MFT Teaser Day 3--Princess Pure Innocence

Well, this would be Day 3 of Teasers from My Favorite Things. What do ya'll think so far? Have you been checking out all the blogs with the cards and projects on them? Oh my word, they are fabby! Today is Pure Innocence Day (should be an official holiday, if you ask me).

There are 3 new ones coming out this Wednesday, Sept. 1st! This one is called (simply) Princess, but there is also Honey Bee and Superboy. When I made this card, I had just finished my Tiny Town Halloween card from Saturday's post, so I was still in kind of a "spooky" mood and I got to figuring out how I could make her more of a "Witchy Princess". So I found some Halloween paper from last year that I used on one of my favorite MFT and Dirty Dozen projects ever and started paper piecing. Here you can see all the pieces I cut out and for what parts. Sometimes ya'll'd like a visual, right? I had been out of my adhesive roll for my Xyron Sticker maker, but I was sure glad I had gotten a refill before this project! After I "dressed" her, I used some black Stickles to go over the lacing, her hat, the trim on her sleeves and then added the stripe at the bottom of her dress (again using artistic license to create!).

Hey did ya'll notice the little notched flag behind the star of the show? I told ya'll I was going to use it again after having done it on another flowery card the other day. I'm loving how that looks and it's so easy to add it for a little "sump'm-sump'm"! I wanted to do sump'm a little different for the inside. I've seen a lot of borders for the bottoms of the insides of cards (like my card yesterday), but not too many with a border up top, so I cast a little spell on it and moved it up top, continuing the same flag strip under the sentiment. And did ya'll notice I used the Oval Chain Border Die-namic die, too? It's from last month's release, but it's still a MUST HAVE!

Ok, that's all for now. My mom had a car wreck over the weekend (she's fine--she rear ended someone) and I need to jump in the shower and be "on call" in case she needs me to take her to the body shop or get a rental, etc. Poor thing!

But before ya'll go, I have to remind ya'll to be sure and go to Kim's blog today for the latest list of DT members who are making magic with their new Pure Innocence stamps today! Don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs for your chance to win some MFT goodies, too!

SUSIE Q-TIP: You may not have noticed in the middle picture above where I'm showing the paper piecing that I had already colored all the parts of my image that were not going to be paper pieced and gave her a little pop by using my Copic BV31 around parts of her body for shadowing. There is a method to my madness. It's important to do your coloring first before sticking down any of your paper piecing (even though it's really hard to wait because you just KNOW how cute it will look all done up!). Sometimes, well most of the time, patterned papers (especially freshly cut edges) will absorb the marker ink like there's no tomorrow and you will ruin your project. You WILL have to start all over and you DON'T want to cut all that stuff out again, right? Amen.

Stamps: Princess (Pure Innocence Line from My Favorite Things)
Paper: Black, More Mustard, White Perfect Panels (MFT), The Spider's Web (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Oval Chain Border Die-namics Die (MFT), Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Circle Punches, Copic Markers, Black/White Polkadot Ribbon, Rimmed Rhinestone Flatbacks (Pizzazzaplenty), Hot Glue, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2, but the oval sticks up about an inch

MFT Teaser Day 2--Wyatt the Conductor

Well, here we are on Day 2 of Teasers from My Favorite Things. Did ya'll check them all out yesterday? Today the team is featuring three more sets. I'm using Wyatt the Conductor which will be available for purchase after the release party this Wednesday, September 1st. Having all girls and really never finding a need to do too many boy cards, I jumped at the opportunity to "challenge" myself to make one. This cute little Wyatt made it super easy! It comes with Wyatt, a little engine that could, a coal car and a caboose and several sentiments that work well for a little encouragement, even if they aren't a train enthusiast.

I drew in the lines on his shirt to give him a checkered shirt and also just had to write a tiny little number 9 on the side of the engine. I knew I had remembered "Engine Number 9" from somewhere, so I had to google it and it's an OLD Roger Miller song and I actually remember it from when I was little (I'm old, remember). Also a little tidbit--when I googled it, I found out he was born in Fort Worth! Anyway, enough of the reminiscing (ooh, remember his other song, King of the Road? I'm sure I'll be singing that one all day!). So I couldn't help myself and just had to embellish the inside of this card, too. I stamped the sentiment in triplicate to mimic "The Little Engine that Could" story from a long time ago.

Well, be sure and head over to Kim's blog HERE again today to get a list of the "Teaser links" for all the girls posting today. I think YOU can, I think YOU can, I think YOU can!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: It's ok to "alter" a stamped image to give it a little character like I did here. It's no different that picking out colors to color it or deciding on what patterned paper to piece it with. That's what I call artistic license and a little imagination.

Stamps: Wyatt the Conductor (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Kraft, Smoky Shadow, Pure Poppy (PTI), Denim (Prism), Black Stripe (The Paper Studio
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Star Border Die-namics Die (MFT), Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities, Ticket Die, Circle Punch, Copic Markers, Divine Twine (TCP), Button and Baby Braddies (MFT), .03 Black Fine-tip Marker (Prisma), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

MFT Teaser Day 1---A {Tiny Town} Sketch For You To Try

Well, like I mentioned before, I was able to turbo through some serious card-making the other day. Today starts the Teaser Days for My Favorite Things! Ya'll are going to LOVE this release! It just gets better and better! This is the first card of 3 Teasers I have planned to show ya'll for My Favorite Things over the next few days. Good thing I took a week (almost) off from blogging because I'm going to be doing a lot of it here pretty soon. Of course I always love it when I can kill two to three birds with one stone (Our dog, Hopper killed a mockingbird yesterday. I'm sure he threw no stones. Now I want to watch the movie, To Kill a Mockingbird.) So not only is this a Teaser for MFT, but I used Jen's friendly Sketch For You to Try on it as well.

The new set I'm featuring today is called Tiny Town Halloween and will be available for purchase next week on Wednesday, September 1st after the release party. I love this sentiment from the set, perfect for kids' Halloweeen cards! I also used a new MUST-HAVE Die-namics die also being released along with 4 more that I am finding oh-so-many uses for! This one is called Star Border. I found that you can bend and shape it real easily, so I curved it and made it pop up off the corner like a little banner on the front of my card! I'd love to cover the front of the stars with glue and dip the whole thing in glitter. Wouldn't that be pretty (in pink?--ooh another movie to watch!)?



You can find a list of all the MFT girls showing off this set and a couple of other ones today on Kim's Blog HERE. Don't forget to leave comments on each blog for a chance to win new release goodies! Release Party info can be found on SCS HERE.




Now be sure and check out all my SFYTT sisters and see what kind of birds they've killed with this sketch:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Leigh O'Brien
Amber Hight
Jenn Diercks
Megan Lock
Sony Cristoph
Jodi Collins
and finally Carole Burrage

SUSIE Q-TIP: If you like dressing up the insides of your card, I have a cool way to cheat and not have to stamp a sentiment floating in the middle of the card and hope you get it straight. Just create a border along the bottom edge and stamp the sentiment right above that, following the line of the border. If you fail to center it properly, just repeat it to the left and right. No one will know. Except me. I'm the one who told ya'll to do it.

Stamps: Tiny Town Halloween (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Black, Orange Zest, White, Plum Pudding (PTI), Petal Pushers and Peacock Lane (Bo Bunny)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Star Border, Large Scallop and Scalloped Scallop Die-namics, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine/Thread, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Licorice Divine Twine (TCP), Black Button, Plum Pudding Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Keeping the Peace

Well, it looks like I've taken almost the whole week off of blogging. Yep, almost. So I thought I'd finally go ahead and make a post. My only excuse is that school started. I've been all alone here at the house. With all the quietness and free time, blogging was low on the list of things to do! Let's see, I went to Goodwill and snooped around, I rented the movie, Valentine's Day and quietly watched it by myself in peace, went to a dr.'s appointment (for me this time...TMI? teehee.), and actually STAMPED all day yesterday! There's an MFT release next week and I got all my Teasers done. So stay tuned to this here blog for those starting with Saturday's Sketch For You To Try.

For now though, I wanted to be sure and let ya'll know that the Project Parade has started over on the Verve Blog. I don't do mine until September 6th, but I have a couple of Verve-ey things to throw at ya'll that I never blogged about when we had the release. As much as I love them, I just couldn't keep them all "filed up" on my computer! They need some attention! This first little thing is a paper purse I cut out of some double sided paper with my Cricut. I decorated the front with a sweet sentiment and flower from the Dream Big set from Verve. I love that flower and it just was screaming out to be red! It's hand cut and layered as are the leaves, then a big chunky brad right in the center. This project took all of 30 minutes to make. I'm thinking it would work just fine for a little treat for someone with a couple of chocolates inside.

This is a card I made using a Mojo Monday sketch from a last week. It was interesting to say the least coming up with all the different panels and figuring out what colors and paper would go where. I guess that's why they call it a "challenge", right? I used the set, Kind Words, and stamped the flower in different colors and then used Glossy Accents on the orange one and for the other flower centers. I really like how the little green "flag" element behind the main panel looks. I *might* have used that tidbit again on an upcoming card I get to show ya'll next week. Anyway, in the battle of Girl vs. Card---GIRL WON!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Get more value from your summer pedicure. Do this by getting a regular pedicure at the beginning of summer. Then let it "grow out" (trimming your nails yourself. You can reach.). By the end of the summer, that one pedicure will now be a more expensive "French Pedicure" with a fun color for the nail tips. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it. I have an appointment with "Tammy" next week.



Flower Friend Gift Bag
Stamps: Dream Big (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Hawaiian Shores (PTI), Dk. Green Dotted, Oliver (Basic Grey)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox), Always Artichoke (SU!)
Accessories: Tags, Bags, Boxes and More Cricut Cartridge, Cricut Exp., Scallop Border Die (MFT), Circle Punch, Butterfly Punch (MS), Clear Rhinestones, Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Jody Boosters

Mojo152-Spring Wishes Card
Stamps: Kind Words (Verve)
Paper: White, Plum Pudding (PTI), Green (SEI), Regal Rose (SU!), Green at Heart (Basic Grey)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Grape (Memento), Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink (SU!)
Accessories: Oval, Scallop Ovals and Labels 3 Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine/Thread, Apron Lace Punch (Fiskars), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Regal Rose Grosgrain, Buttons and Twine (PTI), Pearl Flatbacks (Pizzazzaplenty), Hot Glue, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

An {Audrie Awesome} Sketch For You To Try

Well, after all that happy news yesterday (read THIS post), it was tough to get a card made last night. So I am hereby admitting to being a little late with my Sketch For You To Try as I made it just this morning. Sorry about that folks! I may have been drooling over some Fabio pictures as well, and dreaming of when Eric's hair grows out. Maybe Eric will start using some of that gel that makes your hair look like you are in a permanent wind tunnel.

Ok, enough about that and on to why ya'll are really here! I was so so SO super excited to use stamps from The Greeting Farm this week as they are our sponsor for Jen's Sketch For You To Try this time. One participant from this week’s sketch will win their choice of any 4″x6″ stamp set in stock! I wish I could win! I'm loving the little "punk rock kids" from the Creeper Crew. However, when I saw this one called Soccer Anya, I HAD to have it! Then when our 6 year old daughter Audrie saw it, she wouldn't let me get anything BUT that one! She has wanted to play soccer since she was three, but we thought that was just a little early for all that. So we promised her that when she started first grade, we would sign her up. She's never forgotten it. She starts first grade on Monday and has now been to 2 soccer practices! She's very competitive and so this will be right up her alley. She's awesome.

This Soccer Anya image is another digital one--I'm getting pretty good at printing them out now! Then I just printed a personalized sentiment to go along with it. Audrie and Lindsie both stood over me while I was making this card, and "helped" creatively. I think what I'm going to do is cut the back off of it and add a ribbon to turn it into a little wall hanging for her room. She loves it!

Here's some more inspiration from all my SFYTT teammates for you to kick around before playing and linking your creation onto Jen's blog:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Leigh O'Brien
Amber Hight




Jenn Diercks
Megan Lock
Sony Cristoph
Jodi Collins
Carole Burrage

SUSIE Q-TIP: I do a lot of color blending with my Copics (ya think?). I refer to my color chart all the time to help me remember what colors I have that coordinate "number-wise". However, if you're like me, I've found that pinks are hard to get a good combo with for a nice girly pink that shows up well and isn't too light. I've even had some of ya'll ask me about this (hi Lynn!). So after a little trial and error for this card, I've come up with a perfect pink combo (for me) that I thought I'd share. Use RV10 as the first color, then RV02, then RV04for some deeper shading in corners and such (Shock Pink--use SPARINGLY!). Try it.

Stamps: Soccer Anya Digital (The Greeting Farm)
Paper: Kraft, White, Black (PTI), Three Bugs in a Rug
Ink: Printer
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Argyle Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Soccer Ball Brads (Micheal's), Rhinestone Brads, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 5.5" square

Good News and Thank Yous

Hi to everyone from Eric. Normally, my wife Susan has pictures of beautiful handmade cards posted on this blog. But I had to hijack it this one time in order to share some good news and give thanks. As many of you know, I was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, in March of this year. Obviously, that was a shock to everyone. I literally woke up one morning and Susan noticed that my thyroid was swollen and you could see it sticking out through my neck.

I saw several doctors over the following three days. Everyone one I saw bounced me up the chain saying I needed to be seen by someone with more expertise as soon as possible. At the end, I ended up at Texas Oncology, which is located at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Over the past 6 months, I have had 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 6 spinal tap injections and 3 extended hospital stays. There were times when the chemo made me feel miserable. But Susan was very patient with me and supported me every step of the way.

A week ago, I had a PET scan (which is similar to a CAT scan) which would show if there is any cancer in my body. At my doctor visit today, we discussed the test results. THE SCAN SHOWED NO SIGNS OF CANCER, IT IS IN REMISSION!!! I will be getting a PET scan every 3 months for the next year to make sure the cancer doesn't come back.

While I was receiving treatment I received numerous cards from some of Susan's scrapping friends (ya'll). Every one of them was beautiful and lifted my spirits. Also, many people made donations through Susan's blog, which helped our family make it through a difficult time. Finally, many of you said prayers for our family. I believe the prayers were an essential part of making it through this situation.

Of course, thank yous also have to go out to Dr. Christopher Maisel, and Nurse Linda. They're in the picture at the top of the page. They are absolutely amazing, very attentive and always calmed our fears.

Most of all, I want to thank you everyone associated with Susiestampalot who helped out during the last 6 months. It is incredible to think about how many wonderful people Susan has met through this blog.

As you can tell from the picture, my hair has just barely started to grow back. When it does come back, I plan to let it get long enough to do a "Fabio" style, then post another picture. Susan absolutely loooves Fabio.

Another Verve Sneak Peek

Well, here we are on the last day of Sneak Peeks from Verve! I've been stamping away and will have more to show ya'll tomorrow night at the Release Party over on SCS. You can get all the information about it HERE.

The featured set today is called Great Friend and along with 8 other sets and one Plain Jane, there will surely be several sets that will make your heart leap! I decided to go with a clean and simple look (which is SO HARD for me!) and the first step for me going that direction always seems to be using a lot of white. But what do I know?

Then from there, I had the idea that I would make it a "peekaboo" type card with the circle "hole" in the front and adhere the flower to the inside of the card so that it pops out of the hole. I didn't like it. You know those times when it sounds good in your head, but just doesn't translate well to cardstock. It was a bust.

So since I already had the big circle cut out of the card's front, I decided to make the little turquoise frame and then back the circle with the green dotty paper. Good save and I am really liking this color combo!!

There are a few other DIVAS posting today and showing off this Great Friend set and you don't want to miss their beautiful creations. Visit the Verve Blog for a full list of all them.

And don't forget--Like our other spotlights this week, we've hidden a prize on one of the participating blogs for today so leave a little comment love as you hop around to be entered into a drawing to win today's featured set, Great Friend!  Deadline for comment entries is 6PM Eastern Friday, August 20.

Anyway, the girls and I are stuffing a month's worth of summer into this week, making up for the time I was out sick with Mono. I'm still a little "coughy", but nothing I can't handle. We are going to the water park today for a little fun in the sun. I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully not sunburned!

SUSIE Q-TIP: It's ok to have your embellishments and stuff stray outside the lines of your card front. It's not like there is a force field there or something. Go for it.

Stamps: Great Friend (Verve)
Paper: White, Hawiian Shores, Plum Pudding (PTI), Green Dotty (DCWV)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Grape (Memento)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Large Dot Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Flatback Rhinestones (Pizzazz-aplenty), Stitched Ribbon and Button (PTI), Twine (TCP), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

MFT VIP Hop!

Well, thanks for coming to see me tonight for the VIP Blog Hop for My Favorite Things! The hop started over on Kim's blog, but if you've made it from there this far, you're doing good!!

This month the Who's That Girl stamp set being offered early is called Well Read. I love it! I'm not a huge reader, but sometimes I'll get a wild hair and decide to sit down and read. Usually when I do that, though, I become obsessed and want to do nothing BUT read. Right now, I'm in the middle of Eat, Pray, Love. It's sooo good and I will have to see the movie after I'm done. Maybe when the girls go back to school, I'll go by myself. Is that weird? I.don't.care.

Anyway, I've used the Well Read set here and a few other MFT goodies on this card. A couple of Die-namics...The Rolled Flower and Jumbo Scallop Border on some thin cork sheets. I'm loving that stuff! There's also something new (to me) that I don't seem to use that often. I used some digi paper!! This one is from the Take Note Collection. You can see all the digital papers from MFT HERE.

Tonight, August 17th at 10 PM EST, the MFT VIP will be released. It is a ONE DAY ONLY product that will only be available through August 18th at 11:59 PM EST. What's so great about that? It gives YA'LL the opportunity to purchase the WTG set TWO WEEKS early. Here are the contents of this month's VIP Kit that is only $40.75:

Well Read WTG
Wendy Alphabet
Notebook edge Dienamics
10 yards (2 yds each of 5 colors) striped twill ribbon
Basic grey basics pad (white)
Neutral baby braddies collection (black, white, cream and brown)

Additional release on VIP night:
à la modes - Time to Celebrate
à la modes - Groovy Girl

OK, next on the Hop is the splendiferous Sherrie!! I'm sure she has something wonderful for ya'll to see!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I think I've mentioned this before, but it's worth another. Maybe you noticed that I used the same cork Jumbo Scallop Border on this card that I used on my last post's card. As long as your cutting some borders, go ahead and cut a little more (elongate the border by simply moving the die further along the material you are cutting out and run through your die-cutting machine again.). This will save you time as it's already done for you.

TCP123--Bottom's Up!

Well, since I'm the Hostess with the Mostess today, I have a fun stamp challenge for you for this week's TCP Tuesday from The Cat's Pajamas. I apparently was feeling a bit thirsty when I decided the challenge would be to use any beverage stamp from The Cat's Pajamas.

Go ahead and open the fridge and see what's in ther to quench your thirst (and play along)--Any of the new "tea" sets, A Beary Good Year has a coffee cup, and those penguins are playing some drinking games as well in the Salud set and the Hola Tequila set.

I went with making some hot chocolate and using A Cuppa with PJ serving up "something to warm you". I kept this card fairly simple (after going all out with my last one!) and used an easy layout and some of my favorite papers again from Girls' Paperie. Those red polkadots are supercali-fragilistic-expialidocious! They make me so happy!


Anyway, I hope ya'll get to play along. Grab a little drink-i-poo and stamp something refreshing! Here's the details:

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your TCPTUES123 design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of Alma's post. Your design must be linked and visible to Alma's post to be considered.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}--like TODAY
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. Only designs posted to Alma's blog post will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Don't forget about that cork! Using it this week will be especially cute to carry out the "beverage" theme.

Stamps: A Cuppa (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, White (PTI), Thin Cork Sheets (Michael's), On Holiday (Girls' Paperie)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Sewing Machine/Thread, Circle Punch, Apron Lace Border Punch (Fiskars), Jumbo Scallop Die-namics die (MFT), Copic Markers, Red Button (TCP), Black/White Gingham Ribbon, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

An MFT Baby Gift

Well, it's going to be a busy week. It's the week before school starting up for us. We just got back from getting the last minute school supplies (what we could find), so I'm done with that. Lindsie still needs a pair of jeans and new tennis shoes for gym. Plus, we need to weave in a day at the water park, and possibly go to the museum before the weekend. So I'm on a pretty structured schedule this week!

Part of what I have scheduled is several blog posts, starting with this one. It's a little decor piece I put together for a friend of mine who just had a baby girl. She shares a room (for now) with her brother and it's all decorated in primary colors, so I thought this paper from Girls' Paperie would be the perfect thing. I got the little shadowbox frame from Ikea (3 cheers for Ikea!). It's called Ribba--teehee. The names of stuff there crack me up.

Then I just papered the inside and made a little banner using the Banner Day Die-namics die from My Favorite Things. Her name was stamped using the Banner Day Alphabet set that coordinates perfectly with it.

I added a little "fancy new whatever" by making a border with the Open Scallop Border Die-namics die and made a fun rolled flower from another MFT die, entitled um, Rolled Flower. A few wooden buttons from the Earth Girl Collection finished it off. I think this took me about 45 minutes to put together and I'm talking super easy to make here, people!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Cluster flowers and buttons together to make your handmade embellishments even more fancy.

"Ed"-ted to ADD: Here's a little bonus video of my nephew, Edison (Sara's little boy), saying "Fancy new whatever". It's a quote from the show, The Office. I missed that episode, so I have no idea what context it's from. Since I mentioned my "Fancy new whatever's" above, I thought it was appropriate to include him saying this...it's FUNNY!! Now everyone in our family says it all the time for no really apparent reason. Anyway, maybe this video will go viral and little Edison will become a YouTube star.



