Life is Best on the Beach

 Hello friends! We had a cold and dreary week but the next few days are predicted to be almost Summer weather! I am looking forward to cooking on the grill this weekend and opening some windows! In that spirit, I made a very Summery card for the CC Designs Facebook Challenge of using 3 or more patterned papers and I'd like to enter her into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Use Craft Dies

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

I managed to use 5 pieces of patterned paper from Doodlebug Designs - I die cut the tote bag from one piece and used a piece from a sentiment page for another. The background is so bright and colorful with those seashells - then I used an oval nesting die, layering the text piece on top of the wavy watery piece. I printed out Sugar Plum Surfer Emma 2 from CC Designs with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored her with Copics (I love her little sunburned cheeks - LOL), fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Procrastination

 Good morning! I have had a nice quiet week, plenty of time in my craft room and I even caught up on laundry! Today is a kitchen day - some baking and preparing things for the next week or so. The kitchen is my second favorite place to spend the day. LOL

I would like to enter this card into the:

Paper Players #785 - Color Challenge

I happen to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - I actually became a demonstrator back in 2002 but let it go years ago and recently signed back up as a hobby demonstrator, even though they don't like that term. LOL   Anyway! I used the colors of cardstock from the challenge for the card base and polaroid die cuts. I did some ink smooshing on a piece of watercolor paper for the background, sponged the edges with black ink and used a corner rounder punch. I printed out these cute skull flower digis, used my Brother Scan and Cut to cut them out, colored them with Copics and attached with foam dots. Sentiment is a sticker from a snarky Tim Holtz book. Peace.

Always Take the Scenic Route & Make it Count

I've got another Mermay card today! This one is for the following challenges:

Sweet November FB Mermay Challenge

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Creative Artiste - Anything Mixed Media Goes

I took my time and really had fun making this one. I used the ink smooshing technique with oxide inks on watercolor paper, then let it dry. before lightly stamping a text stamp with white ink in random spots. I then applied texture paste through a mermaid scale stencil in the corner, let that dry and applied Lindy's Magicals in a similar color to it. I did some white paint splatters on the whole thing and added some pearl stickers. Mermaid digi is called Tidewater Tails: Flavia from Sweet November Stamps - I colored her with Copics and glitter, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. Sentiment is a sticker from a Tim Holtz book. 

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And I have a fun little tag to share today - this one is for the following challenges:

Two Old Bats May - Anything Halloween or Mood Board

Tag-alongs & ATC's - Add Some Pink

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Things with Wings

I used the largest tag from the Gina K Designs Tag Trio to cut the tag out from Kraft cardstock. I used Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink through a spider web stencil and blended some more ink around the edges. I printed out the crow ATC from Wildflower Publishing and mounted it on black cardstock, roughing up the edges. I added a black feather die cut from black cardstock and a sticker sentiment from a Tim Holtz book. Peace. 

Happy Birthday Gemini

One more birthday card for today! LOL  I would like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Girlz and the Art of Letters - Z (I used Z is for Zodiac)

AAA Birthday #85 - Anything Birthday

I used ink smooshing on a watercolor panel, then applied texture paste through a moon phases stencil. I stamped the sentiment on the background and added a die cut constellation. Stamp is from The Greeting Farm's Hairoscope Big Kit set - I colored her with Copics and a white gel pen, fussy cut her and attached her with foam dimensional tape. I used a constellation stencil on the card base as well. Peace. 

Happy Birthday with Stencils!

It's all about BIRTHDAYS at the May release at

Floating Balloons:

Birthday Gifts:

I'd like to enter this first card into the:

AAA Birthday Challenge - Anything Birthday Goes

I used watercolor paper and applied Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide Ink through the Floating Balloons stencil, then used Villainous Potion through a dotted stencil on top of it. I used the Villainous Potion again for the sentiment, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I sponged the edges and flicked some ink on the card to finish it off.

Don't forget to use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire stencil order!

And here are a few more birthday cards - these ones also use the:

Star Streamers:

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Is Salty an Emotion?!?

 I absolutely love MerMay! I look forward to May every year, especially the Sweet November MerMay challenges! This year's new digis and stamps are just absolutely adorable - you can find them here. I made this card for the Sweet November Facebook weekly MerMay challenge and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

AllSorts #849 - AG/Monochromatic

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

I had this background in my stash - it was a reverse stencil print I had done on watercolor paper with Villainous Potion Distress Oxide ink on my Dashing Circle stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order). I die cut the mermaid scales from a piece of Yupo paper that I had applied several shades of purple alcohol inks to and layered it on top of the background.  I stamped the sentiment from Ink Road Stamps with the VP oxide ink and embossed it with clear sparkly embossing powder. I printed out Tidewater Tails: Ondina and colored her with Copics, glitter, and added some Liquid Pearls to her pearl earrings. I fussy cut her and attached her with foam dimensional tape, then sponged the edges of the card to finish it off. Peace.

Light Years of Joy

 I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day yesterday and if it was a hard day for you, I hope you managed to do something to take your mind off of it. We had a nice day - spent the morning with my parents and the afternoon with my kids and grandkids. Days like that help me to remember what life is really about.

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

Make My Monday #277 - Star Wars Day/A Space Project

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

I love making galaxy backgrounds and I had this one in my stash, so I pulled it out for this card. I stamped the background stamp directly on it with Versafine Black and embossed with clear sparkly embossing powder (stamps are from the Galaxy Peek-a-Boo Parts set at Hero Arts). I stamped the little astronaut and sentiment out the same way, then colored with Copics and used a circle punch to cut out. I attached it with foam dots and sponged the edges of the card with some black ink. Peace.

Journey Tag & Loving Life Art Journal

 Happy Mother's Day! What are you beautiful people up to today?  My parents are coming over around 10 a.m. for a bloody mary, then my husband and I are taking them out to brunch at 11:30. I made a pot of chili yesterday (more like chili sauce - no beans) so when we come home, my kids and grandkids will come for a visit and we'll make chili dogs! I'm looking forward to it!

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

Try it on Tuesday - Numbers

Tagalongs & ATC's - AG/Optional Add Some Pink

Let's Craft & Create #231 - AG + Tag! You're It

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I used a tag die from Gina K Designs cut from watercolor - I blended oxide inks on it and flicked a bit of water on it, then patted it dry with a paper towel. I stamped the image from Woodware Craft Co. with Versafine Black and embossed with a sparkly clear embossing powder. I added a text sticker and outlined it with a white gel pen, then tied some black twine through it.

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One more for today - this one is an art journal spread that I'd like to enter into the following challenges:

Cut it Up #355 - Something with Wings

A Cut Above - Anything Goes (with die cuts)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make it Colorful

We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great and Small

Stencil Fun - Anything Goes/Optional See Thru It

I used my small art journal for this one, it's about 4x4 inches. I used some Distress Spray Stains in Broken China and Fossilized Amber on the pages, then applied black texture paste through my stencils from A Colorful Life Designs - the Bee Stream on the left page, and the Geometric Butterflies on the right page. The filmstrip die was a fun way to highlight the bees. I used some stamps from Funky Fossil and added some text stickers, outlining them with Stickles. Peace.

Have a Magical Day!

1 Rainy Saturday - guess I'll stay in and craft! LOL  I'd like to enter this card below into the following challenges:

CC Designs FB Challenge - AG/Optional 3 or More Patterned Papers

Cut it Up #355 - Something with Wings

Creative Knockouts #570 - For the Kids

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps - Make  Your Mark

I used papers from My Mind's Eye, an old pad I had in my stash. I die cut the filmstrip and stamped the cute fairy from the Fairy Friends set at CC Designs with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder (same on sentiment). I colored her with Copics and added a touch of glitter. Finished it off with some rhinestone stickers and a button. Peace.

Polkadoodles - I Love You a Latte!

 Hello all! Welcome to another week of amazing inspiration from the Polkadoodles Design Team! Be sure to visit the challenge blog to see the rest of the team's creations! You can also play along for your chance to win a $20 credit to the store or one of 2 chances to win a $10 credit!

The DT was tasked with creating a non-standard card shape - and I love a good challenge! I decided to make a coffee cup shaped card:

The digi I used from Polkadoodles is called Mocha Coffee Cup, and the papers I used to paper-piece the coffee cup were from the Rebel Papers 3 pack. I simply fussy cut the cup out twice from cardstock, then fashioned a tiny card to attach each piece to along the edge. I printed the cup out again on DP to paper piece - did the same with the sentiment - I created the "I love you a" in Canva and used a heart nesting die to cut it out, the word "Latte" is from the Coffee, Tea, and Cake Word Art set.

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

A Place to Start May - AG/Fancy Folds

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards Challenge Blog - AG with Shaped Cards 

Heart's Quest Challenge Blog #85 - AWAHG/optional pink or blue hearts

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Colorful Art Journal Page

 Good  morning!  Do you art journal?  I have recently been doing it much more often - I had 2 tiny art journals but I finally splurged and got myself a nice big one! It's so different filling the larger space, but I love the challenge. I'd like to enter this page into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make it Colorful

Colorful Options May - Black & White (with or without pop of color) or Rainbow

I made a page in my Dina Wakley art journal, it's the large art journal and I really love playing around with it! I used some Lindy's Magicals in Impressionist Ink painted in broad strokes across the page. I stamped the flower from Funky Fossil on a piece of junk journal paper and colored it with Copics, then misted the page in rainbow colors of Distress Spray Stains. I let the paper tear and then used Mod Podge to attach it to the page. I added some paper flowers in a rainbow of colors, using rhinestone stickers for their centers. Peace.

Toe Beans in the Sand!

Hello there - I have been a cat person my entire life, never had a dog. My kids grew up with cats, not dogs. So imagine my surprise when my 8.5-month-pregnant daughter who has 3 little ones already and just went back to school got a 4-month-old puppy!!!  ROFL He was a rescue - he was fostered originally, where he was potty and crate trained. He was neutered at the shelter and given all of his vaccinations and such. He's adorable. He's German Shephard and Australian Blue Heel - his name is Pretzel and the family is in love with him already:

I met him and immediately became Grammy to a dog. I honestly can't believe how much I like him already. He's very sweet and well-behaved!

So I may be making dog cards soon (ha ha) but for now, I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Inky Paws #252 - Sketch

I Love ProMarkers #606- Summertime

A Cut Above - Anything Goes (must use die cuts)

Shopping Our Stash #573 - Man's Best Friend

Passion for Markers #836 - Furry Friends

Classic Design Challenge - Furry Friends

I pulled out some old papers from my stash - brand is Simple Stories. I stamped Newton from the Newton's Sand Dollar set at Newton's Nook with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, cut him out and roughed up the edges before matting on a piece of the DP. I die cut the sand dollar and "to the beach" sign and attached them with foam dots. Peace. 

Sweet & Toxic Tag

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

Retro Rubber #271

Tagalongs & ATC's May - AG/Add Some Pink

Papercraft #129 - Pastels & Pearls

The Paper Players 784

I have to laugh at myself because I have quite a few tag dies but I always seem to cut my own tags out of watercolor paper!  LOL  I used the ink smooshing technique for this one with a few shades of pink and that pretty blueish-purple. I stamped the very retro Sweet & Toxic girl from The Greeting Farm (2010) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and glitter. I added some paper flowers and pearl stickers, tied it up with a pretty stitched ribbon. Peace. 

Flower Rays & ATC Coins

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  My friend Kim is coming over this evening and I'm going to be making chicken fajitas and margaritas! Looking forward to it!

It's time to show off one of the new stencils from the May release at:

This is called Flower Rays:

I ink blended yellow oxide inks on a piece of watercolor paper, then applied texture paste through the stencil. I colored it with Lindy's Magicals mixed with water by using a small paint brush. I flicked some of the extra Magicals on the card and added some little sentiment stickers. I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

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And I'd like to enter these little ATC coins into the:

AllSorts #848 - AG/Anything But Square

I had these little patterned paper scraps in my stash, I just layered them on the ATC coin base and added some sentiment strip stickers & charms. Easy and quick! Peace.

Chaotic Creativity & Mother's Day Mermay

 Monday always rolls around so quickly, doesn't it? LOL  I have to spend the day in my kitchen today, but that's something I enjoy so even though I'll be exhausted at the end of the day, I will feel accomplished and satisfied! :)

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

Try it on Tuesday - Numbers

Dragged a background out of my stash (Lindy's Magicals on watercolor paper) to create this card. I stamped the images (Creative Chaos from Visible Image) with Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide Ink. I applied more of the ink along the top of the card and spritzed with water and let it get that watercolor look. I then stamped the flower and embossed with clear embossing powder. 

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One more for today - this was for the Sweet November FB Mermay Weekly challenge, and I'd like to enter it into the:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Mother's Day/Feminine

I used the reverse stencil technique on 2 different mermaid/fish scale stencils, using Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide Ink. I printed out the image from Sweet November Stamps, colored with Copics and glitter and used a nesting circle die to cut out. I sponged the edges with the same color ink and attached with foam dimensional tape, then stamped the sentiment directly on the background with the same color, and embossed with clear embossing powder. I added some die cut seashells and a sand dollar to finish it off. Peace.

You are Fabulous!

 Oh my gosh - I TOTALLY forgot to post my card for the new All Dressed Up Facebook challenge for May!!!

Theme this month is:

My Favorite Color Is...

My favorite colors are teal and purple, so I went with teal for this one:

The image I used is one of the girls from the Best Frocks - this image come with 3 girls, and you get one of each girl AND one with all 3 girls:

I did some ink smooshing on watercolor paper, then flicked some white ink on it. I then applied Uncharted Mariner Distress Oxide Ink through my Falling Dots stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off anything at the store). I die cut the film strip from white cardstock, then printed out one of the girls, colored her with Copics and fussy cut her. I attached her with foam dimensional tape. I stamped the sentiment (Tracey Hey Designs) with Peacock Feathers Oxide Ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I used the inside of the Rounded Rectangle Internal Scallop die cut from Jaded Blossom to cut it out.

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

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting!  I'm off to spend the day doing a mixed media class online in my craft room!  Peace.

Happy Birthday Foxy Lady

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

Pink & Main #16 - Cute Critters

Seize the Birthday - Primarily Pink

AllSorts #848 - AG/Optional Anything But Square

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Four Legged Friends

Tagalongs & ATC's - AG/Optional Add Some Pink

I made a birthday tag by ink blending Kitsch Flamingo Distress Oxide Ink through my stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off your order!), then sponging the edges. I stamped the fox from Pink & Main's Critters with Flowers set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. I printed out the text and did the same thing with that. Added some little flowers and rhinestone stickers and tied a ribbon through it to finish it off. Peace.

Butterflies & Sparkle

 I had so much fun with my granddaughter last night - her name is Lisey and she's almost 6. We spent time in my craft room making Mother's Day cards, went outside for a bit, baked brownies from scratch, and watched a movie while eating brownie sundaes! :)  This morning I am taking her to breakfast on her way home - she actually wants to go home this time because they just got a new puppy! LOL  So Grammy doesn't have to be the bad guy forcing her to go home - score!

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

Cut it Up #355 - Something With Wings

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - AG/Spring

Crafter's Cafe - AG/Optional Anything But Square

I love the mixed media look of this card - I used watercolor paper and the reverse stencil technique to create the "leaves" - I stamped randomly on the card and sponged the edges with black ink. I used Forest Moss Distress Ink on a piece of scrap paper, stamped it with a script stamp then used a die cut butterfly to cut it out. I sponged the edges of that with black and attached with foam dots, leaving the wings curled up a bit.

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And I'd like to enter this next card into the:

Atlantic Sketch Challenge #679

I used some fdlajfld - banner die cut from Doodlebug Designs paper, embellies from Doodlebug Designs. Finished off with some white splatters and rhinestone stickers. Peace.