Exciting News!!

A NEW sketch challenge is coming your way....starting next Friday!!! Yep, it's the brainstorm of the one and only Kim Teasdale!! You can check it out here....and how do I know....'cause I have ways....I'm a Secret, Special Agent.  Ha...so So secret that I had an invisible post!!! When I received Kim's e-mail asking ME to be on the team, I thought it was a whole mistaken identity thing!!!! Would love to do it but, just askin' am I the right Vickie??? I was... WhoooHooo!

This is all about fun and the Mission is to be Inspired. There are some fabulously talented girls on this team!! If you're like me, I LOVE to have a sketch to guide me when I start making a card.... and we have some fabulous ones coming!!! First sketch is next Friday, Feb. 3rd... Lots of inspiration and lots of Fun!!

Hope to see you then!!

Viva La Verve... XOXO

Last Friday's Verve sketch was made by Diva Teresa and it definitely was one I loved.... along with some new Verve goodies to play with!! AM in LOVE with the Hearts/Wings combo that Julee created... Wings of Love!! And, of course this is one of my fav color combos!!

My card...

Stamped sentiments from Wings of Love on a Maya Road Kraft Note/Envie and added some hearts from Verve's Wings of Love. The Swirly heart was stamped and die cut with Verve's A Cut Above Die...Wavy Hearts. The winged heart was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black onto SU whisper white cardstock and fussy cut... die cut another heart from Wavy Hearts and paper pieced on top. XOXO is from Verve's Tag Time stamped on a flag from MFT's First Place Award Ribbon Stamp/Die set {love these as I'm not the perfect fussy cutter!}. BG needed something so I stamped a little on the paper with the Memento Tuxedo ink pad... kinda looks like a BG stamp?? Added some pearls from Judy at Pizzazzaplenty... there it is!!

The sketch...

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!! Tomorrow's Friday... phew... made it through another week... that counts, you know!!

The Journey...

Is Its Own Reward. Waltzingmouse sketch-- WMSC81-- is fabulous again this week {love these things!!} There's still time to participate, you have until Friday at noon EST. You must use at least one WMS image on your card and use the sketch--- weekly random draw for a free WMS stamp set-- doesn't get any better than that!!

Started out with a totally different idea and then, I wanted to use these papers from Authentique "Journey". Pretty bright/bold colors. Decided that WMS Asian Garden Additions would work well {and, works with my New Years resolution to ink up stamps that have been sitting} and away I went. Die cut a labels 18 in early espresso and whisper white. Embossed the whisper white and cut out to layer. Added an image from WMS Vintage Labels 18 {ADORE the WMS nestie compatible stamps!!}. Stamped the images from Asian Additions onto white with early espresso and taken with teal and fussy cut. Layered onto the labels 18 die cuts and popped one image. Added some crinkled seam binding from Etsy, a SU early espresso grosgrain ribbon, and that wonderful lace from Wild Orchid Crafts. Everything {just about anywho} is popped with foam dots from jodymorrow {confessionsofaribbonaddict.com}.

Here's the sketch...

Wonderful sketch!!

Okay guys, it's hump day and getting closer to Friday and stampin' all weekend long {or, at least, I hope so!!}

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Correction....

Bloom and Grow!!

One of my fav Verve stamps (honestly there many favs) Bloom & Grow. Worked perfectly for me for the CR84FN48 challenge to use light pink- yellow- neutral (my choice was SU's crumbcake) and went a little shabby for this card. Also, played in the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.

Cardstock is SU crumbcake with some MME Lost and Found Market Street on top. Stitched and distressed with TH Antique Linen/SU distresser and a little tearing by hand. Added some Wild Orchid Crafts lace that I tea dyed a while back. Large flower is a mistable that I distressed with the TH Antique Linen Distress ink.. loppy flowers were made with Lil Inkers loppy bloom die using MFT felt. Sentiment is from Verve's Bloom & Grow set stamped in  SU soft suede and heat embossed with clear.

Here's the inspiration....

And the fabulous colors that totally fit the inspiration pic... (in my humble little mind anyway!!)

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Today I have been a cooking... potato soup, bean salad, roast, noodles, salsa ( my youngest DD's fav) and DH is boiling peanuts!?!? Recipe from Southern Living....we'll see!!

PS... yes the lace should have been moved a little over to the right... acting like a leftie??

Call To Me... Verve week Two

Verve weekly sketch challenges are back.... had this laid out and didn't have a chance to finish until tonight. Sketch is Diva Andrea's and I even stayed true (rounded corners on the middle panel- not sure why those rounded corners throw me off ??).

Sentiment is a Verve Plain Jane.. Jeremiah 33:3 stamped on a Verve Classy Label die and layered onto a Verve Rounded rectangle die on top of an oval nestie. Used Bo Bunny Gabrielle papers. That butterfly  was die cut with Verve's flutterby die in dp and vellum and layered... added some rhinestones from Pizzazaplenty on top. The flourishes are felt and from my stash. Found a new product (well, at least new to me!!) Frantage Shabby Blue embossing enamel... with white, brown, and blue flakes in it. Stamped with one of SU's Itty Bitty bg's in versamark in the upper and lower right corners and heat embossed the shabby blue... gives a different texture effect with some shiny...gotta love that!!

Here's Andrea's sketch

Verve hosts weekly sketch challenges in their SCS forum here. Play along each week and you could be the one who wins--there is some Verve on the table, girls!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

A WMS Thanks to You!!

Yep... another WMS weekly sketch challenge card... Used some "bold" colors and made a BOLD card!! Made me smile!!

This is a fabulous sketch (aren't they always!!) Authentique Papers.. Gathering (bought these on a little field trip with my Sis when she was here before  the wedding... we made use of time that day... 'cause all heck broke loose after that, Lisa--ykwim). Image is from Waltzingmouse Stamps Vintage Labels 18-stamped in early espresso (SU) onto white cardstock, sentiment is from WMS Fancy Phrases in tangerine tango (read today this was the "new" color for Spring,,, so now I'm a fashionista (chuckle... not sure I spelled the word correctly!!) Added the bold ribbon/ resin flower thingie!! Resin flower is from Pizzazzaplenty... Judy has lots of bling and diddies at very reasonable prices!!

Here's the sketch...

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Tomorrow nite is the new son-in-laws B-Day party!! We're going bowling... real life...not the Wii... love the Wii bowling but, I'm thinking I'll have to use the muscles a little bit more!!

Thank You!!

This week's colors at the Play Date Cafe, PDCC114, are burgundy, gold, and plum!! The plum had my "tiny" brain thinking a bit. Not a big purple person, although, this combination of colors is fabulous and I have seen several cards in blog land using them that were gorgeous.... just a little challenge for me!! Along with my recent quest to use the stamps I purchased pre-wedding (weddings can know your socks off!!)-- I used the PTI set Harvest Berries along with a Verve sentiment from Dream Big (love Julee's fonts- very elegant if I say so myself!!)

The largest harvest berry was stamped in SU cherry cobbler onto a white bg, stamped the next smallest berry onto another piece of white and cut out with the coordinating die-used a versamark pen and gold embossing poweder on the stems-popped on top with foam dots. Pulled the edges up a little to give dimension. Sentiment is stamped in elegant eggplant (definitely the purple business- basic cardstock is also elegant eggplant- two purples in there, LOL!!) Added a bow with SU cherry cobbler seam binding and SU antique brad in gold.

The colors

I'm so glad to back in more of a routine of stampin'. Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Monday Night Post. MFT weekly sketch challenge!!

Thought I was going to change my habits and post this last night but, didn't happen!! Here's my card for the weekly sketch challenge by MFT!! Still inking stamps in my arsenal (those that have never seen ink!!). One of my New Year's resolutions... along with learning how to use copics better (esp the hair thing!!)

Used an older stamp set "Flapper Doodles.. I Love Us!" I don't think MFT carries this line any longer but, remember my New Year's Resolution?? Also, used some older My Minds Eye dp... Be Loved (hoarded this a little)!!

The sketch...

Hope you're having a great Monday and getting a little inky when you can!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Vervey Birthday Wishes!!

Viva la Verve is back after taking a break over the holidays. You can find all the information here. Played a little yesterday and made a card for the first sketch by Diva Amber. Used some images from Verve's Making A Statement that hadn't seen any ink!!

Sentiment was stamped in early espresso onto a circle nestie and popped on top of another circle nestie. Added that adorable little bird and just colored his/her wing. Flowers were made with Verve's Loopy Flowers A Cut Above Die and layered with a SU button on top. You can find the set and die here.Added a little twine. A bright and cheery card... wishing for warmer weather!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Just Clowning Around!!

Still on my mission to use/ink the stamps I purchased in the fall and with my DD's wedding never got to play with!! This card is for The Cats Pajamas weekly challenge-#192 to emboss... heat or dry. Used the sketch this week from Splitcoast.

Background DP is Cosmo Cricket Social Club and I embossed with the SU textile folder. Stamped the TCP Clowin' Around image in memento tuxedo black, colored with copics, paper pieced the car- after embossing with the swiss dots CB folder- and popped on top. Added a fabric brad and SU corduroy brad with some divine twine (also from TCP) and a sentiment flag!!

The sketch

Having a wonderful weekend??? I hope so!! Mine has been full of relaxing and stampin!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

It's A Good Day!!

