Bloom with Hope

A Sketch Challenge for The Paper Players

/ Jodi / 40 Comments

pp268 sketch challenge bloom with hope and timeless elegance dsp

This week’s challenge at The Paper Players is a sketch challenge, so I created this sympathy card for my design team inspiration card.

A little designer series paper from Stampin’ Up’s Timeless Elegance, a little watercoloring on the stamped flower from SU Bloom with Hope, and a cute little bee cut out of English Garden DSP and bedazzled with some Glossy Accents to make it pop and shine!

pp268 sketch challenge bloom with hope and timeless elegance dsp closeup

On the inside, I stamped off the Bloom with Hope flower stamp a few times before stamping in the card to give it a lighter watermarked look and then added the sentiment on top.

pp268 sketch challenge bloom with hope and timeless elegance dsp inside

Hope my papercrafting friends will join us in The Paper Players sketch challenge  #PP268 this week.  I also have to say the other design team members’ cards are exceptionally amazing this week.  Check out these talented ladies!

Claire Creates Cards
Stampin! with Jaydee
The Crafty Owl
Stamping Up North
Week Inklings
Canopy Crafts
Stamp with Sandy
Stamp with Amy K
My Paper Tales

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

Aint it Good to Know You’ve Got a Friend!

/ Jodi / 8 Comments

MOJO359 2
Happy Friday!

Today I am sharing a card I designed for the Sketch Challenge #359 at Mojo Monday (MOJO359).

This card was totally inspired by one I saw done by Mojo Monday’s Julee Tillman.

Mojo359SketchHere is the sketch we were challenged to design from.

For my card, I started with some Navy and White SU DSP, embossed a “friendly” sentiment on vellum with gold embossing powder, colored a flower from SU Bloom with Hope with alcohol markers, then fussy cut and embellished with #WinkofStella and glued and stitched it all together for this fun friend card.

MOJO359 closeup

If you have a few moments, enjoy one of my all-time favorite versions of one of my all-time favorite songs 🙂

Friends make the world a better place.

Aint it good to know you’ve got a friend?

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Bloom with Hope – Always and The TOUGH MUDDER!

/ Jodi / 10 Comments
Bloom with Hope Always

StampinUp Bloom with Hope Watercolored in Shades of Blue

Tomorrow is THE BIG DAY!  Jackie and Matt’s Wedding!!

Hopefully she is much too busy to be bothered reading my little ole’ blog post (or she will see her wedding card!)

This card is my #FreebieFriday post for our #WheretheRubberHitstheRoad group, and I couldn’t be more excited for a Friday!

Tomorrow’s celebration will be followed by an overnight with some of our besties, Joyce and Rob, followed by the #ToughMudder Event on Sunday, where Jake and Nick are participating in a team with Nick’s best buddy, Jon and his sister, Kelly.  Go Team McKinney/Randza!

#ToughMudder is a 10-12 mile (18-20 km) obstacle course designed to test all-around strength, stamina, teamwork, and mental grit.  The idea of Tough Mudder is not to win, but to have a story to tell!

Check out this video:


Oh Boy!  Eh?  It sounds like a lot of fun (for us spectators!) and is for a great cause – the Wounded Warrior Project.

Hopefully, I will get some fun photos and have some good stories to tell, but until then, have a great weekend all!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

PS – In perusing some new bloggers and blogs, I came across a fun new challenge site:  Addicted to Stamps Challenge Blog and Laurie’s beautiful entry into the CAS Challenge #109.

CAS means “clean and simple” in the stamping and cardmaking world, so I thought I would give it a try with this card I made last week for Jackie and Matt’s wedding.

Clean and Simple can often be a challenge for me – I tend to want to over-embellish, but I think I kept this one pretty clean and simple 🙂 .