I love diamonds!

I love diamonds, both the precious stone kind and the harlequin kind. Wednesday Stamper's challenge this week is diamonds, so here's a card that uses diamond/harlequins in the patterned paper (Crafty Secrets), the harlequin/flutist stamp (by Judikins), and a harlequin background stamp by Stampin' Up.

The harlequin/flutist clearly needed some music and an audience, so justjohanna chicklets are enjoying the flutist's music.

Oh, if you're interested, sign up for the "Pay It Forward" challenge below!

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Pay It Forward Exchange

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward Exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you comment, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make!

Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work.

I found out about this exchange on Godelieve’s blog.

Multi-tasking Priscilla-style.

Priscilla likes water and birdies, not necessarily in that order. She gets to enjoy both at the birdbath in her garden.

Stamps by justjohanna. Paper by Scenic Route and Basic Grey. Flowers by Prima. Inspiration for my priscilla cards by Duchess, my sweet and mischievous kitty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Inspiration from a catalog!

There was a "Shh Reading!" Door Hanger in one of the many catalogs that arrive in my mailbox. I saw it and thought it would be perfect for the door of my daughter's room since she's an avid reader. I asked her to choose a favorite quote about reading and this is what she gave me.

“The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.”
Elizabeth Hardwick

I happened to have some blank wooden doorhangers in the house, so I covered one with Romani/Gypsy Basic Grey patterned paper. I diecut a book, the caption, and then stamped Michelle's Big Scroll to add a bit more interest to the piece.

I'm working on a "Shh! I'm writing" with one of her favorite quotes on writing that I'll attach to the back of the doorhanger to make it reversible. I'll be sure to post that when I complete the project.

Oh. I also wanted to mention that I was delighted that my "Fall" card (seen below) was chosen for the "Leaves" sampler at Wednesday Stamper.

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Serendipity! When stamps & paper are perfect together!

I've always thought that Basic Grey papers were perfect with justjohanna stamps. But when I saw these bird papers from Basic Grey, I had a "Eureeka!" moment. I knew the papers would be just perfect with justjohanna's fancy cage stamp! I simply stamped the cage over the bird, cut out the cage, and pop dotted it over another piece of patterned paper!

I just love Basic Grey's 6x6 pads. I especially love that they scaled the patterns down to make them even better for cards.

The top card uses Pacific Heights from the Phoebe collection. The second card uses Cherish from the Blush collection.

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Fall Leaves

It's been a lazy autumn since the leaves seem to be taking their time to change colors and fall to the ground. It is November and most of my trees still have their leaves and some are still green though there are piles of colorful leaves wherever you look.

The birdbath is a justjohanna stamp, the leaves are punched, and the embellishment is an old Junkitz thingy from my stash. I knew I'd use it eventually!

I think this card also qualifies for the "Leaves" challenge at Wednesday Stamper! It might not since the leaves are punched and I didn't do anything to them.

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Mouse Licker & the Maimer strike again!

Whereas I don't like the idea of having mice in the house, I really loathe the idea of the cats chasing, mauling, and torturing mice. I HATE that I end up having to trap the mouse and my husband (or dd's boyfriend) have to get the wounded mouse out of the house. If Mouse Licker (Duchess) and the Maimer (Flash) are going to do play, maul, lick, and bite the mice, why can't they do it while we're asleep and then just eat the darned things?

So this card represents what I'd like to do with my pair of felines today, though I don't want that quantity of birds or mice in my house...ever! "Fancy cage" & "intertwined kitties" are justjohanna stamps. The paper is from Scenic Route.

I will be visiting Home Despot today in search of mouse traps that won't hurt the cats and torture the mice. Oh joy.

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Holiday '07 justjohanna release! Yahoo!

Yay! It's the "big reveal" of the great new justjohanna holiday stamps! Be sure to check the blogs of the other justjohanna dt members (listed on the right) and justjohanna message board's gallery to see cards made with the new stamps!

It's all just so exciting!

Don't you love the new jingle birdies and that great new banner tree? How about naughty tangled priscilla? Isn't the new birdie Menorah beautiful?

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Mr. & Mrs. Sylvie enjoying a nice fall day.

Sylvies and heart branch stamps are from justjohanna. I taped off the hearts using removable Scotch Tape (blue dispenser)*, stamped the branch, and added tiny punched fall maple leaves in place of the hearts.

Prismacolor pencils were used to color the image. The gorgeous patterned paper is from Daisy D's Gypsy collection and the lovely "sky" paper is from Cosmo Cricket.

*I use Scotch Removable tape for everything from covering part of the stamp before inking, to masking, to holding down templates and little pieces of paper. Handy stuff!

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Argh matey!

There's a pirate ship in my bird bath!

Adorable tiny pirate ship and the bird bath are by justjohanna. Lovely black patterned paper is Black Tie by Basic Grey.

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