Special thank you

Hi everyone:

I have a friend who is leaving my work place on Friday to fulfill her dream job and I am going to totally miss her, but am so happy for her.  She has been so helpful and patient with me over the years and wanted to give her a special thank you card to show her how much I appreciate her and that she will always be my friend.

I have been having a lot of fun with water coloring and just had to do it with this card.  I used peerless watercolors on this one.

I took an extra step, which is something I have been trying to do more of lately, and decorated the envelope.  I stamped a special sentiment on the flap and adhered a die cut heart as the closure.

I am in the process of catching up with everyone's blog and hope to be done next year :) ha-ha - even though I must admit, I have a lot of posts to look through, but am looking forward to it.

I hope you enjoy this card and can't wait to see you again soon.

Janet

Thank you

Hi everyone:

Boy, it's been a while since I've been here on my blog and am sorry for being away so long.  It has been a crazy few months and have to come the decision that I'm going to step away from a few things to get back to blogging, visiting friends and create again. Facebook and Pinterest have just, well to me anyway, taken way too much of my time and I want to start getting in touch with my friends again and focus my priorities here.  

I have been creating some while away and hope to post some of my creations over the next few weeks as well as a wonderful vacation I had with my kids (we went to Universal Studios in Florida the first part of October and we had SO much fun, words just can't start describing how great it was) and I got to spend some time with Harry Potter and the gang (well, not the actors, but was in Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade), which was just so AWESOME (me and the kids are HUGE Harry Potter fans).

 This was a card I made for a friend a while back (the background was created by using shaving cream and re-inkers - it was so much fun to do), but wanted to say Thank you so much for sticking with me and am glad you are still here.  I have been thinking of you all and do thank God daily for each and every one of you.

I will be back soon to show you something new :)

Have a great day

Janet

Something fun and new for me

Happy Sunday everyone:

I tried something a little different this weekend and that was doing something other than a card.  I had purchased these little clipboards from Michaels almost a year ago and hadn't really thought of what to do with them, but these ideas came to me this week. I have been playing around with watercoloring lately and did the butterfly last weekend when I was working on the card I previously posted, but it was too large for a card (or at least for me it was) and wanted to use it for something so thought this would be perfect.  I just love that sentiment and it will remind me to be happy and smile everyday.

The next one I knew I wanted to use it for a monthly calendar (I have been wanting to do that for a while but just never had to mojo to do it).  Since September is a sign that it's getting closer to fall season and apples are abundant, knew I had to get an apple on there somewhere.  I also used Glossy Accents on the hearts and stars to pop them out a little bit.  I really thought this turned out cute and look forward to doing this every month.

 

I hope all is well with everyone and I will talk with you soon.

Janet

Supplies:

Butterfly clipboard

ink - Staz-on black ink; versa mark ink

card stock - Simon Says Fog

miscellaneous - purple peerless watercolor; silver distress embossing powder; pretty pink posh sparkling clear sequins; Michael's small clipboard

September clipboard

ink - Hero Arts royal red; Hero Art black; Hero Arts forever green

stamps -  Stampin up Day to Day and Moments like these

papers - Jenni Bowlin Memo Note Book; Stampin up doily; spellbinders apple die; Studio Calico wood veneer; miscellaneous washi tape; Ranger glossy accents; Michael's small clipboard

Watercoloring fun :)

Happy Monday everyone:

Long time no see, but I have been creating a little since I last posted and wanted to show you one of the things I have done.  As you may know, watercoloring is very popular right now and I have been avoiding it because I am so intimidated by it, much like copic coloring; however; this weekend, I decided to give it a go and even though I have a long way to go, I did have fun creating this card.  I used Peerless watercolors and they are so pretty.

I first watercolored the background using yellow and then embossed the Altenew Persian Motif stamps with white embossing powder.  I then painted in the flowers (having it embossed helped so much).  I added Pretty Pink Posh sequins with rhinestones in the middle to finish it off.

I have promised myself to continue using these along with other color mediums because it is so much fun.

Hope everyone is well and I'll see you again soon,

Janet

Supplies:

Paper:  Neenah White 110 lb white cardstock; MFT razzelberry cardstock; 25 lb vellum; ranger watercolor paper

Stamps:  Altenew Persian Motif

Ink:  Versamark; MFT razzelberry

Other supplies:  PPP sequins; SU rhinestones; Peerless watercolors - Marigold Yellow, Grass Green, Dark Green, Arbutus Pink and Rose Red; Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue; Hero Arts white embossing powder; MISTI tool

Another card from the weekend

Well, I can't believe another weekend is upon us but I am so excited about this one because we are going to get Patrick from my parent's house so it's going to be non-quiet again :)

Here is a card I created last weekend and this one was so much fun.  I used Ken Oliver's color burst and I can honestly say, a little bit goes a LONG way :) and it's very messy but that's okay because look at what you get in return.

I'm going to keep this short because I'm in my craft room today doing some organizing and purging (I don't have any idea how I accumulate so much even after purging from a few months back) but will be back this weekend with another card.

Thank you

Janet

It's been a while

Hi everyone:

It's been a while since I've posted anything and hope all is well with everyone.  We have been having some struggles on our end, but with lots of prayers, family and friends, we'll get through it all.  I was able to craft recently and enjoyed it immensely :)  I tried out a lot of new techniques and will be excited to share them with you over the next few days.

This is the first one I did - it was done by using a technique I saw by watching a video over at Ellen Hutson Hello Monday.  I just love Julie Ebersole :)  I used Adirondack re-inkers, alcohol and Ranger Specialty Paper to get this fun watercolor effect.  It was so relaxing and fun at the same time.  I will be using this more often, I just know it.

It's going to be a short post, but wanted to let you know that I think about you all often (even though I don't visit much anymore, I am really hoping to get back to it real soon, but I feel like I have been saying that over the past year and it just hasn't happened yet) and thank you so much for all your prayers.

Have a great day

Janet

Toes in Sand - Nose in Book - Life is Sweet

It's Friday - HURRAY :)  I am so excited it's Friday because we are going to the Biltmore House tomorrow with a friend and her daughter and it will be nice to get away for a little while.  I'm sad, however, because we will be leaving Patrick up there to visit with my family over the summer.  He typically does this every year, but it's still not easy to do this because I miss him so much and it is always so quiet here when he is gone.  I know he has fun and gets to see everyone, so that's good.

I'm here to show you a fun card I created for a friend whose cousin is celebrating a birthday next week and loves to read and the beach.  This is the first time I have created a beach theme, so this was a fun one to put together.  I just LOVED it and am so glad I have distress inks :)  

A lady from work saw it and asked me to create 3 more, so I'm going to be busy when I get back on Sunday :)

I hope everyone is doing well and will have a great weekend.

Janet

Supplies:

cardstock - Tim Holtz watercolor paper; Simon Says Khaki cardstock

ink - Tim Holtz antique linen, tea die, old paper, forest moss, salted ocean, tumbled glass distress inks

stamps - Stampin Up wetlands and first day of school

miscellaneous - digital adirondack chair, Stampin up dimensionals, prisma color pencils in blue, red and yellow, glossy accents and multi-medium matte

Pet Sympathy

Hi everyone:

It's been a while and am really hoping to get back and running real soon.  Patrick is going to spend some time with my family this coming weekend, so it's going to be real quiet and see the possibilities of getting busy again :)  It's going to be too quiet though, but I know he's going to have a great time.

I was asked a while back to create some pet sympathy cards and finally got to use the "You are Pawsome" stamps and dies I purchased a few months back.  When I saw this set, I knew I had to get it and can see it being used not just for sympathy, but also for other ideas.

Well, I'm off for now, but keep an eye out because I'm coming back soon :)

Thanks

Janet

supplies:

paper:

   Bazzill marshmallow cardstock; BasicGrey Max & Whiskers patterned paper

stamp set:          

   Simon Says Pawprints on our hearts and Simon Says You are Pawsome

dies:                  

   Simon Says cat and dog Pawsome

ink:                    

   Simon Says dark chocolate and hot lips ink

miscellaneous:  

   Stampin Up dimensionals

Will you be my ...

Happy Sunday everyone:

I was asked a while back to create a few "Will you be me ... flower girl, bridesmaid and matron of honor" cards and was so excited about doing this because I had never created something like this before.  It was fun going through and finding inspiration and came up with the following.

I hope everyone is doing well.  Me, it's been kind of a crazy month and will be glad when a new one is upon us.  Enjoy your afternoon.

