February 2014 Diva Dare - Day 4

"Perk Up", February Diva Dare

Welcome to Day 4 of the February Diva Dare!  It's Maureen and I can't wait to share my take on this month's "Perk Up" dare!

What we're daring you to do this month is make a card or project to perk someone up, whether it’s with a warm beverage or just a heartfelt sentiment to brighten someone’s day.  No shortage of options as Verve has some wonderful coffee and tea sets as well as a plethora of uplifting/heartfelt sentiments.

 This challenge was easier said than done.  As I looked through all the beautiful Verve sentiments, I found it very difficult to choose just one.  However, I finally settled on the poem I love to use on graduation cards.  It's from the Believe set (on SALE right now!) and the little "be you" is from Words of Wisdom.  I've accented the card with buttons, twine, a resin flower, my favourite little journal tab, a doily, and some sweet little sequins from the Pastel Sequins Mix (on SALE right now!). Are you ready to play along?

Deadline to link your cards is 8PM Mountain on Wednesday, February 26th.  Entries must be posted 2/7 or later,include at least one Verve product, a warm beverage or heartfelt sentiment, and be linked up to the linky widget by 8pm Mountain on 2/26/14.   

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

Win a $40 Gift voucher to Verve Stamps! Take our "Perk Up" Dare and link up your card (created February 7th 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 "Perk 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 February 26, 2014.

Winners will be announced on February 27, 2014. 

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

December Diva Dare ~ Day 11

"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.  

Hi Verve Fans!  It's Charmaine here and I'm excited to bring you Day 11 of this month's Diva Dare.  All of the Divas have been posting their favorite Verve creations of the year, but it would take me too long to decide which ones are my favorite!  I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch and created a new card using a favorite Verve set!   I have LOTS of favorite Verve sets, but Verve sentiments have always been my fave.  Out of all of the sentiment sets at Verve, Words of Wisdom is probably the one I grab most.  I love the sentiments and I adore the fonts.  As I was looking through past Verve creations, I realized that I also have the most cards using this particular sentiment as well!!  So, I guess I really do have a single favorite!  LOL  This sentiment just makes me happy and is a great reminder for me to "not sweat the small stuff"!  The papers are from the Here and Now Collection from Echo Park. This card also uses the Award Banner Trim Die. 

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 are any of the ribbons, probably the Classy Label Die (since I seem to use that a lot) and I'm going to go vague and say Verve sentiments!  :) 

2. Your current go-to color combination--I don't really have a go-to color combination.  I tend to always use bright, happy colors and that color combination really depends on the patterned paper set I'm using. 

3. Your current go-to embellishment--I use Verve's seam binding ribbon A LOT!!  I just LOVE it!  I don't usually add a ton of embellishments to a card, but if I do add something, it's usually the seam binding!

4. Your favorite stamping or organizational tool--my favorite stamping tool would probably be my Big Shot.  I use it for every card I make whether I'm embossing something or diecutting.  Couldn't live without it!  ;)

5. Your favorite treat--I don't eat while stamping.  I never have.  When I'm stamping I'm usually so focused on what I'm creating I can't even think about eating.  I've tried to bring my coffee into the studio with me when I stamp first thing in the morning, but it ends up getting cold because I forget about it!  LOL

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! 

December Diva Dare ~ Day 10

"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 lovelies! It's Andrea here with you today! Over the past few years at the end of the year, I've posted my favorite cards, month by month as a recap. I have to say that probably 11 out of 12 of those cards feature Verve stamps..only because they are my VERY FAVORITE! I'm going to narrow down my list just a little so I hope you enjoy!

This card features the No Matter What set...which was a new release in January. Here's the original post.

Guess what?! I love No Matter What so much, I used it again in February. Here's the post from my blog with the deets.

This card came about from our March Diva Dare challenge. I created this beauty with the Beautiful Plain Jane merged with Maureen's Buttons and Bling and Laurie's Just Give Me Stamps. A very nice marriage...I must say!

 This card was Pinterest inspired (one of my very favorite inspiration sites!) I love the type-written font from the Twitterpated set. This is how I made it.

 A bold burst of color for me...the idea was to feature yellow, so I had this bright gingham ribbon and matched it up with some pretty yellow and green flowers. The Verve set I used is Take Note. Here's the original post.

And...lastly...another Diva Dare creation! This one paid homage to our wonderful leader, Julee and the always uplifting Teresa! I inked up Words of Wisdom and shabbed up some Truly Madly Deeply seam binding to make this vintage gem. Here's where you can find the original post.

Ok, time for a little Q & A:

What are your three favorite Verve products?
Like my fellow Diva sisters...how do you pick just three (or just one hundred)? Let me see...I really love Julee's stamps, dies and ribbon...but to be a tad more specific...I do reach for the Pennant Trim Die quite often, the Truly Madly Deeply ribbon collection is the most cut into and my inkiest stamp set would have to be Celebration of Thanks.

What is your current go-to colour combo?
Ah, that's easy. Every color, though muted down to almost colorlessness. Well, not that extreme, but I do love my pastels and almost every card I make has earthy tones, brown, tan, cream with muted accent colors.

What is your current go-to embellishment?
Past, present and future will always be flowers. I absolutely adore the sweet, delicate feminine look of flowers...in truth, they just make me happy. :)

What is your favorite stamping or organizational tool?
Currently...two pencils. What? I've devised a way (my resourceful side coming out) to make the tightest, prettiest bows using two pencils. I have a tutorial for that here. Of course, this card features a beautiful Verve stamp...Harvest Blessings.

What is your favorite treat to eat while stamping?
That's easy. Life cereal. Yummy wheat squares with a smidge of sugar in the middle. I can put those things away by the handful!

I hope you all have a wonderfully Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years!

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! -

July Diva Dare ~ Day 5

Hello Verve fans! Today is my day to post here celebrating this month's lovely Verve Divas Teresa and Julee! This month's challenge is called "Tattered Pages". Here's a bit about the challenge in Marisa's words:

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!  
Here's how I answered the dare:

This 'challenge' is really no challenge for me....I'm right at home in my easy chair of vintage/shabby chic. I started off using Maja  Design's new Sofiero collection, roughed up the edges a bit and added some authentic vintage lace, crinkled, inked seam binding, and some chipboard and crocheted pieces. The sentiment is from Verve's Words of Wisdom set...brimming with uplifting and encouraging sentiments. To add a bit of interest, I sprinkled the kraft frame with coarse glitter and added a partial frame behind the focal panel.

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 here 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 "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.

Here's a peek at the Verve set I used:

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

Back in Stock

Hi Verve friends! I just wanted to quickly note that our re-stocking shipment arrived much earlier than expected. So if you've been waiting on an out-of-stock set it's more than likely back in stock and on sale 20% off through October 16, during our Think Pink Sale!

Here's a little refresher on some of the beautiful sets that are back in stock today...

Bountiful Harvest sample by Diva Tosha Leyendekker

Bloom & Grow sample by Diva Amy Sheffer

Words of Wisdom sample by Diva Andrea Ewen

New Mercies sample by Diva Julee Tilman

Hebrews 11:1 sample by Diva Amber Hight

Psalm 121:1-2 sample by Diva Maureen Plut

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August Diva Dare-Day 7

Welcome to the August Diva Dare!  Hi, it is Teresa and I have to tell ya, I luv this months dare!  I try to send as many cards out as I have time.  When this months dare was introduced to us, diva Maureen shared that she was sending her card to a Verve customer and blog friend, Janelle Hayes.  I encourage you to go to her blog and read all about her story, it is uplifting and gives a tremendous amount of hope!  Thank you Maureen for sharing about Janelle and thanks to Janelle for being a trooper and making my day a little brighter.  My card is going out to you.!

For those of you that are new to this challenge, here is how it works...following each release, we will post a theme that we dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge. During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare!

This month's theme is Sending Some Sunshine!  If you all are anything like me, you have tons of cards sitting at home all piled up!  I thought it would be fun to make an uplifting & cheerful card and actually send it to someone!  There's nothing like opening your mailbox and seeing a handmade card...especially with some of Verve's encouraging sentiments on it!  :-)

So, we DARE you to make an uplifting and encouraging card AND send it to someone in need of a little pick-me-up!
 

I went with pinks and rose colors, so sweet and comforting, I used the darlin flower from the Sunny Days set.  I heat embossed them and then colored in lightly with copics and some sponging, added the cutest leaves evahhh to them and popped them up.  The sentiment is from Words of Wisdom set which is also heat embossed.  That is it from me, I do encourage you to send your wonderful handmade created cards to others, it is a great way to spread love and sunshine to others!

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Want to know how you can win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES?

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sending Some Sunshine creation (posted August 26 or later) to the linky widget below before 9PM Mountain on Sunday, September 11. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would  LOVE to see ‘em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our Sending Some Sunshine creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing!  Winners will be announced on Monday, September 12 right here on the Verve blog.

Now it's YOUR turn!  We DARE you to show us your creations!
You can link to Day 1 here to add your creation.

 

August Diva Dare - Day 3

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Hello crafting lovelies! Andrea checking in and I'm here to tell you that it's that time again, time for the Diva Dare! For those of you that are new to this challenge, here is how it works...following each release, we will post a theme that we dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge.  During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare!

This month we dare you to make a card, project, layout, or whatever fits your stamping style using this month's theme - Sending Some Sunshine! I know that I have boxes filled with cards sitting at home all piled up!  I'm ashamed to say that some of them are falling apart. The Divas thought it would be fun to make an uplifting & cheerful card and actually send it to someone!  There's nothing like opening your mailbox and seeing a handmade card...especially with some of Verve's encouraging sentiments on it! 

Here's a card that I made using Verve's newest releases, Words of Wisdom, You & I stamp sets and I Heart U dies paired with the previously released Classy Label die. I fashioned a medallion out of kraft and cream card stock using Martha's Layered Arches corner punch.  I then adhered the Classy Label die with a 2" X 1 1/4" rectangle panel for my sentiment. To dress it up a bit, I added some Platinum liquid pearls and black gems:

I plan on mailing this to a fellow blogger who is going through a life threatening illness so I'm sure that a little handmade card would be a tiny bright spot in her day. You can read about her story here. Keep fighting, You!

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Want to know how you can win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES?

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sending Some Sunshine creation (posted August 26 or later) to the linky widget at the bottom of THE DAY 1 POST before 9PM Mountain on Sunday, September 11. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would LOVE to see ‘em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our Sending Some Sunshine creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing! Winners will be announced on Monday, September 12 right here on the Verve blog.

Now it's YOUR turn! We DARE you to show us your creations!

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August Diva Dare - Day 1

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Welcome to the August Diva Dare!  For those of you that are new to this challenge, here is how it works...following each release, we will post a theme that we dare you with, and you'll have two weeks to complete the challenge. During those two weeks, the release team will post their creations and tell you how they answered the dare!

This month's theme is Sending Some Sunshine!  If you all are anything like me, you have tons of cards sitting at home all piled up!  I thought it would be fun to make an uplifting & cheerful card and actually send it to someone!  There's nothing like opening your mailbox and seeing a handmade card...especially with some of Verve's encouraging sentiments on it!  :-)

So, we DARE you to make an uplifting and encouraging card AND send it to someone in need of a little pick-me-up!
 
 

 Here is how I answered the dare...  I knew I wanted my card to be encouraging, and I do love me some vintage colors...so I combined them together!  I used the Curvy Bookplate and hope stamps from the Tag Time set, the Keep Fighting sentiment from the Words of Wisdom set, and the matching Curvy Bookplate die.  To carry out the vintage theme, I distressed all of the edges!

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Want to know how you can win some fabulous new VERVE GOODIES?

1. Play along with us and link up your new Sending Some Sunshine creation (posted August 26 or later) to the linky widget below before 9PM Mountain on Sunday, September 11. One lucky stamper will win a $30.00 gift certificate to the Verve Store. Verve Stamps are not required, but if you've got 'em we would  LOVE to see ‘em!
2. For another chance to win, be sure to give the Divas a little shout-out in the comments section as we share our Sending Some Sunshine creations. One lucky commenter will win the Verve stamp set of his or her choosing!  Winners will be announced on Monday, September 12 right here on the Verve blog.

Now it's YOUR turn!  We DARE you to show us your creations!

Click the "Click here to enter" link above for the Diva Dare entry form.
Please type your name or screen name in the Caption or Title field, then choose the link and photo you'd like to enter. Please link directly to the specific blog post or gallery page where we can view your creation. 

Note: If you have trouble linking, try entering the link to your card, then choosing From File instead of From Web. Then just browse to where your picture is saved on your computer to get your thumbnail. Sometimes it takes a moment for your picture to show up after you've used the widget. If it doesn't appear right away, click the control button + F5 to refresh the images on the page.

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Anni-VERVE-sary After Party!

Welcome to our special Anni-VERVE-sary After Party!  The release party may be over, but we are still celebrating!  Each Monday following a release, we will share some of our favorite Diva creations using the newly released stamps along with all the latest sale info!

We're celebrating four wonderful years of Verve with a SALE! Now through August 31, save 10 - 40% on all stamps & dies, including new releases.
Sale limited to stock on hand. No price adjustments for prior purchases.

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And now, some yummy Anni-VERVE-sary eye candy!

Created by Tosha Leyendekker using the Making a Statement set along with the Loopy Blooms, Curvy Bookplate, and Jotted Heart dies.

Created by Teresa Kline using the Making a Statement set along with the Loopy Blooms and Rounded Scalloped Frame Dies.

Created by Sankari Wegman using Tag Time, Sunny Days, Making a Statement, Words of Wisdom sets and Curvy Bookplate Die, Tagged Rectangle Die, Rounded Scallop Frame Die, Loopy Blooms Die Set.

Created by Maureen Plut using You and I, Making a Statement, Tag Time sets and  Rounded Scallop Frame, & Curvy Bookplate dies.

Created by Laurie Schmidlin using the Sunny Days set and From the Heart Die Set.

Created by Julee Tilman using the Sunny Days set.


Created by Jackie Pedro using the Making a Statement set along with Loopy Blooms, Rounded Scallop Frame, & Rounded Rectangle Dies.


Created by Charmaine Ikach using Sip and Savor, Tag Time,  Curvy Bookplate Die, Charming Oval Die Set, & From the Heart Die Set.

Created by Andrea Ewen using  Making A Statement, Words Of Wisdom, Notebook Paper Plain Jane, Loopy Blooms Die Set, Rounded Scallop Frame Die.

Create by Amy Sheffer using the Words of Wisdom set and  Flutterby Die.

Created by Amber Hight using the Sunny Days set along with Tiny Sweet Scallop Tags and Curvy Bookplate dies.



Thanks for joining us here today!  Make sure to check back later this week as we will be kicking off our August Diva Dare!  See you then!