VERVE! Christmas in the Heart and Sharing with You...MIM/LIM!

This first card is one I showcased at the Verve release party. I am using two new Verve Christmas sets called Christmas is in the Air and Holly Jolly.

I stamped my background paper using one of the smaller holly and berry and poinsettia flowers that come in the Holly Jolly set. I colored with copics. I sponged with ranger inks. I stamped the tree on the sentiment shape as well as stamped again and colored with copics, cut out and adhered over the other tree to create an out of the frame design. I stenciled inside of the nestie shapes with some ranger inks, too. I decorated my tree with some silver pearls as well as a few accents on the card. I finished with a sheer polka dotted and a heart button to mimic the sentiment heart.

I also used the double embossed sponged background on the lower red panel. Information regarding this technique can be found here. You can click on the picture to see it in more detailed. I used a sizzix holly texture plate and a SU texturz plate.

Stamps: Christmas in the Air and Holly Jolly
Paper: PTI pure poppy, ripe avocado, true black, ivory
Ink: Momento Tuxedo black, PTI Pure Poppy, versamark
Accessories: Spellbinders, Nestabilities labels and circles, red/white polka dotted sheer ribbon, copics, gold silver pearls, 1/4" circle punch, sponges, silver cording, PTI pure poppy heart button, gold pearls, Sixxix embossing plate, Spellbinder's borderabilities, copics, mini bowdabra, foam circles, foam squares, Sizzix texture plates, SU texturz plates

Sharing with You....

Here is a set of cards is designed showing the same card two ways. The top card is the Less is More(LIM)version. The second card is the More is More(MIM) version.

This card uses two of the new Verve releases called Star of Wonder and Blessed Christmas.

This card is the less is more version and could be easily massed produced. It is a 5 X 7 card and uses a 12 X 12 sheet of night of navy cardstock and a standard ivory cardstock sheet.

Stamps: Star of Wonder and Blessed Christmas
Paper: night of navy and ivory
Ink: night of navy
Accessories: Spellbinders long short rectangles, gem, stardust gel pen, sizzix Christmas texutured plates, navy satin ribbon

This card is the more is more version. It uses the same sets, but I added a few more things to this card.




To this card I added the following

another color(chocolate chip...two layers)
faux stitching
sponging
gold cording
button
dark brown satin ribbon(to layer with the navy)
gold pearls


Stamps: Star of Wonder and Blessed Christmas
Paper: night of navy and ivory, chocolate chip
Ink: night of navy, ranger antique linen, vintage photo
Accessories: Spellbinders long short rectangles, gem, stardust gel pen, sizzix Christmas texutured plates, navy satin ribbon, chocolate satin ribbon, gold cording, PTI vintage cream button, piercing template, black permanent marker for faux stitching, foam tape, glue dots, gold pearls, sponges

All of the Verve releases are still on sale at a new release price until November 15th so go check out the new sets! They are all amazing!!!

Come Let Us Adore Him! ODBD Sneak Peeks!

This card is for today's SCS Sketch Challenge(SC252)! Thanks, Roxie for a fabulous sketch!

I am giving you a sneak peek at one of the new sets released by ODBD on November 1st! This set is called Blessed Christmas! You are going to be blown away by this month's wonderful Christmas set releases. They are all gorgeous and feature some wonderful sentiments, scriptures, and images!!!

For this card, I am using some basicgray wassail dp and ranger inks for my distressed look. I added a sizzix texture holly and berry template for the background panel to mimic the pattern in the dp. I colored and cut out the poinsettia flower and added it over the other one. I finished added some gold pearls to the center. I added a double edged EK Success border punch for some added detailing. Finished with my fou fou bow, button, gold cording, and gold pearls

As always thanks so much for stopping by and your comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Stamps
ODBD Blessed Christmas
Paper
Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, ivory, basicgray wassail
Ink
Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Ranger antique linen, vintage photo, tea dyed, momento tuxedo black
Accessories
Sizzix texture plate, gold pearls, mini bowdabra, offray ribbon, button, gold bowdabra wire, sponges, foam squares, EK Success border punch, copics

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC39)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC39)! It is the last Tuesday of the month so we have a guest challenge host this week. Our challenge host is Kathy Jones(Wattle) all the way from Australia. Please give Kathy a warm welcome! Thanks so much, Kathy for hosting a challenge with us. Kathy is challenging us to use border punches or borderabilities. You decide if you want to use just one border, mix different patterns, or layer several for a fanciful look. Whatever you decide, we would love to see what you create! Have fun with this one! The skies the limit!

For my card, I am using two of the newly released October sets called Dove and Holly and Drummer Boy. I am using Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock. This cardstock is so fabulous it is my go to cardstock. I love this soft colored ivory hue. More importantly, though, is how it takes inks of all kinds. I stamped my doves and holly images using Momento tuxedo black ink. I colored my image using Flourishes Copic Color Collection1. I stamped the two vertical panels with one of the holly and berry images from the Drummer Boy set. Of course, a more detailed holly and berry image is included in the Dove and Holly set. I am using one of the tonal pattern pieces from the 7 gypsies Savannah paper pack that I embossed with a holly and berry sizzix plate. I used my scarlet jewel ink spot dtp to enhance the holly and berry texture. I sponged all the edges of my ivory cardstock with ranger antique linen, vintage photo, and some tea dyed inks. I added a spellbinders fancy label sentiment. I added a double row of spellbinders pierceabilities behind the label sentiment. I finished with my fou fou bow, button and gold curly cue cording.

This card is also for Crazy 4 Challenges(C4C8) to use at least three geometrics on your card. My card is square with layered squared backgrounds, I used a circle and a rectangle.

This card is also for Jen del Muro's SFYTT. Of course, I just realized that I left out the panel behind the circle. Ooops!


Please check out the other blog team designer's cards to see what they created with the border punch challenge for you this week.

Kathy Jones

Maki Jones

Silke Ledlow

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson

Kim Crawford

Stamps
Flourishes Dove and Holly and Drummer Boy SU en francaise
Paper
Flourishes classic ivory, PTI scarlet jewel, 7 gypsies dp
Ink
Scarlet Jewel, ranger antique linen, vintage photo, tea dyed
Accessories
Nestabilities petite circles, long short rectangles, fancy tags, and pierceabilities, sponges, foam squares, glue dots, ribbon(recycled from something), PTI scarlet jewel button, mini bowdabra, gold bowdabra wire, copics

Praying for You! (Double Embossed Sponged Background)

This card is for today's SCS Feature Stamper Challenge(FS142)!!! Congratulations, Rachel!!! Gorgeous gallery. I chose this card to case. I changed the stamps, some of the colors, I did not use dp, I moved the ribbon, and added a few more embellishments. I tried to stay manly. I stayed with a rustic scene image. I distressed my edges like Rachels.

I am using two of ODBD October releases called Praying for You and With Deepest Sympathy.

I stamped the image and sentiment onto watercolor paper using Momento tuxedo black ink. I colored with copics and sponged lightly over the image with ranger distressed inks in antique linen and vintage photo. I added a corner punch detailing to create balance since my card is 5.5 squared. I also moved my ribbon to the bottom instead of behind the image for balance purposes as well. I did not use any dp for this card. I used a new technique I have been playing around with for a few days. I call it double embossed sponged background. I explain that in more detail alittle later. Since I did not use pattern dp, I did opt for a layered fiskars border punch detail below the image. Again, my card is larger and I wanted to fill the space. I added my sentiment up top and my card was complete.


Here is the technique I mentioned earlier. I call it double embossed sponged background. Here are the steps.

Emboss a piece a cardstock using whatever embossing design you like. Sponge over the whole area. Run the same piece of cardstock through a different pattern and sponge lightly as well. When you run an emboss piece through a second time, the first image sort of dissappears. However, if you sponge it first, the embossed design is left on the cardstock. The final looks appears like double embossed texture. I have taken a few shots of one embossed panel, then the second side is a double embossed section. I did a couple using kraft cardstock as well. Click on each picture to see more detail! I did use light colors and odd color ink combos just so you can see in the photos how the embossing look stands out. The kraft is a great deal more subtle. The color cardstock and ink are going to change the look and effect a great deal. I hope you give it a try!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!! Your comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Stamps
ODBD
Paper
PTI scarlet jewel, ocean tides, dark chocolate, kraft and Flourishes Ivory
Ink
scarlet jewel, ocean tides, dark chocolate, ranger antique linen, vintage photo
Accessories
copics, gold pearls, ranger distressing tool, PTI scalet jewel ribbon, sizzix plates, SU texturz plates, photo corner punch, fiskars rope border punch, sponges, foam circle

Verve Believe Blog Hop for a Cure!

Welcome to the Verve Believe Blog Hop. If you’ve just happened across my blog, you’ll want to start back at the beginning Julee's blog and hop your way along. Today we’re hopping for the Cure, sharing projects from a new set Verve just released called Believe. This set was designed in honor of breast cancer awareness and Verve is donating $10 from the sale of every Believe set to the Susan G Komen For the Cure foundation. We believe that we can make a difference. We believe that each day should be celebrated, each moment cherished and that every little thing we can do in the fight to find a cure matters.

For my card, I am using the word elements that come in this wonderful set to create an inspirational background card. I stamped randomly the key words and expressions along with a few touches of the ribbon of hope image. I sponged the ivory cardstock with some pink pirouette ink to soften the look. I added the sentiment quote and lightly stenciled the shaped nestabilities. I stamped two of the smaller flowers, colored with copics, cut them out, added some cotton candy stickles, and layered. I finished with a pink satin bow and heart charm with touches of silver pearls.

The background pink pirouette section is embossed with a sizzix plate and lightly sponged. I used the labels 8 to created layer border edges to my focal panel section sides.

Thanks for hopping by! Next up on the hop is Jessie Rone. Oh, and we’ve got a special gift hidden along our hop for one lucky commenter, so if you see something you really love, give a little shout out and you just might win a $30 gift certificate to Verve!

Stamps Verve Believe; Paper PTI true black, pink pirouette, Flourishes ivory; Ink Momento tuxedo black, pink pirouette; Accessories silver pearls, nestabilities, pink satin ribbon, heart charm, silver cording, sponges, foam circles, bow easy, silver pearls, sizzix textured plates

If you hopped here from the Sweet 'n Sassy blog, my card for that posting can be see here! Thanks so much for hopping by!

For a Special Friend!

This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC203)! Here is my inspiration picture. This card is also for Mercy's sketch challenge(MTSC44)! I turned the sketch.

Today I am showcasing for you a stamp set from the Sweet 'n Sassy store called Special Women. I love this set. The flower is fantastic and the sentiments are wonderful.

I have a new background technique I would like to tell you about. I am using it for the background panel in this card. More later!!!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!! Your comments are greatly appreciated!!!

Stamps
Sweet 'n Sassy Special Women
Paper
chocolate chip, ivory, real red, true black
Ink
momento tuxedo black, ranger antique linen, pure poppy
Accessories
chocolate polka dotted satin ribbon, bow easy, sponges, foam squares, copics, gold pearls, sizzix embossing templates, SU embossing plates

O Christmas Tree....Verve Peeks!!!

First of all, I just wanted to let you all know that I started a job this week. I am officially employed as a waitress. I used to work at this restaurant when I was in college and actually opened the store with the owner back in 1987. It is quite odd going back after 22 years! I work lunch 11-2. It is fun and fast. I am hoping I can shed a few more pounds and get some exercise at the same time. I came home yesterday and was literally sore from the top of my head to my piggy toes. It is going to take a bit to get all my muscle groups back into the groove. Just wanted you to know why I have not posted as much this week.

I am back with a couple more Verve sneak peeks before the big release party tonight. There are two more sets being peeked on the Verve Blog today. I am using O Christmas Tree set for both of these cards. For the first card above,I used one of the small script like fonts to stamp a background panel that I heavily sponged. I then used the polka dot backgrounder from the bountiful backgrounds set. I sponged this panel as well as used a SU texturz plate. I inked my Christmas tree with some ripe avocado ink and rocked and rolled it with momento tuxedo black. I added a few gold pearl for ornament decoration. I really love how it turned out. I finished with some ribbon, bow, gold cording, border punch, and gold pearl accenting.

My second sample I wanted to show for you today uses the same set. There are lots of options in this set. I also wanted to showcase for you an alternate stamp style. I sponged very little on this card. Just a little bit of some ranger antique linen. I mainly used basicgray wassail dp and a sizzix texture Christmas plate for the background panel.

I stamped this beautifully designed and detailed wreath from the set with Momento tuxedo black ink. I colored with copics. I stamped one of the separate ribbon bows from the set and colored with copics and added it over the top of the ribbon on the wreath. I added some gold pearls and a layered borderabilites, a ribbon bow with button accenting, and my card was complete.

To see the other gorgeous samples with this set and the other new set, you'll have to check out the Verve blog! The Diva's have some amazing samples this week!





Don't forget to join us for the Verve Release Party tonight, Friday October 23rd, at 9:00pm EST in the Verve Forum! Hope to see you there! You will see more faulous diva creations using this month's new releases and chat it up with the rest ofus.

Card 1
Stamps: O Christmas Tree, Bountiful Backgrounds
Paper: PTI ripe avocade and true black, Flourishes Ivory cardstock
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, PTI ripe avocado, ranger antique linen, vintage photo
Accessories: Fiskars Border Punch, Spellbinders Petite rectangle nestabilities, fancy labels, offray sheer black and olive, mini bowdabra, gold cording, SU texturz plates, gold pearls

Card 2
Stamps: O Christmas Tree
Paper: PTI, scarlet jewel, ivory, always artichoke, basicgray wassail
Ink: PTI scarlet jewel, ranger antique linen
Accessories: Spellbinders, Nestabilities Petite circles, ivory satin ribbon, gold cording, PTI scarlet jewel button, gold pearls, Sixxix embossing plate, Spellbinder's borderabilities, copics

Verve Sneak Peeks! VSOCT09

This card is for today's Ways to Use it Challenge(WT241)! We are to patch it up!! Instead of using actual pieces of paper to patch things, I decided to stamp an image in a sporadic background design in different colors. This card is for the Verve Release Week Sketch Challenges! I am showcasing for you one of the new sets called Holly Jolly Christmas and Christmas in the Air.

For this card I wanted to go alittle vintage whimsical if there is such a thing. I am using nontraditional colors. I stamped and shadowed my background using one of the smaller ornaments that come in the set. I love this multicolored sporadic look. I used a copic C1 marker to shadow the ornaments to give them some depth. I sponged the edges and used a SU texturz plate to go behind the sentiment panel. I finished with some sentiment sponge stenciling and silver pearl accenting.


Stamps: Release Party sneak peeks.... Holly Jolly Christmas and Christmas in the Air, SU script(retired)
Paper: SU melon mambo, SU garden green, gp white, PTI true black
Ink: PTI raspberry fizz, leaf green summer sunrise, scarlet jewel, hibiscus burst,ranger antique linen, old paper
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 9, Petite rectangles, SU photo corner punch, offray fuschia satin ribbon,silver cording, SU texturez paltes, silver pearls, mini bowdabra, stardust gel pen, Copic C1

Forever!

This card is for today's SCS Sketch Challenge(SC251)!!! Thanks so much Roxie!! Thanks, too, Anne(jdmommy)for the inspiration card!!!

I am using two of October's new releases from ODBD called Praying for You and With Heartfelt Sympathy.

I am using some rich razzleberry, ivory, and kraft cardstocks. I used ODBD ink pad in bordeaux for the sentiment. This color seems to match beautifully with the rich razzleberry. I used Ranger antique linen and vintage photo ink pads to age up the edges a bit. I used a sewing machine for the piercings for my faux stitching. I finished with some gold pearls, assorted ribbon, and a wood button.


Stamps
ODBD Praying for You and With Heartfelt Sympathy
Paper
rich razzleberry, ivory, kraft, rich razzleberry dsp
Ink
ODBD bordeaux, ranger antique linen, vintage photo
Accessories
Nestabilities, sewing machine, foam circles, glue dots, satin ribbon, sheer polka dot ribbon, mini bowdabra, gold pearls, sponges, permanent marker for faux stitch lines, sponges, photo corner punch

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC38)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC38)! Dee Jackson is our challenge host this week. Dee is challenging us to watercoloring. We can use any medium for watercolor we choose and any theme we want. Pretty simple and straight forward. Looking forward to seeing what you create with the watercolor challenge!

This card is also for today's SCS Color Challenge(CC241)! I am hosting this challenge today at SCS. Always Bravo Cameo! The colors are Always Artichoke(optional), Bravo Burgandy, and Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla. I am using PTI scarlet jewel, melon berry(sponged with berry sorbet and vintage photo), and Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock. I used the ivory for the background musical score and the European watercolor paper for the main image. I only used the always artichoke in my coloring which is why I made that optional.

I am using one of the new releases this month called Christmas Wreath and Christmas Music sets. I stamped my wreath using Momento Tuxedo ink onto European watercolor paper. I love this wreath. It is huge and just beautifully detailed. I love the fact that a smaller matching wreath comes in this set along with sentiments. This Merry Christmas sentiment is just perfect!!! I love the flowy scripty font and decided to make it look like a banner. I distressed the edges and sponged over my watercoloring to create more warmth and an old world feel. I am really loving this musical score background set. It is just the perfect background for almost anything Christmas. I added some stardust gel pen detailing along with some gold cording and gold pearl accents to finish my card.

This card is also using the sketch challenge from the Crazy 4 Challenges(C4C7) blog!!! Thanks a bunch, Cindy and Vicki!!!

Please check out the other blog team designer's to see what they created with the watercolor challenge! As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!! Your comments are great appreciated!!! Also, just wanted to say Happy Birthday to Silke(sparklegirl)!!! She is turning "29" again today!!! Have a Great Day and a Blessed Year!!!

Maki Jones

Silke Ledlow

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson

Kim Crawford

Stamps
Flourishes Christmas Wreath and Christmas Music
Paper
PTI scarlet jewel, melon berry, Flourishes classic ivory cardstock
Ink
scarlet jewel, ranger antique linen, vintage photo, walnut stain, ink pads in assorted colors for wreath
Accessories
EK Success border punches, gold pearls, mini bowdarbra gold cording(wire), stardust gel pen, sponges, foam tape, glue dots, copics C1, aquapainter, blender pens