An Oodabug Shower Hop

There’s a new little baby Diva almost here and today we’re celebrating with a suprise shower hop! So come along with us and do the hop, hop, hop to help celebrate the arrival of Charmaine’s new little oodabug!

Charmaine kept a little secret from us, so we've been keeping a little secret from her!!! We've planned a funfilled hop full of baby inspirations to surprise Charmaine, so hop on over to the first stop on the hop, my blog, Poetic Artistry.

And just in case something goes a little wrong with the Blogger scheduled post feature, here's the master list of hop spots.

1. Julee
2. Michelle
3. Shannan
4. Jen T.
5. Susan
6. Amber
7. Lynda
8. Tosha
9. Amy
10. Laurie
11. Jen d.
12. Jackie

Have fun and thanks for stopping by!

Spotlight on Kerri Michaud

Hi again! I'm back for day 2 of our Guest Diva spotlights and today I get to shine our little Verve spotlight on Guest Diva Kerri Michaud.

Kerri won our hearts with her gorgeous entry in our Guest Diva Contest last month, and I've had such a fun time working with her for this release. Her style is classic and every creation she sent me just made me clap my hands in delight. I'm inserting a few of her projects throughout her VERVE-i-view below. To see all of her projects for this release, you can view her guest album in our gallery. Okay I'll start things off with this adorable little kleenex box gift set using the new Feel Better plain jane.



When/how did you get hooked on stamping? I, like many, got hooked on stamping after having my first Stampin’ Up party just over a year ago. I really enjoyed scrapbooking and loved to make cards, however I never used stamps on my projects. I’m a total and complete stamping addict now lol!

How often do you stamp? Almost every day! I’m so fortunate to be a stay at home mom which usually allows me some time during the day to retreat to my stamping space : )

Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury. Probably poking myself with my paper piercer. Those things are sharp!

This card Kerri made with the Forever in Our Hearts set is so serene and beautiful. The interesting color combo, shading and perfect emebellishments make this card something special. And I just love the way she stamped the bird in blue.



How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with? I’m a pretty slow crafter. I will continue to change something until I’m happy with it, and the constant interruptions from my three little ones don’t help much either!

Tell me about your creative space. I have to start with a clean slate, so I clean up after each and every project. If you walk in halfway through, however, my space looks like a tornado just hit lol!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what craft tool would you take with you? Why? This is the hardest question of all! It would probably have to be my Big Shot so that I could use my Spellbinders, embossing plates and folders, die cuts, etc. Is that legal???

Okay, time for another intermission... and a totally Verve-a-licious card using Psalm 121:1-2.



What is your biggest source of inspiration? Definitely Blogs and Splitcoast!

Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why? There are soooo many people that I admire, and soooo many different styles out there! I can take away something from everyone! I hate political answers though, so I will say that one of the first people that caught my eye and made me say I want to be like her is Amy Sheffer : ) Why? She’s just plain AWESOME!!!

What is your favorite set from this release? I truly love all things Verve, but I will have to say that my favorite set is Kindred Spirits. I just LOVE the Fleur de Lis!

Aren't Kerri's creations just beautiful? I hope you've enjoyed hanging out with us this morning and getting to know a little bit more about her. Thanks for stopping by!

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Spotlight on Christina Fischer

Hello All! I hope you had a great weekend! Our release party on Friday was a perfect start to a great weekend! Today I get to shine our little Verve spotlight on Guest Diva Christina Fischer.

I've been a fan of Christina's fabulous style for quite a while, and even though I knew how awesome she was, she still blew me away with her projects for this release. I'm inserting a few of her projects throughout her VERVE-i-view below and you'll see what I mean! To see all of her projects for this release, you can view her guest album in our gallery. Okay I'll start things off with this adorable 3 x 3 card set box using the new 1 Peter 5:7 set and the Leaves plain jane.



When/how did you get hooked on stamping? I became hooked on stamping after attending a friend's Stampin' Up! workshop about 8 years ago. Soon after that, I was introduced to Splitcoaststampers, and I haven't looked back since!


How often do you stamp? I used to try to stamp every day. Recently, though, I've decided that it's better to crank out a few projects in one day so I can have one or two days off to take care of my home and family! It's difficult to keep a balance sometimes -- I could easily let everything else go and stamp all day! :)

Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury. There was this one time when my paper trimmer was starting to leave rough edges on my cardstock. I knew I had just recently changed the blade, so I thought I'd check to see if the blade was sharp. I pulled the blade out of the trimmer and ran my thumb over it. I don't know what I was thinking...

This tag Christina made with the Just for You set has me totally in the mood to start some Christmas designs. The fabulous ribbon looks just like that amazing old-fashioned peppermint candy. Gorgeous!



How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with? I am a sloooooow stamper. I fuss and fuss with layouts and details until everything sits right with me. Most of my cards take at least an hour to make -- but I've been known to work on a card all day until I was satisfied!

Tell me about your creative space. When I'm working on a project, I tend to keep grabbing things as I go. When the frenzy is over, I'm usually left with quite a mess! I do have to pick it up and start with a clean slate before I can work on the next project -- I focus better that way!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what craft tool would you take with you? Why? I'd probably take my paper piercer. I use it all the time -- for piercing, faux stitching, brad placement, unclogging glue bottles... Besides, it might come in handy for catching some food!

Okay, time for another intermission... and a totally Verve-a-licious card using Just for You.



What is your biggest source of inspiration? Definitely Splitcoaststampers. I would never have tried new things or stretched myself creatively if I hadn't been inspired by the galleries and challenges on SCS. All the blogs I visit daily are a close second!


Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why? Oh my gosh -- that's too difficult to answer! I have to pinch myself all the time, because I get to work with some of the best papercrafters in the business. I truly feel humbled (and a bit surprised!) when I get the opportunity to serve on a design team or be a guest designer. I just hope to keep learning and improving!

What is your favorite set from this release? That's a tough one! I would probably have to choose Forever in Our Hearts. Sympathy cards are often difficult to make, but the beautiful sentiments and images in that set make it much easier!

So, you see what I mean? Fabulous designs and a thoughtful and fresh take on colors and embellishments -- every one of Christina's creations just captures your eye. I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about this fabulous stamper as much as I have! Thanks for stopping by!

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New Stamps Just Released!

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate our new release! Our four newest sets and four new Plain Janes are now available in the Verve Store!

We had a fabulous release party! Congrats to all our winners. Check out this thread to see the winners of our Sneak Preview Blog Candy!

Have a great weekend!

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Sneak Preview: Forever in Our Hearts

Welcome to Day 3 of our Sneak Previews! Today we're featuring cards made with Forever in Our Hearts. This set will be available immediately following our Release Party TONIGHT. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to find out how you can have a chance at winning this beautiful set!

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From the desk of Guest Diva Christina Fischer:

Hi, everyone! I'm thrilled and honored to be posting a sneak preview as a Guest Diva this month! When I saw the set Forever in Our Hearts, I knew I wanted to work with it right away! Sympathy cards are often difficult to make, but the beautiful sentiments and images in this set make it much easier. One of my best friends recently recognized the first anniversary of his father's death, and I wish I had this set then!

On my card, I used Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper, organdy ribbon, and some Prima Caboodles flowers. I embossed the background paper with a Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder, then I stamped the leaf images over it to create an interesting texture. I stamped the leaves again on the patterned panel to create a continuous image, then I centered the flowers over them. I finished the inside of the card with the small leaf image and another of the beautiful sentiments from this set.

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From the desk of Diva Jackie Pedro:

When Julee showed us the new sets for this release I was blown away (so what's new) and when I saw one of the sets was a sympathy set I KNEW if it was coming from Verve that it would be BEAUTIFUL. Forever in Our Hearts is one of the most beautiful sympathy sets I've seen, so serene and peaceful, and fills an empty space in my stamp collection. There are so many comforting sentiments in this set and the images are perfect. I don't know anybody who wants to make a sympathy card, but this is THE set to have on hand when the need arises.

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From the desk of Diva Charmaine Ikach:

Here's a simple card using the new Forever in Our Hearts set from Verve. I just LOVE the silhouette images in this set. I would usually stamp them in black or the same color as the cardstock they're stamped on, but I decided to use my Versamark pad and pastels for this card for a softer, more delicate look.

 I also thought the Bird Call Cuttebug folder went well with this particular image. In the stamped image, the bird is in flight while in the Cuttlebug embossed image, the bird has landed and is still. I think you'll find that the sentiments in this set are PERFECT for making cards for those going through difficult times.

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From the desk of Diva Amy Sheffer:

I wish I could tell you you'll never need Forever in Our Hearts, but the truth is, this is a must-have set more than most others. Why? Because when bad things happen and we find ourselves at a loss for words, a good sympathy set is truly invaluable. The imagery in Forever in Our Hearts is peaceful and the sentiments heartfelt, making those difficult sympathy cards at least a little bit easier.

For my card, I've chosen a soothing blue-green-brown color scheme and kept the overall design clean and simple. The tree is stamped in brown pigment ink and clear embossed. I added just a few extras to enhance the overall design: some scoring, pleated satin ribbon, pearls, and some pretty scallops on the sentiment and along the bottom border.

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From the desk of Diva Shannan Teubner:

One of my favorite things about Verve Stamps is their versatility, and Forever in Our Hearts is no exception. Personally, I have always struggled with finding just the "right thing" to say, and I love how this set has a huge variety of traditional and so very thoughtful sentiments, as well as some gorgeous images.

I wanted to try a different approach to this image, so I misted my watercolor paper with water first, then colored my image with Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, and Real Red markers and stamped it on the wet paper. Once the image dried, I colored the image again and re-stamped a clearer image over the top of the softened one. This technique is an old favorite, and it worked perfectly for the look I was going for. I finished the card off with the large branch image and a sentiment from this set. I think this would be a great encouragement card in addition to a sympathy card...the beauty of Julee's wonderfully thoughtful stamps.

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Well, are you totally blown away by the Divas so far? I know I am!

We have one more little surprise up our sleeve for you today! Just leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 5PM Eastern on Friday, June 26 (that's TODAY!) and you'll be put in a drawing to win Forever in Our Hearts! Winners will be announced during our release party.

Question: Do you have an image that you'd love to see Verve-Style? What is it?

Sneak Preview: Just for You

Are you enjoying the June Sneak Previews so far? I know I have been blown away by all the amazing cards the Divas are coming up with this time (but then again, they always blow me away with their outstanding talent!). Today is Day 2 of the Sneak Previews and the featured stamp set is called Just for You. This set is all about placing the focus on meaningful sentiments to let that someone special know you care. Just For You will be available immediately following our Release Party this Friday night. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to find out how you can have a chance at winning this beautiful set!

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From the desk of Diva Susan Liles:
Well, I couldn't help myself. Don't tell anyone, but I usually have to go "in order" and finish up a project I'm working on before starting a new one. But not this time. I just had to use this new Just for You set as soon as I had a free moment. I shoved everything aside and made a tiny spot on my desk to work this card out. I have to say, I think this set is my new favorite (arent't they all?). Before making any Verve cards, I always check out what our Diva, Amber's got going on over on the SCS forum with the Viva La Verve sketches. BINGO! Her week three sketch for June (VLVJUN03) called for a circle and a lot of white space. A perfect match for this card! I did fudge it a little bit and used Confetti Cream (or white?) instead of pure white. I really like the "organic" look to it with the yellow and the natural colored buttons. OH and it smells like chocolate! The sentiment is embossed with scented EP. Sorry ya'll can't smell it through your computer. Scratching and sniffing your monitor is not highly recommended.

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From the desk of Diva Jen Tapler:
When I saw all of the super versatile sentiments in the new Just For You set, I knew it would be another of my "Go To" Verve sets that I find myself reaching for again and again. There's so much versatility with the sentiments in this set - allowing you to use it for a simple all-occasion card or for a very specific "special" card for an important and influential person in your life. Of course, as usual, Julee has chosen the perfect combination of different fonts and somehow put them together to give each sentiment a little more impact. I love the larger size of most of the sentiments and that circular "frame" has to be my favorite touch - making it so easy to create a project with a beautifully highlighted sentiment as your focal image.

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From the desk of Guest Diva Kerri Michaud:
Hello! I had so much fun playing with all of the FABULOUS new sets this month! Thank you soooo much, Julee, for giving me the opportunity to be Guest Diva! It was a true honor! For my card I used one of the sentiments from Just For You. There are many sweet sentiments in this set, as well as some that are perfect for gift giving. I first stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip, then removed the ink from the YOU and leaves using a SU Blender Pen (a tip I learned from Julee). I colored the YOU with a Stampin’ Write Ruby Red marker, and the leaves with a Stampin’ Write Old Olive marker. I cut out the sentiment using Oval Nestabilities and layered it onto Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip scalloped ovals. I stamped the daisies from Verve’s Wishful Elegance set with Chocolate Chip, and sponged them with Ruby Red. I cut them out and popped the larger middle one up on a Dimensional. I paper pieced the centers with some dp from SU Bella Rose DSP which is what I used on the entire card. I added the leaves that I punched out of Kiwi Kiss with the Martha Stewart Fern Punch and I love how they look with the leaves on the sentiment!

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From the desk of Diva Amber Hight:
The sets being released this month are another fantastic bunch of stamps! I am especially loving the sentiments in the new set Just for You. I had so much fun playing with this set and I know that you'll love it too!
The card base is a 4.25 square piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock. I embossed the flowers using my cuttlebug on a piece of black cardstock and glued it down. Next, I stamped the swoosh from Filigree Fantasy. I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry on Whisper White and cut it out with my circle nestabilities. The smaller circle was created using distress inks and Perfect Pearls by Ranger. I stamped the small branch in Versafine black ink. I added some fun pearls randomly around the card and finished it off with a chipboard butterfly by K&Co!
I hope you enjoy the rest of the wonderful sneak peeks!

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From the desk of Diva Jen del Muro:
When I first saw this sentiment in the Just for You set, I knew that it was the one that I wanted to use for my sneak peek card. I think it's a very versatile sentiment that can be used on Mother's Day, Father's Day or even a special teacher's card. It can easily be modified into a masculine or feminine project. Mine is obviously a little more feminine with the satin ribbon and pearls. I hope that everyone is enjoying the sneak peeks and is ready for the release tomorrow!

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Wow! Pretty hot stuff, huh? Stay tuned tomorrow for another fabulous set debut!

We've got another little somethin' in the Verve Candy Jar today!Just leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 5PM Eastern on Friday, June 26 and you'll be put in a drawing to win Just for You! Winners will be announced during our release party that night.

Question: What meaningful phrase or sentiment do you wish was offered by Verve?

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Sneak Preview: Kindred Spirits

Welcome to Day 1 of our Sneak Previews! We've got some fabulous new sets to share with you this week, so lets jump right in. Today we're featuring cards made with Kindred Spirits, a set with timeless fleur de lis imagery and classic sentiments to honor those special friends in your life. This set will be available immediately following our Release Party this Friday night. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to find out how you can have a chance at winning this beautiful set!

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From the desk of Diva Tosha Leyendekker:

I couldn't be happier!! This is my first sneak peek with Verve, and when I saw this set I was like...*this is so me*!! Woot!! I love the different sizes of the images, and the sentiments are fabulous! I don't know what to call the main image shape, but the instant I saw it I thought how perfect the little one would fit into the stamped off larger one. What fun!! This set is so versatile I can see myself coming back again and again to these images.



I used Frayed Burlap Ranger Distress Ink, and stamped off the main image. The smaller one was stamped directly over it (no stamp positioner was needed since they're clear) with the same color. All the edges were ink distressed with Frayed Burlap also. I framed this fabulous image with an oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), and provided a pierced bg that I made with an Ornare template. The swirls and flowers are SU! diecuts, and the punched border is fiskars. I added a touch of bling with Kaisercraft pearls and rhinestones, and Zva Creative Multicolored Mini Rhinestones. I had so much fun using these images, that I decorated the inside of the card and an envelope also. (Two things I rarely take the time to do!!)

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From the desk of Diva Michelle Woerner:

Oh, Julee did it again! This set is amazing! I love how you can mix and match the images and create your own backgrounds - so versatile. The sentiments are all perfect for sending cards to your very special girlfriends. I stamped the damask-ish image in alternating colors and punched the sentiment with the SU large oval. Some ribbon, a large flower and a button finish off the card.

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From the desk of Diva Laurie Schmidlin:

"Timeless Elegance" is the best way I can describe the new Kindred Spirits set! I just LOVE it! There are so many possibilities with this set, and I just adore how Julee adds different sizes of the same image for even more versatility!

For my card, I chose to showcase the Fleur de Lis border paired with one of the sentiments included in the same set. I used a slightly modern color combo (black, gray, & coral) but added a vintage feel with the layered and distressed horizontal strips.

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From the desk of Diva Lynda Benden:

I am SO excited to show you my card for today’s sneak peek! I was SO drawn to this set and could hardly wait to use it!!! The 3 strips of DP are from SU!’s Rockabilly Specialty paper collection. The bottom Fleur de Lis border is actually one of the stamps included in the Kindred Spirits set and was stamped with Kiwi Kiss ink. I added some small black rhinestones using my Quickie glue pen.



I stamped the oval Fleur de Lis 2 times on Whisper White card stock. One time using Basic Black ink and the second time using Kiwi Kiss ink. I cut the entire Basic Black Fleur de Lis oval out and set it aside. I punched just the oval out, using my large SU! Oval punch, of the Kiwi Kiss Fleur de Lis and then stamped the sentiment in the center using Basic Black ink. This piece was then mounted on top of the Black Fleur de Lis using dimensionals. Before I adhered this piece to the center of my card, I added 3 black strips of narrow grosgrain ribbon and then added a Kiwi heart button on the oval using a glue dot. I hope you enjoy all the sneak peeks coming up this week. I KNOW the Diva’s will have some gorgeous creations to share!!!

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From the desk of Diva Julee Tilman:
I have a soft spot in my heart for fleur de lis imagery, so I had to design a set around these classic symbols. In my initial sit down with this set I cranked out 3 cards in less than an hour and the ideas just kept flowing - there are just so many options.



My card uses the VSJUN03 sketch from our Verve Release Week Challenges. The large oval fleur de lis frame is stamped on Regal Rose and then again on classic cream. I punched the regal rose piece with the Marvy Mega Oval punch (mainly because my oval Nestabilities were temporarily lost) and the inner oval with the SU! wide oval punch. I created a little border on the cream layer with the dotted line stamp and the small fleur de lis. Then I muted the stamping a bit by layering with a piece of vellum cardstock that was embossed with the Swiss dots folder.

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Okay, so what do you think? Did the Divas rock this set, or what? Stay tuned tomorrow for another rockin' set debut!

We've got a little bit of somethin' somethin' in the Verve Candy Jar today, so we're doing a giveaway! Just leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 5PM Eastern on Friday, June 26 and you'll be put in a drawing to win Kindred Spirits! Winners will be announced during our release party that night.

Question: What's the #1 Verve set on your wishlist?

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