sip. yawn. repeat.

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

Inky Paws #249 - Sketch

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers - AG/Optional Polka Dots

Stamping Sensations - AG/Favorite Stamps

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

My papers are from Doodlebug Designs. I stamped the kitty from Newton Loves Coffee with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and paper-pieced his coffee cup. I used rounded edge nesting rectangle dies to cut out, then finished off with a little coffee cup wooden accent. Peace.

Let's Adventure

 I spent the day in my craft room, it's totally like much-needed therapy to me. Coloring is just so therapeutic. I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Things with Wheels

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes

Passion for Markers - Shop Your Stash (papers)

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. Images are from Krista Smith/Saturated Canary. I colored with Copics - I fussy cut the girl lighting the campfire and attached it with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Happiness Depends on Ourselves

Good morning friends. We all seem to go through periods of our life when it feels like it's just a constant barrage of trauma and loss, and my life has been like that for over a year now. I have been to more funerals in the past year than I'd been to in the previous 5 years combined. My brother-in-law passed away recently and it just feels like the tipping point. He was 51 years old. Just when I think I cannot possibly take any more heartache, I realize that our 14-year-old Norwegian Forest cat, Oliver, is now at the end stages of his life and losing control of his bodily functions. I had to make the call yesterday to schedule what I've never had to do in my life - put my precious pet down. My husband Jeremy and I are just so distraught over it - please just keep us in your thoughts and I wouldn't be opposed to some healing energies being sent our way.

So this card below was hard to post today because sometimes happiness eludes us for reasons we cannot control. But for the most part, I try to live my life by the principle that "happiness depends on ourselves". I would like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

Just Add Ink #779 - Sketch

Make My Monday - Use 2 Dies

Passion for Markers - Shop Your Stash (the sentiment sticker & die cuts)

I Love ProMarkers #601 - AG/Optional Magical

Tic Tac Toe #286 (I chose florals, ink blending, and sentiment strip)

I created my background by ink blending Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink through my Cloud Edger stencil (use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order!). I used some die cut grass attached inside the frame, and a die cut sun attached with foam dimensional tape overlapping the frame. I stamped the dragon from My Favorite Things 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. I finished it off with a sentiment strip sticker from a Tim Holtz sticker book. Peace. 

Always Show Your True Colors

 I really loved this new stencil from the February release at A Colorful Life Designs:

You can purchase the Master Bundle at a discount. The stencil I used below is called Geometric Butterflies, and you can use code JennFan10 to get an additional 10% off at the shop!

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

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, and Blooms

AllSorts #843 - AG/Embossing

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Optional Blooms or Butterflies

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I used the ink blending technique on watercolor paper to create my background, spritzing the paper heavily with water and blotting with a paper towel. I used Versafine Black through my stencil as well as on the sentiment stamp, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I finished it off by sponging the edges of the card with black ink. Peace.

Happy Birthday Girl

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

Colorful Options - Mood Board

Star Stampz - Anything Goes/Optional For a Girl

Creative Inspiration - Think Pink

Lil Red Wagon #846 - Just the Way You Are

Seize the Birthday - AG or CAS with Dies

I used the ink smooshing technique to create my background with pink & purple inks/sprays. I used heart eyelets in the corners, and a Happy Birthday sticker sentiment from Tim Holtz. I printed out Panda Balloon from Star Stampz, colored her with Copics and fussy cut out, then attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Magical Birthday Fairy Wishes

 Good morning! I hope this card makes you smile today - I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

Friends of Sweet November FB February Challenge - AG/Optional Fairies

AllSorts #843 - AG/Optional Embossing

A Cut Above - AG with Die Cuts

Make My Monday #271 - Use 2 Dies

Seize the Birthday - AG or CAS with Dies

I created my background by ink smooshing a piece of watercolor paper into the ink I had sprayed on my glass mat - I then spritzed water directly on the paper to make it drip. I stamped the adorable fairies from Sweet November Stamps with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, Liquid Diamonds, and glitter, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. The sentiments are 2 separate die cuts from the Fun with Words 2 Die Set from Whimsy Stamps. Peace.

love tag

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

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Not a Card

Tag-alongs & ATCs - AG/Optional Add a Number

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers - AG/Optional Polka Dots

Tic Tac Toe #286 (red, sentiment strip, patterned paper)

Papers are from Unity Stamp Co. - I cut the tag and attached the papers, then added the wooden arrow heart, attaching the sentiment strip to it. Tied a very old ribbon from Stampin' Up! to finish it off. Peace.

Grateful For You

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

Fun with Funky Fossils FB Challenge

AllSorts #843 - AG/Embossing

Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Stencil Fun - Create Your Own Background

As You Like It - Cute or Elegant (and why)

I have been making an effort to create more elegant cards, because I tend to make "cute" cards and they are not always appropriate for the occasion/situation!

I created my background with lots of inks and sprays and I used a honeycomb stencil from Visible Image. The bee stamp is from Funky Fossil's Bee Geometric set, and the "pollen" coming from his behind is from the Bokeh Flowers set... hee hee  The "Grateful for You" sentiment is from an old set that I believe was from MFT. Everything was stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored the bee with Copics & Stickles, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace. 

Don't Go Bacon My Heart

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

Lil Red Wagon #845 - I'm Seeing Red

Let's Craft & Create #228 - AG + From the Heart

I Love ProMarkers #600 - AG/Optional Love or Romance

Fab n' Funky #630 - Love is All Around

I make most of my cards 6 x 4.5 inches - so the piece that's left for a scrap is 2.5 x 6. I keep these scraps in a bag and pull them out to make mini cards once in a while, that's what I did here. I used a scrap of kraft for the cardstock base and sponged some red ink around it. I stamped the sentiment and the sweet pig from Tracey Hey's Streaky Bacon set directly on the kraft card base with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder, then colored with Copics and a white gel pen. I die cut the hearts and attached them with foam dimensional tape and adhesive. Peace.

Celtic Mask Stencil - Pisces

 Good morning! Time for another project I created from the February release at:

You can use code JennFan10 for an additional 10% off your entire order!

This stencil is called Celtic Mask:

I applied Bundled Sage Distress Oxide Ink through the Celtic Mask stencil to create the background. I then stamped the flower & Pisces sentiment (Unity Stamp Co.) with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored the flower with the same Bundled Sage ink and used a deckled edge circle die to cut it out. I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Stencil Fun - Make Your Own Background

Paper Funday #84 - AG/Optional Pastel Colors

Creative Inspiration #35 - Anything Goes

Cut it Up #349 - This Makes Me Happy (astrology)

Seize the Birthday - CAS with Dies

Peace.

Stitch Valentine's Day

I'm always honored when friends and family ask me to create special cards for their loved ones! My son asked me to make a Valentine card for his fiancee, who LOVES Stitch... I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Try it on Tuesday - All Loved Up

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Spritz & Splatter

Passion for Markers - Don't be Square

Lil Red Wagon #845 - Seeing Red

I Love ProMarkers #600 - AG/Optional Love or Romance

I had a background in my stash that needed some oomph. It was just blue and red inks blended on watercolor paper, so I spritzed and sprayed and embossed until I was happy with the background. I then printed out Stitch, stamped "LOVE YOU" on his heart, colored with Copics and fussy cut. I attached with foam dimensional tape and made the "happy Valentine's Day" with my label makers. I finished it off with some sparkly sticky sequins. Peace.

I Love Your Stupid Face

 One more Valentine card for today - this one was made for my son's girlfriend to give to him... hee hee  They are a funny couple. I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Try it on Tuesday - All Loved Up

A Place to Start - AG/Optional Small Critters

As You Like It - Cute or Elegant (and why)

I love making cute cards because the images just always appeal to me and are fun to color!

Die Cut Divas - Red and/or White

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #213 - Happy Hearts

I used a colored clipart and applied the stencil sentiment (from the Stupid Face stencil from A Colorful Life Designs - use code JennFan10 for 10% off!). I added a die cut XOXO and some die cut hearts. Peace.

Polkadoodles - Happy 30th Birthday!

   Welcome to a new challenge at Polkadoodles!  Our themes are always ANYTHING GOES and you have a chance to win a $20 voucher or one of two $10 vouchers!

Here is my creation for this week:

I made a 30th birthday card for a friend of mine. I printed out the Aquarius sign from the Zodiac/Horoscope Star Sign Constellation set and "Happy Birthday" from the Birthday Sentiments & Greetings Set on a piece of white cardstock and cut it out with a stitched edge rectangle die. I created the background by blending Salty Ocean Distress Oxide Ink on a piece of watercolor paper and spritzing with water, then blotting with a paper towel. I used an Aquarius symbol stamp in Aqua and die cut the numbers 30 from a scrap of the distressed background. I spritzed the whole thing lightly with a silver Mica Spray Stain and added some blue rhinestone stickers.

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

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Spritz & Splatter

Seize the Birthday - CAS with Dies

Peace.

best wishes

 Happy Friday the 13th!

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

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #688

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Think Pink

Colorful Options - Mood Board (pink & purple)

I created my background by ink smooshing a piece of watercolor paper using Seedless Preserves and Picked Raspberry colors of sprays and ink pads. I applied just the Picked Raspberry to a separate piece and die cut the hearts from it. I die cut the flourish from a piece of white cardstock, finished it off with a little puffy text sticker. Peace.

You Were Created to Be You

 Good morning! I'm a hermit in the Winter - I seriously don't leave my house unless I absolutely have to.  I have to today and I'm not looking forward to it but I'll make the best of it. Hubby will come with me to go do some bloodwork and a few errands, drop off Valentine cards with McDonalds to my grandkids (my daughter is sick with a fever so I figured that would help!), and then we'll stop and grab a burger for dinner while we're out. Once I'm home, I probably won't leave for another week or so. LOL

At least spending all this time at home lets me be in my craft room more often! I'd like to enter the card below into the following challenges:

TGIF #563

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Think Pink

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Spritz & Splatter

Beautiful Blossoms - Anything Floral Goes

AAA Colourul #24

I created my background by first stamping some text stamps on a piece of watercolor paper. I applied Pearl White Stardust Butter through my Joined Roses stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off anything at the shop!), then used a paintbrush dipped in Winterberry Mica Spray stain to paint over the panel. I let it dry and then spritzed/flicked some more of the Winterberry Mica Spray stain and some Black Soot Spray Stain all over the card. I stamped the sentiment directly on the panel and the girl separately. I colored her with Copics, fussy cut, and attached her with foam dimensional tape. I edged the card with hot pink ink and added some hot pink rhinestone stickers to finish it off. Peace.

I Love You to Death

I love Halloween and what could be better than combining Halloween with Valentine's Day for a pink & red hybrid Valloween card?!? LOL  ;)

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

Color Hues #126

4-Season Challenge #101 - Headwear

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #773 - Love

Creative Knockouts #564 - Love/Valentines/Anniversary

Two Old Bats - Anything Halloween Goes

I created my background by using the reverse stencil technique with some pink ink on a heart stencil, then I applied red ink through the same stencil on a scrap strip and attached it down the middle of the card. I stamped out the skull with flower headwear from the Exquisite Beauty set from Whimsy Stamps with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. I layered some die cut hearts behind it and added a sentiment I made on my Dymo label maker. Peace. 

Pucker Up!

 Good morning!  We have a new challenge for you today at:

The Paper Shelter - Colours of Love!

Of course you can always go with the Anything Goes option but with Valentine's Day only 3 days away, get out those colors of love!

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

Die Cut Divas - Red and/or Pink

A Place to Start - AG/Optional Small Critters

Addicted to Stamps #510 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils (both)

Cut it Up #349 - This Makes Me Happy (using stencils and die cuts together)

We Love Stamping - AG/Hearts

I blended Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink through my Love Waterfall stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off at the shop). I printed out Love Bubbles from The Paper Shelter and sponged blue ink around the fish. I colored them with Copics and some glitter and used a fish bowl die cut to cut them out. I attached the fish bowl with foam dimensional tape. I made the sentiment on my Dymo Label Maker and added a few die cut hearts. Peace.

be brave

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

Spellbinders February Challenge - Pop of Color

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, & Blooms

Cut it Up - This Makes Me Happy (butterflies)

CAS on Friday #327 - AG

Addicted to Stamps #510 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils

I used a stamp/die set from Spellbinders called Fearless, stamped with Picket Fence Distress Oxide Ink and embossed with sparkly white embossing powder. The butterfly die is from Simon Says Stamp. Kept it clean and simple, I love the pop of yellow against the black and white! Peace.

remember

 Good morning! I have another card to share today using a stencil from the February release at:

This card was created with the Geometric Butterfly stencil - you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off at the shop AND you can combine that with the Master Bundle for a really great discount!

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

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms

Papercraft Challenge - Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

I used a combination of inks and sprays to create the background, then I applied Picket Fence Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil and embossed with white embossing powder. I added a tiny puffy "remember" sticker to finish it off. Peace.

ATC's and Bingo Valentines

Today is all about love - are you ready for Valentine's Day?  My husband and I don't make a big deal of it, we've been married for over 30 years and he always buys me flowers & chocolates! I usually make him a special card and a special meal. Whatever you do, I hope you spend the day feeling loved!

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

Tag-alongs & ATC's: AG/Optional Add a Number

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Add a Heart

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration: Think Pink

Try it on Tuesday: All Loved Up

AAA Colourful #24

I love the mixed media vibe of this little ATC. I used inks and embossing powders through a Tim Holtz stencil, then die cut a little heart. I sponged all the edges with black ink and added some little sticky sequins. Finished off by flicking some white ink all over it.

.................................................................

And up next is the Valentine card I made for my youngest granddaughter, Millie, who is a HUGE fan of Bingo from Bluey, I'll enter this into the following challenges:

4-Season Challenge: Hats/Headwear

613 Avenue Create: Animal Magic

A Place to Start: AG/Optional Small Critters

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: AG/Optional LOVE

Creative Knockouts #564: Love/Valentine's/Anniversary

I found this adorable Bingo coloring page here. I printed it out twice, colored with Copics and fussy cut. I colored the hearts on the 2nd image and fussy cut those, then attached them to the original Bingo with foam dimensional tape. Layered some die cut hearts on the background (all DP from Unity Stamp Co. - I loved the "cartoony" look of this particular paper pad!) and attached Bingo with foam dimensional tape. I used a speech bubble die cut for the sentiment. Peace.