Another Mojo-filled Monday

It's a Winter Wonderland here - finally! The snow came down all day today making for some not-so-fun driving conditions but "... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... " I had to go to the city this morning to do some running around and then my youngest called me from school to tell me that he wasn't feeling well. "Mom, can you come get me? What's wrong? I just don't feel very good. Did you throw up? Yes." *sigh* But, I'll tell you this, he sure didn't *seem* too sick when he got home and grabbed the snow shovel and started to clear the sidewalk and deck...hmmm.... ;)

Anyhoo, when I got home I stoked a roaring fire, made myself a cuppa coffee, turned on the "Glee" soundtrack and sat down to check out Mojo Monday. Julee came up with another fabulous sketch and I got to work:
I started by looking for a stamp I hadn't used before and I found one I bought a couple of years ago and had never seen ink. *bad bad bad* I stamped it and colored it and the rest of the card came together pretty quickly. The sentiment is from a My Favorite Things set called "Say Charge." I moved the sentiment to the other side of the card because otherwise it would have covered up most of the fun part of the image.


Recipe - Stamps: favorite time (Penny Black), Say Charge (MFT) Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versafine Onyx Black, Copics Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Real Red, Old Olive Accessories: Spiral Punch, Nestabilities (Scallop circle, pinking circle, circle), paper piercer, color spritzer, CB Swiss Dots embossing folder, adhesive pearls, circle punch, Sizzix tag die-cut, gingham ribbon, star eyelets

I have been using white a LOT in my cards lately - I just love how crisp and fresh it makes a card look. I'm not sure what I'll do with this card but I'm sure I can find someone to give it to... Thanks for stopping in - tomorrow is the Color Challenge over at Splitcoast so we'll see what I can come up with for that. :) See you then!

All Five Challenges???

Yep, I did it! I finished them all! YAY ME!

We made gift card holders at our monthly group get-together a couple of months ago so I thought I'd use that for inspiration. When I clicked the links they gave us over at the Verve Blog, I realized that my holder is kind of a combination of Link #2 and Link #3 - it has a belly band like #2 but the card itself is like #3. So, without further ado...here it is:
Recipe: Stamps - Best Yet, Snow Flurries (Stampin' Up), Miscellaneous reindeer (Michael's) Paper: Soft Suede, Real Red, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DP (SU!) Ink: Real Red, Soft Suede, VersaMark Dazzle (Frost), Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Nestabilities (Square and Scalloped Square), Designer Label punch, circle punch, clear embossing powder, Copics, sponge dauber


I don't own the Word Window punch so I improvised and used the Modern Label punch to make the slot for the gift card to fit into. I had never used the VersaMark Dazzle ink before but I think it add just the right amount of sparkle. Hmmm...speaking of sparkle... I think the reindeer's nose needs an adhesive rhinestone - red, of course! I'm going to do that right now. (Imagine me rolling my chair over to the other end of my counter, finding my rhinestones and sticking one on...) Yep - it looks MUCH better! :)

I'm going to roast a turkey and watch my football game later tonight - GO GREEN!! Thanks to all the ladies over at Verve for giving us some WONDERFUL challenges this weekend to celebrate the new releases. I was over at my friend Lori's house last night and we put our order in - WOOHOO for free shipping over $50!! Remember to stop in and order before tomorrow night to take advantage of the sale.

Thanks for clicking in - I hope you all enjoy your Sunday.

Verve Challenge #4

How is your weekend going? Mine has been busy so far and it's not even half done! Last night my friend, Lori, and I went into town for our "bi-weekly torture" courtesy of our trainer, Brett. We spent 30 minutes doing leg work and then we joined a 30 minute step class and then a 30 minute spinning class. OY VEY. Spinning may *look* easy but, let me assure you, it is NOT! LOL It was Moonlight Madness in town so we spent some time perusing the shops and then stopped to get groceries before grabbing a Timmie's and heading home. I got up early this morning to take my oldest back into town for a volleyball tournament and didn't get home until around 3 so my crafting time has been fast and furious.

OK... Verve's Challenge #4---Mini Pizza Box. Easy peasy! I've done these before and they are so quick to put together and fun to fill and give away. :) {Here} are the instructions if you want to take a peek. And remember that Verve has released some new stamps and is having a sale until November 30 - who can resist a sale?? I know I can't!
Recipe - Stamps: Swirls (Little Paper Shop) Paper: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Basic Black, SU! DP, Whisper White Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Melon Mambo Accessories: Nestabilities PInking Circles (small and large), paper flowers, adhesive pearls, clear embossing powder (for image), oval punch, modern label punch, designer label punch, circle punch, photo corner punch, Old Olive twill ribbon, star eyelets

I think I'm going to make some 3"x3" note cards to put inside and give it away for Christmas. You never know when you might need "Just a Note." :)

4 challenges down, one to go...the next one is a gift card holder. Hmmmm...I wonder what I'll come up with? I need to get it done before tomorrow night because I will be busy watching the Grey Cup - witnessing my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders WIN the Grey Cup again. :) GO GREEN!

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Thanks for stopping by.

Verve Challenge #3

What's the saying? "All good things must come to an end..." This challenge totally threw me for a loop-de-do. The third challenge from Verve was this: "Our challenge is called Embellish with V-E-R-V-E and the challenge is to create a card or project using an embellishment that begins with the letters in VERVE." Ummm...what?? :) So, I used velvet ric-rac and rhinestones to embellish this card. I think I made this challenge harder for myself than I needed to but it's done. I used Taylor's Sketch #92 to help me get started and this is the finished product:


Recipe - Stamps: Snow Wonderful (Verve) Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive Paper: Very Vanilla, Scenic Route DP, Old Olive Accessories: Various punches, adhesive rhinestones, velvet ric rac ribbon, marker for nose and stitching detail

I'm going to take a bit of a break - and EAT something - I just realized I haven't eaten since breakfast because I've been sitting here CREATING!! I've been having way too much fun to eat. :) Later all!

Verve Challenge #2

I'm back!! Boy, getting back to creating really *is* good for the soul. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it when a card is done and looks NOTHING like I envisioned it (in a good way)!

So Verve's Challenge # 2 is a sketch challenge:
And here's what I came up with:

Recipe - Stamps: Ornament Christmas (Verve) Ink: Soft Suede Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Real Red, SU! DP Accessories: Corner Rounder, paper piercer, circle punches, modern label punch, paper snowflakes, rhinestone brads, adhesive pearls, Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon, CB embossing folder

I'm on a roll!... what's next? :)

**ETA: Gosh - I was so excited to have inspiration I didn't READ that this card was supposed to have a {twist} of thankfulness to it...OOPS. Maybe I'll have to make another card - OH DARN! :)

It's a VERVE day!!!!

I'm so excited!! Verve is releasing new stamps tonight and I *need* some new ones... OK, so I may not *need* them but I WANT them! :) I haven't ordered since last Christmas and there are some new Plain Janes I LOVE...and I'm sure there will be some new releases I will just HAVE to have.

All day today, the gang from Verve is hosting a "Thankful Hearts Blog Party" and it looks like they will be posting some challenges throughout the day. The first one is a color challenge:
I popped over to the Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge at SplitcoastStampers to see if I could combine the 2 challenges...YEP! Sure could. :)

Sorry, I couldn't make it bigger but you get the idea. So, I pulled out my box of acrylic stamps and found a set from The Little Paper Shop that had never even seen ink...until today. I have to say, I *HEART HEART HEART* how this card turned out:

I have had trouble getting a good picture with my camera lately so please forgive the "brightness." Do you love it??? I found some old SU! DP that coordinated and it came together pretty quickly. I used Tempting Turquoise instead of Bermuda Bay and I wasn't sure that the colors would "work" but with the black and white in there they really do.

Recipe - Stamps: Topiary (Little Paper Shop) Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White, SU! DP Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Old Olive Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Copics, scallop punch, circle punches, ribbon, adhesive pearls, metal clip, sponge dauber

I'm looking forward to seeing what else the Verve team comes up with. I have to go to the gym tonight but I will be back to ORDER!! :) Have a great Friday!

2 Sketches 4 You & Color Throwdown

Happy Thursday!

I got home from work at lunchtime and got to work creating! I used Kazan's sketch #40 from 2 Sketches 4 You and combined it with the Color Throwdown of Dusty Durango, Elegant Eggplant, and Old Olive and this is what I came up with...





Recipe- Stamps: Long Stemmed Sentiments (Technique Tuesday), sentiment from Happy Harmony (Stampin' Up, retired) Paper: Dusty Durango textured, Elegant Eggplnt, Old Olive, Whisper White Ink: Dusty Durango, Elegant Eggplant, Versafine Onyx Black, Copics Accessories: Blender Pen, adhesive pearls, Martha Stewart border punch, Marvy Uchida corner punch, Swiss Dots CB folder, Scallop punch, circle punches, ribbon

I should have lots of time to create tomorrow - it's great not having to work on Fridays!! I think I will try Taylor's Cupcake Challenge...it's been sooooo long!!! :) Have a great day!

A Challenge From My PIC...

So here are the cards I mentioned in my last post - my friend, Lori, challenged me to get back at it and this is what I came up with...I LOVE my Bellas from Stamping Bella!!!




No time to post details right now but I will say that I had a BLAST making the stair-step cards, thanks to Dawn's video tutorial. You should all try to make at least one of these cards!

I hope to get some crafting done a bit later either today or tomorrow. Thanks for checking!

Mojo Monday -

*head hanging in shame...*

OK, OK, OK... I KNOW it's been a LONG time since I have posted anything but that's because, aside from our monthly club get-togethers, I haven't crafted ANYTHING. I completely lost my mojo. GONE. NOTHING. NADA. Life got so crazy..busy crazy AND just plain crazy (where do all the weird people keep coming from?) that I just could not focus long enough to do anything. My good friend, Lori, was in the same boat until just recently and she challenged me to make a card...ANY card. She got her mojo back and was sure mine couldn't be far away either. :)

I made a couple cards last week and I will post those separately but this morning I woke up and felt crafty. It's been so long since I have even LOOKED at a challenge blog, I, for a split second, wondered if Julee even posted Mojo Monday challenges anymore! I was relieved when I discovered that she was still posting weekly sketches - thank goodness for that. So, I sat down with paper, turned on the "Glee" soundtrack (LOVE IT! Anyone else watch the show?) and got down to business.



This is Julee's 114th sketch - how did THAT happen? This one is very plain and simple...PERFECT for my first challenge since February. I found some printed vellum from a bazillion years ago and dug through my acrylic stamps and came up with these:


















Recipe - Stamps: "Chill Out" (My Favorite Things) Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Green Galore, printed vellum Accessories: Black grosgrain ribbon, pumpkin pie ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, corner punch, adhesive pearls (pewter), paper piercer, dimensionals

Recipe - Stamps: Plain Jane (Verve) Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Green Galore, printed vellum Accessories: Black stitched ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch, felt flowers, black brad, Labels 3 (Spellbinders), adhesive pearls

So that's what I came up with after being mojoless for months and months. I have been through a lot of "stuff" the last few months and I have made a decision that *should* give me much more time to create and get back to my "happy place." Thanks to anyone who took the time to stop in and check out my creations. Hopefully my next post will be much sooner than this one was... :) Have a great week!