On Your Anniversary

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing a Clean and Simple card designed with the January Scene Silhouettes: Wetlands along with previously released Thoughtful Words and Pick Me Up  clear stamp sets (all available at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps).

As soon as I saw the two swan images in this set, I wanted to create a card with the two swans facing each other to create a “heart”. 

I did not want to distract from the swan images so I thought a clean and simple (CAS) card would be the best way to highlight the heart area :-) When I was updating my weekly challenge notebook,  I noticed  Joanne’s #377 “CAS Love Notes” Challenge at The Paper Players, I decided to give it a try :-)

I love the fact that the Scene Silhouettes: Wetlands  stamp set is the January set of the month at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  For every $60 purchase (after discounts and before shipping), you can receive this stamp set free until the end of January.  Plus, Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps has free shipping and handling on your $75 order (in the US) so this is a great deal!!

I am also playing along with the Addicted to Stamps and More #276 “Anything Goes”Challenge along with the Happy Little Stampers January CAS “Friendship”Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, de-static with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Thoughtful Words  with archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, mount onto the white card base (Note- you could skip the die cutting step entirely by embossing the sentiment directly onto the card base for a one layer card but I wanted to give the faux stitching effect).

3). Stamp the swan images from Scene Silhouettes: Wetlands with archival black ink onto another piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, fussy-cut out each swan.

4). Stamp the heart image from Pick Me Up with red ink onto white cardstock, fussy cut the heart and add a bit of shimmer with a clear glitter pen (hard to see in the photo).

5). Add the swans facing each other with the heart in the center using dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Quick and easy! I hope our friends will like it.

Stamp Sets: Scene Silhouettes: Wetlands,  Thoughtful Words, Pick Me Up (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Real Red Marker; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White

Acessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies Set 1, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a blessed week, sweet friends!

SC681 Sweeter Than Honey

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the weekly sketch #SC681 at Splitcoaststampers! Allison was our sketch designer this week and I love this fun sketch she has designed for all of us!

I wanted to create a quick Mixed Media card using the Sweet As Honey (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps) and paired it with Grunge Elements 2.

I am also linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Add A Sentiment” Challenge and the Happy Little Stampers January Mixed Media “Garden” Challenge (not sure about you, but we always have bees in our garden :-)).

If you have not had a chance to visit the Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or other challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using distress oxide inks- fossilized amber and wild honey, press the pads onto a silicone mat, lightly spritz with water and press a piece of white cardstock into the ink. Lift up, dry with a heat tool and repeat if necessary.  Add a bit of splatter with the large splatter stamp from Grunge Elements 2 and the honeycomb image from Sweet As Honey using wild honey distress ink. Die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.  Use a stencil brush to add wild honey distress ink to the background panel.

2). Dilute a bit of black soot distress ink and splatter onto the panel.  Mount onto a piece of white cardstock, trim and mount onto the black card base.

3). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse from Sweet As Honey using archival black ink and stamp onto the panel.  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Once the embossing has cooled, die cut with a stitched circle die.  Mount onto a larger circle of black cardstock. 

4). Re-ink the verse, stamp onto a piece of black cardstock and heat emboss with white embossing powder. Once the embossing has cooled, trim and mount onto the layered circle sentiment with dimensional foam. Trim the edge off the side, mount onto the card front and adhere the entire card front to the white card base.

5). Ink the bee image from Sweet As Honey with archival black ink, stamp onto white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor with wild honey and hickory smoke distress ink.  Fussy-cut the bee and add to the card front.  Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the bee.

6). Add a few jewel drops to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Sweet As Honey, Grunge Elements 2 (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey; Distress Ink- Wild  Honey, Hickory Smoke; Nuvo™ Limoncello Crystal Jewel Drops; Spectrum Noir™ Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1, Stitched Circle; Circle Framelits™, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! If you have a chance, we would love for you to join us at Splitcoaststampersfor this week’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a great week, sweet friends!

SNSS Sweet As Honey

Sweet ′n Sassy Stamps- Grunge Elements 2

A Very Present Help in Trouble

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are enjoying the first week of 2018!  A friend of ours went to be with the Lord on Christmas morning- she was 95 years young and a wonderful, godly woman. 

She will be truly missed but we know that she is in the arms of our Savior and we will see her again one day :-)

I decided to pull out the Floral Greetings and Peaceful Peonies clear stamp sets (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps) and used the Less Is More #360/#361 Sketch Challenge for the layout (I put the sentiment in the center by mistake - went from memory, oops!) along with the Happy Little Stampers January Watercolour Challenge  and Simon Says Wednesday "Anything Goes" Challenge for the design on this sympathy card for her family.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from their Design Teams as well as their galleries!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse sentiment from Peaceful Peonies with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, trim close to the edge.

2). Die cut a piece  of white cardstock with the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle Die Set #1, de-static the panel with an embossing powder tool, ink the floral image from Floral Greetings with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto the prepared panel in the upper and lower corner, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

3). Once the embossing has cooled, water color with Zig Real Clean Color markers, Tim Holtz™ Distress Markers and Distress Ink (see colors below in the card recipe).  Stencil the background using a Clarity™ Stencil Brush with the Memory Box™ Modern Chic Chevron Stencil.

4). Mount the panel onto a white card base with dimensional foam.  Add shimmer to the flower petals/background with a clear glitter pen and white highlights with a Sharpie® Extra Fine WhitePaint Pen.

5). Add the embossed sentiment with dimensional foam and a few sequins to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Floral Greetings, Peaceful Peonies (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- Salty Ocean, Fossilized Amber; TH Distress Markers- Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn; Zig® Clean Real Color Markers- Pink, Green; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle Dies Set 1, Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Clarity Stencil Brush, MB Modern Chic Chevron Stencil, Sequins

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a fabulous week!

Mixed Media Floral- Sending Prayers

Hi Friends!

I have another card to share today using a few “new to me” stamp sets from Unity Stamp Co. designed by Graciellie Designs – Faith & Hope and The Vine.

I love participating with online challenges and incorporated the Just Add Ink #390 Sketch Challenge along with the Happy Little Stampers December 2017 Watercolour "Anything Goes" Challenge and the Word ArtWednesday #312-#313 “Anything Goes” Challenge into the design.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- wonderful inspiration from their Design Teams as well as their galleries!

To create this card:

1). Die cut a piece of white cardstock using the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set #1 Dies.  Ink the floral image from Faith & Hope with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the lower left corner and upper right corner of the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, color with a water brush using a red watercolor pencil and follow with water-based markers until you are satisfied with the color (I have the colors I used listed in the card recipe below).

3). Use an alcohol marker to fill in the background and stencil blue distress oxide ink using a honeycomb stencil. Mount the entire panel onto a die cut piece of black cardstock (using the next size die in the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set #1 Dies).

4). Die cut a panel of white cardstock with the largest die from the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1 Dies, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and adhere to the white card base.

5). Die cut a piece of designer paper with the MFT Horizontal Strip Dies, cut the die in half before mounting onto the card base (per the sketch).  Mount the focal image panel with dimensional foam.

6). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from The Vine with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Trim and add the sentiment to the card front (again per the sletch).

7). Finish off the card by adding shimmer to the flower petals with a clear glitter pen, white highlights to the flower centers with an extra fine white paint pen and a few sequins.

Stamp Sets: Faith & Hope, The Vine (Unity Stamp Co.)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Distress Markers- Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade; Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Ink- Salty Ocean; Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Real Red, Old Olive; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen and VB1 Alcohol Marker; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; misc. designer paper (magenta- not sure of manufacturer)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1, Horizontal Strip Dies; Balzer Designs® Honeycomb Stencil, Sponge Dauber, Sequins (Red Asst-Crafter’s Medley), Embossing Buddy®, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for visiting- I hope all of you have a very blessed week and Merry Christmas!

SC676 Woodland Birthday

Hi Friends!

It’s Wednesday and time for the weekly sketch at Splitcoaststampers! Carey designed our SC676 sketch this week and I decided to create a simple Mixed Media "quilt" card using the new Scene Silhouettes:Woodland and Thoughtful Words Clear Stamp Sets (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps).

I absolutely love the Scene Silhouettes:Woodland stamp set and you can receive it free with a $60 order in the month of December from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps!

I was also inspired by the Time Out #98 Inspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the color of the wood along with the green and the deer) as well as the HappyLittle Stampers December Mixed Media “Anything Goes” Challenge and the WordArt Wednesday #312-#313 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the SC676 Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Die cut a 3 ¾” square piece of kraft cardstock with a square die. De-static the cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the deer image from Scene Silhouettes:Woodland with Versamark™ Ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

2). Die cut two quilts using a log cabin quilt die- one from white cardstock and the other from green.  Cut out the center of the white cardstock frame and use the stitched panels from the green to create the frame around the deer image.

3). Using a stencil brush with distress ink, stencil the flourish pattern over the entire deer and quilt frame.  Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the kraft cardstock around the deer image.

4). Using the same stencil with the same color ink, stencil the entire pattern onto another piece of white cardstock, die cut with a stitched rectangle die and mount onto green cardstock.  Mount the entire panel onto the white card base.

5). De-static the lower part of the frame with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Thoughtful Words with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing poweder and heat set with the heat tool.

6). Mount the deer focal image panel onto the card front with dimensional foam and add the copper sequins to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Scene Silhouettes:Woodland, Thoughtful Words (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Tim Holtz® Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green (Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things A2 Rectangle Stitched STAX Set 1, Square Framelits (retired Stampin’ Up!), Our Daily Bread Designs Log Cabin Quilt Die, Embossing Buddy®, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Clarity™ Stencil Brush, Memory Box™ Heartwood Stencil, Copper Sequins (Craft Medley)

Thanks again for stopping by to visit! If you have time, we would love to have you join us at Splitcoaststampers for this week’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas week, sweet friends!

SC671 Christmas Wishes

Hi Friends!

It’s Wednesday and time again for the weekly sketch at Splitcoaststampers! Carey is our sketch artist this week and I thought her sketch design would be perfect for a Christmas card!

I envisioned the lower circular element as a nature scene so I decided to pair the Tender Thoughts Clear Stamp along with the We Three Kings Clear Stamp Set (both Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps ) for this fairly simple Mixed Media Christmas card.   Pssst....don’t forget that we are celebrating the 10^th Birthday at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps- come check out all of the details here!!  

I decided to go with a monochromatic color scheme to participate with the Inspired By All The Little Things #72 Challenge and will also be linking to the Happy Little Stampers November “Anything Goes” Christmas Challenge as well as the Word Art Wednesday #308-#309 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- such wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the birch tree image from Tender Thoughts with pumice stone and hickory smoke distress ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock.  Heat set with a heat tool, use an embossing powder tool to de-static the paper and stamp the deer image from TenderThoughts with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink.  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

2). Die cut the image with a stitched circle die then die-cut again with a stitched square die.  Die cut a piece of black cardstock with the same circle die, mount the image onto the black circle (allowing a bit of the cardstock to show) and trim the edge close to the die cut.

3). Use a waterproof black marker to fill in the grass area, quickly apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool (I could not find my Versamarker™ pen).

4). Die cut a piece of light gray cardstock with a stitched border die, die cut a piece of black cardstock with the same die.  Emboss the light gray cardstock with a snowflake embossing folder and use the same embossing folder to emboss a piece of white cardstock.

5). Layer the embossed light gray cardstock over the black border, mount onto the white embossed layer and adhere the entire panel onto the white card base.

6). Ink the sentiment from We Three Kings using Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a scrap piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. Die cut with a label die, mount onto a piece of black cardstock (die cut with the same size die- layer two behind the sentiment to create a frame).  Mount onto the card front with dimensional foam and add the die cut scene directly onto the card front per the sketch.

7). Die cut snowflakes from silver foil, mount onto the card front.  Add a few pearls to the centers of the die cut snowflakes as well as a few of the embossed snowflakes.

8). Finish off the card by using a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the tree trunks.

Stamp Sets: Tender Thoughts, We Three Kings  (Sweet‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; TH Distress Ink- Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Pierced Circle STAX Dies, retired SU! Project Life® Framelit™ Dies, Lawn Fawn™ Stitched Hillside Border Die, Impression Obsession™ Small Snowflake Set Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- if you have time, come join us at Splitcoaststampers for this week’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a blessed week, sweet friends!