Holy Moses!

Thank God for Labor Day! Today I shopped, and I made cards. I do have "work" to do, but it's somehow easier when I have been playing all day.

I have so desperately missed making cards and scrapbooking, but I literally had neither time nor energy for anything but survival for the past three weeks. I am hoping to break THAT pattern.

Today, I made three cards.

The first was with my new Simply Scrappin' Winter Retreat kit from Stampin' Up! If there's one thing we have all agreed upon in the SU! circle in which I hang, it is that the new catalog has fantastic papers. I think these kits get overlooked. They, too, have a great mix of papers. Typically, they have been single-sided, but the paper with this pack is double-sided. The kits also come with great cardstock stickers. Everything coordinates. So, everything on this card, except for the Bordering Blue base, was included with the kit. This card is an anniversary card for a friend.

The next two cards are birthday cards. One is for my nephew, the other for my niece. Both are late (yikes). How awesome do the filigree brads look on my niece's card? Love them! And the Manchester and Maine Blueberry papers were so fun to work with. I am loving the SU! On Your Birthday stamp set, especially the one that says "(a little late)." How totally me right now.


Speaking of stamp sets... yeah to SU! for FINALLY die cutting some sets in the regular catalog. On Your Birthday has twelve stamps, and, typically, that would have taken me forever to cut and mount. It may have taken 5 minutes, tops. Such a helpful thing!

Summer

OK, I am going to ramble.

I have no card today. Mainly, it has been one crazy, hectic week. School is starting, and on Friday I found out that I would have a classroom position - fourth grade. I had been planning for a reading interventionist job with K-2 until Friday evening. I am THRILLED for the fourth grade position, but this week has been absolutely NUTS. The children will come tomorrow, ready or not. I am ready to meet them. They are so much smaller than the sixth graders I taught for 8 years.

I am sad to see summer go. I really adore fall, but this summer was different. This summer was my goal. After my leave of absence last winter, when I returned at the end of February, summer vaca was the light at the end of my tunnel. I knew I could make it to summer.

Now, that beacon is losing its radiance. School begins again for us all. May I keep the same perspective that I had at the end of last year! My family and my health need to be top priority.

I will try. Cardmaking was my one daily therapy. I am hoping that it will come back in full swing. I will try my best.

Seize the Sketch Winner!

The winner of the Seize the Sketch Contest is Bev!

Her card can be found here.

Thanks to those who took a peek and those who played.

I am a little slow in crafting this week, as I learned on Friday that I will be teaching fourth grade starting THIS Thursday. It's a little hectic around here, but I'll get back into my groove once the craziness ends. Wait... maybe once it slows.

Freshly Cut Thanks

Today's Sketch Challenge, as shown, was one with a lot of different options. I chose to make it a thank-you card by rotating the sketch. Last night at Karen's catalog open house, I won a door prize-- SU! Fresh Cuts stamp set. Woo hoo! So, I thought I would put it and some newer cardstock (also thanks to Karen's open house) to use.

I have to say, this looks like a simple card, but I went through more cardstock than I would have liked before i came upon my final card. Based on yesterday's and today's card, I would have to say the new SU! Pacific Point is a color that I enjoy. I joined it with SU! Baja Breeze (also new) and SU! So Saffron (or Barely Banana... who really knows?). I stamped the sentiment in Craft White and the image in Pacific Point. I also wanted a more rounded feel to the card, so out came my punches! Part of my cardstock issue was that I was trying to use my Fiskars scallop scissors, but it just wouldn't come out the way I envisioned tonight.

After adding the ribbon, I decided more texture was needed, so out came the bling. In all, I think it's simple, but fits the challenge quite well.

I Crack Myself Up, Card 1

OK, so I decided that I would have some crazy, ignorant fun with making cards. It's the only way to adequately get through the end of summer, you know?


I just got a few new Bellas (7 to be exact), and, after cutting them out on the foam backing, I could not get past looking at this one (craftybella) and thinking of the stinking Mad TV skit to which Karen and Krystal introduced me. Here is a You Tube version if you are looking at the card and thinking I am becoming a serial killer.

Enjoy!

Go JoLynn, It's Your Birthday!

Read all about it, if you wish, on my family blog. Good times!

Square Spring Card

I have been meaning to try this fold for quite some time. So, when today's SCS Technique Challenge was to create a "square spring card," I knew I had to give it a try. Honestly, it was pretty easy. We were provided a clear tutorial by shulsart.

I have to say, Stampin' Up! has some smart marketing. I hadn't given Porcelain Prints even a blink until it was being retired. I cannot believe I missed this lovely paper.

My "natural light" Ott-Lite finally said, "Adios." I need a new bulb. Good thing I have a 40% off Hobby Lobby coupon! I love that light, and, obviously, I leave it on way too much. So, today's picture is with my ol' flash on my Nikon. It's the best I could do.

Size (for envelope): 5.5 x 5.5 inches

Stamps: Friendship Sentiments (MSE!) and Mixed Bouquet (SU!)

Ink: Floral background - SU! Bordering Blue; Sentiment - SU! Buckaroo Blue

Paper: SU! Porcelain Prints and Whisper White

Accessories: Spare Parts brads, SU! Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon

Monkey, monkey, what do you see?

I see the school year creeping up on me.

Yup, been reading a lot of Brown Bear, Brown Bear lately. That Eric Carle! My three year old loves it.

Anyway, this card is for a teacher friend who is absolutely dreading the start of school. It happens each year. It doesn't mean we are bad teachers. We just LOVE our summers because we work ourselves to death for nine months of the year. My mantra to her is, "The year will start, whether we are ready or not. The first day will come and go. All will be well."

I have tried to... well... seize every day of summer. I have enjoyed each day for its merits. If it was busy, I thanked God that I had the ability to do all that was needed in the day. If it was gorgeous and sunny, I relaxed by the pool and marveled at creation. If I had a meeting, I soaked up the knowledge I needed. Job interview? I gathered up my nerves and my courage, and went in willing to let them see me and what "me" truly looks and sounds like.

I really think the summer has flown, but I have spent it well. Lots of time with friends. Quite a bit of crafting. I cannot complain. So hopefully, my card brings my friend some joy.

This card was inspired by this week's Featured Stamper, Michelle (shellapoo). She cranks out quite a bit of cards. Here's what her friend and nominator, Anne Ryan, said about her:

Hey everyone, I’m excited to tell you Shellapoo is today’s featured stamper! Michele, for those of you that might not know, is a major dog lover – check out her avatar! But, when she’s not dressing Buddy in all kinds of uniforms, she can generally be found in her stamp castle! Yes, I said castle! But she’s not there just making cards for SCS; she’s there making cards for hospitalized children. You see, Michelle, has a heart as big as the state she lives in! A woman of courage, faith and determination, Michelle can always be found making cards for children! Before going straight to Shellapoo’s gallery, there’s something else I would like you to know about Michelle: Michelle has advanced MS, a very debilitating degenerative disease. Despite her limited energy, coordination and horrific 24/7 headaches, she never looses sight of her goal to bring a little sunshine to hospitalized children!So, let’s get busy checking out Michelle’s gallery as today’s Featured Stamper! Let’s give her a little piece of that sunshine she’s always giving to others!Thank You, Anne Ryan

Wow, huh? Here's the challenge given by Beth, the moderator of the Featured Stampers:

Dear Splitcoast FS players: I am challenging all FS players this week to send a card to Michelle! It can be a blank card for her stash for the hospitalized children, or it can just be a RAK for Michelle! Have a wonderful week everyone! PM User Anne Ryan for the address! I know SCS is an awesome community which will rally this challenge! {Beth}

I do have Michelle's address, if any of my readers would be interested in sending her a RAK. Rather than posting it here for the world to see, I thought I would wait to see who might want it. Let me know!


Size: 4.5 x 5.5 inches (including the scalloped circle)
Paper: SU! Perfect Plum and Wintergreen, Papertrey white, Paper Reflections - forest
Stamps: School for Changito (Archiver's exclusive acrylics by Stampendous!)
Cutting tools: Cricut (George and Alphalicious for the circle and scallop), Coluzzle
Ribbon: Offray green grosgrain
Eyelet: Scrap Arts silver jumbo eyelets
Ink: Tim Holtz Black Soot distress ink; Copics (E29, E31), SU! Lovely Lilac and Positively Pink markers, Zig Millennium pure black marker

{CCC..uuuu...ttt...eee} bags

OMG. The inspiration challenge for Saturday may have inspired me to by a bag. Look at these bags! So darling. I could use a new, fun purse. Hmmm.

{Anyway, focus, JoLynn, focus.} I saw the Park Slope Retro Cream Pink Chocolate Flowers Boutique Diaper Bag Tote Handbag (shown), and I thought immediately of SEI paper. Of course my first thought was of paper I didn't even have scraps of...Madera Island. But, when going through my 12 x 12s, I found this piece of Garden Party in Ally's Wonderland that worked just as well.

Each of the bags has a similar feel: Pattern as a top panel, dark, negative space at the bottom, bow as a separator. What a classic design for anything! So, I decided to go with that flow. The small, glittery, purple and blue circles you see were punched out from other parts of the paper. I felt they were too cute to leave out. Fun and easy card!

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Paper: SEI Garden Party in Ally's Wonderland; SU! Chocolate Chip and Whisper White (base)

Stamp: see d's Thank You

Ribbon: Oriental Trading

Ink: SU! White Craft Ink

C'mon Get Happy!

This week blew by. It's not that I wasn't doing "crafty" things or "fun" things. I did both. As far as making a card or trying any of the challenges, I was a bit off of my cadence.

So, here is my triple challenge card for CC177 (sort of), LSC179, and SC187.

CC177: use Groovy Guava, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand

LSC179: make a card that will make someone smile

SC187: pictured

Every time I look at this Snoopy image, I smile. C'mon. Admit it. You do, too. it reminds me of my three year old. When he gives you what he calls a "'queeze," he kind of shudders. It's hysterical.

I say I sort of followed CC177 only because I added some chocolate chip. I needed some neutral depth. I love how the ribbon treatment worked out. An oldie but a goodie. The ribbon's negative effect is seen on the inside of the card. It's very cool. This also worked nicely with the paper tole technique, allowing Snoopy some dimension.

This card makes me smile. I hope it also helps a stamper who has earned what I call the stamping Purple Heart... injury in the line of duty.

Size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Cardstock: SU! Sahara Sand, Groovy Guava, and Whisper White

Designer Paper: SU! Afternoon Tea

Stamps: Snoopy by Stampabilities, SU! Simply Circles, SU! Cheery Chat

Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Basic Black, and Going Gray

Ribbon: SU! Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon

Technique: Paper tole