viva la verve

Happy Monday!!  To make up for lost stamping time, I spent most of this weekend working with sketch layouts for the Viva La Verve challenges.  Since I was late getting last week's done, I decided that I would just do weeks 1 & 2 at once.  So, sit back, relax and enjoy!

These were the two sketches I was working with:

 

And here are my takes on the first two sketches for February.



VLVFeb2011 - Week 1



Details: 

Paper:  damask print (SU), aqua mist (PTI), solar white (Neenah)

Stamps:  Kind Words (Verve), Fancy Flourishes (PTI)

Ink:  VersaMark

Other:  white seam binding (Hug Snug), C3 (Copic), silver EP (AC), large circles (Nesties), limitless layers (PTI)

 

VLVFeb2011 - Week 2



Details:

Paper:  rustic cream & enchanted evening (PTI),

dictionary print (SU), cork (unknown)

Stamps:  Upsy Daisy (SU), Butterfly Dreams (PTI)

Ink:  new sprout, rhubarb & london fog (Memento), tea dye duo (PTI)

Other:  book print impression plate, butterfly dreams, & notebook die (PTI), baker's twine

A big thanks to the ladies at Verve for two great sketches.  I can't wait to see what they have in store for week three. 

And an even bigger thanks to you all for dropping by.  I love having company and reading your comments really makes my day.  {{hugs}}

Have a blessed day.

Free ... is good!

The only thing better than PTI stuff, is free PTI stuff, right?  I don't own any of the Papertrey tag stamp sets, but I think that's gonna change soon.  They are so much fun to use on cards.  This card uses the same tag Nichole used on her post today.  I love the way it printed on matte photo paper.  Just enough of a shimmer to make it look really, really good in real life.

Details: (all PTI unless otherwise noted)

Cardstock:  white (Neenah), crumb cake & turquoise (SU)

Patterned Paper:  kraft print (BasicGrey)

Stamps:  everyday button bits, friendship jar

Ink:  tuxedo black (Memento)

Dies:  friendship jar, banner borders, & limitless layers dies

Other:  autumn & holiday vintage mix buttons, twine (unknown)

This has been a fantastic crafty weekend for me.  I should forget to bring work home more often.  Be sure to drop by this week as I've got a lot of things to share.  Hope you all had an equally great weekend!

See you soon.

let it snow ...

FINALLY!!  Our school board declared it's first snow day since 1999 yesterday.  And I was thrilled.  Granted, I would've been happier if they'd announced it before I had left for work, but, better late than never.  I took advantage of a found 6 hours to get my craft room a little more organized and to get my fingers a little inkier than usual.  My mom's birthday is next week, so I decided that my stamping task du jour was to finish a card for her.  I know that she saves every card we give her.  I mean.  Every.  Single.  Card.  So, this was definitely more labour intensive that most of my crafty creations.

I have a personal aversion to the colour purple, but in honour of her birthstone, amethyst, I went with a regal theme.  On the way home from work on Monday, I had stopped at Michael's on impulse and found these really cool fleur-de-lys embellishments from Jolee's Boutique on sale which were my inspiration.  I also was dying to try out my new Decorative Doily die and to make some wrinkled ribbons.  

I made a bit of an oops on the inside so I had to do a quick fix which turned out pretty okay, if I do say so myself.  All in all, I am thrilled with the finished product. The ribbon was so easy (I coloured it with a copic) but I need to figure out a better way to make bows and froo-froo thingies with it.  So, now that the card's taken care of , I just need to think of a gift for a mom who always says, "don't get me anything" when you ask her what she wants, or needs.  Any suggestions?

See you all later.   

Details: 

Paper:  purple (Core-dinations), chocolate (Bazzill), Rustic Cream & Happy Spots (PTI), Solar White (Neenah), bronze glitter paper (unknown)

Stamps:  Happy Birthday (PTI), inside sentiment (SU)

Ink:  brown, purples (Memento), tea dye duo (PTI)

Dies:  circles (Spellbinders), decorative doily (MFT), medium scallop border (PTI)

Other:  seam binding (white-Hug Snug), RV12 (Copic), fleur-de-lys (Jolee's)

Friendship Swap

Oh.  My.  Dear.  Was I ever totally spoiled me.  After a bleah day at work and the "worst blizzard of the century's coming your way" reports we've been getting all day, finding my giftie in the mailbox was a treat.  Fortunately, my camera was charged and ready to capture every wonderful thing inside.  So, settle in and prepare to have your jaw drop a little further with each passing pic:

First, I opened a standard USPS mailing box to see this:

Love the heartsy tissue paper. 

Which revealed a treasure trove of all things sweet and pink:

An altered paint tin of Hershey Nuggets. 

 

A cupcake notepad, custom cover, and matching pen.



A cutesy pot-holder (which is truly too cute to use) and ...

A beautiful, handmade card and note inside.

Audrey, thank you so much for everything.  This totally made my day.  I'm humbled by the time, effort, and thought you put into making this gift so special.  Pink.  Cupcakes.  Tiny Treats.  It's got your signature all over it.  I love it!!  You are an amazing crafter & a great online friend.  {{hugs}}

Blessings!