August Release Project Parade: Day 3

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Hello!  It's Charmaine and it's my turn to share with you my project for this month's theme, Something Old, Something New!  When I was thinking about sets to pair together (one from the current release and one older set from Verve), I came up with the older set first!  LOL  Crazy, huh?  But I HAD to use the absolute first Verve set I ever owned and it was the very first Verve set ever released, Thoughtful Florals.  (Actually, this one is a "remix" of the original set, but you get the point.)  :)  I love this set as much today as the day it was released.  I love the happy sentiments that are perfect for so many occasions. 

So, I decided to pair it with Birthday Bash from this past release and create a scrapbook page.  I paper-pieced the balloons and added some Stardust Stickles to the insides of the stars.  I stamped the frame from Thoughtful Florals in four different colors that matched the patterned paper and then stamped three sentiments from that set and the last sentiment, "you amaze me" is from the Uplifting Phrases set.  I'm so glad these sets work so perfectly together!

1. Play along with us and link up your new SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creation (posted August 25th or later) to the linky widget on the DAY 1 PARADE POST before midnight on Wednesday, September 15th. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store.

2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we parade our SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW creations. One lucky commenter during the course of the parade will win the Verve stamp set of their choosing!

We hope you'll play along!  We LOVE to see your creations!

All that beautiful beading!

When I saw the inspiration photos, I knew right away that I wanted to include beads on my card. That's what jumped out at me, all that beautiful beading. So I cut a strip of turquoise card stock and adhered some red line tape. With the red backing still on, I trimmed the card stock. Then adhere your micro beads. Mmmm, what delicious sparkle.

From there I used Thankful Blossoms to stamp a few flowers in caribbean and turquoise, dotting the centers with a gold Spica pen. The butterfly is stamped in turquoise. Then I used the solid leaf image from the same set to add some yellow to the wings. Sketch the butterfly trail lightly with a pencil. Dot along the trail with a turquoise marker. Then erase the pencil line. And with those sunshiney colors, what sentiment could I use other than "you brighten my day" from Thoughtful Florals? The little yellow dots on the scallops are just the leftovers when you punch with the 1/8 inch hole punch. Scallops done with corner rounder (guard removed).

Stamps: Thankful Blossoms and Thoughtful Florals (Verve Visual)
Paper: white (Papertrey Ink); summer sun, tempting turquoise, saffron prints (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: cool caribbean, tempting turquoise, so saffron (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: gold glitter pen (Spica); corner rounder (EK Success); Terrifically Tacky Tape and clear micro beads (Art Accentz); 1/8 inch hole punch; dimensionals

Now, don't forget, there's $15 in Verve Bucks up for grabs. So get inspired and link your card here, by April 22nd.

You Brighten My Day

I always enjoy a fun challenge, and Verve's current inspiration challenge, based on a quartet of gorgeous pillows, is no exception. Like many of the other girls, I was drawn to the colors and the floral theme. I also wanted to bring in some of the texture from all the beautiful embroidery, beadwork, and lace.

The first thing I did was to search through my patterned papers, which is quite unusual for a patterned paper-phobic girl like me. But I got lucky and found this mustard-colored, tone-on-tone diamond pattern on what I would call the back side of a Scrapworks pattern. I knew it would be perfect because the pattern has almost a fabric look to it. I cut it down to a square, in keeping with the square shape of the pillows, sponged the edges with More Mustard, and machine stitched it onto a More Mustard mat.

Next, I added some flowers using Fancy Florals Remixed. First, I stamped the largest flower from the set three times on Very Vanilla, twice in So Saffron and once in More Mustard, then added a Tempting Turquoise center to the More Mustard flower, trimmed them all out and stacked them (the top layer is raised up on dimensional adhesive). To pick up on the embroidery from the pillows, would you believe I tried using embroidery floss to add French knots to each of the turquoise stamen? Well let's just say great idea, but I haven't done any embroidering since Girl Scouts, so I had to scrap that idea in favor of some I could actually do - piercing. I made a second, smaller flower using the medium-size versions of the same images, then topped off both flowers with half-pearls in the centers. Some More Mustard stems, a sentiment from Thoughtful Florals, and a Tempting Turquoise scalloped mat finished off my main panel.

[Note: the Tempting Turquoise scalloped mat behind the patterned paper square was done with a corner rounder. If you were to turn over this panel, you'd see four strips carefully positioned so that the scallops meet at each corner. A good alternative to Nestabilities if you don't have those (of if they're backordered!).]

To finish the card, I adhered the whole panel with dimensional adhesive onto a square of So Saffron card stock that was dry embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, and then attached everything to a Tempting Turquoise card base. Finished card size: 5" square.

I hope you're feeling inspired by these pillows, too! Remember, you have until midnight Tuesday (Mountain Time) to link up your pillow-inspired project for a chance to win $15 in Verve bucks!! Go to THIS POST to enter. Then on Wednesday, sneak peeks begin for the two new sets -- can't wait!

Stamps: Fancy Florals Remixed, Thoughtful Florals
Paper: So Saffron, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise (SU!); Canvas Collection "Citrus Burst" (Scrapworks)
Ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories: Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder; sewing machine; word window punch, corner rounder, paper piercer, dimensionals, and Pretties kit (SU!)

Felicity is Fabulous!

Aren't new goodies fabulous? In addition to the brand new Verve Visual stamps used on my project, there are also some brand new papers used. The company is called Scribble Scrabble, and this new paper line featured in this card is called Felicity. It is scheduled to debut at the CHA show in Anaheim tomorrow, but we've got it in stock already. Their other adorable line, Circus Baby, is also here! Their papers are a very nice weight and are double-sided.

My thought on the papers: Since the stamps are 15% off this month, why not treat yourself to some yummy new papers along with your order? And speaking of new, don't miss the new Memory Box 6x6 patterned cardstock pads that are perfect for cardmakers; Aerial, Inspire and Sprout.

Supply List
Stamps: Thoughtful Florals (Verve Visual); Emily (Stamp Francisco)
Paper: Felicity (Scribble Scrabble); Glossy White (SU!)
Ink: Chestnut Roan Chalk (ClearSnap)
Accessories: Word Window & Spiral punches (SU!); Brown grosgrain ribbon (May Arts)

Thoughtful Florals is such a great set! I love that these sentiments and the elongated oval border are now offered in clear! It's so easy to get everything aligned just right.

If you're a fan of new, don't forget to enter the Honored Guest Sketch Challenge Contest. You have until Friday to post your link. And you know about the awesome prize, right? In addition to bragging rights, you'll get to see brand new Verve stamps before they're released to the general public. How's that for new?

Happy Stamping!

Chocolate Box

Only one chocolate stick was harmed in the making of this project. Seriously, your recipient isn't going to be able to keep her hands off of these chocolate sticks any more than I could.

I planned out my box to accomodate four chocolate sticks. Use a 6.25 x 5 inch piece of paper. Score the short side at .5 inches. Score the long side at .5 inches, 3 inches, 3.5 inches, and 6 inches. Now fold it all up and adhere with some strong adhesive. I used Terrifically Tacky Tape, also known as Sticky Strip or Red Line Tape.

I stamped the two pumpkin flowers, inking the flowers pumpkin and the stems green, on Very Vanilla and colored them in lightly. Then cut the oval with a Coluzzle, leaving the flower tips sticking out. Trim them with scissors. Stamp and color the blue flower and cut it out. Adhere with dimensionals. Cover flowers lightly with Star Dust Stickles. Layer on scalloped oval (punched with the big purple Marvy punch). Punch a hole (and add eyelet, optional) to thread ribbon through. Now just assemble it all, including the sentiment on a word window punch.


The lid is done the same way with each side being 1/16 inch larger than the box, so that it will fit on top. When I was done, I cut the angle and added the vanilla trim.

If you love this beautiful and versatile stamp set, SERENITY releasing February 10, you can pre-order it right now AND save 15% on all stamps AND get free shipping over $40.

Stamps: Serenity and Thoughtful Florals(Verve Visual)
Paper: Parlor Collection: Farm House (Webster's Pages); Really Rust, Bordering Blue, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Spanish Olive, Tea Leaves, Red Brick, Aegean Blue, Pumpkin Spice (VersaMagic)
Accessories: Word Window Punch, eyelet, blender pen (Stampin' Up!); Coluzzle; Scallop oval punch (Marvy); ribbon (May Arts); dimensionals; Star Dust Stickles; Terrifically Tacky Tape

Be sure to check in here at the Verve blog for more great samples every day right through release day!