Hang Ten, Dude!

This is the 4th and last Viva la Verve Challenge in the Verve forum on SCS. Amber gave us a great sketch and several living rooms to inspire us. I chose the first one with turquoise and orange colors in the decor. The colors fit with some of the new surfing images Julee recently released in the Verve store. The surfboards were were cut out and popped with dimensionals. The card is pretty much self-explanatory...hope you think this card is gnarlacious (that's surfing slang for awesome - lol).

STAMPS: Happy Days & Relax by Verve
PAPER: Rainbow Sherbet DP (SU), Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie
INK: Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie
ACCESSORIES: Twine, Corner notch punch (Marvy), CB, Swirls EF

New Verve

I had to take a cleaning break (getting ready for company tomorrow), so combined the SCS Sketch Challenge with the Color Throw Down Challenge to use Barely Banana, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Pale Plum. I thought this striped DP by BasicGrey picked up all the colors well. I embossed 4 white squares using my CB and small EF. The flower is a layering of 2 punches by Martha Stewart. I LOVE the font on this sentiment from a newly released set by Julee Tilman. The butterfly is a Sizzlet from SU that is so fun to layer. I need to run some errands, so looks like I'm going to have to battle some winds. Another call for possible frost tonight...brrr.

STAMPS: One Person by Verve
PAPER: Cottage Wall DP by SU, Eva DP by BasicGrey, Barely Banana, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, White
INK: Rich Razzleberry, Barely Banana
ACCESSORIES: Rhinestone stickers, Waterlily punches by MS, Brad, Butterfly embosslit (SU), 2-step bird punch (SU), CB EF

Irish Blessing

Betty's Color Challenge on SCS was to use the 2 retiring colors of Barely Banana & Ballet Blue along with Old Olive. Dessert was optional - using a red embellishment; I opted to skip dessert. I used Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge for the layout. I couldn't believe it when I came home from work and my Verve stamps were already here after being mailed out Saturday morning after the big release Friday PM! Wow, that Pony Express has kicked up its heels! The hibiscus flowers were colored with Copics, cut out & popped with dimensionals. I just love the new images and sentiments that Julee came out with this month...check it out at the Verve store!

STAMPS: Blessings (Verve), Happy Days (Verve)
PAPER: Ballet Blue, Barely Banana, Sweet Pea DP (SU)
INK: Black, Ballet Blue, Barely Banana
ACCESSORIES: Old Olive satin ribbon (SU), Copic sketch markers (Y11, YG03, YG95, B21, B23)

It's Mojo Monday!

Teresa gave us a great Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge today! I need to stop hoarding this DP...it won't exactly fit for fall/winter cards, so what am I waiting for? - lol! Love to layer this Verve flower (stamped in Elegant Eggplant on the DP, cut out & popped w/dimensionals). The borders came with the paper pad. Some ribbon (thanks, Bow Easy) & pearls finish it off. This also qualifies for Our Creative Corner's Challenge to use blossoms on a card. Hope your Monday is filled with lots of mojo!

STAMPS: Love's Flower (Verve), Terrific Tags punch box (SU)
PAPER: Lilac Avenue collection (KaiserCraft), Pre-embossed 5 1/4 inch card base (Mike's)
INK: Elegant Eggplant, Yoyo Yellow
ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Kaiser pearls, Tag punch (SU)

SSSC66

Ever make a card, then look at it and say 'yuk...I can do better than that'? Well, this is one of those times the mojo just wasn't flowing. I started with Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for the layout, then pulled some old CS that I've not used in a long time. No stamping on the outside...just the daisy die cut in summer sun and white. The weather wasn't a total washout...the sun even peeked through at times. Why is it that time on the weekends flies by so much more quickly?!

PAPER: Blossoms & Butterflies Stack by DCWV, Summer Sun, White
ACCESSORIES: CB, Daisies die (SU), Brad (BasicGrey)

Rose for Mother

Stef's Inspiration Challenge (to use something from the Green Rainbow site) led me to choose this owl pillow for the colors. I also wanted to pay tribute to Cathleen (ctorina) who is the Queen for a Day featured stamper this week. You can link to her blog directly by looking under the Paper Doll list in my sidebar. Her gallery is so amazing and I put her cards in my faves quite often! I loved her card here for the florals in one corner and the large scallops. I changed colors, put the ribbon in a different location & changed the sentiment shape/location. This is the first time I played with this rose (embossed with white EP on white CS) image. I then sprayed it heavily with water and dipped a brush into turquoise and summer sun reinkers, touching the tip of the brush in the 'puddles' of water on the image. If you want to see a video on this technique, check out the Watercolor Rose by Patty link under My Helpful Tip column in the sidebar on the right. It was so much fun and it's one of those techniques that will never have 2 of the same kind of results. This also qualifies for ODBD's Shining Light Challenge to create a Mother's Day card/project. Hope you're enjoying your w/e...tfl!

STAMPS: Fifth Avenue Floral (SU), Because of You (Verve) - sentiment, Delightful Dahlia (PTI) - leaves
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, White, Textured green (? source)
INK: Bermuda Bay, Versamark, Green Galore (sponge on edges of leaves)
ACCESSORIES: Oval punches by SU, Lg. scallop punch by EK Success, Bermuda Bay grosgrain ribbon, EF by SU, Turquoise & Summer sun reinkers, Brush, Sponge, CB

Mixing Challenges

The Ways to Use it Challenge on SCS this week was to mix patterns, so I used a variety of DP that reflects today's Free For All Challenge to create a card that takes us on a virtual vacation. Going to the Caribbean is on my bucket list, so my virtual vacation is to cruise on down to one of the islands and soak up the sun and enjoy the surf! Doesn't that sound heavenly? This was an easy card to put together since the paper does most of the work. All I added was a stamped sentiment and a couple of shells. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! TGIF!

STAMPS: Bountiful Backgrounds by Verve (sentiment), Stipple Shells (SU)
PAPER: Petite Papers by Webster's Pages, White pre-embossed 5 1/4 inch square card (Michael's)
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Spiral punch (SU), Label punch (SU), Dimensionals

Color Throw Down & Karen's SSSC

I incorporated the Color Throw Down Color Challenge to use Sage Shadow, Almost Amethyst & Bordering Blue with Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. I love to color this SU image with Copics; then it was cut out and popped with dimensionals. It's late (or guess you could say it's really early in the morning) and time to go to bed. Hoping to sleep tight and not let the bed bugs bite! :-)

STAMPS: Bloomin' Beautiful (SU), Feel the Sun (Verve) - sentiment
PAPER: Spearmint DP by Memory Box Co., Bordering Blue, Sage Shadow, White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, EF, Lattice die by SU, Oval punches by SU, Brads by Kaiser, Copic sketch markers, Black satin ribbon.

Another Birthday RAK

Just had to share this sweet birthday card that Julia Aston (artystamper) sent me...isn't it adorable? Thanks, Julia...you're a doll!

Green at Heart

Roxie has an easy sketch challenge on SCS this week...check it out! I had my Green at Heart DP out from a previous project, so decided to go with it again. Everything is pretty self-explanatory with this card.
STAMPS: Blooming Button Bits (PTI), Tiny Tags (SU)
PAPER: Neenah Solar White, Green at Heart DP (BasicGrey), Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
INK: Old Olive
ACCESSORIES: Large scallop punch (EK Success), Ribbon (PTI), Vintage buttons (PTI), Tiny Tag punch, thread

Verve Beach Party Card #5

This is the last sketch card for Verve's Beach Party Challenges to celebrate the release of new stamp sets on Friday. This is currently one of my fave sets to play with...the flower is gorgeous when you cut it out and pop w/dimensionals. I outlined the image using a Stardust gellyroll pen. No coloring involved, so it went together quickly. Gotta get ready for work...no more stamping today.
STAMPS: Feel the Sun (Verve)
PAPER: Green at Heart DP (BasicGrey), White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Paper ribbon doilies (BasicGrey), Metal sticker dots (Walmart)

Mojo Monday

The Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge was perfect for a birthday card I needed for my rocker son's birthday tomorrow. I kept it simple and tweaked the sketch just a tiny bit. I added Crystal Effects to the drum heads and outlined the small star with a glitter pen. The large star was sprayed with Shimmerz/alcohol spray for a hint of sheen. So glad you stopped by for a visit...have a blessed day!

STAMPS: You Rock by Verve; Drums by Snag'em Stamps (Imaginisce)
PAPER: Riding Hood Red, Textured CS by SU, Mambi Color Basics DP by Me & My Big Ideas
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Labels Three Nestabilities, CB, Crystal Effects, Gellyroll glitter pen, Star punch (SU), Spiral punch (SU)

Verve's Beach Party Card #4

I just can't stop myself...this is my 4th card already this week for the Verve Beach Party challenges! I colored this freebie Sale-a-bration set image with Copics. The DP was a bargain find at TJ Maxx today - Safari Chic Stack by DCWV. It really is time to quit this obsessive hobby and go to bed! TFL!

STAMPS: A Flower for all Seasons (SU), Big Wish by Verve (sentiment)
PAPER: Safari Chic by DCWV, White
INK: Old Olive, Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, Labels Ten Nestabilities, Adhesive gemstones, Ribbon, Metal coil embellishment, Oval punches by SU, Copic sketch markers

Birthday Dahlia

Managed to get another Verve Beach Party Challenge card done before Dancing with the Stars came on TV (yes, I love that show!). At first I was stumped knowing what to do with the 3 staggered panels, but went to PTI's new Green Boutique pad for coordinating prints to go with their dahlia image. I colored with Copics, cut out & layered with dimensionals. I sprayed the flower with Shimmerz/alcohol spray to add a sheen. Some stitching on my Janome and some silver pearls finished up this fun sketch. Be sure and check in on the Verve forum on SCS to join in the beach party challenges. Get that bikini ready for Friday night! :-)

STAMPS: Delightful Dahlia (PTI), Big Wish (Verve) - sentiment.
PAPER: Green Boutique DP & Hawaiian Shores by PTI, Neenah solar white
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Copic sketch markers: YG13, YG17, YG95, Y08, BG11, BG15, BG34; Silver pearls, Janome sewing machine

Verve Beach Party Challenge #2

Julee Tilman's 2nd sketch for her release party this week reminded me of a sun peeking out, so I inked up an image from Verve's 'Let it Shine' set. I rotated a piece of paper and sponged along the edge to create rays. The trees were colored with Copics (YG17, YG21, YG23), cut out & popped with dimensionals. The DP was from a matstack called Pocket full of Posies by DCWV...found at TJ Maxx today! I was so excited when I entered the store and found an entire display of scrapbook supplies at VERY reasonable prices! Summer Sun is one of 2 SU colors that I will be sad to see retire (the other one is Green Galore). Guess all good things must come to an end - lol! Hope your day is (or was) a sunny one...thanks for stopping by and commenting!

STAMPS: Let it Shine (sentiment), Up, Up & Away (small tree), Plain Jane (lg. tree) - all by Verve
PAPER: Summer Sun, White, DCWV Pocket full of Posies DP
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Brads, Sponge, String, Dimensionals, Copics, Marvy corner scallop punch

4 in 1

This is a combination of 4 different challenges:
OCCC - to use butterflies
Technique Lover's Challenge - to use piercing
CAS Challenge - inspiration by Alanna's sketch
Julee Tilman's April Release Challenge - use the colors orange, aqua & green.
Butterflies are from SU's Embosslit die. The scallop edge is a MS punch. The sentiment is from Verve's 'Big Wish' set and was colored slightly with Copics after stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa. Not much chit chat for now...off to finish watching the race and crossing my fingers and toes that #24 wins! :-)
PAPER: Devonshire Collection by KaiserCraft

Crate Label Inspiration

The Inspiration Challenge on SCS was to create a card based on a label from the Crate Label Museum. I chose Oatman's Blue Bird label and paper pieced this bird image, sponging around the bird's body to add some depth. I used DP from 2 different pads with the branch/flowers being part of the paper design. I hand cut the blue Nestie label. It's getting late and tomorrow will be a full day...good night and thanks for stopping by my blog...

STAMPS: Tiny Tags (SU), Craft Smart (Michael's)
PAPER: Frond DP by Memory Box; Nottinghill by 7Gypsies, GP white
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Labels Two Nesties, CB, Tiny tag punch, Satin ribbon, Brads, Scallop border punch (SU), Sponge