Viva la Verve! January Week 1

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Happy Friday!  First off, I just wanted to say a great big thank you to all who have ordered from us during our sales.  We are positively swimming in orders and packing as fast as we can!  If you haven't ordered yet, today's the last day of our Good Buy 2010 sale!  These prices will be gone tomorrow and many of them not back again for another whole year!

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Next up, we've got a new look for Viva la Verve! this year!  Feel free to grab the badge and add it to your sidebar!  In 2011 our VLV challenges will just be a sketch (without inspiration photos), and several of the divas will be contributing sketches to keep things exciting and fresh each week!  If you play along in all of the challenges for the month, you'll be entered to win our next entire release!  

Want this badge?

Amber has just kicked off the first challenge for January 2011!  Here's the sketch, we'd love for you to play along! And check out Amber and Teresa's samples for this week for a little inspiration!

designed by Amber Hight using: Hundred Hearts and Heart's Desire	designed by Teresa Kline using: Love's Flower

Okay, that's all from me today! We've got some exciting new things to tell you about tomorrow, so be sure to check back then to see what's new for Verve in 2011!!! :)

Happy New Year from Verve!

Good Buy 2010 Sale

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Hi Verve fans!  It's Julee here popping in to say hi!  I hope you all are sending 2010 out in style!  As is our tradition here at Verve, we're saying goodbye to 2010 with a sale...

If you're just hearing about it, not to worry... there are still a few days left of our Good Buy 2010 Sale!
All Verve products are either 15%, 35% or 50% off through Friday, December 31!  And since we hadn't updated the blog in a while, I thought I'd pop in this morning to share a little inspiration from our Diva gallery using a sampling of the sets in the 50% off sale category.  Enjoy!

card designed by Laurie Schmidlin Autumn Splendor	card designed by Michelle Woerner Carpe Cupcake	project designed by Jen Tapler Enjoy
card designed by Jackie Pedro Many Blessings	card designed by Amy Sheffer Merry Wishes	card designed by Charmaine Ikach Starstruck

Triple Play Project Parade Winners!

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Hey there Verve fans!  It's Julee here, popping in to announce the winners from our Triple Play Project Parade!  I'm still trying to get over my very bad cold, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet! 

First up is our lucky comment winner...

Marsha wins a $25 gift certificate to the Verve store!

There were so many gorgeous entries in the Project Parade and I thoroughly enjoyed checking each and every one of them out.  Thanks so much to everyone who played along!  It was so hard to narrow down that I eventually decided to pick TWO winners.  Congrats to Piali and Debbie!

Piali	Debbie
Piali and Debbie both win our January release and the honor of being our January Guest Divas!

Congrats to all of our winners! If you won, email me at contests@vervestamps.com to claim your prize. Guest Divas, it will be next week before I get back to you with the details, as I'm headed back to the couch now to try and get over this cold.

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If you didn't win this time, there's still a chance to win our January release! Play along with our Viva la Verve! challenge this month and you could be ringing in the new year with some mighty fine new Verve!!!

	DEC Week 1 {12/3/10}	DEC Week 2 {12/10/10}	DEC Week 3 {12/17/10}	DEC Week 4 {12/24/10}
December Contest Deadline: Midnight, December 30, 2010

Winter Project Parade ~ Day 13

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Hi there!  It's me, Laurie...and I'm here to wrap up the "Triple Play" Winter Project Parade!  Haven't the projects the Divas have shared these past few weeks been wonderful?  If you find yourself in need of some creative gift ideas, then look no further!  You will find it all - from tags and gift holders to beautifully decorated ornaments!  To see all of the ideas shared, scroll down or click HERE.

For my project, I kept it pretty simple...as I plan on making several of these ensembles to give away this Christmas!

I started by adhering buttons to a scented candle using my hot glue gun.  I then created a small box to set my candle in.  The background is stamped with the small snowflake from Glad Tidings.  The wreath (also from Glad Tidings) was stamped and colored in with Copic markers.  I then used two of my Lg. Classic Circle Nestabilities dies to cut the wreath out.  To finish it off, I added some string and a scarlet button in the middle.  I then tied it all up with some Baja Breeze grosgrain ribbon!

Here is a close-up of the wreath.  I added a bit of Stardust Stickles to the leaves!  Mmmm, mmmm...I do love me some sparkle!  :-)

To compliment the gift, I created a matching 4" x 4" square card.  I used the tag image (from Glad Tidings)  along with the Sweet Scallop Tag die as the main focal point.  I used the same color/button theme as I did on the candle & holder.

If you haven't had a chance yet to play along with us...don't worry, there's still time!!  Here are some of the details...

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---- One lucky contestant who plays along with the Triple Play Challenge, will receive the entire January Release AND will be our Guest Diva for the month of January!!! WOOHOO!!!


