March 2014 Diva Dare - Day 9

Hello there!! Amber here bringing you another day of POLKA DOT FUN!

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 wanted to make my card more clean and graphic than girly, so I picked some neutral colors and kept the frill to a minimum! I pulled out the amazing new set Better Together to create this card, and as you can see, may pieces of polka dot patterned paper:) The sentiment, red chevrons, and that fantastic dotty graphic stamp are from the Better together stamp set.

The stitching stamp is from Borderline. Love this little stamp! I also outlined all my paper pieces with a black Copic marker to define the edges a bit.

That fun blue flag was cut out with a flag from the Flag it die set, another MUST have. 

Well that's all I have to share today, quick simple card!

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! -

December Diva Dare - Day 5

"Playing Favorites", December Diva Dare

Welcome to the last Diva Dare of 2013!  This month's Dare is entitled "Playing Favorites" and it is a fun one indeed!

What we're daring you to do this month is to post your favorite Verve Stamps 2013 creation OR make a new card using your favorite Verve stamp set.  

Hello Verve Fans, Christyne here answering this month's Diva Dare!  This month's dare involves your favorite Verve set, and well, that's so hard to choose.  If I had to choose, it'd be a holiday set as these were the first stamps that caught my eye from Verve.  In honor of Verve's amazing holiday sets, I created a card for you today with Holiday Greetings and a couple of my favorite colors and embellishments including the Scalloped Trim Trio Die, Verve ribbon, the pastel sequins mix, and the Borderline stamp set for accents and borders.  The sketch inspiration for this card was this week's Mojo Monday sketch (#323).  

I had trouble highlighting just one favorite set or card, so here are a few other favorite Verve projects that I've created this year!

The Best Things

All Right

Seize the Cupcake

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Birthday Wishes

As a fun extra this month, the Divas are answering "The Diva Fab Five Questionnaire."  Here goes!

What are your three favorite Verve products?

This is such a tough question, but if I have to choose, I don't think that I could live without the Banner Bundle Die Set.  It's constantly out on my stamp desk and as you can tell from the cards above, it makes an appearance on my cards more than it doesn't.  The second Verve product that I couldn't live without is the new Seam binding collections.  It's hard to choose a favorite among them, so I'll have to pick the whole ribbon collections line!  My final favorite Verve product is the Scalloped Trim Trio die set, I specifically love the simple rounded lace border as it works so well as a subtle accent.  

What is your current go-to color combo?
My absolute favorite color combo is black and white with a bold accent color, as I'm sure you can tell from the above cards.  I simple think that you can't go wrong with simple.  However, if I'm working with a bunch of patterns and colors, I like to extract a bolder color in the pattern for accent purposes!

What is your current go-to embellishment?
My current go-to embellishment is jingle bells for the holiday season. However, sequins are really becoming a favorite of mine as well, I only wish I had more colors!  

What is your favorite stamping or organizational tool?

My favorite organizational tool is probably DVD cases for my Spellbinders dies.  I like to put a little double stick or magnetic tape on the insides to hold the dies in place.

What is your favorite treat to eat while stamping? 

My favorite treat while stamping is definitely Gevalia's Pumpkin Spice coffee with a touch of cinnamon while brewing and some French Vanilla creamer!  While I'm normally a dark roast fan, this light roast has a subtle flavor and isn't so strong that I can't set those rhinestones!!

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Thursday, December 26th.  Entries must be posted 12/6 or later, include at least one Verve product, be your favorite Verve Stamps creation of 2013 or a new creation using your favorite Verve Stamps set, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 12/26/13.   As an reminder, last month's $40 gift certificate winner did not use any Verve stamps on her card so she was not eligible to win and we had to draw another winner.

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Playing Favorites" Dare and link up your card (created December 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 "Playing Favorites" 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 December 26, 2013.

Winners will be announced on December 27, 2013.

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

December Diva Dare ~ Day 4

"Playing Favorites", December Diva Dare

Welcome to the last Diva Dare of 2013!  This month's Dare is entitled "Playing Favorites" and it is a fun one indeed!

What we're daring you to do this month is to post your favorite Verve Stamps 2013 creation OR make a new card using your favorite Verve stamp set.  

I have *way* too many favorite Verve stamp sets, like ALL of them are my favorite, ha! 

I know the girls have been posting their favorite cards of the year, but I created a new one! 

I pulled out a few of my favorite stamp sets and went nuts!

First I stamped the presents from Borderline in the corners of the kraft card base. Then I added a piece of double-sided patterned paper and folded opposing corners in, so you could see the presents in the background. 

The flowers are from Poppy Birthday, another favorite stamp set from this year! Super fabulous Poppy building set, plus matching dies!

The sentiment is from Poppy Birthday and the scalloped frame is from Making a Statement.The frame was cut out with the coordinating Rounded Scallop Frame die. The faux stitching is a stamp from Borderline, love it! I also added some of the small banners from the Banner Bundle die set. 

As a fun extra this month, the Divas are answering "The Diva Fab Five Questionnaire."  Here goes!

1. Your three favorite Verve products--My three favorite Verve products, wow. I can't pick only three!! So I'm gonna go BROAD here...I love Verve stamps, Verve dies, and Verve seam binding! There I said it, I love all things Verve :D 

2. Your current go-to color combination--My favorite color combos are either earth tones (as evidenced by my card today!) or aqua, pink, and kraft! 

3. Your current go-to embellishment--buttons and twine, it'd be a real treasure hunt to find a card of mine without at least one of these embellishments, lol!

4. Your favorite stamping or organizational tool--I can't make a card without dies or my Big Shot! I've tried to go to crops before, or stamp with a friend, but unless I have my Big Shot and ALL my dies, I can't make a card, I go into full-on panic mode!

5. Your favorite treat--I don't eat while stamping, too messy! But I do like a glass of wine, or good ole' ice water while stamping! 

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Thursday, December 26th.  Entries must be posted 12/6 or later, include at least one Verve product, be your favorite Verve Stamps creation of 2013 or a new creation using your favorite Verve Stamps set, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 12/26/13.   As an reminder, last month's $40 gift certificate winner did not use any Verve stamps on her card so she was not eligible to win and we had to draw another winner.

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Playing Favorites" Dare and link up your card (created December 6th or later) to the linky widget on Day 1 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 "Playing Favorites" 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 December 26, 2013.

Winners will be announced on December 27, 2013.

- Go forth and get inky! We DARE you! 

September Diva Dare - Day 7

Hello Verve fans!  Christyne here, sharing with you today 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. 

Wow, this month's Diva Dare was a bit of a challenge for me.  I decided to use Verve's So Fluttery stamp set with all of those uplifting, floating sentiments.  Using Verve's Mini Classy Labels dies and Mini Vintage Oval dies, I was able to combine these sentiments into my stitched tic-tac-toe grid along with some of the adorable butterflies from this set.  I added some touches of velum in my grid as well as behind my butterflies using the Flutterby die. Finally, pearl and glittery embellishments were added for some bling!!

I hope your creative juices are flowing for this dare!   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 11

Tattered Pages, July Diva Dare

Hello Verve fans!! Christyne here bringing you some inspiration on day 11 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!

For my card, I decided to use the Flowers of Tomorrow Plain Jane as my sentiment.  I love to garden, so this sentiment is very uplifting to me!  I printed the sentiment in black ink and paired that with black cardstock accents as a nod to both fabulous Divas who frequently use black accents so well in their creations.  To highlight Julee's amazing talents, I tried to add background stamp accents from the Borderline set on the sentiment as well as some loopy accents from On Occasion along the page borders.  I just love how she always utilizes the entire stamp set in her projects.  To highlight Teresa's awesome style, I used some shabby pastels, added a giant, bold loopy bow with Verve's Truly Madly, Deeply Ribbon Collection, as well as a bunch of distressed DP-only panels.  

Additionally, the sketch used for this card was last week's Viva la Verve sketch (July 2013 week 4).  To highlight this unique sketch, I used the Flourish Trim Die as a border.  

  

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 postto 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! -

Fanspiration Diva Dare ~ Day 9

Good morning Verve fans, Janelle today sharing my fan-inspired card creation with you.  We are almost done with our daily inspiration from the Diva's that "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!) and that is why Julee appropriately titles this months Diva Dare theme...Fanspiration!  Join us if you dare!

Okay, you know YOU ALL are fantastic and it was SO much fun to go through the Fan Gallery to get inspired. I'm just bursting with fun ideas, so thank YOU! In the end I just kept coming back to this May 2012 Viva La Verve number by Gini Cagle {Beadz} 

She had so much fun with die cuts that I couldn't resist. The background is cut out with the Flourished Trim Die by measuring in 3/16 of an inch around all the edges and marking the center to align the die. It worked perfectly! I've also managed to use the Mini Classy Label Die, Pointed Flower Die, and Pennant Trim Die... all Vervey goodness. My images are stamped from the Lean on Me and Borderline sets. I'm most happy when I can get my hands messy with ink and paint so I brushed many acrylics, oil pastels, colored pencils and my new tool, a Wite-Out pen, until I just couldn't find another spot to messy.

So thank you Gini for inspiring me! Now how about YOU, Verve fans?

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...

 Well, hopefully you've enjoyed this ninth day of our Fanspiration Diva Dare! Join us on tomorrow to find out who Amber was inspired by!  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! -