Verve October Release Blog Hop

Click HERE for my SugarPea Designs Tick-or-Treat Blog Hop
 
Welcome to Verve's October Release Retrospective! 

 

I've had a great time playing with the beautiful October release stamps as one of the Verve Guest Divas and am back with one last look at Good Work and Just Breathe. Everything spotlighted is available to order in the Verve Store and is currently 20% off! Plus, we've got a sweet hop prize in store, so read on for more!

 My first card uses the Good Work stamp set and coordinating Good Work Flower Die Set. 

I watercolored a bright purple background over my white embossed sentiment. I used the same technique on the die cut flower and love the serene softness of it. Then I created a rectangular opening for a shaker card and sprinkled in color coordinated sequins and clear micro beads and rain drops.

My second card also employs a watercolor technique using acetate to smoosh the color onto the watercolor cardstock. I also smooshed color into masked stripes on the card base, lightening the color as I worked from the bottom up.

A single sentiment from Just Breathe is embossed in copper embossing powder and embellished with a trio of wood veneer stars for a clean and simple card. These beautiful sentiment stamps in Just Breathe and Good Work can definitely hold their own. I can't wait to spend a little more time with both sets and think you'll agree!

Want to win some shiny new Verve? Julee will be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift voucher to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for a little more about the new products and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 8. Amber 2. Teresa 9. Andrea 3. Charmaine 10. Laurie 4. Marisa 11. Christyne 5. Amy {Guest - me!} 12. Rosemary {Guest} 6. KellyJean {Guest) 13. Lori {Guest) 7. Maureen

Guesting with Verve!

I'm so excited to be guest designing with Verve's latest release and couldn't BE more giddy over the delicious stamps that arrived from Julee - the fonts are just dreamy, and take a look at that wheat stamp! Speaking of Julee, the beauty, brains and brawn behind Verve, she's ever so generously giving away a $30 (yes, $30!) voucher to the Verve store to one lucky commenter on today's blog post!!

I've got two cards to share with you today using Good Work and Just Breathe, so let's get started.  

My wonderful wheat card starts with a card base stamped repeatedly with the wheat stamp in Versamark ink to create a whispy background. So easy with such impact. Then I tied burlap ribbon across the top and tied a stamped tag to it. The tag is stamped with a sentiment from Good Work in Versafine Onyx Black using my MISTI for nice, solid coverage. (Click HERE for a product review of the MISTI, it really is incredible.)

 My second card uses one of the many sentiments from Just Breathe, a wonderful set filled with encouraging words centered around breast cancer but so appropriate for many different occasions as well. I can't tell you how much I love that 'B' in Brave! 

I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black with my MISTI over wide pink stripes and then layered it behind a rectangular opening. I'd considered making this into a shaker card but opted for a few wood veneer stars instead and really love how this one turned out. Clean and simple with a little fun sprinkled in.

Verve will be selecting a random commenter on this post to win a $30 gift voucher to the Verve Store! So leave a little love before Sunday, November 1 to be entered in the drawing. Winner will be announced on the Verve Blog on November 2.

I hope you've enjoyed my projects using Good Work and Just Breathe and am so thankful to be included in the October release at Verve.  I'll be back tomorrow with more Verve. Thanks for stopping by today!
~Amy

Mojo Monday 195 {Dad}

A (somewhat) quick card using this week's Mojo Monday sketch along with a sentiment from Verve"s World's Best set, more burlap (I know, seriously?), a Karen Foster charm, and die cut letters using more wood veneer paper from The Cat's Pajamas. Besides being burlap-obsessed, I've again used my PTI woodgrain embossing plate...love.

How are you coming on Father's Day cards? I'm thinking this one wraps it up for me, so be looking for something not-masculine later this week. The Cat's Pajamas has a girly-fun color combo coming up tomorrow on Tori's blog, so check it out!
~Amy

What's purple & green all over?

What's purple and green all over?! The card I'm about to share with you along with photos from my daughter's graduation party, of course! First off is the card that I made for my dear friend, Mary...

Next are random photos from Kendra's grad party this past weekend. Now that the party is over, I'm ready to get back in my stamping room. You'll notice a few paper crafted decorations...couldn't have a party without 'em, right?!

The party was held in my husband's shop, and while he worked his hinder off moving all the construction stuff out, there was that one piece of heavy metal ('the lift') that he insisted was waaay too heavy to move, so it graces a few of the pictures!

You'll notice burlap accents in the card and the party decorations, compliments of a great 'find' in my husband's shop--a humungous roll of burlap purchased years ago, sitting on a shelf just waiting to be noticed.

Thank you for 'pinwheels', dear Alma!

 

Thank you to my friends and family who helped with the party and to all of you who have checked back here at the blog to find the same old card from my last post!
~Amy

Just stuff...

It's been pretty scarce around here lately, so I thought I'd better pop in with a quick post to let you know I'm still around, still stamping (unfortunately only out of necessity), and still getting ready for Kendra's grad party in a couple of weeks. Here are a few cards I've made in the last week for Mother's Day and for a neighbor's birthday party we attended last weekend.

King of Rock uses rub-ons from Creative Imaginations...

Wife & Cousin cards use Verve-alicious stamps along with a digi image from Kerri Bradford's This & That: Spring kit...

I hope to have something 'real nice' for TCP Tuesday this week, so stop back!
~Amy

Mojo Monday 189 {Mom}

Just when I thought I was going to take a month off from stamping, I realized how many cards I really, really need to make: Mother's Day, birthdays, graduations...what was I thinking?! The Mojo Monday sketch this week inspired me to get on with a few of the cards on my list, starting with one for my Mom, entirely inspired by Julee's sample...

I'd (honestly) thought about stamping these leaves in black, and then when I saw Julee's card, I just knew it was an 'ok' thing to do, and it wouldn't look dark and depressing one bit! Another fun piece of my card is the button card layer which is from Kerri Bradford's This & That: Spring, so I'm pleased to announce my first official 'hybrid' card...sorta?! Of course, those beautiful leaves and flowers (as well as the sentiment) are all from Verve...could not, could not, could not resist ordering those sets: Bloom & Grow and Love Deepens, along with the coordinating dies.

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Amy

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 115

I've been meaning to participate in Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and finally got around to it last night. My card features sketch #115 along with new goodies from Verve and a sentiment from The Cat's Pajamas (Simply Said). I added a bit of texture with my PTI woodgrain embossing plate (love it). I'm on a green and purple kick lately as you can see here, and I think it stems from the purple theme of our upcoming graduation party!

I hope to be back later this week with something swanky for The Cat's Pajamas TCP Tuesday challenge, so please come back!

~Amy

Happy Birthday {SFYTT} x 2!

I have two cards to share for today's SFYTT, one that George gave Ed for his birthday on Tuesday and another using a cute image from this week's SFYTT sponsor, The Greeting Farm called Birthday Boy Ian.

This card will most likely be George's birthday card next month when he turns 3! It's hard to believe he's already that old, and while 3 years doesn't seem all that long, the mental, physical and emotionally growth in three years completely amazes me. Here's a little anecdote to prove my point: yesterday I accidentally let the 'sh' word slip out the front door within George's supersonic hearing range, after which he continued to discuss for the following 10 minutes all of the reasons I shouldn't say the 'sh' word, and what happens when mommy says the 'sh' word...only he didn't say "the 'sh' word", he said the real word, about 20 times. He already knows that it is theoretically "ok" to say sh** in a teaching context...boy, oh boy am I in trouble!

Oh, you wanted to know about the card deets? Ü Well, my cute little Ian is flanked by a die cut "3" using my Cuttlebug Red Tag Alphabet; there are subtle backgrounds stamped on the green and blue layers using PTI's Polka Dot 2 and ruler from It's Official. Finally, I pierced a half circle to emphasize and balance out the right side of the card.

The next card features a picture of my little George with birthday greetings for Dad. The PTI die cut ticket is stamped with a Verve sentiment that could make any dad well up...love Verve sentiments! The scripty paper is October Afternoon Thrift Shop and there's a bit of texture added with my PTI woodgrain impression plate.

You may have noticed that I flipped the sketch for my first card. I love both versions, as I do with all of Jen's sketches! Let's see if any of the other SFYTT sisters have flipped this week, ha!

Jen del Muro & Ashley N. Newell
Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Fun & Formal {SFYTT}

I have two cards to share with you today, one formal and the other fun! I think the only thing the two have in common is the black card base, and a bit of yellow on each as well. Which would you like to see first--formal or fun?! Let's get the formalities out of the way, huh?!

The bit of patterned paper here is from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop pad and I think this yellow piece is my absolute favorite of the whole bunch...can't stop using it this week. I've paired it with black and gray, a color combo I've been wanting to put together for some time now. The sentiment is from Verve, and that purty rolled flower is made possible with my new MFT Rolled Flower Die-Namics die. That die makes it quick and easy to whip up these flowers, except it took me a little longer because I didn't want it to look too perfect...I was trying to achieve that "perfectly random" look--an oxymoron or what?!

In the detail shot, you'll notice that the sentiment is stamped on vellum overlaying a damask image (PTI) stamped in my favorite shade of yellow, So Saffron (SU!).

Ok, let's get on with the fun! My fun card uses a fun TCP Poochie image from By The Sea, colored with Copics. I've had that striped piece of patterned paper for years now, but I just love the seaside-beachy look of it, perfect with lounging Poochie. I also can't stop using these little pennant flags as embellishments, so fun while adding just a punch of color. The scripty paper is also from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop pad, and the colors of the highlighted words matched the striped piece perfectly.

Last is a shot of the inside...a birthday library card detail for our book loving nephew for his birthday. I thought the library card was a fun combination with Poochie reading on the front, although we just might have to come up with a Kindle-reading Poochie to get him with the times!

Let's see what the SFYTT sisters have done with the sketch, and don't forget to link your card to Jen's post for today...

Jen del Muro & Ashley N. Newell
Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Have a great weekend, all!
~Amy

CAS {SFYTT}

Welcome to a new month of Saturday SFYTT, along with the reveal of Jen's new guest designer for August--always a fun surprise! I really like this week's sketch and think you'll find it's an easy one to work with; a sketch I'll be using again this weekend if I can find a little time to stamp.

I decided to go with a clean and simple (CAS) design, and not because of time constraints, but rather because I was just in a CAS sorta mood yesterday when I created my card. Please refer to THIS post by buddy Carole Burrage if you think CAS is the easy way out, wink! Don't get me wrong--I do love me some fun and frivolous embellishments, but sometimes I like to force myself to just stop the dang train and travel with one of my favorite mantras: less is more!

I used a combination of stamps from Verve and Papertrey Ink. The branch is from PTI's Turning a New Leaf, and the sentiment is from Verve's Dare to Be You. Other details include woodgrain embossing on the Spring Moss layer, button and twine, all from PTI as well. Clean and simple...less is more! Ü

Hope you enjoyed my "less is more" card today, and now let's get on with 'Rohl Call':

Jen del Muro & August Guest Designer
Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Carole Burrage
Megan Lock

~Amy

SFYTT Technical Difficulties...

My card is completed and ready to be photographed, but where is my camera?! As soon as I find it, I'll be back with my complete SFYTT post. For now, here is Jen's sketch and links to the rest of the SFYTT crew!

ETA: I found the camera...in one of the places I'd already looked once, ugh! Oh, and did I tell you how hot and humid it is here in Ellsworth, WI today? Yeah, pretty much goes with my day so far! Ok, on with my SFYTT ala Verve card!

It's a big day over at Verve today with new releases and such, so I used an absolutely wonderful Verve set for my SFYTT card, Just For You.

I used one of my favorite color combos here with a bit of linen thread, buttons and punched branches flanking the layered flower. After punching the black branches, I looked at the leftover scrap and thought it would compliment the card perfectly, so I used it as the lower horizontal layer...love it when things just work out like that. See, my day wasn't going to horribly after all!

ETA: I'm once again adding to my post today. After looking through Just For You, I decided to make another card and this one came together so quickly...grabbing scraps here and there on my stamp table: wide striped ribbon, buttons and music paper all within reach. Lots of distressing on the sentiment panel done by rolling the paper this way and that, tugging at the edges and sponging with PTI's Vintage Inks.

Here's a detail of the sentiment panel...

Speaking of Verve, Jen has a great giveaway prize for participating in this week's sketch, so be sure to check it out and get stamping! Can't wait to see what other Verve-a-liciousness is waiting, so let's see who else is getting their Verve on today!

Jen and Andrea
Susan
Sonja
Amy
Amber
Kelly
Leigh
Jodi
Jenn

Hope to see you real soon!
Amy

Let's Shop for {The Glory of Love}!

When I heard that the The Cat's Pajamas, My Favorite Things and Verve stamp companies were stepping up and out to support our dear friend, Susan Liles, and her family in the midst of her husband's battle with cancer, the Bette Midler song, The Glory of Love, from Beaches, popped into my head. Not sure why, but it always tugs at my heart and as does the tough times that Susan and her family are facing right now. We love you Susan, Eric and girls and are here to support you! Here are the details of the weekend benefit sale:

This Friday through Sunday, MFT, Verve and TCP will be having a special sale to benefit the Liles family. You receive 10% off any purchase with a percentage of the sale going to the Liles family.

shop The Cat's Pajamas
shop My Favorite Things
shop Verve

Here is your chance to pick up a few sets that you've had your eye on and make a difference in the Liles family at the same time...a win-win! Or if you'd rather, you may donate via Paypal directly to the Liles family. To do so, please click here and you'll be directed to Susan's blog. If you would prefer to donate anonymously or have any questions, you may contact Sheila: sheila@remember4faith.com.

Lyrics | Bette Midler - The Glory of Love lyrics

Thanks again, and remember that the sale runs from June 18 - June 20!
~Amy

Skipping Stones Design {SFYTT}

This week's SFYTT is being sponsored by Skipping Stones Design, and I'm using their set called Garden Kiss for my card today. I really love the bird and butterfly images and all of the alternative backgrounds, or "kissing" stamps offered in the set! After making the first card using black and Kiwi Kiss (SU!), I liked it so much that I made two additional cards using Plum Pudding and Aqua Mist (PTI). Here's the set:

Here's a closeup shot of the Kiwi card showing the woodgrain embossing detail on the black layer. I used PTI's woodgrain embossing plate and absolutely love the look of it on black, so be watching for more of that to come!

Other fun elements of the card include a neat sentiment from Verve's Dare to Be You set, striped paper from Crate Paper's 5th Ave. collection, sheet music, buttons and twine.

I can't wait to see what the other girls have done with this fun sketch and more of the SSD stamps, so let's get on with the blog roll!

Jen & Andrea (June Guest Designer)
Amy
Jodi
Susan
Kelly
Leigh
Jenn
Megan
Sonja
Amber

Have a wonderful weekend!
~Amy

Best of Luck {SFYTT}

It's hard to believe it's June already, but you know what a new month means...a new month of great sketches from Jen and a new guest designer joining the SFYTT crew. June also means graduation parties, and that's where I'll be heading this afternoon, so I used Miss PI--You Make the Grade along with a sentiment from Verve's Great Expectations. I realize it's not your traditional grad card, but I'm thinking the recipient will enjoy it all the same.

Here's this week's sketch along with the SFYTT gals with more fun inspiration for you.

Jen & Andrea Ewen
Amber
Amy
Jenn
Jodi
Kelly
Leigh
Megan
Susan
Sonja

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Amy

He Cares For You...and You...and You!

I love the comfort of this verse and just had to have it, along with a few other goodies from Verve! You'll be seeing more Verve from me, but for now just remind yourself of this verse:

Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you!
~I Peter 5:7

Have a wonderful Friday, all!
~Amy

Dad's Day SFYTT

Well, I promised to share more Dad's Day stuff with you yesterday, but it didn't happen because I ended up using Jen's sketch for the card, so I couldn't share that with you until today or that would've been cheating! I did plan to share the {DAD} tote with you on Friday but didn't get one minute to post yesterday...busy with the kiddos.

When I first looked at the SFYTT for today, I pictured a more mod looking card, but that's not the look that I ended up with. Totally ok because I really like how this one turned out! I used SU!'s new In Color, Soft Suede, and paired it with paper from the Mr. Campy collection from Cosmo Cricket. All stamps are from Verve--World's Best & Protector, great sets! In addition to the masculine yet fun look of the papers, I think the buttons and mini clip give this one a little "manly" appeal.

Speaking of "manly", let's move on to the {DAD} tote...I know, a tote for Dad(?!), what was I thinking? I was thinking that I loved THIS awesome tote that Carole Burrage created for the release of The Cat's Pajamas' Happy Camper & Nightie, and selfishly wanted to make one, so I made it "manly", or at least tried to make it "manly"! The other manly elements are the (serious) fishy paper from Karen Foster (green fish texture), jumbo eyelets and twine used to secure the handles and sentiment tag.

I can't wait to see what the SFYTT girls have, so let's pop on over and see:

Jen & June GD, Ashley Newell
Susan
Kelly
Carole
Amy

Have a great weekend crew!

World's Best Dad

As soon as I saw some of the design team samples using the Verve sets, World's Best & Protector, I just knew I had to have 'em! Today I'm showing you the first card I've made using World's Best, and I hope to have another card to share tomorrow since this card is for my FIL and the next will be for DH from the kiddos.

I really like this color combo: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay and Old Olive with a splash of Kraft, although it was hard to capture the true Bermuda Bay--it's looking more like Tempting Turquoise in the picture. I see myself using it again and again. The stamped with PTI Guidelines Two using Ranger Old Paper distress ink, and it gives it a really nice, subtle look. The sentiment area is Spellbinder's Labels 2 with a hand trimmed flag running across and tied with a button and twine. Just for a little balance on the left, I added a row of piercing. Oh, one last detail on the olive layer is embossed vertical lines on each edge using my Scor-Pal.

Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope to see you tomorrow!