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Birthday Balloons

Hi friends!  It's Monday again and time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  Since it's the last Monday of the month, our challenge this week is a tall and skinny layout.  I flipped my card horizontally to fit the idea I had for a balloon bouquet.


One of the boys' good friends had her 3rd birthday party this weekend, so I got to make a girly card.  She loves all things sparkly and pink and purple, so I started by stamping the balloons from Birthday Bash in archival ink and then coloring with Prismacolor pencils and blending with gamsol.  I added a bit of glossy glaze to each balloon for a highlight and then dusted them with glitter.

The monkeys are from the just arrived back in stock To the Moon set.  Had to include two little monkeys, since the card is from both of MY little monkeys.  {grin}  They're colored with prismacolors and gamsol, then cut with circle dies and matted with stitched circle dies.  I added a little extra dimension to the birthday sentiment circle, layered some polka dot ribbon behind and found a scrap of dp that worked with my color scheme.  Each layer is matted with black cardstock.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a super creative start to your week.


Mojo Monday 413 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: To the Moon, Birthday Bash (Verve Stamps)
Paper: black, white, dp scrap
Ink: archival black (Ranger), prismacolor pencils
Accessories:  classic circles nestabilities (Spellbinders), stitched circles stax (MFT), glossy glaze (Ranger), polka dot ribbon (May Arts), dazzling diamonds glitter (SU!), gamsol, blending stump

Chalky Love Flowers

Hi friends!  It's Friday and I'm here to share a sample for this week'Viva la Verve August Week 4 Sketch. It's the final sketch of the month, so be sure to get your entries in by Thursday 9/3 for a chance to be entered into our monthly prize drawing!

When I originally saw the sketch, I immediately imagined a chalkboard with a back to school theme in my head. But this morning when I finally got a chance to stamp, all I could think about was the Love's Flower set.  This set has been out of stock for almost a year and a half (that's a long story about forced vendor changes and lost files and toddler twins), and finally arrived back in stock this week!  It's one of my most favorite sets and perfect for the chalkboard look that is this week's Mix-Ability challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

I started with a piece of black cardstock, stamping the John Lennon quote from Love's Flower in Versamark and then sponging with white PanPastels.  I added a few highlights with some Prismacolor pencils.  Next I did the same with the heart bloom stamp, creating a fun little trailing border down either side of the panel, brushing with white chalk and then coloring with colored pencils.

I used the same technique for the flowers, finishing off with white gel pen accents to make the flowers stand out and then fussy cutting and popping up over a crimped old olive strip of cardstock.

For the background piece, I started with a piece of smoky slate cardstock and stenciled some whipped spackle (mixed with a couple drops of blushing bride reinker) over it using the Doilies stencil from Tim Holtz.  When that dried, I sponged some pink PanPastels on the edges of the smoky slate panel, and a bit over the stenciling as well.  I finished off with some black soot dots made with the Dot Fade layering stencil, and then distressed the edges and put it all together.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Be sure to check out all the back in stock products, which are 20% off, along with the rest of our Anni-VERVE-sary sale!


Viva la Verve August Week 4 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Love's Flower (Verve Stamps)
Paper: basic black, smoky slate, old olive (SU!), white
Ink: versamark, prismacolor pencils, PanPastels, black soot distress ink, white gel pen
Accessories: doily and dot fade layering stencils (Tim Holtz), paper crimper, pink pearls, whipped spackle

Be Joyful

Hi friends!  It's Monday again and time for another Mojo Monday sketch.  This week's sketch is an easy one that can be dressed up or down for all sorts of options.



I started with the Celebrate inspiration challenge in mind, so pulled out spun sugar and worn lipstick distress ink, smooshed it onto watercolor paper and spritzed to get a lovely pink.  Once that was dry, I used the Gothic layering stencil to sponge on more worn lipstick ink for a fun background, finishing the background by sponging with worn lipstick and distressing the edges and flicking a few water droplets.

On another piece of the smooshed paper, I embossed the Be and Joyful sentiments  as well as the large bee from The Buzz set in silver.  The bee is cut with the coordinating The Buzz Die Set , then I added some glossy glaze and a dusting of glitter to the wings for ultimate sparkle.  

My circle element is a bit abstract today... a little nest of metallic silver thread behind the scrap of silver polka dot vellum.  I scraped a bit of watered down white paint over the vellum, then scribbled some glue along the edges and sprinkled on some silver glitter.  I finished off with some sparkling rhinestone flourishes.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous start to your week!

Enabler's List
Mojo Monday 412 Sketch
Stamps: The Buzz (Verve Stamps)
Paper: watercolor distress paper (Tim Holtz), silver foil vellum (SU!)
Ink: worn lipstick, spun sugar (Ranger Distress), versamark, white paint
Accessories: The Buzz Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), silver detail embossing powder (Ranger), Gothic layering stencil (Tim Holtz), glitter, glossy glaze, silver thread, rhinestone flourishes

Mixed Shabby Celebration

Hi friends!  Welcome to another Friday!  Today I'm sharing my take on this week's Viva la Verve Augusts Week 3 Sketch.  I couldn't pass up a chance to use one of the shiny gold doilies I've been hoarding, and thought it would fit perfectly with the Celebrate inspiration challenge going on this month.



I started by smooshing some spun sugar and worn lipstick distress ink on watercolor paper, then sprinkling with water after it dried.  I cut the center of the paper with the Classy Label Die and stamped the sentiment from Birthday Bash in the center.

To make my doily fit the card, I cut a big circle out of the center, then pleated the outer circle created under the inner circle to size it down to card front size.  The tag is made with the Flourished Tag Die Set, just cutting the black card stock to a bit thinner than the die size and weaving the paper through so it only cut the top portion.  I stamped it in white ink with the background from Better Together, then scribbled mono adhesive all around the edges of this panel and the classy label die cut, then embossed with frantage shabby pink embossing enamel.

The stars are cut with the Starry Die, and I grunged things up a bit with picket fence and black soot distress stain and a touch of gold glass glitter.  My fingers were so covered with glitter and stain by the end, it was the most fun I've had in quite a while!  I finished off with a pink seam binding bow from the Truly Madly Deeply Ribbon Collection  and a triple pearl stick pin.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a super creative start to your weekend.  If you're looking for a challenge, be sure to check out Viva la Verve and our Diva Inspiration challenge!

Viva la Verve August Week 3
Enabler's List
Stamps: Birthday BashBetter Together (Verve Stamps)
Paper: basic black (SU!), watercolor distress paper (Tim Holtz), gold doily
Ink: spun sugar, worn lipstick, picket fence, black soot (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Starry Die, Classy Label Die, Flourished Tag Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Truly Madly Deeply Ribbon Collection (Verve), frantage shabby pink and gold embossing enamel (Stampendous), triple pearl stick pin (Pizzazz Aplenty)

Cupcake Hello

Hi friends!  I'm popping in with my take on this week's Viva la Verve August Week 2 sketch.  I didn't have a chance to play along ahead of time, so stole a pocket of time last night and hit the studio.

Stamps used are from the Cupcakes set and the heart from Love Notes.  I made a chalkboard piece using the Rounded Scallop Frame Die in black, with the sentiment embossed in white an a bit of white ink stamped and smudged around the edges.  The cupcake pieces are stamped in pool party and blushing bride and popped up and sprinkled with glitter and glossy glaze for some pizzazz.

I added the heart using the Jotted Heart Die, then a doily and finished off with some beaded stick pins and seam binding ribbon.  And since cupcakes are the perfect celebratory treat, I'm linking this up to our current Diva Inspirations challenge.  The challenge is open until the end of the month, so feel free to play along as often as you like!



VLV August Week 2 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Cupcakes, Love Notes (Verve Stamps)
Paper: neutrals pattern prints (SU!), basic black, blushing bride, pool party (SU!), white
Ink: blushing bride, pool party (SU!), black, versamark
Accessories: Rounded Scallop Frame Die, Rounded Rectangle Die, Jotted Heart Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), woven embossing folder (American Crafts), seam binding, triple beaded stick pins, glitter, paper doily, liquid pearls. glossy glaze


Birthday Wishes

Hi friends!  It's Monday again already and time for a new Mojo Monday sketch.  After an entire week of sick kiddos at home, I'm definitely ready to have them spend a little time at school today.  Not only have they been home, but with the wildfires around here, the smoke is so bad we haven't even been able to take them outside.  Poor things (and Mama) are completely stir crazy!  :)



Anyhow, here's my Mojo Monday sample, frenetically made during "rest" time (which is actually more like a 3 ring circus) yesterday.  It uses the Making a Statement set and coordinating Loopy Blooms Die Set. I went old school and used colored cardstock and stamped and sponged backgrounds for my layers.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hope you have a fabulous start to your week.

Mojo Monday 411 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Making a Statement (Verve Stamps)
Paper: mint macaron, watermelon wonder, basic black (SU!), cream (Neenah)
Ink: tip top taupe, watermelon wonder, mint macaron (SU!), black
Accessories: Loopy Blooms Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), sponges, black enamel dots


Friday Mojo

Hi friends!  Happy Friday.  Today I'm popping in with a card I made for this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  My boys have been super sick all week and home from school, so this card was made in 5 minutes each morning over the course of the entire week!  It's really the only tangible thing I have to show for the week, so I'm blogging it.  LOL The boys are improving finally, but we're still doing breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock. Hopefully they'll be good enough for school on Monday, because Mama needs a break!  :)


The stamps are from the Boo to You set and I pulled out my favorite Halloween papers from the Mischievous line.  I embossed in white on black, then rubbed a little white ink with my fingers to give the chalkboard effect, then decided to add the Happy Halloween strip with a coordinating blue paper.  I stenciled on a bit of tumbled glass with a burlap stencil over the background paper to draw in some of the blue color.  I accented with bitty rhinestones, liquid pearls and a lot of distressing.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful start to your weekend.

Enabler's List
Stamps: Boo to You (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Mischievous (MME), basic black (SU!)
Ink: tumbled glass (Ranger), black, versamark
Accessories: Stitched Circles Stax (MFT), white embossing powder (JudiKins), bitty rhinestones, pape distresser, liquid pearls, wide striped ribbon (SU!)

Play it Again

Hi friends!  I'ts Monday again and time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch.  This week's sketch is based on this card I made a while back.  I apologize if it's a repeat for you.  I had planned to make something new, but my littles got sick this weekend and well, with their asthma one minute it's sniffles and the next minute you're doing breathing treatments every four hours round the clock.  :(


So, no new stamping happened over the weekend and instead I'm sharing the card that inspired this week's sketch.  I started by stamping the bee from The Buzz in soft sky, then perfect plum, then wild wasabi on coordinating card stock and then cutting with the bee in The Buzz Die Set.  Next I stamped the sentiment in archival black on white card stock, then stenciled over it with the same inks first with the doily layering stencil and then with the gothic layering stencil.  I then placed two stitched circle dies together and taped them down so I could cut a circle frame and the inner circle.  I offset these a bit, then popped up the colorful bees around the edges.  I finished off with a white embossed layer using the chicken wire embossing folder.


Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful start to your week.  If you haven't checked it out yet, our Anni-VERVE-sary sale is going strong with all stamps and dies 10 to 50% off, including 20% off our latest release!



Mojo Monday 410 sketch

Enabler's List

Stamps: The Buzz (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft sky, perfect plum, wild wasabi (SU!), white (neenah)
Ink: soft sky, perfect plum, wild wasabi (SU!), archival black (Ranger)
Accessories: The Buzz Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), stitched circle stax (MFT), chicken wire embossing folder (Cuttlebug), doily and gothic layering stencils (Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous)

Fringe Party

Hi friends!  It's the first Friday of a new month of Viva la Verve sketches, and that means I'm kicking things off with this week's fun new sketch!

In addition to the sketch, I also had a couple other challenges in mind when I was making this card. Verve's inspiration challenge theme this month is Celebrate, so I went all party hardy on this one.  And I also used the DTGD15fattire7 challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  {The Dare to Get Dirty challenges are open to SCS fan club members, so we're supposed to keep the details over in the DTGD forum.}


I started by cutting the Flourished Tag die from white cardstock and stamping the circle pattern border from Deco Borders down the side.  I chose rainbow colors from my set of Zig Clean Color brush markers, then sponged around the edges of the tag with tumbled glass ink.  I hand trimmed a black mat for the tag, then hand sketched a soft little sketchy frame.  The flower is the Fringe Flower plain jane and I colored it with the same colors of markers, fussy cut and then added a bit of sparkle with glossy glaze and glitter. I've always loved this flower and it's one of the stamps that's 50% off during our Anni-VERVE-sary sale this month.

The tag at the bottom is from the Flag It Die Set and is sponged with tumbled glass and also has a little sketchy frame, and I finished off with some enamel dots.  My favorite part of the card is that embossed background.  It's made with the Woven Next Level embossing folder from American Crafts.  And it's A-MAZING!  {grin}  So much texture and depth.  They are large folders (6 x 6) I think and because they're so deeply etched you need a different sandwich.  On my Big Shot I used the main platform without tabs, the folder and then a cutting plate on top.  Crazy beautiful.  I sponged around the edges to match the rest of the card and I was finished.

Viva la Verve August Week 1 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Deco Borders, Fringe Flower Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)
Paper: white, black, MME scrap
Ink: black archival, tumbled glass distress (Ranger), black pen (Micron), Kuretake Clean Color Brush pens (Zig)
Accessories: Flourished Tag Die Set, Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Woven Next Level embossing folder (American Crafts), glossy glaze, glitter, enamel dots

Pink Celebration Diva Inspirations Hop

Hi friends!  It's the 5th of the month and time for our monthly Diva Inspirations Hop and Challenge. This month we're celebrating our 8th Anni-VERVE-sary, so our challenge theme is Celebrate!  We hope you'll play along and link up your celebratory cards this month.  There's a prize drawing from all the participants, and there's also a prize for a lucky commenter along today's hop, so be sure to give a shout out to the Divas in the comment box as you hop about.


I'm the first stop along today's hop and I was so inspired by the big rosettes on the wall in the graphic, I took the inspiration photo quite literally!  I pulled out a Tim Holtz rosette die and a couple of scraps of paper and made the pink rosettes, adding a black stitched circle to the center, embossed with one of the medallions from Peaceful Medallions.  I added a few Sprightly Sprigs to each rosette, then embossed the Celebrate sentiment from Moments Remembered in gold on black cardstock.  The card base is splattered with some watered down glue and then dusted with gold embossing powder and heat set.

Our Anni-VERVE-sary also means there's a new sale going on!  Right now all of our in-stock stamps, dies and embellishments are 10 - 50% off.  There's some great deals in each category, so be sure to click on over to the Verve store when you're done with the hop. :)

Next up on the hop is the fabulous Amy Kolling.


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. Julee6. Susan
2. Amy7. Maureen
3. Betty8. Marisa
4. Jen9. Charmaine
5. Sarah


Enabler's List
Stamps: Peaceful Medallions, Moments Remembered (Verve Stamps)
Paper: black, white, dp scraps
Ink: versamark, worn lipstick (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Sprightly Sprigs Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), rosette die (Tim Holtz), stitched circles stax (MFT), gold embossing powder
 

Watercolor Lines

Hi friends!  I'm up on the Viva la Verve blog today with a recap of Jen's VLV July Week 5 sketch. My VLV coffee card on Friday was filled to the brim, so I took a more relaxed simplified take on the sketch for today's card.


For my birthday, I got some of the Zig Clean Color Brush markers, so decided to take them for a spin. I pulled out my trusty ruler and started by drawing lines with a light turquoise marker, then went over the second half with a darker shade. I pulled out a water brush and then went over the lines for a fun watercolor background.

Next I had to try a technique I saw Kylie use for the glitter splatter. I dropped a bit of glue on a craft sheet, then added water to it and splattered on my water colored background. Then I added the latte colored glitter. The floral image from Floral Notes is stamped onto a stitched circle die cut and I water colored with the clean color markers.  I added a bit of glitter to match to the flower centers, then rounded a sentiment from Small Phrases to add to my circle. This piece is matted with black and then I tucked a bit of iridescent cording behind for some pizzazz.

That's all for today! I'll be back tomorrow with our August Diva Inspirations Hop and challenge!

VLV July Week 5 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Floral Notes, Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper: distress watercolor paper (Tim Holtz), basic black (SU!), white
Ink: black archival (Ranger), Kuretake Clean Color Brush Markers (Zig)
Accessories: classic circles nestabilities (Spellbinders), stitched circles stax (MFT), glitter (Glitter Ritz), water brush, glue

Make the Most

Hi friends!  It's Monday again and time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch.  And since it's the first sketch of a new month, it's also contest week, with a chance to win a prize for playing along!



My card was inspired by Teresa's Dare to Get Dirty challenge over on Splitcoast.  They're hosting fun challenges all week long for members of the SCS Fan Club.  I pulled out some vintage Verve for this card, in honor of our 8 year Anni-VERVE-sary.  This quote from the Seeing Stars set has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember.

I did a bunch of distressing on all the panels with pumice stone and black soot inks.  The green layer is embossed with a stars embossing folder and I sanded it to make it pop a bit.  I stamped the stars randomly around the sentiment and then grabbed a bit of peeled paint distress ink with a water brush and brushed it on.  Next I covered with glossy glaze and added some glitter.  The star is cut with the Starry Die  and I embossed it with that same embossing folder.  The trim is cut with the Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set.  I added some stars to my banner piece with some black molding paste and a stencil, then finished off with a paper distresser on my outer layers.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fabulous start to your week.  Be sure to head on over to the Mojo Monday blog for all the contest deets and to see what the Mojo Makers created with this sketch.

Mojo Monday 409 Sketch
Enabler's List
Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve Stamps)
Paper: On the Bright Side (MME), basic black (SU!), white
Ink: peeled paint, pumice stone, black soot (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set, Starry Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Stitched Circles Stax (MFT), stars embossing folder (Cuttlebug), glossy glaze, glitter, paper distresser, air art tool, stars stencil (heidi swapp), black molding paste

One of a Kind

Hi friends!  Welcome to August!  Today I'm sharing a card for one of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges over on Splitcoaststampers. They start today and run for one week and there are lots of prizes, including some from Verve.


I made a fun little square card, stamping the 4.25" tip top taupe base with the honeycomb image from The Buzz, then I added the BE and You-tiful stamps in the corner, with a few teeny bees fluttering around.

Next I started on my focal point, a little doodle I did to test out my new Kuretake watercolors.  After I finished water coloring the flower, I did a wash of the pearly watercolor, but it didn't turn out the way I expected, so I pulled out some stencils to rescue the project.  First I used scattered straw with a honeycomb stencil, then tumbled glass with the dots stencil.  I distressed the edges with tip top taupe and black soot, then splattered some watered down black soot on top.

The mat is baja breeze, sponged with the same colors and then I added black liquid pearl accents.  I finished off by adding some white liquid gel pen accents to the bees.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Enabler's List
Stamps: The Buzz (Verve Stamps)
Paper: tip top taupe, baja breeze (SU!), white
Ink: tiptop taupe (SU!), black soot, tumbled glass, scattered straw (Ranger Distress) watercolors, black micron pen, (Kuretake), white gel pen
Accessories: stitched circles stax (MFT), liquid pearls, honeycomb and dot fade layering stencils (Tim Holtz)