Wish Big

Well, today I have a sweet little Pure Innocence girl to show ya'll that's coming your way tomorrow night after the release party for My Favorite Things. The name of the set is Believe in Magic and I just couldn't resist coloring her all in aqua and purple. I even made her wings sparkly with my Stardust Gel Pen (does anyone use those anymore?).


AND lookie lookie--BUTTERFLY dies! Yes, here's a little sneaky peek at the new Die-namics Butterflies die. For forever, I've only had ONE Martha Stewart butterfly punch. These dies are just what the doctor ordered! (Actually, I think he needs to order me some antibiotics and a cortisone shot!)

Anyway, sorry this was so short and sweet. My next few posts may be a little like that too. I'm sicker than a dog, so I'll probably be getting right to the point so I can get right back to bed! (Sure wasn't fun spending my birthday like this yesterday either.)

SUSIE Q-TIP: Don't forget about that silver cardstock you may have laying around. It's not just for pretty Christmas cards you know.

Stamps: Believe in Magic Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Sno Cone, White, Grape Jelly (MFT), Silver (SU!), Boo!/Sparkling Season Christmas (AC)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Butterflies Die-namics (MFT), Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Circle and Scallop Circle Punches, Copic Markers, Stardust Gel Pen, Adhesive Rhinestones, Ribbon (PTI), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

It's Day 2 of Teasers from My Favorite Things

Well, we are gearing up for another fabulous release coming this Tuesday night from My Favorite Things. It will be a good night for me to stay in and play with ya'll at the release party, as we are looking to have freezing temps, sleet and ice coming in that night here in North Texas (and it's supposed to be 74 degrees today!). No wonder everyone in town is sick including me!

So let's get to it so I can take a cold pill and go lay down! I've used two stamp sets from My Favorite Things here, but the new one ya'll are going to have a fit over is the new Twisted Foursome. It's another one of those hysterical collections of phrases and sentiments that say how you really feel and then tell it like it is. (For some reason, I now have Cyndi Lauper's True Colors song floating in my head.)



The other set I used is one of those cute Flapper Doodle sets called Cheers to a New Year. I used a few Die-namics dies as well--the Rolled Flower and Flower Trio (currently out of stock-sorry!). BUT the NEW one is that fabby, perfect, where-have-you-been-all-my-life scallop border called Simply Scallops. What's another word for perfect, because that's what it is but I already called it that?

I'm admittedly not a huge drinker. Oh yes, I had my day, but these days, I only like an occasional margarita on the rocks, or an icy beer with just the right hamburger. However, over the holidays, a bottle of wine was left at our house, just enough for two glasses--one for me and one for Eric. After the girls went to bed one night recently, we relaxed on the couch with our glasses and it was SO NICE!! So when I saw these sentiments from the Twisted Foursome set, they reminded me of that night (and that I need to buy another bottle of wine)!

Be sure and check out Kim's blog for a link list of all the design team girls who are showing off some new MFT for ya'll HERE!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When placing a longer sentiment stamp on your acrylic block, it's easiest just to lay the stamp ink side down on your work surface (but before you ink it, of course) and then place the block right on top. This keeps the stamp's shape and will keep the sentiment straight. Sometimes when you put a skinny stamp onto the block yourself, it gets wonky and curves as you stick it on there.

Stamps: Twisted Foursome, Cheers to a New Year Flapper Doodles (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Fossil, White, Sno Cone (MFT), Summertime (Echo Park)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Simply Scallops, Rolled Flower, and Flower Trio Die-namics (MFT), Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Happy Birthday WENDY!!

Well, Happy Birthday out there to all ya'll January birthday-ers like me AND WENDY BOND! I was shaken but not stirred when my friend Karen Motz secretly "007" asked me a while back if I'd like to be a part of a covert surprise blog hop for Wendy of Bond Girl Bliss and of course I couldn't pass up that mission! I've been a big fan of Wendy's artwork ever since she burst onto the stamping scene (and she always uses some of the best stamps around!). So if you're just now jumping onto the birthday train, be sure and start back at the beginning to see everyone's happiness and love for Wendy over on Karen's blog, ok?

It was not even close to impossible to pick out a fun older set from VERVE to use for a sweet birthday card with some shabby-chic style. I readily jumped into action with this set, Beautiful Kindness, because Wendy is...Simply Fabulous. I used this week's MOJO Monday sketch (MOJO175) that works perfectly with the butterfly being the center of attention and of course I had to give her a little sparkle with some pink flatback rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty. Bliss!

Now it's time to head on over to Elaine's blog, Quixotic Cards for some pleasure galore. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY! Here's hoping you have a simply FABULOUS day!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Just an fyi that has nothing to do with this card. Don't try to put Martha Stewart glitter just lose in an organza (organdy?) drawstring bag. It goes right through it. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it. I will only further comment to say that yes, I never thought for a second that it would be a problem and that Sage is once again glitterfied along with my kitchen counter and floor.

Stamps: Beautiful Kindness (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Black (PTI), Sno Cone, Cotton Candy (MFT), Paper Girl (Girls Paperie), Cork Sheets
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Little Open Scallop Die-namics (MFT), Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Sewing machine/Thread, Twine/Ribbon (PTI), Pink Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Star Stick Pin (Maya Road), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

It's TCP Tuesday 143--I {heart} Love

Well, it's Tuesday already, so that must mean it's time for TCP Tuesday from The Cat's Pajamas. I'm your Hipster Hostess with the Mostess this week and I've got a loverly STAMP CHALLENGE for ya'll. This week, I'm feelin' the love and the challenge is to use any sentiment with the word LOVE or HEART(S). (Remember that stamp challenges always require the use of stamps from The Cat's Pajamas to be eligible for the honor of Swanky Stamper and the $25 Cat Cash prize.) I know, I know, ya'll are thinkin', "but Ms. stampalot, we don't have our wonderful Valentine's stamps we just ordered from the awesome release that The Cat's Pajamas just had, so I can't play." AU CONTRAIRE! I did my homework and there are LOTS of sets that have the words LOVE and HEART in them. And know also that this does not necessarily have to be a Valentine card or project!

I have two samples to show ya'll today and then the details on how to play along will follow.

This first one is a cute little gable box that my friend Jody sent me the die cut of some time ago. I thought it would be cute with this set, Tweet Hearts, and maybe fill it with Valentine candy for a friend. Notice the two new CutUps dies I used--Heart Trio and Stamp Trio.

This next little project I just HAD to make after I saw a story on the CBS News about this cute little cross-eyed possum (opossum?). I found the picture of Heidi on Google. I thought she would be so cute with the "Pucker UP" sentiment included in the Love Letters set and to somehow tie it up with the new Airmail Twine.

So I made a tiny Valentine "tri-fold" card for Eric. It's only 2 1/2" square. Tiny! However, I managed to use 14 different stamps from on it (hi Jen--we had a little challenge among ourselves to see how many we could use on one thing. I think I won.)

Anyway, we would love for ya'll to play along. I'll be checking on your progress as you upload to SCS and place your entries on Alma's linky over on her blog! Hearts and LOVE!
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge. <--It's me this week!
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique/supply, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Link to your post using the Inlinkz button on ALMA'S blog post HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a TCP stamps, 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 the this blog 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: Using that little pre-cut die for the gable box made that project FLY by! No layout to really think about, just a little decoration and a border--DONE! Try a 3-D project using a "box" die-cut, cut out a template for one (you can find LOTS on SCS HERE) or cover a simple box or container and spruce it up for a quick project.

Viva la Verve--Week 4: Joy for the Journey

Well, I am loving the Viva la Verve challenges! Every week there is a new sketch--my FAVORITE! I rarely start a card without one, did ya'll know that? I'm a little late in posting this morning. It's been a day (already)... I woke up early to go help out taking fundraiser money from the kids at the girls' school. Lindsie forgot her backpack, so I had to run back up there and take it to her (yes, I am THAT mom). Then I went and scanned and cropped some pictures from a scrapbook album at Walgreen's and accidently deleted my entire order and had to redo it. When I got home, I finally sat down to write this when the school called me and said Audrie had an upset tummy and I needed to go pick her up. Ope, hold on, Sage just rang the bell to go outside...

Anyway, as ya'll can see it's been quite the busy morning! Luckily I made this card a few days ago (I had an advance sneak of the sketch since I'm a Verve Inspiration Diva). As I said before, it's my job to inspire ya'll with a little old mixed with a little new from Verve. As I don't have anything BRAND new on this card, I did use an older with a "new-er" set. Remember this one?--I used Up, Up and Away with the cute little hot air balloons and clouds (one of my all-time favorites), except the sentiment with that set wasn't going to work the way I had it planned out with this little flag coming from under the balloon. Then I thought, "well, ding-dong, use another set with it! (I'm allowed being a Verve Inspiration Diva--can ya'll tell I'm so excited about this?)". So I thumbed through my stash and came across this set, Joy for the Journey, a set that came out only a couple of months ago. Um, hello..PERFECT! Oh and by the way, I'm loving these colors...ya'll may have to see them again.

Ok, well, I've got to go tend to Audrie and see if she wants to eat anything for lunch. I'm thinking no. However, she thinks she's going to play the wii all day. I'm thinking no on that one too.

Here's the sketch for this week. Come visit the Verve Forum to see how to play. You KNOW there are prizes involved--It's VERVE and it's not too late to play for this month's prize!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I don't remember if I've given this little tip before, but it's worth repeating if I did. When I use teeny tiny flatback rhinestones or pearls, etc., from Pizzazz Aplenty (LOVE THAT STORE--you MUST check it out and tell Judy I sent you! She's having a buy one, get one free sale right NOW!), they come packaged in little bags with a stapled-on folded topper. I leave it all intact and just snip the side of the bag a little bit to make an opening for them to come out of. Then I push how ever many I need into a jar lid to keep them "contained" and also so I can see them (I need bifocals--just found out). That way, I just need to tap the lid a bit to get them right side up before picking them up with a gel-picker or my tweezers and adhere them to my card. To close the bag back up, I just wrap a piece of tape around the side. Then it's ready to snip again and just keep adding more tape each time you use it. That was a long tip.

Stamps: Up, Up and Away, Joy for the Journey (Verve)
Paper: Grape Jelly, Sno Cone, Gumdrop Green (MFT), White, Kioshi (Basic Gray)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Pale Plum (SU!)
Accessories: Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Large Dot Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Border Punch (MS), Copic Markers, Ribbon and Button (PTI), Twine (TCP), Purple Flatback Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

It's VIP Time from My Favorite Things

Well, I can't believe, we are halfway through January! That can only mean one thing. We are halfway to my birthday! Ok, I guess it can mean two things. It also means that it's VIP Time from My Favorite Things. I hope ya'll are hopping along with us to see what the newest Who's That Girl stamp set is all about. The hop started over on KIM'S blog HERE and you should have made it here from sweet Kerry's blog. The new Who's That Girl stamp set is called "My How You've Grown". CUTE, huh!?! It's part of the awesome VIP kit available NOW in limited quantities until tomorrow night at midnight or while quantities last. Here's what all's included:


For me, stamping with this set really got me thinking about babies. My sister, Nancy's baby, to be exact. She and her fiance are expecting a baby this spring. They just found out it's a BOY (yay!), but that he is going to come into this world with some issues. They found out last week that he has an omphalocele, basically meaning that some of the organs in his little abdomen are growing outside of his body. Sometimes, these babies also have heart problems, breathing problems and chromosome issues. The good news is that she went to a heart specialist last week and they saw no problems there. She had an amniocentesis yesterday to test for the chromosome issues which could cause Down Syndrome or other things, some even lethal. Those test results will take a while to come back. The omphalocele is highly treatable, over time (months or years, depending on the method), thank goodness!

Regardless, she and her family have a rough road ahead and I am going to be happy to be a help to them with anything they need.

So I made this card for her as I'm sure it's a scary spot to be in. Have any of ya'll dealt with this? Please email me if so. If ya'll happen to think of her, please send any positive thoughts, prayers and happy wishes our way.

Here's a look at what the inside says, using the little excusive mini set only available with the VIP Kit and will not be offered again. I just LOVE that saying! Babies ARE such sweet beginnings, no matter what!

Ok, you're next stop on this fabulous hop is SHERRIE and she's sharing shomething shpecial!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When cutting out the WTG images in their little rectangle, I often like to take a black felt tip pen and line the outside of the cardstock. I just set it on my grid paper on my desk and trace around it so that it's nice and even and there is less of a chance of making a mistake and accidently swiping it on the image itself. Make sense? It just looks nice to have the black edge instead of the white cardstock showing, in my opinion.

ETA: I'm so excited to share the newest Die-namics die also! It comes with the extra value meal, I mean the VIP KIT and ya'll are going to LUH-HUVVVV it!! It will be available again singly with the regular release the first week of February.


Stamps: My How You've Grown, Sweet Beginnings (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Hot Fudge, Sour Apple, Banana Split, White Perfect Panels (My Favorite Things), Brook Collection (Crate Paper)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Simply Scallops, Hearts a Plenty, and Polkadot Greetings Die-namics (MFT), Argyle Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markders, Pewter Brads, Yellow Swarovski Crystals, Buttons and Felt (MFT), Linen Twine (TCP), Ribbon (Pizzazz Aplenty)
Finished Size: A2

The Cat's Pajamas Release Blog Hop, TCP Tuesday Style

Well, I heard ya'll kind of liked the new stuff available from The Cat's Pajamas starting NOW! All eight stamp sets and two CutUps dies make life complete (for the time being, right?). We are celebrating this first release of 2011 with a BLOG HOP that we got all excited over and combined with this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge #142. Ya'll are about halfway through the hop if you started from the beginning. And yes, you should start at the beginning over on Sony's blog, since she IS the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess and has come up with a FABBY color challenge! You'll want to be sure and get all the details on how to play along on her blog as well....Don't be sheepish!



Here's what I've got today...my card features that Sheepish guy and his girlfriend having a sweet and woolly moment together. He's the black sheep of the family and she's in love with that rebel! This set is called Ewe Complete Me. Not only perfect for Valentine's Day, but also useful for Father's day, an anniversary card, or just to say I Love You. I made a little Ribbon-Button-Loopy-Embellishment thingy to complete the card and layered the smallest heart from the Heart Trio CutUps die. I can tell ya'll right now--that one is a MUST-HAVE! Here's what it looks like along with the Ewe Complete Me set.



Ok, so that's all from me. Follow each other like a flock of sheep on over to the next meadow--Julie's blog for her "baaaa-utiful" creation!

SUSIE Q-TIP: I don't know about ya'll, but my cool gray Copic markers (C1, C3, C5, C7 and C9) are very juicy. I have to really watch how much saturation I get with them or they will bleed, even with the "right" paper and ink. While coloring the "black" sheep, I used a light hand and barely touched the inside edges of where I was coloring. That gave a little room for "spreadage". Then where it didn't spread, I just went back and filled it in lightly with my darkest color.

Stamps: Ewe Complete Me (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Black, Pure Poppy, Kraft, White (PTI), City Park (American Crafts)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Heart Trio CutUps Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Silver Brads, Button, Black/White Gingham Ribbon, Licorice Divine Twine (TCP), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 5" Square

Oh Baby! It's an a la mode Teaser from My Favorite Things

Well, I've been stamping away, working on so much stuff to share with ya'll, so get ready for a fun ride for the next week or so! I'm excited! Today, we are welcoming another a la mode set from My Favorite Things. This one, for me, rates right up there with my favorite one, Miss You a Latte. It's stinkin' adorable!!

Actually, both of the new a la mode sets are cute (you'll see with tomorrow's peeks)! This one's called "Oh Baby". It was the perfect set for me to use this time, because one of my neighbors just brought home a new baby girl. I haven't even seen her yet, so I'm hoping this card will earn me a sweet glimpse and maybe a cuddle. (And then I'll gladly give her back.)

Here's a peek at the inside and a the Die-namics Dies I've used...





Now ya'll know that when the MFT girls start sneak peeking the a la modes for the month, that the VIP kit is right around the corner! So YES, it's this Tuesday, January 18 (at 10 PM EST)...we'll have a VIP Blog hop and the a la modes and VIP kit will be available for purchase, so stay tuned! However, for now, be sure and crawl on over to Kim's blog for links to the other MFT Design Team girls that are powdering bottoms today!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When sewing down the center of a heart, start at the bottom point. You'll have more of the paper to hold on to as it goes under the presser foot and it's easier to keep it straight. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

Stamps: Oh Baby a la modes (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Sour Apple (MFT), Dark Chocolate, Kraft, White (PTI), Little Chick (3 Bugs in a Rug), Alphabet Soup (My Mind's Eye), Vellum
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Hearts A Plenty, Textile Rectangle, Flower Border Die-namics (MFT), Nestabilities, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Button and Swarovski Crystals (MFT), Twine (PTI), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Got Love Sneaky Peek from The Cat's Pajamas

Well, I have another Sneaky Peek for ya'll today from The Cat's Pajamas. I think it's my favorite card yet with this release.

I get to feature that "other, older brother penguin" in the new Got Love set. I love the fact that he is so large and in charge. He's the "luuuuuvvv doctah"!! Ok, that's pushing it. I actually used a TCP Tuesday sketch from a couple of weeks ago that I never got to play with and added the Apron Border CutUps die across the top. I can just imagine him showing up at Miss Penguin's front door ready for a hot date! RICO SUAVE!!

Speaking of hot dates, I have one this morning with Joann's. My daylight lamp (read as "off-brand" Ott-Lite) decided to go out on me last night. Does it not realize how much stuff I want to stamp RIGHT NOW? I did get about 5 years of good use out of it (and it was only $25 at Sam's), so I guess I shouldn't complain. So I scrambled before my yoga class and found a replacement bulb at Lowe's, brought it home and tried it. Fail. I think the ballast is out. If anyone needs a new light, though, Joann's has them on sale half off. I'm hoping to snag one and get busy working this afternoon. Therefore, the picture of this card is terrible!

Today, Jen, Leigh and Toni also have some FUN Sneak Peeks to share, so be sure and check our their swankiness!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When you make a card way in advance (like a month), go ahead and photograph it for your blog then. That way, if your daylight lamp goes out it will already be in your camera or on your computer. If you're lucky it will have already been photoshopped. If you fail to do this, inevitably, the day you take your picture sans the lamp, it will be crummy, cold and too overcast. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

Stamps: Got Love (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, White (PTI), Pink Dots, Love Bandit (Bo Bunny), K & Co.
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Apron Lace Border CutUps (TCP), Scallop Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Sewing Machine/Thread, Copic Markers, Silver Gel Pen, Button, Cotton Candy Divine Twine (TCP), Ribbon, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Sneaky Peek from The Cat's Pajamas

Well, long time no blog, right? I was on a roll last week, but this week--not so much. I didn't mention it, but I went out of town last Friday on my annual scrapbooking retreat to Pine Cove. We had a great time, until we decided to leave a "leeetle" early on Sunday, as we were due to have some wintery weather come in to East Texas (where we were). Since the weathermen seem to cry wolf around here quite a bit, we were hesitant, but the minute we saw sleet coming down, that was another story and we hightailed it on outta there.

It was a GOOD THING--look what we drove through! (not the best pictures because I was not ABOUT to roll my window down while we were driving!) It was non-stop BIG snowflakes, icy roads, fog and it just seemed like you couldn't open your eyes big enough to see in front of you! Yes, we drove like that for 2 hours! It was nerve-wracking and I wasn't even the one driving. My friend Sheila did an incredible job to get us home safely despite the 8 spun out cars and 2 wrecks we saw along the way. The snow was beautiful, but I don't care to ever go through that again!

So when Monday came, I had a migraine from all of that and it's still trying to hang on, but I was able to make a fun Sneaky Peek card for The Cat's Pajamas last night using the soon to be released set, Spring Rain. It's super cute and will be releasing on January 18th along with 7 other sets and 2 new CutUps dies.



Anyway, I thought it was QUITE appropriate for today with my little story, as I used my favorite sentiment from the set--"I can see clearly now". Just seems like the inside should say, "the SNOW is gone"!

Ok well, we just got home from taking Audrie to the doctor for I'm not sure what--fever, headache and backache. ??? It was sort of inconclusive. She may just be on the cusp of getting sick or just have a mild head cold. I'm going to go snuggle with her for a while. Check out Alma's blog for links to all the girls' Sneaky Peeks throughout the day!

I almost forgot too--This is for this week's TCP Tuesday Challenge! Jen is our Hostess with the Mostess and she has challenged us to use ribbon in a different way other than for a bow. I did my famous "Ribbon-Button-Loopy-Thingy" embellishment and layered it with the new Heart Trio CutUps die. Check out Jen's blog for all the details on how ya'll can play along to be next month's Swanky Stamper and put some Cat Cash in your (hot) pocket!

You may also notice the sketch looks familiar. It's Jen's Sketch For You To Try for JANUARY! We've already had some GREAT participation, but you have all month, so why not join the fun?--Find out how HERE! Man, that Jen is one crafty cat!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When traveling through snow and ice, it's helpful to drive behind a big Winnebago RV. They have already crushed the ice and made nice tracks in the snow for your car. When they exit onto a road you know was once there but now cannot see, pray for them and grip the steering wheel tighter.

Stamps: Spring Rain (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream (PTI), Orange Fizz, Pink Lemonade (MFT), Alphabet Soup (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Heart Trio CutUps Die (The Cat's Pajamas), Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Large Dot Embossing Folder, Cotton Candy Divine Twine (The Cat's Pajamas), White Buttons, Copic Markers, Aqua Mist Ribbon (PTI), Red Flatback Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 5" Square

Viva La Verve, Newness and What's OLD is NEW again!

Well, in keeping with my New Year's Resolution (goal, actually), I participated in another challenge! Yes, this time the Viva La Verve sketch for this week caught my eye and I just could not stop thinking about it and HAD to get this card out of my head and translated to cardstock and stamps. I was losing sleep--seriously! So I closed my eyes (while I was awake) and pulled out this stamp set--Delightful & Delicious (my goal was to use any older set--keep reading to find out why), I said "this will work", and sat down to make this card for a friend. I threw in a little something new from last month too. It's layered into the main focus of the card--can you see the Vintage Oval Die? I stamped it too with the Vintage Oval Frame Stamp. It created the perfect backdrop for the chipboard heart that is super sparkly with Glimmer Mist.

So. Why did I use something that's a little older that ya'll have already seen? Along with this challenge, it's my first post of the year as one of the NEW Verve INSPIRATION team DIVAS. Let me "esplain"...Julee has formed a NEW team this year called the Verve Inspiration Team. It's going to be our job to inspire ya'll to dust off those older, unused sets and start playing with them, as well as provide rejuvinated inspiration by combining the old with the newer sets too. I'm super excited about this, as just like ya'll, my older sets don't get enough love. As soon as my new stamps come, they get shoved to the side like a no-longer loved babydoll. So SAD! (I had one when I was little. I don't know why I didn't like her, but she always got the spankings!)


I'm tellin' ya'll--there is so much NEWNESS going on with Verve! Check out THIS post on the Verve Blog to see what all the fuss is about with Verve in 2011 and then go ahead and look HERE daily for links to all the SNEAK PEEKS from the Release Team Divas for the Verve January Release happening this Friday night the 7th! OH and don't forget to play along with this week's sketch shown here. It's a great one to lose sleep over (I'm probably the only one who does that, huh.)!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Layer a little hole punched piece of cardstock under your flatback pearls, rhinestones, baubles, brads or other similar circular embellishment. This will help set it off against whatever you are adhering it to. Here I used a 3/8" inch punch and I even inked the edges. And lots of fingers.

Stamps: Delightful & Delicious, Vintage Oval Frame (Verve)
Paper: Dark Chocolate (PTI), Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa (SU!), Laundry Line (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Chestnut Cat's Eye (Colorbox), Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Accessories: Vintage Oval Frame Die (Verve), Small Open Scallop Border Die-namics (MFT), Sewing Machine/Thread, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Marker, Small Hole Punch, Chipboard Heart (MR), Scarlet Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Button, Twine, Gold Flatback Pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: 7" x 4.25"

MFT's Wednesday Stamp Club is Getting SKETCHY!

Well, have you heard the news? The Wednesday Stamp Club over in the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast is going Sketch crazy! And I am so GLAD! That means a bunch of ya'll (including me) will get to play more often as so MANY of us LOVE a good sketch to use as a jumping off point for making cards. They are my personal favorite!

Here's the sketch. Having them to work with every week will also help me with one of my New Year's goals--to play in more challenges and upload my stuff to Splitcoast more, not to mention, leave more comments on all of ya'll's beautiful creations. It seems that after my Dirty Dozen days, and when Eric got sick, I kind of fell off the bandwagon with all of that and I really miss it.

After making my little World's Best Doctor card for the Blog Hop and Shop last night, I just HAD to pull out my Best Medicine Pure Innocence set (sorry, I just now noticed she's out of stock) and make a little nurse card. She's actually an image I still had in my stash from when I colored things up during Eric's chemo infusion days. I LOVE her! I put Glossy Accents on her red shoes, her first aid kit, the clip on her doctor's orders and the nurse symbol on her hat, but you can't really see it all shiny in the picture. I tried and failed in the photographing department.

I hope ya'll will be getting sketchy with us. Just look for the WSC thread in the My Favorite Things forum to find the weekly challenge (remember, always a sketch!). Ok, off to upload this to Splitcoast...gotta keep up with my goals... and then Eric and I are going to watch the premiere of Parenthood! It's our FAVORITE!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Wednesday Stamp Club = Sketches. I highly recommend them and here's why:

A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday at midnight on the MFT blog. You'll also find the sketch in the MFT forum on SCS on Wednesday morning, as well as in the weekly newsletter. Our talented Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.

We encourage you all to play along, and to enter your card in the weekly draw for a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. Simply follow the sketch and create a card or other paper creation. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week, a keyword is assigned to the sketch. All you need to do to enter, is upload your card to the gallery at SCS, and enter the given keyword in the keyword box, during the upload process. After the deadline, we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher! That is up to $100 per month in prizes, JUST for playing along. We hope you'll join us in 2011.

Stamps: Best Medicine Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Black), Cream Perfect Panels, Wild Cherry, Sour Apple, Berrylicious (MFT), Library Card (October Afternoon)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Jumbo Scallop and Scalloped Scallop Die-namics (MFT), Scallop Oval and Oval Nestabilities, Word Window Punch, Red Brads, Copic Markers, Red Grosgrain (Pizzazz Aplenty), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2