Monday, August 1, 2022

Color Hues/Seize the Birthday -- Honoring Lindsey

 

This is going to be a very difficult post to write.  As many of you already know, the cardmaking community lost one of it's own last week.  I personally have lost one of my dearest friends.  Today is all about Lindsey Martin-Penny.




Before I dive into the challenge details, let me tell you a little bit about my friend Lindsey.

We "met" during one of Tracey McNeely's 25 days of Christmas tags event years ago.  Lindsey contacted me through social media inquiring about the birch background paper I used in my photography.  It happened to be from Pier One and she asked if it would be okay if she used it as well. Duh!  I was so honored that she even noticed.  Occasional conversations would take place, usually in the comments of each other's posts but where we really bonded initially was over books.  I have a little IG account where I post my thoughts about the books I've read. (I'm really far behind at the moment if you're checking.)  As a former librarian Lindsey was an avid reader and some of my most favorite books and authors are a result of her many recommendations.  As the years passed we became close and emailed several times a week.  Topics included crafting, books, recipes, cocktails, our love of Star Trek, our families, etc.  Emails turned to texting.  Texting soon became a daily occurence.  I still find myself reaching for my phone to text her.  My world is so very sad right now.  

On to the challenge:

Today Seize the Birthday is playing along with their Sister Challenge, Color Hues as Lindsey was a member of both teams.  Today's challenge was to be hosted by Lindsey so the Design Teams want to honor and celebrate her beautiful creative life by sharing "Lindsey Inspired" projects using her previously chosen colors of Blue and Purple.  (Love ya Lins but purple will never be a favorite.  LOL!)  In addition to the chosen color duo we encourage everyone to incorporate Lindsey's favorites into their card.  No sympathy cards please.  She would want us all to be happy.  





As I previously mentioned card themes may include the following:

Humor/Humour
Cats
Gardening
Reading
Friendship
Wine/Spirits
Tea


On to my card:



She and I shared so many common interests so choosing a theme was difficult.  I will be honest.  I scrapped the first three versions (all of them totally different from each other) and in the end decided to just go with a Clean & Simple thank you card.  (CAS was her favorite style to create.)

My design is quite simple.  I stamped the heart onto a white card panel and colored it in with different hues of purple and blue alcohol markers.  I stamped my sentiment below the heart, trimmed down my panel and then adhered it to a slightly larger piece of black cardstock for the narrowest of mats.  I popped the completed panel onto a white card base using a piece of black fun foam.  As a final touch I added a bit of Wink of Stella to the center heart before applying Glossy Accents over the top.  I think Lindsey would approve.  

Supplies:
Simon Says Stamp - Center Cut Heart rubber stamp
Simon Says Stamp/CZ Design - Simply Thank You clear stamp set

I hope to see the Color Hues gallery filled with tributes to Lindsey.  Thank you in advance.
_________________

I didn't want to take away from Lindsey but I would be remiss if I didn't mention my recent absence from blogland/social media.  My father passed away quite unexpectedly on July 3rd.  My parents have lived with us for the past year so not seeing him every day has been especially difficult. My world is indeed extremely sad nowadays.  Miss you Pops.  

As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me.

Jules

 





  











Saturday, July 23, 2022

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #215

 

It's time for yet another Snarky Saturday with the Sisterhood.  Today's new challenge is Masculine.







Manscape time perhaps?



I find difficult to come up with creative ideas for masculine cards.  I originally bought this sweater die set to create ugly holiday sweaters but realized it was perfect for this challenge.  I pulled out masculine looking designer papers and got to work.  After assembling the sweater all that was left was a bit of stamping. I think we can all relate to the sentiment, right?  ha!

I invite you to visit our blog for more snarky masculine inspiration and hope to see your card in our gallery!

Supplies:
Marianne Designs - sweater die set
Avery Elle - Indigo stamp set
Simon Says Stamp/CZ Design - Sassy Flaps stamp set


As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!

Jules


Saturday, July 9, 2022

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #214


It's time once again for a Snarky Saturday!  This fortnight the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers are celebrating Christmas in July.  We would love to see a little sass in one of your holiday creations.  





Someone should keep a better eye on the reindeer...





... 'cause obviously this guy isn't.




