You're Kinda Pawesome

Hi, Friends.....

I am back with a colorful card I made especially for a special cause and for a fun challenge.

First off is the Hug A Heart Drive that I heard about on the lovely Donna Ellis' blog post HERE. This is a card drive especially for Heart Center patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital during February, which is American Heart Month. You can find out all the card requirements and specifications HERE. They are asking for Heart-Themed, but NOT Valentine cards which will be given to children hospitalized with serious heart conditions. 

The drive runs from Jan. 16 - Feb. 14 and there will be a big blog hop tomorrow on Feb. 1 to help raise awareness. You can find out more details about the hop and about the drive at Christina Hor's blog.
[On a personal note, this is a near and dear cause to me because a number of years ago my sister-in-law, Andrea, while still a young woman, was felled by a serious heart condition as she awaited a heart transplant. Thank you so much for your participation!!]

Secondly, I am participating in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #10, her third of three NBUS challenges this month. You DON'T want to miss out on this one because Darnell has come up with the most ingenious background technique using BUBBLE WRAP!!! I know.....crazy, right? Well, you won't think so when you see her totally awesome creations with it. WOW doesn't begin to describe them!!! Hop right on over there now and take a look!!! I will wait for you.... :)

Of course, for Darnell's challenges you always are asked to use something from your NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) but this time she added that extra theme. Using Bubble Wrap or some such similar material is a completely optional twist, but I took the challenge and stayed up almost all night the other night making a huge pile of backgrounds on glossy photo paper!!! Yes, I know....CRAZY! None of mine look as fabulous as Darnell's, but I loved the process and the colorful results!!!

I used NBUS Distress Ink reinkers instead of the alcohol inks that Darnell used. My images and sentiment are from My Favorite Things - Cat-itude stamp set and cut with My Favorite Die-namics - Cat-itude die set. I stamped them onto scraps of white cardstock with Versafine ink in Onyx Black and colored them with Distress Ink markers scribbled onto an acrylic block and applied with my waterbrush. I think the simple whimsical drawings are perfect for the Hug a Heart card drive. The bright pink paper is from my scrap bag and die cut with the solid heart die from my Serendipity - Heart Scroll stamp and die set. I used a white gel pen to add the stitching detail.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my attempt at the Bubble Wrap background technique and I hope you will join me over at NBUS Challenge #10 and in supporting the Hug A Heart Card Drive!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. NBUS Challenge #10
2. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Pets Corner
3. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. SUYP - Cats Only Challenge #14 - Furrything Goes
5. DL.Art Thankful Thursday #197 - Anything Goes

Embossed Christmas Tree

This is a photo I found, but it reminds me of our Mistoffelees in the snow.  With his thick wooly fur, he is completely oblivious to the snowflakes adorning his black fluffy coat.

Hi, Friends........

I'm here with a Christmas card to put in my stash for next holiday season. This is one that I had been wanting to make for quite some time. I had the embossed tree, the embossed red piece, and the text papers all together in a bag to put together, and finally snagged the opportunity. Yay! I love how it turned out!!



Supplies used include:
Darice - Christmas Tree embossing folder
Darice - Diagonal Stripe Background embossing folder
Text paper from Echo Park
Sparkle white embossing powder
Versamark ink
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain (inked edges of panels and gently sponged over tree to tone down the bright white)
Black rhinestones from my crafty friend Karen Ladd <3

I kept it sentiment-free to follow the optional twist over at Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Card Challenge. Previously, I hadn't paid too much attention to Christmas card challenges during the off-season. This year, however, I am enjoying making holiday cards that I didn't get a chance to finish during the hectic time before Christmas.

Hope you enjoyed this fun and simple card! Thank you for stopping by!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #318 - Anything Goes Christmas w/ opt twist of No Sentiment
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Allsorts Week #400 - Let's Celebrate
4. HIMCR #286 - Any Holiday
5. DL.Art January Linky Challenge
6. Crop Stop January Linky Party #24 - Anything Goes use prod CS sells
(I used Distress Ink and Darice embossing folders.)
7. DL.Art Thankful Thursday #197 - Anything Goes
8. Little Scrap Pieces - Show it Off Saturday Linky Party
9. Fussy and Fancy Challenge #179 - Angels/Fairies or Winter

Urban Grunge with Washi Tape

Hi, Friends.....

I am here to share a couple cards that I made inspired by the Washi Tape challenge over at The Male Room. I don't use my washi nearly often enough so this was a good opportunity to play with it.

I also am entering this over at Diane and Darlene's Double D Challenges. They are in the second half of their month-long 1st Blogoversary celebration and the mood board theme this time is Black and White only.  Such a fun challenge for me because I rarely use just B/W.


Additionally, it's the second week (out of three) of Darnell's NBUS-orama!! If you missed last week, don't worry! There's still lots of time to play! This week is Darnell's NBUS #9. In addition to asking us to use some NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff), she has a couple of optional themes this time of CASEing someone's card you have seen around blogland or doing a Hidden Sentiment. You must go see her lovely card.....and the lovely prizes!! :) 

For my card, I pulled out several rolls of washi in black and white and went to work making a criss-cross pattern on black cardstock. I was envisioning a plaid look when I began, but what developed had an unexpected but definite urban feel. So......(after abruptly changing my original design plan).....I ran with it. :)

I pulled out my totally awesome NBUS A Creative Journey with Melissa - Awareness Ribbon Set #1 (THANKS, Melissa!!) and stamped out a bunch of the inspirational words with Versafine ink in Onyx Black on strips of white cardstock from my scrap bag. :) Since I was going for an urban grunge look, I just tore them apart instead of cutting and smudged them up with Distress Ink in Black Soot before attaching them to my washi background.

I had so much fun doing the washi background that I made a second one and attached the words in a vertical configuration. I put the Faith, Hope, Love together....as a reminder of 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Which format do you like better? I really like how they both turned out, but I think I like the upright one a little more than the other. I love how on both cards some of the washi strips are translucent and show the pattern of the tape that is beneath them.

Hope you enjoyed my card. Thank you for stopping by and leaving your wonderful comments!!! I hope you have a great day and are getting ready for a relaxing and crafty weekend.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering these cards in the following challenges:
1.The Male Room Challenge #52 - Washi Tape
2. Darnell's NBUS #9
3. Double D Challenges - Black and White
4. Simon Says Stamp Work-it-Wednesday Challenge - Use Something New
5. Crop Stop January Linky Party #24 - Anything Goes use prod CS sells
(I used Distress Ink.)

Spirit of Christmas

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with another post-season make for next Christmas. I was

Kind of blotchy, but I figured that most of that would be hidden, anyway...  :)

inspired by the MarkerPop - Twinkle Twinkle Challenge where we are asked to include stars &/or moon on our project and use a coloring medium they sell. I used Distress Inks for shading my night sky.

I gave myself a head start by using purple cardstock. You can see the plain one on the right and the sponged one on the left. I am very much a beginner in doing night sky scenes, but it was fun to give it a try!

Since I am trying to make Christmas cards ahead to use for next December, I wanted the Star of Bethlehem in the sky. I used the one from my Winnie & Walter - Our Town stamp set and heat embossed it with WOW! Embossing Powder - Opaque Bright White Regular, which is my brightest and whitest EP......LOVE! Then I grabbed my Winnie & Walter - Scenery: Big Bang Confetti stamp set and stamped some round stars. Eeek. They looked like snowflakes, instead of stars!! (groan...) What to do....what to do?

I flicked some droplets of water onto the background to make some dim, faraway stars and then tried a trick I saw Clare use on her AWESOME card over at Sutz Manchego using watered down Perfect Pearls. So I did (kind of) the same thing with some Perfect Pearls Pigment Powder in Blush mixed with water, except my droplets are pretty big and hers are gorgeously super-fine.

You can only get a slight feel for the depth and shimmer that these pearly drops added in the photo below. Do you think it still looks too much like snowflakes? It looks (slightly) more like a night sky in real life than in the photo. lol....

