Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Verve June Week 5 Challenge

 
I absolutely LOVE this inspiration picture!!  It gives me warm fuzzies :)  A gorgeous celery green with touches of saffron, kraft and white.  Oh sigh....LOL!  I would have been a young girl in paradise if I had had this room growing up. 

The sketch brought me back to reality as I had to ponder what to do with it.  I decided to use the flowers from the bedspread as my focal point on the card.  Out came my SU jumbo flower punch and the embossing folder Kathy gave me (still loving it, Kathy!!).  Swiss dotted the centers of the flowers, added brads in the corners and called it a card.  Think I should have put some pattern or image in VersaMark on the Kraft panel...may have to go back and change that.  A quick, simple card that will be easy to duplicate in these or other colours.

Off to make an anniversary card for my hubby.  It's our anniversary on July 1st, which also happens to be Canada Day so he can't ever say he forgot our anniversary LOL!

Thanks for popping in today.  You guys are the best (((hugs))).




What's In It?
Paper:  Kraft, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, White
Accessories:  SU Jumbo Flower Punch, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties, Swiss Dots and Nat Embossing Folders, Brads,  Dimensionals

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Thank You Mrs. C


Loved the colours of this week's Colour Throwdown #98 and decided to combine them with the Clean and Simple Fall To Layout #95.  This is such a fabulous sketch I had to use it even though it was from last week.  As you can tell, I wasn't paying close attention to the layout because I stamped the flower where the sentiment was supposed to be!  So....I just switched the flower and sentiment images on the sketch and I was good to go :)   Had to use Pretty in Pink in lieu of Blush Blossom in the colour combo, so I'm breaking rules all over the place with this card LOL!

Despite my apparent inability to adhere to sketch and colour challenge parameters, I really like this clean and simple card.  It will be going to one of my daughter's teachers who has made this year at school both challenging and fun for not only herself but the rest of the class too.  She is not the "froo froo" type so I think this CAS card will be perfect for her.

This is my last "while the kids are in school" card because they get out today.  I have no clue how often I will be able to post over the summer, but one thing I do know is you can count on a card every Sunday for the Curtain Call colour challenges.  Beyond that, it's anyone's guess, though I do hope to post a couple additional times each week. We'll just have to see how things go.  I treasure having my kids all to myself in the summer (I don't do any daycare over the summer) and they are growing up so quickly that I want to spend as much time with them as I can, especially since they still like spending time with me (just don' task me this question at the end of summer when the "I'm bored" statements become far too frequent LOL!).

Have a fabulous rest of the week and I hope to be back soon :)




What's In It?
Stamps:
  Petals and Stems (Verve), Simple Sayings

Paper:  Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink
Ink:  Mellow Moss,  Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink
Accessories:  SU Scalloped Border Punch, 1/4" Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Large and Small Oval Punches, Dimensionals

Monday, June 28, 2010

Connie and Mary Go Green


I was blurfing the other day and tripped across this fun sketch on Create with Connie and Mary's blog.  Loved the layout and decided to combine it with this week's Stamping 411's Colour Inspiration Challenge.  Thank you to all you talented stampers who share your sketches and colour combo creations on line.  I would be lost without you!!    

I was having a hard time with just three colours when two of them were greens, but the black accents helped balance things off.  I fudged the sketch a bit by adding the second flower, so hopefully the challenge police will not come after me.

I succumbed to yet another card with some Vintage Vogue on it.....think I need one of my kids to hide this set so I don't keep using it LOL!  I originally had a butterfly (my other obsessive addiction right now) by the sentiment with a butterfly trail, but I couldn't settle on the colour of half pearls for the trail so I went with the flowers instead.  What can I say, it was late and I couldn't make a decision for the life of me LOL!

Have a fabulous day :) 





What's In It?
Stamps:  Echoes of Kindness, Vintage Vogue
Paper: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper
Ink:  Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories:  Leafy Branch Embossing Folder, SU Scalloped Border Punch, 5/8" Saffron Satin Ribbon, Black Button, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Curtain Call Act 36



Hard to believe the kids are out of school on Tuesday!  Where did the year go?!  That being said, if things get quiet here for the next few months, that is why.  I'm hoping now that the kids are a bit older I will be able to sneak into my stamping room a bit more this summer, but only time will tell if that is a reality or simply a pipe dream LOL!  Needless to say, I'm taking full advantage of the next two days :)

Sorry, I regressed....on to the card!  These are fabulous colours together.  They definitely lend themselves to a masculine card, but once again, I did otherwise :)  Where is a Sizzex star die when you need it LOL! 

Loved this Waltzingmouse sketch when I saw it, and decided to use it for this week's Curtain Call challenge.  Since Vintage Vogue was still out on my desk (actually it just never gets put away LOL!), it was an easy decision to use it :)  I stamped the kraft panel with the vine image from the set, used SU's border punch to frame the kraft panel and finished things off with some sheer, navy ribbon. 

The rest of the Curtain Call Crew as well as our June Guest Designer have some samples for your inspiration. 
And, our June Guest Designer, Christina MacLaren at Seaglass and Sentiments


We'd love it if you joined us too!!  Simply create a card using this week's colours and add your card to Mr. Linky on Stacey's blog.  If  you are uploading to a public gallery, please make sure to use the keyword Curtain Call 36.  Each week, Stacey will select one person to receive her "I Got The Lead At The Curtain Call"  Award as well as five people to receive her "I'm A Top 5 Curtain Call Show Stopper" Award which you can post on your blog, so come on over and join the fun!

Thanks for keeping me company today :)  Have a fabulous day!




What's In It?
Stamps:  (SU) Vintage Vogue
Paper:  Night of Navy, Real Red, Kraft, White
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories:  Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, SU Border Punch, 5/8" Sheer Navy Ribbon, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Friday, June 25, 2010

Heartfelt Thanks For a Yummy Colour Combo

I saw this colour combo somewhere along my recent journeys in blogland I (think it as Keesh's Inkspirations), and just had to use it!  Red, Kraft and white - totally yummy!!  Unfortunately my card doesn't say yummy to me so I'm going to have to go another round with this delightful combination.  So....for now, you get stuck with this one...sorry :(

I used an old favorite set of mine, Heartfelt Thanks.  It is a two-step set, which can be a pain in the butt at times, but I must say I think this is the best two stepping I have ever done - that includes the dancing type too LOL!   Even more amazing is the fact I eyeballed it!!  Yup, no Stamp-a-ma-jig on this one. 

I pulled out Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch and went to work.  The Kraft panel is has one of the flowers from this set stamped in VersaMark and I crimped the red panel, even though it is hard to see in the picture.  A Martha Stewart border punch down the side helped extend that panel and also added a little something.  Some polka dotted ribbon and brads finished things off.

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!





What's In It?

Stamps:  Heartfelt Thanks, Fancy Flexible Phrases
Paper: Kraft, Real Red, White
Ink:  Kraft, Real Red, VersaMark
Accessories:  Crimper, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sheer Red and White Polka Dotted Ribbon, Brads, Dimensionals

Verve Release Rewind Sketch for April


This card is for a male teacher my daughter had last year who will be leaving the school at the end of this year.  He is an amazing teacher who I have enjoyed getting to know and so wish he was staying so my son could have him next year.  

Since it is a masculine card, I kept it really simple.  Used my "masculine border punch" LOL, added a sailor's knot instead of ribbon, and used my nesties Labels 3 die to frame the sentiment.  I added a few blue half pearls and think they blend in well enough to be able to  keep things masculine :)

I have now finished all the Verve challenges for this release and  now just have to wait and see if my name gets drawn!  If you aren't busy on Friday night and want to join in on the fun, you can find the release party on this thread at SCS.

Thanks for taking the time to visit today :)




What's In It?
Stamps:  (Verve) Wishing You,  (Verve) Accent Notes
Paper:  Night of Navy, So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Accessories:  Labels 3 Nesties, Argyle Embossing Folder, Twine, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Dimensionals

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Verve Release Rewind Sketch for March


This is a fabulous sketch and it was fun using it again.  I kept things simple and now that I see the picture I wish I had used and embossing folder on the white background  panel to give it a little "oomph".  May have to change that as it will bug me every time I see it!

I pulled out a scrap of DP (sorry, the name has been cut off so I don't know who it's by) for a little visual pop at the bottom, and kept the rest monochromatic.  Since my butterfly die was still out, I decided to use it.  I'm still loving these butterflies as much as the first time I used the die, though some of you may think otherwise....sorry....not LOL!

Four down and just one more challenge to go.  It has been so much fun stamping away this week!  Good thing I can do laundry at the same time so it looks like I'm actually doing something around the house ;-)  Back shortly with my last challenge card.






What's In It?
Stamps:  Fancy Flexible Phrases
Paper:  Rose Red, Rose Romance, Pretty in Pink, Unknown DP
Accessories:  Square and Scalloped Square Nesties, SU Sizzex Butterfly Die, Half Pearls, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Verve Release Rewind Sketch for May

I just love this Bo Bunny DP....sigh....   I'm kicking myself for not getting another sheet of it.  I must remember to get at least two sheets of any DP I buy so I have more time to enjoy it!!  On my list to see if my local scrap booking store still has it in stock and if not, maybe they can order some in for me!


The DP doesn't have a consistent pattern on it, so I flipped the sketch and made the bottom panel the wider one instead of the top one because the pattern on the DP worked better that way.  It's a pretty straight forward card - what you see is what you get :)  .  I scored the white panel to give it a bit of dimension and added a butterfly trail to fill in the space a bit. A fun, quick and easy card :)

Three challenges down and two to go.  Off to go and work on the next one.  Back as soon as I'm done :)




What's In It?
Stamps: All Year Cheer
Paper:  Black, White, Bo Bunny DP
Accessories:  SU Scalloped Border Punch, Scalloped Scissors, Scor-Pal, SU Butterfly Punch, Black and White Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Verve Release Rewind Sketch for February

Carrying on with the Verve Release Challenges, this is the sketch I chose from the February selection of Verve Inspiration sketches.  I basically cased this card as I needed a sympathy card for a friend who lost her mother this past weekend.

I dug into my Costco DP pack (will I ever get through this LOL!) and chose this fun DP.  Other change is the use of Swiss Dots to the background of the main sentiment panel.  Another fun sketch to be able to use again. 

If you wish to play along on a few of the challenges, just head on over to the Verve Forum on SCS.  Party is this Friday and the thread is here.

Two challenges down and three to go! Off to check out the March sketches.  Have a fabulous day :)




What's In It?
Stamps:  Thoughts and Prayers (SU)
Paper:  Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Costco DP
Accessories:  Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, 5/8" Satin Saffron Ribbon, Yellow and White Half Pearls, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Marvy Flower Punch, Scalloped Scissors, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Verve Release Rewind Sketch from January

This Friday there is a Verve Release Party over on the SCS Verve Forum.  As per tradition, Julee has some challenges leading up to the release that allow you an opportunity to win some Verve!  Don't have to ask me twice if I want to participate LOL!  The fun spin on these challenges is we get to pick a sketch from each month of this year's Verve Inspiration Challenges, starting in January.  You don't have to use the inspiration pieces, just pick one of the sketches from that month and have fun!

I loved this sketch the first time I used it so decided to use it again.  I made the card for one of my daughter's teachers this year.  She is an amazing lady and I have so enjoyed getting to know her and watch her interact with the class.  She eats lunch with any student that wants to join her, she actually got in the pool to swim and play with them at their year end pool party, she is loads of fun, totally approachable and is a teacher that has had a great impact on my daughter this year.  So to all you teachers out there, thank you for investing in our kids (((hugs)))!!

The embossed image on the navy panel came from an embossing folder my dear blogging friend Kathy (aka Wattle on SCS) gave me.  It's not even available in Canada, so I have an exclusive, Australian embossing folder :D  Thank you again, Kathy, I LOVE it!!  I also dug into my stash of Michael's wedding flowers which I have had forever and need to get using again.  A few pops of pink and voila, one challenge down. 

I have been floating around in the clouds all day today after discovering this card made Nancy Riley's iPicks this week!!  I always look forward to seeing her picks each week and am humbled and honoured to be included this week.  I was also crowned Colour Queen for ColourQ #37 with this same card. Needless to say, it's been a happy day today :)  

It's going to be a busy week with all the Verve challenges I need to get done by Friday, so there will be lots of posting LOL!   Thanks for visiting, and see you soon :)




What's In It?
Stamps:  Verve
Paper:  Night of Navy, Brocade Blue
Accessories:  Nat Embossing Folder, Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties, Scor-Pal, 5/8" Pink Satin Ribbon, Pink Half Pearls, Flowers from Michael's Wedding Department, Dimensionals

Raffie for Baby


The lovely soft colours of this inspiration room were calling my name loud and clear!  A baby card it was going to be, but since I don't own a teddy bear stamp, I dug out one of my go to baby sets, Wild About You.  The animals in this set are beyond adorable, with the raffie being one of my favorites.

I was torn between making a baby boy or a baby girl card.  You may not notice it at first glance, but the teddy bear on the bed has a blue diaper on so in my  mind it's a license for a baby boy card if you like.  That being said, the baby girl card won out this time, but I think I'm going to make a baby boy card with a blue raffie and crimped panel so I have one of each in my card supply.

The light yellow panel was originally embossed with the hearts embossing folder, but it was a bit too over powering, so I ran it through the Swiss Dots embossing folder as it ties in with the spots on the giraffe.  The double embossed panel gives it a pretty fun effect.  If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see the heart impression as well as the Swiss Dots on the panel.

The crimped panel was inspired by the ruffles on the pillow, though I think I could have done some ruffled ribbon on this panel instead (going to have to try that), and the border punch added a little girly "froo froo" to the main image panel.  I outlined the raffie's eye and eyelashes with a fine line black felt pen so you can see it better, added some pink half pearls to the top of each antler, tied a yellow bow around the raffie's neck, and I was good to go.  It's been a while since I've made a baby card so this was a lot of fun to do.  Now I'm off to see if the boy version works LOL!

Thanks for popping in today.  This is may last full week of the kids in school (they get out next Tuesday) so I'm hoping to get in a lot of stamping LOL!  See you soon :)




What's In It?
Stamps:  Wild About You, Short and Sweet
Paper:  So Saffron, Cream, Pink, Light Brown
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Accessories:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Crimper, SU Border Punch, Yellow and Pink Half Pearls, Yellow Ribbon, Hole Punch, Fine Tip Black Felt Pen, Dimensionals

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Curtain Call Act 35



After such a rude awakening last week when I discovered I didn't have any of the actual challenge colours on hand, I checked this week's colours on Monday to make sure all was in good order, and I am happy to report, all was well in my craft room LOL!  Phew!!

I loved the turquoise and coral together, but had a bit of a chore working the greens in until I realized I could use them for grass and flower stems.  Presto, idea was born and I immediately pulled out one of my favorite Verve sets, Petals and Stems, and went to work.  I cut a strip of Garden Green card stock and used scissors to make "grass", popped up the flowers, added a butterfly (can't say I have ever seen a green one, but hey, it works on the card LOL!) and finished things off with some gingham ribbon I found in the Michael's ribbon bin a while back (perfect justification for all my ribbon bin diving adventures LOL!) .

The rest of the Curtain Call Crew, plus our June Guest Designer Christina, have some samples for your inspiration. 
And, our June Guest Designer, Christina MacLaren at Seaglass and Sentiments


We'd love it if you joined us too!!  Simply create a card using this week's colours and add your card to Mr. Linky on Stacey's blog.  If  you are uploading to a public gallery, please make sure to use the keyword Curtain Call 35.  Each week, Stacey will select one person to receive her "I Got The Lead At The Curtain Call"  Award as well as five people to receive her "I'm A Top 5 Curtain Call Show Stopper" Award which you can post on your blog, so come on over and join the fun!

Happy stamping everyone :D




What's In It?

Stamps:  (Verve) Petals and Stems
Paper:  Green Galore, Garden Green, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral
Ink:  Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Cameo Coral
Accessories:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Scissors, Dimensionals

Friday, June 18, 2010

A Tribute To Mellow Moss





I decided to play this week's Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Challenge as a tribute to Mellow Moss being retired.  I love Mellow Moss and will miss it dearly.  Thankfully I was able to stock up on some for future use - not so lucky with the Sage Shadow :(   I  haven't been able to participate in Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch for some time, so this was a great opportunity to combine it with this colour challenge :)

I tripped across this fabulous Stampendous butterfly image and decided to use it for the sketch.  However, after stamping and cutting it out with my Nesties, I realized just how big this image is!  I have seen this stamp in a smaller version and for some reason, I keep thinking this is the one I have (brain cells aren't what they used to be  LOL!)  Anyway, since trimming the image wasn't an option, I had to enlarge my card size so everything fit.  I scored the moss panel a bit, and now that I look at it in the picture, I'm not so sure I like it.  The corners needed something so I hemmed in the butterfly with the corner tabs.  Fudged a bit by using some black in the corners, so hopefully I qualifies as a neutral and I won't get called out by the challenge police.

To top off a wonderful day, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this card was selected as one of  Just Add Ink's colour challenge #21 top picks :)  With that fresh in my mind, I'm off to work on my sample card for next week's Curtain Call Colour Challenge.  See you soon :)




What's In It?

Stamps:  Stampendous
Paper:  Mellow Moss, Burgundy
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, 5/8" Pink Satin Ribbon, Black Half Pearls, Corner Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Scor-Pal, Dimensionals

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Embellish Mercy



Wow, two posts in one day LOL!  I have seen this colour combo on a few blogs I follow and since I just love it, I decided to play along.  It is from Embellish Magazine and you have to also use the colour combination along with a label on your card.  When I realized the deadline is today I had to get things in gear fast!!

I paired this challenge with Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge.  I haven't participated in one of Mercy's sketch challenges for a while so it felt wonderful to be able to do so again :)

I substituted a butterfly for the circle on the sketch, used my Martha Stewart Daisy border punch to add a fun border along the bottom of the main image panel, and used my beloved crutch, Swiss Dots embossing folder, for some texture on the background panel.  Brown half pearls and a button on the butterfly and I was good to go :)

Need to make a card for my daughter next.  She has her Grade 1 piano exam tomorrow so she is a total mess!  Poor thing is stressed out of her mind, mostly due to being a perfectionist and a worrier at heart.  Poor thing got double whammied from both sides on the perfectionist part (mind you, I am far from the perfectionist I used to be after having kids LOL!) and the worry part is all from my hubby, so he is the one that gets to have the coping talks with her.  She is very well prepared, and I think it is more the anticipation of it all that is killing her. Thankfully, they have Sports Day tomorrow so it will keep her mind occupied and not allow for a lot of worrying time.

Thanks for stopping in once or even twice today!





What's In It?
Stamps:  (Verve) Jeremiah 29:11
Paper:  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Daisy Border Punch, Stampin' Up! Butterfly Die, Labels Labels 2 Nestie, Brown Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Dimensionals