Tuesday, March 17, 2015

MIM #205: Confetti Cluster Stamping + Seize the Birthday: Focus on the Sentiment & a crafting weekend

I really didn't mean to disappear for a couple of weeks but a landscaping project, new soccer schedule, and an annual retreat all conspired to keep me away from blogging. I finally have my supplies back in the office and was thrilled to play along with Lizzie Jones' Confetti Cluster stamping challenge for Make It Monday #205. You can check out her tutorial here




I computer generated a mask for the "happy" sentiment and stamped a number of small images from a few different stamp sets (Birthday Style, Topiary Trio, Birds & Blooms) to create the main part of the sentiment. Once it was done, the panel was finished with a Swoosh die cut and then adhered over an embossed panel.




This card is also being linked to the current Seize the Birthday challenge where the Toppings option is to "Make the Sentiment the Focal Point".


Our Badge


Do you want to see a few photos of our home away from home? Even though our retreat spot on Palomar Mountain is only an hour away, it really feels like a different world. There was even a little snow hanging around from the storm two weeks ago when we arrived but it quickly disappeared with the Santa Ana winds and high temperatures that came in for the weekend. 




I am used to palm trees and succulents, so seeing the daffodils in full bloom on the mountain was a treat. If you take a close look, you can see the trees are just starting to bud.

This acorn stuffed tree is the work of very busy woodpeckers that we heard all weekend.




Just in case you can't see the acorns in the bigger photo, here is a close-up of the stuffed holes.




Edited to add an Audubon link on the acorn woodpecker.

The farmhouse is for eating, reading, relaxing and sleeping and the green studio is where all the creative fun happens.






The studio saw basket weaving, loom weaving, scrapbooking, card making and mixed media art projects before it was once again time to pack up and head home. Is it wrong that I'm already thinking and planning for next year?

Thanks for stopping by,

Jacquie





26 comments:

  1. I was wondering where you were hiding! Missed you Jacquie!
    Back with a beautiful card ! Thanks for joining us at Seize the Birthday!

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  2. Beautiful card Jacquie and glad you had some fun away time...love all the photos! :0)

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  3. Very pretty card and thanks for sharing the photos. Beautiful retreat.

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  4. First: Welcome back to BlogLand, Jacquie~missed you!
    Second: Love your beautiful card, that HAPPY ~ certainly is :-)
    Third: Your home away from home looks like a wonderful retreat. I love the Daffodils popping through the Winter ground into Spring and think your woodpecker has a fabulous stockpile of acorns tucked away there (I've never seen that before :-)

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  5. I've missed you, too, Jacquie... but you are back with flair here! That HAPPY must have taken ages to do but well worth every moment... wow! I adore your photos... the acorns stuffed into the trunk of that tree are just fantastic - any clue what type of woodpecker did this? Would love to know...
    =] Michele

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    1. It is called an acorn woodpecker (really, LOL). I edited the post to include a link.

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  6. OH! Is it wrong for me to ask "can I go with you" next year?
    =] M

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    1. One of our regulars missed this year (see below) - if she backs out next year, I'll work on getting you in ;)

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  7. Beautiful card, Jacquie! The 'happy' is so happy with those colors! Love the pix!

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  8. Your "happy" is a wonderful mix of stamps and colors! Great job with that technique! It looks like a wonderful place to retreat, thanks for sharing your photos!

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  9. I've never seen an acorn stuffed tree. Cool TFS. Your card is amazing. Love that technique Jacquie.

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  10. Me too like Lisa said I've never seen the acorns stuffed in the tree like that. What a wonderful get- a -way! I love the the Stamping on your card it looks amazing.

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  11. Beautiful colors and great confetti sentiment! Lovely work!

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  12. Oh, what a beautiful, happy card you've made with a lovely spring feeling, Jacquie!!! Love all the cute little stamped and embossed flowers and leaves!!!! You've really done the sentiment in a lovely way and I like the curved edge on the white panel!! Lovely card, Jacquie!!!! Nice to have you back!!!!
    Have a lovely day!!!

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  13. That sentiment is so pretty - very clever idea to to stamp it with all those lovely images! Thanks so much for joining us at Seize the Birthday!

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  14. Jacquie, your card is so beautifully executed, the Happy looks like patterned paper. You really rocked this challenge. Sounds like a fun get-away and TFS the acorns in the tree ~ amazing!

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  15. Oh heck no! I'm still dreaming of my BABES adventure -- plan away, and enjoy!! Love this card, Jacquie. Those flowers are striking, and I love that the "happy" is the focal point. Great swoosh too. Very sweet card. Bev

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  16. Lovely card and so is your mountain retreat!

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  17. perfect choice to use letters!! looks awesome!

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  18. Love the mask your created for this technique....and your retreat looks amazing!

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  19. I am so sad to have missed the retreat this year. Thanks for sharing the acorn tree! That's a hoot!

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  20. Your card is STUNNING! Such a clever and beautiful idea! And a great way to use those small stamps! I thinl I will have to case it!
    Thanks so much for playing along with us over at Seize the Birthday!
    Anni

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  21. Gorgeous stamping, so we'll executed! I have been wanting to try to make a card for the PTI MIM too...yours is a beautiful success !
    That acorn stuffed tree is amazing! I have never seen nor heard of this. Where is this? Thanks for sharing the photos :)

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    1. Our retreat was in North San Diego County (southern California). I've edited the post to include an Audubon link on the acorn woodpecker.

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  22. INCREDIBLE card! Never know what to do with those small stamps. Thanks for inspiring me! I enjoyed reading and seeing your photos too Jacquie! Sounds like a great place! Thanks for joining us over at Seize the Birthday...we sure do appreciate it!

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It makes my day when you take time to comment - thank you!