You're So Wonderful

My image style is usually what I would call "cutesy" but sometimes a crafter just has to step outside her comfort zone. Like today.

Imke sent the Mystery Image girls a gorgeous image to use for our January cards... I love it, but I was intimidated by the idea of making a cad with it.

Finally, I decided to just go for it.

Here's the card I made:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Crafters Companion "Buttrfly Silk" 
Lantern Die Cuts: Memory Box
Ink: Copic Markers and Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Marker
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin'  UP! Mellow Moss and Rose Red
Designer Paper: DCWV The Far East Paper Pad
Embellishments: Stampin' UP! Gold Cord

Peek at My Week

Here it is the final Friday of January 2016... time for another Peek at My Week.

This week has been an interesting one. It included two out of town trips to meetings. (I love meetings... so that was fun). However, it did mean I didn't get nearly as much done at home as I might have hoped to do. The floors need swept. The furniture needs dusting. The laundry is piling up.

And speaking of piling up....... when we picked up the two days of mail at the Post Office after the last trip, there was a PILE of it! That's partly due to the fact that I'm the current hostess of the Mystery Image card swap group and the swap is due. We are a small group now - 10 members - but we have a lot of fun. As hostess, I chose the image and stamped it and sent it to the other ladies.

This is the image I chose (uncolored, of course):

It's one of my most favorite snowman images - a Darcie's stamp.

So my mail has been overflowing with adorable-ness!

Of course I made a card, too. Here it is:

I've also worked a wee bit this week on the Stamp Inventory I'm creating in Evernote. Baby. steps.

I put together and mailed SEVERAL card kits (since I was behind in doing that)... and I created the three cards I still needed to create for previous commitments.

And I've worked on a conference that I'll be leading in a month.

Over all, it's been a busy and productive week... just not one that included housework. ;)

 SCORE TIME: Would I give this week a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment: Darcie's
Ink: Copic Markers and Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Marker
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Cherry Cobbler
Designer Paper: Recollections Jingle Jolly Paper Pad
Embellishments: Michael's Pearls

Star-Struck Snowman

Today's card was made with an adorable image (paper and embellishments, too) sent to me by Paula of the Baker's Dozen...

Snowman: Stampendous Magical Snowman

Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Cherry Cobbler

 

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

True Love Brentwood Owl

Did you remember? JessicaLynnOriginal is featuring True Love Brentwood Owl in a hop/event this week. If you missed my first post/card, click HERE to read all about it and to see some pictures, too.

Here's another card I made featuring True Love Brentwood Owl...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: JessicaLynnOriginal True Love Brentwood Owl colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black, Red, and White
Designer Paper: Target (dollar aisle)
Embellishments: Heart Brads from an unknown vendor

Cardinal Beauty

If you were on my blog yesterday, you know that I made a card with a kit sent to me by Paula of the Baker's Dozen on SCS.

Here's another card I made with her kit:

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The only thing of my own that I used on this card is Recollections cardstock (Black and Green).

Snowflake Blessings

I am slowly catching up. Whew! I am in a group on SCS called the "Baker's Dozen". Each month, one of the members sends little kits to the other gals and we all play with the same images, papers, etc. Paula - the VERY PATIENT Paula - sent kits in November... and I moved in November... so I never got around to playing with my kit... until this week.

Here is one of the cards I made with Paula's kit:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

I used items sent to me by Paula (THANK YOU, Paula) to make this card. The only thing of my own that I used was some Recollections Black and White cardstock.

I did it!

I did it! I tried something new - I used Ken Oliver Color Burst on today's card!!!

Okay, can you tell I'm excited?

But let me start at the beginning...

One Stitch at a Time 

Challenge #254

Theme: Anything Goes with Tic Tac Toe

Okay... I just had to go with the vertical row in the center: lots of blue, own background (where the Color Burst happened), and metal (the brads are metal).

Image: StitchBear Digi Outlet BBKakes Dirty Work Boy

This was my first attempt at using the Ken Oliver Color Burst... my background is messy (so are my fingers) but it's not too bad for my first attempt.

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: StitchyBear Digi Outlet BB Kakes Dirty Work Boy colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Buckaroo Blue
Designer Paper: A Muse Studio Gingham and background created with WalMart Watercolor Paper,  Ken Oliver Color Burst and a spritz of water
Embellishments: brads from an unknown vendor

Brentwood's In Love

NOTE: If you are looking for the Sweet Stampin' Challenge post, keep scrolling. It's the one following this post.


There is a VERY SPECIAL JessicaLynnOriginal event beginning today and it features a LOVEable Brentwood image - True Love Brentwood Owl.

The hop/event continues through January 31st. The design team has been busy preparing for this event. We have a lot of cards/projects made with True Love Brentwood Owl, so hop along (you can find links to the DT members blogs in my right side bar) and have fun. And keep checking in because the DT members will be showcasing True Love Brentwood Owl often between today and the 31st.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!
BTW, I'll have another True Love Brentwood Owl card on my blog on Wednesday, so be sure to stop back by then, too.

Image: JessicaLynnOriginal True Love Brentwood Owl colored with Copic Markes
Cardstock: Recollections Black, Red, and White
Designer Paper: Target (dollar aisle)
Embellishment: Heart Brad from an unknown vendor

Apple of My Eye

Sweet Stampin' Challenges is getting a little "messy" this round.

January 23 - 29

Theme: Vintage or Shabby Chic

Sponsor: Live & Love Crafts

Here's my card:

 

Thank for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Stampin' UP! Farm Fresh stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Ivory and Stampin' UP! Cherry Cobbler
Designer Paper: Paper Studio Farm Fresh Paper Pad
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones

Peek at My Week

If you missed my post of January 8th, you might not know what this post is about. You can check out that post by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, I've reinstated my "Peek at My Week" posting of years past, with a bit of a change. This year I plan to be less focused on what I put in these posts. Instead I'll reflect upon the week - the good, bad and/or ugly.

One of the good things of this week included a quick trip to Texas (on a jet plane) for a training event. We were able to be out and about without jackets! That's a real plus in my eyes. We enjoyed delicious food, including a lot of Tex-Mex. And the training was superb!

Another good thing about this week was I continued (baby steps) to work on getting my stamps inventoried in Evernote. It is a bit of a task - because of the vast amount of stamps I own. Sheesh! I should have discovered Evernote the moment I began purchasing stamps - but I suspect Evernote didn't exist way back then. LOL! I am making progress though. I have 4 of my bins of stamps (they are a pretty HOT PINK color!) inventoried - 216 stamps/sets. (I've worked sporadically on this since the last week of December.)

The BAD thing is, I've inventoried 5 bins of stamps, but I still need to get the categories of stamps put in alphabetical order and I need to make dividers... both tasks will make it easier to find the stamps when I want to use them.

I've made 11 cards this week. That's good! The UGLY is that I am still behind........ I have 3 cards I still need to make to fulfill current commitments... and I need to put together and mail 7 card kits. And................. I have way too many card kits that have been given to me that need to be used.

I am trying my best to MAXIMIZE this year and this week I did that through  organizing, creating, learning, and being an encouragement to others.

 SCORE TIME: Would I give this week a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stompy Elephant

I'm rather fond of elephants. I'm not sure I've always been fond of them. In fact, I'm pretty sure I wasn't. After all, they are HUGE animals, which makes them a wee bit scary. But since my first mission trip to Thailand, I've begun to see elephants with new eyes.

Our one-day outing included riding an elephant. Yes, I'm afraid of heights, and No, I didn't want to do it. But I did it anyway. The elephant I rode was a mama and her wee one walked beside us, entertaining me throughout the hour-long ride.

Now when I see an elephant (image/stamp), it immediately transports me to Thailand. :)

Sooooooooooo... guess what I thought of when I saw the JessicaLynnOriginal "Stompy Elephant" digital image? Yep, that mama and her baby in Thailand.

Isn't it a cute image?!?!?!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: JessicaLynnOriginal Stompy Elephant
Ink: Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Gray Kraft
Designer Paper: Recollections
Embellishment: Ribbon Boutique Ribbon

Here Kitty Kitty!

Every month - for a very. long. time - I have intended to participate in the From the Heart "Free Stamp of the Month" Challenge... and every month I fail to do so. UGH! This month I'm going to do it!

The way the challenge works is really great - IF you participate this month, From the Heart Stamps gives  you the image for the next month's challenge. Sooooooooo... participating every month means you get a free image EVERY month. WOW!  That is so cool! And they are adorable images!!!

This month's set includes the image and 4 sentiments. Click HERE to see it.

From the Heart Stamps will even give you the current set free, if you purchase $10 of other items from their store. They are sooooooooo generous!

Here's my card:

Here's the inside:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image/Sentiment: From the Heart Stamps "Cozy Kittens"
Ink: Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and White and Stampin' UP! Soft Sky
Designer Paper: CTMH (double-sided)
Embellishments: Irresistible Pico "Clear" Embellisher (on the kitten's eyes) and Oriental Trading Candy Dots

Sunshine on A Cold Day

It is so cold!

How cold is it? Way too cold!!!

Soooooooooooo, I'm loving the photo that is our {pin}spiration for the {PIN}Spirational Challenge...

Doesn't that make you feel warmer???

January 19 - February 1

The sponsors for this challenge are Julia Spiri and Fred She Said. They are both wonderful digital stamp companies... and they are offering a prize to a lucky participant... so play along for a chance to win!

 Here's my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Sentiment: Stampa Rosa 
Stencil: MFT Sunburst
Ink: Stampin' UP! Delightful Daffodil and Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Delightful Daffodil and Melon Mambo
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones

So Cool!

There's a new MelonHeadz Friends Challenge...

January 18 - 31

Theme: Cool Colors  

(Purples, Blues, Greens)

I hope you'll participate!

I used an image from the pre-colored MelonHeadz Season Winter set to make my card...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: MelonHeadz Illustrating Season Winter Bundle
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Brilliant Blue
Designer Paper: Leisure Arts Casual Stripe Blue, Paper Company Silver Glitter Vine, and Paper Pizazz Blue Sponged
Embellishments: Michael's Pearls

Pansy Bunny

I am behind, but trying to catch up. Today's card was actually supposed to be made in December and mailed in December, too. (I hope Tracie will like it even though it is very late.)

Patti sent an adorable Penny Black image to the members of Imke's Mystery Image Card group for December.

Here's the card I made:

Patti asked us to use some turquoise on our cards, so I did.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Penny Black "Pansy Bunny" colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Tempting Turquoise
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Michael's Ribbon and Brads from an unknown vendor