Bird-Chirping Weather FWF - 7-31

Oh, such a very naughty kitty-cat!!!

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HEY, EVERYONE: Don't miss my 100-Follower Giveaway!!!
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Hi, Friends.....

I am here with my Unity - Friends with Flair project for the week.  I used a super-fun Unity grab bag stamp:  "My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."  Sweet!  I have had this card partially made for months, but didn't know exactly how I wanted to use the elements.  So today I finally made the plunge and went shabby chic.  I even was able to use a large scrap of pastel pink cardstock for the big background piece!  Yay!!

My bird on the branch is the Sizzix Bigz Bird Branch die by Tim Holtz.  I die cut some Core'dinations heavy duty white cardstock for a good sturdy base without having to layer it.  Then I Versamarked and heat embossed the daylights out of it with layers and layers of powders of many colors, including verdigris, gold, maroon, and copper. I achieved a wonderful texture and blistery effect for the rough branch by overheating some embossing enamel on it.  When I had trouble getting my powders and such to stay put, I used glue.  I simulated the coloration of the robin by strategically adding the powders in the right spots.

My pink background is a complex mix of little pattern stamping, heat embossing, sponging, and splattering with water.  Distress ink in Worn Lipstick is the most predominant feature.  Love how it looks like a sunrise behind my bird.  A big single-knot in some thrift store frayed satin blanket binding for the bow and a strip behind the focal panel in the same color ties everything  together.  

I hope you have enjoyed my card.  I love how it turned out!!!
Thank you so much for your visit and for the lovely comments you leave.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Unity - Friends with Flair Link-Up
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Not Ordinary Paper (I used an extra heavy weight cardstock for my die cut. I hope that is out of the ordinary enough!)
4. Simon Says Stamp Work-It Wednesday - Use Die-Cuts
5. DRS Challenge #185 - Cause a Scene
6. Stamp and Create - July Challenge - Patterns
(I stamped my little patterned stamps in a checkerboard square arrangement on the focal panel.)
7. Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #226 - The Great Outdoors

Christmas in July #3

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HEY, EVERYONE:  Don't miss my 100-Follower Giveaway!!! 
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Hi, Friends.....

I am back with my third entry into the Christmas in July Challenge at Cards in Envy.  This is my favorite of the three that I made for this challenge.  I love the non-traditional pink color for Christmas cards and the retro font of the die-cut I used.

I used DCWV scraps from my stash and I also die-cut silver foiled paper from the DCWV Stack - Foiled using my Clearly Besotted - Merry Christmas dies.  LOVE how this gorgeous foiled paper makes the greeting shine!  So perfect for an eye-catching accent!!

I added a soft little satin bow in a coordinating pink color for a monochromatic look.  I really love the simple elegance of this quick Christmas card.  Hope you like it, too!!!

Have a great day.  I will be posting my Friends with Flair card today, also.  Busy day for my blog!!!  Can't work outside in the heat.  Might as well try to craft.  :)

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Cards in Envy - Christmas in July
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Not Ordinary Paper
4. Simon Says Stamp Work-It Wednesday - Use Die-Cuts
5. Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week #187

Christmas in July #2

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HEY, EVERYONE:  Don't miss my 100-Follower Giveaway!!! 

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Hi, Friends.....

I am back with my second entry into the Christmas in July Challenge at Cards in Envy.  This time I used some DCWV patterned paper that already had the adorable little snowman on it.  I dry embossed it with my Darice - Snowflakes folder.  I brushed some gesso over the snowflake shapes and then wiped off the excess with a baby wipe to give some soft definition to the fluffy flakes. 

I went over some of the lines of the image with a silver gel pen and my Wink of Stella pen to give some shimmery accents.  I also drew in some faux stitching with a metallic gel pen.       

Some sequins and a shimmery faux raffia bow gave a festive look, too.  I mounted it all on a blue card base.   

This was one of those simple, just for fun, kind of cards, but I think the snowman looks quite jolly.  Hope you like him, too.  Today is supposed to be 96 degrees here, so I don't mind making Christmas cards to help me remember what cold feels like.  lol.... 

Stay cool and have a great day!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Cards in Envy - Christmas in July
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. DL.ART July Linky Challenge
4. Scraps of Life by Scrappy Mo - July Rudolph Days - Christmas Cards

Christmas in July #1

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HEY, EVERYONE:  Don't miss my 100-Follower Giveaway!!! 

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Hi, Friends.....

I decided at the last minute to participate in the Christmas in July Challenge at Cards in Envy.  It helped that I looked in my Christmas tote and found some cards that were partly made already!  Yay!!! 

Here's my first entry:

I used one of my favorite techniques on this card of layered embossing.  I die cut the ornaments using my Spellbinders - Holiday Tags die set and some lovely foiled paper from my DCWV Foiled Elegance Stack.  I glued them onto a piece from my DCWV Woven Stack.  I love the wonderful texture of this unusual paper!!!  Then I embossed it with my Darice - Interlocking Circles folder.  After embossing, I drew in some strings for the ornaments with red glitter glue.  I attached some gold photo corners for a little holiday dazzle and added a puffy holiday sticker.  I mounted everything on a red card base.  Hey, now I have one Christmas card ready for December!!!  lol....

Thanks for stopping by today.  Remember to enter my 100-Follower Giveaway!!!  

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Cards in Envy - Christmas in July
2. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Not Ordinary Paper
3. Mod Squad - Anything Goes + Die from brand sold by One Happy Cut
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Stamp Work-It Wednesday - Use Die-Cuts

My 100-Follower GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

I got this for you when I was out last night.....

Hi, Friends.....

Finally.............Here it is.........My 100-FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY!!!!  I am delighted to offer this giveaway as a thank you to my awesome readers....especially those who have become followers over the last year and a half that I have been blogging!  I also want to acknowledge those who follow by other venues such as subscribing by email.  I am truly honored that you let my posts drop into your inbox!  Thank you, also, to those of you who visit regularly whether or not you are official followers.  Your comments really make my day!!!

So......as a thank you, I have put together what I hope you will think is an exciting little prize package for one lucky person.   (USA only, this time....sorry.  My last few giveaways were open internationally, but this one will be too expensive to mail.)

Here's what you can win:
1.  Graphic 45 - Time to Flourish 8"x8" pad
2.  Graphic 45 - Come Away with Me 8"x8" pad
3.  Hot Off the Press - Heat Resistant Clear Acetate 8-1/2"x11", 5 sheets
4.  Three packs of ClearSnap - Designer Foils in Silver Fog, Cherry Pie, and Goldmine, 2"x8", 6 sheets each.

Sound interesting????  I hope so!  These had all been on my wishlist for some time.  When I snagged them on a good sale, I bought two of each......one for me and one for a prize for you, too!!!


Here's how to enter to win this little prize bundle (USA only):

1.  Comment on this post and please tell me which prize items look the most interesting to you and why.
2.  PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT.  If you win, I will email you if I have your addy.  I can't guarantee I will find you if I have to track you down.   I would hate for you to miss out! 
3.  Comments will close at 11:59 pm PDT, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015.  I will announce the winner on my blog the next day.
4.  You do not have to be a follower to be eligible for the giveaway, but I would LOVE it if you are!!! 

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NEW FOLLOWER INTRODUCTION TIME!!!!!
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Hey.....I am waaaaay overdue on introducing some new followers!!  I apologize for that.  June and July have been a dizzying whirl for me!!!

Please help me welcome Karen Franciola of Little Scrap Pieces.  Karen hails from New York state and runs the sweetest little Show-it-Off Saturday linky party on her blog each week.  I haven't won the random draw, yet, but I keep entering because that luscious ribbon prize looks so enticing!!!  Her challenge is on my list of Favorite Challenge Sites and her blog is a delight to visit.  I love seeing the wonderful things she puts on her beautiful cards!!  Thanks so much, Karen, for becoming a follower.  This ginormous smile is what spreads over my face when I see new faces smiling at me from my sidebar!!!

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

Next to welcome is Susan.  I am 99.99% this is Susan Hogan, but I am not 100% positive!  lol... I will assume that it is.  Susan is my second follower from Tasmania, Australia!!!  Woo-hoo!!  She is the owner over at Unstampabelles, which is also on my list of Favorite Challenge Sites.  (psssss...there's a giveaway over there, too!)  Susan also has her personal craft blog, Time to Play, which is filled to the brim with lovely projects she has made.  Thanks so much, Susan, for becoming a follower.  I appreciate your encouraging words on my projects!!  This ginormous smile is for you!!!

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

Thanks so very much to each of you for visiting my blog.  Your comments lift and encourage me!!!  Have a very lovely week!!!

<3
Janis 

Chocolate Gratitude

Been there.......

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HEY, EVERYONE:  Don't miss my 100-Follower Giveaway!!! 

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Hi, Friends.....

Did somebody say "chocolate"????  LOVE it...especially milk chocolate!  Oh, yum!!!  When I saw the current Words 2 Scrap By challenge theme of "A Friend with Chocolate", I knew I had the perfect DCWV scraps for it!!

I used my circle punch on this patterned paper of the luscious box of chocolates and framed it with a doily.  I backed it with another scrap from my stash and put the little pre-made diecut border on it.  

When it came to the sentiment, I pulled out one of my brand-new Just-Rite sets.  Their online store was closing and everything was on deep discount!  This is from the Filigree Journal Covers set.  I was totally delighted to find that this gorgeous Gratitude stamp fit perfectly inside the frames from one of my old Clear Dollar Stamps sets.  Isn't it wonderful when that happens??!!  I hardly ever use this little set of frames, but I sure will now!!!  :)

Other supplies used:
Versafine Ink - Vintage Sepia
Clear embossing powder
Core'dinations cardstock
Decorative scallop scissors
Distress Ink - Antique Linen

Hope you liked my yummy card.  Thanks so much for stopping in!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges: 
1. Words 2 Scrap By Challenge #19 - A Friend with Chocolate
2. Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week #187
3. DL.Art Thankful Thursday - Summertime or Thank You
4. DL.Art July Linky Challenge
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper July Challenge

Wishing You a Joyful Day

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a card I made from this week's Viva La Verve sketch. My mojo had been gone for so long that sketch challenges have been just the thing to help me get going again!
 



Here's the fabulous sketch I followed:













Here's my take. It almost looks like it could be a Thanksgiving card!

Currently, I have some of my brown, yellow, and green scraps out on my craft table.  I have been trying to use them on my projects this week.  I also used a cute little tag that my bloggy friend, Karen, sent me with some other sweet things last year.  Thanks so much, Karen!!  I am really *tryyyyyyyyy-ing* to use things from my scraps and stash!!  Doesn't this tag go perfectly with the sketch and these scrap colors???  LOVE it.

I used another sentiment from my Inky Antics - Script Sentiments #1.  I am just loving this set!!  I thought about putting the tag at a jaunty angle for this card, but decided to follow the sketch on keeping horizontal.  Instead, I put the big sparkling metallic gold bow at an angle.  I love this webby ribbon because it springs back into shape even after being squished into an envelope.  Yay!!!

Other supplies used on this card include:
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and Tea Dye
Versafine Ink in Olympia Green
Doily and scraps from stash

I hope you enjoyed my card!  I will post my 100 follower giveaway with a picture of my prizes in the next 3 or 4 days, so be watching!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Viva la Verve - July 2015 - Week 4 Sketch
2. Little Scrap Pieces - Show It Off Saturday Linky Party
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Letter I -I used an Inky Antics brand sentiment stamp
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sparkle and Shine 
5. Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge - Hang Some Paper
6. Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week #187
7. Stamp and Create - July Challenge - Patterns 

Thank You For Your Friendship

Hi, Friends.....

This is my second post of the day!!!  Wow.  I must be feeling better, huh?  :)   This card was made following the July sketch challenge at Quick Quotes.  It is obviously more of a layout sketch, but I rose to the occasion to try my hand at making a card with it.  Besides, it looked like a good way to use a bunch of my scraps.  Lots of layers means lots of scraps.  Oh, yes!!! 

 
Here's my take.......

The lovely sentiment with the gorgeous font is from Inky Antics - Script Sentiments #1.  I had been admiring this on my craft table for quite awhile and finally decided to stamp a whole bunch of the sentiments for future use.  When I saw this sketch, I knew one of them would be perfect.  This one is stamped with Olympia Green Versafine Ink. 

Other supplies used include:
Prima flowers of various sorts
Distress Ink in Forest Moss and Antique Linen
Zva Swirl for sparkle  :)
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Pearls

I really love the serene colors of this card with the touch of bling that the swirl provides.  The sketch was a challenge to turn into a card, but I enjoyed the process.  Hope you like it, too!!

<3 
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Quick Quotes July Sketch Challenge
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday - Summertime or Thank You
3. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week 186 
4. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Letter I -I used an Inky Antics brand sentiment stamp
5. Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge - Hang Some Paper
6. Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #208 - LOL (Lots of Layers)
7. Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge - Take a Stamp
8. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sparkle and Shine

Best of Luck - FWF 7-24

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a quick post for this week's Unity - Friends with Flair link-up.  This time I made a masculine card using a Unity grab bag "Best of Luck" stamp and some tickets from a roll I found at a thrift store.  Fun, huh?

I wanted to give the impression of a long-forgotten wall with layers of peeling wallpaper and some tickets that had been hung there years ago.  I heavily distressed and layered some scraps of patterned paper and some corrugate. I even found a place for some crumpled-up gold punchinella which I tucked amongst the layers.  (I am soooooo glad to use it.  That piece has loitered about my craft table for months from a failed experiment!!)  I think the metallic gold provides just the right amount of shine without looking too girly.  What do you think?

Other supplies used include:
Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy, Aged Mahogany
Versafine Ink - Olympia Green 
Little brad from my stash

By the way.....I have not forgotten that I promised a giveaway and I have not forgotten that I have some new followers to introduce.  Things have just been too crazy around here for me to get on here very much lately.  Hopefully I can post those things this coming week!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Your visits and comments mean a lot to me!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Unity - Friends with Flair Link-Up
2. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week 186 
3. Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge - Hang Some Paper
4. Hiding in my Craft Room Challenge #208 - LOL (Lots of Layers) 
5. Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday
6. Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge - Take a Stamp
7. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sparkle and Shine

Sunshiny Inspiration -- Friends with Flair 7-17

What I think I do in my garden......

What I really do.....

Hi, Friends.....

I have been really struggling to get my energy and mojo back after being sick.  The weather has cooled off for a little while, thankfully, so I have been trying to do some much needed work in my garden.  (Keyword:  trying...)  Also, I am in a time crunch to finish a baby quilt by the end of the month, when I'll be seeing my new little grand-nephew, so cardmaking got pushed to back burner.  I am so glad for the weekly Unity-Friends with Flair linky party that gets me on here at least once per week, even when I am dragging!

Today, I have a bright-as-sunshine card to share, so you might need to grab your shades to protect your eyes!!  I messed around with the photo-editing to try to get it as vivid as it really is, but the picture is still lacking!   I used my Unity - She is without Fear itty bitty stamp for this card with Versafine Ink in Vintage Sepia.

I was playing around with my water-based markers a few weeks back.....rehydrating ones that were dry, but not out of ink, by letting them sit with their tips in a baby food jar with a half-inch or so of water.  When I was done, I couldn't just throw out the deeply pigmented water!  So I applied it to some watercolor paper and mixed media paper for backgrounds.  This is one of them.  I splattered on some Perfect Pearls mist spray for some interest.  (It's *interesting* that they photographed white, instead of pearly!  Sigh....)  Then I topped it with a shimmery yellow bow.  The card base is a bright glittery yellow, but you can't see the sparkliness in the photo.  (Sigh, again....)

I like the bright warm glow this card has.  Hope you like it, too!!!
Thank you for visiting and for your very lovely comments. 

Have a wonderful sunshiny day!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Unity - Friends with Flair Linky Party
2.  Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Refreshment (I get refreshed from inspiring scriptures.)
3.  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
4.  Little Scrap Pieces Show-it-Off Saturday Linky Party
5.  Frosted Designs Friday Challenge - Here Comes the Sun/Son  (I used bright, sunshiny colors.)
6.  DRS Designs Challenge #183 - Inspired by Color 

Friends with Flair 7-10

Ugh....that's me this week.  I have a summer cold and I feel lousy and totally exhausted.

Hi, Friends....

I'm here with shortest post ever because I am so miserable and tired with this cold.  Ugh.

This is my Unity Friends with Flair project for this week:

That's all I can manage today.  Sorry.
 
Hope all is well for you and you are getting ready for a wonderful weekend.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Unity Friends with Flair Linky Party
Maybe more later....maybe not....ugh...

Life is ANYTHING but Perfect!!! FWF 7-3-15

Copy that and stand by.  Okay, all systems are go, again.   Roger, Houston.

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

I was having major problems with my internet tonight so I had to post unretouched photos for my Friday Unity- Friends with Flair project.  I finally was able to edit my shots, so now I am redoing this post.  :)

The lovely Unity grab bag sentiment says:  Life fails to be perfect, but never fails to be beautiful.  It is stamped in Versafine Ink in Vintage Sepia.  

I used a number of my DCWV scraps for this.  I find that layering uses lots of them!!  Hooray!!  :)

You will be seeing a lot of cards on my blog over the next weeks (months?) that use circles.  I am in the middle of a quest to use a bunch of my scraps and a couple things I have in abundance are 3-1/2" and 1" wide strips, cut from 12"x12" paper to make A2 notecard sets.  I have a circle punch that is nearly 3" wide, so I have made a bunch of circles from my strips.  I am determined to use them!!!!  Happily, the circles fit perfectly on my doilies.  :)
 

I tinted a couple of Prima flowers with Distress Inks and added a pretty Zva swirl corner piece. 

Hope your holiday weekend is not as hot as ours is going to be!!!  Ugh...  Stay safe and cool.  

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenge(s):
1. Unity - Friends with Flair Link-up
2. Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge - Hang some Paper 
3. Mod Squad Challenge - Pattern Paper
4. Inspired by Stamping - IBSIC #95 - Use String