November Digi Release & a Sale!!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is celebrating their 5th Birthday.  Part of the celebration is a 25% off sale on all their digi stamps November 15th-21st.  This sale includes the 3 new digis that were just released yesterday. All 3 are so cute you'll want all 3 and at 25% off, now is the perfect time to pick them up.

This week's challenge is to make a shaped card -- no squares or rectangles.  I got to play with two of the new stamps:  Eskimo Kisses Colored Digital Stamp and Eskimo Kisses Sentiments Digital Stamp Set.  These pre-colored stamps help your card come together soooo quickly!  This week, if you enter a card in the challenge you will have a chance to win a $20 digi stamp shopping spree at the SNS store.  If you use a SNS digi on your card, your entry will count twice.

I chose to make a circle card.  Since I was working with a pair of Eskimos, I knew I wanted snow and lots of white. This card has LOTS of shimmer but was very easy to put together. I embossed the white panel with a snowflake embossing folder and then accented all the snowflakes with stickles.  The fur on the girl's coat is accented with star dust stickles and the fur on the boy's coat is accented with frosted lace stickles.  The image panel is backed with a shimmery blue cardstock.

I used the sentiment set on the inside of the card.  I accented the words with more stickles and lined the interior with more of the shimmery blue cardstock. {sorry for the shadow on the lower right side -- low light this morning & I had a feline helper}

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (blue)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Eskimo Kisses Colored Digital Stamp, Eskimo Kisses Sentiments Digital Stamp Set)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug embossing folder (Snowflakes), Stickles (Star Dust, Frosted Lace), Sakura Clear Star Pen, Spellbinders (Classic Circles large & small, Lacey Circles)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Love to Create #41 - Fancy Edges
Craft Your Passion #136 - CAS (for me, this is as clean & simple as it gets :) )
Word Art Wednesday #54 - Sentiment
4 Crafty Chicks #116 - Winter
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Clearly Inspired Challenge #64 - CAS

Come play along with us this week and link up your card for a chance to win a digi-stamp shopping spree.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

In Sunshine or Rain...

I love to paper piece. When I saw the umbrella in this stamp set by Daydream Designs, I knew it was just made to be paper pieced.  I ended up paper piecing the entire image.  I did take a little help from my Copic and colored the top of the pocket instead of trying to line up that tiny piece.  Copics also added a tiny amount of shadow around the image. 

After die-cutting the image panel, it was matted on a petite scalloped oval panel.  To go along with these beautiful Prima papers, I added quite a bit of pearl & sparkle.  A pair of tweezers made applying the individual pearls a breeze.  A pearl was also added to the center of the umbrella.  Pearls were also added to the decorative photo corners.

The entire umbrella was given a coat of stickles for some extra pizzazz. The large flower in the upper left corner had some glitter already on it.  However, it also got a little attention from the Stickles bottle as did the two smaller flowers. The ribbon used to keep this gate-fold card closed also has some shimmer so as you can tell, this card is not lacking for sparkle!

I enjoy making gate-fold cards and just can't help but do "interior decorating" on them.  I used two of the sentiments that coordinate with this stamp set and printed them to be one thought: "Sunshine or rain...I'm here for you."  I didn't want to cover up all the pretty patterned paper, so I matted the sentiment on an oval and let the paper be the star.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill (Two Scoops - Cherries Jubliee)
Patterned Paper:  Prima (Madeline)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs digis (Sunshine and Rain Sentiment Set, Sunshine and Rain Digi Set)
Ink:  Copic Markers (C0, E29, Colorless Blender)
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls (The Paper Studio), ribbon (Ribbon Trends), flowers (Prima), Spellbinders (Decorative Photo Corners, Petite Ovals Small & Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Flower Power
Divas by Design #61 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #54 - Anything Goes/Sentiment
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #25 - Use Stripes (mine are on the interior of my card)
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #165 - Something broken brought back together (the front panel of my card is "broken" and brought back together by the image panel & ribbon)
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #3 - Anything Goes

The two sets I used on this card also have a coordinating digi paper set and a pre-colored image set available.  Daydream Designs has stamps for all occasions.  I hope you'll stop by the store and pick up some for yourself.

Thanks for visiting today.  Come back soon!!

SNSDC79 - Thankful for YOU

It's time for another challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog. This week we want to see your Thanksgiving cards and projects.

This week's card is sized to fit in a regular business size envelope.  I colored my Pumpkin Patch digi with copics and then inked it before removing it from the petite oval die. I did the same thing with the "Thankful for You" sentiment.  "Happy Thanksgiving" wasn't cut out with a die so I just inked the edges.  The card base and all mats at kraft cardstock.

I used some stickles on the pumpkin leaves for a little sparkle.

A flower and button help accent the end of the "Happy Thanksgiving" banner.  Some jute and a little bling finish off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Paper Studio (kraft), Bazzill embossed cardstock (Luscious Lime), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Farmhouse)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Gobble Gobble Sentiments, Pumpkin Patch)
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Antique Linen), Copics (YG03, YG05, G17, C0, Y11, Y35, YR07, Colorless Blender)
Embellishments/Tools:  rhinestones (MAMBI), jute (Michael's), button (La Mode), Stickles (Star Dust), flower (Porta Folia), Creative Memories square punch, Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Small & Large, Deckled Rectangles Small & Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #164 - Thanksgiving or Thank You
The Crafty Pad #195 - Anything Goes
Love to Create #40 - Shades of Autumn
Krafty Outlet - Harvest
Sketch with a Twist #19 - sketch & twist of using at least 2 sentiments
PaperTake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #123 - Autumn Leaves
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Use a digi
Word Art Wednesday #53 - Sentiment
52 Card Pickup #45 - make a card
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week and show us your Thanksgiving cards and projects.

A Morning Without Coffee....

I am excited to announce that I am a Guest Designer for Daydream Designs this month.  Diane has a wonderful assortment of digi stamps for all occasions, Scripture digis and beautiful digi papers.  Be sure to stop by, browse thru her store, catch up on the latest happenings on the blog, and sign up for the newsletter.  For those on Facebook, why not "like" the Daydream Designs Facebook page?   This way, you won't miss a thing.  I'll be posting a project featuring Daydream Designs digis each Thursday this month.

For my first Daydream Designs project, I made this card using a couple different sets.  My coffee cup is from The Perfect Blend digi set which contains 19 images (some are pre-colored). The sentiment is from the Deja Brew Digi Sentiment set which contains 13 coffee themed sentiments.

I paper pieced the coffee cup and added some SU Crystal Effects to the coffee for a little dimension & shine.  Since this card is intended for my coffee-loving daughter, I embossed her initial on the cup (Sorry, that initial is not a Daydream Designs stamp). After cutting out the cup, I popped it up on an embossed panel. The swirls on this panel remind me of steam. Some bling "steam" was added as well.

The sentiment tag was also popped up off the card base.  Some jute, "metal" dots and minor interior decorating finished off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  The Paper Studio (kraft), Bazzill (teal), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  MME (Dilly Dally Hello Flannel)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs Digis (Deja Brews Sentiments, The Perfect Blend), Studio G ("K")
Ink:  Stampabilities Embossing Ink pad
Embellishments/Tools: Stampendous embossing powder (Midnight Black), Jute (Michael's), black metal dots (Best Occasions), bling (Recollections), eyelet (American Crafts), Spellbinders (Standard Circle Small, Eyelet Circle), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (D'vine Swirl), EK Success Corner Rounder, Crop-o-dile, SU Crystal Effects

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays #127 - Dimensions
The Crafty Pad #195 - Anything Goes
Friends of Speedy TV #45 - Anything Goes
Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes with a touch of Red
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Must use digi
Word Art Wednesday #53 - Sentiment
52 Card Pick-up #44 - Make a card
PaperTake Weekly - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes

I hope you'll stop by Daydream Designs and pick up a few digis of your own.  You won't be disappointed with the quality.

I'm so glad you stopped by today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Paper Bag Album -- SNSDC78

Since it's Friday, it's time for another challenge over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge is to make Anything But A Card.  Yep, the sky is the limit as long as it is not a card and uses digi stamps.

I've been seeing some cool paper bag albums on You Tube and decided to give one a try.  I combined the techniques by Kathy Orta and Vianneylu1.  This baby album needs a bit more interior decorating, so I'm just going to show you the cover today.  I'll share the rest of the pages as soon as I can.  You can see a hint of what's inside on the right side of the photo below.  Some ribbon pulls for pull-out tags are seen sticking out of the album.  :)  The album is approx. 9" x 6".

I used Cocoa's Baby Block digital stamp for the focal image on the album cover.  However, I decided that I didn't want to have the letter "B" in the block but I wanted the baby's first initial instead.  Using PSE, I removed the "B" and added an "L."  This is one of the wonderful things about digi stamps....you can change them up a bit to suit your needs.

I colored Cocoa with my copics and paper pieced the block and the letter.  I cut out the entire image and popped it up on the pink layer.  I added a small piece of pop dot under part of Cocoa's tail and glued the rest of it directly to the pink circle.  This had a two-fold purpose.  I was afraid Cocoa's tail would get torn off if it wasn't completely attached and popping part of it up gave it added dimension.

After adding the entire circle focal panel to the cover with pop dots so that it would be above the bling flourish (which was cut in half and spread out to cover the entire diagonal of the cover), the "L" on the block was covered with star dust Stickles and Cocoa's nose got some SU Crystal Effects for a little shine.

I used a border strip of flowers from the paper collection and added them to the binding with some additional bling for the flower centers.  The binding strip was edged with Spellbinders Edgeabilities.



Cover Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Express
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Sweet Threads)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Cocoa's Baby Block)
Ink:  Copic Markers (N1, N3, N5, N7, R20, E000)
Embellishments/Tools:  Prima Say It In Crystals flourish, rhinestones (Best Occasions, Recollections), Stickles (Star Dust), SU Crystal Effects, Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles, Classic Edges 2, Classic Decorative Inserts 5)

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC63) - Bling
Whimsy Stamps #52 - All Things Sparkly
Word Art Wednesday #52 - Encouraging project
Basic Grey Challenges #80 - Anything Goes (I used BG Sweet Threads papers)
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Clearly Inspired Challenge #63 (CIC63) - Critters

I hope you'll play along with us this week and make anything but a card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll try to be back soon with the rest of the album.

Silent Night Holy Night - SNSDC77

It's time for another challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  This week, the challenge is to use stitching on your card.  It can be either real or faux.  I have stitched ribbon and I did faux stitching around the edge of my card. I pierced holes all along the edge of the main panel and then drew my "stitches" with a pen. Like my real stitching, it's crooked. Oh well!  That's "art imitating life" right?

There is a snowflake embellishment up in the left corner but it's hard to see in the picture.  I used blue "pearls" to accent it to help it show up a little better.  Some of the snowflakes in the paper have star dust stickles in their centers -- of course, that's also hard to see in the picture.  On the white embossed lower panel, I used some left over bling from the flourish to accent the centers of some of the snowflakes.

I did quite a bit of interior decorating -- the camera angle makes the writing panel look huge.  It's really a 5.5" square card.  :)  I was just trying to show the whole interior but ended up with a funky angle.

Here is a close up of the interior upper panel.  I carried the stitching theme throughout the entire card.  This upper panel has reversed matting (I'm sure there's another name for it).  The Scripture verse is actually on the bottom and the kraft & snowy blue papers are layered on top.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny (Snowfall)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Christmas Carol Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Snowflakes), Spellbinders Label 3, ribbon (The Paper Studio), Prima Say It in Crystal Flourish & rhinestones, snowflake (Michael's), blue pearls (Oriental Trading), Stickles (star dust), SU Stampin' Write pen (Night of Navy), Signo white opaque pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ #162 - Something that speaks calm or peace to you (snow is peaceful and calming to me -- a snowy field or sky just calms my soul)
Stamptacular Sunday #186 - No Rules (aka anything goes)
Pile It On #43 - A Holiday Card (obviously I chose Christmas)
Krafty Journal - Inside & Out
Word Art Wednesday #51 - Scripture or positive sentiment
Delightful Challenge - Use stitching-real or faux
Whimsy Challenge #51 - All Things Sparkly
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #24 - Stitching (real or faux)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #31 - Christmas
52 Card Pickup - Make a card
Crafty Friends Challenge #9 - Glitz & Glam

I hope you'll play along with us this week in our stitching challenge.  I do appreciate you taking the time to stop by and visit today.  Have a good weekend.

I Miss You

It's hard to believe that this is my final week as a guest designer for the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog.  What a quick month this has been.  I've had so much fun working with these ladies.  They are fantastic!!

This week's challenge is a Halloween theme.  Since I don't celebrate Halloween, they graciously allowed me to use a pumpkin/fall theme.  I love this cute little image of the kitty peeking out from behind the pumpkins.  I had to color her gray in honor of my Sasha. {In case you've noticed, most cats I color are either gray or yellow/orange.  That's just the current cat population here. *smile*}  The image is from Clear Dollar Stamps.  My version is the outline image that you color.  However, when I looked on the website, I could only find it in the pre-colored version.

I used the October sketch from The Craft's Meow for my card design.  After coloring my image with copics, I cut it out and popped it up on the embossed panel.  I matted the image panel with a SB Lacey Circle and backed that with a SB Labels 3 die cut.  I used my trusty brown Sharpie marker for the faux stitching and added my sentiment on a little tag suspended from the ribbon.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (cat with pumpkins), Misc (I miss you)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black), ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Circles Small, Lacey Circles, Labels 3), CuttleBug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots), Marvey 1" Circle Punch, ribbon (Morex), eyelet (Oriental Trading), baker's twine (The Twinery - cappuccino), Sharpie Fine Marker (brown), Fiskar's Border Punch (Apron Lace), Copics (C0, N1, N3, N5, N7, G17, YG03, YG05, R81, YR07, Y35, Y38)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Craft's Meow October Sketch Challenge
Love to Create #38 - Pumpkins
Stamptacular Sunday #186 - No Rules
The Crafty Pad #193 - Any animal
Friends of Speedy TV #43 - Harvest
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC62) - Fall Inspiration
Clearly Inspired Challenge #62 (CIC62) - All Tied Up (use ribbon or twine)
Word Art Wednesday #51 - positive sentiment
Divas by Design #58 - Use some orange
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges #24 - Use Stitching (real or faux)


Thanks for stopping by today. 

A Surprise I Received....

Sharon over at A Piece of Heart gave me a great compliment today by nominating my blog for the Liebster Blog Award.  This is my first blog nomination ever so I'm really excited to be able to share this news with you.  Be sure to check out Sharon's blog.  She has some cute cards and some Freebie Friday digital sentiments.  You won't want to miss them.  Thanks Sharon...you made my day!

The Liebster Blog Award is an award that is given by the blogging community to new up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. It's designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion to share your dearest and most beloved blogs.

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE:
Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog. Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have less than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

PAY IT FORWARD:
So now comes the fun part! I am privileged to give out 5 nominations.  Here are the 5 fabulous blogs with less than 200 followers that I would like to pass the Liebster Award on to:

Jan Marie at Re-Creations

Crafty Math Chick at Canines & Card Designs

Tricia at ...Simply Staming...

Cynthia at Stampin' in Alaska

Korin at Rejoicing Every Moment

I'll be leaving a comment on each of these ladies' blogs to let them know I nominated them.  I hope they'll each accept the award with the admiration that is intended towards them.

Thanks for stopping by today and an extra "Thank You" to those that choose to follow me.  I'm truly honored.

As a PS....I couldn't let this day go by without wishing a Happy 3rd Birthday to our precious grandson.  Happy Birthday, Jack.  You have truly added so much joy to our lives.

October Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Release - SNSDC76

It's time for another challenge but we have some extra fun this week!  Along with our challenge, the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Team is having a blog hop to introduce you to the October Digi Release.  If you came here from Patricia's blog then you are at the last stop on the hop.  If you are one of my regular readers and just came straight to my blog, you may want to go back to the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog and start the hop from there so that you don't miss a thing.

While you're hopping, be sure to leave some love on each of the blog hop posts…One of the ladies below is a mystery blogger and she will be picking a random winner from the comments on her blog post!!

The winning prize will be the whole October Digi Release!! (The winner will be announced on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog on Friday, October 26th.)

This week's challenge is to use metal somewhere on your card.  This can be a staple, brad, button, wired ribbon, charm...anything metal counts.

 I got to play with the new Christmas Greetings set.

My card design was inspired by one of our challenge participants that entered this card for challenge #74.  I thought it was such a unique design that I had to give it a try.  I used lots of sponging and pearls on this card. My bow is made with some fantastic May Arts ribbon that I just found at a scrapbook store down the street from where I work {good thing my lunch break is only 30 min.!}.  I included this metal button I found in my stash and added a red "ruby" dew drop to the center.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Christmas Greetings, Christmas Sentiments)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (May Arts), pearls (Stampin' Up, Queen & Co.), Spellbinders (Lacey Squares, Fancy Tags 3), Dew Drop, Misc. button from stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #50 - Use a positive sentiment
The Crafty Pad #191 - Distress It
Kraft Outlet - Ink it up
Pile It On #42 - Shaped Card
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favorite (Spellbinders dies & brown ink)
Scrap Creations - Leaves (holly leaves on my paper)
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC228) (sentiment as focal point)
52 Card Pick-up #42 - make a card
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #33 - Traditional Colors
Ooh La La Creations Challenges #116 - Christmas Sentiment

Now, here is the blog hop list to see October Digi Release - Metal Challenge creations.  Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog for the best chance to win the entire October Digi Release.

Tricia Traxler

Cynthia Olheiser

Crafty Math Chick

Ceal Pritchett

Patricia Hays

Stephanie Wright

I'm the last stop on the blog hop.  Now it's your turn to inspire us with your project using a digi and a metal element.  Please link up your project at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.

Thanks for *hopping* by today.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

A Rose for You

It's time for another challenge at the 4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog (4CCC112).  This week, we want to see dry embossing.  Pull out those embossing folders and have fun!!

I used two different dry embossing techniques on my card.  Behind the rose, you can see simple embossing done but running my die-cut cardstock thru the Cuttlebug while inside a Swiss Dot embossing folder.  The pink background is not patterned paper.  I found a wax paper embossing technique on Stamp TV (Cuttlebugged Wax Paper).  I ran a piece of wax paper thru my Cuttlebug while inside a Victoria embossing folder. I then placed the wax paper between two pieces of white cardstock.  I placed the waxed paper sandwich under a towel and ironed for a few seconds until the wax melted onto my cardstock.  I then ran Angel Pink ink all over one of the pieces of cardstock. {The 2nd piece of cardstock can be used on another project or as a back up in case you mess up the first one.  :)  }  After inking to the coverage I wanted, I wiped off the entire piece with a paper towel.  This removed excess ink from the waxed sections. The wax paper acts as a resist and brings out the Victoria pattern.  You can see it a little better in the detail picture below.

A bling flourish and an organdy bow provide lots of femininity to this card.

I colored the rose with copics.  I cut them out before popping them up on pop dots on my embossed and matted panel.  Some Diamond stickles provide some sparkle. 

This card also has some interior decorating.  The Angel Pink ink is light enough that I could have used it as a watermark under the sentiment but I chose to let it shine in the bottom right corner.  A glitter pen gave the butterfly some sparkle.  A border punch gave the inside another feminine touch.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill, DCWV
Stamps: The Craft's Meow (rose), SU (Mini Mates), Studio G, Studio 18, Inkadinkado Expressions
Ink:  Memento (Angel Pink, Tuxedo Black)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Swiss Dot, Victoria), Cut-Rite wax paper, household iron, Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small), Prima Say It In Crystals Flourish & rhinestones, Ribbon Trends ribbon, Stickles (diamond), Martha Stewart border punch, Sakura Gelly Roll pen (Clear Star), Copic Markers (YG03, YG05, R81, R83, R85, Colorless Blender)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Whimsy Inspirations #52 - All Things Sparkly (bling flourish, stickles, glitter pen)
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Favorite (This has several favorites: spellbinders dies, layers and sparkle)
Word Art Wednesday #50 - Positive sentiments
52 Card Pickup #41 - make a card
Crafty Friends #8 - Dry Embossing

I hope you'll join in the fun this week and give embossing a try on your card.

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon.