Hi Everyone. Happy Saturday. I hope you have had a great week.
I've had a great weekend…. but more about that later. 🙂
It's my turn to host the Paper Players challenge this week and I have a Clean and Simple theme challenge for you
Even though tonight's card is clean and simple, creating the baubles took quite a while! I decided to use a Dreamweaver stencil and color each individual hole in the stencil with one of three colors: red, green or gold. I used the Zig Real Brush Markers and a water brush to create the water color effect and finished off each bauble with a little Wink of Stella to add a little shimmer and shine. The card really looks much prettier in real life than in the photo!
I popped the front panel on some fun foam, to add a little height and then mounted it onto a Real Red card stock base. I love that the card goes through the post easily!
Here's my card:
I hope you will play along with us this week and, if you are looking for some inspiration – you can check out the fabulous cards from our design team:
On a personal note:
Well, I had not expected to find myself going a whole week without updating my blog! But…. here I am. Well, here is a relative word. You might think that I am tucked up in my craft room in Minnesota but… no.. I am not… I am currently sitting in a hotel room in Huntersville, North Carolina. What on earth are you doing there? I can hear you ask! Good question!
It's Saturday night and I have just spent the last day and a half playing with water, paints and blocks of wood with 26 other women!
I am at an art weekend at the studio of Donna Downey and I cannot tell you how great it has been to spend time with a room full of creative people.
It did mean leaving Minnesota on Thursday at lunch time, flying into NC and then working Thursday night and Friday morning, before leaving for the studio on Friday lunchtime. Taking time off work meant that I had to work extra long hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and that meant no time to blog! However, I do have some photos of the birds in our yard to make up for it 🙂
Before I get to that though, let me tell you about the class that I am doing. I am not sure if you have ever visited
Donna's blog and taken any of her on-line classes, but they are fabulous. It was because of Donna that I was brave enough to put acrylic to paper and I am so glad that I did. It was also through Donna's blog that I stumbled upon the blog of Janelle Jacobsen called
Yes and Amen.
Donna's work is bold and graphic – and I love it. Janelle paints in watercolors with a light, whimsical style. They are polar opposites – but both so talented and inspiring. Taking an on-line class with both of these super talented ladies inspired me to a) do something bold and graphic with acrylics and b) do something soft and whimsical with watercolors. Both classes scared the heck out of me… but I was so glad that I did them. Taking an on-line class is fabulous, but, when I saw that Donna had invited Janelle to run a workshop at her studio in NC, I took a leap of faith and signed up for the class. And… here I am 🙂
I'll share my creations with you later this week… Once I have gotten over the fact that I sat in a room with 26 creative women and braved my own insecurities to actually paint in front of people! I'm still trying to come to terms with that 🙂
So, how about a couple of photos that I took in the garden on Thursday before I left?
Isn't he beautiful? I still remember the first time I saw a Blue Jay – I was astonished by the vibrancy of his colors and his raucous call. They are amazing birds and Lou and I love to watch them choose their peanuts. We occasionally put peanuts in the shell out for them. Those guys are FUSSY! They will pick up the shell, shake it and decided whether or not it is worth their while carrying it away and eating it! We love to watch them in fall when they will rush to the other side of the garden with a prized peanut and bury it in the grass and cover it with a couple of leaves. Then… some smart Blue Jay comes along and removes the leaves, digs it up and re-buries it!
Now, this next photo is one that I think I need to use as inspiration for a Christmas card – he was posing so perfectly in the Cedars!
Wouldn't he make a fabulous Christmas painting?
Before I go tonight, I have to send my heart, thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the mindless, cowardice that occurred in Paris yesterday. Like so many of us, I was stunned when I came out of class yesterday and saw the news in the hotel lobby. Janelle began our class this morning with a heartfelt prayer for all those affected by this tragedy and I don't think there was a dry-eye amongst us at the end of it. Fanaticism of any kind is hard for me to fathom – and fanaticism combined with violence is unconscionable. Je'taime Paris.
Hugs
Jaydee
Card recipe –
- Stencil: Dreamweaver
- Inks: Zig Real Brush Markers
- Card stock: Recollections #110. Real Red – Stampin' Up!
10 Responses
Jaydee it sounds like this card was a lot of work but totally worth, I’d say. I love the watercolor-y baubles and I bet the shimmer looks so pretty in real life. Sounds you are having a wonderful artistic adventure too, enjoy!
Jaydee, this card is adorable! I can’t believe you had the patience to color in each of these baubles but the result is fantastic. It looks like a gumdrop tree! Great colors and a fun challenge, my friend!
I love this card Jaydee! Gorgeous!
Jaydee, this little tree is fabulous! I love the watercolored tree is so precious! It made me smile! CAS perfection! I am so happy you had a crafty weekend with great friends! It is so good for the soul! Your cardinal and bluejay pictures are amazing! How do you get such great shot? You were right there! My heart is heavy, too with all the tragedy in our world. Prayers for peace, My Friend! XX
First, I love your card. Second, I love your story and will have to check out the two blogs you mentioned. Isn’t the Huntersville area nice? I have relatives who live near there. Can’t wait to see your upcoming posts with what you created this weekend. Your words on Paris are how we all feel.
what a cool card! And I agree, the photograph of your cardinal is the essence of Christmas. I couldnèt agree more with your perspective on recent events; I just don’t understand it. But I mourn anyways. Thanks for putting into words what I could not.
Just love the card and yes as someone said it does look like a gumdrop tree – what fun! I really love your bird pictures – I’m sure when you have time you can use both of those for fabulous cards as well! Thanks for sharing – I do so enjoy your work and pictures!
Sounds like an awesome time perfecting your art! Love your sweet little tree, as well as your sweet bird photos….so lovely!
This is a lovely little Christmas tree Jaydee – so pretty with its jewel-like baubles. Perfect for your fun challenge! Your weekend sounds like fun – looking forward to seeing the outputs.
What a cute tree Jaydee! I love the different colored baubles…it reminded me a great memory. Each year, after we decorated our Christmas tree, my dad would put his arm around me and we would step back and squint our eyes to make the lights look blurry and pretty! Your water color gives a similar effect. Thanks, your beautiful card makes me feel warm and wonderful inside!