Scrapnextras

Viva la Verve...week 3 Sketch!

 
You know, I've actually had this card done for Verve's Week 3 challenge for a couple of weeks now, but finding the time to get a blog post done has proven a challenge.  Somedays I just can't seem to get my stuff together.  Today, I was able to finish the last two cards...and complete the challenge, so I figured it's about time I got at least this one posted!

The sketch was fairly simple, and I knew immediately (being the flower girl I am!), that the circle would have to be a flower.  I have no shortage of Verve flowers, and for this card I pulled out Great Friend, along with Miracles Blossom and Beautiful Kindness.  Keeping with the plan to do all five challenges using the same papers, I worked with my Green at Heart papers by Basic Grey.  Honestly, I have made at least 10 cards (including these 5) with these papers, and I can't see an endin sight.  The little 6x6 paper packs, pack a lot of paper!

 

Stamps:  Great Friend, Miracles Blossom, Beautiful Kindness (Verve)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, white, Green at Heart DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories:  Lattice Punch (MS), Zig Zag punch (EK), Cantelope Liquid Pearls (Ranger), pink organza ribbon ?, Square Lattice embossing folder (SU)

I stayed true to the sketch, although moving the sentiment to the middle panel and using a flower for the circle.  I paper pieced the flower, stamping it three times on the designer paper, and layering it back with pop dots between the layers.  I can't seem to get enough of Liquid Pearls these days, and I don't think I had used my Cantelope colour yet, so this was a perfect opportunity!  I used Martha Stewart's lattice punch along the bottom and some bright pink organdy ribbon across the middle.  As simple as the sketch!  Here's a close up of the flower!

 
I am working on some classes this weekend, but I'll post the last two Verve challenge cards so I have something going on here while I work.  Have a fabulous weekend and I hope to see you soon!

 

Just Because...More Viva la Verve!

 Surprisingly, I found time before leaving for camping/rodeo to schedule a post!  Here is my Week 2 card for May's Viva la Verve challenge.  It's my favorite so far, but there are two more to go...I see they just posted this week's sketch and it's so awesome I think I'll be designing it at the rodeo.  I would love to take my stamps with me, but dh & the girls would protest.  They think I need to take a vacation from stamping...really they just don't get it!

Revisiting the sketch I realize I only changed the colours LOL!  But really, when it looks this good from the start...why mess with it?

I used two of my favorite Verve sets this time.  Blue Skies and Sweet Treats along with the coordinating tag die.  Incidentally for those of you not as familiar with Verve, the tag image in the sketch is from Sweet Treats and the butterfly is from Blue Skies.  See what I mean?

 

 
Stamps:  Blue Skies and Sweet Treats (Verve)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper:  Pirouette Pink, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Green at Heart Dp (Basic Grey)
Accessories:  Scallop Tag die (Verve), Flamingo Liquid Pearls (Ranger), pearls (Kaiser), Deco Shells border punch (MS), Circle & Jumbo scalloped circle dies (Spellbinders), Melon Mambo polka dot grosgrain & pink gingham ribbon (SU), Copic Markers, Spica Glitter pens

 

I love Verve's butterflies, there are so many gorgeous varieties, it's sometimes hard to pick.  These beauties are at the top of my list though.  I coloured them with Copic markers and cut them out.  The tag was stamped in Melon Mambo and I used a Spica glitter pen to colour in the "vines?".  I just thought it needed some green!  The sentiment was punched out of a second image and I added Flamingo Liquid pearls along the bottom.  Then I went plain crazy...adding a row of liquid pearls along the top and bottom and then at each scallop on the circle.  I just love the new colours and how easy they are to use!  The border is done using Martha Stewart's Deco Shells punch...my latest fave, and that's about all there is to it!

It's raining as I type this, so I'm glad I loaded a couple new books on my e-Reader.  I hope your weekend is warm and dry and fun!  See you soon!

Viva la Verve May...week 1

 
OK, I'm up to the same game as last month...oh it's so addicting!  I'm playing along with Verve's "Viva la Verve" May challenge.  Or should I say Challenges...there are five in total.  I am really hoping to win me some Verve...'cus you can never have enough Verve!  So I actually have three challenges done so far, and I'm going to share Week 1 today, and I'll spread out the rest so I have a little "blog activity" for you!

