December Diva Dare-Day 2

"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 everyone, it is Teresa; and I am a addicted to Verve....lol. Seriously, I adore my Verve Stamps and anticipate each and every release. I knew I would not be able to narrow this down to a couple. I have been with Julee and Verve Stamps since 2009 and getting new Verve Stamps in the mail is still a highlight for me. I adore all of the Plain Jane scripture stamps and now Julee has combined some of them into larger sets.....I luv this idea, you can get yours here. Are you ready for my favorites? I adore Polka Stars, I used it in my card today. I have a thing for hearts, so Wild Thing is another favorite of mine and many, many more......Whimsy Tree Plain Jane, Wishful Elegance, Snow Wonderful, Feel The Sun, Love's Flower, Dream Big, Love Notes, You and I, Wings of Love, Lean On Me, Holiday Greetings, Let It Be, Poppy Birthday, and Unto Us. 

So, you can see my list is quite long and there are tons more I like as well. You really cannot go wrong with Verve and I look so very forward to 2014 and what Julee will share! I have used the Mojo Monday sketch for my card today, I used the Verve Stamp set Shining Star for the main circle panel. I a also going to share a few of my favorite cards from this year.

No Matter What

 Surely Goodness

 Let It Be

 Take Note

Poppy Birthday 

Unto Us

I hope you are still with me, below are my answers to "The Diva Fab Five Questionnaire". Let us know if you decide to respond to the questionnaire too, I would luv to read your answers!

What are your three favorite Verve products? I mentioned lots of stamps above, but another favorite of mine are The Cut Above Dies by Verve, The Banner Bundle, Classy Label Die, and Jotted Heart Die are just a few. 

What is your current go-to color combo? I luv color, when I was a teenager my room was decorated in rainbows. I adore green, any shade; aqua, jade, mint, olive, and turquoise and the list goes on and on. I am really luvin grey as of lately and like paring it with aqua, peach, and pink. I like using black and brown for a pop with my colors.

What is your current go-to embellishment? Ribbon, preferably seam binding; Verve Ribbon Collections are stunning! I also luv using Washi Tape, Carnival Tickets, and Enamel Dots...oh, and always a little glitter...teehehehe.

What is your favorite stamping or organizational tool? My favorite stamping tool is my SU Distressing Tool..hands down. I use the SU DVD style cases for storing my Verve Stamps, luv these too. I also like my Quickutz magnetic folders for storing my dies. 

What is your favorite treat to eat while stamping? I enjoy my coffee, I use Starbucks Veranda Blond Blend K-Cups with Truvia and Fat Free Sweet Italian Cream. I also like Godiva Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Truffles.

Look forward to seeing everyones' favorite Verve card from 2013 or a new creation using their favorite Verve set!  Good luck choosing just one 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 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.

Spotlight on Jessie Rone

Hi everyone! I'm back for another Guest Diva Spotlight. Today we're highlighting the fabulous Jessie Rone!

Jessie (knightrone on SCS) has been on my list of favorite designers for quite some time. She has such a fabulous style - always polished, a great eye for color and gorgeous embellishments -- what more could a girl ask for? I just adore the cards she created for our release, so let's get started!

First up is this beautiful card using the new Frosty Flakes set. I just love the monochromatic blues, and the way that big beautiful bow ties it all up like a present. So lovely!


When/how did you get hooked on stamping? I got hooked on stamping in 2001 or 2002 when the lady I worked for decided to become a Stampin’ Up demonstrator. I loved it, but I didn’t REALLY get into it until I quit working in 2007. One day I decided to go to the Splitcoast Stampers website, and that day I played in my first challenge. The rest is history!!

How often do you stamp? I used to get to stamp everyday, and I could now if I could get more organized, but I am NOT. I usually get to stamp about 2 or 3 times a week. I need to work on that though!!

What's your favorite embellishment or finishing detail?
Choosing one would be like trying to chose my favorite niece or nephew, but I don’t think that there is anyone out there that doesn’t know how much I LOVE my spiral clips and ribbon!! I also have a hard time making a card without piercing…it is a sickness!!

Okay, time for a little eye candy intermission. I think this is one of my favorite cards from this release. I just love the softness and the elegant lines of the ribbons and piercing, plus the way she's highlighted this sentiment from Star of Wonder is just beautiful!



How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with?Depends on the card or project and how the whole process went. If it goes well, and things fall into place, about an hour. After two hours, I am never happy with what I make, so I try to keep it to less than that!!

Tell me about your creative space. My space is very organized and I LOVE it, but during a project it becomes and unruly mess. Also, on days where I make a LOT of projects, I TRY to clean between each one, and it works most of the time. I used to have to put everything away in between projects, but I am better about that now.

What is your usual starting point for a project? I would say besides stamp set, a sketch is my go to point for starting a card. I am a SUCKER for a good sketch, so anytime I can use one I am all for it!!

Time for one last card from Jessie. This one uses the new Christmas in the Air and I just adore the way she's layered her grove of trees, each pieced with a different designer paper. And that fluffy white snow? What's not to love?!!



What is your biggest source of inspiration? My biggest source of inspiration is definitely other stampers. I love blog hopping and surfing the SCS gallery, although I rarely get time to do it anymore. I get inspired by things I see when I am out and about too, a cute color scheme, and interesting picture, an old friend….just about anything.

Who in the crafting world do you most admire and why? It is hard to chose just one person, because I love all my stamping friends and think that they are all amazingly talented. If I had to chose one, it would be Jodi Collins(kharmagirl). She was one of the first people to reach out to me on SCS, and is the most amazing person, not to mention CRAZY talented. She is the best friend a girl could ask for and is ALWAYS there when I need her!!

What is your favorite set from this release? Definitely Holly Jolly, those ornaments just GET me!!

Okay, that wraps up our Guest Diva Spotlights for this release. I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about this fabulous stamper as much as I have! To see the rest of the projects Jessie made for our release, you can check out her Guest Diva album in our gallery, or visit her blog, Can You Say Addicted to Stamps?, for her newest creations. I just loved all her gorgeous creations for our release and she was so much fun to work with. Be sure to give her a little shout out for all her hard work!

Thanks for stopping by!

---

Project Parade--Day 5!

Hi everyone, it's me, Susan! I'm so excited to share my Anything But a Card Project Parade creation with you today! Ever since I saw THIS Accordian Tag that Sharon Johnson of No Time to Stamp? made, I kept going back to look at it over and over again just to stare at it in awe (and wondering just when the heck I would have time to make one for myself!). I just love it!
So I knew this assignment would be the perfect "excuse" to sit down and create one to add to my family's Christmas decor this year. I did take Sharon's advice and picked a shorter phrase (LOL--wink!), but her instructions were super easy to follow and pare down for my needs.
I used both of the new snow related sets from Verve called Snow Wonderful and Snowflake Splendor and even pulled out an old favorite of mine (one of my first Verve sets, as a matter of fact, and still a favorite), Polka Stars (makes me want to dance).
I kept adding and embellishing until I found a "happy stopping point" and I am just pleased as punch over how it turned out! I truly hope you get a chance to play with us in our challenge...I had been craving a "project" to work on as opposed to a card and this totally fit the bill!

Wanna play along? All you have to do is create Anything but a Card and link up your creation to THIS POST by noon on Friday, December 5th. You don’t have to use Verve Stamps, but if you have them, why not give them some love? If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword VVPP08 so we don’t miss your eye candy! A random participant will be drawn on December 6th to receive $15 in Verve Bucks to spend at the Verve Stamps store! Good luck and have fun!

Happy Birthday, Dear Julee!

My ATC for this month's Verve Project Parade was inspired by the Tippy-Top Diva herself, none other than the one and only Julee Tilman. How, you ask? Well, let me tell you. # 1. She's a rockstar! Who else do you know that designs such fabulous graphics and combines them with the greatest sentiments known to stamping kind? #2. It's her birthday! Happy, happy birthday, Julee!

Be sure to check out the other Verve Divas' blogs, because they have a little something special up their sleeves for Julee! We're having a Mojo-licious birthday party and the gals are picking their favorite Mojo Monday sketch to create a birthday card for Julee. Want to join the fun? Then go to this post on the Verve Member Company Forum on SCS for the details how to play along. Did I mention that one lucky participant will win the Verve set of her choosing? I didn't? It's true!

Now, on to my ATC. I agree with what Amber said yesterday: making ATCs are strangely satisfying! And they're just so dang cute, too! I don't know how I came up with this strange color combo. I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo, but the background card stock isn't white -- it's actually PTI's Aqua Mist. So I've got Green Galore, Aqua Mist and Basic Black -- weird, but I think it has a good rocker vibe to it. Reminds me of something that Jeffrey or now Stella from Project Runway would throw together (sooo love that show and I'm thrilled a new season has just started!). I used the Swirly and Polka Stars set, as well a sentiment from the first Verve set I ever bought, Starlight Starbright. The focal image and sentiment were heat embossed with black embossing powder. I had some jump rings on my desk from a different project I was working on, so I decided to throw it on here, too, and make a little tag. I'm liking those little things all over again!

The weekend's ahead, and it's too darn hot to do anything outside these days. Instead, why don't you stay in the cool comfort of your stamping space and join our cyber ATC parade? Check out this post for the details and to find out how to win $15 in Verve Bucks!

Supplies used:
Stamps: Swirly Stars, Polka Stars, Starlight Starbright
Paper: Basic Black, Green Galore (SU!), Aqua Mist (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine
Accessories: black embossing powder, ribbon, oval punch, Junkitz Jump Ringz, foam mounting tape, ticket corner punch, brads from Queen & Co.

So Very Inspired...

Man, all these projects from my fantabulous team mates are a tough act to follow! Fortunately, I was greatly inspired by this fab color combo...that I would have never thought of on my own. I love to see where/how people get inspired. I am actually on the mailing list for several catalogs, just so that I can see colors, themes and potential layouts. It's amazing how a catalog bedroom can get you stampin'!

I created a couple cards to go with this combo...


Here's my Vervi-view...

1. When/how did you get hooked on stamping? Many moons ago, I was introduced to stamping. But, it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I got hooked. My neighbor's little boy came knocking on our door on Halloween. He was actually giving treats to the houses he went to...a stamped bag topper and bag of caramels. Let's just say that I got in touch with his mom real fast and my pocketbook has never been the same!

2. How often do you stamp? Just about everyday. There are days that I just need a break from the creative processes, usually those are Sundays when I get to hang out with the family.

3. Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury. I have actually drawn blood more than once. I cut myself on my paper cutter from time to time, but that is not the worst of it! LOL! I dropped an acrylic block on my foot. The corner of the block hit smack down on the center of the top of my foot. I didn't think anything of it immediately, but then as I was working, I felt "something." That something was blood running down my foot!!

4. How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with? Too long. I am so slow!

5. I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space. Neat and organized until I get going. Until VERY recently, I could not go to bed with a messy desk. Someway, somehow, I have gotten over that. Maybe it's the fact that when I am done, I am done...and that is often in the a.m.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, which craft tool could you not live without? Why? Just one? Can't I have a bag of tools? Paper cutter, piercer, Cuttlebug and punches. I figure I could use these to build a boat and sail back to my stamps, ink and paper.

7. What is your biggest source of inspiration? EVERYTHING! Color, themes, a single sheet of DP. Of course having wonderful stamping friends, and stamps doesn't hurt either!

8. Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why? I can't say that I idolize any one person in the world of stamping, although there are several that I dearly respect. When it comes to crafting overall, I would love to be a Martha...minus the "anklet" that she was sporting for a while. She has built an empire around just being Martha.

9. What is your favorite part of the creative process? When that "lightbulb" goes off. I love those "a-ha" moments!!!

****
Ok, if you stuck with me through that, you deserve to know how to win $15 in Verve Bucks!! All you have to do is play in this Vervalicious challenge with us! Leave a comment with a link to your project on this post by 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Time on June 21st, and you will be entered for a chance to win! Using Verve stamps is not a requirement, although it doubles your chance of winning. We will have two winners, one randomly drawn from a pool of all entries, the other will be selected as our favorite from all the projects using Verve stamps. Both winners will receive $15 in Verve Bucks. We will announce the winners later that day.

When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword VVPP03.

Simple & Bright

Using bright colors on your card is one way to give it some "wow" without going overboard on the layers and embellishments. Those things are really fun to use, but sometimes, you just need to whip out a card that you don't have a lot of time to sit and putz with.

Designer paper is another way you can add some pizazz to an otherwise simple card. This bright polka dot star paper (American Craft) just scream FUN! Who wouldn't love getting this card in the mail? I combined the paper with the perfect stamp set, Polka Stars. I stamped two different sized stars on cardstock (Real Red and Cool Caribbean) with Whisper White ink. I used my new SU star punch to punch out the large star and I cut the little star out by hand.

The sentiment was stamped on a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock with Versafine Black Onyx ink, and was punched out with the word window SU punch.

The yellow paper was simply the backside of the star paper! I used my paper piercer to pierce holes along the edges of the strip.

This card came together in literally 10 minutes--you have to love simplicity like that. Anyone can make a card like this one and feel like a winner, even though it didn't take you all afternoon to make it. But no one has to know, do they? It will be our little secret!

Stamps: Polka Stars, (Verve Visual)
Paper: Certainly Celery and Real Red (Stampin' Up), American Craft
Ink: Whisper White (Stampin! Up), Versafine Black Onyx
Accessories: Paper piercing, dimensional tape , Stardust Gel Pen


Be sure to check out the post below this one to see the winners of our Honored Guest Contest!

Variety Is the Spice of Life

I am truly a fan of variety -- so much so that I always want to order the "sampler platter" at a restaurant so I can try various dishes. You don't have to look too hard around here for variety! Take, for example, Laurie's wonderfully soft and flirty card that she presented yesterday. Wasn't it gorgeous? And today, for variety's sake, I have something bold and bright to share.

My inspiration for this piece came from the combination of stars with dots. How could one resist using this American Crafts patterned paper for this project? The Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest helped add continuity to the dot theme.

A design genius, Julee made sure that the Fiskars squeeze star punches and the Stampin' Up! star punches fit the stars perfectly. After stamping and punching, two stars were added to the top and one to the bottom of the card using dimensional adhesive for a little 'pop'.

Supply List:
Stamps: Polka Stars, Swirly Stars (Verve Visual)
Paper: Celebration Collection (American Crafts); Caribbean Breeze (Bazzill Smoothies)
Ink: VersaMagic Chalk Aloe Vera (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Large Squeeze star punch (Fiskars); Leaves Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest); dimensionals

If you're also a fan of variety, you'll want to make sure you have all five of the great sets that were just released. As Lila mentioned earlier this week, you only have until Thursday the 24th to get these sets in the money-saving launch pack and save $18!

Stay tuned for a creative gem from Jen tomorrow. Happy Stamping!

Look at all these STARS!

I don't know about you guys, but I have thoroughly enjoyed all the eye candy that our Guest Designers have given us!! If you haven't checked out their creations, make sure you look at the last few days here on the Verve blog and post some love for them!

When I sat down to make a project for you, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! These stars (and the way all 3 star sets work together) are perfect for a One Sheet Wonder! Now, I will say that I didn't get all the way through because let's face it...I just don't have that kind of attention span. But I have 3 cool and simple cards for you, all made with about a 1/2 sheet of cardstock.

First I randomly stamped stars of all sizes and patterns from Polka Stars and Seeing Stars on a piece of Georgia Pacific White cardstock in Brilliance Graphite Black Ink. After a blast with my heat gun, I colored them with Copics that match Cameo Coral, Apricot Appeal, So Saffron, Soft Sky, and Certainly Celery. Then I cut my cardstock into 2 pieces measuring 2 1/8" x 5 1/2", and then 3 rectangles measuring 1 1/2" x 2".

I then matted them onto Basic Black cardstock and added some details like piercing, ribbon, and doodling, and then sentiments from all three sets. I wanted them to be very simple, so I didn't add much "stuff"...I think it gives the stars center stage, don't you?

Here's a close up of the cards:




I hope you enjoyed my project, and I'd love to see what you're doing with your Verve Stamps! So feel free to post a link in the comments here for us all to take a peek at your creativity!

Have a fabulous day and stay tuned for more mojo from the Verve Team!

Guest Designer: Kim Reid

Today's guest designer is my good blogging friend, Kim Reid! Kim is not only an extremely talented and inspirational scrapbooker, she also makes the most fabulously adorable cards and altered projects. Her recent love of all things Magnolia has produced some jaw-dropping creations, that you should check out on her blog, Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner. I always love dropping in to see what she's been spinning her creative magic on. I'm sure you're dying to check out her Polka Stars creations and read her answers to my nosy questions, so let's get on with it. You can click the photos below to see Kimmie's creations close-up with an ingredient list.

How did you get hooked on stamping? My first love is actually scrapbooking. I have a gorgeous daughter who is the light of my life and has had flash bulbs going off in her little face for the last 15 years....she's used to it! So I had decided to get creative with all these photos sitting in albums and started to scrap. I had been finding my way around that creative path when someone invited me to a Stampin' Up workshop and went, thinking the whole time that I would NEVER buy stamps just to make my own cards!! Never gonna happen!!! Well, then she showed me how I could used them in my scrapbooks....the background stamps, the alphabets, the coordinating papers.....oh my!!! And the rest, as they say, is history......or rather, my bank account, as they say, is empty!!! And a stamper was born!!!

How often do you stamp? Every stinkin' spare minute I can find!!! And with my job at the library, a house to keep running and a teenager to run around town, that's not easy!!!

Do you have your own stamping space or do you share it with the cat, dining room, coat closet, etc . ? I am fortunate enough to have the spare bedroom turned into my studio!! Unfortunately, now we can't have guests sleep over, but oh well!! I don't want people stayin' that long anyway.........baaaahahahaha!! Really though, they have to sleep on a futon on the floor......priorities people!!!

Do you stay true to a stamping budget, or are you swayed by all the enabling out in stampland? Oh good grief....is my husband gonna see this??? I don't have a budget.......I try to do my best to support the stamping economy, so I'm easily enabled and I, in turn, make sure to enable others!!! I mean, what would happen if all of a sudden all the stamp and scrapbook stores closed up and disappeared???? You'd all come over to my house, that's what!!!

What is the latest stamping toy you've picked up that just made your heart go pitter patter? My new Copic markers!! Aaaahhhh!!! I got some for Christmas and I've barely had a chance to use them, but I know I'm going to need LOTS of practice. Better go get started!!!

Name one stamp or stamp set that you don't think you'll ever part with. I will never part with Roses in Winter by Stampin' Up because it makes a super elegant card in just a matter of minutes for any occasion. Also my latest love is Magnolia stamps.....as you can tell by my blog......and I can't EVER see parting with any of them. I collect them like some people collect figurines!!

What do you love most about papercrafting? I will always be forever grateful for the amazingly generous and creative people that I have met through this hobby/addiction!! I have awesome friends all over the globe that I have never 'met' in person, but have shared online relationships with and it makes my stamping life a true joy!!


What do you consider to be your stamping strengths? Geez, that's a tough one. I don't think I really have a strength. I'm trying to improve in every area of my stamping. But maybe I'd say ..... embellishing in just the right way. When friends are stamping they always ask me, 'what else does this need?' and I usually suggest adding some ribbon here, or a metal embellishment there....maybe a sentiment in here or whatever.

Who is your stamping hero (someone whose work inspires you challenge yourself creatively)? Man, just head on over to Splitcoast and pick a random user!! They ALL inspire me every day....that's why I practically live on SCS!!! It's too hard to pick just one. I'm constantly blog hopping and drooling over all the amazing talent out there. That's what keeps my motivated, practicing, constantly learning and creating!!!

So isn't Kim's work beautiful, and what about her gorgeous daughter? Be sure and leave a little love for Kim and her fabulous work before you leave. Okey dokey, that wraps up our Guest Designer Spotlight series for this month. We'll see ya tomorrow, when Shannan kicks off our series of Project Parade posts by the Verve Design team to give you even more fabulous ideas for using the latest Verve stamps!

Verve Release Day!

Woohoo! It's finally release day! We've got five fantastic sets releasing that will have you singing and stamping like a star. The Design Team has done such a fabulous job with all the sneak peeks that you all probably know all the vital stats of these sets by now. So I'll tell you something you might not know....

First off, the Design Team has uploaded tons of mojolicious creations to the Verve Gallery. You'll want to hop over there and drool away while you wait for your new Verve sets to arrive! And if you must know the details on this groovy card I'm posting, you can check it out in the Polka Stars gallery.

Second, since we know you're going to have a hard time choosing between all of these fabulous stamps, we've decided to offer you a great deal on the whole shebang! For a limited time, we're offering a Hearts & Stars Launch Pack that includes all five of the January photopolymer releases (Wild Thing, Heart to Heart, Polka Stars, Swirly Stars and Seeing Stars) for only $60. That's an $18 savings over the regular price of this collection -essentially you're getting 5 sets for the price of four! Woohoo! This special price is only valid January 10 - 24, while supplies last. When they're gone, they're gone, so don't miss out on this great chance to save some serious moulah!

Next up, we have 5 fabulous Guest Designers who created some gorgeous projects this month that I'll be sharing with you over the next few days. I've asked them a few (okay, maybe a little more than a few) questions that I'm sure all of your inquiring minds want to know. I'll be sharing their answers and projects with you, so keep checking back. Here's what you've got to look forward to...

Friday, January 11 - Ana Wohlfahrt and her Seeing Stars creations
Monday, January 14 - Karrie Baker and her Wild Things creations
Tuesday, January 15 - Julie Campbell and her Swirly Stars creations
Wednesday, January 16 - Paula Goff and her Heart to Heart creations
Thursday, January 17 - Kim Reid and her Polka Stars creations

Then, starting Friday the 18, you're in for another round of daily posts from the Design Team with more fabulous ideas on ways to make the most of these fabulous new sets. I've got something very special up my sleeve for January 31 that you won't want to miss, and then we start it all over again with another 10 day preview of the February 10 releases!

Okay, I'll be back tomorrow with some stunning creations by the oh-so talented Ana Wohlfahrt!

Light

When I first received Verve Visual's new sets, I couldn't decide what to make first. . .a card, a 3D item, a scrapbook page. I found the sentiments in the sets perfect for each of those. This first card uses the Polka Stars set. This is a set of 7 with the uplifting sentiment of "You Light Up My Life". It's perfect for just letting someone know what they mean to you. Being that the 4th of July is my favorite holiday, I used a red, white and blue theme. I thought the "firecracker" theme would work well with the "light up." The paper is from the Daisy Bucket Rock Star Collection.

The second item I chose to create was a candle cover using chipboard coasters and the Swirly Stars set. I covered the punched out star opening with a window sheet and stamped "Let your light" on the window sheet. I stamped the last word of the sentiment, "Shine" on the candle cover. It looks really nice when you light a candle on the inside and it glows behind the sentiment. I also added some punched out stars over the top of the candle. There are so many things you can create with any of these new sets being released on January 10th! Hopefully you've been following this blog and have seen all of the wonderful creations the Design Team has posted so far. Keep coming back, because there's more in store for you!

SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Swirly Stars, Polka Stars (Verve Visual); Paper- Star Kissed, Rockstar (Daisy Bucket); Ink- Red Brick, Thatched Straw, Night Sky, Wheat, Jumbo Java (VersaMagic); Accessories- rust satin ribbon (May Arts), Navy grosgrain, large star punch, key tag punch, paper piercer, photo corner punch (SU), Bind It All, coasters star brad.

Shine On!

Talk about quality clear stamps! These new sets releasing in a few days are incredible to work with. They give deep, high-quality, great impressions, which makes it easier for me to forget all else but stamping with them!

This was the first design I came up with when I opened my new Verve Visual stamps. I ended up using at least one stamp from each of Swirly Stars, Polka Stars, and Seeing Stars, because I just couldn't contain myself to one set!

From looking at the previous sneak peaks on here, it would seem that a few of the same colors are calling out to the designers lately. I'm even showcasing the same sentiment that Shannan did before me!

Wanna know a secret? *Chuckle* I didn't have silver star brads so I colored some white star eyelets with a silver paint leafing pen! Worked like a charm. The sentiment is embossed with silver too, but it doesn't show up too well in this photo.

I hope you've enjoyed this little sneak peak. You won't believe the versatility of the FIVE new stamp sets being released on January 10th!

Stamps: Swirly Stars, Polka Stars, Seeing Stars

Paper: Chocolate chip, Barely Banana, Soft Sky, White (SU!)

Ink: Versamagic chalk, SU, Versamark

Accessories: silver EP, SU Ribbon, eyelets, pop dots

Let Your Light SHINE!

Finally it's my turn to tell you about the awesome new Verve stamps!! *wink* I have to tell you...the quality of the clear photopolymer stamps is amazing! This month's release has been so fun to prepare for because these stamps are so much fun to play with. Only 5 more days till you can order them all!!

I was at my LSS the other day and saw these Prima Crystals and immediately thought of this set. I am so thrilled that Julee designed a whole set of Polka Dot stars...love them. I also love that the stars work so well with Stampin Up's new large star punch. It makes my layering soooo much easier.

The weather here has been cold and yucky so I thought I'd bring a bit of Spring to our lives. Could you use some? There's no better color for Spring than my dearly departed Cool Caribbean. I brought her out to use with Pumpkin Pie and Certainly Celery, and finally added a pop of Basic Black.

This sentiment means so much to me...it reminds me of a quote from Akeelah and the Bee where she quotes Marianne Williamson. Are yall ready for total greatness??

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

My sister sent this to me, so when I saw this stamp, I fell in love. I hope you do too!!

Stamps: Polka Stars - Clear, Swirly Stars - Clear(Verve Visual)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Pumpkin Pie, Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!), White (Georgia Pacific)
Accessories: Star Punch (Stampin' Up!), Diamond Stickles, Offray Ribbon, Say it with Crystals (Prima), Corner Rounder (EK Success), Cropadile (We R Memory Keepers)