Vivacious Valentine Inspirations Hop and Challenge

Hi Verve fans!  It's the 5th of the month and time for the Verve Divas to bring you our monthly Diva Inspirations Challenge and Blog Hop!  There are two ways to win Verve prizes... check out and comment on the design team's blog posts to see their take on the inspiration, then go get inky and link up your take on the challenge to be eligible in our prize drawings!  Be sure to scroll down for all the challenge deets and the master hop list!

Our February challenge is Vivacious Valentine
Nothing says "I love you" like a handmade Valentine in your signature style.
Use the inspiration graphic as a starting point, or head off in your own direction  - just make us swoon with a fabulously flirty creation!
~ Click here to link up your challenge entries ~
Challenge deadline: Thursday, Feb 19.Prize:  $40 gift voucher to the Verve online store 

It's probably no secret that I'm a big fan of hearts in my stamp designs.  My Dad is a Valentine's baby and my hubby's birthday is Feb. 15, so I'm always inspired to design with hearts!  That means there's lots of past inspiration in our design team gallery for this theme, as well.  Below are a few favorites that captured my eye as I perused the gallery.  By the way, all of our in-stock love themed products are 30% off through February 14, so there's still time to grab a little Valentine for yourself!

by Stacey Schafer using More than Love

by Charmaine Ikach using No Matter What

by Andrea Ewen using Love Notes

by Amber Hight using Chevron Love

So now, let's get to the new inspiration!  Check out the blogs listed below and leave a little shout out in the comments section at each stop for a chance to win our comment prize of a $40 gift voucher to the Verve store!  Comment deadline is Thursday, February 12.

The hop starts over on my blog, Poetic Artistry.

	1. Julee	8. Sarah
	2. Amy	9. Susan
	3. Anya	10. Marisa
	4. Betty	11. Maureen
	5. Jen	12. Stacey
	6. Karen	13. Verve Blog
	7. Sankari

December Diva Dare - Day 5

 Favorite Things - December Diva Dare

Welcome to December's Diva Dare, Christyne here today sharing with you this month's dare entitled Favorite Things.  

So this month, we are daring you to share your favorite Verve creation(s) for this year OR create a new one with one of your favorite Verve products.

After much debate, I decided on two of my favorite Verve cards created this year. I chose two layered cards whose layering I really enjoy. They also both happen to contain pink, black, bling, and distressing...my favorite things!!  "Happy Birthday" was created in my favorite color palette and highlighted the beautiful stamps from Be Blessed using a bunch of layered Verve dies: Pointed Petals Die set, Sprightly Sprigs Die set, Banner Bundle Die set, Rounded Scallop Die, and the Vintage Oval Frame Die.

"With Love" features some different layered Verve action to highlight the separated sentiment from Verve's Chevron Love stamp set including the Wavy Hearts Die Set and the Flag It Die Set.  

Two ways to win prizes for double the fun!

Win a $40 gift voucher to Verve! Take our Favorite Things dare and link your card up to be eligible to win.  Entries must include your favorite Verve creation(s) of 2014 (maximum of 3 entries) OR be an entry using your favorite stamp set, be posted 12/8 or later, include at least one Verve product and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 12/21/14.  One participant will be randomly selected to win the gift voucher.  You can enter as many times as you like for a new creation (each card needs to be a separate post), and a maximum of 3 times for previously created cards.

Win a Verve set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's Favorite Things 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 21, 2014.
  

Winners will be announced on December 22, 2014.

June 2014 Diva Dare - Day 9

Hi there! Amber here to welcome you to Day 9 of our June Diva Dare! This month, we're all about the boys!

 This month we're daring you to create a stamped card or project with a masculine theme. 

Instead of going for a straight up "man" card, I decided to make a birthday card for a LITTLE man!

I obviously had way too much fun with the spray mist on this card, haha! First step was to emboss the gears from Geared Up in white embossing powder on a piece of Tim Holtz's amazing watercolor paper. After that, I started dripping and splashing some Dylusions inks in blue, turquoise, and a deep blue. To achieve the layers, I dripped ink, then blotted, dripped more ink, then blotted, dripped some water on to pick up colors in some areas, and then dripped some more and hit it with a heat gun to  keep some intense colors as well as the washed out colors. 

The cute little robot is also from Geared Up. The balloons and sentiment are from Chevron Love, and the banner is from Wonderful Marvelous. I embossed the robot and the banner in white embossing powder on vellum paper so I didn't cover up too much of that fun background. For the sentiment, I did some out of the box trimming so my balloons are still attached to the sentiment panel. For one last detail, I added some Metal Mix sequins.

Two ways to win prizes for double the fun!

Win a $40 gift voucher to Verve! Take our A Man's World dare and link up your card to be eligible to win.  Entries must be masculine in theme, posted 6/6 or later, include at least one Verve product and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 6/25/14.  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 Verve set of your choice! For another chance to win some new Verve, leave a little comment love on our design team's A Man's World 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 25, 2014.

Winners will be announced on June 26, 2014.

April 2014 Diva Dare - Day 5

"Little Things" - April Diva Dare

Welcome to April's Diva Dare!  In honor of Spring's arrival (in some parts of North America anyway!), this month's Dare is entitled "Little Things".    

It's Charmaine and I'm excited to bring you another day of "Little Things" inspiration!  

What we're daring you to do this month is to create a baby or kids themed card. 

 

 

I just LOVE making cards for kids or babies.  I love using cute patterned papers or fun colors, and a kid or baby-themed card is a perfect way to do that!   For this card I used the Chevron Love set along with some patterned paper from My Mind's Eye called Alphabet Soup-Girl. 

I just LOVE the fun animals and the colors in this patterned paper.  It can work for either a baby or an older child.  I used the coordinating Jotted Heart Die to die cut the heart.  Along the left edge of the card, I used the Pennant Trim Die from Verve. 

To finish the card, I used some ribbon from the Signature Ribbon Collection along with some Baker's Twine and bling!  Now it's your turn!!

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, April 23rd.  Entries must be posted 4/4 or later, include at least one Verve product, be a baby or kids themed card, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 4/23/14.   

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Little Things" Dare and link up your card (created April 4th 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 "Little Things" 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 April 23, 2014.

Winners will be announced on April 24, 2014.  

January 2014 Diva Dare - Day 9

Hi friends!  Laurie S. here, and I'm so excited to be back posting here on the Verve Blog!  With a new baby in our house, there is definitely a lot of love...so I am especially excited about this month's theme!

What we're daring you to do this month is to make a card or project with a heart, whether it's for the one you love, a sweet Valentine or a lunch note for a child.  Let's get smitten!

I went with the love theme...and even included a heart!  Well, that wasn't too hard because I absolutely adore Verve's Jotted Heart die! 

The sentiment and heart image are both from the Chevron Love set.  I heat embossed the sentiment so that it would stand out a little more.  I added some cork embellishments, along with a heart rhinestone.  I just love how Verve's classy fonts can make any card special! 

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, January 22nd.  Entries must be posted 1/3 or later, include at least one Verve product, include a heart, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 1/22/14.  

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Smitten" Dare and link up your card (created January 3rd 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 "Smitten" 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 January 22, 2014.

Winners will be announced on January 23, 2014. 

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

 

January 2014 Diva Dare - Day 7

January Diva Dare - "Smitten"

Hello Verve fans, Christyne here bringing you some inspiration for the first Diva Dare of 2014 entitled "Smitten."

What we're daring you to do this month is to make a card or project with a heart, whether it's for the one you love, a sweet Valentine or a lunch note for a child.  Let's get smitten!

For my card, I decided to ink up the fabulous chevron hearts from the Chevron Love set.  I combined these with a sentiment from the same set, breaking up the stamp so it would work with this week's Viva la Verve sketch challenge (January 2014 Week 2).   This combined with the Flag it die set for the "To You" sentiment really gave this card a lot of detail!  I can't wait to give this to a special someone in just about a month!!

I also added a bunch of rhinestones and glitter to inspire any last entries for this month's Shimmer and Shine Inspiration Challenge. You still have time to enter, deadline: January 19th!

OK, back to the Diva Dare:

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, January 22nd.  Entries must be posted 1/3 or later, include at least one Verve product, include a heart, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 1/22/14.  

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Smitten" Dare and link up your card (created January 3rd 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 "Smitten" 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 January 22, 2014.

Winners will be announced on January 23, 2014.  

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

January 2014 Diva Dare - Day 6

"Smitten", January Diva Dare

Hello Verve Daresters! Janelle here posting yesterday's Day 5 on the weekend. For some reason I thought there was one more day in the school week or apparently two Friday's this week. My apologies for leaving you all waiting for the post, but now you can relax on this weekend day and get ready to work your mojo for the dare.  Here we go.

What we're daring you to do this month is to make a card or project with a heart, whether it's for the one you love, a sweet Valentine or a lunch note for a child.  Let's get smitten! 

I've just returned from my hometown where I was influenced this time by my brother's rench style. (That's pronounced "ranch" for us city folks.) It's only fitting then that my mojo would will me to pull together this style of card. 

I'm using Verve that is on sale right now like the Chevron Love Stamp Set (on sale!), ribbon from the Red White and Beautiful Ribbon Collection, and Jotted Heart Die. Just a couple more Verve goodies for my card, Award Banner Trim Die and Banner Bundle Die Set, before roping in the design. Hee-hee.

Yes, I did make a lasso for the heart. It just had to be done.

Now it's your turn!

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, January 22nd.  Entries must be posted 1/3 or later, include at least one Verve product, include a heart, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 1/22/14.  

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Smitten" Dare and link up your card (created January 3rd 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 "Smitten" 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 January 22, 2014.

Winners will be announced on January 23, 2014. 

December Diva Dare-Day 8

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. 

Janelle is in the Dare seat today and by the end of my post I'll have taken over Marisa's spot in the Diva time-out chair. Let's see how I get there with my favorite creation.......s.

Julee gave us chevrons that made my heart twitterpated with new images and previously release Verve dies.

Chevron Love, Heart Quartet die set, Jotted Heart die, All Aflutter die set, Scalloped Trio Trim die set, Award Banner Trim die and Banner Bundle die set

How about flowers that put you in a dream world? Verve's Poppy stamps and coordinating dies this year are my dreamy state.

Poppy Birthday and Build A Poppy die set

Verve's ever-loving and jaw-dropping sentiments. 

Let It Be

Abundance of verses and new luscious ribbon! Remember all those Plain Janes are now in Scripture and Faith Medley sets! Woo-hoo!

Surely Goodness, Goodness Flowers die set, Flag It die set and Olive Green ribbon

As a fun extra this month, the Divas are answering "The Diva Fab Five Questionnaire".  You can read my answers below...

What are your three favorite Verve products? Plain Janes, Sentiments and flowers! Plain Jane stamps are what first drew me into the blissful world of Verve Stamps. I was infatuated with them enough to make a verse box for my mom one year. Verve sentiments, flowers? Need I say anything more?

What is your current go-to color combo? I'm pretty sure my color combo is kaleidoscope wrapped up with kraft. If it's a bright contrast and toned down with kraft somewhere, I'm good.

What is your current go-to embellishment?  Verve Seam Binding Ribbon. It's the easiest thing in the world to make into bows and comes in just the right color... always.

What is your favorite stamping or organizational tool? Oh the mention of organization is giving me hives right now so I'll stick with my Tombow Liquid Glue. It's the only thing that has been holding all my cards together.

What is your favorite treat to eat while stamping? Chocolate with a mug of coffee or tea. Allegedly it's been said that I can go through a container of chocolate covered almonds within a week when I'm deep in the crafting studio. I'll neither confirm nor deny that statement.

And now it's your turn to show us your favorite, if you can contain yourself to just one, Verve card from 2013 or a new creation using a favorite Verve set!  

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 a 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.

November Diva Dare ~ Day 8

"Shape Up", November Diva Dare

Hi there!! It's Charmaine and I'm excited to bring you my take on this month's Diva Dare entitled "Shape Up".

What we're daring you to do this month is to create a card or project including a common shape.  For example:  hexagons, chevrons, arrows, triangles, hearts, stars etc.  Lots of fun ways you can go with this dare and we can't wait to see what you create!

Here is my card using this month's dare:

I used Unto Us for my card.  The papers are from the Nordic Pines Collection from Bazzill.  When I was thinking about what shapes to add to my card, I decided to make a Christmas tree out of the triangle.  I trimmed a triangle out of green cardstock and then stamped it with the snowflake from Unto Us.  

Next, I decided on a star for the top of the tree.  I stamped and cut out the star from Chevron Love and attached it to the top of my "triangle" with foam tape.  I used the frame and sentiment from Unto Us along with the coordinating Classy Label Die for the sentiment.  I die cut the reindeer using the Reindeer Fun Die Set and embossed the reindeer in black.  Rhinestones were added for the ornaments on the tree and some baker's twine to finish the card.  

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, November 27th.  Entries must be new (posted 11/8 or later), include at least one Verve product, include a common shape, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 11/27/13. 

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Shape Up" Dare and link up your card (created November 8th 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 "Shape Up" 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 November 27, 2013.

Winners will be announced on November 28, 2013.

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