Thank You

Oh my!! The holidays are really over!  It feels like I have been off for a month, which must mean I had a fabulous time for the past 2 weeks!  I wonder if the kids will be as tired as me this morning ;)  I had one last hurrah in the studio yesterday and made this sweet snowflake Thank You card using Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I haven’t played in eons but when I saw her fun sketch with that big round panel, I couldn’t resist!  I had been wanting to use my PTI snowflake dies again and this was the perfect opportunity.  After several house warming gifts over the past few weeks, I need to send out some thank you cards.  This one is going to my brother and his wife :)  It feels kind of funny sending a snowflake card out…we had a green Christmas this year and there’s still no sign of snow anytime soon (which is VERY strange for the interior of B.C.!).  Okay, that’s it for me…wish me luck on the first day back to work!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve free stamp with purchase :)

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti rustic cream, su espresso, mme kraft funday everyday fun, echo park holly jolly Christmas

accessories: pti felt, button, twine, snowflake dies, stitching

Postcard to Grandma

Good morning!!  Well, it’s the first day back after Spring Break…wish me luck! LOL  I was playing around with my new Tim Holtz Postcard stamp set yesterday.  I  just love all the different postcard images from it and thought it would be fun to create a little postcard message for it using some Verve stamps.  The main panel on Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch today was the perfect size for a postcard! I also tried a new shape for my chipboard frame as well as some new Tattered Angels chalkboard spray.  I have some old Hero Arts postage and French script stamps and added those as well :)  I will definitely be making more of these ;)  Hope you have an amazing start to your week.  Thanks for popping by :)  Oh, the new Diva Dare challenge starts today…head over to the Verve Blog for all the deets!!

what’s in it?

stamps: verve because of you, pti damask designs, tim holtz postcards, waltzingmouse labels 5 and 10, various hero arts postage stamps

ink: versafine onyx, su rose red, basic grey, close to cocoa

paper: pti kraft, basicgrey  and pink paiselee dps

accessories: labels 10 and oval nestabilities, chipboard coaster, pti buttons, pearl brad, twine, lace trim, tattered angels mist, pearls, crochet flower

May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

St. Pat’s fact: Patrick was called to Rome in 432 whereupon Pope Celestine bequeathed the honour of Bishop upon him before he left on his holy mission. Patrick and 24 of his followers arrived in Ireland in the winter of 432.

Good morning!! It’s a new week and a LONG day for me, but reports are done so I have a bit of a spring in my step :)  Yesterday I said I didn’t plan on making many St. Patrick’s Day cards and lo and behold, here’s another one!! LOL  I’ve used Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch (sort of!) and rotated it so I could use this lovely Verve Irish Blessing stamp (which BTW is on sale this month!).  I was a little cheeky last year, thinking Julee had made this set in honour of my birthday…eek {wink!}.  But I know my place and don’t think I had or have that much pull at the Verve HQ :)  Nonetheless, I love this set and it’s been seeing lots of inky love this past week :)  Have a wonderful start to your week and thanks for stopping by :)

 

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve blessings

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, black, Karen Foster shamrocks dp

accessories: rectangle nestabilities, fiskars apron lace punch, gems, su sheer ribbon, prima flower, jenny bowlin pins

Irish Blessings!!

St. Pat’s Fact: The person who was to become St. Patrick was probably born in Britain to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century. His given name was Maewyn.

Good morning!! Well, I couldn’t let the first of March pass without starting the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations early!! I was sooooo excited last year when Julee made this beautiful Verve Blessings set…I even joked with her that she made it for my birthday…teehee.  Verve is starting off March right as well with the Verve Inspiration Team Blog Hop!!  There are also a few more announcements over on the Verve Blog so be sure to check it all out…including a new Stamp of the Month sale, which, funny enough, is Blessings!! 
My card today uses Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch.  At first I thought there were too many panels, but once I broke it down, things went a bit better.  I love the way it turned out :)  AND…to keep the St. Patrick’s Day spirit going, I’m going to start up my “St. Pat’s Facts” again this year…each time I post, I’ll include a little well or not so well known fact about the patron Saint of my birthday!! LOL  Enjoy your day and Irish Blessings to you all :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Verve Blessings

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti spring moss, cream, black, su artichoke, october afternoon and karen foster dps

accessories: circle nestabilities, recollections flower, sheer ribbon, gems, stitching

To Love and Be Loved

Good morning!! Wow, here we are with another new week.  I’m thinking if you are a friend from the States, you more than likely have today off :)  Happy Martin Luther King Day!  We do not have a special day until Spring Break…it’s a long haul from Christmas to March!  But the days are getting longer and Spring is around the corner.  I had a fun, fun day in the Studio yesterday (one good thing about freezing rain…keeps you at home!).  I got all lovey dovey again, creating a card for Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge with some new and old Verve stamps, seam binding ribbon and a silver doily.  The large tag is stamped with a sweet sentiment from Feel the Sun and the little tag is stamped with Verve’s new Swirling Hearts and Sweet Treats.  The silver doily was a little too much by itself, so I punched out a circle of text patterned paper to soften all the silver.  Well, that’s it for me today….thanks so much for spending a few moments here…I really appreciate you visiting and leaving some love :)  Have a fabulous day :)  {p.s.  Head over to the Verve Blog for Day 2 of the Diva Dare challenge and then create something yourself…I DARE YA!! lol}

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve swirling hearts, sweet treats, feel the sun

ink: versamark onyx, su rose red, pretty in pink, versamark

paper: pti cream lavender moon, silver cardstock, memory box, making memories, carolee’s creations dps

accessories: seam binding ribbon (This Good Day @ Etsy), pti buttons, thread, Wilton silver doily, pti tag die, stitching, cuttlebug heart die, pearl

I Will Give You Rest

Good morning, dear friends.  Today’s card is a 180 from what I’ve been posting lately.  My husband has close friends who lost their mother last week so I had to make 2 sympathy cards.  After losing my mom last year, I can relate to their sorrow and wanted to use a special sentiment that I find very comforting.  Inside the card, although I’m not showing it, I chose a sentiment from Verve’s Forever in Our Hearts…”May precious loving memories bring you comfort for today, strength for tomorrow and peace in the days ahead.”  I’m using Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch but tucked the horizontal panel under the circle so it wouldn’t cover the beautiful words.  It’s times like this that make me stop and think about what is really important in life…family, friends and leaving the world a little bit better than it was :)  Hugs to you all :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve forever in our hearts (inside the card), plain jane, su thoughts and prayers

ink: su sahara sand, chocolate chip

paper: pti cream, kraft, turning a new leaf dp

accessories: pti ribbon, buttons, twine, fiskars apron lace punch, circle nestability

A Dream of Spring

Good morning blog friends :)  Well, it's my LAST day of Christmas holidays…tomorrow it’s back at it with 22 seven year olds :)  I have so enjoyed my time off and feel well rested.  My last few days have been spent in the studio stamping my little heart out with some of my favourite challenges.  Today’s card is for Karen’s Sweet Sunday Sketch.  Remember the movie, “Groundhog Day?”  It’s one of my favs AND the dh’s birthday is Groundhog Day!! LOL  This is the quote he says as he meets a man on the stairs of the bed and breakfast (this is his “nice” response to the man).  And, yes, I am dreaming of Spring…despite this beautiful Cosmo Cricket paper, despite this fabulous Snowflake Die and  despite those elegant little Verve snowflakes stamped on the circle panel.  Once Christmas is done, I am ready for Spring :)  What are you looking forward to?  Hugs!!!

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve glad tidings

ink: pti ocean tides (stamped off once)

paper: su white, sage shadow, pti cream, plum pudding, cosmo cricket mitten weather, glitter cardstock

accessories: pti med. scallop border and blossom dies, TCP snowflake die, stitching, circle nestabilities, twine, button, gemstones

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

Peace on Earth

Good morning!! Well, it’s Rudolph Day in my class!!! We are dressing all in brown with red noses and antlers :)  We will read Rudolf stories, do the Run, Run Rudolf dance, make rip art Rudolfs, watch the Rudolf video and eat Rudolf cupcakes :)  It will be the best Monday ever!! LOL  Today’s card was a bit of an experiment.  I’ve been staring at these leaves for ages and wondered what would happen if I used the more Fall coloured ones on a Christmas card…pink came to mind right away (my beloved orange and pink combo :) and then I saw this blinged out ribbon at Michaels!!  What the hey, I went for it.  Nontraditional colours for sure, but in a glammed way I think it works :)  Now, just to figure out who this card could go to, realizing not everyone is into funky Christmas colours….hmmmm.  I’ve also used Karen’s Sweet Sunday sketch for the experiment…I don’t think she’ll mind.  It’s all about creativity and thinking outside the box :)  One more week to go…how has your week started out?  Thanks for visiting :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: verve glad tidings

ink: versafine onyx

paper: pti cream, raspberry fizz, bitty dot basics and autumn abundance dps; su peach parfait

accessories: buttons, Michaels ribbon, thread, pti medium scallop die, square nestabilities, recollections leaves

Glad Tidings

Good morning!!  Today's card is for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  I have been making a lot of cards with large circles lately so I'm trying to mix it up and do different things with them.  Today I'm trying my first felt Christmas tree.  I've been seeing the PTI designers work wonders with felt and dies and wanted to jump in and try something too.  So here we have the first Christmas button tree!! LOL (remember all the button bouquets and trees?).  I added a little shine with some bling on the sentiment and gold cording on the heart button to mimic a shining star.  Hope you are having a lovely morning...thanks for visiting :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve merry wishes
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, white, scarlet jewel; su old olive, basicgrey dp
accessories: pti tree die, buttons, felt, ribbon; gemstones, circle nestabilities, thread, corner chomper, cuttlebug ef, su gold cording

Health and Good Cheer

 Good morning!!! It's a beautiful Monday morning!!! Report cards are written except for being proof read, there's no staff meeting and a good friend of mine is coming into my class to do clay with my kids...more on that at the end.  Today's card is soft and sweet.  I'm using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch and some more paper from the Tis the Season paper pad by DCWV.  Besides the Nativity scene and ornaments, snowflakes are my favourite winter image.  I'm also using a new Waltzing Mouse stamp from their last release.  Isn't that a sweet little jingle bell charm?  I got it at a Dollar Store several years ago if you can believe that!!  There were about 10 of them for $1.00...score!!!  Okay...so the lovely lady coming to my classroom today is also named Maureen!! LOL  We worked together at my last school and since she was there before I came, she was Maureen #1 and I was Maureen #2...LOL.  She retired a few years ago and then I became Maureen #1 :D hehehe.  We became good friends while we worked together and I invited her to my wedding 3 years ago.  Now, an interesting connection was made...she is good friends with a dear lady I knew 20 years ago...a very wise woman whom I refer to as my mentor so many years ago.  She came to the wedding as well and here is a picture of us together...so today she (the one on the left) is coming to do clay leaf bowls and angels with my class...how sweet is that?  Wish us luck!!  Have a great day :)

what's in it?
stamps: waltzing mouse compliments of the season
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti kraft, sweet blush, ocean tides, cream; su celery; DCWV dp
accessories: gemstones, seam binding ribbon, pti button, bakers twine, ornament charm, cuttlebug ef, nestabilities labels 16

Season of Love & Peace

Good morning!! This week is going to be another busy one...staff meeting today, Remembrance Day assembly on Wednesday and of course, report card writing in between all the daily activities :)  The big push will be next weekend, but I like to get everything in order before then.  Today's card uses Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch this week.  I knew I wanted to use white and aqua and this fabulous sparkly star, but the rest of the card came together by playing around with different elements. The star is from MemrieMare on Etsy, where I get most of my seam binding ribbon, but really, you could make them yourselves.  They are die cut from cereal boxes (love that she reuses things!) and just covered with glitter (I'm guessing something like Martha Stewart glitter).  But when I saw them all glittery and sparkly, I had to have some :)  The white used on the card is shimmer white from Papertrey :) Hope you have a lovely day :)

what's in it?
stamps: pti 2010 Holiday tags; hero arts christmas script
ink: stazon black, versamark
paper: pti shimmer white, spring moss, kraft, pretty pastel dp, silver paper (craft supply), su soft sky
accessories: stitching, gemstones, square nestabilities, seam binding ribbon(this good day on Etsy), sparkle star (memriemare on Etsy), pti tag and layer dies, circle punch, PTI silver sheer metallic ribbon, cuttlebug ef

Happy Harvest

I was so determined to use this fabulous pumpkin stamp from Verve's latest Fall Release...but as I started paper piecing it, I got WAAAAYY over my head!! LOL  So I decided to watercolour it :)  I stamped the image onto watercolour paper with Versafine Onyx (my goto black ink), then applied the ink with my aquapen. Notice too that I took my purple and black ink pads and sponged a bit on to add a worn look to the panel.  I also wanted so much to use some of this gorgeous Halloween ribbon that I first saw on Ann's blog before jumping into the car and heading to Michaels to buy my own :)  So who do you send a "Happy Harvest" card to?  Well, I have the perfect people for this card...the lovely couple who owns the farm and pumpking patch where I took my class last week.  They are the sweetest :)  I always have the kids write a little thankyou note so I thought this could be my note to them :)  They definitely have a harvest!! LOL  I'm using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch as the big oval was perfect for the pumpkin stamp.  The only tricky thing was the layering of the background papers...I had all my orange, green and purple paper out and it was driving me crazy!! LOL  I had to make sure the paper didn't upstage that ribbon!!! Hola!!! LOVE IT!!  Before I go, I wanted to share a picture of our pumpkin last night.  It's the pumpkin I got at the farm last week.  Tony carved it Saturday night ready for Sunday :)  And because we were going to make our little pumpkin sick (too much candy!), Tony added some sad eyes to him....isn't it sweet?  LOL  Have a great day...I'm off to see if my class is super tired or super hyper!! LOL

what's in it?
stamps: verve bountiful harvest
ink: versafine onyx, su pumpkin, mustard, kiwi, plum
paper: pti black, plum,kraft, su kiwi, watercolour paper, basicgrey, dcwv, pti dps
accessories: oval nestablities, pti button, twine, gemstones, Michaels ribbon

I Lift My Eyes to the Hills

Good morning!!  First of all, thanks for all the congrats on my Card Patterns card last week.  I guess when they choose your card as the top pick, you are the Guest Designer for the next sketch :)  Let's hope it's an easy one!! LOL  AND perfect timing as I have one more free weekend before report card writing takes over the studio for a few days :)  Today's card is for Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch.  She has been wowing me with fabulous sketches lately and I always feel compelled to play along.  I'm using some more of that gorgeous paper I used yesterday.  I thought it would be fun to stamp the panel underneath the sentiment panel, but then realized it looks a lot like the designer paper!! LOL  Oh, well, I kind of like it.  Ah, one of my favourite Verve scripture stamps.  Everytime I read it, I feel my eyes looking up to the hills...love it!!  OH, my PTI order arrived yesterday :)  Can't wait to play with the new toys ;)  Have a wonderful day :)

what's in it?
stamps: verve plain jane, su autumn splendor
ink: su really rust, old olive, pti ocean tides; versafine onyx
paper: su rust, olive, pti white, ocean tides; me and my big ideas dp
accessories: stitching, gemstones, pti ribbon, twine, Grandpa's button, distressor

Merry Christmas!!

 Hehehe!!  Good morning!!! Did my post title throw you?  Trust me, no one is more surprised about it than me :)  But when I saw Karen's sample for her Sweet Sunday Sketch, I caught the Christmas bug (for an hour...lol).  The fact that my new PTI Sugar Plum paper was staring at me may have had something to do with it too ;)  I love this paper, it goes with everything!!!  It even has a bit of colour that matches Apricot Appeal!!  When I was glueing on the white buttons, they reminded me of chocolate melts...lol.  So one Christmas card down, 50 to go!! LOL  You may see a few more Christmas cards sneak in here and there, but once my new Verve stamps and Basic Grey Papyrus paper arrives, expect some more Autumn cards :)  Have a wonderful Monday :) Thanks for popping in :)

what's in it?
stamps: pti signature christmas
ink: versafine onyx
paper: pti white, blue, plum, sugar plum & bitty boxes dps; su apricot appeal
accessories: ms border punch, su border punch, basicgrey buttons, baker's twine, gemstones, stitching, grosgrain ribbon