JUGS - Zip It

   
First and foremost, I would like to thank the JUGS team for the wonderful opportunity of being their Guest Designer in March.  I have had a fabulous time working alongside this talented DT.

This week's challenge is to use a zipper on your project - as an accent or to create focal point.  My first thought was to make a zipper flower as I have never made one and always wanted to try one.  However, while following a You Tube tutorial, it became painfully obvious that my zipper was waaaay too short to make a flower (I had removed one from an old pair of my daughter's jeans).  So....necessity became the mother of invention and I made a flower center from the zipper instead.  

I rolled the zipper, stitched it together, placed it on a denim circle cut from the same jeans, stitched it on and formed a flower around it by pleating and stitching the denim circle from behind.  The back isn't a pretty sight LOL, but the flower from the front passed inspection and that's what counts! 

So, if you have ever wanted to try a zipper flower or just wanted to let your creative juices flow by using a zipper as an accent or the focal point of your card, now is your chance.  Just link your creation up to the JUGS Challenge Post and you could be this week's winner.  If you don't have a blog, you can use a public gallery and use key word JUGS130.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Off to Campus Christian Fellowship's 40th year celebration/reunion on the Western Washington University campus in Bellingham, Washington this weekend.  They were life changing years for me, and it is always good to catch up with those who you shared great experiences and memories with - can't wait!

Thanks for popping by, and hope you have a fabulous weekend too :)

 

What's In It?
Paper: Recollection Garden Floral DP, Night of Navy, White
Accessories:  Zipper, Denim, PTI Tag Die, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sizzex Leaf Die, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, 5/8" Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Twine, Button, Silver Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Happy Easter Punch Bunny

 
I'm sneaking in under the wire for March's SFYTT  as the month blitzed by and I almost forgot to do the sketch!

I saw this punched bunny on Pinterest a while back and just loved the concept so I incorporated it on this card.  I'm not thrilled with the colour combo, but when I used  darker colours, it was bit too morbid for a spring card - thus the switch to pastels.  Not my best card, but I got the sketch done....sorry Jen!

That's it for me today.  Busy weekend coming up for our family as all of us going in different directions on  Saturday (and I'm also out on Friday night)!  Thankfully I have my mom around to bail me out by taking my daughter to her piano lesson while I'm off at my activity.  Needless to say, I'm thinking Sunday is going to be a low key day for the family LOL!

   

What's In It?
Stamps: Amuse 
Paper: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Mint Medley, Brocade Blue, Wild Wasabi 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, 1 3/4" Circle Punch (SU), Large, Small and Scalloped Oval Punches (SU), Flower Punch (Mike's $1.50 Bin), Crimper, SU Border Punch, 5/8" Saffron Satin Ribbon, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

You Make Me Smile

Diva Charmaine came up with a great sketch and I once again delved into my new Recollections Garden Floral paper pack, which I got at Michael's over Spring Break with a 50% off coupon - score!  Loved the navy with yellow and orange - such a striking combination.

Since there was a nice big circle and I haven't used my "U" die recently, out it came.  It looks striped but in actuality it is just crimped.  The sentiment is a partial - I just didn't ink the "you" word.  Not quite brave enough to cut my acrylic stamps yet LOL! 

That wraps up the Verve sketches for March :)  I can't believe there hasn't been a skewed panel on a sketch yet...shhhhhh.....!!!  I'm grinning from ear to ear, but I'm sure that will change soon enough :(  So, until them, I'm gleefully enjoying the sketches and all Divas have made it back into my good books LOL!

Have a fabulous day! 



What's In It?
Stamps: Fabulous You (Verve) 
Paper: Garden Florals (Recollections), Night of Navy, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, tan 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Flutterby Die (Verve), U Die (Verve) Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, 5/8" Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Thank So Much A La Moe

I'm working my way through the March Verve sketches.  This one was created by Diva Maureen. 

Since I missed making it before St. Patrick's Day, a flower replaced the shamrock (sorry Moe) and where there is a flower you can almost count on me adding a butterfly.  Any excuse to use flowers and butterflies on a card :) 

Three sketches down and one to go.  Back tomorrow with my card for the last sketch and then the waiting begins yet again to see if you get randomly selected as the lucky winner of a $100 gift certificate to Verve.

