March Diva Dare project: Color Me Spring!

Hi Everyone,


Today over at the Verve Blog, the Diva Dare challenge has started! - each day this month, there will be a new project released using this month's theme: Color Me Spring

When I think of spring.... one of the things that I think about is our wee little daughter and her birthday next week! She born on Easter (a week after her duedate!) and when she was born, all the nurses at the hospital gave her little bunnies and baby chick stuffed animals - so sweet! So for my  Color Me Spring, I decided to make a little birthday present for my little chickie :) I made a card and a coordinating footstool/bench that I painted and then covered with modpodge to protect it and then covered it with a light glaze.  I painted it in her favorite color: purple! Here is a picture of the little giftset that I made for my chickie princess:

I painted a white footstool with purple and then covered it with the papers from the EP Springtime collection. For the footstool, I created a little layout using Charley from the Chicks Rule collection, as well as her friends from the To The Moon stamp set (adding a bright pink bow to their head :)

 On the sides of the little bench - I stamped the sentiment: "Chicks Rule" from the Chicks Rule stamp set and added hearts from the Love Notes stamp set.

Here is a picture of the top of the little bench:  I cut out the larger shape using the Grand Calibur and then added a scalloped edging on the sides. I love this sentiment - because it is so true - my little 3 year old is totally one of the coolest chicks I know! I stamped little Charley and her friends and paper pieced them using the DP and then added a pink bow to each of them from the Chicks Rule Stamp set.

Here is the birthday card for me little princess :) One of my favorite things that my daughter does every morning when I leave to go to work, is open the window and she watches me walk to the car and when I open the car door - she always yells out "I love you" and I say "I love you too!" and then we both wave to each other - its one of my favorite parts of our morning routine - so I thought that I would make little Chole wave from out the window. I created a little cut out shape and then added shutters and added a little window basket by cutting out half of  the basket from the Chicks Rule stamp set. I added the happy birthday sentiment from the Birthday Bash stamp set into the newly released Charming Oval die set from A Cut Above dies from Verve stamps:

Card Ingredients: 

Paper: Springtime collection from EP and purple prism papers

Stamps: Chicks Rule, Love Notes (for the little trio of pink hearts), To the Moon (for the little monkey, bear and elephant) , Birthday Bash (for the sentiment)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo black, Grape Jelly, RoseRed 

Accessories: liquid pearls, pink ribbon from stash, Spellbinders, bling, copics, sponger, dimensionals, scorpal, star hatpin, stickles (Diamond), Martha Stewart heart punch, footstool from Michaels, copics and bling.

I love spring and I love being able to leave the snowsuits at home and go for a walk with my kids! I am excited to decorate the house in pink and purple for our daughter's springtime birthday and even more excited to give her this Chicks Rule giftset :) Hope you will play along with the Diva Dare challenge and share with us your Color Me Spring creation!

And You can win A LOT of Verve goodness by playing along with us with this month's Diva Dare Challenge - please check out the Verve Stamps blog for more details!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Sankari

Chicks Rule!!!

Hi Everyone,

The Verve Release for this month is so cute and adorable - love the new stamps and dies and today, there is a little after- party going on where each of us picked our favorite card that we had made for the release. I think this one is my favorite card using cute little Chole chickie :) 

I created a little scene where Chole the little chickie climbs into her very own hot air balloon decorated with pennants and bling and sails up, up and away into the summer sky :) I created the hot air balloon using the  Classy Label Die from Verve  and an EK success punch label and stamped the sentiment: Chicks Rule in the brand new Charming Oval Die set. Chole, the basket, and the sweet butterfly are from the new stamp set: Chicks Rule and the sweet little whimsey tree is from the Up, Up, and Away stamp set. The clouds are hand drawn and then cut out and sponged and then throughly stickled with some cotton lace stickles :) I love how this turned out - although, I must admit that its definitely one of my more "heavy" cards ;)

Card Ingredients:
Stamps: Chicks Rule and the trees are from Up Up and Away (Verve)
Dies: Classy Label Die and Charming Oval Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangelo, and Bamboo Leaves
Papers: Echo Park: A Walk in the Park
Accessories: clouds are hand drawn and then sponged, bling from Kaiser, liquid pearls, stickles (cotton lace), ribbon from stash, dimensionals, EK sucess label punch, copics, baker's twine, cropadile


I started off by coloring the basket from theChicks Rule  stamp set. I cut it out and sandwiched it with dimensionals onto two other baskets that were cut out and then put sweet little Chole in the basket. The top part of the balloon was created by creating three sandwiched shapes from the Classy Label Die and then adding 4 holes to the 4 sides of the balloon from which I ran some Baker's Twine through and adhered it to the basket. I stamped the sentiment onto theCharming Oval Die set and then adhered it to the EK sucess label die and added a row of pennants to the bottom of it with some bling in the middle. Then I glued it down on the sky (all papers from Walk in the Park, EP) and added a hill and the little mini forest from the whimsey tree from theUp, Up, and Away set.

I really love how this turned out - and it was definitely a long labor of love - but so enjoyable in the process. Please stop by the Verve blog and check out everyone's favorite creation - they are all so bright, cheery and amazing! Also while you are there - check out all the fun things on Sale - AND don't forget - you can still win a ton of Verve by doing all 5 VLV sketch challenges for March - check out the deets here including a PDF of all the Verve sketches for this month.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Big hugs,
Sankari :)

Verve Stamps: New Release Spotlights Day 3

Hi Everyone :)

TGIF for real! So glad that today leads into the weekend because its been one crazy kind of busy week and what a better way to relax than to unwind at a Par-tay! Tonight is the Verve Release party where all the stamps and dies that have been sneaked this week will be released along with more samples and projects from the Divas :)


Today - we are showing sneak peeks from the super cute and adorable stamp set: Chicks Rule and the super sweet new "must have" die from the Verve A Cut Above Die: the Flutterby Die - which you can use in conjunction with the butterfly in the stamp set or on its own. For one of my cards today - I used the gorgeous sketch created by Charmaine for the Viva La Verve sketch challenge for week #2 of March (and by the way - today being Friday - there is another VLV sketch to play with from your very own... moi :) --- please scroll down to see today's VLV sketch and we would love it if you would play along - AND just a quick reminder that one lucky person who plays along with all 5 sketches can win an ENTIRE Verve release (oh yea!) - you can find all the information for the most recent VLV sketch and a PDF for all 5 March VLV challenges here. 


But back to the card at hand! Using dear CharmWarm's :) sketch - I used the awesome sentiment: "Hola Chica" and paired it with the butterfly from the stamp set that I paper pieced along with the Flutterby Die - I tried to keep the layout pretty crisp - this is my attempt at a CAS card that I really really really tried to not go ga-ga with the liquid pearls (it really is a serious addiction, lol! :) I love the way it turned out - and would love to make some more to keep on hand for those times when you just need a quick card :)

Card Ingredients:

Stamps: Chicks Rule (Verve) 

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug Red 

Papers: Echo Park: For the Record paper collection

Accessories: Charming Banner and Flutterby die (A Cut Above by Verve) sheer ruffled black ribbon, spellbinders, liquid pearls, bling from Kaiser, spellbinders, dimensionals and sponger.

I also had a chance to play along with Jackie's gorgeous sketch from the VLV Week #4 and I loved the little strips that she has goin' on. I used the basket that is in this stamp set and filled it with flowers (3 different sizes in one stamp) that you can choose to use individually or cut them up individually - which is what I ended up doing. I used the same EP For the Record (canNOT get enough of this DP!)  There are three flowers on one stamp - that I cut out with some paper pieced DP that I then layered on each other. 


The basket was layered on another basket and the handle was stamped and I attached them together and finished it off with the just a wee bit of dimensions and liquid pearl'in :) I loved putting a smaller flower on the larger flower and finishing the centers with some blign :)

Card Ingredients:

Stamps: Chicks Rule and Egg-stra Special (Verve)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Lady Bug Red
Papers: Echo Park: For the Record paper collection
Dies: Charming Oval die (A Cut Above by Verve)
Accessories: dimensionals, copics, baker's twine, liquid pearls, white gel pen, corner rounder, bling from Kaiser


I can't wait to see everyone's project and from some sneak peeks that I have already seen - this release is filled with some super amazing creations from these amazing ladies! Please hop on over to see their gorgeous creations:

1. Maureen 7. Sankari 2. Amy 8. Tosh 3. Amber 9. Julee 4. Janelle 10. Andrea 5. Teresa 11. Charmaine 6. Laurie

AND Two more things:


1. Verve Stamps Prize Alert!!! *******  Oh, and did I mention there's a prize??? We love to celebrate here at Verve, so we've hidden a prize along the hop today! One lucky commenter on one of the Diva Hop Spots below will receive today's featured stamps, (Lucky Ducky and the Hope Perches Plain Jane) plus the Charming Oval Die Set we'll be previewing tomorrow! Deadline for commenting is 6PM Mountain on Friday, March 25. Winners will be announced during ourReLeAsE pArTy that night




2. The release party is TONIGHT! so come on over and get your Verve on:





3. okay - actually one more! :) Check out all the details for the VLV sketch challenge #5 for March here and for more deets on how you can win the whole release!!! And you can scroll down on my blog for the VLV sketch and for my sample for the sketch - hope that you will join in with us and shout out Viva La Verve!


Thanks so much for stopping by tonight - and for all of your sweetness!
Big hugs,
Sankari :)

Viva La Verve- Week #5 (March 25,2011)

Good Morning Everyone!

I am so excited to be hosting the last sketch challenge for the Viva La Verve challenges for the month of March! This month - there have been five sketch challenges - you can read all about the challenge HERE and also download the PDF for all the sketches for March as well - AND if you complete all the sketches and upload them to the gallery on SCS with the keyword: VLVMar2011 - that will automatically enter you into the drawing to win the next ENTIRE Verve release! *****  All five cards must be uploaded to the VLVMar2011 gallery and linked up in the VLVLMAR2011 Sketch CHAMPIONS thread by midnight, CST on Thursday, March 31st to be eligible to win this month's prize - using the keyword: VLVMar2011

I kept the sketch a bit simple (no tilted panels in honor of dearest Marissa :) and used a combination of stamps to create my card using the EP For the Record Collection. I made this for a friend of mine who recently got a promotion of sorts and is starting a new adventure at the work place! I used the words "congrats" from the sticker sheet and the sentiment: "You are Amazing" from the Amazing Wishes  stamp set in the frame from the  Love Story stamp set with little accents from the butterflies from the Blue Skies stamp set: 

Since I might have to mail it to her - I didn't want to make it too multi-dimensional and heavy - but did add just a wee bit of dimensionals as well as a healthy dose of glitter and liquid pearls :D 

Here is another angle of the card:

Card Ingredients:

Stamps: Amazing Wishes stamp set, Blue Skies stamp set and frame from Love Story stamp set from Verve Stamps

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Ladybug Red

Papers: Echo Park: For the Record

Accessories: ruffled ribbon, chunky glitter from Martha Stewart, liquid pearls, dimensionals, copics and corner rounder 

I loved making this card - especially since it is for my dear friend - and can't wait to see what you will create with the sketch if you play along - which I hope you will!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - and if you haven't checked out all the wonderful sneak peeks from the New Release Spotlights this week - please stop by the Verve Blog to see the Master Lists for the different new release spotlight days (don't forget a lucky commenter could win a HUGE prize!)

Thanks so much for stopping by - and please stop by the VLV thread to check out all the details:

Big hugs,

Sankari :)

Verve Stamps: New Release Spotlights Day 2

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to Day 2 of the Verve New Release Spotlights! Woohoo! Today we are previewing one of the brand new stamp sets that will be released tomorrow called Egg-stra Special along with some brand new dies (Charming Banner & Charming Oval dies). For my card today, I used one of my favorite images which is this cutie little chickie who is popping out of an egg - so I thought it would be fun to create a little scene where there are a bunch of eggs and one of them has this little chickie - who suddenly pops out :) 

It was so easy to create the eggs by cutting them out with the Charming Oval die - I cut out a few different DP with the Charming Oval die and put the little image of the chickie popping out of the egg in the center. The eggs are all cut out, sponged, and covered with a liquid glaze. I created a little sun with some crinkled yellow paper and a little button in the middle with a bit of twine :)

Card Ingredients:

Paper: We R Memory Keepers: Hippity Hoppity Collection

Stamps: Egg-stra Special

Inks: Bamboo Leaves, Bahama Blue and Tuxedo Black

Accessories: liquid pearls, grass punch from MS, enamel glaze, EK scalloped edger punch, spellbinders and button from stash

These stamps make me sooo happy and I know I can't wait to see what everyone has done with this super cute cute cute stamp sets and these super cute dies!!! Here is one way that you can get ahold of these super cute stamps:

Verve Stamps Prize Alert!!! *******  Oh, and did I mention there's a prize??? We love to celebrate here at Verve, so we've hidden a prize along the hop today! One lucky commenter on one of the Diva Hop Spots below will receive today's featured stamps, (Lucky Ducky and the Hope Perches Plain Jane) plus the Charming Oval Die Set we'll be previewing tomorrow! Deadline for commenting is 6PM Mountain on Friday, March 25. Winners will be announced during ourReLeAsE pArTy that night

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Also mark your calendars for the Release Party this Friday:

Big Hugs,

Sankari :)

1. Laurie 7. Julee 2. Charmaine 8. Sankari 3. Jackie 9. Janelle 4. Amber 10. Maureen 5. Tosh 11. Teresa 6. Andrea 12. Amy

March Blast from the Past Blog Hop from Taylored Expressions

HI Everyone,

Every month, Taylor hosts a Blast from the Past Challenge customer blog hop, where we all get to play with previously released stamp sets from Taylored Expressions. This month's blog hop's theme is SPRING! And I am so excited that it really is starting to look like... spring! (gasp!!) I couldn't wait to play with the In the Park stamp set which has such wonderful sentiments and images. I used the sentiment "wishing you a" and mixed it with the sentiment "Happy Birthday" to create a birthday card for a very dear friend of mine. Being with her is always like being around sunshine :) I stamped the tree twice and cut out the trunk from one of the tree images and glued it ontop of the first one and pulled out the branches a little to make it look a little 3-D. I colored in the leaves and then popped out a couple leaves as well as popping out the kites which were attached with baker's twine into a knot. 

I loved the clouds duo and picket fence die from the Taylored Dies series and used them to create a little border edging with the fence and some felt clouds.

Card Ingredients:

Paper: Taylored Expressions Choice Buttercream cardstock

Inks: Rosebud, Cantaloupe and Tuxedo black ink from Memento Inks

Stamps: In the Park  stamp set from Taylored Expressions

Accessories: Baker's Twine, felt,  clouds duo & picket fence die from Taylored Dies , liquid pearls and dimensionals

 I loved creating this card and can't wait to give it to my friend :) and I can't wait to see which stamp sets everyone has used for this month's theme and which stamp sets that they decided to use!

AND A PRIZE! We will be drawing one random hopper to receive a FREE Taylored Expressions stamp set of your choice and we'll also be choosing another creation to be featured in an upcoming TE newsletter. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Big hugs,

Sankari :)

Verve Stamps: New Release Spotlights Day 1

Good Morning Everyone!

This week all the Verve Divas will be showing some sneak peeks from the NEW Verve release! Woot! Every release Julee releases the cutest and most lovely fonts and images. Today, we are previewing 2 new stamp sets called: Lucky Duck and/or the Plain Jane called Hope Pervches.

For my card today - I used the lovely Plain Jane with the beautiful sentiment: "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul" - Isn't this sentiment sooo lovely - it can be used for so many different occasions from wedding to sympathy to thinking of you cards. There is something so positive and reassuring in seeing those words all together.

Card Ingredients:

Stamps; Verve Stamps: Plain Jane; Hope Perches

Papers; October Afternoon

Ink: Bahama Blue with Tuxedo black

Accessories: nesties, EK success edger punch,  twine, liquid pearls and buttons from scrap

sstash

I love this sentiment and to go with the sentiment - I created a little feather and then layered it ontop of the the brown DP  - I then cut out the sentiment with my nesties and added little notches to the sentiment so that I could slide the feather in the sentiment panel. I wrapped twine across the top of the center panel and then added some liquid drops to the twine.....and to the whole card :)

I can't wait to see what all the lovely ladies have created with the Verve Stamps today! And I hope you will stop by tomorrow for Day 2 of Sneak Peeks - hop on over with me today to see what the ladies have created:

1. Charmaine 7. Teresa 2. Janelle 8. Amber 3. Laurie 9. Tosh 4. Jackie 10. Amy 5. Sankari 11. Andrea 6. Julee 12. Maureen

Verve Stamps Prize Alert!!! 
*******  Oh, and did I mention there's a prize??? We love to celebrate here at Verve, so we've hidden a prize along the hop today! One lucky commenter on one of the Diva Hop Spots below will receive today's featured stamps, (Lucky Ducky and the Hope Perches Plain Jane) plus the Charming Oval Die Set we'll be previewing tomorrow! Deadline for commenting is 6PM Mountain on Friday, March 25. Winners will be announced during ourReLeAsE pArTy that night!


Thanks so much for stopping by today! Also mark your calendars for the Release Party this Friday:

Big Hugs,
Sankari :)