Colorful Cocoa

Hello sweet friends…Welcome to Day 4 and the last of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps December Feature Blog Hops! Everyone's favorite mouse, Cocoa, is back making a colorful splash at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

Today's feature is:

Colorful Cocoa

• Stamp set includes 2 images and 5 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 4" x 4"
• The paint can image measures approximately 2.5" x 2"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $11

Here is my sample for Colorful Cocoa:

Creative Nugget:  Three colorful panels were stitched to True Black card stock and mounted on a Solar Crest card base. Brushstrokes of color from the Grunge Elements stamp set were made with a rainbow of distress inks for the panel on the left. Scraps of DP were used for the other two panels.  It's difficult to see, but the Typewriter Text Background was stamped on the right panel.  Cocoa was colored with Copic Markers and cut with a Spellbinders Rectangle Nestie.  A couple of banners, a button, and pearls finish the card.  The design of the card is from this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

Click on the thumbnails below to see more amazing samples created by the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team!

Be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the way because we're giving away (4) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 4 blog hops).

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is Friday, December 13th at midnight EST.  The winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, December 16th.

I hope you've been inspired by this month's feature blog hops.  You can find all of these fabulous new stamp sets at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

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

Hugs,

Cathymac

Decorative Frames

Welcome to Day 3 of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Feature Blog Hops for the month of August!  Today we're featuring a wonderful new set that coordinates with one of our existing die sets, Decorative Plaques...a perfect match!

Today's feature is:

Decorative Frames

• Stamp set includes 8 images and 12 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
• The top left image measures approximately 2 3/8" x 2 5/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $26
• Coordinates with Decorative Plaques Dies

Here is my first sample made with the Decorative Frames stamp set:

Creative Nugget:  The inspiration for this card came from the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers yesterday.  I chose to CASE Joyce's His & Hers card, but used one of the Decorative Frames with the ewe from Prim Blessings as the main focal point. The ewe was stamped once on the frame and once on a piece of scrap Solar Crest paper.  Copics were used to color both images. The head of the second image was cut out and popped up on the frame image.  Some fun flock was added to the wool on the top of the head.  The Fancy Pants DP panels were stitched to a True Black mat and mounted to a Solar Crest card base.  Part of the sentiment from the Decorative Frames stamp set was stamped in Real Red under the ewe, and part was stamped directly on the DP in Versafine Onyx Black.  A Doily Border Die, pearls, a heart button, and some stick were added to finish the card.

What I love about the Decorative Frames is that you can use them to make whimsical cards or more elegant ones!  Here is my second sample:

Creative Nugget:  The background was made by using a brayer to apply So Saffron Ink to the inside front of the embossing folder before putting it through the Big Shot.  This gave a subtle color to the debossed areas.  A Decorative Plaque was cut with the die and stamped with the matching Decorative Frame in Smokey Shadow ink.  To get the words straight, they were all placed on the block at the same time.  The topper was stamped with Soft Sky ink and pearls were added.  The Authentique papers were stitched to Smokey Shadow card stock and mounted to a Solar Crest card base.  Embellishments were added to finish the card.  I like how this one turned out and hope you do, too!

To see more fabulous samples created by the talented Design Team, click on the thumbnails below!

Be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the way because we're giving this stamp set away to one lucky winner!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is Friday, August 16th at midnight EST.  The winners will be announced on our website homepage on Monday August 19th.

Thanks so much for stopping by...enjoy the rest of the hop!

Hugs, 

Cathymac

Thank You Card Recipe
Stamps: Decorative Frames, Prim Blessings (SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black )Memento), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Real Red (SU!), Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), True Black (PTI), Love Note Paper Pad (Fancypants)
Accessories: Decorative Plaque Dies, Doily Border Die (SNSS), Sew Mini,(Janome), Stick Pins (Maya Road), Button, Twine, Pearls, Copic Markers

Thinking of You Card Recipe
Stamps: Decorative Frames (SNSS)
Ink: Smokey Shadow (PTI), Soft Sky, So Saffron (SU!), Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), Smokey Shadow (PTI), Renew Paper Pad (Authentique)
Accessories: Decorative Plaques Dies (SNSS), Sew Mini (Janome), Dyed Seam Binding, Mulberry Flowers, Kaiser Pearls, Pearl Flourish

Flower Blocks 2

Hello again sweet friends!  Have you been enjoying 
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps new release features so far?  If you like floral images, you are sure to love today's hop.  The first Flower Block stamp set was a huge success.  The images in that set are perfect for coloring, sponging, paper piecing, and even 3-D paper piecing.  Now we have even more of your favorite flowers to play with!

Today's feature is:

Flower Blocks 2

This is the second set in our Flower Blocks series.  These bold and beautiful blooms...a Wild Rose, a Petunia, a Lotus Flower, and a Daisy...make perfect focal images and can be easily paper pieced or colored.

• Stamp set includes 4 images and 4 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
• The images measure approximately 2 5/8" x 2 5/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $26

Since daisies are my favorite flower, that's the one I chose for my sample.

Creative Nugget:  The background for this card was made on paper from a mixed media pad.  Bubblegum Pink and Pure Sunshine Dylusions were sprayed on the paper, dried, and sprayed again to build up the color.  The extra color left on the craft mat was sprayed with water and dabbed onto a tag which was used for the focal image.  The paper was randomly stamped with the Daisy Flower Block using Jet Black Archival Ink.  This was cut to size and stitched to True Black card stock and mounted to a Golden Harvest card base.  A strip of Bo Bunny DP was stitched to True Black card stock that had been punched with an e.k. Success border.  The daisy image was stamped on the tag and the center watercolored with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  This was cut with a Square Nestie and mounted to a Spellbinders Marvelous Square Die.  Some Lemon Drop Baker's Twine and pearls finish the card.

This second card was made with some of the left over scraps.

Creative Nugget:  Even though this card was made with the same scraps as above, it has an entirely different look.  On this card you can see some of the leafy ghosting which was done by spraying water through a mask.  The water removed some of the Dylusions ink creating a ghost image.

To see more fabulous samples created by the talented Design Team, click on the thumbnails below!

Be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the way because we're giving away this fabulous stamp set to one lucky commenter!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is Friday, June 21, 3013 at midnight EST.  The winners will be announced on our website homepage on Monday, June 24, 2013.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

ODBDSLC149 Other Than a Square or Rectangle

Hello everyone!  It's been two weeks since the last one, so welcome back to a new Shining the Light Challenge at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog!

This week's challenge is:

Other Than a Classic Square or Rectangle

Your card or project can have fancy edges or have a different shape.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a PRIZE, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bead Designs Store!  Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, April 14 at 8 p.m. EST.  One random winner will be announced next Saturday. 

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them.  As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing three or more of our participants for the Shining the Light Award.  In order to qualify for this award; however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, April 14 at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload to Splitcoaststampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC149.  When creating your post on blogs, please include a link to the challenge.  Thank you!

I thought this week would be a perfect opportunity to try making a Diamond Origami Fold which was a new tutorial over at Splitcoaststampers.  I will say in advance that I apologize for the quality of the photos.  I must have taken a hundred photos and could not get the purples to look like they do in real life...the butterfly does actually match the flower on the inside!  LOL!  This first photo is the closed card and does appear to be a classic square card, but...

...when you open it up...

...it looks nothing like a square or a rectangle!

Creative Nugget:  The fun part began after creating the card following the directions on the tutorial.  (I did modify gluing the panels as I wanted to keep the sentiment diamond free, and did not glue it as suggested on the tutorial.)  A Fleur de Lis Square die was cut to fit the flap on the front of the folded card and a ribbon was tied around this panel as seen on the first photo.  The small diamond panels were made by layering Limeade Ice card stock and coordinating Bo Bunny DP.  The sentiment from the Scripture Series 3 stamp set was stamped right on the DP.  The Cheery Lynn Butterfly Die was attached to the other diamond with the wings free.  Black Pearls were added to the antenna and the body of the butterfly.  The newly released Hyacinth stamp set was used for the inside of the card.  The hyacinth was actually colored twice with Copic Markers and one cut out and popped on top of the other for dimension.  The same was done for the sentiment banner.  This was cut with a matching Labels 26 Die, mounted on Limeade Ice, and attached to another Fleur de Lis Square.  It's hard to see in the photos but several Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish Dies were attached to the side panels.  A few Black Pearls were added to finish the card.

These materials used on this card are available at the Our Daily Bread Designs store:

To see more fabulous Other Than a Classic Square or Rectangle creations visit my Sister Sticks who have worked hard to inspire you to make your own.  I hope you'll be able to join us this week for the Shining the Light Challenge!

~~Chris Olsen~~Jan Marie Ennenga~~

~~Kathy Roney~~Audrey Hiltke~~Diana Nguyen~~

~~And welcome our April Guest Designer, Gloria Stengel~~

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Hyacinth, Scripture Series 3 (ODBD)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), Limeade Ice (PTI), Bo Bunny DP

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 26, Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish and Small Exotic Butterflies (ODBD), Fleur de Lis Squares (Spellbinders), Kaiser Pearls, Ribbon, Copic Markers V000, V05, V06, V09, YG17, YG21, YG25

Nature Silhouettes 2

Hello stamping friends!  Are you ready for Day 3 of the SNSS March Release Features?  If you like working with silhouette images and you like Sweet 'n Sassy's first Nature Silhouette stamp set, you will love this next featured set, especially because there are matching dies to go along with it!

