Halloween Birthday Card

Here I go again taking The Diva Dare from Verve!  My Terrific Trios this time are the 3 inks I chose to sponge on the card, more specifically, on the cupcake (the background used four).  I had never intended to use this cute cupcake stamp set (one of Verve's latest releases) for a masculine card when I ordered it, but hey, boys love cupcakes too!  My nephew's birthday falls on Halloween and this year he's turning the big one-oh.  

I used the emboss/resist technique to create the background and the cupcake frosting:  The background was made using a chevron stencil - I heat embossed with Versamark & black embossing powder, then sponged on the different colours.  The cupcake was stamped with Versamark, then also sponged using the 3 inks. 

I added some glitter to the cupcake as well as to the number '10', which I drew in with a black Sharpie.

As a finishing touch, I thought it would be cute to incorporate a little spider (a digistamp) hanging by its web from the flag :o)

This card also qualifies for the Show Us Your Verve challenge, using 2 of Verve's August releases.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:
Paper: CTMH White Daisy, Black
Stamps: Verve's Small Packages; MyGrafico Digistamp
Ink: Rangers Broken China Distressed Ink; CTMH Creme Brulee; SU Lovely Lilac & Only Orange
Other: Verve's Cupcake Frame Die Set; Cuttlebug; Color Box Chevrons stencil; Versamark; Stampendous Black embossing powder; Sponge; Martha Stewart Onyx & Turquoise glitter; Black Sharpie; silver thread from stash; 3-d foam tape

Quilled Teddy Bear

It's time to take the Dare! Verve's Diva Dare, that is!  My Terrific Trios are the 3 quilled balloons.  
Addicted to Stamps and More has a CAS challenge and Addicted to CAS has a 'Cuddly' theme this week (my 1st CAS challenges ever!) that I'm also playing along with.  
I haven't quilled in a while, and thought it would be fun to make this card for my husband's colleague, who just had a baby boy.  This little teddy bear gave me quite a challenge, though-I couldn't seem to make him quite 'cute enough'.  It wasn't until I got some advice from my wonderfully creative cartoonist husband :0) on how to make and position his nose and eyes that I was satisfied.  Prior to his facial reconstruction, the poor teddy looked 'freaky', as my son put it!
(Wish I had a before-and-after shot)

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Verve's Small Phrases
Embellishments: Verve's Shine Bright Sequins
Other: Verve's Charming Banner Die; Cuttlebug; Cuttlebug Polka Dot embossing folder; twine; quilling strips

September Diva Dare

When I came across this card by Jennifer Shults, I was instantly inspired to participate in Verve's Diva Dare Contest!  The "Dare" is to come up with a card that is somehow inspired by the game of Tic-Tac-Toe.  Taking inspiration from Jen's card, I also went with a 'hugs and kisses' them.  

I love to quill, so when the contest guidelines suggested a grid as a possible tic-tac-toe element to use, I immediately knew I wanted to use the weaving technique that many quillers use, and weaved a grid-like background for my card.

(I think I'll hang on to this one til next Valentine's Day and give it to my hubby!)

Thanks for stopping by!


Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Verve 'Making A Statement'
Ink: CTMH Black
Paper: Recollections, CTMH Kraft
Other: CTMH Baker's Twine, glitter; clothespin & pearls from my stash; Sharpie fine tip marker (to draw game pieces)