Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday!

The snow is beginning to finally melt, and I'm hopeful that by Monday, I can drive

myself places again!  My last trip out that I actually drove, was on Feb. 13th!

Hope you're enjoying some sunshine where you are, as well.

On to my card!

I have a sweet card to share with you today that uses stamps from Great Impressions.

Here's what I created, using: Great Impressions Valentine Bird Houses G517, and Great Impressions Tags G483.

This was so easy to do.

I began with my white card base...folded it, and set it aside.

I cut a piece of cloud paper to about 5 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches. 

My handy dandy scissors cut a little hillside, which I adhered to the lower section of the panel.

I trimmed it up to the right width after adhering.

The sentiment was stamped on a scrap of white card stock, adhered to the green hill, and an enamel dot finished that off.  

The image was then stamped onto the cloud panel, as well as several pieces of patterned papers.  

The birds and one birdhouse and leaves were cut from these patterned papers, and paper-pieced, by adhering the pieces directly onto the stamped image.

The focal panel was then placed onto a mat of black card stock, and then onto the white card base.

What a fun stamp this is!  It was easy to paper piece, and I can't wait to color it!

Be sure to join us in this month's challenge (HERE!) and if you use any GI stamps be sure to link up to the customer gallery (Here). 

Be sure to stop by the Great Impressions store (HERE) and treat yourself to a few new stamps!

Did you know shipping is free over $25?! 

Thanks for stopping by - see you next Saturday with a really fun spring creation!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Other supplies used:

Perfect Papercrafting Perfect Layers Mini Rulers

(see my sidebar for a way to save money on your order!)

Tombow Adhesives

Black Colorbok Cardstock

White Hammermill 100# Cardstock

DCWV Paper Pad

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!)

Inspired by Stamping and Die-Versions Blog Hop

Hi everyone! 

Welcome to the Inspired by Stamping and Die-Versions Blog Hop.  

Twenty two talented designers have united to celebrate the new season and shake off the malaise of a snowy winter. Yay!!! 

Inspired by Stamping, which designs and manufactures the highest quality of photopolymer stamps that bring superior stamping to all crafters, has teamed up with Die-Versions, makers of low profile metal dies which works with virtually every machine out there and cuts through most materials, to create this special eye candy of Spring themed projects.

One lucky "hopper" will get a total prize package of $100 in gift certificates, a $50 gift certificate from Inspired by Stamping AND Die-Versions, so you can stock up on some awesome products both of these companies have to offer.

For your chance to win the grand prize, visit all of the participating blogs, leaving a comment at each, then leave a comment telling us what you like the most about Spring at the Inspired by Stamping blog.  All comments entered between now and April 28th at 10pm (Pacific time) will be eligible for the grand prize.  

Look at all of the amazing products that I was lucky enough to create with!

There was so much Die-Versions and Inspired by Stamping goodness, that I hardly

knew where to begin!

For this first card, I die cut the Amazing frame, and actually used the trimmed to fit outside piece as a background for my focal panel.  Since I really wanted the Inspired by Stamping Designer papers to be seen, all three of my cards are pretty clean and simple.

Die-Versions DVSF-005 Sweet Frames 'Amazing' Die, Inspired by Stamping 'It's Your Birthday' , Spring Lilacs 6 x 6 Designer Paper Pad, and Crochet Lace.  Other supplies: Kraft cardstock, Bazzill Cardstock, Tombow adhesive, Amuse Studio Ink.

For this card, the background was stamped with several of the stamps from the 'It's Your Birthday' set.

The beautiful Teardrop border punch was used to add some dimension.

Die-Versions Whispers DVW-351 'Teardrop Punch Border', Inspired by Stamping 'It's Your Birthday' and 'Arrows', Crochet Lace. Other supplies: Black and blue cardstocks, Baker's Twine, Dimensional Foam, Tombow Adhesive, Amuse Studio Ink. Also used my wonderful Mini Rulers from Perfect Paper Crafting to get my nice, even mats. See my sidebar for details!

For this card, I wanted the die and paper to be the focal point!

Die-Versions DVB-013 Express Banners 'Hooray' , Inspired by Stamping Spring Lilacs 6 x 6 Paper Pad, Crochet Lace, and Pink Roses. Other Supplies: Kraft Cardstock, Bazzill Cardstock, Dimensional Foam, Tombow Runner and Mono Adhesives. Again, my Mini Rulers from Perfect Paper Crafting were used for this nice straight mat! See my sidebars for details!

Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented Grace Tolman.  If you ever get lost in the hop, you can always go back to the beginning, Die-Versions blog, for the complete order list.

Thanks for stopping by!

Patti J.

100 Days of Tombow!

Good Morning!

I am so excited to have been asked to participate in a fun event for a wonderful cause!

Tombow has been creating innovative products for the past 100 years that help everyday artists do their best work.  For its centennial year, Tombow created the "100 Days of Tombow" program.  Each submission for this program results in a $100 product donation to the Council for Arts Education, a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting and supporting art education and quality art programs nationwide.

Pretty awesome, right???  And guess what? I will be featured on their blog this week! Check out the Tombow Blog for some great inspiration!

So... last week, I got happy mail from Tombow!  I received some fabulous Irojiten Colored Pencils, a yummy package of Tombow Dual Brush Pens, and an awesome new Tombow Stamp Runner Adhesive.
I love, love, LOVE happy mail, don't you?

My 'Happy Mail' from Tombow!

Using the products they sent, I created a card, and a candy box, to send Mary, my Chemo Buddy.
 
Here's what I did...

The Irojiten Colored Pencils were my choice to color the image on the candy box.  Yum....love these pencils! As the colors were a bit dark, I used a blending stump, dipped it in mineral spirits, got color from the pencil tip, and colored with the blending stump.

Stamp your image.  I stamped the birdhouse three times so I could layer for dimension.

Gently color on the lightest of colors, then as you see in the photo below, add a few lines of the two darker colors.

Blend colors together, by dipping blending stump into mineral spirits, and picking color up from the colored pencils.

You will then blend the colors using your blending stump.

Don't worry about being precise on the two extra birdhouses, or the wee bird.

You can see in this photo, that the birdhouse was cut from one extra, and the roof from another. This just adds some fun dimension to the candy box!

 

This is the finished candy box lid using Irojiten Colored Pencils.  I found the pencils to blend beautifully!

To create the greeting card, the Dual Brush Pens were used, along with my Tombow Colorless Blender.  Since the colors in the marker set were also darker colors, I actually used the Colorless Blender to get color from the Dual Brush Pen, and colored with the Blending Pen.

For my card background, I repeatedly stamped the branch, and colored just the outside edges.  I used the same process with the Dual Brush Pens for my card.  I lifted the color off of the markers with my Tombow Colorless Blender, and colored the card with the blender pen. You can see in the center where I got rid of some of the darker color prior to coloring the branches, leaves, flowers, birds, etc.

Here is the finished card.  I cut a mat from the same blue cardstock that I used for the card base.  Then, I used my Perfect Layers Rulers to get the nice, even matting.

Hopefully my photos explain my coloring process better than my feeble brain can!

I hope that you will take time to drop by the Tombow Blog, and spend some time there, looking at projects that other bloggers have created!  You won't be disappointed - lots of ideas and inspiration there for crafters of all levels and interests.

While you are there, be sure to wish Tombow a Happy Birthday!!!

Thanks for stopping by today, and for your patience with SO many photos!

Hugs and smiles,
Patti J.

Love my coffee....I'm just sayin'

I love my morning coffee.

Really I do! So when I got back to town this week and saw the delightful freebies that Paulette had up on the Create with TLC blog, I simply had no choice but to snag them!

There are days that instant really would be too slow... I like my Bunn, you pour through the top, and almost immediately, you stick your straw into the carafe on the bottom...JUST KIDDING!

I interrupt this regularly scheduled program to wish my best stampin' friend ever, a very Happy Birthday!!! Shirley, I don't know why I was so lucky to have you come into my life, but I love and appreciate you every day!!!

If YOU would like to wish Shirley a Happy Birthday, hop over to her blog, Glittered Paws, and give her some love!!!

Anyway, my card today was just a quick, fun few minutes of relaxation. It features both an image and sentiment from Create with TLC. The DP is Stampin' Up. Coloring is Tombow markers. The chair seat, I cut from a scrap of the ribbon on the card.

And here's the inside...

Hope it makes you smile a bit. I'm sure that more than one of you can relate to the sentiment! In fact, I'm guessing that I'm keepin' pretty good company in that respect!!! You know who you are!



If you haven't been over to Create with TLC lately, hurry over and check it out! You can be a part of an upcoming blog hop! What could be more fun than hopping with ME??? lol...don't answer that, I cry easily!



Have a great evening, and a blessed day tomorrow. We are going to help DD with some household things at her place, so I may be MIA in blogland.



Hugs!

Patti J.

Noel...

(Before I get started, be sure to check back later tonight after my first weigh in!)

Edited: At the end of week one, I am only down .4 lbs. They assured me that at this point I am bloated with water weight, etc., and am beginning to work my muscles, etc., and that it WILL come off. It better! lol...thanks for your support!

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^

Noel

?

Yep, you heard me right.

I can't believe it, but I've made a 3rd Christmas card -

and it's only July!!!

I've had this NOEL stamp (Great Impressions) since I began stamping. I actually think it was my first store purchase. When the ABC Christmas Challenge had a NOEL challenge, for the letter N, I jumped at the chance to ink this baby up! I used Judikins Egyptian Gold Embossing Powder, and colored the letters and holly leaves with Tombow Markers. Easy Peasy! Thanks for looking!

Next, I want to show you what I did for some family friends who just purchased a home.

I made the 'house', but I wanted to use the card as a Congrats for new home AND a thank you. So...I made the roof come off the house. That's where the congrats note is written. TAC's Happy Thoughts set is on the bottom of the 'tag'.

The photo above is the complete card.

The photo above shows that the red card is A-2 size, and opens normally for a thanks note to be written.

The photo above shows the roof being raised for the congrats tag.

This photo shows that the tag is actually folded, so that the writing is on the inside.

I hope the kids like this card. I thought it turned out cute.

Well, happy Thursday, one and all. I need to go take care of a few chores before heading into town to weigh in.

Thanks for stopping by, and I will leave you with a little food for thought:

Why are the buttons on a man's shirt different from the buttons on a woman's shirt?

Smiles!

Patti J.

CAS and Joyfully Sing...

Hello!

Fast forward a few hours....WHAT DOES SUNSHINE LOOK LIKE??? Sigh.... I'd like the rain a lot better if I were a duck!

I have two cards this morning. The first card is for two challenges.

The challenge at the Simplicity blog was to make a one-layer card that incorporates a faux embellishment in some way.

My main image is the Papertrey Ink's Everyday Button Bits set. I chose to use the hot air balloons. Of course, we couldn't use 'buttons', so I had to stamp some! I found three circle stamps of the right size to make the balloons. The two smaller stamps were from the $1 bin at Michael's, and the largest circle was in a cute little stamp set that my good friend Olga sent me for my birthday last month. The bottom was sponged on, using the edge of a border that I had cut out and didn't need. Coloring is done with Tombow Markers.

I will be submitting this card to the following challenges:

1. Simplicity: Faux Embellishments

2. Cas-Tastic Challenges: Make a one layer card.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The second card is for the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Their challenge this week was to make a card or project that depicts music or singing, or other joyful praise. The sentiment stamp is an Angel Company stamp. The bird is another $1 stamp. The DP is a scrap from my stash...sorry! Coloring is done with colored pencils, and sponging is done with Tim Holtz distress ink, Old Linen. I've added ribbon from my stash, some brown pearls, and a bit of Scrapper's Floss.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday. The weekend is almost upon us! It will be a working weekend here!

Take care - see you soon!

Patti J.

Food for thought: The only time the world beats a path to MY door is when I'm in the bathroom.

A Post of Celebration!

Mornin' everyone!

I am in celebration mode today. Why, you ask?

THE SUN IS SHINING!!!!! The birds are chirping.

It is NOT raining! It is not even cloudy (yet)!

Here is what I've created in celebration of the sunshine! Hope you enjoy it. I had fun putting it together. Took my mind totally off of housework AND the two CAS challenges I'm trying to psych myself up to enter! lol...

As you can see, this card is NOT a CAS!

Supplies: Martha Stewart DP/CS/Butterfly & Flower Punches, Rectangle Nestabilities, Tombow Markers, Stampin'Up DP, Kaiser Craft Pearls,

Ribbon, charm, and roses from my unused and forgotten stash!

I will enter this card at the following challenges:

1. My Time to Craft: "Under the Weather"

2. Papertake Weekly: "Say it with Flowers"

3. ABC Challenge: "Unused Stash"

4. Stamp & Create Challenge #1: "Use ribbon & a stamp that is carried in their store"

5. Flutterby Wednesday: "Use a butterfly, angel, or fairy on project AND flowers"

6. Crafty Ann's Challenge: "Anything Goes"

7. Stamp Something: "Celebrate Something" (Celebrating putting the umbrella away!!!)

8. Crafty Catz: Suzi's challenge is to use Petals & Pearls

9. Creative Inspirations Challenge: Cheryl challenged us to use "Punches or Die Cuts"

10. Ooh La La Challenge: "Bright and Cheery"

11. Pollycraft Monday: Joanne challenged us to use "Summer Blooms"

12. Cupcake Craft Challenges: "Blooming Charming" (Use flowers and a charm)

13. Practical Scrappers: "Patterned Paper"

14. A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge: "Cute and Girly"

15. The Cuttlebug Spot: "Favorite Flowers"

Whew...I think this is a record for me! Thanks ladies for helping me understand how to accomplish this!

Hugs,

Patti J.

Food for thought: Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks?

New Baby!

NO, not me!

I told you a few days ago that I'd let you see what I've been working on the last week. I was asked by a friend, to make 40 baby shower invitations, and a card. The new baby's room will be decorated in a sporty theme, and the colors are primarily black and red.

I have very few sporty looking stamps, so I was literally THRILLED when I won a challenge at Stamp TV a few weeks ago, and was able to shop for a new set. What better set to choose than Melanie Muenchinger's "Sporty Accessories" - great timing! If you are familiar with this set, the card I'm going to make next, will use the locker theme. I'll share it tomorrow, hopefully!

Here are my invitations. All coloring was done with Tom-Bow markers. While shopping last week at For Keeps Sake in St. Louis, I found this fabulous 12 x 12 sheet of basketball 'leather', and another of football 'leather'. Sheesh! How cool was that - stamp and cut! The footballs were trimmed with a white Vision Pen. Several of the pieces were popped up on dots for some dimension. I can't show the inside as I don't know how to blur the names, but I re-used the star stamp (Stampland) on the inside top and bottom flaps. All of the stars were dotted with a Starburst Gelly roll pen for a bit of pizzazz. The 'grid' stamp in the background is from Morning Star Stamps

I hope the lady will like them. Off I go to work on her card. Have a great weekend, everyone - thanks for stopping by. See you very soon.

Patti J.

Food for thought: I've been told that one should never, under ANY circumstances, take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!

Magical Monday in Flight...

Flight of the Fuschia, that is!

Welcome to another Magical Monday at There's Magic in the Air with Paper Cupcakes. Today's image is Nina's beautiful "Flight of the Fuschia".

This week, it was my turn to present the challenge. My challenge you is to grab this wonderful image, and create a comforting card, such as: Thinking of You, Get Well, Sympathy, Encouragement, etc. I also offer a little twist - if you have them, include flourishes and/or pearls on your card!

It's very hard to see, but I have used Versmark Dazzle and stamped a flourish at the top right and bottom left of my card. The pearls are pretty obvious! All coloring is done with Tombow markers, and the bird is colored with my clear Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen. The flourish stamp is from TAC, and the sentiment is from Gina K. Designs. The DP is from a DCWV mat stack.

And thanks to my DT sistah, Kim, I am being inspired to finish the inside of my cards as well!!!

Voila...

It was very ironic to me when the image Nina gave me for this challenge was this beautiful dove carrying the Fuschia sprig. I cannot remember a time that my dear mom wasn't growing these lovely plants. She loved them with a passion. When mom passed away in Dec. 1999, the Hospice group brought me a gorgeous china figurine that was doves and fuschia plants. It still sits front and center on our fireplace mantle. This time of year is when I miss mom the most. We have all of the fall and winter holidays, and then her birthday was Jan. 18. The day that I opened my email from Nina with this attachment, I'd actually been having a quiet cry while thinking of mom - thus the irony! Thanks Nina, for unknowingly bringing me some peace that day!





Okay, enough of that!!! I hope that your Monday is magical, indeed! With good luck, we will NOT get the additional 5-7" of snow predicted for Mon. and Tues!

Have a great day! Can't wait to see what you all do with the Flight of the Fuschia!!!

Patti J.

Outside the box...

This was a lot of fun to do!

The challenge at Saturday Spotlight was to make a Halloween card, but to not use any Halloween stamps!

Well, I happened to have this new set, Merriest Wishes, from TAC that kept jumping off of my shelf, wanting to be inked.

Who am I to put a set of stamps back on the shelf and tell them 'no'?

So, out came this adorable snowperson stamp, and the following card was born!

What's in it??? K & Co. DP, Computer generated sentiment, Large Nesties, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Tombow Markers, Sharpies, Ribbon and button from my stash, DCWV CS, Sakura Starburst Glitter Pen.

She is entirely colored with either Tombow or Sharpies, except for her paper pieced "coat".

Hope your Friday is wonderful. It is STILL raining here, dark and dreary, Cardinal's got slammed by the Dodger's again, but otherwise...life is good!

Blessings...Patti J.

Back to School....this post is for Lisa!

Well, it's back to school today in Farmington! Seems very strange to be sitting HERE while school buses are driving by! I am used to being AT school on the first day with kids in and out of my office all day! Sort of a sad day for me....


With 'back to school' in mind, I decided to play the Midnight Madness sketch challenge this week!




My BBB (best blogging bud), Lisa, sent me a care package last week. It contained some new stamps and some Basic Grey papers. Teacher Anya was one of the new stamps. Isn't she the most darling thing you've ever seen? Of course, the DP that I used on the background and on Anya's vest are Basic Grey! Thanks Lisa, in measures of oodles!!! You are so sweet!

Supplies: Basic Grey June Bug Paper Pack, Crystal Laquer, Great Impressions Sentiment, Versafine Black Ink, DCWV CS, Kooh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils and Low-Odor Mineral Spirits, Tombow Markers.

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This next card is for 365 Cards challenge for today. Today we were to use a Card Recipe! The recipe was:

4 x 7 card

glitter

5 blossoms

wet embossed sentiment

and

three different DP's!

It's been a while since I have wet embossed, so it was fun to drag out the old heat gun!

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I am also going to post this at Flutter By Wednesday's challenge! Pay special attention to the teensy little butterfly up on the Hello sentiment. Shirley's granddaughter, Megan, came to visit her for a week. I got to meet her last week, and she was a total sweetie! She was creating with Shrinky Dink and Punches, and offered to make me some very fun embellishments! When I left that day, I had a butterfly (shown above!) some flowers, and some birds! I think she did a beautiful job, and it was so much fun to get to meet her! So, Megan, if you are reading this, THANK YOU, and many hugs for your kindness!!!

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Supplies: Basic Grey June Bug Paper Pack, Versamark Dazzle Frost Ink, Judikins Egyptian Gold Embossing Powder, Glitter, Silk Flowers, Marvy Punches, Cuttlebug Paisley Folder, Core'dinations Black/Gold Cardstock, Shrinky Dink Butterfly.

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That's all I have for today! It's been a busy day - I've been working on announcements, and finally got the new bedding on our bed! Hope that you have all had a wonderful day! Have a great evening, and think happy thoughts!!!

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Patti J.

Try to learn something about everything, and everything about something. ~Thomas Henry Huxley