Verve Release Blog Hop today

It's a very exciting day! Julee in all her baby nesting put together a set for us all just in time for Easter! It's called Hoppy Easter and you can go get it at the store now or instead go on the hop with us today and have a chance to be one lucky commenter who will be randomly chosen to get Hoppy Easter free! Now that's incentive to start hopping! You have until Sunday April 1 at 8:00 PM EST to enter, the winner will be announced on the Verve Blog Monday April 2.

If you've been hopping with us already you came from sweet Diva Maureen's blog and after you gander here a bit, Charmaine will be your next hop.

I made an all paper plaque to set up in my entry way. I always have such a hard time decorating, but when I saw this cute bunny in Hoppy Easter, it was a sure thing that I would have something set up for the holiday. I used all DCWV paper from various lines, just to get the style I wanted, and then started stitching in some vintage twine and distressing up the hills with an edge scraper. The sentiment and bunny are popped up with foam adhesive dots and did a small amount of coloring with copics on the bunny. It really came together quickly.

Have fun on the rest of the hop!
Amber Tosh Andrea Maureen	Janelle Charmaine Amy Teresa

Details: Dimensions - 9 x 3 inches
Stamps: Hoppy Easter (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Pattern Paper (DCWV), cardboard, adhesive cardboard stand
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento, Tsukineko), Copics
Accessories: Circle Punches, Vintage Twine, adhesive dots

A Mixed Media Birthday Card

I have a great little mixed media card to share today. I used Stampendous products along with acrylic craft paint, embossing enamel, stencils and fiber along with the traditional paper crafting supplies. Truly a fun mix of goodies.

Household items...?

Ankle tape! Well, in college sports of my day that's just what it's used for and called by but, the real name is cloth medical tape and it's just one of various from the tape family that have fueled my obsession with DIY washi tape. This obsession started about a month ago and now masking tape, paper tape and cloth tape have all relocated to the craft room. Don't worry, my family is still covered for their natural uses in our emergency kit and office supplies.

How I did my household item challenge from Moxie Fab World

All lined up on an indestructible craft mat, the tape got a good quick coat of acrylic paint from a brush that was first loaded with water and then dipped into the paint. A handy paper towel sponged up the excess so the tape only stayed damp and not soaked until I could heat set it with a heat tool. I waved it like crazy so it wouldn't burn the fabric or scorch the adhesive. Then with some paint dabbed onto my ring finger, I grazed the tape surface to get a random color pattern. The cameo and frame image from Stampendous Charm Collection, yes this is my favorite stamp set these days, was stamped with StazOn and various Craft ink pads from Stampin' Up. Then I added some stickles to glam it up. The best part is adding it to the project... I didn't have to put any glue on it before adhering it to my card. Nice.

The rest of my mixed media card...

I've brushed and stenciled acrylic paint on the main mat of the card and added some scissor and sponge distressing around the edges. Then the glammed up fabric tape was flanked on both sides with lacey elements and added to the mat before going on the card base. A stamped sentiment getting some paint grazed over the corners and a homemade fabric flower added with a stamped birthdate finish up this card.

 
Details: Card size - A2 (5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches)
Stamps: Charm Collection (Stampendous), Birthday Assortment (Stampendous)
Paper: Coral Couture Mat Stack (DCWV), Cream (Wausau), Kraft (Wausau)
Ink: Sour Apple Chalk Ink (Mini Colorbox, Clearsnap), Saddle Brown (StazOn, Tsukineko), Versamark Watermark Pad (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Glitter Glue (Stickles, Ranger), Acrylic Paint (Liquitex), Pearl Pen (Deco Diva), edge punch (Martha Stewart, office date stamp (Staples house brand), rhinestone brad (Stampin' Up), stencil (Layers of Color), lace ribbon, Osnaburg fabric, bloom die cuts (Nestabilities, Spellbinders)

A Sweet Shape Challenge

Last week for the Stampendous Shape Challenge I did a runner of a shape using household medical tape, but this week I'm going to share something that will add to my more shapely style. I'll give ya all the details of the challenge first though, just in case it's your first time finding this challenge.

The Challenge Details:

Each Saturday in March, we’ll be challenging ourselves (and you!) to make a shaped card or project – something other than the traditional square or rectangular card. Doesn’t that sound like fun? We want YOU to play along with us! Just add your direct link to your shaped card or project to the linky tool below no later than April 5, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST. You do not have to use Stampendous products to play along, but we sure love it when you do! And as an extra incentive for playing, one lucky person (drawn at random from all the entries) will receive this gorgeous Cling Jumbo Hollyhock Stamp Set:

Oh delish! I've been wanting to make this for a very long time. Very long. It is from a book by Marion Elliot. I did a project a while ago that was inspired by this fabulous book. The products from Stampendous that I used, however are completely what make this go from cute to glamorous. I've pulled together three stamp sets and five Essentials to get this cupcake to it's once upon a dream ball. You can get the details of the products down at the end of my post... very long post. 

Ready to see even more shaped inspiration from my teammates? Here is a list of the Stampendous team members and special friends playing along today:

Stampendous Impressions   Pam Hornschu   Wendy Jordan   Janelle Stollfus   Tenia Nelson   Wendy Price   Jennifer Ingle

Go ahead and take a bite! Join us for the challenge and link it up below.

Details:
Stamps: Jumbo Dogwood, Birthday Assortment, Cherub Wishes
Paper:  Cream (Mohawk), Green Cardstock (Lime Crush Bazzill), Pink (Pirouette Bazzill)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Black (Versafine, Tsukineko) 
Accessories: Aged Rose Embossing Enamel, Aged Silver Emobssing Enamel, Kaleidoscope Glitter Embossing Enamel, Silver Halo Glitter Mix (Stampendous), templates from Paper Sculpt Sensation book (Marion Elliot), zig zag rotary blade (Fiskars), 3-d rose die (Sissix), Twine (Twinery)

New Mercies on Friday

Good morning and a grand finale to our week, right?  Aren't we glad there are new mercies every day and not just on Fridays?  Whew!

I've got a few cherished friends that have been brought to my mind more and more this week.  So when I went to create a card for this week's Viva La Verve challenge, this wonderful set was one of the first that showed up on the work table.  It beat out the others because it worked with the wonderful sketch Andrea has for us this week, but it also works for the thoughts and prayers for my friends.

I hope you'll come and finish out the fabulous month of Viva La Verve with us Divas. They have been a blast and so worth it! There is a prize for one of you that finish all 4 of this months sketches. Have all of your creations finished and uploaded into the Viva La Verve gallery on Splitcoast Stampers by March 29th. Remember, the tag is VLVMar2012.

This is a clean and simple sketch, so I'm going to keep my post that way too.

Blessings on your weekend!

Details:
Stamps: New Mercies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: pattern paper (Watercolor, K and Company), cream (Wausau)
Ink: Black (Memento, Tsukineko), Prismacolor Markers
Accessories: scallop die, red embroidery floss (We R Memory Makers)

Plume Portrait Giveaway on Paper Crafts Magazine FB and Stampendous Blog TODAY!

Today I'm posting a CAS card using the Stampendous Plume Portrait! I'm saying all this upfront because it's being featured today on Paper Crafts Connection FACEBOOK page.

The beauty of it is there are prizes for grabs.  If you make a comment on each Facebook page you have a chance to win this stamp! Just comment, that's all.

Here are the links to the Facebook Pages
Paper Crafts Magazine FB Photo Post
Stampendous Blog

I made a postage sheet with some help from my stamp-a majig and tracing tool. Then I colored them all in with copic markers.

I went very CAS with this card, I tried to make it up with the fun layers that indicate the era that this lady was probably wearing the hat, but in the end the CAS style won! I tore out a stamp and spritzed it with some coffee spray (Fran Seiford's special mix of... instant coffee and water.) and then heat set it with a heat tool. The lace are all RAk's from my friend, Lori and the fiber yarn is from the $1 (I think I used it just last week on another card.).

The design team has some inspiration today, too! No need to comment on our blogs for the prize, but we like comment lovin' every once in a while.

Cyndi Bundy
Janelle Stollfus - you're here!
Pam Hornshu
Wendy Price
Taylor Usry
Wendy Jordan
Lynn Mercurio
Suzanne Czosek 
Krissy Fossmeyer 

Kristine Reynolds
Jennifer Ingle
Melinda Gleisnner

Now head on over to the Giveaway's and comment. Remember it needs to be on THE photo post at PCM's Facebook page and Stampendous blog!


Details:
Stamps: Plume Portrait (Stampendous), Altered Type (Stampendous)
Paper: Cream (Wausau), Desert Tan (Treasures, WorldWin), Black
Ink: Black, Alcohol Markers (Copics)
Accessories: Spray/Splatter Application, lace, button, black twine, tracing tool, Stamp-a-majig, bottle

Coming Season of Weddings

It's Monday and we have one more week of school before spring break. I'm so excited for a break from the routine, but it's also a time to start getting ready for the change in seasons. I usually get a lot of requests for wedding cards and graduation cards right at the end of May and this year, I'm hoping to have a few stocked and ready.

My card today is a Vervilicous one from the Love Story stamp set and coordinating die, Lovely Marquee Die. I used Maureen's fantastic Viva La Verve sketch for the layout and it was all just easy to pull together.

I didn't have to do much distressing because the Kissing Booth paper has a fun distress pattern already built into the design, so the only addition was adding stitching around the back mat and some sponging to the sentiment set. Two mini buttons glued into place with some dark red embroidery floss that has a faux french knot completed the sentiment. I glued together the banner piece and lacey circle with a couple pop dots to for the tails and all of it went together with a finishing embellishment of flower ribbon and die cut key.

Come play along with the Viva La Verve challenges this month and you could be a lucky winner! See the details on Maureen's sketch post.


Details:
Stamps: Love Story (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Kissing Booth (Basic Grey), Cream (Wausau), Chocolate (Wausau)
Ink: Chocolate (CTMH), Ruby Red (SU!), Spun Sugar and Antique Linen (Ranger)
Accessories:   Lovely Marquee Die (A Cut Above, Verve Stamps), zig zag rotary blade (Fiskars), vintage thread, mini buttons, key die (Quickutz), Lacey Circle Die (Spellbinders), flower ribbon (Maya Road), sewing machine, foam adhesive dots

I'm running {tape} to stay in SHAPE today

Today is the Stampendous teams inspiration hop for the Shape it Up Challenge going on this month. Have you shared your shapely project, yet? Well there's still plenty of time if you wanna join us! I'll show first and then tell the details...

The DT gals have know now for a while that I'm getting a bit obsessive about making my own washi tape. I've been collecting supplies around the house from medical kits, because you know they have expiration dates on those kits you have to eventually throw those out.... and get new supplies in them. Okay are you following me... you just need to go buy some fabric tape to replace the roll your using for homemade washi tape. Admittedly, the project is not as spectacular as I planned in my idea, but the washi tape makes up for it.

I used the Charm Collection stamp set that has the mini sized butterfly for my image pattern, but they are all just right for this project. Stamp it over some length of fabric medical tape that has been colorized with acrylic paint wash. I won't go through any details here because there are so many ways to make tape.  (psstttt... see the DT gal Wendy at the end of the blog list? She has a link on her blog for a tutorial. ka-ching!). I used an opaque white pen, a gelz stardust pen and a red Atyou Spica pen to decorate the butterflies. Then I gently grazed over the whole tape with some bright pink paint using my finger.

I packed up the jar of caramel sauce in a cello bag and just slid on a cut portion of a paper towel roll cardboard that was covered with my washi tape. Flare out the top of the bag and it will stay on just fine. So if that doesn't appeal to you I move it over to a rolled up square of felt modeling as a napkin.

That was quite a gallery for a couple strips of homemade washi tape. There's more ideas on this hop that are amazing! I've seen a few and you're going to love them.

Stampendous Impressions

Pam Hornschu

Wendy Jordan

Janelle Stollfus

Kristine Reynolds

Jennifer Ingle
Taylor Usry
Melinda Gleissner
Susie Moore
Tenia Nelson
Wendy Price

We want YOU to play along with us!  Just add your direct link to your shaped card or project to the linky tool below (or on the Stampendous blog) no later than April 5, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST.  You do not have to use Stampendous products to play along, but we sure love it when you do!  And as an extra incentive for playing, one lucky person (drawn at random from all the entries) will receive this gorgeous Cling Jumbo Hollyhock Stamp Set:

Due to shipping restrictions, the winner must have a US address.  We hope you get a chance to play along with us - happy crafting!



One more thing, check out the Thank You gift offer only for this month from Stampendous. Details are here.

Details:
Stamps: Charm Collection (Stampendous)
Paper: Medical Fabric Tape
Ink: Craft paint, Onyx Black ink pad (Tsukineko), white opaque pen, various glitter pens
Accessories: canned jar of food, empty cardboard paper roll

God gives all birds their food...

but does not drop it into their nests. Danish Proverbs

At the beginning of the year I purchased some Layers Of Color stamps and stencil and while waiting for a few more to come back in stock I found out that something was a' stirring. A new adventure for the owner/artist, Laura Campbell, was being announced during CHA. She's going to discontinue her e-commerce site and start designing for Spellbinder's and a new line TBA, but also resident artist for a Redmond Wa. company called Imagine Crafts. Sometimes you have to go find those adventures and sometimes... they DO drop into your nest. I'm sure someday we'll get to hear the whole story from Laura.

For me, crafting time has not dropped into my nest so far this week. I had to go grab it last night because I've been catching up on house work and wrapping up some more promotional pieces for the women's conference in April. I hope to be able to get my craft room all cleared out for a craft night I'm hosting in a couple of weeks. It's those crazy fabulous artsy friends of mine that are coming, but my sister from Oregon will be here too! She's definitely got some artsy talent up her sleeve taking a quilt class from a popular designer that happens to be in Boise for the weekend. So, I've got to get more "inspiration" out of the room so we can create more of it! Isn't that how it always goes?

So, instead of clearing and cleaning it ALL up I just cleared a space and time for this card.

I used a sketch blog I've been stalking from my fellow Diva's Amber and special guest Amy. It's from Jen Shult's Deconstructed Sketch. She always has the best constructed sketches.

Keep in mind...
Verve is having a Spring Sale! 15% off on selected items,

Stampendous continues to celebrate March with a deal for National Craft Month.

Take the links to get inspired and enabled to create! I'll be back closer to the weekend with some challenge cards to share.

While their brilliant beauty glows...

We've had one go around with the March Stampendous Challenge to make a shaped card or project - (something other than the traditional square or rectangular card) and now it's time for round 2. Last week I made a squeezed card with an inverted square die as the card base shape. This week it's going to shape up around the house.

I think I'm ready for some color to come back to earth. So while I wait I'll bring some inside the house. I really had a hard time coming up with a shape for this challenge. A light went on and it was so much fun to put together and quick too. I said I was in love with the Jumbo flowers sets before, right? I fell in love all over again using the Jumbo Tulip Stamp Set for my project today. They are so much fun... I know I already said that but really they are!


I decoupaged some green tissue paper around an old baby food jar. It was holding a few crafty items on my desk, but I think it's happier all dressed up with flowers and a bow. The flowers are stamped with Tuxedo Black and colored with copic markers, but spring time means new and glittery things, so I added some Crystal Embossing Enamel. The May Arts ribbon is perfect with this ensemble of tulips.

Can you see this with your own favorite tulips or maybe even a variety of them? It's also just perfect to sit on your coffee table and enjoy it for you. 

Here is a list of the Stampendous team members playing along today:

Stampendous Impressions

Pam Hornschu

Cyndi Bundy

Wendy Jordan

Janelle Stollfus

Kristine Reynolds

Jennifer Ingle
Taylor Usry

We want YOU to play along with us!  Just add your direct link to your shaped card or project to the linky tool below my signature (or on the Stampendous blog) no later than April 5, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST.  You do not have to use Stampendous products to play along, but we sure love it when you do!  And as an extra incentive for playing, one lucky person (drawn at random from all the entries) will receive this gorgeous Cling Jumbo Hollyhock Stamp Set:

Due to shipping restrictions, the winner must have a US address.  We hope you get a chance to play along with us - happy crafting!

Details:
Stamps: Jumbo Cling Tulip (Stampendous)
Paper: White cardstock (Mohawk)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento, Tsukineko), copic markers
Accessories: May Arts ribbon. Crystal transparent Embossing Enamel (Stampendous), fine tip scissors, jar, paintbrush, decoupage glue, 

Learning to Dance

 Oh to dance in the rain. It would be so nice right now. I've been in the depths of some graphic design work and it's almost complete, but a little jaunt in the rain would give me refreshing energy to get done. So far, it seems everyone is happy with how it is turning out and that makes me so much more the happier. I promise, I said this last week, I'll show you all of what has kept me from blogging more. It will all be finished in the next week and that's being said with a lot of hope. {wink}

My card this week is with one of my favorite sketch challenges. Yep, Viva La Verve time with a great sketch from Charmaine. It's a beautiful sketch. I held my breath when I saw the layers, but this one is oh so easy to use. I even added a layer! Hee-hah.

I embossed some Wausau kraft cardstock with a folder from the Sissix's Dots and Flowers set and sponged Brushed Corduroy ink around the edges. The back panels are framed with black cardstock that I cut with a dull blade hoping it would distress without any extra effort on my part. The flower pattern paper is a clearance find from Graphic 45 called Poppy Field. Oh yes, I edge punched the black mat on bottom with Martha Stewart's Hydrangea edge punch.

I stamped on the green mat with a motif from the Thankful Accents set from Verve in Brushed Corduroy. I stamped the circle frame from the same set in Tuxedo Black, fussy cut it out and then held my breath as I, sponged up to three different colors of pink, reds and plum, then added a copic color of V93 and lastly sponged Brushed Corduroy around the edges. It looks close, but I'm glad I didn't have to stamp it again and start over, I was out of colors to try. 

The sentiment is from Verve's Blue Skies set and stamped in Tuxedo Black. Amazingly I still don't have a spiral edge punch. I'm not sure where to look for one that has circle holes instead of the square kind. Well, I got out my omni-grid ruler and measured 3/8-inch away from the top and drew a line and made a mark every 1/8-inch. With a small hole punch I lined up on the marks and punched away then clipped them open with some scissors. The sketch is finished off with a strip of green cardstock ran through a paper crimper and then rubbed directly onto the Brushed Corduroy ink pad with a little bit of sponging to distress it.

That's it from me today! I hope to get back into the swing of card making next week as my time gets untied with my other projects. Until then, craft up something to share in the Viva La Verve gallery and I'll catch ya next week.

Details:
Stamps: Thankful Accents (Verve Stamps),  Blue Skies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Poppy Field (Graphics 45), Kraft (Wausau), Cream (Wausau), scraps of green
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento, Tsukineko), Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar (all from Ranger Ink), Ruby Red and Perfect Plum (Stampin' Up), V93 (Copic Markers)
Accessories: Hydrangea edge punch (Martha Stewart), embossing folder (Dots and Flowers set, Sissix), paper crimper (Fiskars)