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!