Just Us Girls #217 - Wild Card Challenge

There are five weeks in November so this week's challenge is a "Wild Card" challenge, and Nancy is challenging us to make a one layer, "Winter" themed card.

One layer cards are a real challenge for me so I had to think this one through a bit!  After much fretting and stressing, three failed attempts, and a lot of blood sweat and tears (even the cat was picking up my vibe LOL!), I am finally happy with a card.  Phew!!  One layer cards are a lot of work! I'm thinking I need to do one of those CAS on line classes sooner than later.

Anyway, enough complaining!  As I was digging through my Christmas stash, I came across this adorable HoHoHo set from There She Goes stamps.  I created the scene, coloured it with Twinkling H2Os  (sorry for the poor colouring -- what can I say, the challenges of making this card continued throughout!) and added a bit of snow along the base of the images to ground them.  It is hard to see in the picture, so if they look like they are "floating around" look a bit closer - there is a line of "snow" there!  The upside to the card:  My wonderful daughter teaching me how to use the clone tool in Photoshop so I could erase a "misplaced" snowflake - ha!  Card 4 - Marisa 1 {grin}

I decided to post this card as well, as a tribute to my one layer card struggles and a reminder to myself that this wonderful hobby can stretch you and allow you to grow as a stamper!  I love this tree image (Sue from Australia gave it to me after we met in person while she was here in Vancouver - thank you Sue!) and I wanted it to be the focal point of the card.  It's embossed in gold and "grounded" with sparkly snow like the first one but this time I couldn't get it to show up in the photo.  It felts like something was missing, so I tried twine across the top, a sentiment, twine with a hanging tag etc. and none seemed to do it for me.  So, you CAS pros out there, I need your help! 

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our November GD Nancy Penier, 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.

Decorating the house for Christmas this weekend and trying to get my Christmas letter done as well a some Christmas cards out the door so I'll be a busy lady.  

Hope all my American followers had a great Thanksgiving spending time with family and friends and eating some delicious food, not to mention finding some good deals if you were brave enough to face the Black Friday crowds.

Have a great weekend! 

Challenges:  Simon Says



What's In It? 
Stamps:  Hohoho (There She Goes Stamps), Sentiment (Hero Arts)
Ink:  Black, Silver 
Accessories:   Twinkling H2Os, Glue Pen, Glitter   

November 2013 Verve Release

There are some brand new Verve releases today and we're celebrating with a blog hop!   Julee has created a fabulous, new Plain Jane, an adorable Christmas set, and several Scripture Medley sets for you to check out over at the Verve Store.  

If you have come from ) Laurie W's blog, you are right on track.  If you just happened upon the hop, there is a full hop list noted below.

The current VLV sketch was perfect for showcasing this adorable little bird.  I paper pieced his outfit with Echo Park's 'Tis The Season papers and added one of the patterned seam bindings from the Black Beauty Ribbon Collection.  The sentiment is on a die cut from the Flag It  set.  The glitter snow he is standing on is a bit hard to see, but it's there, honest!

 

My second card uses the new Every Heart Plain Jane.  Love this sentiment and all it stands for!  Pulled out some of my hoarded Lost and Found MME Christmas papers, used the Tagged Rectangle Die for the sentiment panel and over stamped the sentiment with the cross from Richly Blessed.  The heart is from the Heart Quartet die set and the yummy polka dotted ribbon is from the Polka Dot Basics ribbon collection. 

 

All the new sets are available over at the Verve Store today.  In addition, take a little time to check out Verve's Thanksgiving Sale (25% off all stamps and dies) which starts today!  The perfect time to do a little Christmas shopping for yourself and/or for you family on your behalf wink, wink!

Want to win some shiny new Verve?  We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $75 gift certificate to Verve!  Comment deadline for the prize drawing is Sunday, December 1.

	1. Julee	8.  Laurie W.
	2. Amber	9.   Marisa
	3. Andrea	10. Maureen
	4. Charmaine	11. Stacey
	5. Christyne	12. Teresa
	6. Janelle	13. Verve Blog
	7. Jen

Next on the hop is Maureen, and she is sure to have a fabulous example for you to enjoy!
















What's In It?
CHRISTMAS JOY:  
Stamps:   Christmas Joy (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   'Tis The Season (Echo Park), Black, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Oval and Oval Nestabilties (Spellbinders), Patterned Ribbon (Black Beauty Ribbon Collection by Verve Stamps), Button, Twine, Gold Half Pearl, Glue, Glitter, Dimensionals

EVERY HEART:
Stamps:   Every Heart Plain Jane and Richly Blessed (Verve Stamps), French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:   Lost and Found (My Mind's Eye), Always Artichoke, Real Red (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black, Gold, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:   Rounded Rectangle and Heart Quartet Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Polka Dot Basics Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), Crimper (Fiskars), Gold Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #216 - Photo Inspiration

Vicki has selected this delightful inspiration picture for our challenge this week.  Love the mix of images and colours! So many wonderful inspirational options!

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch along with some of MME's Merry Little Christmas paper, as well as my brand new PTI snowflake die which I absolutely LOVE!!  Such a fabulous snowflake shape which you can layer up or use independently. 

The rest of the  JUGS team have 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.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

  

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink:  Black 
Paper: Merry Little Christmas (My Mind's Eye) , Old Olive, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up) Cream Linen
Accessories:  Snowflake Die (PTI), Bling, Dimensionals   

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - CAS-ual Christmas

We are half way through the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge entitled CAS-ual Christmas.   CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is our sponsor for this challenge which means the LEAD for this challenge will win a $20 gift Certificate to CAS-ual Fridays stamps!

I am stretching myself waaay out of my comfort zone and going on to the CAS side for this card.  Chose to use this CAS(E) This Sketch sketch, as the poinsettia border was a perfect fit.

The colours are pulled from the inspiration picture, and are not your traditional Christmas colours, and I enjoyed mixing it up a bit.  Must admit, this card is sooo not my normal style, but it is growing on me.  That's what I love about this hobby - you can always grow as a stamper!

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge.  You have until November10th at 8:00 a.m. CST to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture and linking it up accordingly.

Thanks for popping by and hope you can find some time to play along with us!

 

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Black, White, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, Brocade Blue, Old Olive (Stampin' Up)  
Accessories:   Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals  

With Deepest Sympathy

This week's sketch and inspiration picture are brought to us by Anya.  Just love this picture!  I was inspired by the flowers and all the green.  Orange got a bit left out so I can say I focused on the bottom left side of the picture wink, wink {grin}.

Unfortunately I was in need of a sympathy card.  A friend of mine lost her disabled son to pneumonia last week and it just breaks my heart to think about it.  

I used K & Company's Classic K McKenna paper and used Verve's fabulous Deepest Sympathy Plain Jane for the sentiment.

Want to win a $100 gift certificate to the Verve Stamps store?!  All you have to do is complete all the sketches in a given month and load them on the Verve Challenge Thread on Splitcoast Stampers and a random winner will received the gift certificate.   Easy peasy, and with a recent release and another one coming in the near future, it's the perfect way to get some spending money :)

Thanks for popping by today and have a fabulous day!

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Deepest Sympathy Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Classic K McKenna (K & Company), Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Rich Razzleberry (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Lacy Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Flower Die (PTI), Scalloped Border Trim (Stampin' Up), 5/8" Rose Romance Grosgrain Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Cream Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #320

This week's Mojo sketch is nice and basic so you can dress it up or keep it on the CAS side - love when you have that option.  I decided to go a little bit country with this fun We R Memory Keepers paper and cute rustic tree image from Verve's Holiday Greetings set. 

The tree was coloured with Twinkling H2Os (my only colouring medium as I've had them for years and have to use them up), and added some distressing around the edges along with a bit of paper piercing.  Of course, couldn't resist adding a snowflake!  This time round it's a nice, rich, Early Espresso one (they come in all sorts of shapes and colours up here in Canada you know wink, wink LOL!).

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

Another busy weekend here, but that is part for the course this time of year.  Good news is the Christmas shopping is done - that is other than for myself if the family needs me to help out {grin}.  Christmas letter is next.

Trusting you had a great weekend and wishing you a fabulous week ahead!  Thanks for popping by :)



 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Holiday Greetings (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  North Pole (We R Memory Keepers), Real Red, Early Espresso, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Twinkling H2Os, Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Crimper (Fiskars), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Brown Half Pearls, Dimensionals   

Snowflake Joy

Loved this Seize the Sketch sketch.  So may ways you can go with it.  My sentiment shifted a teensy bit - okay a lot LOL - but the guts of the sketch are there.  No stamping on this card either!

Continuing on in my Christmas card theme, I had great fun pulling out two of my favorite Christmas dies:  the PTI snowflake and this wonderful "JOY" die!  Joy is my favorite Christmas word and I love using it on Christmas cards.

Also broke in my new MFT chevron dies. Yes, I'm slow to get on the trendy bandwagon, and may have missed the rush, but I'm happy I finally have them and look forward to using them.

The paper is Carta Bella's Winter Fun and I just love it!  I got it last year at my LSS and wish I'd gotten a few more sheets as I just love the colour combo.  I blinged up the "joy" a bit and added a twine bow.

Thanks for popping by today. 



 
What's In It? 
Paper:  Winter Fun (Carta Bella), Kraft, Cool Caribbean, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin Up), Cream Linen   
Accessories:  Snowflake Die (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Chevron Die (My Favorite Things), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine (MFT), Button, Glue Dots, Bling, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #215 - Colour Challenge

This week I get to play hostess to the Just Us Girls colour challenge, and I have chosen red, white, kraft and dark brown for my colour combination.

For my card I used Teresa Collins' Santa's List papers as they are perfect for this challenge, especially since it is full steam ahead with the Christmas cards now.  The circle element is Early Espresso, even though it looks black in the photo.

Love this Lil' Inker Christmas tree. It steals my heart every time I see it :) Paired it with an MFT snowflake and the sentiment is from Verve's Holiday Greetings set as the font was perfect for this card.
I'm also playing along with this week's Merry Monday challenge subbing in snowflakes for stars - hopefully the MM police will be okay with that (hint, hint, Lesley LOL).

The rest of the  JUGS team have some wonderful and more...ahem.... appropriate 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.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Holiday Greetings (Verve Stamps)
Ink:  Black 
Paper: Santa's List (Terresa Collins), Kraft, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Accessories:  Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Holly Jolly Die Set (Lil' Inkers), Let It Snowflake Die (My Favorite Things), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Twine, Buttons, Glue Dots, Dimensioanls  

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Casual Christmas

We are back with our newest  Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and it is entitled CAS-ual Christmas", and I'm excited to share that CAS-ual Friday Stamps is our fabulous sponsor.  Plus they are joining us this week by hosting their own CAS-ual Christmas challenge.  A great twofer challenge this week :)   The LEAD of the CAS-ual Christmas challenge at the Curtain Call will receive a CAS-ual Fridays Stamps set of their choice, and there are a plethora of beauties to chose from!

I used their wonderful Christmas Carols set for my card and tried to keep it on the CAS side.    

Love the poinsettia images and how they come in three sizes so you can chose to use them solo or layer them up, which is what I chose to do on my card.  Since "joy" is my favorite Christmas word, I immediately reached for this wonderful sentiment.  PTI's linen embossing plate added a little texture on the white panel and I just "had" to add a crimped panel wink, wink.

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 November 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 November
30th. 

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Christmas Carols (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Paper:  Real Red, Kraft, Old Olive (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:   Lacy Circle and Circle Nestabilitiers (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Gold Twine (Michael's), Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Feel Better Soon

Needed a get well card for some dear friends who both recently underwent kidney operations.  The wife, had a full transplant, and her husband donated his kidney to a person who required one so his wife could have her transplant sooner.

It was an amazing adventure to walk along side of them with.  There was a pool for ten people, five donors and five recipients and they all had surgery on the same day.  If just one of them would have been sick or had a slight fever or infection, they would all have had to wait!  Needless to say, lots of prayer went into their health and the health of the whole group so it was a go.  They are both doing well and are a testimony to the wonders of modern medicine!

All that to say, I wanted to make them a get well card.  Since I'm squeezed for time and can't make two cards, I used this I {Heart} Sketches sketch for my layout as I had to combine both into one - meaning not too fru-fru and yet not too masculine.  Hoping I did okay.  Stuck to clean lines with limited embellishments (yikes -- no ribbon!!), but managed to sneak in some half pearls, two hearts and a teensy bow on the button for her.  I'll let you know if I passed LOL!

Thanks for popping in today!



 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Feel Better Soon Plain Jane, Faithful Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  In Bloom (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Real Red (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Heart Quartet Die and Wavy Hearts Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #319

First of all, I want to give a deep, heartfelt thanks to those who serve and have served defending our nation's freedom!  We have the freedoms many nations wish they had and that is due to the brave men and women who have fought and, in some cases, sacrificed their lives on our behalf so we can retain it!

My husband's nephew serves in the Canadian military and has done two tours in Afghanistan.  He has some nerve wracking stories to say the least!  In addition, his second tour was heart wrenching because he was called over to replace the captain of a squad who had been been killed in the line of duty, and she was one of his wife's best friends!  We met her at their wedding a short three months before she was killed in action.  Freedom has a price and those who defend ours deserve our deepest gratitude and support.  

Today's sketch made me happy - but them most of the Mojo sketches do LOL!  Since it's now the second week of November, Christmas cards are a calling!  I've had my fill of leaves for a while so it's on to snowflakes {grin} my favorite Christmas card accessory.

I used Authentique's Tradition six by six pack of Christmas paper, and there is a definite green theme going on here, so I snuck in some grey and a pop of red.  The deer are from the newly released Unto Us set and I used the matching Reindeer Fun die set to cut them out.  Apparently there are green snowflakes in my part of the world wink, wink, and I had to be very careful with the placement of the bling because the first time I put them down it looked like the reindeer were leaving a little "gift" on the card LOL!

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

Off to spend some more time at the soccer pitch! My son reffed two games yesterday and will be reffing six games today (yes, you read right)!  There is a tournament going on and he will basically be working all day, with an hour break for lunch!  So proud of him!  He is a wonderful referee and this is such good experience for him, with the added bonus of his having a growing bank account. 

Have a fabulous day and please take some time to thank anyone you know who has served for your country! 

Challenge:  Friday Mash Up 

What's In It?
Stamps:   Unto Us, Glad Tidings (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Tradition (Authentique), Going Grey , Old Olive, Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Reindeer Fun Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Bling, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #214 - Technique Challenge

This week's challenge is an easy one as well as a fun one!  All you need to do is use/create a word background.   We are also welcoming our Guest Designer Nancy Penir!

That being said, I'm fessing up to tell you that I cheated, a lot!   After the week I've had I just didn't have the mojo to create a background so I pulled out a background stamp (in this case, Stampin' Up's Tres Chic word background - one I have had for some time and ashamedly have never used!) rather than create my own so I'm  hanging my head in shame here!    
Not only that, but I went with a "subtle word background" to boot.  Many lashes with a wet noodle for me today LOL! 

I clear embossed the background stamp on some gold card stock and then cut it into strips (if you look closely you can see the embossed words on the gold).  Next, I gleefully pulled out my Spellbinders Poinsettia die (oh how I love this die!) and sponged the flower layers while still in the die to create more prominent veins in the flower.   Two more touches of red to balance things off and just had to add the gold snowflake.

The rest of the  JUGS team have some wonderful and more...ahem.... appropriate 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.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Kids have a four day weekend so I get to enjoy their company and hopefully get a bit more (if not close to all) my Christmas shopping done.   Don't hate me!  I try to get it done before the end of November so I have lots of lead time to do the other things that come up along the way (decorating, baking, kids school activities etc.).  I find by doing this, I can fully take in the wonder and joy of the Season rather than being so stressed out and exhausted that it becomes just another chore.  

Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card.    


 
What's In It? 
Stamps:  Tres Chic Background Stamp (Stampin' Up), Hero Arts
Ink:  VersaMark
Paper: Real Red (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen, Brushed Gold
Accessories:  Poinsettia Die (Spellbinders), Clear and Red Embossing Powder, Snowflake Punch (Marvy), 5/8" Red Sheer Ribbon (Michael's), Dimensionals