Tuesday, October 30, 2012

What If? Wednesday - Sketch Challenge - Snow Angel

Edit: I've had some folks contact me wondering what embossing folder I used on this project.  It is the Darice Scroll Flourish Corner which I purchased here - at Consumer Crafts.  A lot of times they are out of items and it takes a while to restock but when they do have them, they have VERY reasonable prices and shipping is reasonable as well.


Its What if? Wednesday at the Repeat Impressions blog - The House That Stamps Built.   Whooo hoo.  I love sketch day and as usual we have an awesome one to work with. 

Here it is..........

o3112

A card doesn't need to be loaded down with embellishments to be beautiful.  Some of the most gorgeous, classiest cards are the simple ones.  I thought this sketch was the perfect opportunity to go for that look.  

Here's my card......


I love this soooo cute snow angel stamp - The Original Snow Angel - 4706-G.   Isn't he adorable??  The verse, also a Repeat Impressions stamp - 8810-K Snow Much Fun, says "Hope your holidays are Sn*w much fun!"  There couldn't be a more perfect verse to go with this image. 


I added some stickles to the corners of this snowman image and also to the dots on the embossed flourishes.  Hopefully you can see that on these photos.


Now is your chance to play along.  Show us your version of this awesome sketch, link to the Repeat Impressions blog and you will be entered in a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.  See the full rules here.  I hope you'll play along. 
  
Thanks so much!!
Joyce

Early Holiday Wishes 4 Kids! - Dear Santa!

For quite a while now, I have been hoping to participate in the Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge.  Somehow it just has not been working out for me.  Finally, this weekend, I set my mind to it and created a card for their current challenge - Early Holiday Wishes 4 Kids. 

They have 2 requirements for the challenges at Send a Smile 4 Kids - that you follow the current theme and that you make it kid friendly.  What a great cause!!!  They ask that card makers contribute cards that will be given to children in hospitals to help brighten their day.  You can find all the details here - please consider doing this. 

Here is my card for this current challenge - Early Holiday Wishes 4 Kids. 

Here is a closer view.  


I found out something interesting in doing this project. I have literally a whole tote of Christmas stamps but only a couple of Santa stamps.  I soooooo wanted to use the Dear Santa stamp but that would be pretty hard to do without a Santa image and this one worked perfectly. 

I hope you will consider creating some cards for this wonderful cause!   or playing along with this super fun challenge. 

Thanks so much for stopping!!
Joyce

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

DCC - Anything but a Card

Its DCC Challenge day at Repeat Impressions and this week the challenge is on me.  Yeay!!!!  It's fun to change things up and set the cards aside for a bit.  So I'm challenging everyone to create something other than a card.... a gift bag, a gift tag, a party favor or treat bag - the list goes on and on.  Its the perfect opportunity to get an additional use for our stamps.

That's exactly what I did for my project.   A few weeks back, I created this card and I decided to tweek the project some and create a wine bottle tag.  Just another use for this awesome stamp - Maple Leaf Silhouette - 5127-K.  What a great and simple host/hostess gift for that Thanksgiving gathering.



I also had created this cute little gift card holder a while back.  I love how the red popped on the white and black. I thought this would make another great wine bottle tag for the holidays and again, this adorable little penquin - 8812-J - Knit Cap Penguin (lg).  was the perfect touch. 


So now its your turn.  Put down the cards for a moment and create something different.  Best of all, if you link your project here on the Repeat Impressions blog, you have a chance of winning a awesome prize - a $25 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.  I hope you'll play along.

Thanks so much
Joyce


Sunday, October 21, 2012

SOTW - Jacko'lantern Cat

What better way to start off the week than with the Stamp of the Week (SOTW) from Repeat Impresssions.  This week RI is featuring this adorable little cat peeking out of a jack 'o lantern - Jacko'lantern Cat - 806-G.  So cute!

Here's what I did with this adorable stamp.....

The SOTW makes a perfect focal point to create a sweet Halloween card. The best part......since this adorable cat is the SOTW, that means its a whopping 50% off this week - go here for all the details.   Sounds like a sweet Halloween treat for any stamper. 

I also used the Repeat Impressions verse 'Happy Halloween' - 1139-F.  I love a classic sentiment like this.  So perfect year after year - never goes out of style. 

One of my favorite new tools this year is this spider web border punch.   Love it!  I also accented things with this black saten ribbon and some black gems that I had in my stash.

Be sure to stop at the Repeat Impression blog to check out the awesome challenges that are going on right now.  A fun way to have a chance at winning a $25 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.

More soon
Joyce

Supplies
Ink - Momento - Tuxedo black
Paper - Yellow speckled at bottom of the card - K & Company , striped - Recollections by Michael's, Misc card stock
Tools & Accessories - copic markers, satin ribbon, black gems, MS spiderweb edge punch, Nesties - ovals & beaded ovals. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

What If? Wednesday Sketch Challenge - Iris Window




It's Wednesday....... What if? Wednesday to be more specific, so Repeat Impressions has a great sketch challenge for us. 

Here it is.

o1712

Here is my vision for this sketch.   I used Repeat Impressions image - Iris Window - 919-I.  I colored it in with my Copic markers and used my colorless blender to give the background a softer cloud-like appearance. 


Here's a close up of that gorgeous Repeat Impressions image - Iris Window - 919-I.  


Now is your chance to have some fun and play along.   All you have to do is create your interpretation of this sketch.  Link your card on the Repeat Impressions blog - The House That Stamps Built. You don't even have to use a Repeat Impressions stamp but we would sure love it if you did. Playing along is fun and you have a chance to win an awesome prize - a $25 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.  See the full rules and instructions here.

Thanks for stopping.  More soon!!
Joyce

Supplies:
Stamps - Repeat Impressions - Iris Window 919-I
Ink - Clearly Better - Black
Paper - Heidi Grace
Tools & Accessories - Sizzix embossing folder, nesties, Copic markers, rhinestones, EK Success edge punch,

Sassy Cheryl Challenge - Orange and Black

There's a fun challenge over at Sassy Cheryl  this week - Orange & Black.  Like many people, I have my Halloween supplies out right now so this was just a super fun, super easy challenge card to put together. 

Here's my Orange & Black project....

 Here's a close up of this cute Sassy Cheryl digital image.  I hope you can see the sparkle on the edge of her 'costume'. 


More tomorrow!
Joyce


Monday, October 15, 2012

DYSU Challenge #93 - Wheels

Just a super quick post today. 

The Do You Stack Up (DYSU) blog is having a fun challenge this week - Wheels.  Use any image with wheels.  How fun is that?  Something a little different.  Once I started looking, I realized I have quite a few images with wheels but I purchased this little bicycle recently and this challenge is the perfect chance to give it a spin - get it?  spin.......wheels.........okay, I know......groan, right?  *giggles*.



More soon!
Joyce

Supplies:
Stamps - Hot Off the Press - Bike, PTI - Fillable Frames # 7 - Wish Big
Ink - Clearly Better - Black, Distressing - Momento - Desert Sand, Hot Cocoa
Paper - October Afternoon - Thrift Shop 8 X 8 paper pack
Tools and Accessories - nesties - labels 18, buttons, stitching,

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Magnolia - Pink! Lots of Pink

The October challenge over at Magnolia-licious Highlites Blog is all about 'thinkin' pink' in honor of breast cancer awareness month. 

Magnolias!!!! Pink!!!! I'm all over that. 

Here's my entry in this fun challenge. 


Here's a close up.  Do you think that's enough pink?  lol!!!


More very soon!
Joyce

Supplies~
Stamps:  Magnolia - Cross-Stitched Tilda, cross-stitched circle from the PTI Daily Design set,  Sentiment from the PTI - Tags for Spring set
Paper - DCWV, misc card stock
Ink - Momento - Tuxedo Black, Distress ink - Momento - Desert Sand
Tools & Accessories - Pink pearl flourish - Recollections, copic markers, pink ribbon, notebook edge punch - EK Success,

Thursday, October 11, 2012

My Favorite Things Guest Designer Challenge - MFTGUESTDT1012



If you follow my blog at all, you know that one of my favorite stamp/die companies is My Favorite Things (MFT).  I've said it before and I'll say it again - I am totally addiction to the Pure Innocence product line and the A La Mode line is just drawing me in too.  Don't even get me started on the Die-namics - Love them!!!  Have several of them!!!

It's a happy little (okay, really big) dream of mine to, at some point, be chosen as the guest designer for the MFT design team.  Not only is it a huge honor because its based on artistry, not a random drawing, but the artist selected gets loads of free stuff..... the latest free stuff.  

So, for all my big talk, this is the first time I've actually entered this challenge.  I've entered the weekly sketch challenge several times (the random drawing version) but never the monthly guest designer challenge

So here goes.....

This is my entry in the MFT Guest Designer Challenge for October. Shocking, I know, but I used a Pure Innocence image -  My Basket of Eggs.  Seems a shame this cute little stamp only gets used for Easter so I altered the contents of her basket from eggs into a gathering of flowers. 

Here's a close up so you can see a little better.  I used a super small flower punch and just scrunched up the little flowers and adhered them into the basket right over the eggs.  I used a Die-namics Dainty Lace Border die for the border, a PTI die for the arched background of the image, and a MFT verse - 'Sending you Sunshine' for the sentiment.


Here's a super close up..... 

I've also "popped" the focal image (for my non stamper followers, that means I used foam tape to raise up the white section with the stamped image on it) to add some dimension. 



As always, I used my trusty Copic markers to color this adorable image.  The paper is DCWV - the 8" X 8" Blossoms & Butterflies stack.  The card base is a standard Kraft card stock.

I had a blast creating a card for this challenge, so I came out a winner no matter how you look at it.

Gotta go.  Our son comes home from college today - its fall break.  Yeah, can't wait to see him.

More soon
Joyce


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

DCC - Using Masking Technique

Its DCC Wednesday at Repeat Impressions - a Designer's Choice Challenge.  That means a member of the design team selects the challenge for us - whether its a technique, a color group, a product - whatever they choose for us to do.  This week, fellow Rock Star Christy chose the challenge and its a good one.  We are to create a card using a masking technique.  You can see all the other Rock Stars cards here.  I love the look of masking, its something I've wanted to try so this gives me an opportunity to do that. 

Here is my creation.


I used an oval nestie to create the oval shape.  I have a stack of blue Colorbox Queue inks so that made color selection pretty easy. I just went down the stack, increasing the color as I went.  Next I stamped this beautiful Repeat Impressions image - Chickadee at Rest - 211-P.  I love this image.  Wow!  its gorgeous. 
 

I even pieced and popped the chickadee portion of this image.  I used my Spica markers on the pine needles and pine cones.  Unfortunately, that sparkle just doesn't show up on my photos. 

The sentiment is also a Repeat Impressions image - 8623-D - Brighten.  The card base is embossed and I drew out the colors in the blue oval by adding a dark blue ribbon. 

Now is your chance to participate in this DCC challenge.  You have two weeks to play along - just link your card featuring a masking technique here.  You will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.  What an awesome prize.   You can find the complete rules and details here

Thanks so much for stopping
Joyce

A Little Bit More "Tag" Crazy

The other day I posted some of the tags I have been making recently.  Today I have just 2 more for you. 

These super cute "witchy" ones were so fun to make and I got to do some masking - something I don't do real often but it made the moon look sooooooo spoooooooky!!!!  Bwwwwwaaaahaaaaaaaa.   I inked the edges a touch to give them that aged look and a bright purple satin ribbon to give them a little pop.



You gotta love a black cat for Halloween.  This stamp I have from Repeat Impressions fits the bill perfectly.  I had some basic news print card stock that I cut with my tag die, stamped my cats and inked the edges.  I went pretty monochromatic by adding a black organdy ribbon. 


All my tags are listed in my Etsy Shop - PaperJoyBoutique 

Coming up - Wine Bottle Tags.


Sunday, October 7, 2012

SOTW - Maple Leaf Silhouette - A Sympathy Card

It's Monday, which means we are featuring a Stamp of The Week (SOTW) over at Repeat Impressions.  I love this weeks stamps - The Maple Leaf Silhouette - 5127-K. Its under the Seasonal category in the Autumn grouping.  Every stampers collection should include some great leaf images - especially if you are in an area that has as many trees as we do here in Central Wisconsin.   This is the perfect week to add that feature to your collection since this stamp is at a huge discount.  

Here is my card using the SOTW. 


I inked this stamp in fall colors - I used Momento's Potters Clay, Desert Sand and Fiskars Chestnut Brown. Then I cut each image out.   I used the cracked glass technique (using 3 layers of clear embossing powder, cracking it when it cools and then inking over the surface) on the Potter's Clay image.  See below - I think this turned out very realistic.

Here's a closer look.  The "With Deepest Sympathy" sentiment is also a Repeat Impressions stamp - 4025-F Deepest Sympathy  - found on the Special moments page - in the Sympathy category. 

I added a little finishing touch to the inside of the card as well. 

The best part of the SOTW is that you can purchase this stamp this week for 50% off.  You can order it here and you can find out the complete details of this offer here

Thanks so much
Joyce

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Gone "Tag" Crazy

If you know anything about my crafting, you know that I like to create things other than cards.  I like to create tags, gift card holders, paper purses etc.   There are so many thing that you can create.

Lately, I have been on a total kick of creating gift tags.   I love them.  Halloween tags, Christmas/holiday tags, tags for any occassion. 

Here are a few that I've created recently - these are posted in my Etsy shop

Breast Cancer Awareness Hope Ribbon Tags

 Bride's Tags

Santa Suit Tags

Holiday Peace Dove Tags


And these super cute Halloween tags.  I love the dripping slime on the bottom.  So fun to make.

I have a few more to add - I will be posting those soon.

Thanks so much. 
Joyce

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

What If? Wednesday Sketch Challenge at Repeat Impressions




It's Sketch Challenge Wednesday at Repeat Impressions.  Wendy always has the best sketches for us and today is no exception. 
o312

Here is my version

When I saw this sketch, all I could see was princesses with lots of tulle.  Well, I'm a little 'mature' for princesses so this queen (Repeat Impressions 7118-I Queen) seemed far more fitting for me. I love how this card turned out but unfortunately the tulle is not very noticable in the photos.


You can see the tulle a little better here.
Now is your chance to show me how its done.   Create your version of this sketch and link it here on the Repeat Impressions blog - The House That Stamps Built.   When you link your project, you will be entered into a random drawing for $25.00 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store.  That's an awesome prize. 

Monday, October 1, 2012

A Little About Me

Fall is my favorite time of the year - the colors, the smells, just that cozy feeling when you need to start wearing a sweat shirt. 

One of the best features of fall is archery season (my apologies to any PETA member and my vegetarian friends).  I have been archery hunting for white tail deer for several years now.   I always say that it really doesn't matter if I take my bow or take my camera, going to sit in the stand in the beautiful fall weather is just super relaxing. The last few years, the stand that I sit in is so nice that I really spend very little time hunting and more time doing paper crafts. 


This is me, all decked out and ready to go.  I'm sporting a new hair style but I'm also showing my back pack that is loaded with paper crafting supplies. 

This is what the inside of my stand looks like.  It 6 feet by 6 feet enclosed stand (basically like a broom closet on telephone poles) with windows all around.  The decor is pretty primitive with burlap curtains except for the main window which has camo mesh so I can see if anything is coming.  The new addition this year is a table (yes, its made from an old garage sale sign) which will be loaded with my supplies.  This day I packed pretty light, but I've been known to take my cuttlebug and dies with.  Let me tell you, that gets pretty heavy since its quite a hike to my stand. 

I haven't seen any deer this year, I've only seen a few pesky squirrels (which we don't shoot), but I've sure gotten a lot of paper crafting done : )

More soon
Joyce