jane's addiction

A Gift For You....Blogger's Challenge

Happy Friday! 

This week's Blogger's Challenge was to use a technique!  I thought...wow, I've got that!!

This is the last of three cards I'll be teaching next week at the Stamp Shoppe in my Brayer Technique class.  For more details about the class, stop in or visit Heidi's blog.

I'm using three different techniques in my project which also features the new stamp line, Stamp Shoppe Creations.

The techniques are:  Sparkling Resist (TJNL June 09), Paper Piecing (TJNL February 03) and Out of the Box (TJNL October 04).  As is usually the case, some techniques are fairly straight forward.  Paper Piecing?  Pretty clear :)  Simple, putzie and fun--always a great way to add texture and interest.

Since I'll be teaching Sparkling Resist AND I want you to come to my class, I'm opting to keep the details under my hat for now.  They are, of course available to you if you are a Junkie.

If you are not a Junkie (and even if you are) now is a great time to join or extend!!  See Pat's website for special pricing on one year extensions for current Junkies and great sign up prices NOW!

The Captain is down and out with a high fever--no, not the pig flu---some other gem that makes him sleepy and mellow.  I call it a gift from God....LOL!!!  I'm kidding.  Sort of.  Anyhoo, since he slumbers now, I've got a few things to accomplish so, I best get accomplishin'

Have a great day and make sure to check out the rest of the BC girls (link in my sidebar).  And, then, charge forth and do it yourself!  Get Inky--

TTFN, Jane

Hello......Scruffy!

I'm having one of those weeks when all the bad stuff around me makes me want to hug my kids.  I find myself shying away from the things I allow to distract me.  It's a time of prioritizing.  My wees are in bed, so I'm taking a moment to share another card from the Stamp Shoppe Creations stamp line AND to announce the winner of my Blog Candy!

The sketch for this card comes from MJ's weekly sketch challenge.  I just picked up this new "crown" edger punch and thought it would be cute--mimicing the doggie's hair!

I want to thank everyone who played along with my little blog candy game!  I picked a winner using www.random.org .  Their random integer generator selected #8 as the winner.  Here's what she wrote:

"I immediately thought "Scruffy" when I saw him. He is really cute.

Posted by: Nancy Kolodziej"

Congrats, Nancy!!!  I'll be getting your goodies to you soon!! (Nancy won her very own "Scruffy" stamp and a copy of the 2009 Technique Junkies #7 CD).

I promise to be back again tomorrow with the Blogger's Challenge group :)

Remember, hug 'em if you've got 'em.  Call 'em, tell 'em you love them.  Hug someone, share a smile, kind word or happy thought.  Pray for someone, anyone, noone--cover it and spread some love.

TTFN, Jane

It's Another Chicka Challenge!

  Oh sooo many weeks ago my Chicka and I spent a lovely day together--goodie shopping and having great fun!  On our little journey, we picked up this awesome fabric paper.  It's fabric on oneside, adhesive on the other--perfect!

Your Chicka Challenge this week, is to dig out that favorite, special, hoarded for long enough piece of paper and CUT it!!  Fold it--whatever!  Just use it!

I've had this wood covered notebook for a very long time.  I keep a basket of "alterable" items--ya know, just in case....Anyhoo, ever so often, I'll dig something out and leave it on my desk for a bit certain that I'll do that next....

This notebook has been in and out of that basket for a few years--until today!!  I was speakin' to my Chicka and right there in the midst of our conversation--INSPIRATION! 

The front and back covers are made of wood (cheap wood, but wood) giving the notebook an earthly and unadorned look.  Keeping with the earthiness, I simply added a chocolate chip mat, the fabric designer paper and a scallop frame for the cover window.  I stamped the sentiment on the first page of the notebook so it shows when the notebook is closed.  Almost too easy to call it a challenge!

But, CHALLENGE  it is and now, it's your turn!  Get out that paper, create and share!  You can post your project's link here or there in the comments section.  I can't wait to see what you're gonna do! 

TTFN, Jane

Chilaxin'

Here's me after a hard night of trick or treating!  LOL!!!

I'd like to say I was chilaxin' today, but that's not exactly how it went down.....it was a good day just the same!

This adorable image was made by my buddy, Heidi.  I've been waiting for a chilax sentiment for a very very long time!  Now that Heidi has started her own stamp line, Stamp Shoppe Creations, my special requests have an outlet---and, a speedy one at that!!  We had a conversation last week about this cute image and my sentiment.....and, WAHLA!!

I morphed the crinkle technique just a bit, playing around--something I like to do once I've tried the technique in it's purest form.  My image is done out of the box--and the chilaxin' penguin is popped up for extra dimension.  If you'd like more information about any of the techniques I've mentioned, see here.

Now that my kiddies are all tucked in, I think I may just get some chilaxin' in afterall!

TTFN, Jane

I Love To Color--Artful Sentiments Copic Challenge

I do.  I really do.....love to color!  This was a fun one!

I especially love to color with my Copic markers!  Copics have opened up a whole new world of color for me.  This week's Copic challenge at Artful Sentiments was a great challenge!  It's fun to play around--isn't that the best part of a challenge? 

This week's colors:  YR07 (orange),  Y15 (yellow) and W5 (warm grey).  Not having YR07, I've substituted with another shade of orange, YR09.

Well over a year ago, when I had lots more computer time, I visited Marianne Walker's blog (she IS the Copic Queen!) and she was discussing the use of greys to soften or mute colors.  Using this idea, I added some shading to my image with the grey marker vs layering different shades of the same basic color.  I was also able to more closely match the yellow of my pattern paper by blending the W5 with the Y15.  THIS is what I love about these markers!!  The ability to get an exact match?--absolutely!

Don't get me wrong....I like my water based Marvy Markers, too.....BUT for entirely different reasons!  :)

About my card:  I've just started a little card ministry.  I'll be making birthday cards through out the year for the children our church's AWANA program.  I believe that each child is a unique creation and should be celebrated--especially on their birthday.  I think they should each get a unique card creation, too!  This is the first of many and it was soo much fun!  I love the vehicle paper!  It was in my scrap bucket--it always makes me happy to use scrap.  The cute little dude also makes me happy--he's from Our Craft Lounge.  I used the Out of the Box technique on the image for interest (see more about this technique and others here.)

The personalized sentiment was done using my Just Rite Stamper--the sun in the middle is from a retired Stampin' Up! set called ABC Images.

That's it for me!!  We're very excited around here.....just anticipating the candy!!!  The Captain is going to freak!!!  Right now, he talks about Trick or Treating, but has no idea......oh, it's going to be fun!!!

TTFN, Jane

Two In One

Happy Friday!!!  Whew!  This has been a busy week!  I had the best day ever on my Benny's Bday!  Cake for breakfast, a visit from my Daddy, dinner out and a movie with my boy!  We saw Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (I recommend it) and......WE WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE THEATRE!!!  I felt like rich folk....you know, when they buy out a place for a special occassion???  LOL!  We talked and laughed through the whole movie...really loud....just because we could!

My hubba's friend owns the arcade next to the theatre so, we played a few games before heading home....what is cooler than being out until midnight on your birthday (ya know, when you're 11)?

Anyhooo, it's Friday and that means Blogger's Challenge!  Our theme this week, is Halloween!!!  It's also Hambo Sketch time so, I'm multi-tasking today!

For my card, I've used two Hambo images--the skeleton and spider web.  My Chicka gave me some yummy black glitter which I applied to my Razzelberry squares using my Glue Pad.  It is sooo sparkly in real life! 

Using the backside of this designer paper, I pieced and popped up the balloon.  The entire skeleton image is embossed--ever go through spurts using the same technique or product??  I'm in an embossing phase right now...LOL!

So, after embossing, I used my white gel pen to color the bones.  Last month's Stampin Success (mag for SU! demonstrators) featured a project with this idea and I thought it remarkably brilliant...my old brain NEVER even thought of that!  So obvious and yet.....

For my sentiment, I'm relying on this awesome designer paper I picked up at Mike's a while back.  It's a 8x8 pad and I love everything about it even though I can't remember who makes it.  I'd look, but I'm currently playing "restaurant" with the Captain and I'm not allowed to leave until I eat all my food!  LOL!  Good thing this "restaurant" has WiFi!

Oh.....my waiter is here---I best be off.  Make sure to check out the rest of the Hambo sketches AND my BC sisters (link in my sidebar) and then give it a go yourself!

TTFN, Jane

Teens Rock! Three Clovers Thursday Challenge

Our theme this week, for the Three Clovers Challenge, was to make a card for a teen....I had an idea.....

Then, my kiddies went to AWANA Monday night and came home with gifts for me!  LOL!!!  (If you are not familiar with the AWANA program, but are curious, you can read more here.)

My sweet Sophie thought I would just love this guitar stamp--she's so thoughtful!  And, while I DO love the stamp, I love her more!  I just had to stamp with it right away.

I saw the basic idea for this card months ago somewhere, but really can't remember where.  The original used Circle Circus from Stampin' Up!  If it was you, well done!

My card uses stamps from SU! and Stamping Bella.  Cardstock from Stampin' Up in the following colors:  Mambo Melon, Tempting Turquoise and Crushed Curry + Basic Black and US White.

You can play along......I'd love to see what you come up with :)

TTFN, Jane

Hello Friend + BLOG CANDY!!

My wee one is 11 years old today!!  Some one really needs to tell these kids to stop growing up so fast!!  Can I brag on him for just a sec?   I've always thought him to be a really interesting kid.  I'm so proud of  who he is becoming.  While still a work in progress (aren't we all?), I think he's a pretty great kid!  We started our day with carrot cake (his favorite) for breakfast, donned our costumes and headed to school with 30 cuppy cakes for a birthday treat.  After a fun day and family celebration, my final suprize for him will be a late movie with mom!!  I can hardly wait--he's going to think it is sooo cool!

I'm also proud to share some exciting stamp news with you today!  Here is your very first peak at a brand new stamp line!!  Stamp Shoppe Creations (drawn by the talented Heidi) is so new, the rubber has barely cooled :)

Is this not the cutest doggie you've ever seen?  I think I'm going to offer a bit of BLOG CANDY.  So much to celebrate!  A boy, his birthday, new rubber, and a few days off of school...does that not sound like a recipe for some Blog Candy?

Simple Simple Simple--to win:

Name this dog!  Leave your best suggestion in the comments section on this post.

I'll select a winner next Wednesday by random drawing.  Enter as many times as you wish, just not on the same day :)

What will you win?  Your very own doggie AND a copy of the 2009 Technique Junkies CD.

I should also mention, that I actually made this card for MJ's Monday Sketch Challenge....I'm just a few days behind....LOL!!  Story of my life!

Well, I've got some birthday stuff to get to so, have a great day!

TTFN, Jane

Tons of Fun....

It's Chicka Challenge Tuesday!!  WHAT a ton of fun!! 

It's birthday time at our house again!  The big guy is turning 11 tomorrow so, our Chicka Challenge this week honors my dude. 

When Ben was about 18 months old, we were bummin' around a Toys R Us and he absolutely fell in love with a stuffed elephant.  He was already a fan of the animal from the Jungle Book (my favorite cartoon of all time) and a Sesame Street video.  It looked very similar to this cute stamp from Amuse. We later dubbed her Mommy Elephant....and, there have been many elephants added to the collection over the years.

I've Amused out again with this Chicka Challenge!!  Although the cardstock is from Stampin' Up!, everything else is from Amuse (elephant, sentiment and ribbon).  Won't my Chicka be proud?  Go check outwhat she cooked up for us this week!

To play, all you have to do is make a project featuring a zoo animal (it doesn't need to be an elephant...).  After you've posted to your blog or online gallery, leave a comment here or there with the link.

Have the funnest day ever!

TTFN, Jane

It's A Treasure Hunt!

Happy Almost End of October!!!  The TJNL team is thrilled to bring you yet another Treasure Hunt!!  What do we like best about a treasure hunt????  Why, it's the treasure of course!!!  Make sure to read to the end of this post to learn more about your chance at some treasure!

If you happened to stumble upon this post from some other source, you'll want to start at the beginning!  At each blog stop, you'll collect another part of the treasure.  When you wind up at Pat's blog(the end) you'll posses the hunt's clue and leave it in your comment for a chance to win a great prize!!

Today, I'm sharing a creation I made using the Crinkle technique.  The stamps are from Alluring Impressions.  Typically, in the planning of a treasure hunt, I will choose a technique I've played with before.  This month, I decided to challenge myself by picking a technique I hadn't yet tried.

What fun!  The Crinkle technique is sooo easy and produces a really interesting and unique result each time.  You are definitely going to want to try this one!

I'm glad you stopped by today....the treasure you'll collect here is "A."  You'll head over to Kimm's blog next to collect another treasure AND to be inspired. So.....go....get inspired and then, get inky!

TTFN, Jane