Dream Big!

Now that Halloween is over many people forget about Thanksgiving and immediately jump to Christmas. Our local radio station included. They started playing Christmas music on Monday! Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all the hecticness that goes with it, but with Fall being my favorite time of year, I like to enjoy the leaves, the pumpkins, the harvest and Thanksgiving itself. 

However, since were on the topic of skipping holidays and seasons, with my post today I thought I would follow suit and skip right to Spring since I'm not a fan of the cold weather, LOL! The card I'm sharing today is for a graduation, complete with Spring colors and all! 

 

 

I started by coloring the Hot Air Balloon (583F) with Copic Markers, fussy cut it out, and then matted it as shown.  I created my own pattern paper by stamping the Double Chevron Card Edger (904P) with dark pink ink.  Some blue cardstock and this pattern paper created the card front. Next, I hid the seam between the 2 pieces of cardstock with yellow ribbon tied in a knot to match my color scheme. I stamped the "Dream Big" Graduation Greeting (041F) in the lower right corner and adhered the matted image in the upper left corner. I finished it off by adding rhinestones to the upper right portion. 

So, I guess I already have a head start on greeting cards for 2016!  That's what I love about this last release from DRS Designs--there's so much variety and the themes you can create with them are endless. I hope you've enjoyed this release as much as I have!

Have a great day!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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May The Sun Shine Bright

A fun, Summery color challenge was just posted on the DRS Designs Blog today! 
How fun and gorgeous are these colors?!?!?!?

 

 I used them to create this "Thinking of You" card. I like that it could be a graduation card as well! 

 

 
I created the sun by hand by tracing a large, circular object and cutting it out.  Then I used a photo corner punch for all the rays.  I sponged the edges a bit and stamped the Large Stained Glass (1133P) over top to create some dimension.  I used light blue cardstock for my card front, and dressed it up a bit by rounding the corners and distressing the edges.  I adhered the sun in the upper, left corner as shown and added a yellow gem.  Next, I stamped the Sun Shine On You Greeting (417E) at the bottom of the card front and placed a white pearl on either side of the top line.  Then I adhered the card front on to a white cardstock base and viola, this clean and simple card was complete!

Hope you like it and I hope you get a chance to play along with these beautiful colors as well!
 
Have a great day!
Smiles,
Jennifer

 

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Best of Your Life

Graduation season is upon us and the latest DRS Designs Blog Challenge, "Put It In Neutral" inspired me to create this Graduation Card.  I know the Rest Best of Life Greeting (385F) was originally meant to be a birthday greeting, but I think it's the perfect graduation greeting too. I think many graduates are so happy and excited that the long struggles of school are behind them that graduation is the beginning of the rest of their living life, with a career ahead, we hope!

 

 

 

I started by stamping the Rest Best of Your Life Greeting with black ink on white cardstock.  I used a rectangle Nestability die to cut it out and then sponged tan ink over top of it while it was still in the Nestie die.  It was matted with black cardstock cut out with the scallop-edged, rectangle Nestie die.  I then put that aside and created the background panel.  Starting with ivory cardstock, I stamped the Interlocking Star Background (819H) in black ink and the Starry Background (124H) in tan ink. This panel was also matted with black cardstock cut out with the scallop-edged, rectangle Nestie die.  Next, I created the A2 cardstock base from tan cardstock and adhered the star panel to the far left side as shown.  To break up the light colors a little bit, I added a fishtail banner in dark brown cardstock that was embellished with some paper flowers and petite copper brad.  This was adhered so that the straight edge was flush with the right side of the card front.  The greeting panel was adhered in placed just off center and this clean and simple card was complete! 

So, I mentioned above that the "Put It In Neutral" challenge inspired this card.  Has my post inspired you to play along as well?  Create a card in neural colors (think white, ivory, tan, kraft, brown, black, gray) and link it up on the challenge post to be entered to win a great package of DRS Designs stamps!  But hurry, this challenge ends to day at 6pm ET!

 

 Thanks for stopping by and good Luck!

 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Dream Big

Tis the season for Graduations and to inspire you to make cards for the Graduates in your life, DRS Designs has a "Grad School" challenge on their blog this week. Show off your graduation cards or create a card using your school colors to win! Here's my rather clean and simple challenge entry.

I started with an A2 size blue cardstock base.  I stamped it repeatedly with the Graduation Background (984H) using Versamark ink.  Next, I stamped the Dream Big Graduation Greeting (041F) on white cardstock and masked the edges using a Post-It Note so that after sponging it with blue ink, there was a nice white border around it.  I used black cardstock to mat it and then ties a blue ribbon around it.   Then I stamped the Male Graduate (045G). It was cut out using a circle Nestability die using the Out-Of-The-Box technique so that his hand was extended beyond the edge of the circle.  I added some color to it with Copic Markers and matted this with black cardstock as well.  I arranged the sentiment as shown on the card front and added 3 black rhinestones under the matted sentiment to complete it. 

Curious about what you could win if you play along in DRS Designs Grad School challenge? One lucky winner will be chosen to receive a $10 store voucher to DRS Designs! 
I hope it's YOU!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Dream Big!

DRS Designs recently released new Graduation stamps and I'm having a ball stamping with them!  I created this card for my cousin who graduated this past weekend.  Her school colors are red and white. 

The red card front was dry embossed to add texture to the background layer. Then I stamped the Graduation Background (984H) to create my own pattern paper for the vertical panel.  I colored the mortarboards and the diploma ribbons red to match.  It was matted on black cardstock and a decorative border punch was used to dress it up a bit.  Then the Dream Big Graduation Greeting (041F) and the Female Graduate (042G) were stamped on white cardstock and cut out using Nestability dies.  Since the Female Graduates arm extended beyond the edge of the die, I had to use the Out-Of-The-Box  Technique. I used Copic Markers to add some color to the image, matted the circles with black cardstock, and then I adhered the circles in place as shown. White brads were placed on the sides of the cardfront before adhering it to an A2 size black cardstock base.

Thanks for stopping by today! 
Have a great one!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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So Proud Grad Card

Hi Everyone!
Hope you all had a great weekend!
Have you seen the new stamps DRS Designs has available for purchase? They are graduation and wine themed stamps. Here's one of the graduation cards I made using the Female Graduate (042G) and the Proud of You Saying (044D).

I created the pattern paper you see in the background using the Interlocking Star Background (819H) and the Starry Background (124H).  The star panel was decorated with a border punch and the sentiment was heat embossed.  I bought some new star punches and used them to embellish the card front.  Finished card size is 5.5" x 4.25." 
Hope you like it!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Tag, You're It!

I created a Graduation Celebration ATC for the post I shared yesterday. For today's post, I've used that ATC to create the tag for the "Tag, You're It!" Challenge on the DRS Designs blog. I love how my tag turned out and how all the details on this card came together!

For instructions on how the ATC was created, please see yesterday's post. To create it into a tag, all I did was cut a white piece of cardstock down to size and then ran just the upper portion through the Cuttlebug using one of the labels dies. Then I used the Horizontal slot punch to make the opening at the top of the tag for the ribbon tail and adhered the ATC to it.

The card base measures 4.25" x 5.5". On the cardfront, I used Versamark and stamped it with the Graduation Background (984H). Then I embossed a small back panel with the Swiss Dots folder and added a white decorative border, and adhered it just off center as shown. The tag was then adhered on top on an angle. I heat embossed the ConGRADulations Greeting (867D) on vellum, decorated it with a border punch and adhered it to the bottom of the card front. Don't you agree this all came together nicely?

Thanks for stopping by to check out how I incorporated yesterday's ATC into today's card!

Have a great day! 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Graduation Celebration ATC

It's been awhile since I've made an ATC but since DRS Designs is this week's sponsor for the Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge, I decided to give it a try. One thing I really like about ATC's is the small space you have to work on, which makes them quick to complete! For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, they measure only 2.5" x 3.5". The size alone can be a challenge in itself! The theme for this sponsorship is "Quotes and Words" with the focus being on the sentiment. I used this challenge to create this Graduation Celebration ATC.

I used the upper portion of the Culmination Graduation Greeting (1126K) as the focal point of my ATC. I thought the wording was a little plain on the white cardstock so I stamped the Brush Mortarboard (287G) using the stamp-off technique with green ink on top of the wording. Then I embellished it with a green decorative border on both ends and green grosgrain tied in a knot at the bottom. To finish it off, it was adhered to a black base.

I plan on using this ATC to complete another project. Please check back to see it in a future blog post. In the meantime, give this ATC challenge a try! Check out all the details HERE for a chance to win a great prize from DRS Designs.

Have a great day!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Graduation Stars

The school year is almost over so it's time to start thinking of graduation cards. I hope the ConGRADulations challenge on the DRS Designs blog will inspire you to get started too. Here's one I created recently that I love, love, love!!!

All of the stamps I used are by DRS Designs. I started by coloring the Shooting Star (509H) with Copic Markers. Then I cut it and matted it using Nestie dies.  I created the large banner panel to go behind it and embossed it with a star embossing folder.  The background panel was stamped with the Interlocking Star Background (819H) with yellow ink and then the Starry Background (124H) with black ink. I then created a horizontal banner for the conGRADulations sentiment (867D). As a final touch, I added yellow Stickles to the star.  Finished card size is 4.25" x 5.5."

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Leave A Path

Way back in 2009 when I was playing around with Alcohol Inks and created this Graduation card I had several practice pieces that were stamped with the Silhouette Hilker (1026G) left over. As with all of my stamping "scraps" I keep them neatly tucked away in a binder in case I can find a future use for them.  I was conveniently able to put one of them to use use for this non-traditional graduation card I'm sharing with you today.

The image panel started as glossy white cardstock.  I sponged on blue and silver alcohol inks for the sky and the ground was done using greens and gold. I used Staz On ink and my Stamp-a-ma-jig to strategically place the Hiker image along the line where the 2 colors met. I wanted it to look like he was over looking a mountain.  I split up the Leave A Path Greeting (860G) and stamped the Hiker Boot Prints (946D) to embellish the bottom of the card front.

Graduation cards don't always have to depict a cap and gown or other school-type images.  The stamps I've used on this graduation card make it unique since graduation isn't an ending. It's just beginning of the next chapter in someone's life, and this greeting is all about heading out on your own and making a difference!

I hope I've inspired you today!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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ConGRADulations!

Just a quick post today to say, 
ConGRADulations to all the graduates of 2012 on a job well done! 


All stamps on this card are by DRS Designs:
Graduation Background (984H)

Culmination Graduation Greeting (1126K)
Vertical ConGRADulations (011D)

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Graduation Day

Happy Cinco de Mayo and Happy Graduation Day to my cousin! 

 She's graduating today from Michigan State University, which is also my Alma Mater. Of course it only seemed right to make her card with MSU's school colors, green and white. 

 The greeting I used in the center of the card front is DRS Designs new Culmination Graduation Greeting (1126K) . I used only the top portion of it for the front of the card and then used the stamp-off technique to stamp the Brush Mortarboard (287G) over top of the greeting. The background panel was stamped with the Easy Graduation Background stamp (984H) and I colored it with Copic Markers. When I assembled the panels, I wrapped green and white twine beneath the greeting and adhered this panel using foam tape to give it some dimension. A few brads set off the card front nicely and it was adhered to a black A2 cardstock base. 

 I put the bottom portion of the greeting inside of the card, along with the Graduation Tassel (007D) that was stamped in green. 

 This card was also created for the Graduation card challenge on DRS Designs Blog this week. You could win some free stamps for playing along. See the challenge details HERE.

 Hope you all have a great weekend! 

Thanks for poppin' in! 

 Smiles, 

Jennifer

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Leave A Path

Extra, Extra, read all about it...new stamps were just released from DRS Designs!

Run over to their new release page to see all of the new designs.

As soon as I saw the new Hiker Boot Prints (946D) stamp I knew right away that I wanted to pair it up with the Leave A Path Greeting (860G).  I thought this was perfect because December isn't only about the holidays--for some students, like my cousin, it also means Graduation.  She's a scrapbooker too and I know she'll appreciate a hand stamped Graduation card from me.  An added bonus for this card is that it's Clean and Simple--lately those are becoming my favorite kind! This finished card measures 4.25" x 5.5".

 

Stay tuned as I show off more of these new stamps in the upcoming days!

 

I appreciate you stopping by!

 

Until next time,

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Congrats Grad!

DRS Designs is once again the proud sponsor of this weeks Card Patterns Challenge.  Here's the challenge sketch...

...and here's the prize you could win!

That means $20 off your DRS purchase!!!  We hope you'll play along--I did!

I used this sketch to create a graduation card using one of the new graduation sentiments from DRS Designs. 

The Bright Graduation Greeting (780F) and the Brush Mortarboard (287G) were perfect for this sketch.  I paper pieced the graduation cap and added a petite black brad where the tassel attaches to the top of the cap.  I think everything on this card is pretty easy to duplicate and I'm sure I'll be making more of this card for all the grad parties I'll be going to this summer.
Now don't forget about the Card Patterns challenge and enter to win your chance at the $20 voucher DRS Designs is giving away!

Have a great day!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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The Tassel Is Worth The Hassle

It's that time of year again when high school and college Seniors celebrate their graduation. DRS Designs has several great images and sentiments to help you make just the right graduation cards for all of your graduates.

Here's one I made for my cousin who graduated this year from Michigan State University. Her school colors were green and white, so I made this card with the appropriate colors.

I paper pieced the Graduation Cap from the "Congrats on your Graduation" (274K) stamp rather than coloring it green.  I added a brad to the spot where the tassel attached to the top of the cap.  Then, I paired it with the Graduation Background (984H) to create my own pattern paper.   Best part about a card like this is that you could make it in any colors you wish and it would be appropriate for every graduating Senior you know!

