Small Packages Release Day Hop

Hi friends!  It's Verve Release Day and time for the final day of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights! We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store for a lucky commenter along today's hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!  All of the stamps & dies  you've seen along the hops this week are available in the Verve online store right now.

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, settle in for some fun!  :)

I started off with a left over scrap of dp from my last project, then applied some light molding paste over a starry stencil and let it dry.  I spritzed the whole page with a mixture of walnut stain reinker and water, then wiped off the molding paste areas with a baby wipe to keep them standing out.  While this was drying, I stamped the frame from Small Packages on the same dp, cut out with the coordinating Cupcake Frame Die Set, then matted on a piece of early espresso cut with the Rounded Scallop Frame Die.  (I used a piece of tape to keep the inner and outer pieces of the die cut together, so it's a solid frame for the cupcake frame to rest on.)  I sponged a little walnut stain onto the frame with a dot fade stencil, but most of it got covered up by the cupcake.

Next I stamped the large cupcake and the flag in early espresso onto cream card stock and embossed with clear embossing powder  I colored with Copics, then hand trimmed the image and highlighted with some cinnamon stickles on the frosting and flag.  Then I just grabbed a pinch of Signature Mix Sequins and dropped them onto the page.  That's my highly technical method of getting a scattered effect!  LOL  I then just picked each one up and put some crystal effects under it to hold it in place.  Finally I embossed the happy birthday sentiment in the corner and then distressed the edges of my panels to finish things off.

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for  the full set reveal and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 8. Maureen 2. Teresa 9. Laurie 3. Amber 10. Janelle 4. Charmaine 11. Christyne 5. Marisa 12. Jen 6. Monika {Guest} 13. Andrea 7. Stacey

Enabler's List - card
Stamps: Small Packages (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Lost & Found (MME), early espresso (SU!), cream (Neenah)
Ink: early espresso (SU!), walnut stain distress (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories: Cupcake Frame Die Set, Rounded Scallop Frame Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), Signature Sequin Mix (Verve), dot fade stencil (Tim Holtz), star shower stencil (Crafter's Workshop), Light Molding Paste (Golden), washi tape, Chocolate Liquid Pearls, Cinnamon Stickles, (Ranger)

One Cup Day 5 Blog Hop

Hi friends!  It's time for  Day 5 of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights, where we're previewing the stamps and dies that will release this Saturday, August 30. We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store each day to a lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, settle in for some fun!  :)

Today I have a fun little card and tea bag gift to share with you using the new One Cup set. I knew I wanted to have a tea set to go along with Chaitali's coffee set, so I sat down to illustrate, starting with a sentiment in mind that really inspired me... take life one cup at a time.  I liked the look of the font treatment I chose so much that we decided to use it on Chaitali's One Word series as well.  So fun and flirty, yet classy at the same time.

Anyhow, my card uses this sentiment and one of the mugs and tea bag stamps from One Cup.  I also used the coordinating Cuppa Tea Die Set to cut out the mugs, which I colored with Copics.  I kept the layout simple, so the glittery paper could shine and finished things off with a polka dot bow.

Front side of tea bag holder

For the matching tea bag holder, I followed a video tutorial by Brenda Keenan to make this super easy double sided tea bag holder with a single sheet of 6 x 6 paper.  I sponged ink along all the score lines before folding the holder together, then I created a little embellishment using a frame stamp and coordinating die from tomorrow's featured set and two sentiments and teacup from the One Cup set.  I stamped You, me and a cup of tea on one side and Take life one cup at a time on the other. I  finished things off with a bow up top adorned with some cute little heart embellishments.

Back side of tea bag holder

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 8. Stacey 2. Teresa 9. Maureen 3. Chaitali 10. Laurie 4. Amber 11. Janelle 5. Charmaine 12. Christyne 6. Marisa 13. Jen 7. Monika {Guest} 14. Andrea

Enabler's List - card
Stamps: One Cup (Verve Stamps)
Paper: crumb cake (SU!), cream (Neenah), Lost & Found (MME)
Ink: black archival and walnut stain distress (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories: Cuppa Tea Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE),  Polka Dot Basics Ribbon Collection (Verve)

Enabler's List - teabag holder
Stamps: One Cup, Small Packages (Verve Stamps)
Paper: crumb cake (SU!), Lost & Found (MME)
Ink: black archival and walnut stain distress (Ranger), Copic markers
Accessories: Cuppa Tea Die Set, Cupcake Frame Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE),  Polka Dot Basics Ribbon Collection (Verve), Metallic Necessities heart embellishments (MME), crop-a-dile, scor-pal

Simple Bluebells Day 4 Hop

Hi friends!  It's time for  Day 4 of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights, where we're previewing the stamps and dies that will release this Saturday, August 30. We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store each day to a lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, settle in for some fun!  :)

Today I have two clean & simple cards I made with the Framed Florals set we're previewing today. This is another framed set from Chaitali, this time with a beautiful bluebell image.  There's also a coordinating Bluebells Die available separately.

For the first card, I spritzed two colors of Dylusions ink on my craft sheet, then used a waterbrush to color the bluebells (stamped on watercolor paper in archival black ink).  I highlighted with a little wink of stella glitter pen, then added the sentiment, a basic grey panel with a taffeta flat bow and finished off with an embossed soft sky card base.  Super simple, and if you're not a colorer, there's also a solid stamp included in the set for two-step tstamping.

For the second card, I had used some white tags to clean up the leftover ink sprays from coloring on my last card, so I decided to stamp the bluebells image directly onto the tag.  Next I stamped the solid two-step stamping portion in Jasmine ink and embossed in clear to lighten the flowers up just a bit.  Then I stamped over the top of it again with the outline image in black.  The happy birthday sentiment is stamped onto a 1-3/8" circle punch from gold vellum.  I used the same gold vellum for the bottom border of the card.  I added a bit of gold striped washi tape to the tag and the watercolor paper I used for the background, then sprinkled with some of the ink, added some loops of white thread, a gold bow and some gold enamel dots.

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 8. Stacey 2. Teresa 9. Maureen 3. Chaitali 10. Laurie 4. Amber 11. Janelle 5. Charmaine 12. Christyne 6. Marisa 13. Jen 7. Monika {Guest} 14. Andrea

Enabler's List - Sympathy card
Stamps: Framed Florals (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft sky, basic gray (SU!), water color paper (Tim Hotz)
Ink: black archival (Ranger), fresh lime and vibrant turquoise Dylusions spray (Ranger), wink of stella glitter brush pen
Accessories: Dots fade embossing folder (Tim Holtz), corner rounder, waterbrush, taffeta (SU!)

Enabler's List - Birthday card
Stamps: Framed Florals (Verve Stamps)
Paper: gold vellum, white tag, watercolor paper (Tim Holtz)
Ink: black archival (Ranger), fresh lime and vibrant turquoise Dylusions spray (Ranger), Jasmine (Mix'd Media Inx)
Accessories: 1-3/8" circle punch (SU!), gold enamel dots (MME), white thread, gold ribbon, washi tape, paint brush

Coffee Possibilities Day 3 Hop

Hi friends!  Are you enjoying this week's spotlights so far?  I hope so because we're back for Day 3 of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights,  previewing the stamps and dies that will release this Saturday, August 30. We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store each day to a lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, settle in for some fun!  :)

Today's set is a set called Coffee, illustrated by Chaitali Narla.  It's another one in her one word series, this time focused on all things coffee!  Anyone who knows me knows that this set is right up my alley!  And we're also releasing a coordinating die set, A Cuppa Joe, and Verve's first word die the Coffe Word Die!

For my card, I started with the coffee mug, which I stamped onto white card stock in early espresso and then also onto a scrap of book paper that I had used with my gelli plate that I thought would make a super cool looking print for a mug.  I paper pieced the blue pieces of the mug and colored the saucer with Copics, then punched a little hole in the handle so I could loop the Coffee Word Die cut through.

I wanted to have a chalkboard feel, like the menus in a lot of coffeehouses, so I pulled out some black cardstock, stamped the coffee been trio in each corner and then drew the frame with a ruler and a white gel pen.  Next I figured out where i wanted my coffee mug and stamped the steam image in Jasmine Mix'd Media ink.  The sentiment is stamped and embossed in white onto the black, then I stamped it again with the Jasmine ink a little offset and smudged things around a bit for a chalkboard feel.  I spritzed the whole panel with white linen Dylusions spray and set it aside while I finished up the background..

The soft sky is stamped tone on tone randomly with the three different coffee fonts, then I sponged the edges with black soot ink.  I also added a scrap of red designer paper cut in a banner shape to brighten things up a bit.

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 7. Stacey 2. Teresa 8. Maureen 3. Amber 9. Laurie 4. Charmaine 10. Janelle 5. Marisa 11. Christyne 6. Monika {Guest} 12. Jen

Enabler's List
Stamps: Coffee (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft sky, basic black (SU!), schoolhouse (October Afternoon), white, book paper
Ink: soft sky (SU!), black soot (Ranger Distress), Jasmine White (Mix'd Media Inx), white gel pen, Copic markers, white linen spray (Dylusions), acrylic paint
Accessories: Coffee Word Die (A Cut Above by VERVE), paper distresser, white embossing powder

Thanks a Bunch Lilies Day 2 Hop

Hi friends!  We're back for Day 2 of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights, where the Divas and our special guest, Monika Davis, are previewing the stamps and dies that will release this Saturday, August 30.  We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store each day to a lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, settle in for some fun!  :)

Today's set is a set called Framed Lilies, illustrated by Chaitali Narla.  It's got a little bit of everything... all occasion sentiments, a beautiful frame and floral images that can be colored traditionally or with a little two-step stamping.

For my card, I stamped the floral frame onto cream cardstock.  I then stamped the solid lilies in peach parfait to color them in.  I then took the stamp with just the two lilies and masked off one so I could stamp the other one in the corner.  Used the same technique to fill it in with peach parfait using the solid stamp, then sketched in a stem and leaf to match the stemmed image and colored with Copics.  The sentiment is stamped in black in the center of the frame and then I rounded the corners of the panel and matted with early espresso.  I stamped one more lily and cut it out by hand, then coated all four lilies with glossy glaze and set them aside to dry.

The soft sky panel is stamped tone on tone with the outlined lily duo stamp, then sponged with Walnut Stain and matted with espresso.  I accented with a ribbon using the Polka Dot Basics Collection, then glued my single lily to the center.  Two of the larger coffee colored sequins from the new Signature Sequin Collection accent the corner and I embellished them with itty bitty orange rhinestones.

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 7. Stacey 2. Teresa 8. Maureen 3. Amber 9. Laurie 4. Charmaine 10. Janelle 5. Marisa 11. Christyne 6. Monika {Guest} 12. Andrea

Enabler's List
Stamps: Framed Lilies (Verve Stamps)
Paper: soft sky, early espresso, crumb cake (SU!), cream (Neenah)
Ink: peach parfait, soft sky (SU!), black, walnut stain (Ranger Distress), copic markers
Accessories: Signature Sequin Mix, Polka Dot Basics ribbon collection (Verve), corner rounder, glossy glaze, rhinestones

Eat More Cupcakes Day 1 Hop

Hi friends!  It's the first day of our Anni-VERVE-sary spotlights, so tune in all week long for 6 days of sneak previews of the stamps & dies that will release this Saturday, August 30.  We're giving away a $50 gift code to the Verve store each day to a lucky commenter along the hop, so be sure to give the gals a shout out as you hop along!  We've got the fabulous Monika Davis as our guest this release, and if you're not familiar with her, I know you're just going to love what you see!

I'm the first stop on the hop, so if you're just popping in, pull up a bean bag and stay awhile.  :)

It's also the last Monday of the month, which means it's tall & skinny week at Mojo Monday. This week's sketch was just perfect for the new build-a-cupcake set that Chaitali illustrated and the girls are peeking today.  I love tall cards and ovals are really lovely... I should use them more often!

For my card, I started with the cupcakes, stamping the tops in strawberry slush and the bottoms in pool party.  Next I added the life is short sentiment in black, then cut one of the cupcakes out by hand to pop up over my design.  I added a vellum scalloped circle mat to my oval, dressing it up with some liquid pearls on each scallop.  The chalkboard  layer is DP that I stamped randomly with the three different cupcake fonts in the set in white mix'd media ink and then smudged with my fingers.  I added the small cupcakes word on a vellum word window punch, over a seam ribbon bow from the Signature collection.  My back layers are strawberry slush and pool party that I taped together  and then embossed with a polka dot folder and sponged a little of that jasmine ink.  I finished off with some scattered sequins from the new Signature Sequin Collection.

That's it for me today!  Next up on the hop is... Teresa

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $50 gift code to Verve! So be sure to leave a little comment on each blog on the list to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

1. Julee 7. Monika {Guest} 2. Teresa 8. Stacey 3. Chaitali 9. Maureen 4. Amber 10. Laurie 5. Charmaine 11. Janelle 6. Marisa 12. Christyne

Mojo Monday 360

Enabler's List
Stamps: Cupcakes (releasing 8/30 from Verve Stamps)
Paper: strawberry slush, pool party (SU!), Chalk Talk (MME), vellum, white
Ink: strawberry slush, pool party (SU!), Jasmine (Mix'd Media Inx), black
Accessories: Signature Sequin Mix, Signature Ribbon Collection (Verve), Petite & Petite Scallop Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), polka dot embossing folder, word window punch, liquid pearls