Adoption - The Gift of You

Here's a card I made for the Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoaststampers today in honour of Sabrina, aka Cook22.  HERE is the beautiful card which inspired me.  I used a new set soon to be available at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called The Gift of You - it's part of Korin's Stamps for a Cause Series and this one celebrates adoption with 15 heartfelt sentiments.  The best part is that for every stamp set sold $10 will go to Henan Kids International to help orphans in Henan, China!

This card is also in honour of my Mum and Dad who prayed for a wee baby to adopt over 40 years ago and got my little brother.

 

 

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps The Gift of You

Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares

Spellbinders Nestabilities Squares

Flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts)

Jute twine (American Crafts)

Cheery Lynn Design Fanciful Flourish die

Stampin Up Lucky Limeade ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Fancy a Cuppa?

I've been enjoying my tea and coffee these cold winter days which made me think about this fun project I made while I was on the Dirty Dozen Design team at Splitcoaststampers in April through September 2011.  The cards designed while on the DD team are kept exclusively for the Fan Club members during that time but I'm sharing this one now, it was one of my favourites.

That month our theme was Comfort Zone and tea is definitely one of my creature comforts - it warms me up from the inside!  I discovered soon after I moved here that whether it's a crisis big or small, the British and Irish put the kettle on for a cuppa!

  It's made with a Waltzingmouse A Nice Cup of Tea template which you can find HERE.  I embossed the edges of the tea cup and saucer in gold using Stampin Up's Wedding Elegance and then did the same with the tag using the Waltzingmouse sets Very Vintage Labels No. 4 and Say it With Style.  The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. 
The handle has a number of layers of gold embossing.
I used a paper that has a translucent look for the effect of porcelain or fine china - I bought it loose in sheets without any indication of a company name.

Hey Chick!

 

I got new Paper Smooches for Christmas - thanks to my son, Josh!  Love how easy to colour and cut out these little critters are!  I made a very simple CAS thankyou card with MFT Die-namics - Say What for the speech bubble and PTI's cloud dies for the clouds. 

 My card making resolution for next year is to make more cards with regular sentiments such as "thank you", "thinking of you", and "happy birthday" as it seems I'm always running out of those!

Supplies include:

Paper Smooches Chubby Chums

Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

Fiskars Circlel Cutter

Copics

Jute twine (American Crafts)

Papertrey Ink cloud dies

My Favorite Things Say What Die-namics

God is Love

 

I made this card in honour of Sylvia Blum, aka ~Fee~, who's today's Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers - love her style with both clean and simple cards and more complicated ones!  HERE is the card from Sylvia's gallery which inspired me.

I stitched down four panels of jumbo scallops and created the sentiment banner with MFT's Fishtail Flag's Die-namics and my new favorite font by Kimberley Geswein - Strawberry Limeade!  Even the name is fab!

These are also my favorite crafty flowers, they're from Wild Orchid Crafts, - they have a wonderful, extensive collection of beautiful blooms.

This Bible verse was the very first one I memorized when I was about four years old with my Mom's help.  And though I'm not fantastic at memorizing it, God's Word has been a complete rock of security in my life over the years, as well as hugely shaping and influencing in my character.

Supplies include:

Lilybee Designs dp

My Favorite Things Jumbo Scallops, Fishtail Flags Die-namics

Rose (Wild Orchid Crafts)

Pins

Sewing Machine

Sweet Little One

Only a few more days until Christmas, and I've already moved on from making Christmas cards. 
Here's a card inspired by the Badgely Mischka Spring 2013 Runway Collection which is the Inspiration Challenge website over at Splitcoaststampers today.  The soft blush, creams, and pearly vintage hues inspired me to make a vintage baby card.  I love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Vintage Baby set - the images are so easy to use and this one in particular is very easy to color even you don't feel that confident about coloring. It was also very easy to mask with a stamped image on a post-it-note so that I could sponge around the image with Distress ink while still in the Nestie. All panels have been stitched and I added some lace and pearls to help with the vintage look. The rose has been sponged with SU's Blushing Bride ink to match and the bow is jute twine made by American Crafts.

 

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Vintage Baby

Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings dp

Copics

Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals Petite

MFT Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Ranger Distress Frayed Burlap ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

SU Blushing Bride ink

American Crafts jute

Flower (Wild Orchid Crafts)

Sewing machine

Pearls

Lace

Poppies in Jars

 

Here's a card I made for the Sketch Challenge at Splitcoaststampers this week.  Korin gave us a really flexible layout.  I love poppies and I love jars so this set really appealed to me!  It's colored with copics and the tiny sentiment is punched with SU's smallest oval punch.  And that's it - a really easy thank you card!

Supplies include:

Stampendous Poppy Jars

Lilybee Designs dp

Stampin Up Real Red card stock

Stampin Up small oval punch

Twine

Button

Button Flowers

Here's a card I created for today's Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoaststampers - it's Gail, or GailNM and HERE  is her beautiful card which inspired me!  I love a pop of color, especially red, against crisp white, so Gail's card really appealed to me!  

I stamped the flowers (from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Your Friendship set, though they are now only available as a digi called 6 Petal Flowers) on pink card stock and sponged the edges with red ink - I did this a couple of times to create more depth.  It's an alternative to colouring if you're not in the mood!

The flowers are layered on an embossed bg with a square frame, made using Nestabilities Squares.

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Your Friendship

Spellbinders Nestabilities Squares

Craft Concepts Budding Vine embossing folder

Buttons

Stampin Up Real Red, Lucky Limeade ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Winter Bird

Here's a card I made for the 200th CAS Challenge at Splitcoaststampers - to be inspired by this fabric:

It was a quick card  - I masked with post-it-notes and then sponged with gray ink along the top of the card.

Often I will mask a circle and sponge inside for the sun or moon on a card like this but this time I simply cut a  circle with a Nestie for the sun.  I used Memory Box dies for the bird and branches.  The berries are the leftover holes from using a button punch.  I was aiming for the look of a milky sun on a misty winter's morning with frost covered branches and red berries.  Though I'm not aware of cardinals existing here in Northern Ireland, I know they're a winter bird in many parts of North America.

Supplies include:

Memory Box Grove Branch die

Memory Box Nestled Bird die

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Small

Stampin Up Basic Gray ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Stampendouds (sentiment)

Stampin Up Daffodil Delight, Real Red card stock

Cream Linen card stock

Tie the Knot

Here's a card I made for CASual Friday's challenge - CFC81 Knotty or Nice.

I went for a wedding card in a color combo which I hope is elegant - gold, black and cream!

The knotty element is two champagne glasses cut using Die-namics from cream linen 

card stock sponged with Antique Linen ink -  they're tied and knotted together using gold cord.

The heart is cut using flocked dp which adds a lot of texture and elegance IRL.  

The sentiment is computer generated using my new favourite font, Lavanderia - it's 

popped up on the heart on a banner cut with My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics.

Supplies include:

My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

MFT Let's Toast Die-namics

Spellbinders Nestabilities Hearts, Circles Small

Gold Cord

Brushed gold card stock

Brushed gold brads

DCWV dp

Cream Linen cardstock
Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink

CAS Ornament

Here's a card made for the Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoaststampers today - it's Diana, aka mayodino – I enjoyed her entire gallery, but especially the sponged designs, so I chose this ornament card to CASE.  
I'm also entering this in the fun challenge, Addicted to CAS  #2 - Code Word Bauble!
I sponged a Spellbinders Nestie circle, added some die-cut snowflakes and spritzed white acrylic paint on it with a toothbrush.  If you're going to try this, I suggest thinning down the paint with a few drops of water, otherwise the paint will be too thick to "spritz" properly.  Also do a test run on a piece of scrap paper just to get the feel of what it takes to get a nice even "spritz"!

 The top of the ornament was made with shiny silver card stock, the upper edge cut with an oval Nestie and the bottom cut with a scalloped oval Nestie with some added score lines.  
I used black wire for the loop at the top (twisted the wire around a paintbrush handle in order to achieve a more perfect circle shape) and “hung” the ornament with twine.  

The sentiment is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, A Cocoa Kind of Christmas - I love the font Korin used in this set!

Supplies include:

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles, Ovals, Scalloped Ovals

M-bossibilities So Trendy embossing folder

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps A Cocoa Kind of Christmas

My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Cheery Lynn Designs snowflake die

SU Cool Caribbean ink

Ranger Distress Broken China ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Twine

Wire

White Acrylic Paint

Toothbrush

Shiny Silver card stock

Smooth White card stock

CAS Roses

Just having some fun with Papertrey Ink's The Sweet Life stamp and die set.  The stamp set involves three step stamping, so you need shades which provide some contrast.

 I originally wanted to go for yellow roses but didn't have several shades of yellow, though I plan to try yellow and orange.  The dies are fabulous - the card stock just pops out effortlessly!

This is my favourite type of card to make, a bright pop of color against a crisp white background.  

Working with such bright inks certainly brightens up a cold winter day!
I've also posted this for today's Free For All Challenge, Springtime in December at Splitcoaststampers.

Supplies include:

Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life stamps, dies

Papertrey Ink Signature Greetings

Stampin Up Lavender Lace, Orchid Opulence, Pink Passion, Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Smooth White card stock

Creative Experessions Lattice embossing folder

Country Retro

 

Here's a card I made using the sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers given to us by Korin. With all those panels it was a perfect chance to mix dp's which I love to do - here it's a mix of some favorite October Afternoon papers.  I used Papertrey Ink's Bloom Builder 3 die for the red flowers.  The edges of the card base have been sponged with distress ink - if I could have just one ink pad other than Memento Tuxedo Black, it would Ranger Distress Antique Linen, because I love the way it makes paper/card look like it's been in Grandma's attic for a long time!

The sentiment is from Verve's Circular Sayings.  I hope this card will encourage a friend who's been going through a really bad time.

Supplies include:

Papertrey Ink Bloom Builder 3 Die

Verve Circular Sayings

October Afternoon dp

Stampin Up Real Red card stock

Buttons

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Ranger Distress Antique Linen

Twine

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Large, Small

Sewing Machine

Country Wildflowers

Here's a card I made recently for a Ways to Use It Challenge which Cathy (cathymac) gave us at Splitcoaststampers - using the bleach technique - and I managed to get through the whole process without ruining any clothes!

I've used SNSS's Wilflower set on Stampin Up's Cherry Cobbler card stock - as you can see the bleach causes the stamped area to fade to a creamy pink. I find this technique works well with solid stamps like silhouettes rather than stamps with finer lines. Another hint while using this technique is to use your bleach sparingly - I put some on a piece of folded paper towel on a flat plate, just enough to thoroughly moisten it but not enough to make it dripping wet.

My last suggestion would be to try it out on piece of extra card stock first - the result is always different depending on the color and make of the cardstock. For example some hardly showed at all, and with others the result seemed muddy, but there were plenty that ended up pretty and pleasing!

I added the main image oval to an embossed panel of kraft....the color combo said "country" to me so I added a gingham ribbon bow as a finishing touch!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Wildflower

Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals

Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler card stock

Papermania Kraft

Ribbon

Pearls

Twine

Bleach

Button

Sizzix/Stampin Up Square Lattice embossing folder

CAS Noel

 

I made a card for the Less is More challenge this week, which is a Color Challenge Red and Green .
Chrissie and Jen gave us some beautiful inspiration with their samples.
 Couldn't resist that color combo against a crisp creamy white background!

  I was delighted to see that the sponsor this month is My Mum's Craft Shop - I love the selection and personal service that Kitty provides and they stock a great selection of MFT Die-namics - need I say more?!

I used By the Letters Die-namics to cut letters from burgundy RED cardstock and a Cheery Lynn Designs holly die for the GREEN holly.  The bg is embossed and I added some large matching brads for berries! 

Supplies include:

My Favorite Things By the Letters Die-namics

My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags Die-namics

Cheery Lynn Designs holly die

M-bossibilities Elitel embossing folder

Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade cardstock

Brads

Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy stamps Birthday Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop!

I've had the privilege of working with the fabulous design team at SNSS for the past couple of years, and have loved getting to know many talented and fun stampers among the team and customers along the way!  Korin is a sweet, beautiful friend with integrity and real faith in Jesus.

I'm so glad you get to join us today, and here's some information to keep in mind about the prizes!

 One commenter from four participant blogs will be chosen to receive a $15 store credit at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.
        To be included in the drawings, comments must be left by midnight EST Friday, November 30th.
        The winners will be announced on the SNSS Blog on December 1st at 8am EST!

All of the participating blogs are linked at the bottom of this post.

Now here's the card I've created for the hop today:

 

I've used four different SNSS sets and two die sets:

Serene Silhouettes to stamp grass allong the bottom of the panel.

Nature Silhouettes for the wildflowers.

New Beginnings for the butterfly which is colored with copics.

Script Sentiments for the "Thinking of You" sentiment.

New Beginnings Butterfly die set to cut and pop up the butterfly.

Lacey Eyelet Border die, using the side of the die with tiny scallops.
 I'd been wishing I had a tiny scallops die and then realized I'd had one on this die the whole time!

The image panel was sponged with various inks and then I spattered black ink across it with a toothbrush.  The sun was masked using post-it-notes and a Nestie circle.

It was such a fun card to make and I've loved showcasing these fabulous SNSS products!

Other supplies include:

Stampin Up Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Orchid Opulence ink

Ranger Distress Dusty Concord ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Button

Twine

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Small

Here are all of the bloggers participating today, so have fun hopping!

 

Peaceful Bridge

 

A package from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps came today, just in time for me to use this lovely set, Bridge of Hope, for a card inspired by a piece of art found HERE.  The website GelaSkins was given to us by Steph for today's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers. 

I used a cloud die cut to sponge the sky and then colored the image with copics.  The flowers (Wild Orchid Crafts) were just slightly too large for my card so I gently pulled off the back layer of petals and then reattached the leaves layer to the now slightly smaller flower. 

My Mom recently sent me an early Christmas present, a package of many different colors of jute twine, made by American Crafts - love this stuff for it's pretty shades of color but also because it's quite fine and doesn't create a big lump on the card, which is always a big plus when posting!

The sentiment is from a beautiful hymn.  Horatio Spafford lost four daughters in a tragic accident at sea in 1873.  Shortly afterwards he took a journey back across the Atlantic and penned these words as they passed near the spot where his dear daughters had died.  From our standpoint it's hard to see how someone could have that kind of faith - but he continued to believe that God loved him and that his dear daughters were with Jesus, and that he would see them again.  He and his wife went on to have more children and went on to found an amazing work running soup kitchens, orphanages, and hospitals in Jerusalem.

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Bridge of  Hope

Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals Petite, Small, Large

Copics

American Crafts Jute

Wild Orchid Crafts roses

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Pink Roses

 

Here's a card I made for the Sketch Challenge given to us by Taylor at Splitcoaststampers yesterday using Papertrey Inks The Sweet Life stamps and dies.  They're so beautiful to work with - it's a 3 step stamping system so it adds dimension and I've layered them up here on the top panel.  I also masked a circle for the sentiment, which is from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I absolutely love this quote, and many times in my life, I've hung onto this Truth, even when it hasn't felt true.

For those of you in the United States, wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving today, I hope it's a meaningful and special time with your loved ones!

Supplies include:

Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life stamp and die set

Our Daily Bread Designs Quote Collection 1

Stampin Up Lucky Limeade, Certainly Celery, Blushing Bride, Rose Red ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles

Pearls

Spellbinders M-bossibilities Elite embossing folder

Sweet Red Apples

Here's a clean and simple card using Apple of My Eye, one of the fun digi's which are on sale this week at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps at 25% off!  

I used red card stock for the apples and then sponged red ink along the edges for added dimension, popping them up, and finally adding crystal glaze for shine - and all that seems to be lost here in my photo, however!

In keeping with the country apple orchard theme, I added gingham, twine and buttons.  

Sometimes I tell myself "....just step away from the dp....put it down and step away, come on,

 you can do it!" :)  I made a completely dp-free card, and hopefully all the clean, crisp white space makes a great contrast with the deep red and bright green!

Supplies include:

Apple of My Eye digi

Stampin Up Real Red card stock

Twine

Ribbon

Buttons

Copics

Anita's Crystal Gloss

Fiskars Corner Rounder

Christmas Pines

I made this card in honour of today's talented Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers, Lee-Anne Cross, aka Shadow's Mom.  

HERE is her beautiful clean and simple card which inspired me.  

I used Dee's Distinctively Snow Covered Stacker Tree Small to make the trees.  

The die set is fantastic because you simply use a different number of the varied sizes to make your tree bigger or smaller and can cut from green, or from white for a snow covered tree - that's my next card! 

Here's a close up of the dies and how they cut so you can see how easy it is to build your trees!

I used a punch for the tiny snowflakes and Cheery Lynn Designs Snowflowers 2 for the larger snowflake, then added pearls.  

The snow bank is hand cut with a craft knife.

I love this verse from the Verve set, Richly Blessed - quoting the angels words at Jesus' birth, it just about sums up Christmas - Jesus came to earth to bring peace and goodwill to people and glory to God Himself!

Supplies include:

Verve Richly Blessed

Dee's Distinctively Snow Covered Stacker Tree Small die

Cheery Lynn Designs Snowflowers 2 die

Kraft, white linen card stock

Sewing machine

Sizzix plaid embossing folder

Pearls

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Holly Wreath

I was holding out for the perfect holly dies and I think I've found them - love these Cheery Lynn Design dies (B183)!  They come with six on the strip, in three different sizes, each pair curling slightly the opposite way.  It's so fun to cut a whole bunch of them and then arrange a wreath or garland!  I added some red pearl berries, in fact, probably went a little crazy with them, if I keep that up, they won't last long!  

This is for today's Free for All challenge at Splitcoaststampers, Wendy has us using newsprint/text on our cards.  I used a hoarded bit of some of my favorite October Afternoon dp to add the text.  All edges have been sponged with Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink.

Supplies include:

Cheery Lynn Designs holly die (B183)

My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Verve Poinsettia Christmas

October Afternoon dp

Lilybee Designs dp

Pearls

Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Stampin Up Lucky Limeade card stock

Sunset at Sea

Korin gave us a fabulous layout for the Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers today, and it seemed perfect for this ocean scene.  This is one of my favourite SNSS stamp sets - The Sea.
I love sponging a sky with or without clouds - here I used a cloud die and SU's Pool Party ink.
You can also use a scalloped oval or circle.  Always start at the bottom of your sky.  I don't bother with post-it-notes for this, just hold the die-cut cut from card stock in place and come down with your sponge on the die-cut itself before moving up and off onto the card base - do that all along the top edges of the die-cut. Keep placing the die-cut randomly as you move up the cardstock to get the effect of layered fluffy clouds.  
I also added a sun by masking using a Spellbinders Circle and post-it-notes.  

SU's Blushing Bride is such a soothing pink, it's got soft coral tones, and I used that for the sun.

The bg panels are all embossed with various folders and framed in black.

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps The Sea

Stampin Up Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Barely Banana ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Papermill Shop white linen card stock

Button

Twine

Spellbinders M-bossibilities So Trendy embossing folder

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Small

Post-it-notes

Papertrey Ink cloud dies

Stampin Up Square Lattice embossing folder

Wonderful Day

This weeks Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers is Patty (LaLatty) - I chose a lovely card with a nice, clean layout to CASE from her gallery, found HERE.  I'm a huge fan of circles, they always appeal to me in a sketch and here I used a circle cutter to make the image panel as my largest Circle Nestie wasn't big enough. I sponged a background using Papertrey Ink's cloud dies and Stampin Up's Cool Caribbean ink.  

This Flourishes set, Bike Ride, is so much fun - there are a number of different images you can add to the basket such as books, flowers, a picnic and this fun wee dog!  It made me think of the Wizard of Oz and little Toto getting carted around in a basket on a bike!  The sentiment is from another Flourishes set, Magnolias.  This is my favourite kind of card to make - a coloured image against a lot of white space - it was fun!

Supplies include:

Flourishes Bike Ride

Flourishes Magnolias

Fiskars Circle Cutter

M-bossibilities Elite embossing folder

Papertrey Ink cloud dies

Twine

Copics 

Button

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Stampin Up Cool Caribbean ink

Star Inspiration

Today's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers is at Angelic Dreamz - HERE is the star ornament I was inspired by to create this card.  I love these colors together and used a variety of Lillybee Designs dp from the Buttercup pad.  The stars were cut using Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps stars dies - love these little dies, they're a perfect variety of sizes, I reach for them all the time!
This Verve Plain Jane stamp is such a wonderful verse of Scripture - the writer of the Psalms was so real and simply took all his pain, anguish and confusion to the God he knew was listening and who cared.  And even more signifigantly the God who was powerful enough to use all that pain for his ultimate good - as hard as that is to believe sometimes!  I am currently praying this verse for someone I care about very much - someone who's head is hanging very low...praying that loved one will look to God who restores and redeems lost years and who is the Lifter of hearts and heads.
Supplies include:
Verve Plain Jane Psalm 3:3
Verve Plain Jane Notebook Page
Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles
Lillybee Designs dp
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps star dies
Sewing machine
Jute Twine
Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink
Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Poppy Thanks

Today's Ways To Use It challenge at Splitcoaststampers is to make a thank you card, and especially a card of thanks for veterans.   Remembrance Day is on the 11th and in honour of it and all those who have sacrificed for our freedom I created this card using a poppy.  I am truly grateful.  I stamped it twice on card stock, sponged the edges with red ink for extra dimension, then popped it up in several layers.  I added some black gems and white dots for the flower centre.  

Supplies include:

Woodware Poppy Single

Stampin Up (sentiment)

Papermania gingham dp

Stampin Up Real Red, Lucky Limeade card stock

Cheery Lynn Designs Fanciful Flourish

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Stampin Up Real Red ink
Black gems
White gel pen

A Passion for Poinsettas

Don't you just love poinsettias with their deep rich color and thick velvety leaves and petals?  I've been having fun with the set Poinsettia lately - here I stamped it on card stock three times, once on green for the leaves, and three times on deep red for the flower, so I could layer it up.  I also slightly curled the leaves with the handle of a thick paintbrush.  All edges have been sponged with ink to provide a bit more dimension.  I wanted the flower to pop against a lot of white space, so simply added a small strip of dp and a banner sentiment.  Embossing a white or cream background is a good way to add interest without losing all that clean, crisp space!  Don't forget, this set and all of the sets featured in the Design Team Favorites Blog Hop are on sale at 25% off until November 7!  Be sure to check out all the birthday surprises and giveaways over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

I hope you're having a great Monday, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Poinsettia

My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags Die-namic

Spellbinders M-bossibilities Elite embossing folder

Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade card stock

Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Pearls

Stampin Up Festival of Prints dp

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps DT Favorites Blog Hop

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is celebrating 5 fabulous years this month!  There's a lot of fun planned starting with today's DT Favorites blog hop - and the best part is that all of the sets that the design team have have featured are on sale - 25% off today through November 7th!  I hope you enjoy all the inspiration from the creations using our favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets!  

For my first card I've used Everyday Miracles - I don't know how many times I've reached for this beautiful set over the past couple of years since I got it! I colored the butterfly with copics and popped it up over a Cheery Lynn Design flourish for lots of dimension.  Since we're working with favorites, I had to use pearls and stitching too!

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Everyday Miracles

Pebbles Country Picnic dp

SU Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade dp

Cheery Lynn Design Fanciful Flourish die

MFT Jumbo Scallops die

Pearls

Copics

Sewing machine

Memento Tuxedo black Ink

For my second card I've used Poppies and Greetings and Vintage Postcard.   Poppies and Greetings has various sentiments in a beautiful font which I use all the time with a variety of other sets, but this time I simply used the beautiful poppies image.
Vintage Postcard is so much fun, you can use any combo of the many postal images included to create everything from shabby chic to CAS!

I distressed the main panel with a distressing tool and inks and colored the image with copics.

Supplies include:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Poppies and Greetings

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Vintage Postcard

SU Festive Prints dp

SU Cherry Cobbler card stock

MFT Simply Scallops Die-namic

Pearls

Vintage button

Copics

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Ranger Distress Antique Linen ink

Here's a list of everyone participating in the hop today:
Ceal Pritchett
Bridget Finlay
Dina Kowal
Cathy McCauley
Giovanna Smith
Makiko Jones
Jennie Harper
Jessica Fick
Mary Faus
Kim Schofield
Monika Davis
Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!

Sure and Steadfast

It's my last card as October Guest Designer for Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge - I've enjoyed it so much!  

This time it's One for the Men - to make a masculine card.  I have to admit, I always find these a challenge, but I got great advice from my Dad when I asked...."which one do you like best?"  Unsurprisingly, it was the one with "less" instead of "more"! I simply added twine (Dad said leave off the twine bow!) and star brads to finish!

I used the fabulous set Anchor - I love this one, I find the ocean scene easy and fun to color and the sentiments are SO encouraging.  And of course, though it can be used for anyone, it seems a natural for masculine cards!

  This particular card will go to a man in our church who has an illness which is very debilitating - the way that he and his wife have handled all their hardship has been amazing.  They have kept their eyes on their Saviour and remain convinced of His care and His eternally loving purpose in their lives.

Supplies include:

Our Daily Bread Designs Anchor

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Large, Small

Star brads

SU Real Red cardstock

Twine

My Minds Eye dp

Making Memories Pitter Patter dp

One of a Kind

I made these little treat bags for Patty's Hope You Can Cling To challenge at Splitcoaststampers today  - to make a treat holder in pink, black, white and silver.  I love making these quick and easy treat bags....they look great with foil wrapped chocolates or candy in bright colors but here I simply filled a cello card sleeve with white mints to make sure they'd go with the color scheme.  

I used Nesties with sponging and stamping for the bag topper, then added a silver and black gingham ribbon with a silver heart to finish.

Supplies include:

Flourishes Magnolias

Papertrey Ink Flourishes

SU Blushing Bride ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles, Lacey Circles

Pearls

Ribbon

Thank You in Pink

I made this card for the Featured Stamper challenge at Splitcoaststampers and for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge today - A Clean and Simple Statement.   

Janine (nines) is the featured stamper today and HERE is the card that inspired my card - Janine used chalk to make two softly colored strips, I did my strip by masking with post it notes. To make a mask, I googled a leaf image, cut it out from the inside so I could use the negative piece of paper to sponge inside with ink.  This works well with almost any image which is easily recognizable by it's simple outline.  

The Hope You Can Cling To challenges are nearly over, it's been a fun month for a wonderful cause!

Supplies include:

Waltzingmouse Say It Loud

SU Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo, Cherry Cobbler ink

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

buttons

post-it-notes