Buttons & Bling

The Day That Gave Me You

2012-01-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! Ah, the lovely weekend is here! I’m most excited about the new studio arriving this week!! But now comes the daunting task of UNPACKING! And purging big time! I’ll share some photos at the end of this post :) I am also excited about today’s card. I wasn’t too sure about this week’s colourQ colours, but then I got thinking that they would be perfect for my dh’s birthday card for his birthday next week :) While I was making this, he called me while out of town and asked what I was doing…I told him I was making a birthday card for someone I loved dearly. He was a little puzzled and said that the only upcoming birthday he knew about was his own, pause…then he said, “oh, I get it!” LOL I warned him there was one bit of “girlie” on his card. I had the gorgeous red ribbon on my mind for this card so there it is!! I also knew I wanted to use this fabulous Verve sentiment from Love’s Flower (on sale this month!). It perfectly conveys how I feel about Tony’s birthday :)

Okay, here are the just installed pictures of the new studio cupboards and counters. I opted for lower cupboards only as I have many things to put on the wall…3 ribbon racks, a button cubby organizer, bulletin board/magnetic board and a few framed pictures of special publications :) I will share more when I’ve organized and unpacked more :) Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve love’s flower, pti fillable frames

ink: versafine onyx, su sahara sand

paper: PTI white, su more mustard, MME Gertie Paper and Kraft FunDay

accessories: pti fillable frame and scallop border dies, Michaels ribbon, gems, stitching

Love Happens Over Coffee

2012-01-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning and TGIF!! It’s Friday and that means a new Viva La Verve sketch challenge :) This week we are going CAS, although I added a few extra elements to my card. I was thinking this would be the perfect sketch for making the dh’s Valentine card. Many of you know that we met at Starbucks so I thought I would add 2 SB cups with little hearts on them (I was a grande nonfat latte and he was a grande caramel macchiato :) I did a little “surgery” on 2 of my stamps from the Better with You set…I really wanted to use the word ‘love’ on this card rather than ‘life,’ so I carefully cut off each word from the main sentiment so they would fit back with the original sentiment. That’s the beauty of clear stamps! If you check out the stamp set, you might say, “Moe, why didn’t you just use the “Love at first Sip” sentiment? Well, that’s being saved for our Anniversary ;) {wink!}. Hope your weekend starts off right…woohoo! Hope you can play with us over on the Viva La Verve forum…would love to see your take on this beauty of a sketch :) Or do you need some Valentine stamps? Check out the sale over in the Verve Store!

what’s in it?

stamps: Twitterpated, Sip and Savor, Better with You (Verve)

paper: cranberry red, espresso, sahara sand (SU), soft stone, rustic cream, vellum cardstock (PTI), Love Me (My Mind’s Eye),

ink: onyx (Versafine), jet black (Stazon)

accessories: square and scalloped square dies (Spellbinders), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

Feel Better Soon ~ CASE Study #75

2012-01-25T21:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening!! It’s a new challenge over on the CASE Study blog and sadly the last week with our talented muse, Jen Rzasa. When I first saw Jen’s card, I had to giggle!! It was her entry to the September PTI Blog Hop. I remember this hop because I was one of the random winners for a stamp set AND one of my hop cards will be published in the March CARDS magazine :) Needless to say, this was a fun card to work with this week :) I was inspired by the burst of coloured stripes on a white card base and the “feel better soon” sentiment.

What are you inspired by? Head over to the CASE Study challenge blog and see what inspired the other Design Team members then join in the fun! Remember, you don’t have to CASE the whole card, just whatever inspires you :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve hope blooms, pti fillable frames #7

ink: pti raspberry fizz, versafine onyx

paper: pti white and dotty biscotti dp, lilybee designs head over heels

accessories: pti fillable frame and edgers dies, ribbon, my favourite things butterfly die, pti button, thread

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello! This month’s PTI blog hop challenge sounded good at first, but then I remembered what happened the last time I CASEd myself…it was HARD! My CASEd card did not turn out as well as the original and I chalked it up to the process. When I love a card, it’s the process I love as well. So with that in mind, I tried to enjoy the process and not get caught up in the CASEing part. It was also hard choosing ONE favourite project, so I chose TWO (with 3 pictures) that made me smile all over again and used a lot of PTI products. The smaller cards are the originals.

You may recognize these next original cards…they were my entries for the October and November Blog Hops. I just could not NOT use the woodgrain and hello friend stamps again!! I still love them :)

Now, before you go, I hope you’ll let me share some exciting news with you :) Have you seen the January CARDS yet? You may just recognize the Designer of the Month {wink!}. Oh, and I also wanted to share the gorgeous view I get to come home to every night now that we’re in the new house :) Thanks! I look forward to viewing all the wonderful projects on the hop after work :)

what’s in them?

{birthday wishes for you}

stamps: verve making a statement, pti happy day

ink: versafine onyx, pti melon berry

paper: pti soft stone, dotty biscotti dp, su espresso, lilybee designs head over heals

accessories: pti tag, love lives here and happy day dies, ribbon, twine and buttons, kaisercraft gems, stitching

{life is beautiful}

stamps: verve sunny days, ptp modern woodgrain, hello friend

ink: versafine onyx, su choc chip, pti raspberry fizz

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, su sahara sand, MME love me dp

accessories: pti friendly flower, mat stack, tag and banner dies, buttons, twine, may arts twill ribbon, cuttlebug embossing folder, stitching

valentine. i’m yours.

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone! I’m excited about today’s card and the challenge it goes with. It’s been awhile since I spent some time with the JUGS girls and thought this fun colour challenge was the perfect time to visit :) I had a few ideas floating around, but after playing with paper and ribbon and hearts, this became the final product. I got the twine, clothes pin and heart treatment idea from my bestie, Lynn, who is also on the JUGS Design Team…check out her AMAZING CAS card here! Gotta love pink and red and white…you can’t get anymore lovey dovey than that! Are you making Valentine cards yet or have you made and seen so many you are sick of them? lol Have a wonderful day :) Thanks so much for stopping by :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve twitterpatted, pti heart prints

ink: versafine onyx, su pink, red

paper: pti white, su ruby red, echo park happy days dp

accessories: ms heart border punch, ek success heart punches, pti ribbon and banner die, clothes pin, bakers twine, stitching

Always and Forever

2012-01-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning! It was a fun day in the studio yesterday and I got to play with some of my favourite challenges such as the Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge AND use some new goodies :) Along with the Waltzingmouse Back in the Saddle set, I’ve had my sights on Say it Loud for awhile. I have admired how some designers cut around the big words after stamping them so I have done the same…so fun and elegant :) I also got to ink up that fabulous heart tag that coordinates with the original Spellbinders heart die. I am right into making Valentine cards…loving all the pink and all the love {swoon!}. Hope your week is starting out right. Why do weekends go by so quickly?

what’s in it?

stamps: wms say it loud, seasons of love tags

ink: versafine onyx, pti raspberry fizz

paper: pti white, sweet blush, mme love me dp

accessories: spellbinders heart die, pti buttons and twine, gems, seam binding ribbon, stitching

All Things Grow with Love

2012-01-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning greetings to you all! Wowzers, I think my Purge Blog buddies and I have started something crazy!! I am overwhelmed by all the positive response on the first day! Wow! See this post HERE for more details!! I’ve been asked to make some more wedding cards and was experimenting with some bold colours via the colourQ challenge this week. What do you think? Or should wedding cards be mostly neutral with a touch of colour? I think it depends on the couple. I am happy to report that the temperature has warmed up to a balmy –5 (Celsius). It’s so nice to be outside and enjoy it rather than curse it! LOL Wishing you a wonderful day! Thanks for visiting!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve bloom and grow, pti heart prints, love and marriage

ink: su wisteria wonder, baroque burgundy, versafine onyx

paper: pti white, damask designs dp

accessories: su razzleberry grosgrain ribbon, ek success heart punch, button and twine

Purge Blog Hop!

2012-01-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

A few blogging friends of mine are having a hard time letting go of our much loved papers and embellishments. We decided to share them with all of you in a week long Purge Hop!

1. Tosh 6. Julee

2. Andrea 7.Janelle

3. Maureen 8. Betty

4. Sonja 9. Jen

5. Laurie 10. Teresa

Comment once on the hop spots you want a chance to win and tell us what you spy as your favorite item. The hop will stay open until January 28th, 5PM ET. Each of my friends will post a winner from their prize post on Monday, January 30th!

My purge package includes…

5 used and gently used Cosmo Cricket 6x6 paper pads ( Early Bird, Salt Air, Material Girl, Pixie-Licious, Jolly by Golly)

2 used/gently used 6x6 paper pads (Green at Heart, Kioshi)

various paper flowers (some not shown)

various ribbon (some not shown),

Tim Holtz journaling tickets

Tattered Angels vintage key embellishments

Studio G small St. Patrick’s Day stamps

1 new package large sheer butterflies

1 new package of BasicGrey woolies stickers

3 gently used packages of brown, red, aqua Making Memories felt alphabet stickers (not shown)

and whatever else I can squeeze into the small mailing box!! It will be a surprise!

Here’s a card I made with one of the Tim Holtz tickets…it was published in the December CARDS magazine :)

Thanks for stopping by!! Enjoy the rest of the hop :) Now onto Sony’s blog to see what goodies she’s got!

p.s. Please make sure I can contact you if you are the winner. Leave your email in your comment if your email is not hooked up to your blog comment. Thanks!

i’m yours.

2012-01-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

TGIF!! For a bitterly cold week, the days flew by and here we are on my favourite day of the week :) I am keeping the new Verve release love fires going with this week’s Viva La Verve sketch by Diva Teresa. When I saw all those fabulous panels, I knew I wanted to layer some more of my gorgeous Head Over Heels paper :) I’ve used the sweet hearts from Wings of Love with the matching Wavy Hearts die set and the sentiment and heart outline stamps from Twitterpated. I just love the simple sentiments in this set and the little {periods} at the end of them…that’s it, I’m yours, period!! LOL

Now for some more exciting news!! Some blog buddies and I have caught the PURGE bug and are hosting a little Purge Blog Hop starting tomorrow morning. Leave a little love via a comment on each blog and you could win the purge offering on that blog. Some items are gently used or new…we are clearing things out, hoping to find a loving new home for them. So come back tomorrow for all the details :)

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope your weekend has a great start :)

what’s in it?

stamps: twitterpated, wings of love (Verve)

paper: kraft, autumn rose, scarlet jewel (PTI), ruby red (PTI), Head over Heels (Lilybee Designs)

ink: onyx (Versafine), ruby red (SU), Autumn Rose (PTI)

accessories: Wavy Hearts Die set (A Cut Above dies by Verve), banner die, button, twine (PTI), seam binding ribbon (Memriemare@Etsy), stitching, gems (Kaisercraft)

Yee Haw!

2012-01-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Giddyup!! Howdy partners!! Well, I’m very excited about my new Waltzingmouse Stamp Set, Back in the Saddle. I’ve been eyeing it for more than a few months and now have it in my hot little hands :) I’ve started really looking at my stamp collection and like to have different looks and sayings now. AND my dad is a cowboy so I’ll get enough use out of this set even if I just make cards for him and his friends! Plus, there’s a little cowgirl in me too {wink, wink!} and “giddyup” is a saying I use a lot (via Kramer on Seinfeld!). This card is also for this week’s Waltzingmouse sketch challenge.

We are having some bitterly cold weather this week…more typical for where I live. Staying nice and warm with our big fireplace! Hope you are staying warm where you are :) Y’all come back now real soon! teehee

what’s in it?

stamps: back in the saddle (waltzingmouse stamps), fancy flourishes (PTI)

ink: onyx (versafine), sahara sand (SU)

paper: rustic cream, kraft (PTI), espresso (SU), curio (basicgrey)

accessories: pinking edge die, buttons and twine (PTI), bracket die (my favorite things)

Make the Most of Yourself ~ CASE Study #74

2012-01-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!! Are you ready for another week of amazing inspiration at CASE Study? Our delightful Muse of the Month, Jen Rzasa, is giving us another CAS beauty to work with this week. I was inspired by the gorgeous colours on the white background.

