Music to My Ears

Hello, friends!  I have two cards to share that feature a new stamp set being released today by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps…Music to My Ears.  I love the large background stamp included in this set as well as the four wonderful sentiments and bits and pieces of music...I know I will be reaching for this one time and time again.  

Creative Nugget:  Twisted Citron, Fossilized Amber, and Broken China distress inks were applied to a piece of mixed media paper using the wrinkle-free technique.  Watering Can Archival ink was lightly stamped off once and stamped over these colors.  A strip of texture paste was applied through a Tim Holtz stripes stencil for a little more texture.  The letters in one of the sentiments were masked and stamped one at a time to create the letter tiles while the rest of the sentiment was white embossed on a hand cut banner.  Scribble Flowers were stamped on scraps of wrinkle-free paper and cut with the new Scribble Flower Dies.  Gold micro beads were added to the centers of the flowers to finish this card.  Several challenges were the inspiration for this card including the Splitcoaststampers WTUI Challenge today, the Color Throwdown Challenge, and the Pile It On make your own background challenge.

Creative Nugget: The design for this card was inspired by the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge and the Morgan's World Challenge to add three of something.  Watering Can ink was used to stamp the music background on the first layer.  Distress inks were used to age the panel.  The background was white embossed, sponged with Tumbled Glass, Victorian Velvet, and Frayed Burlap, and cut with a pierced rectangle die for the second layer.  One of the sentiments from the Music to My Ears set was embossed and matted to a square panel.  A few music notes were lightly stamped around the border.  The hearts from the Grunge Elements 2 set were stamped over the embossing and a square frame was mounted around them.  A circular frame was mounted to vellum, and white embossed hearts also cut from vellum and colored on the back with Copic Markers were added.  Some glittered enamel dots and metallic thread finish the card.

These products from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store were used:

These cards will be submitted to the following challenges:

Color Throwdown #405 - Green, Yellow, Aqua

Pile It On #114 - Make Your Own Background

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #206 - Anything Goes

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #21 - Anything Goes with Embossing Option

Morgan's World Challenge #16 - Add Three of Something (Hearts)

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

Hugs,

Cathymac

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Dare to Get Dirty

Hello friends!  If you are a Fan Club Member at Splitcoaststampers, no doubt you have been feverishly creating cards for all of the DTGD Challenges posted this week.  Although today is the last day for the challenges to be posted you have until Monday, August 8th at 11:59 PM Central time to upload your projects.  The card I'm sharing today was made for Brenda's challenge.

Creative Nugget:  Papers from the Blooming Garden Paper Collection by Our Daily Bread Designs was used to line the panels of this Z-Fold card.  The Trellis Strip border was cut in half and mounted to each side of the fold.  A sentiment from the Birdhouse stamp set was cut with Circles and Pierced Circles Dies and popped onto the card using mounting tape on only the left side of the card so it could open.  Pretty Posies Dies and Bitty Blossoms Dies were used to cut some floral embellishments, and the card is tied shut with seam binding.

The Birdhouse image was colored with Copic Markers and cut with the same circle dies for the inside of the card. The Trellis Strip border was continued across the center panel.  One of the Trois Jolies Papillons was stamped, colored, cut with the matching Trois Papillons Dies, and popped onto the right panel along with a pearl flourish to finish the card.

This card is being submitted for the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #242 - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - L for Love
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Scribble Flowers

Hello, friends!  I have a card to share with you today using a new stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps that is just being released today.  Scribble Flowers is a large stamp set filled with 23 fun flowers, leaves, and fillers, and the best part is that there are 20 new coordinating dies to go with it, but only as a Scribble Flowers Bundle for a limited time while supplies last!

Creative Nugget:  This card was created with Gayatri's Dare to Get Dirty Challenge at Splitcoaststampers in mind.  The card base was splattered with Ken Oliver's Yellow Gold Liquid Metals and black acrylic paint.  Liquid Metals was also used to color some Texture Paste which was spread through a Tim Holtz stripes stencil to make the angled background.  Color Burst pigment powders were used to color pieces of Mixed Media paper.  The flowers and leaves were stamped on the colored paper with Jet Black Archival ink and cut.  A Decorative Plaques die cut matted with black was used as a frame on which to pop the flowers.  The sentiment from the God is Bigger stamp set was gold embossed on a black Banner and tucked under the flowers along with a strip of Washi tape.  A gold piece of Washi tape was cut with the little scalloped border from the Bookmarks & More Die Set which is currently out of stock.  Gold metallic thread was used to make a bow and pearls were added to finish the card. 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has also made their entire 2016 Christmas Release available for preorder for those who want to get a jump start on their Christmas cards for this year.  These sets will be shipping next week so be sure to check out the nine new sets!  Here is a peek at several cards made with two of the new sets, Scripture Tree and Christmas Pine.

