best wishes

 We had such a great time at my daughter's house Saturday celebrating our youngest granddaughter's 4th birthday. Here's lil Millie, isn't she a cutie pie?!? I might be a bit biased.

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On to business! I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges today:

Tic Tac Toe #288 (I used stencils, ink blending, and splatter)

AllSorts #845 - Things with Wings

Lil Red Wagon #850 - Signs of Spring

Die Cut Divas - Celebrate Spring

Just Add Ink #781 - Just Add Wings

I created my background by using the reverse stencil technique with the Deco Fans stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 to get 10% off your order at the shop!). I had yellow ink on the stencil, then I used Garden Green Distress Oxide Ink to stamp the butterfly from the Wings of Change set at Visible Image, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I sponged the edges with the same color. I flicked some green Mica Spray Stain all over it, then added a kraft tag I had stamped the butterfly randomly all over and sponged the edges in black. Attached it with an old flower brad from Stampin' Up! (we're talking early 2000's here) and stuck a tiny text sticker on it from a Tim Holtz sticker book. I mounted the whole thing on a bright yellow cardstock base. Peace.

Just a Note & Thanks

 Good morning! I have another card I'd like to share using one of the new stencils from A Colorful Life Designs.

The stencil I used is called Big Music (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order in the shop):

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

A Place to Start - AG/Optional No Squares

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

I Love ProMarkers - AG/For the Girls

I used the reverse stencil technique for this one - I had black ink on the stencil, I spritzed it with water and laid it on a piece of watercolor paper that I had already distressed with a pale gray color. I let it dry and then sponged black ink around the edges. I printed out Guitar Flowers from Krista Smith (she has one digi still available on her Etsy site), colored with Copics and fussy cut. I attached her with foam dimensional tape and added an old sticker sentiment from SRM Stickers (man, this sticker sheet has to be about 15-20 years old!!!!). 

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Next up is a little ATC that I would like to enter into the following challenges:

ATC Around the World #135 - Squares

Craft Rocket #134 - No Designer Paper

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Inkspirational #363

I love making ATC's - they can be quick and easy or you can really spend time getting into mixed media designs and such. When I make most of my cards, they are 6x4.5 - this leaves me with a piece of cardstock that is perfect to cut 2 ATC size pieces from. I keep them in a gallon size zipper bag near my cardstock. I used one of those, stamping a script stamp from Tim Holtz all over it for the background. I had a scrap of stenciled watercolor paper from another project, so I cut a square from it and then die cut the leaf. I sponged the edges for dimension and attached each item with foam dots. I added a little sticker text from a Tim Holtz sticker book. Finished off with a die cut "thanks". Peace.

Soul Sister

 I've got one final "things with wings" card to share today - I love that theme, I love using my butterfly and dragonfly stamps and all that, they are some of my favorites to play with! I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Just Add Ink #781 - Just Add Wings

AllSorts #845 - Things with Wings

Girlz & the Art of Letters - W

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

I used Lindy's Starburst Sprays in Glory of the Sea Gold to create the background on watercolor paper. I took a scrap of black cardstock and rounded the edges, then attached it with adhesive to the background. I printed the Freehand Butterfly from A Day for Daisies on a piece of lighter weight cardstock and misted with the same spray, which caused the wings to curl up when I was drying it with my heat tool. I liked the effect so I added foam dots to the center of the back of the butterfly only so they would stay curled up. I added some gold pearl stickers and stamped the sentiment on the background with Versafine Black, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I sponged the edges with black ink to finish it off. Peace.

All Dressed Up March Release - Sleepy Bunny

 The Dressy Girls have some more inspiration for you using the adorable images from the March release at:

The image I used is called Sleepy Bunny, isn't she sweet?  

I colored her with Copics and added some Fluffy Stuff to her bunny ears. I fussy cut her and attached her with foam dimensional tape. Papers are from Doodlebug Designs - I used the Reverse Scallop Circle die cut from Pink & Main.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar - Spring

Double D - Easter

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

Little Red Wagon #850 - Signs of Spring

I Love ProMarkers #603 - For the Girls

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

The Darkest Nights...

 I love any excuse to make galaxy themed cards - I love playing with my mixed media supplies and constellation stamps! I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Galaxy

Path of Positivity #139 - AG/Optional Lucky 3 - Add 3 Gems 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

I stamped the image from the Stargazers set from Colorado Craft Company, with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the stars and constellations with Versafine Clear and embossed with white embossing powder. I colored only the grass, then carefully ink blended Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, and Villainous Potion Distress Oxide inks all around the bears and the rest of the card. I spritzed with water and wiped with a paper towel, then flicked some more water droplets all over it. Peace.

Mixed Media Butterfly

 You can always tell how I'm feeling mentally by how much time I spend in my craft room... LOL  Let's just say I've been spending a lot of time in there.  ;) I say it all the time, it's truly like therapy to me. It's hard to focus on anxiety when you're focused on creating something beautiful or fun.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

AllSorts #845 - Things with Wings

Dragonfly Dreams March - Butterflies

Creative Inspiration #36 - Anything Goes

Just Add Ink #781 - Just Add Wings

I really enjoy making backgrounds, so I tend to spend days just doing that and saving them for future projects. This was one of those - I can't remember exactly what color I used, but this one was made with Lindy's Magicals. I ink smoosh them the same way I do with inks, layering until I'm happy with the result. This card actually started because I had that small scrap of cardstock with the text (from a Tim Holtz stamp) on it left over from another project. I have been trying to force myself to use my scraps as I make them instead of adding them to my ever-growing pile of hoarded saved scraps... LOL I stamped the mixed media images and the butterfly (Arden Creative Studio stamps) on the background, embossing the butterfly only so she'd stand out. I added some white paint flicks all over it. I attached a plain piece of black cardstock down the side, flicked more white ink on that and added some bling. I attached the script scrap on top of that to finish it off! Peace.

Owl Are You?

 I have another card to share using the new stencil release at:

You can save by purchasing one of the Master Creator Bundles AND you can use code JennFan10 to get an additional 10% off anything in the shop!

I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Clean and Simple

Krafty Chicks #812 - Clean and Simple

AAA Cards #310 - Anything CAS/Optional Zoo Animals

Simply Clean and Simple - AG CAS/Optional Baby Animals

Pick 3 Challenge (I used text, wings, and CAS)

I used the reverse stencil image with the Three Feathers stencil for this one and kept it clean and simple. I spritzed water on the stencil and laid it flat on a piece of watercolor until it dried, creating the wispy look around the feather. I stamped the adorable owl from Mama Elephant's Owl Are You directly on the card with Versafine Black, embossed with clear embossing powder, and colored with Copics. I sponged the edges of the card to finish it off. Peace.

Always on My Mind

 Happy Friday! Off for my mammogram this morning - it hits different when an aunt was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, you know?  I've never been afraid of having a mammogram but I'll admit, I'm a little nervous this time. I'm going to pick up my mom when it's over and hit TJ Maxx to spend my Christmas gift cards!

I would like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

Pink & Main #15 - Texture

Passion for Markers 829 - Make it Bloom

Moving Along with the Times #187 - The Birds and/or The Bees

AllSorts #845 - Things with Wings

Just Add Ink #781 - Just Add Wings

I created my background by ink smooshing Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide ink on a piece of watercolor paper. I die cut the honeycomb from the upper right corner, and applied texture paste through a honeycomb stencil in the lower left corner. I die cut another honeycomb stencil from a scrap piece of previously distressed watercolor paper and layered it on top of the inlay die cut. I stamped the sentiment and bee from Pink & Main's Floral Wings set (it must be retired because I cannot find it in the shop anymore!) directly on the background with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored his body with bright yellow and the flowers in shades of gray. I sponged the edges with black ink and finished it off with some pearl stickers. Peace.

Sweet Memories

 Yesterday we had to recognize a day that no one should ever have to recognize - it was the one year anniversary of our sweet baby grandson's Sage passing. :(  Sigh. I would never in a million years have imagined that I'd be grieving a grandbaby at any point in my life, but life doesn't care what we imagine. It was a hard day but my husband and I spent the afternoon and evening with Cass and her family and it helped to be together and sharing memories and love instead of wallowing in our grief.

Sage was my daughter Cassidy's son, and after he passed Cass started seeing giraffes everywhere. There was no significance to them during his life, but they started popping up everywhere. So she started saying things like "OK Sage, if it's you sending giraffes, let me see one at the doctor's office" and she'd walk into the doctor's office and a nurse would be wearing a giraffe print scrub.  LOL  It happens ALL THE TIME now and it brings us comfort. So anyway, of course I had to make her some giraffe cards!!! I use crafting as therapy so it's like I have some cute giraffe stamps and I have some that are more realistic, I'll share another one later this week. I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges today:

AAA Cards #310 - CAS/Optional Zoo or Animals

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

I kept this CAS and just die cut a heart from some giraffe print paper and used a kraft cardstock base. I printed out the Tall Tale Tiny Hands from Di's Digi Designs, colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

I Be-Leaf in You!

 Good morning! I would like to enter my card below into the following challenges today:

Inky Paws #250 - Spring Has Sprung

A Cut Above - Anything Goes with Die Cuts

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers - AG/Optional Circles

Crafty Gals Corner #275 - AG/Optional Make it Green

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

I used papers from Doodlebug Designs to create my background and scene. I used heart, sun, and a fun reverse scallop circle die from Pink & Main. I stamped Newton from the Newton's Hanging Basket set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I fussy cut carefully and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Magic

 I have one more card to share today, this one is for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Beautiful Blooms

Shopping Our Stash #569 - I'm Counting on You

Die Cut Divas - Spring is Coming

A Place to Start - Anything Goes/Optional No Squares

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Spring/Easter/Anything Goes

For the background, I grabbed a background I had created with alcohol inks on Yupo paper from my stash. I then applied white acrylic paint through a stencil with numbers on it and let that dry. I flicked some white ink all over it and let that dry. I die cut the Magic sentiment from plain white cardstock and attached that with precision glue. I then printed out the cool lightbulb with flower digi image from Artist Lines and colored it with Copics. I fussy cut and attached to the card base laying flat. Peace.

Butterfly Wishes & Oh Happy Day

 Hello there! I have been having so much fun getting inky in my craft room lately. I said to my husband the other day, "I promise that eventually I'll do something else other than craft" and he just laughed at me. LOL  Spending time being creative is truly the best therapy for me. I tend to be anxious and overthink things and when I'm creating, my mind is focused on art. It's such a relief. But I do have to get my butt into gear and do some Spring cleaning soon - I'm just not doing it until it's nice enough to open windows and let all the dust out and the fresh air in!

So for today, I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

Just Add Ink #781 - Just Add Wings

AllSorts #845 - Things with Wings

Dragonfly Dreams March - Butterflies

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensation - AG/Optional Spring

I love how this background came out - I love ink smooshing for that very reason, you don't always know what you're going to end up with! Sometimes it's frustrating because I fall in love with a background and I cannot recreate it, but it's always fun to see what comes out by trying! I flicked some white ink all over it and sponged black ink on the edges. I stamped the background images (Arden Creative Studio ARTful Ledgers 01) lightly with a permanent black ink, then I stamped the butterfly (Arden Creative Studio Ledger Wings 01) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. The WISHES sentiment is a die cut from Whimsy Stamps Fun with Words 2. I finished it off with some bling.

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And then I have a little ATC to enter into the following challenges:

ATC Around the World #135 - Square

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

I used a scrap piece of previously distressed watercolor paper for the base, sponging the edges with black ink. I cut a 1 3/4 inch square and sponged the edges with more black ink, then attached my little flamingo from Paperie Ink Stamps with foam dots. I added the die cut sentiment to the top and finished it off with a little bling. Peace.

OH HAPPY DAY

 I am heading out to meet a friend for coffee later this afternoon and I'm really looking forward to it.  I am an absolute hermit in the Winter - I seriously hardly ever leave my house. My hubby goes out and does most of the food shopping, which is so nice. Spring has been trying to force her way in with absolutely ROARING winds last night that flipped over my heavy steel table on my deck, the whole house shook!  Hubby had to get up in the middle of the night and batten down the hatches so nothing would fly through a window!

So I'm trying to force Spring with my crafting - LOL - I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

The Paper Players #777

Passion for Markers - Make it Bloom

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Spring

Very simple - used a white card base and cut some tags from Doodlebug Designs designer paper, attached with a flower brad and used a die cut sentiment. Peace.

So Amazing, It's Unbelievable!

 Happy St. Patrick's Day! Do you celebrate this holiday?  We celebrate by making/eating corned beef and drinking beer.  LOL  My favorite part of the corned beef is making hash for breakfast the next morning!

Although it's not Irish/clover themed, I do have a green card to share today! I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Let's Craft & Create #229 - AG/Optional Purple & Green

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit o' Green

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

I created the green background with Lindy's Magicals on watercolor paper. I then used some Villainous Potion Distress Oxide Ink on another piece of watercolor paper and used a postage stamp square die cut and a rounded edge rectangle die to cut out pieces. I stamped the sentiment on the smaller piece and added some pearl stickers to it. I printed out the Dinosaur from Amanda Jayne Designs, colored with Copics, fussy cut and attached with foam dimensional tape. Isn't he too cute to be scary?!?  Go check out her images, they're adorable! Peace.

Wishing You Strength and Imperfectly Perfect

 I don't know about you, but I don't make many masculine cards! This one is for the following challenges:

Passion for Markers - Masculine

Little Red Wagon - Boy Inside the Man

I printed the digi (old one from CC Designs called Sugarplum Tulip Trevor) and sentiment directly on some DP, colored with Copics and mounted on a red cardstock base. 

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I made this one for the Unity Show & Tell FB group and I'd like to also enter it into:

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Feminine

Stamping Sensation - AG/Optional Spring

Beautiful Blossoms #39 - Anything Floral/Optional Mood Board

Papers (Where Little Gardens Grow) and stamps (Soul Mail) all from Unity Stamp Co. - colored with Copics. Finished off with a bit of bling. Peace.

HAPPY

 Good morning! I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Retro Rubber #267

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit o' Green

Crafty Gals Corner - AG/Optional Make it Green

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

As You See It #368 - Floral Sketch

I created my background by ink blending Distress Oxide Inks through my Music Love stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off at the shop). I die cut the word HAPPY from a scrap of bright pink cardstock. I stamped Sing Hope & Grace from The Greeting Farm (this one is from around 2009) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and a white gel pen, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Chapter One...

 Hello friends! I love making tags/bookmarks - this one was quick and easy to put together since I didn't color it!  I would like to enter this into these 2 challenges:

Double D - Books/Bookmark and/or Postal/Postage

Make My Monday #273 - All Tied Up

Tag-alongs and ATC's - AG/Optional Spring Flowers

I used the bookmark and book die cuts from the Bookmark II Die Set at Newton's Nook, cutting out one black and one kraft bookmark. I layered them on top of each other and tore the bottom of the kraft one. I stamped the flower from the Wounds and Blooms - In the Light set at Unity Stamp Co. with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I then did the same thing with the sentiment from the Chapter One set. Peace.

Focus on What's Important

 Good morning!  I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

CAS Colours & Sketches #580

Beautiful Blossoms #39 - Anything Floral Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday - A Bit o' Green

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2610 - Anything Goes

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Feminine

I printed out this digi from ArtistLines Floral Procreate Stamps, Bouquets, and Wreaths set, colored with Copics and I used Liquid Diamonds on the lens and flash. I used a rounded edge rectangle nesting die set to cut it out, layered on a piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock. I mounted it on a piece of Blueberry Bushel cardstock and die cut a fern from the Mushrooms & Ferns die set from Hero Arts from a scrap of Granny Apple Green cardstock. Peace.

Celebrate You

Happy Sunday! I woke up with a bad headache yesterday - I used to get migraines when I was younger, but they stopped for years.  Menopause seems to have fired them back up again - the joys of womanhood!  ;) Luckily, I didn't have anything going on this weekend so I have just been taking it easy. I spent some time in my craft room playing with some old rubber stamps! I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

Retro Rubber #265

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit o' Green

Creative Inspiration #36 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes/Spring

Simon Says Stamp Monday - A Bit o' Green

I created my background by using the reverse stencil technique with my Music Love stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order). I stamped Monday from The Greeting Farm (2010) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored her with Copics and a white gel pen and fussy cut her, attaching her with foam dimensional tape. I added some text stickers and bling. Peace.

It's Your Day!

I love stepping outside of my comfort zone and creating projects that I wouldn't normally make - it's such a confidence booster when you're happy with something that you were a little afraid to make!  I don't make a lot of floral cards - but I love how this one came out! I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Time Out #308 - Birthday CASE

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Feminine

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

I Love ProMarkers #602 - AG/Optional Birthday

Creative Knockouts - Birthday Wishes

I stamped the images from Unity Stamp Co's Be Gentle with Yourself on DP from the Moonborn Flight paper pack - I used Versafine Black ink with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, flicked some Gold Mica Spray all over it, and added a few gold pearl stickers. Peace.