Love this bike and sentiment. It's an Unity Itty Bitty Stamp. Played in the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World (haven't had a chance to play for a while)!! Here's my card and the Trigger...

Used a cuttlebug embossing folder that I have had for a while. Added little strips of scraps for color (great way to use up those thin strips). Stamped a lines/dots image from Verve (Making A Statement) on the kraft paper and the Unity Tricycle on top. Popped everything on foam dots (Jody Morrow.... confessionsofaribbonaddict). Added buttons from my stash with a little divine twine from The Cats Pajamas and sentiment is stamped on a banner from My Favorite Things's First Place Award Ribbon/die set.

Here's the gorgeous quilt....

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Happy Thursday and how about a spot of TEA?

Okay... confessions here!! I LOVE this WMS tea set and I LOVE teacups and... my DH and sister LOVE tea but, I am a BIG coffee drinker!! Anyway... I made a card for this week's WMS sketch challenge...



This is sketch 79 and used the colors from the CR84FN color challenge; medium blue, orange and yellow. Wasn't sure I could make these colors work but, was determined to do it!! Teacup was stamped in SU early espresso onto white cardstock and colored with copics. Added a little glitter to the inside and lower right corner... older teacups are shiny, you know. Popped the image on top of a circle nestie that was stamped with WMS Vintage Circles Small (Claire at WMS has an abundace of sets that are nestabilitie compatible!!) Sentiment was stamped on Authentique Journey dp and heat embossed with clear. Added some SU pompom trim, white bow with Websters Pages sparkler, TEA tag sentiment on SU tiny tag die tied off with divine twine from The Cats Pajamas and added a little stitching. The gingham background in daffodil delight is from WMS Gingham & Co.

Here's the sketch and colors...

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Friends of a feather HOOT together!!

Squeezed in a card for the weekly MFT sketch challenge. Used a set I have had for a while (New Year's resolution.... to use the "treasures" I have bought!!) Also, used colors from the Play Date Cafe Color Challenge-113...Juniper, Mint, Vanilla.

My sis (two sis's and a niece) and I did a bunch of hooting together over the holidays!! Tried the "out of the box" nesties tutorial... maybe I should've picked an easier stamp or maybe I just need a little practice-- but, these little owls have been in my stash for a while and needed to see some ink. Colored with copics and popped on circle nesties. Papers are from Memory Box. Added some twill and a few Kaisercraft pearls along with some stitching/distressing.

The sketch...

The colors...

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!

Treasures --
Stamps: Owls and Bluebells (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla (Stampin Up), Patterned papers (Memory Box)
Ink: Early Espresso (Stampin Up), Antique Linen (Distress Inks- Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Circle dies (Nestabilities), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Twill ( My Favorite Things--- in the stash a while), Distressing Tool (Stampin Up), Pop foam dots (Jody Morrow... "confessions of a ribbon addict"-- on a side note-- that girl is a collector of all things stampin, "just sayin'"

Idols!!

You Rock My World!! Ha.... lovin' these rockin' penquins from The Cats Pajamas... set is called "Idols". They have been in my stash for a while and it was about time I got them inky!! Honestly this set has Elvis and Beatles hair, a Michael Jackson glove... and what keeps running through my mind is... "Let's Get It On" a song by Marvin Gaye recorded at Hitsville, USA in the 70's....?

For the TCP Tuesday challenge 191 - you can find it here (just scroll down a little but, feast your eyes on the new sets coming next week while you're scrolling) on Alma's blog from Jen del Muro.... went with the colors (obviously) of kraft, black, white, red) but, it is posted with a little "love"!!

Here's the inspiration photo-

Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!! Hope you're having a wonderful start to the weekend... I am so far!!

Take Care!!

Squeezed in this card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge before I went to see family in Indiana for the Holidays but, didn't have a chance to take pics and post!! Not only did we have the holidays but, we've been having a little troubles with appliances here... just throws a glitch in things!! Freezer went out but, it "played" with us a bit before we knew it was definitely on the blink and now we have a toilet leaking but, plumbers are on the way tomorrow!! It's the one that connects to the master bedroom (our room is on the ground floor) and it can be a challenge to remember we have to use the 1/2 bath for now!! WAS that too much TMI!!?? Sorry!!

Anywho, here's my card

Used some Authentique papers- distressed and stitched a little. Added a Sizzix Primitive Star die embossed with the coordinating embossing folder (came in the mail in December and was itching to use!!). This sketch was perfect!! Added some ribbon, bell, divine twine ( from the The Cats Pajamas) combo in the corner. Sentiment is from WMS Say It Loud. 

Here's the sketch

Hope the New Year is going well!! Thanks for stopping by!! Appreciate all the kind words!!