Good morning!! Just a quick little post for this week’s Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. I didn’t really have a plan, just played around with some new paper and stamps until I came up with something I loved :) Not a usual colour palette for me, but I really like the grey and yellow! Hope you’re having a great week and I hope you can come back tomorrow…there will be a fun little blog hop!! Smiles to you all :)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Many Thanks
Good morning!! Just a quick little post for this week’s Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. I didn’t really have a plan, just played around with some new paper and stamps until I came up with something I loved :) Not a usual colour palette for me, but I really like the grey and yellow! Hope you’re having a great week and I hope you can come back tomorrow…there will be a fun little blog hop!! Smiles to you all :)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Dream Big
Good morning! Yes, it’s Monday, but there’s no staff meeting and this will be a fun week :) The dh gets home late tonight which means “date night” is coming up soon and Wednesday I meet with an interior designer to help plan the “fun” parts of the new house :) Today’s card uses the colours from the new CR84FN challenge. I don’t usually use just blue and yellow, but add kraft and how can I resist? This card went through many transformations before ending up like the one you see here. The mojo was fighting me this weekend! Now that we are heading into Graduation Season, I thought I’d make a few inspiring cards. I just love this sentiment from Verve’s Dream Big set. The perfect way to say “congrats to the grad.” I hope today finds you well and happy. Thanks so much for stopping by :)
what’s in it?
stamps: Dream Big (Verve)
paper: kraft, ocean’s tide, white (PTI), early espresso (SU!), picket fence (Lilybee Design)
ink: onyx (versafine), barely banana (SU!)
accessories: circle and scalloped circle nestabilities (Spellbinders), limitless layers die (PTI), grosgrain ribbon, button, twine (PTI), seeing spots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), stitching, gems (Kaisercraft)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
A Best Friend is Like…
…a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. No, it’s not St. Patrick’s Day (RATS!!) teehee. Today’s little lucky card is me using some of my MFT stamps for their Wednesday Sketch #21 Challenge. I just started entering these challenges this month and did win a GC!! There is an extra incentive to use My Favourite Things stamps, hence the sweet little four leaf clover gal (let’s call her Irishlatte, shall we?! LOL) I had used my other A La Mode images and thought everyone over on the MFT forum was getting sick of yet ANOTHER teacher card, so I thought I’d break out “Irishlatte.” The ladies over on that forum like the way I leave my images black and white…it’s only because I don’t colour!! lol. However, I thought the clover should be green, so I paper pieced it :) One of my sister’s best friends is Irish so she’ll probably pick this one when she visits this summer and gets her set of cards for her birthday (my gift to my sisters…pick 10 cards from the studio ;). I usually leave the inside of my cards blank, but since there was no room for the sentiment on the outside, I stamped it on the inside :)
Ugh, it’s still rainy and cold here and the only good thing about that is that I’m staying inside the studio :) I have a list of cards to make for the family this week so hopefully the mojo won’t care if it’s sunny or not and keep flowing :) Hope you are having sunny skies where you are :) Thanks for visiting :)
what’s in it?
stamps: my favourite things wishing you luck, pti mat stack 4
paper: pti white, kraft, su kiwi, razzleberry, espresso, basicgrey and lilybee dp
ink: versafine onyx, su perfect plum
accessories: pti border and mat 4 die, circle nestabilities, gems, stitching, satin ribbon,
Friday, May 27, 2011
May All Your Dreams Come True
TGIF everyone! It’s the weekend and that means there is a new Viva La Verve Challenge over on the Verve Splitcoast Forum. Diva Tosh is our hostess and has challenged us to use 2 tilted panels!! Enter my tilted panel weapon…the spiral edge notepage die!! LOL The sketch does show 3 panels on the bottom and I did NOT forget them…there are 3 at the bottom, just from the same paper :) I stitched them so you could see there are 3. I hope you can join us for this final week of May challenges. If you’ve played all month, you can enter to win the whole next release on the Champions thread. Also, it’s a long weekend in the States, so Julee has a Memorial Day sale on till the 31st…check it out!!
Have a fabulous day and thanks so much for stopping by :)
what’s in it?
stamps: Always on My Mind (Verve)
ink: onyx (versafine)
paper: vintage cream, kraft (PTI), early espresso (SU!), gingham dp (October Afternoon), Portrait Collection (Crate Paper)
accessories: notepage die (PTI), circle and scalloped circle nestabilities (Spellbinders), border punch (Martha Stewart), ribbon (Michaels), gems ($ store), flowers (Prima), seed packet diecut, stitching, printed kraft bag
Thursday, May 26, 2011
You are in My Prayers
Good morning! Today’s card is for this week’s PTI Make It Monday challenge. I haven’t consistently entered these challenges, but this one caught my attention with the great video by Dawn :) I just love hearing her talk about her thought process…that and the fact that I love everything she makes. The challenge was to make a sympathy card. I’m using some more Sweet Threads paper and one of my new prima flowers. I originally was going to use satin or sheer ribbon on this, but decided on twine for a more toned down look. I hadn’t used my top note die in AGES so dug it out after remembering a card Dawn did almost exactly two years ago. I hope you are having a wonderful week…TGIF tomorrow and a new Viva La Verve challenge…hope you come back!! Thanks for visiting :)
what’s in it?
stamps: pti turning a new leaf, healing touch sentiments
paper: pti white, sweet blush, su peach parfait, basicgrey sweet threads
ink: versafine onyx, su mellow moss
accessories: su top note die, pti buttons and twine, prima flower, gems, thread, stitching
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop ~ Flowers
Good morning!! Well, it’s the 25th and that usually means I’m joining in the PTI Blog Hop fun. This month’s challenge was perfect timing. I’ve been experimenting with a few new (to me anyways!) ways to create flowers. First up is this loopy felt flower. These fun little babies are SOOOO fast to make…seriously, two minutes and that includes a coffee break! I was playing along with a colour challenge last week and came across the tutorial link HERE…I also got to play with some new PTI goodies that hadn’t seen ink yet…Dawn’s newsprint background and the Mat 3 stamp and die :) It’s a little crazy with all the different patterns, but after the initial shock, I think it’s a cheery little card :) Up next is another flower made with the Hello, Friend stamp set and the Friendly Flower die. (it’s also using the colours from the latest WaCCCky – Wild Card Colour Challenge!) It wouldn’t be a PTI blog hop without one!! IMHO…HA!
I stamped 4 die cut flowers with one of the flower image in summer sun yellow. Then I cut the petals a bit more, scrunched them all up and sewed them together with the button and twine. Ah, another button card…told you I’m addicted!! Thanks for visiting and I can’t wait to hop along later after work. Your sweet comments make me smile :D
what’s in them?
{feel better soon}
stamps: pti mat stack 3, background basics newsprint
ink: versafine onyx, su perfect plum, going grey
paper: pti white, rustic cream, MME lime twist dp
accessories: pti felt, mat 3 die, may arts ribbon, gems
{make a wish}
stamps: pti button boutique, hello friend
ink: versafine onyx, su summer sun, sahara sand
paper: pti kraft, rustic cream, distressed dots and bitty box basics dp, cream paper
accessories: pti button card and friendly flower dies, pti buttons, twine and ribbon, fiskars border punch, su library clip, thread
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Vintage Style
Good morning! Well, it’s back to work today after an extra long weekend…as much as I love them, it’s hard to get back into the swing of things. Now it’s the short, busy stretch to the summer! Today’s card is for this week’s CR84FN colour challenge. I couldn’t resist the purples with kraft…totally yummy! I also wanted to use some of my favourite things lately…button cards, corrugated butterfly (I hope Starbucks is not noticing I’m taking 2 sleeves when I visit!! lol), and doilies…okay, funny little story about this card. I go to take the picture and the large white doily starts coming apart. It was actually 4 doilies stuck together!! BONUS!! Although it was tricky pulling them off and not ripping some paper or my beloved button card! Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting :)
what’s in it?
stamps: pti button boutiqe
paper: pti kraft, plum pudding, rustic cream, various scrap dps
ink: versafine onyx, memory box lilac, su sahara sand
accessories: pti button card, mat 4 dies, mft butterflies die, pti buttons and ribbon, stitching, gems, doily, cuttlebug ef, Starbucks corrugated sleeve :)
Monday, May 23, 2011
Happy Birthday Waltzingmouse Stamps!
Good Monday morning everyone!! And a super good one it is up here in Canada…it’s our Victoria Day long weekend :) My card today is for this week’s Waltzingmouse Challenge. I knew it had to be a birthday card as the sweet owner, Claire, is celebrating her second year in business. Funny enough, my WMS order arrived on Friday…one week to get here from Ireland…hmmm…does anyone in Canada (who orders from the States) find this interesting?! LOL Anyways, the sketch this week was a doozy and I had to think on my design for awhile. I kind of like the way the heart circles look like they are part of the patterned paper. This also helped keep the background simple enough that I could add a flower and twine focal point.
Okay, now for a house update! Though things are moving along, there wasn’t a lot of “change” to take pictures of. This first one is ANOTHER picture of the studio…notice how I’m not blocking off the room!! LOL (I’m inching the walls out more in my mind! LOL). The ground is being prepared with special gravel before the concrete basement floor gets poured next week sometime. Those 3 beige posts are what will hold up the sundeck off the main floor…good thing, ‘cause we don’t want anything falling down during martini hour!! {wink}
So I stood in the “studio” and looked out the imaginary windows…this is my view.
For this last one, I stood on our street and took a straight on photo of the “house.” The 3 car (well 1 car, 1 truck, 2 fishing boats) garage will be on the left, then the front door, then the den windows will be on the right. Can you see the faint metal bar sticking out of the ground on the right? That will be where one of the posts to the arched entrance will be. More reinforcements :)
Wowza!! That was a lot of talking!! Thanks for listening and have a fantastic day :)
what’s in it?
stamps: waltzingmouse frame it
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, hibiscus burst, su sahara sand, basicgrey sweet threads, MME stella and rose (gertie) dps
accessories: pti banner and love lives here dies and twine, gems, prima flowers,
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Celebrate Good Times!
Good morning!! Well, I had the best day off yesterday…breakfast downtown on a sunny morning and a bit of fun shopping at Michaels and the Apple Store (yes, a shiny new black iPad 2 is on its way to me in 2-3 weeks :) Then I got home and a sweet little package from Taylored Expressions was in the mail with some new My Mind’s Eye papers and prima flowers :) So a fabulous day all round! I also finished this fun little card that uses this week’s Colour Q colours :) I was inspired by the fabulous card by Kasia, one of the design team members. My fellow Diva Tosh had also made a similar flower on her blog, so I went over to view her tutorial and created this super fun loopy felt flower. I also picked a sentiment that makes my card perfect for the new challenge over on A Passion for Papertrey…to be inspired by a song. Remember Kool and the Gang? “Celebrate good times, come on and celebrate!" Kind of a fun song and reminds me of the little parties I have in the studio!! LOL I hope you are celebrating good times wherever you are…oh, and any iPad users out there? I could use some little bits of information to get me started…have any? I’ve been in Etsy looking for a funky cover…need help with that too ;) Thanks for visiting!
what’s in it?
stamps: verve birthday bash, pti background basics retro and leaf prints
ink: su basic grey, su choc chip, going gray
paper: pti white, su espresso, basic grey, sahara sand
accessories: pti leaf dies, chipboard, stitching, pti felt, button, twine
Friday, May 20, 2011
You Put a Song in My Heart
TGIF everyone!! I actually have today off!! My staff did a Professional Development day in August and today is our day off in lieu :) AND if I’m lucky, my husband is taking me out for breakfast! I LOVE going out for breakfast and don’t do it often so it’s a real treat when we do go :) Today’s card is for this week’s Viva La Verve sketch. Diva Charmaine has come up with a sketch that got me thinking about my Fleur De Lis shapeabilities and the little corner fleur de lis. I love the way they frame my FABRIC covered chipboard frame. I loved making one for this month’s Get Your Diva On, so I wanted to make another one with some more of my SU fabric. Then I pulled out a corrugated bird and a fabulous Recollections blossom. Oh, my!! I love this card!! This Swan Song sentiment was the perfect final touch. I LOVE this set and I bought it because of the main sentiment, “ A bird sings not because it has an answer, but because it has a song.” ACK!! How fantastic is that? I hope your Friday has started out right. Thanks so much for visiting…now head over to the Verve Forum and check out this week’s challenge :)
what’s in it?
stamps: verve swan song
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, cream, su soft suede, kiwi kiss, lilybean design dp
accessories: fleur de lis, labels 5 and oval nestabilities, chipboard coaster, su fabric, jillibean corrugated bird, brown pearl, pti button and banner die, thread, recollections flower, stitching,
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Good Luck!!
Hey everyone! Thanks for coming back so quickly!! LOL I had to post twice today as I have a super fabulous card tomorrow for the Viva La Verve challenge and can’t wait to post it!! PLUS these Waltzingmouse challenges are due soon…hope you don’t mind!! I’ll try to keep it short (!). This week’s challenge is to stamp the scalloped strip shown in the sketch. To prove my lilac strip is actually stamped, I took a picture of the evidence! LOL. Have a fabulous day and thanks for visiting twice!! You’re the BEST!!
what’s in it?
stamps: wms fancy phrases, pti polka dot 2
ink: versafine onyx, su white craft
paper: pti cream, lilac (unknown), cosmo cricket pixilicious dp
accessories: ek success scallop punch, pti banner die, button and ribbon, thread
Get Well Wishes Tea Box
Good morning!! I have 2 Waltzing Mouse posts for you today :) This first one is my entry into the Waltzingmouse 2nd Birthday Tea Party. Claire is such a dear and I love doing business with her. She and Julee (from Verve) are right up there at the top of my favourite business ladies to deal with and both are more than generous with weekly challenges and fun promotions :) {AND they offer free shipping to Canada with a minimum order!!} I tried to give my tea bag box a bit of a vintage feel with some Crate Paper dp :) I also have had this tea pot shape in my little pail of saved shapes! I love when I get to use one of those :) Okay, I’ll make this short as I have another post coming right up!! See you in a minute!! LOL
what’s in it?
stamps: wms fancy phrases and vintage labels 4, pti tea for two
ink: versafine onyx, su choc chip, rose romance
paper: pti cream, kraft, crate paper dp
accessories: labels 4 nestabilities, pti teapot die, seam binding ribbon, gems, Recollections roses, pti buttons and twine
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ABC ~ Thank You
Good morning!! I have recently been having a little crush with some of My Favourite Things dies and stamps :) I subscribe to their newsletter and have started playing along with their weekly sketches on SCS in hopes of winning some MFT dollars for my growing die wishlist!! LOL Today I’m sharing my card using this last week’s sketch. Whenever I see a banner, I try to think of some letters or numbers that would go with the card. Since I wanted to use the MFT You Rule stamp set, I thought A-B-C were the perfect letters to put on the banner :) I finally got the October Afternoon Schoolhouse paper…I don’t know why I didn’t get it sooner…I just love it and being a teacher, I have a lot of occasions to use it!
I also wanted to show you my card using the sketch from a few weeks ago…I posted it on SCS, but not here on the blog. It was even featured this week in the MFT newsletter in the Sketch #18 Wrap Up :) The corrugated star was made with my star punch and a Starbucks sleeve!! LOL I was patiently waiting for my Jillibean corrugated shapes and decided to make my own!! I also have a sheet of white corrugated paper from WAAAYYYY back (so glad I kept it! lol). I find punches work better than dies as the Cuttlebug squishes everything into a pancake and my crimper doesn’t seem to give a nice deep indentation…maybe I need a new one? Anyways, thanks for visiting :) Have a wonderful hump day!!
what’s in them?
{ABC ~ Thank You}
stamps: mft You Rule, Verve free stamp with purchase :)
ink: versafine onyx, su real red
paper: pti cream, su baja blue, real red, october afternoon dp
accessories: verve sweet scallop die, oval nestabilities, pti banner and double banner dies, pti button and twine, gems, ribbon, eyelets, bakers twine, basicgrey chipboard letters
{Hope You Perk Up Soon}
stamps: mft Miss You a Latte
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti, craft, white, su soft sky, espresso, lilybean design dp, corrugated cardboard
accessories: circle nestabilities, pti banner die, ek success star and heart punches, pti button and twine, pearls, stitching
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Aimes & Moe ~ Kindred Spirits
After I got a call on Saturday night from my stamping buddy telling me that Aimes was the Featured Stamper over on Splitcoast this week, I squealed and headed straight over to her gallery to oooohhhh and awwwwww and try to pick a card to CASE. No easy feat!! I narrowed it down to 4…guess which one I picked? lol ;)
It was neat to see a lot of her work all together in one gallery…I also noticed the few cards that I am the proud owner of now…having received them for my birthday or Christmas (eat your hearts out!! LOL). For a more detailed explanation of how my card CASEs Aimes’, head over to my SCS post…AND come back tomorrow because I have a super fun teacher thank-you card to share!! Hugs and congrats again, Aimes!!