"Ho" To The Third....

Happy Holidays!  Today, I'm sharing a math card....LOL!  It's about as mathy as I get, my friends!

I dug these super cool and extra large letter stickers out of my stash....ha!  My 'stache....
Anyhooo, I added some scrap ribbon to a piece of red embossed cardstock along with the letter stickers.  Then, added this fun image from I Brake For Stamps. 

While I'd like to claim pure crafty inspiration all on my own, I have to admit that I saw a similar idea on that great time sucker, Pinterest!  My mojo has been at an all time low lately so, I'm trying to kick start it---what do you do when those creative lulls hit?  Inquiring minds (mine) want to know! 

TTFN, Jane

Peace & Joy

I simply adore this card, if I do say so myself!  LOL!!  I love the sparkly colors, the stark contrast with the white watercolor paper.....I love the fact that I finally found a use for that huge snowflake brad I've been hoarding for a decade (seriously!) I love the sentiment.  Peace.  Joy. 

Ponder it.  I celebrate Christmas like so many of you.  It's a wonderful time of the year.  It's exciting and reflective.  It's full of sweet treats, beautiful music, the laughter of children.  It's full of joy.  We seek peace, at this time of the year, in our homes & communities...

We study the gospels that lead up to the birth of Christ.  We talk about the shepherds, the star and the inn.  The manger, the mom, the dream, the bad guy, the good guy.....

Peace and Joy maybe the focal theme of this season, but I'm telling you today, it is the bounty of relationship with that little baby.  Peace and Joy is a gift from the Master.  I hope you are unwrapping yours today and all year long....

For my card today, I took my lead from the Sensational Stencil CD, from Technique Junkies.  I've used the Grunge Stencil technique.  I love them all, but this CD is my current favorite.  It's such a great resource for getting more bang for my stencil buck!!  I've spent a few bucks on stencils and I just love being able to use them for so many more purposes than the obvious!  This particular stencil is also a favorite that I found over at I Brake For Stamps!

Since it is the season of giving, I have a few coupon codes to share with you today!

There are only a few more days to use the 30 Days coupon code over in the Technique Junkie stamps store!  The code is XMAS15 and you can visit the store:  HERE

You can save at I Brake For Stamps, also, using SAVE10JANE


The sentiment, I'm so in love with today, comes from Technique Junkies Stamps and is called Simple Sentiments (#SS3c).  It's a great set and so versatile and unique!  If you haven't looked around, it is pretty rare to find so many sentiments in that orientation!  And, it's not the only sentiment set like it from Technique Junkie Stamps!  Go check it out!

Thanks for popping by....and remember, Peace.  Joy.
TTFN, Jane

Beetle Bailey.......And......

A little Christmas cheer??  Sometimes, I just have to shake my head at my quirky sense of humor!

It all started out innocently enough.  I adore this Rob Meijer Christmas for Stampinback sheet, available at I Brake For Stamps.  It's one of the first stamp sets I think of when I think, "I should make my Christmas cards..."  Stamp set selected?  Check!

I've been busy exploring my stencils and getting lots more bang for my buck by trying all of the different techniques on the Technique Junkie Sensational Stencils CD.  There are 40....yes, that's right, FORTY! techniques on this CD showing so many different ways to use a stencil.  You can order yours (or read more about it) HERE.  Be sure to check out the pictorial index to see a sample of each technique.  I've used the Stencil and Doodle technique on my project (less so much the doodle part).  Background Done?  Check!

Eventually, it comes time to select the perfect image to complete my card.  The Rob Meijer sheet doesn't make this an easy thing.  There are so many cute images on the sheet.  I used the Starburst stencil from Ranger thinking about that Special Star....I thought it would be a good choice.  So, I settled on the adorable shepherd boy.  As I colored him, however, I really had to work hard not to color his clothing in drab army green:

Do you see it?

Pop over to the I Brake For Stamps store and let Ms. Della know how crazy you think I am :)  You'll save a cool amount when you use my coupon code: SAVE10JANE

LOL!!?  Check!

Thanks for stopping by!  TTFN, Jane

Be You

Lessons are hard.  Right?  Had a little curve ball happen in my life in the past week.

We can get jaded about human beings, life....  We are bombarded every day, in the news, social media, about the despicable things people do.  We cling to the little rays of hope.....I think they call them "good news" stories.  How sad is it that we have a term for the good that happens?

In the midst of my latest storm, I am astounded by the support and good around me.  I expect it from my friends (and I love, love, love you more for it!), I guess.  Not complete strangers.

I've had the unfortunate opportunity to learn how to navigate my way through unemployment benefits.  I spoke with a man, John, today.  I could be a number to him.  I shouldn't matter to him.  He does it all day....hears the sob stories, the anger, the fear, the frustration.  Instead, this man who knows nothing about my situation, afforded me a compassion and kindness that was truly impressive.

About a week ago, I made this card.  Just playing around with some new goodies from I Brake For Stamps.  A week later, with my landscape completely altered, the sentiment holds even more meaning.  I'm talking about the middle phrase.....Be Bright!

Be bright.  You never know what the storm is that someone might be walking through.  Be bright.  Be a light.  You never know when you, yourself, will need one. 

My fun background?  A new little stencil from the I Brake For Stamps store!  You can see all available stencils here.  I have found a new obsession and love for stencils since helping Technique Junkies compile a brand new stencil focused CD.   You can learn about it here. 

The technique used here is called Grunge Stencil :)

Y'all know how I struggle with covering up amazing backgrounds so, I used vellum to stamp this fun image. I flipped it and colored it with my distress markers, added the sentiment and BOOM!  Fun and easy!

The stamp sheet used is called Fashionista.  I love the clear lines and sophistication of the sheet.  Be sure to check it out!  You can save by using my coupon code SAVE10JANE.  Pop on over and tell sweet Ms. Della I said hideehoe!!!

TTFN--Jane

Choose Joy

It's election day!  Today, there are a lot of people who will be making choices--important choices.  Choices will be made whether you show up at the poll or not........let that sink in......it's still a choice so, please show up and really let your voice be heard!

This now concludes my political talk.  But, make no mistake, I have very clear political opinions.  I am not a what ever floats your boat kinda girl.....I just don't think my arty blog is the place for it ;)

I do, however, think it is the place to talk about joy!  Unity Stamp Co. joy, fall colors joy, stampy goodness joy!

When I got my October Layers of Life kit, I had to pull it out right away!  Using watercolor paper and distress inks, I created a colorful background. After first inking and misting with water to create a watercolory look, I then over stamped to give each beautiful leaf more definition.  I love this kit!!

I also love the "Choose Joy" sentiment.  It's different from the standard "wishy" sentiments like, "have a great day" or "happy birthday."  KWIM?   There seems to be power in it...it's a directive, a reminder, a choice....

So......choose.

TTFN, Jane

Stillness.....

I waited.  And, waited.  Isn't it funny how much time we actually spending waiting?  Waiting to get older, waiting to drive, waiting to get married, have kids, get the perfect job......ugh!  The list is seemingly endless.

Ok, so I admit......I was waiting for my Bisters from I Brake For Stamps.  Nothing to traumatic.  I was busy and then not feeling well so, I stopped waiting...I actually kinda forgot.  Then, there they were!

So, it got me thinking, about stillness.  I love this sentiment--actually, I love the book it comes from and most importantly, I love the Author!! 

To be still we must give it up.  The anxiety, the worry, the control--right?  In stillness, we learn to hear--not necessarily with our ears, but with our hearts--our spirits.  I've allowed some very important truths to penetrate my stubbornness simply by being still.  It's often a tough road to hoe, but most things worth it generally are. We say we are practicing patience when we are waiting, but what if it were really stillness?  It seems to me that this world could use a lot more of that.....

Now, you are wondering what Bisters are and how I got from powdered pigment to an existential blah blah....

Powdered Pigments!  Yes, that is the best way I can describe them.  You scatter them on your cardstock and then activate with water mist.  I chose to use my Perfect Pearls mist on my first attempt.  They are pretty interesting.  I'm looking foward to playing around with different colors, papers, activators.  You can learn more about them by watching the video tutorial at I Brake For Stamps.

You'll find the rest of the goodies from my card in the IBFS store also!  Use my coupon code to save :)
SAVE10JANE

TTFN and, be still.......

Jane

Lacy Flowers

Is it weird to still be arting florals?  I should be all about the fall images, halloween and turkeys, right? 

I had it in my mind to create a vintage, shabby background with my favorite lace image from this wonderful sheet, Lace Borders.  I love the way it turned out....distressy and all.  It needed the tulip!

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and walnut stain distress ink.  After lightly misting the watercolor paper, I repeatedly stamped the lace image.  Afterwards, I stamped over the whole thing with a linen background stamp and vintage photo distress ink.  With a bit of water on my finger tips, I gently pulled color and blended in areas giving the final distressed effect.

Sometimes, I love a background so much, using it becomes difficult....I just never want to cover the whole thing up!  So, I chose this beautiful Tulip image and stamped that on watercolor paper also.  Using my distress markers and an aqua pen, I colored the image and once again stamped over top with the linen background.  It was still damp near the image from coloring and blending that the ink from the background was more pronounced in some areas vs others---the perfect touch!

If you're not quite ready for fall images (or even if you are!) and feel like tromping through the IBFS store, use my coupon code SAVE10JANE while you're there for savings!!

Thanks for stopping by!

TTFN, Jane