You are My Greatest Joy (of cooking)

Good morning!!  Today's card was a total "JOY" to create!!  It's for this week's Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge.  The movie is a favourite of mine (saw it 3 times!).  Who didn't love Julie & Julia?  And who thought Meryl Streep should have won the Oscar for that role?  (just sayin'!).  The challenge was to use something from the kitchen.  I immediately thought of these fun recipe cards I picked up last year at Chapters.  They come in a matching recipe box too.  I just love the multi-coloured band at the top.  I had to cut the index card down to fit the card.  I lightly stamped "happiness" after "A recipe for..."  Playing on the word "Joy" as in Joy of Cooking, I chose this stamp from my Technique Tuesday set.  It was a one line sentiment until my scissors  made it a two line sentiment.  I love doing that with clear stamps...it doesn't really wreck anything as they piece back together so well :)  Oh, I love this movie!!  One of my favourite parts was when Julia is cooking an omelette on her show, flips it, and it falls all over the place.  She then picks it up and says something like, "oh, just put it back together, no one will know.  Don't apologize!!"  Busts me up everytime :)  And, of course, this sentiment reminds me of my "Greatest Joy."  Have a wonderful day...wishing you smiles and sunshine and happiness and joy :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Technique Tuesday loving words, CTMH "happiness"
Ink: SU soft sky, versafine onyx
Paper: SU sahara sand, guava, mustard, choc chip; PTI polkadot basics, white; recipe index card
Accessories: stitching, labels 4, cuttlebug ef, silver pearls, PTI ribbon, SU horizontal slot punch

Happy Belated Birthday

Good morning, blog buddies...because it's a short week, I guess we can call today "Hump" day!!  Today's card, for the Curtain Call Challenge, uses the gorgeous colour combo of kraft, white, pink, and black.  There were almost too many combinations going through my head that I didn't know if I could settle on one.  I've been trying to think out of the box (and use up my collection of patterned paper...so I can buy more!! LOL).  This yummy paper is part of My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary collection.  I love how it's double sided for double the fun!!  I went with the bolder pattern.  Still using my new Verve stamps...and still have lots left to ink!!  I don't have many belated birthday stamps but usually need a few of these cards around ;)  Have a wonderful day and thanks for all your inspiring comments :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve Big Wish
Ink: versafine onyx
Paper: PTI kraft, cream, polkadot dp; MME Quite Contrary
Accessories: gemstones, nesties labels 4, ribbon, corner chomper

Birthday Wishes

Good morning!!  Well, it's Monday, but it's a short, fun week and there's no staff meeting tonight :)  I had a lovely day in the studio yesterday...making cards for a few new challenges I've been following.  This card is for the Card Positioning Systems sketch this week.  I enjoy their sketches and they offer prizes too!!  As I've mentioned before, the draw is random so everyone has the chance to win :)  I {heart} that.  I don't make too many long cards like this, but it was fun.  I've had this Amy Butler paper in the back of my mind for awhile and thought the larger canvas could handle it.  I dug through my scraps bag and pulled out some yummy berry sorbet bitty boxes dp :)  That led me to the guava strip and the only colour (IMHO) of ribbon that looked perfect with this was Raspberry Fizz :)  Two little bits of bling for a bit of sparkle and there we are :)  I took a bit of liberty with the sketch...moving the ribbon over to the other side...or maybe I just flipped the sketch...yeah, that's what I did....hehe. I hope the week is starting out well for you...perhaps I should make a few Easter cards this week and give those Verve Easter stamps some love :)  Thanks for visiting :)

What's in it?

Stamps: Verve Big Wish

Ink: versafine onyx

Paper: PTI cream, melon berry, bitty box dp, Amy Butler dp

Accessories: fiskars border punch, gemstones, PTI ribbon

Enjoy Your Day

Good morning, everyone. Wow, blogland seems very quiet this weekend.  Have you noticed that?  Today's card is for the new Embellish Colour Challenge.  The requirement this time is stitching.  I love the colours this time...ones very familiar to me :)  The flower is crimped and then inked with hibiscus burst.  That's about it for today...it's been a quiet, restful weekend.  Enjoy your day :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve Big Wish, SU French script
Ink: versafine sepia, versamark, PTI hibiscus burst
Paper: PTI kraft, cream, pretty pastel dp
Accessories: crimper, stitching, SU birds and bloom die, PTI button and ribbon, gemstones

To Love and Be Loved

Good morning!!! It's FRIDAY!!!!!! The end of my work week and the Viva La Verve challenge day:) I've so enjoyed my stint as "Guest Sketch Diva." Thanks so much to Amber and all the divas for all their lovely comments. I'm a work in progress ;) I was so excited when Amber said we could look for our own inspiration photo. I love googling images!! I had about 5 photos saved when I had to stop myself. I decided to use this one as I love the pink, yellow, and gray colour combo. The fabric on the chairs reminded me of one of my favourite papers from last summer. I was so sad I had only bought one piece of it until I found it again in a paper pad at Michaels (no less!!). And I'm still using my new Verve...can't put it down... my blue binder that stores all my Verve stamps has been open on the studio floor for 2 weeks straight!! LOL The sentiment panel was a bit plain and I thought of every possible embellishment or stamp that could fill up the white space around the sun. I finally settled on some pink floss. I kind of like it :) I know you will have fun with this one...all I did to search for photos was Google, "kitchens," and then click on images. I even narrowed my search to "retro kitchens," "shabby chic kitchens," "modern kitchens," "colourful kitchens," etc, etc. If you don't want to do that, you can even be inspired by your own kitchen, or elements in your kitchen!! Maybe an appliance!!! Now that I think about it, I could've used my pink Kitchenaid mixer!!! Hehe!!! Can't wait to see what you find. Have a fabulous Friday (is there any other kind? lol)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve feel the sun
Ink: Versafine onyx
Paper: PTI cream, SU gray, mustard, cosmo cricket dp, basic grey dp, DCWV dp
Accessories: cuttlebug ef, pearls, satin ribbon, PTI button, floss, SU curly label punch

Buttons, Buttons, and more Buttons

Good afternoon! Welcome to my entry for the Papertrey Ink March Blog Hop. Last year after I registered my new blog...I hoped I hadn't been too crazy to use 2 embellishments that would soon go out of style. I loved the way both words rolled off my tongue. So you can imagine my delight when PTI started carrying "buttons," and then months later, "bling." Okay...I should be safe for a few years anyways :) This month's requirement was to use, of course, buttons. LOVE this!!! My first card uses my first PTI stamp set, Spiral Bouquet. I love looking at my stamps now and seeing where I can fit in buttons with them. You don't just need the Button Bits sets.

This second card uses buttons in one of my favourite ways. I came up with this idea last Fall, with this card for Dawn's colour challenge. It even got into her Spotlight that week :) I loved making it so much, I made two others....HERE...and HERE. I couldn't believe my luck when I dug out this sheer ribbon I got on clearance at Michaels last Fall. It's orange, pink, and yellow, the perfect match for this card!! Don't those buttons look like candy? Good thing they aren't or this card would be very plain ;) LOL

For this last card, I've used buttons in 2 ways...one for the middle of the butterfly and then tiny ones for the flight path. I know there is some debate out there about leaving buttons bare or always having them dressed. I'm for both ways, depending on the card. How about you? Thanks for dropping by...can't wait to see what everyone else has come up with :) Enjoy the rest of the Hop...

What's in them?
{Thinking of You Today}

Stamps: PTI spiral bouquet, everyday classics
Ink: SU choc chip, kiwi kiss
Paper: PTI kraft, spring moss, cream, pretty pastels dp; SU teal
Accessories: PTI buttons, twill ribbon, stitching, fiskars border punch, floss

{Easter Wishes}
Stamps: PTI mega mixed messages
Ink: SU choc chip
Paper: PTI melon berry, cream, pretty pastels dp
Accessories: blossom nestatilities (wreath base), pearls, sheer ribbon, PTI buttons

{Hi There}
Stamps: PTI mega mixed messages, fancy flourishes, background basics retro
Ink: SU choc chip, veramark, PTI sweet blush
Paper: PTI kraft, cream, bitty box and pretty pastels dp; SU so saffron, choc chip
Accessories: fiskars border punch, twine, PTI buttons and ribbon, gemstones, SU butterfly die

My Heart Shall Beat

Good evening, everyone...a nighttime post as I was getting ready for the Thursday Papertrey Ink blog hop. My dh is working late so I can play in the studio for awhile with Mercy's Tuesday sketch :) I pulled out another lovely sentiment from my new Cloud 9 stamp set. It's the main reason I bought this set. It reads, "My heart shall beat because of you. My eyes see because of you. My mind thinks because of you. And I shall love because of you. Eskimo Love Song." Even though I'm using some Valentine paper, I think you could send this as a wedding or engagement card too. Or even an anniversary card!! (Maybe I'll keep it and use it in July!! LOL). The ribbon was a bit fiddley as the tails kept blocking the sentiment...so just like my mom used to trim our bangs, I kept trimming and trimming and trimming!! (I'm sure many of you can relate!!) Have a lovely evening, see you tomorrow around 2:30 for the PTI blog hop :)




What's in it?
Stamps: Cloud 9 ~ Simple Thoughts, Wedding
Ink: versafine onyx
Paper: PTI cream, SU blossom, bayou blue (I think!), cloud 9 dp, red dp (craft supply)
Accessories: stitching, satin ribbon, MS border punch, gemstones

The Joy of the Lord

Hi, blog friends...not too sure about today's card...I love the colour combo...but something is off for me. It could've been I was tired after a LONG work day yesterday along with stamping at night. My best time to stamp is daytime. My new Verve stamps just call to me all week, "Use me, use me!!" And because I love them so, I break down and oblige ;) Ripping another page from my Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, I had to read the text to make sure it was "blog appropriate!" This page was a poet's biography. The sketch is from the Card Positioning Systems. One thing I like about these challenges is that the winner is random. Anyone can win. I like that about Verve stamps as well. We are not all professional stampers. Plus we are the ones buying the products. So thank-you to all the companies who let anyone win...just my thoughts :) Have a glorious day!!! (sentiment reads: Do not sorrow, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength).




What's in it?
Stamps: Verve plain jane, PTI polka dot basics 2
Ink: PTI aquamist, versafine onyx
Paper: PTI aquamist, cream, SU really rust, Norton Anthology text paper
Accessories: fiskars punch, stitching, PTI buttons and ribbon, corner chomper, gemstones, cuttlebug ef (hard to see...swiss dots on card base)

Sunshine in the Heart

Good morning...ah, did the weekend go by too fast? I had two very peaceful days to play in the studio and sleep. When I saw Karen's card for her sketch this week, this black and white paper came to mind and then berry sorbet made its way onto the desk. Hola!! I looked through all my sentiment stamps and chose this oldie but goodie from Stampin' Up! I love this set :) The main panel had nothing on it at first...I was debating whether to leave it plain, but it looked "too" plain...so I'm trying a black blossom with a little bit of bling. I think it looks better than it did...definitely "groovy!" I had an aha moment reading Karen's post. If you make a 4.25 x 4.25 card and have the ribbon or paper coming off the sides, it will fit into an A2 envelope perfectly!! I can't believe I had never realized that!!! DUH!!! Thanks, Karen :) I may make more 4.25 square cards now!! Have a wonderful day...staff meeting tonight, but I have birthday cake as my reward when I go home (from a belated family birthday dinner).

What's in it?
Stamps: SU friend to friend, PTI blooming button bits
Ink: versafine onyx
Paper: PTI berry sorbet, white, black and white dp, SU pumpkin pie,
Accessories: circle nestabilities, PTI button and ribbon, SU linen thread, silver pearls

Your Heart's Desire

Hello, friends :) I hope your Sunday's off to a great start :) I finally am able to join in with the ladies over at the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge. When I saw the colours and requirement for the movie, 13 Going on 30, this new Doodlebug paper came to mind. I was inspired by the theme of "be careful what you wish for." However, this warning, as wise as it is, didn't seem right for a greeting card. Then I thought of using this Verve "Wishing You" stamp, but wanted to add "your heart's desire." Enter my handy Word program. I printed out "your heart's desire," then added the Wishing You above it. This sentiment comes from one of my favourite books, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. My favourite line is, "When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream." I love it so much that it is on the first page of my wedding scrapbook. {although the universe took its own sweet time getting my dream to me...20 years!! LOL...not complaining now, though :) } I was so happy that hearts were considered geometric shapes as they go perfectly with this sentiment. They are punched out of glitter cardstock (the green one was left over from my St. Patty's cards :) Simple, but I think that yummy plaid paper and the sentiment say it all. Thanks for visiting :) Have a lovely Sunday :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve Wishing You
Ink: versafine onyx
Paper: PTI spring moss, white, SU kiwi kiss, doodlebug dp, american crafts glitter cardstock
Accessories: computer, cuttlebug heart die, heart and labels 4 nestabilities, PTI ribbon

I Will Give You Rest

Good morning!! Today's card was just me throwing some paper around...if this colour combo and paper look familiar, you are not going crazy...I used them for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch a couple of days ago. I was actually going to make this one first and then thought these papers would work well for Karen's card. After I had finished and gone downstairs for a bit, I remembered that I had wanted to make a blossom for it as well. So before I went to bed, I made one. Making these out of book paper is a lot easier than heavy designer paper, much easier to smoosh. So here's the "with flower" version.

I'm posting both as I'm not sure which one I like better. Hmmm...oh, well, the flower is stuck now so I guess that ends that debate :) The leaf paper is flocked (Laural's question from Thursday :) and is from the Peachy Keen Kaisercraft collection. This last photo is what was lying on my doorstep on Wednesday :) A very good friend and former colleague left these pussy willows tied with a gorgeous lucky clover scarf by my front door so I would see them as I got home after work on my birthday. She is so creative with flowers, and this is no exception :) This scarf will find it's way into my St. Patrick's day wardrobe next year :) Have a wonderful day...we have been promised warm, sunny weather...hope you have the same :)

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve plain jane
Ink: SU choc chip
Paper: PTI kraft, white, SU choc chip, kaisercraft dp, printed paper from old Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry ;) Accessories: circle nestabilities, satin ribbon, brad, gemstones, corner chomper

You Make Me Smile ~ VLV Week #4

Good Friday morning, friends!! Today's card is for the Viva La Verve challenge over on the Verve forum. I have been enjoying my stint as Guest Sketch Diva :) My new Verve stamps arrived last Friday so here are some of them on my card. I was inspired by this photo...what a fun apron!! The link to this photo is HERE. The leaves are made with the SU two step bird punch. It's the "wing!" Hope you all have a fabulous day...if you get the chance, come over to the forum and play along...play with all the sketches and you may be a lucky girl like me and win the whole next release :) Hugs!!

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve feel the sun, thankful hearts
Ink: versafine onyx, PTI raspberry fizz
Paper: PTI cream, spring moss, hibiscus burst, sweet blush, raspberry fizz, american crafts glitter cardstock, cosmo cricket dp
Accessories: blossom nestabilities, circle punch, gemstones, stitching, gemstones, SU two step bird punch, prisma glitter, grosgrain

It's Time to Celebrate the Blog Candy Winner!!

Good morning, sweeties!!! Before I get to my card, I must announce the winner of my first ever Blog Candy :) Thanks to everyone who commented...I just loved what you wrote...great card tips, funny and heartfelt stories about St. Patrick's Day, Olympic moments...sweet blog comments, birthday wishes...thanks!! It was such a wonderful birthday celebration.... all my students were dressed in green, many made me cards or little gifts, one brought in a balloon bouquet, cupcakes, chocolates...it was an all day celebration!! So the winner, as picked by the random number generator, is.....

True Random Number Generator: Result: 35 ...A.K.A. Amy (Aimes!!) from the U.K.!!!

Congratulations, Amy!!! Email (moeplut@shaw.ca) me your mailing address and I'll send this off ASAP :) Okay, onto today's card. This is my second card for Karen's Sweet Sunday challenge. This first one is okay, but I think I like this one better. I cracked open my new Peachy Keen 6x6 paper pad....are these Verve colours or what? LOL. It is a great background for another new stamp from my Verve win...Big Wish. Ah, the butterflies from last summer are back. I needed a colour to pop off the blue and brown and golden yellow fit the bill. Have a glorious Thursday!! Thanks again for visiting and for all your kind, sweet comments. :) Now my blog counter says 363 days until St. Patrick's Day...lol.

What's in it?
Stamps: Verve Wish Big
Ink: SU choc chip
Paper: PTI white, SU choc chip, Kaisercraft Peachy Keen, PTI polkadot dp, script (craft supply)
Accessories: SU butterfly die, dritz pins, PTI button, gemstones, grosgrain ribbon

Blog Candy Time!!!!

SCROLL DOWN FOR NEW POSTS.

THIS POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP UNTIL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17TH....YES, ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Good morning, my lovely friends!!! Well, my magazine came so here is my first official BLOG CANDY!!! In honour of my two seconds of publishing fame, I would like to offer up some fun (I hope) blog candy. My disclaimer is that I've been purchasing and saving items for this candy since last December thinking I could post it at the beginning of February...before the Olympics and Valentines Day. As some of you know, I did not get my magazine in a timely manner so the blog candy is a little behind the times...but I hope you'll still enjoy winning it :) Here's what we have....

* Febrary 2010 CARDS magazine featuring 2 of my first ever published cards :)
* Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Traffic Jam
* Stampin' Up! clear mounted Sweetheart stamp set
* Martha Stewart Doily Hearts border punch (new this year)
* 3 packages of my favourite bling
* 1 very full bag of assorted Papertrey Ink vintage buttons
* 2 spools of my favourite satin ribbon in aqua and light pink
* 1 bag of assorted crocheted and prima flowers
* 1 pair of the official red Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic mittens (size: adult s-m)
* also adding various 6x6 patterned paper...an assortment of my favs :)
Okay!! The details....

I like what my blog pal, Amy, said...you don't have to jump through a whole bunch of hoops to win...but it would be nice if....

*you'd spread the word about my blog candy...(optional)
*you'd become a follower to keep posted about who wins...(optional)

*To win, leave a comment on this post and tell me something!!! LOL Tell me a fun St. Patrick's Day story to make me smile on my birthday, or tell me what you've seen on my blog that you like, or leave me a tip for organizing or making cards, or if you've ever been to Beautiful British Columbia, your take on the 2010 Winter Olympics....anything!!!! I'd love to hear from you :) Because I've got fabulous blog friends all over the world, this contest is open to everyone!!! I know what it's like to "not" be included because of location so I'll mail this anywhere you are!!!

*The winner will be selected by a random number draw after I get home from my birthday dinner!! LOL That will be around 7:30 pm (PST) on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 :) I will post the winner on Thursday, March 18th. The winner will then have 5 days to contact me (moeplut@shaw.ca) with their name and mailing address, otherwise I'll pick another winner.


Good luck!!! I hope I haven't forgotten anything...I hope it's all clear, being my first time and all :) Looking forward to hearing from you!!!

An Irish Blessing for St. Patrick's Day :)

Top o' the Morning!!! Erin go Bragh!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Well, here it is, my favourite day...I'm sure if my birthday wasn't on St. Patty's Day I might be a little less vocal and obvious about it...but I do love it...so please, I hope you don't think it's self-serving or attention-getting...I'm not like that, but I've always thought it was special being born on this day. When I was born, the sixth child, fifth girl, my parents were running out of girl names!!! LOL...Mom said I had to have an Irish name...hence, Maureen, which is Irish for Mary (and yes, I have a sister Mary!! LOL). Today is GREEN DAY in my class...we will watch the old Disney movie, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, eat green icing cupcakes, and read several St. Patrick's day books :) So working on my birthday will not be terrible at all :) Then it's off to a new Irish pub in town for Green Beer :) Thanks to all of you for putting up with all the St. Patrick's Day hoopla here for the past week or so. Have I converted anyone? Will you enjoy it any more....or less? LOL Also, thank-you to all the kind, kind comments and wonderful stories left on my Blog Candy post...there are still about 12 hours until it closes...I'll hopefully have the winner posted here tonight or tomorrow...depends on how the Green Beer goes!! LOL There were so many fabulous and funny St. Patrick's Day stories and one commenter even met her husband on the day I was born back in 1966 :) Hmmmm, maybe I should get onto today's card. This card was made a while back when I fell in love with this patterned paper. I only bought a sheet of it and am down to the last scraps of it after this week. I wanted to make a book mark card so the recipient could use it afterwards...I love this Irish Blessing...I love all of them...it's reason enough to love St. Patrick's Day :) And so to all my lovely blog friends, old and new, I wish you nothing but blessings on this wonderful, joyful day :) And the last fun fact about this day (gee, I only got in 4 facts...will start earlier next year...LOL)....

St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes represent the pagans that he converted to Christianity.

And this brings me to the birthday card my sister sent me years ago...I had to keep it because it was soooooo funny!!!

Cheers!!

What's in it?
Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly
Ink: SU black
Paper: PTI white, spring moss, SU wasabi, It Takes Two dp
Accessories: stitching, large eyelet, SU grosgrain, gemstones, SU corner punch

Kiss Me! I'm Irish!!

Isn't that reason enough to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? I'm a quarter Irish on my mom's side so I can say this all year to my dh (not that he ever needs coaxing...LOL). I'm going way out of my comfort zone using a sketch AND a colour combo...I think it can work, but it really felt limiting. But it's a busy birthday week with back to school, back to the gym, our strata's AGM, and turning 39 again ;) This card fulfills the Curtain Card Colour Challenge and uses this week's Card Positioning Systems sketch. I really wanted to participate as they have some Stamping Bella up for prizes :) I think this may be my last St. Patty's card of the year :( I have an older one for the BIG day tomorrow...so this is probably it. Okay, now for today's St. Patrick's Day fact...

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14. One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover. Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck. St. Patrick used the Shamrock to help explain the Catholic belief of Three Persons in one God...God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I think that's all!! LOL I've got to keep it all together...LOL, oh, last call for my Blog Candy!! I'll do the random number draw after we get home from the St. Patty's/Birthday festivities :) Have a lovely Tuesday and I hope you'll wear green tomorrow...even a tiny bit (for me!!)

Hugs!

What's in it?
Stamps: Studio G
Ink: SU artichoke
Paper: PTI white, lemon tart, SU always artichoke, It Takes Two dp
Accessories: stitching, circle nestabilities, satin ribbon, MS border punch