Scoring at the Beach

Hello friends!  Since it's a little dreary here this morning, I thought I would try to get in a quick card before starting my errands for the day!  Naturally, I checked out several challenges to jump start my creativity.  Here's what I came up with:

Creative Nugget:  Sponging inside a circle mask was used to create the background for this tropical scene.  The island image from one of my favorite Sweet 'n Sassy stamp sets, Landscape Silhouettes, was stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  Piercing around the circle helps to define it.  A few shells from Beauty by the Sea were colored with Copic Markers and covered with a thin coating of Glossy Accents.  They were then fussy cut and popped onto the card.  Some scoring was done…since that was one of the challenges…and pearls and a sentiment banner were added to finish the card!  This card was easy enough to make, so it will be reproduced and given to my VBS craft team, which was such a blessing to me last week during our church's VBS!

This card was created for the following challenges:

CAS(E) this Sketch! #85







Splitcoaststampers TLC 491 - Scoring
Splitcoaststampers CAS282 - A Day at the Beach

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope you've been inspired!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Lavender CASE

Good morning, everyone!  Happy Sunday to you all!  I had a chance to do some stamping this morning and thought I'd check out the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  So glad I did because Tina DeLong (AKA Garden Diva) has a wonderful gallery, AND I found THIS beautiful card using Our Daily Bread Designs gorgeous new Lavender stamp set.
  

Here is my Lavender CASE card:

Creative Nugget:  I just love these colors together!  When I went to grab a piece of mixed media paper, I saw this scrap made with distress inks that I had decided not to use on another project…it was perfect for this one!  The Vine Background was stamped on it with Bamboo Leaves ink.  This was stitched to some Elegant Eggplant card stock.  The white panel was cut and embossed using Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders 2.  The Lavender was stamped with Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers.  It was cut with a SB Opulent Ovals Die and mounted to a Gold Labels Four die.  The little tag was hand cut and stamped with a sentiment from the Ornate Borders Sentiment set.  Pearls, ribbon, and twine finish off the card.

The sketch is from this week's 

Shining the Light Challenge on the ODBD Blog.

These supplies from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store 

were used to make this card:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Spectacular Snowflakes & Dies

Welcome back to Day 5 of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Feature Blog Hops for the November Release!

Today's feature is:

Spectacular Snowflakes and the coordinating Snowflake Dies

Stamp set includes 8 images Set measures approximately 6" x 8" The snowflakes range from approximately 1" x 4 1/2" Designed by Korin Sutherland Die set includes 8 dies Stamp set - $26 Die set - $40.50 Get the Bundle for just $60 ($66.50 value) I combined Diane's adorable Snowy Hello set with the Spectacular Snowflakes and Snowflake Die for my sample! Creative Nugget:  The design of this card uses Janette's sketch for today over at Splitcoaststampers.  The Bo Bunny DP was stitched to Solar Crest card stock to form the background and was attached to a Spring Rain card front. A canvas impressed Solar Crest panel was stitched to Spring Rain for the second layer.  Next came the glittered Spectacular Snowflake Die stamped with the largest of the Spectacular Snowflakes in Bashful Blue ink.  The cute snowman image from Snowy Hello was stamped and colored with Copic Markers.  A few of the smaller Spectacular Snowflakes were lightly stamped in the background before cutting the panel with a Square Nestie.  The sentiment was stamped on a banner which was folded for dimension.  Rhinestones and a bow were added to finish the card. Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our talented DT in the thumbnails below. Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (6) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 6 blog hops). The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, November 15th.  The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, November 18th. Thanks so much for joining us!  Enjoy the hop! Tomorrow is the last hop for the November Release, so come on back for more fabulous inspiration! Hugs, Cathymac

Many Colors of Fall

Hello friends!  I have just a quick post to share with you today...a tribute to the beautiful colors of fall.  Sadly, the colors of fall are quickly fading.  Almost all the leaves on our big sugar maple tree have fallen.  Soon the reds, oranges, yellows, and green will turn to brown and maybe white as snow begins to fall.  I love the colors of fall, so made two cards featuring these brilliant colors!

Creative Nugget:  This card was inspired by Cathy Tidwell's Many Colors card.  I was intrigued by the pretty pattern achieved with the pieces of the die she used, so used the same technique on my card using the Quatrefoil Pattern Die by Our Daily Bread Designs. Dylusions sprays were used on the background, and the Leaves Background was stamped over the pretty colors.  The Quatrefoil Die was cut in three different colors and pieced back together to create the pretty pattern.  A few leaves from the Thankful Song stamp set were cut out of the same background to decorate the front of the card along with a sentiment tag, seam binding, and some jute.

My second card used the same stamp sets as above.

Creative Nugget:  The chipboard frame was painted with gesso and a comb was used to create a curvy pattern.  When dry, Gelatos were rubbed on and pearls placed around the opening. The Leaves Background was white embossed on a piece of mixed media paper.  The Gelatos were rubbed on again and lightly wiped with a baby wipe to blend the colors.  The sentiment from the Thankful Song stamp set was embossed on a SB Decorative Labels Eight Die and Fancy Foliage Dies were used to frame the sentiment.  A seam binding bow was added before attaching the card front to a Kraft card base.

Here are the materials used on these two cards that are available at the 

Our Daily Bread Designs Store:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the last remaining days of fall splendor!  Stop back again tomorrow to see the new November Release from Our Daily Bread Designs!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Chocolate Dipped

Good morning, friends!  I have just a quick, delicious post for you today before I head off to work!  Last Sunday Heidi Baks was the Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers and I chose to CASE her Sketchy Hearts card, but changed the hearts to chocolate covered strawberries...yum!  Here is my take on her card:

Creative Nugget:  The Solar Crest panel was embossed with Swiss Dots and the banners at the bottom were made with Gingham stamped, Early Espresso, and Cherry Cobbler card stocks.  The delicious strawberries, from ODBD's newly released stamp set Garden Mini, were colored with Copic Markers and the tips covered with Glossy Accents.  A Fancy Foliage Die, also by ODBD, was cut and placed around the strawberries.  Flowers were punched and pearls added to the centers.  The sentiment is from the Strawberries stamp set and this panel was hand cut into a banner.  Some stitching down the side of the banners completes the card.  Doesn't this just make you hungry for some chocolate covered strawberries?

Here are the supplies used that are available at the 

Our Daily Bread Designs Store:

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a berry sweet day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

A Look Back at ODBD August Release

Hello sweet friends!  Today we are taking a look back at  

Our Daily Bread Designs August Release.  

There are so many garden goodies to choose from this month, so I chose images from two of the new stamp sets for my sample...Strawberries and Garden Mini.

Creative Nugget:  The recipe card was cut using the Recipe and Tags Dies, a Spellbinders Marvelous Square frame was cut from the top and from a piece of Real Red card stock, and the Gingham Background was white embossed on the card.  The Strawberries were stamped on a Square Nestie and colored with Copic Markers and a Signo White Gel Pen was used to highlight the seeds on the berries.  The sentiment was stamped on half of a doily and attached under the strawberry frame.  The recipe card was matted with Smokey Shadow and attached to a My Mind'e Eye panel which was stitched to Smokey Shadow and mounted to a Solar Crest card base.  Butter Cream Baker's Twine was tied around the recipe card and a bow attached.  Some strawberries from the Garden Mini set were colored and fussy cut and added to the card along with some Fancy Foliage.  A few pearls colored to match the strawberries were added in the corner to finish the card!

Here are the materials used that are available at the 
Our Daily Bread Designs Store:

For more amazing inspiration using the August Release, be sure to visit the ODBD Blog.  My very talented Sister Sticks are linked below for your convenience.  They have more garden goodies made just for you!

Chris * Grace * Julie * Sandee * Lori * Sabrina * Dawn

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Looking Back at the July Release

Hello friends and stampers!  Today we are looking back at Our Daily Bread Designs July Release.  Here is the card I created using To the Lovebirds, Banner Sentiments, and the Bird Cage & Banners Dies.

Creative Nugget:  Webster's Pages DP was stitched to Smokey Shadow card stock and mounted to a Vintage Cream card base. Opulent Ovals and Twisted Metal Accents were die cut from Vintage Cream and the middle oval sponged with Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  The birdcage was stamped, embossed, cut with the matching birdcage die, and colored slightly with Copic Markers. The banner was stamped, the sentiment from Banner Sentiments added, and both were cut with the matching die.  Copics were used to color the bunting at the bottom which was made with three die cut banners and layered on the card front.  The die cut birds, pearls, and a silk bow finish the card!  

These stamp sets and the matching die set available at Our Daily Bread Designs are wonderful for creating elegant looking cards for any occasion!

For more inspiration using the stamp sets from the July Release, be sure to visit the ODBD Blog!

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

Hugs,
Cathymac

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

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

Krafty Poppies

Hello sketch lovin' friends!   As you are reading this, I am enjoying the paper craft show in Allentown, PA!  You can be sure my pocketbook will be taking a big hit, so I'll probably be sharing some new products with you in the next several posts! Love getting new stamping toys...don't you!

Speaking of new toys, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps just had a huge release and one of the new sets included many different poppy images...that's the one I grabbed for this week's new sketch at The Sweet Stop!

Creative Nugget:  The kraft tag was created by stamping Friendship Script with Toffee Crunch ink.  The poppies from the Precious Poppies stamp set were stamped in VersaMark and embossed.  Reinkers and a watercolor brush were used to color the poppies...that's right...no Copics on this one!  Black pearls were added to the center of the open poppy.  The little Mini Tag and Sentiment *LOVE these* was cut with the matching Mini Tags and Die Set and attached to the ribbon with button twine.  The card front was made by stitching My Mind's Eye papers to Smokey Gray card stock and adhered to a Kraft card base.  A Scallop Border Die was added along with some button twine and a button to finish the card.

For more inspiration, check out the rest of the Sugar Babies and join us this week over at The Sweet Stop...we love to see your creations!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Robin Parker

Faye Winn-Jones

Melissa Schultz

Ceal Pritchett

Marlena Peduzzi

Stephanie Serrano

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

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Precious Poppies, Mini Tags, Friendship Script (SNSS)

Ink: Toffee Crunch (Memento), VersaMark (Tsukineko), Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Ranger)

Paper: Kraft, Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream (PTI), Quilting Bee Paper Pad (My Mind's Eye)

Accessories: Sew Mini (Janome), Mini Tags Die Set, Scallop Border Die (SNSS), Reinkers, White Detail Embossing Powder (SU!), Kaiser Pearls, Button and Twine, Ribbon

Plenty of Poppies

Welcome to Day #3 of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps April Release Features!  If you like poppies. you'll want to add today's featured stamp sets to your wish list because there are plenty of poppies to use for any occasion throughout the year.

Today's features are:
Precious Poppies and Poppy Background

• Stamp set includes 3 images and 17 sentiments
• Set measures approximately 8" x 6"
• The large group of poppies measures approximately 4 1/2" x 3 1/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $26

• Includes 1 large image
• Measures approximately 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland
• Stamp set is priced at $15

Both of these wonderful sets were used on my sample:

Creative Nugget:  The large Poppy Background was stamped randomly on the Solar Crest card front.  Several blocks from the center of a Cheery Lynn Lattice die were cut away and a red and white panel was traced to fit where the blocks had been removed. The single poppy image from the Precious Poppies stamp set was colored with Copic Markers and cut out so it could be popped up on the center of the card.  The sentiment was stamped on one of the Mini Tag Dies...*love these*...and attached to the bow with Baker's Twine.

For another sample using these two sets click HERE!

While I tend to gravitate toward these colors for the poppies, you will see more beautiful combinations as you hop along to the blogs of the other talented Design Team members.  Just click on the thumbnails below to complete the hop!

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away both of these beautiful sets to one lucky commenter!

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Wednesday, April 10th.  The list of winners will be announced on our website by Thursday, April 18th.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the rest of the hop and have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Precious Poppies

Happy Saturday sketch lovin' friends!  It's time for a new sketch at The Sweet Stop!  It's hard to believe it's Easter weekend already...maybe because it seems so early for Easter...or maybe because the weather has been anything but spring like, but no matter the reason, it's good to know that we can celebrate our risen Savior this Sunday!  In fact, we can celebrate Easter every day of the year because HE LIVES!

I do not have an Easter card to share with you, but I do have a sneak peek of two gorgeous new stamp sets being released this coming Friday by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

Creative Nugget:  The Poppy Background was stamped all over a Cherry Cobbler panel and attached to True Black card stock and to a Solar Crest card base.  The pretty poppies, one of three images in the Precious Poppies clear stamp set, were stamped on another Solar Crest panel in Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers.  The sentiment, also from the Precious Poppies set, was stamped right over the image.  Flag accents were stitched to the card.  Black pearls and a little Baker's Twine bow were added to finish it off.  This card came together easily and I really like the bold colors...hope you do, too!

It's amazing to me how one sketch can evolve into so many different and varied styles, but you won't want to miss checking them out.  Be sure to visit the very talented Sugar Babies for more wonderful inspiration for this sketch, and be sure to join us this week over at The Sweet Stop!

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Janice Melton

Robin Parker

Faye Winn-Jones

Melissa Schultz

Ceal Pritchett

Marlena Peduzzi

Stephanie Serrano

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Card Recipe

Stamps: Precious Poppies, Poppy Background (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Paper: Solar Crest (Neenah), True Black, Bitty Dot Basics DP (PTI)

Accessories: Sew Mini (Janome), Black Stamp 'n Write Marker, Color Spritzer Tool (SU!), Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Kaiser Pearls, Copic Markers R30, R43, R46, R59, Y17, YG61, YG63, YG67, BG0000

Blooming Thanks

Happy Saturday, stamping friends!  My week was filled with wonderful church services, care giving...I care for several senior citizens in our community...walks with Kody, shopping, cleaning, and stamping.  I hope you had a good week also, and are ready for a new sketch from The Sweet Stop!  This was a fun one...I do love working with lots of layers!

Creative Nugget:  Today I'm giving you a sneak peek of a brand new stamp set called "Happy Place," being released by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps this Thursday.  Please see my side bar for information about the June Release Blog Hop and Release Party.  These happy flowers are so much fun to color and paper piece.  Since I'm on a mission to use up my scraps of patterned paper, I took some favorite Bo Bunny papers and pieced the background together like a quilt.  I kind of got carried away with my paper choices and this panel turned out a little larger than the sketch!  LOL!  The circle panel was stamped with Friendship Script before mounting it on a True Black scalloped circle.  All of the panels were mounted on a Select White card base that was embossed with a new stripes impression plate to give it some texture.  Some ribbon, a tiny tag...love these, and rhinestones, finish the card.

The Christmas version is a little more like the sketch:

I hope you'll find time to play along with The Sweet Stop sketch this week.  Here are some fabulous samples by the Sugar Babies to give you some inspiration.

Sugar Babies

Monika Davis

Shelby Goolsby

Wendy Ramlakhan

Janice Melton

Shannon White

                 Chrissy Dickinson






Thanks for taking the time to stop by.  Come back again on Thursday for a fabulous June Release Blog Hop!


Hugs,
Cathymac


Card Recipe
Stamps:  Happy Place, Friendship Script (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Tiny Tags (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Peeled Paint, Pumice Stone, and Broken China Distress Inks (Ranger)
Paper: Select White, True Black (PTI), Neenah Solar White (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps), Back to Basics DP (Bo Bunny)
Accessories: Rectangle, Circle, and Scalloped Circle Nesties (Spellbinders), Tiny Tags Die (PTI), Baker's Twine, Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Rhinestones (Recollections), Copic Markers BG000, 01, 45, 49, 53; V000, 12, 15, 17; YG03, 17, 21, 23