We are back into the swing of school and all the kids' activities again and it feels good to be back into a routine (insert happy mommy LOL).  Enjoy your day and thanks for spending a bit of yours with me :)  



What's In It? 
Stamps: Celebration of Thanks (Verve)
Paper: Garden Florals (Recollections), Rose Red, More Mustard, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Doily and Flower Dies (PTI), Flutterby and Charming Banner Dies (Verve), Sizzix Leaf Die, Labels 18 Nestie, Crimper, Brown Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Spring Break's Stamping Hiatus is Over

 Since I'm three sketches behind on my Viva La Verve sketches, and had a stamping hiatus over our two week Spring Break, I thought I'd start with Andrea's CAS sketch to get the juices going again.

It felt wonderful to stamp and I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet house....happy sigh....  Not that the kids and I didn't have a fun Spring Break together because we did, but this introvert starts to twitch after two weeks of 24/7 company LOL!  

I dressed the sketch up a bit as I wanted to use  some of my favorite dies and just "had" to use my Swiss Dots embossing folder for the background.  A bit of bling and a button called it a card.  One down, two more to go.

Thanks for your patience in my lack of posting over the past two weeks.  I hope to rectify that this week :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Happy Birthday Plain Jane (Verve)
Paper: Brocade Blue, Black, Certainly Celery, Desert Springs (SEI)
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, PTI Flower Die, MFT Flourish Die, Lacy Square Nesties, Button, Twine, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

JUGS 3D/Template Challenge

 

I must say it was delightful to be able to stamp again!  With the kids home for a two week Spring Break my stamping time has taken a back seat.  I am also guilty of filling any down time with some reading - a treat I don't get very often when we are running full tilt with kids' activities etc. during the school year.  Thank you JUGS for the Guest DT spot as I very much enjoyed being in my stamp room after a week off! 

This week's JUGS challenge is to make a 3D/Template Decorative Clear Box with a simple note card set (flat), customizable with sentiment tags/labels (see sample ).

When I first saw this challenge I was a bit worried...okay a lot worried LOL....as I don't do many 3D things and I had to get into CAS mode, but once I got into it, I had a lot of fun.  There is just something satisfying about making something with your hands that looks great in the end :) 

Since the challenge stipulated making a flat card (aka CAS one layer card), I went with one of my all time  favorite Stampin' Up sets, Terrific Tulips.   Tulips are my favorite flower, and with them starting to push through the ground in my front flower bed I'm giddy with excitement.  Not wanting to wait until they bloom, I decided to bring them to life  in my stamp room.

My five card set contains tulips in different colours.  I used a Martha Stewart border punch along the bottom and added an itsy bitsy knot in my ribbon along the top of the card to balance things off.  The sentiment tags are stamped onto Labels 10 nesties and I ran my Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink pad around the edges  for a bit of definition against the card.  You simply need to select the sentiment you want to add to it.

We'd love you to join us!  It's the perfect way to get a hostess gift or year end teacher gift made.  Simply link your project to the JUGS Challenge Blog for a chance to be selected as this week's winner.  If you don't have a blog, you can use an on line gallery with the keyword JUGS130.

Kids are back in school next week so hope to be able to enjoy my stamp room a bit more!  Until then, have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Terrific Tulips and Sincere Salutations (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: White and Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Positively Pink, Only Orange, Almost Amethyst, Lavender Lace, So Saffron, More Mustard, Real Red
Accessories:  1/4" Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Labels 10 Nestie

Science World and Lego Unite

No card today, so if you want to pass on by, please feel free to do so.  

Since my posting has been rather sparse due to Spring Break I thought I would show you what the kids and I were up to today.  We decided to go to Science World and had a ball :)  They had both a Lego and a dinosaur exhibit and four hours later we actually surfaced after taking it all in.  I just realized I didn't take any pictures in the dinosaur exhibit, but since we were in Drumheller last summer and saw the real thing, there wasn't much we hadn't seen other than some really amazing lifelike moving dinosaurs.  The T-Rex was incredible and had me scared as he blinked at me LOL!

The Lego area captured our hearts (insert: both my kids love Lego) and to see life size images made totally out of Lego was amazing!

This dashing knight on his steed welcomed us into the area.

Then we came across this knight with his sword.

. 

Next up was this very cute dragon protecting his riches (though I cut them off in the picture).

 

This next picture is the miniature version of a castle a 13 year old boy built in his bedroom!!  I wish you could see the amazing details he included!  It was mind blowing in details and proportions!  The one he created took a week to make it covered half his bedroom.  The "Lego Masters" worked off a picture of it and managed to "shrink" it down to this size so it could be displayed.  Think this child a Lego Master in teh making!!

After some "firm" words, I fiiiiinally convinced (aka threatened) my kids to pose for a jousting picture.   They  had a jousting course set up and you could put on a costume (kids stopped there LOL) and then get your steed and partake in the jousting course.  The leather horses had straps for your shoulders and there was a lance you could hold and hit the targets with.  Thankfully, my son did not decided to spear his sister LOL!  

