Every Leaf Speaks Bliss to Me

Good (Monday) morning everyone!  Hmm, can we really put “good” and “Monday” together?  LOL  If there is no staff meeting today then we can!  Woohoo!  I have been dying to use my new PTI Mighty Oak stamps and die since they arrived a week ago.  I love all the verses in this set :)  My inspiration comes from the current Tuesday Trigger over on the Moxie Fab World blog…

I’ve used a bronze metallic paper for the leaves to mimic the ones in the photo AND pulled out some resin flowers as well!  All on a cream background, YUM :)  I hope your Fall has been lovely so far…thanks for visiting!

stamps and dies: Mighty Oak (PTI)

Have an Amazing Birthday

Good morning friends! I hope your weekend is going well! Just popping in with a card I made with the brand new Verve set, Poppy Birthday.  I just love the lines of that poppy flower!  Head over to the Verve store to see what else is new!  Thanks for stopping by :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Poppy Birthday, Each Day (Verve)

paper: white, aquamist, rustic white, soft stone (PTI), ruby red (SU), Family Is Collection (Bo Bunny)

ink: onyx (versafine), real red, bermuda bay, smoky slate (SU), aquamist (PTI)

accessories: Build a Poppy and Banner Bundle die sets (Verve), Signature ribbon collection (Verve), Spiral Notebook Page die, buttons (PTI), bakers twine (Twinery), doily (Etsy shop), stitching

New Verve in the Store!

Hi everyone!  Well, today is the day you can buy some new Verve!  Woohoo!  Head over to the Verve Store and shop to your heart’s content!  I’m using the brand new Each Day set on my Viva La Verve card…yes, it’s Friday and there’s a whole new month of Viva La Verve sketches over in the Viva La Verve Forum.  There’s also one more Blog Hop today for the change to win some of the new release.  Head over to the Verve Blog to see all the deets!  Have a great day and a wonderful start to your weekend :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Each Day (Verve)

paper: white, springmoss (PTI), Atlantic collection (Studio Calico)

ink: onyx (Versafine), springmoss (PTI)

accessories: limitless layers dies, ribbon (PTI), gems (Kaisercraft), fishtail die (My Favourite Things), stitching

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 or our September 2013 Spotlight Hops!  We're so excited to share some new Verve with you! Each day this week, the Divas will be shining their Verve spotlights on a different set, so stay tuned for a week filled with inspiration! Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store on Friday, 9/27.

Today’s card showcases the fabulous Poppy Birthday set.  Several different sized lined poppies AND matching Build a Poppy die set helped me create these gorgeous layered poppies.  And there it is, like I promised, the Award Banner die :)  This time I tucked it under my sentiment banner :)    A few more sequins from the new Pastel Sequins pack added a bit of shine and sparkle.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Poppy Birthday, Build a Poppy Die Set

 

1. Julee                 8. Laurie W.

2. Teresa               9. Christyne

3. Charmaine       10. Maureen

4. Stacey {Guest} 11. Marisa

5. Andrea             12. Janelle

6. Jen                  13. Laurie S.

7. Amber

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Poppy Birthday (Verve)

paper: rustic white, berry sorbet (PTI), kiwi kiss (SU), Chalk Studio (MME)

ink: onyx (Versafine), berry sorbet (PTI), real red, old olive (SU)

accessories: Build a Poppy, Award Banner (Verve), pastel sequins (Verve), buttons (PTI), bakers twine (Twinery), stitching

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of our Verve September Spotlight Hops!  We're so excited to share some new Verve with you! Each day this week, the Divas will be shining their Verve spotlights on a different set, so stay tuned for a week filled with inspiration! Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store on Friday, 9/27.

How adorable is this little hot pink birthday robot? Hey, robots aren’t just for boys!  I went totally girly girly on this one and love it!  Geared Up is the perfect set for all those fun girls and boys in our lives.  With a full set of numbers, it’s easy to customize every card with the recipient’s age.  And, did you spy our new Award Banner die?  Be sure to look for it later this week!  LOL, and WAIT again!  Notice that fun sequins?  Julee’s got a Metal Mix sequins pack coming your way! Lastly, in case you were wondering, here’s the boy version of this card {wink!}

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Geared Up, Award Banner Die

 

1. Julee                 8. Laurie W.

2. Teresa               9. Christyne

3. Charmaine       10. Maureen

4. Stacey {Guest} 11. Marisa

5. Andrea             12. Janelle

6. Jen                  13. Laurie S.

7. Amber

 

what’s in them?

stamps: Geared Up (Verve)

paper: white, rustic white (PTI), island indigo, real red (SU), All about a Boy (Echo Park), Lovebirds (Doodlebug Designs)

ink: onyx (Versafine), neon blue and pink (hero arts)

accessories: Award Banner and Flag It dies (Verve), Metal Mix sequins (Verve), stitched mat die (Lil Inkers), speech bubble (MFT), twine (The Twinery), sheer ribbon (Michaels), gem

Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

Welcome to our September 2013 Spotlight Hops!  We're so excited to share some new Verve with you! Each day this week, the Divas will be shining their Verve spotlights on a different set, so stay tuned for a week filled with inspiration! Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store on Friday, September 27th.

I’ve been saving some new paper for this release!  Today’s card showcases the new Each Day set, full of uplifting sentiments for difficult days.  It also includes this gorgeous cross out and beautiful filigree insert.  I couldn’t help add that sweet “God is able” to a journal tab…that’s just me :)

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Today's Prize: Each Day, Psalm 94:18 Plain Jane

1. Julee                 8. Laurie W.

2. Teresa               9. Christyne

3. Charmaine       10. Maureen

4. Stacey {Guest} 11. Marisa

5. Andrea             12. Janelle

6. Jen                   13. Laurie S.

7. Amber

 

stamps: Each Day (Verve)

paper: rustic white, kraft (PTI), Hello Again (Carta Bella)

ink: onyx (Versafine), groovy guava/rose romance (SU)

accessories: Stormy Skies Ribbon Collection, Pastel Sequins (Verve), journal tab,  double banner, doily dies, button (PTI),  Stitched mat (Lil Inkers), thread, stitching

First Day of Autumn

 

Happily we bask in this warm September sun,

which illuminates all creatures…”

~Henry David Thoreau

Good morning!  It’s the first day of Fall and though I’ve always tried to love Fall and Winter, my cold hands and feet are a tad bit leery of it all.  However, I do love the colours and sights of autumn and this fabulous quote from Verve’s Autumn Splendor.  Hope your autumn has started with a smile and a song :)  Come back tomorrow for the first Sneak Peeks at some NEW Verve! 

Birthday Wishes for You

Happy Friday everyone!  I’m gearing up for another busy Masters weekend.  We have our second course starting tonight that will run alternatively with the course that started 2 weeks ago.  I’m happy to find a few minutes during the week to unwind in the studio and just “play” for a few minutes.  This card is for the new Viva La Verve sketch over in the Viva La Verve forum.  All the deets are there and let you know how YOU can win $100 in Verve stamps!  Oh yes!  And it would be great to win all those Verve bucks with a new release just around the corner!  Stay tuned Monday for the first of the Sneak Peeks!  Have a fabulous weekend!

 

stamps: Verve Making a Statement, On Occasion, So Fluttery

dies: Verve Flutterby die, Occasion Frame

Love is Patient ~ September Diva Dare

Hi everyone!  Just popping in to let you know I’m hosting the Diva Dare today :)  Head over to the Verve Blog to read more about my card and see how you can join in the fun and win some prizes!  Thanks :)

Let it Snow

Good morning!  I had to giggle about today’s post title…it makes it look like I’m skipping right over Fall and heading to Winter :)  LOL  Nope, just time for the next Festive Friday challenge…a timeless colour combination…oh, yum!

 

Have a super fabulous day!  Thanks for stopping by :)

stamps and dies: Papertrey Ink

Congratulations ~ Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

Hi everyone!  It’s the 15th of the month so that means there is a new challenge AND a new sponsor over on the Curtain Call Inspiration Blog.  Clearly Besotted Stamps is our sponsor for the Sunflower Surprise challenge.  Stephanie so graciously gave each of the Design Team the Blooming Marvelous stamp set and matching dies to use for this week’s challenge.  The winner will receive these stamps as well :)  Woohoo!

I was inspired by the kraft table cloth and the gorgeous sunflowers.  It looks like a delightful celebration so I I chose “Congratulations” as my sentiment.  For more gorgeous samples and all the details about how you could win this Clearly Besotted stamp set and dies, head over to the Curtain Call Inspiration Blog!  Thanks for visiting!

stamps: Clearly Besotted Blooming Marvelous, PTI Modern Woodgrain

dies: Clearly Besotted Blooming Marvelous dies, PTI mat stack, Lil Inkers stitched mats

Thanks Ever So Much

Good Friday morning!  Yep, Friday love is back here on the blog!  Now hold onto your seat!  See something strange in my photo?  Yep, those are REAL markers that I used to COLOUR those sweet pointed flowers!  I had to include them in the photo to prove this strange phenomenon :)  I was set on using those lovely flowers for this card, but wanted them yellow.  Now, I will confess that I do have markers from WAY back I just don’t like to use them.  This card is for the new Viva La Verve sketch up and ready for today.  It’s also an inspiration week.  Use the photo or sketch or both to create a project…all the deets are over on the Viva La Verve forum…

Have you seen the latest Verve Sale?  Head over to the store to see all Autumn sets on sale PLUS some retiring and some getting moved into collections…Julee’s been having fun reorganizing :)

Thanks for visiting!  Have a great weekend!  I’ll be spending it on homework and napping :)

 

what’s in it?

stamps: Verve Lean on Me, Treasured Words, Doodled Occasions (small flower on ticket)

ink: versafine onyx, su cho chip, so saffron/mustard markers

paper: pti kraft, rustic white, su espresso, suede, echo park this and that

accessories: verve  pointed flowers dies, pti spiral notepage, limitless layers dies, twine, maya road ticket, staple, stitching, buttons, ribbon

Hugs and Kisses and Farewell ~ Clearly Besotted Challenge

Hi everyone!  I’m back today announcing the new Clearly Besotted Stamps challenge over on Stephanie’s Blog. 

This month we are asked to create our own background using stamps and ink :)  I was inspired by some sweet Fancy Pants Country Boutique paper.  Here’s a card I made with that heart paper. I didn’t have any left, but I thought I could make a similar one :)  I used the new Mini Love Hearts set with the original Love Hearts, Background Builder and Many Messages sets.  Want to play along and win some fabulous stamps?  Head over to Stephanie’s blog to see what the Design Team made and then join in the fun :) 

Now, as my post title says, there is sadly a farewell part of this post.  I was desperately hoping that I would be able to stay on most of my design teams while doing my Masters, but after the first weekend of classes and getting the first syllabus of course work, I know now that it would be impossible.  I really need to give my studies my all.  I cannot thank Stephanie enough for asking me to be one of her first design team members and list my name along with some of the best in the card making business.  It is extremely hard to step away from an exciting and growing stamp company, but there is no way around it.  Luckily, I have a HUGE basket of amazing Clearly Besotted stamps and dies and will still feature them here on the blog :)  So, with many fond memories of my favourite UK peeps, Stephanie, Mandy, Aimes (Duchess!), Caryn, Debby, and Michelle, I say farewell (not goodbye) with lots of hugs and kisses :)

Thanks for stopping by :)

Peace ~ and another first

Good morning!  Well, Monday is back to being lower down on my favourite days list ;)  It’s my first full week of work after spending half my weekend in classes and we have a staff meeting after school.  No rest for the wicked :)  I got home Saturday late afternoon…went into my classroom for a bit after my Masters class… and though I really wanted a nap, decided I should go into the studio for a bit :)  So this is my first card after starting my Masters and being back at work…and being a little more than exhausted.  Nothing new, one of my go-to layouts, but when I went to edit the photo, I noticed the wreath bows upside down! ACK!  I was hoping that was part of the pattern, but it wasn’t.  I thought of tearing it apart and repositioning, but I just didn’t have it in me to re-tape and re-adhere everything.  So here it is, my “Peace” card for the Festive Friday Challenge…not quite as “peaceful” as I’d have liked it, but there it is… I think it’s time for that nap :)  Have a great start to your week :)  Thanks for stopping by :)

stamps and dies: Papertrey Ink

Teachers Make Little Ones Count ~ Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

Hi everyone!  Well, I’ve got one week down at work and am on my second day of my Masters (we have classess every other Friday night and Saturday day).  It’s busy and new, but I love it!  I’ve been needing a new challenge personally and professionally and this is fitting the bill perfectly.  Today’s card is for the current Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Back to School.

How could I not use my favourite Teachers Count set again?  I truly have used every single stamp in the set now that I’ve inked up the little number collage image :)  I stamped it on black cardstock with white craft ink to mimic a chalkboard :)  There’s one more week to enter!  Head over to the Curtain Call Inspiration Blog for more inspiration and how to enter :)  Hope your Saturday has started out in a wonderful way :)

stamps: Verve Teachers Count

Verve September Diva Inspiration Hop

Welcome to Verve's September Diva Inspirations Hop! It's the 5th of the month and that means it's time for the Verve Divas to breathe new life into some much-loved stamps and dies. And there's a PRIZE up for grabs, so be sure to leave a little shout out in the comment section of each blog as you hop about to be entered in a drawing for a $30 gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Check out all the details about prizes and this month's sale over at the Verve Blog.

My card today is for another awesome colleague of mine.  Remember, I teach at Disneyland which means I work with happy and delightful people :)  Last week, before school started, our staff had a 2 day Professional Development retreat revisiting the Virtues Project that we use and then learning more about Google Apps.  We were out for a break when someone’s tea came on a nice doily…well, you can guess that I snapped that up quickly.  Then I had it under my smartphone to keep it safe, but it looked like I was keeping my phone fancy with a lace doily :)  LOL  After all the laughing, this colleague went and got me some more in the restaurant!  She knows it’s for my cardmaking :)  So, to thank her, I made this thank you card complete with a little chalkboard tag AND one of the doilies she wrangled for me :)  I’m using Amber’s Viva La Verve sketch from last Friday…y’all know a big circle gets translated into a doily with me :)

I’ve had a great start to the school year…a bit tired of talking so much, but that’s the nature of the business in September.  Thanks for stopping by…enjoy the rest of the hop!

1. Julee       8. Tiffany

2. Amy        9. Teresa

3. Anya     10. Charmaine

4. Betty     11. Maureen (you’re here)

5. Karen    12. Marisa

6. Sarah    13. Andrea

7. Susan

 

stamps: Verve Smile plain jane, Small Phrases