I’ve lost/misplaced my white doilies and have been itching to put a doily on a card!! So I made my own. Yes, I still find it a drag to poke out the little bits from the die, but the pain is so worth the final product. LOVE making the doilies out of fabulous dp :)

We also have a sponsor this week offering a prize! My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Their interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. This Spring MCC will be offering over 100 courses. From the Cricut to Primas, to mixed media and rubber stamping, to scrapbooking, sewing and more; we have something for everyone. Don't miss out on some wonderful classes starting in January, including:

Beginner Copics - Class starts Jan 24th
Photo Organization - Class starts Jan 24th
Understanding Color - Class starts Jan 25th
Stenciling with Style - Class starts Feb 6th
Focus on Photos - Class starts Jan 26th
The Organized Crafter - Class starts Feb 1st
Rubber Stamping Basics - Class starts Feb 2nd

They are offering a free seat to a class of the winner’s choice.

Hope your week is going well and I do hope you’ll join in the fun over at CASE Study this week. Check out what inspired the rest of the Design Team HERE.

what’s in it?

stamps: seeing stars (verve)

ink: onyx (versafine)

paper: white, hawaiian shores (PTI), head over heels (lilybeedesigns)

accessories: doily and pinking border dies, ribbon (PTI), circle die (spellbinders)

Heartfelt Thanks

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! I made today’s card on Sunday after our big snowfall on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I had almost forgotten what real snow looked like as we had a very green Christmas (unusual for where I live in BC). So inspired by the lovely snow, I made this card using Jen’s Sketch for You to Try. The Cat’s Pajamas is sponsoring this month’s prize and although I don’t have any of their stamps, I do have their FABULOUS snowflake die from last year :) I cut it out of white glitter paper and then left the little cutouts still in it for a different look. This card was given to my oldest sister as a thank you for the house warming gift she gave us at Christmas, a beautiful barbeque set to go with the new BBQ :) Thanks for popping by!! See you tomorrow night for the new CASE Study sketch :)

what’s in it?

stamps: frame it (waltzingmouse stamps)

ink: onyx (versafine)

paper: white, rustic cream, aquamist, hawaiian shores (PTI), sage shadow, sahara sand, wasabi (SU), holly jolly christmas (echo park), white glitter cardstock

accessories: snowflake die (cats pajamas), damask snowflake and banner dies (PTI), bakers twine and button (craft supply), stitching

Scooting By to Say Hi!

2012-01-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! It’s a new week and I’ve had the chance to play with some new stamps this weekend. I didn’t have a transportation stamp set so when I saw this die and stamp set at My Favorite Things I knew I had to get it. This card uses their Wednesday sketch #54. My little flag fell a bit and landed on the hot pink ribbon!! Love when that happens {wink!}. Isn’t that little scooter the sweetest? Ah, makes me dream of Italy!! Hope your week is starting off right…thanks so much for “scooting by!” Hugs!

what’s in it?

stamps: you move me dienamics (my favourite things)

ink: onyx (versafine)

paper: white, black, raspberry fizz (PTI), happy days (Echo Park)

accessories: you move me dies (MFT), banner die, ribbon (PTI), pin (making memories), stitching

Love Ya {period}

2012-01-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone!! I am still high from the Verve release this past Friday night and have kept the love going in the studio this weekend :) Today’s card uses the once again FABULOUS colourQ inspiration colours this week. I’ve had these pink scallop borders on my desk since the move and wanted to put them together on a card somehow. I am using some more of Love Me by My Mind’s Eye as the grey is perfect for this challenge!!

With adorable paper like this, it was a no brainer picking the sentiment for the little grey banner (love ya!). The newly released Twitterpated has so many adorable little sentiments that fit perfectly onto banner dies. We are celebrating “love day” early over at the Verve Store so check out all that’s on sale HERE. Thanks so much for stopping by and all the sweet comments during the hop :) Love ya!!

what’s in it?

stamps: Twitterpated (Verve)

paper: white (PTI), going gray (SU), making memories gingham dp, Love Me (MME)

accessories: banner and scallop border die (PTI), ribbon (May Arts), puffed heart button (Michaels), thread, scallop banner die cut (craft supply)

Verve After Party Blog Hop!

2012-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our January 2012 After Party Hop! Last night we released 3 new stamp sets, 4 plain janes and 4 dies! All of the new products we've been showcasing this week are available now in the Verve store!

I was having a difficult time deciding which card I wanted to end with a bang on. As this card started to form on my desk, I knew I had my After Party card. This is one of those “pure joy” cards for me. Maybe it’s that stamping these Lucky You shamrocks makes this St. Patty’s Day baby giddy with delight or maybe it’s creating another tag card…whatever it was, all the stamping stars were aligned in the new studio :) I wanted to show you that you can incorporate shamrocks at any time of year, not just in March. If you have an Irish friend, I’m sure she (or he) would love a little touch o’ the Irish on a card you give them. I sure would {wink!}. I even found a little four leaf clover/flower button to add to my shamrocks, die cut from the Shamrock Die Set. Once this card had been displayed for an appropriate, lengthy time on the mantle, I would be tempted to carefully take the tag part off and use it as a bookmark!!

Didn’t win anything last night or want to add to your winnings? Feeling the Luck o’ the Irish? Be sure to leave a little comment love as you take one last stroll through the Diva blogs. One lucky commenter from today's hop will win the ENTIRE Release! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

January 14, 2012

1. Amy 8. Tosha

2. Maureen 9. Laurie

3. Sankari 10. Julee

4. Andrea 11. Janelle

5. Teresa 12. Betty

6. Amber 13. Shannan

7. Charmaine 14. Jackie

what’s in it?

stamps: Lucky You (Verve)

paper: white, aquamist (PTI), kiwi kiss (SU), Lime Twist (MME)

ink: onyx (Versafine), kiwi kiss (SU)

accessories: Shamrock Set (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), beaded circles die (Spellbinders), tag die, buttons, twine (PTI), ribbon (American crafts), gems (Kaisercraft), embossing folder (Cuttlebug), kraft tag (Maya Road), stitching

Verve January Release Spotlight Hop ~ Day 3

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our January 2012 Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas one more time as we share our last first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve tonight!! That’s right…6:00 PM (Moe’s PST time, 9:00 PM Eastern Time)

Woohoo! It’s Friday, it’s Release Night on the Verve Forum AND there’s another Viva La Verve sketch up and ready to go this week!! It just doesn’t get any better than that!! Today’s card uses the sweet new Twitterpated set (from the movie Bambi meaning “being in love, like knee-knocking, butterflies in your stomach love, crazy love.” I love this term as I quite often tell the dh, “I crazy love you.” It’s my way of saying that I couldn’t love him anymore if I tried, ahhhh :) So I think this will be his Valentine card :) This set also has a coordinating Hearts and Swirls Frame die for that adorable hearts and swirls border stamp!

Want a chance to win today’s stamps and dies? One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines. Hope to see you all tonight at the PAR-TAY!!

January 13, 2012

1. Amber 7. Amy

2. Teresa 8. Laurie

3. Charmaine 9. Maureen

4. Andrea 10. Julee

5. Tosha 11. Sankari

6. Janelle

what’s in it?

stamps: Twitterpated, Love Notes (Verve)

paper: cream, sweet blush (PTI), cherry cobbler, espresso, sahara sand (SU), Farmhouse (Crate Paper)

ink: ruby red, bermuda bay (SU), onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Hearts and Swirls Frame die, jotted heart die (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), oval and scalloped oval dies (Spellbinders), lace trim, felt heart (Martha Stewart), gem (Kaisercraft), stitching

Verve January Release Spotlight Hop ~ Day 2

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our January 2012 Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas over the next few days as we share our first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve this Friday night!

Today’s card showcases the new Wings of Love stamp set and the coordinating Wavy Hearts Die set. Oh my!! This set is so fun to play with!! It comes with so many little inspiring words to encourage someone special in your life. I love adding a little extra sentiment somewhere on cards like I did here with the word “believe” on the charming banner die. The combinations are fabulously endless!! You can see one of the wavy heart winged images in the lower right corner. It was stamped in Autumn Rose ink and die cut with one of the 2 wavy hearts :) Remember, hearts are not just for Valentine’s Day but for whenever you want to send a little love to someone…any day goes for that!

Want to win today’s stamps and dies? One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines and come back tomorrow for the last of the Spotlights before the big party tomorrow night! Woohoo!!

January 12, 2012

1. Janelle 7. Teresa

2. Julee 8. Andrea

3. Laurie 9. Sankari

4. Tosha 10. Maureen

5. Charmaine 11. Amy

6. Amber

what’s in it?

stamps: Wings of Love (Verve)

paper: rustic cream, autumn rose, scarlet jewel, hibiscus burst (PTI), espresso, ruby red (SU), Head Over Heels (Lilybee Designs)

ink: Autumn Rose (PTI), onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Wavy Hearts, Charming Banner (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), long scalloped and long rectangle dies (Spellbinders), seam binding ribbon (SU), button and twine (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

Thank You ~ CASE Study #73

2012-01-11T21:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening! This month over on the CASE Study challenge blog, we are inspired by the talented Jen Rzasa! This is the delightful card we get to work with this week…

I went a whole lotta CAS last week and so this week I swung the pendulum to the other side with layers and ribbon and lace :) Are those butterflies fantabulous or what? I took my cue from the colours, sentiment and butterflies. Doesn’t this picture just make you want to play? I sure hope you will!! Come see the other amazing interpretations by our CASE Study design team over on the CASE Study blog :) Thanks for stopping by!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve you and I

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, su old olive, echo park victoria gardens, pti dotty biscotti

accessories: pti die, my favourite things butterfly die, seam binding, making memories pins, pti button and twine, prima lace, stitching

Verve January Release Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our January 2012 Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas over the next few days as we share our first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve this Friday night!

Well, the countdown is on!! Not just for new amazing Verve stamps, but the counter on the side of my blog says it’s 65 more days to my favourite day of the year! And what better way to start the celebrations than with the new Verve set, Lucky You!! I have been wishful thinking that Julee would make a shamrock set (for little ol’ me!} and now she has!! Although, officially, I don’t know if I inspired ~~bugged~~ her on this one or not {wink!} I went shamrock crazy on this square card, die cutting 9 small shamrocks and stamping them with one of the FOUR shamrock stamps that come with the set. Some green bling, a sparkly button, a fun greeting and this card is ready to send to a special friend for her birthday!! (Just sayin’!).

Feeling lucky? One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the stamps and dies featured today, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines and see you back here bright and early tomorrow with Day 2!!

January 11, 2012

1. Amy 7. Charmaine

2. Maureen 8. Tosha

3. Sankari 9. Laurie

4. Andrea 10. Julee

5. Teresa 11. Janelle

6. Amber

what’s in it?

stamps: Lucky You (Verve)

paper: kraft, white (PTI), wild wasabi (SU), 12 days of Christmas (My Mind’s Eye)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Shamrock Set (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), square and scalloped square dies (Spellbinders), banner die, button, twine (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

My Nicest Thoughts…

2012-01-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! Well, we finally got some snow yesterday afternoon!! So nothing better to do than stamp the afternoon away! If you follow my blog, you know of my shameless addiction to the colourQ weekly challenge. I love to play most weeks if the colour combination speaks to me and more times than not it does! This week is no different…check out the fabulous inspiration photo :)

This challenge (and Lynn) has convinced me to get some cherry cobbler ink!! I hope your weekend is going well. I have some more inky time planned for later this morning getting ready for the upcoming Verve Release this Friday! What a fun week ahead!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve nicest thoughts plain jane

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, su pear pizzazz, kiwi, caribbean, pti distressed dots dp, mme lime twist dp, lilybee desisn head over heels dp

accessories: pti fillable frame, scallop border and leaf dies, su embossing folder, pti button, thread, gems, stitching

Viva La Verve is back!!

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

Woohoo!! It’s Friday and one of my favourite sketch challenges is back after a little Christmas hiatus in December :) Sweet Diva Amber has started the year off right with this fabulous sketch…

And double woohoo for some new Love Me paper by My Mind’s Eye…I couldn’t resist!! I used my beloved (and very brown) heart stamp from Love Notes along with its coordinating Jotted Heart Die, “be Mine” sentiment from Heart’s Desire and “with all my Heart” sentiment from Heart to Heart on the little tag which is attached to a Tiny Sweet Scallop die. Oh, all those pinks and reds looks so yummy!! Now head over to the Viva La Verve forum and join in the fun!! Hope you have a fantastic start to your weekend!!

p.s. I gave that sweet jotted heart stamp a good scrubbing facial with some Stazon cleaner and she looks almost brand new now!! Woohoo!!

p.p.s…and don’t forget next Friday night!! Woohoo!

what’s in it?

stamps: Love Notes, Heart to Heart, Heart’s Desire (Verve)

paper: rustic cream, kraft, lavender moon (PTI), going gray, red (SU), Love Me (My Mind’s Eye)

accessories: jotted heart die, tiny sweet scallop die (A Cut Above by Verve), doily, banner, small tag dies, twine, button (PTI), stitching

Congrats! CASE Study #72

2012-01-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It’s a new month over on the CASE Study blog, so that means we have a brand new MUSE to inspire us! Jennifer Rzasa has a clean and simple style that has me drooling as I so admire those who can do it well. With that said, here’s my CAS card based on Jen’s first card this month…

How did I do? I was inspired by the theme of the card (congrats!) and the colours on the balloon :) I have a couple of friends with new homes so this card will be postal bound ASAP :) Now, there’s one more thing to celebrate over on CASE STUDY this week. We have a new Design Team member!! It’s none other than sweet Christina MacLaren from Sea Glass & Sentiments!! Woohoo! I am thrilled to have her as a teamie as she is just the sweetest AND we met last summer at the PTI Stamp-a-faire! Remember this?

Welcome, Christina!! Okay, now head over to CASE Study to view all the other fabulous projects from the Team :) Hope you’ll join us this week!! Hugs,

what’s in it?

stamps: verve you and I, pti love lives here, congrats all ways

ink: versafine onyx, su blissful blue, rose romance, perfect plum

accessories: verve i heart u die, pti love lives here dies

Thank You

2012-01-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Oh my!! The holidays are really over! It feels like I have been off for a month, which must mean I had a fabulous time for the past 2 weeks! I wonder if the kids will be as tired as me this morning ;) I had one last hurrah in the studio yesterday and made this sweet snowflake Thank You card using Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch. I haven’t played in eons but when I saw her fun sketch with that big round panel, I couldn’t resist! I had been wanting to use my PTI snowflake dies again and this was the perfect opportunity. After several house warming gifts over the past few weeks, I need to send out some thank you cards. This one is going to my brother and his wife :) It feels kind of funny sending a snowflake card out…we had a green Christmas this year and there’s still no sign of snow anytime soon (which is VERY strange for the interior of B.C.!). Okay, that’s it for me…wish me luck on the first day back to work!!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve free stamp with purchase :)

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti rustic cream, su espresso, mme kraft funday everyday fun, echo park holly jolly Christmas

accessories: pti felt, button, twine, snowflake dies, stitching

A Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T14:53:00.001-08:00

It’s been a truly lazy day here and as I started seeing “Year in Review” posts in my Google Reader, I sat down to start compiling my 12 favourite cards of the year. Well, after 20 minutes of doing that and still being in JANUARY 2011, I decided to stamp instead!! LOL I have been itching to use these mitten dies and stamps for a very long time!! I knew I would use some Verve stamps for the sentiment, but the “happy” from Merry Wishes was too big. Then I remembered that Happy Hello had a “A Happy” stamp and the size was perfect!! I love when that happens! I have LOTS of little jingle bells left and since I got a slow start to using them, couldn’t resist adding them to this card :) I didn’t get a chance to send out all the Christmas cards I would have liked to this year, but I think Happy New Year ones are perfect AND will be a happy surprise to the recipients (and can last a little longer on the mantle, long after the Christmas ones are put away :)

As many of you know, 2011 has been a very blessed year for me. Becoming a Verve Diva, winning the Papercrafts Color Inspirations contest, Guest Designing for Skipping Stones and several Challenge Blogs, joining the CASE Study Design Team, being published in CARDS, travelling to Ohio to meet Lynn, attending the PTI Stamp-a-faire and meeting my stamping idol, Dawn McVey, building and moving into our new home have been just some of the special highlights that come to mind as I sit and write this post. AND continuing to connect to other card makers through our blogs and personal lives. Thanks so much for visiting here when you can and leaving comments when you feel inspired to do so :)

Yes, I am blessed. I hope you can take time to look for the blessings in your life, even through the ups and downs, they are there, waiting for you to discover them. I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do like to remember little sayings that I’ve heard over the years. This quote comes to mind…

Live in abundance.

I think that’s a great way to start the New Year! Hugs to you all :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve merry wishes and happy hello, gina k winter mittens

ink: versafine onyx, pti raspberry fizz

paper: pti white, hawaiian shores, mme 12 days of Christmas

accessories: spellbinders nested mittens, pti edger and banner die, pti twine, michaels ribbon and bells

In Love With You (and Studio pics!)

2011-12-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning! Yesterday was a VERY EXCITING day!! As I was leaving the house before noon, the postal truck drove up and had not one but TWO packages for me :) Then, when I checked our mail box ANOTHER package had arrived. THEN our new living room furniture arrived!! Oh, it felt like Christmas all over again. I also spent some quality time in the studio, organizing more paper and making a few cards. The colourQ challenge was on my “to do for sure” list and I had fun using some new and old items on this card. The challenge this week is to use black and white with a splash of one other colour. Hmmm, which colour?! After some auditions, I went with HOT PINK!! She wins almost every time when adding a pop of colour :) The paper is from last year’s Echo Park’s Be Mine kit. I still love this and you will probably see more of it as we get closer to Valentine’s Day ;)

I took a couple of pictures of the studio as it looked last night. It’s a bit make shift right now until the new cupboards and counters come in and I can hang my ribbon holders on the wall. But it’s starting to feel like “home.”

These are the 2 Ikea shelves we picked up in October. They hold a LOT of things and were much cheaper than the ones in Nichole Heady’s new studio (if you follow the PTI newsletters). HA! There’s Seinfeld on t.v.!! I picked up a cheap flat screen at Costco and it will be mounted on the wall soon too…counter space is expensive real estate in a studio, so anything that can be mounted on the wall will be :)

Now for something incredible that I discovered at Michaels this week! The perfect die storage for my beloved Verve dies (which are on SALE right now!) and PTI dies. I had 2 GCs from Santa to spend and LOVED going in after Christmas with them to pick up some Christmas and organization items on sale for 50 – 70% off!! This little jewelry/drawer organizer was in one of the main aisles with a bunch of other matching organizers. I thought it might be the perfect die holder and once I got home, I discovered it WAS!! My dies fit perfectly!! I went back to Michaels and picked up 2 more…for future growth!! The right side, where my Verve dies are, is divided into 3 sections. SCORE!!

Well, that’s all for me :) I’m off to the gym and then for a pedicure this morning. Then back into the studio for some more inky time :) Hope your week has been fabulous :)

what’s in it?

stamps: pti love and marriage

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, echo park be mine dp

accessories: pti edger die and ribbon, Michaels button, bakers twine, gems

Hello Friend ~ CASE Study #71

2011-12-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening!! I’m back tonight with this week’s CASE Study challenge card. It’s sadly the last week we are CASEing the most amazing Amy Sheffer. It is no secret I adore her work and it will by no means be the last time I am totally inspired by her. The last card she is sharing with us is full of Verve goodies…so in true and good Diva style, I used some more of my beloved Verve stamps too :)

I just love these colours and as you can see, I was inspired by basically the whole card! LOL I do hope you’ll join us this week!! Head over to the CASE Study blog and check out all the fabulous samples inpsired by Amy :) Hope the week is going well…thanks for stopping by :)

what’s in it?

stamps: love notes, hope blooms (Verve)

paper: white, kraft (PTI), Lime Twist (My Mind’s Eye)

ink: onyx (Versafine), ruby red (SU),

accessories: jotted heart die (A Cut Above by Verve), large doily (My Favorite Things), small doily (Martha Stewart), button (PTI), ribbon (Michaels), linen thread (SU)

A Wonderful Life and Happy Boxing Day!

2011-12-26T13:58:00.001-08:00

Happy Boxing Day, everyone!! We had an amazing evening last night hosting Christmas dinner for both our families…30 people. The new house is officially broken in!! Everything went off without a hitch and I was so busy visiting and giving house tours that I didn’t even pick up my camera :) I went out early this morning to pick up a few things at Pier 1. Today is Boxing Day in Canada (and the UK I believe). It’s kind of like the Thanksgiving Day sales in the US. Most stores start their sales before Christmas, but not Pier 1. We needed stocking hangers for the new fireplace and Pier 1 had the perfect, rustic looking ones. However, I was not going to pay full price so I waited until today to pick these up…

They match the mantle perfectly!! Score! Got back home before 9:00, cleaned up the kitchen some more, had a turkey bun (one advantage of hosting dinner…yummy leftovers!) and was able to make a card! My sister from Texas wants to give a good friend of hers a special card for her birthday in a few days, so she asked if I would make one. She picked out this sentiment and then I showed her some of my new papers and we decided on the colour palette. I’ve used my beloved Verve stamps, ALL of which are on sale during the week long Good Buy sale HERE…first up is Tag Time on sale for 50% off! I used the graph paper tag stamp that coordinates with the tagged rectangle die on sale for 10% off.

The sentiment is from Words of Wisdom, on sale for 30% off!!

Check out the rest of the amazing sale HERE…

AND when you’re there, please notice this little banner! Woohoo!! Let’s just say this Diva is a little excited about this one ;)
Okay, I’m off to do some online shopping myself!! Thanks so much for dropping by…let me know what you are buying this week…maybe it’s something I need too!! LOL Happy Shopping!!

what’s in it?

stamps: tag time, words of wisdom (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), espresso, pumpkin, caribbean (SU), farmhouse (Crate Paper), Farmhouse (October Afternoon)

ink: onyx (Versafine), sahara sand (SU),

accessories: tagged rectangle die (A Cut Above dies by Verve), eyelet (SU), twine, button and ribbon (PTI), border punch (Fiskars), stitching

Sending Christmas Joy & Cheer

2011-12-23T15:43:00.001-08:00

Hi!! I’m just sneaking this card in before the 25th. My package from Ellen Hutson arrived at the beginning of the week and I just HAD to cut into the new October Afternoon paper…was this released a little too late this year or was it just me? Anyways, I was happy to have made at least one card with it :) I picked out a few of my favourite papers and then went from there. The poinsettia is made with Dawn’s PTI poinsettia stamp set and dies…I have had fun with these this season :) This was a hand delivered card this week…too bulky and wide for mailing, but it is going to a dear stamping friend here in town :) Okay, I’ll leave you with our tree…much more beautiful IRL…the ornaments are a mixture of the dh’s and mine, which are mostly gifts from students through the years…a tree of loving memories :) I may not be back here until after Christmas so here is one final “Merry Christmas!!” Hugs to you in your part of the world…I appreciate your visits and sweet comments always :)

what’s in it?

stamps: pti Christmas poinsettia, Stylish Sentiments Holiday

ink: versafine onyx, su ruby red, sahara sand

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, October Afternoon holiday style

accessories: pti banner, poinsettia, mat stack 4 dies, pearls, stitching

Peace, Joy & Love

2011-12-21T16:41:00.001-08:00

Good afternoon!! It’s been a fun few days with my son here and the Christmas decorating mostly done :) I needed to make one more special card and with 2 of my favourite challenges, this card was born. It’s for the joy of my life, my son, Jake. It uses the colour palettes for this week’s colourQ challenge AND this week’s JUGS colour challenge hosted by my bestie, Lynn :) I’m calling a colour overlap on these challenges!!! Hope you think so too :)

Just had to sneak in another woodgrain image…I just love this set! Okay, I’m off to start the biscotti :) Thanks for visiting :) Cheers!

what’s in it?

stamps: pti modern woodgrain, wonderful words holiday

ink: versafine onyx, pti springmoss

paper: pti white, kraft, su cherry cobbler, echo park holly jolly, season’s greetings

accessories: pti word, edger and mat stack dies, ribbon

My Love for You…

2011-12-19T22:07:00.001-08:00

Good evening everyone!! Just popping in with a very special Christmas card I’ve been working on today in between house tours, shopping, baking and card writing :) It was only a few days ago when I realized I hadn’t made Tony’s card yet! Yikes!! I knew I wanted to get into my Verve binders and pick out a “love” sentiment…not a usual choice for a Christmas card, but one definitely for the love of my life on his Christmas card. The sentiment is from the Love Deepens set and the sweet little “xoxo” is from Love Notes. This card is also for the fun challenge over on A Passion for Papertrey :) The “challenge (ahem, cough, cough) is to add GREEN to your card. We are laughing here because this is one of Aimes’ favourite colours AND because it’s not too difficult for this St. Patrick’s Day baby to do the same :) Another busy day tomorrow…my son comes home for 5 days and we’ve got lots planned…he’ll be helping me in the studio and with the technical setups of all the new remotes :) LOL I hope to sneak a little more inky time in this week too :) Hope all your preparations are going well :) So glad you stopped by!! Christmas hugs,

what’s in it?

stamps: Love Deepens, Love Notes (Verve)

paper: kraft, rustic cream, springmoss (PTI), Season’s Greetings (Echo Park)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: tree, poinsettia, tab dies (PTI), buttons, twine, felt (PTI), brads (Making Memories), star gem ($ store)

merry, merry, merry!

2011-12-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good Friday morning!! Let’s start this day and so my holidays can start this afternoon!! Woohoo!! Hopefully I can spend some good quality time getting the studio a bit more organized :) When I saw the colours over on the ColourQ blog this week, clean and simple came to mind! I know! I can’t believe it! I guess I wanted to experiment with multiple die words and this seemed the best way. Here is what the card looked like before I cut the edges…

I moved the words around until I liked the randomness of them around the pink “merry.” Thanks so much for stopping by today…what are you excited about?

what’s in it?

stamps: pti Christmas poinsettia

ink: versamark

paper: pti white, green, kiwi kiss (best match)

accessories: pti word and poinsettia dies, button, baker’s twine

Happy Birthday ~ CASE Study Challenge #70

2011-12-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!! Only 2 more sleeps until I am off for my Christmas vacation. I usually like to work right up until Christmas, but it will be nice to have a week in the new house to perhaps bake a bit, shop, and hang out with my son who arrives on the 20th. I am slowly getting used to my new studio and where everything is. Today’s card is my take on Amy “Sensational” Sheffer’s card over on the CASE Study Challenge Blog this week…

She continues to inspire us with this neutral palette and bold image. I had “doily” on the brain when I first saw this card so I whipped out my Waltzingmouse doily stamps and layered them with 2 paper doilies. I also knew I wanted to use this fabulous aqua linen ribbon for a “wow” factor. I’m thinking this is going to be one of my sister’s birthday cards…stylish and bold :) I noticed a few of my blog buddies played along last week, how about this week? Would love to see your take on this. Head over to the CASE Study blog to see some more divine inspiration and then join in the fun!! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve small phrases, waltzingmouse stamps large doilies

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, soft stone

accessories: pti banner die, martha stewart doily, wilton paper doily, may arts linen ribbon, websters pages button/bauble, spellbinders large scallop dies

Be Merry and Bright

2011-12-12T21:26:00.001-08:00

Good evening! I was cutting some paper for our craft afternoon this coming Friday at work and had an itch to play along with the Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge this week. It was pretty open ended and gave me a good chance to ink up some yet to be used WMS stamps. This fun star image comes from Seasons of Love Tags. Then I flipped through my Christmas paper pads and found this gorgeous blue paper…which became the springboard for the rest of the card. No rusty bells on this one, but some tarnished silver ones that were in the same box with the rusty ones :) I’ve been on a bit of a doily kick again lately…and loving it! Thanks so much for all your sweet comments on the new house…I feel truly blessed here :) Hope your week has started out right…

what’s in it?

stamps: waltzingmouse stamps seasons of love tags

ink: versafine onyx, pti springmoss

paper: pti rustic cream, white, echo park season’s greetings

accessories: wilton doily, seam binding ribbon, silver bells, twine, gems, stitching

Glad Tidings from the new Studio!

2011-12-10T23:05:00.001-08:00

Hi dear friends!! Wow, I think this is the longest time I’ve had between posts! There has literally been no time between work and unpacking the house. I really tackled the studio today. You don’t really realize how much “stuff” you have until you unpack it!! LOL I even had the dh admit that maybe we should have made the studio a bit bigger!! ACK!! What did I say last April?! I think it will be much better once the new counters and cabinets come, then I can really organize. For now, I’ve just unpacked and set things up so I can start creating again. AND as it was settling in at Dad’s in August, this tag took me a good 3 hours to make! I just need to find my groove ;) So today’s colours are via the ColourQ Challenge blog. They also added a twist this week…anything but a card. Hmm, okay, I’ll make a tag (to later put on a card! shh!)…my favourite thing to do with a tag! Hey, did you notice the rusty bells? I found them today and just had to use them right away :) I was SOOOO excited!! Here is the yummy inspiration photo…

I actually want to make a fun card with this palette as well. This is just a delicious combination! Okay, I’ll leave you with some new photos…the fireplace! I love the progression each day. The only thing that wasn’t fun was all the concrete dust EVERYWHERE! And just after we had cleaned everything :(

I was so excited to put up my beloved nativity scene. I love that the stone makes it look so rustic. Will need to find some nice greenery to add.

Thanks so much for visiting!! Hopefully it won’t be too long until I’m back to regular posts. Hope the rest of your weekend is lovely :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve glad tidings

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, kraft, su caribbean

accessories: pti tree and banner die, buttons, ribbon, cuttlebug embossing folders, gems, stitching, su linen thread, twine, rusty bells!!, pti felt

Joyeux Noel – CASE Study Challenge #69

2011-12-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening! It is my pleasure to be broadcasting from the new studio! It’s a little unorganized but I love it…lots of time to grow into it. I’m hopefully ordering my new cupboards and counters this week and they should be here in January. A little belated Christmas gift to myself :) So it’s full blown Christmas here in the studio and what better way to decorate it than with a card for this week’s CASE Study Challenge? We are once again inspired by this month’s Muse, Amy “Amazing” Sheffer. Yep, that’s my term of endearment for her this week. She is the queen of delicious layers…and to me, this card is an 8 layer angel food cake with buttercream icing…

I was inspired by all the white layers, the embossing and the gorgeous red poinsettia. My sentiment is a shout out to the second official language of Canada, French, and comes from the Verve stamp set, Glad Tidings. The poinsettia is from the new stamp set, Bright Spirits. Thanks so much for stopping by…remember to head over to the CASE Study blog and feast your eyes on the Design Team’s projects inspired by Amy :) THEN join in the fun this week. We are being sponsored by Crop Stop…the winner will receive a $15.00 Gift Certificate!! Woohoo!! That’s where I buy all my clear envelopes ;)

what’s in it?

stamps: Glad Tidings, Bright Spirits (Verve)

paper: white, shimmer white (PTI), ruby red (SU), glitter cardstock (American Crafts)

ink: onyx (Versafine), real red (SU)

accessories: winter fun die set (A Cut Above by Verve), tag and banner dies (PTI), snowflake (The Cat’s Pajamas), gems (Kaisercraft), seam binding ribbon (craft supply), button (PTI), embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Thank You

2011-12-06T22:28:00.001-08:00

Good evening! I am really off my regular 4:00 AM posting schedule!! LOL But I’m going with the flow and not sweating the small stuff (except my rusty bells which are still MIA!). This is a masculine card I made last week at Dad’s house. A coworker came and asked if I had any thank you cards for a male coach. Hmm, that’s pretty specific…I said I would bring her my thank you cards to work the next day. Well, I had NO masculine thank you cards so I whipped this one up. I was only too happy to use the lovely PTI botanical set again :) Needless to say my coworker was very pleased and bought 2 more cards along with this one :) We continue to be busy unpacking and getting used to the new home. I have a few photos to share before I head off to bed. First up is the studio…in chaos, but slowly getting there.

Next 2 photos are of the stone waiting patiently to be installed tomorrow! Ah, cozy fireplace will be ready for the weekend…bliss!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

what’s in it?

stamps: pti botanical silhouettes

paper: pti kraft, su sahara sand, lilybee designs dp

ink: versafine onyx, su riverrock, sahara sand

accessories: pti twine, buttons, fiskars border punch, creative concepts ef

Love Lives Here

2011-12-05T15:53:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone! Wow, it’s only been 3 days, but I feel totally out of the loop! We moved on the weekend so it’s been a whirlwind of boxes and unpacking and cooking for ourselves again!! LOL I don’t have anything brand new today, but thought I would repost the card I made back in February for the PTI blog hop on scallops. I saved this card for a special occasion and finally found the perfect person to give it to. It’s going to the lovely woman who worked with me since May to coordinate the colours, light fixtures, new furniture etc at the new house. She is our interior designer. At times I felt like she was my BFF calming me down as I got a bit overwhelmed by having too many choices. She was very good at letting me know how everything would work together. And it all does. We are extremely happy with all the decisions we made :) I’ve worked with her before and she’s very good at figuring out what is in my mind and what my tastes are. So it seems only fitting that she receive a little “home” inspired card. I’m off to unpack some more boxes…not sure when I’ll be back to a regular schedule…I’m not putting any pressure on myself, but hope to treat myself to a little inky time one evening this week. Thanks so much for visiting :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-02T17:19:00.001-08:00

Good evening and TGIF! I had this post all ready to go last night, but Dad’s internet was down again. Luckily he was getting his new T.V. PVR in and they upgraded his internet modem and wireless router :) So, here is today’s card, a little delayed. We have a busy weekend, but I won’t mind…we are moving the final boxes AND temporary studio tomorrow! I really wanted to squeeze in one more colourQ card in before the big MOVE so kept my Christmas stamps and dies out. I had originally wanted to make some ornaments for this card, but I let the colour Muses guide me and out came a sparkly snowflake instead :) That HUGE button was the biggest one in my PTI button jar…lol It’s the perfect size for that snowflake IMHO. Here are the colours this week…

Hopefully I won’t be offline too long…see you soon! Have a wonderful weekend! I’ll leave you with the final install of the railing :)

Wednesday…

Thursday…almost done!

Thinking of You and my CASE Study DT Debut!!

2011-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Yes!! You read it right!! I have been given the great honour of joining one TALENTED design team! Chupa contacted me last month and voila! Here I am on the other side of this super fun weekly CASE Study challenge! One of the biggest reasons I loved playing this challenge, was the open endedness of the inspiration…colour, layout, sentiments…there’s so much to be inspired by. It really lets you think outside the box and get creatively “messy,” KWIM?

And to make this announcement even sweeter, our Muse this month is none other than my lovely Diva Sistah, the uber fantastic, Amy Sheffer!! ACK!! Her blog was one of the first ones I ever started following!! So this post seems a little serendipitous! I am ALWAYS inspired and FOREVER in awe of her cards…and this week’s card is no exception :)

I was inspired by the colours, polka dotted butterflies and the semi circle panel which I flipped around and added scallops to :) I am challenging all my blog friends and visitors to join us this week in celebration of my debut!! Head over to the CASE Study Blog for more inspiration…woohoo!! Thanks for celebrating with me!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve kind words, pti fillable frames #4

ink: versafine onyx, su ruby red

paper; pti rustic cream, cosmo cricket, october afternoon, pti dps

accessories: pti spiral notepage, love lives here butterfly, scallop edger dies, pti ribbon, buttons, thread

Happy Birthday

2011-11-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone! I’m sneaking in here with a little card that CASES a card I made a few weeks back :) I loved the way the stamping turned out so I made another one but left off the frame and added some buttons and twine.

I just love the look of stamping on patterned paper. Anyways, this is a super quick post as we are packing up more things at Dad’s as our official move gets closer. I’m thinking I may be off the “grid” Friday and part of the weekend as I move the computer and the rest of the temporary studio. Here are a few more photo updates…

stove is in and hooked up…backsplash is done :)

I wanted my desk to be counter height with a stool, so I can have the option to sit or stand. The shelving unit from Ikea was only desk height. On the weekend, the dh and I were looking in Home Depot for some wood legs and found these brushed nickel legs…SOLD!!

I think it looks like a piece of custom furniture now :) Love when a plan falls into place :) Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful hump day!

what’s in it?

stamps: papertrey ink botanical silhouettes

ink: versafine onyx, su sahara sand, rose romance

paper: papertrey ink soft stone, rustic cream, my mind’s eye blush

accessories: pti love lives here die, my favourite things butterfly, gems, twine, buttons

You are {Deeply} Loved, Jake

2011-11-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Today’s post is a combination of two important events. First and foremost, it is my son, Jake’s birthday. My little peanut is 23 and I still remember the wonder and joy I felt when I first held him in my arms. I’m pretty sure I’ve posted this photo before, but I feel it’s very appropriate for the day. Now, secondly, today is my Diva Dare day over on the Verve Blog!! The dare this time is “A Handmade Christmas.” Now you may be asking, where’s the Christmas in this card? lol Read on…

Since I was posting on Jake’s birthday, I thought I’d make his birthday card AND then take the same layout and make a Christmas card as well. I wanted to showcase how you can take one design and have it fit different occasions…to save you/me from going mad thinking up a new idea at the busiest time of the year :) So up first is Jake’s birthday card, complete with a Starbucks card and a little cheque tucked in behind {wink, wink!}.

And here is the Christmas version…

This one won’t be going to Jake, but is all ready to go to a special coworker.

Thanks so much for visiting and letting me gush about my Jake (again). I don’t get to make his cake on his birthday anymore, but I always make one when he comes home for Christmas so he can make a belated wish. I kind of like our new tradition :) Now head over to the Verve Blog to see all the details of the Diva Dare going on this month until December 9th…there’s a prize of a $30.00 gift certificate AND one lucky commenter will get a stamp set of their choice! It will feel just like YOUR birthday! LOL Have a wonderful Monday!

what’s in them?

{you are loved}

stamps: Small Phrases, Bloom and Grow, Birthday Bash (Verve)

paper: cream, ocean tides (PTI), sahara sand, choc chip (SU), Spice (My Mind’s Eye)

ink: onyx (Versafine), sahara sand (SU), Versaamark

accessories: elegant leaves, charming banner dies (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), gift card die, buttons, twine (PTI), pearls (Kaisercraft), woodgrain embossing folder (Craft Concepts), stitching

{just for you}

stamps: Bright Spirits, Glad Tidings, Frosty Flakes, Christmas in the Air, Sunny Days (Verve)

paper: cream, kraft (PTI), sahara sand, espresso, ruby red (SU), Season’s Greetings (Echo Park)

ink: onyx (Versafine), chocolate chip, ruby red (SU)

accessories: Frosty Snowflakes, Leafy Sprigs, Charming Oval dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve), gift card die, button, twine (PTI), gem (Kaisercraft), embossing folder (SU), stitching

Merry Christmas

2011-11-27T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning! After working at the new house yesterday, I came back to Dad’s and looked at my wish-to-do list. On it was this week’s My Favourite Things sketch :) I am always thankful when I can fit one of these in :) It had a tag so I couldn’t resist even if I tried :) I don’t have any MFT Christmas stamps so I used the note paper stamp from Own Your Own Story. It’s not much MFT, but I tried! I’ll leave you with a few new house photos, one of which shows the new Ikea furniture in the new studio, just waiting for stamps, paper, ink, ribbon, buttons and bling! Can’t wait!! Thanks for visiting and have a lovely day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: mft own your own story, verve bright spirits

ink: versafine onyx, versamark

paper: pti rustic cream, hawaiian shore, mme 12 days of christmas

accessories: pti tag and poinsettia dies, felt, buttons, bakers twine, Michaels bell, stitching, twill ribbon

laundry room

desk top, desk legs, shelves, trash bin, stool all from Ikea

Joy! A Card, a Sale, and some House Pics!

2011-11-26T10:00:00.001-08:00

Good morning!! I’m off to a bit of a late start this morning…got a “honey do” list that I’m actually going to enjoy…moving more things into the house :) But before I leave, I wanted to share another card I made for the Verve Release this month. I’ve used the Sweet Scallop tag dies, both Tiny and Regular as well as the new Snowflake Tidings die that coordinates with the snowflakes in Glad Tidings. Have you heard about the Verve Black Friday sale on now until tomorrow? Check it out HERE!

And lastly, things continue to move along at the house and finally yesterday I felt I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The plumbers fixed the kitchen taps so I can keep the ones I picked out and desperately love! The backsplashes in all the rooms are complete AND the carpenter doing our staircase railing showed up and started putting the posts in…AND he should be back today to continue…the railing is another must have before occupancy!! So Moe was very excited…PLUS I had a handsome and handy man help put some things together in the studio…here are the photos. Thanks for popping by!!

Desk was put together late last night…will take a photo today…it makes me REALLY smile :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits, Glad Tidings (Verve)

paper: sahara sand, espresso (SU), white (PTI), Season’s Greetings (Echo Park)

ink: onyx (Versafine), choc chip, sahara sand (SU), tea dye duo (PTI)

accessories: Snowflake Tidings, Tiny Sweet Scallop, Sweet Scallop Tag dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve ), wine tag and tag dies, twine (PTI), bells and ribbon (Michaels), gems (Kaisercraft), Holly Ribbons embossing folder (Cuttlebug), stitching

Papertrey Ink November Blog Hop

2011-11-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my PTI Blog Hop post! I’ve had a bit of crazy fun with all my new Christmas dies and stamps last weekend so grab a coffee (or tea, Aimes!). For this first card, I’m going to use a line on you that I teach my children…”Ms Plut…I want you to notice {something about their artwork}.” Dear Visitor, I want you to notice that the poinsettia has been die cut out of Joy to the World sheet music (from my dear friend, Janelle!). Oh, how I love the new ink! This is the first time using Springmoss and I LOVE it! No more stamping off Kiwi Kiss!! This next card is using that fabulous snowflake die, oh my!

And lastly, because your coffee (or tea!) is almost done… another snowflake, but this time out of felt! The button and leaves were inspired by the Starbucks packaging this year…and so is this sentiment {Let’s} Merry. Leave it to SB to make an adjective into a verb! They are making my job more difficult!! LOL

I think the inspiration for all the cards is self explanatory seeing the photo below :) …all the colours (red, green, cream and kraft) and patterns. Thanks so much for looking and always leaving such lovely comments…enjoy the rest of the hop and the start to the weekend :)

what’s in them?

{peacelovejoy}

stamps: pti modern woodgrain,stylish sentiments

ink: versafine onyx, pti springmoss

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, kraft, lime twist, sheet music

accessories: pti dies, wood button, twine, jingle bells (Michaels), may arts twill

{christmas cheer}

stamps: pti stylish sentiments

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti kraft, rustic cream, su red, echo park season’s greetings dp

accessories: pti snowflake die, circle nestabilities, pti buttons, twine, Michaels ribbon, stitching

{merry}

stamps: pti modern woodgrain

ink: su ruby red

paper: pti kraft, rustic cream, su red, echo park season’s greetings dp

accessories: pti dies, felt, button, twine

Truly Make a Difference

2011-11-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good “day before Friday” everyone!! I don’t make many teacher appreciation cards…lots of teacher coworker thank you cards, but not many to say thanks to all those wonderful teachers out there. Being a teacher myself, it sounds a bit self serving. However, who better to know what the other teachers are doing out there? I see it first hand everyday. I like to share this little analogy that I heard one teacher use as she described her job…it’s like hosting a daily birthday party of 24+ children for 6 hours. Having said that, it’s also very rewarding if it was what you have always wanted to be since you were 9…that’s my story ;) I took my cue from the ColourQ palette this week. I have issues with orange and brown at times, hoping I won’t make them look like a Brownie uniform! LOL I think the white and yellow help in that respect. I embossed the tag and jotted heart with the typeset Cuttlebug folder. The house is inching (sounds better than centimetering!) along. My handsome and handy husband caulked all the windows today…one item that is on the “occupancy and home warranty checklists.” We have 2 more items and then can call the city inspector. He also told me I could start unpacking some boxes this weekend! MY PLEASURE!! Woohoo!! Have a fantastic day!

what’s in it?

stamps: my favourite things clearly sentimental about teaching, four point frame stamps

ink: versafine onyx, su ruby red

paper: pti white, su espresso, basicgrey dp

accessories: verve jotted heart, pti edgers, tag, blossom, fillable frame dies, button,, cuttlebug ef, thread, crate paper brad, Michaels ribbon and cork

Finally, a new Wild Card Colour Challenge!

2011-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Hump Day everyone! I am all caught up on my DT duties and personal cards, so I thought it would be fun to pull some new colours and make another Wild Card Colour Challenge (for those of you new to my blog, see the Wild Card page button above). I was skimming through the Papertrey Ink forum this week and someone had asked if there was a colour challenge in blogland using PTI colours and my blog was mentioned!! Though not a “formal” challenge, pulling your own colour combination is super fun and really gets the old dendrites working :) Oh, I have missed this personal challenge. Here’s what was pulled last night…

As you can see from my card, I am not done with my Modern Woodgrain stamp set AT ALL!! I was also itching to get out the Newsprint set again…just love stamping it to make a quick background. I also got to cut into my new Damask paper :) Thanks for enabling, Lynn!! In a rut this week? How ‘bout use my colours!! Let me know if you do, I’d love to visit your blog and see your take on it! Have a lovely day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve big wish, pti modern woodgrains, newsprint

ink: versafine onyx, su going grey

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, damask dp, authentique dp

accessories: pti scallop, banner, mat stack 4, friendly flower dies, ribbon, button, twine

Merry Christmas

2011-11-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello and good morning!! I always love the weeks after a stamp release :) After having SO much fun playing with brand new images, I love that I can take the next few weeks to slowly share the other projects I made. This card was SUPER fun with the Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas paper. I’ve used one of the sentiments from Verve’s Bright Spirits as well as the snowflakes from Christmas in the Air with the new matching dies!! LOVE the dies!! I’m also getting a nice little stock pile of Christmas cards…how are yours? Have a wonderful day!! Thanks for spending a few minutes with me :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits, Christmas in the Air (Verve)

paper: kraft, white (PTI), espresso, bermuda bay (SU), Holly Jolly Christmas (Echo Park)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Frosty Snowflakes dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve), scallop border die, buttons, twine (PTI), ribbon (May Arts), stitching

Yuletide Blessings

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! It’s a new week and I’m not sad it’s Monday…it means that hopefully more work will be done at the house that will see us moving soon…so bring on Monday!! LOL Today’s card is for this week’s Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge…I am still determined to win a stamp set one of these days :) I took some (read “lots of”) liberty with the sketch as I was determined to use my lovely heirloom ornaments from last year. They hardly got used last year before we were onto Valentine’s cards! I also have a little fetish with bells and twine this year. Still sad about my rusty bells in storage somewhere, but these crimson ones are helping put a smile back on my face :) Thanks so much for visiting…have a fabulous day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: waltzingmouse vintage ornaments, compliments of the season

ink: versafine onyx, su ruby red

paper: pti kraft, cream, authentique wonder dp

accessories; spellbinders heritage ornament die, wilton paper doily, su seam binding, Michaels jingle bells, pti twine, gems, stitching

Many Hands Make Light Work (and a few more new house pics!)

2011-11-20T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! Last weekend we were able to move many of our boxes out of the storage containers and into the new house with the help of 3 dear friends. Acts of kindness like this (who wants to move boxes on your day off?) overwhelm us and so I wanted to show our appreciation in a small way with a handmade card. I immediately thought of the PTI Love Lives Here set. It’s perfect for creating a “home”y feel to cards.

Things are coming together at the house…here are a few updates…the wood floor is in the basement and studio now :) It’s engineered hardwood. Love it next to Sahara Sand.

The front door is now stained!! I love how our painter made it look like a wood door with just the streaking of the stain! It’s a fiberglass door! Cool :)

the kitchen backsplash…before grout. I didn’t think it would be so busy…but I think the cream grout will soften it.

Another shot of it…there will be an inset in that empty spot…some diamond tiles with dark squares.

thanks for visiting…have a blessed Sunday :)

what’s in them?

stamps: pti love lives here

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, rustic cream, sweet blush, spring moss, kraft, october afternoon and prima dps, glitter cardstock

accessories: pti doily, love lives here, banner and tag dies, twill ribbon, ms butterfly punch, gems, stitching, twine

In the Direction of Your Dreams

2011-11-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello!! ACK! I’ve been without internet since Tuesday and after being disconnected twice by our internet provider, on hold for 30 minutes and promised a call back that never happened, I am delighted to say it was an easy fix and we are back up today. So I am just in time to play with this week’s ColourQ colours! And here we go with another scrumptious inspiration photo…

It doesn’t get any yummier than razzleberry, pumpkin and crumb cake! Oh my!! I even got the neutral “white” right this week!! I was so happy to have remembered this lovely satin ribbon AND delighted that I had brought it with me (‘cause I didn’t bring my SU Autumn Splendor set that would have been PERFECT for this card). We are literally on the “HOME” stretch (pun intended) and if everyone shows up this week MAY be moving in the next 2 weeks :) I’ll have some more photos tomorrow :) Thanks so much for visiting today…I’m off to vote in our municipal election and then up to the house to clean cupboards :) Have a wonderful day!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve words of wisdom

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti kraft, white, su pumpkin, razzleberry, pti autumn abundance and MME lost and found dps

accessories: pti tab and scallop border dies, may arts ribbon, stitching, pti button, thread

Merry Christmas ~ Get Your Diva On!

2011-11-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! Have you seen the new just released stamps and dies from Verve? Check out all the new products over in the Verve Store! Then, head over to the Verve Forum for the newest Get Your Diva On Challenge. Diva Teresa is challenging us to be inspired by this gorgeous festive photo…if THIS doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will!! LOL I was making this card for the new release and then realized it was perfect for the GYDO challenge. I added a music paper poinsettia (notice I used Joy to the World music!) and some fun little jingle bells. But the sweetest thing is that little “joy” tag!! I got the Stampin’ Up antique tags awhile ago and was dying to use them. BUT I had to find a word small enough for it!! Enter Small Phrases to the rescue. The “joy” is from the stamp “bundle of joy.” LOL I just inked up the last word and said a little prayer it would stamp perfectly…and it did!! woohoo!! So are you ready to get your Diva on?! Can’t wait to see your take on it!!

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits, Small Phrases (Verve)

paper; rustic cream (PTI), ruby red (SU), Nordic Holiday (basicgrey), Christmas sheet music

ink: onyx (Versafine), tea dye duo (PTI)

accessories: poinsettia die, twine, button (PTI), lace trim, bells (Michaels), tag (SU), border punch (Fiskars), stitching

Christmas Greetings

2011-11-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! It’s the last day to enter a card in the CASE Study challenge for last week, so I’m just under the gun again!! I’ve been having too much fun playing with my new Verve stamps and today’s card is no exception. I picked one of the few sentiments from Bright Spirits that I haven’t inked up yet! Oh I love inking brand new stamps…how ‘bout you? Here’s the inspiration photo from this month’s Muse, Kryssi Ng…

I was soooooo tempted to make another Fall card, but then I saw my friend Andrea’s card and knew I had to start using my PTI snowflake die. I’ve used Kryssi’s layout but just changed the sentiment, images and season!! LOL The single red button with holly leaves was inspired by Starbucks gifts. I was in there a “few” times last weekend and they had a similar single button with leaves on their holiday packaging. Thanks so much for stopping by and for all your sweet comments. They really make my heart sing :) Have a glorious day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits (Verve)

paper: white, kraft, red (PTI), Wonder (Authentique), glitter cardstock

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: snowtlake die, felt, button, twine (PTI), border punch (EK Success), stitching

Verve After Party Favourite

2011-11-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! It is tradition that we Verve Divas pick a favourite card from the release for our After Party hop. It was a tough call, but I chose this one…it’s loosely based on Diva Amy’s Viva La Verve sketch a week ago :) I just love the pink and red for a non traditional Christmas palette. It also uses some of my favourites from this Release…the sentiment from Bright Spirits and the 2 of the new dies, Winter Fun and Lovely Marquee. Check out the Verve Blog for the master list to see all of the Diva Favourites. What did you or what are YOU planning to buy? lol Check out the SALE as well…happy day to you all!

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits (Verve)

paper: sweet blush, rustic cream, scarlet jewel, white (PTI), espresso, ruby red, razzleberry (SU), Nordic Holiday (Basicgrey)

ink: onyx (Versafine), choc chip (SU), tea dye duo (PTI)

accessories: Lovely Marquee, Winter Fun dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve), circle and scallop circle dies (Spellbinders), seam binding ribbon (Memriemare), button, twine (PTI), embossing folder (SU), bells (Michaels), gem button (My Mind’s Eye), border punch (EK Success), gems (Kaisercraft)

One Blessing After Another

2011-11-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! It’s been a wonderful long weekend and we’ve got a bit more done at the house. The studio flooring is going in today or tomorrow so I’ll be able to have some updated photos soon. We had to change the cork flooring to hardwood in the basement because the product wasn’t going together well. Anyways…since we didn’t have to do any major moving yet, I thought I’d treat myself to playing around with this week’s colourQ palette :) Love these fall colours and so out came my sweet little acorn dies and stamps. Now, this first card is actually my second card for this challenge…the first one is below but it just wasn’t as vibrant as I wanted it to be…hence the second card. I’ve used canvas again for the leaves…just love using other material for die cuts…so fun!

Hope your day is wonderful…thanks so much for stopping by :)

what’s in them?

{one blessing}

stamps: pti beautiful blessings, autumn acorns

ink: versafine onyx, su choc chip, close to cocoa, melon berry, pti aquamist

paper: su peach parfait, soft suede, pti white, MME dp

accessories: pti acorn and note page dies, button, twine, ribbon, stitching

{thank you"}

stamps: pti wonderful word additions, leaf prints

ink: versafine onyx, su really rust, pumpkin pie

paper: pti white, su soft suede, MME lime twist and Lilybee Designs papers

accessories: canvas, pti leaf, scallop border and note page dies, embossing folder, pti button and twine, stitching

Verve Holiday Spotlight Hops ~ Day Four

2011-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our final Holiday Spotlight Hop! Last night we released 2 new stamp sets, 5 plain janes and 6 dies to coordinate with new and old Verve holiday sets! All of the new products we've been showcasing this week are available now in the Verve store!

Oh, what a fun release party last night!! I am especially excited about the new snowflake and lovely marquee dies…no more cutting for Moe!! LOL AND I get so excited about new sentiments fitting onto my favourite labels dies too :) This new sentiment fits perfectly onto my beloved Classy Label die and coordinating stamp from Love Notes. I also got to play with the Mojo Sketch this week…and you still have time too. It’s contest week so there is a Verve prize!! Perfect timing for the new release! And there are those sweet little Love Birds again…they are a sweet match to the Basicgrey Nordic Holiday paper along with the “Peace” stamp from Bright Spirits released last night.

Are you ready for today’s prize!! Hang onto your Cuttlebug!!

Be sure to leave a little comment love as you take one last stroll through the Diva and Guest Diva blogs. One lucky commenter from today's hop will win the ENTIRE Release! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

1. Julee 8. Sankari

2. Andrea 9. Teresa

3. Vickie {Guest} 10. Charmaine

4. Amy 11. Tosha

5. Maureen 12. Wanda {Guest}

6. Laurie 13. Jackie

7. Gretchen {Guest}

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits, Love Notes (Verve)

paper: white, soft stone (PTI), going gray, marina mist (SU), Nordic Holiday (Basicgrey)

ink: onyx (Versafine), soft sky, basic grey (SU)

accessories: Love Birds, Classy Label dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve), tab, tag, spiral notepage dies, buttons (PTI), circle and scallop circle dies (Spellbinders), gems (Kaisercraft), woodgrain embossing folder (Craft Concepts), ribbon (Michaels)

Verve Holiday Spotlight Hop ~ Day Three

2011-11-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the last day of our Holiday Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas today as we share our LAST first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve tonight!! It’s 11 – 11- 11 and this Diva is an 11:11 girl (this number shows up a lot in my life!). So after spending the day in quiet remembrance of our brave men and women, I will be ready to celebrate the newest Verve Release. Today’s fun little set is perfect for tags!! Rudolph is totally reminding me that my beloved Reindeer mugs are patiently waiting in storage for their debut at the new house! I added a little red pompom for some added texture and fun! I used the To/From stamp from last year’s Glad Tidings…that little stamp is beyond brown!! If you KWIM!! lol Now, there is also a whole lotta dies releasing tonight…two of which are on this next card, using Diva Jackie’s wonderful Viva La Verve Week 2 sketch over on the VLV thread in the forum…

Julee has answered our prayers and is releasing the matching die to that fabulous marquee stamp from Love Story! I’ve also used the Love Birds dies from yesterday’s sneak peek along with their outline images from Bright Spirits.

Okay, enough chit chat!! Onto the prizes and the party tonight! One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

See you tonight at the Verve Release Party over on the Verve Forum!! 6:00 PM Pacific Time!! Hopefully there will be NO interruptions like the last 2 releases!! LOL (i.e. selling my townhouse and the phone company!)

1. Julee 8. Sankari

2. Andrea 9. Teresa

3. Vickie {Guest} 10. Charmaine

4. Amy 11. Tosha

5. Maureen 12. Wanda {Guest}

6. Laurie 13. Jackie

7. Gretchen {Guest}

what’s in it?

{Santa’s Little Helper tag}

stamps: Santa’s Little Helper, Glad Tidings (Verve)

paper: soft stone, white, kraft (PTI), Peppermint (Crate Paper)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: tag dies, button, ribbon, twine (PTI), circle die (Spellbinders), pompom (Michaels)

{A True Love Story}

stamps: Bright Lights, Love Story (Verve)

paper: soft stone, white, shimmer white (PTI), shimmer bronze (paper supply), Portrait collection (Crate Paper)

ink: onyx (Versafine), sahara sand, choc chip (SU)

accessories: Lovely Marquee, Love Birds, Jotted Heart dies (A Cut Above dies by Verve), heart circles and labels 9 dies (Spellbinders), seam binding (SU), thread (craft supply), gems (Kaisercraft), embossing folder (Cuttlebug), stitching

Verve Holiday Spotlight Hop ~ Day Two

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our Holiday Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas over the next few days as we share our first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve this Friday night! Oh, my! New stamps to stamp onto kraft paper! BLISS! I’ve found that whenever I’m not sure how to cut out a fun image, I will use it to make a background instead! The new Bright Spirits set comes with 4 adorable ornament images, perfect for creating a very merry background! I also love holding up sentiments to all my die shapes to see which one looks good where…the winner this time for this sentiment was the Curvy Bookplate die :) I stamped the sentiment off center so I could add the sweet little layered star/poinsettia also from Bright Spirits. The dies for them are part of the new Winter Fun die collection (FUN indeed! No cutting!! LOL). Want to win this set, these dies and MORE?!
One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines. Enjoy the rest of the hop and see you tomorrow!!

1. Julee 8. Andrea

2. Jackie 9. Vickie {Guest}

3. Teresa 10. Amy

4. Charmaine 11. Laurie

5. Maureen 12. Gretchen {Guest}

6. Tosha 13. Sankari

7. Wanda {Guest}

what’s in it?

stamps: Bright Spirits, Tag Time (Verve)

paper: kraft, white, raspberry fizz, royal velvet, bitty box basics (PTI)

ink: onyx (Versafine), raspberry fizz (PTI), bermuda bay, kiwi kiss, perfect plum (SU)

accessories: Winter Fun and Curvy Bookplate Dies (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), Mat and Doily dies and button (PTI), ribbon (Michaels), bakers twine (craft supply), gems (Kaisercraft), snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Verve Holiday Spotlight Hop ~ Day One

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our Holiday Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas over the next few days as we share our first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve this Friday night! For today’s card I used the fabulous new Jeremiah 33:3 Plain Jane with the Flared Cross Plain Jane and coordinating die from the new Cross Set (thanks, Julee!). I am always on the look out for some more inspiring verses to use on get well, thinking of you or even sympathy cards…and this PJ does the job! PLUS it fits perfectly on the Rounded Rectangle die from the last release! I didn’t quite ink up my cross stamp so it would look a bit rustic and added some twine for some extra texture. Want to win these stamps and die?

One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines. Thanks for stopping by!

1. Julee 7. Andrea

2. Teresa 8. Vickie {Guest}

3. Charmaine 9. Amy

4. Maureen 10. Laurie

5. Tosha 11. Gretchen {Guest}

6. Wanda {Guest} 12. Sankari

what’s in it?

stamps: Jeremiah 33:3, Flared Cross (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), so saffron, sahara sand (SU), Memorandum (Lilybee Designs)

ink; onyx (Versafine), sahara sand (SU), tea dye duo (PTI)

accessories: Cross Set, Rounded Rectangle die (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), apron lace punch (Fiskars), seam binding ribbon and linen thread (SU), button (PTI), stitching

Happy Birthday, Lynn!!

2011-11-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning!! Today’s card helps me shout out some BIG birthday wishes to my dear friend, Lynn!! I’m not even going to refer to her as a “blog buddy” as we have met IRL and are definitely kindred spirits :) This is not Lynn’s real birthday card…that is in the mail to her…although now that I’ve made this, I wish I would have sent this one!! LOL I have not used this PTI set much and thought that it was the perfect time to ink it up for this week’s CASE Study challenge. They have a new Muse, Kryssi Ng, my fellow Skipping Stones Guest Designer in August!! Hi Kryssi!! Just look at this amazing card!

I was inspired by the shape of the die, but flipped mine and used it on a square card. I used a floral image and added 2 sweet little butterflies :) Before I leave you, I want to share a few rerun pictures of Lynn and I this summer :) I hope you have the most amazing day, Lynn!! Hugs!!

what’s in it?

stamps: pti botanical silhouettes

ink: versafine onyx, su sahara sand, rose romance

paper: pti soft stone, rustic cream, my mind’s eye blush

accessories: labels 9 nestabilities, pti love lives here die, mft butterfly, gems

Friends ‘Til the End

2011-11-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! Today’s card is my take on Diva Jen’s Sketch for You to Try! It’s the beginning of a new month and that means Jen has a new sketch and a new monthly sponsor, VERVE!! Woohoo!! In honour of being asked to join in the fun over on Jen’s Blog, I thought I would use the Verve set she inspired, Making a Statement. This set is VERY BROWN since it’s August release…it’s still in my go-to basket :) I also used the coordinating Loopy Blooms dies to cut out my felt flower and leaves and the Rounded Scallop Frame to cut out a chipboard frame. I used the Rounded Rectangle Die on top of the frame this time, instead of underneath it. Please check out Jen’s post and learn all about the new sketch as well as to see the links to some more wonderful samples with this sketch. Have a wonderful weekend…YIKES, I just remembered it’s FALL BACK with the clocks!! Oh, how I’ve missed that hour!! LOL

what’s in it?

stamps: making a statement (Verve)

paper: cream, kraft (PTI), mellow moss (SU!), Sidewalks (October Afternoon)

ink: onyx (Versafine), real red, sahara sand (SU)

accessories: Loopy Blooms, Rounded Rectangle, Rounded Scallop Frame (A Cut Above by Verve), tag die, buttons, felt, twine (PTI), twill (May Arts), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

…And Everything Nice!!

2011-11-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

TGIF everyone!! Thought I’d pop in quickly to share one of those baby cards I made for my sister’s wine store this month :) I am LOVING the layered die style that seems to be BIG right now :) Things are moving along at the house…just not as fast I would like…telephone, internet, cable and basement flooring (including the studio!) go in this weekend :) AND the painting is being finished as we speak. So hopefully in the next 2 weeks I’ll be broadcasting from the new house :) In the meantime…get ready for some new VERVE next week!! The Spotlights start on Wednesday. Can’t wait?! Well, head over to the Verve Store and check out the SALE!! Come back tomorrow for a special little post and sketch challenge ;) Hugs!!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve to the moon, pti modern woodgrain

ink: versafine onyx, su rose romance

paper: pti soft stone, rustic cream, kraft, sweet blush

accessories: pti dies (tag, mat stack, doily), may arts ribbon, pti button and twine, gems

You’re in My Thoughts

2011-11-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Well, I guess the up side of not moving this week is that I have a few more days of card making before the computer has to go to the new house :) I just love the stunning colour palette this week over on the colourQ blog. AND it made me smile because most of our lighting fixtures are in and working at the new house :) see below… Now, leave it to me and this crazy month to totally miss out on the “vanilla” at the end of the colour line up. It usually is “white” on the colourQ and I really read vanilla as white…so that’s what y’all get!! LOL I also went to grab my lovely brown twill ribbon and realized it did not make the ribbon basket during the temporary move! What was I thinking!? No rusty bells and no brown ribbon!! I really am roughing it!! LOL Otherwise, I am very pleased with this fun little layered tag card…grace under pressure :) Hope your week is going well. Thanks so much for all your lovely and encouraging comments…you are the best :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve free stamp with purchase, pti modern woodgrain

ink: versafine onyx, su close to cocoa

paper: pti white, su indigo, pumpkin, pti distressed dots

accessories: pti tag 5, doily details and mat 4 dies, Michaels ribbon, pti button, su twine

The powder room light fixture…it gives off the coolest effect on the blue walls at night :)

Ah, my lovely studio light…so gorgeous…Tony is going to have a hard time getting me out of this room! LOL

I guess this is what the kitchen will look like after a party! Island drop lights and new appliances just being installed.

September CARDS

2011-10-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! Happy Halloween! I was a busy stamper yesterday, making some cards for my sister’s wine store…she finally wants some big cards, but baby, wedding and congratulations ones. I don’t usually keep those on hand as they go pretty fast when I take my cards into work. Note to self: these are the most popular, so MAKE MORE!! LOL So I thought I would show you the cards that you could have seen in the September CARDS magazine. If not, here they are! The one above was on the blog last year, but I don’t think this second one was. I just love this sentiment from Verve’s Autumn Splendor :)

The leaves on this second one were made with balsa wood and then stamped :) The sentiment is from Verve’s Bountiful Harvest :) So hopefully today the electricians will show up and finish what they started on Friday :) It looks like our move in day will be pushed back a bit :( Oh, well, I’m trying to be patient :) Thanks for visiting and have a terrific Halloween!

Just Be

2011-10-30T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! After running all my errands yesterday, I found a few hours to play in the studio. I was inspired by this week’s card over on CASE Study by their Muse, Niki Estes. I thought my new Echo Park paper was a perfect spring board for this card.

I hope you can tell I was inspired by the colours, stitching and flower :) I love this sentiment from my beloved Verve Words of Wisdom set. It says it all in 2 small words :) I hope you have a few moments to “just be” today as well :) Life is good :) Hugs!

what’s in it?

stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve)

paper: soft stone, kraft, rustic cream (PTI), Victorian Garden (Echo Park)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: tag and tab dies, felt, twine, button (PTI), butterfly die (My Favourite Things), seam binding ribbon (SU), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching

Serenity Prayer

2011-10-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! Oh, my I love a Saturday morning!! Today, I am up bright and early to meet the phone man over in the new house and get the phone line put in :) It’s the phone number that I was desperate to save last summer. I’ve had it for 17 years and am VERY attached to it! Is that wrong?! LOL Anyways, I am also meeting my 2 stamping buddies up there to give them an unofficial “early” tour ;) Hopefully the furnace works!! Today’s project is my last official Just Us Girls Guest Designer post. Oh, I have had a TON of fun with these gals, 2 of which are dear blog buddies (Lynn and Andrea). Hmm, do they ever ask GDs to come back for a rerun?! Would LOVE to!! Anyways, this week is the fifth Wild Card Challenge week and Elise has challenged (and I do mean CHALLENGED) us to alter a frame somehow and creatively place art in it. I have NEVER done this before, but after doing a bit of research and being inspired by this sentiment, I went to it! My coworker recently bought a card with this fabulous Serenity Prayer on it. She loved it so much, she keeps the card on her desk :) So I wanted to make her something a little more permanent and then she can send the purchased card to a friend who may need the same little reminder now and again…there are some things in life we cannot change. I hope she likes it :) And I hope you’ll pop over to the JUGS blog and see all the amazing inspiration…then jump in and play!! It’s ALL good!
Okay, before I leave, I just want to let you know that I’ve been warned by the dh that I need to have the temporary studio packed by Wednesday and ready to move in Thursday and Friday…so I may be a little AWOL this week…I’ll try to pop in with maybe some reruns or CARDS publications…or maybe a few new house pics :) Thanks for understanding :) Hugs! Enjoy the weekend.

what’s in it?

stamps: verve serenity, pti harvest berries

ink: versafine onyx, pti tea dye, su kiwi, wasabi

paper: pti white, lilybee design memorandum, echo park victoria garden

accessories: pti notepage, leaves dies, prima flowers, su library clip, gems, seam binding ribbon, pti buttons and twine

A New Dream and more house pics!

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

TGIF everyone!! It’s Friday, Moe’s favourite weekday and Viva La Verve Sketch Day over on the Verve Forum!! Diva Andrea has designed a fabulous little sketch that is great for all that lovely patterned paper we’ve all been amassing over this past year! I had 3 pads out trying to decide which one to use…then this Lost and Found one spoke to me and I just had to use it :) I’ve used buttons in the lower corner instead of the circle shape and embossed the labels 18 shape for some extra texture. I hope to see your take on this lovely sketch over in the VLV October Gallery! Have a great start to your weekend. For those of you needing some more sneak peeks of the house…scroll down! Hugs!

what’s in it?

stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve)

paper: cream, kraft, rustic cream (PTI), choc chip (SU), Lost and Found 2 (MME)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: long rectangle, long scalloped rectangle, labels 18 dies (Spellbinders), buttons, ribbon (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), thread, stitching, embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

extremely handsome and extremely handy husband workin’ the bobcat :)

staircase almost done :)

front entrance floor transition

living room wood done :)

Hello Pumpkin!

2011-10-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, I didn’t technically have a card for you today, so I thought I’d share a couple of mini cards I made a while back with that fabulous Michaels ribbon! AND it ties like a dream :) These are only 3 x 3 but perfect for tucking into a lunch box with a little treat of candy corn! LOL

Hope your week is going well. The trades have been a little slow starting at the house this week :( I didn’t go up yesterday, but will today. The dh says the plumber and electrician crews should be there (fingers crossed!). Hugs to you and come back bright and early tomorrow morning for the new Viva La Verve Sketch :) Hugs and smiles,

what’s in them?

stamps: verve bountiful harvest

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, royal velvet, bitty box dp, lilybee designs dp,

accessories: pti buttons, thread, basicgrey letters, Michaels yummy and delicious ribbon!

Birthday Wishes

2011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! Things are moving along at the new house and I’m happy to report that phone, t.v. and internet will be hooked up on November 5, our tentative move in date :) Yahoo!! Today’s card uses this week’s Waltzingmouse Stamps sketch :) I have missed a few weeks, but am so hoping that maybe this week I’ll be the lucky winner of a FREE stamp set…I have a few sets on my wish list ;) I kept the colours fairly neutral for a softer look. I wanted to use green for the leaves, but that would have put the card off too much, so I opted for River Rock, a greenish neutral. Brown might have worked too, but I wanted a softer look. I was so happy to try out more of my doily stamps…LOVE how they fit in the large scalloped nestabilities :) Have a wonderful day!! The week is half over!! Woohoo!

what’s in it?

stamps: waltzingmouse large doily, fancy phrases, verve bloom and grow

ink: versafine onyx, su sahara, river rock, close to cocoa

paper: pti cream, kraft, MME sunshine

accessories: verve elegant leaves die, pti button, twine, doily and banner dies, large scallop nestability, recollections flower, gems, SU seam binding, stitching

Carpe Diem ~ PTI October Blog Hop

2011-10-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! Welcome to my PTI Blog Hop post. As I was writing this up a few days ago, I realized that the hop coincides with my class’ field trip to the Pumpkin Patch…how appropriate for the inspiration photo :) LOL I was really inspired by all the fabulous prints on the fabric pumpkins, especially the wood grain and polka dots. AND of course, the overall colour of the inspiration photo…cream, brown, green and orange.

I am LOVING the wood grain set that matches all the Mat dies :) AND I am still loving the Hello Friend set…those flowers make my heart beat faster! LOL Thanks so much for visiting and enjoy the rest of the hop :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve words of wisdom, pti hello friend, modern wood mats

ink: versafine onyx, su choc chip, pumpkin pie,

paper: pti rustic cream, cream, distressed dots

accessories: pti mat stack and friendly flower dies, button, ribbon, bakers twine, stitching

How about a Treat? New stamp set!

2011-10-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good Monday morning!! I know I seem to say this every Monday, but this week is going to be CRAZY!! Two field trips (Pumpkin Patch tomorrow and Young People’s Concert Thursday) AND lots of action at the new house…the “plan” is for the toilets, sinks and faucets to go in today, electrical (including lighting) on Tuesday/Wednesday, painting mid week and the down stairs flooring to start on the weekend (yay for the studio!). BUT enough of that…how about a little announcement if you haven’t heard? Julee has quietly released a sweet little Halloween set over in the Verve Store…but there are limited quantities right now, so if you have your heart set on having this right now, order today!

