Crafting

Four Seasons of Sheltering Tree

/ Jodi / 24 Comments

Sheltering Tree Summer Notecard Brusho

It’s Sunday, and that means it’s time for another Guest Designer Inspiration Card for The Paper Players Challenge.

This week’s theme challenge is “The Great Outdoors” for PP252.

pp252
When I think of outdoors, I think of trees.  And when I think of trees, I adore how different they look in all four seasons (at least where we live here in Mars).

Sheltering Tree Fall Notecard Brusho

So I heat embossed an “empty” tree from the StampinUp Sheltering Tree Stamp Set with Early Espresso (Dark Brown) embossing powder onto four pieces of watercolor paper.

Sheltering Tree Winter Notecard Brusho

I then broke out the Brusho Crystal Colours again and sprinkled and spritzed different colors onto each tree to represent, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Sheltering Tree Spring Notecard Brusho

I backed each tree with a piece of Early Espresso card stock and then adhered to Very Vanilla for the card base.

I stamped some fun sentiments from the Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler to make them into basic notecards.

Doesn’t it make a fun set?

Hope you are enjoying whatever season you are in!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Fun with Watercolor Coneflowers

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

coneflower watercolor 1

One late evening this week,

coneflower watercolor 2

feeling loose and creative,

coneflower watercolor 3

I decided to paint some coneflowers.

coneflower watercolor 4

Some were pink,

coneflower watercolor 5

and others were just creative colors.

That is the joy of watercolor.  It is not a photograph.  It is an expression of feelings.

Hope these bring some expression of joy to you as you view.

Wishing all a joyful holiday weekend.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

So Sweet

/ Jodi / 26 Comments

pp251

I have always loved mailing cards to family and friends.  It is such a simple way to bring such great joy.

Who doesn’t love receiving a special card or note in the mail amidst all the bills and “junk?”

Electronic communication is quicker and easier and more immediate (and I am all about that!), but knowing that someone took the time to choose, or even better yet make a special card, hand write a note, address the envelope, adhere postage, and take to the mailbox or post office, is quite flattering – right?

My BFF Jill makes the most amazing handmade cards, and I am always so thrilled when I find an envelope in the mail with her handwriting on the envelope.

I hope people feel that way when they receive a card from me.

I hope they feel the love.

I hope they appreciate the time and effort.

I hope it makes them feel special.

That is why it is such a thrill for me to be a Guest Designer for the Design Team at The Paper Players and make a card each week to inspire others to create and share this joy.

pp251 sketch challenge

This week’s challenge is a sketch challenge based on the photo above.  We get to make whatever we want that closely resembles this sketch inspiration.

pp251 inside

I used this as an opportunity to create a “thank you” card.

There are so many people I could send this card to….

I truly believe one of the best ways to feel gratitude is to think of all the special sweet things people do that “make your day.”

It doesn’t have to be something big…

It could be a stranger’s smile…

a word of encouragement…

a compliment…

a gesture of kindness…

The happiest people are those that see and appreciate these cherished moments.

It is so good for the soul to take time to realize these sweet gestures, and even grander when you have the opportunity to reciprocate or give thanks and appreciate.

pp251 flat

So I will look forward to sending this card to a special sweet someone who made my day.

And I hope I’ve inspired you in a small way to show gratitude, appreciate kindness, and cherish the moments.

I used the following materials to create this card:

  • StampinUp Hello Life Stamp Set, Best Day Ever Stamp Set, Bloom with Hope Stamp Set
  • StampinUp Whisper White, Black and Gray Card Stock and Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper
  • Sakura Koi Water color paint for flower
  • Pearl Embellishments

Wishing you a Sweet Day!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Happy Retirement to a Dear Friend

/ Jodi / 11 Comments

Too Kind Congratulations Retirement Card Bev

Today I will be celebrating the retirement of a sweet friend I work with, and I wanted to make her a special card.

Too Kind Congratulations Retirement Card Bev 2

I used some new DSP (Designer Series Paper) from StampinUp (SU) that has fun polka dots on one side and sweet handwritten happy words on the other side.  I was feeling purpley for my friend and used the SU “Too Kind” Stamp Set to stamp the flowers and my favorite “Sentiment Sampler” from Lil’ Inkers for the Congratulations sentiment.  A couple pearls for embellishment and a few off-balance layers of framing in black finished up my card.

Too Kind Congratulations Retirement Card Bev 3

I sure will miss this workplace “girlfriend”  (as she is famous for calling everyone – expect for the men who she typically fondly referred to as “boyfriends”).

And that she was…

and hopefully will remain…

Everyone’s bestest “girlfriend.”

Happy Retirement Beverly!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

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

Happy Birthday Dad!

/ Jodi / 25 Comments

PP249 Birthday Color Challenge

It’s time for another Paper Players Challenge Guest Designer Post.  This week’s challenge (PP249) is a color theme using Real Red and Blue Shades of Pool Party and Indigo Blue.

pp249

My Dad’s birthday is coming up in a few days, and we are going to visit him today to celebrate, so I thought I would use the opportunity to create a birthday card for him.

PP249 Birthday Color Challenge 3

Instead of using those colors in ink, I used them in creating shapes and cut-outs of some beautiful StampinUp designer series paper (DSP) with the StampinUp Star Framelits Dies.

PP249 Birthday Color Challenge 2

I wanted to give it a bit of a “vintagy” look too, so I sponged each piece with Tim Holtz Tea-Dye Distress Ink.  I popped the stars and sentiment (from Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler) on with some dimensionals.

Looking forward to celebrating Dad’s birthday and Father’s Day with him today.

Love you Dad!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

My First Design Team Card for The Paper Players

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide

This week begins my three-month journey as a Guest Design Team Member for The Paper Players.  I have admired this group of talented individuals for some time now since discovering the hobby of stamping and card making and paper crafting.  I have participated in their challenges over the past year or so when I had a chance, and I always appreciated the kind and fun feedback and encouragement.  I’ve even been recognized and won a few times!  When I got an email asking if I would be interested in being a Guest Designer to inspire others, I was extremely flattered.  Also a little nervous!  I decided to commit for three months, and see how it goes.  If all goes well, I will extend to the six-month commitment requested.  So you will notice I will be posting a card each Sunday morning now that will be an inspiration for others to participate in the weekly challenge.

pp248

This week, for my debut card as a Paper Players Designer, our PP248 Theme is Masculine Card.  I decided to pull out my StampinUp “By the Tide” stamp set as I haven’t used the lobster stamp yet.

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide knot

I had some navy blue designer series paper with nautical knots printed on it that I thought would go well, and embellished it with a jute knot to somewhat simulate the design of the paper.  (Anyone know how to do that specific knot or what it really is?)

PP248 Masculine Birthday Card By the Tide flat

I used SU Cherry Cobbler red ink for the lobster and SU Crumb Cake for the sea grass, print and to sponge the edges of all the paper for a more “rugged” look.  I finished it off with silver brads and a tan candy dots on all four corners.

So I’m off and running with ink and paper cutter and stamps as an official “Designer.”  I hope some of my fellow stampers and paper crafters will play along in the challenges.

Happy Sunday!

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

 

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!