O Taste and See -- SNSDC38

It's Friday, so that means it's time for another Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Digi challenge. This week's challenge is a sweet one.  :) Your card or project is to have a dessert on it.  I chose to use Rhubarb's Pie and a verse from the Baked with Love set.

I used a sketch from SCS (SC366) for my card design.  I substituted the ribbon & bow for the row of circles. I used PSE to alter the verse so that it would be all in one line.  Can you believe I didn't use any Nesties on this card??  A rare occurrence!  After coloring Rhubarb & his pie with Copics (in real life his apron goes much better with the papers), I sponged some ink on the panel.  I also inked the edges of all my patterned papers and sentiment panel.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (mint)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamps:  SNSS (Baked with Love, Rhubarb's Pie)
Ink:  Studio G
Embellishments/Tools:  Brads (OT), Ribbon (I wish I knew...it's from my stash & I wish I had more), Copic markers, PSE

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #12 - Use Scripture
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Color Bingo (I chose the far right column - Teal, blue & brown)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Text Me

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

Happy Birthday to You

I used two different digi sets from Clear Dollar Stamps to make this birthday card.  The week's CPS sketch (CPS252) was the inspiration for the design.

I used the birthday sentiment from the Totally Tags set and popped up the present from the Birthday Fall Critters set.  I colored the present with Copics and accented the bow and polka dots with a glitter pen.

The colors are definitely stretching my comfort zone because brights are not the colors that usually "call my name."  But, in the interest of challenging myself, I reached for this colorful Colorbok paper pack.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Colorbok
Patterned Paper:  Colorbok
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Totally Tags, Birthday Fall Critters)
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug embossing folder (Spots and Dots), Sakura Clear Star pen, Copic markers, Zutter Round-it-All (1/2"), Spellbinders (Circles - Large & Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
CPS #252 - sketch
Sentimental Sundays #86 - Die Cuts (spellbinders circles)
Birthday Sundaes #40 - Birthday sentiment on the front of the card
Stamptacular Sunday #148 - Seeing spots - use polka dots somewhere on your card
Papertake Weekly - Happy Highlights (highlight something on the card with something glittery or glossy - I highlighted the bow & polka dots with a glitter pen)

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

SIWS32 - Nehemiah 8:10

This week's focus verse for the Say It With Scripture Challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is one of those verses that is easy to memorize but harder to put into practice.   Nehemiah 8:10, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Have you ever been around someone who is going thru a difficult time and yet they still have a joyful attitude?   They are practicing this week's verse.  However, more often, we allow our circumstances to get us down  and we forget that our joy come from the Lord.  I'm as guilty of this as the next person.  It's a struggle to "live above our circumstances" as my husband calls it. Our joy doesn't come from things or circumstances or good health...it comes from the Lord and His goodness.  Instead of meditating on this, we keep looking at the negative things in our lives and don't look at all that the Lord is doing and has done for us.  I want to work this week on changing my focus and allowing the joy of the Lord to shape my attitude.  Care to join me?



I made a new type of pocket card for me this week.  It's an easy design and I found the tutorial for it at StampTV's Mix-it-Up Monday Challenge for this week.  I did alter their sketch to make my finished card 5" wide by 5.5" high. 

I colored the hummingbird and flower with copics and then inked the background of my diecut.  A lacey circle mat, some pearls and a bow finished off the image panel.

I put the Scripture verse on the top of the pull-out panel and anchored each end with a brad.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (red)
Pattered Paper: BG Picadilly
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Hummingbird digi set)
Ink:  SU (Bliss Blue)
Embellishments/Tools:  Copics, Ribbon (Wright's), Pearls (Recollections), Brads (MM), Spellbinders (Circles large, Lacey Circles), Cuttlebug EF (Swiss Dots), SU Stampin' Writer

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays #86 - Die Cuts (Spellbinders Circle and Lacey Circle)
Stamp TV's Mix-It-Up Monday - Pocket/Envelope Card
Word Art Wednesday #12 - Use Scripture
BasicGrey Challenge #61 - Favorite Things + BasicGrey product (my favorites on this card are my spellbinders, pearls, and the fancy fold + I used Picadilly papers)


I hope you'll join us this week on our Say it With Scripture Challenge.  Don't forget to stop by and get your free digi.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Please come back soon.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps January Digi Release Blog Hop & Challenge

Today it's time for another Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge but this week we are adding a little more fun to the regular challenge!  The Sweet `N Sassy Digi Challenge ladies are bringing you a FUN Blog Hop for the January Digi Release!!

Get a cup of your favorite drink (I'll take a white chocolate mocha) and start hopping to the blogs of  Digi Challenge ladies.  While you're hopping, be sure to leave a comment on each blog.  One of the ladies below is a mystery blogger and she will be picking one name from the comments on her blog post to win a wonderful prize!  What is the prize you ask??  The winning prize will be the whole January Digi Release!!  How cool!! The winner will be announced on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog on Friday, January 27th.

Our challenge this week is to make an easel card. I love making easel cards so I was pretty excited about this week's challenge. If you have never made one before, here's a great easel card tutorial from SCS.

 
We are owned by 3 cats so I'm really enjoying all the new cat digis Korin has now.  I got to work with the Cheer Up digi set this week. The fluffy kitty behind the empty bowl reminds me of our Maine Coon, Sam.  He LOVES the food bowl.  The other kitty reminded me of my Russian Blue kitty, Sasha.  Our Persian, Darius, got left out this time.  Maybe he'll make an appearance another day.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), SU (teal)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Cheer Up digital stamps)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic markers, Pearls (OT), Cuttle Bug EF (Swiss Dots), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Brads (MM), Spellbinders (Circles large & small, Lacey Circles)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #122 - Something New (the stamp set & the paper)
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Use die cuts (Circles large & small and Lacey Circles)
Stamptacular Sunday #147 - Texture (embossed strip, border punched edges, lots of layers)


Be sure to stop by the blogs of the rest of the Digi Challenge Ladies for more details on their fabulous creations. You don't have to hop in an particular order...you'll just want to make sure you stop by each blog and leave a comment so that you have the best chance for winning the prize.

Carol Longacre

Ceal Pritchett

Harriet Skelly

Jerusha Borden

Jessica Stockmeyer

Kim O'Connell

Makiko Jones

Margo Smith

Stephanie Serrano

Stephanie Wright - That's Me!!

Korin Sutherland

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

Snowy Birthday

I have a winter birthday card to share with you today.  I used one of the new pre-colored releases from Clear Dollar Stamps (CDS) and paired it with the sentiment from an older CDS digi stamp set.

I am really enjoying using my new Grand Spellbinders dies.  Making shaped cards is a breeze now!  The recipient of this card really likes cardinals and the color green so I thought this particular snowman was perfect.  I also chose to pick up the green from the inspiration photo in the Birthday Sundae's #39 challenge.  I used some bling on the snowflake and stickles on the snow and pompoms on the snowman's hat & scarf for sparkle.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Times and Seasons)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Turtle Greetings and Snow Tweet Colored Green Digital Stamps)
Embellishments/Tools:  Brads (Paper Studio), Zig Millennium pen, pearl flourish & rhinestones (Recollections), Spellbinders (Grand Label One, Petite Oval Small & Large), Snowflake - Misc from stash, Stickles glitter glue (diamond)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Birthday Sundae's #39 - Photo Inspiration + must use snowman
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #122 - Something New (both stamp sets)
Paper Pretties Challenge #189 - Use glitter (on pompoms and snow)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Use die cuts (Labels One for card base, Petite Ovals large & small for image & sentiment panels)
Shelly's Images - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a great day!!

SIWS31 - Psalm 122:1

We're focusing on a verse from Psalms this week in the Say It With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection.  Psalm 122:1 says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." 

My husband pastors our church.  I truly look forward to going each Sunday & Wednesday to hear him teach and preach. I also look forward to the fellowship of our church family. I've been sick recently and was unable to attend church for 2 weeks.  I felt like I'd been gone forever and was so happy to be able to go to church with my husband this past Sunday.  I thought of this verse as we were driving to church and thought how appropriate it would be to use this week.  We should look forward to attending church for worship, fellowship and the encouragement we receive by being with other believers.

The design of my card was inspired by Gina K's Daily Inspiration Journal.  This is a new stamp set for me -- I usually avoid stamps with this much coloring but decided to stretch my comfort zone this week.  My conclusion is that my coloring still needs lots of work. 

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), scrap from stash (green)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Country Church Digital Stamp set)
Copics:  G7, G14, G17, C1, N5, N7, YG03, RV66, Y13, E7, E9, E33, E35, colorless blender
Embellishments/Tools: Sakura Glaze Pen, Offray ribbon, Oriental Trading Pearls, Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangle LG & SM, Petite ovals and Petite Scalloped Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ #122 - Use something new (stamp set, coloring a scene)
Sentimental Sunday #85  - Ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling, Blooms {use any or all - I have bows & bling (pearls)}
Word Art Wednesday #11 - Use Scripture or an inspirational quote

January Digi Release at Clear Dollar Stamps

There is such a great variety of stamps being released today in the Clear Dollar Stamps January Digi Release.  Everything from Noah's Ark, to Snowmen, to flowers, to a Bible and Scripture verses.  You're sure to find lots of stamps you just can't live without.  :)

One of the sets I got to play with is called Morning Devotions.  I though this sentiment was perfect for a prayer journal so I decided to use it on an altered notebook.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Morning Devotions Digital Stamps)
Embellishments/Tools:  Zva Creative pearl flourish, Ribbon (Wright's), Spellbinders (Lacey Squares), SU Crystal Effects, Zutter 1/2" Round-it-All

I'm entering this journal in the following challenge:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #122 - Something New (the stamp set)



This adorable set is called Snow Tweet Colored Blue.  This set is also available in a line art set or a green colored set.  Come back later this week and I'll have something in the green version to show you.

I sponged the edges of my snowman & the sentiment panel to add to the snowy look.  I used some stickles on the white parts of the snowman's hat & scarf and on the snow.  Some Crystal Effects on the snowman's buttons added some extra dimension..

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (red)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamps:  Snow Tweet Colored Blue
Ink:  SU (Bliss Blue)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Crystal Effects, Stickles (diamond), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals), Zutter Round-it-All 1/2"


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. 

SNSDC36 - Butterflies

This week we have a fun challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  We're challenging you to make a monochromatic card.  Here's your chance to really showcase your favorite color.

I chose to use brown for my card -- no, it's not my favorite color but an easy one to work with for this type of card.  My shades range from cream to chocolate.  Thanks to PSE I was able to not only layer my images but even color them brown.  I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS140) for my layout.  I inked the embossed panels to help the embossed areas pop.

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU (dark brown), Bazzill (medium brown), Recollections (light brown)
Patterned Paper:  Adorn-It (Fern Collection)
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy (Everyday Miracles)
Inks:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon (Michael's), Flowers (Prima), Pearls (Recollections), Cuttlebug EF (Victoria)

Come play along with us this week.  We'd love to see what you come up with for our monochromatic challenge!

Thanks for stopping by today.

SIWS30 - Hebrews 13:1

Our challenge verse this week for the Say it With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is Hebrews 13:1, "Let brotherly love continue."

I recently read a friend's status on Facebook and it truly made my heart sad.  I don't know all the details but apparently something happened with one of her children.  Other folks heard part of the story, started talking about it without having the complete details, and since they had the story wrong, her child was really hurt.  The sad part?  All the folks involved were Christians.  It's been said that Christians are the only ones that shoot their own wounded.  This should not be. We should support and encourage each other...even when things go wrong.  No we can't condone wrong-doing, but if we remember "there but for the grace of God go I" we'll treat each other with more gentleness.  So this week, let's focus on loving our brothers (and sisters) in Christ and treat each other a bit more kindly.

I thought this image was perfect for this verse because one of the birds is different from the others.  How often are we critical of things that are different?  I've been under the weather this week so I took a little help by using one of the SNSS pre-colored images.  I used the SNSS Lacey Eyelet Border Die for a little interest along the bottom of the card.  Some pearls and faux stitches added the finishing touches.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, SU
Patterned Paper:  BG (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (God is Love, One of a Kind Colored Digi)
Embellishments/Tools:  Offray Ribbon, Queen & Co Pearls, Zig Millennium Pure Black Pen, Spellbinders Petite Ovals, SNSS Lacey Eyelet Border Dies

I'm entering this card in this week's Word Art Wednesday #10 challenge.

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

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

U R 2 Cute!! - SNSDC35

We have a recipe challenge this week to start off this year's digi challenges on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.   Our challenge is to use one number element, two embossings and three colors of your choice.

I chose to use this adorable pre-colored digi and made a computer generated sentiment to go with him.  I wanted the sentiment panel to mimic a dog collar.  I'm not sure how successful I was but that was the intent.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (red), Misc (blue)
Patterned Paper:  Creative Imaginations (Samanatha Walker)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Spot Colored Digital Image)
Embellishments/Tools:  MM metallic mini circle brads, Cuttlebug EF (Swiss Dots, Just My Type), Spellbinders (Circles large and small)


Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us.  It's as easy as 1 - 2 - 3. 

You're Tea-rrific

I'm always on the look-out for cards that have unusual folds.  Last Wed., there was a tutorial for a Double Dutch Fold Card on SCS.  I thought it looked fun and decided to give it a try with some pre-colored digi stamps from the Tea-rrific Colored Digital Images set from Clear Dollar Stamps.

I accented the scallops on the petite scalloped oval with some bling and a small white bow (not gray like the picture would have you believe).

I also did a little interior decorating.  The picture below also shows how the sentiment on the right "door" is popped up on some foam tape.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Random)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Tea-rrific Colored Digital Image)
Embellishments/Tools:  Rhinestones and pearl flourish (Recollections), Ribbon from stash, Fiskars border punch (Threading Water), Spellbinders (petite Ovals, petite scalloped ovals), Bow Easy

I'm entering this card in the Stampendous "Bling It On" challenge.

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

Ephesians 3:20 - SIWS 29

Happy New Year!! Have you adjusted to writing 2012 yet?  I still have to think about it and double-check myself. :)

For our first Say It With Scripture challenge at The Sweet 'n Sassy Connection, we're focusing on a verse that talks about how wonderful the Lord is.  What better way to start off a new year than to remind ourselves of how much the Lord has done for us? He does so much more than we could ask or think.  There have been so many times when I've seen the Lord work out situations that (humanly speaking) were pretty tough in a way that was much better than anything I could have thought of myself.  That alone should remind me that the Lord does NOT need my help in arranging the events of my life.  If only I would learn!!

Our Challenge Verse

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.  Ephesians 3:20

As we start this new year, let's meditate on this verse and remind ourselves to remember all the ways the Lord has worked in our life in the past and that He does not need our help in working things out for us.

For my card, I chose to keep it simple and used this weeks sketch from CPS (CPS249).  I love the elegance of black and white.  This design helps keep the focus where it needs to be...on the Scripture

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black)
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Enchanted)
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy (Encouragement Scripture Digis)
Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon (JoAnn), Pearls (BG), Spellbinders (petite ovals large and small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
CPS 249 - sketch
Sentimental Sundays #83 - Anything Goes
Paper Sundaes #101 -Something old (the pearls on my card), Something new (the Bo Bunny paper)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Something old (the pearls on my card), Something new (the Bo Bunny paper)