To create my card I began by stamping, coloring and fussy cutting blitzened Blitzen.  I embossed the red background with a folder, cut it down to create a nice white margin and then adhered the intoxicated creature using an action wobbler.  The sentiment was stamped below.  Another CAS card from yours truly.

I invite you to visit our blog for more inspiration from the team.  Be sure to also check out what our Reigning Queen Beverly created for us as well.  

Supplies:
Miss Ink Stamps - Blitzened
Fun Stampers Journey - Cozy Knit embossing folder
Art Impressions - Action Wobbler

As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!


Jules

Friday, July 8, 2022

Happy Little Stampers - July Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

 

We round out our latest Happy Little Stampers challenges with a new Anything Goes with Dies challenge.  No special prompts required.  Just use a die cut in any shape or fashion and link it to our gallery. It's that simple.  



This lovely tulip die caught my eye recently.  
It was just begging me to give it a home. 
It's very happy now. 




I began by die cutting the tulip from colored cardstock which I enhanced with some ink blending along the edges.  I chose a heavy weight black cardstock to create my card base and added the white die cut panel over top.  I adhered the tulip and stamped sentiment and added in a few clear droplets to finish it off.

I invite you to visit our blog and hope to see your creation in our gallery.

Supplies:
Spellbinders - Layered Tulip dies
Gina K - Assorted Sentiments stamp set
Lil Inkers - Diagonal Plaid cover plate die


As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!

Jules

Monday, July 4, 2022

Happy Little Stampers - July Christmas Challenge


It's time to reset our month long challenges over at the Happy Little Stampers blog.  Today starts a new Christmas challenge where our optional prompt is GOLD.



I chose to do some gold embossing on my very CAS card.





This card was extremely simple to create.  After using an anti-static pouch on my white panel I stamped the image (one piece) in Versamark ink on both the top and bottom edges.  I then heat embossed it with gold ink.  The sentiment die cut is stacked four high to create dimension and help the greeting stand out.

I invite you to visit our blog and hope you join in on the fun!

Supplies:
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflake Season stamp set
Poppystamps - Merry Christmas Poe Script die set
gold embossing powder


As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!

Jules

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #213


Anyone else here a Zombie fanatic?  I actually use the theme song from the Walking Dead as one of my ringtones which attracts a lot of attention when my daughter calls me.  :-)

When Hero Arts came out with this set I had to have it.  Of course, like always, I'm only just now getting around to using it.  Why?  Because it's time to Come Alive with the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers because this fortnight's theme is 

        Zombies!




 

How fabulous is this?!  Thanks Lee!


My card began with the stamping of the ground followed by the ink blending of my sky.  I stamped the silhouettes right over the top of the background inks.  (The use of a MISTI comes in really handy here since most of these were triple stamped.)  I paired the scene with what I thought was an amusing sentiment.  Maybe it's a zombie thing?  You tell me.      

I invite you to visit our blog for more Zombie inspiration.  We have some wonderful "takes" on the theme.  

Supplies:
Hero Arts - Graveyard stamp set
Simon Says Stamp - Paper Hugs stamp set


As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!

Jules

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Seize the Birthday #241


It's another Seize the Birthday Thursday and we are celebrating the return of summer, at least for those of us located in the northern hemisphere.  Our Topping for this fortnight is Summer Activities.

If I'm being honest, my favorite summer activity is to remain indoors with the AC on. (I know my fellow Floridians can relate.)  But I do occasionally venture out into my pool and thought Blanche was totally appropriate for my way of thinking.  And no Art Impression character is complete without a tiny bit of snark.  *wink*

 All she's missing is a pool side adult beverage.  






I began by stamping, coloring and die cutting out my fabulous Blanche.  I did a bit of stenciling onto a white card panel, stamped the sentiment and then adhered Blanche over top.  I used a Versamark ink pad and a horizontal striped stamp to create a bit of interest to the navy card base before adhering my panel.  All that was needed was a few clay hearts to finish it off.

I invite you to visit our blog and look forward to seeing your card in our gallery!  If toppings aren't your thing, any birthday card qualifies.


Supplies:
Art Impressions - Blanche
Hero Arts - Swirl stencil
MFT - Anything But Basic Birthday sentiment set
Ellen Hutson - Striped background stamp


As always, thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me!

Jules