A Color Challenge and a SKetch Challenge!

Hi! I hope your weekend was great! Mine was really busy - my DD's Girl Scout troop had a fundraiser at a craft fair, then I tried to get as much Christmas shopping finished as possible. My DD and DH's birthdays are one day apart, right before Christmas, too. So there is also birthday shopping to be done, and my DH is the hardest person to shop for! And the DD's birthday party to plan for.....boy, I am whining a lot today! Sorry!! I am actually very excited about this time of the year, it just doesn't leave a lot of time for stamping! So I stayed up way too late last night watching my Tivo'd Cardinals game and stamping!!! And I am always in a great mood when the Cardinals win!!


My card today combines two challenges - last weeks FFF color challenge at The Greeting Farm to used Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and White, and the sketch challenge from Viva la Verve at the Verve forum on Splitcoast!

The Details:
Stamps: Ava - The Greeting Farm, Sentiment from Birthday Surprise - Verve
Paper: Retired Baja Breeze paper pack - SU, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Chocolate Chip
Copics:
Skin: R00,E00,E11,R20
Hair: C3,C5,C7,C9,110
Clothes: B91 w/BG11 over it, BG72,BG75,E44,E47,E49
Frog: YG00 and YG03 both w/YG95 over them, YG97
Misc: Martha Stewart edge punch, Liquid Pearls, Stampin Up Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Sakura Clear Stardust gel pen

Thanks for stopping by!!
:-)Traci

A Couple of Verve Challenges

Hi! This weekend was the Verve release party and during that party they issued 5 challenges. I really wanted to do all 5 but I only got 2 done. I may try to do the other 3 later but I know I won't have them done in time to be eligible for the prizes (which is totally ok!)! The first one I did was a color challenge of Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Black and White (or similar colors.) I used the Verve set Holly Jolly.

The Details:
Stamp: Holly Jolly - Verve
Paper: Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Whisper White
Misc: Detail Black Embossing Powder, Darice Gems, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Rectangles

The second challenge that I got done was to make a mini pizza box. I had never done one before but the tutorial on Splitcoast was very easy to follow and it was a lot of fun! I used some older Basic Grey paper from my stash and the Verve set O Christmas Tree.


The Details:
Stamp: O Christmas Tree - Verve
Paper: Basic Grey, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Copics: R24, R27, R29,R59,YG95,YG97,Y26,B91,B93,B95
Misc: Darice Jewels, Offray Ribbon, Nestabilities Scallop Square and Label

Thanks for visiting me today!!
:-)Traci

Vivaa la Verve With Purple and Brown

Hi! I just have a very quick post with my last Viva la Verve challenge card of this month. The twist for this one was a color challenge - Purple, Brown and Vanilla.


The Details:
Stamp: Christmas in the Air - Verve
Paper: Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Misc: Ribbon - SU, Distress Stickles-Vintage Photo, Platinum Stickles, Adirondack Dimensional Pearls - Eggplant, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

Thanks for stopping by!
:-)Traci

A Late Viva La Verve Card!

Hi! I am so behind on everything!! This is for the Viva La Verve challenge from two weeks ago! The VLV challenges are always a sketch challenge with a twist and this weeks twist was to make it a Holiday themed card! Ok, I can do that!! I used all digital patterned papers from the Digichick. I just realized I seem to be on a pink Christmas card kick! Even the one I am working on right now for tomorrow has a lot of pink....


The Details:
Stamps: Snowflake Splendor, Christmas in the Air - Verve
Paper: Sugar Plum - Strawberry Cafe - The Digichick, Blush Red Dark - Prism
Misc: Ribbon - Offray (Red), SU (green and pink), buttons from stash

Thanks for visiting me today! I hope your week is great!!
:-)Traci

Cracked Glass Mittens

Hi! I feel like it's been forever since I posted! Not that long, I know....I am way behind on doing some of the challenges that I like to participate in - this one is for last weeks Viva la Verve sketch with a twist. The twist this time was to use the cracked glass technique. I thought I had my card all finished and ready to post last night and then I realized I forgot the cracked glass part so I had to take it apart and add that! I used a digi image that Verve offered free for a bit. I drew a pattern onto the mittens because I also knit and I LOVE a patterned mitten (I am adding a couple of pictures of mittens I have knit, after the card!)

The Details:
Stamp: Winter Mittens digi - Verve
Paper: Imaginisce, Real Red, Chocolate Chip - SU, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Copics: R35,R37,R39,YG03,YG25,YG17,C0,C1
Misc: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ultra Thick Embossing Powder, Oval and Oval Scallop Nestabilities, Sakura White gel pen, JoAnn Craft Essentials Ribbon

This is the first pair of mittens I made and I still wear them:

This is my favorite pair that I made:

Thanks for visiting me today!
:-)Traci

Viva La Verve Hanging Snowflakes

Hi! I'm sorry I haven't been around much the last day or so. My DD talked me into letting her have a Halloween party and I've been crazy busy getting ready for it. It's really funny (NOT) how all of her promises to help clean and get ready for it go out the window once the invitations are all handed out!! I'm in a really good mood about it now, though, because I just downloaded a bunch of MP3's to make my own Halloween party mix! That was FUN!!


My card today is for the fourth October Viva La Verve challenge. These are posted in the Verve forum on Splitcoast, and they are a sketch with a twist. The twist this time was "There is no twist". But the sketch really had me stumped! I kept turning it different ways and trying to get an idea....I finally decided to make the two circles into holes (or windows) and dangle snowflakes in them. I cut the circles through all of the layers of the front of the card with my circle Nestabilities, then attached a length of clear sewing thread between the layers when I was assembling them. I had punched the snowflake 4 times using a Martha Stewart punch, then put stickles on them. For each "window" the clear string was sandwiched between 2 snowflakes. They were then finished off with a blue Darice snowflake rhinestone.

I thought this picture might show a little more of how the snowflakes dangle.

The Details:
Stamp: Snowflake Splendor - Verve
Paper: My Mind's Eye, Whisper White
Ink: Either Tea Dye or Vintage Photo Distress (I'm sorry, I forgot which one I finally decided on!)
Misc: Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Stardust Stickles, Darice Snowflake Gems, Gold pen, Clear Thread

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope your weekend is Fabulous! (And for those of you celebrating, Happy Haunting!)
:-)Traci

The last 3 Verve Sketches!

Yeah! I got all 5 of the Verve Sketch challenges done!I'm going to make this very quick because I need to get my daughter off to bed!

The Details:
Stamps: Birthday Surprise - Verve
Paper: My Minds Eye, Prism Island Mist Light, SU Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Versamagic Oasis Green and Turquoise Gem, Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Tea Dye
Misc: Offray Ribbon, Darice Gems, Fiskars Corner punch, SU Scallop Border Punch

The Details:
Stamp: Tall Oaks - Verve
Paper: Retired SU, Choc Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard
Copics: YR16,YR18,E08,E09,Y23,Y26,YR21,E74,E49
Misc: Offray Ribbon, Martha Stewart leaf and branch punches


The Details:
Stamps: Cups- Delightful& Delicious, Steam - A Cup of Life, Sentiment - Ornamental Christmas - all Verve
Paper: Imaginisce, Chocolate CHip, Old Olive
Copics: R24,R27,R29,W1,W3,W5
Misc: SU Old Olive Ribbon, SU Button, Dazzling Diamonds, Liquid Applique, Detail Black Embossing Powder, Large Eyelet, Chrystal Effects

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful Weekend!!
:-)Traci

A Couple of Verve Cards

It is that time of month again - yes, it is time for the Verve release and there is a contest where you can win the whole release! Last month was the first time I participated, so I don't know if they are always like this, but there are 5 sketches posted in the Verve forum on SCS HERE and you have until a certain time on Friday to post all of your cards. There is a winner for each sketch challenge and a Grand Prize winner from those who complete all of the sketch challenges (I don't know why I am telling all of you this - that just means more competition! HA HA!) My goal is to complete all 5! Here are my first two:

This first one makes me so happy! I just love how it turned out and it was so simple because the background is one piece of DP!

The Details:
Stamps:Up and Up and Away, sentiment from All About You - Verve
Paper: DCWV Mi Casa, Chocolate Chip, PTI White
Ink: Antique Linen Distress Ink, Chocolate Chip Craft
Copics: R22,R24,R27,Y11,Y15.Y17,B91,B93,B95,C0,C1,C3
Misc: Brads, Clear Embossing Powder

For my second card I decided to try the color challenge this week on SCS - Bravo Burgundy, Cameo Coral and (optional) Always Artichoke. I have to say, Cameo Coral and I are not on friendly terms. I really tried to make peace with this card but I don't think we will ever truly get along!! And why do my bows always look crooked in my pictures! They never look that way to me until I have posted them on the blog!! AAagh!


The Details:
Stamps: Bountiful Backgrounds - Verve
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Cameo Coral, Whisper White
Ink: White Craft, Bravo Burgundy Craft
Misc: BB Ribbon, Liquid Pearls, Taylors Tiny Twinkles, Clear Embossing Powder.

And last but certainly not least, I am not sure how many of you who read my blog also read Amy's - A Thousand Sheets of Paper. (If you don't you really should - she is AMAZINGLY talented!!) If you do then you have probably seen her wonderful Fairies? They are becoming rubber!! She has the details HERE along with a chance to win some of your very own!! You really should go check it out if you haven't already!

Thanks for your visit! I hope your day is Fantastic!!
:-)Traci

No Brown or Orange??

When I saw the second Viva la Verve challenge for October (a sketch challenge with the twist of no brown or orange on the card) I thought, "How hard can it be to not use those 2 colors?" HaHa! It took me 2 days of looking through my papers to settle on something appropriate! Every time I got excited about the stamp set and papers I had chosen I realized there was either brown or orange (or both!) on those papers! I finally realized I could easily stay away form brown and orange if I stamped a Peacock!! (I love brown and orange so I probably easily could have added them too if allowed!!) Actually, my lovely daughter, reading over my shoulder has just pointed out that there is brown on this card. I am going to pretend that there is NOT!

I have been admiring The Dark Mermaid's work with Twinkling H2O's and was telling her I have not been happy with my work when I paint with them. I feel a little guilty because of the money I spent so I decided to paint my cardstock with some this time so that I get some use out of them. The cardstock base and mats are Night of Navy with some T H2O's over it and the embossed panel is Not Quite Navy that has also been painted with T H2O's.

The Details:
Stamps: Swan Song and Wishing You - Verve
Paper: My Mind's Eye, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, PTI White
Copics: B28,B39,B02,BG05,BG09,YG95
Misc: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Twinkling H2O's, Darice Gems

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope this is the beginning of a fabulous week for you!
:-)Traci

2 Cards Today!

WooHoo it's Friday! Yeah! And I have 2 cards to show today! The first is a Halloween card using Gingerbell the cat from The Greeting Farm and the Jack-o-Lantern head from the Spooktacular set (also from TGF!)

The Details:
Stamps: Gingerbell and Spooktacular - The Greeting Farm
Paper: American Crafts, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, PTI White
Copics:
Cat: C5,C7,C9,R20,R22
Pumpkin: Y35,Y38,E08
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Dew Drop Brilliance Lightning Black (distressing on the fence)

My second card has a completely different feel and is for the first October Viva La Verve challenge. This was a sketch challenge with the twist of "make it shabby chic". That does not come naturally to me, so I hope this is acceptably shabby chic!


The Details:
Stamps: Wishing You, Because of You - Verve
Paper: Retired Baja Breeze paper pack, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Ink: Distress Inks in Tea Dye and Vintage Photo, Baja Breeze
Misc: Prima Flowers, Darice jewels, Martha Stewart border punch, Choc Chip Grosgrain ribbon

Thanks so much for visiting me today! I hope your day is wonderful!
:-)Traci

Mojo Pumpkins!

Hi ! I am running very late posting today! Sorry....I made this card for the MojoMonday Week 105 sketch. I have to say, Julee creates the most gorgeous sketches! I mean, the sketches themselves look like gorgeous cards!!


I am still in a Halloween mood, so I took the pumpkin trio from the Verve set Tall Oaks and drew jack-o-lantern faces on them. The paper is from My Minds Eye and the ribbon is some satin ribbon I found at Wal-Mart.

Thank You for visiting today! I hope you have a great weekend (and I hope I get to stamp lots this weekend - I haven't gotten to do much the past couple of days!)
:-)Traci

Hello Monday!

Sorry I've been kind of quiet for the past few days. I didn't get much stamping done this weekend, or even get on the computer to upload the final 3 cards I did for the Verve new release Party/Challenges to my blog. I did finish all 5 by the Friday deadline, though - Woo Hoo! So it's a few days late, but here they are!

The first one was for the challenge to use Sparkle! I made the sparkly blue paper by covering a piece of Bashful Blue with Versamark ink and then embossing it with Iridescent Ice Embossing powder. The stamp is from Verve's Ornamental Christmas set.

This one was for the challenge to use Distressing! Again, I used the Ornamental Christmas stamp set and some yummy Cosmo Cricket paper that I have had for awhile.

And this last one was for a color challenge - Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. I used the Verve stamp Whimsy Tree for the main image and did a little watercoloring with re-inkers. The sentiment from Heartfelt Phrases and the background leaf is from Forever in Our Hearts (all Verve).

Thanks for stopping by!
:-)Traci

I'm Gettin' My Verve On!!

Hi! I think I said a couple of days ago that my goal was to do all of the September Viva la Verve challenges? Well, I didn't realize that there were a whole set (5 to be exact) of Verve Release Challenges! I only found out yesterday but I am going to try to finish all 5 by the deadline (Friday!) I think if this was something I HAD to do I'd probably be grumbling about the short amount of time, but because I am challenging myself to it, I am having SO much fun!!

The first challenge I am doing is a sketch challenge by Julee herself. I decided to make mine a Christmas (or at least winter themed) card. The DP is from Fancy Pants Designs. The light pink panel (embossed with a cuttlebug folder) is the back side of the green snowflake paper. The sentiment (and the snowflakes stamped lightly behind it) is from the set Snowflake Splendor from Verve. The snowflake is made form a Spellbinders die. The 3 pieces were white to begin with and I sponged on Rich Razzelberry ink, covered the whole thing with Versamark ink and then embossed with Iridescent Ice.

The second card is for a color challenge by Charmaine - Rich Razzelberry, Old Olive, Dusty Durango and Taken With Teal. I used one of the background stamps in Bountiful Backgrounds with 3 of the colors of ink, then stamped the bird from Anniversary Birds over it. I then stamped the birds once more in each of the ink colors (RR, OO, and DD) and cut out the wings. I layered the wings over a different body color, cut the body out and layered it over the bird stamped once more in black (boy, I think I am making this sound really confusing, when it's not!!) I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on the white background. The sentiment is from the set Heartfelt Phrases.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope your day is wonderful!!
:-)Traci

Happy Anniversary to My In-Laws!

Today is my Father and Mother-in-Law's Anniversary! I feel awful that I don't know exactly how many years they have been married (it's somewhere between 58-60) but my DH doesn't know either and he's their son (obviously!!) I also feel pretty bad that this card is only going in the mail today, so it will be late. I had intended to use this really cute set by Verve called Anniversary Birds, and I ordered it a couple of weeks ago, but it didn't get here in time (not Verve's fault - they mailed it right away. Then I watched the tracking info from the Post Office quit moving!!) So, I had to go with an older set from Cloud 9 Design for the sentiment. (I did get my Verve order late in the afternoon today, but I'd already finished the card!) I also used the sketch from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge # 38.


The Details:
Stamps: Simple Thoughts :Love - Cloud 9 Design, Bountiful Backgrounds - Verve
Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Choc Chip, Mellow Moss
Ink: Mellow Moss, Distress Ink - Tea Dye and Vintage Photo
Misc: CB Embossing Folder, Nestabilities, Craft Ribbon, Bazill Paper flower, Martha Stewart Gem

Thanks for visiting!
:-)Traci

Happy Friday!

Bring on the weekend!! Ha! This week has actually kind of flown by....I have two more cards to show you today and once again there is NO coloring. I don't know what has gotten into me....I'm sure I'll color some this weekend!

My first card is the final card I did for the Viva la Verve challenge on SCS. This one was also a sketch challenge, but the twist was to use your favorite color combo. (There is ALWAYS a twist with the VLV challenges!) My current favorite color is orange, orange, orange! I really love it with brown and light blue (like Baja Breeze) but since one of my other VLV cards used that combo (plus some Kiwi) I changed the Baja to Taken With Teal.

Details:
Stamp: Beautiful You - Verve
Paper: My Minds Eye, Pumpkin Pie, Choc Chip, Taken With Teal, Whisper White-SU
Ink:Choc Chip Craft, Creamy Caramel Craft, Close to Cocoa Craft
Misc: Brads-Basic Grey, EK Success Border Punch


My second card is another card that I made for my Father-in-Law to give to his friends as thank you cards. I used one of the MojoMonday sketches from last week when they were doing their week long celebration of turning 100! They have some of THE Best sketches!

The Details:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy - SU
Paper: Enchante' (Retired SU), Mellow Moss, Choc Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Choc Chip Craft
Misc: Clear Embossing Powder, SU Scallop Border Punch, SU Ribbon, Large Eyelet

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
:-)Traci

Viva la Verve!

Hi! I have 3 cards to show you today! I am a pretty slow card maker and I usually only manage pne a day (if that!) so I am thrilled I finished 3 today! I know I am coming late to the party but I am just discovering Verve stamps! I have recently been just drooling over several bloggers cards who used Verve images and decided I had to try a few.(And boy, is their shipping fast!) Then I discovered the Verve challenge Viva La Verve on SCS, and I had to give it a try, too! I guess once a week a new challenge is issued and you have until the end of the month to finish all four cards and enter to win the next months releases.....Tomorrow is the deadline, and like I said I got 3 done today! Hopefully I can make the last one tomorrow!

So, the first challenge was to pick a card by one of the Verve Diva's and CASE it. The twist was if they used patterned paper you had to use card stock and vice-versa. I picked THIS CARD by Susan Liles. I really liked how she had used the balloon image 3 times and the bright happy colors she picked. I decided to go the opposite way with the color scheme and make mine black and white (and shades of gray). The balloons and sentiment are from the set Party Time. Susan used patterned paper for her background so I used card stock but stamped the dots with Verve's Bountiful Backgrounds. The other background panels are dry embossed, then I put silver stickles on for emphasis. I did used Copics on the balloons - C0,C1,C3,C5,C7,C9.

The second challenge was a sketch challenge with the added twist that you had to use a border punch in some way. I have to admit I feel a bit guilty that I didn't do anything more creative with the edge punch, but I had a lot of fun making the latte! I used liquid applique for hte foam - that is SO fun to watch it puff up! the stamp set is Delightful & Delicious and the DP is all Cosmo Cricket.


The third challenge was another sketch challenge with the added twist of "Use a Tag". I did a lot of piercing and a little embossing - pretty straightforward. The tag sentiment is from the Bountiful Backgrounds set and the main sentiment is from Beautiful You. The DP is SU - Pink Flamingo. I think I may end up giving this to my daughter's Principal on his birthday.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope your day is fantastic!!
:-)Traci