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Vintage Christmas

Hi friends!  I can't believe we're just a few days from December!  I loaded up my playlist with Christmas music yesterday and found myself a little overwhelmed with how fast this year has flown by... and at the same time seemed to stretch an eternity!  One crazy year, and the holiday season is about to make it even crazier!



My card for today uses the new Joyous Noel set. The layered poinsettia was left over from another stamping session a few weeks ago.  Katrina came up to my office the other day and saw it laying on some scrap paper and mentioned that it was really pretty, so I just had to make it into a card.  The papers are from the Joyeux Noel pack from Glitz and I stamped the sentiment on a Vintage Oval die cut, stamped with the coordinating Vintage Oval Frame.  Some brown paper bag matting, inked edges and a ribbon/jingle bell embellishment complete this quick little card.  That little border punch came in my Mixed Media kit from the Scarlet Lime a few months back and I just love it!

Hope you're having a great week!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Joyous Noel, Vintage Oval Frame (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Joyeux Noel (Glitz Designs), brown paper bag (Paper Accents), cream
Ink: Frayed Burlap, Black Soot (Ranger Distress), Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Accessories: Vintage Oval Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), jingle bells (Michael's), Stripes & Scallop Knock Outs border punch (American Crafts), seam binding ribbon, rhinestones

Forever and Always

Hi friends!  Happy Monday!  I so enjoyed the long weekend with family.  The boys are sitting up on their own now, enjoying their new bouncer and Trevor is pretty much talking non-stop, so things around our house are starting to get pretty fun.  They had a pretty rough start, but now that we've got the colic behind us, the acid reflux and digestive issues in check with medication and a couple teeth under our belt, they're pretty happy little dudes.  So thankful for that!


It's Monday again, and that means it's time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  This week is another one in my series of round or square sketches.  It's also the last day of Verve's Thanksgiving Sale and the last day of the pre-sale on the No Matter What preview set.  This set is only available during the sale, then it goes back off the shelf until its official release in January. {ETA:  No Matter What is now available!!} I've used it for my sample card, here.


The two sentiments on my card today were the inspiration I designed the No Matter What set around...  Forever and always, no matter what.  This phrase is exactly what I think of when I think of my husband, Mark, and it's taken on new meaning this past year through the seemingly endless months of caring for colicy twins.  So this is the card I'll be giving him for our 15th anniversary next month.  (It's okay that I'm posting it now, even though Mark reads my blog, because he'll totally forget about it by then!  LOL)

Anyhow, I used some Christmas papers from the Glitz Joyeux Noel pack for the panels.  I did some really cool background stamping with the small hearts in the set on kraft cardstock, but it got covered up when I laid down my panels.  So going to have to use the same background for a card where it takes center stage.  The heart cluster is stamped onto a punched circle, then I paper pieced the inner heart.  The forever and always sentiment is stamped in the corner and I added a little tag for the {no matter what} sentiment and finished off with some rhinestone accents and a chocolate brown seam binding bow.  Oh, and that metal photo corner is actually copper and I colored with copics then distressed with a little Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain.  Love how it turned out.  Finished up with a whole lot of distressed edges and my finished card size is 4.25" square so it will fit in a regular card envelope.
 
Enabler's List:
Stamps:  No Matter What (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Joyeux Noel (Glitz Designs), Early Espresso, Kraft (SU!), Cream
Ink: Walnut Stain, Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain (Ranger Distress), Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple (SU!), Copics
Accessories:  Circle punches (SU!), rhinestones (Hero Arts), metal photo corner (WRMK), seam binding ribbon, paper distresser (Tonic)


Thanksgiving

Hi friends!  Just a little pop-in with a public service announcement about Verve's Thanksgiving Sale.  It's going on through Monday, and we've marked down most of our autumn, winter and love-themed sets, plus there's even a brand new set you can buy this weekend only!  After that it's not going to be available until it's official release in January 2013!  I'm totally the kind of gal who wants to open presents way early, so I love getting my hands on something before its officially out!  {grin}


Thanksgiving Sale

Well, that's all from me today.  We've been enjoying time with family and our little munchkins, laughing up a storm at their antics and especially at the face Trevor has started pulling when we get the camera out...




Hope that made you smile and that you have a fantastic rest of the weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by today! Check back on Monday for a new Mojo Monday sketch and you just might see that new No Matter What set in action!

Circular Birthday

Hi friends!  it's Mojo Monday on a Tuesday here at my house this week.  I wanted to play along with Carole's sketch this week, but this is the first time I've had to stamp in I can't remember how long.  I'm needing a few birthday cards in the near future and so that's where I started with this one.


The sketch is Mojo Monday 268 and I decided to pair the wreath from Holiday Greetings with the happy birthday sentiment from Small Celebrations.  I colored the wreath with Copics, highlighted with Frosted Lace stickles and sponged the inside with Pumice Stone ink and hand trimmed.  It's layered on some papers from the SnapLife collection by Simple Stories and I added a fun little flower and some ruffled ribbon and liquid pearls for accent.  The main layer is embossed with the SU! chevron folder and I added a hint of distressing, because I could.  {grin}

Well, I've got lots to do this week, but I wanted to pop in and change up the scenery here on the blog.  Hope you're having a fabulous week!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Holiday Greetings, Small Celebrations (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Snap Life (Simple Stories), white
Ink: black soot, pumice stone (Ranger distress), Copic markers
Accessories:  Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Chevron embossing folder (SU!) ribbon (Hobby Lobby), flower (Prima), paper distresser (Tonic), white opal liquid pearls, frosted lace stickles (Ranger)

Wonderful

Hi friends!  It's Monday morning again, and that means it's time for the next Mojo Monday sketch.  This week's sketch was based on this card I made for Verve's holiday release.


The stamps are from the Joyous Noel set.  I stamped the two sizes of poinsettias three times each in Raspberry Ripple, then colored with a Copic, cut out and layered together on dimensionals.  The scripture is also from the Joyous Noel set and I added a Pennant Trim Die border to the side using foil tape that I die cut then dry embossed and layered onto black cardstock.  I accented with twine, tulle, pearls and the cream layers are embossed with the Fancy Fan folder from SU!

I've got a busy week ahead, so not a lot of time for chitchat.  I hope you get a chance to play along with us at Mojo Monday this week!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Joyous Noel (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Cream, Black, Foil Tape (Ranger)
Ink: Raspberry Ripple (SU!), black
Accessories: Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Cherry cobbler tulle, Fancy Fan embossing folder (SU!), shiny silver pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), twine, clear detail embossing powder, paper distresser

Glory

Hi friends!  Happy Tuesday!  I'm popping in with a really quick CAS Christmas card using the new Joyous Noel set.




I embossed the Glory to the newborn king sentiment from Joyous Noel in silver on Midnight Muse.  Next I cut the flared cross from the Cross Die Set (on sale this month) out of foil tape and embossed with the square lattice embossing folder.  The midnight muse panel is embossed with the same folder, then I distressed the edges, added a little silver ribbon and a few scored lines on my card base and I was done.  Easy peasy and so elegant. Mark and I had a December wedding, and navy and silver were our colors.  I just love them together.

If you missed  my Diva Inspiration Hop post click here, There's a chance to win Verve's entire new release, so it's worth checking out!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a fantastic day!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Joyous Noel (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Midnight Muse (SU!), White
Ink: Versamark
Accessories:  Cross Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), silver ribbon, Square lattice embossing folder (SU!), Scor-pal, foil tape and silver fine detail embossing powder (Ranger), paper distresser (Tonic)

Nostalgic Mojo Diva Hop!

Hi friends!  It's the first Monday of the month, which means it's time for a Mojo Monday contest with prizes!  Woohoo!  And since it's also the 5th of the month, it's time for a Diva Inspirations Hop!  Double woohoo!!



So I mentioned PRIZES!  Yep, play along with the Mojo sketch challenge this week, for a chance to win a Verve stamps set of your choice!  We'll have one winner for every 50 entries, up to a max of 7 winners, so I hope you can find a little time to get your Mojo on this week!  Especially since Verve just released brand new sets on Friday night and there are some fabulous new holiday stamps to choose from!

There's a big ole prize for the Diva Inspirations Hop, too!  Hop around to the diva blog posts linked below and leave a comment at each stop for a chance to win the entire new release from Verve!  Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details.

About my card:  As you may have noticed, I went a little skewed with my panels (just for you Marisa!).  LOL  Actually, when I went to glue down the bottom layer, I dropped the panel and it stuck and I couldn't get it back up, so I just went with it!  For the Diva Inspirations Hop, I mixed a little old with a little new for this fun nostalgic Christmas card.  The tree and the sentiment are from the brand new Holiday Greetings set and I paired them with the present border from our previously released Borderline set.  The presents and the tree are both paper pieced using the same prints of City Sidewalks DP and I colored the garland and bows with some Spica glitter pens.  I finished by ruffling a little glittery black twill and adding a fun little bow.

Okay, now it's time to hop on down the divasphere to the next blog on the list...  Sankari!!!


1. Betty7. Susan
2. Jen d.8. Andrea
3. Jen T.9. Charmaine
4. Julee10. Janelle
5. Sankari11. Maureen
6. Sony12. Teresa


Holiday GreetingsBorderline
Holiday GreetingsBorderline

Enabler's List:
Stamps:Holiday Greetings, Borderline (Verve Stamps)
Paper: City Sidewalks (Pink Paislee), Black, Cream
Ink: Black, Spica glitter pens
Accessories:  Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), glittery black twill

Merry Saturday

Hi friends! Happy Saturday!  I'm popping in with a really quick card using the new Merry & Bright set from Verve.  All the stamps we've been previewing this week are now available in the Verve store!  Woohoo!


For some reason I've been really drawn to white lately.  Stark white.  A few years back I remember desperately trying to find some Christmas designer papers that used cream instead of white, and now it's the opposite.  Everything has that vintage look.  So I decided to see what I could do with just white cardstock for a change.  This is another of those really mailable layouts.  I couldn't resist and added a little extra dimension with the snowflake, but that could easily be kept flat.  The final card size is 4.25" square, so it fits in a standard A2 envelope.

The white panel is embossed with an SU! embossing folder and I stamped the title sentiment from the set in black in the corner.  The medium snowflake from the set is stamped in Patina, then colored in with a Tumbled Glass distress marker and cut out and matted with the Joyful Blooms Die Set.  A black knotted bow keeps things classy, but still flat and I finished with a teeny tiny rhinestone in the center of the snowflake.  I could see doing a whole set of these and just changing up the color of the snowflake with some unexpectedly bright and bold colors.

Well, there's lots to do this morning, including feeding my ravenous little boys, so I'll just leave you with the enabler's list.  Be sure to check out the store to see all the new products!



Enabler's List: 
Stamps: Merry & Bright (Verve Stamps)
Paper: White, Black (SU!)
Ink: Black, Patina (Mix'd Media), Tumbled Glass (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Joyful Blooms Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), wrinkled ribbon (May Arts), clear embossing powder (Judikins), snowflake embossing folder (SU!), rhinestone

Day 4 Holiday Hop

Hi friends!  It's time for the final day of Verve's Holiday 2012 Spotlight Hops!  We'll be revealing the new sets and counting down to the time when the sets go live on our website tonight.  So hop on by the party thread anytime between 9-11 Eastern tonight and say hi!

I'm starting this shindig off right here, so grab another cup of joe (and mix in a little peppermint if you're feeling festive) and hop along to see the first sneaks at a new set called Holiday Greetings. Once again we've picked a mystery blog from today's hop and hidden a prize! So be sure to give a little shout out in the comment section as you hop around to each blog on the list. We'll draw a random winner from all of the comments on the mystery blog to win today's featured stamps. Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines.



My mission for this card was a simple mailable layout.  I love the bells & whistles and end up hand delivering or including most of my cards in packages, but there are a few international recipients on my list and bulky cards just end up destroyed by the time they make it overseas.  So, this is what I came up with.  I had fun layering the tiers of the tree by stamping the tree twice on Simple Stories paper then cutting every other tier and layering it so it has a dimension look but still lies flat.  The star is stamped directly onto a Kaisercraft journaling tag. and I colored it in with a bit of gold liquid pearls.

The snowflake is stamped as a background to the sentiment in Antique Linen ink and then I embossed the Christmas Greetings sentiment over the top with Fired Brink ink.  It's cut and matted using the Scalloped Flowers Die Set.  More of that vintage paper made it onto this card and I finished off with a bit of diagonal striped ribbon. I also cut and sealed my ribbon with the fantastic new i-magi-cut Ribbon Cutter from Imaginisce.  I picked one up at the Inspiration Boutique last weekend and it's just amazing!  A simple thing, but frayed edges on ribbon have always made me a little batty!

Time to click on down the road and see what everyone else did with this fun new set!  Next up on the hop is Laurie!  Have fun and I hope to see you tonight!


1. Julee6. Amber
2. Laurie7. Amy
3. Maureen8. Andrea
4. Teresa9. Charmaine
5. Tosh10. Janelle




Enabler's List:
Stamps: Holiday Greetings (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Handmade Holiday (Simple Stories), cardstock  (WorldWyn), vintage papers
Ink: Antique Linen, Black Soot, Fired Brick (Ranger Distress)
Accessories:  Scalloped Flowers Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), ribbon, gold liquid pearls (Ranger), Journaling Tags (Kaisercraft), paper distresser (Tonic)

Day 3 Holiday Hop

Hi friends!  It's time for Day 3 of Verve's Holiday 2012 Spotlight Hops!

I'm the first stop on today's hop, so grab another cup of joe (or whatever strikes your fancy) and hop along to see the first sneaks at a new set called Joyous Noel and the Joy to the World Plain JaneOh, and by the by... we've picked a mystery blog from today's hop and hidden a prize! So be sure to give a little shout out in the comment section as you hop around to each blog on the list. We'll draw a random winner from all of the comments on the mystery blog to win today's featured stamps. Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines.


For my card I had those brown paper packages tied up with string on my mind.  The poinsettia image from Joyous Noel comes with or without leaves, so I used both stamps to do a bit of fun layering here.  Loved the stark contrast of the red on cream, so I left the flower uncolored.  The poinsettia with leaves is layered below and stamped on peeled paint cardstock.  I layered this on top of a scrap of burlap, then cut the Sweet Scallop Die out of some of the vintage papers I got at the Inspiration Boutique and stamped the title sentiment from Joyous Noel directly on the tag.  A bit of ribbon, some embossing folders and a fun little layer of cherry cobbler tulle finish this shabby chic country Christmas card off in style.

Time to click on down the road and see what everyone else did with this fun new set!  Next up on the hop is Laurie!  Have fun!

1. Julee6. Amber
2. Laurie7. Amy
3. Maureen8. Andrea
4. Teresa9. Charmaine
5. Tosh10. Janelle
  
  

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Joyous Noel (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Distress Papers (Tim Holtz), Cream, vintage papers
Ink: Truffle, Schoolhouse (Mix'd Media Inkz), Peeled Paint, Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)
Accessories:  Sweet Scallop Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), ribbon (Hobby Lobby), cherry cobbler tulle (SU!), burlap, fairy dust glitter, paper distresser (Tonic), shiny gold pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty)