I Brake For Lacey Springy Flowers...

I can only say that I am just in love with these images!  I got some new rubbah from sweet Bo Bella over the weekend and I just could not wait to get inky!

The main image, Kerr Jar, was colored with copic markers.  I added some extra dimension and interest by double stamping, coloring and popping up several parts of the image.   Most folks find this type of paper piecing too tedious, but I find it so therapeutic!  It's usually the time during my creative process when I am completely aborbed, and therefore, completely stress free! 

I wanted to create a background worthy of this fabby image.  My first thought was to use the September 2013 Technique Junkie tutorial, Distressed Rainbow Strips, but after all that therapeutic piecing, I wanted a simpler attempt with a similar result.  I also wanted to use Lace Borders which is not a large background, but several lacey strip stamps.  I could not be happier with my result!

I added each of the lace strip stamps to a block and then applied the following distress inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean and Spun Sugar.  Sounds like a recipe, no?  After applying the inks, I spritzed with water and stamped onto white cardstock.  I just adore it!

Make sure to say a happy hello to sweet Ms. Della when you go about shopping the IBFS Store.  And, be sure to save using my coupon code:  SAVE10JANE

TTFN & TFSB (ta ta for now and thanks for stoping by!)  Jane

Thinking of Unity.....

Happy Friday!!  I've recently added Moment to Moment to my ever growing Unity Stamp Co collection.  Anxious to break it in, I made this simple card.  It came together pretty quickly---I love how it turned out!

The paper is from the Traveler paper pad by MME.  I recently picked up a little 6 x 6 pad for cheap at Michael's.  I added a section of  collaged paper over an embossed piece of cardstock, a strip of book page and a tiny little doily from Stampin' Up!  Next, I stamped the butterfly image both on kraft cardstock and book page.  I layered the two butterflies, securing them only in the middle to give dimension and create the illusion of flight.  The "thinking of you" sentiment is from another Unity set called Music of My Heart.

Make it a great one!  TTFN, Jane

Some Stampin' Up!

So......little known fact?  I've been a Stampin' Up! demo for a decade!!  Despite the fact that I no longer actively promote a Stampin' Up! business (I'm my best and favorite customer!), I still love all that they have to offer.  I stay in, mostly, for the paper--just can't beat the quality, in my opinion!  But, often find other goodies tempting!

I made the above card using Cool Kid (Occasions Catalog) and Banner Blast (Sell-A-Bration Catalog) for my nephew's recent birhday.  He is, by the way, a pretty cool kid!  It was fun piecing together the super dog--his cape matches the background paper!  I hope he liked it....he might be getting a little old for cutesy cards from his aunt, but really, who can resist a dog with a cape???

The second card is cased from somewhere in the wonderful land of Pinterest....I made a few adjustments to put my mark on it.....sometimes, when I'm feeling rather uncreative, CASEing can be just the answer to get things moving again.  The flower images are from a SAB free set and the words, from Geometrical--also in the Occassions mini.  I love the look of the lettering!

That's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by!  TTFN, Jane

It's Your Day.....

Just a little clean and simple type card--with a colorful panel and no fuss!  I created the image piece using several images from I Brake For Stamps and a stampy technique called Foam Stamping! 

You can find the Foam Stamping tutorial in the April 2011 edition of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.  It's a great way to add color to a project that's both easy and interesting!

To finish the image piece, I used an image from Grunge Backgrounds and Fennel Silhouette.  Fennel Silhouette looks like Queen Anne's Lace to me--I just adore them---it's one of my favorite flower images!

The sentiment is from Half Sheet 138B.  All this and more can be yours.....and, you can save $$ too!  Just use my savings code SAVE10JANE when you check out! 

Have a great day!!  TTFN, Jane

Dropping You A Line...

Laundry on the line.......oh, the glorious days of sunshine and warm breezes....I wonder if we ever will get them back?

This cute little collection of images called Clothes Set can be found at the Rubbernecker Stamps website.  It's super fun to play around with....use one or two, or all of them as I have!  Rubbernecker also has great companion sayings....make sure to check them out!

To create my background, I used some torn scrap paper, ink and a sponge--waa laah!  Some clouds!  The clothing pieces are stamped and pieced onto the finished card in a variety of background paper scraps.  I also added some bling to each piece with some stickles glitter glue.  Easy, cute and ready to go!

Have a great day--TTFN, Jane

I Brake For Bunnies

Happy Monday!!  I have a cute little project that I CASE'd from somewhere online....I apologize for not having a link back to the original, but I got lost right after reading 2, 4, 6, 8 box!  I haven't made one of these in years....but I thought it particularly brilliant to fashion a tag topper for the cover.  I couldn't wait to get started!

Once you make the basic box, it's pretty much open season on decorating it up.  Naturally, I wanted to use something springy and Easter-like :) 

You can't have a box full of yummies without a window, right?  Once my box piece was all scored up, I used my Big Shot magnetic platform to hold my window cutting die in just the right place.  I had resisted the platform for long enough--now, I wonder why I waited.  It is super slick!

After adding a piece of acetate to the window, building the box, filling it and closing it, all that was left was the decorating.  I decided to unstack my Stack Those Bunnies and used just the cutie from the top of the stack.  Isn't she adorable?  I colored her with Copic markers and then pieced her dress together with stamped designer papers.

To get your very own, visit the I Brake For Stamps store and use my savings code SAVE10JANE. Enjoy!

TTFN, Jane

I Brake For Elephants

My favorite Disney movie is "The Jungle Book."  When my oldest was little, he was absolutely enamoured with elephants.  The marching scene from "The Jungle Book" was one of his favorites and something he often imitated.  He was gifted with a total recal type of memory and could recite the scene word for word--stomp for stomp!

For this reason and others, I completely adore this image from I Brake For Stamps!   It's completely versatile and good for those hard to make masculine cards.

I started each project with a stamped and embossed image--it's rather large, which makes it awesome!  Later, I added some distress inks--stenciled using some new Tim Holtz stencils.  I've become a bit of a stencil fanatic lately, thanks to my gal pal, Dawn!  She's awesome and finds us the best dealios! 

After matting and mounting both, I added sentiments from here and here.  Boom!  I love it when it all comes together! 

Don't forget to SAVE when you visit I Brake For Stamps by using my coupon code SAVE10JANE.  Enjoy!



TTFN, Jane

Live Inspired

This may be my favorite canvas to date.  Lots of Unity goodies when into the making of this one.  The girl, again is older and no longer available at Unity, but the sentiments--which are the clincher of this canvas, can be found in the Empowered Words set.

Other goodies to have around, if you are interested in mixed media canvas' are the more subtle elements like brick wall, distressed quilt and SheArt Doodles.  Canvas art definitely makes a case for hoarding goodies that you are positive will come in handy some time.....also, for collecting images!  You just never know what the muse is going to call for :)

Enjoy!  TTFN, Jane

Unity {be inspired} Challenge--Love Home!

I'm playing along for the first time in the Unity {be inspired} Challenge!  I created this 8" x 10" canvas using both the color and scrapbook layout inspiration.  Stamps, of course, are mostly from Unity.  They are:  Heartfelt Warmth, Shade Tree, Shurberry Tree, and Distressed Quilt.  The checkerboard accent is from a Tim Holtz distressing set.

I paper pieced the house using both cardstock and a book page--I love the way book pages add interest to my projects.  I also used various designer paper patterns--muting the grassy hills and background a bit with gesso.  After applying the gesso, I used a baby wipe to remove a good deal of it, leaving an almost frosted look. 

Finally, I added a few "gift with purchase" sequins....thanks, Unity!  You inspire me so much!

TTFN, Jane

I Brake For More Flowers....

I keep thinking spring like thoughts, hoping to will it into motion....the snowy view outside of my studio window, tells a different story, though.  I thought I'd pull out some favorite goodies from I Brake For Stamps and play around a little at flowery goodness. 

I am a huge daisy fan--probably my favorite flower--so, naturally, I just love this gloriosa daisy!  It's fun to color--especially using spray mists!  The Technique Junkie newsletter has a great tutorial on how to do this in the February/March 2014 edition--check it out!

I opted for shabby/collaged looked to finish things off.  My background is an actual book page I distressed using spray mist and distress inks.  The panel behind the main image features I Brake For Stamps' ruler background and a sentiment from half sheet 138b.

Don't forget to use my coupon code SAVE10JANE, when you visit Ms. Bo Bella at I Brake For Stamps!

TTFN, Jane

Trust Your Heart

Trust your heart.  Believe.  Find your voice.  Be empowered.  Such great advice!  I'm often struck with a notion that ends up like this, on canvas--for a friend.  The process of creating a canvas is somewhat prayerful, in my opinion.  In fact, I often use it as time to dwell on the one I plan to give the canvas to. 

I made this canvas for a friend who is beginning a new journey in life.  One that is certain to have moments of doubt and struggle....they are all like that....journeys?  Anyway, I just wanted her to know that I am in her corner and believing!

The finished size of the canvas is 6" x 6".  It is perfectly sized for Open Your Heart from Donna Downey and Unity Stamp CO.  But wait!!  It's half off as I type!!  Head Over and look around!  The remaining setiments on the canvas are also on sale...search for Empowered Words :)  You are welcome!

TTFN--Jane