Unity's FWF 9/13

If you are here for my Lone Wolf Designs post, showcasing Lawn Cuts by Lawn Fawn, please scroll down or click here. 

Hey there friends, time for another Friends with Flair Friday over at the Unity Stamp Co blog. I have gotten out of the habit of participating (boo!) and so here I am again. :) 

I have been trying to use up some of my partial 6x6 pads... because sadly, I seem to accumulate them faster than I can use them. I'm sure I'm the only one with multiplying paper. 

Anyhow. I LOVED this MME happy go lucky pad and I am sad to see it gone, but it was so much fun to create with. I loved the patterns and the bright colors!

This was a random stamp I received and I ADORE it. :)
Random ribbon from stash, Quickkutz heart dies. At this point I was only
running on smaller scrap pieces, yet this is probably my favorite card of
all that I made using up this pad!

And here are a few more. I used up all of my leftover Jililbean Soup epoxy buttons on these cards... the colors coordinated perfectly! The left bottom card uses a gorgeous Unity flower stamp. SO pretty!

Stamps via Unity Stamp Co, Paper Smooches, Ali edwards for Technique Tuesday.

And a handful more for good measure:

Stamps via Paper Smooches, Ali Edwards for TT, Lizzie Anne Designs.

Thanks for visiting me today! have a wonderful weekend!

Jen

OWH sketch 170

You know what? Spring has FINALLY arrived. The past two days have been gloriously warm and sunny, I've even taken our beginning sprouts for our container garden outside to get some sun. It's amazing.  The girls played outside yesterday - and ate outside - 2 snacks and lunch - for about 6 hours until I told them they had to go in for supper and baths. No one wanted to go inside!

It's sketch day at OWH. This is sketch 170:

MME everyday flair dp
Lizzie Anne Designs ballerina
kraft paper, random gems
ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon

I had this ballerina cut and colored (I did add some sparkles to her crown; sealed with glossy accents!), so I just found some coordinating papers and ribbon and it all fell together easy peasy. I think this card took less than 5 minutes to put together. Now, the next card I make will likely take 2 hours... :)

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Jen

Paper Players sketch 137 - dad; OWH bootcamp

Happy Friday!

It's technically spring but we are still buried in snow. :/ As a response, my husband suggested an impromptu trip to Florida for spring break - in SEVEN days, mind you - with our two small children.

Oh sure. So we are packing! I'm not sure who is more excited, us adults for warmer weather or the girls to see the princesses. :)

It's a CAS sketch over at the Paper Players blog. I used a new-to-me woodgrain technique to make this dad card:

Paper by Gina K designs
Dad stamp: Lizzie Anne; sentiment from Verve

This card also follows the "rule of thirds" that was outlined during this month's Operation Write Home bootcamp series. :)

Thanks for visiting me today!

Jen

Drunken Stampers challenge #116 - the Avengers/Superheroes

Welcome to a new challenge! The Bahama Mamas are up for the Avengers/Superheroes theme and we've got a whole lot of inspiration for you at the Drunken Stampers blog. Go check it out!

Here is my card. I've never seen the Avengers, LOL, but I do have this cute little Super Girl. I made my oldest a superhero cape when she was about 4. She still wears it - she's seven now. Hmm, I should probably make my three year old her own cape. I bet she'd love it!

My Mind's Eye Dwell dp, kraft card stock
Lizzie Anne Designs stamp and sentiment
Marvy markers; foam tape, stickles (star) and glossy accents (boots)

I glossy accented Supergirl's boots. My youngest has a thing for rain boots and will wear them at the most inopportune times... like sweltering hot summer days. So, picture my Supergirl in rain boots. :)

Jen

OWH VCMP - day 1 challenges

Happy Saturday! It is bright and sunny here in Wisconsin... cold though! We won't be outside much today.

Operation Write Home is having a virtual card making party (vcmp) this weekend for Presidents' Day, and for once we are home all weekend so I can play along. YAY! The first challenge is from Erika @ Scrappin Intervention, and it's to use zig zags.

I recently asked the OWH ladies which chevron die I should buy, and they recommended the MFT chevron die. LOVE it! :)

Stampin Up designer paper
MFT chevron dies
Stamp by Lizzie Anne Designs

Challenge 2 is from Misty - and it's a kid card challenge using a creature! These kid stamps of mine are going to get a workout today. :)

I stayed with the chevron theme. Hey, the dies were still out! :)

Stamp from Lizzie Anne Designs
Hero arts for OWH cloud stamp
MFT chevron die, grass punch, chalks

I tried to lightly chalk the sky with blue, which didn't work as well as I had hoped, so I added clouds. I think it still works!

There's challenges all weekend long! You can play along at any time!

Jen

Drunken Stampers challenge 114: Finding Nemo

 Hello there! It's time for the Bahama Mama's to show off our creative skills. Check out all of our "Finding Nemo" creations over at the Drunken Stampers blog!

Here is my card. I don't have many sea creature stamps in my vast collection, but I love this octopus! He looks happy, and as I was thinking "don't have fishy paper, don't have fishy paper, how can I have so much paper and not have anything fishy??!!" I realized that this Bo Bunny paper made me think pebbles on a beach; it was nice and bright and fun, so I went with it. Am I the only one who forever hears Stacy & Clinton from TLC's What Not To Wear in my head saying, "it doesn't have to MATCH. It just has to go." ?? I hope not. LOL!!

Stamp by Lizzie Anne Designs
Paper is Bo Bunny's Ad Lib collection; Gina K card stock
Momento inks, Marvy markers; Nesties circles and scalloped circle

Thanks for looking; now won't you come play along with us?

Jen

OWH MWT - thanks for being my friend

Happy Wednesday! It's one of those 'prop your eyelids open with toothpicks' days over here. My youngest was awake and ready for the day well before it was actually morning. YAWN. I ran the race route again yesterday - 5 miles - so I could've really used the sleep! 

Today's OWH challenge is to make friend cards. I took some cards I had been cutting pieces for and added sentiments.

The chipboard embellishments are some extras from a couple of Basic Grey card kits I have. :) Top sentiments are 2 different Unity stamps; the bottom is from Lizzie Anne Designs. All dsp is Stampin Up; cardstock is Gina K. 

Thanks for visiting me today!!

Jen

OWH: ODBD 5 elements challenge

Here's a quick card for this month's ODBD challenge for Operation Write Home. ODBD will sponsor the costs of shipping two boxes overseas for 50 linked cards! Our Daily Bread Designs, you rock. Thanks for supporting our heroes. :)


The challenge this month is to use five elements. I used:
1) patterned papers
2) twine
3) stamped image/words
4) brads
5) corner rounding and distressing

The notebook paper stamp is by Lizzie Anne Designs; the 'happy' by Unity Stamp Co.


I found a BUNCH (like a serious bunch) of school-themed papers when I wrangled up the last of my 12x12 papers. I'm starting on some cards that I am hoping work well for back to school, birthday, and just general kid cards. :) 


Thanks for visiting me today!


Jen

April ODBD challenge for OWH

The April challenge for OWH/ODBD is to feature an animal on your card. I had one lonely sheet of this puppy paper left, so guess what I chose? LOL :)

This is sketch 116, BTW, as well. Be sure to link up your card, too - for every 25 cards, ODBD will cover the shipping cost of a box (up to 2 boxes).

Paper: DCWV
Stamp: Lizzie Anne Designs

Thanks for looking!
Jen

OWH VCMP #5 - party time

Late but better than never... I'm joining in with the virtual cardmaking party (VCMP) over at the Stars & Stamps blog!

This challenge - to create a birthday party - was easy. I finished up 4 of these just yesterday. LOL Using it up, using it up!! This is sketch 32, I do believe. :)



Paper:unknown; Sentiment from Lizzie Anne designs and background chevron stamp by Unity Stamp co



Be sure to play along! Apparently the prize closet is being given away.... :)

OH, and if you want a chance to win some Unity stamps from *me*, go to this post and leave a comment to enter! :)

Jen

OWH sketch 106

Today was "clinic day." As much as I appreciate having good doctors easily available, and pretty much any specialty we need, I intensely dislike the amount of time we spend AT said clinic. Two appointments for two kids = 3.5 hours out of my day. AHHHHHH! Did I mention we live ONE MILE from the clinic? That's NOT travel time. Good grief!!

So, I de-stressed tonight by making a card with OWH sketch 106.  Yeah, yeah, I didn't follow the sketch exactly but I LOVE this stamp:

Sentiment stamp from Lizzie Anne Designs
Inks: Momento Tuxedo Black and Tim Holtz crushed olive
Paper: who knows? LOL

Thanks for visiting me today! :)

Jen

January ODBD challenge for OWH

I am not complaining tonight - my DH had to work late and then go to the gun club for something, and the kids are in bed, so I get some peace and quiet and time uninterrupted to craft!

The challenge this month is to use 3 patterned papers on your card. Now, for every 25 link-ups ODBD will sponsor the postage costs for one large box to be shipped overseas each month (only link one per person), with a max of 2 boxes. Still, did you see that USPS rates are going up? (Shocking, I know!) So every little bit helps. All OWH guidelines apply (see here if you're not familiar with OWH).

3 patterned papers... hmmm, not a hard challenge when you have scraps upon scraps to use up! I CASE'd this card from someone on the Mini-hop at the end of the year. Sorry I don't remember who it was... if it was you, or you know, please tell me so I can give some credit, 'kay?

This card is an exercise in 'making do'. Those are all scraps ranging from .5" to 1.25". I adhered them to a scrap piece of cardstock (an awful, awful yellow-orange) and then CB'd it with my divine swirls embossing folder. I trimmed it and matted it in off white and then SU yellow something or other, but I had torn the striped piece near the bottom by accident, so I used this scrap piece of ribbon to cover it up, then I didn't have 2 of those cute button brads, only one - so I tied the remaining scrap of ribbon and adhered it over the other hole on the tag.

Done, done, and done... this brings my spending freeze challenge to 31 cards for January, and I had to make the rule that multiples don't count because I made LOTS of sesame street guys the other day. Woot! Kris, you will get another FULL box in a couple of weeks I think!

Now, go find some scraps and play along!

Jen

OWH MWT - inchies!

I've been having a lot of fun with the latest OWH sketch (you can find it on the Stars & Stamps blog, sketch 82). It's also challenging me to really try to use up some older papers and things I don't reach for very often.

I think this turned out pretty cute! Sorry for the bad photo, I couldn't get enough light. :/

Card recipe:
Papers: SU solids, DCWV mat stack (animal crackers, I think?)
Sentiment: Lizzie Anne Designs born to be wild set
Lemondrop twine - The Twinery

Thanks for looking! Be sure to come play along with us and help our heroes keep in touch with home.

Jen

OWH MWT - another K-9 challenge!

Man, I think it is SO cool that Ciara is an honorary solider (read about that here), but these K-9 challenges are pretty tough for me. I'm just not a dog person! Luckily my last Lizzie Anne Designs order - two awesome grab bags - contained a cute dog image, so I colored it. And here's where I admit that I seriously considered paper piecing him and making him a funky dog, rather than color him. *blush* I am just not good at coloring, and this is not the best pic. Sorry. The image was still a little wet.

Stamp: Lizzie Anne Designs
Paper: DCWV (the glitter is sealed in and therefore safe for OWH! Duly tested. :)) and random scraps
Ribbon scrap, Cuttllebug argyle embossing folder

No sentiment this time... I just wasn't feeling it.

Thanks for looking, and be sure to come play along with us  at the Stars & Stamps blog!

Jen

OWH MWT - water challenge

The challenge over at the Stars & Stamps blog today is to create a card using a water theme. In my recent (last! sob!) Lizzie Anne Designs order I got a couple of grab bags and was lucky enough to find a really cute whale and matching birthday sentiment. So, I went for abstract water and created this:

Twine: from the Twinery (caribbean, I think)
Momento Ink (tuxedo black and rosebud)
I cut out the whale and colored him, then popped him on dimensionals

Come play along with us! There's a great prize for this week, too! :)

Jen

OWH MWT - cards for kids, and a belated sketch challenge!

It's HOT. Oh my gosh - melting hot - and I just finished ironing. That was not so wise! I hope everyone is staying cool and hydrated. :)

The OWH mid-week throwdown challenge is to make cards for kids. I was really, really sad a couple of weeks ago when I heard that Lizzie Anne Designs stamp company was closing. Of course I cheered myself up with a couple of last minute orders of their stamps and got some very, very cool and incredible kid stamps. :)

This one I got with my girls in mind. I think it's so important to encourage our kids to reach higher than they think is possible:

Stamps: Lizzie Anne Designs
paper: random scraps from the bin
Momento Ink and prismacolor pencils
Twine from the Twinery

And then here is the last sketch challenge... I took a LOT of liberties with this one, LOL!

DP from K&Company (the glitter is sealed in so it won't flake off!)
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co for "fall" and the leaf is an old SU stamp
Twine from the Twinery, Momento Rich Cocoa and SU pumpkin pie inks

Thanks for looking! Be sure to play along at the Stars & Stamps blog, too!

Jen

OWH Sketch challenge 65 for Earth Day

It's sketch challenge day over at the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog! I really like this sketch - it gave me a chance to practice my ribbon-fork tying skills! LOL My five year old thought I was *nuts* with the serving fork. She was amazed, though I admit it doesn't take that much to impress her - makes my job easy some days! :)

I have this adorable "Grow Extraordinary" set from Unity Stamp Co. Sadly, I don't think it's ever seen ink before! I have no idea why, other than I just organized my stamps and now it's much, much easier to find (Scraponizer file folders, cut in half - you can fit 3 half folders plus 8.5x11" stamp keys in one case!!!). I see myself using this one a lot... it's the type of stamp I can see myself using and tucking a note of encouragement into my girls' lunchboxes when they get older!

Anyhow, here's the sketch:

And my card:

Card recipe:
DP (the green and the leaf print) from Lizzie Anne Designs;
green embossed with forest branches ef
Cardstock scraps
American Crafts ribbon
Stamp set - Unity Stamp Co
Colored with Bic Mark-its

I really like how this turned out! I wasn't thinking and embossed the green DP, which doesn't always work well, but it was fine as it's a heavier weight. Oh, and here's the inside with the sentiment:

Thanks for looking!

Jen

OWH sketch challenge #63

It's sketch challenged day over at the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog! I'm totally trying out some of the new state flower digis later - scroll down for those, too! I challenged myself today to use up some DP I haven't touched in... well, since I got it. LOL! I love this but I had a really hard time coordinating it with anything else.

I ended up using pastels to 'antique' the white sentiment area and the white part of the dimensional flower that I created (the back of the DP was white, and it was really jarring against the red DP). It gave it just enough color and it's hard to tell in the photo, but it's an orange tone, which works really well with the DP.

Card recipe:
SU barely banana, white sentiment - scrap bin
DP - Lizzie Anne Designs
Ribbon - Offray, Sentiment - Unity Stamp Co
Button - from my button jar!

The dimensional flower is super easy to make! There's a great tutorial here. Thanks for looking - won't you play along?

Jen

Unity Friends with Flair 3/25/11!

Good morning! This is my first time posting on the FWF bloghop! I'm so excited!

I just got the sweetest set - Sweet Thoughts of You from Ippity. I love this little bunny! I didn't plan on the double grass border, but I really like how it turned out - it looks like it's tickling his feet. :) Considering I can't even see my grass under our new 6" of snow and ice, that makes me happy! LOL

Card recipe:
Sweet Thoughts of You stamp set
Martha Stewart Grass punch
Lizzie Anne Designs DP
Ink: SU! and Momento
Ribbon: SU!

Thanks so much for 'hopping on by' to my blog! Have a great day!

Jen

Need your Unity fix today? Visit the Unity store!

OWH sketch challenge #60

It's sketch challenge day over at the Stars & Stamps blog!  This one was a little tricky for me. I ended up making two cards. This was the first one:

Card recipe:
Random solid cardstock
Animal print DP: DCWV
Stamps: Lizzie Anne Designs

I wasn't so sure I loved the card, and I was putting away my supplies and spied my Cuttlebug 'traffic jam' embossing folder. Then I thought for a moment and pulled out part of a DCWV paper stack, and ended up with this:

Card recipe:
Solid cardstock - SU and scraps
Glittery DP - DCWV
Pearl embellies - Hero Arts
Cuttlebug embossing folder - traffic jam

Eh. I'm not sure about this one, either! LOL I embossed the smaller white strip at an angle so the squares appear to be diamonds and follow the glittery argyle. I could see this as an anniversary card. I wish I would've incorporated a brighter color into it - maybe red??  Stay tuned - I might rework this again and see what I can come up with!

Thanks for looking! ETA: I just decided to offer some *blog candy*! Refresh my blog for the most current post so you see the details. :)