Viva La Verve - July Week 5

Hi folks,

Back today with my final two cards for the July Week 5 Viva La Verve Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers.

Here's a peek at the sketch:

And here are the two birthday cards I made to send to two of my Uncles:

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: Basic Grey Marjolaine
• stamps: Verve "Small Celebrations"
• dies: Verve "Rounded Rectangle", "Pennant Trim", Spellbinders Petite Circles

additional challenges for these cards:

• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes

Apologies for keeping it short tonight. I just finished making three batches of Cherry Rhubarb Jam after a long day at work and have yet to have dinner. I'm pooped! 

So thanks for stopping by, I'll be back in a couple of days with even more creations!

Viva La Verve - July Week 4

Hi folks

I'm back again today sharing the cards I made for the Viva La Verve Week 4 sketch challenge.

Here's a look at the stunning sketch:

And here are the two cards I made - one a birthday card and the other an anniversary card.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base. Brown Bazzill card stock for the mats and inner liner
• patterned paper: Studio Calico "Classic Calico"
• stamps: Verve "Love Notes", "Wishful Elegance"
• dies: Verve "Flag it" die set, "Flourished Trim", "Classy Label"
• brown satin ribbon from my stash

challenges for these cards:

• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes (for the birthday card)
• Pile it On #30: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #17: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for taking the time to visit my little corner of blogland!

Viva La Verve - July Week 3

Hi folks,

I made some time this weekend to play in the craft room - basically, I gave myself a day off from exercising and running errands on Sunday to indulge in a little me time.

I wanted to try to tackle the rest of the July Viva La Verve challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.

Here is a quick peek at the week three sketch:

and here are the two cards I made based on the sketch:

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: Pink Paislee "Bayberry Cottage", edges distressed with my scissors
• stamps: Verve "Wishful Elegance", "Big Wish", "Tag Time"
• die cuts: Verve "Curvy Bookplate", "Banner Bundle", Spellbinders Lacey Circles, 
• Snug Hug Seam binding from my stash
• Basic Grey "Nook and Pantry" button from my stash

Challenges for this card:

• Pile it On #30: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #17: Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes (for the birthday card)
• Papertake Weekly Challenge: Die-ing for a punch (I used three different dies)

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 303

Hi folks,

Well, it was back to work for me this week so I did not get much time in the craft room. I DID find the time though to play along with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch

Here's the sketch:

and this is the card I made to celebrate the birthday of one of dearly beloved's friends

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper & button: Basic Grey "Marjolaine", edges inked with Memento Tuxedo Black
• stamps: Verve "Doodled Occasions", stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black
• black satin ribbon from my stash
• layout: Mojo Monday 303

additional challenges for this card:

• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes
• Anything Goes Challenge #97
• Sister Act Card Challenge #17: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a fantastic day!

Mojo Monday 301

Hi folks,

I'm still working on reducing my stash of designer papers and building my stash of cards so I decided to make four cards using last week's Mojo Monday 301 sketch - it had been sitting printed out already but I hadn't gotten around to making it before the linking up deadline.

Here's the sketch:

and here are the four cards I made with it - two of them are birthday cards using the orientation in the original sketch ....

and two of them with it flipped. One was an anniversary card for my cousin and his wife and the other is a thank you card for my stash.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned papers: Close To My Heart "Bella", distressed on the edges with CTMH Smokey Plum ink
• stamps: Verve "Birthday To You" Plain Jane, "Birthday Surprise", "Love Story", "Thanks so much" (one of the freebies included with one of my many Verve orders)
• adhesive gems, flower (inked with CTMH Smokey Plum) and CTMH Amethyst brad from my stash.
• layout: Mojo Monday 301

additional challenges for these cards:

• Craft Your Passion #172: Happy Birthday (for the first two cards)

Hope you are all having a fantastic day! Thanks for stopping by!

Stampotique Designer's Challenge with Reverse Confetti

Hi folks,

dearly beloved and I were invited to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of his former co-workers - so I decided a fun card was in order to mark the occasion - completely with googly eyes!

Considering that dearly beloved and I are both older than the birthday boy....well, the inside sentiment is acceptably funny.

card details:,

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base
• patterned paper: Sassafras "Amplify"
• stamped image: Stampotique "Whisker Monster with Sign" by Kira Nichols, coloured with Copic Markers (100 - Black, G46, Y00, Y15, Y17, Y19, YR16, YR18)
• sentiments: front: CTMH Solos "4" and a CTMH alphabet, inside: Little Paper Shop (closed since December 2010)
• googly eyes from my stash
• Spellbinders Petite Ovals
• layout: Reverse Confetti July Sketch For You Try

additional challenges for this card:

• Stampotique Designer's Challenge #109: Clean and Simple (SDC109)
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Hiding in My Craft Room #107: Freestyle
• Sister Act Card Challenge #16: Anything Goes
• Anything Goes Challenge #97: Anything Goes
• Here Come The Boys #56: Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 302

Hi folks,

I'm once again working on stash-busting my massive supply of papers and building my stash of cards. I decided to use the Mojo Monday 302 sketch. Here's the sketch:

I decided to make two of the cards oriented the same as the sketch and two flipped. A couple of birthday cards and a couple of thank you cards.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, CTMH Vanilla Cream card stock base, Smokey Plum and Olive mats
• patterned paper: CTMH Bella, edges inked with Smokey Plum and Olive
• stamps: Verve "Treasured Words", "Doodled Occasions"
• layout: Mojo Monday 302
• seam binding from my stash

additional challenges for these cards:

• Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC267): Tongue Tied (sentiment as the focus)
• Craft your Passion #171 - Thank You (for the last two cards)

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Love to Scrap Challenge #10

Hi folks,

I'm back today to share a card I made for dearly beloved's niece. For once I am ahead of the game - her birthday isn't until the end of the month!

card details:

• finished size; 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Carta Bella "Alphabet Junction"
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm "Miss Anya Lounge", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, Y11, Y21, Y23, Y32, RV10, RV11, RV13, E55, E57, E59)
• layout: Love to Scrap Challenge #10
• sentiment: Verve "Small Celebrations", stamped in CTMH Bubblegum
• adhesive gems and ribbon from my stash

additional challenges for this card:

• Crafty Creations Challenges #231: Time to Sparkle
• Tuesday Throwndown #156: Anything Goes
• Anything Goes Challenge #97: Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #16: Anything Goes
• The Pink Elephant #208: Feminine Birthday

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Sparkle Creations Rubbers Stamps Challenge #109

Hi folks,

I'm back today to share a fun card for the son of a friend of mine.

card details:

• finished size: 5x5 inches, white card stock base
• patterned paper: Echo Park Paper "A Boy's Life"
• stamped image: Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps "Video Game Oliver', coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E50, E51, E53, E31, E33, B91, B93, B95, B97, C0, C1, R22, R24, R29). There's a big sale on over at SCRS until the end of July - 30% off so now is a great time to stock up!
• sentiment: Verve "Small Celebrations", stamped in CTMH Holiday Red
• large red star brads from my stash
• layout: Sunday Sketch and Stamp #165

challenges for this card:

• Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge #109: Sets of three (I used three star brads)
• Here Come the Boys #56: Anything Goes
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes Birthday
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #16: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for visiting!

Viva La Verve - July Week 2

Hi folks,

Well, I didn't get to post this card yesterday because - gasp! - I was without internet at home for most of the day. AND...since our home phone is VOIP, no home phone. AND....I couldn't even tether through my cell phone because IT was mysteriously without cell connectivity! I eventually resorted to a short visit to Starbucks mid-afternoon for a short external world fix. Isn't that sad?

Anyways, here is the card I meant to share yesterday. It's a sympathy card for my brother and his family since they recently had to bid farewell to one of the four-legged members of their family. His beloved dog Misty had been with them for almost 14 years and I know that it pained him terribly to say goodbye to his devoted pooch.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "In Bloom", edges inked with Memento Rich Cocoa
• stamps: Verve "Borderline"
• die cut: Verve Scroll Die
• CTMH Cocoa button and brads, Colonial white ribbon and paper flowers, all from my stash. I'm TRYING to be better about using up my huge supply of embellishments. 
• layout: Viva La Verve July 2013 Week 2

additional challenges for this card:

• One Crazy Stamper: July Kraft Colour Challenge
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes

Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge 219 with Miss Anya

Hi folks,

I made it into my craft room today - it was MUCH too hot to do anything outside here in Ottawa - to make this card for one of my nieces who has a birthday this week. The card went into the post shortly after I finished making it -  to Newfoundland - ExpressPost - again!

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, white card stock base
• patterned paper: Doodlebug Designs Inc "Flower Box"
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm "Miss Anya Lounge", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E02, E93, E21, E23, E25, E74, E77, E79, YR02, YR82, YR65, YG05). This was my first time inking up this set. It's been sitting in one of my baskets of as yet unfiled stamps for a while now.
• sentiment: Verve "Doodled Occasions"
• Spellbinders Labels Four (small and large)
• Basic Grey button from my huge stash of buttons
• layout: Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge #219

additional challenges for this card:

• Anyone For Anya: Polka Dots and Stripes
• The Greeting Farm - Farm Fresh Friday: Punches and/or Dies
• Use it Tuesday #59: Birthdays
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes Birthday

As always, thanks for stopping by! I've got to run - I'm taking my sweetie to see "The Eagles" in concert tonight. He has never seen them and quite enjoys their music so....I had to get tickets for us to go see the show. I hope he enjoys it!

Yumi & Fumi Handmade Challenge #20

Hi folks,

I just couldn't help myself, in addition to the card I made for the hop, I just had to play along with the current challenge over at the Yumi & Fumi Handmade blog - a card for any celebration.

I had planned on giving the card I made for the anniversary hop to a friend's daughter for her birthday (she had a local reptile zoo pay a visit to her party so Fumi with Turtle was a perfect image). However, I realized that the eye colour was wrong so I decided I should make another card with the correct eye colour!

card details:

• finished size: 5x5 inches, white card stock base, black card stock mats
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Dolled Up" (love this paper pad with it's mix of gingham, plaid, polka dots and wood-grain)
• stamped image: Yumi & Fumi Handmade "Fumi with Turtle" from the Peek-a-boo Series, coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E21, E23, E25, E27, YG25, YG23, YG67, Y35, B95, B91, R20, R21, R22)
• sentiment: Verve "Small Celebrations"
• die cuts: Spellbinders Petite Circles, Cuttlebug Harmony Alphabet
• layout: Sweet Stop Sketch challenge #218 (oops, I missed the cut-off for the sketch challenge. I was REALLY busy making Strawberry-Gooseberry Jam this week - 106 jars of it in fact! My gooseberry bush is a bit of an over-producer.)

additional challenges for this card:

• Sister Act Card Challenge #15: Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Use it Tuesday #59: Birthdays (stash - my seemingly endless pile of paper of course!)
• Papertake Weekly Challenge - Old, New, Borrowed, Blue (old - cuttlebug die, new - my Y&FH stamp is one of my newest from them, blue - on the patterned papers and the blue colour of her eyes!)
• Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes (this is a month long challenge, you can find the details via the link or via the badge to the left)

As always, thanks for stopping by for a wee visit!

Yumi & Fumi Handmade 1st Anniversary Blog Hop

Hi folks!

Today's a BIG day in stamping land! Yumi & Fumi Handmade is celebrating their first anniversary with a BLOG HOP and I am delighted to say that I was asked by Leanne (one of the founder's of Y&FH) if I would like to help them celebrate by being one of the stops along the hop. Well, OF COURSE I would!

For a full list of all the stops along the hop, be sure to stop by the anniversary post over at the Yumi & Fumi Handmade blog. You will also find all the details about the prizes to be won and how you can qualify to win! Be sure to comment on each of the posts along the hop!

So, enough with the chitter chatter from me. Here's the inspiration photo for the hop - don't you just love those warm colours? Those lovely pinks and oranges, the brocade linens, the flowers, that old wooden table, the gauzy white fabric in the background?

Well, here's the card I created based on the above photo, featuring one of my favourite Yumi & Fumi Handmade images - Fumi with Turtle (from the Peek-a-boo Series)

What do you think? Did I do a good job with the inspiration photo? I hope so - I've got some orange, pink, wood-grain, white, brocade and flowers all packed into this creation!

Now...back to hop for you! If you are already following along, then you came here from Cebelica's blog and should now head on over to Melissa's blog. If you just happened along by chance, then be sure to head back to the Yumi & Fumi Handmade Blog for the full list of blog hop participants. You don't want to miss out on your chance to win an awesome anniversary prize from Yumi & Fumi Handmade!

As the Y&FH crew would say - Mahalo!  Glad you could visit today!

Oh, and just in case you are interested:

card details:

• finished size: 5 x 5 inches, white card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Howdy Doody" (I LOVE the wood-grain paper in this pack - it comes in so handy for paper-piecing fences like I did here with Fumi peeking around the corner. The oranges and pinks were also perfect - as well as the yellow brocade pattern - for the fabrics in the inspiration photo.)
• stamped image: Yumi & Fumi Handmade "Fumi with Turtle", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E23, E25, E27, E29, RV09, RV19, YG23, YG25, YG67, YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18)
• sentiment: Verve "Joyful Blooms", stamped in CTMH Tulip ink
• corner die cut: La La Lands Filigree Corner Die (part of a prize pack I won previously with Y&FH)
• big orange flower from my stash
• layout: Deconstructed Sketch #108

challenges for this card:

• Yumi & Fumi Handmade #20: Card for Any Celebration
• The Pink Elephant #207: Woodgrain
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Sister Act Card Challenge #14: Anything Goes
• Graph'it Markers: Bright & beautiful birthday bonanza

Mojo Monday 300

Hi folks,

Well, I had the best of intentions to make a bunch of cards with this week's Mojo Monday sketch (as it was a special anniversary celebration of their 300th sketch) but, as usual, I procrastinated and just managed to squeeze in one card that I made today. okay, it might not have been procrastination so much as being really busy with my gardening...and then recovering from the gardening!

Anyways, my great Uncle has a birthday coming up in the middle of this month and I figured I should get his card made now so I can get it off into the post in plenty of time. Here's the card I made for him using Mojo Monday Sketch #300.

I REALLY like this layout and absolutely plan to make more cards with this sketch. Maybe even a set of cards for my long planned card workshop for my Light the Night fund-raising campaign.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, black card stock base (you can't really see in the photo but the front panel is actually another layer of black card stock, cut 1/8 inch smaller than the card base, then popped up on dimensional foam. I find it adds a nice touch to have that extra layer in the card.
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Dilly Dally"
• stamps: Verve "Doodled Occasions" and another set for the "Uncle" for which I honestly do not know the manufacturer.
• layout: Mojo Monday 300
• Spellbinders dies: Petite Circles, Classic Squares
• CTMH Black Waxy Flax, CTMH Lagoon button from my stash

additional challenges for this card:

• Catch the Bug: July Anything Goes
• One Stop Craft Challenge #233: Anything Goes
• Gem of a Challenge #87: Lots of Layers
• Crazy 4 Challenges #193: Let's get wordy
• Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Yumi & Fumi Handmade Challenge #19

Hi folks,

Well, despite the fact that I am on vacay, I haven't found a lot of time to get busy in my craft room - I've been busy in my garden instead. But today I took a bit of a break from all the hard work and heat and ran a few errands and then spent a couple of fun hours in my craft room as I REALLY wanted to get a card made for the latest challenge over at Yumi & Fumi Handmade (since the deadline for submissions is tomorrow!). This week's challenge is to use Red, White, Blue and Kraft on your creation.

What do you think? Does it fit the bill? As a Canadian, I must admit that I struggle with the red, white and blue combo. Not because I'm anti-American or anything, I think I just find that the combo is a bit bold for me - hence the reason I used a lighter blue on my creation.

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Dilly Dally"
• stamped image: Yumi & Fumi Handmade "Yumi with Fan", coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E00, E01, E93, E23, E25, E27, E29, BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG02, R22, R24, R29)
• sentiment: Verve "Happy Hello"
• embellishments: half-back pearls from my stash, Fiskars Bluebell Teardrops (part of a wonderful prize pack I won in a previous Y&FH challenge)
• layout: Reverse Confetti Sketch For You To Try #1 (June 2013) - yes, I TOTALLY missed the reintroduction of the SFYTT challenges. sigh.

additional challenges for this card:

• One Crazy Stamper July Challenge: The Colour Kraft (max 5 entries)
• Hiding in my craft room #104: Freestyle
• Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
• Dare to be Sassy Thursdays #184: Red, White and Blue
• Craft your Passion #169: Red, White and Blue
• Pile it On #26: Bling
• Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes
• Shopping Our Stash: Red, White and Blue

As always, thanks for taking the time to visit!

Scrap happy!

Hi folks,

In my quest to diminish my stash of mini paper pads, I decided that with the off cuts from making my cards in the previous post, I should throw together a few more cards. After all, the pieces were sitting right there in my crafty space, so why not?


Scrappy Card #1 - a thank you card for my stash

Scrappy Card #2 - it's hard to read in the photo but the sentiment says "Thanks Ever So Much"

Scrappy Card #3 - another birthday card for my stash

Scrappy Card #4 - another thank you card for my stash

card details:

• finished size: 5x5 inches, white card bases from Michael's
• stamps: Verve "Dream Big", "Treasured Words", "Amazing Wishes"
• dies: Verve "Scalloped Flowers", "Rounded Rectangle"

additional challenges for these cards:

• Card Crafter's Circle #81: Happy Birthday (Card #3)
• Cas-ual Friday's #107: Hunger Games (at least one arrow - Card #2)

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day! Here in Canada it is our nation's birthday so it's a long weekend - mind you, I'm in the middle of a four-week break from work, so it is kind of just another day for me, except that my sweetie will be home with me. 

I spent last week picking up transplants for my garden and getting the annuals and perennials planted. Today I am hoping to tackle the vegetable garden. We shall see how that goes as yesterday I just avoided the entire project and went out for an afternoon motorcycle ride with my sweetie. I'm easily distracted .... <grin>!