Just Us Girls # 230 - Sketch Challenge

Welcome to sketch week over at Just Us Girls.  This week's sketch is brought to us by Vicki. 

I realized I haven't made any St. Patrick's Day cards yet and with three friends who are St. Patrick's Day babies and a few who are Irish, I need to get going on them!

Love this sentiment from Verve's Lucky You.  Combined it with a "heart clover" and lots of dots for a bit of fun.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our March Guest Designer Calypso Basitan, 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. 

The eleven inches of snow we got last weekend is slowly melting but rumour has it we may bet a bit more this weekend.  Needless to say, the kids are having a ball sledding down the hill at the school and I'm getting a good work out shovelling LOL!  Soccer games have been cancelled which means we have a free weekend to relax, much needed after a very busy one last weekend helping our friends move while it snowed!  

Have a fabulous weekend!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Lucky You (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft, Dots and Stripes (Echo Park)  
Ink:  Black    
Accessories:  Heart Quartet Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs), Crimper (Fiskars), Polka Dotted Ribbon (Dollar Store), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Cardabilities Thank You

Loved this Cardabilities sketch so decided to play along.

The papers are from MME's Dolled Up and I broke in my new QuicKutz doily die which I got a Michael's with my 50% off coupon.  With my luck the doily craze will soon be over, but then that is what you get for being a late coming to a craze LOL!

The card is for a dear friend who graciously gave us an amazing deal on a time share in Hawaii.  This will be our first family vacation ever (other than heading over to the Island every summer for a week to stay with hubby's parents or going to Alberta to visit family there).  To say we are excited and feeling very, very blessed is an understatement!!   Can't wait to enjoy the sun, surf and sand and spend time together as a family creating some amazing memories.  Hawaii is similar in climate and environment to Costa Rica where I grew up so it's a double bonus for me as it will also bring back many fond memories of my childhood.  Think I'm going to be the biggest kid there LOL!

Thanks for popping in today!

Challenge:  Butterfly Challenge





What's In It?
Stamps:   Bloom and Grow, Friendly Phrases (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Dolled Up (My Mind's Eye), So Saffron, Real Red, Kraft, Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up)  
Accessories:  Flutterby and Elegant Leaves Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Dainty Doily Die (QuicKutz), Doily and Medium Scalloped Dies (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, White Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #334

It's the fourth Monday of the month which means it is time for a Tall and Skinny sketch over on the Mojo Monday blog!

Oh how I am enjoying this card concept and size!  You can keep things contained to the card size or have things hang over the edge to get to the 4 1/4" width and still fit the standard A2 envelope.  Or, you can go long with a 6" x 3 1/2" size for added length.  Lots of flexibility and room for options :)


I haven't played along with the Colour Throwdown forever, and with this week's fabulous colour combination, I just couldn't resits.  The colours tend to lend themselves toward a masculine card, but I decided to go girly.

I gleefully pulled out my flowers and butterflies in giddy anticipation of spring and this was my result.  Just adore font in this birthday sentiment from Poppy Birthday, and used the Loopy Blooms die set (which just happens to be on sale right now over at the Verve Store) for my flower.

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

A busy weekend helping friends move and shuttling kids to and from activities.  I'm already looking forward to Spring Break when my son's soccer is over, other activities shut down for a few weeks and we get to enjoy a more relaxed schedule.

Thanks for popping by and hope you can play along with our Tall and Skinny sketch.

Challenges:  Butterflies and Flowers


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Poppy Birthday (Verve Stamps), Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Kraft (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink:  Black and VersaMark  
Accessories:  Loopy Bloom Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Corner Rounder (Marvy), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Masculine Birthday a la Viva La Verve

This weeks Viva La Verve Sketch is brought to us by Sarah and it also has an inspiration photo. You can use just the sketch, just the photo or both, so lots of flexibility.

This time round I just focused on the sketch.  In reality I got going on my card and totally forgot about the inspiration picture - yah....was that kind of day...brain just didn't function at full speed LOL! 

Regardless, I am happy with the outcome.  Thought of a masculine card right away and the Say Cheese Simple Stories papers were perfect and I couldn't resist using the chicken wire embossing folder again - love that thing!  The sentiment is the Birthday To You Plain Jane and I used a teeny bit of the star Scalloped Trim Trio die at the top to balance things off.  This will no doubt end up being my son, hubby or brother's birthday card.

