Viva la Buttons!

Happy Friday! It's time for another Viva la Verve! sketch with a {twist}! This week starts the March series of sketches and the twist is buttons. Use one or a hundred, just use 'em! :) Check out --> this thread <-- on the Verve forum for the sketch and challenge details.

In the past, buttons have been one of those embellishments I collect because they look pretty in a jar and on other people's cards, but I never know what to do with them. Just in the last few weeks I've been inspired to actually take them out of their pretty jars, dump them on my desk and actually use them on my projects! Amazing, huh? I'm doing the same thing with my primas, and it feels great to actually be using some of them up!

I just received the Porcelain BasicGrey pad from Jacksonbelle and took my color combination from the papers. I stamped the big blossom from Thankful Blossoms on white cardstock with Always Artichoke, then stamped the flower again with Rose Red. I colored each with primas, then cut out just the inner pieces and paper pieced them onto the Artichoke flower. For a little sparkle, I outlined the pink parts with a Stardust gel pen and then blended with my blender pen. Check out the close-up to really see the sparkle. Next I stamped the You're Amazing sentiment in Rose Red and then sponged both panels with first Mellow Moss, then Certainly Celery, then Always Artichoke ink.

My Janome is still dropping stitches, so I pulled out a sewing machine my mom gave me, but I just can't seem to figure it out. So, just don't look too closely at my stitches - it's SUPPOSED to be shabby, you know! LOL Anyhow, I threw on some Regal Rose grosgrain and button embellishments. The center button is from the Button Latte collection and I added a Kaiser Craft Pearl to the center. And for the finishing touch, I added some liquid pearls to the end of each swirl.

Okay, one last thing. Today's the release of three fabulous new sets at The Cat's Pajamas. I just received mine, and they are A-DORABLE! Alma's got them in a Kitty Kat pack for a special price, so go say hi to Alma and snag some of these cute, swanky stamps!