It's a Verve Kinda Week

I absolutely love participating in Sketch challenges. Not sure if it is the chance of winning Free products or the fact that the sketch gives me a starting point for an otherwise, choatic mind. One of my favorite places to participate in challenges is Verve. First off, they have the Mojo Monday every Monday, then over on SCS there is the Viva La Verve sketch challenges where a new sketch is announced every Friday and if you participate in each week's challenge you are allowed to enter the "Championship" for a chance to win all of the new release stamps when they are released .. Of course there are also the monthly Stamp Release Challenges which is a week of challenges with a new sketch each day......
Does any of this sound exciting to you?? Check out the following links for more information on how you can play along or just cruise through the photo albums for tons of inspiration:

• June Release Challenge Link

• Mojo Monday Challenge Link

• Viva La Verve Challenge Link (week 1)
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
  

Yesterday I received my new stamps from ABC Toys & Crafts. Today's Mojo sketch & Verve Sketch were combined. I wanted to use some new Verve stamps that I received yesterday, however, sometimes the sketch speaks to you, which is what this one did. "Crafty Secrets" was the only stamps that would do..

Wanna know what I did?

Obviously started with the Kraft base, but look closely at the yellow, after I ran it through the cuttlebug and embossed using a SU folder, I cut it in half and flipped the top portion over so that the embossing is inverted. I inked and distressed the edges of the top portion. For the lower portion, I ran my inked up sponge across the embossed image to darken it but allowed the inverted portion to remain a lighter shade of yellow....

The sweet little image was colored using my Copics, cut out and the edges inked and distressed just a tad. The Prima flowers are also sold over at ABC (amazing aren't they, I even love the container that they come in). Wait! I did use Verve!!! The background for my sentiment was first stamped in So Saffron ink with an Artful Elegance stamp (Verve) , then the sentiment was stamped over it in black. I completely forgot that I had the punch that went with the hardware until after I had fought with it, cutting it down, rounding the edges so that it would fit behind the tag (what a Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins)..... I used my new Nesties instead of a boring ole rectangle, which is what the sketch called for............ Next time I use this stamp set, I am going to break out the Flower Soft........
Thanks for stopping by today. I'm sure I will have lots of fun stuff to share this week with all of the Verve Sketches, Twisted Thursday, New Stamps and The New Digital Images over at Shirley's 2 Girls...........

LAST BUT NOT LEAST:

You have until June 30th to get your clear stamps at a 15% discount over at ABC Toys & Crafts