Cowabunga! Happy Joyful Birthday!

Surprise!
When I received an email asking if I'd play in a virtual surprise party for my good friend, Joy, I was on board immediately. Joy is one of the sweetest people I have ever met and I have been blessed to know her for many years. She lives "up the 5" from me and while I wish we could see each other more often than we do, we do manage a couple times a year.

So of course I had to make a "Joy-Fold" card for her birthday today! After all, this card style was named after her a few years ago!

I used images from an exclusive, released today (5/28) Eclectic Paperie set by
Our Craft Lounge, called
Hangin' Loose with Kona

Kona was colored in with various Copic Markers. Typically, I start with the patterned paper and coordinate my colors from there. However this time, I colored first and then went shopping. I lucked out, this paper from my LSS by We R Memory Keepers coordinates perfectly!

The orange striped ribbon unties to reveal another Kona, hangin' loose! He's just off his board, has toweled off, and is getting ready for the big party! :) Kona was colored in using the same Copic Markers as the surfing Kona, then cut out and attached with dimensional foam to the white layer.

After coloring the 3 images, the eyes and sunglasses got a coating of Ranger Glossy Accents for a bit of shine. The sentiments were punched out with an oval punch, matted on a Caribbean oval mat, and a couple of orange brads were added before attaching to the image panels with dimensionals.

The crab and banner are on the inside panel of the card itself and are where I will pen my birthday greeting to her.

Happy Birthday, Joy!

Check out the other party players wishing Joy a very Happy Birthday by visiting the links over at Cami's blog.

But first, stop by:
Joy (and wish her a happy birthday too please)

V.~

Whispy Blooms (in the round)

Just what I needed to jump start my stamping today, a challenge over at SCS:
Today's Limited Supply Challenge

was to use circles in your card or project. I decided on a scalloped circle card with a matted circle focal image area. This is a belated birthday card to one of my dearest online, but not pretend, stamping friends. We met in real life a number of years ago and have kept in touch over the years.

I decided to use Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird Brunch as my card base, the colors in the paper dictated the colors of the Copic Markers I selected to color in the flower images. The flowers and sentiment are from Whispy Blooms by Our Craft Lounge. After coloring the images and daubering the edges, the flowers needed something more, so microbeads were added to the flower centers. A Not Quite Navy mat to help the image panel pop from the base and an off center olive bow complete the outside of her card. Initially I tried the bow at the hinge at the top of the card, but it felt wrong. It feels right being off center as it balances out the sentiment on the opposite side.
The bottom photo shows the coordinated inside of the card.

A leftover strip of Cosmo paper coordinates the envelope. As soon as I address it and add a few trinkets inside, this will be headed to the land of Dorothy. :)

Enjoy your weekend!

V.~

Supplies
Stamps: Whispy Blooms by Our Craft Lounge, On Your Birthday by SU!
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa and Desert Sand by Tsukineko, SU! Not Quite Navy
Paper: Classic Crest Solar White by Neenah, Not Quite Navy by SU!
Patterned Paper: Early Bird Brunch by Cosmo Cricket
Other: Nestabilities Scalloped Circle and Circle dies, Cuttlebug, Copic Markers, Olive grosgrain, Microbeads, Dauber, Dimensionals

AI~

Keith, Kenny, and now Kris will join them on my iPod!
It's a good thing!

V.~

You're A Star!~

Splitcoast challenge for Dirty Dozen and Alum for today the 20th. Challenge focus was water, required element was watercoloring, restricted element was to only use 2 embellishments.

SCS DD/DDA Challenge Gallery

I'm running super late, so I've gotta scoot. Supply list and details to follow.

V.~


It's been a crazy day, the supplies are:

Stamps: Bubbles by Our Craft Lounge
in Crafty Cling or Crafty Clear
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black and assorted SU! inks
Paper: SU! Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Watercolor paper
Tools: Aquapainter and assorted SU! markers and Memento markers, Nestabilities Scallop rectangle die, Jumbo eyelet, Grosgrain ribbon, Black hemp, Dimensionals

Details are kinda fuzzy by now (10 hours later), but it was watercolored with lid ink and markers using an Aquapainter on watercolor paper. And, it's a bookmark (ala Jen del Muro) for Brett and his summer reading.

I played this morning in the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge, on a Sudafed brain. Vertigo was setting in (haven't had this in forever), the fluid in my inner ear ( I can feel it) playing havoc with me this morning, so I took a single red Sudafed. I know better, I get shaky and spaced out....so there are a few things that happened along the way, I blame the goofs (although one corrected) on the drugs. :)

So, what did I change in this challenge card? The theme from spring to summer by using ocean images, the color scheme, the nestie shape, and the colored cardstock base.

What did Sudafed do to me? Should I even admit it? LOL Well, if I was not spacey brained the dots on the patterned paper would be straight up and down, the nestie would be centered better on the scallop, the card would be on a white base like her card. I pierced one hole in the wrong hole, so I trimmed down the card and matted it on the blue. The coloring went surprisingly well, but that good old Copic blender is so good at removing those stray mistakes on coloring!

I hope you enjoy your day! We supposed to get summertime heat of over 90 today, we'll see, it's still pretty nice out there.

V.~

Supplies:

• Stamps: Ocean Friends by CHF
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black by Tsukineko
  
• Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss
• Patterned Paper: SU! Good Morning Sunshine
• Other: Nestabilities Scallop and Labels Die, Pacific Point ribbon, Blue mini brads, Dimensionals

We Remember~

I always hear of stampers looking for a good military set, when I stumbled upon this set this morning over at CHF, I thought I would post it here.

Looks like it is part of The Rummage Bin collection:

We Remember

V.~

Jane's Tote of Cards~

This morning I made this parting gift for Jay's aunt who is heading back to Maine after spending the week with Jay's parents; she flew in last Thursday to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. She loves the cards I make and send to her, so I thought a grouping of 6 cards with a coordinated tote would be perfect.

I finished just in time for lunch and Brett's modified day schedule. It'll be an afternoon with 2 boys inside the Legoland we call Brett's bedroom.

Tote idea from my good friend, Kendra.
(eta: I forgot to angle the tote sides, whoops)
Card layout from a previous post.

V.~

Supplies:

• Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Great Friend, Beautiful Borders
  
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou
• Paper: Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, Solar White, Whisper White
• Patterned Paper: Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP
• Other: Oval Scallop punch, Oval punch, MS Butterfly punch, Chocolate Taffeta ribbon, Distressing tool, Crop a Dile, Jumbo eyelets, Dimensionals, Chipboard, Scor-Tape, Clear card box (trimmed down 1")

A Couple of Challenges~

SCS Challenges: Try a New Technique on Monday and Color Combination Challenge on Tuesday.

Both cards are 5" x 5"

V.~

Supplies:

• Stamps: SU! Tart & Tangy, Really Retro, Paisley, Birthday Greetings
• Ink: SU! Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Only Orange, Brocade Blue, Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black
• Paper: Solar White, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Whisper White, Kraft, Brocade Blue, Riding Hood Red
• Other: Corner Rounder, Black Gingham Check Ribbon, 2Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Mat Pak and Piercing tool, Dimensionals, Black Button, Linen Thread, White Gel Pen

More Great Friends~

While I had the supplies out for the Mother's Day card ( and had an hour before the party started) I decided to make mom a small grouping of 4 cards/envelopes to add to her present. Using different papers from the same paper pack, and a change of colors to go with the papers, utilizing the same type of layout/opening minus a bow and these were packed into a clear box and placed into her gift bag. She loved them. :)

Cards are 4.25" x 5.5"

~Happy Monday~

V.~

Supplies:

• Stamps: SU! Great Friends
• Ink: SU! Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, So Saffron
• Paper: SU! Kiwi Kiss, So Saffron, Basic Gray, Whisper White
• Patterned Paper: SU! A Walk in the Park
• Other: SU! Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

Happy Mother's Day, Mom~

I used today's Featured Stamper Challenge to make a card for my mom. I just couldn't bring myself to give her one of the mass produced cards from a couple posts down. Instead, since Morgan's team was eliminated from the tournament she's been participating in (they made it to the final 16 out of 48 teams, YAY United!) for a few weeks now and we didn't need to travel to Temecula this morning, I had a little bit of time to make a card to take to mom this afternoon.
I had a bit of time because the family was out doing what I asked for for Mother's Day - washing, vaccumming and cleaning my van. It's taken a beating lately and needed to be tended to. It sparkles now! YAY!

While I began this card with a birdhouse theme to emulate Deb's house theme, it went downhill fast. In the end, I changed more than a few things, but kept the basic layout and ribbon treatment. I decided to work with SU! Great Friend instead of the birdhouse and love the outcome. Card is 5" x 5" and has an offset opening, it opens where the ribbon meets the blue patterned paper.

The frame and sentiment are stamped in Chocolate Chip, the leaves in Kiwi Kiss, and the Baja Breeze butterfly was stamped on a white scrap, cut out and attached with dimensional foam over the other stamped images.

Happy Mother's Day

V.~

Supplies:

• Stamps; SU! Great Friend, All Holidays
• Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze
• Paper: SU! Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
• Patterned Paper: SU! A Walk in the Park
• Other: SU! Chocolate Taffeta ribbon, Distressing tool, Scor-Tape, Glue dot, Dimensionals

Tennis Anyone?

Altered tennis ball can that will house the sports store gift card for my nephew's 17th birthday.

• Stamps: SU! Just Tennis, Celebrate Today
• Ink: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tsukineko Memento Dandelion, SU! Wild Wasabi
• Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Yo Yo Yellow
  
• Patterned Paper: Whoops, after making the wrap, I shredded the rest with some paper scraps to add to the inside of the can. I forgot to write it down.
• Other: Empty tennis ball can (Riley was eying those brand new tennis balls!!) , Crop A Dile, Jumbo eyelets, Cording, Red and Black Grosgrain, Black hemp, Distressing tool

V.~

Great Friend times 6~

I made this series of 6 cards this morning for Mother's Day, not that I have 6 moms, but I send to a couple of family/friends who are moms, too. As much as I would like to make individual cards for the all my mom recipients, this is what time allowed. I've an anniversary party, a nephew's birthday party, soccer stuff, and more to prepare for this week, on top of the regular weekly stuff, and today was it as far as stamping time.

Layout was inspired by a sample in a magazine that SU! demos receive, although I changed up a number of things. This is an easy to mass produce card that would also be great for a workshop, simplified if you'd like by not using as many dimensionals! The coral strip, oval scallop, oval, and butterfly are all up on dimensionals.

Guess that's it, nothing fancy going on as far as stamping and assembling goes. If you have any questions, please ask in the comment section.


V.~

Supplies

• Stamps: SU! Great Friend
• Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Basic Gray
• Paper: SU! Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Basic Gray, Whisper White
• Patterned Paper: SU! A Walk in the Park
• Other: Oval scallop and Oval punch, Piercing Ruler, Piercing tool and mat, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon, Distressing tool, Dimensionals
  

We have a winner!

I had comments in several places, left on the post itself, on a couple previous posts, as well as a few emailed to me directly. It's all so confusing! LOL Anyway, all went into a hopper and the winner is one of the email posters:

Janet M. who said:

Your blog is one of my favorites that I check on a regular basis and I just love the new set.

We are long time boaters and love the water, it's very calming.

Janet, I visited your town a long, long time ago when my oldest (now 24) was 5 years old and his grandparents lived there. We played many days at the ocean there, specifically Bathtub Beach. The shell gathering is so different on the east coast than out here on the west. I have a bowl full of beautiful shells in my living room from that wonderful vacation.

Congrats, Janet!

V.~

Golden 50th~

Yesterday I made this card for Jay's parents who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in a few days. We're having a simple dinner celebration here at the end of the week (per their wishes) and this card will grace the table along with the flower arrangement Jay's sister is bringing for the centerpiece.

Card size is 5-1/2" x 5-1/2"

• Stamps: SU! Fifth Avenue Floral, CHF: Fiery Floral Scrapblock, MLM Invitation Essesntials
• Ink: Encore Gold
• Paper: Cryogen White, Brushed Gold
• Other: Cuttlebug and Textile Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Gold mini brads, 1" circle punch, Gold ribbon and cording, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

V.~

p.s. OCL's blog candy giveaway ends tomorrow, be sure to leave your comment on the post below if you want to be included in a chance to win Oceans of Fun.

Blog Candy post

Midnight Shenanigans and an Anniversary Gift~

Midnight yard decoration by a few of Morgan's friends. She's already cleaned it all up with the help of Brett who thought it was all pretty funny, especially the forks in the lawn.

My Happy One Year Anniversary gift to Paper Tales.
These mini cupcake boxes are a diminutive version of my regular sized cupcake boxes.
You can find the tutorial for assembly on the left side bar if you are interested.

Paper sizes for these mini boxes are:
Box: 6-3/4" square, scored 2" all on sides
Lid: 4-7/8" square, scored 1" on all sides
Insert: 3-5/8" square, scored 1/2" on all sides

I cheated and bought the cupcakes, knowing I would not have time to bake yesterday before the party. Cupcakes are carrot cake mini cupcakes from Albertson's. I purchased the cupcakes first, so I could determine the box size I needed to make.

It's been a year since I was alerted to this fabulous store in Point Loma and I have been blessed getting to know the women and customers who flock to this store. Last night, and for the rest of the weekend, they are having a party to celebrate. It was quite fun last night, just hanging out, lots of laughter and celebration!!
If you're local, stop on by, you'll be glad you did!

V.~

p.s. The blog candy post is still going strong, if you haven't left a comment to be entered for the Our Craft Lounge set, Oceans of Fun, be sure to do so for your chance to win!
Oceans of Fun Blog Candy

Oceans of Fun, Sneak Peek #4 and Blog Hop Release Friday!~

Blog Hop Release Friday is here and this is my final, and favorite of the bunch, sneak peek of Oceans of Fun by Our Craft Lounge. If you missed my other peeks, check the posts before this one for 3 additional cards I made using this fun new set.

Go Blog Hoppin' to see lots of brand spankin' new sets, just start here:

Granny's Secrets - Diana Gibbs
Beauty and the Beach- Jeanne Streiff
Summer Sweets - Heather McNally
Bubbles - Nancy Morgan
Sandy Sunsets- Vicki Garrett
Coastal Wishes- Denise Marzec
Garden Thoughts - Lila Holgate
Mice Friends- Holly McMillen
The Tribe - Pam Hooten
Flyin' Birthday - Jacqui Lines

Let Freedom Ring- Marianne Walker
Bees Knees- Carol Halvorson
Swingin' By - Bethie Silaika
Sunkissed - Deb Felts
Life's a Beach - Joy Kennedy
Bring on the BBQ- Cindy Lawerence
School's Out- Sherry Cheever
Bookworm - Kendra Wietstock
Nailed It - Debbie Corbari
All About the USA - Roseanne Knowles
Dino-mite - Kisa Peters
Game On- Cambria Turnbow
Back 2 School- Amber Hillman

Happy Hoppin!

And, for a finale to the sneak peeks this week, there's lots of blog candy to be found! Check the details on all Blog Hop posts. My blog candy is Oceans of Fun. I'll pick a name from the entries Monday at noon. The blog candy details are:

• one entry per person
• if your name is drawn as the winner, you must respond to me at my email address, located on the left sidebar, with your snail mail address and permission for me to relay your mailing information to OCL
• and to make it more fun, leave a comment here with your entry and tell me your favorite thing about the ocean - for me, having always lived in San Diego and San Diego county, the ocean has been part of my life forever. My favorite lazy summer day is hanging out with a good book at the beach while the kids are boogie boarding in the water.
  

Good Luck!
V.~