Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Sunflower Surprise

Welcome back to another Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge! This time our theme is "Sunflower Surprise" and it is sponsored by Clearly Besotted Stamps.  The Show Stopper for this challenge will win their Blooming Marvelous stamp set and matching dies!  Worth playing for alone!

Here is the wonderful inspiration picture we get to work from for this challenge. 

Love the images in Blooming Marvelous and the matching dies cut like butter!  All I can say is - love!  Snuck in a few polka dots for good measure along with some wood grain texture, a multi-looped, twine bow as per the raffia ones on the chairs, and a few sequins to keep me trendy wink, wink!

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!  Should you wish more details on the Curtain Call Crew's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Amber Kroening
Barb Murphy
Christina MacLaren
Debby Hughes
Gayatri Murali
Jessica Kephart
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tenia Nelson
Tracey McNeely

You have until September 25th at 8:00 a.m. CDT to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture and linking it up accordingly.  The Lead and Show Stoppers will be announced on September  30th.  Can't wait to see what you create!!

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Blooming Marvelous (Clearly Besotted Stamps) 
Paper:  Kraft, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), Dots and Stripes (Echo Park)
Ink:  Black  
Accessories:   Blooming Marvelous Die Collection (Clearly Besotted Stamps), Wood Grain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Stitched Circles (Lil' Inkers), Button Die (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine, Sequins, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #206

This week Nancy is our hostess and she has chosen the grid technique found here as our challenge for this week.  It was a first for me, and I enjoyed using it on my card.

I pulled out Inspired by Nature as it was a nice big image that would work wonderfully with this technique.  I scored my linen paper,  stamped on the images and added a bit of sponging around the edges.  A tag and a few butterflies finished things off.

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful 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.   In addition, there is a DT call out for some new members to join the Just Us Girls team! Check today's post for all the details.

Another busy weekend for us and it doesn't look to be slowing down until after Thanksgiving - eeek!  Life in the fast lane is very over rated LOL!  We are all adjusting to ramped up schedules and changes in schedules!  Just as get both kids back in the same school again, they are on different bell schedules due to the school being so over crowded.  And, as you may have guessed, I have one child on the early schedule who has to be out the door by 7:00 a.m. and the other one starts a few hours later and doesn't get home until 4:30 p.m.  Needless to say my crafting time is getting the bad end of the stick.  Hopefully it will settle itself out sooner than later so I can be a bit more consistent with my posting :)   

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



What's In It? 
Stamps:  Tiny Tags(PTI), Inspired by Nature and French Script (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Real Red (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black, Creamy Caramel, Rudy Red, Really Rust, Garden Green, Always Artichoke (Stampin' Up), VersaMark, Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   ScorPal, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Medium Scallop and Tiny Tags Dies (PTI), 1" Green Sheer Ribbon (Michael's), Distressing Wheel (Stampin' Up), Twine, Brown Half Pearls 

Mojo Monday #310

This week's Mojo Monday sketch is a fabulously flexible one. You can keep it CAS or dress it up a bit.  I went with the dressy version as I wanted to sneak in a flower and butterfly card before summer is truly over.

The paper is from Bella Blvd's Spring Fling and Easter Things and I used my stitched rectangle die again as it's my latest addiction :)   The sentiment is from one of my favorite Verve sentiment sets, Lean On Me.  Just love the mix of fonts in this set (I know I say that about most Verve sets wink, wink).

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Mojo Monday blog and also get a chance to 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

Week two of school in under way and I think we have somewhat adjusted to the new schedule.  It's always such a jolt to the system after a much more relaxed summer schedule.  Thankfully, the weather continues to outdo itself!

Have a fabulous week and enjoy working with the sketch! 

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Lean On Me (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Spring Fling and Easter Things (Bella Blvd), Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up), Bazzil
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Flower Die (PTI), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Crimper (Fiskars), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, 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

Just Us Girls #205

 

This week's challenge is brought to us by Vicki and she has provided this sketch for us to work with.

I played along with the Fab Friday colour pallet as I was getting giddy about the thought of using my maple leaf die for the first time this year!  Beware, a small foreshadowing of things to come wink, wink!

