{Happy Bee-day} SFYTT meet Honey Bee's challenge

Hi everyone,

We're in the middle of overtime at work since we're getting ready for E3 but I did have a little bit of time today so I decided to  maximize it by combining two challenges: the sketch challenge by Reverse Confetti with the color challenge by Honey Bees. I'm a bit new to Honey Bee's but I absolutely love how versatile they are. 

Here are the challenges:

                                          

 

and here is my card:

I used the stamps and dies from the Sweet As Honey set by Honey Bee's. I paired that with some jute twine and stitched circle die. To give the illusion of fireflies in a jar I used a piece of vellum and added a bit of glitter and jewel drops on top. The flower was colored in using Copic markers.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great start to your week!

Sony

{Happy Birthday} SFYTT

Hi everyone,

alright...this will be my last post for tonight. I took a little break from packing tonight and decided to participate in this month's SFYTT sketch using my brandnew Reverse Confetti stamps and dies. Very exciting!

For this card I used the Toucan of Friendship set and paired it with the Happy Pretty Panels Confetti Cuts . The papers are from On the Bright Side by My Mind's Eye.

Here is a closer look: 

and last but not least...here's the sketch for this month's SFYTT challenge:

thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a great start to your week tomorrow,

Sonja

{Know what you're getting?}

Hi everyone,

I'm back with another card today. This time I revisited some of my old TCP or The Cat's Pajama's stamps. I paired Sassy Birthday with Hola Tequila for a more masculine happy 30th birthday card.

I figured...nothing says happy 30th to a guy more than a shot of Tequila, don't you think?

Here's a closer look:

thanks so much for stopping by.

Have a great day!

Sonja

{Birthday Tweetings} Reverse Confetti

Hi Everyone,

It's been a little while but I'm back with a few cards I was able to make last week. My little stamp hiatus lasted about 1-2 years it looks like and a few things seem to have changed. I'm super excited to see my old fellow Verve Diva Jen del Muro's company, Reverse Confetti, doing so well. Have you seen her designs? They are a wonderful representation of her unique style. I love it! I just got my first order and here you can see the result:

I used the set Toucan of Friendship with the matching Die set and I used the  Hello & Thanks Confetti Label Die to cut out the white framing panel.

Here is a closer up look:

Well, it's good to be back!! Thank you so much for stopping by after all these years.

I am hoping I'll have more time in the future to stamp again although things might get a little busy in the near future. I'm in the middle of organizing our move to Sweden!! Yes...I got a job offer and the adventure just sounded too good to pass up so we're going. :)

I'll have to figure out if Reverse Confetti will ship to Sweden...mmmh. We'll see ;)

Have a great rest of your weekend!!

Sonja

{A cupcake Birthday} September Diva Inspiration Hop

Hi everyone!!

welcome to our September Inspiration Blog Hop. This months theme: 

Sweet September

Sugar-high! Get sugary sweet with pastels, cupcakes or candy. Create a calorie free confection to delight the senses!

I went a bit more clean and simple with my card this month: using the Verve Carpe Cupcake stamp set and the sentiment from the Borderline set. I embossed the brown strips with a polka dot embossing folder - it's a little hard to see in the picture but it goes along great with the polka dot ribbon. :)

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Sarah
	2. Amy	8. Sony
	3. Anya	9. Susan
	4. Betty	10. Maureen
	5. Karen	11. Stacey
	6. Sankari	12. Marisa

We've got some sweet savings in the store with all of our brand new releases marked 10% off and some of our sweetest stamps & dies from releases past marked 20% off!

{Birthday Wishes} August Diva Inspiration Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and Welcome to Verve's August Diva Inspiration Hop!!

 It's the 5th of the month and that means it's time for the Divas to serve up some fresh inspiration with their Verve stamps! Leave some comment love along the hop spots for a chance to win a prize, then grab some stamps and play along with our August inspiration challenge for another chance to win!

Our August challenge is Sequined Stunner:

Sequins are the perfect embellishment - sparkly, affordable and with lots of texture. Add some sequins to your project this month to make it a sequined stunner! Feel free to use the graphic as inspiration or not.

For those of us who don't have sequins just laying around the house..let me tell you about my scavenger hunt through Michael's to find some! I started off in the wool section thinking sequins are used on clothing right? Yeah not so much...I figured ok, next one up...might as well check out the scrapbooking/ribbon section. Nothing. I found plenty of glass glitter and picked up lots of other things I really don't need but no sequins. I'm about to give in and redirect my search to a sales person but then after a few minutes of no luck in that I give that up as well because I come upon the jewelry section. Hopeful I go through it two times...no sequins!! I'm about to give up but then resign myself to at least just walk the rest of the aisles..which mind you they are only a few at this point...aaand you're not going to believe where I found them: in the kids section!!! I was so overjoyed I bought a pack of sequins in every color!! lol

I hope you enjoy my hard earned sequin card!! lol
Happy Hopping!!!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Julee	7. Sarah
	2. Amy	8. Sony
	3. Anya	9. Susan
	4. Betty	11. Maureen
	5. Karen	11. Stacey
	6. Sankari	12. Chaitali

{Happy Day} March Diva Inspiration Blog Hop

Ahh can you believe it?? It's March already!!! This year is going by fast already!! Anyway it is a new month, and a new blog hop! So here are all the verve-y details:

 This month we've got a fabulous challenge that's sure to put a string in your step! So in addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

Our March challenge is Spring Has Sprung:


It's time to ditch the winter blues! Create a card that sings Spring using inspirational quotes, pretty colors and florals or themes that celebrate new life. Whether you draw inspiration from the graphic or blaze your own trail, just show us what spring means to you!

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines.

	1. Amy	11. Julee
	2. Anya	12. Teresa
	3. Betty	13. Stacey
	4. Jessica	14. Marisa
	5. Karen	15. Laurie
	6. Sankari	16. Maureen
	7. Sarah	17. Jen
	8. Sony	18. Christyne
	9. Susan	19. Charmaine
	10. Tiffany	20. Andrea

so what does Spring mean to me?

Prelude to summer. Going on a diet (that dreaded swimsuit season is coming up) and pedicures! :) Even though we're currently going through a rainy patch here in Cali but it's much needed and I enjoy the rain so it's all good. :) 

So I used stamps from the set "Happy Days". I just love the surfer cool vibe this set has...funny enough I was watching Hawaii 5-0 when I made this card. Fitting don't you think?oh and the little "day" sentiment is from "Remember This". I paired this with the cute little ticket from The Cat's Pajamas. 

thank you so much for stopping by, happy hopping and good luck!!!

Sony

{Happy Birthday Dad} Diva Inspirations Blog Hop

Hi guys and Welcome to our July Diva Inspirations Blog Hop!!!

We have a very special treat for you this month as there are several guests from the Release Team joining us in showing off some heavenly Verve today. Take a peek at each of the fabulous blogs below for some  eye candy action and you just might win some Vervey goodness of your very own!

1. Julee 9. Susan 2. Betty 10. Andrea 3. Dawn 11. Charmaine 4. Jen d. 12. Teresa 5. Jen T. 13. Maureen 6. Lynda 14. Amber 7. Shannan 15. Amy 8. Sony We've hidden a little mystery prize on one of today's hop spots, so be sure  to leave a little comment love as you hop around for a chance to win! Comment Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, July 5 Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve  Now July is a HUGE birthday month at Verve...since five of us Divas (including the one  and only Julee...aaand me too :) are celebrating our birthdays this month. Yay!!!!  So it's no surprise that the stamp of the month is....drum roll please.... Carpe Cupcake! And at 40% off during the month of July, Carpe Cupcake  is one SWEET deal! BUT that's not all.... A brand new month also brings along a new sale here at Verve! During the month of July, save 20% on all of our birthday stamps! Check out all the birthday goodness on our SALE page. Nooooww to our Gift To You!!! Julee has gathered some of all our favorite things...doilies, My Mind's Eye Paper, Tags, Ribbon, plus a few other goodies and put them in little brown paper packages! And during the month of July, if you order $75 worth of Verve you'll receive one of these goody bags for free!!! There's nothing to add to your cart, you goodies will just magically appear in your order. hehe see what brown can do for you ;) Whew with so many goodies....you'll just have to celebrate with us! :) Happy Hoppin' and a fabulous 4th of July!!!! Sony :) Stamps: Protector (Verve), Happy Days (Verve) Paper: Avignon (7 Gypsies), Newsprint (SU), Kraft, Ivory Ink: Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen (Distress Ink), Soft Suede (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black Accessories: Twill Tape, Nesties, Sponges, Jute Twine, Hot Glue, Glue Gun, Metal Gears (Tim Holtz), Big eyelets (SU), Crop-a-dile II, Pop-Up Dots

{Dessert First} SFYTT spin-off

Hi everyone,

I thought this day would never come but it has: finals are coming to an end!! I'm so excited...I was able to catch up on sleep today, I was able to clean my apartment which was soo overdue, I got to cook (yay no more take out) aand I was also able to squeeze in a card!! Can you believe it?! Yeah me neither lol....anyway...I got this adorable stamp set from Your Next Stamp for I believe it was last month's SFYTT challenge and I never got around to getting it inked up so of course that was the very first set I reached for today.

The set is called Double Chocolate Cake and as a known chocaholic how could I resist really?!
I'm calling this card an SFYTT spin off because as you can see I sort of omitted the big center strip and I turned the square into two strips of twill tape wrapping around my paper.

thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Sony



Stamps: Double Chocolate Cake (Your Next Stamp)
Paper: Destination Paradise (M&MBI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen (Distress Ink)
Accessories: Twill Tape, Copic Markers, Lace, Flowers, Mini Library Clips (SU), Nesties, Pop-Up Dots, Glitter Glue (Studio G), Hot Glue, Charming Oval Die (Verve)

{Birthday Mini Tags} TCP Tuesday153 & a sad sad farewell

Hi guys,

I'm so sad to tell you guys that this will be my last TCP Tuesday color challenge. I've had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave my beloved Cat Pack so I have more time to focus on my school work. It  truly sucks being a grown-up sometimes doesn't it?! 

But don't fear: Tori will take over the color challenge for me and she is going to pick some amazing colors for you all I'm sure of it. Well I do like to go out with a bang and that means one of my all-time favorite color combos: Teal, Orange and Yellow

Wanna play?!

All you have to do is create something using this color scheme and upload your creations to the guestbook on Alma's Blog. Each week there'll be a winner, randomly chosen and accounced the following week on Alma's Blog. There will also be one winner crowned the Swanky Stamper of the month and that lucky one gets to play along with the Cat Pack at the next Release!!

now on to my little project here:

I got inspired to make some cute little Mini Tags and I gave you not one but three versions that will hopefully give you some inspiration on how you can play with these colors:

and then here are some closer looks:

thank you so much for stopping by!!!
Sony

Stamps: Smells Like Cake (TCP), You Say It's Your Birthday (TCP), Birthday Bunny (TCP)

Paper: Fine and Dandy (MME), Crushed Curry (SU), Summer Sunrise (PTI), Taken With Teal (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Ink: Brilliance Black Ink

Accessories: Ribbon, Copics, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Platinum and Gold Liquid Pearls, Buttons, Divine Twine (TCP), Sweet Scallop Die (Verve), Pop-Up Dots, Scallop Trim Border Punch (SU)

{Better} TCP Sneak Peek

Hi guys,

well it's official: Sneak Peeks have started over at the Cat's Pajamas!!! You may have already spotted some cuties here and there on my fellow Cat Pack-ers Blogs. I'll have a new Sneak Peek for you every day until Release Day which is next Tuesday March 29th!!! Yay!!!

Okay now aren't you as excited as I am to get another one of these cute little bunnies? This one here is from the the new set A Girl and Her Cake. I loove love love the sentiment: Not just a year older but a year better. YES!!! That's a tune I like to sing every year on my birthday. lol

I also used our brandnew Rosette CutUps dies...which are amazing!!!

Alma even made a little video to show how to use them. Here it is:

why don't you stop by the rest of the Cat Pack-ers for some more Sneak Peeks of this cutie pie set?!

It'll be so worth your time. :) Oh and don't forget: our release party is next Monday March 28th from 8-10pm EST at our SCS Forum.

thanks so much for stopping by!!

See you back tomorrow for a new Sneak Peek :)

Sony

Stamps: A Girl and Her Cake (TCP)

Paper: Fine and Dandy (MME), Chocolate Chip (SU), Summer Sunrise (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede (SU)

Accessories: Rosette CutUps die (TCP), Divine Twine (TCP), Nesties, Morroccan Edge Border Punch, Copics, Stardust Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects, Platinum Liquid Pearls, Ribbon, Sponges, Button, Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine

{Spunky Birthday} Diva Inspirations Blog Hop

Hiii and welcome to the March Diva Inspirations Blog Hop!! 

Have you enjoyed seeing some new amazing creations using some of our "more seasoned" ;) Verve stamps?! I know I have but let's get straight to the point: if you've been happily hopping along Julee's master link list then you got here from Shannan's Blog right?! Perfect...you are right on track...after me there is only one more stop for you to make and that's the one and only Susan Liles!!!

Now there are quite a few things happening in March with three prizes up for grabs so let me sum them all up for you:

1) Be a lucky commenter on one of the Diva Inspirations Blog Hop spots 

Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, March 5

Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve

2) Participate in our Verve Fan Blog Hop, visit the Verve Blog for all the deets

Deadline: Noon Mountain, March 5

Prize: $50 gift certificated to Verve

3) Be a lucky commenter on one of the Verve Fan Hop spots

Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain, March 6

Prize: $30 gift certificate to Verve

Whew...so many chances to win!! You don't want to miss out on these because there'll be some new Verve coming out a little later  on this month and a little extra cash can come in handy :) Best of luck to you all!!! :)

1. Julee 6. Michelle 2. Betty 7. Lynda 3. Dawn 8.Shannan 4. Jen d. 9. Sony 5. Jen T. 10.Susan

Now a few details about my card:

I seem to always be in need for some masculine birthday cards so here I go using this week's Viva La Verve sketch challenge... :) I used stamps from the sets Party Time and Happy Days. I also used our Sweet Scallop Tag A-Cut-Above die and matching stamp. I used only one piece of patterned DP for this card...shocking right?! lol But it's a spunky busy one so I think it works. Oh and it's from the Fine and Dandy collection by my Mind's Eye.

thanks so much for stopping by!!

Have a great week!!!

Sony

Stamps: Party Time (Verve), Happy Days (Verve), Sweet Scallop Tag (Verve)

Papers: Fine and Dandy (MME), Old Olive (SU), Taken With Teal (SU),  Summer Sunrise (PTI), Chocolate Chip (SU), Kraft

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie (SU),  Taken with Teal (SU), Old Olive (SU)

Accessories: Sweet Scallop Tag Cut-Above Die (Verve), Jute Twine, Twill Tape, Crystal Effects, Copics, Mini Library Clips (Tim Holtz), Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Polka-Dot Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine, Pop-Up Dots

{Party} SFYTT

Happy Friday everyone,

I'm back with another birthday card featuring the sweet cow Cooper from Anita Be Stamps who is our sponsor this month over at SFYTT - Sketch For You To Try. You have until the end of the month to play along with our sketch challenge for a chance of winning some cute Anita Be Stamps yourself so get your sketch on and good luck!! :)

For all the exact details just click on the sketch in my sidebar and you'll be taken to Jen's Blog which is where you need to link your creations to.   

Here's the sketch one more time aaaand then let's talk a few details: This here is Celebration Cooper. You'll notice I replaced the circle of the sketch with a window I cut out using different Nesties. I stamped the kraft background with another sentiment from the Celebration Cooper set to break it up just a bit more. I added some Stickles Glitter to Cooper's hat and flower and some crystal effects to his balloon for extra shine.

thanks so much for stopping by,

have a great weekend!!!

Sony

Stamps: Celebration Cooper (Anita Be Stamps)

Paper: Fine and Dandy (MME), Crushed Curry (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU), Aqua Mist (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Frayed Burlap (Distress Ink)

Accessories: Nesties, Copics, Crystal Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects, Button, Divine Twine (TCP), Twill Tape, Hot Glue Gun, Kraft Thread and Sewing Machine

{An Udder Birthday} SFYTT & Anita Be Stamps

Happy Saturday everyone,

can you believe it's February already?! This year is going by so fast. I feel like I just started a new term in school yesterday and really we're already in week 4 out of 10. Before you know it I'll be graduating and looking for a job again...yikes!! lol But let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet...how about a little SFYTT challenge and inspiration today??

This month's challenge is being hosted by Anita Be Stamps.

A great little company with both rubber and digi stamps.

I'm showing off Celebration Cooper today, Anita B's cute cute cow

and here are some detail shots:

Wanna play along with this month's Sketch Challenge for your chance to win some Anita Be Stamps?!

All you have to do is create something using Jen's sketch and link it to Jen's Blog...it's really quite that simple. For all the deets in detail and for the link list just click on the sketch in my sidebar.

Now are you ready to see some more eye candy using this sketch? Stop by my amazingly talented SFYTT Sisters - I just know they have something yummy waiting for you: 

* Jen del Muro
* Amber Hight 
* Amy Rohl
* Amy Sheffer
* Carole Burrage *Jodi Collins
* Kelly Lunceford
* Kerry Johnson 
* Leigh O'Brien
* Megan Lock
* Susan Liles                                                         aaand a very special welcome to our February Guest Designer Becky Carafa

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an amazing weekend!!!

~ Sony

Stamps: Celebration Cooper (Anita Be Stamps)
Paper: Tickled Pink (My Mind's Eye), Spring Moss (PTI), Summer Sunrise (PTI), Berry Sorbet (PTI), Aqua Mist (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lemonade (Adirondack)
Accessories: Banner CutUps (TCP), Divine Twine (TCP), Nesties, Copics, Crystal Stickles Glitter, Crystal Effects, Button, Mini Paperclip, Pop-Up Dots, Polka Dot Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), White Thread and Sewing Machine

{Birthday Cake} MFT's Wednesday Stamp Club

Happy Monday everyone,

I needed a little break from drawing and designing this morning soo I took the chance to play along with this week's Wednesday Stamp Club challenge by My Favorite Things. This week Kim is challenging us to use her sketch and what a fun sketch it is.

To make everything fit just right I had to "shorten" my Birthday Girl just a wee bit and I angled the sentiment...just because it was fun. :) The papers I used are all from My Mind's Eye but different collections. I used the Ooh La La for him and paired it with some Quite Contrary papers. It's fun to mix different collections and also...more importantly really...keeps things interesting and keeps me from going out and buying more papers. The wonky swanky heart is cut out using the Heart Trio CutUps die from the Cat's Pajamas.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great

start to the week!!!  Time for me to get back to drawing :)

~ Sony

Stamps: Birthday Girl (MFT)
Paper: Ooh La La (MME), Quite Contrary (MME), Aqua Mist (PTI), Bermuda Bay (SU), Summer Sunrise (PTI), Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Heart Trio CutUps (TCP), Brads, Copics, Crystal Stickles Glitter, Nesties, Pop-Up Dots, Ribbon, Rounded Corner Punch, Notebook Style Border Punch (EK), White Thread and Sewing Machine