Mojo-licious

Yippee! Tuesday here in NZ means Mojo Monday, and another of Julee's awesome sketches. I decided to use my Cupcake Affair set - and break out the liquid Applique for the cupcake frosting, I think I just love watching it puff up!
I used papers from SU!'s Candy Lane, which seemed appropriate, and sponged + distressed all the layers. A bit of piercing, and lots of cardstock fluff later, I was done! This wasn't a quick card with all that sponging, but I love the simple symmetry of the layout.



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Cupcake Affair, Thoughtful Florals
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood Red
Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Red Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Paper: Candy Lane
Punches: Scallop Edge
Accessories: Liquid Applique, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Distressing Tool, Sponge Daubers, Piercing Tool, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! All stamps by Verve.

Muted Mojo

On Thursday evening I got a phone call that my Grandma, who is very unwell, had taken a turn for the worse. I needed something to take my mind off things a little, and checking the Mojo Monday Blog (which is new to me after my stamping holiday!) I found this amazing sketch by Julee. Anyone who has visited before knows how much I adore her sketches, they are quite simply the best out there.

So this is the result. At the time I thought this card was quite muted (possibly due to my mood!) but when I was photographing it today, I really started to like it. I think this might be the first time I've ever used Night of Navy on a card!
I used two Verve sets for this one, Beautiful You, and the image on the sentiment panel is from Abundant Blessings. I thought it matched the Granola paper by Basic Grey perfectly. The primas were sprayed with Creme de Chocolate glimmer mist to darken and mottle them.
I haven't stamped a sentiment inside yet, as I'm not sure what I'll use this card for. I'm sure I'll find the perfect one in my Verve collection though!

Happy Mother's Day everyone - I'll share my handmade gifts over the next week.



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Abundant Blessings, Beautiful You
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue
Card stock: Night of Navy
Paper: Granola by Basic Grey
Punches: Scallop Edge
Accessories: Primas, Glimmer Mist, True Thyme Ribbon, Granola Brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! Stamps by Verve.

Some Bunny Loves You!

When Verve released their new sets at the start of the month, I of course fell in love with them all. But most of all, I loved this uber cute little set, Some Bunny! It's a little bit goofy, but over the 11 years we've been together, I've made Shanan lots of little cross stitch samplers - one of his favourites was a little bunny I stitched from a magazine, and I stitched this exact sentiment underneath it. I know...we're SO sappy! But that's what you get with high school sweethearts!
So of course, the first card I made with this set has to be for him. I don't think this is TOO girly, I did debate the "ear ribbons" with myself....but I figure, I'm the some bunny...and I'm a girl...so the ribbons work, right?

The ribbons are from another new Verve set, Black Tie Birdies. After cutting them out I polka-dotted them with my white gel pen. I've had those brads in my stash forrrrrrrrrrrrrrever, it made me so happy to finally use some of them.

The sketch is from Julee's Mojo Monday #54. I used Kraft cardstock for the Verve Project Parade Challenge this month. The colour combo is from an old SCS challenge. Lastly, this is my entry for the Spoon Full of Sugar challenge...to use a "charming character" I think this bunny is ultra charming!

Wooohooos for the week:

• Spring cleaning...getting everything in it's place.
• Keeping my stamp room tidy - yippee!
• Getting my SENZ ticket all sorted, so excited for this!
• Coming up with my swap pin for SENZ (I went all cutesy on this)
• Not spending any money on craft supplies so far, a la SOS challenge!

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Some Bunny and Black Tie Birdies by Verve
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Card stock: Kraft, Soft Sky, Basic Black
Paper: Notebook DP
Punches: Threading Water and 1/2" Circle punches
Accessories: Brads I've long forgotten the maker of!, Cuttlebug, Spots and Dots Embossing Folder, Black Grosgrain, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Some supplies available from Stampin' Up!

So Thankful

I woke up nice and early this morning (8:30am is early on a Saturday!) and jumped right out of bed, because I knew I had the photos of the card I made yesterday morning all set and ready to go. So....here it is!
Can I just be not humble for a second and say.....I love this card! It's really outside of my comfort zone colour wise. I guess it's not THAT out there - but I think I usually tend towards using softer colours together. That said, I just scrolled back through my posts recently...and Verve must inspire me, most of my Verve cards are brighter than my usual work!

The sketch is from Julee's Mojo Monday 53. I've missed the last few weeks, so have a couple to catch up on (which is cool - it's nice to know they are there when I need a creative push!)

The papers are from the Basic Grey Sultry pack - as are the brads. Loooooooove this paper! The top piece is from Stampin' Up! in the Spring Break pack. It was fun to finally use some of the goodies I bought awhile ago, the paper, brads, Primas and Glimmermist (on the Primas) have all been sitting neglected!

All the stamps are by Verve. I used a mix of older, newer and newest sets on this one! I think that's why I love Verve so much, everything mixes and matches so well. Chloe had a question about Verve shipping to NZ - and I'm happy to report it's a really good deal Chloe! It's only $13 US for a flat rate priority envelope (you can fit lots of sets in the envie) and I usually get my order a week after it's posted (can I just say, that I've ordered from somewhere in NZ the day after a Verve order...and got my Verve order first - so it's not a long wait at all!) They now have online shopping for lots of countries including NZ too - love it!

I used a gorgeous Verve sentiment on the inside of this card too, so thought I'd show you - even if the Chocolate Chip has photographed black!

I also wanted to share one of the things I was so grateful for this week....this RAK from Mrs Frizz!

Aren't they prettttttty? She was so sweet to send me some Primas - I think she might be the queen of Primas! Mrs Frizz is also the queen of Basic Grey right now, head on over to see her gorgeous layout that made the Basic Grey gallery yesterday! Wooohooo!

Now, I'm obviously a bit head over heels for Primas at the moment. I bought my first pack, received a RAK and did a share with Kelly and Beverley all in the same week pretty much.....and I think Google Reader knows it!!! Here's the link that it recommended me yesterday....http://prima.typepad.com/prima/2008/09/the-sidewalk--1.html Primas! in kit form! on THE day Janine and I start our SOS challenge! Cruel right? I thought so!

Although I might be going mad all ready (I think Janine might blog on this lol) I have so far refrained from purchasing anything! I seem to be doing more window shopping than usual though...I guess the unavailable is always sweeter!

Have a wonderful weekend,


Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Beautiful You, Fluttering By and So Happy by Verve
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Paper: Sultry by Basic Grey, Spring Break by SU!
Punches: Photo Corner punch
Accessories: Silver Bells Glimmermist, Essentials 4 Primas, Sultry Brads, Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon, Circle and Square Nestabilities, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Stamps by Verve. Some supplies available from Stampin' Up!

You're Fantastic Verve!

There's two things I just loooooove about Verve - first, the stamps...duh! Second, they have THE best challenges! This card incorporates three Verve challenges, Julee's Mojo Monday sketch, the August Project Parade challenge and Michelle's Meet the Diva Challenge!
Once again, Julee's sketch rocked - congrats on your 50th sketch Julee!

The August Project Parade challenge was to use Pink and Brown....you have to pop over to the site to see the yummy inspiration piece - it just screamed "use Cupcake Affair" to me!

Michelle's fun challenge was to use supplies we haven't touched in awhile. I used my new Fairy tales set - first time I've got it inky. I also used the Two Scoops paper I've been hoarding and 16 - yup 16 of the rhinestones I love to have in my stash! Lastly, I used some of my precious narrow Chocolate Chip Grosgrain - I can't believe this stuff retired!

After stamping the cupcake bottom, I turned it over on my foam mat and embossed stripes with my embossing tool - in real life it has a really cool texture and dimension. There are Cotton Candy Stickles on the popped up flowers. The Blush Blossom cardstock was sponged with Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip - feeling hungry yet?!?

Have a great weekend!



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Cupcake Affair, Fairy Tales
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Blush Blossom, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Paper: Two Scoops by Basic Grey
Punches: 1/4" Circle Punch, Small and Large Oval punches, Photo Corner Punch
Accessories: Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Circle Nestablilities, Narrow Choc Chip Grosgrain, Sponge Daubers, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Stamps by Verve. Some supplies available from Stampin' Up!

Verve - Cupcake-a-licious!

Here it is...after weeks of coveting their stamps, my first Verve card! I have to say...I can't believe how well these stamp....honestly, the coverage is as good as (in some cases...a little better!) than rubber! Love it!
Isn't this cupcake just the CUTEST?! I love this set, Cupcake Affair - had to have it right away! It's been forever since I baked some cupcakes - probably cos I don't have a dishwasher and hate the cleaning up after icing them - but stamping them is almost as much fun!

I went all candy coloured with this card - not intentional, I just inked up my cupcake with the first colour I thought of! I used some Marigold Morning to shade the flowers and found that going back over every second line on the cupcake liner enhanced the pleated look.

I used Baby Blue liquid pearls on the "icing" and white Kaiser pearls on the flowers. The ribbon is from a couple of rolls I picked up for like $2 each - love layering it like this.

The "what-looks-like-patterned-paper" is actually a stamp from the Grateful Elegance set, beeeautiful stamp!

Oh, I almost forgot...the sketch is from Julee for Mojo Monday #49 - so cool to finally do one of her sketches with her stamps!



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Grateful Elegance, Cupcake Affair
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Soft Sky, Barely Banana, Marigold Morning
Card stock: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Barely Banana,
Punches: Slit, 1 1/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle punches
Accessories: Swiss Dots embossing folder, Sponge Daubers, Discount store ribbon, Kaiser Pearls, Liquid Pearls in Baby Blue, Blending Pens, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Stamps by Verve. Some supplies available from Stampin' Up!

Get Well, Chick

Here's my card for Julee's Mojo Monday #48! I've only recently "discovered" Verve Visual (musta been living under a rock!) - and I'm oh so in love! Their stamps are to die for (and I'm getting a big parcel from DH for my birthday!) and Julee's blog is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Her sketches are the best out there, bar none.
These cute birds are in a Heidi Grace set I picked up over the weekend. I thought they'd look cute paper pieced. I also just had to break out one of my new Cuttlebug folders, Floral Screen - which I inked up with Chocolate Chip ink for the reverse embossing thingee (can never remember what this technique is called! The sentiment is from the Rain or Shine MFT set. This is for my sister Michelle who has the flu really bad. She's a groovy chick so I'm sure she'll like this.



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Rain or Shine - My Favorite Things, Tags & Words - Heidi Grace
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky
Paper: Rose Red Prints, Apple Cider
Punches: Word Window, Slit
Accessories: Floral Screen embossing folder, Brayer, Circle Nestabilities, Choc Chip Satin ribbon, White Gel Pen, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
Some supplies available from Stampin' Up!