Simply Thanksgiving Sheetloads Sneak Peek!

DRS Designs is sponsoring the October Sheetloads sketch. I created a Thanksgiving card using their sketch. Here's a little sneak peek!

It's my day to post on the DRS Designs blog. You can see the finished card & all the details on how to win from DRS Designs HERE!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

:-)

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Christmas Cards For Operation Write Home!

The DRS Designs DT is showing off another round of holiday cards made for the Operation Write Home Holiday Card Drive on the DRS Designs Blog. Please help us collect as many holiday themed cards as possible for our Troops & show support for our Soldiers!

DRS Designs is offering 2 prizes to those who participate:

Prize 1:
The stamper who has sent us the most cards will win a $50 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!!

Prize 2:
We will pick our favorite card that uses only DRS Designs Rubber Stamps and that stamper will win a $25 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!

Please be sure to get your card donations to us by October 26th so they can be distributed in time for the holiday rush!

Just a few things to remember for each card you send in:
Cards must only be 4.25" x 5.5"
**No Glitter**
No Store bought cards allowed
Please be sure to include an envelope for each card donated.

Send your cards to:
DRS Designs
217 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801

Here's another one of my holiday cards that I submitted. The image & the sentiment are by DRS Designs.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Simple Decorated Tree (H010), Glittering/Twinkling Christmas Greeting
(G1000)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Copic & Bic Markers, Yellow Rhinestone by K & Company, Ribbon by Ribbon FX
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

DRS Designs new Christmas Tree image was colored with markers. I created a mask of it with a Post-It Note & sponged light blue ink around it. A yellow rhinestone was added to the center of the star on top. I was tempted to use my favorite yellow Stickles, but remembered that cards with glitter can not be accepted for the Operation Write Home Card Drive. I just love this tree image! I think it's beautifully designed and decorated. I recently joined a Christmas Tree ATC Swap & this image will be perfect for it! You can plan to see it again very soon!

Thanks for visiting today & thank you in advance for helping us support or soldiers!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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S&D11 Sparkle & Shine!

Do you like projects that Sparkle & Shine? That's the theme behind this week's Sunflowers and Dragonflies 11th Blog Challenge! For this challenge we want you to use items that will make your projects glisten--think Bazzill Bling cardstock, rhinestones, Stickles and Shimmerz galore!

Anyone can play along in the challenge. 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 weekly challenge prize!! 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, specifically on the Challenge #11 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D11.

This week's prize is a Set of Cupcake Stamps, Deadline is next Friday October 9th.

Here's my "Delicious" Sparkle & Shine Cupcake Card!

I used one of Sunflowers and Dragonflies new Cupcake images for this challenge. The layout I used follows this weeks Splitcoast Sketch challenge. The cupcake image was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and the colors were blended with Gamsol. I pop dotted a lemon slice on top of the cupcake and added yellow Stickles to it. The frosting, flowers and wrapper were painted with Shimmerz.

In this close up photo, you can see the detail & true colors on the cupcake.

This angle shows you just how much this card really sparkles & shines!

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- Candied Orange Blossom, Delicious Sentiment
Ink: Staz On Jet Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Yellow Ochre
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by Bazzill Bling
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Spots & Dots Embossing Folder, Orange Sherbet and Burgandy Shimmerz, Ribbon-unknown, Pop Dots, Rhinestones by K & Co., SU! Word Window Punch, Yellow Stickles, EK Success Decorative Border Punch
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 6"

I look forward to see your Sparkle & Shine project! Won't you join us?

Hope your having a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Birthday Boy!

I'm posting today on the DRS Designs Blog.

Here's a sneak peek of the Cutie Pie you can see over there!

Thanks for visiting today.

Enjoy your weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Christmas Candle

DRS Designs recently released this Jumbo Candle stamp. Jumbo makes it sound huge, but it actually measures 1" x 3." It worked perfectly for this Christmas card I recently made.

Here's a close up of the greeting so you can read it. I had a hard time taking a photo of this--I think because of the red cardstock. The stamping is much darker in real life.

I really love how this candle turned out! I decorated the base of it by stamping the Holly image several times, coloring them with marker, and then cutting the holly images out. I overlapped them and adhered them in place. I also colored the flame with marker and sponged yellow ink around it to produce the "glow." I finished it off by adding my favorite yellow Stickles to it to give it that firey sparkle!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jumbo Candle (F006), Christmas Peace/Joy Greeting (G828), Triple Holly (F1004)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Yellow Ochre
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, EK Success Decorative Border Punch, Yellow Stickles, Gold Ribbon by Joann's Holiday Inspirations, White Gelly Roll Pen
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.5"

I hope you've enjoyed this post today! I appreciate your visit!

Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Sunflowers and Dragonflies New Website!

For all of you anxiously waiting for the new Sunflowers and Dragonflies site to be revealed, run over and take a look! The new site is now up & running!

Feel free to join the forum & sign up to post in the gallery. If you've created any projects with S&D stamps, please upload them to the gallery so everyone can check them out! I would love to see your work!

The Cupcakes stamps and the Alice In Wonderland stamps that you've seen on the S&D Blog challenges recently have also been released & are now ready for purchase.

Here are the cards I've made recently with these stamps.

The Four Seasons set is also available for purchase.

I hope to stamp & create more with all of these great stamp sets very soon!

Happy Browsing & shopping!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Blooming With Good Health!

All this talk about the upcoming flu season has me worried! I'll be getting my flu shot on Wednesday from work and then I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that no one around me comes down with the H1N1 virus.

I created this Get Well card not too long ago & this weekend I got reports from friends that they've come down with icky colds already this year (Kathy & Trisha, this post is for you!)

The image, sentiment & background designs are all from DRS Designs. I colored the image with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I cut the image out with a Nestie die & then sponged yellow ink around it while it was still in the die. The background was created by stamping the Lots of Lines background stamp with purple ink on purple cardstock. I matted everything on a dark purple cardstock base.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Three Flowers With Butterfly (H1068), Blooming with Good Health Sentiment (G055), Lots of Lines Background stamp (H366)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Orchid Opulence, Barely Banana
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Brads by The Paper Studio,
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

So remember, in order to keep the germs at bay this flu season lots of hand washing is the best defense! We're taught at work to wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds or the length it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, to insure that you've washed long enough.

Here's wishing you a happy, and healthy flu season this year!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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S&D10 Signs of Fall

For our 10th blog challenge, the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT is challenging you to create anything to do with the Seasons--think Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter when creating projects for this weeks challenge! The Design Team will be using the S&D Four Seasons Stamp set on our projects. This set has 4 trees as the main images in the set. Each tree represents each of the 4 seasons, and it also comes with some sentiments and accessory stamps as well.

Anyone can play along in the challenge. 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 weekly challenge prize!! 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, specifically on the Challenge #10 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D10.

This week's prize is a complete set of the Four Seasons stamp set AND a box of Prima flowers
Deadline is next Friday October 2nd.

I created this Autumn, "Thinking of You" card using the Four Seasons stamp set. As you can see I only used the Autumn Tree and the accessory leaf from the set.

I couldn't help myself & had to use the Fall tree. It just didn't seem right to me to use any of the the other trees in the set right now...tis the season, ya know?!?!?

I had fun masking with this card. But, cutting out all those little leaves from the sticky part of a Post-It note was not so fun. It was worth it however--I love the final outcome!

Since this card is rather CAS (Clean and Simple), I spiced it up a bit with different color Stickles.

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- 4 Seasons Stamp Set
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue & Olive Pastel
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company & American Crafts
Accessories: Bic & Copic Markers, Tan Ribbon by Ribbon and Bows Oh My, Stickles in Yellow, Lime Green, Xmas Red, and Crystal, Orange, Green Zig Marker
Finished Card Size: 6 3/4" x 5 1/8"

So, if you can't tell by now, Fall is my favorite season. What's your favorite season?

I hope you'll tell us by creating it for our challenge. I look forward to seeing it!
Good Luck in winning this set!

Happy Fall Ya'll!
Smiles,
Jennifer

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Economical Christmas Greeting

Under the hard economic times that the United States is facing right now, we're all making cuts to save our pennies & make the most of every dollar we earn. I know that I'm trying to save so that we don't feel the tight pinch of the holidays, especially since there are less than 100 days until Christmas.

I'm seriously considering making & sending Christmas postcards this year instead of regular Christmas cards. Have you ever thought of doing that? With the cost of postage on the rise on what seems like a yearly basis and right now at $.44 a card, it will cost me a nice chunk of change to send out my Christmas cards this year. By switching to post cards, I'll cut that price in about half--which is a welcomed cut by my pocket book since I send about 60 Christmas cards every year.

Here is the front & back of the post card I created earlier this week. I plan on designing a few others as well in the near future. (Don't mind that I forgot to put the postage stamp on the back of my postcard before taking the picture! LOL!)

Here's a close up of the post card front. I used Alcohol inks to decorate glossy cardstock in red, green and gold. I stamped several Christmas images from DRS Designs using black Staz On ink. You can see the glare where the gold AI ink caught the light.

This is the same post card, but I took the picture without a flash so you could see the images better in this photo than like the background on the other one.

DRS Designs has a huge selection of holiday sentiments and I used the "Simple Joys of Christmas sentiment" to decorate the back of my post card.

They even carry fun postage frames that I used to dress up the back as well! I know that it costs more than 5 cents to send a postcard these days--it's actually 28 cents now, but I wanted to add a stamp so you could see the how much the postage frame actually accentuates the back of your postcard. I colored the postage frame image with marker and it turned the back of this postcard from blah to beautiful instantly!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Silhouette Holly (F002), Triple Holly (F1004), Small Merry Christmas Sentiment (B1014), Holly Candy Cane Postage Frame (H998).
Ink: Staz On Jet Black, Ranger Alcohol Inks in Gold, Bottle & Cranberry
Paper: White Glossy Cardstock
Accessories: Bic & Copic Markers
Finished Card Size: 6" x 4.25"

Have you considered sending postcards instead of Christmas cards for the upcoming season?

Hope all have a great weekend!

Thanks for visiting today & thanks for all of your wonderful comments!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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MMSC20 Oh Christmas Tree!

Yesterday started the last DRS Designs sponsored sketch over at the Midnight Madness Blog. Here's MMSC20-this week's sketch.

DRS Designs has recently released a bunch of fun Holiday stamps. You can see them all here.
I created this Christmas card for the MMSC challenge using their newest Christmas Tree image.

I colored the Christmas Tree & Holly images with markers. I sponged ink around the tree--blue around the sides (I also inked the sentiment tag blue too!) and then added yellow ink around the shiny star.

What Christmas tree doesn't sparkle & shine? I added Stickles to the bulbs and the star on top.

I love the "glow" you can see around the star!

Are you into creating ATC's? This Christmas Tree is the perfect size. I'll be creating some ATC's with this image soon for a Christmas Tree Swap I'm in. I'll be sure to show you all when they're complete!

Stamps: DRS Designs-Simple Decorated Tree, Merry Christmas
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue, Yellow Ochre
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Border Folder, Ribbon By Michael's Go With the Grain
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 5.75"

Make sure to check out the MMSC blog for your chance at some great prizes. DRS Designs will be giving away fabulous prizes and you can find out all of the details on the MMSC Blog.

Thanks for visiting & have a wonderful day!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Gingerbread Boy for Operation Write Home!

Here's another card I made for the Operation Write Home (formerly Cards For Heros) Holiday Card Drive sponsored by DRS Designs.

This Gingerbread image was recently released & I thought it was a perfect match for this sentiment since the Holidays are a popular time for baking. Gingerbread reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas--something about how the spice fills the air when you bake them. Wouldn't you agree?


Here's a close up of the greeting for your reading ease.

Would you believe that this entire greeting is actually all one stamp? That's the beauty of unmounted stamps! It makes splitting up sentiments and stamping them very easy--no worries about getting ink on the opposite part of the stamp & ruining your project. I just cut it right off & Viola! Instantly, I have 2 separate stamps and the versatility lets me use them together or separate like I did here.

This fun little guy was colored with marker. I love the red & brown together--I think it makes for a very elegant looking Christmas card.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Gingerbread Man (E040), Sleigh Rides Holiday Greeting (H829)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Stamp A Ma Jig, SU! Ticket Corner Punch, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ribbon by Peebles Inc.,
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

Did you miss the previous post stating all of the details for the Card Drive?

During the months of September and October DRS Designs will be collecting as many holiday and winter themed cards as you can make for our Operation Write Home Holiday Card Drive.

To inspire you further DRS Designs will be offering a Total of 4 prizes:
Two prizes will be awarded at the end of each month in September & October.

Prize 1:
The stamper who has sent us the most cards during that month will win a $50 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!!

Prize 2:
We will pick our favorite card of the month that uses only DRS Designs Rubber Stamps and that stamper will win a $25 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!

Please be sure to get your card donations to us by October 26th so they can be distributed in time for the holiday rush!

Just a few things to remember for each card you send in:
Cards must only be 4.25" x 5.5"
No Glitter
No Store bought cards allowed
Please be sure to include an envelope for each card donated.

Send your cards to:
DRS Designs
217 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801

Every other Monday the DRS Designs DT will show off the cards we've made for the OWH Card Drive. So, the next show off date is 2 weeks from today on October 5th. I'll show you another one of my OWH cards then. (So sorry to keep you waiting in suspense! *wink!*)

Thanks to you all for visiting here today & thank you in advance for making the DRS Designs Holiday Card Drive a success!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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S&D9 Some Bunny Loves You!

This week the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT is showing off Brand New release stamps from the Alice in Wonderland series! How can you participate and win some free goodies? Well, this week's blog challenge is All about Fairy Tales! Create any project that depicts some kind of Story book fairy tale and you will be entered in a blog candy drawing for a great prize.

Anyone can play along in the challenge. There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies (SO order your new Alice in Wonderland & last week's Cupcake release now!) but feel free to use other images. There is a bonus if you do use a Sunflowers and Dragonflies Image, you'll receive an extra entry in the drawing for the weekly challenge prize!! 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, specifically on the Challenge #9 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D9.

This week's challenge prize will be the BRAND NEW Alice in Wonderland line of stamps and the accessory set. Deadline for this challenge is next Friday September 25th.

I just realized that my challenge project is pink & turquoise again like last week's! I must really like these colors lately!

Here's my "Some Bunny Loves You!" Alice in Wonderland Challenge card!

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- Alice In Wonderland Series and Accessory Set
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Pretty in Pink and Tempting Turquiose
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts, Designer Paper By Basic Gray Euphoria
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Markers C1 & C3, Nesties, Ribbon by Offray, staples, K&Co Adhesive Rhinestones
Finished Card Size: 5" x 5.75"


I colored Little Miss Alice with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I colored her apron with gray Copic Markers, and then sponged light pink ink around her. I used a sheet of designer paper from Basic Gray's Euphoria Collection, also from Sunflowers and Dragonflies, for the lower half of my card. I love the dark pink floral pattern and the subtle specks of blue in it! I created the tag by Stamping "Some Bunny Loves You!" from the Accessory set with Turquoise ink. I used circle Nesties to cut it out and layer it--I sponged pink ink over the sentiment while it was still in the Nestie die. The ribbon was attached with a staple that I colored pink with a marker.

Isn't she sweet with her little bunny?

Make sure to check the Sunflowers and Dragonflies New web site to see all of the different versions of Alice! I know you'll love them! You can find the new site addy by checking here.

Thanks for visiting today!

Good Luck winning this week's Alice in Wonderland Stamps!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Don't forget the cupcake stamps from last week's Sunflowers and Dragonflies Sweet Tooth Challenge are now available for purchase as well!

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Autumn Greetings Sneak Peek!

Happy Friday!

Do you realize today is the last Friday of the Summer?? Yep, that's right! Next Tuesday is the first official day of Autumn for all of us here in North America. It's my day to post over on the DRS Designs Blog and I'm wishing you all some fun Autumn Greetings, but you have to run over there to see my card completely.

Here's a sneak peek!

Have a great weekend!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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A Cold Breeze is Here

The seasons are definitely changing here in Michigan. Fall is creeping fast around the corner and the sunny days of Summer will soon be long gone. We had a beautiful summer this year. It was very rarely too hot & humid. Almost everyday the temperature stayed right around 75-80 degrees and the nights dropped to a cool 60 degrees. We hardly ever put on our air conditioner.

But, with such a mild Summer it only scares me into thinking what kind of Winter isn't far behind. Since we had such a cool Summer, will our Winter be extra cold this year? I sure hope not! Can you feel the Winter chill I've described just by looking at this card?

I used the new Silhouette Icicle image and the Stepping Back in Time sentiment to make this icy snow card. Both are by DRS Designs. I stamped the Icicle image with white ink for the top border. These icicles scream Stickles to me--I just had to dress them up a bit to make them glisten! I stamped the sentiment in blue ink to perfectly match the cold, Winter theme of this card, and used my new Snowflake Border Punch to trim the bottom.

Here's a close up of the sentiment so you can read the verse better.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Silhouette Icicles (G035), Stepping Back In Time Sentiment (H674)
Ink: SU! Brilliant Blue, VersaColor White
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company
Accessories: Nesties Labels 3, EK Success Snowflake Border Punch and Decorative Corner Punch, Ribbon By Offray, Icicle Stickles
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

Don't forget to check out all of DRS Designs new Holiday images.

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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It's Almost That Time...

...when the ghosts and goblins come out!

Can't forget about carving pumpkins too!

Here's my challenge card for this weeks Midnight Madness Sketch-MMSC19

Stamps: DRS Designs- Pumpkin Stack Up (F147), Witching You a Happy Halloween Greeting (F1040)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Marker C1, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Brads by The Paper Studio, Ribbon By Bobbie M. Designs, Prima Flowers
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

DRS Designs giving away a gift certificate to a lucky winner who participates in the Midnight Madness Sketches for the month of September. Run over to the Midnight Madness Blog for more details.

Good Luck!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Need Shopping money for Stamps?

DRS Designs is sponsoring the Midnight Madness Blog this week & your participation could earn you some free shopping dollars to DRS Designs!

Here's the sketch challenge they want you to play with.

I've started this challenge, but I still need to finish it up. That's on my To-Do List for today. Check back later to see it...

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Anyone For Candy Corn?

Happy Monday!

The weekends sure fly by, don't they? I had a nice relaxing weekend, and I spent majority of it working on numerous stamping projects. It was wonderful! I wish I could have more weekends like this--sometimes I'm really bummed that I work in a hospital where we have weekend hours that have to covered. But, all in all, when I see the healing process in my patients and see their faces when they're feeling 100% better, it's all worth it! I can't help but wish I had more "home" time though, and I'm sure many of you can relate!

One of the projects I worked on was this Candy Corn ATC for a swap on the Stamp Shack. Tis the season for Candy Corn!

The candy corn pattern paper was actually made by me! I started with smooth white cardstock and stamped the Candy Corn Background by DRS Designs with orange ink. Then I just colored the bottom portion of the candy pieces with a yellow marker. (Talk about quick and easy! I had my background in no time!) The sentiment is actually part of a larger stamp, but I only had room for the "Happy Halloween!" part of it--I sometimes forget how small ATC's actually are!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Candy Corn Background (H633), Witching you a Happy Halloween (F1040)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Only Orange
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company
Accessories: Bic Markers, SU! Ticket Corner Punch, Satin Ribbon By Offray
Finished Card Size: 3.5" x 2.5"

Well, that's it for today...short and sweet! I'm busy preparing projects to post later this week.
Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Sweet Treat for a Sweet Tooth!

So, do you have a favorite Sweet treat??
This week the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT is challenging you to create anything to do with Sweets. Cookies, Cupcakes, Candies, Ice cream, you name it--if it's sweet, it qualifies! This marks the start of the Sunflowers and Dragonflies 8th Blog Challenge!

Anyone can play along in the challenge. 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 weekly challenge prize!! 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, specifically on the Challenge #8 Blog Post, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D8.

This week's prize is a complete set of the new Cupcake stamps that will be released from Sunflowers and Dragonflies next week!
Deadline is next Friday September 18th.

********************
~~~~The images I used for my challenge card this week are new from Sunflowers and Dragonflies! The sentiment, the cupcake stamp, & several other cupcake designs will be available for purchase next Saturday, and the brand new S&D website will be up for your viewing pleasure as well! Stay tuned for more info...~~~~

I had a lot of fun making this challenge card--I must admit from all of the new cupcake stamps I received, I had a hard time deciding which one to show off first. I picked this floral cupcake image I colored it with some fun with Prismacolor Pencil colors and blended them with Gamsol. I outlined it with a Zig Marker and that really made the colors pop! I used a light pink sheet of designer paper from Basic Gray's Euphoria collection (also available for purchase from S&D too!) and stamped the sentiments on it with SU! Taken with Teal.

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Taken with Teal
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts, Pattern Paper by Basic Gray Euphoria Collection
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Turquoise Zig Marker, large brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials, small brads by Making Memories, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for visiting today. I look forward to seeing your Sweet Tooth project. Good Luck winning this weeks Nestability set! ;-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge

DRS Designs is still sponsoring the sketch challenges over at the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge Blog. Here's this weeks sketch, MMSC18...

...and here's my take on this weeks challenge.

I used metallic copper cardstock for the background and it made this card rather difficult to photograph--too light/bright or too dark & this is the happy in between picture! The bountiful Basket image from DRS Designs was colored with Bic Markers. I used raffia tied like a shoelace around some orange brads behind the image as seen on the sketch.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Bountiful Basket (L791), Thanksgiving Greetings Squares (K1052)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Tangerine
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company & American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Brads by Making Memories, SU! Word Window Punch, EK Success Decorative Corner Punch, Wraphia Ribbon from Target.
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Well, holy moley, it's Friday already! Not that I'm complaining at all, but with the US holiday this past Monday this week flew right by! I'm excited that this is my weekend off of work and I have a stamping date with some friends on Saturday. Whoo Hoo! I love days like that!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Couldn't Resist Temptation!

Remember my Cards For Heros post from the other day? I just had to curb my curiosity and make an identical card, but sparkle it up a bit. I'm finding it extremely hard to make holiday cards without using any glitter. (I blame my perfectionist eye for that!) I think the glitter really makes a difference--it gives it the umph it needs! Here it is for you to enjoy!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Triple Tree with Snow (L004), "Happy Holidays" from the Simple Pleasures Greeting (G725), Ribbon Card Edger (P903)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Glorious Green, Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Stamp A Ma Jig, Sitckles
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

Stay tuned to see my take on this weeks Midnight Madness sketch challenge. I'll be posting it soon!

Until then...

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Cards For Heros Holiday Card Drive

We Need Your Help!!
During the months of September and October DRS Designs will be collecting as many holiday and winter themed cards as you can make for our Cards For Heros Holiday Card Drive.

To inspire you further DRS Designs will be offering a Total of 4 prizes:
Two prizes will be awarded at the end of each month in September & October.

Prize 1:
The stamper who has sent us the most cards during that month will win a $50 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!!

Prize 2:
We will pick our favorite card of the month that uses only DRS Designs Rubber Stamps and that stamper will win a $25 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!

Please be sure to get your card donations to us by October 26th so they can be distributed in time for the holiday rush!

Just a few things to remember for each card you send in:
Cards must only be 4.25" x 5.5"
No Glitter
No Store bought cards allowed
Please be sure to include an envelope for each card donated.

Send your cards to:
DRS Designs
217 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801

Here's the first of many cards I will be submitting to the drive.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Triple Tree with Snow (L004), "Happy Holidays" from the Simple Pleasures Greeting (G725), Ribbon Card Edger (P903)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Glorious Green, Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Stamp A Ma Jig
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

I kept things very basic on this card because I wasn't sure if I added ribbon tied in a knot or bow and metal embellishments if it would pose a problem with postage when the soldiers mailed the cards. I figured 'no bulk" was best, and tried to make all of my CFH cards like that. I spiced up this card by using different color inks: the sentiment is stamped in black, the trees are stamped in green and the ribbon image in red.

I really thought creating cards for this card drive would be no big deal & that I could just sit down and whip them right up. Well, it wasn't until I sat down and started playing with my stamps and cardstock that I realized just what a small challenge this would be for me.

When I make cards, I don't pay much attention to my card base size. I usually start with my stamped image and build my card out from there. As a result, I rarely make cards that are the standard A2 size. I make them whatever size works for what I have in mind and then just hand make whatever size envelope I need to fit it, if it is going to be mailed. Well, as you can see above, cards for this drive must be standard A2 size only! Several times while preparing a bunch of Christmas cards for DRS Designs latest release I caught myself & had to back track and stay focused on making my cards the right size. The other minor glitch I ran into was trying not to use glitter on my cards. Every card I made I always thought, "glitter would really make this card pop!" Like with today's card for example, I really wanted to add glitter to the snow caps below the trees and a bit to the tree branches. I just might have to make this card again for myself and add the glitter to see how it would look. I'm just so curious, but I do understand that it is for the safety of our soliders that they ask that glitter is not used on cards for the drive.

Every other Monday the DRS Designs DT will show off the cards we've made for the CFH Card Drive. So, the next show off date is 2 weeks from today on September 21st. I'll show you another one of my CFH cards then. (So sorry to keep you waiting in suspense!)

Well, this is it for me today. I'm exhausted from working this entire weekend, and have to work another 12 hours today. I'm glad that tomorrow is my day off. I hope all of my American readers have had a wonderful long weekend!

Thanks to you all for visiting here today & thank you in advance for making the DRS Designs Holiday Card Drive a success!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Merry Christmas From Leonard!

Want a chance to win some goodies from DRS Designs? Run over to the Caardvarks challenge blog to see all of the different card sketches that will enter you to win the Blog Candy up for grabs.

I played along with the sketch challenge using Leonard, oink, oink! He wants to wish you a "Merry Christmas!" Yes, I know it's a tad early for that, but I couldn't help myself!

When I saw this new Santa Hat stamp by DRS Designs, I knew right away that Leonard would look perfect wearing it! He's cute, isn't he?

I created my own pattern paper for this card using another new stamp from DRS Designs, the Silhouette Holly stamp. I cut the berries away from the holly leaves, a bonus for using unmounted stamps, as it easily let me stamp the berries in red and the leaves in green. I randomly stamped the holly berries in a few of the larger white spaces to fill it in a little more completely.


If you look closely at Leonard's Santa Hat, you can see that I added some white Fun Flock to the furry parts. Nothing like giving your card that authentic feel! *grin*!

Have you seen the rest of DRS Designs new Holiday stamps?

Stamps: DRS Designs- Leonard the Billboard (F711), Santa Hat (B022), Silhouette Holly (F002), Small Merry Christmas Sentiment (A121)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Ruby Red, Glorious Green
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Bic Markers, Nesties, Holly Corner Punch by The Paper Studio, Ribbon by May Arts, EK Success Decorative Border Punch, White Fun Flock, Gray Copic Marker C1
Finished Card Size: 5 7/8" x 4 5/8"

Well, sorry I can't spend too much time on the computer today. I have a ton of cards due for DRS Designs and I need to get back to work. Stay tuned for tomorrow, as the DRS Designs DT will be showing our first set of cards for the Cards For Heros Holiday Card Drive, and we hope that you'll play along as well.

Hope your all having a wonderful Sunday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Shaped Card Challenge!

Today Begins the 7th challenge from the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT! This week we're challenging you to create shaped cards. Yep, that's right--no squares or rectangles allowed! We're getting really creative this week!

Feel free to create your own Shaped 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!

This weeks prize is a set of Nestabilities Labels Two!!!!

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&D7. Deadline is next Friday September 11th.

Here's the Fish Shaped Birthday card for Dad that I made for this challenge! It's a little awkward looking, but I think he turned out fairly cute considering I made him by hand. I have to admit, he looks alot better than the one I had envisioned in my head for this.

To make this card, I first colored the S&D Fishing Beaver image with markers. I added black letter stickers to the side of my image to spell out "Dad." I used Nesties to cut the image out & mat it. The fish card base was created by folding the dark green cardstock in half for the base and I used my circle Coluzzle to cut out a partial circle for the fish's head along the fold. Then I just used scissors to cut out the tail the same way.

I wanted to create the look of scales on the fish's tail, but I didn't have the time or patience to cut little circles out and paste them on one by one. I found that my Fiskars Treading Water Border punch worked just as well and it made it easy after I punched the border from a few colors of 12 x 12 cardstock. The fish's fins were extra cardstock that was added to the card base after the fact. I used the ribbon to cover up the cardstock seams where they were attached. I hand drew the eye with a Gel pen.


I cut the lips out of cardstock by hand and just adhered the piece to the side of the card front. His little face just makes me laugh--I had to get a close up of those fish lips. Pretty funny huh?

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs- Fishing Beaver
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Circle Coluzzle,Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch, Black and White Gelly Roll Pens, Plaid Ribbon by The Paper Studio, Brown Ribbon By Offray, Black Alphabet letter stickers by Pioneer.
Finished Card Size: 6.5" x 4.25"

Thanks for visiting here today! I hope you've enjoyed your stay. I appreciate you stopping by and I welcome all of your comments. If you have any please feel free to ask as well.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!


Smiles,
Jennifer

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Snowman Sneak Peek!

Run over to the DRS Designs Blog to see my post for today.

Here's a sneak peek of Who you'll see over there!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Just In Time For the Holidays!

DRS Designs now has it's BRAND NEW Holiday images up for sale, just in time for you to start creating all of your Holiday Cards. They were released today for purchase and you can click HERE to see all of them.


I received many of these new releases as well as a ton of other holiday images and sentiments from DRS Designs just the other day. I was in awe and so excited about them that I had to ink them up right away! I spent majority of my free time yesterday coloring them up--I even got up early to color before work, took my stamped images with me to color during my lunch break, and then finished them up after dinner. It was late when I finally sat down to create something with them and I didn't want to do too much thinking (scary, I know!) So, I put the Sheetloads September Sketch to work and created this Popcorn Holiday card. The sentiment, the Popcorn Bowl, and the Popcorn background are all included in this release.

I colored the popcorn background and the popcorn bowl with markers. The sentiment is actually all on one piece of rubber, but I cut it in half to make it more versatile (love unmounted stamps!) and stamped it with red SU! ink.

Can you see my favorite yellow Stickles in this picture?

Stamps: DRS Designs- Popcorn Bowl (G1131), Popcorn Background (H1124), Poppin' in Sentiment (F032)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Red Ribbon by May Arts, Gold Ribbon by Holiday Inspirations by Joann Fabrics, Yellow Stickles
Finished Card Size: 6.5" x 4.75"

Don't forget about DRS Designs Cards For Heros Holiday Card Drive. All of the stamps they released for purchase today would make beautiful Holiday cards for any soldier! Don't forget to check them out too!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Holy Moly, It's September!

Can you believe it!?!?!? Time sure flies huh? And that means that the holidays are right around the corner! YIKES!

Well, with the holidays in mind, I wanted to tell you about a contest DRS Designs is holding through the entire months of September and October.

They will be collecting as many holiday and winter themed cards as you can make to send to the Cards for Heros Program.

Every other Monday, beginning next Monday, September 7th, the DRS Designs DT will be showing off their card donations on the company blog. We hope you are inspired by our creations and that you will consider sending us your holiday cards for this great cause.

Of course, there's an incentive to inspire you further. DRS Designs will be offering a Total of 4 prizes. Two prizes will be awarded at the end of each month (September & October)

Prize 1:
The stamper who has sent us the most cards during that month will win a $50 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!!

Prize 2:
We will pick our favorite card of the month that uses only DRS Designs Rubber Stamps and that stamper will win a $25 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!

Please be sure to get your card donations to us by October 26th so they can be distributed in time for the holiday rush!

Send to:
DRS Designs
217 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801

Just a few things to remember for each card you send in:

*Cards must only be 4.25" x 5.5"

*No Glitter

*No Store bought cards allowed

*Please be sure to include an envelope for each card donated.

So, get out your holiday rubber stamps, put on some North Pole Radio to help get you in the mood and start creating those Holiday cards!

Thank you in advance for making our card drive a success!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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