Project Parade Day 12

Hey there! Jen Tapler here to share my It's a Guy Thing project with all you Verve fans (get ready, this is gonna be a long-winded post!!). I don't know about all of you, but the other divas have been knocking my socks off with their amazing projects this month!!

My guy-themed project is a little mini-album I made for Joel, my hubby, for Father's Day featuring about 8 of my favorite photos of him with our son Dean from the day of his birth through last month. The album itself is a tabbed MDF Kaiser Crafts album I picked up at a scrapbook store on the mainland last week. I used printed digital papers from Dani Mogstad's Tough Guy kit (Sweet Shoppe Designs) along with Chocolate Chip and Kraft CS (SU). I added various ribbons, buttons, hemp twine, staples and punches for embellishments and used several new and old Verve sets (all stamped in Chocolate Chip ink) throughout the album. Here's a look at some of the pages...

For the front cover, I used the large "Dad" image from Protector as well as some of the star outlines from Seeing Stars:On the next set of pages, I used a few of the images from the new Dad's Day set (click image for closer view):I love combining my Verve sentiments and for the "Rockstar Dad" sentiment on this set of pages, I masked a sentiment from Starlight Starbright and combined with "Dad" from World's Best, then added more stars from Seeing Stars.On this page, I used another sentiment from World's Best and my Trio of Tags Spellbinders die to create a little photo tag:And finally, for the back cover I used the same printed papers as the front cover, but this time combined the Father's Day Plain Jane with some stars from Seeing Stars.
I think Joel is going to love this little album and it will make a nice addition to our collection of keepsake mini albums!

Remember, just for playing along with our theme, you'll have a chance to win a Verve stamp set of your choice! Just link your creation to the Mr. Linky form on the Verve Blog Day 1 post before 8 pm MT on Saturday, June 20. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So be sure to check out each day of the parade, and leave lots of comments along the way! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade ~ Day 10

Hi everyone! It's Jackie here and it's my turn on the Verve Project Parade! Haven't the Diva's done a fabulous job so far? Oh my word....awesome projects!! I decided to alter a frame this time...but let me give you a little background on me....I DON'T ALTER THINGS! LOL! It's not to say that I have never altered anything, but it is really out of my comfort card making zone! I decided I needed to challenge myself a little more, thus the frame! I bought this three tiered frame at Michael's a few months back. It came unfinished with a really ugly ribbon hanger! LOL! I painted it with white acrylic paint and went about working on the individual frames.


This is a picture of the top frame. The DP is from Stampin' Up! and is called Urban Oasis. I used the new set from Verve, Dad's Day and a classic Verve set called Seeing Stars. The sentiment was stamped in Basic Gray (SU!) and punched out with a Wide Oval Punch (SU!). The stars were punched out with two different star punches. (SU!)


This frame holds a picture of both of my girls, Lauren on the right and Sarah on the left. I really wanted a picture of my hubby WITH my girls, but the three just wouldn't cooperate, so I settled on a recent pictures of the girls from my stash instead!


On this frame I used another new Verve set, Protector. "DAD" was stamped in Basic Gray (SU!) and cut out with Curved Rectangle Nestabilities, but before removing it from the die I sponged some Kiwi Kiss classic ink (SU!) around the edges. That is how I achieved the white edge. LOVE that look! The dotted strips came from one of my favorite Verve sets ever, Father Figure. I added some Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon as the hanger and I was done! Not so scary at all!! LOL!

Remember, just for playing along with our theme, you'll have a chance to win a Verve Stamp set of your choice! Just link your creation to the Mr. Linky form ON THIS POST before 8PM Mountain Time on Saturday, June 20th. We've also hidden a $25.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store somewhere along the parade for one random commenter. So be sure to check out each day of the parade and give a little shout out!! Good luck and have fun!

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Project Parade - Day 7

Hi everyone, it's Amy here today with Day 7 of our "It's A Guy Thing" Project Parade. I'm so excited to share my project because it's been rattling around in my brain begging to get out for weeks!

Before I share my project details, I'll confess that when I first saw Sweet on You, I completely missed the whole candy connection: Thanks 100,000 Times Over = 100,000 Grand candy bar, I Love You to Pieces = Reese's Pieces, etc. Rather than blame it on my ditziness (I certainly wouldn't want to offend all the other Divas who also missed the connection - there were a few of us smacking our heads - you know who you are, ladies! *giggle*), I'm blaming it on the fact that I was totally distracted by the idea of doing something puzzle-related as a play on the "I Love You to Pieces" sentiment.

So that's what I have to share today - a custom photo puzzle for my daughter to give to her sweet Daddy for Father's Day. To start, I chose a photo of them together as they were heading out to their annual Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance, and ordered a custom photo puzzle online. There are numerous online vendors for these puzzles. You just upload or email your digital photo, then choose from some different options for size and number of pieces. For a smaller, DIY version, you could easily adhere your photo to lightweight chipboard (think cereal box weight) and die-cut it with one of the puzzle dies on the market (Cuttlebug and Spellbinders both come to mind).

The one I ordered comes in a drawstring bag, so I've put together a box that will double as a gift box and storage box:



For the box, I started with an inexpensive 30-piece store-bought child's puzzle from Target that I already had on hand. I covered and decorated the box top with papers from Stampin' Up's Parisian Breeze collection. Then I used the box bottom as a template and made a new bottom out of the same Parisian Breeze dp. To strengthen it a little, I added white chipboard panels to the inside, both on the bottom and the four sides, then layered on some coordinating dp to dress up the chipboard a little. (In case you're wondering, the reason I did it this way was that I found if I covered both the box bottom and the box top, they fit together so snugly that it was difficult to get the lid off.) This photo shows how the top and bottom fit together:



It's always helpful to have a picture of the puzzle to look at, rather than doing it blind, so I've included the picture in a pocket on the front...



... and again in the bottom of the box, where I also included a sweet sentiment from Dad's Day.



I'm hoping this will be something my husband and daughter will enjoy doing together, and when she outgrows it, it will still be a wonderful keepsake.

Remember, just for playing along with our theme, you'll have a chance to win a Verve stamp set of your choice! Just link your creation to the Mr. Linky form on the Verve Blog Day 1 post before 8 pm MT on Saturday, June 20. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So be sure to check out each day of the parade, and leave lots of comments along the way! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade - Day 6

Oh my goodness!! This is my first parade and I'm so excited!! Well, not really my first parade. *grin* I was in a marching band in Jr. High and High School, so I've been in many a parade. But....this is my very first Verve Project Parade and I can't wait to show you what I've come up with. The theme this month is *It's a Guy Thing*. FUN!! I love making guy projects! Now, since my husband is a total farm dude, and LIVES in Levis, I thought it would be fun to make a *pocket* gift holder. It's not really a bag, and it's not a box, so I don't know what to really call it. I LOVE the new Verve release *Sweet On You*. The sentiment *Thanks 100,000 times over* fit perfectly with 100 Grand candy bars, and that's one of my husbands favorites!! Woot! So I thought, why not make a Levi Pocket and stuff it with 100 Grand Bars.

Now, what guys pocket doesn't contain a wallet? I couldn't leave that out, so I added a wallet with two cards to put inside: A laminated photo of us when we were in Alaska 3 years ago, and a *massage* gift card that I made with my JustRite Fonts 50 Trompe Script Upper and Lowercase, and 25pt Brayton Fonts. The wallet is Suede Brown Dark (Prismatics), was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug embossing folder Tiny Mosaic, and then heat embossed with Clear ep (JudiKins).

The Sweet On You sentiment was stamped with Walnut Stain (Ranger Distress Ink) onto Kraft (Prism), and then heat embossed with clear ep 3 times. I then placed it in the freezer for 10 minutes, cracked the glaze and added some more Walnut Stain to the cracks and rubbed it off.
(This is called a Cracked Glaze technique)

I designed the pocket gift holder to look like a Levis pocket complete with the red tab. It says *Dad* for two reasons. One, *Husband* was too long. *grin* And two, my husband is *dad* to my two kids and husband to me, so I thought it was okay to combine that side sentiment with the massage gift card and photo. The *Dad* sentiment is from the set Dad's Day and was stamped with White Craft ink onto Real Red cs (SU). I also sewed the Levis *V* down the center. If you click on the photo, it will enlarge it and you will be able to see it better. I added Antique Gold brads to the corners and ink distressed it with Tea Dye (Ranger Distress Ink)

Now, for the kerchief, I just inked up the Perfectly Paisley Cuttlebug Embossing Folder with Faded Jeans (Ranger Distress Ink), ran it through my cuttlebug, sewed around the edges, wrinkled it up a bit, and stuffed it in the pocket.

So, how would you like to play along with us? Do you have a special guy in your life (Dad, Husband, Grandpa, etc...) that you'd like to create a project for? This is the time to do it!

To play along, just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a man in your life. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in --->{THIS}<--- post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, June 20. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade--Day 5!

Well, it's me, Susan here. How are ya'll liking all the "Father Knows Best" projects so far? LOL! Really, the project doesn't have to be a "father/dad" thing. Jen came up with a great way to encompass all the men in our lives by officially calling this Project Parade "It's a Guy Thing". I think "Boys Will Be Boys" would have suited it as well! But for me, I wanted to create something fun that my girls could give to their dad. They loved this idea and are almost certain he will share it with them! I was in Target buying some totally unrelated stuff, but had this project on my mind. I had thought up a completely different idea, but wasn't crazy about it when I passed the soda aisle. "DAD's" Rootbeer immediately came to mind, however they didn't have it. Neither did our local grocery store.

So I settled on this little four-pack of Boylan Old Fashioned Soda (I've never heard of it either, but what dad doesn't like to try new drinks?). I thought it was cool that it still had the word "boy" in the name of it and I liked the writing on the bottles.

I went ahead and used the same color scheme they had going on with it (worked for them, right?) and drew my inspiration from the original packaging--layout and all! I used two new stamp sets--Dad's Day and Up, Up and Away, and two older sets--Snowflake Splendor and Seeing Stars (one of my all time favorite Verve sets) and simply made panels to cover the sides. Anyway, this project didn't take hardly any time at all. The most time was consumed looking in the two stores up and down the soda aisle for the DAD's Rootbeer! Do they even make it anymore?

So, how would you like to play along with us? Do you have a special guy in your life (Dad, Husband, Grandpa, etc...) that you'd like to create a project for? This is the time to do it!

To play along, just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a man in your life. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in --->{THIS}<--- post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, June 20. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade - Day 4

Hey y'all, it's Shannan here! I hope you're enjoying the Project Parade so far...I know I am! I have to admit, when Jen announced this month's theme, I was a little scared! If you don't know why, just check out the name of my blog. *grin* I don't "do" boy things very often...it's wayyyy out of my comfort zone! But I was brave and gave it a shot, and I'm excited that I did!

When I was at my LSS last week, I stumbled upon this cool stuff called Sophisticated Finishes. It's a two-part process that involves painting a surface with a Metallic Surface finish (I used Copper), and then applying an Antiquing Solution (I used Patina Green) to areas to create a cool finish. Off to the store I went to look for something to antique! I happened upon this unfinished wood cube with inserts for photos, and it is on a little turntable so it spins. I thought it would be a perfect addition to my dad's desk.

 After the antiquing process (which I have the urge to do on all non-moving objects at this point), I went to work on the inserts for the cube. They measure just over 3 1/4" square, so I cut some Classic Cream cardstock to size and then decorated them with my stamps. For the first square, I stamped the second generation image of the background from the Protector set in Distress Tea Dye ink. I repeated that image until the entire square was covered. Then I stamped Whimsy Tree in Distress Walnut Stain (stamped off once), and added the sentiment from Dare to Be You in Walnut Stain full strength.The edges were then sponged with Tea Dye and then Walnut Stain.

The next square was stamped with the "another name for love" stamp from World's Best. I then stamped the frame from Dad's Day in Tea Dye ink, and the sentiment in Walnut Stain, and finished by sponging the edges.

For the third square, I inked up the "DAD" image from Protector in Tea Dye, and then created a pattern from the strip of dots from Father Figure in second generation Tea Dye. The sentiment is also from Father Figure, and I stamped it in Walnut Stain before sponging the edges.

The last square is probably my favorite. I stamped the Dad image from Protector repeatedly in second generation Tea Dye to create a background. Then I added the sentiment (my favorite!!) from Dad's Day in Walnut Stain before sponging the edges.

Once I finished all four of the inserts, I glued some Natural Jute along the bottom of the box, along the trim. I also covered the top with the same jute, wrapped in a square pattern working from the edges to the inside.

All in all, a very manly, rustic gift that took me about an hour and cost less than $10 to create! I'm pretty proud, if I do say so myself. *wink*

So, are you ready to play along yet? Everyone is welcome! Just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a man in your life. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in --->{THIS}<--- post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, June 20th. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, don't forget to leave a little love in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Project Parade Day 3 - It's a Guy Thing

Hi everyone, it's Michelle! So sorry I am late in posting this. I thought my posting day was Tuesday. Oh well, it happens -LOL! Welcome to Day 3 of the Project Parade -It's a Guy Thing.

I love making masculine cards! I even made up a couple "man rules" I try follow when making them!! Silly, I know but I thought I would share them with you anyway. Here goes:

1. I stick to darker colors (browns, reds, blues)

2. No FRILLY ribbon, flowers or embellishments (I have to remember this card isn't for me -LOL!)

3. I use stars -when I have the urge to use a flower, I use a star!! Before even starting my card, I break out my 3 sizes of star punches-heehee!

4. I use brads -hey, I got to use some embellishments right?!?

I have 3 Father's Day cards to share with you, all using simple layouts. Two of these were even made from the same cardstock, pattern paper and punched stars -making it super easy to do 2 cards at the same time. The card above uses the Protector set and the sentiment is from last year's release Father Figure.

The next card uses one of the super cute balloon images from the Up Up and Away set. I stamped the #1 Dad from the Dad's Day set inside the balloon. I outlined the balloon with some copic markers and sponged the edges of the panel with the nestie still on it. There is a piece of burgundy burlap string wrapped below the brown tafetta piece.

My last card also uses the DAD stamp from Protector and the sentiment is from the World's Best set. The DP is SU!s retired Wanted -love the rust and black colors!

Everyone is welcome to play along! Just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a man in your life. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in --->{THIS}<--- post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, June 20th. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

June Project Parade-Day 2!

Hello, hello! Hope everyone's weekend is going wonderfully! Mine has gone by TOO FAST, as always:)

My project for this months Project Parade, It's a Guy Thing, is this layout I made of my sweet husband, Billy. He makes me happy every day of my life and I am still so amazed that I have this incredible man to share my life with. It's good to capture those thoughts and hold on to them for those days that don't go quite right. I

I used alot of fun Verve stamps for this layout. That's what's great about Verve, alot of the sets are really versatile and work well together!

The kraft paper with black dots and the saffron colored dp are from a digital paper pack from The Digi Chick, the paper is called "Our Story".

The "Best Husband Ever" stamp is from "Dad's Day". I stamped the sentiment in the oval frame and cut the frame out. It's mounted on dimensionals. I also stamped a sentiment from "Feeling Groovy" on the saffron colored panel. One of my favorite little sentiments ever! The "I'm so blessed" sentiment on the title is from "Because of You" and then I also used the hearts border from "Hearts on Fire" randomly around the edge of the layout. I'm not sure if you can see all the details good enough of this photo so I also took some close ups.

So, how would you like to play along with us? Do you have a special guy in your life (Dad, Husband, Grandpa, etc...) that you'd like to create a project for? This is the time to do it!

To play along, just make a project or card that fits your style and celebrates a man in your life. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we love to see 'em! Then just add a link to your creation to the Mr. Linky form in --->{THIS}<--- post before 8PM Mountain on Saturday, June 20. Two lucky participants will win a stamp set of their choice from the Verve Store. We've also hidden another $25 gift certificate somewhere along the parade for a random commenter. So if you like what you see, be sure and give a little shout out in the comments of each post! Have fun and good luck!

Sneak Peek - Day 2

Hey there Verve fans! Jen Tapler here with another look at some of the FABULOUS new stamps Julee has created!! Today the divas are sharing projects using Dad's Day and Protector, which will be available after the Release Party on Friday, May 22nd.

From Diva Susan Liles:
Howdy!! Well, I must say I got a little spring in my giddy-up when Julee first revealed all the new sets coming out to us (and just in time for Father's Day!). However, this one won my heart. It's called Protector and it's a set of two stamps, the big "Dad" and the words one that I used here to make my own patterned paper. I think it has a real "western" feel to it, so I couldn't help myself but to "grunge" it up with lots of sponging and brads - it's a heavy card! I even "duded" up the "Dad" sentiment with a little piercing and more brads. I also paired it up with some of my favorite elements - STARS!! These are from one of my old must-have of Verve's called Seeing Stars. Well, I guess I need to head 'em up and move 'em out. I hope you are loving these new set reveals!!

From Diva Laurie Schmidlin:

You all know how I feel about Verve's AMAZING sentiments and fonts! Well...Julee has done it again! She's created several "must have" Dad sets! They are perfect for Father's Day...but would also work well for birthdays, thinking of you's, scrapbooking, and altered projects (like frames)! I took inspiration from the slightly rustic font, and created a rugged masculine card. I used Protector, World's Best (one of the sets that was peeked yesterday), and Seeing Stars Verve sets.


From Diva Michelle Woerner:

I LOVE masculine cards! Crazy, I know. I think I am one of the few stampers who actually loves to make masculine cards! For those of you like me, this month's releases won't disappoint. Julee designed several fun masculine sentiment sets - woohoo! My card uses both sets we are peeking today. The sentiment is from Dad's Day and I used the large stamp from Protector for that cool background.
To make it, I stamped the large Protector sentiment stamp repeatedly in Soft Sky. I then stamped it separately in chocolate chip and cut out a couple words I wanted to highlight. I used my go to "guy" embellishments - all my star punches and aged copper brads. Just play around with their placement and you can turn about any card into a guy card! This card will be from my boys to my husband. The fun colors of this card are some of my boys' favorites and both of them will "write" their name below their hand prints on the inside.

And from me, Diva Jen Tapler:
I am so thrilled with the new masculine sets Julee has created! So many of us struggle with masculine cards and these new sets will make that painful process so much easier!! For my project, I created a Keepsake box, using the new Protector stamp set, to hold little momentos and handwritten notes of memories of my Dad. My Dad has Alzheimer's Disease and sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed by the sadness of watching the man who raised me slip away from me, I will take a minute and journal about some little special memory of my father before the illness struck. My biggest fear with this illness is that after he's gone I will not be able to remember him as the amazing man he once was, but instead I will only remember this shell of a man I see now. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease is a heartbreaking, frustrating, maddening experience - My hope is that this little keepsake box will help me hold on to those precious memories of happier times and that it will be a comfort to me when I need to feel a connection to my Dad as the wonderful man he once was.

So, how would you like to win these two Verve sets? If you're feeling lucky, one lucky commenter on this post will win the two sets we've shared today! Just leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 8PM Eastern on Friday, May 22nd!

What special way do you have or have you seen of preserving your family's memories?

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see the final sneak peeks! We hope you'll join us for the release party this Friday, May 22nd at 9pm EDT in the Verve Forum