EEK! Happy Halloween!

Good morning friends!  I thought I’d better share this card I made way back when for a submission call.  It didn’t get picked up, although I don’t know why…how fabulous is that black doily!?  ACK!  LOL  It was picked up at my card sale at work, though, so some lucky person is getting it today somewhere in the world, hopefully with a bit of candy ;)  Today is the end of a very long month and the start of report cards soon.  No rest for the wicked!  I’ll be enjoying all the kids coming to our house tonight.  I live in the same community where I work so I get a kick seeing my students come to my house Trick or Treating :)  They are too sweet :)  Have a good one!

stamps: Happy Fall (Verve)

dies: PTI

Merry!

Good morning everyone!  Well, it doesn’t get much simpler than “Merry” this morning.  You don’t need the word “Christmas” to convey the heartfelt Merry Christmas in this card (even though I love “Christmas”).  Oh, my CAS wannabe heart was swooning while making this.  I was inspired by the Festive Friday Challenge going on right now.  My bestie, Lynn, is their Guest Designer this time and she’s one of my CAS muses.  So I just HAD to go with that energy.

I created my wreath using the Clearly Besotted Delightful Doilies stamp set and matching dies.  I can’t tell you how happy I was to still be on the DT when these came to me!  Y’all know I love a good doily!  Stamped, die cut, sticker, paper, foil, you name it, I love them all!  I embossed each doily image in white to create a subtle, but shiny texture to my card…here’s a close up…

Y’all also know that my love for doilies is right up there with my love for jingle bells.  I may have to give this one to myself!  If YOU get, you are very “card worthy!”  LOL  Have a great day and thanks so much for visiting :)

what’s in it?

stamps: Clearly Besotted Delightful Doilies and Holiday Sentiments

dies: Clearly Besotted Delightful Doilies Die Collection

It’s Your Birthday

Hi everyone!  Whew!  I one more crazy week at work and then I hope things settle down!  We’ve been on the move with field trips, a guest PE teacher, whole school pyjama day, and the list goes on.  So a little inky time is just what the doctor ordered.  I’m using Anya’s super fun Viva La Verve sketch to help replenish my birthday card stash.  I’m using the brand spankin’ new Chevron Love set with the new Heart Quartet die.  Everything from the new release is in the Verve Store now, so check it out and then join in the sketchy fun over on the Viva La Verve forum!  Have a great week :)

  

what’s in it?

stamps: Chevron Love (Verve)

paper: rustic white, soft stone, sweet blush (PTI), Ledger Paper (Making Memories), Chalk Studio (MME), glitter cardstock (Recollections)

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

accessories: Wavy Hearts, Heart Quartet (Verve), Stormy Skies Ribbon Collection (Verve), buttons and circle dies (PTI), bakers twine (Twinery)

Verve October Release Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Welcome to the Verve October Release Blog Hop!  All the new stamps and dies you’ve seen previewed this week are available in the Verve Store now!  In the mood for some early Christmas shopping?!  I sure am!

I’ve used Holiday Treats again today to make a fun tag card ready to give a teacher friend with a little SB card tucked in behind :)  I love the little coffee to go cup and couldn’t resist using it on a tag!

 

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's prize…the whole new release!  YIKES!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Entire October Release

 

1. Julee                 8. Amber

2 Jen                     9. Janelle

3. Marisa              10. Andrea

4. Teresa              11. Laurie W.

5. Charmaine        12. Maureen

6. Christyne          13. Laurie S.

7. Stacey {Guest}  14. Verve Blog

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Holiday Treats (Verve)

paper: rustic white, Merry and Bright (Carta Bella), Kraft Fun Day (MME)

ink: onyx (Versafine), soft sky, real red (SU),

accessories: Tagged Rectangle Die and Cup of Cheer Die Set (Verve), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve), library card die, buttons, twine (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), doily (Wilton), bakers twine (Twinery), stitching

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of our October 2013 Spotlight Hops!  Everything previewed this week is now available in the Verve online store Friday night, 10/25! 

Oh, are you ready to shop!?  It’s Friday AND there’s some new Verve in the store…how wonderful is that?  I went clean and sort of simple on today’s card.  Lots of gorgeous white space in contrast to the fun blinged out tag!  I was digging around in my Christmas embellishment box and found these gold poinsettia leaves! SCORE!  They are a perfect accompaniment to this fun and classy sentiment in the new Unto Us set.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Unto Us, Reindeer Fun Die Set

 

1. Julee             8. Amber

2. Jen                 9. Janelle

3. Marisa         10. Andrea

4. Teresa         11. Laurie W.

5. Charmaine   12. Maureen

6. Christyne     13. Verve Blog

7. Stacey {Guest}

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Unto Us (Verve)

paper: kraft, white (Papertrey Ink)

ink: onyx (Versafine), raspberry fizz, sweet blush (Papertrey Ink)

accessories: Classy Label Die (Verve), tag sale die and button (PTI), oval (Spellbinders), gold cording (SU), ribbon and gold poinsettia leaves (Michaels),

Joy Tags ~ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  I was so happy that this month’s Papertrey Ink’s blog hop was quick and easy and right up my alley!  I love tags!  They are small sweet little canvases quick to make and perfect for gifts or on cards!  What more could we ask for?  I went for some gold embossing with some new dies!  Here’s a close up…

Love the shine!  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop!  I know I will!

stamps: PTI Mistletoe and Holly

dies: PTI one liner dies, Tag sale

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of our October 2013 Spotlight Hops!  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, 10/25.

Oh, let’s get out the glitter cardstock!  I do love all the bling on Christmas cards!  Today’s sneak peek shows us another new stamp set that coordinates with some older dies, the Tagged Rectangle and Winter Fun die sets.  The set is also full of darling sentiments for the Christmas season :)  A real go to set!

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Holiday Treats, Cup of Cheer Die Set

1. Julee                8. Amber

2 Jen                    9. Janelle

3. Marisa            10. Andrea

4. Teresa            11. Laurie W.

5. Charmaine      12. Maureen

6. Christyne        13. Verve Blog

7. Stacey {Guest}

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Holiday Treats, Bright Spirits-retired (Verve)

paper: kraft, rustic white (PTI), tempting turquoise (SU), Merry & Bright (Carta Bella), music sheet paper, glitter cardstock

ink: onyx (Versafine), tempting turquoise, ruby red (SU)

accessories: Winter Fun die set, tagged rectangle die (Verve), bakers twine (Twinery), snowflake dies (PTI), silver sequins (Michaels)

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

Welcome to our October 2013 Spotlight Hops!  We're so excited to preview Verve's newest stamp sets and dies with you! Over the next few days, the Divas will be shining their Verve spotlights on a different set each day, so stay tuned for a fun series of inspirational hops... and PRIZES, too! Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, 10/25.

Hello friends!  I’m so excited about today’s card!  Not only is it my kick off to some new Verve coming up on Friday, it was my card I gave to my son in honour of his new apartment :)  We were able to see his new digs a few weeks ago and brought this along with a GC to the food store he lives by and my favourite cookbook!  HA!  I love the new stamps in this release…many of them fit with some old favourites, including the Jotted Heart die!  Can we all say “L-O-V-E!”  How would you like to win today’s featured stamps and dies?  Leave a comment on each Diva’s blog and you could win!

 Today's Prize: Chevron Love, Heart Quartet Die Set

1. Julee                 8. Amber

2 Jen                     9. Janelle

3. Marisa             10. Andrea

4. Teresa             11. Laurie W.

5. Charmaine       12. Maureen

6. Christyne         13. Laurie S.

7. Stacey {Guest} 14. Verve Blog

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Chevron Love (Verve)

paper: white, kraft (PTI), Hello Again (Carta Bella)

ink: onyx (versafine), soft sky, craft white (SU)

accessories: heart quartet die , arrow die and jotted heart die (Verve), chalkboard tag (MME), fishtail banner dies (My Favourite Things), ribbon, button (PTI), staple, twine, stitching

Merry Christmas!

Hello dear friends!  Wow, it feels like I haven’t been here forever, yet it’s only been 3 days! I’m in the middle of my very busy month and was so happy to have a few hours yesterday in the studio :)  I whipped up a fun, whimsical Christmas card for the Festive Friday challenge.  I thought it just started, but we’re already into the second week of the challenge!  EEK!

 

I was so happy to find the perfect stamps in my Clearly Besotted stamp pile.  I sadly had to step down from this amazing Design Team to start my Masters, but was left with a whole lot of stamping goodness :)  These sweet stockings are from Christmas Cheer and come with matching dies.  The sentiment is from Modern Christmas and was designed by the uber talented Duchess (aka Amy Wanford). The bottom layers of paper were inspired by Maile Belles and her amazing card HERE! I hope your Monday is wonderful!  Thanks for stopping by!

Robot Birthday

Happy Friday everyone!  Here’s another card I made for the Verve Release last month.  This one was snatched up during my card sale at work.  How adorable is that robot and those screw brads?!  Yikes!  You can check out all the stamps from this release AND the autumn SALE going on at the Verve Store HERE.  Have a great weekend!

what’s in it?

stamps: Birthday Bots (Verve)

paper: soft stone, white (PTI), tempting turquoise (SU)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Award Banner (Verve), fabulous frames (PTI), button, screw brads (Michaels), silver cording (SU), stars embossing folder (Darice)

Diva Dare Hostess!

Hey everyone!  I’m the hostess with the mostess over on the Verve Blog today!  Come and check out this month’s Diva Dare challenge and see how YOU could win some shiny new Verve!  See you there!

Sharing a special moment…

Good morning!  About a month ago, my nephew Kurt, who got married this past weekend, asked if I would make a card for him to give to his new bride, Dayle, on their wedding day.  How could I say no to such a sweet and important moment?  I was so honoured to be a part of that lovely memory.  I knew exactly which Stronger Love sentiment to use, the one I asked (begged!) Julee at Verve stamps to bring to life Verve style.  Dayle has been a fan of my cards since meeting me and visiting the studio.  I was so excited and got teary eyed making this with her in mind.  Everyone who saw the card before and after it was given all got teary eyed too…I love that! LOL   Here’s the sentiment inside… “As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my Life to keep..”  Need a tissue?  I know!

I packaged the card inside a vellum envelope and made an oval seal.  I didn’t take a photo of this, but the seal sentiment was, “This is my Promise not only on our wedding day, but for each day that follows.”  Both this sentiment and the one inside the card come from an old Simple Thoughts Wedding set by Cloud 9 (Fiskars).  Before I go, I’d like to share a few photos of the wedding…it was so beautiful and classy, my style all the way!

The ceremony and reception were at a restaurant down at Granville Island in Vancouver.  The huge windows showcased the gorgeous scenery of boats and autumn splendor…the perfect backdrop for starting a new life together.  My nephew never looked happier.  After the ceremony, while the restaurant staff reset the room for dinner, we all went on a boat cruise for drinks and appies.  Here’s the happy couple… it was SO much fun!

And yes, there was kissing!  For dessert, we each had our own little mini wedding cake…YUM!  I’m kind of a cake snob and this one was up there in the top 2 of wedding cakes :)

Now, not to forget me and the handsome Italian I took home that night {wink!}

There was a photo booth as well that gave us all a souvenir of the wedding and to put into the sweet little frame pillows that were used for our name places.  I loved that the automatic camera took photos like a real photo booth, but there was no little “booth” so there was lots of room to pose (and kiss!) .

So there we have it!  My second nephew to get married :)  It was such a delightful and heartfelt time.  Thanks for sharing this special memory with me. 

stamps: Verve Stronger Love, Heart’s Desire, Cloud 9 Simple Thoughts

Happy Wedding Day, Kurt & Dayle

Hi everyone!  Well it’s the Thanksgiving Day long weekend here in Canada and we’re celebrating it with family at my nephew Kurt’s wedding :)  This is the card from us…look familiar?  LOL  Hey, when something is working for ya, keep it going!  I just love it…I’ve made it 3 times before and each time I love it more :)  I’ve added more bling and am using the wedding colour of champagne :)  Here are some photos of the happy couple…

Dayle is a hockey fan too!  How perfect is that?  Kurt is as well and when he lived down in Texas getting some work experience he was on a Texan rec hockey team.  They scored (pun intended)  having a Canadian who plays hockey!  His nickname was Kurtuzzi! Those of you who know hockey will get that {wink, wink!}

So it will be a weekend of love, fine dining, dancing and family fun!  All the grandchildren will be in attendance so my whole immediate family will be here!  Such a blessing :)  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Hugs and love all around!

stamps: PTI Love and Marriage, Gratitude Journal

Sleep is Good, but Books are Better

Happy Friday everyone!  Today’s card is a special one I made for a special parent I had last year.   I’ve mentioned her before here on the blog…the one that lent me her books and/or recommended great reads to me.  She was so sweet and had me READING good literature for FUN again :)  What a priceless gift.  She knew just what books I would like and after a few heavy ones, gave me the Twilight series for “a light summer read.”  I never jumped on the Twilight bandwagon when it started many years ago and purposely stayed away from the movies…but guess what?  I feel in love with the characters and love story.  So much so, that it took me a while to get into another book.  I watched each movie as I finished each book and thoroughly enjoyed them as well :)  No, I’m not an “Edward” groupie, but I did love them as a couple :)  So I’m giving the books back to this mom and knew just what kind of thank you card I wanted to make.  A bookmark card with the Clearly Besotted Book Worm stamp set.  I just adore this sentiment and curved it slightly so it would fit onto the Basic Banner die.  Here’s a look at the bookmark…

Could those little book worms be any cuter sitting together on that library tag?  I’ll fill in her name on the front pocket as well to make it perfectly personalized :)  Hey!  It’s our Thanksgiving Day long weekend!  We are heading to a family wedding so be sure to stop in tomorrow as I celebrate Kurt and Dayle’s nuptials :)  Have a great start to YOUR weekend as well!  I LOVE FRIDAYS!

stamps and dies: Clearly Besotted Book Worm, Basic Banners, PTI library card, tag #5