Today's featured set is:

Nature Silhouettes 2

And here's the matching Birds & Feather Dies!

This fantastic duo is a must have.  Imagine the gorgeous cards you'll make!  The possibilities are endless AND this stamp set also coordinates so well with our other silhouette sets!

• Set includes 13 images
• Set measures approximately 4" x 6"
• Queen Anne's Lace image measures approximately 2" x 2 1/2"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp Set is priced at $15
• Die Set is priced at $9.75

Here is a card I made with this set:

Creative Nugget:  This card was my attempt at CAS!  After masking off a border with Post-It notes, a paint brush and some distress inks were used to lay down strokes of color on watercolor paper that had been brushed with water.  The paper warped a little as it dried, so I used an iron, no steam, to flatten it. When dry, the images were stamped using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  This panel was mounted to True Black card stock and attached to a Solar Crest card base.  No muss...no fuss...easy, peasy!  That's one of the advantages of a silhouette set...you can create a pretty card in no time flat!

Here's another card just finished this morning for the CAS and Technique Challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.

Check out more fabulous silhouette samples made by the talented SNSS Design Team by clicking on the thumbnails below.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away this very versatile stamp set AND the matching die set to one lucky commenter!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Wednesday, March 13th.  The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage on Thursday, March 14th.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit...have a marvelous Monday!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipes
Thoughts of You:

Stamps: Nature Silhouettes 2 (SNSS)

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

Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), Watercolor Paper (Northwoods Rubber Stamps), True Black (PTI)

Accessories: Paint Brush, Water

Be Encouraged:
Stamps: Nature Silhouettes 2, Be Encouraged, Music Background (SNSS)
Ink: London Fog (Memento), Basic Gray, So Saffron (SU!), Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, and Rusty Hinge Distress inks (Ranger)
Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Accessories: Birds & Feather Dies (SNSS), Baker's Twine (The Twinery)

Long Stem Silhouettes

Hello friends...happy Sunday!  Welcome to day two of 
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps January Release Features!  If you love silhouette stamps, you will love today's feature stamp set.

Introducing...Long Stem Silhouettes 

This lovely stamp set is perfect for creating beautiful and classy cards with ease as you will see as you make your way through the participating blogs in today's mini hop.  The sentiments included in the set make it very versatile.  I've already found myself reaching for it over and over again!

• Set includes 3 images and 6 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 6" x 4"
• Images measure approximately 3.75" high x less than 1.5" wide
• Illustrated by Korin Sutherland

Here's my sample using Long Stem Silhouettes

Creative Nugget:  One of the quick and easy ways to use silhouette stamps is to stamp directly on designer paper. When you start with gorgeous papers like these from the Ladies' Diary Collection by Graphics 45, you're bound to end up with a beautiful card.  A few layers, a pearl pen, some stitching and lace, a little twine and a button are all you need to create a card with a vintage feel.  The design for this card came from this week's Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

Check out some more fabulous samples made by other members of the talented SNSS Design Team.  See the linky tool below!

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along the way because one lucky commenter will win this beautiful stamp set!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight, Wednesday, January 9th.  The list of winners will be announced on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Thursday, January 10th.

Join me again tomorrow for another featured stamp set and mini blog hop.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Long Stem Silhouettes (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, VersaMagic Red Brick (Tsukineko), Fresh Snow (PTI), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper: Vintage Cream, True Black (PTI), A Ladies' Diary Paper Pad (Graphics 45)

Accessories: Lace Scallop Punch, Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Salmon Pearl Pen (Viva Decor), Sew Mini (Janome), Button (PTI), Lace, Twine

A New Year and a New Release

Hello my blog friends...are you ready for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps first Release of 2013?  The SNSS Design Divas have been busy, busy, busy stamping with the five new stamp sets being released and the samples created are amazing!  We can't wait to share them with you! We'll be kicking things off at 10:00 EST with a Virtual Stamp Day full of challenges over on our SNSS Member Forum at Splitcoaststampers. Each time you participate in a challenge, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 Credit to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Then...there will be mini blog hops on January 5th through the 9th featuring one of the new sets on each day with a chance to win the stamp set being featured!  Now head on over to the SNSS Blog to see the full reveal of each of the fabulous new stamp sets!

Here's a quick sneak peek of one of the new sets...Long Stem Silhouettes.

Creative Nugget:  Blush papers by My Mind's Eye were stitched to True Black and attached to a Vintage Cream card front to create the background for the long stem silhouette which was stamped on a piece of DP.  A Spellbinders border was sewn to the bottom of the card, and another SB die was cut for the sentiment panel.  The sentiment, also from the Long Stem Silhouettes set, was stamped on a hand cut banner.  Baker's Twine, a button, and Pearls finish the card.  What do you think?  Are you ready to go check out those new sets?

Thanks so much for stoping by...hope to see you over at Splitcoaststampers later today!

Hugs,

Cathmac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Long Stem Silhouettes (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Spun Sugar and Antique Linen Distress Ink

Paper: Vintage Cream, True Black (PTI), Blush Paper Pad (My Mind's Eye)

Accessories: Circle Nestie, Asian Accents Dies (Spellbinders), Sew Mini (Janome), Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Button (PTI), Kaiser Pearls

Poppy Greetings

Hello friends...what an eventful week we've had!  I want to begin by expressing my sincerest thoughts and prayers to those on the East Coast whose lives have been uprooted by the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.  What we experienced here was mild in comparison and not nearly as severe as predicted, and for that I am grateful.  My card sample for The Sweet Stop was made with these thoughts in mind.

Creative Nugget:  The sketch design for this card was followed exactly and kept pretty clean and simple.  The background was embossed with the Canvas Impression Plate and a few score lines added for interest.  The DP layer was stitched to True Black and black pearls were added to the corner.  The poppies from the Poppies and Greetings stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps were colored with Copic Markers and cut using the out-of-the-box technique and an oval Nestie.  Distress inks were sponged on all of the edges.  Two of the poppies were stamped again, colored, cut out, and popped up for dimension.  This was adhered to a True Black Scalloped Oval Nestie.  A Black seam binding bow and a sentiment tag were attached.  Everything was mounted to a Soft Stone card base.

We have LOTS of inspiration for you this week as our Sugar Baby team is growing, and the card samples are simply gorgeous!  So take a peek at them all and welcome the new DT members by leaving a little love on their blogs.  Then come join in the fun this week at The Sweet Stop!  We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Chrissy Dickinson

Robin Parker
Faye Wynn-Jones
Melissa Shultz

Ceal Pritchett

Marlena Peduzzi

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful week, and don't forget to VOTE on Tuesday!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Poppies and Greetings (Now on sale for 25% off until Nov.7th at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper: Soft Stone, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White, Classic Collection Paper Pad (FabScraps)

Accessories: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Canvas Impression Plate, Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Black Seam Binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Scor-Buddy, Sew Mini (Janome), Kaiser Pearls, Signo Gel Pen, Copic Markers R43, 46, 59, 89; YG03, 61, 63, 67; C5, 7, 9

Happy Independence Day!

Hello stamping friends!   I hope you all had a great Independence Day and were able to celebrate our nation's birthday with friends and family on the 4th.  We were able to take the residents of a local nursing home to the town's 4th of July Parade. We kind of made a parade of our own as we wheeled the wheelchairs down the street dressed in red, white, and blue tie-dyed tee shirts.  It was good to get these lovely ladies and one gentleman out for an evening of enjoyment!

With the festivities of the 4th over, it's time to celebrate another great sketch at The Sweet Stop!  How could I not make a card with red, white, and blue?

Creative Nugget:  This Lighthouse Digital Stamp at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store is a lot of fun to color...of course I used my copics for this. The panel was cut with a rectangle nestie and some light sponging with distress inks was done while still in the die.  Glossy Accents and a rhinestone was added to the top of the lighthouse and the whole panel was mounted on a piece of Night of Navy card stock. A doily was cut from patterned paper using a Cheery Lynn die.  Four panels of matching patterned paper were also mounted onto Night of Navy card stock.  All of the layers were adhered to a Bashful Blue card base.  A little piece of cheesecloth was tucked between the doily and the popped up lighthouse image.  The banner was hand cut and rhinestones were added to the side of the sentiment.

This card will also be submitted to Card Crafter's Circle for their Challenge 

# 30 - Summer Holiday.

Here's the Christmas version...the orientation was changed and the rectangle panel was replaced with a Christmas tree!  Our Daily Bread Design's "Joy Tree" was used for this sample and this card will also be submitted for the "Anything Goes" challenge on the ODBD Blog.

This was such a fun sketch to work with...I do love my layers!  I hope you'll be able to find some stamping time this week and play along with us at The Sweet Stop. Take a moment to enjoy more wonderful samples by the other Sugar Babies and leave a little love behind!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Janice Melton

Shannon White

           Chrissy Dickinson


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to stop back again on Monday for the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps New Release Blog Hop.  There will be lots of eye candy, challenges, and of course...PRIZES!


Hugs,
Cathymac


Card Recipe
Stamps: Lighthouse Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Everyday Classics (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen and Faded Jeans Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy (SU!), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Little Boy Patterned Paper (Echo Park)
Accessories: Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), English Tea Party Die (Cheery Lynn), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Rhinestone Stickers (Michael's) Copic Markers R22, 24, 27, 29; Y11, 13, 18; G40, 43, 46; E40, 41, 42, 43, 44; C00, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9