Mojo Monday #388

This week, I flipped the sketch and created a CAS card from scraps in my discard box.  Every element is a scarp except the green button - score!  All time record {grin}.  Just need to make about thirty more cards with five scraps a card and I would be good to go LOL!

Used a fall colour combination, but I adore these colours together, and the butterfly keeps things in the right season wink, wink.  Absolutely no stamping on this card (gasp!), but definitely lots of die cuts!

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

We had a glorious weekend weather-wise and enjoyed a long over due, restful weekend - that is other than losing an hour's sleep with the time change.  It is definitely my least favorite weekend of the year as this mama loves and needs her sleep!  However, that being said, I definitely enjoy longer daylight :)

Wishing you a blessed day and thanks for stopping by.  

 
 
What's In It?
Paper:  Early Espresso, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:  Flutteryby and I Heart You Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil' Inkers), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Love Die (WPlus9), Button Die (PTI), Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Twine, Dimensionals

Snowflake Joy

Remember that tag I made for Tracey's Tag Challenge?  Well, I made another one and added to a card this time.  A really quick and easy card that packs a punch :)

Short and sweet today as lots to do to get ready for company over Christmas.

Have a great day!

What's In It?

Paper:  Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up)   
Accessories:   Snowflake Die (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Silver Half Pearls, Silver Cording, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #220 - Colour Challenge

Sue T. has chosen a yummy colour combo for us to work with this week and it gave me the perfect excuse to use my Santa's List papers again - happy sigh :)  I combined it with last week's Freshly Made sketch, which was a great one. 

Used Lil' Inkers stitched rectangles and WPlus9's "joy" die (oh how I love this die!!) one more time.  A little bling to bring out the "joy" and a holly trim finished things off.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our December GD Jan Del Bone, 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.

Kids are off school and we are heading into the home stretch for Christmas :)   Lots of cleaning in store for this weekend along with some last minute shopping for chef hubby (he's the cook and I'm sous chef and clean up girl).     

Have a great weekend!

Challenges: Simon Says 
                    Friday Mash Up




What's In It? 
Paper:  Early Espresso, Kraft, Real Red (Stampin' Up), Santa's List (Teresa Collins)
Accessories:   Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Joy Die (WPlus9), Holly Die (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), Bling, Dimensionals 

CAS(e) This Sketch #58

Sorry about being rather quiet here the last few weeks.  It's been a very busy two weeks and I am thrilled that we are in the home stretch!  Kids are off school on Friday and we can ease our way into Christmas :)

This CAS(E) This Sketch sketch caught my eye and a few ideas popped into my head, tired as I am, so I ran with it while the energy lasted LOL!  I flipped the sketch to a horizontal orientation and also inverted the design so my sentiment was on the left rather than on the right.

Just had to use my "joy" die one more time, an create some sparkly joy :)  Made this for my SIL as we are headed over there on Saturday for dinner and then a walk through some gorgeous gardens in Vancouver that are all decorated for Christmas and have various choirs singing. Fingers crossed the weather holds.

Hope you are surviving the last minute rush.  Take time to breathe deep and not stress out too much - I know, easier said than done.

Challenges:  Simon Says


What's In It?
Stamps:   Celebrate the Season(Amuse)
Paper:  Night of Navy (Stampin' Up), Silver Shimmer Paper (Dollar Store) 
Ink: Black   
Accessories:  Joy Die (WPlus9), Snowflake Die (PTI), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), White Half Pearls, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #218 - Sketch Challenge

It's time for a sketch challenge over at Just Us Girls, and Maria is our host with this sketch for us to work with.

In my continued Christmas card theme, I dipped into MME's Merry Little Christmas pack.  It is a fun pack to use for non-traditional colours.  Love this PTI snowflake die and WPlus9's "JOY" die.  Had a hard time deciding between a pink or blue heart to put on the "o" and finally settled on blue.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our December Guest Designer Jan Del Bone, 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.

It's going to be a cold weekend here (cold for us whoosy West Coast people anyway LOL).  My son has an early soccer game today and I think I'm going to wear my snow boots, hat, scarf and mittens.  Standing on the sidelines in weather like this is not fun, but I think I'll take it over the pouring rain we had last weekend.   

Wishing everyone a great weekend!



What's In It? 
Paper:  Merry Little Christmas (My Mind's Eye), Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, Baroque Burgundy (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:   Snowflake Die (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Scalloped Oval Nestability (Spellbinders), 5/8" White Stain Ribbon (Michael's), Dimensionals  

Snowflake Joy

Loved this Seize the Sketch sketch.  So may ways you can go with it.  My sentiment shifted a teensy bit - okay a lot LOL - but the guts of the sketch are there.  No stamping on this card either!

Continuing on in my Christmas card theme, I had great fun pulling out two of my favorite Christmas dies:  the PTI snowflake and this wonderful "JOY" die!  Joy is my favorite Christmas word and I love using it on Christmas cards.

Also broke in my new MFT chevron dies. Yes, I'm slow to get on the trendy bandwagon, and may have missed the rush, but I'm happy I finally have them and look forward to using them.

The paper is Carta Bella's Winter Fun and I just love it!  I got it last year at my LSS and wish I'd gotten a few more sheets as I just love the colour combo.  I blinged up the "joy" a bit and added a twine bow.

Thanks for popping by today. 



 
What's In It? 
Paper:  Winter Fun (Carta Bella), Kraft, Cool Caribbean, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin Up), Cream Linen   
Accessories:  Snowflake Die (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Chevron Die (My Favorite Things), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine (MFT), Button, Glue Dots, Bling, Dimensionals

June Diva Dare

Welcome to another installment of Verve's Diva Dare!  This month's dare is "Puddles of Colour" which combines Diva Jen and Diva Janelle's talents.

