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!