SNSS July Mini Blog Hop Day 4

It's Day 4 of the Mini Blog Hops celebrating the July releases at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - today we're showcasing a set which I'm very excited about and all you butterfly lovers out there will be too!

Majestic Monarchs

I love sponging these butterflies and find them fairly easy to cut out, I simply add a little bit of shading on the antennae with my black copic and go around the edges with the black copic too - it gives clear definition and makes them stand out a bit more.

Sponging is a great alternative for uncomplicated images if you're not that fond of colouring!  I used various Stampin Up inks including Lucky Limade, Melon Mambo, Orchid Opulence, Taken with Teal, and Cool Caribbean.  The butterflies were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

There's not much else to explain as this is a very clean and simple card, the butterflies arranged in a trail along with some black gems.

This set is one I'll be reaching for again and again - in case you missed it, check out the second card on THIS post for another creation using this great set.

Here are the details:

Stamp set includes 6 images and 3 sentiments.
It measures approximately 6" x 4".
The largest butterfly measures approximately 2 1/2 " x 1 3/4".
It's designed by Korin Sutherland.
It's priced $15.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our DT in the thumbnails below.
Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because
Korin's giving away this set to one lucky winner!
The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, July 19th.
The list of winners will be announced on  the SNSS website homepage by Monday, July 22nd.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!

SNSS July Mini Blog Hop Day 3

Hello and welcome to the Day 3 of the mini blog hops celebrating the July releases at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Today we're showcasing two new sets,
Cocoa's Get Well Wishes and Wishing You Well.

Cocoa's Get Well Wishes

I stamped Cocoa twice, cutting out the circular panel with Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles and sponging with Ranger Distress Frayed Burlap.  Using copics, I only coloured Cocoa's tail on this panel, then coloured the whole image on the second stamped image, cutting it out and popping it up on the circle - that way there's a bit of dimension and I don't have to fussy cut Cocoa's cute but complicated and curly little tail! :)  I used Nitwits dp and Lifestyle Crafts Inverted Squares Nestiing dies, adding a button and bow to the fishtail banner sentiment.

Here are the details regarding this sweet set:

Stamp set includes 2 images and 8 sentiments.
Set measures approximately 4" x 4".
The RX Cocoa measures approximately 2" x 2".
Designed by Korin Sutherland.
Priced at $11.

Wishing You Well

I stitched together strips of dp (Stampin Up, Simple Stories Sn@p Color Vibe) for the background for this get well card.  The sentiment panel was cut using SNSS Decorative Plaque Dies and the flourish accents above and below the sentiment were stamped with the matching Decorative Frame Toppers.

The stars were cut with SNSS's Stars Die Set - these dies barely have time to grow cold, they're in my hands so much, they practically stay warm! :)

Take a look at all the useful and encouraging sentiments in the Wishing You Well set, 

here are the details:

Stamp set includes 7 sentiments.

Set measures approximately 4" x 4".

The "Get Well Soon" sentiment measures approximately 2" x 1/4".

Designed by Diane Zechman.

Priced at $9.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our DT in the thumbnails below.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because

Korin's giving away this set to one lucky winner!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, July 19th.

The list of winners will be announced on the SNSS website homepage by Monday, July 22nd.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

SNSS July Mini Blog Hop Day 2

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Mini Blog
 hops celebrating the July release sets.  Today we're showcasing two sets,
the uplifting and encouraging Faith and the beautiful Delightful Doilies by Dina Kowal. 

Faith

I used Pebbles Seen and Noted dp and dipped into my flower 

stash to find some matching blooms.  

What a fantastic sentiment by Corrie Ten Boom,

 I just couldn't wait to use it!  It's stamped in Versafine Black Onyx.  

To separate the dp panels I added three strands of twine.  

Here are the details of this useful, encouraging set:

The set includes 7 sentiments.
It measures 4" x 4 ".
It's designed by Korin Sutherland.
The price is $11.

Delightful Doilies

I went for a clean and simple look using this gorgeous new set called Delightful Doilies, just stamping the largest doily in Stampin Up's Melon Mambo ink.  

The sentiment is stamped in Versafine Black Onyx. 

What a beautiful quote, I love to make cards showing appreciation 

for good friends!

  I added a matching rose from Wild Orchid Crafts and some pearls in various sizes to finish.  

Here's another card I made for today's Featured Stamper challenge at Splitcoaststampers honouring Jeanne Jachna, aka akeptlife.

I sponged a background with Stampin Up's Gable Green, Yoyo Yellow and Melon Mambo ink before spritzing with water and dabbing with a cloth to lift a bit of colour.  I then spritzed with Melon Mambo ink, before stamping the doilies across the card in the same colours, and adding pearls to finish.  I was trying to honour Jeanne's bright style and CASEing THIS card - hope I haven't overdone it on the bright side!  

Here are the details of this gorgeous set:

 The set includes 7 images and 3 sentiments.

It measures approximately 8" x 6 ".

It's designed by Dina Kowal.

The price is $26.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our DT in the thumbnails below.
Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because
Korin's giving away this set to one lucky winner!
The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, July 19th.
The list of winners will be announced on  the SNSS website homepage by Monday, July 22nd.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!

SNSS July Mini Blog Hop Day 1

Hello and welcome to the first day of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
July Mini Blog Hops celebrating the July Releases!
Today we're highlighting a fabulous stamp set as well as an exciting die set.

Celebrate Today

Take a look at all those wonderful encouraging sentiments!  Here are the details:

Stamp set includes 2 images and 8 sentiments.

Set measures approximately 6" x 4".
Designed by Korin Sutherland.
It's priced at $15.

For my card I sponged the edges of a pre-cut tag with Stampin Up's Lavender
and stamped the flowers and sentiment with Versafine Black Onyx ink.
The striped ribbon is from Stampin Up.
I find it very helpful, especially for wide ribbon like this,
 to carefully use a lit match to "seal" the ends of the cut ribbon
so that it doesn't fray and has a neat edge.    That is unless you're going for
 shabby chic and aiming for a bit of fray!
I added a strip of lace over black so that it would really stand out and
finished off the whole card with pearl accents.

Doily Border Dies

Here's my card using these incredibly intricate and beautiful border dies.

I cut about 10 of these doily borders and because the dies are good quality
 and give a good crisp cut, it was very easy, the "little bits" pop out quickly and cleanly!
 I adhered them to the white card base for sort of a
 faux dry embossed look which hopefully resembles lace.
I used Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Decorative Plaque Dies for the sentiment panel,
 stamping above and below the sentiment with an accent from Decorative Frame Toppers.
The butterflies are created using the newly released Majestic Monarchs.
Check out the blog hop on Tuesday, June 16 for some inspiration using this beautiful butterfly set!
Inks used for this card include Stampin Up's Lucky Limeade,
Cool Caribbean, and Yoyo Yellow.



And here are the details:

Set of 2 dies.
Dies measure approximately 3/4 x 6.
Designed by Korin Sutherland.
Priced at $11.50.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our DT in the thumbnails below.
Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because
Korin's giving away this set to one lucky winner!
The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, July 19th.
The list of winners will be announced on  the SNSS website homepage by Monday, July 22nd.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!

You Float My Boat

Hello!  With all things nautical on trend at the moment, I thought I'd share a card I made back when I was on the Dirty Dozen design team at Splitcoaststampers in 2011.  

Our theme that month was Oh, So Shapely and the challenge was to use dies or punches.

At the time I had fewer dies and absolutely nothing nautical but I found a colouring book image of a sailboat on-line and printed it onto dp and card stock on the back side. 

 I then cut out the shapes and pieced together this little boat. 

If you're stuck for a certain shaped die-cut, it's a quick and not too difficult alternative!

 The waves were made with My Favorite Things Die-namics and I used a Papertrey Ink Cloud die for the clouds.  I used the spotlighting technique for part of the waves and sentiment (which was computer generated).  All circles were cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Large and Small. 

 It was all pieced together with scraps from my dp stash so it's impossible to list them all here.  

Just thought I'd share something with a fun summer theme today as we're having a very unusual spell of sunny weather here in Northern Ireland.  It seems too good to be true to be having a "proper" summer!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Melon Memories

Happy 4th of July to all those celebrating in the U.S.A! 

I'm American born and bred, but have lived here in Northern Ireland the past 28 years.
I'm proud to be American and am so thankful for my heritage and all those who have contributed to it, from the founding fathers to those who serve in the military today.

I have many happy memories of 4th of July picnics and family celebrations and those memories include fabulous food such as sweet watermelon!   

Here's a card made with the recently released set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, Sweet Kiwi Koala .
 I created it for the release last month and then my computer broke down,
so I couldn't participate in the blog hop.

The image is colored with copics and cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles Small. 
The dp is from My Minds Eye and Stampin Up.
I added a little tag using the fabulous
Mini Tags and Sentiments Die Set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - love how versatile this set is!  

This is my favorite type of card to make - using a mix of dp's yet
leaving some nice, clean, crisp white space.

Have a wonderful, safe holiday celebration and thanks for stopping by today!

July Flourishes Beautiful World Tour

Hello and welcome to this month's Beautiful World Tour showcasing some fabulous creations by the BWT Design Team from around the world!
 I'm your last stop on the tour here in Belfast, Northern Ireland,
so if you've stumbled across the hop and want to join in from the beginning head back
to the Flourishes blog so you don't miss anything!
If you've arrived from Anne-Elise's wonderful blog, you're right on track!
Did you know you have a chance to win a fabulous Flourishes stamp set - all you have to do is leave a comment on each designers blog by the last day of the month!

This month our hostess is Sasha and our theme is
CITRUS!
I went with pink grapefruit and and lime shades, with touches of
zesty lemon yellow and sweet citrus orange!

I coloured the beautiful flower wreath from Flourishes Mother's Words of Wisdom with copics, cut it out and popped it up against a stitched designer paper background.
The dp is Cherry Blossoms - Gingham and Strawberry Social - Plaid from Nitwit Collections. 

The sentiment is stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink on vellum and I used My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics to cut the banner.
To make the banner with a double ended fishtail, I simply put the cut banner back in the die upside down, carefully measuring the ends so that it would be even, and ran it back through the Cuttlebug.
I curled the ends up using a rounded pencil and gave it some dimension,
 before adding some pink grapefruit coloured brads.
 Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for joining us today and for stopping by Belfast on your World Tour!
 I hope you've been inspired, have a wonderful day!