Making an appearance...

Hello peeps!

It has indeed been a very long time since my last post, and I am so happy to say that I have finally been able to pick up my Copic markers and craft supplies again.

As some of you are aware I haven’t been completely absent from this awesome crafty blog world, just simply watching you all from afar J

 

Without getting into details about my health situation, what I will say is that I do believe I have it under control for the time being.

With that being said I am still far from where I want to be, but just so happy to be able to get crafty when opportunity presents itself. I am well aware too that it will undoubtedly be sporadic at best.  

Good enough for this girlie that’s for sure!

 

I have made a few cards over the past month and would like to share a couple of them with you in one post. That way it keeps my sitting to a minimum which is something I still have difficulty with.

 

For the past few months I’ve been following several crafty Facebook fan pages; namely Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Krafty Friends, Passionate Paper Creations, Kit and Clowder and Make It Crafty just to mention a few. I think joining the occasional challenge in this format will be much easier on me as well.

So without further ado here they are…

 

My first card was posted over on the Kraftin’ Kimmie page a couple of days ago for their anything goes challenge.

 

My second card was posted on the Passionate Paper Creations page. Thanks to Rhea Weigand I can also continue to learn new things and challenge myself with the many tutorials that are posted from time to time, not to mention tons of inspiration from fellow followers.

One such tutorial that Rhea posted was the cool “scrubbing bubbles” background technique that I just had to try my hand.

 

I will apologize in advance for not providing links and details about my cards, but I think keeping things simple right now will be a wise idea.

I hope you enjoyed my cards today. My colouring skills are a wee bit rusty, and I will likely be making cards more on the clean and simply side of things from here on in. I'm just so happy to be back on my blog again, even if it won’t be as regular as I used to be.

Until I have more to show you I’ll sign off for now. Thanks for stopping by

J S

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you believe in Unicorns???

Do you believe in Unicorns? I certainly do, and there are many reasons why, one of which has a lot to do with this post!

Seems it took one of these magical mystical creatures to lure me back to my Copic markers again.

Yes, it indeed has been a long time since I coloured let alone posted anything to my blog. Let it suffice to say that my absence from both colouring and my blog has been for good reason, and will likely continue for some time to come unfortunately.

Simply put, I am not well. I suffer with a medical condition that makes sitting and standing for extended periods of time difficult and painful. We all know how creating can capitalize on both of those tasks don’t we? So without going into details and making this post about me rather than my recent creation I will not bore you with details.

What I will say though is that there are several wonderful people I’ve had the great fortune to meet through this crafting community that stay in contact with me. I want them to know, and you know who you are, that I cherish and appreciate every email that you have sent that offer me words of encouragement, and prayers. Each of you hold a very special place in my heart, and your kindness will never be forgotten!

I am posting today because I was given the opportunity to be a guest designer for the latest Through The Craft Room Door Blog challenge.

I was given a considerable length of time to work on my creation in order to participate, so I would like to thank Sandra van Blaricum for extending me the opportunity to do so. Big hugs going out to you my sweet friend!

 

I went for a CAS theme for two reasons, one being my obvious need to be less labour intensive. Secondly because I wanted this beautiful unicorn created by Anne Rodrigue for Kraftin’Kimmie Stamps Shop to be the focal point.

This image is part of the “Three Wishes” Krafty Klubhouse Set. The set includes two other gorgeous stamps, sentiments, coordinating designer paper, cardstock and embellishments. However, on this particular card I did not use any of the included paper, opting instead to use some from my stash such as collections by DWCV and MME.

I originally fell in love with this image when I first saw it on one of my fav Copic artist’s blog; namely PaperBlessingsbyMelanie. 
If my memory serves me correctly unicorns are usually white, but I found it difficult to get the depth in my shading without it looking like a dirty unicorn, so I decided to follow Melanie’s lead and go with a black unicorn as well. Perhaps she too had that issue?

The colours I used were as follows –

Body C00, 01, 03, 05 and Colorless blender for texture

Mane and Tail B91, 93, 95, 97, 99

Horn Y19, 21 E17, 18

A few Stardust stickles and wah-lah!

 Here is a close up ...

 

Now may I suggest to you that you hop over to TTCRD blog and see what all the regular design team girlies have created for your inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, even if life has you running around in circles or has handed you a tough situation to deal with, don’t let things get the better of you. Steal some time away for yourself whenever you can and go to your happy place like I just did.
 Trust me, it is some of the best medicine in the world that no Doctor can prescribe, or do whatever you can at your own pace. I always try to remember; no matter how you feel; get up, dress up, show up and never give up.

 It is my hope to be back here one day soon on a more regular basis, but for now I’ll take what I can get. Please know that I miss sitting on my computer visiting your blogs, but know that I am watching from afar!

 Thanks for stopping by peeps!

JS         

 



The search for the perfect image...

Well hello there crafty peeps. I really must start including friends in my salutation too because I do have some dedicated followers that happen to be friends that aren’t the crafty type. They help keep me motivated as well by simply telling me how much they love seeing and being the recipients of some of my work.

So, a big thank you is going out to all of my wonderful followers for all your words of praise and encouragement; both on and off this lil ole blog of mine. They are truly appreciated.

I hope you are all well and settled into the new year of 2014. As I sit and type this post there just so happens to be another blizzard taking place outside my window. It started last evening and will continue into tomorrow. I don’t know where you live, but here in Southern Ontario this winter has been a non-typical one. I’m sure the vast majority of us living here feel that we are definitely going to be entitled to the best spring/summer that Mother Nature can conjure up!!! Do you hear that Madam???

I’m here to share with you a card that I made for a friend. It’s probably the most difficult one that I’ve ever made. It is a sympathy card; made out of respect for what I perceive to be the most difficult loss in this world; the loss of a child.

I had to search for the perfect image because just anyone wouldn't do. You see, my friend lost her beautiful 5 year old daughter, and I choke on those words each and every time I say or write them.

 

Sweet Tayah lost her brave battle with Neuroblastoma just before Christmas. This unimaginable loss has deeply affected me and I cannot imagine what it is like for her family that are left behind. The only comfort to be taken is the fact that she is no longer suffering.

 I found what I perceived to be the perfect image for my card at A Day For Daisies.

It is called Mama Snuggle and I hope you can understand why I chose it.

 

 

I printed the image onto Neenah cardstock and then colored it with my Copic markers.

Hair – E99 Y23 YR23, 24

Skin – E50, 51 E21, R20 E000, 0000

Flowers – YG61, 63, 67 RV91, 93,95

 

 

Here is a closer look at this gorgeous image...

 

 

 

 

The next difficult task I was faced with was finding words, where no words exist to express how I feel about a loss of this magnitude.

 

 

You can see what I wrote on the front and this is what I wrote on the inside…

 

I truly don’t know how anyone survives this loss; perhaps they never do and are simply forced to tuck it away somewhere deep inside and carry on.

I followed a sketch, but unfortunately I can’t remember where I saw it. I really should write it down because by the time I finish something using it the sketch challenge is usually over, LOL. However, I do like to give credit where credit is due, so sorry about that.

The papers are from my stash and I made the flowers using a Martha Stewart punch. The little extras are Viva Decor pearl pens, stickles and a pearl stick pin.  

Well crafty peeps and friends alike that’s it for today.

I hope you all have a pleasant weekend, no matter the weather. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, and I hope to be back before too long.

 :) S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas card blitz...

Hello there crafty peeps!

 I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I know ours will go down in the history book that’s for sure.

For those that aren’t aware, on Dec 22^nd we here in Southern and Eastern Ontario, Canada experienced the worst ice storm on record for our geographical area!!!

Many of us, including several of my family members were displaced for most of it, as we had power failures everywhere. The devastation is unbelievable to say the least, and some people are still without power to this date. I heard a recent report stating that the City of Toronto lost 20% of it's tree canopy alone, never mind the rest of area!

On the day after the storm, amid a cloudless sky, the sun shined so bright that it made everything and anything caught in the wake of Mother Nature’s wrath sparkle. I thought to myself; “how can there be so much beauty amongst such devastation?” Everything was coated with at least 30 mm of ice.

In case you’re interested, I found some videos made by various people that have been posted on the internet as the storm was upon us and its aftermath; some of them are quite humorous, and oh so Canadian. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=2013+toronto+ice+storm+&qpvt=2013+toronto+ice+storm+&FORM=ASMMVR#

Ok, enough about that…I want to share three Christmas cards that I made; yes you heard me right, I made three cards!

I wasn’t going to make any Copic cards this year because of my poor health, but that all changed when my brother told me that his three children were completely bummed when they rushed to open the Christmas card I’d sent them only to find it was a store bought one.

He said he overheard quite the conversation, and it apparently went something like this; “WHAT THE HECK IS THIS??? This card came from the store! Where is the cool card???

So, needless to say I felt both flattered and bad at the same time, so I decided to make them one each. In my wisdom I also thought that I would change things up this year and put cash inside as their gifts.

I’m not sure if making three individual cards was more work than going out shopping, but either way they certainly had smiles from ear to ear on Christmas Day.

Here they are…

 



 

I used three of the funny little elves from Make It Crafty’s Christmas Elves collection. My goodness they are hilarious and oh so fun to colour.

I coloured the images with my Copic Markers and the pattern papers are all from my stash. For the texture, I used Stardust Stickles and/or a combination of white flock and Stardust stickles. I also used put some colorless blender on a washcloth and applied it to that last two hats in an attempt to create a felt look. I think it turned out well.

 

I finished things off with some bakers twine and a few gems here and there as my embellishments.

I will be entering my first card into Make It Colorful challenge # 4 (Texture - Hard), and the second card in (Red & Green- Easy).

So peeps,I will let you get back to your business, but I have one more thing to add...as we come to the end of yet another year, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for stopping by my blog. I appreciate your comments, and just so you know they keep me motivated and oh so inspired.

I wish you all much love and happiness, but most of all, I wish you good health. All the best!

:)S

 

 

 

 

Guest Designer over at The Outlawz

Hello and happy Thursday crafty peeps!

It feels a little bit like old times writing up a post for the Twisted Thursday Anything Goes challenge over at The Outlawz.

My friend Patricia was so kind to ask if I’d like to be a guest designer for their snowflake theme this week, and I just couldn’t refuse. I miss this wonderful group of talented peeps, and the honor of having my work out there in a special place other than my little ole blog makes me feel so special.

So today, I have for you my one and only Copic marker Christmas card. I’ve not been able to craft very much for the past 3 months due to poor health. Indeed it isn’t my best work, but a Christmas card nonetheless!

I totally forgot to put my snowflake on it, so please forgive me. If you look close enough you'll see that I used some stickles to create the look of falling snow around the image, so this will have to do, lol :)

This adorable digital image is Christmas Lights by Stitchy Bear.

I printed the image on Neenah cardstock and coloured it with my Copic Markers. I tried to make the lights look real by using glossy accents to give them clear dimension.

That’s all I have for you peeps, except to tell you to head on over to the Twisted Thursday Challenge over at the Outlawz so you can see the extremely talented design team and their awesome take on this week’s snowflake theme challenge. Talk about inspiration or what!

Thanks Patricia for the honor of being a guest designer this week, and thanks crafty peeps for stopping by my blog. Hopefully I will have something to post for you before too long.

Joyous holidays start with loving hearts and a happy home. I wish you all a wonderful start to the season’s festivities.  May the blessings of peace, hope and love be your gifts this Christmastime and throughout this coming new year.

JS

 

 

 

 



Oh what a wonderful day...

Well crafty peeps, seems I’ve been MIA for about a month, so I thought I’d better rectify that immediately and show you my newest creation.

But, first I would like to say that my Halloween card or as he is more affectionately known to me as; Franken-Dude won over at Love to Creates past Halloween Challenge. (See that just proves how long I’ve been absent from blog land eh!)  

Needless to say, I was pretty happy about that because I won some Stamp Fairy images which are patiently waiting for me to colour up. I didn’t have any of their images before, and I look forward to using them in the future. I also can add a new badge of honor to my blog.

Today’s card was made with lots and lots of love. I made it for my wonderful husband Rick, on the occasion of his retirement. He just so happens to be an awesome person you know, and the youngest retiree I’ve ever known. Woot! Woot! Freedom 49 Rick

I used Make It Crafty’s Tap Dancers Collection
and I coloured the images with my Copic Markers.

 

Rick worked at General Motors for 30 years, and built everything from vehicles to locomotives during that time.

I had him pictured in my mind dancing out the door on his last day of work similar to this funny fellow.

I finished the card inside...

 

A closer look at this seriously happy guy…

This past weekend has pretty much been a non-stop party, and I can’t begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to starting the next chapter of our lives together. We want to buy a motorhome and start traveling North America for starters.

Well on that note I will leave it there. I’ll be entering happy retired fellow into the following challenges:

 

Cards forMen Challenge #24 – Anything Goes

CMC Challenge #82 – Anything Goes

Through the Craftroom Door – Anything Goes

 

Take care peeps and thanks for stopping by :)S 

 

 

 



All Hallows Eve...

Hello again crafty peeps! Today is All Hallows Eve.

I make two cards each year; one for my brother’s kids and one for my sister Jennie. They all love to receive my cards, so I try to make one for every opportunity that presents itself. There is nothing better in this world, than making something by hand that is truly appreciated.

This past summer my twin niece and nephew mailed me cute letters from summer camp. Actually I received two from my sweet nephew, and the second one asked me if I still made cards.

So Auntie Sandra took that as a hint and mailed him back using one of my stash cards. When I saw him recently, which isn't often, he told me that the other kids thought it was super KEWL!

I’ll tell yeah, it sure makes the heart feel good when a 10 year old tells you he loves your cards.

Anyway, I am showing only one card today because my sister received the Headless Horseman card I made last year (hit the archives in case you forget the ones I made), so I only needed to make one this year.

I bought a collection of Halloween digis from
Make It Crafty, called Mini Monztaboyz.
It included an Eerie Halloween Scene, Dracula, Frankenstein and the Headless Horseman.

The one I didn’t use last year was Frankenstein, so this year I made sure he was. I designed my own little scene for him and I hope you like it…..



I printed the image onto Neenah card stock, and then coloured it with my Copics naturally.

Now, the Make It Crafty Eerie Scene comes with a full moon as you see here, but you have to create all the details of the moon’s surface. So, I decided to search the internet for a real photo of the moon instead.

 I simply printed it out on regular copy paper and then cut it out using a spellbinder circle die cut.

I cut the bats out from the eerie scene and I coloured them and used some glossy accents on top.

Here's a closer look at Frankie...

 

While I was searching for the moon I came across this cool clip art grave stone. Don’t you just love the inscription?

 

The grass was made using my Memory Box die cut, and I coloured it to look like dried up grass.

Whatcha think peeps?

 

Copic colours used:

Jacket – E50, 51, 53, 55 N3

Pants – E30, 31, 34, 37, 39 N5

Shirt – N0, 01, 02

Hair – N02, 04, 05, 07, 10

Face – YG000, 00, 03, 63, 67

Grass – E31, 34, 37, 39 N5


I will be entering my card into the following challenges:

Love to Create – Halloween #28

Stampin for the Weekend – Something Spooky

The Outlawz Challenges – CAS Halloween

 

There you have it! So, until we meet again, please take care and thanks for stopping by :)S

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a carrot while you're at it...

Hello Crafty Peeps!!! Indeed, it has been a while since I last posted.
 

Unfortunately, I am still having health issues that prevent me from colouring on a regular basis, and on top of that two computers in our house decided to bite the dust.

 

At first it was our old desk top, which really didn’t bother me because I rarely used it. But, when my laptop decided to tag along with it a week later, well needless to say I was a wee bit peeved! 

 

We have since replaced both computers with one really good one, and I have since inherited my husband’s not so old laptop. He needed wanted an exceptionally good one because he has his own travel blog, and is in the process of learning how to use the professional Photoshop editing program. So naturally he wanted one with all the bells and whistles!

Now moving on to what's really important...my card.

Recently I designed a birthday card for my Father on the occasion of his 81^st birthday. I am so blessed to have both my parents.

 

We also recently celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada, and a few of my family members managed to get together and combined both occasions.

Given that my Father was born in October, and is still an avid gardener to this day, I decided to use one of my gorgeous Lili Of The Valley images called “Vegetable Patch”.

 

I coloured the image with my Copics Markers of course, but there is to many colours to list, sorry. Designer papers are from MME and the embellies are simply gems and buttons. How do you like my little hay bundle that I created using raffia, LOL?

 

 

I chose “Vegetable Patch” because I envisioned this little fella likely resembled my Father when he was a young boy helping his grandparents on their vegetable farm. Funny enough an opportunity presented itself during our weekend together that pretty much fast forwards this image by several decades.

Here is my Father at 81, doing exactly what he loves to do, carrots and all...gotta love him!

 

 

God Bless him!

 

 

 

For some fun, I will be entering my card into the following challenges:

Outlawz Alcohol Markers Challenge – Colour Theme

Through The Classroom Door – Anything Goes

 

Ok, I’ve taken enough of your time. I hope you enjoyed my card and the little piece of my life as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by JS

 

 

 

 

Happy 50th or is it Forever 49...

 

Hello my lovely crafty friends! Can you believe it is September!

I’ve been trying to figure out why the summer months fly by so fast compared to the winter months, and I came to the conclusion that in the summer our lives are just so darn scheduled.

You know; this weekend we have this and next weekend we have that etc. etc.  The winter months don't seem to have so many events, indoor or out, with the exception of the holiday season of course.

Heck, my husband and I are already in the initial planning stages of our winter vay-k for heaven’s sake!!! Can't tell I'm Canadian eh? (That eh was on purpose)

Today I would like to share with you a card that I made for one of my favourite girlie friends. It just so happens that she recently joined the “Fifty Something Club”.

When you make Copic cards like these; I’ve been told that many hope to receive one at some point or another.

We all know how much work goes into these cards, so I save them for special birthdays and occasions. Otherwise, I would be at my craft table forever because I have lots and lots of special people in my life; for which I am very grateful by the way J

(Yes, I have missed some of you, but have no fear, I will eventually make one for you too!!!)

I have fallen in love with Bugaboo’s Ruby and bought another digi to add to my collection. I thought this particular image perfect for any celebratory occasion.

Therefore, Ruby and I would like to toast my girlie friend Kim on the occasion of her 50^TH Birthday, or how she sees it,

FOREVER 49!!

We had the privilege of attending Kim’s big bash pool party, and let me say, it was one heck of a milestone hoopla that’s for sure.

 

I printed Ruby on Neenah cardstock and coloured her with my Copic markers. I pretty much kept it relatively clean and simple.

Colours used:

Hair – E31, 34, 37, 49, 50, 59

Skin – E000, 00, 11, RV42

Shirt – G20, 21, 24,

Skirt – B32, 34, 37, 39 N5, 7 BV29

Shoes – N1, 3, 5, 7

Glasses – R22, 24, 29 N3, 5, 7

 

Stickles/Glossy Accents/Gems

 

I used a Cuddlebug mini Star embossing folder and then cut them out.

 

Sentiment compliments of Ginger’s House of course!

As you know, I’ve been away for a large chunk of the summer, which for so many reasons I totally needed to do. I am pretty sure I will be around much more, and as life returns to a normal pace I hope to get back to some colouring and creating.

I should also be in the position to visit your blogs more often; please know though I have been following your amazing works, but I just was not always in the position to comment. Something I intend on rectifying immediately!

I will be entering my card in the following challenge(s) -

Simon Says...Anything Goes

Eclectic Ellapu - It's sentimental

The Pink Elephant Challenge - Numbers

 

Ok, that's it from me. Thanks for stopping by :)S