Growing in Unity - Day 5

Hi Everybody!

Welcome back to the last of my week long posts as the Growing in Unity Gal.

The hardest thing about doing the posts this week has been CHOOSING which stamps to use! As I've said earlier this week, Unity has so many delightful stamps for your card-making (or scrap-booking or art-journaling or mixed media) projects you are bound to find something that suits your taste.

Since my tastes are varied, my collection is also varied. From the cheeky and snarky to the make you giggle to the make you pause, I have them all.

One of my favourites - that really sums up my life philosophy is "Whiskey than Tea". I used it on this card for my sweetie to celebrate fifteen years of us.

I partnered it with an appropriate present - new whiskey tasting glasses and a really nice bottle of bourbon. He seemed to really like it.

I also came across the "I like it dirty" stamp in my collection. I'm pretty sure I picked this one up because a friend of ours is a BIG fan of martinis (me, not so much).

I'm thinking I should make her a set of cards with all of the sentiments in this set.


card #1 details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• stamps: "Whiskey than Tea"
• patterned paper: CTMH "Jackson"
• embellishments: CTMH Glacier Extra Thick Twine
• layout: Viva La Verve May 2015 Week 1

card #2 details:

• finished size: 6 x 6 inches, black card stock base
• stamps: "I like it dirty", martini glass coloured with Copic E31, YG93, YG95, W00, W0, W1
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "Couture"
• embellishments: CTMH "Stuck on You" Puffies, black sparkly ric rac from my stash
• layout: Splitcoaststampers SC539

Thanks for stopping by today. Don't forget to leave a comment below to be entered into the draw for 25 stamps from Unity Stamp Company. I moderate the comments so you won't see your comment below until I approve it. I'll announce the two lucky winners on Monday.

And I can't forget a BIG THANK YOU to the folks at Unity Stamp Company for the wonderful opportunity this week to get crafty and share some of my creations with their delightful stamps.

Happy Easter!

Hi folks,

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Easter weekend. Ours was a quiet one on our own this year. No visiting with dearly beloved's family as many of them are at a destination wedding for one of the cousins.

It was a nice change from the usual hub-bub of the family gatherings but I must say I did miss watching the nieces and nephews run around for the annual Easter egg hunt.

Anyways, I figured I should stop in and share the Easter card I made for dearly beloved this year.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft card stock base
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "Hope" (my favourite Easter themed paper as it isn't awash in the usual spring pastels)
• stamps: Verve Stamps "Egg-stra Special", "Some Bunny"
• dies: Verve Stamps "Flourished Trim", "Rounded Scallop Frame", "Rounded Rectangle"
• twine from my stash
• layout: Viva La Verve April 2015 Week 1

challenges for this card:

• Pile It On #63: die cuts/punches
• Verve Divas April Inspiration: Bunnies and Babies
• One Stitch at a Time #234: Anything Goes with Easter/Passover 
• Sister Act Card Challenge #100: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by!

A TGF SSSC Happy Birthday

Hi folks,

Just thought I would pop in and share the card I made for my sister-in-law for her birthday.

The image is one of the Super Secret Stamp Club stamps from The Greeting Farm. I do like this particular set of three stamps - the little skully on the hair bow is just too cute!

card details:

• finished size: 5.5 x 5.5 inches, CTMH Colonial White card stock base
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 Couture
• stamped image: The Greeting Farm SSSC #10 - Sage. Coloured with Copic Markers (E000, E11, E00, E01, E93, E04, E21, E27, E29, E25, E39, BG10, BG11, BG32, BG34, W00, W0, W1, W3, W5, Copic Spica Clear)
• sentiment: Close To My Heart "Holiday Tags" (D1560), stamped in CTMH Lagoon Ink
• ribbon from my stash
• EK Success Scalloped Scallops border punch
• layout: Mojo Monday 384

challenges for this card:

• Seize the Birthday: Anything goes birthday
• Sister Act Card Challenge #99: Anything Goes
• Clear it Out Challenge: Two or more things you are hoarding (umm, yeah. Paper and Ribbon. If you follow me on Facebook you've seen my recent attempts at organizing. The ribbon looks amazing now - 20 lovely 1 litre jars. The paper -- I still have too much and keep buying more. I promise I'm going to try to purge!!!)
• Craft your passion #255: Anything Goes

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Badass Friends with Flair

Hi folks,


Just thought I would pop in today to share this recent creation with one of my new stamps from Unity Stamp Co - and it so happens that today is also Friends with Flair Friday at Unity! Awesome!


If you've been following my blog for the last year or so, you know that I have taken up running as a form of exercise. It's all because I reconnected with a high school friend after a couple of decades of life going in different directions. She's a runner and encouraged me to join her on a couple of races this past year.


She celebrated a birthday recently and this is the card I made for her.

I know - the sentiment is not very "birthday-ish" but I think it suits her to a T. And that sequined bow? I think it is just perfect if I do say so myself. I love the juxtaposition of the girlie girl bow with the cool sentiment.




card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "Couture"
• stamp: Unity Stamp Co "Badass Every Day", stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black with a bit of shading added with Copic Markers (E50, E51, E53)
• embellishments: sequin bow from my stash
• layout: Mojo Monday 375

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!

Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge 125

This week's challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge blog is this fabulous sketch:

here's my card featuring one of my fave Kraftin' Kimmie images and sentiments.

card details:

• finished size: 6x6 inches, CTMH Colonial White card base
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess
• stamped image: Lavinia from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, coloured with Copic markers
• brads and sparkly ribbon from my stash (got those darn sparkles everywhere!)
• CTMH White Daisy flowers
• Spellbinders: Labels Eighteen

additional challenges for this card:

• Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC202: create a card for girls (I was the lucky winner of last Wednesday's challenge!)
• Pile it On #17: Sparkle and Shine (love that sparkly ribbon but darn, those sparkles got ALL over my desk and even onto the image panel)
• Tuesday Throwdown #95: Use some sparkle

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a lovely day!

Cutting it close with the August SFYTT

Ummm.....ummm....exactly how did August get away from me? As you know, I've been very light on the card-making this month - I'm sure at some point I'll explain why but....just not now.

I almost missed doing the August SFYTT and only remembered because one of the blogs I follow reminded me of it earlier today.

Anyways, here's my go at it

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess
• sentiment: Verve "Big Wish"
• layout:  August SFYTT

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Packet

Hi folks!

yesterday was our eldest cat's birthday. And yes, I got him a birthday present - a couple of cat toys, a couple of cans of tuna and five bags of dental treats - it was his fifth birthday after all.

He seems to know what it's all about....

getting into the prezzie....

and yes, Packet also had his own birthday card

my first time inking up some new to me Penny Black stamps I picked up at our Crop for the Cure in May from Tina's Scrapbooking Creations (from nearby Winchester).

feel free to call me crazy cat lady....haven't made any cards in what seems like forever and what do I make? A card for my cat. Off to the loonie bin for me I think!


card details:

• 4.25 x 5.5 inch kraft card stock base
• stamped image: Penny Black "In the Garden", copic markers W00, W0, W1, W2, R27
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "Domestic Goddess"

Anyways, hope you all had a fabulous weekend...back to work tomorrow with a long weekend coming!

Back in the craft room again

Hi folks,

long time, no crafty! My mojo seems to have gone off on summer vacation recently and is taking it's sweet time coming back from holiday.

I did FINALLY make it back into the craft room on Monday night to make four cards - two masculine, two feminine - with the Week 2 August Viva La Verve Sketch over on SCS.

Here they are:

The masculine version, using Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"

The feminine version, using Graphic 45 "Domestic Goddess"

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches, kraft cardstock base
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman" and "Domestic Goddess"
• stamps: Verve Big Wish (note that Verve has it's annual anniversary sale on right now and this set is 20% off)
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals
• Border Punches: Martha Stewart and EK Success
• accessories: black gems for the feminine cards, black brads for the masculine cards

challenges for these cards:

• Corrosive Challenge #130: Girlie (obviously, just the feminine cards, not the masculine cards. Girlie papers, gems...girlie to me!)
• Sentimental Sundays #69: Birthday. Any of these would do since they are all birthday cards!

Viva La Verve - July

Hi folks,

well, I found my way back into the craft room to finish up a set of four masculine birthday cards for the July Viva La Verve Challenges. Rather than publish them all separately, I've decided to put them all into one post. So here you go!

For the week 1 sketch:

For the week 2 sketch:

For the week 3 sketch:

And finally, week 4:

card details:

• papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• stamps: Verve "Big Wish", "Birthday Bash", "Wordy Birds"

challenges for these cards:

• Verve July Diva Dare: Sentimental About Paper: these papers from Graphic 45 are among my faves. If you are a frequent visitor you know I have used them on lots of my masculine cards this year. And paired up with the sentiments from Verve, they may great, quick cards with a classic feel.
• Sentimental Sundays #65: Focus on the Sentiment
• Magical Monday: Let's Layer (for card #3 there's a whopping 9 layers of paper - not counting the card base!)
• Tuesday Throwdown #59: To create a matching set (I think these four masculine birthday cards count as a matching set don't you?)
• Papercraft Star: Anything Goes
• Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge: No Markers. In fact, there was no colouring at all on these cards. Just stamped sentiments!

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

PWCO SS#85 for Father's Day

Hi folks,

I know - ANOTHER Father's Day card! What can I say, if I do Mother's day cards for all the women in  our family then it is only fair that I make Father's day cards for all the guys.

I think this one looks rather sharp, don't you? Personally, I love a guy in a nicely pressed shirt, tie (optional) and pants. Casual elegance.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned paper: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• stamped sentiment: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps "Shining Light"
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles
• layout: PWCO Super Sketch #85 (you have until June 30th to play along!)

additional challenges for this card:

• 2 Sisters Challenge #44: For a Guy
• Catch the bug: It's a man's world

Corrosive Challenge 120 for Father's Day

Hi folks,

back again with another of this year's Father's day cards

Clean and simple. Good for a masculine card.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• sentiment: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps "Shining Light"
• Spellbinders: Petite Ovals
• layout: Corrosive Challenge #120 (I rotated the sketch to suit the orientation of my die-cut from the image on the paper)

Sweet Sunday Sketch #121 for Father's Day

Hi folks,

well, it looks like my dearly beloved's Dad won't be getting the second lighthouse Father's Day card after all. I made a few more Father's day cards and dearly beloved decided on this one instead - and I agree with him on his choice.

His Dad really likes antique vehicles - he has a couple of restored pickups from the fifties and actually built a really big garage (it could easily hold 4 or maybe even 6 pickups) in which to grow his collection.  The other card will probably go to one of his brothers or his brother-in-law. Or I may just switch out the sentiment and turn it into a birthday card for my stash since I have four uncles with birthdays in the next couple of months.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• sentiment: CTMH
• Spellbinders: Petite Circles
• layout: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #121

challenges for this card:

• Totally Stampalicious: Anything Goes

Viva La Verve - May Week 4 and WOTT

Hi folks,

Yes, I was busy making cards this weekend so I am back today with another of the cards I made using this sketch from the May Viva La Verve challenges.

Here is the week 4 sketch

and the card I made using it (with one element of the sketch left out as I did not want to detract from the image or clutter up a masculine card with any frou-frou).

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• stamped image: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps "Shining Light", coloured with Copic Markers (YG91, YG93, YG95, G29, R59, R89, C00, C0, C1, C2, C3)
• sentiment: Verve Big Wish
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• Spellbinders: Fancy Tags, Petite Ovals
• metal photo corners from my stash

additional challenges for this card:

• Birthday Sundaes: Masculine 

And since it is Tuesday, here's a photo of my crafty space. Actually, the shelves ABOVE my crafty space where I store my ribbons and some of my embellies.

In the next few days, I should FINALLY get around to organizing my ribbons in my Ribbon Box that I won a couple of months back from The Original Scrapbox.

As you can see, even though I have containers for my ribbons, once they get taken out, it takes a while for them to get put back where they belong.  I'm hoping the Ribbon Box will cure me of this problem since I won't actually have to take the ribbons out to use them.

Oh, and since I did actually craft on Monday night, here's a peek of what the desk below looked like when I finished for the night.

If you pop back later this week you should see the cards actually finished. 

Thanks for stopping by. If you want to see the peeks from other folks playing along with WOTT, be sure to drop by Cindy's blog The Crafty Frugalista to see who else has linked up!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see something I've been keeping under my hat for a little while now!

Viva La Verve - May Week 3

Hi folks,

well, I thought my mojo had flown the coop this last week as I had absolutely no desire to get into the craft room. But today I set my mind to making a few birthday cards for early June and I accomplished my goal. I guess it helps when you grab a few good sketches (the May Viva La Verve sketch challenges) and a great pad of paper (A Proper Gentleman from Graphic 45). And you have a deadline - I needed cards for three birthdays in the next week.

Up first is the card I made using the Week 3 Sketch from the Viva La Verve Challenges over on SCS.

Here is the sketch:

and here is my card:

I changed the dimensions of some of the parts of the focus panel, but you get the idea.

card details:

• finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
• stamp: Verve "Big Wish"
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Proper Gentleman"
• butcher's twine
• Spellbinders Petite Circles

additional challenges for this card:

• Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central: Masculine Theme
• Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge: Create a Birthday Card
• Paper Sundaes #71: Vintage or Shabby Chic (I couldn't resist - not with the word "vintage" actually on my card and given the style of these Graphic 45 papers)
• One Crazy Stamper May Challenge: Boys/Men

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. I'll be back throughout the next few days with the other cards I crafted today.

Thanks for stopping by!

March Viva La Verve - Week 5

Hi folks!

Back again with my second post for today - feel free to scroll down to peek at my craft desk in my WOYWW post.

I was a bit tardy getting my week 4 card done so that put me a little behind for getting my card made for the week 5 sketch seen below.

But I have today (and the rest of the week) off from work so I knew I would get around to doing the last of the sketches before tomorrow night's deadline.


Once again, I made FOUR cards - April appears to be the month of masculine birthdays for me so I figured I best add to my stash - even though that won't last long since there are three guy birthdays in the first five days of the month!


Here they are:

Yes, I FINALLY cut into my 8x8 pad of Graphic 45s "A Perfect Gentleman" papers.  And I do mean cut. Those watches featured on the image/sentiment panel are all fussy cut out of one of the papers to match with the Verve sentiment I used on the papers. I probably could have searched through my stamps to see if I had any pocket watch/clock images but I don't think I do. Must remedy that. Actually, if anyone from Verve pays me a visit I WOULD LOVE to see a masculine set with watches/clocks/pocket watches. Hmmm...I follow Julee on Twitter so maybe I will tweet her a link to this post and mention it in the Viva La Verve challenge forum! Ha!


Anyways ... card details:

• stamps: Verve Big Wish
• patterned papers: Graphic 45 "A Perfect Gentleman"
• Spellbinders: Small and Large Labels
• Stampin' Up 1 3/8 inch circle punch
• buttons and twill tape from my stash. Actually, the cream coloured twill tape is recycled - from the packaging for my fave dish towels.
• layout: March Viva La Verve Week 5

additional challenges for these cards:

• Whimsie Doodles: Punches or Dies (I used my Spellbinders Small and Large Dies, Stampin Up circle punch)
• There She Goes Clear Stamps Challenge 100: No Markers. Absolutely no colouring on this one for me AT ALL!!!  
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Let's hear it for the boys! All four of these cards will be gifted to guys I know!

And now to try to decide what to do with the rest of my day (before tonight's Booty Camp class)....more crafting or some household chores? Honestly, I feel like cleaning my three bathrooms and vacuuming so I may do just that!

Enjoy the rest of your day! Thanks for stopping by!