Have you been having fun watching the Divas kickin' it Easter style? I don't know how many times my jaw has dropped when I've tuned in over the course of the parade. Today is the last day of our parade, and I have a special little project that Guest Diva Jodi Collins made. Can you say ADORABLE? Couldn't you just pinch her DD's little rosy cheeks?

But, oh, I'm getting ahead of myself! First off I've got a winner to announce!

Vickilyn said...
These are adorable!! I still need to get some of those March sets!!

Congrats Vickilyn! You’re the lucky winner of any Verve Stamps set of your choice (up to $24 value)! Please send an email to info@vervestamps.com with your set choice and shipping address to claim your prize!



Okay, now back to the adorable little cheeks! Isn't this Easter frame pure CUTENESS? Jodi plans to take a photo of her daughter all dolled up on Easter morning and give it to her mom. What a perfect little gift. I absolutely love all the gorgeous little details on this project. The wavy border, the rhinestones, the ribbon, the colors, all work in perfect harmony. And that little sentiment treatment in the corner? Divine! Jodi stamped a flower from Miracles Blossom in the center and then stamped over it with the Happy Easter sentiment from Chocolate Bunnies. These are layered on some Nestabilities circle die cuts in chocolate and regal rose, and then she added little tabs of ribbon all around the back of the circle to form a flower shape.

What's In It?
Stamps: Practically Perfect, Chocolate Bunnies (sentiment) and Miracles Blossom (the flower behind the sentiment) (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Regal Rose (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Choice White (Taylored Expressions), Sweet Always Designer Series Paper (SU!)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Wood Frame (Darice), Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Valet Ribbon Originals (SU!), Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!), Rhinestones (unknown), Dotted Wave Punch (EK Success), Copic Markers and Dimensionals

Today is the last day of the parade, so that means it's the last day for all you procrastinators (like me!) to get your inner Diva on and win some VERVE! One lucky participant will win a $25 gift certificate to the Verve Stamps store! All you have to do is create an egg-stra special spring project or card and link it up with the Mr. Linky form HERE. Entries will close at 8PM Mountain on Saturday, April 4 (that's tonight!) Verve Stamps are not required, but we do LOVE to see 'em if you got 'em!

Thanks so much for visiting us for another parade! We had a blast and hope you did too! Stay tuned on Monday for a very special Verve announcement, plus the winner of the Project Parade drawing!

Welcome to our second March Guest Diva Spotlight!

Today we're celebrating the amazing-ness of Kelly Lunceford{aka atomicbutterfly} from Flutter By Atomicbutterfly. I've been a huge lurker fan of Kelly's since I first joined SCS about 2.5 years ago. She has amazing layout sense and her vintage chic style and muted color palettes just blow me away. Everything she produces looks like it should be on the cover of a magazine. Truthfully, I was a little nervous to even ask her to guest design for us, but I'm so glad she said yes! I'm sure you'll agree that she's got talent oozing from her!

First off, I'll show you one of my favorite projects Kelly made for this release. This little 3x3 card box uses Floral Symphony, and isn't it just fabulous? I adore the soft colored flowers, and the gorgeous attention to detail on every layer. The coordinating cards are just delightful.


Here are Kelly's answers to our Verve-i-view questions:

1. When/how did you get hooked on stamping?
I have been stamping since high school, but didn't really get "hooked" until I attended my first Stampin' Up! workshop in 2000. I placed an order and immediately started creating with my new stamps and inkpads. I still remember my first set and I love it. I think the reason why I got hooked was because of the "stamp set" concept. It was easy for me to create a project and having everything "go".

2. How often do you stamp?
I try and stamp daily, but there are times when the family needs to come first or I am too busy, but I find the more I stamp, the more the creative juices flow. I participate in weekly challenges that help the juices flow as well


3. Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury?
I have been injured quite a few times over the years. I have been cut with my paper trimmer blade, paper cuts, pin pricks, etc. I can't think of any that were too embarrassing, I guess more dumb luck. Now look, I am going to jinx myself! LOL!


Okay, time for more eye candy. Here's another ADORABLE project that Kelly made with Chocolate Bunnies. I just love this little box. A total work of art! And those buttons.... eek! This project is cute, cute, CUTE! Okay, intermission over, back to the questions...

4. How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with?
It takes me about an hour to an hour and a half these days to get something that I am happy with. I have realized that the slower I take it, the better my projects end up!


5. I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space.
I absolutely love my creative space. It is a place where I can go and stamp and be inspired. My creative space is combined with my family room, so it is nice to be where the family is, but also doing what I like to do. I also am messy when I create. I find that my creativity really gets going once I have all of the colors, supplies and embellishments all around me. Sometimes a design will just come together and take an unexpected turn depending on what is out. Even though I make a mess while I am creating, organization is still important to me. Everything has a place and it all will eventually make it back! I have my work space set up so I can sew, do my needle art or paper crafting.

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, which craft tool could you not live without? Why?
Hmmm....that is a tough one. Maybe a paper trimmer because it seems useful. I am not very creative with this one.

The last project I have to share of Kelly's just makes me sigh. I love the softness of this baby card that features Practically Perfect and Little Star. And the perfect amount of sponging on each layer gives it a hint of a vintage look. Just stunning!

So let's wrap up this Verve-i-view:

7. What is your biggest source of inspiration?
The world around me. I try and find inspiration everywhere; from the colors in nature to an ad in a magazine. It is nice to carry a notebook so that ideas can be jotted down before they are forgotten.

8. Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why?
Wow! This is a fun one. I have been inspired by so many people. This person isn't necessarily in the "stamping" world, but in the papercrafting world in general: Becky Higgins. She has inspired me for so many years and I absolutely love her style, her take on life and also her success in the industry.

9. What is your favorite set from this release?
Can I say all of them! LOL! I guess if I had to pick one it would have to be Practically Perfect!

So, basically, Kelly ROCKS, right?!? If you want to see more of her gorgeous Verve-i-ness, check out her Guest Diva Gallery HERE. That wraps up our Guest Diva Spotlights for this month. Tune in next week for a new challenge and the kick-off to our Verve Project Parade.

Welcome to our first March Guest Diva Spotlight!

Today we're celebrating the amazing-ness of Jodi Collins {aka Kharmagirl} from Stamping a Latte. I first started tuning into Jodi's work last fall when I saw this card she made from a stamped image she'd received. Wow! Where had I been? This girl has MOJO oozing out of her, and such a fabulous personality to match. She's just a dream to work with and her fabulous layered style, mad coloring skills, and eye for finishing things off with the perfect details, make her a paper crafter extraordinaire!

First off, I'll show you one of my favorite cards Jodi made for this release. This one uses Everlasting LIfe, and isn't it just gorgeous? ! I love the fabulous way she paper pieced the cross and how the pattern in the papers she chose really lend to the swirliness of the image. The color combo is classic and fabulous and I love all the little piercing details.

I asked Jodi a few Verve-i-view questions, and here's what she had to say:


1. When/how did you get hooked on stamping?
I started stamping in high school (which was quite some time ago!) after being entranced by the stamp aisle in my local craft store. The only thing I knew how to do was stamp and emboss, so every single thing I made was an image embossed in silver and colored in! Thank Goodness I got away from that! It wasn't until about four years ago that I got back into stamping. I attended a home stamping party and within a week spent more than I care to admit, signed up to become a demo, and have been happily stamping (and hoarding supplies!) since!

2. How often do you stamp?
I stamp at least once a day, and I usually try to participate in the challenges on Splitcoaststampers. At night, once my daughter goes to bed, and my husband is entranced by the television, I head downstairs to my "stamp chalet" and start stamping!


3. Tell me about your funniest or most embarrassing stamping related injury?
This isn't an injury, more just really funny!! Last summer, it was super hot in my basement, and I was in the middle of a project that involved Dazzling Diamonds...alot of Dazzling Diamonds. I didn't even think about what I had open on my stamping space, and I turned on the fan. You can only imagine the glittery stamp space I had for months! Now that I am thinking about it, it is quite shocking that I do not have a stamping related injury story...I am not the most coordinated girl around!

We interrrupt this Verve-i-view to bring you another fabulous favorite from Jodi. I just love the clever way she used the hat from the snowman in Snow Wonderful to dress up this little bunny bride and groom from Bunny Duet. The cosmpopolitan color combo is both elegant and contemporary, and really sets off the card. She finished off with a sentiment from Practically Perfect and some classy pearls to give it that extra something something.

And now back to your regularly scheduled Verve-i-view, already in progress:

4. How long does it take you to create a project that you're happy with?
Wow...this is a tough question!! I would say, on average, it takes me about an hour to put a card together that I am happy with. It may take a bit longer if I am trying to follow a sketch or specific layout, but most of the time it's about an hour.

5. I am usually a little messy in my creating. Tell me about your creative space.
My stamping space, affectionately known as the "stamp chalet" is in the unfinished portion of our basement. A few years ago, my parents renovated their kitchen and gave me all of their cabinets and countertops, which make up the majority of my chalet. While I am stamping it looks like a tornado has blown through...and I always lose something while I am in the middle of a card or project! I do have one rule though...I do not go to bed for the evening until my chalet is clean...all my ink and papers (including scraps!) are put in their proper place, and I always sweep (I have a very bad habit of flinging off the paper from the dimensionals onto the floor as I stamp!)

6. If you were stranded on a deserted island, which craft tool could you not live without? Why?
Ok...this is SO easy for me! My paper piercing tool! NO question! First of all, I have come to the realization that I simply cannot live without it, and I bet it would come in handy on a deserted island too! Perhaps I could spear a fish or something with it? Hmmm...then I would need my embossing gun to cook the fish...ok, this could get crazy! Just one???

The last card I have to share of Jodi's is just breathtaking. I love how she made these butterflies from Beautiful Kindness fly! The colors and patterns are so trendy at it just makes me want to go pick up my stamps and play!

So let's wrap up this Verve-i-view:

7. What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Splitcoaststampers...without a doubt. I am constantly amazed and inspired by the talent of the SCS members. I have learned so much since I joined and I feel like all the inspiration on SCS has made me a better (and more adventurous) stamper.

8. Who in the stamping world do you want to be when you grow up and why?
There are SO many stamping rock stars out there...but if I have to choose one person, I would say Beate Johns! She amazes me with each and every one of her creations! I can look at her cards for hours and always see something fabulous I didn't see before! She is amazing!

9. What is your favorite set from this release?
Oh! This is the toughest question of all! I think I would have to say Practically Perfect! I LOVE baby sets and the bunnies in this set are just the cutest! I also love all the different sentiments included in this set! When I first saw this set, I knew it was going to be my favorite! I always tell my daughter that she is "Perfectly Perfect In Every Way". Coming in a CLOSE second would be Beautiful Kindness. I love the elegant butterflies and the sentiments in this one as well!

See, what did I tell you? Jodi's amazing, right? If you want to see more of her gorgeous Verve-i-ness, check out her Guest Diva Gallery HERE. Tomorrow I'll be spotlighting the work of our 2nd Guest, Kelly Lunceford, so stay tuned!

Are you ready for another VERVEalicious release? On Sunday, March 8th, Verve is releasing 8 new sets and 5 Plain Janes!!!! Can you stand it? Stay tuned this week to catch a peek at the new sets! Today we have a sneak preview of Practically Perfect for you!