Another Birthday card

Billy (our oldest Grandson) is turning 30 on January 2 and will be coming home from Ohio this weekend to celebrate.  I thought he would enjoy this stamp as it will remind him of our home in the country.

The stamp was stamped using the Versa Mark Ink and then embossed with white embossing powder.  I haven't use white embossing powder before on a dark background and I really love the look.  I used the Lacey Square Spellbinder die to cut it out.

The Swiss Dots and Branch Tree Embossing folder embossed the white card stock and then the trees were chalked to make them stand out more.  Martha Stewart Snowflakes added some interest.  Small pearls were placed on the trees to appear as snow.  I hope that doesn't make the card too feminine.   I sure struggle more with masculine cards than I do feminine cards.    How about you???

We are having friends in tonight for dinner and cards.  I am fixing Prime Rib, potatoes and rolls.  She is bring desert and a salad.  I do not have any experience fixing Prime Rib.  Do you?  I will have snacks too as we will stay up to see the New Year. 

Joan's Gardens
Spellbinders--------------------Lacey Squares
Ink------------------------------Versa Mark
Embossing Folder-------------Swiss Dot by Cuttlebug  and Branch and Tree by Sizzix
Punch---------------------------Martha Stewart Snow Flake
Pearls---------------------------Kaiser

Posted by Joan Fricker 9 comments Links to this post

Another Birthday Card

I ventured today in a new look for this birthday card.  I have fallen in love with Wendy Vecchi's and Tim Holtz Stamps, a totally new concept for me and a challenge to accomplish...but so much fun.

I started out with a 6x5.5 card and cut some water color paper about 1/2 inch less.  Forest Moss and Rusty Hinge ink pads were dabbed on my Craft Mat and spritzed with water.  Then the water color paper was swirled around in the ink and repeated to achieve the color of the background on the card.   Tim Holtz has a wonderful video showing several techniques using the Distressed Inks.

I just received some Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Stamps and those were used to stamp the flowers and swirls, again using Distressed Inks.  I didn't like it the first time I did the swirls, so I used my Mini Spritzer (filled with water) to spray over where I stamped to remove most of the ink.  Love those water based Distressed Ink.

Martha Stewart's Garden Trellis punch added some trim under the water color paper.  Blender Pads blended the Forest Moss Ink on the punched trim.

Our Grandson will be 25, so that was stamped with some JustRite numbers on Grungy Paper then cut out with the Lacey Circle Spellbinder Die and ran through the Vagabond. (so fun)  I was super pleased that the Spellbinders cut through the Grungy Paper. 

Then Happy Birthday was stamped, blended with Distressed ink and placed inside one of Tim Holtz's embellishments.

The Sizzix Townscape die cut the Grungy Paper and then was colored with Copic markers for the finished touch.

Joan's Gardens
Stamps ------------Wendy Vecchi 490 Botanical, and JustRite Birthday Wishes and numbers
Spellbinders ------ Lacey Circles
Sizzix Die---------- Townscape
Tim Holtz-----------Idea-Ology Ornate Plates
Punch---------------Martha Stewart Garden Trellis
Adhesive-----------Glue Glider, Ranger Glossy Accents and Zip Dry
Copic Markers

Posted by Joan Fricker 10 comments Links to this post

Birthday Card

We have 6 grandchildren over 20 and 3 of their birthday's are the first week of January and one on the 28th of December.....right after Christmas when my pocketbook says ouch!


It has been nice this week to have time to work on the January cards.  I have finished 2  with one more to go, so I will be showing those to you this week.

I used some paper I had in my stash to make this black and white card.  This is a 6x6 card, with a black border underneath the patterned paper.  The flowers are part of the paper and are velvet.  I added a beautiful Bazzil button in the middle of the largest flower.  Wish you could see the glitz it creates.  Using my new Lacy Circles and silver card stock, I cut out the circle with my VAGABOND.   I cannot tell you how much I love that machine.  The circle was popped up with adhesive pop up dots.  This was a fairly quick card, but very classy IRL.  Please excuse the glare of the camera on the silver card stock, but no matter how I tried I couldn't remove it.

By the way, I have plenty of Spellbinder Lacey Circles and Squares in stock now!!!

Joan's Gardens
Spellbinders ------------------Lacey Circles
Paper--------------------------Neenah, Silver card stock and Black and White
Button-------------------------Bazzil
Stamp-------------------------Inkadinkado
Adhesive --------------------Glue Glider and Zva Pop Up Dots
Ink----------------------------Black Staz On and Versa Fine

I received a new rack for my ink pads for Christmas.  I will be taking pictures of it to show you soon!

Posted by Joan Fricker 8 comments Links to this post

My favorite 10 cards for 2010

 Selma posted her favorite 10 cards this morning (it is her birthday today too so be sure and stop by and wish her Happy Birthday)   She told us about The Manic World of Mrs Weyremaster blog hop that she  organized  asking bloggers to share ten of their favorite cards/projects created in 2010.   The objective is to let all the cardmakers/crafters out there in blogland showcase cards they have made this year.  You don't need to create anything new, all you need do is select 10 cards/projects you've made this year to share.  The links close on December 29, so hurry and get your's posted.

My favorite cards I made this year are:

 

Heartfelt Creations

Crafty Secrets

JustRite

Magnolia Stamps

Heartfelt Creations

Heartfelt Creations



JustRite



Sarah Kay

JustRite

Heartfelt Creations

 Please leave me a comment to let me know which of my cards shown above is your favorite!

Posted by Joan Fricker 52 comments Links to this post

Paper by Kaiser Craft

Blae and Ivy

489586

6.5x6.5 Paper Pad by Kaisercraft

$8.99 plus shipping



Pink Gelato
489286
6.5x6.5 Kaisercraft Paper pad
$8.99 plus shipping

 

Velvet Ensemble
6.5"X6.5" 24 Sheets Paper Pad
489267
$8.99 plus shipping



Chapter One
6.5x6.5 Kaisercraft Paper Pad
489140
$8.99 plus shipping

Lullaby Baby

471416
6.5x6.5 Kaisercraft Paper Pad
$8.99 plus shipping

  

English Rose Collection

6x6

24 sheets, 10 Special Papers including 4 Spot Varnish, 2 flocking and 4 die cuts

$8.99 plus shipping

Lilac Avenue

6x6 paper pad 

$7.99 plus shipping

Candy Lane Paper Pad

6x6

24 sheets, 10 Specialty Papers including 3 Glitter,2 foil, (1 spot varnish, and 4 Die Cuts

$7.99 plus shipping

Posted by Joan Fricker 0 comments Links to this post

Christmas Eve at the Fricker's!!

I took this picture Christmas Eve before we opened our gifts. 

Aren't they precious.  To watch them open their gifts and hear their

squeal, is the biggest delight a Grandma can have. 

We certainly celebrated Jesus's birthday and I hope you did too!

Posted by Joan Fricker 7 comments Links to this post

Merry Christmas!!!

Jon and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best of New Years.  Please know that you all are very special to me and I have appreciated your business very much.  But even more than that, I am so thankful for your friendship. 


Enjoy your families as we celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior!  We will have 10 little littles here this afternoon.  What joy they bring us!
Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Posted by Joan Fricker 17 comments Links to this post

And the winner for the $100.00 Gift Certificate is~~~~~

WINNER OF THE $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM JOAN'S GARDENS


I want to thank all of you for joining in on the weekly Joan's Gardens weekly challenges. You have all done a fantastic job with the challenges and I have really enjoyed seeing all your beautiful cards. Many of you entered the challenge every week which increased your chances of winning. All the winners from the weekly challenges this year were eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from Joan's Gardens.


Drum roll please~~~~~~~~~~~ the lucky winner for 2010 is Carla Suto.


Congratulations Carla!!!!! You can send me your order whenever you are ready to use it.


We will start a new challenge the first Thursday of January. Selma and I have some exciting things planned for the new year, so be sure to check out the fun again in January.


Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for your participation in the Challenges; but most of all for your friendship!!!

Happy Holidays to all of you!

Posted by Joan Fricker 13 comments Links to this post

What a Celebration

The first thing we did yesterday morning was sing Happy Birthday to Mom.  She giggled!

After she had her coffee, we brought in the 78 cards she received and piled them on her lap.  She giggled!

Then the guests started arriving at 10:00 AM.   My niece and family drove down from Wisconsin to start the day with a big surprise for Mom.  She had company from that time until 8:30 PM.  There wasn't a minute that someone wasn't here.  She loved every second of it.

She received more cards during the day and more today.  That is over 90 cards she has received.  She is still looking at each one and marveling at the talent.

I can't thank you enough for making her 96th birthday such a special day for her.  She received cards from all over the world and I just am so grateful to you all!

Tomorrow I will be posting the winner of the $100 gift certificate for one special person that entered the weekly challenges, so be sure to check back tomorrow.

Again, THANK YOU!!!!

Posted by Joan Fricker 12 comments Links to this post

And the winner is~~~~~

We have certainly had a busy week end with my step-daughter's wedding activities and now Mom's birthday celebration today.  I will tell you more about that tomorrow.
Tuesday, I will be announcing the winner of $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens for the year, so stay tune!!!

I am excited to announce that Joan's Gardens winner of #26 week is Lana Edwards.  Congratulations Lana!!!  I will be sending Lana a pack of Webster Pages Santa paper.

Thanks to all of you for entering the last challenge of the year.  I have so enjoyed each and everyone of the challenges and love all the creativity that has been done.  You all have made it such a joy to me.

Random Integer Generator



Here are your random numbers:
17
Timestamp: 2010-12-19 21:45:48 UTC

Posted by Joan Fricker 4 comments Links to this post

Tis a Busy Time

Mom

  Christmas Eve 2009

I am sure you are as busy as I am.  Don't you just love Christmas?  I know I sure do!!!
Of course we have 10 little ones that get so excited and that just melts my heart. 

Mom's birthday is Sunday and I have invited some friends and family in to visit her through out the day.  I need to decide what I am serving and start getting those things ready. 

My step-daughter is getting married this Saturday, so it will be a very busy weekend.  This is her second marriage, so she is taking care of everything.  This is a good thing, as I just don't know how I could work one more thing in to my schedule.  I have a sitter to come in and stay with Mom.  I still don't have our trees up or my decorating done.

Mom had a very bad night with so much pain.  She woke me at 2:30 saying her back felt
like lightning bolts were going through it.  She also thought she was dying.  I stayed with her until the medicine gave her some relief and she fell asleep.  We have a baby monitor beside her so I can hear her right away if she needs me.

I called her doctor this morning and told them we need some stronger meds for times like that.  My heart sure aches for her.  It is horrible seeing her in so much pain and she just doesn't understand it.

I am so thrilled for the way you all have blessed her with over 35 cards and more is on the way.  I will give them all to her on Sunday.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Posted by Joan Fricker 19 comments Links to this post

And the Winners of the #25 Challenge are~~~~~~~

A huge thanks once again to Heartfelt Creations for their generous donation for our grand prize!

Now for the announcement you have all been waiting for. First I want to let you know I am so proud of all the entries in this week's challenge. It has certainly been a pleasure seeing all your creative cards made using Heartfelt Creations stamps. Thank you for joining in on this celebration featuring Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies.

The randomly selected winner of the fabulous grand prize donated by Heartfelt Creations is number #58!  CONGRATULATIONS to Linda W.!!!

Here are your random numbers:

58 Timestamp:
2010-12-09 18:06:05 UTC


           This is Linda's entry!


This morning I also drew out three names from each of the designers in the blog hop. The winners of the three prizes packages from Joan's Gardens were drawn from these three blogs. The three blogs drawn were Glenda, Geri and Darlene.

The comment randomly drawn from Glenda is #38 . The winner is Donna.  She wins the Webster Pages Products.

The comment randomly drawn from Darlene is #16. The winner is Holly.  She wins the Cuttlebug products.

The comment randomly drawn from Geri is #46.  The winner is Vickie.  She wins the Anna Griffin products.

 If you are a winner, you have four days to contact me to give me your address and I will get your prize shipped out to you right away. If I haven't heard from any of the winners, a new name will be drawn on Monday December 13, 2010.

Thanks again for joining in on my weekly challenge and I hope to see your beautiful cards in future challenges. Remember, there is always a weekly prize, and each person winning in the weekly challenges will be in a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens, drawn at the end of the year.

Posted by Joan Fricker 18 comments Links to this post

Card for Joan's Gardens #26 Weekly Challenge

This is the last challenge of the year.  We will resume on January 6.  I hope you all can join us.  It was so much fun seeing all the work of art for the big #25 challenge.  Please check back this afternoon as I will be announcing the winners of the challenge.

I just love Heartfelt Creations new winter stamps.  We live in the country and this stamp reminds me of our home.  We sit out in the middle of farm land and we are surrounded with beautiful trees.

After stamping the image, I lightly colored the trees and windows with Copic markers  Diamond Dust was applied to the roof and the snow drifts.

The frame is cut out with Spellbinder Label 8. I used Christmas Past Paper by Graphic 45 paper for the frame, because it felt like stars in the sky.

Snow Flakes were punch from Punch a Bunch Punch and Diamond Dust was added to each one.  Tim Holtz Snowflake embossing folder was used for the back ground and a Heartfelt Scripture Sentiment completed the card.

Posted by Joan Fricker 10 comments Links to this post

Joan's Gardens #26 Weekly Challenge

Here is what you need to do for Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #26.... Make a card or project this week and use the following:



1. Use some kind of snow or snow flakes
2. White is the color for the week, so make sure you have white on your card
3. Do some Chalking
4. Create some kind of a window look


Of course if you don't have the products you need, you can always substitute or order them from Joan's Gardens.


You will have until next Thursday (December 16) morning 6:00 AM EST to link your card/project. A winner for the prize will be chosen from a Random drawing and will be announced Friday morning (December 17). You can enter more than once.


This winner of week #26 challenge will receive a Webster Pages Santa Paper.
And will also be entered in the end of the year $100 gift certificate drawing.


Below are the guidelines.:

• You must have a blog or post to the SCS gallery.
• Post your challenge card to your blog.
• Or if you are posting to the SCS gallery, you will need to use a special code to tag your card to the challenge. This week's code is JG1209 and needs to be posted with the challenge.
• Link your card/project to the Blue Inlinkz icon listed at the bottom of the challenge.

Important, please have a direct link to your challenge card and not to your blog address.


Comments always appreciated. I love seeing your cards! Thanks so much for playing!!

Posted by Joan Fricker 7 comments Links to this post

One day left!

Time is drawing near to the end of the #25 Weekly Challenge.  You have until 5:59 AM December 9 to enter your card  and leave a comment on all of the Guest Designers blogs.  This will qualify you for the fabulous $284 package of stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations.  Plus, 3 other very nice gifts from me.   Don't miss it.  

There are some fantastic entries already, so don't miss seeing them.  Just click at the very top where is says #25 Weekly Challenge to post your card and to see all the beautiful creations.

Tomorrow morning I will post the #26 Weekly challenge and that will be the last one for this year.   We will resume January 6.

Posted by Joan Fricker 0 comments Links to this post

Graphic 45 Paper

Graphic 45

 Once Upon A Springtime Paper Pad

 Includes 10 paper designs (2 sheets each) and 2 sheets of coordinating die-cuts and borders. # G4500293

12X12 $19.99 plus shipping

8x8     $  9.99 plus shipping

Below are a few of the papers in the pads. 

The 8x8 is scaled somewhat smaller.

Posted by Joan Fricker 0 comments Links to this post

It is here!! Card too!

I received my new Vagabond electric cutting machine.  There aren't enough words to tell you how much I love it.  It is fast, heavy duty and just awesome. 


I used it to cut out the following pieces on Jon' birthday card yesterday.  It did it with no effort whatsoever.  I  had to turn the Lotus die 4 times and run it through twice as I turn it when I used my Cuttlebug (my Cuttlebug was not in good shape), so running it through the VB one time was wonderful.


If any of you want to special order the machine, please e-mail me.  You can watch Tim Holtz's video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaK8a0w2llA and you can read
my earlier post here http://joanscreations.blogspot.com/search/label/Vagabond

Jon's birthday is tomorrow and we had a family celebration last night.  A grand time was had by everyone.

I felt his card needed to be simple (nothing fussy) so I used Graphic 45 paper and some beautiful gold foil that I had in my stash.  He loved it!