Here are the products from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store used to make these cards:

Some of these cards will also be submitted for the following challenges:

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Snow Cone (Colors)
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #77 - Show us Some Sparkle
Inky Chicks Challenge #70 - Use 5 or More Flowers
{PIN}spirational Challenge #171

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

Hugs,
Cathymac

Welcome to the ODBD August 2016 Release

Hello friends!  Welcome to the Our Daily Bread Designs August 2016 Release and how tweet it is!  The Bread Basket designers been using the new bird stamps and border dies to create beautiful cards for your inspiration. 

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD Store to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps found in the "stamps column" of the website just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until August 2, 2016 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers' Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on August 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

My first sample was made using the Birdhouse stamp set stamp set.

Creative Nugget:  The image from the Birdhouse stamp set was fun to color with Copic Markers.  Prills were added to the centers of the blossoms and an extra blossom was stamped, fussy cut, and popped onto the card.  Each of the layers were cut with the Square Dies and the new Pierced Squares.  Paper from the Boho Bolds Collection was stitched to two of the panel layers.  Love the new Trellis Strip Die which was used to cut borders which were woven over and under the second layer. The Birdhouse image was framed with a Filigree Frame die cut as well as the embossed sentiment.

My second card was made with the new Thanks For Everything Stamp/Die Duo.

Creative Nugget:   Papers from my favorite Shabby Rose Collection were cut with Pierced Rectangles Dies and a Pierced Square Die.  The white circle was cut with a Pierced Circle Die.   The new Flower Lattice Die was used to cut a border.  The embossed and stacked die cut sentiment was made with the new Thanks For Everything Stamp/Die Duo.  The teapot and roses are from the Tea Time stamp set and were colored with Copic Markers, cut with the Teapot & Roses Dies, and mounted to the card with foam tape.  Wink of Stella was added for some shimmer. Pearls and a heated bow were added to finish the card.

Here are the fabulous new products being released by 

Our Daily Bread Designs this month that were used to make these projects…

…and some old favorites previously released:

To see all of the breathtaking projects created with the August Release, hop on over to the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. Then click the links below to see the details for each project.  While at each blog, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win one of the three fabulous prizes!

Robin* Melissa * Julie * Sandee * Cathy 
Dawn * Lori * Chris * Grace * Lisa 
Sabrina * Diana * Angie * Diane (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope you are inspired by the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

SNSS Celebrates Christmas in July!

Hello friends, and welcome to 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas in July Blog Hop & Sale   

It's time for me to seriously begin working on my Christmas cards for this year…how about you?  The Creative Design Team at SNSS has just the inspiration you need to put you in the Christmas spirit, so grab your favorite beverage and hop along with us.  Just click on the team thumbnails at the end of this post and you will be taken to each of the designers' blogs to see the details for each amazing creation…the links will be at the end of each blog so you will not get lost along the way.  While you are at each blog, leave some love behind because one lucky person will be randomly chosen from all the comments to win a FREE (in stock) Christmas stamp set of your choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!

For my sample, I chose to use the darling Season's Greetings stamp set!

Creative Nugget:  The Tree Background was stamped in brown ink on a Neenah Solar White panel then shifted slightly, stamped again with VersaMark ink and white embossed to look like snow. Distress inks were sponged around the edges and again across the bottom to create a few snow drifts.  A Darice embossing folder was used to create some snowy texture on the panel and white acrylic paint splatters added.  One of the Hillside Edges Dies were used to cut a hillside out of vellum on which the sentiment was embossed.  This was mounted to the bottom of the card and a Fence die cut added.  The images from the Season's Greetings stamp set were colored with Copic Markers, cut with the matching Season's Greeting Die Set, and popped onto the card. The two smaller birdhouses were tied to the tree branch with metallic thread. 

Here are the SNSS products used to make this card:

Here are several other cards created with Season's Greetings that were previously posted:

Okay…can you tell I really like this stamp set!  LOL!  If you like it, too, you are in luck because all currently stocked Christmas stamps at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store will be 15% off through the weekend.  Just enter the code CMASJULY at checkout to receive your discount!

Happy Hopping AND Happy Shopping!

Hope you've been inspired to make a few Christmas cards…have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Sweet Friendship

Hello sweet friends!  Today I'm hosting the Ways to Use It Challenge on Splitcoaststampers and we are using stripes…stamped, sponged, embossed, or even on designer paper. Easy, Right?  Hope you can join us.  Here is my card with stripes sponged through different stencils and embossed with an impression plate:

Creative Nugget:  The embossed stripes were cut with a Circle Cutter, stitched to a Layered Lacey Oval, and mounted onto the sponged and splattered stripes to make the background for the frangipani flowers from a new stamp set called Sweet as Perfume by Our Daily Bread Designs.  The sentiment was embossed, cut with one of the Oval Dies, and mounted to one of the Ornate Ovals. Ribbon, metallic thread, and colored rhinestones were added to finish the card.

Since friends are such a sweet blessing in our lives, whether they are close by or far away, this card was created for all of my very dear forever friends!

Creative Nugget:  The coneflower from the Forever Friends stamp set was randomly white embossed on a piece of Mixed Media paper and watercolored.  A Leafy Edged Border Die was used to create a curvy border for the pretty Cozy Quilt paper.  A frame was cut using the Lavish Layers Die and a Double Stitched Rectangle Die.  Distress inks were used to water color the white embossed coneflower.  Layered Lacy Oval Dies were used to cut and mat the embossed sentiment panel.  Crinkly heated ribbon was used to make the bow.

These cards will also be submitted for the following Challenges:

Word Art Wednesday #240 - Anything Goes
Pile It On #112 - Use Your Favorite Colors
Just Us Girls #352 - Color Week (Coral, Yellow, Pink)
Coffee, Chocolate, & Cards #113 - Fancy and Use Pink

Your visit means so very much to me…thanks so much for stopping by!  Find a friend and give them a big hug!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Take Another Look at the ODBD July 2016 Release

Hello friends!  Today Our Daily Bread Designs is taking another look at the July 2016 Release!  The flowers in this month's release are just beautiful as you will see as you hop to each of the Breadstick Designers' blogs!  

The Forever Friends stamp set and some of the new ovals dies were used to create the Double Z card below.

Creative Nugget:  The coneflower in the Forever Friends stamp set was stamped multiple times across the panels on the Double Z card and colored with Copic Markers and a Yellow Wink of Stella Marker.   Several more coneflowers were stamped on scraps of card stock, colored, fussy cut, and popped up for dimension.   The Z Fold border was lined with paper from the Beautiful Boho Collection and a Fence Die cut.  The sentiment was stamped on a label cut with one of the Layered Lacey Ovals Dies and tied to the fence.  Ribbon was used to keep the card closed.

When opened, the whole field of coneflowers is displayed.  A second sentiment from the Forever Friends set was stamped on a panel cut with one of the other Layered Lacey Ovals Dies.

Here are the fabulous new products from the Our Daily Bread Designs July 2016 Release that were used to make this card...

…and some other previously released products:

To see all of the breathtaking projects created with the July Release products hop on over to the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. Then click the links below to see the details for each beautiful project.  

Lori * Robin * Melissa * Julie * Sandee * Cathy 

Dawn * Lisa * Sabrina * Diana

 Diane (Guest Designer) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful weekend…take time to smell the flowers!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Chocolate Flowers

Hello friends!  Today is National Chocolate Day and Carla over on Splitcoaststampers has dished up a chocolaty challenge for us, WT591 Celebrate Chocolate.  I've decided to take all of the calories out of my chocolate creation and serve up some chocolate flowers with some warm sugary layers.

Creative Nugget:  The layers were cut with some delicious new dies just released by Our Daily Bread Designs…Vintage Borders Dies and Layered Lacey Ovals Dies, as well as the Vintage Flourish Pattern Die and Ovals Dies.  Dark Chocolate, White and Cream card stocks were used as well as papers from the Vintage Ephemera and Ephemera Essentials paper pad collections.  The Frangipani flowers from the new Sweet as Perfume stamp set were stamped in Ground Espresso distress ink and color pulled in with an aqua brush.  A little blush was added with a Copic marker and Wink of Stella.  Silk ribbon was woven around one of the layers and Liquid Pearls were added to the flower centers to finish the card.

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

ODBDSLC276 - Anything that Grows…with ODBD
Word Art Wednesday #238 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps & More - Challenge #201 Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope you were inspired!
Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Cathy