Golden Inkspirations: June 2012

Shannon White

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks for stopping by. I so appreciate your kind words of encouragement each week!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Baby (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Old Olive (SU!), Pure Luxury (Gina K. Designs), Little Darlings Collection DP (Graphics 45)
Accessories: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Tool Kit (SU!), Bisque Liquid Pearls (Ranger), Tiny Tags Dies, Button (PTI), Lace, Jute, Copic Markers E00, 11, 13, 35, 97; Y21, 23, 26; B0000, 21, 26; R20; G40, 43, 85

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Girly Girl Time

Happy Sweet Stop Saturday, stampin' friends!

Don't you just love to kick back at times and spend time with the girls...sorry guys, but it's true! Yesterday I had time to do just that...yup...spent the whole day stampin' and coloring away, met some new friends, had a few laughs, enjoyed breakfast out...fun, fun! Girly girl time is definitely fun and relaxing! Believe it or not, this intro leads me right into today's sketch at The Sweet Stop!

Creative Nugget: How's this for girly girl? This adorable image is from the "Girly Girl Cookie" clear stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black ink and colored with copic markers. You can't have girly girl without some glitz and glitter, so the nail polish was covered with Glossy Accents and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. The rims of the lipstick tube and nail polish lid were colored with a Gelly Roll pen for a little glimmer. The image was cut with a circle nestie and mounted on a Picot Edge circle die. The designer paper panels were mounted on True Black, pierced, and faux stitched with a white gel pen. A white scalloped border was embossed with Swiss Dots and layered onto the triangle panel. Everything was mounted on a Select White card base. A tiny tag was tied onto one of the circle loops with white floss, and black pearls were added down the left side to complete the card. I must say that this was a fun card to make!

Now it's your turn! Before you rush off to your favorite stamping place, take a look at what the other Sweet Stop girls have created.

Sugar Babies

Shannon White

Chrissy Dickinson

Can't wait to see what you create with this fun sketch. Upload your card or project to the SSS164 gallery at The Sweet Stop using the linky tool.

Have a wonderful weekend...maybe squeeze in a little girly girl time! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Girly Girl Cookie (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Broken China and Fired Brick Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Select White, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Handmade (lilybeedesign), Enchanted Collection (Bo Bunny)
Accessories: Circle Nestie, Picot Edge Circle Die (Spellbinders), Tiny Tags Dies (PTI), Scallop Border Punch, Piercing Tool, Signo Gel Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (SU!), Clear Gelly Roll Pen (Sakura), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers C3, 5, 7, 9; T0, 1, 3, 5; R02, 05, 08; B52; BG000, 01, 53

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

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

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Little Bit Vintage

Hello, Friends! It seems like such a long time since I've been to my computer...my hubby, Kody, and I just got back from a week at the beach! What a wonderful time we had...gorgeous sunny weather (except for one day of rain)...relaxing days on the sand...strolling on the boardwalk...falling asleep to the sound of waves, eating...eating...and more eating! But alas, all good things must come to an end. At least it's Saturday and time for another wonderful sketch at The Sweet Stop, and this week the spin is texture, so that means... A PRIZE!

You would think my sample would be a beach theme, but I found myself reaching for Vintage Baby, a gorgeous new set just released by
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

Creative Nugget: Before leaving on vacation, I had been playing around with the Bargello technique and had this scrap piece on my desk that just screamed "baby." It was perfect since the spin for this week is texture. Strips of patterned paper, 3/4" wide, were glued to a piece of light weight copy paper. These were then cut across the pattern in different widths and staggered onto another lightweight piece of card stock. You can see a video tutorial of this technique HERE at Splitcoaststampers. The bargello scrap was mounted onto a piece of Sweet Blush card stock and it provided the background for the baby booties. The booties were clear embossed onto a piece of Vintage Cream and the sentiment was added in Versafine Onyx Black. This was cut with an oval nestie and sponged with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink while still in the die. A scalloped oval framed the bootie panel, and this was popped up onto the bargello background. All layers were mounted onto a Vintage Cream panel that had been impressed with a canvas pattern, adding more texture. A little sponging around the edges in Victorian Velvet was done before adhering everything to a Vintage Cream Card front. The hearts were die cut from what was left over of the bargello scrap using the Heart Die Set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Ribbon, pearls, and a little pink safety pin provide more texture and finish the card.

If you decide to play along with us at The Sweet Stop this week, just look what prize is up for grabs...

this newly released Summertime Rhubarb set!

Be sure to check out the other Sugar Babies before running off to your stamping place!

Sugar Babies

Shannon White

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful Father's Day weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Vintage Baby (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: VersaMark, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Victorian Velvet Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Sweet Blush (PTI), Patterned Paper scraps from my stash
Accessories: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Heart Die Set (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Clear Embossing Powder, Canvas Impression Plate, Sweet Blush Ribbon (PTI), Kaiser Pearls, Safety Pin

Thursday, June 7, 2012

June Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps June Release Blog Hop! We have SEVEN fabulous stamp sets and two sets of matching dies being released this evening! You are going to love these sets, so grab a refreshing beverage, a tasty snack, and get ready for some amazing eye candy from the Design Divas!

To make the hop even more interesting, one lucky participant will have a chance to win the whole new release! That's right...just leave a comment at every blog along the way and one lucky person will be chosen at random from a random blog to win the whole release! You will have until 9:30 PM EST to make your comments. The winner will be announced at the end of the release party tonight on the Sweet 'n Sassy forum at Splitcoaststampers!

If you've just come from the amazing Mary Faus, you're on the right track...otherwise you might want to go back to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog to start at the beginning. You won't want to miss a single project!

For my first sample, I used the new "Vintage Baby" clear stamp set, designed by the talented Dina Kowal. It includes three fabulous images and NINE wonderful sentiments perfect for creating that perfect vintage baby card or gift.

Creative Nugget: The beautiful mother and baby image was stamped on Neenah Solar White paper and cut with a long, thin rectangle nestie. Copic markers were used to color the image and some Vintage Photo Ink was sponged around the image while it was still in the die. Strips of various pastel prints were used to create a bargello design on which to mount the main image. A Swiss Dots embossing folder was used to give some texture to a coordinating piece of patterned paper. All panels were mounted on True Black card stock and adhered to a Sweet Blush card base. Some lace which was distressed with ink, pearls, and a tiny tag complete the vintage look.

My next samples were made using the "New Beginnings" clear stamp set and matching dies. If you like butterflies, you will love this set! It includes three beautiful butterflies of different sizes and eight wonderful sentiments perfect for card making throughout the year!

Creative Nugget: For this clean and simple sample, a strip was masked off on the left side of the panel and sponged with distress inks creating a sunrise background for the three stamped butterflies. An extra butterfly was die cut, stamped, sponged, and popped up on top of the middle butterfly for dimension. The sentiment was then added. This panel was mounted on True Black and a Select White card base.

Creative Nugget: Another clean and simple layout was used to create this card. The center panel was stamped with the Music Background and mounted on True Black, then Blueberry Sky. This was mounted on an embossed Select White card base. The butterfly was die cut, stamped, and colored with Copic Markers. Pearls were added to the body and the butterfly was popped up on the Music Background. A banner was hand cut for the sentiment which was also mounted on Blueberry Sky. A white ruffle was sponged with Faded Jeans Distress ink and added to the top of the card. A few small butterfly punches and a white ribbon finish the card.

I hope my samples have inspired you today. Now head on over to the talented Kim Singdahlsen! Here's the whole list of bloggers today in case you get lost along the way.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Jessica Fick

Dina Kowal

Sandy Domelle

Mary Faus

Cathy McCauley <--- You are Here

Kim Singdahlsen

Brenda Weaver

Taylor Usry

Bridget Finlay

Holly McMillen

Kim Schofield

Giovana Smith

Monika Davis

DJ Rants

Korin Sutherland

Don't forget to comment on each blog along your way to be eligible to win the entire release! Then make plans to join us tonight at 8:00pm EST over in our Member Company Forums on Splitcoaststampers for our New June Release Party! We'll have full reveals of each fabulous stamp set, fellowship and chatter with friends, fun challenges, and more! Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Blooming Thanks

Happy Saturday, stamping friends! My week was filled with wonderful church services, care giving...I care for several senior citizens in our community...walks with Kody, shopping, cleaning, and stamping. I hope you had a good week also, and are ready for a new sketch from The Sweet Stop! This was a fun one...I do love working with lots of layers!

Creative Nugget: Today I'm giving you a sneak peek of a brand new stamp set called "Happy Place," being released by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps this Thursday. Please see my side bar for information about the June Release Blog Hop and Release Party. These happy flowers are so much fun to color and paper piece. Since I'm on a mission to use up my scraps of patterned paper, I took some favorite Bo Bunny papers and pieced the background together like a quilt. I kind of got carried away with my paper choices and this panel turned out a little larger than the sketch! LOL! The circle panel was stamped with Friendship Script before mounting it on a True Black scalloped circle. All of the panels were mounted on a Select White card base that was embossed with a new stripes impression plate to give it some texture. Some ribbon, a tiny tag...love these, and rhinestones, finish the card.

The Christmas version is a little more like the sketch:

I hope you'll find time to play along with The Sweet Stop sketch this week. Here are some fabulous samples by the Sugar Babies to give you some inspiration.

Sugar Babies

Wendy Ramlakhan