July Viva la Diva Announced

Hi y'all.  It's the official end to our July VLV challenges and I'm here to announce the big winner! Thanks to all who played along, it's such fun peeking into your blogs and galleries throughout the month!

Our July 2015 Viva la Diva is:

Jen from 3 Cats and a Bug
Congrats Jen!
Send an email to contests@vervestamps.com to receive your $100 e-gift voucher to the Verve store.

I'll be back in the morning with our first August challenge.  Until then, here's a look back at this month's challenges, plus a last look at all of our July VLV entries!  Thanks so much for playing along with us!

JUL Week 1 {7.3.15} JUL Week 2 {7.10.15} JUL Week 3 {7.17.15} JUL Week 4 {7.24.15} JUL Week 5 {7.31.15}

Viva La Verve July Week 5 Recap and Viewfinder

Hi everyone! Julee here popping in with the final VLV recap for July and a little spotlight on a few of my favorite link-ups from this past week!
  

We've had 5 July sketches... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list.  (This month's deadline is 8pm Mountain on Thursday, August 6.) The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.  Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  

In case you missed it, here is Jen's sketch for this week's challenge:

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

For my card for last Friday, I used lots of panels patched together.  For today's card I simplified things, using a ruler and  a waterbrush to take my birthday Zig Clean Color brush markers for a test drive.  Here's the result...

by Julee Tilman using the Floral Notes and Small Phrases sets

Here are a few wonderful cards I spied in the link-up this week...

Love how Ellen Parker turned the sketch into a shaker - a coffee shaker no less! Pure goodness!

This card by Hillary Harris has me wishing for bouquets of sharpened pencils.  Those apples look good enough to eat!

Love how Nancy Thomas used a stitched die for a clean & simple approach to the sketch. And her color combo is so calm and refreshing.

This warm and sunny card by Nancy Leppek definitely deserves a shout out.  I'm totally craving a Sunny D now! 

Thank you all for sharing your wonderful creations with us! Be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new sketchy inspiration for the month of August!

Viva la Verve July 2015 Week 5 Sketch

Welcome to our July Week 5 Viva la Verve Sketch!

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Here is the Week 5 sketch....

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

This week's sketch was inspire by the front of one of the paper pads I had on my work desk. :) I really liked the horizontal stripes and the way you had a peek at lots of patterns... a perfect way to use up scraps!

I used Sparkly Dreams, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set, and Shine Bright Sequin Mix. The patterned papers are from a paper pad that I lost the cover too and was down to scraps - it was the perfect candidate! 

By Jen Shults using Sparkly Dreams, Sprightly Sprigs Die Set, and Shine Bright Sequin Mix. 

Here's a gorgeous sample from Maureen!

By Maureen using Floral Notes, Floral Notes Die Set, and Shine Bright Sequin Mix.

And this gorgeous sample from Julee.

By Julee Tilman featuring Coffee, Get Together, and The Buzz

Viva La Verve July Week 4 Recap and Viewfinder

Welcome back to July's Viva la Verve sketches!
 

Marisa here with this week's recap and Viewfinder for July's Viva La Verve Week 4 sketch by Maureen. 
 

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Here is the Week 4 sketch....

 

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

Here is my take on Maureen's sketch

  

I found this MME Alphabet Soup paper and built the card from there.  Used the Tagged Rectangle die for my sentiment panel using Lean On Me and paired it with this cute flower from Making A Statement using the matching Loopy Blooms.  I crimped the red panel for some dimension - though it is hard to see in the photo, and added a few pops of black and a scalloped edge to balance things off.

Here are a few cards from the gallery using Maureen's sketch which caught my eye.

 

Christine's use of the Birthday To You Plain Jane on kraft stands out so nicely against the black and white, and her flower is a beautiful accent.

Love the gold, black and white colour combination Ellen used for her card and how she created the beautiful flower collage using Poinsettia Christmas (retired). 

Inge's use of the sparkly silver paper for the double rings and a sequin strip is darling.

Be sure to join us on Friday for our fifth and final sketch for July 2015! 

Viva la Verve July 2015 Week 4 Sketch

Welcome to our July Week 4 Viva la Verve Sketch!

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Here is the Week 4 sketch....

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

If this sketch looks a little familiar, it is!  I based it on THIS card I made earlier this month for the Diva Inspirations Blog Hop.  I had fun adding some elements using the new The Buzz stamp and die sets along with the older Tag Time set and Happy Birthday plain jane (links to all the stamps and dies are listed below my photo).  I added a doily layer 'cause that's where my mood was taking me! HA!

This is an early birthday shout out to our wonderfully talented Julee who 
celebrates her birthday tomorrow, July 25th!

by Maureen featuring The Buzz, Happy Birthday Plain Jane, Tag Time,
The Buzz Die Set, Tagged Rectangle Die

And here is a super fun sample from the birthday girl herself, Julee!

by Julee featuring Birthday Bots, Birthday Bash, Tagged Rectangle Die and 
the Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set

Viva la Verve July Week 3 Recap and Viewfinder

Hi everyone! Jen here with the July Week 3 Recap!

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Just as a reminder, here's our week 3 sketch!

Here's the card I created with Stacey's awesome sketch:

I pulled out one of my favorite Plain Janes, You Make Me Smile and used it as the focal point of my card. I love this soft color scheme of kraft, lime green, sky blue and soft yellow. It seems to always work when I get a bit of color block. :) For the banners on my card I used the Flag It Die Set - one of my all time favorite die sets! My flower clusters are some Prima flowers I just have all dumped into a bin so I don't know the exact names of the packets they came from. I added a couple of wood veneer hearts from Studio Calico and a few tiny pearls from Recollections.

Click here for our July Challenge Entry For

Here are a couple of gorgeous cards I found in the gallery using this week's sketch...

Nancy used such a gorgeous color scheme for her card and really captured the sketch well.

Ellen's super cute little skunk caught my eye right away!

Lori's wonderful clean lines and bold background pattern work beautifully together.

Thank you all for sharing your wonderful creations with us! Be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new inspiration for our THIRD Viva La Verve July sketch! Thanks for popping by today!

Viva la Verve July 2015 Week 3 Sketch

Welcome to our July Week 3 Viva la Verve Sketch!

Julee here, typing up the post for Stacey, who is this week's sketch designer.

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Here is the Week 3 sketch....

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

And here's the lovely card Stacey's sketch is based on...

by Stacey Schafer using The Buzz stamp set and The Buzz Die Set

 And here's a little inspiration from Maureen and myself...

by Maureen Plut using Take Note and the Butterfly Dreams Die Set

by Julee Tilman using Floral Notes stamp set and Floral Notes Die Set

Viva la Verve July Week 2 Recap and Viewfinder

Hello friends, Amber here with this week's recap!

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Just as a reminder, here's our week 2 sketch!

And here's a card I created!

I sure do love that Sparkly Dreams stamp set and coordinating Butterfly Dreams dies! The tags are from the new Flourished Tags die set. I also stamped the diamond background from Deco Borders in versamark and embossed them in Liquid Platinum on the black stripes of the patterned paper! Fun way to add an extra POP to your card :)

Click here for our July Challenge Entry For

Now lets see a couple beauty's I found in the link up so far!

First up is this beauty by Rosemary!

I sure love the Shining Star stamp set she used and that amazing polka dot star! Fabulous colors Rosemary, love it!

Next is this gorgeous card by Hillary!

Love that stripey background and the beautiful Psalm 94:18 Plain Jane she used.

One more quick card by Nancy!

I love these bright, happy colors and the ever fabulous Floral Notes stamp set and matching Floral Notes die set!

Thank you all for sharing your wonderful creations with us! Be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new inspiration for our THIRD Viva La Verve July sketch! Thanks for popping by today!

Viva La Verve July 2015 Week 2 Sketch

Welcome back to July's Viva la Verve sketches!

Marisa here with this week's sketch, Viva La Verve July Week 2. 

We'll have 5 July challenges... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list. The link list will be up for the whole month and we'll choose a random winner at the end of the month to win a $100 gift voucher to Verve. Challenge rules can be found on the Rules tab at the top of the blog or by clicking here.  You don't have to complete all of the sketches to win, but the more cards you enter, the greater your odds of winning.   Verve stamps are not required to play, but we do love to see 'em!  We'll also be highlighting a couple of our favorite link-ups each Tuesday, so be sure to get your links in if you're crafting over the weekend.

Here is the Week 2 sketch....

Click here for our July Challenge Entry Form

Here's my take on this week's sketch...

I dug though my papers and found this fun piece by Cosmo Cricket called Fairy Rings.  Loved the colour combination and fresh, fun feel it gives.  Paired it with a lilac doily, Verve's new Flourished Tag Die Set, a sentiment from Floral Notes, and wonderful blue bells from Framed Florals and their matching Bluebell die.   

 And to get you even more inspired, here are some gorgeous samples from Julee, Stacey and Charmaine.

 

Julee created this beauty using Floral Notes and Deco Borders, along with the Flourished Tag Die Set and Signature Ribbon Collection.

Stacey created this layered masterpiece using Strong Anchor with coordinating Nautical Die Set and  Flourished Tag Die Set.

Charmaine created is wonderful, bright and cheery card using Happy Place and matching Happy Doodles die set, along with the Flourished Tag Die Set.

In addition, today is the beginning of our July Diva Inspirations Hop! Hop along for a chance to win some Verve and if you participate by creating a card using the Sensational Stripes theme, your chances of winning are doubled :)  You can find all the Hop details are on the Verve Blog.