssentials white gel pen 

The trickiest part? Trying to give paper-Reesa some 'speckles' on her fur! 

I've got to link up with Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge this week - again ;) 

And, in case you've missed it, tomorrow begins the new term over at Drunken Stampers!  This week we've been featuring introductions to our newest design team members, so you should head over & see who's come to hang out in the lounge & get tipsy with us!

xoxo,

Jessi