Of course the kids spent at least half an hour building with the scads of Lego they had available on various tables (you would have thought we had a shortage of Lego at home - not!) and we all left there feeling rather tired but fulfilled and glad we had gone :)   Needless to say, I would love to go to Lego Land now!!

We are nearing the end of Spring Break - just four more sleeps so I will be able to get back to a more regular posting routine - yeah!  Can't wait to get inky again!

Thanks for popping by!

New Mercies

This week's challenge over on the JUGS Blog is a colour challenge and the mix is one of my favorites - happy sigh :)  Spring moss, light pink and cream and I tossed in a bit of white for good measure.  I also paired it with this week's Cards and Things sketch.

I used the fabulous Verve set New Mercies to make a sympathy card for the family of the man who used to be the Chairman of the Board at our church.  He was a warm, talented, very intelligent man who at a young age (age 50) had an amazing skill at taking input from people and condensing it all into a few key points that were right on the money.  He loved kids, was a huge overgrown kid himself, a great family man, husband and natural born leader.  His memorial service is going to be a big one and his presence will be dearly missed in many circles....

We'd love you to play along with this week's challenge. Simply make a card and link it to the challenge post.  If you don't have a blog you can use an online gallery and use key word JUGS128.  Who knows, you could be this week's winner :)

 

What's In It? 
Stamps: New Mercies (Verve)
Paper: Cream Linen, Mellow Moss DSP (SU), Pretty in Pink 
Ink: Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Lacy Square Nesties, Flutterby Die (Verve), 5/8" Pink Sheer Ribbon, Pink Half Pearls, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Techno Shamrock

This Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge  from quite a while back intrigued me, so I saved the sketch and am going back to it now.   I needed another St. Patrick's Day card and that circle was screaming shamrock :)

Out came Verve's Lucky You set again - such a fun set!  Stamped and die cut the shamrock and then added the March 17th from a Studio G set I got at Michael's a few years ago.   

We are not into our two week Spring Break and have the dentist appointments done.  Huge wind storm down here yesterday!!  Power went out, our BBQ cover learned how to fly across the yard (thankfully the BBQ didn't tip over I've heard some have), one of our recycle boxes has gone AWOL and our garbage can was seven doors down. Usually have these storms in Nov/Dec so it is out of the ordinary to have them this time of year.  Poor Hydro crews are working overtime.  Next up:  tons of rain for five days - ugh!  Needless to say, I'll be doing indoor activities with the kids!

Have a fabulous day and thanks for sharing a bit of your day with me today :) 

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Lucky You (Verve), Studio G 
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Sonoma Oak Lane (Scenic Route), Kraft, Black 
Ink: Garden Green, Black 
Accessories:  Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Shamrock Dies (Verve), Scalloped Oval Punch (SU), Martha Stewart Border Punch, 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo For You

This week is contest week over at the Mojo Monday blog so I get to take another kick at the can re: winning a Verve gift certificate :)

Some Stella Rose MME papers were calling my name as was the MFT daisy die which is quickly becoming one of my newest addictions!

This card is going to the daughter of one of the Verve Diva's who is going through a tough time right now.  Hoping it will bring her some encouragement :)   Hopefully Canada Post won't take forever to get it there!

Kids are officially on Spring Break for the next two weeks as of today....oh joy....LOL!   In all reality I do enjoy having my kids all to myself, but it makes for a busy two weeks as I try to balance our time with a good mix of visiting friends, going out on day trips, getting out of the house for a few hours on home days and working on things that need to be done at home (I can hear them groaning about the last one already LOL).  Wish me luck :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU) 
Paper: Stella Rose (MME), Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Certainly Celery, Cream Linen, So Saffron 
Ink: Black 
Accessories: Daisy Die (MFT), Border Punch (SU), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Tagged Rectangle Die (Verve), Sizzex Leaf Die (SU), Crimper, 1/4" Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Brown Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Butterflies Galore

This week is technique week over at the JUGS blog, and faux embossing with die cuts or punches is the challenge.  You can find the tutorial for this technique here. 

I must admit, I have never done this before and had a lot of fun creating my own embossed background from punches.  The sky is the limit as far as backgrounds you can create and it's a great way to get additional use from your dies and punches.  Definitely going to try this technique again.

I chose a Martha Stewart butterfly punch to create the faux embossed background on my card.  Fifteen punched butterflies later, I arranged them in a pattern to my liking and then glued them all down.  The holes in the punched butterflies made the gluing a bit tricky as many of them wanted to stick to my finger rather than the card, but I persevered LOL!

This Create with Connie and Mary sketch from a few weeks back was perfect as it had a lot of open space which showcases the technique.  Of course, where there are butterflies, there must be some flowers so out came my MFT flower die and one more punched butterfly for good measure.  Told you I can't wait until spring arrives LOL!

Hope you can join us this week.  Simply link your creation using this fun and easy technique to the challenge post by Thursday, March 15th at 12:00 P.M. Eastern.   If you are using an online gallery, use key word JUGS127.  Look forward to seeing your creations :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Kind Words (Verve) 
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  5/8" Rose Romance Grosgrain Ribbon, MFT Flower Die, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches and Heart Border Punch, Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, DImensionals

Polka Dotted Birthday

 

Another wonderful Verve sketch by Diva Amber.  I cheated a bit in that I left off a layer, but love this sketch so much I'm going to make a second one using the extra layer so all is good in the end LOL!

Wanted to combine the sketch with this week's Annabelle Stamps colour challenge as it involves some fabulous fall colours.  Was a bit hard getting into a "fall" mood while desperately craving spring, but just love the colours so it didn't take much to twist my rubber arm :)

Polka dots still abound and I am just loving this MFT flower die!   Went with some "green eyed" Susans versus the brown eyed ones as it was too much brown.  A very well used Happy Birthday Verve Plain Jane and I have a card made will in advance for a very good college friend of mine who also loves these colours. 

We are in day two of a three day teacher "protest" so there is no school.  Needless to say, the kids are thrilled with the extra days off.   Next week is the beginning of their two week Spring Break so they are basically getting a three week spring break with just two days of school this Thursday and Friday.  We are taking advantage of the impromptu time off by connecting with friends we don't get to see that often.  Truly hope this whole issue gets settled quickly.  Education system needs an overhaul....for everyone's sake....

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Happy Birthday Plain Jane (Verve)
Paper: Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), Early Espresso, More Mustard, Old Olive
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Lacy Square Nesties, MFT FLower Die, Sizzex Leaf Die, 1" Mustard Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

An Irish Blessing For You

 It's round or square week over on the Mojo Monday blog and round it will be :)

After a short hiatus from St. Patrick's Day cards, another one was in order so I'm one card closer to my required quota.  Out came Verve's Lucky You shamrock set and the matching dies are such a joy to work with!

Used a tried and true colour combo and just "had" to go with polka dots again....sorry....I'm on a bit of a bender with them lately....even embossed them in the background!

Just need to make one last St. Patrick's Day card and then you'll have a reprieve from them until next year LOL!    But I won't commit to your not seeing any shamrocks until then as there could very well be a "lucky you" card or two somewhere along the course of the year.

Wishing you the blessing that's on the card, and sending you many thanks for all your wonderful comments.  They make my day and fuel the fire to keep creating (((hugs))).

Challenges:  
Raise The Bar - Twine 
Friday Mashup - St. Patrick's Day

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Lucky You (Verve) 
Paper: Draft, Wild Wasabi, Happy Go Lucky (Pebbles)

Ink: Garden Green, Black 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Shamrock Dies (Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (SU), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Black Half Pearls, Black Buttons, Twine, Dimensionals

JUGS March Guest Designer

I have the great joy of being the Guest Designer for JUGS (Just Us Girls) for the month of March!!  Thank you so much ladies for the wonderful invitation to join you :)  


This week is sketch week and it is a nice and simple one which you can dress up or keep CAS.  Love this type of sketch!!  I went with a dressed up version as I wanted to use flowers and that wide open space was calling their name LOL!  

I paired the sketch with CR84FN's colour combo from last week as I really liked it but ran out of time to play along.  The lavender, green and grey are fabulous together!  Out came my PTI flower die (loooove this die!) and new tag sale die (grin) along with Verve's Flutterby die.  Still hooked on my new Martha Stewart vintage floral border punch so had to throw that in as well LOL! 

Would love it if you came an played along with us this week.  Simply complete a card and submit it via the Linky Tools at the bottom of the JUGS Challenge post by Thursday, March 8th at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.  If you don't have a blog you can post it to an on line gallery using the Key Word JUGS126.  Then hold your breath for the Chick of the Week award - it could be you!

I'll be back next Friday with a new challenge.  Thanks for popping in!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Kind Words (Verve), French Script (SU) 
Paper: Basic Grey, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  PTI Beautiful Blooms II and Tag Sale #5 Dies, Flutterby Die (Verve), Oval Nesties, Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Punch, Crimper, Striped Ribbon, Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals