Verve, Take Two

I've been working on Verve's release week challenges all week long and I'm finally done! The challenge was to make cards based on sketches from this year's Viva la Verve challenges. I've participated in all (I think . . .) of the challenges so far, so here are my second takes on 5 of the sketches.

Here’s my first card using a sketch from January. I created my own patterned paper using one of the images from Accent Notes on the pale blue panel. I stamped the image repeatedly using a coordinating blue pigment ink for a soft look. It’s subtle, but pretty.

For the focal image, I stamped the round medallion image in dark blue ink on a shimmery white circle. There are some tiny dots of Blue Liquid Pearls accenting the image. The “thinking of you”sentiment is added to the center of the image on foam tape. I added a piece of gray taffeta ribbon with a bow to the navy panel next to the medallion for an elegant touch.

Materials Used:
Accent Notes stamp set (Verve Stamps); Spring Rain and Enchanted Evening inks (Papertrey Ink); Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Basic Gray, and Shimmery White cardstock, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (Stampin’ Up!); circle die (Nestabilities); circle punches (EK Success); Blue Liquid Pearls (Ranger); foam tape

Here’s one of February’s sketches. I went with a bright, fun birthday card. I used the balloons from Party Time as my focal image. They’re colored with Copic markers to coordinate with the bold colors in the patterned paper I used for the three panels on the cardfront. It took me longer to figure out the dimensions for the paper panels than it did for anything else on this card—LOL! I always struggle with getting measurements just right on layouts like this one.

I stamped the “birthday wishes” sentiment from Big Wish in black ink for the panel that overlaps the image panel. It’s accented with a coordinating blue button with a red ribbon threaded through the button holes and knotted for a pop of color.

Materials Used:
Party Time and Big Wish stamp sets (Verve Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, Beautiful Blooms designer paper, Hawaiian Shores button, twine (Papertrey Ink); Riding Hood Red cardstock, Real Red grosgrain ribbon (Stampin’ Up!)

Here’s my card for March. I went for a masculine look on this quick (less than 15 minutes from start to finish) birthday card.

I started off by picking some fun star patterned paper for the two panels at the bottom of the card. I used the colors of the stars to pick the colors for the card. I stamped the round flourish from the Happy Days set in yellow ink for the focal image. I added the birthday sentiment in red for some contrast.

A coordinating red ribbon tab is slipped under the side of the image panel—I figured that was a good way to add an embellishment while still staying with a somewhat masculine look.

Materials Used:
Happy Days stamp set (Verve Stamps); Crushed Curry and Riding Hood Red Classic inks, Crushed Curry and Riding Hood Red cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Ocean Tides cardstock (Papertrey Ink); designer paper (American Crafts); red grosgrain ribbon (Michaels); foam tape

This one is based on one of April’s sketches. It’s also my entry for the latest Ready, Set Stamp challenge to use the Seeing Stars set. I used lots of sparkle here between the shimmery silver paper and silver ink.

I stamped two of the stars from the set randomly in silver on a dark blue panel. I love the contrast of the silver against the blue background. The stamped panel is attached to a panel of shimmery silver paper embossed with a star pattern. I stitched the silver panel in place on a blue card base, then added a pale blue satin button embellished bow at the top of the panel. The “anything is possible” sentiment is accented with a silver star brad for one final shiny star element.

Materials Used:
Seeing Stars stamp set (Verve Stamps); Enchanted Evening ink, Enchanted Evening cardstock, Enchanted Evening button, twine (Papertrey Ink); Bashful Blue cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); silver ink (Encore); silver paper (Target); light blue satin ribbon (Michaels); Stars embossing folder (Cuttlebug); star brad (Making Memories); foam tape; sewing machine

And, finally, here’s my card based on one of May’s sketches. I flipped the sketch on its side and made it a 4 ¼” square card to fit the smaller Plain Jane image I wanted to use here.

I colored the image with Copic markers, stamping the part with the center of the sun twice so I could cut it out and attach it to the image with foam tape for a dimensional look. I used a fresh, summery color combination of aqua and orange. I paired two patterned papers with pretty varnish details from DCWV’s Mediterranean Café matstack with PTI’s Summer Sunrise cardstock for the cardfront. I used a bracket shaped border punch as an accent at the side of the orange patterned paper. Its shape reminded me of the curved edge of the sun’s rays in the image. A cluster of orange buttons frames the summery image.

Materials Used:
Enjoy Today Plain Jane (Verve Stamps); white cardstock (Taylored Expressions); Tuxedo Black ink (Memento); markers (Copic); Summer Sunrise cardstock, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon, Orange Zest buttons, twine (Papertrey Ink); Mediterranean Café matstack (DCWV); Bracket border punch (EK Success); foam tape