Summer Lighthouse

  I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today with this summery looking lighthouse card. Most of my cards evolve and change the longer I work on them, and this one really did (lol)! I started with a dark background and dark patterned paper frame, and look what I ended up with! 

The photos don't really show it, but the frame has text stamped on it in white pigment ink. The background was created by masking off the sun, and sponging distress ink over my mixed media paper. The die cut pieces were colored with Arteza Real Brush pens.

Supplies and Tools from Stamp Simply:

• He is the Light stamps
• He is the Light dies
• He Stilled the storm stamps 
• He Stilled the Storm dies  
• God Will Take Care of You Stamps
• God Will Take Care of You Dies
• Scripty Background Minis Set 1
• Circle Dies (Spellbinders) 
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
  

Other Supplies:

• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn)
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Mustard Seed, Saltwater Taffy, Prize Ribbon, and Mermaid Lagoon
  

  This post linked to:

• Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes

You Make Me Smile

  Happy Memorial Day USA friends.  Today I have a super cute card that features Cocoa Mouse all done up in red, white and blue. 

Instead of using my stencil the regular way, I applied ink to it, spritzed it with water, and then stamped it on my paper. Since the stars were pretty easy to line up again, I actually stamped it a couple times to get the blue as dark as I wanted it.

Memorial Day Sale: Get 20% off stamps and stencils using coupon code: SAVE20

 ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~

Supplies and Tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
• Patriotic Cocoa Digital Stamp
• Grunge Stripe Background
  
• Sentimental Wordfetti
• Bookmarks and More Dies 
• Starry Night Stencil
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink  
• Baker's Twine
• White Glitter
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
  
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Candied Apples, Aged Mahogany, Chipped Sapphire
  

 This post linked to:

• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
• Allsorts Challenge - Use a Stencil
• Simon Says Monday Challenge - Sun, Moon, Stars

Keep Truckin'

Today I'm sharing one more card using the NEW Keep Truckin' stamp and die set combined with Man of the House digital paper collection.  These sets make creating cards for the guys in your life a lot more fun! 

Memorial Day Sale: Get 20% off stamps and stencils using coupon code: SAVE20

      ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~ 

   Supplies and tools:

•  From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Keep Truckin' Stamp Set
• Keep Truckin' Die Set
  
• Gear Up
• Man of the House Digital Paper Collection 
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• White Gel Pen
  

 This post linked to:

• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - All Occasions
• Festive Friday Challenge - Masculine, Vehicle, Die Cuts

The Card Concept - Patriotic Picnic

    It's time for another challenge at The Card Concept. 

Today's challenge is: Patriotic Picnic

Everyone is welcome to play along using the colors, the theme, 

textures, items, or just anything from the pictures as your starting point.

My clean and layered card was inspired by the patriotic theme.

Supplies and Tools:

• Let Freedom Ring Paper Pad (Echo Park)
• Crochet Dies (Sizzix - Tim Holtz) 
• Flag Grossgrain Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon) 
• Sequins
  

 This post linked to:

• Try it on Tuesday - Keep it Simple
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - CAS

Let Freedom Ring

I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today sharing this double-flap patriotic card featuring some of their newest stamps!! To create the front scene I masked off the moon with a circle die cut on mixed media paper. Next, I used distress inks to ink up the night sky and added white splatters with acrylic paint. Last of all, I removed the moon mask and stamped the tree line using just the top portion of the pine tree from the O Christmas Tree stamp set.

This card is kind of like a card within a card! When you open the first layer you see the above sentiment which lifts up to reveal the interior where you can write your message. 

 Here are the measurements for each layer:

Card is a regular A2 size - 4.25" x 5.5" 

The front panel is trimmed to measure 2.5"  long x 4.25" wide

The front flap is 4.25" long x 3" wide

The inside card measures 4.75" long x  3.5" wide

Supplies and Tools from Stamp Simply:

• The American Eagle Stamp Set
• The American Eagle Die Set
• The Red, White & Blue stamp set
• O Christmas Tree Stamp Set 
  
• Let Freedom Ring Paper Pad (Echo Park)
• Circle Dies (Spellbinders)
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink      

Other Supplies:

• White Acrylic Paint
  
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• These colors of Distress Ink (Ranger):
• Black Soot, Prize Ribbon, Chipped Sapphire, and Storm Sky
  

 This post linked to

• Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes
• Use Your Stuff Challenge - Use a Technique (mixed media, ink blending, masking)

Loaded Pocket

Today I have a Paper Bag Pocket of Encouragement. It's stuffed full of Bible verses, hymns, and inspirational sayings to cheer and encourage. I created one of these several years ago and included a step by step tutorial for creating the pocket in that post. Check it out here. 

Side note: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has added something new to the store -- Mystery Boxes!! These themed mystery boxes contain $50+ worth of surprise Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps products (current stamps AND dies) for only $25! They're perfect for the new stamper OR the new-to-SnSS stamper! Check them out here! 

Here are all the inserts. I used digital papers from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps to both decorate my bag and make my tags. 

I love the Scripture paper Susan included in her "On My Knees" collection and I used it to create a pocket on the back of the bag.

Supplies and Tools:

• From Sweet n Sassy Stamp:
• Timeless Hymns 
• Hymn Word Art
• Pray without Ceasing
• To Do List 
• In The Psalms
• Fear Not
  
• Friendship Is A Blessing    
• His Wings Stamp Set
• His Wings Die Set
• Made New
  
• Peony Cluster
• Secret Garden 
• Flower Garden  
• Heart Die Set  
• Circle Die Set  
  
• On My Knees Grungy Digital Paper Collection
  
• Spring Fling Grungy Digital Paper Collection 
• Spring Fling Patterned Digital Paper Collection
  
• Always Digital Paper Packs (Patterned)
• True Friends Digital Paper Pack (Grungy)
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Arteza Real Brush Pens 
• Black Ribbon
• White Paper Bag
  
• Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide (Ranger)
• Large Scallop Circle Dies (Spellbinders)
• Labels Dies (Sizzix - Tim Holtz)
• Postage Stamps Dies (Hero Arts)
• Dotted Ovals Dies (Sizzix)
• Ornate Ovals (Divinity Designs)
  

 This post linked to:

• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Interactive
• Word Art Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Patterned Paper, Free, Anything but a card

Birthday Pocket

  It's time for another Sweet n Sassy Stamps Instagram Hop and this month the teams are sharing masculine projects!

 I'm featuring their product of the month, Birthday Guy (FREE with qualifying purchase), as well as their brand-new paper collection, Man of the House.

If you'd like to enter the drawing for a $25 gift card to SnSS - visit my Instagram page and click on this card for more info. Click here to shop the entire May Release. 

 I created a feminine version of this pocket card a couple weeks back and thought it would be fun to try a guy version. 

 

      ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~ 

  Supplies and tools:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Man of the House Digital Paper Collection
  
• Birthday Guy
  
• Gear Up
• Masculine Mash-Up 
• Scallop Border Dies 
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Arteza Real Brush Pens  
• Baker's Twine 

This post linked to:

• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Inkpirational Challenge - Mini (mini tools)
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Interactive

Tri-fold Poppy Card

  I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today with this tri-fold tea cup card. I started by die cutting the tea cup from mixed media paper and using a ruler to add some light stripes. I colored between every other line using a water brush and uncharted mariner distress ink. The poppies were colored with my Arteza Real Brush pens. I die cut some and fussy cut others to add to the teacup arrangement and to the inside panel.The flourishes in the front corners were stenciled on using white pigment ink.

Here's how I created the background papers for the two inside panels -- I started my ink smooshing uncharted mariner distress ink onto mixed media paper and then stamping the branches and text over top in the same color.  I die cut a rectangle from the center to use in the middle panel, and used white card stock matted on blue to cover the hole on the last panel.

 The front flap was created by cutting a piece of blue card stock to measure 5.5" x 4.5" and scoring at 4.25". I folded the flap back at .25" and glued it to the front of an A2 card to form the tri-fold.

 Supplies from Stamp Simply:    

• Pretty Poppies Stamps
• Pretty Poppies Dies
• Scripty Background Minis Set 1
• God Will Take Care of You Stamps 
• Deepest Sympathy  
• Coffee or Tea? Stamps   
• Coffee or Tea? Dies 
• Typewritten Year Round Greetings
• Floral Cluster & Sprigs 
• Tag Collection (Sizzix - Tim Holtz)   
• Flourish Stencil (Tim Holtz)
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink 
  

Other Supplies:

• Arteza Real Brush Pens
• Green Seam Binding
• Uncharted Mariner Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Yeti Ink (Lawn Fawn) 
• Dashing Rectangles Dies (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
  

This post linked to:

• Use Your Stuff - Use a Technique (stenciling and mixed media)
• Little Red Wagon Challenge - Spring Flowers
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Stencil it
• Cut it Up Challenge - Ribbons and Bows
• Allsorts Challenge - Embellish it

Try it on Tuesday - Keep it Simple

 I'm honored to be guest designed for the Try it on Tuesday Challenge today. Their theme this week is "Keep it Simple." When I want to create a card quickly (and simply), I gravitate to my Graphic 45 paper pads since everything already matches and I can usually whip something up in a few minutes. (This card can be created in 5 minutes or less).

 Supplies and Tools:

• Elegance Paper Pad (Graphic 45)
• Farmhouse Scriptural Thoughts (Stamp Simply)
• Venice Lace
• Adorned Dies (Sizzix - Tim Holtz)
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
  

Dad

I'm using that Tree of Life stamp set again today, and this time I created a scene card by combining it with The Sea. The word die I used on the top is being discontinued, so grab yours (at 60% off) while supplies last. 

      ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~ 

Supplies and tools:

•  From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Tree of Life
• Texture Tiles 4 
• The Sea
• Happy Everything Sentiment Strips
• Dad Word Die
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Arteza Real Brush Pens
  
• Baker's Twine
  
• Featured Sentiments Die Set (Altenew) 

 This post linked to:

• Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes + optional Embellish It
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Grateful

A friend from church ask me to create a special "thank you" card for her in pastels and whites so I pulled out some pretty patterned paper and Stamp Simply stamps and dies and created this pocket card.

Don't forget to leave a comment on Stamp Simply's Coffee Lovers Blog Hop post for your chance to win a $25 gift card to the store.

Supplies from Stamp Simply:   

• Coffee or Tea? Dies
• Coffee or Tea? Stamps 
• A Cup of Java 
• All Season Decor 
• Pretty Poppies Stamps
  
• Elegant Ovals Dies (Spellbinders)
  
• Adorned Dies (Sizzix - Tim Holtz)
• Bloom & Wild Paper (Craft Consortium)   
• Watercolors Paper Pad (Craft Consortium) 

Other Supplies:

• Baker's Twine
• Crochet Thread
• Crochet Lace
  
• Button
• Printable Text Background from Mel Stampz
  

This post linked to:

• Allsorts Challenge - April Showers Bring May Flowers (flowers)

The Card Concept - Floral Spring or Garden Birds

   It's time for another challenge at The Card Concept. 

Today's challenge is:  Floral Spring or Garden Birds

Everyone is welcome to play along using the colors, the theme, 

textures, items, or just anything from the pictures as your starting point.

My clean and layered card was inspired by both of the inspiration boards for this week.

When I need a quick and easy card, I usually turn to my designer paper pads. It doesn't get any prettier than this Bird Watcher Graphic 45 collection.

Supplies and Tools:

• Bird Watcher Paper Pad (Graphic 45)
• Sympathy Sentiments Set 2 (Stamp Simply)
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink   
• Crochet Lace  

 This post linked to:

• Little Red Wagon - Spring Flowers
• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Taste and See

 I'm up on the Stamp Simply blog today with this mini slim-line tea themed card. Stamp Simply is one of the super sponsors for the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and is giving away a $25 gift code to one lucky commenter. Visit this post for more details.

Supplies and Tools from Stamp Simply:

• Coffee or Tea? Dies
• Coffee or Tea? Stamps 
• Farmer's Market Paper Pad (Echo Park)  
  
• Adorned Thinlits (Sizzix - Tim Holtz)
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
  

 Other Supplies:

• Crochet Thread
• Lace
• Dotted Oval Dies (Sizzix)
  

This post linked to:

• Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
• Just Add Ink Challenge - Inspiration board (teacups)

One stamp two ways

 

 Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a new Tree of Life stamp set in their May Release. Ya'll know that I usually like layers and textures, so that's how I styled this first card....but I decided to try this stamp in a clean-and-simple style too. 

Click here to shop the entire May Release. 

For this first card I water colored my stamped image with water brush pens and matted it on black card stock before layering it over gingham and text.

      ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~  

  Supplies and tools for card #1:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Tree of Life
• Friendship Is A Blessing   
• Psalm 23 Background
• Texture Tiles 4 
  
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Arteza Real Brush Pens 
• Peeled Paint Distress Ink (Ranger)
  

 This second card is certainly different than my usual style, but every once in a while, I enjoy trying my hand at clean-and-simple cards again. 

I love how the black stamping stands out against the patterned paper background. Which camp are you in? Lots of layers or clean-and-simple?

      ~~~This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you~~~ 

  Supplies and tools for card #2:

• From Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:
• Tree of Life
• Faith Phrases
• On My Knees Grungy Digital Paper Collection
  
• Spring Fling Grungy Digital Paper Collection 
• Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Black Sequins
  

 This post linked to:

• Little Red Wagon - Simply Clean and Simple (card #2)
• Make My Monday Challenge - Clean and Simple Base + 1 Layer (card #2)
• Krafty Chicks Challenge - Stamp Act
  
• Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - No Patterned Paper (card #1)