Sites of the week

The other day I got my Verve Visual Design Team package in the mail and it is fantabulous!! I can’t show you all the good stuff yet, but Julee has just released FOUR brand spankin’ new sentiment sets that ROCK!! This is one of the sentiments from the Uplifting Phrases set.
I made this card for a fabulous friend that has a birthday coming up. She loves Bellas and Verve, so I thought they would be a perfect combo. I just think that Parisbella pairs perfectly with “you’re fabulous.” I colored her in with Copics and highlighted areas with my clear Spica pen. The background on the top green layer is from Cornish Heritage Farms. They just came out with a slew of cool new background stamps. This one is called Geometric Flowers II. The bottom panel is Cuttlebugged. For my finishing touches, I added May Arts ribbon, some bling bling to her hair bows and the the dog’s bow, and some paper ric-rac from Doodlebug Designs Paper Frills.

I’ll be back tomorrow with my card that combines this month’s Dirty Dozen (past and present) challenge with Celebrate MFT.

Yesterday we took Ellie to see Santa. We pretty much knew what the picture was going to look like, but traumatized our only child anyway. When we were in line she was looking at Santa, she was rockin’ along to him singing carols in between kiddos, she was happy. Then came our turn. (Insert spooky movie music here) Tony was holding her and he walked up to Santa and asked her to sit in his lap. If words could describe the death grip she had on his shirt!!! We got her into Santa’s lap, 3 quick snaps of the camera and this was the best one. Hey, at least she is looking at the camera (nevermind the fact that I am standing right next to it!)

This is one for the memory books!! Actually, it’s for this ADORABLE frame that I got from my super duper secret ELF from SCS . Thanks, ELF!!!

Have a wonderful day!! I’m off to have lunch with Susan and Shannan. Apparently we just can’t get enough of each other these days!!

I came across this little Wordsworth sentiment awhile back at Recollections and thought it was just so cute. Nothing fancy about it, just a cute little stamp for sending a card to a friend. I pull it out from time to time, but haven’t used it as much as I thought I might would. Truth is, a lot of my stamps fall into that category. I love all of them, but just don’t get a chance to use them as much as I thought I would originally. I don’t like them any less, but think that I might have too much to choose from {gotta say, not a bad problem} and some just sit there a bit underloved.
Well, this one got a little lovin’ on Saturday. Shannan and Susan came over and we sipped wine and stamped until about midnight. We had a blast! I got a couple of cards done and worked a tiny bit on Ellie’s teacher’s gifts. I paired this “hi there” sentiment up with this cuuutie patoootie Bella. I love the simplicity of this layout. It was easy to make more dynamic with layers, stitching and the sentiment panel. The Bella is colored in with Copic markers. Her skates and jacket a highlighted with a clear Spica Pen {gotta say again, THIS PEN ROCKS!!}

I created “fur” on her jacket and the ball on her hat by using liquid applique. Here is a detail shot in which you can see the applique, coloring and highlighting a bit better.

We are off to see Santa today. I have a good feeling that it is not going to be an all smiles shot. I’ll share tomorrow…given that it’s not too bad

Happy Saturday friends!! I’m here with another Sketch For You To Try. I hope that you will enjoy working this one and I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with!!

***When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword SFYTT and be sure to link to this post:)***

Be sure to check out the awesome samples made by my friends, Carole Burrage, Shannan Teubner and Susan Liles! I get to stamp with Shannan and Susan tonight!! Yay!!

Here’s my sample made with Gina K stamps… {see announcement below!!}

Did you see, did you see? I’m Gina K’s Guest Designer for December!! Thank you so much for this incredible honor Gina!! Over the next few days, you can check out the projects I made for Gina K Designs HERE
Here’s a sneak peek of one of the projects

Today is my mom’s birthday!! There won’t be much of a party though, as she is being released from the hospital today. As you may know, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last month. She had planned to undergo surgery on the 8th of January for the cancer, but needed a release from her cardiologist. On Tuesday she went to her cardiologist and a blockage was found and yesterday she had 3 stints put in to alleviate the blockage. So there will be no party. I am glad that they found this though before something worse of it. It is a long road to recovery from everything that she is going through and I certainly appreciate everyone’s prayers and well wishes.

A few nights ago I sat down to make a birthday for her. I wanted it to be elaborate and grand. While I am happy with what I came out with, it is a lot more basic than what I originally thought that I would end up with. The gift image and sentiment are from My Favorite Things and the Polka Dot background is from SU!. I chose the red and brown combo for something a little different. The gifts are partially colored in with my new Spica Clear Glitter pen {purchased at eclectic Paperie}. This pen rocks!

On another note, have you gotten your most recent issue of Take Ten yet? I am grinning from ear to ear that I have a 3 page spread starting on page 122. It’s all about FAKING IT!!!..hey, get your mind out of the gutter!!

Tomorrow I will have a fun and funky Sketch For You To Try that I hope you will try. See ya then