I Think I Might Be Crazy...April Viva La Verve!

This month has been a bit nuts with the number of cards I've made, and I was hesitant to try another multi-card challenge so soon, but I couldn't resist the Viva La Verve sketches. I've made so many cards that my head is swimming, but it's been so much fun. Since I am making so many in such a short period of time, I will update this post with them as I finish (by April 30 - gulp!)

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

Only A Handmade Card...(VLVAPR01)
The twist on this sketch is to only use a sentiment stamp. I love, love, love this stamp, which is put out by a great little company called Verses. I think every card maker should have one!


BEAN NOTES: Verses Handmade Card Stamp; Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa Classic Dye Ink; K&Company Amy Butler Lotus Tea Box Designer Paper; SU Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Dark Grey Textured Cardstock (generic); SU Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon; Nestabilities Classic Circles Die; Cuttlebug Leafy Branch Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Paper Flowers (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Martha Stewart Lace Doily Border Punch; Kaiser Pewter Pearls

Letter Perfect...(VLVAPR02)
Background stamps! I utilized two of mine, and I also gave myself the challenge of using materials and embellishments that I haven't used in the past. I also tried to incorporate colors that I have never created with before. I printed the sentiment using my computer, as I didn't have a stamp for it, and I was pleased at how well it paired with the letter backgrounds.
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Letter Patterns and By Definition Stamps; Tim Holtz Dusty Concord Distress Ink; Stampin' Up Pale Plum Classic Dye Ink; VersaMark Clear Ink; SU Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, and Lavendar Lace Cardstock; SU Elegant Eggplant Grosgrain Ribbon; Martha Stewart Arched Lattice Border Punch; Deckle Edge Scissors (generic); Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Brads (generic); Computer; Printer
HAPPY BEANS: Making Memories Metal Embellishments

Hola Bebe...(VLVAPR03)
It's a Color Challenge! I wasn't sure about the More Mustard in this sketch, but in the end I liked how it turned out. I saw this sentiment on a store-bought card many, many years ago, and I always thought it was funny and cute. (For those of you whose Spanish is as bad as mine, the translation: "Hello Baby, Goodbye Sleep!") I just printed it out on my computer and, voila!, my own version. Bean Tip: For a perfect match on button "threads," create your own out of cardstock and thread them through the holes.

BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Baby Firsts Stamps; StazOn Timber Brown Ink; Copic Sketch Markers (BG72, E11, R11, B41, and Colorless Blender); SU Whisper White, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, and Summer Sun Cardstock; Debbie Mumm Baby Boy Premium Cardstock and DCWV Nana's Kids Cardstock; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Martha Stewart Embossed Button Punch; Computer; Printer

Fab Birthday with the Ladies...(VLVAPR04)
Of all the sketches, this one proved the most difficult for me (though it could have been pure fatigue! The twist here is to create your own designer paper, and I made mine with a stamp from the Stampin' Up set, Bursting with Joy, and a little Black Sparkle Embossing Powder. The lady bugs were made with 1/2 and 1 inch circle punches and curled cardstock around a needle for antennae. Fun!
BEAN NOTES: Stampin Up' Bursting with Joy and Verve Birthday Surprise Stamps; VersaMark Clear Ink; SU Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red Cardstock; Black Cardstock (generic); SU Ticket Corner Punch; Paper Shapers 1/2" and 1" Circle Punches; Black Fine Point Sharpie; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Black Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Black Sparkle Superfine Detail Embossing Powder

A Mother's Day Squeeze...(VLVAPR05)
I was happy to see this was a Spring twist sketch, as I wanted to make my mom a cute Mother's Day card. This one immediately had me thinking about my Penny Black stamps (I love the adorable critters in so many of their images.) A shout out to my fabulous mom-in-law, Susan, who called me to tell me about layering scallop circles to create these pretty "pinwheels" of color.
BEAN NOTES: Penny Black Squeeze Me 'Til I Squeak Stamp; Stampin' Up Chit Chat Rub-On; StazOn Timber Brown Ink; SU Stampin' Write Markers (Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Summer Sun, Barely Banana); SU Stampin' Pastels; SU Whisper White Cardstock; DCWV Nana's Kids Baby Girl Cardstock; White and Rose Textured Cardstock (generic); Dark Pink Satin Ribbon (generic); Nestabilities Classic Circles Die; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Orange Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Nursery Tales Collection Paper Flower; Crushed Velvet Brad

The Perfect Bait and TECC65...

It's another Cupcake Challenge, though I've used these fabulous sketches in the past for cards without entering. When I saw this week's sketch, I immediately thought of a sweet little stamp that I've been hoping to use. The twist is that I turned Taylor's sketch upside down! Also, I wanted this to be a Birthday card, and, as it is a cupcake challenge, I thought, what better bait than a cupcake? I didn't have one small enough, so I had to draw my own (Yikes!) The inside of the card reads '...to wish you a Happy Birthday!' For a little glow, I dipped the fish in a little VersaMark Dazzle and glossed up the bubbles with some Glossy Accent.

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.
BEAN NOTES: Dimensions Dropping You a Line Stamps; VersaMark Clear and Dazzle, and StazOn Jet Black Ink; Copic Sketch Markers (YR07, R11, B41, R29, and Colorless Blender); Stampin' Up Whisper White, Soft Sky, Pacific Point, and Tangerine Tango Cardstock; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Stampendous White Detail Embossing Powder; Hero Arts Gemstones
HAPPY BEANS: Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch; InkEssentials Glossy Accents; Cuttlebug Bubbles Embossing Folder; Big Shot

Up and Away (Copic Colour Challenge #10)

This is the first time I've entered the Copic Colour Challenge and I have to admit that I thought the colors were hard to pair with the stamps in my collection. I also don't own Copic Color B02, but the challenge sponsors don't seem to mind if you can't use all colors in the challenge. I'm a Copic novice, and I'd love to advance my technique using these wonderful markers. Bean Tip: It is possible to match all of Stampin' Up's standard colors with Copic. B39 (Prussian Blue), for example, is very nearly an exact match with SU's Brilliant Blue.

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

For the image, I used only the mouse/balloon portion of this cute Penny Black stamp and paired it with a 'Thank You' banner. The cloudy sky was done by sponging ink using a scallop circle punch as a mask.
BEAN NOTES: Penny Black Shower of Flowers Stamp and Studio G "Thank You" Clear Stamp; Copic Sketch Markers (RV34, B39, B00, W2, and Colorless Blender); Stampin' Up Bashful Blue Classic Dye Ink; SU Whisper White, Bashful Blue, and Brilliant Blue Cardstock; Deep Pink Cardstock (generic); Making Memories Grosgrain Ribbon; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Brushed Silver Brads (generic); Making Memories Edge Distresser; Tim Holtz Ruler; Paper Piercer
HAPPY BEANS: Fiskars Diamond Border Punch

Yeah, Baby and Mojo Monday (#83)...

I skipped last week's Mojo Monday sketch, so I'm back with this baby card for our very good friends who are having a little girl in July. I think it's sweet when you decide to wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl, but it's so much easier for the gift giver (and card maker!) if we know beforehand!

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up A Little Love and So Many Sayings; SU Large Oval Punch; Paper Shapers Small Oval Punch; Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Making Memories Brads; Sponge (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Martha Stewart Embossed Button Punch; SU Hemp Twine

A Pear For You, Thanks From Me...

To view the image up-close, please click on the photo.

No sketch to 'cheat' off of this time! My mother-in-law loves pears (it's her signature fruit) and I wanted to send her a special thank you card for her thoughtful Easter gifts (Stampin' Up Lots of Tags Sizzlits for moi!) I wanted something bright and cheerful and was lucky to have lots of colors in my collection to choose from.
BEAN NOTES: Basic Grey Farmers' Market and Papertrey Ink Borders & Corners Circle Stamps; SU Appealing Apricot and Gable Green Ink; K&Company Berry Sweet Designer Paper; SU Whisper White; Appealing Apricot, Sage Shadow, and Summer Sun Cardstock; The Paper Company Pomegranate Metallic Cardstock; Marvy Uchida 2" Circle Punch; Paper Shapers 1-3/4" Circle Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Making Memories Brads
HAPPY BEANS: SU Friendship Blooms Rub-Ons; Satin Ribbon (generic)

Verve April Release Challenge!

Each month, Verve sponsors challenges surrounding their new product release. For April, the challenge consists of three very different sketches plus one color challenge. Only 4 days to complete them, so it was definitely a challenge!

In Great Love (VSAPR1)

To view an image up close, please click on the photo.

This card was difficult to photograph because of the acetate, but I felt it was worth it. I thought this sketch was the most complicated (in a good way!) Not having any pre-printed background paper, I went ahead and created my own with the stamps that matched the rub-ons used to create the sentiment and the square image. Bean Tip: To fasten a brad through ribbon, first use a 1/8 or 1/4 inch circle punch.
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Friendship Blooms Stamps; SU Purely Pomegranate Classic Dye Ink; SU Whisper White Craft Ink; SU Pink Pirouette and Sage Shadow Cardstock; Bazzill Sweetheart Textured Cardstock; SU Purely Pomegranate Grosgrain Ribbon; Foam Dimensional Circles (generic); Brads (generic); Ranger Seafoam White Super-Fine Embossing Powder
HAPPY BEANS: Clear Acetate (generic); SU Love & Happiness Rub-Ons

Les Papillons (VSAPR2)

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

Sketch number two was fairly straightforward (which I love) and I utilized silver embossing powder to liven up the backgrounds. The butterflies were created by first embossing black paper with a Big Shot and then using a Slice die cutting machine to cut out butterflies in 2 sizes.
BEAN NOTES: Cavallini & Co. Butterflies Stamps; Stampin' Up Botanicals Stamp; SU Purely Pomegranate Cardstock; Dark Gray Textured Cardstock (generic); Black Cardstock (generic); Foam Dimensional Circles (generic); Kaiser Rose and Black Pearls
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Silver Super-Fine Embossing Powder; Fiskars Filigree Embossing Plate; Big Shot; Slice Die Cutting Machine (Basics 2 Design Card)

A Sea Change (VSAPR3)

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

For the third sketch challenge, I used two stamps from the very elegant Cavallini & Co. set, Natural Wonders. I love anything that has to do with the ocean, and this challenge was a perfect fit for what I wanted to accomplish. The shell was created using the Emboss Resist technique, and, in keeping with the "by the sea theme," I substituted sand (from my backyard!) pressed into Wonder Tape for the ribbon. Also, a Sand Dollar punchout replaced the button. For the "scaled" background paper, I used a Big Shot and Fiskars Embossing Plate. Bean Tip: Try replacing background shapes with vellum paper for a simple, but unique look.
BEAN NOTES: Cavallini & Co. Natural Wonders Stamps; Stampin' Up Speckle Jumbo Wheel; SU Bleu Bayou, Pacific Point, and River Rock Classic Ink; White Textured Cardstock (generic); SU Whisper White, Bleu Bayou, and River Rock Cardstock; SU River Rock Designer Series Paper; Foam Dimensional Circles (generic); Wonder Tape; Martha Stewart Sand Dollar Punch
HAPPY BEANS: Vellum (generic); Sand; Fiskars Scales Embossing Plate; Big Shot

Be Happy (VSAPR4)

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

It's a Color Challenge! I've never actually done a color challenge before, so I was really excited to make this card. The colors are Soft Blue, Soft Yellow, and Soft Brown. For this card, I wanted to make something special and three-dimensional, so I got out my punches and my patience and got to it.
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up So Many Sayings Stamp; VersaMagic Gingerbread Chalk Ink; Soft Blue, Soft Yellow, Kraft Textured Cardstock (generic); White Textured Card (generic); SU Five-Petal, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Spring Flowers Punches; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); 1/8 inch Hole Punch; Ranger Clear Super-Fine Embossing Powder; Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Patience, lots and lots of patience!

Do the Elephant Walk...

To view the image up-close, please click on the photo.

I wanted to create a more 'masculine' looking card and thought the elephant (I must be on an elephant kick!) image went perfectly with the "Thinking of You" sentiment. I also gave myself the challenge of using some of my Stampin' Up In-Color paper, ink, and ribbon! For a more three-dimensional look, I stamped the elephant twice. I then cut out one elephant and mounted it over the first with foam squares. This card's design inspiration came from a sketch on Card Positioning Systems (with a little help from Mary Fish.)

BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up In the Wild Stamp; SU Bleu Bayou Classic Ink; SU Bleu Bayou and River Rock Cardstock; Chocolate Cardstock (generic); SU River Rock Grosgrain Ribbon; SU Ticket Corner Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares; Making Memories Brads
HAPPY BEANS: SU Friendship Blooms Rub-Ons; Sizzix Dashes Texturz Embossing Plate; Big Shot

Moroccan Cheer & Mojo Monday (#81)...

To view the image up-close, please click on the photo.

It's Mojo Monday time again! I've been wanting to use a new Basic Grey stamp set called Morocco, and I thought this sketch would be the perfect opportunity. I love the Eastern influence of the images, especially the elephant. Using a Big Shot, I first embossed the Fiskars 'Leaves' onto cardstock. I then used a VersaMark pen to draw over the raised pattern (as well as the feather), and gold embossing powder really brought out a glamorous glow. The 'flower' was created using the ever-useful Emboss Resist technique.
BEAN NOTES: Basic Grey Morocco and K&Company 'Cheers' Stamps; Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Sage Shadow Classic Ink; My Mind's Eye 'Hattie Marie' Designer Paper; SU Whisper White Cardstock; Light Green Cardstock (generic); The Paper Company Antique Gold, Mango, and Seaglass Metallic Cardstock; SU Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon; Paper Shapers 7/8" Circle Punch; Foam Dimensional Circle; Making Memories Brads
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Super-Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder; VersaMark Clear Ink Pen & Pad; Fiskars 'Leaves' Embossing Plate; Big Shot; Kaiser Light Green Pearls

Someone Special & TE Sketch #61...

I decided to try my hand at a sketch from a really fun blog called Taylored Expressions. Here is the sketch:



To view the image up-close, please click on the photo.

For the vertical panel, I stamped my background image with VersaMark Champagne Dazzle and embossed it with clear embossing powder before sponging over the raised image with ink. I also wanted to try out an interesting technique called the Spotlight Technique, which I think lends itself best to vintage and botanical images. I stamped the floral image twice. Using Copic Sketch markers, I colored in just the portion of the image I wanted to highlight. My attempt is fairly subtle, and I've included a close-up image to illustrate what the technique tries to achieve:
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Botanicals and Well-Worn Words Stamps; SU Close to Cocoa and Pink Pirouette Classic Ink; Basic Grey Designer Paper; Regal Rose and Very Vanilla Cardstock and Light Pink (generic) Cardstock; Paper Shapers 1" and 1-1/8" Circle Punches and Small Oval Punch; SU 5-Petal Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Copic Sketch Markers; VersaMark Dazzle Champagne Ink; Ranger Clear Super-Fine Detail Embossing Powder