---- As always, we've hidden a little prize along the parade. A lucky random commenter on one of the official Parade posts (11/17 through 12/7) will receive a $25 Verve gift certificate!!

--- View all the challenge and prize details and submit your Triple Play Challenge projects using the official Project Parade Entry Form and check out all the details of this month's project parade!!!!

New Stamps!

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Thanks to all of you who hopped along and left such sweet comments as the Divas previewed the new sets the past couple of days! Every release they amaze me with their scrumptiously clever ideas and creativity!  If you're wondering who won the Blog Hop prizes, check out this post in our forum.

Last night we released three new sets and a plain jane, and all of our new releases are 15% off through December 31, while supplies last!  Head on over to the Verve store to check things out!

Text Objects	Amazing Wishes	Wordy Birds	Wild Flower PJ

Shipping Note:  Our new release stamp shipment was delayed, so new release orders will not begin shipping until Monday or Tuesday. We'll try to get things packaged and on their way as quickly as possible once the stamps arrive.

Winter Project Parade ~ Day 12

Happy Friday, everyone!  It’s Mercy here to share my Triple Play Project Parade, but I just wanted to remind you about another release hop today!  The new sets are amazing  and the Diva's have some wonderful samples to show you.  For the complete blog hop list head on over to Julee's blog.....

I must admit that when Jen announced the theme for this month’s Project Parade I was freaking out.  I had nothing pop into my mind, nor did I have any clue as to a place to start!  LOL!  I finally had an idea hit me the day after the theme was announced, so I set to it…after all, who DOESN’T like homemade muffins? :)

I headed to my gift wrapping stash and grabbed some tissue paper, silver cording, and ribbon to create this special and one-of-a-kind gift.  I stamped the largest and smallest snowflakes from the “Glad Tidings” set in Riding Hood Red and Celery Ink onto the outside of the tissue paper.  I layered the Banana Nut muffin in parchment paper then the stamped tissue paper, and I tied a piece of Sleigh Ride Ribbon around them.  I stamped the tag from the same set in White Staz-On Ink onto a piece of Riding Hood Red Cardstock, and used the new Sweet Scallop Tag Die to cut it out.  To add some depth, I went over the outside of the snowflake with a White Gel Pen.  I added a Silver Eyelet and some Silver Cording to the completed tag, and also put a Rhinestone Stone in the center of the snowflake.  I tied it loosely to the Sleigh Ride Ribbon to complete the muffin pack.

The simple 3X3 Riding Hood Red card was created by stamping one of the sentiments from the same set in White Staz-On Ink above the strip of patterned paper from Memory Box’s Spiceberry paper pack.  I added a row of piercing on the top edge of the patterned paper, then created three small snowflakes using my Big Shot and Spellbinders’ snowflake dies.  I added some sparkle by using Crystal Stickles, and gave each flake a Button and Silver Cording center.

That’s it for me!  Now it’s YOUR turn!

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---- One lucky contestant who plays along with the Triple Play Challenge, will receive the entire January Release AND will be our Guest Diva for the month of January!!! WOOHOO!!!
---- As always, we've hidden a little prize along the parade. A lucky random commenter on one of the official Parade posts (11/17 through 12/7) will receive a $25 Verve gift certificate!!
--- View all the challenge and prize details and submit your Triple Play Challenge projects using the official Project Parade Entry Form and check out all the details of this month's project parade!!!!

Hopping with the Divas!!!

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Hey Verve fans!  It's Julee popping in here with a quick newsflash!  Tonight at 9 PM Eastern we kick off our December Release Party, and both yesterday and today the Divas have been putting on their usual New Release Spotlight Hops!  Below are the links all in one place to make it super easy on you to see what they've been peeking!  One lucky commenter for each of the days will win the sets we previewed that day!  So leave a little comment love as you hop around the diva-sphere!
 

Deadline for comment entries is 8PM Eastern tonight.

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Day 1 official hop list featuring WORDY BIRDS, AMAZING WISHES, and WILD FLOWER PJ

Julee Mercy Sankari Teresa Teresa Michelle Lynda Shannan

Charmaine Jen d. Tosh Susan Laurie

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Day 2 official hop list featuring TEXT OBJECTS

Julee Laurie Susan Tosh Jen d. Charmaine Jen T. Shannan

Lynda Michelle Amy Teresa Jackie Sankari Mercy

Winter Project Parade ~ Day 11

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Hi there everyone!  It's Jackie here and before I get to my Triple Play Project Parade post, I just wanted to let all of you in on some more Verve fun.....The new release hop starts today!  The new sets are amazing  and the Diva's have some wonderful samples to show you.  For a list of hoppers, just head on over to Julee's blog.....

 

I don't know about you, but I am in awe of all of the inspiring projects we've seen from the Diva's so far on this Triple Play Project Parade!  When Jen told us this month's theme was Triple Play, I immediately thought of a trio of gift card holders.  I know I am always looking for fun ways to package up (boring) gift cards and this year I've found my answer!  So let's get to it!

 

I purchased a few of these Altoid style tins online and they make PERFECT gift card holders!  I prettied them up with some gorgeous Echo Park Wintertime dp and three new release winter sets from Verve, Glad Tidings, Merry Wishes and Vintage Oval Frame.

I stamped the Vintage Oval Frame three times in Dark Chocolate on white cardstock.  Inside each frame I stamped three different sentiments in Not Quite Navy ink.  I then took the smallest snowflake from Glad Tidings, inked it in Dark Chocolate, stamped off once on scrap paper and then stamped it over the sentiment.  I LOVE the way this looks!  I then used my trusty Vintage Oval Frame Die (I heart my dies) and cut out all three frames.  Each tin was covered in coordinating patterns from Echo Park Wintertime.  I love the beautiful blues and browns in this paper.  Lastly I stamped and cut out six of the smallest snowflakes from Glad Tidings and added two to each tin.  A few adhesive rhinestones (which were colored with Copics) finish them off!

Here are all three......

The decorated inside without the gift card........Hey, I'm a last minute shopper!  LOL!

 

Now, it's your turn!

---- One lucky contestant who plays along with the Triple Play Challenge, will receive the entire January Release AND will be our Guest Diva for the month of January!!! WOOHOO!!!

---- As always, we've hidden a little prize along the parade. A lucky random commenter on one of the official Parade posts (11/17 through 12/7) will receive a $25 Verve gift certificate!!

--- View all the challenge and prize details and submit your Triple Play Challenge projects using the official Project Parade Entry Form and check out all the details of this month's project parade!!!!

Winter Project Parade ~ Day 10!!!

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Here we are, day 10 of Verve's Winter Project Parade! Haven't the Diva's provided some wonderful inspiration so far?! Since the theme for this month's project parade is "Triple Play", I have a little gift set that includes 3 pieces. I have made a snowman ornament with a coordinating gift box and card.

The container is a paper mache cylinder that I got at Joanne's for $1 some time ago. I covered it with decorative paper from Echo Parks, Wintertime Collection. Boy do I LOVE this paper!!!On the cylinder, I glued on a string of pearls that I got from Hobby Lobby for CHEAP and added Kaiser Craft purple rhinestones on one of the trees as well as the snowflakes around the top. Details on the lid and card will follow.

Here is a picture of the snowman ornament. I made a little charm for his hat using the largest snowflake from the new Glad Tidings set, Timber Brown Stazon, Polyshrink and some lavender Stickles.
Here is a closer look at the little charm ~
Here is a picture of how cute and cozy he looks inside his home!!!
A closer look at the container ~
Here are the details on the lid. I covered the outside edge with brown Bazzill CS. I found the best way to adhere the paper to the paper mache is to glue it so I used Elmer's glue. I then cut a large circle of Bo Bunny brown polka dot paper that ALMOST covered the entire lid. I then added a large white snowflake that I cut using my Spellbinders die. On top of that I added a Spellbinders Lacey Circle cut from purple Bo Bunny DP. I then cut a smaller Spellbinders snowflake from white glitter paper and then stamped the largest snowflake from Verve's Glad Tidings on white CS using Cocoa Memento. I cut out the center portion of the snowflake, added some purple rhinestones and tied the same charm (on the snowman's hat) in the center using brown bakers twine. Oh and I did add purple Stickles on the back of the charm to add some shine!!! Here is a closer look ~
For the little notecard. The card is 3x3 and was cut from the same Brown Bazzill CS I put around the outside of the container lid. I then stamped the tree from Verve's Christmas in the Air set on the same purple Bo Bunny DP using Cocoa Memento ink. I added another snowflake charm, rhinestones and SNOW!!! LOL!!!


Here is the inside which I used one of the awesome sentiments and snowflakes included in the Glad Tidings set! Sorry this post is so long...I got a little carried away!!!! LOL!!!
Now, it's your turn!

---- One lucky contestant who plays along with the Triple Play Challenge, will receive the entire January Release AND will be our Guest Diva for the month of January!!! WOOHOO!!!

---- As always, we've hidden a little prize along the parade. A lucky random commenter on one of the official Parade posts (11/17 through 12/7) will receive a $25 Verve gift certificate!!

--- View all the challenge and prize details and submit your Triple Play Challenge projects using the official Project Parade Entry Form and check out all the details of this month's project parade!!!!