Verve Recipe Challenge

This card was made for April's Verve Get Your Diva On challenge over on SCS.  Amber provided a recipe we had to work with depending one the initial of our first name.


My recipe was as follows:

• Embellishments:  twine, buttons, brads
• Colour Combo: brown, pink, turquoise
• Layers/Shape:  4 layers or a circle shaped card

Phew - was a lot to keep in mind while making this card!   There where many times when I thought to myself "Oh, this would look great on this card" only to have to stop myself as it wasn't in the recipe.

I stayed true to my recipe and made my flower based on this fabulous tutorial.  Working with these colours was a bit tricky in that it is beyond strange making a brown flower and adding turquoise leaves LOL, but, once I was able to wrap my mind around it, I was good to go :)

Maybe I should have swapped out the colour category with one of the others, (we could switch one category as long as we used everything in the new category not just one item or colour) but thought of it too late and didn't want to start over so I stuck with what I had.   Loved all of Amber's recipes so I just may have to try each one of them as a fun starting point for a card :)

Thanks for your wonderful comments and for supporting my little piece of blogland - you guys are the best (((hugs)))





What's In It?
Stamps: (SU) Fancy Flexible Phrases
Paper: Early Espresso, SU Regal Rose DSP, Turquoise
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties, SU Flower Punches, Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, SU Border Punch, Brads, Baker's Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Crazy For a CPS Sketch

I loved this Card Patterns sketch and decided to combine it with this week's Crazy 4 Challenges colours because I just love brown and green with cream together :)

This Echo Park Halloween DP that I got on clearance is coming in very handy!  The flip side is very Halloweeny but this side is simply yummy and perfect for this challenge!

The natural colour palette made me immediately think of my PTI Turning A New Leaf set (love this set!) so out it came and off I went.

I stamped the large leaf image in Garden Green on cream card stock, over stamped it with French Script in Chocolate Chip and cut it out.  Wasn't in a circle mood so swapped it out for an oval instead and added a few flowers, butterflies and half pearls for a little zip to the focal panel.  Don't have and brown baker's twine (it's on my shopping list for my next LSS trip) so had to go with some hemp twine instead, and I think it worked out just fine.

Have a fabulous day and hope it includes a little stamping time :)





What's In It?
Stamps: (PTI) Turning A New Leaf, (SU) French Script
Paper: Echo Park DP, Costco DP, Early Espresso, Vanilla
Ink: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Threading Water Punch, Scalloped Oval and Oval Nesties, PTI, Medium Scallop Die, Mary Flower Punch, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Half Pearls, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

A Verve Sketch And A Great Verse

This week's Verve sketch is brought to us by Amber.  I must admit, I had to ponder this sketch for some time before even beginning to decide what to do with it.

I didn't have energy to dig through my DPs in the hopes of finding some that worked well together so I went with solid colours instead.  Note to self:  buy some DPs from the same line as they can be mixed and matched...yes, I'm slow on the uptake, but DP and I have had a very slow moving relationship LOL!

Sorry, I regressed... :)   Lots of interesting angles and lines in this sketch so I kept things simple and went with pinks and black/grey tones.  The polka dotted ribbon gave the card the zip it needed and my finishing touches were the pearls and heart button.

This Plain Jane is one of my favorite verses - happy sigh :)   It's a great reminder to not "do" but rather just "be", for when one is being still, one can hear God's soft whisper and stand confidently in His love and care for you.  Not easy to be still, but always deeply rewarding!

Thanks so much for popping by - it always makes my day :)




What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Psalm 46:10 Plain Jane

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Basic Grey, Black
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches, Scalloped Circle Nestie, Polka Dotted Ribbon, SU Border Punch, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

TSG Vivacious Vellum Challenge

This week's challenge on the There She Goes blog is hosted by none other than yours truly :)   It will be a busy week as I post a challenge, tutorial and dollar store find this week but I'm up for it :)

My challenge is to use vellum on your card.  Remember when vellum was "the" thing to use on your card?!  I loved it then and actually still love the soft feel it gives a card, but seldom remember to reach for it, thus my challenge.

I based my card on this week's Splitcoast Stampers sketch and used one of my favorite There She Goes sets, Sweet Pea.  I simply adore sweet peas - their colours, shape, smell, everything about them.  My mom plants them in her garden every year and always has a wonderful little bouquet in a vase on her counter, so they hold many fond memories too.   

Now that I looked at the picture of my card I realized I am on a bit of a scored background bender...sorry about that!  Looks like I have done it on my past three cards!  Well, at least it isn't swiss dots, right?! LOL!  I anchored my vellum sentiment with black half pearls and put the glue dots under them to secure it and then added a layered, vellum butterfly, masking the glue with the half pearls.

Would love it if you joined us in the challenge this week.  Simply create a card and then link it to the post on the There She Goes blog.  The winner of the challenge receives a $5 gift certificate to the There She Goes web store :)  You could also find your card featured in the Trendsetting Spotlight on Thursday.  TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)   If you are uploading to a public gallery, simply use the keyword TSG102.

Have a fabulous day :) 



What's In It?
Stamps: (There She Goes) Sweet Peas

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey, SU DSP, Vellum
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Scalloped Oval and Oval Nesties, Scor-Pal, Twinkling H2Os, SU Border Punch, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches, 5/8" White Satin Ribbon, Button, Glue Dots, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #65

Just love Keesh's sketches and this one is no exception :)  Looking back on it I think it was meant to be square and not and A2 size, but it's too late now!

I combined it with this week's Off The Wall color challenge as I so want spring to come and if nature isn't going to give it to me, then I'm going to create my own little bit of it on a card - so there! - said stomping my feet with my hands on my hips and lower lip sticking out LOL!

Now that my l ittle hissy fit is over, I'll get to the card :)   I started off with this fun Paper Salon DP that had all the colours I needed and then pulled out my Verve Petals and Stems set as they are so much fun to pop up :)   I scored the background, added some yellow ribbon and filled in the corners with some butterflies - no surprise there!

This card also qualifies for this month's Verve Diva Dare - Color Me Spring - score!

The Design Team has some fabulous cards for your inspiration.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

In addition, each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to have you come and play along :).

Thanks for stopping in today and I hope your weather is better than ours!  Have a fabulous weekend :)

What's In It?

Stamps:  (Verve) Petals and Stems
Paper: Certainly Celery, Paper Salon DP

Ink: Certainly Celery, Pixie Pink, Summer Sun

Accessories: Scalloped Circle and Lacy Circle Nesties, SU Scalloped Border Punch, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, 5/8" Satin Yellow Ribbon, Scor-Pal, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Color Me Mojo

This week's Mojo sketch was right up my alley.  No skewed panels or mega multiple panels to deal with - happy sigh :)    Thanks, Julee!

I decided to combine it with Verve's Color Me Spring Diva challenge as I love spring!  We got teased today by some lovely sunshine but starting tomorrow have another week of rain in the forecast :(

This lovely Imaginisce DP was my starting point.  I chose celery as my main colour (loooove this colour!!) and since the DP had flowers on it, I opted to stamp and pop us this delightful Verve butterfly from Petals and Stems in the focal circle.  Some pink ribbon, and a Martha Steward border punch along the bottom called it a card :) 

Have a fabulous day and I'll be back tomorrow with my Inkspirations card.





What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Petals and Stems
Paper: Certainly Celery, Imaginisce DP, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Martha Stewart Border Punch, Lacy Circle and Circle Nesties, Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Glue Dot,  Half Pearls, Scor-Pal, Dimensinals

There She Goes Round and Round Challenge

This week's challenge on the There She Goes blog is to make a card with no angles on it!  That means round or oval only - including what is on the card!   Kept having to say "nope, can't do that", "nope, that has an angle on it" as I thought of different things I could  use on a circle card - wasn't as easy as I though it would be!

I finally settled (aka: wimped out) on creating a scene with this adorable little gnome and his little mushroom house.  I just love this My Little Friend set!  So many cute images which are fun to colour and so many fabulous coordinating sentiments :)

After stamping some extra grassy bits (thanks Torinco for including that little image in the set!) I coloured the images with Twinkling H2Os and popped up the two focal images.  There was a "hole in the sky" that needed  something so I hand drew a cloud and added it into the scene.  Was about ready to call it a night when my wonderful daughter told me my line of orange half pearls was straight so I curved it instead - phew!

That's it for today.  Off to help with Hot Lunch at the school and then hopefully still have enough time before the kids get home to get inky again :)  It feels soooo good to be stamping regularly again!!





What's In It?
Stamps:  (There She Goes) My Little Friend
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Black
Accessories: Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties, Twinkling H2Os, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Creating a Sweet Sunday Sketch For Fun

So nice to be able to play along with Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch this week.  I have been a fan of her sketches for a long time now and it is wonderful to have the time to play along this week :)

I combined her sketch with the CR84FN colour challenge and A La Card challenge to use nature on your card.  Just love the colour pallet Mona chose for this week - they make my heart sing :)   If you have been around my blog at all you know I love green and these neutrals are right up my alley too :)


I found this great Echo Park DP on clearance at an LSS (it is the flip side of some icky Halloween paper!) and paired it with Early Espresso and Kraft.  The colours scream nature to me and since leaves were the first thing that came to mind out came my Studio G leaf image again - love this image :)   A few embossed panels, buttons, cut out leaves and I was good to go.

It was so fun to sit and create all by my lonesome today.  The quiet was blissful LOL!  Kids are in school, job for hubby is done, and I have some time all to myself after two months of craziness.  Happy sigh :)

Thanks for joining me today.  Hope to be back tomorrow with another card.



What's In It?
Stamps: (Verve) Wishing You, Studio G

Paper: Kraft, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Ink: Garden Green, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Modern Garland Punch, Swiss Dots and Distressed Stripes Embossing Folders, Scalloped Circle Nesties, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Limelight Sketch

This week's Limelight sketch challenge is to make a birthday card using this sketch. 

The sketch served as my card inspiration, and though it was a basic sketch, the juices were not flowing well today so it took a lot longer than I thought it would.  Hate days like that.  Think this mommy needs some serious mommy time after a very busy past few weeks.

I jumped at the chance to use my Verve Great Friend flowers as you can layer them so nicely.  I tried a few different DPs but it wasn't working for me so I kept the layers solid colours and just swiss dotted the layers.  I hand cut a few leaves and scored the backs of them with my stylus to create some veins.  I really wish I had some wider moss coloured ribbon but no such luck so I had to settle for the narrow version instead.  Everything is popped up on and the sentiment balanced things off nicely.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and thanks for sharing a tiny bit of it with me today :)



What's In It?
Stamps:  (Verve) Great Friend, (SU) Best Yet

Paper:  American Crafts DP, Early Espresso, Kraft, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss
Ink: Rose Romance, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  1/4" Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, SU Border Punch, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Inkspirations Colour Challenge #64

I just love this colour combination.  Makes me think of Fall and since we haven't really had Spring yet that is fine by me LOL! 

I used this week's Techno Stamper Lunchtime Sketch since I wanted to use leaves and the circle was perfect for what I needed.  The leaf image is from a Studio G Stamp I got at Michael's last year and still love using.

I embossed the vanilla panel with the distressed stripes embossing folder, swiss dotted the mustard panel to go with the dots on the leaves (any excuse will do LOL!) and added French Script to the poppy panel - though it is hard to see in the picture.  A touch of brown ribbon as a neutral and a itsy bitsy cheat by using a piece of kraft for the sentiment panel.  

The Design Team has some fabulous cards for your inspiration.

Cindy Kirsty Makeesha Renée Brandi Carrie Helen Ilina Lee-Anne Marisa

In addition, each week Keesh will select a winner and an honorable mention and post their cards on the Inkspirations Challenge blog.  We'd love to have you come and play along :).

Thanks for stopping in today.  Off to take my daughter and son to a birthday party at the pool so they will have load of fun and I get to chat up a storm with the moms - sounds like a good afternoon to me :)  Have a fabulous weekend!

What's In It?

Stamps:  Studio G, (SU)French Script Background Stamp
Paper: Poppy Parade, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Vanilla, Kraft

Ink:  More Mustard, Rudy Red

Accessories: Distressed Stripes and Swiss Dots Embossing Folders, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nesties,  Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Half Pearls, 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals