Verve's Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop!

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our April challenge is Bunnies & Babies

Spring is a time of birth and renewal - celebrate the season by creating a card for Easter or a bouncing new baby. Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction - just show us your sprightly spring creations!

For my card I chose to focus on the yellow bag in the bottom left corner and a simple dot pattern.  I went with an Easter Inspired card.  I wanted to keep my card very clean and simple to focus more on the message.  I started with some Echo Park Sunshine dp.    I added a  sentiment from Weary World.  I really feel this sentiment conveys a powerful message. I stamped the cross from Scripture Medley 3 in a daffodil yellow shade.  I finished my card with a few Verve's  Shine Bright Sequin Mix.  

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Sunday, Apr. 19.
Prize: $40 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Sankari
	2. Amy	8. Sarah
	3. Anya	9. Susan
	4. Betty	10. Maureen
	5. Jen	11. Stacey
	6. Karen	12. Chaitali

As always thanks so much for hopping by!

Betty

Sending Smiles!

I am popping in with a couple of cards.  I am playing along with a few blog challenges.  For this first card, I just fell in love with the bold colors at Always Playing With Paper.   I used the Sweet Sunday Sketch which showcases these bold colors beautifully.  I did turn the sketch to make it a vertical card.   I also decided I could play some tic tac toe with The Paper Players. 

I am using MFT Products unless otherwise noted.  I started with MFT smooth white, steel gray, razzle berry, and sour apple card stocks.  The card base is steel gray.  I die cut a smooth white layer using Blueprints 2.  I die cut the razzle berry layer with Blueprints 13.  I stamped this panel with Damask background stamp in razzle berry premium ink.  Next, I die cut sour apple using Vertical Stitched Strips die namics.  I stamped with Swiss Dot background stamp in sour apple premium ink.  I glued all three panels together and added to the card base with some foam mounting tape.  Next, I die cut smooth white with pierced circle stax.  I stamped the SMILE from Smile stamp set in razzle berry ink.  I stamped the top portion of the sentiment from same set in steel gray ink.  I felt like it still needed a little something so I added a swirly image from Chalkboard Greetings Too in sour apple ink.  Love how it finished off the sentiment panel.  I added some loose threading behind and finished with a few clear sequins.

For the second card, I am playing along with this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge and Just Us Girls Inspiration Challenge.  I just thought this photo had so many beautiful options.  I fell in love with the green gingham, polka dots, and bunnies!

I started with MFT smooth white, lemon chiffon, cotton candy, and kraft card stocks.  I have a kraft base.  I die cut the curve panel with Blueprints 22 in smooth white and lemon chiffon.  I stamped the smooth white panel with gingham background stamp in sour apple ink.  I stamped the lemon chiffon edge in versa mark using Darling Dots stamp set and white embossed.  I sponged on some lemon chiffon ink to enhanced the color a bit.  I cut out the circle element using the die from Blueprints 18.  I cut out the same circle from cotton candy and popped up behind.  I die cut Somebunny die namics and stamped with Somebunny stamp set in hybrid black licorice ink and colored with copics.  I used some Jody boosters to pop up the bunny a bit to the cotton candy circle.  I used foam mounting tape to pop up the whole panel to the kraft base.  I die cut the sentiment strip from Blueprints 2 and stamped with sentiment using Hybrid black licorice ink.  I finished my card with a few clear sequins.
 

ALOHA and I Love You...!

Happy Saturday!  I had some time to get crafty last night after refrigerator shopping.   After 9 years, the compressor gave out.  I remember when I was growing up we had the same refrigerator forever!  We have narrowed the selection down to three.  If you have a brand or thoughts about yours that you just LOVE, please let me know.   Since refrigerator shopping is not my idea of fun, I needed to detox in my crafty space.   I am popping in with a couple of cards to share.

For this first card, I am playing along with The ColourQ.

I just love these spring colors.  I am using MFT products unless otherwise noted. started with MFT Card Stock in smooth white, sour apple, summer splash, wild wisteria, and cotton candy.  I used one of the horizontal stitched die namics to cut four pieces of card stock in different colors.  I mounted these to a smaller piece of card stock and used foam mounting tape to adhere to a smooth white card base.  

Next, I die cut Circle Scribbles and Scribbles die namics using smooth white.  I used Wink Of Stella (love this stuff) to add some sparkle sheen to the scribble layer.  Love the look in person.  I die cut sour apple leaves using Wild Greenery die namics.  I added some versa mark to the edges for added definition.   Next, I die cut Negative Dot Alphabet in smooth white and created the sentiment.  I used Wink of Stella to add some shimmer sparkle to the letters, too.   I finished with a few clear sequins.

For this card I am playing along with The Color Throwdown and Fusion Card Challenge (sketch). I just love these colors, too.  I started with MFT smooth white, cherry crisp, limeade, and lemon chiffon card stocks.  

I die cut the scalloped smooth white panel with Blueprints 20.  I layered the lemon chiffon die cut with Blueprints 13 and stamped with lemon chiffon ink with Gingham background stamp. I die cut a piece of cherry crisp using Blueprints 2 to go across the card to comply with sketch.  For the focal point,  I die cut the pierced oval stax and stamped with sentiment from I Love You More stamp set in Hybrid black licorice ink.  I die cut the cherry crisp card stock with layered rose die namics.  I glued the flower layers together and fluffed a bit.  I added a faceted red enamel dot to the center.  Next, I die cut the limeade card stock with layered leaves.  Uses some versamark for added dimension.  I tucked two of the leaves in behind the flower.  I finished with a few clear sequins.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

                                                                                

Happy, Happy Birthday and Big Dreams!

 

I have a couple of cards to share today.  For this first card I am playing along with MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge, The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, and Seize the Birthday "Anything Goes" Birthday!

I started with MFT card stock in smooth white, limeade, and blu raspberry.  I started with a smooth white 4.25 x 5.5  piece of card stock.    For both cards I used the MFT Harlequin Stencil using the technique that  Barbara from Paper Pursuits showed in her tutorial HERE!    For the first card, instead of doing two colors, I masked off to include a base color with four separate colors to comply with The Curtain Calls inspiration photo showcasing so many pretty pastels.  I really love this look!  I used the Mini Ink Blending Tool along with the Blending Foam Pads and the process went really fast.  I used MFT blu raspberry, lemon chiffon, limeade, cotton candy, and grape jelly Premium inks.  Once I had the piece stenciled, I die cut with Blueprints 13.  I layered a blu raspberry piece die cut with Blueprints 2.  Next, I die cut a limeade pierced circle stax.  I embossed this circle with the Polka Dot Cover Up.  I used some foam mounting tape for added dimension. 

I die cut a PI Overflowing Joy die namics and stamped with coordinating PI Overflowing Joy stamp using Hybrid black licorice ink.  I colored with copics.  I added some foam tape and added her to the pierced circle.  For the sentiment, I die cut a smooth white strip using Blueprints 2.  I stamped the sentiment from PI Happy Banner.  I used some foam dimensionals to add to the card to comply with sketch.  I finished with a few clear sequins.  

For my second card, I am playing along with Retro Sketch, Just Us Girls, and Stampin' Celebration Inspiration.  I chose green as my third color.  I love the bold patterns in the inspiration photo, so I went in that direction.  As for the technique, I actually made this card first which is why this card uses two colors.  I got more adventurous with the second card posted above.

I used the same technique,  I used MFT smooth white card stock and field day along with some Momento tuxedo black ink.  I love the bold look these two colors have together.  I die cut the panel using Blueprints 20 to comply with layered framing in sketch.  I added a sentiment using Pierced rectangle stax and Chalkoard Greetings Too stamp set stamped with Hybrid black licorice ink.  added some loose white threading and foam mounting tape for added dimension. I finished with a few clear sequins. 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

You Are Close to My Heart!

 
Happy Friday!   I have a couple of cards to share today!  For the first card I am playing along with the Sweet Sunday Sketch and The Card Concept Inspiration Challenge.  I went with a more classy & elegant style with this image.

I started with MFT card stock in grout gray, smooth white, chocolate brown, and cranberry cocktail.   The smooth white background was die cut with Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax  and stamped with Woodgrain background in grout gray ink.  I stamped off once to give a more softer, lighter feel like the inspiration photo. The next layer I die cut using Blueprints 1 scallop frame with vellum.  I stamped with Damask background in versamark and heat embossed with white ep to give the illusion of a doily.  I used some foam tape to pop up the layer a bit for added dimension.  The next layer with cut with the next smaller layer from Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax .  Instead of cupcakes, I die cut my chocolate brown card stock using donuts die namics.  
 

To recreate the look of the raspberry swirl frosting, I used Circle Scribble Flowers stamp set and stamped smooth white card stock using cranberry cocktail, tinkled pink, and ripe raspberry inks.  I die cut the icing with the donut die namics and loved the look.  I die cut a piece of cranberry cocktail card stock using Blueprints 9.  I stamped the sentiment from Totally Happy stamp set using Versamark and heat embossed with white ep.  I used some foam tape on my donuts for added dimension.  I finished the card with some clear sequins. 

 For my second card I am playing along with The Color Throwdown and MFT PageMaps Sketch Challenge.  

I started with MFT card stock in smooth white, cotton candy, orange fizz, and after midnight.  The base is smooth white.  I die cut the cotton candy and orange fizz using Vertical Stitch Strips.  I stamped the orange fizz with fine chevron background using orange fizz ink.  I stamped the cotton candy using fine check background in cotton candy ink.  I used foam mounting tape to attach these to the smooth white base.  Next, I die cut the focal image using after midnight card stock using Tag Builder Blueprints 3.  I die cut the  hearts from the center.  I lined with smooth white card stock.  

I die cut the sentiment strip in vellum using Blueprints 12.  I stamped the sentiment from Friends Like Us in versamark and heat embossed with some pink ep.  I strategically glued this piece to the front.  I stamped a piece of smooth white card stock using diagonal stripes background stamp in after midnight ink and die cut a small paper clip from Office Supplies.  I die cut another clip and glued both together for some added stability.  I tied some loose thread to the paper clip.  I die cut a button from Blueprints 14 twice in cotton candy card stock and stamped the same as other cotton candy piece.  I added threading used glue dot to adhere to card.  Once again I finished my card with a few clear sentiments.

As always thank so much for stopping by!

Betty

Happy and Congrats!

Happy Saturday!  It has been a rainy Saturday which, for me, translated to cleaning and crafting!  I have a couple of cards to share.  For my first card I am playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch and The Fusion Challenge.  I used the gorgeous inspiration piece.  

I started with MFT smooth white and ripe raspberry.  I stamped my leaves from Circle Scribble Flowers stamp set using Hybrid Black Licorice ink for leaf outline and jellybean green for the leaf color.  I also stamped a few leafy sprigs from  Desert Bouquet.  Once all the leaves were stamped, I die cut the panel with Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle Stax using the two largest dies.  

I die cut the Circle Scribble Flowers die namics several times using smooth white card stock.  I inked several flowers using the Circle Scribble Flowers stamp set in Blueberry, Ripe Raspberry, and Lavender Fields inks.  I used versamark to stamped the coordinating scribble images and heat embossed in white.  I used foam mounting tape to pop up the center stitched frame. I arranged my flowers some using foam mounting tape for added dimension.  I added a few die cut leaves as well for added depth.  I love the contrast and the whimsical finish.  I even thought any of the extra embossing dust added to the effect.  I layered the happy trio die namics three times and added to the center.  I finished the card with a few clear sequins.  

For my second card I am playing along with the Colour Q colors.  I am a huge fan of anything black and green!  I am also playing along with this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge and Just Us Girls "splatter" challenge.  

I started with MFT black licorice, kraft, smooth white, and limeade card stocks.  The card base is black licorice.  I die cut the kraft panel with Blueprints 22.  I stamped this panel with Linen background using natural ink.  I inked the edges with versamark for added depth.  I die cut a smooth white panel with the same edge, but also used the stitch frame from Blueprints 20 across the panel to get the angled stitched edges.  

I die cut the tree leaves from Out On a Limb die namics.  I layered the leaves three times.  I stamped the top image with the stars in Totally Happy stamp set using limeade ink.  Once the card stock was stamped I die cut the leaves.  I die cut the tree trunk with black licorice twice and glued together for some added dimension.   I used Distressed Hearts stamp set to add the grout gray ink splatters.  I used Whimsical Wishes for the sentiment stamped in Hybrid Black Licorice ink.  I used Blueprints 11 for the tiny stars.  I finished with a few clear sequins. 

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

My Happy Place Is With You!

Happy Wednesday!   I have a fun, colorful card to share today.  I am joining the team at The Color Throwdown as a Guest Star Stamper this week.   I just love these beautiful colors!  I am also playing along with this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #259.  We are to pick a sketch from the past!  I picked #184 and flipped it to make a vertical card.

 As soon as I saw the soft gray as an option, I just knew which stamp set I was going to "knead" to use!  I started with MFT card stock in  smooth white, gumdrop green, and grape jelly.


My card base is smooth white.  I die cut a gumdrop and grape jelly card stocks with Blueprints 13 stitch frame.  I stamped the gumdrop green with pinstripe background using gumdrop green ink.  I stamped the grape jelly using houndstooth background with versamark creating a more distressed subtle stamped image.  I cut the grape jelly panel from corner to corner.  I lined the diagonal with a tiny stripe of smooth white peeking out.   I glued the entire background to the smooth white base using foam mounting tape.  

For the focal point, I die cut pierced circle stax in smooth white and  stamped with sentiment from Totally Happy using hybrid black licorice ink.  Then, I die cut the kitty in a box image from I Knead You die namics using Neenah Solar White card stock.  I stamped the coordinating image from I Knead You stamp set in Hybrid Black Licorice ink.  I colored with copics.    I used foam mounting tape to attach to the pierced circle stax for some added dimension.  I also used some more foam mounting tape to pop up the pierced circle element.  These are the cutest kitties ever!  Well, aside from the real thing, of course!

To comply with sketch elements, I die cut the stitched sentiment strip from Blueprints 20.  I cut to fit on card.  I added a layered die cut button from Blueprints 18 in gumdrop green.  I threaded with some white thread.  I finished my card with a few touches of silver sequins.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty