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.

Polkadoodles Mother's Day!

Welcome to another week of inspiration from the Polkadoodles DT!

Don't forget you have a chance to win a $20 credit or one of TWO $10 credits to the store!  Come play along!

I instantly fell in love with the Udderly Cute Cows Love & Friendship Big Kahuna Collection when it was released and I knew I wanted to make my mom a Mother's Day card with one of these sweet images! 

For my card, I layered the purple paper from the Flower Meadow pack behind the wood grain paper from the Printable Paper Pack 5 Udderly Cute, die cutting a large heart from the wood grain paper so the purple would show through. 

I used the adorable Hearts & Flowers Udderly Cute Cow digi, colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape.

I added a sentiment from the Spring Flower Mother's Day Friends sentiment pack, and finished it off with a charm and some rhinestone stickers.

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

Paper Funday #85 - AG/Optional Twist Fur or Feathers

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

Crafty Calendar - Spring

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers - AG/Optional Circles

Thanks for looking!  Peace.

Stop Staring at My Shamrocks!

 I think this is my last St. Patrick's Day card to share, and I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

Inspiration Station #83 - Photo

Colorful Options March - Rainbow or Green

Simon Says Stamp Monday - A Bit o' Green

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit o' Green

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie - March

I created my background by using some green Lindy's Magicals on a piece of watercolor paper - I layered it over and over, drying between layers. I then used my Clover Frame stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off), applying Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink through it and embossing with clear embossing powder. I printed out the image from Oddball Art (no longer in business), colored with Copics, fussy cut and attached with foam dimensional tape. Peace.

Soar...

 Hi there! Looking forward to opening some windows as the weather gets warmer - so crazy that a week ago we had 2 feet of snow on the ground and now everything is wet and squishy. LOL I'd love to welcome Spring but we've still got some cold weather coming so I guess that might have to wait!

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

Paper Funday #85 - Feathers or Fur

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

We Love Stamping March - Wildlife or AG

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms

I stamped the images (Funky Fossil Midnight Feathers set) on a white cardstock panel and colored only the moon with Copics. I flicked some gold Mica Spray Stain all over it, sponged the edges with black, and mounted on a piece of watercolor paper that I ink smooshed some yellow inks on. Peace.

PINK goes good with GREEN

 Good morning! I had the craziest, most realistic dreams last night and woke up feeling so confused, it's so weird when that happens. Like for a few minutes, you're not sure what reality is. Such an odd feeling. 

I absolutely LOVE the new CC Designs set Pink Green, and I could not put it away until I played with it!  I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - A Bit o' Green

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - A Bit o' Green

Crafty Gals Corner #275 - AG/Make it Green

Try it on Tuesday - Make it Feminine

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I created my background using die cuts with papers from Doodlebug Designs. I stamped the Wicked Witch with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. I added some Liquid Diamonds to her glasses and finished it off with some rhinestone stickers. Peace.

Hooray! It's Your Birthday!

 I've been loving playing with my green inks this month!  I tend to go for teals and purples! I'd like to enter this birthday card into the following challenges:

Colorful Options March - Rainbow or Green

Stencil Fun - Anything Goes with Stencils/Optional Vines/Vinery

Cut it Up #351- Happy Birthday

Die Cut Divas March - Celebrate Spring

AAA Birthday #83 - Use Die Cuts

I created my background by ink smooshing Lucky Clover Distress Oxide Ink on a piece of watercolor paper. I then applied the same ink through a vine stencil (Tim Holtz) and then I dragged the Lucky Clover Distress Ink on the edges. I stamped the bunny from Pink & Main's Critter set with Versafine Black, embossed with clear embossing powder, and colored with Copics. I fussy cut and attached to a deckled edge circle die cut from green cardstock with foam dimensional tape. I stamped the sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Birthday Your Way II set with the Lucky Clover Distress ink. Finished it off with some green gemstone stickers!  Peace.

Rainbow Birthday Wishes

 Another beautiful day here in New England, I can hardly believe it's going to be 28 degrees tonight.  LOL   I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

The Paper Players #776- Colors of the Rainbow

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts #566 - Birthday Wishes

Colorful Options - Rainbow or Green

I started this card by ink blending rainbow colors on a piece of watercolor paper. I then stamped the flowers from the Visible Image Chaos Theory set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped them again on a white card base, then fussy cut the colored flowers and attached them with foam dots. Peace.