Something Old, Something New

I created this card for the Verve Project Parade to use something old and something new. I used an old sentiment from the Beautiful You set with new images from Dream Big - just released in August. I used the sketch from Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. It was quite a hectic night at work...so much to do and so little staff! Not much energy left, so will keep this post short and sweet!
STAMPS: Beautiful You & Dream Big (Verve)
PAPER: DP by SU, Pear Pizzazz, White
INK: Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Adhesive pearls, Optic dot border punch by MS

Tough Colors!

Betty's Color Challenge was truly a challenge!! I drew a blank when I first saw the combo, but was determined to come up with something. I went back in time with this old retired image from SU...have never used it much, but yet I like it when I do use it. I'm not sure if marjoram has a hot pink bloom, but with stamping you can take license to be creative - lol! I used the 3 colors: Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze & More Mustard in the BG panels - stamping with the Sanded BG and Antique Cracking BG stamps. I used a multitude of Copic colors...TOO MANY to list them all - to color the image. Some distressing and sponging finished off this card that I'm still wrinkling up my nose at! :-)
STAMPS: Sweet Herbs (SU), Antique Cracking (SU), Sanded (SU)
PAPER: Baja Breeze, More Mustard, White
INK: Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Early Espresso
ACCESSORIES: Distressing tool, Copper brad, Copics, Ticket corner punch

Mojo Monday

It's the 5th Monday, so that means Julee has a square or round MOJO MONDAY SKETCH for us. I inked up stamps from 2 new Verve sets released this month. The frame and sentiment were stamped with Early Espresso. The flower was stamped in Versamark, then embossed with white EP, cut out & popped with dimensionals. Have to make this a quick post...things to do before heading to work.
STAMPS: Framed Wishes & Great Friend (Verve)
PAPER: Origins DP (BasicGrey), Early Espresso, Neenah Solar White
INK: Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi (leaves), Versamark
ACCESSORIES: EK Success border punch, White EP

CAS Recycled Cardboard

I combined the CAS Challenge - to be inspired by the word 'delicious' - with the Technique Lover's Challenge to recycle cardboard. Cupcakes easily qualify for the delicious part...the cardboard strip was cut from a shipping box divider and run through a crimper. I wanted to add ribbon and stickles, but forced myself to hold off to keep it simple. :-)
STAMPS: Birthday Bash (Verve)
PAPER: Cupcake (BasicGrey)
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Oval punches (SU), EK Success border punch, Crimper, Copics

Waltzingmouse SC

I haven't played the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge in quite some time, but when I saw this simple layout, I knew I wanted to use my new die from MFT. I stamped off the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and then stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso. These are probably my two faves of SU's new colors. Speaking of favorites...Julie has some great new floral and leaf images that are so much fun to ink up. I used Dream Big from her latest August release...love having more flowers to layer! This was such a quick CAS card to create. Can't believe my weekend off is coming to an end...sniff...sniff...

Casing Carol

Today's featured stamper is Bobbie's Girl (aka Carol) and she has a great gallery with so many beautiful cards, but I chose to CASE her krafty crescent of flowers that she created HERE. I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for my layout and used colors from Stacey's Curtain Call Challenge Act 45 (Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Crumb Cake, White). LOVE this new Verve set from Julee's August release...check out all the new goodies at the Verve store.
STAMPS: Great Friend (Verve)
PAPER: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake, White
INK: Pear Pizzazz, Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Border EF by ProvoCraft, CB, Nesties, Floral Band border punch by MS, Copics (Y08, BV02, BV04)

Viva la Verve

This is the first sketch and room challenge for September on the Viva la Verve contest in the Verve forum. Amber has a great sketch for us and I chose the room with pink/sage/white colors and the large polka dotted chair to inspire my card. This is one of those "bleh" cards...you know the ones. You start with a great idea and it just doesn't come together well! I stamped a script stamp in coral on the flowers, then sprayed with a alcohol/shimmerz mixture and it made the script disappear! No time to start over, so I just went with a plain flower that has a hint of sheen. It's too busy for my taste, but it's time to head to work soon, so it will stay like it is and get filed in my "unsatisfactory pile" - lol!
STAMPS: Great Friend (Verve)
PAPER: Mambi Basics by Me & My Big Ideas, Black, White, Cameo Coral, Sage Shadow
INK: Cameo Coral, Sage Shadow (sponged on flower edges)
ACCESSORIES: Victoria EF, CB, Pearl embellishment, flower brads, Optic dot punch by MS, Leaves die (SU)

Think Snow...Man!

Jeanne S' F4A Challenge on SCS was to 'think snow...man'...with the manly part including some kind of distressing on the card. I distressed the image panel then sponged with Baja Breeze ink after coloring the image with Copics. I used a glue pen to add Dazzling Diamonds glitter to all the tiny snowflakes in the image as well as the two punched snowflakes, but the glitz doesn't show up well in my photo. The red panel was CB'd using a snowflake EF. Much as I don't want to think about snow...it's inevitable and will be appearing before we know it!
STAMPS: Silent Night Snowman by Stampendous
PAPER: WinterSong by SEI, White
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze
ACCESSORIES: Corner Chomper, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Copics (BGOOOO, COO, BG72, R27, YR04), Snowflake punches, Distressing tool, Sponge, Brads

Picture This

I initially didn't plan to play, but when I saw that Julia's Ways to Use It Challenge was to use a photo, I couldn't resist using a recent picture my daughter snapped while hiking with her Golden Retriever along St. Mary's River near our home. My new Verve toys arrived in the mail yesterday and this sentiment was perfect for that sweet, adorable face! :-) I was reminded by dear Heather that my card qualifies for the Treehouse Stamps Thursday Challenge to use fall colors. This is my first time playing in the treehouse, but think I've found a new place to play regularly! :-) Happy Thursday to all and as always, I appreciate your visit and your comments...

STAMPS: Kind Words (Verve)
PAPER: Max & Whiskers (BasicGrey)
INK: Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay (stamped off once)
ACCESSORIES: Scallop border punch (SU), Scallop circle punch (SU), Circle Nestie, CB

Wildflowers

Roxie's Sketch Challenge was combined with the Color Throwdown Challenge to use Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, So Saffron & Pear Pizzazz. The colors made me think of a flower garden, so I went to PTI's Life set to create a wildflower scene. I highlighted the flowers with a gold Spica pen, a clear star Sakura pen & a white gel pen. The jumbo rickrack border is a piece of cork sheet I ran through the CB. For the circle element of the sketch, I opted to use a butterfly instead.
STAMPS: Life by PTI
PAPER: Global Views DP (Deja Views), Rose Red, So Saffron, White
INK: Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron
ACCESSORIES: Cork sheet, CB, MFT jumbo rickrack die, MS monarch butterfly punch, Kaiser pearls

CC & MTSC

Great Color Challenge on SCS using Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry & Old Olive. The optional dessert was to use some type of doily on the card - in this case, I used a doily lace border punch. I used Mercy Kerin's layout for her Tuesday Sketch Challenge and actually was happy with the results (considering that it's 1:00 AM).
STAMPS: Vintage Vogue (SU)
PAPER: DP by SU, Pacific Point, White
INK: Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry
ACCESSORIES: Filigree brads by SU, MS Doily Lace punch, 2-step bird punch (SU)

Copic Markers to Match New SU Colors

I decided to create a chart of the Copic colors that I felt matched the new SU colors best. In the case of Poppy Parade, I used 2 colors together as 1 just didn't do it.
In case you can't read the chart, here is the list:
Blushing Bride - RV11
Peach Parfait - YR14
Pear Pizzazz - YG93
Concord Crush - BV08
Poppy Parade - R46 & R08
Early Espresso - E49
Marina Mist - B95
Cherry Cobbler - R59
Cajun Craze - E08
Daffodil Delight - Y21

Birds of a Season

This card is for ODBD's Stamping in Time Challenge
hosted by a dear cyber friend, Mary Marsh. We were to create a card using birds of any season. I used some Webster's Pages DP that already had a bird & cage in the design...with the daffodils and lily of the valley flowers, the season has to be spring. I added a paper-pieced bird that is popped on dimensionals. I kept embellishments to a minimum since I didn't want to hide the beautiful paper.
STAMPS: Easter Blessings by ODBD, Decorative Birds by Hero Arts
PAPER: Lullaby Lane & Life's Portrait by Webster's Pages, Black, White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Brads, Corner die, Kaiser chocolate pearl

Second Monday Post

OK...so I'm procrastinating my housework...just had to combine 2 more challenges for a CAS card. I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge with Jen's CAS Challengeon SCS to use the colors turquoise, kraft & white. I stamped off once before stamping the BG floral image. I always seem to struggle with simple cards...others make it look so easy, but I haven't mastered this look yet.
STAMPS: Tim Holtz 'Nature's Moments'
PAPER: Crumb Cake, Tempting Turquoise, White
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: Corner chomper, CB, Square lattice EF, Copic marker BG05

Autumn Wishes

It's Monday so that means it's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge time. This week Mary Fish has a great layout for us. Autumn is just around the corner, so I pulled this Verve set of awesome leaves, stamped them on DP in brown, cut them out and popped them with dimensionals. Off to tackle my laundry room and kitchen...thanks for stopping by!
STAMPS: Harvest Blessings (Verve)
PAPER: Autumn Meadows (SU)
INK: Memento Rich Cocoa
ACCESSORIES: MS twill tape, Scallop oval & Label punches by SU, Kaiser chocolate pearls

Rag Quilt Purse

I finally got my first rag quilt purse completed this week and wanted to share with my blog friends. The link to Angie's tutorial is my sidebar called Helpful Tips Links. I cut cotton fabric strips (5 inches in width) using a rotary cutter then ran up to 8 thicknesses through my Cuttlebug using SU's large scallop square die. Please refer to Angie's tutorial for more details. I chose to line it using an off white lining fabric which I think helps to delineate the squares more. It's so lightweight to carry and would make a nice bazaar or gift item.
I also wanted to share the 2 cards I created in stamp club this morning...I just love this new set called 'Just Believe'. We masked the sun and sponged around it...great to use a silouette image with this technique! The new narrow taffeta ribbon (mind is Early Espresso) is so easy to work with; the wider striped ribbon gave me more of a challenge to make a bow, but I love it, also!
It's work day for me this afternoon, so time to head that direction. Have a wonderful weekend!

Pink Taffy Designs

I was thrilled when Stef asked me to make a sample card for her inspiration web site of the week called Pink Taffy Designs. Such a unique site filled with so many gorgeous baby and children's items...a site to enable you to spoil a child or grandchild - lol! I chose this car seat as the inspiration for my simple card. The tag with sentiment was shaped using a corner chomper and a decorative scissors. Thanks for stopping by to visit...be sure and check out the other Pink Taffy goodies and play along!
STAMPS: Baby Button Bits (PTI), It's a Girl (? source - incentive stamp)
PAPER: Mambi Color Basics (Me & My Big Ideas) DP, Black, White
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Primas (SU), Brad, Corner Chomper, SU decorative scissors, Ribbon (Michael's)

Mixing it Up!

Dawnmercedes's F4A Challenge was to mix it up - use stamps from several different sets on one card. I do this quite often, so this came easy for me. I used the daisy image from SU, the green leafy image from PTI and the sentiment from Verve. My layout was Julee's Mojo Monday sketch - flipped on the side and tweaked a bit. Colors were from Stacey's Curtain Call 43 challenge to use Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango & White - definitely some bright colors, but perfect for an end of summer card. I think I managed to meet the criteria for all 3 challenges and at 2:00 AM at that! :-)
STAMPS: Life (PTI), Upsy Daisy (SU), Let it Shine (Verve)
PAPER: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, White
INK: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: CB, Labels Four Nesties, MS Modern Garland border punch, MS butterfly trio punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch (hole size used to sponge the sun), Kaiser silver pearls, Brads, Satin ribbon, Square lattice EF