Serenity

Hello Friends! I seem to be back into a groove of creating and posting on Sundays! Feels good to create.

One of my special customers from work was sick a couple of months back and I made a card for everyone to sign and sent it out to him. When he got well, he came by and asked if I had made the card and I said yes. Well, he loved it so much, he asked me if I could make him a dozen of assorted cards and he would pay me. Now, I really am not into selling my cards. I just feel that you can never get the money for all the time that you put into them. Personally, I'd rather give them away. And I also did not want to commit to such a large order. I know twelve doesn't sound like much but, I don't really make clean and simple cards and I try to put as much detail into them as possible. However, he is also a long-time friend of our family and he has been so wonderful to call or send cards to my Mom during her times of illness that I just couldn't say no to him. So, last Sunday I created the first of a dozen cards for this special order. Today I am sharing the second one.

My card this week was inspired by May 2015 Viva la Verve Sketch Week 5.

Created with Verve Serenity Stamp Set (Archived)

Cardstock colors used in my card are Pool Party and River Rock from Stampin' Up!®. I used a patterned paper from a KAISERCRAFT paper pad called On This Day. It has some really beautiful soft tones in it. I stamped the leaves from the Serenity stamp set onto the patterned paper using the River Rock ink. The base of the card is pre-made by Recollections. I sponged the edges of the papers with Pool Party after distressing the edges lightly.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a blessed week!

Have a Happy Day

Wow! It has been forever since I have been able to play with my pretty papers, stamps, and bling. I've had a lot going on in my personal life with personal illness and family illness. Things are finally starting to settle down again. Praise the Lord!

I'm here today with a card I created inspired by Viva la Verve May 2015 Week 4 Sketch.

using Be Blessed and Flag It die set from Verve Stamps

I was super excited when I saw this Viva la Verve Sketch! I just love me some tilted panels! I know it freaks some people out when they see a tilt but, I embrace it. LOL. However, I cannot tell a lie, it took me forever to put together this clean and simple card. It's hard to resist the urge to keep adding to the design. My little banner flags were die cut with some burlap which is new to me and I think I'm gonna love trying that in some other ways.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you and your loved ones have a very blessed Memorial Day!

Healing, in the Name of Our Lord

Today I am sharing a card with you that was inspired by two challenges.

First, Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge 231: Easter/Spring Religious Inspiration

Second: Viva la Verve March Week Two Sketch

For The Shining Light Challenge, I chose to go with a religious theme and add a few flowers for spring.

Using Hope stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs

I needed this card to be somewhat masculine as I was creating it for my brother who was diagnosed with lung cancer this week. So, I chose to stick with neutrals. I used a lot of white because that is the awareness ribbon color for lung cancer. It originally was a clear ribbon to symbolize air being clear but many people did not notice the ribbons so they changed it to white. I like the white because to me it symbolizes the purity of air the Lord will fill my brother's lungs with when He HEALS him!

The cross-cut out background was created using my Cricut Expression and a new cartridge called Edge to Edge. I was really excited to find this because I am loving all those intricate die-cut backgrounds that I am seeing everyone use but, I'm not really wanting to make an investment in those just yet. The long banner was also cut with Cricut using the Phrases cartridge. I then ran it through a Spellbinders embossing folder that has gorgeous crosses and swirls in it.

I'd also like to share this with the fine ladies over at Word Art Wednesday.

Thanks for blessing me with your presence at my little corner of the web.

Chevron Birthday

Hello everyone! It's a dreary, rainy day in my neck of the woods today so, I have spent the better part of the day in my craft room. I created another birthday card inspired by several challenges.

I used the March Week 1 Viva la Verve sketch as an outline for the overall design of my card.

Since I created a birthday card it also fits in with the March Verve Diva Inspirations Challenge...

I used Chevron Love, All Aflutter Die, Flag It Die, and Birthday Phrases from Verve Stamps.

I made this card with a special person in mind. A young lady who loves polka dots, chevrons, and pearls. I think I got her covered!

Here are some other challenges I am playing along with:

Sister Act- Anything Goes

Polkadoodles- Birthdays

Blogger's Challenge- Birthdays

Crazy 4 Challenges- Bring on the Bling

Thanks for stopping by...

December Viva la Verve Sketch 3

Hello Everyone. This month for Viva la Verve, Julee created 4 great sketches that could be used with this 'one sheet wonder' pattern or you have the option to do all the sketches separately. I thought about it and since I have all these great stencils, mists, embossing pastes, and washi tape, etc. I decided to put them to use and create my own patterned papers to fit the sketches.

Here is sketch 3...

Here is my take on it...

I started with a card base made from Real Red cardstock by Stampin' UP!®. I cut a slightly smaller white panel and spritzed it with heidi swapp™Color Shine in Tinsel. I adhered two strips of washi tape in the upper left and lower right portions of the spritzed panel. Before adhering the panel to the card base I wrapped it in red cording and tied a bow. Using a horizontal strip of white card stock and the heidi swapp chevron spray stencil, I created the red chevron pattern with embossing paste and Real Red ink. I created a label for my sentiment by using Sentiment Tag 3 from Cheery Lynn Designs. My sentiment is from the Verve Stamp Set Peace on Earth. For finishing touches, I added the poinsettia to the corner of the label.

Creating this card with all those cool tools was such fun! I really need to take more time to use the things I spend the money on.

Thanks for stopping by...

Viva la Verve November Week 4

Hello Blogging Friends! It's been quite awhile. I've missed you all so much and I've really missed creating, sharing with you, and hopping around to see what you have been up to. So much has been going on in my life; it's just been over the top crazy. So much so, that I ended up spending my Thanksgiving in the hospital. Praise the Lord, I am home now! Let me tell you, being hospitalized can really put things into perspective for you.

Anyways, I'm so grateful to be back home among my family, friends, and loved ones that I have vowed to start making time for things that I really treasure and enjoy and one of those things is creating cards. But, not just creating them...sending them out to people who need encouragement and "Letting my light so shine" for Christ.

So tonight, I'm getting it in just under the wire, but I really wanted to create something with one of the Viva la Verve sketches for November. I chose to go with this one...

I broke out one of my un-opened Verve Stamp Sets and finally inked it up. The set is called Let it Be and it is one of my favorites.

I hope you like my take on the sketch! Thanks for stopping by...

Classy Cards N Such: It Is Well

Hello blogging friends! I'm here today with a card created for the Classy Cards N Such Challenge. Our challenge this week is to use some form of gingham on your card. As soon as I saw this challenge I knew that I wanted to pull out my Secret Garden paper pad by Graphic 45. It's one of my absolute faves and it has several different shades of gingham to choose from!

I started my card with a 5.5" x 5.5" square lavender cardstock base. I added a sheet of lavender gingham designer paper from Secret Garden paper pad. I wanted the paper to stand out just a bit from the base so I inked the edges with distress ink.

Before adhering the gingham paper to the base I added three strips of Black Polka Dot Trendy Tape diagonally across the paper.

For my next layer I cut a rectangle of lavender cardstock and ran it through my Cuttlebug with the Dots Embossing Folder. I added distress ink to the edges.

For my focal point of the card I used Spellbinders Decorative Labels Twenty-Seven and white cardstock to create an elegant label to stamp my sentiment on.

I added black pearls to the centers of my stamped flowers and for finishing touches I added a black swirl in the lower corner.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to join the challenge at Classy Cards N Such Blog. You can save 10% off your entire purchase at Classy Cards N Such Store by using my discount code: JENNIPHER-10. If you would like to get prepared for future Classy Cards N Such challenges please check out the challenge calendar.

CCNS: He Cares

Happy Memorial Day Everyone! Hope you have had a wonderful holiday.

Today I have an encouragement card to share made with some fun products from the Classy Cards N Such Online Store.

I started with a 5.25 x 5.25 card base made from Echo Bronze Stardream Metallic. Beautiful brown shimmery cardstock! To that I added a distressed layer of designer paper from the Bo Bunny Prairie Chic collection. This is a great collection for those of you that like to do "shabby chic" designs.

Next, using the Italian Flourish Doily Die, I die cut an elegant pink doily and added it to the bottom center of my card. I knew I wanted this doily to be my focal point so, using Lacy Circles I die cut a green lacy circle to stamp my Scripture on.

I knew I needed something across the upper part of my card to finish it off. I decided to use a border punch with the Echo Bronze Stardream Metallic and create a border for the top of my card.

To bring it all together like a beautiful package with a big bow, I used the Esse Smooth Pearlized Cocoa with the Large Bow Die from Impression Obsession and created a bow for the upper left corner.

My card design was inspired by the Viva la Verve May Week 2 Sketch...

Thanks for stopping by...

CCNS & The Perfect Sentiment: Feminine Grace

Hello Everyone! It's been a long while since I've posted anything on my blog. I was on a creative roll and getting quite a few cards made but then my 78 year old Mom fell and broke her leg which required surgery and a week's stay in the hospital. I do have her back home with me now and she is slowly recovering with the aid of in-home physical therapists and lots of rest. She can't put any pressure on that leg for two months so, bare with me as I care for my Mom and try to create when time allows.

It's Wednesday and time for a new challenge at The Perfect Sentiment. This week our theme is "Make it Feminine".

I created my card using several products from the Classy Cards N Such Online Store.

I really love the different patterns and color combinations in the Laced with Grace Designer Paper Collection by Glitz Designs. Each pattern already has a pre-distressed look to it and since I love distressing anyway, that just makes me love the collection even more. Today I decided to work with the pale teals in the collection. One pattern in particular was jumping out at me (the zebra stripes) and that's how I came up with my teal and black color combination for the basis of this card.

My card base measures 5.5 square. For my first layer I distressed the edges of the solid teal pattern with the sheet music on it and then inked the distressed edges with Black Soot Distress Ink. Using the largest circle from Spellbinders Lacey Circles I cut out a lacey circle from the teal zebra print pattern and adhered that in the center. Next, I cut out a 2.5 x 4.5 rectangle from the teal ledger pattern and matted it on black cardstock; placing it on top of the circle.


With the basics of my card done, it's time to get fancy! Using the Spellbinders Fantastic Flourish One and black cardstock I cut out a flourish and placed it off-center to the left. I added a couple drops of Mint Green Liquid Pearls to the flower centers to make them stand out. Using Very Vanilla cardstock and Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight, I cut out a label and stamped my sentiment. To finish things off, I added one Prima Calcutta Mini in Willow. 

My card design was inspired by the April Week 1 Viva la Verve Sketch...

Thanks for stopping by!

Classy Cards N Such: Deepest Sympathy

Hello Everyone! It's been over a week since I've posted anything. Sorry about that. I also need to get out and visit a lot of you as well.

Here is another card made with fabulous products available at the Classy Cards N Such Online Store.

None of us really like to think about it but unfortunately, there are times when we least expect it and we need a sympathy card. So, I like to make at least one sympathy card a month to have on hand.

I started with a 5.5" square card base of Stardream Emerald. It has such a beautiful subtle sheen to it and really coordinated well with the greenery in the designer paper from the Webster's Pages Ladies & Gents/Trendsetters Collection Combo Pack. This collection is also in the clearance section of the store now! Since I already knew in my mind that I wanted to work with the 3-D Die-cut Red Roses, I chose a rose pattern to add to the base of my card.

Before I assembled my rose I knew that I wanted a nice base to display it on. I used the French Pastry Doily Die and the Stardream Chiara Coral cardstock to create a lovely pale pink doily to mat the rose on. Then I began to assemble the rose using foam pads.

I used the Verve Scroll Plain Jane stamp and matching die to create the scroll to stamp my sentiment on. My sentiment comes from the Verve Borderline Stamp Set.

For finishing touches I added a Mini Flourish Band in Stardream Emerald.

My card design was inspired by this Viva la Verve Sketch...

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a fabulous week!

CCNS & The Verve Diva Dare

Happy Wednesday everyone. Are you enjoying the Daylight Savings Time? I know that my family is.

Today's card was inspired by the March Verve Diva Dare and many of the products I used today are from the Classy Cards N Such Online Store.

