JAMSquared

Author Archives: Jennifer

Thanks Snow Much

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After this one, I’m finally finished making thank you cards for our Christmas gifts. I wanted to use a snowy image to meet the requirements of the All That Scraps Weekly Wednesday Challenge #64, but I didn’t have the right one. I was going to wing it with a technically non-snowy image, but when it didn’t work with last week’s Sweet Spot Sketch (a great starting point none the less) I decided to borrow a stamp from my friend Lori that was more wintery. I still feel like we haven’t really had winter yet. I guess I shouldn’t complain, but it would be nice to pull my sweaters out the drawers more than a handful of times. Although the forecast for tomorrow has the high dropping to the mid-40s and Wednesday and Thursday will have highs in the 30s, so maybe I’ll get to pull my sweaters out a bit more. I was also inspired by the Catered Crop Recipe Challenge #4. My recipe is blue polka dots, a bubbly bow (off kilter), and my layout is somewhat similar. This card also meets the requirements for the Stamp Something winter something challenge and Your Next Stamp Challenge #34 to make a winter scene.

Thanks Snow Much Card

Did you see the puffy muff? I also added dimension by using Glossy Accents on the shoes.

I don’t normally decorate the insides of my cards, but I didn’t have a spot for the sentiment on the card front, so I decided to fancy up the inside. I don’t have a stamp with this exact sentiment, so I made my own using Word.

Inside of Card

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Rain Snow Shine
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Baja Breeze; textured navy/blue from scrap bin
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Pattern Papers Baja Breeze
Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Dell printer
Embellishments: Liquid Applique, Inkessentials Glossy Accents; navy satin ribbon
Tools: Martha Stewart Snow Flurry border punch; Stampin’ Up scallop oval punch

Thanks for stopping by.

Best Fishes

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I made two of the following card for two of James’ male relatives whose birthdays are today and tomorrow. Of course, they’re probably going to be a day or two late in arriving since I just put them in the mail late yesterday afternoon. It’s the thought that counts, right?

This card was made with two challenges in mind. First up is a color challenge: Sentimental Sundays Challenge #39. The colors were handsome hunter, summer sun, old olive and poppy parade. I don’t have any poppy parade, so I made do with a combination of pumpkin pie, real rust, and tangerine tango. I’m not used to doing color challenges and it was kinda tough. I saw all the samples and thought those colors are awesome, but then I started pulling papers out and I thought “Omg, how am I going to make this work.” I like the final product though.

The second challenge is a sketch for Phindy’s Place Challenge #40. Although, since I went with a rectangular card instead of a square, I ended up removing two elements of the sketch. Does that make it not really count as the sketch? I like that they recently opened up their challenge requirements to allow stamps other than Phindy’s Place. Of course, if you use a Phindy image, you get two chances of winning the draw. I ended up choosing to use this little fisherman from Hambo Stamps since it makes a great guy card. This is the first time I’ve used him. I got him back in November when I found out about an awesome 50% off Hambo Stamps sale for Timbo’s 50th birthday (Libby, you enabler).

Best Fishes Card

Stamps: Hambo Stamps Fisherman and Best Fishes
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Handsome Hunter, Tangerine Tango, Summer Sun
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Frosty Day
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Embellishments: The Twinery Lemondrop
Tools: Nestabilites Classic Circles; Stampin’ Up markers; Prismacolor colored pencils; atYou Spice silver marker

Thanks for stopping by.

In the Army

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Wednesday, I mentioned I was finished with Christmas related posts, but I forgot I haven’t shared some crafty stuff I did for Christmas yet. This layout is one I made and framed for our friends Nick and Stephanie. I had been thinking about doing this for them ever since Kristy and Aric’s Halloween party. The picture I took of them in their costumes turned out so well. I was inspired by the Creative Scrappers Sketch #134. I flipped the sketch for my take on it. I really like how it turned out and think I might do something similar for the picture of the three of us from the same party. What do you think?

Creative Scrappers Sketch #134

In the Army Layout

Stamps: Stampin’ Up All-Year Cheer III (masked Halloween)
Cardstock: textured black, white, orange and greenish-brown
Designer Paper: The Paper Loft Haunted
Ink: Stampin’ Up Craft Whisper White; Stazon Jet Black (distressed edges)
Embellishments: Making Memories Spellbound glitter foam stickers
Tools: Martha Stewart Ghost Edge punch; circle punches; Sixxix Bug in a Rug alphabet die

Thanks for stopping by.

New Year’s in Keller

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I’ve been a little slow in sharing pictures from all our Christmas celebrations. I’m sorry it’s almost the end of January before I get the last Christmas-related post in.

For New Year’s, we traveled to Keller for the Dzubinski family Christmas celebration, held at my sister’s house this year. You might remember, we went up a day early and visited the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Friday, New Year’s Eve, Sarah had a little party, although it was mostly just us with the addition of her neighbors across the street. They have a little girl that is Cameron’s age and you can tell they are great friends.

Trevor with his Uncle James

Jessica Playing

Here’s the newlyweds, well the newlyweds of the bunch, since they’ve been married the shortest at 2.5 years. Isn’t that sweet that Jason is so affectionate?

Julia and Jason

After the neighbors left and the kiddos were asleep, the adults exchanged Christmas gifts. This year, our family decided the adults would draw names. I was a little disappointed about that since I love shopping/making gifts for people, but that’s what everyone else wanted to do. It’s a good thing I didn’t start my Christmas shopping for the adults in June like I did for the kiddos. Although it worked out that at least one of us drew at least one of my parents since I did have Jessica’s Shutterfly 1st year memory book in the works when the decision to draw names occurred.

Dad and Mom Viewing Dad's Gift From Me

New Year’s morning, the kiddos opened their Christmas presents. In addition to a toy, a book and some clothes, we got all of them a hat from Beany Bling, the Etsy shop my friend Jillan and her sister Jennika run. Right now, they have some really cute hat and tutu outfits. The bumblebee one is adorable. You’ll see lots of pictures of Cameron in his new hat. He loves it.

Sarah, Trevor, Cameron and Aspen Checking Out Trevor's New Toy

Jessica Opening a Gift From Us

Of course, every time all the Dzubinski cousins get together, we try for a photo shoot. This time, Jessica didn’t want anything to do with it. Remember last Christmas with them all as little munchkins. Our babies are growing up, sniff.

Trevor, Jessica, Cameron and Aspen

Jessica Investigating Her New Laptop from Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brian

Jessica Trying Out Cameron's New Sit and Spin From Us

Papa Looks On as Cameron Tries Out His New Laptop from Uncle Jason and Aunt Julia

Cameron, Aspen and Trevor Play While Julia Observes

Trevor and Jessica Help Brian Unload the Dishwasher

Jessica and Aspen Playing Together

My Beautiful Sister

Yes, that is a Rosa’s cup in her hand. We went there for New Year’s lunch. I would love to make that a tradition, but alas no Rosa’s in Austin.

My Silly Brother

Once the kiddos all awoke from their nap, they shared a snack at the little picnic table. Aren’t they cute?

Cameron, Trevor, Jessica and Aspen Snacking Together

Afterward, we walked to a nearby neighborhood park. Cameron started off on his new scooter, but after only one house away from home, he decided he would rather ride his tricycle and he rode it the whole way. Jessica and Aspen rode together in Cameron and Trevor’s wagon, but Aspen didn’t like the rear facing view or James pulling fast for a stretch bothered her and she ended up riding in style on Jason’s shoulders for most of the walk to the park. It was really chilly out and I kinda wish I had changed Jessica into pants, but she had a blast and the cold didn’t seem to bother her.

Trevor, Jessica, Cameron and Aspen on the Way to the Park

Can you believe Cameron can now swing in the big kid swing and make it swing all by himself?

Cameron Swinging

Aspen Going Down the Slide

Jessica Going Down the Slide

On the ride back, Trevor rode in the wagon with Jessica, while Aspen rode Trevor’s car. Trevor ended up annoying Jessica by playing footsie and she ended up being carried by James for a bit and me for quite a bit on the way back to Sarah’s house.

Jessica and Trevor in the Wagon

The kiddos continued their play while our New Year’s dinner was being prepared in the kitchen.

Nanny Playing with Her Granddaughter

The cousins played together Sunday morning.

Cameron and Jessica Both on Their Laptops

Cameron Making Jessica Giggle

Jessica Playing with Cars

My Baby and Me

Notice those beads? Jessica enjoyed the beads so much that once we got home, I dug some out and she has enjoyed wearing them for at least a little bit almost every day since. And yes, her bangs are shorter than the day before. Sarah trimmed them for me.

Jessica Playing

Everyone else left an hour or two before lunch, but we left shortly after the early lunch (first to arrive and last to leave).

Two Quick Cards

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Yesterday, during Jessica’s nap, I made these two (well really three) quick cards.

The first card came together so easily. The flower image is one I had received almost a year ago in an stamped image swap. I actually colored it and the rest of the ten images shortly after receiving them, but I kept forgetting to use them, so last week I put them on my workspace instead of in the drawer. I saw yesterday’s Get Sketchy Sketch #71 and I immediately thought of this little flower image. The card came together so quickly and it turned out so cute.

Thanks for Making Me Smile Card

Stamps: www.hellokids.com (flower) ; Stampin’ Up Small Sayings (sentiment)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up So Saffron, Elegant Eggplant
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Flock Together
Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Stampin’ Up So Saffron (edges of tag)
Tools: colored pencils


This second card was made to meet Sentimental Sundays Challenge #38 to make a winter card. I really wanted to enter this challenge because I would love to win the custom watermark/signature set that is being offered as the prize. My sentiment is actually one of the free ones they offered for you to use. I also used the OWH Stars & Stamps Sketch #52. They’re celebrating a year of sketches. That said, I actually made two of this card, one for me to use and one to send to Operation Write Home for the use of our amazing troops.

Snowmen Card

Stamps: Raindrop Echo Designs Winter Sentiments; Hero Arts ClearDesign December
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Baja Breeze
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Paper Patterns Baja Breeze
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Embellishments: Recollections black rhinestones
Tools: Nestabilites Classic Ovals, Classic Deckled Ovals

Thanks for stopping by.