Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday Feature at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps: Happy Home

It's Friday Feature Day at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! Today's feature is the Happy Home stamp set. It's so cute with lots of possibilities for different occasions with all the included sentiments. 
I made a side-step card, and made a neighborhood. I colored and cut out houses and trees all afternoon (made too many!). I added a sun and clouds using the Happy Happy Die Set, and stamped my sentiment on one of the clouds. It's hard to photograph these cards to show everything!
There are oodles of FUN examples on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog today, so head on over there to check out this adorable stamp set -- you can get Happy Home for $9.90 through June 4 -- no coupon needed!

 

Stamps: Happy Home (SNSS)
Paper: Rose Red, Whisper White, American Crafts DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Noir markers
Accessories: Aqua Baker's Twine (The Twinery), Happy Happy Die Set (SNSS), button
Techniques: Side Step Card

Monday, May 25, 2015

My Favorite Flower

My favorite garden flowers are Oriental Poppies. I love their rich color, and wispy stems that hold such a beautiful bloom. Today I am sharing a card I made with the Poppies Digital Stamp.
After printing, I heat set the ink, and then carefully watercolored my image using dye inks and a watercolor brush. I let it dry, and then ran the image through my Big Shot with an embossing folder for added texture. A few embellishments, and all done!
This makes a sweet all-occasion card, which I will stamp inside once it is needed!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Happy Retirement!

Today is the last day of school for kids here in my town. I can remember as a teacher rejoicing on this day every year -- I love summer so much! :)

Several of my friends are retiring this year, and Sweet 'n Sassy has a super cute stamp set called Retirement Sentiments that is perfect for anyone moving to that amazing stage of life! Someone asked me the other day how long I had taught and I couldn't believe I lasted 30 years (half of it part-time, but STILL!).
I made a quick and easy card using one of the sentiments from the set and some pre-cut shapes. The scalloped edge along the bottom is cut from some really sparkly blue paper (always hard to photograph) using the smaller die from the SNSS Scallop Border die set.

 Happy Summer and Happy Retirement!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Hello Glitter!

Last month I hosted the Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge with a technique called Negative Glitter (dubbed by me!).


Instructions for following my sample:
1. Choose your glitter colors. I chose four different pastels, but you could use different shades of the same color, or bolder contrasts. Adhere strips of Scor-Tape (or another brand) where you want the glitter. Press down tightly using your fingers or a bone folder. Remove the backing of one strip at a time, adding one color at a time. Press the glitter into the strip of adhesive, making sure it is covered. Continue until all strips are covered with glitter.
2. Cut your panel for the negative die slightly smaller than the card base. Position your die to show off the most color. Cut and adhere the panel using pop up squares (Dimensionals or another brand).
3. Embellish the rest of the card as you wish.

I kept mine CAS and added sequins using Glue Dots.

There are many ideas using this multi-glitter technique. Your die doesn't have to be a word - it could be some beautiful shape as well. The glitter doesn't have to be in strips either. Feel free to incorporate stamping on your panels too!


I adhered my glitter with individual strips of Scor-Tape. I cut my word and used the negative side of the die for the front panel, adding sequins for embellishments. I adhered the "inside" of each letter with Brushable Glue (Crystal Effects and the like would also work to adhere to the glitter well). Easy!

Paper: Poptone Sweet Tooth
Paper Size: A2
Accessories: Hello die (Technique Tuesday), sequins, Scor-Tape (1/4"), Waterfall, Lemonade, Aquamarine, Bubble Gum Glitter and Brushable Glue (Sparkle N Sprinkle)
Techniques: Negative Glitter