Hopeful

 I have a cute Spring card to share today for the following challenges:

Passion for Markers #833 - Spring Colors

The Four Seasons - Spring

AllSorts #847 - In the Garden/Anything Goes

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Easter/Spring

Papercraft #128 - Joy of Spring

I have been doing a great job using up my ridiculous stash of designer papers! LOL These are from an old pad from My Mind's Eye. Image is a digi from Sweet November, colored with Copics. I used a stitched edge nesting rectangle die to cut everything out. Sentiment is a sticker from a Tim Holtz book. Peace.

Be YOUnique

 Good morning!  I'm guest designer for the Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge this week, where the letter is Y! I went with Yellow and "Younique" ;)

My image is Emo Elenora Sunflower from Just Some Lines (no longer in business), colored with Copics and then I layered her inside the Polaroid die cut frame, fussy cutting only her pony tails to hang down outside the frame. I added a die cut filmstrip and paper flower along with some rhinestone stickers. My papers are from my stash - an old 6x6 pad from My Mind's Eye.

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

Colorful Options - Rainbow or Yellow

Shopping Our Stash - I Don't Sweat, I Sparkle (papers & flower dies from my stash, and the image is a very old digi)

Creative Knockouts #569 - 2 or More Patterned Papers

The Four Seasons - Anything Goes SPRING

Thanks for visiting!  Peace.

Newton Loves Coffee & Glam Glitter

Hello friends - I have a card I'd like to share for the following challenges today:

Inky Paws - Mood Board

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Bright & Cheerful

Paper Funday #86 - AG/Optional Die Cuts or Punches

Cut it Up #354 - Colors of Spring

Passion for Markers - Spring Colors

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. I used a paw print die cut into a circle die cut, and the Rounded Rectangle Internal Scallop nesting die cut from Jaded Blossom.  I stamped the kitty (Newton Loves Coffee) with Versafine Black, embossed with clear embossing powder and colored with Copics. I fussy cut and attached with foam dots. Sentiment is from a Tim Holtz sticker book. 

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And one more for today - this one is for the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Monotone

Shopping Our Stash - I Don't Sweat, I Sparkle!

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

I had this background in my stash, a dreamy watercolored-looking green so I went with green for my monotone! I stamped the rubber stamp from the Sparkle Big Kit at The Greeting Farm with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. The stamps are from my stash as well as the sentiment, which was printed out, die cut, and sponged with some green ink. I added some green rhinestone stickers to finish it off.  Peace. 

You Inspire Me

 I had horrible dreams last night - actually early this morning - and woke up sobbing. It's not a fun way to start the day. I've been super busy the last week so I'm taking today to spend in my craft room. It always helps my mental health to be creative and artsy.

I'd like to enter this card below into:

The Paper Players #781

Try it On Tuesday - Make Your Own Background

I created the background by ink smooshing yellow & gray inks on a piece of watercolor paper. I then used black texture paste (Tim Holtz/Ranger) applied through my Geometric Butterfly stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (use code JennFan10 for 10% off!) and let it dry. I stamped the sentiment (an old one from My Favorite Things) with Versafine Black and embossed with a clear, sparkly embossing powder. Peace.

Collect Beautiful Moments & A Special Place

 Hello there!  I have been having fun playing with my art journal and mixed media techniques lately - I don't know about you, but I have an absolutely HUGE stash of cards, so I'm trying to create things other than cards!  Today I have a little ATC to share - I love making ATC's and I love gifting them away.  I'd like to enter this one into the following challenges:

Tagalongs & ATC's - AG/Optional Blossoms, Butterflies, Birds

Let's Craft & Create #230 - AG/Optional Butterflies

Try it on Tuesday - Make Your Own Background

AllSorts #847 - AG/Optional In the Garden

Shopping Our Stash #571 - I Don't Sweat, I Sparkle!

I used an old stencil from my stash on the background of the ATC, I love using Distress Oxide Inks and spritzing with water for that aged/vintage look. I had a scrap piece of watercolor paper in my stash that had been distressed with purple oxide inks, so I stamped the script stamp (Hero Arts) on it before die cutting the butterfly from it, then sponged the edges with black ink and attached it to the ATC with foam dots just down the center of the butterfly so the wings would curl up a bit. I added some rhinestone stickers for sparkle and a sticker sentiment from a Tim Holtz book, then sponged the edges of the ATC with more black ink. 

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And next up is another fun, snarky card - hee hee - this one is for the following challenges:

Stencil Fun April - AG/Optional Rainbow Colors

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Make Someone Smile

Colorful Options - Rainbow or Yellow

I used my Distress Crayons through the Mid Century Double Rainbow stencil from A Colorful Life Designs (you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire order at the shop). After using the crayon directly through the stencil on the right side, I spritzed it with water and lay it down on the left side and let it dry. I stamped the sentiment from the Roadies 69 set at Ink Road Stamps at the top with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I used my Cloudy Sky Scene Fancy Die from Hero Arts and layered them along the bottom. Peace.

BEE Yourself!

 Hello friends! I love making bee cards - this one is for the following challenges:

Sunday Stamps #383 - Sketch

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

The Four Seasons - Spring

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Spring/Easter

We Love Stamping - Spring

I had this background in my stash, so I grabbed it and used the Fancy Honeycomb Die from Hero Arts on it. I stamped the sentiment (stamps from the Bee Hive set at Colorado Craft Company) directly on the card and then the bee separately with Versafine Black and embossed both clear embossing powder. I colored the bee with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dots. I attached the panel to a white cardstock base and flicked a bit of gold Mica Spray Stain on it. Peace.

The Secret Ingredient is Love

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

The Outlawz April Twisted Challenge - Sketch

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Food and/or Drink

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Bright & Cheerful

Love Those Pretty Patterned Papers - AG/Optional Spring Flowers

Time Out #310 - Sweet Treats

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs - I LOVE my new scalloped edge square die from Taylored Expressions! Stamps are from the Bake Me Happy set at Colorado Craft Company, colored with Copics. Peace.

You're Old.

 A friend of mine asked me to make her a snarky birthday card for her hubby who was turning 60 this week - mission accepted!  I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

AAA Colourful #26

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - H is for Happy Birthday

Die Cut Divas - Anniversary or Birthday Card

I used the Dotted Cover Die cut from Pink & Main cut from Secret Sea cardstock (Stampin' Up!). The strips of orange cardstock were die cut from the Rectangle Strip Card Mat Die from Jaded Blossom. I'm sorry I cannot remember the manufacturer of the number dies! The sentiments are from the Snarky Cat Thoughts stamp set at Unity Stamp Co., stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. Peace.

Stay Strong

Totally forgot to post this in time for the Try a Sketch on Tuesday challenge, but that's the sketch I followed for this card:

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

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #215 - Rainy Days

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Easter/Spring

We Love Stamping - Spring

Fab n' Funky - Easter/Spring

Papercraft Challenge #128 - AG/Optional Joy of Spring

Double Trouble #214 - 3,2,1 Recipe (3 patterned papers, 2 colors from color wheel, 1 image)

My papers are from My Mind's Eye, an old 6x6 pad. The stamp is also an old one from CC Designs, colored with Copics and fussy cut before attaching to the card with foam dimensional tape. Peace. 

Twirly Mask Stencil - A Colorful Life Designs

 Good morning!  I can't believe it but I slept for almost TWELVE hours last night!  I must have really needed it! We had a long, busy weekend - fun - and I never sleep well when I have stuff going on, it's hard for me to turn off my brain. This is a quiet week for me thankfully!

I know I talk about the reverse stencil technique often, and I wanted to share 2 cards today where I use the same stencil but I use it traditionally on the first card, and in reverse on the second. Here we go!

This Twirly Mask stencil is from the April release at

You can get 10% off your order by using code JennFan10:

I had a piece of watercolor paper in my background stash that just had some yellow & blue inks on it, so I grabbed that. I applied some Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil quite heavily, then spritzed with water and let dry. I stamped Hello friend several times with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the shell with flowers from Pink & Main's Floral Shells set with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and attached with foam dimensional tape.

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

Art Nudge April #426B

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner #276 - Spring

Stamping Sensation April - AG/Optional Inspired by Nature

Triple B - Birds, Butterflies, Blooms

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Now here's where I took the already-inked-up stencil and spritzed it with water, then lay it down on another scrap piece of watercolor paper in my stash that already had the blue ink on it - I love the blue and orange color combo. I let the stencil sit while it dried, then sponged the edges with some more blue ink and mounted it on an orange cardstock base. I die cut the flower from white cardstock and attached with a fine point glue applicator, then added a tiny sticker sentiment:

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

AllSorts #847 - AG/Optional In the Garden

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

Paper Funday #86 - AG/Optional Die Cuts/Punches

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Ready?

 OK I've got one more card to share today for the:

Double D Challenge - Humor

I was going to post this tomorrow but realized the challenge closes while I'll be sleeping tonight!  LOL  I printed out the peeking raccoon and sponged the edges before attaching it to a piece of DP. I used some light brown cardstock, die cuttring the paw print from it and attaching that with some foam tape. The sentiment is another snarky one from Ink Road Stamps (Roadies 33). I have sooooooo many of these stamps and I have soooooo much fun coming up with ways to use them! LOL Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Mixed Media Birthday

 One of my best friends is coming over today to celebrate his birthday with my husband and I. Tim and I grew up together and have been best friends since we were about 16. Luckily, him and my hubby also became friends and enjoy doing things like disc golf together! I made Swedish meatballs, one of my specialties, and I'm looking forward to it! This card below is the one I made him for his birthday - I'd like to enter it into the following challenges:

Double D - Humor

Seize the Birthday #324 - No Topping

Creative Artiste #125 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #273 - H is for Happy Birthday

I love mixed media projects - I love getting messy and dirty! LOL  For this one, I applied some clear Gesso to a piece of watercolor paper and let it dry. I then applied some texture paste through a stencil and let that dry. I then applied Lindy's Magicals all over the page and let that dry before stamping the clock in the upper right corner and the sentiment with Versafine Black and embossing with clear embossing powder. I added some die cut balloons to finish it off. Peace.

Sonny Sage

 My daughter is about to have her 5th child - it's her rainbow baby. :( Her 8-month-old son Sage passed away a little over a year ago and she was not planning this pregnancy but sometimes life makes plans for you. We are all totally excited and understandably scared. Everything looks great and it's a boy. We can't help but feel like Sage sent him to us to help us deal with our grief. Anyway, she's going to name this little bundle of joy Sonny Sage, after his big brother, and I had to make something special for his room. If you are a regular visitor here, you probably know that my daughter started seeing giraffes everywhere after Sage passed away and now I do too! Stamp companies keep coming out with the cutest giraffe images and you know I just have to buy them. LOL So when Simon Says Stamp came out with this set, I had to have it. And it was definitely meant to be because it was not supposed to arrive until Monday - I had a little mini baby shower planned for her today so I didn't expect to be able to use it. It showed up Friday instead. I instantly went to work. :)  Here's my creation:

I'd like to enter it into the:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Not a Card

Creative Inspiration #37 - Anything Goes

A Cut Above - AG with optional twist Pastel Colors

Outlawz April - Anything But a Card

Outlawz April - Main Challenge

 I used some old designer paper from My Mind's Eye called Lost and Found Two Sunshine - I love the combination of the soft yellow & seafoam green with the dark brown. I stamped the giraffe from A Mother's Love (Simon Says Stamp) with Scorched Timber Distress Oxide Ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and used a nested arch die from Unity Stamp Co. to cut it out. I used another of the dies to layer behind it. I used a heart die cut, sponging the edges with Scorched Timber Distress Ink and die cut the letters for his name.  Peace.

Polkadoodles: Time for Some Panda-Monium!

 Time for some more POLKADOODLES inspiration!

Come play along for your chance to win a $20 credit to the shop or one of TWO $10 credits!

The DT was challenged with creating an interactive card this week, and I envisioned a panda sliding down a bamboo shoot! Here's Bamboo Snack Time Noodle Panda Bear at the top of the card:

And here he is sliding down the bamboo on his cloud:

I used the sentiment from the Noodle Panda Themed Messages as a sort of pull tab for the slider piece. My papers are from the Noodle Panda set 3 collection. I used a sentiment strip die cut to create the slider tab, added a foam strip to the back of the panda, then attached a plain piece of sturdy cardstock to the back side of the panda.

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

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Optional Fancy Folds

Crafts Galore Encore - Anything Goes

Cut it Up #353 - Kids/Babies (must use die cuts)

I Love ProMarkers - AG/Optional Cute & Whimsical

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking!  Peace.

Sympathy & Plants

 Happy Friday!  I'm off to go shopping with a friend today, then I have a busy weekend planned with company both days. I'm looking forward to it! I love cooking and entertaining.

I've got 2 cards to share today - this first one is for the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms #39

Colorful Options April - Yellow or Rainbow

Alphabet Challenge - Y is for Yellow Flowers

Creative Knockouts - Embossing Delight

I used the reverse stencil technique on the background (watercolor paper) with some heavy ink on the stencil and lots of water, then dragged the edges in black. I stamped the flowers from Unity Stamp Co. in Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of previously distressed watercolor paper and used an arch nesting die, also from Unity Stamp Co. to cut it out, then attached it with foam dimensional tape. I flicked a bit more black ink on the card and yes, it smeared. Sigh.

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And this next one is for the following challenges:

CAS on Friday - Botanical

Crafty Calendar April - Dies and Punches

Paper Funday #86 - AG/Optional Dies or Punches

Dragonfly Dreams April - Clean and Simple

This one was super simple - the adorable Potted Plants dies are from Jaded Blossom. I stamped the sentiments from Ink Road Stamps directly on the card with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. Peace.

Close your eyes and make a wish

 Good morning!  What is your favorite crafting supply that you find yourself reaching for over and over again?  For me, it's die cuts. I have a slight obsession with them and always "need" more. LOL I love the die cut challenges and I decided to try to make a card that fit all 3 of them right now! I'd like to enter my card below into the following challenges:

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

Cut it Up #353 - Kids or Babies (must use die cuts)

Die Cut Divas - Anniversary or Birthday (must use die cuts)

Paper Funday - AG/Optional Die Cuts and Punches

Retro Rubber #269 - Tic Tac Toe (I used sequins, ribbon, die cut)

I wish I took pictures of the stages of the background paper because it started out as just a plain Bundled Sage ink smooshed page - I wasn't happy with it, so I added some Lindy's Magicals in a couple different shades of pink and it just gave it the perfect, dreamy look! I die cut 3 crowns from coordinating scraps of cardstock, the word HAPPY, and the filmstrip. I stamped the word Birthday with Bundled Sage Oxide ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. The stamp is an old rubber stamp from The Greeting Farm called Twinkle Tots Princess Ava (this one is from around 2007). I stamped with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder, colored with Copics, and fussy cut. I attached her with foam dimensional tape. I stamped "Close your eyes and make a wish" (from Untiy Stamp Co.) with dark gray oxide ink and embossed that with clear embossing powder. I added a little ribbon tag attached with a rhinestone brad and some sparkly sequins. Peace.

For the Record...

 I would like to share a card from the April release at:

This one is called Dashing Circle - you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off in the shop and you can save more by purchasing the Master Bundles!

Here's my card using the Dashing Circle - I got this idea while laying in bed one night and had to get up and make it. LOL

I started by using an alcohol ink background on Yupo paper that I had in my stash. I die cut a tiny peace sign from part of it to use as an embellishment. I used a permanent black ink through the stencil on heavy cardstock, then blended Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink all over it and embossed with clear embossing powder. I used a punch for the yellow middle piece of the "record" and used die cuts for the sentiments, attached with foam dots. I thought this was a pretty clever use of the stencil if I do say so myself!  hee hee ;)

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

Stencil Fun - AG/Optional Rainbow Colors

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Make Someone Smile

A Cut Above - AG/Optional Pastels (must use die cuts)

Addicted to Stamps & More #514 - Any Occasion

Thanks for visiting! Peace.

Paws Here & Complete Psychopaths

 OK so this must be some kind of cruel joke... after me boldly celebrating the fact that the snow was over, I woke up to it freaking SNOWING!!!  It's April 7!  I know I live in New England but COME ON MAN. Give us a break! LOL It's coming down hard too, and it's expected to last most of the day.  Next week, we have weather in the high 70's expected. Gotta love it here.

I have a couple projects to share today - first is this cute bookmark for the following challenges:

Cut it Up #353 - Kids/Babies (must use die cuts)

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Not a Card

Unicorn Challenge - Use Dies

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

The bookmark, books, paw print, and "paws here" sentiment are all die cuts from Newton's Nook, Bookmark Die set and Bookmark II Die set. The image of Stitch was a free coloring page I found online that I shrunk down to color for this bookmark, then fussy cut and attached sitting on top of the stack of books. 

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And then I have a fun, silly card to share for the following challenges:

Double D - Humor

I Love ProMarkers - AG/Optional Cute & Whimsical

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Optional Fun Folds

I just adore Ink Road Stamps. There will be a drop this Friday - if you're interested, go to the site and sign up for notifications! I have SO many of the snarky sets - this card was made with the fox from the Lookin Sharp set and a sentiment from the Roadies 68 set. I colored with Copics and fussy cut the fox - I used a banner nesting die for the sentiment. Papers are from the Fall Tones pack at Unity Stamp Co. Peace.

Brew Your Own Magic

 I was having so much fun playing in my little mini art journal that I decided to buy a bigger one so I'd have more space! I went with the large size Dina Wakley art journal, which has nice heavy pages for watercolors and mixed media. I made these pages for the weekly art journal sketch at A Cherry on Top and it totally fits these 2 challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Not a Card

Festive Friday #206 - I used bright colors, sparkle gems, and a "magic" sentiment

I began by applying a thin coat of clear gesso to the pages and let it dry. I then ink blended some Distress Oxide Inks in Peeled Paint and Seedless Preserves on the pages. I then applied my double honeycomb stencil from A Colorful Life Designs to both pages with a darker green ink. I used some torn book pages in the corner and some kraft paper to create the layout. I stamped the sentiments (Ink Road Stamps) with Versafine Black and embossed them with clear embossing powder. The witch is a printable clipart from Art Outrageous (Etsy) - I used Mod Podge to attach everything to the pages. I flicked some Mica Spray Stain all over and painted the liquid in the cauldron with some as well, the added a touch of Stickles. I used some tiny sparkle gems from Stampin Up to finish it off. Peace.