Stamps: Banner Day Alphabet (MFT)
Paper: White, Aqua Mist (PTI), On Holiday (Girls' Paperie)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Square Shadowbox Frame (Ikea), Rolled Flower, Open Scallop, Banner Day Die-namics Dies (MFT), Circle Punch, Earth Girl Buttons (MFT), Divine Twine (TCP), Glue Dots, Jody Boosters

A {Verve Sneak Peek} Sketch For You To Try

Well, it's Sketch For You To Try time again (gosh how Saturdays are rolling around so quickly!), AND I have a SNEAK PEEK at a new set coming your way from VERVE next week! However, because I've been out school clothes shopping for the last two days and I had to go to a scrapbook thing until late last night, and it's now 1 AM on Saturday and I'm mega-tired and have to get up in about 5 hours and I'm not even asleep yet, I'm going to have to make this post short and sweet.

I do have to say, I think this is one of my very favorite Verve cards I've ever made. It's got a lot going on and is so elegant looking! I used the new set coming this Friday called Love Story. It's a beautiful wedding set, but it's really not limited to just that. Any kind of I Love You card, anniversary card, or even Valentines could come from this set with a little creative thinking (and the right paper!).

A few details: You can't see it, as I embellished it highly, but the set has a really pretty frame that handles most of the sentiment if turned horizontally. Because of the sketch, I needed it to go vertical, so I just layered my sentiment on top of that (beautiful font combo, by the way!). The love birds at the top of the main panel were stamped on vellum and cut out. There are two little bird images included in the set and I used those to stamp the dark gray panel and heat embossed them in clear. Most edges were inked, some sewn and the larger flower is handmade using an MFT die. All the gorgeous black rhinestones and the little roses were graciously sent to me from Judy at Pizzazzaplenty. She's got TONS of embellishments, ribbons and neato little finds at GREAT prices. (Please check out all the categories of her store! You won't be sorry!)

Ok, there are a few other DIVAS posting today and showing off this Love Story set and you don't want to miss their beautiful creations. Visit the Verve Blog for a full list of all them. Then be sure and keep checking the Verve blog daily through the end of the week for "Sneak Peekers" of all the sets coming your way. SHEER BEAUTY!! NO LIE!!

Now, here's this week's sketch that I used and you will find LOTS of inspiration for playing along by checking out the love on each of the SFYTT sisters' blogs:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Leigh O'Brien
Amber Hight
Jenn Diercks
Megan Lock
Sony Cristoph
Jodi Collins
Carole Burrage

SUSIE Q-TIP: Go to bed before 1:30 AM. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

I'll list all my supplies late Saturday afternoon/night. My eyes are now closed.

What Day is It?

Well, yesterday on Tuesday two weeks ago Friday, I made this card. Ok, not exactly. It just feels that way. I put this little number together for TCP Tuesday from The Cat's Pajamas, using the Mojo Monday Sketch for this week from Julee. And here I am posting it on Thursday. The story of my life. Why has summer gotten so busy all of a sudden? This week's challenge is co-hosted by Carole and Joanne, kind of as a transfer of power. Carole will now be wowing us with her "taken up a notch" color palette choices. But I ain't skeered, I like bright and bold colors, right?



Carole went easy on us this week with a pretty tame color choice of Kraft, Candy Apple Red, and Denim for our challenge.

So the minute I was given these colors to work with, I knew I wanted to make a card using the new set called A Whale of a Time as I thought the colors would definitely make a swanky sea-worthy card. I also used the Waves Cut-ups die for the water. The light blue border below the red part (supposed to be a scalloped border according to the sketch), is also the Waves die turned upside down, making the denim look like waves too. I'm clever like that.

So now you're saying (in your best Neicy Nash voice), "Oh Ms. Susie, how do we play in the TCP Tuesday Challenge?" Fear not, my kittens, here's all you have to do:


1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of Alma's post. Your design must be linked and visible to Alma's post to be considered.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. Only designs posted to Alma's blog post will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

SUSIE Q-TIP: I used two sentiments from this set on the front of this card, but highlighted them in different ways. See if ya'll have any sentiments that "coordinate" and use them together for one card front.

Eric Update: We've been sailing right along with treatments all summer with really no problems. He had his last round of chemo on Friday the 30th. He's not been very sick from it all, thank goodness. Mostly just food and smell aversions this time. Then yesterday he had a PET scan , or as my mom likes to call it, his PAP smear (during which time I colored and can't wait to make the TCP project I have in mind for my little animals from the new baby set). We hope to have the results early next week. It should tell us if we can proclaim (from the rooftops) that he is cancer-free! So this weekend should be interesting, waiting on pins and needles for the news and what happens next. Hopefully port removal and subsequent check-ups ONLY! Oh and we can't forget about a steak dinner to celebrate. He's already mentioned that he wants that for sure!

Stamps: A Whale of a Time G-0685 CL (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy (PTI), Denim (Prism), Ducks in a Row, Fly a Kite (October Afternoon)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Waves Cut-ups Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Large Polkadot Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Circle Punches, Silver Brads, Buttons and Twine (TCP), Striped Ribbon (SU!), Glue Dots, Foam Boosters

A {Ship Happens} Sketch For You To Try

Well, it was a long day yesterday. The girls and I headed out the door around 9:30 yesterday morning to get donuts and run a few errands before it got too hot (we're talking 105 degrees or more, people--you do NOT want to be out in it). We had to go to the library (pay some fines), pick up some stuff at Scrapper's Boutique, and make it to the grocery store. But mostly, we were on a mission to get stuff to make some cool birthday gifts that involved using my newest toy (that I've been saving up for for forever), a Cricut Expression and some of that vinyl stuff. We ended up having to run all over creation finding what we needed for the gifts and we didn't make it back to the house until 5:15 yesterday evening! Audrie kept finding pennies everywhere we went, but apparently they were unlucky, as we kept running into snags trying to find what we needed. So we get home, I relax for a tiny minute and then start in making a meatloaf that Eric was dying for. We didn't eat until 8 (that's not our normal thing, but you know, ship happens.). I finally get all settled in to start my project that should only take about 15 minutes to situate and get all cut with my new Make the Cut software. I go to turn on the dinosaur computer that it's all hooked up to, and lo and behold, the mouse has crapped out on me! It won't work!! Little arrow on the monitor frozen...mocking me. Eric and I messed with it for about an hour and then gave up. It just worked last week. I was a lit-tle steamed. I mean, after all the running around, getting prepared for it...GAHHHH!!! So I'll be using the store's Cricut and a cartridge today while I'm at work, while my brand new machine and lovely software sits here and does nothing. UGH!!!!

Anyway, after all that, I finally started working on my card at about 10:30 last night for today's Sketch For You to Try from Jen. I thought it was only appropriate that I use this set from The Cat's Pajamas called SHIP HAPPENS and I had to use the namesake sentiment, too as it expressed my feelings persactly. See all the lovely TCP goodness on this card? I love my new Wave and Buttons Cut-ups dies (YES, TCP's got steel dies!). I also highlighted the little spoon "flagstaff" and water splashes with some Baby Love Glitzy Glitter.

Ok, ya'll want to talk about the little hat? I made it myself using some old hymnal paper (didn't have any newspaper handy--that's what I used to use to make them when I was little). Isn't it cute? I was pretty pleased with myself when I came up with that nifty little idea that late at night!

Anyway, the meat loaf gave me a mean case of heartburn and I had to take some Pepto before going to bed. Those kids (my neice and nephew) better like their birthday presents. I'll take my camera with me and snap a few pics for ya'll.

So it's the first of the month, and Jen has a new Guest Designer--Ashley N. Newell! She is as sweet as she is talented! She "made the cut" as the Guest Designer this month by playing along and uploading her creations to Jen's Inlinkz on her blog for this week. You can do it too! Who wouldn't like to be an SFYTT Guest Designer? Sail on over and see what my other SFYTT sisters have created to get your mojo flowing:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Leigh O'Brien
Amber Hight
Jenn Diercks
Megan Lock
Sony Cristoph
Jodi Collins
Carole Burrage

SUSIE Q-TIP: For glittering, I use Martha Stewart's Glitter Glue. I like it. It comes out from a skinny little tip that you can get a lot of control with. However, sometimes the glue goes "outside the lines". Push it back in with your fingernail or a cuticle pusher-backer stick. If that's not possible, go ahead and throw the glitter on the glue and then push it back into the lines. Another little trick--Be sure and still color the spot under where you are going to have the glitter if it's part of your stamped image, just in case the glitter has a few peek-a-boo spots.

Oh and stay tuned, I will have an Eric Update real soon!

Stamps: Ship Happens K-0692 CL (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Ballet Blue, Regal Rose (SU!), Harvest Gold, White (PTI), Blossoms and Butterflies (DCWV), Old Hymnal Book Page
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Wave and Buttons Cut-ups (TCP), Circle Nestabilities, Big Polkadots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Baby Love Glitzy Glitter and Divine Twine (TCP), Button (TCP), Copic Markers, Sewing Machine/Thread, Glue Dots, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

We Have A Winner!

Well, as promised, Julee has randomly selected several winners from the Anni-VERVE-sary BLOG HOP! There was a blog hopper participant Jackpot winner, a random commenter on the blog hop winner's blog and winners on each of the VERVE DIVA'S blogs, winning the sets that each Diva had used on their projects.

My winner is:

Heather who said...
"Wow, that is a lot of fun on one little card!"

Heather, you have won the two stamp sets I used for this card--Accent Notes and Celebrating You! Congratulations!! (Claim your prize by following THESE instructions at the bottom of the blog post.)

Everyone else, don't forget to check the VERVE BLOG HERE to see if maybe you're a winner on another Diva's blog on the hop! Congrats to all the winners!

My Favorite Things Blog Hop and Shop

Well, welcome to the MFT Blog Hop and Shop! Did ya'll enjoy the Release Party over on SCS? Sorry I was a little in and out (had to come write this post, ya know!). We are hopping and shopping--I know a few of ya'll have been foamin' at the mouth to get your hands on some of this new schtuff!! I would be, too! It's ALL GOOD.

The hop started over on Kim's blog, but if you've made it from there this far, you're doing good!! I'm featuring the two new sets, Who's That Harvest Girl and the Garden Goodness set. I love this WTG set and all the fun little fruits and veggies that can go in it. This time I chose the peaches and it made my mouth water for one the entire time I was making this card. I might have to do something about that. Texas peaches from the hill country are some of the best around!

Like I mentioned above the sentiment set is a new one called Garden Goodness. It's a mini sentiment set that totally expands the possibilities for the Who's That Harvest Girl set or even the older, Who's That Gardening Girl. I used one from this set for the front and decided to go on and finish off the inside with another one (actually my favorite one from the set!).

Ok, it's time for ya'll to hop on over to Melody's fabulous blog. See ya'll later! I'm thinking some peach ice cream is in order right about now...

SUSIE Q-TIP: Instead of a bow, just tie a little 2-3 inch piece of ribbon to your card with some cute little notched ends. Do this by tying it on with twine through a button or flower.

Stamps: Who's That Harvest Girl, Garden Goodness (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Cream Perfect Panels (MFT), Berry Sorbet, Aqua Mist, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Bitty Dots (PTI), Ducks in a Row (October Afternoon)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namics Open Scallop Border (MFT), Circle and Scallop Circle/Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Cuttlebug, Copic Markers, Earth Girl Buttons (MFT), Cotton Twill (MFT), Twine, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 4.75" Square

MFT Teaser Day 5--Clearly Sentimental About Harvest

Well, here we are on Day 5 of Teasers for My Favorite Things. Day 5!!?!?? Holy Cow, that means tonight is the RELEASE! Goody goody gumdrop!

For my card, I had dreamed that maybe I could use the new Chain Border Die-namics die in white against a dark background for a modern look with just the sentiment I'm highlighting today from the Clearly Sentimental About Harvest set (going the clean and simple route which I'm totally not good at). Then as I was making the card and picking out colors and whatnot, I decided that it looked a little bit like a trellis! So I ran with that idea and added little button flowers (buttons from MFT of course) and used the leaves from the Flower Trio Die-namics die for each little blossom.

I've also used two other Die-namics dies on this card. (My cuttlebug and I are best friends.) One is the older, but still oh-so-fashionable Framed Greetings Die-namic (which I'm sure will be back in stock soon) and the newest one is the Mini Scallop Edge Die-namic (available tonight along with the Clearly Sentimental About Harvest which is the Triple Scoop set and the Chain Border Die-namic). I've needed a die like this one for a VERY long time and I'm so excited to finally have it! A little scallop here and there never hurt anyone.

Ready for some TOP-SECRET news? Today, there is a prize hidden on one of the designer's blog posts. As you make your way through the Teaser Time posts, simply leave a comment on each blog, for your chance to win one of the Brand Spankin' New stamp sets being released on August 4th. A winner will be chosen from the comments on the pre-selected blog before tomorrow's teaser list goes live, and will be posted on Kim's blog HERE. Be sure to check tomorrow to see if YOU are the winner. You can play along each day for your chance to win. We will be giving away NINE new stamp sets this week!

As always, you can find the master list of participating designers HERE on Kim's blog.

Don't forget to join us tonight for the RELEASE PARTY right HERE!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When you get YOUR Chain Border Die-namics die, try it as a trellis too and come up with other flowers to place on it. I can think of a few already: use the Rolled Flower Die-namic, the Flower Trio Die-namic, make them from felt, use chipboard flowers, make the trellis from cork...there's all kinds of possiblities. Got any more ideas?