Love is Like a Tree

Continuing my quest to make more masculine cards, I'm sharing this great Sweet Peek with you today, with a fab new set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!  Love is Like a Tree is perfect for both guy/couple cards (which you can't girlie up too much because it's for the guys too) AND it's perfect to take this set in a frilly, girlie direction. It's such an all-around versatile set!  I am loving the July release from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

I stamped my image on watercolor paper that I had misted with water first.  The effect is a very watery, smeared image that I think is beyond pretty.  I heat set it to dry, and then wrinkled the paper up to help age it.  Then I sponged on various inks until I was happy with the result.  My sentiment is stamped on dry watercolor paper, and I sponged the edges.  I hand -stitched around the edge of the card.

You'll notice on the Sweet Peek image above that there is a separate stamp with hearts-leaves - how darling are they? I chose, since my card was intended for a guy, to not use that stamp. But be sure to head over to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog for more inspiration using this new set - you won't be disappointed!

Supplies: 
Stamps:  Love is Like a Tree (SNSS)
Card Stock: SU Old Olive, Choc Chip; unkown watercolor 
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Ink: Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Stain, Walnut Stain
Accessories: thread
Tools: paper piercer, Tim Holtz Design Ruler, sponge, SU pucnh

Follow Your Feet

It's color challenge day with the Prettie Girls! This week, we were challenge dot use red, yellow, orange, and one neutral. I dug through my stash, and found this great paper from Memory Box. Then I got out the great sentiment set Dreams, and inked up this great saying. And yes, I thought it was just perfect that the sentiment mentions feet, and the paper is covered in sandals!

Be sure to head over to the Pretties blog today, to see what the other designers have been up to. While you're there check out all the deets on how to play along with us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Dream (Paper Pretties)
Card Stock: SU Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Patterned Paper: Memory Bx Beach Collection
Ink: Tim Holtz Wild Honey
Accessories: satin ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities 

Your Friendship

It's Sweet Peek day over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and today I'm showing off the new set Your Friendship. Aren't the flowers darling?  And I think the sentiment is perfect, too.  This is a very versatile set - everyone needs it in their stash!

Head over to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog to see what other inspiration there is today using this set. You won't be disappointed!

Supplies:
Stamps: Your Friendship (SNSS)
Card Stock: PTI White, Neenah White, SU Basic Black
Patterned Paper: Echo Park
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick
Coloring Medium: Copics (R81, R83, R85, C00, C1, C2, G20, YG63, YG67)
Accessories: satin ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities

Smiles & Hugs

It's Inspiration Day over at Claudia and Company! I've created a sweet little card using the newly released Little Miss Mia, paired with several words from the Heart of a Card set (also released this month).  I paper pieced Little Miss Mia, using patterned paper from the fabby Modern Homemaker collection by October Afternoon.

I adore the Heart of a Card set, because you can mix and match the words to come up with the perfect sentiment!  Little Miss Mia seems so sweet, that I thought "Smiles & Hugs" was totally appropriate for an all-occasion card.   It's actually three different stamps!

Be sure to head over to the Claudia and Company blog to see what other inspiration awaits you today!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Little Miss Mia, Heart of a Card (Claudia and Company)
Card Stock: SU Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip, Neenah White
Patterned Paper: Modern Homemaker (October Afternoon)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Coloring Medium: Copics 
Accessories: grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities classic and scalloped ovals

Black and White With a Twist

I played along in the Frosted Designs Challenge this week, since Creative Cuts and More is sponsoring it.   The challenge is to create a card/project using black, white, and just one other color.  Fun!  I chose to use a Twist A2 Card in Neenah White, and broke out some Stampendous fabulousness to go with it.

I cut a black card stock mat for the center panel, and stamped the flower image from the Cling Jumbo Thank You set in Versamark ink.  I got out the White Opaque embossing powder (mine is part of the Carousel Kit - full of great colors!) and poured it on.  I can't say enough about the quality of the Stampendous powders - I threw out everything else I owned after the very first time I used these!

Around the edges I inked up the scroll from the Cling Jumbo Peony set and stamped it using Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I added a bit of bling in the flower centers, and some green ribbon as my one extra color.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Cling Jumbo Thank You, Cling Jumbo Peony (Stampendous)
Card Stock: Neenah Solar White
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark
Accessories: White Opaque ep (Stampendous), Creative Impressions bling, ribbon (Offray)
Tools: heat tool

Aloha and Sad News....

My mom asked for some cards that were all very similar, so she wouldn't have such a hard time choosing which ones to send.  And no lumps, to avoid extra postage.  I came up with this simple, easily reproducible design that I can make in a variety of colors for her.  I used the new Summertime Celebration set from Lizzie Anne Designs for this card.  I know it looks plain - the pic is terrible! But it's better on my desk, I promise ;)

And now for some sad news....I'm copying this directly from the Lizzie Anne blog, so I can be sure to give you all the correct deets. And I share a little about my thoughts on it after their note, so keep reading.

After five wonderful years, it’s time for us to say goodbye. We’ve loved being a part of your creative outlet all these years, and the friendships we’ve made in this industry have been invaluable.
Visit Tricia and Meridith's blogs to read more.
-----------------------------------
Our inventory closeout sale will be begin today.
Everything is 40% - 50% off!  All sales are final. This is your last chance to stock up on Lizzie Anne stamps as all designs will be retiring! Everything must go!
Every order over $10 will get a free stamp, while supplies last!------------------------------------

The Mix Club is now CLOSED.We've shipped out the new Summer Mix sets to all our current members this week. There are a few members who we weren't able to collect payment from. If you are a Mix Member and you don't have your Summer Mix set yet and you'd like to receive it, please email us by Friday, July 1st (note that sets sent to international destinations will not have arrived yet). We have a very limited number of these sets, and there is a good chance that these may never be released to the general public on our site. Thank you to all our loyal Lizzie Anne Fans.Love, Lizzie & Anne

I've shed some tears over this news this week! I have loved every minute of the THREE years I have served on their Design Team, and my Lizzie Anne stamps will always be a huge part of my life. I cannot thank Tricia and Meridith for the wonderful opportunity they gave to me (did you know they were my first design team??), and I truly don't know what I'm going to do without this team!

Don't worry, you'll still be seeing tons of samples from me using Lizzie Anne Designs stamps!

Supplies: 
Stamps:  Summertime Celebration
Card Stock: Groovy Guava, River Rock, Confetti Cream
Ink: River Rock, Groovy Guava
Coloring Medium:
Tools: paper piercer, martha stewart edge punch

To the Moon and Back!

I love challenge days with the Prettie Girls!  This week our challenge also happens to be one of my favorite color schemes - white on white.  I colored up Love You This Much Cooper and made a fun masculine card (I'm shooting for making three guy cards a week, to build up my stash).

I cut my white panel in half diagonally, and ran each half through two different embossing folders.  I stamped the cutie pie sentiments on each part first, though.  My husband said if I tied the ribbon in a bow it would make the card too girlie, but once I was done he gave it the thumbs-up. Whew!

Be sure to head over to the Pretties blog today to see what the other girls have been up to, and for all the details on how to play along with us!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love You This Much Cooper (Paper Pretties)
Card Stock: PTI WHite, Neenah White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics (B23, B24, B91, E31, E33, E35, E15, E18, E11, E00, E000)
Accessories: really old ribbon from my stash
Tools: Cuttlebug embossing folders, Spellbinders Classic and Oval Nestabilities

Life's a Circus

Things at our house have been super duper busy since school got out - we've been going non-stop! I totally feel like "life can be a circus" lately, and I'm making every effort to slow down and enjoy the fun. This sentiment fit my day perfectly today. I love it when that happens.

This card is for the tip I shared over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection today - make your own patterned paper. I love this stamp set, The Big Top, but I just don't have any patterned paper that compliments the circus theme. So I inked up a couple of the smaller images in the set and made my own :)

I stamped the tent on blue card stock and colored every other stripe with Copics; I added a tiny bit of shading to the uncolored stripes.


Supplies: 
Stamps: The Big Top (SNSS)
Card Stock: SU Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics (B32, B34, YR61, YR65, Y11, Y15, Y17)
Accessories: Twinery twine
Tools: Martha Stewart Edge Punch, SU Circle Punches

Love Brings Joy

Here's a card I made recently for a weekly tip I share over at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection. Are you a member yet? Each week I share a project with a fun design idea, tip or technique; additionally I share some quick tips for getting the most out of your stamps on other days.

The tip for this project was to let the sentiment do the talking, and be the focus of your card. You don't always have to get out an image, or your markers!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Love Sentiments (SNSS)
Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Groovy Guava, Prismatics Cream
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Curio
Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain
Accessories: ribbon
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities, Martha Stewart edge punch

Just a Note

I was recently asked to make a batch of "I've Moved" cards for a friend. She didn't have anything specific in mind, just a request to use the color purple. Once we settled on the card stock, I got out a few of my favorite Stampendous Perfectly Clear Stamps. I started with the Narcissus set. I fussy cut the flowers, and stamped the sentiment directly on to the card stock.

I had planned to do ten of this design, but after a few yellow cards my Copics started to run out! So I switched to a pale peach color for a few. The design is simple, so that the cards were easy to reproduce.

In addition to the pale peach, I did a couple with this darker off white color as well. I'll be sharing more of the designs that I made for her in the coming week, so stay tuned!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Narcissus (Stampendous)
Card Stock: Bazzill Perfectly Plum Trio 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics (yellows - Y00, Y11, Y15, Y17; pale peach - E50, E51, E000; off white: E40, E43)
Accessories: satin ribbon

Summer Plans

It's time for another challenge over at Lizzie Anne Designs, and this month our challenge was to create a card or project that reflects something we will be doing this summer.  What fun!  My family has tons of plans this summer - a trip to the beach, several smaller trips to visit family, museums to explore, a massive summer reading program happening, quality pool time planned, and tons of other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting.  I asked my daughter to help me pick a direction for this card, because I just couldn't settle on something!

She told me, during an epic session on the swingset, that one of the things she was most looking forward to this summer was hanging out in our yard, alternating between the swingset, the tire swing, the slide, and the hammock.  Sold!!!  I came inside and got out my Welcome Home set - I knew there was a great tire swing image in there.  I added a sentiment from the set, because I love that my sweet girl adores being at home so much.  It makes me feel like we've done an excellent job making our house a home!

Head over to the Lizzie Anne Designs blog to see what the other girls have planned this summer!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Welcome Home (LAD)
Card Stock: PTI Kraft, SU Basic Black, Neenah White
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Wander
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: Basic Grey glazed brads, random ribbon
Tools: crop-a-dile, stamp-a-ma-jig

So Happy

My husband has made several trips into my stash of cards recently, for masculine cards. He came up empty each time, so I went through them all too. Know what we discovered? An upsetting lack of masculine cards! I have to do something about this issue. so I've resolved to make at least three a week for awhile.

I let my husband choose the papers (Jillibean Soup Chilled Strawberry) and sentiment for this card. It was so easy for him to put together a sentiment using the new Heart of a Card set from Claudia and Company! The set allowed him to mix and match phrases until he came up with one he thought "matched" the card. I left off all embellishments (ok, I snuck three dew drops on there when he wasn't looking), and am pretty pleased with how this turned out!

Head over to the Claudia and Company blog today for more inspiration from other designers!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Heart of a Card
Card Stock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup Chilled Strawberry
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Dew Drops
Tools: Spellbinders Nestabilities, paper piercer

A Little Message

Here for the Stampendous blog hop?

It's time to reveal a brand new Mix Club set over at Lizzie Anne Designs!! This set is called Summertime Celebration and it is full of great summertime images. I made my mom a quick set of notecards with the darling message in a bottle image and matching sentiment.

I know the picture is horrible, but here are the cards all packed up in their clear bag, with the coordinating topper on there. The notecards are Fabriano Medioevalis stationery, which makes beautiful little notes to send people. I colored my stamped image very sparingly with my Copics, and tied a bow around the top. Simple, but I love them! Take a look at the whole Summertime Celebration set:

And if that wasn't enough fun, the lovely ladies at Lizzie Anne Designs have decided to start shipping this set early,  so that all of the Mix Club members can enjoy these great summer images asap! With the sets will come the new July singles of the month (if you've chosen to get them also), and they are fab!

I'll have samples to share with you soon! Until then, check out the Lizzie Anne Designs blog for more amazing inspiration using the new Mix Club set.

Supplies: 
Stamps: Summertime Celebration
Card Stock: Fabriano Medioevalis, PTI White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics
Accessories: brown grosgrain ribbon, staples, clear bag
Tools: stapler

All Laced Up

Here for the Stampendous blog hop?

Welcome to Wednesday, which means another challenge with the Prettie Girls! This week we've all made one-layer cards. I chose to keep mine even simpler and just use a wonderful sentiment from the new Life's Treasure's Sophia set. 

I used a Martha Stewart edge punch on each side of the card, and laced some brown looped ribbon through it. Then I just added the sentiment at the top. What a great way to make some quick and easy notecards for someone!

Be sure to head over to the Pretties Blog to see what the other designers have created today, and for all the details on how to play along this week

Supplies:
Stamps: Life's Treasures Sophia (Paper Pretties)
Card Stock: PTI White
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: brown satin ribbon
Tools: Martha Stewart double loop edge punch

Stampendous is HOPPING!!

Stampendous has released three amazing new Cling Jumbo stamps, and they are jaw-droppingly gorgeous! We are so excited about the new stamps, the Design Team and BlogStars are blog hopping to celebrate. If you've never used a Cling Jumbo stamp, you don't know what you are missing! The stamps are HUGE, and cover a ton of area. I love that about them - they are perfect for cards, art journaling, scrap pages, canvas.fabric projects, home decor.....the possibilities are endless. And when you get the Cling Jumbo Perfectly Clear handle, life is just peaches and cream ;)

First up today I'm showing off the new Cling Jumbo Tulip set. Tulips, in case you didn't know, are one of my two favorite flowers (the others are daisies, which I've already talked about in this post). I love all of the colors tulips can be, but something about the white ones just say "pure beauty" to me. So for my first project I created a white tulip card, sitting on a background of handmade white paper.

To give my tulip a little extra flair, not that it needed it, I stamped it twice, colored it, and cut it out. The image staying on the bottom got its stem cut off, and then I skewed the top image a bit and popped it up on dimensionals. I also put the stem I cut off underneath the top image's stem, just after I cut it off the bottom piece. I tied on a bit of ribbon and left this one alone! Take a look at the whole stamp set:

I'll give you a minute to recover...I told you it was stunning, didn't I???? Ok, ready to move on? I hope so!

Next up I made a sweet little peek-a-view box. I got the template from Creative Cuts and More. I stamped the Cling Jumbo Dogwood set flower in several places to create a bold pattern against the white card stock, and colored it with Copics.

It isn't embellished because there isn't anything in it yet, other than tissue paper! I haven't decided what to fill it with, but the more I've stared at it on my desk with no ribbon, the harder I've tried to come up with a reason to keep it for myself! I actually really like it just the way it is - the Cling Jumbo Dogwood really makes a statement, doesn't it? Take a look at the whole stamp set:

Another stunner, right? And here's a peek at the Cling Jumbo Tiger Lily, which I'm not showing off today but I'm sure you'll see on someone else's blog! Mine is sitting on my desk, in a safe spot after a waaaay too close encounter with my super inquisitive one-year-old.

Ok, ready for the fun details? You could win one of SIX prizes - two of each Cling Jumbo stamp sets will be given away; each set wll come with a Cling Jumbo handle as well (so really, you'd be winning two prizes!). All you have to do is leave a comment on every stop on the hop between now and Wednesday, June 15th. Winner will be announced on the Stampendous Impressions blog on Friday, June 17th.

Here is the hop order:

Stampendous Impressions

 Pam Hornschu

Rachel Sztonyk

Kristine Reynolds

Taylor Usry (you are here!!)

Krissy Fossmeyer

Trudee Sauer

Wendy Jordan

Wendy Price

Cyndi Bundy

Geny Cassady

Lynn Mercurio

Jenn Dove

Have fun, and enjoy all of the eye candy!!


Supplies (Tulip Card): 
Stamps: Cling Jumbo Tulip Set
Card Stock: Bazzill Kraft, Black, Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: handmade white card stock - Canvas Corp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Coloring Medium: Copics (C00, C1, C2, C3, C5, G20, YG63, YG67)
Accessories: May Arts ribbon

Supplies (Box): 

Stamps: Cling Jumbo Dogwood set

Card Stock: Neenah Solar White, Acetate 

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Coloring Medium: Copics (R81, R82, R85, R20, YG63, YG67, Y11, Y15, Y17)

Welcome to Summer!

It's official...school ended yesterday at 11:55, and my daughter informed me she had grown a bit taller since breakfast and was now technically a 1st grader. I'll admit, I got a little misty. Where does the time go? Then I snapped out of it, because it's summer, and I get to spend the whole thing with her! I've missed her so much since she started school - we used to spend every second together.

We kicked of summer break with a stop at our local library on the way home from school. I've come up with a summer reading program for her, and for every five new books she learns to read she gets to buy one from her Amazon wishlist. She is SUPER excited.

Today I'm sharing a sweet summertime card I made using Wonderful World, a sixlet set by Lizzie Anne Designs. I left the card super simple and not really embellished at all because that's what summer is about for us - no frills, just fun. We'll be outside on the swings, at the pool, walking to the library, packing up for a fun beach trip, and doing some rainy day family movies too. This card is also my sneak peek for the upcoming Design Team Delights gallery over at Christian Paper Crafts. The theme for June is Sweet Summertime, so this card works perfectly! Head over to the Creative Blog to see what else is being shared today, and to find out all the details on the upcoming gallery and how you can see it!

Supplies: 
Stamps: Wonderful World (LAD)
Card Stock: PTI Kraft, Neenah White
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Togetherness
Ink: SU So Saffron, Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy, Faded Denim 
Accessories: Dew Drops

A *HUGE* June Release!

It's release day over at Claudia and Company, and this month is HUGE!! We have two, yes I said TWO, new clear stamp sets, plus two adorable digi images! We're blog hopping to day to celebrate, and we've all made some great eye candy for you today :)

First up is a darling set of CAS notecards using the new "Heart of a Card" stamp set. The sentiments are very large, and can be mixed and matched for an endless combination of sayings. And the Good Day Sunshine Girl papers are perfect for mixing and matching! I made this set for my daughter's teacher, as part of her end-of-the-year gift.

Next I'm showing off the great new Dolphin image, paired with a sentiment from the So Random Sentiments set. I added a bit of Modern Homemaker paper to this one!

Here is the wonderful new Seahorse image teamed up with some Berrylicious paper and my favorite So Random Sentiment again (I use that stamps ALL the time, lol).

And last, but certainly NOT least (I've actually saved my favorite one for last!!) is the new Little Miss Mia...can you handle this cuteness??? I placed her amongst the flowers in Echo Park's Springtime paper, accented by Bazzill Bling card stock. I will be using this stamp ALL the time...so get ready!

Now for the blog hop details:

Claudia and Company

Taylor

Joy

Arlene

Tanya

Kadie

Jamie

Piali

Jodi

Claudia and Company will be giving away a $15.00 gift certificate to one lucky winner! To be eligible to win, you must leave a comment on every blog hop stop by Friday, June 10th. Happy hopping!!

Supplies (CAS Notecard Set): 
Stamps: Heart of a Card sentiment set 
Card Stock: PTI Kraft, Neenah White
Patterned Paper: Good Day Sunshine Girl
Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red Gold
Accessories: ribbon
Tools: Nesties, oval and circle punches

Supplies (Dolphin Card): 

Stamps: Dolphin digi image, So Random Sentiments

Card Stock: PTI Kraft, Neenah White

Patterned Paper: Modern Homemaker (October Afternoon)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Coloring Medium: Copics, black pen for doodling

Accessories: buttons, twine

Tools: nesties, circle punches

Supplies (Seahorse Card): 

Stamps: Seahorse digi image, So Random Sentiments

Card Stock: PTI Kraft, Neenah White

Patterned Paper: Berrylicious

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Coloring Medium: Copics, Black Pen for doodling

Accessories: ribbon

Tools: nesties, circle punches

Supplies (Little Miss Mia card): 

Stamps: Little Miss Mia

Card Stock: Bazzil Bling

Patterned Paper: Echo Park Springtime

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Basic Grey Kioshi and Cosmo Cricket misc buttons, twine