Happy Holiday for VLV Challenge

A few final holiday cards for the Viva la Verve Week 4 challenge:

Used some old Chatterbox Gingerbread paper, the Vintage Oval Frame Stamp and die from Verve, and a sentiment from My Favorite Things Sassy Sayings.  
Some stitching, ribbon and rhinestones.

Christmas Blessings for VLV Challenge

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

This came perfectly timed, as I needed one more card for a last minute addition to my Christmas dinner guest list.  The sketch is lovely, while still being simple to whip together.
I used the wreath and sentiment from Verve's Glad Tidings, (on sale through Dec 31st...scoop it up!!)  and added the small holly from Holly Jolly in the bottom right.
Papers are Basic Grey Jovial.
Colored with Copics and added some thin black grosgrain ribbon, a few flat backed pearls on just the holly in the sprig...and that's it folks! 
The papers, especially adding my first medallion, really did the work.

Wyatt and Friend for MFT WSC challenge

The My Favorite Things WSC challenge this week was to create a "last minute" Christmas card using one of the Pure Innocence images.  
Well, I am not one to make anything last minute.  Not because I'm so organized and get everything done beforehand, but because I take forever to make anything!  LOL.  I am a perfectionist and slow as molasses.  My friends tease me that I may complete two layouts at an all day crop (if I'm lucky).
However, my recipe for completing a card as quickly as I can is to use a great sketch (letting someone else do the design planning) and picking some great paper and an image that fills the card nicely (such as many of MFT's stamps).
Mojo Monday's sketches are among my favorites, and sketch 169 seemed perfect for using my MFT Pure Innocence Wyatt Just Chillin' stamp that I won during one of the release parties. 
I've fallen in love with the BoBunny Midnight Frost collection and used it on three of my last few cards!  The blues and purples are perfect for wintery images without having to resort to traditional Christmas colors.
The sentiment is from Unity's super cute Jolly Good Fun set.
I have a little boy turning 6 shortly.  This will be his card to Mimi and Pop-pop. Thanks for looking!

My Favorite Things Snowmen for Card Patterns challenge

For the Card Patterns Sketch 94 challenge:

Uses My Favorite Things "A Scarf for Three" set by Stephanie Fizer, colored with Copics. The beautiful frame around them is from the GinaK Desings "Labels 2" collection by Nina Brackett.
BoBunny Midnight Frost paper.
Faux Crochet border die by My Favorite Things.  
Snowflake die by Sizzix.
Some snowflake buttons I found at Walmart.
Ribbon by Making Memories.
Liquid Applique applied to the puffs on the hat and earmuffs.

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

Our extra requirement this month is to use inspiration from holiday decor.
I used a couple of the ornaments and the holly from my Verve Holly Jolly set that I won from Julee's generosity just before the last release party, the Sweet Scallop Tag stamp and die and Vintage Oval Frame stamp and die, as well as a sentiment from the Glad Tidings set (this set truly has the best Christmas sentiments...a must have).
Basic Grey Fruitcake papers (to this day, I think one of the prettiest and most extensive paper packs by BG), SU stitched ribbon, some wired tri-colored twine from Michael's, rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.  And I made the wire hangers for the ornaments with some jewelry wire.

Ice Skating Flopsey for the MFT WSC Challenge

For the MFT WSC Winter Wonderland challenge, and using Card Patterns Sketch 93 for their challenge:

Uses MFT's Ice Skating Flopsey and alpha.  BoBunny Midnight Frost papers.  Papertrey Ink Banner Building Collection dies and Fiskars Threading Water punch. Stitched ribbon by GKD.  Silver cording from Pizzazz Aplenty.


And here's the inside of the card.  I love how Flopsey skates the words.

Bella Tree and Harvest Bird for VLV challenge

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

I used one of my new Bella Blvd (through Unity) Bella Trees with the smaller of Verve's Harvest Birds in aqua and red to create a winter scene. Paper is October Afternoon. Some shabby wrinkled ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy, and flat-backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty. The larger ones were red to begin with, but I didn't have any of the smaller ones, so I used a Copic marker to dye some tiny white ones. A little machine stitching to finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

Birthday Wishes for Mojo Monday challenge

For Mojo Monday Sketch 168:

Used 4 Verve sets (one sentiment on the inside):  "Birthday wishes" from Circular Sayings, the "Dance..." quote from Beautiful You, the flowers (lightly stamped in the middle of the quote) from Kind Words, and on the inside is the sentiment "Wishing you the best day ever" from Framed Wishes. I love that the Verve sets always work together so well.  
Papers are Basic Grey Marjolaine.  Some scrumptious shabby wrinkled ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy, and rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.  Nestabilities circles and Lacey Circle die; the circular sentiment is popped.  And the larger rhinestones are nestled into the openings in the new Dainty Dots Border Die-namics from MFT.


And here's the inside.  I just silhouette cut around one of the flowers in the paper.

Flopsey's Trimming the Tree for MFT's WSC Challenge

For the My Favorite Things WSC challenge this week (a sketch challenge): 

Used MFT's Tree Trimming Flopsey, colored with Copics.  Basic Grey Jovial papers, SU stitched ribbon, flat backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty.  Used a Spellbinders Lacey Circles Nestabilities die and Fiskars Apron Lace border punch.  The scalloped circle and front image panel are popped.

Catch up Post

Catching up with some posting.  With the Thanksgiving holiday (especially cleaning to get ready for guests and painting my son's room over the week), I had to squeeze in time to craft, much less find time to post.

Viva la Verve! November week 4 challenge

Made this one for Viva la Verve! November Week 4 challenge.  I thought I might be able to work the second inspiration photo into a Christmas card using Basic Grey's Fruitcake line. 
That's the wreath from The Cat's Pajama's Elegant Christmas set, and a sentiment from Verve's Glad Tidings. 
I embossed the red scalloped piece with a holly berry folder from Sizzix. Some twill and red rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.

MFT's WSC challenge AND Viva la Verve! November week 5 challenge

For the My Favorite Things WSC challenge, "What are you thankful for?"
I am most thankful for my Lord and His sacrifice for us.
I used Verve's VLV sketch this week, along with the Hebrews 11:1 scripture Plain Jane stamp by Verve. And if you look ever so closely to the center, you'll see the cross from the Jeremiah 29:11 set stamped lightly. Papers are Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934.
I used MFT's Decorative Doily Die-namics and a Spellbinders Labels 10 die. Scrunched some black grosgrain on either side of the center panel. Some black rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty finish it off.

StampTV sketch challenge

Made this for the STVSKSP3 sketch challenge over on the StampTV site.
I mixed Nina's Lovely Labels 2 stamp (along with LL1, I use these so much) with a sentiment from the GKD Friends set and popped a lily from Melanie's Year of Flowers set. Paper is Basic Grey. Some shear wired ribbon and rhinestones from K&Co. to finish it off.

Thanks for bearing with me.  I am very thankful to have found a hobby I love so much and that finally lets me get the creative side of me out.  I'm also thankful for the ladies that I've met along the way that share my passion, and the companies that help support it with wonderful inspiration and challenges.

Winter Wishes for the Viva la Verve! November Week 3 challenge

For the Viva la Verve! November Week 3 challenge.
Julee selected some lovely inspiration photos of scarves, but I chose my own to use:

I thought the warm gold and purpley-red in this one looked like white and red wines. The soft pattern in the portion to the left, and the touches of black really appeal to me. Of course, I don't have over $200 to spend on a scarf, so inspiring is all that scarf is going to be doing for me. LOL.

I used the wreath and a sentiment from Verve's Glad Tidings, and the dashed square around my sentiment from Verve's Happy Hello. Embossed the background cardstock with a Sizzix folder and inked over the raised part with black ink. Basic Grey patterned paper, SU ribbon (red stitched), jumbo black rick rack, and 2mm rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.

Silver White Winters that Melt into Spring...

For the My Favorite Things WSC challenge, "My Favorite Things" 

Using the lyrics from the Sound of Music song "My Favorite Things," I embraced what I consider the meaning behind the song. That even in the midst of winter in our lives ("when the dog bites, when the bee stings..."), we know that spring will come again. I guess if there's one lyric in particular that I tried to capture it's "silver white winters that melt into spring..."

I used MFT's Tea with Flopsey and created a fold up panel to reveal the tree in bloom and fluffy clouds cut with MFT's Die-namics floating by. Sentiment is from Verve's Beautiful You set, stamped and die cut using Verve's new Vintage Oval Frame stamp and matching die.

Festive Frame for StampTV challenge

For the StampTV sketch challenge:

I used Melanie Muenchinger's Festive Frame image and sentiments from GKD and whipped this up in no time! The cream dp is DCWV; red print is BG Jovial. The ribbon is SU riding hood red striped grosgrain (btw, it's on clearance on SU's website right now! great deal!!) I also used my first two copic markers (shades of red I got just to use on Mel's wonderful poinsettias for Christmas). A few orange and red rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty finishes it off.
Thanks for looking!

Pride and Prejudice themed card for the Cinema Saturday 100th Challenge

I made this for the Cinema Saturday's 100th Challenge.
They revisited the movie that inspired their first challenge, Pride and Prejudice.  I've seen both versions, but love the 1995 BBC mini-series version.  You can join in through November 18th, and some great prizes are being offered up.  
For my card, I chose to capture the theme of marriage.  All the women and younger girls were so interested in catching a husband, except Elizabeth.  And yet, in the end, she came to find her mate in Mr. Darcy.  I love that their relationship was not a flirty, love at first sight type of love, but one that was born out of mutual respect and knowledge of each other.  They are "true companions."  

I tried to capture the style of the time period in the subtle wallpaper and added a simple line at the waist of MFT's Girls Day In lady to mimic a simple dress.  Added a "diamond" to her hand as her engagement ring.  
Papers are Basic Grey.  Ribbon and lace from my stash.  A couple hat pins and a Martha Stewart doily stamped with a sentiment from Raisin Boat.
Thanks for looking!

Simply Wonderful Birthday card using Verve's Great Friend flower stamps

No special challenge behind this card.  I just REALLY wanted to use the flowers from Verve's Great Friend set.  

I popped the middle of the red flower. I turned under the edges of the petals slightly to give some depth, and added flat-backed pearls in 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm. The papers are BG's Curio line. Aren't those colors gorgeous together?  The sentiment and dotted scallop line, as well as the ribbon, are from My Favorite Things. 


And here's the inside, with the end of the sentiment and a few more of the leaves stamped.

MFT Cupcake for the WSC challenge

For the WSC-Cooking Up Some Love challenge 11/10/10: 

I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of cooking/baking stamps.  I used Sweet as Pie Flopsey for the last challenge, and as much as I love him, thought something else was in order for this week.  But I thought I could stretch it a bit with one of my very first MFT sets, "It's a Cupcake Kind of Day."  Let's imagine I baked this yummy little frosting and cherry-topped cupcake, ok?  LOL


I used the Mojo Monday Sketch 164.
Paper pieced the cupcake, colored the cherry with a Copic marker, added some Spica glitter pen to the top layer of frosting, and a white Sharpie poster paint pen as the shine on the cherry.
That's the new MFT Decorative Doily Die-namics, and a Spellbinders Labels 1 die, as well as the Fancy Tags die for the sentiment (although I cut the tag down the middle and overlapped the two ends to make it shorter).  The sentiment is from Gina K Designs' "Sweetest Blessings" set.
Papers are the fabulous new MME Fine and Dandy line.  Cardstock and ribbon is Papertrey Ink.


Thanks for looking!

Poinsettias and Berries for StampTV Thursday Sketch Challenge 11/4/10

For the Thursday Sketch Challenge on StampTV: 


Used Melanie's Year of Flowers poinsettia (again...I know, I'm addicted). Stamped it several times on cream cardstock and colored in with chalk. Popped a second image over the red poinsettia for depth and added some topaz rhinestones to the center. It's cut with a Spellbinders Label 1 die. 
The sentiment is from Fanciful Tags, on a Spellbinders die and a bobbin ribbon from Joann's threaded through. 
I debossed the round panel with a Sizzix holiday embossing folder and colored in the vines with chalk. Added red flat-backed pearls where the berries should be (rhinestones and pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty). 
DP on the back panel is Basic Grey Jovial. 
All the shine and different depths of color made this one tough to photograph. 
Thanks for looking!

Glad Tidings (VLV November week 2 challenge)

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

This one took me a lot longer than I thought it should have. It just wasn't coming together, and I went through several different shapes for the front panels. I knew I wanted to pull in that awesome color combo and even the red dots from the first inspiration photo. And I really liked the poinsettias and snowflakes in the second (notice the snowflakes didn't make it onto my card...maybe I'll try another).
The poinsettia is from TCP's Elegant Christmas.
The sentiment is from Verve's Glad Tidings set (my favorite set from the Winter release).
The blue with red dots paper is October Afternoon, and the red with blue dots paper is MME. Prima shimmer cardstock (teal) and SU Riding Hood red.
Several Spellbinders dies.
Ribbon is my all-time favorite SU ribbon, the past in-color Riding Hood Red taffeta.
Center rhinestone with gold trim is from Pizzazz Aplenty.

Baked with Love Flopsey, for MFT WSC November Sketch challenge

For My Favorite Things' Wednesday Stamp Club --November Sketch

I know those Pure Innocence girls (and a couple boys...I would really love more of the boys!) are so sweet, and everyone is scooping them up right now. But my first MFT love will always be Flopsey. I have all of them except the new Snowflake one so far (and he'll make it into my cart soon). Whether he's pulling up carrots, reading a good book, trimming the tree, or here...baking a pie, he just melts my heart. Hopefully the recipient of this card will melt, too.

I stamped, colored and silhouette cut Sweet as Pie Flopsey. 
Papers are DCWV The Crafty Stack, and BG Pyrus. 
Ribbon is from Heidi Grace. 
The small heart embellishment is from the BG Mellow chipboard pack. I inked it with Weathered Wood Distress ink, punched two tiny holes in it, and tied a piece of jute through it. 
The steam from the pie was inked with Weathered Wood, also, then tapped in Platinum ink before stamping to give a two-tone look and shimmer to the steam. 
Nesties, Antique Linen and Tea Dye Distress inks, and some faux stitching finish it off.

Thanks So Much--Verve Style

For the Viva la Verve! November Week 1 challenge:

I used the flower/medallion from Beautiful You and the frame from Framed Wishes.
Papers are Basic Grey Boxer. Martha Stewart punch around the page punches, 2mm and 3mm flat backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty, and some jute twine.

I worked mostly from the first inspiration photo, but maybe a bit of the flourish from the third...

Here's a close up of the medallion and all those tiny pearls:

Hang in There (in red dot)

For Mojo Monday Sketch 163:

Uses Verve's Always On My Mind set, and October Afternoon dp. Some shiny black ribbon from MFT and red flat backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty. A little Sakura glitter pen on the hearts for shine. The front panel is popped.

"Merry Little Christmas" Carolers

I'm getting a jump on my Christmas cards for this year!!  Thanks to some great challenges.
For the Thursday Sketch Challenge 10/28/10 on StampTV: 

I used the carolers and one of the small snowflakes (I thought it could pass for a star reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem) from GinaK's Funky Christmas set. In addition to adding some platinum, lilac, and blue ink to the sky, I added some Sakura glitter pen to the star and Liquid Applique to the ground as snow. The paper is several years old, but one of my favorite Christmas lines by BoBunny.


Here's a close-up of the liquid applique and the sparkle on the star:

A couple cards for challenges

For the Viva la Verve! October Week 4 challenge: 

Amber provided a beautiful sketch, but left inspiration up to us. I happened to have lunch with some friends at a quaint Mexican restaurant this week. The color scheme was warm fall colors, deep brown and orange and yellow. But the surprising color twist was a bright, deep blue. It totally called to me. I just recently bought these Recollection paper roses on clearance at Michael's, and remembered there was a beautiful blue one just that color! So that was my starting point. I found this perfect sentiment in my new un-inked Verve set, Beautiful You (the set is actually from 2008, but new to me, and I'm thrilled to have found it. It has my favorite verse from a poem by Robert Frost in it). 
The papers are Basic Grey Pyrus and MME (the tan background). I used a Cuttlebug embossing plate, a Spellbinders Nestability, and a Sizzix leafy vine die. A little Antique Linen Distress ink around the sentiment and on the embossed leafy background to make the embossing stand out a little more.




And for the Thursday Sketch Challenge over on StampTV's forum: 

I used Melanie's beautiful poinsettia from Year of Flowers, and layered portions from three separate stampings with dimensionals. The lower layer is also a little darker red/burgundy, to mimic the colors in the papers. Topped it with some topaz rhinestones. The sentiment is from another of her sets, Festive Frame. Papers are Basic Grey Jovial and Boxer (the green).

"Little Something" Harvest Birds

For the Viva la Verve! October week 3 challenge...

This week we were to CASE something from Jackie Pedro's gallery (Congrats to Jackie, one of the newest members of the Dirty Dozen).
There were so many great cards to choose from, but when I saw this super cute one from LAST October, I knew I had to use my brand new Verve Harvest Birds stamp!
I used the Inside Pinking Border Cut Ups die from TCP, and layered the negative side of the cut over the main die cut to represent grass.
The sentiment and frame around it are GinaK's Fanciful Tags set by Nina Bracket.  They are sitting on a tag from the Spellbinders Ribbons Tags Trio dies, and strung onto the brown grosgrain.
October Afternoon papers, the green and brown leaf the same as Jackie's; and GinaK Pure Luxury Chocolate cardstock.
On the inside I silhouette cut two of the leaves from the paper and put them in the corner of a green panel.

Autumn Beauty Wheelbarrow

For the Thursday Sketch Challenge for GinaK Designs on StampTV:

I used the GKD set by Theresa Momber, Autumn Beauty (so love these images for Fall). I stamped the wheelbarrow and pumpkins twice each, cut out the two front pumpkins from one of the images, and the front, side, front leg and front handle (as one piece) from one of the wheelbarrow images. I trimmed the pumpkins to "fit" inside the wheelbarrow, popped up the two front ones, and the front of the wheelbarrow. 
The whole scalloped circle panel is also popped. Some 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm flat backed pearls from Pizazzaplenty. Dp is Cosmo Cricket's Wanted line. And, of course, Gina K brown cardstock (I so need more...my favorite go-to color).


Here's a close up of the main image popped up:

Thanks for looking!

Love Machine for MFT's October WSC

For My Favorite Things' WSC Challenge for the second half of October: 

This challenge was to create a masculine or boy-themed card. Uggh. I suck at masculine cards. I just NEED to use ribbon and flowers and bling! LOL. But I gave it my best shot. 

I chose the sweet robot from the Love Machine set, and applied SU's Crystal Effects over him to make him shiny.  I used some old space-themed paper from Inque Boutique (sure miss them!). I also wrapped aluminum foil over the two small panels and embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Some screw brads, and I think he'll work out nicely for a birthday for one of my young son's friends.

A Witchy Halloween with MFT

For the My Favorite Things WSC October challenge: 








Just in time for Halloween, I had to pull out MFT's Totally Witchin' set. Basic Grey Eerie papers. 
The potion ingredient bottles and the little spider (he's from a Studio G mini set...the one in Totally Witchin' was just a little too big for my scale) are popped. Otherwise, pretty simple. I managed not to use any of the dies and punches and other tools I have accumulated. Just let the papers and bold Halloween colors stand out.

In My Thoughts for Viva la Verve! October challenges

For Viva la Verve! October Week 2 challenge: 
 





This week, in addition to the sketch, was a color challenge to use brown, white, orange, and turquoise. I think my blue is probably a bit too light to be called turquoise, but hey, I liked it. I also used the main panel for my sentiment and included a ribbon and bow detail instead for the horizontal element. 

Used a GinaK Lovely Labels 2 with sentiment from Verve's Always on My Mind set. Paper is (what else?) October Afternoon. Cardstock is Papertrey Ink's Orange Zest. Ribbon from My Favorite Things.

Very simple card. I let the patterned paper and shape of the label stamp do the work. 

Thanks for looking!

Autumn Blessings for Viva la Verve! challenge

For the Viva la Verve! October Week 1 challenge:




Stamps- Gina K Designs: Image and sentiment from Autumn Beauty, and frame around sentiment from Fanciful Tags.
Papers- October Afternoon
Cream cardstock embossed with Sizzix embossing folder.
Rhinestones- K&Co

I used the third photo as my inspiration.
I liked the softer colors (kind of peachy and yellow) along with the swirly details on the cake, and thought my yellow sunflower could take the place of the big yellow flower on the top of the cake.