Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Monochrome Christmas Landscape


Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a last-minute entry into the Winnie &Walter - November Rerun Challenge #16. They are featuring one of their lovely Happiest of Holidays with Evelin T Designs which I do not own, but I can still enter using another of their products and inspiration from one of their designers. Yay! Shay is so very generous over there at W&W!!!

 


I was inspired by this card by the awesomely talented Kelly Griglione. I love the simple design of the house with the trees stamped around it.





For my card, I went completely monochromatic and made a snowy church scene using my Winnie & Walter - Our Town stamp set and Distress Ink in Black Soot.  I did first, second, and third generation stamping to give some dimension and an imperfect "snowy" look to the images.  The monochrome reminds me of how a snowfall gives a landscape a soft black and white look.   Love this effect! 



Other supplies used include:
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set
DCWV scrap and Black Cardstock from my stash
Baker's twine that might have come wrapped around an order from W&W :)

Thank you so much for stopping in and leaving your wonderful comments!! I have two more Christmas Concerts this week and then I can get on with other December activities....including getting my Christmas card supplies out to see how many cards I still need to make!  Ha. Have a great day!!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter - November Rerun Challenge #16 Happiest of Holidays
2. The Male Room Challenge #49 - Landscape, Cityscape, etc.
3. November Rudolph Days at ScrappyMo's - Anything Christmas
4. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - 'O' Christmas Tree
5. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
6. Mod Squad Challenge - Holiday Dimension (I added visual dimension by second generation stamping my trees)
7. Allsorts Challenge Week #391 - Anything Christmas
8. DL.Art November Linky Challenge - Anything Goes
9. Crop Stop Linky Party #22 - Anything Goes using CS product (I used a My Favorite Things die)
10. Love to Scrap Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Happy Birthday in Lavender and Pink


Hi, Friends......

I am here with another card for the this month's Viva la Verve Sketch challenge, again using the Sketch #1.





Here's what I came up with this time, using my Inspired by Stamping - Graceful Hydrangea stamp set (sadly, it is discontinued). The sentiment is stamped with Versafine Ink in Imperial Purple and the pastel image behind it is stamped with Distress Ink in Victorian Velvet. The square is die cut using My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set.

Do you like the papers I used? One is a scrap of lavender Core'dinations cardstock dry embossed with my Darice - Flowers and Vines Pattern folder. The pink piece is actually a repurposed scrap from a beautiful envelope that once held a store-bought card from a friend. Way too pretty to toss!! I adore the colors and the gleam of the foiling! The flowers are Prima and Petaloo.  The snippet of lace and the sparkly rhinestone are from my stash.

Hope you enjoyed this pretty birthday card. I very much appreciate your visits and your sweet comments!!! Hope you are having a lovely week.

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #257 - Use Snippets
2. Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge - November
3. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
4. Crafty Friends Challenge #45 - Use Flowers
5. Aud Sentiments Challenge #169 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
6. Mod Squad Challenge - Sparkle it Up
7. Crop Stop Linky Party #22 - Anything Goes use a brand CS carries (I used My Favorite Things dies and Distress Ink)
8. Love to Scrap Challenge #90 - Anything Goes

Monday, November 28, 2016

Sparkly Thanksgiving Card with Stamped Verse


Hi, Friends.......

Can you stand one more Thanksgiving autumn leaf card? I had a whole bunch of these with just the patterned paper leaf glued on to the patterned paper background.
(I drew this leaf myself, and I am so proud!! Ha!) I knew some dressing up was needed....so, as I did with a couple of the other cards I showed you today and yesterday, I squeezed out a line of white craft glue around the edge of the leaf and sprinkled on super-fine gold glitter. Love that sparkle!!!


This time I decided to add a sentiment from my Verve - Scripture Medley 3 stamp set using Tsukineko - Versamark Ink in Vintage Sepia. I stamped it on a scrap of DCWV cardstock and die cut it with My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set. Then I added some dazzling orange rhinestones for more sparkle!

I think I am done with Thanksgiving cards for the year now. Not only am I delighted to have a stack of them in my TG box to use for next year, but I also reduced the number in the "Needs Work" bag!! Ha. Note that I only claimed that number to be "reduced" not eliminated!!! :) Thank you for your patience in looking at them....and thank you, always, for your encouraging comments!!
 

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
2. The Artistic Stamper November Challenge - Autumnal
3. Aud Sentiments Challenge #169 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
4. The Paper Girls Challenge #116 - Grateful
5. Crop Stop Linky Party #22 - Anything Goes using CS product (I used a My Favorite Things die)
6. Love to Scrap Challenge #90 - Anything Goes
7. Amusing Challenge #43 - Anything Goes

Another Glittery Leaf with Nuvo Crystals




Hi, Friends.....

I am back with another Thanksgiving card I dressed up and finally finished. It was lying rejected and unloved in my Thanksgiving box because several years ago I did something "real crafters" never do: I used a pretty CALENDAR PAGE instead of "real" patterned paper!! However, I just can't bring myself to throw things away, so I dug it out and finally embellished it and now I am posting it for everyone to smirk at under their breath. Ha!!! 


Back when I started this card, I also didn't know about layering my background...so this has some very old patterned paper completely covering the card base. I rarely do that anymore! So here it is in all its non-glory. Every dog has its day, I guess. :) (Cards like this that pop up on my blog occasionally are prob part of the reason why I am never invited to be a guest designer at any challenges!! Bwahahaha!!!)


As with this other card, today's card started out with just the background paper and the leaf (one of my own free-hand designs! Yay!) glued on top. Again, I squeezed a line of white craft glue around the perimeter of the leaf and sprinkled with gold super-fine glitter and then turned to my Tonic Studios - Nuvo Crystal Drops once more. This time I just applied a few drops of the copper Nuvo to the background design instead of going crazy like last time. I think it adds just the right amount of shimmer. So even though this is just a lowly calendar page leaf and patterned paper from an ancient DCWV Fall Stack, the glitter and Nuvo drops make it into a simple but pretty card.....in MY opinion, at least. (Not sure I care abt your opinion, unless I decide to send this card to you next Thanksgiving! Hahahaha...)

I am entering this COQQ (card of questionable quality) in the Snarky Stampers UFO (Un-Finished Objects) Challenge. If you have something sitting around that has been neglected because it has fallen out of vogue (or, as in my case, never was in vogue!) or because your skill level has increased quite a bit since it was first started, I'd love to see it.  Please join in over there!

Thanks for stopping by! Now I have another card to put in my TG box for next year!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #193 - Use Orange, Green, Brown
2. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
3.
DL.Art November Linky Challenge - Anything Goes 
4. Hiding in My Craft Room - Any Holiday 
5. Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Challenge #73 - U is for UFO (un-finished objects) 

Everything Beautiful




Hi, Friends.....
 

I was pawing around in the scraps on my craft desk that were ready to be sorted by colors into my scrap drawer but first decided to make a couple of cards with them....even though they look springy rather than autumny or wintery. I followed the Sketch #1 in this month's Viva la Verve Sketch challenge.
Here's my take using Verve - Scripture Medley 3 stamp set and scraps from my stash:


And here's a second card using the same supplies (Prima flowers, Versafine ink in Blue Lagoon, My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set, and sequins and ribbon from my stash.)  


I really like the icy pastel/brights and early spring look of these two cards. A real contrast with the blazing autumn colors I had been working with. Hope you like them, too! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you are having a good week!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering these cards in the following challenges:
1. Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge - November
2. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
3. Crafty Friends Challenge #45 - Use Flowers
4. Aud Sentiments Challenge #169 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
5. Crop Stop Linky Party #22 - Anything Goes using a product brand that CS sells (I used a My Favorite Things die)

6. Love to Scrap Challenge #90 - Anything Goes
7. Amusing Challenge #43 - Anything Goes
8. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Trio-tastic (used 3 flowers)




Leaf with Nuvo Crystal Drop Accents in Background



Hi, Friends.....

I took advantage of American Thanksgiving coming a little early because of how the calendar fell this year by finishing and/or embellishing and/or remaking some rejects in my Thanksgiving box. Here's a simple card that was lying there unfinished with only the patterned paper leaf cut out and glued to the patterned paper covered card base. I had a bunch of these!! What to do to dress them up????

I am extremely proud of myself that I drew this leaf free-hand!!!  I cut out a pattern from my drawing to use for tracing onto patterned papers for autumn leaf cards.  :)
Glitter always help, right???? I layed down a line of white craft glue around the entire outline of the leaf, covering the stem completely. Then I sprinkled gold super-fine glitter over it. That made a huge difference, but it still needed something.

A couple months ago I bought a few colors of Tonic Studios - Nuvo Crystal Drops that I hadn't been brave enough to try yet. I wasn't sure how hard it would be to control the size of droplets I was dispensing onto my project. I did a practice run on a scrap and it was really easy!!! You squeeze these out right onto your project, although I guess you could do them on something non-stick and then glue them onto your card or mixed media piece. Following the pattern of this whimsical doodled background, I went a little crazy with the drops. LOVE the effect!!! I didn't have the Nuvo in gold that matched my glitter, so I used copper penny for a mixed metal look. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! :) What do you think?

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and leaving your sweet comments!!  You totally make my day.

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Little Scrap Pieces Show it off Saturday Linky Party
2. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
3. Crafty Calendar November Challenge - Autumn Colors
4. Hiding in My Craft Room - Any Holiday (Thanksgiving)

5. Mod Squad Challenge - Sparkle it Up 

Vintage Thanksgiving


Hi, Friends.....
 

Do you ever make holiday cards AFTER the holiday while your supplies are still out...so you have some on hand for next year??? I do this all the time. With American Thanksgiving being a bit early because of the way the calendar fell this year, there were still plenty of November challenges calling for Thankful sorts of cards with autumn colors. Yay! That's right up my alley....getting some made and put away for next year! :)

I was inspired by the Papercrafter's Circle Magazine Monday inspiration piece for this week:



I loved how this autumn cover has a black background....something I rarely use on Thanksgiving cards.  One of the requirements for this challenge was that you show something you are thankful for and I chose the good food from a bountiful harvest.  Here's my take using some pieces from the Graphic 45 - Times Nouveau collection, some leftovers from other Thanksgiving cards, and scraps from my stash:



I went with a square format for this card, as I often do when I make a collage style card with my Graphic 45 elements. It just seems that an A2 size isn't big enough, but I don't want to make a much larger half-fold card, either. I could go up to the next size larger 5"x7", but usually don't. What is your go-to next size larger card????? Do you go square or stay rectangular?

Other supplies used:
Leaves from the Dollar Store
Glitter glue rubbed on the leaves for shimmer
Twine from the Dollar Store
Core'dinations black cardstock

Hope you enjoyed my card. I will share a few other Thanksgiving ones soon!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Papercrafters Corner Magazine Monday Week 165
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #193 - Use Orange, Green, Brown
3. DL.Art November Linky Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
5. The Artistic Stamper November Challenge - Autumnal
6. Hiding in My Craft Room - Any Holiday
7. Aud Sentiments Challenge #169 - Anything Goes + Sentiment
8. The Paper Girls Challenge #116 - Grateful
9. Mod Squad Challenge - Sparkle it Up 

10. Love to Scrap Challenge #90 - Anything Goes 

Thursday, November 17, 2016

So Full of Thanks(giving cards)!!!

Here are a couple of funnies for you that I found on FB.........











Hi, Friends......

After I made the card using the Mojo Monday sketch on Sunday, I was so impressed with how many scraps I was able to use that I got super-inspired to make more Thanksgiving cards.......12 more!!!  Yikes!!!  It was great.  I pulled out a bunch of scraps in coordinating colors and then I watched "The Crown" series on Netflix while I die cut and die cut and die cut!  :)  Here's one of my favorites of the bunch.







I wanted also to show you the simple inside treatment that used up even more scraps!!! Yay!!!






And here are all 12 of them crowded inside the little cubbyhole of my bookshelf that I use for my photography.



Other supplies used include:
A Creative Journey with Melissa - Fall and Winter Holiday Sentiments stamp set
Versafine Ink - Onyx Black
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set
LDRS - Gilded Oval Labels die set
Leaf from Dollar Store with glitter glue rubbed on for shimmer
Kraft Cardstock
Sentiment stamps used inside the cards from my stash

TRUE CONFESSION TIME:
I also made envelopes for each of these (I didn't take a photo...sorry) with papers from an ancient autumn print DCWV stack.  I have a confession to make:  using things from my stash can be a struggle.  For some weird obsessive reason, even as I was cutting into the very, very old 12x12 papers for making envelopes, I was thinking...."I should save a sheet of this pretty print for some time when I need a larger piece than I am left with after this envelope."  Whaaaaa-aaaaat am I thinking?????  This stack is utterly prehistoric, friends!!!  

I even had trouble finding a photo of it on Pinterest, but finally did locate one.  Do any of you remember this one?  Or....(perish the thought) have it still on your shelf?????  Well I do...and still haven't used it up!  Ha.  And that doesn't even include miscellaneous sheets and scraps from it that are in my different seasonal boxes (Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc)  I am sick, I tell ya.......SICK!!!  And dare I mention that this is merely my oldest autumn stack from DCWV that is sitting on my shelf?  Glancing up at my autumn section, I count partials of 9 or 10 others.  So now do you see why I am tickled to use up scraps and old stash???  Ha!

Hope you enjoyed the little peek into my OCD (obsessive crafting disorder) life....and liked seeing my cards!  :)  I know Thanksgiving is past for my Canadian friends, but each of us can be thankful for the blessings we have received every day!!  I know I personally have many, many things I am thankful to the Lord for......including each of you, my dear readers and friends!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering these cards in the following challenges:
1. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #255 - Anything Goes Using Snippets
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #192 - Thanksgiving
3. Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper November Challenge - Anything Goes using Patterned Paper
4. Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks 256-257 - Anything Goes Family Friendly
5. Little Scrap Pieces - Show it off Saturday Linky Party
6. The Artistic Stamper November Challenge - Autumnal
7. DL.Art November Linky Challenge - Anything Goes
8. Die Cutting Divas Challenge #292 - Thanksgiving
9. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thanks/Thanksgiving
10. Crafty Calendar November Challenge - Autumn Colors
11. Dragonfly Dreams - Autumnal Colors
12. Dragonfly Journeys Challenge #79 - Thankful Heart
13. Great Impressions November Challenge - Anything Goes

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Mojo Monday - Thanksgiving Card


Hi, Friends......

Quick post to get under the deadline at Mojo Monday's Sketch Challenge #473 using this sketch:





Here's my take using mostly scraps from my stash:




Other supplies used include:
A Creative Journey with Melissa - Fall and Winter Holiday Sentiments stamp set
Versafine Ink - Onyx Black
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set
LDRS - Gilded Oval Labels
Leaf from Dollar Store with glitter glue rubbed on for shimmer
Kraft Cardstock



Thanks for taking a peek at my Thanksgiving card!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Mojo Monday's Sketch Challenge #473

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Welcome, Tweet One!



Hi, Friends.......

I am still waiting to hear from the following winners of prizes from my Cat Lovers Hop last week:  Elizabeth, Katie O, 2am Scrapper, and Leigh S-B.  I really don't want to have to go tracking you ladies down, so please email me ASAP at jwoolbright at gmail dot com.  THANKS!!!
 
So in the middle of finishing things up with the Cat Lovers Hop, I made a card for our pastor's wife who has a baby boy due in a few short weeks.  Yay!  I made a set of flannel receiving blankets for the baby, too.  Fun!
I was lucky enough to be one of the winners in Winnie & Walter's WCMD challenges and, for part of my prize, I ordered their adorable LS Exclusives: So Tweet with Evelin T Designs stamp set for making a card especially for this baby!  (THANKS, W&W!!!)

My watercolor background is one of my "Leftover Easter Egg Dye Background Series".  :)  I stamped the images using my mini-MISTI with Onyx Black Versafine ink and colored them with Distress Inks smooshed on an acrylic block and my waterbrush.  I die cut the panels with my new Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set....(also part of my WCMD prize!...THANKS, W&W!!)

This was a fun card to make for a "country baby".....I loved putting the cowboy hat on the sweet little birdie!!  Hope you enjoyed it!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Creative With Stamps Challenge #8 - Use Bird Stamp

Grab Our Badge!
2. MAWTT Challenge #32 - Cute Animals

I might get a few more challenges added tomorrow ....


Wednesday, November 2, 2016

WINNERS from 2016 CAT LOVERS HOP!!!!



Hi, Cat Person Friends!!  :)  .....

I am here with the humongous list of winners from the 2016 Cat Lovers Hop.  Didn't we have a great time????  I am thrilled with the participation....so many fabulous projects to see and wonderful comments to read.  I especially enjoyed seeing and hearing tales about your own kitties!!!  

I also appreciate each of our AMAZING sponsors!!!  They were soooooo generous with their prizes!!!  Many thanks to each of them!

I'm going to get right to all the randomly drawn winners because I know you won't read anything else on this post!!!  lol...  I sooooooo wish I had prizes for everyone!! 

First from my Spread the Word post, the winner of the Stampendous - Cattus Librum stamp is:  Elizabeth

Now for the Daily Game Winners, each winning one of Ike's Art - Fleaz Navidad images:
Day 1:  "It Wasn't Me" -  D. Ann
Day 2:  "I LUV My Teddy" -  Katie O
Day 3:  "Carol Cats" -  Karen Ladd 
Day 4:  "Ai Haz Mizzletowz" -  Sue LD
Day 5:  "Waiting For Santa" -  Mandysea

Now for the big set of winners from the other fabulous sponsors:

1.  The Art Impressions - Cat Stackers stamp
The winner is:  IKE

2.  From CatLadyBox - a CRAZY CatLadyBox
The winner is: Carole 

3.   From Crafty Saver - a Ken Oliver Colourful Cat Stencil
The winner is:  D.Ann 

4.  Graphic 45 - A surprise box of products
The winner is:  Karen Ladd 

5.  JessicaLynnOriginal - The Love Of A Cat clear stamp set
The winner is:  Michele Henderson 

6.   K&K Woodworking - 6" Wooden Bow Maker Gadget 
The winner is:  Princess Judy Palmer  

7.  Knitty Kitty - 3 Digital kitty stamps of the winner's choice!
The winner is:  Chan 

8. MHK Designs - Purr-fect Digi stamp set and Digital paper pack of winner's choice
The winner is:  Andrea W  

9.  Neat & Tangled - Purrrfect stamp set
The winner is:  Fiki 

10. Neat & Tangled - Kitty's Favorite Things stamp set!!
The winner is:  Rebecca Y 

11. Newton's Nook - $20 Gift Voucher
The winner is:  Tee at Altered Paper 

12.  Sweet 'n Sassy - $15 Gift Voucher for their online store
The winner is:  Sue LD

13. Taylored Expressions - Sack-It Kitty die set
The winner is:  Viki B 

14.  Unity Stamp Co. - surprise prize #1
The winner is:  2am Scrapper 

15.  Unity Stamp Co. - surprise prize #2
The winner is:  Leigh S-B 

16.  Waffle Flower - Welcome Spring stamp set
The winner is:  KT Fit Kitty

CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF YOU!!!


Instructions for WINNERS:
1. Please email me: jwoolbright at gmail dot com.
2. Please put these words in your subject line: "WINNER 2016 Cat Lovers Hop" and tell me in your email which prize you won.
3. If you are winning a physical prize (not digital) please include your snail mail info.
4. I am hoping not to have to track any of you down.....so please contact me by Friday, Nov. 4, 2016.  (Thanks, Viki, for pointing my wrong date out to me!!!  lol...)

Thank you, again, for participating in the 2016 Cat Lovers Hop and for making this so much fun for ALL of us!!


<3
Janis