One Big Challenge = 5 Cards!

Hello! I have a very special treat for you today. You see, Verve stamps, is celebrating their anniversary with a blog hop, and this ultimate sketch challenge of 5 sketches. If you do all 5 sketches, you have a chance to win their entire new release! It is probably doubtful that I would win, but the saying comes to mind ... "you have to be in it, to win it"! The last couple of days, I have been a very busy stamper! I originally thought I would get all the cards done last weekend and then I would show you one card each day. Well, last Saturday, I did get time to go to my stamp shack, but ideas just didn't come. That happens sometimes. After I did the Texas card earlier in the week, ideas started to flow! But, because the deadline is approaching and I want to get my cards linked up, I have decided to show you all my cards in one post! This will make for a long post ... I hope you can hang in there with me! Let's get started. Here are the Verve sketches ...

Before I show you my cards, I want to tell you that Verve stamps are not required for the challenges, but in my case, I used almost all Verve stamps. Actually, I think only on one card did I use a stamp from another company. I will show you my cards in order (each sketch above has a letter) and give the details on each before going to the next one! Enjoy!

Sketch A -

I have to tell you, of the 5 cards, this is actually my least favorite. But you can be the judge! Looking at the sketch, I decided the focal point was the circle right in the middle. I immediately thought of this fun Verve stamp, so off I went to look for papers with stars. All my star paper seems to be mostly patriotic ...duh! I wanted a more pastel feel, so this card could be given to a child. I finally decided on this paper and spent time adding tiny gold star stickers to each circle! Yes I did! The card size is approx. 4 x 6.
Recipe Card A -
Paper - Sei Happy Day Confetti and Happy Day Streamers, Cardstock White, Aqua, Peach
Stamps - Verve
Ink - Versafine Black, Sankura Souffle Pens (colored in stars on sentiment)
Tools - Labels 8 (Die cut two out of aqua cardstock and then cut only middle from each to form sides of each card. Also, had to cut each in half. So when you look at the aqua on the card, those are actually 4 individual pieces.), Classic Circle Nestibilites 2 sizes, Sizzix Polka Dots embossing folder, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch.
Other - Gold stars by Stampendous

Sketch B -
You know that square lattice embossing folder from Stampin' Up? It is one of my new faves! (I love that I can promote every company out there, which is something I couldn't do when I had my store!) Anyway, I got to thinking I would like to try using this folder with designer paper. See how the background on the card came out? I love it! I think the card is very simple, but elegant. The sentiment would definitely be great at Thanksgiving, but since I believe one should give thanks every day, I think it is appropriate for an everyday card too!
Recipe Card B -
Paper - Die Cuts with a View Cafe Mediterranean Matstack, Cardstock Natural White
Stamps - Verve - Give Thanks is a Plain Jane & Teal Swirl is from the One Person set
Ink - Versafine Black, Tombow #335 to ink Swirl
Tools - Polka Dot Frame from the Scalloped Edge Frame Frameablities set, Classic Circle Nestiblites, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch, Square Lattice Stampin' Up embossing folder.
Other - Teal Pearls by Queen & Co.

Sketch C - With this card, I am also participating in this color challenge ...
When I saw these colors, I immediately thought of the designer paper I had with these exact colors. That would be the strip of flowers with the chocolate background. So then the hunt was on to find the other colors to bring it all together. The pattern paper pulled in the sky and celery and the solids I found by looking on the back sides of all my designer papers. I knew I wanted to make the card base with the kraft. But, you cannot believe what I had to search thru to find just one piece of kraft cardstock. That is a really sad situation as it is a basic cardstock color for a stamper! You will see that I followed the sketch with the exception of the celery scalloped border at the top of the sentiment panel. It just needed some color here to pull it all together! I love this card. And I think this is a sketch I will use again!
Recipe Card C-
Paper - Chocolate Flowers by October Afternoon South Forty, Celery & Sky Pattern by Die Cuts with a View Flower Shower Matstack, Celery by TCP Studio back side of Woodland Whimsy Mini Dot, Blue by American Crafts back side of Legos, Cardstock Kraft
Stamps - Sentiment by Verve from One Person set, Flower by Verve from Feel the Sun set
Ink - Versafine Vintage Sepia
Tools - Classic Scalloped Circle Nestiblites, Stampin Up' Scalloped Border Punch, EK Success Large Scalloped Border Punch, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch
Other - Metal Brad by Queen & Co., Brown Sharpie to color brad, Light Green Pearls by Hero Arts

Sketch D -
A while back, I made a couple of cards with the combination of black and white, and a black and a color. I love the way they came out and I love this one too! Looking at the sketch, I could see how cool it would be to create these strips with my flower border punch. The only thing I didn't imagine in my mind is how the black by itself would not show up enough and that is why I ended up placing the white cardstock strips behind the flowers.
Recipe Card D -
Paper - Lime Dot by Bo Bunny, Black & White by Doodlebug Black Bouquet (found this one piece in my stash from long ago), Cardstock White, Black
Stamps - Flowers by Penny Black, Sentiment by Verve from Feel the Sun set
Ink - Versamark, JudiKins Black Detail embossing powder, Heat Gun, Versafine Black
Tools - Classic Oval Scalloped & Classic Oval Nestiblites, EK Success Flower Border Punch, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch
Other - Silver Pearls by Unknown

Sketch E -
One of the Tim Holtz's embossing folders has what appears to be the rays of a sun. I decided that it would be perfect paired with this Verve sentiment. From there, I just added some coordinating pattern paper strips and a ribbon. You know, I always want to also add some kind of bauble to complete my card. Well, when I was looking for the right color, I came across a set of brads from Basic Grey. This brad had the absolute perfect colors to match my card, so I decided to add the flower even though it is changing the look of the sketch a little. It had to be done!
Recipe for Card E -
Paper - Die Cuts with a View Flower Shower Matstack, Cardstock White, Red Rose
Stamps - Verve from Feel the Sun set
Ink - Versafine Black
Tools - Classic Circle 2 sizes Nestiblities, Tim Holtz Texture Fades Retro Rays embossing folder, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch
Other - Prima Flowers, Decorative Brad by Basic Grey, Ribbon by Unknown

So, there you have it! Five cards! Post your comments. I would love to hear from you.

That is it for me for this week. I know only 2 posts but then again you did get 6 cards from those two posts! I am going to be out of town for the first part of next week. I hope to have cards completed ahead of time but in case that doesn't happen, I wanted you to know what is going on.

Happy Stamping!
Tina