You are Loved

Hi friends!  I just love having a few days off at the beginning of the week because it makes Friday come so soon!  {grin}  And today brings a fresh new start to our Viva la Verve challenge with the first August VLV sketch!  I love fun little square layouts, and this one from Amber had me so inspired to create.

I haven't had any time to do any mixed-media for a while, so I decided to play with color for a bit. Here I created the background with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo distress stains, adding in the color with some Pan Pastels. I know I've raved a bit before about them, but these pastels are so different from the pastels I've used as a stamper. They have such vibrancy and go on silky smooth, and blend beautifully. I'm a total fan and am slowly amassing a wealth of colors to play with.  I think that might be my favorite part of crafting... collecting!  {grin}

Not much stamping here, except the sentiment from Small Phrases.  I wanted it to stand alone because although it's small, it's got so much meaning.  You are loved.  That's a phrase I never tire of hearing.. it's medicine for the soul!  {grin}  I added a little homespun love with a bit of burlap, some stitching, a teeny love bird and some heart strings.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend.  And if nobody's told you lately, I'm  here to tell you that you are a treasure and oh-so loveable!  Pass it on.


Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Cream, Kraft
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Jet Black Archival (Ranger), Pan Pastels
Accessories:  scallop border punch, champagne glass glitter (SU!), Primitive Hearts Die (Sizzix), bird punch (Fiskars), gold cord (Pizzazz Aplenty), burlap, sewing machine, paper crimper

The Sky is the Limit

Happy Monday!  It's my birthday today so I'm actually on a little getaway with my hubby, but through the wonders of modern blogger, I've (crossing my fingers it works, since it hasn't the past two Mondays) scheduled this post ahead of time.  It's Monday and that means it's Mojo Monday, and time for a Round or Square sketch.  This week's sketch was designed by Stephanie Kraft.

I went for the square version this month because I was too lazy to pull my Grand Calibur out to cut big enough circles for my images.  Actually, I've decided that I'm a pretty lazy stamper.  So many decisions are made based on how easy it is to get to the item I need!  LOL

Anyhow, this card uses the Splendid collection by Authentique and the adorable Away We Go set from The Cat's Pajamas.  I love this little sentiment, and thought it very fitting for beginning the journey of the next chapter in my life.  I'm truly starting to believe that the sky is the limit and I can accomplish so many of the goals I once thought were out of reach.  Hooray!

Well, I've got to finish packing for our little getaway, so I'll just leave you with the sketch, the enabler's list and a wish that you'll exceed your own expectations today!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Away We Go, (TCP)
Paper: Splendid (Authentique), Early Espresso (SU!), Natural White (TCP)
Ink: Jet Black Archival, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories:  Olive seam binding (TCP),  Sentiment Flags Die (Lil' Inker Designs), buttons, paper distresser, scrapper's floss

Wisteria Peace

Happy Saturday, friends!  Today I'm popping in with another card using the Mojo Monday 200 sketch!  We'll be picking random winners from this week's participants to win some PRIZES, so if you haven't played along yet, you've got until Sunday night at 8pm Mountain!

I started with the Play Date Cafe {PDCC91} color challenge of black/white and a splash of color in mind.  I was also thinking of my Grandma, who left instructions that each of us would receive our birthday money right on schedule this year, even though she passed away in March.  My check arrived yesterday and I was so broken up inside.  I so wanted to make a thank you card, but there's no one to send it to.  So instead, I decided to make a card using her favorite color... lavender... or in this case, the lovely new Wisteria Wonder.

I pulled out the New Mercies set because I find this sentiment so comforting.. may you find peace in the days ahead.  Peace is such an illusive thing.  It seems that only when you stop struggling to find it does it ever come knocking on your door.  I've got so much going on in my life right now, and the days are getting busier and busier with our Anni-VERVE-sary release only 3 weeks away.  I have a tendency to worry about every little detail in life, so I can't think of a greater wish for myself than to find peace.  Peace with the loss of loved ones, peace with my business decisions, peace with myself and the person I'm becoming.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you have a wonderful, peaceful weekend.

Enabler's List:
Stamps: New Mercies, Chicks Rule (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Black, White, Wisteria Wonder (SU!)
Ink: Black, Wisteria Wonder (SU!), Antique linen (Ranger Distress)
Accessories:  Flutterby Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Filmstrip ribbon (Tim Holtz), Wisteria Wonder ribbon (SU!), Sizzix embossing folder, rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), chunky glass glitter

Amazing Heart

Happy Friday!  It's almost the weekend and I'm so glad!  Fridays bring another Viva la Verve! sketch and this week's is the final sketch for July!  Play along with all four of our July sketches for a chance to win our entire Anni-VERVE-sary release!  I may be a little biased, but word on the street from the Divas is that this is their favorite release yet!  So come play along!  Deadline to enter is Thursday, July 28.

Laurie is our hostess with the mostess this week and she designed this darling sketch.  I just love hearts and knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as I saw her sketch.  I got this new Splendid paper from Authentique this week and couldn't wait to make a plaid heart using the Tim Holtz die.  The sentiment flag is cut out, folded over and stitched, then I tied the dream string (from Pizzazz Aplenty) through it, and wrapped around my label 16 and heart piece.  The sentiment is from the new Small Phrases set and I accented with some liquid pearls and bling.

And there you have it.  I've got a super busy day and a fabulous weekend lined up, so I'm just going to leave you with the enabler's list.  Don't forget to check out the Diva Dare Challenge (which this card qualifies for) to pair just a sentiment with pretty paper.  And there's still time to get your entries in for this week's Mojo Monday 200 celebration challenge, to be eligible for the prize drawings!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Splendid (Authentique), Early Espresso, Vellum cs (SU!), Cream
Ink: Early Espresso (SU!), Antique Linen, Vintage Photo (Ranger)
Accessories: Labels 16 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Heart Movers & Shapers Die (Tim Holtz), Sentiment Flag die (Lil' Inker Designs), Scallop trim punch (SU), flatback rhinestones and only olive dream string (Pizzazz Aplenty), liquid pearls (Ranger), sewing machine

You're Tweet

Happy Thursday!  I'm back again with another just for fun card.  This was a special card I made to send to Alma using her new Nesting set.  Since I knew it was going to Alma, I started with the classic TCP color scheme of yellow, black and rocker pink!

If you hadn't noticed from my recent posts, I'm in love with the Mini Exotic Butterflies.  I cut a few out in black and loved the look of the negative shape after cutting all three dies in a line, so I embossed the piece with a Sizzix folder, then layered some news print paper behind it and cut a tail to make it a banner.  I lightly sponged ink on the three butterflies, leaving a few white spots and added a top piece cut with the Pinking Border CutUps and accented with black rhinestones.

Next I stamped the nest image as a background all over my daffodil delight background, making an extra little piece to stamp the sentiment from Nesting on.  The bird is stamped directly onto the newsprint paper, then cut out and I sponged with melon mambo, then added some Stickles to it as well as the center butterfly.  Some Black Licorice Divine Twine, a mini library clip and one of the Mini Exotic Butterflies finished things off.

I guess this card would be a fusion of shabby chic and graphic styles.  That's me... never wanting to stay inside the box. {grin}  Well, whatever style it is, I had so much fun making it and I hope it makes Alma smile.

Well, I best be getting a move on.  I think the world spins faster and faster every single day.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Hope you find a little time to create just for the sheer joy of creating today!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Nesting (TCP)
Paper: Neenah Natural White (TCP)), First Edition DP (SU!), Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo (SU!)
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo (SU!), Jet Black Archival (Ranger)
Accessories:  Pink Border Cutups, Mini Exotic Butterflies, Black Licorice Divine Twine (TCP), Cuttlebug folder, Mini library clip (SU!), black flatback rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Stickles, paper distresser

Little Things

Happy Tuesday!  How's life treating you?  Things are going pretty good here.  Migraines have subsided a little bit and I got a chance to do some stamping just for the fun of it!  My order of all of the amazing new TCP stamps and dies arrived just before the Verve release, so they've been sitting patiently on the corner of my desk calling my name, waiting for me to have a free moment to stamp.

So first things first, I just had to make another rolled nest!  I just LOVE this die!  I cut it out of natural white card stock and then stamped it with the nest stamp from Nesting, randomly going over some of the lines with a darker color of marker to give it a little more dimension, sponged some color around the edges, then rolled it up and tucked in a bit of fiber to give it that realistic look.  {For those of you who asked on my last nest, the fiber I used comes from Bluehollow's shop on Etsy.  Gorgeous stuff!}  I stamped the egg trio four times, cut out, sponged with some pool party ink, speckled with a marker, then added a dusting of glass glitter to the eggs and outer edges of the nest and layered it on a scrap of burlap.  The sentiment is from the Bearing Flowers set and one of my all time favorite sayings.  I added some accents with the Mini Exotic Butterflies and the Pennant CutUps dies, then layered on pool party cardstock stamped with the bird from Nesting  A bit of distressing around the edges and a card was born!  {grin}

So, it's the little things that make life big!  A little thing like a morning spent stamping instead of working.  A little thing like the sun streaming in through my fabulous new blinds.  A little thing like a box FILLED to the brim with Hello Kitty goodness arriving unexpectedly from a friend.  A little thing like a tiny speck of glitter on my cheek when I look in the mirror.  A little things like the smell of cinnamon in my tea filling the house with warmth.  A little thing like the faint whisper of sore muscles from the killer lunges our trainer made me do on Sunday. The little things are all adding up to a big, big life today and I'm feeling blessed.  I hope you take some time today to enjoy the little things.  They really are the stuff of life.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a fabulous day!


Enabler's List:
Stamps: Nesting, Bearing Flowers (TCP), Very Vintage jumbo wheel (SU!)
Paper:  Pool Party, Early Espresso (SU!), Neenah Natural White (TCP)
Ink: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Soft Suede (SU!), Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Accessories:  Rolled Nest, Exotic Mini Butterflies, Pennant CutUps (TCP), fiber (Bluehollow on Etsy), Champagne Glass Glitter (SU!), paper distresser, burlap

Much Appreciated

Hi friends!  Today is a very special Monday... the 200th Mojo Monday sketch challenge!  I remember when I first started posting sketches on my blog wondering if anybody would play along... I never would have believed back then that Mojo Monday would take on a life of its own!  {grin}  So as a way to celebrate and say thank you to all that have played along with me and touched my heart with your amazing creations each Monday over the past several years, we've got PRIZES for this week's challenge!  We'll add a prize for every 50 entries, up to a max of 8 randomly drawn winners who will all receive a $25 Verve gift certificate!  Woohoo!  So come play along with us this week as we celebrate 200!

My heart was full when I was making this card, thinking of all the fabulous cards I've seen using my sketches over the past few years.  So I decided to make a thank you card. I love this sentiment from Words Cannot Express, "Your kindness is much appreciated".  I think that too often we forget to tell the people that matter how MUCH they are appreciated.  We end up assuming they know how important they are to us, how touched we are that they went that extra mile to help out, how much we appreciate the sacrifices (big and small) they make to make our lives a brighter place.  I know I find myself thinking these things almost daily of my friends and loved ones, and I always intend to let them know, but somehow the card I'm meaning to send doesn't get in the mail or I can't find exactly the right words to say when I'm talking to them.  But actually, it's not about the perfect card at the perfect time or the perfect prose, but the act of EXPRESSING our thankfulness that matters. So this card goes out to all of you who have faithfully followed my blogs, supported my endeavors and continually blessed me with kind words and comments that have brightened so many dark days.  You MATTER, and your kindness is much appreciated!

The Making Of:
In addition to being my Mojo Monday sample, this card also fits the bill for the current Diva Dare challenge... Sentimental About Paper.  The challenge is to use sentiments only with pretty paper.  There's a chance to win both for participating in the challenge AND for commenting on the Diva Dare posts on the Verve Blog as the Divas share their creation over the next couple weeks.

For my card, I knew exactly what paper I wanted to use.  I adore this Portrait collection from Crate Paper and decided to cut out flowers from one of the designs to pop up on the circle.  After that, the card came together really quickly.  Sometimes I like to have a little element of surprise on a card, so here I decided to stamp the sentiment diagonally in the square instead of directly in the center.  I love the look of it.  I added a torn bit of paper in the corner, and a butterfly and sentiment flag die to fill things in a bit.  Some shabby wrinkled ribbon and flatback pearls finished things off.

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Words Cannot Express (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Portrait Collection (Crate Paper), Black, Cream
Ink: Black, Vintage Photo Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: Mini Exotic Butterflies (TCP), Classic Circles and Classic Squares Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sentiment Flag die (L'il Inkers Design), border punch (EK Success), shabby wrinkled ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), black flatback pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty)

July Get Your Diva On

Happy Saturday, friends!  Today I'm sharing a card for the July Get Your Diva On challenge.  This month Maureen is challenging us to be inspired by a gift card.  Play along for a chance to be a future Guest Diva for Verve!  But you better get cracking, because the deadline is tomorrow night {July 17).  For my inspiration piece I found an adorable gift card featuring my favorite character... Hello Kitty. 

I took my inspiration from the pink and black colors and the polka dots reminded me of this fun Uncommon paper from Authentique.  I wanted a softer shabby look, so chose a dark grey and a coral pink.  The "buttons" down the side are made with the sun image from the New Mercies set and some big pearls.  The big leafy branch is stamped in Blushing Bride, then I stamped the happy birthday sentiment from Small Phrases over the top.  I tied a little shabby bow over to the side of the sentiment panel, just like on Hello Kitty.  The butterflies are the Mini Exotic Butterflies from TCP and I finished off with a pearl border to continue my shabby polka dot theme.

Well, that's all for me today.  I hope you'll find a little time this weekend to get creative and play along with this fun challenge!  I may be a little biased, but I do think that being a Verve Guest Diva is a pretty cool gig!  :-)  Have a fantastic day!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  New Mercies, Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Uncommon (Authentique), grey (Gina K), cream
Ink: Blushing Bride (SU!), Jet Black Archival, Black Soot Distress (Ranger)
Accessories:  Mini Exotic Butterflies (TCP), 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches (SU!), pearls (Recollections), flatback rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), shabby wrinkled ribbon (Praire Bird Boutique on Etsy)

Light Tomorrow

Hi friends!  Happy Friday!  Fridays bring a new Viva la Verve sketch and this week's challenge is hosted by Maureen Plut.  I've been itching to use the new Light Tomorrow plain jane, so pulled out some sunny papers and the July Week 3 sketch and got to work.

I just love this Browning quote, "Light tomorrow with today."  It reminds me that the things we do today have a real impact on the future. I want to be the kind of person who shines so bright today that the spark will live on into tomorrow.  So for this card, I went with some bright yellow to represent the sun.  The coloring is all done with Pan Pastels, including stenciling the Nestabilities label, coloring the embossed sun rays and the shading of the flower from Feel the Sun.  The adorable cloud border die is from The Cat's Pajamas.

Well, I've been battling severe migraines again, so I'm going to wrap this up quickly.  Be sure to check out the Diva Dare posted on the Verve Blog today.  It's a fabulous challenge you'll definitely want to play, plus there's a prize for commenting, so tune in over the next couple of weeks as the Divas show you how they answered this month's dare... Sentimental About Paper!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Light Tomorrow Plain Jane, Feel the Sun (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Fine and Dandy True Blue (My Mind's Eye), So Saffron, Black (SU!), natural white
Ink: Black (SU!), PanPastels
Accessories:  Labels 18, Classic Circles and Large Scallop Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Sewing machine, Cloud Border CutUps (TCP), Liquid Pearls (Ranger), Dotted Wave border (EK Success), Rays Texture Fades (Tim Holtz)

Mixed Symbolism

Happy Tuesday, friends!  I'm back with another mixed media meets cardmaking project using the newest Verve release.  I painted and stained these hearts a while back for an art journal page, but ended up going a different direction so I tucked them away for safe keeping.  {grin}

Mark doesn't know it, but this card is for him.  We've both been working hard at our new healthy lifestyle and he's just been a rock.  He's my motivator when I feel like sitting on the couch instead of hitting the gym... my cook when I don't feel like cooking (which is pretty much all the time) and he's just a constant source of encouragement and support.  This weekend will be our 8 week weigh-in with our trainer and combined we've already lost over 40 pounds.  Pretty amazing and I know I wouldn't have been able to make this change without him, so I wanted to make a card for him.

I chose these grungy primitive hearts because they're unfinished, imperfect, a bit flawed... but still beautiful, just like us!  I stamped the leaves from New Mercies behind the hearts to represent how we're growing and flourishing together.  The corrugated part up top represents how we're stretching ourselves and the bits of sparkle are those glimmers of our true personalities that are beginning to shine through again.  The lace and twine blends masculine and feminine and ties it all together.  Okay, was that enough symbolism for one card? {grin}  I can't help it... I'm a hopeless romantic, thus the "my heart is yours" sentiment from Small Phrases.

Speaking of personalities shining through, it's amazing how different I'm beginning to feel.  More confident, more energetic, more creative... more ME.  The ME that's been hiding away for far too long.  The ME I've been desperately trying to wake up is beginning to stir and it's starting to feel like those obstacles I once thought were unscalable mountains are really only high hills.  I'll get to them and beyond soon enough!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and "listening" to my rambling thoughts.  I hope you take a little time for yourself today to remember the person you want to be and do something that puts you closer along the path to becoming that person!


Enabler's List:
Stamps: Small Phrases, New Mercies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Crumb Cake (SU!), Cream
Ink: Versamark, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, paints and distress stains
Accessories: Charming Banner Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Primitive Hearts dies (Sizzix), corner chomper, paper crimper, lace trims, flower, scrapper's floss, Light molding paste, champagne glass glitter, clear detail embossing powder

Heartfelt Mojo

Hi friends!  Welcome to another week and another Mojo Monday sketch!  This week's sketch was designed by Teresa Kline and has lots of possibilities.  I used the newly released New Mercies set to make a shabby chic sympathy card.

I'm so crazy busy right now that I'm just going to leave you the enabler's list and a few bits of news.  Be sure to check out the Mojo blog for more inspiration with this fabulous sketch!

Enabler's List: 
Stamps: New Mercies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: So Saffron, Early Espresso (SU!), Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Lucky Limeade (SU!), Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), scallop trim border (MFT), Circle punches (SU!), Bisque liquid pearls (Rnager), shabby wrinkled ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), music texture fades (Tim Holtz), big pearls (Recollections)

News bit #1:  If you missed our release party, be sure to check out the Verve Blog today where the after party is going on and you can see a favorite card using the newly released stamps from each of the Divas!  It's sure to be a feast for the eyes!

News bit #2:  Our July Get Your Diva On contest starts today!  Maureen is the hostess with the mostess and she's got a stylish challenge that totally makes cents.  Play along this week for your chance to be a future Guest Diva and receive an entire Verve release and hang out with the Divas behind the scenes for a future release!  Sounds like a dream gig to me!  :)

News bit #3:  One release down and another one not to far away!  Save the date for our Anni-VERVE-sary release on August 12.  We're turning four this year, and we'll be blowing it out with a huge release!

Pool Party Birthday

Hi friends! Happy Saturday! I'm popping in with a quick card I made before the release party last night. All the stamps we've been previewing this week are available in the Verve store now. Yippee!

For this card I started with the new Pool Party cardstock from SU!, embossed it with the Stripes embossing folder and then swiped some Broken China distress stain over it for the cool background.  The sentiment is from the new Small Phrases set, and I stamped it in archival ink across some twill, then adhered to the card with sticky strip.  The balloons are from the Birthday Bash set (on sale 20% off this month), and I paper pieced the balloons, popped them up on dimensionals and added a little glass glitter.

To jazz things up a bit, I added a punched border with shiny pearl accents, a glass glitter star and a huge polka dot bow, accented with a Webster's Pages sparkler center.  It was a quick and easy card and without the ribbon could be a super layout for a masculine card as well.

After a week of high stress, no free time and crazy deadlines, I'm hoping to chill out and relax this weekend and maybe get some art journaling done, hit the gym and take in a movie with my awesome hubby.  Sounds fabulous, don't you think!  I hope you find a little time to unwind from the week yourself... AFTER you go check out the new stamps at Verve!  {grin}

We've just released 3 new sets and 3 new plain janes! Now through July 31, buy the July 2011 Stamp Collection and save 15%!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Small Phrases, Birthday Bash (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Pool Party, Basic Black, 2011 In Color Prints DSP (SU!), Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Jet Black Archival, Broken China Distress Stain (Ranger)
Accessories: Stripes Textured Impressions Folder, Glass Glitter, Scallop Trim punch (SU!), shiny silver pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), twill, glass glitter star (Frost It Pink), ribbon (May Arts), Sparkler (Webster's Pages)

The Good Life and a Spotlight Hop

Hidey ho neighbors!  It's the final day of our July Spotlight Hops and today the Divas are previewing a set called Small Phrases as well as our three newest plain janes!  Leave a comment as you hop about the Divasphere for a chance to win our ENTIRE release!  But you best be quick about it... commenting for all three days of hopping ends at 6pm Mountain TONIGHT {July 8}.  Winners will be announced at our release party, which starts tonight at 7pm Mountain.

For my sample card, I mingled a few different stamps together, which is one of my favorite things to do.  I started with the Life is Good Plain Jane, stamped and matted on a lacey circle.  This stamp was included in a much smaller form in our Relax set and it's probably my all-time favorite sentiment.  I wanted a bigger one and guess what?  I own a stamp company, so I can!  {grin}

My flowers are from the New Mercies set and are actually the little sun image.  I stamped the sun six times on Pool Party cardstock, then cut 3 out with a 3/4" circle and three centers with a 1/2" circle and then layered them on dimensionals and added some pearl centers.  To give them a shabby look, I cut in between every other spoke and curled them up a bit.  The stems are stamped with the larger stemmed flower from New Mercies, and I masked off the flower and popped the sun flowers over them.  I finished with the "I've been thinking about you" sentiment from Small Phrases.

This is also a very loose interpretation of Tosh's Viva la Verve July Week 2 Sketch.  {Play along each Friday in July for a chance to win our entire Anni-VERVE-sary release!} I had my heart set on 3 flowers in a row, so I had to squish the sketch down and make a non-standard size.  Finished size is 6.75" x 4.75".

Well, I've still got miles to go before I sleep, and lots to finish up before the release, so I'm just going to leave you with the hop list and enabler's list.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

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

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Life is Good Plain Jane, Small Phrases, New Mercies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: 2011 In Color Patterns DSP, Basic Black (SU!), Cream, sheet music
Ink: Black, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade (SU!), Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Lacey Circles, Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Smash Tape (K & Company), Scallop Dots Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/4" circle, 1/2" circle (SU!), pearls and bling (Prima)

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)

New Mercies and a Spotlight Hop

Hi friends!  It's time to shine our sneaky Verve spotlight on some brand new stamps! We're counting down to Verve's release party this Friday night, July 8, with THREE days of Spotlight Hops! And since new Verve is something to celebrate, there's a big PRIZE hidden on one of today's hop spots! Just leave a little shout-out in the comments as you hop about for a chance to win the ENTIRE July release! Woohoo!  You can check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines. 

Today the Divas and our uber talented July Guest Diva, Robin Shakoor  (you really must go visit her blog, her style is totally drool-worthy!), are showing our first peeks at a set called New Mercies.  From the time I was very young the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" has always been a favorite of mine.  After my grandmother passed away earlier this year, this tune just kept going through my head on repeat, so when I sat down to design this release the morning by morning new mercies I see portion was the first image I designed.  And from there came the inspiration for this set of scriptures and sentiments perfect for giving encouragement to anyone going through difficult times.

Here I've used the two sizes of foliage in the set as a corner background. I used the smaller foliage stamp to stamp my rolled nest (made with the new Rolled Nest CutUps die from TCP), then added some fiber, beads and glaze with diamond glaze to give it a realistic look. The sentiment is stamped on a Classy Label die cut which was first stamped with the coordinating label from Love Notes, then I just added some distressing with Distress Stains and finished off with some shabby wrinkled ribbon.

Okay, I'm going to keep it short and just leave you with the master hop list and the enabler's list!  Happy hopping!

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

Enabler's List:
Stamps: New Mercies, Love Notes (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz (SU!), Cream
Ink: Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain, Coffee Archival (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories: Classy Label Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Rolled Nest CutUps (TCP), shabby wrinkled ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), crop-a-dile, beads, diamond glaze, glass glitter, fiber

Wish Big Mojo

Hey friends!  Happy 4th of July!  My brother and his wife are in town from LA and we'll be heading out to spend the day with my family, then heading to Mark's parent's house to enjoy the fireworks.  You just have to love a holiday that's celebrated with big giant explosions of color in the sky!  I'm so excited for tonight!

It's Mojo Monday time again and this week is a contest week!  That means if you play along you'll have a chance to be one of up to 7 winners of some brand new Verve!  And we've got brand new sets releasing this Friday night, so there will be even more sets to choose from!  Come to our release party on July 8 from 7-9pm Mountain to check out the new sets!

My sample card uses those Authentique: Blissful papers I can't get enough of lately.  The flower is made with the Bloom & Grow set and the Floral Circles and Elegant Leaves dies.  I stamped the leaf image onto the die cut, then doodled a stitched border around it.  The sentiment is from the Birthday Phrases set and is layered onto the Charming Banner and Charming Oval dies.  I used some polka dot Smash tape for accents, then added some Black Diamond stickles and yellow pearls to a SU! butterfly die.

Well, I've got to run.  It's a super busy day!  I hope you have a chance to play along with Mojo Monday this week!  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Bloom & Grow, Birthday Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Blissful (Authentique), Black, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake, Black (SU!)
Accessories:  Floral Circles Die Set, Elegant Leaves Die, Charming Banner Die Set, Charming Oval Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Butterflies Embosslits (SU!), Smash Tape, Stickles

July Diva Inspirations Hop

Hi friends!  It's the first of the month and that means our Diva Inspirations team (plus a few Divas from the release team) is putting on a blog hop to kick the month off right!  We've got an awesome line-up, and don't forget to leave a little love in the comments section as you hop around, because a lucky commenter on the hop will win a Verve gift certificate!  Just in time to spend at our July release next Friday night!  Head on over to the Verve blog for all the hop details and deadlines.  The master blog hop list is at the end of this post.

This super sweet layout is by Amber Hight and just happens to be the first Viva la Verve sketch for July!  Play along with all of our July sketches and you just might be the lucky winner of our entire Anni-VERVE-sary release.  And let me just say, it's gonna be BIG!!!

My card features the July Stamp of the Month... Carpe Cupcake, which is a steal at 40% off in July!  I  think you probably remember me saying it was birthday season?  Well, July brings FIVE Diva birthdays (Charmaine, Sony, ME, Jen T. and Teresa), so we're celebrating with 20% off our birthday stamps and a free goody bag for orders over $75!  Hooray!

Well, I've rambled on a bit and I wanted to keep this short.  We're having our kitchen & dining room floors redone this week and the house has been a war zone.  It's looking great, though.  Just some detail woodworking left tomorrow and we can put our house back together again!  Yay!

Okay, I'll leave you with the hop list and an enabler's list, since I didn't really give you any details about the card.  {sheepish grin}  Happy Hopping!!!

1. Julee 9. Susan 2. Betty 10. Andrea 3. Dawn 11. Charmaine 4. Jen d. 12. Teresa 5. Jen T. 13. Maureen 6. Lynda 14. Amber 7. Shannan 15. Amy 8. Sony

Enabler's List:
Stamps: Carpe Cupcake, Birthday Bash, Vintage Oval Frame (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Journey (Authentique), Sahara Sand (SU!), Walnut Stain (Ranger C'oredinations)
Ink: Early Espresso, Pacific Point, Sahara Sand (SU!), Copic markers
Accessories:  Vintage Oval Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Grand Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Polka Dots ef (Cuttlebug), liquid pearls (Ranger), shiny silver pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), seam binding ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), clear detail embossing powder (Judikins)