Happy New Year!

It's a little more than an hour until 2011 for me. Happy New Year to all my blogging friends! I started this blog a little less than a year ago and look where I am now. Thank you all so much!

There's a new collab available for free with a $10 purchase at Stitchy Bear Stamps - including digi papers from your's truly. I've been working on some new papers and stamps and have uploaded them in the shop.

Some other news from around blog land:

Gin has a new challenge - Creative Clean and Simple Challenges.

Gypsy Angel has blog candy to celebrate her DT position.

Zoe has blogoversary candy.

Jacque has sweet stuff - she is so generous!

Happy Crafting 2011!

Jennifer

More thank you's

A wonderful thing about having a loving family is that your daughter gets showered with presents at the holidays. This means lots of thank you cards. I didn't make my own cards last year, so I didn't realize that I'd need to be stocking up on a thank you cards. So I've been making thank you's like mad this week. I have two to share with you today.

Anne of Green Gables is my FAVORITE book. When I saw this image "Prince Edward Island" by Mo Manning, I fell in love. I'm still watching lots of Suzanne Dean copic videos on YouTube and have been trying to put some of the coloring into practice. I used Basic Gray papers and Prima flowers.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Meredith Scraps - coloring challenge

2. Phindy's Place #36 - thank you cards

3. Crafty Calendar #15 - sketch

4. Digital Tuesday #91 - anything goes

My thank you features Tilda. I was trying a new coloring technique following Suzanne Dean's instructions for coloring with Copics like distress inks. I didn't have all the colors I needed, but I'm still really happy with the way it turned out. The paper is Basic Grey. I added Stickles and glitter glue around the image and on her crown and slip.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenge:

Papertake Weekly - Be Thankful

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Dots Paper Pack - New Release

I have a new digi paper pack to share today. I call it Dots - it's all sorts of circles in bright colors. It made me happy to make it and I've had fun making cards using it too!

The first card features Cowgirl Anya from The Greeting Farm. I colored her with Copics. I embossed a piece of turquoise cardstock using my new Big Shot and the rest of the papers are from the Dots Paper Pack. I added a sticker sentiment to a freebie chipboard and a silver bow that I got on sale at Michael's. I followed the Saturday Sketch at Club Anya, where I won last week! I'd also like to enter this card at Winter Wonderland - Thank you.

My next card follows the sketch at Cute Card Thursday #144 with Ellie Loves to Bake from Your Next Stamp. The image is colored with Copics and I added a handwritten sentiment. The current Your Next Stamp Challenge #32 is let's party. I hope this qualifies. I'd also like to enter this card in Anything Goes Challenge #30 - letter C(ooking) and Aud Sentiments #18 - anything goes.

For my last card, I have another birthday card.

For this card, I used party bunny my contribution to the December Stitchy Bear Stamps Collaboration. You can still get this collab as a freebie with a $10 purchase for the next few days. I colored this image with the new Prisma Pencils that my sister got me for Christmas. I added flowers that I die cut and a sentiment I'd printed out. I used the sketch at Create 4 fun to make this card. I'd also like to enter this card in Digital Tuesday #90 - lets celebrate.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Not Christmas!

I hope everyone has had a nice day after Christmas. I went shopping with my sister. DH got me a Big Shot for Christmas, but no dies or embossing folders to go with it! So, I headed out to Michael's to get a few to try it out.

I think this my first non-Christmas card in a while. I chose a Magnolia stamp. I've been wanting to practice coloring with my Copics. I watched several YouTube videos by Suzanne Dean as I was making this card.

I used both of the new things I bought for my Big Shot - a flower die and the tropical paisley embossing folder. I embossed orange cardstock and then took gold glitter chalk and rubbed it over the raised surfaces. I added gold glitter to outline many portions of the card.

The Bazzill chipboard was a free gift with a recent purchase at the Outlaw Women's Scrapbook Emporium.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Friday Sketchers #134 - sketch - they're having a great blog hop as well

2. Cupcake Inspirations #91 - I was inspired by the peachy orange color and the gold trim

3. Totally Tilda #12 - easel card with Tilda

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas all! I hope you have had a pleasant holiday so far. We had company last night for Christmas Eve and a fun family Christmas morning. We're about to head out for more celebrations at the in-laws.

