jane's addiction

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

Layerless

Really???  Today's Blogger's Challenge is to create a card without layers.  Why...I never! 

This challenge falls completely under the less is more philosophy of stamping!  I---am not a fan!

However, as luck would have it, I was visiting the Clean and Simple blog a few days ago and did find some layouts that really caught my eye. 

Both stamped images are from Stampin' Up!  Both sets appear in the Holiday Mini.  Autum Splendor and Grateful Greetings. 

I cannot tell you how much I desired to cutout that leaf and pop it up :)  I denied myself (but probably will do it later...). 

I did emboss the leaf and sort of wet burnished a variety of inks--what is a wet burnish?  LOL!  Don't you just love it when I make stuff up?  Basically, I used a moist Q-tip to add ink--I tried it dry first, but found the ink just didn't move enough.

Naturally, I couldn't just stop there so I used my Spritz tool to add additional Olive and Pumpkin ink splats....Yes, "splats" is a word!!!

Make sure you check out the rest of the BC crew and then do it yourself!! 

Yay, Friday!!!!  Have a great weekend! 

TTFN, Jane

Over Achievin'

Welcome to another installment of the Three Clover's Designs Thursday Challenge!  Our inspiration this week was to use this sketch:

I've over achieved just a little bit by workin' the sketch two different ways. 

I found myself in serious need for some stress relief today---it's been a hard week in our neck of the woods.  While I don't often discuss my mental health background, I thought I might today :)

A long time ago, in a place far from a brood of kids, I worked as a Mental Health Counselor.  My position was in a hospital setting and I worked with adolescents and adults in crisis and their families.  I found it to be both rewarding and challenging.  I don't miss it :)  My current reality is both rewarding and challenging enough!

I learned a lot in those days.  One of the most valuable things I took away from that time, was the need for release.  I saw people without coping resources engage in devestating behaviors.  Let's face it--life can be really hard sometimes.  We all need an outlet.  Sometimes, we choose healthy outlets and sometimes, we don't.

People frequently wonder how I have time to stamp while caring for my house and large family.  My answer is simple---I'd go nuts if I didn't.  It's not a joke.  Life can be really hard sometimes--I often choose to stamp rather than cook a meal or clean a floor because I need to. 

This week, I need to.  So, yesterday, I spent nap time coloring and cutting--

My first card features stamps from Hambo.  I love this Witchie Poo with her smoldering cauldron.  She is so much fun to color!

I started with my Hambo spider web in white pigment ink directly on my designer paper.  I colored my witch with Copic Markers and then added a few edge punches to finish things off. 

The Halloween definition is from Hambo and the inside sentiment "Witching You A Spooky Day" is also from Hambo.

For this card, I wish I could tell you the stamp credits, but I have no clue.  I bought them at a rummage sale this past summer and unmounted them (can't remember why I did that exactly).  I've been itching to use them and finally found the opportunity!

Wouldn't this be a cute Valentine?  Dare I think I"m ready for THAT holiday this far in advance??  I'll most likely forget all about this card by then...

The cardstock is from SU! and the polka dot paper is from my scrap bucket--I think it's Daisy D's.  I do know that the sentiment is from Amuse--the heart punch, SU!

My original thought was to Copic color the castle, but once I finished with my Out of the Box cutting, I decided I liked the contrast and the focus on the "hero" created by the uncolored image.  Whew!  Can anyone say "run on sentence?"  LOL!!!

All righty---that's all I've got---now, you get to it!  Visit Kerry's blog to see the rest of the inspiration and then, go get inky!

TTFN, Jane

Background Spectacular

Won't you come play??

I'll be teaching these technique based cards at the Stamp Shoppe on Tuesday, October 27th.  Not only do these cards feature three different techniques, but an amazing new product from Impression Obsession called the Mega Mount.  Seriously, I'm in love with the most expensive acrylic block I will ever purchase--however, it is totally worth every dime!

The first card features the Background Burst technique as featured in the TJNL.

Stamp images are from Our Daily Bread Designs--the BEST Scripture set I am aware of.

The second card features Burnished Backgrounds and stamps from Rubbernecker, Amuse and Inky Antics.

And, finally--

Faux Denim and a favorite stamp from Paperbag Studios.

If'n you can't come stamp with me.....be inspired!  Dig out those newsletter or sign up and be amazed at what you can do!

TTFN, Jane

Happy Boo Day --Chicka Challenge!

As I hang my head in shame over my silent tardiness, I'm hopeful that my project will redeem me :)

The Chicka Challenge this week is to use CANDY!!!  YUM!  Tell me, chickas---who would not think this an easy and worthwhile challenge?

If you're smart you'll use M&M's like I did and then you can snack on them whilst you stamp!!  Brilliant! 

This little goodie is called a peek-a-boo box.  You can find a pdf tutorial on the Scor Pal website.  If you are using Internet Explorer v 8.0, look for the pdf list of projects. (Trust me, it will make sense when you get to the Scor Pal site).

I LOVE this little Beast and sentiment from Hambo.  You will be seeing him lots so you best just go and get yours now!  :)

These little boxes are so easy to make, I might just make up a bunch to keep on hand for lunch time suprises and other such goodies--y'know?

Be sure to see what THE Chicka has going on AND get out that candy you stashed in the wayyyyyy back part of the cupboard and join in the fun!

Leave a link to your project in my comments section so I can see......

TTFN, Jane