Thursday, May 30, 2019

Stamping Friends Trifecta Blog Hop!

What a fun day you're going to have! It's a Trifecta Blog Hop with Picket Fence Studios, My Sweet Petunia, and Gina K. Designs! Teams from all three companies are sharing some amazing projects today - PLUS each company is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate! Winners will be posted no later than June 7 on each company's blog. Be sure to hop along each stop for a chance to win! Each company blog has the entire hop list. If you are here from the lovely Anna Wight's blog, you are in the right place!

Since it's a Trifecta, I had to make three cards!
First up is this Distress Oxide blend. I used my Life Changing Brushes, and Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, and Faded Jeans for my background. If you don't have the brushes, they are a must for frustration-free and hassle-free blending! I spritzed a little water, and the background was done. For contrast, I kept the butterfly from GKD's Elegant Asters (and matching dies!) black and white. The sentiment is from Picket Fence Studios' A Bright Night. While I didn't cut it out, I did get it straight using the Cut Align tool! And the centering ruler helped cut my circle right in the center of my card!

Second is a watercolored background base (Kuretake paints) to match the embossed (Ranger Queen's Gold) aster in the foreground. I cut the beautiful Hello die from glitter cardstock and adhered each to a panel stamped with VersaMark ink. Pearls always add a nice finishing touch!

And finally, is a sweet pink (my favorite color) with a fabulous sentiment from the Elegant Asters set. I colored with Copic markers, added a subtle stencil in the background, and then added pearls again for embellishment. The flowers and sentiment turned out so crisply using my MISTI! It's always a little scary when you're stamping right on the panel you're going to use, but the MISTI is a no-fail, must-have tool!!

Three different looks! For the next stop, head over to the very talented Susan Wymer! She will wow you with her stuff!




Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Freshly Made Sketches #390

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! It is my pleasure to be the hostess this week!

Today I decided to use some of my gigantic stash of beautiful designer paper and make a feminine "almost" shabby chic greeting. I switched up the banners from the sketch, and added two Prima flowers to go along with the Prima paper. The sentiment is cut from some beautiful glitter cardstock (a very light green) with a die from Catherine Pooler.


I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created!









Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Freshly Made Sketches #389

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Narelle is our hostess this week and has a lovely sketch. Be sure to visit the FMS blog to see her card, as well as the rest of the team's!  

It’s so important to let people know you are thinking of them. Someone may just need the boost your happy mail gives to make it through the day! This card is going out in the mail today – just to say hello to a faraway friend.

I made a fun shaker card using the Freshly Made Sketches #389 for my layout, combining Trinity Stamps' Caribbean Ocean Confetti Mix and Generous Heart Confetti.  I stamped my sentiment from the newly released Happy Senti-Mini set, cut a banner, and added some die cut leaves (Reverse Confetti). The front of the card was embossed with an embossing folder (SU!) for texture. The Senti-Mini sets have so many options for creating greetings to fit any occasion! Including just sending happy mail!

Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created!


Challenges:











Friday, May 17, 2019

Home Sweet Home


This adorable little scene is from a bonus special edition stamp set called COZY CABIN, and part of the newest Whimsy Stamps' Paper Door Kit - available now HERE. The kit is called ADORABLE OTTERS. I love this little scene - perfect for many occasions. I stamped with Altenew Jet Black ink, and then colored with Copic markers.

In the May kit:
BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10th of each month
Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Adorable Otters" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
COMPLEMENTING "Adorable Otters" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
SPECIAL EDITION "Build-a-Pond" Die Set and "Cozy Cabin" 4x3 clear stamp set introduced especially for PAPER DOOR PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects


How cool is that?!?!

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

It's Time for the May Release at Picket Fence Studios! PLUS A Giveaway!

It's the 14th of the month, and that means NEW GOODIES at Picket Fence Studios!! There are some fantabulous stamps, dies, and stencils brand new! But before you steal away to check out EVERYthing, take a peek at what I am sharing today:

My first card uses a new single stamp, Together Is Always Better, and a new stencil, All About the Triangles. I used my Life Changing Brushes and Twisted Citron Distress Ink for the stencil, and then stamped the sentiment on top with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink. The card base is a contrasting spring color, which makes the stencil pop! A trio of sequins adds just enough bling.


Next up is a new set called Something Sweet - a must have for pineapple fans. In my background, I used another new stencil this month called Pineapple Collage Stencil. I inked it with VersaColor Umber ink, using my Life Changing Brushes. The pineapple and sentiment were stamped with Altenew Jet Black ink, and the pineapple was then colored with alcohol markers. I popped it up with foam tape.
 
Be sure to check out the entire release because......
there is a $100 Gift Certificate up for grabs during the release -- a winner from each of the Design Team's blogs! And to celebrate the one year anniversary, use code PFS20 to get 20% off your entire order NOW. All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog. Check out my Instagram @joy_in_a_jar and leave one there too, and you double your chance of winning! Please leave your comment here by Saturday, May 18, and I will post the winner on the 20th! Good luck and happy shopping!

Monday, May 13, 2019

Friends Need Each Otter!

Aren't these faces the cutest? The otters are from the newest Whimsy Stamps' Paper Door Kit - available now HERE. It's called ADORABLE OTTERS -- and they are! 

In the kit:
BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10th of each month
Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Adorable Otters" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
COMPLEMENTING "Adorable Otters" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
SPECIAL EDITION "Build-a-Pond" Die Set and "Cozy Cabin" 4x3 clear stamp set introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects


How cool is that?!?!

Friday, May 10, 2019

The May Whimsy Stamps Paper Door Kit is Here!

The May Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is here! This month's kit is called ADORABLE OTTERS - and has SO many fun things to combine and mix! Here is my card for the release today, with more otter fun to come soon!

The papers that come in the kit are just so fun - they are double-sided with prints on one and a solid background on the flip side. Perfect matches!

Here are the kit details:
BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10th of each month
Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Adorable Otters" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
COMPLEMENTING "Adorable Otters" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
SPECIAL EDITION "Build-a-Pond" Die Set and "Cozy Cabin" 4x3 clear stamp set introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects



Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Thanks for stopping by!


Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Freshly Made Sketches #387

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Cécile is our hostess this week and has a lovely sketch. Be sure to visit the FMS blog to see her card, as well as the rest of the team's!  

Have seen the new Trinity Stamps release for Spring? Our Spring for the last week in Nebraska has been a lot of rain and wind. But I am looking forward to next week's sunshine. This sentiment from Rainy Days Together is a perfect combination for our Central Plains weather!
I started by stamping my three adorable little ducklings and the umbrella with Altenew Jet Black ink, and then colored them with Copic markers. I added a little puddle under each one. The second step was to score two lines on either side of them for a faux frame, as I wanted to make a one layer scene, easily mailed.  


Both the umbrella and the puddles under each duck were then colored with a Nuvo Glitter pen. The umbrella shows the sparkle quite nicely, and the puddles have just as much shine IRL! I added some clouds stacked in one corner, and a few Boiled Sugar (brand new embellishments!) Clear Jelly Drops to simulate raindrops.

I think it turned out pretty cute, don't you? The sunny yellow card base is the sunshine to come! 

Here is this week's sketch! As you can see, I turned it upside down, and the clouds became my leaves! What will you create?
Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created!




Friday, May 3, 2019

Spring Fling Blog Hop with Trinity Stamps!

 >>> Click HERE for my Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop card! <<<

Hello everyone! Welcome to Trinity Stamps' Spring Fling Hop! You are going to be wowed today with the team's creations and all of the fun new products! Super cute images, lots of new sentiments, and oodles of amazing embellishments!

 

** GIVEAWAY: One reader will be randomly selected to receive a $25 Trinity Gift Card and an embellishment goodie bag! ** Be sure to visit all the blogs on the hop to be entered! BEST embellishments around!

My first card today is a sweet one-layer, mailable CAS using the new Puddle Jumpers set. This is such a cute set, and I know you are going to love it. I chose my sentiment first, and then decided to use just the frogs for this card.
My design started by using Tumbled Glass Distress ink, ThermOWeb's Purple Tape (a must have!), and my blending brushes. The masked middle area is actually the width of the tape!


The frogs were stamped using Altenew's Jet Black ink, and colored with Copic markers. Finally, I added my sentiment with VersaFine Onyx Black ink (crisp ink for sentiments!), and three Wicked Sequin Like Confetti embellishments for bling.


My second card is totally different, and for the mixed media lovers out there.  
My background began on watercolor paper with Brusho crystals. Once that was dry, I stamped my sentiment from the new Thank You Senti-Mini set in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink. 

My shaker embellishments are Brave Heart (purple iridescent heart confetti), Humble Heart (blue), and New Shoes (glossy white confetti), plus some glitter in my stash. To highlight the sentiment, I added the glitter before the ink was dry, so it would stick in some places. I added a wood heart at the bottom of the card to offset and compliment the sentiment.


Well, there you have it! Next up is the sweet and talented Katie Brooks! I know you will love what she has to show you!

It's Time to Coffee Hop!

 
It's here! It's the start of the 2019 Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop! The hop runs May 3-10, with tons of caffeine for your pleasure, and oodles of Super Sponsors! And don't you love the graphic? Congratulations to Shanna Slater! 

Today I am sharing a sweet and simple, on the verge of shabby chic CAS card :)


I used to sew all the time on my cards, and I have missed the look. So today I am bringing back traditional pearls, ribbon and stitching! And some spring flowers, of course! My images are from a retired company - Fresh Squeezed Stamps.


Enjoy the rest of your day!
 


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Freshly Made Sketches #386

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jen B. is our hostess this week. Be sure to visit the FMS blog to see her card, as well as the rest of the team's! 

I am using one of the new releases from Picket Fence Studios today: Hello Beautiful. It has a coordinating die too! He's a cute little guy trying to take a good selfie! I chose tropical florals and matching stripes for my background.



My flamingo is stamped on Hammermill 100# white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I flipped the sketch, and stamped my sentiment (VersaFine Clair Nocturne) on the right side.
  
Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created!


Come Join the May Rainbow Card Challenge!

Happy May, Cardmakers! Have you seen the new challenge at the Rainbow Card Challenge? This month is Gorgeous Greens!


I am using a favorite stamp from Picket Fence Studios' Neighborhood Stamp Set. I love this cityscape and all of the different things you can do with it!

I made a smooshed watercolor background using Peeled Paint Distress Ink, and then stamped on top with VersaFine Clair Nocturne. I added a sentiment from Ways to Say Get Well using a leftover scrap. 

Be sure to join us and play along. It's so fun to see what everyone makes, and what wonderful ideas you all have!