card making

Thank You @ My One Year Blogiversary

/ Jodi / 91 Comments

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks

On May 18, 2014, I wrote my very first blog post at LifeinBetween.me.  I imagine many of you weren’t with me then…

I just re-read it – and found a TYPO!  Ugh!  I thought about correcting it, but then…. it is what it is…  (Can you find it?)

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks 3

I’ve posted every day for the past year, and I can’t believe how much I have enjoyed it.  I can’t believe the wonderful friends who have followed me through this and the wonderful friends I have made along the way.

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks 2

THANK YOU, my 1,150+ friends at LifeInBetween.me for sharing this journey with me!

To thank YOU, I’d like to give away this card I made in honor of the occasion.

It’s not much, but it is from my HeART.

Here’s the plan….

Add a comment to this post letting me know what you enjoy most about LifeInBetween.Me.

Is it the recipes?  the cards?  the “art”work/crafting?   photography?  poetry/writing?  personal stories…?

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks 4

To all those that comment, I will randomly draw one name to send this blank card to so that you can use it to send to someone to thank them for a thoughtful gesture.

I will allow a few days for comments and draw a winner on Friday.

I had so much fun making this card on a rainy Sunday morning.  I didn’t know where I was going with it or how it was going to turn out, but it evolved into a card I love.

Not only was I inspired by my desire to thank all of you, but The Paper Players Challenge is for a “girly” thank you card, and the Can You Case It Challenge was for May flowers, so I am entering this card into both of these “challenges.”

pp245   CYCI70-300x217

 

 

 

 

For this card, I used the StampinUp Pleasant Poppies Stamp stamped on Typeset Designer Series Paper with Black Stazon Ink, which I “watercolored” with an aqua paint brush using Tangelo Twist, Real Red, and Old Olive Inks.  The sentiment is from StampinUp’s Lots of Thanks stamp set.  I embellished with some linen thread, an antique button, some olive candy dots and a lace doily.  I also used my favorite Lil’ Inkers Stitched Rectangles Die Cut to create the “stiched” rectangles.

I am a StampinUp Hobby Demonstrator, so if you are interested in learning more about StampinUp or ordering products, feel free to let me know.

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks

Thank you all for a wonderful year of blogging at lifeinbetween.me.  I look forward to sharing more in the coming year, and I hope you will share your thoughts with me.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

A Navy Commissioning Day

/ Jodi / 16 Comments

PP244 World Map Traveler Sea Street and Paper Smooches Sentiment

Today we are celebrating “our” youngest “McHendy” son.

For those of you that know me or have been following along at LifeInBetween.me for a while know that our family has an extended BFF family – our “chosen” family – the Hendersons.  Together we had six kids – two McKinneys and four Hendersons.  We now have eight as two have married, so we have one more McKinney (our amazing daughter-in-law) and one more Henderson (which is actually Kallis now) in our McHendy son-in-law who we also love.

The oldest is Jake McKinney and the youngest is Jake Henderson, so we fondly refer to them as Big Jake and Baby Jake.  (And just for a fun point to know – if Baby Jake was a girl, his name was going to be Jodi – so we have a very special bond.)

Baby Jake just graduated from Penn State this week, and today he is being commissioned into the Navy.  We are so proud of him and are so happy to be celebrating this special day with him.

So today’s card is for our Baby Jake.

The ship (from the StampinUp – SU – Traveler stamp set) represents his Navy branch.  The world map stamped background (SU World Map stamp) represents all the places he may go and see and how the whole world is at his fingertips and ahead of him for his future.  The anchor (from SU Sea Street stamp set) not only represents the Navy, but the anchor of support he has from us – his extended McKinney family, so that he knows we are and always will be here for him.

The colors I chose were for the Color Challenge at The Paper Players Challenge this week:  PP#244.

pp244So here’s to you Jake!

Jill and Jake

“Baby” Jake & His Beautiful Mom, My BFF, Jill

With much pride and hugs and love,

Momma M

Laura had a little Lamb & Doodling

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

pink lamb baby card watercolor

When I heard the news and saw the beautiful photo of a dear young lady’s sweet baby girl who was born this week (and made our sweet Liz an Aunt), I couldn’t wait to make a card.

And for some reason, I kept thinking, “Laura (that’s Momma’s name) had a little lamb.”  (You don’t want in my head – eh?!)

I had seen a cute cartoon drawing of a lamb I thought I’d draw and just add some watercolor too.  It had to be pink of course!  🙂  Get ready Laura – everything is going to be pink for a while!  And oh what fun!

I used a Micron pen to outline the shape and make it stand out.   (Thanks for the great recommendation, Laura!  They are glorious to draw with!)

In fact, I liked drawing with them so much, I did this silly little doodle at about midnight the other evening – just not wanting to quit.

Midnight Doodling All You Need is Love

Does what you mindlessly doodle speak to what you are thinking?  I guess I was filled with love <3.  So I made it into a card…

Cheers & Doodley Hugs,

Jodi

Happy Draw a Bird Day!

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

First Bird Drawing and Watercolor Downy Woodpecker

Today is the “official” “unofficial” monthly Draw a Bird Day, and with the support and encouragement of my buddy, Laura at Create Art Every Day and inspiration from Jill at Jill’s Art Journal, I was brave enough to draw and watercolor my very first bird.

I used the photo I took the other day of the downy woodpecker hopping on the back deck as my inspiration.  (Don’t laugh  – – – too much!  It is my FIRST!)

I had a bit of a block about doing this, so first I stamped a bird from the StampinUp Love Life Stamp Set and watercolored it.

love life bird watercolor card

Then, still worried about trying to actually draw something that resembles a bird, I decided to do a silly owl drawing and paint it.  And to be even more fun, I added some nut brown Flower Soft to make fuzzy feathers, a couple of googly eyes, and a linen thread bow.

silly owl watercolor

After doing these is when I allowed myself to try drawing a bird.  I have a long way to go, but I made the first step and drew my first bird.

And it was FUN!

Happy Bird Day Friday!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

May Flowers

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

CYCI 68 Flower Punch Mothers Day Card

There is ONE single joke I can remember to retell, and it is my favorite….

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

(ready?!)….

Pilgrims of course!

We have lots to celebrate in May, so I’ll be busy making special cards for a lot of very special people this month, including this  May”flowery” card for a special Mom in my life I fondly refer to as “Mom II.”

Sunday is Mother’s Day – a very special day for those of us who have been blessed with the privilege and honor to be called a “Mom” or “Mum” or “Mother” or “Momma” or “Mommy” or “Mummy” or “Mom II”…

Carole (aka Mom II) is my Dad’s wife.  When I reunited with my (birthfather) Dad five years ago in July, the first thing she said to me after I said “Hello” was, “Your Dad always promised me a daughter.  Now I have one.”  That was followed by a big tight hug from a beautiful, petite woman.  A pretty warm welcome – eh?!

I will never forget that moment.

So this fussy, frilly Mother’s Day card is for Mom II.

The design was inspired by the CanYouCaseIt #68 Sketch Challenge.

CYCI68

And I’m also sharing this card on the Paper Plunge #32 Mother’s Day Theme challenge.

For the card, I used a variety of Stampin Up flower paper punches, Best Day Ever Designer Series Paper, and lots of buttons, pearls, and linen thread.  It was fun to create and flower up!

So Happy Mother’s Day this coming Sunday Mom II!  I hope your day is as special as you!

Cheers & Hugs and Motherly Love,
Jodi

 

 

Watercolor Whimsy – Week 6

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card

This week I went in a little different direction with my watercoloring…

Wanting to loosen up and just create FUN like my artsy bloggin’ buddies, Laura at CreateArtEveryDay and Jill at JillsArtJournal, I poked around on Pinterest and found some super fun work by Lucia at StressieCat.  Such unique, original, crazy, zany, whimsy!  I used Lucia’s inspiration to draw and paint this first crazy green and purple polka-dotted bird.  You should check out her blog – crazy awesome talent!  Mine turned out nothing like hers, but I still kinda like it.

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card birdie doo doo inside birthday

And any card that has a crazy green and purple-polka dotted bird on it naturally needs some green birdie doo doo on the inside!  Right?

whimsical watercolor birdie card

Then I made this other silly guy from a photo I saw that stuck in my head, but I’ve lost the source (since I did it over two days – starting one evening and letting the base dry and polka-dotting the next day).  It was a paper mache bird, but I thought I’d recreate it in watercolor and for a card.  I just tore off a piece of watercolor paper and went to town.

whimsical watercolor birdie card 2

I really had fun making these silly guys, and this green one is already on its way to a friend who is celebrating a birthday this week.  He’s a pretty great guy – so he even gets a Superman stamp!

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card read to mail

Have some fun today – and EVERY day!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Hugs

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

too kind hugs watercolor card

I sadly needed a sympathy card for a special co-worker friend.

I hope he and his family feel the heartfelt hugs I sent when they receive this card.

This card was a labor of love and a combination of water coloring and stamping.

I first dropped some green watercolor paint into the bottom left corner and then blew through a straw to push it up to resemble blades of grass.  I then brushed watercolor paint onto the Stampin Up Too Kind flower stamp and lightly stamped it, letting it loosely spread.

The “hugs” sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Sentiment stamp set.  I love the font, and this set has a bunch of other fun ones I’m sure you’ll be seeing in future cards.  I finished it off with some “signature” jodi splatters, then distressed the edges of it and some complimentary colors of card stock.  I wrapped it with some linen thread and adhered it to some vanilla cardstock.

Cheers & HUGS & Happy Friday,
Jodi

 

Watercoloring Week 5

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

watercolor poppies

How did it become Monday already?!?

I hope you had a nice weekend.  We sure did!  And there is so much to share…  I’m certain it will take all week.

Our “Best Book Club Ever” started up again for this year, and Hubby got to choose the book and lead the discussion.  He rocked it talking about one of his favorite real-life adventure books, “Touching the Void.”

It was so great to see friends we haven’t seen for a few months, spend time at one of our favorite places on earth with some of our favorite peeps – the hosts – my cousins Joyce and ‘Oh Rob,” and drink wine and share some good food and discussion.

watercoloring

Joyce is another one of my artistic mentors, so the poor thing hardly had a chance to open her eyes and have a sip or two of coffee Sunday morning…after a very late night…. before I started drilling her with watercolor questions.  We sat in her studio for a couple hours yesterday morning (while the guys went out to breakfast) where she shared with me about the type of paper she uses, brushes and paints she likes, and a chest full of books she has used through the years for inspiration.  My discouraged passion was re-ignited, and I wasn’t home long before I was perusing the books and mixing paints and at it again.

watercolor poppy

To top that off, we arrived home to find an amazing package in the mail from a fellow blogger – and artist extraordinaire – Jill Kuhn @ Jill’s Art Journal – with a special drawing in it that I fell in love with and an extra gift to boot (I’ll be sure to share soon!).

AND to top the whole weekend off ….. we arrived home to an egg in the cardinal’s nest!  WOOHOO!!!

The sun was shining, the air was crisp, trees are budding, flowers are bursting open, and we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend.

I took about an hour to paint these two little paintings.

After reading through some of my newly-borrowed books and watching a YouTube video by Art TV, I did these two poppy watercolor paintings.  The fun thing about these is that I did NOT sketch them ahead.  Simply took water and paint to paper and created.  It was quite liberating and enjoyable!

These will become thank you cards for a few special peeps I need to thank.

Happy Monday my friends!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Oh Happy Day!

/ Jodi / 25 Comments

PP240 CYCI65 Oh Happy Day Starburst Sayings

Oh Happy Day – It’s Friday!

This is just a fun, happy card that I created for The Paper Players Color Challenge #240 and the Can You Case It #65 Clean & Quick Challenge.

pp240

CYCI65-300x206

I love the happy colors Joanne chose for the color challenge – truly some of my faves – StampinUp’s Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, and Pistachio Pudding.  They are so springy and tropical.

PP240 CYCI65 Oh Happy Day Starburst Sayings 2

For this card, I used the StampinUp Sunburst Sayings Stamp Set & Die, some candy dots and linen thread, and Best Day Ever DSP (Designer Series Paper).  It was quick and simple, but makes a happy punch.

Oh Happy FRIday!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS 4/18/15:  Thank you Marisa for choosing my card as a winner at CanYouCaseIt!!  And thank you Nance for choosing my cards as A Cut Above at The Paper Players!  Woohoo!  It surely was a happy day!  🙂

Winner-001Cut Above Badge

‘Tis the Season

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

charrie shower card artisan embellishment and hello life

Tis the season…

For showers and weddings that is.

And you might know I love a good theme.

charrie shower invitation
So when I received this invitation to our family friends’ shower, I thought it would be fun to repurpose some of it for the card I made.

I gently removed the lace bow and added it to the card I created with vanilla and kraft card stock, a tiny watercolor, and the SU artisan embellishment floral cutout.  A simple “love” sentiment was added from the SU Hello Life Stamp set.

charrie shower card artisan embellishment and hello life

I then continued the theme when wrapping the gift.

Charrie Wedding Shower Gift Wrap 1

Instead of wrapping with paper, I used burlap which can be repurposed and was from our son and daughter-in-law’s similarly-themed shower and rehearsal dinner.

I made a big bow with some new kitchen towels that were on the registry, stuffed in a couple wooden spoons (they go with the gift inside), and tied it all together with lace to match.

Off to the shower today to celebrate Charrie and Corey and wish them many years of love and happiness.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

PS  I received a very sweet note and invitation from the HUGELY talented Leslie Mahon at InkPaperScissorsStamp.com to enter my card into The Paper Plunge #29 April Showers Challenge.  It is a less-known challenge that I am super happy to learn about and participate in.  For my card crafty friends – hope you will check it out.  If you have created a baby or wedding shower card, take the plunge and play along with us!

The Paper Plunge