Here Comes the Sun - Verve/Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends.....

I have one last set of coffee-themed cards from my big cardmaking frenzy! As I mentioned, I got going so crazy with these cards that I didn't take time to blog them before I was making more. So I have been trying to catch up with myself these last few days.

I have been super-inspired lately by three different challenges. Check out the links for all the info on entering!!!

1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop (ends Mar. 31) TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO LINK UP!!! So hurry!!!

2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge (ends Apr. 17)
Julee has this wonderful Rise and Shine digital FREEBIE available for download only through April 17.

3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H. (ends Apr. 7)

You can see why I got so inspired that I didn't want to stop making cards and get them blogged????!! :)

NOTE: I have grouped many of my cards together so my blog doesn't have an endless stream of cards around the same theme. I am devoting my blog posts to one of the cards in each group and including smaller shots of the others...which I am posting separately on my Flickr account to enter into these challenges.

I used another of Julee Tilman's awesome images from her Rise and Shine digital set to make a beachy look for this card. I can soooooooo use some of this sun. We finally have some here in my part of Idaho today....yes!! 

I again used my go-to Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die sets to cut the pierced rectangle and scalloped panels and also some sweet sequins that were included as a delightful little extra surprise in my W&W order. So sweet! All coloring was done with my Spectrum Noirs.

Here is another card using the same digi that I will post on Flickr with more info.

I have had soooooooooooooo much fun making bright and cheery coffee-themed cards with this wonderful digi set. Thank you for your lovely comments. I hope your day is sunny and full of happiness.....and coffee (or tea!).

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop
2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge
3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
5. Cardz TV Designer's Challenge #6 - Anything Goes
6. Simon Says Stamp National Crafting Month Challenge - Anything Goes

I couldn't resist this Grumpy Cat meme.  I think she reeeeeeeeaaaaalllly needs a cup of coffee......  :)

 Awwwww..... poor old Grumpy Cat!!

Cats and sunshine......the perfect combination.  Now for some coffee, too!

One last bit of advice for coffee drinkers.....

Thank you for visiting my blog!!!!
 

Guest Designer at 12 Kits of Occasions - 3-2-1 Blast Off!!

Hi, Friends.......

I feel very honored and excited today to be a Guest Designer over at the 12 Kits of Occasions blog. If you are unfamiliar with this great group of crafty creatives, they are 12 gals that take turns each month assembling a wonderful card kit around a theme for each of the rest of the group. Everyone makes cards with the goodies in the kit and posts the things they made at the end of the month. 

Sometimes they make up an extra kit (or two!) and award that to a random commenter. I was one of the lucky ones for the March kit and the lovely Jeanne Jachna sent me a kit with this fabulous theme: Out of this World. SO MUCH FUN!!!

This kit was filled with all sorts of star and solar system patterned papers, out of this world sentiments, stamped images and die cuts of astronauts, planets and stars, rockets (and even some aliens!), and fun embellishments. The contents list was included with the kit and I think I tracked down the right links to what I used on this card: Taylored Expressions - Sky High Rocket die set, Poppystamps - Stitched Cloudline die set, Papertrey Ink - Boy Basics: Out of this World stamp set, and American Crafts - Starshine by Shimelle paper.

I chose this super-fun rocket to put together for a simple birthday card for my little grand-nephew who is turning 4 soon. I have it blasting off through the die cut clouds on the way to wherever this little guy wants to go! The sky's the limit!!! I went with a tall format to give a sense of altitude and stayed away from too many embellishments for this young boy's card. Instead, I accented the stars and cloud edges with my Wink of Stella pen for some added shimmer without being too girly. (It's hard to see in the photo.)

Hope you enjoyed my card! Thank you to Jeanne for this wonderful kit and to all the gals at 12 Kits for allowing me to Guest Design this month. Thank you for stopping by today and for your kind comments!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Double D Challenges: Things that Fly
2. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Things with Wings (I hope the rocket fins count as wings!)
3. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Cardz TV Designer's Challenge #6 - Anything Goes
5. Simon Says Stamp National Crafting Month Challenge - Anything Goes 

In the Bag - Verve/Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends......

I am back with another installment of cards from my cardmaking frenzy....and this time I have a kettle of couple of tea-themed cards for you. As I mentioned, I got waaaaaaaaay ahead of myself by making tons of cards. I didn't want to lose my momentum by stopping to blog them and so now it is catch-up time!!! Eeek! :)

I have been super-inspired lately by three different challenges. Check out the links for all the info on entering!!!

1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop (ends Mar. 31)

2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge (ends Apr. 17)
Julee has this wonderful Rise and Shine digital FREEBIE available for download only through April 17.

3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H. (ends Apr. 7)

You can see why I got so inspired that I didn't want to stop making cards and get them blogged????!! :)

NOTE: I have grouped many of my cards together so my blog doesn't have an endless stream of cards around the same theme. I am devoting my blog posts to one of the cards in each group and including smaller shots of the others...which I am posting separately on my Flickr account to enter into these challenges.

I used another of Julee Tilman's awesome images from her Rise and Shine digital set. This one is tea-themed. So happy she included this in her set because I LOVE tea (all kinds) also! On this one, I again used my go-to Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die sets to cut the pierced rectangle and scalloped panels. The little tag is from the Katharine set, too. All coloring was done with my Spectrum Noirs. I finished it with a sweet little pink tie on the tag. I absolutely LOVE the soft colors on this card!!

Here is another card using the same digi sentiment that I will post on Flickr with more info.

Hope you liked my cards and that you will check in often over the next few days to see the rest of my cardmaking frenzy creations! :) Thanks so much for your visits and your kind comments!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop
2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge
3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.
4. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

And for my fellow Whovians......

 

Big Congrats - Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends.....

I am back with another quick break from my string of coffee-themed cards that I have been posting.  
(As I mentioned before, I got so inspired that I made a whole pile of cards and now am trying to work on getting them blogged!!)

Right now I want to share a fun anniversary card I made for the Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.   Don't you just love this color palette and that wonderful spring inspiration photo??!!!

I used the adorable elephants from the Winnie & Walter - Big Hugs with Evelin T Designs stamp and die sets and colored them with my Spectrum Noirs. My sentiment is from the Winnie & Walter - Sketchy Thoughts stamp set.
 
I die cut a heart (with the solid heart die from Serendipity - Heart Scroll set) from a layered background I had made from scraps and dry embossed with my Sizzix - Stampin' Up Arrows folder. My scalloped panels are die cut with my Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set.


Thank you so much for wading through all my posts!! See what I mean about the cardmaking frenzy I was in? lol.... I appreciate you stopping by and leaving your nice comments!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use more than one die or punch
3. Penny Black at All Sorts March Challenge - Anything Goes (must stamp focal)
4. Cardz-TV Designer's Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
5. Craft Stamper March TIMI Challenge - Anything Goes must stamp

Burdens Light and Coffee Strong - Verve/Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends......

I am back with another installment of coffee-themed cards from my cardmaking frenzy. I got way ahead of myself by making tons of cards....but then I didn't want to lose my momentum by stopping to blog them. Eeek! Now it is catch-up time!!! :)

I have been super-inspired lately by three different challenges. Check out the links for all the info on entering!!!

1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop (ends Mar. 31)

2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge (ends Apr. 17)
Julee has this wonderful Rise and Shine digital FREEBIE available for download only through April 17.

 
3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H. (ends Apr. 7)

You can see why I got so inspired that I didn't want to stop making cards and get them blogged????!! :)

NOTE: I have grouped many of my cards together so my blog doesn't have an endless stream of cards around the same theme. I am devoting my blog posts to one of the cards in the group and including smaller shots of the others...which I am posting separately on my Flickr account to enter into these challenges. 

Okay......ready, set, brew!!!!!!!

I used another of Julee Tilman's awesome images from her Rise and Shine digital set.   So much fun!!!   On this one, I again used my go-to Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die sets to cut the pierced rectangle and scalloped panels and also more of the little gold foil hearts (from the Audrey set) for "steam". All coloring was done with my Spectrum Noirs. I added a bright goldenrod bow for a finishing touch.

Here are a couple of other cards using the same digi that I will post on Flickr with more info.

Lots of deep pink on this one.

A more masculine color scheme on this one.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Your comments totally make my day!! I hope you will play along with these challenges. Can't wait to see what you make!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop
2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge
3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.

Sympathy with Vellum Sentiment Panel

Hi, Friends.....

Even though I have a whole bunch of Coffee-themed cards to post, I thought I would break up my string of them with some other cards I have made lately. I noticed my stock of sympathy cards was getting depleted so I made a few to have on hand using some watery backgrounds made from last year's leftover Easter Egg dye! :)

I stamped and heat embossed this one in white with a wonderful Praying Hands image (a thrift store find) and did the same on vellum with a sentiment from the Verve - New Mercies stamp set. I dry embossed the watercolor background with my Sizzix Textured Impressions - Roses folder and sponged Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, and Tea Dye over the stamping and floral texture. Some adhesive pearls finished it off.

Thank you for stopping by. I love reading your comments!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Penny Black at All Sorts March Challenge - Anything Goes (must stamp focal)
2. WOW! Embossing Powder March Challenge - Spring (must heat emboss)
3. Cardz-TV Designer's Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
4. Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday Linky Party
(Sadly this is her LAST ONE. Thank you so much for your fun challenges, Karen!!)
5. Craft Stamper March TIMI Challenge - Anything Goes must stamp
6. DL.Art March Linky Party - Anything Goes

Rise and Shine - Verve/Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends......

I haven't made a blog post for a couple of weeks, but I have been very busy making cards. Are you ever like I am......you get into a cardmaking frenzy and don't want to stop to blog them for fear of losing your momentum???? Well, that's how I have been lately!! Craft, craft, craft, but no bloggy. :)

I have been super-inspired lately by three different challenges. Check out the links for all the info on entering!!!

1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop (ends Mar. 31)

2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge (ends Apr. 17)
Julee has this wonderful Rise and Shine digital FREEBIE available for download only through April 17.

3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H. (ends Apr. 7)

WOWOWOWOW!!! 
Now do you see why I got so inspired that I didn't want to stop making cards and get them blogged????!!  :)

NOTE: I have grouped many of my cards together so my blog doesn't have an endless stream of cards around the same theme. I am devoting my blog posts to one of the cards in the group and including smaller shots of the others...which I am posting separately on my Flickr account to enter into these challenges.

Okay......here we go with my first group of cards!! Wheeeeeee....!!!!!!!

I seriously had soooooooooooooo much fun with Julee's digis at Verve!! Once I printed off a bunch of them in different sizes, it was so easy and so fast to combine the elements for these happy coffee/tea themed cards! THANK YOU, Julee, for this fabulous digital set!!!

And don't you just LOVE the colors on Heather's Winnie & Walter Color Challenge? I love pink, but I have to admit that the goldenrod and gray are ones that I rarely use together...and never both together with pink. But guess what....I happened to have a lot of patterned papers (very ancient) that had the right shades of pink and goldenrod on them. It was fun to team them up with the pale gray and pastel blue in the palette to make my cards!!

I used my {totally fabulous} {can't praise them enough} {use them absolutely all the time} Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die sets to cut the pierced rectangle and scalloped panels on each of these. These essential sets are THE BEST.....plain and simple. I use them for cutting my panels on almost every card I make, but they also include other fun dies in the sets. See that sweet little foil gold heart on the tea tag? That's from the Audrey set. (Put these on your {gotta get} wish list NOW!!!) All coloring was done with my Spectrum Noirs.

Here are two more Rise and Shine cards I made that I will post on Flickr with more info.

Thank you for stopping by today and for your very sweet and encouraging comments. I will be posting a ton of cards over the next few days! :)  Hope you will join me over at each of these challenges!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges: 
1. 2017 Spring Coffee Lovers Hop
2. Verve Stamps Rise and Shine Challenge
3. Winnie & Walter March Color Challenge with Heather H.

Wishing you a Pot of Gold - Verve

Hi, Friends........

I am back again with another card in March colors made with the lovely digital freebie by Julee Tilman.

Yes, Julee over at Verve Stamps has done it again! This month she made a really cute St. Patrick's Day themed digital set called Lucky Day Digital Set. Oh, my goodness......you WANT this set. Adorable, right? It's a FREE DOWNLOAD only through March 17, 2017. AND......Julee is hosting another challenge on the Verve Stamps blog with her always fabulous GC prize if you use this digi set. Wow!! Thank you, Julee!!!! (She is making me into a digital stamp lover, despite all my kicking and screaming!! Ha!)

I used a layered background from scraps that I already had on hand and double embossed it: first with my Darice - Interlocking Circles folder, then brayering over the textured parts with Versamark and heat embossing with gold powder. Perfect for this sentiment...don't you think? I accented some of the words with my Pilot - Metallic Gold Extra Fine Tip Marker. I used my Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set for the black scalloped panel and the little gold hearts (from scraps of foiled cardstock). Sweet!! I finished it off with some shimmery gold ribbon from my stash. Love how this turned out and I hope you like it, too!!

Thank you so much for your visit and for your kind comments. Don't forget to hurry and snag that digital freebie over at Verve Stamps. You only have a few more days!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Verve Stamps - Lucky Day Digi Challenge
2. Time Out 3rd Birthday Party Challenge - Love and/or Friendship (opt twist Spotlight Stamping)
3. Word Art Wednesday Challenge #272-#273 - Anything Goes Family Friendly
4. Crafty Hazelnut's March Patterned Paper Challenge 
5. CARDZ TV Designers Challenge #4 - Anything Goes
6. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - For a Special Lady/Girl
7. WOW! Embossing Powder March Challenge - Spring (must heat emboss)
8. Pixie's Snippets Playground Week #271-272 - Use Snippets
9. Use Your Stuff Challenge #255 - Dry Embossing

Lucky to Have a Friend Like You - Verve

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a quick card and to share a super-fun digital Freebie you won't want to miss. I have been fighting a second round with that same stomach virus....ugh....and meant to get this link on here for you to enjoy earlier...but had no energy. It was good finally to feel like making a couple cards again last evening!

Julee Tilman over at Verve Stamps has done it again! This month she made a really cute St. Patrick's Day themed digital set called Lucky Day Digital Set. Oh, my goodness......you WANT this set. Adorable, right? It's a FREE DOWNLOAD only through March 17, 2017. AND......Julee is hosting another challenge on the Verve Stamps blog with her always fabulous GC prize if you use this digi set. Wow!! Thank you, Julee!!!! (She is making me into a digital stamp lover, despite all my kicking and screaming!! Ha!)

I printed the digital images out and used my Spectrum Noirs for coloring. I put this on a pretty March outdoor scene background. (Yes, it is repurposed piece from an old calendar. No, that shiny edge is NOT visible in the card. The light hit it just WRONG!!) I die cut the large panels with my Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways and Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die sets, and the sentiment panel with My Favorite Things Die-namics - Stitched Square STAX die set.

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your sweet comments!!!  I have another card to share with you, also, so stay tuned!!  See you soon. :)

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Verve Stamps - Lucky Day Digi Challenge
2. Time Out 3rd Birthday Party Challenge - Love and/or Friendship (opt twist Spotlight Stamping)
3. Word Art Wednesday Challenge #272-#273 - Anything Goes Family Friendly
4. DL.Art March Linky Party - Anything Goes
5. CARDZ TV Designers Challenge #4 - Anything Goes
6. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge #200 - Flowers or TY
7. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - For a Special Lady/Girl
8. Crafty Hazelnut's March Patterned Paper Challenge 
9. Little Scrap Pieces Linky Party

Winner of my Virtual Birthday Party Giveaway!!!

 

An Oldie, but I still love it!!!

Hi, Friends......

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Virtual Birthday Party. You each chose some wonderful gifts to "give" to me. Tell me truly.....was that just the corniest thing I have ever done on my blog.....having a pretend party for myself? It might have been a bit crazy, but I had SUUUUUUCH a good time oohing and ahhhing over my new "presents"!!! Thank you for playing along with me.

Now......Before I announce my winner, would you like to see what I "received" from all of you lovely crafty friends?

1.  From Preety, a full-size Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad:

 
2.  From Crafty Chris, IndigoBlu - Kevin's Gang stamp set:

3.  From Denise Bryant, Zig Clean Clear Marker 4-pack in Pale Hues:

4.  From Glennis, Paua Shell pieces.  She didn't leave a link, but I pulled up a stock photo because I didn't know what they looked like.  :)

5.  From Clare Sutton, Cat Lovers Tea Gift Set, a lemon drizzle cake, and a sassy cat BD card:

6.  From Ionabunny, Lost Coast Designs - Happy Cat stamp

7.  From Lorraine, pretty washi tape and Teflon scissors.  She didn't leave a link, but I am guessing some of the washi might have kitties on it.  :)

8.  From Michele K. Henderson, Frantic Stamper - Precision Die Cat Icons

9.  From Ike, Newton's Nook Designs - Aloha Newton stamp set:

10.  From Fiki, these two items:
Newton's Nook Designs - Newton Loves Cake:

Wild Rose Studio - Cat and Moon Craft Die:

11.  From Teresa Doyle, she would give me a REAL cat that needs a home.  Awwwwww.......  No link because she figures I know what real cats look like.  :)

12.  From Alicia, Taylored Expressions - If Cats Could Talk stamp and die set:

13.  From KT Fit Kitty, Your Next Stamp - Jessica's Kitten stamp set:

14.  From Princess Judy Palmer, Raisevern Women's Galaxy Tank Top:

15.  From Gracie at Graciellie Designs, a $15 GC to her Etsy store.....for REALS!  This was a prize from her hop that she announced to me here.  How fun is that!!??

16.  From Karen Ladd:  
Kitty Post-It Bookmark Flags:

Kliban Cat Stickers:

Cat Roller Gel Pens:

17.  From Shaz in Oz, these two embossing folders.  She didn't leave links, so I did my best to find the ones she was choosing.

Stamping Up! Lattice:

Cuttlebug Swiss Dot:

18.  From Davi, some bottles of Tim Holtz ink for using on my background techniques.  She didn't leave a link so it might be DI reinkers or some alcohol ink.  :)

19.  From Becca Yahrling, Neat & Tangled - Meowwwwww stamp set:

20.  From Tracy, Newton's Nook Designs - Newton's Happy Mail stamp set and matching die set:

21.  From RoseLilac, a custom ordered crocheted kitty.  I couldn't access the link photo on Facebook.

22.  From Vivian Foo, some Hello Kitty Candy Cakes (my network wouldn't allow access to her link for some reason) and tea together.

23.  From Sue LD, Lawn Fawn - Meow You Doin' stamp set:

24.  From Peggy Sue, Tim Holtz Crazy Cats stamp and die bundle:

Aren't those AMAZING and AWESOME and THOUGHTFUL gifts???? I LOVE them all!!! THANK YOU so much!

Okay.......now for the winner of my virtual Birthday party door prize selected by Random.org:

Michele K. Henderson

Congratulations, Michele!! Please email me with your snail mail addy (jwoolbright at gmail dot com) to claim your prize!

Thank you so much to everyone for making my birthday so much fun!!!! You are the best!!

<3
Janis

One more funny: