Playing Catch Up

I've been trying to photograph some cards to post to the blog but have been running into a problem or two. Miss Maddie just has to be right in the middle of things.

I have finally managed to get it done so will be posting them over the next few days. In the meantime, I thought I'd show you my nifty neato dauber cases I just got from Scrapbook.com.  I LOVE these cases!!!

They hold 40 daubers so I have all my StampinUp core colors in one and the In Colors, Shimmer Paint, spare daubers etc. in the other. Being organized makes this textbook Virgo a very happy camper.

Til next time...

PTI August 2011 Blog Hop Challenge

WooHoo. Today is PTI's Blog Hop. You can find links to all the participants here. The challenge is to create something inspired by this photo. I knew what I wanted to do the instant I saw the photo. The challenge for me was to find the right paper and low and behold, it was hiding deep in my hoarded stash. The bow is my first attempt at wrinkled ribbon. I used SU taffeta ribbon to make a bow but it looked too formal so, knowing the ribbon was a synthetic, I used a heat gun on it.

Stamps: PTI - Vintage Picnic, Little Labels
Paper: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Confetti White; Chatterbox - Loft Bias Plaid;
Ink: SU - Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue; Memento Tuxedo Black
Dies: PTI - Mat Stack #5, Picnic Basket, Edgers #1; Spellbinders - Tag, Ribbon Slider
Other: SU Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, twine from The Twinery

Copics Used:

Red Mat:

Til next time...

The Big Cheese!!!!

W00T W00T!!!!  I made this week's Big Cheese over on Waltzingmouse with this card.  The prestige is good enough but I actually get a $10 discount on my next order of stamps for winning. I make cards because I enjoy it and because I like to give them to people. I don't do it to win awards but sometimes a pat on the back feels so stinkin' good!
I don't have a card to post today because I have been working on my entry for Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop tomorrow. It's a cutie so be sure to stop by.

Til next time...

Another Week - Another Verve

Last week brought a wonderful sketch for Week 3 of the VLV August Challenges by Shannan Teubner. I had a lot of fun with this one, dragging out all kinds of dies, embossing folders, Copic Markers and even bling! Thank you Shannan for a fabulous sketch to work with.



Stamps: Verve Birthday Wishes Plain Jane

Paper: StampinUp -  Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Groovy Guava, Whisper White; BoBunny - Gabrielle.

Ink:  StampinUp - Groovy Guava, Bermuda Bay; Memento Rich Cocoa; Ranger - Adirondack Snow Cap

Copics: E02, E95, BG11, BG15

Other: Cuttlebug Butterfly Cut & Emboss Set; Cheery Lane Doily Die, BoBunny Gabrielle Jewels

Til next time...

Looking For A Diva

The theme for Verve's August 2011 Get Your Diva On challenge was tags. Anything and everything to do with tags.  If there is a hint of Diva in me anywhere, its showing up is pretty hit and miss but I gave it a shot anyway. To be perfectly honest, I think I am too practical to be Diva material but I am happy with how this card turned out.

Stamps: Verve - Let It Shine

Paper: StampinUp - Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP.

Ink: StampinUp - Bashful Blue, So Saffron, More Mustard

Misc: StampinUp Ribbon, Verve Charming Oval Die Set, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Assorted beads & jewelry findings from Michaels, Mini Envelope template from Hot Off The Press, old yellow brad recolored with a Copic Marker.

Til next time...

Glitter Die Borders

I hadn't planned on making a Sympathy card for this weeks Make It Monday technique. Then again, no one plans for a happy, healthy, loving and generous person to die without any warning. But someone special did die and I needed a very special card and this weeks technique fit the bill.

For Valerie Sorensen - August 15, 1952 to August 13, 2011

Stamps: StampinUp - Elizabeth, Simply Soft;  PTI - Half & Half, Round & Round

Paper: Bo Bunny - Gabrielle 6x6; StampinUp - Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay

Ink: StampinUp - Early Espresso, Groovy Guava; Versamark

Dies: PTI - Half & Half, Mat Stack #5

Misc: Stampendous Embossing Powder, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Ribbon, pearls & glitter from stash, Zig 2 Way Glue marker

Til next time...

Waltzingmouse Sketch #60

I had so many ideas running through my head for this weeks Waltzingmouse challenge but this is something I have wanted to try for a while.  It is a bit of a stretch but it fits. Hope you like it.

Hatbox Closed

Stamps: Waltzingmouse - Asian Gardens Additions, Eat Cake, Very Vintage Christmas, Very Vintage Labels #5, Fancy Phrases

Cardstock: StampinUp - Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: StampinUp - Rose Red, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

Misc: Spellbinders Die - Labels #5, Organdy Ribbon & Ribbon Roses from stash










Til next time...

Yaba Daba Do, It's VLV Week #2

I am a paper hoarder.  I buy all kinds of designer papers with the intent to make all kinds of gorgeous cards and scrapbook pages but then I put them away and never use them. Why?  Because if I use them I won't have them anymore. I do the same with ribbon, brads, pearls etc. so I end up just using ink, stamps, cardstock and die cuts. I guess I need some kind of 12 Step Program. 

Any who way...

I was so inspired by all the phenomenal work done by the Verve Divas this week I just had to step out of my little box. Stand back everyone. THIS is a biggie! For Verve's Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge for Week 2 of August, I broke down and used a whole 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inch piece of some hoarded My Mind's Eye paper from 2006.  And I used a piece of my cherished Blush Blossom cardstock that StampinUp retired along with 2 treasured pearls from Michael's. I told you it was a biggie! So here is my "Diva Wanna Be" creation:

Stamps: Verve - Bloom & Grow, Sweet Treats, Grateful Elegance, Celebrating You
Dies: Verve - Classy Label, Embossed Oval, Floral Circles, Elegant Leaves; Spellbinders - Large Ovals, Small Ovals.
Ink: StampinUp - Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom
Cardstock: StampinUp- Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom, River Rock
Misc: Martha Stewart Iron Fence Border & Corner Punches, Micheal's Pearls, My Minds Eye DSP.

Til next time...

Viva La Verve August Week 1

I decided to give Verve's VLV Sketches for August a whirl and tackled Week 1's sketch yesturday.  I'm not sure what direction I was going or hoped to go but looking at the mess I'd say I had a darn good time getting there.

My list of supplies for this 5 x 5 card is rather large. Am I trying to become a Diva or something? Check it out!

Stamps: All Verve - Accent Notes, Celebrating You, Hearts Desire, Love's Flower and Bloom & Grow as well as the Floral Circles and Elegant Leaves Dies.
Inks: StampinUp - Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Pool Party; Ranger - Walnut Stain Distress; Tsukineko - Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: StampinUp - Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Pool Party
Misc: Spellbinders Circle Die, EKSuccess Medallion Chain Punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Michael's Brads and Ribbon
Now to tackle Week 2's sketch!

Til next time...

August Apertures

This weeks MIM technique, Decreasing Apertures, was very enjoyable for me. I got to use a lot of layers which meant a lot of colors and different treatments on each layer. This made my husband very happy because it meant I finally used some of those stamps, dies and Impression plates I've been collecting in my singlehanded attempt to keep Papertrey Ink in business. On this card I used 8 dies, 5 stamp sets, both sides of an Impression Plate and 5 colors of cardstock not to mention the 3 dye inks and 12 Copic Markers.

The pitcher of Mums was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics.

All stamps, Impression Plates and dies are Papertrey Ink; Cardstock & Dye Inks are StampingUp.
Flowers were made using a technique from Nicole Heady featured in this post with the addition of a fringed paper center.

Til next time...

WaltzingMouse Sketch 58

Have I mentioned how much I love making my own backgrounds?  For this weeks WM Sketch Challenge I made a background using Dainty Doilies and Cameo Maker that is just perfect for a baby card. And just in time too because my friend Jamie is having her baby girl today.

All stamps are from WaltzingMouse; Ink & cardstock is StampinUp; Offray Ribbon; Cuttlebug Embossing Folders; K&Company brads; Spellbinders dies.


Til next time...