Hearty Giftcard Holder

Hi friends!  Happy Saturday!  I'm popping in today with a fun little matchbook style gift card holder using the Envelope Punch Board.

I watched a video tutorial by Jackie Topa, wrote down measurements and then when I sat down to make my little matchbook gift card holder, I realized my Scor-pal didn't have a score line where I needed to score and the mental math portion of my brain apparently spontaneously combusted.  LOL  So, I tried again and made the mistake in the other direction.  I'm blaming it on no sleep, cold medicine, cranky twins, a whole lot of work  and not nearly enough pumpkin pie.  {grin}

Anyhow, to salvage my project I made some adjustments to make it into a square matchbook. Here are my measurements, if you end up wanting a square gift card holder.  My finished project is 4.25" square.  My starting piece was 4.25" x 8.75" and I scored at 1-3/4", 6" and 6-1/8".

The soft suede matchbook layer is stamped with the heart from Chevron Love in Early Espresso.  I added a little decor to the opening of my matchbook as well.  The hearts are cut with the Heart Quartet Die, then I paper pieced the designer paper hearts into the crumb cake layer, adding a bunch of sponging.  The sentiment is also from  Chevron Love and is on a cut from the Flag It Die Set.

For the inside, I chose a fun little print for the liner.  Pay no attention to the ugly fake amex card that I use to scrape paint off my projects with.  I was using it for size reference and meant to switch it out to a real gift card before photos, but it just didn't happen.

Today (Saturday, Nov. 30) is the final day of our 50% off deals at Verve, so if you haven't had a chance to shop yet, now's your chance!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Chevron Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft suede, crumb cake, early espresso (SU!), Bramble Rose (MME), 25th and Pine (BasicGrey)
Ink: early espresso (SU!), Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: Heart Quartet Die, Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Envelope Punch Board (WRMK), Classic & Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Liquid Pearls (Ranger), Scor-Pal

Birthday Viva la Verve!

{Click here for my Verve New Release Blog Hop Post}

Hi friends!  Happy Friday!  We had a great Thanksgiving with family and I'm just popping in quickly today to say I'm hosting the Viva la Verve! sketch over in our forum this week.  For December, we're doing a Best of Viva la Verve! series, where each hostess is picking a favorite sketch from the archives. Come play along with us this month for a chance to win a Verve gift certificate!

The sketch I chose was originally the sketch for September 2009 Week 4 and was designed by Amber Hight.  I loved the layering and don't think I ever got a chance to try this one out, so couldn't wait to give it a go!

For my card, I pulled out Poppy Birthday and the Bundle of Joy Dots & Stripes paper pad I bought a while back and still haven't had a chance to use.  For the sentiment square, I stamped a couple of the sketchy poppies from Poppy Birthday in soft sky around the sentiment.  Next I used the Build a Poppy Die Set to cut a poppy and leaves, then stamped with the coordinating stamps.  Instead of ribbon, I chose to use the Award Banner Trim Die (which is back in stock!) and dressed it up with rhinestones and Pastel Sequin Mix .  The top scallop border is just a bit of the Award Banner Trim with just the top portion cut off and glued to my panel.

I hope you get a chance to come play along with the sketch this week!  And don't forget the sales going on at Verve..

I've marked 50 products 50% off through Sunday, Nov. 30.  These deals are only good through Saturday, so be sure to shop early for best selection.

In addition, we've also got a Thanksgiving Sale going on through December 4.  All of our stamps and dies are 25% off, INCLUDING the new releases! 

Enabler's List
Stamps:  Poppy Birthday (Verve)
Paper: Bundle of Joy Dots & Stripes (Echo Park), basic black (SU!), white
Ink: soft sky (SU!), jasminte white (Mix'd Media Inx), black
Accessories:  Build a Poppy Die Set, Award Banner Trim Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Pastel Sequin Mix (Verve), rhinestones, Stars & Swirls embossing folder (Sizzix)

Preparing Room and a Blog Hop

Hi friends!  It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving here in the States and I've got a whole lot to be thankful for.  I have never been so grateful to have a job that allows me to work flexible hours all from the comfort (or more often chaos) of my own home.  Hearing the laughter of little boys down the hall while I'm working keeps me going when I've lost my drive and don't think I can possibly finish a website in time!

And speaking of finishing a website, Verve released a few new and re-arranged products just this morning!  I'm the start of a delightful little blog hop showcasing the new stamps, and there just happens to be a delightful little prize (a $75 gift certificate to Verve) for a delightful little commenter along the hop.  So grab something delicious, settle in for a treat, and leave a little comment love as you hop about!

My card features the new Every Heart Plain Jane, paired with the snowflakes from Holiday Treats. In my wanderings the other day, I saw a printed card (you know like the kind other people buy in the store?) that was just black with some simple white snowflakes and a Merry Christmas sentiment.  It was just lovely, and I decided to make a handmade card inspired by it, adding a bit of a chalkboard look.  So the Every Heart Plain Jane and the snowflakes are all stamped in Versamark and then embossed in white on black card stock.  I then stamped over each snowflake with Jasmine White Mix'd Media Inx and then smudged with my finger to achieve the chalky look.  Next I added some super sparkly swarovski rhinestones to the centers of the snowflakes and added a bow using ribbon from the back in stock Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection.  Some distressed edges and more white ink rubbed onto the black layer finish things off just shabbily!  {grin}

Okay, that's the eye candy here, but I have a little Verve sale info to share with you, too!

I've marked 50 products 50% off for the rest of November.  These deals are only good through Saturday, so be sure to shop early for best selection.

In addition, we've also got a Thanksgiving Sale going on through December 4.  I've marked all Verve stamps and dies down 25% off, INCLUDING the new releases!  Woohoo!  That's rad!

Okay, want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $75 gift certifcate to Verve! Comment deadline for the prize drawing is Sunday, December 1.

Next up on the hop is Amber!!!

	1. Julee	8. Laurie W.
	2. Amber	9. Marisa
	3. Andrea	10. Maureen
	4. Charmaine	11. Stacey
	5. Christyne	12. Teresa
	6. Janelle	13. Verve Blog
	7. Jen

Enabler's List
Stamps: Every Heart Plain Jane, Holiday Treats (Verve Stamps)
Paper: black, white
Ink: Versamark, Jasmine White Mix'd Media Inx
Accessories: Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), swarovski crystal rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), paper distresser, white embossing powder

Season's Circles

Hi friends!  It's Monday again and time for another Mojo Monday sketch!  This week's our round or square option, so I hope you have fun with those shapes.  Speaking of shapes, I'm also wrapping up the Shape Up Diva Dare over on the Verve Blog today.  Head on over there for all the deets on my card and a chance to win some Verve!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Holiday Treats (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Christmas Basics (DCWV), white
Ink: wild wasabi (SU!), 
Accessories:  wild wasabi ribbon (SU!), white scrapper's floss (Karen Foster), glittered jingle bells (Michael's), rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Classic & Scallop Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), doily lace border punch (Martha Stewart)

Gift Card Envelopes

Hi friends!  Happy Thursday!  Today I'm popping in to share a couple of simple little gift card envelopes I made with the latest Verve release and my new Envelope Punch Board.

I love to receive gift cards, so I often give them as well and I was so excited at how easy and fun the base of these little envelopes were to make with the Envelope Punch Board.  I had a couple different brands of kraft cardstock on my desk, so that's what I used for the envelopes, making them the 2.5 x 3.5" size.  Then I cut two 3.25" x 2" pieces of patterned paper from my scrap pile and matted them with Soft Suede cardstock.

For this first one, I used the Chevron Love set, stamping the sentiment onto the patterned paper piece, then stamping the heart onto soft suede and 25th and Pine, then cutting the soft suede heart with the coordinating Jotted Heart Die and cutting the inner portion from the DP and paper piecing over my heart.

For the next one, I pulled out the Holiday Treats set and stamped the sentiment.  Then I stamped both cups in Soft Suede, then again on 25th and Pine paper.  The soft suede mugs are cut with the coordinating Cup of Cheer Die Set and then I paper pieced the accent pieces on each cup and added some steam to each cup.  Super easy, fast and perfect for a little coffee gift card!

Well, that's all from me.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a fabulous day!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Chevron Love, Holiday Treats (Verve)
Paper: soft suede, crumb cake (SU!), kraft, scrap DP, 25th and Pine DP (BasicGrey)
Ink: soft suede (SU!)
Accessories:  Jotted Heart Die, Cup of Cheer Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Envelope Punch Board (WRMK)

Reindeer Holidays

Hi friends!  Monday is here again and it's time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  This one's a simple one with clean lines so you can dress it up or down.  I chose to flip it 180 degrees to fit my images.

My papers are from the yummy 25th and Pine Collection and I matted with soft suede, adding some punched borders.  The tag from Holiday Treats is stamped onto Sahara Sand, then cut with the coordinating Tagged Rectangle Die.  I tied it on with seam binding from the Signature Ribbon Collection, then added some rusty jingle bells and twine for accent.  The reindeer image is from the Unto Us set and is cut with the coordinating Reindeer Fun Die Set.  I finished off with some sparkly swarovski rhinestones along the punched border and an embossed sahara sand card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fantastic day!

Enabler's List
Stamps:  Holiday Treats, Unto Us (Verve Stamps)
Paper: 25th and Pine (BasicGrey), soft suede, sahara sand (SU!)
Ink: soft suede (SU!), Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)
Accessories:  Tagged Rectangle Die, Reindeer Fun Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Signature Ribbon Collecion (Verve), rusty jingle bells (Frost it Pink), twine, swarovski smoked topaz rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty),  border punch (SU!), stars & swirls embossing folder (Sizzix)

White Christmas

Hi friends!  It's Friday and time for another Viva la Verve! sketch.  This week's sketch is from Anya, and is a super fun one.  I pulled out the new Holiday Treats set and got stampy!

For some reason, I've been really drawn to white lately.  Then every time I go to photograph my card I wonder why on earth I keep making white cards!  They're so hard to photograph, especially in the dark of night after the kiddos are finally asleep.  LOL  So you can see a hint of the snowflake embossing on the white base layer, but not the full effect of it's texture and general yumminess!

I used the three sizes of snowflakes in Holiday Treats for a little background stamping on the three old olive panels, then embossed the small and medium snowflake in white on cherry cobbler, then punched out with circle punches.  The sentiment is stamped in cherry cobbler and I added the coffee swirl to the m for a little mistletoe like flourish.  The ribbon is from the Red, White and Beautiful Collection and I finished off with some glittery white jingle bells and liquid pearl accents on my snowflakes and scalloped oval.

That's all, folks!  I hope you have a crazy wonderful start to your weekend!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll leave you with a silly pic of my boys "monkeying" around yesterday in their new hats.  A little out of focus because they're rocking in the rocking chair, but I love their little smiles!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Holiday Treats (Verve)
Paper: old olive, cherry cobbler (SU!), white
Ink: old olive, cherry cobbler (SU!), versamark
Accessories:  Red, White and Beautiful Collection (Verve), Classic & Scallop Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), circle punches, liquid pearls, glittered jingle bells, snowflake embossing folder (Darice), white embossing powder

Cheer

Hi friends!  It seems like just yesterday was Monday, and here it is again, time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  I'm going to keep this super short and sweet as I've been sick all weekend with the flu.

For the card, I used some scraps on my desk... cups from the Holiday Treats set that I'd already stamped and cut with the coordinating Cup of Cheer Die Set.  I cut a couple strips of designer paper that had Christmas phrases on it for my banners, then added the have a cup of cheer sentiment on a Flag It die cut.  A bit of seam binding, some rusty jingle bells sprinkled with glass glitter and a snowflake embellishment finish things off.

Well, back to bed for me.  I hope you have a wonderful, healthy start to your week!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Holiday Treats (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Santa's List (Teresa Collins), black (SU!), white (neenah)
Ink: black, cherry cobbler (SU!)
Accessories:  Cup of Cheer Die Set, Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection (Verve), rusty jingle bells (Frost it Pink), glass glitter, snowflake brad, Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Happy Holidays and a HOP!

Hi friends, happy Tuesday!  You're at the first stop on Verve's November Diva Inspirations Hop! The Divas love to get their Verve inky whether the stamps are hot off the presses, or a little worn around the edges. So today you'll see Diva creations to inspire you with both old and new Verve! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, one lucky commenter along today's hop will win Verve's October Release Collection! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the details.

I've been spending a lot of time shipping orders recently, and the O Christmas Tree set keeps catching my eye each time I pack one, so I decided to pull it out and give it a little love.  I thought the wreath image would be perfect for the current Curtain Call Challenge and of course I was drawn to the aqua and brown colors in the inspiration photo.  My layout is this week's Viva la Verve! sketch.

The papers are from the 25th and Pine collection by BasicGrey.  I stamped the wreath image in Early Espresso, embossed in clear, then colored with Copic markers, accenting with glossy accents, some chocolate pearls and glitter.  All of my edges are distressed a little and sponged with Frayed Burlap ink.  I stamped the happy holidays sentiment onto a die cut from the Flag It Die Set  then tied it around the card with some early espresso baker's twine.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'm sure you're just going to love what Amy Kolling has to share on the next stop along the hop!  Happy hopping!

	1. Julee	10. Tiffany
	2. Amy	11. Teresa
	3. Anya	12. Maureen
	4. Betty	13. Andrea
	5. Jessica	14. Stacey {Guest}
	6. Karen	15. Charmaine
	7. Sankari	16. Marisa
	8. Sarah	17. Christyne
	9. Susan

Enabler's List
Stamps: O Christmas Tree (Verve)
Paper: 25th and Pine (BasicGrey), soft suede (SU!), cream (Neenah)
Ink: early espresso (SU!), Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), dark chocolate flatback pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), espresso baker's twine, dazzling diamonds glitter (SU!), paper distresser, glossy accents

Lovebird Christmas

Hi friends!  It's the first Monday of the month and that means it's contest week over at Mojo Monday!  Play along with this week's sketch for a chance to win one of several prizes from Verve! The more entries we have, the more prizes, so stamp to your heart's content!

My card uses a whole lot of mix and match Verve goodness!  The chevron tag, snowflake and two sentiments are from the new Holiday Treats set.  The tag is stamped in cherry cobbler, the main sentiment and snowflake in black and the Merry Christmas sentiment  in old olive onto designer paper.  The tag is cut with the Tagged Rectangle Die and I added a bow from the Stormy Skies Ribbon Collection   The snowflake is cut with the Winter Fun Die Set and I colored with a blender pen, then coated with glossy glaze and some glitter sprinkles.

The birds are from the Bright Spirits set and I used the solid bird duo stamp from Love Story to coat them with Versamark and emboss with Iridescent Ice.  They're cut with the coordinating Love Birds Die Set   My leafy sprigs are from the  Sunny Days set and I stamped in always artichoke and embossed with Iridescent Ice before cutting with the Leafy Sprigs Die Set.  I finished off with some silver gray pearls on my snowflake center and the top and bottom of my border strip.

There you have it!  A whole lot of die cutting fun!  {grin}  I hope you have a fantastic start to your week!  Stay warm!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Holiday Treats, Bright Spirits, Sunny Days, Love Story (Verve Stamps)
Paper: 'Tis the Season and Christmas This & That (Echo Park), Cream (Neenah)
Ink: cherry cobbler, old olive, always artichoke (SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko), black (TPC Studios)
Accessories: Tagged Rectangle Die, Winter Fun Die Set, Leafy Sprigs Die Set, Love Birds Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Stormy Skies Ribbon Collection (Verve), silver gray flatback pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), corner rounder

His Name

Hi friends!  Happy Friday!  I'm popping in with a quick little Christmas card I made with the new Unto Us set.  I love the sentiments in this set.  That probably sounds weird since I designed them, but I just love the fonts and the meaning behind the words and every time I pull out the set I'm inspired!

For this card, I stamped the They shall call His name Jesus stamp onto a piece of designer paper. I thought the sketchy scroll on the paper really matched the font, so I made sure to crop it so the sentiment would nestle into it.  The snowflake is stamped in early espresso, cut out with the Reindeer Fun coordinating die set and then accented with flatback pearls.  The ribbon is from the  Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection   The espresso layer is embossed with a Tim Holtz Christmas folder and I cropped it so just the CHRIST would show up top, then layered onto a white card base embossed with a Darice snowflakes folder.  Less than 10 minutes and I was done.  Woohoo!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Oh, and if you missed the 15% off coupon code from Verve, I've extended it through the end of the day (changed to November 4).  I never can remember what time zone my shopping cart goes by and didn't want the coupon to expire while those of us on the West Coast were still trying to shop, so I set the expiration out a day.  The code is OCTFAN and it takes 15% off your entire order, (except gift certificates and the October Release Collection).  Happy November!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Unto Us (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Santa's List (Teresa Collins), old olive, early espresso (SU!)
Ink: early espresso
Accessories: Reindeer Fun Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Autumn Elements Ribbon Collection (Verve), Christmas embossing folder (Tim Holtz), snowflake embossing folder (Darice), flatback pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty)