January 2013 Viva La Verve Week 1 - Feminine

Hi folks,

I did it - here's my feminine version of the Week 1 Viva La Verve sketch for January 2013! I actually made this card at the same time as I made the masculine one for my Dad - thus the short time-frame between the first post and this one!

This one was given to a co-worker for her birthday on December 31st. She wasn't in the office today but it is sitting on her desk for when she returns in the new year.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye - Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks
• stamps: Verve "Doodled Occasions" (Copic RV00, RV34 for a pop of colour on the cake and cakestand)
• Spellbinders Petite Circles
• half-back pearls from my stash

As this is my last card post for 2012, I want to thank those of you who have continued to pop in for a visit throughout the past twelve months. I hope to see you again in the new year!

January 2013 Viva La Verve Week 1 - Masculine

Hi folks!!

Well, I really didn't make it in time to play along with the December Viva La Verve Challenges last month - what can I say? The usual Christmas rush, lack of mojo and any number of other reasons/excuses just kept me from playing along in time.

But you can bet I am going to do my best to play along in January!

For 2013, I'm strengthening my resolve to make at least one masculine and one feminine version of each weekly sketch. AND --- if all bodes well, I'll try to do a "holiday" card for each sketch as well. Most of the time, that will probably be me trying to stay ahead of the Christmas card making game. But I will probably squeeze in whatever other holiday or special occasion is coming up that month or the following month since I am pretty sure that my Verve stamp collection now covers MOST of the major card giving occasions.

So, up first for the Week 1 sketch is the birthday card I made for my very special Dad.

Here is the sketch:

and here is my card:

I quite like this card - and so did my dearly beloved. In fact, he quite pointedly said that HIS Dad would probably LOVE to get a card like this for HIS birthday in February. So....you will probably be seeing another card very much like this one in the near future.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye - Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks (first time cutting into this paper!)
• stamps: Verve "Super Dad" and "Small Phrases"
• Studio Calico Wooden Hexagon Die Cuts - I picked these up at the Crop and Create here in Ottawa a few months ago and FINALLY opened the package to use them. Yes, I was hoarding them for a special occasion....AND until I could get my hands on the Spellbinders Hexagon dies (so I can cut out my own from the wood veneer stashed in the basement wood shop)
• Spellbinders Hexagon Die

Additional challenges for this card:

• Use it Tuesday #46: 2013 (my first birthday card for the New Year as my Dad celebrates on January 7th. Hoarded supplies list: the patterned paper and the wooden hexagon die cuts. First time using both though I have had each for a two or three months now).
• The Pink Elephant Challenge #180: Anything Goes

thanks for stopping by!

For Sweet 16 Birthday #2

Hi folks!

Back today with the birthday card I made for Sweet 16 #2. If you saw the previous post, then you will see that I used the same technique of just stamping the image and not colouring it.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: My Mind's Eye Follow Your Heart - Be Happy, again fussy cut to get the flowers and sentiment in just the right spot, edges ink distressed with Memento Rick Cocoa Ink
• stamped image: Sparkle Creations Rubbers Stamps "Celebrating Chloe", stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa
• sentiment: Verve "Small Celebrations"
• half back pearls from my stash
• Spellbinders Petite Ovals

challenges for this card:

• Cute  Card Thursday #249: Anything Goes
• Hiding in My Craft Room #78: Freestyle

Thanks for stopping by!!

For Sweet 16 Birthday #1

Hi folks,

Today I'm sharing one of two Sweet 16 birthday cards for the daughters of a dear friend of mine. One daughter has her birthday on December 23rd, the other is on January 7th. There is a BIG semi-formal party planned for January 5th with three of their friends and I am looking forward to celebrating their big days.

I wanted to do something a little different with both of their cards that I have seen so many other card making bloggers do so very well. Just stamp the image - no colouring!

I quite like  how this turned out actually.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: My Mind's Eye Follow Your Heart - Be Happy (first time using these papers from my stash!),  fussy cut to get the bird/doily/flowers and quote in just the right spot, edges distressed with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink
• stamped image: Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps "Cupcake Ruby", stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa
• sentiment: Verve "Joyful Blooms"
• embellishments: turquoise half back pearls from my stash to coordinate with my papers.
• EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch

challenges for this card:

• Use it Tuesday #46: 2013 (trying a new technique AND the card is for a big birthday celebration happening on January 5th in the New Year)
• Card Crafter's Circle #55: Anything Goes
• Do You Stack Up #104: Turquoise (from the paper and the pearls - both from my stash) 
• Through the Craft Room Door #50: Anything Goes

A Cheeky Christmas

Hi folks,

back with the Christmas card I made for my dearly beloved this year.

If I had been a more clever girl, I would have trimmed her hair down so that it was about the length of my own hair. Oops. Oh well. Mind you, I do believe there WAS a request that I go out and find myself a little outfit like this.... grin.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: Teresa Collins "Christmas Cottage". Did you notice the bling I added to the centres of the snowflakes? Yep - itty bitty gems from CTMH from my stash.
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm "A Cheeky Xmas", coloured with Copic Markers
• heart and sentiment: Verve "With Love"

Thanks for stopping by!

Frostier Christmas

Hi folks,

Since I wound up making several of my Christmas cards just before Christmas (i.e on Christmas EVE!!), I still have quite a few Christmas 2012 card posts to go, even though Christmas is done for this year. This is one of them.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Teresa Collins "Christmas Cottage", edges distressed with Memento Rich Cocoa ink
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Frostier", coloured with Copic Markers (YR16, YR18, W1, W5, W6, W7, W8, W00, R37, R39, YG00, G46, E57)
• CTMH bling from my stash

Challenges for this card:

• Papercraft Star #125: Snow (for the snowman and the snow pattern on the cream paper)
• Simon Says: Anything Goes!
• Through the Craft Room Door #50: Anything Goes!
• 2013 Christmas Card Challenges #4: the theme was Jingle Bells this week but any Christmas card will do.

Thanks for stopping by! 

December Viva La Verve Week 1

Hi folks,

as usual I am playing along with the Viva La Verve Sketch Challenges over at the Verve Forum on Splitcoaststampers.

Here is the first sketch for December

and here is my card - the Christmas card  I made for my Mom and Dad.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Fancy Pants "Saint Nick"
• stamps: Verve "Joyous Noel", "With Love"
• paper doily from my stash

Challenges for this card:

• 2013 Christmas Card Challenges #3: Doilies

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Sketch Saturday 238 with Snow Bunny Lucy

Hi folks,

I'm still working at getting my Christmas cards finished up for this year. This one is for another of my nieces.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: Fancy Pants "Saint Nick"
• stamped image: "Snow Bunny Lucy" from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps, coloured with Copic markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E21, E23, E25, E50, E51, E53, R000, R56, R59, R89, C5, C7, C9, C1, C2)
• sentiment: Verve "Winter Mittens"
• buttons: Basic Grey Nook & Pantry from my stash
• layout: Sketch Saturday #238

Thanks for stopping by.

Anyone for Anya

Hi folks,

yep, you guessed it! Another Christmas card! This one was for my sister.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, CTMH Chocolate 
• patterned paper : CTMH "Aspen" (one of my fave winter paper packs - too bad it's retired now)
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm "I Heart Sweaters", coloured with Copic Markers (E01, E00, E000, E93, E21, E23, E25, E27, E57, E59, BV01, BV00, BV000, BV0000, BG75, BG78, B00, B01)
• Spellbinders Petite Ovals
• EK Success Border Punch
• Magnolia die (for the swirls)
• layout: Anyone for Anya

additional challenges for this card:

• The Greeting Farm Retro-Fresh: Non-Traditional Colours

thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 174

Hi folks,

back with another of the Christmas cards I made for one of my nieces.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: Fancy Pants "Winterland"
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Mister Penguin goes for a ride", coloured with Copic markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, C1, C5, C7, C9, E21, E23, E25, G21, G24, G28, G29, R21, R37, R39, E55, E57, E59, BG10, BG11, BG13, YR65)
• sentiment: Verve "Holiday Greetings"
• EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch
• Stampin' Up Ticket Corner punch
• layout: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 174

additional challenges for this card

• Winter Wonderland: Oh Christmas Tree
• Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #70: Christmas Creations

December SFYTT and SFYTT year in review

Hi folks,

well - here it is - the final sketch for you to try for this year. And, sadly, it is the last SFYTT.

Here's the sketch:

and here's the Christmas card I made for my brother and his fiancee (so far, I think this is my favourite Christmas card I made this year)

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Fancy Pants "Saint Nick"
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Frostier", coloured with Copic Markers (YR16, YR18, W1, W5, W6, W7, W8, W00, R37, R39, YG00, G46, E57)
• sentiment: Verve "Winter Mittens"

And here's the links to all of my other SFYTT cards for 2012:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November

It's been a blast playing along all year - this has been the only challenge site that I have faithfully kept up with all year. So sad to see it come to an end.

Double Take Tuesday Sketch with TGF

Hi folks,

Time is precious for me these days so just a quickie post of one of the Christmas cards I made this weekend (for my nephew).

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned papers: Bo Bunny Blitzen (finally cut into these papers - you might say I've been hoarding them in my stash)
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm "Xmas Sweeties", coloured with Copic markers (E01, E00, E000, E93, R000, R37, R39, R56, R59, E50, E51, E53, E31)
• Spellbinders Petite Ovals
• layout: The Greeting Farm: Double Take Tuesday Sketch Challenge (I moved the sentiment though as I thought it balanced a little better on the side of my image panel)

additional challenges for this card:

• Use it Tuesday #45: Christmas/Hannukah
• Through the Craft Room Door #48: Anything Goes
• CCEE Stampers: Santa Claus is coming to town (doesn't Ian make the cutest Santa?)
• DYSU #102: Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

The A-pork-alypse

Hi folks,

Every year around about this time, we celebrate a friend's birthday with a bacon appreciation dinner. His wife prepares a delicious meal that revolves entirely around bacon - starting with drinks (yes, you read that correctly - drinks!) and appetizers. Followed by our main course and winding up with dessert (yes, you read that correctly - dessert!).

This year's menu was sub-titled "The A-pork-alypse" in honour of the approaching date of the Mayan end of the world prophecy and it was all out bacon extravaganza. Bloody Mary's with peppercorn bacon swizzle sticks, a chipotle bacon dip with crackers, a delicious flatbread with bacon, cheese, tomatoes and basil, chipotle fries with bacon, green beans with bacon, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin stuffed with italian sausage and to top it all off - a caramel and bacon dark chocolate bark. Oh....and we brought the wine  (BACO N)oir......get it?

So, in honour of his birthday, I made this card:

Celebrate - for the a-pork-alypse is nigh!

card details:

• finished size 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• stamps: Just Rite - Amazing Paper Grace "Just the Right Words", PaperworksCo "Barnyard Buddies" (pig)
• patterned paper & buttons: Basic Grey Marjolaine
• ribbon from my stash

thanks for visiting! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Bellarific Friday - Sketch 25

Hi folks,

I had the time this week to play along with this week's Bellarific Friday Sketch Challenge over at Stamping Bella

Here's the sketch

and here's my card

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base and mats
• patterned paper: Fancy Pants "Winterland" (I did some tearing on one of the papers and layered it to create a sledding hill effect)
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Uptown Girl Winona Loves Winter", coloured with Copic Markers (E01, E00, E000, E93, E50, E51, E53, E30, R20, R35, R37, R39, R56, R00, R21, R22, E57, E59)
• Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Die Cuts - I even got fancy and used the "out of the box" technique around her skirt and the back of the toboggan.

challenges for this card:

• Crazy4Challenges 166: Use one of your favourite holiday stamps (this is definitely a fave even though it is a new one for me. I expect there will be more cards made with this stamp this year and next!)
• Christmas Card Challenges 2013 - Week #2 Die Cuts
• Seriously Creative Challenges: 'tis the season
• Kraft Journal Make it Monday: Anything Goes

Today's my big day - I am taking the day off work to do what little Christmas shopping I have to do this year. My plan is to drop my sweetie off at work (we only have the one car so in winter we car-pool), come home and exercise. Then get ready to hit the stores as soon as they open. I expect it will only take me a couple of hours and then I'll be done. Probably finished by lunch time or shortly after!

Hope your day goes well! Thanks for stopping by!

SCRS Challenge 94 - Snow!

Hi folks,

well, the Christmas card crush is on for me now. I REALLY have to get the cards finished for my nieces and nephews before the end of this week as I have to get them in the mail (express post - AGAIN!) to get them to them in time for Christmas. So, you're going to see a "few" Christmas cards posted over the week or so as long as I can find the time to work on them.

This Christmas I am finally getting around to inking up LAST Christmas' stamps from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps (I know....it takes me a while to work my way through all my stamps). For my second eldest niece, I though this Snow Angel Ruby would make a for a fun card. (Don't tell anyone but even at 40+ I STILL make snow angels whenever I find a nice clear patch of snow!)

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly (wow now that's what I call digging in to your stash - this paper is date stamped as a 2009 release. Yes, it takes me a while to work my way through all my paper as well).
• stamped image: Snow Angel Ruby from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps, coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E21, E23, E25, E27, E29, RV11, RV32, RV42, B000, B0000, W00)
• sentiment: Verve "Merry & Bright"
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles, Create a Flake #1
• gems from my stash
• layout: Sketch Saturday #237

additional challenges for this card:

• Sparkle Creations Rubbers Stamps Challenge #94: Snow (this snowflake paper from the Jolly by Golly collection was always one of my faves and I just had to accent it with some die cut snowflakes)
• Craft your Passion #139: Snow
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything goes
• Shopping our Stash #80: Winter Holiday or Snow/Winter Theme
• Simon Says Challenge: Snowflakes

Thanks for stopping by at this busy time of year! Hope all of your Christmas preparations are going better than mine! 

Christmas Card Challenges Week 1

Hi folks!

Back today with more of the Christmas cards I made on Sunday.

If you follow Sparkle's Christmas Card Challenge Blog, you know that in December the challenges resume for the coming year. Well, I'm still making cards for THIS year so these cards will most likely get used this year, not next year.

This week's challenge is a sketch.

these are the four cards I made:

Aren't those folded trees the cutest? I saw this post over at the Cosmo Cricket Blog and just had to give it a try. I used circles with a 6 inch diameter. I had to do a little trimming to get the finished tree to be even sided - but that was easily accomplished with my compass.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock
• patterned papers: Close To My Heart Evensong
• stamps: Close To My Heart "Evergreen", "A Holiday"
• brads from my stash

Additional challenges for these cards:

• Through the craft room door #47: Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper: December Holiday challenge

Hope you have a fantastic day! 

Bellatastic Tuesday Challenge

Hi folks,

Back with another of the cards I was able to put together on Sunday during my "crafty time".

I affectionately refer to this time of year - from about Canadian Thanksgiving (in October) right through my birthday at the end of March - as the "season of eatin'" so it's probably no surprise that I have THIS particular stamp from Stamping Bella in my collection. Perfect for me to play along with the 1st Bellatastic Tuesday Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.

mmmm.....cupcake!!! And aren't those papers a perfect match?

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• stamped image: Stamping Bella "Cupcake with Holly on Top", coloured with Copic Markers
• patterned papers: Close To My Heart "Mistletoe"
• sentiment: Verve "Holiday Greetings"
• layout: Stella Says Sketch #125

additional challenges for this card:

• One Crazy Stamper: December Holiday Challenge
• Frosted Designs: on the 2nd day of Christmas: 2 stamps (my image from Stamping Bella and my sentiment from Verve)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sparkle Creations Sketch Challenge #93

Hi folks,

Well I finally got around to working on this year's Christmas cards today. I decided to go through my stash of pre-coloured images so that I would feel like I was getting a bit more accomplished.

I wanted to play along with this week's sketch challenge over at Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps and, as it happened, I had this Elf Oliver image already coloured up and waiting to be put onto a card. (ETA - exactly one year ago today I posted a card using this exact same image! How's that for a coinky-dink? Guess I better not give this one to the same person!)

card details:

• finished size: 5.0 x 6.5 inches
• patterned paper: Close To My Heart "Mistletoe" (E000, E00, E01, E93, E30, E31, E35, C5, C7, C9, YG93, YG95, YG0000, R20, R21, 22, R24, R27, E99)
• stamped image: Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps "Elf Oliver", coloured with Copic Markers
• Sentiment: Verve "Holiday Greetings"
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals

additional challenges for this card:

• No matter which challenge #5: Christmas
• Catch the Bug: December Anything Goes
• One Crazy Stamper December Challenge: Holiday Theme (or use the sketch - I went with the theme)

Thanks for stopping by!