Mojo Monday #305

It's the first week of the month and that means it is contest week over on the Mojo Monday blog! Julee has created a fabulous sketch for us to work with and you get to play with some skewed panels this time round.

Since I have stocked up on a few 6 x 6 paper pads, I decided it was time to start using them instead of just staking them up - ever do that?  I used MME's Quilting Bee and ended up going a bit overboard on the polka dots, but then I love them so I enabled myself wink, wink :)   I used the Curvy Bookplate Die and the matching border from Tag Time.  The sentiment comes from Words of Wisdom, which seems to be getting a lot of blog time recently as there are so many wonderful sentiments in that set and I just love the mix of fonts -- Julee's specialty!  Just "had" to sneak in a butterfly too...

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 the Mojo Maker's 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

Wanda Cullen

This past weekend we celebrated  a huge milestone birthday in our family.  I am now the mother of two teenagers! Oh my!!  Where do the years go??!!  I remember giving birth to my son like it was yesterday.  He brings so much joy into our family as he is a lover of life, has a huge heart and gives the best hugs :)   He is also a smart, athletic boy who stands by what he knows is right. I am so proud and blessed to be his mom!

Off to enjoy our holiday Monday as a family.  Thanks for popping in!

Challenges:
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Friday Mash Up - Polka Dots
Dare to Get Dirty Challenges

What's In It?
Stamps: Words of Wisdom , Tag Time (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Quilting Bee (My Mind's Eye), Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Flutterby, Curvy Bookplate Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's), Crimper (Fiskars), White Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #200

 

Welcome to Just Us Girls' 200th challenge!!  We are celebrating this week by giving the Chic of the week a $15 gift certificate to Inspired By Stamping.

This week Maria has provided a sketch for us to work which provides lots of creative flexibility.

I used some papers from The Sweetest Thing paper pad by Recollections and when I saw this ledger paper, I just had to create a notebook page for the sentiment panel.

I combined two of the sentiments from Verve's Words of Wisdom set and added an arrow at the bottom in lieu of the sentiment panel on the sketch. 

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head 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 chosen as the Chic of the Week.  

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Challenges:
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Dare to Get Dirty Challenge on SCS

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Words of Wisdom (Verve Stamps)
Ink:  Black
Paper:  The Sweetest Thing (Recollections), Basic Grey (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:   Notebook Die (My Favorite Things), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Wish Big

Amber has created a fun sketch this week and a great opportunity to work with a diagonal.  I went for some funky background paper to step outside my box to mix things up a bit and I think the paper won LOL!

I'm far from thrilled with the card, but am posting the good the bad and the ugly here to keep things real.  Sometimes things just don't come together the way you want them to and you have to live with it -- I'm trying to in this case, but it's hard!  I could have tossed it, but then that would be total defeat and darn if I will let some paper beat me LOL!  I know, it's as sad statement when I am fighting inanimate objects that aren't a Facebook game.  Yah....

Moving on....I had fun using this new to me cupcake image from Verve's Carpe Cupcake set.  I paired it with a sentiment from Birthday Phrases, a die from Flag It for the sentiment, and the Pennant Trim die for a little "oomph".

Now it's your turn.  Complete all the VLV sketches in August and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Verve Stamps.  Plus, Verve is having their six year Anniversary Sale this month which allows you to enjoy 10% - 50% off their stamps and dies!!  A great way to chip away at your wish list!

    
Thanks for popping by and I'll be back tomorrow with my Just Us Girls card.

Challenges:  Simon Says
                   Dare To Get Dirty Challenges
                   Friday Mash Up - Polka Dots


 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Carpe Cupcake and Birthday Phrases (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: Bold Basics (Recollections), Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and Sage Shadow (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Flag It and Pennant Trim Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Twinkling H2Os, White Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Curtain Call Inpsiration Challenge - Watermelon Wonder

Welcome back to another Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!   Our next challenge is titled "Watermelon Wonder", just perfect for this time of year indeed :)   Our sponsor for this challenge is Fresh Squeezed Stamps, and the winner of this challenge will receive a gift from them.

 

I just love the colours on this inspiration picture and immediately thought of MME's The Sweetest Thing paper pad as the papers and colours are so perfect for this challenge!  Using flowers, a butterfly, a heart, a scalloped circle and some crimping makes for a whole lot of happy in my world :)

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge and also get a chance to view all the wonderful Curtain Call Crew samples!  Should you wish more details on the Curtain Call Crew's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Amber Kroening
Barb Murphy
Christina MacLaren
Debby Hughes
Gayatri Murali
Jessica Kephart
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tenia Nelson
Tracey McNeely

You have until August 10th at 8:00 a.m. CDT to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture and linking it up accordingly.  The Lead and Show Stoppers will be announced on August 14th.  Can't wait to see what you create!!

Challenges: Simon Says - Anything Goes




What's In It?
Stamps:  Wishing You (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  So Saffron, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up), The Sweetest Thing (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Heart Die (The Cat's Pajama's), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine, Button, White Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

85th Birthday Wishes

My FIL's 85th birthday was a few days ago and seeing they are taking the ferry over to meet us for lunch today, it was only appropriate to make him a quick card to celebrate this milestone!  He didn't want any big hoopla for his 85th (we did that for his 80th) so it's a quiet ushering in of another year.

Kept things pretty basic with nice straight lines as he was a bank auditor for years and is a stickler for perfection and is just a tad anal retentive wink, wink :)

PTI number dies are fabulous as you can't miss the age, and the sentiment is from Verve's Birthday Phrases.

Hoping he likes it!

Challenge:  Simon Says

What's In It?
Stamps: Birthday Phrases (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Costco DP Pack, Night of Navy, real Red (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:   Number Dies (PTI), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #304

It's round or square week and though I usually make a round card, this time round (no pun intended LOL) I decided to go with the square sketch.

Love orange and green together and MME's The Sweetest Thing had a fabulous choice of papers to work from.  Kraft became my neutral along with the white and the yummy, yellow seam binding is from Verve's Spring Fling ribbon package.  The bling in the center of the bow was from a find at a local dollar store (oh how I love dollar store finds!).

I needed to balance off the bow a bit so I jumped at the chance to use my beloved Flutterby die from Verve.  The card also qualifies for one of today's Dare To Get Dirty Challenges which you can find here over on Splitcoast Stampers.  You have to be a Fan Club member to play along, so if you aren't, now is a good chance to become one and help support the fabulous world of SCS :)

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 the Mojo Maker's 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

Wanda Cullen

Think we will take a few trips to the beach this week as the weather continues to be outstanding and by now the kids should be able to brave the water (was too cold on the July long weekend) while I enjoy catching some rays and reading on the beach :)  Have a fabulous week and hope you can squeeze in some time to play along!

What's In It?
Stamps: Praying For You Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  The Sweetest Thing (My Mind's Eye), So Saffron, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), Crimper (Fiskars), Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Dare To Get Dirty Challenges Begin

A wonderful sketch by Diva Janelle this week over at the Verve forum on SCS.   A fun optional twist you can include in your cad is having an uneven front fold over.

I used some Recollections paper from their Sweetest Thing paper pad and paired it with this fabulous One Day Plain Jane.  Always a great reminder to enjoy today for all it has to bring and if life is too much to handle at the moment, it is a great way to get through those rocky times -- speaking directly from experience!

This card qualifies for today's Dare to Get Dirty 2013 challenge hosted by Twinshappy.  You can check out all the challenge details here, but only if you are a Fan Club member over on Splitcoast Stampers.

Hard to believe July is almost over - yikes!!  Swimming lessons are now over and we are moving into a more relaxed August schedule with hopefully a little get away in the mix.  The weather has been amazing as has our summer together -- my mommy heart is just bursting :)

Have a fabulous day and thanks for popping in today!




What's In It?
Stamps:  One Day Plain Jane, Text Notes (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: The Sweetest Thing (Recollections), Real Red, Rose Red (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink: Black, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Scalloped Trim Trio, Classy Label Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Crimper (Fiskars), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), 5/8 Grey Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #199

Lisa is our challenge hostess this week and she has found this wonderful inspiration picture for us to use this week -- not to mention the craving I now have for chocolate dipped strawberries!

Red and green immediately bring Christmas to mind for me so I decdided to make a Christmas card.  I combined it with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and am also playing along with Merry Monday's anything goes.

It was great fun inking up a Craft's Meow Christmas set I purchased as part of my SFYTT win last December.  There are five different tree designs you can chose from and the chevron one was calling my name time :)   Had to sneak my favorite Christmas word in, so I stamped "Joy!" (love the fact it has an exclamation point after it!!) on the kraft panel creating my own pattern.   

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head 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 chosen as the Chic of the Week.  

Swimming lessons are over and I am happy to report both kids passed.  It is an end of an era for us as they have completed all the levels.  Hard to believe we have been doing lessons for ten years!  Their instructor was very impressed with their swimming ability and suggested they both take the Bronze Medallion or Bronze Cross class and work towards being lifeguards.  Yes, I'm a proud mama :)  

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Christmas (The Craft's Meow) 
Ink:  Black, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun (Stampin' Up), VersaMark
Paper:  Real Red, Kraft, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up), Season's Greetings (Echo Park)
Accessories:   Circle Nestabiliites (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Black and Red Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

The World Is Brighter Because Of You

Today's Verve sketch is brought to us by none other than the Head Diva herself, Julee :)  She has a great mood board we can play along with too!

I just love the colour combination Julee put together via the collage, and focused on the left hand corner of the board for my inspiration: the striped green container on the floor, bright pops of orange, grey from the chair and a touch of turquoise.  I used the Rounded Scallop Frame die to make my turquoise frame, the graph paper image from Making A Statement to create the pattern on the grey panel and the sentiment is from the wonderful Let it Be set.

This is the fifth sketch in July and if you complete all five sketches and post them over on the Verve forum on SCS you are eligible for the random draw to win a $100 gift certificate to the Verve Store!

Off for our last day of swimming lessons and then off to enjoy some of our glorious sunny weather that just won't stop.  It has been a month since we last had rain, and no place is prettier than BC in the sunshine -- yes, I'm just a bit bias LOL!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.



What's In It?  
Stamps:  Making A Statement, Let it Be (Verve Stamps)  
Paper: On The Bright Side (My Mind's Eye), Basic Grey, Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Rounded Scalloped Frame and Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Twine, Button, White Half Pearls, Dimensionals

PTI Blog Hop ~ July 2013

This month's PTI BLog Hop had some great colour combos to chose from and I immediately gravitated towards this fabulous citrus combination because these colour just make me happy :)

I paired it with last week's Pal Paper Arts sketch (after rotating it to a horizontal orientation) and pulled out various papers that matched the required colours.

Dawn's Fabulous Signature Greetings, a leaf image from Turning a New Leaf, and my all time favorite Beautiful Blooms II flower die pulled together the sentiment panel.  One more pop of colour with this fabulous orange grosgrain ribbon and I called it a card.

Thanks for popping in today and I look forward to seeing everyone else's choice of colour combination to work with.



What's In It?  
Stamps:  Turning a New Leaf, Signature Greetings (PTI)
Paper:  Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye), Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), So Saffron and SU DSP (Stampin' Up), Yellow Dots (Bazzill Basics), Cream Linen  
Ink:  Black, Certainly Celery
Accessories:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Flower Beautiful Blooms II  Flower Die (PTI), 5/8 " Orange Grosgrain Ribbon, Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals