Just Us Girls #242 - Inspiration Challenge

Vicki has provided this fun inspiration photo for us to work from this week! Love the bold stripes of black and white with the touch of pink!

I can't put Verve's newly released Be Blessed set down!  Absolutely LOVE this set!! The flowers and matching dies are going to be used a lot by me, myself and I {grin}!

Kept things simple as the bold stripes make quite the statement.  A touchof pink and green to soften things up and a few scattered sequins from Verve's Shine Bright Mix to finish things off.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our May Guest Designer Barbara Campbell have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog and check out what they've 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.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
 

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:  Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Charmed (My Mind's Eye), Black, Mint Medley (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:  Pointed Petals and Sprightly Springs Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Button, Twine, Sequins (Shine Bright Collection by Verve Stamps), Dimensionals 

Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 4

Welcome to Day 4, the last day of Verve's May 2014 Spotlight Hops!   If you have come here from Jen's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened upon the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.

For today's hop, the Divas are showcasing their choice of any of the newly released sets.  In addition, there is a biiiig prize for today's hop!  You can find the details below :)

I'm still on a project kick, and this time I am using a tutorial I got from Butternut Sage Designs (it is available for purchase on her blog).  It was another birthday card for my mom's 80th birthday celebration.  It's a pull tab card, and this photo shows it in the "closed" position.  Mom loves pink and black so that became my colour scheme.  Once again, I used Be Blessed, along with the Petal Point and Sprightly Springs Dies to create the flower arrangement.

Here's the card in the "open" position with the sentiment  pulled out.  I added a row of bling for a little sparkle and pizazz :)   What can I say, it's a high end flower pot to celebrate mom's 80th LOL!



Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win the entire release!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for the full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Friday, 5/23/14
Today's Prize: The ENTIRE release!

1. Julee	8. Amber
2. Charmaine	9. Maureen
3. Marisa	10. Jen
4. Janelle	11. Laurie S.
5. Teresa	12. Andrea
6. Chaitali	13. Christyne
7. Stacey	14. Sarah

Time to hop over to Janelle's blog to see her fabulous creation.  You can also hop over to the Verve Store to check out the new sets and have fun shopping wink, wink :)







What's In It?
Stamps:    Be Blessed (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Black, Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance, Mint Medley (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:   Petal Point and Sprightly Springs Dies (Cut Above by Verve), Scor-Pal, Corner Rounder, White Half Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals

Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of Verve's May 2014 Spotlight Hops!   If you have come here from Charmaine's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened up on the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, May 23rd.   

Today's featured sets are Be Blessed, Sprightly Springs Die Set, and the Luke 1:45 Plain Jane.  

Be Blessed is my favorite set of this release.  No surprise there as you know I love flowers, all the more when they are Verve flowers with matching dies and coordinating leaf dies.  Makes me swoon every time LOL!

I tripped across this tutorial on You Tube for making a "card in a box" and though I am not a  project person, this one caught my attention as I was looking for something special to make for my mom's 80th birthday.  I used both the solid and outline flowers from the set and cut them out with the coordinating Petal Point dies.  The Sprightly Springs dies provided the leaves, and I tossed in a few hearts from the Heart Quartet die as well.  From there, it was basically creating a bouquet from all the pieces.  Sure hope she likes it as I had great fun making it!

My second card uses the Luke 1:45 Plain Jane.  I just love Verve's Plain Janes!!  I used some K & Company papers, the Banner Bundle die set, a touch of lace and some butterflies to showcase this fabulous verse.



Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for today's full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Thursday, 5/22/14
Today's Prize: Be Blessed, Luke 1:45, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set 

1. Julee 8. Maureen 2. Charmaine 9. Jen 3. Marisa 10. Laurie S. 4. Teresa 11. Andrea 5. Chaitali 12. Christyne 6. Stacey 13. Sarah 7. Amber

 

Time to hop over to Teresa's blog to see her fabulous creation using today's showcased sets.  Tomorrow is our last day of hops and you want to come back for that one as there is a big prize up for grabs wink, wink :)

What's In It?

Happy 80th Birthday:
Stamps:   Be Blessed (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), Pretty in Pink, Mint Medley, Night of Navy, Creamy Caramel, Black (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, Night of Navy, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:   Sprightly Springs, Petal Point and Heart Quartet Dies(A Cut Above by Verve), Border Numbers (PTI), Labels 18 and Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Bird Punch (Stampin' Up), Scor-Pal, Black, and White Half Pearls, Bling, Black Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Double Sided Tape,  Dimensionals  

Luke 1:45 Plain Jane:
Stamps:   Luke 1:45 Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Brenda Walton Madeline (K & Company, Always Artichoke, Basic Grey, (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Banner Bundle Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Ribbon, Black and White Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Pajama Party Reminder

** This is my second post of the day. Scroll down for my Verve Spotlight Hop post ** 

There are still time to join the Pajama Party over at The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. The Cat's Pajamas is our sponsor and the LEAD will receive a $25 gift code to their store!

I used The Tweetest Thing for my card and had great fun using the bird houses from the set.  This set has a ton of wonderful images, which provides great variety and selection.  Love it! 

