Whew....getting back to 'normal' ???

Howdy!

How are you? It's rainy, and oh, so dreary here in Mo. It's been a perfect day to be in my girl cave, playing with paper. I'm actually working on some things to share with you in June!!!

Things are slowly getting back into a normal routine here, but I still have SO many things to share that I created but never posted. I'm going to attempt to clear out that file in the next week or so. You can consider this your warning - I am going to flood the blog with photos and very little talk.

Enjoy!!! Ask questions if something jumps out at you :)

Thanks for popping in!

See you soon,

Patti J.

Happy Monday!

Good morning!

Well, it's Monday, and it's rained all weekend long. I'm ready for a bit of sunshine!

My sunglasses are feeling lonely...

😎

I'll be sharing a few more cards from my stash for the next few weeks, as I'm

getting ready to be out of town for a month.  An adventure, for sure, as we have grandbaby

number 4 on the way!  He's due March 19th. Grandma is going to DC on March 11th,

and will be there until April 11th.

So....if you can be patient with me, I promise some fun posts in mid to late April,

and perhaps a few blog candies for putting up with my MIA status!

Here are a few cards that never made it to the blog....

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Fun with Friends Swap Hop

Good morning!

I'm here today with a bit of fun!

A few weeks ago, seven of us decided we would do a Christmas/Winter card swap.

It was so much fun to see the different cards come in, that we decided to take it one step

further, and do a blog hop with our swap cards!

This is just for fun...no prizes, but we hope that you are inspired by something
that you see today!

Here is my (first) swap card:

Once my mailbox began filling with swap cards, I panicked!

This card, which looked so pretty initially, now looked pretty drab and plain, so...............

here is card number two:

I actually used this card for two swaps.

The first attempt was the card with the larger flakes.

I simply could NOT get the ink to dry, so I added some Liquid Pearls to the top of the stamped snowflakes.

Since I was still feeling a bit inadequate (lol...) I tucked a little tag into each envelope.

Anyway, we had a great time!  Hope you will swap cards with us sometime!

Now, you can hop along with us, to see what the other uber-talented folks created!

Sally McDonald     Debbie Seyer     Sue Drees     Cheryl Winget

Shirley Hotop     Lorie Ames     Patti Gilliam

Thanks for stopping by - have a great day!

Patti J.

Sew...What's New?

Happy Sunday!

I'm not sure where August went, but suddenly September is upon us!

Today is my last post as Guest Designer for Great Impressions Stamps.

Thank you Deone, Mynn, and the wonderful Design Team for the warm welcome that I received. Everyone has been so thoughtful and kind.  I've SEW enjoyed working with you all.

Today's card uses the Great Impressions stamps, 'What's New?', and 'Spool Trio'.

I really had some fun with this one!

Here's how it all happened...

I actually separated the Spool Trio into individual spools.

Each spool was stamped and colored on the card front.  I stamped in from the right edge just a bit, and made sure that each spool was 'touching' another.

The next step was to cut around the right edge of the spools.

I used some A Muse Ginghmam cardstock, and had turned it inside out, in order to stamp on the white side.

I cut a scrap of the yellow gingham for the front, and added a button and some twine.

I did not have the color cardstock that I wanted for the sentiment, so I colored the piece with

one of my copic markers, before adhering with pop dots.

As you can see, there's about a  half-inch border on the right, after cutting out the spools, where that sweet yellow cardstock shows through.  There was one small huge problem that I didn't think about.  When I actually

opened the card, I gasped in surprise as I realized that the Copics had bled through!  What to do, what to do?  Well, I restamped the spools on white, cut them out, and glued them over the ink spots!

You'll be thrilled to know that these stamps are very nearly 100% symmetrical - it worked!

Hope you've enjoyed my rambling!  I love the way this turned out, and can't wait to mail it to someone special!  Thanks for stopping by today. Stop over at the website and pick out some fun new Great Impressions Stamps!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Where have I been all this time?

Lol...yup - I've been MIA again!

If I haven't been commenting on your blogs, I've had a decent excuse :)

Here's what I was working on... needed favors for a baby shower at church Sunday.

I had THIS template from Creations by AR.

I worked it up half a dozen different ways, and it just wasn't what I wanted for this event, so I emailed the incredible Adela Rossol, and asked if she could tweak the front of the outfit to become a cute little scalloped edge dress.  LOOK what she did!  Love that lady - she's so talented, and so very sweet!

I had all of the pieces cut out, and ready to create the little dress fronts.  

One morning, my amazing friend, Shirley, came over, and we assembled the dress fronts, 

assembly line style.  THANK YOU, Shirley!!!

Each dress got a blouse behind it, a collar, a strip of ribbon, and a rosebud.  

Oh...and two cuffs!  

Then, we glued a strip of DP around each box, to hide the staples (yes,

the box was quick and easy, with one staple in each side)

Later in the week, I adhered the dress to the box, fixed puffy little bags of Hershey's kisses,

with cute little baby words on the bottom, and lots of white 'shred' material.

Still later in the week, I did this...a glassine bag, stamped with simple Pebbles stamps,

made Ghirardelli White Chocolate Covered Pretzels, with pink sprinkles, and tucked in a Hershey's white

chocolate bar.  I computer generated the little saying "Thank you for being here today. You have showered us with blessings, and made our day so 'SWEET'.  The names and date followed.

Then, I had leftover kisses.  What to do? What to do?  AHA!  I made these, and they just

filled in some gaps on the food table.

Here is the whole kit and caboodle, ready to party on!  It was a wonderful day.

The fellowship hall was full of love and friendship, and OH SO PRETTY baby girl gifts!

All of the designer papers, glassine bags, and ribbon are A Muse Studio products,

which I purchased from my good friend Shirley, who is a demonstrator for the company!

Anyhooo....that's my excuse.  50 of everything later, I'm ready to get inky again! Maybe

I'll have something new to share tomorrow :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Patti J.

Someone like you...

Hello - Happy Sunday!

It' my day to post on the Great Impressions Blog.  It's been fun guest designing with

such a great, talented group of ladies!

Today, I'm going to share a stamp that I will keep in my 'go-to' stash. 

It is just so incredibly versatile - and I'm eager to show you just HOW versatile!

The stamp I used, 'Someone Like You' can be purchased HERE!

For this first card, I used a piece of pretty patterned paper.  I stamped directly onto the patterned paper, added half of a small doily, three pearls, and a twine bow.  7 minute card, start to finish!

Love it, right?  Well scroll down to the next one!

The chalkboard technique is so popular right now, that I couldn't pass up a chance to use it with this stamp.

I had seen these easel type cards all over, and decided to try my own.   (The woodgrain makes my sides look uneven, but I've measured, and they really are identical)  The black card stock was stamped with white pigment ink.  My personal fave is still to come!

Last, but not least, I had some fun, vibrant cardstock, and matching ink that I used here.

The sentiment was stamped with black ink, then shadow stamped again with this pretty colored ink.

LOVE this one!  It's really my fave of the three.

Thanks for stopping by, and for being patient with all of these photos!

Hope you will hurry over to the Great Impressions Website and order this stamp - it's great

for any age, any gender, and can be dressed up or down!

Hugs and smiles,

Patti J.

Other supplies used:

Our Daily Bread Designs 6 x 6 Patterned Paper Pack 'Blushing Rose' Collection

Black Cardstock (Hobby Lobby)

White Hammermill 110# Cardstock

Echo Park Cardstock (This & That by Lori Whitlock 'Ornaments' Collection)

A Muse Cardstock and Ink (orange card)

Black ribbon from my stash

Perfect Paper Crafting - Mini Rulers (See my sidebar for details!)

Tombow Adhesive Runner

Udderly Moovelous!

Hello!  

I hope that you are having at Utterly Moovelous day!

Throughout the month of August, I am guest designing for Great Impressions Stamps, and I am so excited!  My posts for the Great Impressions Blog will be each Sunday this month.

Today's card, 'Utterly Moovelous', features two of the new release stamps.  I've used 'Party Cow', and 'Udderly' - this card will hopefully brighten someone's day - what a fun and happy image!

To create this card, I folded my card base, and set it aside.  The next step was to cut a piece of white cardstock for the focal panel.  After sponging on a sun, some grass, and sky, I stamped the image and sentiment, as shown.  Taking a scrap of the green gingham, I shaped a hill, sponged it, and die
cut some grass to adhere behind the hill.  This piece was then adhered to the focal panel.
The panel was then matted on black cardstock, using my Perfect Paper Crafting Mini-Rulers, and adhered to the card base.  The cow was stamped again on a white scrap, colored, and added to the card front with dimensional foam.  I stamped the cow once more on gingham and dot scraps, and paper pieced the hat and balloon.  Voila!

Thanks for stopping by - be sure to enter the Birthday Bash Challenge at the Great Impressions Blog!
We'd love to see your creations :)

Hugs and smiles,
Patti J.

Other supplies used:
A Muse Green Gingham Cardstock
White Hammermill 110# Cardstock
Amuse Grapefruit Petite Dots Cardstock
Black Cardstock - Hobby Lobby
Grass Die - C.C. Designs, C.C. Cutters
Perfect Paper Crafting Mini-Rulers (see my sidebar for details!)
Adhesive: Tombow runner
Dimensional Foam (Michael's)
Copic Markers
Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Angels are Watching...

Hello, and Happy Thursday to you all.

It's my day to post on the Die-Versions Blog, and I'm excited to be showcasing

more of their new Christmas release!

This card features the "Angel Ornament" Whispers DVW-401 which can be found in the Die-Versions store.

The first version shows everything pretty clean and simple.  The white die cuts, stand alone.

In this second card, a bit of bling was used on the angels, and it made a huge difference!

I loved working with this die.  The die cut truly fell right out of the die.  

If you like angels, this could easily be your mass produced Christmas card!

As a card angel, I send a lot of cards to seniors, folks at church, and chemo 'buddies', I decided to go with a nice 'Angel' sentiment.  My friend Shirley, who has the most incredible variety of stamps, had this one out in plain view.

It's an old PSX stamp, but the verse is beautiful, and it's perfect with these gorgeous angels.

Be sure to check out the Die-Versions blog - you can sign up to follow, and you won't miss any of the wonderful Design Team inspiration!

While you are surfing around today, head over to the Die-Versions store, and look at

this beautiful new holiday release - you won't be disappointed!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Patti J.

Other supplies used:

Amuse Navy Cardstock (thanks Shirley!)

PSX E-2326 Sentiment

White Hammermill 110# Cardstock

White Stampendous Embossing Powder

Mmmm...chocolate!

Happy Saturday!

I'm sure I'm not alone when I think of chocolate, and say 'Mmmmmm......'

Especially Ghirardelli chocolate!

I had some A Muse Studio Glassine Bags, Twine, and scraps of cardstock, so that's what I used!

The sentiment is an old Hero Arts - still love that set after all these years!

I had some just laying around tempting me terribly, so I decided to create another little

gift for the Sunday School class that I created for a few posts ago.  No...I did not make

coffee in their tea pot again, but they are all so sweet, I thought they needed a

sweet treat to brighten their day.  Hope they like them!

Thanks for stopping to look - have a wonderful weekend!

Patti J.

Good morning!

Good morning 'deer' readers!

Wow, where has this week gone? Can't believe that it's Thursday already.

I was looking at photos, and found a whole stash that I've not yet posted,

so thought I'd share one today.

You all know that I can, and do create with lots of fru-fru, at times.

But...there are times when we all need a 5 minute card.

This is one of those - seriously 5 minutes!

I had this pretty a|muse polka dot cardstock (which I love, as it's snow white on the back).

I simply folded the cardstock into a base, ran this beautiful Memory Box die through

my Cuttlebug, adhered the die cut, and stamped a sentiment.

Voila!

Hope you are all doing well!

Thanks for stopping by...

Hugs & smiles,

Patti J.

Pretty Wings...

Hello!

It's my day to bring you some Die-Versions goodness!

This card is made with the Die-Versions "Pretty Wings" Die.  This is one of the prettiest butterfly dies that I've ever seen, and was so excited to see it in my last envelope from Die-Versions!

This shot shows the card closed.  This is a 6 x 6 card base.  I've measured in from

each side about 1.5 inches, and cut up to the fold on the card base.  The flaps

on the sides were adhered to the card back, leaving only the center

as a fun little easel!

The small strip in the center is actually the "Crochet Lace" Die (DVW-322).

I've cut it out, and cut it in half, placing each half together, and covering the

seam with a ribbon scrap.  I totally LOVE this border die!

Die-Versions "Pretty Wings" Whispers DVW-383

Now, here's a view with the easel up.  Isn't that just the most fun?

The sentiment inside says "Wishing you a blessed & wonderful day".

Next up is a FUN and girlie card!  I've always LOVED shoes - wish my old feet would still

tolerate heels like these!  This die, "Shoe Collection", is so great - the set has every one of these shoes!

Of course, it can be cut apart if you want to use just one shoe, but as it's small, I just left it together,

punching a set of each color.

The sentiment on this one is computer generated.

This 'Diva' release was so much fun!  I can't wait to create with these dies again!

Hope you'll head over to the Die-Versions store and see what's new!

While you're out and about, check out the Die-Versions Blog - there's lots

of daily inspiration to be found there, by the DV Dynamo's!

Thanks for stopping by,

Patti J.

Other supplies used:

Bazzill Cardstock

a|muse Chevron Cardstock

KaiserCraft Pearls

Black Nailheads (Michael's)

Our Daily Bread Designs "Flourished Verses"

Sherri Baldy "Besties" Image

Tombow Adhesives

Black Cardstock (Hobby Lobby)

White Cardstock (Hammermill 100#)

and, of course... my Perfect Paper Crafting Perfect Layers Mini-Rulers for my mats

on the pink card! (see my sidebar for details on how you can save money!)

Gina K. Designs - New Release Hop, Day Two!

Here I am for day two - STILL excited!!!  Thank you, Gina, and Crew!
The Cast and Crew for Gina K Designs welcomes you to another fabulous Inspiration Blog Hop! Gina, along with the Cast and Crew and Guest Designers, will inspire 

you with many beautiful ideas! 

And as you hop through their blogs, make sure to leave a comment on each of them

 because we will choose a few random comments and those stampers 

will each win a grab bag of Gina K. Designs products! 

To see the full list of winners check the Big News Forum at StampTV 

a few days after the hops.

Tuesday's Link List:

Gina K

Theresa Momber - Illustrator Vertical Greetings 2

Beth Silaika - Illustrator Keep Calm

Cathy Tidwell

Debbie Corbari

Karen Day Hightower

Kendra Wietstock

Laurie Schmidlin

Lee Murphy

Sean Fetterman

Tricia Traxler 

And our Guests:

Patti J

Sharyn P

Here are my projects for today's hop!

For my first set, I am featuring projects made using Beth Silaika's 'Keep Calm' set.

This is such a nice set, and good for so many occasions.

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD Black Onyx Ink, GKD 'Ang & Me' Patterned Paper Pack

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD Black Onyx Ink

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD 'Ang & Me' Patterned Paper Pack, GKD Black Onyx Ink

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD Black Onyx Ink

And last, but certainly not least - one of my favorite designers, Theresa Momber, has come up with a new set called Vertical Greetings 2, that I loved working with.

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD Black Onyx Ink, GKD 'Ang & Me' Patterned Paper Collection

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD Black Onyx Ink

GKD Pure Luxury White Cardstock, GKD 'Ang & Me' Patterned Paper Pack

Thanks for stopping by today!
Happy Hopping,
Patti J.

In case you missed the hop on Monday, here is the Link List for Day One!

Moday's Link List:

 Gina K

 Melanie Muenchinger - Illustrator Fabulous Frames

 Debbie Corbari - Illustrator Let's Talk

Beth Silaika

Cathy Tidwell

Karen Day Hightower

Kendra Wietstock

Laurie Schmidlin

Lee Murphy

Sean Fetterman

Tricia Traxler 

And our Guests:

Patti J (That's me!)

Sharyn P


Other Supplies Used Today:
Metal Frame from my stash
Tim Holtz Peeled Paint Distress Ink
Tim Holtz Stormy Sky Distress Ink
Scor-Tape
Pink Glitter
Copic Markers
Black Cardstock
Perfect Layers Mini Rulers (see sidebar for details!)
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Stampin'Up! Scallop Tag Punch
a|muse Twine
Kraft Cardstock
Twine from my stash
Kaiser Craft Pearls
Acrylic Block (for distressed background)
Ribbon Scrap
Spellbinder's Fleur De Lis Die