5th AnniVERVEsary Release Spotlight Hop-Day 1!!

The time we've all been waiting for has finally come! We're getting ready for a HUGE release with Verve on August 24th! We have so many stamps/dies releasing, that we'll be sneak peeking for a few days! We have SO much we want to share with you:)

Welcome to our Anni-VERVE-sary Spotlight Hops!  As many of you know, Verve is celebrating its 5th anniversary this month and the party is just getting started! Come join us over the next 9 days as we showcase the 23 new stamps and dies releasing from Verve! We'll be counting down the minutes and revealing all the new sets in our forum from 9-11pm Eastern on Friday, August 24, so make plans now to join us for our release party!

I have a couple cards to share with you today using today's featured stamps so lets get to it!

First up is this fun little banner card using a sentiment from With Love and the new Pennant Trim die! 

When Julee told us she was releasing trim dies, I wanted to SWOON! And she's really got a couple fun ones to start the collection:) You can see I've used the trim die behind the gray striped paper. I also used my Ribbon Banner die to create all the banners. See THIS post on the Verve blog to see how I create smaller banners using the one banner die. I used this weeks I Spy Sketch for the layout!

Next up is a card I made using the new Birthday to You Plain Jane. I love the size of this sentiment, big and bold!

I stamped the sentiment on a circle die cut and then outlined it with a black Copic. I like to do this when I don't want the added weight of an actual mat layer. I like how this looks better! I don't know where I got this color combo, either. I just kept grabbing papers and putting them together, haha!

I used the Pennant Trim die again, can you tell I love it?:) Oh, and the Ribbon Banner die too, lol...I told you, I can't stay away from banners *sigh*

I used this week's Deconstructed Sketch layout for this card.

 Come play along with us HERE on the Deconstructed Sketch blog!

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We've got a fun filled hop for you today! So let your fingers do the clicking and peek into the creative minds of Verve's talented Divas and Guest Divas as they give you a little tour of what's to come! Inspiration abounds, and so do the PRIZES! 

That's right! We've picked a mystery blog from today's hop and hidden a prize! So be sure to give a little shout out in the comment section as you hop around to each blog on the list. We’ll draw a random winner from all of the comments on the mystery blog to win today's featured sets and dies. Check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines.

Want even more chances to win? Head on over to the Verve SCS forum and play along in our Anni-VERVE-sary release challenges. Or hop on over to the Verve Blog to find out about our Verve Card Carnival, for a chance to win the entire new release (a $300+ value)!

1. Julee 8. Andrea 2. Laurie S. 9. Charmaine 3. Maureen 10. Janelle 4. Teresa 11. Betty 5. Tosh 12. Christyne {Guest} 6. Amber *You are HERE!* 13. Laurie W. {Guest} 7. Amy 14. Jen S. {Guest}

I have some fun news to share!!

I have been invited to join Corinna's team over at the Ribbon Carousel!!! I've been BUSTING at the seams to share my news:) They have the BEST selection of ribbon and other fun goodies, not to mention the RIBBON CAROUSEL! I can't wait to buy one (or 5...) and get my ribbon organized! I should take a picture of my current system so you can laugh along with me. My system is: Throw it in a basket. Yep, that's it! The real pain is trying to get ribbon back OUT of the basket, it comes out in one knotty ball! LOL! So yeah, I'm looking forward to getting a carousel;)

Okay, well I get to play along in this week's Ribbon Carousel Challenge! Every Tuesday a new challenge is posted, so check the RC blog often for new inspiration!

This week, we're being inspired by SUMMER!!

I inked up one of my favorite PI's for this card, this is Pucker Up! Isn't she cute? Who among us didn't have a lemonade stand in the summers when we were kids? I know I did! Well, I called it lemonade but I'm pretty sure it was mostly sugar, lol!!! I colored her up with my Copics and then cut her out to mount the pieces on the white rectangle.

How about that pink ribbon? That's May Arts 3/4" Pink V Striped ribbon! It ties bows like a dream and comes in alot of fun colors:) I used red bakers twine for the button. 

Well that's it from me today, now go see what the rest of the team did with this challenge!

RC Blog

Andrea Ewen

Sav O'Gwynn

Danielle Lounds

Jenny Peterson

Thanks for stopping by today, hope you have an amazing week:)

Let the good times roll!!!!!!!!

Well folks, the party over at Verve has BEGUN! We have a HUUUUUMONGOUS new release coming up on the 24th of this month, and a week of challenges leading up to it! Our official sneak peeks begin on Thursday this week, but I have a sneaky peek for you today as well;)

Diva Teresa and I are hosting the first challenge this week! We have fun little color challenge to kick off your week. Exact colors are not required but try to stay as true to the colors as possible!

Here's my sample...

Do you see anything NEW in there? I bet you do;) Just wait until you see this release, you are going to FREAK! I don't want to give away anything yet, so I'll just say all stamps and dies are by Verve, heehee;) 

I also used this month's SFYTT sketch for the layout! Verve is our sponsor this month, so you know I'm all over it;)

It's such a fabulous sketch! If you haven't played along yet, you still have the rest of the month! See this blog post for details!

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Back to the Verve release challenges: you have until 5PM Eastern on Friday, August 24 to complete the challenge and upload your creations with the provided keywords. We’ll draw a random winner from each challenge gallery to win a special prize package of new stamps and dies! Winners will be announced at our release party that night (you don’t need to be present to win). 

But that’s not all! Play along in all 5 of the challenges and then link your creations up in the Release Champions thread for a chance to win our entire new release (a $300+ value)! To be eligible, creations must be new (posted 8/13 or later) and you must make 5 total projects (no combining of challenges, please). Verve stamps are not required but we sure do love to see ‘em!!!

When loading to SCS, use the KEYWORD: VSAVS12A

Deconstructed Sketch No. 64

Hello! It's Thursday, woohoo! If you hadn't heard yet, I finally got a job and started on Monday! You know what that means? I get to truly look forward to Friday's and weekends again, lol! When you don't work, the days just blend in with each other and a weekend means nothing to me other than that my husband will be golfing instead of at work, doh! I'm loving my new job too, it's keeping me on my toes! But thankfully, I get off earlier than my last job so I have plenty time to come home and cook and then get crafty!

Today we have a new Deconstructed Sketch to share with you! This is a super fun sketch, I think you'll agree!

Here's my card using Forest Whimsy by Paper Smooches!

The papers are from the Oliver collection from Basic Grey. I just thought the colors would fit Jerome the Gnome quite well. I colored Jerome in with Copics and the rest is pretty self-explanatory:) The ribbon is from PTI.

Now make sure to visit my team mates to see what they've done with the sketch, thanks for stopping by today!! 

Amber Hight <----You are HERE!

Amy Sheffer 

Arielle Gordon

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

August Diva Inspirations Blog Hop!!

Hi there! I'm back today with more lovely VERVE inspiration! The Inspiration Diva's have a monthly hop, on the 5th of every month and extend the invitation to the rest of us Divas so I jumped on this one! I love pulling out older, unloved sets and putting a new spin on them. 

Today, I have a card to share using this past week's Mojo Monday sketch and the Joyful Blooms stamp set.

I've really been loving this Teresa Collins paper pad lately and don't plan on putting this paper away anytime soon, haha! I thought the flowers on the floral piece looked really close to our Joyful Blooms set, so that's why I went with that stamp set. 

I cut out three blooms with the Joyful Blooms die set and then stamped coordinating flowers from the Joyful Blooms stamp set. On the big pink one, I cut around the small flower a bit and popped those petals out. You gotta be careful doing this because it almost cut that middle flower out all the way, when I only meant to pop some of the petals out, haha. I added some buttons to the centers and then popped them up on dimensionals. I used a couple other Verve dies, you can see the Ribbon Banner die in the back (I actually cut two, so I could elongate the banner) and the Classy Label die behind the circular sentiment piece. 

Well, that's it from me! I hope you enjoyed my card using an oldie but a goodie:) Hopefully you're inspired to pull out some older sets that haven't see the daylight for awhile and give 'em a workout:) 

Thanks for stopping by today! Now hop on to ANDREA'S beautiful blog!

Here's the hop list in case you get bounced around a bit:)

	1. Betty	9. Andrea
	2. Jen d.	10. Janelle
	3. Jen T.	11. Laurie
	4. Julee	12. Maureen
	5. Sankari	13. Teresa
	6. Sony	14. Charmaine
	7. Susan	15. Christyne
	8. Amber *<---you are here*	16. Laurie

With a new month comes a new sale, and this month we're celebrating FIVE wonderful years of Verve! So in proper celebratory style, we've made some fantastic discounts on some wonderful product! Through August 31, save 10 - 50% off select stamps and dies. Everything is on sale while supplies last, so go ahead and treat yourself to one or two, or even FIVE stampy pleasures! {grin}

August Sketch for you to Try {SFYTT} Sponsored by Verve!

WooHoo! It’s the first Saturday of the month and we are kicking it off the right way…with a brand new sketch and another fabulous sponsor!

This month, my favorite company in the UNIVERSE is sponsoring our sketch challenge, Verve Stamps!! The store is jam packed with beautiful stamps and fun dies! 

Here's our sketch for August...

And here's my sample using a few goodies from Verve!

The sentiment is from Hope Blooms and the flowers and leaves are from Bloom and Grow.

I cut out the flowers with the Floral Circles die set and the leaves using the Elegant Leaves die.

This was SUCH a fun sketch to play with, I love it when a sketch just takes on a mind of it's own:) 

If you've never played with us before, here are the details!

Now go see what my SFYTT Sisters have created, I can't wait to see for myself!

Jen Del Muro and August Guest Peggy McCurry

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage **taking a break**
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

DS63 ~ New Mercies

Anybody want a new Deconstructed Sketch to play with? We have a fun one for you this week, check it out!

Here's my card using a stamp set called "New Mercies" from Verve!

The papers I used are from Prima, I forgot the name of the collection...I stamped the floral bunch from New Mercies on a piece of patterned paper and then the sentiment (also from New Mercies) on a piece of vanilla. Pretty simple card:)

Now check out the rest of my teammates creations!

Amber Hight <----You are HERE!

Amy Sheffer 

Arielle Gordon
Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

Rejects...

Hello out there! I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, I'm visiting my mom here in Montana and have a FABULOUS time:) I love it here so much. She lives in the mountains (actually the valley, surrounded by mountains) and I am loving this fresh, cool air! I'm not sure I'll be ready to go back to Arizona next week.

Anyways, since I had some time, and a bunch of cards I created for the latest Papercrafts mag call that were REJECTED (booohoo!), I figured I'd post them here in the interest of keeping some of my readers, heehee!

I give you...the rejects!
These first two cards were for the go-to sketches:

This one uses a a few Paper Smooches stamps and the heart from Verve's Wings of Love

This one uses some goodies from PTI

This one was for the "creative uses of sentiments". I admit, not all that "creative" with the sentiments, but I still love it:)

This one was for the Milestone birthdays call, I love this card:) Can't wait to find someone turning 16 so I can send it, heehee!

And the last one, for the masculine valentine's day card...yeah I know why this one wasn't chosen. Not very masculine, haha!

I showed my hubby this one, and asked him "what can I do to make this more masculine?" You know what he said? "Rub some dirt on it!" Yeah...don't think so buddy, LMBO! Also, is it just my hubby, or do all men open the card to see the inside before even looking at the outside? He's always dumbstruck that I don't have the inside done yet, lol!! I tell him I'll do the inside when I send it out!! *sigh* 

Anyhoo, I'm off to the lake with mom, some cousins, and grandma and grandpa! Have a fabulous weekend, friends!!

The Deconstructed Sketch No. 60

Good morning! Thursday is bringing us a new sketch from Jen, and you are going to LOVE it!

Here's DS60:

Lots of fun layers! Here's my card using some Verve!

The card base is Soft Stone and the layering mats are vanilla. The patterned papers are all from Be Amazed by MME (ALL 6x6 paper pads are on sale for only $3 at Eclectic Paperie!!! You gotta love a sale like that!;) I really love that collection! The tag was cut out with Verve's Tagged Rectangle Die. I stamped the grid from Tag Time lightly with gray ink and then stamped the sentiment from Words of Wisdom. The ribbon and flower dies are from PTI.

Well I hope you have some time to skip around my DT sister's blog to see what they've done with this sketch! I've seen them and they're amazing!!

Amber Hight <----You are HERE!

Amy Sheffer 

Arielle Gordon

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich

Judy Rozema, Guest Designer

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Pam Varnell

Sheri Gilson

July SFYTT sponsored by My Favorite Things!

Hi there! It's the first Saturday of the month and that means we have a new Sketch for you to Try (SFYTT)!! 

This month, we're being sponsored by My Favorite Things, isn't that exciting!!??! 

I love MFT and they just had a huge new release, so I'm going to be shopping this weekend;) Here's my card using the Umbrella Die and Stamp set!

I just LOVE the umbrella die in this set and all the matching sentiments. TONS of possibilities! I also used the Oval Stax 1 & 2 die-namics and the Fishtail Flags die-namics!  The papers are from the Be Amazing collection by MME and the kraft and ivory cardstock is from GinaK! 

Are you ready to play along {and have a chance at being the next Designer of the Month}? Here’s what you will need to know…

Now check out what the rest of my sister's have done with this sketch! Make sure to pop over to Holly Flores' (our July Guest Designer!) blog and give her some love!!

Jen Del Muro

Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage **taking a break**
Jen Tapler
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz