February SFYTT: Your Next Stamp

[***Second post today. Scroll down for my Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge post***]

It's time to unveil the February Sketch For You To Try! How do you like monthly sketch/weekly inspiration format?

This month, we're sponsored by another super fun company, Your Next Stamp, home of some of the cutest images money can buy! Remember, if you complete all twelve sketches during the year, you'll be eligible for a super prize pack in December!

Take a good, hard look at the February sketch ...

... because it might be hard to spot in my, er, "creative" interpretation {grin}:

Between rotating the sketch 90 degrees, replacing the three small circles with clouds, and then using an image that substantially exceeds the focal panel, the sketch is, granted, a bit manipulated, but the nuts and bolt are all there. The adorable image is Up, Up & Away from the new Jenny Suchin Designs line at Your Next Stamp. I paper pieced the balloon and basket and colored the koala (also popped up on dimensionals) with Copic markers.

The fun papers are from another collection by UHK Gallery, a paper company in Poland that I posted about earlier this week. This collection is called Babie Lato - BOY.  Love these colors!

For sketch inspiration, visit the SFYTT Sisters:

Jen del Muro with Designer of the Month Angela Thomas
Amber Hight 

Becky Carafa 

Carole Burrage 

Iwona Palamountain 

Jen Tapler 

Jodi Collins 

Kerry Johnson 

Megan Lock 

Susan Liles

and an extra dose of inspiration from YNS designers (links on Jen's blog)

Have a good weekend, friends!

Kraftin Kimmie Stamps Guest!

I hinted on Thursday that there might be another secret or two around here, and today I'm so excited to share that I am the February Krafty Guest at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps! I'll be joining the fantastic KKS designers for their Saturday challenges and for their February release coming up mid-month. Thanks for having me, Kimmie!

Kimmie herself is hosting today's challenge, and, being that her birthday was yesterday, her challenge theme for us is BIRTHDAY!

I kind of goofed and used a stamp (Francesca) that's no longer in the current inventory, but she was too perfect for the theme, so out she came! I colored with Copics and added some glitter around the candle flames. The papers and all the cute birthday accents (February calendar, "another year older" tab, "celebrate," and "bestdayever!") are from the Simple Stories Happy Day 6x6 pad.

Head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps blog for inspiration from the Krafty Girls! And don't miss the birthday sale, this weekend only. More than 100 of Kimmie's favorite stamps are on sale ....  either 41% off or $4.10! I wonder if you can guess which birthday she celebrated yesterday ;)




Stamps: Francesca (Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps [retired])
Paper: Papertrey Kraft and Dark Chocolate, Copic XPress-It blending card stock, Simple Stories Happy Day 6x6 collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Accessories: Copic markers, Sakura quickie glue pen, clear ultrafine glitter, sewing machine, distressing tool, paper piercer/needle/thread, My Favorite Things Scallop Border Die-namics, Papertrey buttons, ribbon, and twine, foam adhesive
Size: 5 1/2" square

Secrets

Pick up your tin can telephone, because I have a secret to share! For the next three months, I have the pleasure of being a guest of Jen Shults and the rest of the talented girls at The Deconstructed Sketch. I am so excited! Jen's sketches are always amazing and if her team's samples don't inspire you to stamp, nothing will! Serious, serious coloring skills in that bunch. Hope some of that rubs off on me!

The Deconstructed Sketch is posted weekly on Thursdays at 6 am CST. The first sketch of the month is sponsored and therefore has a time limit, but the rest are open-ended, so for those, feel free to join in whenever you can. This first sketch of February is sponsored by Saturated Canary. I had not seen these images before being given the opportunity to choose an image for today. Of course, now I'm seeing them all over the place, and I can spot Krista's artistry a mile away. I would have happily chosen her whole catalog if I could have!  Be sure to check out the Saturated Canary etsy shop, and if you're as smitten as I am, then play along for a chance to win two digis of your choice, courtesy of Saturated Canary. Jen has the link-up tool, along with the challenge deadline, here on her blog.

Sketch inspiration from the Deconstructed Sketch crew:

• Amber Hight
• Amy Sheffer, Guest Designer (me)
• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Jessica Diedrich (sitting out this week)
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Pam Varnell
• Sheri Gilson

The image I used is Secrets, Ragamuffin Friends. I printed on Neenah Solar White card stock and colored with Copics. The papers are from Simple Stories' Happy Day 6x6 collection. The oval label die-cuts are from The Cat's Pajamas, and the letter stickers are by Jenni Bowlin. Scallop border die is by My Favorite Things, the brown pearls are Kaisercraft, and the flowers are a combination of Zva Creative and Recollections.

See you soon! And keep those tin cans handy. Just sayin' {wink}.

twitterpated.

Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving a package of beautiful patterned paper collections from a company in Poland, UHK Gallery. If you're not familiar with this company, allow me to introduce you today to one of those paper lines -- Green Expectations. It was tough to choose which collection to play with first, as so many of them are filled with beautiful, romantic, elegant designs -- so right up my alley! I'm looking forward to posting some additional designs with other collections later in the week. For now, I hope you'll enjoy this peek at Green Expectations.