Other supplies used include:
Quietfire Designs - Hold on to the Spirit of Christmas
Versafine - Imperial Purple ink
Clear embossing powder from my stash
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Oval STAX die set
Distress Inks in Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Blueprint Sketch, Picked Raspberry, and Victorian Velvet (for distressing sentiment panel)
Silver ribbon from my stash

Hope you liked my card! It was fun to play around with sponging. I am in total awe of those card artists that can really make a fabulous sky!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your sweet comments!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. MarkerPop Twinkle Twinkle Challenge #112 - Use Stars and/or Moon
2. Rudolph Days at ScrappyMo's January Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Spread Your Wings (Attempting a night sky is spreading my wings artistically!)
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
5. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #317 - Anything Goes Christmas w/ opt: Use a Sentiment
6. CHNC Challenge Extra January - Anything Goes Christmas
7. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for Anything Goes or B is for .... (I chose Anything Goes.)
8. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #196 - Winter or Any Thank You
9. Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes
10. Crop Stop January Linky Party #24 - Anything Goes use prod CS sells
(I used Distress Inks, Wow! Embossing Powder, and a My Favorite Things die.) 

Black and White Starry Sky and Tree

Hi, Friends.....

I am back with another Black and White card. In my previous B/W card (HERE) I mentioned that you were likely to be bumping into lots of cards like this because Diane and Darlene over at Double D Challenges are in the second half of their month-long 1st Blogoversary celebration and the mood board theme this time is Black and White only.

Additionally, it's the second week (out of three) of Darnell's NBUS-orama!! If you missed last week, don't worry! There's still lots of time to play! This week is Darnell's NBUS #9. In addition to asking us to use some NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff), she has a couple of optional themes this time of CASEing someone's card you have seen around blogland or doing a Hidden Sentiment. You must go see her lovely card.....and the lovely prizes!! :) 

As with my other NBUS card, I got so inspired with the Black and White theme from Diane and Darlene that I didn't opt for either of the two optional options, although I was again inspired by several of the lovely samples over on their challenge site!


This time I used a gorgeous NBUS Poppystamps - Grand Pine Tree die that I won a few months back. (THANKS, PS!!!) This die is so very aptly named!! What a beautiful and grand piece it makes. I totally LOVE it!! Here I cut my tree from the glossy black cardstock inner packaging from an embossing folder. :) I teamed it up with a star-spangled scrap of DCWV paper. 

I guess there is something about the black and white that makes me want to go minimalist.....not necessarily CAS...but just using minimal supplies.  So here we have another no stamping, no sentiment card!

I keep thinking this is hugely out of focus, but it is mostly that fun starry paper with its soft, blurry appearance. (I hope...)

Other supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Lawn Fawn - Large Stitched Rectangles die set
Scraps of cardstock

Again, I kept feeling I should add something to this card, but kept rejecting all the ideas I tried. I ended up with a rather arty look that is quite different from most of my cards. I really like it and hope you enjoyed it, too.

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by and leaving such nice comments!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Darnell's NBUS #9
2. Double D Challenges - Black and White
3. Little Scrap Pieces - Show it Off Saturday Linky Party
4. Die Cut Divas - Sentiment-Free (must use die cuts &/or embossing folders w/ manual machine)
5. The Paper GirlsChallenge #120 - Patterned Paper

Fancy Kitty in Black and White

Hi, Friends.......

Get ready for some Black and White cards to be popping up here and there in Blogland. Diane and Darlene over at Double D Challenges are in the second half of their month-long 1st Blogoversary celebration and the mood board and the theme this time is Black and White only........and I see CATS!!! :)



It's also the second week (out of three) of Darnell's NBUS-orama!! If you missed last week, don't worry! There's still lots of time to play!  This week is Darnell's NBUS #9. In addition to asking us to use some NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff), she has a couple of optional themes this time of CASEing some card you have seen around blogland or doing a Hidden Sentiment. You must go see her lovely card.....and the lovely prizes!! :) I got so inspired with the Black and White theme from Diane and Darlene that I didn't really do either of the two options, although I was inspired by several of the lovely samples over on the challenge site!

It was super-fun to pull out some of my fancy dies to make a pretty card to feature this lovely NBUS cat die from the Sweet Dixie - Meow die set. This wonderful set of dies, along with several other awesome cat-related crafty gifts, was sent to me as a thank you gift from Carol Jones over at Craftilicious Creations for hostessing the Cat Lovers Hop this past October. What a sweet and unexpected surprise. THANK YOU so much, Carol!!

Other supplies used include:Spellbinders - Lace Doily Accents die set
Spellbinders - Heartfelt Creations - Raindrops on Roses die set
Darice - Honeycomb embossing folder
Black Grosgrain ribbon from my stash
Scraps of cardstock in black and white

I kept thinking I should add more stuff to this card to make it seem more finished....or at least to add a sentiment. But in the end I decided I liked the bold contrast of the uncluttered black and white. Love how the black background really shows off the fancy die cuts. Hope you enjoyed it, too!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Darnell's NBUS #9
2. Double D Challenges - Black and White
3. SUYP - Cats Only Challenge #14 - Furrything Goes
4. Die Cut Divas - Sentiment-Free (must use die cuts &/or embossing folders w/ manual machine)
5. Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 265-266 - Use snippets  

Sunflower on Kraft

Hi, Friends.....

I couldn't resist making one more card as a last minute entry in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8 which celebrates 5 years of blogging, 1000 posts, 1000 followers...(and a whole bunch of years of marriage!) This time she is adding a special little twist. In addition to having us use some of our NBUS craft supplies (Never Before Used Schtuff!) we are asked to use a special technique: colored pencils on kraft. This is something I have only done once or twice before so it is a great challenge for me!!

Oh, yeah....Did I mention there are prizes? Cool, huh!

It has been so fun perusing the other entries in Darnell's challenge, learning tips and being inspired. I fell in love with JoAnn's card HERE with its rich, velvety colors and white embossing. I just had to give it a try myself with a NBUS sunflower stamp from DRS Designs (still trying to find a link...sorry). Thank you, JoAnn, for sharing with me the trick of first coloring over the entire image with white colored pencil and then layering the other colors over top. I LOVE the effect!!

Sorry the THANKS is blurry.  The maize glitter paper was wreaking havoc on my focus!

Other supplies used include:
Primacolor colored pencils
My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set
Clearly Besotted Thanks Word Die (apparently discontinued)
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Rhinestones
WOW! Embossing Powder - Opaque Bright White Regular
Scraps from my stash of orange patterned paper, green dotted corrugate, and white background panels

Hope you enjoyed this card! I want to thank Darnell, once again, for this fun NBUS challenge with the colored pencils on kraft twist. I have learned a lot and now absolutely LOVE this technique! I hope to use it often in the future.

Darnell has more NBUS challenges coming up so be sure to follow her blog to keep track of the latest!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Blog Birthaversary NBUS #8 Challenge - use NBUS plus Colored Pencils on Kraft
2. Butterfly Challenge #70 - J is for Jewels and/or Jade (Yet another unexpected entry for me with just the jewels this time!)
3. Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes
4. The Paper Girls Challenge #120 - Patterned Paper
5. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #196 - Winter or Any Thank You

Feline Better

 

Fine print says, "*once I'm done napping**  **You might be waiting awhile  :)

Hi, Friends...

I am here with a card for Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8 which celebrates 5 years of blogging, 1000 posts, 1000 followers...(and 146 years of marriage! Ha.) This time she is adding a special little twist. In addition to having us use some of our NBUS craft supplies (Never Before Used Schtuff!) we are asked to use a special technique: colored pencils on kraft. This is something I have only done once or twice before so it is a great challenge for me!!

Oh, yeah....Did I mention there are prizes? Cool, huh!

After I made my Candy Cane on Kraft card for this challenge, I got looking around at the other entries and spied Susanne Vargas' card here. I knew I wanted to try blue on kraft. Mine, of course, doesn't approach hers in beauty or grace, but I hope it makes up for it in whimsy! :)

I stamped my NBUS (to me) thrift store Stampendous - Wire Whiskers Sweet Surprises (discontinued, but this shows a nice photo!) with Versafine ink in Vintage Sepia and colored it with my Prismacolors. I teamed it with a sentiment from Newton's Nook Designs - Newton's Sick Day stamp set.

Do you like the pawprint burlap background? I used a scrap of this ivory paper-backed burlap and stamped the paw prints myself. (Soooooo very proud! lol...) I think I tried stamping on my burlap "paper" once before and it only turned out so-so. I think the trick (at least for me) is to use a solid stamp...not anything with fine details or lines. This paw print stamp from my Inkadinkadoo - Catitude stamp set worked great! I used the same Versafine - Vintage Sepia ink. Yay!!

After I got my card together, I felt like the kitty was looking at something......but what???? I had to give him something to be bug-eyed about....how about a birdie nonchalantly singing nearby? I pulled the bird and note stamps from my Newton's Nook Designs - Baskets of Wishes stamp set and put them in. I think it adds just the right amount of playfulness to this get well card to bring a smile to the recipient.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my card and I hope you will join in with Darnell's NBUS challenges! This is only the first week of three....so you have plenty of time to play!! Thank you, Darnell, for all your work in organizing this!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Blog Birthaversary NBUS #8 Challenge - use NBUS plus Colored Pencils on Kraft
2. Mod Squad Challenge - Get Well Soon, Please
3. SUYP - Cats Only Challenge #14 - Furrything Goes
4. Allsorts Challenge Week #399 - Daisy, Daisy
5. Penny Black and More January Challenge - Anything Goes

Candy Cane on Kraft with Nuvo Drops

Hi, Friends...
I am here with a card for Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8 which celebrates 5 years of blogging, 1000 posts, 1000 followers...(and 146 years of marriage! Ha.) This time she is adding a special little twist. In addition to having us use some of our NBUS craft supplies (Never Before Used Schtuff!) we are asked to use a special technique: colored pencils on kraft. This is something I have only done once or twice before so it is a great challenge for me!! 

Oh, yeah....Did I mention there are prizes? Cool, huh!

I have been wanting to make a few Christmas cards to put away for next holiday season, so I pulled out a NBUS Stamper's Anonymous - TH Candy Cane Sketch stamp that has lain uninked in my stash for a couple of Christmases. It is a nice easy image for this novice colorist....so now was the time!

I decided to add an extra challenge for myself by making a one-layer card. These are among the scariest of cards for me to make!! NO margin for error.....NO mistakes can be covered up! EEEK!!

The stamping with Versafine ink in Onyx Black went flawlessly and I heat embossed with clear powder. So far, so good.... (I was even so encouraged that I stamped out three more of the images!!) I colored the image with my Prismacolors and embellished with some NBUS Tonic Studios - Nuvo Crystal Drops in Metallic Silver. I am still practicing with these drops, so some of them look like silver chocolate chips rather than silver enamel dots......but I'll get there....(maybe!)

All in all, I am pleased with how this card turned out. Thank you, Darnell, for your wonderful challenge. Happy everything-sary to you!!! :)

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Blog Birthaversary NBUS #8 Challenge - use NBUS plus Colored Pencils on Kraft
2. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #399 - Christmas
3. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for Anything Goes or B is for .... (I chose brown.)
4. CHNC Challenge Extra January - Anything Goes Christmas
5. CHNC Challenge #316 - Anything Goes Christmas w/ opt. Twist of a Creature (I did not do the twist.)

Smile More, Worry Less

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a simple card to share. I've been doing some fancy backgrounds and frilly cards lately, but this is a very basic one. Cards don't ALWAYS have to leave people going WOW!! Sometimes, it is nice to be able to put a card together quickly....especially if I can use some long-neglected stash!! I have a lot of that....and I bet you do, too!
This card was inspired by the current Papercrafter's Corner Magazine Monday Challenge. Here's the inspiration photo she gave us this week. I was inspired by the geometric look of the colorful sails and also by the thought of a relaxing and carefree sunny day of sailing. I haven't ever done this, but it does seem like a lovely idea! lol.... :)

I was delighted to find everything I needed for this multi-colored card in a prize pack from Simple Stories I won quite a while ago. I used the Simple Stories - Sn@p - Fresh Double-Sided Cards & Bits/Pieces Pack and added patterned paper from my stash and thrift store twine.

Do you like it? It's quite different from my usual style. Even though it is simple, I really like the bright flashes of all the different colors. I never quite know what to do with ampersands, but I used this humongous wood-grain one to connect the two sentiment phrases. I am surprised how much I really love it.

That's all for this card. Thank you for stopping in. Maybe you have been inspired to pull out some neglected stash, too, and try using it in ways that differ from your usual style.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges: 
1. Papercrafter's Corner Magazine Monday - Week 168
2. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Chill Out (I chose the relaxing sentiment - Worry less, Smile more!)
3. Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday Linky Party
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper January Challenge - Use Patterned Paper
5. DL.Art January Linky Challenge
6. The Paper GirlsChallenge #120 - Patterned Paper

Attempting Something A Little Bit Shabby

When I can't find some cat meme that pertains to my post, I go to my saved images and find one that makes me laugh.

Hi, Friends.....

I want to thank each of you who has left such wonderful and encouraging comments on my projects lately. My cards have been largely experimental and at the outset I never quite know how they will turn out!! Eeek! So your nice words have meant a lot to me. Here I am again with something a little bit experimental.....shabby chic. I know that is the go-to genre for lots of crafters, but I never feel like I can pull it off....even though I LOVE seeing shabby cards!!

I made this card for a very special blogoversary......the first anniversary of the Double D Challenge Blog run by the lovely and amazing Diane and Dar. Huge CONGRATULATIONS, you two, for this special milestone and accomplishment!! If any of you are unfamiliar with their challenges, you must really join in. I don't get a card in there every time, but I always have it on my list to check out. It's one of my favorite challenges!!

So all month long they are celebrating but this first challenge of the month (ending soon!) has the theme of Anniversary/Blogaversary/Birthday using something from their mood board for inspiration. I LOVE the soft peach and green colors of the flower and foliage, so I chose those colors for my card.

I went to my scrap bag of peachy colors and pulled out a number of them that I liked together. I was surprised to see a piece of lovely DCWV butterfly print in there. (I usu keep all my butterfly things together in my "butterfly box" for Mrs. A's challenges!) I pulled it out and built a card around it with a some pretty pieces of thrift store peach colored lace and trim.

Other supplies used include:
LDRS - Gilded Oval Labels die set
Celebrate sentiment from Newton's Nook Designs - Baskets of Wishes stamp set
Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
Distress Ink in Gathered Twigs
Prima Flowers layered together
Spectrum Noir markers to color some of the flowers a more peachy hue
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Pearls
Want 2 Scrap - Adhesive Rhinestones
How do you think I did on trying a shabby style card? I think it turned out pretty well.....and covering the cardstock with the peach lace panel helped a lot! lol... I still don't really have that shabby look down, but I am so delighted to use this card to help celebrate with Diane and Dar and their teams over at Double D Challenges!!! Congratulations and thank you!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Double D Challenge - Anniversary Celebration (use mood board and Anniv/Blogaversary/BD theme)
2. Butterfly Challenge #70 - J is for Jewels and/or Jade (An unexpected second entry for me with just the jewels this time!)
3. Mod Squad Challenge - Bling!
4. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper January Challenge - Use Patterned Paper
5. DL.Art January Linky Challenge
6. Moving Along With The Times Challenge #36 - Something in the Air
7. Daisy Chain Challenge #4 - Add Some Sparkle
8. Crafty Catz Challenge #353 - Anything Goes plus Twist of Butterfly
9. All Sorts Challenge Week #398 - Wings on Things 

Happy Today and Always

Perfect for cats, not so perfect for people. This is just what our scamp Skippyjon needs.....someplace to lie in wait to attack us!  He just got neutered so we are hoping that will cool his jets a little bit....

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a pretty card that has lots of fun techniques.....some that I haven't tried before and some of my tried and true faves, like my double embossing that I outlined recently in this post. 

I am combining several challenges, but I want to mention one in particular up front because you still have lots of time to participate! I am getting my entry in early (for a change!!!) to Mrs. A's fun and fabulous Butterfly Challenge. This time the challenge theme involves the Letter J......my favorite letter in the alphabet, so of course I had to make a card!! She is asking us to use, in addition to the requisite butterfly/ies, J is for Jewels and/or Jade (the color).

I'll take you through my process....but if you prefer, you can just scroll down to see my finished card! :)


First I dry embossed a piece of Core'dinations heavy duty white cardstock with my Darice - Butterfly folder. Then I tried something new-to-me that I saw Lindsay, the Frugal Crafter do with a Poppy embossed design quite some time ago.....sadly, I cannot find the post!  I selected several of my Ranger - TH Distress Markers in Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Broken China, and Tumbled Glass and colored the debossed side of the paper.  I chose this side so I would be coloring in the "wells" and so the veins of the wings would show nicely after heat embossing. A quick, inexact coloring job was fine because it was all going to be misted with water next, anyway. (This is all I remember Lindsay doing....so here I take off on my own creative journey....Wheeee!!!!)

I outlined a few of the butterflies with my Wild Honey DI marker and then misted the paper with water. After I was satisfied with the way the ink had reacted with the water, I dabbed with paper towels and used my heat gun to dry. All of this made the paper buckle, but no matter!

I slipped the buckled paper right back into place in the original embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot again to flatten it back out! It is quite easy to fit it back onto the design on the folder....and it doesn't have to 100% exact. I got it off a tiny bit and it made no difference in the end result.

Ahhhhh....much flatter. Not 100%, but it is fine. Okay....ready to heat emboss!

I brayered Versamark ink all over the surface of my paper, so the Versamark only touches the higher parts of the design. Then I sprinkled on gold embossing powder and zapped it with my heat gun. I like to repeat this step two or three times to get a good build-up of embossing on the ridges of my design. Loving how this is looking!!!

I trimmed it to size and mounted it securely onto black cardstock to help finish flattening it. I wanted this to be a celebratory card that I could use for birthday, anniversary, or other special joyful occasion so I chose a layered die cut (Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Happy Cutaway) and sentiment from Winnie & Walter - LS Exclusives: So Tweet with Evelin T Designs stamp set stamped with Versafine Ink in Onyx Black with the banner die cut from the Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set. (Each of these pieces were from my scrap bags. Yay!)

I'm not really sure these words/phrases have ever been paired together before, but they really spoke to me of happiness being something that we can choose each and every day!!  "Happy - today and always"......that's something I want to practice in my life this year!!!

Last of all, I applied some small adhesive jewels in several colors to the bodies of the butterflies. I wanted them to add some bling without stealing the show. I think this small size is just perfect. Some of them I colored with a Sharpie to get a color I liked better. :)

As I was making my embossed background, I was interested to discover the mineral look that resulted in some of the areas. I was reminded of the Winnie & Walter - Gossip Column Marble Challenge. In the Gossip Column feature, the amazing Taheerah Atchia shows us all sorts of examples of real and faux marble and has made the most awesome cards using some fabulous techniques. You must go see!!! :)

From Tile-Stones.com

I looked at some images of marble and found this one that looks a lot like some of the parts of my background. Take a look at the close-ups of my card below. Do you see what I mean about how it looks mineralized?




Always before, my gold double-embossed backgrounds reminded me of heavy vintage jewelry, but now I am seeing something even more elemental.....mineralized marble! :)

Here also......

Well.....did you make it all the way to the end of my long post? Wow! Thanks for having a look. Hope you enjoyed this celebration card. It was a really fun adventure trying out new things and looking at familiar things with a new appreciation! Thank you for your visit and for your lovely comments. Have a fabulous day!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Butterfly Challenge #70 - J is for Jewels and/or Jade
2. Winnie & Walter - Gossip Column Challenge #6 - Marble
3. Mod Squad Challenge - Bling!
4. Word Art Wednesday Weeks 264-265 - AG with Family Friendly Sentiment
5. DL.Art January Linky Challenge
6. Crop Stop January Linky Party #24 - Anything Goes use prod CS sells
(I used a Darice embossing folder and Distress Markers)
7. Moving Along With The Times Challenge #36 - Something in the Air
8. Daisy Chain Challenge #4 - Add Some Sparkle
9. MarkerPOP Challenge #111 - Let's Celebrate