This month we are daring you to include colouring and/or painting on your project.  Diva Jen is a colouring guru and Diva Janelle uses paints and other forms of  mixed media for colour on her cards.  In addition, if you want to kick this month's dare up a notch, you can add kraft and/or mixed media to your card.  These are not required elements, but fun options should you chose to take the double dog dare wink, wink.

This is my take on the Dare.

I decided to go the mixed media route as I have never done it before, and well... a dare is a dare...and I'm not one to turn down a challenge!  Being a mixed media newbie, I'm not sure if I succeeded, but I sure had fun making the card.

I started out with making the background paper by using the emboss resist technique.  I stamped the wheel image from Strong Anchor in VersaMark on glossy paper, heat embossed it with clear embossing powder, and then sponged on a mix of Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy.  

In keeping with the sea/nautical theme, I die cut five Flourish Trims and stacked them one above the other to create "waves".  Next, an up-cycled Starbuck's sleeve became my tag and fulfilled the optional kraft element.  I stamped and added the Adjusted Sails Plain Jane sentiment to the tag, curled one corner for a little something, and added a bit of distress ink around the edges.  

Since I still needed a colouring / painting element, I swiped my white ink pad along the edges of the tag and then finger painted the white smudges on the word "hope".  The tag was then layered on to the burlap strip and I used the Nautical Die set with the wheel image.  Some distressed edges were in order and I finished things off by framing the card with some multi-coloured red, white and blue twine.  Now just have to wait and see if I got a passing grade from our mixed media Divas, Janelle and Julee!

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!




What's In It?
Stamps:  Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Night of Navy, Real Red, Glossy Paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black,  White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  Flourish Trim, Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Tag Die (PTI), Seasonal Sentiments Die (WPlus 9) ,  Cream Burlap, 3/8", Distressing Wheel (Stampin' Up), Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Brad, Dimensionals

Some Fun News!

** See my first post of the day for this week's Mojo Monday card ** 

Welcome to a busy Monday on my blog!!  I have the wonderful honor of being asked by Lesley to be Merry Monday's Guest Designer for the month of May!

I was thrilled when Lesley asked me to join this wonderful team of ladies.  In addition, what a fabulous idea to make a Christmas card per week so your Christmas card stash is pretty well set by the end of the year, leaving you one less thing to worry about come that busy time of year.

I squealed when I saw this sketch!  You see, I finally broke down and got PTI's snowflake die a few months ago and when I saw this sketch, I was so excited not have to wait until November to use it :)  Added bonus:  I got to use my favorite Christmas word die too!

The rest of the Merry Monday Crew have fabulous samples of this week's sketch.  Below is a link to each of their blogs.

Allisa Chilton
Bonnie Klass

LeAnne Pugliese

Nina Forsyth

Wendy Aungst

Narelle Farrugia

Sue Joyce
Sherry Eckblad
Margaret Moody 
Vicki Burdick

Have a fabulous day and I'll be back next week with my next Merry Monday card.

What's In It?
Stamps:  Background Basics (Stampin' Up) 
Paper:  Kraft, Real Red, Wild Wasabi (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: VersaMark 
Accessories: Snowflake and Holly Dies (PTI), Joy Die (WPlus9), Button, Twine, Black Half Pearl, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #182

Fist and foremost, I want to thank Andrea, one of our DT members, for all her wonderful work at Just Us Girls.  With life pulling her in many directions, she has decided it is time to step down for the team.  We will miss you, Andrea, and wish you nothing but the best!

With five Saturdays in March, this week is a Wild Card week over at the Just Us Girls blog.  Our hostess Maria has chosen the Puzzle Piece Resist technique as our challenge.  You can find the SCS tutorial for it here.

I cheated an itsy bitsy bit in that I didn't use white and sponging but rather embossed in white right on to my coloured paper.  I also caught a minor "oops" when I die cut my "U" ....see if you can spot what I did :)

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 selected as Chic of the Week.  

It's been a busy and fun Spring Break with the kids - thus the lack of posting - and we will finish up with our Easter dinner on Saturday night.  Chef Jeff will be cooking up a storm and sous chef and clean up girl (aka: me LOL) will be right in there with him.  Wishing you a blessed Easter weekend and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card! 



What's In It? 
Stamps:  French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Love Die (WPlus9), I Heart U Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Dimensional

Just Us Girls #179 - Technique Challenge

Vicki has brought this week's technique challenge and it is a fun one.  You just need to use a negative die cut on your card - easy peasy and loads of fun :)

This week's CASE(E) this sketch was perfect for today's challenge and as luck would have it my new W9 Plus dies arrive today in the mail so I got to use them!

I also just "had" to use Verve's new Banner Trim Trio die again as I just love them!!  The hearts border is my favorite and fit perfectly with the card's love theme.  I also used one of the Wavy Hearts die and the cute falling heart from Stronger Love.  Happy accident: the heart left two holes where the alignment tools are on the die so I filled them in using bling :)

I apologize profusely for the poor picture - argh!!  I have a hard time taking pictures of white cards at the best of times and today's sunny day has wrecked havoc on my lighting!  Will edit the photo as soon as I get a chance.   CAS gals out there - if you have any photography tips for white cards, please let me know!

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 selected as Chic of the Week.  

Have a fabulous weekend, and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday card! 



What's In It? 
Stamps: Stronger Love (Verve)
Paper: Pink Dots (Making Memories), Going Grey
Ink: Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:  Seasonal Sentiments Dies (WPlus 9), Wavy Hearts (A Cut Above by Verve), Bling, Dimensionals