card making

Punny Father’s Day

/ Jodi / 24 Comments

PP250

My Father’s Day card for hubby was inspired by The Paper Players Clean & Simple (CAS) Summer Treats Theme (PP250).

pp250 1

I love this punny stamp set from WPlus9 , and I have featured it a couple of times in the past here and here.

pp250 inside

What better summer treat is there than fresh ripe juicy tomatoes, and what better summer celebration than to honor our Dads for Father’s Day.

I’m looking forward to sharing the day with the family.

Wishing you a day spent with those YOU love from YOUR head to YOUR toes!

Cheers & Happy Father’s Day Hugs,

Jodi

Gusho over Brusho

/ Jodi / 23 Comments

brusho 1

Brusho seems to be quite the rage these days.

brusho 3

Brusho Crystal Colours are brilliant, intense transparent color crystals that are great for painting, color washes, staining, and creative textile design on porous surfaces such as paper, wood, and fabric.

brusho 6

I thought I’d just do a little experimenting with the colors and the way they work.  A couple sprinkles of the crystals before and/or after spritzing with water created these basic designs.

brusho 2

Nothing complex or intricate – just testing them out and seeing how they work.  So these are just some simple experiments, but oh the possibilities that are running through my head.

brusho 5

In trying different combinations and amounts, I learned quickly that a very little goes a long way.  What great effects might be possible combining these with watercolor painting, stamping, embossing, sewing, woodworking!??!!

brusho 4

Oh so many possibilities….
and oh so little time…

Make it count…
doing the things you love…
at life in between.

Cheers and Happy Friday Hugs,
Jodi

Watercolor Hummingbird Card

/ Jodi / 45 Comments

watercolor hummingbird card

Monday’s Hummingbird Cake Recipe  post had me thinking of hummingbirds,
so I decided to try my hand at watercolor painting one.

I lightly outlined the basic shape in pencil,
filled it in with some clean, clear water,
then loosely dropped in some paint.

When I was mostly pleased with it, and it was dry,
I adhered it to some vanilla card stock and made it into a little card.

Today my wish for you
is that you find some time
to do things you love
with people you love (even if that is yourself!)
at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Sunny Sunflower Birthday Wishes

/ Jodi / 19 Comments

Liz Birthday Card Yellow Sunflower 2015

Is it a sunflower or a black-eyed susan?  Not sure… but that’s the beauty of art – and especially watercolor painting.  The freedom to create something new, something different, expand OUTSIDE the lines.

Whatever it is, it is bright and cheery and for a special young lady’s birthday!

Happy Birthday Week Liz!  🙂

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

Strawberry Fields Forever

/ Jodi / 29 Comments

strawberry watercolor

Shall we talk about strawberries…
the yummy, juicy, sweet, delicious, nutritious, ruby-red fruit of summer?

Or shall we discuss what John Lennon was talking about in the amazing Beatles hit, Strawberry Fields Forever…”
and boy are there a lot of commentaries out there on that!

Or do we want to talk about drawing and watercoloring and cardmaking and “art…”
some of my favorites things to do?

Or how about strawberry recipes…
Strawberry Spinach Salad, Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad, Strawberries & Cream, Strawberry Pie – OH MY!?
What is your favorite?  I love them all!

Or shall we just “Let it Bee?”
Let it be whatever we want it to be…

A symbol of summer,
A memory of our childhood,
A favorite hobby,
A sumptuous summer treat.

Let it be Strawberry Fields Forever…
at LifeinBetween.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS   Barbara, you know I love a challenge!

Let it Bee

/ Jodi / 32 Comments

let it bee bumble bee watercolor

When you feel that cleaning or laundry or household chores
come before time with family or friends…
Let it bee.

When anxiety or worry steals the joy
of the moment you are in…
Let it bee.

When you think that your parenting
falls short of the “super” mom or dad next door…
Let it bee.

When your dinner is burnt or undercooked or less than gourmet,
but your family is gathered around the table anyway…
Let it bee.

When you look in the mirror and critique what you see,
thinking you are too big or too little or too this or too that,
but you have a loved one that thinks you are the bee’s knees…
Let it bee.

Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee…..
Whisper words of wisdom…
Let it be.

Bee Happy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – The WINNER of the Thanks a Latte Card this week is Paul from My Cluttered Attic! Hubby chose #17, and that’s you buddy! Send me your address to mckinneyjodi@gmail.com, and the card will be on its way.  Enjoy writing a funny note to a friend you’d like to thank while sipping a triple shot latte.

PSSSSSS – I know just who I am going to send this watercolor card to- a brand new bee keeper who I think is the bee’s knees!

Watercolor West Village

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

West Village New York Watercolor Rusty Railing Brownstone

Some of you may remember a recent photo I shared, “You Caught My Eye Most of All.”

I was encouraged by a few to try watercoloring this photo.

Very amateur – very loose – here is my take:  Watercolor of West Village.

Cheers & Happy Weekend Hugs from Mars & New York & Everywhere “inbetween,”

Jodi

Thanks a Latte! (and a Free Card Giveaway)

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

PP246 Thanks a Latte Love Perfect Blend

Any coffee lovers out there??  Do you ever sigh after that first sip of joe in the morning like I do?  Does anything taste better?  (with the exception of red wine after dinner?)  I love my coffee pretty bold (like my wine) with a nice splash of Italian Sweet Cream in it.

I created this card for The Paper Players PP246 Sketch Design Challenge.

pp246

The design was inspired by an awesome card I saw done by Paula Sievers at Stamping with Paula. I don’t often use Designer Series Paper, but I loved how Paula framed and layered it and then cut out the coffee cup and embellished the cup holder with chevron.

I have been wanting to use the StampinUp Perfect Blend Stamp Set and thought it would be so fun to put a lipstick mark on the cup like us ladies get so often.  Can you relate?

PP246 Thanks a Latte Love Perfect Blend

I had another stamp set from Fiskers with this sentiment on and the coffee beans that I thought complemented it and went well with the sketch challenge theme.  Some Gorgeous Grunge “coffee splatters” added just the right finishing touch.

I’d love to give this card away to one of you lovely “lifeinbetweeners” out there.  Leave a comment with your favorite coffee brand, flavor, shop, or how you like your morning java to be entered into a random drawing to win this card.  I’ve left the inside blank so you can write your own special thank you message to the person you choose to send it to.  (Winner will be drawn Sunday, 5/31/15.)

PP246 Thanks a Latte Love Perfect Blend 3

Cheers & Happy Friday Hugs,

Jodi

Watercolor Butterfly

/ Jodi / 19 Comments

watercolor butterfly Jill bday

Today is my BFF’s birthday.  And what kind of bestie am I when I am pretty sure she is going to see this card here before she receives it in the mail???!!!  UGH!

BFF Jill is one of the most creative, supportive, generous, loving people I know.  And here I am late getting her card to her…

I have been wanting to draw and watercolor a butterfly for a while now.

This past week, however, had me in New York City for three days, home a day, and then off to Cleveland for an overnighter with another bestie for Saturday and Sunday.  All awesome stuff I must say, but little time for relaxing and creating.

Sunday evening, I finally found some time to sit down and be “creative.”  It was good to get my watercolor paint out again, draw a butterfly outline, and let it flow.  I was inspired by some designs I had seen done using a butterfly diecut at SimonSaysStamp.  For my card, I just drew a butterfly outline and then dropped in some color.

Jill and I have been through so much together.  I don’t know what I’d do without her. She and her family are our chosen family.  She is there for me in the most important of times (difficulties with family, emergencies, doubts, disappointments, but also celebrations, holidays, and milestones).

Many years ago, Jill and I went to a Bette Midler concert.  We’ve watched the movie “Beaches” together.

You know how couples have a “song?”  Well, Jill and I have a “song.”  It is “Wind Beneath My Wings,” by Bette Midler.  (and yes – hubby and I do have a song too – wonder if he knows it as the same one I do…. Merv?!).

So a butterfly seemed the perfect card for Jill – the wind beneath my wings.

If only I could have got it there on time….

Love ya Jill!  Happy Birthday!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

New York – New York! And the Blogiversary Winner is….

/ Jodi / 38 Comments
albert and jodi

Albert of “Albert’s New York” Blog – Best Tour Guide Ever!

I just returned from a jam-packed three-day trip to New York City.  Two days were spent at a business meeting, but I was also fortunate enough to have some free time to explore the city on my first visit with one of the best tour guides ever… ALBERT!!!!  My buddy from Albert’s New York Blog.  Here we are on the roof top of his apartment building where we had the chance to view the sunset and a beautiful view of the city.

And this little cutie is as charming in real life as he is on his blog.  I hope you will check it out.  I’m guessing you will fall in love with him as I have.   And what a wonderful gift after our loss this week to get to hug and meet this beautiful new friend.

When I found out I was heading to New York, I immediately wrote to Albert and asked if he wanted to meet up and wondered if he had time to show me around.  He and his Lady and Guy were so amazingly gracious to spend the afternoon and evening with me.

I’ll have more to tell and photos to show soon, but for now I promised to announce the winner of my One-Year Blogiversary card today.

PP245 Pleasant Poppies Lots of Thanks

I was so overwhelmed and truly humbled with the response and the amazing comments.  Thank you all so much for all the love!

I asked hubby to pick a number from one to………….  and before I could even give an end number, he firmly stated, “7.”

So the W I N N E R of my One-Year Blogiversary Card is the 7th person to comment – BILLIE MOAN!

Congratulations Billie!  (Please email me your address at mckinneyjodi@gmail.com – and it will be on its way!)

I am back in Mars – and though I adored New York – there really, truly is no place like home.  (even when it’s Mars!)

Happy Friday everyone!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi