Sunny Sunflower ATC's

Back in June, I joined a Sunflower ATC swap over at the Stamp Shack. Although I have a ton of Sunflower stamps, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to make mine. I hadn't given it much thought and it still seemed like a challenge to me since I'm rather new to the ATC scene. Overtime I forgot about--the due date isn't until mid-September, so I knew I had plenty of time to figure out what I wanted to make for this swap.

It wasn't until last week when I made this card, that everything fell into place & I inspired myself! Have you ever done that?

Here are the Sunny Sunflower ATC's that I worked on this past weekend for this swap.

I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. Then I masked the sunflower and sponged blue ink around the flower petals, and stamped the sentiment at the top. Once I had it adhered to the yellow cardstock background I added my favorite Yellow Stickles to each petal to really make it "pop!"

Stamps: Sunflower by Kodomo Inc., sentiment by A Muse
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Yellow Stickles
Finished Card Size: 2.5" x 3.5"

Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers, along with Gerbera Daisies, maybe because they are so similar in shape?? What's your favorite flower?

Smiles,
Jennifer

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S&D Monochromatic Color Challenge

Today begins the Monochromatic Color challenge over at the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog.

Feel free to create your own Monochromatic color card and post it on the challenge post on the S&D Blog for your chance to win! Anyone can play along in the challenge and we hope you will! There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. However, there is a bonus if you do use a Sunflowers and Dragonflies Image, you'll receive an extra entry in the drawing for the Nestability set! So, if you have any S&D stamps it would be worth it to use them! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D6.

The prize awarded to this weeks lucky participant is a Scalloped Oval Netabiltiy set!

For this challenge I decided to stay with shades of brown for my card to match this S&D moose image. I colored him with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. The layout I used is the August Sheetloads Sketch.

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs-Moose
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth cream colored cardstock by Paper Reflections, Textured Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Midori Double Faced Satin Ribbon in Velvet Brown, Fiskars Treading Water Border punch, Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials, Oval Coluzzle, SU! Photo Corner Punch
Finished Card Size: 5.75" x 5.5"

Click here to see the rest of the Monochromatic Color Challenge cards by the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT members.

Don't forget to post your challenge card by this Friday September 4th to enter yourself in the Nestability drawing.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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No Picnic Today!

The weather here has sure turned ugly over the last few days. The sun has completely disappeared and we've had a rainy, overcast sky for the last 3 days. They say it's supposed to continue over the weekend as well.

I guess there's no hope for a picnic and outdoor activities for us this weekend--so, that means I'll have to play in my stamp room instead! :-)

Here's my take on this week's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge, SC243.


I used many of the same ideas/elements as I had when I made my other picnic card, but picnics just seem to scream to me "Red Plaid." The Open Plaid Background stamp from DRS Designs is perfect for creating your own pattern paper to match your project to a T! And as an added bonus, I had some of this plaid paper in my scrap box left over from the other card and it was just the right size to use up for this card--proof that it really pays to save your scraps! This image was colored with marker instead of my Prismcolor Pencils, and I decided to use a more solid colored ribbon this time.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Picnic Basket (K1104), Open Plaid Background (P631)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Spiral Clip and Ribbon by The Paper Studio, Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.5"

Well, based on this weekend's weather report it looks like we'll be spending time indoors. Do you have an exciting plans for this weekend?

I hope you have a great one!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Makin' A Splash!

I know many of the kiddos have gone back to school this week, but it's still Summer here in my book, and there's still time for Fun in the Sun! I'm making the most of my Summer themed stamps as I have a big shipment of fun Fall themed ones that will soon find their way in my mailbox, and when that happens, you won't be seeing anything but Fall on this blog--I just can't help myself, I'm a Fall girl, and I live for that season!

I found Splash, the Dolphin from DRS Designs, in my stash of colored images today. With the Fall and the colder temps right around the corner I thought I'd make him into a card now, rather then when there's snow on the ground. It'd be a little weird to post him in January when everyone else is posting about Snowmen and sleigh rides, ya know? (However, I know my friends down under in Australia probably wouldn't think much about it!) Plus, there's nothing like whipping up a card when you have an image that's already to go. It seems like the colored ones are always begging, "pick me, pick me!" LOL, and those are the ones I go to first when I sit down to make a card.

I used Splash to create this card for this weeks CPS Sketch Challenge #130. He was colored with Copic Markers and the water around him was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. I couldn't forget to add Diamond Glaze to the water on this one--I just love that cool effect!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Splash the Dolphin (H1031), Fun in the Sun Sentiment (D1072)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Markers C1 and C3, Nesties, Fiskars Boundary Waters Border Punch, Diamond Glaze, Spiral Clip by Creative Impress, Ribbon By Li'l Davis Designs
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.25"

So, leave me a comment & let me know what's on your to-do list before the Summer's over?
I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Sketch Challenge by DRS Designs!

Today begins another challenge DRS Designs Blog. Here's another one for all you sketch lover's out there to try!

We would love for you to play along in our sketch challenge...simply post a direct link in the comment section of the challenge #28 post on the DRS Designs Blog so we can come check it out!! If you upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword DRSC28.

It's been a while since I played with some of DRS Designs most popular ladybug stamps and sentiments, so I decided to use them for the challenge.

"Speckles," as she's so appropriately called, was colored with markers and I hand doodled in the corners with a black jelly pen. Some fun ribbon and a few brads helped me complete this card according to the sketch. The best sketches are always fun & easy to use & this one was no exception!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Speckles the Ladybug (F578), Ladybug Birthday Greeting (G576)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts and Bazzill
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Ribbon and Brads by The Paper Studio, Black Jelly Roll Pen, Copic Marer C1
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

If you haven't checked the DRS Designs Challenge post make sure to do so to see all of the creative uses the DT came up for this sketch!

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Party Girl 2 ways Sneak Peek!

Here's a sneak peek of one of the cards I posted today on the DRS Designs Blog. To see more you'll have to run over to their blog to read more about them.

Hope you have a wonderful Friday & an awesome weekend!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Wiggle Worm!

I've been hard at work in my stamp room this week getting ready for a bunch of upcoming challenges, but I did find time yesterday to whip up a card for this weeks Splitcoast sketch challenge SC242. I had this wiggle worm image already colored in my stash & thought this was a good time to put it to use, plus it fit the sketch well too!

I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and masked it to sponged blue ink around it. Kind of hard to tell, but the "Hooked on You" sentiment was stamped in black ink.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Worm on Hook (G843), I'm Hooked on You sentiment (D1103)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Blue Ribbon by Li'l Davis Designs in Periwinkle, and brown ribbon by The Paper Studio, Brown brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials, blue brads by Making Memories, Spiral Clip by The Paper Studio
Finished Card Size: 4 5/8" x 5 3/4"

Whenever I make a card I really like I also show DH. Not necessarily to get his opinion, as I know he doesn't care, but just to see what he would say about it. This card was one that I showed him, and he asked, "why does the worm look happy? Doesn't he know he's about to be dinner?" LOL! I never really thought about that with this image--it's just a cute little work on a hook, but he's right! (Don't tell him I said that!)


Smiles,
Jennifer

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Thank You!

Going on vacation is always something I look forward too, but I there's nothing like being at home and sleeping in your own bed! My DH and I spent last week in Gatlinburg Tennessee with his family. We had a ton of fun, ate tons of good food and had many great laughs, but I'm glad to be home--a week can go by so fast yet feel so long all at the same time.

I spent majority of Sunday working in my Stamp room working on some ATC's & coloring images, which you'll get to see here on my blog very soon. I also created this Thank you card.

This card was made for DH's Aunt, who surprisingly bought me a pair of shoes that I didn't want to by for myself while we were on vacation. She claimed that it was because she had yet to buy me a birthday present this year--my birthday was in February! She's so sweet! Over the course of the week we spent some time talking about my papercrafting hobby and I wanted to create a card for her so she can see just what I do. I thought sending her a handmade Thank you card was just the way to do it! I can't wait for her to get it--I know she'll be surprised!

The layout I used for this card is from last week's SCS Sketch challenge #241. I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and used chalk to shade the background. I spiced it up a bit by adding Yellow Stickles to each petal. Have I ever told you how much I love Yellow Stickles? I think it really helps to make Yellow flowers "pop!"

Stamps: Sunflower image by Kodomo Inc., Thank You sentiment by Lockhart Stamp Co.
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Ribbon by Pebbles Inc, SU! Word Window Punch, SU! Ticket Corner Punch, Yellow Stickles, Chalk by Inkadinkado
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Well, thanks for stopping by today & hanging in there while I was gone all last week. The stress and wedding festivities prevented me from preparing some projects and blog posts that I wanted to post while I was gone, so sorry for that. But, I'm home now & eager to play with my paper & ink, so you can look forward to seeing more projects from me this week.

I hope you have a good week!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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What a Beautiful Wedding!

Did you miss me? Well, my SIL's wedding is finally over and all of the festivities that went with it. We also just returned from a family vacation to Tennessee, so I'll be back to stamping and card making very soon!

Here are a few pics we took from my Sister-In-Law's Wedding on Saturday August 8th. It was a beautiful day, even though it rained the entire day, and it was so much fun!! Unfortunately I didn't get a close up pic of just the bride and groom--it's hard to take a lot of pics when your the Matron of Honor and it rains--you really need to make sure you take care of that dress so it doesn't get dirty or wet!

Enjoy!

DH and I

My SIL and I with other family members

SIL, Cousin, DH and I

Be back soon....

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Diorama Card Challenge

Today begins another DRS Designs blog challenge. The design team was challenged to make diorama cards! They may look intimidating, but they are really quite quick and easy. Quick of course, depending on how detailed you want to get! You can find the tutorial on SCS. We would love to see your creations with this style card. Be sure to post a direct link to your creation in the comment section of the DRS Designs Challenge post #27. If you upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword DRSC27.


Please excuse my short explanation post for today. I whipped up this challenge card earlier last week, but with my Sister-in-laws wedding this past Saturday and all of the family festivities that have gone on with it, I haven't had much time to get it posted. So, without further adieu, here's my Diorama Challenge card! I made this as a representation of the heat wave & humidity blast we're experiencing right now.

I used Prismacolor Pencils/Gamsol, and Bic Markers to color in all of the images. Unlike how the the SCS Tutorial used Marvy Punches, I used my Circle Nesties to create the openings on the middle & outer layers. I sponged ink around my scalloped Nestie die to create the look of clouds in the sky on the card front--they're a little hard to see, but look perfect IRL with that sun image!

Here are some more pictures of my challenge card from different angles so you can see each layer. This was my first time creating this type of card & I was shocked to see it all come together so easily and quickly!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Beach Baby Cutie Pie (F1094), Beach Boy Cutie Pie (F1096), Bitsy Bee (A1020), 3 Flowers with Buterfly (H1068), 4 in 1 Beach Background (D1099), Fun in the Sun Sentiment (D1072)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Bic Markers, Nesties
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 4.5"

Of course if you have any questions about how I created my Diorama card, please feel free to ask!

Don't forget to run over to the DRS Designs blog to see the Diorama cards created by the rest of the DRS DT!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Three Hoots For A Good Book!

Happy Saturday & welcome to the 5th blog challenge from the Sunflowers & Dragonflies DT!

This week’s challenge is to create a bookmark. Anyone can play along in the challenge and we hope you will! There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. Your participation will enter you in a drawing to win a Nestability set for free! And if you use a Sunflowers and Dragonflies Image you will receive an extra entry in the drawing for the Nestability set! So, if you have any S&D stamps it would be worth it to use them! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D5.

The bookmark I created for this challenge uses the owl image three times & I computer generated the sentiment "Three Hoots For A Good Book!"

I started this bookmark by cutting my light blue cardstock down to size and layering it with leaf punchies from my EK Success punch using 2 different colors of green cardstock. The owls stamped in black ink and then colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Gamsol. I cut them out and placed them "in the trees" on my bookmark front. I matted it with dark blue cardstock, added a dark blue eyelet & threaded yellow satin ribbon through it for the tassle. IRL, it really helps to bring out the yellow in the owls' eyes!

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- Owl
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Creamy Brown Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Eyelet By Joann's Scrap Essentials, EK Success Slim Line leaf punch, Ribbon By Offray,
Finished Card Size: 5 7/8" x 3"

Have you read a good book lately? I'm not much of a reader, but I'm still trying to finish the Harry Potter series and after all the rave reviews I do want to read the Twilight series...eventually!

Well, short and sweet to the point today! We're all getting ready for my SIL's Wedding today! I hope to have some fun pictures to share tomorrow. Please pray that the weather will be nice for her--it sounds like it's supposed to rain/Thunderstorm majority of the day! (YUCK!)

Thanks for visiting! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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So Many Candles Sneak Peek!

I created a fun, red and yellow, glittery Birthday card recently--it's an idea to share when there are so many candles! But, today is my day to post on the DRS Designs blog, so you'll have to run over there to see the rest of it!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Big Glittery Bloom!

I just can't seem to get enough of this Big Bloom image by DRS Designs and glitter lately. I used Yellow Stickles when I made this card, but today's card went back to the basics--a glue pen & a little jar of fine pink glitter. There was a nice coat of glitter dust all over my scrap room when I was done with this card! It all makes me feel like a kid again!

This card was pretty basic to make--Primsacolor Pencils and Gamsol to create the flower background, then I used glitter to outline each flower petal. Black grosgrain ribbon finished off the background panel, I layered it with pink and black cardstock and then stamped the Friendly Note Sentiment below it. This is such a fun card--wish I could show you the sparkle in real life!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Bloomin' Huge Flower (M1023), Just a Friendly Note Sentiment (D586)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU!
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Ribbon By Bobbie M. Designs, Barbara Trombley's Ultrafine Opaque Art Glitter in Carnation
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 7"

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Well, we are busy here at my house. T minus 3 days before my Sister-in-Law's wedding. I'm her Matron of Honor, and she'll be getting ready for her big day at our house! I keep telling her that it's going to seem like Hollywood here that day! :-) DH and I are so very excited, but there's a ton to do around the house for a day like that! I'm not sure how much stamping time I'll have over the next week or so--I do have a few scheduled blog posts here & there, but please know that over the next week, things will be a little more quiet than usual on my blog. We have family coming in from out of town who will be staying for the week, so I won't be spending a lot of time in my scrap room until they leave--which will be around August 15th. That's a long time to go without stamping, so watch out! I'll be a stamping fool after they leave and I'll have tons to show you very soon!

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I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Thanks for visiting today.

Smiles,
Jennifer

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DRS Designs Sponsors CPS #127

I know were still in the heart of Summer here, but is it too early to start thinking Fall?

Don't get me wrong, we couldn't ask for a better Summer--we've had nice warm sunny days, no hotter than the low 80's and nice cool nights and very little humidity overall. I don't remember ever having a Summer like this! We've only had our air on for maybe 3 days total all Summer so far. It's been wonderful having the windows open & the nice breeze flow through the house.

As many of you know, Fall is my favorite season! I'm not waiting for the season to change just to begin using my Fall stamps again--Instead, I'm planning ahead, and when I saw this weeks sketch from CPS, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

I turned the sketch on it's side to make it work for this card. The Pumpkin Bouquet was stamped as my focal image and I colored it with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. The sentiment was stamped in brown ink and I arranged it over the image as seen in the sketch. The background was created by stamping the Lots of Lines background stamp with brown in and stamping it repeadly on brown kraft cardstock. An orange spiral clip and some brown plaid ribbon helped to make this card complete, and I must say, I absolutely love the way it turned out! (Ok, maybe I am a little partial because it is a Fall themed card, but I enjoyed the layout sketch from CPS too!)

Stamps: DRS Designs- Pumpkin Bouquet (M684), Beauty of Autumn Sentiment (D704) Lots of Lines Background (H366)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Yellow Ochre and Creamy Brown, SU! Close to Cocoa
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Spiral clip by The Paper Studio, Ribbon By Peebles Inc.,
Finished Card Size: 6.25" x 5"

Are you as excited about Fall being right around the corner like I am?

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Don't forget about getting a chance to win a free Nestabilities set from Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs by creating a project this week with any fish image! Click on the link for more details.

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S&D Fish in the Sea Challenge

Welcome to the 4th blog challenge from the Sunflowers & Dragonflies DT! This week’s challenge is a titled "Fish in the Sea" and you are required to use a fish image on your project. Anyone can play along in the challenge and we hope you will! There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. Your participation will enter you in a drawing to win a Oval Nestability set for free! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D4.

I've used the Fish image from Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs for my challenge project.

I used this weeks CPS Sketch #126 for this card. I love how the circles in the layout and texture made with the Divine Swirls embossing folder creates the look of water around this fish. Don't blue and orange go well together?

The fish was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and the different shades of oranges and yellows were blended with Gamsol. I inked the edges around the fish with orange ink and added some blue rhinestones near his mouth to imitate bubbles! A blue spiral clip & some fun orange and white polka dot ribbon made it complete!

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- Fish
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Ribbon and Spiral Clip By The Paper Studio, EK Success Corner Rounder, Rhinestones by Me & My Big Ideas.
Finished Card Size: 5 5/8" x 4.25"

As an added bonus, this Fish stamp can be purchased at 20% off until next Saturday (you can find all of the detail on the site link below.) I hope you'll join us in creating a fish project this week. Remember any fish image will do, just remember to post a link to your project on the S&D site. The deadline for this challenge is this Friday, Aug 7th.

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday! Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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