Wow! It's Been a While

I've been neglecting my blog...call it potty training a stubborn child I guess. Anyway, I was inspired by the Mojo Monday sketch and tried my hand at it. The stamps are from Close to My Heart and I bought the paper at Archivers. The prints used are from the same sheet of paper. I just flipped it over and used the back for the strip. Both sides are so pretty. Anyway, I'll try not to be a stranger. It was fun just to play tonight.

Thanks for looking,

Jo

Stamping Again

I know that it's been forever since I've posted on here and I apologize. My job keeps me very busy, but I have a vacation for the summer so I'm totally excited about blogging again. Here's a little birthday card I made using the Mojo Monday template, even though I didn't follow it to the letter. I just couldn't get the message that I wanted to fit in the circle. So, I'm submitting it anyway in hopes that it's ok.

The little monkeys are some of my favorite stamps. I got them from Close to My Heart. They're from a set called In the Wild. The patterned paper is called Rough and Tumble and is also from Close to My Heart. I'm a big fan of theirs :0)

So, back to the monkeys...I stamped them in chocolate and then took a q-tip and wiped the brown off the leaves and then colored them with a clover meadow marker. Then I took a clover meadow marker and outlined the leaves. Last I took watercolor pencils and colored the monkey and leaves and blended with a Tombow blending pen. I hope you like it.

Heartfelt Hugs,
Jo

It's Been A Long Time

Hey are you still there? I know...it's been forever since I've posted. I'm back to work after having the summer off. It's nice to have some type of a schedule again. I love summer, but by the end of it I'm ready for some structure.

Here's a card I made a while back using some baroque letters that I got from Close To My Heart. You can't tell from the picture, but I outlined the letters with a clear glitter gel pen and they just shimmer in the light.

The base of the card is New England Ivy and I used a paper pack called Heritage for the pattern paper. It's technically not Christmas paper, but I just love the colors and the antique look to it.

I did emboss on the pattern papers after I layered them together. I had to be careful not to warp the paper with the heat tool since the papers aren't cardstock weight.

That's pretty much it. I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by. I'll try to post more often now that we're settled into more of a routine.

Heartfelt Hugs,

Jo

A Sketch Challenge

Well, it's been a while but I think I'm back to stamping. Sorry for the long absence. I needed a card for a family in our church. If you think of it, please pray for them. They were in the process of adopting a baby. They were paying for the mom's prenatal care and have invested a lot of money, not to mention their hearts. They just found out that the mom has changed her mind. She's decided to go back to the abusive husband and to keep the baby. I cannot even imagine.

Here's the card specifics. I actually used a sketch from Fresh and Fun. I used the measurements that Beatte gave and didn't alter the sketch too much. The paper pack I used was called More to Adore. I love pink and brown together. I also used a stamp set called Treasure Life. I love those florals! The message came from a set called Follow Your Dreams.

Heartfelt Hugs,
Jo

Quick Card Post

I have to post and run. My hubby has been gone all week and will be home soon (Yea!). I wanted to get this card up for Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge. Hopefully Blogger cooperates with me LOL.

I embossed the background with clear embossing powder and then sponged Blush onto it so the design would show up. The watermelon is on dimensionals and for an added touch I put liquid glass on the seeds to make them raised and shiny like the real thing. I'm always needing birthday cards so this will come in handy at some point I'm sure.

Gotta run...

Heartfelt hugs,
Jo

Baby Sarah

I bought this stamp set because it reminds me of all the foster babies that I've had. This one looks like Baby Sarah. I did this one for Kristina Werner's color challenge (see link in sidebar). She gives a picture to look at for color inspiration. It's the only picture I could get before my camera batteries died. I don't think you can tell from the picture, but the image is popped up with dimensionals. It's kind of a simple card. I usually like more bling, but I know that the in thing is "less is more" so I'm trying that approach. Thanks for looking.

Heartfelt Hugs,
Jo

Color Throwdown Challenge

Wow! I didn't realize that a week went by without me posting something. I found a new color challenge blog (always on the lookout for those so let me know if you have another fun one). This one is a blog called Color Throwdown. The kids were playing fairly well so I had some time to play. I don't have the exact colors in the challenge, but the girls over there are so kind to let us use what we have :0) This card is a mixture of stamp sets: Celebrate Life (butterfly), Playful Flourishes and For Every Occasion. I figure if I have the sets it's ok to mix and match, right?

This card sort of evolved. I don't like plain cardstock so I stamped a flower on the blue background and I also stamped the butterfly on the yellow pattern paper. I think if you click to make the picture bigger you'll be able to see it. I also love texture so I added some by sponging white around the blue and Autumn Terracotta around the Buttercup piece. This type of card just needed glitter. I'll probably be still wearing it on my date with DH tonight :0) I added the last touch by punching flowers and scattering them around and dotting the centers with a white gel pen (can't live without one of those). Oh, I also distressed the edges of the card and message piece with scissors. Anyway, I hope you like it. It wasn't colors that I'd normally see together, but that's why it's called a challenge :0)

Gotta' run get supper for the kids so they can get to VBS. I love summertime!

Heartfelt Hugs,

Jo