Super cute get well

Bugaboo Stamps recently had a great sale on their digis so I picked up a few. I couldn't resist this cutie. Hopefully it would bring a smile to someone feeling under the weather.



For:

Sweet Sunday Sketch: sketch
Stamp, Scrap & Doodle: a punchy challenge
Pile It On: punch it
Stamptacular Sunday: whateva!
Totally Gorjuss: as YOU like it
Corrosive: buttons
Top Tip Tuesday: fabulous flowers

It's a big 'un.

I don't think I've ever made a 5 X 7 card before. I guess I can't say that anymore.




For:

Get Sketchy: sketch
Southern Girls: dry embossing
The Lollipop Ladies: some black
365 Cards: Lovely Layers - 2 different things with at least 3 layers I have many layers of cardstock and then a string, chipboard heart, button layer
My Time to Craft: emboss, emboss, emboss
Pile It On: Love is in the air
A Spoonful of Sugar: Valentine
Tuesday Throwdown: distressing
Really Reasonable Ribbon: hearts
PaperPlay: layer it up
Charisma Cardz: Valentine's/love
Do You Stack Up: patterns
Cupcake Inspirations: photo inspiration
Totally Gorjuss: hot, hot, hot

Hmmmm, that might be a record for me as to challenges entered.

Funky Fish

I dunno. This card was a toughie. I couldn't seem to pull it together. I changed it around about 7 times. Still not sure how I feel about it. Oh, and the sentiments looks a lot better irl than it photographed.



I will say this though, that fish is right on funky.

For:

The Pixie Cottage: sketch
The Spotted Chick: kraft
Allsorts: male/boy
Aly's Sunday Challenge: for the guys
The Crazy Challenge: spots & stripes
Crafty Creations: heat it up (colours)

The (Absolute) Worst of the Worst

Darn you, Lora!! Follow crafter and blogger Lora from Fleur de Lo has offered some blog candy to people willing to shame themselves and post a pic of their worst project. I am a sucker for candy so here is mine.



Isn't that absolutely hideous? I actually have kept it as a reminder on how NOT to make cards. Believe me, I know how epic it is in it's terribleness, please don't feel you have to cross your fingers and leave me comment trying to justify it. If you leave a comment, please make fun of it (and me, if you want). No, I mean that, seriously.

I know we all have these skeleton cards locked in closets or drawers somewhere. Why not pop over to Lora's blog and enter her contest. You know what they say, confession is good for the soul. ;)

Simple Sympathy

I've seen some lovely sympathy cards out there that have lots of stamping, layers and what-have-you but I prefer making sympathy cards that are plain and simple.



Digi is a Squigglefly image called Wild Flower and you can get it here.

I must say this card was awful paper to colour on (and I ain't that picky about what I colour on).

For:

Little Red Wagon: one layer wonder
Speedy the Cat's Friends: sympathy
Lollipop Crafts: one layer cards
Crafty Cardmarkers: flowers

Digis without the colouring

The challenge this week over at the Squigglefly Challenge is "Living On the Edge," which means to dress up the borders of your card using punches, Nesties or what-have-you. This week I decided to use a brand spanking new image. (Get it? ha ha) It's called Whimsy Carriage and you can get it for yourself at Squigglefly. Isn't it just the perfect image for a new baby card?

Now I want to talk a bit about what I did, or more specifically, what I didn't do with this card. I didn't colour the digi. Not at all. A Copic or Primsacolor pencil never got near it. I thought this digi would be the perfect image to show off my of my favourite techniques - paper piecing. (To read more about my feelings about paper piecing, click here.)

So, maybe you don't feel like colouring an image and you need a card. Maybe you're new to this crafting business and don't have any colouring pencils or markers yet. Maybe all your Prismacolours are dull and your sharpener is broken. Whatever the case, my point is, you can still use a digi image.

Ta-da!



If you would like to see another great example of using a digi image without colouring you can visit Stephanie at I'd Rather Be Stampin' and see the card she made for Squigglefly's January 10th challenge.

Why not head over to the Squigglefly Challenge and enter the "Living on the Edge" challenge? You don't need to use a Squigglefly image but if you do use one you'll be eligible for this week's prize.

Also for:

Belli Challenge: the letter "p" - pearls
Allsorts: male/boy
Corrosive: recycled item - ribbon was tied around a bunch of hair elastics my daughter got for Christmas

Ah, paper piecing

How I love thee. You were there for me in the beginning when my colouring skills were few and my colouring mediums fewer. You never judged me when I was feeling lazy and used you. You've easily added a certain panache to my projects. And today, when I thought someone must have spiked my Diet Coke when I studied the umbrella after I coloured it some awful colours, you didn't criticize or say "tsk tsk." No, you simply quietly covered my mistake and saved Master Turtle from the garbage can.

Thank you, paper piecing. Don't think I could have made it this far without you.

Digi is another freebie from Bugaboo Stamps and, with this card, I've completed all the mini challenges for their birthday celebration. Yay!



Now, I also have to say, it's ridiculously cold out there today. So cold it's a dog-don't-even-look-at-me-with-those-please-take-me-for-a-walk-eyes-'cause-it-so-ain't-gonna-happen cold kind of day. And I'm getting kinda sick of winter. So, I made this card for me. Kind of a reminder that spring will come. (Though I'll admit, I do prefer summer over spring. Spring when you live in the country basically means mud.)

For:

Catch the Bug: anything goes mini challenge
Daring Cardmakers: It's all about me
Paper Cutz: anything goes
Stampin for the Weekend: getting warmed up
A Spoonful of Sugar: blue & green

Send in the clowns!

Or make that clown. As in a freebie clown digi from Bugaboo Stamps.

So, I was making this card, which is for my daughter to take to a birthday party this weekend. She climbed up on my lap and asked if she could put the rhinestones on. Me, being very protective and greedy about my craft supplies (yes, mean Mommy), said she could watch, but I was going to put them on. She asked, "So it needs to be done by a Prospecional?" (Yes I know, it loses something when written. Pronounce it pro-spesh-shun-al.) Now, I'm thinking about adopting it as a title. JanR - Prospecional Mom; part-time employee; coach; and crafter. Hmmm....a bit verbose maybe.



OMG, lets pretend I didn't stick the patterned paper on so the hearts are upside down, 'kay?

For:

Catch the Bug: freebie + bling mini challenge
The Pink Elephant: pink, orange & aqua
Pollycraft: pastel colours
Simon Says Stamp and Show: polka dots
My Time To Craft: spots & dots

Holy colour combo, Batman

But it does seem to work. (At least in my opinion.)



Sweet Sunday Sketch: sketch
The Crazy Challenge: buttons
Cards for Men: Lets party!
Catch the Bug: birthday theme mini challenge
Delightful Challenges: celebration
Crop Stop: square card + die cut
Stamp-n-Doodle: dress
Pixie Dust: button up