Kind Words Expressed

Loved this CCMC sketch and decided to use it for this week's Play Date Cafe colour combo of black and white plus a splash of coral.  Love adding a pop of colour to a black and white card!

Kept things pretty CAS.  Pulled out the flower from Kind Words (love this flower!) and inked the "center" on each flower.  Added a sentiment from Words Can Not Express (which just happens to be on sale right now) and a coral button. Quick and easy.

With the kids on spring break, it may get a bit quieter her on the old blog as we will be out and about a fair amount, or working on a few projects we need to get done around the house.  Just hoping the weather cooperates and gives us a little bit of sunshine so we can enjoy being outside a bit.  But not to much sunshine or I'll have to mow my lawn LOL! 

Have a fabulous day, and I'll be back as soon as I can.



What's In It?
Stamps: Kind Words and Words Can Not Tell (Verve) 
Paper: Black and White 
Ink:  Black and Cameo Coral (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories: Scalloped Square and Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Button, Glue Dot, 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

Mashed Up Play Date

The vertical orientation of this sketch wasn't working for me so I flipped it.  Figured if Diva Moe can do it so can I {grin}.

I combined it with this week's Play Date Cafe colour challenge and The Friday Mash Up challenge to use leaves and twine on your card.  Hello!!  Did anyone say leaves, wink, wink.

Hang in there!  Fall will soon be over and I'll be moving on to Christmas cards and you can get sick of those for a change of pace LOL!

Having fun playing with my burlap and went with the cream colour this time round.   Love the texture it gives a card!! Added some embossed wood grain in the background and "Look, Ma!! No maple leaf!!"  Used some different leaves this time.  A few buttons with a bit of green twine and I was good to go :)

Have a fabulous day and thanks for visiting today.




What's In It?
Stamps:   Wonderfully Made (Verve), Leaf Prints (PTI)
 Paper: Kraft, Burgundy, Mellow Moss, More Mustard, Cream Linen 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories:  Wood Grain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Leaf Dies (PTI), Scalloped  Circle and Circle Nesties, Tagged Rectangle Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Burlap Ribbon, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Verve Anniversary Release Challenge #4

>

Loved the CAS challenge as it was perfect for my having to rush to complete all the challenges by the deadline due to being away on vacation for the past week :)

I pulled out FTL #183 (an older sketch) which I absolutely love and literally copied the sketch to make my card.  No need to ask me twice regarding a  butterfly on a card ;)  I combined the sketch with this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.

I just love making black and white cards with a splash of colour and with green being the splash this time round, I was one happy camper (for those who don't know, green is my favorite colour).  Love the font of the "friend" sentiment from Verve's Because of You set and it was the perfect fit for the card.  Not sure if the ribbon negates the CAS feel, so I'll take the lead from Julee and call it a CASS  (clean and simple sort of ) card ;)  Figure if the boss woman can do it, so can I wink, wink :)  

All five Verve anniversary challenges are d-o-n-e, done.  Yeah!!   Now I just have to patiently wait (yah right!!) for the release party over at the SCS Verve forum at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time to see if I won the entire release (you'll hear me screaming from wherever you are in the world if that is the case LOL!) or if I won any of the new sets from all the sneak peek blog hops.  Julee is always so generous with her prizes - thank you, Julee ((hugs)).

That being said, regardless of whether or not I win anything, some new Verve will definitely be crossing the border!!  The question becomes, how much, wink, wink!  Wish I had the budget to get it all, but since it's not an option, my trusty calculator is ready to crunch some numbers so I can get the most bang for my buck :)  Upstairs computer is mine tonite, hubby is in charge of the kids (or as he says, my summer has been booked around this release) and I'm ready to party with the Verve Divas :)   Is it release time yet LOL!




What's In It?
Stamps: Because of You (Verve)
Paper: Black, White, Old Olive
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties. Butterfly Die (Stampin' Up), Black Polka Dotted Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dots

Having a Play Date With My Mojo

In keeping with all my under the wire entries this week, here is another one for this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  I combined it with this week's Play Date Cafe challenge of black and white with a splash of lilac (or any other shade of purple).  I love black and white cards, and adding a splash of colour to them is loads of fun.

As luck would have it, I picked up this black polka dotted Bo Bunny DP a few weeks ago and I knew I wanted to use it on this card.  No Swiss Dots so have to use some sort of dots :)

Since Vintage Vogue was still out on my desk, I decided to use it again (twist my rubber arm LOL!).  No matter what I did in Photoshop, the big flower looks much more blue than purple.  It is actually Lovely Lilac and tones in with the ribbon very nicely in real life - honest!  I added some leaves to the flower to cover the pin requirement on the Mojo sketch, and a few black half pearls were the perfect finishing touch.

Off to watch my son's soccer game this morning, and hopefully the rain will hold off!!  Nothing like getting cold feet from the very wet grass on the sidelines and having my bangs curl with all the humidity in the air (not to mention the frizz frenzy the rest of my hair pulls on me....oh the joys of having curly hair....NOT!), but when falling rain is added to the mix, the little voice in my head boldly proclaims "Welcome to Winter soccer in British Columbia" LOL.  Guess I'll have to do lots of yelling...."ahem"....cheering from the sidelines to keep warm and neutralize the aforementioned issues LOL!  Ah yes, the life of a soccer mom :)

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!




What's In It?
Stamps: (SU)Vintage Vogue
Paper: Black, Whtie, Bo Bunny DP
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, Black
Accessories: Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, 5/8" Lavender Grosgrain Ribbon, Half Pearls, Dimensionals