Wishing You Peace & Love

I can't believe it's only two weeks until Christmas. I am nowhere *near* ready! How about you? Mostly, I send out photo cards of the kids, plus as many handmade cards as I can get made, but this year, my completed card count is less than twenty, and I don't have a photo for the photo cards yet. Eeeeeeek! I've been crossing off names on my lengthy "small homemade gift" list -- not because their gift is done, but because they're not getting one! Sigh ... it happens every year.

Today is the last Sketch For You To Try for the year. We'll be taking a short break for the holidays, then returning in January! You may have seen the announcement last week that changes are coming to the SFYTT challenge. I'm going to send you to Jen's for most of the details, but one of the changes is that Jenn Diercks will be leaving the team. It's a sad farewell, as I have loved seeing her take on the sketches! Jenn's departure makes room for a new face, though, so a very warm welcome to ... Kerry Johnson!

This week's challenge, just like last week's, is to pick a favorite sketch from the archives and give it another go.

Here's my card ...

... based on this sketch, from November 13 of this year. (I was a little loose with it,  you can see.)

I just received JustRite's new Nested Frames Custom Dies set and couldn't wait to try them out. The Nested Frames set is one of two new sets of Spellbinders dies, custom-made to work perfectly with all of JustRite's rectangular Nested Frames and Nested Sentiments sets. For my sentiment panel (working bottom up), I first stamped the frame image from Christmas Nested Frames onto Neenah Natural White card stock, colored with Copics, and die-cut with the new dies. I then die-cut another rectangle with the next smaller die. Last is the sentiment, from Christmas Nested Sentiments (say that three times fast!), which I die-cut with a Spellbinders Labels Fourteen die to throw a curve into all those straight edges. The die-cut pieces have all been sponged twice, first with the die in place and second, a light sponging on the outer edge.

The black background paper is from Webster's Pages Waiting for Santa & Sweet Season 6x6 combo paper pack. I know some people are thrown off by black for Christmas, but I love it! Timeless, classy, elegant. This particular pattern has the words to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" in a gorgeous, script font. Here's a close-up:

The first time around with this sketch, I can remember being puzzled by that heart accent being behind the image (I ended up moving it in front). This time, I found that some crystal flourishes worked perfectly! Instead of three separate panels on the background, I chose to visually break the background into three sections with some seam binding. Do you still see the sketch? I hope so!

Have a look at which sketches the rest of the SFYTT sisters decided to re-visit this week:

Jen del Muro
Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien
Carole Burrage
Kerry Johnson

and Ana and Joanne, too!

[ETA: Sorry! I always just assume others will know how to play. Everyone is invited to participate! Just use any previous sketch for your project, then link it up to Jen's post. If you upload to any online galleries, use keyword SFYTT. That's all! Future guest designers are chosen from current participants, too!]

An Old Friend

The other day I was trying (unsuccessfully) to color a snowy landscape for an image I was working with and was reminded of this snowy scene that I created during my Splitcoast Dirty Dozen tenure. The tree image and sentiment are from Tree Silhouettes by GinaK, the background is watercolored using Stampin' Up re-inkers, and the whole scene was colored to look like a P. Buckley Moss print (Trees in Harmony) that's in my home.

Thanks for popping in today!



Stamps: Tree Silhouettes (Gina K. Designs)
Paper:Canson 140-lb cold-press watercolor paper, SU Basic Black and Mellow Moss; Around the Block
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: SU top note die and clear embossing powder; Kaiser black adhesive pearls, Offray black satin ribbon, SU Basic Black and Going Gray markers

A Cheerful Friend

I have one more Verve card from last week's release that I haven't shared here yet. This one uses a sentiment from the new set, Text Objects. The cloud and sun paper, along with the yellow pompom trim, are from My Mind's Eye's True Blue Fine & Dandy collection. The dry embossing was done with the "Rays" folder from Tim Holtz's Alterations line.

The sun accent is die-cut from thin cork using My Favorite Things' Sunshine Die-namics. The swirl is just a piece of coiled yellow embroidery floss that I stitched onto the cork using taupe thread.

Thanks so much for stopping by!




Stamps: Text Objects
Paper: Papertrey Kraft, My Mind's Eye True Blue Fine and Dandy dp
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin' Up White craft
Accessories: My Mind's Eye pom pom trim, black velvet ricrac (unknown), black polka-dot ribbon (unknown), Stampin' Up Top Note die, paper piercer, Papertrey buttons and twine, My Favorite Things Sunshine Die-namics die, DMC floss, foam tape, Tim Holtz "Rays" Texture Fades embossing folder

Happy Thoughts

How about a look at another of Verve's fabulous new releases? Today's card uses Amazing Wishes, a set of mostly sentiments in fonts and styles that coordinate with some of your favorite Verve sets. I stamped the flower image onto text paper, trimmed it out and gave it a yellow polka-dot center. I love the "happy thoughts" sentiment in Amazing Wishes! You could use it for someone who needs a word of encouragement and hope (a stay positive type of message), as another way to say "congrats," or just to let someone know you're thinking of him or her. The little piece of music paper peeking out on the left was die-cut from old sheet music using Stampin' Up's Top Note die. The designer papers are all October Afternoon - Modern Homemaker for the yellow and green, Thrift Shop for the blue. Details include lace, twine, bling, dry embossing, and adhesive pearls.

A little bit about this set ...

Amazing Wishes is a 4x6" set of 15 clear stamps. If you placed an order during one of Verve's new release weekends in 2010, you may have found one of these stamps tucked in with your order. This set is a compilation of all the customer appreciation stamps given out this past year and is packed full of encouraging and thankful sentiments, a fun little tag and two whimsical flowers.

If you go to Amazing Wishes in the Verve store and scroll down to the Product Info section, you'll see a list of the individual sentiments in this set and which Verve sets they coordinate with - a nifty little resource!

Best of all, Amazing Wishes and all the stamps from last week's release are available at 15% off during December. Happy Holidays from Verve!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Merry Christmas, Dear Friend

Changes are coming to the Sketch For You To Try challenge! The biggest will begin in January (to be announced soon), but for December, here's what's up:

- no official sketch, just pick out one of your favorite past SFYTT sketches and make a new card with it
- same format next week, which will be the last challenge for the year
- no guest designer in December, but Jen has invited two SFYTT friends to play along, Joanne and Ana

Can't wait to see which sketches were favorites, starting with my fellow sample-makers ...


Jen del Muro
Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien

I chose to work with this one from September of this year - love it!!

That cutie-pie snowman image (and the sentiment, too) are from JustRite's *cling* set Sparky the Snowman. And once again, I'm enjoying repurposing papers from My Mind's Eye's Alphabet Soup Boy collection for my wintry holiday cards - the red and aquas are perfect!

Here's a detail shot of the snowman:

I colored with Copics on Copic X-Press It card stock, added Frosted Lace Stickles to the snowy ground, accented Sparky's face and body with some Art Institute ultrafine clear glitter, and gave his nose and buttons a little shine with Judikins Diamond Glaze. The circles are cut with Spellbinders Classic and Lacy Circles Nestabilities dies. I've accented the lacey circle panel with tiny Bliss adhesive pearls by KaiserCraft. For the horizontal strip along the bottom, I've used red and white baker's twine and a My Favorite Things Open Scallop Border border die-cut.

And just for kicks, here's the original card I did with this sketch:

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a terrific weekend!

Verve New Relase Spotlight: Text Objects

It's Day Two of Verve's new release spotlights. The new sets will be available in the store tonight immediately following our Release Party in the Verve Forum. Stop by the party and visit a while - anytime between 9 and 11 EST! You won't find a friendlier bunch of stamp enthusiasts!

Today we're featuring a fun, unique and highly versatile set called Text Objects. This set is filled with  a wide variety of large sentiments that are positively gorgeous on their own. Then there are images that compliment the quotes beautifully. And last, here's the unique part, there are also background stamps with teeny, tiny text that coordinates with the larger quote stamps.

For my peek card, I've created a scene using some of the Text Objects elements, along with the Wordy Birds pair from yesterday's peeks. I've stamped the green rolling hill with one of the text background stamps.

Then I've pulled in a larger sentiment stamp for the banner. The stamp comes as the full word "LOVE" in a beautiful, timeless, classy, all-cap font. I just stamped each letter individually in order to make the banner.

 
Be sure to see the rest of today's spotlights:

1. Julee

2. Laurie

3. Susan

4. Tosh

5. Jen d. 

6. Charmaine

7. Jen T.

8. Shannan

9. Lynda

10. Michelle

11. Amy (you're here)

12. Teresa

13. Jackie

14. Sankari

15. Mercy

A random commenter on one of the spotlight posts will receive Text Objects. Be sure to comment on each of the Divas' blogs for a better chance at winning!

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Stamp: Text Objects, Wordy Birds
Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze card stock, Colorbok Woodhaven dp
Ink: Ranger Peeled Paint Distress Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Making Memories blue buttons, hemp cord, May Arts burlap string, Papertrey neutral button and eyelet lace border die, distressing tool, Li'l Inker Designs flag die, My Favorite Things Clouds Trio Die-namics die, foam adhesive

Verve New Release Spotlight: Wordy Birds

Hi friends, it's almost time for another fabulous Verve release! Join the Divas today and tomorrow for new release spotlights on our blogs, and then join us in the Verve Forum tomorrow night, 9-11 pm EST, for the official reveals and fun chitchat. After the party (beginning at 11 pm), the sets will be available for purchase in the Verve store.

Today I'm featuring a new set called Wordy Birds. Isn't that a darling set name? Included are two birds and five wonderful all-occasion sentiments. I've created a collage-y little number using the two birds, one of the sentiments, and some bright, fun papers I found in a K&Co mat pad at Michael's. The design, a little different for me, is influenced by Zarah Peterson's gorgeous work - torn edges, distressing, a sprinkling of bling, cardboard and/or crimped Kraft, etc. I had a lot of fun with this one!

You can find lots more peeks of Wordy Birds, as well as peeks of another set (Amazing Wishes), and a new Plain Jane (Wild Flower), at the following Diva blogs:

1. Julee

2. Mercy

3. Sankari

4. Teresa

5. Amy (you're here)

6. Michelle

7. Lynda

8. Shannan

9. Charmaine

10. Jen d.

11. Tosh

12. Susan

13. Laurie

We've hidden a prize for a random commenter on one of today's blogs, so be sure to leave lots of love along the way for a chance to win!

Also, don't forget, the Triple Play Project Parade continues on the Verve blog. Check out the Divas' projects each day and play along with us for a shot at receiving the entire January release and joining us as a guest designer! Can't wait to see all the entries -- the ones in there so far are AMAZING. All the details and entry form can be found HERE.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Wordy Birds
Paper: Papertrey White card stock, K&Co Poppy Seed Mat Pad dp, corrugated cardboard
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: distressing tool, Prima flowers, Stampin' Up small oval punch, Papertrey buttons and twine, KaiserCraft pearls, foam adhesive, velvet ricrac (source unknown), black polka-dot ribbon (source unknown), Martha Stewart Double Hearts border punch