Rain Puddles Design

I've got a quick post for the last card to Amber's Viva La Verve Challenge Week 5 with a {twist} of texture. My card is suppose to be an anniversary card to be given to my hubby when he wakes up and that time is fast approaching. I struggled with the blank space on the circle and finally just stuffed the ribbon in there to fill it up. It has made it a bit too feminine, but I think he will enjoy it for the Verve sentiment "Thank you...for the difference you've made in my life". Ingredients: Stamps: All Verve - Just for You, Kindred Spirits, Because of You Ink: Night of Navy and Craft Creamy Caramel, Brilliance Tuxedo Black, VersaMark Paper: Basic Black, Kraft, LSS light and dark blue Accessories: EK Success Fleur de Lis edger and medium punch, Nestabilities Classic Large Circle, SU! Shelli Plate 2 Lattice Texturz Plate, Dark blue Organdy Ribbon, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, KaiserCraft Black Rhinestones I'll be back on August 1st for the Anni-Verve-Sary blog ho...

The month of July seemed so long with 5 weeks, yet it went by so fast. Now I'm catching up on my favorite sketch challenge (Viva La Verve with a {twist} before this months deadline for the Champions thread. I think I better get the last one done tonight! My Viva La Verve card for week 4 was a fun card. I played with the "smoosh" technique. I've done it before on my July MojoMonday Contest week Challenge, but I didn't know it had an official name. It's simply brayering ink down on an embossing folder before using it. This is the video that. I think my top B plate is warped a bit too much and the ink didn't transfer to the paper, so I tried misting the paper with water and it worked a little bit better. I could hide the parts that didn't transfer with the rest of the challenge sketch. Old pink cardstock stash and Pink Passion ink for the embossed paper. I actually used the first try paper as the horizontal element as it was lighter on one...

This morning I scurried my two children downstairs, out of pajamas and in "play" clothes, and set them at the table with cereal and milk. I ran back upstairs and quickly got ready. Today we went out to the Idaho Botanical Garden and met Grammy there. The Garden is a memorable place this time each year. My husband and I had our wedding reception there and I think I've only been back to it twice since we've been married. At the end of July in southwest Idaho it is mostly 100 degree Fahrenheit weather and the day we were married was not an exception. As the day moved on and we arrived at the garden my husband had all intentions to change out of his tuxedo into shorts and t-shirt. I prayed he wouldn't and it was answered. The clouds came over the garden and sprinkled rain ever so lightly and cooled down the air just enough that he stayed in the whole garb the entire night. So as I'm walking around the English garden thinking these thoughts and hearing my son bello...

The Verve Divas are putting on a Divine Details Project Parade over at the Verve blog and wow are they process and plan oriented. The are on Day 6 as of Thursday so head on over and check out their parade starting on Day 1 with Jen Del Muro. I've been blogging my cardmaking for about seven months now and I am still without a firm process or plan. Sometimes I just want a card done to get in the mail and everything gets pasted together and then I forget the ribbon embellishment. Ugh! I'm getting better at that and I'm also finding as you will see with most of the Diva's that their process starts with a sketch or layout then their own style and comfort zones kick in. So as the title of my blog suggests I have unDetails yet to discover. I am still a baby step designer and my style is all over the place as I experience technique's and color combinations as my gallery will testify to that, but I really do need a sketch or layout. What has even helped me more along the wa...

that started out just practicing with my new Prismacolor markers. I googled digital stamps and while not yet ready to buy them I decided to make some of my own. I mean, I used to be a technical illustrator fresh out of college. I should be able to do it again with a bit more creative license this time. Right? Now it's a week later and I've made a few images, a lot of late nights tweeking and now I don't know what to do with them. {giggle} (See poll in sidebar) So here's a sneak peek at one of the images I managed to color and cut out. I put it on a card, but I'm not sure I like the thick lines so I may change the image before showing the whole card. What do you think? Too much detail? Too... Just right! Well let me know.

Happy Saturday morning! In case you haven't heard, one of the Verve Diva's has a new little diva and they are having a Diva hop in her honor. Start out at Julee's blog here . Julee whipped up a cute bug in honor of the celebration not to mention adorable onesies. The card today uses the sketch from MojoMonday (Sketch 94) which is also contest week. There's some time left to submit a card! My card has almost all of the technique's and inspiration's that I've had on my mind this last week. In a couple of weeks it will be my 11th wedding anniversary. I remembered a little oasis I created in my backyard that my mother-in-law and best friend came to assemble during a fake excursion I took my husband on for a movie or something like that where I forgot the tickets and we had to go back home. Voila a romantic dinner just waiting for us. Here's a photo of that. The other thought was something to send wishes to Julee over at Verve Stamps for their 2nd anniversar...

No, we haven't forgotten to mow our lawn. We have a neighbor boy do that! lol I've been just estatic with my new love of illustrator markers. I have been keeping my practice pieces pretty simple, but I came across the Weekend Sketch challenge on Oodabug Alley's blog and just had to use my little critters. So here's my card for the challenge! It's late but I had fun with the challenge. Stamps: CTMH Life's a Jungle Paper: Pattern Paper unknown (stripe and orange), LSS Mohawk white cardstock Ink: Brilliance Tuxedo Black Accessories: Blue ribbon (stash), EK Success Dotted Wave edger punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, Prismacolor markers, Nestabilities Classic circle and scallop dies

Before I start talking about my card for the week I want to take a quick moment to say thank you to all the Armed Forces for what they have done, are doing and will do for this country. God Bless them and our country. For a refreshing read, go over to Bakerella's website and read her 4th of July post . Thank you for that quick moment. Wow, did your week go by as fast as mine did? My husband and I have been doing projects around the house this week (he had the week off) and I don't remember where all our time went. Of all the activities and projects of the past week I remember getting to spend money! LOL. I spent my birthday money and also found a Mother's Day money gift (a bill folded like a shirt) from 2008 (yep I save cards I receive and read them again, sometimes up to a year later) and purchased Prismacolor markers. Our local art store carries this brand and they are at quite a fraction of up front cost than Copics. I'll be honest. Aside from the cost of the markers...