Jumping

Well with every intention of posting a card this morning, instead I'm posting last night's events!

Just wanted to test to see if this works.

 If it does, this was Zeus and I - and as usual, despite my worst efforts, he jumped everything like a superstar.

Busy little Viva

Well this is the infamous "Do you like it?" *pause before answer* card =) MrP thinks it's too busy for his preference. What do you think? Background too much? Be honest! I'm giving it to them anyways because it matches the wrapping paper I used for the gifts, but it is a little busy for me, too (although I'll never admit that to MrP lest he expect me to stop harassing him about his brutal honesty).

My cousin is due in May, so I'm hoping to get some more use out of this awesome set that I just adore! Next up will be the elephant, I think. This time around, I went with the monkey because one of the gifts is a canvas bin with a monkey on it. Too cute!

Tonight I've got my riding lesson with Zeus and tomorrow, week four of my half marathon clinic. It's going well - but we'll start getting into our Sunday longer distances soon and I hope I don't crater!

What have you been up to this spring? Do you have any upcoming plans for vacation? I told MrP I'd be happy flying out to NYC for my five days off at my birthday but Westjet doesn't fly to Newark until May 1st, so we'll have an open house style party on the 30th to celebrate with friends. Can't wait! I'm still hoping to get in on the Okanagan Half Marathon as an excuse to get back to Kelowna in October...we shall see =) As it's our five year anniversary then, our usual trip would be to Banff for a non-vacation year.

Anyways, I'm hoping to play with this sketch again - as well as the latest sketch. Viva La Verve, baby!

A Little Last Minute Mojo!

Today, I had the goal of completing the Mojo 185 sketch and at least one Viva La Verve Challenge after my 9K run with my running group. I actually did it, too! LOL Mind you, MrP thinks is too busy for his preference, so I plan to redo the VLV card but I'll post it tomorrow anyways and give it a retry. It is pretty busy (and I appreciate his honesty).

Anyways, onto the Mojo sketch, which as always is a beauty. I just picked up a martha Stewart edge puncher so I had to give it a go (as well as some ribbon that was on sale at Michael's last week and my latest SU! stamp purchase from my enabler friend Chelsey)

The sentiment is from Verve's Birthday Bash - one of my go to birthday sets.

The color combo I went with was a modification of a SCS challenge - I used Pink Pirouette, Purely Pomegranate, Basic Gray and Whisper White. I've never been much of a pink fan, but I've always loved the combination of pink & grey.

I haven't been around much lately with the crazy busy life that I lead (and all the shopping I've been doing, restocking my wardrobe for my big 3-0 in two weeks), but I hope you're all well and I will be getting a little more active on the blog...I had far too much fun making cards today - and I'm hosting Wednesday's Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge with some Easter fun!

Get your Diva on with a little Viva!

Well just for my friend I thought could use a little pep talk, I pulled this card together. I used the Viva La Verve March 2011 Week 2 Sketch and I think it worked out pretty well. The embossing on the sahara Sand panel is Stars and it added a nice dimension to a rather simple & unadorned card. I wanted the color to really pop - because I also took the Get Your Diva On March Challenge =) What color to better represent spring than green?! (Although you wouldn't know it with the week of ongoing snow we've been receiving)

We had a fun evening of supper (Yep - I made it - no ordering in for me!), followed by facials and visiting. Gotta love the friends you're comfortable seeing you in your 'naked face'...and I do think she's awesome! Along with the card, I gave her a box of chocolate covered strawberries - because what day doesn't improve with chocolate dipped fruit?! LOL
Tomorrow - more new Verve is released....I'm off to blog hop!

Have a fabulous Thursday! Thanks for stopping by =)

Stamps: Verve Blue SkiesPaper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Going Grey, Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi

Ink: Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Ribbon, Half Pearls, Button, Thread, Embossing Folder

Bonibleaux Designs meets VLV

With MrP leaving for Vegas for a week on Sunday, I had to make him a little reminder of just how much I love him. I love tucking in a card and some snacks into his laptop bag, which I know he always carries onto the plane, so I used this cute Youth Football from Dude Time Doodles and colored him in Packer colors. I then used the VLV Week 4 sketch to produce this layout. It's hard to see the embossed stars on the yellow panel, but they're a nice bit of texture. I wish I'd added some chocolate chip satin ribbon underneat the yellow so it stood out, but alas....it's already made it's way into his bag and into his hands! =)

On the inside I thought it'd be funny to put "Be a Bears fan?"

I just loved our Christmas time trip to Green Bay and it was extra special to see the first game of the Packers 6 game streak to win the Superbowl. With no NFL in the near future, I was a little crushed by the idea of not seeing my Patriots as my 30th birthday draws near and I thought it was a shoo-in for a gift idea. Alas, at least I know there's a roadbike waiting for me on the 24th of April!

While I'm certainly no marker master, I would love to get my paws on some copics to see if I could develop the amazing coloring skills some of my sisters have. Check them out over at the Sisterhood of Crafters! Some of Boni's super cute images are featured this week.

Have a wonderful day. I think I'm going to Spin tonight and then having a friend over for some facial spoiling and Glee something entertaining that isn't reruns...c'mon sweeps...get started!!

Meet my new stamps, Mojo!

Well happy Tuesday to you! Today, I wanted to share a card I made last night for a coworker with a new baby girl. I was so happy and inspired by my latest Verve order that arrived last week...it included To The Moon, which may just be (in my opinion) the sweetest baby set of all time. I checked out Monday's latest Mojo sketch 183 and figured I could make it work so I set out on this card that came together rather quickly.

With a base of So Saffron, I pulled out some Bella Birds paper that I don't believe had ever seen use and matted on Perfect Plum. The Pink Pirouette paper received a little swiss dots embossing love and some recycled ribbon (although I can't remember where it actually came from) was just what the Rubbish doctor ordered =)

MrP is in Vegas for a conference right now, so I've been left to my own devices, but I'm happy to report that I'm not yet starving =) He's the cook in the house, so he wasn't sure I'd make it a week without speed dialing for meals every day. LOL! I happily informed him I am a going to be 30 in a month and it would be embarassing if I couldn't keep myself sustained.  In fact, I've decided after my half marathon clinic (which starts tonight), I'm going to make Pioneer Woman's Meatballs for a supper & freezing. I hate meatballs, but this recipe....oh my goodness!

Speaking of running, I finished my 10K on Sunday with my second slowest time ever...but the fact that I didn't fall on my face like the half dozen people I saw (and even more that I heard about) made it a success for me. Hopefully the weather gets better so we can enjoy our runs. Last night, Zeus and I were paired again for my riding lesson (first time since before Christmas) and had a great time. I think I'm going to use him for the Cross Country/Dressage clinic I'm taking next Wednesday. Yay!

Anyways, I should get to work....but have a fabulous Tuesday.

And to my amazing friend who received some incredibly harsh work news yesterday, I love you...keep your chin up, my friend!

Stamps: Verve To The Moon
Paper: Bella Birds, So Saffron, Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Ribbon, Scallop Punch, Circle Punch, Swiss Dots EF, Button, Silver String, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sakura Gel Pen

Irish Wish for a Friend

This week we're celebrating St. Patrick's Day at the Sisterhood of Crafters...and while I discovered I don't have ANY irish-themed stamps, I did my best and found "A Wish For A Friend" on this website that I thought would work to make a cute card.

The Viva La Verve March Week 1 sketch provided a good starting place and some old designer series paper from SU worked well for the different papers in the same family.

The sentiment says:

Wishing you a rainbow

For sunlight after showers
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours

Shamrocks at your doorway

For luck and laughter too,

And a host of friends that never ends

Each day your whole life through!

I think it's a great one and I hope to use it again. Join us over at the Sisterhood and show us your Irish best =)

Sorry I haven't been around much - life's been throwing me a few curveballs in the spare time department, but it should be getting less crazy soon, I hope. Until then, keep fit & have fun (oh my goodness - I had a Body Break moment....from back in the day. You know you're Canadian if you have any idea what I'm talking about - thank you Hal Johnson & Joanne McLeod! =) )