Without Fear

Hi friends! It's Friday and time for a new sketch over at Viva la Verve! This week's hostess is the lovely Sarah.

For my card, I went with a very loose interpretation of the sketch. {grin} I made another background using the stencil monoprint technique I used on my last card, this time with cracked pistachio and peeled paint. I didn't want to cover up too much of the background, so stamped the Proverbs 31:25 plain jane directly on the background as my vertical panel.

The flowers are from the Button Best set, and cut with the coordinating Petal Points Die Set. The coral pieces are all cut from a piece of cardstock that I smooshed abandoned coral and dried marigold ink onto and watered down, then brayered with a small heart brayer in abandoned coral, adding more water, then blotting off. Did a similar technique for the greenery, which is cut with the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set. The banner is the Pennant Trim Die, accented with some silver pearls and I finished off with a butterfly embellie (drifted a bit in place of the heart in the sketch), a couple flower centers and some white gel pen accents.

I think my favorite part of the card is the happy accident of a wayward splash of abandoned coral ink that hit the "v" in Proverbs exactly right to make it look like a heart.  Little things like that just make my heart happy!  {grin}

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you have a super creative weekend!

VLV April Week 3 Sketch

Enabler's List
Stamps: Button Best, Proverbs 31:25 plain jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Watercolor Distress Paper (Ranger)
Ink: abandoned coral, cracked pistachio, dried marigold, peeled paint distress ink, black archival ink (Ranger), white gel pen (Signo Uniball)
Accessories: Pennant Trim Die, Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), silver pearls, butterfly, flower center rhinestones, hearts brayer (American Crafts)

Orange Aqua Wishes

Hi friends!  Happy Friday!  It's a brand new month and that means it's time to kick off a new set of challenges over at Viva la Verve.  I'm the hostess this week with a fun little sketch and color combo for you to try.

For my card I had fun pulling out a mish-mash of papers.  I cut a rectangle from the aqua polka dot paper and loved the look of the hexagon paper behind it, so used it more as a photo frame-esque piece. The pinstripe paper made a good accent and I also used it for the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set.  The flower and sentiment are from the Be Blessed set, which is finally back in stock!  Yay!  I used a little peach parfait ribbon from my stash and then scattered some  Shine Bright Sequins around.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, scraps from SU!, BasicGrey and MME
Ink: peach parfait (SU!), black
Accessories:  Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve), Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), peach parfait ribbon (SU!), Hexagon embossing folder (Tim Holtz)

Golden Best

Hi friends!  I'm popping in today with my take on this week's Viva la Verve challenge.  Chaitali's our hostess this week and I loved her fun sketch with the partial circle and the vibrant inspiration photo she chose.

I immediately knew I wanted to use a gold doily, since I recently got some on sale, so I pulled out the doilies and then chose a piece of designer paper from my scraps that reminded me of the photo.  I  used the larger flower stamp from Button Best to stamp on both the large and small die in the Petal Points Die Set.  Then I colored with a blender pen and sponged the edges with strawberry slush ink.  I used the smaller flower stamp to create a background in pumpkin pie and strawberry slush for my sentiment tag.  The butterfly is fromDie Sidekicks and cut with the coordinating All Aflutter Die Set.

I finished off with some gold liquid pearl detailing around the inner portion of my doily and some fun little flower beads I found in the stash. Oh, and I freehand cut some leaves for the flowers out of designer paper, then sketched in some details with an old olive marker.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you're having a fantastic day!

Viva la Verve June Week 3

Enabler's List
Stamps: Button Best, Die Sidekicks (Verve Stamps)
Paper: scraps (MME, Prima), white
Ink: strawberry slush, pumpkin pie, old olive (SU!), black
Accessories: Petal Points Die Set, All Aflutter Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), gold doily (Freckled Fawn), flower beads, gold liquid pearls, stardust Stickles (Ranger)

Bramble Best

Hi friends!  It's the start of a brand new week and time for a new Mojo Monday sketch!

For my card I used the Button Best set and coordinating Petal Points and Sprightly Sprigs dies.  My color combo was inspired by this paper and after doing the flower in Button Best in blushing bride and groovy guava, I tied the yellow from the paper in with a little Spring Fling seam binding.  The sprig die cuts are sponged with brushed corduroy ink and lightly accented with some stardust stickles.

I hope you have a fantastic start to you week!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Mojo Monday 350

Enabler's List
Stamps: Button Best (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Bramble Rose (MME), early espresso, blushing bride (SU!), kraft
Ink: early espresso, groovy guava (SU!), brushed corduroy (Ranger)
Accessories:  Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve), embossing folder (Sizzix), stardust stickles (Ranger), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Marvelous Dad

Hi friends!  I know I said I was taking a bit of a break, but the boys actually napped long enough for me to make a card on Friday so I decided to pop in and share it, since it's a Father's Day card for hubby.  This card was inspired by a few different things I've seen around blogland recently.  First off was Amber's mixed media tutorial. Earlier this week, I got the itch to play in the new Mixed Media Mojo challenge, so after reading Amber's tutorial, I pulled out some gesso, stencils and sprays (which for some reason I never use) and made a few different backgrounds with scrap pieces of white cardstock.

Then, the next day some Pentel oil pastels I had seen on sale arrived.  My sister had a box of these when I was growing up and I was never allowed to play with them.  My mom had told me they were for real artists, so I mentally filed them as something I would never have.  When I saw them on sale, I had that same little girl wish to play with them, so I just had to get some.  And it was so fun filling in some of the backgrounds with these pastels, blending with my fingers and then doing a little wash with some water and a brush.  So soft and beautiful!  So the lighter yellows and greens you see are done with oil pastels.

And when I finally sat down to make a card, Stacey's Viva la Verve June Week 2 sketch was the perfect way to use some of these mixed media backgrounds.  I originally tried sewing a vellum square to my top panel, but unfortunately there was no thread on the bobbin and that bobbin winding enigma is definitely for another day. So I scrapped the square (except for the pierce marks the sewing machine made) and decided to go with a primitive star die cut instead, embossed with distressed polka dots for some fun texture.  I added just a hint of gesso around the edges to make it pop and layered it on 2 layers of dimensionals for extra pop.

The sentiment is from the new Wonderful Marvelous set and I masked off the you on the wonderful marvelous you sentiment before inking, then added the Dad sentiment to the right in Archival ink, then embossed in clear so I wouldn't have to worry about smudging while I was layering everything together. Lots of distressed edges finish things off.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, vellum
Ink: mint julep, honor society, water cooler Mister Huey's Color Mists (Studio Calico), jet black Archival ink (Ranger), gesso
Accessories:  Primitive Stars Die (Sizzix), distressed dots texture fades (Tim Holtz), layering stencils (Tim Holtz), clear embossing powder, sewing machine, paper distresser

Wonderful World

Hi friends!  I'm popping in to change up the scenery with a one layer card I made while playing around with the latest Verve release. It's been a while since I made the card, so hopefully I remember as I go what I did! 

I just love this sentiment and have had the song running through my head for several days now.  This card totally makes me think of a circus (maybe because that's what life at my house is like these days).  I've been burning all of the candles at all the ends and am completely worn out being ringmaster.  So I'm taking a few days off  from Verve and blogging and basically everything but being a mama to my (STILL) teething twins. I'll catch up with y'all next week sometime!

Okay, on with the card... I started by masking off the edges of my card base with some painter's tape from the $1 store. (NOT recommended, as the watercolor seeped a bit under the tape.  I've since purchased the good ole 3M kind and had much better results!)  to do the color wash  I added Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw and Spiced Marmalade to an acrylic block, then spritzed with water and pressed onto my paper.  Next I laid down a hexagon stencil into the still wet color washed area and added a bit more color with a waterbrush and the distress inks.  The banners were stamped onto the card base, then I paper pieced each of the flags with peach parfait cardstock.  The sentiment from Wonderful Marvelous is stamped in the bottom corner, then I hand drew a ltitle frame and splashed on some watered down black ink with a paint brush.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps)
Paper: White, peach parfait (SU!)
Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade Distress Inks, Pumice Stone (Ranger), black
Accessories: hexagon layering stencil (Tim Holtz

Postale Favorite

Hi friends!  Welcome to another week!  Time seems to be flying by lately and I'm trying to get ready for the big father's day - mom's birthday - father-in-law's birthday card making extravaganza, since all of those things fall within a few days of each other.  Knowing that was coming, this week's Mojo Monday sketch was designed with clean lines for a little jump start on masculine cards.

I pulled out the new Wonderful Marvelous and an old favorite paper pack from 7 Gypsies to start in on this masculine birthday card.  I basically let the papers do most of the work, adding some sponging with antique linen and vintage photo distress ink, then a few piercings around a couple of the elements.  I built the sentiment Happy Birthday to my favorite Dad using four stamps from the set in Night of Navy and Cherry Cobbler inks.  The Dad is stamped on the largest cut out from the Starry Die.  I finished off with a few wooden stars that I sponged with vintage photo ink and a sahara sand card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  If you're making Father's Day cards with a little Verve this week, be sure to link them up to our A Man's World Diva Dare for a chance to win a Verve gift voucher!

Mojo Monday 349

Enabler's List
Stamps: Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Postale (7 Gypsies), sahara sand (SU!)
Ink: night of navy, cherry cobbler (SU!), vintage photo, antique linen (Ranger Distres)
Accessories:  Starry Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), mat pack and piercer (SU!), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), wood veneer stars (Studio Calico)

Mellow Yellow

Hi friends!  I'm back again today to share a card I made with Sarah's May Week 4 Viva la Verve sketch. This sketch hit on release day and I've had it sitting on my desk waiting for a spare minute since then.  So glad I finally got the chance to play along, because I love how it turned out.

I started by cutting the oval with Nestabilities and then using the die as a stencil to sponge on some tumbled glass distress ink.  Next I stamped the title sentiment from Wonderful Marvelous to the side of the oval, then pulled out Be Blessed and stamped the flower twice in so saffron.  I cut one out with the coordinating Petal Points Die Set and cut the inner portion of the other stamped flower out by hand to pop up for some dimension.  While I had the flowers out, I also randomly stamped them tone on tone on the so saffron panel. Next I added some black sprigs cut with the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set all around, substituting for the little banner coming off the side of the sketch.  The card base is embossed with a polka dot folder and I added a rounded corner to the top of each rectangle panel, then finished off with a sparkly gem center for the flower.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Be sure to come on back tomorrow for our monthly Diva Inspirations Hop and challenge!

May Week 4 VLV Sketch

Enabler's List
Stamps: Wonderful Marvelous, Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: so saffron, basic black (SU!), white
Ink: so saffron (SU!), tumbled glass (Ranger Distress), black
Accessories:  Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Classic Ovals Nestabilities (Spellbinders), dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), sparkly gem, corner rounder.

Purple and Green Birthday

Hi friends!  Happy Tuesday!  Like my oh-so-clever post title today?  Some days I just can't think of a description.  {grin}  Anyhow, this is the card that I drew this week's Mojo Monday sketch from.  A simple, but fun layout.

The stamps are from the new Be Blessed set and I cut the flower with the coordinating Petal Points Die Set.  The leaves are cut from the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set and I did a bit of faux stitching around the sentiment and the polka dot green panel.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: dsp prints (SU!), white
Ink: perfect plum (SU!)
Accessories: Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), mat pack, paper piercer, corner rounder, dew drop

My Favorite Dad

Hi Friends!  It's the first Monday of a new month and that means it's CONTEST time over at Mojo Monday!   Come play along with this week's sketch for a chance to win a free set from Verve!  You can enter as many times as you like, so just let the mojo flow!

For my card I adjusted the sketch to a horizontal layout to accommodate the stamps I wanted to use.  I thought the trio of flags from Wonderful Marvelous would look great as little trees on a lake, so flipped it on it's side and colored with Copic markers.  Next time, I'll probably add some brown around the outer part for sand/ground, but for today we have floating pines!  {grin}  Then I built my sentiment on the circle and banner panels, added some black mats and a baja breeze background and finished off with some black dots.  Easy peasy and one more Father's Day card done!  Hooray!

I hope you get a chance to play this week... can't wait to see what everyone does with the sketch!  I'll be back tomorrow with a more feminine approach to the layout!

Mojo Monday 348

Enabler's List
Stamps: Wonderful Marvelous (Verve)
Paper: basic black, baja breeze (SU!), white
Ink: black, old olive (SU!), Copic markers
Accessories:  chevron dots embossing folder, Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), black candy dots

Banner Birthday

Hi friends!  It's Friday again and time for another Viva la Verve sketch.  It's the final sketch in our May VLV series, so if you haven't already, you have until next Thursday (6/5) to play along for your chance to be entered in our $100 gift voucher prize drawing.

When I looked at the sketch I totally thought of the new banner stamp in Wonderful Marvelous.  I originally was just going to stamp them on rectangles, but once I got them stamped it covered up too much of the fabby polka dot paper, so I decided to do a little fussy cutting.  The paper is a new-to-me pad from Crate Paper that I picked up for $2.99 at Tuesday Morning earlier this week.  I replaced the circles in the sketch with hearts cut with the Heart Quartet Die, then added a little sentiment flag stamped with the happy and birthday sentiments from  Wonderful Marvelous.  I finished off with some shiny silver pearls and a seam binding bow using ribbon from the Truly Madly Deeply Collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous weekend ahead of you!  Oh, and if you missed Verve's Memorial Day weekend shipping promotion, we're doing it again this weekend!  Now through Sunday, June 1 get FREE US shipping on orders over $30.  No code needed.  Just add at least $30 of product to your cart and choose the default "US Shipping" option for your shipping method. Discount will be automatically applied to your cart. Offer not valid on Priority or International shipping options.

VLV May Week 5 Sketch

Enabler's List
Stamps:  Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Flea Market (Crate Paper), midnight muse (SU!), cream
Ink: midnight muse (SU!), antique linen (Ranger)
Accessories:  Heart Quartet Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Truly Madly Deeply Ribbon Collection (Verve), shiny silver pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty)

Stamping in Reverse

Hi friends!  Happy Tuesday!  Today I thought I'd share a quick little note card set I made with the new Button Best set and the coordinating Petal Points and  Sprightly Sprigs die sets.  Each card measures 3 x 3" and uses the same simple layout.

First I stamped the large flower in black on white paper four times, then cut out with the  Petal Points Die Set. For a quick water colored look to each flower, I used the back of the stamp...yep, just flipped it over so the part that's usually applied to the block was up and inked that up with color then spritzed a couple times with water and stamped over my flowers.  Super simple way to color in an image, and since you're going for a water colored effect, it doesn't matter that the color goes a little outside the lines.  Just remember to clean the stamp right away and use a water or dye based ink that won't stain so you can still see through your stamp next time you want to stamp it the usual direction.

I found the technique worked better with the lighter colors like soft sky, blushing bride and barely banana. The perfect plum was a bit too dark for what I wanted, so I lightened it up by using the same technique with the smaller flower and doing a second generation stamp onto that one and then layering it over the larger flower. The DP is from my scrap pile and I stamped a different sentiment from Button Best on each card, then accented with pear pizazz Sprightly Sprigs cutouts and some dew drops and pearls.  I think the whole set took about 30 minutes start to finish.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fantastic day!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Button Best (Verve Stamps)
Paper: dp scraps, pear pizzazz, blushing bride, barely banana, perfect plum, soft sky (SU!), white, black
Ink: blushing bride, barely banana, perfect plum, soft sky (SU!), black
Accessories:  Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set  (A Cut Above by VERVE), dew drops, pearl

Birthday Blues

Hi friends!  It's Monday again and time for my favorite sketch feature over at Mojo Monday... tall & skinny! I used the Be Blessed set from Verve's brand new release for my card.  If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Verve store to view the entire release.  And there's a FREE US Shipping promotion on orders over $30 that runs through tonight (5.26.14), so it's a perfect time to pick up a little Verve!

I started by stamping the solid small flower from Be Blessed in Marina Mist twice.  Next I stamped over one of the flowers with the medium solid flower in soft sky.  I cut this out with the coordinating Petal Points Die Set, then hand trimmed the very center of the extra flower I cut and popped it up over my flower center for a bit of dimension.  The leaves are made from white cardstock run through the die cut machine with the new Sprightly Sprigs Die Set.  Then I stamped over each die cut with the coordinating stamp from Be Blessed in Pear Pizzazz.  The sentiment is stamped in Marina Mist and I matted it with a white circle accented with white liquid pearls.  My background is Marina Mist cardstock and I randomly stamped both solid and outline images of the flowers in the same color, then did the same for the soft sky horizontal panel.  I finished off with a few more liquid pearl accents and a seam binding bow.  The finished card size is 3.5 x 5.5".

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you're having a fabulous long weekend!  Mark and I actually got to go to the movies yesterday for the first time since before Christmas.  Such a nice break from our teething toddlers.  A great way to recharge the batteries!

Mojo Monday 347

Enabler's List
Stamps: Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: marina mist, soft sky (SU!), ehite
Ink: marina mist, soft sky, pear pizzazz (SU!)
Accessories:  Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), seam binding (SU!), liquid pearls (Ranger), dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Without Fear

Looking for my Verve Spotlight Hop posts? Click the links for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4.

Hi friends!  Happy Saturday!  I thought I'd pop in with another project I made using the new Verve release. This one combines Wonderful Marvelous, Proverbs 31:25 and the previously released Better Together set.

My inspiration was the Viva la Verve May Week 3 Sketch + Inspiration.  I loved the touches of gold in the graphic.  And since it's a color I rarely reach for, I challenged myself to incorporate it into my card.  I started by painting a little watercolor background.  Next I took a piece of vellum and embossed the banners from Wonderful Marvelous down it.  I also cut a few stars from vellum using the Starry Die and a large star punch, then used the background strip from Better Together to emboss them in gold.  I embossed the same background across the layers of my card, then stamped the  Proverbs 31:25 verse on white cardstock and hand trimmed the pennant ends.  I finished off with a piece of seam binding from the Spring Fling Ribbon Collection.

Well, that's the skinny on the card.  Before I go, just wanted to let you know that  along with the new release, Verve has a FREE SHIPPING promotion on US orders over $30 now through Monday, May 26. No code required. Just add at least $30 of product to your cart and choose the default "US Shipping" option for your shipping method. Discount will be automatically applied to your cart.  Offer is not valid on Priority or International shipping options.

Hope you're enjoying the long weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Proverbs 31:25, Better Together, Wonderful Marvelous
Paper: watercolor paper, vellum, white
Ink: Versamark, watercolors

Accessories: Starry Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (VERVE), gold detail embossing powder (Judikins), polka dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug), large star punch (SU!)

Oh Happy Day Verve Release Hop

Hi friends!  It's Release Day at Verve and time for our final May Spotlight Hop!  It's Diva's choice today, which means the Divas will be showing you whatever their little hearts wanted to stamp with from this release.  And we've got a big prize for today's comment winner... the ENTIRE May 2014 Release Collection!  Hop along and leave a little shout out to be in the drawing!