I used a combination of Teresa Collins and MME papers and added my beloved maple leaf - happy sigh....

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful 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. 

The first week of school is now done and I have one very happy, bouncy boy who is thrilled to be in high school, and one very stressed out and emotional girl who hates going to high school. Nothing like dealing in extremes.  Praying hard my daughter finds a good friend this year as that is the crux of her issue.  Until then, I'm thankful for texting so I can be there for her.  Think we all need a bit of down time this weekend :)    

Gotta run, off to my son's first soccer game of the season and on to day five of my 21 day Go Fit Gals workout/meal plan.  They have some amazing recipes which I will definitely be introducing into our regular meals!  I'm also pretty sure I have shed at least five pounds of sweat - the workouts are amazing!  I would definitely recommend this program! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Leaf Prints (PTI), Stampin' Up
Paper:  Memorabilia (Teresa Collins), Sic by Six (My Mind's Eye) So Saffron, Only Orange, Early Espresso, Shara Sand (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:   Medium Scallop and Leaf Dies (PTI), Oval Nestability (Spellbinders), Crimper, Brown Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

September Diva Dare

Welcome to September's Diva Dare!  This month's theme is "Tic-Tac-Toe" and the Divas are daring you to create a card inspired by a tic-tac-toe board.  For example, it could be X's and O's, hugs and kisses, circles, squares, a grid, you get the idea.  

I went with hugs and kiss (though most of that paper got covered up) and X's and O's because they go together like peanut butter and jam LOL!

Echo Park's Yours Truly papers from last year were a perfect fit as was my X's and O's embossing folder :)   I added my beloved Jotted Heart, a mix of sentiments from Love Notes and finished things off with some red seam binding from the Truly Madly Deeply ribbon set. 

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!  Worth participating for sure, because rumour has it there will be a Verve release coming soon, and a gift certificate would come in very handy wink, wink!

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:  Love Notes (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Yours Truly (Echo Park), Real Red (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Jotted Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Swiss Dots and Hugs and Kisses Embossing Folders (Provocraft), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Truly Madly Deeply Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Black and White Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Verve Inspiration Blog Hop

Welcome to Verve's September Diva Inspirations Hop! It's the 5th of the month and that means it's time for the Verve Divas to breathe new life into some much-loved stamps.

I'm thankful to be able to join the Inspiration Team for this month's hop and to showcase my beloved Verve Stamps!  Even better, there's a PRIZE up for grabs, so be sure to leave a little shout out in the comment section of each blog as you hop about to be entered in a drawing for a $30 gift voucher to Verve Stamps!  The hop list is noted below if  you need it.  You can also check out all the details and prize info over at the Verve Blog.   

Since Autumn is close at hand and I just loooove autumn colours, I couldn't resist making a fall themed card.   In addition, Julee has a Fall Sale going on over at the Verve Store and this set is included!

I used Autumn Splendor for my card, creating the kraft background with one of the leaves from the set, and then framing the sentiment with the Rounded Scallop Frame.   The Pennant Trim die added some detailing to the bottom of the card and two cut out leaves are a tribute to the glorious maple leaves which will be turning colour on our street soon. 

The rest of the Divas involved in this month's hop are noted below and they have some fabulous, inspirational creations for your viewing pleasure!

	1. Julee	8. Tiffany
	2. Amy	9. Teresa
	3. Anya	10. Charmaine
	4. Betty	11. Maureen
	5. Karen	12. Marisa
	6. Sarah	13. Andrea
	7. Susan

Now it's time to hop on over to the oh so talented Diva Andrea's blog for what I'm sure will be a stunning display of some Verve on a fabulous, multi-layered creation. 

Thanks for joining us today, and make sure you check out the Verve Store for the Autumn Sale going on for the  month of September.   Wishing you a great day!

Challenge:  The Paper Players

 

What's In It?

Stamps: Autumn Splendor (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Kraft, Only Orange, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), VersaMark
Ink:  Black, Mellow Moss, Only Orange (Stampin' Up)
Accessories:  Rounded Scallop Frame and Pennant Trim Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker), Crimper (Fiskars), 3/8" Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #309

It's the first Monday of the month so that means it's contest time over on the Mojo Monday blog.  One person for every 50 entries will win a Verve Stamps set of their choice.

Julee created this skewed panel sketch for us to work with this week.  I'm glad to say, skewed panels no longer send me into a tail spin the way they used to LOL!  Practice makes perfect and in my case, multiple skewed panel sketches brought me to a place where I actually enjoy them - gasp!  Love how the wonderful hobby always allows you to grow as a paper crafter!

I used On The Bright Side papers by MME, and since summer is quickly passing, I just had to use my Flutterby die one more time.  The sentiment is perfect for my daughter as she starts another year of high school.  She has not enjoyed her high school years at all...poor girl.  She's a straight A student, so academics are not an issue, but she suffers socially in that she still does not have a close friend to walk through high school with.  Needless to say, I'm praying for her to meet a wonderful girl this year and until that time, I'm very thankful for texting so I can encourage her throughout her day.

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Mojo Monday blog and also get a chance to 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

Enjoying our last day together as a family before the craziness of the Fall begins.  It's always like going from zero to one hundred the first few weeks of September as we all settle into the fall schedule and extra curricular activities.  In addition, I'm doing an intensive, 21 day workout program with the Go Fit Gals as I want to grind off five to ten pounds.  I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Thanks for popping in today!

Challenges:  Simon Says

What's In It?
Stamps: Let It Be (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  On The Bright Side (My Mind's Eye), Early Espresso, So Saffron (Stampin' Up), Teal (Bazzil)
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Flutterby (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Brown Half Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Back To School

Welcome back to another Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge!  This time our theme is "Back to School" and it is sponsored by The Alley Way Stamps.  That means the Show Stopper for this challenge will win some goodies from them :)

Here is the wonderful collage we get to work from for this challenge.

Of course, I immediately thought of Verve's Teacher's Count set, which was inspired by none other than our DT's own Maureen!  So many wonderful sentiments in this set and I just love the apples and their matching dies! 

For my card, I used the number image from the set to create a background on the kraft panel, and then created a blackboard, of sorts, as my focal point.  Not sure I have ever seen a blackboard with a notebook edge, but I just had to add that edge in LOL!  I stamped some notebook lines on the heart, and then embossed the sentiment and sponged on a bit of "chalkboard dust".

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!  Should you wish more details on the Curtain Call Crew's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Amber Kroening
Barb Murphy
Christina MacLaren
Debby Hughes
Gayatri Murali
Jessica Kephart
Kim Singdahlsen
Laurie Willison
Marisa Ritzen
Maureen Plut
Monika Davis
Sheri Gilson
Stacey Schafer
Tenia Nelson
Tracey McNeely

You have until September 10th at 8:00 a.m. CDT to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture and linking it up accordingly.  The Lead and Show Stoppers will be announced on September  14th.  Can't wait to see what you create!!


Challenges:  Simon Says

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Teachers Count, Making a Statement (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Kraft, Real Red, Black (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, VersaMark, Real Red, Garden Green, White (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:   Jotted Heart and Apple Die Set (A Cut Above By Verve), Notebook Die (My Favorite Things), Stitched Mats Rectangles (Lil' Inkers) Twinkling H20s, Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #204

Welcome to this week's Just Us Girls challenge. Since it is the fifth Saturday of the month, it is a Wild Card challenge and I'm your host.  My challenge to you this week is to use distressing on your card and add some shabbiness too if you like.

I used one of the VLV sketches for my card and distressed the edges.   Added some rolled roses, a seam binding bow and with a button and a crimped oval. The sentiment is Verve's Plain Jane Where Flowers Bloom and I used the Rounded Rectangle die for the shape and framed it with the stitched image from Treasured Words. 

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful 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. 

It's the last weekend before school starts and the busy schedules start up again, so we are going to enjoy it hanging out as a family :) 

Wishing you a wonderful Labour Day weekend and thanks for popping in today!

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Where Flowers Bloom Plain Jane and Treasured Words (Verve Stamps)  
Paper:  Garden Florals (Recollections) Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink,  Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:   Rounded Rectangle Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Oval Nestability (Spellbinders), Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Truly, Madly Deeply Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Button, Twine, White Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals