CSBG#135 - A Hug for a Friend

Ok I'm going to just cut to the chase here - so excited to share with you that none other than JJ Bolton AKA Ribbon Girls is the muse for April at CASE Study Blog Challenge.  First of all I am blessed to have JJ as one of my friends - she is the kindest person - and has been a wonderful source of encouragement for me since day one!   It's no secret that I am a big fan of hers and am ALWAYS in awe of her designs.  She comes up with the most innovative and creative cards I have ever seen.  She is pure C&S with a twist.  And finally, I'm  not sure how to put this but until today she's never intimidated me before.   But then I never even thought about CASING JJ before..... I mean........  I am not a mathematical or mechanical sort of thinker.  Heck I really don't even enjoy doing puzzles.  A Rubics Cube?  A paperweight for me.  I am not sure I can even cut a straight line all by myself.  Maybe that explains my fascination with JJ.  She is everything that I am not.  So when I found out she was our muse this month - my elation quickly turned to despair.  

Check out the inspiration this week - pure C&S right?  Well almost - check out the die cuts in there - that's what I'm talking about... just a little twist in there to make it a little more interesting.  I'm always up for a lesson so I figured I'd give it a go, but how to make it my own.... hmmmm...   Here's what I came up with - it has lots of similar elements that I case'd off JJ - the colored  stamping over a neutral color die, the ribbon corners, and the dark sentiment.   I switched it up a little by adding a neutral ledger paper background.  JJ used a flower stamp to tie in with her Mother's day theme, and I added a wood grain stamped heart to tie in with my tree die.   

 

Oh and it gets even better my friends - another one of my stamping heros - and good friend as well - Ms. Anya Schrier from Life is What You Make it Blog is our Guest Design Team Member this month!  A double whammy for me - I mean ....  How awesome is that????  Seriously... it's- so hard to live up to your heroes isn't it?  I'm just surrounded by rock stars this month - maybe that's a good thing - you'll all be staring at them instead of me!!!  OK ... I feel better now!

Need a little inspiration? Head on over to the rest of the DT and see what they came up with!  I hope you'll join us over at CASE - It's an exciting month my friends!!!

Big Hugs!
Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  5" x 7"
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse My Heart, Compact Family
Die:  Memory Box Tree of Wonder
Pattern Paper:  Papertrey Ink Text Style Library Ledger
Card Stock:  Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, Stampin Up! Pink Pirouette
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Ribbon:  Offray 3/16 Pink Satin Loop 

SSBC#9 - Oh Baby!

Kids back in school?  Check!  So glad to finally get back in a routine.      We stayed home over spring break - everyone had the flu - finally getting back to normal.  Don't get me wrong - I love when the kids are home - but I feel so guilty when I sneak off to do a little crafting.  I have such a hard time sitting for hours watching TV or movies - hopefully they don't notice when I disappear!  

Today I'm playing along with the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog.  There is a challenge twice a month - this time it's to make a baby card or project.  I usually start thinking soft pinks and blues when I think of baby but what tripped me up was the teddy bear.  When my son was born he received the softest velour teddy that was his bedtime buddy for years (Sorry Tut!! I know ... so embarrassing!!).  The teddy was dressed in primary colors - so bright and cheerful.  Memories of good times!

 I love the "snips and snails" sentiment - Serendipity also has the "sugar and spice" for the little ladies too!  Here's my finished card...

Check out what the rest of the design team came up with for this challenge and see some of the other wonderful nostalgic images Serendipity Stamps has to offer.

Jenny Gropp

Cathy Weber

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Pauline Pollington 

Anya Schrier

We'd love it if you would join us at the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog for your chance to win $20 off your next Serendipity Stamps order.  The sale this week is free shipping off all continental US orders over $10 now through April 10!  You can jump to the store here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jeanne


Supplies Used:  Finished Size 5.75 x 5.75"
Stamps:  Serendipity 729D Snips & Snails, 740A Baby Boy SM, 631D Baby Blocks, 014H Teddy Bear
Ink:  Copic Markers Espresso Truffle, Rich Cocoa, Momento, Onyx Black Versafine
Pattern Paper:  Simple Stories Summer Fresh Collection 6x6" Pad
Card Stock:  Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy
Dies:  Spellbinder Blossom Tgs & Accents, Grand Decorative Ovals One, Grand Ovals, Classic Rectangles
Fibers:  5/8" Red Polka-dot Gingham Michaels, Ivory Button Twine May Arts
Hole Punch Crop A Dile

PSSC#6 - Tea Party!

Did you have a great weekend?  I had a house full of family and good food - what more can you ask for?  The week did really seem to fly though - I thought I'd enjoy more time with my son since he was on Spring break, but he was sick for most of it.  At least we got in a few lunches together!  The weather is finally starting to warm up a little - and it is starting to feel like Spring.  On the radio they had people calling in with the first thing they will do when the weather hits 50 degrees.  So many funny answers from putting away all my socks, to shutting off the furnace.  I thought of how I would answer that and decided I would have a fire in the yard!  I got my wish and sat out for a few hours over the weekend.  It was nice to get some sun and fresh air - and as a bonus there are no more stray sticks laying around!

Today I'm playing along with the Paper Sweeties Sketch Challenge.  If you are a fan you will have to check this out. The challenge runs for the entire month and you can win your choice of two sets of stamps.  We also have a new design team member joining us - Maria Patrick from Maria's Merry Makings - stop over and say hi!  Here's the sketch and an easy way to show off your favorite Paper Sweeties sentiment!  I can't help but think of the tea sets when I think of Paper Sweeties and Debbie the creator from The Shabby Tea Room.  I wanted a chintz pattern tea pot without the sentiment so I put regular tape over the sentiment, inked it up, removed the tape and then stamped the tea pot.  I used Versafine Onyx Black for a deep dark impression and then fussy cut it.   

I hope you will join us with this challenge this month -and see all the beautiful things you can make with these stamps.  You can get all the details here.  New releases will be featured later in the month April 13-16.

Jeanne

Supplies Used:  Finished Size:  4.25 x 5.5"

Stamps:  Paper Sweeties: PS53 Join Me For Tea, PS-56 Tea For Two
Pattern Paper:  Crate Paper "Fourteen" Collection 6x6" Pad

Card Stock:  Vintage Cream Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up Pool Party

Dies:  Cheery Lynn French Pastry, Spellbinders Foliage, Sizzix 3D Flowers

Fibers:  1/8" RIc Rac Decorative Trim (Hobby Lobby), 5/8" Sheer Ruffle Edge Light Blue May Arts

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Extras Pearl, Blue Felt