...Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #54 (MTSC54)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Christmas is over, and the New Year is approaching swiftly...this last year has been a total blur! LOL! This past week was so hectic that I didn't even get a chance to comment on your creations for last week's sketch. I am such a slacker, and I sincerely apologize! I can't believe that we are already on sketch #54, but I have had such a great time seeing and commenting on your wonderful creations each week...excluding last week, of course! :) Are you ready for another one?

Now for this week's Tuesday Sketch #54:
My Sample:

Jessie Knight's Sample:

Now let's see what the amazing Muses have in store for your viewing pleasure this week:

• Pam Speidel
• Cindy Haffner
• Pam Varnell
• Julie Lacey
• Crystal Birr
• Jessica Diedrich
• Shannan Teubner
• Jessie Knight (December Guest Muse)

Now it's your turn! Create a card or scrapbook layout using the sketch above, and link your creation below in Mister Linky. Be sure to use the keyword MTSC54 when uploading to a public gallery!

Happy Stamping and Happy New Year!

...Crazy 4 Joanne's Sketch

Happy Saturday, everyone! I don't know about you, but I am pooped after all of the holiday hub-bub! It feels great to take a deep breath and just relax. It's also time for another challenge from our Crazy Girls! Our team member, Joanne Grzelak, has created all of the challenges for this month...hasn't she done an amazing job for us?!? This week's submissions will be utilizing a sketch designed by Ms. Joanne...

Everyone knows that I love me some sketches, so this challenge was right up my alley! I combined several Verve Stamps to create my sample. The butterfly was from the "Enjoy" set, the large circular flourish was from the "Thankful Accents" set, and the sentiment was from the "Celebration of Thanks" set. I used a piece of Cameo Coral Cardstock to create a simple card base, then added some patterned papers from K & Company's Bailey pack. The edges of the triangle panel was pierced using a Mat Pack and a Paper Piercer. The butterfly was stamped, embossed, then watercolored with Cameo Coral and Riding Hood Red Classic Ink. I added some Stardust Stickles to the butterfly, then added some Pearl and Rhinestone accents to the rest of the card. A piece of Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon was added to complete the card.

Now let's see what the rest of the ladies have in store for you today:

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lori Boyd
• Lynda Benden
• Robin Willis
• Vicki Garrett

That's it for today...thanks for stopping by! It's your turn to create a card or project using this same sketch, and share it with us. Be sure to add your creation to Mister Linky back at the Crazy 4 Challenges Blog post...we can't wait to see what you come up with! Until later...

Supplies

Stamps: Enjoy, Thankful Accents, Celebration of Thanks

Papers: Cameo Coral, Riding Hood Red, Watercolor, Bailey DP (K & Company)

Inks: Basic Black Craft, Cameo Coral, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: dimensionals, mat pack, paper piercer, ribbon, pearls, rhinestones, nesties, big shot, scissors, stickles, clear embossing powder, heat gun, aquapainter

...Elegant Mojo

Happy Sunday, everyone! It's going to be a busy day here at the Kerin house! The hubby and his friend have planned to smoke some meat in the smoker, the boys and I have a Christmas Family Get-Together, and my mom's church is having their Christmas Concert later this afternoon. I wanted to make sure that I had something up for you early, because I wouldn't have the chance if I didn't do it now.

This is my submission for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #116. It seems like a lifetime since I have created a card using one of Julee's sketches, so I was thrilled to have some extra time to do the one from this week! I used the gorgeous circular flourish from the Verve Stamps set "Thankful Accents" along with one of the sentiments from the "Celebration of Thanks" set. I combined several pieces of the Night & Day Designer Series Papers with simple Silver Pearls, Striped Ribbon, a White Button, and Silver Cording.

So that's it for me today! I will see you back here tomorrow with a Club Anya Blog Hop beginning at 8 p.m. EST! Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Accents, Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White, Night & Day DSP

Inks: Jet Black Staz-On

Accessories: dimensionals, ribbon, horizontal slot punch, button, silver cording, silver pearls, nesties, bug shot

...Inspiration Challenge #210

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY CRAZY 4 CHALLENGES CARD!

This is my submission for today's Inspiration Challenge #210 at SCS...SushiPot, and you can see my inspirational piece above. I pulled my color combination of Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, and Chocolate Chip from the pendant. I used the images from the Verve Stamps set "Thankful Accents" to not only create the focal panel, but to also decorate the lower portion of the turquoise card base. I stitched a piece of Tangerine Tango Designer Series Paper to the base, then created a paper flower that was finished with a button and some hemp. The sentiment was stamped in tangerine onto a piece of Whisper White Cardstock, then the white focal panel was created using a Nestabilities Die and my Big Shot. I added some Turquoise Rhinestones to complete the card.


That's it for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you again tomorrow with my submission for this week's Mojo Monday sketch card. Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Accents (Verve)

Papers: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Tangerine Tango DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories: sewing machine, dimensionals, nesties, big shot, rhinestones, circle punches, distressing tool, sponge daubers, button, hemp, mini glue dot

...From The Heart

Have I ever told you that I love Verve Stamps? Every month I am blessed to receive a perfectly-wrapped package containing the most extraordinary stamps in the world! This month was no different. I was so happy to see that this month's releases were so whimsical on nature...fun and fantastic fonts, and handsome hand-drawn images. Luckily, I got to use some of them to create this card for today's Featured Stamper #148 at SCS...mitchygitchygoomy! I chose her card HERE to CASE (copy and share with everyone). I kept her same layout, but changed everything else. I used the large and small hearts from Thankful Accents to create the horizontal strip across the cardbase. I used the heart border image from Thankful Hearts on the lower portion of the Kraft focal panel, and one of the sentiments from the same set inside my focal image. The focal hearts were created the same way that I created the one yesterday, but I used white craft ink instead. After it dried, I repeated the process with a different heart shape in guava ink. I added a Chocolate Button and Linen Thread for a third element.

I decided to sew a piece of Chocolate Chip Designer Series Paper to the focal panel after I had matted it with chocolate cardstock. I also added a white scalloped border to the bottom for some contrast to the browns...but it still didn't look right yet. DUH...paper piercing! LOL! I pierced around the upper portion of the panel to frame the focal hearts. That was just the touch it needed...or was it? The more I looked at it, the more I was certain that something else needed to be done. I finally walked away from my crafting area for a break when it hit me...corner rounding! I rushed back to my table, and rounded the corners on the bottom of the panel. I was finally satisfied! What do you think of the end result?

That's it for me! It's my birthday, and I am going to spend it running around with my guys today. I will see you back here tomorrow, though! Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Hearts, Thankful Accents (Verve)

Papers: Groovy Guava Textured, Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip DSP

Inks: Groovy Guava, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft

Accessories: scallop edge punch, sewing machine, full heart punch, heart to heart punch, sponge dauber, button, linen thread, mat pack, paper piercer, 3/16" corner rounder, dimensionals

...Inspiration Challenge #209

Please scroll down to see my project for today's Crazy 4 Challenges!

This is my submission for today's Inspiration Challenge #209 at SCS. It seems like forever since I've had a chance to play along with any of their challenges lately, so it feels great to jump back in there! We were to find something in the Charm Lady Boutique to draw inspiration from, and I chose the charm seen above. I loved the reds, corals, and white in this piece...it is simply stunning! I used the heart border stamp from Verve's "Thankful Hearts" to create my own patterned paper on the coral panel, then added a white border that had been punched with the Fiskar's Threading Water Border Punch. I cut and embossed the white focal panel with the Labels Three Nestabilities Die and the Sizzix Big Shot. To create the large coral heart on the panel, I punched out the heart shape in a scrap piece of cardstock using the Full Heart Punch. I used the negative space left in the scrap piece as a stencil, then sponged coral ink into it using a Sponge Dauber. I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set in red in the center of the sponged heart. I added a small red cardstock heart that was punched out using the Heart to Heart Punch. The completed panel was attached to the coral panel using Dimensionals, and a piece of 1" Real Red Stitched Ribbon was added. That completed panel was added to the Kraft Cardstock base using Dimensionals.

That's it for me today! Thanks for stopping, and I will see you all again tomorrow! Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Hearts (Verve)

Papers: Kraft, Whisper White, Real Red, Cameo Coral

Inks: Cameo Coral, Real Red

Accessories: threading water border punch, heart to heart punch, full heart punch, ribbon, dimensionals, nesties, big shot, sponge dauber

...Crazy 4 Gift Card Holders

Happy Saturday, everyone! It's time for another dare from the ladies at the Crazy 4 Challenges Blog! Our mission today...Gift Card Holders. I decided to not only create a gift card, but also a card trio set . My family and I will be attending a surprise birthday party for a dear friend tonight, and she is just loves getting anything handmade. So I included a gift certificate to one of her favorite restaurants inside the card, then she can use the card trio however she sees fit in the future.

Here is the Gift Card/Card Set Ensemble:

Here is the outside of my Gift Card:

I wanted to keep the layout pretty simple, so I just opted for one panel. I created the focal panel using my Sizzix Big Shot and Spellbinders' Labels Eight Nestabilities Die. The sentiment was from the newly released Verve set "Thankful Hearts"; the small striped heart was from the newly released set "Thankful Accents"; and the other four hearts were from the set "Hearts On Fire". The red hearts were stamped and embossed onto Watercolor Paper, then colored with an Aquapainter, Real Red Classic Ink, and Ruby Red Classic Ink. They were cut out, then attached to the focal panel using Dimensionals. I scattered some Red Rhinestones around to fill in some empty space, but my favorite embellishment was the 1" Real Red Stitched Ribbon. I used my Janome Sewing Machine to attach the ends of the ribbon to the card base, the unravelled the ends to create the frayed look you see. I LOVE IT!

Here is the inside of my Gift Card:

I simply cut small slices into the back portion of the card using a Crafter's Knife, then slid two opposite corners of the gift card inside the slits to hold the card in place...easy as pie!

Here are the cards in the Card Trio:

Here is how the Card Trio Set was packaged:

I used the same simple layout for the card trio, but I added some embossing the cardbase using my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. The heart and flourish were from the set "Hearts On Fire", and the sentiment was from the set "So Happy". I embellished again with rhinestones, but I changed up the ribbon treatment. I added a scrap piece of ribbon to the focal panel, then attached it using my sewing machine. I also frayed both the sewn side and the open side of the ribbon. I stamped a heart on the outside of each of the cards' corresponding envelopes, then placed them inside a Clear Card Box. Another piece of red ribbon was added to both ensure closure and to add some decoration. I sure hope she likes her gifts! :)

Now let's see what the rest of the ladies have in store for you today:

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lori Boyd
• Lynda Benden
• Robin Willis
• Vicki Garrett

That's it for today...thanks for stopping by! It's your turn to create a card or project using your mad skills with gift card holders, and share it with us. Be sure to add your creation to Mister Linky back at the Crazy 4 Challenges Blog post...we can't wait to see what you come up with! Until later...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Hearts, Hearts On Fire, Thankful Accents, So Happy (Verve)

Papers: Basic Black, Whisper White, Watercolor

Inks: Basic Black Craft, Real Red

Accessories: clear embossing powder, heat gun, aquapainter, scissors, dimensionals, rhinestones, ribbon, sewing machine, nesties, big shot, swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder, envelopes, clear card box, craft knife

...Viva La Verve Day Thursday

DON'T FORGET TO PLAY ALONG WITH THIS WEEK'S SKETCH CHALLENGE HERE!

This is my card for the Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge that was issued this past Friday at the Verve Forum. I used the new set Celebration of Thanks along with patterned papers from the Parisian Summer Designer Series Paper pack. I combined Sahara Sand, So Saffron, and Bravo Burgundy Cardstock for my color scheme. I kept the embellishments simple by adding only So Saffron Ribbon and Antique Pewter Brads.

That's it for me today! Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you all tomorrow with a card for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday! Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Papers: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Parisian Summer DSP

Inks: Bravo Burgundy, Sahara Sand

Accessories: mat pack, paper piercer, brads, ribbon, dimensionals, nesties, big shot

...Just A Plain Jane, Huh?

As you all know by now, Verve has released their new November line based on thankfulness. What you may not know is that there are two Plain Janes included in the release. I decided to showcase these beautiful and inspirational verses today so you could see them up close.

This first one is a Bible verse taken from I Corinthians 15:57, but the flourish was from the new Celebration of Thanks set. I stamped it with Real Red Craft Ink, then embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder. I used Labels One and my Big Shot to cut it out, then used patterned papers from the Christmas Cocoa and Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper packs. I am in love with the 1" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon right now, so I used a piece of the red along with some Brads to complete the card.

This card showcases the Grateful Heart Plain Jane, and I used the heart and flourish from the Hearts On Fire set also. I used the patterned papers from the Spring Silhouettes Designer Series Paper pack, and simply embellished with another piece of 1" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon...this time in baja to compliment the sky and wasabi colors in the papers.

That's it for me today! Thanks for stopping by, and I will see you back here tomorrow with another sneak peek at the new images from The Greeting Farm! Until then...

Supplies For Card One

Stamps: I Corinthians 15:57, Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Papers: Kraft, Christmas Cocoa DSP, Autumn Traditions DSP

Inks: Real Red Craft, Sahara Sand

Accessories: nesties, big shot, brads, mat pack, paper piercer, ribbon, sponge dauber, clear embossing powder, heat gun, dimensionals

Supplies For Card Two

Stamps: Grateful Heart, Hearts on Fire (Verve)

Papers: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Watercolor, Spring Silhouettes DSP

Inks: Chocolate Chip Craft, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: clear embossing powder, heat gun, aquapainter, scissors, dimensionals, nesties, big shot, mat pack, paper piercer, ribbon, glue dot

...It's Time To Hop To It, People!

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MY FARM FRESH FRIDAY POST

It’s new release time at Verve, and we’re topping off our Thankful Hearts Blog Party with a blog hop featuring three new sets that just released...all focused on thankfulness. If you’ve been hopping, and have arrived from Amy Sheffer's blog, then you’re right where you should be. If you’ve just happened by, then you’ll want to hop on over to Poetic Artistry to start from the beginning! To make this hop even sweeter, we’ve got a special treat hidden along the way for one lucky commenter. So if you see something that makes you smile, be sure to comment at each blog for a chance to win our entire release!

What can I say about these new sets except...WOW! Each and every month Julee pulls out all the stops, and amazes us with her beautiful and elegant designs. This month, I was shocked and excited to see large circular flourish in the "Thankful Accents" set. Along with this gorgeous focal image, there are several sentiments and and smaller accent images that coordinate with each other and the other sets being released this month. I stamped and embossed the flourish, then nestled a sentiment in the center of it. I used one of the accents in this wonderful set to add a little something to the blank space in the two right-hand corners. I wanted a dramatic color combination, so I reached for my BasicGray Ambrosia paper pad. I decided on Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, and Pumpkin Pie. The only embellishments I used were Brads, some Gray Grosgrain Ribbon, and little dots of Gunmetal Stickles at the tips of the corner accents. Isn't this set just FANTASTIC?!?

Thanks for hopping by! Next up is the lovely and talented, Ms. Laurie Schmidlin. Enjoy your little adventure through our creative land of Verve! Don't forget to head over to the Verve Store to get your November sets tonight after the blog hop...you will NOT regret it! I'll see you back here tomorrow for another installment of Crazy 4 Challenges! Until then...

Supplies

Stamps: Thankful Accents (Verve)

Papers: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Ambrosia DP

Inks: Basic Black Craft, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray

Accessories: mat pack, paper piercer, scissors, ribbon, brads, nesties, big shot, corner rounder, stickles, clear ep, heat gun