A great annoucement!

I am so pleased to share this wonderful news! I have been lucky enough to be choosen to participate in the Cardabilities design team starting next month!  I am excited to begin crafting for this great sketch challenge blog!  Are you stuck in need some inspiration?  Please join us here at Cardabilities! Please check there for my first reveal on October 15th!

I love me some Echo Park!

I hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend!  Were you able to get some crafting done?  I actually told myself that I would not craft too much this weekend and spend more time with the family.  However, I did manage to sneak in some time.  I recent got ahold of some Echo Park's Happy Days collection and decided it was time to use it.  The ideas kept flowing, but once I started the ideas kept changing!  Does that happen to you?  I need to figure out a better concept to my planning, because I almost used up the paper without making anything!  But I am extremely happy with the card that I finally created!

Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park's Happy Days

Cardstock : Recollections

Stickers: Lily Bee Designs

Thread and Glue

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you have a great week and find time to create!

Challenges:

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Cosmo Cricket Sketch

I have a dream (like many others) to have a card published! So when I came across this challenge/sketch at cosmo Cricket, I knew that I had to give it a shot. When it comes to a sketch, do you stick by it or do you use it as inspiration and see where it takes you?  I tend to do the latter! (Although, I sometimes stick with the sketch.)

Here is the sketch from Cosmo Cricket:

I have been trying to think of a card to use one of the cute kids from Odds & Ends collection, but I was looking at other entries, someone beat me to it! So here is the card I came up with (and yes, I did not stick to the sketch, I used it as inspiration):

And I continue to use my latest addiction (pop-dots)!

 Supples : Cosmo Cricket Circa Collection Papers, Tiny Alphas
                 Studio G Letter Stamps
                 Pop Dot

School has begun!

The house was somewhat kind today.  I truly enjoyed the peace, but was excited when my son came home from Kindergarten.  I didn't spend too much time in the craft room but, here is a card I made using this week's sketch from Skipping Stones:

Here is the card I made:

To add a little 3D:

Hope everyone has a great day! I have to cut this one short! (My daughter thinks it is fun to climb up and into the bathroom sink!)

Summer is almost over...yippee!

Been a busy week!  School starts on Monday...is it wrong that I am jumping in my boots with excitement!  The boys have been non-stop fighting ALL summer...I am looking forward to the "quiet" time during the day!  Brayden starts Kndergarten this year, boy is time going fast!

Here are a couple of layouts that I was able to work on recently.  I included my own handwritten journaling and not happy with the outcome.  I think I am done with the handwritten!

AC - Confetti (Paper and embellishment)  and Thickers

AC Hello Sunshine (papers) and Thickers

Our Home

I love doing altered projects!  They mostly consist of unfinished wood projects, however, I am hoping to break into the world of altered albums!  I used all American Crafts papers and embellishments for this project. (Peachy Keen Collection).  The wooden house came from Michael's.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Oh, Happy Day!

What a great day it has been!!! My husband called me this morning to inform me that he was named "Volunteer of the Year" at our local YMCA!  I am so proud of him!!!

Skipping Stones released a new sketch challenge today, so I figured I would take a stab at it!

And here is my take:

Lately, I have been trying to use papers that I have in my stash.  There are too many wonderful papers out there, I need to make some room for them!  As I was going thru my papers, I came across a Cosmo Cricket packet that I have yet to use...until today! All the papers are from the Garden variety collection. The stamp is from Ditto by Studio G.

I have an itch to scrap, so I am hoping to get some time in for that!

Have a great day!
Jessi

Skipping Stones Challenge

So I have have been working on a new business adventure.  All I can say right now, is that I am working on crafting several new cards.  I am enjoying that time I get to create!  Some of the cards are turning out and some just don't turn out the way you envision.  For inspiration, I went to my favorite source...the blog world!  I truly love searching the wide-range of talent out there!  Thanks for inspiring me! 

I love participating in challenges!  They are great when you are in a creative-block!  I used Skipping Stones sketch challenge for this card:

Supplies:

Kraft cardstock - Recollection

Pattern Paper - Adornit

Brads - Recollections

Twine - Misc

Ink - Frosted White by ColorBox

I love this sketch so much, I have a feeling I will be playing around some more this weekend!

Wedding Wednesdays

At the moment, when one of my invitations include a design, it is hand-stamped.  I really enjoy the look of adding the design element to a wedding invitation.  However, one problem it that not all stamps come out the same.  Resulting in several redos. 

So I have decided that it might be useful to try to work with Photoshop/Illustrator to design graphics for the invitations. I will be completing a few lessons over the next few weeks, in hopes of adding digital graphics to my wedding invitations.  Until I figure that out, I will continue to look for more stamp designs to add to the wedding invitaiton collection.  I have several ideas in the works and cannot wait to share!

Have a great Wednesday!

Simple Thanks...

It has been awhile since I made a simple card.  One with the main focus of a simple shape and a simple sentiment.  I went digging through my scraps and came up with this card.

My husband has been watching the kids today, so I can get some crafting time in.  I was about to crank out a few cards.  As I was wrapping up, I realized that I rounded the corners on most of the cards.  I use to not do this (mainly because I didn't have the corner punch), but now I am addicted!  I love the look! 

Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock (Brown and blue)
Mohawk Cardstock (white)
Ditto Stamp (flower)
Studio G Stamp (Thanks)
Paper Studio Inks

Happy 75th Birthday!

Last week my grandmother turned 75!  I can place all the blame onto her for getting me into the papercrafting world!  She has been making cards for years! (In fact, I have a box..or two... of all the cards she has made for myself and kiddos.)  I used American Crafts papers for the card.

Also, from American Crafts, I used Thickers. The stamp is from Studio G. 

One of the trends that I have been using is fussy-cutting.  Using one of the flowers in the patterned, I fussy-cut the layered flower next to the bracket (Spellbinders die-cut).

Hope you had a great birthday Granny!

Baby you're the one...

So I have been cranking out projects this week!  I need to send a special Thank You to my wonderful husband, for giving the time I was craving locked up in my craft room!
I LOVE Lily Bee Designs!  The vintage feel of the papers, the colors, what more can you ask for?  I created this following layout using "This & That" papers.

All the papers are from Lily Bee.  Along with the red alpha stickers and the stamp.  I also used AC Thickers and Cosmo Cricket small alphas. To add a little 3D to the page, I made the flower at the top of the page using a Fiskar circle punch and Basic Grey button.

I also use decorative scissors to cut the edge of the photo mat. I simply folded the edge over and inked the scallops, so they would stand out more.

Have a great one!

Introducing Wedding Wednesdays!

Since 2008, I have been creating handmade wedding invitations.  I mean truly handmade.  I cut and glue the pieces.  If there is a graphic on the invite, it is hand-stamped by me.  I have been having a blast creating wedding invitations for a number of brides.  My goal is to be able to widen my selection and start to make digital graphic design invitations. Please feel free to visit my etsy shop: Kissin' Krafts .

One of my most popular invitations is the "Michelle".  It is a triple-layered invitation using textured cardstocks. 

Please come back every Wednesday to see more wedding invitations!  I am having a blast working with a variety of brides.  I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for Kissin' Krafts.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!
 

One of a Kind...

I am trying to upgrade my level of scrapbooking expertise to at least immediate.  I have not completed too many LOs, but I am getting braver on trying to techniques.  I might be a little behind the scrapbooking times, but I am having fun trying to catch up.  Here is a LO I made using My Little Shoebox papers.

I am addicted to finding new ways to make flowers.  You can never have enough flowers, right?? 

Supplies:

My Little Shoebox papers

AC and The Paper Studio letters

Misc. chipboard flowers, buttons, brad and ribbon

Trend of die-cut cards...I'm finally there!

I am in love with kraft cardstock.  I tend to use it for all my cards.  It is a habit that I should break...but why stop something that's so good! Although, I did do something that is out of my comfort zone.  I decided it was time to use a die-cut to make the card itself.  I broke out my Spellbinders to start this card.  I must say that I might get addicted to the shaped cards, a nice break from rectangle/square cards!!!! Here is my creation with Adornit Vintage Groove:

Supplies also used:

Buttons - Basic Grey

Alpha Letters - Cosmo Cricket

Challenges:

Frosted Designs - Buttons

Together...

So I have been avoiding doing some work with the wedding business.  The last few days, I have been cranking out scrapbook pages and cards like crazy!  Why go back to work, when I am having too much fun crafting? (Psss... not too much fun!)  Here is the LO that I used the Adornit Vintage Groove Collection.

I have been waiting to find the right papers for these pictures!

Supplies: Adornit- Vintage Groove

Letter Stickers - The Paper Studio

"Together" Sticker - Unknown

Look Who is two...

I am a fan of Jillibean Soup!  I love the colors they tend to use and I absolutely love that they go GREAT with kraft cardstock (my fav to use for cards)!  I used my fav technique (paper piecing) to complete the owl. Here is a pic of a card I made for my adorable niece, Moxie!

Along the variety of Jillibean papers, I used AC Thickers for the number and Cosmo Cricket small alphas for the lettering. I found a template for the owl online...once I find it again, I will link it up!

Challenges:
Pile It On : Fav Technique
Deep Ocean Challenge : Cards
Catch the Bug : Clean and Simple
Mark's Finest Papers : Die-cut as a Background
Cupcake Craft : Pick any past challenge (#29 - include a number)

Getting back into the groove...

So I have been absent from blogging for a while now, but did not stop creating!  Life has been crazy the last few months.  However, I have been able to get things back in a working order and cannot wait to re-join the blogging world! I am currently working on re-vamping my ETSY shop and blog.  Really excited about how it is all coming together, but still a work in progress.

Here is one of my latest LO using Echo Park's Little Boy collection:
-

I also used border punches (by Fiskars and EK Success) and circle punch (Fiskars).

"LOVE" AC Valentine's Day card

So I have been going crazy with wedding orders!  I managed to sneak in some time to make a quick Vday card.  I have been dying to use the new AC LOVE collection.  I enjoy using kraft cardstock to make cards and this paper goes perfect!

Supplies used:
AC LOVE papers: Crazy Little Thing, Many Splendored, All You Need, and Can't Help Falling
Studio G stamp
Brown ink
Brown Twine
Kraft Cardstock
pop-dots

Challenges:
Papercrafting Journey
Allsorts
Cupcake Craft Challenges
The Pink Elephant

Starting 2011 Fresh!

So one of this year's resolutions is to blog more...off to a slow start.  I was hoping to post once a week, which I can still do...just started late. I was actually motivated by Cassandra Cooper's blog entry, so this is why I am here today!

I have been working on transforming my workspace.  I have to share my crafting space with the guest bedroom.  With all the crafting I did last year, the room got messier and messier!  I found the only time I "cleaned" the room was when guests were coming and needed to sleep on the bed/desk. 

I was tryign to figure out what I could do, that did not cost an arm and a leg.  My parents gave me the idea to use a door and file cabinets. Here is the result:

At first, I had my doubts.  But what can you do when you have a small room that also includes a queen bed. (I am sitting onthe bed to take these pictures.)  It is actually pretty nice.  I still need to add shelving, not a fan of the wire cubes. 

So along with organizing the workspace, I wanted to organize my supplies.  And it might not look like it to the average eye (my husband), but like most other crafters, I know where everything is!!!

Organizing craft room...Check...one thing off the New Year List.

Other things on the list for 2011:
-learn to swim
-learn Photoshop and Illustrator
-the original...get in shape

Happy New Year!!