Stamps: Anniversary Birds, Love Notes (Verve)
Paper:  Really Rust, Ivory, Green at Heart DP (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories:  Classy Label Die (Verve), flowers (Prima), flourish (Kaiser), bling (Recollections ), Polka dot grosgrain ribbon (SU), Photo corner chomper (WRM), Oval/Scalloped oval die (Spellbinders)

All the challenges are sketch challenges which are perfect for me, since that's where I like to start anyway.  I wanted to make a little set again, so I pulled out some older paper; Basic Grey's "Green at Heart" pack.  I loved this paper so much, the beautiful greens, oranges and pinks went together so well, but alas, a new pack came into the house and this one was shuffled to the back never to be seen again.  Until now!

I can never make a decision on which set to use, so I closed my eyes and said I would use the set I pulled out without peeking...Anniversary Birds!  I liked this set...it was so cute and unique.  I am in love with the classic label die, and since the stamp from "Love Notes" was made for it, I pulled that set out too.

 
I paper pieced the birds and popped them up on the label.  I added some bling to the sentiment and also on the lower right.  These flowers were a perfect match for the paper, so I had to put them on as well.  I used my Photo Corner Chomper to add a little corner detail (and more bling)...and I think I got it fairly close to the sketch!  Before I put it all together, I thought the background paper seemed a little funky for an anniversary card, so I softened the look a bit by using my square lattice embossing folder from SU!.  Fabulous don't you think?

There is  more on the way...not sure when I'll get to the blog posts, but the cards are done.  It's rodeo weekend here, so we'll be heading out just as the next Viva la Verve sketch gets posted.  So sad, but I'll make time for it next week.  Hope you have some fun plans for the weekend!  Make it a great one!

Viva la Verve Final submission!

 
 Here I am with my final Viva la Verve card, and while Shannan's sketch was a little tricky, I loved it, and executed it exactly the way she showed in her tutorial here.  I love the way it turned out, although it was the first time I was wishing for some brighter coloured designer paper.  I kept on with the Fancy Pants DP I started with, and those 3 12x12 sheets have been reduced to mere scraps, although definitely enough for 2-3 more cards.  Out of 3 12x12 sheets???  Who knew?

 
Stamps:  Great Friend (Verve)
Ink:  Black Soot Distress ink, Ruby Red
Paper:  Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Old Olive, Fancy Pants DP
Accessories:  Black gingham ribbon & Butterfly Sizzlet (SU), Dotted Wave edger (EK), Fancy brad (7 Gypsies), Nightfall rhinestones (Q&Co), sponge, pop dots

I thought there was potential (artisticly interpreted) for a scenic perspective, and I pictured a sun rise behind a blooming flower.  (OK...maybe that's a stretch LOL!)  Following Shannan's tutorial made this card come together real easy, and I really want to try this sunburst technique again!  I sponged all the pieces in Black Soot Distress Ink, including the flower and butterfly.  The flower stem was stamped on the DP, and I stamped it again so I could cut out and pop up the leaves.  The flower is 2 flowers layered and I added a layered butterfly with 2 black rhinestones to finish.

 
Here's a shot of all four together:

 
I think they look so pretty together!

Thanks for dropping by these past few days!  It's been fun sharing this project on the go with you!  I hope to be out visiting you over the next while...that's definitely where I find my inspiration...with you!  Have a wonderful day!

Viva la Verve Week 3

 
OK...I finished all the Verve sketches...but I'm going to pace myself and save one for tomorrow!  Today's card uses Verve's Week 3 sketch which was quite simple...as Verve goes!  My DD likes this one the best of all, so I guess that makes it good.  She has no reservations on telling me if it's not up to snuff...and she definitely prefers busy to simple.  I love Verve's sketches as they make me feel all warm and fuzzy adding layer after luscious layer of designer paper goodness.  Definitely my kind of sketches!

 

 
Stamps:  Dream Big, Love Notes (Verve)
Paper:  Sage Shadow, Basic Black, Ruby Red, Pink Pirouette, DP (Fancy Pants)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories:  Classy Label Die (Verve), Flowers (Prima), Lattice border punch (MS), Scallop border punch & Black gingham ribbon (SU), Crimson gathered ribbon (American Crafts), Nightfall rhinestones (Q& Co), Corner rounder (WRM), Little leaves die (Sizzix) 

The sketch called for a layered border, so that's what I did!  A couple of border punches, three colours of cardstock and two layers of ribbon.  I hadn't used Verve's new Classy Label die, so I made a point of using "Love Notes" with the lined label stamp which is designed to work with the die.  The sentiment is from Dream Big.  Pretty straight forward.  I finished with some black rhinestones and prima flowers!

This is kind of looking like my old sketch sets...all the same paper, and while not the same stamp set, the same company.  Tomorrow I'll have a group shot, 'cus they look so purty all together!  Hope you'll drop by to see!

Have a fabulous day and a good Easter egg hunt!

Viva la Verve 2

 
OK...I'm on my second Viva la Verve sketch card.  I kept going with my leftover Fancy Pants "Road Show" designer papers, which will be mere scraps by the time I finish the fourth sketch!  I really like how this card turned out.  I used "Because of You" and "Beautiful You" for this card.

 

 

 
Stamps:  Because of You, Beautiful You (Verve)
Paper: Ruby Red, Basic Black, Road Show DP (Fancy Pants)
Ink: Old Olive, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Oval/Scallop Oval dies (Spellbinders), Crocheted Ribbon (May Arts), Seam Binding (SU), Mosaic Tiles (Mark Richards), Copic Markers: R32, R35

  Lately I've noticed a prominence of black in the designer papers and at first I thought it a little gaudy, but as do most trends, it grew on me.  So much I found myself coveting all the new papers with black in them, so I decided to bring the black in myself and the effect is just as dramatic!  The papers alone are quite soft in colour with watercolour hues and the black really adds an edgy quality. 

 

I stayed pretty true to the sketch, stamping the flourish of vines and flowers and then positioning the oval over to centre.  I cut the flowers out and adhered them so the worked in the oval shape...and it worked perfectly!  I love the mosaic tiles....they're self adhesive and are a nice alternative to beads or rhinestones I think.  I used my first slip of seam binding that I had to have but have yet to touch since I got them a couple months ago. 

My family is off to Grandma's house (MIL) for Easter, but I have to work so I'm staying behind.  I hope to have the rest of the sketches done this weekend.  Happy Easter to you!  I hope it's full of love and chocolate! 

Viva la Verve!

I had a little time on my hands and of course I decided to spend it stamping!  Not knowing where to begin, I began combing through my favorite sites looking for a great sketch...and I found one!  Oh, and it's a contest, so I decided to put my best foot forward and try my luck.  The sketch is Verve's "Viva la Verve" Week one, and here's what I came up with!

 

 

 Stamps:  Great Friend,  To Risk, Blue Skies (Verve) 
Paper:  Ruby Red, Basic Black, Vanilla, Road Show DP (Fancy Pants)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Apron Lace punch (Fiskars), Crimson gathered & black satin ribbon (American Crafts), Black marker (Zig), Copic markers R32, R35, R37, R39, Black rhinestones (Queen & Co)

I am really trying to curb my spending and focus on using what I have.  I picked up a few sheets of Fancy Pant's Road Show designer paper a while back, and made one card with them.  I had a lot of scraps leftover and I really liked their designs, so I figured it was time for another appearance.  I have picked up a number of Verve stamps that I haven't made time to play with, so I am feeling really good about this card.  No "new" products went into the making of this card!!

OK...that's all I have today, but if you're around again tomorrow, I should have another to share!  Thanks for dropping in, and have a great day! 

Sweet Sunday Sketch #99

 
WOW...it's been a while since I've posted.  I have just been in overwhelm with commitments, family and all that.  I'm running around wondering what I've forgot and hope I remember before it's too late.  Ever been there? 

So it's Sunday and I have a Sweet Sunday Sketch for you!  You know I love circles, and I love new stuff.  I pulled out my new "Tickled Pink" paper pad by My Minds Eye and a Verve set that I inked up for the first time.  I love these bright beautiful colours!

 

 Stamps:  Dream Big (Verve)
Paper:  Melon Mambo, ivory, Tickled Pink DP (My Minds Eye)
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Versafine Onyx Black"
Accessories:  Circle dies (Spellbinders), Melon Mambo grosgrain ribbon (SU), Blue Jumbo ric rac (American Crafts), Rhinestone (MME), jumbo brad (MM), Butterfly (SU)

Just about everything on this card was "broke out" for the first time!  So much fun!  It was fun to put together and these colours are perfect for birthdays and spring.  Very unlike the blizzardy snow storm we are experiencing here in Central Alberta.  Brrr!!!

Are you going to play with us?  Create a project using the sketch and link it up to Karen's blog here!  You might be featured on her blog next week.  Need more inspiration?  Have a quick tour to see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers did with the sketch!

Jennifer Tapler
Vicki Burdick
Sarah-Jane Kale
Karen Motz
Lynn Put
and of course Karen

Have a fabulous day!  I'll be back tomorrow with something new!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Favourites!

 
We're playing favourites today!  What's your favourite Sweet Sunday Sketch?  Karen issued a challenge for us to re-visit our favourite sketches this week.  I knew it would be one with a circle...I love circles, and since I couldn't really pick a favourite, (I love 'em all!), I decided to pick one that I hadn't done before.  Sketch #83 was when I was on holidays this summer, so I never got to do it then, so this is my chance!

 

Stamps:  One Person (Verve)
Paper:  White, Bermuda Bay, Urban Prairie DP (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Shabby Shutters distress ink
Accessories:  Copic Markers, Sizzix Flourish, Circle/Scalloped Circle (Spellbinders), Corner Chomper (WRM), White Gel pen (Sakura), scalloped border punch (SU), pop dots, sponge

You know I have a confession to make. I have over 30 6x6 paper pads.  Crazy huh?  And for as many cards as I make I have never used one up completely.  And for completely, I'd settle for scraps...no full pages.  I've come close.   My Euphoria and Urban Prairie Basic Grey pads I actually have only a few full pages and lots of scraps, so I decided to make a concentrated effort to actually finish them off.  This is Urban Prairie, and I have about 6 sheets and scraps left now.  I really liked it, but new ones kept coming out and you know what happens...you just forget about old favorites.

I pulled out a Verve set called One Person for it's first inking, pairing it with my old favourite, Urban Prairie.  The flowers were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copic markers and cut out.  I stamped the sentiment and cut it out in a circle, sponging Shabby Shutters distress ink while the Spellbinder die was still in place.  The border is scalloped and Certainly Celery taffeta  ribbon is tied in a bow around it.  The upper right area of the card seemed sparse, so I decided to add a Sizzix flourish.  I tried it in Bermuda Bay, but it got lost in the scalloped circle.  So I tried Certainly Celery, which got lost off the circle, so I decided to layer them and I like how it looked.  I added a little more detail with a white gel pen and called it done!

All the Sweet Sunday Stampers are playing favourites this week, so take a quick peek and see what their fave's are...and then it's your turn!  Karen will be getting the Inlinks widget up this week, so pick your favourite sketch and link up your card.  Next week you could be featured on her blog!

Jennifer Tapler
Vicki Burdick
Sarah-Jane Kale
Karen Motz
Joanne Basile
Lynn Put

I hope your Sunday is a fabulous day!  Thank you for dropping by...it's always a pleasure to have you!

Sweet Sunday Sketch #77

I love Sundays.  I love my Sunday Sketches too.  I find them inspiring and freeing.  I am free to use whatever I want and I am always so inspired by the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers.  I have been in a bit of a stamping slump of late.  I struggle to come up with something I like, and more recently, I can't seem to find the desire to even head down to my studio and stamp anything.  It's kind of scary, because for me, it has always been easy, and now I struggle.  So, to conquer that, I did what every self respecting stamper would do.  I bought more stamps!  This time, I had to pick up some new Verve.  After all, Verve is where it all started for me, so when the package arrived in the mail this week, I knew they would get inked up for my Sweet Sunday Sketch!   And surprisingly, I felt my MOJO stirring!

I picked up Blue Skies from Verve's newest release...I really love the sentiments and this butterfly is to die for!  Karen's sketch was fun...I love the variety of card sizes she uses and the long and tall ones are favorites of mine!  I fell back on my love of bright colours and pink and orange always seem so beautiful together, so that's where I started.  I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black and then stamped the leaf image over it in Old Olive.  The butterfly was stamped and coloured with Copic Markers, and I added a rhinestone cluster that I picked up at Michaels a while back.  I am loving my Martha Stewart punches...and I couldn't resist using it to border the card as well!  These punches take less than a millimeter off your card, so they make for perfect borders without changing the size of your card.

So now I'm going to send you off to be inspired by the rest of the Sunday Stampers before you give this week's sketch a whirl!  Don't forget to link it up to Karen's post here and you might be featured on her blog next week!

Joanne Basile
Jennifer Tapler
Vicki Burdick
Sarah-Jane Kale
Karen Motz
Nancy Riley

and of course Karen

Happy Sunday friends!  Thanks for dropping by and have a fabulous rest of the day!