Season of Love

Hello Friends!  

I wanted to share a few cards that are being featured on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog today- both cards were created using one of my favorite Sweet 'n  Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Christmas sets, Season of Love.

For the first card, I chose a Clean and Simple (CAS) design using the the Hand Stamped Sentiments HSSCC226 Color Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers' SC569 Sketch.

A very easy card with a bit of Gold Embossing and Gold Cord Trim (I have more detailed instructions on the SNSS Blog Post here).

Quick and easy- perfect for this time of year (FYI- most of my time was spent trying to get the Gold Trim to stay attached to the back of the card :-))

The second card uses the same colors from the Hand Stamped Sentiments HSSCC226 Color Challenge along with the Mojo Monday Mojo 427 Sketch Challenge.

Again, heat embossing with a bit of Gold Vellum and a bit more layering was used for this card.

Stamp Sets:  Season of Love (SNSS)

Ink: Versamark™

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Brushed Gold, Woodland Vellum Stack

Accessories: Big Shot™, Finial Press Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Stitched Rectangle and Square STAX Dies (My Favorite Things™), Embossing Buddy®, Stampin' Emboss®  Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1 1 /4" Circle Punch, Wooden Circle Embellishment, Pearls, MISTI® Tool

So which one do you prefer?  I enjoy creating more intricately layered cards,  but this time of year, CAS cards are some of my favorites as well!  

Wow, only thirteen more days until Christmas- hugs and I hope you have a blessed weekend, sweet friends!!

Sing Choirs of Angels

Hello Friends!

I am still working on Christmas cards and decided to use the ODBDSLC265 Color Challenge  (it was a bit difficult for me to see all of the colors in this array so I used a shade of green closer to the pine needles with Vanillam Cherry and Gold- hope that was OK :-)) along with the ‘Tis The Season "O Christmas Tree" Challenge  and Simon Monday “Holly Jolly Stamping” Challenge for the design on this set of Christmas cards.

If you have not already had a chance to do so, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites and check out the amazing Design Team samples as well as the galleries!

I just love the new Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Sing Choir of Angels stamp set and it was an easy set to use for multiple cards.  FYI- I already had some tall narrow envelopes on hand (4"x6") and decided to create cards to fit the envelopes:-)

To create this card:

Pearl was added to the tree top after photo was already taken:-)

De-static a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock using the Embossing Buddy®, stamp the ODBD Sing Choirs of Angels using Versamark™ ink onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Gold Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

Create the banner using Wild Wasabi and retired More Mustard cardstock (I used the Banner Triple Punch), adhere the two layers together, mount behind the focal image panel and add the 5/8” Gold Satin Ribbon bow.

Trim the piece of retired designer paper and mount onto the Cherry Cobbler card front, add the focal image panel with dimensional foam and finish off with the Pearl in the center of the star on the tree.

Another one of the DSP designs 

I was able to create 24 of these cards in a few evenings with the help of my MISTI® Tool (love my MISTI®)!

Stamp Sets: Sing Choir of Angels (ODBD)

Ink: Versamark™

Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, retired More Mustard and Be of Good Cheer DSP (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 5/8” Gold Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Banner Triple Punch, MISTI® Tool

One more of the designs 

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- the ladies in my Bible Study have been such a wonderful blessing to me this year!!  They seemed to enjoy the cards and I am so thankful that I was able to create them for my friends!  

Hugs and have a great weekend- God Bless!

SUO137 Snowman Fun

Hello Friends!   

It’s time for the new SUO137 “Cards or Gifts for Children” Challenge – create a card or project for children for the Christmas holiday or any other holiday of your choice.

I have to admit, this was a tough one for me...since we no longer have young children in our family, I do not have many current “cutesy” Stampin’ Up! sets... so I decided to go with punch art (I used Pinterest for inspiration and there are so many great ideas out there :-))

I hope you will have a chance to check out my sister Design Team member samples at the SU-Only Challenge site, pull out your Stampin’ Up! supplies and create your own “Stampin’ Up! Only” project for our challenge gallery. 

I am also linking to the Dragonfly Journeys #34 "Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?" Challenge (thanks, Jeannie for letting me know about your challenge) :-)  

This is a very easy card to make:

Punch two circles from Whisper White cardstock for the snowman’s body, the arms are from Early Espresso cardstock using the Tree Builder Punch, the hat is created from the 1 ⅜” Square Punch and a few scraps of cardstock, the holly is from the Bird and Owl Builder Punches and the carrot nose was cut free-hand.

The sentiment banner is from the White Christmas stamp set (stamped using Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with the Delightful Dijon Stampin’ Write Marker).

Quick and fun- do you think a child would enjoy this card? Or maybe even an adult who likes snowmen?  I know I giggled as I made this card so hopefully someone would like to receive it :-)

Stamp Sets:  White Christmas

Ink:  Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate (sponging around the body); Stampin’ Write Markers-  Delightful Dijon and Sahara Sand; White Gel Pen

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Delightful Dijon, Cucumber Crush, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Big Shot™, Decorative Dots Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sponge Dauber, Punches- 1 ¾” and 2 ½” Circle, Bird Builder, Owl Builder, Tree Builder, 1 ⅜” Square

Thanks again for stopping by and we hope to see your Stampin’ Up! Only project in our “Cards orGifts for Children” Challenge gallery!  Hugs and have a blessed week, my friends!

CAS Christmas Snowflake

Hello Friends!

I hope all of you are having a fabulous weekend! I had a chance to create a few projects this weekend and this card was designed from scraps using the FreshlyMade Sketches FMS215 Sketch along with the CAS-ual Fridays CFC146 “Snowflake”Challenge and the Simon Wednesday “Let It Snow” Challenge.

 Again, if you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will take a moment to do so- tremendous inspiration from all!

This is a very simple card to create using dies, a bit of Silver Cord and Rhinestones.

I already had the My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner die cuts in my scraps since I usually cut out banners and other shapes from the background layered panels.

The snowflakes were die cut from Silver Foil and I did dry emboss the Whisper White Banner using the Big Shot™ with the Memory Box (MB) Lindeman Snowflake Die (it is difficult to see this in the photo since the dry embossing is behind the silver snowflake die cut).

The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap piece of Smoky Slate so again, a quick, easy card for Christmas!

Stamp Sets:  More Merry Messages (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink:  Memento™ Tuxedo Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Silver Foil

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner STAX Dies, MB Lindeman Snowflake Die, Silver Cord, Rhinestones, Frosted Finishes Embellishment

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you have a fabulous week, my friends!

The Sea- Peace Be Still

Hello Again Friends!

This past Monday, I featured this card on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog and meant to post it on my blog as well- oops!!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) The Sea is a wonderful stamp set with this gorgeous ocean scene and several verses and sentiments- perfect for masculine or feminine cards!

This card was fairly easy to create: 

Stamp the ocean scene from The Sea (SNSS) using embossing ink, apply black embossing powder and heat set.  

Create a mask with a circle punch and sponge various colors onto the sky and water (I used Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry).

Ink and stamp the verse from the stamp set using embossing ink, heat set with black embossing powder, trim and mount onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto the white card base to finish off the card.

In honor of Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps’ 8th Birthday Celebration we are doing an “About Me” segment for each of the Design Team Members :

My husband and I live in Maryland and we are about to celebrate our 33rd Anniversary in January.  We do not have any children of our own, but love working with 3^rd thru 6^th grade kids in our church’s Awana program and have done so now for 18 years.  We have always had “kitties” in the house and over the years have had two groups of three- four are in “Kitty Heaven” and two that are still with us ( our “girls” are almost 10 years old, Angel and Queenie).

I have always been artistic and ever since I was a young girl had a pencil with paper in my hands drawing or coloring!  I was introduced to stamping in 1999 and loved the idea of being able to show others how they could be artistic as well!  I have been blessed with a very supportive husband and am currently on several Design Teams.

How long have you been a fan of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps?   I believe I have been a fan since the beginning and a customer for at least five years or more!  I love all of the beautiful images, Christian sentiments and verses!  It has been a delight to get to know  Korin as well as the Design Divas on the team.

What do you enjoy outside of stamping? 

I enjoy spending time with my husband and we love to take day trips to the mountains and enjoy God’s beautiful creation!  I love doing all types of arts and crafts as well as sewing and, of course, enjoy reading and studying the Bible (have also starting to do some Bible Art Journaling).

What is your "day" job? 

I have recently “retired” after 40+ years working outside the home primarily in accounting.  Right now, my current “day” job is a stay at home wife that is able to stamp between chores (well, sometimes the house is cleaned- lol!)

Who inspires you? 

As the others have said, that is a hard question!  So much inspiration is all around us as well as online- I tend to draw inspiration from nature, viewing online galleries such as Splitcoaststampers and I especially love to participate in online challenges- sketches, color combinations, themes, etc.  I truly believe that the Lord has gifted us all in various ways and am so thankful that He has allowed me to share that gift of art with others. 

Share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that most people might not know. 

My husband and I met on a “blind date” and have been inseparable ever since!

What advice would you give to a new stamper?  

Do not compare yourself with others- it takes time to develop techniques and skills.   Join stamping groups like Splitcoaststampers (which is free) and check out the galleries, try a few challenges and of course, check out the tutorials.  YouTube has so many videos and Pinterest is another source of inspiration for sure!!  Remember to have fun and do not compare yourself with others- it takes time to develop techniques and skills.  

What is your favorite SNSS set? 

Oh my, another difficult question!!  I love all of Sweet ‘n Sassys’ sets – the featured set, The Sea is one of my faves and here is a card that I created using a Salted Background:

I also love Parisian Postcard and here is a simple collage card using this set:

Well, I hope you have enjoyed these cards and our “Getting to Know You” segments- have a blessed week, sweet friends!

TCC45- Christmas Blessings

Hi Friends!!

It is time for The Card Concept #45 "Let It Snow" Inspiration Challenge- I love this color combination for Christmas and I chose to use the colors as well as the snowflakes for my Mixed Media card design.

I am also going to link this card to the Fusion “Blue Christmas” Challenge and the Paper Players PP273 “Tic-Tac-Toe” Challenge (snowflake, blue, ribbon).

Just a reminder that the Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a number of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media.   

I hope you can find some time to gather your supplies together and come join in on the fun- this will be our last challenge before Christmas :-)

To create this card:

Using a foam brush, apply Gesso® to a piece of designer paper (this is a great way to use up the patterns that you are not fond of) and once dry, apply a combination of Ranger® Tim Holtz® Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain along with Faber-Castell® Gelatos® (not sure of the color- I think it is Blueberry).

This process is a bit difficult to describe and basically you keep building up the background color until you are pleased with the results.

Use the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge with White Craft Ink to add a bit of splatter to the background (difficult to see in the photo).

Once the color had dried, de-static with the Embossing Buddy® and stamp the retired Festive Flurry snowflake image using Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Winter White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Close up of the easel closed :-)

When the embossing has cooled, ink the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Winter Blessings stamp using Night of Navy Classic Ink and stamp over the snowflake and background.

Trim the panel and hand cut the V-shape per the sketch.

Mount the lower panel onto a card front using Night of Navy cardstock.

Mount the upper panel onto a piece of Night of Navy cardstock (trimming to a “V”), add the ½ White Tea Lace Paper Doily behind the upper panel along with the 3/8” Denim Ribbon and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Ink the sentiment from the retired Stampin’ Up! More Merry Messages using Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Winter White Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Create the easel card from Extra Thick Whisper White cardstock (I used the Splitcoaststampers Tutorial here), stamp the sentiment from the retired Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) His Gift stamp set using Night of Navy Classic Ink , add the strip of Night of Navy cardstock with dimensional foam (cut the strip with the My Favorite Things (MFT) Horizontal Stitched Strip Die, edge with the MFT Die-namics Faux Crochet Die from Whisper White cardstock along with the 3/8” Denim Ribbon and stamp snowflakes from the Winter Blessings set (SNSS)  with White Craft Ink).

Adhere the card front to the easel and finish off the card with the retired Frosted Finishes Embellishment and Rhinestones.

Stamp Sets:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages (retired Stampin’ Up!); Gorgeous Grunge (Stampin’ Up- current), Winter Blessings (current SNSS), His Gift (retired ODBD)

Ink: Versamark™, White Craft;  Ranger® Tim Holtz® Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain along with Faber-Castell® Gelatos® (Blueberry),

Paper: Extra Thick Whisper White, Night of Navy; retired DSP (cannot see this since covered with Gesso®).

Accessories: Gesso®, Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Horizontal Strip Dies, MFT Die-namics Faux Crochet Die, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Winter White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 3/8” Denim Ribbon, Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful week and come play along with us at The CardConcept!

Nature Silhouettes- A Masculine Birthday Card

Hello Friends!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday- we are so blessed and are so thankfu!! 

We were traveling yesterday to be with family and I did not have access to a computer (I decided to take a day away from electronics)- sometimes you just need a day to unwind... we had a great time along with great food!

Today, I had a chance to create a card using the Retro Sketches#191 Sketch along

with the 4 Crafty Chicks #274 “Masculine” theme  and the 

Splitcoaststampers’ WT559 “Leftovers” Challenge (use your scraps/leftovers :-)). 

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge site galleries yet, again, I would encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Create a mask from sticky note paper or scrap paper using the 1 ¼” Circle Punch and place the mask onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Using Sponge Daubers, apply Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink along with Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry Classic to create the sky.

Remove the mask, de-static the cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®.

Ink the tree image from the retired Stampin’ Up! Nature Silhouettes stamp set using Versamark™ ink, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool. 

Once cooled, repeat the above steps with the deer image.

Trim the stamped panel and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock (this was from my scraps), trim and mount onto the banner panel (again, this was from my scraps cut with the Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner Die from My Favorite Things™).

Emboss a scrap piece of retired Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper (DSP) with the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a scrap piece of Basic Black cardstock  (lightly sand with the Sanding Block).

Create the background  layer from Pumpkin Pie DSP using the retired Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and the corners with the 1 ¼” Circle Punch, layer onto Basic Black cardstock punching the ticket style corners with the 1 ¼” Circle Punch and lightly sand with the Sanding Block.

Add the ribbons to the focal image banner panel (the loops were scrap pieces in my stash) and layer all of the pieces per the sketch.

Stamp the sentiment and create the layered banner with the Hexagon Punch, mount to the card front and add the Pumpkin Pie button to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Silhouettes, Express Yourself (hostess set)- both retired Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Versamark™, Memento™ Tuxedo Black

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, retired Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, MFT Jumbo Stitched Fishtail Banner Dies, retired Herringbone and Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing  Folders, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Punches-  1 ¼” Circle, Hexagon; Pumpkin Pie button, ¼” Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, 3/8” Pumpkin Pie Taffeta Ribbon, Antique Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware Ribbon Slide, Sanding Block

This card will be mailed to my Dad who will be celebrating his 81^st Birthday in a few days ( (shh...Aunt Pat- do not spill the beans- lol!)) .  Since he lives so far away, we do not get a chance to see each other that often but I hope he likes this card (it reminds me of the days that he used to hunt- he is quite the outdoorsman) :-)

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of you have a fabulous weekend!

ODBDSLC264 In The Highest

Hello Friends!

Woohoo! Time for the new Shining the Light ODBDSLC264 “Religious Christmas” Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs ! 

With Thanksgiving here in the United States this week, I decided to create a very easy card with the new In The Highest stamp set using gold embossing and a few layers of the Christmas Collection 2013 6x6 Paper.

I am also linking this card to the Alphabet Challenge "T for 'Tis the Season" Challenge and the Just Us Girls #320 "Red, Green and Gold" Challenge :-)

Our Daily Bread Designs- In The Highest, Christmas 2013 Paper Collection

To create this card, ink the In The Highest stamp set using an embossing ink and emboss with gold embossing powder.  

Trim the panel and mount onto brushed gold cardstock, trim and mount onto burgundy cardstock, trim again and mount onto green cardstock.

Layer the Christmas Collection 2013 6x6 papers onto a piece of burgundy cardstock, trim and add the layered central panel with the gold satin ribbon.

Mount the entire panel onto the green card base.

Add the embossed sentiment panel with dimensional foam and add the gold satin ribbon bow to finish off the card.

It truly has been a blessing to design along this fabulous DT Team for the last few months (this is my final Guest DT spot with ODBD)...

If you have not had a chance to do so, I hope you will check out my DT sisters:

Chris Olsen, Diana Nguyen, Paula Bigelow and Robin Clendenning.

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC264 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until December 6, 2015 (two weeks to play along this time) at 8:00 pm EDT. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States,  I want to thank all of you who visit my blog and the encouragement you are to me!!  

So thankful for many things but most of all, for knowing Jesus as my personal Savior!  I pray that you know Him as well personally and can have the peace that surpasses all understanding :-)

Thanks again for stopping by, we hope to see your artwork in the Shining the Light ODBDSCL264 Challenge gallery!  

Have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving week - hugs to you, my friends!