Getting a Little Mojo Back

Well I certainly didn't mean to be gone so long but the antibiotics they gave me in December for strep throat only killed the sore throat and not the strep. By mid-May I was down for the count with Rheumatic Fever. So far it doesn't look like there is heart damage, the kidneys are recovering and the joint pains seem to be back down to pre-strep levels so it's painful but managable. I'm just now getting some energy back and decided to give Verve's September 3rd Mojo Monday a shot. It only took me 6 days! LOL

 



Stamps: Verve
Cardstock: DCWV
Paper: Memory Box
Dies: Verve, Spellbinders
Other: Ranger Stickles, StampinUp ink and embossing folder

Til next time...

Loving My Hot Glue Gun

For the last year or so, I have been ignoring my hot glue gun in favor of my ATG gun and glue dots.  That all ended when I started making pleated medallions and rekindled my love of making flowers. A glue gun makes all the difference when making medallions and flowers especially if that glue gun has a fine nozzle tip and has loooonnnng glue sticks so you don't have to keep reloading. I have a small low temp gun that is easy to use but the nozzle just isn't small enough for those tiny, hard to reach places. I considered getting the Aleene's set but at $28.99 plus tax, it was a little too steep especially considering that I already have my little low temp gun as well as my big high temp one. Then I happened to spy a real gem at Walmart - Dual Temperature, fine nozzle, works cordless for up to 5 minutes and takes regular width, 10 inch long glue sticks all for a whopping $6.97. A bag of 2 dozen, 10 inch long sticks are $3.97. Ya can't beat that so into the cart it went. Oh yeah, and did I mention that Chris was paying cuz we were at Walmart to get him razor blades and a video?  Best deal yet! So what is all this leading up to? Today's card...

I combined VLV September's sketch challenge for Week 4 with this weeks PTI Make It Monday. The ribbon rose was a dream to make with the new hot glue gun and the combination of the rose, thick chipboard piece and ribbon loops never would have held with glue dots. With the hot glue it's not going anywhere! 

Stamps: Verve - Fancy Florals, Tag Time

Paper: Lilybee - Picket Fence; SU - Old Olive, Wisteria Wonder

Ink: SU - Old Olive, Wisteria Wonder; Versamark; Distress - Crushed Olive

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Tags; Cuttlebug - Scallop Squares

Other: Stampendous - white embossing powder; Michaels - Grosgrain Ribbon; SU - Old Olive ribbon

Til next time...

Fall Fun

Fall is in the air. The leaves around here haven't started changing but the temperatures sure are getting pleasant. For the September VLV 3rd Week's sketch challenge I decided to go with a fall theme. I originally planned to use some Basicgrey DSP but once it was cut I just didn't like it so I had to go back to the drawing board. Ended up stamping my own paper but had fun doing it and it matched the ribbon I found in my stash. All in all it's not half bad even though it is so far removed from my original vision.

  Stamps: Verve - Autumn Splendor, Bountiful Harvest, Happy Fall, Sweet Treat, Ecclesiastes 3:11

Paper: SU - Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade

Dies: Verve - Sweet scallop Tag, Embossed Oval; Spellbinders - Circles, plain & large scallops

Other: Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, ribbon from stash

Til next time...

Monochrome Madness

Verve's Get Your Diva On challenge for September was to create a monochromatic card. I told Sankari that her challenge had me both stumped and intimidated at first. How do you even decide what color to go with? But then the light came on and I was off and running.

My first card (A) went together, zip, zap, zip once I had the color scheme figured out. I had been dying to use those loopy flowers from Verve's Making a Statement set as well as the leafy sprigs from Sunny Days and I love to antique things. Give me some Distress ink, a non-stick mat and one of Tim Holtz's blending tools and I could blend away for hours. I was quite pleased with the way it turned out but then it hit me - Why don't I try and take it up a notch or 2?


For the second card (B) I used the same color scheme (don't know why they came out different in the photos) and layout but used a different DSP, made lace flowers, sprayed some parts with Perfect Pearls Mist and added a lot more pearls. I honestly don't know which card I like better but I think I'll be doing more monochromatic cards in the future.

Stamps: Verve- Wishful Elegance, Sunny Days, Making a Statement (A); SU - Teahouse

Paper: SU - Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla (A), Bella Bleu DSP; Curious Iridescent Poison Ivory (B)

Ink: SU - Crumb Cake, Soft Suede; Ranger - Frayed Burlap Distress

Dies: Verve - Leafy Sprigs, Loopy Blooms; Spellbinders Ovals - Plain & beaded

Other: Michaels - Pearls; SU - lace; Ranger - Perfect Pearls Mist

Til next time...

Another Great Sketch from Verve!

Week 2's sketch for September's VLV Sketch Challenge is another good one. Like Week 1, this card just fell into place exactly the way I wanted. Hmmm... 2 weeks in a row... maybe I should worry. Normally, when I do a challenge, I try to use only stamps from the company hosting the challenge. This time, instead of limiting myself, I just grabbed whatever stamps I needed to get the effect I wanted regardless of which company made the stamp. Creating without limits is so much more fun!

Stamps: Verve - Hope Perches, Tag Time; SU - Silhouette Sentiments Hostess Set; PTI - Background Basics Newsprint.

Paper: Prima - Romantique; SU - Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Old Olive;

Ink: Ranger - Distress Old Paper; SU - Cajun Craze, Old Olive

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Scallop; Spellbinders - flower, circles

Other: Martha Stewart Picket Fence punch; Twine from The Twinery; Antique Copper Brad from Making Memories.

Til next time...

Seeing Stars

Tripped in the hen house yesterday and landed flat on my face. Well, actually, it was more like a belly flop into the dirt. As I lay there, I looked over and there was Penny, with a worm hanging out of her mouth, bending over to see why I was down there. It was quite funny until about an hour later when the pain kicked in. A 200 pound woman makes a heck of an impact!

But that is not why I am seeing stars today.

I really liked the sketch for Week 1 of Viva La Verve's September Challenge. I like how this card came out even better. This was one of those times when everything just fell into place and my vision became a reality. Hope you like it too.

Stamps: Verve - Starstruck

Paper: Basicgrey - Out of Print; SU - Melon Mambo, Luck Limeade, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink: Ranger - Distress Black Soot

Dies: Verve - Tiny Sweet Scallop; Spellbinders - Stars; Quickutz - Star tag topper

Other: Ranger - Black Sparkle EP; SU - Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon; PTI - Rustic Jute Button twine

Til next time...

Sending Some Sunshine

That's the theme for Verve's August Diva Dare. The challenge is to make an uplifting and encouraging card AND send it to someone in need of a little pick-me-up!  I chose to use the sketch from Week 5 of the August Viva La Verve Challenge and I'm giving it to my friend, Tracey.  Tracey has undergone a double masectomy and has survived both radiation and chemo in spite of the complications caused by Lupus. To look at her, you would never know what she has been going through. She is vibrant and alive, dyeing her 1/2 inch new hair a bright blonde in celebration. She loves bright and bold and bling so this card is definitely hers.

Stamps: Verve- Let it Shine, Tag Time

Paper: SU Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red; Basicgrey Indian Summer 6x6
Ink: SU So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy; Distress Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
Other: Verve - Tagged Rectangle Die; Spellbinders - Inverted Scallop Die; Stickles; Ribbon from stash

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...

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...

Waltzing with the Mouse Again

Did you ever have a project that just refused to cooperate? I decided to do this weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge found here and had a card pictured in my mind but it fought me tooth and nail. I lost track of how much paper went into the recycle bin. It still isn't exactly what I planned but this is about as close as my ink and paper would allow.

I used several stamp sets, all by Waltzingmouse, cardstock and reinkers from StampinUp, Versamark, and glittery embossing powder from my extensive collection.  The sentiment was cut out using a cute little die set from Verve.

Til next time...

Too Much Nightlife

Having a bit of a slow start today. Last night we went to the Triple-A Home Run Derby in Salt Lake City and had a fabulous time - Beer, peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs, live band, some incredible hits and a spectacular fireworks show. Got to watch a high school junior slam the ball right out of the park and take second place after the Pro.  Actually, if you add up his Home Runs from all 3 rounds, he hit more HRs total than the League Players did and only lost the Derby by 2. By the time the fireworks were over and we got to the car it was getting pretty late and once we got home we had dogs to take out and chickens to lock up etc. and it took me a while to settle down. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep before it was time to get up, let out the dogs, open the chicken coop, feed the cats and take out the trash barrels and I don't do mornings at the best of times.

Today's card was made for my friend Kim and her husband's Anniversary. I used a new Verve set I had just gotten along with some PTI that hadn't seen ink yet as well as a StampinUp embossing folder that was still in the package.

Colors used are Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Soft Suade, Certainly Celery and Always Artichoke all by StampinUp. Also by StampinUp is the ribbon and Tulip Border embossing folder Stamps are Verve's Bloom and Grow with the matching dies, PTI's Mat Stack 3 and Love Birds with their matching dies. 

Til next time...

Keep on truckin'

My chickens must have Spring Fever because they keep escaping from their enclosure to dig massive craters in my husbands rose garden.  In between chasing them back in where they belong every half hour, gathering all the info I need to do the taxes plus all the other stuff I have to do on any given day, I managed to complete all 5 weeks of March's Verve Challenges.  I just haven't managed to post the last 3 that I did. I guess I am really out of practice because these card designs are all over the place. One is great, one stinks and the rest are just "Eh" but I did do all 5 weeks. That should count for something at least.


For Week 3 I used some old Bo-Bunny paper from my stash. It was called Autumn Leaves but it sure looked like Spring to me.  I created the Medallion with an SVG set I downloaded from Lettering Delights, MTC and my electronic die cutter. The stamps are all Verve, the edge punch is Martha Stewart, ribbon from Ellen Hutson, twine from The Twinery and a button from an old shirt of mine. LOL  Oh, and the stitching was done by hand with some DMC Pearl Floss.

Til next time...

Prismacolor to Copic

I love my Prismacolor Markers.  They’re fat, easy to hold, relatively inexpensive, American made, easy to blend and shade and come in plenty of colors.  I saw no need to jump on the Copic bandwagon. Unfortunately I have been having a hard time removing the caps on my Prismacolors.  I can use my pinky and ring finger around the cap and yank with the other hand but then I get ink all over the side of my hand and this technique only works on good days anyway.  I tested some Copic Sketch Markers at a local store and found them much easier to open and not only are they comfortable in my hand, the oval shape prevents them from rolling away. So needless to say, I took the plunge… big time!

 I got my first batch of markers at Christmas plus the Air Brush Kit.  Never got to use them with all the remodeling but picked up an air compressor at Harbor Freight.  Then I got a deal at DickBlick.com – one of those “Spend X amount to get 15% plus free shipping” – so I ordered more markers plus a set of Spica pens.  Still didn’t use them but they were there just waiting for when I found the time.  Well, last week, Dick Blick had another deal – spend $179 and get 20% off plus free shipping – soooo, I ordered more markers plus the second set of Spica pens. I must need my head examined. So here I am with 117 markers, 24 Spica Glitter pens, an air brush system and an air compressor.  It is definitely time to get busy and use this stuff.

I used Viva La Verve’s Sketch Challenge for March/Week 2 and stamps from Verve’s Easter Joy set along with die cuts from Spellbinder’s Eyelets Pendant and Border sets and circle dies. Ink, cardstock and ribbon is from StampinUp.

 

 I stamped the flower with Memento Tuxedo Black on 2 white circles.  The one on the left I colored with Prismacolor Markers 147 Greyed Lavender, 129 Dahlia and 168 Dark Purple.  The one on the right I colored with Copic  V0000, V01 and V12.  Blending and shading with Prismacolors is very easy so blending and shading with the Copics takes a bit of getting used to.  Copics aren’t necessarily harder to work with, just different.

 Airbrushing with Prismacolor markers is not possible so this was a whole new experience for me. I cut the flower from the Prismacolor circle to use as a mask, put the Copic circle back into the die, applied the mask and airbrushed with Copic Y00 then removed the mask and die.  I was in awe.  I cut a label and label mat with “the cutter that shall not be named”, stamped the sentiment on the white label with Su’s Rich Razzleberry, colored it with Copics then airbrushed with the Y00.  I am hooked! 

To finish the rest of the card I embossed the card front with SU’s polka dot embossing folder with my Big Shot, threaded SU’s Razzleberry Taffeta ribbon through the border die cut, added a bow and a few rhinestones from Imaginisce and there you have it.

If anyone is interested in trying alcohol markers and would like to buy my entire collection of Prismacolor markers at a very good price just email me.

Til next time…

Paper Roses

While trying to find some inspiration to get me back into the papercrafting mode, I stumbled upon the Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge for the 1st week of March here. I thought it the perfect venue to use a paper rose I made following Penny Duncan's tutorial here. I threw in some scrapbook paper scraps, an embossing folder, a Verve stamp or 2, a piece of lacy ribbon plus a few pearls and this is what I ended up with. Not too bad for one of my first projects since the kitchen remodel.

While you are at Penny Duncan's blog, check out all of her flowers. You just need Make-the-Cut software or any program that will allow you to use your own designs for cutting such as SCAL or Funtime and a compatible electronic die cutter. She also has her patterns in PDF format so you can cut all the pieces by hand if you don't have a cutter.

Til next time...

Harvest Blessings

Here is another card made in September that never made it to the blog. I think because my Mojo went Walkabout in September and my cards showed it. I used Verve's Harvest Blessings stamp set and SEI's Mimosa paper with a bit of ribbon from my stash. Here is proof that you can have beautiful stamps and beautiful paper and still end up with a lousy card. The wreath was stamped in brown and colored with Prismacolor markers but you can't see the shading because the markers bled too much on the SEI paper.

Til next time...

Just not my color combination

It's official! Black and White is not a color combination that works for me. Perhaps it's because I just don't consider black or white to be colors. I don't know but I just don't work well with them so this may be my final attempt. I believe this was a Verve Challenge from back in September and the only thing I like about it is the Stamp set and the glittery embossing powder I used. Oh and my bows came out pretty darn good too. LOL

Til next time...

Stamps: Verve - Starstruck; SU Polka Dot Background
Ink: Versamark, Versamark Dazzle Frost, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: SU Black, Neenah White
Other: Spellbinders Octagon Dies; Cuttlebug Embossing folders; Embossing Powders and Ribbons from my stash- origin unknown

Autumn Technique

This year, at our Stampers 10 Card Club, we are doing 6x6 Technique Pages each month along with a project that uses the technique. Then we have to use the technique for our Swap for the following month. Our first meeting of the year was in August and our technique was masking. I did most of my stamping at club then took everything home for assembly because I had a few changes I wanted to make (so what else is new) I used the large wheat stamp from JidiKins for my page background and dusted the edges of the instructions with the same inks as used in the sample. I trimmed my sample piece down so it would fit on the page better, snipped with a notched corner punch, wrapped it with pearl cotton then mounted it to Chocolate Chip. I left the masked piece full sized for the card but I liked the look of the pearl cotton so I repeated it for the card.

Stamps:SU-All Holidays, Autumn Days, Farm Life; Judikins-Wheat Sheaf
Paper: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suade, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink:Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suade, Chocolate Chip
Other:SU Ribbon, Scallop edge and Notch corner punches,Brads, Paper Piercer & DMC Pearl
Cotton

(Girl)Friends

Verve's sketch for the 3rd week of September was with a twist of girlfriends. This card isn't girly but all the girls liked it so that's good enough for me. I used SU's Mellow Moss and More Mustard cardstock with patterned paper from We R Memory Keepers. I stamped the hot air balloon with Memento black ink on the reverse side of the patterned paper, colored it with Prismacolor markers and cut it out with a Spellbinders circle die. All pieces were aged with Distress Ink in Tea Dye. Mounted the largest printed piece to the card base then outlined it with a gold Stardust Pen by Sakura. Pierced holes on each side of the striped piece, cross stitched with gold thread then mounted across the middle of the card. Stamped the sentiment from Verve's Because of You in Chocolate Chip ink onto the bottom half of the Mellow Moss piece. Mounted the Mellow Moss piece then mounted the circle piece over it with Dimentionals.
Til next time...