Twisted Sister Challenge at Split Coast Stampers...

I made this card for this Week's Twisted Sister Challenge at Split Coast Stampers...TSC0228.
The Challenge for this week is water coloring.  The challenge sounds easy, well, maybe easy for someone who is used to water coloring.  The only water coloring I've done is in card class a few years ago.  But I kind of like when challenges make me think outside the box.
I used Derwent Watercolour pencils.  I stamped my Stampendous Rubber Cling Stamp (Jumbo Tiger Lily) in Versamark and then heat embossed with Stampendous embossing powder.  I used 3 Derwent colored pencils (Deep Vermilion 14, Orange Chrome 10, Deep Cadmium 6,) and blended the colors together using my mini mister and a paint brush.  I added a ribbon and a tag punched with Spellbinders Back to Basic tags.

Snow has covered
All the yard,
The bird bath's hard
With ice,
And this whole day
Is twilight-gray;

But twice
I've warmed myself 
By simply knowing
Beneath all ice
Beneath each snowing,
Twenty crocus bulbs
Are growing.
~Virgina Scott Mine

Thank You for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Merry Monday Challenge #97

 This is the card that I made for this week's Merry Monday Challenge.  The challenge can be found here      http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/02/merry-monday-97-sparkle-shine-with-aqua.html             

This week's challenge is to use...Aqua, Silver (or gray), and White.
I made my card cutting a die cut loaned to me from a friend.  I heat embossed it (My door) with detailed white embossing powder.  I wanted the door to look like enamel.  I used a copic pen to color my insert Aqua using copic color BG15 (Aqua)  I punched out leaves for my wreath using a Martha Stewart punch, and added a silver brad, ribbon and some aqua stick on beads.  My brick background was made by husband  I printed it out in gray...   Would you believe he drew each and every brick by hand?  He has a lot more patience that I do.  But I think all his effort has been worth it.  It has come handy for me for several cards that I have made.  (And for some others who have used it for their cards...

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."  ~William James

Thank you for visiting my blog today...
Blessings,
Jill

Look What I received in the mail...

Above card by Grace Nywening

 I received this beautiful card from Grace today.  I have always admired Grace's work on her blog but to see one of her cards in real life...what a treat!  Isn't it an awesome card...You can see more of Grace's beautiful work here...http://th-ink-ingofyou.blogspot.com/  Thank you so much Grace, What a fabulous way to start out my day...
This is the link on her blog to the above card...where she gives all the instructions on how she put together this Lovely card!

This is also what was in the box.  This will all keep me very busy for a while...smile...
Grace  
has totally spoiled me.  I was so fortunate to win her blog candy...

"How beautiful a day can be when kindess touches it..."
G. Ellliston

Thank you for visiting by blog today..
Blessings,
Jill

Beautiful Day yesterday...

What a beautiful day we had yesterday in our area...Finally a day that was not snowing or freezing cold.  We were both experiencing a bit of "Cabin" fever...so when hubby asked me if I wanted to take a drive up to my favorite craft store...  Well, as you can probably guess...He didn't have to ask me twice.

Before I forget the lovely flowers that I am showing were a gift to me from my hubby.  He went to) the grocery store...comes home with a few groceries and also carrying BOTH these bouquets.  While I was delighted to receive them...   And I think they are both beautiful.  The frugal part of me, asked "Why two?"  His answer was..."I couldn't make up my mind."   And he always tell me about what a difficult time I have in trying to make up my mind...LOL

Back to yesterday,  A trip to my favorite craft store is always a treat, and yesterday it was even more of a treat.  We had only been in the store a short time and who walks into the store but Carol...
http://ourlittleinspirations.blogspot.com/   Carol, sure added to the fun day,  Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Carol, will tell you that she is a lot of  fun.  She definitely added to our day.  The funny part about this...is the store is about an hour or so drive from our home.  Carol and I only live a few miles away from each other and we have to go an hour from home to run into each other.
(and another side note...Carol is the one who first took me to this store in the first place..so I tell her that she is an enabler)!

Carol, I'm pretty sure you will be reading this...so Thank you again, for the fun day...

The bottom picture is the goodies that I purchased yesterday.  You will notice that it is mostly "Sweet and Sassy" stamps and dies.  I admit it, I am addicted to dies...   I have not met too many that I do not like!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend...
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Blessings,
Jill   ....  Who now has to get off her computer and try her new toys...LOL


"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive."
~Anais Nin

Merry Monday #96

 

I made this card for Merry Monday #96

The Link for this week's Challenge can be found here

This week's challenge is to use Holly on your card!  The image on my card was colored with copics by my husband....R39,G29, G46, RG61, E30, E40, C1, C2, C4, C5...The stamp is by Stampendous.

I told  Jim  That the challenge focus was Holly, so He colored this card to suit the challenge, and made the Holly the focus, and colored the rest of the image with very soft colors in the background.  I really like the way he did this...

"All my life I've wanted, just once, to say something clever without losing my

TRAIN of thought."  ~ Robert Brault

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Sympathy Card

I made this card for my husband to give to his cousin.  He lost his Mother this week.  (My husband's Aunt Betty)  Jim's Aunt had been ill for a while...but it's still always such a shock when it happens. 

This unknown image was stamped years ago, at a stamping get together that I went to, and it is probably one of my husband's first images that he colored.  (That's how far behind I am in making cards with all the images he has colored for me.

A Sympathy saying to go inside...

"I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death.
They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make.
Their love leaves an indelible fingerprint in our memories.
We find comfort in knowing that their lives have been enriched by having 
shared their love."
~Leo Buscaglia

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Blessings,
Jill

Serendipity stamps challenge #28

I made this card for the Serendipity Stamps Challenge #28...which can be found here

http://serendipitystampschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

 The challenge is to use a Serendipity stamp with sheet music or Newsprint...

My card's image was colored with copics by my husband...  As I was posting this blog the Song..."Happy Trails to you..." kept going around in my head...I guess I am dating myself with that song...but I'm sure that SOME of you reading my blog will remember it...smile.

Happy trails to you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY

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Again following the tradition that the famous Darnell has started...

I want to give a shout out to a new follower... Shelia...another great card maker...you will enjoy youself if you visit her blog   Ink, Paper, Scissors....(I really like the name of her blog)

which can be found here.

.http://shelia-shestamps.blogspot.com/.

Thank you Shelia...

And thank you for visiting my blog today...

Blessings,

Jill

"Happy Trails...until we meet again..."

Happy Valentine's day

Happy Valentine's day!  I know I'm a bit late...but at least it is still Valentine's day when I posting this. 
I had a sort of nice day...I started out my day by sitting almost two and half hours in a dentist chair...Not exactly fun.  But I am fortunate that I finally found a dentist that I actually like...and doesn't terrify me...and understands that I am a big chicken with these kinds of things...

While I was at the dentist's office...hubby went out and bought me the beautiful card that you see above...It doesn't show how pretty it is in the picture.  It also has some sparkles and gems on it... and yes off to the left of the card is a box of chocolates.  I am so addicted to chocolate.  I'm actually not supposed to eat it...so please don't tell my doctor.  smile...

Since Jim surprised me with a card...I knew I needed to get one done for him...so I quick put one together...I kept meaning to find the time to do one...but you know how it is...
I needed to make a monochromatic card for the Split Coast Twisted Sister challenge for this week, so I also used this card for that challenge.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear."
~Saint John

Merry Monday Challenge #95

 

I made this card for this week's Merry Monday Challenge...the Link for the challenge can be found here 

This week's challenge is to use an Animal on our Christmas card...

I chose to use a dog stencil from Dreamweaver...LL3029.  I paste embossed my dog..I think my paste was a bit old...so It didn't paste quite as well as I would have liked...but I think you can still my cute dog...At least I think he's cute.  I paper pieced his little outfit...I made my Christmas tree using a spellbinder die 2010 Holiday Tree, and embossed my tree with a cuttlebug folder (divine Swirls) I rubber stamped my sentiment using a Stampin' Up stamp, More Merry Messages.  I also used a Stampin' Up stamp to stamp my dog bones (D is for Dog) I fussy cut them out. added brads,  and peel offs to frame my card.  and my Designer Paper is from DCWV.  (and a post script...I know my background paper looks orange...(not much of a Christmas color) ...but it's Red Honest...smile.

"Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job."

~Winston Pendleton

Thank you for visiting my blog today...

Blessings,

Jill

My card for today..

My blog post does not have a very catchy title...I always struggle with putting a title with my posts...when I asked my hubby for a title he started clucking like a chicken.  I told him that was not much help...LOL...  Anyone, who may have read his blog...would soon pick up that he is the "talker" in the family not me...smile...

He also colored the above image for my card...If you saw his blog post a few days ago...he posted this image...I finally got around to making his image into a card.  It takes him many hours to color the images with copics...but he always seems to get them done faster than in the time it takes me to make a card.

He found the image at...

http://digitaltuesday.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Take Time to Enjoy...

Take Time to Enjoy the Simple Things in Life...

Okay, to be honest, today life didn't seem so simple to me.  It was in some ways a challenging day.  I try to keep in mind that we ALL have days like that, and I keep reminding myself things can always be worse.  So I tried to keep in mind my motivational word.  JOY...   And Enjoy the day!

Making cards is one of the things that definitely bring me JOY!  Usually does anyway...but after two failed attempts with making a  card today...It wasn't as Joyful as I hoped...LOL.  So I put the other cards aside for now...and went the Simple way, and made a card using a 3d sheet that was given to me as a gift from my crafting friend, Cherie,  Thank you Cherie.  I hope you like the card that I made with the 3d sheet you gave me.  The sentiment was stamped with memento ink...The stamp is by Hero Arts.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

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I also wanted to Welcome my Newest follower, Kimberly.  Kimberly's blog can be found here

Kimberly makes beautiful cards...I like the CAS cards...so well done, something I struggle with...
but Kimberly certainly doesn't have a problem with them...very creative....Thank you, Kimberly.

Coffee...Must have my coffee!

At Split Coast Stampers...Sue, wanted us to make a card for the Twisted Sister Challenge this week...using the theme of Coffee!  I am a big coffee drinker.  I start off every day with my cup of coffee.  Trying to cut down, and don't drink as much as did when I was working full time.  My desk at work was the one that was closest to the coffee maker.  I was usually the one that ended up making a new pot each time.  A fresh pot of coffee is my undoing.  I just had to have a fresh cup of coffee each time  I smelled that coffee brewing.

I made my card using the Iris folding technique.  My pattern came from a book that I purchased.  Up until a short time ago...it was on my desk..It must of walked away...LOL!  I'll have to add the name of the book later.

Thank you for visiting my blog...
Blessings,
Jill

"All the coffee in Columbia won't make me a morning person"

"Is there life before coffee?"

Trying to post before our big snow fall

They are calling for lots of snow in our area in the next couple of days and possible sleet, etc.
and My DH is afraid with this heavy snow, and ice...a lot of it already on our trees, etc. that our electricity might go out.   So I thought I better try and post this card while I can...just in case.

This card took me much longer to do than I would like to admit...LOL!  Mainly because I could not figure out what paper combo to use...It's a larger size card  5"  x 7".

I used a tutorial posted by  Sandi Genovese....who does the most amazing scrapbook how to videos.

http://www.sandigenovese.com/a-hearty-card/

The number one mistake I made in making my card...was my card stock base for this card was not heavy enough.   My card also looks like it's not straight across on the top of the card....but in real life it is.  Not sure why it photographed that way.    It's too late at night, for me to try and take new pics.

I wanted to do a post today...so I could make a card that would be in memory of my Mother.  It is four years this week that I lost my Mom.  She loved Victorian cards, and I'm sure she would have liked this one.  My Mother's service was held during the worse weather that we had that whole winter.  We had a blizzard that day. 

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On a happier note...I had something else to bring me JOY today.  (My motivational word for this year!)

I  have a new follower on my blog.  Bonnie...    Bonnie's blog can be found here...

http://bon2stamp.blogspot.com/

Stamping with Klass.     I realized that she used her name.....but let me tell you her cards are made with CLASS!  Bonnie makes Stunning, elegant cards.   I first became familiar with her work with the lovely cards she posts at Split Coast Stampers.   Thank you, Bonnie...

Since my Mother has been on my mind a lot this week...(and always in my heart)  I want my quote today to be a "Mother" quote...

"A Mother's love is like a circle, it has no beginning and no ending.  It keeps going around and around ever expanding, touching everyone who comes in contact with it."

~Art Urban"

Merry Monday Challenge #94

I made this card for this week's Merry Monday Challenge...You can find the link to the challenge here

http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/02/merry-monday-94-use-stocking-theme.html

This is the first time that I'm  entering this challenge.  I like to make Christmas cards all year long so I don't find myself in a panic when Christmas rolls around and I don't have my cards ready.  I think this challenge will help me to keep on track.  Thank you for this challenge.

This week's theme is to make a Christmas card with a stocking or stocking on our card.

I made a stocking using the Iris Folding technique..

The pattern that I used is from a book that I purchased.  "460 Iris Folded Cards to Make...by Marusdha Gaasenbeek & Tina Beauveser.

Added a sticker for the sentiment.

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So now I'm going to copy cat, Darnell again.  (Hope you don't mind, Darnell)

I like her feature on her blog where she introduces new friends that follow her blog.

and with this post I have three new followers to introduce to you...

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First There is Mau.  The link to Mau's blog can be found here 

http://denmau-crafts.blogspot.com/

Mau's Place (the name of her lovely blog)  Is a wonderful place to visit.  She colors her images so beautifully.  My very favorite is her Sugar Nellie Cards.  Lots of eye candy there.

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Second, we have Jill  (yes another Jill!)  I don't know if Jill has experienced what I have experienced through the years....but I have met very few other Jill's.  So It's nice to introduce you to Jill.

Jill's wonderful blog can be found here 

http://greenwoodgirlcards.blogspot.com/

I think Jill and I have another thing in common...Jill likes to make pretty, "Girl" type cards.  My favorite.  (and I see she uses pink a lot in her creations ---My favorite color)  You are in for a treat when you visit her website.

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And Third, we have Mary H.....This is The link to Mary's Wonderful blog...

http://carolinacardsbymaryh.blogspot.com/

Mary also has some wonderful eye candy on her blog...and Mary brought some extra JOY

into my day today...she became my Hundredth follower!  Wow! It's very hard for me to believe that I have 100 followers.  

And with that milestone, I hope to do a "Darnell"  Darnell recently had a milestone of 400 followers, and to show her appreciation to her followers.  She now cases one of her followers every week.  I hope to do the same thing.  I think it's a nice way to show appreciation...  Thanks for sharing the idea Darnell. 

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy! They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

~Marcel Proust

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

From the Heart

Still working on Valentine cards...The second card was made using copics to color the image (It was colored by my hubby...

"Nobody has ever measured , not even poets, how much the heart can hold."
~Zelda Fitzgerald

Thank you for visiting my blog today...
Jill