A gorgeous Birthday Girl

Hi ladies, nice to see you, thank you again for the lovely comments on this blog and I apologize for this bad picture, it was impossible to take a good one, I'm really in trouble with these short November days!

Please meet the gorgeous ''Retail Therapy'', I'm soooooo in love with this beauty, I just had to use her again! The papers are from Fancy Pants Designs, the flowers are made using Die-namics and the text comes from a My Favorite Things ''A la Modes'' set.

I hope you like my card, thank you for stopping by and see you next Monday, same time, same place.

Have a great week wherever you are,
Hugs,
Alina

Tuesday Spotlight

Today I want to introduce you to a big Sugar Nellie and Simply Sassy fan

Karen aka Krafty Karen

She made this sweet card for us using Retail Therapy  

Just look at the Sassy Pink highlights in her hair ♥

*Start by telling us a little about you:
I'm married with 5 children. Having that many kiddies helps to keep me just a little crazy.

It's how I like it. Smiles.


*When did you start card making and what made you start?
I started card making around 6years ago, and it was a friend who turned up at my house with a quilling magazine that got me started. From there I went out and bought my very first crafting magazine, used up all of the freebies that came with it, and have been hooked ever since really.

Using Windswept

*What is your preferred coloring medium?
I love my Copics unreservedly. I also have a large soft spot for Pencils and my Zest It blending oil. But Copics will always be my first choice and most used medium.


*What is your fav Simply Sassy stamp?
Hmmm... now this is a tough one for me. There are so many that I love! How is a girl to choose just one?! Okay, I think if I truly have to be pinned down to just the one Sassy, it would have to be Windswept. Because she looks how I would love to look after doing the school run. Instead of how we all look in real life. (I'm laughing here guys.)

Using All wrapped up 

*How did you notice the Simply Sassy stamps the first time?
From all of the simply fabulous cards on The Sugar Nellie Facebook Page,

and of course The Simply Sassy Blog! (Smiles.)


*What is your favourite style (card making)?
Hmm... Another toughy to answer. I don't know that I really have a style. Unless you count using large square spaces as having a style. Hehe. I love trying all sorts of different styles. I adore visiting lots of different blogs and picking up different things to try out and mix n match on my own cards.

Using Tiffany 

*And what would you love to see more of at the Simply Sassy blog?
Ermmmm.... More Sassy cards! Lol.. Seriously there isn't much (if anything) I would change about the blog. I adore the Sassy Blog just the way it is. I love my visits there, they always leave me smiling.

Thank you Karen for letting us show your sweet cards ♥

And do leave Karen some sweet words ♥♥♥

Hugs Maria 

(ps. The dt is starting to get their next Simply Sassy set ;)

so look forward to a new release around the corner..)

Simply Seasonal ;o)

Goooooood morning Sassy fans! What gloriously wonderful weather we're having this weekend, so I thought I'd make a Christmas card :-p. This cutie is one of my faves from the Christmas release, so versatile again, you can use her on a birthday card or a "let's go shopping" card for a friend too :D!

I have used

Retail Therapy

with some lovely red accents and stylish neutral greys. Apologies for the wonky picture, but at least it shows a ray of sunshine as well ;o)

Card Ingredients:

Stamps: Simply Sassy "Retail Therapy"; sentiment by Papertrey Ink
Paper: Elzybells Art Stamps and Bazzill Basics cardstock; Maja Design design paper
Embellishments: Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and stuff; ribbon; Kars adhesive pearls
Tools: Stempelglede background stamp; QuicKutz star die; MFT Die-namics doily; Stampin' Up! punch; Ranger Distress Ink Fired Brick
Copics:
E00, E51, E93, E21 (skin, cheeks)
Y28, E53, E50 (hair)
W7, W5, W3, W2, W1 (greys)
R29, R27 (reds)

That's all from me today, hope I've inspired you to run to your craft room and get out your Sassy's :D! See you next week!

Hugs,
Erica

Tuesday Spotlight

This Tuesday we have Sugar Bowl Sweetie and Sugar Nellie designer

sweet and talented 

Tiets

Tiets has made this gorgeous Vintage card for us using Tammy 

*Start by telling us a little about you:

*Start by telling us a little about you:
I’m 43 years old, married to Karel and we have 2 children,

Dieuwke our daughter is 22 and Robin our son is 20.

We live in the Netherlands. 

I work 10 hours helping people who are old, or sick 

with cleaning their house and just be there fort hem.

*When did you start card making and what made you start?
I think it was almost 14 years ago, when I bought a present for my daughter..a 3 D box.

I always did make clothes for her dolls and stuff(knitting), but 3 D cards were it!

I’ve worked some time for Nellie Snellen, she designs lovely dies, stamps etc. 

Later on when we got a scrap store here in town,so I began making scrapcards.

 Using All wrapped up

*What is your preferred coloring medium?

I can’t choose between my copics and my prisma pencils.
Both are just great coloring mediums I think.,

*What is your fav Simply Sassy stamp?
I love Tammy with here glasses and Butterfly Girl.

 A gift bag using Retail Therapy

*How did you notice the Simply Sassy stamps the first time?
I’m in the Sugar Nellie team, so in one of my packages I found some sassy girls!

*What is your favourite style (card making)?
At the moment I love making vintage cards, even Christmas cards I turn into vintage.

Using Missing You 

*And what would you love to see more of at the Simply Sassy blog?
I think everything is just great at the blog, everyday a new card, spotlight(I’m honoured!)

Sweet Sassy Saturday,

But I would love to see some lovely sentiment that fits the sassy girls!!

Hugs Tiets xx

 Using Secret Santa 

Thank you Tiets for making us a gorgeous cards and letting us spotlight your beautiful 

Simply Sassy projects!

Hugs Maria  

 

Tuesday Spotlight

Hi Sugar addicts, Erica here! Have I got a treat for you this week! I have asked the extremely talented Astrid, who's also from The Netherlands (bit of patriottism there ;o)) and a new recruit to the Sugar Nellie DT to be in the Spotlight, and here's what she has to say and show you!

Just look at this card she made for us, isn't it gorgeous:

Using Butterfly Girl

*Start by telling us a little about you:
Hello ladies, I am Astrid, 51 years young, married to Bert, mother of two lovely children, Elisa 17 and Colin 15. We live in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. I don’t work, so I have a lot of time to craft ;o)

*When did you start card making and what made you start?
Oh my, this is difficult for me, I started a long time ago (I was 38), I was going through a divorce, I was diagnosed with breast cancer so I had to find something to take my mind off all the trouble around me ;o). The children were very little, so I had to stay at home every evening. A neighbour introduced me to crafting, at first it was 3D cards, then doing some knitting and finally scrap cards.

*What is your preferred colouring medium?
I prefer to colour with my Copics, but ….. colouring with Prismacolor pencils on kraft cardstock is also a lot of fun to do!

*What is your fave Simply Sassy stamp?
Actually I love them all, it’s so hard to make a decision, all these beautiful stamps are lovely!!

*How did you notice the Simply Sassy stamps the first time?
I first noticed them through my best and dearest friend Tiets (also a member of the Sugar Nellie DT), then I started to follow the Sugar Nellie blog

*What is your favourite style (card making)?
I really love cards with some vintage on it, nice soft colours.

*And what would you love to see more of at the Simply Sassy blog?
Difficult question, on the Simply Sassy blog is everything we need, lovely cards, tutorials, so you don’t have to change anything for me! Although...I would love some sentiments to go with these fantastic Sassy stamps!

Thank you for asking me to be in the spotlight, I am so honoured!!

Love,
Astrid xxx

************************

Now of course I went snooping around Astrid's Blog, (which is realllly worth a visit, so many gorgeous cards to be seen!) and I found some more Sassy girls:

Using Retail Therapy

Using Fabulous Darling (sold out at the mo')

Using Secret Santa


Thank you Astrid for letting us put you on the spot ;o) and for making
such a gorgeous card for us!

Shop 'til you drop!

Hi ladies, nice to see you on this Monday evening! Again thank you for stopping by and all the nice comments!

Today I'd like to share this project with you (I found the tutorial years ago here and this is also a good one), really very easy to make and very nice! I've made it for a friend of mine, who would like to have some money for her birthday, so she can go shopping in Amsterdam.

And this is what I used: my favourite Simply Sassy -''Retail Therapy'' (coloured with Derwent pencils); sentiments from MFT and Elzybells; MFT Die-namics (Open Scallop Edge, Upsy-Daisy, Hearts a Plenty); QuicKutz die -Mini Album; papers from ''My Mind's Eye''- Hattie; ribbon, brads and chipboard frame from stash.

That's all from me for today. Have a great week, wherever you are and see you next Monday.
Hugs,
Alina

Tuesday Spotlight

This Tuesday in our Spotlight we have one of our new Guest designers

Alina

So now you get to know her better and see what she's already made with the Sassy's

This is what she told me about her project:

It's a small card in a box, the pattern is a chocolate package; the stamp is of course the High School Student, but I used it to congratulate a friend of mine which in a few weeks will start to work in a new school as a Maths teacher, I thought the image looks like a young teacher as well!

*Start by telling us a little about you:
Hi, I'm Alina, I live in a small village in the south of Holland, I'm married and have a daughter.

*When did you start card making and what made you start?
I started about 12 years ago. I was looking for a new hobby, after years of knitting and sewing and embroidery. I had nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon and went to visit my SIL and she showed me some of her punches and hand-made cards. The next morning I bought my first two punches and some cardstock and from that moment couldn't stop anymore making my own cards.

*What is your preferred coloring medium?
Well, I love the colour pencils. I have a small box with Prisma pencils and lots of Derwents.

*What is your fav Simply Sassy stamp?
At this moment, without any doubts, the Retail Therapy: I just love her outfit!

*How did you notice the Simply Sassy stamps the first time?
I can't remember this, but I must have seen them on the blogs which I follow.

*What is your favourite style (card making)?
I don't have one, I just like a card or another project, I visit so many different blogs.

*And what would you love to see more of at the Simply Sassy blog?
I've been following you for quite a while and I think everything is just fine: lots of examples easy to find because of the labels, blog hops and prizes, featured artists, so I can only say keep up the good work!

And here are some of the gorgeous Sassy's from her blog:

Using Hippie Love

 Using Retail Therapy

 Using Call me 

Please welcome Alina to our team ♥♥♥

And next Tuesday you'll get to know Paula a little better :)

Hugs Maria 

Some therapy again..

You haven't forgotten our Christmas collection yet 

with all the new yummi new stamps we've had here lately, have you??

If you've seen my blog  it seems like I'm really into tag making lately..

 (Maybe I should get myself that Tim Holtz tag die if it goes in my cuttlebug.. 

Then I could get the tag any color I'd like.. )

But it's such a fun little project and brightens up a Christmas or Birthday gift..

I think this tag will be perfect for a girlfriend gift..

The background paper is Magnolia and  the cute tree's is a oooold paper leftover I have from the "old days"

Think it was Scenic Route, don't think that brand even exist anymore..

The Sassy girl is colored with copic's and if you want her you han find her HERE 

I'll be back Sunday with my first red hair coloring..as Erica has a week off ;) 

Retail Therapy

Hello Sassy Fans!!! How are you today? Still in a heat wave where I live and soo wishing is was winter. My son asked my today if I prefer the hot or the cold and I have to say cold. You can put on a lot of layers to warm up, but there's only so much you can take off, right!! Ok, well, on to my little project. I knew that I wanted to use 

'Retail Therapy' for todays work and I thought something with a gift card would be perfect for her, so I began looking around and I found this...

... diagonal double pocket card(click for tutorial I followed) and thought, "perfect!" Oh' it was so easy to make too, I highly recommend giving it a try. I think the hardest part was picking out the Dp...needed something with a nice pattern front and back and I wanted to use one I hadn't already used. Once that was all done I colored her up to match, and the design being as it is I don't think it calls for too much stuff so, like I said, easy peasy! The larger tag is just big enough for a gift card and the second tag just has a cute sentiment stamped on it. I'm not completely sold on the craft, but I couldn't think of a better color to use either.

Here's  a close-up and that's it for me today. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by later to see what Maria has to show you.

 Have a great day!
xxAutumn

A Simply Sassy Christmas Story...

Hi Sassy girls (and boys), hope you're having a great weekend! The weather over here is so-so, and really lent itself to making a Christmas project :D. Hope you likey, sit back, relax and enjoy!

I've made a paperbag booklet for your Sunday inspiration, using the wonderful Carisa's tutorial (you can find that ->HERE<-)

The story you are about to read
Is about the Johnson sisters, a fun group indeed
Meet Britt, the oldest one who does all the shopping
From groceries to Christmas lights to the latest in mopping
(for mum!)

This year too she has some fabulous goodies
From dolls to CDs to fashionable hoodies
Now all she has to do is get them wrapped and hidden
She sticks them in dad's shed, even though it's forbidden
But her sisters are so nosy, they'll look everywhere
To get at the presents, but they won't be there...

Here's Audrey, who makes it her job to find out
Where the presents are hidden, and be in no doubt
That once she finds them she'll unwrap them with care
Because all this secrecy she really can't bear!

However, this year Britt has outdone herself
Audrey's checked every nook and cranny, closet and shelf
But nowhere are the presents to be found
Instead she keeps finding these notes all around
Wishing her a Joyous Christmas and Happy New Year
So she grumbles and mumbles to anyone who'll hear
"I would have those things if my presents were here!"





Little Mirte and daddy have gone tree hunting
They bring home a nice one and hang it with bunting
With baubles and tinsel and lots of fake snow
And of course fairy lights, from high to low

After all that tree-trimming Mirte takes a nap
And dreams of candy canes and sitting on Santa's lap
She can't wait to see what Santa will bring her this year
She's been a good girl, so there'll be no fear
Of getting books or hankies or mittens or socks
What Mirte really wants is the new Justin Bieber CD, it rocks!

This is Femke, who's been ready for Christmas for months
Started asking in August when Santa would come
Been wearing holly in her hair for weeks on end
And been wondering which presents Santa would send

A Barbie, a new swimsuit or maybe a book?
She would also like some cool clothes, a whole new look
Santa, please hurry, she thinks every day
Make my Christmas merry and gay!

Michelle has a secret present stashed away
It needs water and food and two walks a day
It's furry and naughty and chews all her stuff
Christmas can't come soon enough, thinks Michelle in a huff

Finally it's time, Christmas morning is here
The whole family up early, time for laughter and cheer
For presents and surprises and lots of fun
Look what Santa has brought Lisan!

A cute little puppy, sweet as can be
Lisan squeals with joy, happiness and glee
Her very own puppy, who would have thought
Santa's so sweet, she asked and he brought!
A Merry Christmas is had by all
And the little puppy's name? He's christened Snowball!

Project Ingredients:

Stamps: Simply Sassy set nr 8 (available from Funky Kits); Hero Arts sentiment
Paper: Bazzill Basics cardstock kraft; Maja Designs design paper
Embellishments: Zva Creative swirls; Kars adhesive pearls; Wild Orchid Crafts corners; We R Memory Keepers eyelet; string; charms
Tools: EK Success Retro Flower punches; QuicKutz dies; Martha Stewart border punch

Copics:
E00, E51, E93, E21 (skin, cheeks)
C7, C5, C4, C3, C2, C1 (hair, clothes)
E07 (red accents)

That's all from me this Sunday, have a great day and don't forget the free stamp giveaway (see the post below this one)!

Hugs,
Erica

going on therapy

Hello again Sassy fans!
It´s friday and so - as promissed - I am going to share the card I made using the image that I used for my paper piecing tutorial yesterday...

I used the same papers for the card that I used for the paper piecing. With this everything fits together nicely and all I needed to add were a few flowers, pearls and other embellishments.

Since the name of this image is "Retail Therapy" I picked this idea and computer generated the saying. Shopping is the best therapy... We all know how true that is!LOL
Of course you also need a shopping list and what else could be on this for a girl going "on therapy"? So I put this together on my computer too. The list is asking for "shoes, new shoes, more shoes, chocolat". If shopping on it´s own isn´t therapy than shoe shopping it is for sure! And a bit of chocolat never hurts, right?

As a last touch I added that little handbag charm and voila - this little card was put together.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Tutorial Thursday at Simply Sassy

Hello Simply Sassy fans!
It´s time for another tutorial thursday and today I am showing you how to add depth to a paper pieced image.

You´ll need:
*patterned paper
*ink pad
*stamp (I used Retail Therapy here)
*your favourite coloring medium

Start with stamping your image on the cardstock you usually use for stamping/coloring and once on each of the different patterned papers you want to use. There´s no need to stamp the image twice, I just want to show you two different coloring mediums here.

I usually use Copics for coloring.
Pick the colors that match your paper best. Make sure to do a little testing on the paper since markers may look a bit different on the different papers. Doing a test will also give you the feeling how the color blends on the paper since this varies as well.

I picked some green patterend paper and started with YG-97 as the darkest color. Add just a little bit of color to the areas that will be the darkes on your image:

I then went on with YG-95:

YG-93 was the next color I used.
I did not cover as much of the dress as you would for a normal image since I want to see that it is paper pieced. The color I am adding is just for shading:

I picked YG-91 as my lightest color and added this with little strokes, that got lighter when I cam to the center of the image. So I am able to blend everything together but still don´t cover all the pattern on the paper:

The next paper I picked was a light beige one. Here you can see how I tested different markers on the upper right corner until I found the combo that worked best for this paper.
I started with E-43 for the darkest areas:

...then went on with E-81:

...and finished with E-40:

The 3rd paper I wanted to use was off white with a very fine brown pattern. Usually the E-43 to E-40 would have been my first pick for this but since I used those colors already on the beige paper and I wanted this one to look different I went with some warm beige. I started with W-4:

went on with W-3:



and finished with W-1:

Then I took the stamped image on the regular cardstock and colored those areas in that won´t be covered by patterned paper:

I cut out the shaded pieces of the patterned paper and glued them to the image on white cardstock (picture taken in the middle of the process):

You can do this shading also with Prismacolors. They will give a softer look.
Start with some green color, add it to the darkest areas and blend it towards the middle of the image/area:

Then use a black pencil and only add a little bit of color to the areas you want to be the darkest. Then carefully blend this as well. Take care to not blend it too wide towards the center:

And here you can see the difference between those both mediums. I´ve only done the green parts with Prismacolors but I guess you are able to compare those on the picture:

And these are all the Copics I used, including the ones I used for coloring the image on white cardstock:

Okay, and tomorrow morning I will share with you the card that I used that image on. Have a happy day!