SNSDC34 - Case the Digi DT

I hope each of you enjoyed your Christmas with family and friends.  We were able to spend time with both of our children, our daughter-in-law and grandson.  There's nothing like a small child to add excitement to Christmas day.  Jack is now 2 and loves pulling the paper off the presents.  In the words of my brother, "Good times."

After a week off, we're back with another challenge for you at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  This week, our challenge is to case one of the digi DT.  The card you choose to use for your inspiration doesn't have to have a SNS digi.  Just visit our blogs, choose a card for inspiration and make a card of your own.  Remember, digital images only for this challenge.  As always, you don't have to use a SNS digi but we sure love it when you do.  Each card you make this month will get you one entry to win a free digi.  If you use a SNS digi, you will get two entries.

This is my inspiration card from DT member Carol Longacre:

I love the herringbone background and that she used a different shape to showcase her focal image.

My husband and I celebrated our 27th anniversary this week and I needed to make him a card.  Since he gave me a Grand Calibur for Christmas, I wanted to make sure I used it on his card.  I made a shaped card with the Grand Labels 1 that came with it.  I try to do something special on his cards because he appreciates the work that goes into them and is my biggest encourager.

I used this excellent Herringbone tutorial on SCS to make my card background.  I paper pieced Rhubarb's heart and put distress stickles on it.  It didn't photograph well.  :( 

Because he really likes interior decorating on cards, I did a little on this one.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Times & Seasons)
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Stamps (Love Sentiments, Sentiments for Him, Rhubarb's Heart)
Embellishments/Tools: Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Distress Stickles (Rock Candy), Copics, Sakura Glaze Pen (used on eyes & nose), Spellbinders (Labels 1, Grand Labels 1)

I'm entering this card in the following challenge: Paper Sundaes #100 - Celebrate.

I hope you'll play along with us this week and case one of the Digi DT.

Thanks for stopping by!

One Last Christmas Card

I have one last Christmas card to show you for this year.  I think this pre-colored mistletoe image from Clear Dollar Stamps is beautiful.  The set also comes with an image with a gold bow.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections
Patterned paper:  Bo Bunny (Noel)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Mistletoe Digital Image)
Embellishments/Tools:  Jute (Joann's), Fiskars border punch (Threading Water), Spellbinders (Circles large & small), MM Mini Metallic Brads

I'm keeping this short today as I'm dealing with a cold that's had me on resting all day.  Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas!!

I hope each of you are enjoying spending Christmas with those you love.  Let's not forget Who this day is for, after all to Christmas, Christ is everything.  If you have not yet accepted God's free gift of salvation, I can think of no better day than Christmas to accept the greatest of gifts.

I really like the wow-factor of a tri-shutter card.  These papers from Echo Park really help it to pop.  Splitcoast Stampers has a great Tri-Shutter tutorial,


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), DCWV (green)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Season's greetings)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Candy Cane Poem Colored Digital Image, Candy Cane Poem Digital Image)
Embellishments/Tools:  Kaiser Craft Ribbon, Spellbinders (Circle, Lacey Circle), Sakura green star pen, Fiskars Threading Water border punch

Another wow factor card is the star-fold card.  Bo Bunny papers do the trick this time.  Here's a tutorial for the Star Card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  SU
Patterned Papers:  Bo Bunny (Noel)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Candy Cane Poem Digital Image)
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  Chipboard elements (Bo Bunny Noel), Pearl Flourish (Recollections), Spellbinders Label 4 (regular and small)

Merry Christmas!!

SIWS 28 - Ecclesiastes 3:1

This week we are focusing on Ecclesiastes 3:1 in the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection.  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Eccl. 3:1). 

As we approach the end of the year, it's a good time to take stock of how the year has gone and what we have accomplished for the Lord.  Just as the year has different seasons, so too there are seasons in our lives.  When we are young, our opportunities for service for the Lord will differ from the ones we will have when we are older.  It's important for us to realize that these different types of opportunities are given to us by the Lord for a purpose.  Instead of chafing because someone in a different season of life has opportunities we do not, we should instead be focusing on making the most of the opportunities we do have.  Next year, let's all try to focus on doing all we can with what the Lord gives us.

For my card this week, I used the Mojo Monday sketch 220.  I chose some of the beautiful papers in the Bo Bunny Snowfall 6 x 6 pad that is now available in the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store. These papers are beautiful and wintery.  I used some bling on some of the snowflakes and a rhinestone ring around the sentiment panel for some sparkle.  Two different embossing folders added extra texture.

Supplies: 
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Misc from stash (blue)
Patterned paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall)
Stamp - Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Encouragement Scripture)
Embellishments/Tools - Cuttlebug EF (Snowflakes, Just My Type), Spellbinders (Circle small, Lacey Circle), rhinestone circle (Recollections), individual rhinestones (BG and Recollections)

This will be the last Say It With Scripture Challenge for the year.  We are taking next week off so that we can spend time with our families.  We'll be back January 4th with a new challenge.

Please join us this week and don't forget to stop by the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection and grab your free digi.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Merry Christmas!!

SNSCD33 - Tag! You're It!

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is all about tags!  We'd like to see you make a tag using a digi stamp.  Not too hard, right?  In all the busy-ness of the season, a tag can be just the small little crafty project that helps you keep your sanity AND helps you get some of those items crossed off your to-do list.

Since this month we're Crazy for Cocoa, I chose to use Cocoa's Ornament for my tag. 

Cocoa is colored with copics and the ornament is colored with Prismacolor pencils (red and green) and a AC metallic marker (silver).  I then gave the ornament some shimmer on the white and the bow with a Sakura clear star pen.  Lately it seems like I use that pen on just about everything!  I also dotted the middle and the points of each snowflake with the clear star pen.  It gives the whole tag a bit of shimmer.  Some baker's twine (also available from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps) finishes off my tag.

Supplies
Cardstock - Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Cocoa's Ornament)
Inks - SU Creamy Caramel, Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)
Embellishments/Tools - Sakura pens (clear star & silver star), Copics, Prismacolor pencils, Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles large & small), The Twinery Baker's Twine (maraschino, honeydew)

I'm entering this tag in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #142 - Christmas Glitz
Paper Sundae's #99 - Anything Christmas
Craft Your Passion #88 - Tag You're It!
Papertake Weekly - I'm Dreaming of a {favorite color(s)} Christmas - red, green & cream

I hope you'll play along with us this week and don't forget that it is not too late to join the Crazy for Cocoa Blog Hop!  There are prizes to be won!! You have until tomorrow (Dec. 17th) night to link up your card for a chance to win. You can find all the details on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog.

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

Clear Dollar Stamps December Digi Release

If you are looking for the Crazy for Cocoa Blog Hop, please scroll down one post or click here.  This is my second post for the day.

Today is the day of the Clear Dollar Stamps December Digital Stamp release.  There are so many great sets this month (do I say that every month?  *grin* ). I was able to play with three of them. 

Little Bethlehem

I really like the line art look of this stamp. I'd seen monochromatic Bethlehem scene cards done with regular stamps and wanted to see if I could recreate the look with a digi. Here's how I did it:

1. I opened the jpg version of the digi in PSE.  

2. After creating another layer, I unlocked the image (background) layer and moved the new layer under the image.

3.  Using the Magic Wand tool, I removed all the white from the image.

4.  I created another layer on top of the image and colored it brown.  With the brown layer highlighted, I clicked CTRL+G and I ended up with a brown line art Bethlehem image.  I followed the same process for the sentiment.

I accented the trees and buildings and colored in some of the roof lines and domes with a Sakura clear star pen. This shows up as silver in the picture. The star was colored with a gold metallic pen and then has clear star pen on top.  I used lots of inking and distressing on this card and used the rail of my paper trimmer to guide my paper tearing. The cream colored cardstock came pre-embossed.  What a time saver!

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU (brown), ANW Crestwood (corduroy white)
Paper:  Royal Langnickel Watercolor Paper, BG (Oxford)
Stamp set:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Little Bethlehem)
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan), Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Walnut Stain)
Embellishments/Tools:  PSE (used to recolor image & sentiment brown), Brads (MM metallic basics mini circle), Recollections gold pen, Sakura Clear Star pen, Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser, Ribbon (Michael's), Bow Easy

I'm entering this card in the following challenge: Paper Sundaes #99 - Anything Goes Christmas.

Totally Tags

This set is sooo versatile.  There are so many ways to use them beyond the obvious tags...cards, bookmarks, medallions on altered crafts, and the list goes on. For today, I chose to make a card.  

Back in October I saw this card on Patter Cross'  blog.  I loved the design.  I chose to CASE it for my card today.  Instead of using a ticket for my sentiment, I used The Merry Christmas sentiment and punched a flower from my patterned paper for the center.  I accented this flower with Sakura glaze and clear star pens.  I used a copic marker to tone down the white in the baker's twine. 

Supplies:
Cardstock - Recollections
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamp - Clear Dollar Stamps (Totally Tags)
Ink - SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools - Paper Studio 1 7/16" circle punch, Spellbinders (Circles large & small, Lacey Circles), Sakura pens (glaze and clear star), The Twinery Baker's Twine (maraschino), Copic Marker (E33), SU Stampin' Write pen (Close to Cocoa)

I'm entering this card in the Craft Your Passion #88 - Tag You're It and Paptertake Weekly - I'm dreaming of a (red, green, and cream) Christmas challenges.

Hoppily Ever After

For a total change of pace, and holiday, we have this cute set.  Aren't these frogs adorable?!

 After coloring the image with Prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol, I used a glaze pen all over the frog.  This gives her a wet look.  I used glitter pens on her hat, flowers and eyelashes {even a frog princess likes her makeup} for a little shimmer.


Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill (kraft), Georgia pacific (white)
Patterned Paper - SEI (Winnie's Walls)Stamps - Clear Dollar Stamps (Hoppily Ever After)
Embellishments/Tools - The Twinery Baker's Twine (Cappuccino, Honeydew), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals), SU Stampin' Write pen (Close to Cocoa), Prismacolor pencils, gamsol, Sakura pens (glaze, pink star, clear star, green star)

I hope you'll stop by the Clearly iStamp blog to see the rest of the digi sets being released today and to see the beautiful projects made by my fellow design team members.

Thanks for visiting today. 

Crazy For Cocoa Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Crazy 4 Cocoa blog hop!  We all adore Cocoa and thought it would be fun to showcase him all month long.  Today, as part of the fun, the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Divas have joined together with a few of the talented Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge ladies to bring a great Cocoa Mouse blog hop to you!  Make sure you've got your warm drink and some chocolate...let's get ready to hop!

If you arrived here from Mary Faus' blog, {aren't her cards adorable?!} you're in the right place.  If you just happened to stop by today, you'll probably want to go back to the Sweet 'n Sassy blog and start the hop from there.  You won't want to miss a thing!  Such fantastic cards and projects to be seen!!!

My card today features the De"light"ful Cocoa Digital Stamp.  The image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol.  I used a glaze pen all over the candle and jar to give it a glass effect.  The candle flame has some sparkle thanks to a glitter pen.  I used The Sweet Stop Sketch #138 for the card design.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy (De"light"ful Cocoa, Do Not Open Til Christmas)
Ink - SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools - Prismacolor pencils, gamsol, Sakura Glaze pen, Sakura Clear Star pen, The Twinery Baker's Twine (Maraschino, Honeydew), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the Paper Sundae's #99 Challenge - Anything Christmas and the Craft Your Passion #88 Challenge - Tag You're It.

Your next stop is  the talented Holly McMillen.  Wait until you see what she has to show you!  Pure Cuteness!!! 

Just in case you get lost, here is the whole list of design team members hopping along today:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Korin Sutherland 

Bridget Finlay 

Kim Singdahlsen 

Harriet Skelly 

Jessica Fick 

Kim O'Connell
Sandy Domelle

Monika Davis  

Carol Longacre
Ceal Pritchett

Kim Schofield 

Mary Faus 

Stephanie Wright - That's Me!!

Holly McMillen 

Stephanie Serrano

Cathy McCauley  

Makiko Jones

Dina Kowal 

Taylor Usry 

But wait...there's MORE!!!  We want YOU to hop along with us!  All you have to do is make a card or project featuring Cocoa Mouse and add your direct link to our linky tool below.  One participant (drawn at random) will win their choice of ONE free Cocoa Mouse clear stamp set or FOUR free Cocoa Mouse digis!  You have until Saturday, December 17 at 11:30 PM EST to add your direct link...go get stamping!

Don't forget, during the month of December we really are Crazy 4 Cocoa.  The entire line of Cocoa Mouse clear stamp sets and digi images are 10% off!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the new Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge.

SIWS -- Psalm 32:11

This week's challenge verse for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is Psalm 32:11, ^"Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart."  As we anticipate celebrating the birth of Saviour, we can rejoice & be glad.  Jesus left all the splendors of Heaven and chose to come to earth to live as a man.  Why? So that He could provide our way of salvation so that someday we could live in Heaven with Him.  For this reason alone, though there are a multitude of others, we can be glad, rejoice and shout for joy.  This Christmas, let's remember whose birthday we're celebrating and the wonderful gift He has given us!

For my card, I chose to use this week's Mojo Monday #219.  I embossed two of the panels for some extra texture.  I think the patterns and embossing give a quilt feel to the card.

I used PSE to remove the lines on the Cocoa image and then added my verse to his letter.  I really like this Cocoa image because you can showcase so many different things on his letter.  It's such a versatile image!

Supplies:

Cardstock - Recollections, Georgia Pacific

Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Times & Seasons)

Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Hummingbird, Write Soon Cocoa)

Ink - SU Creamy Caramel

Embellishments/Tools - Cuttlebug EF (Victoria, Script Texture), Spellbinders (Circles), Sweet 'n Sassy Lacey Eyelet Border Dies, Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencils, AC Metallic Marker (silver), Oriental Trading Pearls, PSE

I hope you'll join us this week and don't forget to stop by for your free digi. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

SNSDC32 - Tea Time

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to use a tea, coffee or hot cocoa theme.  You do not have to use Cocoa mouse but I couldn't resist using my favorite Cocoa Latte image.

I colored Cocoa with Copics  and then paper pieced his cup.  After cutting him out with a circle nestie I inked the panel before removing it from the die.  I cut a fancy tag in half to put behind the image panel and trimmed decorative corners down to make them fit.  Both were inked before removing the dies.


Supplies:
Carstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (blue)
Patterned Paper:  BG (Oxford)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Sweet Cocoa Sentiments, Cocoa's Latte)
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Antique Linen)
Embellishments/Tools:  Distress Stickles (chipped sapphire), Spellbinders (Circles large & small, Fancy Tags 3, Decorative Photo Corners), Cuttlebug EF (Swiss Dots)

I hope you'll play along with us this week.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Home for the Holidays VSN Projects

Over Thanksgiving Weekend, The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection had 15 VSN challenges.  Our theme was Home for the Holidays.  I was excited to be the challenge hostess for two of the challenges and I was able to participate in 5 more.  I realized I'd never put them on my blog so here goes -- the first two are the ones where I was the challenge hostess.  You might want to grab a cup of coffee/tea/cocoa....this is a long post.  ;)

Challenge #4 - Fancy Folds - use something other than the normal single card fold

I used the Surprise Pop Up Card tutorial found on SCS for this card.  I followed Beate's directions in the video tutorial rather than the written directions.  The rest of the pics will show the "fancy" part.  Pull the tag and....voila!!

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy digis (Cocoa's Stocking, Do not Open 'Til Christmas, All My Heart)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Button die, Oriental Trading Pearls, DMC floss, Copic Markers, SU Crystal Effects, Tim Holtz tag reinforcers, Spellbinders (petite ovals), Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, Jute from Joann's

Challenge #6 - Tag {Any type of Christmas tag}

Does this look familiar?  Yes, it was made to go with this card I made for the Birthday Blog Hop.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific, Recollections
Stamp: SNSS (Rhubarb's Stocking)
Tools/Embellishments:  Offray Ribbon, Cuttlebug EF (snowflakes), Stickles, Copic Markers, Spellbinders (Petite Ovals), Sakura Clear Star pen

Challenge #1 - White Christmas {only the image & embellishments can have color}

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Stamp:  SNSS (Bundled Up Snowman)
Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon from stash, Copic Markers, Cuttlebug EF (Snowflakes), SU ticket punch, Best Occasions Rhinestones, Spellbinders (petite ovals & petite scalloped ovals)


Challenge #7 - Gift Card/Money Holder

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamp:  SNSS (Do Not Open Til Christmas)
Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon (Michael's), Copic Markers, Staedtler pens, Sharpie markers, Sakura Clear Star pen, SU punch

Challenge #8 - Card must have a removable ornament - untie the bow on my card to remove the ornament.  The hanging ribbon is behind the circle and makes it look popped up when on the card.  I printed my star twice.  On the top one I scored on the lines and alternated the folds.I then glued the edges of the top star on the bottom layer for a 3D star.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Noel)
Stamp: SNSS (Because of the Brave, Christmas Carol Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Best Occasions Rhinestones, Ribbon (wide-Hobby Lobby, narrow-stash), Spellbinders (Circle, Lacey Circle, Fancy Tags 3), Cuttlebug EF (Victoria), Copic Markers, Sakura Clear Star pen

Challenge #9 - Christmas ATC (ATC = Artist Trading Card - these are 2.5" x 3.5" cards that are not to be sold only traded)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamp:  SNSS (Rhubarb's Candy Cane)
Embellishments/Tools:  Copics, Staedtler pens, Sharpie pen, Sakura clear star pen, Best Occasions Rhinestones, Spellbinders (petite ovals, petite scalloped ovals) SU ticket punch

Challenge #15 - Warm Winter Wishes - a Christmas card with a coffee/tea/hot chocolate image

 
Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps: SNSS (Cookie Warms the Heart, Don't Open 'Til Christmas, Sweet Cocoa Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Copic markers, Best Occasions Rhinestones, MM Brads, Spellbinders (circles, big scalloped border petites), SU Crystal Effects


Whew!  If you've hung in this long you're a trooper.  Thanks!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll come back tomorrow for the new Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge.

Ezekiel 34:26b - SIWS26

This week's verse for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is Ezekiel 34:26b, "There shall be showers of blessing."  This verse has such a clear message to me...as I follow the Lord, He showers me with blessing after blessing after blessing.  Truly, as it says in Ephesians 3:20, He does "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."  

My husband has a visual sermon illustration where he takes a large piece of white paper and draws one black dot in the middle.  He then asks, "what do you see?"  Everyone says, "a black dot."  He then reminds us that there's a whole sheet of white paper there too.  He then compares our lives to the white paper.  So often we focus on the *black dot* of a trial or discouraging situation and forget all the blessings we have in the whole sheet of white paper.

This week, I'm going to challenge myself to focus on the *white space* as lately I've been looking at that black dot waaaaaayyy too much.  Will you join me and even when/if discouraging times come, let's focus on the paper and not on the black dot?

 I paper pieced my image this week and colored the girls skin with a copic marker (E00).  I used my Bow-Easy to make my triple-loop bow.  I used my glitter pen to accent the rain but as usual it's hard to see in the picture.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black)
Patterned Paper:  BG (Two Scoops, Out of Print)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Let It Rain Digital Stamp)
Embellishments/Tools:  Sakura Clear Star pen, Copic Marker (E00)Spellbinders (Circles, Big Scalloped Border Petites), Cuttlebug EF (D'vine Swirl), Ribbon (white/black - Joann's, pink-stash)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Sweet Stop  (SSS137) - sketch
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion #87 - Anything Goes + glitter (my glitter is the rain)

I hope you'll join us this week at the Say It With Scripture challenge.  Don't forget to stop by and pick up your free digi.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

SNSDC31 - Tea Bag Wallet

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog is to make some type of gift.  It doesn't matter if it's big or small, one or many, quick or not.  The only requirement is that it must have a digi stamp somewhere on it.

I saw this Christmas Tag Wallet Tutorial on SCS a couple weeks ago and had been really wanting to give it a try.  I decided to turn it into a tea bag wallet.  The tutorial was VERY easy to follow.  I didn't make any adjustments in sizing for my wallet.  The only thing I added was a piece of paper to decorate the top of it.

I used PSE to make my teapot and tea cup scene using the Tea Time Digital Stamp Set and added the verse from the Baked with Love Digital Stamp Set.  I pieced the tea bag with parchment paper and then added the "used tea bag" look with copics.  DMC floss and a parchment paper scrap (also colored with copics) completed the tea bag.  The tea in the cup was colored with copics and then I applied a couple coats from a glaze pen to add a wet look.  A few steam wisps courtesy of a copic marker completed the decorative panel.

The inside of the wallet will hold 6 tea bags. If you are not a tea drinker and are making this for a gift, choose your tea bag brand carefully because not all tea bags are individually wrapped. The pockets are 3" wide and 1.25" tall.

Some other items you could try in this type of wallet are:
**individual instant coffee packets in the pockets with maybe some creamer or sweetner
**Crystal Light type drink packets.
**some brands of hot chocolate mixes would fit but because of their height you might need to adjust the top pockets 
**chocolate candy squares

This wallet would make a great gift for a teacher, hairdresser, Sunday School teacher or even just a "Thinking of You" gift for a friend.  Quick, easy and cute!  What's not to like?

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollection
Patterned Paper:  SEI (Winnie's Walls), Jillibean Soup (Watermelon Gazpacho Soup), Fiskars Parchment paper
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Baked with Love & Tea Time Digital Stamp Sets)
Ink:  ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  DMC Floss (ecru), Staedtler Triplus Fineliner pen, Copics, Spellbinders Label 4 (reg. & small), Sakura Glaze pen, Twinings Tea Bags (Earl Gray & English Breakfast Tea)

I'm entering my Tea Bag Wallet in the following challenges:
The Crafty Bloggers Network #5 - Other Than a Card - 3D project
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #131 - Christmas Present

I hope you'll play along with us this week and show us your crafty gifts.

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

Thanks a Bunch

I have a quick thank you card to share with you today.  I purposely kept it simple and pretty flat so that it would be easy to mail.

I printed the flower jar pre-colored image from the Jargon Mix Color Digital Image Stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps twice.  I fussy cut several of the flowers and layered them on top of the base image.  I used a glaze pen on the water in the jar to add a "watery" touch.  For a little sparkle, I used a clear star pen in the middle of the flowers.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  BG (Picadilly)
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps (Jargon Mix Color Digital Image Stamp)
Embellishments/Tools:  CM Black pen, Sakura glaze pen, Sakura clear star pen, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Spellbinders (Labels 4 (reg & small), Circles, Lacey Circles

Thanks for stopping by. 

SIWS25 - Romans 8:28

This week for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection, we're focusing on a very familiar verse:  Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

The key to this verse is the "them that love God" part.  Truly loving the Lord is living a life that is obedient to Him {John 14:15, If ye love me, keep my commandments.}.  So, if we are being obedient to Him, all that comes into our life, easy or difficult, is for our good and intended to work out His purpose in our lives.  In my mind's eye, I see obedience to the Lord as a sort of umbrella over our lives.  Stay under the umbrella and we experience the Lord's protection, direction and blessing.  Step out from underneath the umbrella and we're out there on our own with no protection.  As my husband has said many times, "you can make your choices, but you can't choose the consequences of those choices."  Let's strive together to stay under the umbrella of the Lord's protection.

For my card this week, I got to play with some new nestabilities that I got with a birthday giftcard.  New toys!!! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - BG (Picadilly, Out of Print)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy (Encouragement Scripture Digital Set)
Tools/Embellishments - Flowers (Bazzill), Pearl Flourishes (Recollections), Pearls (Oriental Trading), Spellbinders Label 7

I hope you'll play along with this week.  Don't forget to stop by and pick up your free digi too.

Thanks for stopping by.

Warm Birthday Thoughts

I have a birthday card to share with you today.  I need to make more of these...I never have enough of them.

I used one of the pre-colored image in the Sentimental Quilt Digital Image Set from Clear Dollar Stamps.  This set also comes with an outline image that you can color any colors you choose, 4 sentiments and 3 digi papers.  It's a great deal for only $3.50.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  MME (29th Street Market)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Sentimental Quilt Digital Image Set)
Embellishments/Tools: Ribbon (Offray), Pearls/Flourish (Recollections), Spellbinders Nestabilities (Circles, Lacey Circles, Big Scalloped Border Petites)

Clear Dollar Stamps is having a 25% off sale thru Nov. 27th and shipping is currently only $1.  Be sure to stop by the store for all the details on this great sale.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Sundaes #96 - Beautiful Bows
Birthday Sundaes #36 - Used neglected items in your stash (this paper has been in my stash for a looong time)
Tuesday Throwdown #75 - Lots of Circles

Thanks for stopping by!!

SNSDC30 - A Few of My Favorite Things

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Our daughter is home from college so we're enjoying have a chick back in the nest for a few days.  :)

This week is an easy challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  We get to use our favorite things to make our card/project.  I don't think it gets much easier than that!!  Be sure to play along with us because in addition to the monthly winner, one participant will be chosen at random each week this month to receive 4 FREE digis. 

For my card, I used an adorable Rhubarb image and based my card design on this week's CPS sketch (#245).

My Favorites:
Rhubarb - I still can't decide between Rhubarb & Cocoa but.... :)
Faux stitching
Embossing Folder
Paper piecing
Nestabilities
Layers
6 x 6 paper pad

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned paper:  Crate Paper (Random), misc. scraps on Rhubarb
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Rhubarb's Heart, Bear Sentiments) 
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug EF (Spots & Dots), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals, Big Scalloped Border Petites), Metal Dots (Best Occasions), Uni-Ball White pen, CM Fine point black pen, SU (Creamy Caramel)

Don't forget, Sweet 'n Sassy is still celebrating their 4th birthday.  All stamps & dies are 25% off thru November 30th. This is a great time to stock up on all your favorites.

Tonight and all day tomorrow, SNS will have their Home for the Holidays VSN at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection. The first challenge will be posted at 6PM tonight.  There will be lots of Christmas themed challenges to help you get started on or wrap up your Christmas cards and projects.  You'll have until December 2nd to play along for prizes.  You won't want to miss it!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week and use some of your favorites.

SIWS24 - Luke 1:47

This week's challenge verse at the Say It With Scripture Challenge over at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is typically seen at Christmas time.  However, my card is definitely not Christmas themed.  That's because I think this verse fits any time of the year.  Luke 1:47, "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."  As we're focusing on Thanksgiving this week, our spirits should rejoice in what the Lord has done for us.

Tonight, at our Thanksgiving Service, my husband (who is also the pastor of our church) is going to encourage everyone to share 3 things that they are thankful for this year.  Since I have advance notice (one of the perks of being the pastor's wife), I've been giving this some thought.  Of course, my salvation and what the Lord has done for me tops the list.  But after that, here's my current top 3:

1.  My husband.  The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful, godly man who loves me, sacrifices for me, and encourages me. 
2.  Answered prayers in the lives of our children.  The Lord has provided healing, protection, worked in their romantic relationships, provided financially and helped them grow spiritually.
3.  My parents.  The longer I live the more I realized what a privilege I had to grow up in a Christian home with parents who loved each other, loved my siblings & I and trained us to put the Lord first.

I'm rejoicing in God, My Saviour.  How about you?

My card this week uses the adorable Cocoa and his pumpkin.  This just might be my favorite fall Cocoa image.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia pacific, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello, Fall)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Rejoice in the Lord, Cocoa's Pumpkin)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copics, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Baker's Twine (Cappuccino), Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four, Rhinestones (MAMBI).

I hope you'll play along with us this week.  Don't forget to stop by for your free digi.

I hope each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving Day tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping by.

SNSDC29 - Birds

Birds are the challenge this week at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog. The bird is to be in an element of your project or in the image itself.

I used one of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) $0.99 digis for my card.  Ollie Owl is one of my favorite SNSS images.  He's just such a happy owl.  LOL

I enjoy criss-cross cards and decided that he'd be the perfect accent for this fall color scheme.  I was reminded once again, unless you have lots of your patterned paper, it's best to use a double sided paper when making criss-cross cards.  Otherwise, your triangles go the wrong direction.

After coloring Ollie with copics, I used a petite scalloped oval and Fancy Tags 3 to make a "landing spot" for him. I popped the tag off the oval and Ollie off the tag with pop dots.  I did lots of inking on this card and finished it off with some border dies, ribbon & pearls.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (what Ollie is printed on), PTI (orange), Bazzill (kraft)
Patterned Paper:  WRMK (Maple Grove)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Ollie Owl Digital Stamp)
Inks: ColorBox Fluid Chalk (Chestnut Roan, Creamy Brown)
Embellishments/Tools:  Pearls (Oriental Trading, Recollections), Ribbon (Michael's), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals, Fancy Tags 3, Big Scalloped Border Petites), Copics

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #138 - Punch or Die cuts
Paper Sundaes #95 - Digital Images

I hope you'll print out your favorite digi and play along with us this week.  Don't have any digis with birds?  SNSS has birds of all types...you're sure to find one you'll like.   Remember to play along with us, you must use a digi stamp.

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

SIWS23 - Psalm 32:11

This week we're focusing on Psalm 32:11 for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection. 

In this season of Thanksgiving, our thoughts turn to gratitude and thankfulness.  We have all been blessed with so much!  This verse says, "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart." This verse tell us how to practice thanks-living.  "Be glad in the LORD..."  Count your blessings and be happy about all that the Lord has given you.  "Rejoice ye righteous..."  If we are living righteously, we'll have so much more to rejoice about.  "Shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart." When we know we are doing what pleases the Lord, it's so much easier to be joyful and to express that joy.  In this season of thankfulness, let's not forget the source of all of our blessings.

For my card this week, I chose to mimic a traditional stamping technique by layering my verse over one of the Autumn Leaves digital set images.  In PSE, I chose my leave and rotated it to be more "upright."  After recoloring it a burnt orange color, I ran the opacity down to about 55%.  Then I layered my digi Scripture verse on top and printed it out.  I was pleased with how the image turned out.

I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS134) for my card design.  Several layers of the new Lacey Eyelet Border dies added the interest on the right side of my sketch. I really like how these dies are so easy to use and cut so cleanly.

Supplies
Cardstock - Recollections
Patterned Paper - MME
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy (Autumn Leaves, Rejoice in the Lord)
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
Embellishments/Tools - Pearls (Queen & Co.), Spellbinders Lacey Square dies, SNSS Lacey Eyelet Border Dies, Ribbon (Offray)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #138 - Use punches or dies
Paper Sundae #95 - Use digital images
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #115 - Gratitude
Sentimental Sunday #81 - Thanksgiving/thankfulness

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to grab your free digi at the Say It With Scripture thread.  Have a good day!

Clear Dollar Stamps November Digi Stamp Release

This month Clear Dollar Stamps has a wide assortment of digi stamp releases.  I got to play with two of them.  You can see the entire release on the Clearly iStamp Blog.

I made a center-step card to showcase the digi set Paper Christmas Trees.  This set has a mix of outline images and pre-colored images.  I paper-pieced the trees and added some bling to the top of each one.  I wanted the sentiment to be the focus of the card and added the trees around it.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Pattern Paper:  Bo Bunny (Noel)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Paper Christmas Trees)
Ink/Marker:  ColorBox Fluid Chalk, Copic E29
Tools/Embellishments:  Rhinestones (MAMBI), Spellbinders Label 3


The next digi stamp set I have to show you is Basket Kittens.  As a cat-lover, I was excited to get to play with this set.  It comes with pre-colored and outline images and several *purrrrfect* sentiments.  I made a shaped card using a Spellbinders Lacey Square die.  The main card is made from the largest die.  It's the first time I've made a card quite like this...I think I'll be making more.  I chose to use the pre-colored image this time.

I did a little interior decorating on my card and used one of the sentiments in the set.  In this picture, you can just get a glimpse of that interior decorating.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white)
Pattern Paper:  Crate Paper (Random)
Stamp:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Kitten Basket)
Embellishments/Tools:  Pearls (Oriental Trading), Ribbon (Misc.), Spellbinders Lacey Squares

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll stop by the Clearly iStamp blog to see the rest of the releases and visit the rest of the Design Team blogs for details on their cards.

Have a good day.