Having a Play Date With My Mojo

In keeping with all my under the wire entries this week, here is another one for this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I combined it with this week's Play Date Cafe challenge of black and white with a splash of lilac (or any other shade of purple).  I love black and white cards, and adding a splash of colour to them is loads of fun.

As luck would have it, I picked up this black polka dotted Bo Bunny DP a few weeks ago and I knew I wanted to use it on this card.  No Swiss Dots so have to use some sort of dots :)

Since Vintage Vogue was still out on my desk, I decided to use it again (twist my rubber arm LOL!).  No matter what I did in Photoshop, the big flower looks much more blue than purple.  It is actually Lovely Lilac and tones in with the ribbon very nicely in real life - honest!  I added some leaves to the flower to cover the pin requirement on the Mojo sketch, and a few black half pearls were the perfect finishing touch.

Off to watch my son's soccer game this morning, and hopefully the rain will hold off!!  Nothing like getting cold feet from the very wet grass on the sidelines and having my bangs curl with all the humidity in the air (not to mention the frizz frenzy the rest of my hair pulls on me....oh the joys of having curly hair....NOT!), but when falling rain is added to the mix, the little voice in my head boldly proclaims "Welcome to Winter soccer in British Columbia" LOL.  Guess I'll have to do lots of yelling...."ahem"....cheering from the sidelines to keep warm and neutralize the aforementioned issues LOL!  Ah yes, the life of a soccer mom :)

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!




What's In It?
Stamps: (SU)Vintage Vogue
Paper: Black, Whtie, Bo Bunny DP
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, Black
Accessories: Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, 5/8" Lavender Grosgrain Ribbon, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge 55

When I first saw this sketch it caused me a bit of panic.  Too many squares for me to deal with LOL!  However, this weeks Technique Lover's Challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers came to the rescue - thank you Holly!!!

This week's technique was faux tile. You stamp your image, then cut it up into squares, cover the squares in VersaMark, sprinkle UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder) over the squares and heat emboss each "tile".  In hindsight, I think I would try embossing first and then cutting the image up into squares as those darn little pieces tend to fly away when you are embossing them - that is until I got smart and held a corner down with my paper piercer - what can I say, it wasn't my most brilliant moment LOL!

The finished product has a dimpled surface that really does look like a tile.  The tricky part was the assembly.  I had a heck of a time trying to line the tiles up evenly and as you can tell,  I had better not take up a tiling as a profession any time soon LOL! 

I paired this week's sketch with an old Color Q challenge - just love those colours together - and pulled out one of my favorite Stampin' Up sets which I will never part with as tulips are my favorite flower.  I can't wait for my tulips to start budding in the garden. - happy sigh....but I have a ways to go yet so this card will be a good compromise until then :)

The rest of the Design Team has some great inspiration to get you going on this week's sketch.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

In addition, each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card featured, so come and join us this week :)

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

What's In It?

Stamps:(SU) Terrific Tulips, Verve

Paper: Real Red, Certainly Celery 

Ink:  Real Red, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Accessories: Labels 14 Nestie, SU Scalloped Border Punch, UTEE, 1/4" Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Verve Baby Love Diva Dare

This is my second post of the day - whoo hoo!!  Don't remember the last time I did that, but I just had to squeeze this card in in under the wire.  That's two this week - not a trend I enjoy upholding.  My card is for Verve Baby Love Diva Dare which closes today.  You were to create a card or project with a baby love theme.

Loved this Card Patterns Sketch so decided to use it for my card.   The DP is from my sloooowly shrinking Costco pack, and was perfect for a little boy card.

I'm kicking myself for not putting Emery in my shopping cart as part of my last Verve order as he would have been perfect for this card.  So, in lieu of Emery, I pulled out this cute Denami Design baby I've had forever.  The stamp is actually a little girl.  I just didn't ink up her bow and "whale spout" and turned her into a baby boy.   Coloured him with Twinkling H2Os, added a line of punched stars along the bottom, a sentiment tag, and a star with a button to finish things off.

Now I have to get cracking on washing everyone's bedding as well as the other the things I've put on hold in order to get this done -- but it was worth it :)




What's In It?
Stamps: Denami Designs, (SU) Short and Sweet 
Paper: Costco DP, So Saffron, Mint Medley, Bashful Blue 
Ink: Black
Accessories: PTI Medium Scallop Die, Circle Nesties, Sizzex Star Die, Star Punch, Twinkling H2Os, 5/8" Saffron Satin Ribbon, Baker's Twine, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

You Are Loved

Jen's got a new twist on her Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT) this year.  She will be posting only one sketch per month and if you win you will get a goodie from the sponsor that month.  In addition, if you enter all the sketches this year you are entered for a grand prize draw in December.  Sounds good to me!

That being said, I can't believe it has taken me until now to get the sketch done!  I had all month and here I am cutting it down to the wire.  Where does the time go?!!

The square panel screamed heart to me - can you tell I'm still in Valentine's Day card making mode?!  Had to make one more crimped heart....sorry....we'll actually I'm only a teeny bit sorry because I just love making them!!  The sentiment flag is in lieu of the circle on the card because it crosses over into that area (a little sketch creativity here).  As luck would have it, I had a heart shaped button and I layered it with a pink button for a little something extra next to the sentiment panel.  This card is going to a special friend who moved to Alberta last year who I dearly miss.

Thanks for putting up with yet another Valentine's Day card!!  They will come to an end soon, I promise LOL!  Have a fabulous day :)




What's In It?
Stamps: Limited Edition Rubberstamps, (SU) Fine Lace Background
Paper: Bo Bunny DP, Burgundy, Rose Romance, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Heart Blocks Embossing Folder, Scalloped Heart Nesties, Crimper, 5/8" Sheer Silver Ribbon, Buttons, Glue Dots, Silver Twine, Dimensionals

Color Dare 94

Color Dare 94

Pretty in Pink

Pear Pizzazz

Perfect Plum

Tripped across this There She Goes sketch and decided to use it for this week's color challenge.  Loved the breath of spring these colours brought to the gloomy, rainy, wet days we've been having here for much longer than is healthy LOL!

 I pulled out one of my favorite Stampin' Up sets, Vintage Vogue.  I just love this set, and haven't used it in a while, so it was time to ink it up again :)  Snuck in some Swiss Dots,  used my lacey Nesties (still totally loving them), added some scallops, some ruffled ribbon and called it a card.  

The rest of the Team has lots of inspiration for you.  You can check out their creations here:

• Glenda Wyatt at Paper, Scissors, Rocks 
• Heater Prince at Princess Scrapper Stamper
• Joan Jeffery at JJ's Creations
• Melissa Hubert at My Paper Obsession
• Nance Lempinen-Leedy at Canopy Crafts
• Riley Fitzgerald at Stampin' With Riley  (our leader)

We'd love you to join us!  Simply create a card using this week's colours and add your card to InLinkz on the The Colour Dare Blog.  If  you are uploading to a public gallery, please make sure to use the keyword CD94.   Each week, Riley will select a Featured Stamper and showcase your card on her blog.




What's In It?
Stamps: (SU) Vinatage Vogue
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery 
Accessories:Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Lacey Circle Nesties, SU Scalloped Border Punch, 1/4 Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Double Sided Sticky Tape, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

You Make Me Smile

This week's sketch was brought to us by Verve Diva, Sankiri.  Bless her heart, she didn't include any skewed panels - phew  LOL! 

I've had this cute DP for some time so decided to use it as my starting point for this card.  Love Mellow Moss and Real Red together and this time was no exception :)   Even better, I have some new Verve goodies to play with so it was a no-brainer as to which stamps I was going  to use for this sketch!

My trusty Swiss Dots dressed up the white circle panel so the heart stood out a bit more against it, and I added a sentiment tag rather than just stamping it on the heart.  With this card, I have now completed all the January Verve sketches, and join all the others who have done the same in the hopes that your name is drawn as the winner of the entire next Verve release :) 

I also wanted to thank all of you for your lovely birthday wishes (((hugs))).   I had a great day.  My hubby bought me some gorgeous long stem roses - cream with deep coral edging - and then my family pulled a quick one on me!  Rather than have a family birthday dinner, they schemed and let my wonderful SIL take me out for a delicious dinner.  The kids were so proud of themselves for not spilling the beans.  We ate sushi and talked the night away :)   Go karting was supposed to be on the agenda, but we never made it as we were too busy talking -- right up until the restaurant closed LOL!  The family birthday dinner has been bumped to next weekend so I get to celebrate birthday week and then some :)  Downside is I have to wait for the rest of my pressies until then!  Oh well, it was worth the trade off.

Wishing you a wonderful day :)





What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Love Notes
Paper: Real Red, Mellow Moss, DP
Ink: Real Red, Black
Accessories:  PTI Medium Scalloped Die, Lacey Circle and Circle Nesties, Crimper, Buttons, Glue Dots, DImensionals

Falling in Love with CAS

This was such a fun CAS sketch, I had to use it even if it was from a few weeks back.  As you can see, I'm still having issues with getting to sketches in time - and this one is a CAS one at that!!

Decided to go with pink and brown for this Valentine's Day card as I just love these two colours together.  Was hoping to incorporate a third colour, but just couldn't get a colour that seemed to work.  Brain must be water logged from all the rain we're having - well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it LOL!

Pulled out my Martha Stewart heart border punch, paired it with my lacey circle nesties, and couldn't resist using a crimped heart as it gives the card a wonderful pop if dimension :)

Short and sweet today as it's going to be a busy one.  Have a great day!





What's In It?
Stamps: Rubber Soul
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso, White
Ink: Black
Accessories: Martha Sttewart Heart Boarder Punch, Lacey Circle Nesties, Paper Piercing Kit, Crimper, 1/4" Pink Satin Ribbon, Bling, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #54

Just love the colour combination Keesh chose this week, and was thrilled to be able to celebrate my birthday by making a card with them :) 

Having a January birthday when you live on the West Coast of Canada means there is a veeeery good chance you will get showered with looots of  rain on your birthday LOL!  So, I decided to celebrate by giving myself a breath of Spring :)

I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch from a few weeks ago -- I can never seem to get my cards made in time for her sketches lately!  The large circle in the sketch immediately brought SU's Season of Friendship set to mind.  It's a perfect match to my not so subconscious wish for Spring and all the wonderful cherry blossoms we get around here, especially after all the snow and rain we've been having lately - ugh!

In addition, I want to give this card to all of you who so faithfully come to visit me in my little part of blogland.  I treasure the wonderful friendships I have made through this blog and only wish I could meet you all in person!  Thanks for being my encouragement and inspiring me to keep stamping (((hugs))).

The rest of the Design Team has some great inspiration to get you going on this week's sketch.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

In addition, each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card featured, so come and join us this week :)

I'm off to a family dinner at my mom's tonite (chicken and dumplings with a sour cream and caraway sauce - yummy!!) and my favorite cake for dessert.  Needless to say, I"ll definitely be doing the Nordic Track or Tae Bo tomorrow LOL!  Hoping the stamping fairy will be good to me :)

Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for sharing my birthday with me!

What's In It?

Stamps:(SU) Season of Friendship

Paper: Early Espresso, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink

Accessories:  Scalloped Circle Nesties, PTI Scalloped Die, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cream and Brown Half  Pearls, 1/4" Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

Color Dare 93

Color Dare 93

Regal Rose

Pink Pirouette

Pacific Point

This was a fun colour combination to work with. Two pinks and pop of bright blue - and that Pacific Point sure is bright!

I decided to use this week's Card Positioning sketch and pulled out one of my favorite Verve flower sets - Great Friend.  I added some French Script in Rose Romance to the pink flower for some texture and couldn't resist using my crimper for the horizontal panel.  A few half pearls, some pink leaves (that took a bit of getting used to LOL!), and this fabulous Verve sentiment and I called it a card.  Now that I  look at the card, I think I should have added a line of piercing up to the thank you.  May have to try that.

The rest of the Team has lots of inspiration for you.  You can check out their creations here:

• Glenda Wyatt at Paper, Scissors, Rocks 
• Heater Prince at Princess Scrapper Stamper
• Joan Jeffery at JJ's Creations
• Melissa Hubert at My Paper Obsession
• Nance Lempinen-Leedy at Canopy Crafts
• Riley Fitzgerald at Stampin' With Riley  (our leader)

We'd love you to join us!  Simply create a card using this week's colours and add your card to InLinkz on the The Colour Dare Blog.  If  you are uploading to a public gallery, please make sure to use the keyword CD93.   Each week, Riley will select a Featured Stamper and showcase your card on her blog.




What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Great Friend, (SU) French Script Background Stamp
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Pacific Point
Ink: Black, Regal Rose,
Accessories:Crimper, Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, PTI Medium Scalloped Die, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Dotted Love

Just had to make one more Valentine's Day card....sorry :)  I started off wanting to play along with the CAS sketch on SCS, but my card took on a life of it's own so I just played on my own, but kept it pretty CAS. 

I'm still madly in love with crimped hearts (no pun intended LOL!) so just "had" to use another one on this card.  After playing around with different embossing folders for the red panel, I settled on using the Seeing Spots embossing folder as it works wonderfully with the crimped heart (at least in my mind). 

A bow on the heart and some half pearls called it a card, but now that I'm looking at the card on my screen, the sentiment seems to be a bit too large for the size of the heart....what do you think? 

Better go before I totally remake this card LOL!  Have a great day :) 

What's In It?
Stamps: Studio G
Paper:  Real Red, White, Black
Ink: Black
Accessories: Crimper, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties.  Marvy Heart Punch, 1/4" White Satin Ribbon, White Half Pearls, Dimensionals,

Skewed and Distressed - That's Me!!

I literally groaned out loud when I saw this sketch.  Can you guess why?? Yup, that darn skewed panel LOL!  As I told Tosh on the Verve Forum, I took a deep breath and said....."embrace the skewed panel, Marisa, make it your friend"....exhale....deep breath...."embrace the skewed panel, Marisa, make it your friend"....exhale.....it's not working just yet....!!! Okay, found a solution, I just have to tip my head to the side and it looks straight. May have to make it straight and then tip my card for the picture LOL!
Good news in all this is I am attempting - and I say attempting - to "embrace the skewed panels and make them my friend" this year.  They mess with my anal side something fierce, so my challenge to myself and my card making abilities is to work with them until I'm much more comfortable with them.  I'm sure I will regret saying this, but it's a good way for me to stretch and challenge myself and my card making abilities. 

Since I was on a roll in the area of challenging myself on a card, I decided to add my challenge from Andrea, to add distressing on some of my cards, into the mix as well.    Heck, twice the challenge, twice the.....ahem....."fun", and twice the satisfaction once it's done LOL! 

The DP is from my Costco pack (yeah!! a little more gone) and I decided to use the Martha Stewart daisy border punch for the two horizontal panels, turning them in to face each other so they take on the look of it being some lace (well as close as you can get with paper anyway).  Quite happy with the effect.  I used the script embossing folder for the white panel to add more texture.  Helped pacify my severely distressed creative gene by using my favorite Stampin' Up butterfly die, and then added this darling Verve birthday sentiment.  I distressed the edges quite a bit and can honestly say this card looks better with the distressed edges than without.  Aaaaaack, what's happening to me??!!  This is why I love this addiction, hobby, so much.  You can stretch yourself in new ways all the time - though I am done with the stretching part right about now LOL!

Okay, I've rambled on long enough!  Thanks for listening, and if you join me by stretching yourself to do something you normally don't do on cards, we can celebrate and relax together :)   Have a great day!




What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Big Wish
Paper: Early Espresso, Mellow Moss, Costco DP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Script Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Daisy Border Punch, SU Sizzex Butterfly Die, Brown Half Pearls, SU Distressing Tool

Yet Another Valentine's Day Card

Loved this sketch by Create with Connie and Mary from a week or so ago and turned it into another Valentine's Day card.  Don't worry, I'm almost done now LOL!  I have always loved hearts so Valentine's Day cards have always been one of my favorite type of cards to create.  This one was no exception.

Wanted to keep things on the clean and simple side and am happy with the result.  I experimented with crimping the heart to see what it would look like and I love it (okay...it's official.....my crimper has become my newest addiction LOL!).  The crimping adds some wonderful texture and depth to the heart and helps it stand out against the embossed hearts panel.  A little button with some silver twine was my finishing touch.   Nice and easy and I like it.  Think this may end up being my daughter's card as she's a pink, pink girl and very feminine (unlike her mother LOL!).

Have a fabulous day and don't forget to tell those near and dear to you that you love them.  It will make their day.






What's In It?
Stamps: None
Paper: Pretty in Pink, White
Ink: None
Accessories: Blocked Hearts Embossing Folder, Lacey Square Nesties, Marvy Heart Punch, Crimper, 5/8" Sheer Silver Ribbon,  Silver Half Pearls, Button, Silver Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Peachy Keen Love

I was in the mood for a square card today, so I decided to play along with this week's Peachy Keen sketch, and being that I am still on a Valentine's Day card making binge, I though I'd make another one :)

My goal to of wanting to put a sizable dint in my remaining Costco DP pack this year is a little closer to being achieved by my using this funky heart DP.  I scored the white panel because none of the embossing folders I tried seemed to go with the DP and just love (no pun intended) this Studio G sentiment I got at Mike's last year:)   A little crimper action on the heart (still on my crimper binge too) for some dimension and, a button on it for a little "umph" and some half pearls as a finishing touch.

That's it for today.  Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by :)






What's In It?
Stamps:  Studio G
Paper:  Costco DP Pack, Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Scor-Pal, Scalloped Circle Nesties, Marvy Heart Punch, Crimper, Button, Twine, Brown Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Challenge #53

Keesh came up with another fun sketch for this week's Inkspirations Challenge.  It was perfect timing because I needed to make a thank you card for a family who donated practice uniforms for my son's soccer team.  They have gone above and beyond the call of duty for our team and the boys were thrilled.

The DP is from a sloooowly diminishing Costco DP pack I purchased a few years back and I pulled the rest of the colours from it.  I VersaMarked the brocade blue panel under the the thank you sentiment with soccer balls since it is a thank you from the soccer team (thanks to a Studio G set I found at Mike's in the summer).  Still on my crimper roll so added a strip to the card and white background panel...well...let's just say I'm still addicted LOL!

The rest of the Design Team has some great inspiration to get you going on this week's sketch.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

In addition, each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card featured, so come and join us this week :)

Have a fabulous weekend.

What's In It?

Stamps: Studio G

Paper: Brocade Blue,  Night of Navy, Real Red, Costco DP

Ink: Black, VersaMark

Accessories: Martha Stewart Border Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Crimper, Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Owl Be Your Friend

I got this darling Studio G owl stamp at Michael's this summer and decide it was time it saw some ink.

I flipped the orientation of this week's CPS sketch  to a horizontal version so I could get him sitting on a branch.  I ended up fudging on the sketch a bit but I liked it better that way.  Hope the CPS police don't mind :)

The branch comes from Stampin' Up's Cheep Talk set, the DP is from my Costco pack, and the ribbon is from none other than the Michael's ribbon bin (what would I do without that ribbon bin LOL!).  The large black half pearls were a perfect fit for his eyes and I love how it makes them stand out :)

That's it for today.  Off to do some Tae Bo with Billy Blanks as I got more than a good workout yesterday when we had to shovel 8 inches of  WET snow off our driveway!  In classic West Coast fashion, the temperatures are way up and the rain has begun so the snow is well on it's way out already.  Thankfully the kids got to play in it at recess and lunch at school yesterday before it got too wet.

Have a fabulous day.  Back tomorrow with my Inkspirations sketch challenge card.





What's In It?
Stamps:  Studio G, (SU) Cheep Talk 
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Costco DP Pack, Whtie
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Rudy Red
Accessories:  Black Half Pearls, Heart Ribbon from Michael's, Dimensionals

Color Dare 92

Color Dare 92

Poppy Parade

So Saffron

Very Vanilla

Fun mix of colour Riley picked for us this week, though I to substitute the red, but it worked wonderfully.

I based my card of f this sketch from Lucy's Cards and it is my first skewed panel of 2011 :)  I am trying to "embrace the skewed panels" a bit more this year to stretch the old comfort zone a bit.  I also distressed the edges a bit, a challenge Andrea Ewen tossed my way last year and I'm just getting to.  I wanted to do more distressing but wasn't sure the recipient would appreciate it so kept it light.


The picture doesn't show it well at all, but I VersaMarked the French Script background stamp on the red and the red portion of the flower - maybe I should have gone with Real Red instead.  May have to go back and change that.  Hmmm, think I need to make a second card with the changes on it :) 

 
The rest of the Team has lots of inspiration for you.  You can check out their creations here:

• Glenda Wyatt at Paper, Scissors, Rocks 
• Heater Prince at Princess Scrapper Stamper
• Joan Jeffery at JJ's Creations
• Melissa Hubert at My Paper Obsession
• Nance Lempinen-Leedy at Canopy Crafts
• Riley Fitzgerald at Stampin' With Riley  (our leader)

We'd love you to join us!  Simply create a card using this week's colours and add your card to InLinkz on the The Colour Dare Blog.  If  you are uploading to a public gallery, please make sure to use the keyword CD92.   Each week, Riley will select a Featured Stamper and showcase your card on her blog.





What's In It?
Stamps:  (SU) French Script Background Stamp, SIncere Salutations
Paper: Real Red, So Saffron, Vanilla
Ink: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:Crimper, SU FLower Punches, Jumbo Brad, 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Brown Half Pearls, Raffia, Dimensinoals