Liebster Award!

 

I received such a nice surprise from a blogging friend, Kathy at http://stampsatplay.blogspot.com/.  She nominated me for the Liebster Award.  Thank you for thinking of me Kathy, I am very honored. You should check out her wonderful blog at http://stampsatplay.blogspot.com/

She is a great designer and is on the Merry Monday Design Team.

 

Here are the rules of the nomination:

1. Be sure to thank the blog that nominated you and be sure to link back to their blog.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger asked you.
3. Nominate 11 of your favorite blogs with under 500 followers and ask your own 11 questions.
4. Make sure to let each blogger know about your Liebster Blog nomination on their blog (leave a comment and link back to your Liebster Blog post).

 

(Here is a link to some info on the award if you are new to blogging and aren't sure what it is all about!)

 

Here are my answers to Kathy's questions:
 

1. How long have you been crafting?  I have been doing crafts of some kind since I was a young girl and my Grandmother taught me to crochet. I started scrapbooking and card making in 1998 after going to a CTMH home party. I have been "addicted" ever since.

2. What's your favorite product? I have so many favorites, I can't list just one: my Big Shot, Silhouette Cameo, MFT dies & Stamps, Verve Stamps & dies; SU products, etc. etc. :)

3. How much time do you spend each week making cards and things? Usually a couple of hours a day or when I can.

4. What are your favorite challenges to play in? Seize the Birthday, Dynamic Duos, Christmas Stampin All Year Long, Merry Monday,  My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge, Verve challenges, and Just Us Girls.

5. If you were to learn a new technique, what would it be? I think I would like to try Mixed Media

6. What got you blogging? My friend has a blog and she encouraged me to start a blog.

7. Where do you get your inspiration? Other bloggers, Pinterest, Splitcoast Stampers

8. If you could only use one stamp set and one die, what would they be? I don't know if I could pick just one but I like Stampin Up Secret Garden stamp set and matching dies.

9. What advice would you give someone just starting to craft?  I think I would tell them to have fun and enjoy it, no matter which craft it is.

10. What's your favorite color combo?  I like pinks & browns and blues & browns.

11. Tell us one thing about yourself that people would be surprised to know. I have a twin brother.

 

Here are 11 of my favorite blogs that I have chosen to nominate for the Liebster Award - stop by their blogs and congratulate them!:

Jeanie - The Spotted Chick
Nancy - Scrapper at Heart
Sheri - Paper Crafty's Creations
Jodene - Jodene's Cards & Creations
Sharyn - My Crafty Place
Janet - Janet's Joy
Colleen - One Smile Lifts A Spirit
Brenda - Ottawa Mom
Annette - AEstamps a Latte
Angel - My Whole Stampin World
Caroline - Caroline's Creatons

Here are my 11 questions:

 

1.  Why did you start your blog?
2.  How long have you been blogging?
3.  How long have you been doing crafts?
4.  What kind of crafts do you like to do?
5.  Do you scrapbook or make cards, or both?
6.  Do you participate in challenges?
7.  What is your favorite kind of card to make?
8.  Where do you get your inspiration from?
9.  Have any of your projects ever been published in a magazine?
10. What do you do with the cards you make?
11.  What is your favorite tool to use when crafting?

 

 



Don't Sweat It

I made this card for a "Special Friend's" birthday.  She has the card (and really loved it) so I am posting it to my blog now.  The image is a From The Heart digital image.  I printed it on X-Press It Blending Card and cut it out with MFT's Circle Stax 1 and Circle Stax 2 die-namics for the black mat.  I sponged SU Bashful Blue ink around the image while it was still in the die.   I colored the image with Copics and added some Liquid Applique to the candle wax.  The sentiment is included with the image and was cut with a Spellbinder's die and also sponged with Bashful Blue ink.  I added some black grossgrain ribbon and bow.   The borders are punched with an EK Success punch.  The chicken wire is from MFT's Distressed Background Blocks and is stamped in SU Basic Gray ink.

 I used MFT Electric Red, Black Licorice and Smooth White CS. The check DSP is from my stash.   Here is the inside of the card printed with an included sentiment (except for the Happy Birthday).  I added a small strip of the DSP.

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn



A Cheerful Heart for MFTWSC165

 

 

I made this card for a friend using this week's My Favorite Things sketch challenge (MFTWSC165).  The card base is MFT Sno Cone CS, next is MFT Smooth White CS, and then MFT Pink Lemonade.  I used MFT MPD Graduated Hearts Stencil with Golden Light Molding Paste on the pink layer (love how it turned out).  The sentiment from MFT Cheerful Blessings is stamped in SU Basic Gray ink and the heart from the same set is stamped in SU Rose Red ink on Smooth White CS and cut out with MFT Pierced Circle Stax die-namic.  The MFT Spearmint CS banner is cut with a die from the MFT Blueprints 2 die-namics.  Finally, the flower was cut from MFT Banana Split CS using the MFT Upsy Daisy die-namic.  I added a pink button from my stash to the center.

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

 

Happy Holidays for Holly Jolly Christmas

This is my second post today and I have another Christmas card. This one is for Holly Jolly Christmas to use a reindeer on your card.

ETA:  My card was a top pick at Holly Jolly Christmas challenge.

 

This cute reindeer is from Verve's Santa's Helper. I stamped him in Mememto Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It Blending Card and colored him with copics.  I paper-pieced his little vest and added the little black buttons with a marker.  I fussy cut him out and mounted him with dimensionals on a die-cut using MFT's Circle Stax 1 and matted with a Circle Stax 2 black mat.  I used SU Crumb Cake ink and Woodgrain Background stamp to add some texture to the image circle. The sentiment is from the same set and I punched it was a McGill's Multi Tags Punch.  The DSP is from Authentic Festive Collection. The mats are SU Basic Black CS and the card base, tag and image circle are SU Very Vanilla CS.

 

I am also entering my card in Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Christmas Challenge Extra.

and Completely Christmas Challenge #1

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

 

Peace on Earth for Merry Monday #97 & Freshly Made Sketches #125

ETA:  My card got Honorable Mention at Merry Monday.

I used Freshly Made Sketches #125 for my layout.

 

 

This is my card for the Merry Monday #97 Christmas card challenge.  I used X-Press It Blending Card (white) and SU Brushed Silver and Coastal Cabana CS and DSP.  The image is a Hero Arts stamp and the sentiment is from SU Peaceful Seasons.  Both are stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with Ranger Silver Embossing Powder.  I did some paper-piercing around the sentiment.  The ornament was cut out with SU Holiday Ornaments Framelits and mounted with foam dimensionals.  The silver ribbon is from SU.

 

It was hard to get a good photo of the silver embossing. It looks so much prettier in person.  Here is a different angle that shows the embossing better.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Dynamic Duos #92 - Happy Anniversary

Happy Saturday friends.  It is time for another Dynamic Duos challenge.  This week is "Bold and Cheery" with the colors Midnight Muse and Rose Red.  

 

Here's my card:

I used the Week 2 sketch from Viva la Verve Feb2014.

The card base is SU Rose Red CS. The Whisper White panel is embossed with the Cuttlebug Cross My Heart EF.  The chevron DSP is from American Crafts Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 6x6 pad, and it matches the Rose Red perfectly. The Midnight Muse banner is embossed with SU Lattice Square EF, and the Midnight Muse DSP is from a retired SU Mat Stack.  The sentiment from Verve's Love Story is stamped in Midnight Muse ink and cut with MFT Circle Stax 1 & 2, and then mounted with foam dimensionals.  The 3 tiny hearts are from Verve's Love Notes stamped in Rose Red ink.  I used the background stamp from Verve's Grateful Elegance stamped in Rose Red ink and then die cut the large and medium hearts with Verve's Heart Quartet die. I sponged ink around the edges and lightly over the 2 medium hearts.

That's it for my card.

 

Be sure to stop by the Dynamic Duos blog to check out the fabulous samples by my fellow Design Team members.  I'm sure you will be inspired to play along. Can't wait to see what you create.

 

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Seize The Birthday

It is Thursday and you know what that means, it is time for another Seize the Birthday challenge.  There is no "toppings" option this week, so just make your "Anything Goes" birthday project and link it up. Can't wait to see what you create.

 

For my card base and sentiment panel I used SU Naturals White CS.  All the mats are SU Soft Suede and the DSP is Spice Cake (retired).  I used Verve's Starry Die  and SU Small Star Punch (retired) to cut the stars from Soft Suede and Baha Breeze CS, and layer them.  The sentiment is SU Beautiful Birthday stamped in Soft Suede ink cut with a Spellbinder's Classic Oval and layered with a Scallop Oval. I sponged some Crumb Cake ink around the edges while it was still in the die. These are adhered with foam dimensionals. The largest star is also adhered with a dimensional.

 

My card is based on Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #137

 

My fellow Design Team members have created some wonderful cards that will surely inspire you. Check them out here and you can also find out how to play along if you haven't joined us before.  The challenge will close on Tuesday, March 11th at 12:00 PST.  I hope you can join in the party.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

 

 

 

Exciting News

Woo-hoo, I have some exciting news to share.  A few weeks back I received an e-mail saying that I had been invited to join the new Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Design Team.  Naturally, I accepted as I love making Christmas cards anytime.

Check it out HERE and meet the rest of the Design Team. 

 Our first challenge will be March 7th so be sure to check back then and I hope you can join in the fun.

Happy Stamping,
JoAnn

Sending Cheerful Thoughts Your Way

I made this card for a friend who could use some cheerful thoughts.  I used the current My Favorite Things Color Palette challenge and the MFTWSC#164 challenge.

I used MFT Smooth White, Kraft & Blu Raspberry cardstocks, Blu Raspberry ink; and SU Daffodil Delight DSP & DaffodilDelight ink for the flower centers.  The flowers are cut with MFT Upsy Daisy Die-namics and mounted with foam dimensionals. I also added a dimensional between the layers.  The sentiment is stamped in Basic Gray ink, and the frame is stamped in Blu Raspberry, both are from MFT's LJD-Vintage Frames and die-cut with the matching Vintage Frame Die-namic.  The kraft frame is cut with MFT Textile Rectangle Frame.

 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great week.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

 

Merry Christmas for Merry Monday #96

Here is my card for Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge #96 - create a Christmas card with holly on it. 

I used SU Garden Green & Whisper White, and MFT Electric Red cardstocks.  I embossed the white panel with a Sizzix Holly EF.  The image is from Bugaboo Stamps - Ava Christmas Mistletoe Fairy.  I printed her on X-Press It Blending Card and colored her with Copics.  I used a Sakura Clear Glitter Gel Pen to add sparkle to her wings and the star.  I cut the image and mat with MFT's Circle Stax die-namics. The sentiment is from Verve's O' Christmas Tree set. and I used circle punches to cut it out.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

Happy Birthday Wishes for the Dynamic Duos #91

It's Saturday and that means it is time for another Dynamic Duos challenge.  This week we have "The Triple Threat" week with the colors Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango & Melon Mambo.  I hope you can join us in this fun challenge.

Here is my card:

The card base and mats are Wild Wasabi.  I used Calypso Coral, which is a close match to Tangerine Tango (which I was out of).  The DSP is Tangerine Tango from the Summer Smooches DSP and it matches the Calypso Coral. These are cut with MFT Fishtail Flags dies.  I embossed the white panel with the SU Lacey Brocade EF.  I stamped the stem form SU Field Flowers in Wild Wasabi and cut it out with a Spellbinders Classic Oval, and matted with a Scallop Oval.  I lightly sponged Crumb Cake ink around the image while it was still in the die.  The flowers are from SU Simply Sketched, stamped in Melon Mambo, lightly sponged with Melon Mambo ink, fussy cut and mounted with foam dimensionals. The sentiment is also from Simply Sketched stamped in Wild Wasabi.

 

Now be sure to check out all the wonderful creations by my fellow Design Team members at the Dynamic Duos. I am sure you will be inspired to play along with us.

 

I am also linking my card to The Catered Crop Recipe Swap - Birthdays.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn

 

 

Happy Birthday for MFTWSC163, Colour Me #7, & Catered Crop Recipe Swap

For my card I used the My Favorite Things WSC163 sketch, the Colour Me challenge #7 to use Pool Party and Rich Razzleberry, and the Catered Crop Recipe Swap - Birthdays.  The DSP is from SU Sycamore Street (retired). The card base is Whisper White.  I used MFT Upsy Daisy die-namics for the flower, 3 layers with a foam dimensional between each one. I lightly sponged some Rich Razzleberry ink over the tips of the petals and added a Rich Razzleberry circle to the center.  The flourish is from MFT Framing Flourishes die-namics.  I used SU Square Lattice EF on the Rich Razzleberry strip.  The sentiment is from MFT Document It-Bingo, stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink on a Pool Party banner cut with MFT Fishtail Flag Stax die-namics.  I punched two small circles and added SU Crystal Effects for my faux brads.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stamping,

JoAnn