You're the Apple of My Eye

I thought this apple from the Sweet & Spicy Digital Image set at Clear Dollar Stamps would be fun to paper piece.  So I gave it a try.  I made an easel card but in my picture it's sure leaning.  Sorry, it really does sit nicely in real life.

Here's a little better view of the front of the card when it is closed.

After printing the different pieces, I colored the stem with copics and then cut it out.  I then cut a slit in the apple to slip the stem thru.  I cut out two of the leaves.  I got creative to give the top leave some dimension.  My husband was tuning a piano for a church, I was there with him cutting out and coloring images.  After cutting the leaf out, I laid it face down on the padded pew seat beside me.  Then using the rounded end of a marker, I rubbed the back of the leaf while pushing gently into the pew cushion.  It gave it a nice rounded, leaf looking texture (at home I would have substituted a mouse pad for the pew cushion).  I then glued the top leave to the bottom one. 

Since it was an easel card, I also did some interior decorating.  I kept to the notebook theme.

I didn't intend for my card to have such a "school-ish" theme but it sure turned out that way.  Oh well, I guess it had a mind of its own.  LOL

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  BG (Oxford)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Sweet & Spicy digital images)
Ink:  Ranger Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)
Embellishments/Tools:  Brads (Making Memories Mini & Medium Metallic Circle), Fiskars Border Punch, AC Slick Writer (Black)

I'm entering this card in the Paper & Such Paper Piecing challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Autumn Leaves - SNSDC28 & My SNSS Birthday Hop Blog Winner

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is to use paper piecing on your project. This challenge was right up my alley because I love to paper piece images. I chose this adorable new Cocoa's Leaf digi for my card.  I was also able to use my new Lacey Eyelet Border die. I really like being able to thread ribbon thru the middle of this one.

Here's a close up of the paper pieced leaf.  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello, Fall)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Cocoa's Leaf, Autumn Leaves)
Embellishments/Tools: Lacey Eyelet Border Dies, Ribbon (Michael's), Copics

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #137 -  Sketch
Paper Sundaes #94 - Rectangle
SNSS Inspiration Challenge #13 - Colors
Craft Your Passion #83 - Anything Goes + Brown
Paper & Such - Paper Piecing


I promised to draw a random winner for a small prize from those who commented on my blog post for the SNSS Birthday Blog Hop.  After removing duplicates, there were 66 comments.  Here's the Random.org result:

That means the winner is:

Cindy Lou said...

The coloring of Rhubarb is so good. I really like the snowflake impressions and your DP. All very well done :) Thanks for sharing!

Cindy Lou and I have emailed back and forth & she'll soon be enjoying a $5 gift certificate to the Sweet 'n Sassy store.  Congratulations, Cindy Lou! 

Thanks so much to all of you for your kind comments.  It was a record number of comments for me. Thanks also to my new followers and subscribers.  I hope you'll enjoy visiting often.

I hope you'll play along with us at the Digi Challenge Blog.  Don't forget, each week this month, a random participant will receive 4 free digis of their choice!  You won't win if you don't participate.  ;)

Have a good weekend!

SIWS22 - God's Love for Us

If you are looking for the SNSS Birthday Blog Hop, please scroll down one post or click here.

Our focus verse this week at the Say It With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  What an important thing for us to realize...that God loves us so much that even though we were sinners, Christ died for us.  As we learn in Romans 3:10, "...There is none righteous, no, not one:"  ALL of us are sinners.  And Romans 6:23 tells us, "... the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Because of our sin, we all need a Savior.  That's where today's verse comes in...even tho we are sinners and have earned death, God loves us so much that He has given us the opportunity to live forever with Him in Heaven.  Just like any other gift, to make it ours we must accept it. How? Romans10:9 tell us  "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  If you have not accepted God's gift of salvation, I encourage you to do so today.  If you have questions, please send me an email and I'll do my best to help you find those answers.

For my card today, I chose a black, red and white color scheme.  The black is to represent our sin and the certain death that awaited us.  The red is to represent Christ's blood that He shed for us on the cross.  The white represents Christ's purity and that His blood washes us whiter than snow.

I used an embossing folder to add some texture to the solid back background.  I finished off the card with some pearls and a ribbon.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (black, red), Georgia Pacific (white)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (God is Love)
Embellishments/Tools:  Pearl Flourish (Recollections), Gray Pearls (BG), Ribbon (Offray), Spellbinders Petite Ovals (large & small) & Petite Scalloped Ovals (large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Sundaes #94 - Rectangle card
Digital Tuesday Challenge #136 - Anything Goes
Scrap-Creations - Sentiment Main Focus

I would again encourage you, if you have not already done so, to accept God's free gift of salvation for yourself. Thanks for stopping by today.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop!  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is so excited to be celebrating four wonderful years! I first "discovered" Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps several years ago when I was looking for KJV Scripture stamps.  They were, and still are, hard to find and I was thrilled to find such a great selection at SNSS.  After the The Sweet Stop Sketch blog started, I enjoyed playing along as often as possible.  I was very excited when Korin gave me an opportunity to be on the Digi Challenge Blog DT and to hostess the Say it With Scripture Challenge over at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection.  

A fantastic group of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team members past and present, along with some special friends, have put together this fabulous Birthday Blog Hop to kick off a whole month of fun. We have 37 stops so the hop will take place over three days - feel free to take your time visiting each blog!  You have until 11:59pm EST November 9th to leave comments on as many blogs as you can.  On Saturday, November 12th Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will announce FOUR winners (chosen at random from comments on random stops along the hop); each lucky winner will receive a prize pack including stamps, dies, paper & twine valued at $40!  


If you have been following along already you should have come from Chris Dickinson.  If you are only starting here, please head back to the SNSS blog and go from there.  You won't want to miss any stops along the way!  Don't forget to comment on as many stops as you can....the more comments the better your chance of winning one of the fabulous prize packs! :)  Also, I'll be picking a winner from all the comments left on my blog to receive a little gift from me. 

I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS133) for my card design today.  I also used one of the new digi stamp releases, Rhubarb's Stocking.  Isn't he adorable?!  I love teddy bears and Rhubarb just looks so huggable.  :)

I colored Rhubarb and his stocking with copics.  I went with a non-traditional pink and green color scheme this time. A snowflake embossing folder added texture and a clear star pen on the stocking and some red stickles on the holly added some sparkle.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (green), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned paper:  Basic Grey (Eskimo Kisses)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Rhubarb's Stocking, Bear Christmas Digital Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools: Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Stickles (Christmas Red), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (clear star), Fiskars Border Punch (Threading Water), Spellbinders Nestabilities (Petite Oval large & small), copic markers

I'm entering this card in the Jellypark Challenge for a card with non-traditional Christmas colors.


Your next stop on the hop is Shannon White, but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of celebrants on this party train:

Korin Sutherland
Holly McMillen

Taylor Usry

Kim Schofield

Monika Davis

Lydia Fiedler

Harriet Skelly

Makiko Jones

Jerusha Borden

Mary Marsh

Lori Craig

Kim O'Connell

Chris Dickinson

Stephanie Wright -- That's Me!

Shannon White

Janette Olen

Katlyn Traxler

Deb Felts

Stephanie Serrano

Jessica Fick

Kim Singdahlsen

Mary Faus

Sandy Domelle

Bridget Finlay

Ceal Pritchett

Dina Kowal

Margo Smith

Shelby Goolsby

Tami Mayberry

Lorie Souther

Darsie Bruno

Cathy McCauley

Beate Johns

Janice Melton

Jacquie Peifer

Lisa Hjulberg

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you're enjoying the hop.  Don't forget to leave comments on as many blogs as possible to help improve your chance to win one of the great SNSS prize packages.  I'll pick a random winner for a small gift from me from comments left here on my blog.  You have until 11:59 EST, Wednesday, November 9th to leave your comments for the SNSS prize packages and for my gift.  I'll post the winner of my gift on Friday, Nov. 11 and the winners of the SNSS prize packages will be posted on the SNSS blog on Sat., Nov. 12th.

Happy Hopping!!

Sweet Baby

My husband pastors a small church and one of our ladies had a baby this week.  I used the adorable pre-colored image from the Gigi Giraffe digital set from Clear Dollar Stamps to make a card for the new little guy. These pre-colored images are really growing on me.  :)

Here's a closer look at this cutie giraffe {you can click on any image to enlarge it}:

The digi stamp set includes pre-colored Gigi as well as an outline Gigi that you can color yourself.   It also comes with 3 coordinating papers and 4 sentiments.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Little Boy)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Gigi Giraffe Digital set)
Tools/Embellishments:  Misc trim from my stash, AC Slick Writer pen (black), Dewdrops, Spellbinders Nestabilities (Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals, Lacey Square)

I'm entering this card in the Papertake Weekly Anything Goes challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll stop back often.  Have a good weekend.

SNSDC27 - Rhubarb's Candycane Christmas

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to make a Christmas card.  That wasn't a too hard with all the cute Christmas digis Korin has.  She just released 11 more! last night and they're still 50% off, so playing along with us will be even easier.

To add extra incentive to participating in the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenges this month, Korin has "sweetened the pot."  As you may have heard, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps turns 4 this month.  Korin is celebrating all month long with prizes, sales, and special blog hops.  Sooo....in addition to the regular monthly challenge prize, one participant, chosen randomly, will receive 4 free digis each week!! The participants do not have to use SNS Digi stamps.  If you have a wish list of digis from the Release Party last night, this is a great chance to get some of them for free.

I used the adorable Rubarb's Candycane digi for my card for this challenge.  I used the new Echo Park Season's Greetings papers and a sketch by Paper & Such.  Some pearls, a little doodling, some baker's twine (also available at Sweet 'n Sassy) and  a couple dies later, this is my final result.

Supplies:

Cardbase:  Bazzill

Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific

Patterned paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)

Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Rhubarb's Candycane, Do Not Open Till Christmas)

Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel), Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)

Embellishments/Tools:  Prismacolor pencils, Gamsol, Copics, Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Hemp (JoAnn's), Pearls (Oriental Trading), Creative Memories Fine Tip Pen, Spellbinders Nestabilities (Deckled Rectangles small and large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Paper & Such - Sketch

Really Reasonable Ribbon #35 - Christmas

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week and don't forget, in addition to our usual monthly prize, someone will win 4 free digis EACH week in November.  That someone could be YOU!!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Winter Release Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release Day Blog Hop!  This month we have are doing something really fun - the Design Divas and the Digi Team are hopping together, to celebrate the fabulous clear stamps, digis, and dies being released tonight!! Grab your favorite cuppa and your favorite treat and get ready for some amazing eye candy!  

After you've finished the hop, don't forget to go back to the SNSS blog and leave a comment telling them what is your favorite new release.  There's a major prize to be had -- the entire November Release!!  The winner will be chosen from comments left on the SNSS blog tonight at the Release Party.

Don't forget to join us tonight at 8:00PM EST in our member company forums over on Splitcoaststampers - we have a great release party planned! There will be full reveals of all of the stamp sets, digis and dies, plus challenges AND prizes!!! 

If you have been following along already you should have come from Jessica Fick .  If you are only starting here, please head back to the SNSS blog and go from there.  You won't want to miss any stops along the way!  

For my card, I chose to use one of Sandy Domelle's new stamps.  I just love this snowman pair.  I used lots of stickles on the snow and some on the holly berries in the lady snowman's hat but of course, it just doesn't photograph well. I colored them with copics and then die cut them with Spellbinders nestabilities.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Misc. blue

Patterned paper:  Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding)

Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Snow Much Love and Don't Open Till Christmas)

Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon (Offray), Stickles (Star Dust, Crystal, Christmas Red), Rhinestones (Best Occasions), Spellbinders Nestabilities (Circle, Lacey Circle), Copics, Bow Easy

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #35 - Christmas theme
Basic Grey Challenge #56 - Anything Goes

Your next stop on the hop is Dina Kowal , but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of team members sharing new release goodness today:

SNSS Blog 

Kim Schofield 

Sandy Domelle 

Ceal Pritchett 

Mary Faus 

Janette Olen 

Makiko Jones 

Kim Singdahlsen 

Jessica Fick 

Stephanie Wright  -- You are here!!

Dina Kowal 

Holly McMillen 

Carol Longacre 

Taylor Usry 

Cathy McCauley 

Margo Smith 

Bridget Finlay 

Harriet Skelly 

Monika Davis 

Korin Sutherland
SNSS Blog

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope to see you all at the Release Party tonight.  Happy Birthday, Sweet 'n Sassy!! 

SIWS21 - Sing Unto the Lord

This week's challenge verse for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is Isaiah 12:5, "Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth."

I really like the positive emphasis in this verse.  It reminds us of the purpose of singing...to bring glory to the Lord because of all the wonderful things He has done for us. There are seven different verses in the Psalms where we are told to make a "joyful noise" to the Lord (Psalm 66:1; 81:1, 95:1, 95:2; 98:4; 98:6, 100:1).  This means that anyone and everyone (except maybe in some cases of extreme physical disability) can praise the Lord thru song.  You may be thinking, but I don't have a nice voice.  That doesn't matter.  Why not?  First of all, the seven verses in Psalms say we're to make a joyful "noise."  We all can make noise. And most importantly, singing isn't about us and how well we sing.  Singing is ALL about bringing glory to the Lord.  So, go ahead, sing those songs, hymns and spiritual songs that praise the Lord.  Your heart and spirit will be lightened and most importantly, the Lord will be glorified.

My husband has his undergrad degree in music and directed choirs for over 24 years.  As a result, we have lots of music around our house.  He had a some older song books that he was going to discard.  I salvaged them for my crafty projects. I used one of the pages for my background on my card.

I received several bottles of Liquid Pearls for my birthday last week.  I love this stuff!!  You'll probably be seeing a lot of it in the future.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft, cream), SU (brown)
Patterned Paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello, Fall)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Sing Unto the Lord)
Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools: Flower (PortaFolia), Button (Fancy Pants Designs), Ribbon (Michael's), Liquid Pearls (Bisque), DMC floss, Spellbinders Nestabilities (Circle, Lacey Circle, Petite Oval, Petite Scalloped oval), page from old hymnal

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #213 - Sketch
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #113 - Use crimson, orange, and gold (or something similar)
Craft Your Passion #82 - Bingo card of embellishments (I used the left column - flower, button, distress)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Simon Says...Buttons

Beary Happy Day - SNSDC26

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is to make a card or project with a fruit or vegetable on it.  I chose to use this adorable Rhubarb image called Rhubarb's Autumn Day.

I used this week's sketch at Papertake Weekly.  I recently purchased these Spellbinders Border Petites dies and this sketch was the perfect way to try them out.  I used a tag punch to cut out my sentiment and added an eyelet and baker's twine for some dimension.  

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU (browns), Georgia Pacific (white0
Patterned Paper:  Adorn-It (Fern Collection), Crate Paper (Little Sprout Collection)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Rhubarb's Autumn Day, Bear Sentiments)
Ink:  Creamy Caramel
Tools/Embellishments: Eyelet (OT), Twine (The Twinery - cappuccino), Gamsol, Prismacolor Pencils (PC1034, PC918, PC1002, PC912, PC909), Copics (W1, E00, E07, E08, E09, E29, E33, E37, Y13, Y15, Y17, YG03), Spellbinders (Big Scalloped Border Petites, Circles, Eyelet Circles), SU tag punch

Challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbon #34 - Fun 4 Fall
Papertake Weekly - Sketch
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.   I hope you have a good day and enjoy your weekend.  We're going to church with my son and his family tonight and then out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.  I'm hoping our grandson is in a cuddly mood -- with a 2 yr old that's doubtful.  :)

Clear Dollar Stamps & Exciting News

About 1 1/2 weeks ago, I was very pleasantly surprised with an invitation to join that Digital DT at Clear Dollar Stamps.  After discussing it with my husband and praying about it, I was VERY excited to accept their invitation.  Clear Dollar Stamps (aka CDS) has clear stamps, digital stamps, paper, embellishments, and stamping tools.  It's one stop shopping at reasonable prices.  I am honored to be one of their DT members.

CDS carries a nice assortment of pre-colored digi images.  When I saw the adorable owl in the Autumn Critters set, I knew I had to use him first. This set also comes in an outline version so that you can do your own coloring.  I used the sketch from CPS241 as the inspiration for my card design.  I added some sponging, doodling and a little tag at the bottom for some extra interest.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Papers - Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello Fall)
Ink:  SU Creamy Caramel
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps (Autumn Critters - Colored)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Journal Writer (Close to Cocoa), Spellbinders Nestabilities (Circle, Lacey Circle, Petite Oval, Petite Scalloped Oval), The Twinery Baker's Twine (cappuccino)

I'm entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you'll go check out all the wonderful things Lori has in the store.