Without the rain...

I made a bunch of these little cards to distribute to either adults in the community who are in need of a boost, or to send out to one of the many organizations out there in "blogland" who provide encouraging cards to children who are ill or homeless.
 It was so easy once I had my little assembly line going.

(And I have to thank Jennifer, my friend who helped provide the adorable

little House Mouse image)

Pretty ironic since today we are having our first REAL rain of the year here in Phoenix! 

Sassy Cheryl's Digi Stamps  is having a challenge of "April Showers" and I think this card is perfect!  ( And I would love to add an image or two of Cheryl's into my collection!)

Doodle Dragon loves Alice in Wonderland!

Dustin Pike, over at Doodle Dragon Studios,

 loves all things Disney and the characters from Alice are no exception!

This adorable image of the Caterpillar from the book/movies is one of the MANY available in the Blogiversary package on sale now!

The choices are endless...dragons, frogs, cats, hippos, the list goes on and on...

"Who are YOU?"

(Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland)

I think it's really cute the way the caterpillar is blowing bubbles, rather than the typical pictures we have of him smoking a hookah...of course, we all grew up with a drug-smokin' bug, and never really thought anything of it... times they are a'changin'...

When faced with the question as to what color to make the mushroom, I debated on a more realistic choice.  But in the end, it's not really fantasy unless you throw some pink or purple in there!  Yes, I, Jan,  used my pink Copics!  WOW!

DYSU Challenge #69- Case the DT!

Little Darlings - $10 Gift Certificate

A Day for Daisies - $16 gift certificate

The Paper Shelter - $20 Gift Certificate

This week we have a special challenge!

Pick a card that one of us made

and is posted in this challenge,

case it,

and post it on your blog!

Please tell us who's card it is, and if it's not obvious, what about that designer's project inspired you!

I chose this adorable little Paper Shelter image!

She reminds me of those carefree days of Summer in my own backyard, enjoying the

weather and no school! 

I love using game pieces and lined paper on my projects,

and coloring her was so much fun!

For the list of sponsors, please go to the DYSU blog!
And check out all the other cards there!
I know there will be at least one you'll want to copy!

Good luck!

Sending smiles...

You're at the right place for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

I won't keep you,

I know you have a lot of projects to look at!

Here is my card using the gorgeous Spring colors and layers that were inspired by the pretty inspiration photo!

(My embossing glitter came out a bit bright and not as pink as what I had expected,

but it makes the balloon really pop!)

 I used the sentiment from "Up, Up and Away Sentiments".

I love this stamp set and use it all of the time!

With any luck, perhaps I will win the

coordinating stamp set itself!

The little clouds are Papertrey's dies! Aren't they adorable?

Another product that stays on my craft table 24/7!

Keep hopping...and good luck to all of you, too!

Born to shop!

I love vintage and if I can find a way to use it on my cards, I will!

In this case, it's a vintage 50's pattern from October Afternoon.

The sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Designs inpired me to make a

tag and pocket card. 

I used the SSD stamp from the "Sassy Shoes" set.

This card is also entered in the challenge at

Crazy 4 Challenges (Use black cardstock)

Thanks a bunch...

For the "Diva Dare Challenge" at Verve this week,

when given the options of using chipboard, kraft, and/or corragated cardboard, I simply couldn't decide on just one!

So....   All Aboard!

I chose Paper Studio kraft paper as my background and to stamp and heat emboss my Verve flower images onto chipboard!

These pretty flower stamps and the sentiment are from the Verve, "Bloom and Grow" set.

This card is also entered in the challenge at
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge (In the Garden)
Shopping Our Stash (B - Butterfly)

Sweet thoughts...

The sketch this week at Waltzingmouse:

I turned the sketch on its' side and used the "Rescue Remedies" stamp by Waltzingmouse. 

The blue background mat is embossed with the M-Bossibilities folder, Elegant.

These are fun!

While you're checking out the challenge at Waltzingmouse,
visit the WM Friends' Gallery!

This card is entered in the challenge at
Craft Your Passion (Photo Inspiration, cupcakes)
The Squirrel and the Fox (FOOD)

Star Quality!

The sketch challenge at The Craft's Meow this month is so fun,

I had to do it twice!

This card will be perfect for my grandson when he has his first

guitar recital next month!

He is convinced that he will be the next rock star!

And at 7 years old, why not?

Keep aiming high, Sweetie!

I heat embossed the star from the Craft's Meow stamp, "Star Quality"

along with background paper that I've had in my stash forever.

The die cut at the top is Monarch Border from MFT.

And see those cute little gold sparkles on the stars?

