Five for One...

I recently discovered a sketch challenge with an interesting twist: create 5 different cards from the same sketch -- it's amazing how many different ways you can interpret a sketch! I decided to try it out and following are all five takes.

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With Sympathy (Challenge Sponsor: Kristie Larsen)
If you only look at one of my cards for this challenge, I hope it is this one. Taylor VanBruggen is sponsoring a card drive to benefit a very special place. The labor and delivery unit of the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The hard-working nurses there try their best to bring comfort to parents suffering the loss of a newborn. My own son is such a miracle and source of joy for our family that I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child. Taylor has asked for cards featuring the dragonfly, which is the symbol of hope and love at the Center. Here is my contribution. If you'd like to find out how to send your own dragonfly card, please click here.
BEAN NOTES: Inkadinkado Patterned Bugs and Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamps; SU Close to Cocoa Classic Dye Ink; Memory Box Gossamer Designer Paper; SU Close to Cocoa and Pink Pirouette Cardstock; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Hero Arts Gemstones
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Glossy Accents

Thanks a Bunch (Challenge Sponsor: Julie Detlef)
My second card included an additional challenge, which was to use flowers and buttons. I thought I'd take care of both with some button flowers! I love this funky, retro color combination. My swell Mom-in-Law was nice enough to share some of her winnings from this years's World Card Making Day win, and I've used some of the cool paper here.
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits and Verve Grateful Elegance (sentiment) Stamps; Stampin' Up Night of Navy and Wild Wasabi Classic Dye Ink; Fancy Pants The Daily Grind Designer Paper; SU Night of Navy, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White Cardstock; Blue Stitched Satin Ribbon (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Buttons! (generic)

Thinking of You (Challenge Sponsor: Linda Beeson)
The third card in my stack was simple to create. I scored a piece of cardstock at equal 1/4" intervals and folded to create an accordion panel. As this piece was already quite raised, I made some flat flowers using some punched shapes and some mini brads. A border punch created my sentiment strip.
BEAN NOTES: (Unless otherwise noted, all materials are Stampin' Up) Chit-Chat Rub-On; Designer Series Paper (name unknown); Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss Cardstock; 5-Petal and Spring Flowers Punches; Scallop Trim Border Punch; Mini Brads (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Scor-Pal

Many Thanks (Challenge Sponsor: Samantha Sibbet)
Number four brings me to cherries. I found this piece of Designer Paper among a stack that I got from my stupendous Pal Ann Schach. Unfortunately, I think the paper is from before my Stampin' Up fandom, so I have no clue as to what it's called. But, I did have the Tart & Tangy stamp set that seems to coordinate! I used Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the pretty cherries and added some Glossy Accents to shine them up. I then stamped my sentiment directly on some left-over Christmas ribbon...don't you love when you can recycle?
BEAN NOTES: (Unless otherwise noted, all materials are Stampin' Up): Tart & Tangy and All-Year Cheer (sentiment); Stamp; Designer Series Paper (name unknown); StazOn Black Ink; Stampin' Write Markers (Always Artichoke, Old Olive; Basic Black, and Real Red); Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, and Wild Wasbi Cardstock; Scallop Border Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Ruby Red Liquid Pearls; Black Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Red Grosgrain Ribbon (generic)

Lemons Life Love (Challenge Sponsor: Kelly Schirmer)
My husband looked at my fifth card and said, "I don't get it." He was befuddled by the sentiment on this card, which is "Lemons Life Love." I actually think it's rather profound in a very existential way, don't you? Either way, this card had to fulfill the additional challenge requirement of using the paper piecing technique, which I employed here on these luscious lemons. I again used some of the fab designer paper from my Mom-in-Law and I like the rustic, yet happy look of this card. We all know what you do when Life hands you Lemons...and don't we all Love lemonade?
BEAN NOTES: Flourishes Lemons Life & Love Stamps; Memento Rich Cocoa Ink; Stampin' Write Marker; GCD Studios Whoop De Doo Designer Paper; SU Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White, and Wild Wasabi Cardstock; Crop-A-Dile; Large Eyelets (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Tim Holtz Scattered Straw Distress Ink