PAPER PLAYTIME CHALLENGE #1

Good morning all my bloggy friends!  Today is the FIRST CHALLENGE over at Paper Playtime, and guess who's QUEEN for the week?  ME!  Yeah!

The theme for Challenge #1 is GROOVY.  Here is what I came up with:

Card base Aqua from Value Pack pre-scored for easy folding!

Ribbon from Joann's

Yellow background paper cut @ 5 1/8" x 4"

Pink background paper cut @ 1 1/2" x 4

Flower Tag from GIVE A HOOT page 62 cut @ 2 1/4"

Sentiment from "The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word"

Sentiment says:

For hearing my thoughts, understanding

my dreams, and being my best friend...

For filling my heart with joy and loving

me without end... I do love you.

I hope you'll hop over and play along with us this week!  Let's get GROOVY!  :)  Janis

WINNER OF PDE CHALLENGE #3

Thank you to everyone who played and submitted a project for PDEC##3!!

All of your projects were really cool!  I have a bunch of talented bloggy friends!!

WINNER of PDE Challenge #3 - VACATION.....

I wrote down everyone's name on a piece of paper and had my hubby, Tom, draw the winner which is....

are you ready?

Winner of the Perfect Pages TRAVEL pack.....

.....is....

Stephenie at SS Crafter!

Yeah, Stephenie! Congratulations!

Please send me your address at 66cricket@gmail.com so I can get your prize out to you!

Here is Stephenie's creation for this challenge - awesome!

All future challenges will be posted on my new blog

Paper Playtime.

Today is the beginning of Challenge #1!

Hop over and play along!! 

New challenges and New Paper Queens offering inspiration every Monday.

Have a safe and fun holiday - tell a soldier thank you!

:)  Hugs, Janis

PDE CHALLENGE #3 - VACATION!

Thank you to all who participated in last week's Challenge #2 - BOOKMARKS!  Everyone's bookmarks were all so different and all wonderful!  This week we start a new Challenge!  Pause Dream Enjoy's Challenge #3 - VACATION! 

Your Challenge:  Make a card, layout, or other craft item using the theme VACATION.

And then:  Link your project below by Sunday, May 30th at 11:59 p.m.
And GREAT NEWS!  We have a sursie for this week's winner!!  I won't be able to do prizes for every Challenge, but this week there is a GREAT prize!  Are you ready for it?
It's a TRAVEL PERFECT PAGES PACK!
(I'm sorry, but only available to ship to US residents only.)

Do you need some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing?  How about Stephanie's Card Creation from 1CreativeMess?  Isn't this so true?!

They've packed EVERYTHING for their vacation!  I love it!!  Don't forget to visit all the blogs that submit projects and leave some comment love and look around their site for other fun things they've been up to.  

Hugs and Smiles, 

Janis

WHY WAIT TO TELL SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEM?

Remember that "Dad, you are my Hero" card I made this week?

I was going to mail it to my Daddy for Father's Day, but I decided why wait?

Why should any of us wait to tell someone we love them?

We aren't promised tomorrow.  We're not even promised the rest of today.

Yes, I really kissed the back of the envelope.

Liking my lipstick color?  LOL

I put packing tape on top of the "kiss" so the lipstick wouldn't fade or smear while traveling from Alaska to South Carolina.

Hope everyone is having a fun weekend.

Tell a HERO thank you!

Be safe and enjoy your family!

:)  Hugs, Janis

FREEDOM!

Good afternoon all my bloggy friends!

Mary, over at CardzTV has started a new Weekly Series, called Super Simple.

Here is my card I made after watching her video.  Go check it out by clicking here.

A2 Card base Navy Blue from Value pack pre-scored for easy folding!

Red & Blue brads from Recollections

Silver Rhinestone Star from Joann's

All papers from DCWV Ultimate Year (using up those scraps, ladies!)

Red sentiment mat cut @ 2" x 5 1/4"

White sentiment mat cut @ 1 3/4" x 5"

FREEDOM cut @ 1 1/4" from Cricut Cart INDEPENDENCE DAY

Stars cut from Cricut Cart Plantin SchoolBook

All stars cut on Roly Poly feature @ 1 3/4"

For Shadow (since I couldn't use the Shadow feature and the Roly Poly feature at the same time), I cut the stars again at 2" and 2 1/4"

Have a safe and fun weekend!  Remember all our fallen Heroes provided us with this FREEDOM!

DAD, YOU'RE MY HERO!

This is my submission for Robyn's challenge.  Be sure and scroll down for other cards and videos I've made today.

Card base is Kraft Cardstock cut to open from bottom. (Regular A2 size card cut from 8 1/2" x 11" paper longways.

Cricut Cartridge:  INDEPENDENCE DAY
Medal cut at 3 1/2"
Papers from DCWV The Ultimate Year stack
Star Rhinestones from Joann's
Ribbon from Michael's
Sentiment printed from computer
Blue background paper cut @ 5 1/4" x 4"
Red mat cut @ 2 1/2" x 4"
Kraft mat cut @ 2" x 3 3/4"
Sentiment Kraft mat cut @ 2 3/4" x 1"
Sentiment Cream mat cut just a smidgen smaller

Hugs!  Janis  :)

VIDEO OF MEMORIAL DAY CARD

Here is a short video for the Memorial Day Card in the post below.  Enjoy!

MEMORIAL DAY CARD

I want to thank, Carol over at Carol's Cards, for showing this 3-D paper frame on a project she posted this week. It inspired me to look up a tutorial and make one myself! I found the tutorial over at SplitCoast Stampers here.

Card base cream from Value pack pre-scored for easy folding!
All pattern papers from DCWV Ultimate Year Stack
(I didn't have double sided paper, so I just cut 2 squares and glued them back to back for the frame.)
All solid papers from Value Pack 4"x4" stack
Rhinestones from Joann's
Red background paper cut @ 5 1/4" x 4"
Blue background paper cut @ 5" x 3 3/4"
USA Hat cut from Cricut Cartridge:  INDEPENDENCE DAY

Enjoy your weekend and be safe!!
:) Janis

THANK YOU!

I'll be back in a little while with a new creation, but until then,

take a moment to tell someone who has served,

thank you,

to tell someone who is serving now,

thank you,

to tell someone who has a loved one serving now,

thank you.

Take a moment today and visit 

OPERATION WRITE HOME.

Want to support our troops, but don't know how?

OWH is an excellent way to get your creative fix in while also supporting our troops.

See you in a bit,

Janis

WHAT'S UP, SWEET THANG?

Hahahahaha

I'm in a silly mood.  :)

Card base Bright Green from Value Pack pre-scored for easy folding!

Yellow Gingham background paper cut @ 5 1/4" x 4" (DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack)

Stars background paper cut @ 5" x 3 3/4" (DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack)

All solid color papers from Recollections

Cricut Cartridge:  PAPER DOLL DRESS UP

page 29 FACE only cut @ 10"

page 64 HAIR cut @ 10"

GOOGLIE EYES!

Chalked around hair, face, and mouth

Cricut Cartridge:  GIVE A HOOT

page 70 BORDER (used for glasses and nose) cut @ 1"

(I cut this border for another theme I was working on and just thought how much they looked liked glasses and a nose.  Yes, I laughed out loud at myself.  hahaha)

Sentiment printed from computer, chalked with green chalkd, and edged with Turquoise chalk ink

Blue star brad from Recollections (after punching hole with my Crop A Dile)

I still giggle looking at this card.  It's been a silly day.  

:)  Janis

SPECIAL DELIVERY

This is my submission for Flutterby Wednesday's Challenge #111 - Anything goes as long as there is a butterfly, angel or fairy on the card.  Again, I used the Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge.  I'm so loving this cart!

Card base Lavender from Value Pack pre-scored for easy folding!

Ribbon from Michael's or Joann's - can't remember which it's so old. :)

Purple background mat cut @ 5 1/4" x 4" (DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack)

Blue / White background paper cut @ 5" x 3 3/4" (DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack)

All Solid papers from Value Pack (4"x4" stack)

Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge

Mailbox page 67 cut @ 2" (I just cut a post to go with it since there's not one on this cart)

Butterfly page 69 cut @ 2"

Short grass page 45 cut @ 1"

Tall grass page 44 cut @ 3" and 2 1/2"

This was fun!  :)  Janis

Don't forget to hop over to my new challenge blog, Paper Playtime.  Challenges will be posted every Monday starting next Monday, May 31st!  Come play along!

SO DEAR

I love the CREATE A CRITTER cartridge!!

Brown card base from Value Pack pre-scored for easy folding!

Red gingham background paper cut @ 5 1/4" x 4" (from DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack)

Tan background paper cut @ 5" x 3 3/4" (from DCWV Ultimate Year Stack)

All cuts from page 69 of CREATE A CRITTER

Deer cut @ 3 1/2"

"So Dear" cut @ 1 1/2" (layered offset for slight shadow)

Tulips cut @ 2" and 1 1/2" (layered on top of each other with foam squares)

Ribbon from Joann's

All solid papers from Value Pack (4"x4" pack - love these!)

I'm having so much fun!

If you haven't submitted your VACATION card, layout, or other project, please see the post at the top of this page and play along!  All future challenges will be posted to my other blog Paper Playtime!

I'm NOT putting together a Design Team for this blog.

Instead I'm just asking volunteers to sign up to be the PAPER QUEEN for any week that's available to provide a project based on the theme for inspiration.  Of course, you can always sign up for more than one week.  I'm scheduling QUEENs through the end of the year.  If you have a week you'd like to be featured, please email me at 66cricket@gmail.com.  I will give you that theme as soon as you sign up so you'll have plenty of time to work on your project.

THANKS!!!!

:)  Janis

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

Here is my submission for Cricut Cardz Challenge #26 - using brads or eyelets.  There is one little brad on my card. It's the pink flower in the grass.  :)  The sentiment says "The Bear Necessities".  Pink Heart rhinestone on top of beehive.  The beehive is chalked with some brown to help it stand out a little.
Card base green from Value pack pre-scored for easy folding!
Background blue paper from DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack cut @ 5 1/4" x 4"
Paper strip from DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack cut @ 5 1/4" x 1 1/2"
Sentiment from "The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Word"
Googlie eyes!
CREATE A CRITTER
Limb page 25 cut @ 1 1/2"
Beehive page 68 cut @ 2 3/4"
Grass page 45 cut @ 1 1/4"
Bears page 27 cut @ 2" and 1 1/2"
Love it!  :)  Janis

NEW CHALLENGE BLOG STARTED TODAY! PAPER PLAYTIME!!

Hello all my bloggy friends!  Today I decided to start a NEW blog just for CHALLENGES.  The current PDE Challenge #3 - VACATION blog will stay open here until Sunday 11:59 PM Alaska Time (hope you all participate!), but in the future all challenges will be posted under the PAPER PLAYTIME Challenge Blog.  I encourage you to visit the new blog, Follow, Comment, and play along often!  If you are interested in being a PAPER QUEEN featuring your work for a given challenge week, please let me know!  It's a great way to spotlight all my bloggy friends and have traffic directed to your own blog.  I'm excited!  Hop on over and hit the FOLLOW button.  :)  Janis

PDE CHALLENGE #3 - VACATION!

Here is my submission for PauseDreamEnjoy's Challenge #3 - VACATION!

Please click the link above to enter your own creation for this theme.  :)

Card Base Cream from Value Pack

Ribbon from Michael's

Stampin' Up Chalk used on phrase and island

Background paper cut @ 5 1/4" x 4" 

Fiskar's Corner Rounder (Medium)

Other papers from Recollections

Cricut Cartridge:  LIFE IS A BEACH

Island cut from page 41 @ 3 1/2" with TITLE PHRASE Feature

All the papers used were from SCRAPS!  Yeah!

I had a polka dot binki and men's swimming trunks cut too, but decided it was just fine the way it was.  I guess I'll use those cuts on something else.  :)

Can't wait to see what you create for this theme!

:)  Janis

GET WHALE SOON

Very simple card made to send to Operation Write Home and for the Sentimental Sundays' Challenge #4 - Get Well.  

Card base is bright Yellow from Value Pack.

Dark pink background from DCWV Ultimate Year Stack.

Dotted background from scraps.

Whale paper from Debbie Mumm and Recollections.

Opal Glitter Glue used for Whale water spout.

Googlie eyes!

Ribbon from Michael's.

Black photo mounting corners from stash.

Cricut Cartridge:  CREATE A CRITTER

Whale page 41 cut @ 2 3/4" and with SHADOW feature.

Custom envelope made with Debbie Mumm paper the my Martha Stewart Scoring Board!

Scroll down for LOVE Pedestal Card made and posted earlier today.

Toodles,

Janis

OWH - LOVE Pedestal Card

Here is a card I made with my new PERFECT PAGES pack - LOVE!  Yes, I did use some of my scraps too, so that is always a good thing.  The motivation for this card came from Operation Write Home's current card needs.  One of the shippers (Kris) is in need of cards with a theme Love, Miss You, Birthday, and Thank You, so I chose to work on a LOVE card first.  Also, just saw this on Facebook NewsFeed for Operation Write Home: "Hello, if we may request, we need thank you cards, thinking of you, miss you, hello, and happy birthday cards. I picked up a card at a dental clinic and they are gorgeous. We will be here until Feb 11, so we can use them all!" -CPT S.R., Iraq, requesting cards. 

I also wanted to make a 3D project for the current challenge over at Just Us Girls Challenge #34. So this is also my submission for that challenge.  Come play along with Just Us Girls!  It's FUN!!

Here is what the Perfect Pages - LOVE kit looks like:

I used a sentiment I found in my new book, THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PERFECT WORD.

The sentiment on this card says,

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale."

Isn't that awesome?!  I love it!  There are so many great sentiments in this book!

I have a link above for the book at Amazon, but I got mine at Joann's with a coupon.

Here are the card details:

Card base baby pink from Recollections cut @ 4 1/4" x 11" 

and scored @ 2 3/4" and again @ 5 1/2"

The card front is cut @ 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and adhered below the scoreline to the card base.

Background diamond paper cut @ 4" x 5"

Brown ribbon from Michael's

Sentiment printed on computer and matted to fit size of print out.

(Card will stay upright when opened because inside mats are adhered with foam tape.)

Inside card pattern mat cut @ 3 1/8" x 4"

Inside card pink mat cut @ 2 3/4" x 3 5/8"

Inside white mat cut @ 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Brown corner pieces are stickers from kit.

Cricut Cartridge:  INDIE ART

Pink Heart cut @ 3"

Brown Heart cut using SHADOW feature @ 2 3/4"

Red Heart cut @ 2 3/4"

I learned how to make the Pedestal Card by watching Mary's Instructional YouTube.  Click here to see it.

I posted PauseDreamEnjoy's Challenge #3 - VACATION today!  Challenge ends Sunday, May 30th at Midnight Alaska Time.  I hope you will play along!  Click here to go to that post.  

Toodles!  Janis

PDE CHALLENGE #2 - BOOKMARKS!

PAUSE DREAM ENJOY'S CHALLENGE #2

BOOKMARKS!

Need some inspiration?

Here is Dizzy Lizzy's creation:

Your Challenge:  Create A Bookmark with whatever medium strikes your fancy.

Post and link your project below.

PDEC #2 ENDS Sunday, May 23 @ 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time.

Please link back to this post on your blog.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!!!!

:)  Janis

Happy Sunday to You!

Have you gotten your bookmark made and uploaded yet for PDE's Challenge #2?  You still have time!  Deadline is not until 11:59 tonight Alaska Time.  Don't forget to take a look at all the fantastic entries so far.  Visit these gals and give 'em some comment love.  :)

We went downtown today to the Art & Crafts Festival.  I loved walking through all the booths and looking at all the goodies!  My hubby, Tom, enjoyed his Reindeer Dog, & Bonnie enjoyed her mini burgers.  I am enjoying my new glass pinky ring.  It's so cool looking!

I have been trying to catch up with everyone's blog today.  Oh my gosh, I've got some talented bloggy friends!

Check out this cool STATIONARY BOX made by Stephanie over at S S Crafter!  I've got to try to make one of these!  Doesn't it look too fun!?

And look at this pull card made by Raechel over at Rachel's Cards.  I've already started on this one.  So cute and EASY!

Hop over to their blogs and check out all the other WOWing projects they've done.  Blogging is so inspiraitonal!

Hugs & Smiles,

Janis

WISH believe CREATE love PLAY

This is my submission for

Paper Cutz Challenge #43 -

to use buttons plus ribbon, lace or hemp.

WALK IN MY GARDEN

Flower Pots BORDER Feature cut @ 2"

Posy Flowers page 84 cut at various sizes

GIVE A HOOT

Grass page 65 cut @ 2" and 2 pieces added together lengthwise and trimmed

Clear Stamp by Studio G @ Michael's says:

WISH    BELIEVE    CREATE    LOVE    PLAY

Paper from DCWV Ultimate Year, Value Pack, DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack, & ColorBok Perfect Pages TRAVEL Pack

Buttons & Hemp from Joann's

ENVELOPE MADE WITH MARTHA STEWART SCORING BOARD SIZE #10

Card base KRAFT Cardstock

Come Play Along!

:)  Janis

HAPPY EVERYTHING

I bet you thought I wasn't going to post anything today, didn't you?  We had some family matters to take care of today, so I'm just now getting out my paper to play.

We are moving middle of next month, and I'm on a mission to use up my scraps by then. (Hey, it's a goal.  Goals are not set to be shattered.  They're set to motivate toward action.  In other words, I like playing with my new paper too, so everything I do won't be ALL scraps.  LOL)

Here are the scraps I pulled out for this project:

And here's the card I made:

But let's not stop there.  After all, I have this new Martha Stewart Scoring Board my WONDERFUL hubby just bought me.  Let's make an envelope to match this card!

But let's not make a regular ole envelope.  Let's make one that opens on the end for the card to pull out of:

How much fun are we having?!  LOTS!  

I've been using TACKY GLUE to seal my envelopes.  I don't have one of those fancy ATG tape guns, but the Tacky Glue works GREAT for this! 

I hope everyone had a FABULOUS Friday and has a FUN weekend planned!!

See you tomorrow!!!!

Smiles,  Janis

P.S.  You still have time to enter a BOOKMARK for PDE Challenge #2 which ends Sunday night!  Jump right in!

FLY ME TO THE MOON.... Or Alaska

Here is a card I made today for our daughter, Kati, who will be flying here to Alaska to visit us next month.  She's never flown before so we are all very excited and counting down the days.

Video below.

Enjoy!

:)  Janis

Operation Write Home & Joann's Fun!

Our son is currently on his 2nd Tour in Iraq.

Here are some pictures I want to share with you.

As a mother of a soldier and as an avid crafter,

it was only natural I get involved in:

Have you heard of OPERATION WRITE HOME yet?

If you are not yet involved with this Non-Profit Organization, please consider getting involved and supporting our troops in this way.

Since we moved to Alaska last October, I have been storing the cards I make.  Well, except for the ones I mail out to my kids, friends, and family.  :)

I was very happy today to get my box out and pack them up.

My box was starting to get a little too tightly packed, so it was time for them to be shipped.

There are 2 types of cards you can

send for Operation Write Home.

1)  Blank hand-made notecards for soldiers to use to write home in.

2) Cards with a short message addressed to ANY HERO.  

These cards are distributed to soldiers who either 

don't get any mail,

 don't get much mail, 

or who's commanding officer knows he's going through a tough time 

and could use a little encouragement from home.

The really cool thing about this is it doesn't matter about bumpy cards with hemp, ribbon, googlie eyes, and buttons because soldiers overseas get to mail home for FREE so it doesn't cost them extra postage to mail a bumpy card like it would cost us

 here at home to mail.

The main rule is  ABSOLUTELY NO GLITTER!  Glitter sheds, gets on soldiers, and will shimmer and shine to give away their position.

So, what are you waiting for? Get involved.  It feels good.  It really does.

__________________________________

IN OTHER NEWS:

Guess where I went today?

JOANN's!!!!

They had these "Colorbok Perfect Pages" packs on clearance for $1.98 a pack!

WOW!

They also had eyelets and brads on clearance for 89 cents!

There was so much there, but I was a good girl and only spent $18.

Aren't you proud of me?!

Have you entered our PDE Challenge #2 yet?

Make a BOOKMARK and add your link to the post at the top of this page.

We can't wait to see what you create!!

BY THE WAY, I LOVE ALL THE COMMENTS YOU LADIES LEAVE ME ON MY POSTS.  I TRY TO RESPOND TO YOU IN THE COMMENT SECTION.  THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO GET NOTIFIED IF I'VE RESPONDED TO YOUR COMMENT OR ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION THROUGH THE COMMENT SECTIONS ON POSTS:

1) HIT THE SUBSCRIBE WHEN LEAVING A COMMENT AND YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ALL FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS.

2)  SCROLL DOWN MY PAGE ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM AND ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN ARE 2 OPTIONS -  SUBSCRIBE TO POSTS AND SUBSCRIBE TO ALL COMMENTS.

Toodles,

Janis