{Hello Sunshine} TCP Tuesday 345

Hi everyone,

it's finally spring here in Sweden and after a long winter, it feels so good to have the sun come out. And nothing says spring to me better than one of Alma's newer stamp sets: Family Forever. This cute bear with this ducky friend is just too adorable.

Here is my card:

I embossed the bear and the sentiment to make the blacks really pop. For the look of the fur on the bear I first colored the edges with water color pencils, then applied water and then went back over the wet surface with the water color pencils. 

Here a closer look:

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Sony

{Life is Good} TCP Tuesday 343

Hi everyone,

I've really enjoyed the new release blog hop by The Catpack over at the Cat's Pajamas.  I've enjoyed it so much I felt the need to make a spring card even though it's still pretty chilly over here in Sweden. 

I broke into my stash of stamps and came across this beauty here..retired now I'm afraid but the set was called Spring Fling by TCP. The grass die is from TCP as well. The sun is from the Scene It series by Papertrey Ink. The die is originally quite a bit larger so I used a circle die on top of it to trim it down. I used water color pencils for the grass and Poochie, distress ink for the sky and stickles glitter for the bling.

A closer look:

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Sony

{Happy Day} March Diva Inspiration Blog Hop

Ahh can you believe it?? It's March already!!! This year is going by fast already!! Anyway it is a new month, and a new blog hop! So here are all the verve-y details:

 This month we've got a fabulous challenge that's sure to put a string in your step! So in addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

Our March challenge is Spring Has Sprung:


It's time to ditch the winter blues! Create a card that sings Spring using inspirational quotes, pretty colors and florals or themes that celebrate new life. Whether you draw inspiration from the graphic or blaze your own trail, just show us what spring means to you!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines.

	1. Amy	11. Julee
	2. Anya	12. Teresa
	3. Betty	13. Stacey
	4. Jessica	14. Marisa
	5. Karen	15. Laurie
	6. Sankari	16. Maureen
	7. Sarah	17. Jen
	8. Sony	18. Christyne
	9. Susan	19. Charmaine
	10. Tiffany	20. Andrea

so what does Spring mean to me?

Prelude to summer. Going on a diet (that dreaded swimsuit season is coming up) and pedicures! :) Even though we're currently going through a rainy patch here in Cali but it's much needed and I enjoy the rain so it's all good. :) 

So I used stamps from the set "Happy Days". I just love the surfer cool vibe this set has...funny enough I was watching Hawaii 5-0 when I made this card. Fitting don't you think?oh and the little "day" sentiment is from "Remember This". I paired this with the cute little ticket from The Cat's Pajamas. 

thank you so much for stopping by, happy hopping and good luck!!!

Sony

{Hello There}

Hi everyone,

I'm just stopping in real quick to show you a new card I made yesterday. I got some new paper pads and felt inspired :).

Hope you're having a great week and see you back soon!

Sony

{Spring has Sprung) TCP Tuesday Stamp Medley

Hi everyone,

I'm a little late for the TCP Tuesday's challenge but it was really more about this idea I got than anything else so no biggie. I'm starting a little new series that I like to call "Stamp Medley", meaning I'll take a bunch of different stamp sets (they can be from different companies but don't necessarily have to) and combine them in one project. Not all the revolutionary you say? Well, then you're ten steps ahead of me because I've caught myself using only stamps from the same set and doing that I've realized I've missed out on a whole lot of other great things you can do soo stamp medley. A personal reminder to not be afraid to mix a little more and match a little less. :)

So in spirit of the stamp medley  I've combined a few different sets in my peekaboo card here:

Sprinkles is from the TCP set Spring Fling, the word spring was spelled out using TCPs Coolvetica, the has sprung is from the TCP set Blow and the flowers are stamped using the Verve Set Surely Goodness (and cut out using matching dies).

that's about it for now!!

Thanks for stopping by and til next time!

Sony

{A Cheerful Friend} March Diva Inspiration Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and Welcome to Our March Verve Inspiration Blog Hop!!!

It's that time again...are you ready for a little inspiration?! I know my fellow Divas have lots in store for you so be sure to check it all out and leave a little comment so you can enter for  a chance to win a little Verve!!!

If you hopped along from Shannan's Blog you're right on track!!

My little card here features stamps from the sets Let It Shine and Text Objects! Two new sets for me and I'm sooo excited that I was able to break them out and play with them...especially fitting since we had absolutely wonderful weather in LA yesterday. (We'll see how long this lasts though...lately the weather has been slightly bipolar).

I'm in the middle of finals (only two more weeks left), plus I'm going out of town for a few days (without my computer YIKES!! lol I have separation anxiety already :), plus I'll be working on Harry's Law for a day next week and I have to have an updated demo reel ready at the end of finals, oh and I also have two written tests on top of final projects this term which means I actually have to study (and I I went to art school so I thought I'd never have to take a test again!! Pooh lol)....baasically I need to get my behind back to work but I hope you enjoy our little hop and here's your next stop:

the fabulously fun Susan!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Stamps: Let It Shine (Verve), Text Objects (Verve)

Paper: Kraft, Black, Ooh La La (MME), Crushed Curry (SU)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Crushed Curry (SU), Frayed Burlap (Distress Ink)
Accessories: Classy Label Cut Above Die (Verve), Layered Arches Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Brads, Copics, Stickles Glitter, Photo Corner Punch (SU), Ribbon, Pop-up Dots, Sewing Machine, Sponges

{What's Shaking?} Viva La Verve

Hello,

Have you had a chance to play along with this months' Viva La Verve challenges? I hope you have because the sketches so far have already been amazing and are sure to just keep on getting better and better. :) In case you haven't heard of Viva La Verve I'll post all the deets for ya at the end of this post.

First let me show you this week's sketch by Miss Andrea:

and now a little more info on my card:

I love love LOVE this bunny Julee designed. I think it's the cutest thing ever...don't ya just love that tail?! It reminds me of the squirrels at my parents house. Those are some cute little rascals. Nearly every time they hear the car pull out of the garage they hop to the garage and wait for my mom to throw some peanuts to them. Some of them come so close she can feed them by hand!! One time the door to the garage was open and one of them made it all the way inside on top of the cabinet where the bucket with the peanuts were. lol Imagine my mom's face when she walked into the garage to see the squirrel there!! I don't know who was more surprised...the squirrel or my mom! lol

Anyway back to the card... the bunny and sentiment are from the Verve mini set Bunny Shake.

I cut out the sentiment using Verve's Charming Banner Die Set and layered that on top of Verve's Charming Oval Die Set. The papers I used are from Cosmo Crickets' Earth Love collection and October Afternoon's Fly a Kite. Then all I did was added stitching, some ribbon and a button with some twine. 

Oh and I almost forgot...I added liquid applique to the bunny's tail for some fluffiness and some glitter to the bunny. {of course lol I can't seem to make a card that doesn't have glitter on it somewhere :)}

now let me fill you in on the Viva La Verve deets:

Every Friday, a Diva will post a sketch for your enjoyment. Your cards, using the sketches, must be uploaded by the last Thursday of the month (check for the due date below!) The winner will be announced on the next day and will win a $100 gift certificate to VERVE! How awesome is that?! Just a reminder, Verve stamps are NOT required but we love to see you use them. Feel free to flip, rotate, resize, or otherwise alter the sketch as long as we can tell you USED the sketch!  For January, we'll have FOUR sketches! All FOUR cards must be uploaded to the VLVJan2012 gallery by midnight, CST on Thursday, February 1st to be eligible to win this month's prize! Winner will be announced on February 2nd! GOOD LUCK! Keywords for the entire month will be VLVJan2012 and Verve (if using Verve stamps).

thanks so much for stopping by!!

'til next time,

Sony :)

Stamps: Bunny Shake (Verve)

Paper: Earth Love (CC), Fly a Kite (OA)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Frayed Burlap (Distress Ink)
Accessories: Charming Banner Die (Verve), Charming Oval Die (Verve), Nesties, Button, Twine, Ribbon, Copics, Glitter Glue, Liquid Applique, Heat Gun, Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine

{Live} Viva La Verve and an Update

Hi guys,

I wanted to give you an update on my dad before I jump into my card and stuff. After the initial round of chemo it was a little rough going at home. Dad is a difficult patient to say the least (who's dad isn't?) and it is really a huge transition for both of my parents. My mom used to be the one who was sick for many years and my dad was the one in charge. Now it's the other way around and well...let's just say it takes both of them some getting used to. ;)
Thankfully things got better and dad even managed to keep his weight up, which is really something to celebrate because chemo kills your taste buds. We were at the store pretty much every day, buying something for my dad. If he were a woman you'd thought he was pregnant!!! One day he wanted bean salad, the next one he wanted watermelon. lol But the most important thing was that he ate.
Today he starts his second round of chemo.

here's a picture of my mom and dad :)

If you'd like to send him and my mom a card...here's their address:
Norbert and Gisela Christoph
PO Box 560490
Rockledge, FL 32956

It means a great deal to him to get a card in the mail so if you have one to spare,
it would really make his day. Thank you kindly from me in advance!!

Speaking of cards...let me talk about my card:

Amber had a superfun sketch over at Viva La Verve and since I was trying to get rid of my jet lag (go figure I'm still on Eastern standard time :P) I thought stamping would be just the thing to do to stay awake lol.

Here's the sketch Amber came up with:

The sentiment and the cute little arrow are both from the Verve set Words of Wisdom. To get the tab I used the Sizzix on the Edge File Tab die and found out that the smaller sentiments of the Words of Wisdom set fit perfectly into the tab!!!! I mean PERFECTLY!!!! It was as if they were meant to go together!!! lol  Small things like that just make my day :)

Okay let's get back to the card...the flowers are from the set Verve set Amazing Wishes and that just leaves the cute Graph paper stamp with the matching die.

The papers I used are from Cosmo Crickets Garden Variety and Boyfriend collection. Some ribbon, stitching, flowers and glitter complete the card. :)

thanks so much for stopping by!!!

'til next time,

Sony :)

Stamps: Words of Wisdom (Verve), Amazing Wishes (Verve), Graph Paper (Verve)

Paper: Kraft, Garden Variety (CC), The Boyfriend (CC), Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Frayed Burlap (Distress Ink)
Accessories: Rounded Rectangle Die (Verve), File Tab Die (Sizzix), Copics, Mini Paperclip, Antique Brad (SU), Glitter Glue, Ribbon, Sponges, Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine, PaperFlowers

Mojo 196 & TCP Tuesday 164

Hi guys,

well I'm trying to finally get back into the swing of things...meaning life...and that includes a little bit of stamping which I got around to today...yay. So I kept it relatively simple today...using this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge and combined it with this week's TCP Tuesday stamp challenge.

I used one of my all-time favorite PJ stamps from the set What a Blast...only thing I did differently is I cut off the pinwheel stamp and replaced it with a 3D pinwheel...hehe. :) Oh and in case you're wondering where I got that cute 3D pinwheel from...I made it...using the Pinwheel CutUps die from the Cat's Pajamas. Gotta love a custom pinwheel right?!            

                                            

oh and there were some questions about what I'm doing, how I did this last term and why I sort of dropped of the planet for a while there soo let me tell you about it:                    

I'm currently studying 3D, computer animation, Visual FX...that sort of fun stuff and my ultimate goal is to become a matte painter. What is a matte painting? Well let me copy and paste the fine wikipedia definition since that one sounds so much better than any of my attempts at an explanation: A matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit. Historically, matte painters and film technicians have used various techniques to combine a matte-painted image with live-action footage. At its best, depending on the skill levels of the artists and technicians, the effect is "seamless" and creates environments that would otherwise be impossible to film.

 I hope that makes sort of sense?? Just think of some of those gorgeous deep backgrounds in Lord of the Rings or Avatar and know that those are actually 2 - 2 1/2D paintings and that's what I want to do. So far I only got 3 out of 6 grades back but so far I've got all B+ which is great, considering I was really forced to prioritize this term and let some classes slack. I'm happy. :)

and here's one of my environment design paintings I did this term:

so yeah that's what I want to do....when I grow up ;)

thanks so much for swinging by!!!

Have a great rest of the week!! I'm heading to the beach tomorrow!! The sun is finally coming out here in LA!!! It's about time!!

Sony

Stamps: What a Blast (TCP)

Paper: Fine and Dandy (MME), Chocolate Chip (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Pinwheel CutUps Die (TCP), Nesties, Brads, Platinum Liquid Pearls, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Rounded Corner Punch

{Easter Greeting} Diva Inspirations Blog Hop

Hi everyone,

I don't know about you all but my life has been absolutely crazy lately but let me officially welcome you to our May Diva Inspirations Blog Hop. The Diva Inspirations team has created some fabulous Verve eye candy for you all to start your month off right....and you want to be sure to leave comments along the hop because there is a little mystery prize hidden on one of the blog hop spots today!!!

here's the lineup:

1. Julee 8. Sony 2. Betty 9. Susan 3. Dawn 10. Teresa 4. Jen d. 11. Andrea 5. Jen T. 12. Charmaine 6. Lynda 13. Maureen 7. Shannan

Comment Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, May 5
Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve 

In May Verve is featuring the sentiment set, Dare to Be. With 5 uplifting and encouraging sentiments, this set is perfect for graduation, congratulations or just a little pick me up. Or pair it with the To the Moon, Chicks Rule or Lucky Ducky sets for perfect little love notes to tuck into a lunchbox.
And at 40% off during the month of May, Dare to Be is a pretty big deal!


