So, "What DOES the Fox Say?"

In this case, it's Happy Birthday!

 

 

Using DCWV,

"Green Stack"

I took the song title and made it into a silly birthday card!

 

 

The card sketch challenge this month is:

which I promptly flipped on its' side so that the trees could be cut from a banner die and stand upright!

 

I love this little song and sometimes go around humming it at the house! 

 

Visit DCWV Diary and enter your own card or layout

following the sketches!

They always have some fantastic stacks to win! And who doesn't want more DCWV paper?

I know I do!

 

While you're there, check out the CHA photos!  Look closely and you'll see my "Welcome Home" canvas displayed! 

 

Have a great weekend!

~Jan~

 

 



Latest Funny Photo!

This one was too precious NOT to share!

 

 

Bet I made you giggle!

 

10 weeks old and already posing for the camera!

She's definitely related to Hayden!

 

~Jan~

 

 



Baby Update!

The holidays were so super-special because this last year we welcomed our second grandchild into the world! 

For those of you who did not see my previous post

from October,

I have a granddaughter now and she is a cutie!

 

Christmas is always more fun when you have the little ones,

and it's been just my one grandson for a very long 8 years now!

 

We had family over for Christmas Day and no one could get enough of little Harper!

She's smiling and cooing now, and makes the cutest little expressions.

Hayden, although a bit jealous at times, loves her dearly and keeps expecting her to be able to be more of a playmate very soon!

 

 

Perhaps by summer, Hayden!

 

 

So, now that the tree is down, and the Christmas lights are off the house,

normal life can resume.

I am still unpacking boxes from our move, which was just a week following Thanksgiving so it's been a hectic two months for sure!

 

I am looking forward to a much improved 2014!

I'm taking it one day at a time and trying not to let stress affect my life any more!

 

We are having beautiful weather here, which is more than I can say for the rest of the country.

We are seriously fortunate to be living in Phoenix during the winter months. Now, ask me how I feel about Arizona come July/August and I'll feel quite differently, I'm sure!

 

Happy New Year to everyone!

Hugs and best wishes to you and your families!

 

~Jan~

 

 



Let the Christmas Holiday begin!

Over at "Stampin' for the Weekend",

our current challenge is
GET FESTIVE!

I chose to use one of my favorite Stampendous images.

He was originally released for Halloween, but serves nicely as a Christmas owl

when you add snow and a touch of holiday red! 

 

 

I was away from my computer when I colored this image, so I wasn't as secure about the

colors as I would have been had I Googled owls.

 

 

Colored with Copics, I love the pop of red on his belted top hat and bowtie!

 

 

The snow on the branches is a bit difficult to see in the photo,

but gives texture and dimension on the card IRL!  :)

 

 

This is how the easel card will appear in the 6 x 6 envelope when I mail it out.

Papers used were DCWV, several of their 6 x 6 stacks of glitters and foils!

 

Please check out the new challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend!

And please leave a comment so I know you stopped by!

I love the company!

~Jan~



Celebrating Fall with Bugaboo!

This upcoming challenge at Stampin' for the Weekend
is all about Fall!

My grandson very recently became a BIG brother,

and I know that a lot of attention is going to the new baby!

 

I thought this card would be a great way to remind him

 that Grandma has not

forgotten her "used-to-be-little", big boy!

We are also celebrating his making the
"Principal's List" 

(apparently that's a good thing!)

 

 

Using Bugaboo "BB Bratz Ruler Boy" image.

 

 

I popped up the little guy so he sits comfortably on the ruler.

The sentiment is an old rub-on from my stash.

 

If I stick this in the mail today,

he will have it before I see him again!

He loves getting mail!

 

Thanks for joining us at Stampin' For the Weekend!

If you haven't seen them, check out what the rest of the design team has put together for Fall!

And now on to our upcoming challenge; the theme is Fall colors . sponsored by
Bugaboo

and

Scrappiness Designs!

 

~Jan~

 



It's a GHOUL!

Or should I say GIRL!

 

I have a brand-spankin' new granddaughter!

 

Harper Skye

was born Tuesday morning!

 

And she is a cutie!

 

Forgive my cheesy smile.  I just had a hard time containing my excitement!

 

  7 hours old...

Mother and baby are doing great!

 

GREAT-Grandma, Hayden, and Harper.

 

They came home on Friday, and I was able to spend the weekend feeding and changing, and burping and cooing....

 

 Hayden even set the TV remote aside long enough to hold and feed his little sister.

We'll see how long that lasts!

 

3 days old...

 

I wish we could bundle them up tight and keep them like this forever!

 

Now I have a grandson and granddaughter, so I suppose life is pretty great!

I can only imagine how some of you with TONS of grandchildren do it!

 

~Jan~

 



"Something Spooky"

Yep, there's some real spookiness going on over at

Stampin for the Weekend!

 

The challenge is to create something spooky for the holiday!

 

Easy enough with all those terrific images out there!

 

I chose to use one of my favorite sponsors,

Saturated Canary!

She's gorgeous and rather scary at the same time!

 

 

 

Image used:

"Withering Fairy"

 

Colored with Copics, and paper used is Graphic 45.

 

Have fun, and create something really scary! LOL!

 

~Jan~

Fall Float!

House Mouse

"Fall Flight"

 

Whether she's sailing downward, or across the sky like in this card,

this little guy appears to be having the time of his life!

 

Love these leaves and the adorable expression on her face!

 

 

This card is entered in the Blog Hop Challenge at

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge

"Anything Goes with Twine"

They have some great prizes and the designers have offered up many of their own

goodies as giveaways!

Who doesn't want to win some House Mouse?!

Have you seen the new Gruffies?  CUTE!



It's TIME!

I know I have mentioned my grandson many times on my blog,

and even posted layouts of him.

NOW, I am waiting to hear about the birth of my second grandchild,

a girl this time!

 

Hayden will have a new, little sister!

 

I am a little over the top today!

My immediate family grows bigger!  Yeah!

 

(I only wish my dad were still here to meet our new member.

But I know he's watching and very happy, too!)

 



I never imagined I would be this excited,

but the timing is terrific!

I am feeling great, have regained my weight from

my earlier illness,

and can't wait to see and help care for this new little bundle!

 

I will, for sure, be posting some pictures soon!

Thanks for the few of you who DO visit my  blog and read all my rantings at times!

 

I truly appreciate you!

 

Be back soon with photos of the new

baby girl!

(And hopefully she'll have a name by then!)

~Jan~



Are you scared yet?

Dustin Pike has done it again!

The new August release is full of adorable (and frightening!) Halloween images!

As always, each with it's own whimsical twist.

 

See all the new images and find out how you can get hundreds of terrific digitals images at

Doodle Dragon Studios.

Here is my card made with one of those cute guys!

 

 

 

Isn't he just too scary?  LOL!

I would have preferred to use cheese cloth, but all my scrapping supplies are pretty much packed in boxes at the moment.

The tissue paper worked fairly well as mummy wrapping,

don't you think?

 

Have a great day, and join us over at the

 "Playground"

anytime for a challenge and chance to win some images!

We've been on vacation, but the fun is about to begin again!

 

~Jan~

"Stampendously" Spooky!

There's nothing really scary about these little fellas,

but they sure do make adorable Halloween cards!

 

 

You can capture this image yourself either at the

Stampendous store or from the House Mouse website.

 

 

Challenges:

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge, Orange and Green

Stampendous October Challenge, Halloween

 

Colored using Copic markers.

 

Thanks for looking today!

New Stampin' for the Weekend Challenge!

Well, here I am!

Finally ready to buckle down again and start creating on a regular basis!

You have no idea how happy I am to feel well enough to be making projects again!

 

As a new design team member of
Stampin' for the Weekend,
 I have this adorable Stamp Fairy image card in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Everyone hears every day how important it is to get your yearly mammogram, but how many people actually follow through each and every time?

I purposely have mine on or around my birthday in November, which means it's just around the corner.  I will be calling and scheduling my next visit very soon.

+ 

The image is Stamp Fairy's  "Molly Fairy 3", and my papers are
DCWV, Birthday Wishes 6 x 6 Stack.

I love coloring with my Copics, but felt this little gal needed a nicely printed fussy-cut dress.
 

 

 Inside of card!

 

 

Please join us at Stampin' for the Weekend for the current challenge,

"Anything Goes".
The sponsor is Stamp Fairy, so if you have any, we'd love to see them! 

 

Also, don't forget to have your mammogram when it is due.

The life you save could be your own.

 

 

Thanks for looking today!

Please leave a comment and become a follower!

I love to see how many people are actually out there reading this!

~Jan~

Special Announcement!

Upon returning from my two week vacation, I will be joining

the terrific Design Team at

Stampin' for the Weekend!
(Thanks, Rebekah, for this great opportunity!)

They feature some amazing sponsors, only one of which is
Saturated Canary!
 

 I love their images and can't wait to work with these and many other sponsors!

Here are a few of my past projects using Saturated Canary!
Aren't they adorable?



 

If you aren't already familiar with this blog,

go check them out!

Great challenges, wonderful prizes,

and a terrific team! 

 

See you October 2nd!

Dear friend...

I made this card for a good friend who recently took a nasty spill off her bike.

She is recovered now, but spent a long while in the hospital.

 

Being a retired "cowgirl" myself, I knew she would appreciate the ol',

 "Get back in the saddle" attitude!

 

 

The layout I copied from Jennifer Dove's amazing card that's very similar, except that I added the charms and crackle painted my fence.

 

 

My friend received her card the other day and couldn't stop gushing over it!

Now that's why I, as a card maker, do what I do!

Bringing a little happiness into someone's life!

 

 Entered in challenge at

Stampin' for the Weekend (Summertime colors)

and they're having a DT call!  Fun blog!  Check them out!

and

City Crafter Challenge Blog (Bicycles)



Catch me if I fall...

This little guy appears to have a nice, soft place to land!

The leaves were colored with Copics and fussy-cut so they could pop up off the card.  Not an easy task. 

I am now appreciating the girls efforts who have been

cutting out these little leaves for their projects!

 

 

 

I actually stamped one of the House Mouse images (Fall Float) twice in order to have the extra leaves for the "landing pad".

 

 

With some curled edges, they really appear to be FLOATING on the page!

This is definitely one of my fall favorites!

 

 

I will be entering this card at

House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge (Autumn Leaves)

Stampendous September Challenge  (Fall Fun)

Simple SPOOKY Easy Easel Card!

As long as I had my

Stampendous, "Pumpkin Gate" stamp

all inky,

I decided to make a second card for the

Fall Fun Challenge!

 

 

I love the Halloween paint chips from Stampendous.

Makes for a GREAT place for these guys to rest.

 

 

A simple sentiment was all that was needed.

 

 

I also decided to punch holes on each side of the gate post so I could slip a small ribbon through and tie a tiny bow.

 

Enjoy your week!

Thanks for looking and please leave a comment!

I love knowing you were here!

~Jan~



Craft's Meow September Challenge!

Sending Butterfly Kisses!
What a terrific way to celebrate saying goodbye to summer!

Cooler weather is on its' way!

 

Techniques abound over at Craft's Meow this week!

Check out all of the DT's great tips on how to ink up your projects!

 

I used the blending ink colors to mimic water colors and also used the metallic look for my background.

 

Using my favorite little stamp,

"Butterfly Kisses"

I heat embossed her over a misted green/blue background, and then highlighted her delightful little wings with some vibrant color!

The background is embossed with

Spellbinders'

M-Bossabilities, "Flora".

I inked it in Momento, Gold and Copper, and then rubbed on some
Copper metal Rub-n-Buff.

It really shines!

 

My little butterflies were stamped and fussy cut to pop off the card!

 

 

This card says so long Summer and welcome Fall !

Entered into the challenge at Craft's Meow (techniques)
and
Moxie Fab World, (All that Glitters)
Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog (Embossing)
Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog (Embossing)

Stampendous Faux Watercolor

I was thumbing through my copy of Paper CRafts magazine and I was so impressed by Stampendous' DT Tenia Nelson's inked "watercolor" project, that I had to see if inks could really look like true watercolors!

 

I combined the two stamps, "Castle Gate", and "Pumpkin Gate" by

blending my background "watercolors" with regular ink pads and blotters, and then stamping and heat embossing the Castle Gate on top.

 

I think it worked very well! 

Tenia used much brighter colors on her card, so the variations really popped. Mine is a more subtle, blended style.

I also took a tip from another blog site, and added the small swirl at the bottom using the lower portion of the "Thinking of You" sentiment stamp from Stampendous, turned upside down!

You simply wet your stamp with water, stamp your image over the dry ink, and allow it to pull up some of the color!   I love the effect!

 

 

The little pumpkins were inked and fussy cut, then popped up over the gate image.

 

 

I am entering this in the Stampendous September Challenge, "Fall Fun"!

And throwing out a big thanks to Tenia at the DT for the terrific idea!