stazon

Nothing is Ordinary

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

celebrate today and everyday watercolor leaf card nothing is ordinary

Celebrate Today….  and EVERYday!
Happy Friday my LifeinBetween Friends!

Last night, Hubby and I went to John’s Bar for our usual Thursday night date.  We had a couple drinks and dinner and were home in time to watch the Steelers football game.  After playing a little fetch with Mr. Charlie outside, I realized I didn’t have a post for today.  Of course I was looking forward to today being Friday (though this week sure did fly!), and I wondered what I wanted to say for a Happy Friday message…

While in the office for some meetings this morning, I noticed some beautiful new watercolor prints that were hanging on the wall that were added during a recent remodel, and I fell in love with them.  They were extremely simple, yet so mesmerizing and delicate and impactful.

I thought to myself, “I could do that!”

Well – it wasn’t as easy as I thought…..

As many of my fellow watercolor artist friends out there know, restraint is key, yet often oh-so-hard to achieve – especially for us beginners.

But I literally only spent about 10 minutes start to finish on this card, and I kinda like how it turned out.  I free formed the leaf with watercolor and brush, splattered a few fall-colored splashes, and then stamped the sentiment on top.

Nothing is ordinary.

Every leaf…
every watercolor painting…
every day….
every person….
has something special about it.
Embrace it, friends.
Cherish the moments!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Paper Smooches Pretty Phrases Stamp & Stazon Ink
M Graham Watercolors in Sap Green, Quinacridone Red, Nickel Quinacridone Gold
Arches 140lb Coldpress Watercolor Paper
StampinUp Very Vanilla Cardstock

It’s a “Back to” Kinda Day…

/ Jodi / 24 Comments

PP226 Birthday Butterfly Basics

I gotta say, it was a great “back to” kinda day yesterday …
Back to work…
Back to the gym…
Back to the craft room in the evening… and back to The Paper Players Challenge!!
Felt so good!

I need a birthday card for a special friend, so I was excited to use the Stampin Up Butterfly Basics Stamp Set and Framelit to make it.

Butterflies remind me of renewal and hope and change and that speaks January birthday to me and also this special lady.

The Paper Players first challenge of the new year #226 is “Everything Old is New Again – create a project using a recycle or re-purposed item.  This challenge is right up my alley and just the right challenge to get me back in the stampin’ groove!

PP226

For my card, the recycled/re-purposed items are craft paper packing material from my endless Amazon Prime Christmas gift shopping packages and a touch of  burlap ribbon from my dear daughter-in-law, Colleen’s wedding shower (we both love burlap!)  🙂

PP226 Birthday Butterfly Basics

I loved creating a rustic, but fresh and renewed look with the recycled/re-purposed materials and a bright butterfly.  And I adore the ferns that are in this stamp set and how great they work for the stamping-off technique to get a variety of shades.

PP226 Birthday Butterfly Basics Inside
I only used three colors of ink for this card – SU Mossy Meadow for the ferns, Stazon Black for the sentiments and a bit of Ranger Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink for the vintagy edges.

Hope you are getting “back to” your groove after the holidays and seeking cherished moments at lifeinbetween and always.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

P.S.  For my stamping friends, if you haven’t seen Deb Valder’s Youtube technique tutorial on dryer sheets for thinlits, I urge you to check it out.  Possibly life-changing for these challenging die cuts! 🙂