The Diva Dare was to combine the styles of Diva Laurie and Diva Maureen into your creation. I love both of their styles and have several of their cards pinned on my Verve Inspiration Board on Pinterest. When I think of Laurie I think of several layers, soft colors, bling and distressed edges as in this card. When I think of Maureen, I see bright colors, big fluffy bows, buttons and bling, and a focus on the sentiment as in this card.

So I set off to creating my card. I started with the first Viva la Verve Sketch for March and rotated it 90 degrees to the right.

Here is what I ended up with...

It was no issue at all for me to distress, layer it up, or add bling. The real dare for me was to include a bow. Seriously I cannot make a bow if my life depended on it. I even have that tool, I think it's called Bow Easy. Bow Easy for who? Certainly not me. But, in honor of Maureen I pulled out the seam binding and set about making my poor excuse for a bow. Other than that I am thrilled with the way the card came out.

The inspiration to use this particular sentiment from the Wonderfully Made Verve Stamp Set came from some struggles I've been facing with my health lately. It's encouraging and it speaks volumes about what God has brought me through.

Supplies available at Classy Cards N Such:
Graphic 45 Secret Garden Paper Collection
Spellbinders Lovely Lattice M-Bossabilities
Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight
Finesse Swirl in leCreme
Cheery Lynn Designs Exotic Butterfly Collection (small #2)

Thanks for dropping by. Have a blessed day.

The Perfect Sentiment: Encourage Me w/Ribbon

Happy Wednesday Everyone! Time for a new challenge at The Perfect Sentiment. This week we are challenging you to create a card with an encouraging sentiment and include some ribbon somewhere in the design of your card.

This Week's Sponsors

Pattie's Creations will award 3 free digis to one lucky random winner.

Crafty City will award a $5 Gift Certificate to one lucky random winner. Good only in the U.S. 

 

 

My card design was inspired by this Viva la Verve Sketch...

Supplies: Be Amazing Designer Paper by My Minds Eye; Basic Black CS; Basic Black ribbon; Spellbinders Labels Eighteen; Brighter Days stamp set from Verve Stamps; Black Pearls; ribbon slot hole punch.

Be sure to stop by The Perfect Sentiment for more inspiration for this challenge from the Design Team. 

3,2,1 @ Sentimental Sundays

Hello everyone and a Blessed Sunday to you! It's time for another fun challenge at Sentimental Sundays!

It sounds really easy but, it actually had me stumped for awhile. The challenge is to use 3 of one item, two of another item, and one of another item. Sounds so simple till you get started and your a cardmaker like me who likes to pile it on! I managed to pull it off though.

Here is what I ended up with...

So let me give you the breakdown...I used 3 pieces of cardstock, two stamps, and one embossing folder or one die-cut or one piece of patterned paper. See what I mean? Tricky, tricky. But hey, I got another Christmas Card done!

 

Supplies: Bright Spirits stamp set from Verve Stamps; Cardstock and Designer Paper from American Crafts; Spellbinders Lacy Circle die; corner rounder; Copic Markers; Snow Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

My card design was inspired by this sketch from the Viva la Verve Sketch Challenges at SCS.

Challenges I would like to enter:

• 2 Sisters: use your favorite stamps (I love Verve Stamps and I love Christmas stamps)
• Speedy and Friends: Circles
• Totally Gorjuss: Punches and Dies (Spellbinders Lacy Circle Die, Corner Rounder Punch)
• Frosted Designs: Embossing
• Jingle Belles: Snow

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. God Bless You.

"Viva la Verve" Dare to Dream

Wow! It's been a full two weeks since I've posted anything on my blog. I'm surprised I'm not going through withdrawals. But, in total honesty, I just haven't been feeling that well and add stress from work on top of that plus a nasty head cold and you pretty much have a recipe for killing your creative energy.

I created this card for the week 2 of September Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge.

Here is the sketch...

This sketch worked so well for the new Borderline Stamp Set from Verve's latest release. It felt like the sketch was made for this stamp set.

Supplies: Blue Bayou CS and ribbon from SU; Marjolaine DP by Basic Grey; Borderline Stamp Set & Mini Bookplate die from Verve Stamps.

 

Challenges I am entering:

• Challenges 4 Everybody: Anything Goes
• No Matter Which Challenges: Die cuts or Punches

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. May God Bless You.