Verve Diva Dare June 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "A Man’s World".  With Father's Day falling on the 15th of this month, and BBQ season beginning, we are daring you to create a card with a masculine theme.  It doesn't have to be a Father's Day card, just one with a masculine feel to it.

I used Verve's newly released, Wonderful Marvelous for my card.  Love the variety of sentiments for both moms and dads in this set!  The Starry Die provided most of the scattered stars, and both the banner and flags were paper pieced.  A touch of silver cording and I was good to go.  Probably a bit over the top for a masculine card now that I look at it, so may have to go round two lol!

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!


Challenge:  Simon Says
  

What's In It?
Stamps:   Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Say Cheese (Simple Stories), Night of Navy, Kraft, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black
Accessories:   Starry Die (A Cut Above Verve), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Retro Sketch #122 A Little Bit Late

I have seen many wonderful cards using this sketch so thought I would give it a try.

I just got some MME papers from their new Cut and Paste collection, and this paper brought a baby card to mind so I went with it.  My first attempt didn't make me happy so I dressed it up a bit for round two and am much happier with the outcome.

Since I am craving spring, out came my Verve Flutterby die - any excuse to use this die LOL!  The sentiment is from MFT's Happy Hello's dynamics which Debbie was ever so kind to send me - still lovin' my goodies, Debbie, hugs!!  Since I fudged the top part of the sketch a bit, I felt it needed a little "grounding" so I added a sentiment from Verve's Small Phrases set.

To keep things real, here is a picture of my first card.

Hoping you agree with my decision LOL!   Entering this into a new challenge called Butterflies and Flowers - hello!!  Two of my favorite things to use on cards :)

Thanks for popping by today!

Challenges:  Butterflies and Flowers


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up),  
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Flutterby and Scalloped Trim Trio Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Happy Hello Dynamics (My Favorite Things), Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, White Half Pearls, Dimensionals   

Retro Sketch #92

Susan Raihala had a recent post which touched my heart.  She knows a family that is having a tough go of it over Christmas this year.

The father, who was trimming his 98 year old mom's trees, fell and broke 7 ribs, and a week later, they discovered their 4 year old grandson Jonah had a cancerous tumor on his kidney.  The tumour has been removed and a secondary surgery had to be done to remove a bowel obstruction.   Radiation and chemo treatments are in progress to treat his Stage 3 cancer.

My heart goes out to this family as I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a child with cancer.  My son was admitted to Children's Hospital in Vancouver at 18 months when he had a Norwalk type bug and got dehydrated.  I was deeply impressed and touched by everyone who worked there and will never forget one of the nurses telling me that kids are very resilient and though they go through a lot it is amazing how they bounce back.  This is my prayer for Jonah. 

Since Christmas will be very different for this family this year, Susan has volunteered to be a "card courier" for them.  So, if anyone would like to make a Christmas card for Jonah and/or his family, just contact Susan via her blog (link above) and she will send you her mailing address.  By the way, Jonah's favorite colour is orange, and he also likes bright colours, robots and typical little boy things.

When I saw robots on the list, I immediately thought of Verve's Birthday Bots set - sooo perfect!  I used this week's Retro Sketch, some bright orange paper, and a few of the cog sequins from Verve's Metal Mix.  Next up on the agenda is making a card for the parents.  Trusting the family will be deeply touched by total strangers sending them cards, and what a great way to spread some Christmas joy via this wonderful hobby - love it!!   

 
 
What's In It? 
Stamps:   Birthday Bots (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), Early Espresso, Kraft, Night of Navy, Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Stitched Circle Dies (Lil' Inker), Button Die (PTI), Metal Mix Sequins (Verve Stamps), Twine, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #198

This week's challenge is a colour challenge hosted by Tangii and she has found this fabulous image to use as our inspiration.

I combined it with a Retro Sketch from a few weeks back and some yummy Happy Day MME paper which had the perfect colours.

Pulled out this fabulous sentiment from Words of Wisdom as it seemed fitting to use with the butterfly - a similar metamorphosis type of scenario if you like.  I used the debossed side of the Swiss Dots embossing folder as it was a bit more subtle and didn't clash with the stripes as much and a bright fuchsia ribbon seemed fitting based on that gorgeous up front an centre bright pink flower.

The rest of the  JUGS team has some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.  

Sorry about my sporadic posting.  I've been having such a great time with my kids that stamping has taken a back seat.  Will have a good chuck of stamping time this weekend so the coming week should provide a few more posts starting with my Mojo Monday card :)  Have a great weekend everyone!

 

What's In It? 
Stamps:   Words of Wisdom (Verve Stamps)
Ink:  Black 
Paper:  Happy Day (My Mind's Eye), Pretty in Pink and So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:   Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabililities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, 1" Fuchsia Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Bling, Button, Twine, Dimensionals

Retro Sketch #59

This week's Retro Sketch was a fun one.  I decided to make a baby card with it and Verve's Shining Star and matching Starry Die set was the perfect fit.

I chose this adorable sentiment from the set and die cut and layered the stars.  The banner looked a little lonesome out there on it's own so I added some twine to give it some vertical grounding (there is an oxymoron LOL).

I really wanted to add a second sentiment in the bottom right corner, and it took a lot not to do so - these CAS cards kill me LOL!  Along that line, if I had been awake and thinking clearly, I would have embossed the white panel with PTI's Linen impression plate for a tiny bit of texture, but alas, that was not the case.  So, very CAS it is.

Thanks for poppy by today.  Hope you're having a great week.

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Shining Star (Verve) 
Paper:  Night of Navy, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories: Starry Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Twine, Dimensionals

Retro Sketch - Literally!

Okay...I confess...I needed a post for today and a Valentine's Day card for hubby, so I literally used this week's Retro Sketch for my card - literally.  Very lazy of me, I know...but I'm happy with the way it turned out.  No fru-fru on the card, nice and simple, and no pink to be seen - perfect for hubby :)

All confessions aside, I had a scrap of this fun Bo Bunny paper left so it became the launching pad for the card.  Also got to pull out my new TCP heart die from my SFTYY winnings - love the funky shape!  The sentiment is a $1.50 stamp from Mike's, and I used PTI's linen impression plate for just a touch of something on the white panel even though you can't see it in the picture.

Short and sweet today as lots on the agenda. Wishing you a fabulous day :)



What's In It?
Stamps: Studio G (Michael's) 
Paper: Bo Bunny, Real Red, Cameo Coral, Kraft 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Heart Trio CutUp (The Cat's Pajamas), Linen Impression Plate (PTI), Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Enjoy

Playing along with this month's CARDS Blog Challenge.  Thankfully I had some MME paper that gave me the aqua colour I needed but had to sub in certainly celery for the chartreuse.  Must say I really do enjoy the colour combo.     

I paired the colours with this week's Retro Sketch and kept things on the CAS side.  The embossing folders provided the texture and I pulled out my favorite PTI flower die as my focal embellishment - happy sigh :)  Just wish I had the linen embossing plate to give that white panel a little something, but alas, it is still on my wish list.  Maybe it will crossed off on  my birthday. 

Short and sweet today as lots to get done. On a cleaning and purging binge and have to strike while the iron is hot!

Half way through the week and I think my body is now speaking to me again after making it wake up so early again.  Oh to be a morning person LOL!  

Have a fabulous day and thanks so much for sharing a bit of yours with me.




What's In It?
Stamps:  Small Celebrations (Verve)
Paper: Going Grey, Certainly Celery, Blink of an Eye (MME)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Flower and Tag Dies (PTI), Lattice Embossing Folder (Stampin; Up), Script Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Crafty Crazy Retro Tags

 

 I used this week's Retro Sketch to make a tag so I could also play along with Crazy 4 Challenges (make a tag) and Ladybug Crafts (snowflakes).

Since I was on a tag making expedition, I decided to make a few more just for fun.  I'll most likely use these on cards somewhere along the way as it just about kills me to put a tag on a gift when I full well know it will only be looked at quickly, flipped over for the "from" sentiment and then end up in the recycling bin or garbage.

By no means do I expect people to keep the tags...just figure if they are on a card there is a better chance of the card being kept than a tag - or is that wishful thinking LOL!   Anyone else feel this way or is it just me?!  The only time I'll use a hand-made tag is for a hostess gift or on a bottle of wine to dress it up a bit.  For the rest, it's store bought tags all the way baby!

Okay, enough about my psychological tag issues and on to the actual tags!  The tag above uses the Retro Sketch and some I Believe MME paper.  I double tagged the tag as the tag on the ribbon added the little something I needed in that space, and though it is a rather bazaar thing to do on a tag, I quite like it.

Love the kraft, pink and brown together, not to mention the heart and snowflake combo - two shapes I adore, and all the more when they are together LOL!  Best part is the sentiment fit perfectly on the fish tail of the tag!

This last tag was one I made a while back and never posted as I didn't really like it.  After working on it and adding a few things it sits with me much better. 

Sorry about the dark pictures....we are having very dark, dreary and rainy days here and no matter what time of day I take the pictures they always come out dark, even after Photoshop!!  Welcome to winter on the West Coast - ugh!



To You Tag 
Stamps: Merry and Bright (Verve) 
Paper:  Real Red,  I Believe (MME), Kraft 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Crimper, button, Red Twine, Twine, 5/8" Blue Satin Ribbon

Merry Christmas Tag
Stamps:  Joyous Noel   
Paper:  Kraft, Making Memories, Early Espresso
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Tag Die (PTI), Snowflake Die (My Favorite Things), Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), 5/8" Silver Satin Ribbon, Crimper, Button, Silver Twine, Glue Dot, Silver Half Pearls

Christmas Blessings Tag
Stamps: Glad Tidings (Verve),  Snowflakes (Amuse)
Paper:  Kraft, Brocade Blue, Brown, Night of Navy
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Label Die (PTI), Jumbo Snowflake and Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Deckle Scissors, Twine, Half Pearls, Bling, Crimper, Dimensionals

Retro Giraffe

Gave this week's Retro Sketch a go and not overly pleased with the results.  Not sure if it's the lack of white space that's throwing me off or what, but posting it anyway.  Sometimes you just gotta go with the good, the bad and the ugly ;)

I never tire of this cute giraffe from Stampin' Up's Wild About You set.  I don't think I will ever part with it as it always makes me smile :)  The DP is from retired paper I won on Christine's blog so it is very close to a Stampin' Up only card.

Thanks for popping by today.  I'm going to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts as the rain is a comin'....no!!!!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Wild About You and Shot and Sweet (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Kraft, So Saffron and Stampin' Up DSP
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Black
Accessories:  Corner Rounder, Twine, Button, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Pumpkin Thank You

This week's Retro Sketch proved quite the challenge and I would have given up if it weren't for these cute pumpkins.  They are so easy to make and you can vary how "fat" or "thin" you want them to be.  I had to go with the skinny version so they would all fit on the panel.  Unfortunately, in my frustrated state, I forgot to sponge the edges a bit so they are a bit "flat", but I still love them :)

Soon enough the kids and I will be heading out to a local farmer's you-pick pumpkin patch.  Now that the kids are older, trips to the big pumpkin patch with the hay ride etc. isn't high on their list.  They grow up sooo quickly....    Though I must admit, going on class field trips to the pumpkin patch when it's pouring rain out is not something I miss a whole lot!  Digging pumpkins out of the mud for the four or five kids in your car pool was not my idea of a good time.  Thankfully, that aspect of the trip was always overshadowed by the big smiles and excitement on the faces of the kids as they thanked you for helping them find their perfect pumpkin :)   Oh, and I almost forgot, my daughter would always want to get a small pumpkin for our cat so he wouldn't feel left out.  Good memories...rain and all :)

Thanks for visiting and hope your pumpkin picking day is a dry one!



What's In It?
Stamps: Celebration of Thanks (Verve) 
Paper:  Only Orange, Mellow Moss, Early Espresso, Kraft 
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Small Oval Punch (Stampin' Up), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up) Twine, Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Retro Friend

 

Loved this week's Retro Sketch which is based on a fabulous card by Laurie.  I'm also playign along with CAS-ual Fridays which had a black and white plus another colour theme this week (hopefully the challenge police will let the green leaves slip by and not count as an additional colour).

There are a ton of options for the squares and my cast off box made my decision for me as I am desperately trying to decrease it instead of increase it LOL!

The rolled roses from my case off box were the springboard for my card and lead to my selection of this classic colour combo.  A punched border softened the lines up a bit and a touch of silver twine wrapped things up nicely.

Our fabulous weather continues and I don't want it to end!!  The leaves are just starting to turn colour and soon our street, which is full of maple trees, will be covered in the fabulous colours of Fall!   A sight that always takes my breath away. 

Thanks for visiting today. Always enjoy the company :)

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Text Objects (Verve)
Paper:  Black, Real Red, Always Artichoke
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Silver Cording, Black Half Pearls, Glue Dots

Dynamic Retro Smile

 This week's Retro Sketches was a fun one to work with and I combined it with this week's Dynamic Duo challenge.

For some reason, my owl punch came to mind so I decided to pull it out and use it on this card.   I embossed his tummy for a bit of texture and added a branch for him to sit on.  Added the smile sentiment as he makes me smile :)   The rest is pretty self explanatory.

Our glorious Fall weather continues bringing cool mornings and evenings and wonderfully warm afternoons :)  Needless to say, layering clothes weather is upon us and I can't wait for the maple leaves to start turning colours!!!

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Circular Sayings (Verve) 
Paper: Always Artichoke, and Cajun Craze (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:  Owl and Bird Punches (Stampin' Up), Lattice Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up), Crimper, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Dimensionals
 

Playing With Retro Paper Leaves

 Haven't had a chance to play along with Retro Sketches for a few weeks so I took the opportunity to do so this week :)  I combined the sketch with this week's Paper Players challenge of using a tree or leaves on your card.  No having to ask me twice about that one as Fall is here and that means my PTI leaf dies are coming out to play.  A lot.  Be forewarned.

Love this SEI paper I picked up at my LSS -- wish I had picked up more sheets of it as I love both sides!  Pulled the rest of my colours from there, embossed the Sahara Sand panel with a wood grain folder (my tree element LOL), used my beloved maple leaf die (happy sigh.....) and roughed up the edges.

After standing in line for 2.5 hours yesterday in order to get my daughter's class schedule changed (they messed up and gave her the wrong elective and she was in a horrible French teachers class), when we got home I discovered there was an error again - ugh!!!  They switched her out of the elective she didn't want and put her in the one she wanted, which caused her schedule to be rearranged and that got her out of the French class, but in all the switching around, they left her in the first elective she wanted out of and dropped her sewing class.

Why oh why didn't I check her schedule BEFORE we left the office??!!  Simple.  I was exhausted and just wanted to get home so didn't even think to look it over, trusting that they did it correctly.  Note to self:  if you don't use your brain you have to give up your time.  So....back we go tomorrow to see if we can get things rectified and hopefully it won't take 2.5 hours this time round!! 

Needless to say, I am treating myself to a day of stamping while the kids are at school so I can be in a decent mood when the after school daycare kids show up!  Never a dull moment when you have kids! 


Have a wonderful day and thanks listening :) 

 

What's In It?
Stamps: Leaf Prints (PTI), Celebration of Thanks (Verve) 
Paper: SEI, Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral 
Ink: Close to Cocoa 
Accessories:  Leaf Prints Dies (PTI), Wood Grain Embossing Folder (Tim Holtz), Martha Stewart Border Punch, 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, 1/4" Brown Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Retro Sketch #22

Another fun Retro Sketch this week.  Used one of my favorite colour combos (pink, brown and green) as well as a few scraps from my "to use later" pile which is always a bonus!  

Quick and easy card as I have 50 pounds of blueberries to wash, dry,  put on cookie sheets and stick in the freezer.  After a day in the freezer, into freezer bags they go so we can enjoy them all winter long :)

Fingers crossed for the kids as today is their evaluation day and we find out whether they will pass this swimming level or not.  They are on the bubble right now, so hopefully they can pull it off.  Would be really nice if my son passed as it is his birthday today and what a nice gift that would be :)

Thanks for popping by today!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Fluttering By (Verve)
Paper:  Dots and Stripes (Echo Park), Rose Romance, Early Espresso
Ink: Black
Accessories:Flutterby and Elegant Leaf Die (Verve), Corner Rounder, 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals