Birds & Bees

It's all about the birds and the bees according to Heart 2 Heart Challenges this week!!!  I combed through my stamp sets for inspiration for this challenge and came across one I hadn't inked up in a while.

The stamp set is called Flower Child and it is simply adorable.  The images remind me of Anne Geddes photos.

I stamped each image with Memento black ink and then coloured with Shin Han markers, with a touch of Wink of Stella glitter on the bee's wings.

The two wooden birds are retired embellishments from CTMH from my stash.

The background is painted with watercolours, then cut with a metal die to add some whimsy to the delicate images.  To balance out, I matted on black cardstock.

To top it off, I saw my first robin this weekend!!! There were about a dozen on our front yard enjoying the sunshine.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Lagoon, Gypsy & White Daisy

Color My Heart Color Dare challenge has a great colour combination this week of Lagoon, Gypsy and White Daisy.  I admit it was a tough one and not something that I would even think of putting together.  I guess that's what makes it a challenge!!!

I pulled out lots of retired product for this challenge.  It's difficult to see in the photo but I shadowed my sentiment by stamping in second, third and fourth generation to give some dimension to a very clean and simple card.

I still have a tiny bit of lagoon zipper lace left in my stash and thought it perfect for this card.  The lagoon button and metal piece were from lagoon assortment package that I admit I hoarded!!! I added the white metal flowers from the Brushed assortment and tied a bow with white embroidery floss to finish it off.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Fathers' Day with Atlantic Hearts

I know I keep saying it, but Michelle has another wonderful sketch for this weeks' challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.  I kept my card clean and simple, following her sketch.

I really went far back into the stash for this paper.  I love the masculine feel of the fish which was perfect for this Father's Day card.

To add some interest I distressed all the cocoa cardstock to show the white core.  The "gone fishing"  and Happy Father's Day sentiment were stamped with cocoa ink and I stamped again with fern and sky for the fish, cutting out and popping up with foam tape.  Some retired brown sparkles finish it off.

http://atlanticheartschallenge.blogspot.ca/

You can see this weeks' sketch as well as past designs by clicking on the link.







Enjoy,

Jennifer

Monograms

I've been back in the craft closet and creating again - my happy place for sure.  The ladies at Heart2Heart Challenges have a created a challenge for sure; use monograms in your project.  I had to put my thinking cap on for this one, but I think I've got it.

This is a wedding card for my nephew, Geoff and his new bride, Brittany.  Their colours were grey and purple.

I used two retired stamp sets, Key to My Heart and Old World Alphabet heat embossed with silver pearl.  A few retired pearls, and silver glitter paper add some pizzazz to very simple card.

Thanks H2H for helping me out with the idea!!!

Enjoy,


Jennifer

Tulip are Blooming

The challenge this week at Color My Heart Color Dare is to use the colours cotton candy, sweet leaf, topiary, glacier and white daisy.

We will be celebrating my mother-in-law's 85th Birthday on Sunday.   She immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands, following WWII with her brother and his wife, and married her sweetheart who came to Canada before them, when she arrived.   It's too early for Canadian tulips to be blooming but I think she'll enjoy this bouquet of cotton candy tulips!!!!

Although fiddly and a bit time consuming, the card really does come together once the prep work is done.

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Fern with Heart 2 Heart

I'm suffering from post holiday laziness... a week in the sun, sand, and sea was wonderful!!!  Now, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and catch up on some artwork and participate in some challenges.

Heart 2 Heart Challenge is to use the colour fern from Close to My Heart.

So, I accepted the challenge, and boy did I use fern.  First off with fern cardstock layered with colonial white.  I embossed the colonial white with the woodgrain folder for a bit of dimension on a very clean & simple card.

I also used fern ink to stamp the sentiment and the trees in first, second and third generation for some shadowing.

Last, but not least, I used fern thick twine!!!




I hope you enjoy FERN as much as I did!!!

Jennifer

Retired with Heart 2 Heart

You know we all have that "stash" - those papers or embellishments that we are saving.  The paper is too pretty to cut, the embellishments you can't replace so it goes into the "stash", which if you're like me is rapidly growing.

I was very excited to see the challenge at Heart 2 Heart is "retired".  Yep use anything that is retired in your project.  This is what I came up with.

I used the retired paper package Confetti Wishes for my card.  I love the great colours and patterns in this package.

I also used some new items, including the purple enamel hearts, and cricut cuts from the Artiste cartridge.

I haven't used all my Confetti Wishes paper.... if you use it you won't have it.... right?



Enjoy,

Jennifer

Later Sk8er

This week at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is another great sketch created by Michelle.  I hope you are playing along with the sketches!!

 I must confess when I first looked at the sketch I thought of bandages.  Sorry Michelle....

Not only is my card inspired by the sketch but also on my collection - aka stash!!!

I discovered a great gear embossing folder which went perfectly with this paper from Later Sk8er that I had saved.  The embellishments are also from the Later Sk8er line.

I often use slate in my projects but have ignored other colours.  Pear was one of those colours which is so pretty - it may be in many future projects.

This card is the reverse of the above card - just shows how it can change up with a quick flip.

I used all the same items, yet the card has it's own personality.  A bit of sanding on the cardstock brought out the embellished gears.






I think I'm going to have to search in my paper stash for a few more pieces of this paper....

Enjoy,

Jennifer

"3" with Heart 2 Heart

The challenge for this week at Heart 2 Heart Challenges is to use "3" in your project.  Isn't it appropriate then that I'm posting my card on the 3rd day of the 3rd month!!!!  Must be lucky.

I'm going to have to duplicate this card in pink just to be ready for my nephew & niece's little bundle.  They have chosen to be surprised on the gender!!

I love the teddy bear & blocks which is from a retired stamp set.  The sentiment is from the Georgie assortment as is the patterned paper.

So I have 3 stars, and three embellishments and three blocks!!!  I think I covered "3".

Enjoy,

Jennifer

Blossoming with Color My Heart

It's time for another Color My Heart Color Dare and this week the colours are so pretty.  The challenge for this week is to use white daisy, smoothie, hollyhock, and lagoon.  Honestly, I'm not sure I would put these colours together, but the end result is stunning.

Since we're all dreaming of Spring, I wanted to ink up a new stamp set D1665 Blossoming Expressions.  It's a great set for base & shade stamping!!  Using second generation stamping I was able to get varying shades for both the roses and leaves.  For the centres I used some bitty pearls.  I pulled out another embossing folder Z1994 Floral Embossing which I love.

Stampaganza is a great time to add this stamp set to your collection.  Lots of flower options and sentiments toI choose from.  This is going to be a "go to" stamp set for sure.

Start your lists!!!! When you purchase two stamp sets, you will be able to choose the third (of equal or lesser value) FREE!!!!




Enjoy,

Jennifer

Happy March

Happy March 1st - according to our weather forecast it is about to come in like a lion.  We are under a weather storm warning and watch with snow accumulation and wind!!  Yuck - - perfect weather to stay inside and scrapbook.

Back for the month of March 2016 is Stampaganza!!!!  Purchase 2 stamp sets and receive the 3rd of equal or lesser value FREE!!!!  Now is the time to get all those favourites you've been wanting.  Remember stamp sets in the Seasonal Expressions 1 are not available after April 2016.

You can never have too many stamp sets!!!

March SOTM is so cute.  Sunshine Birdies will be chirping the arrival of spring.  Cute birds, butterflies, musical notes and sentiments - this is a set you must add to your collection.  With an order of $50.00 this is available for only $6.00






Enjoy,

Jennifer