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

Goodness and Mercy

TGIF people! I am glad the weekend is almost here, even if it will be a lot of errand-running.

Back again this Friday to share with you the new Viva la Verve sketch for this week's challenge.

This week is also one of the fun weeks where we combine the sketch with a twist - we have an inspiration photo to share today. You can combine the sketch and inspiration or do one or the other. Me, I love the extra little jump I get from mashing them both together.

Today's sketch is brought to you by Christyne Kane.

And my card for you today..

I loved the gray, black and purple color scheme in the photo, so that was where I started. The stars in the Bright Spirits set were the spitting image of that fancy coffee table in the inspiration picture, so I knew I wanted to incorporate them into my design. I colored them with Copic markers and cut them out, adding yellow rhinestones to their centers.

The sentiment is from Surely Goodness, and I just love the whimsy of the design.

So what will you do with this week's challenge? Is it going to be the straight sketch, or did one of the fun elements in the photo pique your interest? Whatever it is, I can't wait to see how you are inspired. Join us!

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

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Recipe
STAMPS: Bright Spirits, Surely Goodness - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Soft Stone - PTI; Basic Gray - SU!; Black - Wplus9
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Modern Wallpaper Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Doily - Wilton; Rhinestones - Recollections; Copic Markers

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #27

Hi there!

Hope you are having a good week. I'm already looking forward to the weekend, so you can tell how things are going around here! I am here today to share some inspiration for January's challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The customer challenge this month is to use buttons 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 buttons with the chalkboard technique.

I thought I'd like to try making my chalkboard green this time. Did you have green chalkboards when you went to school? I remember them in Elementary school. I used Ocean Tides cardstock to go with the green look. I stamped my Keep Your Face to the Sunshine image in Versamark and heat embossed it in white, adding some other details with a white colored pencil and some white pigment ink.

The sunny patterned papers bring it all together, and its topped off with my buttons, one of my favorite embellishments.

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 buttons and at least one Serendipity Stamps image or die. Need to add to your collection? This week's sale is free shipping on all continental US orders of $10 or more. The sale runs through 1/22/14. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Keep Your Face to the Sunshine - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Ocean Tides - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: Pigment White - Wplus9; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Detail White Embossing Powder - Stampendous; Woodgrain Embossing Folder - Darice; White colored pencil; Buttons; Crochet thread

My Cup of Tea

Howdy! How is your week going?

Bill and I are busy working on our new floor - we've been doing a little each night and the end is most definitely in sight. Its a good thing!

Today I am here to share my card for this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge. Did you have a chance to check out the new VLV Blog? Do you just love it?

Here is this week's sketch, from Diva Teresa Kline:

And here is the card that I created, using the Verve sets Borderline and Better With You:

Its the perfect time to start stocking up on a few Valentines. I hope you'll join us for this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge! Have a great weekend!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Borderline, Better With You - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Pure Poppy - SU!; Oatmeal, Kraft - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: North Pole - We R Memory Keepers
INK: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Smoky Slate - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Pennant Trim Die - Verve Stamps; Sewing machine

January Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Hello!

Welcome to Verve's January Diva Inspirations Hop. It's the 5th of the month and that means it's hopping time! This year we're spicing up our monthly hops with the addition of a challenge! 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! Woohoo!

Our January challenge is:

The year is shiny and new, so let's add shimmer and shine to our cards.

Think glitter, sequins, rhinestones, pearls, heat embossing - anything with some gloss.

You are on the right track if you've arrived here from Amy's blog. The hop is kicking off on Sarah's blog, so be sure to head there so you don't miss any of the eye candy!

What better way to add shimmer and shine to your card than the twinkle of lots of stars! I flipped through all my Verve sets, and pulled any that had star images in them. Here I used: Birthday Bash, Holiday Greetings, and Learning to Sail. I stamped my star pattern onto my card first and then some extras onto scrap, which I cut out and popped up in my design. Some of my stars were glittered, others were colored with Perfect Pearls, and the rest I left plain. Then I added a sprinkling of rhinestones for good measure :)

The sentiment is from the Birthday Bash set and was stamped on an Embossed Oval die cut.

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what our 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.  Betty Wright is your next stop along the hop!

	1. Sarah	10. Tiffany
	2. Amy	11. Maureen
	3. Anya	12. Stacey
	4. Betty	13. Amber
	5. Jessica	14. Teresa
	6. Karen	15. Marisa
	7. Sankari	16. Charmaine
	8. Sony	17. Verve Blog
	9. Susan

Verve Stamps is also having a little sale - all Valentine and love themed sets are 30% off!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Birthday Bash, Holiday Greetings, Learning to Sail - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Kraft, Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Embossed Oval Die - Verve Stamps; Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls - Ranger; Antique Silver Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Adhesive Rhinestones - Recollections

Viva la Verve!

Hiya! Happy first Friday of 2014! Well, as if that wasn't exciting enough, today we are kicking off the first Viva la Verve sketch challenge of 2014 AND announcing its very own blog! Yay yay yay!

It is the same fabulous Viva la Verve sketch challenge you've always loved, with a fresh new twist - optional color and inspiration challenges to jazz things up. For all the info on the rules and how to link up your creations, head to the new VLV Blog, where Julee will give you all the deets!

Here is today's challenge:

You can use the sketch by itself, the colors by themselves, or throw them together for an extra good time!

I used the Holiday Treats set from Verve Stamps for my card. I love all the chevron patterns in the set, along with the cute coordinating dies.

I'll be looking for you over on the Viva la Verve blog! Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Holiday Treats - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Cup of Cheer Die Set, Tagged Rectangle Die, Pastel Sequin Mix - Verve Stamps; Chevron Embossing Folder - Sizzix

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2014 is good to you.

Just a quick note to let you know that I am posting on the Waltzingmouse Inspiration Blog today! I hope you'll stop by :)