September Diva Dare - Day 2

Hello and welcome to September's Diva Dare!  This month, we've come up with a fun challenge, we DARE you to Case-a-Diva!  With nineteen Divas (see the photos and links on the right sidebar), the inspiration is vast!  For those of you that are wondering...CASE means to copy and share everything.  And that is just fancy talk for copying!  What you copy is up to you!  It can be a layout, color scheme, or even something more subtle like a certain embellishment cluster!  

You will find the links to all the Diva's blogs on the right sidebar, or you can visit their individual Verve galleries!

I have to tell you that it was so hard to narrow down my choice of a Diva (I ended up putting everyone's name in a hat and drawing one out).  I'm CASEing the ultra talented, ultra lovely Amber Hight! Her gallery and blog are so chock full of inspiration and pure gorgeousness, it literally took me all day to find a card that I thought would make her proud. So here is how I answered the dare...

This is a card I made based on this lovely here by Amber.  I used one of my all time favorite stamps from One Person, one that is just beautiful in both words and style. I'm pretty sure I say that about all Verve Stamps but I do have favorites of my favorites :) I lightly sponged the sentiment panel and just changed up the design a bit, making the ribbon accent a flower and moving it to the bottom of the card.

I have to tell you that I REALLY loved CASEing Amber, she rocks so many different styles of card making! Her coloring is phenomenal, the accents she uses are gorgeous, and the pretty papers, Oh, MY!...I couldn't stop at just one so I picked another card, this one, to CASE. Here's my take on her beauty of a card:

On this card, I kept the design pretty much the same, although I used different stamps, these being from Verve's newly released You & I set. The versatility of this set is incredible, you could mix and match words to create endless possibilities of sentiments. I sponged the center of the focal panel and also added some liquid pearls. (I guess I sprinkled a bit of Sankari on here, too...I told you it was hard to narrow it down to one Diva!) The little black heart to the left was made with Verve's A Cut Above dies, this one from the I Heart U set.

Want to know how you can win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES?

1. Play along with us and link up your new Case-a-Diva creation (posted September 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 9pm Mountain on Sunday,October 2nd. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would  LOVE to see ‘em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our Case-a-Diva  creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing!  Winners will be announced on Monday,October 3rd right here on the Verve blog.

Now it's YOUR turn!  We DARE you to show us your creations!

August Release Project Parade: Day 8

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Hi Verve fans, it's Amy here today with Day 8 of our current Something Old, Something New Project Parade. Our challenge this month is to use a previously released Verve stamp set with one of the new sets that was just released on August 20th. Julee's designs are far too timeless to ever get "old," but papercrafting trends do come and go, and new products and tools are coming out all the time, so this theme is giving the Divas (and you!) a fun chance to work some fresh magic on all those glorious previously released sets. Hope you'll join in the fun!

One of the things I know we all love about Verve is the fantastic assortment of sentiments. It's often the tiny sentiments that I'm drawn to the most - they're so perfect for adding sweet little whispers of affirmation to your projects. One of my favorites is "You put a song in my heart," from the September 2009 set Swan Song. I thought it would pair perfectly with the gorgeous heart image from the new Love Story. Once I got started looking through my Verve stash, I couldn't stop with just one "old" set, so I also added a flower from One Person, along with two subtle clear-embossed borders using a stamp from Grateful Elegance.

I can't wait to give this to my husband when we celebrate our seventeenth anniversary later this Fall!

Ready to mix up your old and new and play along? If you don't have the newest Verve sets - no worries, just mix an older set from your stash with a "new to you" stamp set and join the fun!

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY 1 PARADE POST before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

July Project Parade ~ Day 11

Hello Verve fans!

Today it is my turn, Lynda, to show you my project for this months Project Parade!!! If you haven't been keeping up with the Diva's AMAZING projects, you can just scroll down here on the Verve blog and find TONS of inspiring projects! The theme this month is My Hero. I have to say, I had a hard time at first with the theme because I don't have any family members or close friends that are serving in the Military. Then I started to think outside the box and discovered that I DO have a hero in my life even though he doesn't serve in the military, he is a hero in my eyes as well as the City of Salinas where he is a police officer.

My Hero is my brother who is an amazing person, father, friend, etc... He is only 16 months older than me and I have to say, we have ALWAYS been close. Sure, we fought as all siblings do but I can't remember him EVER being hateful or mean to me or anyone. Our Mom, who we both loved with all our hearts, died when I was 18 and Dave was 19. This was a very difficult time for us but if anything, it brought us even closer.

He had always wanted to be a Police Officer and pursued that dream after we lost our Mom and has been serving ever since. I don't know if you all watch Cops but my kids love it so we watch it quite often. I don't know HOW these officers have the patience to deal with some of the situations they have to deal with. I truly feel that ALL Police Officers are Hero's and should be treated as such!

I actually already sent my project to Dave and he should receive it today!!! He loves Chocolate Chip cookies and Starbucks so it would only seem right to incorporate the two in to my project today!

The bag is actually a coffee bag and is from PTI. I stamped the stars from Verve's American Hero, directly on the bag using Snow White ink from PTI. The DP is from Making Memories Just Chillin' Collection. To make the window, I layered two different sizes from the Labels One Nesties. The clear acetate part was already there so I didn' t need to add anything. The large stars were punched using my SU! punch and on the gift card holder. I also used the small star punch on the gift card holder.

I used the same EK Success border punch on both the bag and gift card holder. I added the flourish, from Blue Skies stamp set, below the star using Antique Linen ink and then added some Zva clear rhinestones. The ribbon at the top is from May Arts.

I used the same products on the gift card holder except I added the sentiment from Verve's One Person stamp set and was stamped on another piece of paper from the same collection using Cocoa Momento ink. You can't see it but I added a silver star eyelet which is under where the tag is located.

Here is a picture of the inside ~

As with all of our project parades, there are prizes!!!!
1. Play along with us and link up your new My Hero creation (posted July 12th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY ONE parade post before midnight on July 30th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but we LOVE to see ‘em!

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our My Hero creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade (July 12 ~ July 28) will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing!

May Project Parade - Day 13

Good morning everyone, it's Sankari here :) Haven't all the summer sizzilin' projects been HOT HOT HOT!!! Simply and totally awesome! Don't forget that you have until June 7 to submit your totally rad creations for a chance to win!!

Summer always reminds me of cooking with garden vegetables and sauteing with freshly picked herbs. One of my very good friends is an amazing gardner and is a wonderful cook - and she loves the colors yellow and teal. So I decorated a terracotta pot for her using the Happy Days and One Person stamps and wanted to give her this special present

I painted the pot with her favorite colors and then stamped the beautiful flowers from the One Person stamp set . The circle image in the center is also from this same stamp set. I love that these stamps are clear because it is easy to see where to stamp and also to bend the stamp a little to match the curve of the pot. I stamped the sentiment: "You're So Amazing" and used the stamps from the Happy Days stamp set to create this sentiment. This side of the pot says: "You're So....

And the other side of the pot says: "Amazing". After stamping and then coloring the pot, I added some liquid pearls - really - I couldn't help myself - what can I say - I simply {heart} liquid pearls :).

For the finishing touch - I sprayed an acrylic protective finish onto the pot so that it seals the paint in and can be displayed outside even in inclement weather. I planted some basil into the pot and hope that she gets a big smile on her face everytime she goes to use her basil plant!

Here's a picture of the plant outside after the rainstorm:

I loved creating this little basil pot for my friend and can't wait to give it to her! Speaking of giving away.... As with all of our Project Parades, we’ve got prizes! There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creation (posted May 17 or later) to the linky widget on the Day 1 parade post before midnight on June 7th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but we LOVE to see 'em!

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade (May 17 ~ June 4) will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

May Project Parade - Day 12

Good morning, it is Teresa.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful three day weekend, they are always great!  I am blown away by the divas projects, aren't you?  You have until June 7 to get your wonderful creation in for your chance to win.

I have created a Hand Fan/Church Fan, now I have to tell ya this was my husbands fabulous idea....I luv it!  I even looked up a little history(bottom of page) on these fans, it seems they are a status symbol as well as functional.  While I was creating it I was thinking back about the days as a young girl in church with my Mom and Aunt.  We used these in church back then, there was no air conditioning.  I had to add the white piece of trim for the nostalgia memory.  I used the Verve flowers from the set One Person.  The COOL sentiment is from the set Happy Days.  This would be perfect to take to ball games(cow bell attached....lol), lawn parties, and cook outs. 

The handle is a Lowe's paint stick.  I used white acrylic paint on the handle and then sanded it just a bit.

I made it 6 x 6, using a heavy duty watercolor paper(given to me by a friend).  I attached my 6 x 6 finished pages to the watercolor paper and then attached the stick and pages with Scor Tape.  It is super heavy duty and works wonderfully.

This is a picture of the back, using the matching designer paper from Cosmo Cricket DeLovely.  I will be in the tiki hut with my hand fan if you are looking for me....lol.

As with all of our Project Parades, we’ve got prizes! There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creation (posted May 17 or later) to the linky widget on the Day 1 parade post before midnight on June 7th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but we LOVE to see 'em!

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade (May 17 ~ June 4) will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

May Project Parade ~ Day 10

It's Friday, and summer is on its way!! Woo-Hoo!!

Tosh here, and when I think summer, I think freedom!! Now, probably not in the way you'd imagine though. It has nothing to do with school projects or cold weather coming to an end. (I much prefer cold to heat.) Instead, it has everything to do with feet freedom. Oh, yeah!! No more confining socks or shoes!! *sigh*....bliss!! LOL

However, with the constant exposure to rough surfaces and heat, the feet tend to compensate by forming calluses and dry skin. Therefore, with this month's project parade theme being "Sizzlin Summer Fun!!", I thought foot care products would make a perfect gift.


I used Lauren Meader's Trendy Tool Tote Template for my gift box, and decorated it with images from the following Verve Sets: One Person, Relax, and Happy Days. I used coordinating Versamagic chalk inks to match the colors from the Bath and Body Foot scrub containers.

The borders were made with EK Success punches, the and dp is by Crate Paper. Finally, I added some ribbon and a bit of sparkle with some Kaisercraft Rhinestones.

Here's a look at the box without all the gift products inside and around:



Here's a close-up of the front with the sweet little palm tree and sentiment medallion:



I put a "Relax" sign on the left side:



And surf boards on the right side:

So, now it's your turn:

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creation (posted May 17 or later) to the linky widget on the Day 1 parade post before midnight on June 7th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but we LOVE to see ‘em!

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our Sizzlin’ Summer Fun creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade (May 17 ~ June 4) will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

New Release Spotlight - Day 4 and RELEASE DAY!

Hi everyone, it's Michelle here introducing you all to the last set in the April release!  It's called One Person and is a set of 17 amazing stamps.  It is a fabulous combination of flowers and sentiments designed like only Julee can. 

Today is RELEASE DAY!  You are all invited to join us over on the SCS forum for the Release Party fun.  There will be chatting, more sneak peek cards, and lots of prizes! 

This is from the AMAZING Diva, Tosh:

 Hi Verve fans!!  I'm thrilled to share a card that I made with the set One Person today.  True to Julee's impeccable attention to detail, this set has everything you need to show that special someone how much they mean to you:  flowers, flourishes, wonderful sentiments, and gorgeous fonts.  I stamped my sentiment and flowers with Black Onyx Versafine and embossed them with Detail Black ep.  The flowers were stamped on watercolor paper and were colored with Tombows.  The edge of the card does not go completely to the end and is finished on the inside as well.   I used two different Martha Stewart border Punches, and an EK Success leaf punch, along with some rhinestones and Frosted Lace stickles at add a bit of bling.  The dp is a combo of G.C.D Studios and Glitz Design.

This is from the FANTASTIC Diva, Amber:

Hello and welcome to the last day of sneak peeks! It's only a matter of HOURS before you can order these GORGEOUS stamps for yourself:) Just like every other release, Julee has come up with AMAZING sets! My absolute favorites are the beachy ones, aren't they FUN? I can just create with them allll afternoon! BUT, I also love the sentiment sets as well. One Person is a fantastic set. I especially love the sentiment I used on this card. I've always loved this quote and am so excited to own a STAMP with this quote! The fonts, aren't they TDF? I don't know how she does it! This card is going to my Mom for Mother's Day! I used papers by K&Co, some yummy wrinkle ribbon, buttons, twine, edge punches, all of my favorite thing!

This is from the AWESOME Guest Diva, Carolina:

Carolina here, wishing you a very happy Friday! Are you all as excited about the release as I am? Amazing stuff from the Divas this week and I'm just tickled pink that I get to post with them this month! I couldn't think of a better set for Julee to conclude the new release spotlight this week than with the One Person set. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. She has put an amazing set together and one that you NEED to add to your collection. The sentiments are heartwarming and the flowers, just gorgeous. For my card, I wanted to take a shabby chic approach and selected one of my favorite sentiments from the set. It speaks of unconditional love…no matter what happens today or tomorrow ~ I love you! Ahhhh…you know you’ve got to love that. I used Copics to color in the flowers and paired the flower and sentiment from this set with the flourish from Happy Days, which by the way rocks! I can see many uses for it. I finished it off with some distressing, some pearls, a pin, and tied it all up with some yummy satin ribbon. Hope to chat with you all at the release party!!!

And from me, Michelle:

Like what you’ve seen so far? Just leave a comment here on this post before 6:00 PM Eastern TODAY, and you’ll be put in a drawing to win this fabulous set! The lucky winner will be announced at our Beach Party Release Party TONIGHT!! And for even more chances to win some new Verve, be sure to check out the Beach Party Challenges going on in our forum! I hope to see you there!