Friday, April 29, 2011

You + Me Always

Hello everyone! Hope your day has been good!
 Today is my husband's and mine's 33rd wedding anniversary!  I have been truly blessed with the most wonderful husband and best friend!

So I wanted to make him a card.


As you have seen, from to day and my previous posts, I have fallen in love with the newest Verve Stamp Set "Bloom and Grow". This stamp set has several different size flowers and leaves to choose from. And...Verve also made custom dies to coordinate with this stamp set.  It's fabulous!

I made the largest flower by cutting  3 different size flowers with the Verve Floral Circle dies. I sponged the edges, crumbled them up, stacked them together, then stuck a pretty blue rhinestone brad in the middle. I got this idea from another blogger that I follow, but I can't remember which one. I will let you know as soon as I remember!

The other flowers are made with a die from My Favorite Things:
 You roll up the flower with a quilling tool like the one I got from Hobby Lobby, or with your fingers and a piercing tool. Very easy and very cute! Add a Glue Dot on the bottom to hold it together.

I also am linking this card to the Verve Diva Challenge! For those of you that are new to this challenge, here is how it works...following each release, Verve will post a theme that they dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge.  During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare!

This month Verve dares you to make a card, project, layout, or whatever fits your stamping style using this month's theme - April Showers Bring May Flowers!  With the warmer weather, new growth, and all the fresh and beautiful blooms that abound, it is easy to be inspired by Spring!  How you interpret the dare is completely up to you!  To sweeten up the challenge, you could win some brand new Verve! Now that's what I'm talking about!

So I think this card qualifies for this challenge! Spring is my favorite time of year, especially since my wedding anniversary is in the Spring! Where I live, the roses and flowers are blooming. The grass is green. It's just beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by!
       Mackie
                                         Paper: Stella Rose ; Kraft
                                                 Stamps: Verve "Bloom & Grow" and"Love Notes"
                                                 Accessories: MFT Rolled Flower die; 
                                                        Verve Floral Circles & Elegant Leaves
                                                          Rhinestone Brad, Twine

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Viva la Verve # 4 !

This is the final Viva la Verve sketch of the month for April:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrCRIjtIJTEJU4JKcUww5O8br6DMYtkzfvJbjuNsF85vwtynb8UAMIYgW-vODLn713TgleF2lozaINe0jV3hb5sJcZhU6dXIYZsBJWDDSxkEkgOAiHJvhzKxc72MBhKxw3JmSEq80P7tH/s1600/VLVApr11Week4Sketch.jpg

And here  is my interpretation:



















This was a fun card to make. The whole time I was making it, I pretended that I was sitting in that chair on the beach. Just add a good book & a drink and I say PARADISE!! Summertime, I'm ready!

The papers that I used are from a kit I bought at a convention this summer called Rusted Sun. I thought they were a perfect color selecion. As you can see, the sketch calls for "rays" on the upper right corner. I was totally perplexed about this sketch, but then the designer-Shannon Teubner, posted a great tutorial on her blog. It explains very easily how to get this effect.

After I had my papers selected, cut and sponged , I went to my Cricut Expression. I used the cartridge "Life is a Beach" and cut out the chair and umbrella. I drew over the cut lines made by the cricket on the chair with a Sakura gelly roll pen to give it more depth. I felt the chair also needed a soft pillow, so a trusty square punch took care of that. I added  a little bling to the pillow with some Red Stickles.
And the RELAX is from a stamp set from Verve Stamps

I found the flip flop brads in my stash  and felt they fit perfectly beside the chair!

Hope this card helps you to RELAX!! heehee

Thanks for stopping by!

Mackie

                Paper: Rusted Sun-FancyPants Designs.com
                   Stamps: Verve
                   Ink: Color Box -Chestnut Roan
                   Accessories: Cricut, Cricut cartridge"Life's a Beach"
                                        Flipflop brads-EyeLetOutlet.com

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Sweet Pea for Monday Challenge # 5 @ My Craft Spot

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone is having a good day.

I wanted to share the card that I made for the
   Monday Challenge #5-Bundle of Joy that Kimberly is having at her blog-My Craft Spot

Here is my card:

Isn't she a hoot?
I used the Cricut cartridge "Stretch Your Imagination".
I designed this card on my Gypsy, so that I could erase the eyes, nose and mouth 
and color them with my Copic Markers. I free handed the eyes...so don't look too closely. 
This convinced me that I need to purchase some baby faces from Peachy Keen Stamps!

Hope you like! She was fun to play with!

Thanks for stopping by! And your comments are always nice to read! Thanks!
Mackie

Paper: Chloe "Mini Floral" ; Bazzill
Ink: Memento and Color Box
Copic Markers: R00, R000, R0000, RV02, E04
Sakura Gelly Roll Medium Pens: Black, Pink, Burgundy, White
Extras: SU Curly Label Extra Large Punch, MFT Die-Namics butterfly die
Pink Rhinestones




Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Mother's Day ; CR84FN25; VLVAPR #3




This card is a combination of challenges. I used the CR84FN 25 Color Challenge:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K0hW9W85AoOCKH_Frs71CDikPEz4Bew6jBxiasINne6uzeNUpDBoulbagXxnXSFIplCvK5aygEp3VZJxvAc8q1uMgdd17oad3MyFoECtJ43ajq5Em4ZTLLEqnjfkbGehuNphig158lc/s1600/CR84FN25%252BGraphic.jpg

with the Viva la Verve Week 3 Sketch challenge:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoIURvD4K9g/TaedYsgOkDI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/aSOQoSS4iHg/s1600/VLVApr11Week3Sketch.jpg
How can you not make a pretty card with these for inspiration?

                                           

                                     Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie and SU Black & Whisper White
                                       Stamps:Verve "Bloom & Grow" and Stamps of Life "Mother's Day 2010"
                                   Ink: SU Baja Breeze; Ranger Distress ink Barn Door; Memento Tuxedo Black
                                                  Dies: Verve "Floral Circles"; Verve "Classy Label"
                       Accessories: SU Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Fiskars Border Punch, Red button; Rhinestones


Hope you and your family have had a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Mackie

         


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Eat more Chicken Noodle Soup!

Happy Tuesday!

I wanted to share a card that I made using my Cricut Expresson. I haven't used it in awhile! I forgot how much fun it is. I needed to do a Get Well card for a friend of mine.
I found a Cricut Get Well Card challenge this week over at the blog- My Craft Spot.
If you want some great ideas for the Cricut, then you must visit this blog-Kimberly also has great tutorials. If you're like me...you love tutorials! The winner of this challenge will win some beautiful crinkle ribbon! I'd love that!!!!

Any hoo...here's my card:

Now...isn't she a cutie pa-tootie? She is trying to promote more chicken! Sound familiar? heehee
And we all know, chicken noodle soup cures ALL ails!!!!

The cow and soup bowl are from the Create a Critter cartridge. They are cut at about 2.5 to 3".
I hid the eyes on my Gypsy, so that I could use wiggly eyes. I love wiggly eyes!
And of course, I had to add a little flower to her "hair" !

Hope you liked this card. Please let me know if you do! I love your feedback!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mackie

                                                  Paper: ally's wonderland
                                                   Ink: Memento Tuxedo  Black
                                                  Stamps: Stamps of Life-getwell2you
                                              Accessories: Pink seam binding; button;wiggly eyes
                                                        Sakura Gel Pen-black; 
                                               Cricut Expression; Create a Critter cartridge




Sunday, April 17, 2011

CR84FN24 Color Challenge

Another Sketch challenge! This time it is the CR84FN Color Challenge:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchkKjVMspzhwngufdoPxS7unz4Y_L4uactNbFJhrF8zKMpKNFEYFZ0oT7BTw6X-kCgRUMYu9SmulFKOX-5cKX7SzwLm7lVp6JYL34OhFgIYgjpM1KtJOG_W2KTxKWc-K7_zIbYW3N5UM/s1600/CR84FN24+Graphic.jpg

I decided to use one of the April Viva la Verve sketches for the card. I just fell in love with this sketch. I'm sure I will use it again and again!
Here is my card:
My camera will not capture the aqua in these papers. The papers are from a beautiful paper pad by Tim Holtz called Vintage Shabby. The colors were perfect for this color challenge, but it just looks blue in the photos. Pooh! I promise there is aqua mixed in !
Hop you like!
Let me know....I love feedback!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mackie

                                                               Paper: Tim Holtz-Vintage Shabby
                                                               Ink: SU Almost Navy; Colorbox Chestnut Roan
                                                               Stamp & Die: My Favorite Things Stamp & Die-Namics
                                                                Accessories: ribbon & brown pearls

Whee! MFTWSC 15

 Isn't this a great saying? I know I don't start each day with a "Whee" but I'm gonna give it a try!
This one of my favorite stamps from My Favorite Things!

And...this is my card using this My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge for this week. Here is the sketch:
 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNz-tTt2Pea9ttfiA0bMHH60hyxVklqYa_S1glTMG_pbwA7KfddhPUkIaK9w7LoN6Y9bYbt3ZD6J6pGO2yjwDzQmGYV2wlma2JfWAicy5cdtZrCqEcn3G6mr1n_xkcHPT3CKkqroKwc4W/s1600/MFTWSCSketch15.jpg

It was like making a little scene on a card. Lots of fun!  I used a lot of different techniques on this card, so I thought I would break it down into steps for ya!

First I stamped the little girl on Neenah paper with VersaMark ink and then heat embossed her. I then colored her in with my Copic markers. I am in the learning stages of using these Copic markers, so don't look too close! I then stamped her again on some DP and paper pieced her dress.

I then used some of the wonderful MFT Die-Namic dies and cut out the Sun and Butterfly in yellow cardstock. I inked the edges in brown.

















I used my Sew Easy and sewed zigzag stitching around all the edges of the panels. This was my first time using these tools. It was a little time consuming...and alot of trial & error!



 I did not have a die for grass, so I had to make my own. I did this by cutting zigzags in 2 strips of paper and then gluing them behind each other. I then curled the leaves down in various spots. I think it turned out cute!
















 I then decided that I needed some texture for the tree. So I used another Die-Namic die and cut out lots of tree leaves.  I used a black marker and lined all the edges and then layered them with glue dots.

  Hope you have enjoyed my card! I am always happy to have visitors!

 Thanks for stopping by! And please...let me know you were here and leave a comment!

Mackie


                      Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie
                           Ink: Versamark; Color Box
                           Stamp: My Favorite Things
                           Dies: My Favorite Things- Sun, Tree, Butterfly






Tuesday, April 12, 2011

CR4FN23 & VLVAPR2011 Pink & Black




Hello!
 Hope you have had a good day. I had to work today, so not much stamping time! Pooh!
But there is always tomorrow! And at least I have a job!

Today's card was made using 2 different challenges:

  CR84FN23 Color Challenge: Gorgeous color combination!

     https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_wpR8JsE6kFsQH60SdPc5vwkVcpMG4yPohzQvqu7Tpb_M_OMoMMwQuJXdZTSftWmkoKMI3z0JFQYLNOrAxkpxhdEN0DBk58LXLxlCLjikewp7CqyczdPFqqLFErXSRLvr3-zqY6cKe8/s1600/CR84FN23%252BGraphic.jpg

And the Viva la Verve Week #2 Sketch Challenge: Great sketch! Love it!
        https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_ZBgbc9BgdewZrkzCPVBYVvIJVPVrDXPvMdYHLNFSie24jGpebNTGcIoLmZgLiMPJ4L74rnViP_xJx-L0HgBeADLixPiUUJkJiVqNTjH3eqhUVSjic6fFEEtmGwylX7fTUcUZhi15fQ3/s1600/VLVApr11Week2Sketch.jpg
And this is what I came up with!




I found this yummy pink and black paper in a DCWV paper pack called The Shimmer Stack that I had purchased at Michael's a few weeks ago. It has lots of different colors in it. Can't wait to use it again.
The black and white paper panel is from K & Co paper pad called Black & Ivory.
 The center is a stamp that was designed by Waltzing Mouse Stamps to be compatible with the Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Ten Die. It is a beautiful stamp set by called Very Vintage Labels.
 I applied Stickle glitter glue around the edges, for a little sparkle!
I felt the card still needed something...so I used Liquid Pearls in Petal Pink to outline the black panels and the cream panel.

                            Paper: DCWV Shimmer Stack; K & Co. Black & Ivory
                                 Ink: Memento Tuxedo black
                                 Stamps: Verve; WaltzingMouse
                                 Accessories:Black pearls;Nesties Labels Ten;Liquid Pearls

Thanks for stopping by! And I really enjoy the comments!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Viva La Verve April 2011 Weekly Sketch Challenge Week 1


Happy Sunday! Hope you have enjoyed your day! My husband and I went to Raleigh to see our son this weekend. We had a great time. My son tried his best to teach me about my new camera and Photoshop. I still need lots more lessons! Oh well.....

Above is my card for the Viva la Verve April 2011 Sketch Challenge for Week One Pictured below:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH5fyeqwew2qb2-0YfoSdbpke9SFph2RTEGPnTFmFhXJQ-g5ZGT9m3TP4s49w_tf6B5T7FBwBvTFn2p-NQMNOyILJSYQJ_JOyJrDYAWsB0m993zkPICVTxDbgF5upwB1KCuowJlJjXws/s1600/VLVApr11Week1Sketch.jpg

I used papers from the Basic Grey Urban Prairie collection. I know these are a little old, but I still love them. They are such bright and cheery colors! I just love me some pink & green! Especially this time of year...the azaleas and dogwoods are in full bloom. Gorgeous!

                         Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie
                              Ink: Momento Black
                              Stamp: Verve
                              Accessories: Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; Nesties; Pearls & Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by! I love your comments!

Mackie

Sunday, April 3, 2011

CR84FN22

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsij8cjhV3b9WrF3dt9cMkfuklIjPHBjLTIIxO5vp55c3qBo3-wYB7eVtEr56LtlUgGnFM8onLy5EDST4jvRstFbqkaQygTwGAi4idYTTfxOqQGVRn66TVPpBYzREecujHB8zPpVnb-Y/s1600/CR84FN22%252BGraphic.jpg

A new week! New colors to work with! It's Sunday, so that means a new CR84FN Color Challenge!

I was inspired by the beautiful wreath. Isn't it gorgeous???

Here is my card:


First, I dry embossed the brown panel with a Cuttlebugs die (I'm not sure of the name of this folder).
I then sponged and distressed the edges of the brown and the green panels.
I just got this stamp set from Waltzing Mouse called Label 10 Vintage. It was designed to fit the Label 10 Spellbinders die. It is so pretty! The sentiment is from Unity & Co. I believe this is from the Kit of the Month  stamp set Feb 2010. It fit perfectly! 

I made the butterflies with a Die-Namics die from My Favorite Things.
I sponged the edges and folded the wings up to give them a 3-D effect.



Paper: Bazzill
Ink: SU Pear Pizazz & SU Espresso
Accessories: MFT Die-namics Butterfly die; Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 10;
flowers by Recollections

Thanks for stopping by!