Dude, You Rock!

Last month, my son hit me with a last-minute request for a birthday card for his friend's 11th birthday. Gasp! I can't think of anything harder to make, except maybe teenage boy card! I was just about to suggest running up to the store, when I remembered this clean-and-simple card I had made for Verve's latest release. I knew I could adapt it and crank something out super quick. And crank it out I did, in under 30, with time to spare. You all know that *never* happens for me, right?

The graph paper tag design is from Verve's new Tag Time set and is die-cut with the coordinating Tagged Rectangle Die. The "Dude, You rock!" sentiment is from Dude, also by Verve. The stars are die-cut with My Favorite Things' Stacking Stars Die-namics dies. For the background, I used watermark ink and a grunge-style image from Taylored Expressions' You're My Hero.

Hope you're having a great holiday weekend!




Stamps: Tag Time and Dude (Verve Stamps), You're My Hero (Taylored Expressions) 
Paper: Stampin' Up Confetti Tan, Papertrey White, Echo Park A Walk in the Park dp 
Ink: Ranger Tumbled Glass Distress, Versamark, Stampin' Up Certainly Celery craft ink
Accessories: Verve Tagged Rectangle Die, MFT Stacking Stars Die-namics dies, foam adhesive, Papertrey button, The Twinery twine
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

August SFYTT - Skipping Stones Design

It's the first Saturday of September, which brings us a fabulous new Sketch For You To Try, a new sponsor, and a new guest designer, Alyssa from ACS Paper Creations. In addition, we're excited to add two new faces to the SFYTT team: Becky Carafa and Iwona Palamountain (Chupa)! Welcome, ladies!

This month we're being sponsored by Skipping Stones Design, makers of some of the funniest stamps available! Take a minute to browse through their products -- prepare for a chuckle, a snort, even a full belly laugh. While you're there, you'll also notice some more "serious" sets, including one of my very favorites, Healing Wings, which I've used today. This set just speaks to me -- the butterflies, the encouraging sentiments, the beauty. The various papers I've used today are from the "Rosy" Lost & Found Two collection by My Mind's Eye. The doily die and matching border die are by My Favorite Things.

Here's the September sketch:

I love the rounded corners, but had to leave those out as my corner rounder bit the dust a while back. I must get around to replacing that!

For more sketch inspiration, visit the amazing, talented SFYTT Sisters:

Jen del Muro with August guest designer Alyssa

Amber Hight
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa)
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Terri Moore

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1. The SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {SFYTT} will be posted on the first Saturday of each month on www.iheart2stamp.com at 8am EST and will stay open to participants until the last day of the month, unless otherwise noted.
2. This is for fun! Interpret the sketch as you wish and embellish as desired. There are no vendor restrictions, but we would love to see you use the sponsor’s stamps!
3. Each month we will have a Designer of the Month that will be chosen from past month’s participants.
4. Come and play with us on each and every sketch! On Christmas Day 2011 a prize package worth over $200 will be given away to one very lucky and loyal SFYTT stamper that participates in EVERY sketch for the year.
5. To be eligible for the prize package, you must complete ALL of the sketches by each of the deadlines AND link your creation to the link system on that month’s sketch post (the first Saturday of the month). Everyone except for SFYTT Sisters are eligible for the prize package, including Designer of the Month and international players.
6. When posting your sketch creation on your blog, please post the sketch and link back to the sketch post on www.iheart2stamp.com. When posting to online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT.”

Have a great weekend!





Stamps: Healing Wings (Skipping Stones Design)
Paper: Papertrey Rustic Cream and Fine Linen card stock, My Mind's Eye Rosy Lost & Found Two dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Old Paper Distress
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities, My Favorite Things Decorative Doily Duo and Faux Crochet Border Die-namics dies, Papertrey Fine Linen satin ribbon, distressing tool, Papertrey button, May Arts natural burlap string
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

Little Bethlehem

My powers are weak when it comes to resisting the whimsical Hannah Davies holiday images from Impression Obsession. This one is Little Bethlehem. Just like with the Stocking image from a few days ago, I opted for some fun, cheery, somewhat non-traditional colors. Coloring is with Copics, papers are from the My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas collection. Accents include Stardust Stickles, May Arts burlap string, different ribbons, baker's twine, a scalloped border and some turquoise rhinestones.

Michelle at Stamper's Dream is having a Summer Clearance Sale!

Use coupon code SummerClearance (no spaces) on the checkout page to save 20% off the lowest marked price in the Sales & Specials section.

While you're there, check out all the New Arrivals, too!

Happy Friday!




Stamps: Little Bethlehem (Impression Obsession)
Paper: My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas, Papertrey Kraft and Stamper's Select White card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, Stardust Stickles, Spellbinders classic circle Nestabilities, May Arts burlap string, Offray white sheer scalloped border ribbon, Papertrey double-stitched green and white satin ribbons, American Crafts zigzag-print ribbon, The Twinery twine, Papertrey button, My Favorite Things scallop border Die-namics die, sewing machine, Pizzazz Aplenty turquoise rhinestones, foam tape
Size: 5 1/2" square

Back To School Teacher Treat

Just wanted to pop in with a heads-up that the Verve Divas are having their monthly Diva Inspirations Blog Hop today. Can't wait to see what the Divas have come up with! Also, a new month brings a new Stamp of the Month and new sets in the **SALE** category. Check it out:

1. Julee 8. Susan 2. Betty 9. Andrea 3. Dawn 10. Sankari 4. Jen d. 11. Teresa 5. Lynda 12. Tosh 6. Shannan 13. Charmaine 7. Sony 14. Maureen

We've hidden a little mystery prize on one of today's hop spots, so be sure to leave a little comment love as you hop around for a chance to win!
Comment Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, September 12
Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve

Autumn SALE! Fall is in the air and we're in the mood for a SALE!  During September, enjoy 25% savings  on all of our autumn themed stamps! Plus, don't miss our September Stamp of the Month Autumn Splendor. .

At 30% off during the month of September,   Autumn Splendor is one splendid deal!

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I'm bummed I wasn't able to participate in this month's hop, but I do have a crafty little Verve something to share. I'm back on the PTO Teacher/Staff Appreciation Committee (for my older two kids' elementary school) this year, and one of the things the committee does is make little treats for the teachers and staff several times a year. The committee chair came up with this Whoopie Pie idea and asked me to make some tags.

I knew Verve's new Notebook Page Plain Jane would be perfect for what I had in mind. I downloaded a couple of free fonts to use for "Back to School" and "Whoopie," printed them, die-cut them with Verve's Rounded Rectangle die, then stamped the notebook page in blue ink. Cute and easy!

At the last Verve release party, there was a question about using the coordinating dies and stamps, specifically do you cut first, then stamp or stamp first, then cut. *Normally,* I would stamp first and then die-cut. Verve's complimentary clear alignment tools make precise cutting/matting a breeze (see this tutorial for specifics). In this case, I had almost 80 tags to make, so to streamline the process, I opted to just eyeball it.

You can certainly tell. In fact, I almost missed my mark altogether on this particular tag. I seriously doubt anyone over at the school noticed, but you guys, on the other hand, might! Perhaps you'll think I'm a lazy stamper. As you wish. I prefer "efficient" when it comes to 80 tags {*grin*}.

Have a lovely day!

Wishing You Sunny Days

It's Diva Dare time over at the Verve blog! 

 

Our theme is Sending Some Sunshine! We DARE you to make an uplifting and encouraging card AND send it to someone in need of a little pick-me-up! There's nothing like opening your mailbox and seeing a handmade card...especially with some of Verve's encouraging sentiments on it!  :-)

This month's theme is fantastic if you're anything like me and have loads and loads of handmade cards collecting dust in boxes somewhere in your house. The only box today's card is destined for is a good friend's mailbox. Life is handing her an unfair burden right now and doesn't appear to be taking a break anytime soon. Since I see her regularly, I think she'll be extra surprised to find this in her mailbox tomorrow!

The bold color combo comes from the Blissful papers by Authentique. The layout is last week's Mojo205 sketch. For the focal point, I started with a layered flower done with Sunny Days. The flower and sentiment (diecut with one of the Charming Oval dies) are layered onto a Curvy Bookplate piece and then a doily die-cut with an MFT Die-namics die. I love the pop of the coral/pink ribbon and flowers!

Be sure to head over to the Verve blog for all the Diva Dare details. There are two chances to win Verve goodies -- leaving comments and playing along! Can't wait to see how you'll answer the dare!

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Sunny Days (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Authentique "Blissful" dp, Stampin' Up Basic Black card stock, Papertrey Ink Smoky Shadow and Vintage Cream card stock
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Pumice Stone Distress
Accessories: Copic markers, white gel pen, Stampin' Up Build-A-Brad, Verve Charming Oval Die Set and Curvy Bookplate Die, My Favorite Things doily and scallop border dies, Papertrey ribbon and button, The Twinery twine, pinking shears, paper piercer/needle/thread
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Enjoy the Moments

Eeeek, this may be my first Christmas card for the year! Eeek because it's already time to get going and eeek because I haven't started sooner! And then eeeek, how about this whimsical Impression Obsession Stocking image? Love it! I couldn't help but "see" this image in totally fun, bright colors, and My Mind's Eye's new 12 Days of Christmas was the perfect inspiration!

I colored with Copics, then die-cut the image with Spellbinders Labels Eighteen Nestabilities and sponged the perimeter with Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink. Accents include The Twinery's Marachino twine, machine stitching, Bubble Dots White Vintage crochet trim, a scalloped border (My Favorite Things), and a layered sentiment tag done with JustRite's Merry & Bright set, a scallop tag die (Verve), and a black library clip (Stampin' Up).

If you're in Irene's path, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay safe!




Stamps: Stocking (Impression Obsession), Merry & Bright (JustRite)
Paper: My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock, Papertrey Kraft card stock
s: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, blending stumps, Spellbinders Labels Eighteen Nestabilities, My Favorite Things scallop border Die-namics, Verve Tiny Sweet Scallop Tag set, Stampin' Up 1 1/4" circle punch and library clip, dew drops, foam tape, sewing machine, The Twinery twine, Papertrey button, Maya Road Bubble Dots White Vintage crochet trim
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Have A Jolly Good Day

This is sweet Elaine from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps -- isn't she adorable? Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is sponsoring this month's Sketch For You To Try. If you haven't already played along this month, check out the sketch on my right-hand sidebar and HERE on Jen's blog.

I had a blast coloring Elaine with my Copics and giving her a cozy paper home out of the gorgeous Authentique "Splendid" papers. The lovely crinkled and dyed seam binding is from the MemrieMare etsy shop.

At the risk of repeating myself ... have a jolly good day!