Verve May 2014 Spotlight Hop ~ Day 2

Welcome to Day 2, of Verve's May 2014 Spotlight Hops!  If you have come here from Charmaine's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened up on the Hop, you can follow the list below to get caught up.  Everything previewed this week will be available in the Verve online store Friday night, May 23rd.   

Today's featured sets are Wonderful Marvelous and the Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane. 

My first card uses the Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane.  Adore this verse!  Such a great sentiment to put on a Father's Day card, or to encourage someone by letting them know you can see them putting their trust, hope and confidence in the Lord.  I combined it with the anchor and wheel images from Strong Anchor and matching Nautical Die Set.

My second card showcases Wonderful Marvelous.  This is a wonderful set with sentiments for both Mother's and Father's Day.  Chose this fabulous sentiment from the set and embellished it by using the All Aflutter die and matching image from  Blue Skies.   Added a secondary sentiment using a trimmed off die from the Flag It die set.



Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win today's featured products!  So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog for today's full set reveals and all the prize info and deadlines!

Wednesday, 5/21/14
Today's Prize: Wonderful Marvelous, Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane

1. Julee	7. Stacey
2. Charmaine	8. Maureen
3. Marisa	9. Jen
4. Janelle	10. Laurie S.
5. Teresa	11. Andrea
6. Chaitali	12. Christyne

Time to hop over to Janelle's blog to see her fabulous creation using today's showcased sets.  Then make sure you come back tomorrow for our Day 3 Hop.

Challenges: Simon Says

What's In It?

Jeremiah 17:7
Stamps:   Jeremiah 17:7 Plain Jane, Strong Anchor (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Come Away With Me (My Mind's Eye), Kraft, Cream Linen
Ink: Black
Accessories:   Nautical Die Set (A Cut Above by Verve), Chicken Wire Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Brads, Twine, Dimensionals

Wonderful Marvelous
Stamps:   Wonderful Marvelous (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:   Kraft, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Rose Romance, Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Black, VersaMark
Accessories:   All Aflutter and Flag It Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Medium Scalloped Border Die (PTI), Leaf Punch (Martha Stewart), Heart Punch (Marvy), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Crimper (Fiskars), Buttons, Twine, Black and White Half Pearls, Bling, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #238 - Photo Inspiration

It's Inspiration week over at Just Us Girls and Sue T. has provided this fun photo for to inspire us!  If you've been around my blog for any amount of time, you will know how much I love working with polka dots, and those polka dots in the photo were calling my name LOL!  I also pulled out the yellow, pink, green and touch of blue from the photo to use as the colours on my card.

Pulled out some MFT dies and my sorely neglected Labels 10 Nestability die.  Forgot how much I love this shape!  Verve's Lean On Me sentiment was a perfect fit for the remaining space and love how the large font makes it stand out against the flower.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with the last appearance of our April Guest Designer Lee Anne (who has done an amazing job as GD this month!), have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog and check out what they've created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.

Thanks for popping by today and have a fabulous weekend!

Challenges:  Friday Mashup


 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:  Lean On Me (Verve Stamps) 
Paper:  Love You More (Pebbles), Designer Series Paper, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Cool Caribbean (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Labels 10 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Leaf Filled Flourish and Pretty Posies Dies (My Favorite Things), Butterfly and Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Black Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Verve Stamps Better Together Release Hop

Verve Stamps has released a new set called Better With You, and we are celebrating by having a Release Hop.  If you came here from Laurie's blog you are right on track. If you just happened across the hop, you can check out the master Hop List below.

I loved how Teresa used the textured image in Better with You to create a background on her card, and just had to case it.  It creates a subtle texture and adds a fabulous touch to your card.  So many wonderful sentiments in this set it was hard to chose which one to showcase!  I settled on this one and accented it with the arrow image to fill in the sentiment panel.  Some of my favorite Verve dies (Pennant Trim, Flutterby  and Elegant Leaves) were used to embellish the card, and some distressing around the edges finished things off.

Want to win some shiny new Verve? We'll be picking a random commenter on one of the hop spots below to win a $40 gift voucher to the Verve store! So be sure to leave a little comment on all the blogs below to increase your chances! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	Hop List: 1. Julee 2. Amber 3. Andrea 4. Charmaine 5. Christyne 6. Janelle 7. Jen 8. Laurie 9. Marisa 10. Maureen 11. Stacey 12. Teresa

Next up is Maureen and she is sure to have something fabulous to showcase this new set!

And if you haven't heard, Verve is having a Spring Cleaning Sale!  Lots of great sets to chose from and 50% off sets which will be retired.

Thanks for popping by today! 












 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Better With You (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Mint Medley, Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey, Going Grey (Stampin' Up)  
Ink:  Going Grey, Mint Medley, Black (Stamping Up)   
Accessories:  Flutterby, Elegant Leaves and Pennant Trim Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Doily Die (PTI), Crimper (Fiskars), Black Half Pearls, Twine, Button, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Verve Stamps March Diva Inspiration Hop

It's the 5th of the month and that means it is time for Verve's March Diva Inspirations Hop.   This month's challenge is entitled "Spring Has Sprung".  It's time to ditch the winter blues and create a card that sings Spring using inspirational quotes, pretty colours and florals or themes that celebrate new life.  Let us know what spring means to you!   In addition to a comment prize hidden along the hop, you can play along with the challenge and link up your creation for a chance to win another prize!

If you have come here from Stacey's blog you are right on track.  If you just happened on to the hop, you can start from the top and work your way through (see hop list below). 

To me, Spring always means flowers.  After a long winter with little colour around, I always love seeing my crocuses and tulips pushing through the dirt and coming to full bloom.  Shortly thereafter, the cherry and magnolia tree come into bloom.  "Pink snow" covers our street when the cherry blossoms fall off and it is so pretty!  Oh how I love the signs of new life that burst forth in spring... happy sigh :)  

I just had to use MME's new Cut and Paste papers again.  This one in particulate is my favorite as it has flowers and polka dots.  The flower is from Dream Big, the wonderful leaf image is from Bloom and Grow and has the matching Elegant Leaves die.  Where there are flowers, there are usually butterflies (at least in my card making world LOL), so my Flutterby die came to good use once again.  I finished things off with some blue seam binding from the Spring Fling ribbon collection.

One lucky commenter along the hop will win a prize, so make sure to leave a comment on each of the participating Diva's posts to increase your chances of winning!  You can check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines. 

Below is the full hop list if you need it, otherwise just hop on over to Laurie's blog.

	1. Amy	11. Julee
	2. Anya	12. Teresa
	3. Betty	13. Stacey
	4. Jessica	14. Marisa
	5. Karen	15. Laurie
	6. Sankari	16. Maureen
	7. Sarah	17. Jen
	8. Sony	18. Christyne
	9. Susan	19. Charmaine
	10. Tiffany	20. Andrea

In addition, Julee has a spring cleaning sale going on over at the Verve Store right now!  Los of great deals and 50% off sixty retiring sets! 

Enjoy the hop and hope you can play along with us!

 

 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Dream Big, Bloom and Grow (Verve Stamps)
Paper:   Cut and Paste (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow, Rose Red (Stampin' Up) 

Ink:  Black, VersaMark
Accessories:  Flutterby and Elegant Leaves Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Lacy Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Border Punch (Stampin' Up), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Crimper (Fiskars), Spring Fling Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), Button, Twine, Black Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Happy Valentine's Day!

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day everyone ((hugs))!!   May you feel loved and appreciated by your special someone, and if you don't have a romantic special someone, may you know your friends hold you close to their heart.

This week's VLV Sketch is created by Jen Shults.   Oh how I love her sketches!  I thought I was done with Valentine's Day cards, but alas, today is Valentine's day, so I just had to make one more to celebrate today :)

The sentiment is from Verve's newest release entitled More Than Love.  This set has some fabulous sentiments and Julee has once again created a wonderful mix of fonts for the sentiments. The papers are from MME's Love Me pad and I used the Heart Quartet and Wavy Hearts die sets.

You don't have to complete all the sketches to entered to win the $100 Verve Stamps gift certificate, but the more sketches you enter the more chances you have of winning. 

Enjoy the sketch and have a fabulous weekend.

 
 
 
What's In It?
Stamps:   More Than Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Basic Grey, Real Red, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)   
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet Die Sets (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Crimper (Fiskars), Button, Twine, Bling, Black and Silver Half Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Just Us Girls #226 - Sketch Challenge

This week's challenge is brought to us by Maria and it is the perfect sketch for a Valentine's Day card.

I'm still enjoying my MME Love Me papers and used them on this card.  The number idea came from one of the papers I used (though it is covered up) and the sentiment is from Verve's Stronger Love and the crimped heart is one of the dies from Wavy Hearts.  Finished it off with some polka dotted ribbon for good measure :)

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our January  Guest Designer Melissa Hubert, have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog and check out what they've created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer. 

Have a great weekend and hope you can play along.


 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Love Me (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey, Real Red (Stampin' Up), 
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Heart and Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Swiss Dots  Embossing Folder (Provo Kraft), Crimper (Fiskars), Polka Dotted Ribbon (Dollar Store), Buttons, Twine, Heart Sequins, Black Half Pearls (Michael's), Glue Dots, Dimensionals     

Just Us Girls #225 - Photo Inspiration

I was so excited when I found this inspiration collage to use for this week's Just Us Girls challenge.  Love the colour combination and of course, all the hearts :)  Just click on the image if you want to get a better view or head on over to the JUGS blog where a larger picture is posted.

I loved Jen's Deconstructed Sketch so used it for my card after finding some papers that worked perfectly.  Out came Verve's Stronger Love set for the sentiment and I used a mix of the Heart Quartet and Wavy Hearts die sets.   Picked up the polka dots via the paper and the embossed background and the pink stripes on the pillow on one of my hearts.  Had so much fun making this card and can't wait to give it to my daughter for Valentine's Day.

The rest of the  JUGS team, along with our January  Guest Designer Geraldine Bailly, have some wonderful samples to get your inspiration going, so head on over to the Just Us Girls blog and check out what they've created.  Then put your creative genes to work and add your card/project to the challenge post on the JUGS blog for the chance to be chosen as the Chic of the Week.  Plus if you are chosen as Chic of the Week, you could be invited to be a Guest Designer.
 
Busy week coming up.  My daughter has three provincial exams to write next week and my son will be home as he doesn't have any yet.  That means I have to find things to keep him busy and not sitting in front of the TV or computer so I think we will go round two on the basement and make a few Sally Ann runs with what we no longer need.   Sure he will love hearing what I have in store for him NOT!  Definitely going to have to come up with a nice treat for him once we are all done.

Have a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday with my Mojo Monday sample.

Challenge:  The Pink Elephant



 
What's In It?
Stamps:   Stronger Love (Verve Stamps), By Definition (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Pink Strips, Pink Small Dots (Making Memories),  Red Hearts (Recollections), Real Red, Kraft (Stampin' Up), 
Ink:  Black   
Accessories:  Wavy Hearts and Heart Quartet Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Kraft), Pink 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (Michael's Ribbon Bin), Buttons, Twine, Bling, Glue Dots, Dimensionals   

Wish Big

Amber has created a fun sketch this week and a great opportunity to work with a diagonal.  I went for some funky background paper to step outside my box to mix things up a bit and I think the paper won LOL!

I'm far from thrilled with the card, but am posting the good the bad and the ugly here to keep things real.  Sometimes things just don't come together the way you want them to and you have to live with it -- I'm trying to in this case, but it's hard!  I could have tossed it, but then that would be total defeat and darn if I will let some paper beat me LOL!  I know, it's as sad statement when I am fighting inanimate objects that aren't a Facebook game.  Yah....

Moving on....I had fun using this new to me cupcake image from Verve's Carpe Cupcake set.  I paired it with a sentiment from Birthday Phrases, a die from Flag It for the sentiment, and the Pennant Trim die for a little "oomph".

Now it's your turn.  Complete all the VLV sketches in August and you will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Verve Stamps.  Plus, Verve is having their six year Anniversary Sale this month which allows you to enjoy 10% - 50% off their stamps and dies!!  A great way to chip away at your wish list!

    
Thanks for popping by and I'll be back tomorrow with my Just Us Girls card.

Challenges:  Simon Says
                   Dare To Get Dirty Challenges
                   Friday Mash Up - Polka Dots


 

What's In It?
Stamps:  Carpe Cupcake and Birthday Phrases (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: Bold Basics (Recollections), Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery and Sage Shadow (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Flag It and Pennant Trim Dies (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Twinkling H2Os, White Half Pearls, Button, Twine, Glue Dot, Dimensionals 

Text Notes I Love you

Amber created this wonderful sketch that will let you go to town with layers and papers.  If it intimidates you, just break it down element by element and you'll do just fine :)

I once again dove into MME's In Bloom paper pad - can't put this one down!  With all the blending papers I needed a pop of colour - enter the big red rose!  Toned it down a bit with the two coral ones beside it and some yellow ribbon.

Remember, there is a great prize if you complete all the Verve sketches in any given month!   You will be entered in a random draw to win $100 gift certificate to the Verve Stamps store!  Here is a link to the Verve forum on SCS for all the challenge details.

Back tomorrow with my Just Us Girls post.  It's a sketch challenge - may favorite!

What's In It?
Stamps: Take Note  and Dream Big (Verve Stamps) 
Paper: In Bloom (My Mind's Eye), Real Red, Cameo Coral, Kraft (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black, Going Grey (Stampin' Up) 
Accessories:  Elegant Leaves Die (A Cut Above by Verve),  Lacy Circle Die (Spellbinders), Rolled Rose Dies (My Favorite Things), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), 5/8" Yellow Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, White Half Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Mother's Day Card - Two Versions

I made two cards with the same layout and just switched up the colours and images on them.  The first card uses The Art of Life set by Stampin' Up.  It is a set I have always loved and haven't used in ages so it was good to give it some ink.  Just love this flower image! 

The second card uses Easy Elegance, another wonderful flower set by Stampin' Up.  This time I used my favorite pink and yellow colour combo - much like the colours of the tulips and cherry blossoms  in our neighbourhood right now.   Two quick and easy cards, and I just love that little PTI tag - so perfect for a Mother's Day card!

Back to work - still crazy busy here.  Thanks for popping by and have a great day.



First card:
What's In It?
Stamps:  Easy Elegance (Stampin' Up)
Paper:   Almost Amethyst, Mellow Moss (Stampin' Up)
Ink:   Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Mellow Moss (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Scalloped Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Crimper, White Half Pearls, Raffia, Dimensionals 

Second Card:
What's In It?
Stamps:  The Art of Life (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst Mellow Moss (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Regal Rose, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Black (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Scalloped Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Crimper, White Half Pearls, Raffia, Dimensionals 

Mojo Monday #291

It's round or square week over on the Mojo Monday blog and I have great fun working with the banners on this sketch.

Of course, a round card was my default for this week, but loving the square version as well so made one of each.  I'll show you the second one later this week.

I pulled out some gorgeous In Bloom MME papers for the banners and and used this wonderful sentiment from Dream Big.  The reality of the sentiment was brought to heart when one of my best friend's sister passed away this month and we attended her memorial service this weekend.  We never know when we will see someone for the  last time and thus need to make sure we tell them we love them, or ask for forgiveness, or compliment them on something they have done etc. so you have no regrets when that option is no longer available. 

You can check out all the challenge details over on the Mojo Monday blog and also get a chance to view all the wonderful Mojo Makers samples!  Should you wish more details on their cards, you can also visit their individual blogs noted below.

Carole Burrage

Debbie Carriere

Julee Tilman (Owner)

Marisa Ritzen (you are here)

Mary Fish

Sarah Biglow

Teresa Kline

Stephanie Kraft

Wanda Cullen

My crazy schedule continues, though one big project is out of the way - phew!   Was thrilled my hubby got the coaching position for my son's soccer team and my son is beyond excited to have daddy coaching him :)

Thanks for popping by and have a fabulous week everyone!




What's In It?
Stamps: Dream Big (Verve) 
Paper:  In Bloom (My Mind's Eye), Going Grey and Cameo Coral (Stampin' Up) 
Ink: Black 
Accessories: Scalloped Circle, Circle, Scalloped Oval and Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), 5/8" Sheer Grey Ribbon,  Mini Rolled Rose Die (My Favorite Things), Liquid Pearls, Glue Dot, Dimensionals

Lucky Shamrock

Welcome to week three of Verve's VLV March sketches.  Diva Maureen is our hostess this week and she has provided a wonderful inspiration picture and sketch for us to work with.  Green is my favorite colour so I'm enjoying bringing on the green :)

In honor of Diva Maureen's birthday on Sunday (St. Patrick's Day), shamrocks took center stage.  I used the background paper in the picture as my launching point and pulled out some Scenic Route paper that had a similar pattern.  Next, I used use Verve's Lucky You set which ever so conveniently has a "lucky you" sentiment, and of course, had to add a shamrock (which I die cut with the matching Shamrock die set).  Some yummy, dark brown ribbon added a pop of colour against the green and I just had to add the arrow to reinforce the point of "how lucky you are".

Would love you to join us over on the SCS Verve Forum.  As an added bonus, if you get all four of this month's sketches completed and uploaded by midnight CST on Thursday, March 28th, you will be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the Verve store!  Worth playing for in my books (but then of course I am just a "tad" biased LOL)!

Have a fabulous day and wishing all my Irish followers and any St. Patrick's Day babies out there a fun weekend of celebrating :)

Challenges:
-  Flourishes - Go Green
-  Bellie Challenge - Green



What's In It?
Stamps: Lucky You (Verve) 
Paper:  Scenic Route DP, So Saffron, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up) 
Ink:  Old Olive, Black 
Accessories:  Shamrock Die Set and Arrow Die (A Cut Above by Verve), Scalloped Circle and Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), 5/8" Brown Satin Ribbon, Button, Twine, Glue Dots, Dimensionals