Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

 

 

All stamps by DRS Designs:

Infinity Shamrock (281E)

Four Leaf Clover (890A)

Shamrock Swag (1080F)

One Line St. Patrick's Day Greeting (636D)

The Infinity Shamrock was colored with the Copic Markers G00, G02, and G05.

 

 

I hope your day is full of fun, happiness and lot's o green!

 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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True Friends

 Hi Everyone!

 

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I'm still playing with my shamrock stamps and I can't seem to get enough! Maybe it's the promise of Spring that gets me so excited about working with these stamps. I'm giddy that our weather seems to have made a turn for the weather and I can only hope that it keeps warming up from now on.  Here's another card I made using one of my favorite stamps, DRS Designs new Four Leaf Clover Friends Greeting (284F). I love the assortment of greens on this card and I love when I can use stamped images as embellishments. Read on for my explanation... 

 

I stamped the greeting on white cardstock and then used a banner die to cut it out. While it was in the die, I sponged green ink over the top of it to create the white border around it. Then it was matted with a dark green card stock banner. I colored the shamrocks from the Shamrock Swag (1080F) with Copic Markers and then fussy cut them out to embellish the top of the banner. For the backgrounds, I used stamps to create my own pattern papers. I started with the Lines O'Plenty Background (366H) on the white card stock and then distressed the edges was a little bit of green ink. It was then matted with light green card stock and next, the panel was adhered to the front of a dark green cardstock base. The next pattern paper I made was with the Shamrock Background (326H) which was stamped on a small panel of light green card stock. I added a white scalloped border to the bottom of it and then tied a green ribbon around the top before adhering it in place on the card front. I finished this card by adhering the banner in place on the right-hand side of the card front as shown.

 
Well, that's it for me today. 
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Enjoy your day!

  

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Shamrockin

It's so nice to be working on Spring themed cards--I'm officially done creating cards for Winter and all of the cold-weather months...I refuse!!! I'm looking forward to the sun and with that, I am beyond excited to share some St. Patrick's Day and Easter cards I've recently made with DRS Designs new stamps.  Today's Shamrockin' St. Patrick's Day card was made for the color challenge posted on the DRS Designs Blog.

 

This is the inspiration photo and we are to use this display for the colors on our challenge card. Pretty, isn't it?

I used the Irish Inventory (344H) to create the background on my card front and the Shamrockin' Day Greeting (335F) was used as the focal point. While the greeting was in a Nestability die, I sponged yellow ink around the stamped design. I love how the white frame around it really makes the stamped image stand out.  The shamrocks were colored with Copic Markers-- G00, G02, and G05. 

 

The layout I used here wasn't the one I had in mind, but I really like the pop of yellow in the upper left corner. I embossed it and then inked the edges with dark yellow ink. I embellished it with some green rhinestones to make it complete.  I added some sheer green and gold ribbon with a bow to the bottom and adhered the card front to a dark green A2 cardstock base.   

 

I hope you'll get a chance to check out this color challenge.  The possibilities are endless and what a great way to get in a Spring-like mood, plus winning free stamps isn't a bad idea either ;-)

 

Thanks for stoping by today! 

 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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True Friends!

DRS Designs new stamps and the new "Office Supplies" challenge on the DRS Designs Blog inspired me to create today's card. This card features the new Four Leaf Clover Friends Greeting (284F), which I love! Again, like yesterday's post, I've designed this card with a St. Patrick's Day theme but this sentiment isn't necessarily a St. Patrick's Day stamp! The Office Supplies challenge is exactly that--you are to use anything you would find in an office on your challenge entry. Items like staples, paperclips, postage stamps, etc all qualify. I chose to use a staple and a spiral paperclip.

 

 Knowing that I wanted the Four Leaf Clover Friends Greeting to be the focal point of my card, I stamped it and then cut out with a decorative Nestability die to make it stand out. While it was in the die, I sponged over it with green ink and then outlined the die shape with a fine point black marker for definition.

 

Behind it, I stamped the Shamrock Vine Corner (1086G) on a small piece of green cardstock and rounded the corners. The corners were rounded on the black mat also. My card front was created using white cardstock, rounding the corners, embossing it, and then sponging green ink over the top.  I adhered the stamped elements in place as shown, using foam tape to adhere the greeting in place for added dimension.  The spiral clip was embellished with a small piece if ribbon tied around it before adding it to the top of the card front and 2 small ribbon loops were added to the bottom of the right hand side, and were adhered in place with a single green staple to match.  The card was then adhered to an A2 dark green cardstock base, which measures 4.25" x 5.5."

Well, that's it for me today. I hope I've inspired you to play along in the Office Supply Challenge, and I hope you'll go check out DRS Design's new Spring stamps, especially if you're looking to make St. Patrick's Day or Easter cards! 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Lucky To Have You!

Have you seen the new Stamps for St. Patrick's Day and Easter that DRS Designs has recently released?  The card I made for today shows off the new Infinity Shamrock (281E) and the Lucky To Have You Greeting (317E).  Although I've used some of the new St. Patrick's Day stamps here, this isn't necessarily a St. Patrick's Day card.  It's nice when stamps can be versatile like this--It's more bang for your buck!

 

The Infinity Shamrock was colored with the Copic Markers G00, G02, and G05. I layered it with light and dark green cardstock that was cut from Nestability dies, and then set it aside while I worked on my card front.  The card front was created from light green card stock that was stamped with the Splatter Background (855H) and dark green ink. The edges were also distressed for a little definition. A white scalloped border was added to both the top and bottom, and a sheer green ribbon embellished the top.

The card base was made from dark green card stock that was cut to make a note card. The finish card size measures 5" x 3.5". The card front was adhered in place on the card base, and the matted Infinity Shamrock image was adhered on the left-hand side to make it complete.

It's really nice to finally start thinking about making cards for the Spring holidays and moving away from all of the cold Winter ones. Don't you agree?!?!?

Thanks for taking the time to visit today!


Smiles,
Jennifer

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Leprechaun Gold Guard

Have you seen the new St. Patrick's Days stamps now available over at DRS Designs? Here's a card I made using 2 of them, the Shamock Swag (1080F) and the Leprechaun Gold Guard (1096L).  I also used the Tiny St. Pat's Day (249A) to create the sentiment tag.

The entire image was colored with Copic Markers and I couldn't help but make this Irish man have a red beard!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Smiles,

Jennifer

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St. Patrick's Day Inspiration

Whenever I've lost my cardmaking mojo I always turn to sketch challenges to spark my inspiration.  That's what happened this past weekend--I had a few hours to myself to spend in my stamp room but my creative juices just weren't flowing. After browsing Splitcoast Stampers and Pintrest for what seemed like hours, I eventually found a sketch challenge that inspired this St. Patrick's Day card.

I used the Troubles Be Less Greeting (693F) as the main focus of my card.  I fussy cut out and distressed a shamrock and then stamped the sentiment on it.  I used the Large Original Plaid stamp (641P) to create my own pattern paper using light and dark green ink and embellished the card front with 3 green rhinestones and a bit of ribbon to match.

What do you do to spark your creative juices when you're in a crafting slump? 

I hope I've inspired you to try a sketch challenge and get inky today!
Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Irish Tent Topper

Hi All! 

The new challenge on the DRS Designs Blog is to use Buttons! Here's my challenge entry, which was inspired by the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch challenge SC476.  

I used the Shamrock Circle (619L) to decorate the top of my tent topper card.  It was colored with Copic Markers and then fussy cut out. I split up the Great Joys Irish Greeting (1094G) and stamped the upper portion inside the middle of the Shamrock Circle. The lower portion was stamped on the card front as shown.  I decorated the card front with 3 different sized banners that were embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and I used twine to tie the button onto a green bow to make my card complete!

Check out all the details for the Button challenge and to see what fabulous prize is being offered to 1 lucky winner HERE!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Chips Ahoy

 The Chips Ahoy challenge on the DRS Designs Blog this week got me out of my comfort zone. I've never used a paint chip before when card making, but I love it and have been inspired to use them more often!

I started with an A2 dark green cardstock base. Then I cut off the writing on each paint chip and used each shade to create a pattern on the bottom of my card front. I embossed them with the Swiss Dots folder for texture and simply embellished my card with polka dotted green ribbon.  The top of the card front was decorated by stamping the Four Leaf Clover (890A) repeatedly with watermark ink. I didn't think it was appropriate to have a St. Pat's Day card without a Shamrock on it some where. The background was perfect for this! The main focus of my card is the Blessings Outnumber Irish Greeting (1100G) which was stamped in dark green ink, die cut, and then sponged with a lighter shade of green ink while still inside a Nestie die. I adhered the greeting with foam tape for some added dimension.  

Have you ever used a paint chip while stamping or card making before? Let the DRS DT inspire you and enter the Chips Ahoy challenge today to win! :-)

Have a great day!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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An Irish Blessing

Today, the DRS Designs DT is Rolling in Clover! That's the theme of this week's blog challenge.  I made this Clean and Simple card for my challenge entry.

Both the Blessings Outnumber Irish Greeting (1100G) and the Shamrock Swag (1080F) that I've used on this card are brand new and now available for purchase. Click HERE to see all of the great Irish and other St. Patrick's Day stamps offered by DRS Designs.

Got some free time since the weather is still to cold and snowy to go out? Then I hope I've inspired you to play along this week! 

Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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May Your Joys Be Great!

It's time for another challenge on the DRS Blog today and this week's theme is "Feeling Green."  I guess you could interpret this challenge as a get well theme, but 

I'm using it as referring to the color green.  I've got new St. Patrick's Day stamps from DRS Designs that I want to show off.  

The new stamps include the Great Joys Irish Greeting (1094G) and the Shamrock Vine Corner (1086G).  I created the pattern paper you see here using the Large Original Plaid (641P). The greeting was simply embellished with 2 diamond rhinestones.

Link your "Feeling Green" card HERE for a chance to win some free stamps from DRS Designs!

Good Luck and thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Irish Blessing Wreath

Hi Stampers!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm back again today to share a wreath card I made with you. I started by stamping and coloring the Shamrock Circle (619L) and then I fussy cut it.  Next I adhered 3 different layers together for the card front.  The top panel was dry embossed, the middle panel was decorated with a border punch, and the bottom panel was stamped with the Troubles Be Less Greeting (693F). Then I used a circle Nestability die to cut the hole in the center and added brads to the far left side as shown.  

A piece of green cardstock was used for the 4.25" x 5.5" card base.  I used the card front as a stencil and traced the center circle with a pencil on the card base so that I could make sure that I die cut a hole in the card base to match the hole in the card front.  The card front was then adhered to the base and the Shamrock Circle was adhered over the top of the opening.  I completed the card front by adding a beautiful white satin bow to the top of the wreath.

I used a piece of white cardstock for the inside panel and stamped only the middle portion of the Shamrock Blessings 3" Giga Oval (461K) in the area inside the wreath.  This allowed the words "An Irish Blessing" to be seen in the middle of the wreath when the card was closed.  I had a lot of fun making this and I hope you enjoyed seeing it! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Petals On A Shamrock

It's that time of year where Leprechauns get excited for St. Patrick's Day and I know the big Leprechaun in my house (My Hubby) can't wait to pull out his bag pipes and celebrate! 
DRS Designs is celebrating a bit too.  Their challenge this week is Shamrocks and 4 leaf clovers. Here's my challenge card.

I created this as a note card that measures 5" x 3.5."  All of the elements you see (other than the brads, of course) were stamped.  The Background was created with the Shamrock Background (326H).  I used the Petals Of A Shamrock Greeting (459G) as my focal point and I gently sponged it with green ink while it was still in a rectangle Nestie die.  I made my own embellishment with the Silhouette Clover (453C) by sponging it, die cutting and matting it, and then popping it up on foam tape.

Well, I'm off and running today with a busy day ahead.  Hope you've enjoyed this card! 

Until next time...

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Luck O' The Irish

I know this is a busy week for all you Irish folk out there.  Things are turning more and more green around here and I'm not just talking about the flowers coming up.  Can you believe it's almost St. Patrick's Day already!?!?!?

To help celebrate the holiday, I created this card for DRS Designs Yellow, Black, and Green color challenge.  I colored the Hatfull of Shamrocks (205K) with Copic Markers and matted it with black cardstock.  Then I created the backgrounds by stamping the Celtic Knot (651D)  on yellow cardstock with So Saffron ink.  I added the sentiment from the One Line Luck O The Irish Greeting (206D), but took the shamrocks off the ends and used them to create my background paper for the bottom half of the card front.  I stamped them with Garden Green ink.  Next, the background panels were decorated with the Treading Water border punch. I used black cardstock for my A2 cardstock base and then arranged the stamped backgrounds as shown, separating them with a strip of black grosgrain ribbon.  

I adhered the matted image in the center between both panels and simply embellished the front with a beautiful yellow bow and some sparkly yellow Stickels on the buckle, and this St. Patty's card was complete! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day and may the Luck O' the Irish be with you today and always!

Smiles, 

Jennifer

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Get Your Irish On!!

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm thinking green and sharing one of the St. Patty's Day cards I recently made. The big Green Day will be here before you know it and we'll have corned beef and cabbage in the crock pot and green beer to wash it down! LOL, Just kidding!  To be honest, I'm not really a fan of either one! I make it for my Hubby who loves it and St. Patty's Day even though neither one of us is Irish.

So, anyways, back to my card...I'm really happy with how it turned out. Sometimes the layouts I draw up in my notebook don't work out as planned, but this one seemed to come together nicely. All of the stamps I used on this card are by DRS Designs. They include the Swirly Shamrocks (983F), the Easy Shamrock Background (326H), and the Irish On Greeting (1005D). The Shamrocks were colored with Copic Markers and the edges of each panel were distressed with green ink. So very festive, don't you think?

Well, that's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your visit.

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Loyalty, Love, and Friendship

The beginning of this month, DRS Designs released new stamps for Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day. One of the new stamps is the Claddah (991F), which symbolizes loyalty, love and friendship. I used this stamp as the focal point on today's card. The DRS Blog Challenge this week is paper piecing and I thought the claddah image would look great using this technique.

Not only did I paper piece the heart, and crown, but I also pieced the Swirly Shamrocks (983F) in the background. Nothing like taking the challenge to the extreme, but I'm not quite sure I like how the background turned out--this may have been one step too far! LOL. The sentiment I used is the One Line St. Pat's Day (636D) and I thought it helped break up the starkness of the yellow panel along with a few green brads. Overall, I really like the layout of this card. I might have to put it to use again.

DRS Designs is giving away a $10 store voucher to a selected winner for this challenge.  Click HERE to check it out.  Good Luck to you if you decide to play!  

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Irish Blessing

How many of you received new stamping/papercrafting supplies over the holiday? I received gift cards to my favorite scrapbooking store and Hobby Lobby.  They were just what I needed to keep me inspired. I also received some new rubber from DRS Designs--Nothing says inspiration to me like new stamps! Have you seen the stamps in DRS Designs new release? If you enjoy stamping for Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day then this release is for you! You can see everything that's included HERE.

Here's the card my new found inspiration created.  I'm using it to show off the new Irish Blessing (1009K) stamp. I stamped the background using the Shamrock Background (326H), and it is so easy! Just a little green ink and each impression lines up perfectly.  No Stamp-a-ma-jig needed! I couldn't help but use twine on this card. I haven't used it in forever and it matches perfectly. I think it's a nice touch.

Well, that's it for today.  I have to keep things short and sweet these days!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!
I hope you all have a wonderful day planned with lots of green! Unfortunately, I have to work, but I'll be wearing my St. Patrick's Day scrub top to the hospital today. I love wearing festive uniforms to work--I think my patients really enjoy them too!

Here's my last St. Patrick's Day card for the year. I've used DRS Designs Paddy Bear image (638H) again. I colored this cutie with Copic Markers and cut it out and matted it using plain and scalloped Nestie rectangles. I stamped the Shamrock background (326H) repeatedly on the light green cardstock to create my own pattern paper for this card front. Then I added an embossed line with my Score-Pal and stamped the one line St. Pats Day greeting (636D) below it. I added 3 clear(!) rhinestones to each side of the sentiment and then colored them with a dark green Copic Marker (Love this money saving tip!). I attached the card front to an A2 green cardstock base and added a horizontal panel decorated with a border punch and some bright yellow ribbon.

I placed the Teddy image just off center to the left and my card was complete.

Thanks for stopping by today!
May the luck of the Irish be with you today and always!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Wearing Of The Green!

 Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day?

Today, Lucky Larry Leprechaun (643H) is dressed in green in honor of St. Patrick's Day!  He was colored with Copic Markers, and all of the white cardstock was distressed with green ink.  I ripped the white panel he was stamped on and the green panel I used to mat him with.  I haven't done that in a long time and I've forgotten what a unique look it adds to paper projects! I created a tag to show off the Tiny St. Pat's Day Sentiment (249A), and the yellow panel was stamped using the Celtic Knot image (651D) using SU! Apricot Appeal ink.  I used some brads and dark green grosgrain ribbon embellishments to dress up my card front.       

Will you be wearing green on St. Patrick's Day?

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Working on Canvas

In our recent package of goodies from DRS Designs the DT was given a challenge. Each member was given several cute canvas bags to stamp up. Talk about a challenge!! It took me about two weeks to get the courage to start thinking out of my comfort zone-anything but a card and my brain has a tendency to freeze up and my creative mojo goes elsewhere! Considering the size of these bags they are not too much different than working on a card front-they measure approx. 6.5" x 5" when completely flat and have a drawn string closure. Once I put my mind to it however, the ideas came to me rather easy. The challenge was then how I was to overcome technical difficulties to get my ideas on that canvas work space!

What kind of ink should I use?

Will Versafine bleed?

Will Staz On be dark enough or will it look purple on the canvas?

What about if I use Copics, will Momento run on the canvas?

Will Copics work or will they bleed along the tiny canvas threads?

What other kinds of coloring mediums can I use?

Eeeek! These were a bunch of the questions that popped into my head as I brainstormed about how to get my ideas onto these little bags.  The first thing I did, was email some stamping friends and get their opinions. This helped me get started as many of the questions I listed above were answered. I then took the plunge to see what I could come up with.

This fun, St. Patrick's Day goodie bag was the outcome of my first brainstorm attempt. I began by first stamping Sean and the Rainbow (L521) with Momento ink and coloring it very lightly with Copic Markers. Considering the challenges and questions I had getting started, I was pretty happy with the result. Next, I stamped the One Line St. Pats Day Greeting (636D) below the image and then stamped the Shamrock Background (326H) all over to fill the empty space with SU! Handsome Hunter ink. I was so happy with the result that I created a matching card to go with it.   

What would you create with these fun little canvas bags?

Smiles,

Jennifer

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