Mojo Birthday for Miriam

Wow! This is my second post for today - I must have the mojo right now!

This card is for two purposes. I needed a card for my best friends birthday and I also wanted to enter Mojo Monday. And I think this is the earliest I have ever managed to post my Mojo Monday contribution!

The Mojo sketch looks like this :



Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Stampin'Up! Upsy Daisy (sentiment and flowers)
Paper : PTI Melon and Vintage Cream, SU! River Rock, SEI Dill Blossom DP
Ink : VersaColor Paprika Pigment Ink, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge, EKSuccess Small butterfly punch, Karen Foster patterned ribbon, EKSuccess Small scallop border punch

Razzleberry Cupcakes (TESC126)

These cute little cupcakes were created using a $1 stamp from 'g Studio' stamps at Michaels! I've said it before, but I'll say it again - I LOVE a bargain, especially when it comes to stamping supplies!

The die cut label behind the cupcakes was cut using my new Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge. It is such a versatile cartridge and cuts wonderful tight mats behind the main label. The patterned paper is from the Razzleberry patterns last year at Stampin'Up! I think Razzleberry is one of my favorite colors.

And finally the card was based on the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge from last Friday. Here's a look at the layout :



Thanks for dropping in!


Stamps : g Studios (cupcakes), Stampin'Up! (sentiment)
Paper : SU! Rich Razzleberry and Razzleberry DP, PTI White
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Basic Black
Accessories : Cricut Lacy Labels cartridge, Spica Glitter Marker, Prismacolor pencils

100th Post and an Award!!!!!

This is officially the 100th post on my blog since I began in March of this year and on Friday last week I was awarded the 'Cherry on Top' for a beautiful blog - what a great way to celebrate 100 cards!

To keep this 'title' there are some things I have to do/tell y'all!

1. Andrea Ewen was the one who nominated me - thank you so much Andrea, I am really, really honored. Check Andrea's blog (Ewenstyle) - it's awesome! We started blogging at the same time and also met on Splitcoaststampers, which I also recommend you visit for fantastic papercraft inspiration as well as competitions and challenges.

2. I'm supposed to post the award - which I've proudly done at the top of this post.

3. List 3 things that I like about myself :

• I've kept my English accent even though I've lived in North Carolina for 9 years. (which makes my 'y'alls' sound quite strange!)


• I'm good at organizing (just don't ask my husband about plastic boxes and wicker baskets....!!)


• I had to be very inventive when I created my own stamping 'room' at the back of our walk in closet - it is approximately 5' x 6'!

4. Post a picture that I love :




5. Lastly I need to nominate 5 others who deserve this award. And the nominations go to (drumroll please....!!)

• Amy Sheffer of Pickled Paper Designs


• Susan Lyles of Susiestampalot


• Sherri Siemens of Card Creme


• Paula Williamson of Paper Possibilities


• Beate Johns of Fresh and Fun

These women do not know me (apart from Paula who so graciously answered so many of my questions concerning coloring with Prismacolor pencils) but I visit their blogs every single day and try to leave comments when I can.

I hope you'll visit these wonderful women who are so deserving of this honor!

Dill Blossom Happiness

Each month on Splitcoaststampers there is a Verve month long sketch challenge called Vive La Verve. On a weekly basis there is a new sketch posted along with 3 photos of rooms. The idea is to use the sketch along with one of the photos for inspiration. My card today was from Vive La Verve for August for week 4, using the photo from room 1.

The patterned paper I used is from SEI 'Dill Blossom' paper pad that I got for $2.00 from the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago. I just LOVE a bargain!

See you again soon!



Stamps : Basic Grey 'Happy for You'
Paper : SEI Dill Blossom DP, PTI White
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMagic Chalk ink
Accessories : EKSuccess small butterfly punch, small circle punch and small scallop border punch

Thoughtful Silhouettes (Mojo #153)

I have had this patterned paper in my stash for a couple of years now and I think I have only used it once before, so yesterday I challenged myself to create a card based on the Mojo Monday sketch, using my new Stampin'Up! Hostess set and the SU! paper from 4(?) years ago.

The sketch was a regular quarter size card but with all the layers I was using a square seemed to work better for me. The labels in white and plum are from a brand new Cricut Cartridge that I discovered over the weekend. It's called 'Lacy Labels' and is available exclusively from Wal-Mart (in their range of Cricut 'Lite' cartridges). At $39.99 it's an awesome deal to get over 50 different label die options in one place. And, of course, in any size that the Cricut machine will cut...so plenty of options for cards.

Here is the sketch layout I was working from :



Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : SU! Hostess Silhouettes
Paper : PTI White, SU! Pale Plum, SU! DP (name??)
Ink : SU! Mellow Moss and Basic Black, VersaMagic Chalk ink Spring Pansy
Accessories : Cricut 'Lacy Labels' Cartridge, Kaisercraft Pearls, Corner rounder, Michaels white satin ribbon

Triple Lacy Elegance

This weekend I was busy making cards using the same colors with a similar look and feel. I used the Martha Stewart Lace border punch on each of them and also the same pearls to give an elegant feel. I did not have the right color pearls so I used a Copic marker to color them and make them match! This first card was for a bridal shower that I was due to go to on Sunday afternoon. The dry embossing in background was made using a Stampin'Up!/Sizzix embossing folder that I am just in love with right now - isn't it gorgeous??!

This next card was a variation on the same theme, using the same colors, border punch and embossing folder but with a different layout and sentiment.




And finally :



This time I added some white satin ribbon for a different finishing touch.

I have already sent out the first two cards. My stash of finished cards was getting rather large and I decided it was time I needed to send them out as encouragement to others rather than keeping them all to myself!!!!

Hope you are having a great start to your week,



Card 1
Stamps : SU! Sentiment
Papers : PTI Ocean Tides and White, DCWV Linen Closet DP
Ink : SU! Not Quite Navy, Technique Tuesday Blue/Green Chalk ink
Accessories : Kaisercraft Pearls, EKSuccess Large Butterfly Punch, Spellbinders Label Die, Martha Stewart Lace Border punch, EKSuccess Small Scallop border punch, Sizzix Embossing folder from SU!, Copic Marker

Card 2
Stamps : SU! Sentiment (from Thoughts and Prayers) SU! Flowers from Hostess Silouettes
Papers : PTI Ocean Tides and White, DCWV Linen Closet DP
Ink : Memento London Fog, Technique Tuesday Blue/Green chalk ink
Accessories : EKSuccess Small butterfly punch, Martha Stewart Lacy Border punch, Kaisercraft Pearls, Copic Marker

Card 3
Stamps : Verve (Plain Jane Scripture Verse), SU! Flowers from Hostess Silouettes
Paper : PTI Ocean Tides and White, DCWV Linen Closet DP
Ink : Technique Tuesday Blue/Green chalk ink, VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : Oval cut from Cricut Machine, Kaisercraft pearls (colored with Copic marker), White satin ribbon from Michaels, Martha Stewart Border Lacy border punch, Sizzix/SU! Embossing Folder

Heartfelt Fall Flowers

Good afternoon everyone (late afternoon that is!). I have been meaning to post this card all day but then 'things' kept coming up. One being that my garage door broke and my car was nearly stuck in the garage permanently! I wondered what the loud explosion-type noise was that I heard earlier this morning but I did not discover the problem until lunchtime when I needed to be somewhere..... Turns out that the spring broke in two and the steel cables snapped too. Oh well, hopefully the repair guys can fix it for me. This happening two days after I had to get my car fixed because the 'check engine' light kept coming on. They say bad things happen in threes - just wondering what's next.....!!!!!

Anyway - on to my card.....
This beautiful floral stamp set is from Heartfelt Creations - another of my purchases from the Creating Keepsakes convention on Saturday. I tried to recreate one of the beautiful cards that I saw in the Heartfelt Creations booth at the Vendor Faire, but there is no way I can match up to their amazing standards. I was blown away by the creativity and intricate, delicate details on all the cards that I saw. If you are are interested in their stamps, check out their website Heartfelt Creations. There is also an idea gallery for inspiration.

Hope you are having a great week,



Stamps : Heartfelt Creations (flowers), Stampin'Up! (sentiment and background flourish)
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, PTI Vintage Cream
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : Quickutz Label Die, Spica Glitter Marker, PrismaColor Pencils

Little Pumpkin (Mojo 152)

On Saturday I went to the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Charlotte and had so much fun! I have been wanting to go for 5 years now but there was always something conflicting with the date.

I got those beautiful fall papers from the vendor faire at the convention. They are 'Apple Cider' designer papers from Imaginese. The pumpkin stamp is also from the same company. Although it is a long way from fall here in NC, it is my favorite season of the year and I can't wait for colder weather. I'll probably have to wait until the end of October at least!!! : (

My design is based on Mojo Monday this week. Here's a look at the sketch :



Thanks for dropping in!



Stamps : Imaginese (Pumpkin), Sentiment - ?
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Real Rust, PTI Vintage Cream, Imaginese Apple Cider DP
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Chalk Pumpkin Spice and Spanish Olive
Accessories : Cricut Machine (for ovals), Spellbinders Label Die, Fiskars Border punch, PrismaColor pencils

Happy Birthday Lois!

Today is my sister-in-law's birthday. Happy Birthday Lois - this card is just for you! As usual I forgot the date and I never seem to send my cards on time.... hope you'll forgive me? I put the real thing in the mail on Friday.

I had fun using these new purple papers from My Mind's Eye but it took a while to come up with the design for the card. I was first of all trying to work from a different sketch and a totally different color scheme but in the end I just had to set it all to one side and work with the papers that were catching my eye.

When I was adding extra detail I was trying not to make it too busy because of the striped paper so I just added some little buttons and a photo corner. The other 'extra' details were sponged ink around the pale purple mat, using a small scallop punch and some cream organdy ribbon to soften the center strip behind the circle.

Thanks for stopping by!



Stamps : Hero Arts (Sentiment and Leaves)
Paper : PTI Plum Pudding and Vintage Cream, My Minds Eye Perfect Posies DP
Ink : VersaColor Aloe Vera and Hydrangea, VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : Marvy Large and Medium Circle Punches, Small scallop border punch, SU! Cream Organdy Ribbon, Photo corner die cut using Quickutz Squeeze, Basic Grey Buttons, EKSuccess Small butterfly punch

Hello Neighbor

I am loving these gorgeous colorful papers from My Mind's Eye. I don't normally use orange, but this shade was just calling out to me to be used in large quantities! It is slightly glittered but unfortunately the photo doesn't show it too well.

The little house stamp is from a Whipper Snapper Designs set called 'Hello Neighbor'. I paper pieced the image together by cutting out the house and mounting it with pop dots on a circle cut of blue and green patterned paper. The green dotted paper is cut in slits across the top to make it look a little more like grass - I then tried to rough up the edges a little to make it look more natural. Here is a close up of the the main image :



I am getting back into the practice of coloring in my images this week and I enjoyed using my Prismacolors again with this card.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!



Stamps : Whipper Snapper Designs (Hello Neighbor), Stampin'Up! (sentiment)
Paper : PTI Enchanted Evening and White, My Mind's Eye New Home DP
Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Night of Navy
Accessories : Kaiserkraft green square rhinestones, Sizzix Scallop Circle Die, Marvy Large Circle Punch, SU! Oval punch, Prismacolor pencils

Thoughtful Hummingbird (Mojo #151)

I am just loving this new Tim Holtz vintage paper! I bought some papers yesterday and I fell in love with the dreamy blues, greys and pinks in this collection. There are some wonderful text designs and some beautiful scroll patterns mixed in.

The neutral cardstock is 'Smokey Shadow' from Paper Trey Ink and I used a new stamp set that came with the UPS man on Monday from Stampin'Up! called Elements of Style. The scroll and the embellished hummingbird seemed to work with the papers. When I was adding some extra bling I could only find white pearls in my collection so I grabbed a pink Copic marker and colored them to match.

My design is based on the Mojo Monday sketch this week (#151). Here is a look at the sketch :




Thanks for dropping in!



Stamps : Stampin'Up! Elements of Style (scroll, flowers and hummingbird), SU! Sillouette Sentiments (Sentiment)
Paper : PTI Smokey Shadow and White, Tim Holtz Vintage DP
Ink : VersaColor Burgundy Pigment Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories : SU! Markers, Copic Markers, Spellbinder Label Die, SU! Small oval punch, Kaisercraft Pearls

Cute Little Bug

Good morning all!

This sweet little butterfly is from a wonderful company called Stamping Bella in Canada. They have some fantastic images. You should be sure to check out the Stamping Bella website to see the full range.

I enjoyed getting back into the swing of coloring using my Prismacolors after a long absence from them! Recently I have been using a lot of text only stamps and I thought it was time to use a more detailed image.

Hope you are are having a great start to your week?



Stamps : Butterfly from Stamping Bella
Paper : PTI White and Enchanted Evening, DCWV Sweet Stack
Ink : VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : Spellbinders Label Die, Chalks, SU! Small Oval punch, Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers

Rusty Chocolate Leaves - AnniVERVEsary Hop #3

This card was my final creation for the AnniVERVEsary blog hop last Sunday. The colors in this one are some of my favorites but I really think they are too autumnal for this time of year!

I included my favorite border punch on this along with some new chocolate ribbon that I got recently from Michaels. The leaves on the outer edges of the sentiment panel were stamped using a portion of a tree from an Stampin'Up! set called Thoughts and Prayers. The watermarked branch on the rust panel is from the same set.

Thanks for dropping in again and I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!



Stamps : SU! Thoughts and Prayers, Verve Plain Jane Scripture Verse
Paper : SU! Chocolate Chip and Really Rust, PTI Vintage Cream
Ink : VersaMagic Chalk ink in Jumbo Java, VersaMark
Accessories : Fiskars Sunburst Border Punch, Michaels Chocolate Ribbon

Razzleberry Verve Blog Hop # 2

**If you are looking for my original AnniVERVEsary blog hop post click here!**

Well, I promised you more Verve-y goodness this week and - here it is! This was another one of the cards that I created for the AnniVERVEsary blog hop but decided not to post on Sunday. I was inspired by a card that I saw on Julee's own blog, Poetic Artistry (the owner of Verve Stamps) and I wanted to use it as a starting point for my own creation. Julee has a wonderful way with texture and her use of color.

I was challenged to begin with, because I wanted to create a card without the use of any patterned paper - and that is tricky for me because that is usually where I start my design process. I love the Rich Razzleberry against the green with the pop of crisp white and so I created patterns using a flourish stamp and an embossing folder.

Stop by tomorrow for another look at my final Verve blog hop creation.
Enjoy!

Stamps : SU! Flourish (set name??), Verve Plain Jane Scripture Verse
Paper : SU! Rich Razzleberry and Kiwi Kiss, PTI White
Ink : SU! White craft ink, VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories : Spellbinders Label Die, Michaels White Ribbon, Small scallop border punch

Anniv-VERVE-sary Blog Hop!!!

One of my favorite stamp companies, VERVE, turns three today and we are celebrating with a blog hop and prizes. If you've already been following along, you arrived here from Kathy's blog. If not, head on over to Julee's Blog (owner of Verve), for all the info on how to win prizes (after all, what's a party without presents?), and to start hopping from the beginning. If there's a hiccup along the hop, you can always head to the Master Hop List to get the full list of links.



I actually made 3 different cards for this blog hop and I had a hard time deciding which one to include today. If you want to see my other Verve creations come back later this week to check them out!

Thanks for hopping by! Now it's time to hop on over to Leslie’s blog, to see her beautiful Verve creation.


Stamps : Verve Plain Jane Scripture Verse
Paper : PTI Ocean Tides and Vintage Cream, TCP Studios Ancestry DP
Ink : VersaMagic Jumbo Java Chalk ink
Accessories : Spellbinders Label Die, SU! Cream Organdy Ribbon, EKSuccess Tiny butterfly punch, SU! Scallop Border punch