Mojo Monday #274

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!!!  I am very glad to see the back end of 2012!  It has been a very hard, trying year in many ways and I am definitely looking forward to a fresh start in 2013.

Today we have a wonderful round sketch by Carole.  It was great to work with and that circle was perfect for using two of my favorite Verve dies - my beloved  jotted heart and U dies.  Lots of polka dots as well as one of my favorite colour combos - pink and grey.  Needless to say, it was fun making this card.  It's hard to see in the picture, but the heart is crimped for some dimension.

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

Enjoy your New Year's Eve festivities if you are participating in any, or if you are like me, enjoy ringing in 2013 as you sleep (aren't I a lot of fun LOL!).  We don't have anything planned and that is fine by me.  Quite often I like to take the evening to simply reflect on the past year, and set a few goals for the upcoming year.   That way I have something to aim for rather than just drifting through the year.  Don't have a word for 2013 just yet, still pondering a few options.  I'll let you know once I decide.  Cheers to a wonderful 2013!!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Tiny Tags (PTI)
Paper: Hugs and Kisses (Carta Bella), Pink Small Dots (Making Memories), Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance
Ink: Black,
Accessories:  I Heart U and Jotted Heart Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), Tiny Tags Die (PTI),  Twine, Silver Cording, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls 169

First and foremost, I want to wish a very sad farewell to Lynn.  This is her last week as a Design Team member and she will be sorely missed.  She is a wonderful person and stamper and her kind, genuine heart will be missed along with her wonderful CAS cards!  Hugs to you Lynn!!!

Since we have five Friday's this month, today's challenge is a "wild card" challenge hosted by Maria and this week's theme is sparkle.  Bring out the bling, sparkly paper, embossing powder, shimmer paper or whatever you want to add sparkle to your card!  A totally fun and perfect theme for time of year :)

I used this week's Retro Sketch as it had lots of room for a big, sparkly, die cut heart :)   I gleefully used my brand new PTI hearts border die and then added the hearts embossing on the focal panel.  A bit of bling on each heart along with some silver twine and a silver bow all added up to a lot of sparkle all round.

For some inspiration to get you going, 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 Chick of the Week.

I'm so relaxed right now I think I'm tired LOL!  One book down (Ken Follet's Winter of the World), three puzzles made and a fourth one up and running.  Also have my brother and SIL heading over for a two day visit as they were away over Christmas, so it should be a great weekend :) 

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Michael's $1.50 Studio G Stamp
Paper:  Lovey (Bella Boulevard), Rose Romance, Kraft, Silver Paper
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Hearts Embossing Folder, Labels 8 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Corner Rounder (Marvy), Jotted Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Heart Border Die (PTI), Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Crimper, Bling, Silver Cording, Button, Blue Dot, Dimensionals

My Favorite Cards of 2012 - January to June

Enjoying time with family and friends so not creating much right now.  Instead, I thought I would walk down memory lane and post my favorite cards of 2012.  This post covers January through June and on Sunday I'll  post July through December.

January

Love the striking colour combo and of course the polka dots! 

Stretching out of my comfort zone with this one.

Polka dotted Valentine's Day card.

February

I won the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger Award with this card.

My blogging buddy Maureen's birthday card - she's a St. Patrick's Day baby.

This skewed panel sketch was such a challenge for me but I was happy with the result. 

March

Loved the mix of MME papers on this card.

Such a fun technique - using punched items to create an embossed background.

More polka dots and a yummy colour combo.

April

Love this PTI flower die and Verve leaf die.  This card  won Friday Mashup Glamette honors.

May

Love this sweet pea image.

My mom's birthday card.

A fun use of the flourish.

Enjoying making some rolled roses and using pink and green - one of my favorite colour combos.

June

Love the rolled roses and this card in general.

Got a Play Date Cafe honorable mention for this card.

Phil 1:6 - my life verse.  Thank you to Julee for making it into a Verve Plain Jane!

Love this owl punch.

Couldn't narrow it down to one per month so you got a few extra LOL

Have a fabulous day!  Back tomorrow with this week's Just Us Girls challenge card. 

I Cherish You

Squeezing in the last Verve sketch for the month.  I took the sketch literally and used a heart - didn't take much to twist my heart loving arm wink, wink :)

Used some fun, new Bo Bunny paper with some non-traditional Valentine's Day colours and the sentiment is from a Paper Smooches set I recently won on Laurie Schmidlin's blog.

Things are still in relaxation mode here.  We have had two jammie days, two puzzles have been made, all the Lego sets have been constructed by my son and my daughter is learning tons about all the features on her camera.  She got a Canon T3i with everyone contributing towards it and her paying the balance.  Needless to say, she is thrilled and the cat will soon be charging modelling fees LOL!   Note to self:  do not let her take a picture of you without make-up on first thing in the morning!!  That camera takes amazing pictures which are a little too clear, defined and detailed my liking, especially first thing in the morning when said subject is not looking her best LOL!

Off to enjoy more family time. Think a game of Risk is about to begin - and I want to rule the world wink, wink :)



What's In It?
Stamps:  We Connect (Paper Smooches)
Paper: Love Letters (Bo Bunny), Sage Shadow, Cameo Coral, Early Espresso, Kraft, Cream Linen
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Wavy Hearts Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Crimper, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing all of you a very, blessed Christmas!!  Such a special time of year and this picture expresses the reason for the joy deep within my heart :)

Since we celebrate on Christmas Eve, today is a "jammie day" - yeah!!  With just our family and my mom here for Christmas this year, we will be able to kick back and relax with a big brunch and lots of "hanging out" time.  A puzzle is already up and running on the dining room table, my son is building his Lego sets and my daughter is learning about her new camera.   Hubby is gleefully watching some football games and I will be reading a book, or working on the puzzle. Aaaaaahhh.....love it!!

May the joy of Christmas touch your heart as it has mine and may you have a blessed day as you celebrate the birth of Christ with family and friends!

Mojo Monday #273

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!  It's a busy day here at the Ritzen residence as today is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ as a family.  We are hosting so hubby will be bar-b-quing the prime rib roast and making Yorkshire pudding, I'll be sous chef extraordinaire, my mom will bring some veggies, cookies and cherry pie and dear friends will be joining us as they are "kidless" for the first time this year and we wanted to "fill the transition gap" a bit by having them over.  

I'll no doubt cry yet again at our Christmas Eve service when our worship Pastor sings O Holy Night.  It's my favorite Christmas carol as it depicts the reason for the deep, resounding joy in my heart and the words always move me to the very core of my being.

That being said, welcome to Mojo Monday!  I'm sure the next few days will be crazy busy for you, but it is a wonderful sketch to be able to enjoy once company has left and you are looking for a little down time - maybe even using some new stamping goodies you got for Christmas :) 

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

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas!  May your time with family and friends be joyful and may you have many memories and fun times to cherish thereafter.     

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Lean On Me (Verve)
Paper: Hugs and Kisses (American Crafts), Sage Shadow, Rose Romance, Black
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Silver Twine, Button, Black Half Pearls, Bling, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #168

This week's inspiration picture is provided by Vicki.  With New Year's quickly approaching, it is a great opportunity to make a New Year's card :)

I used the colours of the clocks and went with the medallion theme and just substituted numbers on the medallions instead of creating clocks.  A few silver stars scattered around for some sparkle and a computer generated sentiment helped finish things off.  Figured you could use this as a center piece for a table or if you have a New Year's party, or you could take it with you to a party, or give it to a friend if you wanted to celebrate a special year coming up.

For some inspiration to get you going, 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 Chick of the Week.

Getting down to crunch time for Christmas and we are in good shape.  The kids and I will be decorating sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies so we can take them to the fire hall on Christmas Day and also share a few with out neighbours.

Have a fabulous weekend!!

 

What's In It?
Paper: Turquoise, Blue, Silver, Early Espresso
Accessories:  Star Punch (Marvy), Score Pal, Number Dies (PTI)

Love Notes

Just squeezing in a card amid the last minute preparations and this is what I came up with.  Love this Jotted Heart die by Verve and the coordinating Love Notes set.  Was happy to be able to use my MFT note die for the first time as it was a perfect match for the sentiment.  Lots of my favorite goodies on this card - happy sigh :)

I'm so excited about moving on to Valentine's Day cards!  I just love hearts (no pun intended).  May the onslaught begin!!

Can I gush just a little?!  I was so excited to see this card spotlighted on the Create for CARDS blog yesterday!  I entered it into their sketch challenge this month.  What a wonderful Christmas surprise indeed :)




What's In It?
Stamps: Love Notes (Verve)
Paper: Going Grey, Rose Red, Rose Romance, Mellow Moss, Heart Stripe (K & Company)
Ink: Going Grey, Black
Accessories:   Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Rolled Rose and Note Dies (MFT), Tag Die (PTI), 5/8" Grey Satin and Pink Satin Ribbon, Silver Twine, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Merry One More Time

What can I say....I was on my way to wrap my "merry" die after sneaking into it for Tuesday's card and it began to call my name...loudly...luring me to use it just one more time before it got wrapped...forcing my eyes to rest upon the Early Espresso paper that was sitting by my Cuttlebug....and just the right size for the die....so in a moment of weakness...I caved.  Oh the shame of it - well, not really LOL!  Just "had" to use it one more time and this time it IS securely wrapped with lots of tape around the edges so I can't get into it again.  Important note to self:  do not order Christmas stamping supplies as a Christmas gift!

That being said, I was thrilled to use this edger die which hasn't seen much love.  It is such a nice "topper" for a card.   The poor little cardinals in the wreaths on the paper got covered up as they are scattered throughout and I couldn't cut a piece of the paper to include one that was visible.  You'll just have to trust me that they are there.

Had an issue with the "y" in "merry" hanging into "Christmas" but there was no way around it.  If the two sentiments were further apart they were not balanced.  So, artistic license took front seat to the overlap issue.   Hope the recipient sees it the same way.

School is winding down and the kids are winding up, especially my son.  He is my "lover of life" and will soon be turning into and overly excited, Energizer Bunny and driving us all nuts LOL!  His joy is contagious thought, and I love him for it :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Wonderful Words Holiday and Modern Wood Mats (PTI)
Paper: I Believe (SEI), Real Red
Ink: Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Edger and Mat Dies (PTI), 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Buttons, Gold Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

I May Be On Santa's Naughty List Now...

Confession time.  I've been a naughty stamper... You see, I actually broke into one of my Christmas gifts (a PTI die set) because I didn't want to have to wait until next year to use it.  I did restrain myself from using the rest of the goodies in that gift though wink, wink, and that wasn't easy!

Needless to say, they are all wrapped now so I have to wait until Christmas before I can play with them all.  Justification is getting me nowhere, right?!  Hopefully they don't turn to coal between now and Christmas LOL!

Enjoyed the sketch and using more of this wonderful I Believe paper by SEI.  The sparkly leaves don't show up too well in the photo so it looks like I have random red dots floating around, but they are actually "holly" dots to go with the leaves - just sayin' :)  I'm also joining in on this week's Paper Players challenge to make a CAS project using snowflakes.  Not sure if this is CAS enough, but it was fun to make none-the-less :)  Also playing along with Ladybug crafts.

That's it for today.  Off to renew our passports today - oh joy!  Thankfully my Kindle Fire will be in hand so I won't go stir crazy while I wait my turn.

Thanks for taking some time to pop by amid the busyness of the Season!!



What's In It?
Paper: I Believe (SEI), Early Espresso, 
Accessories:  Circle Nesties, Wonderful Words Dies (PTI), Seeing Spots and Snowflake Embossing Folders, 5/8" Brown, Satin Ribbon, Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Small Snowflake Punch (Marvy), Buttons, Red Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #272

This week's sketch is brought to us by Carole.  When I saw the three hearts I immediately thought of using my beloved "U" die.  This time, I flipped it over and created an "N" so I could spell out "in" love rather than "i love you".   A fun option for using this fun die set :)

This card may become my hubby's Valentine's Day card. but I still have a long way to go with Valentine's Day cards so another may take its place.  So for now, it holds the spot and we'll see if it gets usurped before February 14th!  

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

Look forward to seeing your creations - it's the perfect "sanity break" amid all the Christmas preparations!    

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Stronger Love (Verve)
Paper: Yours Truly (Echo Park), Real Red, Going Grey
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  I Heart U Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (SU), Heart Punch (Marvy), Twine, Button, White Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #167

This week's Just Us Girls challenge is a colour challenge and it is brought to us by Lisa.  Her colour combo of choice is white, pink and green, one of my favorites!

The papers are from a Recollections pack I picked up at Michael's earlier this year and the busy patterns have me in a bit of a tizzy lol!  I went with them anyway as I'm trying to be "braver" in my use of papers, but this "walking on the wild side" is working my subtle colour and pattern paper side over but good LOL!  

For some inspiration to get you going, 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 Chick of the Week.

Last soccer game of the season today and fingers crossed, the rain holds off!  My son owes his grandma a goal as she gives him a twonie per goal scored and payment came early and a bit over budget, so he has to play smart and work hard in today's game or Grandma will come collecting!  Not really, but it is fun to tease him about it ;)  

Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for stopping by!

  

What's In It? 
Paper: Garden Florals (Recollections), Small Dots (Making Memories), Certainly Celery,
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve),  5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Crimper, Black Fine Tipped Felt Pen, Half Pearls, Bling,  Buttons, Glue Dots, Dimensionals