Verve Challenge Card #5 (and final)

Woo hoo!

It is release day over at Verve! The release party starts tonight at 9pm over in the Verve forum (this is an electronic party, by the way), and then after the party ends, you can hop over to the Verve shop and start buying the new releases!

Once again, to see the 5 sketch challenges Julee made for this week, click HERE, or I have posted the sketch for today below.

Here is my card:

I gave some more love to my Verve stamps on this one. I used the stamp set Ornamental Christmas. This has all the best sentiments for the holidays, and if you so desire, they fit inside all the ornaments!

My card base is Soft Suede, then a layer of Brushed Gold, then a layer of the new Christmas Cocoa DSP from SU. For the horizontal panel, it is a piece of Soft Suede CS punched with the Martha Stewart fence edge punch, and then another layer of the DSP (the piece with the holly on it). Below that, I tied a piece of Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon.

For the main panel, I cut out a square of white, then a larger square of gold, the a larger square of Soft Suede. On the white piece, I stamped the ornament in Memento Brown ink, and sponged the edges of the square with Soft Suede ink. The branches were stamped at the top in Always Artichoke ink.

I stamped another ornament on a piece of scrap paper, cut out the ball, stamped the sentiment in Versamark, and embossed with Gold EP. Then, I sponged the outside with Gold Encore ink and Soft Suede ink, and mounted it with Dimensionals.

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for stopping by!

P.S. See you at the release party tonight! My SCS name is r2mckinl.

Verve Challenge Card #4

Hi All,

Check out the Verve forum on SCS or click HERE to see the sketch challenges for this week's release. Here is the 4th sketch:

Here is my card:

My card base is Whisper White, followed by a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" piece of Brushed Silver CS. For the top layers, I used a piece of Whisper White, and a piece of Bermuda Bay, and punched them with the Double Scallop edge punch from EK Success. I love the new punches they have put out! In the top right corner of the Bermuda piece, I added some snowflake rub-ons from SU.

The horizontal strip is Brushed Silver, and I cut the "V" out of the right side with a pair of scissors (I tried to keep it as even as possible).

For the image panel, I used my square Nestabilities, and I sponged the white piece with Bermuda Bay ink. I punched the left side with SU's Horizontal Slot punch, and weaved some Bermuda Bay Polka Dot ribbon through it, and tied it with Linen Thread.

This image is from the Flourishes set All Wrapped Up. It is stamped in Memento Tuxedo ink on Neenah Solar White CS, and coloured with my Copic markers. I used a white gel pen for some highlights on the top parts of the bow. The string of pearls is a self-adhesive pack I bought at Michael's. The sentiment is from the same set, stamped in Brilliant Blue ink and cut out.

Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for stopping by!

Verve Challenge Card #3

Hi All,

As promised, here is my card for Julee's third sketch - check out the Verve Release Week Challenges post for all her original sketches. Here is the sketch for this one:

For my card, I decided to pay some special attention to my Verve stamps. I used the lovely Because of You set for the main flower image.

I stamped the flower image twice in Melon Mambo ink on Melon Mambo CS, and let it dry completely. Then, I swiped my Embossing Buddy across it to get rid of any static or moisture. I stamped the same image in Versamark ink in the centre, and embossed with white EP (embossing powder). That layer was mounted on to a white layer.

For the card base and the other layer, I used white CS and Barely Banana CS. The banana layers were embossed with SU's Finial Press embossing folder, and I swiped Melon Mambo ink across the raised parts so that the colour faded from darker at the bottom to lighter at the top.

I used the Eyelet Border punch on the white layer, and the sentiment is punched out with the Key Tag Punch...also stamped in Melon Mambo ink. That sentiment is from the Verve set called Beautiful You.

The ribbon I used is an old SU organdy ribbon - it is very sheer, so difficult to see in the picture.

Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for stopping by!

Verve Challenge Card #2

So, here is the next card for the Verve Release Week Challenges. I decided to give my SU stamps a bit of love this time. And maybe a bit of Stamping Bella for good measure. The sketches can be found over in the Verve forum on SCS HERE. Or I have included a look at the sketch here:

When I saw that little panel on the right side, I knew most people would want to put their sentiment there - it is just calling out for a sentiment. BUT...I wanted to do something different, so I decided to put my image there, just to be bad : )

I decided to keep this one VERY clean and simple.

The card base is Kraft CS, with a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" layer of Basic Black CS, then a 5 1/4" x 4" layer of Urban Oasis DSP. I absolutely LOVE these colours together!

The next layer is Urban Oasis DSP and Basic Black CS, but "tipped" until the corners of the smaller panel are touching the sides of the card base.

I think the main panel is 3" x 2", just white, and a black piece 1/8" larger. I stamped one of the flowers from 5th Avenue Floral onto Kraft CS in Basic Black ink twice. On one of the flowers, I coloured the middle with my White Gel Pen. I cut one of the flowers out completely, and I cut pieces out of the other flower to layer. Both were covered with Crystal Effects to buff up the shine.

The sentiment is from Stamping Bella, and it is my fall back sentiment - it works for EVERY card (except sympathy, of course).

I like the simplicity of this card - it is opposite to some of the cards I will be showing this week for the other challenges.

Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for stopping by!

Verve Challenge Card #1

*Note: this is my second post for the day, so scroll down to find the first*

It has been a few months since I participated in the Challenges for a Verve release, so I thought I would jump in this month. There are 5 sketch challenges, and they can be found HERE. The idea is to make a card with each layout, post them on SplitCoast, then post all of the links to each card on the main We Are The Champion Thread.
Here is what the sketch looks like:
Here is my card:

My card base is a 5 1/4" square piece of Whisper White CS. The next layer is a 5" square piece of Handsome Hunter CS, followed by a 4 7/8" square Whisper White piece. That white piece was run through my Big Shot in my Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder. Afterwards, I took a sponge with my Sage Shadow ink and brushed it over the raised parts to highlight the snowflakes a bit more.

I used my Coluzzle with Handsome Hunter CS and Wintergreen DSP to make the 2 circles.

The image is from The Greeting Farm. It is called Snowball Fight, and it is a digital image. I printed it out onto Papertrey white CS, and coloured it with my Copic markers.

The ribbon is Certainly Celery Poly Twill ribbon from SU, and the sentiment is from the SU set Sincere Salutations - stamped in Handsome Hunter ink and cut out with the Tag Punch.

The image panel and the sentiment panel both have Handsome Hunter ink around the edges to frame them - beacuse there is so much white on the card.


Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for stopping by!

Verve Challenge Cards

OK, well, guess what...it's raining today, which means not a good opportunity for pictures. I think it's a sign, so I'm just going to post the ones I have.

Verve released some new stamps on Friday, and they were having a competition this week to win free stamps. Let me tell you - it is my lucky month, because I won one of the grand prizes: all of the stamps they just released on Friday! Woo hoo! I can't tell you how happy it made me! We had to make 4 cards, according to specifications set out by Julee from Verve. Here we go.

First Card: VSAPR1

This was a sketch challenge, so we just had to follow the layout she gave us. I found this one quite difficult for some reason.

I used Fifth Avenue Floral and Sincere Salutations from SU. The flower was stamped in Versafine Black ink and embossed with Clear EP. I coloured it in with my Copics, cut it out, and mounted it onto the square with foam squares.

The sentiment is done with my Circle Nestabilities, and the square and circle panels are sponged with Baja Breeze ink.

The DSP is from the Urban Oasis pack (LOVE IT), and the black strip is punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch.

Second Card: VSAPR2

The second card is a sketch challenge as well. I used my Slumber Party Specialty DSP as the basis for the colours.

I made the scallop medallion with my Scallop Edge Punch from SU, using the tutorial HERE.

The stamp set is Upsy Daisy, and the words are from Define Your Life. The white buttons are from the Button Latte pack...the rest is history.

Third Card: VSAPR3

The third card, I have already published on here, so I won't go into the details again. Just thought I would show it with the other cards : )

Fourth Card: VSAPR4

The final card was a colour challege: soft blue, soft yellow, and soft brown. So, I took out my Delicate Dots DSP (from Sale-A-Bration this year), and paired it with some Close to Cocoa CS for the layers.

The stamp is Agnes KETTO from Stamping Bella (see my sidebar for the link). I stamped her onto SU Watercolour Paper in Staz On Jet Black ink, and watercoloured her with my Aqua Painter and SU markers. She was cut out with Nestabilities and my Big Shot.

The ribbon is a retired Wide Organdy, and the butterflies are punched with a Martha Stewart punch. The outside is also paper pierced with my piercer and Mat Pack.

I got the layout for this card from Mercy's blog. Check out THIS post.

Phew! Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. My Web Finds for this week will have to wait until tomorrow (2 days late! Yikes!).

Another Verve Challenge Card

Well, you will be seeing several of these cards coming up in the next couple of days because of the big release party this week. Please check out the Verve Store to make purchases (and they will be having a new release party starting this Friday night in the Verve forum on SCS). I am going to try to take better pictures this weekend in the daytime. I took the pictures originally at night because I was rushing to meet this Friday's deadline.

For this card, I decided to use the set Floral Symphony - what a great name! I paired it with one of Julee's sketch challenges over on SCS.

The DSP is from the Hawaii Papaya pack from SU. I am loving my designer papers lately! The CS colours are Whisper White and Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is a rub-on from SU, and the ribbon is the Tangerine Tango, and I used a Chocolate Chip Corduroy button.

I stamped the image in Memento ink, and coloured with my Copics. I stamped the flowers on another scrap of white, coloured them, cut them out, and mounted them on Dimensionals for a POP. You can't really see it in these pics, but I will try to remedy that soon.

Anyway, I hope you like it, and thanks for stopping by!

April 2009 Release Week - Card 1

Hi All,

This post is for another Verve Challenge. You have a chance to win stamps that they are releasing on Friday!

Once again, I used the set called Beautiful Kindness for the butterfly and sentiment. It seems I'm getting quite a bit of use out of that one.

I used the Urban Garden DSP from SU, and all of the layers are done with Kiwi Kiss CS. The lace edge at the top is done with a Martha Stewart edge punch, and sponged with Kiwi Kiss ink.

I used my Word Window punch and silver brads at the side of the square panel.

The circle was done with my Nestabilities, and I sponged Kiwi Kiss ink on both the square and circle panels.

This was a difficult sketch for me...I felt like I couldn't balance things out but, I tried my best!

Thanks for stopping by!

Show Us Your Verve Contest

Hi All,

I noticed an upcoming deadline for a Verve Challenge, so I thought I might try to SQUEEEEZE in a card!

I used the stamp set Beautiful Kindness for the butterfly (see the Verve Store to purchase), and the Serenity set for the 3 leaf squares.

I used the Walk in the Park DSP from SU, and the colours of ink and cardstock are Basic Grey, Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, and Whisper White.

I added Liquid Pearls to the butterfly, and propped it up onto Dimensionals.

I used my 1 1/4" Square punch and Scallop Square punch for the panels on the left.

Hope you like it, and thanks for stopping by!

Another try at the Mojo Monday challenge

Hi All,

I liked the sketch so much, that I decided to make another card with it!

I decided to base my colours on the lovely Slumber Party specialty DSP from SU. Along with the DSP, I used CS in colours Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.

The ribbon is the So Saffron grosgrain from the SAB catty last month.

My image is the Cheerleader Anya from the Greeting Farm (see my sidebar for the link). I stamped her with Memento ink and coloured her with Copic markers.

The flower is from the SU Pretties Kit and was stained with So Saffron ink, and I put the rhinestone brad in the centre.

I used some blue Dew Drops at the bottom.

Hope you like it, and thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 81

Hi All,

I saw the Mojo Monday sketch challenge this week over on the Mojo blog. They will be picking winners for merchandise so I thought I would make a card!

This stamp set is from Verve and is called Miracles Blossom. I stamped them in Memento ink and coloured them with my Copics.

The CS is Whisper White, Basic Black, and Ridinghood Red. The DSP is from SU and it's called Rockabilly. The paper is textured, but it's hard to see in this picture. I'll take a better one on the weekend.

The ribbon is from SU, and it's the Ridinghood Red Taffeta. I used my clear Dew Drops at the bottom right corner.

The circle is cut with my Nestabilities, and I used a White Gel Pen for the dots on the scallops.

Thanks for stopping by!

Verve Easter Challenge - Special Project

Hi All,

There is a project parade over on the Verve blog where you can win stamps if you submit an special Easter project. Well, I wish I could have used Verve stamps for this, but I am still waiting to receive my order from the new release. I made a card and a matching Easter pouch for goodies.

I chose another Anya stamp from The Greeting Farm. This one is called Easter Anya, and she is a digital image (that means she is not a physical stamp - you purchase the file, and then you can print her off and colour her in!). She makes a pretty cute bunny, if you ask me.

As usual, I coloured her with my Copic sketch markers.

The card base is a 5 1/4" square of PTI white CS. The next layer is a 5" square piece of Old Olive. Then, I took a 4 3/4" square piece of DSP from the retired Petals & Paisleys pack from SU, and cut the square on a diagonal, so I could have 2 different patterns showing.

Anya's white panel is 2 1/4" x 3 1/2". That was then mounted onto a 2 3/8" x 4" piece from that DSP pack again. Lastly, that was mounted onto a 2 1/2" x 4 1/8" piece of Old Olive CS. I paper pierced the white and blue layers with my paper piercer and Mat Pack.

The sentiment is a rub-on from from the Chit Chat pack from SU. That was punched out with the Word Window Punch. The ribbon is regular white grosgrain, with one of the ribbon sliders from SU.

For the pouch, I used a 12" x 12" piece of the Petals & Paisleys DSP , and used the Diaper Fold technique. I used the flower from the Verve set Beautiful You, and coloured it with my Copics. I used an alphabet from Close To My Heart to stamp the sentiment. I stuffed a packet of hot chocolate in there for good measure.

Hope you like it, and thanks for stopping by!

Verve Release Challenge

Hi All,

I noticed that Verve Stamps is releasing some new sets. In honour of that release they have posted a sketch challenge on the Verve blog. All you have to do, is make a card with the sketch, and post the link to your card in their Mr. Linky, and you will be entered to win some new stamps!

Here is mine:

The basis for my colour combo was the Hawaii Papaya DSP (retired from SU), which was one of my favs in the last catty.

The card base is Tangerine Tango, and I layered everything with Chocolate Chip.

I used 2 of the Verve stamp sets that I own: Beautiful You and Asian Flair.

On the large square panel I also used Kiwi Kiss sponging on the white CS, and Tangerine Tango sponging on the flower.

I covered the large flower with Crystal Effects, but you cannot see the reflection in this pic.

It is very rainy today, so hopes of a nice picture are dashed.

Stop by the Verve blog and check things out! (link is above)


Thanks for stopping by!