An Apple a Day

Hello friends!  Just popping in with a quick post…the card I have to share today is in honor of Johnny Appleseed Day which was earlier this week…as well as my own birthday.  Since today was my day to host the Ways to Use It Challenge on Splitcoaststampers, I made it a fruity challenge.  

Creative Nugget:  The apple basket from the Apples stamp set by Our Daily Bread Designs took center stage on this MOJO Monday sketch design.  Pierced Circles , Pierced Rectangles, and Circle Dies were used to cut each panel.  The card front was layered with Penny Black papers, and stitching was used to attach the bottom layer. The little tag was cut with a die from the Mini Tags & Labels Die Set.

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

MOJO Monday 467

Just Us Girls #362 - Photo Week

DRS Designs Challenge #246 - Autumn Wonders

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Sept. 26-Oct. 3 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Enjoy an apple today!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Take Another Look at the ODBD September 2016 Release

Hello friends!  Today we are taking another look at the Our Daily Bread Designs September 2016 Release.  Although it's still pretty warm here, fall is on the way and these fabulous creations by the Bread Stick Designers will help to usher in the season.

Here is my card using Seasons Change:

Creative Nugget:  The mitered frame was made with strips of paper from the Blooming Garden Collection layered onto a Neenah panel cut with the Flourished Star Pattern Die and the center cut with one of the Double Stitched Rectangles Dies.  There were four triangles of paper left over after cutting the strips which were used for the mat…I like how you can see part of them inside the corners of the frame.  The wheelbarrow from the Seasons Change stamp set was colored with Copic Markers and cut with the coordinating Wheelbarrow Die.  The "thanks" sentiment was stamped on a Log Cabin Quilt die cut and framed with a Filigree Frames die cut.  Blooming Garden Paper was cut with the Grass Hill Die and added under the wheelbarrow.  A little twine was added to finish the card. 

Here are the stamps and dies from ODBD used 
to make this card: 

To see all of the wonderful fall creations stop by the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  Then click on the links below to see all the details for each project.

Julie * Sandee * Cathy (ME)* Dawn * Lori 

Robin * Melissa * Sabrina * Lisa

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #248 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #211 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Many Colors of Fall

Hello friends!  I have just a quick post to share with you today...a tribute to the beautiful colors of fall.  Sadly, the colors of fall are quickly fading.  Almost all the leaves on our big sugar maple tree have fallen.  Soon the reds, oranges, yellows, and green will turn to brown and maybe white as snow begins to fall.  I love the colors of fall, so made two cards featuring these brilliant colors!

Creative Nugget:  This card was inspired by Cathy Tidwell's Many Colors card.  I was intrigued by the pretty pattern achieved with the pieces of the die she used, so used the same technique on my card using the Quatrefoil Pattern Die by Our Daily Bread Designs. Dylusions sprays were used on the background, and the Leaves Background was stamped over the pretty colors.  The Quatrefoil Die was cut in three different colors and pieced back together to create the pretty pattern.  A few leaves from the Thankful Song stamp set were cut out of the same background to decorate the front of the card along with a sentiment tag, seam binding, and some jute.

My second card used the same stamp sets as above.

Creative Nugget:  The chipboard frame was painted with gesso and a comb was used to create a curvy pattern.  When dry, Gelatos were rubbed on and pearls placed around the opening. The Leaves Background was white embossed on a piece of mixed media paper.  The Gelatos were rubbed on again and lightly wiped with a baby wipe to blend the colors.  The sentiment from the Thankful Song stamp set was embossed on a SB Decorative Labels Eight Die and Fancy Foliage Dies were used to frame the sentiment.  A seam binding bow was added before attaching the card front to a Kraft card base.

Here are the materials used on these two cards that are available at the 

Our Daily Bread Designs Store:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the last remaining days of fall splendor!  Stop back again tomorrow to see the new November Release from Our Daily Bread Designs!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Fall Time Cocoa

Happy Saturday sweet friends!   It's time for a new sketch with a spin at The Sweet Stop.  The beautiful colors of fall abound as it is the peak of the season for the changing leaves, so the spin is to create a fall time card or project.  Of course with the spin comes a PRIZE...a $15 gift certificate to the Sweet 'n Sassy Store!  Hope you can play along and help fill the gallery with pretty fall colors and themes!

It has been a while since I have colored a Cocoa image, so I had to bring out Fall Time Cocoa for my card sample for this week.

Creative Nugget:  The background panels were created by stitching Authentique   patterned papers to Early Espresso card stock with a Scalloped Border Die separating the two patterns. These were mounted to a Vintage Cream card base.  The doily was perfect for the large circle on the sketch and was tinted with some distress inks.  The DP circle layer was cut with a Classic Circle Nestie, and the Cocoa image, colored with Copic Markers, was cut with an Oval Nestie.  A button tied with jute was added along with the sentiment.  There was a Mini Mister filled with distress ink laying on my desk, so I thought I would give my card a few splatters.  I groaned as the spray came out MUCH heavier than I intended, but I was not about to start over...so there you have it!  A few pearls were added just because!

The Sugar Babies have some fabulous inspiration for you this week.  Check them out and be sure to leave a little love behind.

Sugar Babies

Ann Tuck
Ceal Pritchett
Cynthia Olheiser
Debbie Owens
Jamie Moore
Marlena Peduzzi
Melissa Schultz
Monika Davis
Robin Parker
                                              Stephanie Serrano

Please join us at The Sweet Stop this week for a chance to win the prize. Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful weekend!

Other Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes) 

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Fall Time Cocoa (SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Wild Honey, Walnut Stain, Broken China Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Early Espresso (SU!), Authentique DP
Accessories: Classic Circle and Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Scallop Border Die (SNSS), Sew Mini (Janome), Doily, Jute, Button, Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers E41, E42, E43, E44, E17, E18, E19, YR 21, YR24, YR27, R00, R20

ODBD October Release

Hello friends!  Crisp, cool days, crunching leaves, and thoughts of Thanksgiving and Christmas are on my mind these days.  If you are thinking about these things as well, you might want to express those thoughts on a special card. If so, the new stamp sets being released this month by Our Daily Bread Designs will help you do just that.

You can see all of the fabulous samples created by the talented Breadsticks with this month's new stamp sets and dies on the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  One winner will be randomly chosen from one of the designers blog comments to receive a $50 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Store to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps.  You have until October 2, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. EST to make your comments!  The Winner will be posted on the ODBD Blog on October 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

I have two samples to share with you today.  The new Leaves Background and Thankful Song stamp sets were used for the first card.

Creative Nugget:  A piece of More Mustard card stock was embossed with a wood grain folder and several brown tones of distress inks were swiped over the raised edges to highlight the wood grain. This panel was mounted to Early Espresso card stock and attached to a Vintage Cream card base.  I tried a new technique with the leafy panel.  Small pieces of green, yellow, orange, red, and gold tissue paper were crumpled up, opened, and glued to a scrap piece of card stock.  Glue was painted over the whole panel and left to dry.  Several fall colors of Dylusions sprays were added next and dried with a heat tool.  The Leaves Background was then stamped using Jet Black Archival Ink. This panel was cut with a SB Labels Twenty-Three Die and attached to the card.  The squirrel image from the new Thankful Song stamp set was colored with Copic Markers and cut with a SB Opulent Oval Die.  Several leaves from the Leaves Background stamp were cut out, colored, and attached along with the sentiment to a piece of mesh with some silk ribbon.  Some colored pearls were added to finish the card.

The second card measures 4" x 8" and was made with the new Candy Cane Stamp Set. 

Creative Nugget:  I love the verse in the new Candy Cane stamp set and decided to make it into a bookmark using the ODBD Custom Bookmark Die.  The size of the card was adjusted to accommodate the size of the bookmark.  Fine Linen card stock was used to create the card base.  The Teresa Collins designer papers did not quite match the card stock, so all the layers of DP as well as the stamped panels were sponged with Brushed Corduroy distress ink before stitching them to the True Black mats.  (***Hint: Distress inks can be used this way to change the background color of your designer papers making them more versatile!)  Candy canes were randomly stamped over a Solar White panel and colored with Copics to match the DP.  This panel was cut with a SB Marvelous Square Die, matted with True Black and attached only on three sides to form a pocket for the bookmark.  One of the candy canes was fussy cut and popped onto the top part of the card.  Some seam binding and hemp twine were added to finish the card.

The second photo shows the bookmark out of the pocket.

These supplies from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store 

were used to create both samples:

My super talented DT Sisters have created some amazing samples using the new October release stamp sets.  Be sure to check them out and leave a comment to be eligible for the wonderful prize.  I've included their links below to make your viewing a little easier!

Lori * Chris * Julie * Grace * Sabrina * Sandee * Dawn  

Angie * Audrey * Tosh * Silke *  Lisa

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Down on the Farm in Autumn

Hello sketch lovin' fans!  Sorry I missed you last week.  My dear hubby and I had an invitation to use a beach condo for the weekend and could not pass up the opportunity.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday a little early!  Now that Saturday has rolled around again, we have a fun new sketch for you at The Sweet Stop.  Since I love this time of year, I grabbed one of my favorite SNSS sets and turned it into a fall scene for my sample.

Creative Nugget:  I found these wonderful fall papers in my stash...not sure where they are from, and stitched my layers to Vintage Cream and Early Espresso card stocks.  The card front was mounted on an Early Espresso Card base measuring 
5 1/4" x 5 1/4".  Memento inks were used to sponge the sky and the ground.  The trees from the Landscape Silhouettes stamp set were stamped using Toffee Crunch Memento Luxe ink after masking the deer,  and the farm scene from the same stamp set was stamped using Sepia Versafine ink. The result  was that the farm looks like it is tucked behind the trees.  An old retired SU! stamp set called Itty Bitty Backgrounds was used to create the leaves on the trees.  The sentiment from the Autumn Leaves stamp set by SNSS was cut with an oval punch.  It was added along with some fishtail flags, twine, a button, and a few  Small Leaf Dies to finish the card.

For more wonderful inspiration for this sketch, check in with the other Sugar Babies, and join us this week at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Ann Tuck
Ceal Pritchett
Cynthia Olheiser
Debbie Owens
Jamie Moore
Marlena Peduzzi
Melissa Schultz
                                               Monika Davis
                                               Robin Parker
                                               Stephanie Serrano

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Landscape Silhouettes, Autumn Leaves (SNSS), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (SU!)
Ink: Summer Sky, Danube Blue, Dandelion, New Sprout, Bamboo Leaves, Peanut Brittle, Toffee Crunch Luxe (Memento), Sepia Versafine (Tsukineko), Gathered Twigs Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI), Early Espresso (SU!), DP (Unknown)
Accessories: Sew Mini (Janome), Small Leaf Dies (SNSS), Oval Punch (SU!), Button (PTI), Twine

Seasonal Wreaths

Happy Saturday, sweet friends!  We have been enjoying some extremely pleasant weather this week...ahhhhh...I could take this all year long...love, love, love the fall!!  

Saturday means a new sketch at The Sweet Stop, but it's also the first day of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release Feature Blog Hops for the month of September.  We have six days of hops and wonderful inspiration planned just for you.  The new stamp sets are already in the SNSS Store so if you see something you like, it's available now!

Today's feature is:

Seasonal Wreaths and coordinating Wreath Dies

This wonderful set and the matching dies are perfect for sending seasonal greetings all year long!

• Stamp set includes 5 images and 19 mix and match sentiments
• Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
• The wreath images measure approximately 2 1/4" wide
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set - $26
• Die set - $33.25
• Bundle (a $59.25 value) - $53

The Sweet Stop sketch was used for my first sample.

Creative Nugget: The layers of the sketch were made by stitching lilybeedesign patterned papers to Cherry Cobbler card stock and mounting them to a Vintage Cream card base.  The fall wreath was stamped, cut with a Classic Circle Nestie, and colored with Copic Markers.  The bow was paper pieced, piercing was added, and the wreath image mounted to a Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Circle. Small Leaf Dies were colored and attached with a button to the sentiment banner.  Pearls were added to finish the card.  

Check out the other Sugar Babies for more fabulous sketch inspiration and play along with us this week at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Ann Tuck

Ceal Pritchett

Cynthia Olheiser

Debbie Owens

Jamie Moore

Marlena Peduzzi

Melissa Schultz

Monika Davis

Robin Parker

                                     Stephanie Serrano

I had fun creating a circle easel card for my second sample.

Creative Nugget:  THIS tutorial on Splitcoaststampers was followed to make the easel base using Scalloped Circle Nesties. The circle panels were pieced with Solar Crest and Bo Bunny papers.  The wreath used could be perfect for any time of year depending on how it is colored.  Piercing, a paper pieced bow, seam binding, and pearls were used to give this Christmas card a festive look.

Check out more fabulous samples made by the SNSS talented DT in the thumbnails below.  

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (6) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 6 blog hops).  The deadline to comment for a chance to win is  Friday, September 13th at midnight EST.  The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, September 16th.

Thanks so much for joining us...enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Fall Frenzy Blog Hop

Hello stamping friends!!  We are so excited about Fall arriving

soon that we've decided to celebrate the season with a 

Fall Frenzy Blog Hop & Virtual Stamp Day!

The Design Divas have created some fabulous eye candy for you featuring our wonderful selection of Fall stamps so we hope you'll hop along with us today!

Be sure not to miss a single stop along the way because we'll be drawing one lucky commenter from a random DT blog to win a $25 credit to the store!!

Here's the list of blogs participating in today's hop: 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog

Monika Davis

Jessica Fick

Cathy McCauley <--- You are Here!

Mary Faus

Kim Singdahlsen

Bridget Finlay

Dina Kowal

Jennifer Ingle

Kim Schofield

Ceal Pritchett

Giovana Smith

Jennie Harper

Korin Sutherland

Here's what I've created for you today!

Creative Nugget:  For my first project, I decided to cover a note pad I found in the dollar bin at Michael's.  Since the note pad had fall leaves printed on the pages, I reached for the Fall Time Cocoa Clear Stamp Set to make the cover.  The pattern for the cover can be found HERE on Nichole Heady's blog.  The measurements were changed to fit the note pad.  The base of the cover was made with Kraft card stock.  Layers of Dark Chocolate card stock and patterned papers were stitched to the base.  Cocoa was stamped on Neenah Solar White and colored with Copic Markers.  The leaf was paper pieced using matching papers from the Forever Fall Collection by Bo Bunny.  A belly band was made to keep the cover closed.  The sentiment was stamped on the belly band and jute, beads, and leaves cut from the Season of Change Leaf Die Set were added.  Here is the inside of the cover.

For my second project I used the fun clear stamp set, Gobble, Gobble. This set is perfect for Thanksgiving cards.  I just love the little Pilgrim turkey and fun sentiments that come with the set!

Creative Nugget:  The directions for this fun Swing Card, sometimes called a Flip Flop Card, can be found in the tutorials at Splitcoaststampers.  I added some paper by Lilybee Designs to decorate the panels along with some leaves from the Leaf Silhouettes Clear Stamp Set.  Some dew drops were added to each of the leaves.

On one side of the flip flop panel, clouds were sponged on a piece of Neenah Solar White card stock. Hills made from Lilybee Designs paper were stitched to the panel which was then embossed with the Canvas Impression Plate.  The turkey was colored with Copic Markers, fussy cut, and popped up on the hills. The Fence Die from the Fence and Grass Die Set was added to the front of the panel.

Clouds were also sponged on another piece of Neenah Solar White card stock for the other side of the flip flop panel.  The sentiment was stamped, die cut, and mounted to the swing panel.  Some Baker's Twine was added for balance.

Are you getting excited for Fall yet?  I hope you've been inspired by my projects, but there's a lot more goodness to come.  Your next stop for more Fall Frenzy is Mary!

When you're done hopping be sure to join us for a fun day of challenges over in our Splitcoaststampers forum.  We're giving away some fun prizes, too, so don't miss it! We look forward to seeing your fabulous Fall creations!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a fabulous Friday!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Fall on Your Knees

Happy Saturday sketch loving friends!  It's time once again for another fabulous sketch at The Sweet Stop!  This week's design has lots of layers, so it was right up my alley.  For my sample I combined a variety of stamp sets by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, a fall theme, and scripture...thus the title of my post...Fall on Your Knees! Aren't you thankful that in good times and in troubling times we can fall on our knees and our heavenly Father will hear our prayers and supply our needs?

Creative Nugget:  The Vintage Cream card base was embossed with the Canvas Impression Plate and distressed with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.  The DP panel was distressed and stitched to some Dark Chocolate card stock.  It seems that every card I make lately has stitching on it...I just love the look and can't make myself put my little sewing machine away!   Hope you don't mind!  More paper from the Weekend Market Collection Paper Pad by Bo Bunny was cut using the Splendid Circle Die.  The fishtail banner panel was made using a Tim Holtz technique called Perfect Distress, which can be found HERE, various distress inks, a leaf image from the Season of Change stamp set and the Friendship Script background stamp.  Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls gives this panel and the sentiment panel a very pretty shimmer which does not show up at all in the photo.  The sentiment panel was stamped with the woodgrain border from the Grunge Borders clear stamp set, the scripture from the Words of Jesus set, and one of the Decorative Frame Toppers. The leaf in the corner is cut from cork using one of the matching Season of Change Leaf Dies and stamped with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink...and yes, the die cut through the cork with no problems!  A little bit of jute and some pearls finish the card.

And here is the Christmas version using the pre-released Christmas set, Holiday Baubles, and the Light of Christmas background stamp.

Now it's your turn...but before you rush off to your crafty place, check out the beautiful samples by the other talented Sugar Babies and leave a little love on their blogs!  Can't wait to see what you create for SSS175 over at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Janice Melton

Shannon White

                Chrissy Dickinson




Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Season of Change, Friendship Script, Words of Jesus, Grunge Borders, Decorative Frame Toppers (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Aged Mahogany Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate (PTI), Weekend Market Collection Paper Pad (Bo Bunny)
Accessories: Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), Rectangle Nestie, Splendid Circle Die (Spellbinders), Season of Change Leaf Die Set (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Sew Mini (Janome), Kaiser Pearls, Cork