Hello Friend for VLV challenge

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

I used a sentiment from Verve's Hope Blooms set.  Papers are all BG Curio except for the bottom right square, which is Cosmo Cricket.  The yellow panel is embossed and a little ink added (the paper in the Curio line already has distressing, but I wanted to bring out a bit more of the embossing).  The red layer is cut with a Spellbinders Lacey Circles Nestability.  Some shabby wrinkled ribbon and flat backed pearls finish it.
Thanks for looking.

Grandma of the Year for MFT challenge

I looked ahead for upcoming events that I might like to have a card for, and Grandparents' Day is in September.  We will be seeing my mom in August (family trip), and I know my son would love to have something special to give her.  So, I used the MFT WSC Getting Sketchy #26 challenge on Splitcoaststampers to create this fun, bright card.

The circular border and sentiment was pieced together from the MFT First Place Award Ribbon set, as well as the matching Die-namics (and the orange circle from a Spellbinders Circles Large mats the middle perfectly).  The flower was created from one of the mini rolled rose Die-namics from MFT, on top of the smaller Easy Rosette CutUps die from TCP.  I did fold it, but then unfolded it, cut along one of the folds, and overlapped one scallop so that the die "cups."  The rosette fits nicely in the center.  The leaves are from the MFT Sheltering Tree die.  
Papers are MME (Lime Twist and Stella and Rose).  It's a rather simple card, but my favorite part aside from forming the flower was the "ribbon."  I colored some white seam binding with my Copics and scrunched it, creating my own perfectly colored shabby ribbon.  So fun!
Some rhinestones finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

Thanks for Protecting Our Freedom (for VLV challenge)

With July 4th looming, I thought there isn't a better time to thank our troops with a card sent through OWH.  I'm always thankful and proud of them, but felt inspired with the newest paper line from BoBunny, Liberty, to work on one for the Viva la Verve! June week 4 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's American Hero set with the Verve Vintage Oval Frame stamp and backed with the coordinating die.  The star is from the same set, and backed with a die from My Favorite Things, the Stacking Stars Die-namics.  The star border is also MFT's, the Star Border Die-namic.  

Happy Birthday for VLV challenge

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

Just decided to make a birthday card to add to my stash.  I realized I was running low on them when I went to pick one out for a friend recently.
I used a sentiment from Verve's Birthday Bash set.  Papers are MME Stella and Rose.  I used a lot of dies/punches for this one. For the bottom section, I used the Mini Filmstrip Dienamics from MFT, cutting out every alternating vertical line and backing the little windows formed with the different papers.  For the fishtail piece in dark grey, I used a die from Papertrey Ink, cutting in half and adhering part above and part below the flowered panel.  The scallop is the SU punch.  
I also added a MFT Rolled Daisy Dienamics and Sizzix leaves with a touch of Sakura glitter pen for the veins.  A few flatbacked pearls on the sentiment panel finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

MME Father's Day card for VLV Challenge

For the Viva la Verve! June week 2 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's Dad's Day set on a Spellbinders' Fancy Tags Three die popped over the front. 
MME Stella Rose papers. I accordian folded the striped paper to make the bottom panel, and stitched around the edges, which is holding the pleats in place. 
Scallop punched the bottom edge and added a few flat-backed pearls. 
I embossed the kraft card front with a houndstooth folder, but almost all of it is covered by the main panel. It still added a nice texture and looks cool on the inside.

Father's Day card for my stepdad (for VLV challenge)

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

I made this father's day card for my stepdad using the largest tree in Unity's Bella Trees set and the sentiment from Verve's Happy Phrases set.  The sentiment is cut with Verve's Charming Banner dies.  The tree is silhouette cut and mounted on a Spellbinder's oval and scallop oval.  Some paper piercing and flat-backed pearls.
The tree paper is Basic Grey Pyrus, and the orange and blue-green papers are MME Lime Twist.
I'm not sure why, but I've come to use either stars or trees/plants (not flowers) for male cards.  I'm stumped for what other images are masculine enough otherwise.  I don't know that I've ever really made a conscious choice that stars are masculine.  And I'm sure there are plenty of feminine plants and trees.  But it works for me.  
Thanks for looking!

Dad's Day card for VLV challenge

For the Viva la Verve! May week 5 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's Dad's Day set to make this card for my son to give his father.
The rear panel with the "Know This" text is a stamp by Teresa Collins, which I silhouette cut around.  The front panel was stamped from the Lovely Labels set by Gina K Designs and cut with a Nestability.  The oval shape with the sentiment is also from Verve's Dad's Day set, and is popped on top of the GKD label.
Papers are MME Lime Twist.
I used the Easy Rosette Cutups dies by The Cat's Pajamas to make the medallion, and topped with a button and baker's twine.

All Things Grow Bella Trees

I made this for the Mojo Monday Sketch 191 challenge:

The tree stamps are from the Unity Bella Trees set, masked/layered and paper-pieced; and the sentiment is from Verve's Bloom & Grow set. The papers, which I thought went so perfectly with the tree stamps, are from the new MME Lime Twist line. I used the sentiment flag die from Lil' Inker Designs twice, and accordion-folded them. The sentiment is cut with a circle Nestability, and then a Lacey Circle Nestability. 3mm and 4mm flat-backed pearls finish it off.
Thanks for looking!

Neverending Song for VLV challenge

For the Viva la Verve! May week 4 sketch challenge: 

I used Verve's One Person set for the image and sentiment.  I stamped part of the sentiment on the front, cut with a banner die from Taylored Expressions.  The rest of the sentiment is inside.  In entirety, it reads "You're a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness and love.  I sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune."  
Papers are MME Stella and Rose.  I cut the scalloped oval around the image with the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge. Butterflies punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  2, 3, and 4mm flat-backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty.

Thanks medallion card for VLV challenge

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

I had a lot of fun trying something different with this one.  I cut the little eyelet-looking yellow strips with a border cut in the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge and adhered them side by side on black cardstock to make a patterned panel.  Then I cut three strips slightly larger using the same pattern to make the medallion.  The yellow paper is Fancy Pants Beach Bum, the others are MME Stella and Rose.  I wrapped some black cording around the top and bottom of the smaller panel.  
The "thanks" stamp is from Verve's Circular Sayings set, stamped and die cut with the Charmed Oval dies, and flat-backed pearls in 3 and 4 mm added.  The smaller panel is popped, and the height of the medallion is probably close to 3/8", so this is definitely a thick one at highest point.
Thanks for looking!

'Yaking the Hillsborough River

'Yaking is my hubby's term for kayaking, a favorite pastime for my family.  This is my son enjoying a ride and checking out a shell he found last year.  Our hope is that he loves it enough to continue, and we'll get him his own kayak one day -- or give him one of ours and get a new one ;).  For such a wild and wooly kid, he does quite well.  As long as we don't go TOO long, he seems to get calm.  He loves to look for wildlife.  And isn't he adorable in the hat? 

Papers are Echo Park (yellow) and October Afternoon.  I cut the sea plant shapes with the Cricut Storybook cartridge, and formed little fish out of buttons, brads and hand-cut paper tails.

Where Flowers Bloom... for Mojo Monday

For the Mojo Monday 190 sketch challenge:

I used a sentiment from Verve's Hope Blooms set and the flowers from the Chicks Rule set. The frame with the bird was cut with Cricut's Elegant Edges cartridge. Papers are MME Stella and Rose and the turquoise and light pink shimmer cardstock from Prima, ribbon by American Crafts, and flat-backed pearls from Pizzazz Aplenty.
Thanks for looking!

Trying Out the Saxophone (Layout)

While visiting our friends last year, one of the spectacularly amazing sons, who is graduating high school this year, showed my then-five-year-old son his saxophone. Of course Gabe had to try it out. He actually was able to make a bit of noise, which I understand is pretty difficult. Maybe a future musician?? If he follows in the footsteps of these boys, I'm ok with that. 

This is a sketch I created for a challenge during a crop at my house to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day. 
Papers are MME Alphabet Soup (the musical note background), and scraps of different cardstock. I cut the musical staff and the little tag with the note with my Cricut. Machine-stitched and added some ricrac. That's it. Thanks for looking.

Miss You Like Crazy for VLV Challenge

For the Viva la Verve! May week 2 challenge: 

Maureen's sketch was fabulous this week.  I think for the first time, I barely strayed from it.  I used a sentiment from Verve's Hope Blooms set (you have to check out the cool flowers and other sentiments in this set!) on the Sweet Scallop Tag die and the butterfly from Chicks Rule (and coorindating die).  They are backed with a blossom die by Spellbinders.  Papers are MME Stella and Rose.  Ribbon from Stampin' UP, and a rhinestone flourish and bakers twine.

Because of You Mother's Day Card

I scraplifted a card by Nancy McKinney in the recent Papercrafts magazine for a card for my mom. 

The sentiment is from Verve Stamps' Just for You set. The flowers were stamped using their new Hope Blooms set. I stamped all three sizes, cut them out with the coordinating dies, snipped along the lines between the petals and "rumpled" them...turning the petals under and rolling the end of a pen into the centers to make them cup. Then I nested them into each other and added the pearl brads. The plaid paper is by Pink Paisley. The other papers are MME Stella and Rose. The top scallop is cut with a die by My Favorite Things; the small bottom scallop by Fiskars. I paper pierced around the edges of the green paper, and added some kraft-colored cording and punched butterflies from a Martha Stewart punch. 
The inside uses Verve's Happy Phrases set and just says "Happy Mother's Day." 
Thanks for looking!