First Class Friend

What a busy, busy week!  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps just had another fabulous release...six new stamp sets and a matching set of dies!  I LOVE them all, but especially the Vintage Postcard clear stamp set.  If you have not had a chance to check them out, head on over to the store, where there are some special deals going on, to take a look. I'm sure you will be adding some of these sets to your wish list!  With that in mind...I decided to feature my favorite set of the release for my Saturday sketch from The Sweet Stop!

Creative Nugget: This sketch was perfect for achieving a kind of vintage look.  The papers, colors, and accents helped produce the look I was trying for.  The top panel was created by stamping some of the elements from the Vintage Postcard set right on the patterned paper in Basic Gray and Pumice Stone Distress inks.  The little first class friend post mark was cut out with one of the matching dies.  The second panel was made the same way using the Friendship Script background stamp set, another new release.  These were layered on My Mind's Eye papers from the Portobello Road paper pad and a Soft Stone card base.  The dotted panel was zig-zag stitched to the Heart Border, which is also a die from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Finally came the addition of the rolled flower made from two cuts of DP using the Spiral Blossom 2 die from Spellbinders.  My first attempt at a rolled flower is a bit over-worked and not as tight in the center as I would like, but looks okay...I think!  Some Stardust Stickles was brushed on the flower petals and the whole flower given a shot of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to finish it off!  You can scroll down to my last post to see another card made with this fabulous set!


I didn't get a Christmas version done yet...busy, busy, week...but this is such a great sketch, that I plan on doing one, so be sure to check back!


Before you leave, check out the very talented Sugar Babies for more inspiration and then join us at The Sweet Stop this week for some fun stamping!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Chrissy Dickinson

I appreciate so much the time you take to stop by...thanks so much! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Postcard, Friendship Script (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Basic Gray (SU!), Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper: Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Soft Sky (SU!), Portobello Road (My Mind's Eye)

Accessories: Pennants and More Dies and Heart Border Die (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Spiral Blossom 2 Die (Spellbinders), Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), White Seam Binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Kaiser Pearl

                                         

SNSS March Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps March New Release Celebration!  The Design Divas are so excited to be kicking off this month's amazing stamp release with a blog hop today.  You are probably joining me from Kim Singdahlsen's blog; if not, be sure to head back to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog so you don't miss a thing!

Creative Nugget:  For my first sample, I used the new "Pennant Party" clear stamp set designed by Korin Sutherland.  What an amazing and fun set to work with. The set has 25 whopping stamps and will sell for just $11, an amazing value.  There are also matching dies available, making the stamps in the set easy to cut out.  I went a little ouside the box to create my golf scene, using the dies to make trees, a flag, and the golf hole.  After piecing my background using various patterned papers, I zig-zag stitched around everything.  The trees were added to the background and the #1 in the set was used to make the tree trunks.  The marker flag was made with one of the pennant dies and a toothpick rolled in a black stamp pad. Even the word "PAR" was made from one of the sentiments in the set.  I just covered all the letters except PAR with tape, inked up the stamp, removed the tape, and stamped it on the flag!  The sentiment banner was hand cut, a button added, and that finished off my card.  Fun! This is definitely a set that can be very versatile!

Creative Nugget:  Here's another sample using just the pennant dies and a sewing machine.  Buttons were added for interest.  The sentiment is from the "Sew Happy Cocoa" clear stamp set.

Creative Nugget:  My third sample has a completely different look as I went with a shabby, vintage style using the fabulous new set designed by Dina Kowal, "Vintage Postcard."  It has 17 stamps and will sell for $15.  The postcard elements were stamped on Kraft card stock using Tuxedo Black and Walnut Stain distress ink.  The titmouse image on the left is from a clear stamp set called "Peace of God," and was colored with copic markers.  I cringed and held my breath as the next step of the distressing process began.  The whole panel was crumpled up into a tight little ball and opened back up again.  Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain distress inks were swiped across the wrinkles and spritzed with water.  After letting the inks run a bit, the panel was ironed to dry and flatten it.  I breathed easy...I liked the results!  The card base was layered with card stock and patterned papers that had been distressed and pierced.  A little bit of cheese cloth was also distressed and added under the postcard image. (Thanks, Monika!)  Everything was tied together with a ribbon that was stained with the distress inks.


We hope you enjoy checking out the other projects as much as we've enjoyed making them!  Your next stop is the talented Mary Faus's blog. And just in case there's a glitch, here is the whole list of team members hopping along with us today:

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog

Korin Sutherland

Jessica Fick

Kim Singdahlsen

Cathy McCauley  <--- You are here!

Mary Faus

DJ Rants

Amber Hillman

Monika Davis

Kim Schofield

Giovana Smith

Holly McMillen

Dina Kowal

Bridget Finlay

Taylor Usry

After the hop, make plans to join us for our New Release Party over in our Member Company Forums on Splitcoaststampers.  We'll have full reveals of all the stamp and dies sets being released this month, challenges to inspire you, and of course fun chatter with great friends!  See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by...have fun hopping!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Congrats Card Recipe

Stamps: Pennant Party (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Select White, Kraft (PTI), Soft Sky and Cloud DP (SU!), Basics Kraft Paper Pad (BasicGrey), Victorian Gardens Paper Pad (Echo Park)
Accessories: Sew Mini (Janome), Pennant Dies (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), 1/2" hole Punch, Photo Corner Punch (SU!)

God Bless You Card Recipe

Stamps: Vintage Postcard, Peace of God (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black (Memento), Vintage Photo, Worn Lipstick, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Blueberry Sky, Kraft, True Black (PTI), BasicGrey DP
Accessories: Distressing Tool, Piercing Tool (SU!), Cheesecloth, Satin Ribbon (PTI), Copic Markers B91, B95, B97, B99,YG21, YG63, YG67, R43, R46, E11, E13, E55, E57, E59, C1, C5, C9

Butterfly Flight

Where did this week go...it just flew by!  Here it is, Saturday already, and time for another sketch at The Sweet Stop.  This one had me stumped for a while, but butterflies seemed perfect for the sketch, so out they came again this week!

Creative Nugget:  The spots on the sketch became spots of color made with various polka dot stamps and distress inks, Peeled Paint, Broken China, and Victorian Velvet. The spots were then overstamped with butterflies from two Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps clear stamp sets, Rose Collage and Serene Silhouettes.  The corners were torn from another piece of Select White card stock and sent through the Big Shot with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The sentiment from the Prayerful Thoughts stamp set seemed just right for these butterflies so it was layered on a Spellbinders ribbon slide die cut along with some seam binding dyed with the Victorian Velvet stamp pad. Everything was layered onto my favorite True Black card stock and an Autumn Rose card base.  Easy-Peasy...and no patterned paper or copic markers!

For the Christmas version, the spots became stars:

I'm so excited that my Christmas stash is growing!  For more inspiration for this sketch, check out the amazing samples made by the Sugar Babies!  Hope you'll give this one a try and play along at The Sweet Stop...I'd love to see how you use the spots!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Chrissy Dickinson

Before I leave I want to invite you to two exciting events happening on March 1st...  

You don't want to miss this one. The new sets being released are amazing!  Just to whet your appetite, here are peeks at two of the new clear stamp sets being released:

This set was designed by Dina Kowal.  It includes 17 stamps and will sell for $15.

This next set was designed by Korin Sutherland.  It includes 25 stamps and will sell for only $11.

See what I mean...just amazing!  Hope you'll plan to join us next Thursday for a day of fun! Thanks for stopping by today...have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Rose Collage, Serene Silhouettes, Prayerful Thoughts (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Victorian Velvet, Broken China, and Peeled Paint Distress inks (Ranger)

Paper: Select White, True Black, Autumn Rose (PTI)

Accessories: Floral Doily Motifs (Spellbinders), Kaiser Pearls, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Seam Binding (Really Reasonable Ribbon) 

Butterfly Flourish

Hello friends...it's Saturday again and time for another fabulous sketch from The Sweet Stop!  Korin just keeps coming up with sketches that yield beautiful results!  I don't know about you, but a good sketch just seems to get my creative juices flowing...I hope you like my samples for this week!

Creative Nugget:  See what I mean...I really like how this one turned out and I didn't even use copics!  I began by making a wrinkle-free background for the butterfly panel.  Some Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress ink was swiped across a non-stick craft mat and spritzed with water.  The ink on the work surface beaded up and a piece of white card stock was dabbed and twisted on the wet ink.  A heat tool was used to dry the ink.  The same process was repeated two more times until most of the ink on the work surface was used.  A circle nestie was used to cut the panel. The Butterfly Flourish, from a new clear stamp set released earlier this month by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, was stamped on the panel with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  The verse from Psalms, from the  Wait on the Lord stamp set, was stamped on Fine Linen card stock and cut with a rectangle nestie. Both panels were mounted on black and layered on some designer paper from My Mind's Eye.  Some stitching was added around the perimeter.  A black border left over from another project was zig-zag stitched to the striped panel.  All of this was layered onto True Black and a Fine Linen card base following the sketch.  A black ribbon was tied across the middle and some black rhinestones were added.  One of the butterflies was stamped again, cut out, and popped up for some dimension.  The sentiment and little banner are from the Rose Collage clear stamp set, and were cut out and added to the circle panel.  That finished off my sample.

Here's the Christmas version:

If you've enjoyed these samples, you're sure to get inspired by what the other Sugar Babies have created for you today.  Be sure to check them out and play along with us at The Sweet Stop this week!  If you use punches or dies on your card, you could even be eligible for a prize!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

Kim O'Connell

Chrissy Dickinson

Thanks for stopping by...hope you get to grab some stamping time and enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card recipe:

Stamps: Butterfly Flourish, Rose Collage, Wait on the Lord (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress ink (Ranger)

Paper: Pure Linen, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Vanity Fair Paper Pad (My Mind's Eye)

Accessories: Circle, Scalloped Circle, and Rectangle Nesties, Classic Petal Edgeabilities

(Spellbinders), Non-Stick Craft Mat (Ranger), Sew Mini Sewing Machine (Janome), Black Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Kaiser Black Rhinestones

Bountiful Borders

Hello, friends!  Today is an exciting day for me...it's the first time for me to host a challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  The "Ways to Use It" Challenge for today is to see how creative you can be with those border dies and punches.  If you don't have any border dies or punches...you can grab some decorative scissors to create your borders.  I made two samples for WT362.

Creative Nugget: Some new Edgeabilitie dies and inserts were used to create the decorative strip across the bottom of the card.  The die and one of the inserts from the Classic Petal set was layered with an insert from the Classic Ric Rac set for the bottom part of the strip.  The same die and inserts were reversed to create the top of the strip.  This produced a little flower design in the middle from which the Baker's Twine was tied.  The neat thing about the new Edgeabilities dies is that all of the sets are interchangeable for endless possibilities!  The decorative strip was layered onto a Dotted Swiss panel, a black panel, and a Select White card base.  The sentiment was computer generated and punched with the modern label punch.

Creative Nugget:  The bottom border of this second sample was made by using the edge only of the Ric Rac set of Edgeabilitie Dies.  The die was used on the white panel as well as the black card base.  The hearts are from a Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp set called "Polka Dot Silhouettes" and were stamped in various colors. Some of the hearts were then die cut with  matching heart dies and popped up for dimension.  Some ruffled black gingham ribbon and a computer generated sentiment were added to the top of the card.


I hope you'll grab your border dies and play along with the challenge. I'd love to see what you create with those bountiful borders!  Thanks so much for stopping by!


Hugs,
Cathymac


Card Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Silhouettes (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Computer
Ink: Computer, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, Brilliant Blue, Lovely Lilac (SU!)
Paper: Select White, True Black (PTI)
Accessories: Dotted Swiss Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft), Classic Ric Rac and Classic Petal Edgeabilities, Banner die (Spellbinders), Modern Label Punch (SU!), Kaiser Pearls colored with Copic Markers, Baker's Twine, Heart Dies (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Ruffled Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions) 

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

I Woof You!

Hello, Friends...I have a really short post for you today!  Over at Splitcoaststampers, Hannah challenged us to make a valentine with a twist...no RED or PINK!  This is what I came up with.

Creative Nugget:  No matter how much I try, I cannot seem to color my dogs any color but golden...go figure!  Any way...this adorable pup from a Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp set called "I Woof You!"...was colored with copic markers.  Scraps of Basic Grey DP were zig-zag stitched together and a heart Nestie cut out of the middle.  A Baja Breeze heart was embossed with hearts and layered onto a Chocolate Chip scalloped heart...that's a lot of hearts!  LOL!  The hearts and the stitched DP were layered onto So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, and then a Baja Breeze card base.  Button twine was wrapped around the card and a paper button covered with Glossy Accents added.  Finally the pup was cut out and popped up on top.  There you have it...a valentine with no RED or PINK!

Thanks for stopping by...enjoy your day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps:  I Woof You! (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron (SU!), Cryogen White, Max & Whiskers DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Heart and Scalloped Heart Nesties (Spellbinders), Kaiser Pearls, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Sew Mini Sewing Machine (Janome), Copic Markers YR21, YR21, E37, E99, W5, W7, W9

Rose Collage

Hello friends!  Hope you all had a marvelous Super Bowl weekend! Congratulations to all you Giants fans!

It's my day to post on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog, so I thought I would share my sample here as well!   Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has done it again...the February release was fabulous!  The collage images and silhouettes are perfect stamp sets to be used with many wonderful background techniques.  So I grabbed my distress inks and started playing around!

Creative Nugget:  The inspiration for my card came from Sunday's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoaststampers, Darsie Bruno.  You can see Darsie's fabulous gallery here.  I used the same two new Sweet 'n Sassy clear stamp sets, "Rose Collage" and "You,"  as Darsie did to make her fabulous Rose Collage card.  To make the background for the beautiful Rose Collage stamp, I started with a piece of white card stock and crumpled it up...just bunch it up into a little ball...the more creases, the better! Flatten it out and rub a distress ink pad over the creases.  I used Spun Sugar on my sample.  Then spritz it with water so the ink begins to spread and run. Use an old iron or a craft iron to help dry the card stock and flatten the paper even more.  You can leave it as is, or sponge on more color.  I decided to add some Scattered Straw and Antique Linen. When you are happy with the results, stamp your image.  The ribbon was distressed as well.  I just dragged the ribbon across the Spun Sugar and Scattered Straw ink pads to lightly stain it.  A few torn edges, paper piercing, and pearls finish the card. What do you think?

I hope this makes sense to you, but if not, visit Tim Holtz's blog to see a video tutorial on this and other background techniques.  To see a sample of another fabulous background technique using alcohol inks, see my last post.

I hope you'll grab your Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and try some beautiful backgrounds.  We'd love to see what you create!   Happy stamping!


As always...thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Rose Collage, You (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, StazOn Jet Black (Tsukineko),  Spun Sugar, Scattered Straw, and Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Select White, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (SNSS), Yours Truly Paper Pad (Echo Park), Vellum (SU!)
Accessories: Felt Applicator Tool (Tim Holtz), Kaiser Pearls, Silk Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon)