A Milestone Birthday

This sketch was perfect for a 50th birthday card for the husband of a very dear friend of mine.  I went with black as he loves riding his Harley and I don't have any chopper images.  Plus, I want to poke a bit of fun at him as he rings in the new decade :)

Wish I had the embossing folder with the metal hatches on it, but don't, so I used Tim Holtz's brick wall embossing folder instead (aka:  old, cracking wall...I know, I'm bad, but I love it lol).  A big silver 5 - 0 came next so there is no denying the birthday being celebrated and some silver brads to match the studs on his leather riding jacket and stars as he is the star of the party.  I'm going to pay for this, I know it, but it's well worth it LOL!

Have a glorious day.

 

What's In It?
Stamps: SU 
Paper: Costco DP, Black, White 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Tim H oltz Brick Embossing Folder, Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Number Dies (PTI), 5/8" Black Satin Ribbon, Brads, Dimensionals

Mojo Christmas

This week's Mojo Monday sketch was a nice simple one.  Love this type of sketch as you can dress it up or keep it CAS - the sky is the limit on what you want to do with it.

For some reason I was in the mood for a Christmas card.  Maybe it's because it's just a short two months away!!  Where has the year gone??!!

Dots and snowflakes abound on this card - love it!   Some silver cording, a few bells, and some dew drops (remember those!) called it a card.   A nice, quick and easy card.

Have a great day and thanks for popping by :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Amuse
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Pretty in Pink, Silver
Ink: Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Snowflake Die,SU Word Window Punch, Snowflake and Seeing Spots Embossing Folders, Bling, Silver Twine, Silver Bells, Dew Drops

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #93

I decided to make a wedding card using this sketch as I haven't made one forever.  Plus I wanted to use some of yummy DP I found, but unfortunately it ended up being mostly covered up!

Nothing too fancy here.  The cream linen paper has a texture to it which helps but all in all it is a pretty CAS card.  Wish I had an in between sized heart nestie as this one was just a little too small to fit in the sentiment swirls, and the next one was too large for the sketch.  Felt like Goldilocks minus the heart shaped nestie that was juuuust right LOL!   I opted for the smaller one and finished things off with some gold beading and a rolled rose.

The rest of the Design Team has some fabulous cards for your inspiration.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

Just a reminder that each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card posted as a winner, all you have to do is play along.

Have a great weekend everyone! 



What's In It?
Stamps:  Elegant Greetings (SU)
Paper: Cream Linen, Sahara Sand, Brushed Gold, Making Memories DP
Ink: Sahara Sand
Accessories: Scalloped Heart and Heart Nesties, MFT Rolled Rose Die, Gold Beaded Cording, Gold Half Pearls, Glue Dots, DImensinoals

Giddy over Tuesday's Trigger

 
I was giddy when I saw this fabulous Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger.  Just looooove the colour array of the blocks as they are very conducive to ahem....leaves....ahem....maple leaves to be precise LOL!

We have quite a few maple trees on our street and they are gloriously displaying these colours so it was the perfect excuse inspiration to put one on my card....at least that is my story and I'm sticking to it :) 

I paired the Trigger with this week's Card Positioning Sketch because the large circle in the sketch was perfect for a maple leaf.  Needless to say, out came my PTI maple leaf die and this card is the result.

For those of you who are beginning to feel a strong subliminal urge to rake maple leaves due all the maple leaf cards I have been posing, take heart!  Our maple trees are beginning to show some signs of dropping their leaves so I'll be raking them off the lawn soon enough as penance for flogging them so shamelessly on my blog!  Until then, I'll enjoy them as long as I can :)


 

What's In It?
Stamps: Dream Big (Verve)
Paper: Lime Twist (MME) Chocolate Chip, Corrugated Starbucks Sleeve
Ink: Black
Accessories: Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Leaf Dies (PTI), Starbucks Corrugated Sleeve, Rust Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Bling

A Thank You For A Dear Friend (Revised)

Edited: No you are not seeing twice.  This is the revised photo of my card without the twine bow on the "U".  Got late so didn't post it yesterday and re-posting it today.  I'm glad to state it confirmed my decision to remove the bow as per the last paragraph below.

 Diva Charmaine brought us this fabulous Verve sketch to work with this week.  I just love simple sketches as you can dress them up or keep them CAS - the sky is the limit on what you want to do :)

I made this thank you card for a dear friend I got to visit this past weekend.  She now lives in Washington state so we don't get to see each other nearly as often as we would like to, but the times we do spend together are like time has never passed.  I treasure friendships like ours and wanted to thank her for her time and hospitality and to remind her how much she means to me.

This wonderful Lime Twist paper by My Mind's Eye was my starting point as purple is her favorite colour and this allowed me to incorporate a few variations of the colour.  For a change of pace and a little extra something, I punched the side of the card with Martha Stewart's Modern Gable punch as she loves lace too.

Now that I look at the picture, I don't know what possessed me to add the twine bow.  It doesn't really fit in with the rest of the card and clutters up the focal panel.  It's already been disposed of and since it was late last night when I was writing this post, I didn't want to mess with the light box as I don't like how my pictures turn out in it (insert: need another lamp and more practice).  That means I'll be taking a new picture this morning once the sun is high enough to replace this one.  Until then, just imagine it isn't there, or do like I did and place your finger over the bow and effectively remove it LOL!  Be back soon :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  You and I (Verve) 
Paper: Lime Twist (MME), Rich Razzleberry, Rose Romance, Old Olive 
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Black 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Modern Gable Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, I Heart You Die Set (A Cut Above By Verve), Button, Twine, 1" Sheer Black Ribbon, Dew Drops, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Papertrey October Blog Hop Challenge

 

I just loved this inspiration piece :)  Those pumpkins are the cutest and the mix of colours is right up my alley too.

I created my Sahara Sand background using Polka Dot Basics II and then some Lime Twist paper for the bottom.  All those polka dots are making me happy...sigh... :)

Couldn't resist making a pumpkin so out came my large oval punch and some fun patterned paper.  I had to go with a tall skinny pumpkin otherwise I wouldn't have any room for my sentiment on the panel.  Funny thing is I tend to always pick a tall thin pumpkin when the kids and I go to the pumpkin patch so I guess it was meant to be.  I added a stem, leaf and a curly cue to the pumpkin and was good to go.

I'll be sorry when fall is over as I just love creating fall cards with my PTI Leaf dies. Tried to work them in here but the pumpkin urge was just too strong LOL!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges:  CCEE - fall card

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II (PTI), Autumn Splendor and Bountiful Harvest (VErve)
Paper: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Old Olive, SU Designer Series Paper, Lime Twist (MME),
Ink: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark
Accessories: Mat Stack 4 Die (PTI),  Large Oval Punch (SU), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #92

 
This week's colour combo is fabulous for masculine cards so I jumped at the chance to make one using this great Stampin' Up sailboat image, which I just love.  I paired it with Jen's October Sketch For You To Try as it was a nice clean sketch and perfect for what I needed.

I fudged the night of navy colour as the blue stripes on this Costco DP aren't exactly the right colour so I used the matching colour from the paper pack in lieu of the night of navy....shhhh....  Fiddled with and finally got my three stranded sailor's knot to work (great visual tutorial I used is here).  I fudged the sketch a bit by having the twine come over top rather than behind the panel.  Guess I was in a rebellious mood when I created this card LOL!   

The rest of the Design Team has some fabulous cards for your inspiration.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

Just a reminder that each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card posted as a winner, all you have to do is play along.





What's In It?
Stamps: Sailing Away and All In A Row (SU)
Paper: Costco DP, Cream Sahara Sand, Cream Linen, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Black
Accessories: Diamonds in the Rough Embossing Folder, Twine

Live The Life You've Imagined

 
Another wonderful Mojo Monday sketch by Julee this week.  Not sure what happened along the way, but one thing is for sure, the skewed panel took over and stayed! 

This adorable My Little Shoebox button paper got me started and then I went into Verve  heaven :)  The Close to Cocoa paper background was created by stamping one of the flower centers from Verve's Petals and Stems in VersaMark.  Then it was on to multiple Verve dies for the rest of the card.

The leaf on the left side was a "happy accident" as Diva Andrea calls them.  The rectangle seemed too small for the card so I wanted to add a little something on the left side.  I dug into my scraps box to see if a leaf image would work and this grey one fit the bill.  Another full on colour card.  There must be a full moon out tonite...skewed panel and full colour all on one card...hmmm.....LOL! 

That being said, the card seems a bit off balance to me....do you agree or am I just imagining things?  Be honest,okay!!  It helps me to learn and improve, and that is what I love the most about this wonderful craft!  Always room for improvement and learning something new :)   

Thanks for popping in today! 


 

What's In It?
Stamps: Words of Wisdom, Making a Statement, Bloom and Grow (Verve)
Paper: My Little Soapbox DP, Close to Cocoa, Real Red More Mustard, Basic Grey
Ink: Creamy Caramel, VersaMark
Accessories:  Elegant Leaf, Flutter By, Rounded Scalloped Frame, Tagged Rectangle (Verve),  Corner Punch (SU), Crimper,  5/8" Saffron Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Half Pearls, Bling, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Autumn Splendor

Another fabulous sketch by Diva Maureen for us to play with this week.  After a brief hiatus from leaf cards, my addiction overcame me and I had to make another one.

I just love working with the colours of fall...happy sigh... :)  This Lime Twist DP was perfect for the middle panel and I crimped the sides for a bit of texture and added my beloved maple leaf in lieu of the smaller circle.  Was wishing I had some cream grosgrain or natural twill ribbon instead of the satin ribbon as they would have fit the earthy feel of this card a bit better, but no such luck.  On to my shopping list they go!

So nice to be all caught up on my October Verve sketches :)   I'll be working for hubby again in November so I'm enjoying my time in my craft area as much as I can along with getting things ready for fall inside and out (eg: trip to laundromat to wash all the summer comforters in their extra large washers/dryers, hoses brought in for the winter, plants in the yard trimmed down, annual flowers pulled out etc.).  Sure the leaves I am so in love with on my cards will begin to fall on my lawn soon enough and not be such a pleasure too!

 
What's In It? 
Stamps: Kind Words and Autumn Splendor (Verve), Leaf Prints (PTI) 
Paper: Lime Twist DP, Early Espresso, Kraft, Rudy Red, Cream Linen, More Mustard 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories: Leaf Die (PTI), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Threading Water Border Punch, Button, Twine, 5/8" Cream Satin Ribbon, Crimper, Brown Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Christmas Snowflake

I just had to make one more card using this fabulous sketch.  This time I decided to make a Christmas card as the heart was screaming snowflake.  Sorry...same song (aka: sketch), third verse (aka: card)!   Have you figured out I love this sketch yet LOL!

Christmas always brings out this wonderful Cuttlebug snowflake die and this beaded, silver cording I got at Mike's a few years back.   I love snowflakes so it is the predominant theme on this card.  Things looked a bit too "blue" (I'm not a huge blue fan...) so I added the silver bell for a bit of pizazz and Christmas cheer. This qualifies for the Friday Mashup snowflake theme.

Hmmm.....what else can I use instead of a heart...just kidding!  Before you say it, yes, a flower is a definite option that is still brewing as is a shamrock (may have given you a hint about your birthday card, Moe!).  So many options....so many blog readers getting sick of the sketch....better stop while I'm ahead. 

Now that I have delved into Christmas, time to get back to my beloved leaves as Fall isn't over yet....snort...!! 

Have a great day!! 




What's In It?
Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper:  Dream Street and Doodlebug DPs, Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Silver
 Ink:   Black
Accessories:  Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, Cuttlebug Snowflake Die, Snowflake Embossing Folder, 58" Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Silver Beaded Twine, Silver Bell, Silver Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #91

Another great sketch by Keesh for us to work with this week, and in all honesty,  I don't feel like I gave it justice with this card.  May have to give it another go before the week is over.

It's a pretty basic card, and the good part is it got assembled from my container of "scraps".  Try to remind myself to delve into this container more often as the ingoing exceeds the outgoing about 20 to1, or more...

Enough of my woes!  The rest of the Design Team has some fabulous cards for your inspiration.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

Just a reminder that each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to see your card posted as a winner, all you have to do is play along.




What's In It?
Stamps: Kind Words (Verve)
Paper: So Saffron, Rose Romance, Kraft, Echo Park Dots and Stripes
Ink: Black
Accessories: Lattice EF (SU), Scalloped Circle Nesties, PTI Doily Die, Flutter By Die (Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (SU), 5/8" Blue Satin Ribbon, Half  Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals,

For Card For Diva Andrea

 
This card combines this month's Diva Dare with this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  Diva Andrea dared us to create a hand made embellishment on your card.

As luck would have it, my "left over" bin coughed up a hand made flower which I made a few months ago and never used.  Better yet, it was pink, one of  Diva Andrea's favorite colours :)   Keeping that in mind, I decided to up the ante and attempt to make a shabby card - another one of Andrea's loves.  So here you are my Diva friend, a card made especially for you (((hugs))).

I so much fun using a variety of Verve dies and coordinating stamps on this card.  Have I told you lately how much I love Verve!  Can't imagine stamping without it :)   Thanks for following your dream, Julee!!

Short weeks are great, but you always seem to have to pack five days into four so they are always busy.  My daughter and I are redecorating and organizing her room and are having so much fun doing it together.  She has left the poster stage behind and is wanting a more "grown up" room, so we got some fun things at JYSK on the weekend and will continue our renos this weekend.  Great mother daughter time - as long as I'm the shelf putter upper and closet organizer but not the interior decorator per say LOL!  Precious times of togetherness and watching her grow in her personality and style.  She is such a treasure...

 


What's In It?
Stamps: You and I, Bloom and Grow, Tag Time (Verve)
Paper:  Costco DP, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Rose Romance, Vanilla, Cream Linen

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, VersaMark
Accessories:Stamping Up Punches, Elegant Leaf, Curvy Bookplate and I Heart You Dies (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch, Lace, Button, Twine, Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Look Ma, No Maple Leaf!

I just loved this color combo over at The Paper Players this week so had to play along.  Another yummy fall color combo.   I combined it with last week's Freshly Made sketch and came up with this card.

I am proud to say there is no maple leaf on this card (though it was darn hard passing it up I tell you!).  Now that you have gained consciousness again, let me introduce you to one of the other leaves of this PTI die set - the oak leaf.  We have a few oak trees in the area but not a lot so the shape is growing on me.  Any guesses as to what we have a lot of around here, wink, wink :)  Maybe once they start falling and I have to rake wet maple leaves off the lawn into the recycle bags my love for them will dwindle LOL!

Until then, I will try my hardest to stay away from leaves on my next few cards, but not making any promises...don't want to get caught telling a lie now do I ;o)

Challenges:  Papercraft Star - leaf



What's In It?
Stamps: Leaf Prints (PTI), Psalm 46:1 (Verve)
Paper: Cream Linen, More Mustard, Really Rust, Recollections DP (Michael's)
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Leaf Dies (PTI), Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, Tim Holtz Wood Grain Embossing Folder, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Giving Thanks For This Sketch

Blogger ate my post scheduled for this morning - bad blogger!!!  So, after some typing, here it is a bit later than intended.

As I mentioned yesterday, it didn't take much to twist my rubber arm into making a card using a maple leaf in lieu of the heart on this sketch.  Sorry.....just can't put these leaf dies down!

My MME papers came to rescue once again - oh how I love those papers and wish I had the budget to get them all!  The only glitch in the card making process was my lack of attention to the orientation of the stripes on the mustard panel before I cut it.  Think there were a few Verve Divas sending me subliminal skewed panel messages as the stripes ended up on the diagonal instead of a vertical orientation.  After a big "sigh..." I decided to let them bask in all their glory rather than cut another circle.  A bit of wood grain embossing in the background finished things off perfectly.

Thanks to everyone for the Thanksgiving well wishes.  We had a fabulous weekend, a great meal Sunday night, and are now enjoying all the yummy leftovers along with some turkey soup I made yesterday.  Ummmm, ummmm good :)

Have a great day, and as the card says, I'm giving thanks for all of you who come and visit my little part of blogland (((hugs))).

Challenges: Papercraft Star - leaf



What's In It?
Stamps:  Leaf Prints (PTI),  Verve
Paper: MME, Kraft, Cream Linen, Really Rust, Early Espresso
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories:Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties, Leaf Die (PTI), 5/8" Brown Polka Dotted Ribbon, Tim  Holtz Wood Grain Embossing Folder, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Half Pearls, Dimensionals.

Looove This Sketch!

 
I just looooved the sketch Verve Diva Teresa came up with this week!  I must confess I reeeeally had to restrain myself from putting a maple leaf where the heart LOL! 

I pullout out some great Stella and Rose DP and Verve's loopy bloom die as it was a perfect match to the flowers on the DP.  The sentiment is an old Rubber Soul stamp I've had for ages and have sorely  neglected, but today was its turn to shine as the length and font were perfect.

My faux stitching is from my All In A Row set and my 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square card became a 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 card as I keep adding mattes LOL.

Super fun sketch, and if I were a betting woman, I think I would bet that my rubber arm will be twisted to use this sketch again to make a fall card with a leaf on it...I know...resistance is futile LOL!

Have a glorious day and thanks so much for stopping by to visit me today :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Rubber Soul, Love Notes and Making A Statement (Verve), All In A Row (SU)
Paper: Stella and Rose Lime Twist, Night of Navy, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Kraft
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:Loopy Bloom Die (Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals