Keeping It Real

Kickin' it old school. Going back to my roots.

The point?

Julee challenged all of us Verve Visual designers to make a card for a Back to Basics series. So I tried to stick with supplies a beginner would have: stamps, ink, paper and ribbon. Come on, who doesn't have a bit of ribbon laying around somewhere in the house?

Use the X and O from an alphabet set to stamp the background (Purely Pomegranate ink on Groovy Guava card stock). You could also do this with your computer if you don't have an alpha set. Stamp the hearts on scrap pieces of Very Vanilla in pomegranate and guava (I actually used Cameo Coral, because I don't have guava ink). Cut them out and layer on a square of vanilla. Stamp the sentiment in pomegranate. Layer on Chocolate Chip card stock. Adhere background to vanilla card. Tie on ribbon. Adhere hearts panel with dimensionals (or glue it flat).

Well, this is the last of our Back to Basics projects. What did you think? Are you a new stamper who has found some inspiration? We'd love to hear from you.

Tomorrow starts the sneak peak blitz for an early March release. You'll see one set a day until the March 1 release. I can't wait to hear what you think of these sets, because they really knocked my socks off. Stay tuned!

A Bucket Full Of Love

I've had this adorable bucket from Target for a few weeks now, and have been dying to alter it in some way. It didn't need much, since the bucket already had lots of personality with the horizontal red, pink and white stripes traveling around it.

To keep things simple and easy, I took out my favorite new Verve Visual stamp set, Heart to Heart, and started stamping them with Versamark onto Real Red cardstock. Then I sprinkled a creamy white embossing powder all over and heated them so they were shiny and bright. When I cut them out, I made sure I left a small red border around the hearts so it made them pop a little bit.
To attach the hearts to the can, I used dimensional tape on the back and just stuck them on the bucket. There are two on the front, and two on the back (which, of course, you can't see). I dug through my scrap ribbon jar for red, pink and white ribbons, and tied those onto the bucket handle.

I used rectangle Nestabilities to cut out the rectangle gift card. The pink panel is also cut from a Nestability Die. For the heart on the front of the card, I embossed the Swirl outline stamp (I'm not sure how else to describe the heart I used for this one), and then for the inside heart, I stamped the heart with Versamark, and then used Heat & Stick on it to adhere very fine glitter! It's SOOOOO sppppparrrrrkkkly in real life! I adhered it on top of the outline heart using dimensional tape. A few colored rhinestones complete the look!

If you didn't already guess, I stuffed the tin with regular and peanute M & M's!! Yummy! I can't decide who I want to give this adorable little gift too, but I'd better decide quick before I eat up all the M & M's!

There are just a few more fun projects to be shared this week (by Bethany & Dana) and then on Thursday, Julee has a great big surprise for you! Be sure to stop by the Verve blog Tuesday and Wednesday to give Bethany and Dana some love, and then make sure you're back again on Thursday for Julee's fun surprise!

Guest Designer: Paula Goff

Today's guest designer is Paula Goff! If you've read either of Paula's blogs, Paula Ponders or Paula's Inky Fingers, you know that Paula is a super prolific stamper. I'm always amazed at the sheer number of gorgeous creations she will post in one day. Her style is clean, colorful, duplicatable, and just lovely to look at! I had to laugh when Paula sent me her Heart to Heart projects and I saw that she had emailed NINE different projects and was willing to make more if I needed - and she'd only had the stamps in her hands less than 2 days! Now that's a committed stamper! I've highlighted a few of my favorites below, but be sure to check out Paula's Guest Designer Gallery to see all of her fabulous creations with Heart to Heart. You won't be disappointed! Okay on with the post. Just click the photos below to see Paula's creations close-up with an ingredient list.

How did you get hooked on stamping? I was hooked on stamping the first outing. I was at a church retreat and the craft for the day was stamping a bookmark and a card. That was all it took.is an easy way to personalize and make things your own!

How often do you stamp? I try to stamp at least three times a week as it is my sanity. I would rather stamp than eat or clean house.

Do you have your own stamping space or do you share it with the cat, dining room, coat closet, etc . ? My stamping space is the dining room. I have a desk and my computer and stamp space are one in the same. The dining room table is were my guests stamp so we are close. Of course my stamping space is also shared with five kitties and two dogs. My German Shepard is always at my feet and I usually stamp with one cat in my lap and one on the desk. That is why I have to camouflage so many paw prints.

Do you stay true to a stamping budget, or are you swayed by all the enabling out in stampland? I am on a budget. I have to earn my stamping money. So....I give classes, sell cards, quilt or what ever it takes to earn the money to buy my precious stamps.....Stamping is my sanity. I would have been in the looney bin a long time ago without my stamping.

What is the latest stamping toy you've picked up that just made your heart go pitter patter? Paper.....I know it isn't a toy but I love paper. I have more paper than I have storage for. I love paper. I am a paper addict, yes, I admit it. Paper is a vice for me. Everyone knows that I have paper and I get lots of calls for a package of a certain color. Yep, I have it.....

Name one stamp or stamp set that you don't think you'll ever part with. Wow, this is a hard one for me. I don't think I have a favorite. Of course, I have between 600 and 700 sets. That does not count the single stamps.....LOL! I am a hoarder.

What do you love most about papercrafting? I would have to say the friends I have made. I love to share. God truly has blessed me with wonderful stamping friends.

What do you consider to be your stamping strengths? I truly do not feel that I have any stamping strengths. If I had to name one, I guess it would be my ability to put colors together. I am a hobby quilter so color is important there also. I love colors. The brighter the better and I think that is reflected in my stamping along with my quilting.

Who is your stamping hero (someone whose work inspires you challenge yourself creatively)? I don't have just one, I have three:
Nichole Heady - just looking at her work inspires me
Julee Tilman - you make me stretch myself to excel (aw, shucks! I'm blushing!)
Patty Bennett - She was the very first person to help me out many years ago by both mail and e-mail. I could never thank her enough. She still inspires me to think beyond myself and stretch to create.

So aren't those projects cool? Be sure and leave a little love for Paula and her fabulous work before you leave. I'll be back tomorrow to shine the spotlight on Kim Reid to finish out our series of January Guest Designer spots.

Red, White and Black...

I love these colors together. First, red is probably my favorite color. When papercrafting with red, I like to compliment it with the brightness of white and the contrast of black. When these heart sets arrived in my mailbox I already knew what I wanted to do with them. Well, at least I had my color palette chosen. From there it was just a matter of layout and stamping. If you know me at all, you know I love to keep my lines clean and simple, yet still deliver a dynamic layout. The easiest part of the whole project was the stamping. OMG!! Julee knew what she was doing when she switched over from unmounted red rubber to clear stamps!! I am very impressed with the quality. Of course the design is to die for, too! I must admit, after seeing these images over the computer, my foot was tapping for them to arrive. So without further adieu, here are a couple sneak peeks for the release on Thursday. Don't miss the samples that have already been posted below. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for all the upcoming peeks this week!

With All My Heart

This month's release from Verve Visual, I feel, is the best yet! January 10 is the release date of 5 new sets - there will be two heart and three star sets - I'm telling ya, they will knock your socks off. I've had a great time getting ready for some upcoming celebrations like Valentine's and February/March birthdays (seems like almost every Campbell and Holgate birthday is in one of these two months or September) and... I have a couple of friends with birthdays and a couple more who are getting ready to have babies. These sets are coming to the rescue!! As mentioned by other teammates they can also be used for wedding or anniversary celebrations, I'm thinking graduation and celebratory events. I used one of the other sentiments from the set (you can see the other in Bethany's post below). I used the same heart that Bethany used and then layered it with pop dots/dimensionals on the larger heart, which is more of a bold outline.

Here's my sample for the Sneak Peek!!! I just love this Dutch Girl paper from Cosmo Cricket - ya, I know it's been around for awhile but still speaks to my heart (I've got a little Dutch in me) and I love, love, love the color combo!

Card Details
Stamp Set: Heart to Heart (Verve Visual)
Paper: White Select (Papertrey Ink); River Rock & Real Red (Stampin Up);Pattern Paper: Dutch Girl (Cosmo Cricket)
Inks: Red Magic (VersaMagic); Black (VersaFine)
Accessories: Mini Scallop scissors (ProvoCraft); Cream Scroll Felt Fusion (Queen & Co); Dimensionals (Stampin Up), small hearts unknown

Enjoy (I know you will.....), Lila

Vintage Love

I am so excited to share a card with you using a soon-to-be-released Verve Visual stamp set. First off, let me say that all five, yes FIVE, sets are fabulous. They have been my favorite Verve stamps to date. Really easy to work with. You're going to love seeing them in all their glory on January 10.

Here, I used the set called Heart to Heart. The hearts in the set are made with such classic lines and this great swirl pattern that you can use them for just about any style. And this style? Can I call it a modern take on vintage?


I cropped down this piece of Daisy Bucket paper to fit a standard-sized vanilla card. Punch both the Daisy Bucket and the vanilla card with a corner rounder. Stamp the hearts on scrap vanilla card stock. Cut out and layer on with dimensionals. You will love how easy it is to stamp your sentiments, even directly on this lined paper, with Verve's new CLEAR stamps. And, I might add, they stamp beautifully. Clear and crisp the first time, both when I tried dye or hybrid inks. Accessorize, and you're done.


This set includes two heart images and a total of SEVEN sentiments. And these live up to the high standards Verve has set for sentiments. They're beautiful, both visually and in meaning.


Stay tuned every day through release date, January 10, for more sneak peeks from the design team.

Recipe:
Stamps: Heart to Heart (Verve Visual)

Paper: Garden Gate: bellflower (Daisy Bucket); Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Jumbo Java (VersaMagic); Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Cheeky Flat Clip in neutral (Making Memories); Corner rounder (EK Success); ribbon (American Crafts and May Arts)

Be Mine!

What a happy coincidence that Laurie and I both chose the Wild Thing set to feature! We even selected the same sentiment. In the spirit of sharing, I'll let you know that there are two more terrific sentiments in the set that share the same pair of fonts that look so great together. Just wait 'till you see them!


Supply List:
Stamps: Wild Thing (Verve Visual)
Ink: VersaFine Black (Tsukineko)
Paper: Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), Currant Sensation (Bazzill Basics Smoothies Collection)
Accessories: Pewter Heart Photo Corners (Making Memories); Pink Gems (Mark Richards); Black Grosgrain Ribbon (May Arts)


This release will feature two heart sets -- and while Wild Thing is wonderful, you won't want to miss Heart to Heart. It features seven wonderful mixed-font sayings and two gorgeous large hearts. Both of these love-centric sets are perfect for Valentine's Day, but they'll also be sets that you reach for when you need cards for weddings, anniversaries, encouragement, and the occasional "I Love You" out of the blue.


Stay tuned to this blog, because more eye candy is scheduled to appear here every day until the big release on the 10th. And then, on the 10th, even more samples will be shown in the Verve Visual Gallery. Make sure you're here for all the fun!


Happy Stamping!