Thursday, February 23, 2012

Growing In Spades.

It is with great excitement that I write this post.  No, I haven't been asked to join a DT, been published, or had a win on the lottery.  Nope, I am excited for far better reasons than those, and that's because today's post is my first ever  papery contribution to this Mini Blog Hop with some of the most stellar and innovative papercrafters I know.  I bet you can imagine how chuffed (not to mention nervous) I was to be asked.   The challenge for this wee Blog Hop was to use Papertrey Ink's Garden Variety stamp set and Year Of The Flower Collection, both released last year.  Prior to creating my three cards for the Hop, my YOF Collection hadn't ever seen ink (Oh, the shame) and Garden Variety has so infrequently been used and not in its entirety either, that it could almost reclaim its Never Been Inked status.   The rules were really only two:  1) No opium smoking in the elevator and 2) that there were no real rules.  My kind of Blog Hop, that's for sure.

After getting over my initial anxiety about nothing springing to mind when it came to these sets, I just pulled out these sets, dusted them off, scratched my head a few times, rubbed salve into the cat's boils, finished my 20 year old's baby photo album, cleaned the gutters, thought about clearing out the garage, had a nap, watched the Simpsons' entire 55th season (and I hate the Simpsons!), flicked over to Antiques Roadshow (nope, not much better), made a cup of tea, then another cup of tea and still had nothing.  Sigh.

But after repeating the above cycle of procrastinating non-productivity with a few other variations on the same theme thrown in a couple more times, I finally managed to crank something out.  Phew!  I never actually thought I would get there, but I am so pleased I eventually did.  The following cards are, for the most part, a combination of both sets, save the last, where I, well and truly, ran out of puff.  In the case of my last card, I just went to my old trusty Spellbinders Rose Creations die and the Rose stamp from the YOF Collection.  How dolove thee, Rose Creations die? Let me count the ways. 

So without further ado, three cards for my inaugural participation in the Mini Blog Hop:





Thanks gals for letting me join in the fun and for motivating me to get out of my comfort zone and to have a bit of fun.  I do, indeed, feel I've grown thanks to you ladies and for that I am so grateful.

Here's the list of the other lovely and ever so talented lasses:




I am off to have a look and be amazed and beyond inspired, no doubt.  See ya there! 

18 comments:

Gayatri said...

OMG! My jaws fell to the ground, Jen! What gorgeous projects? I love all the background stamping especially the watering can card. I love love that pink flower. You have to make a tutorial on how you made it. Thanks so much for joining us :)

Marybeth said...

Jen , you make me laugh! .... Your cards are beautiful, I love your stamped backgrounds, the last one is to die for. Gorgeous pink flower. Nice that you used the seed packet envelope too, I forgot, and I love tha die. . Fun hopping with you!

Renee said...

OH NO!!
No one told me not to smoke the opium in the elevator...
*giggle*
I didn't really...
I don't have an elevator...
but your procrastinating turned out much better than mine....
would be nice if I could at least blame the opium!
*giggle*
OMG...
these are gorgeous!!
Love that stamped background on Scatter seeds...
and I die over the rose!!
Stunning!
All of them are just gorgeous...
you did a fabby job with these sets...
and it's been fun hopping with you! :)

Deb said...

Oh Jen, these are all so fabulous! You are really so very talented. I just love how you get your creativity going.*tee-hee* I love your color choices on your first card, the softness of your second and the flower on your third card...well, I can smell it all the way over here. It is so life-like!

Thank you for your well wishes. I am still on the mend. My manager gave me today off (and I still need it). Thanks for your inspiration friend.

Joyce said...

You crack me up--seriously the funnies post I've read. Your cards are absolutely beautiful, and I love them all. Shaped cards are so fun, and I never ever do them. Love the stamped backgrounds on all of them, the stunning flower, and that beautiful seed packet die--I also forgot about that one. Such fun hopping along with you. And, no, you have not been punked--I think that you just posted a wee bit early--better early than late to your own party.

Pauline said...

Beautiful makes Jen, I love them all, but I adore the rose card, just stunning!

Kim Heggins said...

Wow! Your cards are just beautiful and the stamped backgrounds are just so perfect. I love that flower on your last card, reminds me of springtime. All of your cards are just so fabulous.

Cathy Weber said...

How am I going to choose a favorite here? You came up with three great cards, all so different from each other. I love the Spring colors you chose for the first card, the great patterned paper you stamped with the watering can on the second, and the beautiful shaped card with the uncolored flowers on the third. What a beautiful trio of cards for the little blog hop. Great job.

Amy Kolling said...

Jen, what an awesome blog hop! I am loving that background stamping done on the watering can image...so beautiful. But that last card? You saved the best for last didn't you? THAT card is stunning!

Tracey McNeely said...

All beautiful cards Jen but that floewr on your last card is absolutely stunning. Love it!

carol (krillsister) said...

You can never convince me that it takes you forever to come up with a card design. Your cards are fantastic. I especially love the one made from the Mat stack card. That flower is stunning as are the other 2 cards.

@JoyceCasaldi said...

What stunning projects!

Michelle said...

I thought you were going to say that you are having another baby! But I guess participating in a blog hop is just as exciting...? LOL! Congrats for you. That big flower card with all the great scallops and scrolly die is just amazing. Oh I love that one so...

Gayatri said...

Jen! how did the birthday celebrations go? Hope you had a great time :)

I have an award for you on my blog. Check it out when you have the time :)

Michelle said...

Jen, I popped over from Gayatri's post, and I think I might hang around for a while. You are funny! I've read through several of your posts and you've brought a smile to me with every one! :-)

Jen W. said...

LOL! You are a truly impressive procrastinator, Jen! I tip my hat to you! :) You're an impressive cardmaker too. I love the bright, happy colours of the first card and the fun shape. Beautiful background stamping on the second and third and I can see why you love that rose die - gorgeous! Can't wait to see your next blog hop!

Cathy Weber said...

Looks like you are very inspiring to so many of us Jen, I left an identical award for you on my blog! You are a great friend and make gorgeous cards, so on behalf of the academy, please accept this honor!

carol (krillsister) said...

You might be the winner of the most awards. I left you one too. Both your creations and words are very inspiring.