Sketch Challenge by DRS Designs!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Party Girl 2 ways Sneak Peek!

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

Hope you have a wonderful Friday & an awesome weekend!

Smiles,

Jennifer

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Wiggle Worm!

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

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

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

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


Smiles,
Jennifer

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Thank You!

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

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

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

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

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

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

I hope you have a good week!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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What a Beautiful Wedding!

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

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

Enjoy!

DH and I

My SIL and I with other family members

SIL, Cousin, DH and I

Be back soon....

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Diorama Card Challenge

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Three Hoots For A Good Book!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiles,
Jennifer

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So Many Candles Sneak Peek!

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

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Big Glittery Bloom!

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

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

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

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

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I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Thanks for visiting today.

Smiles,
Jennifer

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DRS Designs Sponsors CPS #127

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiles,
Jennifer

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

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S&D Fish in the Sea Challenge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Meet Dusty!

TGIF! Happy Friday everyone! Boy, what a long week it has been for me--I'm glad to be able to sleep in tomorrow. *See ear to ear smile on my face*! I hope to get lots of stamping done over the weekend too. We'll be leaving for our Summer vacation in about a week and I want to be able to show you some things while I'm gone. I'll be busy planning some blog posts ahead of time just for that.

Unfortunately, we won't be going to the ocean for our Vacation, so there's no chance of doing any snorkeling and seeing seahorses like Dusty here, or any starfish for that matter either!

Dusty is the new Sea Horse image recently released by DRS Designs.

I colored him with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol and then slathered him with Stickles! Once it was dry I cut him out using my Nesties die and then sponged around him with peach ink before taking the image out of the die. I stamped the starfish from the 4 in 1 beach background stamp in the background. This card was simply embellished with a little white satin ribbon, a border punch a decorative corner punch, and a spiral clip.

You can see just how much of the Stickles goo I put on him by the by the way he glitters and really captures the light in this photo.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Dusty the Seahorse (E1050), 4 in 1 Beach Background (D1099)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, 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 Offray, EK Success Decorative Corner Punch, Icicle Stickles, Spiral Clip by The Paper Studio, Fiskars treading Water Border Punch
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 4.5"

Do your Summer plans include any time at the beach this year?

Thanks for stopping by today & for all of your wonderful comments. I enjoy reading each one!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Stay tuned for another Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog Challenge to be posted tomorrow. Wanna win free Nestability sets?

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Super Hero Beach Boy!

Doesn't this Cutie look like he's ready to tackle the waves at the beach?

He's one of the newest Cutie Pie Kids released by DRS Designs, just in time for Summer fun! I colored him with Prisma color Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I also used the sun from the new 4 in 1 Beach Background stamp in the background & the new "Fun in the Sun" sentiment to decorate my card front.

For a fun effect, I added Diamond Glaze to the puddle at his feet, on his goggles and to all of the water droplets around him.

This Cutie Pie Kid would make a great Pool Party invitation or he'd also be perfect for a Summer Birthday Party invite, don't you agree?

Stamps: DRS Designs- Beach Boy (F1096), Fun in the Sun Sentiment (D1072), 4 in 1 Beach Bacground (D1099)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink, SU!
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Copic Marker C1, SU! Photo Corner Punch, Spiral Clip By The Paper Studio, Ribbon By Peebles Inc, Diamond Glaze
Finished Card Size: 3.75" x 5.5"

Hope you having a wonderful Summer!

Thanks for visiting today.

Smiles,
Jennifer

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S&D Sketch Challenge Round Two!

This past Saturday started the 3rd blog challenge for the Sunflowers and Dragonflies DT. This weeks challenge was to use the following sketch for our challenge project. I created 2 cards for this weeks challenge--you can see the first one HERE.

Here's my second card using the same Baby Moose image, but this one is made for a baby boy!

I colored this image with Prismacolored Pencils as well. I also sponged it with light blue ink around the image while it was still in the Nesties die. The sentiment was computer generated and printed with blue ink to match.

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs-Baby Moose
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Bashful Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Textured Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Ribbon By Making Memories, Button by Sticko Button Ups, EK Success decorative corner punch, SU! Horizontal Slot punch
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.75"

Those who participate in this challenge will be given the chance to win a Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 2 set. Make sure to post your sketch challenge project on THIS post to be entered.

Won't you give it a try?

Good Luck!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Landscaping Helps Makes a House a Home!

Whoo Hoo! Our yard is finally a little greener! Our landscaping and sod are now complete!! I'm loving all the green and the beautiful blooms our yard now has, and let me tell you it's been a long time coming! We've lived in our house for over a year & half and up till now we've just been staring at dirt, and alot of it!

I know the pics above make it difficult to see some of the individual flowers we have so I've taken a few close ups of them.

Knock-Out Roses

Day Lillies

Service Berry Tree, surrounded by Knock-out Roses, Black Eyed Susans, Purple Palace, Day Lillies and a rock! (Pic taken before the mulch was laid.)

Japanese Maple surrounded by decorative grasses, Day Lillies, and Salvia.

We also have Purple Iris plants. Unfortunately I took this pic before the top soil and mulch was laid around them. I planted some cute little pink daisy annuals in the top soil around the irises--I thought about retaking the picture, but now they're not blooming anymore.

I'm really excited to see how all of these plants will grow and expand in the spaces around them over the next few years. Things look a bit bare right now, as everything that was planted are just babies. Isn't it amazing what a little Miracle-Grow will do in just a short time?

Well, this is just one major project that we've finally completed as we prepare my house for my Sister-in-laws wedding. She'll be getting ready at our house for her big day! 11 days to go & counting!


Smiles,
Jennifer

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DRS Designs Faux Stitching Challenge

Happy Monday Everyone! Today begins challenge #26 in the DRS Designs DT challenge series! Today's challenge is faux stitching! Very easy, very cool and adds a perfect finishing touch to most projects. We would love for you to play along with us...post a direct link to your creation in the comment section on the DRS Designs Blog Challenge #26 post. If you upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword DSC26.

For my challenge card I whipped up this quick and easy Get Well/Sympathy card.

I stamped off the new Silhouette Background Trees image twice and paired it with the "You're on My Mind" sentiment. I used the SU! paper piercing template to pierce the cardstock around the edges and then used a black gel pen to connect the dots. I simply embellished the card front with some black grosgrain ribbon and a spiral clip. The criss crosses you see in the upper right corner were faux stitched as well.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Silhouette Background Trees (F1030), "You're on My Mind" sentiment (F676)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: SU! Paper Piercing Template, Making Memories Paper Piercer, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, Spiral Clip by The Paper Studio, Black Gelly Roll Pen
Finished Card Size: 4.75" x 6"

One thing I learned while making this card is that for me, faux stitching is almost just a difficult to do as real stitching. Regardless of which method I use, I have the hardest time trying to keep my lines straight! Next time I use this technique I'm going to start by drawing a line with pencil and a ruler, pierce my cardstock along that drawn line and then connect the lines with a gel pen using a ruler for that as well. So, now looking back, I guess this challenge was really a challenge for me and I've bettered myself since I've learned from it. Crooked lines help give my card some character, right?


Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Sea Shells By The Sea Shore

Along with the other new "Fun in the Sun" releases from DRS Designs was this Conch Shell image. It's a great complement to all of the beach theme stamps, but for today's card I decided to pair it with this "Take Time to Laugh" sentiment. I love the soft, serene feel this card has.

I'm really happy with how this clean and simple card turned out. I don't do "clean and simple" very often because I have a hard time accepting all of the empty space and my perfectionist eye really wanted to add more to this one--a few brads here, a metal clip there, and I think it needs a touch more ribbon too! BUT, I was trying to take a new turn with this one, so clean and simple it is! LOL!

Here's a close up of the conch shell that I colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol. I love that peachy, coral color!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Conch Shell (F1107), Take Time To Laugh Sentiment (E026)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Creamy Caramel
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Textured cardstock by American Crafts and Bazzill
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Ribbon unknown
Finished Card Size: 4.5" x 5.5"

This card is the theme to how I'm going to handle this week--Cool, calm, and collected! I plan on relaxing a bit as it's the calm before the storm per say. My sister-in-law is getting married on August 8th, so with all of the wedding festivities that will be going on next week, it will be a little hectic around here. I'm her Matron of Honor and she'll be getting ready for the big day at our house. I know it will be a lot of fun, and it's probably going to feel like Hollywood with the Photographer and Videographer at my house, but until then we have a lot on our Honey-do lists to get ready. Earlier this week we finally got our sod put in--yeah, no more DIRT! I'll have pics to show you of all our new landscaping too. So, that's definitely one less thing to worry about for next week--check!

Have a great day!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Sunflowers and Dragonflies Sketch Challenge

Welcome to the 3rd blog challenge from the Sunflowers & Dragonflies DT! This week’s challenge is a Sketch Challenge & you can see it below. Anyone can play along in the challenge and we hope you will! There are no limits on time or supplies. Of course we’d prefer that you use images by Sunflowers and Dragonflies, but feel free to use other images. Your participation will enter you in a drawing to win a Nestability Labels 2 set for free! Please post a direct link to your challenge project from either your blog or an online gallery to the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Blog, so we can view it. If you upload to an online gallery, please use the keyword S&D3.

I turned the sketch sideways for my challenge project. Isn't this baby moose image from Sunflowers and Dragonflies adorable? I just love those little wobbly legs and that safety pinned diaper!

I colored this Cutie with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I sponged pink ink around it while it was still in the Nestie die, layered it as shown, and assembled it according to the sketch. The background layer was texturized with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and I added pink satin ribbon layered with a Prima Flower and a yellow button to dress it up.

Stamps: Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs-- Baby Moose
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Pretty In Pink
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Ribbon By Target Club Wedd, Button By Sticko Button Ups, Flower by Prima.
Finished Card Size: 5.25" x 4.75"

I've also created a little boy's baby card for this sketch as well, but I we haven't had nice picture taking weather recently. I'll post it in the next few days for you all to see.

This week Beth also has the Sunflowers and Dragonflies Baby Moose, Polar Bear and Owl images available for 20% off. See the challenge post for ordering instructions.

Don't forget to to play along, you have until next Friday Aug. 31st to play with this sketch for your chance to win a Nestabilities set! Up for grabs this week are the Spellbinders Nestabilities labels 2 set!!


Hope you're all having a wonderful Saturday!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Picnic Anyone?

One of my favorite Summer past times is going to the near by park and having a picnic lunch. Seeing this new picnic basket image sure reminded me of those days. Unfortunately now with a grown up schedule and adult responsibilities I don't have time for them. Ahh, the good ol' days!

But what picnic is complete without a red plaid tablecloth and a few ants? These ideas inspired me to use DRS Designs Open Plaid background stamp to create my own red plaid look and the new Ant Betty stamp on this card.

I colored this image with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol, and outlined it with a gray Copic marker. I embellished it with a black spiral clip & some red plaid ribbon fit just perfectly!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Picnic Basket (K1104), Ant Betty (B1035), Open Plaid Background (P631)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink, SU! Real Red
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Brads By Making Memories, Ribbon By The Paper Studio's Ribbon Trends, Spiral Clip by Creative Impressions, EK Success Corner Punch, Copic marker C1,
Finished Card Size: 5 7/8" x 5.5"

If you're anything like I am then you better make your picnic plans quick...Fall is right around the corner with it's cool weather and falling leaves. Did I mention back to school and football too?

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

Smiles,
Jennifer

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I'm Hooked on You!

One of the new sentiments recently released by DRS Designs is this "I'm Hooked on You!" sentiment. Perhaps a little pun on the word, "hooked," but I immediately thought about this fish image to go with it. Does your Hubby like to fish? This would make a fun anniversary card for him!

