Sites of the week

Hi Stampy Friends! It’s time for another VERVE DIVA INSPIRATION HOP! We’ve switched things up just a little. Last year we hopped on the 1st of each month, but this year we are moving it to the 5th of each month. That darn 1st of the month just sneaked up on us too quickly!

Like I mentioned above, this is a HOP! If you didn’t come here from Jackie’s blog, take a moment to rewind to the start of the hop HERE on Betty’s blog, where there is also a full list of today’s hoppers!

Back in October and November, I made some 3D pumpkin and ornament tags using a circle punch along with stamps and dies from Verve. I have had a blast making those tags, so I thought why not do some in a Valentine theme!?! Instead of circle punches, I used the Jotted Heart Die as my 3D element…

THE HOW TO:
Each 3D heart is created from four die cut hearts. Since the shape is not symmetrical and I wanted each heart cut from the same pattern paper, I cut 2 from one side of the pattern paper then flipped the paper over and cut another 2. Of course, you can make them with different pattern on each heart, which would be lots of fun for school or wedding colors, etc. Then score each one down the center and adhere the reverse sides to each other.

Detail of the lace ribbon, tulle and button combo on each. I used different thread/cording/twine on each one. This one shows my favorite of all time Linen Thread…

Tag #1, using stamped hearts from the Love Notes set {stamped on all the tags} and a sentiment from the Happy Phrases set…

Tag #2, stamped with the same hearts and a sentiment from the Love Notes set…

And finally, tag #3 with a sentiment from the Heart’s Desire set…

Verve is releasing some fun new stamps and dies on January 13th. Once you see those, I bet you can guess what my next 3D tag set will be!

Now, it’s time for you to keep on hop, hop, hopping along to Jen Tapler’s blog where she has some more great Verve inspiration for you!

Usually when I sit down to create something, I end up adding layers or embellishments to the project that I had in mind. This time something completely different happened. I had a bunch of the layers laid out and ready to get glued and sewn and I saw something. Something simple and without layers, using these trees from the Verve Winter Fun die set and the beautiful font from Bright Spirits set {one of my all time fave Christmas sets…EVER!}…

The first set of trees that I did were glittery, but I wasn’t loving them…for this card. I end up with a simple line of Stickles for my glistening snow…

I have to say that I like the way that it came out! When I go to grab my Verve stamps, I almost always have a card in my head that had layers upon layers and various embellishments. However, I am finding that many of these stamps {and dies!} are speaking to the other side of my creativity…clean and simple. What’s even better about this card {in my opinion, at least} is that it can be changed up in so many ways without losing the clean and simple nature of it. I think I may just give it a go with all pattern paper layers!

Off I go. Lots on my to-do list today and only a little bit of time to get it done!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I started the decorating at our house the other day and I hope that I can get it finished this weekend. While I was hoping that the lights would get hung outside, the weatherman is predicting stay indoors or freeze your rear end weather…with some rain mixed in. I guess we’ll just have to get cozy while Clarice Pumpernickel watches over us. Clarice Pumpernickel is the name of our elf that comes each year to watch the kids and report back to Santa. Yesterday she landed in the small basketball hoop atop our gameroom door. Ellie whispered to her that she thought that might be a little bit too dangerous of a place and that she should probably find a safer place to hang out tomorrow {she’s in the sleigh now}. Gotta say that was pretty cute!

As for what’s been happening in the craft room…

You might remember THESE FALL TAGS that I did a little while ago. I mentioned at the end of the post that I thought they might be cute ornaments, so that’s the spin I did on these cute paper balls.

Detail shots of each tag…

I used sentiments from the new Verve set, BRIGHT SPIRITS. Oh, how I {heart} this font! The base these tags is the TAGGED RECTANGLE DIE, also from Verve. The tag die is probably one of my faves of all time! I see a whole bunch more tags cutting cut in the very near future to put on all my Christmas gifties!

Speaking of gifties…I gotta run and make some! Have a great day!

Happy Black Friday! Did you brave the crowds and get all your shopping done last night? Tony ventured out for a little last night and then we all went out this morning. No, we didn’t think that dragging 2 kids into Black Friday mayhem was a great idea, we wanted Nic to fall asleep in the car since he’s not feeling well and has had some trouble at nap time the last few days. Our plan worked, we hit several stores {I sent Tony in} and he slept for a good 2 hours in the car. Speaking of the lil’ man not feeling well…Thanksgiving dinner was highlighted by Nic throwing up at the dinner table, as Tony and I tag teamed getting paper towels and cleaning up the “mess.” While I am thankful for the time spent together, this won’t be a Thanksgiving to remember…but it surely won’t be one that I will forget!

I went with the bright colors from the leftovers of my Echo Park Splash 6×6 pad and paired it with this inspirational quote from the WORDS OF WISDOM set from Verve. After I thought I as finished with the card, it seemed like it needed “something.” That something was this little tab with the “Just Start” sentiment…

I accented the main panel with a die cut FLUTTERBY butterfly, also from Verve…

The sketch I used is from this month’s {VERVE sponsored!} SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

Have you done this month’s SFYTT? Be sure to share your card with us and upload to this linky system {also on the ORIGINAL NOVEMBER SFYTT POST}. Julee, the owner of Verve, is offering a chance to win a Verve set if you play along this month with Verve stamps. Happy stamping and good luck…

It’s the start Sneaky Peek Week for The Cat’s Pajamas and we’re kicking it off with this fun Inspiration Challenge for TCP Tuesday…

There are so many things that you can take from these pictures. Color and texture are just a couple of things that come to mind. For this card, I took the overall wintery theme {and that wood button!!} and translated it into this card…

Detail shot…

Whatcha’ think of the new bunny? It’s called SNOW DAYS and will be released next Tuesday along with LOTS more stamps, dies and new seam binding ribbon! Yep, I said dies, too! Did you notice the SNOWFLAKE LACE PAPER? It’s TCP’s innovative answer to the doily…much more fun and fresh, if you ask me! What’s even better is that you can actually use the snowflakes that are cut from the paper!…

Want more inspiration and peeks at the new TCP goodies? Be sure to check out Alma’s blog. She also has full details on how to enter this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge and how you can be the next Swanky Stamper. Happy stamping and good luck!

ETA: Don’t forget to leave a comment on the IN IT TO WIN IT thread on our forum in SCS to be entered to win this set!