J J Creations

Friday, March 23, 2012

Quilted Birthday Mashup

Now that I'm officially on Spring Break, I can do the Friday Mashup ON Friday! WoooHooo! This one took me most of the morning - but I got it done.

The mash up today is:

Make a project using the "Quilted Cards Technique".
Or Make a project using "Something that's been forgotten (sitting in your stash forever)".
Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Quilted card with something you've forgotten about".

I had fun making this little "Quilt" and putting it through the Big Shot with the embossing folder. The item that was forgotten in my stash of stuff was the little crocheted flower. I bought these before Christmas with plans to create a "Flower Tree" with them and never got around to it.....so they got put away and buried. I used reinker and an aqua painter to colour it blue. The pink rhinestone brad is also something I rarely use.

I'm off to get some correspondence done and then maybe hit a few scrapbook pages. Who know what the rest of the day will hold. It's snowing, so I'm happy to stay inside and craft.

Hope you day moves in a direction you enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Tea Party Prep

After taking advantage of Create with Connie & Mary's Occasion Mini Tutorials - I've decided to host an Afternoon Tea in April and create this card along with the Tea Shoppe Explosion Box. Since I'm in the midst of doing that planning, it worked perfectly that today (Create with) Connie & Mary had a sketch as their challenge - so I used it.

I created the background with the Delicate Doilies set with Pool Party ink on Pool Party paper. I'll share the Explosion box later on -

I've been creating all afternoon - 5 cards done for the upcoming All Occasion Stack in May. I am NOT usually this prepared, but because I have a number of in-home workshops coming up, I wanted to be able to show them what stamping opportunities I'm having in my home in the future.

So - busy, busy, busy - Wooo Hooo - Hip hip Horray!

We've had a dump of snow today - on the eve of Spring Break. I'm sure anyone who was going to the mountains to ski is thrilled. My daughter is leaving for Mexico on Sunday - so she can't wait to get out of here!

I'm staying put - and happy to do so.

Hope you are happy with whatever plans are on your calendar - Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Joan

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Umbrella Thanks

I'm sorry I haven't used this set more often - I really like the images - this umbrella and the corset.

Today's creation is a blend of Stampin' Royalty for the sketch, Handstamped Sentiments asks for watercolour this week and Color Throwdown for the colours - Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and I used Baha Breeze instead of Brocade Blue.

I used ink and aqua painter for the umbrella and for the faces of each of the watches I added a bit of Crystal Effects. I absolutely love this pleated ribbon; it's so easy to work with.

We've only got one more day of school before spring break. Wooo Hooo!

I haven't shared a picture of Elliot since he was born - he's such a precious calm baby!

Have an enjoyable day!

Thanks for visiting!

Joan

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Lucky Peach Pool

There's only a limited time before this paper and stamp set are gone for good. Sale-a-bration ends March 31 and these two items could be selected for FREE with your $60 purchase. Check out my on-line store and get yours for FREE.

For this card I've used the colours set out last week by Create with Connie and Mary, ( Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party) and the sketch is from yesterday's Mojo Monday Sketch.

I'm off this afternoon to stamp with a bunch of teachers in their art room - fun, fun, fun!!! Hope your day holds some fun for you too!

Thanks for dropping in for a visit....Joan

Monday, March 19, 2012

Beads and Blues

Oh how I loved this set! My daughter asked me to create a card for a friend of hers who turned 21 on the weekend - Allison was pinched for time and I was glad to be able to help her. The specifications were purple and glitter. We both agreed that this dress was perfect too. After that I had free rein.

I always loved putting microbeads on this dress.....so that's what I did. I coloured it with Elegant Eggplant, applied Crystal Effects and then added the Microbeads. The background is done with the Baroque Motif image with Versa Mark and Irridescent Ice was added to give it the subtle bling. The final bit of bling is the little rhinestone of the dot of the I. Allison was happy with what I came up with.

I actually have another dress made up with silver microbeads......waiting for something to use that one for now.

This is one of the cards we do at my in-home workshops. Quick, easy, and I love this blue. To be honest...as the workshops continue, the sketch will stay the same, but the colours will change because I'm using pieces that are left over from my Teacher's Convention make-and-takes.

That's it for today. I'm planning on doing a challenge when I get home from school today...wooohooo!!

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday! I'm looking forward to mine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Two Down, One to go...

Busy, busy, busy. Conventions and report cards are now done - kids get their report cards at the end of this next week, but I've met the deadline for having marks in! Now, I just have to get through Music Festival on Monday and Tuesday and I'm clear to look for other stressors. Ha ha ha!

So - I was very pleased to be able to actually create one of my own cards today before moving on to cutting and prepping for next weekend.

I've used the Everybunny set from the Occasions Mini and incorporated the colours from the Friday Mashup - ....yellows and greens and the sketch from Stamping 411. I'm sure this is the first time that I've only done one part of the Friday Mashup - the second part this week was to create a treat basket - this bunny's basket probably doesn't count for that.

Well, I'm off to cut paper for an event next weekend, and I just realized that I have to make sub plans for tomorrow - yeuk! Oh well.....

Hope, if you are busy with chores and activities today, that you enjoy doing them. Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

In the Spotlight

I haven't done the spotlight technique in quite a while....and of course I got carried away with things again yesterday. Actually, I decided that the card I created for the challenge at The Paper Players (the sketch is from this weeks challenge) and SUO Challenges (creating a birthday card) was a bit too much for my technique class, so I revamped it using last weeks' Freshly Made Sketch to simplify it a bit.

I think these "Packed for..." stamps are perfect for this technique! I stamped the image three times in a row and then punched out the small circles, to be coloured and backed with the large Not Quite Navy circle to create the spotlight.

Because everything is pretty straight forward of this card, my stampers will be given the option of which "Packed for" image they'd like to use. The sentiment goes with all of them - Mom, Dad and Birthday.

I'm all packed for my next convention and looking forward to having a fantabulous time with Tamye!

Hope you have something to look forward to this week. Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Clipboard Diversion

I am SUPPOSE to be getting my stuff together and packed for another Teacher's Convention.....but what did I get side-tracked into doing yesterday afternoon????? - decorating the clipboards I use for people to sign up for classes.

I have never done anything like this before - and you can sort of tell. The Baroque Motif board on the side was my first one - done with black Staz-On. I added the black velvet piece from Mocha Morning - so seriously - velvet on a clipboard - a bit over the top!

Next, I put dragonflies only along the edge of the second board and added a piece of dotted paper from the Playful Polkadots Simply Scrappin Kit, and I used three different kinds of ribbon. Far simpler than the first attempt.

Finally, I used Inspired by Nature with Soft Suede and Early Espresso Ink. The butterfly from "Nature's Nest" is fluttering around the edge and the clip is covered with a piece from Attic Boutique. I also punched out some butterflies with the Big Shot and added pearl bodies to the ones at the top of the board.

For all three boards I used the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets to make the paper stick to the clip, and the board in the case of the butterflies.

All in all a productive afternoon - not just quite what I expected.

Hope your day is productive today - Thanks for stopping for a visit.

Joan

Monday, February 27, 2012

Get Well Stamps

Good Monday Morning - Just flying out the door to school but wanted to post this card I created yesterday in preparation for the March technique class. This is not the technique of the month - just a case of a Christmas Card that I got from my fellow stamper, Amy Barry. I've used the SAB Designer Series Paper and the matching Fresh Vintage stamp set, ribbon and brads.

Hope you have a marvellous start to your week. Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Friday, February 24, 2012

Birthday Stamp-a-Stack Coming Up

Wow, life is busy - but that's what keeps us out of trouble - right? I've got literature, music and stamping on the brain right now - a bit of an overload but we just work through one day at a time and it all works out in the end.

So - one upcoming stamping event is my Birthday Card Stamp-a-Stack.

March 3, 2012

1:00-4:00 OR 5:00-8:00

Cost $25.00 (OR $20.00 for Club Members)

Cost includes 15 Birthday Cards with co-ordinating envelopes, light snacks, door prizes

Bring along a friend who has never stamped with me before and get a gift from me.

Here are the 5 designs - you'll create 3 of each

Saturday afternoon - 1:00-4:00pm RSVP HERE

Saturday evening - 5:00-8:00pm RSVP HERE

Hope you have a great day - coming back soon with some challenge inspirations.

Thanks for stopping by - Joan

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Final Spritzing

I had a fantastic day yesterday stamping with friends at the Extravaganza. Lots of wonderful projects I'll share over the next few days - but today I'm showing the last two projects from my demonstration. I used the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for both examples.

For the card above, I took two of the paper daisies and "painted" the Smooch Spritz onto them with the Aquapainter. What a wonderful effect - the petals take on the shimmer of the spritz.

Finally - I used the last "technique" suggested in the January Stampin' Success Magazine - "Direct and Deliberate". That's exactly what I did - spritzed the piece of Blushing Bride card stock until there was no original card stock unspritzed. Glorious Shimmer! I also painted the flowers, from the Bordering on Romance set, with the smooch.

So that's it for spritzing - I'm excited to see what's coming up for the Summer Smooches Suite later this spring. Now I turn my attention to preparing for a booth at an upcoming Teacher's convention.

Fun, fun, fun! Can't wait!

Hope you have things to look forward to in your near or distant future! Thanks for stopping for a visit.

Joan

Friday, February 3, 2012

Smooch Spritz Mashup!

Even though this post is coming in late I'm pleased that I got the Friday Mashup done on Friday. I will be using this card in my demonstration tomorrow. First - the Friday Mashup begins with an inspiration photo

Make a project using the "Inspiration Photo".
Or Make a project using the colors "Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".
Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "Inspired by the photo using the colors Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose & Whisper White".

I used the Paper Doily Sizzlits die and used it as a mask for spritzing the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz over top. It got a bit heavy in some section, but was okay once it had dried.

I think I'm ready for our Extravaganza tomorrow - I'll have more to share with you then - and one more spritz idea. Have a wonderful weeked - thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Smooch Painting

This morning I tried painting with the Smooch Spritz. Again - I'm using the suggestions from the January Stampin' Success. I sprayed some of the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz into an empty brad container and for this first card I used water-colour paper, and an aqua painter to apply the spritz to the image. I love how it makes the flower shimmer. And - just to keep with the theme, I spritzed one of the crocheted flowers - it's very subtle, but you can see the glimmer on the thread (in person).

I've used the Mojo Monday sketch for this card (however, I left the card rectangular instead of square or round. I also used the challenge from SUO Challenges to use a favourite item from the Occasions Mini. I must say I am enjoying this Smooch Spritz and I love the pleated satin ribbon. I have discovered, however, that if you are wanting an image to straddle the ribbon, you need to stack two dimensionals together so that the image remains flat, and not bent over the ribbon.

Here is a second card, using the same two challenges, but for the image, I used regular Whisper White card stock and a blender pen to "paint" on the Smooch Spritz. The card also includes another new favourite - I think these little buttons are adorable - I love the designs!

On the weekend I used the Lace Ribbon Border Punch to help create this background design with the Blushing Bride Spritz. For the Chocolate Covered Strawberries I coloured the chocolate with marker and then added Crystal Effects to gloss it up. The tops of the strawberries have the new Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details. The strawberries have been raised up with dimensionals - but the stem is on the little white base.

I'm still doing some experimenting with this spritz. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Done for the day though - hoping my hubby and I can go out to dinner for my birthday this evening. Hope you have something wonderful planned for your evening - or sometime this week.

Thanks for stopping by -

Joan

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Blushes and Banners

I'm gearing up for an upcoming Extravaganza with our extended Stampin'Up! Team next weekend. I'm going to be doing a demonstration using the new Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz and I'm taking the ideas right out of the January Stampin' Success Magazine.

For the card above, which uses the sketch from Stamping 411 (positioned horizontally), I've used the Smooch by spritzing it right onto the rubber stamp image and then stamping it. You have to spray lightly or stamp lightly otherwise the image is fuzzy; and the areas where there is more of the spray glistens very nicely.

Next I'm sharing a Valentines banner I created using a tutorial from Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition 2012. Check out their website if you're interested in getting a whole whack of fantastic creative ideas with products from the Occasions Mini and the SAB mini!

I had to change some of the things on my banner because I didn't have the same supplies as were used in the tutorial, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I also added a central heart to the banner, just to make it a bit longer.

As I sit in my stamping room in the basement this afternoon, I can hear the water on the road in front of the house as the cars drive by. Very bizarre for January 29 in Northern Alberta! Hope it doesn't rain like it's expected to later! However, precipitation is precipitation - and the farmers will be needing it!!!

Hope you are having a great end to your weekend. Thanks for taking the time to stop by for a visit.

Joan

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Celebrate Mashup!

I honestly don't know where last week went! There were things I was suppose to do, people I was suppose to call and suddenly it was Friday - now it's Saturday and I hadn't even checked on yesterday's Friday Mashup! I'm losing my head! It's all okay though - I've been in my craft room all day - finishing up a banner and working on the Mashup! So here we go.

This week's Mash Up was....

Make a project using the "Sketch".
Or Make a project using "Something NEW in your stash". (Stamps, ribbon, pretty paper...anything!)
Or "Mash it Up" and create a project "using the Sketch & something NEW in your stash"

I hadn't used the Everyday Enchantment brads that are included in the Sale-a-Bration Ribbon and Brad Pack. And I love that thin ribbon, it's so easy to work with!

The colours I used for the sketch are from Create with Connie and Mary....Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Lucky Limeade.

I'll share the banner I created once I check on some logistics!

Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday! Thanks for stopping by.

Joan

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Packed for Baby

Yeah - I still have babies on the brain - probably will for a long time now, what with the new grandson and all.

Today's card is using the sketch from Create with Connie and Mary. I used a piece of DSP from Just Add Cake. I had wanted to use Peach Parfait and So Saffron for my colours - so this paper worked out well, and gave me a few more options for colouring in the Packed for Baby image. And, I'm just loving the little hands and feet from the Baby Prints set!

I'm sort of wishing I had done something to the base to keep it from being just plain paper .....but I'll get over it! Oh - and do you see that tiny little twinkling above the Baja Breeze Pleated Satin Ribbon - Yeah - I missed a bit of the sticky strip that I used to attach the ribbon - so I added a wee bit of glitter. I didn't notice it until the card was completely put together.

Anything glittery in your life today? Thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Dare to Dream

Well, the middle of the week has come and gone. I just can't believe how time is flying - and if I'm not careful I'm going to find myself overworked because I'm not doing bits and pieces ahead of time.

Today's card uses the photograph above for inspiration from Stampin' Royalty and a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. I've used Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade ribbon and Soft Suede. I spritzed the birdcage and the little birds with the gold smooch Spritz and those layers have been raised with dimensionals.

Hope you are having a wonderful week - it's almost done! Thanks for visiting.
Joan

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sale-a-Bration is HERE!!!

THIS POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG DURING SALE-A-BRATION. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY LATEST POSTINGS. THANK YOU.

Stampin' Up!'s biggest sale of the year begins today!

January 24 - March 31, 2012

Customers...

Choose a FREE Sale-a-Bration product for every $60 you spend (before shipping/Handling & GST)

Hostesses...

Get a FREE shopping tote when you host a $200 workshop

Get a FREE hostess bundle when you host a $525 workshop

(That's in addition to all the regular Hostess benefits!!! )

New Demonstrators

Join my team for just $150! AND

Get FREE Designer Series Paper or a digital download every month for the rest of 2012!!!

Stamp and Dash....

A quick post today, before I head off to school, which incorporates the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge and colours from Stampin' Royalty.

With the sketch I thought I would try just stamping the quadrants with the flourish from Elementary Elegance and topping it with the punched image, which is raised with dimensionals. In the end I wasn't sure about the central piece - but I used that to incorporate the fourth Stampin Royalty colours - They are Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade, Pumpkin Pie, and Crumb Cake.

One I embossed the centre piece, I flipped it and coloured in the swirls with a white gel pen. And of course, just a little bit of bling added to each section.

Well, I'm off - hope you are having a wonderful day - thanks for stopping by!
Joan

Sunday, January 22, 2012

CAS and Showers

Two quick posts this afternoon - the first is for The Paper Players challenge today to create a card using tags. I used this large one yesterday and decided to use it again today incorporating the daisy stamp from the upcoming SAB set "Sprinkled Expressions". Pulled out the daisy embossing folder too.

The second card today will be taken over to Elliot's baby shower this afternoon - I created it as a shaker card to go with Hand Stamped Sentiments shaker card challenge this week. It was tons of fun to create.

Off to get ready for the shower - hope you have something exciting to do today! Thanks for stopping by for a visit - Joan

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Challenging Challenge

I kind of struggled with this card today - don't know if it's the weather, the headache trying to come on or what - but here we go!

I've used the Friday Mash-up and the sketch challenge from Create with Connie and Mary. The Mashup! is:

Make a project using "Paper Piercing".
Or Make a project using the colors "Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red & Early Espresso".
Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Color Combo & Paper Piercing".

The colours are good together, I'm just not happy with the way my coloured ones turned out. The poor things are a wee bit pilled from the blender pen! Oh well, texture is good! I added the paper piercing around the edge of the tag.

Here is a picture of dear little Elliot with his eyes opened and duded out in a scarf and hat knit by an Auntie.

Hope your weekend is turning out well. I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon concentrating on not letting this headache take hold! I will win!!! Have a good one - and thanks for stopping by!

Joan

Thursday, January 19, 2012

A New Chapter -

I've missed an entire week of completing and posting challenges - but that's because I became a Grandma on January 8 for the first time - so things have been pretty exciting around here!

The challenge I completed tonight uses the colours from Create with Connie and Mary and the sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches. The colours are Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade - I've used a piece of the upcoming Sale-a-Bration Everyday Enchantment DSP, and the Fresh Vintage stamp set. I took one of the stamps and stamped onto a piece of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon with the Calypso Coral ink.

Here is a picture of me with Elliot Alan James Jeffery - such a sweet bundle of joy, producing emotions in me I never thought could be so strong.

Hope you are having a wonderful week - thanks for stopping by - Joan

Friday, January 6, 2012

Tea Mashup!

Yippeee!!! It's Friday....the last Friday of the holiday, which is sort of sad, but it will be good to get back to school on Monday. Friday is a favorite day because of the Friday Mashup! And today's Mashup is.....

Make a "Birthday" project.
Or Make a project using "Pastels/Chalks or Pastel Colors".
Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Birthday project using Pastels" .

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm working on projects to display at my Open House tomorrow which feature new items from the Occasions Mini - So I knew I wanted to use the "Tea Shoppe" set. This tea cup reminds me of my Grandma, and working pastels today was a perfect reminder of her too because she liked soft colours.

Initially the cup was stamped with Pretty in Pink ink, then I took off the colour from the flowers and stems with a blender pen, and added the Wisteria Wonder and Certainly Celery with markers. I dabbed a bit of Elegant Eggplant in the centres of the flowers.

The edge was created with one of the Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies, done in three layers. The card opens at the Pretty in Pink layer. I am loving these new dies; including the Paper Doily.

Finally, I added the row of pearls at the "gathers".

Here are two cards I created yesterday using the "Mouthwatering" set.

I hadn't planned on having anything stamped around the edge of this card - but when I added the "smile"at the bottom I ended up with a bit of a smudge - so I pulled out the swirl to cover it up. Now it looks sort of like the vines for the watermelon.

Everything in threes yesterday! I was going to add some Crystal Effects to these popcicles to make them shiny, but passed on that - at least for right now.

Well, I'm off to continue the day. Lots to do to get ready for tomorrow. I hope you have a good day planned too. Thanks for taking time to stop by for a visit.
Joan

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Mojo Happiness

I actually started this Mojo MONDAY card on Tuesday and finally got around to finishing it on Thursday - life just sometimes gets in the way of creating. However, a lot got done in those two days - Tuesday was spent shopping with my daughter and Wednesday began with cleaning and ended up being a major purge of "stuff" - so that was a day very well spent! So, today I have vowed to work in my stamp room most of the day....we'll see how that goes.

So - The sketch for the card above is from Mojo Monday - I changed that layering a wee big because the doily was initially showing under the ribbon - I guess it wouldn't have mattered once I put the flower on.

The colours are from Hand Stamped Sentiments - a yummy vanilla cupcake with "Pool Party" icing and a silver candy bead on top. I used the pen from the "Rue Des Fleurs" set in the Occasions Mini; inking the florish with silver ink and the pen with black.

I'm getting ready for an Occasions Mini Open House on Saturday and since life has been busy, I've turned to casing some cards using the new sets. Below are two that I cased from Sharon Field at Created by You. I've changed colours, images or imbellishments somewhat - I like how she took the centre thread out of the quilted ribbon to use it on the tag below and I also like how she just highlighted parts of the umbrella.

That's it for now - I'm off to my room - looking forward to a great day! Hope yours is full of productivity too. Thanks for visiting - Joan