Happy New Year!!

Well, here we are…the last day of the year.  I’m not a real big fan of “New Years.”  I don’t like all the hype, overpriced dinners and resolution making as I try to change things about myself as need be, not just because it is a new year.  PLUS, being a teacher, my New Years is July 1st, the first day of summer vacation and Canada Day!! LOL  So when people ask, what’s your resolution this year, I always say, “This above all, to thine own self be true.”  I love that quote and have it up in my kitchen :)  Do what I know is right and true and if I do something wrong, make it right.  Golden rule stuff.  Today’s card was so fun to make.  I used this week’s Card Patterns sketch along with some more of that Mind’s Eye glitter paper Melisa gave me :)  I also inked up the branches and Happy New Year sentiment from Verve’s Merry Wishes.  This is the only New Years card I’ve made (I make Christmas cards to send out), but I have a special friend in mind who will love this :)  AND because even our local mail has been excruciatingly slow these past few weeks, I will hand deliver it!! LOL  One thing I do like about New Years, though, is all the hugging, so I will wish you all a Happy New Years with a big hug!! :D  I do think it will be an exciting year!!  PS…like these stamps?  Today is the last day of the VERVE Good Buy sale…see my sidebar for the link and savings code!!).

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve merry wishes

ink: versafine onyx, su close to cocoa, soft sky, certainly celery

paper: su soft sky, choc chip; pti white; my mind’s eye dp

accessories; stitching; sheer ribbon, pti buttons, thread, circle nestabilities, cuttlebug ef, su slot punch

You Warm My Heart

Good morning!!  After spending yesterday morning with my family, I got to spend the rest of the day in the studio!!  I wanted to make sure I participated in Mercy’s LAST Tuesday sketch challenge.  I have sooooo enjoyed them each week and will definitely miss her creativity :)  Thanks, Mercy!!!  Now that Christmas cards are officially done, I’m moving on to some of my new PTI goodies :)  Isn’t that little steam heart adorable?  The cup is cut from Hawaiian Shores felt and was meant to go home with my friend, Melisa, but must have gotten stuck on something while she packed up :)  I will make you a new one, Melisa!!  One more day of this year…I hope you’ll stop by tomorrow for my one and only Happy New Year card :)  I’m hoping to deliver it today to its recipient :)  lol  Thanks for stopping by :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: pti warm happiness too

ink: su sahara sand; versafine onyx

paper: pti white, kraft; su vintage violet, soft sky; Michaels dp

accessories: pti felt, button, twine, medium scallop and mug dies; nestabilities labels 16 and square dies; gemstones, cuttlebug ef, stitching, satin ribbon

A Difficult Anniversary

Good morning dear friends.  Yesterday was the annual sisters’ lunch and shopping trip.  All but one of us made it and we picked up some gorgeous discounted Christmas decorations :)  It was a fun day together despite knowing that today might be a little difficult for us.  Some of my closest followers might remember my mom passing away a year ago today.  My oldest sister and I held her hand as she passed.  An old acquaintance who I ran into a few months ago told me she believes people “choose” who will be with them when they die and this was quite comforting to me as I did feel honoured and happy to be there with her.  My sisters, dad and I will go to early mass this morning and then out to breakfast.  Mom would have loved that :)  I’ve used this week’s Mojo Monday sketch to make this card for anyone who might be remembering someone special who is not with them.  Sending hugs to where you are :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve forever in our hearts, great friend

ink: versafine onyx, su more mustard, sahara sand

paper: pti white, su soft sky; pti pastel and cosmo cricket dps

accessories: grandpa’s buttons, gemstones, nestabilities labels 16, satin ribbon, thread

It’s Your Birthday!

 

Good morning friends!!  I finally have a morning to myself and thought what better way to spend it but by having my coffee in the studio and making a card!!  We have blue skies here so there is a lot of beautiful natural light spilling into the room :)  Today’s card is for the last Viva La Verve December Sketch over on SCS.  Teresa is hosting this week and has given us a fabulous sketch to work with.  Now that Christmas has passed, I can focus on Winter/Snowflake cards :)  This card is for my second oldest sister whose birthday is in early January.  Her gift will be to come to the studio and pick out 10 cards :)  I do that for all my sisters now (I have 4!).  I am using that fantastic blinged out ribbon from Michaels (see this funky card, which BTW went to my 85 year old MIL!! lol).  I also want you to notice that shimmery The Cat’s Pajamas snowflake die (again!!) and how I stamped “Happy Birthday” on the ledger paper…I love doing that!!! It’s stamped in SU Going Gray so that it’s subtle and looks like it’s part of the patterned paper.

I’ll leave you with this photo from Christmas Eve…me with my Greatest Joy :)  Have a wonderful start to your week!!  Oh, and if you haven’t heard…Verve is having their Good Buy sale!!!  Check it out!!! Woohoo!! The link is on my sidebar and see the code on the pic for another 10% savings!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve big wish

ink: su going gray, versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, raspberry fizz; su coral, pti, basicgrey and dcwv dps; glitter cardstock

accessories: stitching, circle nestabilities, tcp snowflake die, Michaels ribbon, gemstones

Holiday Leftovers ~ PTI December Blog Hop

 

Scroll down to the next post for my

Curtain Call Colour Challenge card…

 

Good morning blog friends and PTI fans!!  Today’s projects are for the December Papertrey Ink Blog Hop over on Nichole’s blog :)  When I first saw the challenge this month, I didn’t think I would  participate as I’m not that uniquely creative with leftover bits of ribbon and paper.  BUT as the week went on and I started receiving cards and wrapping gifts, a few ideas came to mind.  This first card is a repurposed card I received from my cousin in NJ.  Although he is much older than me, he keeps in touch and always sends a lovely card our way each Christmas.  He knows I make my own cards, so he picked this special handmade one to send this year…how sweet and thoughtful is that?  I knew I couldn’t just throw this beauty away so I cut off the front of the card and attached it to some PTI white cardstock, added the sentiment, ribbon, bling and pinking border :)  Voila, a card ready to reuse :)  Aren’t the stitching and those birds adorable? Next up is the gift tag  I made for my dh’s gift.  He is a hunter and fisherman so I got  this fun camouflage paper at the local Wholesale Sports Store.  I always joke with him that I can’t see him in his camos so I added lots of red bling to the camo tree (made with scraps left from wrapping his gift).


Up last is another repurposed card from last year.  I saved the front of this card because the trees were so pretty.  It’s been sitting on my desk ALL year!! I attached it to some PTI shimmer white cardstock, added the button and silver cording and some blue bling on the trees (the pearls were already there).

Thanks for visiting!!! I can’t wait to see all the creative ideas everyone has come up with :)

what’s in them?

{when I’m with you}

stamps: pti signature series flower

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti white

accessories: beautiful card from cousing :)  pti ribbon, gemstones, corner chomper

{camo tree gift tag}

stamps: verve glad tidings; pti 2010 holiday tags

ink: su real red, versafine, onyx

paper: pti kraft, camo gift wrap

accessories: pti tag and tree dies, bakers twine, buttons, gemstones, su bronze cording

{a Christmas thank you}

stamps: pti signature christmas

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti shimmer white

accessories: old Christmas card, su silver cording, button, gemstones

Nature Gives Every Season

Good morning!! Happy Boxing Day to my fellow Canadians!!  It’s the Canadian equivalent to Black Friday in the States, not for the faint of heart shoppers :)  Today’s card is my last one as Guest Designer over on Stacey’s Curtain Call Colour Challenge.  It was so much fun to play with Stacey and the girls…they are true gems and were so sweet and encouraging to me all month and even before when I entered the weekly challenges.  I  really hope you can eek out a few moments to play with us this week :)  When I saw these colours, I just swooned!!! I love this colour combo.  I knew I wanted to use this snowflake cardstock somehow.  It’s been adhered to the blue card base and really stands on its own.  The green silk ribbon was purchased this summer and was just so delicious to tie.  Another one of Grandpa’s buttons was tied with silver cording and I added a few more beads to my Dritz pins before sticking them into the ribbon :)  This sentiment was from the Verve Fall Release, but I think it works for any season!!  Although I don’t like the cold of the season, the snow is beautiful :) The Curtain Call Crew has samples to show you today, too, so make sure you stop by to see:

Christina MacLaren at Seaglass & Sentiments

Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper

Julie Lacey at Stamps & Taxes

Laurel Seabrook at Seabrook Designs

Makiko Jones at MakInk Studio

 Monika Davis at M.A.D. Stamper

Piali Biswas at Touch of Creation

 Silke Ledlow at My Life

…then play along with us and post your Curtain Call Color Challenge creation using Mr. Linky back at Stacey's Stamping Stage.

Okay, I’m back later with my PTI blog hop so come back a little later for some recycled fun!!  Once again, a huge and heartfelt thank you to Stacey for giving me this fun opportunity :)  Hugs to you and the crew!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve plain jane

ink: su choc chip

paper: su baja breeze, choc chip, pti white, little yellow bicycle snowflake cardstock

accessories: square nestabilities, gemstones, grandpa’s button, su silver cording, Dritz buttons, beads, May Arts satin ribbon

Silver Bells

Good morning!!! Well, one more sleep!!  I remember as a child how excited I would get before Christmas  and how long the days leading up to it seemed and how LONG the night before Christmas was :)  Today’s card is another “Joy” card, but it also has silver bells (via Michaels yesterday!) so I thought I’d change up the post title a bit :)  These bells have an aged silver looks and were part of another ornament kit that will never become a wire sleigh :)  hehehe.  I have had these Making Memories Fa La La alphabet stickers for 2 years and am finally using them!!  I loved their whimsy but just never got a chance to use them.  This may be the last Christmas card of the year and it’s for my son’s girlfriend, but from me :)  I found her the cutest scarf and glove set yesterday (I’m tempted to keep them or go and buy myself another set!! lol).  At this time I want to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas and thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting here each day or each week or every once and a while.  I truly appreciate it :)  I’ll be back on Sunday with my last Guest Designer card for Stacey’s Curtain Call Colour Challenge and then a bit later for the PTI Blog Hop :)  I’m leaving you with a couple of pictures of my leprechaun ornaments :)  Have a blessed Christmas!!!

 

This little sweetie was made for me 10 years ago by one of my students.  I have become very good friends with his mother over the years and he is in Grade 12 now!! He made me this sweet little bead leprechaun and it always makes me smile when we unpack it :)

This sparkly little guy was given to me by my lovely husband.  He found it in Banff when we were there celebrating our 2nd anniversary :)  My tree is not a fancy designer tree…my dad cut it down up where he keeps his horses and most of the ornaments have been gifts from friends and students…it is a memory tree of love :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve merry wishes

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti kraft, plum pudding; pti and cosmo cricket dps, glitter cardstock

accessories: the cats pajamas snowflake die; pti scallop border die; seam binding ribbon; su silver cording, grandpa’s button, silver bells; making memories fa la la alphabet stickers, corner chomper

Hello Friend ~ Wild Card Colour Challenge #18

Hello friends!!!  Yikes!!! No Christmas or Winter card today…just some old fashioned playing around with some new goodies that have been waiting patiently to be used :)  AND I finally got to the next Wild Card Colour Challenge (see the end of the post for my to do list!)

 

I have been dying (no pun intended) to use some more dies and felt and just love making these little blossoms :)  I’m also using the new to me pocket die which has been embossed with leaves, but does not show up here :(  Regardless, this card was so fun to make…a little down time amidst this busy season.  I really wanted to keep it calm around here and enjoy all the little moments of the season, including some quiet time in the studio :)  So far so good :)  Here’s the updated to do list, although imagine a check by the WaCCCky :)  Oh, and dig the latte in the Vixen mug!!  I have the whole Pottery Barn Reindeer mug collection from years ago minus Rudolf.  Guests get to pick which Reindeer they are feeling like!  LOL  Hope you are all having a great day…thanks for stopping by :)  PS to Aimes, I tried to get more of the PTI stamp sets in for you ;)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve happy hello; pti it’s official

ink: su really rust, rose romance, versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, ocean tides, kraft, bitty boxes and bitty dots dps

accessories: pti felt, blossom dies, pocket die, note  page die; leaf die, stitching, distressor, gemstones, pti ribbon, button, su linen thread

One Word: Joy

Good morning!!! Do you ever get that really giddy feeling when you’re making a card and everything is falling into place and you just love what is forming in front of you?  That’s what happened this morning making this card.  Though card making makes me happy in general (except when the mojo fails to show up or the patterned paper takes over and goes crazy!), sometimes I have the feeling of total bliss when putting things together.  This card uses Mercy’s fabulous Tuesday Sketch and is custom made for my son’s girlfriend, Joyce, who by the way was named as such so she would have Joy in her life.  How beautiful is that?  No other stamp than this Verve “Joy” came to mind…simple and elegant :)  Some more rustic bells (Aimes…that’s 108 left!), a super glittery star and seam binding ribbon, oh my!!! And some more of that gorgeous My Mind’s Eye paper that my friend Melisa gave me :)  I also finally got to use the Very Vintage labels No. 10 set from Waltzing Mouse :)  So Moe really likey :)  What is giving you joy today?  Smiles and hugs and joy to you all :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve merry wishes; waltzing mouse vintage labels no. 10

ink: versafine onyx, su rose romance

paper: pti cream, su soft sky, pink pearl cardstock; my mind’s eye dp

accessories: cuttlebug ef, oval and labels 10 nestabilities; ms border punch, seam binding ribbon (this good day @ Etsy), glitter star (memriemare @ Etsy), gemstones, stitching, rustic bells (Michaels)

Tags and Fun Stuff

Good evening friends :)  Well, my son made it back from University and is here until Sunday :)  So both my men are home and I’ve given them sugar cookie icing duty while I play, ahem, work {wink} in the studio :)  I would like to share a few of my gift tags that are about to go on some gifts under the tree.  The first one on the left is for my sweet husband.  He loves to hunt and fish so I got some camouflage gift wrap for his presents.  I had some scraps left over, so thought it only fitting I should make a matching tag.  The joke with us is when he wears his camos, I can’t see him!! LOL  So I’ve attached a big red bow to his present and a red star to the tag so he can see them clearly!! LOL  The middle tag is for my bonus son (he likes baking for his present from me) and the last one to the right is for my son, Jake (using up a scrap of that delicious paper I used yesterday :)  The tag designs were inspired by Dawn McVey in her fabulous post here.  Up next is the out of this world amazing card my dear friend, Melisa, gave me when she came over for a studio play date yesterday….she’s the one who introduced me to card blogs, Verve, and stitching!!!  How fabulous is that tree with those hand sewn glass beads?  I’m still drooling!!

Okay, the last part of this post is the List of Fours that my buddy, Lynn, tagged me on…so just if you’re interested…
1. Four shows that you watch:

-Big Bang Theory

- Modern Family

- What Not to Wear

- Dancing with the Stars

and if that’s not on, reruns of Seinfeld and Sex and the City

 

2. Four things you are passionate about:

- My husband and son

- card making

-random acts of kindness

- teaching young children

 

3. Four words/phrases you say a lot:

- what do you want me to notice about your work?  (in my teacher voice!! lol)

- Baby… (to my son and my husband!)

- you never know what is in another person’s heart

- if you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.

 

4. Four things you've learned from the past:

- life is short, don’t sweat the small stuff

- beauty is in the eye of the beholder

- the only one that can make you happy is yourself

- thank God for unanswered prayers ( I used to wonder why some of my prayers were not answered after much praying and then I read an answer to this in a book…God answers all our prayers, just sometimes the answer is “no.”) Fair enough…

 

5. Four places you would like to go:

- a cruise

- France (Monet’s garden and Paris)

- Greece

- Hawaii

 

6. Four things you did yesterday:

- went to the chiropractor

- had my hair streaked and cut

- had my dear friend over for a studio play date

- kissed my husband lots :)  as he just got home from NZ Sunday.

 

7. Four things you are looking forward to:

- building our new home

- my son’s graduation in June with his degree in Civil Engineering

- receiving my new Verve stamp set and PTI order in the mail :)

-having these 2 weeks off from work to spend time with my family and friends

 

8. Four things you love about winter:

(Is this a trick question?  Winter is not my favourite season because it’s COLD!)

- snow, if I’m at home and don’t have to drive in it :)

- Christmas

- Spring is the next season :)

- officially, my birthday is in Winter…so I guess my birthday :) lol

 

9.  Four people I tag to play along (no worries if you pass :)!!)

Tanis at All That Rubbish

Marisa at Rosemary Reflections

Michelle at Stop and Stamp the Roses

Janelle at Show and Tell

Thanks for visiting, you are all too sweet to come and spend a few moments with me :)  Have a lovely evening and sweet dreams :)

Good Will Towards Men

Good evening!!  Well, it was the first official day off today :)  I had a couple of late morning appointments, some time in a local coffee shop and some stamping time in the studio with a dear friend.  We like to share paper and goodies and this time she brought over some delicious My Mind’s Eye Christmas paper…oh, I had to use it right away!  The sketch is from Karen’s Sweet Sunday Challenge.  I would normally change this size of card to the standard size, but this card is going to my dear neighbours so I can hand deliver it.  This sweet people have been my neighbours since I moved into my place 15 years ago.  They also go to my church and are super talented musicians.  The wife, Jennifer, played her celtic harp and sang at our wedding.  So I made this special Christmas card for them :)  Notice the rustic bells?  (Verve fans who were at the last release party will appreciate this!! lol)  Well, I was at Michaels (again), hoping the purple and blue bells would be in stock again, but they weren’t.  BUT I did notice a wreath ornament kit made with 112 rustic bells!!! AND it was on sale AND I could use the store’s 20% off your order coupon…score!!!!  Oh, and I want to share my little to do list on my computer desk…it’s been updated since this post :)  Actually, it should be updated again…airport pick up and cherry crumble done!!  Just need to work on the next WaCCCky :)  Hope you’re having a lovely evening…I’m off to start the baking!!

 

What’s in it?

stamps: Verve Richly Blessed, Star of Wonder

ink: su sahara sand, versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, kraft, su ruby red; My Mind’s Eye dp

accessories: square nestabilities, pti buttons, seam binding ribbon (Memriemare @ Etsy); gemstone, stitching, rustic bells, twine, su scallop border punch

Let it Snow!!

Sunday greetings!!! This card seems very appropriate tonight.  As I prepare this post we are getting a gentle snowfall.  It’s so cozy here in the studio and I have enjoyed my first day of Christmas vacation (minus the time cleaning the house! lol).  Today’s card is for my Guest Designer stint at Stacey’s Curtain Call Colour Challenge this week :)  I just love these colours!!! I knew I wanted to do a big tag for this card, but the design of the tag changed a bit.  I thought I had some lovely snowflake ribbon with burgundy on it, but as it turned out it was red so I had to adlib.  Still loving my TCP’s snowflake die…I need to try some felt with it next!


The Curtain Call Crew has samples to show you today, too, so make sure you stop by to see:

Christina MacLaren at Seaglass & Sentiments

Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper

Julie Lacey at Stamps & Taxes

Laurel Seabrook at Seabrook Designs

Makiko Jones at MakInk Studio

Monika Davis at M.A.D. Stamper

Piali Biswas at Touch of Creation

Silke Ledlow at My Life 

...then play along with us and post your Curtain Call Color Challenge creation using Mr. Linky back at Stacey's Stamping Stage.
Oh, and for those of you who know that the dh has been away for 5 weeks, I’m picking him up today at the airport!!! Yippeeeeeee!!!!!  Have a wonderful Sunday, thanks for visiting :)

what’s in it?

stamps: waltzing mouse Compliments of the Season

ink: su baroque burgundy, versafine onyx

paper: pti kraft, vintage cream, su espresso, jilly bean, pti, and basic grey dps; glitter cardstock

accessories: cuttlebug ef, stitching, su vanilla ribbon, pti button, twine, fiskars border punches, gemstones, TCP snowflake die, spellbinders snowflake pendant die, ms snowflake punch, su ticket corner punch, gemstone button (Memriemare @ Etsy)

More Joy to the World

Good morning!!!  Two more work days and this happy girl will be off for two weeks to enjoy time with family and friends over the Christmas holidays!!  Today’s card uses Mercy’s Tuesday sketch :)  I saved this lovely button wreath from a card last year…something happened to the card base, so I salvaged the wreath, hoping to find a card to put it on…and last night I finally found it!!  This card is going to another sweet work colleague.  I really do love my new staff :)  Have a great Thursday.  It’s my turn at the concert tonight!!! Our dress rehearsal yesterday was great so I’m sure the actual show performance will be wonderful too :)  Have a great day :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve star of wonder

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, raspberry fizz, scarlet jewel, basic grey and pti dps

accessories: rectangle and blossom nestabilities; pti buttons, twine, sheer ribbon, gemstones, stitching