**Viva la Verve! April Week 2 {4/3/09}**

[AmberDawn]

Hey ya'll! I'm so sorry to keep you waiting today. I was unable to get onto SCS for a few hours last night and so I couldn't post. So sorry! But here I am now, I'm posting before I've even had my chance at coffee so you MUST know I love ya'll!!
I have guest design diva today! Carole_PA925 STUNNED me with her card submisison for VLVApr01 and if you take a look at THIS card you'll know why! Check out the rest of Carole's gorgeous gallery HERE and be prepared to be amazed!
I've linked Carole's sample for this weeks sketch below, enjoy! And thanks to Carole for sharing your wonderful art with us

If you're new to the Viva la Verve challenges, here are the deets!
Complete each weekly sketch (uploaded on every Friday) with the twist (an extra requirement for your sketch card) and have all of that months sketch cards uploaded by midnight EST on April 30th, and you will be eligible to win the next months Verve release for FREE! That is one AWESOME deal! If you don't get the sketches done until the last day of April, you still qualify! Just get those cards uploaded and link them on the sketch champion thread (this thread will be created during week 5)! I choose a random winner and create a thread JUST FOR YOU! Sound worth playing for?

This weeks' twist is to use BACKGROUND STAMPS! If you're anything like me, you collect them like they're going out of style and then hardly ever use them, lol! Well, Verve has several sets with simple amazing and elegant background builders!

Grateful Elegance
Artful Elegance
Snow Wonderful

If you have any of these sets please try to incorporate these backgrounds into your design. If you don't, feel free to use whatever background stamps you have available! Don't let this stress you out, just have fun with it

Keywords this week are Verve (if you're using Verve stamps) and VLVApr02 (please type the keyword EXACTLY like this or it won't show up in the correct gallery)

My Sample
VLVApr02 Gallery {Leave them some love!}

Remember to check out Carole's sample for this sketch linked below! Have a great weekend, Viva la Verve!

[stephanie.hargis]

Woohoo! I am FINALLY back from all of my traveling and will be able to participate again! I am SO excited to get my new stamps inky! Thanks for another great sketch! Your sample and Carole's sample are fabulous!

[woodwinds]

Oiy! This is a doosey! I'm reeling over how to combine all of the fun things this sketch includes! And there's that darn rounded edge again... Circles, my nemesis. Ah! All right. Off to conquer my fears, lol.

[whiterockmama]

Was wondering what was up and hoping you were okay when you hadn't posted this morning - or your last night. My brain and one creative gene have shut down for the day so I'm going to have to sleep on this one.

[cindy_haffner]

Amber love your sketch and both sample cards. I love the twist, made me blow the dust off my old background stamp.

Happy Easter.

[carol_PA925]

Amber, you've lifted me ten feet off the floor by asking me to be your guest designer with this challenge!! I can't thank you enough for this wonderful opportunity! Having such a wonderful and talented designer, such as yourself, give me this recognition has overwhelmed me in a huge way, and the only words I can come up with are thank you SOooo much. Big hugs and thank-yous to you Amber, and to all of you who always leave such sweet, thoughtful comments that encourage me to continue making cards. I am truly honored and blessed

[lbenden]

Awesome sketch Amber! Here's mine!!!

http://stampact.typepad.com/my_weblo...und-twist.html

[woodwinds]

Wow. Yeah, this one took me a little while, lol! Thanks for another great challenge Amber! And congrats to Carol! Your cards are amazing! Definitely a well-deserved guest spot!

Here's my card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=180921

[chough]

Wow! This one was a challenge for me! And it is my second attempt. I had the first one finished when I realized I had forgotten to use a background stamp. So I started over. Pretty happy with the results!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=197763

[backroads girl]

I've been checking this site for the second challenge! Love it. Back later

[tamijo]

Here's mine!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=49592

[va.sunshine]

here is mine

Happy Easter

[T. Joy]

This took me awhile to figure out, Amber!! I don't think I'm supposed to upload on Sundays, so mine's on my blog...

http://simplystamping.blogspot.com/2...e-planted.html

I'll put it here in the gallery tomorrow.

Tricia

[MelodyGal]

Here's my card. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=83955

[Bar]

Cute sketch!! Here's mine:

Wishing You Well

[dizzymommie]

I need to at least post that I'm dying to do these April challenges, but I'm super busy with another project and I have had two water damages to my home within 1 week. They are minor damages, but 800 bucks later and the recent one (today) still needs drywall fixed and insurance assesment. Needless to say I'm feeling very poor, both in time and currency.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[stamp thyme]

This certainly was a challenge for me using my background stamps. I see now that I rely way to much on DP. Here is my card.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=1304051 or go to my blog at
http://stampingthyme.blogspot.com

[debhorst]

Here is my card for week 2 of the VivaLaVerve sketch with a twist challenge--I do love my background stamps but you are right they get dusty!! Thanks for making me get them out!!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=74842

[Jay_Bee]

This is my card for week 2 (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=132530) - it has grown on me so I hope you like it. The trimmed edge of the background strip was punched for the flowers so I hope I earn extra brownie points for that!

[dawnbarghorn]

Here is mine for this week:

Lily Fairy

[AmberDawn]

Oh you poor thing! I can't imagine the stress, water damage is the worst! We'll be here for awhile, so you take your time and take care of business Hope everything works out for you...

Originally Posted by dizzymommie

I need to at least post that I'm dying to do these April challenges, but I'm super busy with another project and I have had two water damages to my home within 1 week. They are minor damages, but 800 bucks later and the recent one (today) still needs drywall fixed and insurance assesment. Needless to say I'm feeling very poor, both in time and currency.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[sassyscrapin]

Ok, I promise to get week 2 done. Honestly, this sketch threw me a bit...along with the twist. I will get it completed and in the next couple of days!

[vdutchr]

Here is my week 2

Friend

[dakotastamper]

This was a challenging layout! Here's my version.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=147365

[TheatreDiva]

This challenge was not so easy! Here's my card.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=93817

[sassyscrapin]

This was not and esay one for me either. Here is mine. Kindness

[kdriesen]

Here's mine: No Winter Lasts Forever

[LaPrincessa'sMommy]

I finally got my card posted for this week's challenge.
Here it is:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...&ppuser=208765

[TrishG]

I found this sketch really hard and have been putting it off. I also didn't have a background stamp, but stamped in the background.

Here's my take on it...
Not so simply stamped

Thanks for looking.

[dizzymommie]

In a race I'd be coming up from behind. I hope I can get my week 3 done before the last stretch.

Here's my card.

Amber- Is there a week 4 challenge? How will this work with the 4/17 release party?

PS. The water is all dried up and now we are getting bids to repair our hole in the ceiling. Thank you all who sent your well wishes.

[dizzymommie]

Originally Posted by carol_PA925

Amber, you've lifted me ten feet off the floor by asking me to be your guest designer with this challenge!! I can't thank you enough for this wonderful opportunity! Having such a wonderful and talented designer, such as yourself, give me this recognition has overwhelmed me in a huge way, and the only words I can come up with are thank you SOooo much. Big hugs and thank-yous to you Amber, and to all of you who always leave such sweet, thoughtful comments that encourage me to continue making cards. I am truly honored and blessed

You ARE talented Carol. Congratulations on being a challenge designer and such a great challenge sample.

[liseywoo]

I LOVE my background stamps so this was a great one for me! I do confess though-my take on the sketch was slightly different...I used a shaped piece instead of the panel with rounded end. I guess that's what using a sketch for inspiration is all about isn't it?? (I'm just trying to justify my reasons so I don't get expelled from Viva la Verve!) LOL!! Anyhoo I like it & that's the main thing!(Actually I secretly hope someone else out there likes it too!)
Happy Heart

[Happy Now]

I've had this finished for a while, but am just now posting it... This WAS a challenge for me for some reason, but F-U-N. Thanks!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...4118?cat=14071

[whiterockmama]

This one kicked my butt!!! Not happy with it, but it's d-o-n-e like dinner.

Sketch #2

[cindy_canada]

Love the sketch and challenge - as always!

Hit the Road, Jack!


Cindy

[PaperCrafty]

Here is my CARD. This was a fun sketch and got me to use some supplies that I have not had a chance yet to play with. Thanks for a fun challenge!

[Rachelhope13]

Wow, this one was hard for me....

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=44266

[TreasureOiler]

Great challenge!
Many Thanks

[Trotskired7]

I am way behind this month! I will be working like a mad woman this week LOL!
blog entry
My gallery

Thanks for looking!

[thestampinbean]

Challenging, but very fun sketch! Here is my version:

Letter Perfect

For more details and photos for this card, please visit my blog at:
Link: The Stampin' Bean

Thanks for viewing!