Ink Up: Sugar Pea Designs

November Guest Designer: Michele Henderson

Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed week!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Throwback (I chose the July 2015 We're Going Dotty challenge)
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room #262: Colors and Patterns
613 Avenue Create #148: Anything Goes
Sugar Pea Designs SPD21: Anything Goes
The Corrosive Challenge #236: Autumn Splendor
Oddball Art Stamps Challenge: Halloween (or Harvest)
TCP Tuesday 302 (TCPTUES302): Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks 4CC #270: Anything Goes (Crazy Egg Challenge)

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties September Release Sneak Peeks!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Ready for a peek at one of Paper Sweeties upcoming New Release stamp and die sets? I used the brand new Mason Jar stamp and matching Mason Jar Sweet Cuts die sets on this card.

I heat embossed the jar, with clear embossing powder, onto watercolor paper, did some loose watercoloring using Koi watercolors and Color Burst powder, and die cut it with the Mason Jar die. Then, I put the colored image between two pieces of copy paper and ironed it to remove the embossing. The Mason Jar set comes with lots of sentiment stamps, and I chose the simple "Sweet" sentiment to make this an any occasion card, and surrounded the label area with yellow gel Pearl Pen dots. Besides the jar die, this Sweet Cuts set also comes with a cute little fishtail flag die, which I used to cut the flags under the button. After zigzagging around the edge of the main layer, I added a few Paper Sweeties' sequins in Cookie Dough, Robin Egg, and Peppermint, filling the centers with Diamond Stickles.

More inspiration is just a click away on each of my teamies' blogs!

Angel Johns
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

Kathy Schweinfurth

We'd love for you to play along with us in this month's Paper Sweeties Inspiration Challenge. Debbie also has another challenge blog, The Shabby Tea Room, with a monthly challenge, too!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you'll come back again tomorrow. I'll have a super fun project featuring the second New Release set, that I will share over the next two days!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sugar Pea Designs SugarSketch 29
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Stamp and Punch/Die Cut
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Stamptember Use a Stamp Challenge
My Favorite Things Color Challenge 29
613 Avenue Create Challenge 141: Anything Goes
TCP Tuesday Challenge 298: Anything Goes
Pink & Main Challenge #1: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties July Release Countdown!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

I'm back with another card made using the new release stamps and Sweet Cuts dies from Paper Sweeties. Yesterday, I made a card using the Wish die. The Love die on today's card is from the same "Wish" Sweet Cuts die set. It, along with the rest of the new releases, will be available for purchase tomorrow!!!

I started this card by cutting the "Love" die 3 times out of black cardstock, and once out of a grayish-blue, then layered them to give the word more dimension. I layered the black pieces directly on top of each other, but offset the top blue layer just a little bit to allow the black to show and define the edges of the letters. To add an ivory frame around the floral die cut, I cut the Labels 18 die two times more out of ivory cardstock, cut one in half lengthwise and the other in half from top to bottom, then attached them to the back of the floral die cut. You can see that there is more than one layer in the corners, but I like that look. The "you to pieces" stamp is from the "Wish" stamp set. I heat embossed it in white. After tying a Blueberry Seam Binding bow, I threaded gold Memory Thread through a red button, curled the ends, and attached it to the center of the bow. A few Silver Sequins with Red Pearl Pen centers are sprinkled around for a bit of shine.

To spice up the inside, I added a red heart cut with a die from the Pretty Posies Sweet Cuts die set. I love that little flare at the bottom of it.

I'll be back tomorrow with a card using the new Bee Happy stamp set--Adorable! I even attempted a little watercolor wash. I'm going to get the watercolor thing down eventually. ;)

Be sure to check out my Teamies' creations using the new releases:

Angel Johns
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

Kathy Schweinfurth

Have you played along in this month's Red, White, & Blue inspiration challenge yet? You've still got time to join us, and you just might win a Paper Sweeties Gift Certificate!

Paper Sweeties Inspiration #33 – ‘Red, White & Blue’

And, last, but not least, here's a head's up for what's coming up in August. PARTY!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again tomorrow!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
SugarPea Designs Sugar Sketch SPDSS28
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes
Your Next Stamp Color Challenge #18
613 Avenue Create Challenge #132: Create Your Own Challenge (A2/Thinking of You/Sequins)
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards Challenge #95: 1 Button & 1 Bow
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #121: Pretty Bows Theme

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties June Release Sneak Peeks!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Summer is finally here and Paper Sweeties' June new releases are perfect for a fun, summer-time project. Fair warning, though...you are going to want to get every single new set. They are so cute, and they all work great together!

For this card, I used the new Surf's Up stamp set and Let's Go to the Beach die set. I fussy cut the surf board stamp and layered 3 wave die cuts behind it. I sponged some white ink along the tops of the waves to give each layer a little more definition. How do you like that funky zig zag stitching? I love trying new stitches on my sewing machine.

I made the frame on the inside panel by using an embossing diffuser, inking the edges of the folder before embossing. Just for kicks, I added tiny fishtail banners to the inside to match those on the front of the card.

I'll be back tomorrow with another new release card, but in the meantime, here's a little teaser of what's to come:

Visit the rest of the DT to see some awe-inspiring cardmaking using this month's fun releases:

Angel Johns
Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

Kathy Schweinfurth

And, you've still got time to enter the June Paper Sweeties Party Time Inspiration Challenge for a chance to win a Paper Sweeties Gift Certificate!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches #304
613 Avenue Create Challenge #127: Anything Goes
Sugar Pea Designs SPD16: Hey Dude!
Corrosive Challenge #226: Pile It On
Freshly Brewed Challenge June 1-16: Dude!!!
Paper Issues: Mist-er Fix-it

~Hugs,

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Mojo Monday 400 Contest and Designer Search!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Mojo Monday is celebrating it's 400th sketch challenge this week! Whoo Hoo! Congratulations Julee!!! I have a special fondness in my heart for Mojo Monday. It was the very first challenge I entered when I started making cards 4 years ago (ok, I put a link to that first card, but be gentle with any comments; I was brand new at cardmaking). A few months later, I kicked off my own blog with another Mojo Monday challenge entry. So, while I haven't been with Mojo Monday since it's beginning, Mojo Monday has been with me since mine!

To celebrate this Mojo milestone, Julee is doing two things: using her very first sketch for this week's challenge, and offering two participants a spot on the Mojo Monday DT! Exciting!!! I had a blast creating my own embossed background paper for this card, using the Verve Bloom & Grow stamps, probably my most used Verve set.

I love how the background turned out, and it was so easy to make. I just spritzed a piece of white cardstock with water, then used Dylusions Ink Sprays to add color. After drying it completely, I stamped the leaves from the Bloom & Grow set in Versamark ink and heat embossed them with copper embossing powder. To give the ink sprays a softer look, I sprayed water over the entire sheet one more time after embossing, then let the paper air dry in a book press so it would dry flat. The sentiment, heat embossed in copper, is from the On Occasion stamp set

The inside of the card has a simple message, from a Penny Black stamp set, which might seem odd for a Father's Day card, but it is perfect for my husband. Our sweet, sweet daughter is with us today because eleven years ago my husband was willing to trade in his long-anticipated, quiet, peaceful, golf-filled retirement days for my tiny, newborn granddaughter. And, he didn't just agree to adopt her, he insisted on it, and I am grateful for that selfless act every single day (even when I'm ticked off and want to lock him outside of the house!) ;)

I hope that the next time I post a Mojo Monday card it's as a member of the DT, but even if I'm not one of the lucky winners of a DT spot, I'll continue to enjoy Julee's sketches and challenges, both at Mojo Monday and Viva la Verve.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Mojo-filled day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday 400
Simon Says Wednesday: Make it Masculine
613 Avenue Create #126: Anything Goes
Sugar Pea Designs SPD16: Hey Dude!
Corrosive Challenge Blog #225: Anything Goes

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Rewind!

Saturday, May 16, 2015

The final day of Paper Sweeties' New Release week is a Rewind, where we create a project using new releases mixed with earlier released stamps.

I used the new Life is a Picnic stamp set, along with the Happy Everything and Home Tweet Home stamp sets, and the Beautiful Little Wishes Sweet Cuts die set. I put Glossy Accents on the little ladybug image from the Home Tweet Home set and it almost looks like a real ladybug stopped by for a visit!

I just love meeting my friends for lunch, don't you? :)

Speaking of friends, check out my DT friends' blogs to see how they mixed things up, too:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

And, have you played along with us in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge yet? You could win a shopping spree in the boutique along with a Guest Designer invitation to join us for the next challenge! And, we're also hosting a COMMENT CONTEST--just leave us a little love on the challenge post for a chance to win a $100 SHOPPING SPREE! Two chances to WIN BIG in May!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Sweet, Sweet Weekend!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Friday Sketch Challenge #94
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Inspiration Color Swatch
Sugar Pea Design Challenge SPD15: Anything Goes
Fresh Brewed Challenge, May 13-19: Ribbon or Twine

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Party!

Friday, May 15, 2015

Today is the day! The Paper Sweeties New Releases are available now! Here's a card featuring the new stamp set, MVP.

Jake is ready for the game in his baseball uniform from the new MVP stamp set. I cut Jake out with the coordinating Jake Sweet Cuts die, then fussy cut all the other images. The uniform was colored with a fine point Sharpie. Jake's face and hair, along with the other images were colored with Copics. (The eyes were added with a Micron pen). I created the brick background with a stencil and Distress Inks, then used my Copic airbrush to add a "#1" graffiti image. The blue strip behind Jake was airbrushed first, for a gradient look, then, using a stencil I made from a Simon Says Stamp Star Border die, I added stars with molding paste.

On the inside, I placed the sentiment panel as a baseball "diamond," added the sentiment from the MVP set, then heat embossed the ball and bat on the blue layer.

You're going to want to check out the rest of the DT for more ideas for these awesome new sets:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

Viva la Verve May 2015 Week 2 Sketch Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday: Simon Brand Products (Star Border die)
Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge: Cut it Out
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Let's Get This Party Star-ted and Par-ty Heart-y with SugarPea Designs
Lia Stamps Challenge #88: Embossing (dry or heat)

Have you played along with us in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge yet? You could win a shopping spree in the boutique along with a Guest Designer invitation to join us for the next challenge! And, we're also hosting a COMMENT CONTEST--just leave us a little love on the challenge post for a chance to win a $100 SHOPPING SPREE! Two chances to WIN BIG in May!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Countdown!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

I'm back with another sneak peak at Paper Sweeties' newest releases, which you will be able to purchase beginning May 15th. I used the same Happy Sweet Cuts die set and Happy stamp set that I used in my card yesterday, and the two cards couldn't look more different. I love versatile stamps and dies!

After yesterday's masculine card, I decided to make this one more girly. I cut the "Sweet" die three times then glued them together for a more dimensional look. The ellipsis after the word was made with Black Pearl Pen. The three flags are Washi tape on strips of white card stock. There are 3 sequins in the lower left corner and one next to the die cut word. I added Stickles to the centers of each one. Finally, for an extra bit of feminine sweetness, I put lace under the horizontal panel.

Here's a better view of the dimension of the "Sweet" die cut.

The sentiment inside the card is from the Happy stamp set. For continuity, I used the same Washi tape inside, but left the torn edges instead of fishtails.

More Paper Sweeties goodness can be found at each of my Teamies' blogs. Be sure to check them out!

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

Thanks for stopping by, and have a Sweet day!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Your Next Stamp Sketch Challenge #13
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
The Shabby Tea Room #251: Pretty in PINK

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties May Release Sneak Peeks!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Hello Sweet Friends! It's Paper Sweeties' New Release Week and I am loving the newest stamps and dies! For my first sneak peek, I decided to go CAS and masculine.

The new Happy Sweet Cuts die set is going to be one of my favs! Sometimes nothing will do but big, bold text, and the best way to get that is with a die cut. I love that Paper Sweeties dies cut super clean and release from the die easily, especially with word dies. If you can't tell from the photo, the "Happy" sentiment is actually peeking through from the inside of the card.

On the inside, I added the "Birthday" stamp from the new Happy Stamp Set. To add just a little more color to the inside, I used a tan Sharpie and doodled around the oval and inside some of the birthday letters. I think of this as a Happy, Happy Birthday card, since you read "Happy" on the front of the card, then again when you open it.

Ready for more new goodies? Here's what's in the new release this week:

WHAT'S NEW...

Life is a Picnic

MVP

Happy

Happy Sweet Cuts

Over the next 3 days, I'll have cards using all of these sets, but you can see them in action now on my Teamies' blogs:

Cheryl Lea - That's Me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood

And, don't forget, you've still got time to link up in the Paper Sweeties 'Celebrate Mom' Inspiration Challenge for a chance to win a Paper Sweeties Gift Certificate!

Speaking of winning, I have to give a shout out to The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Blog and to Patricia at Paper Temptress. I recently won a Shabby Tea Room challenge and received a generous gift certificate to PaperTemptress.com. The blue cardstock on this card is from Paper Temptress (link below), and it is fabulous! It's 100# cardstock that is a seriously heavy weight cs--perfect for card bases. Thank you, Debbie, for choosing my card in the challenge, and Patricia, for the gift certificate!

I hope you'll be back tomorrow for my next sneak peek--it's a "Sweet" one!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sketch Saturday Week #360 with Simon Says Stamp
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Let's Get Sentimental
613 Avenue Create #123: Anything Goes w/optional Let's Celebrate!
Sugar Pea Designs SPD15: Anything Goes
Paper Issues: Let's Get This Party Star-ted and Par-ty Heart-y with SugarPea Designs

~Hugs,

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Paper Sweeties April Release Countdown!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

I'm back with another card for the Paper Sweeties April Release Countdown! I never used to make shaker cards, but Paper Sweeties' sequins are so fun, I can't seem to help myself.

I used the new Tree of Life Sweet Cuts die to cut a tree-shaped window for my shaker and filled it with tiny beads and lots of Tuti-Fruiti sequins. The sentiment and banner, from the Hello Friend stamp set, were heat embossed onto vellum and cut out using the banner die from the Be Happy Sweet Cuts set.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Paper Sweeties Team for more sneak peeks of the new Paper Sweeties releases!

Cheryl Lea - That's me!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz – Paper Sweeties
Emily Frasier
Jill Norwood