Jill's Jems

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2011-11-23T07:31:00.007-06:00

Just sharing the holiday spirit. The inside reads ...and give thanks to the Lord for your many blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!"

The turkey is an image I found online. I don't know who the artist is - but he/she is good with a wonderful sense of humor. It was a pre-colored image - so I had to redraw it before I could color it - but well worth it. At least I think so. The sentiment comes from a card I saw online - just too cute all around.

Hope all of you have a blessed, and happy day of thanksgiving.

Jill

Christmas Penguins

2011-10-08T15:36:00.008-05:00

Just a quick post today. I spent the morning sorting & filing stacks of papers (bills, receipts, DSP, etc) then rearranged the desk tops in my craft/computer room. I have 3 desks in here - one that is the computer desk and two others that I use for stamping. I decided it was silly to have two desks for stamping and nowhere to set up my sewing machine - so now I have one desk used exclusively for stamping and the other primarily for sewing - but it can be easily converted back to a stamping desk if I have a friend in to play. We also use the computer desk for stamping when I have more than one stamping buddy visiting.

I played around all last evening with an idea for a Christmas Card and just couldn't pull it together. I was at a friend's house working on it - so I don't know if I just got to chatty and wasn't concentrating, if I was tired or if the mojo was just not there - but whatever the reason it didn't work. All I had complete was the green border attached to the colored image. The REALLY sad thing is I had stamped and colored the image the night before that! Today however, after cleaning and re-organizing the room, I sat down and put this together in about 15 minutes.

Sorry the photo is so washed out. I took it with my cell phone and it just doesn't do what my camera can. The penguins and the wreath are from a Stampin' Up! set called "Polar Party". Aren't they adorable????? The set also has a trio of decorated Christmas Trees, a polar bear, and a stack of presents. It's a really cute set and loads of fun to color.

I applied Dazzling Details to the berries on the wreath and under the penguins feet to add some pizazz. It turned out pretty cute - but unfortunately, it doesn't show up well in the photo.

Thanks for visiting -

until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

WHERE HAVE ALL THE CARD POSTS GONE???

2011-09-29T08:44:00.012-05:00

I've taken up ANOTHER crafting hobby and unfortunately there are just not enough crafting hours in a day to accomplish all that I want to. And though this isn't the only reason I've not been posting many cards- knitting has been sucking up all that spare crafting time since I began in late July. Since I picked up my first pair of needles and some yarn, I've made a ruffled scarf

& matching headband,

2 pumpkin hats, a cupcake hat,

3 stuffed hedgehogs,

a camoflauge hat with ear flaps (no photo)

and this turquoise, green & yellow hoodie.

I've started felted slippers now - but hopefully will have time to make some cards to post over the weekend.

Thanks for being patient with me -

and until next time -

Happy Crafting - no matter what your hands are finding to do!

Jill

BREATHTAKING

2011-09-16T15:14:00.007-05:00

Okay. I'm sorry. I know this is probably bragging - but, really - this card in real life almost takes my breath away! I think it just might be the most beautiful card I've EVER made. All the elements came together - in one single card - and honestly - that rarely happens for me. Usually there is something about every card I wish I had done differently - but not this one. I love it!!!! (And to my non-stamping nieces who are reading this - I understand that you won't understand my enthusiasm. It's okay - you can think I'm crazy. I'll still love you.) Here's the card.

Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice. The color cast is very yellow on my monitor and the shimmer on the cardstock doesn't show. I took a close-up detail photo so you can get the idea of what I'm seeing and what isn't showing in the photo of the entire card.

Supplies:

Four the Holidays Stamp Set
Day of Gratitude Stamp Set
Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
Rubbing Alcohol
Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy & Real Red Markers
Dazzling Details
Ribbon from Big Lots
Antique Brads
Snail Adhesive
2-way glue pen
Dimensionals
1/8" hole punch

If you are coming to my workshop tomorrow, you'll get to see this card as well as see some ideas on how to use this stamp set (DAY OF GRATITUDE) in some less traditional ways. We will also be previewing an item coming up for sell from Stampin'Up! in October. It's a totally different product line - and I'm lovin' it.

Thanks for visiting today and until next time - Happy Stamping!

Jill

AUTUMN OFFERING

2011-09-09T22:03:00.007-05:00

The weather has begun to change here in Central Illinois. It has been in the mid- to lower 70s all week and it has put me in the card-making mood again. The inspiration for this card came from this one by Charlene Merrick.

The photo isn't the best - I took it with my phone and the light fell off towards the bottom right corner making it appear a little blurry - but you get the idea.

All product, except the pumpkin, is Stampin'Up! The cardstocks used are Whisper White (sponged in More Mustard and Soft Suede Inks), River Rock and Cajun Craze. The stamp sets are Hugs & Wishes and Simply Soft (colored using More Mustard, Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Real Rust markers.)

I stamped the Simply Soft image twice on a piece of 3" x 3" Whisper White cardstock using Memento Black Ink then colored the image using the SU! markers. I cut the cardstock into 4 - 1 1/2" squares and removed the bottom, right square. I replaced it with a 1 1/2" square of whisper white cardstock and stamped and colored the pumpkin image. I used the corner rounder on two opposing corners of all squares then sponged all four squares in the inks mentioned above.

Next I cut 4 - 1 3/4" squares from Cajun Craze and used corner rounder punch on two opposing corners, then layered them under the stamped images.

The button was tied with Early Espresso Baker's Twine and colored with Pumpkin Pie and Real Red markers to match the Cajun Craze. Of course it would be much easier just to use the Cajun Craze marker - but since I don't own it, I had to make do.

The sentiment was stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink.

Thanks for visiting again with me.
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

THANK YOU PRECISION AUTO CLINIC

2011-09-07T07:55:00.005-05:00

I had an oil change a couple of weeks ago at a local car dealership. While there, they checked the fluid levels, tire pressure and brakes. All was good, the back brakes would need to be changed at the next oil change and the front tires before Winter. With that information we traveled to Kentucky from Central Illinois over the Labor Day weekend for a family reunion. Just as we pulled into our motel in Russellville, KY the front brakes went out!!!!!

What to do? It was a holiday weekend - and already late on Saturday afternoon. We called the local Walmart - they don't do brakes and the woman who answered the phone wasn't from the area and didn't know where to send us. (Of course she didn't offer to see if anyone else was from the area and might have a suggestion.) The motel owner overheard the conversation and offered to make some phone calls for us while we relaxed and refreshed in our room. In less than 5 minutes he was at our door with the news that he had contacted a friend who, though he wasn't open for business, would take a look at the brakes and see what could be done. Not only did Dan of Precision Auto Clinic look at our brakes, he drove us to the family reunion, gave up his evening plans, fixed our brakes and brought our car back to us at the reunion center.

Dan - this is for you.

It's a quick, CAS (Clean and Simple) card - Whisper White cardstock with the image stamped in Memento Black Ink and colored using SU! markers, aquapainter and inkpads. The sentiment is from SU! Much Appreciated. To create the outlined border I simply cut a piece of chipboard to the size I wanted and traced around it with a black marker then added little dots at 3 of the corners. To finish, I sponged Bordering Blue Ink around the vehicle to give the appearance of a skyline.

Sometimes CAS is just as nice as the cards that take hours to assemble.

Thanks for visiting today -

and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

GERONIMO!!!!

2011-07-09T11:44:00.003-05:00

Silly me! I meant PERGAMANO not GERONIMO! I'm getting ready for a class in a few weeks and Perganamo (aka Parchment Crafting) is one of the techniques I will be teaching. There are a kazillion patterns, tools, and accessories out on the market for this crafting technique, but for my class we will be using Stampin'Up! supplies (with the exception of a white pencil) - and yes, it is a bit challenging!

This is my first attempt using only Stampin'Up! Supplies - and honestly - I don't think it's half bad. It's actually very soft and feminine in real life and the flaws you see in the photo don't show up at all IRL (unless you use a magnifying glass.) Here is a close-up so you can see the detail.

The technique, though a little tedious and time consuming, produces a beautiful result.

Supplies Used:

Whisper White Cardstock

Pretty In Pink Cardstock

Vellum (Parchment Paper works better)

Piercing Tool

Mat Pack

Stylus

Paper Snips

Morning Soft Stamp Set

Much Appreciated Stamp Set

Personal Cutter with Embossing Blade

Snail Adhesive

Thanks for looking.

Jill

Embedded Leaves

2011-07-08T19:06:00.005-05:00

I am so happy that Spring/Summer is here - except for the humidity in Illinois - it's a great time of year. Bright colors, fresh air, picnics, swimming - all the things I love. So in honor of the season, I created this card - complete with bright, fresh colors in a style reminding me of the great outdoors.

Cardstock:
Melon Mambo
Pear Pizazz
Pretty in Pink
Very Vanilla

Paper:
Vellum

Dies:
Beautiful Wings Embosslit
Little Leaves Sizzlits

Embossing Folder:
Perfect Polka Dots

Stamp Set:
Sincere Salutations

Ink/Marker:
Chocolate Chip
Pretty In Pink

Embellishments:
Adhesive back pearls

Thanks for visiting with me today.
Until Next time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill

2011-06-04T16:51:00.003-05:00

My niece/god-daughter is graduating high school tomorrow and this is the card I made for her.

I used the Stampin'Up!Owl punch then hand-cut and created the white cap & tassel. The button is the smallest of self-adhesive pearls from SU! The background paper is from the local scrapbook store and has the school name and mascot name on it. The background cardstock is Certainly Celery and Night of Navy.

On the inside of the card, I created a half flap and attached it to the bottom and the left side. There is a greeting stamped and matted then attached to the top right of the flap. This allows me to place $$$$

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Until next time,
Happy Stamping!

Jill

SIMPLICITY

2011-03-10T13:35:00.007-06:00

Normally I don't send Easter cards. Not because I don't celebrate the resurrection - it's just that it's not "traditional" in my family. This year, however, I decided to make a few Easter cards to send out to a few friends and family members who are fellow believers just how much God loves us.

This card is very simple, and easily constructed but because of all the detail it remains eye-catching and elegant. I love the look of white on white (which I've probably said at least "once" before on this blog). It is such a clean, fresh look and I think it suits the simplicity of the image perfectly.

The cardbase is a piece of Whisper White cardstock from Stampin'Up! and has been dry embossed using the Cuttlebug Floral Screen Embossing Folder.

The image is from Stampin'Up! Easter Blessings. It was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Neenah Classic Solar White cardstock, colored with Copic Markers then cut out using a Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities die. This was layered on top of a piece of white cardstock which was cut using a Spellbinders Nestabilities Beaded Circles die and then popped up off the cardbase - again using Dimensionals.

I added mini half-back pearls to each of the "beads" and a touch of Stardust Stickles to the center of each flower to finish. Very quick. Very simple.

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

FEELING BLUE

2011-02-16T09:18:00.005-06:00

I look at this card and wonder to myself, "WHO MADE THIS????" It is so not me - hearts AFTER Valentine's day? That NEVER happens and mostly blue? Rarely. But the fact is, I DID make this card AND I like it!

Unlike most my cards, this one didn't start with the image. It began with the ribbon.

I was learning a new "no-tie bow" technique which called for the use of a wide ribbon and this happened to be the only wide ribbon I had in my stash. After I finished the bow, it didn't really work with any images I have - there was just too much formal pattern on the ribbon - so I thought I might be able to use it if I kept the card image free.

I cut out the Spellbinders LATTICE die from WHISPER WHITE cardstock and placed it in the center of a BALLET BLUE (retired) cardbase. Next I stamped the medallion image in Ballet Blue ink, cut it out and used dimensionals to pop it up in the center of the lattice cut-out. Then the bow was glued down with Elmer's Glue All to hold it securely.

Okay so far - but now what? Not a circle because once I made the bow, it came out with circles in the pattern - and not a square shape (much too plain) - so hearts it is. I stamped the Punch Potpourri heart in Ballet Blue ink and punched it out with the coordinating punch from Stampin'Up! Then stamped it again on another piece of cardstock and cut around the outline so that it was larger than the stamped image. I sponged the edges of the back and used that as a mat for the stamped heart. These were joined together with a DIMENSIONAL, then added to the center of the bow.

To finish, I punched corners using corner dies from Cuttlebug.

So, are you feeling a little "blue" now?

Enjoy your day -
and until next time,
Happy Stamping.

Jill

IZZY'S 2ND BIRTHDAY

2011-02-08T06:29:00.005-06:00

Izzy is the now 2-year-old son of a friend of my son's. This was a fairly last minute request, as was Tristan's invitation to the party. Seems to me that's how alot of people do things - VERY last minute.

In searching for an image for a toddler, I realized I really don't have alot of choices - so I used this image from the retired Stampin'Up! set "LITTLE TRUCKS". It's definitely cries out "little boy birthday" to me.

I used a handful of Copics to color the image, sponged around the edge of the cardstock and used the TICKET CORNER PUNCH from SU! on both the image piece and the BASIC BLACK mat. The PACIFIC POINT cardstock is embossed with an SU! EMBOSSING FOLDER (sorry but I can't think of the name right now - but it's current) and is adhered to a TANGERINE TANGO cardbase. Once it was all put together, I added the 'GOOGLEY EYES" for an extra bit of fun!

The number is computer generated and also colored with Copics. The little stars are buttons I found. I clipped the shanks off with my CRAFT RUBBER SCISSORS from SU! and stuck them into place using MINI GLUE DOTS.

The card was pretty quick to make - the coloring took the longest - but it worked to make a little guy quite happy.

Thanks for stopping by
Until Next Time
Happy Stamping.

Jill

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

2011-02-06T07:12:00.006-06:00

Today my husband and I celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary! It's amazing to me how quickly the years have gone and how wonderfully blessed I feel to have met, loved and married such a wonderfully kind, sweet and generous man. He's lucky too - because after the request for the Valentine's for three other women - I could have decided to boot him out the door! He's fortunate that I'm not the jealous type! LOL!!!

I made this card for him for our anniversary and will give it to him at dinner (Red Lobster - yum!) tonight.

I was at Walmart the other day and found a card that had a beautiful verse inside. It perfectly put into words how fortunate I feel to be married to my hubby so I put it in the cart to buy it. On my way to the checkout line I got to thinking he might get offended if I bought him a card so instead, I took a photo of the saying with my phone and computer generated it on the inside of the VERY VANILLA cardbase. I DID reword it so it wasn't TOTAL plagiarism though - I just borrowed the basic theme.

I layered a piece of designer cardstock from SU!'s TO THE NINES paperpack onto a piece of BRAVO BURGUNDY cardstock then stamped my image from SU! WITH GRATITUDE in BRAVO BURGUNDY ink onto VERY VANILLA cardstock. My plan was to leave the image uncolored but it looked too "naked" so I added a touch of color with COPIC markers in BG10, B000 & YG00. I used a stamp from ITTY BITTY BACKGROUNDS and stamped over the image piece in SOFT SUEDE ink then distressed the edges with my fingernail. NOTE: For you ladies out there who pay to have someone do your nails - you might consider buying a distressing tool or using the grated edge of a butter knife for this.

After adhering the image to the BRAVO BURGUNDY mat, I added the BRONZE METAL CLIP . To get the right spacing for the brads I used the MAT PACK and PIERCING TOOL from SU! After placing the brads, I glued the finished pieced to the cardbase then added a touch of ICICLE STICKLES to the leaf image. Normally I don't add bling or glitz to masculine cards - but the leaf really just needed that extra something - and the STICKLES make it look like dew drops sparkling in the sunlight. Just the right finishing touch.

Until Next Time -Take a minute to remember all the wonderful qualities that caused you to marry the person you did. I'm sure they're still there somewhere! :D

Happy Stamping!

Jill

AHEAD OF THE GAME

2011-02-05T09:17:00.009-06:00

Hah! For once, I am actually ahead of the game and have several of my valentine cards already made! Not that I don't have a stash of greeting cards for general occasion and birthdays, but I am rarely prepared with holiday cards and am always hurrying at the last minute to come up with ideas and time to actually put the ideas to paper. I don't know what's happened to me! Perhaps it was hubby's request for the ladies at work that spurred me to action. Whatever it was I managed to create 3 treat boxes and 4 cards last night into the pre-dawn hours this morning. Four down with several more to go - but I'm off to a good start.

This is my favorite of the 4 cards and the third one I created. I really like everything about it - and the shabby chic poppy was just too fun to make - even tho' it's just a tad bigger than planned.

The first three cards were created using basically the same supplies.
Stampin'Up!:Raspberry Tart Designer Paper; Whisper White, Real Red and Basic Black cardstock, Punch Potpourri Stamp Set, Heart Punch, Old Olive & Pretty in Pink markers (Copics were used on the card above) and Black & White Gingham Ribbon.

The embossing folder used is Cuttlebug's Love Language and the buttons were purchased at Hobby Lobby years ago.

This next card was created after the card above and uses left-over pieces from rejected ideas. I made this at about 3 a.m. this morning - and looking at it now, I realize it should have been made in the vertical format because my embossed hearts are floating sideways. Oh well - at that time of the morning my brain was probably floating sideways and only functioning because of the amount of caffeine being pored into my veins!

The last card created (finished at 4:45 a.m.) goes in a totally different direction than the first three and was made with a particular "red-hating" friend in mind. It still incorporates the main heart image, punch, markers, Soft Suede ink and Whisper White cardstock - but the change in cardstock colors and embossing folder has given it a softer, more romantic effect. I used Pink Pirouette Cardstock, the floral spray is from SU! GENTLER TIMES and is stamped in Pretty In Pink ink, and the embossing was done using Cuttlebug's Textiles Embossing folder and Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangles.

I'm not crazy about the placement of the heart - maybe it's too small or maybe it's the sponging around the edge that makes it look "off" - I can't quite decide - but with the floral sprays in the opposing corners it was the only placement that seemed to work. Suggestions?

TIP: Use the STAMP-A-MAJIG to get the perfect placement of the floral sprays. It works BEAUTIFULLY!!!!

So what do you think? Do you have a favorite?

Stay tuned - there'll be more to come in the next few days.

Until then - Happy Stamping!

Jill

VALENTINE TREAT BOX

2011-02-04T22:02:00.014-06:00

What would you do if your husband called you from work and asked if you would make 3 Valentine cards for the ladies he lunches with every day???? Uhm - hello???? You want me to make a Valentine card for not one - but three - other women - and you can't even remember my birthday without a reminder????? If he were a different type of man - I might be jealous. If he were a different type of man - I wouldn't even consider it. But because he is the man he is, I promptly said "sure", hung up the phone and then began thinking about how I could make a Valentine card without it being an invitation to one or more of those women to "be 'his' Valentine". LOL! I finally decided that a treat box and not a card was the safest way to go with this - especially since one of the women is single and we don't want her thinking he's making a play for her affection. The treat box and the fact that he is giving all the women the same thing at the same time should help with that.

Here's the box. It's finished size is 3"x3"x1".

The box is created using PRETTY IN PINK cardstock cut to 9" x 5", scored at 1" on all sides then scored at 4" and 5". I embossed the top with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots. The heart was stamped with the heart image from PUNCH POTPOURRI in SOFT SUEDE INK with the stems colored with an OLD OLIVE MARKER. I colored the flowers, after the image was stamped, with a PRETTY IN PINK marker. Then I punched out the image with the SU! HEART PUNCH and sponged around the edge with REAL RED INK. I tore "hearts" from REAL RED and BASIC BLACK cardstock then lightly sponged the edges with CRAFT WHITE INK. The red paper heart was adhered to the black heart using SNAIL ADHESIVE, while the stamped heart is popped up with DIMENSIONALS to allow the length of ribbon to slide underneath and around the box. I placed the little heart-shaped plastic button from Hobby Lobby to add an extra bit of "pop".

For the inside top of the box, I cut a 2.75" square of designer paper, punched out the center with the HEART PUNCH, and sponged the edges with REAL RED INK. The sentiment is from the SU! set HOLIDAYS AND WISHES and stamped in BASIC BLACK INK. I punched holes for the brads but then attached the sentiment using Glue dots rather than have the brads poking through the designer paper. I originally used the Satin Ribbon shown in this photo to tie up the package - but decided it was too formal for the torn edges of the black & red hearts, so I changed it to the red & white gingham ribbon shown in the first photo. The gingham worked MUCH better.

The treat is a a LITTLE DEBBIE "BE MY VALENTINE" cream filled cake and purchased at Walmart. They come packaged two to a pack - so I cut the package open, ate one of the cakes (yes, I REALLY DID!!!!) and then taped up the end of the package before putting it in the box. THAT was my favorite part - and the good news is I have two more to make! LOL!

Thanks for visiting -
and until next time -
Give thanks for all those blessings we take for granted.

Jill

THAT OLE BLACK MAGIC

2011-01-19T04:53:00.004-06:00

This was soooooo much fun to make and I love the way it turned out.

The main cardbase is Pink Pirouette and is double scored at 1/4" and 3/8" around all sides then pierced between the score lines. I used the Medallion stamp set from SU! on Basic Black Cardstock and the Spellbinder's Shapeabilities die: Lattice to create the center medallion then adhered it to the center of a piece of 4"x4.5" pink pirouette card stock. I used a decorative corner punch on the pink pirouette square, added mini black gemstones to the points of the decorated corners and in the "points" of the lattice and placed it on a mat of Basic Black. The entire center piece was popped up off the cardbase using dimensionals.

I wish you could see this card in real life. The photo really doesn't do it justice. It really is beautiful and the colors seem to "pop" right off the card.

Thanks for visiting with me today -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

THANKFUL THURSDAY

2011-01-13T08:35:00.003-06:00

Today is "Thankful Thursday" on one of the local radio stations.

I'm thankful for my family today - all of them - but especially my hubby and this sweet, funny guy (my son, Tristan).

What are you thankful for today?
Jill

AHOY MATEY!

2011-01-12T08:25:00.006-06:00

I received some email feedback on yesterday's post (thank you) and wanted to answer a question and also share the answer to one of my own.

First - the little thingy on the back of a button that you have to cut off to make it lay flat is called a "shank". I DID know this, but couldn't pull the word out of my befuddled brain when I was posting. Thanks to Sarah J. for the answer to that piece of trivia. Thanks too Sarah for providing another sentiment for the Polar Bears - "Thanks for "bear"ing my Burden" is a winner!

Gloria W. wanted to know which Copics I used to give the Polar Bears definition without changing them from white. In this case I used 3 shades of cool gray - C3, C1, C00 - just small amounts of each. I tried to leave ALOT of white space.

Today's card uses another "oldie but goodie" from Stampin'Up! called SCHOONER. I'm really drawn to the artistic renderings of some of the older SU! sets and have been happy to see more of that style coming back into the most recent catalogs.

I used two images from this set - the ship and the captain's wheel. Again because the ship's sail is white I didn't want to add too much color - but did want a little color in the shadow areas. I used Y21 - Butternut Yellow over the shadowed areas then used B000 - Pale Porcelain Blue here and there around the edges of each sail, in the clouds and in the water. I chose to use the Butternut Yellow because it matches the So Saffron card base perfectly and unifies the theme. The ship hull was colored using E57-Light Walnut and E31 - Brick Beige.

I sponged around the edges of all the white and So Saffron pieces of the card using So Saffron and Soft Suede inks. The main image is backed in Marina Mist and Early Expresso cardstock and the greeting and wheel are back in Early Expresso and popped up on dimensionals.

I added the brad to the wheel, scoring to the card base and piercing to add a little extra texture and dimension.

The greeting is computer generated.

I had fun making this card. I'm challenging you to pull out some of your old sets and put them to use again and don't be afraid to play with color. Who would think you could use butternut yellow to shade a white sail!

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

BRRRRR! BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

2011-01-11T17:13:00.007-06:00

It's been snowing here in Illinois for the past 18 hours - mostly lightly - but long enough to have accumulated about 5" of the white stuff. I don't mind really - other than when I have to be out in traffic - otherwise, I love the stuff. I like it falling from the sky and freshly falling in the yards and the on the branches of the huge pine trees in the neighborhood park. It's actually very pretty. The snow that is. Unfortunately, here in the Midwest, we can't just get the pretty snow without the frigid temps - 11 degrees is the high they are prediciting for this weekend. Which isn't bad if you're a polar bear!!!!!!

Which brings me to my card for today and it's appropriate theme - POLAR BEARS!

(My main computer has died the death and I'm using a VERY old laptop with a VERY old monitor - so if the colors look different than described - please "bear" with me!)

The image is from a retired Stampin'Up! Tis the Season stamp set - and I think it's waaaaay too cute to retire from use! I used Copics (of course) to color it then cut it out with a Nestabilities Label Two Die. I pierced holes around the edges using the SU! Mat pack and a piercing tool and chose an orange glittery DP that a friend gave me as the "frame". I know - ORANGE!!! but doesn't it POP against the Marina Mist cardbase? I think this color combo is a new favorite!

I embossed the cardbase with two Cuttlebug embossing folders SNOW DOTS and SWISS DOTS and placed the image centered vertically and toward the top of the card.

The silver medallion is from a cheap piece of costume jewelry I found at a garage sale some time ago. I colored a small portion of it with an Orange Copic Marker then added a snowflake button to the center. Of course to make it lay flat, I had to cut off the little thingy on the back with my Stampin'Up! Rubber/Craft Scissors - they are the BEST! btw - what do you call that little thing on the back of a button?

To finish it I added the little orange bow. Now all I have to do is figure out a greeting for the inside. Any suggestions? I came up with "thanks for your help" but am open to suggestions.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me today - and until next time -

Enjoy doing whatever it is you're doing!

Jill

CHRISTMAS IDEAS #4 - VOTIVE HOLDER

2010-11-21T08:07:00.006-06:00

This little votive holder is not an original idea - but I fell in love with it when I saw it and had to try it for myself. In case you haven't seen the idea, I also wanted to share it here with you.

I made my sample using heavy metal sheets I picked up at Hobby Lobby but they are still so flexible that I will use aluminum flashing for any more that I make. Aluminum Flashing can be picked up at your local hardware store. The advantage of using the metal sheets from Hobby Lobby is that they come in SILVER, GOLD and COPPER so you have a wider variety depending on your decorating color scheme and they WILL hold their shape easily - they just bend in transport.

This was sooooooo easy to make - and FAST! I completed this one in under 3 minutes (including cutting the metal sheeting.) Using the SIZZIX SNOWFLAKES #2 DIE (available from Stampin'Up!) and a die cutting machine that will accommodate the die, cut out 3 snowflakes. Attach the pieces in the center by alternating each snowflakes that the "arm" of the one on top falls between the "arm" of the one below it. I attached the pieces together using Tombow Adhesive, though if using Aluminum Flashing, I would use a metal glue to make sure they hold. Raise the arms of each snowflake to create the desired shape, pop in your votive and it's finished! See, I told you - they are quick to make.

Thanks for visiting with me today.
Until next time,
I wish you happiness.

Jill

CHRISTMAS IDEA #4 - TABLE SETTING

2010-11-20T05:36:00.015-06:00

I love a beautifully set table for the holidays.

The men of my household think setting a table is complete by putting a plate and fork on the table and calling it complete - so a special event or holiday dinner gives me an excuse to pretty things up a bit. These items are quick and easy - but add a little Christmas Cheer to the table.

All 4 items - napkin ring, candle wrap, wine bottle tag and placecard - are all created using the same Stampin'Up! products.

Day of Gratitude Stamp Set
Bells & Boughs Stamp Set
Scenic Season Stamp Set
Seasons of Joy Stamp Set
Always Artichoke Cardstock
Real Red Cardstock
Whisper White Cardstock
Old Olive Marker
Always Artichoke Marker
Real Red Marker
Bravo Burgundy Marker
Real Red Ink Pad
Always Artichoke Ink Pad
Jewels Basic Pearls
Corner Rounder Punch
1 1/2" Circle Punch
Sticky Strip (used to adhere the ends of the candle wrap and napkin ring)
Snail Adhesive

To create the wreath on the wine bottle tag, I lightly pencil traced a circle onto the cardstock. Starting at the top center of the circle I stamped the leaf image from DAY OF GRATITUDE in Always Artichoke Ink 3 times down the right side of the circle and then 3 times down the left side of the circle. * Don't forget to erase the pencil line. After stamping, I used a Real Red Marker to color over the red berries. The Poinsettia is from the Bells & Boughs set. I colored it using both Real Red and Bravo Burgundy markers then cut it out with paper snips, added pearls to the center (though I did that AFTER I took this photo) and popped it up on the wreath with dimensionals. The "Seasons Greetings" label was hand drawn and cut then stamped with the greeting from SCENIC SEASON.

The medallion on the candle, napkin and placecard were created using the same leaf stamp from Day of Gratitude. I inked it in Always Artichoke and stamped it 4 times onto a piece of Whisper White Cardstock. I started at the top then matched the "tails" and stamped the bottom to keep an even space on both sides for the next two stamps. As with the wine bottle tag, I colored over the berries in Real Red and added the pearled poinsettias to the center.

The Always Artichoke bands, cardbase and tagbase were all stamped using the holly leaf swag image from Bells in Boughs and the small poinsettia from Season of Joy in Always Artichoke Ink.

Simple, quick and festive. Perfect for my Christmas table.

Thanks for visiting -
and until next time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill

CHRISTMAS IDEAS #3 - RECIPE BOOK

2010-11-19T05:06:00.005-06:00

Isn't this little apron adorable???

The idea is not an original - I saw it online somewhere - and then after creating this, I saw that there is a card made in this shape in the Stampin'Up! catalog.

I had never noticed it before because the colors weren't vivid and eye-catching. I don't think the same can be said about this one.

At this point, my sample is a card. However, I have plans to add pages to create a CHRISTMAS CANDY/COOKIE RECIPE BOOK. Each page will have a pocket that will hold a recipe card for some delightful Christmas Treat.

I used Real Red cardstock and Candy Cane DSP from the Stampin'Up! holiday mini catalog. The Gingerbread image is from the SU! set "GOT MILK". I used the scalloped lace border punch to create the eyelet lace border on the pocket. The Gingerbread tag pulls up to read "Gingerbread & sugared things, enjoy the sweets the season brings" and is from the SU! set SWEET SEASON - the perfect greeting to introduce an apron recipe book.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

CHRISTMAS IDEAS #2

2010-11-15T05:28:00.005-06:00

This cute little ADVENT TREE takes a little time to create, so I thought I should show it to you in November. If you plan to use it, you obviously will want it ready by December 1st.

Supplies Needed:

12 sheets Always Artichoke Cardstock
12 sheets Whisper White Cardstock
1 pkg Deck the Halls Designer Paper
Chocolate Chip Ink Pad
Sponge Dauber
1" Die Cut Alphabet set (stickers will work too)
Variety of buttons
Ribbon
Silk Poinsettia
Sticky Strip
Glue Dots
Adhesive
Scissors
Bone Folder
Paper Snips

I began by making 24 - 2" square boxes using Always Artichoke leaving off one tab so that the front of the box is open. I used a bone folder to get a good crease on all the fold lines. Then, using Sticky Strip, I adhered them together in rows first. Once the boxes were joined to create the rows, then I used sticky strip to join the rows to create the shape of the tree. NOTE: to keep your tree from leaning, lay each row on it's back on a flat table top while joining each row to it's neighbor.

Next, I created 24 more open ended boxes using Whisper White cardstock to make the drawers. These boxes are slightly smaller than 2" so that they slide in and out of the tree easily. I covered the front with squares cut from Deck the Halls Designer Paper that had been edge sponged in Chocolate Chip Ink. Then used a 1" circle punch to create "finger pulls) along the front, top edge of each drawer.

The numbers are computer generated because I don't have access to a 1" die cut alphabet. It would definitely have been less time consuming if I had! The numbers were printed on Very Vanilla cardstock, cut out with paper snips then sponged in Chocolate Chip. I used SU! Snail Adhesive to glue mine to the drawer fronts - but if you have a Xyron machine it would work beautifully. (I was out of the glue tape for mine!)

Because the Designer Paper is so decorative itself I didn't have to spend alot of time decorating the front of each drawer. A few buttons tied with string, a couple of cut-out poinsettias with pearl centers and the drawers were complete.

The last step to completing the Advent Tree was the placement of the draping ribbon and a store-bought poinsettia at the top. The ribbon holds its shape by placing glue dots at the top edge of each box along each side of the tree and adhering the ribbon at each point.

Actually - that's not the last step. The last step is hiding the treats inside each drawer!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and will give this little tree a try-out. It is a little time consuming (approximately 8 hours from start to finish) but the end result was worth my time.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

CHRISTMAS IDEAS #1

2010-11-14T11:44:00.011-06:00

I started my fall cleaning this weekend. I know I'm off to a late start but I've been busy. Besides which, I probably wouldn't have started it this weekend if I didn't have the excuse to start my Christmas decorating early! Spring and Fall cleaning are ALWAYS at the bottom of my priority list. However, I had a Stampin'Up! Christmas Show last weekend and didn't want to put away the Christmas decorations just to get them out again a couple of weeks later - so I am putting decorations up throughout the house as I get each room cleaned.

The first room I cleaned and started to decorate was the front porch. I have a couple of white, french style chairs, an antique hoosier cabinet and an anitque table on my front porch which gives me ample surfaces for setting things. On one of the chairs is a small sled decorated with a rusty metal wreath of stars, greens and ribbon. On the other is my mother's antique Jewel Tea Autumn Leaves bowl filled with glittery and decorated ornaments.

You can't see them in this particular photo, but several were decorated using the Candy Cane Rubons from the Holiday Mini Catalog. Total cost (not including the bowl) approximately $5 (I still have most of the rubon designs to use on other things.)

Setting in the middle of the hoosier cabinet is a pint-sized "apple" basket filled with greens, pinecones and berries.

I purchased the basket unpainted at a local orchard for $3 and the greens from the local dollar store. I painted the basket green (which matches Always Artichoke very nicely) then painted the horizontal bands white. Once dry, I then stamped the bands in Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Chocolate Chip using stamps from Season of Joy and Lovely as a Tree stamp sets.

I tied a bow to the handle using a length of Stampin'Up! ribbon and let the ends drape loosely into the arrangement. Total cost for the arrangement (including the paint) $8.

There will be more Christmas additions to the front porch later - some candles and a wreath on the door - but for now this has gotten me off to a good start.

Thanks for visiting today and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

ONE STOP CHRISTMAS SHOP

2010-11-08T10:35:00.015-06:00

I particpated in an "open to the public" shopping event this past weekend and even though the turn-out was smaller than hoped for, I still had a good time. The best part of course was creating all the projects to display. My "booth" had three tables - one for display, one for ordering and one for a quick make n take project.

Here's a photo of the display table.

You'll have to look closely to view all the goodies - the advent tree, snowman soup, snowflake ornaments, cards, tags, basket of greens, basket of ornaments, table setting, Santa Boot, etc. Can you see them all? If not, don't worry. I'll be showing each one between now and Christmas.

The make n take project was quick and easy - but I love the way it turned out. So much so I plan to make more to attach to the presents going under my tree this year.

To create this tag you will need the following supplies:

Crumb Cake Card Stock

Always Artichoke Card Stock

Deck the Halls Designer Paper

Twill Ribbon
Always Artichoke Ink Pad

Soft Suede Ink Pad

Craft White Ink Pad

Always Artichoke Marker

Real Red Marker

Season of Joy Stamp Set

Sweet Season Stamp Set

Vintage Labels Stamp Set

1/4" circle punch (non-SU!)

1/2" circle punch

1" circle punch

Scallop Circle Punch

Corner Rounder Punch

Sponge Dauber

Emery Board

Self-adhesive Pearl

1. Punch a 1/4" hole in a small piece of Always Artichoke cardstock. Turn the 1/2" hole punch upside down and center the 1/4" hole you just punched in the opening. Punch to create a hole reinforcer. Repeat this step to create a second reinforcer for the tag back.

2. Cut a 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" piece of Crumb Cake cardstock to create the tag base. Use the corner rounder to round all four corners. Use a sponge dauber and Soft Suede Ink all around the edge of the tag.

3. Apply one of the reinforcers to the top center of the tag. Using the 1/4" hole punch, line up the punch with the hole in the reinforcer and punch through the tag. Turn the tag over and adhere the other reinforcer to the back.

4. Using the Always Artichoke Marker color the words and the line for the bottom greeting only. Use the Real Red Marker to color the heart. Stamp the image leaving approximately 1/8" between the image line and the bottom of the tag. CLEAN THE STAMP.

5. Cut a 2 3/4" x 1 7/8 piece of Always Artichoke Cardstock and a piece of 2 3/4" x 1 5/8" piece of Deck the Halls DSP. Sponge the edge and front of the DSP with Soft Suede ink, then distress it by rubbing the emery board across the surface to bring out the white center of the paper. Adhere these to pieces together lining up the sides and creating an evenly spaced border of Always Artichoke along the top and bottom. Adhere this piece just above the stamped greeting on the tag.

6. Using the Always Artichoke Marker, color the words and line for the top greeting only. Stamp it in the center top between the reinforcer and the Always Artichoke CS. CLEAN THE STAMP.

7. Stamp the Medallion Stamp from Vintage Labels in Always Artichoke ink onto a piece of Crumb Cake CS. Use the Scalloped Circle Punch to punch it out by holding the punch upside down and lining up the points of the medallion into the center of each scallop on the punch. Adhere this piece to the center of the DSP.

8. Stamp the snowflake from the Season of Joy Set in Craft White Ink onto a piece of Always Artichoke Cardstock. Let this piece dry for several seconds then use the 1" circle punch to punch it out. Adhere the snowflake to the center of the Medallion.

9. Add a pearl to the center of the snowflake and a ribbon through the reinforcers to finish.

Very quick, very easy - but quite a nice finishing touch to any package.

Thanks for visiting - hope you enjoyed today's post.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!

2010-10-31T08:25:00.004-05:00

Yep, Santa comes to Peoria, Illinois is just 27 days. Unbelievable as THAT sounds, there are only 55 days left until Christmas - and 54 shopping days. That said, I am preparing for a showing of Christmas Gift and Home decor ideas as well as cards, tags, ornaments etc. next Sunday, November 7th at the Methodist North Building on Allen Road in Peoria from 1-4 p.m. There will be 5 other displays from other home-based sales companies (Dove Chocolate, Scentsy, 31, Mary Kay and Lia Sophia) setting up displays as well. We will be doing a simple make n take project at my table. There will also be door prize drawings from each consultant as well as treats n sweets to sample. We're calling it the "ONE STOP HOLIDAY SHOP" because as you can see with the variety of companies, any one attending is able to get quite a bit of Christmas shopping done in one place.

To date I have 4 major projects complete, several cards and several tags. I'd love to share them all here with you - but I don't want to spoil all the surprises for those of you planning on coming out to visit me. However, I didn't think it would hurt to share JUST ONE thing I made so I chose the smallest of the projects.

I love the way this turned out. It is beautiful in real life. They are so full of glimmer and sparkle that I plan to make several more for my Christmas tree as well as a few to use as tags or in place of bows on some of the wrapped presents for under the tree.

Thanks for visiting today and if you live near Peoria, why not come join us on the 7th?

Until Next Time,

Happy Stamping!

Jill

THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART

2010-10-10T15:47:00.005-05:00

My project today was inspired by the work of one of my favorite bloggers, Jerri Jimenez. If you haven't checked out her work - it's worth the visit. Jerri is a true artist and her work is amazing! Though not quite up to her standard, I was quite happy with the results of my autumn offering.

I had this box on my stamp shelf. It was naked wood with a clear plastic top. Don't know where it came from or what was in it when I got it - but it's most recent use was to hold all my Stampin'Around Ink cartridges. I soaked a sponge in Close to Cocoa reinker and "stained" the wood and my fingertips. (NOTE TO SELF: WEAR GLOVES THE NEXT TIME!!!!!) I didn't wait for it to dry before decorating because I found the box after I made the flowers and leaves and besides, the tips of my fingers were already brown - but if you ever use reinker as wood stain you really should wait for it to dry.

The mums were created using Spellbinders Daisy Head dies and Stampin'Up! Real Rust and So Saffron cardstock edge sponged in More Mustard and Chocolate Chip respectively. I also edged the rust colored mums in Gold Krylon ink. The leaves are cut using Spellbinders Assorted Leaves dies from Stampin'Up! River Rock cardstock, lightly sponged in Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie ink, moistedned with hairspray (yes, you read right) and then lightly dusted with SU! Irridescent Ice.

The eight loop bow was created using the Bow Easy.

The background is a piece of Early Espresso Cardstock, embossed with a Stampin'Up! embossing folder then lightly sponged with Basic Black ink. The verse is stamped in Chocolate Chip onto a piece of Very Vanilla, edge sponged in Chocolate Chip then die cut using a Spellbinders Label die.

That's the scoop.
Thanks for visiting with me today.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

HALLOWEEN SWEET TREAT

2010-10-03T13:22:00.010-05:00

Six other Stampin'Up! demonstrators and I held a area wide stamp fest yesterday for World Card-making Day. The participants created 4 cards (2 Christmas, 1 Birthday, and 1 Autumn themed). We also had samples, treats, door prizes and treats. Each of us was to create a "treat" to include in our customer's supply bags so since our demonstration themes were Halloween and the use of Stampin'Up! punches, I created this little ghost/pumpkin candy bar holder. The pumpkin I had seen before - but the little ghost is an original.

Several years ago I came across this idea for a candy bar holder and thought it would be a perfect little surprise in the girl's bags. When you pull the ribbon, the candy bar slides out of the pocket! Very clever - because they can then just slip the candy bar out, eat it, and re-use the pouch later.

The one I had seen used a Hershey Bar, but the bars I wanted to use were smaller so I had to re-figure the dimensions. You add 1/8" to the length of the candy bar for the height and then measure the width and height of the bar, double that measurement and add 1/4" to the total for the width of your cardstock. Score, fold and place sticky strip based on the template shown below.

Punch a 1/8" hole in the center back close to the top. Lace a length of ribbon through the hole creating a "u" shape with the ribbon.

Place the bottom of the candy bar into the base of the "u" and push down into the holder until it is hidden.

The ribbon will keep the candy bar from slipping out the bottom. Tie a bow or knot to secure the top. I used wrapping paper ribbon to create the curly cues at the top of my treat holder.

To create the ghost, I used the following Stampin'Up! punches: Ornament punch for the head (cut off tab), 1 3/4" Circle punch (torso), Wide Oval Punch (tail), small oval punch (cut two for the arms). After cutting, I sponged the edges in creamy caramel. You can use other colors, but for my fall theme, the brown tone looked best. I did try Bashful Blue because shadows on white are typically shades of blue - but it just looked too much like a snow ghost for my liking.

The pumpkin is created using the medium oval punch. I simply punched out 5 in Pumpkin Pie, sponged the edges in Pumpkin Pie then glued them together. The stem is handcut so each one I make is different. The curly vine is a thin strip of Certainly Celery cardstock that was dampened then wrapped around the tip of my stylus until it dried. Then I used a bit of adhesive and glued it into place.

That's that. They go together very quickly. I made 16 ghosts and pumpkins in a couple of hours and made 16 pockets in about 2 hours as well. That averages out to about 15 minutes per treat. It might have gone even faster if I hadn't been watching NCIS and Biggest Loser!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

FREEBIE FRIDAY - OCTOBER 1, 2010

2010-10-01T05:46:00.002-05:00

Happy first day of the final quarter of 2010. Can you believe that???

I've been working, working, working in my studio - but I've been making cards with retired Stampin'Up! images and the cards were fairly basic so I haven't posted anything for a while. Today's card, however, uses the new Stampin'Up! set "Bells and Boughs". As soon as I saw this set in the Mini Catalog I new it was a "must have". The realistic detail is beautiful.

I wish you could see this card "in real life". It is beautiful. This photo doesn't do it justice.

To make this card, I started by folding a piece of 4.25" x 11"Whisper White cardstock in half. I used the largest circle from one of my Spellbinders sets and lightly traced around it on the center front of the card in pencil. Using the trailing poinsettia image from the stamp set, I stamped the image 4 times (using the pencil line as a guide) to create the rounded, wreath image. Then I used just the bottom tail of the stamp in each of the four corners of the card.

Next I stamped the center image on a seperate piece of Whisper White cardstock.

I colored both the card images and the seperate image using Stampin'Up! markers in Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Real Red, and So Saffron. After coloring, I cut out the poinsettia image and the middle of the wreath. I backed the opening of the wreath with vellum and backed the vellum with a piece of Real Red cardstock. The cutting took a little time, but in my opinion really adds to the elegance of the card. Not one I'd want to make for my complete Christmas card list though!

To finish I popped up the center image with Dimensionals, added the Blushing Bride ribbon and Stardust Stickles to the centers of the poinsettias.

I haven't done any drawings lately, but here's one that's been hanging around in my Jill's Jems digital files for a while. It's a freebie - so take it and use it as you will - just pleeeeeeeease don't sell it and please remember to link back here to my blog if you post it online.
Thanks so much for visiting.
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

NEED CHOCOLATE?????

2010-09-09T04:36:00.003-05:00

Have you ever heard of chocolate tasting parties? To me that seems like something to good to be true. Something that you might sit and daydream about - but not something that could actually occur. Well guess what? A friend of mine, Marla Anderson, is a Dove Chocolate consultant and Dove has an entire line of chocolates and accessories for home tasting parties! Talk about HEAVEN!!!! Check out this link to browse through their catalog. You'll see what I mean!

My party is scheduled for the 18th of September! LOL! I just couldn't resist.

This is the invitation I created to mail out. Dove has their own free postcards that I could have used - but what's the fun in that? Right?

Don't the chocolates in these retired Stampin'Up! images look good enough to eat? Especially the little ones across the bottom. Mmmmmm! I can't wait for my party. This set is in the 2002 Stampin'Up! catalog. I don't know who the artist is - but in my opinion, Stampin'Up! needs to recommission them. The detail in this set is AMAZING!

Ingredients: "For the Love of Chocolate" stamp set, Whisper White & Early Espresso Cardstock, Cuttlebug Hearts Embossing Folder, Copic markers, Ribbon & Computer Generated Print

Thanks for visiting today. I'm off now to have chocolate for breakfast. :)

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

NO SEW FABRIC PROJECTS

2010-09-08T09:08:00.013-05:00

I know you must have seen the new fabric line that Stampin'Up! is carrying in their 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog. I adore fabric (I'm a recovering quilter!) and think the "DECK THE HALLS" fabric is gorgeous. It's 3 different patterns of fabric - basically a total of 2/3 of a yard of 54" wide fabric, for $9.95. The problem is for some of you, that the thought of sewing can bring on a case of the shakes and night sweats - so - what to do???? How about some ideas for using the fabric that doesn't require a sewing machine or even no sewing at all?

These designs are not mine - they are the work of a very creative friend of mine and member of my demonstrator group, Julia Jackson.

The one I'm showing first is my FAVORITE! It was created using the Stampin'Up! 5 pt 3D Star die (Item: 113473 $19.95) which is now a "MUST HAVE" for me. This star is beautiful in real life and would beautiful sitting atop a Christmas tree or just placed on a fireplace mantel with greens and pinecones. All the items used to create this card can be found in the Holiday Mini.

Also in keeping with the Christmas tree theme is this adorable little puffed ornament which uses the same fabric, fabric adhesive, TOP NOTE die, and cotton balls as filler. (Note: there is a little handstitching around the sides to keep the cotton balls inside.

Or what about simply using strips of the fabric in place of ribbon on a card??

Or how about a hairclip for that little girl in your life?

Or twisted and wrapped around a punched circle of sticky adhesive paper to make a rosette?

Or batting stuffed fabric coasters accented with coordinating buttons?

See? Didn't I tell you she was clever????

For more ideas be sure to check out the Holiday Mini catalog online.

Until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

SAGE & SWEET PEAS

2010-09-07T08:13:00.006-05:00

I'm setting a record of some kind. I'm sure of it. I've posted a card for 3 consecutive days! Probably because I had a 3 day weekend and had a little more energy to be creative.

You wouldn't know it by the way I dress, or wear my hair, or even decorate my home, but I LOVE vintage/victorian decor & accessories. China teacups with pink rosebuds, lace & doilies, filigree, pearls, etc. So I had fun creating today's card.

I began with a cardbase of Stampin'Up! Whisper White cardstock and covered the front with a Cuttlebug Textile Embossed piece of Stampin'Up! Sage Shadow cardstock. Next I used my BIGSHOT and cut a frame using the Spellbinders Scalloped Edge Frameabilities die.

I used the Sweet Pea set from FLOURISHES for my image. What says vintage better than an old-fashioned flower. One that I remember well from my grandmother's yard. I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Neenah Classic Solar White cardstock and colored it with Copic markers in shades of Blue-Green and Green. I cut it out using Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities. I cut and embossed 4 pieces of Whisper White using one of the smaller dies from Spellbinders Lattice Shapeabilities and then sponged then in Sage Shadow ink before removing the pieces from the die. I glued these to the back of the oval image and then centered this piece onto the cardbase. To complete the Victorian feel I wanted, I added tiny seed pearls all around.

A little time consuming to create but worth the effort in the end.

Thanks for visiting with me today.
Remember to give thanks in everything -
and until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

VINTAGE ROSES

2010-09-06T10:39:00.004-05:00

I'm apparently in a "pink" mood lately as it seems every card I've made is that color. Or - it could be that I'm too lazy to search for another color combo and am using the bits and pieces that are laying around on my desk. Either way, I'm pleased with the cards I've made this weekend and this one is no exception. The only thing I would change now that it's finished is that I wish I had backed the image in pink (imagine that!) instead of white.

I stamped a retired Stampin'Up! image from the set "HEAVEN SCENT" in Memento Brown Ink onto Neenah Classic Solar White cardstock and colored it using Copic markers. I also used the Copics to color the mini pearls to match the image. The cardbase and colored cardstock is Stampin'Up! Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. The die cut background was created using Spellbinders Dies: Fleur De Lis Shapeabilities, Lattice Borderabilities, and both large and small Circle Nestabilities.

Tip 1: When using detailed dies like the Fleur De Lis, place a piece of wax paper between the die and the cardstock when cutting. It will allow the design to slip easily from the die without tearing.

Tip 2: When using the Lattice Borderabilities die, do not throw away the large pieces that punch out from the ends. You can add them to your card to create additional dimension and design. e.g. I used them on this card as the "mounts" for the circular image.

Thanks for visiting -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

TRIPLETS

2010-09-05T10:26:00.005-05:00

What a lovely holiday weekend! I don't know what the weather is like where you are but here in Central Illinois - it's beautiful. I'm sitting outside for the first time all summer enjoying my patio, our tiny little fish pond and the colorful flowering shrubs and bushes my DH planted in the Spring - and the temperature hasn't reached 70 yet! GLORIOUS!!!!!

After yesterday's post I talked with my son about my studio and we co-inhabited it very nicely all afternoon. I managed to make 3 cards before calling it quits and enjoying a quiet evening asleep in my recliner chair. Of course then I woke up at bedtime and was awake until 2 a.m. this morning.

The three cards I made were all baby cards in which I used up some scraps from a workshop a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't decide which one I liked best so I'm posting all three and you can decide.

All three begin with a cardbase of Stampin'Up! Whisper White cardstock - 2 of which have been embossed using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug EF. The first two cards also use Early Expresso and Pretty in PinkCardstock from SU! The image in the first one is from a retired SU! set and has been colored with Copic markers and popped up from the background with Dimensionals. The finishing touch is the enameled flower which is a piece to a bracelet purchased in the jewelry aisle at Walmart and added to a Pretty in Pink ribbon strip.

The second card uses the same colors of cardstock, embossing folder and layout (turned on it's side) and ribbon. The image is Stampin'Up! Teddy & Train also colored with Copic Markers and then pierced using a small piercing tool and the guide in the SU! Mat Pack. I added faux stitching with a Chocolate Chip marker and finished this one with a domed, white faceted button.

The third and final card uses Whisper White and Blushing Bride cardstocks as well as a piece of baby WRAPPING PAPER! I recreated the pacifier from the paper using Pretty in Pink and So Saffron cardstock and sponging each one respectively in Regal Rose and More Mustard to add depth and dimension. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby and the metal tag is from Stampin'Up! Hodgepode Hardware in Silver. The word was cut from a piece of the wrapping paper and held in place with glue dots and 2 white brads. If I had a small heart punch I would have punched the small hearts out of the pacifier - but I had to make do with a white Signo gel pen from SU! Unfortunately, it ran out of ink just before I finished - so this one will require a touch up when my next SU! order is placed.

So - what's the verdict? Which one do YOU like the best?

Thanks for visiting - and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

MY FAVORITE BIRTHDAY CARD

2010-09-04T08:43:00.003-05:00

My birthday was almost a month ago and this is my first post since then. Not very prompt about things am I??? I realized last night that I stopped being creative when my son moved his gaming computer into my studio. He did so at my request when my computer crashed so that I would have access to our photo editing software. However, I now have a beautiful laptop and have rarely used it because the gaming computer hasn't left the room. Which also means the 6 ft, 200+ lb. man rarely leaves the room as well. Do you know what happens to MOJO when you hear constant games noises in the area???? I think I'm calling the computer tech today to see how much they will charge to hook him back up wireless.

Anyway - just a quick post while the "gamer" is in the kitchen to show you my favorite birthday card. My husband decided to make me a card this year! I was stunned! But sure enough, I woke up on Sunday morning, walked out to the dining room and found this card propped up against a beautiful, red glass vase filled with roses and other summer flowers.

Don't you love it?????

If you want the details for recreating this beauty (and honestly - it IS my favorite of the cards I received) it helps if you speak English as a second language so that you can spell birthday phonetically the way you say it. The rest is designer chip board off the back of a note pad and luxury black ink from a BIC pen.

Thanks for visiting.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping! (or drawing as the case may be!!!!!)

Jill

THE MOJO IS RETURNING

2010-08-06T06:28:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure what the problem has been. I'd like to excuse my absence by saying I've been so busy in the yard & garden this summer that I just haven't had time to be in my little craftroom - but anyone who knows me would know that I was lying. My DH does the yardwork and gardening around here with an occasional minute or two of weed pulling from me. So THAT is obviously not what's been keeping me from being creative. And I can't blame it on tiredness either. I'm less tired now than I've been in a very long time. Whatever it was that stole my mojo, I'm glad it has left the building and that I feel interested in stamping/scrapping again.

Last week I received two phone calls within an hour of each other announcing the births of two new babies in our family. The first was my brother telling me he is a GREAT-GRANDFATHER which of course means I'm a GREAT-GREAT AUNT. Mason Lee Owen was born on Wednesday the day before. NOW I feel old and I haven't even had my birthday yet this year!!!!! Then my niece called to annouce the arrival of her third child - a boy named Oliver Matthew. This is the card I made for one of them. I'm not saying which one though because both my nieces follow my blog from time to time.

I used 3 SU! sets: BABY FIRSTS (retired), BY ONES & BY TWOS, and TEDDY & TRAIN. The background paper is from a 5x6 SIZZIX Pack. The cardstock is BRILLIANT BLUE (retired) and BALLET BLUE. I also used BASHFUL BLUE brads, BROCADE BLUE ink and COPIC markers to color the image.

Thanks for coming back to visit with me today.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) Trade Show

2010-07-29T10:18:00.002-05:00

Just popping in for a quick post today. I haven't been very busy creatively - but have been busy in other areas. I hope to get back to creating again VERY soon.

Until then though, I wanted to share a website with you. It has a list of participants at the trade-show who are offering sneak peeks of their new products. Some FANTASTIC things coming out this year! The new NESTIES could really get me in trouble!

http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/cha-winter-2010-sneak-peeks/

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

TUTORIAL: PAPER ROSES

2010-06-08T19:38:00.026-05:00

Isn't this beautiful????? I love roses - real or paper - so you can imagine my delight when I came across this idea on the internet. Wanna know how I made it? I used the STAMPIN'UP! ORNAMENT PUNCH!!!! Can you believe it????

The blog I visited gave a pretty simplified tutorial using just 4 petals for the base with a total of 11 for the entire flower. When I tried it I ALMOST liked it. It just seemed a little too "thin" for a rose and it didn't lay very nicely, so I modified it the second time around and LOVED the result. I've created my own detailed tutorial in the hopes that you might give it a go yourself.

These are waaaaay to big for cards and won't work well in scrapbooks - but they will look beautiful laying around the base of a candle or on the top of a gift box. They are a little time consuming - but well worth the time.

HOW TO CREATE PAPER ROSES

SUPPLIES:

Stampin'Up! Ornament Punch

1 1/4" Circle Punch

Cardstock (Green and Color of your choice)

Sponge Dauber

Classic Ink in Darker Shades of Cardstock Colors

2 Way Glue Pen

Stylus (pencil or screwdriver will work also)

Scoring Instrument

Using the STAMPIN' UP! ORNAMENT PUNCH, punch 18 ornament shapes from your chosen cardstock. Sponge the edges of each petal on both sides. Punch a 1 1/4" circle from matching cardstock. This circle will be your flower base.

Next, use a pencil, stylus or screwdriver to tightly roll the edges of each "petal" from one side to the other. Set each one aside until all are curled.

Begin creating the rose by placing the curled petals around the circle base as shown to the left. I used 7 petals to create this layer for coverage and fullness. I alternated petals - one curled up, the next curled under - overlapping each petal and the petal tab as I worked around the circle.

The second layer was created by using 3 petals , curled inward, glued to the edge of each petal tab on the previous layer. The next time I will use 5 petals in this layer.

The third layer uses 3 petals, all curled inward.

The 4th layer you begin creating the center of the rose. You will use 2 petals. Bend the base tabs at 90 degree angles to the petal and glue the tabs together. Roll the both petals inward creating a cylinder. Apply a small amount of glue as shown on both sides of one petal and hold both petals together with paper clips until dry.

To create the 5th layer - which is the very center of the rose - roll the last ornament shape tightly around the stylus. Add a small amount of glue to the inside edge of the center petal and clip it with a paperclip until dry. Once dry, fold the base tab at a 90 degree angle so that it lays flat across the bottom of the petal. Put a dollop of glue in the center of the rose and put the final petal in place.

To create the leaves, punch 2 or 3 ornament shapes from a green cardstock. Using the stylus and a scoring tool (personal cutter, scorpal, etc) create the veins as shown to the left. Turn the "leaf" over and sponge a darker green ink across the veins and along the edges of the leaves. Glue into place on the back of petals as desired.

And that's it! A beautiful PAPER ROSE.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and will try a few of these for yourself. They really are alot of fun!

Thanks for visiting -

and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

TUTORIAL: SCALLOP TRIM FRAMES/BORDERS/MATS

2010-06-06T11:28:00.029-05:00

Has everyone bought the SU! Scallop Trim Corner and Border punches? Have you tried using them to create a 4-sided scalloped border around your stamped images? Did you give up because you couldn't get the last punch on each side to line up correctly? I think I can help you with that.

Getting a perfect border is all about starting with the perfect measurements. I've played around all morning this morning and created samples for EVERY size square that will fit on a 5 1/2" square card base as well as EVERY size rectangle that will fit on a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" rectangular card (A5) and I'd like to share the measurements as well as a couple of punching tips with you.

The chart below shows every size square with it's measurement that can be used on a 5.5" square card.

Measurements:

Top Row: 1 15/16", 2 3/8", 2 7/8", 3 3/8", 3 7/8"
Bottom row: 5 1 /4", 4 3/4", 4 5/16"

The smallest square you can make starts with a 1 15/16" square. This smallest square creates a border for items punched with the 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" square punches. For this square you only use the SCALLOP TRIM CORNER PUNCH. The rest of the borders/mats will use both the corner punch and the SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH.

To create the scalloped border mats, cut your cardstock to one of the measurements shown on the chart. The 3 13/16" square is the easiest to punch because it fits perfectly to the guide on the top of the Scallop Trim Border Punch. This makes it easy to line-up the corners so that all the side scallops punch perfectly.

Begin by using the corner punch upside down to punch each of the 4 corners. I turn the punch upside down (see photo to the left) when punching to make sure the corner and edges of the cardstock are placed correctly in the punch. Be careful not to let the cardstock slip down past the guide edges or you will end up with "tails" and it will be more difficult to line up the border punch.

Once the corners have been punched place the cardstock into the border punch, lining up the scallops with the guide on the top of the punch. Once lined up - punch once and the first side is complete. Turn 90 degrees and repeat until all 4 sides are complete! A PERFECT scallop trim mat! When creating a border in sizes larger than 3 13/16" use the guide to line up the only one corner rather than two.

Creating the scalloped mats in sizes smaller than 3 13/16" is a bit trickier but not impossible by any means. I create these by using the punch upside down so I can see to line up the scallop with the hole on the punch. Once the scallops are in-line with the blades, simply punch then move the cardstock, line up again and punch.

When you get to the last punch on a side, rather than trying to line it up perfectly on both the left and right sides of the punch (as shown in photo above) simply move the cardstock back to the left (so that the left corner of the cardstock is hidden (as in image to the right ) and punch. Sometimes the border will be off by just the slightest margin and if you try to line up both sides you end up cutting off a portion you didn't intend to.

Creating rectangles is easy once you can cut the squares. To make rectangles you simply choose 2 measurements from those provided above. One measurement will be used for the sides of the rectangle and the other measurement will be used for the other top and bottom. Punch exactly as described above.

The largest rectangle that will fit on an A5 sized card is 5 1/4" x 3 7/8".

For todays's card I created a rectangle in Whisper White cardstock using measurements of 4 5/16" and 2 3/8". These measurements provided an even distribution of "white space" on all 4 sides allowing me to play with more designer papers and borders.

Thanks for visiting with me today.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and that you will dig out those punches and start playing.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

NEW SU! CATALOG - SNEAK PEEK AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS

2010-06-05T08:19:00.008-05:00

It's here!!!! My demonstrator order came yesterday and with it my complimentary copy of the 2010-2011 SU! catalog! Though I can't legally show you images from the catalog because of copyright laws, I CAN tell you about it and show you things I create from the demonstrator "sneak peek" items that we're allowed to order early.

I have a card to show you made with a new set called: Baby Bundle. Too cute! There are 11 images and 5 greeting/sentiments in this set which sells for 19.95 clear mount and $27.95 wood mount. I combined 3 images from the set to create my card: teddy bear, pram/carriage, hanging booties. Isn't it adorable?????

The ribbon is also new this year and can be ordered NOW through the SUMMER MINI catalog. It is 5/8" satin ribbon and will be available in the new catalog in 13 different colors. CHOCOLATE CHIP ribbon is no longer available in the new catty - so if you are a fan you better order it before the end of June.

The WILD WASABI border and WHISPER WHITE border were created using the SCALLOP TRIM corner and border punches. I will be posting a "how to" create square and rectangular borders using these punches soon. It will have the dimensions for cutting so that everything comes out even (with a little practice of course).

NOW - for the catalog. (STOP READING IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED!)

I've looked through the catalog 2.5 times so far. The first time was a quick glance to garner my first impressions. The second was to make my wish list (I found 20 "must have" stamp sets) and the third (which I haven't finished yet) is to look closely at the samples and projects to see if there are any new ideas/techniques (there are!)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Cover: if you are into shabby chic in blues/greens and kraft (now CRUMB CAKE) you are going to love it!

Layout: set up with the same categories as before but a couple of noteworthy changes that I think are wonderful. First: any image in a stamp set that has a corresponding punch has a colored outline around it. That is such a great idea and will definitely take the guess work away. Second - the ink/paper/marker chart is set up differently. There are now 4 charts. One for each color family. Along the top of each chart are the names of each color in the family as well as a color spot. Along the left side are miniature photos of each available item followed by item description and price. Directly below each families color chart are the ASSORTMENT packs - show by photo and description. I LOVE this feature. I have several times ordered the wrong item for myself because my eyes bumped up a line or over a column. The photos are definitely a PLUS.

The COLOR COACH has been redesigned. LOVE it. I'm actually going to order this one!

STAMP SETS:

Hostess Sets: I will be holding my own workshop the first of July! There are so many nice hostess sets in the catalog - I have to have a workshop of my own to get them all!

Ala Carte Sets: There are several new ALA CARTE stamps: elephants, golfer, toothfairy, victorian style word frame, etc.

Holiday Sets: Okay - this is where I'm the most disappointed in the catalog - and actually it's only because of my personal taste in stamp styles. There are just not enough new sets in this category that aren't too cutesy or trendy. HOLIDAY GREETINGS: 1 set. HALLOWEEN: one new set and 2 wheels. CHRISTMAS: 4 or 5 never before seen sets - one of which is a religious based stamp. There is a new set that corresponds with the ornament punch called CONTEMPO CHRISTMAS. I probably won't purchase this one myself - but I do actually like 3 of 4 of the stamps in the set. VALENTINES: 3 new sets. EASTER: only 1 new set for a total of 2. I don't really consider the new set an Easter set - it is just trendy looking flowers (think PETAL PIZZAZZ only not filled in). It is an Easter set because it has one Easter greeting stamp in it. The MOM stamp from the Occasions mini made it in.

Occasions Sets: Sweet Treats sets are back, there is a really cute "GOT TREATS" set that coordinates with the BIG SHOT MILK CARTON as well as several other cute, new sets. No new sympathy sets (we're down to one now) and one or two "fun to color" sets.

Growing Up Sets: The set I used for the card above is one of 13 new sets.

All Natural Sets: (My personal favorite) has a several beautifully drawn florals, wildlife and scenic sets as well as 10 or 11 other newbies.

Elements: Some very NICE sets here - the word "vintage" comes to mind.One set has a writing grid surrounded by an ornate frame, another has an antique key, crown and eiffel tower. There is a wheel that is a musical staff - BEAUTIFUL! A western set, a victorian style "treasure" set, Elements of Style from the current mini is in here. There are also a couple of new BACKGROUND stamps.

Greetings: 7 or 8 new sets in this category - but in my opinion the best one is a LEVEL III hostess set. One new alphabet set.

ACCESSORIES & MORE:
THIS is where the REAL fun begins. Can you say COLOR???? I wasn't sure about the color renovation when it was first announced - but after seeing it and working with it - all I can say is "KUDOS" Stampin' Up! I was sad to see Really Rust go - it was a staple for me in the fall - but comparing it side by side with the new CAJUN CRAZE - there are absolutely no tears left for me. The new colors are deeper and richer than their previous counterparts. That said, I do miss the softest of the SUBTLES. There is nothing comparable to Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, Sage Shadow.

There is no more PRETTIES kit - but don't despair - the flowers from the set are sold seperately as are adhesive backed clear rhinestones and half pearls.

Ribbons styles are limited - as are the colors - but I was happy to see the 5/8" satin and 1/4" grosgrain remaining. A little disappointed that there was nothing as "fun" as our current polka dot in-color ribbon but there are a couple of crocheted trims that are very pretty.

The DESIGNER BUTTONS are more reasonably priced in this catalog. You now get more than double the quantity for $1 more. They also come in 24 colors instead of 12.

In addition to new DESIGNER PAPERS they have a section of BASE MATERIALS. These are sheets of materials such as cork, magnets, wood, etc. that can be used with the BIG SHOT and dies (as well as scissors etc.) on your projects.

They kept the BLUSH BLOSSOM marker for skin tones - NOT in my lifetime!!!! MUCH too dark for that.

There are the most wonderful ANTIQUE BRADS and VINTAGE TRINKETS (safety pins & metal buttons).

Storage Solutions: WONDERFUL!!!!! There is a new carrying case that holds all the new acrylic blocks. There are new storage boxes for the SIZZIX DIES as well as stackable hard plastic storage cases for the new punch styles. They have a collapsible handle that allows stacking and a cover that closes and locks into place for portability. VERY NICE.

I realize this was an extremely looooooong post today - but I just wanted to share the excitement. It's been several years since I've been excited about the new catalog - but THIS one - it's a GOOD one!

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

FAVOR BOX

2010-05-12T06:39:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine is hostessing a bridal shower in a couple of months and asked for some ideas for gifts for the guests. I suggested a few items and various packaging ideas but got this one stuck in my head and wanted to "see" it.

In my mind's eye, I envisioned an all white box/flower with a ribbon wrapped from bottom to top to seal the box closed. I also envisioned the box made from a shimmery white paper like STAMPIN'UP!'s SPECIALTY PAPER: BRIDE. But I don't own any shimmery white paper and was too anxious to put the box together to wait until I could order some. THIS then is my compromise and actually quite pretty.

I started by creating the box lid from WHISPER WHITE cardstock. I cut a 5" square, scored it at 1" on all sides then embossed it. Next I slit the right bottom corner along the vertical score line from paper edge to horizontal score line forming a tab. I rotated the cardstock and repeated that step on the other 3 corners. Once all the tabs were created, I fold along all the score lines and glued the tabs to the inside creating the lid. The bottom section of the box was created basically the same. The paper was reinforced with cardstock then cut at 7 7/8" square. Then scored at 2.5" on all sides.

My favorite part is the paper flower. I LOVE making these! They are so pretty - and soooooo easy to make. This one was made from white computer paper. I punched 8 layers with the STAMPIN'UP! SCALLOPED CIRCLE PUNCH, lightly sponged each layer with SU!BLUSH BLOSSOM ink, then folded, crinkled, wadded and unwrapped each one so that I could join them together in the center with a small brad. Once joined together I crinkled and wadded each layer again, pushed down the edges of the center layers and VOILA! a pretty little dahlia-type flower. There are variations too. If you want a "countrified" flower, leave the inner petals unfurled and add a button. VERY cute!

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

FROM GARBAGE TO GOLD

2010-05-11T06:56:00.004-05:00

Remember the other day I posted a masculine graduation card and made the comment that feminine cards were no problem for me - this is one of the reasons. I am the owner of a VERY cute stamp for girls. The stamp is manufactured by 'ART GONE WILD". You can order one of their catalogs HERE. I purchased this one several years ago though so I don't know if it is still available.

I wanted to keep this card very simple with just a couple of embellishments. The cardbase is WHISPER WHITE embossed with a CUTTLEBUG embossing folder. The image was stamped with MEMENTO TUXEDO BLACK ink onto NEENAH CLASSIC SOLAR WHITE cardstock, colored with COPIC markers then matted onto BRILLIANT BLUE cardstock.

My favorite part though is the tassel! I've had it tucked away for almost 16 years! It belonged to my mother and I inherited it among her sewing things when she died. The funny thing about this is I had just tossed this tassel into my studio garbage a few days before while I was doing some cleaning, figuring if I hadn't used it in all this time I never would. Then when I made this card I thought it needed a tassel and remembered the one I'd thrown away. It would be perfect but it was in the garbage! So, what else could I do but dig through the garbage to find it!!!! EWWWWWWW!!!!!!! Fortunately for me, there was only paper in there so it wasn't damaged and I wasn't totally grossed out!

To add the tassel, I used a CRAFT KNIFE and cut small slits across the top and bottom edges of the "DREAM BIG" sign and then weaved the tassel loop behind and up through the matted image. Using wire cutters, I cut the loop from the plastic star button and adhered it into place with a GLUE DOT.

It really is a quick and simple card - but one I think is very cheery.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

MAGNOLIA COMES TO PEORIA

2010-05-10T06:01:00.007-05:00

One of the local scrapbook stores has started carrying Magnolia stamps. Granted, the selection is pretty limited at this point, but I was excited to see a few hanging with the other unmounted stamps.

I didn't have my glasses on when I chose this image. I could tell she was a fairy but couldn't make out what she was holding in her hands. I was assured by the sales clerk it was a chubby little bird. Imagine my surprise when I stamped it out and a frog magically appeared where there should have been a bird!!!

There is ALOT of bling on this card and I chose bright vibrant colors - because the intended recipient is a 9 year old girl. What little girl do you know who doesn't love sparkly, shiny stuff? Purple gemstones, Stardust STICKLES, glittered designer paper really give it that sparkle and shine. Other items I used to create this card were a CUTTLEBUG embossing folder, SU! EGGPLANT ENVY and CERTAINLY CELERY cardstocks, SU! SCALLOPED CORNER PUNCH, COPIC markers, SIGNO WHITE GEL PEN and a few PAPER FLOWERS.

Time to shower and get ready for the work week.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

MOTHER'S DAY, SURPRISES & LAUGHTER

2010-05-09T09:38:00.005-05:00

Happy Mother's Day! For those of you who are blessed enough to still have your mother, I hope you will or have honored her in some special way today. For those of you whose mother is gone from you, I pray that you honor her today with your memories and that those memories bring a smile instead of tears.

The post I had intended for today has changed a bit due to an unexpected gift I found this morning. After I tell you about the gift, the originally intended project will follow.

My son is in the ranks of the unemployed at this time so I knew if there was a gift waiting for me when I woke this morning it would be from my hubby, probably flowers. Instead, I walked from the bedroom to the dining room and found this waiting on the dining room table.

Of course I hadn't put my contacts in so all I could see were colors and recognized it as M&Ms in a dish. THIS is not a hubby gift - this was an "I'm thinking of you, Mom" gift from a son who is almost penniless! What a sweet surprise!

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the card!!! Do you recognize it? It's one I made and posted last week. DS had "borrowed" it from my stash. Of course I laughed. I'm getting one of my own cards for Mother's Day! My next thought had to do with making another card for the person I made this one for but as I lifted it out of the candy bowl I realized how well my son knows me.

Out fell this little note (edited for personal reasons).

He had apparently given thought that this card MIGHT have been made for someone else so he didn't write IN the card but simply used it as a covering for his love note! I absolutely LOVE his sense of humor!!!! LOL!

NOW - for the intended Mother's Day post:

I made this card for my Mother-in-Law.

I used WHISPER WHITE and BRILLIANT BLUE cardsocks, the TEXTILE Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities LABELS FOUR, the Stampin'Up! stamp set LONG STEMMED, COPIC markers, a gold KRYLON pen, ribbon and a button (colored with COPICS) to create this card.

If you look closely you will notice that the gold line is not smooth on the right side of the cardbase. This occurs when you start outlining in gold and realize your pen nib is beginning to deteriorate! I've had my pen for a couple of years now - I'm thinking it's time for a replacement!

Thanks for visiting with me -
Have a wonderful day -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

MASCULINE GRADUATION CARD

2010-05-08T07:04:00.007-05:00

My family has a few graduations this month - a great-nephew from high school, a nephew from high school and a great-niece from 8th grade. Feminine cards are no problem for me but cards for males over the age of 8 are difficult. I like embellishments - but sometimes they frill up a card too much and it comes out looking more girlish than manly - especially if I use ribbon. However, I did use ribbon on today's project and I think it still is suitably masculine.

Another thing I struggle with is gift buying for young men so I knew from the start I wanted to create a card that was a money holder. I used WHISPER WHITE cardstock and cut it to 6" x 9.5". Then I scored across the width at 3" and 6.25". The 3" flap was cut at an angle so that the cash peeks out from the top, right side of the flap.

I used 3 coordinating designer papers from REMINISCE. I chose more formal designs in white, black, and silver. I don't know if you can see it in the photos, but each of the papers have just the slightest shimmer. Very elegant. I also used SU! GOING GRAY as a mat for the front background.

Once I covered the cardbase with designer paper, I applied a very thin line of glue along the left edge of the inside of the flap to help secure the money. Only the top and right edges of the flap remain open.

The graduation greeting on the inside of the card was borrowed from a friend. It is manufactured in 1999 by PSX STAMPS. First I used the EMBOSSING BUDDY on a piece of WHISPER WHITE cardstock then stamped the image in VERSAMARK and heat embossed using BLACK DETAIL embossing powder. I used a SPELLBINDERS NESTABIILITIES CIRCLE to cutout the design then layered it on a larger circle of SU! GOING GRAY! I applied adhesive to the bottom 1/3 of the medallion and adhered it to the flap.

For the embellishments I added a length of silvery-gray and white striped ribbon to help hold the card closed. Normally I don't use ribbon on a masculine card, but this card was too elegant for twine or raffia but I wanted something to hold money secure on the right side so it wouldn't slip out as the card was removed from the envelope. I thought I was safe with a striped ribbon tied in a knot.

The card looked pretty good at this point but I felt it still needed a little "pop". I cut a strip of white computer paper, rolled it up, glued it close to the exposed edge then tied a very tiny length of 1/8" black satin ribbon. VOILA! A very quick and easy diploma. I attached it to the ribbon knot with SU! MINI GLUE DOTS.

Since my great-nephew and nephew are on opposite sides of the family I decided to make 2 of the same card. I liked the results of the first one and besides, it saved me from having to come up with yet another masculine design!

Hope you liked the project today - I certainly enjoyed creating it.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!!!!

Jill

CAS: GENTLER TIMES

2010-05-07T09:48:00.006-05:00

It's Friday!!!!! Yay!!!!! and I have the entire weekend FREE of comittments! THAT IS SO WONDERFUL!!!!! I haven't been very productive this week at home so I'm looking forward to some time in the morning working in the flower beds, doing some cleaning around the house mid-morning and then spending time in the early afternoon with my hubby before he heads off to work. Then what???? You guessed correctly! I'll be off to my studio to play! ALLLLLLL AFTERNOON AND EVENING!

This is the only card I've made all week. I only had a few minutes so it is a quick, clean and simple one. Sometimes that's all we have time for and if you can hit it just right they are beautiful in their simplicity. I think THIS is one of those cards.

The inspriation for this card came from a spool of satin ribbon I have had for evah! I pulled it out of the drawer and decided today was the day it was going to get used. It is a 5/8" wide satin ribbon with a design in PALE PLUM and OLD OLIVE. (I know you don't see the ribbon in the photo - I'll tell you where it is in a while).

In all my years as a SU! Stamper and Demonstrator, I don't think I've EVER used PALE PLUM. I have several sheets of cardstock, don't own the reinker, and have an almost dried up ink pad. But that's the ONLY color that worked with the ribbon so it's the one I used. Now it's retiring and I find that it makes a beautifully soft card and I LIKE it. That figures doesn't it????

Anyway - I stamped an image from SU! GENTLER TIMES onto WHIPSER WHITE cardstock and cut it out using one of the SPELLBINDERS NESTABILITIES. Then I cut a larger shape from the same Nesties set and sponged it with PALE PLUM ink before removing the cardstock from the NESTIE. I used DIMENSIONALS to pop the image up off the sponged piece.

The cardbase is WHISPER WHITE with a piece of PALE PLUM cardstock cut 1/4" smaller on all sides. I cut another piece of WHISPER WHITE cardstock 1/8" smaller than the PALE PLUM piece on all sides, then embossed it with the CUTTLEBUG TEXTILE EMBOSSING folder. The pattern to this embossing folder matches the inspiration ribbon perfectly!

A few more DIMENSIONALS to pop up the center piece and it's finished. Very simple, very elegant.

Where did I put the ribbon? Back in the drawer of course! LOL!

Have a great day and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH

2010-05-03T09:51:00.009-05:00

National Scrapbooking Month Promotion

Promotion Dates: May 1-31, 2010

Place your online order HERE.
Promotion Details:
May is National Scrapbooking Month and in celebration, Stampin'Up! is offering a special promotion: purchase a qualifying scrapbooking stamp set or the My Digital Studio software and receive a FREE package of Designer brads--choose from four designs!

Qualifying products and Designer brads are listed below:

Page Description Item # Wood-Mount Item # Clear-Mount
81 Extreme Elements 115181 $26.95 ---
119 Framed with Love** 114389 $27.95 ---
128 Certified** 113706 $27.95 ---
129 Circle Circus 115778 $28.95 ---
12* Elements of Style 118611 $27.95 120045 $19.95
13* Mementos 119910 $27.95 120105 $19.95
13* Elements de style 119900 $27.95 120099 $19.95
14* Rough Type 118659 $26.95 120072 $18.95
22* Sentimental Journey 118513 $23.95 120075 $17.95
25* First Day 118521 $23.95 120051 $17.95

32* My Digital Studio DVD - 118108 $79.95

*From Summer Mini Catalog
**Last Chance stamp set!

Designer brads (one selection for each qualifying product purchase)
Page Description Item # Price
179 Flower Designer brads 112579 FREE
179 Filigree Designer brads 112577 FREE
179 Circle Designer brads 112571 FREE
179 Star Designer brads 112572 FREE

Things to Remember:
•There are no limits and is no minimum purchase to qualify for this promotion.
•Framed with Love and Certified stamp sets will be part of the 2010 Last Chance list.
•For each qualifying product purchased (see above for details), you will receive one free package of Designer brads.
•A warning will pop up reminding you to redeem your free item(s) if you attempt to close your order without adding them.
•Order deadlines: Monday, May 31, 2010; 12:50 PM (CST)

You can place your online order at my SU!Website: www.jillhaddad.stampinup.net or email me at jhaddad59@yahoo.com.

Thanks so much - Jill

DAISIES OR ASTERS?

2010-05-02T10:20:00.006-05:00

What a question? Who can't tell the difference between a daisy and an aster? Right? But when you look at my card today - you might be a little confused yourself.

My inspiration for this design came from this card . I knew I had that same Cuttlebug Embossing Border but had only used it once. To me, the flower on the embossing border is obviously a daisy. I embossed three strips on whisper white then lightly sponged them in Close to Cocoa, Real Rust and More Mustard (I am going to MISS those ink colors!) I adhered those to a lovely piece of designer paper and put the entire piece on a cardbase of More Mustard. Then I added a lovely length of brown ribbon that has a light shimmer and is trimmed with just a hint of a metallic mustard color.

Now comes the confusing part. The card begged for autumn colors so I chose two autumn colored daisies in coordinating colors and sizes. Punched some mustard branches and created, not a daisy, but an ASTER. Guess I won't be sending this out for a summer birthday!

Oh well, I like the result anyway. The amber color gemstones finish it nicely.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

A TOUCH OF CUTWORK

2010-05-01T12:09:00.004-05:00

I got up at 7:30 this morning to a quiet house. The men were still in bed so I decided that it probably wan't a good time to vacuum or start clanging around in the kitchen putting away the dishes and cleaning up from the night before. In fact, maybe I shouldn't try to clean house at all until AFTER they woke up. One in particular is not a happy camper if he doesn't get ALL his beauty sleep - and I wasn't in the mood for unhappiness on my Saturday morning!

So, I decided to engage in a quiet task: brusing out our Chow/Malamute/Collie mix, Samson. He's blowing coat horribly and I've needed to do it for quite some time but it's always such an undertaking so I keep putting it off. I knew I would have bribe him with treats to get him to sit still. I managed to keep him quiet for about 15 minutes. Then he thought we were playing a game so he started running around the living room and barking at the top of his lungs!!!! No, Samson, do not wake the men!!!! Half a kitchen garbage bag full of fur and I've only finished his head, back and shoulders! Obviously I couldn't do that 'quiet' chore so the only option left to me: STAMP!

I started by embossing a MARIANNE DESIGN stencil onto STAMPIN'UP! WHHISPER WHITE cardstock. Once I finished embossing I cut-out portions of the embossed design. Next I used my STAMPIN'UP! EMBOSSING BUDDY over the cardstock before stamping an image from STAMPIN'UP! WINGS OF FRIENDSHIP in VERSAMARK and heat embossing with a fine detail gold powder.

I used another image from the same stamp set to stamp and emboss the flowers. I colored them using STAMPIN'UP! PRETTY IN PINK ink and an AQUA PAINTER, then cut them out and attached them to the stenciled image.

The pink background was created using STAMPIN'UP! PINK PIROUETTE. I cut the cardstock then used the STAMPIN'UP! SCALLPERD CORNER PUNCH. After punching the corners, I used a CUTTLEBUG embossing folder: TEXTILE to emboss the background. The white mat was also given the same corner treatment.

Each piece was edged in gold using a METALLIC GOLD KRYLON pen before layering the pieces together.

TIP: Make sure to let the pieces completely dry before layering as some gold ink
will pick up on the back of the pieces. (Ask me how I know this!!!!!)

The finishing touches were the little gold beads for the flower centers and the STAMPIN'UP! PRETTY IN PINK satin ribbon (newly released in the current mini catalog).

I'm happy with the way this turned out and will probably use the technique to make more - but you can bet my Christmas Cards won't use this technique. This card took me 3 hours from start to finish. Of course I doubt it would take that long to make another just like it. I couldn't decide for a while on the layout so I played with several papers before coming up with this design. All in all though, it IS very labor intensive so if you don't like detail work - this technique is probably NOT for you.

Thanks for visiting -

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

2010-04-29T06:42:00.009-05:00

Today I have a set of notecards to share with you. I thought they were finished - but now that I'm seeing them on the monitor, I'm thinking I should have gone with my "gut" feeling and added either a length of ribbon with a bow in the bottom right corner, or a set of three matching pearls there. Take a peek and let me know which you think would be best. I can always add them.

Once again I used the FLOURISHES set: WATERLILIES. This image is so beautiful and it's beyond fun to color. It's extremely relaxing. I colored these on a t.v. tray in the living room watching t.v.

I started with the yellow flower. For those of you who know me well, you will be surprised at that because yellow is my least favorite color. Surprisingly though, the yellow card is the one that I like the best. Explain that one! As I usually do, I colored the image first then chose the cardstock/papers and embellishments to go with it. Once I finished the yellow card though, I came up with the idea of the notecard set and began creating the it by selecting 3 additional colors of cardstock from the SU! BOLD BRIGHTS then colored the waterlilies to match the cardstock.

When I color with COPICS, I start with the lightest color first. COPIC certified instructors have you begin with your darker shades and work dark to light but I find when I do that I get waaaaaaay to much shadow and not enough light. So I color the image with my lightest color first, leaving touches of white cardstock uncolored where the sun shine would actually reflect the greatest. Once the lightest shade is put down, THEN I add the darkest color where the sunlight wouldn't reach. Once that is in place, I add my medium shade and bump and blend it right into the darkest shade. After my three shades are in place, I either blend them all together with the lightest shade or I add additional colors - usually contrasting colors - then blend them all together with the lightest shade. For example, I used a very light shade of blue-green in some of the shadow areas on the yellow flower.

The image and the surrounding mat were cut-out using SPELLBINDERS NESTABILITIES CIRCLES. I used one from the large set and one from the small set to acheive an 1/8" mat. If you use 2 consecutive sizes from the same set the mat will be 1/4". The black background was embossed with one of my favorite CUTTLEBUG embossing folders: D'vine Swirls. It is so versatile - and I really think it looks good with water, sea, or windy themed projects.

Right now I have 4 cards for this set. I can't decided if I want to make 2 more in other colors or make 1 more of each of the original 4 and make it an 8-pc set. I also still have to make the box to keep them in. That may be a post for another day!

Thanks for stopping by and

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

LIFE IS A MATTER OF MOMENTS

2010-04-27T06:20:00.007-05:00

Good morning everyone. I have a fairly simple card to share with you today - but there's nothing wrong with simplicity is there? This particular stamped image is so beautiful, I didn't want to detract from it with alot of other embellishments.

I used mostly STAMPIN'UP! product to create this card. The image is from a soon to be released set called Elements of Style. It reminds me alot of the designer paper I used to create THIS card. Also in this set is a stylized hummingbird, a floral flourish and the sentiment "Life is a Matter of Moments". Another soon to be released product from SU! is the Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon.

The main image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on white cardstock, colored with COPICS, then edge-sponged in Ballet Blue. This was matted on a piece of Pretty in Pink Designer Paper and applied to the Bashful Blue cardbase.

The little greeting is also a stamp from the ELEMENTS OF STYLE stamp set. I punched it out with a 1" SU! Circle Punch, colored it with COPICS then edged it in metallic gold ink. It is popped up with a DIMENSIONAL. The finishing touch are the spots of gold STICKLES for the flower centers and on the sides of the greeting.

TIP: Create your own "metal" edge tags by using a KRYLON metallic pen around the outer edge of the cut-out tag.

Thanks for stopping by and for all the posted and emailed comments. I truly appreciate the feedback.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

PARCHMENT CRAFTING - THE HARD WAY!

2010-04-26T06:29:00.005-05:00

I love the lacy look of parchment craft (aka: Pergamano) and wanted to make a few projects with it but unfortunately I don't have the proper tools, the local stores don't carry them, and until recently the only place I could find to order them online was Europe. The only solution to my dilema then was to improvise and much to my delight, I found it IS possible to create a simple design with a couple of tools I already had on hand.

WARNING: there are several errors on this card. Please don't look TOO closely!

I'm sure if I'd had the proper tools this would have been a "cleaner" card. For eg., if I had the 4-point piercing tool instead of the single, the designs between the flowers would be evenly spaced. Or, if I'd had the Pergamano scissors I could have more easily trimmed away around the flowers. Or, if I'd had a piercing grid as large as my design, I would have not had to try and line up the pierced holes around the large flowers - which as you can see, I didn't accomplish very well with the SU! Grid.

All in all though I think it looks pretty good and I'm sure I'll be making more of these in the future. Hopefully though I'll be able to invest in the proper tools soon so that my parchment crafting will be a less "laborious" procedure.

RECIPE:

Vellum

Piercing Tool (with thin point)

Embossing Stylus (small ball end)

SU! Mat Pack

SU! Markers

SU! Paper Snips

Cardstock

Printable Design from the internet

Thanks for visiting with me today.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

WEDDING INVITATION & PROGRAM

2010-04-25T06:30:00.015-05:00

A friend of my son's called me the other day and asked if I could make a sample wedding invitation and program for a class project. I was honored that she thought enough of my work to think of me and immediately began envisioning a formal, all-white invitation. Probably a few layers of embossing with pearls & possibly using one of the SPELLBINDER medallion dies. How fun this would be!!!

Then came the bad news: her colors are red, black, silver & white. Hmmmm. Now to rethink the plan.

Okay - I could still start with an all white cardbase and just lightly accent it with red & black- but what about the silver. It would be too light for the print - BUT - it would be beautiful as an accent on black.

I started with the invitation. I cut my white card base, a piece of black cardstock 1/4" smaller, and another piece of white cardstock 1/4" smaller than the black. Then embossed the white piece using the SU! embossing folder: PETALS A PLENTY.

I stamped a sentiment from SU! HEAVEN SCENT in VERSAMARK onto a piece of black cardstock, heat embossed it in silver then cut it out using the BIGSHOT and a SPELLBINDERS NESTABILITIES. I matted the cutout with a larger cutout of the same shape in red and popped the piece up on the front of the card using DIMENSIONALS. I then finished the outside with a length of white organdy ribbon and bow.

The inside of the invitation was computer generated and printed onto a piece of white cardstock. This was then matted on a piece of black cardstock. I left an inch of black cardstock exposed on the right side of the matted piece. Here I stamped a scrolled image from SU! GENTLER TIMES in Versamark and heat embossed it in Silver.

The program was created to match the invitation. The only variations were the size and the placement of the embossed design on the inside. Because there was print on both sides of the inside of the invitation, I placed the scrolled design at the bottom of each panel instead of on the right side. It just seemed more balanced that way.

The "bride" was thrilled with the results. She is sure she will ace her project now and even told me I should make a career of this! LOL!

Thanks for visiting -

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

HEAVENLY PATTERNS

2010-04-24T06:17:00.005-05:00

This is another card I created while playing along in one of the Splitcoaststampers daily challenges. This one is for the "WAYS TO USE IT" challenge which was to use 2 or more differently patterned papers on the same card. I didn't find this challenging at all because I love to use patterned papers on cards in monochromatic/harmonizing colors.

These papers are from K&Company's "CLASSIC K BAILEY" paper pack. The cardstock is Stampin'Up! GROOVY GUAVA and the sentiment is from on of their retired sets: HEAVEN SCENT. I sponged the edge of the sentiment in SU!CREAMY CARAMEL to make it blend in with the patterned papers. It may be difficult to see in the photo, but the papers are slightly aged with brown distressing.

In regard to retired product, I keep my retired SU! stamps and papers. I know some demonstrators sell theirs out when the product retires - but if I like it I keep it and use it. Believe it or not there are many people who don't like to stamp (I know, I find that hard to believe too, but it's true). When they receive a card from me made with retired product, they aren't going to ask where they can get that paper, embellishment or stamp. Besides which, now that SU! is bringing back some of the retired In-colors - I'm ahead of the game and won't have to re-purchase them! See -being a hoarder CAN payoff regardless of what some new t.v. shows might have you believe. LOL!!!

The glittered floral cut-out is a piece I've had in my "miscellaneous" drawer for a while. The miscellaneous drawer is where I throw all the bits and pieces I prepared for another project and for whatever reason decided it didn't work with the project but was to good to throw away. This glitzy little flower was perfect with these papers and design.

The other embellishments on the card are the lace ribbon, guava pearls and silk flowers. Both the pearls and the red-orange silk flowers were colored with COPIC markers to match the papers and cardstock. Gotta LOVE those markers!!!!

TIP: Don't spend tons of money on different colors of brads, jemstones, flowers, pearls, etc. Buy them in white, use COPICS, and color them to match your papers.

Hope you like the card today. It's a little different design than I normally do - but I really like the result. In fact, there is not one thing about it I don't like and THAT makes me happy indeed.

Have a great day today doing whatever you are doing.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

SAGE & APRICOT GARDEN

2010-04-23T11:06:00.003-05:00

I created this card in response to 2 weekly challenges on Splitcoaststampers. One was a sketch layout. The other was a color challenge using SU! APRICOT APPEAL, SAGE SHADOW, & BASIC GRAY. I love APRICOT APPEAL and SAGE SHADOW and was very sad to learn that they are being retired with the release of the new Stampin'Up! catalog in July. I also love how this designer paper from K&COMPANY is a perfect match for the SAGE SHADOW and that it has hints of APRICOT APPEAL in the lighter colored roses.

The image is from STAMPIN'UP! and is from the set "GARDEN FROM THE HEART". I liked the set the first time I saw it but really didn't know if I would use it much. I think I have answered that question. I really like how it worked with the "rose garden" background. I colored the hat ribbon with SU! Apricot Appeal marker so that the highlights matched the matting, then added shading with COPIC markers. The rest of the image was colored with COPICS. Once I added the shading to the ribbon, the orange jemstones were the right color to add to the card.

The lace is some I've had laying around in a drawer for a looooooong time so I was happy to finally get to use it on something. I even managed to use it on the card for tomorrow's post. Guess once I pulled it out of the drawer, I didn't want to put it back.

A few punched dots around one edge and the card is finished.

TIP: Leave the inside of your cards blank so that you can pull the card from your stash and use it for whatever 'themed' event you need it for: thank you, thinking of you, birthday, get well soon, even a sympathy card for just the right person.

Thanks for visiting.
Until next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

WATERLILIES & GOLDFISH

2010-04-21T20:33:00.007-05:00

I have always loved the beautiful stamp sets from FLOURISHES and have purchased a few from their website. So imagine my delight to find out that one of our local scrapbooking stores, THE KEEPSKAE ELEMENT in Bloomington, IL, is now carrying some of their wonderful stamp sets. Like the one that I used for today's card: WATERLILIES. The artwork is amazing and so much fun to color!

Normally I choose my image, color it, then choose the papers, cardstock and embellishments that coordinate with it. For this card though I started with a scrap of designer paper that a friend gave to me. I loved the color - it matches SU!WILD WASABI perfectly - and the pattern is elegant but not overstated.

I decided I wanted a fairly monochromatic card with just a touch of accent color - never imagining that I would use SU!PUMPKIN PIE as the accent color - but once I colored the image, PUMPKIN PIE was the obvious choice. To color the waterlily, I chose COPIC colors in Y0000, YG00, YGO5, G000 and G29. The fish was colored with Y21, YR16 & YR18. The "water" surrounding the fish uses COPIC colors BG72, BG10, YG05, YG00, and Y0000.

The background cardstock is SU! HANDSOME HUNTER (soon to be pulled off the market) and the smaller piece was de-bossed with the CUTTLEBUG embossing folder D'VINE SWIRLS. The circles were cut using the BIGSHOT and SPELLBINDER NESTABILITIES.

NOW FOR THE REALLY FUN PART: I didn't have any orange embellishments so I created my own by coloring white half-backed pearls with COPIC marker YR16.

TIP: Create your own color coordinating embellishments by coloring white or silver brads, pearls etc. with your COPIC markers. Because they are alcohol based, the color does not come off.

Thanks for taking time to visit me today.

Hope you enjoyed the post.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

MEN AT SEA

2010-04-21T05:50:00.006-05:00

If you are at all like me, you simply DON'T have enough "man cards". Recently my DH asked me in the course of a 2 week period for a birthday card for his BFF and a thinking of you card for a male neighbor. I looked through my stash of more than 300 cards and couldn't find anything suitable! It was time to think like a man - which as we women know is not always an easy task!!!!

This card was created using a CUTTLEBUG embossing folder on SU! BAYOU BLUE cardsotck. This particular EF reminds me of wind and waves so I thought it was a perfect choice for a windy day at sea. The cardbase and matting are SU!CHOCOLATE CHIP cardstock. The blue DP is from a paperpack available at either MICHAELS OR HOBBY LOBBY and is titled: OLD WORLD. The image is one I picked up at a garage sale (the mfr. info is not marked) and is colored with - what else - COPIC MARKERS. The brads in the photo look black, but in reality are aged brass.

I tried to stay with a windy, salty, weathered feel for this card. I think I maintained the theme.

Thanks for popping in today.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

LIFE IS A SYMPHONY

2010-04-20T06:54:00.006-05:00

Thanks for stopping by today. Lately my posts have been sporadic at best - so I'm feeling pretty good about having 2 within the same 7 day period. :)

I made this card for one of my nieces' birthday. She is very musically talented and plays both violin and piano. And of all my nieces she has always been the most "frilly" - loves ruffles and lace.

The image is a free digital design from DOVER PUBLICATIONS and was lightly colored using COPIC markers. The background pieces were cut using NESTABIILITIES. All of the papers and cardstock are STAMPIN'UP! I picked up both the ribbon and the brad from HOBBY LOBBY and tied the bow using the BOW EASY (a great little tool!)

That's all for today -
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

M.I.A.

2010-04-16T11:03:00.002-05:00

Wow! What a month it's been around here. Between health issues and tax preparation, I haven't had time (or energy) for anything - not even the love of my life. No, not my hubby (I always make time for him) but the OTHER love of my life - stamping! Finally this past weekend I was able to get a start on it again and spent last Saturday making cards. Some people might mass produce and get alot of cards done in the 7.5 hours I had, but I managed 6 masculine cards in that amount of time so I was pretty happy about that.

This is one of the cards I made that day. It's a simple design, but I really like the contrast between the curves and right angles.

The cardbase was created using a stamp from SU! WITH GRATITUDE in CHOCOLATE CHIP INK on SU! KRAFT CARDSTOCK. Then I matted a rectangle of striped DP from SU! PARISIAN BREEZE onto a piece of BAYOU BLUE cardstock. I stamped the boot using MEMENTO TUXEDO BLACK ink onto SU! WHISPER WHITE cardstock then cut it out with a SPELLBINDER'S CIRCLE NESTABILITIES so that the boot was off-centered. The edge of the circle is sponged in SU! CHOCOLATE CHIP ink. I stamped a second boot image and colored both images using COPIC markers. I cut out the second boot image and attached it to the circle using SU!DIMENSIONALS, attached the circle to the matted DP, and then adhered the entire center piece to the cardbase. The last step was to add the brads around the edge of the circle.

TIP: To add the metal brads, I used wire cutters and snipped of the prongs off each brad, attached a SU! MINI GLUE DOT to the back of each one and set them in place around the circle. I find this much easier than punching holes evenly around the circle and it creates less bulk under the layers.

The OUTSIDE reads: Dearest Dad
The INSIDE reads: No one can fill your shoes. You're the Best. Happy Father's Day!

Thanks for visiting with me today. Sorry I've been away for so long but hopefully that situation is remedied now.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

NEW RELEASE: JILL'S JEMS EASTER/SPRING 2010 DIGITAL IMAGES

2010-03-10T20:55:00.007-06:00

I finally finished the sketches for these images today and scanned/colored them this evening. As I was in the process of creating these I realized as much as I like to draw, my real PASSION is coloring. I love to see the images come to life as I add layers of color to a white piece of cardstock.

I hope you like the new images. I like them all - but my personal favorite is the bunny stuck in the plastic egg. He just makes me smile.

If you would like to purchase the new images, send me an email (the link is at the top left of this post). Please be sure to state EASTER IMAGES in the subject line so I don't overlook your order. I will invoice you through Paypal ($17.95 for the set)and will email the images to you within 24 hours of payment confirmation.

Thanks so much for your support.

Jill

SWEET TREAT

2010-03-06T08:03:00.007-06:00

Mmmmmm! Cupcakes! I LOVE cupcakes. They are just the right size - not too much cake - not too little. But of course that part doesn't matter for me - because I eat one right after the other! LOL!

I made this card for one of my nieces. She turned 9 this year and she LOVES the color pink. The cardbase is Stampin'Up! Chocolate Chip - theirs is the ONLY colored cardstock I use because of the high quality. I will apologize for the color tint to the photo - my chocolate brown ribbon & paper looks black - couldn't fix it in the photo which is too bad because the card is much richer looking in real life (IRL).

The image, colored with Copics, is from a set by Inkadinkadoo appropriately titled: CUPCAKES. The Designer Paper is also from Stampin'Up! - it is one of the designs from the SENDING LOVE papers in the current Occasions Mini catalog.

My favorite part: the button that makes the cherry on top! Isn't that cute? I'd love to take credit for the idea - but I actually saw it on a card somewhere and stored away the idea for future use.

This was another simple layout - nothing spectacular in design - but all the elements made it a card I was pleased to share.

Totally unrelated to cardmaking is this next photo. I took it last night at sunset and thought it was so pretty I wanted to share it will all of you.

That's all for today - thanks for stopping in.

Jill

FREEBIE FRIDAY: TOP O' THE MORNIN' TO YA

2010-03-05T06:56:00.006-06:00

As promised, today is FREEBIE FRIDAY.

This is Lucky the Leprechaun. He's a jolly, little guy - not so mean and ornery as most leprechauns. And though he's not brought you the pot o' gold, he hasn't arrived empty handed. How about a nice bouquet of clover?

I printed my version of Lucky on GinaK Luxury White cardstock and colored him with Copic markers. The background cardstock is Stampin'Up! Garden Green (what else could I use with leprechauns and clover????) and the Designer Paper is from a pack of "OLD WORLD" designer papers from Hobby Lobby. The little clover in the bottom left corner was created by punching out 4 small, 5-petal flowers then trimming off 3 of the petals leaving a heart shape. I glued 4 to a piece of white cardstock, added a stem, a tiny green button in the center and some shading with Copics.

Right click on the line drawing, save to your computer and have fun coloring. Please remember that if you publish a project using this image - whether in print or online - link back to this blog and provide credit to me as the illustrator.

Enjoy - and until next time

Happy Stamping!

Jill

MY! HOW TIME FLIES!

2010-03-04T08:19:00.007-06:00

I knew it had been a while since I posted anything new here - but I've been busy adjusting to life as a single woman - and after all these years, it's a HUGE adjustment! No, I have not divorced my darling hubby. He has just taken a 2nd shift position at a local hospital and since I work 1st shift our paths cross only when he crawls into bed around 12:30 a.m. and I get out at 5:30 a.m. I FEEL single. You would think since my evenings are TOTALLY free from distraction that I would get TONS of cards & other projects completed wouldn't you - but in reality, I feel unsettled most evenings and can't focus on anything. I think part of it is this LOOOOOOONG Winter we're having here in Central Illinois - I'm so ready for Spring!!!!!

So, all that said, yesterday was a bright, sunny day here and I felt energized for the first time since December! I completed a few drawings for a new digi-image set, I colored some cute PENNY BLACK images, participated in a few online color/sketch challenges and watched 5 episodes of NCIS while I was having fun!

This is a card I made to participate in a couple of the Splitcoaststampers challenges. The first one was the sketch challenge and the other was a color challenge.

All paper product and embellishment on this card is Stampin'Up! I used Basic Gray & Whisper White cardstock, Always Artichoke Brads and an image from a retired stamp set (sorry, but I've forgotten the name this morning). I stamped the image first on Whisper White using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with COPIC markers. Then I stamped the image again on a square of SU! Designer paper in Chocolate Chip Ink and colored it with Copic markers. The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black ink directly onto the Crushed Curry Designer Paper making it look the same color as the Basic Gray Mats. Very quick and easy - but definitely as bright and cheerful as the day I made it.

Here are a couple of other cards I've made recently but didn't have time to post. The images are from my Jill's Jems Valentine 2010 set. Both images were stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (available at Hobby Lobby) and were colored using Copic markers.

The background for "Wanna Monkey Around" is the new DP from Stampin'Up! which is available in the Mini Occasions catalog. The backgroun for Draco the Dragon was created using a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. I love this one with dragons, alligators, snakes etc. It looks so reptilian don't you think????

Thanks for stopping by today and being patient while I adjust to evenings alone. Make sure to stop back by tomorrow - I'm planning a FREEBIE FRIDAY surprise!!!!!

Happy Stamping!
Jill

ROSES IN WINTER

2010-02-19T13:12:00.012-06:00

I realize Valentine's Day is past - but I have been so busy with "life" that I didn't get a chance to post any of my Valentine cards. So, in addition to today's "ROSES IN WINTER", I'm posting a few of the Valentine cards I made for my nieces and nephews.

I made this card to give to a dear friend - but I can't say who it is because she reads this blog (or at least I THINK she does!) It's VERY simple in construction - just a few square layers - no fancy corners, not alot of bling - but I love it!

The image was colored with Copics - 4 shades of reds/pinks on the rose itself - 5 shades of green on the leaves - and about 5 colors on the small flowers. I chose to outline the image in B000 instead of my usual C1 or C3 because the image wouldn't be casting a shadow against blue sky but would actually pick up a little "ghosting" from the sky behind it.

INGREDIENTS:
Bravo Burgundy Cardstock
Pink Designer Paper
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
GinaK 80# Luxury White
Mini Half Pearls

Now for the Valentine cards - I made a BUNCH - but here are just a couple of them.

Of course the images are from
my Jill's Jems Digital Images -
Valentine 2010. My two personal favorites.

Colored with Copic Markers,

The background for Draco the Dragon is a Cuddlebug Embossing Folder which reminds me of reptile skin - so I thought it was a perfect choice for this image.

That's all for today.
Thanks for stopping by and until next time -

Happy Stamping!
Jill

ODDS ARE, THE BUTTERFLIES HAVE IT

2010-02-12T05:54:00.006-06:00

Today's post was made in response to a Splitcoaststampers challenge called WAYS TO USE IT. Sometimes the challenges are very limiting - this time however the only rule was that you had to use ODD numbers of items on your project.

I had just purchased this new stamp from NORTHWOODS RUBBER STAMPS yesterday and thought it would be perfect since it has 3 flowers in it. I stamped it 3 times on GINA K LUXURY WHITE cardstock using MEMENTO TUXEDO BLACK ink then colored one image completely, 2 butterflies from the second image, and one butterfly from the 3rd image using COPIC markers.

The next step was to cutout the butterflies from the 2nd and 3rd images and to apply WATERFALL STICKLES over the entire images. While these were drying, I cut my cardstock, mats and ribbons. I have an irregular sized envelope so I cut my cardbase 5.5" square, then placed the matted, main image so that it sticks out from the top making my finished card 6.25" x 5.5". Once the card was constructed I added WATERFALL STICKLES and STARDUST STICKLES to the main image as well as NUT BROWN FLOWERSOFT to the flower centers.

Once everything was dry, embellishments were added in ODD numbers to fit the challenge: 3 brads along the side, 5 brads in the ecru lace ribbon, 3 colors paper, 3 "ribbons" -although one of the "ribbons" was created using the MARTHA STEWART LATTICE punch.

For those of you who LOVE glitz and glimmer this card should be right up your alley. The photo doesn't do the card justice because the light was so bright that the glitter appears harsh. In reality, it is a soft, subtle shimmer. Quite beautiful in real life.

That's it for me today - I'm off to create some Valentines. Nothing like waiting to the last minute is there?????

Have a great day
and Happy Stamping!

Jill

ANYONE FOR A BUBBLE BATH?

2010-02-11T06:29:00.010-06:00

I've received a few more requests for my "BUNNY" digital image - so in case you missed her the first time - here she is again. You should be able to open a larger version by left clicking on the image then right click and "save as". Enjoy.

This has been one of THOSE days. You know the kind I mean. When you wake up with a plan but apparently God has a different one! That's the kind of day it's been. It started out just fine - up at my regular 6 a.m. alarm, showered, dressed, stopped by Mickie D's for Sweet Tea and Scrambled Eggs and arrived at work by my 7 a.m. start time. Completed most of my day's work by 10 a.m. and then the phone rang.

It was my 27 year old son. He was coming downstairs from what was his bedroom (until he moved out), slipped, and managed to fall over the side of the open section of the stairs catching his foot between the wall and the stair top. He heard something "pop" and he couldn't walk without pain. So leaving my desk a mess and the computer still running I left the office to go pick him up and begin the lengthy process of an ER visit. As it turned out nothing is broken - for which we are EXTREMELY thankful, but he is splinted and using crutches for the next several days.

So, instead of posting this over my lunch hour it seems I MIGHT get it posted by dinner instead.

I have loved this image from House Mouse stamps since I first saw it but I've talked myself out of buying it a dozen times at least. I really never had a card to use it on. Until now that is. A friend of mine is undergoing some neurological testing - hopefully to rule OUT Parkinson's - but everything is up in the air right now. I made this card for him and his wife just as a reminder that when they get tired and worried that it's okay to take a little time away and cast all their cares on the one who has the answers.

CARD INGREDIENTS
SU! Sage Shadow Cardstock
SU! Ruby Red Cardstock
SU! Whisper White Cardstock
K&Company Classic K Bailey Designer Paper
Copic Markers
Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Sponge Daubers
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
SU! Creamy Caramel Ink
SU! Close to Cocoa Ink
SU! Bashful Blue Brads (I think)

Thanks for visiting today -
and Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

SCRAP CARD

2010-02-09T06:30:00.005-06:00

Okay - raise your hand if you're tired of Winter yet? Another Winter storm moved through our area last night with more on the way this afternoon - and while I really don't like to be out on the roads when it's icy and snowy, I sure do enjoy looking at the beautiful scenes the ice and snow produce. Like the one shown below. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago a day or so after an ice/snow storm. I don't know why there were still leaves on some of the trees/bushes but the rusts and reds against the evergreen and blanket of white made for a very pretty picture.

I mentioned yesterday that I needed to make several sympathy cards this week and this is another of those. This is the one I am sending to the husband of the deceased and it is made almost entirely of scraps that were laying on the desktop from other cards & projects.

I used scraps of DP from K&Company as well as pieces of cardstock in Sage Shadow, Ruby Red and Very Vanilla from Stampin'Up! The rectangular pieces were pierced around the top,bottom and left edges and all the scraps were sponged using Chocolate Chip ink and the sentiment was stamped in the same color. This is the first time I've used brads following a circular pattern and I definitely like the effect. I really wanted to dress this up a little more but then decided that it was just right for a man. No frills - no ribbons.

I'm on my way to the kitchen here at work. My freezing fingers and shivering body are calling out for something besides sweet tea. Hmmmm - maybe HOT CHOCOLATE. Perfect for this cold, winter's day.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and enjoy the rest of your day.

Jill

IN SYMPATHY

2010-02-08T06:32:00.010-06:00

Unfortunately, I found that I needed to make some sympathy cards this weekend. The father of one of my oldest friends (not in age but in time known) passed away on Monday last week. Then one of my mother's closest friends passed away on Wednesday. These two cards were made for my friend and her mother. The sympathy card for the spouse of my mother's friend will be included in tomorrow's post.

I'm always surprised how different two cards can look even though the same layout - and in this case the same stamp - is used. Placement of a few embellishments and a change in color really make a HUGE difference to the overall "feel" you can achieve. The card on the right feels more "homespun" and "earthy" while the one on the right I perceive as elegant and totally feminine even though it's in shades of blue and green.

For both cards I used the same stamp from Anna Griffin Stamps. The card on the left uses Ruby Red & Very Vanilla Cardstock from Stampin'Up! as well as Designer Paper from K&Company. The image was stamped using Real Rust Ink and lightly colored with Copic markers. SU! Ruby Red Brads and a sheer ribbon in a rusty red were added to finish.

The card on the right uses Stampin'Up! Sage Shadow and Whisper White cardstock. The image is stamped using Sage Shadow ink. The Designer Paper is from My Minds Eye - Laundry Line. One small piece of 1/8" blue/green ribbon was added as the accent to complete the card.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my 2 versions of the same layout. Stop in tomorrow to see the sympathy card I made with table scraps.

Thanks for visiting -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

ELEGANT ANNIVERSARY & CREATIVE SPACES

2010-02-07T14:44:00.006-06:00

Yesterday was my 28th wedding anniversary and it was a wonderful day. I was invited to my best friend's house to "play" all day and then invited, along with my DH, to stay for dinner as well. The entire meal was a melt-in your mouth taste sensation - prime rib, green beans with roasted almonds, and honey-buttered potatoes. My favorite though was the potatoes. So much so that they are on our menu tonight!

Prior to dinner Cindy and I spent the day in her craft room (see photos below) and I actually managed to create 6 cards during the early afternoon and after dinner. I will be posting these cards throughout this week. Today's card is the first one I made yesterday though. My hubby's anniversary card. I love how elegant it looks.

The cardbase is CHOCOLATE CHIP. The image is a retired image from STAMPIN'UP! called TRUE LOVE. I stamped in Versamark then heat embossed in gold. I chose this particular image because the flourishes around the heart and flowers reminded me of the flourishes on this gorgeous paper by THE PAPER STUDIO. The paper and the ribbon are available at Hobby Lobby. I left one end of the ribbon loose and cut a "v" making two pointed ends then rolled the ends and attached it to the card with a gold brad. It's a little difficult to see in the photo but it really adds to the effect IRL.

A very simple, but extremely elegant card and one that can be completed in under 5 minutes! It's amazing what a little DESIGNER PAPER can do!!!!

Here are the photos of the wonderful creative space I was priveleged to get to use yesterday. I couldn't get it all in one photo but hope you can see the "L" created by the 3 different works stations.

Thanks for visiting -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

WHAT'S THAT IN DOG YEARS????

2010-02-06T07:49:00.006-06:00

My son celebrated his 27th birthday a few days ago and he received this ADORABLE card from his aunt in the mail. I thought it was so cute I wanted to share it with all of you. Not only is the Whipper Snapper Image such a cheerful one - but the color combination is so striking and the layout is perfect for a masculine card. Not to many embellishments - just a few hard metal pieces to say "This is a man card!"

Since I have not had a chance to ask her about the Designer Paper I cannot confirm the Manufacturer - but odds are it's from Stampin Up! The cardstock pieces are definitely from STAMPIN'UP! and are DUSTY DURANGO and REAL RUST. If you haven't put these two colors together yet - DO IT! They are gorgeous together!

I haven't been posting for a while as I've been updating my house a little. This is my "new" living room. What a difference curtains and a plant can make!!!! I love to sit in there now - it feels so warm and cozy - but hopefully I will get back in my studio this week and not "veg out" in my recliner.

VALENTINE'S DAY is just around the corner. Make sure to check out my VALENTINE 2010 set of DIGITAL IMAGES - it's not too late to order them for this year's projects.

I hope you enjoy your day - after a bit a nasty business this morning (a visitation) I am going to my friend, Cindy's house to play all day and then have a delicious meal that she's prepared for my hubby and me in honor or our 28th wedding anniversary!

Thanks for visiting -

and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

CHILDREN AT PLAY

2010-01-28T21:16:00.007-06:00

I made this card to participate in two challenges taking place this week. One is on SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS and is the WAYS TO USE IT CHALLENGE #255. In this challenge we were to use some type of textile on our project. I chose red fabric with tiny white polka dots and creamy colored muslin. The second challenge is the MOJO MONDAY BLOG SKETCH CHALLENGE #123.

I began by stamping the WORD BY WORD background stamp from STAMPIN'UP! onto the muslin fabric using MEMENTO TUXEDO BLACK INK then trimmed and mounted it onto BASIC BLACK cardstock. Next I stamped the little girls at play image from GREAT IMPRESSIONS stamp company onto a piece of GINAK LUXURY WHITE cardstock using the same ink, then added little red flowers with a STAMPIN WRITE marker from SU! This image was mounted on mats of REAL RED and BASIC BLACK cardstock the glued to the fabric using SNAIL ADHESIVE.

The background is REAL RED cardstock that was stamped with an image from the new STAMPINUP! set - VINTAGE VOGUE.

My favorite part of the card is the RUFFLED, LAYERED FLOWER. I was going to give step by step instructions on making the flower but found this great video by Dawn McVey. So really, why reinvent the wheel when someone else has already done it and done it well. (NOTE: mine looks different because I added a couple more layers and used heavier paper.)

Thanks for stopping by today - and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

WELL WATERED GARDEN

2010-01-27T21:02:00.010-06:00

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs and will strengthen you. You will be like a well-watered garden - like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

I drew this image about a year and a half ago while sitting with my sister-in-law while she battled colon cancer. She lost her battle with cancer - but never lost her faith in God. In fact, her illness strengthened her faith. At the time I drew it I did not know this scripture, I only knew that LuAnn loved flowers and working in her "garden" - which for her was her entire yard - and the watering can and pansies seemed to express her inner spirit.

The image is a JILL'S JEMS digital image and was printed on GINAK LUXURY WHITE cardstock and colored with COPIC markers. The ribbon is a $1 spool from Michael's and the double bow was created using the BOW EASY. The background cardstock colors are BARELY BANANA, and PURELY POMEGRANATE. The designer paper is from the LAUNDRY LINE by MY MIND'S EYE and was purchased at Hobby Lobby. I added a pearl to the ribbon for a little "pop".

The WATERING CAN AND PANSIES digital image is available for purchase for $3. If you would like to purchase this or any of my other digital images just send me an email. You can see all available images at JILL'S JEMS DIGITAL IMAGES.

Thanks for stopping by -

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

ARE YOU READY????

2010-01-27T08:13:00.009-06:00

Are you ready for Valentine's Day? Do you have your cards and treat bags made? If not, there is still time to order any (or all) of my Valentine 2010 Digital Images. I have plans to make M&M treat bags using the "I'm NUTS about you Squirrel". As soon as I have a few minutes that is!

In the meantime I wanted to show you this GORGEOUS valentine card made by my new friend, Melanie Risk. She used my HOGS N KISSES image and made them appear sophisticated.

Isn't the detail on this card AMAZING???? and what about the fold? How cool is that??? If you have a little time you really should check out her gallery. Her work is wonderful and she has fantastic ideas for layouts, color, embellishments, etc.

Thanks for visiting today - and if you've made a Valentine using any of my digital images, I would LOVE to see what you've done. Send me a link to your gallery or blog, or send a photo to my email.

Until Next Time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

WANNA MONKEY AROUND?????

2010-01-26T18:13:00.006-06:00

No - that's NOT really an invitation - it's the sentiment for the card I'm sharing today.

This is Monty the Monkey - another of my digital images available for purchase - and he's just in time for Valentine's Day. My favorite part of this image is the way he's fingering his ear. Isn't that just like a monkey????

As I usually do with digital images, I've printed this one on GinaK Luxury White cardstock and colored it with Copic markers then added highlights with a Signa White Gel Pen from Stampin'Up!

The color combination I chose for the card was today's Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge: Blush Blossom, Pretty In Pink, Melon Mambo and any neutrals of your choice - mine being white and Chocolate Chip.

I tied raffia around two opposing corners - one is tied in back and the other in front. I added buttons then frayed the raffia that was tied in the front.

Quick, easy and cute as a monkey's ----face!

If you're interested in purchasing any of the digital designs simply shoot off an email and let me know which one's you would like. You can see all the Valentine designs at Jill's Jems Digital Images.

Thanks for visiting with me today.
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

NOSE TO NOSE COMBAT

2010-01-21T18:34:00.007-06:00

Here is another of the Valentine digital images. You will recognize the inspiration for this if you are at all familiar with Whipper Snapper Designs. I love their kissing pigs and was inspired to create my own after seeing the image on their website. I drew pigs kissing while standing with arms wrapped around each other and sketched out a variety of different ideas but I just wasn't satisfied with anything other than this image of the pigs - nose to nose. This image just makes me smile.

The image is printed from my EPSON ARTISAN 710 printer then colored with Copic markers. I played along with a Splitcoaststampers challenge today which was called "CUT IT OUT". Sticking with the Valentine theme I used the new Designer Paper from Stampin'Up! as the background. I sponged the edges in Cameo Coral and Ruby Red then matted it on Real Red and Whisper White cardstock. As part of the SCS challenge I used a craft knife and cut-out the heart behind the pigs to let the Designer paper show through. Red buttons tied with red & white gingham ribbon cover the hearts on the pigs' "behinds". Pink Velour Ribbon and red & white gingham ribbon are tied around the card then a punched, sponged flower was popped up with dimensionals and topped with a red button.

All images can be viewed and purchased HERE. You can purchase the images individually for $3 each or the entire set for $17.95.

Thanks for visiting -

and until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

SNEAK PEEK DAY 3: YOUR LOVE MELTS MY HEART

2010-01-19T17:57:00.009-06:00

Its day 3 of my digital image sneak peeks - and today is one of my favorites. The image popped into my head and the greeting followed just as quickly. Meet DRACO. Isn't he cute?????

The image was printed onto GinaK Luxury White cardstock with my Epson Artisan Printer. I LOVE THIS PRINTER!!!!!!!! I colored the image with Copic Markers then sponged the edges in SU!Summer Sun and Green Galore. It is matted with SU! Garden Green and Eggplant Envy cardstock. The designer paper is from MY MINDS EYE and the greeting is computer generated. The purple fiber and the red Dew Drops I picked up at local craft stores.

That's it for day 3. Come back Thursday to see a couple more sneak peeks at the images then on Friday pop-in to get a glimpse of the full set of Valentine images.

Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

VALENTINE SNEAK PEEK - DAY 2

2010-01-17T19:14:00.009-06:00

Today is day 2 for the sneak peek of my digital Valentine images - so without further ado - here's MONTY - Monty the monkey that is.

Each of the Valentine images comes with a coordinating sentiment. I personally LOVE this set. I think Monty is ADORABLE with his huge ears and heart shaped nose and the sentiment makes me smile.

Monty is printed onto luxurious white cardstock and colored with alcohol based markers then cut out using Spellbinders Nestabilities. The card base is SU! Chocolate Chip cardstock and covered with designer paper from the Laundry Line set by My Minds Eye. I punched a border along both sides of a strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock using one of the new scallop border punches from SU! then laced a length of yellow and brown fibers through the openings. The leaves were punched using the Martha Stewart leaf punch. Yellow pearlized buttons finish the card.

Originally I was going to put the greeting on the inside of the card so I centered the image - but then realized you wouldn't be able to see the greeting as easily on the INSIDE of the card so I added the greeting using Photoshop after the photo was taken. If I were actually to put the greeting on the front like this I would definitely move the image up so that it is off-center.

Thanks for looking and stay tuned. One day this week there will be another FREEBIE that will only be available for 24 hours then it will be added to the set for purchase.

Until tomorrow -
Happy Stamping - or maybe I should say Happy Computing now. It just doesn't sound right though does it????

Jill

SNEAK PEAK - VALENTINE'S DIGITAL IMAGES

2010-01-17T08:50:00.004-06:00

The other night I visited the Whipper Snapper website and sat and coveted all the wonderful stamps they offer. I don't know if you are familiar with their stamps or not - but they are ADORABLE. Cute, colorful, whimsical. I've been a fan for a LONG time and own one or two - but honestly the price for a single stamp keeps me from purchasing many of them. There used to be a stamp store in Peoria that carried the line in the store so from time to time I could get one there - but when I go online, I WANT SO MANY of them it's too expensive and I can NEVER decide on JUST ONE! So what a girl to do?

Well, this girl heard a still, small voice in the back of her head saying, "I didn't give you artistic ability so you could spend all your money on other people's work. DRAW YOUR OWN IMAGES!!!" (Actually - it was a voice a little louder than a still, small voice.) So, inspired by the whimsical nature of Whipper Snapper Designs I began to draw some Valentine images. I think you will probably notice where that inspiration came from in a couple of the designs. The idea was not original on a couple - but the DESIGN is - so it is legal. Besides which - how many people really have ORIGINAL ideas anyway right????

This first image is 100% original though - from concept to completion. Welcome 'CUDDLEBUG'!

I printed the image using my Epson Artisan 710 printer onto GinaK Luxury White Cardstock (yummy!) and colored it with Copics. I made a list of the colors used - but sorry - I've misplaced it. I added Stardust Stickles to the wings to make them appear translucent and shimmery like bugs wings often are. The background cardstock and designer paper are from Stampin'Up! and the sentiment is the corresponding digi-stamp available with this set. I had this purple fiber - picked it up YEARS ago and thought it added to the whimsical feel of the image then added the lavendar polka dot bow and button. I know you can't tell in the photo but the ribbon has the same shimmer as the wings on the image.

I hope you'll stay tuned for more sneak peeks from this set. So far I have 7 images and corresponding sentiments created - but there may be more - and there will DEFINITELY be at least ONE FREEBIE from the set available for a limited time when I release the set.

Thanks for visiting today and to you wonderful women out there who are supporting me (literally and figuratively) by purchasing my images - THANK YOU!!!! Your support means so much to me.

I'm off to church now - Hope you all have a beautiful day.

And until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

HUGS N KISSES

2010-01-15T21:45:00.006-06:00

Regarding yesterday's post - I need to make a correction and also request that KAREN send me an email so I can send "BUNNY" your way. My email addy is located at the top of the right side bar of my blog.

Now, about the correction: Stampin'Up! has NOT discontinued their wood mount stamps. When I edited my blog entry before posting it I changed the wording a little and forgot to add "DIS" to continued - and really ended up confusing some people. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.

Now - onto today's post. This isn't a new concept - but still cute - so I thought I'd share it. I made a matchbox style box using Stampin'Up!Brilliant Blue and Green Galore cardstocks. The candies are Hershey Nuggets and are covered with white labels stamped in the same colors with large alphabet stamps that I picked up several years ago at that WONDERFUL local craft store. You know the one I'm talking about!

The stamp set is one of those classics that I just can't get rid of "LOADS OF LOVE". Of course I did actually sell the stamp set once because I NEVER used it - then within a few weeks of selling it I came up with several ideas for it and had to re-order it. I took a LOSS on the first set so now I'm VERY careful about selling out any of my sets. Which is why I'm out of storage room.

Anyway - this is a quick and cute treat for the boys in your life on Valentine's Day. My nephews loved them!

If you're up for more digi-stamps keep your eyes open - I sketched out 6 new designs today and will be posting them in time for Valentine's day. Don't miss the post because there is sure to be at least one of the designs available as a FREEBIE for a day or two.

Have a great day -
and Happy Stamping.

Jill

NEW DIGI-STAMP AND SU! PRODUCT REVIEW

2010-01-13T20:59:00.006-06:00

Introducing: BUNNY

Bunny is my newest digital image - and is available for FREE to anyone that asks for her. If you would like to have a digital copy of the stamp please leave a request/comment at the bottom of this post (make sure to include your email) or send me a private email and just include the word "BUNNY" in the subject line. All I ask in return is that you credit me as the artist if you post the image on any website, submit a work with the image for publication or use the image in any public display or forum. Did you notice the chick peeking out from the cracked egg? Is he too cute?????

I used Copics to color the image - but I didn't have any cardstock at the office - so I actually made a reduced copy on a photocopier of my pen and ink drawing on Multipurpose paper. Surprisingly the black lines didn't smear - but the Copics didn't blend as easily on the multipurpose paper as they do with GinaK Luxury White or even SU! Whisper White.

Okay - now on to the SU! NEW PRODUCT REVIEW!

The second card I'm posting was a quickie I made before work yesterday morning. I received my Stampin'Up! Occasions Mini and Sale-a-brations order Tuesday evening, but by the time I got off work and finished running my errands it was time for NCIS on t.v. Now you have to understand that 6 nights out of 7 I don't watch t.v. - but on Tuesday nights the t.v. has my FULL attention. So even though I opened the box with all the SU! goodies inside, I did not play with any of the new product.

Has anyone out there tried the new SU! rubber stamps to use with acrylic blocks? What did you think about them? They have some definite ADVANTAGES - such as easier to store, smaller cases, same great deeply etched rubber, lower price per set, picture of each stamp in the set on the front of the cover as well as a label for each individual stamp. I found a couple of things about them I didn't like - the main one being that you have to mount the stamp each and every time you use it. While this isn't a terrible disavantage for most of the stamps - the word/phrase stamps I found to be troublesome. Because the stamps are not clear (like acrylic stamps) it is difficult to see if your words are in a straight line (which mine were NOT on the card above.) With a wood mounted stamp once you have it straight you never have to mess with it again - not so with these. I also didn't think they were "sticky" - especially the smaller stamps (like the leaf in Vintage Vogue). They are definitely not a sticky as the clear acrylic stamps. In fact, the stamp actually fell off the block once while I was inking it. But maybe I just didn't press it onto the block hard enough. Best scenario is that you should try them for yourself. Fortunately for me, Stampin'Up! has not discontinued their wood mount stamps. I've decided to pay the extra price and stick with the wood mounts from SU! and use CLEAR acrylic stamps with my acrylic blocks.

I also received a corner punch and a border punch in the new punch styles. I love the new designs. I also like the actual design of the punch and that they are easier to store. I found them a little less "user- friendly" than the old style punches though. I liked the levers on the old style - they fit just right in my hand and I could easily punch with just a squeeze of my thumb. I didn't find the new style as easy to hold while punching. The corner punch especially just didn't seem to fit my hand and just didn't "feel" as comfortable as the old style. THAT of course is probably more due to personal preference and individual "feel". Again, the best way to know if you will like them is to try them out for yourself. Get hold of your Stampin'Up! Demonstrator and schedule a workshop or see if you can stop by her house and give them a try.
I also ordered the new Designer Series Paper in the Occasions Mini. LOVE IT!!!!! For you fans of bling and glitter, elements on one side of each page are LIGHTLY highlighted with irridescent glitter. The second side is glitter free. Perfect for those Valentine's cards and projects.

So that's the review - but truly, you should check these products out for yourself and see how you like them.

Don't forget if you would want BUNNY leave a comment here (with your email address) or send me an email at jhaddad59@ yahoo.com.

Thanks for visiting
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

PRAY FOR HAITI

2010-01-13T20:41:00.003-06:00

"...pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was (hu)man, just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years." James 5:16b-17

If you would, please take time to pray for the people of Haiti - God works through the prayers of His people. Pray for aid to arrive quickly, pray for food, water and shelter to be provided - quickly. Pray for those that are missing to be found - quickly - and for the families of those who perished to be comforted. Please pray for the lives and safety of Mike Moise, Meajeanne and Schneider - residents of the Port-au-Prince area and former Haitian foster children of my brother and his family.

In the wake of this tragic catastrophe and the sudden realization that these children, that were part of our family for a time, could be among the 100's of thousands who have died, has made posting a card seem a little frivolous.

Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the people of Haiti.

Jill

MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY

2010-01-11T20:58:00.010-06:00

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

I created this card using the Mojo Monday Sketch #121 . I enjoy using these sketches to get my creative juices flowing when my mojo has dried up. They are always well designed and certainly help get me motivated to put ink to paper.

The image for this card is a Penny Black image in acrylic stamp medium. Doesn't he look happy and joyful of heart? I think he's adorable - but then if you've been reading my blog for awhile - you know that I really like frogs, turtles and snowmen. I have fond memores of dear old Phineas!

I stamped the image on SU! Whisper White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers then sponged around the image with Stampin'Up! Dye inks in Almost Amethyst, Lavendar Lace and Eggplant Envy. Once colored I applied Crystal Effects to make him appear "slimy" - even though I can attest to the fact that frogs really aren't slimy at all.

The background paper is from The Paper Stuido and was purchased at the local craft store as was the ribbon, Prima flowers and purple polka dot brad.

So what causes your heart to leap for joy? What song are you carrying in your heart today? I hope it's a happy tune.

God Bless
and Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

CELEBRATE LIFE

2010-01-11T05:44:00.006-06:00

"I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. " Plans to prosper you and and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29: 11. That was my sister's favorite verse several years ago as she was preparing to move from our quiet little Central Illinois town to South Africa to work as a medical missionary. She knew noone there, there was no established ministry but yet she was willing to follow God's call to serve the people dying of AIDS in a place most of us would BEG not to have to visit much less live. She was willing to leave her son and grandchildren, her family and friends, because she believed God had a plan. A plan for Africa, a plan for the needy there, and a plan for her. Six months before she was to leave, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I sat beside her as she received her diagnosis. First came the blank look. Then the shock. Then quiet tears welled up in her eyes. I was devastated. I was worried. The thought of losing her caused my head to spin. I could only imagine HER heartbreak and fear. As the doctor stepped out of the room, I turned to her. With the tears in my eyes blurring her sweet face, I reached for her hand and again felt shock as she spoke, "I won't get to go to Africa" she stated quietly. Unbelievable! Her concern was not for herself, that she could possibly die from this cancer in her body, her concern was that this disease would interfere with her heart's desire: to bandage the sick and dying in Africa.

That was more than 4 years ago. My sister, who has suffered losses that are impossible to imagine, has faith beyond anything I have ever experienced or seen. She underwent surgery in June 2005, then a course of radiation and some chemo and continued to work and plan for her future - because she KNEW God had a plan for her. She left January 4, 2006, cancer free, to fulfill that plan. This is the birthday card I made for her that year. It was a celebration - a celebration of her life, a celebration of her future, and a celebration of her call.

I don't know the name of the stamp or even the company that manufactures it. I found it in a local stamp store that has since gone out of business. As soon as I saw it though it spoke the name of my sister in my heart. The joy, the fervor, the celebration, the freedom of the dance reflected all that she is within.

The cardbase is basic black heat embossed with gold. The background behind the dancers is white glossy cardstock with dyebased inks in red and yellow with a touch of gold metallic ink for a little pop. I used STAZON black ink to stamp the image then finished with several gold, square brads to add dimension.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for - but while we're here, we might as well dance."

Thanks for visiting -
and Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

WELCOME TO THE WORLD

2010-01-10T06:40:00.008-06:00

I was looking through some old cards I've made and came across this sweet little card and wanted to share it today. It's almost fits the CAS (Clean and Simple) category - but the card layers may keep it from actually fitting that category completely.

When I first started stamping - back in 2004 I think - Stampin'Up! had this sweet little set called "BABY FIRSTS". It contained images of this cute little almost bald baby doing all the things a baby would do. Smile, Eat, Bathe, Crawl, Scream, etc. I loved it from the start and have kept it to this day. It's a classic.

I used a pink glittered polka dot paper on a white card base. The border was created with specialty scissors on alternating layers of pink and white cardstocks. The ribbon is 3/4" sheer pink with a gold metallic thread.

The baby medallion was created using an image from the BABY FIRSTS stamp set. It was colored with a PRETTY IN PINK marker and a flesh toned colored pencil then glitter was added to the clothing to coordinate with the glittered polka dots on the background. She was popped up onto alternating layers of PUNCHED pink and white circles and then tied to the ribbon with a gold thread.

A very quick card to make but one with some visual impact.

Hope you liked it.
Until Next Time -
Happy Stamping.
Jill

NON-TRADITIONAL VALENTINE

2010-01-09T18:41:00.005-06:00

The card I'm sharing today didn't start out to be a Valentine card. It really didn't even start out to be a card at all - I was just in the mood to color and since I had to back-up 2 years worth of photos to disks today I decided to color while waiting for the photos to burn to the disks. I rummaged through containers of my loose stamps and came across this one. (And it is NOT crooked. I just layed the card on a piece of the background paper to take the photo and didn't straighten it before taking the photo. The cardbase is the rim of chocolate chip cardstock.)

I love the House Mouse stamps and the bunnies are just as cute. I colored this adorable image with my Copic markers then used Spellbinders Nestabilities to cut it and the chocolate chip border. I then sponged around the edge of the Whisper White circle in Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Real Rust, Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard. The background paper is from a paper pack of Old World Style papers I purchased from a local store.

I saw this ribbon treatment on a card a while back on the internet and liked it so much I wanted to use it with this layout. The button is adhered with a dollop of crystal effects.

It's not exactly a traditional valentine - but for those of you out there who don't like red, this might stimulate your creative energy.

Thanks for visiting-
Until Next Time
Jill

Helloooooooooo - Anybody out there????

2010-01-07T17:19:00.007-06:00

I wasn't sure if anyone still stops in to visit my blog anymore because - well quite honestly - I haven't stopped in to post! I have been taking a much needed "break" from creative pursuits to focus on some other areas of my life that have been taking a backseat for the past couple of years. My goal in 2010 (not a resolution because I don't keep those anyway) is to try to maintain a balance between the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and creative parts of my life so if I don't post anything new for a week or two (or even three) don't worry - I'm probably still alive just otherwise engaged.

So, like the majority of the Central & Eastern United States, Illinois got hit with a Winter storm last night and it continues today. I'm pretty sure we got at least 9" here where I live and it is still lightly snowing. I didn't mind though - it allowed me to sleep in past my 5 a.m. alarm, stay in my jammies all day (no kidding!), and play a little in my studio.

I made two cards today but I will only show you one. The first one I made is a replica of a Nintendo DSI - and it is VERY plain and boring - but my 9 year old nephew will love it!!!! The second card I made was a bit of an experiment. A friend of mine gave me a wallpaper book a while back and it is filled with textured wallpaper. I began this card by choosing a page from that book - it is a peach, rough-textured piece - almost like rough, painted plaster. As soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to use a rose for the main image and either CHOCOLATE CHIP or HANDSOME HUNTER cardstock for the cardbase. When I went searching for ribbon I only had 3/4" satin ribbon in CERTAINLY CELERY so I chose HANDSOME HUNTER as the base.

The next "little" problem is that none of the rose stamps I own seemed to work with the card I envisioned. I recently purchased an Epson Artisan 710 photo printer and decided to see if my Copic markers would work on the Epson Photopaper without it getting sticky like most other photo papers. I printed out 2 rose images that I had saved to my computer onto the photo paper and then began coloring with the Copics. WORKS LIKE A DREAM!!!! I colored the images, cut them out and then popped them up onto a background from a second sheet of wallpaper.

The bow was made using my BOW EASY and attached with a glue dot and crystal effects. The finishing touch is the gold rimmed, porcelain rose medallion in the center of the ribbon. It was one of a pair of earrings I purchased a couple of years ago at a garage sale for 10 cents.

The layout is reversed from how I planned it - SOMEONE put it all together upside down and when SOMEONE tried to fix it the ribbon was stuck and wouldn't budge!!!!! Fortunately I hadn't glued the bow down yet though so I was able to turn it around so the tails are at least going in the right direction! If it weren't "stuck" I would also have moved the ribbon up just a little so it wasn't dividing the card exactly in half. Overall - I like it even if it's not just exactly how I originally "saw" it.

Hope you enjoyed the post today.

Until next time -

Happy Stamping.

Jill

Getting a Head Start

2009-12-28T09:04:00.010-06:00

Good morning everyone! I'm officially on vacation this week (though I do have to go in for a few hours tomorrow to do payroll) and I'm trying to get a "head start" on the New Year. Not that I'm in a hurry or anything - I'm just waaaaaaay behind in my scrapbooking, computer file organization and tax preparation for my stamping business. So last night I started my 2009 digi-scrapbook - and what better place to begin than at the end with the new Christmas photos.

Santa Claus always makes an appearance at my husband's family Christmas and EVERY family member has his or her turn sitting on Santa's lap to open presents. This page is a collage of my husband's parents, my hubby, all of our nieces and nephews on his side (except Andrew who is serving our country in Dubai) and a couple of my sister-in-laws. My favorite photo of the day is the large center photo in this page. My sister-in-law from Texas wanted an outdoor photo with Santa (my son in costume). He unexpectedly grabbed her up and acted as if he were going to dump her over the porch rail into the snow. She was laughing so hard her nose is all wrinkled!

It was a lovely Christmas with his family this year. All of my hubby's siblings were together in the same place for the 1st time in 17 yrs. so I made it a point to get a photo of my in-laws and their children. My DH is in the back row - 3rd from the left. Isn't he cute??? He's getting so gray now I think he should play Santa next year. Look at those rosy cheeks - don't you think he could do it?

Speaking of DH - his birthday is the day after Christmas so in the midst of all that hustle and bustle we always have to remember to celebrate his birthday too. I made this card for him and instead of a birthday cake (he's diabetic), my sister-in-law, Giselle, made him a wonderful, Lebanese breakfast treat called Knefay. It's made with white cheese, semolina and toasted wheat or bread crumbs and baked. While it's still warm you drizzle a little sweetened rose syrup over it. Mmmmmmmm!!!! It's delicious. In fact, I have a piece waiting for me in the kitchen as soon as I finish this post.

I used almost all Stampin'Up! product on this card. The cardstock is Kraft, Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue. I hope the colors look true on your computer monitor becaue this color combination is really pretty. The stamps are Special Day Background Stamp, Lovely as a Tree, and Itty Bitty Backgrounds all stamped in Chocolate Chip Dye Ink. The ribbon and copper brads were purchased at a local craft store.

Thanks for taking a few minutes of your day to check out my life. I hope your Christmas was as nice as our was and that you enjoyed your day- whatever you were doing and whoever you were with.

Until Next time -

happy stamping.

Jill

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

2009-12-24T14:53:00.011-06:00

If you are going to be as busy as I am tomorrow you won't be touching your computer - so thought I'd better get my Christmas Wish out to you today. I hope your day will be filled with love, family, friends, good food, wonderfully wrapped presents and the Spirit of the Living Lord - JESUS.

This past Saturday I hosted a customer appreciation luncheon for all of my wonderfully supportive customers. Out of 14 who said they would be able to make it, 12 attended and I hope had a fun day eating, visiting and getting creative with the make n take project which was this little snowflake candle and gift box. These are very easy to make and make delightful little gifts.

The photos below are just a few that I took at the luncheon.

Our yummy lunch. BBQ, scoops with cheese and spinach dips, cookies, candies and beverages.

Mmmmmm! Don't these look delicious??? My favorites are the no bake peanutbutter & chocolate cookies -Oh - and the SNICKER bars, peppermint chocolate bark and the little gingerbread cookies. The divinity was okay - but I'm not a fan.

This is a photo of 2 of the place settings. Each person received a little thank you gift with a card and blueberry flavored candy cane.

Inside each gift bag was a little snowman figurine. Most were the "sitter" snowmen - aren't they adorable???? I should have gotten one for myself because I think they are so cute - but sadly I didn't think of that until later and by that time they were all gone.

Thanks for visiting today on this rainy Christmas Eve (at least it's rainy in East Peoria, IL). Christmas Blessings to each of you.

Jill

MOONLIT CHRISTMAS

2009-12-16T07:14:00.008-06:00

Sorry I haven't been posting lately - I haven't been sloughing off though. I have been busily working away on gifts and cards but couldn't post them because I didn't want the recipients seeing them online before receiving them in person. That's like giving a sweater that 70 people have already worn - just NOT the thing to do!!!! LOL! I THINK I am safe to show this card though as I have sent out my Christmas cards and hopefully the recipient of this one already has it and opened it.

I created the main image for this card some time ago - maybe even last year (I am old now and can't remember things as well as I used to) - but did not use it for the card I was making. When it came time to mail my Christmas cards this year I found I was short 22 cards. I don't know how that could possibly be the case because it seems like all I had been making was Christmas Cards since October - but it was true - I still needed 22 cards and QUICK! So I looked through my file of cards - these are the ones I make when the mood strikes and then file away for future use - and was fortunate to find about 12 Christmas cards I had made throughout the years at classes/workshops etc. These would definitely come in handy THIS year but I still needed to make 10 cards and I only had one afternoon to do it. WHAT TO DO?????

I have a "junk" drawer in my studio that holds all the bits and pieces of things I've colored, created etc that are usable but were not used on the project I created it for. This image was in that drawer and would be perfect for a quick card.

To create the background I tore a large post it note to form "snow" and laid it across the bottom of a piece of WHISPER WHITE cardstock. Then I punched a circle (also from a post-it note) and placed it just above the snow to form a moon. Once the post-its were in place I brayered the exposed cardstock in NOT QUITE NAVY then sponged around the edges of the sky in NIGHT OF NAVY. The trees are from the SU! LOVELY AS A TREE stamp set and are stamped in MEMENTO TUXEDO BLACK ink. I added STARDUST STICKLES to make the snow sparkle and used a SU!SIGNO WHITE GEL PEN to create the falling snow. The image was layered onto a base of VERY VANILLA cardstock which was created using a SPELLBINDERS SCALLOPED RECTANGLE NESTABILITIES and then layered onto a piece of SU! NIGHT OF NAVY cardstock. The cardbase is SU!VERY VANILLA cardstock and is embossed using the BIGSHOT and a the CUTTLEBUG SWISS DOTS embossing folder. SU! NIGHT OF NAVY organdy ribbon (retired) and a snowflake button add the finishing touch.

Thanks for being patient and hanging in with me while I took a short break from posting. My New Years resolution is to create and post 2-3 projects a week. I hope I can keep to that schedule.

As always -
thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog. I know you are all busy with your own lives and projects so I really do appreciate your show of support when you visit and comment on mine.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!
Jill

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY

2009-12-13T16:21:00.010-06:00

One of my nephews turned 10 on the 11th of December and today was his party so of course I had to make a card - I couldn't have done it weeks ago - it HAD to be this morning, the day of the party. (I also had to buy the gift today - it also couldn't have been purchased earlier!) So anyway, as I looked through my kajillion stamps and stamp sets it occurred to me - not for the first time either - that I don't own ANY stamps that work well for those masculine tween cards. I have the SU! Fishy Friends set which make really cute cards - but only if you're an adult or under the age of 7. 10 year old boys would find them just a way bit babyish - especially THIS 10 year old. So what to do????

Thankfully it's winter and snowmen are great for winter cards no matter how old or young you might be. A year or so ago I made a Christmas card using an adorable snowman stamp from WHIPPER SNAPPER. His arms are spread wide and I strung a string of plastic mini tree lights from hand to hand. I love this little guy - he's just toooo cute. I wanted to use this stamp for Tony's bday card so I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on SU!Whisper White cardstock and colored him with alcohol based markers.

Then I cut off his arms (OH NO!) and reattached them so they could hold a birthday cake complete with candles. I told Tony the snowman had to be really careful not to get the flames to close to his body and face or he would melt. Without even looking down at the card in his hand, his response was to say matter of factly "that's why he's all covered up." I loved it!!!! Not only did he "get it", his response also showed me that he really took the time to look at the card I made for him. How many 10 year old boys care as much about the card as they do the present????

RECIPE:
Whipper Snapper Snowman Stamp
Birthday Cake Stamp (unknown mfr)
Very Vanilla cardstock
More Mustard Cardstock
Whisper White Cardstock
Designer Papers sponged in Close to Cocoa
Copic Markers
Buttons
Twine

Thanks for visiting -
Until Next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

THE STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF

2009-11-20T13:04:00.006-06:00

I'm apparently OBSESSED with stamping. Does anyone else out there dream about designs for cards???? I hope someone says yes - because I don't really want to think I'm the only one that's gone off the deep end.

I dreamed THIS card last night - or at least I dreamed PART of it. What I could remember when I woke this morning was the stamped image across the bottom, the layout and that it was Navy Blue and White layers. I couldn't remember th main image or any other accents. The card in the dream also had piercing in various places -- but when I started putting this together decided it really didn't work with punched holes all over it.

My friend, Cindy, is having her family Thanksgiving tomorrow and has really gone all out with her decorating to make her home and her table beautiful. One of the things she wanted to do was create name cards for each place setting using Stampin'Up! Sweet Treat Cups. She looked online and found a few ideas then chose bits and pieces from each one to create some adorable Tom Turkey Place Card Sweet Treats. She also added the name tab as a pull tab to release the candy so her guests wouldn't destroy all of her hardwork when it came time to eat the candy.

My version is basically the same as Cindy's. The only changes are the addition of designer paper to the front of the place card and the "stitching" to give it a homespun look. Hers have bigger eyes too - which I prefer - but since I didn't have the big eyes I used the little ones. Isn't he cute??????

Thanks for visiting -

Until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

POINSETTIAS, HOLLY SPRIGS & GOLD

2009-11-19T11:56:00.003-06:00

I'm still trying to decide on a design for my Christmas cards this year and spent HOURS this morning putting this together. I had remembered seeing a card online a few weeks ago that used a poinsettia stamp and this Holly Embossing folder together and thought it was beautiful. So I found my poinsettia stamp, embossing folder, gold embossing powder, heat gun and went to work.

My first attempt was on a 4.25"x5.5" vanilla cardstock base. I stamped the poinsettia's in Versarmark and heat embossed with the detail gold embossing powder. I added tiny gold half beads to the centers and made sure they would stay in place by adding a drop of crystal lacquer to the top. I remembered the card I had seen used the MS branch punch to punch little gold branches - but I didn't have any gold paper and since I am home with a sore throat today really didn't want to go out to the store to get some. Did you know you can MAKE YOUR OWN GOLD METALLIC PAPER???? All you have to do is take a piece of white cardstock, stamp your versarmark inkpad all over the surface, apply gold embossing powder and heat. I made just enough to punch about 8 branches and added those to the Poinsettias. I layed the flowers in place in the corner of the embossed cardstock, and while it was very pretty in it's monochromatic theme and simplicity - it still needed something to make it a "WOW" card. So I tried ribbon, then heated ribbon, then a greeting - and decided it just wasn't working so I should start over.

I saved the Poinsettias - after all that work I wasn't about to pitch them. I decided I should try a larger card base so I could have a larger canvas to work with - and after a couple more "FAILURES" came up with this as my end result. I wish the photo looked as elegant as the card does in real life - but the metallic portions of the card reflect the color of the walls and overhead light so that they look orange in the photo. In reality, the gold embossed metallic branches and Poinsettias appear several shades darker than the River Rock cardstock and blend beautifully.

I'm still thinking I might add a ribbon across the bottom of the embossed cardstock and tie a bow in the right-hand corner.

Hope you enjoyed the card and the babble -

thanks for visiting

and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

SNOWFLAKES AND DOUBLE BOWS

2009-11-17T06:39:00.006-06:00

For those of you who came to last night's technique's class, you can stop reading now - unless you just like to read my chitter-chatter. If that's the case keep reading - otherwise today's post will simply be a review for you.

For some of the rest of you - you might have seen these ideas recently as you've been browsing through different blogs and websites - as both have been posted as tutorials recently. But I liked the ideas and techniques so much I had to try them out myself and I have to tell you - I LOVE them both.

The first project is a card using the 'MAGIC SNOWFLAKE' technique which uses glossy cardstock, white craft ink and white embossing powder. The mottled background was created using rubbing alcohol and SU! Soft Sky and Not Quite Navy reinkers. The really NEAT thing about this technique is that you create the background OVER the embossed image of the snowflake. The cardstock is Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip layered on Chocolate Chip and white polka dot designer paper. The double bow was created with the BOW EASY.

The second project is a LUMINARY. This was quick and easy to make and looks beautiful with the flameless tealight glowing from the vellum windows. I have plans to make several and either line the top of my piano or set in among evergreen boughs in my bow window. I'm soooooo getting in the mood for Christmas decorating now. LOL!

I used Bordering Blue Cardstock for this and randomly stamped one of the snowflakes from a retired set all over in Craft White Ink. The trees are from the Season of Joy stamp set and are stamped in Bordering Blue Ink and accented with Stickles. I used the beautiful scalloped border punch from Martha Stewart to create the topper and added a snowflake button for some dimension. Looking at it now - it still needs a little extra ooomph. I think I might go back and add some liquid applique or flower soft to make snow along the branches and maybe make a second tree and pop it up on dimensionals.

I'm off for now -
hope to be back in a day or two with another Christmas project or two to share.

Until then -
Happy Fall Y'all.
Jill

SWEET TREATS

2009-11-16T07:20:00.008-06:00

I needed some party favors for an upcoming holiday party and thought these little treat pulls would be perfect. This particular one has a Ghiradelli Chocolate - but I think I might substitute that with a wrapped chocolate after-dinner mint and set them at each place setting.

These are very quick and easy to make - and in my opinion - pretty darn cute.

The cardstock is cut to 3.5" x 5" and scored at 2", 2 1/4", 4 1/4", and 4.5" and is stamped in Craft White Ink using the trip snowflake stamp from Definitely Decorations.

The ribbon hole is made with the Stampin'Up! Slot Punch.

The paper is SU! Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Paper and is cut to 2" x 2.5 ".

I used the SU! Scalloped Border punch to create the Whisper White top and bottom borders. The ornament is from the Delightful Decorations Stamp Set and is stamped in Real Red on Whisper White then punched with the coordinating Ornament Punch.

1/4" Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Twine and the Ghiradelli Chocolate finish off one YUMMY treat.

Thanks for visiting today -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

HOSTESS GIFT - SIMPLE & SWEET

2009-11-14T11:39:00.009-06:00

I've been busy in my studio - but none of you would know it because I haven't had time to post anything - including my monthly Digital FREEBIE! I will make up for it I promise!! In the meantime I wanted to show you a hostess gift I gave at a workshop yesterday. Who says the nicest gifts and cards take the longest to make. A little ribbon, a button and a sentiment - and you have a sweet little gift. The angle of the photo makes the actual candle color difficult to see but it is a deep Saffron - similar to the "thank you" medallion in the center and it has a rich, spicy scent. The button also has a lovely embossed design adding a little bit of extra interest (and also difficult to see from the angle of the photo).

I used Chocolate Chip and So Saffron cardstock cutout with circle Nestabilities to cover the top of the candle and stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip. The stamp I used is one of the under $10 items in the current SU! Catalog - although if you look for it, it's in the main pages and not the back with the others. The ribbon is a rich brown textured satin and of course the bow was created using that wonderful little gadget - THE BOW EASY! It's one of my favorite tools!!!!

Quick, easy and sweet. Wouldn't these be lovely at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table? Of course I'm not having a thanksgiving table myself - so I'll have to settle for making another and giving it to my wonderful SIL - who provides not only the location for our family dinner but ALL the food as well!!!!

Thanks for visiting and taking the time to read my 'BABBLE'.
Enjoy your day - whatever it brings -
and until next time -
Happy Stamping.

Jill

BEING BUSY WITH BABIES AND BELLIES

2009-11-01T15:23:00.005-06:00

My niece's baby shower is quickly approaching and I've been busily working away on shower decorations.

I showed you the gift bag/centerpieces in my last post - but the newest additions are the name blocks and cupcake picks. I purchased 2" square wood blocks from a local hobby store and covered them with designer paper in the colors of the nursery. Once the glue was dry, I sanded the edges of the blocks and glued white chipboard letters to each one spelling out the baby's name.

The cupcake picks were made using Stampin'Up! Scalloped Circle punch to make the bonnet and their 1 1/4" circle punch for both the face and the bib. The picks are wooden toothpicks and were simply glued to the back of two "babies" - making the front of the pick and the back the same. The ribbon below the pick is an extra I will be using when I make the card.

I was also privileged to get to take the maternity photos today for my niece and her husband. This was my favorite of all the photos because it really captured the tenderness between my niece, her hubby and the new life waiting to spring forth.

Hope you enjoyed the photos -

Until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

I COULDN'T WAIT . . .

2009-10-29T08:06:00.010-05:00

I know I said yesterday that I was taking a break this week and would just be vegging out with hubby and son in the evenings until Friday. I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT!!!!!! Not the husband and son part - the not being creative part. LOL! Being in my studio (as messy as it is right now) is my relaxation and enjoyment and I just couldn't make it another day without making SOMETHING. So I ran away during the national news broadcast and immersed myself in mess.

One of my sisters and I are planning a baby shower for our other sisters daughter. (Yes - that would make her my niece - and I could have just said that to make it easier for you to understand - but then you might have thought I only had one sister and I just couldn't HAVE THAT! lol!) We decided to make gift bags for the table centerpieces and fill them with baby items so that Amanda (my niece) could keep them as actual gifts after the shower.

She is having a girl and has decorated the nursery in Chocolate Brown, Celery Green, Pink and Cream so we stayed true to her color scheme for our decorations. She also loves polka dots so I wanted to incorporate that into the theme as well. I looked ALL over for polka dot gift bags in those colors but do you think I could find them???? Of course not. I found PLAIN pink gift bags and being the stamper/scrapper I am headed off to the scrapbook papers and found this WONDERFUL chocolate brown paper with polka dots in ALL the nursery colors. PERFECT!!!!! and best yet - it was on SALE FOR 50% OFF at one of my favorite large craft stores.

Also on SALE FOR 50% OFF was this beautiful celery, satin ribbon. Isn't the bow beautiful??? If you look closely you will see it is a DOUBLE bow and was so-so easy to make with a wonderful little gadget called the BOW EASY. I even figured out how I could attach the bow right to the ribbon while making it so I didn't have to use glue dots or glue to hold the bow to the ribbon.

I thought the stark brown against the pink bag needed a little softening so I punched white border strips for the top and bottom using a Martha Stewart Punch and since Amanda also loves buttons, I thought these cute pink heart-shaped buttons were just perfect. All that's needed now is to place the baby items so they peek out from the shredded paper and it's all set to go.

Quick and easy - just 10 minutes to make - and much better than a plain gift bag don't you think????

Thanks for visiting today and until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill

THE HOLIDAYS ARE UPON US . . .

2009-10-28T08:09:00.008-05:00

and I don't have anything made to show you today. I've had such a busy couple of months with events every weekend that I decided I needed to take a break and just sit in the evenings and enjoy the company of my husband and son (on those rare occasions that he comes in to visit). Beginning Friday evening this week I plan on getting back into my little studio and getting busy. The real problem is - I have to re-organize the chaos in there from all the events before I can be creative. UGH!

I HAVE had a chance to do browse around the internet this morning though and found a few posts that I'd like to share with you. There are some really cute ideas floating around out there - so if you have the time follow the links below for some wonderfully, creative ideas.

There's this adorable little BROOMSTICK TREAT by Jeri Jimenez.

A sparkly, little SNOWFLAKE MEDALLION TUTORIAL by Sherry Cheever

For all of you into DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING: FREE JACK O'LANTERN PNG FILES

A truly elegant CHRISTMAS CARD by Betty Wright.

This cute little COFFIN TREAT BOX is a Martha Stewart original.

A PERFECT APPLE centerpiece/treat holder tutorial - or see this adorable PUMPKIN VARIATION with a stem made of buttons. TOO CUTE!

Need a gift bag? Check out this lovely little CHRISTMAS HOUSE idea.

That's it for today. I hope to be back next week with ideas of my own - or at least creations of my own - because I might have to "borrow" the ideas! LOL!

Thanks for visiting and until next time -

Happy Stamping!

Jill

DIGITAL FUN WITH SU! MY DIGITAL STUDIO

2009-10-13T18:17:00.009-05:00

Woo Hoo! I am having fun with the new SU! My Digital Studio! I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first professinally printed album (due at my house tomorrow) but I have been having fun trying out all the capabilities of this program.

For example: my new blog header. What do you think? I have the actual Dasher rubber stamp - but wouldn't have been able to create this blog banner as quickly or as easily with the actual stamp & cardstock. Not to mention I would have had to scan it BACK into the computer, resize, etc before saving it to my blog.

At first I wasn't crazy about the card making feature of this program - but have sinced changed my mind. It took a little playing around with the print settings on my printer to figure out how to print the cards - but I have it worked out for my computer, programs and printer. The first card is one that is 100% digital. I made it a few weeks ago but am just getting around to posting it.

The second card is also digitally created but I left off all embellishments. Then, after printing it I added a thread-tied button and ribbon for added depth and dimension.

The third card is only partially created in My Digital Studio. I love this butterfly stamp set but don't own it in rubber. However, it is included in My Digital Studio. I created the Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink mats around a digitally created Whisper White square. Then I digitally stamped the butterfly, changed the color to Chocolate Chip, added a shadow for depth then printed it out on Whisper White cardstock. I then cut out around the mat leaving a border of the Whisper White and then placed it as the focal point on a Chocolate Chip Cardbase. The ribbon is pink velour.

This program is so versatile - I'm lovin it!!!! I especially love the hybrid cards - part digital - part traditional. It's truly the best of both worlds.

Thanks for visiting today -

and happy computing!!!! (you thought I was going to say "stamping" didn't you????)

Jill

ALL WRAPPED UP TREAT BOX

2009-10-11T19:37:00.010-05:00

I was sitting tonight trying to get through several weeks worth of blog subscriptions when I came across this adorable little Mummy by Gretchen Barron. I had seen the Frankenstein faces made with the Stampin'Up! Top Notes Die - and even made a few last year about this time - but hadn't seen the Mummy idea before. It was too cute not to make a few.

You can't really tell by the photo but this is a little treat box. I cut wide strips of Whisper White cardstock, scored and folded along the two long sides and adhered them to the back of the Mummy to make the box bottom and sides. I then added a second - undecorated Top Notes cutout to create the back. The inside holds a plastic bag that will be filled with candy. Once I have the candy in the bag I plan to add a RAFFIA handle across the top from side to side. All products except the 1.5" circle punch is STAMPIN'UP! merchandise.

Ingredients:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Soft Suede Ink
Circle Punches- 1.5", 1.25", 1/2"
Real Red Marker

That's it for today. Thanks for visiting. And in case you missed yesterday's post please be sure to check out the release of my digital clipart set: KANDY KANE KREATIONS.

Until next time -
Happy Stamping!

Jill