For You and Only You!!

Good morning!!! I just had to add the "and Only You" to the post title as "For You" seemed too short!! LOL  Today's card is my entry for the last Viva La Verve September sketch.  I wasn't tempted to make more than one card this week...hehehe.  Am loving the rich colours in the inspiration photo.  I wasn't sure what to do with the square panel until the blossoms in Verve's Great Friend started begging to be on the card.  They are quite brown from the AnniVervesary Release but still ink up like a charm :)  For some reason, these colours remind me of when I was a Brownie!! LOL  Well, the week is half over and I can't wait for the weekend.  My sweet husband is whisking me away to a Hot Spring Resort a few hours away.  There is a dining room with a live band and dancing and I can't wait to get dressed up after our couple's massage and hit the dance floor with my handsome hubby :)  Hope your week is going well...thanks so much for visiting today :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve great friend
ink: su choc chip
paper: pti kraft, autumn abundance dp; su peach parfait, early espresso, really rust
accessories: fiskars punch, gemstones, cuttlebug ef, pti ribbon

Kind Words

Monday morning greetings, friends!!! It's a professional day (inservice) in our district, so I'll be having a lovely day with my collegues learning something new about education.  I love these days to share and reflect about teaching :)  Today's card is for this week's Curtain Call Colour Challenge over on Stacey's blog.  She went all out on the neutrals this week, with a pop of red.  I had a couple of cards in my head, but this soft, serene one beat out the loud, in-your-face card...hehehe.  I was inspired by Julie technique of layers papers...I just love how she fits colours together this way :)  I used a Stampin' Up! embossing folder, but turned it over to the negative image for a softer look.  Two pops of red on the pearlized pins and then I stepped away!!  Didn't want to ruin it by adding too much.  Hope you are having a great start to your week.  Summer has decided to return just because I changed my closet over...need to dig those flip flops out!! LOL

what's in it?
stamps: verve kind words
ink: versafine onyx, su sahara sand
paper: pti cream, su sahara sand, soft suede
accessories: circle nestabilities, gemstones, grandpa's vintage button, satin ribbon, dritz pins, su embossing folder, thread

Not the Same Without You ~ Wild Card Colour Challenge 12

Good morning!!  Welcome to the twelfth Wild Card Colour Challenge!!  With my son back at University, I was left to my own devices to choose the next set of colours...when I saw the 2 different greens, I was tempted to throw one back...but stayed true to the challenge.  I was originally going to alternate button colours, but then thought I could stamp the order form in Old Olive ( a close match to ripe avocado).  I really am loving Lavender Moon lately and think it looks great against Hawaiian Shores.  Thanks for stopping by...what's a favourite colour combo you've discovered this week?

LOL, did you notice the misspelling of "new" leaf?  I tried to go back and edit, but didn't know how to delete the one letter with the basic editing program I use...it wasn't as simple as a word document!!  Have a glorious day :)


what's in it?
stamps: verve always on my mind; pti it's official
ink: su old olive, versafine onyx
paper: pti hawaiian shores, kraft, cream, bitty dot dp;
accessories: fiskars border punch, pti buttons and ribbon, gemstones, cuttlebug ef, pti notebook die

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop ~ Technique Trio

Good morning, blog buddies and Papertrey fans!!  I was so excited to be able to join the PTI blog hop this month after missing the two summer ones!!  I was off all summer, but away during both hops!!! What timing, eh?  Anyways....let's get to it as I have 3 projects to share again (can never seem to limit myself to one!).  This month is dedicated to those talented card makers who teach us new techniques or how to perfect the ones we sort of know.  I picked 3 PTI designers who have taught me something new this year....first up is Betsy Veldman....and the fabulous felt flower (tutorial HERE)...

These are so fun to make and even better if you use PTI's felt...it really is top notch like they say :)  I cut the leaves from felt as well and stitched a bit on them for some added texture.  Betsy always seems to have a pop of red somewhere...so the buttons are inspired by her as well :)  Second up is Melissa Phillips who taught me how to tie a bow with that luscious seam binding ribbon (tutorial HERE)...if you haven't tried any, you really must...just sayin'....but don't blame me if you have to buy it in every colour...just sayin' again!! 

Now, last, but never, never least...in fact always first in my mind for inspiration is the incomparable Dawn McVey.  Her blog was one of the very first blogs I started to follow 2 years ago and her talent never ceases to amaze me.  Though I had been tying my bows very similar to the way she does them, she taught me how to keep the ribbon on the spool while tying, so as not to waste any of that yummy ribbon!! (tutorial HERE).

Now, this was not easy to pick inspiring and talented card makers...but the catch was something that they've taught us.  I am in awe of all the talent out there.  Thanks for stopping by...I can't wait to see what you've learned along the way :)


what's in them?
{wising you were here}
stamps: pti library card; verve always on my mind
ink: su cool caribbean, versafine onyx
paper; pti kraft, cream, black; october afternoon dp
accessories: pti felt, buttons, medium scallop and blossom dies; stitching, baker's twine, gemstone


{thank you}
stamps: pti inside and out thankyou; su autumn splendor
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, cream, My Mind's Eye dp
accessories: stitching, gemstones, seam binding (Etsy) dritz pins, pti button, twine


{so sweet of you}
stamps: pti it's official, signature greetings
ink: su choc chip, pti raspberry fizz; versafine onyx
paper: su really rust; pti berry sorbet, kraft, cream, autumn abundance and bitty box dps
accessories: pti ribbon, buttons, twine, oval nestabilitie, pti notepaper die; fiskars border punch

The Grand Essentials of Happiness

Good evening!!! I'm sneaking a card in tonight as the deadline is tomorrow and I've got a BIG PTI Blog Hop post coming up :)  I just HAD to make a card with this week's Card Positioning Systems sketch.  Those horizontal panels had me drooling and made me think of my Memory Box patterned paper, so soft and delicious :)  A little stitching, a little seam binding ribbon and this Friday night was blissful :)  Hope your week went well...see you tomorrow morning, bright and early :)  Thanks for stopping by :)

what's in it?
stamps: su sideways sayings
ink: versafine onyx, su kiwi kiss
paper: pti kraft, cream, memory box gossemer dp
accessories: corner chomper, stitching, seam binding ribbon (Etsy), pti button, twine

Wishing You a Very Happy Birthday

Good morning everyone :)  I have two cards for you today as I could not decide which room to use as inspiration for the Viva La Verve sketch this week.  Amber has been killing me lately with over the top gorgeous rooms.  So even with the little stamping time I've had lately, I just had to spend last Saturday making these :)  This first room grabbed me with those fabulous zebra chairs and leaf wallpaper....

Then came this card inspired by that gorgeous gray room with pops of rich colour...I don't usually say "gorgeous" and "grey"' together...and usually try to get rid of anything grey whether it's in my laundry or on my head!! LOL...but look at that room!!

The chair in the bottom righthand corner made me think of a damask design, hence the kiwi coloured damask panels...then pops of the other colours as well.  I traded the two little panels in the sketch for big bows...can you blame me?  I had some hot pink silk ribbon and had to use it after seeing the pops of raspberry in the photo :)  Two more days to go and then another weekend.  It's been a busy work week again...Open House last night at school, meeting lots of wonderful parents and a dinner meeting tonight.  But it's all good :)  Hope your week is going well, thanks for stopping by today :)

What's in it?
{Wishing You}
stamps: verve wishing you, pti turning a new leaf
ink: versafine onyx, su celery
paper: su celery, black, pti cream, Michaels dp
accessories: corner chomper; pti buttons and ribbon, gemstones,


{Give me the Ability}
stamps: verve dream big; pti damask designs
ink:su kiwi, perfect plum
paper: su basic grey, kiwi kiss, razzleberry; PTI cream
accessories: satin ribbon, gemstones

Thank You

Good morning friends!!  Now before you go and say, "another button tree," let me just say, try one first...then you will see how addicting they are!! LOL  So now whenever I see a sketch with a big circle, plan on seeing a button tree!!! Okay, I'll try to get over them quickly, but really...they are so fun!!!  The big leaf button by the sentiment is another wood button from a card last week.  I've used 2, so there are only 4 left!!!  I will try  NOT to hoard them :)  You might think my stitching is kind of neat with the double stitch line, but it came out of neccessity.  The first line of stitching was a little off, so I decided to make it more "whimsical" with the second round :) LOL  Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have told you that!!  I guess I should get onto the fact that this card uses Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch...it has great panels for using up some of the yummy patterned paper scraps you couldn't throw out :)  I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday, thanks so much for visiting :)  Now off to try your own button trees!! LOL {wink}

what's in it?
stamps: su season of friendship; pti inside and out thankyou
ink: su choc chip
paper: pti cream; kraft, su dusty durango (or one of the other InColours oranges!!LOL), early espresso; cosmo cricket dp; imaginesce dp
accessories: circle nestabilities; pti buttons, ribbon and twine; wood button; stitching, ek success border punch

Happy Belated Birthday {Past Due}

Good morning!!  Well, I have the my first cold of the school year!! LOL  It was bound to happen with a new school and new germs to get used to.  Fortunately it's one of those functioning colds where if you have enough Sudafed in you, you can continue on as usual :) LOL  Today's card is for Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge :)  I love her inspiration photos and rich colours.  I just got my Cosmo Cricket Pixie-Licious and Mitten Weather papers in the mail on Friday and was delighted to find paper in both these packs that were the challenge colours.  The card idea came to me last night and I threw some things on the desk before going to bed.  I love how the green ribbon contrasts against the card and that fun flower brad with button (another brad from that Dollar Store pack!).  Here's a close up....

Well, that's about all for today...I'm working on my cards for the PTI blog hop next Saturday...it's a dull, rainy day here...perfect to stay in and create :)  Have a glorious day :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve wish big; pti it's official
ink: versafine onyx; su going gray, ruby red
paper: su peach parfait, rich razzleberry; pti cream; cosmo cricket dps
accessories: pti notepage die, ribbon, button; twine, flower brad; gemstones

A Guest in the Studio!!!

TGIF!!!!  Good morning!!!  As promised, here is the newest Wild Card Colour Challenge...for those of you new to my blog, here's the post that describes my self made challenge and how it came about.  When my son was up visting a few weeks ago, he would come and hang out in the studio while I made a card or blogged.  My basket of PTI colours was right beside him, so I asked if he would draw the next WaCCCky set of colours. 

So what did he draw?  A fabulous set of colours...what a good son!!! LOL  These are right up there with something the lovely Dawn McVey would use :)  I had a couple of different ideas for these, but this Happy Birthday card is what came out.

Eeek...I used my goto fav card sketch again...but added a double border punch to change things up!!  I love the way it turned out.  The red border is made with a jumbo ek success punch I found at Michaels.  The green arrow is a brad I picked up at the Dollar Store!!!  Love it!!  Let me know if you try these colours...I would love to see what you come up with...have a lovely, lovely Friday :)

what's in it?
stamps: pti say it with style
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti cream, hibiscus burst, poppy; October Afternoon dp
accessories: ek success jumbo punch, su scallop punch, pti ribbon and button, thread, $ store brad; corner chomper

A Grateful Heart

Good morning!!  Though Fall is not my favourite season, I do LOVE Thanksgiving and all the talk around being "thankful" and "grateful."  Though I feel this way all year long, I do like the extra use of thankful sentiments with the rich colours of Fall.  I was flipping through my patterned paper pads (ah, more alliteration!!) and found this adorable leaf paper in my Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg to use with Mercy's sketch this week .  How sweet are those little leaves?  So I started with the paper and chose the other elements from there.  My favourite orange plaid paper snuck its way onto another card (LOL) and I added a cute leaf sticker from Jolee's Boutique (on clearance at Michaels...score!!).  I took a break from the button trees (hmm, they may be back soon, though...lol) and chose one of my favourite Verve sentiments.  I say "one" because I have a "million." :D  The brown circle has been embossed to add some texture, but you need to click on the photo to get a better look.  So at the moment, I'm grateful for making this card during another busy week and for Friday tomorrow :)  What are you grateful for today?  Okay, up tomorrow...a new WaCCCky!!! ....with another special studio guest drawer!!!!!  Come back and visit!!! Hugs and smiles,

what's in it?
stamps: verve plain jane, pti turning a new leaf
ink: su kiwi kiss, choc chip
paper: pti kraft, cream, scarlet jewel, autumn abundance dp; su choc chip, peach parfait; cosmo cricket dp
accessories: fiskars border punch, circle nestabilities, cuttlebug ef, stitching, gemstones, jolees boutique sticker, pti ribbon

I've Been Thinking About You

Trust me, blog buddies...I have been thinking about all of you and quickly looking at all your lovely posts, I'm just bagged right now and can't keep up to all the comments I want to post...so I'll group comments at times...I know you understand :)  I'm wanting all the routines to be set up and running in my class and do not want to wait the 2 or more months it takes to do so...LOL...so bear with me :)  Today's card is for the Card Positioning Systems sketch.  I love how open-ended it is...so full of potential.  I had such fun making a button tree for Mercy's sketch last week, that I couldn't resist that circle panel and the tree again :)  Add some fabulous October Afternoon paper and you have one yummy card, even without the bling!! HA!!  I hope your week is going well...we're half way there!!  Hugs....

what's in it?
stamps: su season of friendship; pti blooming button bits
ink: su choc chip; versafine onyx
paper: pti cream, kraft; su peach parfait; october afternoon dp
accessories: circle nestabilities; fiskars border punch; pti buttons; su ribbon; stitching

Just Because

Eeek!! It's the first Monday of work AND a staff meeting, ugh!!! I have been informed by a member of my new staff that the staff meetings are great and don't go too long...here's hoping!! LOL  If it does, I will just go to my "happy place" and design cards for upcoming challenges...hehehe.  My card today is for Stacy's Curtain Call Colour Challenge.  I was once again intrigued by the neutral palette, although it looks a lot easier than it was.  My original card did not have the ledger paper behind the flower, but that sweet felt flower just needed something to anchor it...hence the ledger paper.  The artichoke cardstock has been embossed with the SU square lattice embossing folder and has been stitched down each side.  (You can click on the picture for a closer view).  I've made a few of these fun felt flowers before, compliments of the Betsy Veldman tutorial.  They are so fun and if you don't have any PTI felt yet, get some!!  It cuts like butt-ah...it's also thin so it's not as bulky as the cheap Dollar Store stuff (of which I have tons!!).  I was rooting around in my green button jar and found this sweet button with a rose on it.  The leaves are handmade, stamped, distressed and crumpled.  Okay, wish me luck on the first Monday!! LOL  I hope you're having a lovely start to your week :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve great friend
ink: su choc chip
paper: pti white, kraft, library ledger dp; su always artichoke
accessories: stitching, pti felt, blossom dies, buttons; gemstones, baker's twine, ek success edger punch; May Arts twill ribbon; su embossing folder

Thank You

Ahh..... thanks for popping in and joining me for my first Saturday of the school year :D  It is a sunny morning here in B.C. and I'm enjoying a coffee in my jammies :)  Then onto house stuff... today's card was made over 2 nights as this little stamper has been tired and even her studio couldn't keep her awake.  I just LOVE Mercy's sketch this week (do I say that every week? LOL).  Three panels always make me think...oh, use up some fabulous patterned paper scraps!!  I am right into the Autumn colours now and love SU's Pumpkin Pie...my favourite orange :)  It is stunning with almost any colour so I may have to add it to my list of "neutrals,"  right beside PTI's Berry Sorbet.  How do you like that wooden leaf button?  I picked it up at the LSS on my solo road trip in August...they were expensive and came in a pack of 6...but I couldn't resist!!  I have loved the cards out there I've seen with buttons for leaves on trees and thought I'd try out my own...a great way to use up the mountain of buttons I have somehow collected over the last 2 years!! LOL  The sentiment is from Verve's newest release...Dream Big.  I hope you are having a great start to your weekend...I want to get onto the house work so I can get a few cards made :)  Thanks for stopping by and your comments really brighten my day :) 

what's in it?
stamps: verve dream big; su season of friendship
ink: su choc chip
paper: su pumpkin pie, espresso, pti kraft, cream, autumn abundance dp
accessories: circle nestabilities, pti buttons, gems, stitching, pti ribbon & twine, wood button,

What You Have in Your Heart

Happy Thursday morning!!!  Well, last night was an early bedtime for me...lol....the first FULL day with my new sweet class PLUS hours of planning and prep afterwards, made this little cardmaker pooped!!  I am so glad I had these cards made a few days ago...and I'm even posting them in one sitting...just to  save typing time :)  I was so intrigued by Stacy's Curtain Call Colour Challenge this week that I had to make 2 cards.  What beautiful poppies in this inspiration photo :)  I am a big fan of Creative Mint where it came from :) This first card is my latest go-to sketch and the second card uses the current 2 Sketches 4 You sketch.

I wanted to use some more of my new SU ribbon in peach parfait (I am changing this to orange creamsicle!!LOL) and the new aviary set :)  I don't have a cutesy bird cage stamp, so thought this set would be a nice addition to the studio :)  Okay, I hope to get to Mercy's sketch tonight...have a fall themed card in mind :)  Hope your week is going well...TGIF tomorrow!!! The first of the year is the sweetest!!!

what's in them?
{what you have in your heart}
stamps: pti inside and out thankyou
ink: versafine onyx
paper: su poppy, wasabi, pti white, autumn abundance dp
accessories: PTI ribbon, medium scallop die; stitching, gemstones, cuttlebug ef, heart button, bakers twine, corner chomper


{how sweet of you}
stamps: verve happy hello, su aviary
ink: su wasabi, real red, versafine onyx
paper: pti white, su poppy, k&company dp; dcwv dp
accessories: circle nestabilitie; fiskars border punch, pti buttons, thread, su ribbon, bakers twine