With Heartfelt Sympathy

Hello friends!  I'm away with a group of friends this weekend but wanted to enter Laurie's Win it Wednesday challenge so I headed down to the studio right after dinner.  Luckily I had a set of inked flowers ready to go from my favourite Gran's Garden.  I added a sentiment from Penned Elegance and layered the arrangement on my favourite Quatrefoil coverplate!  Thanks for visiting and for all your sweet comments!  Have a great weekend!

 what's in it?
stamps: Gran's Garden, Penned Elegance (PTI)
dies: Quatrefoil coverplate, Gran's Garden (PTI)

Do Not Sorrow ~ Transformation Tuesday

Happy weekend everyone!  I'm here to share my take on PTI's Transformation Tuesday challenge.  I made the card below for last week's Blog Hop and changed up the sentiment, flowers, and colours to make this sympathy card.  I've been hooked on making frames these past few weeks :)  Thanks for stopping by!

what's in it?
stamps: Stitching Garden, Text and Texture: Leaves (PTI), sentiment (retired Verve)
dies: Stitching Garden (PTI), stitched rectangles (Lil Inkers)
ink: smokey shadow, soft stone, lovely lady, autumn rose, scarlet jewel (PTI)

With Heartfelt Sympathy ~ Make it Monday

Hello friends!  I've been spending the morning in the studio watching the snow melt outside. Yes! Snow!  We were hit with a small but blustery blizzard last night...just when we thought Spring was here.  But the sun is out now, so hopefully we see grass soon!  This card is for this week's PTI Make it Monday challenge: adding colour to outline images.  As I was looking through my PTI sets, I soon noticed that I have very little outline image sets.  That's because I'm not a colourer! I prefer solid images along with the outlines.  So I had to find something in my Verve stamps to help me out.  This was such a quick and easy card to make and it felt so good to just stamp, no die cutting.  Have a great week!  Thanks for stopping by.

what's in it?
stamps: Penned Elegance (PTI), Great Friend (Verve)
paper: stampers select white (PTI), soft sky (SU)

He Will Rejoice Over You ~ The Card Concept

Hello everyone! Today starts a new challenge over at The Card Concept challenge blog based on the picture below...  

I get stumped sometimes figuring out which "style" of card I've created...is it vintage? Layered? Shabby? Mixed Media?  All of the above? I'm not sure!  One thing is sure, I was inspired by those gorgeous colours and butterflies! I know you must be asking where is my doily?!  I was making this card for some dear friends who lost their young son in law and a doily just wasn't in that plan.  Sympathy cards are always tricky but I love to put some kind of quote on them instead of "with sympathy."  I feel these quotes are more uplifting and perhaps might add to the healing after a sad loss.

I hope you'll head over to The Card Concept blog to see all the different interpretations from the Design Team then join in the fun!  Have a great day!

Stamps: Scripture Medley 3, Sparkly Dreams (Verve)
Dies: Butterfly Dreams Die Set (Verve)

In My Thoughts ~ PTI February Blog Hop

Check out my Papertrey Ink For Sale page HERE

Hi everyone!  I'm entering today's card in the PTI February Blog Hop.  I still had the Painted Petals set out from last week's Anniversary challenges so decided to give it a go again with different colours.  I pulled out ink and paper from the inspiration photo and die cut a matte gold quatrefoil to help with the background.  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

 

Papertrey Ink Anniversary Challenges ~ 2016

Check out my Papertrey Ink For Sale page HERE

Greetings everyone!  I was so happy that our staff meeting ended early this afternoon so I could make it home a little earlier than usual and play along with the last year of PTI challenges.  It was a toss up between Tulip Time and Painted Petals but since I haven't used Painted Petals much, I thought I should get it inky.  I am, once again, CASEing a card by Amy.  I find that when a set has lots of layering stamps, I have to CASE a card to get use to all the elements in a set to figure out how to use them.  Are you the same?  I did change up the white frame on Amy's with a partial quatrefoil coverplate.  Whew!  I did all years! I get a little obsessed at times and this is exactly what happened.  I'm sure I'll be the same next month for the official anniversary challenges.  Thanks for stopping by!

Beauty for Ashes ~ Mojo Monday

Hi everyone!  I'm back sharing the fruits of my lovely studio day this past weekend.  I'm using this week's Mojo Monday sketch.   In keeping with my goal of making two cards at a time, here's the second version.  My sister is in need of a couple of sympathy cards, hence the sympathy theme.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope your week has started out well :)

stamps: Deepest sympathy plain jane (retired), Scripture Medley 1 (Verve)

Love Comforts ~ Diva Inspiration Hop

It's time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop!

There are TWO $30 gift vouchers to the Verve store up for grabs this month and two ways to win! First, comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) for an entry in the first giveaway. Then to be entered into our challenge prize drawing, go get inky and link up your take on the challenge. You have until September 5 to link up. Feel free to play along with the challenge as many times as you like. Verve stamps aren't required to play, but we do smile a little brighter when we see them!

Summer brights fade into earthy tones for the dog days of summer. With the hustle and bustle of the end of summer coming, a breezy, free-spirited graphic is what we have in store for you this month. Follow the color pattern, or be inspired to journey where the creative winds may take you. We can't wait to see what you create!

I love flipping through my patterned paper pads looking for the colours in each Diva Inspiration palette.  The Julbille pad from MME had the perfect match so that's where I started.  Sadly, I needed a sympathy card for a colleague.  She loves my cards so I made sure to create one with my favourite elements, doily, layers of pattern, double sentiment, and sequins.  I have used this sentiment from Stronger Love for other sympathy cards, I think it is just so beautiful and comforting and a little different from "with sympathy."

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Monday, September 5.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we're giving away a $30 gift voucher to Verve to one random commenter along the hop.  Just leave a little love as you hop about for a chance to win!

	1. Julee 7. Marisa 2. Betty 8. Maureen 3. Charmaine 9. Stacey 4. Christyne 10. Susan 5. Laurie 11. Teresa 6. Lesley

what's in it?
stamps:  Stronger Love, Forever in our Hearts (Verve)
ink: onyx (versafine), scarlet jewel (PTI)
paper: vintage white (PTI), Jubilee (My Mind's Eye)
accessories: Heart Quartet Die, Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve), stitched rectangle and sentiment flag (Lil Inkers), stitched circle (MFT), felt/button (PTI), paper doily, inverted scallop die (Spellbinders)

With Sympathy

Hello friends!  Does this card look familiar?  It should, it's my SAF Remix card.  Nichole is letting us have another crack at a card we weren't that happy with during SAF.  I wasn't thrilled with my card for Melissa's challenge because, as much as I love Rosie Posie, the flowers I used didn't give that watercolour feel.  My PTI order has since arrived so I was able to use Floral Sketches and get a better watercolour look :)  Here are the two cards side by side.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Clearly Besotted Teaser Time ~ Day 4

Greetings everyone!  Only one more day until the Clearly Besotted February Release is available!  Today I've used the With Love set.  It's a 2 step stamp set so you can create these gorgeous tulips. I stamped a sentiment from the set onto a tag from Tiny Tags Die collection, tied some twine to it and adhere it to the card with foam tape.  I am in need of a few sympathy cards and this set is just the ticket for creating quick and sincere cards.

Thanks for stopping by!  Head over to Stephanie’s blog for some more inspiration and peeks!

In My Thoughts and Prayers

TGIF everyone!  I only have two more Fridays before I’ll be joining in that real good TGIF feeling!  Yep, only one and a half weeks and my lovely summer will be over.  It’s been great, though, and I’ve gotten lots done around the house plus some wonderful inky sessions :)  Today’s card is to help replenish my sympathy card stash.  It’s using the last August Viva La Verve sketch.  Be sure to head over to the VLV blog for more inspiration and all the details on how you could win some sweet Verve!  Have a great weekend!

Check out the Verve sale on now!

Stamps:  Dream Big, Wonderfully Made, Die Sidekicks, Lean on Me (Verve)

Accessories:  Dreamy Leaves Die Set, Pointed Flowers Die Set, Sweet Scallop Die, and Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve)

Praying for You ~ Viva La Verve

Happy Friday!  There a new sketch over on the Viva La Verve blog and it’s a great one for using up pieces of patterned paper!  Head over there for more inspiration and to read all about how you could win a fabulous Verve prize for playing with this month’s sketches!  Have a good one!

what’s in it?

stamps: Floral Notes (Verve)

paper: vintage cream, aquamist (PTI), Memories (Teresa Collins)

ink: onyx (Versafine)

accessories: Floral Notes Die Set, Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve), oval limitless layer dies (PTI), gold embossing powder, stitching

Love Comforts ~ Viva La Verve

Hi everyone!  Happy Friday!  This card uses the new Viva La Verve sketch for this week.  I wanted to use this half doily and this particular sentiment from Stronger Love so I modified the sketch “slightly” to fit what was in my head.

 

What do you think?  Close?  In my heart it is :)  Head over to the Viva La Verve blog for more details on how you could win some Verve by playing each week!  Have a great weekend!

stamps: Forever in our Hearts, Stronger Love (Verve)
accessories: Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve)

Forever in Our Hearts

Happy Friday friends!  With another semester of school over, I had a free Sunday this week to get inky!  This card is using the brand new Viva La Verve sketch!  It’s a new month of sketches that starts today so be sure to head over to the Viva La Verve sketch blog for all the details about how to play and what you could win!  Have a great start to your weekend!

stamps: Scripture Medley 1, Forever in our Hearts, Die Sidekicks, Small Packages

dies: Hearts & Swirls Frame Die, Cupcake Frame Die Set

Someone So Special

Happy Friday everyone!  I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt to be in the studio this week playing with paper and ink again.  Today’s card uses the new Viva La Verve Sketch.  Sadly, it is a sympathy card for a colleague whose mom passed away this month.  I love Verve’s Forever in our Hearts set for sympathy cards. The sentiments are sweet and simple, perfect for the difficult time around losing a loved one. 

Head over to the Viva La Verve blog for more samples and all the details on how you could win some big Verve bucks this month!  Have a great day!

stamps: Forever in our Hearts, Be Blessed (Verve)

dies: Petal Points Die Set (Verve)

accessories: Shine Bright Sequin Mix

October Release Retrospective Blog Hop

Welcome to Verve's October Release Retrospective Blog Hop! The Verve Divas are hopping today and serving up some more inspiration using the October release stamps & dies! Besides a look-see at some really nifty cards, there's also a comment prize up for grabs!

I’ve used the Inspire Hope set again to create this serene card for any occasion that calls for uplifting someone’s spirits.  I pulled out the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set to help make some 3D leaves that hold the paper roses. Some Shine Bright Sequin Mix always finishes off a card perfectly :)

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We're giving away a $40 gift voucher to one lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to leave a shout out in the comments as you hop about.

1. Julee             8. Laurie

2. Stacey           9. Christyne

3. Marisa         10. Teresa

4. Chaitali       11. Andrea

5. Amber         12. Betty

6. Jen             13. Sarah

7. Charmaine  14. Maureen