what a touch of sparkle can do

i should have taken a picture of the card BEFORE adding the glitter to show just how much a touch of a glitter pen can really add to your projects! i use the sakura 'gelly roll', it's like a fine ball-point pen that writes sparkles!

recipe:
ink- Oolive & Bblue markers, Bblue ink
paper- SU Bblue, Ccelery, Wwhite & DP from a SU scrap-pack
stamps- flower (unmounted, got it in a $1 bin at the stamp convention earlier this year), and SU 'small sayings'
accesories- SU Ccelery grosgrain & made a little photo corner & paper peirced it

well, i have a few more projects that i have made and have yet to post. keep checking back! i'm at 4700 hits, getting closer to that 5000 mark! and then, blog candy!

using flower punches

so i, probably like most of you, have these flower punches (at least 4) that i hardly ever use. in fact, i think it was the first time i used one of them! so i decided to put them to use!

swirls are so in right now, vines, flourishes, doodles.... i picked one and added my little flowers!

recipe:
ink- SU Oolive, stazon black
stamps- vine & sentiment are from 'studio g' ($1 bin at michaels)
paper- SU Ssun, Bblack, Rred, Ssaffron, & Wwhite
accessories- flower punches (???, i've accumatled them over the years), circle hole punch (for flower centers)

so i challenge you----- get out your unused punches and see what you can create with them!

long watercolored flower card

so with as much watercoloring as i have done, i have never used watercolor paper, so i had to try it out. i am pretty dern pleased with the outcome! this card was for my moms birthday this last weekend.

recipe:
ink- Ppink, Llace, Oolive, Ccelery, Ssun, PIpink, Ssaffron, & stazon black
paper- watercolor paper, SU Ccelery & Wwhite CS, DP is from the scrap pile
stamps- SU "in full bloom" & "small sayings"
accessories- aquapainter, circle punch, chalks (for distressing the edges w/ cotton balls), used sakura glitter pen on interior of flowers to make them look oh-so-beautiful!

i start my new job tomorrow! i am filled with that "oh my goodness! what did i do?!?" feeling. i am scared, nervous, excited, anxious.... wonder if i'll get any sleep at all tonight! wish me luck!

oh! just fyi, i will be posting a challenge for blog candy when i get to lucky number 5,000 on my hitcounter, so keep checking back!

4th of july bees!

didn't send any 4th of july cards out, but got the cutest little bee stamps at the stamp convention and had to use them! also wanted to try the soft look of chalk distressing, and here's the outcome!
recipe:
paper- DCWV, SU Wwhite
ink- stazon black, NQNavy
stamps- all images by 'alota rubber stamps'
accessories- ribbon, star eyelets, red thread, star punch, sanding block, circle punch, chalks & cotton balls

thank you notes

running low on thank you's, got some inspiration from the newest/current issue of 'take ten'. these cards were simple to make, not time consuming at all, involve raiding the scrap drawer, and give me lots of thank you's to have on hand!

there's lots of misc. stuff involved in these that i am completely unsure of (paper is scraps, sentiment stamp i got in a bin at the stamp show), so i won't fill you in with the recipe. if you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me!

i start my new job next week, looking forward to the change with deep anticipation and excitement!
hope you all had a safe & happy 4th!

wonderful flower card

once again, faith has been my inspiration. you can see her card here. once again, hers is SOO much better, however, i'm happy with the way mine turned out.

recipe:
paper- SU Oolive, Ccameo, & Vvanilla
ink- SU Oolive, Gguava, & stazon black
stamps- SU "in full bloom" and "weathered" and "warm words"
accessories- both window punches, sponge & stipple brush, silk flower & leaves, brad, glassy glaze embossing powder, sakura gel pens, $1 michaels ribbon, coluzzle cutting system.

my DD Bday party was today, she had an absolute blast! she had a couple of girls stay the night last night, so needless to say, none of us got much sleep! tonight is a much earlier night, and i feel so accomplished today! i worked; set up, had, and tore down a birthday party; played with d (that's her nickname, just 'd') and some of her new toys (i thought that maybe if i played with the hannah montana barbies or DVD games or listened to her CD or play the new HM board game, i'd "get" her. didn't happen); watched part of a movie (then it got suspenseful, not my style); then checked out faith's gallery on SCS; then this beauty came out! i'd call that a pretty productive day!

hope you all have a great rest of the weekend! and faith, just in case you actually read this, you amaze me! thanks so much for your inspiration!

wicked pair!

i actually got the sentiment at least a year ago, i was going to use if for halloween and didn't get around to it. you can't see it very well, but i used my small circles embossing folder on the background DS paper, then sanded. guess i didn't think that one through very well! whadayado?

recipe:
paper- SU Ppie, Cchip, & Ccaramel. DCWV DS paper
ink- SU Ppie & Cchip
stamps- jeans are $1 michaels find; sentiment is from great impressions.
accessories- thick brown ribbon is from michaels, orange spotted organza a friend game me (??), and cute little orange thread is from a 'making memories' pack; used silver brads (SU) in the corner after i used the little circle punch to invert the corners. used scallop punches, paper peircer, SU Cchip marker, and stapler.
alright, i think i got it all.

well, at least if i decide to hit snooze tomorrow, i won't feel guilty about not creating. i've done 4 cards tonight! you can't see two of them, they're for my SBS2 secret sis!
have a great night and weekend!

horse wanted

so have you ever gotten stamps that have sat there BEGGING to be used, yet you refuse them the right to be in your projects? that's me with this set. i have this paper tray on my desk that has been collecting items that i knew would fit with this set great. until today, i just didn't know what i wanted to do with it all. and get this, i'm scared of horses! they are beautiful and majestic, but huge beasts at the same time!
we went to wal*mart the other day and all their holiday stuff was super cheap. i picked up some (like 6) packs of cards w/ envelopes for $0.25 each pack. i realized when i got them home that there were sentiments inside and they were all in spanish! oh well, i still got loads of envelopes! i did this card on one of the 5x7's holiday cards.
before we get to the details of this, i must admit, this card WAS NOT CASED! most of the great stuff i get inspiration from others for, this is all me, baby!

recipe:
paper- CB is holiday card, used some kind of generic cream CS on bottom half (ink distressed w/ jim holtz 'vintage photo", stamped small images in Bblue, TWteal, and Ssky inks); generic gray on top (stampled SU 'crackle" stamp and large circle image in Cchip); used notebook paper (ink distressed w/ jim holtz 'walnut stain' ink); part of a paper sack; peeled apart some cardboard and used the inside up for the corner pieces; thick chipboard for title (ink distressed w/ jim holtz 'old photo' liquid stain); SU Vvanilla for scallop pieces.
ink- SU Bblue, Ssky, TWteal, Cchip
stamps- SU 'wanted' set, and 'crackle' background
accessories- scallop punch, green gingham linen, hemp twine, pewter brad, Cchip grosgrain ribbon.

well, think i got it all. it's almost time for bed. i haven't worked out as much as i'd like so i HAVE to in the morning. i figure, chance of a lifetime to go to hawaii.... there's no way i'm going to those beautiful islands and not wearing a bathing suit! countdown is on, bring on the sweat!

have a super rest of the week!

MAN i wish i could take credit for this card! there is one site that i am absolutely addicted to, and visit as often as i can. this lady is talented, i mean INSANELY talented! her work blows me away! this card was cased (well, i changed some stuff) from faith hofrichter, you should really visit her blog if you haven't yet!

started with a Cchip CB (all CS is SU). layers are Ggalore (ink distressed w/ Wwasabi), PIpink (distressed w/ Rred), Rred (distressed w/ Cchip), and Blossom (distressed w/ Rred).
stamped flourishes (TAC) in Cchip and added touches of sakura glitter pen. small hearts (stamps by judith) are in Rred. green heart (from SU retired set love matters") is Wwasabi ink stamped on Ggalore paper embellished w/ Cchip marker (dots). did larger heart free-hand w/ Cchip marker and used Q-tip w/ Rred ink to fill it in. bird (SU set "a little birdie told me") is stamped on PIpink paper then i stamped flourishes over image in Rred ink. sentiment (SU set "warm words") is stamped in Cchip on Bblossom. used crop-o-dile to set eyelets (do you have one yet? they're marvelous!!)

this was a very involved card.... i love that ribbon, too! i bought a grab bag of red, white, & black ribbons at a local craft store and haven't used much of it. the two layered together look great!

well, i think this might become one of my favorites. now do you see why i love faith? it's such a breath of fresh air to visit her blog. if i were creative, this is the stuff i'd make daily! i love the layers, the dimension, the colors, the distressing!

DH went to bed long ago... better get there myself. have a great week!

i finally have some time, i just want to keep creating! i know that if i stop, i won't get another chance to until the end of january (i have a work meeting this coming weekend and my oldest daughters birthday is the weekend after that).

card recipe:
paper- i got one of those little $1 scrap pack from joann's, all paper is from that pack, (except the Wwhite that the image is stamped on) it's not quite big enough for the standard sized card, so i made pink sides.
ink- black stazon, Ssky
stamps- image is 'rubber stampede' and sentiment is from 'rubber soul'.
accessories- pink organza ribbon, colored w/ pastels & blender pens, sponged on Ssky ink to Wwhite panel, cuttlebug bubbles embossing folder (then sanded the embossed panel), and paper piercer.

have a super monday!

SC155 (split coast challenge)

so here's my take on the split coast stampers challenge #155 (click here to see challenge).

CB is Wwhite, all other papers are DCWV. punched large window SU punch in the black denim paper that i also ran through the cuttlebut with the heart embossing folder then sanded.

i recently visited mels blog and she reminded me that you can doodle with your glue pen then add glitter and what not. so i scribbled on my black squares with my sakura gel pen then used black embossing powder over it for some shine. used gel pen on hearts, too, then added some SU dazzling diamonds glitter (this looks so much better IRL).

card recipe:
paper- DCWV
ink- SU Bblack, jim holtz 'fire brick' distress ink
stamps- heart is from $1 bin @ michaels, 'valentines' is from rubber soul
accessories- red ribbon ($1 michaels), heart cuttlebug embossing folder & sand paper, heart eyelets, SU dazzling diamonds glitter, black embossing powder, sakura gel pen

well, it's been longer than i would have liked.... for my last day off (do you have any idea what it's like to not get two days off in a row? makes life REALLY hard! especially when you have kids!)
DH & i went snowboarding while the girls were in school. when we got home, OUCH! we haven't been since last season, and due to holidays and the flooding here, i haven't been working out as much as i should have been. how old do i sound, "my back is KILLING me!" it's a good thing that i got a new and ultra comfy craft chair for christmas! hope you all have a great week!

i'll have to remember to change the settings back to "normal" sized photos, not these HUGE ones! i changed it to make sure you could see the super cute clipboards and forgot....

well, other than being sick, trying to enjoy the holidays, and trying to sleep, this is all i've done since last you've read & i've typed. =)





first card recipe:
paper- DCWV DP, SU Wwhite CS
ink- stazon black
stamps- SU "vases in vougue"
accessories- cuttlebug swirly flower embossing folder, wire, heart punch, craft knife

second card recipe:
paper- TAC DP, SU Wwhite CS
ink- SU TWteal, jim holtz distress ink
stamps- SU "small sayings"
accessories- sizzix flower die, button, wired ribbon, sand paper, cuttlebug circle embossing folder, decorative scissors.

have a great rest of the week! i know i will, our annual company christmas party is tomorrow! i even FINALLY got myself a 'little black dress' to wear. i've always wanted one of those for my closet!

snowflakes & snowman

i know this set has TONS of untapped potential, i had to try to find it! i think i'm on the right track!

so my challenge to myself was to:
1) try something new (i really like the look of crimped paper but haven't brought myself to spend the money on the tool. i used SU Bblack CS and crimped it myself using my bone folder.)
2) use something that i haven't in awhile (i have had this SU DP, "holiday thyme", since last christmas and haven't touched it since.)

recipe-
paper: SU CS Wwhite, Bblue, Bblack. SU DP "holiday thyme".
ink: SU stazon black, blue (ballet, bashful, bayou)
stamps: SU "it's snow time"
accessories: scallop oval punches, stitched black ribbon, blender pen & pastels, liquid applique & heat gun, small circle punch, silver brads, and 'black diamond' stickles.

only 8 days till christmas! if you could, and knew that no-one would ever know, would you peek at your presents? have you ever?

have a great week!

birdie friends

i got that SUPER cute set from the SU spring mini "a little birdie told me" and have been kinda playing around with it. i also got some new punches that i just had to put into action.

recipe-
paper: CB is SU Wwhite, patterned paper is from a $1 joann scrap pack
ink: stazon black
stamps: SU "a little birdie told me" and "amazing to zany"
accessories: narrow pink ribbon and some funky blue balled ribbon; both SU window punches

have a great rest of the weekend! hit the sales, shop till ya drop!

snowman christmas

i know i've been busy lately, and also know that's no excuse to not create. but that's my excuse! the girls have had their holiday school programs this week, i've been trying to get back into the gym, trying to finish our shopping..... the only 'jenn' time has been working or working out. EXCEPT today we had our annual 'holiday baking day' with the kids & my mom. we made like 6 dozen sugar cookies and colorfully frosted them, made some cracker crunch (sounds gross, but is delicious, trust me!) and a gingerbread house.

recipe-
paper: Ccrisp, Oolive, Vvanilla
ink: Ccrisp, Oollive, Versamarker, stazon black, Cchip
stamps: music ("great impressions", snowman ("darcies"), crackle & script (both SU)
accessories: SU markers, ribbon, & glassy glaze embossing powder; jim holtz "old paper" distress ink.

have a great rest of the weekend!

MAN i love great paper!

i scoured the $1 bin at michaels last week (have i mentioned just how much i love the $1 bin at michaels? SOOOO much!) and found this super cute little bird w/ saying. just had to have it!

CB is from that great designer mat pad from K & Company ("roam" #626324). stamped image in stazon black on white CS and on a piece designer paper and pieced it. distressed the edges of the white w/ jim holtz "old paper" distress ink and layered onto another piece of designer paper. used circle punch on edges of top two layers. bottom layer is SU Vvanilla that i distressed w/ ink (same as above). used pewter brads in corners. went around CB 4 times w/ pink linen thread to increase the natural feel.

it turned out just as i though it would if i used this paper. simple, elegant & super cute!

have a great weekend!

head start on valentines

decided i wanted to do something with hearts, so thought i'd get a head start on my valentines cards.

CB is black, used DCWV papers (pink w/ hearts, dark denim) and corner rounded the right sides. used cuttlebug hearts embossing folder then sanded. used cuttlebug heart template in black and pink, then layered. stamped "i love you" (from SU '06-'07 winter mini set "love matters") in versamark and embossed with snowdrift powder and pink glitter. tried to do faux stitching w/ white gel pen around the edges, i really don't like it. used wide pink organza and stitched black ribbons on the side to tie it together.

have a great weekend!

more panties!

since i got these stamps (custers last stamp), i have wanted to put the undies on a "clothesline". and here we are!

papers are DCWV, used cuttlebug swirl embossing folder, then sanded. used crop-o-dile to punch holes in CS and thread hemp twine through to 'hang' the undies with some cool purple mini clothes pins. used some purple grosgrain & light purple (would that be considered lavender?) organza under sentiment for that extra umph.

well, they opened the freeway today, maybe it won't take me 2 hours to get anywhere any more! hope all is well with you and yours, have a great weekend!

just riding along

got a new stamp! she's a cute chick on a bike! my kinda biker babe!

she's from 'great impressions', i stamped her in stazon black and colored her with my sakura gel pens. used scallop punches to punch her out and mount.

simple card, really. papers are from a small DCWV stack, used cuttlebug swirl embossing folder on top layer. added some pretty lavender organza for even more prettiness.

well, it took me almost 2 hours to get to work today (i live about 25 miles away and it usually takes about 25-30 minutes). i keep hearing these horror stories from customers, employees, and friends about how this flood has damaged not only their property, but their lives. to see some pictures of what we're going through, click here. that is a photo of the freeway (the medians were pushed out of place by the water), the heart of our small community. also, the main way to get from portland OR. to seattle, WA. with the freeway closed for 20 miles, almost everyone in the northwest is being affected by this disaster.

we're ok, meaning our family is safe and our home is un-touched. we do, however, have no wal*mart (AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!) for at least 6-9 months and have had to find alternate means of commute, resulting in HUGE time consumption.

it's very unfortunate that this happened so close to the holidays. it's difficult to want to help the ones who need it now, because it's more than just the kids, homeless, and less fortunate families, it's a whole community. please pray for my little area of the world, desperation already seems to be setting in for some.

have a great week, i hope you are all safe and dry!

flower friend card

so i finally got out my new stamps (thanks SU!) and played for awhile. then i just kept playing, and playing, and, well, you get the idea.

i love this flower! i stamped it in stazon black (imagine that) and cut it out three times, and used the different layers.

recipe:
stamps- SU "time well spent", weathered, french script, and print pattern
paper- SU Mmoss & Wwhite
ink- stazon black, Mmoss, Ccelery, Oolive
accessories- color pencils, OMS, sakura gel & glitter pens, black diamond stickles

enjoy and have a great rest of the week!