My Sunshine

Happy Friday!

Today I am here to share this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge! Julee is our beautiful hostess this week and we are once again are offering a color challenge along with this week's sketch.

Feel free to combine the sketch and colors or pick one or the other! I combined them to create this sweet Valentine using Verve's Rain or Shine set.

(I've been on a doily kick recently, can you tell?)

This was a tricky sketch, but a fun challenge! I can't wait to see your take on it! If you would like to join us, be sure to head to the Viva la Verve challenge blog to check out the other samples the Divas have created and to link up your own. This sketch kicks off the VLV challenge for February, and playing along for the whole month enters you into the chance to win $100 for the Verve store!

Hope your day is great, I'm so glad to see you!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Rain or Shine, Love Notes - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Smoky Slate - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: Smoky Slate, Pink Pirouette, Real Red - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Doily - Wilton; Stone Twine - The Twinery

February Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Hello!

Welcome to Verve's February Diva Inspirations Hop. It's the 5th of the month and that means it's hopping time!

This month we've got a bloomin' good challenge for you along with our usual inspiration! So in addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

Our February challenge is Floral Fantasy:

 
February is the month of love and flowers are a popular gift
so add some petal power to your cards this month!

Here is what I created for this month's challenge:

I used the fun flowers from the Poppy Birthday set combined with one of the great sentiments from Brighter Days.  My Nana needs some well-wishes, so I am working on a pile of cards to send to her.  Verve sets are just the perfect thing to use for a time like this.  

Need some more inspiration for this month's challenge? 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've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines.

	1. Julee	11. Tiffany
	2. Amy	12. Maureen
	3. Anya	13. Stacey
	4. Betty	14. Christyne
	5. Jessica	15. Teresa
	6. Karen	16. Marisa
	7. Sankari	17. Charmaine
	8. Sarah	18. Janelle
	9. Sony	19. Jen
	10. Susan

AND be sure to check out the newly released sets from Verve, just in time for Valentine's Day!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Brighter Days, Poppy Birthday - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Barely Banana - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
INK: Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Pink Pirouette, Groovy Guava, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Build a Poppy Die Set, Rounded Scallop Frame Die - Verve Stamps; Doily - Wilton

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #28

Hi there!

Hope you are having a good week. Did you get a lot of snow? I am here today to share some inspiration for February's challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The customer challenge this month is to use sheet music or text pattern on your project (the DT will provide inspiration twice each month, but you have the whole month to play along!)

This week we are combining images of food with the music or text pattern.

I used the Heart Cup and Heart Teapot on my card. I paper pieced these images, combining them with some book print patterned paper.

Be sure to stop by and visit the rest of the Design Team:

Jenny Gropp
Marybeth Lopez
Miriam Napier
Pauline Pollington
Anya Schrier - you are here!
Jeanne Jachna
Vickie Zimmer
Julie Warner
Karen Amidon

I hope you'll join us for this month's challenge - all you need to do is use a sheet music or text pattern and at least one Serendipity Stamps image or die. Need to add to your collection? This week's sale is 40% off the highest priced item in your cart when you use the code "40fromhigh214". The sale runs through 2/12/14. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Heart Cup, Heart Teapot - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Fly a Kite, The Thrift Shop - October Afternoon
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Doily - Wilton; sewing machine

So Grateful

In celebration of their fourth birthday, Wplus9 is holding some fun challenges. I am such a fan of sweet Dawn and her amazing designs, and its easy to say that Wplus9 is one of my favorite stamp companies.

The challenge she posted yesterday was to create a card in your comfort zone. The card I made for the challenge is me to a T - what do you think?

This card incorporates all the things I love to craft with - creating a stamped design, using two-step images, my beloved Oatmeal cardstock, a little bit of Antique Linen Distress Ink, and my tried and true when-I-can't-squeeze-any-ideas-out favorite layout. And of course, throw in Wplus9 images and you have my comfy jammies equivalent of cardmaking.

:) Hope your day is great!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Fanciful Feathers - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Kraft, Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Groovy Guava, Barely Banana, Baja Breeze - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger

Serendipity Stamps New Release Blog Hop Day 3

Hello, back again with Day 3 of the Serendipity Stamps new release blog hop. Today the team is sharing their creations using the Ladybug Die. Like the Bunny Die we shared yesterday, this die has lots of fun details to it!

See all those cute embossed curlicues?

I had dots on the brain for this one.

I started with some die cut circles that I messy stitched. I used the Ladybug Hugs sentiment (there is a Ladybug Die and Cling Set available that has the die along with this sentiment and two other coordinating stamps).

I die cut my ladybug from red cardstock and then again from black. I inset the black dots into the red ladybug die cut, popping up the larger ones before adding some Stickles.

This die is so fun, I want to brainstorm some 3D ideas for it.. straw toppers? I hope you enjoyed hopping along with us, be sure to leave comments for a chance to win a $10 credit for the Serendipity Stamps store.

Comments are open until February 5th - be sure to visit all of the DT members, even we don't know where the lucky comments will be chosen from! The winners will be announced February 7th. Sweetie Jeanne Jachna is your next stop along the hop. Enjoy!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Ladybug Hugs - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Poppy Parade - SU!; Kraft, Oatmeal, Black - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: The Thrift Shop, Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Ladybug Die - Serendipity Stamps; Circle, Scalloped Circle Dies - Spellbinders; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger; Sewing machine

Serendipity Stamps New Release Blog Hop Day 2

Hello, back again with Day 2 of the Serendipity Stamps new release blog hop. Today the team is sharing their creations using the fantastic Bunny Die. This die is so detailed - I just love it!  It not only has cut-out portions, but also details that are embossed.