The layout is based on Chupa's Saturday Sketchbook Challenge #47:

Maybe it's just me, but this sketch reminds me of the bodice of some fancy Victorian-era dress, with that trio of center panels, the buttons, and the scallops and lace trim "waistband," which I can imagine tops off a long and flowing ruffled skirt. (Just me? {grin}) 

I covered the middle green center panel with some stretchy glittery mesh wire ribbon that I found at a nearby Offray ribbon outlet a while back. For the label, I started with Verve's Lovely Marquee die-cut, then layered on a Heart & Swirls Frame die-cut, and then topped the label pair with a glittered heart, a twitterpated sentiment flag (sentiment is from Verve's Twitterpated) and two teeny 2mm turquoise rhinestones from Pizzazz Aplenty.

It's hard to see in the picture, but I stamped the Hearts & Swirls Frame die cut with a coordinating hearts and swirls image from Twitterpated in a light blue ink. Here's a close-up:

Wishing you a fabulous week!

Love Ya

Surprise! I'm back already and I'm back with a CAS card. Not my forte at all, but I do so love the look (from other designers!). So, I'm really excited about a new, CAS twist that the Verve girls are adding to the Viva La Verve sketch rotation this year. For all those kindred spirits who, like me, love to pile it on with layers and embellishments, don't worry, we're only doing this once a month -- the last sketch of the month. But, for those who have been asking (or silently wishing) for more CAS inspiration using Verve's awesome stamps, this new feature is for YOU!

Shannan is hosting this week's CAS sketch challenge:

The deadline for all four of this month's VLV sketches, including today's, is midnight CST, Thursday, February 2. One lucky sketch participant who completes all four sketches will win a $100 Verve gift certificate. Good luck!

For my card, I used a "love ya" sentiment and a heart trio image, both from Twitterpated, to create the horizontal sentiment strip. I embellished with a button and twine, stitching, and a scallop border, stuck it on a textured red card base and called it done. Hope you enjoy!

---

Don't miss out on Verve's current "Love is in the Air" Sale, going on now through February 4!

Stamps: Twitterpated (Verve Stamps)

Paper: textured red card stock (Bazzill?), Papertrey White and Aqua Mist card stock, Stampin' Up Certainly Celery

Ink: Ranger Tumbled Glass and Fired Brick Distress Inks

Accessories: Papertrey button, The Twinery twine, sewing machine, EK Success border punch, corner rounder

Hats Off To You - SFYTT

We're nearing the end of January, which means it's time for the SFYTT sisters to have another go at this month's fabulous Sketch For You To Try. Have you played along yet?

Our sponsor this month is The Cat's Pajamas. Oh, how I love TCP images - the perfect blend of fun, whimsy, and cuteness. Today's sweet set is called Presto. I also used one of the TCP Cut-Ups (their line of cutting dies), Circus Border, up along the top. The papers are from my sadly under-used Blissful 6x6 pad from Authentique.

Here's a close-up, where you can see the glitter "sparks" I added around the wand:

Look for final January samples from the SFYTT Sisters throughout the week! And do play along if you haven't already. Remember, there will be a huge prize pack at the end of the year, but you're only eligible if you play along each month throughout the year.

On a more personal note ... since I've been so quiet on the blog lately, I wanted to assure you that everything is just fine. More than fine, in fact! Yes, I have slowed down a little bit with paper crafting lately (so hard for this all-or-nothing girl), but I'm still very much alive and kicking. And paper-crafting when I can! I have some fun things in the works that just aren't quite ready for prime-time yet. So, for real ... see you again soon!

Hugs and much love,




Stamps: Presto (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Authentique Blissful 6x6, Papertrey Vintage Cream and Smoky Shadow
Ink: Versafine Onlyx Black, Ranger Pumice Stone Distress, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: The Cats Pajamas Circus Border die, Copic markers, Sakura Quickie glue pen, clear ultra fine glitter, foam adhesive, Spellbinders classic circle Nestabilities, distressing tool, sewing machine, paper piercer/needle/thread, Maya Road crochet trim, 5/8" natural twill, Papertrey button
Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Verve After-Party Blog Hop

Welcome to our January 2012 After Party Hop!  Last night we released 3 new stamp sets, 4 plain janes and 4 dies!  All of the new products we've been showcasing this week are available now in the Verve store! Be sure to leave a little comment love as you take a stroll through the Diva blogs. One lucky commenter from today's hop will win the ENTIRE Release! Check out theVerve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

January 14, 2012 1. Amy 8. Tosha 2. Maureen 9. Laurie 3. Sankari 10. Julee 4. Andrea 11. Janelle 5. Teresa 12. Betty 6. Amber 13. Shannan 7. Charmaine 14. Jackie

Verve's Scripture Plain Janes are among my very favorites. My card today features one of the newest ones, Psalm 63:3-4. I especially love Julee's font treatment on this one. So gorgeous! The pretty background paper is from Basic Grey's Piccadilly collection.

The layout is this month's Sketch For You To Try. (I *may* have switched up the layering order on two of those panels. Again. *wink*) By the way, head HERE for more SFYTT sketch inspiration. We're posting sketch ideas weekly this year!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super weekend!



Stamps: Psalm 63:3-4 Plain Jane, Curvy Cross Plain Jane
Paper: Papertrey White, Smoky Shadow and Spring Moss card stock, Basic Grey Piccadilly dp
Ink: Papertrey Smoky Shadow, Ranger Pumice Stone Distress Ink, Versamagic Key Lime
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Circle and Lacey Circle Nestabilities, sewing machine, distressing tool, foam adhesive, Zva Creative flowers, Stampin' Up ribbon, Papertrey button and twine, Kaisercraft black adhesive pearls, lace trim
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"