This and That....

Good Morning! Lest you think I've been completely lazy lately, I assure you that isn't the case. In fact, I've been up to my eyeballs in projects and this and that and the next thing. One thing that I have been working on finishing up is a bunch of ATCs for swaps I'd joined. It gets a bit addictive and once you start joining swaps it is hard to stop.

This first ATC is for a swap using Maryse Carrier stamps. I have a huge collection of Maryse Carrier stamps and was tickled to see this swap posted. It has been ages since I've pulled out these whimsical stamps. I'm eager to see which stamps the other participants will use.

This next ATC is for an ATC swap in which we are to create ATCs using a Christmas Song as the theme. My "Deck the Halls" ATC uses the Stampin' Up! set by the same name.

This last creation is a 6" X 6" recipe card for a recipe card swap titled "Sweets for Santa". The recipe is one from my Grandma Inman's recipe box and I just loved these bars. They are sort of like a shortbread with a chocolate bar melted on top. DELISH!! For the plate of cookies on the recipe I used Stampin' Up! set called "A Merry Little Christmas".

I have over commited myself to things lately. I'll follow through with my commitments to swaps and design teams but I think my resolution for 2010 is going to be to remember to make more time for personal projects. I haven't made a card for myself or family in ages. And my sewing machine seems to only sew on cardstock lately. YIKES!

Do you ever do this too?

Fall has definitely arrived in the Ottawa valley. It is a gorgeous crisp, chilly and sunny morning. You need a jacket but it is beautiful. I think it is time to go search for pumpkins.

Cheers!

Peace on Earth

Purrs and Pants has a wide array of cat and dog images and many just perfect for Christmas. This card uses two Purrs and Pants stamps: 2 kitties in window #16-4 and the sentiment, "Peace on Earth" # DC 210

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Purrs and Pants #16-4 and # DC 210
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! cardstock and Heather's Stamping Haven Vellum for the sentiment
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Colorbox Cyan, Image colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Nestibilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies, Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder, Stickles, Crystal brads

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

The Fun Starts Now!

With the first day of Autumn tomorrow and our cooler temperatures and changing leave already, I couldn't resist making this card using the two playful pups. This is one of Purrs and Pants autumn stamps and you can find it listed as #17-1 Dogs rolling in leaves.

My inspiration for this card comes from my friend Traci who just got a new lab puppy, Bailey, to join her other lab, Colby. I've seen such wonderful photos of them and I just had to make this card with inspiration from Colby and Bailey.

Card recipe:

Stamps: Purrs and Pants # 17-1 and the sentiment is # DC 21-7
Ink: Momento tuxedo black, Image colored with Copic markers
Designer paper: BoBunny
Accessories: Brads (Making Memories) Stickles glitter, Stampin' Up! Ticket punch, Small Leaf punch (McGill), Satin leaf ribbon.



I hope you are enjoying your last day of summer and I look forward to beautiful autumn days ahead.

Cheers!

Witching you a Happy Halloween

Today is the Design Team monthly challenge at Serendipity Stamps. This month's challenge theme is Halloween. Mary, the owner of Serendipity Stamps and our fearless leader, has a large variety of new Halloween and Autumn stamp in the new Fall/Autumn catalog. Be sure to check out Serendipity Stamps site for some great new autumn and winter stamps.

For my Halloween card I used this darling stamp set titled Kitty & Pumpkin 798QCL The inside sentiment reads: "Witching you a Happy Halloween".

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Serendipity Stamps Kitty and Pumpkin #798QCL
Ink: Versamark ink and embossed in old gold embossing powder
Cardstock: Daisy D's designer paper, Papertrey Ink Ivory for card base, Stampin' Up! old olive green and pumpkin orange.
Coloring: Copic Markers
Accessories: Machine stitching, Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle dies, Cuttlebug corner swirl die, Stickles, Martha Stewart ribbon.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Serendipity Stamp team's blogs to view their Halloween cards:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Kelli Richardson
Lynda Benden
Shannon Teubner
Sue Eldred
Yvonne Hagane

Here's Witching you a Happy Halloween!

Cheers!

Jennifer

Happy BOO Day

Happy BOO Day! Hee hee...I think this makes a fun semi-classy Halloween card. Well come on...how classy is Halloween anyway. But just with a little silk ribbon, some machine stitching and buttons and of course a girl has to have sparkle with copper colored stickles glitter, I think this will be a fun card to send to one of my girl friends.

This Happy BOO Day sentiment is one of the new fall/winter 2009 stamps from Serendipity Stamps and you can locate it in the catalog as stamp number 1175D Happy Boo Day.

Hope you are enjoying as beautiful of a day as I am here. We waited all summer for some warm weather and now that it is almost fall we are finally getting sunshine, blue skies and warm temperatures. I'm not complaining.

Until next time,

Cheers!

Three Jack-O-Lanterns

Hello my friends! It has been nearly a month since I've posted cards. August was such a busy month. My garden was bountiful this year and I spent most of the month in the kitchen canning and preserving vegetables, making bread and desserts for the freezer and even putting up pickles and jams. Our pantry is well stocked for the winter but I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure to stamp. So, without further ado, let's get at it:

SERENDIPITY STAMPS has some wonderful new autumn stamps and these three jack-o-lanterns stamp is one of the new releases. They make me smile!

This stamp was such fun to color. I stamped with versamark on watercolor paper and then embossed the image with antique gold embossing powder. Then I colored the image with Tombow markers and a wet brush. Very simple and fun!

I always think pumpkins need a hay bale or straw or, in this case, raffia around them. Don't know why...I just do, so I added a little raffia bow to the base of the image. These dapper pumpkins seemed to need a bow tie beneith them, don't you think?


Card Recipe and Ingredients:

Stamps: Serendipity Stamps Item # 1174H "Tall Pumpkins"
Designer paper: BoBunny Eire Tartan Plaid
Ink: Versamark and Tombow Markers
Accessories: Antique Gold embossing powder, dark olive green grosgrain ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, raffia and Nestibilities Labels Four die.

I think my computer is repaired. I say "I think" because I've come to realize that with computers one can never be too confident when it comes to "will they work?" when you want them to.

I have more of Serendipity Stamps new autumn releases in the works so I'll be back again soon with more autumn cards.

Until then,
Cheers!

Computer troubles

I'm using my husband's work laptop (shhhhh...don't tell, ok?) My computer crashed and it is at the repair shop. Consequently, no posts or cards or photos from me. I'm hoping to get the computer back soon with only minor repairs - keep your fingers crossed for me that that will happen! YIKES!

I've really been enjoying my garden this summer and must confess that I've been a stamping slug this past month or so. My garden has been bountiful with veggies and this past month I've been canning and stocking my pantry for the winter. In fact, today I'll be back at it in the kitchen canning the last jars of salsa and tomatoes and perhaps bake a peach pie for my husband.

Just wanted to check in. I've missed my blogging friends and I've also missed making cards. So let's hope I'll have a computer, printer and be able to upload photos soon.

Cheers!

Jennifer :)

Serendipity Stamps Challenge of the Month

It is time for another creative challenge from Serendipity Stamps and this month the design challenge is to create a monochromatic card using Serendipity Stamps. I was really excited about this challenge. Inasmuch as I love lots of color on my cards, this challenged provided an opportunity to use the color palette in a range of just one color.

As soon as Mary and Kelli announced the challenge theme to the design team I knew immediately which stamp set I wanted use. This little Hippo Set has the sweetest expression and I had to use her on a girly-girl all pink card. I think she'd be adorable for a newborn or perhaps 1st birthday card.

Card Recipe Ingredients:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps, Hippo Cling Set Code: 072QCL
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Versafine Crimson Red
Designer Paper: Stampin' Up!
Colored with Copic Markers and Prisma Color Pencils
Accessories: Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle dies, Making Memories Photo corner punch, Prima Flower from the Nursery Tales Collection, Stickles on the bow, machine stitching.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Serendipity Stamp team's blogs to view their monochromatic cards:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Kelli Richardson
Lynda Benden
Shannon Teubner
Sue Eldred
Yvonne Hagane


Cheers!

Sweet Wonderful You!

Do you remember the funny little Freddie Frog card I posted a couple of days ago? He was one of Sunshine Designs new Roly Poly characters (scroll down two posts to see Freddie Frog.) Well today I want to introduce you to another Roly Poly character. She doesn't officially have a name on the stamp like Freddie does so I'm going to call this Roly Poly girl "Tami Teacup." Isn't she fun?



Card Recipe Ingredients:

Stamps: Sunshine Designs from THE STAMP BARN and Papertrey Ink for the sentiment tag
Designer Paper: Making Memories
Colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Nestibilities oval and scalloped oval dies, Stampin' Up! small over circle punch, DMC white cotton thread, blue crystals, Stampin' Up! whisper pink grosgrain ribbon and a touch of stickles.


I have one more of the new Roly Poly characters to introduce to you in a couple days. I'd better get outside now and take the dogs for a walk before the temperature gets to high.

See you again soon.

Cheers!

Morning glories and other posies

I was wondering around in the yard at 6:45 this morning in my gown and robe, barefoot, coffee in one hand, camera in the other. I'm not a great photographer, but I do enjoy this time of day and communing with nature. These are a flew of my posies that greeted me this morning.

Freddie Frog Roly Poly

Shhhhhhhh! Don't tell me husband. Last week while he was away on business I did a little...ummmmm, let's make that a lot (!!) of new stamp shopping. Well, it was my birthday and I had no one but the dogs to celebrate with and of course I just knew my husband would want me to have fun on my birthday, so........ Ok, that's enough rationalizations.

I discovered some new stamps by Sunshine Designs and manufactured at The Stamp Barn, in Ottawa, Ontario. They are called the Roly Polys. I bought three different ones and I want to introduce you to my first little Roly Poly fellow called Freddie Frog. This little guy makes me smile in his frog costume so I just had to use SMILE as the sentiment.

Card Recipe Ingredients:

Stamps: Sunshine Designs (Freddie the Frog) and Papertrey Ink (sentiment)
Designer Paper: K&Company
Image colored with Copic Markers
Embellishments: Sunflower yellow Grosgrain ribbon, Dragongly brad from Michaels, Martha Stewart border punch.

It really is a simple card but one that I hope will bring a smile to the receiver.


I've colored my other two Roly Poly images for more whimsical cards but haven't decided on their layouts yet. So in the next few days, if you'd like to meet more of the Roly Polys, check back again.

Cheers!

Little gray elephant

Magnolia stamps have some new additions to their line. This sweet little elephant is one of the new magnolia animals. The first time I saw this little fellow I fell in love with him.

I wanted to try my hand at creating a card all in gray but not have it look dreary. This little elephant seemed to be the perfect stamp for my self proclaimed challenge.

I stamped the image three times and cut out the head twice mounting the layers on foam tape. I think this make the little fellow look very welcoming with his message of "hello."

Card recipe ingredients:

Stamps: Magnolia (elephant) and Papertrey Ink (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black
Designer Paper: Anna Griffin
Image coloring medium: Copic Markers
Accessories: Nestibilities hexagon dies, Sheer ribbon from Michaels, button from my stash, tiny pearls for eyes by Mark Richards pearls.

I think this elephant will make really cute children's cards. In fact, I know a little boy who might get a kick out of this little fellow.

Cheers!

A huge honor!

What an honor I've received! I'm tickled to announce that Scrapbook News and Review magazine , the leading papercrafting magazine on the internet, has chosen my blog
for the This Blog Rocks Award!

Truly, this is an honor and thrill and completely unexpected. Thank you so much!

If you don't read Scrapbook News and Review then click HERE and head on over to read all of the latest news in papercrafts.

Cheers!

Double embossing

I like fairies. I like the idea of fairies. I like Tinkerbell. Do you think there are garden fairies?

Well, today I'm introducing my very first fairy stamp. Meet Capri. Capri is one of the Enchanted Hollow collection that I recently purchased at Heather's Stamping Haven in Ottawa, Ontario. Heather has created a few other fairies in the Enchanted Hollow collection as well as a unicorn that is next on my shopping list.

This is my first card using Capri and I thought the image went perfectly with a challenge to use double embossing. The idea of double embossing is to use two different embossing folders and run them through your Cuttlebug, or whatever machineor method you use to emboss, and get a double pattern. For the background of this card I used the Cuttlebug swiss dots folder first and lightly sanded the surface to make the dots "pop". Then I used the swirls embossing folder on top to emulate the swirls on Capri's dress.

I also used a Nestibilities fancy flourish die for the swirl in pink and purple. The image was watercolored with Tombow markers and then I added a lot of stickles and crystals to give it more sparkle.

As is my usual problem, my photography doesn't pick up the mystical shimmery and glittery effect I've tried to achieve. Trust me. This card does sparkle with fairy dust.

Double embossing was a new technique to me. I'm always up for a challenge and it was a lot of fun to try out.

Have a great weekend!


Cheers!

Time for some lunch!

I've been out in the garden for a good part of the morning and I've worked up an appetite. Was checking on the carrots and discovered that they are getting ready to be harvested soon too. In fact, some are ready so I pulled a few for my lunch, picked some peas and a handful of cherry tomatoes and beans.

So what to do with my fresh garden veggies? I have a little bit of leftover chicken breast in the fridge and decided I'd make a white sauce, put the bits of chicken meat in it and add my fresh peas and carrots and put it on a pastry. I cooked up a handful of beans too. Then I went to my herb pots and added a little basil and fresh parsley.

Excuse me while I have my lunch. With my hubby away traveling I don't always fix the best of meals for myself but if I do say so myself, I think today's lunch (which will double as supper) looks pretty tasty. And what I especially love is that one hour ago these veggies were still on the vine. It doesn't get much fresher than this.

Bon Appétit!

It's time to begin the canning process

This summer has been the coolest and most definitely the wettest summer on record where I live. I'm so happy that the cooler temperatures and lack of an abundance of sunshine hasn't been a detriment to my garden. My garden has grown better than any other year previously.

I've been very busy the past week so I thought I'd post a few photos of some of things that have been keeping me out of mischief. The beans and peas are in full harvest time so I've been canning beans and peas (a few jars shown below). Also, the Ontario Peach crop appears to be very good this year as well so I bought several baskets of fresh peaches and have been canning them for pies and pastries. I have some more to make fresh peach preserves and will make and can that this weekend.

The raspberries are especially delicious this year and I had to make my favorite Raspberry jam to have on hand too.

I can hardly keep up with the green beans. Most I'm just canning plain. But see the jar of beans to the far right with herbs and seeds in the jar? Those are Dilly Beans and are in a garlic/herb marinade (I suppose you could say they are pickling) and will be eaten cold on a relish tray.

I think peas are 'cute'. Don't laugh! I do! I like the jacket and the way you pop them open and sweet peas are inside. They are now starting to really produce on the vine so I've just started picking them.

My broccoli did well this year. It has all been harvested and I blanched and froze it.

Next will be tomatoes. My tomato plants are HUGE! And they are now really starting to produce in full force. I want to can salsa and tomato sauce and plain tomatoes for the winter as well as eat as many as I can fresh off the vine. I love just standing in the garden eating warm tomatoes fresh off the vine.

This afternoon I'm going to do some papercrafting and one of the things on my list to do is to make labels for all of my canned produce.

I hope you are having a great summer.

Cheers!