Goodbye iSpy

From Special Agent to Free Agent...  I'm so sad to announce that today we say goodbye to iSpy Sketches Challenges.  While this may not be much to some, this particular sketch challenge was my first real DT position.  I enjoyed all 44 of our sketches, even some, that had me pulling out hair!  In honor of our closing, I've reposted my favorite card and surprisingly, it is the very first sketch challenge card.  I was so excited to be on a DT that I worked forever to make sure this card was just right.  Thank you to challenge participants and fellow Special Agents for making iSpy just fabulous!!

About the Card

The base is a 5" square in Kraft cardstock followed by layers of black and DP from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found - Union Square paper stack.  The scalloped border was created using TCP's Big Scallop Border CutUps die.  The main image/sentiment panel was cut out of the DP with Spellbinders Nestabilities oval dies and "love" from Verve's You and I stamp set was stamped with Onyx Versafine ink.  The felt letters were cut out using Verve's I Heart U die set and sponged with black ink to darken the red color.  This panel mount was cut out of DP and embossed with Spellbinders Labels 9 dies before mounting with 3D dots.  Finally, black satin bows with heart buttons and twine were added along with some heart brads for bling!

Materials 
Stamps: Verve You and I
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, My Mind's Eye Lost & Found - Union Square DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine  

Accessories: felt (red & black), heart brads, 3D dots, black satin ribbon, red heart buttons, twine

Tools: Spellbinders oval and Labels 9 dies, Verve I Heart U die set, TCP Big Scallop Border CutUps

ISSC44 - Cheers

Here's my card using this week's iSpy Sketch (ISSC44).  This week's sketch is based on this super cute card from artist Christine Okken. I decided to use this adorable little penguin from The Cat's Pajamas.  Their recent release is so adorable that I was planning on using one of the new images with this sketch.  However, a lost mail key has the poor critters sitting out in the cold.  Hopefully the key will turn up soon!!

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 white followed by black and DP from My Mind's Eye - Christmas paper pad.  The image from TCP's Make Merry was printed on white with Onyx Versafine ink and cut out with Spellbinders circle nestabilities.  The images was colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Goo Gone and embellished with Silver Stickles and rhinestones.  The edges were sponged with Black Soot distress ink.  The horizontal border was cut using the TCP Big Scallop Border CutUps.  Black ribbon, a button and some twine were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: TCP Make Merry
Paper: white, black, My Mind's Eye - Christmas DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine, Black Soot distress ink
Accessories: Silver Stickles, rhinestones, ribbon, button, red twine
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circle, TCP Big Scallop Border CutUps, Prismacolor Pencils

ISSC43 - Winter Wonderland

Here is my card using this week's iSpy Sketch challenge (ISSC43).  This week's sketch is inspired by this fabulous card by artist Jean Martin. I thought his sketch was just perfect for the snowflakes in Verve's Christmas in the Air set.  Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday this week!!

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 Baja Breeze followed by layers of Kraft and DP from Carta Bella - Winter Fun papd pad.  The layer of Soft Sky was stamped with a sentiment from Verve's Christmas in the Air set using Vintage Sepia ink.  Snowflakes from the set were stamped in Baja Breeze or Creamy Caramel ink on Kraft or Baja Breeze papers.  The snowflakes were cut out using Verve's Frosty Snowflakes dies, then embellished with Crystal Stickles and rhinestones.  Seam binding and aqua bells were added as per the sketch.  The trees were stamped on DP with Vintage Sepia Versafine ink and cut out using Verve's Winter Fun dies.  They were embellished with Crystal Stickles and mounted with 3D dots.  

Materials
Stamps: Verve Christmas in the Air
Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Carta Bella - Winter Fun DP
Ink: Vintage Sepia Versafine, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Crystal Stickles, rhinestones, seam binding, aqua bells
Tools: Verve Winter Fun & Frosty Snowflakes Dies

ISSC42 - Birthday Wishes

This card was made to coordinate with a special handmade birthday gift.  The gift is a cozy winter cowl in periwinkle yarn that I knit using the GAP-tastic cowl pattern from Jen Geigley.  This was a super quick knit for any knitters out there looking for quick holiday presents.  Onto the card, the sketch from this week's iSpy Sketch challenge (ISSC41) was inspired by this beautiful card from artist Anya Schrier. I didn't have any periwinkle DP so I tried to incorporate the color in other elements of the card.  

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 Wisteria Wonder followed by layers of black and DP from My Mind's Eye - Blush paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Antique Linen distress ink, distressed, and stitched with black thread.  Striped ribbon was used for the tall panel and this was overlaid with Lilac seam binding.  The scallped border was cut out of DP using the MFT Medium Scalloped border die and was embellished with teardrop rhinestones.  The sentiment from Verve's Big Wish was stamped on white cardstock with Onyx Versafine ink and cut out and embossed with Spellbinders Labels 25 dies.  The panel was sponged with Wisteria Wonder ink and mounted over a layer of black cut out using Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3 dies.  The black layer was embellished with Bisque Liquid pearls and rhinestones.  Finally, more seam binding, twine, and a button were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Big Wish
Paper: white, black, Wisteria Wonder, My Mind's Eye - Blush DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine, Wisteria Wonder, Antique Linen
Accessories: Bisque Liquid Pearls, rhinestones, seam binding, stripe ribbon, button, 10lb. twine
Tools: Spellbinders Labels 25 dies, Spellbinders Fancy Tags 3 dies, MFT Medium Scallop border die

ISSC41 - Dashing

My card featuring this week's iSpy Sketch challenge (ISSC41) also combines the inspiration of the current Runway Inspired Challenge (#23).  This week's iSpy sketch was inspired by this card by artist Chris Franco.  These were both tough challenges between the sunburst sketch pattern and the modern elements of the fashion piece.  From the fashion piece, I utilized the colors, stripes, and tried to use elements of the bag such as the pattern and the black round handles.  

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 white followed by layers of black and DP from My Mind's Eye - Christmas paper pad. The edges were distressed and some papers were embellished with Silver and Xmas Red Stickles.  The main image from Verve's Christmas in he Air was stamped on white using Onyx Versafine and colored in with Stickles.  The panel and mount were cut out using Spellbinder's Nestabilities circle dies and rhinestones were added for bling.  White satin ribbon was used and adorned with silver bells.  The sentiment, also from Verve's Christmas in he Air, was printed on Vellum with Onyx Versafine and the edge cut with Verve's ribbon banner die.  

Materials
Stamps: Verve Christmas in the Air
Paper: white, black, vellum, My Mind's Eye - Christmas DP
Ink: Onyx Versafine
Accessories: Xmas Red and Silver Stickles, rhinestones, satin ribbon, silver bells
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circle Verve Ribbon Banner Die

ISSC40 - Give Thanks

This is my card featuring this week's iSpy sketch (ISSC40).  This sketch was inspired by this fabulous card from artist Julie H. I really loved the woven paneling with the ribbon, but when it came down to it, I just couldn't make it work as well as the original so I settled with a plaid paper.  I also combined this week's sketch with this week's Play Date Cafe colors (#156).  These colors were just perfect for a simple harvest card.  

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 Mellow Moss followed by layers of Early Espresso and DP from and DP from FarmHouse - Sugar Hill paper pad.  The edges were sponged with Walnut Stain distress ink, distressed, and stitched with natural thread.  Fiber and satins ribbons were added as per the sketch, as well as a rich bow with button and tweine treatment.  The main image was stamped on DP with Walnut Stain ink and paper pierced with a different DP for the pumpkins.  The panels were sponged with Walnut Stain ink and cut out with Spellbinders Labels 4 dies.  Thesentiment from Verve's Tall Oaks was also printed on DP with Walnut STain ink and cut out with Spellbinders Nestabilities circle dies.  Edges were sponged and rhinestones were added for bling!!

Materials
Stamps: Verve Tall Oaks
Paper: Early Espresso, Mellow Moss, FarmHouse - Sugar Hill DP
Ink: Walnut Stain distress ink
Accessories: 10lb. twine, wooden button, rhinestones, satin ribbon, fiber ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities circle and Labels 4 dies, 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

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

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