Thursday, January 31, 2008

Sketch Challenge

Have you heard about the sketch challenge being hosted by Verve Visual? The details can be had here, at the Verve Visual Blog. Basically: (1) Create a card using the sketch (2) Photograph the card and upload it to your gallery or your blog and (3) Submit a link to the card via a comment on the Verve blog by February 15th.

The prize is extra-cool! The winner of the sketch challenge will get to be the Honored Guest -- meaning that she'll get a copy of the Design Team Kit (which includes hot new not-yet-released stamps)! It'll be awesome! Julee has also stated that there will be some random drawings throughout the contest... so there will be even more prizes. If you need some inspiration, you can check out the Verve Visual Gallery. Each DT member submitted her version of the sketch. Here's mine.

Supply List:
Stamps: Swirly Stars, Starlight Starbright Remixed (Verve Visual)
Paper: Wasabi Green, Whisper White, Basic Black, and Cool Caribbean CS (Stampin' Up!); All Dressed Up Paper Stack (DCWV)
Ink: Caribbean Sea Spectrum Ink Pad (Stampin' Up!); VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Nestabilities square dies (Spellbinders); Leaves Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest); Word Window Punch (Stampin' Up!)


Happy Stamping!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Shooting Star from Saturday

Saturday was so much fun! It started with an impromptu rubber stamp sale that I read about on Craig's List just a half hour earlier. The sale was only 1/5 of a mile away and the ladies were so nice. I scored a bunch of fun stuff! Then it was off to the post office, lunch with a friend, a quick visit with Julee (to whom I referred as my "dealer" at the sale) and then a much-needed stamping date with Lila.

Here is one of the cards from that stamping session: A Shooting Star. The 'shooting' part was created from thin strips of blue Deja Views paper and the white linen cardstock. At first, I was trying to curl them like curling ribbon with my thumb nail, but that caused the strips to rip. Curling them around my paper piercer worked much better! The curls were arranged so there were two white and two blue curled each direction, for a total of 8.

Supply List:
Stamps: Seeing Stars (Verve Visual)
Paper: Sharon Ann Little Ones Collection (Deja Views), White Linen CS (Archiver's)
Ink: Ballet Blue (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Stars #2 die (Sizzix), sewing machine, dimensionals


Hope you enjoyed your weekend, too! Happy Stamping!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

New Card & New Medium

How fabulous to come across a patterned paper with polka-dotted stars when you want to make a card with a stamp of the same type! This American Crafts paper was perfect for the bold, fun look I was going for. (Thanks, Lila!) I also tried the Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest for the first time. Love those, too.

Supply List:
Stamps: Polka Stars, Swirly Stars (Verve Visual)
Paper: Celebration Collection (American Crafts); Caribbean Breeze (Bazzill Smoothies)
Ink: VersaM
agic Chalk Aloe Vera (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Large Squeeze star punch (Fiskars); Leaves Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest); dimensionals


In addition to stamping, I've starting working with beads. It all happened by accident, really. I was visiting my sister in Colorado this past September, and I handed over my camera to show her some really cute pictures of her son. She hit the review button and came across some pictures of some lam
pwork glass beads that I had taken a few weeks before -- and she asked for some earrings. I don't know if she sensed my panic when I said "Sure." Off I went to learn how to bead.

To make a long story short, I sent her several pairs of earrings for Christmas and she said she loved them. (Anyone near Boulder want to let me know if she's really wearing them or just humoring me?) I've rather enjoy
ed making the earrings, and I went ahead and opened an Etsy store to share them with others. The store needs some work (and some more inventory), but it's a start.

Happy Stamping (& Beading)!

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

January Verve Release

They're HERE! There are a total of five fun sets in this release. Three are star-themed and coordinate perfectly with Starlight Starbright, while the other two are heart-themed.

I don't know if I have a favorite set yet... I've been enjoying them all! The card I'd like to share with you today features stamps from both of the new heart sets, Heart to Heart and Wild Thing.

The Hugs and kisses sentiment is one of seven sayings and phrases in the Heart to Heart set. And the little VersaMarked heart in the background? That's from Wild Thing, where there are four of the individual asymmetrical hearts in various sizes and patterns.

Supply List:

Stamps: Heart to Heart, Wild Thing (Verve Visual)

Paper:
Cowgirl Collection (Crate Paper)

Inks:
VersaMark & VersaFine Sepia (Tsukineko)

Accessories:
Hearts Tipsy Die (Sizzix); White Glaze Pen (Sakura); Brown glitter brads (Making Memories); dimensionals


So, keep your Web browsers tuned to Verve Visual for the big release tonight -- and check the gallery, too, for samples that'll enable you for sure! And the guest stampers? Their projects will knock your socks off!

Happy Stamping!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

"Love"ly Sneak Peek

Happy New Year! Let's start of '08 with a fun sneak peek! It's a card I created from one of the five new stamp sets that are scheduled to be released by Verve Visual on January 10th.

Click here for the sneak peek. And check the Verve blog each day until the 10th... because there are going to be some yummy samples posted.

Do you have any resolutions related to stamping or crafting? I resolve to get my craft room into better shape. I have plenty of organizational tools, so it's time to get working on it. It's embarassing to have to purchase something that I know I already have... except I can't find it so I need another. *scream*

Happy Stamping!