A Variety of Techniques

I join a lot of card swaps! It's not unusual for me to be in 15 or 20 each month. But I seldom take three spots in the same swap. However, that's exactly what I did for Sheena's Favorite Technique Swap.

Why would I do that? Well, partially because Sheena tempted me with a prize - she knows how much I love winning prizes!!! But mostly, I did it because I wanted to stretch myself to try some new things.

I created a pocket card, a hinge card, and a glitter window card. The only one of these techniques that I had ever done before was the pocket card.

I had a lot of fun making these cards. The techniques were fun, and not nearly as difficult as I thought they would be.

Thanks, Sheena, for challenging me to try something new!

Got Mail?

The Greeting Farm stamps are quickly becoming some of my favorites. The images are adorable... and so much fun to color. This card features a TGF WS Bree image.

I created this card for Kadie's TGF card swap on Splitcoast Stampers. I used some bright buttons and natural hemp for the embellishments and Stampin' UP! designer paper and cardstock.

Does this broom make me look fat?

I was recently introduced to a stamp company I had never heard of before - Starving Artists. My goodness... they have some fun images! I'm so glad my friend Sandra from SCS pointed the way to their website. I purchased a few items and was eager to create.

This witch is just too cute! I love the baggy old girl. And the sentiment makes me giggle!

Snowball Fight - JLO Style

A few months ago when my friend Viv learned that I wanted owl cards to send to my daughter who loves owls, she introduced me to a line of stamps - Jessica Lynn Originals. Since that first venture into her online store, I have gone back again and again to see what JLO has created. I love her Brentwood owl images!!! She has both clear acrylic stamps and digital. Check it out...

http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/shopwithus/

Oh, and the Brentwood card in this post... I created it for Viv's JLO Christmas Card Swap. It has a unique fold, some designer papers, the image (colored with Copics) and some ribbon and a snowflake brad for embellishments.

Now, who's going to toss the first snowball?

Happy BOO to You!

I don't make many Halloween cards, but I've seen so many really cute Halloween stamps, not to mention the adorable Halloween designer papers. My online freind Roxane was hosting a Calling All Spooks Halloween Card Swap, so I decided to join just so I could play with all things Halloween.

For my card I decided to go with a cute little spider theme. I inked up the spider from the Stampin' UP! Booglie Eyes stamp set. I gave him googly eyes, in two different sizes. I used my Cuttlebug Spiderweb embossing plate to create a fun spider web for the little guy; and some designer paper and some layers, plus the sentiment inside - Happy BOO to You!

Chipboard is NOT my friend!

Eek! This was my first attempt at using chipboard... and I found it to be quite challenging!

I'm in my friend LJ's swap, the one that requires chipboard as one of the elements of the card. Whatever was I thinking when I signed up for that?!?!?

First I had a difficult time even deciding what chipboard to buy/use. I finally decided to go with Stampin' UP! cuz my daughter loves owls and Stampin' UP! had the cutest owl chipboard.

Then I had to decide how to decorate the chipboard. To be quite honest, I should have done some research, cuz I later learned I could have simply inked the chipboard. But no! I thought I had to cover it with paper. I used all kinds of files, sandpaper, even sharp scissors to get the edges smoothed. It took forever!

The rest of the card was pretty basic for me. A little embossing with my Cuttlebug embossing folder. A little punching with my punches. A couple of brads to create highlights for the eyes.

Hmmmmmmmmmm... wonder when I'll be foolish enough to try using chipboard again?

Riley and Sophie

I think some of the cutest stamps on the market today are the Riley and Sophie stamps created by Hanna Stamps. If you're not familiar with them, you should check out http://www.hannastamps.com/.


I created these two cards for a Riley/Sophie swap hosted by my sweet friend, DJ/Cheryl.



BBQ Riley is so cute, flipping his burgers and hot dogs.



The adorable Spa Sophie is relaxing, soaking her feet.

Secret Family Recipes

I don't very often sign up for recipe swaps, but my dear friend Deej was hostessing one, so I couldn't resist. The idea for her swap was to take a family recipe - one that's stood the test of time - and create a 6 X 6" recipe card layout with it.

Never one to shirk from some fun, I signed up for three spots.

The first recipe I chose is my Great Grandmother's recipe for Burnt Sugar Cake. Grandma Nelson, my Dad's Mom, died when he was a teenager, but he fondly remembered many of her delicious dishes, not the recipes, mind you, just the scrumptious food. Grandma Nelson was a pastry chef and an incredible cook. A number of years later, my parents met and married and my Mom began the process of searching for Grandma Nelson's recipes, which were often non-existent. This recipe for Burnt Sugar Cake was one of the recipes she found. The first time my Mom made it, my Dad said, it was good, but not like his Mom's. The recipe was right, but my health-conscious Mom had substituted margarine for butter. Now she knows better... and makes this cake often for my Dad and the rest of the family.

The second recipe I chose was for Crescent Rolls. To be quite honest, I'm not sure who in my family first made these wonderful rolls (it may have been my sister), but my Mom makes them quite often and they are so yummy! I make them for special occasions with my own immediate family and they are so easy to make! We like them served warm with honey butter.

The third recipe I chose for the swap is my Mother-in-law's recipe for meatloaf (with some of my own adaptations). A number of years ago we began the process of losing my Mother-in-law to Alzheimer's. While she was still able to be at home, she was no longer able to care for the house and the cooking. So I would go regularly and stay a week or two and provide some loving care to her and my Father-in-law. I know how much my Father-in-law loves meatloaf, so when I found her recipe for meatloaf, I was excited to try it out. My Father-in-law seemed so pleased. To be quite honest, I was not a meatloaf fan prior to this, but discovered that I like meatloaf. Since that first meatloaf, I've tweaked the recipe just a bit, but it is still fondly referred to as Lois' Meatloaf Recipe. She now resides in a care center and my Father-in-law lives in an apartment near her. I miss seeing them as regularly as I used to, but still look forward to cooking a meal or two for my Father-in-law when we go to visit. Meatloaf will be one of the dishes I prepare on our next visit.

Shake! Shake! Shake!

For those of you who check my blog often, you might think this card looks familiar. You're not losing your mind. I actually had posted this card to my blog one day last week. However, through a mess-up in yesterday's posting, I must have accidentally deleted the post that featured this card. So here it is again.

I am part of a wonderful group of swappers called the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards. Each month, one of us serves as hostess, comes up with a theme, and then each of us created a card to contribute based on that theme. In August, Gael challenged us to make a card that moved in some way.

I'd never created a shaker card before, but decided to do so for my moving card. It actually was much easier to do than I thought it would be.

I used an over-sized Whipper Snapper flower for my image, coloring it in bright, vibrant colors. Designer papers provided the background - one is realistic looking grass, the other features funky butterflies and other flying bugs. A couple of bright pink brads and a piece of bright pink and green ribbon served as the embellishments.

Thanks, Gael, for inspiring me to try something different!!! I hope you like my card.

KitCat Club

I am part of an incredible group of women who participate in a monthly on-going card swap. A few weeks ago, one of those ladies, Kelly, contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in a kit club that would involve creating one card a month and posting it on my blog on or near the 6th of the month. Of course I said "Yes!"

Thus began the formation of the KitCat Club, a group of six women - Catherine, Kelly, Lorie, Michelle, Susan, and myself.

This month Kelly put together our kits and mailed them to us. We each received the same images, but our papers were different. She also sent some embellishments. Our assignment is simple - create a card with that image (we can add other stuff to the card, but we must use the image in the kit) and post it on our blogs on or near the 6th of September.

The image for this month's card is Stampavie's Leere Aldrich stamp. Kelly says she chose it because it represents our friendship and because it is cheerful and fun, like all of you!

What a sweet image for our first month!!!

I used my Copic markers to color the image, which was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Papertrey White Cardstock. To add some sparkle, I used Copic Spica markers for part of the coloring, as well.

The edges of the image were sponged with Stampin' UP! Brocade Blue ink.

I chose a 5 1/4" square design for my card. I believe this is the first square card I've ever made. I used the Cosmo Cricket and Stampin' UP! designer papers that Kelly included in the kit. The card base is Stampin' UP! Brocade Blue cardstock.



To give the card dimension, I used my Bazzill In Stitch'z template to create a handstitched flower in the lower corner and I added a variety of Prima flowers in an assortment of colors.

I had so much fun creating this card and I'm sure the other five KitCat Club members did, too.

I can hardly wait to see what they created.I'm going to their blogs now to check them out. Wanna go along?

Catherine - PAPERADDICT http://paperaddictcatherine.blogspot.com/

Kelly - SANDCASTLE STAMPER http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Lorie - The Thinkin' Spot http://www.thethinkinspot.blogspot.com/

Michelle - MISC. MICHELLE http://ticketbelle.blogspot.com/

Susan - Pink Flannel Pajamas http://pinkflannelpajamas.blogspot.com/

Happy Chef Ian

Happy Chef Ian (from The Greeting Farm stamps) is here to serve you a lucious warm beverage. He really is a delightful character, isn't he?

Enjoy!

School Days

It's that time of year... school bells are ringing, children and teachers are leaving behind the lazy days of summer, and the doors of knowledge are open to those who want to learn.

This year, my own daughter is embarking on a new school adventure. After being the student for the past 17 years, she is now the teacher. I am so proud of her!!!

I purchased this stamp from one of my favorite stamp companies (The Greeting Farm) because it makes me think of my daughter and her new career.

I love The Greeting Farm stamps. They have the cutest faces and they are just the right size to make coloring them fun!

This School Days card features Annika, a precious school girl who is carrying an armful of books. To compliment the schoolgirl image, I've used school themed designer paper and ribbon.

School days are here.... do your homework, pay attention to the teacher, and if you happen to see my daughter, please tell her how proud I am of her!

What's In a Name?

I love a good challenge... and my friend Neeru gave me one when she opened the "What's in a Name?" card swap on Splitcoast Stampers. Swappers were to choose a word that begins with the same letter as the first letter of their name and describes them or something about their life when creating cards for this unique swap. Now that might not be too challenging for someone with an easy letter. BUT my name begins with "J". Yikes! Why oh why did my parents have to name me Jeanette?!?!?

I thought... and thought... and thought some more. AND finally came up with not one, but two ideas. So, as any good stamper would do, I took two spots in Neeru's swap and created BOTH cards.

The first card features a cute little jester/joker who is juggling three colorbul balls. Perfect! I love to joke around; I'm actually known to pull a prank or two when others are least expecting it. So the joker is a great image of me. I have many tasks/responisibilities that are always vying for my attention, causing me to juggle quite a bit.

I love the bright, cheery Juggling Jester card.

For my second card I chose subdued colors and a tranquil scene. Its theme is that of a Journey. My life truly is a journey, and much like the saying on this card, I strive to go where others have not been, to do the unusual, to seek adventures, and to leave a trail.

I love the peaceful, calming Journey card.

Both cards, though quite different, reflect a part of who I am. Thank you, Neeru... for encouraging me to discover the hidden treasures of What's in My Name.