Just Give Me Stamps...

Verve New Stamps Spotlight Day 5 - Princess of Quite a Lot...

It's the fifth and final day of the Verve New Release Spotlight blog hops!  Today, we are showcasing an exciting NEW product...dies from Verve!  Oh yes, you read that right!  Verve is releasing their first die with coordinating stamp!! 

The first release from this new line (A Cut Above by Verve) is the Sweet Scalloped Tag die!  Oh, and wait until you see the awesome packaging that Julee came up with...complete with built in storage!!  So exciting!!  You can read all about it (and see photos and a step by step tutorial) over at the Verve Blog!

 

For my card, I went with a non-Christmas theme and created this fun little girl card!  I just ((LOVE)) this sentiment (from the new Munchkin Phrases) set!  I also used the new Sweet Scallop Tag (and coordinating die) combined with some My Mind's Eye paper (Alphabet Soup Girl Collection).

Just like all of the other New Stamps Spotlight posts this week, make sure you leave comments on the design team blogs to be entered to win the stamps/die that are being previewed today!  :-)

Tonight is an exciting night!  It's the Verve Release Party, and not only will there be lots of chatting, but all of the winners will be announced!  So, if you've been leaving comments this week on the design team blogs, make sure you stop by tonight to see if you've won!  If you haven't yet left comments, there is still time!  In order to be eligible to win, all comments need to be received by tonight at 7 pm Eastern.

Here is the list of design team members participating today:

1. Laurie  (that's me :-)
2. Charmaine
3. Lynda
4. Mercy
5. Amy
6. Shannan
7. Michelle
8. Jackie
9. Teresa
10. Sankari
11. Tosh
12. Amber
13. Jen d.
14. Andrea
15. Julee

Thanks SO much for stopping by today!  I hope you to see you tonight at the Release Party!  Hugs, Laurie

Verve New Stamps Spotlight Day 4 - Golden Christmas Joy...

It's Day 4 of the Verve new stamps spotlight and you are in for a real treat!  Today, we are previewing a set called Glad Tidings...and let me just say it is one FABULOUS set!  It's hard to pick a favorite from this release...but this set would probably be it for me!!  Oh who am I kidding...I say that about all of them!  LOL!

See what I mean??  Isn't that tag AMAZING!!?!?!  I actually embossed some of the snowflakes (and just you WAIT until you see the snowflakes....Julee really outdid herself!!) on the dark green patterned paper using Clear embossing powder, but unfortunately they don't show up very well in the photo.  I'm going to try to re-take the photo using natural light so hopefully they will show up better!  Oh, and I spritzed the whole card with some Glimmer Mist..that's another thing that you just HAVE to see!  Sparkle...it's definitely a good thing!  :-)

In this close-up photo, you can see some of the clear embossed snowflakes.  I'm in love with this tag, I tell you!  So pretty!

Don't worry, you won't have to wait too much longer to see these sets!!  All of them will be available after the Release Party tomorrow (Friday) night at 9 pm Eastern!

For a chance to win this set, just leave some comments on on the design team blogs!  Here is a list of the DT members participating today:

1. Amy
2. Jackie
3. Mercy
4. Michelle
5. Lynda
6. Charmaine
7. Laurie
8. Tosh
9. Sankari
10. Teresa
11. Jen T.
12. Andrea
13. Amber
14. Julee

Have a wonderufl day!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Glad Tidings (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Vintage Cream (PTI), Prism Green c.s., Noel patterned paper (Bo Bunny)
Ink:  Versamark, Hint of Pin Versamagic Dew Drop, Early Espresso (SU!), Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories:  Sweet Scallop Tag die, Clear e.p. (Judikins), Sparkler (Webster's Pages), Gold ribbon & cord (SU!), Rhinestones (Zva Creative), Martha Stewart punch, Rhinestone, Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Sewing Machine, Ivory e.p. (SU!)

Verve New Stamp Spotlight Day Three - Christmas Tag Trio...

Happy Wednesday, friends!  It's day three of the new Verve new stamps spotlight!!  Berry sprigs, snowflakes, elegant sentiments, and a fun new tag shape...yes, you are in for a treat! 

You can click any of the photos to seem them larger.

When Julee was here visiting last week, she gave me these uber sweet mini kraft bags.  Aaaack!  Talk about **cute**!!  I thought they would be perfect "envelopes" for some mini cards!  I started by stamping the Sweet Scallop Tag onto some patterned paper.  I then used Merry Wishes to stamp sentiments and some festive images (the small berry sprig and snowflake) on the patterned paper!

I kept each of the tags pretty much the same...just changing the sentiments and patterned paper.

 

These cute little cards measure 2 3/8" x 3 3/4".

For embellishments, I added some rhinestones, buttons, and mini paper clips.

Here they are...all packaged up in their "envelopes"!  :-)  I can't wait to add these to some gifts this Christmas!  :-)

If you've been following along from the first day of the Verve Spotlights, then you know there are some FABULOUS prizes up for grabs!  To be entered to win, just leave comments on all the design team blog posts (you will find the list of participating DT blogs below)!  All comments need to be received by Friday at 7 pm Easters.

Also, you won't want to miss the big Release Party this Friday at 9 pm Eastern!  There will be lots of fun, chatting, & of course PRIZES!  :-)

Here are the Divas that have some Vervalicious eye candy to share with you today:

1. Charmaine
2. Michelle
3. Lynda
4. Jackie
5. Laurie  (that's me :-)
6. Mercy
7. Amy
8. Teresa
9. Sankari
10. Tosh
11. Susan
12. Amber
13. Andrea
14. Julee

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  ~Laurie

Verve Stamps New Set Spotlight Day 2 - God Bless You...

It's Day 2 of Verve new stamps sneak previews!  If you missed out on the fun yesterday, you will definitely want to go check it out!  Not only are there amazing new sets to be seen, but by leaving comments on all of the posts, you will have a chance at winning some great prizes!

Today, the Divas are spotlighting the upcoming Richly Blessed, Joy for the Journey, & Vintage Oval Frame sets!

On my card, I used a beautifully scripted sentiment from Joy for the Journey set combined with the Vintage Oval Frame stamp.  I just love how elegant the script is in this sentiment and wanted to compliment it with some equally elegant patterned paper.  I chose to use some of this stunning My Mind's Eye paper (from the Lost & Found Collection).

 

In this close-up photo you can see the silver sparkle on the paper!  It came that way!!!  Happy sigh...  :-)  Because I chose not to use any images (I wanted the sentiment to take center stage), I let myself go a little crazy with the embellishments!  Teehehee! 

All of these wonderful new sets will be available after the release party this Friday at 9 pm Eastern!  I will be there chatting it up and would LOVE to see you there!  :-)

Here's the list of Divas that are spotlighting new stamps today:

1. Jackie
2. Laurie (that's me :-)
3. Lynda
4. Amy
5. Mercy
6. Sankari
7. Teresa
8. Andrea
9. Julee

Don't forget to leave comments while you are hopping along for a chance to win some shiny NEW Verve stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a wonderfully blessed day!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps: Joy for the Journey, Vintage Oval Frame
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI), Lost & Found patterned paper (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento Ink, Antique Linen & Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Accessories: Artisan Elements Ornaments (Pink Paislee), Oval Nestabilities, Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Sewing machine, Heart charm, Lace trim, Ocean Tides satin ribbon (PTI), Prima Flowers, Paper distresser

Verve Sneak Preview Day 1 - Joy to the World...

A great big happy Monday to you!  Today kicks off the first day of Sneak Previews for the upcoming Verve Stamps release!!  And OH MAN are you in for a huge treat!!  There will be Sneak Previews all week, leading up to Friday's big release!

My first card features the upcoming Joy Plain Jane stamp.  My heart went pitter patter when I saw this stamp...I just love the classic lines combined with the timeless beauty of the wreath!

My second card features the upcoming Christmas Blessings Plain Jane with last year's Holly Jolly set (I loved how the holly matched perfectly with the patterned paper)!

All of these gorgeous new stamps will be released this Friday (October 29th) following the Release Party!

Just like all Verve Sneak Previews...there are some great PRIZES to be had!!  Just make sure you leave a little love on all of the preview posts (the list of today's participating Divas is below) to be entered to win today's featured stamps!  All comments should be received before 7 pm Eastern on Friday, October 29th at

There is SO much more Verve eye candy for you to see today!  Here's a list of all the Divas that are sharing Sneak Previews today:

1. Lynda
2. Michelle
3. Mercy
4. Amy
5. Shannan
6. Laurie (that's me :-)
7. Teresa
8. Sankari
9. Tosh
10. Susan
11. Amber
12. Jen d.
13. Andrea
14. Julee

I'll be back tomorrow with some more new goodies to share!  :-)
~Laurie

Card # 1
Stamps: Joy Plain Jane
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Tinsel & Twig Collection (The Girl's Paperie)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento ink, Vintage Photo & Antique Linen Distress Inks
Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin ribbon (SU!), Lace trim (Webster's Pages), Prima flower, Dew Drop, Rhinestones, Mini paper clip (Tim Holtz), Sewing Machine, button, String, Labels 14 Nestabilities

Card # 2
Stamp:  Christmas Blessings Plain Jane, Holly Jolly
Paper: Vintage Cream, True Black, Kraft c.s. (PTI), Deck the Halls DSP (SU!)
Ink: Versamark, Frayed Burlap & Vintage Photo Distress Inks
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug die, Pearls, Vintage Tags (SU!), Stickles, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (SU!), Deck the Halls Fabric (SU!)

 

God is Our Refuge...

Hi again!  I'm just poppin' in to share a card I made this week.  Julee's been here visiting, and there has been a lot of stamping (and laughing) going on!!  :-)

I will keep the chit-chat light so I can go start dinner.  We're having chicken in a white wine cream sauce, rice, veggies, salad, and some homemade garlic herb bread!  Mmmm...



I used the Psalm 46:1 Plain Jane on my card.  I just love the versatility these scripture stamps offer...perfect for so many different occasions!

That's all from me today!  Have a wonderful weekend!  ~Laurie

A Missoula Inspired Throwdown...

Hi again!  I know, long time no post...  I had the incredible honor of meeting up with Tosh & Julee (owner of Verve Stamps) in Missoula, Montana!!  We had a FABULOUS time!  Lots of laughing, eating, coffee drinking, shopping, and then more laughing!  :-)  Can you imagine what it was like for me to be in the company of such talented ladies!?!?!!!

While we were there, we decided to have ourselves a little "throwdown".  We were to make a card inspired by something we saw in Missoula. 

What inspired me?  The picture hanging in the hotel room!!  Okay...just a little disclaimer.  It was VERY late at night when I took this photo, so the quality is not very good. 

As hard as I tried not to include myself in the photo...I still managed to do it.  Sigh...  Again, I'm sorry about the poor photo quality.  When I saw this photo, I was so taken with the circles is the background...I LOVE them!! So, on that note...here is my card!

After choosing the colors I wanted to use (So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, & Riding Hood Red), I got to work punching out my circles with a 1" circle punch.  I then punched the bird/branches (using the Stampin' Up! punch) out of Early Espresso cardstock. 

For the tag, I embossed the Many Blessings sentiment (from Verve's Many Blessing set) on a tag made with one of my Spellbinder's Tag Trio dies.  A little wrinkle ribbon, a Prima glass button, and some pearls later and my card was finished.

Oh...I almost forgot to tell you about the sparkle I added to the card.  You can't see it in the photo above...so I took a photo in full on sunlight just so you could enjoy all that yummy sparkliness!  LOL!

Do you SEE all that bronze-shimmery-goodness??  Happy sigh...  I sprayed it with some Bronze Glimmer Mist, as well as adding a little "spritzing" with a More Mustard marker.

Make sure to go and check out what Julee and Tosh have created!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

P.S.  I promise not to go so long without posting again...  Julee is here visiting and we've been busy stamping away, so I have lots of fun stuff to share!  :-)

Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz...

Welcome to the October Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz! 

This month's theme is Autumn/Harvest (which happens to be my absolute favorite season), so I just had to play along!

I went with a more clean and simple approach (mostly because I had to hurry and cook dinner), but I have to say I really like how it came out!  These trees (from Teeny Trees) are just SOOO fun!!  I just love all of the different varieties of tree/leaves...and choosing which ones to use was the hardest part of this card!  LOL! 

Okay, so here's a funny story...  Julee was in my stamp room tonight and David comes in to check out what she was doing.  After seeing the card she created, he asked "Who is your card for", "Is it for yourself"?  After she paused (I mean, how in the world do you answer that? :-)...he then says, "Yeah, my mom makes cards for herself all the time"!  After getting a good chuckle out of that, I realized there is more truth to what he said than I would care to admit.  SOOOOOO, I decided that this card is going to be sent out!  Yep, I am actually going to "use" my card!  LOL!  I don't mean to stockpile cards...and really, I have every intention of giving them away but somehow time always slips away from me.  "Out of the mouths of babes", right?  My 4 year old son had really given me something to work towards!  :-)

For more info on the hop (and for all the links to those who are participating in the hop), see THIS post on the WMS forum!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  ~Laurie

Leafy Thank You...

What?  Wednesday already?  How in the world did that happen?  :-)

I'm back today to share one of the cards I made for the latest Verve release!

Click on photo for a closer view.

Using Julee's World Card Making Day / Release Week sketch # 1 and the newly release Autumn Splendor set, I quickly put together this card.

The patterned paper is from the Woodland Walk collection (Stampin' Up!).  To add dimension, I popped the leaves up on the focal layer.  I also added some Diamond Stickles to part of the leaves...you know me, I gotta add some kind of sparkle!  :-)

Thanks for popping in!  Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Stamps:  Autumn Splendor (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Kraft c.s., Woodland Walk DSP (SU!)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip craft ink (SU!), Rich Cocoa Memento Ink, Antique Linen Distress ink
Accessories:  Scallop border punch, Paper piercer, Rustic Wood buttons (PTI), Button String, Rhinestone (Kaiser Kraft), Diamond Stickles, Twill ribbon, Copic markers

Autumn is a Mosaic...

Warm Tuesday greetings, friends!  It's finally starting to feel a bit like Fall here!  Yay!  Normally by this time of the year, our weather is well on the cold side...not the 70's and 80's we've been enjoying these past weeks.

Speaking of Fall, I have an Autumn card to share with you today...

Click on photo for a closer view.

Nothing is as warm and inviting as Autumn colors!  Love 'em!

Before I tell you about my card, I have to say that there was NO patterned paper used on this!  Can you believe it??!!?  Yes, the self-proclaimed patterned paper hoarder collector (that's me) actually MADE patterned paper with stamps!!  LOL!

I used the large wheat stamp (from the new Autumn Splendor set from Verve Stamps) and several Distress Inks to create the background.  The quote (also from the Autumn Splendor set) is embossed, cut out (using Labels 4 Nesties) and shaded.  The little American Almanac paper is from a pack of 7Gypsies tags.  So that the focal image stood out a bit more, I added a piece of vellum (which was embossed using the Tim Holtz Notebook Texture Fade embossing folder).

Also, keep your eyes peeled here on my blog...because there just "might" be some very cool stuff being given away sometime in the very near future!  Just sayin'...

Stamps:  Autumn Splendor (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Naturals c.s. (SU!), Soft Suede (SU!), 7Gypsies tag
Ink:  Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, & Peeled Paint
Accessories:  Notebook Texture Fade (Tim Holtz), Soft Suede polka dot ribbon (SU!), Button string, Rustic wood button (PTI), Rhinestones (Kaiser Kraft), Sewing Machine, Labels 4 Nestabilities