I'm posting an Easter card I had made and just hadn't gotten around to posting featuring the sets Easter Joy, Egg-stra Special, Wishful Elegance and Sweet Treats.

I know I've kept you all way too long already so without further ado I will direct you to Susan's Blog!!! Please tell her hello from me!!!


til next time,

Sony

Stamps: Easter Joy (Verve), Egg-stra Special (Verve), Wishful Elegance (Verve), Sweet Treats (Verve)
Paper: Quite Contrary (My Mind's Eye), Baby Girl Nursery (DCWV), Vanilla, Kraft
Ink: Antique Linen (Distress Ink), Tea Dye (Distress Ink), Soft Suede (SU), Taken with Teal (SU), Mountain Rose (Adirondack), Crushed Curry (SU)
Accessories: Classy Label Die (Verve), Embossed Oval Die (Verve), Platinum Liquid Pearls, Pop-Up Dots, Jute Twine, Twill Tape, Morrocco Edge Border Punch (EK Success), Non-Stick Craft Sheet (Ranger Ink), Mini Mister (Ranger Ink), Sponges, Nail File (for distressing), Heat Gun

{Easter Joy} Diva Inspirations

Hi guys,

I'm back with another Diva Inspiration card for you. I tried something a little bit different this time: I had come across a Tim Holtz demo video on Distress Inks and decided to give that a try. I posted the tutorial here for you and I used the techniques shown in that video to get that red/peach/yellow tie dye patterned paper you see on my card.

Here's the video: 

Fun right? 

I took some vanilla cardstock, crinkled it up and stamped melon mambo across the raised creases. Then I took my crushed curry and mountain rose stamp pads and padded them onto my non-stick craft sheet. I sprayed some water on the ink and padded my cardstock on the ink, then applied some heat to dry the cardstock. As finishing touches I darkened the edges and used stamps from Accent Notes and Bountiful Background to make my patterned paper.

Now to the rest of the card: the sentiment and the easter eggs are both from the set Easter Joy. I also used Verve's Classy Label Die and Embossed Oval die...looove them!!! Oh and then I had lots of fun embellishing with Liquid Pearls...they save me from having to pull out my sewing machine ;).

The yellow patterned paper is from the Fine and Dandy collection by My Mind's Eye and the brown polka dotted paper is from the Fly a Kite collection by October Afternoon.

thanks so much for stopping by...

have a wonderful week and have a happy and blessed Easter!!!

Sony

Stamps: Easter Joy (Verve), Bountiful Background (Verve), Accent Notes (Verve), 
Paper: Fine and Dandy (My Mind's Eye), Fly a Kite (October Afternoon), Kraft, Vanilla
Ink: Melon Mambo (SU), Crushed Curry (SU), Mountain Rose (Adirondack), Frayed Burlap (Distress Ink), Soft Suede (SU)
Accessories: Classy Label Die (Verve), Embossed Oval Die (Verve), Nesties, Gold Liquid Pearls, Non-stick Craft Sheet (Ranger Ink), Sponges, Mini Mister (Ranger Ink), Morrocco Lace Border Punch (EK Success), Pop-Up Dots, Nail file (for distressing), Heat Gun

{Ducky Easter} Diva Inspirations

Hii guys,

well it's about time I'm back with another Diva Inspirations card don't you think?

I sure thought so and with Easter right around the corner....how about a Verve-y Easter Blessings card?

I paired some old with some new to make this card:

The cute ducky is from the newly released set Lucky Ducky. The sentiment is from the set Egg-stra Special and the adorable frame is from the set To The Moon. I "hung" the frame up using some Divine Twine (available at the Cat's Pajamas)  and a brad,

The papers are mostly from the Fly a Kite collection by October Afternoon. The teal Zigzag DP is from the Fine and Dandy collection by My Mind's Eye and the green DP I used to paperpiece the ducky is from the Girl Friday collection by Cosmo Cricket.

thanks so much for stopping in today,

have a great week!!!

Sony

Stamps: Lucky Ducky (Verve), To the Moon (Verve), Egg-stra Special (Verve)
Paper: Fine and Dandy (My Mind's Eye), Fly a Kite (October Afternoon), Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Crushed Curry (SU)
Accessories: Nesties, Pop-Up Dots, Buttons, Divine Twine (The Cat's Pajamas), Brads, Platinum Liquid Pearls, Ribbon, Sponges, Scalloped Border Punch (SU)

{All Year 'Round} Photo Cube Pt1

Hi guys,

I don't know if you heard already but I had to make the heartbreaking decision ::sniff sniff:: to leave the Cat Pack. Sprinkle and Co. were my very first stampin' love and believe you me I really didn't want to leave buuuut I had to finally admit to myself that I had to. Who would have thought studying art could be this time consuming?! 

Thankfully Alma is so very understanding and Carole already paved the way for lost kitties to come back to the pack sooo who knows...this kitty might be back one day. ;)

But before I officially sign off ...by the way don't worry you'll still be seeing lots of TCP goodness over here...officially or not... ;) I wanted to share the baby shower gift I made for a very dear friend of mine. 

I found this unfinished rotating photo cube at Michaels and decided to decorate it with PJs (my friend looves Winnie the Pooh) for all seasons.

so here is the before:

and here is the after:

and here are some detail shots:

Spring
Stamps: Honey Bear (TCP)
Paper: Fly a Kite (OA), Fine and Dandy (MME)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Grass CutUps (TCP), Mini Library Clip (SU), Pop-Up Dots, Cloud Die-Namics (MFT),  Flower Stickers, Copics, Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects

Summer
Stamps: What a Blast (TCP), A Beary New Year (TCP), By The Sea (TCP), Wishful Elegance (Verve)
Paper: Fine and Dandy (MME)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Wave CutUps (TCP), Copics, Stickles Glitter, Chipboard Stickers, Crystal Effects, Liquid Applique, Heat Gun

Fall
Stamps: Happy Camper (TCP), Gobble Gobble (TCP)
Paper: Amber Autumn Stack (DCWV), Kraft
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Big Scallop CutUps (TCP), Mini Library Clip (SU), Arched Border Punch, Classy Label Die (Verve), Stickers, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects, Pop-Up Dots

Winter
Stamps: A Beary Good Year (TCP)
Paper: Yuletide (K&Company), Old Olive (SU)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Banner CutUps (TCP), Buttons, Copics, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects, Pop-Up Dots, Nesties, Liquid Applique, Heat gun, Grass CutUps (TCP), Divine Twine (TCP)

 tomorrow I will show you the wrapping paper and gift tag I made for this.

thanks so much for stopping by,

Sony

{Relax}

Hi guys,

well if you partied with us on our latest Release Party at the Cat's Pajamas then you have already seen this card of mine here but if you haven't...well then here's a new one for ya. :)

I've been making it my goal this year to go through the huge amount of papers I have laying around before I go purchasing any new ones aaannd this is how I discovered some Bo Bunny papers from their Gypsy collection that I'm using on my card here.

The stamps I'm using are from the set What a Blast....love love love this set. It's so cute with it's little clouds and of course you can layer on some extra pinwheels with our brandspankin' new Pinwheel CutUps die as I did here for a 3D look. Oh and then I used our new Grass CutUps and the banner from our Rosette Cutups die as well.

Liquid Pearls added the finishing touch.

thanks so much for stopping by,

Sony

Stamps: What a Blast (TCP)

Paper: Gypsy (BoBunny), Girl Friday (CosmoCricket), Chocolate Chip (SU), Kraft, Fine and Dandy (MME)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede (SU)

Accessories: Grass CutUps (TCP), Pinwheel CutUps (TCP), Rounded Corner Punch, Notebook Style Border Punch, Copics, Gold Liquid Pearls, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Button, Brad, Ribbon, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)

{a Pinwheel for You} TCP Tuesday 151

Hi guys,

and welcome back to another Sneak Peek at our upcoming release at the Cat's Pajamas. The release party is...TONIGHT!!! Are you ready?! Alma has a ton of cuties up for grabs, plus there'll be games and prizes to win so you don't want to miss out on this!!

I actually have 2 posts for you today...yup you heard right: one last minute TCP Tuesday 151 card, which is this one here and then I have another Sneak Peek card for you today. The sets we're peeking today are perhaps not the usual swanky style you have come to expect from Miss Meowy but a little more elegant. I don't know about you but I just love that Alma is never afraid to switch things up. She can do just about anything I swear.

So this week's TCP Tuesday challenge was an inspiration challenge brought to you by none other than the fabulous Jen del Muro. Here's the inspiration pictures she presented us with:

and then this is what I used on my little card:

Alma also made some fabulous videos explaining how to use some of our brandnew CutUps dies.

Here's the one she made for our cute little pinwheels:

allright... that's all for now!!!

Hope to see you at the Release Party tonight!!!

Sony

Stamps: Simply Said (TCP)

Paper: Cherry Hill (OA), Itty Bitty Boxes (PTI), Oh La La La (MME), Kraft

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Grass CutUps (TCP), Pinwheel CutUps (TCP), Divine Twine (TCP), Big Scallop CutUps (TCP), Felt (TCP), Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)