Celebrate

Been spending some time in my studio and I am loving it!  I forget sometimes how therapeutic it can be to create.  Definitely time well spent.

I recently got my hands on the Gina K wreath builder set and it has been so fun to learn to use.  I even bought my sister and mom a set so I can teach them how to use it.  They are completely and totally addictive and the next few cards I share will likely be using the template.

I had some great results with the wreath builder from Gina K , although I will admit there is a learning curve - I didn't love everything I created with it, but once I got the hang of how to make them "mine" with my own style, I fell in love.  It's great because you can use so many of the stamps in your stash to create fun, new and wonderful cards.

For this one, I used some stamps from Paper Smooches that I got when I designed for them.  It's one of my most used sets as I just love the happy spring flowers - it's called Best Buds.  I used the small flowers to create the oval wreath (that's right, you can make ovals and squares with the template as well as round wreaths), then used the sentiment stamp from the set to create the focal point.

I also played around with my new Artzea Real Brush Pens to color these images.  They are a breeze to use and go on so easily.  I used them directly to the paper, blending without water for these images as I wanted them to be bold.  These could easily become a staple in my card making!

Challenges:

My Time to Craft - spring flowers

Sweet Stampin Challenge - anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes

Creative Moments - anything goes

Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes

More to come - have a great day!

Hugs,

Jodi

Crafty Catz - week 2

Back today with a new make for my guest designer spot at Crafty Catz Challenges.  The sponsor is Lucy Sunshine and I adore this image of the hobo-clown...isn't he just too cute?  

After coloring him with Copics, I picked some design papers that accented it, then layered them up.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches and the die cut around it is from Spellbinders.  Simple to put together and will be fun to give away.

Hop on over and join in the fun at Crafty Catz - you could win this image or pick your own from the amazing collection at Lucy Sunshine.  The challenge is "anything goes" and the twist this week is "love is in the air".

Challenges:

Simon Wednesday Challenge - it must be love

Penny's Challenge - anything goes

Fab 'n' Funky - Valentine - say it with words

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Crafting By Design - anything goes

Happy Friday!

Hugs,

Jodi

Crafty Catz - Guest Design week 1

I have the wonderful opportunity to be a guest designer for a wonderful challenge blog called Crafty Catz.  The challenge is always "anything goes" over there, but they also have a twist of "one for the girls" if you want to play along.

The sponsor is Star Stamps and they provided me with this adorable image.  I colored her with my Copics and then added some cute design papers and a fun die cut frame to this card.  I found a simple hugs stamp from Paper Smooches to add the sentiment.  I like the way it turned out.

Hop on over to Crafty Catz to see all the wonderful samples the design team created and join in the fun challenge!

Challenges:

A bit more time to craft - anything goes

Crafty gals - anything goes

Addicted to stamps - make your mark

Hugs,

Jodi

I Love You

Back today with another Paper Smooches inspired card.  I used the Smoocheroos stamp set for it together with some fun edge stamps from EK Success and a oval die set that I recently pick up.  I colored it with my Copics and although you can't tell, the balloons are covered in glossy accents.  I used some fun 6x6 Doodle Bug papers to keep with the bright and cheery feel.  The colors and prints them come up with at Doodle Bug are always so happy!  It all came together very easy and I hope Torrey smiled when she got it in the mail.

Challenges:

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner - anything goes

Little Red Wagon - birthday balloons

Addicted to Stamps - make your mark

Hugs to all!

Jodi

Thoughts of You Explosion

These explosion box cards are such a fun and unique way of making a card and the Lawn Fawn scalloped box card pop-up set makes them sooooo easy to do.  I used that set for the entire box setup, banners, and all.  Then I added some stamped and Copic colored flowers from Paper Smooches (Best Buds) set.  I fussy cut them all cause that's what I call therapy!  Hehe...  I love the way it came together and I hope it brightened a friend's day when she got it.

Challenges:

Paper Smooches - January - anything goes

Crafty Catz - anything goes - something new

Fussy and Fancy - fussy and fancy

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - anything goes

Addicted to Stamps - anything goes

Happy Friday!

Hugs,

Jodi

Paper Smooches - last week of guest designing

Back again today with my last (sniff sniff) card for the guest design spot with Paper Smooches.  I have had a blast working with Kim's adorable and innovative designs.  I hope it's not the last time we work together.

This card was inspired by two things - first was the wonderful Wavy Pattern Die which was a terrific way to show off the second inspiring thing - the background paper behind the die.  I created that with Distress Oxide inks and used it to pick my color pallet.  Matting layers in black help make the wavy border just pop so well.  I used the stamp from the Wavy Wishes for the sentiment and then used the Wavy Wishes Icon Die set to cut it out.  I popped it up a little then added the ribbon and bow to bring it all together.

Challenges:

Just Add Ink - sketch

4 Crafty Chicks - anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Crafting by Design - anything goes

Crafty Creations - anything goes

Addicted to Stamps - make your mark

I guess that's it for now - I'll still be working with tons of Paper Smooches stuff - so stay tuned for more to come!

Hugs,

Jodi

Paper Smooches - Celebrate!

Hello my crafty peeps!  I'm here today to show off this adorable new die cut from Paper Smooches.  Isn't he just da'bomb?  I've had a blast guest designing for Paper Smooches and am thrilled to have had this opportunity!

For this card I used the Unicorn die on three different patterned papers and then pieced him back together using all three.  I added more patterned papers for the background and then used the celebrate stamp from the Sentiment Sampler set.  Some faux stitching and inked edges add a little interest to it all.  I love the way it came out.

Challenges for this card:

Crafty Gals Corner - punches or die cuts

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Addicted to Stamps - anything goes

Stamping Sensations - anything goes

A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope your day is filled with love and laughter.

Hugs,
Jodi

Paper Smooches - Christmas lights

Back today with a quick share for Paper Smooches.  I am having a blast guest designing for them this month including this fun Christmas card I created using their Wavy Wishes stamp set.  I actually also used the Wavy Pattern dies set as a template to draw the fun wavy design my lights hang off of.  I was inspired by the shape and thought it made a good platform to hang the lights on.

The lights are stamped and then colored with my Copics.  I also used a fine glitter pen to add some shimmer on them.  I am not exactly sure why, but I fussy cut them and then glued them all done on the card --- then realized I should have just stamped them directly on the card.  Silly woman!  I added some crystal lacquer to each one to make them shine.   I used the same stamp set to add the holly leafs and the stamped sentiment.  Then a few patterned paper layers complete the card.

Challenges for this card:

Stamping Sensations - anything goes

Moving Along With The Times - things that start with "b" - bulbs

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - anything goes

Hope you enjoyed my share today.  Don't forget to head over the Paper Smooches site to check out all the August release... and rumor has it there is a big blog hop coming up as well.  Lots of inspiration headed your way.

Hugs,

Jodi

Simple - Paper Smooches Guest Designer

Back today with some more simple cards for the guest design spot at Paper Smooches.  I'm having so much fun playing with the designs from the August release.  I kept these two fairly simple to let the wonderful products shine bright.

On this first card I used the Flower Frame Dies to create the flowers out of felt... then added the sentiment from the Magical Sampler stamp set.  I added some hand-drawn borders and a pop of patterned paper and colored mat to finish the edges.  I think this one will be a great all-around useful card to brighten a friends day.

On this simple Christmas card I used the Wavy Wishes set for the sentiment and the Wavy Pattern dies to add interest to the focal point sentiment.  This set is very versatile and adds such a unique touch to the cards.  I love that I am already starting my stash of holiday cards for later this year.

Love me some Paper Smooches!!!!  <3 a="">

I would love to enter the first card in the following challenges:

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
Addicted to Stamps - clean and simple
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes
Stamping Sensations - anything goes

Thanks for sharing your day with me!

Hugs,
Jodi

Guest Designer - Paper Smooches

Wooohooo!  I can finally share with you some of the cards I created as a guest designer for the wonderful Kim Hughes at Paper Smooches!  This is only the first week of August and I'm already enjoying this so much.  The stamps and dies she designs make it so easy to create and are so unique to work with.  You gotta go check out the August release here.

For the first card I used the Unicorn die, but didn't use the horn which is separate from the body - great way to make it into something else and double the use of the die.  I decided it looked like a zebra to me and all it took was a few pen strokes to make that happen.  I used a sentiment from the Magical Sampler and the Banner Dies to create the simple sentiment on top.  Didn't it turn out adorable?

On the second card I water colored the background using Brushos, then stamped the sentiment directly on the background.  It's from the Wavy Wishes set.  Then I die cut some flower rings from the Flower Frame Set which also had heart die cut.  It came together so easily and turned out vibrant and cheery for sure.

Head on over to the Paper Smooches site to find all of the great dies and stamps included in the August release!

I would like to enter the Zebra card in the following challenges:

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - anything goes
Little Red Wagon - favorite products
A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes
Crafting By Designs - anything goes
Crafty Creations Challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by - come back soon for more from my time with Paper Smooches!

Hugs,
Jodi

Paper Smooches - just one more

One last entry for the Paper Smooches Design Team call...  This is one I made a couple of weeks ago for my dad for Father's Day.  It's simple, but I like it.  It was made using a couple of different stamp sets including the "Zoo Crew" and "Word Up" as well as the die set "Cloud Dies".  It has basic coloring with my Copics, a hand drawn border behind the image which is popped off the card.  Simple but cute!

Challenges:

Paper Smooches - It's all about the men
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - quick and easy
Artistic Inspirations - anything goes
Crafty Creations - anything goes

That's enough for now... Thanks for being here!

Hugs,
Jodi

More Paper Smooches ...

Here is another card for the Paper Smooches Design Team call.  I used their "Summer Lovin" stamp set for this one.  I colored the images with my Copics and created a little scene using Distress Inks and some papers from my scrap stash.  I think it turned out very peaceful and sweet.

Here's some challenges for this one.

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
Crafty Cardmakers - summertime
4 Crafty Chicks - summertime activities
My Time to Craft - summertime

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,
Jodi

Paper Smooches Design Team Entry

I have a new obsession...  I can't stop it and not even sure I want to!  Paper Smooches are quickly becoming my favorite stamps and die cuts to use.  I love the adorable, whimsical images and the humor is so much fun - tongue in cheek, just my kind of puns.

It was so exciting to see that they were having a guest design team call.  I just had to throw my hat in the ring and hope for the best.

This card was created using their "Green Acres" stamp set along with the "Spring Groves" tree stamp.   The sentiment was printed on my computer.  The images are colored with my Copics and the background is shaded with Distress Inks.  I didn't think it needed anymore then a couple of patterned paper mats and the ribbon accent.

Along with the Paper Smooches design team call, I think I'll enter a few challenges as well.

Stamping Sensations - use your favorite stamp
The Corrosive Challenge - anything goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today - I'll be back tomorrow with another entry for Paper Smooches.

Hugs,
Jodi