July Diva Dare 2012 ~ Day 9

Hello and happy weekend!! I'm bringing this Diva Dare to a close this week and just love what all the diva's have created this past week! Amazing, aren't they? 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. July happens to be a big birthday month here at Verve...five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects, shall we? We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!

Okay, so here's my card and how I answered the dare!

I wanted to create a different card than I normally do, so I just hacked off the top piece of the front panel and love how that little change really got my mojo going! The card base is Pink Pirouette by SU! and the patterned papers are from MME! 

After adding all my mat layers, I die cut some circles and adhered them to the card front. I cut a banner out with the Ribbon Banner die and stamped the "birthday wishes" sentiment from Birthday Phrases. I cut a heart out with the heart from the I Heart You die set and then stamped the "for" from You and I stamp set. The "you" is also from You and I. I glued a bow down on top of the banner and then added some buttons to the side. To kind of dress the card up a little further, I added Crystal Ice Stickles to the banner on the paper.

Here's the inside! I added more circles to add another sentiment (from Big Wish) and a panel for a personalized message!

Well that's all I have! I hope you found or will find some time to play along! You have until tomorrow night!!

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So, would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget HERE on Day 1 before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

July Diva Dare 2012 ~ Day 8

Hello Verve Fans!! This is the last day for our Diva Dare inspirations. Have you been blown away by all the creativity as I have? I just had the opportunity to look yesterday since I've been on vacation with my family, and I tell you, these girls pulled out all the stops!!!

Just a quick recap...we're daring you to make a card or project with a Birthday Theme in honor of 4 divas and the boss lady's birthdays this month. In fact, it just happens to be Jen Tapler's birthday today, so if you have a moment, stop by her blog and spread some birthday wishes. And did you get a chance to wish our fearless leader and sweet friend, Julee, a birthday yesterday? If not, I'm sure she wouldn't mind prolonging her birthday to receive a few more. *grin*

Okay, maybe I should share how I answered the dare.


I usually go all embellishment crazy on a card, but as I was creating this one, I ended up with a pretty clean and simple look using the Ribbon Banner die, Plain Jane Fringe Flower, and a birthday sentiment from Joyful Blooms.



I love texture, so I stamped the Fringe Flower image, using Black Stazon, onto some felt and added a button, as well as a sweet little canvas tag with the birthday sentiment on it. As a backdrop to the sentiment, I added a little banner using Verve's Ribbon Banner die.

That's about it for this simple little card.

So, would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget HERE on Day 1 before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

July Diva Dare 2012 ~ Day 7

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Hello!  It's Maureen and I can't tell you how excited I am to finally show you my Diva Dare project!  Excited because I love the mix of digital and stamped images I've used AND I got to eat cupcakes!! LOL  More on that later ;)  But first, some details...

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. July happens to be a big birthday month here at Verve...five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects, shall we? We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

I've been having fun recently with my Keep Calm app, not to mention seeing all different versions of the poster on Pinterest.  So when the Diva Dare birthday theme came up, I knew I wanted to make my own little poster...

I wanted an authentic font for the words, so I googled "Keep Calm font" and I was able to download my own version and install it into my Word Program.  I measured the cupcake from Carpe Cupcake as well as the sentiment I wanted to use so I knew how big to make the "Keep Calm and Seize."  Oh, I love how the Verve images worked perfectly (and no colouring needed! LOVE!)  I added a little file folder die cut so I could also add the sweet "happy birthday" from Small Phrases.

 

Now, I couldn't just make a cupcake card and not have some props for the photo shoot!  LOL  So I headed over to our local Sweet Cupcake Shoppe and bought some lemon filled cupcakes {drool}.  I wanted to make some fun little flags with the Ribbon Banner die.  I've used it 3 times here, cutting 2 of them smaller for the mini cupcakes.  The Birthday Girl should always get the biggest cupcake, so I made her banner a little more special with the matching banner outline stamp from Super Dad.  All the sentiments are from Birthday Bash...I just love the fonts in this set!

So, are you wondering the fate of these cupcakes?  Let's just say they were delicious! LOL  Gotta love a yummy photo shoot (eh, Melissa! teehee)!

Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget HERE on Day 1 before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing. 

 Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

July Diva Dare 2012 - Day 6

Hello Verve fans and welcome to day six; Teresa here sharing my Verve Diva Dare with you.  This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme.  If you haven't heard it is birthday month here at Verve; I happen to be one of the birthday gals, along with Julee and three others.  Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects!  We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

Here is my little burlap birthday combo

I have made a burlap pouch, that will fit my 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 card, plus room enough for a gift card or a small gift.  You could add a bag of goodies; candy, buttons, ribbon, or jewelry.

My card is designed based on this weeks Mojo Monday Sketch with a tiny bit of tweaking and turning...lol.  You can play along with us here at The Mojo Monday Blog.  I have used the Verve stamp sets Love Notes, Wishing You, and Big Wish.  The main panel shape was cut with the A Cut Above Verve Classy Label Die.

Here is a closer look at the sweet burlap bag, I used an 8 x 8 piece of burlap and folded the corner to the middle and then the two sides.  I used Scor-Tape to adhere it together, the flap is held with a glue dot; it works great!

Here is my sqaure card tucked inside with plenty of room for that special birthday giftie!  I cannot wait to see what you create for the Verve Diva Dare....have fun!

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Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

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Click the "Click here to enter" link at the bottom of this post for the Diva Dare entry form. Please type your name or screen name in the Caption or Title field, then choose the link and photo you'd like to enter.  Please link directly to the specific blog post or gallery page where we can view your creation.  If you're having problems linking, try entering the link to your card, then choosing From File instead of From Web. Then just browse to where your picture is saved on your computer to get your thumbnail.

July Diva Dare 2012 - Day 5

Happy Friday Verve fans! It's me, Janelle, here for another take on this month's Diva Dare right before the weekend! 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. Did you know that July is a big birthday month here at Verve? Five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects!  We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

So, this is how I took the dare.

There is always a need for a card to send your girlfriends (or man-friends), but sending a card sometimes just isn't enough. So I created a brown gift bag with a tea bag and special note slipped inside. It's just under the size of an A6 envelope so I can still send it in the regular mail. You know the size of those outer envies when sending traditional wedding invitations or announcements? That's the size!
This birthday card is brimming with Verve goodness. I colored flowers from Feel the Sun Stamp Set with Copic markers and fussy cut them out. They are warming up next to A Cut Above Rounded Scallop Frame die and tagged with a tea cup and tag combo from the Cup of Life stamp set and the A Cut Above Tiny Sweet Scallop Tag die. The Happy Birthday wishes is from the Hope Blooms Stamp Set. I added some lace ribbon under the tea cup and across the band to complete the bag. Inside the bag is tea bag nestled in some tissue paper edge punched with a lace pattern. The insert is labeled with a tea bag tag and sentiment from the Cup of Life set. A little shaved ice sparkle around the band is the last touch on this challenge project. All the pattern paper is from Pretty Party paper pad by Crate Paper.

Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to come back on Monday to see another week of Diva Dare takes on the challenge!

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Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

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Click the "Click here to enter" link at the bottom of this post for the Diva Dare entry form. Please type your name or screen name in the Caption or Title field, then choose the link and photo you'd like to enter.  Please link directly to the specific blog post or gallery page where we can view your creation.  If you're having problems linking, try entering the link to your card, then choosing From File instead of From Web. Then just browse to where your picture is saved on your computer to get your thumbnail.

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July Diva Dare 2012 - Day 4

Hi there!  It's Charmaine bringing you Day 4 of the July Diva Dare!!  I don't know about you, but I've really been enjoying what the Divas have been posting so far! 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. July happens to be a big birthday month here at Verve...five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects, shall we? We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

I love to create little birthday packages.  The smallest things can seem THAT much bigger just by how they're packaged, don't you think?  ;)  I created this little scalloped basket using my Silhouette.  I stuffed it with some filler so it's all ready for a gift of some kind.  The papers are from the Alphabet Soup Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I started with the Hearts & Swirls Frame Die and the coordinating frame stamp from Twitterpated.  I stamped the Happy Birthday Plain Jane sentiment onto the die cut frame.  Then I got out my Bloom & Grow set and coordinating Elegant Leaves Die and Floral Circles Die Set to stamp and die cut some flowers and leaves.  I added some glitter, bling and ribbon to finish off the birthday basket. 

Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget ON THE DAY 1 POST before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

Can't wait to see what you create!

July Diva Dare 2012 ~ Day 3

Hi ya!  Laurie here, and I'm here to share how I answered the latest Diva Dare! 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. July happens to be a big birthday month here at Verve...five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects, shall we? We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

When I sat down to create a birthday card...well, let's just say that I was having too much fun to stop at one!  So, I have three birthday cards to share with you!

I created this first card in the shape of something that I personally love....a cupcake!  I used my Silhouette machine to create the card base (the top is some pink cardstock and the bottom is from the Happy Travels Collection from Glitz Design).  I embossed the sentiment (from the Sunny Days set) on the bottom and added some stamped leafy sprigs (also from the Sunny Days set and cut out with the Leafy Sprigs die) under the pink bow.

For my second card, I cut out a birthday cake using my Silhouette and some papers from the Nostalgia paper pad by My Mind's Eye.  To complete the card, I added a stamped focal image created from the Making a Statement stamp set along with the Rounded Scallop Frame and Loopy Blooms dies.





For my third card, I again used my Silhouette to create another birthday themed shape...a gift box complete with a bow!  To decorate the outside, I added some polka dots as well as a stamped border along the bottom (using the star from the Birthday Bash set).

The inside (actually, the insert) is decorated using a sentiment and stamped stars also from the Birthday Bash set.

Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.



July Diva Dare 2012 ~ Day 2

Hey there Verve fans, it's Andrea here welcoming you to Day Two of our July Diva Dare! Because it's been a while since we've done one of these, we thought we'd give you a little reminder on how it works. We post a theme we dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge. During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare. 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. July happens to be a big birthday month here at Verve...five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects, shall we?  We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

Here's what I came up with …

My goal was to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch so I started with My Mind's Eye Howdy Doody papers and shabbed them up a bit. The larger sentiment is from Verve's Hundred Hearts set. I wanted to make this a birthday card for a friend, and in addition to the birthday theme,  I also wanted to let this person know how much she means to me as well. I used Verve's A Cut Above Tiny Sweet Scallop die for the birthday portion of the sentiment. "Happy Birthday" is from the Big Wish set and the "My Friend" is actually from two different sets, the Munchkin Phrases and Friendly Phrases sets, respectively. Each sentiment panel is sponged with Antique Linen distress ink and matted with black to accentuate the shapes. Some of Verve's dies have mat dies included in the set and it was fabulous that the Tiny Sweet Scallop die I used had a die just for matting!

Ok, so.......

Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

July Diva Dare 2012 - Day 1

Hola, Verve fans, welcome to Day One of our July Diva Dare! We haven't done one of these in a while, so as a reminder, here's how it works. We post a theme we dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge. During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare. 

This month, we dare you to make a card or project using a BIRTHDAY theme. Did you know that July is a big birthday month here at Verve? Five of our Divas have July birthdays, including the boss lady, Julee. Let's celebrate with some fun birthday projects!  We can't wait to see how you answer the dare! (Stay tuned to see how you could win some shiny new Verve!)

Here's what I came up with …

The cupcake tote is a cut file designed by Lori Whitlock for the Silhouette store. I enlarged the pieces by 125%, then cut them on my Silhouette out of a combination of ivory card stock and papers from Crate Paper's Random collection. I tied the top closed with some jute string, added some crinkled and dyed seam binding, then topped it with a red checked button (to look like a cherry on top). I further embellished with some paper flowers and a small tag that I die-cut with Verve's Tiny Sweet Sallop Die Set. On the tag I added a sentiment using stamps from the Birthday Bash stamp set. 


While making the cupcake tote, I fell in love all over again with Crate Paper's Random collection and decided to make a coordinating card: 

The balloons are from Birthday Bash and the tiny "happy birthday" sentiment is from Small Phrases. I die-cut the heart using the Jotted Heart die and the chunky letter "u" using the I Heart U
Die Set. I finished up with a little bit of this and that here and there, or maybe I should say quite a bit of this and that here, there, and everywhere! 


Here's the pair:

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Would you like a chance to win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES? There are two ways to win:

1. Play along with our Birthday Diva Dare. Link up your creation (posted July 16 or later) to the linky widget below before 6:00 pm MT on Sunday, July 29. One lucky stamper will win a $30 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would love to see 'em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our birthday creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing.

Winners will be announced on Monday, July 30 right here on the Verve blog.

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Click the "Click here to enter" link at the bottom of this post for the Diva Dare entry form. Please type your name or screen name in the Caption or Title field, then choose the link and photo you'd like to enter.  Please link directly to the specific blog post or gallery page where we can view your creation.  If you're having problems linking, try entering the link to your card, then choosing From File instead of From Web. Then just browse to where your picture is saved on your computer to get your thumbnail.