More Mojo

Here's another submission to this week's Mojo Monday 163.

I'm not sure the ribbon adds anything because I couldn't quite get it to behave the way I wanted it to. Otherwise, I'm really happy with the overall design. I again created a removable bookmark--this time I took it out of its pocket to photograph it separately. Admittedly the card doesn't look like much without the bookmark feature, but the keepsake isn't the card base anyway.

Getting My MOJO On!

I haven't done a lot of posting lately. I've made a bunch of cards, many of which I didn't photograph before I sent them out. So, I'm getting back into the blogging grove.

To kick things off, I participated in this week's Mojo Monday 163 Challenge, which also happens to be a contest where I could win a Verve stamp set--Wahoo!  I am starting to accumulate another fairly extensive Verve wish list, so it would be fantastic to win!!!

So, here's my attempt...

I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but the rectangular panel on the sketch really lent itself to being a bookmark. So, I created a little pocket and the recipient of the card can remove and use the bookmark.

Fast Challenges!

I discovered that the Verve Winter release had challenges at the last minute yesterday. I think I may have missed the deadline, but I decided to throw together a few cards to make an attempt at winning the release. They are simple cards, but fun and classy, if I do say so myself!

See for yourself...

U Pick!!!

One of the things I miss most from my childhood is going berry picking in the summer! I love, love, love pretty much any kind of berry and often enjoyed going to local farms to pick (and eat) berries by the bucketful! I remember once as a teen going to my aunt's in New Hampshire and picking blueberries the size of cherries! Yum!!! Unfortunately, I have not had/made the time to do any berry picking in the 12 years I've been married--silly me. We'll have to rectify that sometime in the near future. It's a memory I cherish and want my children to be exposed to as well.

In honour of this little jaunt down memory lane, I have a chance for you to play along! You pick which of the following two cards I made for the Mojo 150 contest you like best. I had two friends weigh in this week when I made them, and got one vote for each. I, personally, am undecided. We'll see if either of them will have enough "Mojo" for me to get a win!!!????

Paper: Miscellaneous card stock and Designer Paper (unknown source)

Stamps: Verve "Thankful Accents"

Ink: Close to My Heart "Goldrush"

Other: Stampin' Up "Spiral" border punch, Slice "Basics 2" Design Card, rick rack and pom pom (unknown source)

Paper: Miscellaneous card stock, Close to my Heart CS in "Petal", "Sorbet", and "Taffy", Die Cuts With a View "scratched wallpaper" from "Old World" paper stack

Stamps: Verve "Thankful Accents"

Ink: Close to My Heart "Olive"

Other: Creative Memories Circle Cutter, Button and ribbon (unknown source)

Merry Christmas In July

I have again combined the Mojo Monday (#147 Sketch) with this week's Cinema Saturday #87

Because this week's Cinema Saturday movie pick is "The Holiday", this project had to take on a Christmas in July theme. The only problem is, I'm not really one to recognize Christmas in July (In fact, I'm adverse to anything that points out how close we are to another hectic Christmas Season)! The only time I really observed Christmas in July was in 2007 when my then 3-year-old son announced that he would be becoming a big brother by recording a Christmas in July greeting for us. It was so cute!

I decided it was appropriate to combine challenges again because the formation of squares on the Mojo sketch reminded me of window panes like that of the quaint little cottage that Cameron Diaz's character found herself in for her Christmas Holiday escape!

The colour scheme is growing on me. I simply wanted to avoid the typical bold red and green approach to the Christmas theme, so I decided to go with two shades of red, Twilight green, and white. It's unusual, so if you like things out of the ordinary then this is for you! And maybe, just maybe, the "clash" of the colours pays homage to the movie as well, since each of the female leads ended up in a setting quite opposite to her own comfort zone, and it was when she experienced the clash between worlds that she found just what she was looking for all along.

Paper: Close to My Heart CS in "Twilight" and "Vineyard Berry", the rest is Miscellaneous card stock

Stamps: Close to My Heart "Seasonal Celebration", "February Word Puzzle", "A Little Everything", and "All My Love"

Ink: Close to My Heart "White Daisy", "Vineyard Berry", and "Twilight"

Other: Stampin' Up ribbon, Close to My Heart white daisy buckle and brad embellishments, Fiskars "threading water" border punch, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine (white) glitter.

Another Challenge, Another Post...

So, here I am two days in a row! This time because I discovered the Color Throwdown #100 Challenge and totally fell in love with the colour combo!

Because most of my supplies are Close to My Heart, I used "Blush", "Sweet Leaf", "Tulip", and "Crystal Blue"

Here's my take on the colour scheme:

Paper: Close to My Heart CS in "Tulip", "Crystal Blue", "Blush", and "Sweet Leaf", Miscellaneous card stock

Stamps: Verve "Twinkle, Twinkle"; Close to My Heart "Simple Stitches", "Celebrate the Everyday", "Star Power", and "All My Love"

Ink: Close to My Heart "Chocolate", "Tulip", "Crystal Blue", "Blush", and "Sweet Leaf"

Other: Creative Memories Circle Cutter and Distressing Kit

MOJO146 & CSCC86: 2 Challenges in 1

I decided that my goal is to post something once a week. That shouldn't be too bad since I usually create something at least that often. This week I participated in two challenges by making this card...

The colour scheme and shape/size is inspired by the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge #86 based on "Bend It Like Beckham."

The layout is adapted from the Mojo #146 Sketch.

Paper: Miscellaneous card stock, pattern paper from Cosco

Stamps: Verve "1 Chronicles 16:34"

Ink: Close to My Heart "Olive"

Other: Slice "Noteworthy" Design Card

The first of "Many Thanks"

Back in January, yes January, I decided I would make a thank you card for my son's kindergarten teacher that featured all of his classmates hand prints. At that time, I even sent a little note home with each child (including a piece of brightly coloured card stock) asking his or her parents to assist me by submitting a hand print of their child with a personal note to their teacher on the palm. Well, I only got maybe two-thirds of them back, many of which were on different paper because they had lost the one I provided. Fortunately, I was recently the parent helper in class and was able to get the remaining hands traced so that no one would be missing in the completed project.

The moral of the story is, here I am the night before graduation and the project I began 6 long months ago is finally finished. I have to say, I am very proud of the final product. Despite all the hurdles along the way, the colour scheme still managed to fall into place--I found the perfect patterned paper to tie it all in together. Without further adieu, here are the photos...

The front

The inside, open view

A side view, to see the accordion folds

Close-up of the front design elements

Close-up of the greeting inside

Here are the details...

Design: Adapted from "A Handful of Thanks" found in the book "Pop-Up Cards" by Sandi Genovese, Published by Lark Books, 2008. The front cover layout design was inspired by MOJO145 from the Mojo Monday Blogspot.

Paper: Miscellaneous card stock, pattern paper from Cosco

Stamps: Close To My Heart "A Little Everything" and "Doodle Alphabet"

Ink: Close to My Heart black and white daisy

Other: Slice "Words and Expressions" Design Card; Stampin' Up "Spiral" border punch

Ready or Not, Here I Come...

Well, I've done it now! I've started a blog. I don't know how often I'll post, and I don't know how interesting it will be, but you're welcome to join me for the ride!!!

I'll be honest--I think I'm a little crazy for doing this. The last thing I need is another thing to do (So don't expect regular updates). But I think the thing that won me over is the fact that I've been hanging out at so many scrapbooker, card maker, and stamper blogs that it finally occurred to me that I could do this. And if I want to continue to participate in challenges and contests, posting my own creations would be a whole lot easier via my own "blogspot"!

I also owe this not-so-temporary insanity to a few ambitious Facebook friends who told me that I should go for it. This is a message for them: "You asked for it...I hope you don't regret it more than I do!"

So, ready or not, here I come!!