How adorable are those sweet ghosties? And that sentiment “stuck on you?!” I chose to use “Trick or Treat” as I’m thinking this is going to a coworker and didn’t want to send out the wrong message!! LOL I did add some cute little hearts cut with my From the Heart dies. AND did you notice? More of that fabulous Michaels ribbon!! A friend here in town saw my card a few weeks ago made with my last piece and let me know that Michaels still had some (though it came out last year!). I went that very day and picked up 3 rolls at $1.00 each!! SCORE (and thanks Karen!). Sending you all smiles and hugs :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Boo to You (Verve)

paper: white, royal velvet, autumn abundance, bitty dot basics (PTI), sahara sand (SU), Sidewalks (October Afternoon), Memorandum (Lilybee Designs)

accessories: From the Heart die (A Cut Above by Verve), button card, doily, notepage dies, button, twine (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), ribbon (Michaels)

Welcome Precious Little One

2011-10-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! I had a lovely day yesterday…got lots done for the new house, did some house cleaning and laundry at Dad’s, made some cards AND even got to the gym!! I really enjoyed some quiet time :) Today’s sweet little baby card is for this week’s Make It Mondays over on Nichole’s blog. I just loved watching Dawn make her fun frames :) I went a little crazy with the dies!! LOL I count 7! How about you? One is tricky, but 7 were used!! I was also having fun with a few new paper pads :) I hope it’s not too busy for you ;) Thanks for visiting :) Have a lovely Sunday :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve small phrases

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti sweet blush, white, su sahara sand, echo park victoria garden and happy days, glitter cardstock

accessories: pti tag, mat stack, love lives here, doily details, banner dies, seam binding, gems, button, thread, stitching

Sweet Treats

2011-10-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: Each and every one of these Halloween treats

were harmed eaten in the making of this project ;)

Yes, unfortunate for them, yummy for me!

Good morning! Ready for a super sweet post this Saturday morning? It’s the fourth week of Just Us Girls Challenges!! I have been having a BLAST hanging out with all the JUGS gals this month as Guest Designer :) I don’t make many 3D projects, but when I do and when a flat piece of paper turns into a sweet little box or purse or whatever, I have a BIG smile on my face. I have made these sour cream containers before, but I made it out of acetate this time to show off the fun candy corn treats. Now, as stated above, these little candy treats are LONG gone!! LOL It seriously took me 2 bags of candy corn and one package of assorted treats to make this project!! LOL I don’t keep candy in the house because I love it! So when I need it for a post, watch out!! LOL The second 3D project was this adorable little Peek A Boo window box!! LOVE it!! You get to see the yummy treats inside!! Thanks so much for visiting!! I hope you’ll join us for a little 3D fun over on the JUGS challenge blog this week :) TTYS!

what’s in it?

stamps: Bountiful Harvest, Love Notes, Sweet Treats, Happy Fall (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), black, peach (SU)

ink: onyx (Versafine), plum, pumpkin, summer sun, kiwi (SU)

accessories: scallop and circle punches (SU), sheer ribbon (Michaels)

Dream Big

2011-10-21T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! Today is a fabulous day for me…yes, it’s Friday and yes, there’s a new amazing sketch for us on the Viva La Verve forum, but it’s also another Professional Day and I’m spending it with a few of my dear colleagues and attending an online workshop by my math guru, Kim Sutton, from California. She is AMAZING and I use many of her strategies in my math teaching. This week’s VLV sketch is by the fantabulous Diva Charmaine!! Simple shapes, a simple design which opens up a TON of possibilities!! I went for a layered look totally inspired by this amazing card by Julie Lacey, one of my stamping idols :) I’m meeting with my interior designer after work to look at some California Shutters for the front rooms of the house. It will get direct sunlight in the morning so we’ll need some good window coverings :) Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you over in the Viva La Verve forum this week :) Have a great start to your weekend,

what’s in it?

stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve)

paper: cream, rustic cream, sweet blush (PTI), soft suede, ruby red (SU), All Spice and Sunshine (My Mind’s Eye)

accessories: circle dies (Spellbinders), doily die (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), flower (Recollections), ribbon (SU), stitching

Life is Perfect AND Wonderful!

2011-10-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! The week is flying by and I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend :) The dh AND dad will be away so Moe gets full reign of the house :) Although, truth be told, I will probably be in the basement stamping :) Not that there’s anything wrong with that!! LOL Today’s card uses the fabulous colours for this week’s colourQ Colour Challenge. I had a few ideas for this combination and still might make another card using them in the near future :) I was a happy little stamper last night…I was changing after work and you’ll never guess what I found?! EEK!! I thought I had packed them away, but no, there they were in my top drawer!! The famous leopard lounge pants…

So this card was the first one made in my most favourite stamping pants since last Spring :) LOL Okay, how about some house photos to finish this post off!? Thanks for visiting…TGIF tomorrow and you know what THAT means!!

The rest of the granite counters were installed yesterday :)

Sili-granite sink in Truffle

Guest suite floor done :) Don’t worry, the vacuum will be gone and there will be a bed when YOU come visit :)

Master suite flooring

what’s in it?

stamps: verve words of wisdom

ink: su choc chip

paper:pti white, autumn abundance dp, su limeade, espresso, october afternoon sidewalks dp

accessories: pti scarlet jewel and chartreuse felt, buttons, scallop, friendly flower and leaves dies, thread, dritz pins, Michaels ribbon, stitching

Sugar and Spice

2011-10-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! I went through some photos this week, looking for some cards that I haven’t shared on the blog. Last July, my sister asked if I would make 2 baby girl cards for her to use at work for some coworkers who had just had their babies. The first card uses some fun layered dies and 3 different Verve Stamp sets :) I just love mixing and matching them :)

This second card uses my FAVOURITE baby sentiment that I have never seen on a stamp, so I type it out in Word each time I need it :) How adorable is that sentiment? Makes you think about the 2 meanings of it for a few seconds :) How about 4 feet for twins!! LOL Interviews are going well and the guest suite has all the wood flooring down. Will try and take some more pictures in the next few days. Thanks so much for visiting!! Have a wonderful HUMP day!!

what’s in them?

{sugar and spice}

stamps: verve love story, to the moon, small phrases

paper: pti white, raspberry fizz, su orange, DCWV dp

ink: versafine onyx, versamark, su pretty in pink

accessories: pti dies, circle nestabilities, gems, buttons, twine, doily

{by two feet}

stamps: su baby feet

paper: pti white, kraft, sweet blush, various SU dp scraps

ink: su rose romance

accessories: pti felt, blossom dies, buttons, twine, stitching, Michaels ribbon

Let’s Get Together and some House Pix!

2011-10-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I’ve been saving this card since the Verve August Release for the perfect moment…and that moment has come :) I thought it would be the right card to post during a super busy work and house week. And that week is NOW! LOL Busy with final house details and busy with Parent/Teacher interviews. So, hey! Let’s get together for some coffee in the new kitchen! It’s almost done! Pull a chair up to the new island…

The granite is actually called Cafe Imperial…it seems only fitting. No, I didn’t “pick” the granite because of its name, although it didn’t hurt the decision {{wink}}. The close up does not do it justice…it’s all glittery and gorgeous…you’ll just have to come to see it in person!! LOL The hole in the back will be for the prep sink (prepping martinis, that is! LOL)

And if it’s around 5:00, we’ll switch to wine or martinis! And move over to the bar area…

The marble counter is also in up in the ensuite…with the (Moe) mandatory 2 sinks…tip for a happy marriage…just sayin’!

and the wood floor installation started today upstairs. This is taken in the master bedroom, looking out and down the hall into the guest suite.

Well, that’s it for me…I’ll try to pop in before Friday with a few baby cards and maybe a few reruns ;) Hope all is well in your corner of this great world. Hugs and thanks for visiting :)

what’s in it?

stamps: better with you, sip and savor (Verve)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), espresso, sand (SU!)

ink: onyx (Versafine), raspberry fizz (PTI), kiwi, bermuda, pumpkin (SU!), versamark

accessories: circle die (Spellbinders), blossom die, ribbon, button (PTI), border punch (Fiskars), gems (Kaisercraft), orange twine (Michaels), corrugated cardboard (Starbucks sleeve), stitching

Happy Birthday, Brian

2011-10-16T16:48:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon, everyone!! Tomorrow is my bonus son’s 29th birthday. We are joining him and his girlfriend for dinner so I wanted to make a card to mark the occasion. I also wanted to participate in this week’s A Passion for Papertrey Goin’ Geometric challenge. But again, I thought I had lots of time to post this, then found out that the deadline is tonight…so I’ll have to post this now, a little early for Brian’s birthday. I don’t think he follows my blog, so I’m pretty sure I’m safe showing this before the birthday dinner…lol ;) Brian is a very easy going, happy, hard working young man. He and his dad get along famously and are so cute together. He was the best man at our wedding. Here they are a couple of Christmases ago…you can see where Brian gets his good looks from!! LOL

and they can never stay “normal” for long…teehee

We had a very productive day at the house yesterday…I even learned how to tie rebar!! Tony let me use a rebar tying tool that reminded me of my little eyelet setting hammer :) LOL Today we picked out all the bathroom towel bars :) Counters and wood floors start tomorrow!! Hopefully I’ll have some new picture updates soon. Thanks so much for stopping by!! Hugs!

what’s in it?

stamps: pti big birthday wishes (inside of card)

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti rustic cream, summer sunrise, autumn abundance and fall prints and patterns dps. su sahara sand, espresso

accessories: su circle punches, pti limitless layers and big numbers dies, tim holtz embossing folder, pti twine, buttons

One of My Nicest Thoughts

2011-10-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning!! It’s Saturday and as usual I’m treating myself to a little lazy morning…coffee, blurfing and maybe even a little card making before hitting the gym :) Today’s card is for the Week 3 Challenge over on the Just Us Girls blog. Week 3 means colour challenge…oh yeah, baby!! With Halloween this month, Pam is challenging us to use the “other” Halloween colours of black, orange, purple and green! I immediately thought of my precious and delicious ribbon from Michaels LAST Halloween. BUT, before I knew about this challenge, this sweet little roll of ribbon was packed and put into storage!! YIKES!! I prayed that the container it was in was at the FRONT of the storage unit…and yes, as you can tell from the card, it was!! I’m not much for making Halloween cards so I tried to make a fun little sentiment card that you could just sent to a friend. I think it works :) And the ribbon?! One little scrap left, not even big enough to tie a bow…but I’ve saved it for the perfect card…who knows when ;) Thanks for visiting and be sure to head over to the JUGS blog and check out the Design Teams’ projects, including my bestie, Lynn, who is now a full time JUGS gal!! Woohoo!! Congrats, Lynn!! Have a wonderful weekend :)

what’s in it?

stamps: verve nicest thoughts plain jane, gina k lovely labels

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white, black and white and bitty boxes dps, MME lime twist dp

accessories: labels 18 nestabilities, pti scallop die, Michaels ribbon, pti buttons, thread, stitching, gems, corner rounder

Bring Your Own Sunshine

2011-10-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

TGIF everyone! It’s Friday and I’m hosting the new Viva La Verve Sketch over on the Verve Forum!! I picked a sketch I just loved from the summer and here Julee has Verve-ified it for your creative pleasure!! LOL I was soooo determined to use my yummy yellow polka dotted ribbon for this card, but then I saw this lovely piece of paper from the All Spice pad by My Mind’s Eye and quickly changed my mind (my prerogative, right? lol) I also knew what sentiment I wanted to use from Verve’s Feel the Sun set…now that the weather is cooler and the days are getting shorter. That sweet fabric brad top is my first Joann’s purchase when I was across the line in WA last weekend :) It was okay, kind of like Michaels and definitely NOT Archivers…but I managed to get a few items…teehee!

The granite counters should be going in today!! Will take some pics after work :) I really hope you’ll join me over in the Verve Forum this week :) AND check out the last few days of the incredible VERVE Sale…the whole store is on sale until Sunday!! Woohoo!!

what’s in it?

stamps: Feel the Sun (Verve)

paper: sahara sand, soft suede, early espresso (SU!), rustic cream (PTI), All Spice (My Mind’s Eye),

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: circle and scalloped circle dies (Spellbinders), sun die (My Favourite Things), fabric brad top (Heidi Grace), ribbon (PTI), border punch (fiskars), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching