Winter Wonderland

I wasn't ready to put away those fun papers from Crate Paper's Snow Day Collection, so I've used them again for today's Sketch For You To Try sample. Love the whimsy of the colors and patterns, and found them just perfect for the images in JustRite's Whimsical Christmas set. The image was stamped on Neenah white, colored with Copic markers, and glittered with both Art Institute crystal ultrafine glitter and Frosted Lace Stickles. The accent cluster is made up of May Arts natural burlap string, Papertrey Harvest Gold grosgrain ribbon, a snowflake cut with My Favorite Things' Snowflakes Die-namics die, and more of those rusted jingle bells I used earlier in the week. I've incorporated lots of scallops today -- the focal panel is matted with a Spellbinders Lacy Circle Nestabilities, the vertical brown open scallops were done with MFT's Open Scallop Border Die-namics die, and the white scallops peeking out from above and below the two turquoise panels were done with an older EK Success Scallop Diamond border punch.

Here's the sketch this week:

And be sure to check out all the gorgeous samples this week:

Jen del Muro with guest designer Lesa Smaligo
Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks (out this week)
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sonja Christoph
Susan Liles

To play along, link up your creation to Jen's SFYTT post HERE, and use keyword SFYTT when uploading to online galleries!

Thanks for visiting today and have a great weekend!


.

Stamps: Whimsical Christmas (JustRite)
Paper: Crate Paper Snow Day Collection, Prismatics Dark Suede Brown card stock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up So Saffron
Accessories: Copic markers, Art Institute crystal ultrafine glitter, liquid applique, Frosted Lace Stickles, Spellbinders Lacy Circle Nestabilities, My Favorite Things Open Scallop and Snowflakes Die-namics dies, Diamond Scallop EK Success border punch, Papertrey ribbon, May Arts burlap string, rusted jingle bells

Verve New Release Spotlight: A Cut Above

Remember the Sweet Scallop Tag from earlier in the week? And the snowflake tag with the same tapered shape, from Glad Tidings? Well, guess what? There's a Sweet Scallop Tag DIE to go with them! Yes, Verve has dies now! Well, a die, with more to come! The new line of dies is called A Cut Above, and I'll let Julee tell you all about it over on the Verve blog!


As you hop through today's spotlights, you'll be seeing just how versatile this die can be. As with our other hops this week, we've hidden a PRIZE on one of the participating blogs, so leave a little comment love as you hop around to be entered into a drawing to win today's featured die and coordinating single stamp! Deadline for comment entries is 7PM Eastern tonight.

1. Laurie	9. Teresa
2. Charmaine	10. Sankari
3. Lynda	11. Tosh
4. Mercy	12. Amber
5. Amy	13. Jen d.
6. Shannan	14. Andrea
7. Michelle	15. Julee
8. Jackie

For my project, I stamped and die-cut the Sweet Scallop Tag image, then layered on some paper-pieced mittens from Winter Mittens and an offset oval sentiment, also from Winter Mittens. The papers are all from Crate Paper's Snow Day collection, and the layout is this week's Mojo 162 sketch. Lots of glitter and bling on this one!

Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you tonight at 9 pm EST in the Verve Forum for our Release Party!



Stamps: Winter Mittens, Sweet Scallop Tag
Paper: Papertrey Rustic White, Crate Paper Snow Day Collection
Ink: Ranger Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Rose Red
Accessories: Verve Sweet Scallop Tag die, foam adhesive, bling (various sources), Stampin' Up oval punch, Papertrey ribbon, buttons, baker's twine and eyelet lace border die, My Favorite Things felt and snowflake die, Spellbinders ric rac border die, ivory acrylic paint, Scotch Quick-Dry liquid glue, Martha Stewart snow glitter

Verve New Release Spotlight: Glad Tidings

Greetings on this fourth day of Verve New Release Spotlights! Hope you've enjoyed the Divas' eye candy so far this week and that you've marked your calendar for tomorrow night's Release Party. The fun all starts at 9 pm over in the Verve Forum on Splitcoast!

Today, the Divas are spotlighting the largest set from this release - Glad Tidings. It's a beauty, I can promise you! I chose to focus on the tag image in this set, which has the same tapered shape as the Sweet Scallop Tag we spotlighted yesterday. The "Jingle Bells" sentiment is from the Holiday Phrases mini set, which was previewed on Monday.

I can envision this set working well with all sorts of styles; for today, I opted for a layered and embellished, shabby, vintage look. The cluster at the top of the tag is made up of a ribbon loop, Webster's Pages gold-accented netting, burlap string, and rusted jingle bells (they really jingle, too!). I saw similar rusted bells on Hilary Hanwischer's blog last year and loved the look. (I purchased mine from Craft Catalog.) Elsewhere on the card, I've added some hand-stitching, punched and die-cut borders, glittery snowflake accents, a Maya Road kraft envelope, and a distress inked doily. In the corners and along the edges, I added some Martha Stewart snow glitter, a look that was inspired by some recent glittered beauties by Melissa Phillips. Along the top and bottom of the blue snowflake patterned paper panel, you'll see punched borders. They are strips that have been punched with the Martha Stewart Quilted Edge border punch, then nudged behind the blue snowflake panel such that only a small portion of the full punch design shows. It looks like a whole new punch this way!

Have a closer look (you still don't see the glitter on the punched snowflakes, though):

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops.
Happy hopping!

1. Amy 8. Tosh 2. Jackie 9. Sankari 3. Mercy 10. Teresa 4. Michelle 11. Jen T. 5. Lynda 12. Andrea 6. Charmaine 13. Amber 7. Laurie 14. Julee

Be sure to leave some comments along the way
for a chance to win! Have fun!

Thanks for visiting!



Stamps: Glad Tidings, Holiday Phrases
Paper: Papertrey Vintage Cream and Fine Linen card stock, Webster's Pages Waiting For Santa Petite Papers
Ink: Ranger Forest Moss, Old Paper, Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Inks
Accessories: Verve Sweet Scallop Tag die; Maya Road kraft envelope; Martha Stewart quilted border punch, snowflake punch, and snow glitter; Ranger Frosted Lace Stickles; Papertrey buttons, double-stitched ribbon, and eyelet lace border die; May Arts natural burlap string; Wilton doily; Webster's Pages netting; needle and thread; 13mm rusted jingle bells (Craft Catalog)
Size: 6" x 4 1/4" (a little wider than standard A2 to accommodate the Maya Road Kraft envelope)

Verve New Release Spotlight: Merry Wishes

Hope you're enjoying this week of Verve's New Release Spotlights. We continue the excitement today with two sets -- a holiday set called Merry Wishes and a tag single called Sweet Scallop Tag. In case you missed yesterday's and Monday's spotlight projects, head to the Verve blog HERE and HERE for the complete link lists. You'll also find today's link list HERE, and I'll include it at the end of this post as well.

My card today features both the Sweet Scallop Tag and images from the Merry Wishes set. I started by creating the tag, which would work well on a gift bag or box, too. The two poinsettia images are part of Merry Wishes, as are a whole bunch of "sentiment pieces" -- individual words that you can combine to create your desired greeting. You can easily mix ink colors, mix fonts, and vary the word placement to suit your card design -- such fun and infinitely customizable! Also included in Merry Wishes is a variety of berry branch images. I used two of them to create a subtle white pattern on the Kraft card stock. The ribbon is 5/8" grosgrain that I gathered by stitching down the center, then pulling the thread ends.

Here's a close-up of some of the different card elements:

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops. Happy hopping!

1. Charmaine	8. Teresa
2. Michelle	9. Sankari
3. Lynda	10. Tosh
4. Jackie	11. Susan
5. Laurie	12. Amber
6. Mercy	13. Andrea
7. Amy	14. Julee

Be sure to leave some comments along the way
for a chance to win!

Thanks for visiting!




Stamps: Merry Wishes, Sweet Scallop Tag
Paper: Papertrey Kraft and White card stock, Stampin' Up Real Red and Basic Black card stock, The Girls' Paperie Tinsel & Twig dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Fired Brick Distress, Stampin' Up white craft
Accessories: Verve sweet scallop tag die, Copic markers, Papertrey buttons and black ribbon, May Arts burlap string, Stampin' Up red ribbon, EK Success dotted wave punch, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, Martha Stewart quilted border punch, Scor-Pal

Verve New Release Spotlight: Richly Blessed

I'm back with Day Two of Verve's New Release Spotlights. Today the Divas will be showing two new sets, Richly Blessed and Joy for the Journey, as well as a single image, Vintage Oval Frame. My favorite Christmas cards are those with a clear religious sentiment, so I couldn't wait to ink up Richly Blessed for today's spotlight card.

The set includes a beautiful cross image, which I stamped in Ranger Old Paper Distress Ink onto a pattern from Webster's Pages' Waiting for Santa Petite Papers collection, along with some Scripture and other holiday sentiments. I chose to feature Isaiah 9:6, which I stamped in Stampin' Up's Bravo Burgundy. The frame around the cross and Scripture was done with Stampin Up's Top Note die and a Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities die. Finishing touches are a little crocheted trim, crinkled seam binding, a Webster's Pages sparkler, a punched border, and some gold pearls and cord.

AND ... check out the finished inside:

Oh, how I love this set!

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops.
Happy hopping!

1. Jackie	6. Sankari
2. Laurie	7. Teresa
3. Lynda	8. Andrea
4. Amy	9. Julee
5. Mercy

Be sure to leave some comments along the way
for a chance to win!
Have fun, and see you again tomorrow!

Thanks for visiting!

Verve New Release Spotlight: Christmas Blessings

It's New Release Spotlight time at Verve this week, and friends, oh my, are you in for a treat! The new sets are amazing, and I can't wait for you to see them! Before I get too ahead of myself, be sure to mark your calendars for this Friday, 9 -11 pm EST. That's when Verve will be hosting its Release Party in the Verve Forum at SCS, and I sure hope you'll join us if you can!

Today, the Divas are spotlighting four mini sets and two Plain Janes, so you're sure to see quite a variety. My sample features Christmas Blessings Plain Jane. Isn't that font so classy and elegant? I colored the stamp with markers for the two-color effect, then die-cut with a Labels Ten Nestabilities die. The loopy frame behind the sentiment was done with a Sizzix Frame Back Ornate #6 Bigz die. You could stop right there and have a nice tag to use with your Christmas packaging. I went ahead and turned it into a card by adhering the tag to a simple card base. All of the patterned papers are from the Tinsel & Twig collection by The Girls' Paperie.

I lightly misted the whole card front with some Sparkle Pssst shimmer spray. In this detail shot, you can see a hint of the sparkle (click for an even closer look). So festive!

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops.
Happy hopping!

1. Lynda	8. Sankari
2. Michelle	9. Tosh
3. Mercy	10. Susan
4. Amy	11. Amber
5. Shannan	12. Jen d.
6. Laurie	13. Andrea
7. Teresa	14. Julee

Be sure to leave some comments along the way
for a chance to win!
Have fun and we'll see ya tomorrow!

Thanks ever so much for stopping by today!

Lil' Inker SFYTT

Good morning, friends! Today's Sketch For You To Try is being sponsored by Lil' Inker Designs. The owner, Laura Pryor, has created an adorable, sweet and wonderfully *practical* flag/banner stamp set with coordinating steel die. Be sure to check out the Sentiment Flags combo in the Lil' Inker Designs store. This is sure to be something you'll reach for again and again and again! And just by playing along in today's sketch, you'll have a chance to win a Sentiment Flags stamp/die combo. Be sure to link your creation to today's sketch challenge post at Jen's blog. Good luck!

Here's the sketch:

For more sketch inspiration, visit the SFYTT sisters:

Jen del Muro with guest designer Lesa Smaligo
Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sonja Christoph
Susan Liles

For my sample, I've stamped one of the flag outline images and the Happy Birthday sentiment onto a flag cut with the matching die, then colored inside the flag outline with a light aqua Copic marker. The balloons are from Verve's Birthday Bash, the papers are Cosmo Cricket's Togtherness, the decorative square behind the circle was cut with a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen Nestabilities die, and the open scallop border was cut with one of MFT's Die-namics dies. The dark brown stitching was done by hand.




Stamps: Sentiment Flags (Lil' Inker Designs), Birthday Bash (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Kraft, Vintage Cream and Dark Chocolate card stock, Cosmo Cricket Togetherness Mini Deck
Ink: Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Sixteen and Classic Circles Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, Lil' Inker Designs steel die, Papertrey button and twine, hemp twine, My Favorite Things Open Scallop Border Die-namics die, paper piercer, needle, thread, foam adhesive, BG000 Copic marker

Three Wise Men

Today's card features the amazing To Follow Star image by Penny Black. I stamped in Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock, then die-cut the image into a circle. The two white mats are cut with Spellbinders dies (classic square and Labels Sixteen). To the left and the right of the image, I added white bracket accents using one of the tags from Spellbinders Fancy Tags. The light blue pearls are by Kaisercraft. I added some white trim, aqua satin ribbon, and a Webster's Pages Sparkler, all placed on a background of My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly designer papers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Candy Corn Hanging Treat Holder

Before Halloween comes and goes, I wanted to show you a little project I put together a while back for Through the Craftroom Door. My friend Marti, one of the founders/publishers, asked if I'd do a little tutorial for the magazine on coloring with Tombow Dual Brush-Pen markers. As soon as Marti mentioned a Halloween project, I thought about this adorable Stampendous Hang Out Spider set. I know, I know, I've posted with this set a few times already this fall, and each time that bloomin' image is colored nearly the exact same way - fancy that! But that's what happens with tutorials - you end up with a jillion extras of the exact same image. So please bear with me and yet another spooky green watercolored background for this cute little arachnid.

In addition to a candy-corn-themed card, I was inspired by the sentiment in this set ("Let's 'Hang Out' This Halloween") to make a tussie-mussie-style candy corn hanging treat holder. Wouldn't these make cute party favors? Or teacher treats?

For step-by-step Tombow coloring instructions, check out my tutorial in Through the Craft Room Door. I haven't seen the current issue yet, but I do know it's featuring all different coloring mediums, plus tons of other papercrafting content!

Thanks for popping in today!

Li'l Pumpkin

My Favorite Things has done it again! Just when you think the Pure Innocence girls cannot possibly get any cuter, along comes a whole new batch to sweep you off your feet! This one is Li'l Pumpkin, and she is just beyond precious! You all know I love to color, but this time, I couldn't wait to paper piece that darling pumpkin (and her dress while I was at it). Both patterns are from the K&Co Cut 'N Paste Mat Pad, which I found on a recent trip to Michael's.

Naturally, I worked in quite a few of my favorite dies and punches. The sentiment is stamped on a portion of a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen Nestabilities die-cut. The brown piece behind it is a portion of a Spellbinders Labels Fourteen die-cut. The ivory border is punched with Martha Stewart's Scallop Dot border punch. And last, both the grass and the large open scallop border are done with MFT's Die-namics dies.

Stamper's Dream carries a large selection of MFT's Pure Innocence images, as well as some of the Die-namics dies and a whole host of Spellbinders dies.

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Stamps: Li'l Pumpkin Pure Innocence (My Favorite Things)
Paper: K&Co Cut 'N Paste Mat Pad, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White card stock, Bazzill brown card stock, Papertrey Kraft card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accesories: Prismacolor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stump, Stampin' Up 3/8" twill, Papertrey chocolate baker's twine and button, Martha Stewart Scallop Dot border punch, Spellbinders Classic Oval, Labels Fourteen and Labels Sixteen Nestabilities dies, My Favorite Things grass and open scallop border Die-namics dies, paper piercer, needle and thread

Nature

Some gorgeous BoBunny designer paper arrived by mail last week (came in my Paper Posies monthly kit), and I couldn't wait one second to make something with it! Once upon a time teal was THE color, and I was *all* about it! Maybe it was the teal velvet dresses I forced my bridesmaids to wear. Or the teal floral arrangements on the tables at the reception (really ... can you imagine anything more unnatural?). In any case, I overdosed (badly) on teal. Fast-forward nearly 17 years. I'm having a hard time believing it, but I absolutely LOVE this BoBunny pattern, teal and all!

By the way, I had a similar color overdose in the late '80s, that time it was "mauve." I can assure you I will never recover from that one. It's far too indelibly seared into my memory of an awful freshman year experience with my assigned roommate and my unassigned roommate (her boyfriend). A co-ed dorm was cool, a co-ed room was not {eyeroll}. What about you? Is there a particular color to which you have a strong emotional response, either positive or negative?

Anyhoo ... back to the card. Beautiful paper needs a beautiful sentiment, which is when I always turn to my beloved Verve. This sentiment is the new Every Season Plain Jane from the current Autumn 2010 Release. I stamped in Ranger Walnut Stain, die-cut with a Spellbinders Labels Sixteen Nestabilities die, then sponged on a little Old Paper Distress Ink before removing the die.  A sweet, looped ribbon treatment and some lace trim create a base for the sentiment. A little distressing on the edges because, well, it makes me happy :)

Have a great day, friends!

Pile of Penguins

It's hard to resist even a single cute little penguin. Pile six of 'em in a pyramid, and I'm helpless. This is one of those images that just had to come live with me! It's called A Pile of Penguins and it's from the Laurence collection by Stampavie, available at Stamper's Dream. I stamped onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White card stock, colored with Copics, and cut the image with a Labels Fourteen Nestabilities die. The papers are from My Mind's Eye's Alphabet Soup Boy collection, which, incidentally, has tons of aqua and red patterns just perfect for winter-themed images.

I'm super excited that Stamper's Dream is now carrying a selection of Die-namics steel dies from My Favorite Things. I used the Let It Snowflake Die-Namics with white felt for the snowflake accents. The camera doesn't pick up the warmth and texture of the felt very well, but in real life, it has such a nice, cozy feel. I also used the Open Scallop border Die-namics for the large black scallops along the right side.

A few other details ... I added some Martha Stewart Snow glitter to the snowy ground beneath the penguins and then dotted the snowflakes with a Viva Decor Iced White pearl pen. The stitching is by hand. Instead of a stamped sentiment, I coated some white chipboard letters with clear glitter. The dry embossing on the red panel was done with Cuttlebug's Seeing Spots embossing folder.

The layout is Jen's Sketch For You To Try:

Find more sketch inspiration here:

Jen del Muro with guest designer Lesa Smaligo
Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sonja Christoph
Susan Liles

To play along, link up your creation to the linky widget on Jen's blog and remember to use keyword SFYTT when you upload to online galleries.

Have a fantastic weekend! My boys will all be gone most of the day today (my youngest is at "Camp Nana" for the weekend, and my oldest and DH will be at a Boy Scout event). I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to some girl time with my DD! She turns 7 in a few weeks and wants to have a very girly spa party with her friends. Today will be the perfect day to practice our nail painting and hair styling. Better yet, we could head to a spa for some professional pampering and inspiration {grin}.



Stamps: Pile of Penguins (Stampavie)
Paper: Neenah Clasic Crest Solar white card stock, Stampin' Up Real Red, Papertrey Black, My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup Boy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, Viva Decor Iced White pearl pen, Martha Stewart snow glitter, Spellbinders Labels Fourteen Nestabilities die, needle and thread, foam adhesive, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, MFT Let It Snowflake and Open Scallop border Die-Namics steel dies, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, glue pad, ultrafine clear glitter, Papertrey ribbon
Size: 5 1/2" square

Happy Halloween

I had some free time on Wednesday and decided to play along in Splitcoast's Sketch Challenge (#302). It's been forever since I did one of those! I always have the best intentions ... {sigh}. My Mind's Eye's Blackbird collection has been sitting on my desk for a few days now, and I'm determined to milk it for all its worth between now and the end of the month (or longer ... some of the patterns aren't limited to Halloween).

The two pumpkins are from Verve's new Bountiful Harvest set, and the sentiment is from Happy Fall (also by Verve). I stamped the pumpkins onto one of the Blackbird patterns, then colored with Prismacolor pencils and Copic markers. The ivory mat around the main image was cut with a Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities die, and the open scallop border along the bottom was done with a My Favorite Things Die-namics die.

Bountiful Harvest and Happy Fall are available individually or as part of the Autumn 2010 Collection. Buy the full collection and save. Details HERE.

Thanks for visiting!



Stamps: Bountiful Harvest, Happy Fall (Verve)
Paper: Papertrey Kraft and Vintage Cream, My Mind's Eye Blackbird dp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen Distress
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, Nestabilities dies, Die-namics dies, PTI button, May Arts twine, SU brads, paper piercer, needle and thread, SU ribbon

The Beauty of Fall

Can you imagine a more "fall-ish" image than this one by Impression Obsession? It's called Pumpkins and is illustrated by Gary Robertson. Love his illustrations because they already include all the clues you need to color up a masterpiece. The areas of light and shadow are determined by the level of crosshatching (that may or may not be the proper technical term, but you know what I mean), so that's one {huge} less thing to think about!

I stamped this image a few times in several different brown inks before settling on Frayed Burlap Distress Ink (Tim Holtz/Ranger). Its nice shade of medium brown really warmed up the image and allowed the orange tones to show even in the most shadowed areas. I colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with odorless mineral spirits using paper blending stumps. The combo of Frayed Burlap ink and the colored pencils gives such a nice, soft look. Here's a detail shot:

The embellishment cluster in the upper left is made from some hemp cord, gold organdy ribbon, and two leaves die-cut with the smallest Spellbinders Nested Maples Leaves die, topped, of course, with a button.

A few other details ... the sentiment is from JustRite's Nature's Nested Sentiments. The creamy yellowish paper with the diamond pattern is from the Blackbird collection by My Mind's Eye (not just for Halloween!). To help the organdy ribbon stand out a little more, I added a thin strip of designer paper underneath -- a striped pattern from Cosmo Cricket's Wanted collection. A third dp snuck in to the picture -- the top-most leaf is cut from the woodgrain pattern in Crate Paper's Restoration collection. It's rare for me to mix manufacturers like that - so liberating, though! The lattice border is done with a Martha Stewart punch, and the warm brown card base is Prsimatics Dark Tawny.


Thanks so much for stopping by today!




Stamps: Pumpkins Cling Stamp (Impression Obsession)
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and Natural, Prismatics Dark Tawny card stock, My Mind's Eye Blackbird dp, Cosmo Cricket Wanted dp, Crate Paper Restoration Collection dp
Ink: Frayed Burlap, Old Paper, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain Distress Inks
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol odorless mineral spirits, paper blending stumps, distressing tool, needle and thread, Martha Stewart lattice border punch, Spellbinders petite oval and nested maple leaf dies, Stampin' Up gold organdy ribbon, natural hemp twine, button, Robin's Nest Dew Drops
Size: 5 1/2" square

Give Thanks

Here's a little clean-and-simple card I put together last week using all-new Verve stamps. Bits of it materialized in my scrap pile, so I ran with it. It's smalller in size, only 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" -- good for notecards, gift card holders, treat bag toppers, place cards, etc. The sentiment is from a wonderful little sentiment set called Happy Fall, and the leaf stamp is from Autumn Splendor.

All of the new Verve sets are available individually or as part of the Autumn 2010 Collection. By purchasing the full collection, you'll save 15%! Offer good through October 28 (while supplies last).

Have a great day!

Hang Out Spider

Happy Saturday, friends! I found an already-colored image from Hang Out Spider (Stampendous) lying in my "leftovers" pile and thought it would be perfect for todays' SFYTT.

The scalloped border strip and the star are paper die-cut elements from the Blackbird 12x12 Paper and Accessories Kit by My Mind's Eye. So all I had to do was cut a small rectangle from the black spotted pattern in the Blackbird kit, punch an orange circle, tie on some twine, and stamp the sentiment. Oh, and I added some paper piercing around the outside of the black tilted rectangle. It doesn't get any easier or quicker! It's a super quick image to color (I used my Tombow Markers), so even starting from scratch, this would be a quickie.

Check out what the other SFYTT Sisters have put together with today's sketch:

Jen del Muro with guest designer Lesa Smaligo
Amber Hight
Amy Rohl
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sonja Christoph
Susan Liles (out this week - swing by her blog to leave her some get well wishes)

Leigh O'Brien is taking an extended stamping break due to an injury and upcoming surgery. I know she, too, would appreciate your well wishes!

Have a great weekend, and happy stamping!

Stamps: Hang Out Spider (Stampendous)

Paper: Papertrey Kraft, Rustic White, and Black card stock, My Mind's Eye Blackbird 12x12, Paper and Accessories Kit, 140-lb Strathmore Series 400 cold press watercolor paper

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Frayed Burlap Distress Ink

Accessories: Tombow Markers, clear embossing powder, Stampin' Up circle punch, May Arts ivory burlap string, foam adhesive, paper piercer

Size 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Verve New Release Spotlight: Bountiful Harvest

It's Day Three of Verve's New Release Spotlights. What do you think of what you've seen so far this week? Julee always amazes me with her classy designs! Today, we're showing another Autumn set called Bountiful Harvest. I think there was a collective squeal when the Divas first saw the pumpkin images in this set! I'm betting you'll be just as tickled over them :)

I'm always calling one or the other of my children "pumpkin," so I created today's spotlight card in honor of all "little pumpkins" out there :) Their mamas know who they are!

Among the nineteen stamps in this set is a gorgeous pumpkin trio image. I love that each of those three pumpkins in the trio also comes as its own separate image - so much more versatility! I stamped the largest pumpkin onto ivory card stock and colored with Copic markers. The grass is done with Prismacolor pencils. Patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Matilda collection, and the woodgrain embossing folder that I used on the dark brown background panel is one of Tim Holtz's Texture Fades.

Check out our first looks at Bountiful Harvest:

1. Mercy	9. Amy
2. Jen d.	10. Laurie
3. Charmaine	11. Susan
4. Michelle	12. Jackie
5. Tosh	13. Sankari
6. Teresa	14. Amber
7. Lynda	15. Julee
8. Andrea	16. Shannan

Be sure to leave some comments along the way for a chance to win!

All four of the new sets and all four new Plain Janes will be available in the Verve Store today at 12:00 noon Mountain Time! Happy shopping!



Stamps: Bountiful Harvest (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Kraft, Vintage Cream, and Chocolate Kiss card stock, Cosmo Cricket Matilda designer paper
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Old Paper Distress Ink
Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Spellbinders Lacy Circles Nestabilities die and Fancy Scallops border die, Papertrey ribbon and buttons, foam adhesive, natural hemp twine, needle and thread, Tim Holtz Texture Fades Woodgrain embossing folder

Verve New Release Spotlight: Autumn Splendor

Today is Day #2 of Verve's New Release Spotlights. Featured set of the day: Autumn Splendor. Oh my, oh my, oh my! Leaves, leaves, and more leaves. All different sizes. Both solid and outline images. And of course, a Verve-y mix of very suitable sentiments. If you weren't a Fall lover before, you will be after seeing this gorgeous set!

For my spotlight card today, I've used several of the different leaves to create a Fall wreath. The leaves I've used are line images, and I've just stamped them onto colored woodgrain patterns from Cosmo Cricket's Nutmeg collection and trimmed them out. Each leaf has been lighly ink distressed and curled for more dimension. The ivory open scallop circle is a die-cut from Spellbinders Lacy Circles Nestabilities. Along the bottom is a border strip built from MFT's Jumbo Scallops Die-namics die, some ivory crinkled seam binding, burlap string and a button. I hand stitched around the perimeter of the top half in brown thread using a simple running stitch for a more homespun look.

Here's a closer look at some of the dimension:

Okay, here's the official hop list for today. Check out our first looks at Autumn Splendor:

1. Mercy	8. Amy
2. Charmaine	9. Susan
3. Michelle	10. Andrea
4. Jen T.	11. Jackie
5. Tosh	12. Sankari
6. Teresa	13. Amber
7. Lynda	14. Julee

Be sure to leave some comments along the way for a chance to win!
Have fun and we'll see ya tomorrow!

Stamps: Autumn Splendor (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Kraft and Rustic White card stock, Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg Mini Deck dp
Ink: Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Accessories: Spellbinders Lacy Circle Nestabiltiies die, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, foam adhesive, needle and brown thread, May Arts burlap string, Papertrey button, ivory crinkled seam binding, My Favorite Things Jumbo Scallops Die-namics die, Stampin' Up oval punch