The FINAL Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT)!!

I'm so sad to see Jen del Muro end the Sketch for You to Try challenges, but thoroughly enjoyed participating.  I finished all the sketches this year (and will be posting my links after showing you this month's).

You can find the final Sketch for You to Try challenge here.

For this fun sketch, I created this cute Christmas card featuring TCP's Merry Everything.  Isn't that sentiment the best?  These bunnies are too sweet, and I topped the fuzz on the one bunny's hat with glittery Stickles.
The little snowflake button is from Taylored Expressions.  And the great banner with that perforated edging is from Lil' Inkers.
My little twine bow got off-kilter in the photo, but it's sitting pretty and straight now.
Thanks for looking.

I started out the year with the TCP bunny, and thought this was rather fitting to end the year (and the last SFYTT) with him, as well.

And Jen del Muro, thanks for the inspiration and sketches through the years!

My cards for the year:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November- two cards, as the guest designer (card two)
and the card above is for this month (December)

Room Without Books Bookmark Card for MFT's Guest Designer Challenge

Using My Favorite Things' Guest Designer Challenge for December, a sketch:

I made the main panel a removable/usable bookmark using MFT's Die-namics Bookmark Duo Die & Stamp Set.  The sentiment is stamped in black pigment and embossed with clear embossing powder on vellum, then layered on the patterned paper and another layer of heavy 120 lb cardstock for sturdiness.
The flower at the top of the bookmark was created out of MFT's felt.  The center is about half of the Rolled Flower Die-namics.  Then I wrapped the Retro Rolled Flower Die-namics around it.  The leaves are Verve's Dreamy Leaves Die.
Holding the bookmark in place is the thin fishtail banner from MFT's Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon Die (and brads placed close to the edges of the bookmark).

MFT Products Used

Spirits Be Bright for VLV

For the Viva la Verve! November week 4 sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers:

I stamped a sentiment from Verve's Bright Spirits set (one of my favorite for holiday sentiments), and cut out with the Rounded Rectangle Die, layered on the Rounded Scallop Frame Die.  I stamped and embossed in white the medium snowflake from Verve's Glad Tidings set, and cut out with the coordinating Snowflake Tidings Die.

Papers are BoBunny.  The papers are already distressed, but I added additional ink to the newly-cut edges, the sentiment panel, and the ribbon.  Rhinestones in three sized from Pizzazz Aplenty.

You are Fabulous Flower Silhouette for MFTWSC

For My Favorite Things' Weekly Sketch Challenge #99 on Splitcoaststampers:

I used MFT's Flower Silhouette stamp and Die-namics set, which was recently retired.  I love the hatched silhouette, and thought it went well with SU's new scalloped tulle ribbon, which I scrunched/gathered as the vertical panel in the back.

The small label tab shape was cut with one of the Mini Tabs Foursome Die-namics.

Papers are BoBunny and Echo Park.

A Card with a Usable Surprise for SFYTT

I'm sneaking in with another card using I {Heart} 2 Stamp's November Sketch for You to Try.

You still have until the last day of the month to participate, and guest designers are selected from past participants.  So give it a whirl!!  And the sponsor this month is the Sweet Stamp Shop, so check out their site for some cute images.

When I saw the sketch this month, I was drawn to the tall panel on the right.  I had an idea stewing in the back of my mind, and I'm glad I was able to bring it to some fruition.  I used a great quote from Taylored Expressions' Mark Your Spot and cut out the bookmark shape with the die by the same name to create and laminate a removable/usable bookmark for the tall panel, and added the girl from My Favorite Things' ALM-Here's the Story set (which, unfortunately, just retired).  I paper pieced her pants (aren't they cute in plaid?) and the book, colored her hair, skin, and shoes with Copics, and fussy cut around her to perch her with dimensionals on the horizontal panel.  Simple design, but I love the colors and 3D-ness of the project.  And LOVE that the bookmark is functional and can be used for much longer than someone might keep the card around.

Papers are by MME, and twine is from The Twinery.  The small corner dies holding the bookmark in place at the bottom are from MFT's Die-namics.

November Sketch For You to Try and My First Guest Designer Spot!!

I am so excited to share that I was asked to be the November guest designer for Jen del Muro's Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT) challenge on her blog, I {Heart} 2 Stamp.  I love Jen's style and creativity, she designs for some of my very favorite stamp companies, and I enjoy participating in the sketch challenges each month.  So you can imagine what an honor and happy surprise it is to serve in my very first guest designer spot with her.

The sponsor this month is Sweet Stamp Shop, a relatively newer company with some super cute images, and some great inspiration on their blog.  My card features a sentiment and these fun little headphones from the Old School Rock set...so retro!

I added some little doodled lines and dots around my panels and feature some bright colors with MME Lime Twist papers and yummy texture with the bright green plush scalloped ribbon and twine.  The sentiment panel and label shape under it were cut with MFT's Die-namics, and peeking out from under the ribbon is the fun Pennant Border Die from Verve Stamps.

Thanks so much for the invitation to represent SFYTT this month, Jen!

The Sketch:

Have you seen HoneyPOP paper??

I recently got to try some of Inky Antics' HoneyPOP paper for a make and take sponsored by my LSS. Their stamp sets are cute, but truly you can cut any symmetrical shape (think die cuts or other stamps in your arsenal).  I got a little pack of red (thinking of Christmas ornaments, Valentine's hearts, and Teacher Appreciation Day apples) and some orange (for pumpkins...it was close to Halloween).  And then I thought how cute of a body it would make for the turkey in Verve's Bountiful Harvest!!!! and had to get some brown.

I stamped him once for placement, and then kind of paper pieced him by cutting a second head and feet to layer with foam tape, so that they were more centered among the depth of the HoneyPOP body.  He's so fat and fluffy!  Love him.

Both sentiments ("With gratitude" on the outside and "So grateful for you" on the inside) are from the same stamp set.  Papers are by Glitz.  And I finished off the otherwise basically-shaped card with some Viva Pearl Pen.

Liebster Award!

I am the proud and grateful recipient of the Liebster Award from my dear cyber friend, Terri Foltz, author of the blog Terri's Terrifical Terrace.

ABOUT THE AWARD

Liebster is a German word meaning "Beloved," "Favorite," or "Dearest." This award is a peer to peer award in which fellow bloggers present the award to their favorite bloggers with less than 200 followers. The origins of this award is unclear, but is believed to have originated by a German blogger. This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion to share your dearest and most beloved blogs that have less than 200 followers.

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE

Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have less than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

PAY IT FORWARD
Now comes the hard part… choosing 5 bloggers to share this award with!  Wow not an easy task. I follow many great blogs and it was hard to choose just five. 

_________________________________________________________

I have scrapbooked for about fifteen years, and have taken on other paper crafting, especially card making, over the last few years.  I've maintained galleries of my work on www.scrapbook.com and then www.splitcoaststampers.com, but started my blog some time ago to participate in other challenges, to elaborate and add more personal details that tie into my creations, and to hopefully grow and share my work with others.  Alas, there are so many great crafters, and just as many wonderful blogs out there, and I really don't have a following to speak of.  But Terri has followed for some time, and the occasional posts from her or others who pass by make me continue on.  My heart soars when I think someone may find joy or inspiration from one of my creations.  So this award is extra special.  Thank you, Terri!

The blogs I would like to recognize are not all of the same subject matter.  But they are blogs that in a very hectic and often stressful week, I feel happy to make the time to read, that uplift me, make me think, or give me a chuckle.  I hope you will check them out, and spread a little love.  I'm only listing four for now, but if I think of my fifth, I'll be back!

Kate & Khan - Still Fumbling thru Parenthood - mostly written by Kate, with occasional input from her husband, Khan; this site is just the random, insightful, humorous observations and commentary by a charming friend who has a great eye as an amateur photographer and a fabulous subject matter to photograph and muse about, her daughter, Lily.  I guarantee you will find yourself smiling and falling in love with this small, quirky family.

My Fascinating Life by Caroline Calcote - I have to get this award in quickly, as Caroline has really embraced the blogging world, and her followers are slowly yet steadily growing.  This lady is such an inspiration.  She lives life fully, and I find myself living vicariously through her fitness self-challenges, her outings, and her random musings.

Natty-G's---Random, Honest Musings on (My) Life - Probably the most adventurous, free-spirited friend I've ever had, Natalie ranges from prose to poetry through her introspective, blunt observations about life, which have currently taken her to Israel.  

Beadn & Stampn by Deborah Anton - Have to get my crafters in here somewhere!  I've followed Deb for a while.  If memory serves correctly, I think I first stumbled on her blog through a link from the very crafty and published, Carolyn King. Deb was offering some blog candy, which I won, and included in her prize was a beautiful and oh-so-sweet handmade card.  And I've found that that oh-s0-sweetness extends well beyond her cards.  We seem to enjoy many of the same papercrafting and stamping companies, so I thoroughly enjoy and am inspired by her creations.

Witch Hat Treat Boxes and Some More....(yes, you guessed it) Cards

I created three of these sweet little Witch Hat treat boxes from the Gimme Candy Boxes SVG Kit designed by SVGCuts.

The bottom photo shows where the hat opens to reveal a space for the hidden treat.  I plan to make some additional styles of boxes for my son's class (so there is a variety to choose from...he told me the boys don't appreciate the work I put into his class treats and throw them away, so hoping these go to some sweet little appreciative girls!  LOL).
The green and purple papers are from the Martha Stewart Halloween pad (I got mine at Michael's), and the orange is from We R Memory Keepers' Black Widow collection.
I especially love the glittered Jolee's Boutique spiders.  On the green hat, I strung some linen twine out the point and dangled a spider from the end.


Get Well Soon card for Sketch For You to Try (SFYTT)

For Jen del Muro's Sketch for You to Try for September:

I used a sentiment from Verve's Treasured Words set stamped on the frame in the same set and cut out with their Rounded Rectangle Die; and the smallest flower in Joyful Blooms, cut with the coordinating die.
I layered Spellbinder dies for the blue shapes, the yummy Verve Pennant Border Die in green, and creamy-white seam binding.
Papers are Echo Park This & That 2, and I tied a bit of Queen & Co multi-colored twine through a yellow button for the flower center.  Love the country-ish feel for this one.


Wishing You Happiness card for VLV

I used the Viva la Verve! September Week 4 sketch challenge:

The sentiment is from Verve's Brighter Days.  I also stamped the solid flower image from Verve's Dream Big, and then stamped over it with the largest line art flower in Brighter Days and topped the center with pearls for that big bright flower.
Papers are BoBunny, and a few additional dies and pink seam binding finish it off.
In case it's hard to see, I like the tiny sentiment in the bottom left corner of the patterned paper, too.  It says "Happy girls are the prettiest."  I thought it tied in to the main stamped sentiment well.

Live, Laugh, Love for VLV

For the Viva la Verve! September week 3 sketch challenge:

I used the three phrases and varying height flower stems from Verve's Dream Big set, along with the tiny butterfly that is part of a sentiment in the Beautiful You set to create a little garden scene.  The grass across the bottom was cut with an MFT Die-namics, and the pennant border under that was cut with Verve's Pennant Trim Border.
Papers are MME and EP, and the circle and scalloped circle with cut with Spellbinder dies.  Some orange twine, 2mm orange rhinestones, and 3mm blue rhinestones finish it off.

A Set of Cards for a Special Purpose

I was asked to make some cards for a silent auction at work that will benefit the Making Strides Walk for breast cancer.  I thought a small boxed collection of encouragement and support-themed cards would be appropriate.


Using the MOJO Monday Sketch 258:

I like the sentiments in Verve's Here for You set, but how to choose?  I was going back and forth between three of them, started thinking of ways to incorporate all three, and came up with this view master card.  You spin the white part that sticks out of the small circular notch at the bottom, and you can change out the sentiment to the other two pictured below the card in my photo.
I used two layered flowers in Verve's Joyful Blooms set, embossed in white and cut out with the coordinating dies, and leaves from the Dream Big set, again cut with their dies.  The fishtail banners are from MFT Die-namics, and the circle and scalloped circle are Spellbinders.
A bit of Viva Pearl Pen to finish it off.
Papers are MME.


For the Viva la Verve! September Week 2 sketch challenge:

The sentiment and frame around it are from Verve's Borderline set, cut with one of the coordinating dies in the Mini Classy Label Die Set.
The large fishtailed strip was cut with the Ribbon Banner Die.  I folded my paper in half before cutting, laying the folded edge just inside the edge of the die to make it longer.  I also cut some from each side to make it more narrow.
The tiny flower was created with the smallest of MFT's Rolled Rose Die-namics.
Papers are by Glitz.  Rhinestones in three sizes and a touch of Copic on the border of the frame.


For the Mojo Monday #257 Sketch Challenge:

I used this quote from Verve's Beautiful You set, with some tiny Martha Stewart punched butterflies.  I love the uplifting promise that it holds: what we see as being the end or a door closing, may very well just be God opening a window to something much better for us.
The sentiment is on a Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle, then layered on top of a fishtail banner cut with an MFT Die-namics, layered on a stamped frame from Verve's Treasured Words.  Tucked under some additional layers are those tiny fishtails, cut with their new Pennant Trim Die (LOVE THIS...you must get it!)
A little stitching to mimic the Treasured Words frame and some pearls in two sizes finish it off.


Broke out my brand new 5th Anniversary release Verve for this one.

Featured is a sentiment from the (appropriately named) Brighter Days stamp set, surrounded with a frame from Treasured Words, and cut out with the coordinating Rounded Rectangle Die (not as new).  Both rectangle panels are nestled by the new Scroll Plain Jane and coordinating die, and topped with a flower also in Brighter Days, and cut with (yes, you guessed it), its coordinating die in the  Scalloped Flowers Die set.  Lastly, the border at the top and bottom was cut using the new Flourished Trim Die.
Papers are MME and Echo Park.  A black rimmed brad in the center of the flower and Viva Pearl Pen finish it off.


For the Viva la Verve! September week 1 sketch challenge:

I'm afraid I deviated quite a bit from the sketch this month.  I just could not make the symmetrical circles work for me.  I kept seeing two big alien eyeballs staring back.  LOL!
Anyway, I mixed some older and brand new Verve for this challenge.  The sentiment is from Words of Wisdom (older) cut out with the Mini Bookplate Die (new), and the edges embossed with Platinum powder from SU.  The flowers are from the Hope Blooms set, cut out with the Floral Circles Dies (both older), the petals fringed along the lines, and layered.  The bottom layer center panel is cut with the Ribbon Banner Die (older) and stamped with the Thatched Banner Plain Jane (new).
Papers are MME and Basic Grey, and I used a bit of dotted American Crafts ribbon, an antique silver button, and a bit of grey twine from Lawn Fawn.

You're So Sweet for MOJO 256

For the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #256:

This little size of this card, 4.25"x4.25", card makes it even sweeter.
The sentiment is from Verve's Love Notes, surrounded by a scalloped frame in the Sweet on You set, and cut out by hand.  The flower is the Fringe Flower Plain Jane, which I colored with Copic markers and again cut out by hand.  The sentiment, frame and flower are highlighted with a Sakura Glaze pen for shine and depth.
The largest fish tail banner is cut with Verve's Ribbon Banner Die and cut in half, with each half tucked under the vertical banners to elongate it.  The smaller banners are cut with MFT Die-namics.
Papers are Echo Park So Happy Together.  Some rhinestones and a swirl of twine as the flower center finish it off.
I made this for a work friend, and left it on her desk with a Godiva strawberry filled chocolate bar.

May Memories Comfort You for VLV

For the Viva la Verve! August Week 4 sketch challenge:

When I saw the sketch for this week, I was drawn to using one of the longer sentiment/quote stamps in my Verve collection. I looked through my stash, hovering over a couple different ones.  But this set that I recently purchased during Verve's 5th Anniversary sale, Forever In Our Hearts, was gently pushing itself to the forefront.  I certainly hope I don't need to use this sympathy card anytime soon, but I've found that they are one of the hardest to make on-demand when you need them.
I wanted to keep the color palette muted, but also wanted to stay away from black.  The dark grey of PTI's Smokey Shadow cardstock served as a perfect base.  I used papers from MME and Cosmo Cricket.  My favorite part was stamping the leaves from Verve's Sunny Days in Versamark and embossing with SU's pewter embossing powder on vellum, then cutting with the matching Leafy Sprigs Dies.  The vellum kind of disappears into the background, and you are left with these so very elegant dark antique silver looking embellishments.  The sentiment is embossed with the same, but on the patterned paper.
The small cream border peeking out from under the main panel was cut with the edge of Verve's Classy Label Die.  A string of tiny pearls and two larger ones in the top corner keep it understated but elegant.
TFL!

Twinkle, Twinkle Baby Card for MOJO 255

I used the MOJO Monday Sketch 255 from Verve to make this sweet baby card for a friend.  She was scheduled to find out whether she is having a boy or girl, but I used rather neutral colors (peach, yellow and green) to welcome baby either way!  {By the way, I've since found out she's having a BOY.  Just in case you were wondering.  ;) }

The sentiment is Verve's Little Star Plain Jane.  Did you know that Verve's Plain Janes (single stamps)  are usually only $3.00, and Julee runs sales and specials all the time.  I think this one is the sweetest.
Papers are a mix of MME.
The teddy bear is a button that I cut the shank off of, with a couple old Making Memories buttons and some Twinery twine.

Special Birthday for VLV

For the Viva la Verve! August week 3 sketch challenge:

I turned the sketch on its head. The sentiment and balloons are from Verve's Birthday Surprise, another older set but new-to-me!  I really need some additional birthday stamps.  I tend to make everyday inspirational-type cards rather than for specific holidays or events. But let's face it, you can't be a card maker, make bunches of cards, and then not make someone a birthday card!!  LOL.
Anyway, I used bright colorful papers from BG, colored the balloons with Copics, added some seam binding, Liquid Pearls and a tiny paper clip.
I thought the birthday theme was particularly appropriate as it's Verve's 5th Birthday this month.  See the post below about all the fun challenges, hop, and release party.  And check out Verve Stamps...you are really missing out on some great stamps and dies if you haven't already!