Something Different

Hi friends! Today I'm sharing a little mixed media piece I made a while back. It's been long enough that I'm not sure I actually remember the journey that got me to the finished product, so I'll try to piece it together.

I also just moved my photography setup to a place where I don't have to become a human pretzel to take photos. Yay! I'm still playing with lighting, so sorry the photos are a bit off, these were my test shots. Edited to add... couldn't stand the darkness in the phot so I retook the above photo. :)

I know the piece started with a little 2 x 4 block I got at the dollar store. Strip it down and you might just find a picture of a cocktail and the phrase, it's 5 o'clock somewhere.  Haha! I liked the shape and planned to alter it when I bought it, and am pleased with the way it turned out.

I first wrapped the entire block with old text paper, adhering with matte medium. Then I gave the whole thing a good coating of heavy white gesso. I then added a little wood grain texture with light paste and a stencil in places.

Next I turned to the focal piece. I knew I wanted to use a piece of the zella teal paper line, so stamped my sentiment, the Micah 5:5 verse from the Scripture Medley 5 set, in archival black, then framed with a resin prima frame. In hind sight, it makes A LOT more sense to finish the painting and altering of the resin frame BEFORE adhering your sentiment piece, but that's how you learn, right?  I did reinforce the back with a circle die cut from cardboard packaging and glued down with matte medium.

Next I set to work assembling my collage.  I had purchased some melange glass domes and some art stones that I had never tested out, so decided to add texture with those, gluing them down and adding a bronze metal piece in the upper corner, leaving room for my sentiment frame to glue in at the end.  Once everything was dry, I started adding in color bloom sprays in aquas and greens until I achieved the color mix I was looking for.  I did all sides of the block and resin frame and tried to get a variation of color into the cracks of the texture. Next I pulled out the some brass finnabair paint and wax and brushed on in places to get a good patina looking feel.  I added in the leaves, which were from prima, and colored with greens and then the same waxes.  A dry brushing of gesso brought back some highlights, and  I added some darker accents with Daniel Smith watercolors.

The piece was finished off with the zella teal butterfly, which I think gives it such a dreamy look.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderfully creative day.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: book text, Zella Teal (Prima)
Ink: color bloom sprays (Prima), daniel smith watercolors, heavy gesso, aged brass wax and paint (Art Alchemy), archival black (Ranger)
Accessories: resin frame, melange, art stones, leaves, Zell Teal butterfly (Prima), matte medium, light paste, stencil

Shabby Viva la Verve

Hi friends! It's the first Friday in November and that means it's time for a brand new Viva la Verve sketch. This month's sketch has lots of straight lines for those of you who like them, and it's easy to dress up or down depending on your style.

I went a little shabby for my sample card, so more is more! I get lot of requests for sketch measurements, and I've kind of shied away from doing it for a couple of reasons.  1. I don't like to measure things. Unless I'm making a treat box where measurements are imperative, I just wing it.  2. I don't want anyone to feel they have to make their card the same way I did. The sketches are open to interpretation so that you can make the sketch fit the images and stamps you want to use, not the other way around. However, I'm trying out adding the measurements to the sketch image this month.  Let me know if you like to have them.  If not, there's no reason for me to have to measure each month. {grin}

My card started with this stamped panel that was in my leftovers bin from a previous stamping session. The Psalm 34:18 verse and the flower from Scripture Medley 5 were embossed in early espresso ink with clear embossing powder.  I decided to go for an autumn feel to the card, so colored the flower with copics and then sponged the edges with distress ink.

Next I started on the background. I stenciled a leaf stencil (quite messily, if I do say so myself) with modeling paste. I got a new craft mat a while ago which I absolutely love, but unfortunately washi tape won't stay stuck to it, so my stencil slipped a bunch. I sprayed with some Lindy's sprays, then sponged with distress oxide inks until I had a nice warm background.  A piece of vintage lace is wrapped around this layer as my horizontal panel, then I just layered some scraps of Amber Moon paper behind the sentiment and added a bunch of upholstery thread.  The finishing touch was a metal embellishment in the corner.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a splendidly creative November. We'd love to have you play along with the sketch this month. Verve stamps aren't required, but there is a monthly prize up for grabs!  Play as long as often as you like. I love to see what you create!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: amber moon (Prima Marketing), cream (Neenah)
Ink: antique photo, vintage photo, walnut stain, wild honey, fossilized amber distress and oxide inks (Ranger), spray ink (Lindy's Stamp Gang), early espresso (SU!)
Accessories: leaf stencil (Carta Bella), upholstery thread, embossing powder, metal embellishment (The Funkie Junkie Boutique), modeling paste (Prima Marketing), vintage lace trim, paper distresser

Other Links
November 2017 Viva la Verve Sketch
Best Ever Craft Mat by Ken Oliver (Amazon)

Blessed and Comforted

Hi friends! Happy World Card Making Day. I'm hoping to hop into the studio later today while the boys are watching football to get my craft on! Hooray. In the meantime, I thought I'd share this card I made earlier this week inspired by the current inspiration at The Card Concept.

My card doesn't have pumpkins, but the picture totally sent my mind to my new beloved Zella Teal papers. I love the neutrals with a pop of aqua and that fun lacey banner in the photo made me think of this lace I had in the stash. I guess the style here would be freestyle collage, as I added a bunch of different papers and that beautiful rose image is from the Zella Teal Ephemera pack.

I needed a sympathy card, and this verse from the Scripture Medley 5 stamp set is a new favorite of mine. It's so uplifting to know that we are promised comfort in times of mourning. I stamped it on a patterned paper stitched circle die cut. I also used the stitched rectangle die from the new Falling Leaves Die Set for the vellum and flowery patterned paper rectangle under the sentiment circle.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fabulously creative day.  If you're looking for a deal, check out these current sales going on at Verve through October 9...

40% off winter holiday stamps & dies

30% off autumn & coffee themed stamps & dies

30% off the pre-order of our October Buy-it-All Bundle

Our newest release is hitting the shop on Tuesday, and you can pre-order the October Buy it All Bundle this weekend at a 30% discount!  If you loved the images in our new Coffee Please Digi, but aren't into digis, this clear stamp set has a similar look and feel. In Autumn Leaves, the leaves are provided in outline and solid form for easy 2 step stamping or background creating. And the matching dies make fun fall cards a breeze. The cup image has a leafy design, too, and includes a steamy swirl, perfect for coffee steam or recreating a blustery autumn scene.

Plus...

20% off our Coffee Please DIGITAL Set

70% off clearance products

And, as always, FREE US Shipping on orders over $55.

Enabler's List

Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Zella Teal (Prima), white, black, vellum

Ink: black

Accessories: Falling Leaves Die Set (A Cut ABove by VERVE), stitched circles stax (MFT), Zella Teal ephemera (Prima), 

Blessed

Hi friends! I'm popping in with a little mixed media card I made this weekend. I was so excited when my Zella Teal pre-order from The Funkie Junkie arrived, I just couldn't wait to play. You all know how much I love aqua, so this paper line is totally in my wheelhouse!

I was feeling in the mood for some mixed media, so cut a 4 x 5.25" piece of a neutral colored paper and backed with cardstock to thicken it up, since I knew I was going to be adding lots of media to it. I started with a coat of clear gesso, then stenciled over the top with a coat of white crackle paste. When this had dried, I added in some dragonfly blue color bloom spray.  I then dry brushed some mermaid sparkle Sparks acrylic paint to add a lighter aqua in and shimmer things up.  The distressing is done with some vintage photo distress stain and walnut stain distress oxide ink.

The verse is from the Scripture Medley 5 set, embossed on designer paper with embossing powder and then colored with the same sprays, paints and stains to match the background.  Both the bird and the blessed tag are from the Zella Teal ephemera pack and I distressed them with vintage photo and walnut stain to make them blend in a bit better. I finished off with distressed edges and a crumb cake card base.

All in all, it was a super fun afternoon getting my fingers all blue and inky! Our whole family seems to have caught a fall cold, and I was up at 3:30am this morning doing breathing treatments for Kellan. Both munchkins are home sick today, looking over my shoulder as I type, hoping I'll finish quickly. So I guess I better skedaddle. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Zella Teal (Prima), crumb cake (SU!)
Ink: vintage photo distress stain, walnut stain distress oxide (Ranger), dragonfly blue color bloom spray (Prima), mermaid sparkle Sparks acrylic paint (Prima)
Accessories: Zella Teal Ephemera pack, stencil, white crackle paste (Prima), embossing powder (Lindy's Stamp Gang)

Close to the Broken Hearted VLV

Hi friends! It's the first Friday of a new month and time for a new Viva la Verve sketch. Our challenge is now a month long challenge, and we'd love for you to join us! I hope you'll find a little inspiration with this sketch.

Earlier this month, I had a brief interlude of quiet from the twins and I sketched out this layout. Then I immediately had to make a card. I chose this verse from Scripture Medley 5, thinking it would make a beautiful encouraging card for someone going through a rough time, or if need be a sympathy card.

The papers are from 7 Dots Studio and I just loved the dreamy look to them. I distressed them with antique linen and vintage photo distress inks, then layered a bit of lace trim down for some texture and interest. The Psalm 34:18 verse is embossed in early espresso and then I embossed the flower, colored with Copics and then fussy cut to pop up off the side for a little extra movement.

Here are the dimensions I used, if you like to have them...

Base - 5.5 x 4.25"

Layer 1 -  5.25 x 4"

Layer 2 - 4 x 3.25"

Layer 3 - 5.25 x 1"

Layer 4 - 1.75 x 3"

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a fabulous weekend! If you're looking to do a little shopping, we've got a fabulous little sale going on at Verve.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Dreamscapes (7 Dots Studio), cream (Neenah)
Ink: antique linen, vintage photo distress (Ranger), early espresso (SU!), Copic markers
Accessories: lace trim, clear embossing powder (Judikins)

Serve One Another

Hi friends! I'm popping in today to share a little home decor piece I made during my release prep last week. I had stamped the verse and hearts for the card I shared over on the Verve Blog on Sunday (photo at the bottom of this post). While I was deciding on layout, I flipped through the Office Suite paper pad that had the paper I was using for my card and my heart skipped a beat when I came to a page with a map of the US. I just knew I wanted to use this verse on that map, as it totally depicted what was on my heart when I included this verse in the set. So much division, so much strife, so many hurting hearts. If we could all just come together and serve one another in LOVE the world would be a much better place for our littles to grow up in.

Since the verse and hearts from Scripture Medley 5 were still in my MISTI, I just inked them up and stamped directly onto the patterned paper. The paper design was 6" wide, and I didn't want to cut it down to fit a card, since that would cut into the design too much (sorry Alaska and Hawaii). I decided to frame it to fit a rustic 4 x 6" frame I've been saving. Except when I went to the closet it used to be in, all I found was kids games!  We recently converted our guest bedroom into a playroom for the boys and the process was such a whirlwind I have no idea where I put all the things that used to reside there! LOL  So I decided I would mat it on a 5 x 7" panel of cardstock and repurpose one of the frames in my office.

But once I got to my office, my eyes landed on this little aqua photo keeper I keep on my desk. I often place my favorite cards here for a few weeks after I make them, then rotate them out when the next thing sparks my joy. The panel fit perfectly and I love the look of it! Almost as if I had planned it from the start! Super easy, but a nice reminder to pray for our Nation and to lend a helping hand whenever I see a need.

Here's the card that inspired this piece...

Speaking of seeing a need. A dear friend of the family who we've known for over 20 years wrote these words on her Facebook page yesterday. Her husband is fighting for his life. A few weeks ago his car was stopped in traffic on the road and he was hit by a car going 60 miles an hour. He had some injuries, but they thought he was okay, so continued with their plans to go to Reno for their 20th anniversary celebration.  While there, he collapsed with back pain. He's been in the hospital ever since. He has a dissected descending aorta, which they think happened from the impact of the car wreck. Along with other organs failing, he's had one open heart surgery and is waiting indefinitely in the hospital to be strong enough to face the surgery to repair the dissection. Her words are hauntingly beautiful.

By Shannon Hannold:
To your loved ones, say I love you too often.
Memorize the colors and flecks in their eyes. 
Breathe in their smell. 
Hold hands and feel their heart beat. 
Kiss and hug often. 
Choose kindness and prefer them. 
Stay awake and listen to them breathe while they sleep.
Take in ever feature of their face, every freckle, blemish, smile line.
Marvel at the way they think and their individual mind.
Take every opportunity to make them smile or laugh.
Do these things in excess.
God gifts us with people to love and to experience these things with, for too little time.

If you feel led, prayers for this sweet family are much appreciated. There's also a gofund me account to help cover costs. He is unable to be moved home to California, so the family is currently staying in a hotel, and have all the costs associated with traveling as well as the beginning medical bills.

Enabler's List (frame)
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Office Suite (Fancy Pants), black, white
Ink: onyx black (Versafine), sea glass, warm sunrshine, rouge (Altenew)
Accessories: 5M56-57 DSW photo keeper (Parisian Homes), MISTI

Enabler's List (card)
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Office Suite (Fancy Pants), black, white
Ink: onyx black (Versafine), sea glass, warm sunrshine, rouge (Altenew)
Accessories: baker's twine, sunburst rhinestone (Darice), MISTI

Day 5 AnniVERVEsary Spotlight Hops

Hi friends! Welcome back to another day of hopping! It's Day 5 of our New Release Blog Hops and it's an exciting day as there's new Verve in the store this morning! Four beautiful new sets and two coordinating die sets just released and they're all available in the shop right now. To celebrate our new release, we're putting on another blog hop with a fabulous giveaway... the entire August Buy it All Bundle!

I'm the first stop on today's hop, so you're right at the beginning and I'm so glad you're here! Today's featured focus is designer's choice, so you're sure to see some must haves as you hop along! And we've got a full hop list with all of our Diva Alumni guests joining in for release day!  Hooray! For all the prize details and a little run-down on what's in store, head on over to the Verve Blog. And don't forget to leave a little comment love as you hop about for a chance to win some shiny NEW Verve!

Okay, so I warned you the other day that my new #12 round paintbrush has me wanting to watercolor ALL. THE. THINGS. I had so much fun making this set of watercolor cards. Although the concept of the card is very simple, the watercoloring packs such a big punch. Super easy and satisfying to make... and they're embellishment free so will be easy to mail! Bonus. I wanted to make a card with all the scripture verses in Scripture Medley 5, but had to pause so I could finish working on the website!

I started with the aqua card, using some of my Daniel Smith half pans I got from Lydia.  Here I used a couple of aquas and a green.  I first taped off an area to do my watercolor wash, then plopped on the watercolor.  I splattered a bit of white India Ink over the dried project, then embossed the 1 John 3:18 in white and layered onto a watercolor card base.

I liked it so much, I decided I needed to try other colors. So next up was the purple card. This time I had the idea to use a stitched rectangle die set, so I could easily make a chipboard stencil to mask things off and re-use the stencil. Now, some people use really high quality watercolor paper. I'm sure it gives amazing results and has a bit less warping. But my go-to watercolor paper is actually from the kid's section at Michael's.  It's WAY cheaper than any of their artist grade watercolor papers, so I don't feel guilty about making mistakes or using a bunch to create coordinating card bases. I get a little scratchy if my whites or creams don't match exactly. {grin} To smooth out any warping, I just run it through my die cutting machine in between two thin chipboard shims. I usually run it through to smooth it before I put any adhesive on, then run it through again to securely bond the adhesive to the bottom layer.

For the final card in this grouping, I went with a red and pink watercolor. There was a bit of seepage as I was trying out using magnets to hold my stencil down instead of tape and it didn't have as great of a result.  Still a super fun card and I just love how crisp the white embossing looks on the watercolor.  Each of these finished cards is a different size, as I was trying to match them to the size of the sentiment.  Here are the dimensions if you're interested.

Aqua card: 3.75" x 5" card base, 3.25" x 4.5" sentiment panel

Purple card: 3.75" x 4.75" card base, 3.25" x 4.25" sentiment panel

Red card: 3" x 4" card base, 2.5" x 3.5" sentiment panel

I'm sure you'll see more of these from me. I plan to make a bunch with the Scripture Medley series to give as a Christmas gift to my Mom. I know she'll love them.

Since our release ending up being later in the month than I originally had intended, I've extended our Anni-VERVE-sary sale through September 10. All previously released stamps, dies and sequins are 30% off and our new release is 20% off!

And if you decide you want the entire release, you can buy it all at a little additional savings!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! As always, it's been such a privilege sharing our newest release with you!

 Next up on the hop is the fabulous Maureen! 

Want to win some shiny new Verve? Today's prize is a BIG one. We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win our ENTIRE new release! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for the full hop list and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 9. Lesley 2. Maureen 10. Christyne 3. Betty 11. Laurie 4. Charmaine 12. Kelly (Guest) 5. Marisa 13. Laurie W. (Alumni) 6. Amy S.(Alumni) 14. Tosha L. (Alumni) 7. Amy K.(Alumni) 15. Tiffany S.(Alumni) 8. Michelle W. (Alumni)

Enabler's List
Stamps: Scripture Medley 5 (Verve Stamps)
Paper: watercolor paper (Creatology)
Ink: Versamark, watercolor paints (Daniel Smith), Bombay India Inks (Dr. Ph. Martin's)
Accessories: stitched rectangles dies (Cottage Cuts), white embossing powder (JudiKins)

***Click HERE for my DAY 1 Blog Hop Post***
***Click HERE for my DAY 2 Blog Hop Post***
***Click HERE for my DAY 3 Blog Hop Post***
***Click HERE for my DAY 4 Blog Hop Post***