Project Parade Day 12 - Divine Details

Hi Verve Fans. It's Tosh here bringing up the rear with the final Parade project. I hope you've enjoyed reading about the thought process that each Diva goes through while creating, and seeing their fabulous creations!! It was encouraging to me to know that there is a bit of trial and error with some of the gals, cause that's how I work. I admit, when I found out about the "Divine Detail" theme for this month, I thought it was creative and clever, but at the same time it worried me. I have a hard enough time not getting lost in my own thought process. How do I explain it so I don't lose ya'll!! Yikes!!

Well, here goes....

I usually start with an image that I want to use, and for this one I wanted to use the Kindred Spirits set with the Plain Jane Hebrews 11:1 sentiment. Then I either design a sketch or choose a recent one from either the Mojo or SCS sketch challenge. (This time I used the Mojo96 sketch) After I have an idea of what direction I want to go with the sketch, I try to pick out dp, or cs colors that will compliment the image and sketch I've chosen to work with. Notice I used the word "try". That's because the colors, dp and cs can change many times until I get the look I'm going for. I also peruse my Nestabilities to see what shape will best compliment my image. They are my "go to" for almost every card. I'm a huge Nestabilities and Punches freak. I rarely make a card without one or both.

I was inspired the other day by Kimberly Crawford to haul out my Fun Flock again. I love working with that stuff, and I thought the solid Fleur de lis image would look great black on black. I just stamped my image with my Essential Glue Pad and patted the fun flock on it. I then cut my pieces into 3 1 1/4" x 5" strips, and framed them with the EK success Fleur de lis border punch.

After I have my pieces all cut to size, matted (I'm a framer...I rarely put a piece on a card without a frame), and laid out, I then play around with different embellishments and ribbon. Add, take away, add some more, etc. I NEVER attach anything until I have everything laid out the way I want it, including embellishments.

Finally, I either ink distress the pieces, and or sew around their edges, and attach all the pieces with double stick tape, or dimensional tape. I'm pretty big on dimension too. I'm a sucker for depth.

I got a little carried away with this one. *grin* I usually ask one of my kids (depending on who's closest) if the card is okay, or if it needs something. After finishing this one, I asked my son what he thought...to my horror, he said it looked like Lingerie!!! No way!! I was going for elegant, and it has scripture on it. He said, it's elegant, but the pink on the bottom is a bit understated, and all the frills make it look like black lingerie. My stomach shrank. I asked him if I should make a different one for the parade, but he said it was beautiful and that I should go with it. So here's my Faith and Hope lingerie card. LOL I hope I haven't offended anyone.

I also have to add that I'm really inconsistent with card size; Whatever it takes to accomplish the design I'm going for. I usually put my more detailed cards in a padded envelope anyway. This particular card is 5 1/2" x 6 1/4". Odd size. I know. Mostly my cards are either 5 1/4" x 5 1/4", 5" x 7", or A2.

One last thing. I thought I'd share really quick where I get my inspiration from: West Elm catalog and Pottery Barn have fabulous color combos, and wonderful shapes and designs. I also peruse many blogs, and am constantly inspired to use different color combos, shapes, textures, etc. As well as to try different techniques. I always have my eye out while shopping too, whether it be an art piece, frame, or just a design on some dinner plates.

That's it. Hope I didn't lose ya along the way.

You still have time to participate, and we'd love to see...and read...about how you get from point "A" to point "B". To play along, just make a project or card that shows us your Divine Details. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in this post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, August 1. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade Day 10 - Divine Details

Hi! Laurie here. It's my turn to share with you my project parade creation! My reaction to this month's theme (Divine Details) was two-fold. First, I was excited at the very mention of "details"...as I just love details! Then my excitement turned to worry..."What? You mean I have to have a card making process?"! LOL! After thinking about it for a while, I realized that my "non process" is actually my process! :-)


How I start varies each time I sit down to stamp...which is part of the fun for me. This time, I chose which stamp set I wanted to use first. I LOVE the Kindred Spirits set, so that choice didn't take long! :-)



I next moved on to my patterned paper selection. Truthfully, this part can take me a while...unless something just jumps out and grabs me (which is actually the case for this card). This is where I wish I had more of a process to share with you...but it turned out to be more of a "try it and see if I like it" thing. I created the tone-on-tone embossed background next (using Clear detail e.p., Versamark, & my Stamp-a-ma-jig). Once that was completed, I then changed my mind on the patterned paper and went to my cardstock drawer and pulled out some solid colors. After fiddling with them for a while, I then changed my mind again and went with the original patterned paper I had first chosen!

After I was settled (again) on the paper, I then started thinking about embellishing. I had some red rhinestones sitting out on my desk that I thought would look wonderful on the embossed emblems. I also remembered these decorative metal corners that I had in my embellishment stash, so I took one out to see how it looked on my card. After my embellishments were chosen, then I moved on to how I would lay out my card. Yep, my card "layouts" are chosen to fit my stamps AND embellishments!! LOL!

Up to this point, nothing is glued together yet. This is where I add the details: sponging the edges of my card, stitching around and distressing the outer edges of the background, adding the sentiment, and tying on the ribbon. Oh, one more thing. I want to share my "uber" scientific way I have of deciding when to pop up my layers! If I have ribbon folded under the background layer (on this card I have two different kinds), I usually use some sort of dimensional tape to pop that layer up only because it won't lay flat with the ribbon folded under it! Same with the layer I add on top of the ribbon...it won't lay flat, so I add some dimension! (I told you it was "scientific" LOL!)

Well, that's it! That's my so called "process"! :-)

Wanna play along with us? We'd love it if you did! Just make a project or card that shows us your Divine Details. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form on the Project Parade Day 1 post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, August 1. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Recipe
Stamps: Kindred Spirits
Paper: Dark Chocolate (PTI), Scenic Route patterned paper (Sonoma Collection)
Ink: Versamark, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Clear Detail e.p., Tim Holtz metal corner, Crochet trim (May Arts), Dark Chocolate satin ribbon (PTI), Red Rhinestones, Quick Kutz Nesting Label die, Sewing Machine, Paper piercer

Project Parade Day 9--Divine Details

I'm a little nervous coming so close to the end of all the talented Diva's process descriptions, lol! I doubt my process will have anything earth shattering or even anything that you haven't seen yet, but I hope you may get some ideas or insight into how I do that thang I do, lol:)


There are a few things I think you'll notice on almost every card I create and they are *in no particular order* Ribbon, Brads, Bling, and scallops. Those are my no kidding GOTTA HAVE EM's! Even my husband has commented on this. I showed him a couple cards I made and he says "Babe, they all have the same stuff on them, you need to change it up" BWAHAHAHA! What a guy, he just doesn't know!

So, those are the things I need on most cards. How do I start? Well, my process isn't much unlike what you've seen so far! I LOVE me some challenges, so most likely I start out by looking at the SCS daily challenges or surf some of my favorite challenge blogs (Mojo Monday, CPS, 2sketches4you, etc). I am not one of those super awesome stampers that sees a challenge and tackles it, I only tackle the ones that truly inspire me, otherwise it feels like a job, kwim?

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE sketches! However, I almost always make my cards first and then create a sketch from the layout of my cards. That's how most of my sketches come to be, but not all:)

Once I choose a challenge or decide what kind of card I'm going to make, I'll choose a stamp set. The layout of my cards depends completely on the stamp set I choose.
To come up with an original layout, I take scraps of cardstock and just layer them on the card base. I keep moving stuff around until it all falls into place, literally, lol!

Once I know my layout, I'll decide on papers. I choose a piece of patterned paper first and then pick colors that coordinate; however, for this card I created here, there is no dp! Sometimes I'm in the mood to create my own, or just use solid colored cardstock instead of patterned paper. For this card, I stamped the long border stamp from Kindred Spirits in Rich Cocoa ink (by Momento). I knew that was what I wanted for my base. After that, I just played around with my papers until I had something I liked. I almost always add scallops to my cards, as I mentioned before, but for this card I used my Fleur de lis punch by EK Success. The last thing I do is to add last minute details/embellishments. The row of three rhinestones is something I do ALOT! I read that "Rule of Threes" article on a website once and it stuck. An even number number of embellishments doesn't sit right with me so I always have three. Hey, it's a RULE! I'm an Air Force girl, Rules are my life! LMBO! The little button on the bow, the cuttlebug corner die, and the stickles glitter are just a few of the last minute details I added on this card. I don't have any secret to how I choose embellies, it just has to feel right, and not overdone. And once I've added these details, I'm all done!

See, I told ya it's no earth-shattering secret, lol! It just is what it is:)

Wanna play along with us? We'd love it if you did! Just make a project or card that shows us your Divine Details. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form on the Project Parade Day 1 post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, August 1. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Card Recipe:
Stamps-Kindred Spirits (Verve)
Paper-Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Ink-Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Rich Cocoa (Momento)
Accessories-Fleur de lis punch (EK Success), Rhinestones (unk), Cuttlebug Vintage Corner die, swiss dots folder (Provocraft), Scarlett Jewel button, ribbon (PTI), Stickles (Ranger)

Project Parade Day 5 ~ Divine Details!!!

Hi all you Verve lovers, it's Lynda!!! Have you been enjoying the amazing cards the Diva's have made so far??? When Jen told us the theme for this month's project parade, I must say I was a bit concerned about what my "Divine Details" would be since my stamping "process" is pretty much an unorganized mess!!! LOL!!!

Actually, as I moved along to find my "process" the theme became really easy!! For the project I am showing you today, I tailored EVERY detail around Verve's beautiful Kindred Spirits stamp set. When I saw this set, I immediately thought of a nice wine ensemble. I have no idea why but that is what stuck in my mind (I know, it's scary) and then it evolved from there.

Since I knew the stamps I would be using, the next step was patterned paper. I initially was going to use K&Co's Blue Awning paper but then I went to my LSS and found the PERFECT paper for my project, Graphic 45's Botanicabella Collection! Between the perfect stamps and perfect paper, the rest was easy!!!

When I make a card, having a sketch makes it so much easier and the process much quicker! My card today is based on this weeks sketch at CPS. The sketch worked perfectly with the stamps!


The card is pretty self explanatory although I will tell you that I don't own the Classic Nestabilities so I had to use my oval Colluzzle and it work perfectly for the black oval mat. I have issues with leaving open spaces so usually I try to add ribbon or rhinestones to the open spaces but since the side strip was pretty busy already I didn't add anything to the strip but I did add a few Kaiser Craft rhinestones to the bottom right corner to tie in with the rhinestone in the center of the Fleur de Lis.

Besides having issues with open spaces (I am currently in therapy for that and it is working!!!), I also tend to go a little overboard as far as details. I am sure this is why it takes me so long to get anything done. Since I ONLY had a month to work on this project, I kept the details to a minimum!!! LOL!!!

The second part of my ensemble is an altered Bare Elements bottle holder. I got this at Micheal's and it was on clearance for $5!! I love when things work out that way!!!

Covering the holder was really simple. I used to use Mod Podge when covering any alterables but discovered Martha Stewart decoupage and it rocks! It comes with a brush and works wonderfully. I had painted the holder with first light brown acrylic paint and then sponged black paint on top of it to distress it. The way I did the top border was to punch the houndstooth DP using my EK Success Fleur de Lis border punch and adhered it using the MS decoupage. Here comes the "tending to go overboard" part!!! I used the same Fleur de Lis border punch and punched the black Fleur de Lis' (is that a word???) and then glued EACH ONE on top of the houndstooth border using my Quickie glue pen.

Here is a picture of the inside ~

The butterflies were cut out from another pattern of the Graphic 45 Botanicabella Collection and adhered using glue dots. Here is a closer look at the Kindred Spirits sentiment I added to the bottle ~

The sentiment and the small Fleur de Lis image was embossed using black embossing powder and then I lightly sponged the edge of the top oval to give a little more dimension. I adhered the entire piece on the bottle using sticky strip.

Here are the matching wine glass charms ~

The charms were made using silver hoop earrings and then I added different colored beads & a little charm which is the large scrolled image included in the Kindred Spirits set. I made them by stamping the image using black Stazon on clear Polyshrink which I purchased at Lucky Squirrel. I then heated and added a jump ring to add them to the charm.

The band is the butterfly patterned paper and was punched on both sides using the same Fleur de Lis border punch. I then added some black ribbon and the sentiment (which is from the Just for You set). I made the lid from a piece of transparency.

Here is a closer look at the charm ~

I must say that this project was one of the easiest, process wise, that I have done in a long time. I have included more details as far as dimensions, etc... on my blog in case you are interested.

So that's it!! I hope you have enjoyed this peek in to my "Creative Process"!!! LOL!!! We'd love to have you play along with us this month! To play along, just make a project or card that shows us your Divine Details. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in this post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, August 1. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Sneak Preview: Kindred Spirits

Welcome to Day 1 of our Sneak Previews! We've got some fabulous new sets to share with you this week, so lets jump right in. Today we're featuring cards made with Kindred Spirits, a set with timeless fleur de lis imagery and classic sentiments to honor those special friends in your life. This set will be available immediately following our Release Party this Friday night. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to find out how you can have a chance at winning this beautiful set!

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From the desk of Diva Tosha Leyendekker:

I couldn't be happier!! This is my first sneak peek with Verve, and when I saw this set I was like...*this is so me*!! Woot!! I love the different sizes of the images, and the sentiments are fabulous! I don't know what to call the main image shape, but the instant I saw it I thought how perfect the little one would fit into the stamped off larger one. What fun!! This set is so versatile I can see myself coming back again and again to these images.



I used Frayed Burlap Ranger Distress Ink, and stamped off the main image. The smaller one was stamped directly over it (no stamp positioner was needed since they're clear) with the same color. All the edges were ink distressed with Frayed Burlap also. I framed this fabulous image with an oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), and provided a pierced bg that I made with an Ornare template. The swirls and flowers are SU! diecuts, and the punched border is fiskars. I added a touch of bling with Kaisercraft pearls and rhinestones, and Zva Creative Multicolored Mini Rhinestones. I had so much fun using these images, that I decorated the inside of the card and an envelope also. (Two things I rarely take the time to do!!)

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From the desk of Diva Michelle Woerner:

Oh, Julee did it again! This set is amazing! I love how you can mix and match the images and create your own backgrounds - so versatile. The sentiments are all perfect for sending cards to your very special girlfriends. I stamped the damask-ish image in alternating colors and punched the sentiment with the SU large oval. Some ribbon, a large flower and a button finish off the card.

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From the desk of Diva Laurie Schmidlin:

"Timeless Elegance" is the best way I can describe the new Kindred Spirits set! I just LOVE it! There are so many possibilities with this set, and I just adore how Julee adds different sizes of the same image for even more versatility!

For my card, I chose to showcase the Fleur de Lis border paired with one of the sentiments included in the same set. I used a slightly modern color combo (black, gray, & coral) but added a vintage feel with the layered and distressed horizontal strips.

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From the desk of Diva Lynda Benden:

I am SO excited to show you my card for today’s sneak peek! I was SO drawn to this set and could hardly wait to use it!!! The 3 strips of DP are from SU!’s Rockabilly Specialty paper collection. The bottom Fleur de Lis border is actually one of the stamps included in the Kindred Spirits set and was stamped with Kiwi Kiss ink. I added some small black rhinestones using my Quickie glue pen.



I stamped the oval Fleur de Lis 2 times on Whisper White card stock. One time using Basic Black ink and the second time using Kiwi Kiss ink. I cut the entire Basic Black Fleur de Lis oval out and set it aside. I punched just the oval out, using my large SU! Oval punch, of the Kiwi Kiss Fleur de Lis and then stamped the sentiment in the center using Basic Black ink. This piece was then mounted on top of the Black Fleur de Lis using dimensionals. Before I adhered this piece to the center of my card, I added 3 black strips of narrow grosgrain ribbon and then added a Kiwi heart button on the oval using a glue dot. I hope you enjoy all the sneak peeks coming up this week. I KNOW the Diva’s will have some gorgeous creations to share!!!

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From the desk of Diva Julee Tilman:
I have a soft spot in my heart for fleur de lis imagery, so I had to design a set around these classic symbols. In my initial sit down with this set I cranked out 3 cards in less than an hour and the ideas just kept flowing - there are just so many options.



My card uses the VSJUN03 sketch from our Verve Release Week Challenges. The large oval fleur de lis frame is stamped on Regal Rose and then again on classic cream. I punched the regal rose piece with the Marvy Mega Oval punch (mainly because my oval Nestabilities were temporarily lost) and the inner oval with the SU! wide oval punch. I created a little border on the cream layer with the dotted line stamp and the small fleur de lis. Then I muted the stamping a bit by layering with a piece of vellum cardstock that was embossed with the Swiss dots folder.

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Okay, so what do you think? Did the Divas rock this set, or what? Stay tuned tomorrow for another rockin' set debut!

We've got a little bit of somethin' somethin' in the Verve Candy Jar today, so we're doing a giveaway! Just leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 5PM Eastern on Friday, June 26 and you'll be put in a drawing to win Kindred Spirits! Winners will be announced during our release party that night.

Question: What's the #1 Verve set on your wishlist?

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