Autumn Thanks Card Set

Today we're showcasing again some of the new stamps and dies
released by  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps during September! 

Here's a set of four "thank you" cards created with the fabulous
Leaf Silhouettes stamp set and Leaf Silhouette Dies. 

 The sentiments are from the very useful So Grateful - love how
easy it is to mix and match the words to say thank you in different ways.

I used ink to watercolor the backgrounds, leaving an unpainted area so
the popped up leaves would stand out in contrast.  This involves brushing
 the whole rectangular area with water before brushing in the ink loosely
 in the bottom left two thirds.  As the ink/paint spreads you can add in a
bit more here and there for more depth of color.

After stamping the sentiments in Color Box Black 

Licorice ink, I added a few matching sequins to finish.

Here is a closer look at each card with ink colors.

Ranger Distress Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.

Stampin Up Lucky Limeade and Ranger Distress Peeled Paint.

 Stampin Up Rich Razzleberry.

Ranger Distress Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Pine Needles.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you'll take a look at the pretty creations some of 

the Design Team have come up with using new September release

stamps and dies!  If you've made any creations using the new sets,

we'd love to see them, please add the using the linky tool below which closes

September 25, 2014.

Give Thanks

Here's an autumn card in non-traditional pastel colors 

using the Leaf Silhouette Stamp Set and the newly
released Leaf  Silhouette Dies. by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. 

 I love the bold, modern style of these leaves - very fun to work with!

The background is created with a technique using watercolors 

or ink and a stencil, which I learned in the 

Watercolor for Cardmakers Online Class.

Many people prefer using watercolor paper but other types of card stock work 

fine because it doesn't involve over-working the paint/ink too much.  

However, a word of warning, many types of card stock will buckle and warp -  I 

taped down the edges of the panel with easily removable masking
tape to avoid excessive warping, but if it does 

happen, you can adhere the panel to another piece of card stock or 

else put it between the pages of a large book and sit on it for a while to flatten it out!

I brushed the panel with plenty of of water, then added various colors of ink 

with the brush - the paint or ink should spread and blend if you've added
enough water.  If not, give it a spray of water until you see it start to really blend.
Here I used Ranger Distress Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw, 

Antique Linen, Broken China and Worn Lipstick.  I then lay the stencil over the

 wet panel and set some jars of buttons on top of the stencil so that it's 

pressed down into the paint/water fairly evenly - you could probably use anything 

that has a bit of weight to it but also allows some air flow.   Then you have 

to let it sit and dry!  Go have a cup of coffee or do some cleaning up around 

your craft area!  Don't be tempted to take the stencil off too soon 

before it dries - so maybe you've got time for a cup of coffee AND tidying up!  

When the stencil is removed the result is something like this - the paint/ink has 

gathered where the stencil is pressed against the paper, creating darker areas, leaving
the stencil pattern in lighter shades. 

I popped up the stamped, die-cut leaves and added a strip of vellum with the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Comrade, Friend Buddy, Mate!

I'm delighted to be joining the talented DT at Serendipity Stamps
for a second hop during September.
Each month there's a fun challenge posted on the 
Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog
and this month the theme is "Summer's Last Hurrah!"  I hope you'll pop
over there to check out the creations on this theme
by the talented design team and join the fun!

The design team have the extra challenge of creating a card based on 

one of our own photos - I chose this fun photo of my friend's new puppy,

 Brodie, which I took this summer. I had fun playing with him on the
grass in the sunshine - managed to get a shot without him chewing my shoelaces!

He's part Tibetan Terrier, was born in Donegal, and
he was 8 weeks old when this photo was taken in August.

My card is a thank you for a friend, inspired by not only my shoes, but 

also by the friendship and loyalty that we all love in our furry friends!  

I coloured the shoes from the fabulous Tennis Shoes Cling Set

with copics, stamping one extra shoe so that the image panel would stretch 

across the card a bit further.  I stamped one of the
sentiments from the set multiple times up the side.

I love the Thanks Die which cuts beautifully - I used four die-cuts

and stacked them up for dimension.

Thanks to Mary and the Serendipity DT for inviting me to join them 

this month, it's been an honour and so much fun!   

And thanks for stopping by today!

SNSS September Release Hop

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps September Release Hop - 

this one is a little different as some of the items have already 

been released to Sweet Perks Club participants, 

but we also have a few more Autumn sets to share with you!

The first one is Falling Leaves.  I created a watercolour bg with warm, 

bright colours before stamping the leaves in sharp black for contrast, 

finishing with sequins and twine.  Check out the full set with details below:

Falling Leaves includes 2 images and 5 sentiments.

Set measures 4" x 6".

Designed by Korin Sutherland.

Price is $15.

Next are two beautiful fall sets Skeleton Leaf Backround and So Grateful.
 I gold embossed the leaf background before edging the 

panel and the framing panel with a Krylon 14 KT Gold Leafing Pen.  

The sentiment, which is gold embossed on a vellum banner, is 

from the new So Grateful set - this one has fabulous sentiments for 

mixing and matching!  Take a look at both sets with all the details below:

Skeleton Leaf Background set includes 1 image.

Set measures 4" x 4".

Designed by Korin Sutherland

Price is $11.

So Grateful includes 24 words.

Set measures 4" x 4".

Designed by Gloria Stengel.

Price is $11.

Beary Bountiful Autumn set includes 2 images and 5 sentiments.

Set measures 4" x 6 ".

Designed by Korin Sutherland..

Price is $15. 

Many of you have been enjoying the beautiful Flowers in Bloom set
and now there's a fab die to match!  I coloured the image with copics and
 then used a minimum of dp to keep a clean look.

Here are the details:

Flowers in Bloom die includes 9 dies.

Price is $10.25.

Now take a look at the rest of the fantastic fall release!

Forest Silhouette Dies coordinate with the 
Forest Silhouette stamp set includes 9 dies.

Price is $22.75.

Leaf Silhouette Dies coordinate with Leaf Silhouette stamp set.

Die set includes 10 dies, 5 are embossing dies.

Price is $17.75.

Autumn Mum Greetings includes 2 images and 7 sentiments.

Set measures 6" x 4".

Designed by Korin Sutherland.

Price is $15.

Autumn Mum Die set includes 2 nested dies.

Designed by Korin Sutherland.

One random commenter from one of the DT blogs will be selected to 

win a $10 Gift Code for the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store.  

You have until Thursday, September 18th at midnight EST to 

leave your comments and the winner will be posted

 on the SNSS blog on Friday, Sept. 19th!

Last of all, we have a fun Release Day Challenge to create a Fall card!

Here are a few guidelines to remember as you play:

-You don't need to use an SNSS image to enter, though it's fun to see when you do!

-Please create a NEW card, no back linking.

- Please enter your card in no more than 3 challenges.

-You'll have until Thursday, September 18th at midnight EST to enter.

- One winner will be drawn from this week's challenge 

cards to receive a $10 credit to the SNSS store.

- If there are 25 participants, (not including the DT), 2 winners will be drawn)

- Please use code SNSSSept2014RC when uploading to Splitcoaststampers or other galleries.

Check out the cards created by the Design Team below and thanks for stopping by today!

Summer's Last Hurrah with Serendipity!

I was absolutely delighted to be asked to design with the talented 

Serendipity Stamps team this month -

I kept seeing gorgeous creations made with beautiful stamps floating

 through the Splitcoaststampers galleries and when I clicked on them

 to find out the details, "Serendipity Stamps" kept appearing!

Each month there's a fun challenge posted on the 
Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog
and this month the theme is "Summer's Last Hurrah!"  I hope you'll pop
over there to check out the creations on this theme
by the talented design team and join the fun!

Here in Northern Ireland most of us still hang out our laundry to dry
whenever the weather allows in the summer and one of the most common
phrases you hear when you're out and about is - "Oh no, there's the rain,
and I just hung out my wash!" I suspect we won't have very
many more days of nice weather to hang out laundry this summer!

The additional challenge for the design team is "paper piecing".  

I'd already chosen to work with these adorable wee dresses  hanging on a line

 from the set Three Dresses, and they were so much fun for paper piecing!
I popped up the bottom of each dress for a little dimension. 

The Hello Die  is perfect for a greeting to go along with the
 "Just dropping you a line" sentiment - I attached it with a little wooden clothes pin.

 And I have to tell you, not only is this one of the most useful dies ever, 

but it cuts beautifully! Tiny little buttons on a lacy strip were added to finish.
The designer paper is from Basic Gray Fresh Cut.

Just to let you know - there is a fab 20% off of the Words and Verse

stamps at Serendipity right through to September 10th!
There are loads of fabulous sentiments including
some for backgrounds in beautiful fonts and styles!

Thanks again to Mary and the Design Team at Serendipity Stamps for letting
me join them this month and thank YOU for stopping by!