April Viva la Diva Announced

Hi y'all.  It's the official end to our April 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 April 2015 Viva la Diva is:

Congrats Maxx and Boo!

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 May challenge.  Until then, here's a look back at this month's challenges, plus a last look at all of our April VLV entries!  Thanks so much for playing along with us!

APR Week 1 {4.3.15} APR Week 2 {4.10.15} APR Week 3 {4.17.15} APR Week 4 {4.24.15}

Viva la Verve April Week 4 Recap and Viewfinder

Hi everyone! Julee here popping in with the final VLV recap for April.  Sorry about the late posting, there was a scheduling mix-up and we're just going with the flow.  {grin}

We've had 4 April sketches... play along with us and link each of your challenge creations to our Entry Form link list.  (This month's deadline is 5pm Mountain on Thursday, April 30.) 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.

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

Click here for our April Challenge Entry Form

I haven't had another chance to get inky this week, but I thought I'd share this fabulous sample from Anya...

by Anya Schrier using the Button Best set,  and the Pennant Trim, Rounded Rectangle, and Rounded Scallop Frame Dies

Here are a few gorgeous spies I spied in the link-up this week...

by Lesley Croghan using the Brighter Days set

by Lisa Blastick using the Coffee Word Die

by Vickie Zimmer using the Sunny Days set, Award Banner and  Leafy Sprigs dies

by Nancy Thomas using the Happy Place and Faith Medley sets and Happy Doodle 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 the month of May!

Viva la Verve April 2015 Week 4 Sketch

Hey there, Verve fans!  Stacey here with a brand new Viva la Verve sketch challenge!

We'll have 4 April 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 April Challenge Entry Form

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

 Created by Stacey Schafer using Verve's Inspire Hope and Happy Place stamp sets with Happy Doodles Die Set, Pennant Trim Die, Aqua Skies Shaker Mix & Golden Glam Shaker Mix

Check out these fabulous samples from Divas, ...

by Julee Tilman using the One Cup set and Award Banner Trim and Rounded Rectangle dies

by Marisa Ritzen using Let it Be, Rounded Scallop Frame Die, Rounded Rectangle Die, Award Banner Trim Die and the Pennant Trim Die

by Maureen Plut using Button Best, Treasured Words and Rounded Rectangle Die

VLV April Week 3 Recap and Viewfinder

Hi everyone! Marisa here with another look at our sketch for the second week of April and a look at some of the highlights so far!

We'll have 4 April 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.

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

Click here for our April Challenge Entry Form

Anya's sketch this week has so many options and fun elements! I LOVE the bit of twisty fun twine or ribbon included in the sketch!

Here's my take on it:

Ellen created a wonderful mixed media card using Happy Place and matching Happy Doodles die set, the Pennant Trim die and Rounded Scallop Frame.

Dawn used this adorable bunny from Hoppy Easter (get it quick if you want it as it will be retired once it is sold out), and created a fabulous background panel using one of the sentiments from To The Moon.

My third pick was Lesley's adorable card using Rain or Shine.  Love the aqua/orange colour combination, paper pieced umbrellas and falling rain drops.

Thank you all for sharing your wonderful creations with us! We still have one more sketch left this month, so be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new inspiration!

Frequently Asked Questions...

Are Verve stamps required?  

Nope.  We do love to see them, though!  ;)

Where can I buy Verve Stamps? 

Verve Stamps are available online only through our website.

Can I combine challenges?  

Yes.  As long as your card meets the challenge criteria, feel free to do a two-for-one. 

Where do I link my card?  

There's an entry form tab at the top of the blog where the link list for the entire month resides.  Or you can click the Viva la Verve Link Up badge on the side bar.  Or you can click this Entry Form link right here. 

Can I still link up my card after Tuesday?  

Yep.  You can link up your challenge cards in any order until the deadline at the end of the month.  One link list to rule them all!  :)

What are the rules?  

You can read the full list of rules here.   Basically follow the challenge, link back to us in your blog or gallery post and HAVE FUN!

Viva la Verve April Week 3 Sketch

Hello and welcome to Viva la Verve!  Sarah here today with our April week three sketch, I hope you like it!

We'll have 4 April 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 April Challenge Entry Form

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

 Created by Sarah Gough using the Rain or Shine stamp set with Pennant Trim Banner and Classy Label Cut Above Dies

I have some gorgeous samples from a few Divas to share...

Created by Maureen Plut using  Be Blessed, Bloom & Grow, Die Sidekicks, Doodled Occasions stamps and  Elegant Leaves Die, Hearts & Swirls Frame Die, Petal Points Die Set, Pennant Trim Die Cut Above Dies

Created by Anya Schrier using Poppy Birthday stamp set and Build a Poppy Cut Above Dies

Created by Julee Tilman using Button Best and Proverbs 31:25 stamps and Pennant Trim, Petal Points,  and Sprightly Sprigs Cut Above Dies

Looking forward to seeing what you create!

VLV April Week 2 Recap and Viewfinder

Hi everyone! Jen here with another look at our sketch for the second week of April and a look at some of the highlights so far!

We'll have 4 April 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.

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

Click here for our April Challenge Entry Form

Anya's sketch this week has so many options and fun elements! I LOVE the bit of twisty fun twine or ribbon included in the sketch!

Here's my take on it:

I used to of my favorite stamp sets from Verve, Lean on Me and Dream Big paired up with the Jotted Heart Die and Banner Bundle Dies to make this fun card. I changed out the circle in Anya's sketch for a cluster of items and had tons of fun working up the watercolor background using Distress ReInkers in Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio and Mermaid Lagoon.

I colored the flowers from Lean on Me with Copics and hand cut them. I stamped the leaves from Dream Big using Mowed Lawn Distress Ink and the Jotted Heart Die was splashed with a bit of Cracked Pistachio ink mixed with water. To finish it all off and add a bit of sparkle I added a few Tiny Twinkles.

Nancy's fantastic color scheme and gorgeous dotted background caught my eye immediately in the gallery. 

I love the wonderful inking Dorothy added around her sentiment and that gorgeous embossed background!

Lori really captured the simple beauty of this sketch with her wonderful use of negative space and clean lines.

Thank you all for sharing your stunning creations with us! We still have three more sketchs left this month, so be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new inspiration!

Frequently Asked Questions...

Are Verve stamps required?  

Nope.  We do love to see them, though!  ;)

Where can I buy Verve Stamps? 

Verve Stamps are available online only through our website.

Can I combine challenges?  

Yes.  As long as your card meets the challenge criteria, feel free to do a two-for-one. 

Where do I link my card?  

There's an entry form tab at the top of the blog where the link list for the entire month resides.  Or you can click the Viva la Verve Link Up badge on the side bar.  Or you can click this Entry Form link right here. 

Can I still link up my card after Tuesday?  

Yep.  You can link up your challenge cards in any order until the deadline at the end of the month.  One link list to rule them all!  :)

What are the rules?  

You can read the full list of rules here.   Basically follow the challenge, link back to us in your blog or gallery post and HAVE FUN!

Viva la Verve April Week 2 Sketch

Happy Friday, and welcome to Viva la Verve!  Anya here today to bring you the sketch for our second challenge in April.

We'll have 4 April 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 April Challenge Entry Form

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

 Created by Anya Schrier using the Better Together and Be Blessed stamp sets, and the Flag It Die Set. 


Looking forward to seeing what you create!

VLV April Week 1 Recap & Viewfinder

Hello Verve fans!!  Christyne here, bringing you another look at the first sketch of April and taking a look at some fabulous cards created this week!

We'll have 4 April 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.

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

Click here for our April Challenge Entry Form

This week's sketch from Julee is a great twist on a classic banner sketch!  Here's my take on it...

I kept it simple with this card, soft colors and simple sponging to add a little blush all over.  I tried to balance the metal feel of the lattice paper with the brads and the sparkle of the flower petals with some Shine Bright sequins.  ...And of course, I couldn't forget the bow!

There have been so many stunning cards already this month! Here's a few of the fantastic cards which were uploaded this week!

So many fin elements on this card by Erin T.  The doilie, the die cuts, cork, sequins and distress... what's no to love!

This elegant card by Jen L. has all the details, glitter, pearls, lace, and even a flower dyed to match!  

This card Dorothy S. has me all ready for spring with all of those bright butterflies. I really like the matting effect of the contrast mat to define the layers of uniquely embossed shimmer paper!!  

Thank you all for sharing your stunning creations with us! We still have three more sketchs left this month, so be sure to join us on Friday for some brand new inspiration!

Frequently Asked Questions...

Are Verve stamps required?  

Nope.  We do love to see them, though!  ;)

Where can I buy Verve Stamps? 

Verve Stamps are available online only through our website.

Can I combine challenges?  

Yes.  As long as your card meets the challenge criteria, feel free to do a two-for-one. 

Where do I link my card?  

There's an entry form tab at the top of the blog where the link list for the entire month resides.  Or you can click the Viva la Verve Link Up badge on the side bar.  Or you can click this Entry Form link right here. 

Can I still link up my card after Tuesday?  

Yep.  You can link up your challenge cards in any order until the deadline at the end of the month.  One link list to rule them all!  :)

What are the rules?  

You can read the full list of rules here.   Basically follow the challenge, link back to us in your blog or gallery post and HAVE FUN!