SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE

Hi All,

Decided to enter the September 2013 Challenge at www.enjoyMichaelStrongstamps.com making a card using red, orange, and yellow. Here's what I did:
My card base and flowers are 'Neenah Classic Cream' card stock. Using Michael Strong's 'Cloisonné Flower' (large and small), I stamped one set of flower pieces (1 lg. and 1 small) with 'VersaColor Camellia Red' and one set with 'VersaColor Orange' and embossed with clear embossing powder...then colored with Copic Markers, and fussy cut the flowers. So the cream cardstock edges would not show, I tipped the edges with corresponding Copic markers colors...red/orange, then tipped all edges of the flowers with 'SmoochGlitz Frost' for glitz when the light hits the flowers. The yellow center swirl is a die from 'Build A Flower set B181' by 'Cheery Lynn Designs' and cut from the 'Stardream Gold' card stock. I used a gold brad for the center when putting the flower together and used more of the 'Smooch Glitz Frost' on the brad and swirl.

The leaf swirl is a 'Fanciful Flourish'  by 'Cheery Lynn Designs' B117 (medium size) die cut out of 'Stardream Gold' cardstock, and the leaves are tipped with red or orange (can't remember which, and then lightly rubbed off - left them looking bronze; also used a little of the 'SmoochGlitz Frost' on the leaves.

The background piece is 'Burlap Border B312' by 'Cheery Lynn Designs' and it cuts like butter! I cut it out of 'Malmero Perle Red' cardstock.

To finish I stamped the 'Smile' stamp by 'My Sentiments Exactly' with 'VersaMark' and applied 'Chinese Red Embossing Powder' by 'The Peddler's Pack' in Beaverton, OR and heat set it...this embossing powder has red/orange in it - although it does not show up well in the picture, it matches the flower exactly.

It was a fun card to make! Michael Strong has some wonderful Cloisonné stamps made of deeply etched rubber on thick EZ Mount...they stamp beautifully! Great pricing and low shipping - in case you are interested: www.strongstamps.com
Cheery Lynn Designs dies are so versatile and cut well - you can check them out here: www.cheerylynndesigns.com

That's all for today...
Paper Hugs and Happy Autumn,
Jan

OSA Brush Stroke Mingle

I participated in an OSA (Oriental Stamp Art) Brush Stroke Mingle with 3 of these cards. My photo has a gray cast for some reason when in fact the card is white. The oval overlay is edged in brown and sponged with pink. I colored the birds and flowers with Copic markers and used Smooth Glitz Frost as well as a bit of Stardust Stickels on the flowers. This stamp is by Penny Black #2946K 'Love Blossom'. 

Until next time...Paper Hugs,

Jan

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July 2013!!!

A full year later to the day since my last post - LOL- my intention is to post a bit more frequently in the future. Trust everyone has been enjoying good weather, family, friends, food, and fireworks this Fourth! We have much to be thankful for. God Bless America!

My card looks a bit orange, but it is an orangeish red, white, and blue washi paper background, fish embossed with gold embossing powder and fussy cut.

Paper Hugs until next time,
Jan

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Hope you enjoy the petunia 'American Flag' picture I took a few years ago!

Paper Hugs,
Jan

As my husband likes to sing to me 'I'm a Winner'!

Happy First Day of Summer....finally!

I don't normally do blog challenges. However, Michael Strong of http://www.strongstamps.com posted this little doodle on his web page and blog. His May challenge was to do something with it using only black, white, and gray, with the additional option of silver! The doodle was susch a challenge, I carried a Xerox print around for several weeks before deciding I wanted 'to do something with it'.....the Kimono is the end result.

I used black satin ribbon with a silver edge, gray paper, and of course, Zerox copies of the doodle. It goes without saying I used Mike's Kimono die and pattern - even though using his stamps/dies/pattern was not a requirement in the challenge.

Happy to report I am one of the winners and will be receiving his new 'Hexagon' stamp! Woo Hoo! You can check out the other winning cards by clicking on 'Mike's Blog' on the left of his web page http://www.strongstamps.com .

Paper Hugs,
Jan

Iris Folding Fun

The 'Wave' iris folding card above has a bright shiney aqua background...a shade lighter than the fish...although the camera would not cooperate to show the correct color! Next is the'Cat'...again the camera does not pick up the shiney gold layer I used in the design. Don't you just love the creative names I gave these cards - LOL!

Paper Hugs,
Jan

CHA

Hi Blogger Friends,

Hope you missed me as much as I missed you! Back now and will be posting again...

I had the pleasure of working in the Cheery Lynn Designs/Dies Direct booth at CHA, Anaheim, CA the end of January, along with my friend, Pam Stilwell (also from Salem, OR).

Picture 1: Pam at the Anaheim Convention Center early on our first day there

Picture 2: Had the pleasure of meeting my blogger buddy, Patti Lee in person!
Picture 3: Gray color dies are some made by 'Dies Direct' for over 50 companies...you may recognize the shapes of some of your favorite company dies

Picture 4: 'Cheery Lynn Designs' booth...their own die designs are always purple

Picture 5: A sample board of some Cheery Lynn Designs dies

Picture 6: Mike Dywan, President and founder of Dies Direct/Cheery Lynn Designs, with his wife, BJ Dywan at the end of a long day.

The experience was wonderful and a great learning experience!

Paper Hugs,

Jan