Verve Divas Inspiration Hop {July}

Our July challenge is Sensational Stripes

It's time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings! You have the rest of the month to link up, so feel free to play as often as you like.

Stripes go with everything! Make them nautical, or pair with florals for a graphic look. Use stripes however you're inspired! Use the inspiration graphic or head off in your own direction, just show us your stripes! 

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Saturday, July 31.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

How dreamy are these soft beach colors? I adore this color combo and pretty much stole that stripe pattern too. I grabbed this week's Mojo Monday Sketch for more inspiration.

I created the striped background using Borderline in Smoke, Fog, and Spring Rain inks and then layered the blossoms from Bloom & Grow over a circle die with a sentiment from Words of Wisdom. The heart background was also made using another stamp from Borderline. I can't get enough of that set, let me tell you! It's fantastic.

That's it for me today.

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	8. Susan
	2. Amy	9. Maureen
	3. Betty	10. Marisa
	4. Jen	11. Stacey
	5. Karen	12. Laurie
	6. Sankari	13. Amber
	7. Sarah

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: words of wisdom (verve), bloom & grow (verve), borderline (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), fog (sss), spring rain (pti)
ink: black licorice (mft), smoke (sss), fog (sss), gumdrop green (mft), spring rain (pti), blueberry (mft)
accessories: floral circles dies (verve), elegant leaves die (verve), stitched circle stax die-namics (mft), pierced rectangle stax die-namics (mft), foam tape

Verve Divas Inspiration Hop {June}

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our June challenge is Eat Me, Drink Me

Are you fueled by coffee, tea or cocoa? Find cupcakes irresistible? Create a card featuring an edible treat or favored beverage!  Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction - just leave us needing a fix of your favorite indulgence!

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Saturday, June 20.
Prize: $30 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

I kind of went out on a limb and used non-coffee colors for this card. Usually when I make a card about coffee, I use kraft and brown and all things java. No brown or craft in this one! How about bright blue and coral?

I grabbed the Coffee stamp set and split up the sentiment onto a Flag It die and the Classy Label die.  I stamped the border on the label with the coordinating image from Love Notes and then added a couple little flags under the sides of the label. Adds a little something fun, don't you think?

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Maureen
	2. Amy	8. Marisa
	3. Anya	9. Chaitali
	4. Betty	10. Stacey
	5. Sankari	11. Amber
	6. Sarah

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: coffee (verve), love notes (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), smoke (sss), coral crush (mft), lush lagoon (mft)
ink: smoke (sss), fog (sss), lush lagoon (mft)
accessories: coffee die (verve), classy label die (verve), flag it die set (verve), foam tape

Love Comforts Like Sunshine {SSSC266}

Hello and happy weekend! I'm back with a card for a new Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here's a look at the sketch -

As you can see, I flipped the sketch so the sentiment fit the little circle accents better.  I started by cutting out the Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics in Smoke card stock and then stamped this beautiful sentiment from Verve's Stronger Love stamp set in black ink. I also stamped the hearts from Borderline in sweet tooth ink and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.

Be sure to stop by the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge blog for a peek at all the design team cards and you will be able to link up your challenge card there as well. Have fun!


Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: stronger love (verve), borderline (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), smoke (sss), fog (sss), berrylicious (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft), versa mark
accessories: stitched circle stax die-namics (mft), birthday girl enamel dots (doodlebug design), white detail embossing powder (judikins), foam tape

Bloom & Grow {SSSC265}

Hello, hello! It's Sunday! Time for a new Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  Here's a look at this week's layout:

As you can see, I changed it up a bit and used the Classy Label Die instead of a rectangle, I thought  it would be fun to switch up the straight lines. I added the sentiment from Bloom & Grow and then stamped some of the flower and leaf images from that set as well. Love those leaves!

Please head on over to the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge blog for a look at all the design team cards, and you can add your project to the linky there as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: bloom & grow (verve), love notes (verve), diagonal stripes background (mft)
paper: smooth white (mft), grout gray (mft), kraft (mft), sno cone (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft), kraft (mft), sweet tooth pigment (mft), jellybean green (mft), blu raspberry (mft), nightshift blue (mft)
accessories: classy label die (verve), elegant leaves die (verve), floral circles dies (verve), fishtail flags stax die-namics (mft), birthday girl enamel dots (doodlebug design), foam tape

Sweet Baby {SSSC264}

Well, hello there! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and staying out of trouble *wink*. I have a very non-traditional baby card for you this week - I just can't do pink and green and blue and all those pastels all the time, so I switched it up.

First, here's a look at the new sketch - I really, REALLY love this one. It's got the wonky panel without being wonky on all 4 sides. You're welcome. Ha ha!

I started with some patterned paper from My Mind's Eye (an oldie!) for all the background elements and then I cut out the stitched circle in Smooth White card stock. The sentiment is from Treasured Words and I added some Dreamy Leaves and Tangy Orange buttons on the side.

That's it for me today.

Hop on over to the Sweet Sunday Sketch Blog to take a peek at all cards from the design team and you can link up your project there as well. Happy stamping!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: treasured words (verve), dream on (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), tangy orange (mft), the sweetest thing "tangerine" 6x6 (mme)
ink: black licorice (mft), sour apple (mft)
accessories: banner bundle die set (verve), dreamy leaves die set (verve), open scallop doily duo die-namics (mft), stitched circle stay die-namics (mft), tangy orange buttons (mft), white perle thread, foam tape

Verve Divas Inspiration Hop {April}

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our April challenge is Bunnies & Babies

Spring is a time of birth and renewal - celebrate the season by creating a card for Easter or a bouncing new baby. Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction - just show us your sprightly spring creations!

I love, LOVE the colors in this inspiration photo. Delish! I am using two different stamp sets for this card - Framed Florals and Making a Statement.

The card base is Smooth White card stock and I cut out the Bluebells and Rounded Scallop Frame dies in Smooth White as well. The flowers are stamped in Factory Green and Blue Raspberry inks and then I colored some accents with Copic markers. I also added a few Shine Bright Sequin Mix around the frame for a little extra sparkle.

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Sunday, Apr. 19.
Prize: $40 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Sankari
	2. Amy	8. Sarah
	3. Anya	9. Susan
	4. Betty	10. Maureen
	5. Jen	11. Stacey
	6. Karen	12. Chaitali

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: framed florals (verve), making a statement (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft)
ink: smoke (sss), orange fizz (mft), factory green (mft), blue raspberry (mft), copic markers
accessories: bluebells die (verve), rounded scallop frame die (verve), shine bright sequin mix (verve), foam tape

All Things Grow with Love

Good morning! I think March Madness has been the best thing for my creative mojo. While the Hubs watched a million games over the weekend, I stamped and organized. I ordered some new (to me) Verve sets and they arrived on Saturday, so it was a happy stamping weekend!

I used a few different sets to create this image - the leaves and sentiment are from Bloom & Grow, the hearts are from Love Notes, and the double line is from Borderline. How long has Borderline been hiding from me!? Be prepared to see images from that set here on my blog a lot. A whole lot. Love that set!

So, how perfect is this for a wedding card? I loved how this one turned out. It's like a magical moment took over my craft space and the image in my head was surpassed by the card it created. Yum!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: bloom & grow (verve), love notes (verve), borderline (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), smoke (sss)
ink: black licorice (mft), smoke (sss), pink lemonade (mft), sour apple (mft)
accessories: pearls (su!), foam tape

Verve Diva's Inspiration Blog Hop {March}

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes: comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our March challenge is B is for Birthday...

Don't be caught short - make a fabulous birthday card to keep in your stash or give away! Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction - just show us your birthday creations!

Click here to link up your challenge entries
Challenge deadline: Thursday, Mar. 19.
Prize: $40 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

Isn't this a fun challenge?! I love the inspiration graphic - those stripes and dots!! De-lish!! My daughter has a birthday party coming up this weekend, so she helped me pick out the paper - so there are lots and lots of polka dots on this one! Ha!

One of my go-to birthday sentiments is from Treasured Words, which I stamped in bright pink ink so it stands out nicely.

I added a few enamel dots around the sentiment, and now that I'm looking at the photo of the card, maybe I should have added stars or balloons or something - wow, that's a lot of dots!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Sankari
	2. Amy	8. Sarah
	3. Anya	9. Susan
	4. Betty	10. Marisa
	5. Jen	11. Maureen
	6. Karen	12. Stacey

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: treasured words (verve)
paper: primitive white (mft), razzle berry (mft), now and then "dorothy" 6x6 (mme)
ink: razzle berry (mft)
accessories: stitched circle stax  (mft), pinking edge stax (mft), pierced fishtail banner stax (mft), enamel dots (mme), foam tape

Verve Diva's Inspiration Hop {February}

It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop! There are two ways to win Verve prizes.. comment on the design team's blog hop posts (linked below) to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!

Our February challenge is Vivacious Valentine...

Nothing says "I love you" like a handmade Valentine in your signature style.
Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction  - just make us swoon with a fabulously flirty creation!

Click here to link up your challenge entries

Challenge deadline: Thursday, Feb. 19.
Prize: $40 gift voucher to the Verve online store!

I didn't use a single stamp on my card today - GASP! I know, crazy, right? I adore this I Heart U die set. The large letters are bold and fabulous and should do most of the talking, right?

I cut out the letters in black card stock and then used the Heart Quartet die to cut out the hearts in bright pink and layered them over the letters. I also added a small heart in the corner with a large Pink Sparkle Sequin overlapping the edge. The banners are white vellum card stock, which I overlapped just slightly over a sheet of patterned paper.  Yum!

The layout is MOJO383, and it's a contest week! Head on over and enter your card before Sunday for another chance to win more Verve goodies!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	8. Sarah
	2. Amy	9. Susan
	3. Anya	10. Marisa
	4. Betty	11. Maureen
	5. Jen	12. Stacey
	6. Karen	13. Verve Blog
	7. Sankari

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
paper: smooth white (mft), white vellum, black licorice (mft), ripe raspberry (mft), chalk studio 6x6 (mme)
accessories: i heart u die set (verve), heart quartet die (verve), fishtail flags stax die-namics (mft), pierced rectangle stax die-namics (mft), pink sparkle sequin mix (verve), clear rhinestone (su!), foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 253

Good morning! It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Want to play along? Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC253 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

Hey look! Another birthday card. You never can have too many, right? This card is pretty straight up and simple, but I love how the simple stamping works with the colorful patterned paper. This set is Treasured Words from Verve.

I cut out a 4-3/4" square card base from the notebook patterned paper out of the Vintage Bliss paper pack by Simple Stories. I cut out the circle element from a Stitched Circle STAX and then tried to match up the grid lines on both papers. It sort of worked, ha! I fussy cut the party hat and popped it up with foam tape. And naturally, I added some bling to the card as well.

The rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers have much more for you to see this week - please stop over and see:

• Barbara Anders
• Dana White
• Jenny Peterson
• Jodi Collins
• Lisa Henke
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kalé
• Tracy Clemente
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: treasured words (verve)
paper: card base primitive white (mft), vintage bliss 6x6 (simple stories)
ink: smoke (sss)
accessories: stitched circle stax (mft), rhinestones (kaisercraft), foam tape

An InLinkz Link-up

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 251

Good morning!! It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Want to play along? Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC251 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

This week's sketch is designed by Barbara Anders and it is a beauty! I really enjoyed this sketch and I know you will too.

Since it's all sorts of winter outside, I am using some spring colors along with Dream Big blossom stamps from Verve.

First, I stamped the Lemon Drop blossom on the edge of the white card stock panel, then stamped the leafy vines in Sour Apple ink in different sizes. I cut out the Scallop Flowers from white card stock and then stamped the blossom again on it so I could pop it up for the circle element in the sketch.

The sentiment is from Better Together and I also used the distressed dots to fill in some of the white space along the bottom.

The rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers have much more for you to see this week - please stop over and see:

• Barbara Anders
• Dana White
• Jenny Peterson
• Jodi Collins
• Lisa Henke
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kalé
• Tracy Clemente
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks so much for stopping by!

recipe -
stamps: dream big (verve), better together (verve)
paper: smooth white (mft), fog (sss), sno cone (mft)
ink: black licorice (mft), fog (sss), lemon drop (mft), sour apple (mft)
accessories: scallop flowers die set (verve), pierced rectangle stax die-namics (mft), mango pearls (kaisercraft), orange fizz buttons (mft), white perle thread, foam tape

An InLinkz Link-up