Mother's Little Helper

VERVE is the word!

... it's got groove, it's got meaning... Verve is the time, is the place, is the motion, and Verve is the way we are feeling! 

Don't ask me from what weird depths that little ditty came from, but it's actually kind of fitting.  Verve is definitely the word today because I'm going to show you something from every single set Verve is releasing!  I know!  I'm usually stingy, only wanting to give you one or two things to look at a time.  But today, I'm feeling a wee bit generous...

Here's one I made for today's SCS sketch challenge, using the "Feeling Groovy" set, which comes with a ton of great sentiments from song lyrics as well as a couple of funky flowers that beg for coloring:

Don't you love that font?  And here's another sentiment from the same set, this time paired with a sweet image from Elzybells U.K.:

I made that one expressly with my DH in mind.  Last weekend while we were in Las Vegas, he went to the trouble of arranging for us to see LOVE, the Cirque du Soleil's homage to The Beatles because he knew I'd love it.  And he only looked at his Blackberry a couple of times during the performance; that's HUGE progress, people!

Next is one of my new favorite sets -- Asian Flair.  I love the patterning possibilities with this one and look forward to playing with it often.

And again, isn't that sentiment perfect? (Especially for you ribbon lovers out there) (Yes, Jody, that includes you! )

One of the new sets being release is a sentiment set called "Here For You," which provides just the right words of encouragement or empathy.  Here's an example:

Just a simple long-note, but the sentiment combined with that great Impression Obsession image, it lets the recipient know the whole flock is with her.

There's also the upbeat "All About You" sentiment set, which expresses feelings like "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," or "What would I do without you?"  And isn't this next one a fabulous way to say "Have a nice day"?!

Last but not least, Verve's introducing a new collection of individual stamps called 'Plain Janes' because they don't have a printed index on the acetate.  This first one is a Bible verse from Psalms 37:4.

Right now through July, you can get the entire June Verve stamp collection -- 4 sets = 37 stamps (doesn't include the Plain Jane) -- for only $42!  Dang!  Julee's practically giving 'em away!!! At a price like that, you simply can't afford to NOT get your Verve on! 

If you're still not convinced, by all means head on over to the Verve Gallery and see what the other fabulous Verve Design Divas have come up to show off the new polymer.  It's a feast of Class Act stampin'!  And you can also find the recipes for each of my cards there, as well. 

Now, I need to go rest after all of this sharing!

Sketch For You to Try & Test Results

Do you ever see something and say to yourself, "That reminds me!  I have XYZ stamps that I haven't even inked yet!" Well, that's what ran through my mind yesterday when I saw the new stamps being released by Elzybells NA.  I still have a ton of Elzybells UK stamps that have yet to see the light! 

Just to refresh your memory on the history of Elzybells, they have their origins in Great Britain.  Linda, the A Muse Guru, made arrangements for A Muse to distribute Elzybells here in North America, thus exposing many of us to these delightful stamps which otherwise, we might never have seen.  Elzybells UK images are much larger than their North American counterparts. 

Needing instant Elzybells gratification, I ordered a small fortune worth of the UK version in December because I didn't want to wait for the next NA release.  Well, yesterday the newest NA stamps were shown, and wouldn't you know that several of them are smaller versions of the UK ones I have.  Including this Knight & Princess stamp.   So if the images on some of my Elzybells cards look larger than others you're seeing around, your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you!

This card uses Jen del Muro's latest great Sketch For You To Try.  Be sure to check out what Shannan Teubner and Susan Liles did with this sketch, too.  And if you decide to use the sketch and upload it to your SCS gallery, use SFYTT as one of your keywords so we can be sure to stop by and leave a comment!

Supplies used -- Stamps: Knight & Princess and sentiment by Elzybells Art Stamps; Paper: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Georgia Pacific White, Pretty in Pink, patterened paper by Basic Grey (Two Scoops 6" x 6" pad); Ink: Brilliance Archival Graphite Black, Basic Black; Accessories: Nestabilities; Copic Sketch and Spica Markers, ribbon, Close to My Heart Photo Hangars, Doodlebug Designs heart button, Dimensionals.

Test Results
Well, I went out for Marguerite's Birthday dinner last night.  The girls ooh'd and aah'd over the card, and obviously hadn't seen it before, but I was too interested in her opening her present to bust them for not reading my blog.  In fact, I didn't even think about it until just a moment ago...  See: this is one of the reasons my husband calls me "Big Talk."  I'll say, "Oh, I'm going to do such and such!  And then, I'll do XY and Z, too!"  And his retort is often "Okay, Big Talk.  I'll believe it when I see it..."  *sigh* Husbands -- they sometimes know you better than you know yourself. 

Speaking of husbands, mine has been sweating and writhing in our bed for the last couple of days with flu-like symptoms.  It must be the real deal, because he's missing his annual MLK weekend in Vegas with the guys.  So now I have three whiny babies bossing me around...

Irresistible Challenge

The children are hungry, the house is a wreck, and I am still in my pajamas and have bed-head.  It's not a pretty picture.  Under such circumstances, I shouldn't be doing anything remotely fun, like stamping or blogging.  Martha would shudder!  It's not my fault, Martha -- it's Jen Javorsky's.  She had to go and issue one of her famous 'Follow the List' Limited Supply Challenges on SCS.  This one is to use only the following supplies:

Stamps
one stamped image that can be colored
optional: sentiment
optional: an image to ground the main image like an oval, grass, etc.

Paper
any shade of white
2-3 patterns of designer paper
NO other colored cardstock

Tools
NO specialty tools (No punches, No CB, No Piercer, etc)
any coloring tools
sponges OK

Embellishments
one piece of ribbon

It would have been cowardly of me to ignore her challenge, don't you think?  So, to the detriment of my image as an impeccable homemaker and World's Greatest Mother, I shoved aside my household and familial duties to show Jen that I can, in fact, work within such harsh restrictions.
I used some of my *NEW* rubber from Elzybells UK.  Isn't she adorable?!  As you can see, she's much larger than the images produced by A Muse for the North American version of Elzybells.  But I love to color, so big images suit me fine.  Of course, I love the smaller NA images, too.  (When it comes to Elzybells, I'm an equal opportunity lover; I don't discriminate based on nationality or size.)

This sentiment is particularly timely for those of us who great each New Year's Day with a resolution to eat better and exercise more.  I've got my 'Slim in Six' and a bunch of Zone bars waiting for the ball to drop on New Year's Eve.  You may call me a cliche; I prefer to think of myself as an optimist! 
This optimist must leave you now, as she is determined to get her house clean, her children fed, the Christmas tree put up, and -- gasp! -- a shower taken and make-up applied.  Wish her well!

Supplies used -- Stamps: Yum Yum and Tomorrow We Diet by Elzybells UK; Paper: Whisper White by SU!; patterned paper by Creative Memories and Treehouse Memories; Ink: Staz-On Jet Black, VersaMark chalk ink for edging; Accessories: Copic Sketch and Spica markers, ribbon.

Can you tell I had a facelift?

Does it show?  I sure hope so!  I love the makeover Heather of Girlyblogdesignz gave my humble little blog!  If you're blog has the blahs and you want a new look, I can recommend her without reservation.  Go by her website and check out her portfolio.  Her prices are SUPER reasonable and she is very responsive to her clients.

Since we're on the topic of my blog, I thought I'd share the backstory on its name, which was taken from the Rolling Stones song, "Mother's Little Helper".  Here are the lyrics:

What a drag it is getting old.

"Kids are different today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Mother needs something today to calm her down
And though she's not really ill
There's a little yellow pill
She goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And it helps her on her way, gets her through her busy day.

"Things are different today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
Cooking fresh food for a husband's just a drag
So she buys an instant cake and she burns her frozen steak
And goes running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And two help her on her way, get her through her busy day.

Doctor, please, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old.

"Men just aren't the same today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
They just don't appreciate that you get tired
They're so hard to satisfy. You can tranquilise your mind
So go running for the shelter of a mother's little helper
And four help you through the night, help to minimise your plight.

Doctor,plese, some more of these
Outside the door, she took four more
What a drag it is getting old.

"Life's just much too hard today,"
I hear ev'ry mother say
The pursuit of happiness just seems a bore
And if you take more of those, you will get an overdose
No more running to the shelter of a mother's little helper
They just helped you on your way through your busy dying day.

Stamping has become such a refuge for me -- time for myself when I feel creative, make something pretty that I can both start and FINISH (gasp!), then share with friends and receive an "Atta girl!"  And, it's more socially acceptable than drug abuse or filicide.  Thus, it's my Mother's Little Helper.  Of course, it's not the only one...