March 2014 Diva Dare - Day 11

Hi there! Jen here, bringing you Day 10 of the March Diva Dare challenge, "Do The Polka".  

What we're daring you to do this month is to use polka dots somewhere on your card. Whether you choose to strut your polka dot stamps, paper, ribbon or all of the above, we want to see you do the polka! 

I was so happy when I found out this challenge involved polka dots because it meant I had another excuse to use the fabulous background stamp from Better Together. I just love stamps that let me step away from patterned paper for a bit to just focus on stamping. I combined the dots from Better Together with the flowers from Lean On Me (colored with Copic markers) and the leaves from Dream Big along with their respective dies, Pointed Flowers Dies and Dreamy Leaves Dies. The sentiment is stamped on a bit of cream cardstock cut with with Rounded Rectangle Die. Underneath it all I die cut the Pennant Trim Die from a bit of pale pink cardstock. To finish it all off I added a few teeny tiny rhinestones in a pale pink. 

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, March 26th.  Entries must be posted 3/7 or later, include at least one Verve product, polka dots, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 3/26/14. 

During this month's Diva Dare, there are 2 prizes up for grabs!

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Do The Polka" Dare and link up your card (created March 7th or later) to the linky widget to be eligible to win.  One participant will be randomly selected to win the gift voucher.  You can enter as many times as you like, but each card needs to be in a separate post.

Win a set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's "Do The Polka" Diva Dare posts!  One lucky commenter will win a Verve stamp set of his or her choice, so be sure to tune in each day!  Comment deadline to be entered in our prize drawing is March 26, 2014.

Winners will be announced on March 27, 2014. 

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

September Diva Dare - Day 5

Hello friends!  It's Laurie S. here, and it's my turn to share how I answered this month's Diva Dare! 


So what we're daring you to create this month is a card or project using inspiration from a tic-tac-toe board. For example: x’s and o’s, hugs & kisses, squares, circles, grids, you get the idea.

I went quite literally with this month's theme, making a grid of sorts by stitching on the vellum cardstock.  I used flowers as the "o's"and hearts as the "x's".  The flowers are from Verve's Dream Big set (each cut out using the Scalloped Flowers Die Set).  The small heart, large heart, and sentiment are all from the Love Notes set.  I cut the large heart out using the Jotted Heart Die.  The pretty aqua seam binding ribbon is from Verve's Signature Ribbon Collection (have I mentioned how thrilled I am that Verve is now offering ribbon?).


Here's some info on how you can play along...

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, September 25th.  Entries must be new (posted 9/6 or later), include at least one Verve product, include inspiration from a tic-tac-toe board, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 9/25/13.

During this month's Diva Dare, there are 2 prizes up for grabs!

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Tic-Tac-Toe" Dare and link up your card (created September 6th or later) to the linky widget below to be eligible to win.  One participant will be randomly selected to win the gift voucher.  You can enter as many times as you like, but each card needs to be in a separate post.

Win a set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's "Tic-Tac-Toe" Diva Dare posts!  One lucky commenter will win a Verve stamp set of his or her choice, so be sure to tune in each day!  Comment deadline to be entered in our prize drawing is September 25, 2013.

You can link up your take on the dare here.

Winners will be announced on September 26, 2013.

 

July Diva Dare - Day 8

Hi Verve fans!!  Jen here bringing you Day 8 of this month's Diva Dare entitled "Tattered Pages".

This month's dare pays tribute to Julee (Poetic Artistry), owner and creator of Verve Stamps and Diva Teresa (Paperie Blooms).  Julee has created countless, uplifting sentiments which have become one of Verve's trademarks, and Teresa knows how to rock distressing and "shabbiness" on her cards.  So what we're daring you to create this month is a card using an uplifting sentiment and some distressing and/or shabby element to it.  Kind of like an encouraging card you have received which you have read so many times the edges are a bit tattered.  Just remember to use at least one Verve product on your creation!

 

 

As I was planning out my card I went back through Teresa's blog and decided I wanted to highlight her gorgeous use of pattern and vintage/shabby elements like twine, seam binding and flowers. I used seam binding from the Signature Ribbon Collection and highlighted the flower with leaves from Dream Big die cut with the Dreamy Leaves Dies. I didn't distress my card but I think it still has a bit of shabby feel to it with the flower cluster and patterned paper.

