JUGS #165 Sketch

This week's sketch challenge is brought to us by Andrea. I combined it the ColourQ challenge as the colours allowed me to use this delightful Echo Park Christmas paper again.  Have no fear - I will run out of it eventually LOL!

A nice easy card you could mass produce quite easily, and make more mailable by omitting the pearls and replacing them with a punched out dot or double layer with another snowflake.

After seeing the picture of the card on my blog, I realized I should have been a bit more cognoscente of where the red snowflakes on the designer paper were.  Some of the punched snowflakes look a bit oddly shaped due to their overlapping the ones on the paper. Good note to self.

For some inspiration to get you going, just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team have created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card or project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.

This weekend's job:  decorating the inside of the house for Christmas :)  
 
  

What's In It?
Stamps:  Peace on Earth (Verve) 
Paper:  Happy Holidays (Echo Park), Garden Green, Real Red  
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Square Punch, Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

Paper Players Christmas

This week's Paper Players sketch is a fun one.  You can dress it up or keep it simple.  I went down the middle.  Some white trim to gussy it up a bit and a nice red bow which screams Christmas to me :) You could easily mass produce this by omitting the bow and replacing it with a red fishtail banner as per the sketch.

Love this darling paper from MME's I Believe Christmas paper pad.  Felt bad decapitating a few reindeer as I trimmed the paper to fit the card though!  Hopefully Santa doesn't get wind of it or I may be out a few gifts under the tree - eeek!

Busy week here as I get lists going for all that needs to be done for Christmas.  Thankfully I'm ahead of the game this year in the Christmas card and letter department - yeah me!  Letter is written and if all goes well, cards will be done this weekend.

Have a great day and thanks for popping by today!

 

What's In It?  
Stamps: Merry and Bright (Verve), Amuse 
Paper: I Believe (MME), Kraft 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Curvy Bookplate Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Border Punch (Stampin' Up), 5/8 Red Satin Ribbon, Bling

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 

Pink Snowflakes

The snowflakes keep falling here and today's is pink!  Found this delicious snowflake paper by Echo Park at my local scrap booking store and just fell in love with it.  A great set of non-traditional colours for a Christmas card and I obliged LOL!

Paired it with this cute Christmas tree from Verve's Holiday Greetings set.  Coloured it with Twinkling H2Os and just had to pull out the hot pink colour from the patterned paper and make a snowflake out of that colour.  Had me thinking, I'm sure glad snow isn't this colour, but sure like it on the card :)  That being said, I'm entering this card in the Keen on Neon in teh Moxi Fab World contest.

All of the November Verve sketches are done - yeah!  My out door Christmas lights are up - yeah!  We have chocolate chip cookies in the house compliments of my daughter - yeah! And, my Christmas letter is well on it's way to being done - yeah!  Life is good - double yeah!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Holiday Greetings (Verve)
Paper: Happy Holidays (Echo Park), Merry and Bright (Carta Bella), Real Red, Passionate Pink
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Paper Piercing Kit (Stampin' Up), Twinkling H2Os, Button, Silver Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #269

It's round or square week over on the Mojo Monday blog and that always makes me happy :)  Round card it is this week and the sketch was a fun one to work with, even though one of the panels is basically totally covered up by the poinsettia!

I used some retired Stampin' Up DSP and added a nice, big, red poinsettia - well, as big as the card would allow anyway.   I took a bit of creative license and moved the banner to the  panel on the other side of the sketch so I could fit it in.  A little gold twine and half pearls for a bit of shimmer, and a sentiment tag finished things off.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the  Mojo Monday blog and also get a chance to view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples!  Should you wish more details on their cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Stephanie Kraft

Wanda Cullen

Hard to believe it is the last week of November - eeeek!!  Got the outdoor Christmas lights up this past weekend and this weekend is slated for all the indoor decorating.  Time to bring Christmas into the house :)     Have a fabulous day and I look forward to seeing your creations!   

  

What's In It?
Stamps:   Peace on Earth (Verve) 
Paper:  Stampin' Up DSP, Old Olive, Real Red, Cream Linen
Ink:  Black  
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Poinsettia Die (Spellbinders), 3/8" Red Stitched Ribbon, Buttons, Gold Twine,Cream Half Pearls Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #164

This week's fabulous Inspiration picture is brought to us by Vicki!  Just love this winter scene :)

I immediately thought of using some of MME's wood panel paper and my Spellbinder's poinsettia die.  I sponged the poinsettia a bit and popped up all three layers - love a full poinsettia LOL!  The focal panel needed a little something so added a button and some black half pearls to fill in the gap.

For some inspiration to get you going, just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team and our November Guest Designer Jan Del Bone have created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card or project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.


Trusting all you American bloggers had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We truly have so, so much to be thankful for!  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you to all of you who come and visit my little corner of cyber world :)  Have a great weekend!
 
  

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Merry and Bright (Verve) 
Paper:  Dolled Up (MME), Black, Real Red, Forrest Foliage, Brushed Gold 
Ink: Black,
Accessories: Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties, Poinsettia Die (Spellbinders), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Buttons, Gold Twine, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Recognize the Tag?

Remember the tags I made a few days back?  Well, this is one of them, and I'm using it on this week's Verve sketch.  It's a super easy way to make a quick card.  It tweaks the sketch just a bit as the top of the tag doesn't quite fit the sketch, but I'm going with creative license ;)

This colour combo just makes me happy :)   Was great fun adding lots of polka dots to the card too, and that also makes me happy.   What can I say, simple things bring me great joy :)

Hope all my American friends are enjoying their long weekend. Outdoor Christmas lights are on the agenda this weekend - that is only if it isn't raining as I am a fair weather Christmas light putter upper LOL!

Have a great day!



Stamps:  Joyous Noel   
Paper:  Kraft, Making Memories, Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Tag Die (PTI), Snowflake Die (My Favorite Things), Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), 5/8" Silver Satin Ribbon, Crimper,Button, Silver Twine, Silver Bell, (Michael's), Glue Dot, Silver Half Pearls, Dimensionals

 

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!!  Wishing you a day full of happiness as you reflect on all you have to be thankful for.  If you are a Black Friday shopper - good luck!! 

I started off using a sketch, but the card morphed to such a degree that it doesn't really resemble it so this is sort of my own creations - and since they are few and far between this is something to celebrate LOL!  Do love making square cards and must make a point of making them more often.

I dug into my "to be used on another card" pile and pulled out a few goodies - yeah!  Paired them with this fun paper from MME's I Believe paper pad and this was the result.  I'm overdosing on snowflakes, I know, but I just can't help myself.  Absolutely love them! 

Wishing you a blessed day :)



What's In It?
Stamps:  Merry and Bright (Verve)
Paper: I Believe (MME), Night of Navy, Burgundy
Ink: Black
Accessories: Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, 5/8" Sheer Burgundy Ribbon, Buttons, Gold Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Crafty Crazy Retro Tags

 

 I used this week's Retro Sketch to make a tag so I could also play along with Crazy 4 Challenges (make a tag) and Ladybug Crafts (snowflakes).

Since I was on a tag making expedition, I decided to make a few more just for fun.  I'll most likely use these on cards somewhere along the way as it just about kills me to put a tag on a gift when I full well know it will only be looked at quickly, flipped over for the "from" sentiment and then end up in the recycling bin or garbage.

By no means do I expect people to keep the tags...just figure if they are on a card there is a better chance of the card being kept than a tag - or is that wishful thinking LOL!   Anyone else feel this way or is it just me?!  The only time I'll use a hand-made tag is for a hostess gift or on a bottle of wine to dress it up a bit.  For the rest, it's store bought tags all the way baby!

Okay, enough about my psychological tag issues and on to the actual tags!  The tag above uses the Retro Sketch and some I Believe MME paper.  I double tagged the tag as the tag on the ribbon added the little something I needed in that space, and though it is a rather bazaar thing to do on a tag, I quite like it.

Love the kraft, pink and brown together, not to mention the heart and snowflake combo - two shapes I adore, and all the more when they are together LOL!  Best part is the sentiment fit perfectly on the fish tail of the tag!

This last tag was one I made a while back and never posted as I didn't really like it.  After working on it and adding a few things it sits with me much better. 

Sorry about the dark pictures....we are having very dark, dreary and rainy days here and no matter what time of day I take the pictures they always come out dark, even after Photoshop!!  Welcome to winter on the West Coast - ugh!



To You Tag 
Stamps: Merry and Bright (Verve) 
Paper:  Real Red,  I Believe (MME), Kraft 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper, button, Red Twine, Twine, 5/8" Blue Satin Ribbon

Merry Christmas Tag
Stamps:  Joyous Noel   
Paper:  Kraft, Making Memories, Early Espresso
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Tag Die (PTI), Snowflake Die (My Favorite Things), Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), 5/8" Silver Satin Ribbon, Crimper, Button, Silver Twine, Glue Dot, Silver Half Pearls

Christmas Blessings Tag
Stamps: Glad Tidings (Verve),  Snowflakes (Amuse)
Paper:  Kraft, Brocade Blue, Brown, Night of Navy
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Label Die (PTI), Jumbo Snowflake and Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Deckle Scissors, Twine, Half Pearls, Bling, Crimper, Dimensionals

CCMC Sketch

Loved this fun sketch on the Create with Connie and Mary blog so decided to play along this week.

I flipped through my nesties and Labels 10 die was the best option in my possession.  I paired it with their poinsettia die (love this die!!) and brought out my Swiss Dots embossing folder for a bit of texture.

Since this isn't an overly large sized Labels die, it makes a rather small card. However, I could also see this being used as a place setting card with a person's name instead of the Christmas salutation, or even as a really fancy tag. 

Thanks for popping in today!  Always appreciate the company :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Glad Tidings (Verve)
Paper: Real Red, Taken With Teal
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Labels 10 Nestabilities and Poinsettia Die (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), 1" Green Sheer Ribbon, Button, Gold Twine, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #268

Welcome back to another Mojo Monday sketch.  This week's sketch is brought to us by Mojo Maker Carole Burrage.

For some reason when I first saw the sketch, I immediately thought of using two trees in lieu of the circles.  Think the overwhelming desire to use my new to me Verve Christmas tree die had a lot to do with it wink, wink.  So, I fudged the sketch  just a teensy bit...okay kind of a lot, but I love the outcome!

This fabulous snowflake SEI paper was my starting point.  Love blue and brown together and silver became my accent colour.  A bit of bling on the falling snowflakes, some background "snow" created by my Swiss Dots embossing folder and two silver bells created my winter wonderland on a card.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the  Mojo Monday blog and also get a chance to view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples!  Should you wish more details on their cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Stephanie Kraft

Wanda Cullen

Have a fabulous day and hope you can sneak in some time to play along with this sketch - especially all the American Mojo Monday fans who may need a tiny break from all the Thanksgiving Day preparations!  

 

What's In It?
Stamps:   Peace on Earth (Verve) 
Paper:  Kris Kringle (SEI), Early Espresso, Silver
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Winter Fun Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Nesties, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Button, Silver Twine, Silver Bells (Michael's), Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Freshly Made Gold

Had a little down time today so decided to make a card.  I combined this week's Freshly Made Sketch with this week's Paper Players challenge to use silver or gold on your card.  Bonus for me, I used both :)

Just love this tree die by Verve and the 3D trees I have seen in blog land using it, so I decided to make one for this card.  I punched it out three times, scored each one down the middle, folded them, and then glued them together to form the tree.  Then I created a snow bank by free cutting a rolling hill and adding glitter to it for snow.  A few touches of silver twine and my Christmas card was complete :)

Sorry about the dark picture :(    It is a horribly, dark and dreary day here today.  Great stamping weather, but not good for picture taking!

I want to sneak in another card before I have to vacuum the house and fold some laundry so better get going.  Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday :)



What's In It?
Stamps: Peace on Earth (Verve)
Paper: Gold, White
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Tree Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Silver Twines (Michael's), Glue Pen, Glitter, Corner Rounder, 

Just Us Girls #163

This week's Just us Girls challenge is brought to us by Maria, and she has provided a wonderful colour pallet of pumpkin orange, olive, brown and ivory for us to work with - perfect colours for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day celebrations in the United States.

I combined the challenge with a Fab Friday sketch because the circle was prefect for this adorable Verve turkey.  He was so much fun to colour with my Twinkling H2Os and I wish I could capture the shimmer in the picture.  He is definitely all decked out for the holiday!

I created the background with some of the leaves from Abundant Blessings and then added some faux stitching around the edges for a little something extra.  A few buttons and a ribbon/button treatment and Tom Turkey is ready to party - the non-eating side of the party of course!

For some inspiration to get you going, just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team and our November Guest Designer Jan Del Bone have created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card or project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.
  

What's In It? 
Stamps: Autumn Splendor and Bountiful Harvest (Verve) 
Paper:  Old Olive, Early Espresso,Cream Linen  
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Labels 3 Nesties, Twinkling H2Os, Crimper, 5/8" Orange Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/8" Cream Grosgrain Ribbon, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

You're My Cup of Tea

I have only played along with the weekly Waltzing Mouse sketches once so thought I would give it another try as I liked this week's sketch.

My MFT Always Time for Tea set was still sitting out on my desk (thanks again Vickie!!), so I decided to use it as the tea pot worked wonderfully with this sketch.

The papers are retired Stampin' Up DSPs, and since I was thinking of "High Tea" at the Empress Hotel in Victoria while making this card, out came my Martha Stewart doily punch.

The Empress Hotel is such a beautiful, historical landmark!  If you are ever in Victoria, British Columbia it is well worth shelling out the big bucks just to be able to walk through the ornate lobby and enjoy High Tea in the gorgeous tea room.  Mind you, I'm pretty sure my black and pink tea pot would not make the tea room cut as it is a bit out there for High Tea LOL!

I'm a day behind due to the short week as I keep thinking it's yesterday!  Lots to get done so gotta run.  Wishing you a great day!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Time for Tea (My Favorite Things) 
Paper: Stampin' Up DSP, Black 
Ink: Black 
Accessories: Doily Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Tea Pot Die (My Favorite Things), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Paper Rose (Recollections), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Joyous Noel

 ; 

Had this Fab Friday sketch stashed away and decided to use it today so I could use a bit more of my Freckled Fawn washi tape.   Love the pattern on this one :)  Not exactly Christmas colours with all the black, but hopefully the red and green balance it off a bit.


Great fun using this PTI holly die I got earlier in the year and have been waiting to use for a long time LOL!  Crimped the leaves for a bit of texture and added the snowflake and button to help spice things up a bit as I don't have the knack for making CAS shine on its own.  Still a work in progress. That's what I love about this hobby - so many ways you can stretch yourself and grow as a card maker!

Love this sentiment from Verve's new Christmas release.  Joy is one of my  favorite Christmas words and  having it jump off the sentiment is perfect!


Have a joyous day!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Joyous Noel (Verve)
Paper: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Black
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Washi Tape (Freckled Fawn), Holly Die (PTI), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Crimper, Button, Gold Twine, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensinals

Christmas Greetings

 

This week's Verve sketch was an interesting layout and one I had to work with a bit before being able to get it to work.  Not totally happy with the result, but didn't want to start all over again so I'm showing you the card anyway.


I pulled out this fun SEI striped paper and went to work - though it took some thinking before I was able to make the proper diagonal cut on a diagonal pattern LOL!   

Since my newly won Verve Christmas release goodies are now in my possession, I didn't think twice about using them.  This cute little tree from Holiday Greetings caught my eye and I coloured it with Twinkling H2Os to match the paper.  Some red trim, a blue bow and a kraft snowflake completed the card.  I initially wanted to use my Martha Stewart jumbo snowflake punch on a Starbuck's sleeve for the snowflake element, but the sleeve proved to be too thick to punch through :(   Darn it all anyway, as I liked the darker shade of kraft from the Starbuck's sleeve better.

It's a short week so it will no doubt fly by as you have to cram five days into four.  Messes with my knowing which day of the week it is every time too.  Almost missed my son's soccer practice yesterday as I thought it was Sunday!  Please tell me some of you have the same issue :)



What's In It?
Stamps: Holiday Greetings (Verve)
Paper:  (SEI), Real Red,
Ink: Black
Accessories:Twinkling  H2O's, 5/8" Blue Satin Ribbon, Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Button, Twine, Glue Dots