Viva La Verve July Week 1

Hi folks,


Well, I just took a look at my occasions calendar and it looks like the next few months are going to be busy for birthdays, anniversaries and what have you.

I also made the mistake of tallying up how many smaller sized paper pads I have in my stash - anything less than 12 x12. Oh dear. There were 76 of them. My dearly beloved though, he is SO sweet, he said he thought that was reasonable. Isn't that precious?

One of my friends suggested I set myself a goal to try to stash-bust my way through half of those paper pads by the end of the year. Hmmm....think it's doable? I don't know....but I can try!

To that end, here's EIGHT cards I made to try to bust my way through one of those paper pads....

card details:

• patterned paper: Pink Paislee "Bayberry Cottage"
• stamps: Verve "Doodled Occasions", "Birthday to You" Plain Jane, "Elegant Flower" Plain Jane (coloured with Copic Markers RV69, RV34, R59)
• Stampin' Up self-adhesive gems from my stash
• various Spellbinders dies for the sentiment panels
• layout: Viva La Verve July Week 1

additional challenges for these cards:

• Pollycraft Challenges #1: Anything Goes
• Tuesday Throwdown #153: Glitz & Glimmer
• Daring Cardmakers: Forgotten Treasures (That paper pad from Pink Paislee. I've been on a My Mind's Eye paper kick lately and had neglected this lovely paper pad that was buried way back in my box of 6x6 paper pads. Come to think of it, those gems as well. I have a tendency to keep my cards very clean and often forget about my huge stash of gems.)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Viva La Verve - June Week 4

Hi folks,

Well, after the influx of masculine cards on the blog this month, how about a little cute and cuddly break with this card I made for a baby shower. I don't get to make baby cards much these days since most of our friends and family have completed their families. But every now and then, someone gives us a pleasant little surprise to celebrate.

card details:

• finished size: 5 x 5, white card blank (from Michael's)
•  patterned paper: DCWV Nanna's Nursery Baby Girl
• stamps: Verve "Practically Perfect", "Treasured Words"
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals
• ribbon from my stash
• layout: Viva La Verve June Week 4 (I was a real dolt with the Verve Challenges for June. I THOUGHT there was going to be five challenges but there were only four. So, I THOUGHT I had another week to get all my cards loaded up to SCS. Imagine my surprise when I saw yesterday that the first challenge for July had been posted. Doh! That's what happens when you get to be too busy I suppose. Sad since I actually had all the cards done as of last weekend!)

additional challenges for this card:

• Sister Act Card Challenge #13: Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Hiding in my Craft Room #104: Freestyle

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Mojo Monday 299

Hi folks,

Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for one of the ladies in my T.O.P.S. weight-loss group.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Blush"
• stamps: Verve "Doodled Occasions", "Wonderfully Made"
• crinkly ribbon from my stash
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles
• layout: Mojo Monday 299

additional challenges for this card:

• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #13: Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can #47: Keep it Simple
• Simon Says: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by!  

Viva La Verve - June Week 3

Hi folks,

Just back to share the last of the Father's Days card I made. This one was for dearly beloved's Dad.

This one may very well have been my favourite of the bunch!

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5, black card stock base
• patterned paper: Studio Calico "Darling Dear"
• stamps: Verve "Protector", "Purely Sentimental", "World's Best"
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles
• layout: Viva La Verve June Week 3 Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!

Viva La Verve - June Week 2

Hi folks,

Just sharing another of this year's Father's Day cards - this one was for my brother.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Kaiser Craft "Hunt & Gather"
• sentiments: Verve "World's Best", "Purely Sentimental"
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals
• layout: Viva La Verve June Week 2 Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 298

Hi folks,

One of my uncles is celebrating a milestone birthday this coming. Here's the card I made for him.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft 
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• stamps: Verve "Small Celebrations", CTMH Alphabet (not sure which one), CTMH Solos "7"
• CTMH Outdoor Denim brads from my stash
• recycled twill tape from my stash
• Verve Pennant Trim Die 
• layout: Mojo Monday 298

additional challenges for this card:

• Sister Act Card Challenge #12: Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare Card Challenges: Things that start with B (for me that was brads)
• Gem of a Challenge #85: Male Birthday with sentiment

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Viva La Verve - June Week 1

Hi folks,

If you are a long-time visitor, you know that, in addition to making Father's Day cards for all the men in the family, I also make a special card for Father's Day for my Sister. She's a single Mom, raising four kids, without much involvement from any of their Dads. I think she deserves to have that recognized, at least once a year.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Breeze"
• sentiment: Verve "Great Friend"
• Spellbinders: "Floral Burst" Cut, Fold, Tuck Die
• layout: Viva La Verve June Week 1 Sketch Challenge
• floral brad from my stash

additional challenges for this card:

• Sister Act Card Challenge #12: Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #129: Spots & Stripes
• Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge: Polka Dots

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Viva La Verve - May Week 4

Hi folks,

I am back again to share another of this year's Father's Day cards. This one was for dearly beloved's step-brother.

Very clean and simple. The two little banners (though you can't see it in the photo) are actually curled a little to add some dimension to an otherwise simple card.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Studio Calico "Darling Dear"
• stamps: Verve "World's Best"
• layout: Viva La Verve May Week 4 Sketch
• Martha Stewart border punch

additional challenges for this card:

• Cupcake Craft Challenges #247: Let's get sentimental
• 365 Cards Day 163: Word Wednesday "Father"

As always, thanks for stopping by! Hope your day is tremendous!

Yumi & Fumi #18 - Celebrate

Hi folks,

Taking a little break from posting this year's Father's Day cards to  share a birthday card I made for my cousin.

I love this Chuckles image from Yumi & Fumi Handmade. There are at least four people (friends and family) who look an awful lot like Chuckles so you can bet that he will be cropping up on a few cards! I see that there was a new release last week at Yumi & Fumi and there was another Chuckles which I am definitely putting on my must have list!

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, white card stock base, green card stock mats
• patterned paper: Echo Park Paper "A Boy's Life", My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally (the woodgrain paper for the fence)
• stamped image: Yumi & Fumi Handmade "Chuckles with Gecko", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, Y35, E25, YG63, YG97, G94, G99) with some paper piecing for Chuckles' shirt and for the fence.
• sentiment: Verve "Birthday Bash"
• CTMH Heavenly Blue ink for the sponged sky.
• layout: Sunday Sketch & Stamp #161

additional challenges for this card:

• Yumi & Fumi Handmade #18: Time to Celebrate
• There She Goes #212: Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Here Come the Boys #54: Let's go Dotty (big polka dots on one of the panels behind the image)
• Hiding in My Craft Room #102: Die Cuts
• Love to Create #70: Paper Piecing
• Clear it Out: Paper Piecing & Scrap Papers

As always - thanks for visiting!

Viva La Verve - May Week 3

Hi folks,

I am back yet again to share another of this year's Father's Day cards. This one was made for dearly beloved's youngest brother.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: Studio Calico "Darling Dear"
• stamps: Verve "World's Best", "Father Figure"
• CTMH Black Waxy Flax
• layout: Viva La Verve May Week 3

additional challenges for this card:

• Really Reasonable Ribbon #74: Dots and Ribbon
• Here Come The Boys #54: Let's go dotty!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 297

Hi folks,

It's been a busy couple of days for me as I have been out of town. So, I hope you will bear with me this week as I post the rest of this year's Father's Day cards.

This one was for dearly beloved's brother-in-law - who is an avid fisherman in his spare time.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Kaiser Craft "Hunt & Gather"
• sentiment: Verve "Purely Sentimental"
• Martha Stewart Border Punch for the diamond edging on the central panel.
• layout: Mojo Monday 297

additional challenges for this card:

• Corrosive Challenge #176: Animal Antics (hmm, do fish count an animals? I guess we shall see!)
• Sister Act Challenge #11: Anything Goes
• Sisterhood of Crafters: All about the boys

Hey Daddy-O!

Hi folks,

back today with the Father's Day card for my Dad that sort of goes with the card I made for my Mom for her birthday.

I had to have this stamp for two reasons.

First off, it reminds me of one of my favourite photos of my Dad from his younger years. He is very casually lounging at a kitchen table, beer in one hand, cigarette in  the other, his sneaky grin on his face, dressed in a black leather jacket, white t-shirt and jeans. His hair is all slicked back and he has on his Buddy Holly glasses.

And second, the motorcycle. My dearly beloved's current motorcycle looks a lot like this one. Very retro, with a pretty pale cream tank. He will absolutely be getting a card using this stamp at some point in the future.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Sunshine"
• stamped image: "Danny" from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, coloured with Copic Markers (W0, W1, W3, W5, W6, W7, W9, E000, E00, E01, B91, B93, B95, B97
• sentiments: Verve "Purely Sentimental", Hey Daddy-O came with the Danny image.
• metal screw-like brads from my stash (these have been in my crafty stash for a LONG time and usually make an appearance on at least one Father's Day card every year or so).
• Spellbinders Classic Squares
• layout: Card Crafter's Circle #78

additional challenges for this card:

• Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #127: For the Boys
• Craft Your Passion #166: Father's Day/Masculine
• Cards for Men #12: Boys Will Be Boys
• Pile it On #23: For or From a Father
• Sentimental Sundays #158: Metal Findings
• Papertake Weekly Challenge: Hello Boys
• Clear it Out Challenge: Male Cards/Using Metal
• Tuesday Throwdown #151: "You're the man"
• Use it Tuesday #57: Masculine

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Getting Krafty with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps

Hi folks....

phew it has been another couple of whirlwind weeks for me. Does anyone else out there wish for days that are about, oh, I don't know, 48 hours long instead of 24? I just never seem to have enough time to fit in everything. I'm HOPING that the request I put in for four weeks off from work starting June 24th gets approved. I'm REALLY feeling the need for an extended break.

Anyways, I finally said to heck with the household chores and garden tasks (my garden STILL hasn't been planted) and took some time to get back into my craft room this weekend.

My Mom's birthday is this coming Monday so I had to sit down to make her birthday card. I picked up this image from Kraftin' Kimmie AGES ago specifically with my Mom in mind as it reminds me of a few photos I have seen of her from her teen years. I have one of the guys in the set as well and that one you will see in an upcoming post for my Dad's Father's Day card - they kind of go together as a matched pair.

I think she is going to be a bit surprised when she opens this card. I usually go for flowers, sentiments or a sweet image for my Mom. This sexy, sultry vixen might make her go "what the?"

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Sunshine"
• stamped image: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Joanie", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E04, E21, E23, E25, E27, W3, W5, W7, W9, YG11, YG13)
• sentiment: Verve "Doodled Occasions" 
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals, Floral Doily Motifs
• half-back pearls (on her hair accessory) from my stash
• layout: Sketch Saturday #262

additional challenges for this card:

• kraftin' kimmie #182: Paper Piecing: just a little for her shirt out of the same paper the sentiment is stamped on
• Love to Scrap #7: Rockin' Rubbah
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #10: Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can #46: Mad about Markers

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit! I promise there will be more cards for you to see this week if you pop back again!