Lobster Trap

When I first saw this By the Tide set in the Spring Catalogue I knew I wanted it so I had the lobster for scrapbooking our trips to the Maritimes.  It's taken me this long to get it though.....and I'm loving it.  What a great set for masculine cards and memories.

The colours I've used are Night of Navy, Pool Party and Cherry Cobbler.

I oh-so-carefully used one of the Oval Framelits to cut out part of the lobster so that his antennae stuck out....really, I just didn't want that big an oval on the page. I had seen demonstrators partially cut before - but hadn't tried it myself.  It is a bit nerve racking!

The Soda Pop top has been squished through the Big Shot before I  adhered the anchor image and the anchor image was stamped onto the Natural Cotton Ribbon in both Pool Party and Cherry Cobbler.

The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches this week.

I hope your mid week was great and your raring to get to the weekend. 

Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Joan

By The Tide Clear-Mount Stamp Set	129120
Price: $24.95
By The Tide Wood-Mount Stamp Set 129117 Price: $33.95

Soda Pop Tops	129388
Price: $4.95

Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon	127844
Price: $9.95

Ovals Collection Framelits Dies	129381
Price: $32.95

Happy Birthday Phone Call...

It's a sketch week at Sunday Stamps and Melissa has a great one for us; very versatile!

I chose to use another of the fabulous images from the "Feeling Sentimental"  set - which will be available during Sale-a-Bration.  I  love these images.  The base of the card has been embossed and I used the Natural Trim with a Brushed Bronze button to top everything off.  The colours I've used are Riding Hood Red, More Mustard and Crumb Cake.

I hope you'll give the sketch a try - pop over to the Sunday Stamps Challenge blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has come up with for inspiration......

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you join us.

1. Please provide a Link back to us in your Post.

2. Please link directly to your blog post for the challenge.

3. Feel free to use any Brand of product.

4. Deadline is Friday January 11th @12pm EST.

5. Have FUN!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Wish Big Bow Ties

It's been a very busy day - cleaning, finally getting rid of the big fish tank and a bit of crafting.  Two challenges in one card - 

I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week - tweaked a bit and I've used the colours from the Colour Throwdown.... Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Kiwi Kiss.  

I like these bow ties from "Dapper Dad" - new in the Spring Catalogue.  They make me think of my husband who is working towards a different tie for every day of school.  I've also used the new Natural Trim Ribbon again - I just love it's texture.

I created this page a couple of months ago, in my altered book - I had started out with stamping the flourish from "Elements of Style"  It didn't end up stamping very well on the book pages because they were a bit bumpy from being glued together - so I sorta embellished the stamped images with more doodles.  For the colour I added some drops of re-inker to the page and then spritzed in with water.

I'm planning on making some little hand bound notebooks with our Stampin'Up! paper so that the ink acts "properly".  I never know what result I'll get  on published book pages.....but I have fun anyway.

Hope you're day was eventful - thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Sunday Stamps Lion

We may have a whole whack of snow on the ground here in Northern Alberta - but it's wonderful autumn colours for our Colour Challenge from Holly today at Sunday Stamps.

Although the colours do make me think of fall I've chosen to take on a more masculine theme with the colours.  I love this lion and felt the colours worked pretty well for him.  I just added a bit of green for the grass.  The glimmer paper seemed to go well to - although it changes the masculine feel.  (I have so many bits and pieces of glimmer paper in my craft room from Christmas projects - it's ridiculous.)

I hope you give these colours a try - my American friends can use them perfectly for Thanksgiving projects.  When you've finished your creation, be sure to connect a link to the Sunday Stamps Blog so we can enjoy it too.  We have some new Design Team Members this week also to help inspire you.  Welcome to Raquelle, Melissa and Steph.

Hope everything is going well your way.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.

Joan

Sooted Ghost Ship

I can't believe it's the middle of the week already and it's going to be a busy day - so here we go

I'm preparing for next month's technique class with the above card.  I have done the sooting technique at team meetings but have never tried it at home.  It took a couple of tries before I was able to create the effect I wanted.  It was sort of magical though and I'm looking forward to doing it October 5 with my stampers.

HERE is the tutorial on Splitcoast to show you how to do this technique.

Hope you have a fantastic day.

Thanks for dropping by.

Joan

Congratulations Keys

It's that time of year when lots of congratulations are in order - retirements, new postings - whatever.  I've used the Freshly Made Sketch for this creation combining an embossed piece with some DSP from Fan Fair.  I do love old keys - wish I could remember where I put the small stash of left over trinket keys that I had.  Probably in a safe place.....???

Tuesday night we had a retirement gathering for our principal.  At the last minute the organizer called me to ask if I had something that could be used as a guest book....I found the book below that I had made a year or so ago.  The "Define your Life" did not really go - so I quickly revamped things as you can see in the second photo.  Thank goodness for sticky strip - that little label is NOT coming off!

Grant and family got home safely today.  They did have to stay in the mountains an extra night due to the flooding - but everyone is home safe and sound now.  Yay!

Only one more wake up with kids....

Hope your day is full of things to look forward to!

Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Masculine Balloon MashUp!

I'm really enjoying this "Up Up & Away" set - I only recently got it, and I'm having fun with these balloons.  Today would be a wonderful day to go soaring too; it's absolutely beautiful outside.

Yesterday's Friday Mashup! was:

1. Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
2. Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

The card I created has my husband in mind.....the reason for the addition of the music on the lower layer.  Father's day is coming up and his birthday is at the beginning of July - so I'm all set for either occasion.

I've got a lot to do over the next week to get ready for my Open House next Saturday - and I'd like to putter around in the garden a bit too.  So....of I go...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.  I enjoy reading the comments that people leave.  Ta ta for now.

Joan

Masculine Mojo

I created two cards for the Monday Mojo sketch this week.  Monday I was still in Calgary so I created a card on MDS that I'll use for a Thank You (that card is shown below).  Tuesday after school, I created a masculine version of the sketch to go along with the challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

As you can see, I have already used something from this weeks available MDS downloads.....I'm going to enjoy the Soft Blooms!!!

I was happy to come home to an apple tree full of blossoms!!!!!  I just love the apples from our tree - no idea what kind they are - just good to eat!  It's been raining all day, and that's been nice too.  Can't go out to play in the garden, so I can stay inside playing with paper this afternoon.

Hope your day has been good - thanks for dropping by!

Joan

Shipload of Thanks

Happy Tuesday everyone - Here's my Friday Mashup! Creation....  The mashup for the past week was...

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using the "Ghosting (aka VersaMark Resist) Technique".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "Sketch & the Ghosting Technique".

I hadn't done the Ghosting Technique for a while.  I did it two different ways though - the ships have clear embossing powder over top of the versa mark because I sometimes find the white doesn't stay white.  The Earth does not have any embossing powder added.  Both turned out okay.

I kept the sketch pretty true to form - I adjusted it for a more masculine theme by omitting a "ribbon" at the top of the tag and added the globe for the extra embellishment.  Those little holes at the top are not part of the original sketch and they were SUPPOSE to be brads.  I decided they were too close together so I left them as "Paper Piercing".

I'm off to take a nap - a bit late for one, but I'm weary.  I came home exhausted after an awesome weekend of music - and I caught a cold while I was at it.  So resting is the plan.

Hope you are well in your part of the world - thanks for stopping by for a visit.
Joan

Fresh Adventure

A very quick post for a very quick card - I've been on the run all day and creating a card for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge was the last thing before I head to bed.  This was an easy sketch to work with and I haven't used this set enough - Helen Keller was one of my first heroines as a young girl.

I've weeded out all the retiring sets from my cupboard, so I'm trying to focus on the ones that I haven't used much that are staying around for a while longer.  Like I've said before, I need to become a more savvy stamp purchaser.  I'm taking a "savvy" class at convention - so that will probably help me.

WoooHooo!  I can't wait for convention.  I haven't been for two years.  But right now, it's off to bed.  I'm flying to Vancouver tomorrow afternoon to attend a National Orff Conference.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'm bringing along my laptop - so I'm hoping that MAYBE I can do some of the upcoming challenges using My Digital Studio.  We'll see how that pans out.

Ta ta for now - hope you have some awesome - and daring - adventures on your horizon!  Thanks for stopping here for a bit.
Joan

Mash(ed) up Directions

 WooHoo - it's Friday again- and Mashup time.  I can't believe how fast this week has gone.  I've been holed up with My Digital Studio finishing off my Anniversary Alphabet book for my husband (25th next month) and I finally got it sent off for printing last night.    So now I can stay focused -   Today's Mashup is:

1. Make a card using the "Sketch above that is Square".
2. Or Make a Project that has a "Masculine" theme.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Square Project with the Sketch above that is Masculine".

I love this sketch - so many things could be placed where the stars are.  I'm just not sure if I really want to trust this bear with all his arrows?  He has such a mischievous look on his face, holding all those arrows. There are just so many options for young people out there today - it's hard to make a decision!  You need a lot of confidence.

Be sure to find your way over to the Friday Mashup! to check out all the wonderful creations from the design team.  When posting your creations be sure to tag it with FM25 on public galleries.


So - hope you have a path to follow today - it's Friday, so my walking path to work veers off towards a 7-11 where I can get a more special coffee than I get at home.  Gotta love Fridays!  Hope yours is fantastic.

Lazing the day away...

I must say I have been fairly lazy today - it's all I can do to keep my eyes open.  Ridiculous!!!  I did, however, have a great time at Regionals yesterday.  Lots of see and learn!

After my nap....a waste of time, but necessary....I went to my stamp room to create this card for The Paper Players challenge to include a plant or animal on your project.  I was centering on the lion, but I guess I have a bit of flora happening too.

The two semi-circles are glossy paper which I rubbed with So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, and Marina Mist with the edges accented with Not Quite Navy.

I hope you have had time to relax a bit this weekend to prepare for the upcoming week.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Dragonflies for Dad

I've got three challenges happening with this card today. I finally got one created after being in my backyard for 4 hours cleaning out my flower beds. I'm going to have to rethink my whole gardening life because I can't do it on my knees anymore - I think I'm going to have to do more containers and put less into the ground.

Didn't see any dragonflies today - a bit too early still I think (here anyway). I did come across a couple of earthworms though and an interesting looking ladybug. She had more spots than I'm used to seeing. ANYWAY - when I saw the wall decorations in the thumbnail below, I knew what I wanted to do for a card today. The wall art is from Dali Decals which is the source for the Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast. The sketch is this past week's Splitcoast Sketch challenge, and the masculine theme (or Father's Day) is the challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.

So, it was a productive day today, and I'm hoping to get to a greenhouse tomorrow to add some extra colour to the yard. Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Askew Trees for Dad

I know I've mentioned, from time to time, my aversion to plain paper. I usually feel the need to spritz it, distress it - something. I do occasionally leave it blank - but I am absolutely loving this square lattice embossing folder for adding texture without "messing up" the whole look of the card. Just as I did the other day - I attached the coloured stripes to a black background and then put it through the Big Shot.

This card falls under two challenges this week - the Color Throwdown - Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron. Also, Stampin' Royalty is looking to celebrate Dad this week.

My concert is over - I feel it went very well and got quite a lot of positive feedback from parents. I awoke this morning with the realization of another way the kids at my school ROCK! Once the concert was done, they started dismantling everything (grades 5 & 6) to take back to the music room without even a word from me. It wasn't until this morning that I realized that the music room had been put back exactly as it should be - everything in it's place. Yes, I am anal about things, and yeah I know the kids know it (although that's not the term they'd use, I'm sure) It's just comforting to know that there are youth who take the initiative to do what needs to be done and to do it well. I appreciate that so much.

Anyway - I'm a happy camper - and a campfire with camp songs is the next thing on my agenda before the end of the year. Hope you have something worth appreciating in your day today. Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Exploring with a Color Dare

As soon as I saw these colours from Riley for the Color Dare this week, I saw "masculine" card, and water - so I pulled out "The Open Sea" and merged it with the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. The colours for this week are:

Not Quite Navy
Baja Breeze
Cajun Craze

I think these colours would be perfect for a Fall sort of card too - but since we haven't even reached summer - it works perfect for the ocean. Make sure that you stop by the other members of the Design Team to see their interpretation.

Adriana
Joan - Me
Kathryn
Kim P
Kim R
Laurie
Lesley
Lori
Riley

I hope you take part in our Dare this week - and make sure you link your creation back to the Color Dare blog where you could be selected as a Featured Stamper. If you post to a public gallery, remember to tag your project with CD104.

Thanks for stopping by today - Hope your Wednesday is Fantastic.

For Dad

This week's challenge over at SUOnly Challenges is to create a card to celebrate Father's Day. I dug out the Plane & Simple set from the previous mini instead of using some of the masculine images from the current mini. So we're aiming for the sky instead of sailing on the sea.

The sketch is from this past weeks' Splitcoast Sketch challenge.

Hope your day has been flying in the right direction - Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Mojo Sailing

Happy Monday - Didn't have to go to school today so I was able to play in my stamp room this morning and worked on the Mojo Monday Challenge. (The sketch is shown below) I thought that this would be a masculine card - but it may be a bit too "swirly" for that.

I'd like to get some silly little jobs done today and hopefully get back to stamping later. I had a wonderful day yesterday with family at Easter Dinner. I hope your Easter was special too.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Stamp Set - Sail Away (Summer Mini)
Paper - Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink - Soft Suede, Baja Breeze
Other - Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits Die, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Neutral Jumbo Brads, Scallop Trim Border, sponge dauber, Mini glue dots, dimensionals

Color Dare Wednesday

Things have been pretty busy around here what with a Young Author's Conference that I organize volunteers for and Parent Teacher interviews....sometimes life just gets in the way of stamping - it's so wrong.

HOWEVER - I do have my Color Dare card for you today - and it's a cool combo once again!

Basic Grey
Marina Mist
Cherry Cobbler

I had scraps of this combo sitting on my desk for a couple of days and they just kept looking like a masculine birthday card - and I kept seeing "elephant". So....I've created what could very well be a masculine card - if I took the bow off. The sketch is from this week's Mojo Monday - and I know two women who love elephants....so it's all good. (However, they are older than 12 - so I used re-positionable adhesive for the number section).

I look forward to seeing what creations you come up with using this color combination - remember to link a your creation to The Color Dare Challenge Blog; and if you post to a public gallery please use CD99 as your tag.

Now here are the links to see what the other members of the Design Team have come up with this week...

Glenda Wyatt
Heather Prince
Joan Jeffery - Me
Marisa Ritzen
Melissa Hubert
Nance Leedy
Riley Fitzgerald

Thanks for stopping by - Have a wonderful, creative day - Joan

Oh the weather outside.....

Believe me....you would not want to be in one of these planes today - lots of snow has fallen the last two days, and the temperatures are falling.....

but....it is a great stamp set for masculine cards. This is one of the sets, Plane and Simple, which is featured in the new Occasions Mini.

I used some of the map paper from the "Newsprint" DSP. For the strip across the middle I used the Faux Linen technique - which is shown closer up in the second photo. I've also raised the center plane using dimensionals.

The sketch for this card comes from the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog.

I know that a lot of my facebook friends from around North America are covered with snow this weekend,
so I hope that where ever you are, you are keeping warm crafting, or snuggling up with a good book and a mug of something hot. I'm hoping to accomplish both of those things today!

Thanks for stopping by!
Joan




Stamp Set - Plane and Simple
Paper - Basic Gray, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Newsprint DSP, Glossy White
Ink - Basic Black, Basic Gray
Other - Word Window Punch, sandpaper, sponge daubers, Circle Brad (retired), dimensionals

Triple Shells

Here's the card that I created this week for the Mojo Monday Sketch. It's been a number of days since I've made a Christmas card.....I'll have to work on that for tomorrow.

For the central shell I embossed the image on watercolor paper with gold embossing powder. It was coloured in using reinker and the aquapainter.

Just a quick post for today - hope you are having a thrilling Thursday - one more day till the end of the week and into Christmas break! WoooHooo!

Stamp Set/s - Nature's Nest, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Elegant Soiree DSP
Ink - Soft Suede, Baja Breeze
Other - Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Oval Punches, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon (retired - and flipped to the back side!), Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Versa Mark, Gold Embossing Powder, aquapainter.