April 2018 New Release Spotlights - Day 4 and April Diva Inspirations Challenge

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Hi Verve fans! It's release day! I'm so happy to say that brand new Verve stamps and dies are available for purchase in the Verve shop today!  Hooray! To celebrate the release, we're hosting one last spotlight blog hop, with a pretty awesome prize... the entire April release. Be sure to read to the bottom of the post for the hop list and all the prize details!

Since it's the 10th of the month, we're also combining today's hop with the kick-off to our April Diva Inspirations challenge. I had so much fun getting back in the swing of things last month and checking out all your green creations. This month we're challenging you to show us some handmade sunshine with the color YELLOW! I can't wait to see what you create! Hope you'll play along.

Verve Stamps are not required, but we do love to see 'em. You can enter as often as you like, but must create a new creation for each linkup. You have until May 5 to link up at the bottom of this post for a chance to win the random prize drawing for a $30 gift voucher to the Verve shop.

For today's card I decided to pair the Sentimental Wishes set with the small outline flower from the previously released Bloom Brighter stamp set.  I stamped the flower three times, then colored with Copics and cut with the coordinating Blooming die set.  I then die cut the square from the Lacey Frames die set three times in white and used a mini ink blender to sponge scattered straw distress ink onto the center of each square, then popped the flowers up on each square for a little dimension.  I did the same sponge treatment with the circle die, then stamped the hello friend sentiment from Sentimental Wishes in the center.  I added some subtle stripes to the yellow and white panels with an embossing folder, then finished off with one of the Lacey Trim Duo border dies and a sweet little bow.

What's in it?
Stamps: Sentimental Wishes, Bloom Brighter (Verve Stamps)
Paper: daffodil delight, smoky slate (SU!), white (Neenah)
Ink: scattered straw (Ranger Distress), pure graphite (Altenew), Copic markers
Accessories: Lacey Frames  Lacey Trim Duo and Blooming die sets (A Cut Above by VERVE), striped embossing folder (Sizzix), glitter glue, taffeta ribbon

Now it's time to get on with the business of hopping!

Be sure to hop on over to the Verve shop when you're done hopping to check out the new products and our April sale.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? Today's prize is a BIG one. We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win our ENTIRE new release! The April 2018 Release Collection includes Risen Savior, Hope Lifts, Sentimental Wishes, and the Lifted Hope, Lacey Frames and Lacey Trim Duo die sets. So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! 

1. Julee 5. Laurie 2. Michele (Guest) 6. Marisa 3. Betty 7. Maureen 4. Charmaine 8. Teresa

Comment deadline for our Blog Hop prize drawing is April 15.

Today's hop starts on my blog, Poetic Artistry.  See ya there!

And if you're playing along with our challenge, link up below...

An InLinkz Link-up

A 2017 Look Back Part 3

Hi Verve friends! I'm back with another look back at 2017. You can see the first two installments here and here.  In August, we celebrated our 10th Anni-VERVE-sary with the release of a collection of new and classic Verve sets.

First up was the fun all-occasion Bloom Brighter set and coordinating Blooming Die Set. Along with our celebration, we were so honored to have some of our fabulous Alumni Divas join us for our release.  It was such a fabulous delight working with these amazing artists again. I consider them all part of the Verve family.

This beauty is by Amy Sheffer.

And this pastel dream is by Amy Kolling

Our next featured set was the Cake & Candles set, a compilation of old favorites and brand new sentiments styled around a birthday theme.

 This watercolored delight is by Tosh Leyendekker

And this perfect little layered creation is by Michelle Woerner

Our next set in the Anni-VERVE-sary release was the Scripture Medley 5 set, a long awaited new set of stylish scripture verses, with a couple stamps that had been retired from previous sets sprinkled in.

This rainbow CAS card is by Laurie Willison

And this mixed-media wonder is by Tiffany Solorio 

Our final Anni-VERVE-sary release feature was the Little Ones set and Little Ones Die Set. This set combined some old favorite plain janes and re-envisioned baby images and sentiments in one adorable set. 

Our amazing guest diva, Kelly Lunceford made these two adorable samples...

Thanks so much for taking another look back with us. Tune in again soon for the next installment! Until then, you can pick up some of these fabulous deals during our Good Buy 2017 Sale!

10th Anni Verve sary Release Spotlights Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of our 10th Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hops!  Did you love the inspiration along yesterday's Day 1 Hop? Serious cuteness overload!  If you haven't had time to check it out yet, hop on over. Our blog hop drawings are open until August 31.  Yay!

Our special 10th Anni-VERVE-sary release is a fusion of new and classic Verve and will be available to order on August 28. The release includes 4 stamp sets and 2 die sets. If our peeks inspire and you feel like you just need to have it all, you can pre-order the Anni-VERVE-sary Buy it All Bundle right now at a 30% discount through August 27. In fact, our whole store is on sale right now to celebrate 10 years of Verve!

Over the next few days we'll be shining our creative spotlights on the new Verve sets and dies, giving you tons of inspiration with the new goodies, and a chance to win!

Today's hop is spotlighting the Bloom Brighter stamp set and coordinating Blooming die set.

Today we have guest appearances from three rockstar Diva Alumni.... Amy Sheffer, Amy Kolling and Laurie Willison. I am so honored to still consider these amazingly talented designers part of the Verve family. I remember how ecstatic I was when each one said yes to my invitation to be a Diva and I'm just as thrilled today to hop alongside them once again! Over the years, each of these wonderful women has blessed myself and Verve with their time and talents. I am forever grateful.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products! Leave a little shout out in the comments section on all the blogs below to increase your chances!

1. Julee 7. Amy K. (Alumni) 2. Maureen 8. Lesley 3. Betty 9. Christyne 4. Charmaine 10. Laurie 5. Marisa 11. Kelly (Guest) 6. Amy S. (Alumni) 12. Laurie W. (Alumni)

Comment deadline for prize drawing is Thursday, August 31.

My card for today is bold and graphic. I love the drama of a pop of color with black and ivory. The flower from Bloom Brighter is embossed in black and then colored with Zig clean color real brush markers and cut with the coordinating Blooming Die Set. I also colored a few resist chipboard stars with the same marker for a coordinated look.

The tag is our Sweet Scallop Tag, still a favorite after all these years and I've stamped the sentiment on a stitched circle.  A sweet litle note to self planner sticker in the corner finishes things off so the recipient can be reminded over and over again just how awesome they are!

Bloom Brighter is a set of 13 clear photo polymer stamps that retails for $18. Our very first Anni-VERVE-sary release brought a special commemorative set where each design team member chose a quote to be made into a stamp. This set was called Beautiful You and the flower included in this set is one of my all-time favorites. It seemed only fitting to give this image an update and bring it back for our 10th Anni-VERVE-sary release. I gave the flower a fresh new look with more layers and some greenery.

If you downloaded our limited time Love From Me digi sets earlier this year, you might recognize the any day with you is my favorite day sentiment. I loved the fun font treatment and wanted it in stamp form, so it was the inspiration for the rest of the set.  I paired it with some super fun encouraging sentiments, perfect for celebrating a friend, a birthday or just sending an encouraging card.

Also in the spotlight today is the coordinating Blooming Die Set. This set of 4 steel dies will retail for $9. It includes dies to easily cut out the flowers and greenery in the Bloom Brighter stamp set.

The hop starts over on my blog, Poetic Artistry, so click on over for another card from me using this fun set. See ya there!

Enabler's List
Stamps: Bloom Brighter (Verve Stamps)
Paper: basic prints, black, cream
Ink: onyx black (Versafine), Zig clean color real brush markers (Kuretake)
Accessories: Blooming Die Set, Sweet Scallop Tag Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), circle dies, resist chipboard stars (Heidi Swapp), ribbon, bumpy adhesive rhinestone (Bead Landing), planner sticker (MAMBI)