Wish Big

Hello everyone!! It's the weekend, and I'm so excited. A lot's happening around here right now, so we're ultra busy. My son arrives home from college tonight just in time for my daughter's graduation tomorrow! Woo-Hoo!!

Have you checked out the Viva la Verve sketches over in the Verve Forum on Splitcoaststampers? I tell you, those gals have come up with some fabulous designs. I used last week's sketch, designed by Maureen, for this card. (yes, I know I'm a week late....I've had this card done for awhile, just haven't gotten around to uploading it.) Amy has a fantastic one for this week too, so be sure to check them out HERE.

Before I get into all the detail of my card, I have to mention how much I've loved seeing embossing folders used on dp with a bit of sanding. I was inspired by Julee's card HERE to give it a try. Isn't it just gorgeous!?!?!?!

Anyway, I used only two stamped images for my card: The sentiment from the set Birthday Phrases (Verve), and I used the Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve) image. I also used the Sweet Scallop Tag, Charming Oval and Flutterby dies (Verve), as well as the Big Scallop Circle (Spellbinders).

The dp is from the Gabrielle Collection (BoBunny), and I used a Sizzix Embossing folder as well as a EK Success Border punch. Here's a close up of the collage of elements.

That's it for today ya'll.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!!

Stamps: Birthday Phrases, Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Gabrielle Collection (Bo Bunny), Corrugated
Ink: Frayed Burlap and Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress), Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accessories: Sweet Scallop Tag, Charming Ovaland Flutterby Die (Verve), Big Scallop die (Spellbinders), Border Punch (EK Success), Button (PTI), Butterfly Picks (Webster's Pages), Seam Binding Ribbon, Twine (PinkPaislee), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Distrezz-it-All (Zutter), Sewing Machine

It's Your Big Day!

With all of the complications Blogger had yesterday, it seems my latest post disappeared. So, this will be real short and to the point because I have another post to share with you real soon.

I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch 190, and all the images used are Waltzingmouse: Gingham & Co., Way Out West, Back in the Saddle, Very Vintage Labels No. 1.

Dies: Charming Banner (Verve), Labels 8, Sunflower Set 2, Foliage (Spellbinders)

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.
Happy Stamping!




Stamps: Gingham & Co., Way Out West, Back in the Saddle, Very Vintage Labels No. 1.
Paper: Chocolate, Black, Kraft, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Tumbled Glass, Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot, Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge (Ranger Distress), Onxy Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Charming Banner (Verve), Labels 8, Sunflower Set 2, Foliage (Spellbinders), Buttons (PTI), Flower Bauble (Making Memories), Lace (Kaisercraft), Border Punch (EK Success), Rhinestones (Zva Creative), Seam Binding, Sewing Machine

Where Flowers Bloom...

Have you had a chance to check out the Viva la Verve sketches for this month yet? If not, you really should. They're fabulous. I made this card using the first VLV sketch of the month, designed by Amber, and decided to use a Verve sentiment, from the set Hope Blooms, as my focal point. I framed it with a couple of Spellbinders diecuts: Labels 18, and Floral Doily Accents.

I made the Loopy flower (you can find the tutorial HERE) with felt and organza fabric, and the leaves (from the Verve Set Bloom and Grow), were diecut with one of the new Verve A Cut Above Dies: Elegant Leaves


That's it for today. Stop by tomorrow, for my interpretation of the VLV Sketch #2.

Happy Stamping my friends!




Stamps: Hope Blooms, Bloom and Grow
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Butterfly Garden (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress), Aloe Vera (VersaMagic)
Accessories: Elegant Leaves (Verve), Labels 18, Floral Doily Accents and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crystal Picks (Maya Road), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Seam Binding Ribbon, Loopy Border (Martha Stewart), Felt (Prairie Point Junction), Organza Fabric

Take Care

I'm so in love with the new Waltzingmouse images!! Truly!! I just couldn't resist making a card for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge!!


I started off by stamping one of the images from Text-It, with Frayed Burlap Ranger Distress ink, onto Kraft cs. I then stamped the Reverse Polka-Dots, from the Gingham & Co. set, over it with Tattered Rose Ranger Distress Ink. ( It's a bit hard to see. If you click on the photo below it's a bit easier.) Then I stamped different sizes of the Doilies, from the set Dainty Doilies Large set, with Vintage Cream PTI Pigment Ink. Now, I have to tell you, Claire's images stamp beautifully!! I purposely stamped them sloppily for a more distressed, shabby chic look. Lastly, I added
two sentiments from the Say it Loud set. LOVE the large elegant font with the smaller font.

That about sums up today's card. Now head on over to the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog to see what the Mischief Makers have been up to. They are one creative bunch, I tell ya!!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!
Happy Stamping!

Stamps: Gingham & Co., Dainty Doilies Large, Say it Loud , Text-It (Waltzingmouse)
Paper: Kraft, Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Vintage Cream (PTI), Frayed Burlap, Tattered Rose, Black Soot (Ranger Distress), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Buttons (PTI), Cream Embroidery Thread, Distrezz-it-All (Zutter)

CCEE ~ Cinco de Mayo

Hello my fellow stampers!! I have a CCEE Stampers Challenge Card to share with you today. Shirley is our challenge hostess for the month of May, and since today is Cinco de Mayo, she's challenged us to make a bright colored card, or something with a "Taco Bell" dog on it....anything inspired by Cinco de Mayo.

Well, this is as bright as it gets for me. I thought the hot pink and lime green in the bg was a good representation. I started off with this week's Mojo Monday sketch 189, and the Verve Stamp set Hope Blooms. I know I just used this set yesterday, but I can't help myself. :) I also used a variety dies. (Love my dies): Charming Ovals and Charming Banners (Verve) and Floral Doily Accents (Spellbinders).

That's it for my card today. Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers Blog to see how the other girls interpreted this challenge!!

Happy stamping!!

Stamps: Hope Blooms (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream and Smokey Shadow (PTI), Melody (Prima)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Perfect Plumeria (VersaMagic), Black Soot (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Charming Ovals and Charming Banners (Verve) and Floral Doily Accents and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rhinestones (I-Roc), Black Fibers

May Flowers

It's my turn to share, over on the Verve Blog, how I interpreted this month's them for the Diva Dare: April Showers Bring May Flowers

I mixed one of Verve's newest releases Hope Blooms, with May's Stamp of the Month set Dare to Be. One of the many beauties of working with Verve images is that they all mix and match so well!!

My daughter graduates from High School next week, so I thought "Dare to be You" was the perfect sentiment to use to make a card for her with a frame of bright and cheerful flowers. All I did was stamp the largest Hope Blooms flower with Rocket Red Gold Brilliance ink, and shade the edges a bit with Persimmon VersaMagic. After the sentiment panel and flowers were dry, I added a layer of Shimmer with some Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz by Tsukineko. If you click on the photo below you can see it a bit better. It's very subtle.


Lastly, I added some Stardust stickles dots around the flower centers, some basic vertical embossing stripes with my Scor-Buddy, a button with embroidery thread and a punched border. Very easy!

Now, be sure to head on over to the Verve Blog to find out how you can win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! I hope you are having a wonderful week filled with sunshine and new Spring growth!!

Happy Stamping!!

Stamps: Hope Blooms, Dare to Be (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Rocket Red Gold (Brilliance), Persimmon (VersaMagic), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders), Button (PTI), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Ribbon, and Embroidery Thread, Scor-Buddy

WMS Blog Waltz

The day has finally arrived!! All the Waltzingmouse newly released sets are now available!! And to kick off the release, we're having a Blog Waltz. If you came here from Claire's blog, you're on the right track.

We're also peeking a new set called Say it Loud!! It has large beautifully fonted sentiments that work fabulously with the smaller ones in the set. For eg. I combined "HUGS" with "and prayers" Love this set. For my background, I stamped one of the doily images from the Dainty-Doilies Large set with 3 different ColorBox colors: Papaya Cream, Pistachio and Glacier Ice, while still in the Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders) frame, so I could keep a clean edge. The sentiment was stamped with Onyx Black Versafine, and I added a punched and scored border with an EK Success Border Punch and my Scor-Buddy. Really easy and fun!

And there's a prize to be had too. All you have to do is leave a comment at each stop along the hop to be entered to win the stamp set of your choice. You have until 8:59 Pacific, May 2nd to do so. The winner will be posted May 3 on Claire's blog.

Next up on the hop is the fabulously creative Anya.

Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you've enjoyed the peeks this week.
Happy Stamping!

WMS May Release Sneak Peeks ~ Day 3

It's Day 3 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps Sneak Peeks, and I have a little 4x4 CAS card to share with you. Today we're featuring Dainty-Doilies 2 small, and Dainty-Doilies Large. The doily I used is actually only half a doily, but since the stamps are clear, it was ultra easy to connect the other side to make it look like I stamped off the whole image. I combined one of the many gorgeous and elegant doilies with sentiments from the Join Us set that was peeked yesterday.

Here are the links to the other gals' blogs. You won't want to miss their creative creations!!

Anya Schrier
Belinda Chang Langner
Bonnie Sharp
Carly Robertson
Claire Brennan
Jennifer Holmes
Julia Aston
Kate Whelan
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Mona Pendleton
Niki Estes
Sandie Dunne
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker (you are here :)

Thanks for stopping by!! Be sure to stop by tomorrow for our last day of peeks and THE RELEASE!!!
Happy Stamping!!
Tosh

Stamps: Dainty-Doilies 2 small, Join Us
Paper: Kraft and Black (Papertrey)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Turquoise Gem (ColorBox)
Accessories: Border Punch (EK Success)

WMS May Release Sneak Peeks ~ Day 2

Woo-Hoo!! It's day 2 of the Waltzingmouse Stamps sneak peeks, and we're featuring a set called Join Us. This set is super full of sentiments that can be mixed and matched for a variety of invites and thank yous. It also has a fun variety of images to go along with the sentiments.I actually have two cards to share with you.




For my first card, I wanted to show how easy it was to combine the Join Us sentiments to make a quick "Thank You". This card can be mass produced in minutes. I just used two of the sentiments, a Sizzix Embossing Folder from the Thank You set #5, and a mat of Ocean Tides cs by Papertrey. It's really easy and I think it looks really classy.

For my second card, I had a little fun with the images. I took the tiny safety pin image and made a flower. I thought they'd be cute for Baby Shower invites, or Thank Yous for baby gifts, or even announcements.


Here's a close up of the flower and stem that I made with bakers twine. The safety pin has a natural circle at the base, so I just used that as my guide along with the scallops from the Big Scallop Circle that I diecut. Even if you don't have the scallops to go by, it's really easy to line up the circle. I just made a dot with a pencil and centered it with the hole in the safety pin. I covered up the dot with a rhinestone.

The leaves were made by stamping the reversed polka-dots from the Gingham & Co. set, and die-cutting with one of the Nested Leaves dies by Spellbinders. The butterfly was also punched from the reverse polka-dot stamped paper.




Here are two examples of how you can make the flower: One without the scallops, and one with:



See the fence I made along the bottom? That was made with the smallest Gingham image from the Gingham & Co. set. I just left the end open and it looks like a fence to me. Lastly I added the "thank you" sentiment from the Join Us set, and some Viva Decor Opaque white gel dots to the butterflies and sponged clouds.



That's it for these two cards. Be sure to check out what the other girls have to "WOW" you with today.

Anya Schrier
Belinda Chang Langner
Bonnie Sharp
Carly Robertson
Claire Brennan
Jennifer Holmes
Julia Aston
Kate Whelan
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Mona Pendleton
Niki Estes
Sandie Dunne
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker (you are here :)

Stamps: Join Us, Gingham & Co. (WMS)
Paper: Papertrey
Ink: Onyx Black and Smokey Gray (Versafine), Spun Sugar and Dried Marigold (Ranger Distress), Pistachio (ColorBox)
Accessories: Big Scallop Circle and Nested Leaves (Spellbinders), Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Butterfly Punches (Martha Stewart), Rhinestones (Kaisercraft), Viva Decor Opaque White Gel

WMS May Release Sneak Peeks ~ Day 1

I'm so excited to be peeking the new Waltzingmouse Stamps images for the month of May. I adore Claire's style and vision, and have had a blast working with these new sets. The first being called Gingham & Co. It has 4 fabulous background images. I chose to work with the large plaid and the reverse polka-dot. I started by stamping the plaid with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic Chalk ink, and die-cutting it with the 3 smallest dies from the Blossom 3 Nestabilities set by Spellbinders. I cut 3 of each size, spritzed them with water, shaped them and let them dry. I then just layered them with hot glue and added a pearl to the center and some Stardust Stickles. for the leaves, I stamped the reverse polka-dot bg with Old Paper Ranger distress ink, and die-cut them with one of the Foliage dies by Spellbinders.

