CELEBRATE - watercolor tea cup flowers

Hi friends!

I'm back with another card I finished several weeks ago - a water colored vintage tea cup filled with flowers. I absolutely love when Kelly does these types of cards; she makes amazing arrangements and she loves this tea cup! I enjoyed creating the arrangement, the flowers definitely came through darker than I was anticipating; I was also trying Kathy's recommendation of 'nooks and crannies' but definitely was a bit heavy handed. That's ok, it's all a learning process, right?

Once I finished coloring the tea cup; I used a Tim Holtz stencil and sponged on some Tattered Rose - it looks awesome IRL just hard to photograph. I also added some color to the background and allowed the colors from the leaves to run a bit. I used the MFT Radiating Sunshine stencil; layered the focal point with fun foam and added a strip of designer paper to the side.

TFL; hope you have a great week!

Hugs,


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Altenew Blooming Bouquet and Vintage Teacup, RAH Script Greetings (inside)

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber and Tattered Rose distress oxide

Papers: Ranger water color, misc. designer paper
Accessories: washi tape, MFT Sunrise Radiating Stencil, PPP Marshmallow Confetti, Zig Clean Color Brushes, Tim Holtz, stencil, white gel pen

Challenges:

Blessed

I have a dear friend whose daughter has had an extremely rough time lately with a significant medical issue; way too much hospital time, came home with tubes still in her, etc. BUT I am thrilled to report she is doing better and just recently had the last tube removed.

She has had such an incredibly positive attitude throughout the entire ordeal so I wanted to make her a 'just because' card with her fave colors (purple and teal). I made this AGES ago but wanted to make sure it had been received before I posted it all over social media. LOL

I included a gift card which can be used for food...or ice cream...yes, I think ice cream might be the best answer! I used the Sunrise Radiating stencil and swiped on some purple ink for a tone-on-tone look, then added Versamark ink, not caring if I covered every little inch, I love the imperfections and sprinkled on clear embossing powder. The heart was made with a recent tutorial from Jennifer McGuire, you can see her video HERE. The blessed is from Right at Home's Script Greetings dies. I layered several white die cuts over a polka dot vellum die cut and mounted on the heart. The polka dot cloud was cut from an Illustrated Faith acetate paper pad.

I added some fun paper and washi tape to the inside and the sentiment (from Penny Black):
FAITH does not make things easy
It makes them POSSIBLE

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week!

HUGS!


WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Penny Black Faith (inside)

Inks: MFT Eggplant, Versamark

Papers: Designer paper Elle's Studio, MFT Eggplant, PTI Hawaiian Shores, polka dot vellum (PTI, no longer in stock), Illustrated Faith acetate, Neenah 80 lb. white
Accessories: washi tape, MFT Sunrise Radiating Stencil, clear embossing powder, white paint, Hero Arts Infinity Heart Die, MFT Blueprints

Challenges:

Verve's April Release - FINAL DAY

Welcome back to Day 4 of Verve's April Release Spotlight Hops!  This month we're combining our release hop with our monthly Diva Inspirations Hop & Challenge. We're stamping with a yellow color scheme this month and would love to see what you create. Hop along to see our takes on the challenge, then get inky and show us your take!

And since this is our April release hop, there's new Verve in the store this morning with a fabulous prize along our hop! Three beautiful new sets and coordinating die sets just released and the entire April collection is up for grabs to one lucky commenter on our hop today!

Today's featured focus is designer's choice combined with our April inspiration, so you might just sneak a peek at a whole bunch of must-haves! Check out all the challenge details on the Verve blog today.

 

L@@K - shrinky dinks :D

And as always, we have...

Want to win some shiny new Verve? Today's prize is a BIG one. We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win our ENTIRE new release! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for the full hop list and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 5. Laurie 2. Michele (Guest) 6. Marisa 3. Betty 7. Maureen 4. Charmaine 8. Teresa

Thanks for joining us for all the sneak peeks, it has been such fun creating with Julee's creations!

HUGS!



CARD 1:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts and Sentimental Wishes

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Distress Oxide: Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick

Papers: Ranger water color, Illustrated Faith Acetate Sheets, PTI Harvest Gold
Accessories: Copics, white enamel accents, misc. stickers, Heidi Swapp arrow (colored with oxide inks), Lifted Hope Die, MFT Blueprints

CARD 2:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts
Inks: VersaFine, Distress Ink: Squeezed Lemonade

Papers:  Ranger water color, DP by Altenew
Accessories: white paint, Lifted Hope Die, shrink plastic, MFT Stitched Circle dies, fun foam, sequins, microbeads

Challenges:

Verve's April Release - Day 3

Welcome back to Day 3 of Verve's April Release Spotlight Hops!  The Verve Divas and special guest are back for another day of spotlighting our new release! Everything previewed this week will be available to order in the Verve online shop on Tuesday, April 10.

Today we're sharing our first projects featuring the Sentimental Wishes stamp set. This set pairs beautifully with the new Lacey Frames and Lacey Trim Duo die sets.

Did you recently see on Julee's blog these Easter treats? Oh my stars... Yes, I recreated them! I used 4 Reese's PB eggs (and gave the rest away, PB is my kryptonite!!)! These were so easy to make but pack quite the punch; I kept mine super simple focusing on colorful designer paper with the Sentimental Wishes stamp set (literally a sentiment for EVERY occasion; I just love these little phrases - particularly the 'love ya mean it') and these gorgeous Lacey Frames.

My next creation is 4 little thank you cards; they are each quite simple but use all our new products: Sentimental Wishes, Lacey Frames and Lacey Trim Duo. Added some distressing, sponging and they are all boxed up with matching envelopes, Quick and simple!

And don't forget, we have...

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for the full hop list, a little more about our new products and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 5. Laurie 2. Michele (Guest) 6. Marisa 3. Betty 7. Maureen 4. Charmaine 8. Teresa

HUGS!



TREATS:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Sentimental Wishes

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Distress Oxide: Picked Raspberry and Altenew Cosmic Berry

Papers: DP by Altenew
Accessories: Lacey Frames dies, Nuvo clear drops, treat sacks from Walmat, misc. ribbon from the stash ;)

CARD SET:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Sentimental Wishes
Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Old Paper Distress Ink

Papers: PTI Fine Linen and Classic Kraft, Prima Zella paper
Accessories: Lacey Frames dies, Lacey Trim Duo dies, Heidi Swapp distressor

Challenges:

Verve's April Release - Day 2

Welcome back to Day 2 of Verve's April Release Spotlight Hops!  The Verve Divas and special guest are back for another day of spotlighting our new release! Everything previewed this week will be available to order in the Verve online shop on Tuesday, April 10.

Today we're sharing our first projects featuring the Hope Lifts stamp set and coordinating Lifted Hope Die Set.

Hands down; this is my favorite set - again, those fonts!!! And that balloon and butterfly; oh goodness, I have a lot of cards coming at you with this set...but only two for today! :D Once again, a clean and simple card up first.

I created a sunrise and the balloon taking off; I used distress oxide inks to paint the background. I stamped the balloon full strength in MFT Extreme Black Ink and colored with Copics; then the flowers below were stamped with MFT Steel Grey - all second generation. Those gorgeous flowers are from Verve's Because of You (I didn't see this in the shop; it may be retired - but no worries, Julee has LOTS of other sets that would work just as well!). The main panel is mounted with fun foam onto gray card stock, then the base card.

The next card - well yeah, I ventured into the mixed media world again this time using another Verve stamp set, Great Friend. I stamped the butterflies and flowers on designer paper; used the Lifted Hope die set for the butterflies and cut the flowers by hand. I did add the new Lacey Scallop borders; one on each side (sneak peek - EEEKKKKK!!!).  Layered up some designer paper, some neutral card stock that I ran through my paper crimper and painted with some white paint.

For the flower, I actually mixed some Picked Raspberry distress ink with Snowflake paste. Once the card was completely assembled - yep, that's the truth - I wanted to add a sentiment! :D I stamped the sentiment on vellum in VersaFine black, added clear embossing powder and melted, then wedged it between the flowers. I finished it off with some zig zag stitching and left the ends loose.

And don't forget, we have...

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for the full hop list, a little more about our new products and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 5. Laurie 2. Michele (Guest) 6. Marisa 3. Betty 7. Maureen 4. Charmaine 8. Teresa

Thanks for hopping along with us; hope you love all the new goodies as much as we do! See you tomorrow!

HUGS!



CARD 1:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts and Because of You

Inks: MFT Extreme Black, Distress Oxide: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick

Papers: Ranger water color, MFT Steel Grey and Tickled Pink
Accessories: Copics, MFT Blueprints, washi tape

CARD 2:
WHAT'S IT TAKE:
Stamps: Verve Hope Lifts and Great Friend
Inks: VersaFine, MFT Extreme Black

Papers: MFT Steel Grey, DP by Altenew
Accessories: white paint, Lifted Hope Die, Doodlebug enamel dots, paper crimper, Janome Sew Mini, PTI A2 Scalloped Vertical Die, Heidi Swapp distressor, misc. stickers, MFT Blueprints

Challenges: