Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge Grand Opening

** This is my second post of the day.  Please scroll down for my Mojo Monday Card **

 

Today is the big day!!  The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge is up and running with its first challenge entitled Feeling Nautical.  Loved the inspiration collage Stacey has put together for this challenge!

In addition, Verve Stamps is sponsoring our very first challenge!!  That means the participant who is awarded "The Lead" for our Feeling Nautical challenge will win Verve's Strong Anchor and matching Nautical Die set!  You all know how much I love my Verve so this is a double scoop of happiness day for me :)  

For my card, I honed in on the blue and yellow colour combo (love navy and yellow together!) and the anchor and wheel images.  Nautical often makes me think of the Navy so I went with a crisp, clean, feel as well.

 

Since Verve is sponsoring this challenge, I just had to use one of the VLV sketches from their Forum on SCS.  I created the backgrounds on the kraft and saffron panels by VersaMarking the images, and crimped the navy panel for some texture.   Matching die cuts from the anchor and wheel images were added around the focal sentiment and I tied a red, twine bow around my anchor for a pop of colour and bit of interest.   This card was so fun to make, I may just have to make another!

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

Sorry for the long post!!  Just lots of exciting things to share today!!  You have until  July 25th to complete a new card/project using the inspiration picture.  Can't wait to see what you create!!



What's In It?
Stamps: Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: Night of Navy, So Saffron, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, Sahara Sand, VersaMark 
Accessories: Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Twine, Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #302

This week's sketch is a wonderful, basic layout, which means you can keep it simple or dress it up - which ever your heart desires.  Think mine ended up being between those two options LOL!

I don't think I have ever used plaid on a card before so this was a first for me.  I am not a plaid lover at  heart, but this card is definitely growing on me so I may be converted yet wink, wink.

Used up a few scraps from my discard container and added a few touches of pearls and bling to dress it up a bit.

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

Think I have recovered from VBS enough to be ready and willing for swimming lessons.  It's always great to swim laps while the kids are in their lessons and then hang out in the pool having fun with them afterwards.  I truly treasure these times as I know they will soon be a thing of the past.

Have a fabulous week and I look forward to seeing your creations!



What's In It?  
Stamps: On Occassion, Bloom and Grow, Surely Goodness (Verve Stamps)  
Paper: Bold Basics (Recollections), Certainly Celery, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Elegant Leaf and Goodness Flowers Dies (A Cut Above by Verve) 5/8" Saffron Satin Ribbon, Black Half Pearls, Pink Bling, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

Just Us Girls #197

This week's technique is brought to you by Maria and she has provided a wonderful opportunity to get down and have some mixability fun!!  Here is the link to the SCS tutorial on how to create bright pastels.

I only own one distress ink, and it's a neutral, so I had to improvise a bit by using a direct from ink pad technique with my classic ink pads.  I am quite happy with how it turned out and got a bit of added texture, which I just love, due to my saran wrap crinkling during the process.

The colour combination reminded me of a sunset so I decided to use this wonderful sailboat image to have the boat sailing at sunset.  A sailor's knot and an anchor added provided a bit of detail.

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. 

I am happy to say I have survived year eleven working at VBS!  I had the best group of boys: they had lots of energy, were loads of fun to tease and talk to, but very respectful and obedient so it was the perfect mix :)  I even managed to stun them with my knowledge of sports and Mindcraft -- no boring leader here LOL!  

Next week we start our two week set of swimming lessons so I'll be swimming laps for forty five minutes while the kids have their lesson.  Eau de chlorine here I come!  Have a great weekend everyone and come back on Monday for the first challenge of the re-opening of the Curtain Call!  

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Sail Away (Stampin' Up), Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps)
Ink:  Black, Real Red, Only Orange (Stampin' Up, VersaMark
Paper:  Black, White 
Accessories:  Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above By Verve), Black Embossing Powder, Twine, White Acrylic Paint, Dimensionals

July Diva Dare

Welcome to July's Diva Dare!  This month's theme is "Tattered Pages"  and showcases Julee, Verve's owner and creator and her wonderful use of uplifting phrases along with Diva Teresa's wonderful use of distressing and shabbiness on her cards.

The challenge is to create a card or project that has an encouraging/uplifting sentiment and includes some distressing/shabbiness.  Kind of like an encouraging card you have received which you have read over and over so many times that it shows signs of being well loved by its' tattered edges.

For my card, I used this week's Verve Sketch and paired it with some Classic K McKenna paper from K & Company.  This fabulous sentiment from Let It Be jumped out at me and thus became the focal point of my card.  It's such a wonderful encouragement and reminder that faith can get you through seemingly insurmountable situations (something I needed to hear as I'm dealing with one right now).  The largest die from the Banner Bundle die set created the fishtail, and the yummy raspberry coloured seam binding is from the Spring Fling ribbon collection.  A touch of lace, twine, some pearls and some distressing brought in Teresa's side of this month's dare.

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: Let It Be (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Classic K McKenna (K & Company), Mellow  Moss, Rose Romance, Kraft (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Banner Bundle Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Spring Fling Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Lace, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Cream Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #301

We are moving ahead after a wonderful celebration of Mojo Monday's 300th sketch.  Thank you to everyone who played along!

This week's sketch is another wonderful one by Julee (I know I say that every week, but I truly do love her sketches!).  I flipped the sketch to a vertical orientation and when I tripped across these wonderful fall coloured papers from K & Company's Classic K Mackenna pad I just had to use them.  The I Chronicles 16:34 Plain Jane fit the oval perfectly and the seam binding is from the Spring Fling ribbon collection.  A few pops of yellow for some colour and I was good to go. 

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 - as well as some guest designer's 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

This week is our VBS week and the  kids and I are helping out.  Will be a busy week indeed and I'll be one tired out mama by Friday, I'm sure LOL!  

Oh, and before I forget, Julee has a great Christmas in July sale going on over at the Verve store.  

Have a fabulous day and hope you can find some time to play along with this week's sketch.

 

What's In It?  
Stamps: 1 Chronicles 16:34 Plain Jane (Verve Stamps), French Script (Stampin' Up)  
Paper: Classic K McKenna (K & Company), Kraft, Old Olive, So Saffron, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Scalloped Oval and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Spring Fling Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Button, Twine, Brown Half Pearl, Glue Dots, Dimensionals 

A Grand Re-Opening I'm Excited To Play A Part In!!

I am thrilled to announce there's a new show in town!  The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge (formerly the Curtain Call Color Challenge) will make it's GRAND Re-Opening on July 15th and I have the wonderful honour of being a part of the Design Team!!

Stacey and Kim have been working hard behind the scenes to put this wonderful challenge together and I know you are going to love it!  The DT is being revealed daily over on the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge blog  through the 14th, and I know you will be blown away by the group they have put together as there is some serious talent on this team!!

This announcement holds a very dear place in my heart because back in February of 2010, Stacey (founder of The Curtain Call Colour Challenge) asked me to be a part of her Curtain Call Crew.  She blessed me with my very first design team experience, for which I will be forever grateful.  That wonderful experience lead to my being on other design teams, and my "dream job" of becoming a Verve Diva.  So, to say I am thrilled and thankful to be back on her team is an understatement :)  Hugest of hugs to you, Stacey!!

Make sure you check out the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge blog daily for announcements that will introduce the AMAZING Curtain Call Crew Design Team as well as other challenge details!  Then get ready for the grand-reopening challenge on July 15th.

Just Us Girls #196

This week's Just Us Girl's Challenge is brought to us by Nancy and she has provided us with this fun sketch to work with.  Perfect timing as I needed a masculine birthday card.

Since the birthday boy was born on the 4th of July, I went with a red, white and blue theme, and then added a teensy, red maple leaf to remind him of his Canadian roots {grin}.  Since I totally forgot about the sentiment in the circle, I added some red, white and blue twine and a little tag in lieu.  Note to self:  check the sketch more carefully next time ;) 


I used the The Pink Elephant's inspiration challenge and am playing along with Stacey's Birthday Linky Party for a chance to win some great prizes.  All you need to do is create a birthday card and enter it with the Linky Tool on her post.  A great way to celebrate :)

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. 

Have a great weekend everyone, and I'll be back tomorrow with an exciting announcement!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:  Tiny Tags (PTI)
Paper:  Real Red, Night of Navy, White
Accessories:  Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Tiny Tags Dies (PTI), Sizzex Star 2 Die (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Maple Leaf Punch (Michael's $1.50 bin), White Half Pearls, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dotswinery), Buttons, Glue Dots

I Treasure Your Friendship

Today's VLV sketch is brought to us by Diva Charmaine and the wide open space offers so many options!

I started off with some rather bold paper (for me anyway) and then spent the rest of my time trying to tame it down LOL!  Since it had a funky feel to it, I went with this wonderful fort and sentiment from Treasured Words.  Cut out a Wavy Heart and embossed it with the fun "XO" embossing folder for a little texture.  Just had to use the Pennant Trim die to add a fun border to the horizontal element and  then added "xoxo" side tab using the Flag It dies.
 

If you want a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Verve Store, all you need to do is play along with all the sketches for this month on load them on to the Verve Forum over on Splitcoast Stampers.  Here is the link to Verve's Splitcoast Forum which gives you all the sketches and challenge details.

We have survived our first week of summer vacation - just teasing.  It's been great having the kids home full time.  We spent an afternoon at the beach during the heat wave, but unfortunately we were there at high tide and the water was just too cold to swim in so we cut our visit a bit short.  That's what happens when you have to swim in the ocean at the 49th parallel LOL!  Give it a few weeks and I'm sure the kids will gleefully go into the ocean while I read on my Kindle while sun bathing on the sand wink, wink :)

Have a fabulous weekend!



What's In It?  
Stamps:  Treasured Words and Tag Time (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Bold Basics (Recollections),  Lovely Lilac, So Saffron, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black 
Accessories:   Flag It, Pennant Trim and Wavy Hearts Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), XO Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Heart Border Die (PTI), Button, Twine, Bling, Liquid Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

CASED Shower Card

First of all, I want to wish all my American followers a very happy 4th of July!!  Think we may take the kids to the top of the hill that overlooks the bay so we can watch the fireworks across the line. 

Loved this card when I saw it on Pinterest so I decided to CASE it.  Here is the link to the original.   Since I didn't have the same embossing folder (darn it all anyway as I just loved the one that was used), I settled for Stylized Flowers instead and added the pearls to the scallops along the bottom.  I"Vervified" things by stamping this wonderful sentiment from Verve's Love Story in silver.  Looking back, I should have embossed it, but I was in a hurry to get it done so my mind wasn't fully engaged wink, wink. Good news: she loved it :)

Short and sweet today as the heat wave is over and the weather outside is simply glorious and calling our names loudly!  Oh how I love living on the West Coast in the summer :)



What's In It?
Stamps:   Love Story (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  White 
Ink:  Silver 
Accessories:  Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Flower Punch (Mike's $1 Bin), White Half Pearls

Mojo Monday #300 - Time to Celebrate!!

Mojo Monday Turns 300!!

Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there and happy 17th anniversary to my wonderful hubby - love you!

While I'm on a celebratory track, HUGE congratulations are in order for Julee, owner and creator of Verve Stamps and Mojo Monday as today we are celebrating  Mojo Monday's 300th sketch challenge!!  Julee has been providing cyber world with Mojo Monday sketches for almost six years.  I remember when she first started the Mojo Monday blog, and I'm honored to be able to celebrate this milestone with her :)

If you know anything about Julee, you know she celebrates milestones with style, and this time is no different.  There will be thirty fabulous paper crafting prizes available from over 20 different companies!  All you need to do is create a new card using this week's sketch, and then link it up to the Linky Tools over on the Mojo Monday blog.  In addition, enter gift code 300MOJO and you will save 20% off your Verve Stamps order July 1 - 7th!

For my card, I used MME's Mother's Love papers and one of my favorite Verve flower sets,  Dream Big, along with the coordinating Scalloped Flowers and Dreamy Leaves die sets.  Hmmm, hmmmm, love me some Verve flowers :)   Of course, where there are flowers there has to be a butterfly wink, wink.  I finished things off with the birthday sentiment from Joyfu Blooms.

I also playing along with Stacey's Birthday Linky Party over on her blog.  Just create a birthday card, add it to the Linky Tool on her post, and you are eligible to win some great prizes!

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 - as well as some guest designer's 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 are officially on summer mode here, weather included!! Yikes!! It is hot here (30C with humidex - ugh!!) and that is a bit hotter than normal for us, so I think a trip to the beach may be in order as well as a trip to the mall so we can  cool off in the air conditioning! 

Look forward to seeing all your wonderful creations as we celebrate Mojo Monday's milestone with style!

Challenges:  Simon Says



What's In It?
Stamps: Dream Big and Joyful Blooms (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: A Mother's Love (My Mind's Eye), Real Red, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Taken with Teal, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, VersaMark 
Accessories: Dreamy Leaves and Scalloped Flower Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Doily Dies (PTI), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Button, Twine, Button, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals