Christmas Delivery

Finally all done with the October Viva la Verve sketches!!  This card uses sketch #5 and the adorable Santa's Helper stamp set.  This guy is just so cute, I had to color his up for this simple sketch.  

About the Card
The base is an A2 in Riding Hood Red followed by layers of kraft and DP from Simple Stories - Handmade Holiday paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Antique Linen distress ink, distressed, and stitched with natural thread.  The main image was printed on 110lb. white and colored with Prismacolor pencils.  Xmas Red Stickles were used for the nose and a 3mm rhinestone was used to accent the hat.  The sentiment was stamped in Onyx Versafine on white and cut out using Verve's Ribbon Banner die.  The image was mounted over a Rosette made from DP using TCP's Easy Rosette CutUps.  This was mounted over Riding Hood Red  cut out with Spellbinders lacy circles dies and accented with Platinum Pearl Liquid Pearls.  Finally, brads were added for some more bling!!

Materials 
Stamps: Verve Santa's Helper
Paper: 110lb. white, Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Simple Stories - Handmade Holiday  DP 
Ink: Antique Linen distress ink, Onyx Versafine
Accessories: brads, red rhinestone, Xmas Red Stickles, Platinum Pearl Liquid Pearls
Tools: TCP Easy Rosette CutUps, Spellbinder lacy circles dies, Verve Ribbon Banner die, Prismacolor Pencils, sewing machine

ISSC39 - Happy Birthday

October 31st is not just Halloween in my family, it's also my dad's birthday.  For him, I fashioned a special birthday card using this week's iSpy Sketch (ISSC39).  The sketch was inspired by this awesome card by artist . I really love the Birthday to You PJ stamp from Verve as it is such a great "guy" stamp.  combined with some plaid, twine, and distressing and we have a birthday card fit for any man!!  

Please hop on over to iSpy Sketches for more info about this week's challenge and some other great inspiration pieces from the Secret Agents! 

About the Card
The base is an A2 in Really Rust followed by layers of River Rock and DP from My Mind's Eye - Darling Dear paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Antique Linen distress ink and distressed.  Brads were added to accent.  The sentiment, Verve's Birthday to You PJ, was stamped on white with Really Rust and Sage Shadow inks.  The border from Verve's Treasured Words was stamped in River Rock and the panel was cut out using Verve's Rounded Rectangle die.  The panel was distressed with Antique Linen distress ink and grommets and 20lb. twine were added to accent.  

Materials
Stamps: Verve Birthday to You PJ, Verve Treasured Words
Paper: Really Rust, River Rock, My Mind's Eye - Darling Dear DP

Ink: Antique Linen, Really Rust, Sage Shadow, River Rock

Accessories: Verve Rounded Rectangle Die, 20lb. twine, brads, grommets

Joy

I'm finally all caught up with this month's Viva la Verve sketches.  This card uses the sketch from week #2 (below).  To pair some more inspiration with this fabulous sketch, I decided to try the current Runway Inspired Challenge fashion piece (RIC22) (below).  I really loved the neutral tones combined with the bold stripes of the outfit, so I tried to incorporate those into the card.

About the Card
The base is an A2 in kraft followed by layers of Riding Hood Red and DP from Teresa Collins - Christmas Cottage paper pad.  The images from Verve's Glad Tidings were printed onto kraft using Fired Brick distress ink and cut out by hand or using Verve's Snowflake Tidings dies.  They were further embellished with red rhinestones.  The sentiment, also from Verve's Glad Tididngs, was stamped on DP and cut out with Verve's Mini Vintage Oval dies.  Brads and some rich satin ribbon were added for bling!!

Materials 
Stamps: Verve Glad Tidings
Paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Teresa Collins - Christmas Cottage  DP 
Ink: Fired Brick distress ink
Accessories: dimensionals, brads, red rhinestones, satin ribbon
Tools: Verve Snowflake Tidings & Mini Vintage Oval dies

Happy Haunting

Another card down using this month's Viva la Verve sketches!!  This card features the sketch from week #4 (below).  A couple years ago I saw some white pumpkin Halloween decorations on the Martha Stewart website.  Lately, I have noticed a surge in white pumpkins at the local farm stands.  These super cute squashes along with The Ribbon Carousel's Halloween Spirit Challenge (RCC73) were the inspiration for this card, hoping to switch up the conventional!!


Mmm...pumpkin:

About the Card
The base is an A2 in Cream followed by layers of black and DP from Authentique - Enchanted paper pad.  The edges were sponged wit black soot distress ink, distressed, and stitched with black thread.  The main image from Verve's Boo to You was paper pierced using DP and Onyx Versafine ink.  The panel was cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies, embossed, and sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink.  The mount was cut from black cardstock using Spellbinders big scalloped circle dies.  3mm black rhinestones were added to accent.  The sentiment was printed on 5/8" black satin ribbon using Whisper White craft ink.  Black 10lb. twine and an ornamental brad were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Boo to You
Paper: Cream, Black, Authentique - Enchanted DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White craft ink, Black Soot distress ink 
Accessories: 3mm black rhinestones, ribbon, ornamental brad, black 10lb. twine, black brads
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circleand big scalloped circle dies, Verve Pennant Trim die, sewing machine

Harvest

Still on my quest to complete the October Viva La Verve sketches, here is my card using the sketch from week 1 (below).  This was kind of a difficult sketch for me as I just couldn't figure out what to do with it.  In the end, I settled with a Thanksgiving-themed card.  And yes, there is yet another dyed doilie.  I am apparently suffering from a small doilie addiction which I blame completely on all these fabulous sketches with large circular elements.  

About the Card
The base is an A2 in More Mustard followed by layers of Early Espresso and DP from FarmHouse - Sugar Hill paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Vintage photo distress ink, distressed, and stitched with natural thread.  Brads were added for some hardware.  The doilie was sponged with Walnut Stain distress ink to dye it brown.  The circular DP was cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies.  The sentiment, Verve's Galatians 6:9 PJ was printed in Vintage Sepia on white cardstock.  The panel was cut out, embossed and sponged with More Mustard  and Vintage Photo distress inks using Spellbinders Labels 25 dies.  The acorns from Verve's Tall Oaks stamp set were printed on white with Vintage Sepia Versafine ink and colored with Prismacolor pencils.  Finally, 10lb. twine and a wooden button were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Galatians 6:9 PJ, Verve Tall Oaks
Paper: Early Espresso, More Mustard, FarmHouse - Sugar Hill DP
Ink: Vintage Sepia Versafine, More Mustard, Walnut Stain & Vintage Photo distress inks 
Accessories: 10lb. twine, brads, doilie, wooden button
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circle and Labels 25 dies, sewing machine, Prismacolor Pencils

ISSC38 - Halloween Greetings

This week's sketch iSpy sketch (ISSC38) is super fun!!I think my absolute favorite sketches are portrait, with a central element and ribbon accent and this sketch absolutely fits that bill.  The sketch is inspired by this this fabulous card from artist Rosemary D. Being October, I couldn't resist a little Halloween fun and decided to try out my new Verve Boo to You set with some rich Authentique Halloween paper.  

Please hop on over to iSpy Sketches for more info about this week's challenge and some other great inspiration pieces from the Secret Agents! 

About the Card
The base is an A2 in Basic Gray followed by layers of black and DP from Authentique's Enchanted paper pad.  These layers were sponged with Black Soot distress ink, distressed, and stitched with black thread.  The doilie was turned black by sponging with Black Soot distress ink.  Ribbon was added as per the sketch and a bow was fashioned using a brad and some black 10lb. twine.  The ghosts from Verve's Boo to You were stamped on DP with Onyx Versafine and cut out by hand.  They were sponged with Crystal tickles and given 2mm rhinestones for their eyes.  The sentiment from Verve's Boo to You and border from Verve's Borderline were stamped with Onyx Versafine on DP and cut out with Verve's Mini Vintage Oval dies.  A touch of orange in the border of the sentiment was added with Prismacolor pencils.  Finally, smoke rhinestones and black brads were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Borderline, Verve Boo to You
Paper: Basic Gray, Black, Authentique - Enchanted DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine, Black Soot distress ink 
Accessories: 2mm purple rhinestones, 3mm smoke rhinestones, ribbon, stripe ribbon, ornamental brad, black 10lb. twine, black brads, doilie, Crystal Stickles
Tools: Verve Mini Vintage Oval dies, Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies, sewing machine, Prismacolor Pencils

Trick or Treat

Trying to get caught up with this month's Viva La Verve sketches, here is my creation using the sketch from week #3.  Halloween cards are one of my absolute favorite cards to create as they are so rich and bold and I get to use all the black I want!!

About the Card
The base is an A2 in Sahara Sand followed by layers of black and DP from Echo Park - Chillingsworth Manor paper pad.  The edges were inked with black soot distress ink, distressed, and stitched with black thread.  Copper brads were added to the corners to accent.  The doilie was sponged with black soot distress ink and mounted under the sentiment.  The sentiment from Verve's Boo to You was printed on white with Onyx Versafine ink and was cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities oval dies.  This panel was embossed and sponged with Kiwi Kiss, Gumball Green, and black soot inks.  The panel was mounted over a panel of DP cut out with Spellbinders Labels 22 dies.  black satin ribbon and rhinestones were added for bling.  Finally, the spider was punched from black cardstock using a MS spider punch.  A 3D glue dot was added and the spider was covered in black MS glitter.  


Materials
Stamps: Verve Boo to You
Paper: Sahara Sand, Black,  Echo Park - Chillingsworth Manor DP
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Gumball Green, Onyx Versafine, Black Soot distress ink 
Accessories: 3D dots, 3mm smoke rhinestones, satin ribbon, copper brads, doilie, black MS glitter
Tools:  Spellbinders Nestabilities oval and Labels 22 dies, sewing machine, MS spider punch

Merry Christmas

This is a quick holiday card inspired by the Verve World Card Making Day Sketch (below).  My favorite sketch of all time is a classic symmetrical sketch, so this really fit the bill and it is just such a perfect sketch for a holiday card!!  

About the Card
The base is an A2 in kraft followed by layers of Always Artichoke and DP from the Carta Bella - Christmas Day paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Antique Linene distress ink, distressed, and stitched with Burgundy thread.  The doilie was sponged with Olympia Green ink to make it look more "wreathy".  The image/sentiment from Verve's Ornamental Christmas was stamped on Kraft with Baroque Burgundy and Olympia Green Versafine inks.  The panel was cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies and embellished with Bisque Liquid Pearls and star rhinestones.  The panel was mounted on a layer of Baroque Burgundy cut out using Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles dies.  The vertical panel was cut using Verve's Ribbon banner die and ribbon was added as per the sketch.  Finally, brads were added for some corner bling!!

Materials 
Stamps: Verve Ornamental Christmas
Paper: Always Artichoke, Baroque Burgundy, Kraft, Carta bella - Christmas Day DP, doilie 
Ink: Olympia Green Versafine, Baroque Burgundy, Antique Linen distress ink
Accessories: dimensionals, Bisque Liquid Pearls, brads, star rhinestones, ribbon, jingle bells
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circle  and Tear Drop circle dies, Verve Ribbon Banner die, sewing machine

ISSC37 - Birthday Wishes

Here's my card for this week's iSpy Sketch Challenge (ISSC37).  This week's sketch is based on this great card from artist Jean Cross. I found some fun paper at the bottom of a pile at Michael's so I couldn't wait to cut it up!.  I also can't get enough of Verve's new Borderline set, it's incredibly versatile!!

Please hop on over to iSpy Sketches for more info about this week's challenge and some other great inspiration pieces from the Secret Agents! 

About the Card
The base is an A2 in So Saffron followed by layers of black and DP from My Minds Eye - Breeze paper pad.  The edges were stitched with black thread.  The border on the center panel was cut from DP using NFT's medium scallop border die and the panel was embellished with black brads.  The sentiment from Verve's Joyful Blooms was stamped on DP, cut out, and pierced onto the border stamped in Onyx Versafine on white and colored with Prismacolor pencils.  The panel and mount were cut out using Verve's new Mini Vintage Oval dies and embellished with smoke rhinestones.  The flowers were printed with Verve'e Joyful Blooms stamps, cut out and mounted on black cut out with Verve's Joyful Blooms dies.  The flowers were embellished with black glitter and raised with dismensionals.  Finally, ribbon, a button, and yellow Divine twine were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Borderline, Verve Joyful Blooms
Paper: So Saffrom, White, Black, My Mind's Eye - Breeze DP

Ink: Onyx Versafine 

Accessories: black glitter, smoke rhinestones, ribbon, button, yellow Divine twine, black brads

Tools: Verve Mini Vintage Oval & Joyful Blooms dies, MFT Medium Scalloped Border die, sewing machine, Prismacolor Pencils