Seize The Birthday #177

The prompt over at the Seize the Birthday Challenge Blog is Candles.   

I opted for an "implied approach" to my card as you can see below.

I absolutely LOVE this extinguisher carrying old bitty from Art Impressions.  

She just makes me giggle.  

To create the card I stamped and then colored the image with Copic markers.  

I then stamped the front of a lavender card base with a chevron background stamp (MFT) 

using white pigment ink for a very subtle pattern effect.  

I added a few clay hearts and called her done.   

I wonder what "lucky" friend will be getting Gladys?  

(Have no fear Catherine, I won't be sending her to you again.  LOL!)

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope to see you on the crafty side.

Jules

Sisterhood Challenge #146

The current challenge at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Blog is P for Pink and from the looks of things, Edna is very serious about Halloween. 

I didn't go "full on snark" but I am continuing with my tried and true, go-to alcohol theme.  What can I say...it just works.  :-)

I pulled out a variety of products in order to create my own sentiment.  Here's the run down...

Spellbinders - Ghost and Boozy alphas are from past Small Die of the Month Clubs

Altenew - Thick and Thin Alpha Stamps

Paper Smooches - Martini Die

MFT - Striped Paper

Ranger - Distress Oxides

Heidi Swapp - White Glitter Paper

Thanks for stopping by!  Your time is important and always appreciated.  I'll see you all on the crafty side....

Jules

Inspired By Challenge

I created my grandson's Halloween card based upon the inspiration photo at the current Inspired By Challenge Blog.  I love all of the prints represented in this table runner!

It's too bad I purged all of my Halloween papers about a year ago.  But I improvised using the color combos.  

I think he'll like his "not so scary" ghost.  All stamps and dies are from Simon Says Stamp brand products.  

Thanks as always and hope to see you on the crafty side....

Jules

CAS Colour and Sketch #344

Hello Monday!  After a month of traveling here and there I think I'm finally home long enough to do some (consistent) crafting.  With only hours left in the challenge, I'm playing along with the folks at the CAS Colour & Sketch Blog where my color themed card was chosen as one of the winners last week.  Today's card however is based on the current sketch challenge. 

I pulled out some new to me stamps along with some tried and true older products from my stash to create my card.

I made this card specifically for a dear friend of mine who is recuperating from a really nasty surgery.  I know she will enjoy a little "pick me up" to her day.  

My supplies include the Doctor's Helpers stamp set from Create A Smile stamps....a really old border die from PaperTrey Ink....and the Candy Striped Background stamp from MFT Stamps.  I added the stripes using Versamark Embossing Ink for a more subtle tone on tone pattern than I would have gotten had I added designer paper.  I think it came out rather cute if I'm allowed to say so myself.  

Thanks so much for stopping by my little corner of blog land.  I hope to see you all on the crafty side.....

Jules

The Library Craft Challenge - Guest Host

Hello Friends.   I am very excited to share that Marina has invited me to be a Visiting Librarian over at The Library Craft Challenge Blog.  You all know how much I love challenges and hers is definitely one of my favorites.  She's designed it for "Crafters Who Love Books" and that most certainly includes me.  (If you're interested in my current reads, stay tuned to the end of this post.)

I have chosen a book by one of my favorite funny authors, Dave Barry.  We are both long time Floridians and his humor with regards to our state is hilarious.  The one I picked for my challenge is geared towards Middle School age kids however I still found it a very enjoyable read.  And more importantly to us today, I thought the cover was super fun and full of inspiration.

Don't you think this illustration is full of crafty choices?  I honestly had a difficult time narrowing down the options but in the end I decided to focus primarily on the large title.  Here is my example....

I must apologize for my choice of products.  I am a firm believer in pulling out from one's stash and apparently I managed to choose quite a few that have been retired however there are many companies that have similar products which can easily be substituted for mine.  Again, I am so, so sorry.

The Seriously stamp is from Concord and 9th.  Retired but still available here.  

The car and balloons are from The Greeting Farm.  I was unable to find them online.

The skyline die is another very old one from Momenta.  I was unable to find it online. 

The clouds were masked from a Lawn Fawn and can still be found here if you're quick.

Please check out Marina's challenge blog and consider playing along with us.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

_______________________________________________________________________________

My current reads are ....

Deck Z by Chris Pauls.  It's a fictionalized tale of zombies aboard the Titanic.  ROFL!  I chose it because it's the current selection over at the Literary Lushes podcast, hosted in part by one of my personal friends (and local book club member) Samantha.  I will be honest.  I love the idea behind this book however the writing is very unpolished so I won't be recommending it.  

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  I'm listening to this one on audio and it is fantastic!  I've never seen the movie (and probably won't...I'm kinda that way with books I love) but I highly recommend the audio version.

If you're a podcast listener please consider tuning into Literary Lushes.  I am going to be a guest on their show in early November to gush over my all time favorite book....Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.  I listened to it on audio over a year ago and plan to re-read it in book form this week.  I couldn't recommend it enough.  (On a scale of 1-5, its a 10.)  

That's it for me this time.  Hope to see you on the crafty side....

Jules

Inspired by Laurel

I'm playing along with Laurel once again over at her Inspired by Challenge blog.  But before I get to this week's inspiration photo I'd like to share this bit of news...

My pumpkin laden truck card was chosen as last week's winning entry!  Thanks Laurel!  It's always so fun to get recognized.  

The current challenge is pumpkins....sans the truck.  *wink*  I just love those festively painted pumpkins!

I still had the Spellbinders die set from my last card out on my desk so I grabbed it once again to create a very, very simple Thank You card with traditional styled pumpkins.  

A closer look at the design.

Doesn't get much simpler than this.  I do hope you'll visit her site and play along.  If not, I hope to see you on the crafty side....

Jules

Seize the Birthday #176

My October is filled with lots of birthdays for family and friends.  In this house we start with my husband and then move to mine the following week.  (For eight days every year he is "officially" ten years my senior.  LOL!)  After that it's my mother-in-law's turn.  She just turned 95 and is still happily living on her own and driving a cute little red Kia.  :-)  On top of that I have a beaucoup number of friends with October birthdays.  I think I have mailed/am mailing out twelve birthday cards this month alone.

All that to say THIS is why I love playing along with the gang at the Seize the Birthday challenge blog.  My birthday stash has taken a huge hit and I need to replenish it.  What better way than to participate in this challenge?

The current theme is For the Kids. 

As you know, I made several boy themed shark cards over the summer so today I decided to do a pretty whale themed card for a little girl.  

I used the Extraordinary narwhal set from Avery Elle which unfortunately appears to be retired.  You can purchase it here if you're interested.  I colored the images with Copics and then added an extraordinary (obnoxious???) amount of Cupcake Rhinestones from HoneyBee Stamps.  (Little girls like LOTS of bling, right?  LOL!)   

So one card down....lots to go. You will probably see me incorporating birthday cards into many of the upcoming challenges.  I appreciate your time and hope to see you on the crafty side. 

Jules