Birds are really popular right now, so I thought, why not make my own with the fabulous WMS backgrounds. So I traced one of the Prima birds that I have to make as a template. I then stamped the reverse polka-dots with Pearlescent Orchid Brilliance onto some pink dp by Prima, and Text-it background with Old Paper. I then traced the body onto the dotted bg, and the wing onto the texted background and assembled the bird. I also added a mini rhinestone for the eye.

I stamped the "Much Obliged" sentiment, from the set Back in the Saddle, with Onyx Black Versafine, and framed it with a Very Vintage Labels No. 18 frame.


Whew...did you get all that? That about sums up all the details of this card today. Be sure to check out all the fabulously creative works of art the other gals have come up with. They are inspirational!!

Anya Schrier
Belinda Chang Langner
Bonnie Sharp
Carly Robertson
Claire Brennan
Jennifer Holmes
Julia Aston
Kate Whelan
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Mona Pendleton
Niki Estes
Sandie Dunne
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker (you are here :)



Thanks so much for stopping by. Check back tomorrow for a peek at another new WMS set.
Happy Stamping!
Tosh

Stamps: Gingham & Co., Back in the Saddle, Text-It, Very Vintage Labels No. 18 (WMS)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Melody (Prima)
Ink: Turquoise Gem (VersaMagic), Pearlescent Orchid (Brilliance), Old Paper (Ranger Distress), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Blossoms 3, Labels 18, Foliage (Spellbinders), Notebook edge and Simply Scallops Med. (MFT), Border Punch (EK Success), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Rhinestone (I-Roc), Pearl (Kaisercraft), Stardust Stickles, Dew Drop, Distrezz-it-All, Sewing Machine, Dimensional Tape

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter my friends!! Hallelujah!! He has Risen!!
We will be celebrating Easter with my DH's family today and I hope you all have a day filled with Blessings. I, for one, count myself blessed beyond words as I reflect on the significance of Christ's resurrection

I know this card is secular, but Easter eggs are a fun memory of mine: decorating, hiding, finding. Although we like to focus on Christ's resurrection, we also have fun playing games, such as finding eggs. So this card is a celebration of youth. I used a variety of Verve images and dies. The little chick and basket come from the set Chicks Rule, and the eggs and sentiment are from the set Egg-stra Special. The sentiment is framed with A Cut Above Charming Oval Die.

The basket is on a Labels 18 (Spellbinders) base, and is hanging from an Elegant Post (Spellbinders). The doily underneath was made by cutting a Parisian Motif (Spellbinders) diecut piece in half.

That's it from me today. I hope you have a Blessed Easter!!
Happy stamping my friends!!
Tosh

Stamps: Chicks Rule, Egg-stra Special (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Doilies laser cut (Basicgrey), Sparkling Spring (Prima)
Ink: Smokey Gray (Versafine), Old Paper (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Charming Oval Die (Verve), Copics, Labels 18, Parisian Motifs, and Elegant Posts (Spellbinders), Pearls (Zva Creative and Kaisercraft), Flower Punch (Punch Bunch), Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen, Embroidery thread

Pleating

Scroll down for the Stamper's Dream Coupon Code.

Hello my friends! It's Thursday already, and that means it's time for another CCEE Stampers challenge. This week, we're challenged to use pleats. They can be with paper or ribbon. I chose to use this beautiful silk pleated ribbon by Maya Road and make itty-bitty 3x3 cards.

Verve just released 3 new fantastic sentiment phrase sets this past weekend. They fit perfectly in the new A Cut Above Charming Banner dies. I used three sentiments from the Faithful Phrases set, and layered them over one of Spellbinders' newest Nestabilities, Labels 20. While still in the nestie frame, I embossed it with the Damask Sizzix Embossing Folder. I like the clean edge look with the embossed center. Lastly, I added some Liquid Pearls, and a Butterfly. Here's a close-up of all three cards individually:



Thanks again for stopping by. Have a super weekend.

Happy Stamping!!

Stamps: Faithful Phrases (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), 5th Avenue (Melissa Frances), Melody (Prima)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Old Paper (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Charming Banner Dies (A Cut Above-Verve), Labels 20 (Spellbinders), Damask Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Flower Burst Large Border punch (EK Success), Baby Blue and Petal Pink (Liquid Pearls), Terra Cotta (Adirondack Acrylics), Butterfly (Martha Stewart), Pearls (Zva Creative), Pleated Ribbon (Maya Road)

Stamper's Dream SALE!!

......please stand by for an important SALE and COUPON CODE announcement from Stamper's Dream owner Michelle Rodgers...... :)

I wanted to wish all of you a Happy Easter! It's been crazy busy around here trying to keep up with all the CHA orders that have been coming in. But that's a good thing, right? I left town on yesterday morning (April 20) for a much needed few days away. I will return late on the evening of Monday April 25, and all orders will be shipped as soon as I return. While I'm gone I am giving some pretty nice blog candy, so be sure to go to Stamper's Dream Blog and leave a comment for a chance to win.

This month I am offering a coupon code that works in several categories. All October Afternoon, and Kaisercraft Paper Pads will be discounted with your coupon code. In addition, all stamps from Northwoods Rubber Stamps , Impression Obsession, Hero Arts , Inky Antics , My Cute Stamps and Crafter's Companion will be discounted with your coupon as well. You will receive 15% OFF the lowest marked price on ALL of those products by using the coupon code AprilCouponSale (no spaces) on the checkout page.

The coupon is good through Saturday , April 23 . There is a $20 order minimum to activate the discount. While you are shopping be sure to see the products in the New Arrivals section.

......you may now return to your blog hopping. Thank you so much for stopping by. Please visit again tomorrow for a CCEE Stampers Challenge!!

Happy Stamping!
Tosh

Verve After Party

This year, we started having a Verve After Party at the Verve Blog, the Monday after each release, where we share the favorite projects of each Verve diva. This card is my favorite. I used sentiments from the set Hope Blooms.

I have the most AWESOME daughter. She's thoughtful, kind, helpful and beautiful, with a touch of orneriness that she got from her father...*grin* So when I saw the sentiment "You're an amazing..." I knew I would add "daughter" to the end of it!!

See the flower? I made that with the new Floral Circles A Cut Above dies. There are three sizes, and they work beautifully together. All I did was cut out 3 of each size, spritz them with water, crinkle them up and shape them, and then let dry. After they're all dry, I hot glue each layer, and add some stickles to the edges. E-A-S-Y!!!

I also added that fun strip of Prima Rhinestones and lace to the bottom. They lined up beautifully with the EK Success Punch I used!!

That's it for my card today. Be sure to check out the other diva favorite over at the Verve Blog.
Happy Stamping!!

Stamps: Love Deepens (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), 5th Avenue (Melissa Frances)
Ink: Smokey Gray (Versafine), Old Paper and Broken China (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Floral Circles (A Cut Above Verve Die), Fancy Tags 2 and Classic Ovals (Spellbinders), Lace and Pearl Border (Prima), Border Punch (EK Success), Leaves Punch (Martha Stewart), Rhinestones (I-Roc), Pearls (Zva Creative), Stardust Stickles, Sewing Machine

An Easter Waltz

Welcome to the friends of Waltzingmouse blog Waltz. On the 17th of each month everyone is invited to join in on the fun!! The theme this month is Easter. For more information, head on over to the Waltzingmouse Forum, and check out how you can win a Waltzingmouse stamp set of your choice.

Our Easter Break has officially begun, and what a way to start off vacation!! A Waltz with Waltzingmouse Stamps.

I decided I wanted a cross as my focal point. So, first, I made a background by stamping one of the banners from the Waltzingmouse Vintage Banners set with Papaya Cream Pigment ink (ColorBox). I love the softness of this image and how the top of the banner looks like a ribbon going down the side when interlocking each banner. For the cross, I used a variety of Spellbinders dies: Fancy Tags 2, Parisian Motifs, and the Cross Collection. They're layered with Dimensional tape with a lot sparkle added. Unfortunately my photography skills are lacking. So click on the photos to see it better. :)

The sentiment at the top is from the WMS Spring Baskets set, and is framed with a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner.

That's it for me. :)
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a fabulous week!!
Happy Stamping my friends!!

Stamps: Vintage Banners, Spring Baskets (Waltzingmouse)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Papaya Cream (ColorBox)
Accessories: Ribbon Banners, Fancy Tags 2, Parisian Motifs, and the Cross Collection (Spellbinders), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Scor-Pal, Satin Ribbon and Button (PTI), Silver Cord (May Arts), Rhinestones (I-Roc), Quickie Glue Pen, Ultrafine Glitter, Dimensional Tape (Scotch)