PPA51-Wedding Theme Challenge

Friends Never Fade

I am not sure what I was more excited by the paper or the stamp set but I absolutely love the organic feel of this set. It reminds me of very old hand panted books of botanical flowers. So I thought what a great opportunity to take part of the Pals Paper Art Challenge and do a Wedding Invitation with this very different set. Here is my submission for PPA51-Wedding Theme Challenge using Marina Mist Certainly Celery and Early Espresso.




Invitation Closed with Belly Band




Close-up of Bell Band and Flower

Inside of Invitation with Bell Band

Closed-up of Invitation Interior and Belly Band

Invitation with Reply Card and Belly Band

Interior of Invitation with Other Events and Belly Band

Just a Little Chatter - Nothing Says Fresh

Nothing Says Fresh Like Homemade


Nothing is more wonderful then being able to go outside your backdoor, head to the garden and pick the sweetest raspberries I have ever tasted. Well to be honest mine always came in a container from the store, so these are the best ever. When we bought our new house over 9 months ago it came with these fabulous gardens and with that several raspberry bushes.


About 2 weeks ago my husband and I bought a ice cream/sorbet/gelato machine from Costco in the hopes of making some fresh treats instead of store bought garbage which contains so many things I can't even pronounce. My first try I made vanilla something easy and not to difficult. It was a special Fathers Day treat along with a chocolate fondue, it was a great hit especially when you drizzled the chocolate as it hardened on the ice cream so delicious!

Yesterday I picked a whole punch of raspberries and thought I am going to make some ice cream with these and headed to back in the house before I ate them all. Making homemade ice cream is not hard at all you just need to prep ahead of time. I leave the freezing bucket in the freezer just in case this way I don't have to wait 24 hours for it to freeze which is the most important thing. Using the recipe that was in the book for strawberry I changed it slightly by removing the lemon and adding more raspberries. It was super easy and within 25 mins I was done and into the freezer it went. Now if you like soft ice cream you can just leave it in the freezer for several hours and it is good to eat. I like my ice cream hard, and cold so I let it go over night in fact almost 24 hours.

So today after our BBQ we invited our wonderful neighbours Lee-Anne and Gary for something fresh and delicious. It was a great hit!

Tomorrow I am going to do a scrap booking page of my raspberry bush, picking them and the end result, I know silly but I am so proud of myself. I don't know what I like more making the ice cream or shooting pictures of it LOL.

And the 100K Blog Winners Are ...

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful comments, each winner was selected using True Random Number Generator see here and in the order of comment. For the Wedding Guest Book only those who ordered or came to my Demonstrator Wedding Workshop were drawn. So with out further delay here are the results and comments!


Wedding Demonstrator Workshop and To-Go-Kits



The Winner is...

Judy said...

I love your blog and your ideas! I was lucky to order your to go kit. Amazing!

The one set i would love to see you work with is Tropical Party. I'm thinking it would be a nice set to use for destination weddings. I hope i get the chance to win something...

Congratulations Judy! Please e-mail me privately with which design from the Demonstrator Wedding Wedding Workshop you would like me to do for your guest book!


Because I Care Purse and Note Cards

The Winners Are...

(5) Kim Assaly said...

My sweet Jo-Ann. These projects are so wonderful and even better when you see them live like I did today. They were all so precious. You are very talented & I wish I could get married again so you could make my invitations.(married with the same man of course)Love you to pieces and can't wait for your next great post. You keep me inspired girl!

(8) Sue aka "britcanadagal" said...

I want to see if you could do one using the new hostess set Apple Blossoms. Maybe something in greens or purples for the autumn. Or maybe Always Elegant...

(19) Kelly said...

A new set that I think would be super fun for wedding invitations is the Aviary set... just love that little owl! Just Believe and Growing Green are two others that I think would be beautiful on invites. And Style Beautiful has such gorgeous flourishes... I'm sure you could do something wonderful with that set too!

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

(6) Lisa Hilts said...

I love ALL of your designs. I would have a hard time choosing just one! My new stamp set pick for wedding invitations would be "Fast and Fabulous". I can't wait to see what is next. You inspire us all.

(4) Michelle Lotan said...

I've just started checking out your blog. You are very talented and creative. I think Elements of Style would work great for wedding invites. One that could be interesting is Cottage Garden (along with the matching DSP)

Thanks for the inspiration you provide me and others!

Congratulations ladies! Please e-mail me privately with your addresses! Thanks for all your wonderful comments.

5 Sets of 3 Charm Inserts

NOTE: Jewelry not included.

And the Winners Are...

(15) Carole Vancouver said...

Wow didn't know there was a Blog Candy contest going on - I am at work and needed some inspiration for a swap for tomorrows holiday and well, you are the place I turn when classy inspiration is needed... so here i am. Love the concept of the contest... I chose Elements of Style (I think that's it...the grungy one) Love Love to see what you could do with it for invites. Big HUGS to you for getting to 100K from the Westcoast

(3) Nicole said...

Love your ideas. I design invitations as well, more digitally then with stamps, but trying to incorporate them more. Thanks for the inspiration. My favorite new sets for invites are Just Believe, Growing Green and the Friends never fade combined w/ the larger Ornate Blossom.

(12) Melanie said...

First of all, I love the work you do and wish I had been able to take part in your wedding workshop--if only! I would love to see something done with Have a Seat. Those chairs are my #1 to-order, and I think that the love seat bench could be nice for a rustic wedding. Second up (but hopefully already in your plans), I'd really like to see something with Vintage Vogue.

Thanks for sharing your work with so many people, and I hope you keep loving what you do!

(9) Marciava Stovall said...

You have an amazing website..absolutely beautiful work...The new set I would to see you complete wedding creations with is Artistic Etching. I will keep checking back to see your newest artwork.

(11) www.noteworthydesigns.ca said...

Congrats on all your accomplishments! Sorry for the late reply - I read in google reader and sometimes forget to click over! I think "Style Beautiful" would make great wedding stationery!

Keep up the great (and creative!) work!

Thank you ladies for your wonderful comments and congratulations. Please e-mail me privately with your addresses.

“Island Floral iPOD Carry Case” from
Stampin Girl's Convention 2010 WOW SWAP

NOTE: Does not included iPOD.

And the Winners Are...

(7) Karine said...

Your cards are always just fantastic, and even better in real life! I have to say, because of you, one of my favourite new sets is "Because I care". Keep up the awesome and inspiring work!!

(2) Abbie said...

I have been an avid reader for quite some time and you have been an inspiration to me as I am currently in the process of making my own wedding invitations. The wonderful designs that you come up with - wow! I had a hard enough time with this one. :)

My stamp set is the Funky Four stamp set. I think that would be great for a whimsical and earthy couple. Wish I could use it on mine but I'm using the flower (with a stem) from the Always stamp set on ours.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with - you are super talented!!!

(14) Lesley said...

I love your blog and all the gorgeous ideas you come up with. I love the stamp set because I care it would make a beautiful wedding invitation. Thank you for having a chance to win a prize


(18) Michelle Ip said...

Congratulations on achieving 100k hits! I do not know what "new" stamp sets there are, but what inspires me most is looking through blogs, like yours! You're creations are always absolutely beautiful and stunning!

(23) Andrea Shields said...

I just love your cards, I first saw a card you made on Stampin Connection and then searched for your web site. I cased your Because I Care card for my club meeting in June and they all loved the card.

Now for the blog candy, I would love to see you use "Nature's Nest" for a wedding. I think it would make a very earthy, starting our nest theme wedding.

Are you going to convention this year? If so I would love to meet up with you and swap a card. Have a great week hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks ladies, your comments make me want to create more and more! Don't forget to e-mail me privately with your address!

NOTE: I am in the middle of finalizing everything for my next workshop once this is complete I will update you all with regards to who has won the $20 e-coupon off the next purchase of my Fall Wedding Demonstrator Workshop and To-Go-Kite purchase.

Have a great weekend!

J