To highlight Julee's uplifting sentiments I chose New Mercies. I love this stamp set and was in need of a sympathy card for a close friend and I new this set would be perfect to lift her spirits.

To created the scalloped edge I used the Flourish Trim Die. The sentiment is die cut with the Classy Label Die.

 

My card layout is based on Viva La Verve July Week 4 sketch!

 

 

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, July 31st.  Entries must be new (posted 7/12 or later), include at least one Verve product, an uplifting sentiment, and some distressing or shabbiness and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 7/31/13.

 

 

During this month's Diva Dare, there are 2 prizes up for grabs!

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our Tattered Pages Dare and link up your card (created July 12th or later) to the linky widget on the day one post to be eligible to win.  One participant will be randomly selected to win the gift voucher.  You can enter as many times as you like, but each card needs to be in a separate post.

Win a set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's "Tattered Pages" Diva Dare posts!  One lucky commenter will win a Verve stamp set of his or her choice, so be sure to tune in each day!  Comment deadline to be entered in our prize drawing is July 31, 2013.

Winners will be announced on August 1, 2013.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

June Diva Dare ~ Day 7

Hello Verve fans!! Andrea here with this month's Diva Dare entitled "Puddles of Colour".

This month's dare pays tribute to Diva Jen (Deconstructing Jen) who is an amazing colorer (word can be found in any crafter's dictionary wink, wink) and Diva Janelle (Rain Puddles Design) who also colors beautifully, often uses paint on her cards and is a wonderful mixed media artist. So what we're daring you to create this month is a card using coloring and/or painting. If you want to kick the dare up a notch, you can add kraft card stock to the mix (Jen's specialty) and/or make a mixed media card (Janelle's specialty). Here is the link to Splitcoast Stamper's "Mix-Ability" Forum for some tutorials and ideas on Mixed Media should you want to try it out. This is not a requirement but a fun "extra" should you wish to add it to your card.Just remember to use at least one Verve product on your creation!

Here is my take on the dare:

In honor of Jen...I added kraft and lots of color (noun), but kept my coloring (verb) to a minimum (she's also a school teacher, so she should appreciate my use of the same word in two different forms :) The flower is from Verve's Surely Goodness set. I heat embossed the design in white embossing powder and colored in the petals with an Aqua painter and dye inks. To add a bit of pizazz, I also dotted the petals with Liquid Pearls dimensional paint. (That's about as far as my 'mixed media' tribute goes {tips hat to Janelle}.) The leaves are stamped from the Dream Big set and punched out with the coordinating Dreamy Leaves die. They got doused with liquid pearls, too! The sentiment is also stamped/heat embossed and that phrase is from Let It Be. The heart border down the right side is from Verve's Scalloped Trim Trio set and I used negatives of the punched out hearts to add to the sentiment. The ribbon is a new collection from Verve, this one is from the Red, White and Beautiful set. Some paper piercing, a button and twine bow and it's all good!

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my design:

Deadline to link your cards is 5PM Mountain on Thursday, June 27.  Entries must be new (posted 6/11 or later), include at least one Verve product, include some type of coloring/painting (with an option of adding kraft cardstock or mixed media, but this is not required) and be linked up to the linky widget by 5pm Mountain on 6/27/13. 

During this month's Diva Dare, there are 2 prizes up for grabs!

Win a $40 Gift Certificate to Verve Stamps! Take our Puddles of Colour Dare and link up your card (created June 11th or later) to the linky widget below to be eligible to win.  One participant will be randomly selected to win the gift certificate.  You can enter as many times as you like, but each card needs to be in a separate post. 

Win a set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's "Puddles of Colour" Diva Dare posts! One lucky commenter will win a Verve stamp set of his or her choice, so be sure to tune in each day!  Comment deadline to be entered in our prize drawing is June 27, 2013.

Winners will be announced on June 28, 2013.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

April Diva Dare -Day 6

Hello Verve friends! Andrea posting here today with not one but two challenges...rolled into one! Not only is today my day to share my Diva Dare project, but I've also combined it with this week's Viva La Verve sketch which I'm hosting!
When I heard the name of this month's Diva Dare "Bright Blooms and Butterflies" I knew it would be a great combination as Charmaine whips those bright colors together in short order to make some delightfully cheery, uplifting cards and Marisa...'Queen of Darling Die Cuts'... I mean have you seen how she assembles paper flowers? Don't even get me started on her fondness for maple leaves! :)
Here's my combo card, using bright colors (by my standards :) and lots {and I mean LOTS} of Verve die-cuts:

I generally use muted, neutrals on my cards so this was really a step out the box for me. It felt refreshing to add some good old-fashioned color to my card (thanks, Charmaine!). I also wanted to duplicate the small rolled flowers that Marisa expertly creates for her cards, so my project also shows my attempt at those sweet things.

 I used Crate Paper's colorful Farmhouse collection and added loads of Verve dies, namely the Curvy Bookplate die which encompasses both a Mini Bookplate die and a Flag-It die for the sentiment. That overlays two Banner Bundle dies, matted and attached to the sentiment panel. Also tucked in there is an All Aflutter die. There are also Dreamy Leaves dies which were stamped with the greenery from the Dream Big set. The 'hello' sentiment is from Remember This, part of Verve's latest release.

{By far not a mailable card, by normal standards anyway, but then it wouldn't be an Andrea card if it were flat...  :)}

Here's the Viva La Verve sketch for this week:

And an inspiration pic to get your creative juices flowing:

(For the Viva La Verve challenge, you can use just the sketch, just the inspiration (pick colors, a layout, a theme, etc from the inspiration picture), or you can combine both challenges into one card!)

Below are two ways you can win some shiny new Verve!  

1. Win a $40 Verve gift certificate! Play along with our March Diva Dare and link up your creation to the linky widget entry form.  A winner will be chosen by random draw. To be eligible, your entry must:
• Be a new creation - posted April 12th or later.
• Be a card or project using bright colours and having a flower and/or butterfly (or other die shape) as your focal point.
• Use at least one Verve product.
• Be added to the linky widget before 5pm Mountain on Wednesday, May 1.
2. Win a Verve set of your choosing! Leave a little shout-out for the Divas in the comments section as we post our answers to this month's dare weekdays through April 29th.  A random comment winner will be chosen from all the comments over the course of the Dare.
3. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 3rd.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

Fanspiration Diva Dare ~ Day 8

Hi Verve fans and friends!  Andrea here continuing with this month's exciting Diva Dare theme!  I have to say that as I was perusing our fan gallery and seeing all the fabulous entries for our recent card carnival I was very inspired as well!  I can certainly see how this inspiration led to Julee's decision to make this month's Diva Dare theme...Fanspiration!   This month, we "dare" you to show us your new creations inspired by projects made by Verve fans!  You can pick any little Verve project to inspire you, as long as it is not by one of our design team members (or yourself!) {grin}.  To get your wheels a turnin', the Divas will be posting their Fanspiration creations using our newly released products right here daily for a total of 2 weeks!
I have long since admired one of our Verve fans' work (among others) and what really draws me to Olena's creations is her incredible use of color. I tend to make things more on the neutral/pastel side, but wow! When you see how color can be used, particularly on this card....my goodness, it really inspired me to make this card here:

I started off by heat embossing with clear powder, the flowers from the newly released Lean on Me set. After embossing, I sponged color, starting from the middle with Sunflower yellow ink, then working outwards using Really Rust and then the outside perimeter is colored with Walnut Stain distress ink. I cut out each flower with the coordinating Pointed Flowers die. I cut out 3 large and 4 small designs, layered them, curled up the edges and added a rhinestone to the middle. The leaves are a combination of the previously released Bloom and  Grow, cut out with the Elegant Leaves die and also leaves from the Dream Big set, cut out with the new Dreamy Leaves die.  The sentiment is from the With Love set, stamped on the Scroll Plain Jane  and cut out with the coordinating Scroll die. The last colorful details added were some orange organdy ribbon, orange rhinestone flourishes, a doily and a raffia adorned wooden button. The perimeter was paper pierced as well.

 Read on to see how you can win some shiny new Verve!  There are two ways to win...

1. Win a $50 Verve gift certificate! Play along with our Fanspiration Diva Dare and link up your creation to the linky widget entry form. Winner will be chosen by random draw.  To be eligible, your entry must:
• Be a new creation - posted September 7 or later
• Be inspired by a non-design team created Verve card or project
• Include a link to the inspiration piece you used, as well as a brief explanation of what inspired you
• Use at least one Verve product
• Be added to the linky widget before 5pm Mountain on Sunday, September 23.
2. Win a Verve set of your choosing! Leave a little shout-out for the Divas in the comments section as we post our answers to the Fanspiration dare each weekday through September 20.  A random comment winner will be chosen from all the comments over the course of the Dare.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

Fanspiration Diva Dare ~ Day 7

Hi there!  It's Charmaine bringing you Day 7 of our Fanspiration Diva Dare. This month, we "dare" you to show us your new creations inspired by projects made by Verve fans! You can pick any little Verve project to inspire you, as long as it is not by one of our design team members (or yourself!) {grin}. To get your wheels a turnin', the Divas will be posting their Fanspiration creations using our newly released products right here each weekday!

I really had a tough time with this dare because I couldn't decide on A card.  It took me a while just to narrow it down from all the fabulous Verve Fan creations in the gallery. . .but I still ended up with two that I just couldn't decide between!  One of the cards I was so inspired by is THIS CARD from girlgeek101.  This card is totally my style.  I LOVE how Audrie used the embossing to add detail to this simple but elegant card along with that pop of color with the flower image.  I created my card using the Learning To Sail set.  Since the stamps I used to stamp behind the sentiment were line stamps and not silhouette, I added a border of cardstock in the same color as the ship to bring it out a little more. 

I used the Beaded Oval Nestabilities for my focal piece.  I'm not sure how well it shows in the picture, but I added a tranparent pearl on each "bead" with a Viva Pearl Pen.  I thought it would be a neat detail that added to the water theme.  :)

The other card that I just couldn't decide between was THIS CARD from Jen Mitchell.  I just LOVED the colors that Jen used in her card.  I LOVE the warm, Fall colors with a pop of red!  I also loved Jen's layout.  I just changed the stamps and the papers for my card and added a sentiment using the Lean On Me set with the leaves from Dream Big. 

I die cut the flowers using the Pointed Flowers Die Set, stamped them in red ink and then used a blender pen with the ink pad to color them.  The leaves were die cut using the Dreamy Leaves Die Set.  I also used the Rounded Rectangle Die as well as the Rounded Scallop Frame Die with the border stamp from the Treasured Words set. 

How fun is this Dare? Don't know where to start? Head over to the Verve Fan Gallery to peruse some projects, pick one then join in the fun...here are the details...

There are two ways to win...

1. Win a $50 Verve gift certificate! Play along with our Fanspiration Diva Dare and link up your creation to the linky widget entry form. Winner will be chosen by random draw. To be eligible, your entry must:
• Be a new creation - posted September 7 or later
• Be inspired by a non-design team created Verve card or project
• Include a link to the inspiration piece you used, as well as a brief explanation of what inspired you
• Use at least one Verve product
• Be added to the linky widget before 5pm Mountain on Sunday, September 23.
2. Win a Verve set of your choosing! Leave a little shout-out for the Divas in the comments section as we post our answers to the Fanspiration dare each weekday through September 20. A random comment winner will be chosen from all the comments over the course of the Dare.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! -

Winter Release Project Parade - Day 2

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Hello Verve Fans, it's Shannan here with day two of the Verve Winter Release Project Parade! This month's theme is "Triple Play" - where the challenge is to create a terrific trio of yumminess! This can be to create three different things that all coordinate (like a bag, a card and a tag) or to create three different cards or three different cards. I love adding handmade tags to gifts, but usually don't take the time to make them, so I thought I'd make a little set for you today!

I was inspired by my new paper from My Mind's Eye, from the Lost and Found collection, so I created a shabby trio of large gift tags that could be used for holiday gifts or other occasions.



I stamped and cut three pieces of the Vintage Oval Frame using the stamp and matching die. Then I stamped sentiments from Joy for the Journey, Merry Wishes, and Dream Big, as well as the little twig image from Merry Wishes inked with Wild Wasabi and Cherry Cobbler markers. Then I added some chunky glass glitter to the edges of the frames.


For the top of each tag, I used the Sweet Scallop Tag die to cut a piece from the damask patterned paper and adhered it to the back of the pink tag with the music score. Then I tied some seam binding to the top so I could attach each tag to my gifts.



After sponging the edges of the tag, I added another strip of damask paper across the bottom with a scalloped border, a strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, then finally some cream jumbo ric-rac.



To finish the tags off, the Vintage Oval panels were popped up with foam dimensionals. Here's a close-up view of one of the tags:


Well, that's it for me today...I hope you enjoyed my project! And of course we'd love for you to play along! Here are the details:

Challenges and Prizes:

---- 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!! Woot!!!

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!!!!

Have a fabulous day!

August Release Project Parade-Day13

Happy Friday peeps, it is Teresa and I am thrilled to be taking you into the weekend with my version of the project parade of Something Old, Something New. Once again, the divas never cease to amaze me with their talent and ideas. Julee and all the divas...you are the best! I am one of those who luvs my Verve no matter if it is new or old, I do find myself reaching for it all the time. Julee's flowers are always divine, but next to those my favorite stamps are the scripture stamps. I knew I wanted to incorporate one of those into my project. For my project I took a 4x6 recycled paper notebook that I picked up a Target and Verve'd it up a bit. It is perfect, it has kraft on the inside covers and recycled white lined pages. I always like to make a matching card...lol..that is just what I do. Here is a picture of the book, I used Dream Big and Filigree Fantasy. I used one of the Maya Road kraft envelopes on the front and dressed it up a bit to make this sweet little notebook with a pocket on the front.

This is a close up of the little notebook I layered the flowers, added a buttons with twine, and of course some bling. 

This is a close up the card, I used one of the fabulous sketches from the last release week challenges. I added faux ribbon with the fun polka dotted chocolate paper. I used the 1 Peter5:7 stamp.

Whether old or new I hope you will play along, the details follow. I cannot wait to see what you create!

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY 1 PARADE POST before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

August Release Project Parade ~ Day 7

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Hi there!  It's Jackie here! I hope you're enjoying this month's Project Parade!  I am (again) totally blown away by the Diva's projects so far!  When I saw the theme for this month's parade, Something Old Something New, the "Old" (hate to call any of my Verve stamps Old) set I immediately knew I wanted to use was the first set I purchased from Verve, Fancy Florals.  I paired it with one of Verve's newest releases, Dream Big!  A match made in heaven!!  LOL!

I recently celebrated my birthday and was treated to a pedicure and lunch by one of my closest friends and was in need of a thank you card!  I started with Sweet Sunday Sketch #83 and reached for the new Cosmo Cricket Togetherness DP and got to work.  I stamped the two different outline flowers from Fancy Florals in Memento Tuxedo Black onto three different patterns.  I cut them out and attached them to the card with foam tape.  Some adhesive pearls finish them off nicely.  The sentiment and leaves are from Dream Big.  The leaves were stamped in Wild Wasabi ink and cut out.  Some machine stitching finishes it off!

Detail shot of the flowers.......

I hope I've inspired you to play along!!!  Here are the details:

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY 1 PARADE POST before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

We hope you'll play along! We LOVE to see your creations!

August Release Project Parade: Day 5

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Happy Tuesday, Verve Fans!! It's Shannan here, coming by to share my project for this August's parade. This month we are mixing it up with the theme "Something Old, Something New" and let me just tell you...pulling out my older Verve sets has totally kick-started my mojo! This theme doesn't necessarily mean wedding (but of course it could) - its a challenge for anyone who would like to play along to use a previously released Verve stamp set with one of the new sets that was just released this August 20th. (If you don't have the newest Verve sets - no worries, just mix an older set from your stash with a "new to you" stamp set and join the fun!)

As I was going through all my stamp sets to choose something to work with, I couldn't decide on just one! So I made a little set of 3 cards, each using a new and an old set.




For the first card, I chose the large and small leafy image from Great Friend. I stamped them in Versamark Ink onto a piece of Kraft cardstock and added a few accents of patterned paper and lace trim. The sentiment from Believe was stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink.





The next card I created showcases a sentiment from Framed Wishes (a special gift with purchase) and flower from Dream Big. I stamped one of my favorite Verve backgrounds ever, from Artful Elegance, in Versamark on Kraft cardstock. Some sponging and coordinating patterned paper finish this one off beautifully.




Last but not least, I created a card using the circle image from Happy Hello along with this gorgeous image and sentiment from Let it Shine. I punched different parts of the sunny flower image out with my circle punch, then popped them up over the stamped circles. To finish this one off, I added another touch of coordinating patterned paper, some Diamond Stickles, and some paper piercing.

I had a blast dusting off some of my older Verve sets...I hope you decide to give it a try! There's also a chance to win some Verve stamps - check out how you can score some:

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY 1 PARADE POST before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!
We hope you'll play along! We LOVE to see your creations!

 

Have a fabulous day!

August Release Project Parade: Day 2

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Hi there! Jen Tapler here with Day 2 of the August Release Project Parade. I just love this theme!! In case you missed Jen d.'s explanation yesterday, here's a recap of what we're doing this month: The theme for this Project Parade is "Something Old, Something New." You might be thinking "wedding," but it's actually something just a little different. We have challenged ourselves and YOU to use a previously released Verve set with one of the sets that was released on August 20th. If you don't have both a new and an older Verve set, don't worry. Just mix an older set from your stash with a new-to-you set and join the fun! We'd love for everyone to play along!

It seems that I have A LOT of friends with birthdays around this time of year and therefore I've been on a Birthday-Gift-Ensemble-making spree!! I was in desperate need of a last minute (and very late) birthday gift for my BFF, so I have another Card and gifty thing to share with you today using 2 of my favorite Verve sets - the new Dream Big and my old fave Bountiful Backgrounds!


I created a 5.5 inch square card with a Kraft cardstock base and a trio of those yummy layered Dream Big flowers in Stampin' Up's Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, and Pink Pirouette. And of course, one of my go-to looks is that white stamped polka dot background on Kraft! Love it. The "You're So Fabulous" sentiment is from Bountiful Backgrounds. I added some button centers to the two larger flowers, a couple of layered large scalloped borders and some white satin ribbon as simple embellishments on the card.


That little gift bag thing? I used a cut file for my Silhouette, sizing it just right so I could tuck a Border's Gift Card inside!


I've said it before, but I really love creating a special gift box or envelope to hold a gift card or money in addition to the standard card. I'm sure my BFF Sarah will appreciate this. (feel free to stop by her blog and wish her a Happy Belated Birthday, and while you're there be sure to remind her what an amazing friend I am. Maybe it will help her forgive me for totally forgetting her birthday and being so late with her gift!! LOL).

Then, come back and play along with us in the Something Old, Something New Project Parade!!

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY ONE parade post before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

New Release Spotlight: Dream Big

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Hello and welcome to Day 4 of our Anni-VERVE-sary New Release Spotlights!

Each day through August 19, we're previewing another set or two from our upcoming Anni-VERVE-sary release.  We've hidden a prize on one of the participating blogs each day, so leave a little comment love as you hop around to be entered into a drawing to win that day's featured stamps!  Deadline for comment entries is 6PM Eastern Friday, August 20.  Winners will be announced at our Anni-VERVE-sary Bash Release Party that night.  And for even more chances to win new stamps, play along with our Anni-VERVE-sary sketch challenges, going  on this week in our forum!

Today the Divas are spotlighting Dream Big, a 6 x 8" set of 18 stamps that will retail for $24. Think bold and beautiful and you've got the blooms in this set.  With three flower sizes perfect for layering, several leafy options and eight swirly sentiments, this set is sure to be a favorite.  And I just know you're going to love seeing what the Divas have cooked up to show you today!

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops featuring Dream Big:

1. Sankari	8. Laurie
2. Shannan	9. Teresa
3. Lynda	10. Amber
4. Mercy	11. Maureen
5. Charmaine	12. Julee
6. Jen T.	13. Michelle
7. Sony

Happy Hopping!  Be sure to leave some comments along the way for a chance to win!
Have fun and we'll see ya tomorrow!

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