Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Beginnings Reminder

We are half way through the current Beginnings Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and this time round I decided to go with the top two pictures of the inspiration photo - honing in on the blue, kraft and cream combo.

I used last week's Freshly Made Sketch and added some flowers - surprise, surprise {grin}.  To boot, my card has absolutely no stamping on it!  Ahhh...the power of the die cut LOL!  Would be lost without them.    

If you haven't played along yet, we would love to have you join us!  Plus, the LEAD for this challenge gets to join us as a Guest Designer in a future challenge.

Back to the grind after a very relaxing weekend and thankfully still enjoying left over lamb hubby made for Easter dinner - hmmm, hmmm good!  So blessed to have a husband who loves to cook and is very good at it too :)

Wishing you a fabulous day and I look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.

Challenges: The Paper Players
                    The Pink Elephant
 

 

What's In It?
Paper:  Going Grey, Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, Kraft, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen   
Accessories:  Doily Die (Top Dog Dies), Word Die (PTI), Pretty Posie Dies (MFT), Twine, Button, Cream Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Baby Card

Was using this fun Freshly Made Sketches for a baby card I needed for a shower I attended this past weekend.  The couple doesn't know the sex of the child so I had to go with non gender specific colours, and kraft and yellow won out.

Love this raffie from Stampin' Up's Wild About You set.  Always makes me smile :)   Embossed it with clear embossing powder so the image would show up and outlined the eye and mouth with black marker so they stood out.  A bit of ribbon around the raffie's neck for a pop of colour and some embossed dots in the background for a bit of texture and I was good to go.

Thanks for popping in and enjoy your day!



What's In It?
Stamps:   Wild About You, Fancy Flexible Phrases (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  So Saffron, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, VersaMark    
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Clear Embossing Powder (Michael's), Black Half Pearls, Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals

Freshly Made Sketch #170

I am late for the sketch once again, but had an idea in my mind and just had to use it!

Went with one of my favorite colour combos of pink and grey, and since I simply adore this PTI butterfly die and we have had a gloriously warm week weather wise here, it feel like spring, I had to use it!

As anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time can attest to, you don't have to twist my arm much at all to get me to add a butterfly to a card.   I paired it with this Top Dog doily die and was smitten.  Added the die cut sentiment, used a PTI impression plate on the grey for a bit of texture (though it doesn't show up in the photo) and finished it off with some silver pearls.  Nothing like a quick and easy card - though in reality it wasn't overly quick as I was trying a bunch of different things before settling for this combo!

For any followers who are on the East Coast, I hope you weathered the blizzard and have shovelled your way out from under all that snow!

Getting my 12th man game face on for Sunday's Superbowl game - Go Seahawks!!! 

Challenges:  The Pink Elephant

 




What's In It?
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Going Grey  (Stampin' Up)   
Accessories:   Doily Die (Top Dog), Butterfly Die and Linen Impression Plate (PTI), Happy Hello Die (My Favorite Things), Silver Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Freshly Made Sketches

Today's card is a blatant CASE of this fabulous card by Kim.  I loved her take on the Freshly Made Sketch using a neutral striped paper and pops of colour in the flowers.  Oh, and the touch of embossing in the negative circle - fabulous!

I kept the same neutral background, though mine had a bit more of a graphic feel to it based on the paper I used, and then added the pops of red for colour with my double hearts and added button to complete my "rule of three".  I also embossed my negative circle for some added dimension.   Thanks for the inspiration, Kim!

Hard to believe I celebrated another year of wisdom gained on Wednesday.  How did I get this old LOL!  Not sure, but loving each day I've been given - carpe diem!  Feeling very blessed with two amazing teenagers, a loving husband, a fabulous part time job, and of course, this tiny part of cyber space that brings me great joy.  Lots of wonderful things to celebrate besides age wink, wink!

Thanks for brightening my days, and I look forward to sharing another year of card making with you :)

Challenge:  Simon Says 
                   The Pink Elephant

 

What's In It?
Stamps:   Rubber Soul 
Paper:  Something Wonderful (Teresa Collins), Going Grey (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:   Black 
Accessories:   Heart Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Heart Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 4

Welcome to Day 4, the last day of Verve's July 2014 Spotlight Hops!   If you have come here from Chaitali's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened upon the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, July 11th.   

For today's hop, the Divas are showcasing their choice of any of the newly released sets.  In addition, there is a big prize for today's hop!  You can find the details below :)

For today's card I used the new 2 Corinthians 12:9 Plain Jane.  Adore this verse and chose to showcase it with a doily and some wonderful Lime Twist papers that I have been hoarding for some time.  Trying desperately to make a conscious effort to work through what I already have!  Some twine and a few sequins from the Pastel Sequin Mix wrapped things up nicely.



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

Tuesday, 7/11/14
Today's Prize: The ENTIRE release!

1. Julee	9. Charmaine
2. Stacey	10. Jen
3. Maureen	11. Sheri {Guest}
4. Chaitali	12. Laurie
5. Marisa	13. Andrea
6. Teresa	14. Amber
7. Kay {Guest}	15. Christyne
8. Janelle

Time to hop over to Teresa's blog to see her fabulous creation.  You can also hop over to the Verve Store to check out the new sets and partake in a little retail therapy wink, wink :)

What's In It?
Stamps:   2 Corinthians 12:9 Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye), Kraft (LSS)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Doily Die (Top Dog Dies), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Pastel Sequin Mix (Verve Stamps), Twine, Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #232 - Colour Challenge

This week's challenge is a colour challenge and Cheryl put together this wonderful pallet to work with.

The colours had me thinking baby for some reason so I pulled out some old SU papers with these colours and had fun pairing them with last week's Freshly Made Sketch.  The sentiment and cute elephant are from Verve's To The Moon (a must have baby set).

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.

Spring Break is upon us, which means I get my kids all to myself for two weeks :)  This weekend my son's team is in a soccer tournament and the weather does not look promising - ugh!  Then it will be a mix of hanging out, swimming, visiting friends, and a quick trip to the Island to visit hubby's parents.   The perfect mix.  Hopefully we get some sunshine along the way!

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   To The Moon (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Stampin' Up Designer Paper, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Star Die (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, 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 

Curtain Call Back To School Reminder Post

 

Today I'm posting another Curtain Call - Back To School challenge card.  I just love Verve's Teachers Count set, and this was the perfect opportunity to use it once again.  

I recently purchased Echo Park's Paper and Glue paper pad and couldn't wait to use it as it is a wonderful school themed pad.  I used a Freshly Made's very first sketch and went with an alphabet/writing theme this time round.  Of course, an apple or two and a notebook edge were a given.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge and you have until Thursday, September 14th at 8:00 a.m. CST to link up your creation for a chance to win some goodies from The Alley Way Stamps! 

We are back into soccer season, so I'm off to the soccer field to watch my son play and be a loud voice on the sidelines wink, wink :)



What's In It?
Stamps:  Teachers Count (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Paper and Glue (Echo Park), Kraft, Night of Navy, real red (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Notebook Die (My Favorite Things), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Red Half Pearl, Dimensionals

Curtain Call Nautical Encore

Loving the nautical theme over on the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and I also love Verve's Strong Anchor set, so just had to make another card for the challenge :)

I used this older Freshly Made Sketch as I loved the banner tabs along the bottom and it was the perfect size for the large sentiment from Strong Anchor.

I once again focused on the navy, yellow and the anchor.  The sailor's knot got covered by the anchor, but it is there, honest!  The banner tabs were made by using the Pennant Trim die and then cutting them apart so I could squish them closer together.  The rope image is stamped above and below the sentiment on the navy, but I couldn't capture it in the photograph.  All in all, a fun, quick and easy card to make.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Curtain Call Inspirations Challenge and have until Thursday, July 25th at 8:00 a.m. CST to link up your creation for a chance to win Verve's Strong Anchor and matching Nautical die set! 



What's In It?
Stamps: Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: Night of Navy, So Saffron, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories: Nautical Die Set and Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Twine, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #193 - Colour Challenge

 

Nancy is this week's Just Us Girl's hostess and she has chosen a wonderful mix of colours to work with:  harvest gold, aqua, kraft, and white.  Yummy!

I didn't have any aqua or harvest gold paper so I had to do a bit of subbing, but I think it worked okay.  Pulled out fun Freshly Made Sketch which I have been wanting to use and went to work.  

Verve's Petals and Stems, one of my very first Verve sets, was needing some love so out it came.  A bit of twine and a tag for a little something and I was good to go.  Quick and easy card.

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so 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 chosen as the Chic of the Week. 

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




What's In It?
Stamps:  Petals and Stems (Verve Stamps), Tiny Tags (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Bashful Blue, So Saffron 
Accessories:  Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Twine (Twinery), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Freshly Made Gold

Had a little down time today so decided to make a card.  I combined this week's Freshly Made Sketch with this week's Paper Players challenge to use silver or gold on your card.  Bonus for me, I used both :)

Just love this tree die by Verve and the 3D trees I have seen in blog land using it, so I decided to make one for this card.  I punched it out three times, scored each one down the middle, folded them, and then glued them together to form the tree.  Then I created a snow bank by free cutting a rolling hill and adding glitter to it for snow.  A few touches of silver twine and my Christmas card was complete :)

Sorry about the dark picture :(    It is a horribly, dark and dreary day here today.  Great stamping weather, but not good for picture taking!

I want to sneak in another card before I have to vacuum the house and fold some laundry so better get going.  Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday :)



What's In It?
Stamps: Peace on Earth (Verve)
Paper: Gold, White
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Tree Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Silver Twines (Michael's), Glue Pen, Glitter, Corner Rounder, 

Freshly Coloured Paper

 
Playing along with this week's Freshly Made Sketches and combining it with this weeks' Colour Q challenge. A bonus challenge was the Paper Player challenge so this card is a three for :)

With such wonderful colours reminding me of a blue sky and some leaf colours, I pulled out my beloved maple leaf die once again.  I also flipped the sketch in order to accommodate the maple leaves.  Like my blue tree bark LOL!  Needed the texture so I went for it!

I also had great fun using my new banner die from Verves's recent Anniversary release.  Love this die!!

Another fabulous day here on the West Coast.  Lots of sunshine and the kids are settling into school nicely.  The routine of early mornings and busy days has begun LOL!

Have a great day and thanks for popping by today!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps: Leaf Prints (PTI), Text Objects (Verve) 
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Early Espresso 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Leaf Print Dies (PTI), Wood Grain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Buttons, Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above By Verve), Mat Stack 5 Die (PTI), Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Freshly Made Colours

Loved this week's colour combo at the ColourQ.  The blues and olive are so striking together - hmmm, hmmm good :)  Paired them with this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

Decided to buck the masculine option and play with some more of my Verve flowers.  These are from the Dream Big set.  I fussy cut the two largest and then layered them.  The two butterflies were the finishing touch as the circle seemed a bit plain to me.

Yes, the flower and butterfly rut continues...sorry!  Just that time of year.  Take them while you can get them because soon enough I'll be using my beloved PTI maple leaf die all the time LOL!

Phew!  Survived yet another Sports Day!  The weather was absolutely perfect this year - warm but not too warm with a small breeze.  Kids had a great time, did my stint at the concession stand, took some pictures, and got to catch up with lots of parents I don't get to chat with very often (that's what happens when your kids get older and you don't all hang out in the playground after school any more).  Great fun was had by all and our Juneuary weather (it's the coldest June we have had here in about 45 years!) took a tiny vacation and we all got a bit sun kissed today :)

Wishing you all glorious weekend!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Dream Big (Verve)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Ink: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Black
Accessories:  Scalloped Border Punch (SU), Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Roses For "U"

Here's my kick at the can for this week's Freshly Made sketch.  Loved the simplicity of the sketch and had great fun going with one of my favorite colour combos:  pink, brown, kraft and celery.  This combo just makes my heart sing :)  

My on going addition to rolled roses provided me with a substitution for the ribbon on the sketch and my beloved "U" and Flutterby dies from Verve came out to play again.  Must say I am quite happy with the outcome and can't wait to send it to a friend for her birthday :)  One of my favorite things about this card making hobby - you can personalize the card to fit the person to a tee.  Think she'll be giddy when she receives this.

Another busy weekend in the making - never a dull moment around here this time of year!    Hope yours is an enjoyable one.

 

What's In It?
Stamps: French Script (SU)
Paper: Early Espresso, Kraft, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Rose Romance
Ink:  VersaMark
Accessories:  Lattice Embossing Folder (SU), U and Flutterby Dies (Verve), Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, Rolled Rose Die (MFT), Ribbon, Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals