For a Very Special Person: Di Wray

A dog poster in honor of Di's sweet pup, Dudley.  ❤

Hi, Friends......

I am here with a pretty card to honor a wonderful lady: Di Wray. As many of you already know, Di is the wonderfully entertaining hostess over at Pixie's Snippets Playground where she recently celebrated 7 years of Playground Fun as she encourages us to use the snippets in our stash. 

The Playground is one of my favorite challenges because I have a ton of scraps (or snippets, as they are more charmingly known in the UK) and I love finding ways to use them. Di showcases a fabulous prize each fortnight with a beautiful card of her own making. Most of these prizes are generously provided by Di, herself, and posted all over the world. WOW! I have been on the receiving end of a number of these sweet gifts.....and some of them are among my most used stamps and dies!

Our dear blogging friend, Darnell, at djkardkreations masterminded a Thank You, Di, Blog Hop to honor and thank Di for all her kindness and generosity.
(I'm not quite sure where or whether to put commas in the "Thank You, Di, Blog Hop". Just between you and me, I don't think Darnell knows, either. Her blog post is titled: "Thank You DI Blog Hop". I always thought "DI" stood for Disability Insurance....which I might need if I try to do much actual HOPPING!! Hey, at my age...I might be nearly as thankful for some DI as I am for dear Di!!!)

So this card is for you, Di..........with my love and thanks for all your time, generosity, and the tons of fun over at the Playground! ❤❤❤

Supplies used include:
Winnie & Walter - Sentimental: Gift stamp set
Versamark Ink
WOW! Embossing Powder - Opaque Bright White Regular
Winnie & Walter - True Dotty Heart Cutaways die set
Scraps of DCWV patterned cardstock
Scraps of Core'dinations cardstock in pink and kraft
Dollar Store Butterflies
Prima - Gold Doilies
Recollections Washi Tape
Neat & Tangled - Mint Satin Sequins (retired)

Hope Di likes my card and I hope YOU will check out all the other tributes to the lovely Di Wray over at Darnell's Hop. Come join us at the Playground, too!! This fortnight's challenge is up for you to play with your snippets. You will love Di's tales of Dudley, Parsnip, the backyard hedgies, the neighbor kids, and Len.

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Thank You, Di, Blog Hop
2. Butterfly Challenge #116 - Butterfly + K is for.... (I used Kraft cardstock, Kelly green, and Kobi...a pale pink magenta color.)
3. Pixie's Snippets Playground Challenge #345
4.. Power Poppy - Creative Confetti Challenge - All You Need is Love 
5. Dare2BArtzy February Challenge - LOVE  
6. Die Cut Divas February Challenge - Love is in the Air
7. WordArt Wednesday Weeks #372-373 - AG
8. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper February Challenge
9. Papercraft Challenge #15 - AG opt Valentine or Love 
10. Card Mania Challenge #CMC113 - Love is in the Air
11. DL.ART February Linky Challenge - AG
12. Double Trouble Challenge #21 - Flowers + Butterflies 
13. Lost Coast Challenge #69 - Love and Hearts
14. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Dies/Punches or Hearts
15. CARDZ-TV Anything Goes Challenge #82  
16. MFT Sketch Challenge #422

Pet Sympathy Card - Graphic 45

Hi, Friends.......

I am here with a vintage-style pet sympathy card for neighbors of ours, an elderly couple, who recently lost their dog. It's always sad to lose a beloved pet, as we all know. I hope a card will help this couple know that we feel their sadness along with them.

I used the Graphic 45 Raining Cats and Dogs collection and teamed it up with some stamping. The front sentiment panel is from an ancient foam-mount stamp set my son found for me at a thrift store. There was no label on it, but it looks similar to old sets from All Night Media or Rubber Stampede. Thus far, I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to track this particular kit down online for a name and mfr.  If you know who made this, let me know!  Thanks.

Here's the inside.........................

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 - Raining Cats and Dogs Collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set
Paper Smooches - Feline Friends stamp set
Ancient foam-mount Dog stamp set (mfr unkn)
Versafine Ink in Onyx Black
Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Soft Vanilla
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
Scraps of Core'dinations cardstock
Bit of ribbon from stash

Maybe seeing my card today has inspired you to make a few pet sympathy cards to have on hand. I know when I have lost a dear old kitty, the pet sympathy cards I have received have meant a lot. I should make a few extra to have in my ready-to-use stack, myself!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Allsorts #504 - Friends 
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
3. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air
4. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
5. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I was inspired by how the good memories of our dearly departed pets can make you feel like they are still with you.)
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge #68 - Silhouettes
9. Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #424 - Anything Goes
10. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I was inspired by how much strength and courage pets can give us in difficult times.)

Fun with Pinkfresh Acetates #3 - CAPTURE

Hi, Friends.......

I am back with my last of the three cards I made with my Pink Fresh Acetate pieces and a leftover bubble wrap background. Here are cards #1 and #2, in case you missed them.

We are back to pink and this one carries a heartfelt sentiment that shows that truly loving and caring for someone means that you can accept the unique ways they were created.....even with their quirks and weirdnesses.....without missing the amazing parts of them. We all have our faults and weaknesses......being human, and all!!! True friends acknowledge those shortcomings while still managing to bring out the best in each other. "Let us spur one another toward love and good deeds." (from Hebrews 10:24)

Supplies used include:
Pinkfresh Studio - Life Noted Acetate Die Cut Words (retired)
Pinkfresh Studio - The Mix No. 1 Acetate Tags (retired)
Background: Photo paper + Distress Inks
Rhinestone hearts from my stash
Darice cardstock for card base
Tombow - Mono Aqua Liquid Glue for attaching those transparent acetates!

Hope you enjoyed this mini-series of cards made with the fun Pinkfresh products!! Have a lovely day. You are amazing!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Pinkfresh Studio - January 2019 Challenge - I used Distress Inks in a few of the bright saturated colors from the July 2018 Mood Board , and was inspired by the Watercolor part of the challenge.
2. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart 
3. Allsorts #504 - Friends
4. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday January Challenge - Sparkle and Shine (I added pink rhinestones for sparkle.)
5. DL.ART January Linky
6. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air
7. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I did all three things: #1 My sentiment is about acceptance and my background is light and airy. #3 I added pink rhinestones for sparkle. #2 I linked up to The Paper Girls challenge.)
8. The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle and Shine
(I added pink rhinestones for sparkle.)
9. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
10. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I was inspired by the idea of being strengthened by your friends from this quote.) 

Guest Designer for Christmas Kickstart Challenge

Hi, Friends.......

I am so honored today to be a Guest Elf over at Dottie Jo's Christmas Kickstart Challenge #3. Jo asked me a few weeks ago to be her guest for the theme of "Festive Felines". How could I resist??? 🐈

One of the sweetest stamps in my entire collection is this long-retired one called "For Santa" from All Night Media. I don't even remember now where I got this one, but I have had it for decades....and I do not get it out nearly often enough! (One thing I like to do as a personal challenge with Jo's Christmas Kickstart themes is to use neglected stamps in my collection that get don't get much ink. So this was the natural choice for this fab theme!)

I went with soft baby colors and tattered edges for a shabby rag-quilt look. I really love how cozy this sweet kitty looks.

Did you notice the sweet mousey slippers under the bed?  Awwww.....

Supplies used include:
All Night Media - For Santa (retired)
Versafine Ink in Smokey Gray
Distress Markers used with a waterbrush to watercolor
Distress Ink in Walnut Stain
Echo Park - Winter Wishes collection
Kraft Core'dinations card stock
Snowflakes, twine, and heart button from stash

Hope you enjoyed my card.  Please join in the fun over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge.  You have a full two weeks to play. Thank you, Jo, for inviting me to be your guest!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for AG Christmas 
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. Dare2BArtzy January Challenge - Favorite Season (Isn't Christmas everyone's fave season???)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Christmas Crafts All Year Round January Challenge - Let it Snow
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Craft Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #422 - AG Christmas
9. Card Mania Challenge #112 - Baby, It's Cold Outside! 
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time
11. SUYP Challenge #38 - Furrything Goes/Meuw Year

My Friend......You Make my Heart Happy

Friends FUR-ever

Hi, Friends......

Our family has been going through some challenges lately, but through it all we have been on the receiving end of some very thoughtful gestures from friends which have encouraged us greatly. 

I wanted to make a sunny thank you to send to one friend in particular. I have been attracted to yellow lately....kind of odd because it is not my usual color and certainly not my favorite. I must be ready for spring!!! :) When I saw that Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge this fortnight had yellow and blue in it.....I knew I wanted to try do all 7 of the elements for this card.

Here is her Butterfly Wheel showing the 7 elements (which includes the requisite butterfly/ies as one of the seven):
 
The Letter Y is the unifying theme. Now tell me....have YEW ever heard of the color YEW???? I had not. I had heard of Yew trees.....although I couldn't remember what they looked like! (Don't tell my old Plant Taxonomy professor!) But a quick look at Wiki told me it was a brown/tan color which I interpreted as kraft for my card.

I have never attempted all 7 parts of the Butterfly Challenge before because I can't figure out how to make them look cohesive. I perused my butterfly box, though, and found the perfect patterned paper....from K&Co. It had all three colors in it. I was good to go from there. I used yarn and a sentiment from a new stamp set containing the word "you". Patterned paper is my "your choice" for this card. VICTORY!!!! ALL SEVEN ELEMENTS for the FIRST TIME!!!! YAY!!!!  (Maybe YAY should be my Your Choice item! lol...)  Can you tell that I am excited?  :)

Supplies used include:
Stampendous - Laurel Burch Fish Wishes stamp set
Versafine ink in Sepia Brown
K&Co. patterned paper
Studio Katia - Clear Round Drops Mix
Core'dinations cardstock
Yarn from stash

Hope you like my sunny card. I am soooooooooo ready for spring so I can get out and play in my garden....which is currently covered in snow. I look at it longingly when I am out taking care of my chickens. What are you looking forward to this spring? Thank you for stopping by!!!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Butterfly Challenge - Y is for.....  I DID ALL SEVEN THINGS!! YAY!!!
2. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
3. Allsorts #504 - Friends
4. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday January Challenge - Sparkle and Shine  (I added clear dew drops for shine.) 
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Dare2BArtzy January Challenge - Favorite Season
(I am soooooooooooo ready for SPRING!!!)
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Simon Says Says Work-It Wednesday - Something New (I used a new stamp set.)
9. Double Trouble Challenge #20 Love, Peace, and Kindness is in the Air (I did all three things: #1 My sentiment is about kindness and I have a butterfly in the air. #3 I added clear dew drops for shine, #2 I linked up to The Paper Girls challenge.)
10. The Paper Girls Challenge #168 - Sparkle and Shine (I added clear dew drops for shine.)
11. TCP Tuesday Challenge #353 - Love
12. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart (I have heart in my sentiment.) 
13. Time Out Challenge #127 - Inspired by Words (I chose the support of friends in this quote which makes my heart happy!)

 

Graphic 45 - Portrait of a Lady

This antique painting is called "Little Vandals".  Not much has changed!!  lol.... 

Hi, Friends......

I am back with another vintage card to share. This time I used my Graphic 45 "Portrait of a Lady" collection. I don't have the complete collection, but I have the background prints and some chippies. Fortunately, I have a lovely bunch of unlabeled vintage lady stamps I found at our local thrift store some time back....which work great with this collection!

I stamped and heat embossed the lady and then masked her so I could stamp and sponge the background. You can't see the subtle stamping but it adds depth. Then I removed the mask and sponged her skin, dress, and hair. It was kind of a new technique for me to do all of that with sponges. I love how it turned out, though!

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 "Portrait of a Lady" collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Unlabeled vintage lady stamp
Versafine ink in Olympia Green
Clear embossing powder
Bunches of vintage looking stamps from my stash that you can't see in the background of the image focal panel. lol...
Distress Inks for sponging in Tattered Rose, Shabby Shutters, Antique Linen, and Walnut Stain
Lace and ribbon from stash

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed my card.  I appreciate all your sweet comments and also the kind words concerning my son's health that I mentioned briefly in my last post.  Many thanks!

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. The Artistic Stamper January Challenge - Anything Goes
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. DL.ART January Linky
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Simon Says Says Work-It Wednesday - Something New (I tried a new sponging technique)
9. Cupcake Inspirations Challenge CIC462 - Pink and White (I took some liberties using rose and ivory.)
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time

Telephones? Meh...Who Would Use One?

Hi, Friends.....

I am here with a fun masculine birthday card for my adult son.....who loathes talking on the phone!! lol..

A little back story on this card. His birthday isn't until May....but this is LAST year's BD card!!! EEEK! Yep, that's right...... I never made him a card last May. I am such a Bad Mom!!! Who would even think that a grown son would admire his mom's cards so much that he would actually MISS getting one??? And then bring it up months later that he was disappointed that he never got one in May.....but even a late one would be fine!!

That young man is enough to make this mom's heart just burst with love!!! This is the son (I only have one) that also finds fab rubber stamps for me at thrift stores and surprises me with them. What a treasure he is!!! ❤❤❤

Well, I love me a little Graphic 45 and the vintage images in this Communique collection are just right for masculine cards. How perfect to find this little quote about telephones on one of the sheets!!! I heat embossed a telephone image from Unity onto a scrap of decades-old manila file folder that I couldn't bear to throw away!! Ha.

Here's the inside. I used the oft-neglected letter stickers from the collection for the sentiment. Yay!! I need to use these more often!!

Supplies used include:
Graphic 45 Communique collection
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Telephone, vintage image from Call Me....I'll Laugh at You
Versafine ink in Onyx Black
Clear embossing powder
Distress Ink in Black Soot for edges of panels
Scrap of a very old manilla file folder
Core'dinations black cardstock

My son is experiencing some health issues right now and I hope this card will cheer him up. Your prayers are appreciated!

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you like my card. I think my son will love it. I hope it inspires you to stop hoarding your Graphic 45 and USE it....so you can buy more!! :)

❤
Janis

Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Allsorts Week #503 - Make it Masculine
2. The House that Stamps Built J2319 - Anything Goes
3. Joy Clair December/January Challenge - AG
4. Crop Stop Link Party #47 (I used a Neutral Color Scheme + Ranger Distress Inks and Core'dinations cardstock)
5. Word Art Wednesday - Weeks #370-371 - AG
6. Graphic 45 January Challenge #G45Stamp - Graphic 45 plus Stamping
7. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper - January Challenge
8. Crafter's Castle Challenge #13 - AG
9. Power Poppy Creative Confetti Challenge - Old or New?
 (I went with old....last year's BD and vintage style!  Please don't tell me it is already 2019!!!  lol...)
10. Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time