I Like You More Than Unicorns & Wonderful Life

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

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #695

Cut it Up #356 - Flowers

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Cute Critters

Colorful Options May - B&W or Rainbow

Crafter's Cafe - Anything Goes/Optional Something Funny

Papers are from Doodlebug Designs. I die cut the banners, the scalloped circle, and the scalloped squares. The image is a digi from Stamping Bella's Unicorns Set 1. I colored with Copics, then added some glitter to his horn and wings. I added a rainbow sticker and a paper flower with a button center. 

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I have one more card to share today and it's kind of a cool story how it came about. My friend Kim was over visiting me and on the table was a vase of flowers that were dying. The petals were falling off onto the counter and as we chatted, she took the petals and formed them into a heart. I took a picture of it and the picture came out so cool that I decided to make a card out of it! LOL I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Say It With Flowers

Tic Tac Toe #292 (I used Floral, Free, White/Cream)

So I uploaded the photo to Canva and simply used the same background that I use for my cards to layer it on top of. I then printed a larger version of just the background alone and used that for the card base. I layered a piece of Highland Heather cardstock from Stampin' Up! behind the focal point image, then sponged the edges of the card and added a sentiment sticker from a Tim Holtz book. Peace.

I Treasure You & Hopeful

Good morning! Got a lot on my mind this week, but it's more stuff for my personal art journal than my public blog so I'll be spending some time journaling today. I don't know about you, but writing and expressing my thoughts through art really does help.

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

Pink & Main #18 - Nature

Cut it Up #356 - Flowers

I pulled these papers out of my stash, they are from Authentique and I love the color combo - it's one of those "I've been saving it for something special" things and I recently decided to stop doing that. I'm using the stuff now, all of it! Life is too short! Anyway, I stamped the image from the Floral Shells set from Pink & Main with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. I colored with Copics and used a die cut film strip to cut it out. I added a little die cut seashell, some rhinestone stickers, and sponged the edges of the card. 

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I've also got a tag to enter into the:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Tag It

I used the Propagation Plants Dies from Spellbinders with a tag die to create this little tag, tied off with a piece of twine, then added a little kraft sticker from a Tim Holtz book. Peace. 

Celebrating You!

 I spent another 6-7 hours deep cleaning my house yesterday and I cannot tell you how good it felt to wake up to such a sparkling clean home!!! I also cannot tell you how sore I am or what muscles these are that hurt because I don't think I even knew they existed before. ;)  LOL Here's a few pics of the rest of my, uh, stuff, in the dining room area:

I love my clock - it lights up with a soft glow every evening and it's just so pretty and peaceful. Everything in my home is a compilation of the people and places in my life that have been important to me - the things that make me, ME! I know things are just things and I could certainly live without them - but I don't have to, and that makes me happy. :)

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On to the reason you're here! 

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

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - 17th Birthday Bash!

Art Nudge #526C

Path of Positivity #141 - AG with optional twist: Make it Sweet AND/OR Use 5 Layers

Die Cut Divas - Celebrations

AAA Birthday #85 - We are 7!!! (Anything Birthday Goes)

This adorable Birthday Swissies set that I used from CC Designs is on clearance right now for only $4.80!!! I stamped her with Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. Colored with Copics, fussy cut, added glitter and Diamond Glaze, and attached with foam dots. I die cut the balloons using a total of 6 different papers from Doodlebug Design, including cutting the "Recipe card" that I stamped the sentiment on. Peace.

Popcorn ATC

 Full disclosure - I was totally inspired by this post over on the Simon Says Stamp blog, created by Tina Smith. I had a different version of a popcorn box with popcorn pieces in my die stash so I decided to make a little ATC:

I'd like to enter this into the:

ATC Around the World Challenge #137 - Anything Goes

The Paper Players #786 - CAS with Food

Try it on Tuesday - Keep it Simple

I used a piece of black cardstock for the ATC base, roughing up the edges first. I die cut the popcorn & box, using Fluffy Stuff on the popcorn then sponging some yellow ink on top. I added a little ticket from a Tim Holtz book, roughing it up a bit first. I love the simplicity and quickness of making ATC's! Peace.

All Things Grow With Love

 Hello all! I went on a CLEANING SPREE Saturday - I don't know about you, but I hate cleaning. LOL  I often think about it, get overwhelmed, and just go in my craft room to avoide it. hee hee I normally do "Spring cleaning" once a year where I take everything down and dust and all that but last Spring we had one tragedy after another and dust was the last thing I cared about, to be honest. So I didn't do it. So it was worse this year. I decided to stop putting it off this weekend and I tackled my bedroom and the living room. I took EVERY SINGLE PIECE down and cleaned it, cleaned each shelf, and actually purged a teeny tiny bit (HI I'M JENN AND I HAVE A COLLECTING ADDICTION....). I woke up sore today - ha! I have a lot of stuff - I'm a witch, and I have soooo many crystal balls, obelisks, raw pieces of gems and minerals, cauldrons, trinkets, mugs (OMG THE MUGS....) oracle & tarot cards.... this is about half of it, which is in my living room:

Oh yeah, I also collect owls - they're one of my "things" - and you tell people that or they see it at your house and before you know it, you have 50 owls.  hee hee I'm not complaining. Buy me alllll the owls! ;)

Anyway!  On to business - I took Sunday off from cleaning and spent most of the day in my craft room. I'm planning on finishing my cleaning today - basically the kitchen and dining room. Lots more trinkets and OH MY GOD THE MUGS in there... ROFL ;) I've actually decided that life is too short to keep my every awesome mug on display, so I've moved a few into my actual kitchen lineup! ;)

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

Jaded Blossom May Facebook Challenge - Anything Goes

A Cut Above - Anything Goes (with die cuts)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Use Craft Dies

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

This started off with me envisioning creating a terrarium scene, but I went in a different direction once I started die cutting and playing around. I started with the Snowglobe die from Jaded Blossom, and I was planning on using vines and plants all around it but then I realized how much I love this Potted Plants die set, also from Jaded Blossom, so I decided to create a cloud scene in the snowglobe instead (Cloud Edger stencil from A Colorful Life Designs - you can use code JennFan10 for 10% off!) and just use the one potted plant (die cut from scraps of Stampin' Up! cardstock). Simple but effective. I stamped the sentiment with Versafine Black and embossed with clear sparkly embossing powder. Background is a script stamp from Tim Holtz. Peace.

Happy Birthday - Floating Balloons Stencil

 I love the new Floating Balloons stencil from A Colorful Life Designs, it is so versatile! You can use just one balloon as a highlight or focal point, or you can use the entire stencil for backgrounds, etc. And don't forget to use code JennFan10 for 10% off your entire purchase! For this card, I actually used 3 of the new stencils - the other 2 are the Star Streamers and the Birthday Gifts:

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

Seize the Birthday - AG Option

AAA Birthdays - Anything Birthday Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - Anything Goes

Die Cut Divas May - Celebrations (use die cuts)

Classic Design Challenge - AG/Optional Birthday or Anniversary

I applied Black Soot Ink through the Star Streamers stencil on the red card base and embossed with clear sparkly embossing powder. I then used the sentiment from the Birthday Gifts stencil, same black ink & sparkly EP. Next, I used Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink through 3 of the balloons, layering them on top of each other. I embossed with the sparkly EP and then used the reverse stencil technique on a scrap of watercolor paper using my Gelli plate with bright red acrylic paint. I used my Thinlits Library Pocket, ATC & Tab die from Sizzix to cut it out, sponged the edges with some black ink and added the "to you" text from my Dymo Label Maker. I flicked some additional red ink on the card to finish it off. Peace.

Waiting

 Happy Sunday!

I'd like to enter this card into the:

Star Stampz Challenge #81 - Seeing Double/AG

I printed out Ghost Girl twice, coloring and fussy cutting one, then layering it on top of the other. I used mostly shades of gray and added a red ribbon to her hair. Finished off with a sentiment from a Tim Holtz sticker book. Peace.

Smiles are Contagious and Game On!

 Good morning! Got some Summer weather happening this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it! I think hubby and I might go hang out at a brewery tomorrow afternoon and listen to some music. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

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

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Things with Wings

We Love Stamping - All Creatures Great and Small (or AG)

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

I created my background by ink smooshing Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink on a piece of watercolor paper. I then applied black texture paste through a polka dot stencil and let it dry. I sponged the edges heavily with black ink and stamped the ladybugs & sentiment on the background with Versafine Black, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the fairy (stamps from Sweet November Stamps) with Versafine Black and embossed as well, colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dots. 

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And this next card I made for one of my very best guy friends, his kids play hockey and he coaches, this was perfect for him! I'll enter this into the following challenges:

Passion for Markers - Masculine

I Love ProMarkers #607 - Special Occasions

Creative Fingers #322 - Anything Goes

AllSorts #849 - AG/Optional Monochromatic

I created the background by lightly ink smooshing purple & black inks on watercolor paper. The hockey digi stamp is from Kenny K (no longer in business) - I printed it out, colored with Copics, fussy cut, and attached with foam dimensional tape. I stamped "Game On" and #1 with Versafine Versafine Black and embossed with clear embossing powder, and added the "it's your day!" clear sticker. I sponged the edges to finish it off. Peace.

All White

 Good morning! I have a cool card to share today that I made for the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar Challenge - All White

Try it on Tuesday - Keep it Simple

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Use Craft Dies

Pink & Main - Nature

I used a good sturdy white cardstock for this (Neenah 110 lb), I used the Dotted Cover Die cut from Pink & Main (it's on clearance - go grab it!!!) and used foam dots to attach it to the white card base. I then die cut the word "hugs" and glued on, then die cut the trees (Memory Box Tall Evergreen Tree Dies), attaching them with foam dots. It's got a real 3-D look in real life. Peace.

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.