I wanted to say thank you to Club Anya - my card won last week's Saturday Sketch - and Creative Cowgirls where I won the blog hop candy earlier this week.

I heard about Debby's challenge to post about your five favorite Christmas cards. I picked my five favorite mainly based on the way they made me feel.

I love the way the coloring turned out on Ian. I won the I {heart} Sweaters set from The Greeting Farm and they're so cute!I love the papers I used on this project and Tickled Pink stamps make me happy.
I won this Cherrie image from Tickled Pink. I love the sparkles and the candy stickers.
I love the red and white on this card. I had fun with all the little images.
I love the way the coloring turned out and it's special to me because it's a present for my sister.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Eve of Christmas Eve

I woke up from a nap this afternoon with this crafting idea in my head. I took snowflake fabric from my stash and an old butter container and made this basket. I used The Greeting Farm's I {heart} Sweaters for the tag. I colored Anya with Copics. I'm really pleased with the way the brown hair turned out - I haven't really colored that before. The paper is DCWV and I added a snowflake brad.

I used Ian to create a matching Christmas card. The paper is also from DCWV.

I'd like to enter these projects in the following challenges:

1. The Greeting Farm - Hostess with

the Mostest

2. Club Anya - Mystery Monday

3. Stampin' with the Dragon #17 - favorite winter color - I think I'm going through a blue period : )

4. Sarah Hurley #23 - Last Minute Christmas cheer

5. 7 Kids College Fund #11 - anything goes

Merry Eve of Christmas Eve!

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

And even more...

I'm still working on cards to hold gift cards. Each of my projects today has a pocket on the inside.

For my first card I used freebies (stamps and papers) from the special Christmas Cardmaking and Papercraft. The card is for my brother and he has a bird. I thought these cute little guys would be perfect. I colored them with Copics and added Stickles to their hats.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Crafts 4 Eternity #64 - pea soup

2. Papertake Weekly - Anything goes

For my second card, I used

Santa and his Reindeer by The Stamping Boutique. Tracey's having a great sale on digital images right now, too! I colored the image with Copics and added LOTS of Stickles. I really wanted this card to shine. The papers are DCWV. I distressed the edges a little. I'm still working on that technique.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Simon Says - Anything Goes

2. Crafts and Me #20 - anything goes

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Still More Christmas

Still more Christmas for me. I've been making lots of presents - perfect for The Latte Lounge Anything but a Card Challenge! The great thing is Rhonda is sponsoring an Anything Goes challenge, so you can double your entries!

We get formal pictures of Peanut done for her birthday every year. This year, she really wanted to hold the photographer's umbrel

la. I decided to gussy up the frame a little to enhance the photo. I used Tiny Tia from Some Odd Girl. I colored her to look like Peanut - she even picked the color for her dress and shoes! I added rose stickers and her name written in pink glitter (I've blurred this part out).

I'd like to enter the frame in

1. Some Odd Girl My Tiny Contest

2. Crafty Creations Challenge #98 - photo inspiration I think the soft pink and white in the photo inspiration is reflected in the photo of Peanut.

3. By the Cute and Girly - children

I also worked on a project for my mother-in-law. I've been loving these sweater printed notepads that I found in the Michael's dollar bin. For this notepad, I got the matching cards. I made a paper folder to mount them both in. For the notecards, I just cut the plastic that they came in in 1/2 and taped it to the folder. This made a great holder for the cards.

I decided to go Greeting Farm on this project. I have a belated THANK YOU - I won I {heart} sweaters from The Greeting Farm during a blog hop. Here's the whole project, showing the front, inside, and back.

For the front, I colored the image with Copics and followed the sketch from Club Anya. I used DCWV paper and embellishments from my stash.

For the back, I went Anya meets Some Odd Girl, with this month's Odd Girl Freebie. I used the sketch from Anyone for Anya and more DCWV papers. The sentiment is part of I {heart} Sweaters.

I'd like to enter this project in the following challenges (in addition to the two sketches listed above):

1. Some Odd Girl - at least two types of bling - I used sparkly papers, sparkly ribbon, a silver flower, pearls, and rhinestones.

2. Fuzzy Wuzzy - Christmas plus an animal

I'm sure there'll be much more crafting from me right up to the big day.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

More Christmas

Check out this fun game!

I'm still crafting for Christmas. I'm giving a lot of gift cards this year, and I need a card to put them in. Peanut make this one (I just cut the paper and tied the bow for her). She colored this Some Odd Girl image using Crayola markers. She wanted a bow and lots of sparkly things for decoration. She also spent quite a while putting a different color of glitter chalk on each corner.

Peanut (age 3) would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Stitchy Bears Kids - anything Christmas

2. Kona Kids Crafters #13 - Holidays

3. Some Odd Girl - Bling times 2

I made this diagonal double pocket card for another gift card holder. The paper is Basic Grey. I colored The Stamping Boutique's The Fairies Frolic. I was playing around a little bit with distressing and added Tim Holtz dye to the edge and then clear glitter.
I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Creative Cowgirls #3 - Christmas or winter - hope this counts, it's a Christmas present - Check out the blog hop with fabulous candy!!!

2. The Crafty Pad #102 - anything goes

3. CES Challenges #17 - anything goes

4. Allsorts Challenge #83 - anything goes

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Altered CD

Have you visited the new Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium Club Forum? You can earn points toward a discount coupon for the club's already discounted prices! I'm in charge of point counting, so make it fun for me and join in!

This is my first try at an altered CD. I was inspired by the Altered CD challenge at OWSE Forum. The challenge was to use pearls, and I used light green sticky 1/2 pearls in the flowers and at the top. I used paper from DCWV - I just traced the CD and cut it out twice. The chipboard was a freebie with Cardmaking and Papercraft. The sentiment is a freebie from Bizzy Becs. I'm going to give the ornament to friends as part of their Christmas present.

This is also a great project for the Anything but a Card Challenge I'm organizing at The Latte Lounge!

I'd like to enter the ornament in the following challenges:

1. Everybody Art #121 - homemade present

2. Stampavie #121 - Make a gift

3. wee memories #36 - colors of the season

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Christmas box

I'm still working like mad on Christmas presents. Miles to go before I sleep :) I wanted to make a drawer box for my sister's present. I used this tutorial, and just made two and taped them on top of each other. I decorated the top and each drawer bottom, so there's a little surprise when she opens each one.

The top is decorated using a Sugar Nellie image. My sister has a farm with horses, so this image is just perfect for her. I used this tutorial on coloring jeans with Copics. I'm really pleased with how her clothes turned out. Slowly, I'm getting better with the Copics. I used papers from DCWV, and added a silver snowflake brad and Stickles around the image.

I'd like to enter this part in the Sugar Nellie #49 challenge - sketch plus snowflakes.

The next drawer features an image from The Stamping

Bazaar. He's a freebie this month, so don't miss out! The papers are again from DCWV - same large paper pack. The sentiment is a freebie from Bizzy Becs. I added Stickles to the white parts of his hat and around the inside of the sentiment - a little hard to see. I used tiny green buttons on the drawn buttons on the image. This is one of my favorite embellishments.

I'll be putting candies in this drawer.

I'd like to enter this part in The Stamping Bazaar's Challenge #8 - sketch.

The last drawer uses this month's freebie from Digis with Attitude. I colored the image with Copics and added some darker Stickles to frame this image. I'm going to put a gift certificate in this drawer.

I'd like to enter this double drawer project in the following challenges:

1. Digis with Attitude #11 - anything Christmas

2. Bunny Zoe #7 - sparkle and shine

3. Copic Creations #41 - Sparkle!

4. Top Tip Tuesday #14 - Christmas inspired

5. Winter Wonderland - Wrap it Up

6. Stampin' for the Weekend #53 - Christmas

7. Saturday Challenge #114 - in the farmyard (the horse image on the top)

Hope you're getting done with your presents too.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

JLJ Designs sponsoring Glitterbabe Challenges

This week I'm sponsoring Glitterbabe's Challenge. The challenge is snow or snowflakes. The prize is 3 digis, a digi paper pack, and this little Christmas candy! I have a card for the challenge, stay with me.

This is a picture of Peanut in the snow in Chicago. I love how she's throwing the snow. You can't see in this picture, but her cheeks were so pink. She had six layers of clothes on!

Here's my card. I used Snow Bunny and the blue papers from Traditional Christmas paper pack, Snow Fun paper pack, and my part of the Stitchy Dec collab. I punched out snowflakes and added some decorative brads and velvet ribbon. The sentiment is from a DCWV paper pack.

This is the inside of the card. The white part is a pocket, so I can insert a gift card. I added another sentiment from DCWV.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Friday Sketchers #132 - sketch

2. Simon Says Challenge - blue, white, and silver

3. The Pink Elephant #90 - Winter Wonderland

4. Cupcake Craft Challenge #121 - non traditional Christmas

5. Pollycraft #74 - White Christmas

6. ABC Christmas - Z is for Zero time left - I used I for ice with added snowflakes.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Blog Candy Winner!!!

The winner of my blog candy is...

Rosalee M! Rosalee, please email me your address at jljdesigns@cox.net.

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

We made it safe and sound home from Chicago, where we spent the weekend. That means no crafting for me over the weekend though, so it'll be a few days before new projects.

In the meantime, Erika has an amazing candy!

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

TLL Anything but a Card Challenge

We have a new challenge at The Latte Lounge this week - anything but a card. The rest is up to you! This challenge will last four weeks and the winner will be announced January 10th.

I have two projects for this challenge. The first is a decorated notepad featuring Natalie from The Stamping Boutique and papers from JLJ Designs. The notepad was in the Michael's dollar bin. I colored the image with Copics and added a Jolee snowflake sticker. I think this will make a nice Christmas present.

I'd like to enter this notepad in the following challenges:

1. Digital Tuesday Challenge #88 - it's cold outside

2. AI Factory Challenge #60 - holidays/Christmas

3. Winter Wonderland - Christmas baubles

4. Creative Inspirations #49 - anything goes Christmas

I also have some Christmas tags featuring this yummy image from Fresh Brewed Designs. I colored the image with Copics and used Kraft paper and digi paper from JLJ Designs.

I'd like to enter these tags in the following challenges:

1. Papertake Weekly Challenge - red and green must not be seen

2. Rainbow Lady #130 - Christmas food or drink

3. allsorts challenge #82 - last minute Christmas

4. Stamp with Fun #89 - Christmas

Hope to see you at The Latte Lounge!

Jennifer

Candy Candy Everywhere

Lots of yummy candy out there in blogland! Have you seen Really Reasonable Ribbon's blog candy?

Jude has a surprise blog candy!

Don't forget my blog candy open until the 14th!

I haven't heard from Nat or Max who won the paper packs last week. Please email me at jljdesigns@cox.net or leave a comment on this post.

Happy crafting!

Jennifer

Stationary Set

We used to have a family rule that all our Christmas gifts for adults were homemade. This year, we went to drawing names. I made a gift for my giftee. I LOVE homemade gifts!

I used a tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers to create this stationary set. This is the outside. The patterned paper is Basic Grey.

This is the inside. I changed the address book into a note pad. The empty pocket is for postage stamps. There are full size cards, 3"x3" cards, and tags.

The person I'm giving the gift to has a little girl, so I thought kids birthday cards would be a good idea for the full size cards. These are girl's birthday cards using Audrey's presents from The Stamping Boutique. I colored the images with Copics and added a sentiment that I printed. The papers are leftovers from making the stationary set.

I also made boy's birthday cards using a digistamp from Pollycraft. I added glitter to the balloons and the star on Cuthbert's belly.
I'd like to enter this project in the following challenges:

1. Craft Your Passion #35 - anything goes

2. Party Time Tuesday #24 - balloon fun

3. Charisma Cardz #49 - A Christmas gift

4. Simon Says - Christmas but no red or green - I don't know if this counts, but it is a Christmas gift...

5. Polka Doodles #49 - project to hold a Christmas gift - I'm hoping the box for the set qualifies.

6. CES Challenges #16 - anything but a Christmas card

7. Digis with Attitude #10 - anything goes with a digi - both images are digis

8. Stamp Something - December digi day

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Have you seen Bizzy Becs new stamp line? Very pretty.

Corry has a wonderful candy from the same line.

Check it out!

Jennifer

PCP Digi Day Challenges

I had such fun at The Stamping Boutique - Fresh Brewed Designs digi day on Saturday. I posted a card yesterday for one of the challenges. I have three projects today.

The first is a Kiss the Cook magnet using a digi from The Stamping Boutique. I was inspired by Heather's pin. I thought these would make a cute something extra in a Christmas present. I colored the images with Copics and added some magnet that I'd removed from a notepad so I could use it for something else.

I'd like to enter the magnets in the following challenges:

1. Christmas Sweets DD #1 - anything but a card

My next project are some sweet Christmas tags

using a Fresh Brewed Designs image. The images are colored with Copics and glittered with Stickles. I used Kraft paper to make the tag and then added a paper from my Traditional Christmas paper pack. I added some fabric sentiments from my stash.

I'd like to enter these tags in the following challenges:

1. Christmas Sweets DD #2 - gift tags

2. Fussy and Fancy Challenge #25 - anything but a card

3. Stamp Something - Christmas color combo

4. Cupcake Inspirations #88 - I was inspired by the warm brown of the cupcake and the green and red decorations.

5. Bunny Zoe #6 - Christmas anything but a card

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

TLL Digi Paper Challenge #2 - Mid-Way Reminder

We're mid-way through Digi Paper Challenge #2 - Candy Cane at The Latte Lounge. For this challenge, you can download a free digi paper and use it to create a project. The winner will receive two The Stamping Boutique images AND the Candy Cane digi paper pack.

This card uses AJ the Chef from The Stamping Boutique (a great freebie from the chat in the PCP group!) and accent images from Your Next Stamp. I punched a snowflake and flower from the paper pack. I added ribbon and a Merry Christmas tag from Michael's.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. TSB PCP Group Christmas Sweets DD #3 - recipe (1 ribbon, 2 punches - flower and snowflake, 3 embellishments - sticker, brad, accent stamps)

2. Pattie's Creations #7 - ribbon plus three embellishments

3. Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #112 - Christmas

4. Corrosive Challenge #93 - red and white for Christmas

5. Bizzy Becs December Challenge - Christmas

We have lots of great challenges going on at The Latte Lounge! Our Christmas Celebration challenges are open until December 10th. You can trim a tree in Stacie's Wacky Wednesday challenge. Rhonda is making a scene and Tracey has posted about a little goodie if you use it for the challenge!

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer

Two cards and a weekend of crafting

(2nd post) Scroll down to see the winners of the digi paper packs.

Quick notes, my DT call is closed - I'll have an announcement this week! Don't forget my blog candy - see the link on the left.

I have two cards to share tonight. I've spent all weekend crafting and I still have SO much to do for the holidays. I signed up for another project this weekend even though I know I'm REALLY busy. "I'm just the girl who can't say no. I'll jump to volunteer." - name that tune :)

My first card features The Crafty Pad's Snowmen. It's colored with Copics and I used Stickles to make snow. The dark purple paper with snowflakes is from my Snow Fun Digi Paper Pack, and the other two papers are from DCWV. I added some snowflake stickers from Jolee and a sentiment sticker to finish the card.

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. The Crafty Pad #100 - anything goes

2. Simon Says - sketch

3. Stampavie #119 - snow

4. AI Factory #59 - winter

5. Sew Many Challenges #34 - snowflakes

6. Wags 'n Whiskers #42 - snowflakes

For my second card tonight, I hopped off the Christmas bandwagon. I used a Michelle Perkett image. My sister actually colored the image. The paper is one of my contributions to the new Stitchy Bear Stamps collab. The collab is free with a $10 purchase at the store!

I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

1. Michelle Perkett - make your own background papers. I don't know if this counts, but I did make them digitally.

2. Creative Cowgirl #2 - anything goes

3. Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #84 - sketch

4. Party Time Tuesdays #23 - anything goes birthday

5. Fab 'n Funky #51 - Happy Birthday!

Happy Crafting!

Jennifer