Meet The Divas Challenge #1

Oh Happy Day! Today starts the first in a 12 week series of challenges over at the Verve forum. Our first challenge hostess is Shannan Teubner who came up with this lovely color combo as this week's challenge. Be sure to check out this post for all the challenge details and how you can enter. And if y'all ever wanted to pick the brains of a fabulous designer, be sure to make Shannan work hard for her hostess spot and drill her with questions this week, okay? :)

I woke up this morning with a new layout in my head, so went directly across the hall and started stamping to test it out. I pulled out Feeling Groovy and stamped the flower three times in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and then colored with Copic markers. Next I stamped the stems from Petals & Stems and colored again with a Copic marker. I cut and embossed this layer with a Nestabilities circle die and then matted with a Chocolate Chip scallop Nestability circle. For the background of the card, I stamped the flower randomly on So Saffron cardstock in Pumpkin Pie and then lightly sponged the edges with Pumpkin Pie ink. The designer paper is from October Afternoon and is matted with chocolate chip and secured with antique copper mini brads. I then stamped the sentiment from Feeling Groovy and punched out with a 1 3/8" circle punch and matted with a chocolate scallop circle punch. To finish off, I added some Stardust Stickles and pumpkin grograin on either side of the card. I'm not sold on the ribbons - maybe I should have used chocolate chip, so they'd stand out more?

Yesterday was a happy mail manifesto. I had a colossally bad week last week and then I received all these awesome cards this week! How cool is that? It's so nice to know lots of someones were thinking of me, even though they didn't know what was going on! What a difference a card can make! That's one of the main reasons I design stamps - because I love the thought of making something that other's use to brighten their worlds. Anyway, I'll share my loot with ya...

The first card is from Lori of Inking Aloud and uses Thankful Blossoms. Aquas and teals are some of my favorite colors and the texture and layout of thi card is just beautiful. Thanks Lori!

The next card is from Deb of My Little Crafting Corner and is the cutest little birthday card. The layout, colors and ribbon are simply beautiful. My birthday is 2 weeks from tomorrow, and I'm so excited that the cards are already starting! Woohoo! Thanks Deb!

The next card is from Cyndi of The Scrappy Chick who was one of our June guest designers. She used Floral Whimsy and a sentiment from All About You on this fabulously layered creation. Just beautiful, Cyndi! Thanks so much!

And this one is from Denise of The Paper Landscaper. She made this gorgeous little card with Seeing Stars and Starlight Starbright. I just love her use of white space and her sparkly brads just set off the card. Thanks Denise!

And last but certainly not lease is this absolute stunner from Jennifer of Jennifer's Sweet Designs. I loved this card when I saw it on her blog, and then totally went bonkers when I pulled it out of the envelope. You just see so much more detail in person than in a photo. All of the squares and the background are debossed with the Swiss Dots folder and it just looks so cool. She used one of my favorite SU! stamps and also the butterflies from Petals & Stems. Just a gorgeous card. Thanks so much for thinking of me Jennifer!