A JBelle Color Challenge

Lot's of good stuff going on at Jacksonbelle Embellishments this week! Here's the run down:

• A SALE!!! In fact, a BIG SALE. 25% off the entire store with discount code FALL (use all capital letters). And if you order today, you'll probably have new goodies in time for World Card Making Day!
• Still lots of new product in stock and arriving. The latest? Some really yummy My Mind's Eye papers and accessories.
• This week is your last chance to enter the September contest with the Grand Prize of a $50 Gift Certificate to the store, as well as a 2nd and 3rd place prize.

And now for today's Jbelle Challenge! Use all or some of the following colors: green, blue, red and black.
For my card, I used all but the green. The butterflies and flowers are some Basic Grey rub-ons, highlighted with Me and My Big Ideas gemstones. I used lots of the new Making Memories Vintage Findings line (paper, button, and gem pins) and some scrumptious black May Arts ribbon.

What's In It?
Stamps: Fancy Florals Remixed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: vanilla, black (SU), Vintage Findings (Making Memories)
Ink: onyx black (VersaFine), chamomile (PTI)
Other: vintage findings button and gem pins (Making Memories), gemstones (MAMBI), rub-ons (BG), labels 4 dies (Spellbinders), ribbon (May Arts)

Check out what the rest of the JBelle Rockstars are doing:

AJ Otto
Carly Robertson
Heather Lee-Reppen
Jill Dunn
Jimmi Mayo
Keri Lee Sereika
Lindsey Botkin
Lynda Benden
Michelle Philippi
Shemaine Smith
Stephanie Hargis
Tobi Crawford
Trudee Sauer

Wishing You Well

Hello! I've got a quickie for you today. I have to get the house put together and ready to leave in the morning. We're taking a short getaway to a nearby resort in the Laurel Highlands. It's called Nemacolin Woodlands. We'll also be doing some hiking and touring Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. Isn't nature BEAUTIFUL?!? Hopefully I'll be able to snap a few decent pictures. I was going through some odd bits and pieces stashed on my stamping desk when I came across this flower, all colored and cut out. I added the white highlights and tossed together a simple card. I'm really tickled with it. I think it might be the color combo that appeals to me so much. I'll just leave you with the recipe now, since I've rattled on quite a bit already. And it is a very simple card. Drop me a line if you have any questions.

What's In It?
Stamps: Abundant Blessings, Wonderful Wishes (Verve Stamps)
Paper: vanilla (SU), white, spring moss (PTI), sea salt (Bazzill), Girl Friday: Wednesday (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: tuxedo black (Memento)
Other: spring moss grosgrain (PTI), Making Memories brads, Spellbinders double ended tags die, pop dots, glue dots

Anni-VERVE-sary Blog Hop

Welcome to the first ever official Anni-VERVE-sary Blog Hop. Verve turns two today and we’re celebrating with a hop, hop, hop! The party kicked off over on the Verve blog, so if you’ve just happened along, be sure to hop on over there to start from the beginning! And to make this party a real shindig, there’s a mystery jackpot hidden at one of the stops along the hop. One lucky commenter on that blog will win Verve’s entire August release! But of course, it wouldn’t be a mystery if you knew which blog, would it? So if you’re feeling the love, give a little shout out to the bloggers in the hop and you just might have a reason to jump for joy!
My card uses last year's Anni-VERVE-sary stamp set, Beautiful You, along with some delish K & Company paper. Clicking the picture should give you a close up.

Thanks for stopping by! Now it’s time to hop on over to Sarah’s blog, for a little more Verve-y goodness.

Life's Moments

This week's Jacksonbelle Embellishments challenge is to use Pink Paislee or October Afternoon products. Can you say YUM? I had a hard time choosing between the two, but opted for this Pink Paislee Office Lingo line in the end. I also finished it off with a Basic Grey pearl on my flower and some fun May Arts ribbon. Finished card is 3.5" x 6". What's In It?
Stamps: beautiful you (Verve) Paper: office lingo (pink paislee), turquoise (SU), raspberry, white (pti) Ink: onyx black (VersaFine), turquoise, pink passion, kiwi (SU) Other: flat clip (Making memories), ribbon (may arts), dotted wave punch (EK), nesties and flower creations(spellbinders), grass/ivy pearl (basic grey), white gel pen, pop dots, sponge daubers

Now, be sure to see what the rest of the team has done, and let us know on the Jbelle blog if you've decided to play along!

Kristine Breach
Tobi Crawford
Stephanie Hargis
Mitzi Koons
Loretta Lock
Jimmi Mayo
Michelle Philippi
Carly Robertson
Shemaine Smith
Lynda Benden
Melissa Bove
Jennifer Buck
Jill Dunn
AJ Otto
Heather Lee-Reppen
Lindsey Botkin
Trudee Sauer

Mojo Lovin'

I used this week's awesome Mojo Monday sketch for this card! Aren't those the best?!?

Each part of my flower arrangement was stamped and covered with clear embossing powder to get the flowers all layered on top of each other. I started with the flower, since I wanted it in the foreground. For that, I actually stamped the flower (cool caribbean and old olive), then stamped over it with Versamark, using a Stamp-a-ma-jig. Heat emboss. Next, press your "cat tail" stamp into Versamark, then give it one good solid press into sahara sand. Now apply to paper. This will allow you to heat emboss in color without needing separate colored pigment inks. Before actually heating, I removed excess embossing powder from my original flower with a water brush. Heat. Repeat with fern stamps using Versamark and old olive ink. Not only do you get your flowers layered all pretty, but they also have that classy embossed look now too!

I finished it off with some So Saffron sponging and added highlights with a black micron pen.

Black panel was dry embossed with the Birds and Swirls cuttlebug folder, then lightly sanded to let the white core show through.

Looks like I was kind of wordy today. I hope the explanation helped somebody out there.

Thanks for stopping by!

What's In It?
Stamps~ abundant blessings, heart to heart (Verve), background basics: text style (PTI)
Paper~ white (PTI), white, black, caribbean (SU), metropolitan (american crafts)
Ink~ caribbean, olive, sahara, saffron (SU), fresh snow (PTI), onyx black (VersaFine), versamark
Other~ labels 4 dies (Spellbinders), birds and swirls (CB), sponge dauber, clear embossing powder, pearls, black pen, sanding block, pop dots

Butterfly Thanks

I need to find a way to incorporate a little more black into my cards. I love the look and it's not my go-to color. I started with Fall-To Layout #50 from the Clean & Simple Stamping blog. I decided to go with my much loved Martha butterfly punch and a mix of solids and patterns for my "shapes". The bow by far took the longest time on this card. I tied and re-tied that thing twenty times I bet. I also added some Prima gemstones to my solid butterflies.
Hugs to you! And thanks for dropping in.

What's In It?
Stamps~ Thankful Blossoms (Verve)
Paper~ celery, caribbean (SU), raspberry fizz, white (PTI), girl friday (Cosmo Cricket), black dots (Making Memories)
Ink~ onyx black (VersaFine)
Other~ long scalloped rectangle nestie (Spellbinders), Nursery Tales gemstones (Prima), pins (Heidi grace), ribbon (American Crafts)

Pretty Snazzy

I made this sweet little quickie with Fall-To Layout #49. I also used Julee's snazzy little method seen here to jazz up my flower. I covered it with Glossy Accents. Then, while it's still wet, add just a hint of glitter. I also added some tiny rhinestones to the dotted parts of the sentiment. What's In It?

Stamps~ Miracles Blossom (Verve)

Paper~ baja breeze, celery, basic gray (SU), pearlized white (Paper Accents)

Ink~ tuxedo black (Memento), basic gray (SU)

Copics~ B02, B05, G21, G07, YG11, Y17

Other~ parisian punch (EK success), icons rhinestones (MAMBI), crystal glitter (Stickles), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

More Girl Friday (on Tuesday)

(ETA: Oops, I meant for this to post overnight. I goofed somewhere. So you get a double dose today. Sorry.)

I made this card yesterday for the Clean and Simple challenge on Splitcoast. The challenge was to use paper piecing, as always, keeping the card clean and simple. My card ended up not quite as simple as planned, but I'm working on it. It's still simple by most people's standards. I stamped the largest balloon on blush blossom with Versamark and detail black embossing powder. Then I stamped it twice on the Girl Friday (Wednesday) paper and cut it out. One to glue flat and one to pop up with dimensionals. I also stamped the two smaller balloons in Pretty in Pink, not worrying if they overlapped, since Iwould be covering the main balloon with my patterned paper. I cut slits with a hobby knife around the balloon's basket so that I could thread the ribbon through.

For the sentiment, I cut a circle with a nestabilities die, then stamped the sentiment, then stamped random colorful dots. I layered it a larger black die cut and attached with brads (unknown brand, sorry).

The photo corners were punched from more Girl Friday (Sunday, both sides), and the piercing was done with an ornare template.

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps- up, up and away (verve), polka dot basics (pti)
paper- white (pti), black, blush blossom, Girl Friday (cosmo cricket)
ink- black (versafine), versamagic, summer sun, teal, pumpkin, pretty in pink, pomegranate (SU)
other- ornare template, girl friday ribbon (cosmo), photo corner punch and black detail ep (SU), circle nesties (spellbinders), brads, dimensionals, hobby blade

CPS119 To Infinity and Beyond

Wow, this week is really slipping away. I was exhausted from the weekend (weeding and LOTS of mulching) and before I knew it, the week's half over. Last night Josh and I went to eleven for the first time, a restaurant in the Strip District area of Pittsburgh, then walked to the Penguins game for an amazing, stressful, stunning Game six Stanley Cup Finals win over the Red Wings. I had the Alaskan halibut and Josh the lamb. Both were incredibly delicious.

On to the card. That's why you're here anyway, right? I wanted to do something for this week's CPS sketch. I just love extra tall cards like this. I stamped my hot air balloon on water color paper, masked it, and stamped a few clouds (all from Up, Up and Away). I colored with markers and a water brush, using pumpkin pie, kiwi kiss, ruby red, creamy caramel, chocolate chip, and bordering blue. For the flower embellishments, I glued some Perhaps paper to blank pieces of chipboard, then cut with my Cuttlebug Flowers die, then added a Making Memories snap to the center (which I colored with Copic YR07 to get a more vibrant orange). The sentiment is also on a larger CB flower die cut. I aged things a bit with a Tonic paper distresser and Papertrey Ink's new Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo. Oh my word, that stuff is FAST and so cool. LOVE IT! Stamps- Up, Up and Away, Great Expectations (Verve)

Paper- bordering blue, pumpkin pie, kiwi kiss (SU!), water color (Strathmore), offbeat, perhaps (Basic Grey)

Ink- onyx black (Versafine), bordering blue, kiwi kiss, pumpkin, ruby, choc chip, caramel (SU!), tea dye (PTI)

Accessories- YR07 Copic marker, Making Memories snaps, CB flower dies, distresser, chipboard, Cosmo Cricket Everafter and Girl Friday ribbons, water brush, EK Success corner rounder

Butterflies Make Me Smile

Especially polka dotted, striped butterflies. How cute is this stamp? It's another one I pulled out of my stash of pre-stamped images received from other stampers. It's so fun getting a chance to finally use some of those. I colored with Copic markers and used yesterday's sketch challenge from Splitcoast. I didn't have purple thread, so colored some with a Copic marker. Dang, those things have so many uses. I also colored the purple and green primas to match. The designer paper edges were roughed up with a hobby blade. I hope you find a reason to smile today too! HUGS! Stamps- Butterfly, Polka Dot (Lockhart Stamp Company), Thoughtful Florals (Verve Stamps)
Paper- white, SU! pale plum, perfect plum, saffron, old olive, Haiku
Ink- onyx black (VersaFine)
Accessories- copic markers (G21, YG63, V09, V15, Y21, 0), black diamond stickles, thread, sewing machine, primas, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, dimensionals

Mojo 89

Today's card is done with this week's Mojo Monday sketch. I used some older Basic Grey paper (Romani) and the new Verve set, Up, Up and Away. The piercing in the corner is done with an Ornare piercing template. FYI-it helps to set the template with a few straight pins, so it doesn't slide around while you're doing all that piercing. I paper pieced the balloon and treetop. The little bit of "trim" sticking out, is a strip of orange paper in the Romani collection that I stamped with a trim piece from the Up, Up and Away set. The sentiment is from So Happy. Stamps- Up, Up and Away, So Happy (Verve)

Paper- white, water color, SU red, Basic Grey Romani

Ink- black VersaFine, SU! choc chip, cocoa, bashful blue, caramel

Accessories- ornare template, piercer, SU brads, nesties, white gel pen, water brush, dimensionals

Getting My Verve On

I was SO EXCITED when I saw Verve's latest release. Really, how awesome is this tree? And it's not even the main image in the new Up, Up and Away set. I couldn't resist. I had to squeeze a little time in this morning for a quick card. Now I can't wait to find time to use all those gorgeous hot air balloons too. This card uses Fall-To Layout #44 from Clean & Simple. Definitely my go to place to get started on a quick and easy card. I stamped the trees on water color paper and colored with Stampin' Up! markers and a water brush. I used celery, olive, summer sun, and a bit of bashful blue faded out around the treetops. The pearls on the brad were white, so I added some coordinating color with YR07 Copic marker. For the scalloped trim on top, I cut with scalloped scissors. Marked my spots, and punched with a Crop-o-dile. The sentiment was a freebie with my Verve order.Stamps- Up, Up and Away (Verve)

Paper- celery, olive (SU!), water color (Strathmore), Romani (Basic Grey), white

Ink- VersaFine black, SU! markers

Accessories- Copic marker, K& Co. brad, American Crafts ribbon, water brush, dimensionals, scallop scissors, crop o dile

Bouquet Chick

I've had this image (Bouquet from American Art Stamp) sitting on my desk already colored for probably a month or so. I decided today was the day to turn it into a card. It was a Wish RAK image somebody sent to me, so I don't know the ink, and I can't even remember what I used to color it. Looks like water coloring with ink and a bit of Copics mixed in too. Hmm, go figure. I thought this sentiment went well with the happy go lucky stick chick. "Wishing You the Happiest of Days" from an older Verve Stamps set called Wonderful Wishes. You can always click the picture for a larger view if you'd like.Stamps- Bouquet (American Art Stamp by Karen Stolper), Wonderful Wishes (Verve)

Paper- DCWV Nana's Nursery, white, Core'dinations in meadow, crabgrass, in the pink, amaryllis

Ink- black (VersaFine)

Accessories- PTI spring moss grosgrain, SU slot punch, Spellbinders Labels 1 die, prima flowers, button, thread, lime green Stickles

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I plan to get off to a good start. The past couple of days I've been mowing the lawn and scrubbing our deck and patio furniture with bleach and a scrub brush. And now I'm SORE. So I'm heading off to the spa to use a gift certificate from some friends for a massage. My very favorite treat!

Late Mojo

I made this card sometime last week using Julee's Mojo Monday sketch, found here. I'll just leave you with a recipe since it's pretty simple and I'm fairly busy. Trying to find peaks at what's happening at CHA. Did you see Paris Hilton was there? Too funny. There are pics on the Making Memories blog. And getting myself and my house ready to leave for HAWAII later this week. Oh yeah!

By the way, Making Memories is blogcasting everyday from CHA, including giveaways! Woot!

What's In It?
Stamps: Sweet Valentine (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white (PTI); black, sage shadow, riding hood red (SU!); urban prairie ladybug (Basic Grey)
Ink: onyx black (VersaFine); ruby red (SU!)
Accessories: organdy ribbon (SU!); gel pen (Uni-ball); velvet ribbon (Cosmo Cricket Trim-Trimmeree vintage); circle and label one dies (Spellbinders); bloom dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); icons (MAMBI)

Card Tote Template

I was asked for some measurements on the Love Match card box I posted earlier, so I decided to give them a try on Photoshop. I've included a template that hopefully you can print, cut and score. (Although the measurements will show on the inside. I'm still learning.) If that doesn't work (since this is a first try for me) I've included all the measurements.

My box holds 24 double layered cards with a little room to spare. Cut on the solid lines, score on the dotted lines. I also used a tag corner punch on all my exposed corners to make it easier to fit everything together. Enjoy!


And I'd love to see anything you might make with this template. Just drop me a comment or email. Let me know if this was helpful for any of you, so I can decide whether to give something like this another try in the future.
ETA: This isn't really working. You can't click on it. Don't know why. I'll try to figure it out. If you want to give the box a try on your own in the meantime, the measurements are 2-1/8 wide by 3-1/8 tall by 3/4" deep. Hopefully I can get something working soon.

Love Match

This is for the project parade going on now at the Verve Stamps blog. Head on over for more inspiration and your chance to play along and win. The theme is A Kid At Heart, so I made this Love Match Memory Game.

I used to love sprawling out on the living room floor in the evening to play memory. I still remember some of the little animal characters that were hiding under those neatly lined up rows of red cards. But mostly I remember how happy I was spending time with my mom, and how accomplished I felt with each pair of matching cards that turned over.

For this set, the cards are two inches by three inches with a keepsake carrying box to match. Each card has the same basic gray/basic black back side. The fronts are either three small hearts, one large heart, or a sentiment in a mix of colors. If you decide to make a set of your own, be sure you have an two of each card so they match up during the game.

"Love Match" is computer generated. All other images come from the Hundred Hearts stamp set.

What's In It?

Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve Stamps)

Paper: positively pink, tempting turquoise (Stampin' Up!); white (Georgia Pacific); urban prairie (Basic Grey)

Ink: onyx black (VersaFine); basic gray, celery, apricot, pixie pink, turquoise, lavender (SU!)

Accessories: gemstones (Darice); scallop scissors (ProvoCraft); celery grosgrain, ticket corner punch (SU!); corner rounder (EK Success)

Life's Comforts

Hot chocolate, a comfy bed on a rainy morning, sweatpants, a hug...those are a few of my life's greatest comforts. How about you? This card just had me thinking about that, seeing as how the sentiment reads "Wishing you life's greatest comforts".

These are a couple of my cherished Urban Prairie papers again, paired with the Comfort Plain Jane by Verve Stamps.

Design Details:

Cover Basic Grey's undressed chipboard elements with Urbain Prairie paper, then poke two holes through chipboard and sentiment panel to attach with brads.

Draw the butterfly trail very lightly with a pencil. (It took me a couple of tries to be happy with my trail.) After drawing the dotted trail with a marker, erase the pencil lines. Run black marker along edges of butterfly to make it stand out better.

What's In It?
Stamps: Comfort Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper: cool caribbean, basic black, kiwi kiss (Stampin' Up!); white (Papertrey Ink); Urban Prairie (Basic Grey)
Ink: onyx black (VersaFine); basic black marker (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: butterfly punch (Martha Stewart); corner rounder (EK Success); flowers (Primas); chipboard elements (Basic Grey); black licorice brads (Lasting Impressions); black diamond stickles (Ranger); square nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); dimensionals

The project parade starts today on the Verve Stamps blog. Be sure to check it out so you have plenty of time to play along. And there'll be lots of eye candy for the next several days as the designers feature a new project each day with the theme "A Kid At Heart". I'll be sharing my project on Thursday, and I really think you're going to want to see it. At least I think it's a really cute idea.

Urban Planning?

This is my favorite of the cards I made with Verve's newest stamps. I like the bright colors, simple design, and of course the Label 1 die cuts.

To get the multi-colored sentiment, ink the entire stamp with basic gray. Wipe away the words you want to highlight with a water brush and paper towel. Re-ink with markers or carefully with an ink pad as I did for the kiwi kiss "plans". Huff (breathe warm, moist air) on the entire stamp to re-moisten the ink, and stamp.

After die cutting the white layer, I left the die in place while sponging with So Saffron ink.

The ribbon loop is pulled up through the slot, folded over, and secured with a brad.

What's In It?
Stamps: Jeremiah 29:11 (Verve)
Paper: white, pixie pink, baja breeze, basic gray (Stampin' Up!); urban prairie patchwork quilt (Basic Grey)
Ink: pixie pink, kiwi kiss, tempting turquoise, basic gray, so saffron (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: sponge; dimensionals; Label 1 dies (Spellbinders); kiwi kiss striped grosgrain ribbon (Stampin' Up!); paper and ribbon slot punching tool (Making Memories); black licorice brad (Lasting Impressions); swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

A Card and stuff

The computer is all set up and ready to go. It took a few hours, but there were no real headaches. Yay! Now I can use my comfy desktop for photo editing and whatnot rather than running downstairs to the laptop every time. (The old desktop was quite old and slow and couldn't handle any more programs.)

So today, coming to you from my actual stamp room/office, is today's blog post, featuring Verve Stamps newly released Meditations. I stamped the sentiment with a mix of spanish olive and oasis green VersaMagic ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. I mixed in a red mat under that layer to tie in the other red/pink accents. The flowers were stamped the same way, then colored with oasis green on a blender pen. I added a couple of stamped flowers to tie in the background paper (Basic Grey's Perhaps).

What's In It?

Stamps: Meditations (Verve)

Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); old olive (Stampin' Up!); Blue Moss (Core'dinations); Perhaps (Basic Grey)

Ink: spanish olive, oasis green, red magic (VersaMagic)

Accessories: clear embossing powder, blender pen (SU!); ribbon (American Crafts); lime green Stickles; Prima flowers; dimensionals

ETA: I forgot that I used one of Jen's Sketches, seen here.

FYI: You may have noticed that I added a "Follow this Blog" widget (is that the right term?) to my sidebar for any who would like to use that method of keeping up with what I've been doing.

Also, thank you so much to Maria for giving me the One Lovely Blog Award. Stop by to check out her own lovely blog as well as these recommendations:

Taylor

AJ

Amy

Leslie

Sharon

Jen

Michelle

Rules of this award:

1. Add the logo to your blog.

2. Link to the person from whom you received this award.

3. Nominate 7 or more blogs.

4. Leave a message on their blog, letting them know they are “One Lovely Blog”

Says Who?

Says Pooh! Did you know Winnie the Pooh had such good quotes? Apparently Julee knew when she made this Hundred Hearts stamp set, because she included this totally cute saying: "Keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever, " by none other than the tubby little cubby himself.

I paired it with three of the solid heart stamps, clear embossed onto different colors of paper, and the double row of background hearts. I adhered them to my blog in a curved line to get this nice edge for my pink paper. The gold outline on my vellum was done with a Zig Painty. And I added a few bits of Star Dust Stickle to the rows of hearts.

What's In It?
Stamps: Hundred Hearts (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, kiwi kiss, bravo burgundy, pretty in pink (Stampin' Up!); Perhaps (Basic Grey)
Ink: bravo burgundy (SU!); Versamark
Accessories: clear embossing powder, brads (SU!); star dust Stickles; Zig Painty

Today will be spent setting up my new computer with hopefully minimal banging of my forehead on my desk. Wish me luck.