Christamas Greetings!

Wow - It's been a while! To say I've been run off my feet wouldn't be far off from how I feel, but it also wouldn't be totally true. I've been lacking some crafting mojo in a big way (and now it's left me in a bind with the Christmas season upon us). Anyways, I'm hosting the Christmas Card with a Stamped Background Challenge over at The Sisterhood of Crafters and figured it would at least get me motivated to start stamping. :)

 

I used the Mojo Sketch 271 as my starting point for the Merry and bright card. The color combination is the current CR84FN Color Challenge #68 of Burgundy, Grey and Cream. The second card, Christmas Greetings, uses the Sweet Sunday Sketch #173 and the Dynamic Duos Challenge #32 of Rose Red and Pretty in Pink.

 

 

Both of the cards feature Verve stamps - Bright Spirits and Poinsettia Christmas.

I hope your holidays have been merry and bright. I just got back from a weekend spent as my Grandma's Christmas present, which I think she quite enjoyed. Last night, MrP and I took our winter sporting gear over to a local ski hill for the second trip to the hill this season. I must say, being back on my snowboard has been a blast! I can't wait to get out to Jasper in January with some friends.

Other than that, I've been beat down with a cold for a while now, hosted the Sixth Annual Treat Exchange to some fabulously delicious results, and have been trying to figure out how Christmas managed to yet again sneak up on me :)

Happy Birthday : Sisterhood Challenge

With some birthdays coming up and it being my turn to host the challenge over at The Sisterhood of Crafters, I figured I better get my butt in gear and pump out some cards :) Luckily, I had some Viva La Verve sketches to catch up on, so this was the result...

 

First up, Sept Week 1 {8/31/12}. I thought this would work perfectly for my sister in law's birthday early next month. The Rich Razzleberry and Baja Breeze worked beautifully together, I thought.

 

 

Next up was the Sept Week 4 {9/21/12} sketch. I went with the new Midnight Muse and some old paper that I think is Soft Sky?!

 

Finally, the Sep Week 3 {9/14/12} sketch in Real Red, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery & Wild Wasabi.

 

Dustin Pike of Doodle Dragon Studio is sponsoring this challenge, so be sure to head to The Sisterhood of Crafters for a chance to win :)

No Stamps Allowed : Sisterhood Challenge

Well this was a well needed challenge for me - one to get me to use up some of the HUGE pile of rub ons that I own, but never seem to use. I used some SU! designer series paper from last season, as well as some seam binding and a button. The sketch is Viva La Verve's September Week 2 sketch.

 

 

I loved how this card turned out despite having spent much more time than should have actually been required to get the mojo going again.

Head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to show us your stamp-free creation!

It's been busy for me around here (hence the lack of stamp time). I've got a 10K run this weekend (Terry Fox run), plus another 10K next Saturday and I finished my annual Cross Country Camp over the long weekend with my favorite lesson horse (had a total blast!). Now it's back to regularly scheduled horse jumping lessons, work and run training (maybe I'll sneak in a cycle or two if I can). The madness continues :) Have a great Wednesday!

 

 

 

Thank You : AnniVERVEsary Challenge

My final submission for the AnniVERVEsary challenges - Day Five's Anything But a Card. For my creation, I modified a Jacek Chocolate Couture six pack box to use as a gift box. I cut out and added a clear window with the Rounded Rectangle Die, then framed it with the Rounded Scallop Frame Die.

I inked up three different Joyful Blooms flowers and cut them out with the corresponding dies. I added some liquid pearls around the scalloped frame and in the flower stamen & pistils.

With a layer each of the Tiny Sweet Scallop Die Set and the tag & sentiment from Tag Time, as well as some twine to dangle my tag, it was complete! Now to find the perfect jewelry gift to sit atop the repurposed Verve stamp-wrap tissue. :)  What a great time I had completing these challenges. Thanks for hosting, ladies! I can't wait for the new release! Everything I've seen has been "must have", as always!

CAS Love Story : AnniVERVEsary Challenge

The fourth Anni-VERVE-sary Challenge was a Clean and Simple Card. I think CAS used to be my specialty...but now I absolutely suck at them. I really struggle not to overdo it now that I've got such a collection of papers, ribbons & embellishments. I did, however, keep this card pretty simple. I think I may use it as a reminder to MrP.

Last night I took out MrP with another of my work rotations. They're doing teambuilding events for each of the three rotations, followed by a supper where spouses are invited to join. MrP has now joined me for two of them and he joked around last night that he's not sure he likes me working here since I'm with so many attractive young men. I reminded him I'm the office's old lady and he's got nothing to worry about :) Besides that, I'm more in love with him now than the day we were married...almost six years ago!

Happy Birthday : AnniVERVEsary Sketch Challenge

The AnniVERVEsary Challenge for Day 3 was a sketch...and I'm always up for a great sketch. For this one, I used some old designer series paper and whipped up a card that I plan to use for an upcoming birthday. It should be pretty easy to mail, too, other than my ribbon knot! I had initially planned it as a masculine card and I think it works, but it turned out pretty gender neutral, I believe.

I had this Happy Birthday from Verve already stamped and cut out, so it was nice to be able to use a "leftover". It especially helps that it's one of my very favorite birthday sentiments - such a lovely plain jane stamp! I added some sponging to the dry embossed layer, some silver brads to the orange layer and wrapped it in ribbon...voila!

Anniversary Wishes in Silver : AnniVERVEsary Challenge

Day 2 of the AnniVERVEsary challenges was a must-do challenge since my superstar blog buddy Moe, and the tremendously talented Andrea, were hosting it. I would have loved to use wood on my card, too, but I honestly didn't have any. I'll have to remedy that - I would've loved some fun wood buttons on a card. Alas, I stuck with the silver elements and used silver paper, embossing powder and twine/thread/whatever that stretchy silver stuff is called.

I used the Mojo Monday sketch (#254) from last week for the layout and kept it pretty simple. I had yet to use the large love birds from my Verve set Love Story, so I embossed them in silver and cut them out with the corresponding Love Bird dies.

A little bling, some sheer ribbon, a button and I was done!

Onto my third challenge...

With Heartfelt Sympathy : A Sisterhood Challenge

We all know they're sometimes the toughest cards to make - sympathy cards. I always try to have a couple in my stash, but I just don't enjoy making them - mainly because I always feel so useless when someone else is suffering...and I hate that feeling.

I really needed to get a card made, too, since there's been some sad occasions lately that required them. I used some great Verve stamps (sentiment from New Mercies & leaf from Forever in our Hearts), as well as the opportunity to make another Center Step card (my new fave!). The colors were inspired by a Verve challenge to use brown, green & pink. The Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette and Mellow Moss worked well together, I thought, for a simple card to convey my sympathies.

The Sisters have some fabulous inspiration for you over at The Sisterhood of Crafters, so head over and show us your Sympathy creations for a chance to win a $10 voucher from Can You Digi It.

Sweet Birthday Wishes : A Center Step Card

HAPPY FRIDAY!

On our last craft date, Chelsey & I attempted a Center Step Card for the first time. I can assure you, it won't be the last. We both absolutely loved the non-traditional style of this card and it was easier than it looked to create the very cool fold. Add in the fact that we had the latest In Colors to work with, plus some new rubber and Voila!

My card used the fabulous new Raspberry Ripple, as well as some Taken with Teal and Costco paper pad prints that have been in my collection of paper literally forever. The lovely flower is from a SU! Set that was a recent special purchase with a minimum order which I unfortunately can't seem to find the name of. The text is from the fabulous Waltzingmouse Compact Sentiments set. I loved the effect of the fun Open Bracket Die-namic, even thought it seemed pretty fussy to work with at the time. I finished off the flower with some Clear Spica Glitter pen and a winner was born (at least in my mind). I wish I'd been smart enough to take photos at the time because Chelsey did a really lovely card with the new Midnight Muse, a little Bashful Blue & some retired SU! designer series Maine Blueberry paper.

Tonight my mom, MrP and I are taking my oldest niece to see Cirque du Soleil's Quidam. It's a surprise to her (as is the fact that she's getting a double date that includes Auntie, who is her favorite person for some crazy reason). Unfortunately, I looked into it after agreeing to go and didn't realize it's going to feature a bunch of clowns...which I don't love. I'm hoping the aerial works and such will keep me entertained enough to forgive the existance of the stupid clowns. I've never been a fan of circuses for that very reason, but I'm sure it'll be a fun time with a young one to watch oooh and aaaah. :)

Tomorrow, I'm going on a 75km bike ride, which I'm very excited for, as I haven't been on Beauty Bike since Monday. Thankfully, I did manage a couple of early morning runs this week, so I haven't felt too guilty about not riding. What can I say?! I have a problem! HAHA

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Tag!

Tag! You're It! This week's challenge at The Sisterhood of Crafters is Tags...coincidentally, Sketch #148 at the Just Us Girls Challenge and the ColorQ Challenge #149 also spoke to me to come up with this first creation...

The color combination of Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Certainly Celery and white certainly looked like a challenge, but I think I made it work with a little help from my new paper and some Verve stamps :)

My little tag fits perfectly into the little folder I created with the labelled panel from the JUGS sketch.

My second tag is going to be attached onto my niece's birthday gift. It features Verve's Wishful Elegance, Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Labels #10 and some liquid pearls to finish it off. Also, first use of my little grommets that have sat unused to this point!

This was my first attempt at making a couple of tags and I can see why they can become addictive :) I had used a tag or two on a card before, but never in a pouch like my blog buddy Moe has mastered, so I really wanted to give it a shot. I can't wait to try again.

Make your way over to The Sisterhood for some Tag fun and you could win a $10 voucher from Di's Digis!

 

Diamonds, Pearls & Lace, OH MY! : Sisterhood Challenge

The Sisterhood of Crafters' challenge this week is Diamonds, Pearls & Lace, OH MY! We're being sponsored by Bugaboo Digi Stamps this week, who are offering up seven free digis as the prize to the winner of the challenge :)

I used this hilarious Stella Peeker - Another Drink image, as well as the coordinating stamp for the inside (which of course, I forgot to get a photo of, but it says "Everyone needs to believe in something...and I do believe I need another drink"

I'm not much for traditional martinis with olives, but I definitely appreciate a good stiff drink (although the amaretto sour last night when MrP and I were out for supper pretty much pushed my sour tolerance to the max...I made a bitter face with every sip!)

The olive paper is a digital paper from AmberInk that I really loved. I glossed over the martini contents and base...and added my olive pearls, as well as some ribbon and a button with twine.

Check out what the rest of the Sisters have gotten up to here. I particularly love the bubbles Dar created when using this same image on a card :)

Sunday was a rocking good time at my third ever Tour de l'Alberta 100K bike ride. Great friends, great weather and fabulous cycling. Aside from a slow leak in my front tire that caused some issues in the last 15kms of the ride, it was a perfectly wonderful ride!

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful week!

Let's Hear It For The Boys : Sisterhood Challenge

Well this week, I'm hosting the Let's Hear It For The Boys Challenge over at The Sisterhood of Crafters. This week, we're celebrating the anniversary of Bonibleaux Designs with some Dude Time Doodles Images.

First up is my Mojo Monday 249 sketch created card using this sweet little youth football player :) I did it up in Seahawks colors for my brother in law (or maybe my nephew...we'll see!)

The second card uses C Bizkit, which I thought was just way too fun :) I used SU markers for these and oh boy....I need to get some coloring in or learn to leave them black & white like my friend Moe!

The background is a Waltzingmouse stamp that I was hoping would resemble the checkered jerseys of some jockeys...but I think it looks more like a picnic table cloth. HAHA

Finally, some flowers from my garage flower bed..larkspurs

Northern edge of bed's red lilies ready to bloom

Varigated lilies of the south edge of the flower bed

  

First two teeny little strawberries from my flower bed
(which I then got in trouble for eating since I didn't offer to share with MrP)

It's been toasty around here, as I'm sure most places have been. I went out for a 10K run with a friend yesterday that turned into a 5.5K run followed by a 5K walk back.

I'm a good Northwestern Canadian - I like about 25 degrees celcius as my 'high' temp....but I sure won't complain about this weather since it's so rare!

Anyways, I hope all is well with everyone and that you're keeping a nice, regulated temperature wherever you're at :)

Now head over to The Sisterhood of Crafters to show us your manly creations - and a chance at $10 in Bonibleaux Designs!