Sandy Claws is coming...

I really love this set. I mean...isn't this little guy adorable? On Tuesday before Julia and I left Germany we were all ready to go and had about 30 minutes before the taxi was scheduled to arrive, so I thought what the heck...let's make a quick card!

I needed something simple since we had to be fast, and I had some snowflake paper from Wintergreen DSP pack handy, so that became my background layer. I stamped Sandyclaws and quickly colored him in with markers. Red for him and his hat, bashful blue for the sleigh, and going grey for the details on the sleigh. I mounted him on basic black, and then real red, tied the Mike's ribbon around the card, and stamped the greeting. I truly believe you can only make these kinds of simple, quick cards with great stamps, because that is where all the focus is when it's something this simple. And sandyclaws here certainly qualifies!!

I can't wait to get home and play with my GinaK stuff some more. I haven't had nearly enough time to test it all out yet, which is driving me a little mad! ;-) But, once I get home, since Christmas cards will be in the mail, and the Weinachtsmarkt is the weekend I arrive, I will be able to stamp for pure fun again!! :-)

I'm heading to NH this morning to meet Julie Masse. I can't wait to meet her in person. I'm bringing my daughter and my niece, because my nephew is having surgery today. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers today...he needs all the help he can get! Have a wonderful day today everyone!

TFL!
-Jana

Remember that "special project" ??

Well...here it is. I made 15 of these favors using the tutorial on Beate's site, and made them place cards as well for the Thanksgiving Table. I used a TON of sticky strip, but they still pulled apart a little. I think if I had used less sturdy cardstock they would have held together better - but who wants to use cheap cardstock?? I used almost one whole package of Apple cider DSP, and then I used some River Rock and Chocolate Chip for the names and edging. They are tied shut with some River Rock double stitched ribbon. A little time consuming, but everyone thought they were adorable, so well worth it!

Yesterday, I got to spend several hours at the hospital holding my little nephew. He's so cozy.. and very content to just be held. I was in heaven! Julia went to the Boston Children's museum with her aunt, uncle and cousin and had a wonderful time. I think today we'll take the girls to a local zoo (where they have a giraffe named Jana!) before visiting with Camden again.

Here are a few pictures of Julia and me with Camden. The first was taken by Julia (not too bad, is she??) and the next of her was taken by me. She does such a great job when she holds him, and tries to sway a little even as she's seen her mommy do.

Asela Snowfamily card with Mojo week 12 sketch!

Boy...I was pretty happy when I saw this week's sketch challenge from Julee. This card matches almost perfectly...except I used a circle instead of square for the center. I totally case'd this layout from one I recently saw on SCS - I'll update with from who when I can go look. ETA: I found it! It was Amy on her pickles blog...check it out, she has some AMAZING creations, and Alison just featured her this week also!!

I'm up in Boston now...and got to hold my nephew for the fist time today!! He is just so darned cute!!! Julia got to hold him too, and she loved it.

So, the card uses Asela's snowfamily which I just got from Cornish Heritage Farms when I arrived here in the US. Isn't it adorable? Looks like our family to me...well...except I never wear an apron, LOL! For the card I used Soft sky, Whisper White, Blue Bayou, and wintergreen designer paper. I sponged all the layers except the white ones. I love the photo corners on there, and the silver brads.

I colored the image with my new copic markers for the blues (I just got a few to try) and I used SU! Ruby Red, Garden Green, and Summer Sun for the other colors (the only markers my sister happened to have!)

Hope you enjoyed the card...gotta check my email quick and hit the hay!

TFL!
-Jana

Watching the kids play...

I'm in the States. New Jersey to be exact. Yesterday was VERY long (up for 23 hours straight, and back up again after less than 6 hours sleep) but I'm doing ok.


This card is one I dreamed up while waiting for my new GinaK stamps, but I'm not happy with the execution. I need to keep working on it, because I love the concept of watching the kids make the snowman through a window. When I get back home though you can rest assured that I will rework this card until I'm happy. For now, I'll take any feedback you all have!

I stamped the kids on a half sheet of Stamper's Select cardstock and watercolored it with reinkers an dmy aquapainter.. Next, I trimmed my River Rock cardstock to fit over it. that wasn't easy. Then, I decided my wall needed some wallpaper, so I trimmed the designer paper to fit over the river rock, leaving some trim around the window. Then, I added the window sheet and put some very thin strips of river rock cardstock on it to mimic muntons on the window.

Lastly, I added the greeting in the hodpodge. I think I need to reorient the card, and re-think the greeting part...but I'll come up with something. Fo rnow...I still love the idea!

Hope you all are having a great day...I'm enjoying getting to spend time with my family here, and Julia is having a wonderful time with her grandparents, aunties, and little cousin Maddie! Soon her other Aunt and Uncle will arrive, and then on Friday we'll drive up to Boston to see her newest cousin, Camden at Boston Children's.

TFL!
-Jana

BFF!

German Phrase of the Day: Vergiss mich nicht! = Don't forget me! I promise Ill try to post as often as possible...and I'll try not to just leave you hanging like I did when I was in California!! :-)

Here's the card I made yesterday morning super quick. I had gotten the cardstock out earlier in the week because I wanted to make a card for the color challenge but never had time. Finally, I decided to make the time.

I love this saying in the Garden Whimsy set, because it really is so true. It seems like best friends just KNOW when somethings wrong, and often what it is. I've been lucky in my life to have many such friends...even inside my own family! :-)

I started by stamping polka dot on the purely pomegranate card, and then sponging those edges. Next, I but a piece of Kraft cardstock, stamped the Aida cloth background on it with close to cocoa, and then sponged that. I love that background stamp, it really makes the card just pop with texture...see this close up shot? Doesn't it look almost 3D??

Finally, I cut my focal piece, stamped the images, and cut the mat for it from kraft, which I then lightly sponged. I tied my pomegranate double stitched ribbon around the card, then attached the focal piece with dimensionals. Super fast, easy card!!

Ok...I'm heading to the airport. Think happy thoughts for me...and wish me luck with Julia's jetlag - it's got to be better than our last trip to California was...at least it's only 6 hours this time instead of 9!!!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Polka Dot, Aida Cloth
CS: Whisper white, purely pomegranate, kraft
Ink: purely pomegranate, close to cocoa
Acc: purely pomegranate double-stitched ribbon, sponge, dimensionals

TFL!
-Jana

Another Christina Card...

German Phrase of the Day: Wann kommst du wieder nach Deutschland? When are you coming back to Germany? I'll only be gone for 9 days...don't worry! ;-)

Here is another card I made on Friday with my friend Christina. Remember this card I made last year?? Well, here's another origami tree card! These are super fun, and once you have the fold down they are quite easy to whip out!

Christina used some Fall Flowers paper for this, and doesn't it look perfect for a snowy day and a Christmas Tree?? I love it!! If you haven't tried this yet, I strongly recommend it. You can get directions many places, but here are the directions I used last year from Splitcoast Stampers.

Speaking of that, have you checked out all the awesome Holiday projects they've been posting?? I'm actually using one of the tutorials (or at least a modified one) for the project I'm working on for dinner at my sister's house on Thursday. I'll be able to show you a photo of that project from the States, when they are all done. And I did make one quick card this morning, so I'll try to take a photo this afternoon so I can post it before I leave in the morning.

Have a great day everyone!

TFL!
-Jana

Snow Bursting Wreath

German Phrase of the Day: Wir gehen Schlittschuh laufen. = We're going ice-skating. We've never actually taken Julia ice skating, but I hope to remedy that this year. I think she'll really enjoy it, and since she's been learning to Rollerblade, I think she'll do ok.

On Friday morning my friend Christina (check out her new blog!!) had a card class. I like going to get new ideas, and to hang out with other stampers. We had lots of fun, and I got to meet a few new people which is always good. Christina borrowed my Snow Burst set when we went to Pipoos on Wednesday, and she designed a great card with it. Isn't it adorable?!? She drew the circle on the shimmery white paper for us all so we just had to stamp the snowflake all around. Super quick and easy card, and turns out sooo cute!!!

In addition to Snow Burst, we used a retired Christmas set, and an old greeting set to complete this card. To make the wreath, we actually went around the circle twice, we stamped full strength, then twice more along the circle before re inking and starting again. Once we went all the way around, we started again full strength between a 2nd and 3rd stamping to offset the full strength images, and after the second circuit, we back filled anywhere it was looking bare. I think Christina did a great job coming up with this card, and everyone loved it! On the close up image you can see the shimmery paper better, and the individually stamped images.

This whole weekend has been a mass-production nightmare! I've been trying to finish up my 120 Christmas cards so they will be ready to mail from the US (I"m cheap and don't want to pay 2 Euros each to mail stuff from here!!) Plus, I made up 20 more of the snowflake ornament card you saw here for the kindergarten's booth at the weinachtsmarkt, because it's the day after Julia and I get home from the states and I won't have time to finish them up when we get back. Plus, I had to do all the ribbon for the ornaments the kids made at school. And then, insane woman that I am, I decided to make a special project for Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's house in Jersey...so I'm getting everything ready here so I can assemble them there (so they don't get crushed en route!) Yes...I've been a little insane this weekend. Luckily, Julia has been very agreeable and wanted to craft with mommy when she's not playing with Daddy, so it has worked out so far. He leaves for Israel tomorrow, then we leave on Tuesday. Oh...what I wouldn't give for a normal life one of these days!!! :-)

I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post from the states...but I'll try to get a few things on deck and ready to publish so it's not too long of a dry spell from me here!! ;-) I actually made a card except for the main image which I will stamp once I get it in the states to post - it's an Asela stamp, and I can't WAIT to use it!!!

Ok everyone, enjoy your Sunday!

TFL!
-Jana

Baroque Candle

German Phrase of the Day: Viel Spass! = Have fun! This is a phrase I use quite often...usually when I leave Julia at kindergarten I will say it as I leave. And the good thing is...she usually does!

This candle is one I made very quickly as a sample to show the mom in charge of our kindergarten's booth at the Weinachtsmarkt. I wanted her to see a variety of projects I can create to sell at the booth to let her choose what she thought would work best. I probably won't make lots of these, just 5 or 10 so there will be some if people are interested. I used Baroque Motifs and River Rock and Purely Pomegranate ink for the candle itself, and then stamped the medallion in River Rock on Very Vanilla CS, stamping the small flower in the center with pomegranate, and putting in a rhinestone brad. I wrapped some purely pomegranate cardstock and river rock stitched ribbon around the candle, and then attached the paper medallion with a glue dot. All in all, this project took about 10 minutes to make, and most of that was melting the wax to get the tissue to stick on. I love making candles...so easy and so fast!

Hope you all are having a good weekend...gotta go finish up my Christmas cards!!

TFL!
-Jana

Gute Nacht!

HI everyone...sorry no post today - it was a massively busy day! Just got home from a wine tasting, so my typing is not worth much right now...sorry! I'm going to bed (it's 11:10, I think i deserve to go to bed, don't you?) but I promise to have a great project for you all tomorow!

Gute Nacht! Sweet dreams, and I'll be dreaming of the preview brochure I still haven't' seen but which better be up when I awake in the morning!

TFL!
-Jana

Snowflake Ornament card and Kids ornaments

German Phrase of the Day: Machst du Witze? = Are you joking? Fortunately, none of the kids said this to me this morning when I went to kindergarten to do our project. It went quite well, with me speaking my limited German, and Julia translating for me on occasion when I needed some extra help. The final balls created by the kids are below. I just have to add the ribbon now and they will be all set! Phew!!

My card for today was a super fast and easy one - sorry for the lousy photo...this one was tough to get the lighting right for!! I'm going to make up about 20 of these to sell at the weinachtsmarkt - hopefully they will all sell! I started wtih a half sheet of the PaperTrey Ink Stamper's Select white cardstock. It really is wonderful for doing single-layer cards with because it is so sturdy!! I made a mask by cutting a circle from some copy paper with my coluzzle, and held it in place with some dotto. Next, I sponged some Soft Sky ink onto the edges of my circle, then I stamped with snowflakes from Snow Burst in Blue Bayou, and I think there's one from The Snowflake Spot in Soft Sky. Finally, keeping the mask on, I put versamark direct to paper on the exposed circle, removed the mask, and embossed with Irridescent Ice EP. I just love the beautiful sparkle it adds!! Lastly, I drew on the hanger with my Zig painty pen and adhered the bow with a glue dot. Oh yeah..and I stamped the greeting with my Blue Bayou ink!

The card takes about 5 minutes, including the embossing, so will be VERY easy to mass-produce. Now to make sure I have enough II ep to use!! :-)

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Snow Burst, The Snowflake Spot
CS: Stamper's Select White
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Versamark
Acc: Iridescent Ice ep, soft sky double-stitched ribbon

TFL!
-Jana

Pay it Forward

Have you seen this going round in blog world? I think it is the coolest idea and I an excited to be able to play. I just saw this on my friend Yvette's blog, so I jumped right on the bandwagon!!

1. Leave a comment here on my blog requesting to join in the pay it forward exchange.
2. The first three people to leave a comment agreeing to join in will receive a handmade gift from me within 365 days.
3. You pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

You have a whole year to do it (which I personally am very thankful for) and it can be anything at all - how fun is that?? So come on and join in and

Pay it forward!

Ornament project with kids!

German Phrase of the Day: Wie schoen, dass du gekommen bist! = How nice that you could come! Schoen (truly spelled with an oomlot instead of the e - you know..the two little dots? and it's pronounced by trying to make an e sound with your mouth making the movement for a long o - it's just not a sound we have in English!) is a very versatile word. It literally means "pretty" but it's used here like we use nice in the States. So, dankeshoen truly means pretty thank you! I like that.

Today's project is one I am making with the kids in Julia's Kindergarten class tomorow morning. Wish me luck, as I have to explain how to do it to 20 German speaking kids, and 2 who speak English. I'm hoping the two who speak English will help me a little (one is Julia, the other is her British friend in the class) We are making these to sell at the local Weinachtsmarkt here in Strump the first weekend of December. I got the idea from some I had seen on Splitcoast (of course!)

I was not able to find the class balls here but I did find plastic ones that are actually in 2 pieces. So after making the paper swirls and putting them inside ( I now have some fake glittery snow to put in too...much better!) I closed up the ball and wrapped the celery grosgrain around hiding the seam. I adhered that with a little bit of sticky strip at each and and the bottom. Then, I added the silver cord and finished it off with the organdy ribbon. Super quick, super easy. The kids will just wrap the paper strips to make the swirls, and I'll do the rest. I have less than 1 euro into each of these cost wise (the balls were .58 euros, and it's 1/6 sheet of cs plus ribbon!) and I'm hoping we can sell them for at least 2-3 Euros at the market, making a nice little profit for the kindergarten.

Have a great day!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: NONE
CS: Wintergreen DSP
Ink: None
Acc: plastic ball, celery grosgrain, celery wide organdy, silver cord

TFL!
-Jana

This year's Christmas Card...

German Phrase of the Day: Sonntags fruehstuecken wir gemeinsam. = On Sundays we have breakfast together. Actually, we all have breakfast together most days, unless Phil is out of town, and then it's just Julia and I.

This is the card I'm making for Christmas this year. Of course, this photo is old...about 8 years old! It's amazing how young we all look! Now, everyone in this photo is married, and 2 of the 4 coulples have had babies since then. A lot changes in 8 years!!

This is the first time I have mass-produced a lot of the same card since leaving California, and my Carl Cutter behind. I miss it!! It's taken me a lot longer to cut cardstock this year than in the past, that's for sure.

I'm making 3-4 different versions of this card with different colors, and all three of the stamps from this Big on Christmas set. But they will all have stickles...because I think it just adds so much, without adding any bulk.

I got the great idea for this card size (the cardstock is 12" by 4", scored at 3" and folded over - thus leaving room for a 4 by 6 photo and still room to have a msg inside the folded part!) on another blog...but for the life of me I can't remember where right now! If it was yours please let me know so I can give you credit...and I'll look back through my starred items to see if I can find it!!

On the detail photo here you can really see the glitter of the stickles. Aren't they awesome?!?

Have a great day everyone!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Big on Christmas
CS: Soft Sky, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, pumpkin pie, basic grey, glorious green, real red, going grey
Acc: red grosgrain ribbon, stickles

TFL!
-Jana

Glitter is Snow Fun!

German Phrase of the Day: Gibst du mir bitte die Butter? = Can you pass me the butter, please? Guess that could be useful at Thanksgiving dinner...if I was having Thanksgiving dinner over here! Maybe I'll remember to use it in NJ at my sister's home, since her wife's BIL will be there and he sprechts deutsch.

So...I'm still sick. I spent all day yesterday on the couch or in my bed. This is one nasty cold!! Therefore, I have not stamped, and I didn't even post yesterday...sorry! I was concerned that anything I tried to type would come out as gibberish...since that's how my speech has been! My husband was crinkling a candy bar wrapper in his and and moving his shoulder around. I asked what it was and he showed me so I said "Oh good, it's not a joint" meaning his elbow or shoulder. He of course that I was just loopy from my cold and had accused him of "rolling a joint" something neither of us has ever done (nor have we smoked one...I think we are some of the only people we know who have never tried it!) Oh well...at least I am semi-coherent today! Maybe?

I am finally posting this 6 by 6 page I made last month for my Diva Sister Swap. I started with a 6 by 6 piece of Soft Sky cardstock and stamped Snow Fun across the top with my outline alphabet using Blue Bayou ink. Then, where the letters overlapped, I colored in with a versamarker so that area would be a little darker. Next, I stamped the jumbo snowflake using soft sky ink onto the page. Then...using my glue pad, I stamped a few different snowflakes from Snow Burst all around, and then applied dazzling diamonds glitter. Finally, I tied some soft sky double stitched ribbon around a blue bayou photo mat, and I was done!


Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Snowburst, Supersize snowflake, outline alphabet
CS: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Ink: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou
Acc: versamarker, glue pad, dazzling diamonds glitter, double stitched soft sky ribbon

TFL!
-Jana

MFT Sketch Challenge #4

German Phrase of the Day: Ich werde dir einen Brief schreiben. = I am going to write you a letter. I don't know the last time I sat down and wrote out a letter the old fashioned way. Although...I did write in a few cards today...I suppose that's pretty close!

Sorry I'm so late today, I've come down with my husbands cold so I'm a little out of it! Here's a card I made a few nights ago for the MFT sketch challenge #4 over on Splitcoast. Have you checked out the member company forums yet? It's a great way to connect with all the others who love the same stamps as you! Of course, the love for Stampin' Up! is great, and always my first love in the stamping world, but I think my SU! stuff can be complemented with other stamp companies now. :-)

SO...I loved this sketch, and used my old Holiday Thyme paper for it. I stamped the tree first, then the presents, then I masked them all and stamped the rug. A little tedious cutting out the masks, but I'm happy with the results. I colored the balls in with my zig painty pen to give them some good gold glimmer, but all else is colored with ink pads and an aquapainter on shimmery white cardstock. Everything is of course sponged, and it was finished off with some true thyme stitched ribbon. Voila!

Ok...I'm going to bed now! Guten Nacht!!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Home for the Holidays by MFT
CS: Shimmery White, True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, Old Olive, Holiday Thyme DSP
Ink: Jet black stazon, True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, Old Olive, brocade blue
Acc: , sponge, aquapainter, slot punch, zip painty pen

TFL!
-Jana

PS I finally cleaned off my desk this morning though...finally some space to stamp in. If I"m feeling better tomorrow I'll play with my brand new just arrived today GinaK's!!! :-)

By the Seashore double challenge card

German Phrase of the Day: Kann ich mir dein Auto ausleihen? = Can I borrow your car? Since we have only one car over here, we are often checking each other's schedules before making plans to go anywhere so we know who will have the car. So far, we haven't had any problems surviving with just one...but I have to say the worst is when it's raining and I have to walk Julia to kindergarten because he has taken the car to go swim. I guess a little rain never hurt, right?

So, here is my double challenge card, for Sketch Challenge 149 and Color Challenge 139. I'm not a huge fan of this color combo (Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi, & Soft Sky) but I was happy to discover that my Fall Flowers paper pretty much went with those colors...I really like this spotted background.

I was having issues with my stazon pad...I did buy some reinker...guess I should use it now, huh? My images didn't stamp as crisply as I like...but I went with it anyway. The hat has sortof a sketched look! I really love this new set from MFT, and am so glad to have it now. I did color the dog in as a yellow lab even though my sweet doggie is black. I just can't find my neutrals WWC right now - they are buried under the mess on my desk somewhere!

I used a few ink pads on this one for the soft sky and blue bayou (her jeans) and wild Wasabi for her flipflops, but otherwise, I used my watercolor wonder crayons. I used watercolor paper for all my stamped images, allowing me to really enjoy the process of coloring everything in. You can use other papers for watercoloring...but this works SOO much better!!

I think my favorite part is the seagull on the pilings. I mean, didn't he turn out just perfect? He looks so cute sitting up there, and I'm quite happy with the shading on the posts.

Last night I had a few minutes and decided to try out one of the paper bows that were recently posted up on Splitcoast Stampers. They are super easy and quick to make. I think I'll have to decorate all of my packages with these this year!! If you haven't tried to make them yet I strongly encourage you to...they really are VERY easy!

Have a great day everyone!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: By the Seashore by MFT
CS: watercolor paper, soft sky, wild wasabi, ruby red, fall flowers dsp
Ink: black stazon, basic black, creamy caramel, chocolate chip, soft sky, wild wasabi
Acc: WWC, aquapainter, sponge

TFL!
-Jana

CPS#38 with GinaK

Ok...It's another 2fer day here...because I've been busy again and can't hold back this card. I used this week's sketch from Card Positioning Systems and paired it up with my GinaK Make a Wish set, and I LOVE the results!!

I started with a half sheet of the wonderful Stamper's Selectt white cardstock from Nichole and the gang over at PaperTrey Ink. This cardstock really is wonderful if you haven't tried it yet. So much sturdier than ultrasmooth varieties, it's perfect for white one layer cards, or minimal layering. Anyway...I then punched circles using my 1/2", 3/4", and 1" circle punches from SU! out of Soft Sky, Blue Bayou and Purely Pomegranate cardstocks. I adhered them to the bottom half of my white card randomly, trimming the overhang. Next, I added a strip of Purely Pomegranate, and then tied a piece of Soft Sky double stitched ribbon around that.

I stamped the cake image onto white cardstock, and proceded to color it with my ink pads and aquapainter. I used blue bayou for the main part of the cake, and looking at it now I realize I should have made the cake plate a different color. Oh well...next time! I used soft sky for the filling (blueberry maybe?) and Purely Pomegranate for the top icing. After coloring in the candles, I layered it on basic black and then purely pomegranate. I applied my dimensionals to the back and stuck it on the card, and then stamped my greeting from the same set. Lastly, I added my burgundy stickles to the top layer of frosting to make it really sparkle. I'm actually amazed at how well the photo has captured the 3D effect the stickles give. I'm really becoming addicted!!

Hey, speaking of GinaK, did I tell you all that I WON something from her??? Remember this card I did before leaving for Istanbul?? It WON the sketch challenge over at SCS. I was so excited to come home to that great news...and now I get one of the sets I had talked myself out of for FREE! How cool is that?!?!

Ok, that's all for today, you'll have to wait until tomorow to see my new MFT card for this week's color and sketch challenges over at SCS. :-)

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Make a Wish by GinaK Designs
CS: Stamper's Select cardstock, purely pomegranate, soft sky, blue bayou
Ink: Black stazon, purely pomegranate, soft sky, blue bayou
Acc: burgundy stickles, circle punches, soft sky doublestitched ribbon

TFL!
-Jana

Hanna's got Mojo!

German Phrase of the Day: Wir werden eine Loesung finden. = We will find a solution. Isn't that always the case? No matter the problem, there is always a solution, although often not as easy as we would like it to be. But, that's the way life works. Right now, the big "problem" or question in our life is where are we going to be 1 year from now after my husband's contract has expired and we have left Germany. It's kind of liberating knowing that we could go ANYWHERE! We don't own a house, we don't have that much stuff here with us (except all my craft stuff!) and the stuff in storage back in the States can stay there as long as we need it to, and can move anywhere in the States when we return. It's also a little scary...not knowing where Julia will start school. But...we'll figure it all out in the next 6+ months and start another adventure. :-)

Wow...that was a lot of rambling! And here I am excited about another Hanna card! Isn't she just the cutest? I love her expression...and this Hanna has eyes that can be colored in, so she has dark hair and blue eyes, like my mom! Mom is a complete shopaholic (a trait I seem to have inherited, at least for ONLINE shopping!) And since she claims her "other" name is Hanna, I thought this was perfect for her! :-)

I used Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday #10 sketch for the layout, and did LOTS of sponging for Kimmie's challenge #9, Let's Get Dirty. I watercolored Hanna with an aquapainter and inkpads, and paper pieced her dress and one of her bags. It was lots of fun! I couldn't figure out a way to add any ribbon or hardware, so I paper pierced 2 corners to add some additional interest. With all the sponging, I decided that sparkle might look a little odd, so I didn't add any bling for poor Hanna, but think I'll have to back and fix that. Maybe some cute bling on one of her bags would work!!

A friend saw my Hanna stamps and has decided she may have to use them to make her Christmas cards...we'll have a great time working on those while the kiddos have a fun day out with their Daddies! :-) Can't wait!!

Hope you're enjoying my new Hanna stamps...I sure am! And don't worry, I also made a card with one of my new MFT sets last night too!! :-)

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: But I Need it by Hanna Stamps
CS: Watercolor Paper, Chocolate Chip, retired SU! dsp
Ink: Black stazon, chocolate chip, bashful blue, certainly celery, blush blossom, pretty in pink
Acc: aquapainter, sponge, crafter's toolkit

TFL!
-Jana

Hanna, meet My Favorite Things!

Have you ever had a card that just HAD to be made? It arrives in your head, and you can't do anything until you make that ONE card?! Well, when my new Hanna Stamps and My Favorite Things stamp sets arrived yesterday, this card popped into my head and I couldn't wait to get it on paper!

So finally, after getting Julia to bed I was ready for some quality time with new stamps...but my husband had other ideas! He gave me 20 minutes to go work in my room, and I did manage to get her stamped, colored and dressed. The card had to wait for the morning (which was SOOO hard for me!)

I really wanted a card with Hanna under the mistletoe calling to her honey to come give her a kiss! Isn't she cute? I stamped her with basic black on shimmery white cardstock, omitting her hand holding the star. Then, I stamped the Mistletoe where her hand would have been. I colored her with watercolor wonder crayons and an aquapainter, and I paper pieced her sweater from the Holiday Harmony DSP. I like how the texture makes it look like a handknit sweater! But...I need to remember to use my stazon...the ink bled a little and gives her a grayish tone.

As for the rest of the card...I had this Wintergreen paper on my desk and thought the colors would work well, and went from there. I love the addition of the Pomegranate satin ribbon...it's just so luscious! Oh..and of course I had to add some glitter. I used my fine point glue pen to add glitter to the mistletoe berries. Lastly, I stamped the Hey Sexy greeting from the new MFT Essential Sentiment set, and on the inside I stamped "Wish You Were Here" from the same set. I'll save this card to leave for my husband when Julia and I fly back to the states in 2 more weeks.

Have a great day everyone!

Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Tis the Season by Hanna Stamps, Essential Sentiments by MFT
CS: Shimmery White, Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Wintergreen DSP
Ink: Basic Black, always artichoke, soft sky, purely pomegranate
Acc: purely pomegranate satin ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter, sponge, aquapainter, WWC

TFL!
-Jana

Clear Snowflakes

German Phrase of the Day: Wir waren zusammen im Konzert. = We have been to the concert together. Actually...I couldn't tell you the last time I went to a concert. Oh wait, yes I can! It was a Ralph's World concert in San Francisco!! We were in a dive bar near the Mission District at 10am on a Saturday surrounded by 3-6 year-olds all dancing in the aisles to Green Gorilla! If you have young kids...check him out! We LOVE his music...it's great when mom and dad enjoy singing along as much as the kids!

Today's card is one I made after my recent Pipoos trip. I used more of my stained glass stickers as I call them and made an acetate card. Pretty cool, huh? I started with a half sheet of acetate folded in half, then I applied the snowflake outline stickers randomly. I colored them in with my Sakura 3D gel pens and left them to dry.

For the inside, I trimmed a piece of Brocade Blue, stamped on it with Versamark (for the large snowflake) and Night of Navy for the greeting, and then sponged the edges and adhered it inside the card. Voila...SUPER easy!

If you look at the detail photo you can really see the translucent effect of the gel pens. I just love those things!!


Supplies: (all supplies are SU! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Snowflake Spot, Season of Joy
CS: acetate, brocade blue
Ink: brocade blue, versamark, Sakura 3D gel pens
Acc: snowflake stickers

TFL!
-Jana