Sunshine In My Soul {SSSC272}

Hello there! After a much needed break from stamping, I am up and running this week! The end of the school year with added dance practices/recital and soccer tournaments really packs a punch, and I needed to give myself more room to breathe, so thank you so much for being patient with me *wink*. I've seen so many gorgeous techniques out there that a want to try too! I feel left behind. Ha ha!

It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch:

My card is pretty basic and clean - I let the die cuts do all the talking, which makes a quick and easy card and hopefully I will catch up to my creative mojo soon.

The card base is Summer Splash (SWOON) and I added the Floral Fusion Die-namics over the top to add a little texture and interest. I was going to stamp a background, but I liked this better today. I used  a Vertical Stitched Strips Die-namics in Lemon Chiffon, but I shortened the strip about 1/4" so it fit my card layout a little better. You can see this technique here.

For the sentiment panel I used the Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics (I can't wait to use this one more - yum!) and added the sentiment from Cheerful Blessings in Smoke ink and a Persimmon butterfly from the new Flutter of Butterflies - Lace Die-namics set. I'm so glad it's summer!!

That's it for me today - please be sure to stop by the Sweet Sunday Sketch blog to see all the beautiful cards the team has made this week. You can also add your project there as well. I hope you'll play along!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: cheerful blessings (mft)
paper: smooth white (mft), black licorice (mft), persimmon (mft), lemon chiffon (mft), summer splash (mft)
ink: smoke (sss)
accessories: flutter of butterflies - lace die-namics (mft), floral fusion cover-up die-namics (mft), jumbo fishtail banner stax die-namics (mft), inside & out diagonal stitched rectangle stax die-namics (mft), sno cone buttons  (mft), foam tape

Verve Divas Inspiration Hop {June}

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our June challenge is Eat Me, Drink Me

Are you fueled by coffee, tea or cocoa? Find cupcakes irresistible? Create a card featuring an edible treat or favored beverage!  Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction - just leave us needing a fix of your favorite indulgence!

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Saturday, June 20.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

I kind of went out on a limb and used non-coffee colors for this card. Usually when I make a card about coffee, I use kraft and brown and all things java. No brown or craft in this one! How about bright blue and coral?

I grabbed the Coffee stamp set and split up the sentiment onto a Flag It die and the Classy Label die.  I stamped the border on the label with the coordinating image from Love Notes and then added a couple little flags under the sides of the label. Adds a little something fun, don't you think?

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Maureen
	2. Amy	8. Marisa
	3. Anya	9. Chaitali
	4. Betty	10. Stacey
	5. Sankari	11. Amber
	6. Sarah

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: coffee (verve), love notes (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), smoke (sss), coral crush (mft), lush lagoon (mft)
ink: smoke (sss), fog (sss), lush lagoon (mft)
accessories: coffee die (verve), classy label die (verve), flag it die set (verve), foam tape

A Blessing to Me {SSSC267}

Hello there! Happy weekend to you. It is time for another sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge - here's a peek:

For this one, I changed up the star element to the Hibiscus Die-namics from MFT. I cut out the blossoms from Persimmon and Orange Fizz card stock and then added some Green Room card stock leaves. I used a stylus to round out the leaves and petals so they have a more dimensional look to them. The flower center is Lemon Drop along with a few little black enamel dots. I stamped the sentiment from PTI's Signature Greetings in Black Licorice ink, and left it at that. I feel like it needs more, but my procrastination on this one is making me leave it as is. Ha! It will have to do.

That's it for me today - please stop over and visit the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge blog, where you can find card samples from the team and you may link up your project there as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: signature greetings (pti)
paper: smooth white (mft), persimmon (mft), orange fizz (mft), lemon drop (mft), green room (mft), summer splash (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft)
accessories: hibiscus die-namics (mft), black enamel dots (doodlebug designs), foam tape

Big Dreams {CTD340}

Hello again! I cannot believe it's already the last Wednesday in April and my time as a guest designer for Color Throwdown is over. Sigh. I had a blast working with all of these amazing color palettes!

We have another pretty palette for you all this week - pretty pink petals and gorgeous green leaves!

Ever since the My Favorite Things team debuted Modern Blooms, I've had my eye on it! And then once in the store, I had to buy some new colors of ink and card stock too. That's how I work. Like when you go into Target for, oh, I don't know - gum - and you come out with a new stackable organizational cubical system. You all know what I mean. Anyway... I was itching to ink up my new pretty petals and this challenge fit the bill!

I started off by stamping this big beautiful sentiment from Chalkboard Greetings Too in Black Licorice ink and then added the Cotton Candy flowers in a scattered patter. Then I added the Limelight leaves and adding all the darker accents last. I'm telling you, go grab a flower building set - they are SO easy to work with and look ridiculously gorgeous when you're all finished.

I popped the panel up with foam tape on to a Summer Splash card front and then added a few enamel dots for dimension.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Color Throwdown team created for you today:

• Barbara Anders 
• Broni Holcombe 
• Joan Ervin 
• Jodi Collins 
• Lori Tecler 
• Monika Davis
• Tammy Hershberger
• Vickie Zimmer 
• Wanda Cullen

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: chalkboard greetings too (mft), modern blooms (mft)
paper: smooth white (mft), summer splash (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft), razzle berry (mft), cotton candy (mft), limelight (mft), green room (mft)
accessories: enamel dots (mme), foam tape

Love Comforts Like Sunshine {SSSC266}

Hello and happy weekend! I'm back with a card for a new Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here's a look at the sketch -

As you can see, I flipped the sketch so the sentiment fit the little circle accents better.  I started by cutting out the Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics in Smoke card stock and then stamped this beautiful sentiment from Verve's Stronger Love stamp set in black ink. I also stamped the hearts from Borderline in sweet tooth ink and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.

Be sure to stop by the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge blog for a peek at all the design team cards and you will be able to link up your challenge card there as well. Have fun!


Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: stronger love (verve), borderline (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), smoke (sss), fog (sss), berrylicious (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft), versa mark
accessories: stitched circle stax die-namics (mft), birthday girl enamel dots (doodlebug design), white detail embossing powder (judikins), foam tape