There’s a new sketch today over on SplitCoastStampers for Verve’s Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge. The sketch this week was designed by Charmaine and it’s amazing! There are so many possibilities with this sketch!

For my card I started with a kraft cardbase that I roughed up a bit. I layered that with another kraft panel that was embossed with a Cuttlebug Script embossing folder. I distressed that panel too. For the vertical panels I thought it would be fun to represent that section with a torn piece so I found a nice subtle blue scrap of designer paper (I have no clue what it’s from) and used that, distressed it, tore it and distressed it some more. The ribbon is the gorgeous new dark brown and cream polka dot ribbon from Verve’s Polka Dot Basics Ribbon Collection. I layered it over a bit of twine thread and added to little Prima roses to the center of the bow. The sentiment is the new Deepest Sympathy Plain Jane and I stamped it on kraft using Memento Rich Cocoa ink.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll be able to join us for this week’s sketch!

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Comments

Our comment prize was hidden on Dawn’s blog and the winner is randomly selected No. 2:

Chermaine C!

Sketch challenge

Our sketch challenge winner was also randomly selected and is No. 26

Jinny Newlin!!

Congratulations ladies! I’ll be contacting you shortly with information on your gift certificates!!

The post Deconstructed Sketch 100 Winners! appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

Sketch Guidelines:

Are you ready for Deconstructed Sketch 101? I hope you like it! Here’s the scoop on what you need to do:

1. Use the sketch up top to make a project, any kind you like using any image you like. Use the sketch to inspire your own creativity. Feel free to substitute shapes for what you have available and mount tags and circles to a card base if you’d prefer.

2. Post it somewhere on the internet (your blog, SCS, Flickr, etc). Use keyword DS101 if you post to an online gallery like Splitcoaststampers.

3. Link back here to Inlinkz at the bottom of the post so I can stop by and see it.

4. Check back here next week to see if you are one of this week’s favorites and grab a badge for your blog.

***Winners from the DS100 hop and sketch challenge will be announced at 10 am CST***

For my card I attempted a clean and simple card. I started with the AMAZING Take Note stamp set from Verve and the aptly named Doodlebug 6×6 Take Note paper pad. I really love the bold colors and fun prints in that paper pad. The sentiment is a combo of two stamps in the set that I die cut with Spellbinders circles and matted with Spellbinder Scalloped circles. The banners behind the circle are die cut using the Banner Bundle die set. The two little hearts are also from the Take Note stamp set and are so sweet! The stitching is drawn with a Sharpie Pen. That’s it!

Want your sketches a little early? Follow the Deconstructed Sketch on Facebook!! Need a little extra inspiration on how to use the sketch? Be sure to follow our Deconstructed Sketch Pinterest Board where I will be pinning lots of great inspiration each week! And if you are looking for some older sketches to dig through you can find them in the Deconstructed Sketchbook. Now it’s time to hop around and see what everyone else on the DT has been up to and leave them a little love.

• Amber Hight
• Arielle Gordon
• Cresta Woodruff
• Dawn Easton
• Donna Wardle
• Jen Shults
• Joni Wilson
• Judy Rozema
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd (out this week)
• Sandra MacLean
• Sheri Gilson
• Tobi Crawford
• Tracey Pickersgill

The post Deconstructed Sketch No. 101 appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

Hey everyone!! It’s my turn to host the Diva Dare for May over on the Verve Stamps blog and this month’s dare pays tribute to Diva Amber’s (Stamping Scrapbooker) military service and Diva Laurie Willison’s (Soapbox Creations) wonderful use of stripes on her cards.  So we’re daring you to create a card using stars and/or stripes. You’ll want to make sure to head over there and check out the details because I happen to know that this month’s prize is AMAZING!

If you’d like to play along all entries must be new creations (made after 5/13/13) using at least one Verve product and should be posted here by May 30, 2013!! I hope you can join us!

The post Verve May Diva Dare appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

Today Taylored Expressions is teaming up with Bazzill Basics for a fun partnership and I just happened to be one of the very luck designers who gets to play along. We were charged with the task of creating something for Father’s Day so I used the gorgeous new Graphic Greetings Dad from Taylored Expressions and Bazzill’s Mac 6×6 Designer paper and matching cardstock.

I started by stamping and embossing the stamp on dark grey paper from the kit and then I layered that into the layout based on Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 183.  I die cut the chevron strips using the TE Chevron Border Dies as well as the banner using Banner Stacklets 1. I used the Mac Sticker sheet for the extra sentiment at the top and a few silver dots I had around for accent.

The post TE and Bazzill Partnership! appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

I’m stopping in really quickly tonight to share a card I made using the super cute (and my personal most favorite TE stamp set ever) Oh What a Day stamp set from Taylored Expressions. The paper I used is from Doodlebug Flowerbox. (LOVE!)

Here’s the supply list:

Stamps: Oh What a Day
Paper: Choice Snow White, Doodlebug Flowerbox (I used 12×12 but you can get the 6×6 here), green cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Sharpie Pen
Accessories: Doodlebrads (Flowerbox), Stickers (Doodlebug Flowerbox), Pearls (Doodlebug), Spellbinders dies, Best Glue Ever, Foam Tape

Thanks for stopping by!!

The post Thanks! appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

It’s spotlight day for the May Taylored Expresions release! Today I’m featuring the new Happily Ever stamp set and some yummy and super cute Echo Park Bundle of Joy Girl designer paper.

I’m on a bit of tag kick lately so I started with Tag Stacklets 1 and die cut the tag base and designer paper from those. I layed that with the Twiggy Branch Die cut and the sentiment stamped on a Banner Stacklets 1 die cut. I added a Recollections rose a bit of twine thread, rhinestones and Liquid Pearls. These went together so fast and will be so handy to have around for the start of wedding season!

That’s it for me! Be sure to check out what the rest of the Baker’s Dozen has for you today!

Carole Burrage
Charmaine Ikach
Jen Shults
Kerri Michaud
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

The post Taylored Expressions May Spotlights: Happily Ever After appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

And it wouldn’t be a blog hop without a PRIZE now would it??? We’re giving away today’s featured stamps to a lucky commenter along the hop!  So be sure to leave a little shout out at each of the blogs to let us know what you think and be entered to win!  Check out the Verve blog post today for the full reveal of today’s featured stamps and all the giveaway details!  Today’s featured stamps are: Teacher’s Count, All Occassion, and Promoted Plain Jane.

Today I’m featuring the brand new and super awesome Teachers Count stamp set. I LOVE this set and I couldn’t very well not use it, being a teacher and all. I am always in desperate needs of gift tags for my kids teachers. I try to send something special to them a couple of times a year just to say we appreciate them. This set was just perfect for the task! I started with a tag base and then layered it with two nested die cuts from the Banner Bundle Die. I used Doodlebug super cut Take Note paper. I then cut out the hearts using the Jotted Heart die and stamped the sentiment on top. The apples were stamped on white cardstock and colored with Copics before being popped up on foam tape. To finish it off I added a little twine bow and now I’ve got the start of either a nice little cute card or a gift tag.

1. Julee	8. Andrea
2. Charmaine	9. Jen M.
3. Teresa	10. Laurie W.
4. Stacey	11. Laurie S.
5. Amber	12. Janelle
6. Christyne	13. Maureen
7. Marisa	14. Jen S.

Well I’m last on the hop list so be sure to head back over to the Verve blog for all the details on tomorrow’s release!!

_____________________________________
Best Teacher Ever Tag Details:
Stamps: Teachers Count
Paper: Take Note (Doodlebug), Kraft (Bazzill), White (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Apple Die Set (Verve), Jotted Heart Die (Verve), Banner Bundle Die Set (Verve), twine thread (May Arts), Banner Stacklets 1 (Taylored Expressions), foam tape, Quick Dry Adhesive

The post Blog Hop Day 4 – Verve New Release Spotlights appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

In my first card I die cut the plate using white paper and then colored the birch trees with Copic Markers (N0, N1, N3) to pop them up just a bit. I have to say the idea of coloring on die cuts is a new one for me and I LOVE it! I’m sure you’ll see a lot more of it in the future! The paper I used is Authentique Hope which I thought was prefect for a nice subtle Father’s Day card. I used the new Greetings for Him stamp set for the sentiment and the wonderful new Band It dies to die cut the sentiment. Everything is distressed slightly and sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For my second card(s) I used the Birch Tree Cutting Plate die as a silhouette by cutting it out of black paper and mounting it over a bit of paper watercolored to look like a sunset. Here’s a peek at the process I used for making the sunset…

First I cut a piece of Choice Watercolor paper to 4″x5.25″. Then I went through my Distress Markers and picked the ones I thought would be perfect for a sunset.

Once they were all picked out I started adding the colors to the watercolor paper working from yellow up. I used horizontal strokes and didn’t really worry to much about filling the space completely… I just tried to get a nice sunset shape.

Next I used a Mini-Mister filled with water and a little bit of pearlescent liquid watercolor to activate the marker ink and run the colors together. You could also use Ink Potion No. 9.

After letting this sit for a bit I used a heat gun to speed up the drying and reverse the curling of the paper. Tip: if your paper doesn’t uncurl when you hit it with the heat gun try spritzing the back of the paper slightly and heating it from the back. If that doesn’t work sandwich it between a few heavy books for a couple of hours.

Here’s what it looked like dry:

It has a very subtle shimmer that looks great with the sunset.

Once the sunset was done the rest of the card was a breeze. I glued the Birch Tree Die cut to the watercolor paper, wrapped a bit of twine thread around the bottom and attached the sentiment from Greetings For Him that was die cut using the smallest Tag Stacklet 1 Die. Done!

That’s it for me today but be sure to hop over to the Fresh Out of the Oven department to see the new goodies and visit the rest of the Baker’s Dozen to see their FABULOUS projects!!

Carole Burrage
Charmaine Ikach
Jen Shults
Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud
Lynnette Kauffman
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

The post Taylored Expressions May Release Day: Birch Tree Cutting Plate appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.

And it wouldn’t be a blog hop without a PRIZE now would it??? We’re giving away today’s featured stamps to a lucky commenter along the hop!  So be sure to leave a little shout out at each of the blogs to let us know what you think and be entered to win!  Check out the Verve blog post today for the full reveal of today’s featured stamps and all the giveaway details!  Today’s featured stamps are: Strong Anchor and Adjusted Sails Plain Jane.

My card for today uses a bit of Authentique Hope paper that I just LOVE and thought would be a wonderful compliment to this gorgeous stamp set. I’m always trying to keep more uplifting cards around in my stash for when friends need a little pick me up and this verse from Strong Anchor was perfect. I stamped it on PTI Rustic Cream cardstock in Memento Nautical Blue. The layout I used is based on the May week one Viva la Verve sketch over at SCS but I took a few liberties with it {grin}. I stamped the anchor from the set on more Rustic Cream cardstock and die cut with the matching Nautical Die Set. I attached that to some foam tape and mounted it with a bit of twine thread to the card – twisting and tacking down the thread to mimic a rope. I used the rope stamp from the set in the background with a bit of Memento Toffee Crunch ink to make a subtle border then I distressed the heck out of everything.

For my second card I used Adjusted Sails PJ which I just ADORE! Again – a great one to add to my stash of cards for friends in need of a pick me up!

I started by stamping the sentiment on PTI White cardstock using Nautical Blue ink again. I die cut it using a Spellbinder’s Deckle Rectangle and sponged inside the die with Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I used all three of the wheel stamps from the set to make the background on the kraft panel behind the sentiment which I ran through the paper crinkler. The layout is based on this week’s MOJO Monday sketch. The paper is from Fancy Pants Down By The Shore paper. I used the anchor from the Strong Anchor stamp set and the matching Nautical Die Set to cut it out. I used a bit of shipping twine for the rope.

1. Julee	8. Andrea
2. Charmaine	9. Jen M.
3. Teresa	10. Laurie W.
4. Stacey	11. Laurie S.
5. Amber	12. Janelle
6. Christyne	13. Maureen
7. Marisa	14. Jen S.

Well I’m last on the hop list so be sure to head back over to the Verve blog for all the details on tomorrow’s release!!

__________________________

This Hope Details:
Stamps: Strong Anchor (Verve)
Paper: Authentique Hope, Bitter Chocolate (Bazzill), Rustic Cream (PTI)
Ink: Nautical Blue (Memento), Toffee Crunch (Memento), Vintage Photo (Ranger)
Accessories: Nautical Die Set (Verve), twine thread (May Arts), distress tool (Prima), foam tape (Taylored Expressions), Quick Dry Adhesive (3M), Sponge Ink Applicator (Ranger), paper crinkler (Fiskars)

Adjusted Sails Details:
Stamps: Adjusted Sails PJ, Strong Anchor (Verve)
Paper: Down By The Shore (Fancy Pants), Kraft (Bazzill), White (PTI)
Ink: Nautical Blue (Memento), Toffee Crunch (Memento), Vintage Photo (Ranger)
Accessories: Nautical Die Set (Verve), paper crimper (Fiskars), Deckle Rectangle Die (Spellbinders), Flag It Die Set (Verve), foam ink applicator (Ranger), foam tape (Taylored Expressions), Quick Dry Adhesive (3M), shipping twine

The post Blog Hop Day 3 – Verve New Release Spotlights appeared first on deconstructing jen | handmade cards, sketches and tutorials.