Forget-Me-Nots - Midnight Madness #36

Today is another great day for getting creative. Besides the fact that it's Friday, the weather outside is really gorgeous for January. It's sunny and the temperature is expected to reach 50°. And for the middles of January in Pennsylvania, that's wonderful!!!

As soon as I saw this sketch #36 over ast Midnight Madness Blog I knew I had to design with it. It's been a while since I used the Forget-Me-Not Stamp Set  from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and knew this sketch was just perfect for it. AND, I just love the colors in this new paper pack from Close to my Heart called "Caboodle".

It has such gorgeous spring colors. The Happy Birthday is from the "For Every Occasion" stamp set form Close to my Heart,

This card was also made for:
The Pink Elephant Challenge #49 - Birthday
And Paper Makeup Stamps - Birthday.

You can't see it in the photo, but I coated eachn of the flowers with Liquid Glass so they shine and it adds so much dimension. The flowers were stamped with Memento Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers. They were actually stamped three times, colored, cut out and layered for a 3D affect.

The hand stitching around the card was done with matching Embroidery Floss.
The Half pearls were colored to match with Copic Markers.
A Martha Stewart punch was used on the CS down the left side and a Spellbinders Pendant die was used behind the main image.

March Daffodils - SC263

I'm really thinking Spring today. Here is a lovely Daffodil stamp set  from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This is one of the three Birth Month Flower Sets that was released this month.
I also used the bird form the Melody Of Love set.

This card was designed using sketch 263 from SCS. I turned it 45° to make it work with my image.

The daffodils and bird were stamped with Memento Black and colored with Copic Markers.

The Designer Paper is new from Close to my Heart. It's from the Veranda Pack. The ribbon and half pearls are also from CTMH. I colored the pearls with Copic Markers.

The leaf sprig is from a Sizzix Die and the yellow lace is from a Martha Stewart Punch. The Ovals and circles are Nesstabilitie Dies.

The hand stitching is done with matching embroidery floss.

Melody Of Love - SSS38

This card was such a joy to make since I am thinking Spring. I'm just super tired of this cold weather and want it to go away. But, I am grateful that I don't live in the Mid West with all of the frigid cold AND snow.

Once again I am using the image from  Melody of Love stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

This happens to be one of my favorite images and I find myself looking for sketch challenges that would accomodate this image.  Not to mention that Valentines day is just one month away and would make an ideal valentine card. As a matter of fact, I can't think of any occasion that this card wouldn't fit in. OK, maybe one or two. 

This is just one of the six new sets that Sweet 'n Sassy released this month. AND, you can save money by picking up the bundle of six sets for only $30. But, you need to hurry because there are only FIVE left in stock!  Of course, you can pick each set up individually too.

I used Saturday's  Sweet Stop Sketch #38  for this card.                  

The image was stamped with Memento black ink pad and colored with Copic Markers. The two birds and one small flower were stamped again, colored, cut out and layered for a 3D affect. Don't strain your eyes looking for the popped small flower because I forgot to put it on before taking the picture, but it's there in real life.

The Designer papers and cardstock are from Close to my Heart. The larger flowers in the corners were made with a combination of dies and punches using matching papers with a mini brad for the center.

The Hand Stitching inside and out was done with matching embroidery floss.

Elegant Blessings_2

I don't think I'll ever get my grown daughter to stamp & make cards. It's way to easy for her to come to MOM for them. Last night she asked for two Sympathy cards. She's a travel agent at AAA and over the past few years, many of her customer or their family members have passed away so I'm the one she comes to to make my least favorite type of card.

So, I had a sketch from Just Us Girls #14 (JUGS), that I was going to use for another sample of the newly released stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy, However, I decided to use the Cross and Sympathy saying from their Elegant Blessings stamp set.

Since I needed to make two cards in one night, you will notice that it doesn't have any hand stitching on it. Yes, this was difficult for me to do. I think every card I make has hand stitching on it. I may have to go into therapy after this.

The paper I used is new from Close to my Heart. It is called Veranda Creative Basics. I think this and the regular Veranda Paper pack is the prettiest paper in our new catalog.

The flower was made from various punches.

Now, the best part about this picture is........Some of my very dear DT friends, Kristine and Lorie, turned me onto a new paint program so I could add this very pretty watermark that Korin had designed for us. I'm so excited that it only took me about 15 minutes to figure it out. HOWEVER, now the problem is to remember how I did it. That's the problem with Trial & Error. Thanks Ladies!!!

Love You This Much - SNSS New Release Day!

Well, today is the day when Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is releasing SIX new stamp sets.I've been giving sneak peeks for the past few days of"Melody of Love". Well, here is another set call "Love Your This Much". 

We have about 10 more weeks of winter so I thought this would make a great "Any Occasion" Winter Card. We're going through an extremely COLD winter so far here in Pennsylvania, so these types of cards are easy for me to make right now. I do my creating in front of a BIG window and all I see is SNOW!!!

Now, I actually started making this card last week for the Pink Elephant Card Sketch # 47. However, because sometimes, life happens, it didn't get finished in time to post it for the Challenge. Well, low and behold, when I went into their blog Monday, their challenge this week was to make a card with two designers papers, three buttons, and snowflakes. SOOOOOOOO, Here is my card with last weeks sketch added to this weeks challenge #48. That worked out pretty darn good.

I also made this card to qualify for the Incy Wincy Challenge Blog. This week's challenge #24 is BLING IT UP!!!!

Well, my card has plenty of  BLING to it, however, it is hard to see in the picture. There are small crystals in each of the five buttons on the snowman's coat. The snow and the snowflakes are all heavily glittered.

The image was colored with Copic Markers. I'm not sure where the papers are from.

The snowflakes were made from a Spellbinders Die and a Martha Stewart Punch.

The Ribbon, Buttons and Cardstock is Close to My Heart.

I used matching embroidery floss for the hand stitching around the card.

The snow was made using Liquid Applique and glitter.

Hope you like it. This stamp makes me smile!!!

Melody Of Love - Another Sneak Peak - SSS37

Here is another card I created using a new stamp set called Melody of Love. This set is being released on Thursday over at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This set is a MUST HAVE!!!

This card goes with the sketch challenge over at the Sweet Stop Challenge Blog.
This card is also for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge  for Something New. Well, it doesn't get any newer than this Gorgeous stamp set.

I teamed this all up with a paper pack called "That's Amore" from Close to My Heart.

The image and half pearls were all colored with Copic Markers.

The stitching around the card was all done by hand with matching embroidery floss.

Drop by tomorrow for another card made with one of the new Stamp sets being released.

Melody of Love - Sneak Peak

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Can you believe that's it's January already. Spring will soon be here and I have the most perfect card for you. This card would be perfect for a Valentine's card or for any Spring Time All Occasion Card.

I just love this set. As a matter of fact, with the right papers, I can even see it as a Christmas Card. How's that for versatility.

The stamp set is a new one being release by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps on January 7th and is called Melody of Love. There are so many great word phrases in this set also. The image was colored in with Copic Markers.

I used a skech from Card Positioning Systems (CPS), It was our choice of any of their sketches from 2009. I chose Sketch #54 because it worked perfectly with this stamp.
Also playing along with Clearly Inspired Challenge which required the use of Brads.
Also played along with Crazy 4 Challenges using Polka Dots.

The white frame was made using a Martha Stewart punch.

The card is hand stitched using white embroidery floss. Not sure where the papers are from.

SNSS - Elegant Blessings - SSS-36

Wow, can you believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve already. Where has this year gone. This is a very hard time of the year for me. As a card maker and a Close to my Heart Consultant, we work three months in advance of a season or Holiday. Which means, I should be ready to start making Spring and Easter cards, but I just don't have it in me yet. Christmas/Winter is my favorite card making season. Although you wouldn't know it by the amount of my own personal Christmas cards I got made this year. So, to all of my friends that didn't receive a Christmas card from me this year, Merry Christmas! You will be first on my list next year!!!  *Ü*

Anyway, I have this gorgeous stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, called Elegant Blessings. My intentions were to use if for Easter cards, but like I said, my mind isn't there yet. So, I made a Sympathy card. I followed the Sweet Stop Saturday Sketch Challenge for the design of this card. I have to admit, after finishing this card, I am a hair closer to getting into Spring. I forgot how much I enjoy making and using flowers on my cards and I really like how this card turned out. What a gorgeous sketch!

Be sure to stop by on Friday, Saturday & Sunday to see sneak peaks of the  new stamps being released by Sweet 'n Sassy on January 7th. 

SNSS - Snowman & Trees - SC259(2)

Only 5 days left until Christmas and here I am still playing with sketch challenges instead of finishing my Christmas cards. Yes, this could be one of my Christmas Cards, but my kids are the only ones that get stitched cards. The others go in my etsy shop.

I just may have to join the SCS Monthly Christmas Card challenge for next year since these are my favorite cards to make, but I never seem to get my own finished in time. Actually, every year I send some out that say, "Happy New Year", instead of Merry Christmas. Those are the ones that I get finished right AFTER Christmas. It's my stress free way of sending cards.

I started this card along with the one below for the SCS Sketch challenge #259 this week. I just turned the one 90°.

Unfortunately, the stickles I used on the holly and the lights, and the gold edged ribbon,  just don't show up very well in the picture. It really is pretty in person. I even lightened it with my photo editing program, but when I add it here, it still looks too dark.

I used the "You Light Up My Life" for the snowman, "Christmas Owl Add-ons" for the holly, and "Trees of the Field" for the trees,  from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. 

The paper is from Basic Grey "Wassil" collection. I just love the colors in this paper. They are my favorites.

The Cardstock and the ink for the trees is New England Ivy from Close to my Heart.

The image is colored with Copic markers and the pearls are colored with Copic Markers to match.

The snow under the snowman is Liquid applique topped with the glass glitter and the snow that is falling is liquid applique applied with a stipple brush.

The stitching is done by hand using matching embroidery floss.

SNSS - You Light Up My Life - SCS259

Wow, can you believe that Christmas is only one week away. I have lots of mixed emotions about that. I hate when it's over because my house looks so bare after New Years, But the stress before is terrible. So many things to get done and so little time. My posts lately are few and far between. I don't even have my own Christmas cards finished yet. I guess some are going to say Happy New Year again this year! *Ü*

So, back to this card. I used Split Coast Stamper's Card Sketch 259 for inspiration. The card was made using the Stamp, "You Light Up My Life," from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This was made especially to play along with the challenge with the Sweet 'n Sassy group over at Paper Craft Planet for Digi Day.  
Go on over and play along and get a FREE Digi for doing so. The challenge was to use snowflakes in some way. I think I have this covered.

The snowflake is a combination of a Spellbinder Die and a MS punch.

The papers are from Close to My Heart in Garnet and Twilight.

The image was colored in with Copic Markers.

The stitching around the card was done by hand with Embroidery floss.

The snow around the image was done by using a stipple brush and Liquid applique. The snow under the Snowman is Liquid Applique and Diamond Dust.

SNSS-Winter Wishes

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has so many beautiful winter themed Stamps and Digis. And they're also having a HUGE 70% off sale on discontinuing stamps.

I LOVE sketch challenges and find myself going back to some of the same images over and over again. These happen to be some of my favorite ones.

I used this weeks Sketch Challenge 258 from Split Coast Stampers.  

I also used the requirements from Tuesday's Peach Keen Stamps Challenge 17.

The papers have Stripes and Polka Dots. The Border is done with hand stitching with Embroidery Floss, and the image is the mailbox and Holly.

The images are colored in with Copic Markers.

The DP and Cardstock is from Close to my Heart.
It's hard to see on the picture, but I used Stickles on the holly and berries and Prisma glitter of the white pine sprigs. So, it really sparkles in real life!

Trees of the Field - 4

Here is yet another card made with this fantastic stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. This is the Pine tree from "Trees of the Field."

I also used the Christmas Owl Add-Ons for the Holly.

For this I used a sketch from Skipping Stones Design Sketch #1.

This is their first sketch challenge and I'm already looking forward to next week's.

 The DP is Wassil, from Basic Grey. The cardstock, glitter and  Red & Clear Sparkles, are from Close to my Heart

The Ovals & snowflakes are from a Spellbinders dies.

The hand stitching is with embroidery floss.

We're having our first snow storm of the season, my Christmas tree is up and lit, and I have Christmas music playing. So, what's better thing to do them make another Winter card. I had to include some pictures so those of you in the south could get some Christmas Spirit too!!! The house is my daughter's taken from our deck and the other is my driveway.

Trees of the Field

Well, here is another card I made using the newly released Stamp set "Trees of the Field" from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  This time I used a sketch from Papertake Weekly Challenge, Sketch #29. What a wonderful sketch.

I used the bare tree in another winter scene. I just can't break away from Winter and Christmas just yet. I used liquid applique, un-heated for the snow on the ground and added Diamond Dust Glitter to it for a snowy affect. Then I added a little of the liquid applique to the branches of the tree and some prisma glitter on them and heated it slightly.

The white area behind the image is dry embossed with the cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder.

The snowflake is a Spellbinders die and has a flower shaped crystal in the center.

The DP is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses and the cardstock is Close to my Heart.

The stitching around the card is done by hand with embroiudery floss.

SNSS - Trees of the Field - MMSC30

I'm sorry the scan of this card is so bad.  It was a very cloudy, dreary day here and I like taking pictures with natural light. When that didn't work, I scanned it. However, I don't like scans and when glitter is on the card, I like it less.

I hope you all got a chance to see all of the Awesome artwork in the slide show at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Tuesday for their new release. If you didn't happen to catch it, go to the link above and check it out.

Here is another card from the Trees of the Field Stamp Set.

For this card, I used a great sketch from Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #30.

I just turned it 1/4 turn to accommodate the stamps I was using.

The DP is Basic Grey and the CS, and Bigger Brads are from Close to my Heart.

I also used the holly from another Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set called Christmas Owl Add-ons. I guess you can tell this is my favorite stamp in the set. I seem to use it on all on my cards lately.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps December Release

Today is the new December release of two magnificent new stamp sets. Please go the the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog for a slide show of all of the artwork that was created by the Design Team using these two stamp sets.

The set I used is called Trees Of The Field.  It's a silhouette set of six trees and six Verses and sayings. My card highlights only one of the magnificent trees in this set.

$5.00 from each set sold will go to the Anderson Family in honor of their 3 year old son, Henry, whom they lost unexpectedly last month.

I also used the Saturday sketch challenge from the Sweet Shop Challenge Blog. Why not stop on over and play along.

The paper used is K & Co. "Que Sera Sera".

The Cocoa Cardstock, mini brad in flower, ribbon and half pearls are all from  Close to my Heart.

The flower was created with paper punches using the same paper.

The Hand Stitching around the card uses matching Embroidery Floss.