Help!! Anyone recognize these stamps????

Photo #1  Unidentified  Stamps -- Can you identify any of them?

Hi, Friends.....

Recently, I scored a bag of unmounted rubber at a local thrift store for a buck-fifty!!  Yay!!!  It was impossible to tell what stamps were in there because few, if any, of them had been used.  I snagged the bag quick as a wink and the other night I inked them up to see what I had.


Quite an interesting combination, don't you agree????  I immediately wondered if any of them were from Viva Las Vegas.  A cursory search of their rubber didn't reveal anything that looked familiar.

Photo #2  More Unidentified Stamps -- Do you recognize any?

I did a search on the Art quote and found the artist of that stamp:  Teesha Moore.  I wrote an email to her to see if any of the other stamps were hers.  She very kindly responded and identified the girl with the wings and crown and also the "Old and Curious" as her own. 


So I am asking you in blogland.......

Can you help identify any of these?  An artist, a company, etc?  Any info would be helpful and appreciated!!!  

Thanks so much!!!


That's all for now.  I am really excited to hear from you about these stamps.  Some of these will make awesome background stamps and others will be great focal points.  Others....well, I will have to think about them for awhile!  lol....

What thrift store finds have you come across lately???

<3
Janis

Thank You Tons -- Lawn Fawn

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Please help me identify these stamps.  Click here.

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Hi, Friends......

Today is spring-like here in Idaho.  The birds are singing and the sun is shining, for the moment.  I want to share a super-fun thank you card I made using Lawn Fawn's Love You Tons stamps.  I won these adorable stamps from MarkerPOP.  (THANKS, Lawn Fawn and MarkerPOP!!!)  As you see I changed out the sentiment a bit.  I did stamp surgery on the "Love you tons" which was all in one line by cutting the Love you part off.  That way I could stack it to make it say "Thank you tons" with Lil' Inker's Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments.  I think the fonts look great together, don't you?  And...it emphasizes the "tons" humor, too.  :)

These little elephants are totally adorable as is, but I wanted to amp up the cuteness factor by piecing them with some whimsical paper.  I used some from K & Co.  I stamped them in black and then fussy cut them out.

For the heart wand that the sweet fellow in the lower left is holding in his darling little trunk, I used the exclamation point stamp in the set for the stick and also the little heart stamp....stamped in black and heat-embossed.  I drew in the little bow ends with a black Sakuro Glaze gel pen.  (Yes....I actually did something free-hand...eeek!! That pretty much approaches the upper limit of my free-hand abilities.  Ha.)  I think the wand turned out just super-cute.

I did some faux-stitching around the heart with Sakuro Gelly Roll Moonlight gel pen.  I added a sheer ribbon bow and mounted it all on a black card.  The pink and white cardstock are DCWV.  The black is Core'dinations.



Hope you think this is cute, too!  I would LOVE for you to comment on this card......and I would LOVE for you to become a follower using the app on the sidebar.

Don't forget to let me know what your pets are doing lately.  I love to talk about our sweet fur-kids.  :)

Have a lovely week!!

<3
Janis

NOTE TO MY LOCAL CRAFT LADIES:
Tomorrow Apr.1 we have our monthly meeting.  Making Easter cards.  See ya at 1 pm at the church!!


I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Pumpkin Spice -- Challenge #65 Elephants or Gray and Pink
2.  CAS on Sunday -- Challenge # 30 Stitched Faux or Real
3.  Inky Impressions -- IIC #152 - Humor
4.  Cuttin and Stampin --Weekly Challenge 14-12  Paper Piecing

Vases of Spring Flowers

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Please help me identify these stamps.  Click here.

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Hi, Friends.......

I was really inspired by the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:  Transparent.  I immediately thought of the glass stamps from a set  they sent me in a prize (THANKS, Simon Says Stamp!!!) [edited:  I finally tracked this unlabeled set down:  Kelly Purkey -- Cheers....and yes, I know they are actually champagne glasses....] and I decided to turn them into vases holding spring flowers. 

 I used StazOn Jet Black ink to stamp my glasses on to a clear acetate sheet.  I colored them with alcohol markers on the same side I stamped and then fussy cut them out.

Next I stamped the blossoms (Uniko Studio  Flower Power #2) onto watercolor paper with the same StazOn ink.  I colored around the margins of the petals with watercolor pencils and then used a wet paint brush to blend.  Afterwards, I went around the outer edge of the center again with the petal colors.  I colored all the centers yellow but didn't use a wet brush with them.

I used a Seal Gray Gelato for the shadow beneath the vases by scribbling in my palette and  picking up color with a wet brush.

The foliage and stems are May Arts ribbon.  I use this a lot!!!

I used my Xyron 1" Sticker Maker to adhere my vases over the stems that I lightly glued in place with Tombow glue pen.  I love the sticker maker for transparent things like this acetate.  It adheres them invisibly.  Yay!!

A few stray leaves were stuck down with Micro Glue Dots.  Then I adhered it onto a lavender card.


 Here's a close-up at an angle so you can see the gleam of the acetate and a little of the dimension of the petals that I lifted slightly.

 I would love for you to leave me a comment about this card or about what your pets are doing lately.  Are they enjoying the warmer weather?  Soon I will try to get some pictures of our outside kitties.

Have a lovely rest of the weekend!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
1.  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -- Transparent
2.  Charisma Cardz Challenges -- #7  CAS
3.  Stamplorations March Challenge: Stamps and Spring
4.  Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday -- March 2014

Daydream Today.......

Hi, Everyone....

Yay!  I finally have a day free where I can post a card on here.  I am sharing a spring-y card that I made for my mom-in-law's birthday.   

I originally intended to have a "happy birthday" greeting on the front.  However, after I got the butterfly outlined with my black Sakura Glaze gel pen and enhanced with some red/gold glitter glue and beads, my eyes fell on this wood veneer "daydream today" and somehow it seemed right.  I put Happy Birthday inside the card, instead. :)

Here's a close-up of the butterfly so you can see how I accentuated it to make it more of a focal point.  I glued the seed beads on with a generous pool of Tombow Aqua Glue around each bead.  It dries clear and a bit glossy, which was fine for my little guy here.

I used part of a pretty purple Zva swirl for the butterfly's trail.  Love this bling that I won in a Zva hop.  To be honest, I have been a little bit too intimidated to use these lovely rhinestone swirls because they so lovely and big and wonderful and gorgeous.  I was afraid I would mess them up or waste them.  But I noticed others cutting them into smaller segments and that seemed more approachable.  Bingo....or maybe I should say...Bling-o!  They are much easier to work with than I thought, and the smaller segments work great for my cards.  :)  THANKS, Zva!!!  I LOVE these!!!

I inked my papers with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then sprinkled the doily and the purple piece with gold embossing powder.  I shook a lot of it off, but left it in sweeps and patches before zapping it with my heat gun to give a gilded antiqued look.  I love doing this.  It's the same technique I used in the first card I posted on this blog.  I love the mix of speckled and solid gold places.

I slightly enhanced the flowers with some pink glitter glue spread across the blossoms and some metallic Gelly Roll pens.  I also inked up the wood veneer with some brown pigment ink and used some of the same red/gold glitter glue to match the butterfly.

The purple paper is from DCWV.  The green butterfly and flower paper is from K&Co, as is the tan/cream background paper.  The acetate ribbon is ancient....some I picked from a thrift store a few days ago.  The label looks like it is from the 60s or 70s, at the latest.  The doily is from my stash.  The wood veneer is from some happy mail I got from a sweet blogger.....I think it was Amy Tsuruta....but this got separated from the little pkg she sent and I sadly lost track.

I am mailing this card out today.  Hope my dear mom-in-law likes it.  :)  Love you, Nan!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Make Something Monday #12 -- Use a Doily
2.  Kaboodle Doodle Challenge 216 -- Dreaming of Spring
3.  Sweet Stamps Challenge #162 -- Swirls
4.  The House that Stamps Built   DCC326 ~ Things With Wings

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
This week I tackled the task of sorting out my canning jars.  After eating a lot of our canned food over the winter, my jars were in disarray.  Many had been put away in mixed boxes of quarts, pints, and half-pints of both regular and wide mouth varieties.  I brought up from the pantry box after box, some sorted but only half-filled and some full of mixed jars. I had them all over the place with the crumpled paper padding spilling everywhere.  Naturally, Andromeda thought she had lost all 9 of her lives and gone straight to cat heaven!!

Andromeda helping me pack away canning jars.  Can you see her eyes in there?

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THANK YOU TO ALL BLOGGERS -- You Made my Day Brighter

Hi, Friends,

I know I take a lot of space acknowledging the bloggers and companies from whom I have won prizes.  That is, actually, one of the reasons I even started this blog!!  I love visiting scores and scores of blogs for the incredible ideas, tips, techniques, and inspiration I get.  (Don't even go look at my profile to see how many I follow...Holy Cowness!!  I told you not to look!!!....and there are others that I follow by email that aren't on that list...and others that I visit regularly that are on my calendar function that aren't on either of those!)

Papercrafting blogs are amazingly beautiful places and have opened up new vistas of card-making for me that I never knew existed!  But today I want to express my appreciation, in particular, for each of them and their amazing generosity in offering prize giveaways.  This has made it possible for me to get into papercrafting in much more serious way.  And, of course, all this has made me very aware of other products that I absolutely-can't-live-without-NEED!!  Ha.

This card of thanks is especially for each of you bloggers and companies who are so kind to offer prizes and giveaways....some that I have won, and others that have been enjoyed by other crafters:

 You really have made my day brighter!!!   

Today I am sharing a card that I made with a Winnie & Walter set called Scenery:  Big Bang Confetti,  I won this from Jennifer McGuire's blog.  THANKS, W&W and Jennifer!!!   (You must go check out Winnie & Walter.  What a fun company!!)

I also used on this card some of the incredibly lovely iridescent sequins I won from Mariana Grigsby's blog.  Oh, my goodness, they are delicious!  THANKS, Mariana!!!

The sentiment is from Lil' Inker Rainbows & Clouds Sentiments.  I won this set from Amy Kolling's blog  last year and I think I've used this set more than any other that I own.  I love the font and these mix and match sentiments are perfect for many of the cards I make.  THANKS, Amy and Lil' Inker!!


Okay, down to business........
I got a big JoAnn's order on Friday, so I have a bunch of new toys that I am playing with......and new-to-me techniques that I am trying out:

1.  Toy #1:  Hampton Art Ala Mode Pastel Embossing Powders.  I really wanted these to make chalkboard effect cards.  But when I saw the lovely spring colors, I knew I wanted to try an ombre effect with them using the W&W stamps I had just received.  I stamped the diamond background stamp all over the watercolor paper and sprinkled the pastel shades, one at a time, in sweeps across the card before zapping with the heat gun.  LOVE how this turned out!!!  I used pink, orange, and yellow, but in the photo you can't tell any of it is orange.  Oh, well...

2.  Toy #2:  Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool.  I had long admired all the lovely cards made by crafters using this blending tool, but had no idea how much difference it would make over my makeshift cosmetic sponges!  LOL!!!!  I am such a loon.  This IS the right tool for the job!  It was so much fun using it with the Broken China Distress Ink on the background.  Loved how the pastel diamonds just started popping out when I inked around them!!!  FUN!  I used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on the sentiment panel and LOVE the gradient effect the blending tool made!!!

Another toy I bought and used for this card was my new paper trimmer.  Heretofore, I have done ALL my paper cutting with a utility knife and my metal ruler for a straight-edge on a self-healing mat.  It actually works wonderfully well and is cheap.  But I thought I would splurge for this on-sale trimmer.  I like it so far, although it seems to slightly turn the cut edge down or up...not sure which, yet....prob down.  But it is very fast compared to my previous method.  LOVE that!!  :)

Another new-to-me technique is water splattering.  Always before, I thought the idea was NOT to splatter water (or tea or coffee) on my projects.....and here I was doing it on purpose!!!  Ha.  I tried this same card on some slightly textured cardstock and it did not have the look I was wanting, so I tried it again on the watercolor paper.  That was the trick!!  When I splattered it with water, the lovely Distress Ink did its magic and made the sweet little spots that I think add interest to this background. 

My goodness, I am a wordy old thing!!!  Such a simple card and I talk and talk and talk.  lol....

I would love for you to talk to me, too.  Please leave a comment below.  I would love to hear what you think of my first attempt at some of these new techniques and using my new toys.   

Tell me what your pets are doing now that spring is on its way!

Make me shut up and smile by joining on the side panel and becoming a follower!  Actually, that might only have one of the desired effects!  :)  :)  :)

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Winnie & Walter Join in to Win
2.  Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge Week 204

Inspiration photo for Speedy Fox and Friends #204

3. A Creative Need -  March Challenge #17 -  Blue, Yellow, and Pink

Inspiration photo for A Creative Need #17

4.  Inkspirational Challenge #52 - Photo Challenge






 

Aren't these just the most sensational inspiration photos??????  Love 'em!!!


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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
Our sweet little Jetta cat came back home today.  Ever since we moved to our new house 2-1/2 yrs ago (is that right???), two of our kitties have migrated back and forth over the pastureland between the old house and here.  It isn't very far, really, but it is over coyote land and I really wish they would stay here.  Bonzi is getting up there in years and tends to stay here more and more (whew!) but Jetta still goes back and forth way too much.  I always breathe a relieved and grateful sigh when I see her here where she belongs.  As the weather warms up, we probably will see less and less of Jet-Girl and Bonzi, as they decide they can live off the land for the warm months.  Stay home, kitties, where it is safe!!!
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My Brand New Big Shot!!! Yippeeee!!!

Hi, Friends.....

Okay, really......  Please, tell me truly.......

When the value of the lovely dies you have won from the blogs of wonderful crafters and generous manufacturers exceeds the price of a die-cut machine..................

 Isn't it time to buy yourself one????????

I THOUGHT SO!!!!

I have been the extremely fortunate recipient of several dies from entering craft blog drawings.  

Dies I have won.  This doesn't include ones from Serendipity that I won, but haven't received yet.

Now I realize this is just a small clutch of dies, but it has been sitting idle.......since I didn't have a die-cut machine! 

So, after having received money from my dear son and dear husband for buying one at Christmas (it takes me a looooooooooooong time to make a decision sometimes!!!), I finally made the plunge and ordered one from Amazon.  Hooray!!  

It came today and I've been having fun playing with it.  Here's a big shot of my Big Shot and some of the cuts I made with it to learn my way around. 

My first attempts at die-cutting.  How fun!!!!  I can't wait to start making cards with these!

Sure do wish my in-process crafting actually looked this tidy.  Before I snapped the photo, I first had to clean up all the little bits and pieces from those lovely heart doily cuts! Ha.

Note to my local craft group ladies:  

Guess what this means.......

We have a die-cut machine to play with now!  Hooray!  Corrie, you won't have to wait till you find one cheap at a yard sale now.  :)

Had to share my fun news with you all. 

Have a lovely weekend!

<3

Janis

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
I decided to store my Big Shot in a pretty pink and yellow zippered nylon bag to keep cat hair and dust off of it.  Within 5 minutes of putting it away, this is what I found:

Whiskers making herself at home on top of my brand-new Big Shot (in the pink/yellow bag)!

You can depend on a cat to find anything new in the house and to nest on it.  This is not a very soft place, though.  The machine is a bit "bony" with the hard plastic pieces that jut out here and there.  Whiskers must have agreed because she only stayed there about 10 minutes......still it was long enough for Andromeda to come and investigate.  Now that Whisk-Whisk is nested comfortably on my bed in her usual spot, Andromeda has taken her place on the Big Shot:

Andromeda giving the Big Shot a try.

Well, Andromeda didn't stay there long, either, because my son put an empty can of fish down for the kitties to lick.  Before I had a chance to add Andromeda's picture to this Cat Update, here's who got on the Big Shot next:

Aliyah's turn.  (Forgot to zoom in...sorry for mess.)

This all happened in succession during a stretch of about 20 minutes.  I am not making this up!  Aliyah must have decided it wasn't comfy enough for her old bones and joints, either, so off she went to check out the fish can.  So far, Othello and Chaienne haven't discovered it.  Cats......

RE: Whiskers.  She is still not 100%.  She has some weakness (or pain) in her hindquarters and is not as spry about hopping up on chairs and things as usual.  I don't think she has been up in the loft once since this happened!  She is better, though, so I am glad.

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Great Bike Giveaway -- An Opportunity to Help

Hi, Friends.....
This will not be long, but I wanted to make it a separate post of its own.

I was recently introduced to:

Friendship Circle and The Great Bike Giveaway for special needs individuals.

This is from their website:

For the third consecutive year Friendship Circle is holding the Great Bike Giveaway, a national contest giving away adaptive bikes to children with special needs. We are partnering with bike companies from around the U.S. to provide some of the best adaptive bikes to the children and young adults who need them most.

Adina

A friend's daughter is involved with a young lady, named Adina, whom she is helping train for a triathlon!  Quite an undertaking!  Adina would be greatly helped if she had a bicycle suitable for her special needs.  There are two ways you can help this young lady win, but I am only requesting you do the easy one:
 

1.  Click here to get to Adina's contestant page. 

2.  Then nominate (which is another way of saying "vote for") Adina by clicking on the green bar that says the number of nominations she has.  That's all.  Easy, huh?  One nomination per person per contestant.

Whichever contestant gets the most nominations will win one of the bicycles.  All votes need to be in by March 26th.

Whenever I read about charity fund-raisers, I am naturally a bit skeptical about the ethics.  This looks pretty good from what I read here and from last year's article near the bottom of this page.

Will you help?  
All it takes is one click on the Nomination bar.

Thanks!!!

<3 
Janis    

Bridal Shower Card

Hi, Friends.....

I've sure been swamped with all sorts of happenings this last week and wishing I could be creating and posting on here, but had other commitments.  I hope I can be on here more regularly now.   Thank you to those of you who have kept checking in.

Today I am sharing a card that I think turned out really pretty.  But, oh, do my photography skills need help!  Maybe better lighting, huh?  (She says in a brilliant flash!!  Ha.)  I made this for a friend's bridal shower back in January, but am just now getting it posted on here.

I love the monochromatic look to it, but are they hard to photograph!!!   Isn't that heart-shaped doily sweet that goes off the edge of the card a little on one side and is cropped on the other?  The lovely butterfly is from Pink Paislee and the bow is made from lace seam binding.   The papers are from DCWV.

Hope you like this.  Sure wish I knew how to crop the photo!!  ;o

<3
Janis

I am entering this in the following challenges:
1.  Craft-Dee BowZ March Challenge -- Anything Goes and include a Handmade Bow
2.  Bunny Zoe's Crafts March Challenge -- Monochrome
3.  Incy Wincy Designs  -- Monochromatic
4.  Make My Monday -- Beautiful Butterflies


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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

My poor sweet Whiskers was sick yesterday.  She just lay in the sun yesterday morning instead of rushing in the house when I opened the door.  After I got home from Ladies Bible study, she was still lying in the same place and not at all interested in coming in the house.  I knew she was really feeling poorly!  I started fretting over her and worrying, particularly after just losing Rooster (even though the two things were unrelated).  Hubby was getting ready to leave for a work trip, but gave her some medicine before he left.  She just lay around all evening and was very low.  I let her sleep in the house last night (unusual) and she was feeling MUCH better this morning.  Who knows what was wrong.  No apparent wound, although it could have been an infection brewing from a bite.  So glad my little Whisk-Whisk is mostly back to her usual perky self!

Whiskers, on a different day, back on the bed while the bedspread that she gets dirty is being washed!

CHICKEN STATUS UPDATE:
My oblivious hens don't even seem to notice Rooster is gone.  Dumb clucks.  Ha!  I am so glad they are doing fine, particularly Hen.  She was quite dependent on Rooster..  We had been given them together (because Rooster had become an outlaw at his former home and had to go!) and Hen rarely left his side, until just the last month or so.  The other two hens had been abandoned, and subsequently rescued and brought here.  They never had the time of day for Rooster from the start, although he was quite enamored with them, of course.  So, all seems fine with my hens.  The day after the attack, all three hens even layed me an egg each.  That's a good sign.  :)

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Requiem for a Rooster

You were my cheery greeter.

You were a vigilant protector of your hens.

You were a valiant fighter, but no match for the predator.

Your hens are safe, dear Rooster.

I will miss your lovely iridescent colors.

Some people say it is foolish even to keep a rooster, but I love having one.  I am sad to lose this endearing and funny bird.

<3
Janis

Hooray....I am an "Inspiration"! :)

Just had to share with you that my "Gratitude Seeds" card was chosen as one of the  inspirations in the Red Rubber Inspirationals:  #109 Heartfelt Thanks Challenge.  This is the first time one of my cards has received recognition, so I am very excited!! 





This entitles me to display this badge on my blog: 

Thank you, Red Rubber Designs!!

<3
Janis

WINNER for Ribbon Roll Control

Good morning to everyone......

I want to thank each of you that entered my Ribbon Roll Control giveaway.....and especially to thank Trish at Ribbon Roll Control for so generously helping my blog to get a jump start with this giveaway.  Thank you to other bloggers, too, like Sandra Strait at Life Imitates Doodles, who helped get the word out about my giveaway.

So......for the winner, I put all the entries into a random number generator and out popped #17:

Congratulations to: MYNN xx

 You are the winner of the

Ribbon Roll Control!!!

Please contact me at jwoolbright at gmail dot com with your mailing info. Thanks for your support and participation!

Have a lovely day!

<3
Janis

Runway Inspired Challenge #55

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Sunday (Mar. 9) is the last chance to enter my GIVEAWAY!!!  For extra entries, please comment on any or all posts from this past week, including this one!
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Hello, Everyone.....

I hope you remembered to change your clocks.....spring them forward an hour.  (I know that not every place observes Daylight Savings Time, but we do in Idaho and I love it!!)  I thought before I did that spring chore, I would post my interpretation of this elegant challenge.  Are you familiar with the Runway Inspired Challenge blog?  I have seen many amazing interpretations by craft bloggers of the RIC fashion models and marveled at their beauty and creativity.

When I saw this particular one, I knew I wanted to give it a try, also!

So here is my interpretation of this elegant and shimmery photo:

This card went together quickly (for me!) because I used a pre-made glittery card from DCWV Solid Glitter Box of Cards. I pick these up when I see them on clearance at JoAnn's or DCWV Deals.  I especially like the glitter ones or the solids.....so I keep my eyes open for them. 

I also used a David Tutera Celebrate Metallic Silver Starburst from a package I got on clearance at JoAnn's.  (Do I like clearance craft items?  Oh, yes, I sure do!)  Amazingly, Joann.com still has them in stock---unfortunately, not on clearance---but I got them at my "local" (2 hrs away) JoAnn store. 

I was trying for a shimmery pastel pink with the silver and glittery black colors, but my pale pink star sequins don't show too well.  And, actually, my shiny silver starburst doesn't look very silvery, either.  I still have a lot to learn on photography!!  

I heat-embossed my "Thanks" with silver embossing powder on DCWV black cardstock and mounted it on some pastel pink printed cardstock, also from DCWV.  I adhered this to the card front with 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives.  I topped it off with a delicious bow with ribbon I won in a prize.  I am sure it must be May Arts because it is decadently rich and lovely to work with.

Thanks for visiting my blog and for your wonderful comments.   I have been very delighted that a number of new people have come to look around and enter my giveaway.  Thank you so much.  Remember that you can still get an extra entry into my giveaway by commenting on this post.

And.................


I have this humongous smile on my face because some of you have decided to be followers!!!  Thank you!!!
:)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to "Spring Forward" by changing your clock an hour ahead, if it applies to you. You probably better not try it if your area doesn't do it!  Ha.  It's also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms, whether or not you do DST. 

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Runway Inspired Challenge #55
2.  Stampin' for the Weekend -- Sparkle and Shine
3.  Brown Sugar -- Make it Sparkle


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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

I subscribe by email to the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. A couple of days ago, the day's word was:

froward --  habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition.  

I was pretty sure I already knew what it meant and also pretty sure I could find a place for it in my cat updates!

Interestingly, M-W used a quote from the Lewiston Morning Tribune (a newspaper from a neighboring town here) to illustrate the usage of froward.  It was talking about grackles (birds), but it sure seemed applicable to young half-grown cats:

"By the end of the trip I was happy to be rid of them—pushy, froward little party-crashing beasts that make rude, high-pitched squeals and constantly invite themselves to dinner, filching from unattended plates."

If you've ever had a litter of half-grown kittens, you probably know exactly what I am talking about!

Our sweet little Night-Sky kitty, Andromeda.

At 2 years of age, Andromeda is virtually full-grown, but she is froward, nonetheless.  Early this morning, everyone in the house heard a clatter from the kitchen.  (It is significant, I suppose, that none of us bothered to get up to investigate....lol...)  It was later discovered that Andromeda had opened up the tea cupboard door and dislodged a tin of Raspberry Earl Grey tea, sending it clattering onto the countertop below.   Fortunately, the noise seems to have startled her out of doing any additional mischief, since all seemed to be in order and she was asleep when I finally did get up.  Naughty little kitty!  :)

What noises and bumps in the night signal that your pets are up to no good???
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Cute as a Button Vintage Tea Cup Thank You Card

Looking for my GIVEAWAY????  Comment on any or all my posts this week!
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Hi, all.....

I am still making Thank You cards for all the lovely things I received for my birthday.  When I saw that Buttons (and Bows) was the theme for a few challenges, I thought they would be sweet things to put on this card.

The ribbon across the top is layered with a celtic knot patterned trim I found at a thrift store.  I glued that over the top of the pink.  I like how the silver edges of the pink ribbon peek out.

The white panel with the teacups is re-purposed from the flap of a decorative envelope that held a note I received from a friend (I told you I would use this, Christy!!).  It was too pretty to get rid of.  Don't you agree????

I put Glossy Accents on the teacups to make them gleam.  I took this shot at an angle so you could see it better.  The GA also makes them a slight bit dimensional, which I like.

Can you see the little teapot-shaped tea ball near the second cup on the right?  I colored over that with a Sparkle Gelly Roll pen to make it shimmer.

All in all, I really think this turned out nice.  Of course, it is *another* pink card!!  I just can't stay away from them for very long!  :)

Thanks for stopping in to see my blog.  I really appreciate all the comments.  Remember each comment on a post from this week is an entry in my giveaway!!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  BMC Get Inky Challenge --  Buttons, Buttons, Everywhere
2.  Alphabet Challenge Blog -- B for Buttons and Bows
3.  House of Cards -- March Challenge #1 Add a Button in the Vintage/Shabby class.

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

I'm amazed I was able to get these last two cards photographed.  Right in the middle of my photo session on this stormy night, Othello came inside with the muddiest paws ever!!  He was so affectionate that I just knew he would jump up on the table where I had my newly-completed cards and put HIS "finishing touches" on the masterpieces, if you know what I mean!!!  Arggggghhh.....they would have been finished, all right!!!  He finally was sequestered in my son's room until I was done.  No mishaps....this time!

What have your pets put their muddy paws on lately???
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Thank You -- Just Add Ink Challenge

Looking for my GIVEAWAY?????  Click HERE.
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Hi, Everyone...

Here is a pretty Thank You card that was inspired by the Just Add Ink #204 Colour Challenge.  This was a really fun one for me to make because the colors are so pretty and delicate and because I challenged myself to use only scraps that were actually on my craft table to make it. 

I inked the edges of the panels with Distress Ink in Bundled Sage, but I thought it was a bit too yellow, so I added a bit of Broken China, also.  I like it on the kraft card base because it brings out the light browns in the paper.  I turned again to my yummy Prima flowers.  I heat-embossed with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and clear embossing powder and topped it off with a sheer bow that I zapped into submission with my heat gun.  Doggone sheer ribbon always wants to twist and contort in an unruly manner for me....like my hair!  Ha.

Hope you like this card!  Now if it would only stop raining outside!  :)

<3
Janis

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
1.  Just Add Ink #204 Colour Challenge

GIVEAWAY!!! -- Ribbon Roll Control

WINNER OF THIS GIVEAWAY IS POSTED HERE.

Hi, Everyone....

I am extremely excited about this post because it is a real live GIVEAWAY right here on my brand-new little blog!

This is for one of  the  
Ribbon Roll Control ribbon storage
and organization systems.


. 
Let me introduce you to this fabulous product:  Ribbon Roll Control.  I first became aware of it when I won one of these terrific storage tools in a giveaway at  Paper Crafter's Library.  (THANK YOU, PCL and RRC!!!) As I had mentioned on that blog, my ribbon was stored in plastic boxes and I never knew which box held the particular ribbon I wanted right then!  I was delighted
to win one of them and have been using it for the last
several weeks!

Size and capacity: The Ribbon Roll Control unit is 8" long, holds up to 16 rolls of 3/8" wide spools, and comes in two sizes for spools of different diameters: Petite (for spools up to 3.5 inches across) and Original (for spools up to 5 inches across). I chose the petite. You can get the exact dimensions on the FAQ page.

How is it shipped?:  The unit comes disassembled so it is very compact in its shipping box.  I was glad to see this since I envisioned the postal rugby team delivering a formerly assembled product cracked, crushed, and broken.  Nope.  It is made of tough acrylic and packaged well..  The service was lightning fast and the compact box fit in my mailbox, so I didn't have to go clear to town to pick it up at the P.O.  A plus for this rural crafter!

How about assembly?:  I wondered how hard it would be to put together.  By following the easy-to-understand pictorial instructions, it went together like a dream.  It is designed well to be durable and secure.  One thing I really like is that the unit doesn't feel like it is coming apart whenever I move it.  I can lift it by any side and it holds together reliably without any floppiness or play.  

Are the units stackable?:  Yes, they are!  I only have one unit right now, but they are designed to be used singly or to be stacked 3 units high.  Each one comes with a little piece that makes stacking them easy and secure.  

Have the cats knocked it down yet?  No, they haven't.  But I think that even if they do, it will survive just fine.....although the ribbon will become fair game to the little scoundrels!  Yikes!!

You can see how much I like this product, so you can imagine my excitement when Trish at Ribbon Roll Control offered to sponsor a giveaway here!!  Trish has been an absolute sweetheart to work with.....and one of the coolest things is she is willing to pay international shipping if the winner of this giveaway is an international reader!!!

So here are the details.............

This giveaway is for one Ribbon Roll Control unit of your size choice (original or petite).

Here's how to enter:. 

Leave a comment on this post telling me which size (Petite or Original) you would like to win.

(Remember this giveaway is open to International Readers, too!!!)

Do you want additional ways to win????

Leave a comment on any or all of my other posts this week starting on my Mar. 2nd post throughout this week, including next Sunday (Mar. 9th) if I do a post that day.  The more posts you comment on, the more extra entries you get.  One comment per post, please. 

I will choose a winner on Monday, Mar. 10th.

Also, I would LOVE for you to choose to become a follower of my blog by Google Friend Connect or to subscribe by email.  The little widgets are on the right hand side of this page to do that.  I am NOT making this a requirement, because I hate it when bloggers coerce people into following just to participate in their giveaways.  But I am saying that it will make me supremely happy if you choose to follow or subscribe.  Please tell me in your comment if you subscribe by email or follow and watch it put a great big happy smile on my face!!!  :)

Thank you to EVERYONE for your encouragement and support.  This blogging is even more fun that I expected it would be!!!  

Have a lovely day.....even if it is pouring down rain, like it is here!

<3

Janis

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo -- From Ad Flyer to Birthday Card

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Don't forget that I have a GIVEAWAY coming up this week!!
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Hello, Friends!!

Here's a fun one for today.  My dear husband brought me a flyer from N. Idaho advertising some feed manufacturer giving talks on chicken nutrition, etc.  He wasn't sure if they would also be doing it here locally,  but thought I might be interested in at least seeing the ad.  Well.....I was very interested, but not in the way he thought!  I took one look at the adorable illustrations on this flyer and thought:  CARD!!!!!!   :)  

Here's the flyer.  Isn't it cute?????

I just so happen to have a friend who also likes chickens and has a birthday near mine.....so I thought "I'm going to make a birthday card for her out of this!"  She already knows I am a bit nutty, so I wasn't going to blow my cover doing this crazy stunt.  :)

So here's the not-quite-finished card:

I took all my photographs.....close ups and everything.

Don't you think the gold punchinella looks kind of like chicken wire?  :)

I didn't really have any country paper designs, but I used a couple pieces of patterned cardstock from the DCWV Gilded Orchard Matstack (4.5" x 6.5") and some green polka dotted corrugate from the brand-new DCWV Spring & Summer Corrugate Stack (6 x 6)....which is completely fresh and pretty.   (Printed corrugate!!!  Are you serious???  I am crazy over it!!!)

I fussy cut around the rooster's head and slipped my "friendly hello" banner into the slit.  I like the country look of the gingham ribbon bow and the kraft for the card base.

An

 I was feeling pretty good about the way this wacky card idea was turning out, and then it hit me.....I meant to add a feather!!!!

So here is the final result:

What do you think?  Should I have left well enough alone?  Or is the feather the final touch of whimsy that this chicken card needed????  Sometimes I add too much, but I thought this card was already such a crazy project that a feather might be okay....besides I really wanted to.  Ha!

Happy Birthday, Pam.  :)

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Keep it simple! #34 Things with wings

Gratitude Seeds - Inspired By Stamping

Hello, March....and hello to each you, too!!

*****Quick note:  Don't forget to check in here for my GIVEAWAY!!!*****

I have tons of Thank You notes to write for all the amazing and thoughtful Birthday greetings and gifts I received this week.  So I thought I would start out with this card made from the Garden Seed Packets stamp set that I won from Inspired by Stamping.  Don't you just love the vintage flower seed packet look????  I sure do.  THANK YOU, IBS!!!  Hey, it even goes along with their challenge!  Yay!!  One of these times, I am going to make something besides pink cards....but I just love crafting with pink!!

Here's how I made it:
1.  Stamp the seed packet envelope image on the printed cardstock and heat emboss.  I used black pigment ink and Clear Bark embossing powder to make the outlines a dark brownish black, instead of a harsh black color.  Do the same thing on the pink background.  Distress and ink the edges of the pink cardstock.
2.  Next fussy cut around the outside of the image on the printed piece and also cut out the window along the inner lines of the oval.  I used a small craft knife to accomplish this and inked all the inner and outer edges with ink from my Walnut Stain Distress Ink Pad.
3.  Next stamp the rose image on ivory cardstock and heat emboss.  I used Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and Clear Bark embossing powder to give the outline an even softer look than I had for the seed packet image.
4.  Next watercolor the rose image.  I used Gelatos in Metallic Melon, Tangerine, and Lemon by scribbling a bit in my palette and dipping my brush in water to make a wash of the right intensity.  Fussy cut after the image is dry and ink the edges to define the outline.

In the close up below, you might be able to see the metallic sheen on the shaded portions of the image.  It reminds me of real rose petals that have almost a sheen or iridescence to them when the sun hits them just right.  Remember you can get an even closer look by clicking on the image....and really zoom in by selecting View Image.



5.  Then adhere a sheet of vellum over the pink cardstock, keeping well within the boundaries of the outlines.
6.  Cut and arrange the leaves.  I used May Arts Leaves Ribbon.  Let some of the leaves overlap the oval.
7.  Adhere the rose image over the leaves.
8.  Stamp and heat emboss the banner and Gratitude Seeds label.  I used black pigment ink and Clear Bark embossing powder.  Then trimmed with a small margin around the banner outline.  Then I adhered the banner with 3D Foam Squares (which I cut in half to fit my banner) for dimension.
9.  Top it off with an ivory bow and mount the card front onto an ivory card base.  Voila!!

Thanks sooooo much for stopping by my blog.  I appreciate each and every one of you!!  I especially LOVE comments!!  One friend told me that she was unable to leave a comment.  Has that happened to anyone else????  Use the form on the side to email me and let me know if your comments aren't working.  I don't know if I can fix anything, but it will be helpful for me to know.  

Blessings to you all!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Inspired By Stamping--Monthly Challenge "Flowers"
2.  Inspired By Stamping--March Customer Gallery Contest
3.  Red Rubber Inspirationals--#109 "Heartfelt Thanks"
4.  Sweet Stamps--Challenge #158 "Favorite Color(s)"

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
My, oh my, were the cats active this morning when I was trying to get my card photographed.....climbing and jumping on everything.....even on the table where I had my card lying!!  Othello takes a gigantic leap up into the loft from the top of the refrigerator (where he is not supposed to be) and shakes the entire house when he jumps back down.  Andromeda and Whiskers were chasing each other around...mostly A chasing W, and W hissing.  The two rival old lady cats:  Chaienne and Aliyah were too dignified (read: lazy) to engage in the fray.    When they are holding still enough, I will try to get photos of them posted so you can see who they are.

What naughty things are your pets up to?
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