Back to School

Hello friends!  WOW...it's August already!  That means it's time for a new release by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps AND almost time for the kids to head back to school.  One of the new stamp sets designed by Jennifer Nilsson, Back to School, is perfect for tucking little notes into a child's lunchbox or sending the new teacher a note of appreciation. I'm sharing a couple of cards over on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog today.

Creative Nugget:  The design of this card is from the current Mojo Monday Sketch.  Oxide inks were applied to an acrylic block, spritzed with water and stamped onto the upper corner of the card.  The corner was masked off and the Typewriter Text Background was stamped over the color.  The images were colored with Copic Markers, cut out and mounted to the card following the sketch.

Creative Nugget:  The background on this card was created the same way as the card above.  More images from the Back to School stamp set were colored, cut out and mounted to the card. A little Glossy Accents was added to the windows on the bus and schoolhouse to finish the card.

The following stamp sets from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store were used to create the cards above:

These cards will be submitted for the following challenges:

Just Add Ink #468 - Just Add "C" (Class Act)

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #352 - Make Your Mark

Aud Sentiments Challenge #232 - For a Child + A Sentiment

Craft Rocket Challenge #62 - August 2019: Anything Goes

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #197 - 3+ Layers

Mojo Monday - Mojo Sketch 519

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Cathy

Bridge of Hope

Happy Saturday to you!  Hope you've had a wonderful week and are able to enjoy the last remaining days of summer!  Soon the hustle and bustle of a new school year will begin, or has begun for some of you. This will be my second year of retirement from teaching, and it still seems funny not having to get a classroom ready!  On Monday, the first day of school for children in our district, all the retired teachers will have breakfast together and wave to the school buses as they go by!  :)  In honor of school beginning, I made this card for a challenge on Splitcoaststampers..."No Stamping!"...only cardboard stickers, Washi Tape, and papers!

Now...on to the new sketch at The Sweet Stop!  A friend at church lost her mother after a long illness this week.   I needed a sympathy card for her, so naturally the Sweet Stop Sketch provided the perfect inspiration.  I did need to change the orientation of the sketch to accommodate the image.

Creative Nugget:  Bridge of Hope, a clear stamp set released two months ago by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, was the perfect set to use for my sympathy card.  The serene bridge scene was colored with copic markers, cut with an oval Nestie, and mounted to a scalloped oval Nestie.  The other panels of the sketch were made with a combination of patterned papers by My Mind's Eye and FabScraps mounted on True Black or Vintage Cream.  I can't seem to put my Sew Mini away lately, so stitching was added to three of the layers.  The sentiment was stamped on a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner Die, run through the Big Shot with the Canvas Impression Plate, sponged, and attached to the card.  Some gingham ribbon was also sponged with distress ink and added to finish the card.  I hope and pray this card will bring some comfort to my friend.

I have a Christmas version for you this week!

If you love woking with layers, you will love the sketch this week. Don't forget to check out the other Sugar Babies for more fabulous inspiration.

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Janice Melton

Shannon White

                Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks so much for stopping by...Hope you'll be able to join us this week.  As always, we look forward to seeing your fabulous creations!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Bridge of Hope (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain and Broken China Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper: Vintage Cream, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Sunshine DP (My Mind's Eye), Classic Collection Paper Pad (FabScraps)

Accessories: Oval and Scalloped Oval Nesties (Spellbinders), Tattered Banners Die (Tim Holtz), Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), Sew Mini (Janome), Gingham Ribbon (SU!), Signo White Gel Pen, Copic Markers BG0000, 53, 72, 75;  G21, 24, 46;  Y11, 15, 35;  E31, 35, 37;  C3, 5, 7, 9

Rhubarb Goes to School

Happy Saturday!  Hope you had a wonderful week.  It's been another busy one with a new stamp release by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and Vacation Bible School at our church.  But now it's time to relax with another fabulous sketch from The Sweet Stop!  


Can you believe it's August already?  In no time at all, the kids will be heading back to school.  It still seems funny not to be thinking about going back myself, but since retiring, it's nice not to have to worry about prepping a classroom!   One of the new stamp sets released by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps this month is "Back to School Rhubarb," perfect for this time of year!

Creative Nugget:  Reading Rhubarb was stamped onto one of the Decorative Plaque Dies by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and colored with copic markers.  His fur was given texture with colorless blender ink and an old washcloth...a technique I've been enjoying lately!  Each panel of the Doodlebug Design patterned paper was layered onto Chocolate Chip card stock.  Letters were impressed into the yellow layer using the Book Print Impression Plate and some piercing was added around the border.  A strip of ric-rac and Baker's twine were added across the top panel, and Rhubarb was popped up on top of that.  I wasn't sure where to add the sentiment, so I deviated from the sketch a little by adding a banner to finish the card.

Be sure to check out what the other Sugar Babies have done with this sketch, then play along by entering your card over at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Janice Melton

Shannon White

          Chrissy Dickinson




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


Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamp Set: Back to School Rhubarb (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Snips and Snails Paper Pad (Doodlebug Designs Inc.)
Accessories: Lable Die (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Circle Nestie, Classic Ric Rac Edgeabilities die (Spellbinders), Book Print Impression Plate (PTI), Piercing Tool, Baker's Twine, Copic Markers E41, 42, 44, 47; YG13, 17, 21, 23; R20; Y13, 18; B0000, 00, 12, 14

Student Survival

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Even though I'm not heading back to school this year, school is still very much on my mind.  All of the retired elementary teachers from my school district get together for breakfast on the first day of school, and this year I got to join them...fun without the pressure!  That being said...it's my turn to share a project over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog and so naturally I have a school project for you.  September is the time for back to school cards and projects and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has some fabulous stamp sets and digi images just perfect for those projects.  Now that many students are back into the school routine, they may be needing a little student survival.

Creative Nugget:  Here is everybody's favorite teddy, Rhubarb, with a student survival kit packed with items every student needs to make it through another year!  The "Back to School Rhubarb" digi was colored with copic markers, cut out, and popped onto the cello bag topper layered with Echo Park DP.  The tag was made by cutting a Spellbinders label die in red, white, and blue and then pieced together.  The lettering on the tag was made with a JustRite stamper and the cute little apple is a digi image called "Apple of My Eye."

On the back of the topper is an explanation of why each item is in the survival kit.  (Click on the picture for a better view.)  The little "Back 2 School Pencil Holder" digi is also available at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store.  Survival kits are a cute gift idea that can be taylor made to let a special person know that you are thinking about them.  Check out Sawyers Specialties for other suggestions for survival kits or come up with your own ideas.  Then have fun putting your own kit together! Thanks for stopping by...have a wonderful Wednesday!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Back to School Rhubarb Digi, Apple of My Eye Digi, Back 2 School Pencil Holder Digi (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Brayton Font (JustRite Stampers) 
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Riding Hood Red (SU!), Enchanted Evening (PTI), Little Boy DP (Echo Park)
Accessories: Label Ten Dies (Spellbinders), White Poster Paint Marker (Sharpie), Silk Ribbon (PTI), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers E53, E55, E57, E59, R00, R20, R22, R27, R29, R89, Y17, B95, B97, B99, YG01, YG13, YG17, BG0000, BG11, BG13 

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

It's Saturday and that means it's time for another Sweet Stop sketch.  Before we get started, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to all those along the east coast who are experiencing Hurricane Irene.  I hope and pray that you all remain safe and that the damage caused by this storm is minimal.

All across America, kids are heading back to school.  Some have already begun...others around here will be starting on Monday...and some will begin after Labor Day.  Young children have their backpacks filled with pencils, crayons, and glue sticks and are anxious to meet their new teachers and classmates.  Some parents, with mixed emotions, will be sending their kindergartner off for the first time.  Hopefully... parents and students alike are looking forward to all the new things that will be learned this year.  Kids are naturally inquisitive, searching to gain meaning from their world, and this quest for knowledge is a good thing.  However, applying knowledge and using what we learn requires wisdom.

Spiritual Nugget:  Have you ever known someone REALLY intelligent who lacked common sense?  Or someone with lots of knowledge, but made really poor choices in life?  What is the missing ingredient?  Wisdom!  The wisest man who ever lived was Solomon and he had pretty much to say about wisdom.  "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;"  (Proverbs 3:13)  According to Solomon gaining wisdom is more important than silver, gold, and rubies and must be diligently sought after.  Solomon also tells us that it is the Lord who gives us wisdom.  "The fear (reverence, respect) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  (Proverbs 1:7)  Wisdom can only come from getting to know the Lord better.  There are 31 Proverbs...that is one for every day of the month.  I like this statement by Max Lucado, "Reading Proverbs turns on the lamps in the dark corners of life."  So send your children off to school to gain knowledge, then sit with them each day and read a Proverb to turn that knowledge into wisdom!

Creative Nugget:  I used the theme of heading back to school for my Sweet Stop sketch sample this week.  I just love this adorable Mo Manning digi image of a little girl heading happily off to school.  She is colored with copic markers.  Stickles were added to the collar and hem of her shirt for some sparkle.  A jelly roll pen was used on the trim of the backpack for more sparkle.  Glossy Accents were used on her hair bows, the little heart on her backpack, and on the heart punched buttons in the corner of the card.  The card base was embossed and the raised areas sponged with tea dye distress ink.  The pencils on the Cosmo Cricket DP fit the theme of the card perfectly.  The polka dots on the red panel were stamped with VersaMark and clear embossed.  The sentiment is from an OLD retired Stampin' Up! set.  A button and gingham ribbon complete the card.  I had so much fun making this card...hope you like it!   Check out what the other Sugar Babies have done with the sketch!

The Sugar Babies 

 Korin Sutherland

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Jennipher Lowery
Wendy Ramlakhan
Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O' Connell

Come join us in the sketch challenge this week and use the linky tool at The Sweet Stop to upload your card.  We'd love to see how you use the sketch!  Thanks for visiting with me today...have a safe weekend! 

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: To School digi (Mo Manning), Golden Rule Days (SU!), Polka Dot Basics (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Tea Dye and Wild Honey Distress Inks (Ranger), VersaMark

Paper: Select White, Pure Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White, Riding Hood Red (SU!), Cosmo Cricket DP

Accessories: Curved Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Heart Punches, Gingham Ribbon (SU!), Diamond Stickles, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Jelly Roll Pen (Sakura), Button (PTI), Copic Markers E000, E00, E11, E97, E99, R22, R24, R27, R37, Y11, Y15, Y17, Y18, Y21, Y38C00, C0, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9, BG000