Mojo Monday #337

Loved working with this week's Mojo Monday sketch by Teresa.  So many wonderful ways you can go with it.

I'm still smitten with Verve's latest release, Better Together.  Simply adore the sentiments and mix of fonts Julee has put together for this set.  Hmmm, hmmmm good :)

A scrap of Basic Grey paper was the springboard for my card.  Haven't used these flowers from Bloom and Grow and the matching Floral Circle dies for what seems forever so it was good to dig them out again.  Love the Dreamy Leaves dies which match the leaf images from Dream Big, and I just "had" to use the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio set as I never get enough of it.  Managed to find a peachy coloured button in my stash to finish things off.

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

We had another very wet weekend, and it was definitely not fun weather for the soccer tournament my son's team was in.  Four games in two days in the pouring rain is not my idea of a good time!  The boys are okay as they are running around playing and keeping warm, but as for the spectators, let's just say it is far from ideal.  Oh the "joys" of being a soccer mom - not!  Life and times when you live on the West Coast LOL! 

Kids are off for two weeks for Spring Break and I am looking forward to spending time with them, as well as enjoying a slower schedule, not to mention being able to sleep in on days I'm not working!  Now all we need is the sun to show up!

Have a great day and enjoy the sketch! 

 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Bloom and Grow, Dream Big, Better Together (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Basic Grey, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up), VersaMark   
Accessories:  Dreamy Leaves, Floral Circles, Scalloped Trim Trio Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Cross My Heart Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine, Button, Brown Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals  

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Farm Fresh

** Second post of the day.  For the Verve Release Hop please see my first post ** 

This week's Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge is entitled "Farm Fresh"  and our sponsor is Taylored Expressions!

The LEAD of this challenge will receive their choice of TWO PETITE SETS from Taylored Expressions!

I chose this fabulous set from Taylored Expressions called Light As A Feather.  Yeah!  I finally have some feathers and feather dies in my collection!

The sketch is from  I Heart Sketches and I immediately pulled out my chicken wire embossing folder - oh how I love this thing!  Such a fun pattern to add to cards and it fit the "farm" theme perfectly.  Chose my colours for the feathers from the inspiration photo and off set them against the kraft.  Added this fun sentiment and a few extra black half pearls for a little something as the focal panel was a bit plain. Finished things off with some orange twine and a button.

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. 

Farm Fresh Designers

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 March 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 March 31st.

Thanks for popping by and hope you can play along.

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Light as a Feather (Taylored Expressions)
Paper:  Kraft, So Saffron, Baroque Burgundy, Mellow Moss, Brilliant Blue, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Light as a Feather Dies (Taylored Expressions), Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Edge Punch (Stampin' Up), Twine, Button, Black Half Pearls, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Verve Stamps March Diva Inspiration Hop

It's the 5th of the month and that means it is time for Verve's March Diva Inspirations Hop.   This month's challenge is entitled "Spring Has Sprung".  It's time to ditch the winter blues and create a card that sings Spring using inspirational quotes, pretty colours and florals or themes that celebrate new life.  Let us know what spring means to you!   In addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

If you have come here from Stacey's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened on to the hop, you can start from the top and work your way through (see hop list below). 

To me, Spring always means flowers.  After a long winter with little colour around, I always love seeing my crocuses and tulips pushing through the dirt and coming to full bloom.  Shortly thereafter, the cherry and magnolia tree come into bloom.  "Pink snow" covers our street when the cherry blossoms fall off and it is so pretty!  Oh how I love the signs of new life that burst forth in spring... happy sigh :)  

I just had to use MME's new Cut and Paste papers again.  This one in particulate is my favorite as it has flowers and polka dots.  The flower is from Dream Big, the wonderful leaf image is from Bloom and Grow and has the matching Elegant Leaves die.  Where there are flowers, there are usually butterflies (at least in my card making world LOL), so my Flutterby die came to good use once again.  I finished things off with some blue seam binding from the Spring Fling ribbon collection.

One lucky commenter along the hop will win a prize, so make sure to leave a comment on each of the participating Diva's posts to increase your chances of winning!  You can check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines. 

Below is the full hop list if you need it, otherwise just hop on over to Laurie's blog.

	1. Amy	11. Julee
	2. Anya	12. Teresa
	3. Betty	13. Stacey
	4. Jessica	14. Marisa
	5. Karen	15. Laurie
	6. Sankari	16. Maureen
	7. Sarah	17. Jen
	8. Sony	18. Christyne
	9. Susan	19. Charmaine
	10. Tiffany	20. Andrea

In addition, Julee has a spring cleaning sale going on over at the Verve Store right now!  Los of great deals and 50% off sixty retiring sets! 

Enjoy the hop and hope you can play along with us!

 

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Dream Big, Bloom and Grow (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow, Rose Red (Stampin' Up) 

Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Flutterby and Elegant Leaves Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Crimper (Fiskars), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Mojo Monday #335

It's the first Monday of the month which means it is contest time over at the Mojo Monday blog and we have this wonderful sketch by Julee to work with.  One winner will be chosen for every fifty entries so come and play along for a chance to win some Verve!

The papers I chose are from Fancy Pants' Park Bench, and I used the Loopy Bloom die for the flower and the sentiment is from Big Wish.  Just realized I used the same die on last weeks card - sorry about that!  With spring on the way I have flowers on the mind LOL!

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

The rain has finally come and the remainder of our eleven inches of snow is quickly disappearing.  Was beautiful while it lasted, the kids had a ball playing in it, but not it's time to look forward to spring!

Have a fabulous day!

Challenges:  Seize the Birthday
                   The Pink Elephant




 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Big Wish (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Park Bench (Fancy Pants), Black (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Loopy Bloom Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, 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 

Verve's More Than Love Release Hop

Welcome to Verve's More Than Love Release Hop!  Over the weekend, Verve Stamps released a brand new set and ribbon collection, and today we're hopping to share our first looks at these lovely new products!

If you have come here from Laurie's blog, you are right on track.  If happened to stumble across this hop, just refer to the hop list below so you can get caught up.



Sorry for the dark picture.  I didn't get home in time to use natural daylight like I usually do.  For my card I chose to use this wonderful sentiment from More Than Love as it is oh so true.  It's amazing how you come to life when you know you are loved, and how you can deal with what life throws your way much more easily when you have someone who is there for you.   Several other fabulous sentiments in a wonderful mix of Verve fonts along with two heart images complete is wonderful set.

Julee made a gorgeous card using last week's Tall and Skinny Mojo Monday sketch flipped it on its side, and I just loved the look of that orientation and wanted to try it myself.  Kept to clean lines and thanks to a dear friend, I gleefully used my new chicken wire embossing folder - love it!!  The heart is from the Wavy Hearts die set and I crimped it for a bit texture and added a button with a twine bow.

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

	Hop List: 1. Julee 2. Amber 3. Andrea 4. Charmaine 5. Christyne 6. Janelle 7. Jen 8. Laurie 9. Marisa 10. Stacey 11. Teresa

Next in line is Stacey who is sure to have a fabulous creation for you!  Enjoy the hop!


 
What's In It?
Stamps:   More Than Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Yours Truly (Echo Park), Basic Grey (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities, (Spellbinders), Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Corner Rounder, Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Heart Sequins, Ribbon (Micheal's Dollar Bin), Dimensionals 

Mojo Monday #331

It's the first Monday of the month so that means it's contest week over at the Mojo Monday blog!  For every 50 entries (up to a maximum of seven) there will be a random winner drawn to win a Verve set of their choice.

I literally used the sketch for my card.  Still loving MME's Love Me papers and was giddy to use this brand new heart embossing folder a dear friend gave me.   The Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet die sets provided the hearts, and the sentiment is from Love Notes.

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

We had a busy but wonderful weekend.  Got to see Captain Phillips with some friends and Tom Hanks did an absolutely amazing job in that movie!!  Very  intense movie, but so, so good.  Then a Superbowl party at a friend's house, and soooo happy Seattle won!!  Go Seahawks!!

Have a great day and can't wait to see your creations!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Love Notes (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Real Red, Going Grey, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Cross My Heart Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug),  Corner Rounder, Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Bling and Silver Half Pearls (Micheal's), Dimensionals 

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Cuppa Cocoa

Time for a new Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!  This challenge is entitled "Cuppa Cocoa" and our sponsor is My Favorite Things.  The LEAD for this challenge will receive a $20 gift certificate to their store!

Loved the blue and brown colour combo in the inspiration picture so that was my starting point.  Verve's Better With You set provided the hot chocolate mug, of which the bottom and handle are paper pieced.  A stamped heart image and a little red sequin heart provided a pop of colour and the twine bow balanced things off nicely.

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.

Jody Morrow, MFT Designer

Heather Jensen, Guest Designer

Amber Kroening

Amy Kolling

Amy Tsuruta

Barb Murphy

Gayatri Murali

Kim Singdahlsen

Laurie Willison

Marisa Ritzen

Maureen Plut

Monika Davis

Sarah Gough

Sheri Gilson

Stacey Schafer

Tenia Nelson

Tracey McNeely

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.  The Lead and Show Stoppers will be announced on February 14th.

 










 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Better With you (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), Bordering Blue, Night of Navy, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, Bordering Blue, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Circle Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Heart Blocks Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Button, Twine, Brown Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #226 - Sketch Challenge

This week's challenge is brought to us by Maria and it is the perfect sketch for a Valentine's Day card.

I'm still enjoying my MME Love Me papers and used them on this card.  The number idea came from one of the papers I used (though it is covered up) and the sentiment is from Verve's Stronger Love and the crimped heart is one of the dies from Wavy Hearts.  Finished it off with some polka dotted ribbon for good measure :)

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. 

Have a great weekend and hope you can play along.


 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Real Red (Stampin' Up), 
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Heart and Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Swiss Dots  Embossing Folder (Provo Kraft), Crimper (Fiskars), Polka Dotted Ribbon (Dollar Store), Buttons, Twine, Heart Sequins, Black Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dots, Dimensionals     

Just Us Girls #225 - Photo Inspiration

I was so excited when I found this inspiration collage to use for this week's Just Us Girls challenge.  Love the colour combination and of course, all the hearts :)  Just click on the image if you want to get a better view or head on over to the JUGS blog where a larger picture is posted.

I loved Jen's Deconstructed Sketch so used it for my card after finding some papers that worked perfectly.  Out came Verve's Stronger Love set for the sentiment and I used a mix of the Heart Quartet and Wavy Hearts die sets.   Picked up the polka dots via the paper and the embossed background and the pink stripes on the pillow on one of my hearts.  Had so much fun making this card and can't wait to give it to my daughter for Valentine's Day.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our January  Guest Designer Geraldine Bailly, 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.
 
Busy week coming up.  My daughter has three provincial exams to write next week and my son will be home as he doesn't have any yet.  That means I have to find things to keep him busy and not sitting in front of the TV or computer so I think we will go round two on the basement and make a few Sally Ann runs with what we no longer need.   Sure he will love hearing what I have in store for him NOT!  Definitely going to have to come up with a nice treat for him once we are all done.

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

Challenge:  The Pink Elephant



 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps), By Definition (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Pink Strips, Pink Small Dots (Making Memories),  Red Hearts (Recollections), Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up), 
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Kraft), Pink 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's Ribbon Bin), Buttons, Twine, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals   

Mojo Monday #329

Teresa has provided this week's Mojo Monday sketch and once again it gives you all sorts of wonderful options.

I decided to make a masculine Valentine's Day card as I will need one for my son and one for my hubby.   The sentiment is from Stronger Love and the hearts are from the Heart Quartet die.  Just about killed me not putting ribbon on this card so I passified myself by using silver half pearls LOL!

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.  
 

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

Had much nicer weather for my son's soccer game this weekend (aka:  no torrential rain), and the family birthday dinner was great.  Always good to gather with family, especially when mom is cooking :) 

Have a great day!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Pet Hearts (Queen & Co.), Love Story (Echo Park), Basic Grey, Going Grey, Real Red (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Heart Quartet Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Arch Lattice Punch (Martha Stewart), Silver Half Pearls, Dimensionals  

The Card Concept

What a fun challenge Lesley has thought up over at The Card Concept.  Not only that, I can finally put a name to my style thanks to her descriptions!  Clean and layered it is :)

Loved the colour combination for this challenge and I pulled out some of my favorite tools to create this card.  This sentiment from Shining Star was perfect for my need of a sympathy card, because as God's promises give great comfort in times of deep sorrow.  

The sympathy card is for the wife of a wonderful man whose memorial service I will be attending this Saturday.  It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of this amazing man who loved life, loved people, and loved God with all his heart and soul.  Esophageal cancer that was misdiagnosed as acid reflux by his doctor early last year, claimed his life a few short months after proper diagnosis this Fall...    

He was one of the pastors at a church I attended for many years and yet he didn't stay in the comforts of the Western world, but followed a call on his life to work with an orphanage in the Ukraine.  For the past ten years or so, he ran the orphanage, which provided a home for orphans of all ages. He also didn't want to "lose them" once they were adults so he added a trade school to the orphanage so the older orphans could stay on longer, learn a viable trade, and by doing so have a new lease on life in a society that doesn't do much in the way of support for orphans. 

In addition, the trade school helped fund some of the costs of running the orphanage, so those who grew up in the orphanage were able to give back to the place that gave them a new lease on life.  Not only that, he was also the man who married us almost eighteen years ago.  He will be dearly missed indeed...   On the bright side, I know it will be a wonderful memorial giving testimony to his life and the many ways God used him to touch the lives of others.  Legacy.   That's what it's all about, and it just so happens to be my word for 2014. 

Thanks for popping in :)

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Bloom and Grow (Verve Stamps), French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen   
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Elegant Leaves Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Flower Die (PTI), Martha Stewart Punch, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Crimper (Fiskars), 5/8" Pink Sheer Ribbon (Michael's),  Pink Liquid Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, 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