Retro Sketches Shaker Box

Hello!
Happy Wednesday!  I hope you got a chance to check out this week's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and are pondering what kind of card you'll make this week!

I had a few minutes to play in my craft room this afternoon.  It was so nice to be down there but man, it was cold for some reason.  I nearly froze!  I have my hoodie zipped up as far as it would go!!!  I must be getting old!

I couldn't resist playing along with this week's retro sketches challenge!  I loved the sketch and wanted to try out some more new things that I had purchased after Christmas!

I had ordered the Border Builders Die from Lil' Inkers and wanted to try out the "cloud" die.  I thought it would be the perfect accent in the corner.  I have never made a skaker box.  I know there's a video or two out there but I just thought I would give it a whirl on my own.  I threw in some of the In Colour SU Sequins (as few Bermuda Bay and Silver ones too!) and I was off to the races.  I think ti's a good start!

I added a banner from the "Celebrate Today" stamp set and called it a day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Costal Cabana
DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Stack
Stamps: Celebrate Today
Ink: Basic Black
Other: 4X4 Journal Die (My Creative Time), Balloons Framelits Die, Border Builders Die (Lil' Inkers), Stitched Rectangle Die, Foam Tape, Sequins



I made another card for one of my other Valentine's!  I had to make sure it had an airplane on it as well.  I don't want anyone to think they missed out on an airplane!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP: Stacked with Love DSP Stack
Stamps: Fun Paper Airplane, Plane and Simple (both My Creative Time)
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Border Builders Die (Lil' Inkers),  Anytime Tags (Lil' Inkers), Sentiment Flag Additions Die (Lil' Inkers), Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil' Inkers), Fun Paper Airplane (My Creative Time)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I hope you have a fabulous day!

Jen

Plane and Simple!

Hello!
Happy Friday!  I love Friday's!  Friday nights at our house entail the couch and the TV!  Tonight the boys chose to watch two episodes of Wild Kratts!  They love that show and I must admit I'm right there with them!  They have learned so much and for my youngest, having him sit for 30 minutes is a total bonus!

I had a few minutes the other day to whip up a card for this week's Retro Sketches challenge.  Now, my take on the sketch may be a stretch.  Oh, that might rhyme, sorry about that!

I recently purchased the Fun Paper Airplane Die and the Plane and Simple Airplane Stamp set from My Creative Time.  Of course in our house these will be a HUGE hit!!!  I can't wait to make a few more cards with it!!! I though it would be perfect to do a Valentine's Day card for one of my sweet boys!  The inside of the card says "I love You" but of course I forgot to take a picture of that!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Red Glimmer
DSP:  Stacked with Love DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Fun Paper Airplane, Plane and Simple (My Creative Time)
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Anytime Tags Die Set 2 (Lil' Inkers),  Fun Paper Airplane Die (My Creative Time), Itty Bitty Punch Pack (Heart - SU), Dimensionals

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll visit again soon!

Have a fabulous weekend!
Jen

Retro Autumn

Hello!
I hope my fellow Canadian readers had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  We had such a nice day today.   It was so nice to relax together!  I actually uploaded photos to be printed and am excited to start working on my Project Life albums again!

I have another card today!  Shocking - I know!  I loved the sketch at Retro Sketches this weekend!  I don't usually know what to do with tags but I kinda had an idea of what I wanted to do with this one!

I'm still filling a customer order of nature themed cards.  My customer has requested some of the cards be blank!  It's actually hard for me to do that!  I sometimes find that my cards look naked!  However - this is what she requested and this is what I'll do!

I love French Foliage and was so sad when SU retired it.  It is so perfect for cards at any time of the year.  I love how many different patterns you can create with this set!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer
Stamps: French Foliage
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
Other: Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Fun Fall Framelits, Natural Twine,  Natural Chevron Ribbon, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a  fabulous day!

Jen!

First Birthday Fun

Hello!
We had another dark and dreary day here.  It rained for most of the day.  The rain wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so cool and damp.  Sure not springy feeling weather but the grass will hopefully turn green with all of this water!

This is my last card until I get a few more minutes in the craft room on the weekend!  Hopefully by then the creative juices will be flowing!

I really liked the sketch over at Retro Sketches this week!  It was different and made me think!  I'm surprised I didn't set off the smoke alarm!!!

I was asked to make a first birthday card with an owl theme!  I decided to stick to some more Aqua colours (Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo and some Costal Cabana).  Who doesn't love these colours at this time of the year!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Silver, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, More Mustard
DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Stack, Brights DSP Stack
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments, Design Type Polymer Stamps
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Brights Candy Dots, Two Step Owl Punch, Pennant Punch, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Retro Flower

Hello!
Happy Tuesday!  Hope you're having a great start to your week!  I was supposed to get this card posted last night but the night got too late!  I was meeting with a friend planning our Card Making Elective at our church's summer camp!  Craziness!  I had a hard time thinking about summer when it was so cold out!  Today we had this crazy snow storm!  Thankfully no accumulation but this weather is insane!  I am looking forward to spring!

I made this card on the weekend in the few minutes I had in my craft room!  I loved the sketch at retro sketches this week!  I'm usually not a big fan of square cards but this one worked for me!

I must say I used the Fresh Prints DSP stack again.  I can't help it!  I love it!  Who doesn't love red?  It's Jacob's favourite colour!!!  I would love to paint my family room red!  Sorry...sidetracked!

The flower is punched out with the Blossom Punch and the DSP is attached using dimensionals but it's really hard to tell in this photo!  I was having some serious lighting issues!

I discovered that I have some large rhinestones in my stash that I must have forgotten about and got them out for this card!  I think they were just what my flower needed!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper white, Basic Black
DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Stack
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (PTI)
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Blossom Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Large Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back shortly with this week's Freshly Made Sketches post!

Have a fabulous day!

Jen

Retro Sketches and Some Chevrons!

Hello!
Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great start to your week!  We are getting back into the swing of things here after our March Break!   We had a great week with my parents and it's sad to know that our next visit won't be for a while but I do love being back into routine!  Though my 5:45 wake up this morning was a little more challenging than normal!

I had a few minutes on Sunday to play with this week's retro sketches challenge!  I love the sketch this week!  It is so versatile!  I know right away I had to pull out my chevron paper!  I do love the Fresh Prints DSP Stack!

I wanted to create a card with a very clean, white background!  I love white!  I embossed the sentiment on vellum in silver embossing powder (though it's really hard to see in the picture).  I added a small basic rhinestone just to add a little bitter of bling!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana
DSP: Fresh Prints DSP Paper Stack, Vellum
Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (PTI)
Ink: Black
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals


Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous week!

Jen!

Retro Sympathy

Hello again!!!
Second post for the day!  Same sketch though so don't get too excited!  I needed another sympathy card and since I'm going through my neutrals phase (and seem completely stuck in it) I created this card.

I used the sketch at Retro Sketches again to create the card.  I really did love this sketch!  It was super fun to work with!

I wanted to keep my card simple.  Sadly it sometimes take me longer to create a simple looking card than it does a complicated one.  You would think this took 5 minutes...we won't discuss how long it really took and how many different colour combinations I used!!!  Obviously I haven't learned the art of churning out cards!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, a PTI one who's name escapes me!
Ink: Sahara Sand
Other: Scalloped Circle Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Thanks again for checking this post out!  One more using this sketch....hopefully something new coming tomorrow or Saturday!!!

Have a great day!
Jen

Retro (Fresh) Sketches!

Hello!
How is the week going?  We had a busy day here!  I must say that I am a little tired!  I like to treat my boys teachers to chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine's Day.   I like to make them myself and really enjoy doing it so that was what I was doing this morning!  I took them into the teachers today since I don't plan on being in at the school tomorrow!

I had made some cards for the retro sketches challenge a while ago and realized I hadn't posted them!  I love the new sketch at retro sketches and actually made 3 cards with it!!!  I was on a roll!!!

I do love the new Retro Fresh DSP!  I love the colours and it fits in perfectly with my neutral phase!!!  The Just Sayin' stamp set is also one of my favourites and I wish I could use it on every card!  I threw some random pearls on the card just to add a little something.  I also discovered I'm not very good at random!    The little arrow is from the Label Card Thinlits Die!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Costal Cabana, Crushed Curry
DSP: Retro Fresh
Stamps: Just Sayin'
Ink: Versamark
Other: Word Bubbles Framelits, Basic Pearls, Label Card Thinlits, White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be doing another couple of posts with this sketch!!  Hope you don't get bored!!!

Jen

Retro Sketches Birthday

Hello!
Hope you had a great Thursday!  I'm a little sore today from bootcamp last night....okay, that's a slight understatement.  I'm really sore today.  I haven't been this sore in a long time!  This is going to make tomorrow morning's work out a little more challenging!  I guess that's a good thing though right?

I had a few minutes earlier this week to work on a birthday card for a friend!  I started with the new sketch over at retro sketches but after a few goes I think the final product might be a far cry from the starting sketch!

I love the new Banners Framelits!  I love them with or without the coordinating stamp set!  I threw in the new Banner Punch on the end as well since who doesn't love a good banner?!

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Strawberry Slush, Whisper White
Stamps: Four You, Papillon Potpourri
Ink: Stazon Black
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Baker's Twine, Banners Framelits, Banner Punch, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I hope to have another card posted tomorrow!

Have a fabulous day!
Jen

Retro Christmas!

Hello!
Sorry I've been so MIA lately!  It's been a crazy few weeks!  I have made a few cards and photographed them but haven't been able to blog!  Hopefully this week and next week I'll be able to get things back on track!

I was so fortunate to have my mom and dad here this weekend to celebrate my birthday with me!  We had such a good weekend together!  I do wish they lived closer and we could see each other more often!

I had created this card a while ago using a retro sketches sketch!  I really do need to get going on my Christmas cards!  I really do need to get going on my Christmas cards or they may never get done!!!

I really do love Ornament Keepsakes!  It's such a versatile stamp set.  I also like for people to realize that you can still use your retired stamp sets.  This is one of my favourites and it won't be going anywhere any time soon!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White
DSP:  Winter Frost Specialty
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Sentiment (PTI)
Ink: Island Indigo, Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones, Holiday Ornaments Dies, 1" Circle Punch, Dimensionals

I will try to get another card posted tomorrow!

Hope you have a great day!
Jen

Retro Christmas

Hello!
Are you ready for a new week?  We had a great day despite some cooler temperatures.  The boys headed out to the flying field after church this morning so I enjoyed a few hours by myself!  I even got a few cards done!

I decided to play along with this week's retro sketches challenge!  I love their sketches!  I hadn't played in a while and decided I would join in this week! 

You are all probably sick of seeing cards with the Ornament Keepsake stamp set...I apologize!  I love this set and know some of you can't always be buying new stamp sets so sometimes you just have to make different cards using the stamps you've got!  I decided to keep the card simple and very white!  I added some cherry cobbler and ta-da!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Ornament Keepsake,  Four the Holidays
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Other: Holiday Ornament Framelits, Basic Rhinestones, Clear Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I hope you have a great day!
Jen

Retro Birthday

Hello!
Hope you had a great day!  I had a lovely walk this morning in the wonderful fresh air!  It is hard to believe that last week when I walked it was 36 with the humidex and this morning there was a wind chill of 12!!!  Oh how I love our crazy Canadian weather!

Today's card was created for this week's Retro Sketches challenge!  I loved the sketch this week and had a few minutes the other day to create this card!  I was a little hung up on the colours but with help from my great friend Rita Wright and her colour coach (I don't have an updated one) I was able to ascertain that Pool Party and Bermuda Bay are friends!

I hadn't used my Daisy die in a while and I absolutely love it!  I used some Quatrefancy DSP to create the yellow smaller daisy!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Pool Party
DSP: Quatrefancy Specialty, Brights DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Four You
Ink: Bermuda Bay
Other: Daisy #2 Die (retired), Corner Rounder

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Jen!

Retro Sketches Challenge!!!

Hello!
It was a lovely day here...but busy!  Jacob and I got lots done and best of all - my Project Life order FINALLY arrived!  I must thank Tammy Morales over at Scrapbookers Inner Circle for all of her help!  I snuck in a few minutes this afternoon and put some of my beautiful new Honey Core Kit cards into the pages.  I can't wait for the next few weeks to be done so I can give this album some full attention!

I decided to tackle this week's Retro Sketches challenge.  I'm not overly sold on my card but I wanted to use the new Cycle Celebration stamp set.  Of course I had to use that Quatrefancy DSP again...sorry about that.  I'll try and stay clear of that for my next card!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
DSP: Quatrefancy Specialty DSP
Stamps: Cycle Celebration
Ink: Island Indigo, Strawberry Slush
Other: Strawberry Slush Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Glitter, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great day!!!

Jen

Retro Sketches and Cowboy Boots!

Hello!
Quick post today....my eyes are getting heavy!!!  It's been a busy week and I am so looking forward to Friday!!!  A quieter weekend is ahead of us!

I needed a masculine card for my uncle's birthday!  I find it so hard to make masculine cards.  I made him a card last year using the Open Sea so had to stay clear of that this year!  I used the new sketch from this week's Retro Sketches challenge!  I do love their sketches!!!

I have had the Bootiful Occasions for a LONG time and honestly don't think I've used it yet!  Sad I know!!!  I tried to make this as masculine as I could....though not sure how I feel about it!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP: Polka Dot Parade, Neutrals DSP Paper Stack
Stamps: Bootiful Occasions
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Star Brads (Retired)

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Have a wonderful day!

Jen

Retro Birthday Wishes

Hello!
I hope everyone made it through Wednesday!  I just got in from bootcamp and man I'm feeling it good tonight!  Our instructor, Tania, tried to kill us tonight!  I am exhausted but not looking forward to the walk from the basement to the second floor to bed!!!

I had a few minutes the other day while Jacob was napping and Caleb was at school so I quickly whipped up a card for the Retro Sketches challenge this week!  I love this challenge but don't get to play as often as I'd like!  Lori has a great sketch this week!

I opted for a slightly distressed look this week.  You can't see it as much in the photo...honestly it's there!  I love my sanding tool from Stampin' Up!  It's right up there with my distressing tool!!!   I'm still not sure I'm sold on the Summer Starfruit but it does look great with the Midnight Muse!  The sentiment from Blooming with Kindness fit perfectly in one of the Apothecary Accents dies!  I was very excited!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla
DSP: Tea for Two
Stamps: Blooming with Kindness, Papillon Potpourri
Ink: Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit
Other: Bitty Butterfly Punch, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Linen Thread, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, In Colour Dahlias, Sanding Tool, Basic Pearls

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!  I'll be back tomorrow with the Easter cards I made for the boys teachers!

Jen!

Retro Sketches Elephant

Hello!

I can't believe our March Break is almost over.  That makes me sad.  The week has gone by do fast!  It has been a great week and we've enjoyed every minute with my mom and dad!  The boys are looking forward to seeing their Dad though!

I needed to make a card for my girlfriend who had a baby last month!  I was waiting until I saw her and met this beautiful baby to give her the card!  I used this week's Retro Sketches sketch to create the card. 

I had wanted to give hexagon cutting a try.  Let's just say that it takes a bit of practise (or took me a bit of practise!) but after a while it's pretty simple!  Just make sure you're using great scissors!  I wanted to go with Baja Breeze since I thought it would look best with the Crumb Cake cardstock.  I embossed the elephant from Patterned Occasions and then cut him out (cutting off the sentiment and flowers).

Supplies:

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Baja Breeze

Stamps: Patterned Occasions, Tiny Tags

Ink: Versamark, Baja Breeze

Other: Tiny Tag Punch, White Embossing Powder, Hexagon Embossing Folder, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Two-Step Owl Punch (Heart), Linen Thread, Dimensionals

I've attached a few pictures of my newest little friend Andrew!  Isn't he sweet?!  I was able to snuggle him on Tuesday and then again today!!!  So sweet!  I can't believe how small newborns are!  Seems like so long ago my boys were ever this tiny (and even smaller!).

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day!
Jen!

New York Style!

Hello!

I can't believe it's almost the end of the week!  How does that happen so quickly!  I'm in the process of getting 45 baby shower invitations ready and it's consuming most of my time right now!  I will hopefully get another new card posted on the weekend but we won't hold our breath!

I was commissioned by a friend to create a shower card - New York Style!  Okay, let's be honest.  I've never been to New York, I don't watch (and haven't ever watched) "Sex in the City" so when it comes to fashionista cards - I'm probably not your girl!  My friend, however, trusts me with this (Thank you Lauren...since I know you're reading this!).

I started with the Retro Sketches Challenge sketch for this week.  I threw in a purse and a shoe - and of course a wand (who doesn't want a wand?!) and viola!  The purse, shoe and wand started out red but then quickly changed to silver since the red just didn't quite look right.  Silver seemed to be a more fashionista colour...I could be wrong though...very wrong!!!  I used the Boho Blossoms punch to create a new flower on the purse!

I'm trusting this will meet the approval of the bride to be!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamps: Dress Up, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, Lacy Brocade Textured Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Boho Blossoms Punch, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great weekend!

Jen!

Thank You Butterflies!

Hello!
I hope everyone is having a great week so far!  We are getting back into the swing of things around here!  Trevor goes back to work tomorrow so I'll be really on my own on "Titanic Tuesday"!  I was so excited to sit down in the craft room this afternoon and get some Thank You cards done.   I can't wait to get back in there and get a few birthday cards done!  Hope you can forgive me for being MIA for the end of 2012!

I decided to keep the cards simple since I needed 6 of them and only had a small block of time to get them done!  I loved the colours from the Pals Paper Arts Challenge this week.  Who doesn't love Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Basic Grey together?!  I mean seriously?!  I popped these colours into this week's Retro Sketches challenge sketch and voila!

I had been itching to get out my honeycomb embossing folder! It can be found in the new spring catalogue!  I love it!  I think you may see it on several upcoming cards (my apologies in advance!).  I'm sure you all knew that I would be buying the new Bitty Butterfly punch!  I mean come on?!  A tiny little butterfly?  How could I resist?!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic Grey, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners, Papillon Potpourri
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Banners Framelit Die,  Window Frames Framelits Die, Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals


A couple of pictures from our trip to our to visit my parents.  They have a ton of snow!  It was so cold the day I took these!  Caleb is such a great help!  My dad and Caleb worked for hours making a jump for their sliding run!  They sure do love the snow and loved being at Papa and Grannie's house!

Thanks for stopping by!  I will be back on Wednesday with a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!
Jen!

Retro Ornament

Hello!
We're halfway through the week!  I'm looking forward to the weekend.  We may be receiving some fabulous visitors for the weekend that I'm very much looking forward to seeing!  We may even take in some "Black Friday" shopping - Canadian style!  To all my American readers out there - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy your time together with your families and friends!

I am still trying to tackle some Christmas cards...I'm thinking this might be a futile process!  I decided to use the sketch from this week's Retro Sketches challenge!  I really liked this week's sketch.  It seemed very clean and simple to me.  I decided to use the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set again.  I really love this set and I love how many different types of cards I can make with it.  So easy with the coordinating dies.  I mean WHY NOT?!  I used some clear embossing powder on the ornament to give it a bit more shine.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
DSP: Be of Good Cheer
Stamps: Holiday Ornament, Petite Pairs
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Other: Holiday Ornament Dies, Clear Embossing Powder, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, and that embossing folder that has a name that I can never remember!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day!!

Jen

the Paper Players is my cup of tea!

Hello!  The week is almost over!  Woohoo!  Jacob has another school visit tomorrow (Thursday) but only for an hour and a half.  He goes for a full day on Friday...I'm quite excited!  He's not too sure about it now. I guess we shall see how it goes.

Okay so I had received as a gift (from my fabulous Mommy) some PTI stamps and I couldn't wait to break into these little gems.  My neighbour Christine is lovely and she took me out for tea after school drop off yesterday.  She had an exhausting day yesterday and I wanted to repay the favour for her and thank her/invite her out for tea!

I started with the colours from The Paper Players and combined them with the sketch from Retro Sketches!  Love, love, love both of these challenges!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Basic Black
Stamps: Heart to Heart #1
Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze
OTher: Argyle Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Heart to Heart #1 Die, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!!

Jen