National Police Week 2009

On Wednesday my Husband and I left to go to Washington DC for a long weekend in honor of National Police Week. May 15th is National Police Memorial Day and this week recognizes the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement. National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.


Thousands of Police Officers from around the U.S. gather together to take part in many of the events that take place during this week. One of the most popular is the Candle Light Vigil that was held Wednesday evening. This first picture is of my DH and the second picture is of Kimmy's Husband. I love the soft look of the candles in these pictures. It's really neat to see all of the officer's in their uniforms and to see all of the different styles of uniforms. They are all so unique!

This was my 5th year going with my Husband. He is a Police Officer and this week is especially important to him since one of his co workers was killed in the line of duty in 2002 and even more so now that his is in the Metro Detroit Pipes and Drums Band.

Also during this week, the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is decorated with flowers, wreaths, pictures of the Fallen Officers and name etchings. Here's some pictures of what the Memorial Wall looks like.

Jessica Nagle-Wilson was the officer my Husband worked with.
In case you are interested, you can find more information & more pics about this event here, at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memoral Fund website.

Well, it's always nice to be home after time away, and now it's back to stamping & card making for me. Stay tuned for another DRS Designs Blog challenge posted bright & early tomorrow morning.

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Inside is just as Important as the Outside!

Sorry for the delay in posting pics of our long weekend trip. We just got back in yesterday & I still have to upload some pics. You can expect to see them later tonight.

This week's Fun Filled Friday challenge focuses on the inside of our cards. I challenged Kimmy to make a card of any theme or occasion and decorate the inside of the card to match. I see so many card designers decorating the inside of cards lately that the insides of my cards are feeling neglected--they will not feel left out this week, cause I'm going to spice them up since the inside should be just as important as the outside, right?

I hope you'll join us and decorate the insides of your cards this week too. Make sure to leave me a comment with the link to your project if you get a chance to play along. I'd love to see what you do!

Hope you're having a great weekend & stay tuned to see my trip pictures later on.

until then...

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

For Baby!

Happy Friday! Today is Fun Filled Friday and Kimmy challenged us to make baby cards. I'm still playing with the Dustin Pike, Jenny Giraffe image & the "Cute as a Button" sentiment from DRS Designs, and I couldn't help but show you another baby card I made using these 2 stamps for today's challenge.

I used the latest Splitcoast Stampers sketch challenge (SC227) for the layout. The giraffe image is colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Gamsol. I inked the edges with pink ink and matted it as shown using the Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch to fit the scalloped border on the sketch.

The horizontal panel in the background was created using the Open Plaid Background stamp and light pink ink. No need to buy expensive designer paper when you have this stamp on hand--it's reusable & you can create the plaid in any color you want! I love how it looks on this baby card!

I stamped the "Cute as a Button!" sentiment in a darker shade of pink & cut it out using my SU! Word Window Punch. I layered a paper flower, and a yellow button behind it for some added dimension.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jenny Giraffe (G859) , Cute as a Button Sentiment (B753), Open Plaid Background (P631)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Pretty in Pink, and Pixie Pink
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch, Prima Flowers, Fancy Findings Buttons, SU! Word Window Punch
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.75"

Here are the other 2 baby cards I've made using the same 2 stamps in case you missed them.

If you need to make a baby card soon, I hope I've inspired you to order the Jenny Giraffe and the "Cute as a Button!" sentiment from DRS Designs. As you can see there is so much you can do with these 2 stamps, whether you need one for a baby girl, a baby boy, or for when the baby's gender is unknown, these 2 stamps have you covered!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

A Need For God's Promise

The DRS Designs DT was asked to use this poem as they've had a high demand for it and needed some card samples to send to stamp stores that ordered it. So, I put my thinking cap on and this is what I came up with...

I stamped the God's Promise poem in dark blue ink and then stamped the Rosary Heart on top of it in a light blue ink. I inked the edges around the image and matted it in dark blue & gold cardstock. I added gold brads and matted it on a light blue cardstock base. I wrapped the bottom of the card front with blue and gold ribbon & added a bow in the center.

When making a Sympathy card, I try to keep things simple. Adding too much, and a Sympathy card quickly loses it's meaning. Since I find that these types of cards are usually the hardest cards to make, I often run to shades of blue when I make them and I chose to do so with this one as well. I feel blue is a calming color and it is a perfect choice for a Sympathy card or whenever you are trying to portray a sincere and serene feel. Here, I also used gold as my accent color to create a feeling of elegance and understanding as is reflected in this poem. Using blue and gold ribbon helped to pull each of these aspects together.

Stamps: DRS Designs- God's Promise Sentiment (K445), Rosary Heart (M524)
Ink: SU! Brillant Blue, and Ballet Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by Bazzill and American Crafts
Accessories: Ribbon by Michael's Holiday bow-tique, Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials,
Finished Card Size: 5" x 5"

Well, just a heads up that I won't be holding my usual Card Sketch Wednesday on my blog tomorrow. DH and I will be leaving to go out of town first thing in the morning and I'll have another kind post that I'm sure you will find quite interesting--I'll be taking many pictures throughout the day, so you can expect a later than usual post.

Stay tuned...

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

For the Love of a Rose!

This is going to be another busy week for me. My Husband & I are going out of town on Wednesday so I've been working hard in my craft room to be able to share some things with you while I'm gone.

Over the weekend one of the projects I finished was this card using last week's sketch challenge on Splitcoast-SC227. I love the way it turned out! This was one of those cards that didn't take me very long to create because everything sort of fell right into place. I love when that happens!

The rose, "love," and the background stamp are all images by DRS Designs. I colored the rose with marker and inked the edges with red ink. I layered it as shown & used my Fiskars Treading water punch to fit the scallops in the sketch.

Both the "Love" Heart Silhouette and the Silhouette Branch Background were stamped in SU! Handsome Hunter ink. I used my plain & scalloped Oval Nestabilities to isolate the "love" portion of the Silhouette Heart and added it to my layout as shown. I think it goes perfect with this red rose!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Brush Rose H752, Love Silhouette Heart D213, Silhouette Branch Background H363
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Lipstick Red, SU! Handsome Hunter
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, plain & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities
Finished Card Size: 4 1/4" x 6 1/8"

I'm finding this sketch so easy to work with that I've used it in another card that you will see later this week. It made making this card fast, fun, & so enjoyable. No struggles or hardships at all with this one!

So, what did you do for Mom yesterday? We took my Mom out to Brunch yesterday and visited with my Husband's mom for dinner on Saturday night & yesterday afternoon. It made for a great weekend, cause the weather really cooperated. Last year it was cold, rainy & dreary!

Well, I'm off to pack for my trip.

until next time...

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

When you want your prayers to stand out...

...you need a bold card to write them in! I know this isn't your typical Communion or Get Well card, but I love the look of the pink and black together on this card. What do you think?

I used the new Praying Girl Silhouette image by DRS Designs, simply stamped in black Versafine ink on white cardstock, and decorated with pink & black ribbon, and the Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch.

Stamps: DRS Designs-Praying Girl Silhouette
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth White cardstock by Office Depot, Colored cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Pink Ribbon-unknown from my stash, Black Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

For this week's Fun Filled friday challenge Kimmy has challenged us to make Baby cards or cards for a Preganancy. I've been on a roll lately with the baby cards, I'll have to see if I can come up with something different!

Sorry for such a short post today. I have a long to-do list & have to limit my computer time today.

Hope you have a Fantastic Weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there!

Tweet

White Dove Sympathy

I'm so glad it's Saturday! DH & I are hanging out at home all day today except to go to dinner later with his family. As soon as I'm done with this post, I'm going to hide in my craft room & finish up some layouts that I've started. I just love lazy weekends!

Today I wanted to share with you a Sympathy card I made a while ago, but never really got a chance to post about it until now. I love the color scheme and layout, but I think the sheer white ribbon I used makes it look more like wedding card than a Sympathy card. I suppose I could make it a wedding card just by changing the sentiment. What do you think?

This was pretty easy to make, since there's not a lot of coloring to this image. I just outlined the Dove image with a gray Copic marker & used a Bic marker to color the leaves. I matted both the sentiment & the image first in light green cardstock & then again with gray cardstock and added a bit of sheer white ribbon to both pieces. Then I just assembled the card as shown on the cardstock base, adding some green brads to dress up the white cardstock a bit.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Brush Dove with Branch, Many Hearts One Sorrow Sentiment
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company & American Crafts
Accessories: Copic Marker Cool Gray C1, Bic Markers, Brads by making Memories, Chiffon White Ribbon by C & G, SU! Horizontal Slot Punch
Finished Card Size: 6.5" x 5.25"

Stay tuned for tomorrow for the next Fun Filled Friday challenge announcement & another card using one of DRS Designs new images.

Thanks for visiting today, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Birthday Window Card!

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I had a nice leisure morning with breakfast & coffee while I checked on my email & all of the daily blogs I read. Then it was go, go, go nonstop all day long--I went grocery shopping, cleaned the kitchen, researched & put together a beef stew recipe in the crock pot, worked 8 hours at my real job, watched Gray's Anatomy, and finished my Fun Filled Friday Window Card Challenge in time to be able to write up this post today! Whew! So, now you know why today's post is later then normal! LOL!

I tried really hard to stay away from the computer and keep my mind focused on everything on my to-do list. I'm amazed at what can be done when I set these little challenges for myself! I love my computer to death but it's so addicting & such a waste of time--However, I am intrigued by the plethora of info on the internet. I'm always clickin' around on something and of course the addiction is enhanced by my papercrafting and stamping hobby as I'm always looking at other peoples work. Recently my time at home has been spent more on the computer then ever as they are now limiting our internet access at work. So, in between patients, I've been trying to come up with layouts and ideas for many of the weekly sketch challenges that I often do. Soon I'm going to need a new sketch book! But, once I get a nice chunk of time in my craft room I'll be able to share them all with you soon!

So, on to today's FFF card. I challenged Kimmy this week to make a window card. Here's the Birthday card I came up with for this challenge.

Not exactly how I thought this card would look when it was finished, but I'm happy with the color scheme.

I used my Nesties Labels One Dies to cut out the window from 3 layers. That was a little tricky to get everything to line up, but it worked out well in the end.

I colored the flowers with my glitter gel pens. This card has a ton of sparkle & shine to it!

The inside is on the plain side--I wish I had a bit more time to decorate the inside a bit. I might still stamp the flower image you see on the front, once or twice on the inside & use my glitter pens to spice things up a bit. I'll post a picture if I get a chance to do it.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Daisy Flower Corner (F696), Birthday Wishes Come True Sentiment (E508)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Rose Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Starlights Glitter Gel Pens, Nestabilities Labels One Die Set, EK Success Decorative Corner Punch, Brads by Buttons Galore & More, Ribbon unknown from my stash
Finished Card Size: 4 5/8" x 5 7/8"

Some of you may have noticed that Kimmy hasn't posted her Fun Filled Friday Challenge cards in a while. She's had some computer issues and has recently hurt her back so bad that it is extremely painful for her to sit. Her Dr. took her off work for a while and she's waiting to have an MRI done. The most comfortable position for her right now is just laying down--she's trying to figure out how to stamp in that position! So, if you could just stop by her blog & send her a get well message & some prayers hopefully she be back on her feet soon. You can find Kimmy's blog here.

So, any big plans for this weekend? Doing anything special for Mom on Sunday? I'm hoping to get a lot done in my craft room over the next few days. I'm a bit behind & have some DT projects in my head that I need to get put together on paper. Hopefully Sunday won't be too hectic for us as holidays always are--DH & I have 3 Mother's to celebrate with, but one of then is out of town and we're taking the other 2 to brunch at a nearby banquet hall. I'm looking forward to a good meal!

Whatever your plans are this weekend, I hope you have a great one!

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Don't Sweat the Petty Things!

More from the jungle...

Here's the new Allie & Callie Monkey images from DRS Designs. It's one of Dustin Pike's Drawings. The sentiment is new too. Think monkeys can be sweaty??? Yuck! LOL! I created this card a few weeks ago on my stamping retreat. Lots of layering on this card, but I'm happy with the result.

I colored Allie & Callie with my Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I used my Nesties to cut them out & layer them. The sentiment was stamped and inked with brown ink. You know I can't have a card without ribbon, so I added a little in the upper left corner by punching a small hole & tying the ribbon through it. Now that I'm looking at this card, I realized I didn't use any metal embellies on it. I guess you don't always have to use them, huh?

Stamps: DRS Designs- Allie & Callie Monkey, Don't Sweat the Petty Things Sentiment
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Close to Cocoa
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by Bazzill & American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Ribbon by The Paper Studio.
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 5.5"

Hope you're enjoying all of the new images from DRS Designs. Did you order your share of their new animals? You can see them all here.

Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get my Fun Filled Friday card finished on time to post on Friday. This weeks challenge is to make a window card. I have to admit, I'm running behind & with work & Gray's Anatomy on tonight I'm pressed for time. I'm going to try hard to get it done. Wish me luck!

Have a great Thursday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

First Communion Sketch

First of all, today is May 6th also known as Nurses Day. I want to start today by saying "Thank You" and "Happy Nurses Day" to all of you Nurses out there. It truly takes a Saint to be a Nurse and to put up with all you do, yet, still be the patient, kind, and loving people that you are. I work in the Medical field and from seeing all that Nurses do first hand, I know that I could never do it! The work of a Nurse is never done, it is always appreciated and never goes unnoticed! Hope you have a Wonderful Nurses Day!

(If you know a Nurse or have a favorite one, make sure you call him or her today!)

Today is also Card Sketch Wednesday here on my blog. Here's today's sketch.

For this challenge, I created this Boy's Communion card.

The Praying Boy Silhouette image was just released this past Saturday by DRS Designs. I embossed it in black embossing powder and then cut it out using my Nesties Labels One set. I added 5 black eyelets to the right side and black ribbon tied in a knot. I matted it as shown and stamped the sentiment, also by DRS Designs, directly on the cardstock base.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Praying Boy Silhouette, Your on My Mind Sentiment
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Nesties labels One, Creative Beginnings Embossing Powder, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, Eyelets by Joann's Scrap Essentials.
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.25"

I made a pretty simple card with this sketch. Now, lets see what you can do with it! Make sure to leave me a link in the comment section if you do. I'd love to see your version!

Thanks for visiting today & for all of your wonderful comments. I love reading them!

until next time...

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

CPS 114 Cute As A Button, Take 2

A new week means a new sketch over at the CPS, Card Positioning Systems Blog. I created this cute card for this weeks sketch challenge & for my Girlfriends new baby boy. I'll be meeting him soon & I needed a card to go with my gifts. I thought this sketch was perfect for the occasion!

After making this other baby card last week, I once again used the new Dustin Pike image, Jenny Giraffe, by DRS Designs for this baby card along with their "Cute as a Button" sentiment too. Jenny was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Gamsol. I used this technique to cut her out & emboss the edges using my Nesties in one pass through my Cuttlebug. Before I took it out of the Nestie die, I sponged blue ink around the image, creating the frame look.

The rest of the card just follows the sketch, but I used the SU! Word Window Punch to accent the sentiment. I layered it on a yellow button & then set it inside a Prima flower. Then I actually sewed the yellow thread in the button holes & adhered them on both sides of the layered sentiment.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Dustin Pike's Jenny Giraffe, Cute as a Button Sentiment
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Bashful Blue & Ballet Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, Bazzill
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Prima Flowers, Fancy Findings Buttons, SU! Word Window Punch, Ribbon by Making Memories, Spiral Clip by The Paper Studio
Finished Card Size: 5" x 6.25"

Well, after having a day off yesterday, it's back to work today for me. It's my Monday! Ugh!

Stay tuned for tomorrow to see another episode of my Sketch Challenge Wednesdays.

Hope you have a great day!


Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

These are a Few of My Favorite Things!

It's time for Challenge #20 in the DRS Designs blog challenge series. This week the DT is challenged to create a project/card using their favorite technique. We hope this inspires you to pull out your stamps and get stamping! We would love for you to play along and share your favorite technique with us...you just might introduce us to something we've never tried before! If you play along, please post a direct link to your project in the comment section of the DRS Designs Challenge #20 post. If you upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword DRSC20. If you play along, you'll enter yourself into a drawing for some blog candy! Drawing will take place Sunday night, May 17, 2009. **You do not need DRS images to play, but if you have them, by all means use them!

**DRS Designs and the DRS DT Thanks everyone who played along with us in our past color challenge!!! We loved seeing your creations!****

So, you want to know my favorite technique...I'd have to say it is the Gamsol Magic technique. I love coloring with my Prismacolor Pencils and blending those colors with Gamsol. If you're a regular reader on my blog, then you already know this--I color my images this way all the time!

So, here's the card I have for this challenge today, but not only does this card display my favorite technique, but it is also full of a few of my favorite things!

The DRS Designs image on this card is "Lion Love" drawn by Dustin Pike. I (of course!) colored it with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. The layout for this card also uses the CPS 113 sketch from last week. Another one of my favorites--card sketch challenges!

I'm also a big fan of ribbon. I love ribbon & have tons of it, which is why you see it on practically every project I make! The yellow rick rack I used on this card is by Making Memories and the brown ribbon, just tied in a knot & adhered with glue dots is by Ribbon & Bows Oh My!

Metal embellishments is another aspect of paper crafting that I love and I'm a sucker for all kinds of brads and clips in all different colors and sizes when I'm in a store. I just stocked up on a ton of metal embellies last week at Hobby Lobby's 50% off Scrapbooking sale!

My Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders is another one of my favorite tools! I love the embossed look of cardstock when it's pressed in the CB! Love how it cuts cardstock with my Nestabilities too! I also love Bling! This card uses Bazzill Bling cardstock and Shimmerz as well. This photo angle really shows the shine--it's really difficult to capture!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Dustine Pike's Lion Love
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Yellow Ochre
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock is Metallic Bazzill and Bazzill Bling
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials, Yellow Rick Rack Ribbon by Making Memories, Chocolate Ribbon by Ribbons & Bows Oh My , Beeswax Shimmerz, EK Success Corner Rounder
Finished Card Size: 7" x 5"

So, what's your favorite technique? Why don't you get out your stamps & get those fingers inky and show us! I'm looking forward to seeing your projects!

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

FFF Challenge Announcement

Sorry for the delay in posting & not having a card to share with you today, but working day shift this weekend for my real job (rather than my normal afternoon shift) has just pooped me out tonight. I'm just too tired to get myself into my craft room, but I'll be in bed shortly for a good nights sleep. I'll get in there tomorrow for sure because I have a few layouts already in mind that I'd love to put together very soon!

It is Sunday, so for this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge, I have challenged Kimmy and the rest of you to make a window card. You know, cards that have a window in the front panel & you can see something that is on the inside panel through the window.

This challenge should be fun. I haven't made one of these cards in a long time. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing your window card creations too. Make sure to leave me a link in the comment section of this post if you do.

Tomorrow starts a new blog challenge on the DRS Designs blog, so stay tuned to see my project for that soon.

Hope you all had a weekend that was much more relaxing and restful than mine. I'm excited cause I'll be sleeping in tomorrow!

Have a good night!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Good Things Come to Those Who Bait!

Today's title couldn't be more appropriate...not only because it pertains to today's card, but also cause I made you wait half the day to see it! I've gotten a little behind this week and I had to work bright & early this morning, so now that I've had more coffee & have made it home, I'm catching up on blogging.

Whoo Hoo! It's release day over at DRS Designs! This card uses a few more of the images released TODAY. Make sure to run over there & take a peek at all of their new releases, especially the new Dustin Pike images as well.

This sentiment & image go together like 2 peas in a pod, don't they?!?!? I love the way this image turned out! I colored it with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. Then I cut it out with an oval Nestie and inked blue around it before I took it out of the die. Then I pained the worm with Burgundy Shimmerz and the hook with Opal Shimmerz for a little sparkle and shine!

The background was created by cutting the light blue cardstock down to size and then stamping the sentiment near the bottom in brown ink. I used my new border punch to create the waves on the edge and then ran it through the Divine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder. I adhered it to dark blue cardstock and then added the copper brads and copper ribbon bow. The card front was adhered to a brown cardstock base.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Good Things Who Bait Sentiment, Worm on Hook
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue, SU! Close to Cocoa
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company & American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Opal and Burgandy Shimmerz, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Divine Swirls Embossing Folder, Fiskars Boundary Waters Border Punch, Brads by Joann's Scrap Essentials, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs.
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 6"

Just a reminder that Sue, from the Staff at DRS Designs is looking for more "Tips and Tricks" to share from readers on the DRS Designs Blog. Please email her with your tip at submitdrs@yahoo.com for a chance to receive blog candy in the form of new unmounted stamps as an incentive!! We all have shortcuts and easy ways of doing things when stamping & card making, so why not share them & earn some new stamps!?!?!?

Hope your having a fabulous weekend!

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Fun with Coasters!

It was Kimmy's turn to give this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge theme & she picked Coasters! I was a little worried about this challenge since I've never worked with coasters before. Remember that Stamping Retreat, Shackapolooza, that I went on last weekend? Well, one of our Make N Take projects was this cute Coaster Post-It Note Holder...Can you say Shackapolooza to the rescue!?!?!?!

I lucked out with this project, so it wasn't much of a challenge at all--frankly, it's cheating! Our kit came with everything you see here. All I had to do was ink, color, and assemble!

I inked the edges of Bella with Colorbox Fluid chalk ink in French Blue. I colored her with Starlights Glitter Gel pens and then matted her on the brown cardstock provided. I assembled the scalloped circle layers together & then added a decorative flower rhinestone to match.

I covered each coaster with the 2 kinds of designer paper provided and used my Crop-a-dile to punch the holes for the binding.

What's great about this design is that when the Post-Its are all used up, it is easily refillable!

:-)


We'd love to have you participate in our Fun Filled Friday Challenges as well. Make sure to leave a link in the comment section of this post if you do. Stay tuned for next week's challenge theme to be announced on Sunday.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Cute as a Button, or a Giraffe!

Well, tomorrow is the big release day over at DRS Designs! All of the cute animal images drawn by Dustin Pike that you've been seeing throughout the week will be available for purchase.

I just couldn't resist today & I just have to show you another one!

This cutie is Jenny Giraffe!

I think the sentiment speaks for itself, but she is cute as a button, don't you think?!?

I colored her with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. Then I cut her out and layered (and layered) her with coordinating cardstock cut out with my Nesties. I pop dotted her on the first layer. I added some matching satin ribbon & some buttons to go with the sentiment from my stash. Pretty easily and quickly, now I have a baby card ready to go!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jenny Giraffe (available for purchase on 5/2/09), Cute as a Button Sentiment (B753)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Ribbon Unknown from my stash, Assorted buttons from my stash, 3D Dots

Finished Card Size: 3.75" x 4.5"

Make sure to run over to DRS Designs tomorrow & get all of the new releases before they run out! After seeing the response from the blog hop yesterday you don't want to wait on these cuties!

Thanks for visiting today! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Stay tuned to see my Fun Filled Friday Challnge Project using coasters!

Tweet

DRS Designs Blog Hop Stop #2

Welcome to the DRS Designs Blog Hop!
This is stop #2, if you missed the first post make sure to go back to here to check it out.

For this release, Dustin Pike has teamed up with DRS Designs and many of the newest images are drawn by him! Have you been enjoying all of the sneak peeks the DT has been showing you this week? Aren't these jungle animal stamps just the cutest? I'm having so much fun creating with them.

Here's one I made using Jungle Jim the Elephant and the "Walk on the Wild Side" sentiment.

I colored Jungle Jim with gray Copic Markers and then used a pink Prismacolor Pencil blended with Gamsol to shade his ears.

This card is pretty straight forward, and here's the recipe below. Of course though, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jungle Jim the Elephant, Walk on the Wild Side sentiment
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Markers C1 and C3, Martha Stewart Zig Zag Border Punch, Ribbon unknown from my stash, Brads by Making Memories
Finished Card Size: 7 3/8" x 3 7/8"

This image release is not the only exciting thing going on right now with DRS Designs--there's lots of fun stuff happening! Now that May is practically here there are 2 new Guest Designers on the team. Please welcome Deb Felts and Dawn Barrett to the DT by stopping over at their blogs for a friendly visit!

Also, don't forget that the DT Color Challenge to use Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, and Summer Sun (or the closest matches) on your project. Post a direct link to your creation in the comment section of the color challenge post for a chance at some fun blog candy. Drawing will take place Sunday evening, May 3.

Next stop on the blog hop is our new Guest Designer Dawn Barrett at stop #3! Keep your eyes open...there's a blog candy give away somewhere along the way--a nice bunch of goodies you don't want to miss, but you'll have to follow the hop to the end to find out which of the DT members has it!

Thanks for visiting today.

Hope you enjoy the Hop!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

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

Tweet

3 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed...

...one fell off and bumped his head!

Any of you familiar with that kids song?

This card reminds me of it.

Here's another sneak peek for the next release from DRS Designs. This monkey image and this sentiment will be available for purchase this Saturday May 2nd. Don't forget about the Blog Hop on Thursday as well. I'm sure you'll be seeing these cuties again!

Isn't Michelle the Monkey cute?!?!?! I colored the monkeys with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I used my Nesties to cut them out & mat them. I pop dotted them for extra dimension. The sentiment was stamped in brown ink and I added ribbon adhered with staples.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Michelle the Monkey, Walk on the Wild Side Sentiment (both available for purchase on 5/2/09)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Creamy Brown, SU! Blush Blossom
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Ribbon by the paper Studio, Stapler/Staples, EK Success Decorative Corner Punch
Finished Card Size: 7 5/8" x 4 3/4"

Well, now that my long awaited stamping vacation is over, it's back to a hectic work week for me. I'm looking forward to my day off on Thursday to catch up on some sleep. It's so true...I need a vacation from my vacation! :-)

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

It's a Jungle Out There!

Just playing a little catch up since I've been gone, here's my second post for today!

The DRS DT has been hinting over the last few days about the new stamps that DRS Designs will have available for purchase on May 2nd, and finally, we can share our sneak peeks with you!

The jungle animal images you will see are drawn by Dustin Pike. He has teamed up with DRS Designs & will have 6 new rubber images available. He also has many Digi images for sale. Here's a card I made using his "Jimbo and the Gang" image.

I colored the Lion, the Giraffe, and the Monkey with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I colored the Elephant with Copics and used a pink Prismacolor Pencils to shade his ears. I inked the edges of the image with yellow ink and stamped the sentiment below it. This is a pretty simple card--I didn't want to embellish it too much because I didn't want to take away from the cuteness of the animals.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jungle Out There Sentiment, Jimbo and the Gang
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Yellow Orchre
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Bic Markers, Copic Markers C1 and C3, Brad unknown from my stash, Ribbon by Michael's Dashes Dots and Checks
Finished Card Size: 5" x 5"

Aren't these animals absolutely adorable!?!?! Good news...each of these animals are available separately as well. Stay tuned over the next week to see what I did with them individually and make sure to see all the other sneak peeks from the rest of the DT members. You can find their blog links on my side bar.

DRS Designs has a lot going on this week, not only the sneak peeks, but also a few blog candy opportunities as well. There's still time to enter the color challenge on the DRS Designs blog. Use the colors Pink Passion, Summer Sun, and Chocolate Chip on a project & post a link here to enter yourself in the challenge.

This Thursday, April 30th, DRS Designs will hold another Blog Hop with a blog candy opportunity somewhere along the hop. Make sure to hop along with us to find it and win!

Until then, make sure to check back here to see more sneak peeks!

Hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

Circular Embossing and a New Challenge!

Sorry my Fun Filled Friday challenge card is late...I was so bummed that forgot to take my USB cord for my camera with me on my stamping trip and could not upload this on time on Friday, but as they say...better late then never, right!?!?!?

I challenged Kimmy to a unique technique (hey, that rhymes!) for this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge! We used the Circular Embossing Technique with the Cuttlebug. Not sure what I mean? Check out this card by Becca.

Here's my Circular Embossed Challenge card:

I created the embossed circle by following Becca's tutorial on her blog and then chalked the embossed areas. I colored the Hibiscus image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and then cut it out. I added ribbon across the embossed piece, and then adhered the image in the center. I put dark pink eyelets in all four corners of the mat as well and tied a knot to the lower right corner and adhered the embossed piece to the center of it. I cute a 6" x 6" cardstock base to finish the card.

I really like this technique, but I think overall, it makes for too big of a card. If I try it again some day I may try to make it a bit smaller if possible. But, I really like the uniqueness of the embossing.

Make sure to check out Kimmy's challenge card to see her version.

Stamps: Rubbernecker
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Cardstock by Office Depot, The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Fancy Corners Embossing Folder, Eyelets from Joann's Scrap Essentials, Ribbon unknown from my stash, Chalk by Inkadinkado
Finished Card Size: 6" x 6"

For this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge, Kimmy has challenged us to use coasters. This should be very interesting for me--I have yet to use coasters or chipboard on any of my projects. I guess it's just one aspect of the papercrafting field I just haven't gotten into--until now! Make sure to check back this Friday, May 1st, when I post my finished project for you all to see. Feel free to participate in this challenge as well. Just make sure to leave me a link so I can check it out if you do!

Stay tuned for sneak peeks of the latest stamp release from DRS Designs going on here all week. I'll be sharing one with you later today. These new images are just too cute! You'll love 'em!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet

All Good Things Must come to an End

Well, our stamping retreat has ended and I am now back home. Did you miss me? Our stamping girls weekend was at the Potawatomi Inn in Angola, Indiana, and we had a blast! Twenty two of us have been stamping, chatting, eating & inspiring each other together since Thursday. I have to admit, I am glad to be back home, but I am so bummed it's over--already! Time flies when you're having fun & this weekend surely flew by!

Here are a few pics outside the Inn where we stayed.

Here we are, all of us, in front of the fireplace in the Inn lobby!

These pictures show our crop space in the conference room.

At one point a man peeked in wondering what we were doing asked if we were having a Rummage Sale! LOL!

And here's Kimmy and I hiding behind our luggage! By looking at this picture, you'd think we brought our entire craft rooms with us!

So, now that I'm home I'm trying to catch up on my daily blog reading, and I found out that if you are like most paper crafters/stampers who like Copics, Nesties, Martha Stewart border punches, Stamps, Paper, Flowers, Buttons and ribbons, then you don't want to miss the blog candy being given away here.


Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Stay tuned to see my late Fun Filled Friday Project!

Tweet

Stamping in La La Land!

Kimmy and I and 20 other stampers from the Stamp Shack are having a blast at our yearly stamping Retreat weekend! Unfortunately, I forgot the USB cord to my computer and am unable to upload any pics, so my Fun Filled Friday card has been postponed until I get home on Sunday. To be honest I haven't even been on the computer much at all--so unlike me!

We are living the life here, stamping & papercrafting all day & night long! It's amazing how quickly time flies by! I love seening what other people's projects in progress and I'm learning all kinds of new things from them. I have a ton of new ideas, I just hope I remember all of them when I get back home! I've tried to take pictures of the things that are inspiring me. So far I have ideas for Christmas cards! (I know it's still way to early to even be thinking about that!) I've also learned how to tie pretty knots (Thanks Traci!) and I have been playing with lots of glitter! Stay tuned to see all of my new projects soon!

I'll be sure to post an update Sunday evening when I return home.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

Tweet