Whiff of Joy Challenge #95 --- Janes's Sketch

Now that we are past the holidays I've been able to visit challenges I had been neglecting.  Whiff of Joy challenge is one of my favorites and DT member Jane provided the sketch for this challenge.  With the cold spell we've been having lately I have treated myself to a nice cup of hot chocolate every evening, which made me think of this image of Willow.  It's one of the original WOJ images but I never tire of it.

I colored the image of Willow with Copics in a combination to match the Basic Grey Sugared dp collection.  I love this paper and dread the day when I run out of it!  Pink and green is one of  my favorite combinations. The embellishments are rather simple: some antique lace, a Prima flower with a sheer bow, pink pearls, and a charm that says "Some things are meant to be."  The butterfly is a MS punch that I positioned over one of the flowers on the dp then lined up some pearls along its body.

Here is the inside.  Since I often don't know what I will be using the card for I leave the inside blank for a handwritten note.  I'm thinking this might be a note for my future daughter-in-law, whom we all love so much!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope the coming week will be extra special for you.  Be sure to hop over to the WOJ Challenge and take a look at the DT's fabulous projects, as well as the participants.  There's still time to jump into the challenge if you haven't already.

Whiff of Joy Challenge #93 -- No Red or Green!

Whiff of Joy Challenge #93 is calling for no red or green.  I can do that!  Actually, I pulled out an image of Willow that I colored last year.  I still love the images, even though I definitely feel my coloring skills have improved somewhat during the year.  It's just hard to waste a colored piece.

There are actually two Whiff of Joy images here: Willow is sitting on a wooden bench which I masked in to make one image.  Both are colored with Copics.  There is just a touch of green and red in the holly on Willow's hat and muff, but I think I can slip that in.  The blue paper is a double-sided card stock from my Christmas stash.  I chose to keep the background and embellies more on the white side so the MS picket fence punch was added.  If you look closely there is sheer ribbon with little snowflakes laid just below the fence.  Snowflakes from Marcella by K&Co (actually they are flowers for wedding cards, but I like the glittery look for winter) and MS snowflake punch with clear rhinestones.  The metal tag says "believe" and who doesn't during this time of year?  It's just so hard not to believe in peace and goodness!

Here's a close-up of Willow and the bench.  This is still one of my favorite Willow images!

If you haven't been shopping at Whiff of Joy lately, you will be AMAZED at all the scrumptious new images, dies, papers and embellies.  Be sure to stop by!  Speaking of stopping by, thank you for your visit here!

Whiff of Joy Challenge #89 --- Jane's Sketch

Whiff of Joy has been one of my favorite challenges for a couple of years now.  And when I see one of Jane's sketches in the challenges I just can't wait to get busy!  Jane has a way of making a layout that produces a card full of interest and fun.  So, here is my interpretation of her latest sketch:

I've had this image colored for quite some time just waiting for the right sketch and papers.  Well, all things came together with the scrapbook kit from Colorbox.  I have a bad habit of coloring images without papers in mind but I don't often have too much trouble matching them up. This one sat for awhile and I am so glad to bring it out now.  The "Sweet Memories" sentiment says it all about this image, a sister reading to her little brother, cherished moments for so many.

The image is colored with Copics and I added a vintage Prima flower, a lace band cut from MS border punch, and some swirls of rhinestones.

Rather than post Jane's sketch here, I encourage you to hop over to Whiff of Joy Challenges and see it and all the inpiring projects for yourself.  But first, let me thank you for stopping by and any comments you leave are appreciated and welcomed.

Whiff of Joy Challenge #78 --- Jane's Sketch

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I hope all the moms, grandmas, and great-grandmas were showered in love and gifts of affection!  I always have wonderful Mother's Days and this year was made even more special with the reuniting with my step-daughter after 24 years!  For the first time I met her husband and two teen-aged daughters.  Very happy times!

There are always many new moms each year.  That's why this WOJ image of Willow with baby makes a perfect first Mom's Day card, too.  So I used it for Jane's sketch for WOJ this week.  Jane always has beautiful sketches and this is no exception. 

There is quite a bit of detail in this card, which I like to do.  The card base is lavender card stock partially covered with a beautiful scrapbook paper of hydrangea print.  The pink parchment paper border is punched with Martha Stewart eyelet lace border punch.  The same paper was used for the bottom Nesties oval die cut.  Willow and baby are colored with Copics.  The ribbon is sheer with butterflies in lavender.  A pewter charm saying "Perfect" is surrounded with little flowers from the Michael's bridal department.  Finally, this card just cried out Pearls! so there are lots and lots of pearls.  Even a few on the sentiment oval inside the card. 

 

I'm so glad you stopped by today, indulging me in my three posts!  Whew!  It is a busy time for making cards and I like it that way!  Be sure to check out the gorgeous creations over at the Whiff of Joy challenge blog --- new stamps releases and yummy candy to win, too!

Whiff of Joy Challenge #71 - Easel Card

Wow, it has been a few days since I posted a card!  Not long ago I was ahead of things, this week I've been quite distracted.  But, I did finally finish my card for the Whiff of Joy challenge.  This week the theme is easel card.  I so love to make easel cards!  And I have a very special one for this challenge. 

One of the highlights of my week was getting the new WOJ Blooming Spring stamp kit.  This kit is available at stores only and I was able to get mine from Stamp and Create.  Talk about getting in the mood for spring!  I also incorporated the WOJ Tutorial for making a 3D aperture easel card.  This is such a sensational card and really quite easy to make.  Oh, but that's not all!  The fabulously talented Heather at Rica's Haven generously shared her tutorial for making an "envelop/box" for these especially thick cards.  Without further ado, here is the whole project:

This gorgeous is the new Penny Lane collection from My Mind's Eye.  All the die cuts and the aperture are cut with Nestibilities.  The images are colored with Copics:  Hair: E41, E35, E31; Skin: E00, E000; Dress: R22, R27, R29; Apron E41.  Bouquet and tulips BV11, BV13, BV04 for flowers and YG23, YG25, YG00 for the leaves.  The sentiment is part of the WOJ stamp kit and I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black on PaperTrey white cardstock, which is the combination I use for all of my stamping.  It works great with the Copics!  The red gingham ribbon just seemed perfect as a finishing touch.

Here are more views of the card and box:

So many inventive cards are popping up everywhere and I just love them all!  One other thing about this envelope box is that it also fits inside the Clear Bags box for extra protection.

I'm so glad you stopped by today and I hope you like the projects.  If you like these then you will LOVE the projects over at WOJ and the other links above. 

Have a great weekend and come back soon!

Whiff of Joy Challenge #63 --- Recipes for Card

Finally Friday!  I hope everyone has a terrific weekend planned.  It's been a busy week and certainly went by faster than the past couple of weeks when we were under an Artic Blast of sub-zero temperatures.

Whiff of Joy Challenge this week offers 2 recipes to follow:

#1 4 patterned papers, 3 bling, 2 flowers

or

#2 3 patterned papers, 2 bling , 1 flower

Because my colored image is actually 2 images masked together I chose recipe #2 for a little more simplicity.

I love the wingback chair from a 2008 WOJ collection.  I masked the Willow with Valentine from the 2009 winter collection for an illustration of a shy and feminine Valentine.  The finished look resembles a scene in a parlor with one patterned paper for the "wallpaper" and two more positioned like rugs under the chair.  For the two blings I have the red and gold rhinestone scroll on the right and the heart charm in the upper left corner.  The scroll of rhinestones and the lone flower are from Prima.  It was really hard to put only one flower on the card.  I like groupings of blossoms, but the flowered pattern of the paper balances out.  Other tools used:  Copics for the image, Martha Stewart border punch and Nestibilities label die.

Whiff of Joy Challenge is one of my regular weekly posts.  I love the images, of course, and the Design Team always has such amazing projects.  Be sure to pop over and take a look.  The participants are pretty amazing, too!

Thank you for stopping by!  Your visits are always appreciated.

Whiff of Joy Challenge #62 --- Jane's Sketch

It's not often that I get a card made on the first day of a challenge, but when I saw Jane's sketch for the Whiff of Joy Challenge this week, I knew immediately which image I was going to use. 

I colored this gorgeous Bride Willow as soon as I received it and have had it in my file of colored images for just the right project.  Jane's sketch, with the diagonal "sash" of ribbon or other media, brought to mind a veil.

I did try using white tulle for the sash, but it was just too stiff.  I do like how the ribbon worked out though.  The easel card is one of my favorite presentations, so that meant doing a bit more than just the front of a card.  No problem!  I have lots of embellies that I get from the bridal department at Michael's.  Did you know that you can get bunches of small flowers and pre-made bows at a really reasonable price in the bridal department?  Great clearance items there, too!

Ok, for more on the details:

Cardstock:  Report Cover stock from Paper Plus office supplies (still looking for a handier source)

Image colored with Copic B0000 in the dress and a variety of YRs for the hair.

Flower Soft "Sweet Pea"

Circles and flower die cuts from Nestabilities

Sentiment, cross, and doves from K&Company wedding 3d stickers

White flowers and ribbons from the Michael's bridal department

Jane provided us with a very challenging sketch, but, as you can see by the DT and the participants, some of the most creative artists in the blogosphere have risen to the challenge in an awesome way.  Be sure to hop over to WOJ and take a look, then add yours to the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope yours is a joy-filled day.

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #61 --- Color Combo Red and Aqua

Getting back on track with my favorite challenges, and probably some new ones, too!  The first challenge of 2010 for Whiff of Joy is the color combo red and aqua.  This has become one of my favorite color schemes, so it wasn't hard to come up with a project.  Especially when I have the fabulous Winter 2009 Stamp Kit from Whiff of Joy to work with.  For my card I used the beautiful Festive Winter Willow.  With Valentine's Day coming up I replaced the holly berries with a couple of heart embellies.

Willow was colored with Copics BG10, BG18, BG75, R27, R29.  I use a combination of E00 and E02 for the skin and the hair is shades of sepia.  The background dp is K&Company.  Paper flowers are from a variety of beauties in my stash and the beaded center of the large flower is from K&Company.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you like this project! Your comments are most welcome and appreciated.  The Whiff of Joy DT is made up of incredibly talented ladies.  Be sure to jog over there for a look.... and submit your project, too!

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #58 --- Sparkle!

Whiff of Joy has put out so many fantastic winter and holiday images this year! I've been coloring like crazy and a few nights ago just got carried away with the red Copics! So here are a couple of the new WOJ images carrying out the red theme.

The challenge this week was to add sparkle. That's easy this time of year! The first image is "Freezing Willow" and she does make me shiver just looking at her! I used shimmery white card stock for the card and the Nestabilities oval die cut. For more sparkle I attached a piece of my favorite holiday ribbon. The snowflake corners are done with the Martha Stewart punch.

The second card features "WOJ Santa with Gifts". He is such a jolly old soul! The dp is from a collection I bought last year and I added red rhinestones to sparkle it up a bit. The red ribbon has sparkle, too.

Like so many of us, I love the easel cards. The "door stop" on this one is a 3D sticker from K&Company that features a winter sleigh (kinda hard to see in the pic).

The Christmas countdown seems to be moving in light speed!! I am trying to cram in house cleaning and card making during the next week because my son will be here on the 17th. That's when my Christmas starts!! Thank Heaven for my mom (who lives two doors down) because she is the cook of the family. So after spending the day at the Silver Dollar City amusement park and going to Christmas shows, and shopping, we can come home to her good cooking! In the mean time, I have more cards to make, so I'd best be gettin' to it!

Thanks for stopping by! I've been out blog hopping and marvel at the incredible creativity everywhere I look! What a sensational community is this blogosphere!

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #55 - Orange, Brown, and Ivory

The Whiff of Joy Challenge this week is a color combo: orange, brown, and ivory. Orange, huh? Hmmm. Orange is probably my least favorite color on the color wheel. Oh, what I won't do for WOJ! Here is my card, with plenty of orange!!

In my last post I mentioned how hooked I am on the easel card. So, yep, here is another one. And, as promised, it has a WOJ image on it. This beautiful image of Willow with a Basket was masked and stamped with the wooden fence background. It really does lend itself well to warm, fall colors and I've done several cards with this image already.

The composition of the card contains many pieces of scrapbook paper from my stash and a couple of blooms from a bunch of silk flowers. The sentiment is heat embossed and serves as the "door stop".

I do like how this turned out, and I hope you do, too! Thanks for stopping by and leave a line or two in the comments so I know you were here. Have a wonderful week!

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #54 - Jane's Sketch

Whiff of Joy Challenge #54 is a versatile sketch by designer Jane. It has a bit of a surprise attached! Here is my card:

Here is Jane's sketch:Here is the surprise..... the tag pulls out!

I took Jane's lead and cut out the upper right corner of the sketch to reveal the inside of the card. The sentiment on the tag is heat embossed.

I put a corner pocket inside the card to hold the tag. But you just HAVE to look at Jane's card!! It is a masterpiece, inside and out!

Here is the close-up of the lovely Willow with Muff. She is colored with Copics. I love this image and never tire of coloring her.

Materials:

Image: WOJ Willow with Muff stamped on Papertrey white with Memento Tuxedo Black; colored with Copics.

DP: Signature Christmas from My Mind's Eye

Card Stock: First Blush Collection from Prima

Snowflakes: Hobby Lobby

All in all, the card is free of a lot of embellishments. It was better to let this gorgeous paper take the stage. The sketch, with the cut out, has so much depth.

Jane, thank you for such a fun sketch and the inspiration! I hope I did it justice and I know I will use it again!

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to hop over to the WOJ challenge blog and see all the wonderful projects from the DT. Don't stop there! WOJ has fabulous new winter and holiday stamps. Take a look here!

It's a beautiful sunny 70s day here in the Missouri Ozarks. I hope you are having a beautiful weekend, too!

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #53 --- Red, Cream and ?

The Whiff of Joy Challenge this week is to use the colors RED and CREAM plus ONE MORE COLOR. So I chose one of my favorite Whiff of Joy images and colored her with Copics R59 Cardinal Red, YR21 Cream, and YG95 Pale Olive. This combination was a beautiful match for the K&Company Christmas Cheer papers. I love the subdued colors in this collection and the scrapbook sized papers have designs perfect for cutting and pasting onto cards.

I cut out the holly from a corner of the dp and placed it on the background piece. I used another holly piece for the Nestibilities Large Label 4 then set that on an XL Label 4 in red. A strip of ribbon provides a perch for Willow. Embellishments include poinsettias and white flowers from Prima, ruby jewels and a sentiment cut from the dp.

I liked working with these colors and they just might show up again as I work through this stack of gorgeous Christmas papers.

WOJ is growing! If you haven't seen the new Christmas Gnome stamps click here!! WOJ has a very talented new illustrator, Norma Fickel, and her adorable gnomes are a must-have!

The weekend is here and I hope you all have a chance to create, rest, and spend time with those you love, not necessarily in that order!

Barb

In God We Trust

Whiff of Joy Challenge #52 -- Heather's Sketch

When Heather has a sketch for Whiff of Joy Challenges I just can't wait to get on it! So, last night I finally had some time to get busy and here is my rendition of her wonderful sketch.

When it comes to snowmen, Herb is a favorite of mine! Herb with a Tea Cup warmed me up as I pulled out my reddest reds and greenest greens Copics for some rich winter coloring. For the layout I used a piece of sweet candy cane glitter ribbon that I just couldn't resist at Michael's. (I know that not much of this yummy trim shows here, but you will no doubt be seeing much more of it in the weeks to come!) The candy cane stripes for the horizontal ribbons was just a perfect compliment. Here's the list of ingredients:

Card blank: shimmery white card stock

White glitter paper for front

Image colored with Copics

Glittery snowflake flowers from Marcella of K & Company

Candy cane glitter ribbon and candy cane stripes from Michael's

Red star brad from K & Company

Poinsettia from Prisma flowers

And here is Heather's terrific sketch! Another keeper, Heather!! Thank you for the inspiration!

So, if you haven't already, hop on over to WOJ Challenges and see all the gorgeous projects from this ultra-talented design team. And the participants are awesome, too!

Thanks for stopping by! Your visits are very much appreciated!

Barb

In God We Trust