This card was pretty simple to make: image colored with pencils, layered, embellished, adhered to embellished card front, then adhered to dark blue cardstock base! Viola!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Jumping Fish (L325), I'm Hooked on You Sentiment (D1103)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink French Blue
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Brads By Joann's Scrap Essentials, Ribbon By Michael's Special Value, Metal Ribbon Slide-unknown
Finished Card Size: 5.5" x 5.5"

Looking for some Freebies???

There are 3 ways to win some new & fun free stuff right now...

1. Free rubber from DRS Designs for submitting your stamping & paper crafting Tips and Tricks to Sue at submitdrs@yahoo.com. If she picks your idea you win!

2. Vicki still has some free DRS Designs Cutie Pie Kid Stamps up for grabs in her blog candy package. Click on her name to read all about her give-away & how you can participate. Blog candy ends Sunday July 26th 8pm (CST).

3. Beth from Sunflowers and Dragonflies Creative Designs is giving away a Nestability set for your participation in her blog challenge. Click on the store name to see this week's "For the Birds" challenge and what you need to do to participate.

Good Luck in trying to win all of the freebies out there right now!

Thanks for visiting today!
Smiles,
Jennifer

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Bee-Cause You're Special!

I'm still showing off stamps from DRS Designs latest release. I don't know about you, but I just can't get enough of them.

Today's card is showing off the Bitsy Bee you see in the background. He really is itsy bitsy, measuring in at .75" x .75"--perfect for backgrounds & making your own pattern paper!

I used the large Bee as my main focal image. It was colored with markers and layered (and layered, LOL!) with cardstock cut with my Nesties.

This card is also accented with black grosgrain ribbon--the ribbon tags were adhered to the background panel with staples that I colored with a black Sharpee marker. The "Bee-cause You're Special!" sentiment was stamped in the lower right corner with black ink.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Bitsy Bee (A1020), Bee-Cause You're Special Sentiment (F544), Bee (c561)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Bic Markers, Nesties, Ribbon By Bobbie M. Designs, Copic marker C1, Regular Office Staples, Sharpee Black Marker
Finished Card Size: 4 1/8" x 6 1/8"

The latest release from DRS Designs is not my only inspiration for this card. At my house lately we seem to have a Bee problem. While I was out watering our new landscaping beds the other day I noticed about 50 bees flying around one of our berry trees. Every now and then I'd see one fly up toward the bricks of our garage. It seems they are building a nest or have a home in the spaces between the bricks on our garage! Grrr! From talking with the neighbor lady she said 3 years ago she had a bee problem & she had to have her house sprayed--they were coming through the gas fireplace vent on the back side of her house & then coming in the house through the fireplace. They would be sitting in their family room watching TV and then all of a sudden a bee would be flying around them. Yikes! I won't be letting my bee problem get as bad as that, but I just wish they would just Bee-gone! LOL!

Thanks for visiting today. I hope you have a Bee-utiful day! (Sorry, I just couldn't resist! LOL!)

Smiles,
Jennifer

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You Are My Sunshine!

All last week the DRS Designs DT previewed all of the new releases that just became available this past Saturday.. Did you place your order? You can find all of DRS Designs New Releases HERE.

Today I'm showing off this bright & cheery card I made using the new Bloomin' Huge stamp. As soon as I saw it, I thought it looked like a sunflower to me. Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and so, I decided to color this one in yellows and browns and paired it perfectly with the new "You are My Sunshine" sentiment.

The flower bloom was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and I blended the colors with Gamsol. It was matted on brown cardstock and then I added yellow Stickles to each petal. When it was dry I added some brown grosgrain ribbon to it. I stamped the same image repeatedly on the cardstock base with brown ink to decorate the background.

The sentiment was stamped below the image in brown ink as well.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Bloomin' Huge (M1023), You Are My sunshine Sentiment (D1089)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Close To Cocoa
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Chocolate Ribbon By Ribbon and Bows Oh My, Yellow Stickles
Finished Card Size: 6" x 5.5"

So, which of the new releases is your favorite? I think this one is my favorite & you can bet you'll see more cards made with this one soon!

Thanks for visiting today!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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