JOY

Hi, Friends.......

I am here with one more Christmas card for this month's Winnie & Walter Rerun Challenge. This time Shay is featuring her Comfort + Joy stamp set. I don't have this particular set, so I am taking inspiration from one of the design team cards. I was especially inspired by the lovely cards by Lydia Evans HERE. I adore the color combo of the patterned background (she stamped hers but I took a shortcut and used patterned paper) and the great big JOY for the focal and sentiment panel.

I dry embossed my Joy die cut with a lovely new folder I received from crafty friend, Karen Ladd. (Thanks, Karen!!!)

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Joy Cutaway die
Core'dinations - heavy duty white cardstock
Sizzix - Alpine Yule embossing folder
Scrap of DCWV patterned paper
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set (scalloped background panel)
Baker's Twine from a Winnie and Walter package <3
Silver sequins from my stash

This easy design can be adapted for any season or occasion with a different background panel and big word die. Love that!!

Thank you so much for visiting today and leaving your sweet comments. Best wishes to each of you for a lovely and crafty New Year!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter Rerun #26 Comfort+Joy
2. Dare2BArtzy December Challenge - Spirit of the Season
3. Christmas Cards All Year Round December Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Related
4. HIMCR #333 - Freestyle
5. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
6. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - AG Christmas w/ opt Begins with "S" - I used Scallops, Simple Design, Sequins, Snowflakes.
7. Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
8. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
9. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #27
10. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #28
11. Joy Clair Dec/Jan Challenge - Anything Goes 

 

Happy Holidays

Awww.....these kitties in the pic are sweet together.  I have a couple sets that are best buddies, but all the others are too jealous to even be civil toward each other!!  My cats are so naughty!!!  lol... 

Hi, Friends......

Are you ready to ring in the New Year???? I sure am. Done with 2017 and on with 2018, I say. Well, before I am all the way ready for 2018, I have a couple of cards to share with you. They are Christmas cards which I will stash away for next year. I haven't been crafting much because of all the Christmas festivities.....and clean up afterwards!! My craft room was (and still sorta is) a complete mess!! lol....
 
I couldn't let the Winnie & Walter Rerun Challenge for this month go past without at least one or two more entries. This month Shay is featuring her Comfort + Joy stamp set. I don't have this particular set, so I am taking inspiration from one of the design team cards. I was especially inspired by the lovely card by Kelly Griglione HERE. I adore the greens and the sentiment strip of white embossed on black.

I found a green background in my stash of watercolor marker refill papers and used that with some snowflakes and my Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Happy stamp set for this card. You can't really see it in the photo (except on my black embossing), but I misted the panel with Goosebumps Clear Texture Spray for a glossy bumpy finish just for fun.

When do I ever get to use a shiny green snowflake???? On a green Christmas card, of course!  The other two snowflakes look black in the photo, but are actually highly reflective silver.

Products used include:
Winnie & Walter - In a Word: Happy stamp set
Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
Clear embossing powder
Versamark ink
White embossing powder
Goosebumps Clear Texture Spray
Pretty Pink Posh - Sparkling Clear Mix sequins
Snowflake sequins from my stash

Hope you liked my card in non-traditional holiday colors. Thank you so much for stopping in. I have one more card to share which I will be blogging shortly. Happy New Year!!!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter Rerun #26 Comfort+Joy
2. Dare2BArtzy December Challenge - Spirit of the Season
3. Christmas Cards All Year Round December Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Related
4. HIMCR #333 - Freestyle
5. Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
6. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - AG Christmas w/ opt Begins with "S" - I used Simple Design, Sequins, Snowflakes. Stamping, Sentiment Strip
7. The House that Stamps Built - D2717 Anything Goes
8. Mod Squad Challenge - Add Snow + opt. Watercolor
9. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
10. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #27
11. HeARTful Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes (Dec 31-Jan 7)

Getting Your Cat Ready for Christmas.....

Hi, Friends.....

I've seen videos like this before, but it is being passed around again and gave me a chuckle.  I would love to see videos of others trying to do this.  I can tell you it would NOT be a pretty sight with any of my cats!!!  Ha.




Mewry Christmas to all of my cat friends out there!!!

<3
Janis

Sparkly Stars - Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends.......

I am back with one final, last-minute entry into the Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge. Look at this wonderful inspiration palette that Heather gave us to work from:

I had this idea to die-cut some stars from super-sparkly glitter cardstock and put them on a blue background. I should have used something besides this DCWV glitter paper that is on a plastic backing of some sort. It is almost impossible to completely cut through when I use an intricate die. (Why don't I remember this from time to time...or at least write myself a note on the outside of the stack????? Nah...too easy!!! lol...)


So this arty look of leaving some of the pieces inside the star die cuts was not arty at all...it was necessity! I like it better like this, anyway. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :) )

I am also entering this card in the new Winnie & Walter Rerun Challenge.  Shay is featuring the beautiful W&W Comfort + Joy stamp set (also on sale right now!! Yay!!).  I don't have this set (yet!) so I am taking inspiration from Heather's lovely card with the star trio in tones of muted gray and blue.  

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - True Multifaceted Star Cutaways die set
DCWV - Glitter Cardstock
Winnie & Walter - Sketchy Thoughts stamp set
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set

Hope you enjoyed my card. Next time, different glitter cardstock!!! :) Thank you for stopping by.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge
2. Winnie & Walter Rerun #26 - Comfort + Joy
3. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
4. Uniko Challenge #44 - Christmas   
5. Word Art Wednesday #312-313 - Anything Goes
6. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #25  
7. Dare2BArtzy December Challenge - Spirit of the Season 
8. Stinkin' Inkers December Challenge - Celebrating the Holidays
9. Choux Choux Visions of Sugarplums 2017 Challenge - Christmas/Winter
10. Christmas Cards All Year Round  December Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Related
11. The House that Stamps Built  DCC 126 - Glitter
 

Blue Roses - Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends......

I am here with another watercolor card that I made for the Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge. Look at this wonderful inspiration palette that Heather gave us to work from:

I love blue roses and had not yet used my W&W - Mini Scenery: Bed of Roses stamp. I knew it would be perfect for this challenge.

I heat embossed using Stampendous - Clear Embossing Powder in Clear Bark and watercolored my roses with Distress Markers and a waterbrush. I kept this very simple and unadorned to let those roses take the spotlight. CAS is not my usual style, so this is about as clean and simple as I ever get! lol...

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - Mini Scenery: Bed of Roses stamp
Winnie & Walter - Kindness with Evelin T Designs stamp set
Distress Markers in Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, and Hickory Smoke
Versamark Ink
Stampendous - Clear Embossing Powder in Clear Bark
Mixed media paper
Core'dinations cardstock

Hope you enjoyed my card. It's been fun playing with simpler cards and some watercoloring techniques. I am a little afraid, however, that if I ignore my scrap bags very long, they will secretly multiply. When I go back to my usual layered cards there might be twice as many scraps as there were before!!  Eeek!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge
2. All Sorts Week 444 - Thank You
3. Word Art Wednesday #312-313 - Anything Goes
4. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
5. Craft Stamper December TIMI - Anythng Goes Stamping Challenge
6. Penny Black at All Sorts December Challenge - CAS

Happiest of Holidays - Winnie & Walter

Oh, my goodness.....this fat wintertime kitty looks sooooooooo much like my Ophelia (a boy cat... long story....) who gets so fat in the winter we call him Loaf-elia.  :D

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a watercolor card that I made for the Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge. Look at this wonderful inspiration palette that Heather gave us to work from:

I decided to make a very simple snowy watercolor scene using the emboss resist technique with W&W - Our Town stamp set elements and no embellishments at all. My painting skills are limited, so this was quite a daring endeavor! lol.... But I like how it turned out.

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - Our Town stamp set
Winnie & Walter - Scenery: Big Bang Confetti stamp set (for a few extra stars)
Winnie & Walter - Sketchy Thoughts stamp set (for sentiment)
Versamark Ink
Distress Ink in Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Frayed Burlap, Ground Espresso, Stormy Sky, and Faded Jeans
White Sparkle embossing powder
Mixed media paper

Hope you enjoyed my card!! Thank you for stopping by today.

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #362 - AG Christmas w/ opt. Quick and Easy
3. Choux Choux Visions of Sugarplums 2017 Challenge - Christmas/Winter
4. Word Art Wednesday #312-313 - Anything Goes
5. The Artistic Stamper December Challenge - Christmas
6. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #24
7. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
8. HeARTful Challenge #22 - Anything Goes + a Stamp
9. Craft Stamper December TIMI - Anythng Goes Stamping Challenge
10. Penny Black at All Sorts December Challenge - CAS
11. Dare2BArtzy December Challenge - Spirit of the Season
12. Stinkin' Inkers December Challenge - Celebrating the Holidays
13. Uniko Challenge #44 - Christmas  
14. Christmas Cards All Year Round  December Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Related 
15. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Icy Inspiration

 

Everyday Wonder Woman

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a card I made for a gal I know who is going through some rough things in her life. She has no idea of how awesome and how strong she really is.
 

  
This starry background is one I made a long time ago, but it didn't turn out the way I had planned so I just stashed it away for another time....like now! :) I inked the raised stars of my Darice - Assorted Stars embossing folder with Distress Ink pads and then dry embossed as usual with a sheet from my DCWV Woven Stack. Since my raised stars were inked, I used the de-bossed side for my background. To make it even more sparkly, I die-cut additional stars from the DCWV glitter cardstock.

Supplies used include:
Unity sentiment stamp
Versafine ink in Deep Lagoon
Gelly Roll pen to color the little star on the sentiment panel
Darice - Assorted Stars embossing folder
DCWV Woven Stack
Winnie & Walter - Big Bang Confetti Cutaways die set (stars)
DCWV glitter cardstock
Baker's twine from stash

Thank you for stopping by!! I hope you enjoyed seeing this card.

<3
Janis
 
Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Star Light, Star Bright
2. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #24
3. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
4. Craft Stamper December TIMI - Anything Goes Stamping Challenge
5. HeARTful Challenge #22 - Anything Goes + a Stamp

From All of Us + Easy Masking Technique - Winnie & Walter

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a fun card that I made for the Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge. Look at this wonderful inspiration palette that Heather gave us to work from:

I recently saw a wonderful card duo on Instagram by Catherine Gray that I wanted to try with my W&W So Tweet birdies. My card required a lot of masking, but I have a quick tip on an easy way to mask when you have the matching dies for a stamp set. I will share it with you below. I stamped and watercolored my birdies on mixed media paper and die-cut lots of little stars from glitter cardstock to add sparkle to my tree. I love how my card turned out!

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - LS Exclusives: So Tweet with Evelin T Designs stamp set (for birds)
Winnie & Walter - LS Exclusives: So Tweet with Evelin T Designs die set (for making masks)
Distress Markers - Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain
Distress Ink - Hickory Smoke and Stormy Sky
Winnie & Walter - Big Hugs with Evelin T Designs stamp set (for sentiment)
Versafine ink in Majestic Blue
Winnie & Walter - In Bloom: Hollie's Festive Florals stamp set (for pine branches)
Winnie & Walter - Big Bang Confetti Cutaways die set (for stars)
Scraps of DCWV silver glitter cardstock
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set (for scalloped background)
Core'dinations Cardstock in Navy Blue

Can you spot the sleeping kitty in the background?  That's my Jetta.  <3

EASY MASKING TECHNIQUE - (FOR WHEN YOU HAVE THE MATCHING DIES FOR A STAMP SET.) 
When I first receive the matching dies for a stamp set...before I separate the individual pieces....I use the entire die framework to die cut a piece of plastic.  (I am using old developed x-ray film, but that's cuz I am married to a vet!  You can use make-your-own-stencil material or whatever you have on hand.)  Now I have ready-made masks either for the background or for the images.  Since this particular set had little dies nested inside the birdies (hearts, etc) there are perfect little holes for washi to stick through and secure the mask to my paper while I stamp around them.  Since the masks are a tiny bit larger than my stamped images, I just move them slightly to line up with the outline of my image on the side where I am working.  When I want to work on the other side, I lift the mask and line it up with that side.  Easy peasy.  These masks last and last....and since they are transparent I can easily see where I want to place them. 

Hope you enjoyed my card. Thank you so much for your sweet comments!!! I hope you have a lovely day!

<3
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter November Color Combo Challenge
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #362 - AG Christmas w/ opt. Quick and Easy
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Star Light, Star Bright 
4. Die-Cut Divas - Winter Time
5. The Artistic Stamper December Challenge - Christmas
6. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #24
7. DL.ART December Linky Party - Anything Goes
8. Uniko Challenge #44 - Christmas  
9. Choux Choux Visions of Sugarplums 2017 Challenge - Christmas/Winter
10. Christmas Cards All Year Round  December Challenge - Anything Goes Holiday Related