Time To Make a Change

Last week I was very busy at work and had no energy to stamp in the evenings.  The project that I was working on was nearly done by Friday, so it was a relief to put all that stress aside and get inky in my stamp room this weekend.

I have a friend that hinted to me recently that she wants to make a career change.  She was not ready to reveal the details to me, but I figured that's no reason not to support her so I made this fun card that I think she'll get a kick out of.

I used the sketch from the Fusion #7 challenge and this adorable stamp set, aptly called Change.  And this stamp set is particularly appropriate because my friend has been in the banking business for many years!  (The stamp set is available during the month of May for FREE at The Alley Way Stamps store.  Stop by and check out the details).

After my long week, I was looking forward to getting down and dirty in my vegetable garden this weekend.  I bought some of the plants and some compost, and was just getting ready to go outside when I got a call from my father that he needed some help ASAP with some of his VFW work.  Duty calls, so the veggies will have to wait another week.  Good thing we've got a long weekend coming up!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Freshly Made Sketches 86

Hey everyone!  It's time for a brand new sketch this week from Freshly Made Sketches!  Amy is our hostess this time around and this is the first sketch she's ever designed so be sure to let her know how much you love it!  I love it because it leaves lots of room for creative interpretation.

I decided to go a little CAS on the background (shocking, I know) and focus all the attention on the rectangular layer.  I used a little washi, some die cut leaves, some pretty little blue flowers and a bit of black grosgrain ribbon.  I have about a gazillion yards of grosgrain ribbon in my stash in every color that Stampin' Up! made and I hardly ever use it.  It seems like grosgrain is so last decade because I hardly ever see it anymore, and for that very reason I used it on my card today.  I don't think you can really tell from the photo  that's what that skinny black strip is, but I know what it is and I feel better for reducing my stash a little bit!

Oops, I almost forgot to mention that I also made this card for the Dynamic Duos anniversary challenge.  This week is challenge #52 and we get to pick whatever colors we want from the past year.  I went all the way back to challenge #1 because I LOVE Lucky Limeade and I'm so disappointed that it didn't make it to the regular line up of SU colors.  And it looks pretty good with Pool Party too!

I hope you have time to join us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  The design team has cooked up some great cards for you so head on over.  Then join us in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Stippled Blossoms (SU)

Accessories:  Fresh Foliage die (Memory Box); washi tape

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Beautiful Birdie

Since The Alley Way Stamps released Bird Brain I finally have a good excuse to use this tropical DSP from Island Oasis!

This paper had been languishing in my stash so imagine my squeal of delight when I realized this adorable, tropical bird would look right at home with it!  I colored her up with Copics and accented the image with the cute chevron arrows from tag-alongs.  And that sentiment is priceless, don't you think!!  The latest sketch from retro sketches provided my layout.

I'll be back in a bit with my card for the newest Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  Until then, thanks for stopping by!

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colourQ 189

Are you ready for some gorgeous colors for this week's colourQ challenge?  These colors are the kind that make the gallery fill up with gorgeous entries!  So here we go!

I have actually followed the latest challenge from CAS(E) This Sketch for this card, although it may not seem so.  I think I took a bit of poetic license with the layout but when I designed this card in my head it was a perfect fit for that sketch.  Somehow I got a little off track, but I still think you can see it in there somewhere!

This week at colourQ we are welcoming a brand new member to our royal court, Melissa Oeters!  Be sure to pop on over to her blog and say hello!  And don't forget to check out the inspiration from the always amazing colourQ design team!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Daring Adventure (SU); Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

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A Birthday Card for CFC100 and STB16

The challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is a tic tac toe to celebrate the milestone of 100 challenges!  That's quite an accomplishment so I really wanted to play along.  I based my card on the horizontal row in middle of square card, bling and text.  And I combined that challenge with the sketch at Seize the Birthday.

Instead of creating layers on my card I decided to draw black lines with a marker around this pretty floral image from the Verve stamp sets Let It Be and the birthday text from Take Note.  I added a black rhinestone to the center of the flower, then a few more scattered to the left of the flower.  I hope that black rhinestones qualifies as bling!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Let it Be, Take Note (Verve)

Accessories:  Black Rhinestones (KaiserCraft)

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More Verve and Deconstructed Sketch 100

If you have visited my blog over the last few days you will know that I was very lucky to be part of the May release team for Verve stamps.  I spent the last four days showcasing cards that were made with some brand new stamps sets and I've got a couple more to share today and tomorrow.

This card uses the stamps from On Occasion as well as the Occasion Frame die.  My layout is from the Deconstructed Sketch No. 100 celebration and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for this particular stamp set.  From there I decided on a Father's Day card which lead to these colors, which I think are particularly masculine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps:  On Occasion (Verve)

Paper:  Avery Elle Kraft; Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze (SU)

Accessories:  Midway Button (October Afternoon); Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon, Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon (SU)

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BE Inspired 28

Hello everyone!  It's time for the latest BE Inspired challenge from The Alley Way Stamps and your chance to win some freebies!  This week the challenge has got some lovely, soft colors as well as some stripey goodness that I know you're going to love!

I went with the beautiful colors of white and pink (Blushing Bride) with a bit of pop from dark brown (Early Espresso) to make this card featuring the fun tag and hot steaming cup of joe from tag-alongs.  A sentiment from Mad Gab finished this off perfectly!

Did you know that you could win some free stamps from The Alley Way Stamps just by participating in the BE Inspired Challenge?  Well you can just by using images from The Alley Way Stamps.  And if you don't own any stamps you can download fee digis right HERE!

You have until noon TAWS time on Thursday, May 23rd to enter your project.  One lucky winner will be the Top Pick and will win a stamp set of their choice!  And another lucky winner will be chosen randomly and will also receive a stamp set of their choice!  You can't pass that up!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Verve May Spotlight - Day 4

Welcome to day 4 of our May 2013 Spotlight Hops!  Today we're shining our Verve spotlights on the new stamps Teachers Count, Apple Die Set, All Occasion, Occasion Frame Die and Promoted Plain Jane. Each of the release team Divas and Guest Divas below has posted her first look at these new stamps today. As you hop through the list below, you just might see some super sneaky peeks of new coordinating dies and ribbons, so keep your eyes peeled! Everything you see previewed along today's hop will be available in Verve's online store on Friday, May 10.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines. Woohoo! Let's get started...

This has been an amazing week for me because I actually got to participate in a Verve blog hop that showcases the new stamps that will be available in the Verve store TONIGHT!!!  A Verve stamp was the very first clear stamp that I ever purchased and I am as amazed now as I was then at Julee's beautiful images and creative and meaningful sentiments.  I've had a blast this week and now it's time to show you my final project for the blog hop.

Since the end of the school year is fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to make a card and a small gift featuring some of the stamps from Teachers Count.  I know that a lot of people like to give small gifts to their child's teacher and this stamp set is perfect for that.  I made a small square card with a sentiment that says it all, plus a little pillow box gift box that will hold a gift card.  I think you'll agree that the sentiments in this set are designed to show all the teachers in our lives how much we appreciate them and influence they have made on us!

If you've been following along on the blog hop you should have arrived here from Andrea's blog.  And next up is Laurie W.  But if you just stumbled here, then below you will find the Master Hop List!  

1. Julee 8. Andrea 2. Charmaine 9. Jen M. 3. Teresa 10. Laurie W. 4. Stacey 11. Laurie S. 5. Amber 12. Janelle 6. Christyne 13. Maureen 7. Marisa 14. Jen S.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Teachers Count, Take Note, Notebook Paper

Cardstock:  Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla (SU)

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Real Red, Old Olive (SU); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Accessories:  Rounded Rectangle Die (Verve); Stitched Mat Square die (Lil Inker Designs); Polka Dots Basics ribbon (Verve)

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