Mix It Up With a Sketch

Good morning friends!  I just love leisurely mornings like this...there's no where I have to be until later, so Kody and I will enjoy a nice walk before it gets too hot.  But for now, it's time for this week's sketch at The Sweet Stop.  For my sample today, I've decided to mix it up...yesterday the Mixability Challenge on Splitcoaststampers was to use three or more different surfaces on your card or project, so with that in mind and SSS218 this card evolved!

Creative Nugget:  I'm not sure who made this pretty DP as it was in a pack of papers given to me by a very good friend...(thanks, Korin...wink*). but the different panels were matted in Smokey Shadow card stock and mounted to a Soft Stone card base following the sketch.  The Majestic Monarchs, from a new set being released next Friday by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, were stamped directly on the DP and colored with Copics.  One butterfly was stamped, embossed, fussy cut, and attached to the largest of the butterflies on the panel.  During the process of making this card I was playing around with mixed media paper, distress stains, and stencils.  Although I did not use this paper on my card as intended, a small piece was salvaged to create the sentiment tab, stamped with a thank you from the Many Thanks stamp set.  The Kindness Flower Dies were used to cut nine flowers from tissue paper.  These were stamped with the matching flowers from the Kindness stamp set.  They were layered and held together with a brad.  The petals were separated and ruffled and a little pearl attached to hide the brad.  Some stitching and a few flourishes finish the card.  My five surfaces were card stock, DP, vellum, watercolor paper, and tissue paper!  Hope you like it as it was a fun card to put together.

Be sure to check out all the pretties created by the other talented Sugar Babies.  I hope you'll be able to find some time to stamp with us over at The Sweet Stop this week!

Sugar Babies

Ann Tuck
Ceal Pritchett
Cynthia Olheiser
Debbie Owens
Jamie Moore
Marlena Peduzzi
Melissa Schultz
Monika Davis
Robin Parker
                                              Stephanie Serrano

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

Hugs,
Cathymac

Card Recipe
Stamps: Majestic Monarchs, Kindness, Many Thanks (SNSS)
Ink: Tuxedo Black, Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Ranger)
Paper: Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Vellum (SU!), Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore), DP, Tissue Paper
Accessories: Sew Mini (Janome), Kindness Flower/Clover Dies (SNSS), Mini Fanciful Flourish Die (Cheery Lynn), Kaiser Pearl, Copic Markers BG10, BG13, BG18, YR21, YR23, YR24, YR61, YR65, YR68, R20, R21, R22

ODBD July Release

It's time again for another fabulous release by Our Daily Bread Designs!   Love is in the air and wedding bells are ringing.  The new sets being released this month are perfect for wedding and anniversary card making and gifts. Although we are not having a blog hop this month, there will be one winner chosen from one of the designer's blog comments who will receive a $50 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Store! You will have until July 3, 2013 at 9:00 pm EST to make your comments!  You can find all the card samples and blog links on the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog, but to make it easier for you, I will also have all the designer's links at the bottom of this post.

Now for some news about our ODBD Designers...

• Angela Crockett and Audrey Hiltke are moving to the Aluni Team!
• I will be moving from the Challenge Team to the Design Team!
• Deb Saaranen is taking a short leave for a few months since she is moving.
• Kathy Roney is leaving the Challenge Team...we will miss her!!
• Connie McCotter and Betty Wright are leaving the Alumni Team!  We will miss them as well.  Both Connie and Betty have been on our team for many years, and Betty was also the Alumni Team Coordinator!
• Cheryl Scrivens is joining us on the Challenge Team...welcome Cheryl!

I have two cards to share with you using some of the new release sets.

Creative Nugget:  The Quatrefoil Pattern die was layered onto My Mind's Eye DP and Smokey Shadow card stock.  By cutting a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight die in half and attaching half to the top and half to the bottom, a border was made before mounting the front to a Pink Pirouette card base.  The Quatrefoil Design Dies were used to create a frame in Smokey Shadow for the Love Scripture verse.  Some dyed seam binding was woven through the Quatrefoil die and the verse popped on top with dimensionals. The swag, banner, and love birds were stamped with images from the new To the Love Birds and Banner Sentiments stamp sets and die cut with the matching Bird Cage and Banner Dies.  A few Cheery Lynn Mini Fanciful Flourishes and pearls were added to finish the card.

Here's the second one:

Creative Nugget:  The Gingham Background was stamped in Pink Pirouette on the top of a Solar Crest panel and a CB embossing folder used to give texture to the bottom of the panel.  It's hard to see, but the bird cage from the To the Lovebirds stamp set was randomly stamped in VersaMark and white embossed over the pink gingham. This panel was stitched to a Pink Pirouette matt. This time the smaller Decorative Labels Eight die was cut lengthwise to create a border at the top and bottom of the card and black lace added before attaching it to a Solar Crest card front.  This gave a different look than the one above.  All of the pieces from the Bird Cage and Banners Dies were used to decorate the front of the card along with the sentiment from the Banner Sentiments stamp set.  The bird cage was mounted on a Spellbinders Antique Frame die and some ribbon, flourishes, and roses finish the card.

The new sets and dies used to create these cards are available today at the ODBD Store!

Be sure to visit these super talented ladies for more incredibly gorgeous samples using this month's new release sets.  Leave a comment on each one of their blogs to be eligible for the PRIZE!

~~Angie~~Audrey~~Chris~~Dawn~~Grace~~Julie~~
~~Lisa~~Lori~~Sabrina~~Sandee~~Silke~~Tosha~~

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

Hugs,

Cathymac

Making Waves

Happy Saturday friends and stampers!  Hope you've had a wonderful week.  Yesterday I spent the day going on a Best Kept Secret Tour with two very special friends.  We had a marvelous time traveling to the different shops, eating way too much, and spending more than I should have, so now it's time to get back to my daily routine...for today that means bringing you the new sketch at The Sweet Stop!

Yesterday Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps released three new die sets for the summer. I used one of the die sets for my sample today and decided to make some waves.  

Creative Nugget:  Fancy Pants DP and Pacific Point card stock were used to create the panels for the sketch.  The waves were cut with the new Wave Dies set, the panels attached to Solar Crest and stitched to Pacific Point, and everything mounted to a Solar Crest card base.  The main image from the Ocean Paradise stamp set was stamped and colored with Copic Markers except for the umbrella which was paper pieced.  This image and the Pumpkin Pie matt were cut with Classic Circle Nesties.  One of the wonderful attributes of clear stamps is that they can be curved on the acrylic block to fit the contours of your card as was done with this sentiment from the Kindness stamp set.  The shells from the Beauty by the Sea stamp set were colored, fussy cut, and covered with Glossy Accents to finish the card.  Now I'm ready for the beach!

I hope you are ready to join us for this week's SSS217 challenge. We have plenty of inspiration for you.  Just check out the sketch and some amazing samples made by the Sugar Babies!

Sugar Babies

Ann Tuck

Ceal Pritchett

Cynthia Olheiser

Debbie Owens

Faye Winn-Jones (on vacation)

Jamie Moore

Marlena Peduzzi

Melissa Schultz

 Monika Davis

Robin Parker

Stephanie Serrano

I so appreciate everyone who visits...thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!  

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Ocean Paradise, Beauty by the Sea, Kindness (SNSS)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Stormy Sky, Wild Honey, Walnut Stain Distress Inks (Ranger)

Paper:  Solar Crest (Neenah), Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Fancy Pants DP

Accessories: Waves Die Set (SNSS), Classic Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Sew Mini (Janome), Copic Markers B0000, B00, B02, B32, B34, B37, BG05, YG13, YG17, YG21, YG25, E00, E31, E33, E35, E50, E51, E53, E97, E99, T0

SNSS Summer Die-Version Blog Hop

Now that summer is finally here, how about a little diversion...that is...a Die-Version!  Welcome to the 
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Summer Die-Version Blog Hop! We are so thrilled to bring you 3 fabulous new die sets today plus oodles of eye candy for your creative taste buds.  :)

Before we get to sharing the pretties, check out these wonderful new dies!

Small Leaves Dies  $6.25

Shape Dies  $19.75

Wave Dies  $8.50

How fun are they?!  Wait till you see what the Design Team has done with these dies!

Here's what I created using the new

Small Leaves die set:

Creative Nugget:  This card uses the sketch from the Sketch Challenge on SCS this week.  The background  was made with several layers of Dylusions ink sprays.  The little diamond pattern was sponged through a stencil with Peeled Paint and Gathered Twigs Distress inks.  The Queen Anne's Lace from the Nature Silhouettes 2 stamp set was double stamped with Early Espresso Ink to create a shadow and dotted with a white gel pen.  The little leaves were die cut from a variety of left over scraps from my mixed media experiments.  Some of the leaves were embedded using the Canvas Impression Plate and other were popped up for dimension.  The banner was hand cut from Bo Bunny DP and layered onto Early Espresso card stock.  The sentiment from the Prayerful Thoughts stamp set was stamped on the hexagon from the Shapes Dies set.  A ltttle twine bow finishes off the card.

This next fun card was made with the Shapes Dies!

Creative Nugget:  The hexagon shapes were again cut from scraps of DP and mixed media paper and layered onto True Black hexagons...what a good way to use up those scraps!  The sentiment and bees from the Bee Happy Rhubarb stamp set were stamped between the hexagon shapes and embossed with the Canvas Impression Plate.  Gingham ribbon was tied in a bow around the card front which was matted in True Black and mounted to a Golden Harvest card base.  Rhubarb was colored with Copic Markers, fussy cut, and popped onto the card.  Stickles glitter was added to the wings to finish the card!

To see my card made with the Wave Dies set you will have to stop back tomorrow for The Sweet Stop challenge where we will have another wonderful sketch to spark your creativity!

Be sure to comment at each stop along the way for a chance to win one of our new die sets!  We will be awarding 3 winners one of the new die sets!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Happy Hopping!!

Hugs,

Cathymac

ODBDSLC160 Patriotic or Red White, and Blue

Welcome everyone, and a happy Tuesday to you all!  Looks like rain is in our forecast for most of the week, so I'll probably be spending a lot of time inside!  If that's true for you as well, and even if it's not, come join us for the Shining the Light Challenge at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog and have some fun working with red, white, and blue!

This week's challenge is:

Patriotic or Red, White, & Blue
This will be a two week challenge.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a PRIZE, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs Store!!  Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, July 7 at 8 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced with the next challenge.  In order to win this prize, you do not need to use ODBD stamps, but if you have them, we would love to see them!

As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing three or more of our participants for the Shining the Light Award.  In order to qualify for this award, you must use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, July 7 at 8 p.m. EST.  If you upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC152.  When creating your posts on blogs, please include a link to the challenge.  Thank you!  We love seeing your creations!

Before I post my card for this week's challenge, I have some exciting news!  While I will be participating in the challenges from time to time, I will no longer be on the Challenge Team...but will be moving to the Design Team!
   Now...onto my card for this week!

Creative Nugget:  The background for this card was made by distressing and stitching three panels, one from Fab Scraps, one from embossed Rustic White, and one from The Paper Loft, to Cherry Cobbler and Night of Navy card stocks and then attaching it to a Rustic White card front.  The main image from the Not Forgotten stamp set was stamped in Night of Navy and cut with an A2 Matting Basics Die by Spellbinders.  A little sponging and distressing was done to age the panel.  The postal mark in the corner was white embossed on Night of Navy card stock and popped onto the card.  The banner was cut with a square punch and the sentiment from the same set stamped in Cherry Cobbler. The star stickers, which were gold, were colored with a Copic Marker and added to finish the card.

This wonderful patriotic stamp set is available at the 

Our Daily Bread Designs Store!

For more gorgeous Red, White, and Blue inspiration, be sure to check in with the rest of the talented Challenge Team Sisters.  Be sure to leave some love on their blogs, especially for Kathy Roney who will be stepping down from the team. We have enjoyed seeing her creations each week for the past year and she will be greatly missed!

Hope to see you over at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog for ODBDSLC160!

~~Chris Olsen~~Jan Marie Ennenga~~

~~Kathy Roney~~Audrey Hiltke~~Diana Nguyen~~

and Guest Designer, Cheryl Scrivens

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a blessed week!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Not Forgotten (ODBD)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Barn Door, Walnut Stain, and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks 

Paper: Rustic White, Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Fab Scraps DP, The Paper Loft DP

Accessories: Spellbinders Matting Basics Die, Sew Mini, White Detail Embossing Powder, Square Punch, Star Stickers

ODBDSLC159 Sketch

Hello everyone!  Hope your week got off to a good start. Here it is Tuesday again and time for another Shining the Light Challenge and this week Chris has a sketch for us!

This week's challenge is:

A Sketch

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a PRIZE, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs Store!!  Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, June 23rd at 8 p.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced with the next challenge.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments, we would love to see them if you have them.  As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing three or more of our participants for the Shining the Light Award.  In order to qualify for this award, you must use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, June 23rd at 8 p.m. EST.  If you upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC159.  When creating your posts on blogs, please include a link to the challenge.  Thank you!  We love seeing your creations!

Here's my card for ODBDSLC159:

Creative Nugget:  The front of the card was made by stamping the Fishing Net Background with Wild Honey Distress Ink on a Harvest Gold panel.  A little sponging with the same ink was done around the edges before matting it on True black card stock and attaching it to a Harvest Gold card base.  The lighthouse image from the Keep My Lamp Burning set was masked and the sky sponged with distress inks.  Some Coloring with Copic Markers was done to finish the second panel.  More masking and sponging was done to create the ocean scene.  The fishing boat from The Waves on the Sea set was stamped with the help of a stamp positioner.  This panel was cut with a Spellbinders Classic Oval, mounted to a Terracotta Tile Opulent Oval Die, and then to a True Black Memory Box Die.  The oval was switched to the other side of the card from the sketch to accommodate the images.  The Compass was stamped again and fussy cut to pop up on the front of the card.  The banners were hand cut.  The sentiment from the All Occasion Sentiments stamp set was stamped onto vellum and stitched to the card front.  A few pearls finish the card.

Here you can find the supplies used from the ODBD Store!

For more fabulous samples for your inspiration, check out my fellow Challenge Team Members  Hope you can join us this week over at the Our Daily Bread Blog for ODBDSLC159!

~~Jan Marie Ennenga~~Grace Nywening~~

~~Audrey Hiltke~~ Diana Nguyen~~

and Guest Designer, Cheryl Scrivens 

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

Hugs,

Cathymac

I've Got Your Number

Welcome back to the fourth and final Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps June Release Feature Hop!  Today's feature has a matching die set which will make creating special occasion cards requiring the use of numbers a snap.

Today's feature is:

I've Got Your Number

This wonderful set with matching dies is perfect for scrapbooking and card making.  You'll find endless uses for these large numbers.

• Stamp set includes 20 Number stamps
• Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
• The number images measure approximately 1" x 1 5/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $26
• Die set is priced at $22.75
• Or get them both for just $46 in the I've Got Your Number Bundle

Since I now have a new great niece, this is the card I made with this versatile set:

Creative Nugget:  This set works so well with all the new birthday sets that were released back in April!  The confetti stamped randomly on the background in colors matching the banners cut from My Mind's Eye DP and the sentiment were made with stamps from the Birthday Bash stamp set.  The number one was die cut and stamped with the matching number 1 in the I've Got Your Number stamp set.  The st is from the Celebrating Milestones stamp set.  The Lacey Eyelet Border Die was threaded with dyed seam binding and a matching bow attached.  A few buttons finish the card.  Now I'm all ready for Baylee's first birthday!

Click on the thumbnails below to see more amazing samples created by the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team!

Be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the way because we're giving away this fabulous bundle to one lucky commenter!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is Friday, June 21, 2013 at midnight EST. The winners will be announced on our website homepage on Monday, June 24, 2013!

Thanks so much for joining us for all the feature hops...enjoy your day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Flower Blocks 2

Hello again sweet friends!  Have you been enjoying 
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps new release features so far?  If you like floral images, you are sure to love today's hop.  The first Flower Block stamp set was a huge success.  The images in that set are perfect for coloring, sponging, paper piecing, and even 3-D paper piecing.  Now we have even more of your favorite flowers to play with!

Today's feature is:

Flower Blocks 2

This is the second set in our Flower Blocks series.  These bold and beautiful blooms...a Wild Rose, a Petunia, a Lotus Flower, and a Daisy...make perfect focal images and can be easily paper pieced or colored.

• Stamp set includes 4 images and 4 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
• The images measure approximately 2 5/8" x 2 5/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $26

Since daisies are my favorite flower, that's the one I chose for my sample.

Creative Nugget:  The background for this card was made on paper from a mixed media pad.  Bubblegum Pink and Pure Sunshine Dylusions were sprayed on the paper, dried, and sprayed again to build up the color.  The extra color left on the craft mat was sprayed with water and dabbed onto a tag which was used for the focal image.  The paper was randomly stamped with the Daisy Flower Block using Jet Black Archival Ink.  This was cut to size and stitched to True Black card stock and mounted to a Golden Harvest card base.  A strip of Bo Bunny DP was stitched to True Black card stock that had been punched with an e.k. Success border.  The daisy image was stamped on the tag and the center watercolored with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  This was cut with a Square Nestie and mounted to a Spellbinders Marvelous Square Die.  Some Lemon Drop Baker's Twine and pearls finish the card.

This second card was made with some of the left over scraps.

Creative Nugget:  Even though this card was made with the same scraps as above, it has an entirely different look.  On this card you can see some of the leafy ghosting which was done by spraying water through a mask.  The water removed some of the Dylusions ink creating a ghost image.

To see more fabulous samples created by the talented Design Team, click on the thumbnails below!

Be sure to leave a comment on each blog along the way because we're giving away this fabulous stamp set to one lucky commenter!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is Friday, June 21, 3013 at midnight EST.  The winners will be announced on our website homepage on Monday, June 24, 2013.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,

Cathymac