VLV cards

For the week 2 VLV challenge, Charmaine gave us this great sketch.  I combined this sketch with this week's CR84FN color challenge.

                                                  

  

I found some dp from K & Co. with a floral pattern that I could use as the garnet color and a print that I could use for the chartreuse. 

I used a Marianne die for the cream colored doily.  I cut the doily twice and then off set them .  You can see this design a little more clearly on the inside of the card.  The border was the edge from the floral print paper that I used for the partial circle on the front.  I thought it would make a nice edging on the inside.  I cut the cream circle with the smallest of the grand circle Nesties.  I love those larger Nesties for 6 x 6 cards!

Recipe:
Stamps:  Verve "Bountiful Harvest"
Papers:  Black, cream, dp from K & Co. Brenda Walton "Evergreen"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  May Arts ivory silk ribbon, Bow Easy, Recollections rose and gold balls, Marianne doily die, gold trim from stash, knitting needle to curl wire, Grand Circle Nestabilities


For the week 5 VLV challenge, Sankari provided this fun sketch.

I wanted to use the K & Co. "Sweet Nectar" dp that I just picked up on sale at Michael's, so I made a really bright and springy card.  I'm also using this card for the Diva Dare from the Verve blog.

I made some more rolled roses using the same Sizzix die that I used on this card.  I added a little bit of bling to this one, too, along with some yellow velvet ric rac trim that I have had for ages in my stash. 

Recipe:
Stamps:  Verve Plain Jane "To Risk"
Papers:  white, pink, K & Co. "Sweet Nectar"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Sizzix "Flowers 3-D" die, velvet ric rac trim (from stash, came in a kit from All That Scraps), Recollections rhinestone flourishes

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back with one more card today as soon as I get it finished.  Oh how I am loving Spring Break week and having time to stamp at my leisure today!  : )

Blessings,
Sarah

Moments that Take Our Breath

For this week's challenge at The Shabby Tea Room, we were given a lovely inspiration photo and the direction to use flowers.  From the inspiration photo, I'm using the pink flowers and the idea of layers.

I used Maureen's fabulous VLV week 3 challenge sketch for my layout.

I tried to create a shabby vintage look for my card.  I made the rolled rose using a Sizzix die.  I added a button with a little thread bow in place of the ribbon bow on the sketch. 

Recipe:
Stamps:  Verve "Beautiful You"
Papers:  Basic Grey "Lily Kate", white cards stock for base
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Other:  Sizzix die "Flowers 3-D" for rolled rose, brown pleated ribbon and crocheted trim both from Making Memories "Trim Card Brun Antique Reverie," Recollections pearls, Tim Holtz distress tool, sewing machine, sponge, button from stash, linen thread

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back in a bit with three more cards.  Today is the deadline for a couple of challenges that I wanted to enter.
Blessings,
Sarah

More VLV for February & CR84FN

Here are the other 2 VLV cards for February.  The second one is a combined entry with CR84FN's color combo for week 16.

The first one uses Diva Teresa's great sketch.



I have to admit that the envelope on the sketch really threw me for a loop!  I finally decided to hand cut a butterfly from the dp and add that in place of the envelope.  I thought it coordinated well with the sentiment.

Ingredients:
Stamps:  Verve "Beautiful You"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Paper:  K & Co. "Susan Winget - Spring Blossom"
Other:  MS edge punch, Nesties, rose, organdy ribbon (Jo Ann's)

The second one uses Diva Andrea's great sketch along with CR84FN's week 16 color combo of pink, violet, and gray. 



Ingredients:
Stamps:  Verve "Kind Words"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Papers:  white, K & Co. "Susan Winget - Spring Blossom"
Other:  gray satin ribbon, Bow Easy, rose, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,

Sarah

Psalm 46:1

For The Shabby Tea Room this week, the challenge is buttons and bows along with a pretty picture filled with lovely springtime colors.  From the colors in the inspiration photo, I thought of spring flowers, so that's the direction I went with some new K & Co papers by Susan Winget.

I used Amy's lovely VLV week 2 sketch for my layout.

Here's my card.

I'm wishing that spring would arrive soon, but we're supposed to get another inch or two of snow tonight.  I'm ready for warmer days and that wonderful fresh springtime smell.

Ingredients:
Stamps:  Verve "Plain Jane Psalm 46:1"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Pretty in Pink, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Papers:  white, vellum, K & Co. "Susan Winget - Spring Blossom"
Other:  MS punch, MS seam binding, Bow Easy, button, hemp string, Prima roses, pearls, Nesties, sponge, sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Such a Joy

For VLV week 1, we had a great sketch from Amber.

Here's my card.  I let the dp do the work for me on this one, and then added one of my favorite Verve sentiments.

Ingredients:
Stamps:  Verve "Kind Words"
Paper:  cream, brown, Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink (sponged)
Other:  Nesties, seam binding, Bow Easy, Prima rose, sponge

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

One Person VLV Week 4

For the VLV week 4 challenge, Sankari gave us this terrific sketch.

Here's my take on the sketch.

The sentiment is from Verve's "One Person."  I am in love with this new dp from Making Memories called "Je t'adore."  The two different prints are the front and back of a single sheet.   I also used a new doily lace die from My Favorite Things.  I have been dying to get this die ever since it was released last year, and I finally got one! 

The dark green trim is from Bo Bunny.  I also used some seam binding tied with a Bow Easy, Recollections mini roses, a MS border punch, and some adhesive backed pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Anniversary VLV week 3

For VLV week 3, Tosha gave us this great sketch.

I still had some scraps of the Graphic 45 paper that I'd used last week on my crafting table, so I decided to use them as the basis of my VLV week 3 card. 

I distressed the edges and added some machine stitching.  The center panel is cut from one of the dp in the "Le Romantique" paper pack.  I added a sentiment from Verve's "Love Story" that I stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  I cut it out with a Nesties label die and then sponged around it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For the two strips in the sketch, I wanted to use ribbon, but the only peach ribbon I had was 1/8" wide, and it was just too narrow.   I used a MS border punch for the first strip, and for the second strip, I took the ribbon and made two little braids and covered the gap with a string of pearls.  In the closeup, you can see the interesting texture from the braid.  The bow is made out of seam binding, tied with a Bow Easy, and topped with a Recollections mini rose.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

I'm So Glad

For VLV week 2, Charmaine gave us this great sketch.

I used Verve's "Dad's Day" for the sentiment and paired it with some very pink and girlie K & Co. "Smitten" papers. 

The background paper is glittery, and I added some lace from my stash, pink gems, black satin ribbon, mini roses, and a pink heart button tied with some string.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Always Possible

For the week 1 VLV challenge, Amber gave us this great sketch.

I made my card to fit one of the leftover envelopes I had from the photo card we sent at Christmas.  The finished size is 7" x 4".  I don't have all of the elements in the exact position as shown in the sketch, but I stayed pretty true to it.

Here's what I used:
Stamps:  Verve - The sentiment is from "Believe", and I used "Artful Elegance" for the patterned design on the panel that is second from the left.
Ink:  SU! Purely Pomegranate
DP:  K&Co. "Smitten"
Other:  3 black gems, Prima flower, scraps of black silk ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

I'd Pick You

For the last VLV challenge in 2010 we were again to use holliday decor as our inspiration.  I found this ornament on Etsy to use as my inspiration.  It's from OdysseyCreations.  I'm wishing I could buy a whole bunch of these ornaments to hang from my banister for Valentine's Day.  I don't put up a lot of decorations for the various holidays other than Christmas, but I just adore this cluster of sparkly pink frou frou loveliness! 

This week's fabulous sketch was created by Teresa Kline.

Here's my take on the sketch.

I used dp from DCWV's "The Butterflies and Blossoms Stack."  The lightest pink lines are glittered, so this is a really sparkly card!  The sentiment is from Verve's "Dream Big" and stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  I cut it out using oval Nesties and then hand cut the narrow pink mat.  I put together a sequin border from some loose sequins that I had in my stash.  The white border was made using a MS heart doily border punch. 

The big rose is a Prima.  I got it in a package of 6 called "Love Letter Roses" in rose quartz.  I love all of the glitter on it! 

The smaller roses are from Recollections, and the organza ribbon is from my stash.  I used my Bow Easy to tie it.

Finally, here's a peek at the back of the card.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Ever-Present Help

For week 3 of VLV, Amy Sheffer provided us with this great sketch.

I again went looking for holiday decor inspiration on Etsy, and found this quilted ornament.  It was made by CreationsByAngel.  She had them in lots of different color combos, but my favorite was this burgundy and gold one.  I wish that I had the budget to buy a whole bunch of them!  How gorgeous would a tree be covered in lights and these quilted ball ornaments?!

Here's my card. 

I used a black base, then a brown wide mat, and then a narrow black mat.  The two dp are from The Paper Studio's "Faith" stack.  I used some black satin ribbon and tied it with my Bow Easy.  I used a Verve Plain Jane stamp called "Psalm 46:1."  I stamped the verse using Versafine Onyx Black, cut it out with Nesties, and sponged around the edges mostly in Vintage Photo Distress Ink with just a bit of Walnut Stain DI at the outer border to try and give it a "glowing center" as in the ornament.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Noel

Tonight I made a card for three different challenges:  VLV week 1 using a great sketch by Lynda, Beary Scrap's challenge #16 to use pearls or gems, and The Shabby Tea Room's Warm and Snuggly challenge to use fleece or felt.  Unfortunately, I just missed the closing to link at TSTR tonight.  So it goes.

Here's a look at the sketch.  I took a few liberties in my interpretation, but I think I kept the overall essence of the sketch.

My card:

I used fleece to make a scalloped border.  I don't have any of the big scalloped border dies, so I tried to cut one free-hand with scissors using a scrap of pink fleece.  I added the string of pearls to finish the edge a bit.  I added tiny clear gems to the centers of the embossed background after I sponged the edges with SU! Regal Rose to give it a softer feel.

Here's a closeup of the tag.  I used the scalloped tag from Verve's "Glad Tidings" and stamped it in SU! Rose Red.  The sentiment is from the same set but stamped in SU! Purely Pomegranate.  I added a big pink gem to the snowflake's center.  The bow is a bit of seam binding tied with my Bow Easy and topped with some embroidery floss and a jingle bell.  I've seen so many cute projects with little bells lately, so I picked up some yesterday, and I love the finished look!

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

VLV Week 1 and 2

For week 1, here is the sketch and my inspiration photo.

I went with the red and cream color combo, and found paper by K & Co. that somewhat replicates the look of the alternating red and white pattern in the quilted place mat. 

On my original card, I just strictly followed the sketch, and when I was done, it seemed kind of blah, so I added (what else?!) some flowers.

Here are a few closeup shots.  First, some bling around the Verve sentiment from the set "Kindred Spirits." 

The center of the flower is a Prima sequin cluster that I found at Archiver's. 

I also finished the inside of this card and the back.  This card is 6" square.

For week 2 of VLV, here's the sketch and the inspirational photo I used for my color scheme.

I used Verve's set "Budding Blossoms" as I thought the flowers in it looked like the ones in the inspiration photo.  I stamped the leaves in SU! Old Olive and the flowers in SU! Purely Pomegranate.  The background was embossed with a cuttlebug folder.  The dp are both older designs from SU!  It was in one of the Christmas packs a couple of years ago.  I mounted my flowers on foam tape for more dimension.  This card is a standard A2. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah