Good Things are Going to Happen

Good morning!  Seems like some of my dear followers noticed a lack of posting this week.  I’ve been in my classroom everyday this week setting up for the new year which also means I’ve been bringing work home to finish in the evenings.  I’m trying not to burn out here on the blog, so you may see fewer posts over the next little while as I adjust to being back at work full time :)  So today is the last Friday of my beloved summer and what better way to celebrate than with a brand new month of sketches over on the Viva La Verve forum!  Play all month and you could win $100 worth of Verve product!  Yummy!  Check out all the deets over on the Viva La Verve Forum.

I love the weeks after a Stamp Release when I can really get into playing with all the new product and mixing it with older items.  I’ve used a sentiments and flowers from Brighter Days and the leaves from Dream Big that fit into the new Dreamy Leaves die!  Oh, I love die cutting!  I also love how many of the new Release sentiments fit onto the Rounded Rectangle Die, which in turn fits under the Rounded Scallop Frame.  I’ve cut it out of balsa wood!  And you know what I say, “Wood is good!”  Here’s Diva Amber’s sketch…

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate it so much :)  Have you checked out the Verve Sale and New Release?  Head over to the Verve Store and see what’s new!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Brighter Days, Dream Big (Verve)

paper: kraft (PTI), kiwi, artichoke (SU), Indie Ginger (My Mind’s Eye)

ink: onyx (Versafine), kiwi (SU)

accessories: Dreamy Leaves, Scalloped Flowers, Rounded Rectangle Die, Rounded Scallop Frame (A Cut Above by Verve), buttons, twine (PTI), doily (Etsy shop), gems (Kaisercraft), stitching, balsa wood

Make a Wish ~ CASE Study #106

Good evening!  It’s the last week of the month long CASE Study Anniversary Celebration.  This week we are asked to CASE ourselves!  I’m always a little leery of this as I rarely like my CASE of my own cards.  So this time, I tried to pretend I was just playing along with CASE Study and the it didn’t seem so terrible!  LOL  I’ve been collecting my favourite cards each month into my “Year in Review” file.  You know in December how people post their favourite cards from the past year?  I tried to do that last December, but there were just too many cards to go through!  So I started a file that I’ve been adding to each month so that I can do this in December, no problem!  This card is the one I chose to CASE…it’s from May 31st.

The chicken wire, the dress form, the ribbon, the colours…I love it all.  I kept the same sketch and many of the same elements, but just changed up the colours and sentiment and a few of the embellishments :)  So what do you think?  Which of YOUR cards will you CASE?  I can just imagine how amazing the Gallery will be this week!  But first, head over to the CASE Study blog to see how the DT’s CASED themselves :)  Hope your week is going well,

 

what’s in it?

stamps: doodled occasions (Verve), chicken wire (Waltzingmouse), Dress Form (PTI)

ink: versafine onyx, su rust, razzleberry)

paper: pti white, studio calico memoir

accessories: pti dies, button, twine, prima resin flower, lace trim, ek success border punch

Wedding Shower Gift

Good morning!  Well, no more lazy Monday mornings for this little card maker (unless it’s a holiday!).  Today I will head back to my classroom and start setting up for the 2012-2013 school year.  The summer always zooms by, especially August, and this time of year is always bittersweet for me.  But I also love the very beginning of the school year….a fresh start with fresh new ideas to try out :)  For today’s post I’m sharing the shower gift I made up for a friend’s shower I was at yesterday.  You saw the card I made for her on my CASE Study post last Wednesday.  In particular, I made her a set of 20 thank you cards inspired by my PTI Stamp-a-faire card set.  I tied them into 2 packages as the bundle was quite thick once I added envelopes.

I rarely make the same card twice so had to think about how to make these quickly…I sort of kept track of the time it took, about 2 hours in total.  I made all the elements, then started the assembly line.

Now I know many of you know this trick, but I think it can stand to be shown here.  As you can see, I stamp on a white SU scrap paper.  This makes it difficult to see white die cuts…so I use a dark piece of card stock to help me line up the stamp better.  Simple, I know, but very effective!

Here’s the wrapped gift with the card attached using a sweet mini clothespin.

I stamped the same red heart I used on the card onto the top of the clothespin.  Stamping on wood is good! LOL

That’s it for today…oh, and if you were wondering how she liked the card…she did!  I had to laugh to myself when they all asked, “Oh, do you make cards?”  I pictured my studio, the paper, ribbon, buttons, bling, etc and the thousands of cards I’ve made over the years.  “Yes, I do make cards {grin}”

Thanks for stopping by! 

all products used for the gift card set are from PTI

Guests in the Studio!

Good morning!  I have a fun post this morning!  Two weeks ago, my sister and my twin niece and nephew (the recipients of the bookmarks a week ago) came over for breakfast and a little play time in the studio (requested by Ava, joined in by Jack once he saw the studio ;).  They are from Texas but sadly don’t have a Texan accent (too many trips to Canada I think!).  I was knee deep in my cards for the New Verve Release so they used some of the new sets!   They also insisted I take “professional” photos of them in the light box :) 

Here’s Jack contemplating the elements on the card.  He tilted the patterned paper layers which make me and my sister think he won’t be an engineer like his Dad ;)  I got quite the thrill out of his creative process…he would say out loud what he was thinking…LOVED that…because it’s the process that I love about my hobby :)

Here’s sweet Ava.  She was drawn to these 2 resin flowers and used them as the colour inspiration for the rest of her card.  She fell in love with this little birdie paper and had to have him on her card….suh-weet!  She also picked out berry sorbet ribbon for her card.  The love for that colour must run in the family ;)

They were so proud of their cards and carried them around all day showing our family and friends.  And they loved them so much they said they didn’t want to give them away.  Sounds like we need to make more at Christmas :)

I had to get in on a photo so grabbed one of the cards I had recently made :) 

And the last photos of our playtime :)  So the studio is well broken in now and yes, 2 people can happily stamp at the desk (hint, hint Lynn and Aimes!).  I think these cards are a perfect way to let you all know that the Verve Anni-VERVE-sary Release is now for SALE in the Verve Store…hop on over to see all the amazing sets you could have!  Thanks for stopping by!

what’s in them?

stamps: Happy Birthday plain jane, Doodled Occasions (Verve)

Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop

Good morning!  Welcome to my PTI August Blog Hop card!  This month we’re asked to be inspired by Autumn and the following photo.  As a teacher heading back to set up her classroom next week, I wasn’t too gung ho about the Fall Focus…but playing around in the studio during a weekday made me smile :)

It’s all about texture and fabric, so I started throwing some things down on the desk…this was fun and got the creative juices flowing.  The first thing that jumped out at me was that gorgeous felt flower so I built the card around it :)

I also used some washi tape on the tag…so quick and cute!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  As always, thank you for all your sweet comments :)  Now I’m off to see all the stunning creations!  Cheers!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: pti hello, friend

ink: versafine onyx, pti tea dye duo

paper: pti rustic cream, su sahara sand, midnight muse, echo park note to self

accessories: pti tag #6, bloom builders #3, Fillable Frames #7, Leaf Prints die, double banner die, argyle and houndstooth embossing folders, twill ribbon, buttons, bakers twine, corrugated cardboard, burlap, balsa wood, stitching

Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hop ~ Day 9 (Release Day!!)

 

Good morning!  Well, today is what I consider the official final day of my carefree summer.  I’ll head back to my classroom next week to set up for the upcoming school year on September 4th.  So though it’s bittersweet, I can’t think of a better way to go out with a BANG than the last and final day of the Anni-VERVE-sary Sneak Peeks.  If you’ve arrived from Laurie S.’s Blog, you are right on track, if not, check out the Blog List below. You’ll want to visit each participant and leave a little comment love for the chance to win today’s featured stamp set, Treasured Words. 

I’m using Diva Amy’s CAS Viva La Verve sketch that is just up in the VLV Forum to help me showcase today’s set.  Now, you’ve seen that sweet little stitched frame all week {wink} but now I can talk about it for real! LOL  There are a whopping 12 sentiments in this set that fit perfectly into that little frame that sits perfectly in the Rounded Rectangle die.  I used a scrap punched border that I didn’t use on a card this week, a little unexpected element for the CAS layout.  Did you notice the stitching?  Now, you know me…LOVE stitching, LOVE various thread colours…but if you don’t, you can stamp a sweet row of stitches with another stamp from Borderline (shown yesterday on Day 8).

Remember my little white board?  After erasing a LONG list, this is what was left on Wednesday.  Now remember, I’m on the West Coast, so the Release Party time for me is 6:00 PST…it’s 9:00 EST…so don’t get mixed up!  I don’t want you waiting around for 3 hours! lol

 

I hope to see you at the party tonight.  The Release Party thread is HERE.  Thanks for stopping by! Now hop onto to Teresa’s Blog…

Our Release Party thread is posted and there's a little recap over there of all the ways to win some Verve during our Anni-VERVE-sary festivities, so check it out!
Deadline for all of our Anni-VERVE-sary prize drawings is 5PM Eastern on Friday, August 24. (That’s today!!)  The winner will be announced at our release party that night (you don't need to be present to win)!  

1. Julee        9. Charmaine

2. Laurie S. 10. Janelle

3. Maureen  11. Betty

4. Teresa    12. Christyne {Guest}

5. Tosh       13. Laurie W. {Guest}

6. Amber     14. Jen S. {Guest}

7. Amy        15. Susan

8. Andrea

 

what’s in it?

stamps: treasured words, borderline (Verve)

paper: white (PTI), starfruit (SU), Abroad (Studio Calico), Victoria Park (Lilybee Designs)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: rounded rectangle die (A Cut Above by Verve), border punch (Martha Stewart)

Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hop ~ Day 8

Good morning!  If you’ve arrived from Laurie S.’s Blog, you are right on track, if not, check out the Blog List below. You’ll want to visit each participant and leave a little comment love for the chance to win today’s featured stamps and dies.

Once again I’m a little excited about today’s card.  That happens whenever I make something specifically for a dear friend :)  Our featured set today, Borderline, made me think of travel.  The last big trip I took was to Ohio last year where I met my dear blog friend, Lynn, IRL!  I created a little memory card by die cutting a Polaroid frame and stamping it with the chevron border stamp.  I then added a layered pointed flower (from Day 2) and some elegant leaves.  I love to mix and match all the different Verve flowers and leaves :)  Next, the mini curvy bookplate was die cut and stamped with the coordinating image also in Borderline.  “Hugs from afar” seemed the perfect endearment which led me to this photo of me and Lynn in her backyard.  The only unfortunate thing is that I always ruin Lynn’s happy mail surprise by posting her cards too early on the blog! LOL  But she’s such a good friend, she’ll act excited when it arrives :)

Now hop onto to Teresa’s Blog…see you tomorrow for the final Spotlight installment…you know what that means…Release Party tomorrow!  9:00 p.m. Eastern, 6:00 p.m. Moe Time!  See you there!

Our Release Party thread is posted and there's a little recap over there of all the ways to win some Verve during our Anni-VERVE-sary festivities, so check it out!
Deadline for all of our Anni-VERVE-sary prize drawings is 5PM Eastern on Friday, August 24. The winner will be announced at our release party that night (you don't need to be present to win)!

1. Julee        9. Charmaine

2. Laurie S. 10. Janelle

3. Maureen  11. Betty

4. Teresa    12. Christyne {Guest}

5. Tosh       13. Laurie W. {Guest}

6. Amber     14. Jen S. {Guest}

7. Amy        15. Susan

8. Andrea

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Borderline, Lean on Me, Bloom and Grow (Verve)

paper: rustic white, kraft (PTI), kiwi kiss (SU), Ginger (MME)

ink: onyx (Versafine), tangerine tango, kiwi kiss (SU)

accessories: pointed flower dies, mini curvy bookplate die, elegant leaves die (A Cut Above by Verve), ribbon, button, fabulous frame die (PTI), bakers twine (Twinery), Sizzix embossing folder (chevron), stitching

Rhonda & Darren ~ CASE Study # 105

The Anniversary Celebrations continue this week over on the CASE Study blog with the challenge of CASEing a player!!  If I thought choosing from our DT lineup last week was difficult, this challenge was almost unthinkable!  So, so many amazing cards…so I kept it simple and went with a card that caught my eye a few weeks ago.  Meredith MacRitchie, from A Delightful Waste of Time, is a fellow British Columbian so that seemed to seal the deal when deciding who to CASE.  Her card from the first blog hop  three weeks ago just blew me away.  AND I have a wedding shower to go to this weekend so everything fell into place.  First up is Meredith’s inspiration…

All that gorgeous white, all that texture, the peek of lace…stunning! Then I was looking through my Pinterest card board and saw this card I had pinned!  So I combined the 2 ideas.  I printed out “Rhonda    Darren,”  then stamped the name list from PTI’s Love and Marriage along with the little heart in red.  Then I added the flourishes from Gratitude Journal.  LOVE how it turned out and can’t wait to take it to the shower!  Sure to be the most unique card they get :)

photo credit: Rosie Robins

I get kind of giddy when I can personalize a card and even more so when what is in my head translates to stamps and paper :)  Is this challenge fun or what?  Who will YOU CASE?  I know it’s hard, but just get a big ol’ cup of java or tea (or wine!) and take a look through a few of the galleries…those little thumbnails are handy!  Don’t drive yourself crazy…pick one that just speaks to you!  For a little help, head over to the CASE Study Blog and see how the DT was inspired…then play along!  Remember, have fun with it!  Cheers!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: pti love & marriage, gratitude journal

ink: versafine onyx, su real red

paper: pti shimmer white, white

accessories: pti line impression plate, lace trim

Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hop ~ Day 7

Good morning!  Welcome to Day 7 of our Anni-VERVE-sary sneak peeks! If you’ve arrived from Laurie S.’s Blog, you are right on track, if not, check out the Blog List below. You’ll want to visit each participant and leave a little comment love for the chance to win today’s featured stamps and die. To read more about today’s set, check out the Verve Blog…Julee has been letting us know her creative process while designing each set! Love that!

Today’s card features one of the uplifting quotes from the new Learning to Sail set.  I have always loved this quote and am so happy to have it in stamp form!  You saw me peek this set last Friday with my bookmark post :)  I’m using a loose interpretation of this week’s Mojo Monday sketch.  I changed out the little square panel a few times until I decided on adding another little side sentiment stamped on balsa wood and die cut with the Charming Oval die.  My Studio Calico Abroad papers give it that mapping/journey/direction feel :)

Time to hop to Teresa’s Blog to see some more Vervey goodness. See you tomorrow!

Our Release Party thread is posted and there's a little recap over there of all the ways to win some Verve during our Anni-VERVE-sary festivities, so check it out!
Deadline for all of our Anni-VERVE-sary prize drawings is 5PM Eastern on Friday, August 24. The winner will be announced at our release party that night (you don't need to be present to win)!

 

1. Julee        8. Andrea

2. Laurie S.   9. Charmaine

3. Maureen 10. Janelle

4. Teresa    11. Betty

5. Tosh       12. Christyne {Guest}

6. Amber    13. Laurie W. {Guest}

7. Amy       14. Jen S. {Guest}

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Learning to Sail, Doodled Occasions

paper: rustic cream, black (PTI), sahara sand (SU), Abroad (Studio Calico)

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

accessories: Charming Oval dies ( A Cut Above by Verve), balsa wood, brown pearls, buttons and twine (PTI), pinking scissors, stitching

Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hop ~ Day 6

Eeek!  Good morning!  If you’ve arrived from Laurie S.’s Blog, you are right on track, if not, check out the Blog List below. You’ll want to visit each participant and leave a little comment love for the chance to win today’s featured stamps and die.

I’m so excited about today’s sneak peek!  This year (unlike last year’s Better with You set, see funny story HERE) I can officially and accurately say I inspired a set!  Stronger Love is full of gorgeous, sentimental and romantic sayings that make me think of my DH :)  I’ve used this Shakespeare quote stamp today as it makes my heart smile.  I created a sun for the sentiment and added some felt clouds that might linger after a rainstorm.  I couldn’t resist stitching another little sentiment tab on the side of patterned paper…just for a little somethin’ somethin’ extra.

Remember, there’s still time to enter the Anni-VERVE-sary Release Challenges on the Verve SCS Forum AND the Customer Card Carnival Contest over on the Verve Blog!  The only thing better than new Verve is winning some new Verve!  So check out the contest info over on the Verve Blog.  Now hop directly to Teresa’s Blog…see you tomorrow!

1. Julee        8. Andrea

2. Laurie S.   9. Charmaine

3. Maureen  10. Janelle

4. Teresa     11. Betty

5. Tosh        12. Christyne {Guest}

6. Amber     13. Laurie W. {Guest}

7. Amy

what’s in it?

stamps: Stronger Love (Verve)

paper: rustic white, kraft (PTI), pumpkin, curry (SU), Abroad (Studio Calico)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: circle, inverted scallop dies (Spellbinders), edger, cloud dies, felt (PTI), stitching