Just Us Girls #199

Lisa is our challenge hostess this week and she has found this wonderful inspiration picture for us to use this week -- not to mention the craving I now have for chocolate dipped strawberries!

Red and green immediately bring Christmas to mind for me so I decdided to make a Christmas card.  I combined it with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and am also playing along with Merry Monday's anything goes.

It was great fun inking up a Craft's Meow Christmas set I purchased as part of my SFYTT win last December.  There are five different tree designs you can chose from and the chevron one was calling my name time :)   Had to sneak my favorite Christmas word in, so I stamped "Joy!" (love the fact it has an exclamation point after it!!) on the kraft panel creating my own pattern.   

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.  

Swimming lessons are over and I am happy to report both kids passed.  It is an end of an era for us as they have completed all the levels.  Hard to believe we have been doing lessons for ten years!  Their instructor was very impressed with their swimming ability and suggested they both take the Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross class and work towards being lifeguards.  Yes, I'm a proud mama :)  

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Christmas (The Craft's Meow) 
Ink:  Black, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun (Stampin' Up), VersaMark
Paper:  Real Red, Kraft, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up), Season's Greetings (Echo Park)
Accessories:   Circle Nestabiliites (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Black and Red Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

Merry Monday #64

** This is may second post of the day. See my first post for this week's Mojo Monday card ** 

  How quickly this month has flown by!  Can't believe this is my last appearance as Merry Monday's Featured Designer!  It has been great fun making Christmas cards before the "Christmas card crunch", and the design team ladies are gems to work along side.

I want to express a huge and special thank you to Lesley for giving me this fabulous opportunity ((hugs))!!  She is one organized woman and a pure pleasure to work with.  Hoping we can actually meet face to face some day soon, Lesley :)

The sketch immediately had me thinking of a snowy night scene.  I cut out two silver trees using Verve's Winter Fun die set and crimped one for a bit of texture.  Then I added a touch of sparkly snow along the outline of the landscape using a glue pen and some glitter but it just won't show up in my photo - grr!  Finished things off by adding some silver cording and a snowflake.

The rest of the Merry Monday Crew have fabulous samples of this week's sketch.  Below is a link to each of their blogs.

Allisa Chilton
Bonnie Klass

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce
Sherry Eckblad
Margaret Moody 
Vicki Burdick

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!! 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Frosty Flakes (Verve Stamps)  
Paper:  Night of Navy and Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up), Silver 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Winter Fun Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Silver Twine, Snowflake Punch (Marvy), Glue Pen, Glitter, Crimper, Dimensionals

 

Merry Monday #63

** This is my second post of the day. See my first post for this week's Mojo Monday card ** 

Welcome back to another week of Merry Monday sketches!   Lesley has provided another fabulous design for us to work with this week.

I am having so much fun digging through my Christmas stamps to see which one I want to use each week :)   This week I opted to go with "cutsie" which isn't typically  my norm, but I just couldn't resist buying this adorable Stampendous reindeer a few years back when I saw them.

The image is coloured with a blender pen, and I couldn't resist adding a shiny red nose to both of them.  I did fudge the sketch a teensy bit by adding ribbon and shifting the sentiment banner to a dangling one below the bow...when the mojo is a flowin' you don't mess with it LOL!  Yes, I'm a deviant guest designer....sorry Lesley!! I promise to behave next week ;) 

The rest of the Merry Monday Crew have fabulous samples of this week's sketch.  Below is a link to each of their blogs.

Allisa Chilton
Bonnie Klass

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce
Sherry Eckblad
Margaret Moody 
Vicki Burdick

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!! 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Snowflakes (Stampin' Up), Memory Box (sentiment), Reindeer (Stampendous) 
Paper:    Always Artichoke, Kraft and Real Red (Stampin' Up) Wassail (Basic Grey), Cream Linen 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Word Window Punch (Stampin' Up), 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon,  Snowflake Die (My Favorite Things), Red Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Merry Monday #62

* This is my third post of the day!  If you are looking for my Mojo Monday post or this month's Diva Dare post, please see my two previous posts *

This week's Merry Monday sketch is another wonderful sketch to work with as the possibilities with the circle element are endless!

I decided to pull out Stampin' Up's Dasher - love this reindeer image!   I embossed him in gold and added some gold, half pearls to a few of the dots in the antler design for a bit of dimension. 

The paper is a piece I have been hoarding for some time from a Costco pack I got a few years back.  Today was the perfect day to bring it out again.  The card needed a little something so I added some gold twine with a snowflake in the middle, and Dasher is totally ready to travel to someone's home this Christmas :)

The rest of the Merry Monday Crew have fabulous samples of this week's sketch.  Below is a link to each of their blogs.

Allisa Chilton
Bonnie Klass

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce
Sherry Eckblad
Margaret Moody 
Vicki Burdick

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!! 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Dasher (Stampin' Up), Merry Christmas (Hero Arts)  

Paper:  Costco DP Pack, Cream Linen  

Ink: Black, VersaMark  

Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Gold Half Pearls, Gold Twine, Snowflake Punch (Marvy), Dimensionals

Some Fun News!

** See my first post of the day for this week's Mojo Monday card ** 

Welcome to a busy Monday on my blog!!  I have the wonderful honor of being asked by Lesley to be Merry Monday's Guest Designer for the month of May!

I was thrilled when Lesley asked me to join this wonderful team of ladies.  In addition, what a fabulous idea to make a Christmas card per week so your Christmas card stash is pretty well set by the end of the year, leaving you one less thing to worry about come that busy time of year.

I squealed when I saw this sketch!  You see, I finally broke down and got PTI's snowflake die a few months ago and when I saw this sketch, I was so excited not have to wait until November to use it :)  Added bonus:  I got to use my favorite Christmas word die too!

The rest of the Merry Monday Crew have fabulous samples of this week's sketch.  Below is a link to each of their blogs.

Allisa Chilton
Bonnie Klass

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce
Sherry Eckblad
Margaret Moody 
Vicki Burdick

Have a fabulous day and I'll be back next week with my next Merry Monday card.

What's In It?
Stamps:  Background Basics (Stampin' Up) 
Paper:  Kraft, Real Red, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: VersaMark 
Accessories: Snowflake and Holly Dies (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Button, Twine, Black Half Pearl, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Merry Monday Joy

Since my new WPlus 9 word dies were still out, I decided to play along with this week's Merry Monday sketch.

Joy is one of my favorite words and it was great fun using this die.  I pulled out some Carta Bella Winter Fun paper and focused on a snowflake theme.

I added a dark brown snowflake for a pop of colour and some bling in the middle for a bit of sparkle.  Yeah! Made my first Christmas card of 2013.

Short and sweet today as I have a busy day ahead.  Thanks for visiting!



What's In It?
Stamps: Snowflakes (Amuse) 
Paper:  Kraft, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), Carta Bella 
Ink: Versamark 
Accessories: Scalloped Oval and Oval Nesties, Seasonal Sentiments Die (W9 Plus), Scalloped Border Punch, Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart(, Bling, Dimensionals

Verve Release Day!!

Welcome to our final day of the Verve Sneak Peek Spotlight Hop!  Haven't the Divas provided some amazing creations!!  It always gives me such joy to see how one stamp set can be expressed in so many ways, reflecting so many styles and personalities.  One of the reasons I love this hobby...ahem...addiction LOL!

Today, my post will showcase a few more sneak peeks of the sets that are being released today over at  the Verve Store.  My first card is a sneak peek from the Shining Star set.

This sentiment immediately touched my heart as I have lived it over the past few years. Thus, it became the focus of my card.  The navy polka dotted paper reminded me of the way we see stars in the  sky, then I stamped a starry background, and finally added star border along the bottom using the Scalloped Trim Trio border die.  The Starry Die, which has a variety of star sizes, provided the sprinkling of stars around the sentiment.

My second card showcases Calendar Countdown and Remember This along with the  matching dies.   They are dynamite stamps for scrapbookers and Project Life lovers!  Since I do neither (at least not yet), I wanted to showcase their flexibility by using them on a card.

Being that many of my friends are turning the big 5-0 this year, I thought I would get a jump on some starting with this masculine, 50th birthday card.  I have never participated in the "black theme" associated with 50th birthdays as I don't think it is a somber occasion at all, but rather a time to walk into a new decade armed with lots of experience -- said by one who is living it LOL!   However, there is a friend who loves a good joke so this card will be for him.

I used the two banner images and their coordinating dies as my focal point as well as three other die sets featured in this release: the Scalloped Trim Trio (which created the fun star border along the bottom), the Starry Die for the smaller stars in the "50" banner and the matching Banner Bundle Die Set for the banners.  A little faux stitching to "attach" the banners, and I just couldn't resist the double "hello" greeting ringing in 50 years :)

My last card showcases Surely Goodness once again as I just love the font, sentiments and of course the flowers!  Matched the flowers with three dies from previous releases -- Sweet Scallop Die, Flutterby and Dreamy Leaves.  Couldn't resist using some more of that Spring Fling seam binding either!

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win the WHOLE release!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines.  

1. Amber	7. Julee
2. Andrea	8. Laurie S.
3. Charmaine	9. Laurie W.
4. Christyne	10. Marisa
5. Janelle	11. Maureen
6. Jen S.	12. Teresa

Hope you have enjoyed seeing all the sneak peeks this week!  I sure enjoyed creating them :)   Sets and dies are now available for purchase over at the Verve Store.  Happy shopping!

Shining Star
Stamps: Shining Star (Verve Stamps), Background Basics (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Night of Navy and Bashful Blue DSP, Going Grey, So Saffron (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, Going Grey
Accessories:  Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Trim and Starry Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Yellow and White Twine, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Calendar Countdown and Remember This 
Stamps: Calendar Countdown and Remember This (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Costco DP Pack, Black
Ink: Black, Silver
Accessories: Banner Die Set, Star and Star Border Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Crimper, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals

Surely Goodness
Stamps:  Surely Goodness (Verve Stamps), Itty Bitty Backgrounds and French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Kraft, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, DSP (Stampin' Up), Spring Fling (Echo Park)
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Sweet Scallop, Flutterby and Dreamy Leaves Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Crimper, Spring Fling Seam Binding (Verve), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Brown Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Merry Monday Sketch

This Merry Monday sketch intrigued me so I thought I would give it a shot.

Couldn't help but use this wonderful Echo Park paper again - just love the aqua and red together with the bit of pink thrown in.

Had a tag in my very large "to be used later pile" so pulled it out for this sketch.  The fun font of the Merry Christmas sentiment from Verve's Merry and Bright set matched the paper perfectly and a few buttons and snowflake stamps later, the sentiment panel was good to go.  I ended up skewing the panel just a bit as it had more visual interest that way.  The card didn't feel "grounded" for some reason so I pulled out my glue pen, ran it across the bottom and added some glitter.  Hard to see, but in my mind it helped - but then my mind is a scary place sometimes LOL!

Half way through the week and December is looming at the end of it - yikes!!  Finishing up my Christmas letter today so may actually get my cards out by the first week of December this year - happy sigh :)

Enjoy your day!

 

What's In It?

Stamps: Merry and Bright (Verve)

Paper: Happy Holiday (Echo Park), Aqua, Real Red

Ink: Black, Real Red

Accessories:  Label Die (PTI), Buttons, Silver Cording, Corner Tab Punch (Stampin`Up), Red Satin Ribbon, Black Half Pearls, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Merry Monday Sketch

Only had time for a quick card today and this Merry Monday sketch was perfect to work with.

The Christmas theme surfaced when I saw the star on the sketch and the outside weather, which has robbed us of our sunshine, made me think of warm fireplace to sit by as I drink my tea and read a book.  Can you tell what I want to be doing right about now LOL!

I swapped the star out for a snowflake, dug around for my bells, and used them as my accent piece along with some gold cording.

A quick and easy card.  Well....sort of....as the the process of getting to the final version was not as quick and easy as I would have liked LOL!



What's In It?
Stamps: Short and Sweet (Stampin' Up) 
Paper:  Kraft, Real Red, Sahara Sand and Old Olive (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen, I Believe (MME) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Snowflake Die (Cuttlebug), Word Window Punch (Stampin' Up), Lattice Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up), Button, Bells, Gold Cording, Red Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals