Verve Diva Dare ~ October 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Pink Power".  In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, this months we are daring you to flash some PINK on your card or project.

I absolutely adore the new Pink Power set, especially this beautiful silhouette, and find it hard not to use on a card.  The sentiments in this set are fabulous too!  A definite "must have" set in my books, and one I wish I had a few years back when two of my good friends were battling breast cancer.   

I combined two pink papers and used silver as my accent colour.  Added some scallops, bling and half pearls to girly it up a bit, along with the Ribbon Die for a little accent.  Finished things off by adding the butterfly from the set as a symbol of new birth after metamorphosis.  Sorry if the last few cards have looked somewhat the same.  I'll try to branch out next time, honest LOL! 

You can check out all the Diva Dare details over on the Verve blog.  Would love you to come and join us this month!

Challenges: The Pink Elephant

What's In It?
Stamps:   Pink Power (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Lovey (Bella Boulevard), Letterbox (American Crafts), Rose Romance, Brushed Silver (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:   Black, Silver
Accessories:   Ribbon Die (A Cut Above Verve), Scalloped Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Silver Half Pearls, Bling, Heart Button (Michael's), Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Verve Diva Dare ~ September 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Terrific Trios".  Back to school time usually means life is a three ring circus, so this month we are daring you to add 3 of something to your card or project.

I used this weeks Viva La Verve Sketch, and immediately thought of using this fabulous image from the newly released One Cup.  Needless to say, the trio portion of the dare was all taken care of wink, wink.  Cut out the image using the matching Cuppa Tea Die Set and then paper pieced the mugs using MME's Stella and Rose papers (still love these papers!).   Opted for a natural colour pallet so the cups would pop, and added the crimped panel and some raffia for a bit of texture.

In true Verve fashion, where there is a dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps - particularly timely as Verve just has it's big Anniversary Release!  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details!

What's In It?
Stamps:   One Cup (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Kraft, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink:   Black
Accessories:   Cuppa Tea Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inkers), Crimper (Fiskars), Black Half Pearls, Black Button, Raffia, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Verve Diva Dare May 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Petals and Wings".  What we are daring you to do is to include both a flower and a butterfly on your card. 

Didn't have to look far for a stamp set to use as Julee just released the compilation set entitled Petals and Wings, along with the matching Wings and Petals Die Set.   I simply adore this set!!  Polka dots, flowers and butterflies just make me happy, all the more when it's from Verve :)  The sentiment is the new Hello Friend Plain Jane and the sequins are from the new Shine Bright sequin mix.  All of these (in addition to the rest of the new release) are on sale right now over at the Verve Store.

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

What's In It?
Stamps:   Petals and Wings, Hello Friend Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Quilting Bee (My Mind's Eye), Real Red, Basic Grey (Stampin' Up),
Ink: Black, Real Red (Stampin' Up), Seaglass (Colour Box)
Accessories:   Wings and Petals Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Buttons, Black Half Pearls, Twine, Dimensionals

 

Verve Diva Dare ~ March 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Do The Polka" and the dare to use polka dots somewhere on your card. Whether you choose to strut your polka dot stamps, paper, ribbon or all of the above, we want to see you do the polka!

I just love using polka dots on cards, have a ton of polka dotted paper in my stash, and am always on the lookout for more LOL!  I opted to go with some spring colours as I am desperately waiting for it to arrive.  Not that I have anything worth complaining about versus those of you on the East Coast who have been pummelled with cold temps and snow this winter!  This cute umbrella from Rain or Shine is so much fun to paper piece, and I added some liquid pearl "sand" to ground it.  The secondary sentiment is on one of the Flag It dies and comes from Friendly Phrases (pssst, it's one of the sets being retired so it's 50% off right now over at the Verve Store!)  
  
Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

What's In It?
Stamps:   Rain or Shine and Friendly Phrases (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Green Galore, So Saffron (Stampin' Up),
Ink: Black, Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:   Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Large Sun Die and Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inkers), Liquid Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Diva Dare ~ February 2014

This month's Diva Dare is entitled "Perk Up" and the dare is to make a card or project to perk someone up, whether it’s with a warm beverage or just a heartfelt sentiment to brighten someone’s day.

As fate would have it, Julee has a "perk up" sentiment in the Better With You set so I just "had" to use it as it fit the challenge title to a tee.  The papers are from the All Spice paper pack by My Mind's Eye and I used the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio die set.  Love paper piecing this coffee cup, and as usual, doing so had me craving a latte - bad!!!   May have to remedy that today wink, wink.

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

Challenge:  Simon Says

What's In It?
Stamps:   Better With You (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  All Spice (My Mind's Eye), Always Artichoke, Kraft (Stampin' Up), Starbucks Sleeve
Ink: Black 
Accessories:   Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Seeing Spots and Chicken Wire Embossing Folders (Provo Craft), Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mojo Monday #328

 

Oh how I love a simple sketch that allows you the option of going CAS or going wild.  Your mood, card purpose or crafty time allotment can determine the outcome.  Happy dance time :)

I chose to go a bit wild on this one, as this is my very first, official, doily card -- just for you Moe ;)  I recently received some as a gift and couldn't wait to use one on a card (what can I say, I'm slow on the trends lol).  All that to say, the doily made me stray from the sketch a bit, but the guts of it are still there.

Pulled out three of my favorite Verve dies:  Jotted Heart, the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio set, and my beloved "U" die from the I Heart You die set.  The papers are from MME's Love Me set.  

I always get giddy when making Valentine's Day cards as I adore hearts and using them on cards.  If you love hearts too, you can make your Mojo card a two-fer!  Use the sketch, and if you include a heart and at least one Verve Stamp on your creation, you can also enter your card in this month's Verve Diva Dare and be eligible for the random draw to win a $40 gift certificate to Verve Stamps.  Easy peasy! 

Back to our regularly schedules programing...  All the challenge details are over on the Mojo Monday blog and you can also view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples.  Should you wish more details on the Mojo Maker's cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.  
 

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Wanda Cullen

We almost had to build an Ark this weekend as we had a TON of rain here!  Oh my!!  My poor son had to play a soccer game in a total down pour along with some pretty strong winds, and hubby stood out there too as he coaches the team.  Must confess that I passed on going to watch the game...just too nasty to be a spectator in that weather...horizontal rain and winds, no thanks.  Lost some points in my Soccer Mom status, but so be it!  Some weather is simply just meant for ducks!  Ensured there was lots of hot water for the boys to have warm baths along with some nice hot chocolate to drink.     
 

 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Twitterpated (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up),  
Ink: Black  
Accessories:  Jotted Heart, I Heart You and Scalloped Trim Trio Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), 5/8" White Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Doily, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals  

Diva Dare ~ January 2014

Welcome to the first Diva Dare of 2014! This month's Dare is entitled "Smitten".  I just love that word - makes me smile every time I hear it :)   

This month the Verve Divas are daring you to make a card or project with a heart, whether it’s for the one you love, a sweet Valentine or a lunch note for a child.  Let's get smitten :)

I used a VLV sketch from December's rewind sketches as it was perfect for this challenge.  The papers are from MME's Love Me pack.  I used Verve's Wavy Hearts, Heart Quartet, Pennant Trim and Flag It die sets on my card (can you tell I like Verve dies wink, wink).  

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter! 

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Rose Romance (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories:   Wavy Hearts, Heart Quartet, Flag It and Pennant Trim Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Love Die (WPlus9),  Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, White Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #211 - Colour Challenge

This week Nancy is our hostess and she has provided us with this fabulous colour combination to work with.  I just loooove brown and blue/aqua together, especially since they are Verve's signature colours :)  The photo makes it almost seem black, but trust me, it is Early Espresso!

After seeing this week's Merry Monday challenge involving snowflakes, I had snowflakes on the brain because they are my favorite Christmas element to put on cards.  That lead to my gleefully pulling out  PTI's large snowflake die!  I mounted it ion a kraft tag since the current Verve Diva Dare is to make a tag or use one on a card, and added the embossed background.  The sentiment is from Verve's Glad Tidings set and it is stamped on this fun banner from Verve's Flag It die set.  Fiddled with whether to have it vertically or horizontally oriented, and settled on horizontal, though I'm still not sure which version I liked better LOL! 

The rest of the  JUGS team, including our three new DT member's, have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog, and check out what the Design Team has created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.    

Hoping for a quiet weekend with lots of R & R as we have been going full tilt as a family for over two months now.  Think everyone is in agreement too, even our extrovert LOL! Have a great weekend everyone!  

 Challenges:  Simon Says



What's In It? 
Stamps:  Glad Tidings (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Early Espresso, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:   Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Snowflake Die (PTI), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), 5/8" Blue Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Twine, Button, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

October Diva Dare Take Two

This month's Diva Dare is right up my alley (make a gift tag or use a tag on a card).  I could make tags forever as I love the small working area and the endless possibilities of creating on it. 

I used the newly released Rain or Shine set to create a fun tag to add to a "pick me up" gift for a friend.  I VersaMarked the umbrella image behind the sentiment, added a few rain drops and then the sun in the corner.  Not sure if I'll keep it a tag or add it to a card, but regardless, it will get used :)

Thanks for popping by today!



What's In It?
Stamps:  rain or Shine (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Night of Navy, Real Red, So Saffron, Kraft (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sun Die (Lil'  Inkers), Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Button, Glue Dot, Twine, Dimensionals

October Diva Dare

Welcome to October's Diva Dare!  This month's theme is "Tag, You're It" and the Divas are daring you to create a tag or a card with a tag on it.

I love making and using tags!  They are so versatile: you can use a tag on a gift, use it on a card for a quick creation, or make a matching card and gift tag set.  Lots of wonderful possibilities!  With Christmas quickly approaching (....sorry, about the "C' word!), it's a great way to get started on gift and hostess tags too. 

Today I went with the tag on a card option (though I also have a fun tag I made which I'll post in a few days).  Diva Jen's Deconstructed Sketch was the springboard for this card, and since I just love the images in the recently released Poppy Birthday, it was my set of choice.  The poppy cluster was coloured with Twinkling H2Os, and the paper is from Making Memories.  Something was missing so I added the secondary "enjoy" sentiment  from Surely Goodness to the small heart and a bit of crimping for some dimension.

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter!  Worth participating for sure, because rumour has it there will be a Verve release coming soon, and a gift certificate would come in very handy wink, wink!

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Poppy Birthday, Surely Goodness (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Making Memories, Going Grey, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black
Accessories:  Tag Die (My Favorite Things), Scalloped Heart and Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Twinkling H2Os, 5/8" Grey Satin Ribbon (Michael's), Crimper (Fiskars), Black and White Half Pearls, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals   

September Diva Dare

Welcome to September's Diva Dare!  This month's theme is "Tic-Tac-Toe" and the Divas are daring you to create a card inspired by a tic-tac-toe board.  For example, it could be X's and O's, hugs and kisses, circles, squares, a grid, you get the idea.  

I went with hugs and kiss (though most of that paper got covered up) and X's and O's because they go together like peanut butter and jam LOL!

Echo Park's Yours Truly papers from last year were a perfect fit as was my X's and O's embossing folder :)   I added my beloved Jotted Heart, a mix of sentiments from Love Notes and finished things off with some red seam binding from the Truly Madly Deeply ribbon set. 

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter!  Worth participating for sure, because rumour has it there will be a Verve release coming soon, and a gift certificate would come in very handy wink, wink!

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!


 












What's In It?
Stamps:  Love Notes (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Yours Truly (Echo Park), Real Red (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Jotted Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Swiss Dots and Hugs and Kisses Embossing Folders (Provocraft), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Truly Madly Deeply Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Black and White Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

August Diva Dare

Welcome to August's Diva Dare!!   This month's theme is "Pile on the Sweetness" and showcases Diva Andrea and Diva Christyne, who are both known for their amazing work with multiple layers  on their cards.

In addition, if you want to kick this month's dare up a notch, you can add a flower cluster as per Andrea, or go with a "sweet" theme as per Christyne's blog name "Stamping with Sugar".  These are not required elements, but fun options should you chose to take the double dog dare wink, wink.

Here is my take on this month's dare.

I used Diva Maureen's VLV sketch and the papers are from My Mind's Eye In Bloom 6x6 pad.  Still love this paper pad and I'm glad I bought two of them when it was at Michael's!  I added some lace, seam binding, lots of layers and used a sentiment from Love Story which is a bit generic so the card can be used for multiple occasions.  A crimped Wavy Heart die and some pearls finished things off nicely.   I counted nine layers so I think I'm good LOL!

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter!

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!











What's In It?
Stamps:  Love Story (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Going Grey, Cameo Coral (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen Paper, In Bloom (My Mind's Eye) 
Ink:  Black, 
Accessories:  Wavy Heart Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Oval and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Lace, Spring Fling Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Crimper (Fiskars), Half Pearls, Bling, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

July Diva Dare

Welcome to July's Diva Dare!  This month's theme is "Tattered Pages"  and showcases Julee, Verve's owner and creator and her wonderful use of uplifting phrases along with Diva Teresa's wonderful use of distressing and shabbiness on her cards.

The challenge is to create a card or project that has an encouraging/uplifting sentiment and includes some distressing/shabbiness.  Kind of like an encouraging card you have received which you have read over and over so many times that it shows signs of being well loved by its' tattered edges.

For my card, I used this week's Verve Sketch and paired it with some Classic K McKenna paper from K & Company.  This fabulous sentiment from Let It Be jumped out at me and thus became the focal point of my card.  It's such a wonderful encouragement and reminder that faith can get you through seemingly insurmountable situations (something I needed to hear as I'm dealing with one right now).  The largest die from the Banner Bundle die set created the fishtail, and the yummy raspberry coloured seam binding is from the Spring Fling ribbon collection.  A touch of lace, twine, some pearls and some distressing brought in Teresa's side of this month's dare.

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter!

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!




What's In It?
Stamps: Let It Be (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Classic K McKenna (K & Company), Mellow  Moss, Rose Romance, Kraft (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen
Ink:  Black 
Accessories:  Banner Bundle Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Spring Fling Seam Binding (Verve Stamps), Lace, Buttons, Twine, Glue Dots, Cream Half Pearls, Dimensionals

Diva Dare - Take Two

I actually made two cards for this month's "Puddles of Colour" Diva Dare as I wasn't sure which one I was going to post.  This card incorporated the actual dare, which focused on incorporating colouring and /or painting on your card.  Yesterday's card was the result of me wanting to stretch myself by not only doing the dare but also incorporating the optional components of using kraft cardstock and mixed media as well.

Since I am not much of a colourer, and don't have many tools to do so, I tend to shy away from it.  My only colouring medium consists of some Twinkling H2Os I bought years ago and still have for those "emergency" colouring situations -- this month's Diva Dare being a case in point LOL!

I fussy cut the flowers from Let It Be and coloured them with Twinkling H2Os.  Still in love with the heart die from the Scalloped Trim Trio Border set so I threw it into the mix, and since I haven't used my beloved Flutterby die recently just had to add that as well.  Flowers, hearts and butterflies on one card sure makes me happy :)  The bottom right hand corner was a bit empty so I used the arrow die and stamped it with the matching image from Take Note.  A touch of distressing finished things off nicely.

If you head on over to the Verve Blog, you will be treated to seeing Diva Teresa's take on this month's Puddles of Colour Diva Dare, as well as all the challenge and prize details. 

Thanks for popping in today!



What's In It?
Stamps:  Let It Be and Take Note (Verve Stamps), French Script (Stampin' Up) 
Paper: Kraft, Perfect Plum, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron (Stampin' Up), Cream Linen 
Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Flutterby, Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set and Arrow Dies (A Cut Above by Verve),  Notebook Die (My Favorite Things), Buttons, Twine, Black Half Pearls, Distressing Tool (Stampin' Up), Crimper (Fiskars), Glue Dots, Dimensionals:

June Diva Dare

Welcome to another installment of Verve's Diva Dare!  This month's dare is "Puddles of Colour" which combines Diva Jen and Diva Janelle's talents.

This month we are daring you to include colouring and/or painting on your project.  Diva Jen is a colouring guru and Diva Janelle uses paints and other forms of  mixed media for colour on her cards.  In addition, if you want to kick this month's dare up a notch, you can add kraft and/or mixed media to your card.  These are not required elements, but fun options should you chose to take the double dog dare wink, wink.

This is my take on the Dare.

I decided to go the mixed media route as I have never done it before, and well... a dare is a dare...and I'm not one to turn down a challenge!  Being a mixed media newbie, I'm not sure if I succeeded, but I sure had fun making the card.

I started out with making the background paper by using the emboss resist technique.  I stamped the wheel image from Strong Anchor in VersaMark on glossy paper, heat embossed it with clear embossing powder, and then sponged on a mix of Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy.  

In keeping with the sea/nautical theme, I die cut five Flourish Trims and stacked them one above the other to create "waves".  Next, an up-cycled Starbuck's sleeve became my tag and fulfilled the optional kraft element.  I stamped and added the Adjusted Sails Plain Jane sentiment to the tag, curled one corner for a little something, and added a bit of distress ink around the edges.  

Since I still needed a colouring / painting element, I swiped my white ink pad along the edges of the tag and then finger painted the white smudges on the word "hope".  The tag was then layered on to the burlap strip and I used the Nautical Die set with the wheel image.  Some distressed edges were in order and I finished things off by framing the card with some multi-coloured red, white and blue twine.  Now just have to wait and see if I got a passing grade from our mixed media Divas, Janelle and Julee!

Of course, where there is a Verve Diva Dare, there are prizes, and this month's dare provides two prizes: one for a randomly selected participant and one for a randomly selected commenter!

Want to get all the details on how you can win some Verve Stamps?  Simply head on over to the Verve Blog to get all the challenge details - I dare you!




What's In It?
Stamps:  Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Night of Navy, Real Red, Glossy Paper (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black,  White, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  Flourish Trim, Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Tag Die (PTI), Seasonal Sentiments Die (WPlus 9) ,  Cream Burlap, 3/8", Distressing Wheel (Stampin' Up), Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Button, Twine, Brad, Dimensionals