Project Parade - Day 8

Woohoo! It's my turn to share my project for this month's Project Parade "It's a Guy Thing"! I happen to be sharing my house with lots of guys (my DH and three wonderful sons) so this was a great opportunity for me to make something for them! My middle son Bryan (who is 5), came to me the other day and told me how "pretty I stamp...and could I please make him something sometime". Talk about a heart melter! Well, as I sat down to make him a little "something", I realized that I couldn't make something for just one of my boys...so that is how this little "treat trifecta" came to be! :-)



I just love the new Sweet on You set!! The sentiments are so clever and perfect for little treat containers! These actually came together SO quickly!! I found some amazing templates online (I'll share the links in just a second), printed them out on to colorful c.s., added some stars (made with the Seeing Stars set, punches, & Star Nestabilities) and the coordinating sentiment tags! That's it! I could not believe how easy these were...and I plan on making more for upcoming birthday parties!! Oooh, wouldn't these make fun party favors??!? :-) So fun!

All three templates are from Splitcoast Stampers! You can find the Fry Box HERE, the Sweet Treats Surprise Box HERE, & the Acetate Box HERE.

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 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!

A Sad Goodbye, A Happy Hello

Today I have the sad job of announcing the retirement of one of our fabulous Divas, Laura Fredrickson. We've so enjoyed Laura's one of a kind Verve-alicious creations over the last year and her wonderful personality and gorgeous "why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" style will be missed by all of us. For a recap of the over 100 amazing masterpieces she's spun with Verve Stamps over the past year, check out Laura's Verve gallery. We wish you all the best, Laura! Thanks for all your fabulousness!

When we say goodbye around here, we always like to say hello, too. So please welcome the newest girl to join the Divahood...

Tosha Leyendekker of Stamp Talk with Tosh!!!
After clicking a link on Laurie's blog several months ago, I was completely blown away by Tosha's work. Her style is beautifully crafted, well layered, and pure elegance. The longer I followed her blog, the further in love I fell. Each project is a masterpiece and I'm so excited to have her as the newest member of the Verve Diva family. Below are a couple fabulous projects she's made with our latest release and a little get-to-know ya interview. Welcome Tosha!!!


When/how did you get hooked on stamping? I started stamping about 13years ago after being invited to a Stampin' Up! party. I was hooked and stamped on and off until about 3 years ago when I was introduced to Splitcoaststampers where I lurked for a year until braving my first upload. Since then I stamp almost every day.

How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with? I wish I were a faster stamper. I'd sure get a lot more done, but a card will take me anywhere from 2-4 hours. Sometimes all day if I have to stew about what embellishments to add or if I want to change the paper or layout.

Project features Sweet on You

I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space. Very messy....very, VERY messy. I will never show pictures as some of you brave souls have.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what craft tool would you take with you? Why? My cuttlebug. I use my cuttlebug for practically every project. Of course, then I'd need my spellbinders dies, and embossing folders to go with it...*grin*

What is your biggest source of inspiration? Other stampers and catalogs...I love looking at Pottery Barn and West Elm. They have lovely, trendy color combos and use a variety of textures and shapes.

Project features Up Up and Away

Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why? I could never narrow it down to one or two. I've grown so much in the last 3 years by observing many stamping artists with a variety of specialties: whether it be coloring with copics, watercolors, or tombows, or color combo queens and sketch artists.

What is your favorite set from Verve's latest release? Oh, the balloons!! I LOVE the balloons!! I went hot air ballooning over Lake Tahoe 9 years ago and remember it like it was yesterday. I've never done anything since that compares to that experience. In fact, I get to go again this summer and can not wait!! So the balloons speak to me. It could be that they're pure gorgeousness too!!!!

Okay everybody, thanks for stopping by and sharing in our news! Jen del Muro will be here on Friday, June 5 for the kick-off of our monthly Project Parade. You're not going to want to miss it, so be sure to check back and plan some time to play along! Have a fabulously creative week!

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Sneak Preview - Day 3

Happy Friday, Verve Fans! It's Shannan here, wavin' howdy from Texas. Today is the final day of the Sneak Previews for our May Release, and boy, did we save the best for last! Ok, well at least my favorite, anyway. *wink* We have previews for two more sets today - Up, Up & Away and Dare to Be You, both of which will be available to order tonight (May 22nd) after the Release Party in the Verve Forum. Let's get the eye candy started, shall we?


From Diva Lynda Benden:

Oh my gosh, can I tell you how much I LOVE the NEW Up, Up and Away set?!?!? When I saw it, I immediately thought how perfect bright, primary colors would look on the balloons and then I started my card and ended up using blue and brown!!! LOL!!! I will definitely use primary colors in the future but for today’s Father’s Day card, the blue and brown are perfect! I wanted a masculine feel so I pulled out one of my favorite SU! DP collections, Parisian Breeze. I used the Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White CS that matched the striped DP. The layout is from Julee’s Mojo Monday sketch #87. The tree (I stamped it one time and then masked it in order to stamp the second), the clouds (stamped using Baja Breeze ink and then I added fine clear Martha Stewart glitter) and hot air balloon (balloon was paper pieced, basket colored with Prismacolor pencils) are ALL included in the new Up, Up and Away set! On the inside, I added the NEW Plain Jane ~ Happy Father’s Day sentiment using Chocolate Chip ink.


From Diva Jackie Pedro:

I may sound like a broken record, but Julee has done it again with these fabulous new sets! For today's card I used the new set Up, Up and Away along with a sentiment from Dare To Be You. I used just ONE of the Three hot air balloons from the set! Not only is this set beautiful, but I think it is also whimsical at the same time. I really wanted to capture the whimsical nature of this set so I used some fun papers to get the look I wanted. This set would be perfect for so many occasions....graduation, birthdays, thinking of you....the possibilities are really endless!


From Diva Amy Sheffer:

I'm especially excited to preview Up, Up & Away! A while back I was browsing home decor catalogs when a trio of hot air balloon wall hangings caught my eye. There was something so sweet and magical about the balloons, and, as we stampers so often do, I thought "wouldn't that make a cute stamp?" I shared the idea with the Divas, and Julee ran with it. I don't know how she does it, but once again, she's created a set with the perfect balance between whimsy and elegance. I couldn't be happier with "my" hot air balloons! This set will be perfect for so many occasions - congratulations, pick-me-up, encouragement, even baby and travel. The other set we're previewing today is Dare to Be You. The title sentiment, Dare to Be You, jumped out at me as a fantastic message for a new graduate. Paired with the balloons, it makes a great send-off for someone entering "the real world"! If only life were always blue skies and smooth sailing (or should I say smooth floating?). I hope you'll fall for these two sets every bit as much as I have!

From Diva Shannan Teubner:

Sometimes when you see a stamp set, a special little magic happens...your mind immediately sees exactly what you want to create with it. That's what happened when I saw Up, Up and Away. I could picture a group of balloons floating through the air together, so I thought I'd create that scene on paper. All it took was a little masking (save those masks...you can re-use them!), coloring, liquid applique, and voila! Exactly how I pictured it. I didn't want the card to be too fussy, so I let the images and colors do all the work here. The sentiment from Sweet on You went with it just perfectly. I love the time and effort that Julee takes to make all of her sets so versatile. I can see using these balloons for all sorts of occasions!

So, how would you like to win these two new Verve sets? We have one of each set (Up, Up & Away and Dare to Be You) to give away to one lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a comment with your answer to the following question before 8 PM Eastern on Friday, May 22nd!

What is the most adventurous thing you've done with your family?

We hope you'll join us for the release party tonight, May 22nd at 9pm Eastern in the Verve Forum. The sets will be shown in their entirety during the party, and afterwards will be available to order from The Verve Store. We hope see you there!

Sneak Preview - Day One

It's time again for another Verve release! Are you excited? We sure are! We think you're really going to like what you'll see in the next three days, so stay tuned!

Today, you get to see two new sets being released on Friday, May 22nd. . .Sweet On You and World's Best. Enjoy!

from Diva Jen del Muro:

What better way to say thanks to Dad for all the things he does by giving him a "World's Best Dad" award. Those dads that are the best will proudly wear this paper ribbon...at least on Father's Day. The top part of the ribbon was created with Nestabilities pinked circles and regular circle dies. The hanging part of the ribbon was embossed with the Houndstooth Cuttlebug embossing folder. I placed a pin on the back of the ribbon and attached with a tab on the card. The top part of the tab has repositionable double sided, so that the ribbon can be placed back on the card when not in use.

from Diva Amber Hight:

Julee has gone and done it again and come up with a FABULOUS sentiment set! This stamp set is sure to have sentiments that you'll reach for over and over again! I chose the "You Color My World" sentiment. The card base is So Saffron. I stamped the background stamp from Wishful Elegance in Chocolate Chip on a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock and rounded one corner. Next, I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip on a piece of Regal Rose. I added some threaded buttons to the sentiment panel and then cut a piece of scalloped Purely Pomegranate cardstock and adhered it to the bottom. I also cut a piece of Purely Pomegrate for the bottom of the card. The ribbon is by Making Memories and of course my beloved butterfly punch by Martha Stewart! Last but not least, I cut a flourish from the Basics 3 cartridge for my Slice machine.

from Guest Diva Teresa Kline:

Hello everyone, it's Teresa and I am truly honored to be able to bring you a sneak peek card for the month of May. Julee continues to bring us some fabulous stamps and the May Release sets are no different. For my card I used the new sets Worlds Best and Sweet On You. I stamped the stars in SU kiwi kiss, they are from an older set called Seeing Stars. The colors of cs are SU kiwi kiss, black, and SU urban oasis dp. I used my Janome to sew around the back panel, added black checkered ribbon, added black brads, and I used my glitter pen to outline the stars. I punched the sentiment out with SU oval punch, the back layer behind the sentiment I cut out with scissors. I also finished the inside of my card. I hope you enjoy the sneak peeks and the totally awesome creations the divas have brought to you.

from Diva Charmaine Ikach:

When I first saw this sentiment in the Sweet On You set, I immediately thought of this picture of my son Isaac from last Halloween. Having two older sisters, he didn't have an appropriate costume that could have been "handed down", so we came up with this. As you could imagine, he didn't keep the headband on too long! This was one of the very few pictures I was able to get with him wearing it. This sentiment was PERFECT and I'm sure you'll think the others in the set are too!

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's your favorite memory of "that special someone"?

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