Bloom & Grow

Hello friends!  After being without power for three days, I'm thrilled to be able to be here for DAY 1 of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps February Release Blog Hops!

Today's feature is:

Bloom & Grow

This 4"x6" set includes 6 images that can be used together for layering or to create backgrounds.  It also includes 6 beautiful sentiments that have to do with blooming and growing…a lovely new set to get you thinking about spring…and right now I wouldn't mind a little bit of Spring!

• Large Flower Petal image measures approximately 1.5" x 1.5"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is $15

Here are a couple of cards using Bloom & Grow to spark your creativity!

Creative Nugget:  On this card the flower grows with each passing moment to match the sentiment.  Gelatos were colored directly on the stamps and spritzed with water to create a watercolor effect. The larger flower image was stamped off once before stamping on the card for a lighter shadow behind the smaller image which was stamped full strength.  The same technique was used for the stems.  The sentiment banner was hand cut and popped onto the right side of the card, and Majestic Monarchs, cut with the Monarch Dies and colored with Gelatos, were added along with a few pearls to finish the card.

Creative Nugget:  On this card a square was masked in the middle of the panel along with a border.  Light sponging with Summer Sky Memento ink was done between the masks.  A combination of Memento inks and Stampin' Up! inks were used to stamp several images from the Bloom & Grow stamp set.  The masks were removed and the sentiment was stamped in the middle.  A Doily Border Die, a few pearls, and gingham ribbon were used to finish the card!

The DT has shared their gorgeous samples in the thumbnails below.  Stop by each of their blogs and comment for a chance to WIN one of (2) $20 gift codes to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!

Don't miss these other opportunities to win:

(1) $20 gift code drawn from all comments on Friday's release blog post
(1) $20 gift code drawn from all comments on full reveals in our SCS forum
(1) $20 gift code drawn from all participants in our release challenge hosted on the SNSS Blog 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, February 14th.  The list of winners will be announced on our blog by Monday, February 17th.

Thanks so much for joining us!  Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac

L-O-V-E

Good morning friends!  There are two GOOD things about lots of snow!  First... it's gorgeous before pollutants have had a chance to contaminate it…so clean, pristine, and pure! What a perfect picture of a person who has been forgiven of their sins.  Isaiah 1:18 says, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;  Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool."  Aren't you thankful for God's mercy?

The second GOOD thing about snow is that work sometimes gets cancelled, and that means more "Stamp Time."  So, today I decided to play along with the Shining the Light Challenge over at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. The challenge this week is a recipe…include something on your card that begins with each letter in the word "L-O-V-E."

Here's what I came up with:

Creative Nugget:  Spellbinders dies and ODBD Custom Ornate Hearts Dies and Fancy Foliage Dies were used to create the layers on the front of the card which was stitched to a Vintage Cream card base.  The sentiment from the new Love You Bunches stamp set was white embossed on vellum and sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  Flowers, lace, pearls, and ribbon make the card feminine and give it a touch of vintage.  Here's how my card creation spells "LOVE" :

L - Layers, Lace,  O - Oval, Ornate Heart Dies,  V - Vellum, Vintage,  

E - Embossing, Embellishments

The following supplies from the ODBD Store were used to make this card:

My card will be entered into the following challenges:

ODBDSLC189 - (Love Recipe Challenge) - Our Daily Bread Designs Blog

Challenge #117 - (Anything Goes) - Word Art Wednesday

Thank you so much for stopping by today…stay warm!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Monarch Dies

Hello, sweet friends!  If you like butterflies, you will love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps final feature blog hop for the January release!

Welcome to Day 5

Today's feature is:

Monarch Dies

•Die set includes 6 dies
•Dies range from approximately 3/4" x 1" to approximately 2.25" x 2.75"
•Dies coordinate with the Majestic Monarchs Clear Stamp Set
•Designed by Korin Sutherland
•Die set - $14.75

I sponged a background to create a scene for the perfect setting for my butterflies.

Creative Nugget: The background was sponged with Memento inks, fading the sponging into the right side of the card to allow space to stamp the sentiment from the Majestic Monarch stamp set.  Several foliage stamps from Nature Silhouettes were double stamped in versa fine Onyx Black creating a shadow effect.  I saw a technique on Splitcoaststampers for making clouds with acrylic paint and your finger and thought I'd give it a try.  I really like how they turned out, and will probably use this technique a lot!  The Fence Die was added along with the Majestic Monarchs.   The new Monarch Dies were actually cut about five times and glued together to create depth.  Only the top layer was stamped and colored with Copic Markers...LOVE these new dies!  The card front was attached to True Black card stock and mounted to a Solar Crest card base.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS BLOG.

Be sure to leave a comment of each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th. 

Thank you so much for joining us for the past five days!  I hope you've been inspired by each of the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Feature Blog Hops for the January Release.

Enjoy the hop today and have a blessed Wednesday!

Hugs,

Cathymac