This Week's Oriental Card

"When the tea is brought at five o'clock

And all the neat curtains are drawn with care, 

The little black cat with bright green eyes

Is suddenly purring there."  

            -------Harold Monro

Hi, Friends.....

Just a quick post for the MFP Oriental Sketch Challenge this week.

Here's the assigned sketch, which I flipped:

    
For my card,  I went with some gentle colors and a simple stamped butterfly that looked Oriental-ish to me.  Can't wait for my MFP stamps to get shipped so I can use some real Oriental images for these challenges!!! 

Supplies I used:  various DCWV papers and cardstock, Coredinations cardstock, Staz-On black ink, thrift store stamp.

Thanks for stopping by.  :)  Shortest post ever!  Ha.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenge:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Oriental Sketch Challenge #42 

Color Contrast with Black - Pot of Flowers

"There has never been a cat 

Who couldn't calm me down

By walking slowly 

Past my chair."

----Rod McKuen

Hi, Friends......

I couldn't let this MFP Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge with the charming theme of Flower Pots go by without scrabbling together a card for it.  There are quite a few entries this time, which is very exciting!!  However, I might not make it all the way around to comment on each one, which I like to try to do on the MFP challenges I enter.

This card was fun because I got to use several items that were new to me.  This was inspired by the loveable and wacky woman Darnell Knauss with her NBUS Challenge (Never Before Used Schtuff)!!!  lol....  The theme for her challenge is Friendship and I think a pot of flowers is an ideal friendship gift.  The virginal product I used for this card was from the GCD Studios Kathy Davis Happiness stack.  Eeek...you can see by the date of its release that I have had it sitting idle for much too long!!!  

Long story about my watercolor paper:

I also made use of some pretty (I think, at least) watercolor background paper that I made from some of my more epic fails in a recent MFP Cling Wrap Tutorial Time Challenge.  Ha.  I must have been adding too much ink or something because my glossy paper was dark and not at all attractive....not even for making a masculine type card for a guy who doesn't care about prettiness!  

Then I had a brilliant (for me) flash.....I wonder what would happen if I added water to these dark blotchy blobs on my precious (did I mention expensive?) glossy photo paper....and laid them down wet on watercolor paper???????  It worked!!!  I was able to repurpose these ugly things, that were headed eventually to the trash, into a million (or at least 6) pieces of lovely pastel hued watercolor paper to use on my cards.  I LOVE THEM!!  And....the beautiful bonus was this:  now that a bunch of the ink is removed, they aren't as homely as they were and I might be able to use some of them, too.   

So that is the "background" story on my paper.  This is my very first time in using any of them.  I hope that qualifies as something new for the DRS Designs Challenge with the theme of It's New.

I also followed a sketch for this card from Sketch Saturday.  I LOVE the crisp clean lines in this sketch and knew it would perfectly highlight the contrasts of color and black I planned for my card. 






Other supplies I used include:  some older Stampin' Up thrift store stamps (pot, stems, two different flowers), Staz-On black ink pad, K&Co. paper, Coredinations black cardstock, and stick-on rhinestones from dollar rack at JoAnns. 

Thanks so much for stopping in to visit and to enjoy the pot of flowers friendship gift.  Love, love, love you and your comments!!!!  I have my eye out (not literally) for my next new follower and have my ginormous smile ready!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge #217 - Flower Pots
2.  Sketch Saturday - Week 315 
3.  DJKardKreations NBUS Challenge #1 - Friendship
4.  DRS Designs Challenge #128 - It's New
5.  The Sailing Pineapple Challenge #8 - Repurpose It  

Here's my Best Shot - Vintage Photo Challenge

"I gave my cat a bath the other day....they love it.  He sat there, he enjoyed it, it was fun for me.  The fur would stick to my tongue, but other than that...."
                                                                     -------Steve Martin

Hi, Friends.....

Well, I took the plunge and gave the MFP Tutorial Time Vintage Photo Challenge a try.  I wasn't at all sure I had any old photos I wanted to sacrifice for a card.....or that would even be suitable....but I found this one which appears to be a racetrack with horses walking around the course.  Who knows what in the world it really is?????     

This little gem was loose and unlabeled in an old family album with other photos dated from the 1910s-1920s, so I am guessing it is roughly of that vintage.  It was probably taken in or near Salem, Oregon.  Did they have a horse race track back then?  I don't really know....they didn't have much of anything else, yet.  Regardless, I decided to go with a sporty horserace theme and grabbed out my Graphic 45 Good Ol' Sport pad I won from them.  (Thanks, G45!!!)
 

I also followed this Feeling Sketchy Challenge plan.  It was just simple enough to not overwhelm my photo with too many fussy details.


The only details I added were some black photo corners and some thrift store ribbon and seam binding that I layered together.  My little sentiment, stamped and embossed in black, is from a discontinued Amy Tangerine Draft set.  It seemed to fit in with my theme.  

So what to do with a card like this???  (If it doesn't have flowers on it, I am kind of at a loss!!!  Ha.)  It is definitely masculine, so I might stamp Happy Birthday inside this card and send it to my Dad who will 91 next month....not sure yet.   

Thanks for stopping by and always leaving such nice comments on my challenge attempts!!  Your visits and comments mean a lot to me.  

Also............I have a NEW FOLLOWER!!!!!!!!!  So get ready for one of my ginormous new-follower smiles.  This smile is for you, Joyce Evans Erb.  Thanks so much for becoming a follower!!!

:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Have a lovely day!!!

<3

Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  MFP Speedy TV Tutorial Time Challenge #106 - Use a Vintage Photo 

2.  Feeling Sketchy Challenge - Card Sketch #93
3.  Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #24 - Sport  

4.  QKR Stampede Challenge #93 - Sports 
5.  Country View Challenges - June Challenge - Men Only (must be a masculine card)

Thinking of You - Summer Field of Flowers

"No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens."
                                                                  --------Abraham Lincoln

Hi, Friends......

I am back with a card I made that was inspired by three different challenges:

1.  MFP Speedy TV - Inspirational Challenge #68 Doors with this as one of their wonderful inspiration photos.  I love that vine of flowers around that brightly painted door!!!

2.  The Color Me Scrappy Challenge with this amazingly gorgeous color palette and a twist of using floral patterned paper.  Love this color combo and the photo of the field of poppies!!!

3.  The TechnoScrapper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge with this inspired sketch.  Love the row of 3 flowers!!

Put them all together and what's that look like?

Supplies I used include:  DCWV cardstock from The Sweet Blossom stack, Coredinations cardstock, Prima flowers, May Arts Ribbon (vine), Serendipity Thinking of You small sentiment stamp which was part of a prize (THANKS, Serendipity!!), Want2Scrap self-adhesive pearls, and thrift store ribbon (cream).

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.  Your comments make my day!!!

<3 
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:  
1.  MFP Speedy TV Inspirational Challenge #68 - Doors 
2.  Technostamper Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge #330 
3.  Color Me Scrappy Challenge #64 - Colors + Use Floral Patterned Paper  
4.  Our Creative Corner Challenge - Flaming June  
5.  Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Summer is Here  

YOU Did Awesome! - CAS Card

"The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it."
                                                               -------Doug Larson

Hi, Friends...........

I am here with another challenge card for the MFP Simple Salutations Challenge with a graduation theme.  I had this CAS design in mind and am pleased with how it turned out.

I used a leftover K&Co. graduation sticker for the cap, trimming it as close to the design as possible and inking with a black sharpie around the edges.

The stamp was a clearance rack item at JoAnn's some time back.  I colored the y-o-u with a Spectrum Noir marker.  I free-hand (eek!) traced the path of the tossed cap with a black Sakura Glaze pen.  I mounted the card front onto a black card.  EASY!  

Wow....CAS cards are sure a lot faster than my usual layered numbers!!!  I could get used to that!!  Ha. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog to have a look see.  I appreciate your comments and also each of my followers!!!     

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:                         
1.   MFP Speedy TV Simple Salutations Challenge #102 
2.   CAS-ology Challenge Week 100 - Celebrate 
3.   Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards Challenge #67 - Black, White + 1 other Color 
4.   Crafty Sentiments - CAS or Full-On  Still forgot to add #3 onto my entry for being a follower.
5.   Stamping with the Dragon June Challenge - CAS 

Flying By to Say Hi

"If cats could talk, they would lie to you."
                             -------Rob Kopack

Hi, Friends.....

I am back with another MFP Sketch With a Twist challenge card.  This week's twist was Travel and I did my own little twist on that theme, choosing to go with a little bee traveling to the recipient instead of a bon voyage sort of card where the recipient is the one who will be traveling.

I used my Lawn Fawn - Into the Woods set for the tree.  The stamp is not this long, so I overlapped the ends and hid the "seams" with my signs.  :)  The line of hearts is also from this set.

I opened up, for the first time, my TAWS - Speak Easy set that I won awhile back (THANKS, TAWS!!) and did a wee bit of stamp surgery.  The Flying by to Say Hi had been all in one long segment.  I cut it in two for making this card.  I could have masked, but this was easier.  I like easier!!!  :)  The little bee is one I've had for ages.....part of a set, but I have long forgotten which one.

I heat embossed the tree in Clear Bark and the other images in black.  I colored my sweet little bee and traced her flight path with Sakura Gel Pens, including a sparkly one over white for the wings.  :)

Here's the sketch I used from this week's MFP Sketch With a Twist.

Hope you like my card.  I think it turned out really cute....and did you notice I am *still* using my yellow scraps???  :)  Thank you for buzzing by my blog and leaving your sweet as honey comments!! 

 

Oh, and I nearly forgot.........

My Crocus Card (one of my personal favorites) was honored by Eclectic Ellapu (what even is an ellapu???) as a Runner Up in their Spring Challenge.  I am thrilled because I really love this card.  



Eclectic Ellapu has some really fun Runner Up Badges, so it was difficult to choose which one I wanted.  But I finally decided on this one:

Isn't it pretty?  Love it.  THANKS, Eclectic Ellapu!!!

Have a lovely day, everyone!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Sketch With a Twist #103 - Travel 
2.  Simply Create Too Challenge #64 - Your Sentiment is Highlight 
3.  Delightful Sketches Challenge - Hello Friend 
4.  Seemacrafts June Challenge - Make it Cute 
5.  Handmade Harbour Challenges - CAS 

When I Count My Blessings -- My First Side-Stepped Card

"Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose."
                                                         ---Garrison Keillor

Hi, Friends.....

Ooooooh...feel that stre-e-e-e-e-e-e-etch......!  

This challenge card really stretched me!!  But it was fun and I am so glad I gave it a try!!!  This is for the MFP Friends of Speedy TV Side Stepped Card challenge.  I have never made one before and wasn't at all sure I was up to it......I nearly wasn't, but I was nearly up all night making a go of it!!!!!  Eeeeek!  

I knew I wanted to use this "When I count my blessings, I think of you" (a thrift store find!) stamped and embossed in red, but from there on out I was winging it....like the robin.  (Little pun, there........very little....)

Photographing this was almost as challenging as making it!  Eeek!

 Thanks to the terrific design team who made sample cards for this intriguing challenge, I was directed to a wonderful tutorial for making this fun fold card.  It still took me a little bit of playing around to get the dimensions just right to fit my stamps, but I managed....eventually!

My big flower image is from a couple of sets I won from Denami Designs:  Summer Flowers and Summer Flower Leaves.  (THANKS, Denami!!!).  The grass and the robin are from an ancient Rubber Stampede set called The Country Garden.....also a thrift store find my son discovered and snagged for me.  I stamped them each with Staz-On black and then watercolored them.  Lastly, I added some sparkly blossoms to each of my layers of grass with sequins.  Seeing little flowers blooming in grass makes me extremely happy! :)

Did you recognize these leftovers?  Oh, yes!  The sky is from some bits from my recent castle card and so is the yellow.  Love it when I can use my scraps on the next card.  I still have 2 small pieces and 1 medium-sized piece of that yellow, so expect it in the near future again!  :)

Well, there you have my very first side-stepped card....(blushes with pride.)  I really am pleased with how it turned out, so I will appreciate all manner of kind words of affirmation for the heroic hours of effort I expended in making it!!!  Ha.

Thanks for your visit!  I seriously do appreciate each of you and count YOU as a blessing!!!

<3
Janis  



Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Challenge #129 - Side-Step Card 
2.  The House that Stamps Built Challenge DCC618 - Shaped or Fun Fold Cards 
3.  Eureka Stamps Challenge #94 - Friends
4.  Lexi's Creations Challenge #118 - For a Friend
5.  Through the Purple Haze Challenge #46 Anything Goes with Stamping 

Oriental Card with Perfect Pearls

"Some people say man is the most dangerous animal on the planet.  Obviously those people have never met an angry cat."
                                                                 -------Lillian Johnson

Hi, Friends......

Is it already time for another MFP Oriental Sketch Challenge????  I guess it is.  

But before I get on to my card, I want to thank Lis the StampSnob (lol....what a great username!!!) for becoming my newest follower.  Here's that ginormous new-follower smile, especially for Lis!!!  

:)))))))))))))))))))))))

And now about my card.....  Since I've been joining in with the super-fun MFP Oriental Sketch Challenges, I've kept my eye open for Asian looking things in my stash and in thrift stores (my favorite!!) and I keep them together in one craft box.  After I played with Perfect Pearls recently for this card, I had several leftover images and I thought this shimmery bird (stamp discontinued from Unity) looked suitably Oriental.  So I used it for this challenge, along with scraps from recent cards that may or not be recognizable to my casual reader.  
                                                 

Here's this week's sketch that I followed.  As you can see, I flipped it 90 degrees to make a horizontal card. 










Here's an angled shot so you see the lovely gleam of the Perfect Pearls.  Instead of the Perfect Medium that came with my PP, I used my el cheapo wimpy white stamp pad which is terrible as a white stamp pad, but wonderful as an embossing pad.  (Ha!  You get what you pay for!) I used the Biscotti pearl powder, because it always seems to show up as a pretty gold.....more so than the gold PP that I have!  (shrug...crafting is such a mystery!.....)

Other supplies I used:  DCWV cardstock - various, Graphic 45 scraps and Bird Song sticker, kind of a crinkly mulberry paper from my stash, and my favorite color of pearls - Want 2 Scrap - LeCreme.  This color seems to blend with so many of the color palettes I use.  Love them!!

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my card.  Your support by leaving comments and becoming followers means a ton to me!!!  Have a lovely day!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Oriental Sketch Challenge #41
2.  FairyTale Challenge - Birdhouse / Nest 
3.  Clear it Out Challenge #17 - Anything Goes with Stash Twist - Anything Goes (I think I might prefer EVERYTHING goes...Ha!) 
4.  Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #153 - Super Scraps Saturday

Dreams are Forever.....

"Cat:  A pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs, and patronizes human beings."
                                                                   ----Oliver Herford

Hi, Friends.....

I am back with another sensational MFP Color Challenge, this time in light blue, golden yellow, and tan.  Lovely colors to work with!!  In my determination to use scraps only, the first scrap of light blue paper I pulled out was this dreamy blue sky with fluffy clouds from an old MAMBI stack.  That was the basis of my whole card! 

Next I started looking at my fantasy kind of stamps and found this one from a neglected and unlabeled set that was a thrift store find.  Perfect!  Then I had to find a dreamy kind of sentiment.  This Laughter, Imagination, Dreams from Unity that I had won (THANKS, Unity!!) was ideal.  I masked off the butterflies that are a part of the stamp.  I had forgotten when I grabbed it that it was a quote from Walt Disney....which made the castle stamp even more appropo!  Love it when that kind of thing happens!!!

I heat embossed both stamped images with clear bark transparent embossing powder. I did some very understated watercoloring on the castle and took a few swipes with the yellow on the sentiment.  I finished things with a Prima flower with a gold sequin center.   Other paper and cardstock is from DCWV and Coredinations. 

Hope you like my magical card!  It was fun to use the fantasy stamp....definitely out of my usual genre.  

Have a dreamy day!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Color Challenge #27 - Light Blue, Golden Yellow, and Tan 
2.  Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #153 - Super Scrap Saturday - Use Some Scraps
3.  Crafting When We Can Challenge #71 - Use up Your Leftovers
4.  Path of Positivity Challenge #15 - Happiness
5.  Clear it Out Challenge #17 - Anything Goes with Stash Twist of Anything Goes  

Catch Up Post

"What's virtue in a man can't be virtue in a cat."
                                              -------Gail Hamilton

Hi, Friends.....

Welcome to my catch up post.  You might be wondering what in the world a catch up post even is.......or you may have a very good idea.  It is where I catch up with my acknowledgements and thank yous that I am very behind in. 

#1 -- I have a brand new follower and so it is time for my ginormous smile.  This is for you, Davi!  Thanks so much for becoming a follower:  :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


#2 -- My dear husband actually looked through my entire blog the other day.  I was SO IMPRESSED!!   <3  <3  <3   He asked me where I get all my cat quotes.  I have an old 2006 Daily Calendar with 365 Daily Thoughts & Inspirations about...Cats.  I started at Jan. 1 and use one of the daily quotes for each post.  Usually it is in consecutive order.  I am on Feb. 10 for today's quote.  

#3 -- Another one about my dear husband.  He did something really sweet for me.  He printed up some clear stickers with my blog address on them for me to put on the backs of my cards.  I already have a pretty "J" stamp that I use, but these will be really nice.  I started trying them out the other evening and am still experimenting with positioning.

#4 -- Next, I want to say a huge thank you to Mark's Finest Papers.  Have you noticed all the challenges from MFP that I enter????  Well, I don't quite understand how it has happened, but my name has gotten drawn out of the hat as a winner a whole bunch of times.  I haven't received any of my prizes just yet, but I want to thank them for their amazing generosity in giving away a stamp set with each challenge.  Wow!  That site is just amazing with tutorials, hops, challenges, and tons of inspiration.  

Because I have been a (very, very, very, very, very, very, very) lucky winner, I also get to display this badge on my blog.  

 

THANK YOU, MFP!!!!

#5 -- I also recently was drawn as the lucky winner (hey...if I can't win on my own merits, I am not above being a random winner!!  Ha.) at DRS Designs.  By happenstance, I had recently read on The Frugal Crafter about one of DRS's cool stamps.  I totally am going to use my gift voucher toward one of these stained glass stamps!!   THANKS, DRS!!!  (Unfortunately, DRS doesn't offer a cool blog badge for winning their drawing......)

#6 - Hey, here's one that I won because somebody actually liked my card!  This card was honored as a runner up in the Perfectly Rustics Inspirational Photo #23 Challenge.

This gives me the privilege of displaying this Runner Up badge on my blog.  (I am just crazy about these badges!!!)

(Eeek...the badge is bigger than the card and I don't know how to resize it!! Oh, that's better!)

THANK YOU, Perfectly Rustics!!! 

#7 -- Okay, here's one more project that I won on its own merits.  This was several weeks ago and I just haven't taken the time to post about it. :o  This mini-album was honored in the Top 3 at Creative Corner Challenges in the Team Mel: Baby challenge.  

This gives me the privilege of displaying this cool badge on my blog.

Thanks so much, Creative Corner Challenges!!!

Whew........all caught up!!!  A humongous thank you to all the challenge blogs who work so hard to keep the fun and games interesting and inspiring.  I learn so much from all the DT members and the other entrants!!! 

THANK YOU!!!!

Have a lovely day.....and if you need rain, come to Idaho.  I'll give you some!!!

<3

Janis

Edited to add:  Squeal!!  I just noticed that this card made the Top 3 in the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 Sketch Challenge!!!  

This gives me the privilege of displaying their Top 3 Badge, also.  Yippeeee!!

 THANKS so much, Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2!!!!

Super Star Sporty Card

"Cats were put into the world to disprove the dogma that all things were created to serve man."
                                                                               ---------Paul Gray

Hi, Friends......

I am back with a plate of leftovers......that is, a card made from scraps leftover from my most recent card.  I had some bright yellow and green strips left on my craft table that got shoved next to some dark midnight blue ..............(brilliant flash) .............I think that looks like an arrow for a masculine kind of card!!!  So....voila!   Here's what I came up with.


Now for those of you who know me, you are probably thinking this card is very out-of-character for me.  And you'd be right ..... seeing as our family is about as sporty as a set of placemats!  Ha. But there are occasions when I need a card for a young man and I think this will be nice to have on hand.  

I used the Kelly Purkey Game Day stamps set I won months ago from Simon Says Stamp (THANKS, SSS!) for the white embossed numbers and the Super Star greeting.  I watercolored the letters with my waterbrush and Simon Says Stamp Soft Navy ink pad and I also applied Glossy Accents for extra shine.

I also got brave and did some faux stitching with my Sakura Gelly Roll white pen.  I think the "stitching" really adds to the sporty look.....but what does a placemat know???!!


I gave this card dimension by popping up the greeting panels and the arrow with 3-D foam squares and finished it with a few shiny stars.

You can compare this card with yesterday's card and see that I have a very similar color scheme, although the blue is much deeper and more masculine today.  Amazing how much difference it makes!

It also perhaps fits even better with the current Just Add Ink Color challenge (choose 3 of the 5) than yesterday's card did!!   So I am entering today's card, too!  :)

Hope you enjoyed having leftovers today.  I think I need to challenge myself to do this more often!!  I always have scraps leftover, but usually they sit around for a long time before I use them.  In the future, I will try to turn right around and do a leftover card whenever I can. 

Thanks for visiting and leaving such nice comments.  Your encouragement and support mean a lot to me!!!  

I, also, always appreciate it when someone feels like becoming a follower.  Many thanks to each of you who has done that!!  And I keep forgetting that I haven't yet posted my ginormous smile for my most recent follower, so here we go....  This smile is for you, Taunya Butler!!
:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Just Add Ink Challenge #218 - Just Add Colour Combo  
2.  Jellypark Challenges - All Things Sporty 
3.  Crafting When We Can Challenge #71 - Use up Your Leftovers 
4.  Crafty Boots Challenges - Sport  
5.  Creative Corner Challenges Team Mel - Just for Boys

Fresh as a Summer Daisy -- Encouragement Card

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath."
                                                              ----------W.C. Fields

Hi, Friends.......

Summer to me means clear blue skies with bright sunshine and flowers.  Right now in early summer, the pastures around our house have an array of wildflowers blooming.  My favorites are the wild daisies with their bright white petals and sunny centers.  

So when I was asked to make an encouragement card, I knew what colors I wanted to use.  I also knew I wanted it to have fresh clean lines and only a touch of frill.

I used several pieces of paper that I won as part of a blog prize that I think are from GCD Studios, but I am not sure. I also used paper and cardstock from DCWV and Coredinations.  My stamped sentiment verse is from Clear Dollar Stamps - Scriptures of Peace set.  (So sad they are not still making their clear acrylics!)   

Sentiment from inside of card.

The greenery behind the sentiment on the front cover is from Verve - New Mercies set. And so are the flower and sentiment inside the card. Other supplies I used: Prima flowers and doily and pearls from my stash.


I also used two challenges as inspirations for this card:


 #1 - The colors I chose were from the current Just Add Ink challenge where you choose 3 of the 5 colors for your card.  Guess which ones I chose.  :)


  
#2 - The sketch I followed is the current one from Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.  I knew all the layers would look great with the papers I wanted to use.

Thank you for stopping by to see my encouragement card.  Have a blessed and peaceful Sunday and new week.

<3

Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 - Sketch

2.  Just Add Ink Challenge #218 - Just Add a Color Combo  
3.  The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge #23 - Use Yellow 
4.  Time Out Challenge #7 - Summer w/ optional twist of Flowers 
5.  Paper Crafting Magic Challenge #12 - In Summer 

Tranquility - Oriental Card

"Before a cat will condescend

To treat you as a trusted friend.

Some little token of esteem

Is needed, like a dish of cream."

           --------T.S. Eliot

Hi, Friends......

It's time for another MFP Oriental Sketch Challenge.  Here's the sketch I followed:  

And here is what I came up with:

As you can see, I went quite simple with this sketch and design.  What a relief after that one sketch I did recently!  Whew!  :)  I chose stickers of a scene and "Tranquility" from the Graphic 45:  Bird Song set.  My background is embossed with a Cherry Blossom design embossing folder.  Other paper and cardstock I used were DCWV.  

Hope you like my interpretation of the sketch!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenge:
1.  MFP Speedy TV Oriental Challenge #40. 

Whooo's the best Dad?

"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel.  True, and they have many other fine qualities as well."
                                                                            ------------Missy Dizick

Ready for a post about how to make a lovely card that will not photograph well?  If the answer is "yes"...read on, Lizzy....

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with yet another MFP Challenge.  This one is their current Tutorial Time on Speedy TV - Cling Wrap Background.  This looked like such a fun challenge that I just had to try it out.  But, woe is me with trying to get my camera to capture the true colors!  

What I love about the Tutorial challenges is the fabulous...yes...tutorial that is included with each challenge.  Super interesting and fun to try.  I tried and tried but totally could not get a card to come together for last week's pillow top tutorial challenge, so I really wanted to try this week's.

On a side note.......am I the only one that Father's Day sneaked up on????  I forgot that June 1st was a Sunday and so I thought I still had another week!!!  I am so lame!   

Anyway, when I discovered Father's Day was this Sunday, I knew I would need to scramble and get a card ready to mail tomorrow with some goodies I have for my dear Dad.  So, I hunted around for my glossy cardstock for this challenge and, naturally, could not find it.  :&  I had to go to town, anyway, so I bought a small pack down there for an astronomical price......but at least I had it, and at least our small town drug store will stay in business for another day.  Ha!

So here's my card.  I teamed up an owl from my stash with stamps from Lawn Fawn's Into the Woods and added a Happy Father's Day sentiment. 

I'm very disappointed that my cling wrap background doesn't look green and blue, as it is in real life.  I tried backdrop after backdrop and still my camera insisted the technique background was gray and blue. :&  The background of the stamped panels is a shimmery medium green, but I guess the shimmer made it too reflective for my camera. and it is brighter than it should be.  :& :&


OH, WELL!!  I AM POSTING THIS CARD, ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!  :)

You might as well get used to the fact that a lot of my cards are going to be a little weird.  This was an experiment and I had a great time playing with my ink refills to get a guy-ish kind of background for Dad.  I wore gloves, but I still got inky.  :)  

So, yes, I am posting this card as much out of sheer determination as anything, but the only challenge that will get to see it are my friends at MFP Speedy TV.  I feel like I can show even my not-ready-for-primetime cards to them, especially on the tutorials.  Thanks, MFP!!!  

<3
Janis

The only challenge I am "honoring" (Ha!) with this card is:
1.  MFP Tutorial Time on Speedy TV Challenge #104 - Cling Wrap Background
And my Dad will like it, no matter what it looks like, because it came from me!  <3 <3 <3