Thank You Tons -- Lawn Fawn

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Please help me identify these stamps.  Click here.

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Hi, Friends......

Today is spring-like here in Idaho.  The birds are singing and the sun is shining, for the moment.  I want to share a super-fun thank you card I made using Lawn Fawn's Love You Tons stamps.  I won these adorable stamps from MarkerPOP.  (THANKS, Lawn Fawn and MarkerPOP!!!)  As you see I changed out the sentiment a bit.  I did stamp surgery on the "Love you tons" which was all in one line by cutting the Love you part off.  That way I could stack it to make it say "Thank you tons" with Lil' Inker's Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments.  I think the fonts look great together, don't you?  And...it emphasizes the "tons" humor, too.  :)

These little elephants are totally adorable as is, but I wanted to amp up the cuteness factor by piecing them with some whimsical paper.  I used some from K & Co.  I stamped them in black and then fussy cut them out.

For the heart wand that the sweet fellow in the lower left is holding in his darling little trunk, I used the exclamation point stamp in the set for the stick and also the little heart stamp....stamped in black and heat-embossed.  I drew in the little bow ends with a black Sakuro Glaze gel pen.  (Yes....I actually did something free-hand...eeek!! That pretty much approaches the upper limit of my free-hand abilities.  Ha.)  I think the wand turned out just super-cute.

I did some faux-stitching around the heart with Sakuro Gelly Roll Moonlight gel pen.  I added a sheer ribbon bow and mounted it all on a black card.  The pink and white cardstock are DCWV.  The black is Core'dinations.



Hope you think this is cute, too!  I would LOVE for you to comment on this card......and I would LOVE for you to become a follower using the app on the sidebar.

Don't forget to let me know what your pets are doing lately.  I love to talk about our sweet fur-kids.  :)

Have a lovely week!!

<3
Janis

NOTE TO MY LOCAL CRAFT LADIES:
Tomorrow Apr.1 we have our monthly meeting.  Making Easter cards.  See ya at 1 pm at the church!!


I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Pumpkin Spice -- Challenge #65 Elephants or Gray and Pink
2.  CAS on Sunday -- Challenge # 30 Stitched Faux or Real
3.  Inky Impressions -- IIC #152 - Humor
4.  Cuttin and Stampin --Weekly Challenge 14-12  Paper Piecing

THANK YOU TO ALL BLOGGERS -- You Made my Day Brighter

Hi, Friends,

I know I take a lot of space acknowledging the bloggers and companies from whom I have won prizes.  That is, actually, one of the reasons I even started this blog!!  I love visiting scores and scores of blogs for the incredible ideas, tips, techniques, and inspiration I get.  (Don't even go look at my profile to see how many I follow...Holy Cowness!!  I told you not to look!!!....and there are others that I follow by email that aren't on that list...and others that I visit regularly that are on my calendar function that aren't on either of those!)

Papercrafting blogs are amazingly beautiful places and have opened up new vistas of card-making for me that I never knew existed!  But today I want to express my appreciation, in particular, for each of them and their amazing generosity in offering prize giveaways.  This has made it possible for me to get into papercrafting in much more serious way.  And, of course, all this has made me very aware of other products that I absolutely-can't-live-without-NEED!!  Ha.

This card of thanks is especially for each of you bloggers and companies who are so kind to offer prizes and giveaways....some that I have won, and others that have been enjoyed by other crafters:

 You really have made my day brighter!!!   

Today I am sharing a card that I made with a Winnie & Walter set called Scenery:  Big Bang Confetti,  I won this from Jennifer McGuire's blog.  THANKS, W&W and Jennifer!!!   (You must go check out Winnie & Walter.  What a fun company!!)

I also used on this card some of the incredibly lovely iridescent sequins I won from Mariana Grigsby's blog.  Oh, my goodness, they are delicious!  THANKS, Mariana!!!

The sentiment is from Lil' Inker Rainbows & Clouds Sentiments.  I won this set from Amy Kolling's blog  last year and I think I've used this set more than any other that I own.  I love the font and these mix and match sentiments are perfect for many of the cards I make.  THANKS, Amy and Lil' Inker!!


Okay, down to business........
I got a big JoAnn's order on Friday, so I have a bunch of new toys that I am playing with......and new-to-me techniques that I am trying out:

1.  Toy #1:  Hampton Art Ala Mode Pastel Embossing Powders.  I really wanted these to make chalkboard effect cards.  But when I saw the lovely spring colors, I knew I wanted to try an ombre effect with them using the W&W stamps I had just received.  I stamped the diamond background stamp all over the watercolor paper and sprinkled the pastel shades, one at a time, in sweeps across the card before zapping with the heat gun.  LOVE how this turned out!!!  I used pink, orange, and yellow, but in the photo you can't tell any of it is orange.  Oh, well...

2.  Toy #2:  Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool.  I had long admired all the lovely cards made by crafters using this blending tool, but had no idea how much difference it would make over my makeshift cosmetic sponges!  LOL!!!!  I am such a loon.  This IS the right tool for the job!  It was so much fun using it with the Broken China Distress Ink on the background.  Loved how the pastel diamonds just started popping out when I inked around them!!!  FUN!  I used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on the sentiment panel and LOVE the gradient effect the blending tool made!!!

Another toy I bought and used for this card was my new paper trimmer.  Heretofore, I have done ALL my paper cutting with a utility knife and my metal ruler for a straight-edge on a self-healing mat.  It actually works wonderfully well and is cheap.  But I thought I would splurge for this on-sale trimmer.  I like it so far, although it seems to slightly turn the cut edge down or up...not sure which, yet....prob down.  But it is very fast compared to my previous method.  LOVE that!!  :)

Another new-to-me technique is water splattering.  Always before, I thought the idea was NOT to splatter water (or tea or coffee) on my projects.....and here I was doing it on purpose!!!  Ha.  I tried this same card on some slightly textured cardstock and it did not have the look I was wanting, so I tried it again on the watercolor paper.  That was the trick!!  When I splattered it with water, the lovely Distress Ink did its magic and made the sweet little spots that I think add interest to this background. 

My goodness, I am a wordy old thing!!!  Such a simple card and I talk and talk and talk.  lol....

I would love for you to talk to me, too.  Please leave a comment below.  I would love to hear what you think of my first attempt at some of these new techniques and using my new toys.   

Tell me what your pets are doing now that spring is on its way!

Make me shut up and smile by joining on the side panel and becoming a follower!  Actually, that might only have one of the desired effects!  :)  :)  :)

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Winnie & Walter Join in to Win
2.  Speedy Fox and Friends Challenge Week 204

Inspiration photo for Speedy Fox and Friends #204

3. A Creative Need -  March Challenge #17 -  Blue, Yellow, and Pink

Inspiration photo for A Creative Need #17

4.  Inkspirational Challenge #52 - Photo Challenge






 

Aren't these just the most sensational inspiration photos??????  Love 'em!!!


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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
Our sweet little Jetta cat came back home today.  Ever since we moved to our new house 2-1/2 yrs ago (is that right???), two of our kitties have migrated back and forth over the pastureland between the old house and here.  It isn't very far, really, but it is over coyote land and I really wish they would stay here.  Bonzi is getting up there in years and tends to stay here more and more (whew!) but Jetta still goes back and forth way too much.  I always breathe a relieved and grateful sigh when I see her here where she belongs.  As the weather warms up, we probably will see less and less of Jet-Girl and Bonzi, as they decide they can live off the land for the warm months.  Stay home, kitties, where it is safe!!!
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Runway Inspired Challenge #55

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Sunday (Mar. 9) is the last chance to enter my GIVEAWAY!!!  For extra entries, please comment on any or all posts from this past week, including this one!
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Hello, Everyone.....

I hope you remembered to change your clocks.....spring them forward an hour.  (I know that not every place observes Daylight Savings Time, but we do in Idaho and I love it!!)  I thought before I did that spring chore, I would post my interpretation of this elegant challenge.  Are you familiar with the Runway Inspired Challenge blog?  I have seen many amazing interpretations by craft bloggers of the RIC fashion models and marveled at their beauty and creativity.

When I saw this particular one, I knew I wanted to give it a try, also!

So here is my interpretation of this elegant and shimmery photo:

This card went together quickly (for me!) because I used a pre-made glittery card from DCWV Solid Glitter Box of Cards. I pick these up when I see them on clearance at JoAnn's or DCWV Deals.  I especially like the glitter ones or the solids.....so I keep my eyes open for them. 

I also used a David Tutera Celebrate Metallic Silver Starburst from a package I got on clearance at JoAnn's.  (Do I like clearance craft items?  Oh, yes, I sure do!)  Amazingly, Joann.com still has them in stock---unfortunately, not on clearance---but I got them at my "local" (2 hrs away) JoAnn store. 

I was trying for a shimmery pastel pink with the silver and glittery black colors, but my pale pink star sequins don't show too well.  And, actually, my shiny silver starburst doesn't look very silvery, either.  I still have a lot to learn on photography!!  

I heat-embossed my "Thanks" with silver embossing powder on DCWV black cardstock and mounted it on some pastel pink printed cardstock, also from DCWV.  I adhered this to the card front with 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives.  I topped it off with a delicious bow with ribbon I won in a prize.  I am sure it must be May Arts because it is decadently rich and lovely to work with.

Thanks for visiting my blog and for your wonderful comments.   I have been very delighted that a number of new people have come to look around and enter my giveaway.  Thank you so much.  Remember that you can still get an extra entry into my giveaway by commenting on this post.

And.................


I have this humongous smile on my face because some of you have decided to be followers!!!  Thank you!!!
:)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget to "Spring Forward" by changing your clock an hour ahead, if it applies to you. You probably better not try it if your area doesn't do it!  Ha.  It's also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms, whether or not you do DST. 

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Runway Inspired Challenge #55
2.  Stampin' for the Weekend -- Sparkle and Shine
3.  Brown Sugar -- Make it Sparkle


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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

I subscribe by email to the Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. A couple of days ago, the day's word was:

froward --  habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition.  

I was pretty sure I already knew what it meant and also pretty sure I could find a place for it in my cat updates!

Interestingly, M-W used a quote from the Lewiston Morning Tribune (a newspaper from a neighboring town here) to illustrate the usage of froward.  It was talking about grackles (birds), but it sure seemed applicable to young half-grown cats:

"By the end of the trip I was happy to be rid of them—pushy, froward little party-crashing beasts that make rude, high-pitched squeals and constantly invite themselves to dinner, filching from unattended plates."

If you've ever had a litter of half-grown kittens, you probably know exactly what I am talking about!

Our sweet little Night-Sky kitty, Andromeda.

At 2 years of age, Andromeda is virtually full-grown, but she is froward, nonetheless.  Early this morning, everyone in the house heard a clatter from the kitchen.  (It is significant, I suppose, that none of us bothered to get up to investigate....lol...)  It was later discovered that Andromeda had opened up the tea cupboard door and dislodged a tin of Raspberry Earl Grey tea, sending it clattering onto the countertop below.   Fortunately, the noise seems to have startled her out of doing any additional mischief, since all seemed to be in order and she was asleep when I finally did get up.  Naughty little kitty!  :)

What noises and bumps in the night signal that your pets are up to no good???
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Cute as a Button Vintage Tea Cup Thank You Card

Looking for my GIVEAWAY????  Comment on any or all my posts this week!
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Hi, all.....

I am still making Thank You cards for all the lovely things I received for my birthday.  When I saw that Buttons (and Bows) was the theme for a few challenges, I thought they would be sweet things to put on this card.

The ribbon across the top is layered with a celtic knot patterned trim I found at a thrift store.  I glued that over the top of the pink.  I like how the silver edges of the pink ribbon peek out.

The white panel with the teacups is re-purposed from the flap of a decorative envelope that held a note I received from a friend (I told you I would use this, Christy!!).  It was too pretty to get rid of.  Don't you agree????

I put Glossy Accents on the teacups to make them gleam.  I took this shot at an angle so you could see it better.  The GA also makes them a slight bit dimensional, which I like.

Can you see the little teapot-shaped tea ball near the second cup on the right?  I colored over that with a Sparkle Gelly Roll pen to make it shimmer.

All in all, I really think this turned out nice.  Of course, it is *another* pink card!!  I just can't stay away from them for very long!  :)

Thanks for stopping in to see my blog.  I really appreciate all the comments.  Remember each comment on a post from this week is an entry in my giveaway!!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  BMC Get Inky Challenge --  Buttons, Buttons, Everywhere
2.  Alphabet Challenge Blog -- B for Buttons and Bows
3.  House of Cards -- March Challenge #1 Add a Button in the Vintage/Shabby class.

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

I'm amazed I was able to get these last two cards photographed.  Right in the middle of my photo session on this stormy night, Othello came inside with the muddiest paws ever!!  He was so affectionate that I just knew he would jump up on the table where I had my newly-completed cards and put HIS "finishing touches" on the masterpieces, if you know what I mean!!!  Arggggghhh.....they would have been finished, all right!!!  He finally was sequestered in my son's room until I was done.  No mishaps....this time!

What have your pets put their muddy paws on lately???
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Gratitude Seeds - Inspired By Stamping

Hello, March....and hello to each you, too!!

*****Quick note:  Don't forget to check in here for my GIVEAWAY!!!*****

I have tons of Thank You notes to write for all the amazing and thoughtful Birthday greetings and gifts I received this week.  So I thought I would start out with this card made from the Garden Seed Packets stamp set that I won from Inspired by Stamping.  Don't you just love the vintage flower seed packet look????  I sure do.  THANK YOU, IBS!!!  Hey, it even goes along with their challenge!  Yay!!  One of these times, I am going to make something besides pink cards....but I just love crafting with pink!!

Here's how I made it:
1.  Stamp the seed packet envelope image on the printed cardstock and heat emboss.  I used black pigment ink and Clear Bark embossing powder to make the outlines a dark brownish black, instead of a harsh black color.  Do the same thing on the pink background.  Distress and ink the edges of the pink cardstock.
2.  Next fussy cut around the outside of the image on the printed piece and also cut out the window along the inner lines of the oval.  I used a small craft knife to accomplish this and inked all the inner and outer edges with ink from my Walnut Stain Distress Ink Pad.
3.  Next stamp the rose image on ivory cardstock and heat emboss.  I used Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and Clear Bark embossing powder to give the outline an even softer look than I had for the seed packet image.
4.  Next watercolor the rose image.  I used Gelatos in Metallic Melon, Tangerine, and Lemon by scribbling a bit in my palette and dipping my brush in water to make a wash of the right intensity.  Fussy cut after the image is dry and ink the edges to define the outline.

In the close up below, you might be able to see the metallic sheen on the shaded portions of the image.  It reminds me of real rose petals that have almost a sheen or iridescence to them when the sun hits them just right.  Remember you can get an even closer look by clicking on the image....and really zoom in by selecting View Image.



5.  Then adhere a sheet of vellum over the pink cardstock, keeping well within the boundaries of the outlines.
6.  Cut and arrange the leaves.  I used May Arts Leaves Ribbon.  Let some of the leaves overlap the oval.
7.  Adhere the rose image over the leaves.
8.  Stamp and heat emboss the banner and Gratitude Seeds label.  I used black pigment ink and Clear Bark embossing powder.  Then trimmed with a small margin around the banner outline.  Then I adhered the banner with 3D Foam Squares (which I cut in half to fit my banner) for dimension.
9.  Top it off with an ivory bow and mount the card front onto an ivory card base.  Voila!!

Thanks sooooo much for stopping by my blog.  I appreciate each and every one of you!!  I especially LOVE comments!!  One friend told me that she was unable to leave a comment.  Has that happened to anyone else????  Use the form on the side to email me and let me know if your comments aren't working.  I don't know if I can fix anything, but it will be helpful for me to know.  

Blessings to you all!

<3
Janis

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
1.  Inspired By Stamping--Monthly Challenge "Flowers"
2.  Inspired By Stamping--March Customer Gallery Contest
3.  Red Rubber Inspirationals--#109 "Heartfelt Thanks"
4.  Sweet Stamps--Challenge #158 "Favorite Color(s)"

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:
My, oh my, were the cats active this morning when I was trying to get my card photographed.....climbing and jumping on everything.....even on the table where I had my card lying!!  Othello takes a gigantic leap up into the loft from the top of the refrigerator (where he is not supposed to be) and shakes the entire house when he jumps back down.  Andromeda and Whiskers were chasing each other around...mostly A chasing W, and W hissing.  The two rival old lady cats:  Chaienne and Aliyah were too dignified (read: lazy) to engage in the fray.    When they are holding still enough, I will try to get photos of them posted so you can see who they are.

What naughty things are your pets up to?
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Hooray!! It's my Birthday!!!

Hello, Everyone....

Today is my birthday!!!!  Welcome to my Birthday Party!  I don't have a giveaway.....yet.  But I do have a manufacturer who has already offered to sponsor a giveaway on my new blog.  How exciting!!  Right?  Keep an eye on my blog for details about that next week.  :)

In the meantime, I want to give a great big THANK YOU to my Bible study ladies who had a birthday party for me and another BD gal on Tuesday.  There were pretty decorated party plates and a homemade super-yummy German chocolate cake with that incredibly delicious homemade gooey coconut icing.  (Swoon!!!)  That's my absolute favorite kind of cake!!!  (Kathy, you are amazing!!)  There was yummy Tillamook Vanilla Bean ice cream (Sharon, you didn't even know this for you, too!!  hehehee) and toasted almond slivers and Almond Joy M&Ms to go with it....or by themselves....I had them both ways!  Ha! 


Look what they gave me!!!!! 

Such lovely cards (one with chickens....I LOVE my sweet chickens!!!), the most colorful and festive fish candy dish WITH chocolate Easter eggs to go with it (YUM!), some lovely notepads---one magnetic with Thomas Kinkade paintings (so gorgeous!) and one spiral that is reversible (blank unlined pages and so you can use it from the front or from the back....The back has a BD confetti pattern on the cover!), and the most adorable and pretty clips I think I have ever seen, some of the most delectable homemade and home-canned jam from home-grown raspberries (scrumptious!!!), and a super-cute coffee or tea mug with its own coaster or cover (lovely colors and flower on this set!!).  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

You each will be receiving your own personal thank you card from me, but here is a sparkly THANK YOU for the whole group to tell you each how much I love and appreciate you!!!  You bring so much happiness and sparkle into my life.  Thank you for the lovely party and for the super-sweet gifts and thoughts.  You ladies are the best!!

Thank you to everyone far and wide for visiting my blog.  I have had visitors clear from Australia and Ireland and Poland (and several other European countries) as well as the U.S. and Canada.  I am so thrilled. Your comments really mean a lot to me!!!

Have a lovely day!  And don't forget the giveaway that I will be posting next week!!

<3
Janis


Note to my community Ladies Craft Group:

Next meeting is Tuesday, March 4, 1 pm at the church.  I am hoping Sharon will be sharin'....(little pun there!) about making paper flowers.  See you all there!!!

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CAT STATUS UPDATE:

This morning I really wanted to sleep longer.......being my birthday and all!....but I kept hearing Andromeda (how did I know it was you, little girl?) opening the bottom kitchen cupboard doors.  (scratch, bang.....scratch, bang....)  I think she does this when she is bored and wants me to get up.  She usually doesn't manage to get them open enough to get inside, but she tries.  She also had pried open both doors of the DVD cabinet.  Persistent little creature....but sweet.  :)

What do your cats do to get you out of bed?????
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BIG THANKS

Hello to each of you!!  This afternoon I am posting a card I sent to Sabrina Alery thanking her for the super-duper box of stash prizes she sent me a while back.  If you haven't visited her blog:  The Honor Roll, you really should stop by.  She has wonderful projects and tips. 

I wanted to make a thank you card using items she had sent me.  As you see, my photography is quite poor here, but I hope you get the idea!

I absolutely loved this paper she included and built the card around it.  I hardly ever use big alphas, but I made the plunge and used these luscious velvety flocked chocolate letters for the greeting.  So glad I did.  It's good for me to stretch and jump out of my cat bed sometimes!!  I used these yummy Prima flowers she sent me, also. 

All in all, this is a very different style for me and I was surprised at how much I liked it.

Thank you, again, Sabrina!!

<3
Janis






CAT STATUS UPDATE:
What are the cats doing right now???

Everyone seems to be dozing peacefully.  Whew!  This morning I came into the kitchen to find the drawer holding the plastic wrap and foil etc. pried open about 8 inches.  Fortunately, nothing seemed to be torn up.  Andromeda was probably the culprit!