You don't have to complete all the sketches to entered to win the $100 Verve Stamps gift certificate, but the more sketches you enter the more chances you have of winning. 

In addition, Verve has a sale going on right now - you can check out all the details here.

Enjoy the sketch and have a fabulous weekend.


 
 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Birthday To You Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Say Cheese (Simple Stories), Kraft, Bashful Blue (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Starry Die, Scalloped Trim Trio Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Circles (Lil' Inker Designs), Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Cuttblebug), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #229 - Inspiration Challenge

This week's inspiration challenge is brought to us by Lisa and I just love those painted spools and the fabulous colour combination!  So many wonderful ways you can go with this inspiration photo.

Since I have been working at hubby's office all week, stamping time is very short so today's card is a "cheater card"....   I immediately thought of Stampin' Ups Season of Friendship set and it was a perfect match to the trees with the birds in them.   Think this is the fastest card I have ever made!  Nothing like taking an inspiration photo literally!

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our February Guest Designer Melissa Hubert, 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.  

Down time this weekend will only consist of Sunday afternoon as some friends are moving and we will be helping them unpack so they can get settled quickly.  Always remember how much I appreciated it when friends helped me move, so it will be a joy to have someone else be able to enjoy that same feeling :)

Have a fabulous weekend!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Seasons of Friendship (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Kraft, White (Stampin' Up),  
Ink:  Black, Sage Shadow, Only Orange (Stampin' Up)   
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs), Dimensionals  

Curtain Call Cozy Quilt Reminder

We are half way through the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge entitled Cozy Quilt and Lil' Inkers Designs is our sponsor.

I absolutely adore their stitched rectangles, circles and wonderful Of The Heart die set...happy sigh...not to mention a lot of their other goodies that I have on my wish list :)

For my card I dipped into MME's The Sweetest Things pack again as the colours are ever so perfect for this inspiration photo.  A row of stitched hearts and two of the wonderful sentiments from the matching Of The Heart stamp set and I was good to go.


You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge.  You have until February 25th 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:   Of The Heart (Lil' Inker Designs)
Paper:   The Sweetest Thing (My Mind's Eye)   
Ink:  Black  
Accessories:  Of The Heart Die Set and Stitched Circles (Lil' Inker Designs), Scalloped Edge Punch (Stampin' Up), Dimensionals 

Retro Sketch #122 A Little Bit Late

I have seen many wonderful cards using this sketch so thought I would give it a try.

I just got some MME papers from their new Cut and Paste collection, and this paper brought a baby card to mind so I went with it.  My first attempt didn't make me happy so I dressed it up a bit for round two and am much happier with the outcome.

Since I am craving spring, out came my Verve Flutterby die - any excuse to use this die LOL!  The sentiment is from MFT's Happy Hello's dynamics which Debbie was ever so kind to send me - still lovin' my goodies, Debbie, hugs!!  Since I fudged the top part of the sketch a bit, I felt it needed a little "grounding" so I added a sentiment from Verve's Small Phrases set.

To keep things real, here is a picture of my first card.

Hoping you agree with my decision LOL!   Entering this into a new challenge called Butterflies and Flowers - hello!!  Two of my favorite things to use on cards :)

Thanks for popping by today!

Challenges:  Butterflies and Flowers


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up),  
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Flutterby and Scalloped Trim Trio Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Happy Hello Dynamics (My Favorite Things), Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, White Half Pearls, Dimensionals   

Mojo Monday #333

Time for another Mojo Monday sketch and this one allows for a great use of patterned papers.

Since Valentine's Day is now over, time for hearts go to the back burner (for a while anyway as I just love using hearts on cards) and flowers and butterflies get to take center stage.  Happy times as I just love using both!

Papers are from MME's A Mother's Love and the sentiment is from Verve's Lean On Me (adore the big, bold sentiments in this set!).  Out came my Flutterby die and the leaves on the olive panel are from Bloom and Grow.  Think this card will be going to my daughter.  High school is such a tough time for girls and this will be an encouragement for her to not to try to be anyone she is not, but to simply be herself and grow into the person she is meant to be.  For the most part she is very good at doing just that, but I'll have this in reserve for a time when she doesn't feel good about herself.

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

Watched my son's soccer game in the pouring rain on Saturday, and I mean pouring!  For all the snow the East Coast is getting we are getting the liquid version over here on the West Coast!  The rest of the weekend was spent watching a ton of the Olympics -- yes I'm an Olympic junkie!  Canada's athletes are making me proud and it brings back many fun memories from when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010.

Cried buckets when Alexander Bilodeau repeated his gold medal win in the Men's Moguls and then ran over to give his biggest fan, his brother with cerebral palsy, a huge hug.  Then he once again gave credit to his brother for being the motivating factor for his achievements.  Lots of other fabulous highlights as athletes push themselves to be the best they can be.  Love it!!  Needless to say, the house cleaning can wait LOL!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Challenges:  Butterflies and Flowers


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Lean On Me, Bloom and Grow (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  A Mother's Love (My  Mind's Eye), Old Olive, Cool Caribbean, Kraft (Stampin' Up),  
Ink:  Black and VersaMark  
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Circles (Lil' Inkers Designs), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), 5/8" Red Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Black and White Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals  

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Cozy Quilt

This week's Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge is entitled "Cozy Quilt"  and our sponsor is Lil' Inker Designs!  The LEAD of this challenge will receive a gift certificate to spend at the Lil' Inker Designs store!  

 

I just fell in love with these cute, stitched heart dies by Lil' Inkers (even though you can't really see the stitching in the picture) and had to use them!   MME's The Sweetest Thing papers were used for the colours as the patterns were similar to the ones in the inspiration photo.  I created a "heart quilt", added a stitched border with Lil' Inkers stitchedd rectangles to mimic a quilt and finished things off by adding the sentiment.

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 as well as our two guest designer samples!  Should you wish more details on the Curtain Call Crew's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.  

Cozy Quilt Designers

Suzanne Dahlberg, Lil' Inker Designs

Amber Kroening

Amy Kolling

Amy Tsuruta

Barb Murphy

Gayatri Murali

Kim Singdahlsen

Laurie Willison

Marisa Ritzen

Maureen Plut

Monika Davis

Sheri Gilson

Sarah Gough

Stacey Schafer

Tenia Nelson

Tracey McNeely

You have until February 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 February 28h.

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Of The Heart (Lil' Inker Designs)
Paper:  The Sweetest Thing (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Of The Heart and Stitched Mats Rectangles Dies (Lil' Inkers), Charming Banner Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #228 - Colour Challenge

This week's hostess is Sharyn and she has this fabulous photo for our colour challenge this week.  I decided to go with a rainbow theme and bring out the butterflies as these colours just made me happy :)

This week's Freshly Made Sketch was a great fit for what I had in mind.  I used Lil' Inkers stitched circle dies (love these!)  for a bit of texture on the circles and even managed to find some pink, gingham paper for my background.  A happy coincidence was the sentiment banner.  It was left over from another project and somehow managed to fall across the card while I was working on it.  I loved the look of the vertical banner and decided to use it.  A little freelancing on the sketch, but hopefully the FMS police are okay with it wink, wink.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our February Guest Designer Melissa Hubert, 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.  

Cuing up for a very wet weekend - ugh!!  As fate would  have it, my son has two soccer games this weekend so it's going to be very soggy on the sidelines -- double ugh!  Think we'll come home, dry off, and warm up by snuggling on the couch as a family as we watch the Olympics -- go team Canada!!


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Words Cannot Express (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Real red, Wild Wasabi, Taken With Teal, Lovely Lilac (Stampin' Up),  
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Stitched Circles (Lil' Inkers), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Twine (My Favorite Things), Black Half Pearls (Michael's), Button, Dimensionals 

Happy Valentine's Day!

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day everyone ((hugs))!!   May you feel loved and appreciated by your special someone, and if you don't have a romantic special someone, may you know your friends hold you close to their heart.

This week's VLV Sketch is created by Jen Shults.   Oh how I love her sketches!  I thought I was done with Valentine's Day cards, but alas, today is Valentine's day, so I just had to make one more to celebrate today :)

The sentiment is from Verve's newest release entitled More Than Love.  This set has some fabulous sentiments and Julee has once again created a wonderful mix of fonts for the sentiments. The papers are from MME's Love Me pad and I used the Heart Quartet and Wavy Hearts die sets.

You don't have to complete all the sketches to entered to win the $100 Verve Stamps gift certificate, but the more sketches you enter the more chances you have of winning. 

Enjoy the sketch and have a fabulous weekend.

 
 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   More Than Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Basic Grey, Real Red, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Bling, Black and Silver Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #332

Today's Mojo Monday sketch was created by Debbie.  Love using tags on cards and with my love of hearts, this sketch was great fun to work with.

I use my beloved Jotted Heart die and the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio set, two of my favorite dies for sure!  The sentiment is from Love Notes and believe it or not, it's the first time it has seen ink - eeek!  Glad I remedied that!  Did a little recycling by using the punched out hearts from the scalloped trim die above the sentiment on my tag.  A twine bow and some buttons called it a card.

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

Enjoyed a much more relaxing weekend and today is Family Day so we are enjoying hanging out together today :)   Sure to be some Wii Sports challenges and if all goes well, a sushi dinner - yum! 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Challenges:  Simon Says 
                   The Pink Elephant

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Love Notes (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Yours Truly (Echo Park), Basic Grey (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)  
Accessories:  Jotted Heart and Scalloped Trim Trio Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Tag Die and Button Dies (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), 5/8" Grey Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Twine, Button, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #227 - Technique Challenge

This week's challenge is a technique challenge brought to us by Sue V.  Sue has chosen Inked Die Cuts as seen on Becca's blog over at Amazing Paper Grace.

I have never done this technique so it was fun to give it a try.  Thankfully I had some gold and silver inks that worked as they are the only pigment inks I own!  The gold was a bit dry so I had to improvise by touching up the border, but where there is a will there is a way :)

Originally I wanted to make a card with the Olympic rings as a tribute to the Winter Olympics starting today, but didn't have the right inks so had to go with silver and gold.  That combination screams wedding card so that is the way I went.  The button is "supposed" to be gold but is actually a bit on the bronzy side and I was hoping to be able to sneak it by the camera but it didn't work, so just imagine it as gold rather than the bronzy/rust colour it photographed as.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our January  Guest Designer Melissa Hubert, 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.

Not sure if my son's soccer game will be a go or not as it is nasty cold out there - well for us wimpy West Coasters anyway LOL!  Otherwise, needing a down weekend after an insanely busy last weekend and current week.  Us introverts need our down time and I'm starting to twitch due to lack of it LOL! 

Have a great weekend and hope you can play along.


Challenge:  Simon Says 


 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Elegant Greetings (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Silver  
Ink:  Black, Silver, Gold (Stampin' Up)  
Accessories:  Labels 17 and Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots  Embossing Folder (Provo Kraft), Crimper (Fiskars), 5/8" Sheer Silver Ribbon and Gold Half Pearls (Michael's), Bling (Dollar Store) Dimensionals 

Curtain Call Cuppa Cocoa Reminder Post

We are half way through the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge entitled Cuppa Cocoa and My Favorite Things is our sponsor.

I used on of Lucy's sketches for my card and repeated the colour combination of blue and brown.  I added dots to pick up the marshmallows along with My Favorite Things chevron and tag die (love this large tag die!).  The latte cup and sentiment are from Verve's Better With You and Holiday Treats sets.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge.  You have until February 10th 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!

Challenge:  Simon Says 



 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Christmas Treats, Better With You (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Kraft, Night of Navy, Early Espresso, Brocade Blue (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts (A Cut Above by Verve), Seeing Spots and Swiss Dots Embossing Folders (Provo Craft), Tag and Chevron Dies (My Favorite Things), Crimper (Fiskars), 5/8" Navy Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's), Bling, Twine, Dimensionals 

Diva Dare ~ February 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Perk Up" and the dare is to make a card or project to perk someone up, whether it’s with a warm beverage or just a heartfelt sentiment to brighten someone’s day.

As fate would have it, Julee has a "perk up" sentiment in the Better With You set so I just "had" to use it as it fit the challenge title to a tee.  The papers are from the All Spice paper pack by My Mind's Eye and I used the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio die set.  Love paper piecing this coffee cup, and as usual, doing so had me craving a latte - bad!!!   May have to remedy that today wink, wink.

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

Challenge:  Simon Says

What's In It?
Stamps:   Better With You (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  All Spice (My Mind's Eye), Always Artichoke, Kraft (Stampin' Up), Starbucks Sleeve
Ink: Black 
Accessories:   Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Seeing Spots and Chicken Wire Embossing Folders (Provo Craft), Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals