Colour Throwdown #421

First of all, I want to thank the Colour Throwdown team for having me as their guest designer this month!  This is a wonderfully talented team of ladies, and I am honored to have been able to join them for the month. 

This week's challenge brings a fun mix of bright colours.  A wonderfully fun way to branch out of traditional Christmas colours and mix things up a bit!

I had a very busy weekend so kept things rather simple this time round.  Pulled out this old Stampin' Up set (Blooming with Happiness) and coloured the cake flowers to match.  Kept with black and white so these wonderful colours would pop.  Added a few black half pearls to the centers of the purple flowers for a bit of dimension and lightened things up with some green twine. 

Now for the CTD rules:  Once you've finished your card or other paper crafted project, add a direct link to your creation using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the Colour Throwdown post.  And, don't forget to use the keyword CTD421 if you upload your project to an online gallery, or hashtag on social media with #ctd421 and/or #colourthrowdown.  Challenge guidelines are in the right sidebar on the Colour Throwdown Challenge Blog in case you have any questions.

Noted below are the Design Team members who are sure to have lots of inspiration for you!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

 Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

 Jodi Collins- Stamping a Latte

Lynn Putt- The Queens Scene

Lisa Henke- My Little Creative Escape

Amy Rysavy - Prairie Paper & Ink

 Amy Rohl - Ink About Me

Have a fabulous week and enjoy the challenge!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Blooming with Happiness (Stampin'  Up)
Paper:  Black and White (Stampin' Up)

Ink:  Black 

Accessories:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Border Punch (Stampin' Up),  Birthday Die (PTI), Twine, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #476

Trusting all my American followers had a great Thanksgiving, and if you braved the crowds on Black Friday, hope your shopping was successful!  

I love square sketches!  There is just something about them that appeals to me - maybe I am a bit square myself {grin}!   Actually, I think it is the fact that it is a nice, compact space that easy to fill and is nicely balanced as all sides are equal.  Whatever the science behind it, I love them!

I combined two wonderful Christmas sets:  Glad Tidings (think it may have been Verve's first Christmas set - an oldy but a goody!) and Angel Voices (newly released this year) and its matching Angelic Die Set.    Twinkling H2Os were my colouring medium and I just adore the sentiment font!

All the challenge details are over on the Mojo Monday blog and you can also view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples.  Should you wish more details on the Mojo Maker's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Justin Krieger

  Lori Tecler  

Marisa Ritzen (that's me)

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

Hard to believe Thursday is December 1st!!  Oh my!!  Going to be a busy month, but thankfully I have been good at getting quite a few things done in November to help ease the stress a bit so I can enjoy the season :)   That being said, I am definitely looking forward to time off over Christmas!  Jammie days, puzzles, reading, sleeping in, hanging out as a family watching movies, playing games and just enjoying each others company...priceless :)

Have a fabulous week and look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:   Glad Tidings, Angel Voices (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  I Believe (My Mind's Eye), Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black

Accessories:  Angelic Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Twinkling H2Os, Circle and Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Twine, Dimensionals

Colour Throwdown #420

I was swooning when I saw this colour combination - it is sooo pretty!!  Will definitely be using this combination again!  

I found an old Sweet Sunday Sketch I liked (actually love Karen's sketches and have a ton saved on Pinterest) and paired it with the perfect piece of designer paper and then went from there.  The sentiment is from Verve's Beautiful Things.  I'm saving this in my stash to give to my daughter when her first set of university finals hit as a little encouragement to her :)

Now for the CTD rules:  Once you've finished your card or other paper crafted project, add a direct link to your creation using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the Colour Throwdown post.  And, don't forget to use the keyword CTD420 if you upload your project to an online gallery, or hashtag on social media with #ctd420 and/or #colourthrowdown.  Challenge guidelines are in the right sidebar on the Colour Throwdown Challenge Blog in case you have any questions.

Noted below are the Design Team members who are sure to have lots of inspiration for you!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

 Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

 Jodi Collins- Stamping a Latte

Lynn Putt- The Queens Scene

Lisa Henke- My Little Creative Escape

Amy Rysavy - Prairie Paper & Ink

 Amy Rohl - Ink About Me

I look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery, and make sure to come back next Wednesday for their next challenge!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Beautiful Things (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  The Story of Us (Simple Stories), Cool Caribbean, Mellow Moss, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)

Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Twine, Button, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #475

I was giddy and totally gone when I saw the snowflake on this sketch!  If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that "joy" is my favorite Christmas word and snowflakes my favorite accessory.  Just. Love. Them!!  Was a total no brainer to use one on my card - my rubber arm was waving in the breeze {grin}.

Pulled out some of my hoarded Lost and Found MME Christmas papers (got them quite a few years ago and still love them!) and kept to a neutral pallet except for the red snowflake, scatter of green sequins and a green button.    Added some sponging to highlight the sentiment panel and was tempted to add an angle where the snowflake is but couldn't make the paradigm shift LOL!

All the challenge details are over on the Mojo Monday blog and you can also view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples.  Should you wish more details on the Mojo Maker's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Justin Krieger

  Lori Tecler  

Marisa Ritzen (that's me)

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

Had a few proud mommy moments this weekend.  My son was selected to be an assistant ref for three of the finals games for the HPL (high performance league) soccer finals.  He is rubbing shoulders with some pretty high level refs and did a great job on the lines.  He has been very committed to learning and applying all he can as a ref and assistant ref, and when you combine that with a lot of natural ability, the powers that be have taken notice and rewarded him.  Made standing in line on a cold Friday morning to get two pairs of new soccer cleats 50% off for him well worth it :)   Have a fabulous week and look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:   Angel Voices (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Lost and Found (My Mind's Eye), Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Cream (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, Antique Linen (Tim Holtz)

Accessories:  Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Button, Gold Twine, Sequins, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Verve November 2016 Release Retrospective Hop

Welcome to Verve's November Release Retrospective Blog Hop!

Have you had a chance to get your inky fingers on the latest Verve release? It's a beautiful holiday release and the Verve Divas and November Guests are hopping again today with a fresh dose of inspiration using the new stamps! Everything in the shop is on sale 25% off right now, so it's a great time to stock up. Come take a tour of our blogs to see these fun stamps in action, then leave a little comment love as you hop about for a chance to win today's prize!

If you have come here from Tenia's blog you are right on track. If you just happened upon the hop, check the hop list below and get caught up!

I used this week's Viva La Verve sketch for my card along with this wonderful sentiment and image from Beyond Measure.   Love using this earthy colour pallet for Christmas cards!   I wanted my doily to fit across the card so I cut it in half to make it bigger.  Shadow stamped the wise men image under the sentiment and added a gold half pearl to the star to tie in with the gold twine.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? One lucky comment from all of the stops along today's hop will be randomly selected to win a $40 gift voucher to Verve! To be entered in the giveaway, comment on each of the stops below. Comment deadline for the prize drawing is Monday, November 28.

1. Julee	6. Laurie
2. Lee Ann (Guest)	7.  Charmaine
3. Lynn (Guest)	8. Betty
4. Tenia (Guest)	9. Maureen
5. Marisa	10. Teresa

Time to head on over to Laurie's blog to see her fabulous creation!  Have a great day!

What's In It?

Stamps:  Beyond Measure (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Home for Christmas (Fancy Pants), Seasons (Echo Park), Winter Wonderland (Kaiser Kraft), Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Certainly Celery, Black (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Stitched Circles (Lil' Inkers), Doily Die (Top Dog Dies Retired), Gold Twine and Gold Half Pearl (Michael's), Dimensionals

Colour Throwdown #419

This wonderful colour combination turned my mind to Spring for some reason so I went with flowers.  I think subconsciously I am not looking forward to a bleak winter with no colour in my front and back yard for the next five months or so and this is my way of dealing with LOL!

 

I pulled out some Reverse Confetti's Petals and Posies and went to work.  Matted it in kraft as there seemed to be brown sugar around the rims of the glasses so I took it as artistic license to add that colour to the mix {grin}.   The champagne flutes made me think celebration so I went with the birthday sentiment.

Now for the CTD rules:  Once you've finished your card or other paper crafted project, add a direct link to your creation using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the Colour Throwdown post.  And, don't forget to use the keyword CTD419 if you upload your project to an online gallery, or hashtag on social media with #ctd419 and/or #colourthrowdown.  Challenge guidelines are in the right sidebar on the Colour Throwdown Challenge Blog in case you have any questions.

Noted below are the Design Team members who are sure to have lots of inspiration for you!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

 Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

 Jodi Collins- Stamping a Latte

Lynn Putt- The Queens Scene

Lisa Henke- My Little Creative Escape

Amy Rysavy - Prairie Paper & Ink

 Amy Rohl - Ink About Me

I look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery, and make sure to come back next Wednesday for my take on their next challenge.



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Petals and Posies, Lots to Say (Reverse Confetti)   
Paper:  Kraft, White

Ink:  Only Orange, Real Red, Gable Green, Black (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Diagonal Stripe Pretty Panel, Petals and Posies and Love Notes Confetti Cuts (Reverse Confetti),  Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker), Dimensionals

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge ~ At Home

We are back with the second challenge of the month with this wonderful sign as our inspiration.

Loved the colour combination for this challenge as well as the wooden sign.  As fate would have it, I found this perfect piece of woodgrain paper for my background.    Used the colours from the photo, kept with the love theme for my sentiment and just had to add some yellow hearts!  A Starbucks sleeve button for a rustic feel and I was done.

 AT HOME

Guest Designer

Betty Wright

 Kim Singdahlsen

Laurie Willison

Leigh Penner

Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler 
Lynn Magnan

Marisa Ritzen

Maureen Plut

Melody Rupple

Monika Davis

Sheri Gilson
Silk Ledlow

Stacey Schafer

Tammy Hershberger

Tara Godfrey 

As per the sentiment on the sign, I am very blessed to have two amazing teenagers, a wonderful husband and my mom just minutes away.  We have always worked hard at creating family time and ensuring home is a place where you feel loved and accepted, so this sentiment rings very true for us.  Blessed I am indeed  :) 



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Lots To Say (Reverse Confetti)  
Paper:  Hello Baby (Simple Stories), So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Tag Me and Love Notes (Reverse Confetti), Button Die (PTI), Twine, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #474

 

It was a gloomy, rainy day here when I created this card, and after looking at the calendar, I was reminded that Christmas is quickly approaching!! Sorry....I said the "C" word!!   With that on the brain, I continued on my Christmas card binge.

Love this shimmer paper from the dollar store -- how did we survive without them??!!  Snowflakes are my favorite winter "shape/accessory" for cards so you didn't have to twist my arm at all for me to bust out a snowflake die.  A sparkly, silver snowflake paired with red and blue made my heart sing.

All the challenge details are over on the Mojo Monday blog and you can also view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples.  Should you wish more details on the Mojo Maker's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Justin Krieger

  Lori Tecler  

Marisa Ritzen (that's me)

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

This weekend was also a bit on the stressful side as I have quickly come to realize that teaching my son to drive is a very different experience than it was teaching my daughter to drive!  Oh my....several white knuckle moments in one outing (he drove us to Costco), and my daughter who was sitting in the back seat was a bit on the pasty white side too!  Not for the faint of heart LOL!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:   Fancy Flexible Phrases (PTI)
Paper:  Winter Frost (We R Memory Keepers), Real Red (Stampin' Up), Shimmer Paper (Dollar Store)
Ink:  Black

Accessories:  Snowflake and Tag Die (PTI), Scalloped Square and Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Joy Die (WPlus9), Twine, Dimensionals

Viva La Verve November Sketch 1 Recap

First of all, I want to thank every person who has served our country to give us freedom - many at the cost of their lives.  Freedom is a priceless commodity many of us take for granted at one point or another, myself included, and it is always good to reflect on the cost of that freedom and the privileges we have because of it.  If any of my readers serve, have served, have family members who have or currently serve our country, thank you!  Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed.

Now on to the recap of the first Viva La Verve sketch for November.  Julee has provided a nice, clean sketch that you can dress up or keep on the CAS  side.

I opted for another Christmas card as you can never have enough.  I used  the stocking image and two sentiments from Jolly Jingles, added gold half pearls to the stockings and twine across the top so they had something to "hang" on.  Quick and easy card.

You can get more inspiration over on the Viva La Verve blog as well as finding out which cards I spotlighted from the gallery.

Come and play along!  Each month someone wins some free Verve!

What's In It?

Stamps:   Jolly Jingles (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  I Believe (My Mind's Eye), Real Red (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Winter Friends Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Square and Square Nestabilities, Gold Half Pearls and Twine,  3/8" Olive Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's), Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Verve November 2016 Inspiration Hop

It's time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop!

There are TWO $30 gift vouchers to the Verve store up for grabs this month and two ways to win! First, comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) for an entry in the first giveaway. Then to be entered into our challenge prize drawing, go get inky and link up your take on the challenge. You have until December 5 to link up. Feel free to play along with the challenge as many times as you like. Verve stamps aren't required to play, but we do smile a little brighter when we see them!

These rustic trees in blues and greens bring images of Old World Christmas to mind. Add in some baubles and finery, or keep it simple and rustic.  Either way, it's sure to inspire.  There are no rules... follow our color pattern or head off in whatever direction these pretty trees take you.  We can't wait to see what you create!

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Monday, December 5.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

If you have come here from Laurie's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened upon the hop, check out the hop list below and get caught up :)   

The thing that struck me about the inspiration photo was the number of patterns on the trees.  I mixed a bunch of designer papers together to mimic the patterns, stamped the trees and "joy" sentiment from Jolly Jingles and created a frame around my focal circle using the pine sprig from Beyond Measure.  Some twine and two buttons to complete my "rule of three" for the navy and I was good to go.  It wasn't until I was uploading the photo that I realized that my striped background paper was not navy as I thought it was when I made it last night....ugh!!  With no time for a re-do you get my rather eclectic mix of colours today!  Note to self: do not create late at night when tired and lighting affects things!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we're giving away a $30 gift voucher to Verve to one random commenter along the hop.  Just leave a little love as you hop about for a chance to win!

1. Julee	6. Marisa
2. Betty	7. Maureen
3. Charmaine	8. Susan
4. Christyne	9. Teresa
5. Laurie

Time to hear on over to Maureen's blog to see her wonderful creation using one of our newly released stamps!



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Jolly Jingles, Beyond Measure (Verve Stamps)

Paper:   Pebbles Designer Papers, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Twine, Buttons, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Colour Throwdown #418

This week's Colour Throwdown has some gorgeous colours to work with!  I just love fall colours and when my eye caught the maple leaf in the picture I was giddy because I love using them on cards - and it is a very Canadian thing as well {grin}.

I used an MFT sketch and used some negative space for the oval, added some leaves using my beloved  PTI leaf dies as per the colours in the photo and then I added "blessed" in copper shimmer paper as per the pumpkins.  Added a bit if texture in the oval space and a bit of twine to ground things.

Now for the CTD rules:  Once you've finished your card or other paper crafted project, add a direct link to your creation using the Inlinkz tool at the bottom of the Colour Throwdown post.  And, don't forget to use the keyword CTD418 if you upload your project to an online gallery, or hashtag on social media with #ctd418 and/or #colourthrowdown.  Challenge guidelines are in the right sidebar on the Colour Throwdown Challenge Blog in case you have any questions.

Noted below are the Design Team members who are sure to have lots of inspiration for you!

Barbara Anders - Paper Pursuits

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Lori Tecler - Inking Aloud

 Wanda Cullen - Cullen-ary Creations

 Jodi Collins- Stamping a Latte

Lynn Putt- The Queens Scene

Lisa Henke- My Little Creative Escape

Amy Rysavy - Prairie Paper & Ink

 Amy Rohl - Ink About Me

I look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery, and make sure to come back next Wednesday for my take on their next challenge.



 
  

What's In It?

Stamps:  Woodgrain Background Stamp (Hero Arts)   
Paper:  Kraft, Only Orange, Taken with Teal, Really Rust (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen

Ink:  Only Orange, Really Rust, Tempting Turquoise, VersaMark (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Leaf and Word Dies (PTI), Oval Spellbinders (Nestabilities), Hearts Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals