Saturday, July 1, 2017

July Guest Divas and a Sale

Hi Verve fans! We've got a release just around the corner, with three new sets releasing on July 10. In the meantime, it's a holiday weekend here in the States, and we've got a storewide sale going on! Through July 4, 2017, all Verve stamps, dies and embellishments are marked 25% off, no coupon needed.  We hope you have a fabulous 4th!


Today I also get to introduce the three lovely ladies who will be guest designing for us this month. You'll see them in our spotlight hops July 7 through 10th, and then they'll each do a guest post right here on Mondays to finish out the month. A little something to look forward to on a Monday right? So without further adieu, here's our talented lineup of special guests!



You can read a bit more about them below, and then be sure to go give them a shout-out on their blogs for the lovely cards they made for today's post.


Kathy Schweinfurth of Stamps at Play has been a favorite stamper of mine for a while. I feel a kindred spirit with her coffee loving soul and am delighted to have her as a guest for this release I love her bold color choices and fun embellishing accents in this gorgeous card she made with the Surely Goodness stamp set.

Below is a little bit more about her and a little Q&A session about her stamping style.

I’ve been married to my honey, Mark, for 22 years and we have a beautiful daughter, Danielle, who is a college junior.  Since I was little, I enjoyed all kinds of crafting, but then stamping found me and it was love at first inking. Stamping and paper crafting make me just plain happy and I’m inspired everyday by the amazing talent of others who share my passion. I’m SO excited and honored to be a Verve Guest Diva – thank you, Julee, for this fabulous opportunity


1. How/when did you get hooked on stamping?  About 20 years ago, I went to a Stampin Up party my neighbor hosted and I was hooked!

2. How often do you stamp? Daily!  If I don’t get time in my craft room everyday, I get cranky.

3. What style(s) are you most drawn to creating? I tend to create clean, layered cards using pattern papers and touches of bling/ribbon.

4. What do you love most about paper crafting? The creativity and endless possibilities to be artistic.  It really is therapy for me and I can get ‘lost’ for hours creating one card!

5. What technique or product is currently making your paper crafting heart go pitter patter? Using inks to watercolor like the Distressed Oxide inks and discovering the many ways to use stencils.


Sheri Gilson of Paper Crafty's Creations is a master at layered elegance. Her crisp, well balanced designs with the perfect finishing touches are constantly leaving me inspired to hit the stamp room. She was a guest for us a few years back and I'm so happy she agreed to do a return tour with us!  The card she made for today featuring the American Hero set is a perfect little tribute to the red, white and blue!


My name is Sheri Gilson and I live in Northern California.  I have been married to my best friend and high school sweetheart for almost 24 years. e have an 18 year old son that just graduated high school and will be starting school to become a firefighter.  I've been blessed to have been able to be a SAHM that loves to create.  I'm super honored to be here as a guest designer.

1. How/when did you get hooked on stamping?  It's been just a little over 18 years now. I was first introduced to stamping & scrapbooking before the birth of my son. I immediately fell in love with   stamping and have never stopped.

2. How often do you stamp? As much as I possibly can. 

3. What style(s) are you most drawn to creating? I was once told that my style is considered Classy & Elegant.  I love to use lots of layers and everything has to be popped up.  That being said my cards don't usually fit in a standard envelope.

4. What do you love most about paper crafting? I love being creative and being able to put a smile on someones face.  

5. What technique or product is currently making your paper crafting heart go pitter patter? I would have to say that my favorite all time product is pattern paper.  I'm a complete paper junkie and use pattern paper on 99% of my cards. 


Wanda Cullen of Cullen-ary Creations is a long time paper crafting friend. I fondly remember chatting at Verve release parties way back when and have had the great honor of designing alongside her on the Mojo Monday team for the last several years. Her versatility as a stamper is so inspiring. She can wow you with a simple pastel beauty, then rock a bright and bold design.  She is also a returning guest diva, and I'm so excited for you to see her wonderful creations with this release.  For her card today she made this stunning floral creation combining Button Best, Be Blessed, Simply Amazing and the retired Sunny Days sets.


My name is Wanda Cullen and I'm from Shenandoah, VA.  When I'm not in my stamp room, I'm probably working at my full-time job as a rehabilitation RN. 

1. How/when did you get hooked on stamping? My love for stamping started in 1997 at a friend's SU party.  I joined her monthly stamp club and pretty much CASEed her cards until I discovered Splitcoaststampers in 2005 and started playing in their challenges.  My creativity was then sparked to venture out and create new designs on my own.  I was honored to be chosen for the Dirty Dozen team on SCS in 2011 and have enjoyed designing for a variety of challenge teams over the years.

2. How often do you stamp?After all these years, I'm still in my happy place when I can spend time in my craft room getting inky!  I probably average stamping 5 days out of the week.  I'm thinking I might be addicted!

3. What style(s) are you most drawn to creating? My card style varies, but I'd say I typically use a clean, layered style and you're bound to see florals on the majority of my cards!

4. What do you love most about paper crafting? I love the instant gratification of cardmaking!  In the past, I've dabbled in counted cross stitch, tole painting, calligraphy and other crafty ventures, but the projects took so much time to complete.  Beyond the actual cardmaking, I LOVE the people that I've met in the stamping community!  It's been so much fun to meet some of my cyber stampy friends in real life...there's so much to talk about and always so little time!

5. What technique or product is currently making your paper crafting heart go pitter patter? 
Watercoloring techniques with paints, distress inks and Zig Clean Color brush markers are currently my favorite go-to things to explore.

Well, that wraps up our July guest announcement. I'm so excited to share the new release with you all starting next Friday, July 7!  See ya then!