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. You have until May 25th at 8:00 a.m. CST to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture and linking it up accordingly. The Lead and Show Stoppers will be announced on May 31st.

Thanks for popping by and hope you can find some time to play along with us if you haven't done so already.

  


What's In It? 
Stamps:   The Tweetest Thing (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper:   Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper (Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, So Saffron, Basic Grey (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Home Tweet Home Cut Ups (The Cat's Pajamas), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Twine, Dimensionals

Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 2

Welcome to Day 2, of Verve's May 2014 Spotlight Hops!  If you have come here from Charmaine's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened up on the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, May 23rd.   

Today's featured sets are Wonderful Marvelous and the Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane. 

My first card uses the Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane.  Adore this verse!  Such a great sentiment to put on a Father's Day card, or to encourage someone by letting them know you can see them putting their trust, hope and confidence in the Lord.  I combined it with the anchor and wheel images from Strong Anchor and matching Nautical Die Set.

My second card showcases Wonderful Marvelous.  This is a wonderful set with sentiments for both Mother's and Father's Day.  Chose this fabulous sentiment from the set and embellished it by using the All Aflutter die and matching image from  Blue Skies.   Added a secondary sentiment using a trimmed off die from the Flag It die set.



Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for today's full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Wednesday, 5/21/14
Today's Prize: Wonderful Marvelous, Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane

1. Julee	7. Stacey
2. Charmaine	8. Maureen
3. Marisa	9. Jen
4. Janelle	10. Laurie S.
5. Teresa	11. Andrea
6. Chaitali	12. Christyne

Time to hop over to Janelle's blog to see her fabulous creation using today's showcased sets.  Then make sure you come back tomorrow for our Day 3 Hop.

Challenges: Simon Says

What's In It?

Jeremiah 17:7
Stamps:   Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane, Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Come Away With Me (My Mind's Eye), Kraft, Cream Linen
Ink: Black
Accessories:   Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Brads, Twine, Dimensionals

Wonderful Marvelous
Stamps:   Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Kraft, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Rose Romance, Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:   All Aflutter and Flag It Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Medium Scalloped Border Die (PTI), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Heart Punch (Marvy), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Black and White Half Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals

Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

Welcome to Day 1, of Verve's May 2014 Spotlight Hops!   This week, we're excited to be spotlighting 3 new sets, 3 Plain Janes and a couple dies each day through Friday.  

If you have come here from Charmaine's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened up on the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, May 23rd.   

Today's features are:  Button Best, Proverbs 31:25 Plain Jane, and Pointed Petals Die Set. 

My first card uses one of the sentiments from Button Best.  Such a true statement about mothers no matter how old you are!

Keep coming back to this Cut and Paste paper from My Mind's Eye as I love the papers.  I die cut two Rounded Scalloped Frames and layered them askew to pick up both the pink and green.  A few sequins from the Pastel Sequin Mix and seam binding from Summer Sailing Ribbon Collection finished things off.

My second card uses the Proverbs 31:25 Plain Jane.  Love this verse as it is a part of one of my favorite passages -- Proverbs 31:10-31.

Park Bench papers by Fancy Pants were a perfect match for the colour challenge part of the first May Viva La Verve challenge.  I also used that week's sketch, along with the small butterfly from Blue Skies, matching All Aflutter die, a flower from Petals and Wings and matching Wings and Petals die, Dreamy Leaves die and a few sequins from the new Shine Bright Sequin Mix.



Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for today's full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Tuesday, 5/20/14
Today's Prize: Button Best, Proverbs 31:25, Pointed Petals Die Set

1. Julee 8. Amber 2. Charmaine 9. Maureen 3. Marisa 10. Jen 4. Janelle 11. Laurie S. 5. Teresa 12. Andrea 6. Chaitali 13. Christyne 7. Stacey 14. Sarah

Time to hop over to Janelle's blog to see her fabulous creation using today's showcased sets.  Then make sure you come back tomorrow for our Day 2 Hop.

Challenges:  Simon Says

What's In It?

Button Best
Stamps:   Button Best (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Mint Medley, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black   
Accessories:   Rounded Scalloped Frame Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Heart Quartet, Wavy Hearts, Elegant Leaves, Scalloped Trim Trio and Flag It Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Doily (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve), Twine, Buttons, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals  

Proverbs 31:25
 Stamps:   Proverbs 31:15 Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Park Bench (Fancy Pants)
Ink: Black, More Mustard, Summer Sun, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)   
Accessories:   All Aflutter, Petals and Wings, Dreamy Leaves Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Labels 18 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Washi Tape, Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve Stamps), Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #346

A nice CAS, graphic sketch for you this week over on the Mojo Monday blog.

Used some Lime Twist papers by My Mind's Eye and the new Being Awesome Plain Jane.  I know I sound like a broken record, but I simply adore how Julee mixes her fonts!

This is such a great sentiment to be able to give to my kids on a card.  It is so important to encourage them for being who they are, especially during the turbulent high school years.  And though I am biased, I truly am blessed to have to awesome kids who I deeply love  and cherish with every part of my being and then some.  Hubby isn't bad either wink, wink!

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.  

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

Today is my mom's 80th birthday!! She fought tooth and nail to ensure we did not make it a big deal with an open house etc. so we are having a big family brunch to celebrate. Chef Hubby is cooking up a storm!   Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries or blueberries for a topping, potatoe pancakes, tropical fruit salad, bacon, ham, garlic sausage, eggs and I'm sure a few things I don't even know about.  The theme was to have food from every country she has lived in -- followed by a forced march LOL!

Very much looking forward to celebrating and honoring her 80 years of life.  She didn't want any gifts so we all wrote multiple "thank you for" slips which we will put in a lovely container so she can pull one out every day, read it, and know how truly amazing and special she is.  I am beyond blessed to have her as my mother, and with some of her recent health hiccups, I'm very grateful that she is a "tough farm girl" who pushes through and keeps on going.  Oh that I would become more like her.  Love you from the depths of my heart and beyond, mom!!

Have a fabulous day, and why not bless someone's day by telling them something you are thankful for in them!  




What's In It?
Stamps:   Being Awesome Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye) Always Artichoke, Rose Romance (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Black  Half Pearls (Michael's), Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #241 - Colour Challenge

This week we have a colour challenge for you over at Just Us Girls.  I must say, Orchid is not one of my staple colours and I didn't have time to go digging so I opted for the stamped version of the colour instead.

I pulled out PTI's Frilly Flowers which I haven't used in a long time and went to work.  I stamped the flower with two shades of orchid for a slight variation on on the flower and added a pearl center.  Some kraft leaves and sentiment, along with PTI's Linen Impression plate (which is not show up too well in the photo) and I was good to go.

Reminds me of the gorgeous flowers we saw in Hawaii :)   Speaking of which, I haven't forgotten about sharing some pictures, it's just that I have just been crazy busy since we got back and haven't had time to wade through all three hundred plus pictures.  They have made it from the camera to the computer so we are moving along LOL!  Now just the editing and selecting remains.  If time permits, I hope to get to them this weekend.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our May Guest Designer Barbara Campbell have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog and check out what they've 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.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Wishign you a fabulous day!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:  Frilly Flowers (PTI)
Paper:  Kraf (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Orchid Opulence, Marvelous Magenta 
Accessories:  Frilly Flowers Dies and Linen Impression Plate (PTI), Happy Hellos (My Favorite Things), Corner Rounder (Marvy), White Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Precious Pajamas

This week's Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge is entitled "Confetti Crush" and our sponsor is The Cat's Pajamas!

The LEAD of this challenge will receive a $25 gift code to the The Cat's Pajamas store!

The Tweetest Things and matching dies were the fuel for my card this week.   Simply adore the big note die and the mix of musical notes and symbols in this set!  Perfect for any music teacher in your life.  Think I'll send it to my daughter's piano teacher as she is such a special person.  Even though my daughter is no longer able to take lessons due to the tendinitis in her wrists, we miss seeing her every week.  Thankfully, there is no nerve damage to my daughter's hands, but she needs to rest her wrists and let the inflammation subside, so piano playing is out of the question indefinitely :(

Pulled out a few goodies from my "discard pile", and this was the outcome.  Focused on the red in the inspiration photo but deviated to black instead of blue for my colour scheme as I just couldn't swallow a blue note LOL!  The card is outside my normal style, but I am quite enjoying it and had great fun creating it.   

Pajama Party Designers

The Cat's Pajamas Designer, Noelle McAdams 

Amber Kroening

Amy Kolling

Amy Tsuruta

Gayatri Murali

Kim Singdahlsen

Laurie Willison

Lisa Henke

Marisa Ritzen

Maureen Plut

Monika Davis

Sheri Gilson

Sarah Gough

Stacey Schafer

Tenia Nelson

Tracey McNeely

You have until May 25th to link your card up and the LEAD and Show Stoppers will be announces on May 31st.  We'd love you to stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Pajama Party and play along with us!

Have a fabulous day!

Challenges:  Simon Says


 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   The Tweetest Things (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper:  Read Red, Black, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Home Tweet Home Dies (The Cat's Pajamas), XO Border Die (PTI), Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Heart Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Ribbon, Dimensionals 

Masculine Twist On This Week's Viva la Verve Sketch

Today's card uses this week's Viva La Verve sketch created by Diva Janelle.  Since I used shamrocks on my Mojo Monday card, and flowers and butterflies have been in abundance here lately, I decided to go with a nautical theme.

Love Verve's Strong Anchor and matching Nautical Die set.  The anchor and wheel images were the perfect size for the circles, and I took the opportunity to turn this into a Father's Day card for my hubby by using this wonderful sentiment from the set.  Added the banners using the Pennant Trim die to complete the nautical theme and a few brads and twine my "masculine embellishments" LOL.

Thanks for popping by and if you want to see which cards I chose to highlight for this week's VLV sketch, head on over to the Viva La Verve blog and check it out.

Wishing you a fabulous day!

Challenges:  The Pink Elephant

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Say Cheese (Simple Stories), Night of Navy and Basic Grey (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Pennant Trim Die and Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Brads, Twine, Dimensionals