Welcome Sweet Baby

Good morning!!  Well, it’s hump day and the end of August…can you believe it?  I’ve been a busy beaver in the classroom and am thankful I still have a few more cards from the latest Verve Ann-VERVE-sary release to share :)  I don’t do many baby cards, but couldn’t resist some pink and purple paper and embellishments.  The flower is die cut from felt and then stamped on with purple ink.  See that sweet little rattle button?  That’s from a pack of Dress It Up buttons at Michaels…so sweet!  The scalloped frame was die cut from a chipboard coaster and then inked up with the matching frame image in Making a Statement.  Have you placed an order yet?  This is the LAST DAY of the Anni-VERVE-sary sale!!! Come back tomorrow as I help the Inspiration Divas celebrate a new month!!  Have a fabulous day :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Making a Statement (Verve)

paper: cream, lavender, various patterned paper (PTI), sand (SU!)

ink: onyx (Versafine), razzleberry, sand (SU!)

accessories: rounded scallop frame and loopy blossoms dies (Verve A Cut Above Dies), felt, button (PTI), lace trim (Prima), seam binding (Memriemare), baby rattle button (Michaels), pearls (Kaisercraft), stitching, thread

Happy Birthday!

Good morning!  Well, today is my last hurrah over on the Skipping Stones Design blog :)  I struggled a little with this sketch and put lots of thought into it.  I pictured different shapes for the circles, different paper, different embellishments…but then I thought of bright, fun colours against white.  YUM!  And then some fun stitching…double yum!  I want to thank Kandi and all the wonderful ladies over on Skipping Stones for having me hang out this month :)  I have LOVED working with their stamps and LOVE their heartfelt sentiments and images :)  I hope you’ll get a chance to visit the blog and even play along with this sketch for the chance to win a stamp set of your choice!!  Doesn’t get any better than that!!  Have a wonderful Tuesday :)  Hugs!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: skipping stones design grunge

paper: pti kraft, linen vellum, bitty dots and dotty biscottie dps, su espresso, mme dp

ink: stazon jet black

accessories: circle and scalloped circle nestabilities, pti ribbon, stitching, gems

Wishing You Comfort, Janelle

Good morning, dear friends.  A quick post before I head back to my classroom and start setting up for the new year.  Many of you may know that a dear blog buddy, Janelle, has been going through a very difficult time this month (her BLOG here). I have been thinking about her constantly and praying that she will find comfort and peace in the days ahead.  She has enormous faith and has been so inspiring in her faithful posts and updates.  I was thinking of her as I made this card. I got out the more girlie papers from Authentique’s Uncommon paper and teamed it up with some old SU paper.  Loving the pink with grey :)  Next up is the card I did send to Janelle a few weeks ago after hearing about her diagnosis.  I hope it has made its way to her :)  Please, keep my dear friend in your prayers.  I know she (and I!) would really appreciate it.  Thanks so much :)

what’s in them?

{wishing you comfort}

stamps: New Mercies (Verve)

paper: cream (PTI), grey designer paper (SU!), Uncommon (Authentique)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: fillable frame die (PTI), flowers (Prima), bloomer (Webster’s Pages)

 

{The Throne of Grace}

stamps: New Mercies (Verve), Healing Touch Sentiments (PTI)

paper: rustic cream (PTI), Modern Homemaker (October Afternoon), My Little Shoebox dp

ink: onyx (versafine), tea dye duo (PTI)

accessories: notepage die (PTI), twine and buttons (PTI), gems,

Thanks So Very Much

Good morning!! I hope your weekend has started off well :)  Many of you know that I start back to work next week, setting up my classroom for the new school year.  Once I’m there, I actually enjoy the quiet time of moving the furniture around, getting out the new supplies and reflecting on how I want the year to go.  I’m starting my second year at the school that is in the same neighbourhood as our new house…and I LOVE it :)  I work with a fabulous group of dedicated and talented teachers.  So I’ve started making a few “thank you” cards that I know will come in handy this year :)  I’ve used this week’s ColourQ challenge colours (I’m officially addicted to this challenge! LOL)  I just LOVE all the fun office/school stamps and products out there right now.  I’ve even made my flower out of cork and stamped the flower image on top with Pumpkin Pie.

How about a few more house photos?  I tried to capture the feeling of the dry walled rooms.  I’m so excited for the dry wall process to be OVER because then we start adding the FUN, COLOURFUL stuff!!  Master bedroom up first…

Living room…

The studio…unfortunately I couldn’t get a good angle from the door to give a good feel of the size…

Street view as of yesterday, August 26th.  This is the first part of the stucco process…black paper and wire.  The grey coat will go on next and we’ll let the house sit and settle over the winter then finish it in the Spring :)

Thanks so much for visiting today…have a wonderful weekend!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve making a statement, pti library card stamp and beautiful blooms 2

Ink: versafine onyx, su old olive, pumpkin pie

paper: su pumpkin pie, island indigo, pti white, MME dp

accessories: cork, may arts ribbon, su library clip, pti blossom and leaf dies, button, twine, gems, felt, corner chomper, cuttlebug ef

Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop

Good morning friends!!  Today is the 25th so that means you have arrived at my Papertrey Ink Blog Hop post!  This time last month I was basking in fresh memories of Stamp-a-faire and selling my townhouse. Today I am using some of the fun things I bought at SAF and living with my dad for 2 months until the new house is ready…eek!  But let’s get on with the cards, ‘cause that’s why you’re here ;)  This first card was inspired by the inside of this sweet suitcase, the gorgeous flowers and the colour of the preserves (which I’m hoping is raspberry jam! lol) It is also dedicated to my sweet and dear blog friend, Janelle, who is going through a very difficult time right now…many of you know her (Show and Tell blog) as she works magic with PTI products.  Please keep her in your prayers.

The second card is inspired by the dress the woman is wearing, the flowers again and the colours in general. 

Thanks so much for stopping by…I’ll leave you with a few photos from SAF, just in case you didn’t see them in an earlier post ;)  You all know the  PTI DT, the extras are me and Lynn, my sweet blog friend, hostess and shopping enabler!! LOL  Seriously, I would’ve glued myself to Dawn’s hip and gone home with her if she let me!!  She and all the team members were just the sweetest!! Ah, still pinch me :)

 

what’s in them?

{thinking of you}

stamps: pti iconic images, mat stack 1 and 2, damask designs

paper: pti, su, lilybee designs

ink: versafine onyx, versamark, su ruby red

accessories: pti mat stack dies, blossom dies, leaf die, button, twine, stitching

 

{you’re a friend}

stamps: verve great friend, pti newsprint

ink: su going gray, versafine onyx

paper: pti, su, cosmo cricket

accessories: pti button, blossom, edger dies, basicgrey brad, pti ribbon, gems, stitching, bakers twine

Better With You

Hi everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!  I have some more of that gorgeous Authentique Splendid paper to share with you AND some more of the fun stamps and dies recently released by Verve a week and a half ago!  I was so pleased to discover that the bit of lilac on the blue patterned paper matches my favourite May Arts twill ribbon!!  SCORE!! and SWOON!  I am a few days behind, but so wanted to use Diva Charmaine’s wonderful sketch for this week’s Viva La Verve Challenge.  I altered the scalloped panel a bit, but that’s the fun of creativity, eh?  How have you been doing on the VLV sketches?  One more week left in August…so that means if you complete all 5 sketches, you can enter into the draw for the next WHOLE release…how’s that for a fabulous prize?!!  On the new house front, I have picked the colours for the inside of the house…basically we are going with different tones of Sahara Sand and blue/greys in the bathrooms.  I wanted a very neutral palette this time round as we have gorgeous flooring going in and a stunning view…don’t want to distract from those :)  PLUS this way I can have some fun with fabric!!  Have a fabulous day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Better With You, Making a Statement (Verve)

paper: cream, white (PTI), island indigo (SU!), Splendid (Authentique), notepaper dp (My Little Yellow Bicycle)

ink: onyx (Versafine), soft sky (SU!)

accessories: rounded rectangle die, from the heart dies (A Cut Above Dies by Verve), ribbon (May Arts), gems (Kaisercraft), spiral note page die (My Favourite Things), scallop border die (PTI), embossing folder (SU!)

Thank You for All You Do

Greetings, everyone!  Well, slowly but surely I am settling into my new digs…this card only took 1.5 hours to make ;)  I set up my desk area close to the same way I had it at the old house and my body really likes this :)  I went for a soft tone on tone look for this week’s Skipping Stones Design sketch :)  When you do this, I find it’s all about texture…the embossing, the rounded corners, the buttons…you get the idea.  I’m using the newly released Everyday Blessings set.  It is full of beautiful images along with sweet little sentiments.

 

I stamped the swirly border three times along the bottom of my sentiment panel before stamping the sentiment.  I like the way it fills up the bottom of the circle.  Ah, and some bling always makes me smile :)  Want to play along and win a free stamp set?  Head over to the Skipping Stones Design blog for all the details.  Thanks for stopping by today…hugs!

 

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Everyday Blessings (Skipping Stones Design)

paper: pti rustic cream, black, su sahara sand

ink: versafine onyx

accessories: circle and large scallop nestabilities, pti buttons and twine, gems, hero arts art flower

Thank You So Much and Blog Candy winner!

Good morning!  Well, I’ve unpacked the bedroom a bit more and am planning on organizing the make shift studio this morning so I can get inky!  Today’s card was another one of my favourites from the newest Verve Release.  It’s my Thank You card to all my blog buddies, whether you visit every day or once in a while…I really appreciate the time you spend here and for all the sweet comments you leave :)  I was SOOOOO impressed with the moving tips…everyone left at least one!! Thanks!! I think it was a good question!! LOL  I’ve condensed all the fabulous ideas at the end of this post just in case YOU ever need it! LOL  Let’s hope after we move into the new house we WON’T need it…I don’t move well. ;)  Okay, first up…the winner!!

Annheidel said...

What a cute way to use the button card! As for my moving box, a lot of good advice has been given already, but designate one box as your immediate use items. For example, toilet paper, a few cups, and other things that you use and need everyday. Moving is exhausting and that way essentials are in one box until you have time to unpack. :)

August 14, 2011 3:23 PM

 

Ann!!  Congratulations!!  Please email me at moeplut@shaw.ca with your mailing address and email and I’ll send out your prize ASAP!!

Okay…the first 2 tips on the list were 2 of my favourites…the first I had never thought of and is brilliant and the second made me LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!  Which is what I needed during this whole process :)  Thanks again for all your contributions!!

1) take photos of your electronics so hook up will be easy (thanks, Tanya!!)  I’ll add to this, or google your router name and watch the YouTube video!! It worked!! LOL

2) Don’t let your husband write “miscellaneous crap” on the boxes with a sharpie.  LOL, Jenny…this still makes me laugh.

3) purge/ have a garage sale

4) label with a sharpie (good thing I have them in 10 colours!), which room, what’s inside, even colour code

5) DON’T MOVE!  LOL, too late…and my new house is too tempting! I plan on using this tip after the move into the new house ;)

6) take extra time with breakables and move them yourself

7) hire movers (unfortunately the dh is “old school” and insists on doing it himself…although I have 2 months to convince him of hiring for the next move!)

8) one box with kettle, cups, coffee so you can have a drink while moving

9) set up bed first

10) set up kitchen and bathrooms first

11) prioritize boxes 1) everyday dishes   2) Christmas dishes 3) china

12) bribe friends with pizza, beer, chocolate and wine ;)

13) Ikea blue bags for books (thanks, Aimes!) – liquor boxes work well too…that’s what we used ;) teehee

14) drink wine for stress – been doing that at Dad’s…I haven’t drank so much since Grad! LOL

15) have everything packed ahead of time so moving day is focused on moving, not packing

16) have extra boxes on hand on last day (just in case!)

17) laugh a lot – helps with stress!! I agree!!

Thanks again, everyone!! And thanks for celebrating my 2 Year Blogiversary with me!!  Have a wonderful day :)

what’s in it?

stamps: You and I (Verve)

paper: plum pudding, ocean tides, white (PTI), espresso, sahara sand (SU!), picket fence (LilyBee Design)

ink: onyx (Versafine), eggplant (SU!)

accessories: I Heart U Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), scallop border die, ribbon (PTI), small border punch (Martha Stewart), gems (Kaisercraft)

The Person I’d Like to Become (and some house pix!)

Good morning!  Well, today we are fully moved into to my dad’s house.  After all the moving and cleaning, I thought I’d reward myself and make a card! I haven’t done that for a week.  Well, it was interesting.  It took me THREE HOURS to make this card!! LOL  I think I brought too many supplies!! Most are still in boxes and I had to root around for everything.  Then my body kept reaching for things that weren’t there!! LOL  (body memory).  I also discovered that I can’t tie bows standing up! LOL  Seriously, I should have taped myself…it was unbelievable!  Although it’s giving me good insight into the new studio set up!  I love this week’s colours for the colourQ challenge and didn’t want to miss out using them.  This was NOT the card that was in my head, but after one hour of feeling lost, I reverted back to what I know and love.  I picked up the new In Colours from my SU demonstrator and we had to laugh at some of the new colours…we would say Pool Party is a pretty close match to Cool Caribbean, Wisteria is a darker Amethyst, and Limeade is pretty close to Kiwi (which, IMHO, they should keep in the regular line up!)…not that we’re complaining! We love the new colours!! (oops! I just noticed that the colour is bermuda bay, NOT pool party…I seriously have been reading this wrong for 3 days!! ACK!)

Okay, I’ve spent WAY too long on this card!! LOL  Onto some house photos as many of my blog friends have been asking. It was difficult to get any “new” looking photos as the electrical and plumbing don’t stand out…but now we have insulation and drywall…the house is starting to take shape.  I’ll post a few here and put more on the New House page.  First up, the dh posing with the insulated living room walls.

The kitchen has dry wall now :)

Our bedroom getting dry walled :)

Our walk in room (uh, closet!).  All the women who see it drool and all the men think it’s wasted space ;)

My “pink” studio!  LOL, I’m actually thinking Sahara Sand walls…my ribbon, buttons and paper will be colour enough!

Thanks for stopping by!! Hey…one more day for my blog candy!! Have you entered?  See you back tomorrow with a card (may not be new! lol) and the winner :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve words of wisdom

paper: pti white, su pool party, Lily Bee and October Afternoon dps

ink: versafine onyx

accessories: circle nestabilities, su scallop border punch, mft butterflies, dritz pins, pti button, thread, stitching, ribbon

One of My Nicest Thoughts

 

Good morning!! Hey, we’re all moved into my dad’s and the internet hook up was a breeze!!  The wireless was a little tricky, but I “Googled” our router and watched a 2 minute video on how to hook it up…good as gold now :)  I didn’t have time to participate in this week’s Viva La Verve sketch yet so I thought I’d share another card I made for the Verve Release last week.  I was so thrilled Julee chose a Georgia O’Keeffe quote…I just LOVE her and do an art unit of her with my kids each fall.  We focus on her BIG flowers, especially the poppies and paint BIG ones in  time for Remembrance Day in November :)  Today, dear friends, you are one of my many nicest thoughts.  I am hoping to get inky for the first time here maybe tomorrow…it looks like a bomb went off in my dad’s basement, but I have set up my light box and have my stamps close by…fingers crossed for the trial run!  LOL  I’ll be using Charmaine’s fabulous sketch shown here…

Hope you’ll join us over on the Verve Forum!!  Oh, and have you checked out my Blog Candy here?  Two more days to enter :)  Okay, I’m off to empty my fridge and freezer and say goodbye to the old house…sad, but I’m ready for a new one :)  Have a wonderful day…

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Nicest Thoughts Plain Jane (Verve)

paper: cream rustic cream (PTI), sahara sand, early espresso (SU!), Ladies and Gents (Websters Pages)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: doily die (My Favourite Things), fillable frame die (PTI), bloomer trim (Websters Pages), lace trim (fabric store), gems (Kaisercraft), embossing folder (Cuttlebug), stitching

Thank U from Eh to Zed

Hi everyone…well, we’re almost out of the house so I scheduled a few posts in case the whole internet hook up takes a few days.  It shouldn’t, but I took a few things over to Dad’s on Monday, looked at his set up with a puddle of wires and started to panic a bit!!  It’s not life and death and I’ve come to realize that I just have to bite the bullet and get this move DONE!!  I still have the iPad with 3G so that will keep me connected until the old computer is up and ready to go :)  It was VERY traumatic packing up my studio, especially the stamps…they got labeled “IMPORTANT – OPEN FIRST!”  LOL  Anyways, let’s get on with today’s card.  After arriving home last month from Ohio, I knew I wanted to make Lynn a special thank you card.  I took out my Stampin’ Up Glorious and Free set and some more of my Canadian maple leaf ribbon to make a truly personalized Thank You card for Lynn and her family.  They really rolled out the red carpet for me and made me feel like one of the family.  Since I was in the middle of my Verve Release week cards, I also used the new set “You and I” with matching die. Up next are a few more photos of me and Lynn at Stamp-a-faire…here is the first picture of us together…kindred spirits :)

EEK!!! Here we are with Nichole Heady!! See my school girl grin?!  LOL  She was just the sweetest and was wearing the exact same pair of shoes as me, but in brown (mine are crimson red)!! We laughed and both commented on how comfy they were :)

Here we are, hanging with Heather Nichols and Betsy Veldman…that’s right, Stamping Royalty…I didn’t want to let go! LOL

 

One more thank you to Lynn for all the special memories and thank you, dear friends, for visiting today and for all your well wishes with the move…you can still enter my BLOG CANDY at this post, giving me your best moving tip!  Have a lovely day…

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve you and I, love notes, su glorious and free

ink: versafine onyx, su ruby red, rose romance

paper: pti rustic cream, white, bitty dot basics, october afternoon dp

accessories: verve I Heart You and jotted heart die, Michaels ribbon, pti twine, button, gems, pti tag die, Word program

Dream Big

Good morning!!  Well, today is a big day for us.  Tonight is the first night we’ll start living with my dad (never say you’ll never go home!! LOL).  He has kindly let us set up camp at the house I grew up in until our new house is ready…we’re hoping mid October (fingers crossed).   I warned him last week that I was bringing in my computer desk and 2 tables for my cards (aka temporary studio!)…but I don’t know if he really understood!! LOL  In 2 days I will officially say goodbye to my little townhouse…small, yet mine…where I raised my son.  But now I have a beautiful new home in the works, ready for fresh new and exciting memories and a HUGE new studio :)  Today’s card is another one of my favourites from the Anniv-Verve-sary  Release last Friday.  It uses stamps from the Tag Time set as well and the curvy bookplate die and the tagged rectangle die.  Oh, and lots of gorgeous paper from Authentique…swoon!!

Hey!! Have you entered my Blogiversary Blog Candy?  Head over to this POST to do so!!  Winner announced next Sunday :) Thanks for stopping by…and remember Dream BIG!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: tag time (Verve)

paper: cream, sweet blush, black (PTI), going grey, sahara sand (SU!), Uncommon (Authentique)

ink: onyx (Versafine), sweet blush (PTI)

accessories: tagged rectangle die, curvy bookplate die (Verve A Cut Above Dies), blossom, button card, edger, banner dies (PTI), eyelet (American Crafts), ribbon (SU!), gems (Kaisercraft), embossing folder (SU!), twine and felt (PTI), stitching