Give Thanks - November Viva La Verve!

Happy Friday!

Today I am happy to be hosting this week's Viva La Verve! sketch challenge!

Here is your sketch for this week:

This week also features an inspiration photo to help give your crafting a kick start. Here is the fun, fall photo I picked:

photo source

So beautiful! Here is the card that I made using the sketch and inspiration from the photo.

I loved all those dahlias in the rich fall colors, so you can see how those things made their way into my card. I used the Bloom & Grow stamp set from Verve to create my floral background panels. I used some generation stamping to get some different color variations. The sentiment is from the Bountiful Harvest set. I did a little masking to change the orientation of the sentiment so it would fit in my die-cut oval.

The VLV sketch challenge is hosted on the Verve forum over on the Splitcoaststampers site. I encourage you to head over there and check out the challenge rules and join us! You could win $100 in Verve goodies, and really, who can pass that up?

I also hope you'll stop in the forum to see the amazing samples that some of the other DT ladies created using this week's sketch. They did such a fabulous job!

I am also sharing a second card for this week's Festive Friday challenge (featuring some newly released stamps from Waltzingmouse Stamps). I'll share more details here tomorrow.

Have a fabulous day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Bloom & Grow, Bountiful Harvest - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Blush Blossom - SU!
INK: Rich Razzleberry, Really Rust, Blush Blossom - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink, Coffee Archival Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Oval Die - Spellbinders; Baker's Twine - Target; buttons; sewing machine

Viva la Verve!

Hiya! I hope your week is off to a good start. I made some progress this weekend with some house projects on my list, so I'll be ready to move to Phase 2 here in my craft room.

Today I am popping in to share a card I made for this week's Viva la Verve! Sketch challenge.

Chistyne Kane created this bannerific sketch for us:

I used the Poppy Birthday stamp set from Verve for my card.

This set was such fun to play with, and creates such beautiful flowers when combined with the Build a Poppy Die Set.

The VLV sketch challenge is hosted on the Verve forum over on the Splitcoaststampers site. Pop on over and check out the challenge rules and join us! You could win $100 in Verve goodies, and really, who can pass that up?

Have a great day - thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Poppy Birthday - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Sweet Blush, Fine Linen - PTI; Blushing Bride - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Life's Journey - K&Co.
INK: Blushing Bride, Regal Rose, Pistachio Pudding - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Build a Poppy Die Set, Flag It Die Set - Verve Stamps; Standard Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Black pearls - K&Co.; Sewing machine

Festive Friday Challenge

Hi there!

Today I am super excited to be Guest Designing for the Festive Friday Challenge! The challenge for this week is a color challenge. I couldn't be happier with what Meredith picked for me - one of my favorite holiday combos: red, white, and aqua.

Even though it was the day we were moving, I couldn't resist jumping on the new Wplus9 release. To make up for not actually being able to use them right away, I spent a lot of time planning how I could use these sets for the challenge. :)

Simple and sweet. For my projects, I used the Silver Bells stamp set and coordinating dies. I am a big fan of all the little accent bits that Dawn includes in her sets. I love the little bits of greenery tucked behind the bells.

It all started with a cute little tag that came together easily with pops of red and aqua.

And then (since I didn't want Meredith to think I was a slacker for just making a little tag ;) I made a coordinating card.

Sweetness. In love with this set.

The Festive Friday Challenge is open for two weeks, so you have plenty of time to squeeze in a little cardmaking fun. Please head back to the Festive Friday blog to find all the challenge details, be inspired by the amazing (!) design team, and link up your project.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Silver Bells - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: White - Wplus9; Soft Sky - SU!
INK: Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Baja Breeze - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Silver Bells Die - Wplus9; Woodgrain Embossing Folder - Darice; Tag Sale #1 Die - PTI; Antique Silver Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #23

Hi there!

Thank you all for being so sweet yesterday. It is so nice to be back sharing cards with you. Today it is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge this week is to use paper scraps on your project.

Are you a scrap hoarder? I can't throw mine away - I keep every little bit or sliver, just in case!

For my card today, I thought I would use some patterned paper scraps to create a fun woven background.

I started by adhering the vertical paper strips to my card base. I just used a bit of glue at the top and the bottom, and left the middle un-adhered (is that a word?). Then I added the horizontal strips, weaving them in between the verticals. Easy peasy and look how cute!

The jar image and label are from the Jar Label Cling Set. I used more scraps to paper piece the jar and lid.

Won't you join us for this week's challenge? All you need to do is use at least one Serendipity Stamps image on your project, along with paper scraps, and link it up over on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog

Here is this week's fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

Jenny Gropp
Marybeth Lopez
Miriam Napier
Pauline Pollington
Anya Schrier - you are here!
Jeanne Jachna
Julie Warner
Karen Amidon

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge. If you're in the mood for a little shopping, this week's sale is free shipping on any US orders. The special is good through 11/13.

Thanks for stopping by, take care!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Jar Label Cling Set - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Soft Stone - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse Collection - October Afternoon
INK: Slate - Amuse|Studio; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Linen Twine - SU!; Button

November Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Hello!

Welcome to the November Verve Diva Inspirations Hop!

It's the 5th of the month and that means it's hopping time. We love to get our Verve inky around here, whether they're hot off the presses, or a little worn around the edges. So today you'll see Diva creations to inspire you with both old and new Verve! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, one lucky commenter along the hop will win Verve's entire October Release Collection! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the details.

You are on the right track if you've arrived here from Amy's blog. The hop is kicking off on the Verve blog, so be sure to head there to get all the details!

This week there is also a contest going on at the Mojo Monday blog. I used this week's sketch to help kick start my inspiration.

I used Harvest Blessings on my card, a sweet little set released back in 2009.

I am so glad to be back to card making.. I am lucky enough to have a small room in our new house that I can use just for crafting. It is coming together, but I am glad to have a nice workspace set up to get myself back in business! I am so glad to see you again!

There are lots of lovely Verve ladies joining us today - some of the release team is with us, so be sure to keep on hopping! Betty Wright is your next stop along the hop!

And since the holidays are just around the corner, Verve Stamps has a little holiday sale going on through November 26!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Harvest Blessings - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Kraft - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9; Really Rust - SU!
INK: Really Rust, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Houndstooth Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Tag Sale 5 Die, Vintage Cream Twill - PTI; Linen Thread - SU!; Button

October Viva La Verve!

Oh my goodness, hello!

It has certainly been a while! We have been in our new house for almost 3 weeks now and we're working to get settled. Some rooms are well put-together and other are still just piles of boxes (like my craft room!)

It is time to dust off the cardmaking supplies, though, because today I am bringing you this week's Viva La Verve! sketch challenge!

It would be great if you could join us!

That is the sketch I created for this week's challenge, and here is my card... I am pretty impressed with the supplies I was able to pull together - everything is still boxed up!

I really missed making cards for fall and Halloween, one of my favorite times to create for, so I took the opportunity to squeeze in another autumn card. I used elements from both the Autumn Splendor set as well as Bountiful Harvest. I stamped the images onto scrap cardstock and colored them with Copic markers before cutting them out.

The VLV sketch challenge is hosted on the Verve forum over on the Splitcoaststampers site. I encourage you to head over there and check out the challenge rules and join us! You could win $100 in Verve goodies, and really, who can pass that up?

I also hope you'll stop in the forum to see the amazing samples that some of the other DT ladies created using this week's sketch. They did such a fabulous job!

I am working on getting myself together so I have something I can share with you here. I am working on my craft room now, so hopefully I will have a workspace very soon! Thank you for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Autumn Splendor, Bountiful Harvest - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Baked Brown Sugar - Stampin' Up!
PATTERNED PAPER: Basic Grey; My Mind's Eye
INK: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko
OTHER: Standard Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Copic Markers

September Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Hello!

Welcome to the September Verve Diva Inspirations Hop!

This is a regular feature on the 5th of the month and is a chance to breathe some new life into some much-loved Verve stamps and dies. Leaving a comment enters you into a drawing to win a $30 gift certificate to Verve Stamps! You are on the right track if you've arrived here from Amy's blog. The hop is kicking off on the Verve blog, so be sure to head there to get all the details!

My card today is a little fall number, I'm so in love with this set!

I started this card by die cutting a circle from a piece of scrap paper. I took the negative mask, centered it over my cardstock and inked it up with a combination of Distress Inks. I used Milled Lavender, Bundled Sage, and Spiced Marmalade to get that fall sunset look. With the circle mask still in place, I stamped the pumpkin cluster and the moon from the Bountiful Harvest stamp set. I stamped these images again onto patterned paper, cut them out, and pieced them over my little vignette. The cute sentiment is from the same set... this is another fast favorite of mine, full of autumnal themes that work well into Thanksgiving. That little turkey is adorable!

There are lots of lovely Verve ladies joining us today - some of the release team is with us, so be sure to keep on hopping! Betty Wright is your next stop along the hop!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Bountiful Harvest - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Making Memories; My Mind's Eye
INK: Bundled Sage, Milled Lavender, Spiced Marmalade, Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Standard Circles Large Nestabilities - Spellbinders

Serendipity Stamps Blog Hop

Good Morning!

Today the Serendipity Stamps Design Team is participating in a blog hop to showcase the new Bird Die that Serendipity has released. If you are following along with the hop, you should have arrived here from Vickie's blog.

This beautiful dove-like bird design is so elegant - it would be perfect for a holiday card or a wedding card.. and if I was a good DT member and read instructions, I would have made one of each sample for you! Instead, I just squeaked by with one card for you today. This is going to be one of my last projects before I pack up the rest of my craft room for our move.

Here are the hop details: one random commenter (that leaves a comment on EACH of the DT blogs) will win $20 off their next order. Deadline for comments is Tuesday, September 2nd when a winner will be announced on the Serendipity Stamps Blog.

My first thought when I cut the bird die from white cardstock was that I wanted something pretty to peek through the cut outs in its wings.

I thought immediately of some stained glass-like pattern I had made with glossy cardstock and alcohol inks. Then I searched all over the place and tucked away in a drawer I found some I had left over. Phew! I cut the pieces to fit behind the wings to create a pretty stained glass look.

Of course then I needed to add some glitter.

The sentiment, May Your Heart Be Filled seemed like a perfect one to finish off this holiday design. What do you think of the color peeking through the wings?

That is it for me today - I don't want to keep you, my sweet friend Jeanne will be your next stop along the hop. Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: May Your Heart Be Filled - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: White, Lake House - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Mitten Weather - Cosmo Cricket
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Bird Die - Serendipity Stamps; Labels 22 - Spellbinders; Crystal fine Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts; Adhesive pearls

Autumn Leaves

Hello! Happy Friday!

I am popping in today to share a little something I made for this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge.

This week's fun sketch is brought to us from Teresa Kline:

I used the sweet Autumn Splendor set for this card. I adore these perfect little leaves.

I kept things pretty straightforward, stamping the leaf outline followed up by the solid image in a gradient of oranges. I pulled those same colors in to the rest of the card with the layered cardstock and patterned paper. I love the sentiment, too - one of the reasons I love fall so much!

If you'd like to play along with this week's VLV Sketch Challenge, head over to the Viva la Verve! thread and link on up!

For the whole month of August, *ALL* Verve stamps and dies are on sale as part of their 6th Anni-Verve-sary! Woo! Your favorites are bound to be marked down, since all stamps and dies are 10-50% off during the month of August! Be sure to pick a little something up for yourself :)

Thanks for stopping by, I'll see you soon!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Autumn Splendor - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Tangerine Tango, Dusty Durango - SU!; True Black - PTI; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: Dusty Durango, Tangerine Tango, Peach Parfait - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Rustic Cream Button Twine - PTI; Modern Wallpaper Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #18

Hi there!

It is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge this week is to use either polka dots or gingham on your project.

I am in fall mode, my friends, and I could resist using this sweet Autumn Chair image on my card. I envision this old chippy chair on the porch of our new home. :)

I stamped the image and used Copic markers to color it in. I stitched around the outside edge and matted it with some dark brown cardstock.

I brought the polka dots into play by using different dotted patterned paper. I picked colors that were all complimentary to my colored image, and the different sized dots keep it interesting. I die cut the pieces and adhered them in a quilty pattern. A bit of grosgrain ribbon finishes it off.

Won't you join us? All you need to do is use at least one Serendipity Stamps image on your project, along with polka dots or gingham, and link it up over on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog

Here is this week's fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Pauline Pollington

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge. If you're in the mood for a little shopping, this week's sale is 20% off Halloween. The special is good 8/21 through 8/28.

Thanks for stopping by, take care!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Autumn Chair - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: October Afternoon
INK: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Quilt Cuts 1 Die - Wplus9; Vintage Cream Grosgrain Ribbon - PTI; Linen Thread - SU!; Sewing Machine