Twenty birthday cards - minus one

Ummmm...I should warn you. Sometimes I just get carried away with things. Yes! I do. Case in point: below you'll see this week's Mojo Monday Layout Sketch 121: You know how I've been saying that I want to use some older stamps that haven't been inked in a while? This sketch looked perfect for a birthday card layout so I got out this "Sweet Delights - Cupcake Stand" by Inkspirations and the sentiment stamp that goes with it, "Have your cupcake and eat it too!", also by Inkspirations.

Cute, eh? I used up some scraps of patterned paper and flowers that I hadn't used in ages, added some ribbon, a button, and only had to color the cupcake papers and then I used some liquid pearls for the frosting and cherry and microbeads for the sprinkles. VOILA! A very simple birthday card using Julee's great mojo sketch and there I had a birthday card.

Then I said to myself, "Jennifer, that was quick and cute and you KNOW you never get birthday cards sent on time and you have all of these bits and bobs laying around, so why not make a couple in different colors?" Hey! I'm a genius, right? So I stamped the cupcake tree 20 times!

Just look how cute the blue card is! I think I should make 5 cards of each color. (I thought 6 of each color would be better but, hey...let's not go wild here!)

Oh! Don't forget green! This might be a good one for the men, doncha think? Sure it has a flower on it but it is a manly stripe background!

Well, I happily colored cupcake papers and soon had enough for a set of 16 cards - 4 cards in each color. And above is the set of 16 birthday cards ready to use.

What happened to the other four images? Hadn't I stamped 20 total? Well, actually I messed up an image and so I had three extra and I'd already cleaned my stamps and I didn't really feel like getting it back out and stamping more so I only had three extra. Now what do I do with these three odd ball images?

Lo and behold in my stash of previously embossed cardstock I found 3 Happy Birthday backgrounds using the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder. Now why hadn't I used these before? I surely don't know but I AM going to use them now. And I only had a 7 inch piece of this adorable blue gingham/checked ribbon. Not enough to do much with but just perfect for a blue card! YIPPEE! Another card finished. Now we are at 17 cards.

I like green! Always have. I want another green card and this tiny satin ribbon never gets used much and I have a lot of it sooooo...another card is made. 18 cards.

RED! I love red! Bold! Bright! Beautiful red. And this red twill happy birthday to you ribbon has been in my stash for YEARS and I love it and never use it. So I MUST make a red card too.

And there you have it! What started out as Julee's Mojo Monday challenge 121 became an adventure in over-abundance or excess or fun....call it whatever you like.

And chances are if you receive a birthday card from me this year then you are looking at it right now!

Cheers to you and I hope you have a day filled with delightful abundance!

Jennifer

Gingersnap Creations week #2 challenge - Embossing

Good Morning! This is week number 2 for GINGERSNAP CREATIONS challenge and the challenge is to use Embossing powder on your card or project. And once again the Serendipity Stamps design team are joining in with Gingersnap Creations design team to create some samples. Be sure to check out both GINGERSNAP CREATIONS Blog as well as SERENDIPITY STAMPS Blog for your chance to win some lovely prizes and see all of the samples.

For my card using embossing powder I used Serendipity Stamps set #1180 "Music is Feelings" as well as the tiny musical notes from Serendipity Stamps 920 MCL String Instrument set for this week's theme. I used both clear embossing powder and blue embossing powder for the sentiment and the background notes.

For more inspiration of cards using the theme of EMBOSSING POWDER check out the rest of the Gingersnap and Serendipity samples over at GINGERSNAP CREATIONS and of course my Serendipity Design Team members work:
Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden

As I look out my window this morning the snow is falling very fast and steadily in great big flakes. If one didn't know better, when I let my dogs in from their morning romp outside you would have thought I owned Great Pyrenees instead of Newfoundland dogs. They were completely covered in white snow. I think I'll get the camera out and see if I can snap some photos of them.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Penny Black Valentine

Is it obvious how much fun I've been having as I make cards with stamps I have neglected for a while. My sweet Penny Black stamps have been collecting dust (and pet hair- YIKES!) for a while so I hopped on over to the PENNY BLACK SATURDAY CHALLENGE blog and decided to use the sketch layout for January week two challenge.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Penny Black
Paper: Martha Stewart patterned paper
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic, sponged with Brilliance Pink
Accessories: Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Nestibilities circle, scalloped circle and reversed scallop dies, Machine stitching, grosgrain ribbon, LOVE charm, stickles glitter glue, machine stitching, Martha Stewart leaf punch, Prima Flowers.

At first I was intimidated by the layout challenge. After I played with colors I decided it would look sweet as a background stitched in a sort of quilt fashion. Here is this week's sketch:
This will be another card I'm putting in my pile of Valentine cards to send. And what fun to dust off the Penny Black stamps.

Until later.....
Cheers!
Jennifer

Happy birthday...and many more

Another House Mouse card and this time I'm adding to my stash of birthday cards. This particular House Mouse stamp is one of my very well loved, ink stained and used and used stamps. I just love the look of happy bliss on these two little critters.

I picked up a small stack of Martha Stewart papers at Michaels the other day and I'm really enjoying using them for simple backgrounds with a touch of color. The ribbon was a tiny piece of dotted grosgrain the just barely covered this card. I'm a bit strange that way...I cannot throw away 6 inch bits of ribbon just in case .... And in this case it worked well.

I know I'm loosing it when I specifically use a layout challenge for a card and then realize after the fact that the layout was last week's and not this week's new one. DUH! Oh well, doesn't matter. I need all of the help I can get with layouts so I do want to give credit to Stamps and Smiles blog for this sweet and simple layout:

Have a super day. I'm off to blog hop to see what y'all have been creating.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Happy Hellos

It has been quite a while since I've played with my House Mouse stamps. I've been busy coloring a lot of images lately and now I'm trying to make up the cards for them. This House Mouse stamp, titled Fish Bowl.

I have a new-to-me product called Gala Glitz and it is made by Art Glitter. The jar contains a combination of microbeads in gold and green as well as mica shards in gold and green. This was the perfect embellishment for the look of gravel in the bottom of the fishbowl. After I applied the Gala Glitz I covered the entire fish bowl with clear dimensional glaze to not only seal the glitz in place but also to smooth any sharp edges and specifically to give the fishbowl a glass appearance.



My friend Tricia sent me a sheet or two of this fabulous Heidi Grace shimmer foiled paper a while ago and I just love it. Can you see the tiny fish in the background?

The sentiment bubble is from a Stampin' Up! set called Lots of Thoughts.



This was such fun to make. I hope the recipient will get a smile when they receive this card.

Cheers!

Jennifer

My world famous Pumpkin Coconut Milk Soup

With the frigid weather crossing continents this winter, from the deep south to the upper regions of Canada in North America and all across Europe as well, I thought this might be a good time to share a delicious, nutricious and tummy warming and filling soup. Nothing tastes better on a cold winter's day than a hearty bowl of soup.

OK...I've taken a little literary license by saying this is "my world famous soup," but it is a soup that gets very high reviews in my family.

Here is the recipe and then I'll show you step by step photos. It is very simple to make.

PUMPKIN COCONUT SOUP

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cloves garlic
2 cans chicken (or vegetable) broth
2 (14 oz) cans unsweetened pumpkin
1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
2 tablespoons lime juice (PLEASE use lime juice. It does make a difference)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (red pepper)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon salt

Heat oil in large dutch oven, add onion and carrot and cook stirring frequently (about 5 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.) Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds (garlic gets bitter if you cook it too long). Add one can of chicken broth; bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let it cool for 10 minutes

Next, transfer this mixture into a blender or food processor and puree until very smooth. Return it to the dutch oven and add the pumpkin, coconut milk and the remaining can of chicken broth and stir well with a whisk.

Add the remaining ingredients (lime juice, cayenne pepper, sugar and salt) and continue to stir with the whisk. Serve with a hearty bread on the side.

First, in case you've never purchased Coconut Milk I wanted to show you a can of it (it comes in a variety of brands, this is just what I used) and I find it in the grocery store eisle where the condensed milk is sold. As for the pumpkin, do NOT use pumpkin pie pumpkin that has spices in it. Use plain pumpkin.



This recipe takes minutes to prepare with the help of a food processor or blender. Your first step will be to chop the onion and carrots into bits and gently cook until they begin to soften. This is about 5 minutes or less.


Once you've added the chicken broth (or if you are vegetarian use vegetable broth, either is fine) you'll want to process the mixture until it is very, very smooth.


After processing you put the mixture back in the pot and add the pumpkin, coconut milk and the remaining ingredients and whisk.

It is that simple and ohhhhhhhh so delicious. I made a hearty dark pumpernickle rye bread in my bread maker.

This was last night's supper. I hope you'll give it a try. We love it.


Bon Appetit!

Jennifer

Friends for the Long Haul

Doesn't this stamp remind you of the Campbell Soup kids? I just love this Vintage Valentines set. It is one stamp in the 2005 Stampin' Up set called "Vintage Valentines." I use this same set each year for a few Valentines and never get tired of it, all the while trying to make my cards a little different each year. I've colored the other 4 images that are in this set but haven't mounted them on cards yet but I thought I'd share this one for you this morning.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Vintage Valentines
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; image colored with Copic Markers
Papers: Bazille cardstock and Martha Stewart designer paper
Accessories: Martha Stewart Heart Border punch, miscellaneous heart ribbon I found in my sewing supply drawer. Isn't it sweet?

I've had so much fun this week watching snow fall and stamping and card making and looking through older stamps.

I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend too.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Many Thanks - card

I had a wonderful Christmas and have a lot of people to send notes to expressing my thanks for spoiling me so! LOL This week's Mojo Monday layout challenge provided me with a layout to make a bit different type of card. Below is the sketch:

I spent a few hours yesterday stamping and coloring images. What a relaxing way to spend an afternoon while watching the snow fall outside my window. As I look around my stamp studio I realize how MANY stamps I have that have sat un-inked for far too long. I'm going to challenge myself this year to use what I have, in the way of stamps, tools, embellishments and paper. I can't seem to part with any stamps and I'm up in the 3000 numbers of stamps owned (YES! I said 3000). So hopefully in 2010 I'll be posting a lot of cards and projets using some well loved "oldies". I won't say I will not buy any new stamps but I think you'll see a lot of oldies but goodies.

Off to color and assemble cards now.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Aged to Perfection

This month Serendipity Stamps is sponsoring GINGERSNAP CREATIONS blog and the Serendipity Stamps design team is joining the Gingersnap designers in weekly challenges. Each week during the month of January a new challenge will be posted and you are encouraged to join in and play along.

The first challenge is the theme of "TIME." For my card I used this wonderful Serendipity Stamps set and sentiment titled Wine #3347QCL. For the passage of Time I think you'll agree that whether it is the perfect wine aging or if it is for a birthday sentiment implying you are not old but rather, aged to perfection, the sentiment exudes the passage of time.

For more inspiration of cards using the theme of TIME, check out the rest of the Gingersnap and Serendipity samples over at GINGERSNAP CREATIONS.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Serendipity Stamps December Challenge: Easter and Valentine's Day

Just in time to make your Christmas wish list for Santa are Serendipity Stamps line of Easter and Valentine stamps. Today the design team will be previewing cards made with both holdiay themes.

My first card for Easter is made using cling set 567QCL titled "Faith is the Assurance" and can be found in the catalogue HERE. This was a very fun image to color. The inside sentiment reads: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hebrews 11:1

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Serendipity Stamps 567QCL
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and the image was colored with copic markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder and fancy corner die, Martha Stewart border punch, grosgrain ribbon and pearls.

My Valentine card was a lot of fun to make and surprisingly (to me) simple to do. This cling set has two beautiful heart shape with words stamps in the set and you can find them in the Serendipity stamp catalogue HERE. If you would like to try this pretty heart shaped punched medalion on one of your cards you can find Becca Feeken's fabulous video directions/explanation of how to do it HERE. And below is a closeup of the heart shaped punched medalion:

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps 419QCL Hearts with Words Cling stamp set
Ink: Momento Rose Bud
Design Paper: Pink Roses by amscan Inc., and Bazzil cardstock
Accessories: EKSuccess Heart Shaped punch, Pearls, Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle dies.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Serendipity Stamp team's blogs to view the Easter and Valentine cards they've created for this month's challenge:


Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Kelli Richardson
Lynda Benden
Sue Eldred



Cheers!

Jennifer

Friday Sketchers challenge #82

It has been a long time since I've participated in a Friday Sketchers challenge and I certainly have missed them. This was such a fun card to make using the sketch provided below:



Card Recipe:
Stamps: Whiff of Joy
Design Paper: Bo-Bunny Press (Back to Basics)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and colored with copic markers
Accessories: Martha Stewart border punch and snowflake punch, Nestibilities rectangle and deckled rectangle dies, Martha Stewart glitters, pearls.

Hope on over to Friday Sketchers to see lots of wonderful cards using this week's sketch.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Save Earth...

I'm deep into last minute Christmas card creations when it occured to me that I need a birthday card...and fast! This Whimsie Doodle digital image was exactly the card I'd create for my birthday pal. Who can resist cupcakes, chocolate and conservation?

Card Recipe:
Image: Whimsie Doodles digital images
Design Paper: Making Memories English Garden collection
Card Stock: Stampin' Up!
Coloring: Copic Markers
Embellishments: Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle dies, Ultra fine glitter and micro beads (for the sprinkles), Clear dimensional glaze on Earth, stickles, white gel pen.

Back to my Christmas cards...
Cheers!

Jennifer

We're the Perfect Mix

How fun to use super cute images combined with two online challenges. This week's Mojo Monday #116 challenge (as seen in the sketch layout below) provided the inspiration for the layout.

And this sweet gingerbread image is one of Whimsie Doodles digital images from the Gingerbread collection. This week's challenge using a whimsie doodle image was to be "cookie inspired" for santa's treats. I think the jolly old elf will enjoy a little gingerbread, don't you?

Card Recipe:
Image: Whimsie Doodles digital images
Colored with Copic markers
Design Paper: Martha Stewart collection
Accessories: Nestibilities Circle and Blossom dies, button brads, gingham ribbon, Liquid Pearls (white and red)

So I combined the two challenges for this card. Hmmmmm...the idea of gingerbread sound very, very tasty. I think I'll get off the computer now and bake some.

Hope you are having a warm and cozy day.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Heart Quilt

I want to share with you a couple of cards I made using one set of Serendipity Stamps. The set is called Heart Quilt 973QCL and I decided I'd use all of the stamps in the set to make different styles of cards using the set.

The primitive heart stamp was used as the background paper and the sentiment as the main focal point in the first card. I love making cards in which I have to color and decorate the image but sometimes we are in need of a sentiment card that is elegant and lovely but not with the images to color.

In this second card I used the Heart Quilt stamp and then faux quilted the designer paper background. I stamped the quilt twice and mounted the second quilt on foam tape on top of the first stamped image to give it dimension and the illusion of an actual hanging quilt.

Below is the Serendipity Stamps set, Heart Quilt 973QCL, that I used with these cards:

We are currently in the midst of a snow storm. It is coming down really hard, fast and furiously so I think today is going to be a stay at home stamping day for me.

Cheers!

Jennifer

Christmas Magic

Some of my Christmas cards that I'll be sending out this year is this one using the original Gumball Graphics Santa. Gumball Graphics discontinued this stamp and retired the original plates several years ago. I was very fortunate to purchase this stamp from a stamping buddy who decided to sell it.

In making this card I originally was going to go all out with details and embellishments but then decided that this image is so striking that a simple background would be better. So this is the card I came up with. Perhaps in future years when I use this stamp I'll get more elegant/fancy with it, but for now, this is this year's card.

I wanted to show you an upclose view of the image. The artist who designed this stamp gave such wonderful attention to detail and yet, even with the fine details in Santa's eyes and face you almost feel like you are looking at the jolly old elf himself.




Card Recipe:
Stamps: Gumball Graphics Santa, Sentiment stamp is from A Muse Artstamps
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue
Image colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder, Martha Stewart Snowflake punch, Stampin' Up! Slit Punch, Ultra fine glitter, Blue Pearls and Sepia Antique Glass liquid embossing glaze.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Jennifer

Gingerbread Greetings

Mmmmm...nuthin' better than gingerbread and hot tea on a cold winter's day. This darling image is one of Whimsie Doodles digital images from the Kitchen Gingers collection.

The layout is this week's Mojo Monday Challenge offered by Julee. Here is her sketch challenge:

Card Recipe:
Image: Whimsie Doodles digital image
Colored with Copic Markers
Paper: Stampin' Up!
Accessories: Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle and tag dies, Rick-Rack, stickles

A very simple card and one I hope the recipient who receives it will cheer their day.

I hope you have a happy day too!

Cheers!
Jennifer

Easter Tree

My Christmas cards aren't finished and yet I'm making an Easter card. It is never too soon to plan ahead and perhaps you might want to ask Santa for stamps in your stocking, so over the next few days I'll be previewing some Easter and Valentine stamps from Serendipity Stamps.

The set used for this card is Easter Tree 843QCL .

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps Easter Tree 843QCL
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Designer Paper: Making Memories English Garden
Image Colored with Copic Markers
Accessories: Green Flower Soft for the grass, Pale Pink Organza ribbon, Nestibilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle dies, white liquid pearls and yellow crystals.

Thanks for dropping by. Now off to do some holiday baking!

Cheers!

Jennifer

Snow Angel

I posted this card a few weeks ago using Serendipity Stamps Snow Angel cling set but I thought I'd post a reminder today that with the Holidays fast approaching you won't want to miss Serendipity Stamps Sale that is going on right now.

Place an order for $25 or more and get free shipping on U.S. orders. 50% off shipping on international orders. Ends November 23rd

IMPORTANT – You must select the $0.00 shipping from the drop down “Ship Via” box during checkout.

Also – 25% off the Snow Angel Cling Set - 1188QCL

I'll be back soon to post cards I've been making.

Happy Friday!

Jennifer

Serendipity Stamps November Challenge - Shaped Card

This month's challenge for Serendipity Stamps is a really fun one. Create a shaped card! For my card, I chose to make a Christmas bulb/ornament shaped card that is also a shaker card.

I stamped my Serendipity Stamps image from the Peace On Earth set #1134QCL on a clear piece of acetate and colored it with permanent Sharpie marker. Next I added silver stickles glitter to the top of the image ornament to make it look matalic and sparkle-y. Then, using my circle nestibilities dies I cut the red circle boarder and adhered it to on top of the acetate. Flipping the acetate over I carefully placed foam tape to cover the perimeter of the circle making sure there were no gaps or spaces. Next I added a teaspoon or so of decorative flakes to give it a snow globe shaker card look. A final back ground circle of white card stock was adhered to cover and keep the "snow" inside the shaker.



Now I was ready for the card. Using my scalloped Nestibilities die I cut a circle shaped card and then adhered the shaker to the center of it. I think my ribbon covers the next step but my ornament card does have a silver top/hanger just like in the image. Finally I added a red ribbon and silver cord to hang it.

My ornament card does open to reveal the sentiment "Peace on Earth" on the inside.

I know I tend to get a bit wordy in my explanations but please don't think this was tedious or difficult to do. In fact, this little shaker ornament card was so much fun to make that I started a production line of the pieces and began making 2 dozen of them for my own use to send for Christmas. I hope you'll give shaker cards a try.

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Serendipity Stamp team's blogs to view the shaped cards they've created for this month's challenge:

Amy Cokley
Anya Schrier
Kathie Bailey
Lynda Benden
Shannon Teubner
Yvonne Hagane

Cheers!

Jennifer

A stamped Ornament

Each year at The Stamp Shack there is a handmade ornament exchange. This is the ornament I made for my Secret Sister. I hope she'll like it.


This is NOT an original idea. In fact, I copied this idea directly from Yvonne, who is a wonderful artist and who's blog is among my very favorites. Yvonne is one of my sister design team members for Serendipity Stamps and she graciously shared how she made this ornament. If you'd care to give it a try too, you can see Yvonne's post with directions HERE.

The ornament is very three dimensional but I'm afraid that doesn't show well in my photographs. I encourage you to see Yvonne's samples on her blog.



The project recipe is:
Stamps: Serendipity stamps Snowflake flourish large and small
Ink: Brilliance teal
Accessories: Nestibilities circle and scalloped circle dies and also Nestibilities Floral accent die, teal pearls, dimension tape, hardware for the hanger, white satin ribbon.

This really went together quickly and I'm sure you can find a variety of stamps other than the snowflake one we used to create a lovely handmade ornament.

Cheers!

Jennifer