Just Keep Swimming

Well, I am having some fun making shaker cards! I know I am slow to jump on the bandwagon, but I am on! This is my second attempt, and again, I have some naughty sequins and beads that want to stick to some adhesive I forgot to "erase." But I will never tell where! Only the recipient will know!

This one was made with Happy Ocean Friends and the Tall Grass Die. I colored them with Copic markers and then glued them to the background paper. Remember to get rid of ANY remaining dried glue (note to self!). I like how the ric rac looks like waves. The multi-colored Prima flowers fit in with the color scheme exactly. I forgot all about a sentiment, and was really hoping that I could stamp it cleanly after the entire card was put together.

Last night my sister (who is visiting from Arizona) and I went to see Finding Dory (AWESOME!), so I knew just what sentiment I would choose.

This is going to my daughter, who is almost done with Cosmetology School!

Thanks A Latte!

{judy}Pink and orange are two of my favorite colors together, and I love how they turned out on this emboss resist watercolored panel. I stamped my image in VersaMark ink, and embossed with white embossing powder, then watercolored with my Kuretake paints. A little washi tape and doily are my embellishments. I stamped my sentiments with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and adhered all to a panel sprayed with Raspberry Spray. This card makes me happy!

Images are from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Special Blend stamp set. There are matching dies available too!

Thoughts of You

{judy} Stamping is such therapy for all sorts of ills. It doesn't "fix" things, but it certainly allows whatever I am feeling to take its course and allows a calmness to return. Yesterday a dear friend passed away and making this sympathy card for his wife helped me with all the emotions I was feeling. Does creating something do that for you? It's a blessing and a help, I think!

This was a simple card to make. I used the Reverse Masking Technique by cutting a circle frame and then sponging on the inside with Distress Ink. I kept the frame intact and stamped my group of flowers from Long Stemmed Silhouettes, then removed the frame and stamped the sentiment so it would be part way out of the sponged circle. I added some pearl bling and a little butterfly brad for embellishments.

I hope that whatever you create today brings you joy -- and peace!

Hello!

{judy} I am pretty terrible about putting things away on my craft table before I get something else out. I can't imagine that I am alone. :)

This card came about after deciding it was TIME to clean up a bit (because I couldn't find my tools!), and I used things just laying on the table. I love how it turned out with the combination of FILL ME UP and GRUNGE ELEMENTS 2. I used both black and brown shades of ink, some die cuts, and a button that had fallen on the floor. Even the embossing folder for the front panel hadn't been put away. So.... there is SOME good to be said for leaving things out.......right?

Take a peek at the two sets I used today. They are two of my favorites!

Warm Wishes for 2016!

I am sending warm wishes for all of you for 2016! 

I used images from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Winnie's Warm Wishes. I love how the sentiments are all interchangeable to say all sorts of different things. 

I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored the mittens with Copic markers. I decided to have them facing so the hearts were right side up. The banners are handcut, and the little mittens are backed by a purchased snowflake doily. 

This is my last post as a SNSS Diva. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past year on this team, and am so grateful to Korin for the opportunity! You will still see me occasionally as a Guest Designer in 2016.

Thanks for stopping by today and
Happy New Year!
xo -- Judy

A Snowy Hello to 2016!

I just adore this little snowman from Warm Hello. He is so sweet and has all the perfect "snowman elements": hat, carrot nose, buttons, and twig arms! Plus a cute scarf to color or paper-piece. I used one of the sentiments from another snowman set, Snowy Hello.

I added some different "white" sequins and a snowflake die cut for my embellishments. This guy is all decked out and ready to greet 2016 with a smile!

Bring On Spring!

I love the sassy look to Winnie in this image from Winter With Winnie. There are some really fun sentiments to go with this set. I chose "Bring on Spring" with spring flowers in the background and snowflakes in the foreground in my papers. We have had some wonderful spring temperatures this week in the high 50's and low 60's (it's usually in the 20's!) and I am just fine with that!

Be sure to take advantage of the amazing sale going on right now through tomorrow - 50% off!

You can find Winter With Winnie HERE in the Shop! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope it's warm where you are too! I know it won't last here!

A Little Autumn Yet in November

Hello SNSS friends! In case you've missed it, Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps is celebrating their 8th birthday all month long!  Be sure to keep checking Facebook and the blog for samples, give-aways, and promotions! You can also follow us on Instagram: @sweetnsassystamps
Currently SNSS is offering 25% off all dies with the code BDAYDIES25! 