Janet

Something new :)

Hi everyone:

I just love learning new things and when I saw a video a while back on how to take a photo and put it on wood, I just had to try it. I did so yesterday and finished it up today. While the results aren't what I thought (Patrick is a little pink and then I got a little hand heavy removing that paper so there's too much streaking), Patrick told me what he things I did wrong, so I'm going to try his suggestions and see how it comes out (I will post when finished). The butterfly is one that I took while at the Biltmore House last year and then, of course, there's Patrick smile emoticon Once I get the hang of this, I can see myself doing LOTS of these because it was so much fun.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Janet

New Home basket

A few weeks ago, my friend, Debbie asked her Stampin Up team if they wanted to participate in a Berry Basket challenge and I, of course, said yes because it would be so much fun. Debbie cut out the baskets for us in smoky slate and my brain was working even before I received her package. I work in a law office that handles real estate closings and since it appears buying homes is picking up again, thought it would be fun to put together a little basket for new homeowners. I can see so many other things for a basket like this, but thought a succulent plant and a few thank you cards would be perfect. It was so much fun and can’t wait for our next challenge. Thanks Debbie for thinking of this challenge and asking us to participate.

Have a great one :)

Janet

Going to miss you

Hi everyone:

Well, I am back for a card that I had so much fun making.  A lady from work left to head to another law firm and I was asked to create a "we are going to miss you" card. While I didn't have any sentiments to that affect, I printed this one off on my computer and worked around it.  While I was looking for a sketch, I came across this card from Mel Sharp's blog in which a lady by the name of Deborah created a card similar to there.  I just feel in love with it and knew I had to give it a try.  I am so glad I did.

Now, I have to admit something here, it took me three times to get the middle cut out correctly and lined up, but I learned a few things along the way, so that's okay by me :) 

I stamped the flowers onto vellum using versamark ink, then heat embossed them with white embossing powder,  I then took some SU ink and dabbed it with water and painted the back of the flowers to give them more of a watercolor feel.  I will be using that technique many more times, I can tell you.  It was so fun. 

Well, I hope you are enjoying your day.  I'm off to create some more.

Have a great one

Janet

supplies

cardstock:  SU whisper white, SU coastal cabana

ink:  SU coastal cabana

stamps:  SU I like you

accessories:  Spellbinders oval die cuts, cuttlebug, SU pearls, Tombow liquid adhesive, fun foam for dimension, ranger white embossing powder; Milwaukee heat gun

A day late but that's okay :)

Happy Saturday everyone:

Well, I'm a day late for posting this card on the Retrosketches challenge blog, but that's okay because I actually created a card this week ;)

I haven't been able to do much creating this week, but a lady from work asked me to do a baby card for her professor and loved this sketch (even though mine is a little different). I also wanted to pull out the texture paste and stencils to try them again (didn't have a lot of success the last time I did) and it worked much better this time.  Going to try again this weekend.

Okay, on to my card.  Here is the sketch

and my take on the same.  Not really much to discuss because it was a rather simple card to make, which is always a good thing.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Janet

supplies:

cardstock:  SU whisper white, SU bashful blue
patterned paper:  PTI 2008 Bitty Dot Basics
ink:  SU bashful blue, memento tuxedo black
stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Tiny Ray of Sunshine
accessories:  Simon Says Stamp tiny dots stencil; Ranger texture paste; Simon Says Stamp baby clothes & crib die set; fun foam; SU dimensionals; copic markers - YOO (berium yellow), Y02 (canary yellow), YO6 (yellow) and Y08 (acid yellow)

Are you ready for some ...

... thing new from me today :)  Did you think I was going to say football?  Today is super bowl Sunday and I'm ready for it, let me tell you.  I like both of the teams, so I don't really have a particular team, so I'll root for them both.

I have been wanting to give shaker cards a try and thought today was going to be that day.  I must say, I don't think I did it correctly; but I got the correct end result, which was the sequins in the shaker move around when shaken :)  I also did something else new to me, only because I just haven't wrapped my head around using it yet, but I'll get there - I took washi tape, placed it on white cardstock and then die cut the inside frame (this was raised up using some KoolTak adhesive - love that stuff), the floating balloon and the birthday sentiment.

My friend Brandi is having a birthday tomorrow and I wanted it to be not only colorful, but something different and this, I do believe, fits that category for me.  I used the MFT card challenge sketch for this week, which is always fun.  

I wanted to add something inside the card, so I took some extra washi tape cardstock and die cut out a heart, which I then covered with glossy accents (also new to me) and placed it inside the card along with my message.

I do believe I will be trying shaker cards more because it was fun and Patrick even went "Wow, that's cool" after I showed him.  He really loved the way the balloon is floating off the center :) which I think is pretty fun.

I hope you all have a great week !!!

Janet

Supplies:

Cardstock:      SU whisper white; MFT Razzleberry
Ink:                  MFT Razzleberry
Die Cuts:         MFT Happy Birthday; MTF blueprints 15 (heart); MFT first class friend,
                         SSS balloon bouquet
accessories:   washi tape (not sure of the manufacturer, but think they are all made by
                         Scotch); Hero Arts acetate; KoolTac clear adhesive; pretty pink posh
                         sequins (clear, marshmallow; watermelon, orchid, tangerine); tombow
                         honeycomb adhesive; Ranger multi medium; ektools tweezers;
                         ranger glossy accents.

Hello

It's me again with another card using two challenges this time.  The first is a color challenge (I have always had a hard time with these, but am going to do more of them this year) from Color Throwdown (it is so springy and I love those colors).  The sketch challenge is from Cardabilities and I haven't participated in their challenges since I was on the design team (I know I should have my hand slapped) but am going to do more of those as well this year.

This was a fun card to put together because I am typically making birthday, thank you or thinking of you cards, but wanted to try a different sentiment.  I found an image in my scraps that I had stamped a few years back but never used and I love Faith in Nature by Stampin Up, so that's what I used.  I distressed the base of it and then placed a cut out flower on the top but didn't distress it so it would stand out a little more.  

I did something new to me with the hello die cut sentiment; I took the colors and put them on a piece of scrap paper and then cut it out giving it that ombre' look (LOVE IT).  I also cut out the sentiment three times and stacked them on top of each other, with the colored sentiment on top to give it that raised look.

Well, I'm going to create more, but I'm not going to upload anything else until tomorrow :)

See you then

Supplies:

cardstock:  SU whisper white, SU wisteria wonder; SU daffodil delight
patterned paper:  SU watercolor wonder
ink:  SU wisteria wonder; SU daffodil delight; SU crisp cantaloupe; SU coastal cabana
stamps:  SU gorgeous grunge; SU faith in nature
dies:  SU hello you; SU chalk talk; MFT blueprints 13; SU labels
accessories:  SU dimensionals; 3M micropore tape; ranger multi medium adhesive; Tim Holtz distresser; Provo Craft cuttlebug

Happy Birthday for MFT card challenge sketch

Happy Saturday and boy am I glad it's here :)  I have loads to do today and they all include fun, fun, fun :)

I worked on several more cards this week and used the new MFT sketch for one of them. I have a friend at work who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow, but since I won't be in the office on Monday, had to give it to her yesterday, but she wasn't there so it worked out great.

Here is the sketch for this week

and this is my happy birthday card using this wonderful sketch:

I am really having a great time learning new techniques and getting more familiar with them.  On this one, I heat embossed the flowers and took ink to the background paper, which has the small stamped flowers already embossed on them, to bring them out a little more.  I used silver wink of stella on the happy die cut and it looks dark in this photo, but IRL it wasn't that dark.  This was a lot of fun to make !!

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Janet

supplies:
cardstock:  SU tempting turquoise; SU whisper white
patterned paper:  SU irresistibly yours
ink:  SU tempting turquoise
stamps:  SU crazy about you; SU butterfly basics
die cuts:  SU butterflies; MFT happy birthday; MFT first place
accessories:  EKSuccess border punch; silver wink of stella; clear wink of stella; SU rhinestones; Avery Elle sequins; Kooltak adhesive; SU dimensionals; fun foam; judikins iridescent embossing powder; versamark ink

3x3 monogram cards

Happy Sunday everyone

It's been a cold and dreary day here in SC and from what I understand, it's going to continue all week; so what better way to spend the day than to create, right?  I can't agree more.  While cleaning, I came across some card kits I had made for my craft class at work so I worked on getting them all tidied up and ready to go for the new ones coming up, but during that time, I came across some note cards I had started for a friend's 8 year old daughter a year or so ago (I'm so bad for starting a project and not finishing - that's my goal this year - finish what you start) and wanted to get them done. These took me a lot longer than I had thought, but am so glad with how them came out. The ones with the butterflies did get some wink-of-stella put on them after I took these pictures, so they are now glittery.

Now, off the go start on a few challenges that came out today.  I hope you enjoy your evening.

Janet

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill white; Bazzill lavender
Patterned paper:  I believe these are from DCWV
Ink:  Color theory lavender soda; Versamark ink
Stamps:  Just-rite curly monogram set
Accessories:  Vellum paper (not sure from where); Ranger distress dustry concord embossing powder; Spellbinders circle die; SU butterfly basic die cut; SU scallop circle punch