I Am Happy For You

This is my 2nd post for today.  If you're looking for the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge, please scroll down one post.

I'm back with my last card for my Guest Designer spot at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges. I have truly enjoyed being the Guest Designer this month and I'm sad that my time with them is over. This week's challenge is to use a ribbon representing the cause closest to your heart. My sister, niece and several friends are breast cancer survivors. One of my friends that just completed her chemo/radiation treatment for breast cancer and has recently gotten a clean bill of health.  I plan to send this card to her in celebration of finishing treatment and her good report.

This week's sponsor is Doodle Pantry.  I got to play with the adorable New Happy Birdie set. It comes with several sentiments, the birdie image, and a pre-colored birdie.

I chose to use the pre-colored digi birdie and then added some glitter pen to her wings and some glaze pen to her beak & feet.  This is a 5.5" square gate-fold card.  The main image tucks behind the popped up sentiment panel to keep the card closed.  I used lots of bling for sparkle and added the eyelet circles for another feminine touch. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Misc. {pink & green (Bazzill?)} 
Patterned Paper:  Me & My Big Ideas
Stamps:  Doodle Pantry (New Happy Birdie B)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Standard Circle Large and Small, Eyelet Circle), Sakura Glaze Pen, Sakura Gelly Roll pen (Clear Star), Bling (Recollections, Studio G), Ribbon (Misc)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Divas by Design #49 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - No Rules
Whimsy Inspiration Challenge #50 - Lots of Layers
Delightful Challenges - Fancy & Frilly
The Crafty Pad #184 - To Die For (use dies/punches)
Cute Card Thursday #231 - Bling it Up
52 Card Pick-up #34 - Make a card

Come play along with us this week and show us the cause you support. 

Thanks for stopping by today.

Psalm 46:1 - SNSDC68

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is a photo inspiration challenge.  These are always an extra challenge for me for some reason.  Here's the challenge photo from Martha Stewart Weddings:

When I look at this photo what stands out to me is fall, orange and layers.  So, my card uses fall colors with orange being a main one and lots of layers.

My card this time is 5" x 7".  I inked the paper edges and added faux stitching to the main panels.  I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO255) for the overall design.  I added the horizontal ribbon, bow and bling.

Supplies:
Card base:  The Paper Company
Cardstock:  Recollections (tan, cream), Bazzill (brown)
Patterned Paper:  Little Yellow Bicycle (Hello, Fall)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Psalm 46:1)
Ink: Colorbox Fluid Chalk (chestnut roan)
Embellishments/Tools:  Offray ribbon, Bow Easy, America Crafts Slick Writer (black), Spellbinders (Labels 1, Classic Edges 2, Classic Decorative Inserts 5). Me & My Big Ideas bling

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ#153 - Sentiment only, no image
Word Art Wednesday #42 - Use Scripture
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Pins & Needles (use stitching or a pin on your project)
Divas By Design #49 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash #65 - Use a sketch from anywhere and link it
Simon Says Stamp & Show - No Rules
Whimsy Inspiration Challenge #50 - Lots of Layers
The Crafty Pad #184 - To Die For (Use dies/punches)
52 Card Pick-Up #34 - Make a card
Stampendous - Make the sentiment the focus

I hope you'll play along with us this week and show us your project.  Remember to use digi stamps only for the challenge.  Thanks for stopping by today. 

Flower Cake - SNSDC67

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to use 3-D flowers as an embellishment.  This can be a layered digi stamp flower, a paper flower you made from dies, or any other type of flower that has dimension.

I chose to add some Prima flowers to the Flower Cake digi stamp.  After coloring the image with Copics, I cut it out with Spellbinders Nestabilities.  I double matted the image panel.  Then, using a 1/16" hole punch, I punched a hole through the center of each of the flowers on the top of the cake.  The prima flowers I used have stems so I pushed them stems thru the holes in the stamped flowers and taped the stems to the back of the image. I popped the image up on pop dots. I chose not to put a sentiment on the card so that I can use it later as either a special birthday card, a bridal shower card or even a wedding card.  I love options!!  :)

I did a little interior decorating as well.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (teal, pink)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Stamp (Flower Cake)
Embellishments/Tools:  Flowers (Prima), Bling Flourish (Recollections), Copic Markers, Fiskars Threading Waters border punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities (Petite Ovals large and small, Petite Scalloped Ovals large), Ribbon (Michael's), Zutter Round-it-All 1/2", 1/16" hole punch (brand unknown)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #111 - Sweet Treats
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #52 (PPMC52) - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #219 (PWC219) - Square Cards
Divas by Design #48 - sketch
Papertake Weekly - Spots or Stripes (my cake has stripes and there are dots in the patterned paper)
52 Card Pickup #33 - Make a card

My big accomplishment for the week was getting my scrap space organized!  Whew!  What a job!  However, it is so much easier to work in the new space because there's more room to spread out as I'm working.  I'll try to post a few pics soon.  Except for hanging some pictures, I *think* we're unpacked.  Yippie!!

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Little League Hello

This is my 2nd post for today.  If you're looking for the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge, please scroll down one post.  :)

I was so excited to be asked to be a Guest Designer for August for the Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge blog.  With a name like that, how can you go wrong??  :)

This week's sponsor is A Day for Daisies digi stamps.  They have sooo many cute images.  I was excited to get to work with their Little League digi.  Our son used to play baseball when he was young and I can't decide if this digi reminds me of him or our grandson.  Can you tell I'm missing both of them?

This week's challenge is to use wet or dry embossing.  Since I'm still digging out from all the boxes due to our recent move, I chose to use dry embossing.  I used two different embossing folders.  One to add faux stitching around the background panel and one to add texture behind my little slugger.

I colored my little guy with copics and then fussy cut him out and popped him up on the textured panel.  A simple "hello" stamp was stamped & matted and then also popped up.  A few brads were added for additional texture & interest.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Papers:  MME (Good ay Sunshine), Echo Park (Dots & Sripes)
Stamps:  A Day for Daisies (Little League), Hello (Studio G)
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Just My Type, Spots & Dots), Copics (E37, E35, E33, E29, E25, E00, E01, W-1, N9, N5, B21, B23, B32, B000, Y11, Y15, Y13, YR07, 100, Y000), Brads (MM), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large & Small)

I'm linking this card up at 52 Card Pickup #32.
Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with this week's Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards challenge.

Children Are a Heritage - SNSDC66

We moved to our permanent housing last week and we're still getting settled.  I was able to dig out a few of my supplies to work on this week's Sweet 'n Sassy Digi challenge. It was fun to take a break from the unpacking.  This week we have a color challenge -- use purple and green.  This is not a common color combo for me so it was a challenge.  :)

One of the benefits of digi stamps is that you can layer them before printing them out.  I layered the verse from the Baby Blessings digi set on top of the Baby Buggy digi (retired).  I used my copics to color parts of the Baby Buggy digi and paper pieced the blanket part with white.  I outlined the blanket with a copic before gluing it down.  Some stickles on the hearts added a little sparkle.  I used an M'bossabilities folder on the purple cardstock and now I'm really wishing I'd matted it with some of the green cardstock.  For those I've mentored...yes, I broke my own rule and didn't mat.  Oh well.....

I added pearls around the outside of the image panel and to the flower centers in the embossed panel.  A ribbon across the top borner finished off the front.

For the interior, I used the same outside design but didn't add any pearls.  I really like this sentiment from the Baby Blessings set.  I goofed and signed the card before taking the picture. Sorry about that.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (white), Bazzill (purple, green)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Baby Blessings, Baby Buggy-retired)
Embellishments/Tools:  Ribbon (Offray), Spellbinders (Standard Circle Large & Small, Lacey Circle, M'Bossabilities Splended Side A embossing folder), Pearls (SU), Copics (YG03, YG05, V04, V06, V09, Colorless Blender), Stickles (Crystal)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #40 - Use Scripture
52 Card Pick up #32 - make a card
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #151 - Baby or all pastels


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

SNSDC64 - So Happy For You

It's Friday and that means it's time for another challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  Our challenge this week is to use flags or pennants on our projects.

I chose to use the new pre-colored Kiwi Koala image.  I think Kiwi is adorable and the watermelon slice makes it a perfect summer image.  I really like the criss-cross card and found this "cheater's version" that only uses 1/2 of a piece of 8.5" x 11" cardstock instead of the whole sheet.  Christine David's no waste criss-cross tutorial can be found here.

The flag was made with a simple toothpick and a scrap of cardstock.  The faux stitching was done with a journaling pen.

Supplies:  
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Jillibean Soup (Blossom Soup)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Kiwi Koala's Watermelon Colored Digi, Hummingbird with Scripture)
Embellishments/Tools:  Brad (MM), Ribbon (misc from stash), toothpick, EK Success Corner Rounder, CM Fine Tip black pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper & Such - Just Stitch It (real or faux)
Shopping Our Stash #61 - Something New (the digi is a new release and the first I've used it)
Crazy for Challenges C4C146 - Stitching Real or Faux
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
52 Card Pickup - Make a card

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week.  I'm keeping this short today because we're enjoying an unexpected visit from our son and his family.

Tutorial: Paper Piecing with Digi Stamps

Paper Piecing with Digi Stamps

I really enjoy paper piecing, and especially paper piecing with digi stamps.  It’s a great way to add extra dimension and match your image to your background paper.  I also enjoy it because my coloring skills are still “under construction” and this is way to use images that normally would require large areas of coloring and shading.

I like to paper piece but I don’t like to waste my patterned paper.  So here’s my method (this works if you just want to print a sentiment on special paper too):

1.  Print the image on regular copy paper first.  Then decide how many different patterned papers you plan to use and print that number of images on the copy paper.  For my example I am paper piecing Opal Owl from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps.  I printed two complete owls (one for a base and one for background paper). I then cropped the image in Word and printed two heads (one for the eyes and one for the beak) and two bodies (one for the belly and one for the feet).  When paper piecing, always print one image on cardstock.  After cutting out the pieces from the patterned paper, glue them to the cardstock image.

2.  Cut a piece of patterned paper bigger than the image and apply adhesive to the wrong side on just the edge of the paper that will go into the printer first.  (All printers are different but for me this is the top edge.)  Adhere the piece of patterned paper over my image on the copy paper.  Try to make sure that the adhesive is above where the image will print.   Run the copy paper back thru the printer.  By adhering the edge that goes into the printer first, I've never had a problem with jams. 

3.  Cut out all the separate pieces.  The little pieces can be tricky so leaving a bit of a “tag” on them can be helpful (see the feet in the picture below for an example of this).  For now, don’t cut out the full image that is printed on cardstock.  To keep the outlines, run a black marker around the edges of each cut out piece.  This also colors the white edge and gives a more finished appearance.

4. Now it’s time to glue the pieces to the base image -- a pair of tweezers and a Quickie Glue pen are very helpful for small pieces.  For the example image, the feet were put on first, then the main body, then the stomach, then the eyes and lastly, the beak.

5.  Now it’s time to complete your card or project.  Treat the paper pieced image just as you would a stamped and colored image.  In my sample project, the tree was also paper pieced (it’s from the Enjoy the View digital stamp set also by Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps).  The tree top was run thru an embossing folder before being glued to the tree trunk.

I originally posted this card on my blog here.  You can find full details on the supplies I used in that post.

I hope you’ll give paper piecing a try.  It’s a lot of fun and can add some pizzazz to your next project.  Thanks for stopping by today.

SNS July Digi Stamp Release - Christmas in July

For this month's digi stamp release, we're having a blog hop.  Be sure to visit the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog for all the details.  You'll also want to visit each of the blogs in the hop and leave a comment.  One of us is a mystery blogger.  The mystery blogger will randomly choose one of the commenters on her blog to receive the entire July Digi Stamp Release.

There is a challenge to go with this week's digi release (SNSDC63).  Appropriately the challenge for this week is to make a Christmas card.

I'm actually getting to use 3 of the new releases.

Immanuel

 

Poinsettia

Christmas Sentiments

I chose to make an easel card.  I paper pieced the poinsettias and added a pearl to the center of each flower.

When I packed my scrapping supplies for our recent move, I was obviously exhausted.  I own the Cuttlebug (CB) and the Grand Calibur (GC).  Apparently I packed the plates and machines in 4 separate boxes. What was I thinking?!? We're in temporary housing for the next couple weeks so all I've been able to find so far is my GC machine and the CB plates.  The reason I'm confessing *grin* is to give an example of how to use your spellbinders dies without a machine.  I traced the interior of one die around my sentiment.  I traced the exterior of the same die on patterned paper for a mat.  I then handcut them both out (you'll notice I chose a pretty simple die with fairly straight lines - ha!). I thought the mat was a little wide so I got brave and handcut another mat (the green one) for in between the sentiment and the burgundy mat.

I thought the patterned paper that I used at the top of the card would look good accented with something.  My glitter pens are hiding from me so I used pearls to make a lacey look. Tweezers are your friend when placing pearls/gems like this.   I thought the lacey edge on the paper by Anna Griffin helped with the "lace" theme.

Supplies:
Card base:  Strathmore Bristol
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding), Anna Griffin
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Immanuel, Poinsettia, Christmas Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls in flower centers (Queen & Co. - pearl), small pearl flourishes (Recollections), all other pearls (SU Jewels Basic - Pearls), Spellbinders Labels 7, Colorbox fluidchalk (chestnut roan), CM fine tip black pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Card Positioning System #274 - sketch
Going Gray with Scrap Creations (GGSC122) - Christmas in July
Shopping Our Stash #60 - use a precious/hoarded item (I used the Anna Griffin paper - I've had it in my stash for about 10 mos., the Figgy Pudding paper has been in my stash for a couple years)
Love to Create #24 - Use 3 of something (I used 3 poinsettias and 3 different digi stamps)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Show us What You Got Christmas Edition
Word Art Wednesday #37 - Use Scripture
Divas by Design #44 - Anything Goes
52 Card Pickup - make a card

Here is the full blog hop list.  Be sure to visit each one and leave your comment for the best chance to win the full release.

• Cathy Wallington
• Crafty Math Chick
• Ceal Pritchett
• Cyndi Bundy
• Melinda Gleissner
• Patricia Hays
• Stephanie Serrano
• Stephanie Wright
• Wendy Jordan
• Korin Sutherland

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you'll come back soon.  And remember....when packing your scrappy tools, ALWAYS pack your die cutting machine in the same box as the plates that go with it.  *smile*

SNSDC62 - Fun Folds

We have a fun challenge this week on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog....Fun Folds.  If you are a frequent visitor to my blog, you know I love fancy/fun folds.  It can be any fold you like as long as it's not a standard "fold in half" type card.

When I was making my card for this challenge, we were in the middle of packing for last week's move.  So I kept it pretty simple and just did a gate-fold card.  They are one of the first fancy/fun fold cards I tried.  Here's a great Gate Fold tutorial from SCS.  My card folds to a 4.25" square.

 

Moving is always stressful and my husband had been working hard.  I wanted to give him a little note to let him know all his hard work was greatly appreciated.  This sentiment from the Love Sentiments set was perfect.  I tucked the sentiment panel behind one of the hearts from the All My Heart set to help keep the card closed.  Even though it's a masculine card, I thought this pearl flouish from Prima worked well.

Since my husband likes when I decorate the inside of my cards, I made sure to line the inside panels with patterned paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, DCWV, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Times & Seasons)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Stamps (All My Heart, Love Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Prima Say It In Pearls, Stickles (Cinnamon), Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large & Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #147 - Follow the "plan" (at least 1 circle/oval, at least 2 papers, at least one embellishment) 
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Must have text
Scrap Creations - Use something that you've gotten new within the last two months (mine is the pearl flourish)
Shopping Our Stash #59 - use an extra fold or pleat on your card -- for the stash part, I've had the paper, stamps & stickles for a looongg time)
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge (4CCC-98) - Stripes

I hope you'll play along with us this week in our fun fold challenge.  Remember, you don't have to use SNS images (though we love it when you do) but you do have to use a digi image.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm off to continue job-hunting.  ugh!

SNSDC61 - Beach & Sand

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to make a card or project that has to do with the Beach or Sand.  I chose to use both.  I used the Ocean Paradise digi stamp and a sentiment from Enjoy the View.  After coloring my image with Copic Markers, I used Crystal Effects from Stampin' Up on the water and also used Crystal Effect to glue real sand from Nags Head, NC, on the sand section of the image.  After sponging in the sky, I drew a few birds.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper - Echo Park (Hello, Spring)
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy digis (Enjoy the View, Ocean Paradise)
Embellishments/Tools - Copics, Offray Ribbon, SU Crystal Effects, CM fine tip black journaling pen, Spellbinders Grand Labels One, and sand from the beach in Outer Banks, NC

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #146 - Use Something New (my paper & a new technique - I've never added sand to a card before) 
Tuesday Throwdown #104 - Summertime (nothing says summer to me more than the beach)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Use an image and text
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenges #16 - Anything Goes

I hope you'll play along with us this week.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm going to keep this quick as we made an "across several states" move yesterday.  We'd appreciate your prayers as we get settled.