Girlfriends Rock

Hi guys! I haven't had the stamping time I would have hoped for lately so I have pulled out an older creation that never made it here when I finished it. I am happy to say that I have been working on a custom order for a girl that found me on Etsy. I was thrilled to get her message stating that she had ordered from me before and now wanted me to make her some thank you tags for her own Etsy shop. Yay! I love my repeat customers! So, as soon as I finish her large order, I will be back in force. After all, there are way too many Valentine's Day and spring cards to be made right now!

Anyway, back to today's card. It is one of those old standbys that some of us make from time to time. It doesn't involve anything new, fancy, or intricate. I pulled out a paper combo that I loved and went from there. I used a really cute stamp by Penny Black and some of those dreamy Penny Lane papers by MME. Now that I mention that paper, if you have a Hobby Lobby near you, they have introduced an economy line of MME papers that are printed on regular weight paper (versus card stock weight) and only on one side. It makes them oh so much cheaper and with the great sales at HL, you can get them for a steal.

So, how about a photo? Here ya go!

As I often do, I printed (Font: CAC One Seventy 20pt) the sentiment in Word because I wanted a sentiment that I don't have a stamp for in my vast jumble of little wood blocks. The image and the sentiment are stamped/printed on Neenah Classic Crest Natural White. The sketch came from the Verve Challenges for their October Release week (VSOCT09B). It seems that I type that tidbit of info quite a bit lately. I made so many cards that week and the sketches were just fabulous. The ribbon is a May Arts grosgrain and I colored the image with my Copics.

I want you to have a great weekend and I hope to see you back next week after I finish that Etsy order. I will have lots of new things to show here so please drop by. And while you're at it, I would love to see a comment about what you think of my posts now and then. I recently changed the settings regarding comments so I hope to have made the process easier. Buh-bye!

Happy Holidays... Snowman Style

Hi guys! I hope the weekend was great for you wherever you are. I hope you got lots of time to do what you pleased and found no worries along the way. I have a card to show you today. I didn't make it this weekend. I was just to busy! I made it back in October for the Verve Release party Challenges and just have not gotten around to posting it here. I hope you like it!

This card uses the sketch called VSOCT09A. There were 5 sketches that week and this one was the first of the series. I found it to be a tough one to work with considering that tag area that overlaps the focal point area. What I love though is that snowman! This is one of my favorite images. It is by Penny Black and I saw it used last year on another blog so I just ran right out to find one. I ended up ordering it online and paying wayyy too much for him. Oh well! He's a cutie and I bet I have already gotten my money's worth. I used Nesties to cut the scalloped square behind the image and the pale plum panel is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.

I didn't bother snapping a photo of the inside because it doesn't have any sentiment but it is decorated to match the front of the card. I used scraps and left plenty of room for a hand written message. To me, that is one of the benefits of making and sending hand made cards...they can say whatever you want them to say!

I have abusy day planned so I am off for now. I will be back with a few more holiday cards that I haven't had time to show you just yet. Have a great Monday!

Papers- EK Art Blanche Winter Dot; Gina K Pure Luxury CS; SU Perfect Plum & Pale Plum CS. Stamps- Penny Black Warm & Cold; Hero Arts Sunny Happy Holidays. Inks- Memento Tuxedo black; Tim Holtz faded jeans distress ink. Tools- Nestie Scalloped Square (sm); Nestie Ribbon Tags Trio; Paper Studio snowflake punch; Marvy circ punch (2.5in); CB snowflakes emb folder. Embellishments- American Crafts ribbon (silver baby); Dress it Up Blue Snowflake buttons; MM silver metallic stitches. Pens- Copics (N1, N3, B93, B97, E44); Zig (pure orange); SU (Perfect Plum, Pale Plum); Sakura (Clear Stardust, Blue Metallic). Sketch- VSOCT09A.

Long Time, No Post!

Hi guys! Sorry I've been away so long with no word. It's been one of those weeks. I am on my way out for the weekend so I am in a big hurry but I wanted to show you a card before you forgot about me. LOL!

Here is one of my entries for the Verve Release Challenges. It uses their new free digi image of Winter Mittens. Love it! I hope they do more digi images in the future. So, here ya go...

I used some of the Polar Expressions collection DP by Imaginisce and the sketch came from the Release Challenge Sketches on the Verve Forum. I love those colors together! I colored those adorable mittens with my Copics and that little loopy border is a Martha Stewart edge punch.

I'll be back Monday with my supply list and lots of new things to show you. I have several challenge cards and even some new tag sets so be sure to peek back in next week. Have a great weekend!

You Are Bewitching, Ma'Dear!

Hello, hello! I can't wait to show you today's card. It is a challenge card and it uses another adorable digi image from All That Scraps. I'll just go ahead and show you and tell you about it in a minute. Take a look!

And the inside...



Isn't she darling?! I am having such a good time with all these precious fall images. Every one is cuter than the one before it and I still have a couple I haven't even used yet. I can't even imagine how cute the Christmas and winter images will be!

So, down to business! My card uses sketch #SC245 from Splitcoast. It is a really nice sketch for a tall, somewhat narrow image. This card also fulfills a challenge. Verve stamps has a new release coming up this Friday night and they have offered up 5 different challenges for all of us challenge junkies. Each one is hosted by a different person and they offer something for everyone to play along with and enjoy. The one I played with first was Jackie Pedro's distress challenge. I used a couple of Tim Holtz distress inks and added a little around the edges of the rust colored panel as well as the witch image panel. See below for the colors I used.

I printed my sentiment on the computer but I don't remember where I got the idea for the wording. It might have been from the ATS fall sentiments set which I don't own yet but my notes didn't have a source (oops!) and I forgot to go look before I started writing here. As long as you know it is not some little jewel that flew out of my brain creativity puddle, I guess we are cool, huh?

I think I'm off for now. I start back to my part time employment this weekend and it is time to get ready. Have a great day!

Papers- MME Boo to You Monster Mash & Midnight Stars; Daisy D's Traditions Antique Black. Stamps- ATS witch emma digi image; Hero Arts Halloween Greeting. Inks- Tim Holtz black soot and tea dye distress inks. Tools- MS emb zig zag edge punch; EK circle punches. Embellishments- favorite findings buttons; DMC #6139 embr cotton. Pens- Copic (E00, E02, RR08, E09, YG03, W00, 110); Sakura clear glitter pen. Sketch- SC245.

An Apple For Teacher

Even though my children are long since back in school, I know that most of the country is still out school shopping and making plans for Labor Day. I decided that maybe a few of the extra teacher cards would be a nice addition to my Etsy shop as well as an applicable post for here. Today's card is another one of my entries for the Anni-Verve-Sary Sketch Challenge on the Verve forum a few weeks ago. I think it is the only one I haven't already posted here too. I used these for my kids' teachers after the first week of school. Take a look...

That cute little back to school puppy image is a relatively new digi-image from All That Scraps and the sketch is #AVS202. I printed the sentiment on my computer so it would fit just right in a small circle at the top of the oval. When I was designing this card, I tried a plain red cardstock panel behind the image but it needed a little something so I made my own designer paper by stamping abc's in versamark ink all over the red cardstock. I like the effect. I almost never use that very common technique and I can't imagine why because I love it here. Another point to mention is the blue background. Notice the polka dot texture? Like it? It is one of the new QuicKutz embossing folders. I am very happy with the few I have so far because they are full A2 size instead of the slightly smaller original Cuttlebug folders.

Well, I think I'll go for now. Groceries need to be purchased and beds need changing so it is time to get the new week started. Have a great Monday for yourself!

Papers- Autumn Leaves Paper Charming; Gina K pure luxury 80# CS; SU Kraft CS. Stamps- ATS digi image "school puppy"; ScrapTrends alphabet soup lowercase. Inks- versamark. Tools- QuicKutz Polka Dots emb folder; coluzzle ovals; corner rounder; EK circ punches. Embellishments- favorite findings mini natural buttons; DMC #823 embr cotton. Pens- Copic (Y28, R59, R37, W1, B97, G94, RV11, E57, 0. Zig (root beer float). Font- 16pt Parade. Sketch- Verve AVS202.

Bloom Where You're Planted

Happy Friday everyone! Long week, huh? It was for me. Busy, busy I tell ya. I am ready for a little bit of a weekend. I have a card for you today. I know I still have not caught up the supply list from 2 days ago but I promise I will get to it if you are waiting for it. So, on to today's card...

This one uses one of the Verve sketches from Anni-Verve-Sary week. It is AVS205. I love the sketch but I can't say I love my own choice of materials. As a matter of fact, I am not sure why I am even blogging about it. LOL! I have gone back and forth between hating this card and just sorta liking it. I think it is a little busy and does little to accent the lovely Verve image. What I do love are the paper coordinates and those darling buttons. The papers are Basic Grey June Bug and the buttons were a great find in the fabric store.

I tried something a little different when I colored the stamp image. I stamped it in a colored ink (versus black) and then filled it in with Tim Holtz distress inks and an aqua pen. I can't wait to try this again! I love that lovely ink and it was perfect for use with an aqua pen. Also different for me, I stitched on the buttons with some fibers instead of my typical hemp or embroidery floss. I chose a nubby, homespun type of fiber and I like the fuzzy look. It is a little more prominent IRL. The gemstones in the flowers are hand colored with Copics. I didn't have just the right shade and I wanted a dark rich center so I used the 2 colors of Copic pen listed below to shade them myself. It is amazing how well non-porous substances take that ink and hold on to it. You would expect smudging but I have had no trouble.

Well, I think I'm off for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend. My supply list is below and I will soon list this card in my Etsy shop. If you need it sooner, please contact me. I am still really busy with my little lunch notes but I would be glad to list this or other cards just for you.

Papers- Basic Grey June Bug Daydream, Admiral; Bo Bunny Coral Dot. Stamps- Verve Floral Symphony. Inks- Tim Holtz distress inks (fired brick, peeled paint); Memento London Fog, SU vintage violet. Tools- Paper Studio 2 5/16in circ punch; marvy 2.5in circ punch; MM sanding block; Heidi Swapp edge distresser;CB swirls emb folder. Pens- copic B99 & 110 on rhinestone gems.

If You Like Pina Coladas...

or margaritas, today's card is for you! I have always loved that pina colada song and it goes without saying that margaritas are a lot of fun. The minute I saw the patterned paper in today's card, I knew exactly what I was going to make with it. Then, when the new Chillax set debuted at Taylored Expressions, I decided to CASE a catchy little sentiment from it for my card idea. So without further ado...

and the inside of the card...

This card was one of my entries for the Anni-Verve-Sary Sketch Challenge (AVS203). It was a great sketch for a card of this type which had a rather small focal point image and a short sentiment for the front of the card. I loved how my materials came together too. When I went to the scrapbook store, I knew I had the DP at home waiting but didn't know what I would put it together with for a card. Turns out, the citron cardstock was in the Archiver's bargain bin as was the beige linen print that I used behind the lime DP. The ribbon was from the dollar bin at Target. Talk about a jackpot! I never get that lucky with clearance and bargain bin scramp supplies. By the time I pick through the sale bins, it is usually down to mint green cardstock and flocked puce ribbon. Go figure.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this card. The colors make it one of my recent favorites. I can't wait to send it to someone special. I have several extra which I plan to list in my Etsy shop too so if you would like to own it for yourself, drop by Etsy for a visit. If you aren't familiar with Etsy, drop me a line here and I would be glad to assist you. Have a great rest of the day!


Papers- Bo Bunny Homespun Maple Sugar; DCWV CS (coral red); Paper Co citron CS; Bazzill Vanilla CS; Citronella Strawberry Limeade by K&Co. Stamps- ANM/Stampcraft Beverages. Inks- Graphite Brilliance; Tools- Fiskars Apron Lace edge punch; EK 1 3/4 in circ punch; Mary 2in scalloped circle punch. Pens- Copic Y13, YG17, B000, YG03. Font- CAC One Seventy 18pt.

Whooo Loves You?

Updated to add my supply list below...

Good Mornin, Folks! I am in a little hurry again this morning. I start back at my part time job for the fall season as of this weekend so I am off to be career woman with just a few minutes to pop in to say hello. It will be another quick post and I will fill you in with supply lists once the weekend is over. Today's card is one of my entries for the Anni-Verve-Sary Sketch Challenge held in honor of Verve's 2 year anniversary and August Stamp Release. I am sorry to say that I did not win any prizes but I really enjoyed completing the cards with a purpose in mind. So here ya go...

The outer sentiment finishes up on the inside of the card with...

I love this fun little sketch! I can't wait to use it again. For the papers, I chose a few from the Fern Collection by Carolee's Creations and my image came from SU's Just Celebrate. I colored that sweet little owl with my copics and SU markers. The colors of the paper were very easy to match. I printed the sentiment on my computer in 20pt Whackadoo.

Well, I'm off in a flash. I promise to update these last 2 posts with details as soon as I can manage to get caught up from this whirlwind weekend. You just can't even imagine how much of a mess my desk is right now. Ahhh!!!! :D

Have a great weekend!

Papers- Adorn It Carolee's Creations Fern Collection Hoot Stripe & Owls All Around. Stamps- SU Just Celebrate. Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- Nestabilities petite scalloped circles; marvy 3in circle punch. Embellishments- misc buttons; brown MM stitches. Pens- Copic (BG05, E57, YR09) SU (old olive, creamy caramel). Font- Whackadoo 20pt, 36pt.