Monday, March 28, 2011

A farewell tribute to Verve

Hi everyone!  Yes, you read the title correctly.  It is with much sadness that I announce I have stepped down from Verve Stamps.  If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you  know that Verve was my first Design Team and my first stamping "love".  But understandably, Spellbinders has a policy that their design team can not also design for a company that produces dies.  So as I accepted the offer to the Spellbinders team, I stepped down from Verve.  This really is a good thing.  Designing for Spellbinders is such a wonderful opportunity, I owed it to myself to take it!!  It wasn't without tears, but Julee is so wonderful and fully supportive of my decision, it really made it that much easier. 

I have to say, Julee's designs with Verve Stamps has largely attributed to the designer I am today, so I wanted to do something more than a paragraph blurb at the end of a blog post to mark my leaving.  I want to honor my term with Verve in a more fitting way.  So over the next few days, I will be doing a tribute to Verve Stamps, Julee and the Divas to show my love and appreciation.

Today, I will be showing some of my favorite cards that I made over the years.  This was REALLY hard.  I have made literally HUNDREDS of cards with Verve and man narrowing it down to 3 or 4 a year was tough.  Thankfully, I can share more over the next few days.

Some of my favorite cards from 2008 -stamp sets shown Abundant Blessings, Artful Elegance, Snow Wonderful and Birthday Surprise: 
 Some favorites from 2009 -stamp sets shown Kindred Spirits, Up Up and Away, Because of You, and Delightful and Delicious:
Some favorites from 2010 -stamp sets shown Love's Flower, One Person, Dude and Joy PJ:
I know that was A LOT of cards to scroll through and I thank you for sticking with me.  Be sure to check back in these next few days to see the rest of my Farewell tribute to my beloved Verve Stamps!  Have a great day!

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51 comments:

  1. Congrats Michelle, you are an amazing artist and will do such beautiful things with Spellbinders! :)

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  2. even though I knew about this, it doesn't make it any easier...so now I've got tears this morning, not just being back at work but because of this look down memory lane...how sweet :) Spellbinders is soooooo lucky, I can't wait to follow all your success :) Congrats again, sweetie...I know we'll keep in touch :) hugs ox

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  3. These are all fabulous!!! Spellbinders is lucky to have you!

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  4. These are all SO beautiful girlie! I remember many of them...you were the one that made me fall in love with Verve in the first place! Good luck with your new venture with Spellbinders! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us!!

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  5. Sad sigh....love your Verve creations and remember just about everyone of these cards! That being said, I'm so proud of you and your Spellbinders opportunity :) Go get them and show them what a Verve Diva can do LOL! Looking forward to seeing your wonderful creations (((hugs)))

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  6. I have loved all of your Verve creations Michelle. It's sad, but also happy, a new chapter. Spellbinders is very luck to have you on the team, good luck girlie! Looking forward to your SB creations. :D

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  7. big sigh.....I am so sad and so very happy for you at the same time, this is really hard...I cherish your friendship and I hope that nothing will change between us! You have been an asset to me and the Verve team, you will be a success wherever you decide to go...I look forward to your tribute this week....big gushy hugs my friend!

    enjoy *~*

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  8. Definitely a time of mixed emotions here...so happy for your new venture with Spellbinders, but so sad I won't be seeing your Verve creations! I love your stamping style and have faved many of your cards over the years! Wish you all the best...wherever your designing path may go!

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  9. Oh my, Michelle...all of your creations are just beautiful...I can see how much of a fit you are with Verve! In saying that, I am happy for your with your new opportunity with Spellbinders...it's the chance of a lifetime! Verve, Julee and the Divas will never be far away...we'll be behind you all the way, cheering you on!
    We'll miss you and will definitely keep in touch using this wonderful thing called the Internet... :)

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  10. It makes me sad to read this Michelle....but I do know that it is definitely the best thing for you!! I am so excited for you and your new venture! I KNOW you will provide some beautiful Spellbinders inspiration just as you have done for Verve and every other DT you have been on!!! Good luck to you my friend and I will be coming back here often to check up on you!!!! Big HUGE {{{HUGS}}} to you!!!!

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  11. Your Verve creations is what got me hooked onto blogging and Verve stamps. . . .then I got hooked on Spellbinders, now I feel I"m addicted to anything paper crafting. . . of course I've always loved crafts. . . . I can't wait to see what beautiful creations you come up with for Spellbinders. I'm totally enjoying your memory lane for Verve. I will always use Verve stamps as I love their quotes and fonts!!! Love Spellbinders dies, there amazing to use! Thank you for sharing and I look forward to new creations!!!

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  12. Awwww, so sad, but SO HAPPY!!! :)

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  13. Beautiful cards Michelle...I'm really glad you made the choice you did! ;)

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  14. I can understand why these were some of your favorites. All awesome designs! Julee's loss is Spellbinder's gain, but it's hard to say goodbye to a fond friend. Nice of you to do it in style!

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  15. So grateful you are saying goodbye to Verve because you are moving onto "other" things and not because we won't see you around these parts anymore. I think it was your wonderful creations that first made me aware that Verve even existed. I know I based the first card I made for my Mum on one of your creations and that was 2 years ago already!! Can't wait to see how you grow and inspire us with the move to the Spellbinders DT.
    Thanks for another look down memory lane at your Verve masterpieces. xx

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  16. Michelle your work is stunning!!! I know it's sad...but also exciting!! Your Verve cards have such a fabulous flair!! I can't wait to see what you create on the Spellbinders team and of course am so thrilled to work with you on GKD!!

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  17. No matter where you join, I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

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  18. Beautiful cards with Verve and we're all looking forward to your work with Spellbinders in 2011!

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  19. Congrats! Sometimes you have to close one door for another door to open. I just know your new adventure will be AWESOME and they are so lucky to have you on board. All your cards are just amazing and so inspiring.

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  20. Friend!!! This is sad news but amazing on the other hand! I am sorry to see you leave the Verve Team as I LOVE your stuff with them but you gotta do what you gotta do!! Julee is amazing and she will wish you well regardless! Congrats on Spellbinders too!

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  21. They are all so gorgeous Michelle! I wish you so much joy and happiness with Spellbinders. I agree with you on Verve stamps, they are so gorgeous and over-the-top!

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  22. I knew it was coming, and still the tears are here as I scroll through this post! I am just as sure now as I was back in 2008 that you are an AMAZINGLY talented stamper that will soar to great heights!!! You make magic when you stamp, Michelle! You will definitely be missed, but I can't wait to be enabled by all your mad Spellbinder skillz!!! :)

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  23. Hi Michelle~

    Wow! What to say? Congratulations on taking the steps that will further you as an artist. I can only imagine how difficult the decision was for you, knowing your love for VERVE stamps, and for the people there. And, they will stay your friends, and you with them, I am sure!

    Your tribute of cards is wonderful and a beautiful gift to the people there, and the rest of us as well. They are beautiful cards...and I found some wonderful ideas, too! (Of course)

    I will look forward to seeing what you will do in the future. We will stick with you....you are an awesome artist, and person,
    more importantly.

    "If you will build (create) it...they will come." lol

    He IS Able,
    Traci S.

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  24. What a wonderful tribute to a fabulous company Michelle!! You have been a blessing to this team not only in papercrafting skills, but with your warm and generous heart! I'm sad to see you go, but I also know that joining Spellbinders will be a blessing to you and them too. I'll be checking in periodically for some inspiration, and look forward to seeing where your creative journey takes you. Hugs my friend!!!

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  25. It was so cool to see so many of your fabulous cards in one post! This is a wonderful tribute and a supremely classy way to say, thank you to such a wonderful team and company :)

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  26. Well you know the main reason I made my purchases from Verve is because of the amazing work you do with those stamps!! They fit your style perfectly, I know you will be missed by the team!! I am so excited about your Spellbinders stint though, I have to admit I am with you on choosing to go with your contract with Spellbinders! What a great adventure! (I'll be stalking to see all your flashback cards!!)
    Hugs,
    Anne

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  27. Gosh, I don't even know what to say Michelle!! I read your post yesterday at work but couldn't comment. I was feeling a little selfish at the time and sorry for myself, because I mean, it's all about ME and the fact that I won't be on a team with you anymore and what about ME!? {stomps foot}. But I guess if you twist my arm hard enough I'll grudgingly admit that deep down I'm really excited for this amazing opportunity for you. And really I'm also really thankful for Verve - I've gained some pretty amazing friends through this experience and am so fortunate to have had the chance to get to know you better over the past few years! I know you're going to do awesome things and I'm (again selfishly) excited that I get to stand here and continue cheering you on as one of your biggest fans!! :-) Love you girl!

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  28. Oh, and also...these Verve posts are really convenient! It's so thoughtful of you to put so many of my favorite Verve cards you've created over the years all together in these nice, neat, organized posts like this that make it all quick and easy like to refer back to for future inspiration!! Thank you. See!? I told you it was all about ME!! LOL.

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  29. SO beautiful Michelle! I adore each of your cards and am sad that you are leaving but know that you will so rock the house over at Spellbinders! I remember that gorgeous hot air balloon card on your blog and I love that Joy to the World card --- feel lucky that I was on the team with you and wish you every success!
    Much love!
    Sankari :)

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  30. What a sad and happy post all at the same time. Such amazing cards to drool all over and to remind me how much I really do like Verve stamps (I need to use mine more!) and how sorry I'll be to see you leave that team...but at the same time, I am SUPER excited to see what you will do with Spellbinders. It's going to be a great year!!

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  31. I'm sure it was sooo hard for you to decide, but one door closes and another one opens. Spellibinders is lucky to have you! this is sooo nice of you to show your love for Verve. You'll be missed, but we know where you are. All the best as you take on this new adventure with Spellbinders!

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  32. Michelle, I've come over from the Diva blog hop -- they all miss you and sent us here! Since I'm a subscriber I already knew about your plans and I'm pretty sure I congratulated you... I came to your blog from Verve, via Verve, but I am very excited to see what you will show me with Spellbinders -- I have my Grand Calibur so I'm ready! I know the competition for the Spellbinders DT was fierce so you would have been nuts to turn down the opportunity! Happy April !!

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  33. PS I think your farewell tribute to Verve is a real class act.

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  34. What beautiful cards!! Good luck with Spellbinders!

    Julie L.
    jlearned at charter dot net

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  35. Michelle, I wish you all the best! What a run with Verve, too! Your cards are gorgeous! Blessings with your new adventure! Looking forward to seeing what you create!

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  36. Hi Michelle,
    I am so happy for you! Congrats to you and I know you will do very well with SB. Sad you're leaving Verve. I started ordering Verve stamps because of your beautiful work and saw how wonderfully those pretty stamps turn out on your cards!

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  37. What a wonderful stroll through 2008! You've be an ongoing inspiration for me everytime I stop by your blog or galleries, and I'm so glad it will continue in a wonderful opportunity with Spellbinders. Your talent is amazing, congratulations and all the best!!!!!

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  38. You have such a lovely creativty style, Michelle. Verve will definitely miss your contributions, as will we all. But hope to hear from you in your new capacity at Spellbinders, which is also a terrific company. Best wishes to you!

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  39. Congrats on your new position- sorry that you are leaving Verve, I love your designs! Beautiful creations!!

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  40. Michelle- Was suprised but, then when I "used my noggin", it makes sense that Spellbinders would have a clause like that!! Will certainly miss your creations for Verve releases!! Wonderful and fabulous review of previous cards!! Wonderful opportunity and you are the perfect person to grasp and be successful with it!!

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  41. Your card review is wonderful. I wish you all the best with Spellbinders. They always have a great and creative team! You know you are good when you are one of them! Congrats!

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  42. Beautiful cards!! So inspiring! Good luck in your next endeavors!!

    sueot33@yahoo.com

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  43. Beautiful cards may God bless your future endeavors

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  44. So sorry to see you leave Verve, but it is understandable how you would need to keep growing! I love today's featured cards and look forward to more!

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  45. Congrats to you. I've been in the same situation & I know it can be hard,sad,& exciting all at the same time. Just remember change is hard but good. Good luck on you new adventure. Love your work. ;0)

    Traci Lord
    3team3lord3@comcast.net

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  46. Congratulations! We will miss your cards on the Verve hops but wish you the best!

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  47. Michelle, Best Wishes. The divas are surely missing you! Spellbinders is just a brand new door that will open your creatie wings and have you soaring. Your creativity is inspirational and I have thoroughly enjoyed your artistic talent at Verve.

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  48. Michelle; I wish you all the best in the future. I have no doubt that you will continue to inspire and share beautiful creations where ever you are what ever you do. These cards are all gorgeous ~ You do such a splendid job creating with Verve stamps! Thank you for sharing and all the best on your future endeavors!

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  49. Love all the cards you have shared and it makes me realise why I love my Verve stamps. Love Spellbinders too so good luck with your new challenge.

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  50. So sad to see you leave verve! I have loved your creations! You are the one who got me hooked on Verve! I know you will do amazing things with Spellbinders and I can't wait to see all of them!

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  51. Michelle, you are such an inspiration in so many ways! What a beautiful tribute to Verve and such a classy way to say farewell. I'm sad to see you leave Verve, but thrilled for you and your new opportunity with Spellbinders. I wish you all the best!

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