Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much with Viva la Verve

 

           As soon as I saw this sketch and saw the inspiration photo, I immediately thought fall.  I love the banner at the bottom of the sketch brought to mind my Hearts A Flutter stamps and dies from Stampin’ Up!  I knew they would be a perfect.  My husband and I drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia yesterday – yes it was misty and a bit too early for the best colors.  But it was pretty and mostly sunny by the time we had lunch in Blowing Rock, NC.  This was the best time for us to go since the rest of the month is super busy, so I was really in the mood to create a fall themed card.  The stamped sentiment goes well with my thoughts of my marriage to my husband.  It pretty much sums up our marriage!  He is my blessing, and my life is so special with him in it!

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Lean On Me; Stampin’ Up! – Hearts A Flutter; Papertrey Ink – Summer Hills

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, & Marina Mist;  Memento – Rich Cocoa 

·       Paper:  Basic Grey – Pyrus “Callery”; Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie & More Mustard (retired) CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Verve – Pointed Flower Die; Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! – Hearts A Flutter Framelits & Chevron EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Antique Brads & Jewels Basic Rhinestones; American Craft Ribbon

The colors from the inspiration photo just yelled FALL to me!  So I went back a ways to my stash of Basic Grey in my craft room!  Yes, I know it’s from the distant past, but what can I say?  Once it’s gone, it’s gone so I hoard it!  But I knew that these colors were good matches to the inspiration picture with a Basic Grey twist!  Once I had the papers all mapped out, the rest of the card came together.  I choose to go square at 5.5” rather than rectangle shape due to the large size of my pennants.  After stamping the pennants and flowers and die cutting them out, it was pretty much assembly time.  I like my Basic Grey Magnetic Precision mat for lining up items to make sure that they are straight when there are different items that need to be lined up!  I do wish that more of the BG patterned paper was visible, but take my word for it, the colors were there from the inspiration photo!  LOL!  One thing I did notice AFTER the pennants were pinned to the back of the embossed Always Artichoke CS, that the rounded corners were flipped from the sketch, but just take that as my “creative license”!

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look.  If you like what you see, please sign up to follow my blog so that you are notified when I post a new project!

Many Blessings,

Donna



Sending Blessings to a Friend

 

 

            A very good friend did a wonderful act of kindness for me last week and to thank her, I chose to do the first week’s sketch for the VLV October Sketch Challenge just for her!  Thank you so much dear friend!  I love this week’s sketch with its strong, clean lines so I decided to keep it that way with my choice of paper and embellishments.  KISS (Scrapper)!  I also decided to go with the fall colors for this week, too.  I just love Autumn!  I think it’s my favorite time of the year.  My husband and I are talking about planning our yearly day trip up to the NC mountains to see the leaves.  They think it’s going to be another wonderful year for fall color!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Trust God

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Old Olive & Soft Suede

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Old Olive, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze & Very Vanilla CS; Bazzill – Gold??; The Paper Loft – Autumn Splendor Collection: Orchard & Candy Apple

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! – Woodgrain & Chevron EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Jewels Rhinestones; Paper Studio – Maple Leaf Punch

This card is 5½” square.  The striped paper is 3.25” by 4.25”; Old Olive CS is 5” by 2”; Soft Suede CS is cut 1.75” by 4.75”.  After the measuring and embossing, it was just a matter of layering the pieces thought I did alter the order and put the Soft Suede on top of the Old Olive to showcase the woodgrain embossing.  I wanted an outdoorsy, tree feeling to the card to reinforce the tree theme in the patterned paper.  All of the pieces were distressed with Soft Suede.

          Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my card creation.  If you are so inclined, please leave me a comment.  They really make my day!

Many Blessings,

Donna