Hope you like it!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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For The Graduate!

Posted By Jennifer E.

I know it won't be long before my mailbox is flooded with Graduation announcements and Open House invitations, so I'm preparing ahead of time!

Here's a sneak peek of the Graduation card I made for the DRS Designs Blog today. I hope you'll run over there to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Enjoy your weekend!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Graduation...

is right around the corner.  Are you ready?

Run over to the DRS Designs Blog to see my post that will give you a few ideas on cards you can make for this years Grads.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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CPS119-Butterfly Graduation Card!

Up bright & early today for no apparent reason and I've decided to make use of the time and get a creatin'! I've used this week's CPS sketch 119 to create a non-traditional Graduation card.

I chose to use the DRS Designs floral butterfly image to not only create this card according to the sketch, literally, but also because butterflies are a symbol of change, joy, color, and transformation. Isn't this what graduation is all about as well? Graduation is a major change and it's the beginning of a huge transformation in someone's life, bringing on a whole new level of responsibility. It's also about following your dreams and doing what you aspire.

I used the Rock N Roll technique on this butterfly image, but the difference in pink inks that I used is subtle that it's had to tell. I spiced it up a bit by adding pink and white Stickles to each flower and petal in the image.

I thought this DRS Designs sentiment went perfect with the butterfly image and all it's symbolism. Wouldn't you agree?

Stamps: DRS Designs- Go Confidently Greeting (H965), Flower Butterfly (H056)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Pixie Pink, Pink Passion, Summer Sun, More Mustard, and Only Orange
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Nesties, Sponge Daubers, white brads by American Crafts, colored brads by Queen and Company, Notched Corner Punch, Ribbon unknown, Stickles
Finished Card Size: 4.75" x 7.5"

Thanks for visiting today.

Hope your having a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Tassel Hassle!

Thanks to the loud clap of a thunderstorm this morning I was up very early & found the courage to get back into my stamp room. I've seemed to have lost my stamping mojo some time last week & have been struggling to complete 4 different projects. Today I attempted to finish up this week's CPS Challenge #117 that I started the other day, and I'm glad to report that it was a simple success!

I started by heat embossing the sentiment with white embossing powder. Then I cut it out & layered it using my Nesties. I stamped the Tassel image with green ink and then shaded it in with green chalk. I used a yellow glitter gel pen to color in the metal clip on the tassel. I assembled the card as displayed by the sketch, embellished it with some brads that matched the color scheme, and adhered the entire piece onto a green cardstock base.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Tassel Worth the Hassle Sentiment (E729), Tassel Image (D007)
Ink: Versamark, SU! Handsome Hunter
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Creative Beginnings White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Chalk by Inkadinkado, Star Lights Yellow Glitter Gel Pen, Nesties, Black Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials and White Brads by American Crafts, EK Success Corner Rounder
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.25"

Well, with my lurking mojo, I can't promise that I'll have another project to share with you for tomorrow, but stay tuned for my Fun Filled Friday Challenge card posted on time this week. It's another partially started project, but I'm going to give it my all! With that being said, I just remembered I still have to finish last week's challenge as well (to create a card & decorate the inside too). Note to self, put that on the to-do list for when my mojo returns full time!

I hope your skies are much sunnier then we have today.

Thanks for visiting!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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The Tassel is Worth the Hassel!

Happy Wednesday!

Here's a sketch I played with over the weekend at my stamping retreat. I love this new sentiment--so perfect for this time of year when Graduations and Grad parties are slowly sneaking up on us! It will be available for purchase from DRS Designs this Saturday, May 2nd.

For this card I created my own Graduation cap to go with this sentiment by using 2 squares, and altering one of them to look like it is angled to fit on someone's head. I used a brad for the top and created the tassel from white embroidery thread.

Plain and simple, I just stamped the sentiment with black ink on a panel that follows the sketch.


Graduation ribbon pulls the whole card together nicely and adds a nice finishing touch.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Tassel Worth the Hassel Sentiment (available for purcahse on 5/2/09)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, ribbon by The Paper Studio, DMC Embroidery Floss, Brad by Joann's Scrap Essentials, 3D- Dots
Finished Card Size: 5.25" x 4.5"

Tomorrow is the big day over at DRS Designs. Are you ready for the next blog hop to see all of the images that will be released on Saturday? Make sure to start at the DRS Designs Blog for stop #1 and hop along with us--there's a blog candy reward for your efforts--you just have to find it! :-)

Have a great day!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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