Make It Clean and Simple

Hello friends…happy Friday!  One Saturday a month our church hosts a Women of Purpose Ministry.  The more "Mature" women share their special gifts and talents with the younger ladies.  Tomorrow it is my turn to share and of course I'll be teaching stamping techniques in card making as a way to send encouragement to loved ones and friends. Since some of the ladies have never stamped before, I kept the cards we will be making very "Clean and Simple."

Creative Nugget:  The first card was inspired by the talented Bridget Finlay who is a master of "Clean and Simple."  Her inspiration card can be found HERE.  One of the images from the Nature Silhouettes stamp set was stamped twice in opposite corners using the "Second Generation" stamping technique.  The sentiments are from God's Purpose.  Some gingham ribbon and a few pearls finish the card.

Creative Nugget:  To create the background, Rose Bud and Cantaloupe Memento Inks were rubbed onto an acrylic block, spritzed with water, and stamped directly on a piece of Mixed Media paper.  This was done twice to intensify the color.  The Majestic Butterflies and the sentiment from the Script Birthdays stamp set were stamped with Watering Can Archival ink.  A few splatters and some rhinestones finish the card.  Any dye based ink will work for this technique.

Creative Nugget:  The final card was made by sponging Memento Inks through a negative mask to create a circle in the center of the card front.  A script stamp was used to add interest while the mask was still in place.  The woodland scene from Landscape Silhouettes was also stamped using Versafine Onyx Black ink while the mask was in place.  The mask was removed and the sentiment was stamped.  Twine, a button, and some pearls finish the card.  The stamps used to make this card are not available at this time.

These are the stamp sets currently available at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store used to make these cards: 

Thank you so much for visiting…perhaps you've been motivated to send someone a CAS card of encouragement today!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Amazing Grace

Happy sunny Saturday, everyone!  What a beautiful day the Lord has blessed us with…perfect for a nice long walk with Kody!  Don't you just love spring?

I have a quick card to share with you using this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Sketch.  I love the new Layered Lacey Square Dies, but the sketch called for a rectangle... so with a little modification, it worked perfectly for my card!

Creative Nugget:  Distress inks were softly sponged on a piece of Neenah Solar crest card stock to match the colors on the beautiful Shabby Rose Paper Collection.  A brick wall stencil was taped over the panel and the Amazing Grace Hymn Background was stamped in Watering Can ink through the stencil.  This left a rather shabby, aged-looking background that was cut with the Flourished Star Pattern Die to get the piercing around the edge. The other panels are Shabby Rose papers stitched to Smokey Shadow card stock.  The Amazing Grace sentiment from the How Sweet the Sound set was stamped directly on the DP and then stamped again with VersaMark ink and clear embossed.  A vellum heart was cut with a Spellbinders heart die and layered with one of the Ornate Heart Dies.  The Stamped By Butterflies Minis were also stamped on DP and fussy cut after adding some shadows with Copic Markers.  A few pearls and seam binding finish the card.

Here are the supplies from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store that were used on my card:

This card will be entered into the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Shining the Light - ODBDSLC234

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Make Your Own Background

Pile It On #64 - Fancy Frames and Borders

Thanks so much for stopping by…enjoy the gorgeous day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

SNSS April 2015 Release Blog Hop & Challenge

Fridays are always special at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and this Friday is no exception…welcome to the April 2015 Release Blog Hop & Challenge!  Now that you have had a chance to see our new masculine release for this month, it's time to see what the Design Divas have done with the new stamp and die sets.  Grab a beverage and sit back and relax as you hop along to each of the DT Blogs and check out all of the fabulous masculine cards!

Blog Hop Giveaway!

What would a Blog Hop be without a giveaway, right?  One random commenter from one of the DT blogs will be selected to win a $10 Gift Code to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  You have until Thursday, April 23rd at midnight EST to leave your comments.  The winner will be posted on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Friday, April 24th!

My first card sample was made using sentiments from the new For My Father stamp set and my favorite Landscape Silhouettes.

Creative Nugget: The watercolored background was made by applying Distress Ink to the edge of an acrylic block.  This was spritzed with water and jiggled up and down a little on a piece of Mixed Media Paper.  After drying the second color was applied in the same way and so on until the last color was added.  Each color was applied twice to achieve the vibrant colors.  The farm scene from Landscape Silhouettes was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black ink as well as the sentiment from the For My Father stamp set.  A gingham knot and several pearls finish the card.

My second sample uses the Hole in One stamp set.

Creative Nugget:  Scraps of DP cut with the Hillside Edges Die were stitched to Smokey Shadow card stock to make the background for this masculine thank you card.  The golf image from the Hole in One stamp set was colored with Copic Markers and cut with a Spellbinders Square Nestie.  The sentiment was stamped on a Cloud die cut and a sun cut with one of the Beach Dies was tucked behind the cloud.  Some twine, a button, and Glossy Accents were used to finish the card.

Here are the stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store that were used for my card samples:  

Check out the marvelous masculine cards created by the other Design Divas!  The DT blog links can be found in the Linky Tool below!
Now onto the challenge! 
"Make it Masculine"
(To enter, share a link to your masculine creation to the gallery below.)

  Just a few guidelines to remember as you play:

            

- You don't have to use a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps image to enter (although we sure love when you do!)
- Please create a NEW card (no back linking)
- We ask that you enter your card in no more than 3 challenges
 - You'll have until Thursday, April 23rd at midnight EST to enter
- We'll draw 1 winner from this week's challenge to receive a $10 credit to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!  
If there are 25 participants, (not including the DT), we'll draw 2 winners!
- Please use code SNSApril2015RC when uploading to Splitcoaststampers or other galleries 

Thanks for joining us today!  Be sure to join us again on Friday, April 24th to see if you've won and check out our new May Sweet Perks Bundles!

HAPPY HOPPING!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by…enjoy your day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Taking a Look Back at the ODBD April Release

Welcome, my friends and Happy Spring!  Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs April 2015 Release.  Get ready to view some gorgeous creations made with the stamps and dies released this month.
  

My card sample uses the new How Sweet the Sound stamp set and the beautiful Layered Lacey Square Dies.

Creative Nugget:  The Vintage Flourished Pattern Die was used to cut a frame which was stitched to a beautiful piece of paper from the Shabby Rose Collection.  This was mounted to a Neenah Solar Crest card base.  Two of the Layered Lacey Squares were layered on top with the sentiment from the Earth's Gladdest Day stamp set stamped on the top square.  A floral spray made with Asters and Leaves and Fancy Foliage die cuts along with several mulberry roses was arranged on the left side of the quote.  A satin bow and button was attached to the lower right side of the quote.  The Unending Love sentiment from How Sweet the Sound was white embossed on vellum, cut with a Pennant Die, and placed between the flowers and the bow.  A few pearls were added to finish the card.  It was Jesus' unending love for us that sent Him to the cross!

Here are the new stamps and dies along with other favorites from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store that were used on my card:

To view all of the gorgeous samples made with this release, visit the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  For the details on each beautiful creation made by my talented Sister Sticks, click on the links below!

Julie * Sandee * Cathy * Lori * Dawn 
 Wanda * Sabrina * Lisa  

Your visit to my blog is most appreciated…thank you so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Tiles Tutorial

Hello, everyone!  Hope you were able to enjoy the wonderful weekend weather.  It's my turn to share a tutorial on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog today so I thought I would share it here as well.  Before retiring from teaching, I used to make coasters out of unglazed tiles for my parent helper gifts at the end of the school year.  I often get asked at paper craft festivals how they are made, so I thought I would share my process in this tutorial.

Begin by gathering all of your materials.

Supplies:

Non-Stick Craft Sheet

4" x 4" Unglazed Tiles (purchased from building supply store)

Adirondack Alcohol Inks in a variety of colors

Adirondack Metallic Mixatives (Optional)

Alcohol Blending Solution

Felt Applicator Tool

Archival Inks

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
Sharpie Markers (Black and White)

Paper Towels

Vinyl/Latex Gloves
Cork
Tacky Glue
Spray Varnish

Lightly sand your tiles and wipe off the fine dust with a damp paper towel or baby wipe.  Make sure the tiles are completely dry before beginning to apply the inks.

Be sure to put on those vinyl/latex gloves if you don't want inky fingers!  Choose three or four colors and give a little squirt of each into the felt on the applicator tool keeping each of the colors separated on the felt.  Then add a little squirt of metallic mixative to the middle of the felt. (Optional)  If you use the metallic mixative, you must remember to shake it well before using. 

Dab and swirl the colors onto the tile remembering to cover the sides as well.  No need to worry too much about what it looks like at this point…just be sure to cover the tile with color.

Now comes the fun part!  Squirt some Blending Solution on the felt applicator tool.  You can even squirt some right on the tile if you want.  The more blending solution you use the lighter the colors will be.

Continue dabbing and swirling with the Blending Solution until you get the look you like.

Here are several color combinations, although using exactly the same colors will yield entirely different results.

Allow the tiles to dry.  You can stop at this point, but we are going to add some stamped images to the tiles, so grab your Archival inks and choose the stamp sets you want to use.  

Generally I like using SNSS silhouette images, but the for the tile on the left, the coneflower from the Flower Blocks 3 set was used.  The middle was masked and the Typewriter Text Background was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink, then the coneflower was stamped.  Tender Thoughts and the new For My Father set was used for the tile on the right.  A black Sharpie pen works great for any touch ups that are needed.

Nature Silhouettes 2, Faith, and Serene Silhouettes stamp sets were used to make the tile on the left.  For the tile on the right, the Typewriter Text Background was stamped using Deep Purple Archival ink.  The flourishes from the Leafy Flourish

Background and More stamp set were then stamped using the Jet Black Archival ink.  White accents were added using a white Sharpie Paint Pen.

To make your coasters water proof, give the tiles several coats of clear glaze or acrylic varnish.  Allow the tiles to dry between each coat…about 1/2 hour.  (I applied 4 coats of Clear Glaze to mine.) Be careful to use the spray in a well ventilated room or outside.

Trim cork to fit the back of the tile using a craft knife.  Apply Tacky Glue to the back of each tile making sure to cover all the way to the edges. Stick the piece of cork to the back and place a lightweight object on top of the tile until the glue dries.

The tiles are now finished and ready to be used or given as gifts!

Here are the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps used for the tiles above:

Thank you for joining me today...I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial!

Have a marvelous Monday!  

Hugs,

Cathymac