Today we are taking a look at the beautiful Autumn Mum Greetings Stamp Set. I think mums are like a breath of fresh autumn air, for after all of the summer flowers are winding down, up come the mums in a beautiful array of colors. I happen to have purple mums in my yard, so I chose to color mine that way for today's card:

This set has a gorgeous font, with some beautiful sentiments included. I stamped both the flower and sentiment in Archival Black ink, and then used my Koi paints to color the flower.

I love this Stanley Horowitz quote, and thought some designer paper with script would match the idea of someone saying such beautiful words.

There are matching dies, as well, so it makes cutting a breeze. You can find those HERE. I also made a quick watercolor bookmark with this set. I stamped the smaller mum with distress inks, then sprayed the paper and let the colors run. 

Once dry, I added the mum and sentiment again in a dark brown and tied on some fun fibers.

A little about me:
Although we are originally from Arizona, my husband and I currently live in Central Nebraska with our water turtle (we have had him for twenty years!) and our sweet Lab/Jack Russell mix, Fiona (not named after Shrek, but because she is white and Fiona is Gaelic for "white" or "fair".). We have two children, who live way too far away from us - one 750 miles west, and the other 1350 miles east. Sad! We are the proud grandparents of a two-month old granddaughter, and are so thankful for Face Time! 

1. How long have you been a fan of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps? I honestly don't remember when I became a customer, but it was in Korin's first year of business! I have been a member of her Design Team since January of this year.

2. What do you enjoy outside of stamping? 
I love going on junk jaunts, finding interesting things to photograph, and I love traveling. I also spend quite a bit of time at the theatre, either as an actress or director. Currently I am playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol, which opens in a week, and will be directing To Kill A Mockingbird in the Spring. My kids, even grown, are my number one priority.

3. What is your "day" job? 
My husband is a Professor of Philosophy at the university here, and I work part-time in our community theatre Box Office.

4. Who inspires you?  
I find inspiration through nature and color, mostly. I have several stamping friends that inspire me, and I would be amiss if I didn't throw Pinterest in there. However, it is the artwork of the particular stamp sets that really inspire me to create.


5. Share a fun or interesting fact about yourself that most people might not know.  
I sang for the Pope at the Vatican when I was 15 years old. And I don't know how to swim!
 
6. What advice would you give to a new stamper? 
Find what you love, and stick with it. Make things that make you happy, and do more of that. And don't compare your creations to other stampers'. Just love what you do.
 
7. What is your favorite SNSS set?
I love the Puppy Love and Kitty Love stamp sets. Animals are a huge part of my family's lives, and I am a big animal advocate. Here are a few elegant and cute cards made with those two sets: 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my U.S. friends!

Oh Those Little Ones!

We are so excited for this special month of November here at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps celebrating EIGHT YEARS! The DT Divas will be sharing Daily Throwbacks with you all month long here on the blog, and over on our Facebook page, to help celebrate!

Since I was just blessed in September with my first grandchild, I chose Little One to highlight today. It has everything that you need to make sweet baby cards and greetings, and even more, as there are other sentiments in the set as well.

Take advantage of this week's BIRTHDAY SPECIAL:
November 1-5: EVERY $25 order or more will include a free surprise gift. The higher the order amount, the larger the gift ranging in price from $2-$20!

Be sure to scroll down and read Korin's post from yesterday all about the birthday fun, and then head over to Instagram (@sweetnsassystamps) and Facebook so you don't miss a thing!

Background Tutorial With Brusho

Hey stamping friends!
Today I want to share a card you may have seen already with the fabulous new October release -- and show how I made the background.

I used Brusho Crystal Colors (watercolor powdered pigments) for the entire background and it's so easy!

First, I stamped my dove from Name Above All Names in Archival Black Ink by Stampin' Up! Make sure you are using an ink that doesn't bleed when combined with water. I recommend this pad -- or India Ink for use with Brusho. You will notice I have a texture to my watercolor paper -- for that you will want Cold Press paper. If you want a smooth finish, you will need Hot Press.

Next I gathered my other supplies. I am using two colors today -- Turquoise and Ultramarine Blue.
I sprinkle tapped the Turquoise powder (a VERY SMALL amount - it's easier to add then take away!) on my paper and then misted with a fine spray (Ranger misters are widely available and work great, but any fine mist will do. You will see a couple of larger crystals above in the lower left photo. I took those off, as I knew it would be too much powder for what I wanted.

I misted and added until I got the look I wanted, then sprinkled the Ultramarine blue on top. I made a little blue branch for my dove to sit on by turning and tapping the powder down the side of the card.
I misted again, and then heat set with my heat gun.

The dove was watercolored with Sakura Koi watercolor paints and then cut out. I stamped the sentiment with Archival Black ink and adhered the dove with foam tape. I added a mat of violet cardstock behind the main panel. All done!

Once you try Brusho powders, you will LOVE them!

Thanks for looking!

Just Chicken in On You!

I love this funny little chicken from Get Well Critters:

I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored in using Copic markers. I added some piercing around the edge and some fun little embellishments (button, cork arrow sticker, mini clothespin), and used contrasting designer paper.

This is such a great set that can be used for lots of occasions with all those cute images! 

Hope your weekend has no "fowls"!

Faith Hope Love

Oh my goodness! I just love these adorable sheep. Even though I collect giraffes, and that is my main animal (except for my dog, Fiona!), I have always had a soft spot for sheep. When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I was the surrogate mother for a sheep whose own mother abandoned it. My grandpa taught me to feed it with a huge rubber bottle cover/nipple and an empty Sprite bottle (they were glass then!). So -- here are some super cute ewes for you!

For my card, I chose Prim Blessings, along with the matching die set.

I stamped my sheep in Memento Tuxedo Black, and then used my C1, C3 and C5 Copics to make their wool and color them in. I used B000 and R83 for the extras. The sentiment is stamped on a cloud cut from the Happy Happy die set and the grass die can be found here.

The card and inset (sky) was purchased from a vendor at a stamp show. The sunflower was a perfect fit for the tent topper placement! I added some paper piercing around the edge for added visual interest. I stamped the inside lower left corner with the little "Blessings to Ewe" sentiment included in the set.

I love this cute set because it's so versatile and I can make lots of different designs with it!
Thanks for stopping by!

Live Love Bloom

There is something about fall that just gives my soul such life. I don't know if it's the cooler air after the heat, or the changing leaves, or football season (ha!), or what. But there is a sense of renewal there for me, just like in the spring, after the cold.

I love the sentiment "live love bloom" from Prim Blessings. And for all the sunflowers out there, with their faces to the sun, that's exactly what they do. Today's card is a simple one -- but the bright colors and upside-down banners catch your attention.  I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black, and then colored in with Copic markers. The sunflowers are cut with the Prim Blessings dies.

This is such a versatile set, and I plan to use it a lot! With its cute sheep, birds, and hearts, and the sunflowers above, I can get all sorts of occasions from it, even when it isn't fall!

Thanks for stopping by today, and be sure to check out the SNSS NEW RELEASE BLOG HOP that was posted yesterday! Just scroll down to the September 11 post!

You're A True Friend

So my personal challenge for August is to actually SEND the cards that I make! This one is going to a friend of mine that just started teaching again this month after being an administrator of sorts for the last five years, helping other teachers teach better!

My images are from two of my SNSS sets: Parisian Postcard (Eiffel Tower) and Poppies & Greetings (sentiment).

I used reinkers to watercolor a two-color background for my Eiffel Tower, which was stamped with Encore Gold, and then embossed with Gold Detail EP. A few embellishments and some matching designer paper, and my shabby chic card is done!

Thanks for looking and stopping by today! I would love to hear what you think.

A Little Happy Latch

Hope you are having a happy day today! Today I am sharing another example of a fun and easy "closure" to your cards - the Latch Card! You can see the tutorial HERE. I had some houses left over from a previous project, and decided to make a sweet little card for my daughter. She just moved into a new apartment and is getting married in ten days! So I mailed off this little greeting with some housewarming cash for her.

Stamps and dies are from the Happy Home stamp set and Happy Happy stamp set and die set.

Enjoy your day!

Thinking of You

For today's tutorial, I must give credit to my sweet friend, Dina, as she is the one that came up with the idea and original directions! Today I am sharing her Latch Card, using Parisian Postcard.

Cut your cardstock to 7 1/2 x 5 1/2, and then score at 3 1/4.

Fold at the score line. Score again three times just to the right of the opening edge. I just found a groove that would work, and then moved my card over a little for the remaining two score lines. Do not fold on these lines. They help with flexibility when opening and closing the latch.

Decorate your front focal panel and choose what you will use for your latch. It can be a die cut shape, or a plain sentiment square, or any number of things. I chose a simple layered circle and flower.

Assemble your card, using foam tape for the latch, just to the right of the three scored lines.

I used a watercolor wash for the background, and then stamped my images on top. Since it's also watercolor paper, the images are not as crisp as they would be on smooth cardstock, but I liked that effect. The Tower is stamped twice and popped up with foam tape. I used the wrong stamp for my "postage cancellation," (the rectangle instead of the circle) but decided to just leave it!

And the finished product:

You can decorate the inside or even the side to the right of the score lines (for the latch). This has such fun possibilities for all sorts of neat ideas!