Joan's Gardens

Paper---------------------------Graphic 45, Neenah card stock and gold foil

Spellbinders dies--------------Lotus Pendant, Dahlia and Labels 8

Stamp--------------------------JustRite Birthday Sentiments

Vagabond Machine

Posted by Joan Fricker 9 comments Links to this post

Mom

Mom
On December 19, Mom will celebrate her 96th birthday.  I would love to a card shower for her, so if any of you have time that you could send her a card she will be thrilled and I would be so grateful!
 Please send it to
Ruby Salyer
25790 Stanton Road
North Liberty, In  46554

An Update on her condition is not good.  I took her for an MRI on Tuesday and the doctor's office called me yesterday and the tumor has grown a lot since September.  She is now back to having lots of pain and cannot again sleep in her bed.  She sleeps in a recliner and is on pain meds every 4 hours.

We are to see the doctor next Thursday to determine if he will do surgery again.  The only alternative is to do nothing.  My brother and I are a total loss as what she should do because of her age.

I appreciate your prayers and your concern for her.
Thanks my friends!!!

Posted by Joan Fricker 25 comments Links to this post

Joan's Gardens #25 Weekly Challenge

A big thank you to Heartfelt Creations for their donation of this fabulous prize!!!
Included are 14 stamps and 3 dies for a total of over $284.
To be eligible to win it, all you have to do is upload a card using a Heartfelt Creation Stamp and
be subscribed to my blog.  Read all about it below.

This is a long post, but be sure to keep on reading to see all the beautiful cards created by 10 guest designers, Selma and myself.  The links for each blog is directly under their card.  The prizes are also shown below!!!




EXCITING NEWS! Christmas is coming early for someone and it could be YOU! This week you have the chance to win an AMAZING PRIZE PACKAGE you won't want to miss out on. Heartfelt Creations has so generously donated the grand prize for this week's Joan's Garden's 25th Challenge. This prize package includes 14 stamp sets and 3 Heartfelt Creations matching Dies with a value of over $284. In addition to this fabulous grand prize, there will also be additional prize packages from Joan's Garden's to give you 3 additional chances to win.




You will have until next Thursday morning (December 9) 6:00 AM EST to link your card/project. There are only two requirements for this week's challenge:


• Create a card/project using ONLY Heartfelt Creations stamps (any HFC stamps and matching dies are acceptable) Do not use any other brand stamps. You may use any card stock, design paper and embellishments you want.


• You must be subscribed to Joan's Gardens blog to win.  This allows you to receive all updates about challenges and sales, etc..


The winner for the grand prize package from Heartfelt Creations will be chosen from a Random drawing and will be announced Friday morning (December 10). This person will also be entered in the End of the Year drawing for a $100 gift certificate from Joan's Gardens. You may enter this challenge more than once, but each card/project must be made with only Heartfelt Creations stamps.


Three more chances to win another a great prize! This week Selma and I have invited 10 guest designers to join us in a Blog Hop featuring Heartfelt Creations stamps. You won't want to miss all the inspiration in the beautiful cards created by these designers. While visiting each of these blogs, you have a chance to win another great prize from Joan's Gardens. In order to be eligible for one of these three prize packages, you need to leave a comment on each blog in this Hop. Out of the twelve blogs, there are three "mystery" blogs, each with a prize package from Joan's Gardens. For a chance to win, be sure to leave a comment on all twelve blogs.   Keep on reading as the beautiful cards and links to the blogs are shown below.


Below are the guidelines to enter this week's challenge:


• Post your challenge card to your blog. Important, please have a direct link to your challenge card and not to your blog address.


• OR post to the SCS gallery. (If you are posting to the SCS gallery, you will need to use a special code to tag your card so it is entered into the challenge. This week's code is JG1202.)


• Link your card/project to the Blue Inlinkz icon listed at the bottom of this challenge.


Believe me when I say this . . . you are not going to want to miss out in participating in this challenge for a chance to win such an amazing prize package. Also, be sure to comment on each of the twelve blogs in the blog hop for a chance to win an additional prize package from Joan's Gardens.


I love seeing your cards. Thanks so much for playing!!. 

Without further ado, I present to you the creative of our guest designers:

Carla

Olga 

Geri

Darlene

Pattie G.

Patti N.

Linda

Pam

Theresa

Glenda

Selma

My Card 

Remember, you need to  leave a comment on each of the guests designers blog to qualify for the  free gifts I am giving way that is shown below.

Beautiful Webster Paper, ribbon, bloomers and more!

Anne Griffen paper, tags, velumand more!

Lots of Cuttlebug goodies, an album and a Spellbinder die.

Posted by Joan Fricker 55 comments Links to this post