NBUS #7 - Catitude in Yellow and Green

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a kitty card I made with some super-fun NBUS swirly patterned cat stamps from my Inkadinkadoo - Catitude stamp set .  My dear cat-loving daughter's 30th birthday was yesterday, so this one went to her with a birthday greeting inside.  I had a lot of fun stamping and heat embossing this image, so you will be seeing more of them in the coming weeks!  :)

My background on the focal panel is a colorful piece from my leftover Easter egg dye backgrounds with added splatters of various Dylusion ink sprays.  :)  I used a lot of different scraps on this card, including the orange burlap paper.  So great to use bits and pieces from my scrap bags!!

Supplies used on this card include:
DCWV scraps
Dylusions Ink Spray
Prima flowers
Hero Arts flower rhinestones
Versafine Ink in Olympia Green
Clear embossing powder

Hope you liked this fun card.  These stamps had been sitting completely unused in my cat box. (NO, you joker, not in the litterbox!......in my plastic box of cat stamps!!.....THAT cat box!   lol.....)  So I am linking this up in Darnell's NBUS #7, where you are invited to use some "Never Before Used Schtuff".  Heaven knows I have a lot of that!!!




Hope you like my card and I hope you will join the fun over at Darnell's NBUS #7 Challenge!  Thank you so much for stopping by!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Darnell's NBUS #7 - Never Before Used Schtuff
2. SUYP Cats Only Challenge #9 - Furrything Goes
3. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge #30 - AG
4. Amusing Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
5. Little Red Wagon Challenge #357 - Let's Get Inky

Cross and Floral Card in Orchid and Green

 
Hi, Friends......

Lately it seems that I have needed encouragement cards, sympathy cards, and praying for you cards.  This card could be used for any of these.  

I really love this Darice - Faith Words in Cross embossing folder.  It can be used for Easter or for any of the above occasions.  I dabbed the inside of the folder with Distress Inks in Victorian Velvet and Peeled Paint and misted lightly before embossing the white cardstock.  Love the watercolor effect!!




I used some pieces from my scrap bag for the background and a fancy border journaling card from a DCWV stack.   You can see the gleam and glitter below.  It has a watercolor look to it, too, that coordinates with my embossed piece.




















I finished it off with a sparkling Zva crystal swirl and some adhesive pearls.

Hope you liked this card.  Thank you for your lovely comments!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Great impressions August Challenge - AG
2. Amusing Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
4. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
5. Little Red Wagon Challenge #357 - Let's Get Inky
6. Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #373

Anniversary Card with Fussy Cut Birds

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a pretty card for a sweet occasion.  Some very dear friends celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception in the Portland, Oregon area.  This couple used to pastor at our tiny church here in Idaho and retired several years ago to Oregon.....coincidentally (or, rather, providentially!) within a mile of my Dad's assisted living facility.  Although, they have since moved to a different city, this wonderful couple picked my dad up each Sunday morning and took him to church with them while they were there.  It meant so much to Dad and to us, also!!  I wanted to make a nice card for their special day.

I have been hoarding this K&Co. paper because I love the colors and shimmery foiling and also the images so much.  These friends enjoy backyard birding so I knew it would be the perfect time to use it.  Fussy cutting and I don't always get along too well, but I managed it with these birds...and I think they turned out just fine. :)  I lifted the wings and tail slightly on the birds to give some dimension.  

My sentiment is from my Mark's Finest Papers - Christmas Wishes set. I stamped and heat embossed it onto some layered panels that I die cut from pieces found in my scrap bags.  I don't often layer my panels like that....or when I do, I use a contrasting piece.  But I really like the depth I got by using a similar color this time....and it used up more scraps!  Ha.

Supplies used include:
Mark's Finest Papers - Christmas Wishes stamp set
Versafine - Vintage Sepia
Clear embossing powder
DCWV scraps
Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy
Sizzix - Fancy Labels die set
Prima flowers
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Pearls
Old decorative corner scissors
Premade DCWV glitter cardbase
Sheer ribbon

Hope you like my card.  I just love how it turned out.  It was great to get to take a trip to see my Dad and a joy to be able to join this dear couple in celebrating 60 years together!!

Thank you for stopping by to say hi.  Your comments make my day!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Twofers Challenge #26 - Stamped Sentiment as Main Feature
2. Amusing Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
3. All Sorts Week #378 - Use at Least Two Dies
4. Wow! Embossing Powder August Challenge - Flowers
5. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
6. Unicorn Challenge #12 - Animal Kingdom
7. Crop Stop Linky Party #19 - Anything Goes - Use a product CS sells (I used Distress Ink)
8. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
9. Deep Ocean Challenge #136 - Things with Wings
10.Pixie's Snippets Playground Week 244 - Use Snippets

Butterflies Plus V is for Vases and/or Vanilla

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a last minute entry into Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge 
 where she asks us this time to use butterflies plus V is for Vases and/or Vanilla.   I chose some warm vanilla cardstock and did an emboss resist card in soft colors.

My vase and flower images are from an unidentified Stampin' Up set I got at a thrift store.  The butterflies are from my ancient Rubber Stampede Victorian Butterfly set.  (I hope I am not the only one who still uses old foam mount rubber stamps that are nearly 30 years old!!!)  I stamped them all with Versamark and heat embossed them with white powder.....a creamy white, not my whitest white.  I sponged some distress ink around the embossed images and wiped off the excess with a baby wipe.  Then I added some spatters of Clearsnap - Smooch Spritz in Carrot Cake.  

Other supplies used:
Scraps of DCWV paper for matting
Tulle ribbon from thrift store
Metallic gold photo corners
kraft card base

I hope you like the soft colors of this card.  I love how it turned out.  Thank you for stopping by!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - V is for Vases and/or Vanilla
2. Allsorts Challenge Week #377 - Fabulous Florals
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
4. Amusing Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
5. Wow! Embossing Powder August Challenge - Flowers
6. Crop Stop Linky Party #19 - Anything Goes - Use a product CS sells (I used Distress Ink)
7. Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party - Watercolor
8. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG 
9. My Time To Craft Challenge #327 - Embossing Heat or Dry
10. Fashionable Stamping Challenge #114 - Resist Stamping
11. Papercrafters Corner Challenge Week #158 - Inspiration Photo  (I was inspired by the flowers in the vase with their warm colors.)

 

School Daze

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a School Daze card....I say daze because it is my 5 yr old granddaughter's first day of public school kindergarten this week and it is a whole new experience for our homeschooled family!!!  Eeek!  For a variety of reasons, our daughter has decided to put her little girl in school and none of us knows the first thing about how to even do it!!  Ha.  Dear daughter is, of course, getting it all figured out, but it is quite a mental adjustment to us all.  I naturally decided to make my little granddaughter a First Day of School card for this big event.

I am being really brave by showing you this card because, for the first time, I tried coloring an image with Distress Ink markers.  I would very much love to say that I was trying for a "primary school look" with my coloring but really I wasn't.  lol...  Nonetheless, I can only get better, right?  As my granddaughter says..."Practice makes practice!"  Ha.

The patterned paper and the pencil die cut are from a very old Imaginisce Back to School set that is one of the very first prizes I won in my early days of craft blog hopping.  (This one came from PaperCrafts.  I told you I have had it a long time!!)  I can't find the name of this collection on any of the packaging.  But, finally, for the first time....I have it out and am using it. Who would have guessed?

The image and sentiment are from My Favorite Things - Pure Innocence:  Emma and Her Backpack (apparently discontinued).  I stamped them with my MISTI using Versafine ink in Onyx Black and heat embossed them to help me stay in the lines to give it some definition.  I messed up the face twice and finally restamped just the face, colored it yet again, and glued it over the top of the first image.  You can't really tell in the photo, but it has just a teensy bit of dimension because of the double layer.  My granddaughter wears glasses, so I drew some in.  8)  I die cut the panel with my My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my card.  I think it turned out cute despite my non-existent coloring skills using these markers!!  Thank you for being patient with me.  :)  Maybe I should have used watercolor paper or mixed media paper instead of cardstock....not sure!  Oh, well...  I know one little girl who will like the card no matter what.  Awwwwww....  

Thanks so much for stopping by and always leaving such sweet comments.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MarkerPOP Challenge #101 - Embossing 
2. One Crazy Stamper August Challenge - Fall/Halloween 
3. Mod Squad - The Die's the Thing
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
5. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG 
6. Papercrafter's Corner Challenge Week #157

Praying for You with Gilded Rose

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a pretty card to share that I made with my beautiful Winnie & Walter - In Bloom: Maggie's Roses Cutaways die set.  I LOVE this set sooooooooo much.  (THANKS, W&W!!!)

I was inspired by the current Winnie & Walter Rerun Challenge where a previously released set is chosen and then highlighted by their designers.  The challenge is to make something with that particular set or other W&W product inspired by what the design team made.  I don't have the specific set, but all the floral designs made me want to get out my W&W Maggie's Roses die set and play.  I was particularly inspired by elements from Lydia's card (circle shape and open greenery) and Heather's card (outlines of the flowers and leaves) from this Rerun post.

 
I already had the three border strip background layered onto Coredinations patterned kraft lying dormant in my stash that I knew would be perfect for the Viva la Verve Sketch challenge.  



I layered on my doily and my roses pieces, including the outline that was die cut from gleaming gold cardstock.  LOVE!!!  As you can see, I used the negative scrap from one of the open leaves and added it to the greenery sprig.  My sentiment is from Clear Dollar (discontinued) and stamped with Versafine - Vintage Sepia ink on the circular patterned paper panel.  Can you tell that the cream rose paper has a subtle print?  This and the aqua polka dot panel are from my scrap bag.

Other supplies used include:
Fiskars - XXXL Circle Punch
Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy
Doily and ribbon from stash

Hope you enjoyed my card.  This is the first time I have participated in the Winnie & Walter Rerun challenge.  It was a lot of fun!!  Hope you will join in, too!

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter Rerun #13 Challenge
2. Viva la Verve August Sketch Challenge
3. Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #70 - A Rose is a Rose
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make for the Border 
5. Crop Stop Linky Party #19 - Anything Goes - Use a product CS sells (I used Distress Ink)
6. Allsorts Challenge Week #377 - Fabulous Florals
7. Mod Squad - The Die's the Thing
8. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
9. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
10. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #243 - Use Snippets
11. Inkspirational Challenge #115 - Patterned Paper w/ twist: Stamping on Patterned Paper

Embossed Sympathy Card

Hi, Friends.....

I am here to share a sympathy card today.  As you might have seen in one of my blog posts, we recently have suffered the loss of a couple different friends.  It's been a very sad and difficult time for our family and for our community.  We are comforted by the fact that both of these friends had faith in the Lord Jesus.

This card features double embossing:  gold heat embossing over dry embossing.  I used my Darice Easy Frames set and my Darice - Interlocking Circles folder to make the embossed border and then brayered Versamark over the textured surface and heat embossed with gold powder.  I stamped and heat embossed the praying hands image, too.  Then I sprinkled Imagine Crafts - Walnut Ink Crystals over only the border areas and misted with water to let them dissolve and run.  I love the watery effect.

Supplies used include:
Darice - Interlocking Circles embossing folder
Darice Easy Frames set
Praying hands stamp of unkn origin from thrift store
Clear Dollar Stamps - Easter Blessings stamp set (discontinued)
Imagine Crafts Walnut Ink Crystals
Core'dinations heavy duty white cardstock
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set
VersaMark Ink
Gold embossing powder
Scraps from my stash for backing panels

Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate your kind and encouraging words!!!  

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make for the Border
2. Crop Stop Linky Party #19 - Anything Goes - Use a product CS sells (I used VersaMark Ink)
3. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party - Watercolor
5. Double D Challenges - Neutrals
6. Mod Squad - The Die's the Thing
7. My Time To Craft Challenge #327 - Embossing Heat or Dry 
8. Creative With Stamps Challenge #5 - Geometric

"Faith is....".in Pretty Purples and Greens

Hi, Friends....

Seems like I can always use encouraging cards to send to friends who need their day brightened.  You, too?  I especially love using my scripture stamps for these kind of cards and what better fit than to use my Verve stamps and a Viva la Verve sketch???

I got super-inspired when I saw Julee's Viva la Verve August Sketch #1.  It has several elements that really fit with my style such as the paneled background and the circular focal panel with a frilly edge.

No, I am not planning another 11-post blog blitz for this sketch like I did in April....but I do love this sketch and hope to make several cards with it.  

Here's my first take:

I rotated the sketch on its side for this one and used a layered embossed background made of DCWV scraps that had been in my stash for some time.  Julee is very generous in letting us use "poetic license" on her sketches, so I used squares instead of a central circle layered over my doily.  Each and every piece of paper I used on this card except the doily and card base was from my scrap bags.  Yay!!

Supplies used include:
Verve - Scripture Medley 2 stamp set
Verve - Sprightly Sprigs die set
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set
Distress Ink used for stamping sentiment - Wilted Violet
Distress Ink sponged on embossed background to show texture - Victorian Velvet
Peridot rhinestones, doily, and lots of scraps from my stash

Hope you enjoyed my card.  What kinds of encouragement cards do you like to make?  Let me know in the comments.  Thank you so much for the encouraging words you always leave for me!  Your visits make my day.

<3 
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Viva la Verve August Sketch Challenge
2. Crop Stop Linky Party #19 - Anything Goes - Use a product CS sells (I used Distress Ink)
3. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
5. Amusing Challenge #34 - Anything Goes
6. Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday July 2016 - Use Peridot (my rhinestones are peridot color)
7. Cards in Envy - It's Hip to be Square
8. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week 242 - Use Snippets

Beachy and "Beyond Borders"

Hi, Friends.....

I am here today with a card I made for the MFP Stamps Tutorial Challenge of "Beyond Borders" where the tutorial shows us how to make a die cut with a stamped image that goes beyond the borders of the usual shape of the die.  It's not hard and it was fun giving it a try!

My shell image and sentiment are from the Mark's Finest Papers - Silly Shells stamp set.  I stamped them in Versafine ink in Smokey Gray and heat embossed with clear powder.

I used more leftovers from my watercolor refill background and die cut with the My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set.  This piece is from the same sheet as I used in this card, but it has a completely different look. 

This card took forever to complete because I couldn't settle on which papers to use for the other panels.  I finally decided (after getting every pink/coral piece in my entire craft room out) to go with this DCWV corrugate and some American Crafts black patterned paper.  I think the print looks good with the natural pattern of the shells.  Not super-beachy colors, but I think this has an exotic and hot tropical appeal.  What do you think?  I finished it off with some crinkly ribbon from Diana Larson.  (THANKS, Diana!!!)

That's all for this post.  I have some other cards I have been working on, too, so I might be back soon!  Thank you so much for stopping by!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MFP Stamps Tutorial Challenge - Beyond Borders
2. Twofers Challenge #25 - The Heat is On
3. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
4. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let's Go Wild (Anyone for a wild tropical night on the beach? Oh, my!...[blush])
6. The Sisterhood of Crafters - Close to Nature
7. Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party - Watercolor
8. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge
9. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Summer Fun
10. Amusing Challenge #34 - Anything Goes

"Wild about Pears" Altered Treat Jar

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with another altered treat jar.  This is one that I made in a hurry......all in one day!!!  Eeeek!  Some girlfriends and I suddenly decided to get together to celebrate a birthday a week early.  Whaa-aaat???  Early???  Panic city!!!  (Well...this was not actually a whole week early but since we are usually late in our celebrations, this seemed VERY early!! Esp since last year at this time we were evacuated because of the terrible fires which surrounded our community. We didn't celebrate this girlfriend's BD until October!!)   Needless to say....I was NOT ready!

I knew I wouldn't have time for lots of extras this time and I also knew I would be gone the day before the party, so I did a very quick Mod Podge job on a discarded jar before I left in the morning.  I used a colorful ink-stained baby wipe previously used for cleaning up a messy project and also some reused gift wrap tissue.  This base coat had a chance to dry while I was gone and I could resume working on it that night.

This ribbon is more of an apricot color IRL rather than this pink, but I don't know how to edit my photos well enough to make it look right without everything else looking weird!!  Eeek!

I chose an autumny pear theme for my jar.  Actually, I went kind of pear crazy!!  Besides this treat jar filled with caramels, the rest of my gift included a tea towel in these colors with pears, a notepad shaped like a pear, some home-canned pear butter, along with some other color-coordinated things that were not pears.  :)  (Problem was that the only pear-themed gift bag I had was one with a "Partridge in a Pear Tree".....but it was in roughly the same colors, so a Christmas bag she got! LOL....)

I gessoed the lid and then added some bright colors to the jar and lid by rubbing in some Gelatos.  I stamped some scrap tissue with a pear stamp (unidentified from a thrift store) using Versafine ink in Onyx Black and Mod Podged it on.  I sealed everything with another coat of Mod Podge and let it dry overnight.  In the morning before I left for the brunch party, I put a bow on it and snapped a quick photo.  

I usually add more layers and/or embellishments to my altered jars, but I was pleased just to be able to pull this one together in one day.  I think my friend liked it and I hope you enjoyed it, too.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting my blog!!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this altered treat jar in the following challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Try to Contain Yourself
2. Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #146 - Anything But a Card with Ribbon or Trim
3. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
4. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
5. One Crazy Stamper August Challenge - Fall/Halloween (Pears seem autumny to me.)
6. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let's Go Wild (I went wild with pears!!)

Foxy CAS Birthday Card

Hi, Friends......

Don't ask me why this fall-themed MFP Stamp CAS challenge is appealing to me so much!!!  I don't even understand Clean and Simple cards!!!  I am so serious.  When I look at CAS challenges and then when I look at what the design team members make.....it doesn't seem to correlate.  I guess I am too left-brained, that is, what's left of my brain!

But....I am attracted to the idea of CAS cards....and I like CAS cards that I see.....I just feel that they are missing something (like a LOT of something) when I try to make them.  Nevertheless....here is another attempt and this one looks more autumny than my other "late fall" one!  lol...

NO.....This autumny fox is NOT sitting in a wintery snowstorm!!!  It's CAS, all right???!!!!  :)

My fox and sentiment are both from the Mark's Finest Papers - What a Fox stamp set.  I stamped them with Versafine ink in Vintage Sepia and then heat embossed with clear powder.  Then I colored it with my waterbrush and watercolor pencils.  I mounted it on a chocolate brown card base.

You would chuckle to see the evolution of this card because originally I was going to make this a one-layer card.  I stamped and heat-embossed it on a white card base.  It looked very white, but it certainly was CAS!!!  Then I cut the card base up and tried the white image panel on the brown card base.  This looked better, but still soooooooooo bland.  At the risk of really messing the whole thing up, I decided to watercolor the fox.  I think I am glad I did.  It brightens the card up a lot.  

I really wanted to make some paint splatters, too, but decided I better stop while I was ahead.  Who knows where it all would end?....more layers?...die cuts?...leaves?...trees?...dry embossing?... twine?... burlap belly band?...photo corners?...brads?...  Eeek!!!  You see why CAS is not my style???  I like STUFF too much!!!  

Okay, this blog post is taking me longer than the card did...so I better get this linked up.  Thanks so much for taking a look at my cards.  You make my day with your sweet comments.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MFP Stamps Challenge #32 - CAS with Fall Theme
2. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Critters & Creatures Linky Party 6 - Feature a Critter or a Creature
4. The Sisterhood of Crafters - Close to Nature
5. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let's Go Wild
6. Unicorn Challenge #12 - Animal Kingdom

Deer Beside Tree CAS Card

Hi, Friends....

I am here with a CAS card for the MFP Stamp CAS challenge.  We are supposed to make a fall-themed card and my card might seem more wintery...but the pink sky and the deer make me think of autumn.  The tree doesn't have any leaves, so that means it is already fall....or, perhaps, "fell".  :)    (Hey, CAS cards are challenging enough for me without getting into semantics about whether this scene is late fall or winter!  lol....  And, besides, the deciduous trees all look like this in Idaho in the late fall.  That's my story and I am sticking to it!)

My image is from the Mark's Finest Papers - Crisp Winter stamp set. (I STILL maintain this is a late fall scene!!)  It comes with a cathedral style frame, but I strategically inked just the deer and tree and left out the frame.  (It might look too wintery, if I had put the frame in!  Ha.)  I used my Mini-MISTI so I could get this image inked thoroughly.  It took two stampings to do it.  I used VersaFine ink in Onyx Black and heat embossed it with clear powder.  

My background is another from my watercolor marker refill extravaganza!  :)  That's where I "refilled" my watercolor markers in small jars of water and saved the leftover highly pigmented water for making watercolor backgrounds.  (I know...I am insane!)

It was difficult for me not to do anything else to this card besides mount it on a black base.  CAS really, really is not my natural style.  But I like how this card turned out.  Hope you do, too!!

 
Be sure to snag my 2016 Cat Lovers Hop badge for your blog.   This year's hop is dedicated to my sweet Aliyah....the kitty that I just lost. Details about the hop will be coming.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Love your visits and your comments.

<3
Janis
 

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MFP Stamps Challenge #32 - CAS with Fall Theme
2. Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Use Your Leftovers and Scraps (I used leftover marker refill water for making my background.) 
3. Penny Black at All Sorts August Challenge - AG
4. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
5. Critters & Creatures Linky Party 6 - Feature a Critter or a Creature
6. The Sisterhood of Crafters - Close to Nature 
7. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Let's Go Wild
8. Unicorn Challenge #12 - Animal Kingdom
9. Papercrafter's Corner Challenge Week #156 - Inspiration Piece (I used the pink background with black from the inspiration photo.)

Sunflower Altered Treat Jar

Hi, Friends....

I am here with a pretty sunflower altered treat jar that I made for our niece's birthday this week.  I filled it with caramels and included some "green stuff" so she could go shopping, too.  :)

For this project I used images from my Denami Design - Summer Flowers and Denami Design - Summer Flower Leaves stamp sets.  I don't get these sets out very often, so it was fun to use them.

I covered the jar with recycled gift wrap tissue and Mod Podge.  After it was dry, I rubbed on some Gelatos in yellow, orange, green, and metallic gold and blended them with a moistened fingertip.

I stamped a bunch of sunflower images with Versafine ink in Onyx Black on some scraps of gift wrap tissue (that I had used to catch overspray on other projects) and Mod Podged them here and there on the jar and on the previously gessoed lid.  I colored the flowers with my waterbrush and watercolor pencils.

Next I wrapped some sunflower patterned burlap ribbon around the jar and put on my focal panel.  The focal panel is also from scraps that I stamped and colored the same way as the flowers on the tissue.  I die cut them with my My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set.  I finished it all up with a fluffy brown tulle bow. 

You can't see it in my photos, but I also added shimmer to each of the flowers on the jar and focal panel by coloring over them with my Wink of Stella pen.  Sorry I didn't get the angle of the light right for you to be able to see it.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my altered treat jar.  I love being able to reuse gift wrap tissue this way and to upcycle my empty jars!  Thank you for stopping by and, as always, leaving your wonderful comments!!!

<3
Janis



Thank you for the honor of entering this altered treat jar in the following challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Florals
2. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Try to Contain Yourself
3. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
4. Crafty Ribbons Challenge #163 - AG
5. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
6. Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Use Your Leftovers and Scraps
7. Penny Black at All Sorts August Challenge - AG
8. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #241 - Use Snippets
9. Creative Corner Challenges - Anything But a Card 
10. Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #146 - Anything But a Card with Ribbon or Trim

Custom Washi Tape Card

Hi, Friends.....

First I want to thank you all for your kind comments during this difficult time of losing 2 friends and also losing my sweet Aliyah kitty.  Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated!

I am here today with a simple summery card I made for the MFP Stamps Flowers Everywhere July Tutorial Challenge where they ask us to make custom washi tape following their tutorial and use it on a project.  MFP has wonderful tutorials and I enjoy stretching my skill set a bit by trying the new techniques they show us.

Here I made my own washi tape by coloring some Micropore surgical tape strips with several different colors of my Spectrum Noirs and then stamping them with some MFP stamps using Versafine Ink in Onyx Black . I used the sunflower image from my Mark's Finest Papers - Calendar stamp set and the Happy Birthday sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers - Background Fun stamp set.

I made some random (and hopefully a little arty!) splatters with Clearsnap Smooch Spritz in Pomegranate and Carrot Cake. I finished it off with some gold sequins and a sparkly gold bow. Easy and fun!

Hope you liked this sunny card.  I love the vibrant late summer colors!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

<3
Janis



Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MFP Stamps Flowers Everywhere July Tutorial Challenge - custom washi tape
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Florals
3. The Paper Girls Challenge #109 - Washi it Up
4. Penny Black at All Sorts August Challenge - AG
5. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
6. DL.Art August Linky Challenge - AG
7. Amusing Challenge #33 - AG
8. Crafty Ribbons Challenge #163 - AG

My Sweet Aliyah....(2001-2016)

Aliyah (2001 - 2016)

Hi, Friends.....

It is with a sad heart that I share with you the passing of our sweet Aliyah kitty, age 15.  She had been in fragile health for some time and in multi-organ decline for several months.  We made the difficult, but correct, decision to have my vet hubby put her down today.  It was time....but it was still sad.

She was born to a feral barn mommy we called DeeDee.  We found DeeDee's kitten nest and took the babies so we could curb the cat population by having tame kitties we could spay and neuter.  DeeDee rewarded us by shimmying out of the net every time I tried to capture her and by having two litters per year for the next 6 or 7 years!  Ackk!!  This is how we ended up with so many DeeDee babies!!!

Rubbing on things and trying to pick her way over to me to nestle against my shoulder.

 Aliyah was fostered by a nursing mommy cat belonging to some friends and brought back home when she was 6 weeks old.  She bonded onto me immediately and nestled against my shoulder under my chin for comfort while she was still tiny.  For the rest of her life until she got very ill, Aliyah often "needed a shoulder" and would pick her way over my stacks of craft supplies with a worried look on her face to get to my shoulder.
 

Aliyah napping on top of my piano music in between stacks of hymnals, etc.

Aliyah had the most luxurious coat.  A lot of DeeDee's babies did, but Aliyah's was the best.  We said she had a "rabbit coat"... so very soft and thick.  

We had a lot of good years with Aliyah and I am really going to miss her.  Aliyah's arch-rival kitty, Chaienne, who is also 15 is now top cat.  Shy-Cat has a more mellow personality than Aliyah, so the other cats are probably all heaving a sigh of relief!  Shy-Cat is not in good health, either....vet hubby says she has maybe a year.  We'll do what we can to keep her stable.  It is hard to see my kitties getting old.  

Thanks for sharing in my sadness today.

<3
Janis

Pink Heartfelt Thanks

Even though virtually all of the butterfly and kitty pictures on Google Images are photoshopped, they are still cute!!  Awww....

Hi, Friends.....

Quick post with a card for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge.  The theme this time around is Butterfly + P is for Punches &/or Pink.  As soon as I saw this theme, I jumped right in and made my card....because, well, PINK!!  :)  Unfortunately, life (and, very sadly, two unrelated deaths of friends of our family) occurred and I am just now getting this card posted and linked up at nearly the deadline.  At least I am getting this on here.  :)

Supplies used for this card include:
Fiskars - XXXL Circle Punch (3" diameter)
Martha Stewart Edger Punch - Doily Lace
Inspired by Stamping - Graceful Hydrangea stamp set (apparently discontinued)
Peridot rhinestones
Patterned and pink solid paper and white cardstock from my scrap bags.  :)
Butterflies, doily, and other bits and pieces from stash.

Hope you enjoyed this card!  Thank you for your sweet comments.  Your visits to my blog are VERY appreciated!!  Have a great week.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge - Butterfly + P is for Punches &/or Pink
2. Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Use Your Leftovers and Scraps
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge.
4. Amusing Challenge #33 - AG
5. SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes
6. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Florals (my background patterned papers are floral prints)
7. DL. Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #185 - AG
8. HIMCR Challenge #262 - Pastels
9. The Artistic Stamper August Creative Challenge - AG
10. Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday July 2016 - Use Peridot (my rhinestones are peridot color)
11. Penny Black at All Sorts August Challenge - AG

Whole Bunch of Wild Animal Masculine Cards!!

Yep, I have some of these "wild animals" near my house, too!

Hi, Friends.....

So what do you do when you are getting low on masculine cards and your friend sends you an absolutely fabulous wildlife stamp set?????  Make a ton of masculine cards, right????  Well, that's exactly what I did when my crafty pal, Karen Ladd, sent me this awesome Mark's Finest Papers - North American Woods stamp set.  (THANKS, Karen!!)

I try to make birthday cards for each person in our little church and this stamp set was perfect for the guys because we have each of the featured animals (bear, wolf, cougar) within a mile of us....and probably actually closer to our homes than we imagine!  (Fortunately, though, we have black bear, not grizzly!!!)  

So......I made this collection of cards to have on hand.  I am entering this set in the current Mark's Finest Papers Challenge - Anything Goes.   

I pulled out a background technique for some of these cards that I hadn't used for a long time:  sanding Core'dinations cardstock.  I didn't dry emboss first or anything, just sanded it for a rough backwoods look.  LOVE it for these cards!!!

This particular card has polka dots on it, so I would like to enter it in the Double D Challenge - I Love Polka Dots.

I used tons of scraps for these cards, so I would also like to enter the set into the Try it on Tuesday Challenge - Use Your Leftovers and Scraps.

Each of these cards is for celebrating some occasion, so I would also like to enter this set in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Celebrate.

I have patterned paper on each card, so I would like to enter them in Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper August Challenge.

I also would like to enter this set in the Amusing Challenge #32 - Anything Goes.

And one last challenge for this set of cards....SRTC August Challenge - Anything Goes .  Thank you to all the sponsors of these wonderful challenges.  You make cardmaking so much fun for all of us.

Thank you to my readers for your visits and kind comments.  I hope you are having a good week!!

<3
Janis

(Feels funny not to have the summary of challenges down here. I couldn't just leave this blank....I had to write something here!)

Cat Update:

I haven't written a cat update for a long time.....and this particular news isn't good. Among my cat tribe, I have two old lady cats....Aliyah and Chaienne (Shy-Cat).....who are both 15 this year. Shy is not in good health, but is relatively stable for the moment. Aliyah, though, is on a definite downward decline and will not be with us very much longer. She barely eats, is very weak, and requires regular sub-cutaneous fluids. Poor, poor baby. She still is able to get around and uses the litterbox on her own, but basically just eats a tiny amount, gets a drink, goes potty, then goes back to bed. I was hoping she'd make it till the Cat Lovers Blog Hop here in October, but it sure doesn't look like it. It's hard to see our beloved pets failing. :(