Verve Visual Update

Sadly, I didn't win. How fun that would have been, but I guess there's always a next time. Thanks for crossing your fingers for me.

I'm working on some other projects that I'll get pictures of and post soon.

Verve Visual Sketch Challenge

I'm biting my nails! I am posting this card to enter the Verve Visual sketch challenge. The prize is being a guest stamper. I think that would be sooo cool!! Tell me what you think!

I thought the most gracious part of this contest/challenge is that using Verve Visual stamps weren't a requirement. I don't own any of these stamps, in fact, I'd only heard of the company a couple of days ago when I stumbled onto the sketch. To be honest, I was really in search of my challenge to present in August for the new group I just joined. I found this very cool sketch and decided to give it a go (with much encouragement from my sister).

I used Very Vanilla as my base, decorative paper by Tres Jolie, stamps are Michaels $1 stamps and the ink is Palette. Oh, the sentiment is Papertrey.

Cross your fingers for me!

How 'bout a double shot!

I have two projects to share with you today. This second project is my card for the monthly card swap. It was Laurie's turn to host (well not really, she had to step in) and she sent the coolest decorative paper. I also decided I would try a Splitcoast Challenge card map. This is what I came up with. I hope you like it!

As you can see, this card features Flowahbella by Stamping Bella. I used Papertrey's white cardstock for my base, Brocade Blue (the best blue!) to mat my paper and my image. I colored the Bella with my Stampin' Up! markers. I found the bling at Wal-Mart and it's original intention is to decorate cell phones, mp3 players, etc., but it had sticky stuff on it and I liked it! The sentiment is from my new Papertrey Ink set Mixed Messages. It's a little hard to see in this picture, but it says "With Appreciation" and I really like the simple touch it added to the card. I hope Laurie is pleased with what I did with her choices in paper and image.

In Love with Papertrey Ink

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. I'm trying to stay warm. The day started out OK, but it's gotten cloudy and cold.

Here is my second ATC submission for dcorder's ATC swaps. I did finally tell her that I joined a couple of her swaps.

I used my new Papertrey Ink stamp set Out on a Limb and I absolutely love this set. I had met a lady several months ago who is a fellow SCSer. She had asked me if I had seen Papertrey stamps and I said yes, but I they really didn't do much for me. Can you believe I actually said this!!? OMGosh, that can't be further from the truth now. Nichole Heady is my idol!! I love this set, I can't wait to buy more! I am so addicted that it kills me to get on her site and actually exercise restraint!!! And this saying in the set is just the best: To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world. Josephine Billings - Is that not just the best thing to have someone say to you, besides "I love you" and have that meant from the very bottom of their soul?

I had already decided that I would use Cameo Coral before the set even arrived in the mailbox. When I sat down to make my ATC and knew I would need ribbon. I reached down into my big bag of ribbon stash and out came this satin ribbon that matched Cameo Coral perfectly!!! I was so excited. I also used Burnt Sienna Palette ink for the branch. I am sooo impressed by this ink that I ordered more. What great color that stands up! I hope dcorder likes what I've made!

I'm still here and in the mood for love!

Hi All,

I know, it's been a loooong time since I've posted. I haven't had anyone yell at me to give me a kickstart!

I have to say, I am soooo happy the holidays are over. My house is back to normal and very happy that with packing up the Christmas decorations, it also got my hubby motivated to clean up the garage! It's been a huge mess since we moved 7 months ago. Crazy. So, now we can actually fit a car into the garage - not that we do.

OK, I've been busy with getting some swaps cleared off my white board. I am happy to report, it's a plain white board again. I am hosting two monthly card swaps, I've made a couple of other things for swaps but one of my resolutions this year is to not sign up for a swap unless the project is already made. So I haven't told dcorder that I am joining her Hugs & Kisses swap, but I have made a pretty ATC for it. I'm also going to join her PaperTrey Ink ATC swap, too, but I have to wait for the stamps arrive. OK so this the ATC I made for the Hugs & Kisses swap.

I started with a Pale Plum base. I used my new Forever My Love stamps by See D's for the sentiment and the corner adornments. Using the scallop punch from SU! I punched out of the beautiful paper that I can't remember the name of the pack, but it coordinates with the Carte Postale stamp set. Anyway, sooo romantic. I've been hoarding it since I got it, so it was time I got into it. Then I stamped the circle with my PaperTrey Ink circles border stamp and topped with a prima flower and brad.

I used my husband's camera, it's a bit better of a picture, but the colors aren't represented well. But it is really pretty, if I say so myself. This was a stretch for me anyway, since I am not one for Valentine's day. But I love romance and that's what this little ATC shouts out for me.

On Vacation

Hi Everyone,

I do hope that everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. My kids sure did!! We had a great time yesterday with family and friends. We ended the day with a movie... the new National Treasure movie. Absolutely loved it!

I'm on vacation this week so I have high hopes to get some cards done and some swaps done and maybe some samples for my LSS. I am now on the Design Team for my LSS and I am so thankful for that and am looking forward to teaching classes!!

Anyway, so today I successfully stay in my pajamas all day! Whooo-hooo!!! I have wanted a pajama day for a long time now. I sat down and only managed to get a couple of cards made. I was perusing the pages of the new Stampin' Up! catalog (love it!) and I saw the cutest card in there and just had to make it. Of course, I didn't have the decorative paper on hand that was used in the sample, so I used some this yummy Tres Jolie paper I had picked up awhile back when my friend and I went to Recollections. I'm sure you've seen the paper before. But this is the card. I hope you like it!

As you can see, Santa didn't bring me a new camera for Christmas. Oh well, maybe some other time. OK the card... I used SU! Be Happy stamp set, apricot appeal & very vanilla card stock, Adorable Paisley and "Baby" (Boy) Clover Tres Jolie paper by My Minds Eye, mellow moss and apricot appeal stampin' pads, ivory ribbon and SU! scallop punch. The one in the catalog is really cute and I liked my take on the sample, too. I hope you do, too.

I love Christmas!

I found these questions on Toni's blog (Moved to the Mountains) and thought I'd post them here to share.

Colored lights or white lights on your house or not at all? No, can't get hubby to do it.

Hot chocolate or Egg Nog? Oh, both!

What's your favorite holiday dish? Tamales!

Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps them.

Do you hang mistletoe? No.

When do you put up your decorations? The weekend following Thanksgiving, or the weekend after that.

What's your favorite holiday tradition? I don't think I have one.

What's on the top of your tree? A beautiful lighted Angel.

Do you have a nativity displayed through the holidays? Yes - it's crystal.

Candy Canes, traditional or flavored? Or Chocolate Covered Cherries? Traditional candy canes. Don't like chocolate covered cherries, too sweet.

What's your favorite holiday goodie to make and share? Handmade cards and orange-cranberry bread. I love to make Banana Nut roll, but it's too time consuming.

What's your favorite Christmas song? I have so many, but I think my top 5 are: I Want a Hippotamus for Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock (Jimmy somebody), Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano), The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole), and a song by the Carpenters that I don't know what it's called. Oh! One more... Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives). Yes, I love the old ones!!!

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, we open one gift.

Is there a special ornament or Christmas decoration that you wouldn't feel like Christmas without? Hmmm - I guess it would have to be the ornaments my sister has given me.

Do you take neighbor gifts/treats to anyone, everyone, a select few? A select few of neighbors.

Is your big meal on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning or Christmas afternoon? I guess Christmas afternoon. But what I would give to have one more Christmas morning at Grandma & Grandpa's house!

How do you decorate your tree? Hubby and the kids do it. I hand out the ornaments. And we listen to Nat King Cole.

Snow? Love it? Dread it? Tolerate it? Love it for the first one, tolerate it after that, dread the ice storms.

Do you remember a favorite gift? My most favorite gift was a blow dryer my sister gave me when I was young.

Do you have a family get-together during the holidays with extended family? Yes, my in-laws.

What's the most important thing that you must do each Christmas season? Drive around to see the "pretty lights."

Do you bake Christmas cookies? Sometimes.

Do you leave cookies and milk for Santa? Yes

Share a favorite Christmas memory. Going to Grandma & Grandpa's house. All the kids running around having a great time. Tons and tons of family all over the place and Grandma's cooking!