These are a new product from Queen & Co. called Twinkle Goosebumps!

I just picked those up at the CKC here in Mesa, Arizona.

Owl always be grateful...

I have a long list of cards that I need to make this week for so many

events and occasions!

This little one I made as a Thank You and the inside reads,

"Owl always be grateful!"

Cute, eh?

I wanted something easy but thoughtful, and the

"Make It Monday" challenge

at the "Inspired, Capture the Moment" blog, 

gave me the inspiration I needed to pull this one together this morning.

Using Nicole's technique using the glitter on the little Papertrey cloud die cuts really made this come together quickly!

I also used the sentiment from the Papertrey, Think Big Favorites #1...

it's one of my favorite "go-to" stamp sets.

The fun paper is from DCWV, "Green Stack".

(Appropriate for celebrating this past Earth Day, too!)

This card is also entered in the challenges at
Sentimental Sundays (Earth Day celebration)

Creative Craft Challenges (Animal Antics)
Raise the Bar (Clouds)

Thanks for looking!

Doodle Dragon Anouncement!

Guess what?  After being a long-time admirer of Dustin Pike and his amazing charismatic characters, I have been offered a position on the
Doodle Dragon Design Team
at Dustin Pike's blog! 

And what a perfect time to be joining this team!
Dustin is celebrating his 3rd Blogiversary and having a great sale at the Doodle Dragon Studios!

For those who don't know Dustin, he creates these adorable little characters
and has a somewhat "unusual" sense of humor!
The blog offers a bi-weekly challenge and you get a free image
JUST FOR PLAYING ALONG!
Who else does that?

I can't wait to play!

So, here is my first post on my blog as a member of this way wacky group!

The challenge theme this week is "Outdoor Activities". 

"Dudley" has gotten behind the wheel and is cruising down the road...

Slow down, Dudley!

I colored this with Copics and used Paper Studio Papers, "Boys Live to Rock".

Dudley's such a "gear-head"!

If you're not familiar with Dustin Pike's images,

you need to check them out!

This card has been entered in the challenges at:
Cards for Men (Texture)
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge (Stripes)
Here Come the Boys (Cards for little boys)
Totally Gorjuss (Toys for Boys)

Pastels for Spring!

The challenge at JustRite Inspirations this week is

"Perfect Pastels!"

How absolutely gorgeous to see all of the beautiful

design team posts!

On my card, I took inspiration from the colors and the black of the vintage typewriter in the inspiration photo!

I tried something new this time around and am not sure how I feel about it.

I heated the ribbon on the edges to allow it to curl slightly, hoping to give it more texture and not look so flat. 

In the photo, it appears to be just crooked ribbon or paper...

Perhaps not a technique I will use layered under another element again.

IRL, it really looks pretty.

I added a sparse amount of crushed glass to the butterfly wings, also.

Jury's still out on that one, too...

To break down my supplies, I used:

JustRite stamps; Fleur dis Lis Labels Twenty,
Greetings from Paris,
and

Victorian Nested Frames and Sentiments (No longer available)

Dies; Spellbinders, Nestibilities Labels Twenty and Fancy Tags Three

Papers;  DCWV, Prima, and Echo Park

Embossing Powders, Crushed Glass Glitters, and inks;  Stampendous

Hope you enjoyed, and remember to always TRY new things.

I may very well use that technique on another project and LOVE it!

This card has also been entered at
Victorine Stamps (Anything Goes)

Recycled, repurposed, or reused!

Rose Corset Project

This little "dresser" has been sitting on my armoire for 2 years, unpainted and unloved.

My husband pointed out that I should have taken a photo BEFORE I crackle-painted it, but if you're like me, you get an idea, and you run with it! Literally! I think I broke records sprinting out to the garage searching for my crackle paint with the

 image of what I wanted to do swirling around in my head!

I also knew that I HAD to place the Rose Corset in front of it!
I love this stamp! It heat embosses so beautifully and the swirls lend themselves perfectly to further embellishment!

I stamped and embossed the image, glued it to some thin chipboard, then fussy-cut it.
Next, I painted the "fabric" portions of the corset with sparkle waterpaints and lined the trim with silver pen, and the leaves with green. 
The roses are Copic, R35 and R59, with tiny black pearl pen buttons.
I carefully placed rhinestones following the swirls.
 I love the way it sets off the elegant detail.
I cut a slice into the top of an oval chipboard disk, inked it in black,
stuck the cut image into it,
and heat embossed it with lots of black embossing powder to hold it in place and to make it look as though it is one piece.



The dresser was painted black and then crackled in cream.
After allowing it to dry overnight, I stamped the design onto the sides and top using Momento ink. 
For the drawers, I painted them cream and thn crackeld them in dark red.
A little water-downed walnut ink wash over the whole thing
gave it a more vintage appearance.

Just to add a bit of punch, I added the rhinestone swirls to the front.
The little hat box was really fun!
I simply painted the bottom walnut and crackled the lid in cream.
Those tiny roses were the perfect size! And after I used my R35 and R59 Copics markers again, they were the perfect color!

The chandelier is that special something to make the scene complete.
I wish I had a real bedroom with these decorator items in it!
My favorite colors again, RED and Black! 
I think my earrings have just found a new home!

DYSU Challenge #68- Stripes!

We have three amazing sponsors this week:

£10 voucher

Winner's Choice of 5 Digis

A "Toodle Club Membership" and a free Toodle Birthday Calendar.

My

"Cozy Toddle"

card:

I loved coloring and paper piecing this image,

all the way down to her fluffy house slippers!

They're baaaack!

Well, they never really went away, but it's been a while since I have visited

Dustin Pike's "Doodle Dragon" blog.

Boy, things are really hopping over there! They still have the great challenges, but now you receive a "freebie" image just for entering!

What could be better?! 

Better, you ask? 

How about an entire HUGE COLLECTION of Dustin's images for a really small price? Dustin is celebrating his 3 Year Blogiversary!

Check it out at the website! 

Here's my entry for the "Make us laugh!" challenge:

Yes, a play on the words from the TV commercial, "What's in YOUR wallet?"

I couldn't resist...

And no, those are NOT real jelly beans...I painted little white beans for the card.

My grandson will LOVE this one.  Just twisted enough.

Art Philosophy Cameo

I really like the way the Cricut "Art Philosophy" cartridge works so well with the other die cuts out there!  I used several of my Spellbinders and this pretty silhouette cut from the cartridge to make a quick and easy layered card! 
And in order to enter it in the challenge at

Cricut Is Close To My Heart,

I chose to layer the cut silhouette under acetate.

(This blog has some really fantastic ideas for your cartridges. Even if you haven't any CTMH stamps, it's great for ideas!

After the fact, I had wished I had made the black frame more filigree. At the time I made the card, it seemed as if it would be too busy...now I regret not taking that chance!

I must keep asking myself, "What would Becca Feeken do"?  LOL!

She would have had three more luscious layers and a larger, prettier bow!

baby steps, Jan, baby steps....

This photo shows the reflection off the acetate.

If you have a Cricut, and have been debating buying the "Art Philosophy" cartidge,
get it!

I have only 20 or so Cricut cartridges, and find I use some only rarely. But this one has SO many elements that work well with vintage and fancy cards and layouts, I'm constantly pulling it out!

The other one I love is Heritage.

Have a great week!

Skipping Stones Sketch Challenge #123

Perfect for this number challenge (1...2...3...) at Skipping Stones Designs

is this sketch with 3 obvious image spots!

Of course, these could have been also been sentiments or elements, but this is MY interpretation!

I've been wanting to apply the bleaching technique to a clear embossed image for a long time now, and this image for a masculine card offered the perfect opportunity!

Love the way the embossed image just POPS through the lighten area! FUN!

The stamp set I used is Skipping Stones Design's, "Always Here".

I really gravitate to these butterflies and dragonflies this time of year!

"Lovely in Lace" at Flourish!

For the current noon-time Flourish challenge - to use lace on your project -

I chose to make a card that I can have ready for the next coming winter season.

When the temperatures start cooling off here in the desert, around October, we start coming out of our air-conditioned homes and enjoying the outdoors. I actually spend more time scrapping indoors when most of you are out during the summer,
enjoying the days in the sun! 115 degrees in August, early September sometimes,
is a bit too much sun for me!

I don't make a lot of Christmas/holiday cards, so more of mine are "season" related.

I embossed these tiny little birds and the pine needles with Stampendous embossing glitters! I love them because, not like regular glue-down glitter, it doesn't get all over you or your card! Stays exactly where you heat emboss it!

Just trying to keep a "cool" head here while the temperatures start creeping up...

DYSU Challenge #67- Glitter!

Check out the DYSU blog to see the terrific sponsors!

For my card, I chose the adorable "Download Diva"

from:

And to think that I would have NEVER considered using bling or glitter as recently as only a few years ago on a card or layout!

I loved adding the little hoop earring! (jump ring)

She was just crying out for some stylin' jewelry!

I love this little image, and her message is appropriate for any age.

Yes, even someone MY age! LOL!

Enjoy your day!