Just Us Girls #238 - Photo Inspiration

It's Inspiration week over at Just Us Girls and Sue T. has provided this fun photo for to inspire us!  If you've been around my blog for any amount of time, you will know how much I love working with polka dots, and those polka dots in the photo were calling my name LOL!  I also pulled out the yellow, pink, green and touch of blue from the photo to use as the colours on my card.

Pulled out some MFT dies and my sorely neglected Labels 10 Nestability die.  Forgot how much I love this shape!  Verve's Lean On Me sentiment was a perfect fit for the remaining space and love how the large font makes it stand out against the flower.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with the last appearance of our April Guest Designer Lee Anne (who has done an amazing job as GD this month!), 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.

Thanks for popping by today and have a fabulous weekend!

Challenges:  Friday Mashup


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:  Lean On Me (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Love You More (Pebbles), Designer Series Paper, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Labels 10 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Leaf Filled Flourish and Pretty Posies Dies (My Favorite Things), Butterfly and Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #237 - Colour Challenge

It's colour challenge week and Sue V. has provided this fabulous colour combination for us to work with - love these colours together! 

MME's Six by Six papers provided my colours, even though they are more a peach and teal versus a true orange and blue...shhhhh ;)

 Love Lil' Inker's stitched circles as they add just that little something something, and the sentiment is from a set Debbie sent me which I just love (thanks again, Debbie!).  Keeping with the MFT theme, I used Pretty Posies and butterfly die too.  

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with the our April Guest Designer Lee Anne, 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 fabulous Easter weekend!


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:  Cheerful Blessings (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Six by Six (My Mind's Eye), Kraft, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Stitched Circles (Lil' Inkers), Pretty Posies, and Butterfly Dies (My Favorite Things), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

MFT Thanks

Love this week's MFT sketch. So many options for that big circle :)

I combined it with this week's Colour Throwdown as the colours screamed spring to me and spring means flower and butterflies to me so it was a perfect excuse to use Verve's new Surely Goodness and So Fluttery sets.

A nice, easy card that you can whip up and simply switch out the sentiment, depending on the occasion you need it for.

Thanks for popping by today, and I'll be back tomorrow with this week's Just Us Girls challenge.

Have a fabulous day and yeah for the weekend!!



What's In It?
Stamps: So Fluttery, Surely Goodness and Bloom and Grow (Verve) 
Paper: Kraft, Certainly Celery So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, VersaMark, Rose Romance 
Accessories: Goodness Flower Die, Flutterby Die and Dreamy Leaves Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle and Circlel Nesties, Swiss Dots and Seeing Spots Embossing Folders, Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Verve Sneak Peek Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

Welcome to the first day of our February 2013 Spotlight Hops!  Today we're shining our Verve spotlights on the new stamps Remember This, Calendar Countdown and Smile Plain Jane.  Each of the release team Divas below (including 4 brand new talented designers -- waving madly) has posted her first look at these new stamps today.  As you hop through the list below, you just might see some sneak peeks of new coordinating dies, so keep your eyes peeled!  Everything you see previewed along today's hop will be available in Verve's online store on Friday, February 22.

Today, I am showcasing the Smile Plain Jane and giving you a sneak peek from Calendar Countdown.    First up, my card for the Smile Plain Jane.
 

Just love the big, bold font and that fun YOU banner down the side.  I had a few ideas mulling around in my mind which caused me to performed my very first "surgery" on an acrylic stamp (eeeek!).  I cut off the "you banner" so I didn't have to hassle with inking issues.  As it turned out, my ideas didn't pan out the way I wanted them to...  But, no problem :)   I just stuck it back together and stamped away (gotta love acrylic stamps!).  My card also showcases some fabulous raspberry coloured seam binding which is part of the new Spring Fling seam binding package.  I haven't worked with much seam binding, but after using this one, I'm hooked!  It has a bit of weight to it, but not too much, and ties like a charm!

My second card features the Calendar Countdown set.

Since we have a load of September birthdays in the family, I decided to get a jump start on making a few.  I used one of the larger banner dies from the Banner Bundle Die Set, added the date and a little faux stitching.  A rolled rose and a rounded corner finished things off nicely.  Though I am far from a pro when it comes to CAS cards, I am quite happy with the outcome and I think the recipient I have in mind will like it too :)

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 all the prize details and deadlines.  Woohoo!  Time to get started.

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

Thanks for joining us today, and hope you'll come back tomorrow for Day 2!




 
           


Smile Plain Jane
Stamps: Smile Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: Lime Twist (My Mind's Eye), Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Lacy Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Heart Punch (Marvy), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Raspberry Seam Binding (Verve - Spring Fling Set), Button, Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Dimensionals
 
Calendar Countdown
Stamps: Calendar Countdown (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Bordering Blue, Sage Shadow
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Banner Bundle Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), Corner Rounder, Dimensionals

Casing Myself

Short and sweet today as it's a busy weekend coming up.  I decided to case myself and make a Mother's Day card.  My original card using an MFT sketch is here.  Swapped out the butterflies for a flower, changed the DP and added some ribbon.  Nice and easy :)

Think the hardest part of the weekend will be having to patiently wait for my new Verve to arrive LOL!  Can't wait to create with it next week :)  Have a fabulous weekend!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Amuse, Bloom and Grow (Verve) 
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Rose Romance, Pretty in Pink, Country Drive (Echo Park) 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Border Punch, PTI Flower Die, Verve Leaf Die, Crimper, Magenta Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Spring Has Spring

Loved this MFT sketch so decided to play along this week.  I found a scrap of this wonderful Pebbles paper and decided to use it to make a spring themed card as I can't wait for Spring  to arrive!!  Just planted primroses in the planter by my front door and my tulips are beginning to push through the ground so Spring is on my mind big time!

The paper has one of my favorite colour combos:  pink and green.  I'm still hooked on the Vintage Flower border punch by Martha Stewart and paired it with two of my other favorite addictions - lacy circle nesties and my beloved Verve Flutterby die.  Spring has definitely sprung in my craft room.  Now just need it to arrive outside :)

Off to teach Sunday School this morning and then we plan on having a relaxing day as a family.  Well..... maybe not all that relaxing as we can get pretty intense when it comes to certain Wii games, but good family fun none-the-less :)

Feeling better bit by bit too and for that I am extremely grateful!  Three week bugs and I don't get along very well LOL!    

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Amuse 
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Ever After Blushing Bride (Pebbles)
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Flutteby Die (Verve), Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties, Martha Stewart Vintage Flower Border PUnch, Silver Half Pearls, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensinoals

Celebrate the Season

I loved this week's MFT sketch - no skewed panels LOL.  It was on my my hit list  all week and I am just now getting to it.  A little "me time" as a break from all the work I'm doing for hubby, as well as a great excuse to make another Christmas card. 

Love this Fancy Pants "Brrr" paper - it's green (my favorite colour) and has lots of  snowflakes on it - score!  I gleefully used my Cuttlebug snowflake die for the big, burgundy snowflake, and after rejoicing in the fact there was no skewed panel on the sketch, I ended up creating one of my own - go figure LOL!

Thanks for popping in today.  Have to get this month's last Verve sketch done so I'll definitely be back before Thursday at midnight.

Until then, I'll be basking in the BC Lions football team's Grey Cup win (equivalent of the NFL Super Bowl) yesterday.  They played and won at home - can't get much better than than :)   



What's In It?
Stamps:  Amuse, Verve 
Paper: Fancy Pants (Brrr), Certainly Celery, Burgundy, Kraft 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Cuttlebug Snowflake Die, SU Scalloped Border Punch, Crimper, 1" Circle Punch, Script Embossing Folder, 5/8" Tan Grosgrain Ribbon, Buttons, Twine, Gold Cording, Gold Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals