Meet Kiwi Koala

Hello everyone and a happy Saturday to you!  I hope you all had a wonderful week in spite of the heat and the rain!  Thursday was busy as Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps began their Christmas in July Hop! You still have one more day to join the fun and enter the hop for a chance to win a free Christmas stamp set of your choice.  Just scroll down to my last post to see all the details.


This week's sketch with a spin at The Sweet Stop means there's another chance for a Prize...$15 to spend at the Sweet 'n Sassy Store!  The spin this week is to use numbers. My sample features a brand new character at the Sweet 'n Sassy Store...meet Kiwi Koala, a new digital stamp called Kiwi Koala's Watermelon!  I think we may see more of Kiwi in the future!

Creative Nugget:  I have to tell you that this card did not come together easily...do you ever have times when that happens?  My little Sew Mini did not like sewing through all the layers so an extra row of messy stitching was added to hide the imperfection...now you know my little secret!  Kiwi was colored with copic markers as usual, but then to give him some nubby texture, several drops of Colorless Blender solution were dripped onto an old washcloth and dabbed on Kiwi.  The image was then cut out with a square nestie.  The number panel was made by dripping drops of alcohol ink and copic refills onto a piece of glossy card stock.  When the paper was filled with color, Ranger Blending Solution was dripped on, causing the colors to move and blend together. Some Pumice Stone Distress Ink was then rubbed onto a number texture plate. That and the glossy paper were run through the Big Shot.  The result was a panel with numbers that kind of matched my DP.  The rest of the card was layered and pieced together on a Vintage Cream card front.  Phew...just thinking about this card makes me tired, but I think it did turn out kind of cute!  Hope you have an easier time with your card.  Here is this week's sketch:

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Janice Melton

Shannon White

          Chrissy Dickinson






I don't have a Christmas version this week because of the Christmas Blog Hop, but I do have a beach card to share with you.  On Sunday we are loading up the car and heading to the beach, so for the Ways to Use It Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, I challenged everyone to make a card or project using something from the beach.  This was my sample:

This little Saturated Canary Beach Baby was a lot of fun to color. Isn't she adorable?


Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope to see your SSS168 cards with a spin in the gallery at The Sweet Stop!  Have a wonderful weekend!


Hugs,
Cathymac


Card Recipe 
Stamps:  Kiwi Koala's Watermelon Digital Stamp (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Tiny Tags (PTI)
Ink: Computer Ink, Tuxedo Black (Memento), Peeled Paint and Salty Ocean Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Glossy Card Stock (SU!), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Homemade 6 Bean Soup DP (Jillibean Soup)
Accessories: Square Nestie, Ric-Rac Edgeability Die (Spellbinders), Number Texture Plate (PTI), Sew Mini (Janome), Copic Markers R20, 81, 83, 85, 89; YG17, 21, 25; Y17; T0, 1, 3, 5, 7  

Paradise Vacation

Hello Sweet Stampin' Friends!  Happy "Hump Day!"

Today is my day to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog so I thought I would share my sample cards with you as well.

Every once in a while, it's nice to break away from the busyness of life and enjoy a little piece of paradise!  Last week my hubby and I, along with Kody, our golden retriever, took off and headed for our definition of paradise...the beach!  I love to wake up early and look out the window to the beach below and listen to the rhythmic sound of waves breaking on the shore.  That's the scene I tried to create in my card sample for today.

Creative Nugget:  The beach scene from the "Ocean Paradise" clear stamp set was stamped on a piece of Neenah Solar White card stock and colored with Copic Markers.  A little bit of white gel pen and Stickles highlight the waves.  The window die was cut from Barely Banana card stock and mounted on top of the beach scene. Some Baker's twine was used for the tie backs, and a little cheesecloth and shells adorn the window sill.  The wall paper and chair rail were made from some My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" patterned paper and Smokey Shadow card stock. Everything was mounted on a Smokey Shadow card base.

The inspiration for the colors for this card came from the CR84FN56 challenge which was to use yellow,  gray, and a neutral.

Look who else has found time to relax at the beach...

It's RHUBARB from the new "Summertime Rhubarb" clear stamp set! This set just happens to be the prize up for grabs at The Sweet Stop this week.  Check out the fabulous sketch and play along for a chance to win!

Not everyone can slip away to the beach, so I thought I would bring the beach to you!  I hope you can find time to enjoy a little piece of Paradise wherever you happen to be today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Ocean Paradise (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Wild Honey and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper: Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Barely Banana (SU!), Smokey Shadow (PTI), Lost and Found (My Mind's Eye)

Accessories:  Window Die (ODBD), Diamond Stickles (Ranger), Lemon Drop Baker's Twine, Cheesecloth, Shells, Signo Gel Pen, Copic Markers BG10, 57, 70, 72, 75, 78, 90, 93, 96; B52; Y21, 26; YR30; W00, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

First Love

Happy Saturday to you!  Are you ready for another wonderful Sweet Stop sketch?

I just love all the new Rhubarb images available at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps...don't you?  There are over 25 adorable images of Rhubarb the Bear perfect for any occasion throughout the year.  BUT...today I am returning to my first love.  The very first Sweet 'n Sassy stamp I purchased was Cocoa.  Cocoa the Mouse got my attention and helped me fall in love with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Since I needed some beach thank you cards, I grabbed this Cookie and Cocoa sandcastle digi and started playing.  I have two cards for you today so scroll down to see the second one as well!

Inspirational Nugget: Don't you just love spending time with the Lord...reading His word and praying?  During the school year, I would feel so guilty because time would get away from me, and I would not spend that quality time with the Lord I love.  When you don't spend time with your loved ones, the lines of communication break down...you feel frustrated, easily upset, lose perspective.  The same things happen when we don't spend time with the Lord.  He loves to hear from us!  He loves when we spend time with Him!  "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ... 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to test those who call themselves apostles, and are not, and you found them to be false;  and you have endured for My name's sake, and you have not grown weary.  But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."  (Revelation 2:1, 3-4)  Don't forget to spend time with the Lord today.  He's never too busy to spend time with us and He's got the whole world in His hands!  Fall in love with Him all over again!

Creative Nugget: For this card I chose background papers that reminded me of beach colors.  The main image with Cocoa and Cookie was colored with copic markers.  The seashells on the sandcastle were given a coat of Glossy Accents.  A new technique for me was used on the panel behind Cocoa.  It's called "Double Your Pleasure" and JanTink over at Splitcoast challenged fan club members with this technique.  You need one embossing folder and one background stamp.  Run your card stock through the Big Shot.  Lay your embossed panel upside down on top of the inked up background stamp and gently rub your finger on the debossed lines.  The result is that only the embossed areas will end up with the background image.  If you click on the card above, it will be enlarged and you can see the results better.  Pretty cool...I'll be trying this again!  Twine and a few shell embellishments were added to finish the card.  Stop on over to The Sweet Stop and see what the other Sugar Babies have done with the sketch...then join us and play along!

The Sugar Babies

Korin Southerland

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Jennipher Lowery

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Card Recipe

Stamps: Cookie and Cocoa Sandcastle Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Canvas (SU!), Everyday Classics (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Antique Linen  (Ranger)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Craft (PTI), Baja Breeze (SU!), Parisian Breeze (Retired SU!)
Accessories:   CB Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Sakura Jelly Roll Pen, Button Twine (PTI), Bow Easy, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Sharpie Poster Paint Pen, Decorative Seashells, Copic Markers E40, E42, E43, E44, R00, R20, R22, R24, R29, BG0000W00, W1, W3, W5, W7

Creative Nugget 2: As long as I was coloring this image, I decided to make another card using a layout by AmberDawn  over at Splitcoast.  

For this card I used design papers from the Springtime paper pad by Echo Park...the background paper reminded me of waves, and the circular panel was embossed with the CB swirls folder which also looks like waves.  The images are colored with my favorite...Copic Markers.  Glossy Accents was added to the shells from the Flourish Seashells set for a bit of shine.  A Sakura jelly roll pen was used to add a bit of sparkle to the sand.

Here's a close-up of the sandcastle so you can see the sparkle better.
I'll leave you with images of the beach so you can dream of being there!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Come back again for more inkspiration!  Have a wonderful day weekend!

Card Recipe
Stamps: Flourish Seashells, Cookie and Cocoa Sandcastle (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Craft (PTI), Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze (SU!), Springtime (Echo Park)
Accessories:  Paper Piercer, CB Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Sakura Jelly Roll Pen, Button Twine (PTI), Bow Easy, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Sharpie Poster Paint Pen, Copic Markers E40, E42, E43, E44, R00, R20, R22, R24, R29, BG0000W00, W1, W3, W5, W7

Lighthouse Greetings

Summer days just seem to fly by...here it is Saturday again, and I hope you are staying cool!  With temperatures at or near 100, these are perfect days to stay in the air conditioning and stamp away.  That's just what I've been doing so I have two cards to share with you today.

My first card is my design team sample for the SNSS blog.  Check out what the other Sugar Babies have done with the sketch and come play along with us this week!

 The Sugar Babies

Korin Southerland

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Jennipher Lowery

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Creative Nugget: Since I'm thinking cool thoughts, I decided to use this lighthouse digi from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and flipped the sketch to accommodate the image.  The white panel was embossed with swirls and Diamond Stickles were added to the swirls to represent waves.  Since the embossing folder was not big enough for the whole panel, I scored two lines with the Scor-Pal, separating the embossing from the greeting.  After the greeting was stamped, two colored gem stones were added along with some piercing.  The EK Success border punch also gives the impression of waves.  I've learned to appreciate how white space on a card gives a clean and crisp appearance and draws attention to the main image, in this case, the lighthouse.  The lighthouse was colored with copic markers and a small gem stone added to the beacon.  The button twine was also colored with a copic marker to match the color of the DP.  The sand dollar, from another SNSS set called Flourish Seashells, was colored, cut out, and popped up with a dimensional.

Card Recipe

Stamps: Flourish Seashells, Lighthouse Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Enchanted Evening (PTI)

Paper: Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Enchanted Evening (PTI), Little Boy DP (Echo Park)

Accessories: Curved Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Scor-Pal, Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Border Punch (EK Success), Piercing Tool, Button Twine (PTI), Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Rhinestone Stickers (Michaels), Copic Markers R24, R29, R59, R89, BG0000, BG000, BG13, YR30, YR31, YG61, YG63, YG67, E70, E71, E74, W1, W3, W5

The Encouragement Ministry at our church decided to do a card shower for our pastor this week to show our appreciation and support for his commitment and faithfulness to our church body.

Inspirational Nugget: A good pastor is a true gift from the Lord.  "And Christ gave gifts to people ~ he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God's people.  Christ gave those gifts to prepare God's holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger."  (Ephesians 4:11-12)   I am so thankful for a pastor who gives us the truth each Sunday and not a watered down version of the word, a true shepherd who cares for and prays for our congregation.  If you appreciate your pastor, why not send a little encouragement his way!

Creative Nugget:  I used the same lighthouse Digi on this side step card to send to my pastor this week.  The directions for making a side step card can be found in this resource thread at Splitcoaststampers.  Pool Party, Chocolate Chip, and Wild Wasabi were the colors chosen by Mary for  CC332, and seemed perfect for a nautical themed card.  I didn't have Pool Party so I substituted Cool Caribbean for the embossed waves which were then lightly brushed with the Wild Wasabi stamp pad and covered with Diamond Stickles.  The lighthouse, colored with copic markers, fit perfectly on the side step.  The other steps were decorated with waves, seashells and a verse from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  
I hope you've been inspired by one of these projects today...let me know what you think, and thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Flourish Seashells, Wait on the Lord, Lighthouse Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Wild Wasabi (SU!), Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, and Broken China Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper: Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Cool Caribbean, Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Accessories: Curved Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Embossing Folder (Provo Craft), Rope Twine (SU!), Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Copic Markers R24, R29, R59, R89, BG0000, BG000, BG13, YR30, YR31, YG61, YG63, YG67, E70, E71, E74, W1, W3, W5

Sending Hugs and Prayers

Sending hugs and prayers from the beach at Ocean City Maryland.  Our vacation here is coming to an end...we head back to PA tomorrow.  What a relaxing and enjoyable time we had here.  We  had a chance to meet with some very good friends who were here at the same time!  Of course Casey was with us and had a wonderful time as well...there was a park that had a beach just for dogs.  He was in doggie heaven!  I'm ready to get home only because I know that in two weeks we'll be back down! 

Korin has another wonderful sketch for us this week at The Sweet Stop.  I can see myself using this one again and again.

Creative Nugget: Here's my card based on this week's sketch.  This adorable image is a Mo Manning digital...isn't she just the cutest?  She's colored with my favorite medium, Copic Markers.  Diamond Stickles were added to the centers of the flowers, the bees' wings, and her flip-flops for some sparkle.  The pretty DP is from Cosmo Cricket.  I find myself using black...a lot...to frame brightly colored images and DP.  It really makes the colors pop!  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs and the cute little bow was made on my Bow Easy.  Check out what the other Sugar Babies have done with the sketch and head on over to The Sweet Stop and play along.

The Sugar Babies

Korin Southerland

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Jennipher Lowery

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Thanks for stopping by...I'll be back next Saturday with another sketch from The Sweet Stop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: End of Summer (Mo Manning Digital Pencil), Mini Tags 3 (ODBD)

Ink: Computer, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Paper: Raspberry Fizz, True Black, Select White (PTI), DeLovely DP (Cosmo Cricket)

Accessories: Rectangle Nesties (Spellbinders), Scallop Trim Border Punch (SU!), 1/4" silk Ribbon (PTI), Bow Easy,  Diamond Stickles, Sharpie Poster Paint Marker, Copic Markers: E00, E11, R00, R20, RV13, RV14, RV17, RV19, BG000, BG07, BG53, YG01, YG03, YG13, YG17, Y15, Y17,

A Friendly CASE

"Friend!  How sacred the word.  Born in the heart of God, and given to man as a treasure from the eternities~no word in the languages so heavily freighted with meaning."  ~Cyrus B. Nubbaum~  I count it a blessing to to have quite a few true friends.

Inspirational Nugget: There is truth to the saying that to have a friend, you must be a friend.  It seems today that  many are so easily offended.  Years of friendship are destroyed by a single slip.  We forget that we are not as perfect as we expect others to be.  To have a friend means to overlook, forbear, forgive, esteem highly, deny ourselves, and serve...to love. As we do this, we will gain a true friend, one who will stick with us through the good times and the trials of this life.  "The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)  True friends are treasures that enrich our lives and bring comfort and relief.  Jesus is a friend to all believers and He sticks closer than a brother.  "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)  That is what Jesus did for you and for me!  Now that's a true friend!

Creative Nugget: The Free 4 All challenge at SCS today was to CASE a friend, and the Sweet 'n Sassy Digital Challenge was "All About Summer."  LeAnne Pugliese was the first friend at SCS that I got to meet in person.  Through her friendship, I have met many wonderful stampers, kindred spirits, from PA.  LeAnne's gallery is full of fabulous inspiration, but I chose her Mother's Day card to CASE. I changed the theme of the card and the colors, but kept the same design elements on my "Thanks From Paradise" card.  The image is colored with Copic Markers.  The whitecaps on the waves were highlighted with a white gel pen and given a layer of Diamond Stickles.  The umbrella was paper pieced and the shells were given a heavy coat of Glossy Accents.  The DP panels were pierced and the white panel was given some texture with the canvas impression plate...my absolute favorite way to add texture!  Wouldn't it be wonderful to meet here, my friends, for a relaxing day of fun in the sun!  Thanks for your friendship, LeAnne, and thank you for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Paradise Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Vintage Picnic (PTI), Shells (SU!)
Ink: Night of Navy (SU!), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Pure Luxury White (Gina K), Night of Navy (SU!), Echo Park DP
Accessories: Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), Tool Kit (SU!), Silk Ribbon (PTI), Signo White Gel Pen, Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17, YR16, YR18BG000, BG02, BG07, E31, E33, E35, E50, YG13, YG17, B37, B39, W00. W1, W3, 0