Two more for the set!

These were AVS203 and AVS204 for the Verve AnniVERVEsary sketches, which will be combined with the two from yesterday and tomorrow's two for my six card set for my aunt's birthday.


Stamps: Sincere Salutations
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Twill Ribbon, Nestabilities, Scallop Edge Punch

I also used the Birthday card for two of the challenges, one being a birthday card and the other to use stitching - faux or real. This is faux to the max. I don't even own a sewing machine. I just admire others who can actually use one and do it well on crafts!


Stamps: All Year Cheer I
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Twill Ribbon, Nestabilities

My 10K actually went really well and all that worrying was for nothing, as they had package pick up when I arrived, so I got my shirt, timing chip, number and had about five minutes to calm down. I stuck with one of the pace bunnies and survived, which was especially nice, all things considered!

At supper, we celebrated MrP's Grandma's 75th birthday. She's quite a wonderful woman and she's got a lot of changes coming up (including moving from the city she's lived in for the last 50 years), so it's nice to see someone embracing change like she does.

AnniVERVEsary Sketches

First of all, Auntie Kathy, if you're reading this.....STOP NOW! Or be warned that you're about to see your birthday gift (well, part of it anyways)!

The two cards I want to share today were part of the AnniVERVEsary sketches in celebration of Verve's Second year of business. It's hard to believe it's been that short of a time since Julee started up this amazing company because their stamps (especially the sentiments) are out of this world. If you aren't already a frequenter of Julee's blog, head over here - she's amazing, has the world's best sponging and every day I wish to be like Julee!

Stamps: All Year Cheer I
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Brides Flowers, Brad, Nestabilities

Stamps: Gina K Elegant Flowers
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Nestabilities, Brads, Circle Punch

Wanna know what else I learned yesterday?

I need a better method of taking pictures. I've prepared MrP for a visit to Michael's in search of an OTTLite. I'm hoping this will help for days like today when it's raining and I can't get my creations outside to take natural light pictures. My desk lamp has a daylight bulb, but it's not nearly enough and my stuff always seems to be so dark & dingy. Maybe it's just the photographer!?!

Off to hopefully survive my first 10K in almost a month. LOL Fingers crossed! Mild complication - I forgot to pick up my race package, so let's hope someone can help me out this morning.

TGIF!

It's Friday - and you know what that means....Bellarific Friday over at Stamping Bella!

This week's sketch had me wanting to create (which sketch doesn't inspire me to do something), so here's what I came up with. After the week I've had, I feel like I should be a Cosmobella!




Stamps: Cosmobella
Paper: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa DSP
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Twill Ribbon, Brushed Bronze Brads, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Techniques: Gamsol Magic

I just love playing along every week - and I even placed another order on Wednesday with my $20 voucher from a few weeks back. Yay for new stuff on the way.

Speaking of new stuff, I've been putting off playing along with the Verve AnniVERVEsary sketches, hoping my new supplies would arrive, but no luck so far. I guess I'll be making due with what I've got this morning. Yep - a Friday off - I'm hoping to use it to stamp & rest since I have a 10K run on Saturday that'll be trying, I'm sure. I'm also meeting up with my friend Peggy at Paperworks Co for some stuff that I've been dreaming of for a little while now and had to wait for stock to arrive. Patience is not my best quality when it comes to crafting! Can you relate?!

Check out the Verve Release party tonight HERE!

I Love Puns!

I have a problem. I love puns and I can't stop buying them. Luckily, I can honestly say I didn't purchase this one =)
(Thanks, Chels!)



Stamps: Comfort Food
Paper: Ski Slope DSP, Sage Shadow, Really Rust, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Really Rust
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Chocolate Chip Ribbon

I'm really trying to use my patterned paper, but it's a real struggle to use more than one pattern for me. I thought I'd try using multiple patterns from the same collection, but I ended up ripping this card apart once already. I'm sure my Grandma will love anything, but what do you think? Too many patterns? (BE HONEST!) Do you have difficulties with 'the patterns'?

Give this Mojo sketch a try to get your juices flowing!

Let me put this out there

I'm sorry, Chelsey. I failed you.

**for my card today, scroll to the below post**

But in my defense, the farmer's market failed us. Or at least the vendor I chose did.

You see, on Saturday, I made the trek from my home in the 'hood to the north to pick up my bestest buddy and make our way to the St. Albert farmer's market, where I decided to pick up some blackberries (along with the piles of fruit, veggies & baked goods I also snagged). Well, she'd never had a blackberry, always a little frightened by their odd appearance. Having learned that I'd inspired her to try pluots, I told her to go ahead & try a blackberry from my tray before the man bagged them up for me. She thought it was good enough to pick up her own tray, so we both shared the discount of multiple purchases.

Well, I just finished eating some and I must say, what a disappointment. They were brutal. Honestly, bitter little things that made me pucker and squint my eyes. I like supporting local growers, but I've had blackberries that were much better from Costco. Yep. I said it. I've had better produce mass produced and trucked in. I'm sorry. I'll sit in the corner now. I just had to get that off my chest...and apologize for what are probably some barely edible little buggers.

(thanks wikipedia for the photo)

Who loves Martinis?

This week, Jen's Sketch For You To Try was another great challenge and I thought the size of my cute House Mouse image from Susie would be perfect...


Turns out, I think I was right =)


Stamps: House Mouse
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, White Ribbon, Scallop Punch, White Signo Gel Pen, Sakura Gel Pen

And, as it turns out I might have something in common with a rodent afterall. Although I much prefer my martinis olive-less and more of a candy flavor - like the resident martini in our house - a chocolate martini. A little creme de cacao, a little grey goose and you can call me Al!
Why is it that when I'm looking for a name, that one always pops into my head, along with the song? Oh Paul Simon, I love you. And your fun songs. And drinking chocolate martinis while I dance to your songs.

*If you'll be my bodyguard
I can be your long lost pal
I can call you Betty
And Betty when you call me
You can call me Al*

Try to tell me you're not singing....
well this will get you going =)

Coloring My First Digi for SSSC30

I found a digital freebie image from Fred, She Said Digital Designs, colored it and used it to create my Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 30 card.

Stamps: Fred, She Said Digi Flower Pot
Paper: Summer Picnic DSP, Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, Whisper White
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, White Mini Brads, Dimensionals, Loop to Loop Rub Ons
Techniques: Gamsol Magic

I realize I'm more than a little biased, but I love how it turned out! The rub ons make it so easy to get your sentiment just right and the mini brads were so cute.

I have SO much patterned paper that I love, but I really struggle to use it on cards. My goal is to get some of it used so I can stock up on new stuff because I'm loving the new SU! In Colors.

I've got some new stamps on the way and I can't wait to get them...a little bit of Verve and some local ones - Renaissance by Design, which is apparently based a few hours south of us in Calgary. I hope the new stamps all get here soon - I've got a lot to do and I'd love the chance to use the new rubber =)

Oh yes - and I won the random contributor's $20 in Bellabucks for my Bellarific Friday contribution a week ago, so I'm off to Stamping Bella to check out their sweet new Lulu Collection!