Beautiful You A La Verve

Catching up on my Verve sketches and this week's sketch is brought to us by Amber.

I do enjoy making square cards as they are very easy to balance.   Since I don't own any doilies, I dug into my "to be used later" pile and gleefully used three items from the bin - score!   Now I just have to make about 50 more cards to use up the rest of the scraps from that bin!

Just love this sentiment and the elegant font!  Dressed it up a bit with pearls, bling and a rose.  Had to giggle too, as red seems to be my accent colour of choice this week.

My body is adjusting to early rising again so I'm not quite firing on all pistons today!  Kids had a harsh reality with their wake up times too so I'm in good company LOL!  Glad it's a short week and I'm sure we will all sleep in a bit on Saturday.

Have a great day and thanks for popping by!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Fabulous You (Verve) 
Paper: Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Always Artichoke, Costco DP Pack 
Ink: Black
Accessories: Lacy Circle and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), 5/8" Red Satin Ribbon, Button, Glue Dot, White Half Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals

Let's Get Together

This week's sketch is brought to us by Diva Anya from the Verve Inspiration Team.  When I first saw the sketch it reminded me of a coffee cup (mug with a handle) so I decided to make a coffee themed card using Verve's Java Joy and Sip and Savor sets.  I recently had a five hour coffee (yes you read right!) with a very good friend of mine and wanted to send her this card as a thank you.  Our life does happen over coffee because we don't get to see each other nearly as often as we would like to so we literally do get caught up on life over coffee.

I created my own patterned paper using the Java stamp and combined the sentiments from the two sets.  An arrow was a fun way of highlighting the "let's get together" sentiment which I faux stitched on to the focal panel.  I paper pieced the coffee cup, added some ribbon and was good to go.  Now I have a rather large craving for a decaf latte!  May have to indulge in a quick trip to Starbucks for one.

The kids are back in school again and we are all settling back into our regular routines again.  Soccer for my son, piano for my daughter, some working for hubby for me and a bit more regular stamping time once again - yeah!  

Any friend you need to share life with over coffee?  Go for it!



What's In It?
Stamps: Java Joy and Sip and Savor (Verve) 
Paper: Early Espresso, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral and Designer DSP (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink: Black 
Accessories: Arrow Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Tab Die (My Favorite Things), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #287 - Contest Week

Hard to believe it is April 1st!  The first quarter of the year has flown by and spring is on its way :)   It is also the first Monday of the month and that means it is contest week over on the Mojo Monday blog!  Julee has once again provided us with a wonderful sketch to work with.

I chose some paper with daffodils on it as I am anxiously waiting for mine to bloom in our garden.   The wishing theme continued through to the sentiment LOL.  I pulled out Wishing You, a great Verve set I haven't used for some time, and then created a flower using the Joyful Blooms dies.  I was in desperate need of some colour on this somewhat monochromatic card, so I added some pops of red.

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

Today is our last day of  Spring Break!  The two weeks flew by and we had some great family time together (Wii Sports doubles tennis and fitness test took top place I think), got to visit relatives in Seattle as well as dear friends we don't get to see that often, put a big dint in my "to do" list, and enjoyed spending many hours with my kids.  Doesn't get much better than that :) 



What's In It?
Stamps:  Wishing You, Dream Big and Small Phrases, (Verve), French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Garden Florals (Recollections), Kraft, So Saffron, Real Red and Going Grey (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, Going Grey and So Saffron (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Joyful Blooms and Dreamy Leaves Die Sets, Flag It (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart) Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensioanls

Just Us Girls #182

Fist and foremost, I want to thank Andrea, one of our DT members, for all her wonderful work at Just Us Girls.  With life pulling her in many directions, she has decided it is time to step down for the team.  We will miss you, Andrea, and wish you nothing but the best!

With five Saturdays in March, this week is a Wild Card week over at the Just Us Girls blog.  Our hostess Maria has chosen the Puzzle Piece Resist technique as our challenge.  You can find the SCS tutorial for it here.

I cheated an itsy bitsy bit in that I didn't use white and sponging but rather embossed in white right on to my coloured paper.  I also caught a minor "oops" when I die cut my "U" ....see if you can spot what I did :)

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.  

It's been a busy and fun Spring Break with the kids - thus the lack of posting - and we will finish up with our Easter dinner on Saturday night.  Chef Jeff will be cooking up a storm and sous chef and clean up girl (aka: me LOL) will be right in there with him.  Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card! 



What's In It? 
Stamps:  French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Love Die (WPlus9), I Heart U Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Dimensional

Mojo Monday #286

It's round or square week over on the Mojo Monday blog.  Keeping with tradition, I have made a round card.

The star caught my attention due to the new Shining Star set by Verve.  I wanted to make a baby card so pulled out this fun yellow and blue paper.  Sorry, I don't have the name of it as it had been cut off earlier by yours truly.  Note to self:  don't do that LOL!

I used the largest star from the Starry Die as well as the Charming Oval dies to frame the sentiment from the Shining Star set.  Love how there are three sizes you can nest into each other.  I doubled up on the lacy circle nesties to give it a "frilly" baby feel (even though the colours are geared to a boy!) and then crimped my star so it would stand out a bit.

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

Week one of Spring Break is over, and we spent a wonderful weekend visiting relatives in the Seattle area.  To say I am blessed with all the wonderful in-laws I have, is truly an understatement!  Great times, great food and wonderful memories made!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Shining Star (Verve), Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Background Basics (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Cool Caribbean, So Saffron and Going Grey (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories: Starry Die and Charming Oval Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), Crimper, Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Dimensioanls

Just Us Girls #181 - Inspiration Picture

This week's hostess is Andrea and she has found this fabulous inspriation picture for us to work with this week.  MME's In Bloom pack matched the colours quite well, plus I just love this paper pack so any excuse to use it is fine by me LOL!

Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #93 showcased this fabulous paper perfectly.  I used Verve's Ecclesiastes 3:11 Plain Jane for the sentiment panel and the Pennant Trim die in lieu of the scallops.   Finished things off with this wonderful butterfly I haven't used in some time.

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.  

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card! 



What's In It? 
Stamps:  Ecclesiasties 3:11 Plain Jane (Verve) 
Paper:  Mellow Moss and Blush Blossom (Stampin' Up), In Bloom (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Labels 4 (Spellbinders), White Half Pearls, Dimensionals

New Mercies

Love this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch and it's one I'm sure to use again.

Unfortunately, I am in need of a few sympathy cards, and this is the first one to be created.  One of my blog followers, Sharon Jones, lost her husband last week to a pulmonary embolism.  My heart aches for her and her thirteen year old son.

I immediately reached for Verve's New Mercies set as I just love this verse in Hebrews - such a powerful verse.  I over stamped the leaf image to pull in the pink from the paper and added a pink button and a bow to fulfill my "rule of three".  Hoping this brings them some comfort.  If anyone else knows Sharon and would like to send her a card, just let me know and I can forward you her address. 

Spring break has been great so far, with a nice balance of house jobs/chores getting done and fun times together.  We played Wii Sports doubles in tennis the other night and it was so much fun!  Biggest hazard was trying to to get hit by your partner as they swung their Wii remote to hit the ball!  Then on to the Wii Sports fitness challenge and I am proud to say this old gal scored an age of 29 - oh yah :)   No old mama here - just a fierce competitor LOL!

Have a fabulous day!



What's In It?
Stamps:  New Mercies (Verve), French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Garden Florals (Recollections - Michael's), Kraft
Ink:  Black and Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up), VersaMark
Accessories:  Scalloped Trimmed Trio Die Set (Verve), 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 5/8" Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #285

It's Monday and time for an other Mojo Monday sketch. This week's sketch is brought to us by Julee and it may make you think a bit - at least it did me {grin}.  However, once I narrowed down which papers to use, I was on my way.

These wonderful MME papers were a fun pairing and I added kraft and sahara sand to the mix perfect.  Just had to use this wonderful sentiment again as it gives me something to hum all day long :)   Felt there was a little something missing so I added a flower and some foliage to the sentiment panel and use red ribbon for a pop of colour.

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

We are into our first week of Spring Break today and the kids and I are starting off by doing the house "chores" I have planned - can you guess how much they like their mom right about now LOL!.  Once we get a few done, off to the recycling depot we go as their reward - they get to split the money we make there.  If I'm a betting mama, I'm sure we will end up at the dollar store right afterwards!

If posting is a bit scarce over the next two weeks, it's because my kids have worn me out LOL!   Thanks for popping by and I hope to be back before my Just Us Girls post Friday night. 



What's In It?
Stamps:   Surely Goodness and Dream Big (Verve) 
Paper:   Gerttie (MME), Kraft, Cream Linen
Ink: Black, Going Grey
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Dreamy Leaves Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Rolled Rose Die (MFT), 5/8" Red Satin Ribbon, Glue Dot, Dimensioanls

Kind Words Expressed

Loved this CCMC sketch and decided to use it for this week's Play Date Cafe colour combo of black and white plus a splash of coral.  Love adding a pop of colour to a black and white card!

Kept things pretty CAS.  Pulled out the flower from Kind Words (love this flower!) and inked the "center" on each flower.  Added a sentiment from Words Can Not Express (which just happens to be on sale right now) and a coral button. Quick and easy.

With the kids on spring break, it may get a bit quieter her on the old blog as we will be out and about a fair amount, or working on a few projects we need to get done around the house.  Just hoping the weather cooperates and gives us a little bit of sunshine so we can enjoy being outside a bit.  But not to much sunshine or I'll have to mow my lawn LOL! 

Have a fabulous day, and I'll be back as soon as I can.



What's In It?
Stamps: Kind Words and Words Can Not Tell (Verve) 
Paper: Black and White 
Ink:  Black and Cameo Coral (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories: Scalloped Square and Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #180 - Colour Challenge

  

This week's colour challenge is brought to us by Lisa and she has selected green, orange and white in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

I decided to make a tag to change things up a bit and after quite a few shamrocks I opted for a flower instead.  Polka dotted garden green and bright orange were my colours of choice and where there are flowers, there must be a butterfly {grin}.

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so just hop on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be selected as Chic of the Week.  

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card! 



What's In It? 
Stamps: Circular Sentiments and Love Notes (Verve)
Paper:  Garden Green DSP, Kraft, Only Orange (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black and VersaMark 
Accessories:  Tag Die and Flower Die (PTI),  Classy Label Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), 3/8" Green Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's Ribbon Bin), Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls,  Glue Dot, Dimensionals