I used it to create a springy tag.

I die cut the bunny from oatmeal cardstock and then again from the three colored cardstocks. I used the colors to fill in the design - I first poked out the die cut pieces from the oatmeal and filled in the flowers and the bunny's eye with the coordinating bits from the colored cardstock. I figured out a super fast method to do this, which I will share with you later - once I have a chance to take some step-by-step photos.

I used the Somebunny Loves You sentiment to complete the back of the tag.

Comments are open until February 5th - be sure to visit all of the DT members, even we don't know where the lucky comments will be chosen from! The winners will be announced February 7th. Sweetie Jeanne Jachna is your next stop along the hop. Enjoy!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Somebunny Loves You - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal, Ballet Slippers, Sweet Gelato, Lake House - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: This & That - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Bunny Die - Serendipity Stamps; Diamond Lace Punch - EK Success; Sweet Blush Satin Ribbon - PTI

Serendipity Stamps New Release Blog Hop

Hi there. I am up to my elbows in house stuff, aside from the disaster that is my kitchen and first floor bathroom, the line that runs to our house from our well keeps freezing. So if we want water, we need to keep a close eye on it. It is just far too cold and has been for far too long. I am desperate for a 'normal' winter day at this point, and just slightly stir crazy.

Today I am here to kick off Day 1 of the Serendipity Stamps new release blog hop. Today the team is sharing their creations using the Shamrock Die and coordinating Happy St. Patty's Day sentiment.

You should have arrived here from Pauline's Blog. The Serendipity Stamps Blog should be your first stop - there you can find the list of the DT participating as well as the details for how you can win a prize (leave a comment!).

I die cut the very detailed Shamrock Die from avocado cardstock and then used the negative to trace and cut out a solid shape from oatmeal cardstock. I glued the two layers together, so the fancy design could stand out against the background. Some strategically placed rhinestones help to finish it off.

Comments are open until February 5th - be sure to visit all of the DT members, even we don't know where the lucky comments will be chosen from! The winners will be announced February 7th. Sweetie Jeanne Jachna is your next stop along the hop. Enjoy!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Happy St. Patty's Day - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Ripe Avocado - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: North Pole - We R Memory Keepers
INK: Ripe Avocado - PTI
OTHER: Shamrock Die - Serendipity Stamps; Rhinestones - Recollections

Festive Friday - Season's Greetings

Hi there. I have a cold and today it really kicked my butt. I had big kitchen painting plans this weekend and today I didn't accomplish anything.

Anyway, I wanted to stop by and share the card I made for the current Festive Friday challenge.

This past Christmas I was scrambling at the last minute (like I seem to be every year) to send cards out, so I really am going to try to stick with this challenge this year. That being said, I also am keeping in mind that I want to mail these cards. So I'm watching my layers and embellishments and keeping them from getting too bulky.

The Festive Friday challenge was an inspiration picture.

I really have a lot of love for the past few releases from Wplus9. I feel like I barely had time to use them, so I am using these challenges as an opportunity to keep them out on my desk.

Woodland Wreaths - such a beautiful set. It plays so well with Merry & Bright too.

Hope your weekend was a good one, I'm going to start heading in the direction of comfy jammies and a warm bed.

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Recipe
STAMPS: Woodland Wreaths, Merry & Bright - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER - 25th & Pine - Basic Grey
INK: Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Real Red - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Woodland Wreaths Die, Merry & Bright Die - Wplus9; Diamond Stickles - Ranger

To the Moon and Back

Happy Friday!

Do you have big plans for the weekend? We have finished all the work in our Master Bedroom, so its time to move on to another room. I think I'm going to start on the kitchen.... our first floor bath/laundry room is off the kitchen and its in progress right now, so it seems like a good time to start the kitchen too. We are firm believers in paying cash for projects like these, so the kitchen is not getting its glorious complete makeover quite yet. A few gallons of paint and it will tide us me over until we can afford to upgrade.

But today I am here to share this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge! I am this week's hostess with the mostess, so here's the sketch I came up with for January Week 4:

And here is the card that I created, using Verve's Love Notes set.

Bring on the pink, sparkly hearts!

Be sure to head to the Viva la Verve challenge blog to check out the other samples the Divas have created and to link up your own.

And don't forget that Verve is having a sale - 30% off all love themed sets!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Love Notes - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Autumn Rose - PTI; Ballet Slippers, Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Yours Truly - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Pretty in Pink - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: From the Heart Die Set - Verve Stamps; Strawberry Twine - The Twinery; Fruit Punch Stickles - Ranger; Pink rhinestones - Recollections; Double Embossed Dotted Lace punch - EK Success

Happy Thoughts

Yay, yay, yay!

The Monday Mood Board Challenge is back!

Here is this week's board:

And here is the card I made inspired, as you can see, from the patterned circles and the color scheme.

That little Strictly Sentiments 3 set is such a fun little one to have around. I am really looking forward to playing along with the Festive Friday challenges, just so I don't have to put away any of my Wplus9 Christmas sets :)

I am going to sneak off, we have a full schedule today and I'm trying to squeeze in the last minute touches on our bedroom reno. Have a fabulous day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Strictly Sentiments 2, Strictly Sentiments 3 - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Going Gray - SU!
INK: Smoky Slate, Going Gray, Daffodil Delight - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Gold pearls - Recollections