Hugs, Kisses, and Cute Mini Critters

Okay...call me crazy, but I've decided to give my blog a face lift in the midst of a blog hop!  Please excuse the mess while I clean it up!

Happy Saturday to you!  Hope your new year is getting off to a good start.  I pray that you are well and haven't caught that nasty flu bug that's going around.  I've got a lot to share with you today, so I'll get right to it!  You'll want to keep scrolling down because there's a mini blog hop at the end of this post with a chance to win some wonderful prizes!

First...it's time for the very first sketch of 2013 at The Sweet Stop!

Creative Nugget:  Isn't this little girl just darling?  This Mo Manning digi image, With Love, was so much fun to color with Copic Markers.  I couldn't resist adding Stickles to her little valentine!  The wavy panels were cut out of Yours Truly papers by Echo Park with a wavy cutter by Creative Memories.  The hearts, from a brand new set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called Bottom of my Heart, were stamped on various red and pink papers with Versafine Onyx Black Ink and cut with the matching Heart Die Set.  Everything was matted with True Black card stock and attached to a Neenah Solar Crest card base.  The little sentiment tag was attached to the side of the main image panel and pearls finish the card.

Check out more fabulous eye candy by the other Sugar Babies and play along with us this week over at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Robin Parker

Faye Wynn-Jones

Melissa Schultz

Ceal Pritchett

Marlene Peduzzi

                                                Stephanie Serrano

Card Recipe

Stamps: With Love Digi (Mo Manning), Bottom of My Heart (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Spun Sugar Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper: True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar Crest (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Yours Truly Paper Pad (Echo Park)

Accessories: Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Heart Die Set (Sweet'n Sassy Stamps), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers

Mini Critters Blog Hop

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has just released five new stamp sets for the January 2013 Release.  For the next five days, each set will have its own little blog hop full of inspiration for you.  The first blog hop is today and features Mini Critters, an adorable mini set that packs a big punch!

Here are some samples I created with this set:

For a chance to win this adorable set, leave a comment on each blog as you hop along.  Be sure to make a stop at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog for more information about Mini Critters and this hop!

I hope you've enjoyed your visit...as always...thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Bubbles and Baubles

Good morning stamp lovin' friends!  I hope you've been having a wonderful week.  Kody and I have been enjoying the beautiful weather by taking long, leisurely walks every day...one of the joys of retirement! Here it is Saturday again and time for another sketch from The Sweet Stop!  I have to admit...when I first saw this very different sketch, I was a little intimidated, but the more I looked at it, the more the creative juices began to flow, so let's get started.

Creative Nugget:  For my first sample, the circles on the sketch became bubbles and this sweet Mo Manning "Bubbles Girl" fit the ticket!  After choosing some coordinating patterned papers, the bubbles were cut with various circle punches and arranged on the Echo Park designer paper. They were then embedded by running the panel through the Big Kick with the Swiss Dots folder.  This was mounted on black and a Soft Sky card base.  The sweet little girl was colored with copics.  Glossy Accents and Dew Drops gave dimension to the bubbles...Fun! Coming up with a sentiment was challenging, but I like what I found in my stash and it was added as another bubble along with a button to finish the card!

I will also be entering this card in the CMC "Anything Goes" Challenge!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Flourish Seashells (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Bubbles Girl Digi (Mo Manning)

Ink: Computer, Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)

Paper: Pure Luxury (Gina K), Soft Sky (SU!), True Black (PTI), Springtime Paper Pad (Echo Park)

Accessories: Circle Punches (SU!), Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (ProvoKraft), Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest), Copic Markers E00, 04, 11, 13, 37, 39, 99;  YR21, 24;  Y15, 17;  BG0000, 10, 11;  B52;  R000, 20, 81, 83, 85;  T0, T3

For my Christmas sample, the circles became baubles and Christmas bulbs!

Card Recipe

Stamps: Christmas Puppy (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Fantastic Foliage (SU!)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive (Ranger)

Paper: Rustic Cream, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Accessories: Rectangle Nestie, Holiday Tags (Spellbinders), Ornament Punch, Circle Punches (SU!), Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Dew Drops (The Robin's Nest), Gold Cord, Copic Markers YR21, 23, 24, 27;  R5;  YG91, 95, 97;  E17, 40, 41, 42;  C3, 5, 7, 9

I hope you'll take the time to visit the other Sugar Babies for more fabulous inspiration and play along with us this week at The Sweet Stop! I'd love the see what you do with the circles on the sketch!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

                 Chrissy Dickinson






Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful Mother's Day and a fabulous weekend!


Hugs,
Cathymac

Tom and Tilly

Happy Saturday, friends!  It's time for another sketch from The Sweet Stop and this one is ideal for getting out those background stamps or large image stamps.  Since Valentine's Day is on Tuesday, I thought I would use a "Sweetheart" image to celebrate the occasion, so here are Tom and Tilly!

Creative Nugget:  Aren't they just the sweetest couple?  I've been wanting to color this Mo Manning image for a while now and this sketch provided the perfect opportunity!  Tom and Tilly were colored with copic markers.  You can hardly see it in the photo, but a cloud stencil was used to sponge some Weathered Wood Distress ink in the sky and Vintage Photo was sponged on the bottom.  The image was adhered to the top of a black panel and strips of scrap patterned paper were used to make the stripes on the bottom.  A little heart trim separates the image from the stripes.  All of this was put on some Basic Grey DP, another black panel, and a Pretty in Pink card base.  A bow made with my Bow-Easy and a sentiment were added to finish off this anniversary card.

This card also qualifies for Inspiration Challenge #36 at the CMC Copic Challenge Group over at Scrap Bitz.  
Here are the inspiration photos: 

And here's the Christmas version which I'm also submitting to Mo's Digital Challenge #121: 

I went down the left side with Gems, Lace, and 
Dies/Punches.

Maybe you can use this sketch to make a Valentine's Day card for your honey if you haven't made one yet.  If you do, post it on The Sweet Stop Blog.  We'd love to see what you create with the sketch!  Be sure to check out the other Sugar Babies for some more fabulous inspiration!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks so much for stopping by...enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Tom and Tilly Digi (Mo Manning), Love is Like a Tree (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Vintage Photo and Weathered Wood Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper:  Pretty in Pink (SU!), True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Basic Grey DP

Accessories: Modern Label Punch (SU!), Ribbon (PTI), Kaiser Pearls, Heart Trim, Copic Markers YG01, YG17, YG23, YG25, R32, R35, R37, R39, R81, R83, R85, E00, E11, E13, E25, E33, E53, E59, E99, C00, C1, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9, 0

Chocolate Smile

Hello friends!  It's Saturday again and that means it's time for the second sketch for 2012 at The Sweet Stop!  Are you in the habit of making New Year's resolutions?  I usually don't bother because I don't have much success in keeping them past the first month! LOL!  Having said that, I have a confession to make.  I LOVE stamping and making cards, but I am very bad at sending them!  I am embarrassed to say that I did not get very many Christmas cards sent out this year, so...while I'm not prepared to say this is a resolution, my challenge for this year is to try to make not one, but two cards for each Sweet Stop sketch, one of which will be a Christmas card.  I'm not sure how faithful I will be at this, but for this week at least I have two sample cards for you!

Creative Nugget:  Is this not the cutest face you have ever seen?  This adorable Mo Manning image was colored with copic markers and cut with a square nestie using the out-of-the-box technique.  The legs were cut out with a craft knife so they would look like they are dangling over the edge.  This was then mounted on a piece of Early Espresso card stock.  The various layers of Early Espresso and Basic Grey patterned paper were mounted on a Select White card base following Korin's wonderful sketch.  A sentiment from the "A Cocoa Kind of Birthday" clear stamp set was stamped on the pink background DP and then was given some texture using the picnic plaid impression plate.  The banner layer was made with a piece of DP that was scored every 1/4" and pleated.  This was mounted on a piece of Early Espresso card stock with Scor-Tape.  Heart trim, pearls, a button, and some Baker's twine complete the card.  Now don't you just want to go grab some chocolate?

Here's my second sample...the Christmas card!

Creative Nugget:  Once again, the candle image from the "Christmas Light" clear stamp set was die cut and colored with copic markers.  Love how easy this is with the matching die!  This was popped up on a panel lightly stamped with the script from "Light of Christmas."  The other panels in the sketch were made with Kaisercraft patterned paper and Scarlet Jewel card stock.  Some pearls, lace, Glossy Accents, button twine, and a button finish the card.  And there you have my first Christmas card for 2012!

The Sugar Babies have some more fabulous samples to get your Mojo going, so head on over to their blogs and leave a little love before playing along with SSS141 this week!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks for stopping by...have a great weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Chocolate Smile Recipe

Stamps: A Cocoa Kind of Birthday (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Chocolate Smile Digi (Mo Manning)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Spun Sugar and Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper: Select White (PTI), Early Espresso (SU!), Sultry DP (Basic Grey)

Accessories: Square Nestability (Spellbinder), Kaiser Pearls, Picnic Plaid Impression Plate, Button (PTI), Baker's Twine (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Heart Trim, Scor-Pal, Copic Markers E000, E00, E04, E11, E33, E35, E40, E43, E44, E47, E49, E53, E70, E71, E74, R20, R81, R83, R85, YG21, YG23, Y21


Light of Christmas Card Recipe
Stamps: Light of Christmas, Christmas Light (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Aged Mahogany and Tea Dye Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel (PTI), Dear Santa Collection Paper Pad (Kaisercraft)
Accessories: Christmas Light Candle Die (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Kaiser Pearls, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Button and Button Twine (PTI), Lace (From my very good friend, Korin), White Poster-Paint Pen (Sharpie), Copic Markers Y13, Y17, Y38G24, G29, YG95, YG99, R22, R39, R89, E00, E11, E13, E15, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9

Jesus is Born

Welcome back, friends!  Here it is Saturday again and time for another sketch at The Sweet Stop!  Since this is the third week of the month, the spin was to use chipboard on our cards.  


Creative Nugget:  Only eight more days until Christmas so I decided to focus my sample this week on the reason for the season.  I found an adorable Mo Manning image that was just perfect for honoring the birth of our Savior!

The "In the Manger" image was colored with copic markers.  A little shimmer was added to the wings of the angel with a jelly roll pen.  This was layered onto a second panel stamped with an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp called "He Shall Be Called." This was layered onto some Bo Bunny DP, Soft Stone card stock, and a Night Sky Shimmer card base.  A sentiment banner from the "O Christmas Tree" clear stamp set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps was added.  The chipboard star was colored with a jelly roll pen and covered with Glossy Accents and clear micro beads.  A silver edged organdy bow and colored rhinestone finish the card.  With all the shine on this card it also qualifies for the Dulce Stamps and Cards Thursday challenge for this week.

Here is a closer look so you can see the shimmer of the Night Sky Shimmer card stock, the jelly roll pen on the angel's wings, and the micro beads on the chipboard star.




Check in with the other Sugar Babies for more fabulous inspiration for this week's sketch!  Then create your own card using chipboard and upload it using the linky tool at The Sweet Stop for a chance to win a free stamp set!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Lorie Ames

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks for stopping by!  This will be the last sketch challenge at The Sweet Stop for 2011.  The Sugar Babies are taking the next two weeks to enjoy Christmas and New Year's Eve with our families and friends. We'll be back in January with many more wonderful sketches to inspire you!  Have a great weekend:) 


Hugs,
Cathymac  


Card Recipe:
Stamps: In the Manger Digi (Mo Manning), He Shall Be Called (ODBD), O Christmas Tree (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)  
Ink: Faded Jeans Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Night Sky Shimmer, Soft Stone (PTI),  Neenah Solar White (SNSS), Midnight Frost DP (Bo Bunny) 
Accessories: Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Nesties  (Spellbinders), Chipboard Star (SU!), Ribbon  (PTI), Kaiser Rhinestone, Jelly Roll Pen (Sakura), Copic Markers B91, B93, B95, B97, B99, Y11, Y13, Y21, Y23, Y26, R20, E00, E21, E35, E37, E40, E41, E57, E59, E97, E99, W00, W2
          

Make a Wish

Happy Saturday to you, my friends!  Have you noticed all the pink challenges out there in blog land this month?  Breast Cancer Awareness is the reason for all the pink during the month of October and here at The Sweet Stop, we've decided to join the crowd.  Not only are we revisiting SSS69 from the past, but we are all using pink for our samples!

Creative Nugget:  I flipped the sketch to accommodate this little Mo Manning cutie which was colored with copic markers.  Some Diamond Stickles were added to the dandelion puffs, parts of her outfit, and her ponytail band.  While still in the rectangle nestie, Antique Linen Distress Ink was sponged around the border.  This was attached to a True Black Spellbinders label twenty-three die cut.  All of the pretty "My Mind's Eye" papers were layered on True Black.  These were then adhered to a Pink Pirouette card base.  A border was punched from the same "My Mind's Eye" paper as the background and then layered on black.  Charcoal and Blossom twine was also wrapped around the three pink gingham panels.  The greeting was mounted on several matching circle punches and covered with a page bubble.  Pearls were colored to match and stuck on the border to finish the card.  Hope you like my pretty pink sample!  Now check out the other fabulous samples by the Sugar Babies Team and join the SNSS131 sketch challenge over at The Sweet Stop!


        

The Sugar Babies

Korin Sutherland

Monika Davis

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Lorie Ames

Speaking of making a wish...one of mine came true today.  We have a new member of our family...a sweet little golden retriever puppy!  I'll have pictures on my next post!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...stop back again!

Hugs,
Cathymac


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Make a Wish (Mo Manning Digi), Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper:  Pink Pirouette (SU!), True Black (PTI), Lost and Found DP (My Mind's Eye)
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch (SU!), Diamond Stickles (Ranger), Charcoal and Blossom Bakers Twine (SNSS), Labels Twenty-Three Die, Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), Circle Punches (SU!), Rain Dot (Cloud9 Design), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers E000, E00, E21, E31, E35, R20, R81, R83, R85, R89, YR20, G0000, G000, G00, BG0000, C0, C1, C3, C7

Goodbye Summer

Squee!  It's Saturday and time again for another Sweet Stop sketch.  It's drying out here in PA and we actually saw some sun yesterday...Yea!  That reminded me that it is still officially summer...that's right, autumn doesn't officially begin until September 23rd, so it's still summer for twelve more days.  While I've been enjoying the fall cards and projects here on blog land and in the galleries, I thought I would give summer a little love one last time!

Creative Nugget: For some reason I hardly ever grab my purple goodies to work with, but I love this Bo Bunny collection and decided to pull out the purples and greens on this project.  The card base is Plum Pudding and all of the DP layers are mounted on this color as well.  The image is a cute digital from Mo's Digital Pencil called "Wonder."  This little sweetie was colored with copics, cut out with a circle nestie, and mounted on a scalloped circle.  Notice her white shoes...I know it's after Labor Day, but I couldn't resist!  This was then popped up over the double layered ribbon.  A modern label punch was used for the sentiment.  Pearls and a bow made with my Bow Easy finish off the card.  I hope you enjoy this card and the last remaining days of summer!

Hop on over to The Sweet Stop to see some amazing samples created by the other Sugar Babies...you won't be disappointed.  Then use the linky tool over at The Sweet Stop to upload your card.  We love to see what you do each week!

                     The Sugar Babies

Korin Sutherland 

Monika Davis 

Shelby Goolsby 

 Lorie Ames

Wendy Ramlakhan  

Janice Melton 

Shannon White 

Kim O' Connell

It's also day three of Sweet Peeks over at the SNSS Blog.  Today the design divas will share samples made with a new Christmas set called "Rhubarb's Christmas."   Go check out the Christmas cards made with this adorable set!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!  Enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Wonder (Mo's Digital Pencil), Mini Tags 1 (ODBD)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Broken China and Dusty Concord Distress Inks (Ranger), Canon Printer

Paper: Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Plum Pudding (PTI), Bo Bunny DP

Accessories: Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), Modern Label Punch (SU!), Ribbon, Picnic Plaid Impression Plate (PTI), Kaiser Pearls, Bow Easy, Copic Markers E000, E00, E11, E33, E35, E53, Y21, V09, V12, V15, V91, V93, V95, YG00, YG23, YG25, BG0000 

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