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Peace for Tomorrow

Hi friends!  It's Monday morning and that means it's time for a brand new sketch over at Mojo Monday.  And since it's the last Monday of the month, it's tall & skinny week.  My card measures 3.5" x 5.5" and I kept it pretty simple, as I just wanted it to speak peace to the recipient.



The stamps are all from the Each Day set.  I started by stamping the cross in soft sky on a petite oval die cut and then stamping over it with the do not worry sentiment in black.  I matted this on a black petite scallop oval and added some black liquid pearls as accent.  The butterfly is embossed in white on soft sky, then hand trimmed and accented with some small rhinestones.  I took a scrap of soft sky that was embossed with the chicken coop embossing folder, cut it in half and added it as my vertical strips, then embossed the flourish stamp in white on the black and added a couple rounded corners and a teeny rhinestone to finish things off.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you have a week filled with peace, comfort and all the good things in life that money can't buy.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Each Day (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft sky, basic black (SU!), white
Ink: soft sky (SU!), black, Versamark
Accessories:  Petite Classic & Scallop Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white embossing powder (JudiKins), Chicken Coop embossing folder (Cuttlebug), bling (Studio G), corner rounder, liquid pearls

Smile For the Fun of It

Hi friends!  Happy Wednesday!  Today I'm sharing that card I made just for fun when I should have been making a Mojo Monday card last weekend.  This one was a lot of fun and I was inspired by the Curtain Call Farm Fresh inspiration photo.  The deadline to link up was yesterday, so you might have seen this in my Splitcoast gallery already.  ;-)


I stamped a whole lot with that distressed polka image from Better Together.  I totally love it.  The yellow is honey distress ink, the red is real red and midnight muse for the blue.  The blue scrap already had the star cutouts from using it previously with the Starry Die, so I went with that.  I wanted an eclectic feel, so added the butterfly from Each Day (also stamped with the distressed polka dots), the Better Together sentiment on a Vintage Oval die cut, then added a wood cut arrow, some lace, flowers, star sequins, rhinestones and glitter to my heart's content.  So fun and refreshing to spend a sunny afternoon stamping just for the fun of it!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together, Each Day (Verve Stamps)
Paper: midnight muse, crumb crake (SU!), cream
Ink: real red, midnight muse (SU!), wild honey distress ink (Ranger)
Accessories:  Starry Die, Vintage Oval Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), wood cuts (Freckled Fawn), paper flowers, star sequins, rhinestones, glitter, lace trim

Wishing Mojo

Hi friends!  I'm here today with a late sample for this week's Mojo Monday 338 sketch.  Instead of stamping what I was supposed to this weekend, I stamped just for the fun of it, sure that I'd have more time later to make a card for Mojo Monday.  Best laid plans, right?


So, I had to sneak away from my giant mental to do list yesterday afternoon and make a super quick card with the sketch.  My concept for the card was clean & graphic and it came together so quickly. The sentiment is from the new Better Together sentiment and I also used the distressed polka background from that set on the Award Banner Trim and the balloons from Chevron Love.  I sketched in the strings for the balloons around the sentiment and then picked out some paper that I thought would be fun as a backdrop.  Super sparkly sequins accent my border trim and I finished with a little liquid pearls framing the circle element.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together, Chevron Love (Verve)
Paper: Lucky Charm (Dear Lizzy American Crafts), basic gray (SU!), white
Ink: black, basic gray, Copic markers
Accessories:  Award Banner Trim Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), liquid pearls, sparkly sequins

Smiles

Hi friends!  Happy Friday! This week has flown by.  The twins have stepped it up a notch in their defiance, stubbornness and just down right being two-ness.  And in the words of our nanny, "I didn't even know there was another level they could step their game up to!!!"  Crazy times at our house.

Well, it is Friday and that means it's time for a new sketch over at Viva la Verve!  This week is also inspiration week and Anya has picked a lovely spring flowers photo.  I had every intention of making a bright springy card with lots of flowers.  But somehow the grey cloud that has flown in over my mood lately seeped into my card and I ended up with just a pop of spring against a sea of grey.

My card uses the new Better Together set paired with the older Making a Statement set.  I ended up flipping the sketch to accommodate the sentiment, which is stamped on a Rounded Rectangle Die cut from blushing bride and stamped with the polka dot background from Better Together.  The scalloped frame is stamped in Strawberry Slush and cut with the coordinating Rounded Scallop Frame Die Set.  All of the dp is from an old Authentique collection and I used a paper piercer to do a little faux stitching on my diagonal section.  The flowers are stamped with the Making a Statement set and cut with the coordinating Loopy Blooms Die Set.  I finished off with some twine, pearls and liquid pearls.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'm hoping you have a fabulous weekend!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together, Making a Statement (Verve)
Paper: Uncommon (Authentique), strawberry slush, blushing bride, basic gray (SU!)
Ink: blushing bride, strawberry slush, basic gray (SU!), black
Accessories: Rounded Rectangle Die, Rounded Scallop Frame Die Set, Loopy Blooms Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), classic & scalloped circles nestabilities (Spellbinders), pearls, hemptique twine, liquid pearls, paper piercer

Sham-ROCKED

Hi friends!  Happy Tuesday!  I'm popping in today with my card for this week's Viva la Verve March Week 2 sketch.  With the kiddos being sick, I didn't get a chance to post this on Friday and it was a very special card for our St. Patrick's Day Diva, Maureen!


I paired a sentiment from the brand new Better Together set with the Lucky You set to make this Sham-rocking card.  Moe not only loves shamrocks, but doilies are totally her thing, so I had to use one for the circle on this sketch.  I made my five horizontal layers from varying shades of green cardstock, punching each one with a border punch and stamping the polka dot background strip above it.  The shamrocks from Lucky You are stamped in Wild Wasabi, cut with the coordinating Shamrock Die Set and then coated with glossy accents and sprinkled with glitter.  I accented things with a ton of sequins and teeny tiny bling and finished off with a seam binding bow.

Well, the kiddos are feeling better than last week, but they are DEFINITELY two... and letting everybody know about it!  Hyper... assertive... PICKY... determined.... always whining (in stereo)... and in a constant state of motion. I. am. so. exhausted.  {grin}  Hoping a nice trip to Target (which just happens to be near Dutch Bros. Coffee) today will keep them entertained and mama sane.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together, Lucky You (Verve)
Paper: kiwi kiss, lucky limeade, old olive, pear pizazz, wild wasabi, basic gray (SU!)
Ink: kiwi kiss, lucky limeade, old olive, pear pizazz, wild wasabi (SU!)
Accessories: Shamrock Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection (Verve), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Daisy Scallop Border Punch (EK Success), paper doily, sequins (Avery Elle), teeny bling, liquid pearls, glossy accents, dazzling diamonds

Coffee is Better Together

Hi friends!  It's Mojo time again!  This week's Mojo Monday sketch is a fun one from Teresa.  I've skewed things a bit for my sample card, but the inspiration is still there!


I pulled out the brand new Better Together set that released over the weekend.  The title sentiment for this set makes me think of coffee.  Probably because coffee always tastes better when someone else is drinking it with you!  So I decided the chevron mugs from Holiday Treats would pair perfectly with the chevron element in this set.

The coffee cups from Holiday Treats are stamped in peach parfait and pool party and cut with the coordinating Cup of Cheer Die Set.  I stamped the polka dot background from Better Together on just about everything, stamping it one way in pool party on the sentiment panel and the other way in peach parfait for a fun layered effect.  Next I stamped the chevron image across some of my panels.  The better together sentiment is stamped in black and embossed to help it stand out and I accented with some hemp twine, rhinestones and liquid pearls.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hope you have a fabulous start to your week!

Mojo 337
Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together, Holiday Treats (Verve Stamps)
Paper: pool party, peach parfait, smoky slate, basic gray (SU!)
Ink: peach party, pool party, smoky slate
Accessories:  Cup of Cheer Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), circle punches and antique brad (SU!), hemp twine (Hemptique), liquid pearls (Ranger), bling, brushed pewter metallic distress stain, Dot Matrix Texture Fades (Tim Holtz)

Better Together Blog Hop

Hi friends!  Today Verve is releasing a brand new set called Better Together, filled with bold and graphic sentiments and some distressed washi inspired elements and backgrounds.  Hop around to the blogs on the list at the bottom of this post and leave a little comment love for a chance to win a $40 gift voucher to Verve's online store!  Ready? Set.  Hop!



I needed a masculine birthday card for my brother, so that's the direction I went with my card.  I started by embossing the big distressed polka dot background in white on kraft going lengthwise and then horizontally across my panel.  Next I offset just a bit and stamped in crumb cake both directions and then embossed that with clear embossing powder to really make the offset stand out. The sentiment from Better Together is stamped in early espresso and then embossed in clear, then I added the chevron washi type stamp to the top and bottom edges in old olive.  For embellishment I wrapped some hemp twine around the panel, tied in a bow and then added some darling small and large sequin stars from Pretty Pink Posh.  I finished off with a bunch of distressing, dry embossing the old olive panel with the dot matrix folder and then stamping the distressed background from Better Together around the edges of my card base and sponging early espresso on every layer.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Next up on the hop is Amber.
Hop List:
1. Julee (ME)
2. Amber
3. Andrea
4. Charmaine
5. Christyne
6. Janelle
7. Jen
8. Laurie
9. Marisa
10. Maureen
11. Stacey
12. Teresa

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together (Verve)
Paper: crumb cake, old olive (SU!)
Ink: crumb cake, old olive, early espresso (SU!)
Accessories:  hemp twine (Hemptique), star sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), dot matrix texture fades (Sizzix), paper distresser (Tonic), clear and white embossing powder (JudiKins)

Sneaky Mojo

Hi friends!  It's Monday again {already} and time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  I pulled out a brand new set that is releasing from Verve this Saturday, March 15 to give it a little sneaky peek test drive. {grin}

The papers are from the Crate Paper Style Board Collection, and the stamped sentiment from the soon-to-be-released Better Together set. I cut the Floral Circles Die Set from the text paper and then stamped with the distressed polka dot background strip from Better Together using blushing bride ink.  I snipped each flower for a fringe look, then sponged the edges with blushing bride and layered on dimensionals.  Not sure you can really tell in the picture, but I also stamped the polka dot background on the text paper in the background using soft sky ink.  The leaves on the flower are cut from basic gray paper using the Loopy Blooms Die Set, then I added a little Flourished Trim die cut to the top and bottom and accented with silver liquid pearls.  My finishing touch was 3 super sparkly sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  These are so super sparkly gorgeous in real life... love, love, love!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous start to your week!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Better Together (Verve)
Paper: Style Board (Crate Paper), basic gray (SU!)
Ink: blushing bride, soft sky (SU!), black
Accessories:  Flourished Trim Die,  Floral Circles Die SetLoopy Blooms Die Set (A Cut above by VERVE), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), light silver liquid pearls (Ranger), sparkling clear 4mm sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)


Chocolate Ones

Hi friends!  Happy Friday!  It's the first Friday of the month and that means I'm up over on the VLV Sketches blog with a sketch + color challenge.


For my card, I pulled out the Chocolate Bunnies and Borderline sets.  (These same images used on my card are available as limited editions individually for a great price, while supplies last!)  I stamped directly onto crumb cake cardstock with early espresso ink and then colored with Prismacolors and gamsol.  The Best of All sentiment is embossed in white onto an early espresso petite oval die cut.  I distressed things a bit with some watered down white paint, antique linen distress stain, brushed corduroy distress ink and a distressing tool.  Last, but not least, I added some white gel pen accents to the stamped chevrons and the doodled egg patterns.


Alrighty, got to go.  The boys' 2nd birthday party is tomorrow and I have lots to finish up!  Be sure to head on over to VLV and play along with this week's sketch, color challenge or both, if you're feeling really sassy!  {grin}

Bunny & EggsBest of AllBorders Galore
Bunny & EggsBest of AllBorders Galore


Enabler's List
Stamps: Chocolate Bunnies, Borderline (Verve Stamps)
Paper: crumb cake, early espresso (SU!)
Ink: early espresso (SU!), Versamark, prismacolor pencils, brushed corduroy, antique linen (Ranger)
Accessories:  Petite Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white embossing powder, white paint, white gel pen, distressing tool

Happy Spring and a HOP

Hi friends!  It's the 5th of the month and that means it's time for our monthly Diva Inspirations Hop! This month we've got a fabulous challenge that's sure to put a string in your step! So in addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!  I'm smack dab in the middle of the hop, so you probably came here from Tiffany's, but if not, the whole list is at the bottom of the post for you to continue on!



My card for the challenge is all about the soft subtleness of spring.  I started with pink, yellow & aqua in my head, then glanced at a brand new paper pad I just picked up and saw the same colors in this yummy watercolored design that I stamped the sentiment from Easter Joy on.  I wanted to add in some softness with vellum to match that yummy background in the inspiration pic, so sewed a chicken wire embossed piece of vellum to the blushing bride layer.  The butterfly from Easter Joy is stamped on barely banana then covered with a layer of vellum.  I stamped the butterfly again onto designer paper and cut just the butterfly wings and body out and popped up over the vellum.  Some lace and a paper doily add to daintiness of the card, then I added some Pastel Sequin Mix  randomly and flicked on some watered down gesso.

Our March challenge is Spring Has Sprung:


It's time to ditch the winter blues! Create a card that sings Spring using inspirational quotes, pretty colors and florals or themes that celebrate new life. Whether you draw inspiration from the graphic or blaze your own trail, just show us what spring means to you!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines.

Next up on the hop is Teresa!

1. Amy 11. Teresa
2. Anya 12. Stacey
3. Betty 13. Marisa
4. Karen 14. Laurie
5. Sankari 15. Maureen
6. Sarah 16. Jen
7. Sony 17. Christyne
8. Susan 18. Charmaine
9. Tiffany 19. Andrea
10. Julee

If you haven't checked it out already, Verve is having a sale on all stamps & dies this month, plus we've added a bunch of stamps to our retired list at a great savings!



Enabler's List
Stamps: Easter Joy (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Style Board (Crate Paper), blushing bride, barely banana (SU!)
Ink: black, white gesso
Accessories: Pastel Sequin Mix (Verve), circle punches, classic circles nestabilities (Spellbinders), chicken wire embossing folder (Cuttlebug), lace trim, paper doily

Birthday Bloom

Hi friends!  Can you believe it's already March!  The boys turn 2 on Sunday, and while the years have flown, the days and nights have drug on endlessly.  LOL  Anyhow, we tired the boys out at the park this weekend, so I was able to get a little weekend stamping in and actually have a Mojo Monday card ready on Monday morning for the first time in several weeks.  Woohoo!  The month is off to a great start!


It's the first Monday of the month, and that means it is contest time over at Mojo Monday.  Play along with our sketch this week for your chance to win some Verve of your very own!  My card started with a left over die cut and colored flower from my Viva la Verve! card last week.  The flower and sentiment are from the Amazing Wishes and the flower is cut with one of the dies in the Joyful Blooms Die Set.  I added some greenery using the Elegant Leaves Die Set and the coordinating stamp from Bloom & Grow, then added a little detail with a white colored pencil on the leaves.  The papers are from the Lucky Charm collection and I rounded all the corners, added some Swiss Dot embossing, then went a little crazy with some linen thread.  Just a hint of bling at the end with some glossy glaze, glitter and a random sparkly embellishment.

With a new month, there's a new sale over at Verve!  All stamps & dies are 20% off, plus we've got a whole new list of stamps we're retiring at 50% off to make room for new lovelies.


Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope this fine March day finds you happy, healthy and ready to create!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Amazing Wishes, Bloom & Grow (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Lucky Charm (American Crafts), white, sage shadow (SU!)
Ink: black, sage shadow (SU!), copic markers
Accessories:  Joyful Blooms Die Set, Elegant Leaves Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), linen thread, Swiss Dots embossing folder, glitter, glossy glaze, sparkly gem