Happy Birthday to ME!

It's my birthday, and I've got some BIG news to share with y'all. I mean this one's HUGE, so be sure you're sitting down! :) One year ago today I quit my corporate job, with the dream of staying home and finding a way to never have to go back to the corporate rat race. Well, big things have been happening behind the scenes here in my little corner of the world, and today I'm announcing the start of my new venture.... Verve Visual! Have you heard of it? I've got a few FABULOUS gals on my Design Team that have been giving out some sneak peeks, so I know that at least a few of you know what I'm talking about. But for the rest of you... Verve Visual is a new online craft store, complete with it's own line of rubber stamps designed by Yours Truly! How exciting is that???

The store will be launching August 1, so there's only one more week of waiting. In the meantime, if you haven't already... meander on over to Verve Visual and sign up for the mailing list so you won't miss out on any of the launch festivities!

So without further adieu, here's my card for today. It uses the first stamp release from Verve Visual, Thoughtful Phrases, which will be available for purchase next Wednesday! The background is Cool Caribbean stamped with Fancy Pants stamps in Ancient Page Coal Black. The paisley is from the Technique Tuesday Paisley stamp set and the flower circle is embossed with a Cuttlebug flower embossing folder and then I used the debossed side and traced the imprints with a Clear Stardust gel pen. The paisley stamp is colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol and the the frame is hand-drawn. Lastly I stamped the Sending You Smiles sentiment from the Thoughtful Phrases Verve Visual set. This card is 4.25" square on a Basic Black card base.

Okay, in honor of my birthday, I have a fast and furious challenge for any of you who have time to make a card today. Make a card using the above sketch and link me to your card or email me a photo of your card before midnight Mountain Time tonight and I'll pick a random winner to receive a pre-release of the Thoughtful Phrases set. This one's only for those with US or Canada addresses, so a big pre-emptive I'm sorry to my foreign friends. :(

This has been a fabulous mail week for me, so I have a couple more RAKs to share with y'all. The first is a gorgeous birthday card from Colleen over at Distinctive Touches. I absolutely fell in love with this card and the alcohol inks background when I saw it on her blog, and now I have it here in my grubby little paws to ooh and ahhh over. She stamped the flourishes on acetate, and it just looks divine in person. Thanks so much Colleen!

The second card is a pretty little birthday wish from Deb (craftyturtle) over at Life Out of the Shell. I love the mixture of stamps, backgrounds, and the monochramatic color scheme. Thanks for thinking of my Deb!