Expressions of the Heart and a Spotlight Hop!

Hey friends!  It's Day 2 of our July New Release Spotlights!  Hop along with the Divas as we share our first looks at one of the new sets releasing this Friday night!  One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the entire release, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere!  That's right, just leave a little shout-out in the comments as you hop about today for a chance to win the ENTIRE July release! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

Today the Divas and our July Guest Diva, Robin Shakoor, are sharing previews of a set called Words Cannot Express.  It's a thank you set centered on those times when it just doesn't even feel like words could be enough to show your gratitude... for those times when someone overwhelms you with generosity.  Inspired by submissions from Divas Susan and Shannan who couldn't find the right words in stamp form when they were thanking those who lent a hand in a time of need, I designed this set with a casual but elegant scripted font so the type wouldn't distract from the meaning of the sentiments.  I love the way it turned out, and can see myself reaching for it again and again.

So here's my inaugural card using Words Cannot Express.  If you read my blog regularly, you know that I've been delving into the world of mixed-media art lately.  A couple of weeks ago, I saw a video tutorial on Christy Tomlinson's blog about rolling paper for an accent in art journals.  I immediately tried it out on an art journal page and loved it, so yesterday when I was deciding what to stamp for this hop, I remembered how fun this technique was and pulled out a little sheet music and rolled away!

I chose music as my theme to go with the sentiment, "Words cannot express how grateful we are for your friendship".  I feel like music can often speak so much more than words alone and intend to add a little iTunes gift card inside when I give this card away.  I've used distress stains for most of the color on the page.  I tried stamping the sentiment from Words Cannot Express directly on the rolled paper, but my surface was uneven, so I decided to emboss the sentiment onto vellum, color with stains and layer over the rolled paper with mod podge.  I added a heart and layered the large and small flowers from New Mercies for a little embellishment, then used the music note from the Home Tweet Home CutUps die (from The Cat's Pajamas) for a little accent in the corner.  My shabby ribbon wasn't quite the right shade, so I inked it up with Broken China distress stain (can you tell I'm totally addicted to those stains now?) for the perfect match.

Well, there you have it!  Next up on the hop is our talented Guest Diva, Robin Shakoor, and I just know her project is going to make you drool!  Happy hopping!

1. Julee 7. Amy 2. Robin {Guest} 8. Teresa 3. Sankari 9. Laurie 4. Amber 10. Jackie 5. Tosh 11. Andrea 6. Charmaine

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Words Cannot Express, New Mercies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Vellum Cardstock (SU!), Natural White (Neenah), vintage sheet music, Courtyard DP (Echo Park)
Ink: Wild Honey, Broken China, Antique Linen, and Walnut Stain Distress Stains, Jet Black and Coffee Archival Ink (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories: Home Tweet Home CutUps (TCP), Gridlock Texture Fades, Hearts Movers & Shapers (Tim Holtz), clear detail embossing powder (JudiKins), ModPodge, shabby wrinkled ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), lace trim, Oregon Rain drops (Pink Hedgehog)