All of the stamps we've been previewing this week are available
in the Verve online store today!  

I made a bunch of cards with this release, and well, even as I'm starting to type this post, I'm not sure what I'm going to show you!  {grin}  Maybe I'll share a few??

I'll start with this little {almost} one layer card using Be Blessed.  I thought these flowers were just begging for a big tropical adventure, so I pulled out coastal cabana and stamped the big flower, then masked it off and stamped the smaller flowers in crisp cantaloupe and peach parfait and then one big flower in the corner with barely banana.  I made one mask for the smaller flowers and moved it around to stamp the greenery in with pear pizzazz.  The sentiment is stamped in black and I added a teeny strip of coastal cabana to give the edge some flair, then accented with liquid pearls and some dew drops on the flower centers.

The next card is the one I gave my mom for Mother's Day this year.  It uses Button Best on the outside and a sentiment from Be Blessed on the inside.

I embossed the flowers from Button Best in white, then cut with the coordinating Petal Points Die Set. Next, I watercolored the flowers with distress markers, taking the color all the way to the edge of the die cut to extend the flowers.  Next I glued a few Sprightly Sprigs that I highlighted a bit with watercolors to a cream panel and ran through the machine with the Chicken Wire embossing folder.  The sentiment is also from Button Best, and I hand cut and sketched a little banner around the sentiment.  a black mat, some linen thread and a vintage button finish the outside off.

For the inside of the card, I kept it simple and added this sentiment from Be Blessed, then stamped one of the flowers from Button Best in soft sky a couple times.

This last card also uses Button Best.  I again embossed the flowers in white on a piece of watercolor paper. I then watercolored the flowers with distress markers and shimmer spray.  I also used the markers and waterbrush for the color wash around the flowers, then embossed the sentiment in black.  I wanted those pearly watercolored flowers to take center stage, so I just decided to leave it at that and made a circle card with a crisp cantaloupe mat and crumb cake scalloped circle base.  A bit of liquid pearls accenting the scallops finished things off.  

Alrighty... time to move along to the next stop on the hop:  Charmaine

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win our ENTIRE May Release Collection.  Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 8. Amber 2. Charmaine 9. Maureen 3. Marisa 10. Jen 4. Janelle 11. Laurie S. 5. Teresa 12. Andrea 6. Chaitali 13. Christyne 7. Stacey 14. Sarah

Enabler's Lists
Card 1
Stamps: Be Blessed (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, coastal cabanan 
Ink: coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe, peach parfait, barely banana, pear pizazz (SU!), black 
Accessories: dew drops, liquid pearls 

Card 2
Stamps: Button Best, Be Blessed (for inside of card) (Verve Stamps)
Paper: cream, basic black, soft sky (SU!), watercolor paper
Ink: Versamark (Tsuikineko), Black, distress markers (Ranger)
Accessories: Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), twine, chicken wire embossing folder (Cuttlebug), vintage brad (SU!), bling 

Card 3 
Stamps: Button Best (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: crumb cake, crisp cantaloupe (SU!), watercolor paper 
Ink: Versamark (Tsuikineko), Black, distress markers (Ranger) 
Accessories: Classic & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), white embossing powder, waterbrush, liquid pearls, shimmer spray

Be Blessed Day 3 Blog Hop

Hi friends!  I'm back again kicking off Verve's Day 3 Spotlight Hop!  Come join in the fun and check out the Divas' first looks at Be Blessed, Luke 1:45 Plain Jane and Sprightly Sprigs Die Set.  And there's a prize to be won, so be sure to leave a little shout out as you hop around to the blogs on the list below! {grin}

For my card today, I used all of today's featured products, plus the Petal Points Die Set we peeked earlier this week.  That's right, the Petal Points dies work with the flowers in both the Be Blessed and Button Best sets!  That's my kind of two-fer! {grin}  I started by inking the solid flowers from Be Blessed in perfect plum, then I rock-n-rolled the edges of the stamp with wisteria wonder and stamped onto white cardstock.  Next I cut the three medium and one large flower with the Petal Points Die Set.

I wanted a bit more layering to my flower, so decided to stamp the smaller solid flower three times and hand cut to pop up over the flower centers.  I really like the effect this gives, and it would be a great way to add a traditional yellow flower center to a stamped image.  Next I sent the Sprightly Sprigs Die Set through my machine two times with some designer paper so I'd have a bunch of greenery to work with once I started gluing things down.

I pulled out the Luke 1:45 sentiment and decided I wanted it to look like the worn cover of a prayer journal, so layered some green papers behind, embossed the scripture verse in perfect plum on vellum and then distressed a little with a paper distresser and a paper crimper.  For the back panel, I layered two designer papers together and then started putting all the pieces together.  I wanted there to be a lot of greenery and a bit of distressing around the edges to convey that maybe it's been a while between the promise and the fulfillment.

Alrighty, next up on the hop is Charmaine!  Thanks so much for stopping by, I'd love to hear what you think of today's features.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!  All of the stamps and dies you see previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store on Friday, May 23 (that's TOMORROW).

1. Julee 7. Maureen 2. Charmaine 8. Jen 3. Marisa 9. Laurie S. 4. Teresa 10. Andrea 5. Chaitali 11. Christyne 6. Stacey 12. Sarah

Enabler's List
Stamps: Be Blessed, Luke 1:45 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, vellum, DSP prints packs (SU!)
Ink: perfect plum, wisteria wonder (SU!)
Accessories:  Petal Points Die Set, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), corner rounder, paper distresser, paper crimper

Wonderful Marvelous Day Two Blog Hop

Hi friends!  I'm back with Day 2 of Verve's New Release Spotlight Hops.  Today the Divas are shining their sneaky little spotlights on a set called Wonderful Marvelous and the Jeremiah 17:7 plain jane.  I'm the first stop on the hop, so I hope you'll settle in for a little inspiration.  {Oh, and don't forget to leave a little comment love as you hop about for a chance to win some Verve!}

For my card, I combined the Wonderful Marvelous set with the Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane to make a special card for my nephew's 19th birthday.  He's such a great kid and just returned home from his first year of college.  This verse really makes me think of him, so I thought it was the perfect fit.  I embossed the verse in black on designer paper first.  Next I embossed the flag trios in white three times on black paper and punched out with a circle punch.  Then I stamped the trios a couple more times on two coordinating papers, hand trimmed and paper pieced over the flag images.  The Happy Birthday flag is built with two sentiments from this set and I hand trimmed the ends and added a bit of detail with a black pen to make it pop.  It's attached to the card with a Tim Holtz memo pin, turned upside down. and I added a bit of black twine for interest.  The card was inspired by Janelle's Week 2 Viva la Verve sketch, but I adjusted it a bit to fit the card and to change it to a 3.5 x 5.5" card base.  The card was a big hit, both with the women in the family and my nephew.

Alrighty... time to hop on over to the next stop on the hop, the fabulous Charmaine.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!  All of the stamps and dies you see previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store on Friday, May 23.

Today's Prize: Wonderful Marvelous, Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane

1. Julee 7. Stacey 2. Charmaine 8. Maureen 3. Marisa 9. Jen 4. Janelle 10. Laurie S. 5. Teresa 11. Andrea 6. Chaitali 12. Christyne

VLV May Week 2

Enabler's List
Stamps: Jeremiah 17:7, Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Memorabilia (Teresa Collins), white
Ink: black, versamark
Accessories: circle punch (EK success), memo pin (Tim Holtz), white embossing powder, clear embossing powder (JudiKins), twine