Ferny Hello

October 28, 2014October 28, 2014 / Jodi / 12 Comments

In need of a few special thank you cards, I really enjoyed creating this ferny hello card.

For my stamping friends:

The fern is a single Hero Arts stamp and the Hello is a die cut from WPlus9.

I stamped the ferns randomly on Stampin Up (SU) Whisper White card stock using VersaMark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. I sponged some green and yellow SU inks over all, then added a brush of glitz (which just doesn’t show up in the photo) with my favorite Wink of Stella clear brush marker. I randomly placed a sprinkle of gold and silver sequins, adhered to SU Very Vanilla card stock and then the rich SU Mossy Meadow base.

This card went in the mail today. I just love sending handmade cards out and hoping for smiles on the other end when the recipient finds them amidst the junk mail and bills.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Silver or Gold

October 23, 2014October 22, 2014 / Jodi / 17 Comments

This week’s Paper Player’s Challenge (PP#218) is to make a card using Silver or Gold.

I always find it challenging to make a card with Silver and/or Gold for some reason, but I love The Paper Players Design Team and strive to participate in their challenge each week. This is my third silver/gold card I made this week, and one that I finally feel worthy of submitting for the challenge.

I was excited to try true watercoloring on this card with brushes and watercolors. (Well – at least my first stab at using paint and brushes to create a rather obscure, abstract background – gotta start somewhere!)

I used my little starter watercolor set, which is Sakura’s Koi Water Colors Pocket Field Sketch Box to create my background on SU watercolor paper and then heat embossed silver snowflakes and the Merry Christmas sentiment from the SU Endless Wishes stamp set. I added a couple silver sequins and framed it in glittery silver paper. I then dabbed some white “snow” with SU’s Gorgeous Grunge stamp and added a piece of silver and white ribbon tied into a bow to the top.

I continued the theme on the inside with more silver embossing from SU Endless Wishes.

Another Christmas card done and ready to save to send to someone special on my list.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Fall Christmas Shenanigans

October 19, 2014 / Jodi / 17 Comments

It was a girl’s field trip day on Saturday to Northeast Ohio for Christmas in the Woods!

Yep – more Christmas shenanigans!

What fun we had getting our Christmas crafting inspiration and shopping on.

Then, we topped our day off with a card-making / stamping class and dinner at Selah Restaurant in The Vault!

Check out the fun atmosphere that Shakerwoods turns into for Christmastime – 20 years strong now – – – but my first time.

It was a cool day with sprinkles off and on, but that made it all the more “Fall” like and got us in the Christmasy spirit.

It was Colleen’s first trip to any kind of Arts & Crafts Festival like this. She loved it, and I loved having her along! We have such similar tastes and interests that make it so much fun to be mother and daughter “in-law!”

We had a ton of fun with some of my old Middle School friends, Janet and Judi – and pretty much acted like we were back in Middle School.

Well – maybe just I did!

The trip was organized by my friend, Stacey Ailes, who is a Stampin Up Artist Extraordinaire (check out her website/blog if you haven’t already). Stacey did an amazing job corralling 11 women for a 14-hour day of adventure.

Colleen immediately spotted The Burlap Factory and ran so fast over to it, I could hardly get her picture! LOL! 🙂

The whole experience and scenery was just breathtaking. From the little Chapel in the Woods…

to the little Shaker School House….

where Colleen found the outhouse, but alas someone was already in it. (She is such a sport for posing and going along with my silly shenanigans!) ❤

Janet spotted this beauty for me to capture along our walk.

The day was filled with beautiful scenery, tasty treats, and all kinds of fun and friendly people…

Like this cute couple who were willing to stop and pose for a photo in their fun hats…

or this lovely lady who I asked how she could eat ice cream on such a chilly day. I came to find it was a Steamy BBQ Chicken and Mashed Potato “Sundae” with a cherry tomato on top, of course!

One of the highlights of the trip for many of the ladies was a B.E. Taylor concert right smack in the middle of all the action where the beautiful Christmas music could be heard echoing throughout the woods.

We bought some fun things and got a lot more great ideas. We’ll see if the ideas come to fruition…

The wonderful guys at the Great Harvest Bread Company had the cutest bench by their booth that said, “If you Knead to sit or just Loaf, please rest your Buns here.” Since they were kind enough to let me take a photo, of course I had to buy some bread. Italian Herb for me, and cinnamon swirl for Marty. (and oh by the way – DELISH!)

We passed on the fried pickles and fried snickers, but did enjoy an awesome reuben sandwich and sat with some folks who live right in our own hometown and are regulars on a different night at our hometown John’s Bar – so maybe we’ll see them again soon!

After getting inspired by the amazing crafters and talent, nourished body and soul with food and music, and spending enough money…

We ventured out of the woods and drove to Selah Restaurant in Struthers, about 20 minutes away.

What an awesome venue! Graced with art, photography and design, Selah is located in a turn-of-the-century bank with a rich history that gives it a unique and charming character.

Stacey had reserved “The Vault” for our special class and dinner.

It was such a unique experience to sit in the charming setting of the old vault of the bank.

Selah kept a lot of the original architecture of the bank, including the teller windows, adding such unforgettable charm.

The Vault was softly lit with a dozen or more candles, which was wonderful for our dining experience, but a tad challenging for our crafting time.

But it was way too cute and quaint for us to complain about that since we loved the atmosphere – and the company!

Stacey does such a phenomenal job teaching newbie, beginning stampers (of which we had four) and challenging some of us more experienced with new ideas and techniques. I sure admire Stacey’s talent, gift of teaching and sharing, and kind and generous heart.

What made it EVEN MORE FUN was the fact that I got to see an “old” friend from a few years ago when the company I work for had an office in Northeast Ohio. Charlotte and I have kept in touch through Facebook, and she has become a follower of my blog as well as a fan of Stacey’s talent. When Stacey came up with this idea, her and Charlotte connected on this venue, and they created all this wonderful magic.

Charlotte brought her forever BFF, and my new friend :), Carol. They were adorable together. They cannot remember a time when they weren’t friends. You see, their parents were neighbors and they grew up together, went to school together, married high school sweethearts and still live only a couple blocks apart.

These were their very first cards they made. They did an awesome job, kept us smiling, and really enjoyed stamping.

Judi also made her first card Saturday. Here and Janet buddied up working on their projects. Judi loved it so much, she wants to join our regular monthly classes at Stacey’s studio, so we are excited to welcome her.

Here’s Charlotte doing her first embossing, and these three chickadees were our seasoned pros! Cindy has a great website and blog if you want to check out here amazing talent here. I always appreciate Stephanie’s kind encouragement and comments. Nancy is a new friend I made that is married to a long-time friend and work acquaintance of Marty (such a small world!)

We laughed our way through the evening. (I was even hoarse by the time I got home!)

And of course we had to finish off the evening with some pumpkin cheesecake and carrot cakes to tide us over for the hour-long trip home!

Fun times with great ladies…

at life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Through the years – Making Christmas Cards

October 17, 2014 / Jodi / 13 Comments

I made my first Christmas card one evening this week.

Don’t go all hater on me.

I love Christmas.

Our little family has had a long-standing tradition of making homemade Christmas cards.

It is one of the many wonderful things I learned from my friend, Jill, who carried on the tradition from her Mom.

Every year around the middle to end of October, we would come up with a Christmas card idea. Through the years either I drew it or, most often, one of the boys would draw it for the year. We would have them printed, in black only, and then spend countless hours together in the evenings coloring them with markers.

When the boys went off to college, the homemade Christmas card tradition ended. For a couple of years I sent boxed Christmas cards. Then I just quit sending them all together. Seems the tradition is dying.

Then last year I began my stamping hobby, and I was excited to be creative and make Christmas cards again.

I don’t send as many as we used to, and now every card is it’s own unique creation. I don’t like to make a bunch of the same card. In fact, I’ve barely ever made two of the same. The joy to me is in making each unique and individual and the process of creative creation. So if you get a Christmas card from me these days, it was made just for you and it’s the only one like it.

But as a special memory of all the sweet cards we’ve made through the years as a young family, I now have a collage hanging in my office. I bought an old window sash at Construction Junction and modge podged the cards and the photos that went with them on it. It is a sweet memory as I work from my home office during the day or craft in the evenings or on weekends there.

Here are a few of my favorites through the years.

I adore this one Nick made when he was six years old of the family in the living room – Dad in his chair, the lights on the mantle of the fireplace (if you were wondering what that is across the top 🙂 ), the coffee table on the bottom, and how he labeled everyone. I love that we all have big smiles. It took us countless hours to hand color this one as we sent at least 100 cards out every year.

Another fave is this one Jake drew when he was six years old of Santa and his reindeer flying through the starry night over the houses below. I love these plump smiling reindeer and Rudolph’s red nose. (anyone that knows me knows how much I LOVE Rudolph!)

And there is this one Nick made at 9 – we laugh now looking at this interesting Santa face. But look how Santa is waiting to give you a hug!

And this more simplistic, primitive angel he drew at 12. (they were growing tired of coloring by now…)

Another favorite is this one Jake drew at seven years old. This one makes me smile seeing the blue marker line “blooper,” and the hearts colored in on the people.

And each year I would put a photo in the card – often times corresponding with the card “theme,” like this one that went with Peace on Earth.

or when I made homemade nutcracker tin soldier outfits for them to pose in…

And then they became a bit more sophisticated, like this one Jake drew at 16 years old.

Such sweet memories and reflections.

So you may be seeing some Christmas cards I make this year here. Each will be made with love and with fond memories of Christmases past and the anticipation of the joy in Christmases to come.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Happy Boss’ Day & a Color Challenge

October 15, 2014October 14, 2014 / Jodi / 24 Comments

Tomorrow, October 16, 2014, is National Boss’ Day. (For those of you that forgot, aren’t ready, didn’t know – I thought I’d post a day ahead!) 🙂

I am one of the fortunate ones that works for a great company and has a wonderful boss, so I enjoy letting him know that I appreciate his kindness, fairness, support, and leadership. I feel privileged to work for the company I do and in the field I do. It is an honor to wake up every day and know that what we are doing in hospice and home health is making a difference in people’s lives. We are helping people LIVE when they are facing the last leg of their journey. We are providing dignity and quality of life. We are helping families cope, understand, and support their loved ones. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to do what I do and the boss that allows me to do it every day.

My boss is a man, so no “froo-froo, fussy-fuss” card for this occasion, but I thought I could use The Paper Players Color Challenge (PP217) to make a nice Fall gratitude card to honor my boss and the day.

For my stamping friends, I heat embossed the leaves with white on SU Whisper White card stock. I then sponged on the SU Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, and Mossy Meadow inks (in that order) and hit the edges with some brown distress ink to create a better edge. I glued on a white border and then Mossy Meadow card stock base, heat embossed the SU Grateful for You sentiment on Mossy Meadow, hand cut and attached with dimensionals. I finished it off with just a couple sequins, and though you cannot really see in the photo, I hit the leaves with a coat of Wink of Stella to give it a subtle sparkle in just the right light. On the inside, I randomly stamped the maple leaf with the same three colors.

So here’s to National Boss’ Day. A great excuse for me to make a card! 🙂

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Out in the Woods

October 7, 2014 / Jodi / 19 Comments

I recently made and sent this card as a sympathy card for dear friends.

I really enjoyed just sponging and layering and creating the background and using one of my all time favorite SU stamp sets, Lovely as a Tree.

When I saw the SUO Challenge this week was Out in the Woods, it seemed a perfect card to enter. The challenge is to make a card featuring something you’d find out in the woods.

This card also reminded me of our great day at McConnell’s Mills on Sunday out in the woods.

Hope you get to enjoy some time out in the woods or just outdoors wherever you are and whatever season it is in your part of the world. It’s always good to get fresh air whether warm or cool and enjoy the beauty nature provides us.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Spooky Screamy Happy Halloweeny

October 5, 2014 / Jodi / 14 Comments

Since I didn’t get to do any stamping and card making yesterday on #WorldCardmakingDay, I got up early this morning anxious to participate in The Paper Players Halloween Theme Challenge (PP216). And it sure felt Halloweeny waking up to 49 degrees F outside this morning…

I’ve been looking forward to playing with the SU Holiday Home Stamp Set. So many of the elements are perfect for a Halloween card. I did some sponging to create the dusk sky, some masking for the moon and house, then some coloring and Wink of Stella.

And this card gave me another excuse to use the Autumn-colored Flower Soft again.

I’ve also been looking forward to using the SU Mingle All the Way Halloween sentiment here, so added it to the inside with a few more spooky, screamy bats.

I really enjoy playing The Paper Players Challenges. Such a talented, encouraging design team and lots of creative participants always inspire me.

With our first fire of the season crackling in the fireplace, a nice glass of wine, and rosey cheeks from a fun hiking adventure at McConnell’s Mills this afternoon with my buddy, Janet, this afternoon, I wish you a fun October and fun Halloweeny times at…

life in between.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

(PS Looking forward to sharing a fun photo blog with you soon on our trip to McConnell’s Mills!)

Happy #WCMD !

October 4, 2014October 4, 2014 / Jodi / 4 Comments

I couldn’t stay away……

I said I wasn’t going to post this weekend….

But I ~~forgot didn’t realize~~ just learned it’s World Card Making Day!

And seriously, with a major holiday like this, how could I not share and post and wish you a Happy #WCMD2014 ?! 🙂

So here’s a cute little fuzzy owl (made with brown flower soft glued to Mr. Owl from with Jillibean’s You’re Tweet Stamp Set. I added some googly eyes, glossy accent hearts, and used Stampinup DSP, cardstock, ink, and ribbon in Chocolate Chip). And since it kinda matches the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches FMS156 (maybe a stretch – but what the heck!), I thought I’d enter it there.

Here’s a close-up of Mr Owl.

And here is the Freshly Made sketch:

And there are contests and challenges I need to enter – like this one here for my stamping friends to try too!

And I get to celebrate being selected as a “Cut Above” at ThePaperPlayers Challenge this week! Thanks Laurie for choosing my googly-eyed punny tomato card.

So Happy Saturday, Happy Fall, Happy Weekend, and Happy #WCMD2014!

Whooo Loves You? ME!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Just Some Punny Tomatoes

October 3, 2014October 2, 2014 / Jodi / 9 Comments

Just some punny tomatoes for The PaperPlayers PP215 Sketch Challenge this week.

I just adore this punny saying and love adding googly eyes to these little tomatoes (#WPlus9 Punny Produce). I made them in “heirloom” colors – and for some reason this card reminds me of The Brady Bunch (minus a row) 🙂

Here is the sketch to inspire us.

Happy Friday!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

A Simple Hello

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014 / Jodi / 8 Comments

Sometimes I struggle to keep things “simple.”

In life and in card-making 🙂

When I saw this week’s Friday Mashup, I had to play along.

Especially when I saw Cindy’s Card – she is the queen of clean and simple and beautiful card-making. (Be sure to check out her site to see more of her creative, beautiful designs: CindyLeeBeeDesigns)

I couldn’t resist trying the technique (blowing ink through a straw), and in the end, realized my card is not only inspired by Cindy, but ended up looking almost like it.

This technique reminds me of childhood spin-art and the recent melted crayon art trend. Sometime it’s fun to just see what will happen.

I embossed the “hello” from the SU My Friend Stamp Set in black on vellum, which I “randomly” stitched onto the card.

Here is the FM179 challenge: Create a project using the Ink Blowing Technique and the colors Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Basic Black.

A simple Hello My Friends.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

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the creative life in between

cherishing the moments and exploring my passion for creativity… through art, photography, food, and writing

Stamping

Ferny Hello

Silver or Gold

Fall Christmas Shenanigans

Through the years – Making Christmas Cards

Happy Boss’ Day & a Color Challenge

Out in the Woods

Spooky Screamy Happy Halloweeny

Happy #WCMD !

Just Some Punny Tomatoes

A Simple Hello

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