Viva La Verve: Happy Graduation, Gentlemen!

All the 2018 graduates in my circle of family and friends are young men. I had fun creating the first two cards using school colors and this month's Verve Sketch.  Using gold card stock and silver glitter paper in place of yellow gold and gray dressed the cards up just a bit.  The sentiments for the cards are from Verve's Words of Wisdom, and the little mortarboards were created using a square punch, a black brad, and some black floss.

Thanks for your visit,
Christine

Linking to
VLV Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge A/G

Many Blessings

While visiting my favorite blogs this afternoon, I came across this delightful card by Julee Tilman.  I love every little thing about it---the floral papers, the layering, and the Autumn Blessings wreath.  I  CASED her card using a blue and (golden) yellow collection by Glitz.  The wreath was stamped using Memento ink in Paris Dusk.  I picked up a bit of the ink with my water brush and tinted the leaves.  Thanks, Julee, for the inspiration!



Thanks for visiting,
Christine


Linking to:
 Verve Inspiration Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (A/G)
Word Art Wednesday (A/G)

VLV Sketch Challenge: Happy Birthday to You

 Had to crop the bottom edge of the photo as the metallic gold striped paper cast a nice reflection at the base of the card.  The "recipe":  Verve Sketch, MFT Scalloped Doily and Cross Stitched Circle, Verve's Cake and Candles and Butterfly Grace.

Thanks so much for taking a peek at the latest birthday card for my stash,

Christine

Linking to:
VLV Sketch Challenge
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Sparkle and Shine)

Celebrate Today in Blues and Greens

 What fun it is to replenish my birthday card collection in anticipation of upcoming celebrations!  This one features Papertrey Ink's Shape Shifter Oval die layered over a blended blue and green panel...a hint or two lighter than Sunday Stamps' jewel toned inspiration photo.  I stamped and cut the largest bloom from Verve's Kindness Matters to include some of the blending. The sentiment comes from Verve's Joyful Blooms.  The big bloom is perfect for a glittered gem to add a little sparkle.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Hope your Sabbath was full of rest and that tomorrow holds many opportunities to celebrate God's kindness.

Christine

Linking to:
Sunday Stamps Color Challenge
Tuesday Throwdown (Glimmer from the big gem)
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Sparkle and shine from the glittered gem)
Word Art Wednesday A/G

Celebrate your Day---With Pearls

Continuing to create cards for  upcoming birthdays, this card was made with Papertrey Ink dies:  You Have my Heart and Mix and Mat Heart Dies.  The sentiment is from Verve's Poppy Birthday, one of my favorite ways to express birthday greetings.  A scattering of pearls adds some shine...and reminds me of our dear Barbara Bush.

Thanks so much for visiting,

Christine

Linking to:

SSS Wednesday Challenge:  Sparkle and Shine
Tuesday Throwdown:  Glimmer and Shine
PIP Challenge A/G
Word Art Wednesday A/G

Verve Inspiration Challenge: Yellow Birthday

 Several birthdays are approaching, and my card stash is seriously depleted.  This is good in that I NEED to make cards.  (Insert big smiley face!)  Some Verve favorites ( Kindness Matters and Cake and Candles) are combined with Papertrey Ink's  Scroll Frame Die.  I balanced out the "seriousness" of the scrolled frame by die cutting the flowers from some whimsical yellow papers and added a little gold card stock for some sparkle.

Thanks for taking a look,

Christine

Linking to:

Verve's Inspiration Challenge

SSS Wednesday Challenge:  Sparkle and Shine

Tuesday Throwdown:  Glimmer and Shine

PIP Challenge A/G

Word Art Wednesday A/G

Fun Friday Challenge: LBBS Peonies

Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.   This week the design team is showcasing  images from Little Blue Button Stamps.

Please take time to see the design team's samples and to link up your own creations.  It's always fun to see what you have to share!

Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool below. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 
The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge & prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements

WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo
All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

Thanks so much for taking time to visit,
Christine

Atlantic Hearts Sketch 260: Birthday Wishes

This sketch stretched my creativity a bit but allowed for the use of lots of fun products.  The background pieces were cut from a Reverse Confetti tag die.  The image is part of a MFT collection called Adorable Elephants, and the space for a sentiment was just perfect for a tiny sentiment from Verve's Joyful Blooms.

Hope you will play along with the Atlantic Hearts sketch.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

VLV Sketch---Mother's Day Blessings

The sentiment is from Verve's On Occasion set, and lots of the pieces came from the pretty bowl designated for scraps and left-over die cuts.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
VLV April Sketch Challenge
Word Art  Wednesday
Time Out Challenge (Spring---Mother's Day)

Verve Inspiration Challenge: Yellow Gift Card Holder

Someone very thoughtful plans to share some kind wishes and encouragement with Starbucks gift cards and asked me to make a few gift card holders.  This one is made with bits and pieces of one of my favorite yellow and blue card stock collections.  The cross-stitched circle die is from MFT as is the tiny doily.    The central medallion is adorned with a Verve coffee cup sporting a heart from Verve's Heart Quartet die.  Here's a link to measurements.

I needed to prop the  card to make it stand up for the photo, so I grabbed this yellow cup.   Why do I have a "Grumpy" mug?    My coffee mugs are primarily gifts from my elementary students, and they bear encouraging  sentiments and "best teacher" labels.  Years ago, my family was visiting, and my brother teased me about being unable to drink coffee from such cheerful mugs.  Mom later found the plastic "Grumpy" mug so my brother would be provided with a less cheerful cup when he visits.  I never drink from it, but just seeing it in the cupboard makes me grin.

Thanks for visiting and for reading this silly story,
Christine

Linking to:
Verve April Inspiration Challenge (Yellow)
Word Art Wednesday

Fun Friday Challenge: Double the Fun with Two Sponsors

Happy Friday!  It's time for another Fun Friday Challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack where the theme is always Anything Goes.   This week the design team is showcasing  images from Little Blue Button Stamps and Just Me Digital Stamps.

Please take time to see the design team's samples and to link up your own creations.  It's always fun to see what you have to share!

Challenge Rules

1. Please post a direct link to your blog post that includes your challenge entry project, using the linky tool below. 

2. Be sure to include a link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering your project into

3. THREE entries per person are allowed for each challenge and you must post a separate blog post for each entry.

4. For all entries -NO BACK LINKS ACCEPTED- 
The date on your blog post should be dated between the start date & the end date for the challenge you are entering, in order to be eligible for the challenge & prizes

5. You may link up to other challenges but be sure to link back to Jo's Scrap Shack and to the challenge post you are entering 

 * All entries that do not meet the challenge requirements

WILL NOT be eligible for the top 3, any sponsor wins or any random wins by Jo
All random wins will only be mailed within the US and Canada only.

Thanks so much for taking time to visit,
Christine

Inspired by: He Shall Cover You with His Feathers

We have had gray skies and gentle rainfall this afternoon, inspiring a cozy mood, and when I saw this gorgeous photo, I couldn't resist.
Feather pillows came to mind and I thought of these sweet Papertrey Ink stamps and dies.  This scripture is soft and comforting to me, and I hope it will be a blessing to you.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Inspired By
Word Art Wednesday

Bright Birthday Wishes

The Tuesday Throwdown Challenge is to use Rainbow Colors.  Actually, I just finished a rainbow card using paint chips and was pleased with the outcome.  However, it is for a future DT post and must remain a surprise until then.

I was inspired to try a different type of rainbow themed card using several dies and one of my favorite stamp sets:
Newton' Nook Frames and Flags
MFT Magical Mandala
Reverse Confetti Tall Tags Trio
Verve Stamps Beautiful Things


Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Tuesday Throwdown (Rainbow)
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)
Word Art Wednesday (A/G)

Atlantic Hearts Sketch 258: Peony Birthday

I just love square cards and am so glad the sweet Atlantic Hearts Sketch calls for one.  My card was created by "adjusting" a scalloped card base to create a square, layering a textured green panel, and adding and "adjusted" Reverse Confetti tag.  The pretty peonies are a Birch Press Design product, and the sentiment is from Verve's Poppy Birthday.  The fun banner stamp and die are retired Verve items.

Thanks so much for visiting.  Happy crafting!
Christine


Linking to
SSS Wednesday Challenge: Birthday
Word Art Wednesday:  A/G