Sweet N Sassy Blog Hop

Hurray! It's finally here! The September Release of clear stamps at Sweet N Sassy!!! We've been teasing you with little peeks all week, so hopefully you've had a chance to choose some favorites and get your shopping list ready. Today is the day to make your purchases.
If you need a little more inspiration, how about a project that would be perfect as a hostess gift:

I used the brand new Bread of Life set for my focal image on this bread bag. Then, I used one of the sentiments from the set for my tag. There are several inspirational sentiments in this set. Be sure you head over to the shop to see the set in its entirety. The image would also be great to include on a bread basket set out on your Thanksgiving (or any holiday) dinner table. Here's a close look at some of the stamps in the set:

Now, I need to get you off to the next stop on the HOP. You should be heading over to the very talented Lorie Souther's blog but in case you missed a stop, here's the whole list. You will definitely not want to miss a single stop!

SNSS Blog

Ceal Pritchett

Darsie Bruno

Janette Olen

Korin Sutherland 

Kim Schofield

Leah Cornelius

Lisa Jurecek

Lorie Souther

Nancy Brown

Tricia Traxler

Chris Dickinson 

Don't forget to try out the challenges, too, for a chance to win some of these great new stamps!
Cheers!

Monday with Mom

I challenged Mom this week to create a sentiment card. I had this beautiful Mariposa paper from DCWV and it just didn't need much to make it spectacular. It also gives me a chance to sneak peek another of the new releases from Sweet N Sassy. This beautiful sentiment is from the new clear stamp set called Blessings and Thanks which will be released September 1. You are definitely going to want this one. I say you can't have enough sentiment stamps when you are looking for just the right thing to say!
Don't forget about the Sweet N Sassy September Release Blog Hop on Wednesday. Until then, catch all the sneak peeks on the SNS blog and the Design Diva's blogs.
Mom really rose to the challenge. She created this stunning card with black and white and blue. Very classy!

The embossing and distressing look great but I really love how the black makes everything "pop" on this card.
Cheers!

Joyful News

Well, I did it! I cranked up the air conditioner, surrounded myself with red and green, and created a Christmas card.

I wanted to give you another tempting look at the new Sweet N Sassy September clear stamp release. This sentiment stamp is from the new SNS The Greatest Gift clear stamp set that will be released September 1st. The set comes with five sentiments and one very special image just perfect for celebrating the Christmas season.
Be sure to stay tuned to the SNS blog and the design team blogs as we peek more images from all the new releases! And, don't forget the September Release Blog Hop on Wednesday for a chance to see all the great things you can create with these stamps and a chance to join some challenges and WIN some new stamps!

Thankful Favor

I just love sentiment stamps! I can't ever get enough of them because I always want something really special to put on my card or gift. Sweet N Sassy has some beautiful sentiments--beautiful messages and beautiful script. But hold your breath because you are just going to have to have the sentiments in the new clear stamp releases coming out September 1. Usually, I put the sentiment on the inside of the card and then never take a picture of that, but I created a special sneak peak of a new set called Blessings and Thanks with one of the sentiments from this set clearly visible.

Isn't that an awesome message? I told you you were going to have to have this set, but you have to wait a few more days to see the whole set. Take my word for it, they are all so special.
I think these little favor bags with this sentiment would be perfect for a Thanksgiving table setting, but also what a way to lift someone up. I wanted to create some texture so instead of using regular cardstock for the sentiment, I used some watercolor paper. This provided great texture with the added sponging around the edges. In weak imitation of the fabulous Darsie Bruno, queen of pearls, I added a few copic-colored pearls around the stamped sentiment. I colored some seam binding to create a custom-colored ribbon treatment and added the flower which my dear friend Jana gave me for my birthday. Inside I used some tulle to wrap up a few Hershey's nuggets.
Just a little FYI for all of you: Be sure to check out the blogs of the design team as well as the SNS blog to see more sneak peeks of the September SNS release. Also, there will be a big blog hop on August 31 and along the way you find some fun challenges which could lead to your winning one of the new clear stamp releases.  Don't ya just love the suspense!!!
Cheers!

Monday with Mom

Oh, my! Mom made the most adorable card using the Sweet N Sassy Woof You clear stamp set. I really love how she colored this little guy. On top of the great coloring, she used the tutorial over at Stamptv to create a flocked background on the card. It turned out just fabulous, but see for yourself.

The striped background paper was made using flock and score tape. I haven't tried this technique yet but Mom said it was really fun and I do need to use up some of my flock supply. This is a great little stamp set to work with. Hmmm! May need to get this one back from Mom.
Okay, I've really wanted to try the flocking technique but I've been trying to get some projects done and I didn't want to experiment just in case it turned into a disaster. So... let me show you what I did create. One of my coworkers had a birthday on Friday the 13th and I overlooked it (talk about bad luck). To make up for my oversight, I created a cake in a can for her complete with some icing in a baggie and a candle.

I've had few questions about how I create these and though I've shared this before on my blog, I thought it might be time to repeat it. First of all, I got my recipe for this from Jackie Gannaway. I discovered Jackie years ago at a Country Peddler show and have been a huge fan ever since. I still have the very first cookbook I ever bought from her, signed and everything. You can find Jackie's cookbooks and gift ideas here. This recipe is found in the Crafty Cans from the Kitchen book. Jackie doesn't actually cook up the cakes for the recipient. Her recipes call for creating and giving the mix in the decorated can. My way of thinking is that I don't want to cook up anything on my birthday, so I go ahead and bake the cake for the recipient in one can and while it's baking, I decorate a clean can. That way I can put the cooled cake in the decorated can with a little bit of glaze mix or icing in a zippered baggie.
Basically, you mix a small pudding mix with a store bought cake mix. You use 3/4 of a cup of the mixture per can. For each can, you'll add one egg, 1 T of water, and 1 T oil. Mix that together and pour into a buttered (not sprayed) can and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  The cookbook will give you lots of ideas for different combinations for cakes, but there are other recipes in there including several bread recipes, too.
I just think this makes a nice, simple gift to give a coworker or neighbor without creating a whole cake.
Did you see those flowers on my can?

 I spent a large part of yesterday playing with flowers. I watched some videos and then got busy converting some primas and punching some patterned paper to create these gorgeous flowers. First, I stopped here and got the original inspiration. Then, went here to watch the video.
If you managed to get through this whole post, you've had quite a read. I'm not normally this chatty on a Monday morning, but I had lots of ground to cover today. Hope you found it enjoyable, helpful, or inspirational.
Cheers!

Fall Preview

I've got a little bit of a fall preview for today. Our weather is giving no inkling that fall is on the way, but in the craft room with the air conditioner at full blast, I can almost imagine a crisp, cool fall day!!! Anyway, here's some fall inspiration for you courtesy of Sweet N Sassy. Be sure to check out their line-up of new clear stamps and new digis. If you're ready for it, there's even some Christmas stamps.

Pumpkins are the perfect fall companion, and these make for an elegant look. This is the new Pumpkin Patch digi stamp from SNS, super easy to color. The sentiment is from the Autumn Lovin Cocoa clear stamp set, and here's another card using that set.

On both of these cards, I got happy with my cuttlebug and some embossing folders. The top one uses the Sizzix Tim Holtz Woodgrain embossing folder and this second one uses my favorite Provocraft Pumpkins embossing folder. I just love the fall colors and interesting textures on both of these, and the images are so much fun to work with.

Looking for a sale today without having to hit the stores? Lindsay's Stamp Stuff  and MyGrafico are having a back to school sale. Be sure and stop by to check out the great fall/holiday/back-to-school images there at a great price!

Goodnight Moon

I rarely make cards for new arrivals because I just don't have much need for them, but a good friend of mine says she's always in need of one to give to her circle of friends and relatives that are expecting. Well, it took very little encouragement to get me going on that since I think baby cards are so adorably fun to make. This sweet image is a new digi stamp from Sweet N Sassy. This one is called Sweet Dreams. The sentiment is from the SNS Little One clear stamp set that will be released the middle of this month. Be looking for it as I will be giving you another sneak peek soon! You can also go to the store and preorder it today!
I love gingham papers so it was just a matter of choosing the color I wanted for this. I wanted something both soft and rich so I combined the soft aqua with the rich purple. I created my ribbons with some ink and seam binding and used my Cuttlebug stars embossing folder on the new SU Concord Grape CS. The aqua papers are from a Paper Studio package I got from Hobby Lobby. I punched out the stars with a couple of SU star punches in two sizes and glazed the yellow ones with some Glassy Accents. The image is colored with my copics.
Cheers!

Monday With Mom 11

What a great weekend! Saturday was my birthday and I spent the whole day doing the things I love the most: reading, crafting, and hanging out with friends and family. I had a stack of homework that needed doing but I set it aside to enjoy my day! I got some wonderful gifts including the Martha Stewart score board and a $50 Stampin' Up gift card! (lots of other great non-craft related items, too!) My husband and my father cooked a bunch of fish and shrimp for me and about 15 guests. It was totally yummy. Not a bad way to turn 44!
I received several hand-made cards from my crafting buddies, but I had to showcase this little cutie that my mom made for me! She used a Sweet n Sassy digital image called Milton Mouse. She colored Milton and his bouquet with copics. Isn't she getting sooo good with her copics! I love the grey and purple color scheme, too!

So, I grabbed a Sweet n Sassy digital stamp, too, and created a furry little cutey! This is a recently released digi called Praying Fuzzy.

I used some old Making Memories paper flowers to create the little roses in the corner. And, isn't the little paw prints punch cute! That was kind of a birthday present to myself. It's a newer EK Success border punch.The sentiment on the bow is from the SNS Poppies and Greetings clear stamp set. It is certainly perfect for this image.
I better get busy on my homework that I neglected this weekend!
Cheers!

A Sweet Little Sketch

I saw the sketch and Korin's great card over on the The Sweet Stop and decided to play around today with it. I haven't been able to spend much time up here in the craft loft lately, but I spent most of yesterday waiting on my Directv upgrade to be installed so I had time to play!
Usually, sketches kind of scare me, but for some reason this one grabbed my imagination. I especially liked using the 3D sticker butterfly. If you've read my blog very much, you've pretty much figured out that I don't like to hand cut things. I'm good with a Cricut, dies, and punches, but actual cutting with scissors totally scares me off (and craft knives make me hyperventilate). So, it was great to find an image that was all precut for me! The sentiment was the real source of inspiration for me! The sentiment is from a Sweet N Sassy clear stamp set called Sentiments for Him, but obviously this isn't just for the guys.
Project Recipe

Paper: Prima The Breathe Collection and The Sasha Collection PP, PTI White, Orange Zest, Spring Rain CS

Stamps: SNS Sentiments for Him

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Scalloped Heart Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, the Bow Easy, EK Success Zig Zag border punch

Embellishments: PTI Orange Zest Saddle-stitched ribbon, Studio 18 Dimensional stickers

Amazing Grace

Look what's new in clear stamps at Sweet N Sassy! This sentiment stamp is from the brand new Sweet N Sassy Amazing Grace Clear stamp set available now! 
I used my new Distrezz-It-All to distress everything. The embossing on the kraft paper was created with a new Cuttlebug embossing folder. I don't have the name for it right now because I'm still hundreds of miles for home in Washington, DC getting ready to enjoy my final day of sightseeing. The butterflies are a K&Co 3-D sticker set, so easy to add for a quick card. They compliment the beautiful sentiment which I cut out with Spellbinders nestabilities dies and sprayed with my copic airbrush. A little ribbon and some pearls for a soft touch and I had a beautiful card in no time at all.
Be sure you check out the store because several new items have been added recently. Then, join the Sweet N Sassy design team on Tuesday, June 29 at SNR for a release PARTY! I should be getting home right about that time and can hopefully drop in to say "hi" and catch up with everyone!

It's Molly, By Golly!

I have three boys and they turned into wonderful young men, but, oh, for a little girl! Well, until the grandchildren start coming I guess I'm going to have to make do with this little cutie! This is Molly and she is now in a clear stamp set from Sweet N Sassy. The fun thing about Molly is I can "dress" her up to match my papers or embellishments, and she doesn't fuss or whine about it at all! This set is called Thankful Molly. You can grab Molly all by herself as a digi stamp, but the clear stamp set has some wonderful sentiments in the set you won't want to miss either.
Be sure to check out Sweet N Sassy regularly as several clear stamp sets will be released over the next few weeks. There will be a release party on June 29 to celebrate all the new clear stamps coming out this month.
And, if you need instant gratification, SNS is still releasing digi stamps on a regular basis and there are some really cute new ones there which you can get almost instantly!
For more shopping fun, Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is having a Father's Day Sale this weekend. Everything is 25% off until midnight Sunday!!!

New at Sweet N Sassy

Look what has just arrived at Sweet N Sassy Stamps in acrylic! This is totally fruitilicious!

Cocoa is enjoying some summer fruit in this new clear stamp set called Feeling Fruity Cocoa. He's so cute no matter what he's doing, but watermelon is a big part of our South Texas summertime eating since it's grown so close to us. In the set he's paired up with a strawberry, too, and some fun sentiments.
Sweet N Sassy will be releasing several sets of clear stamps over the next few weeks. Be sure to head to the store regularly to check out what is being released, and don't forget you can still get loads of inexpensive digi stamps instantly!
Happy Crafting!

My Cuppa Tea

A few things influenced this card: (1) the beautiful rose image in the SNS June Rose Clear Stamp Set, (2) the My Time Made Easy Tea Cup cut file (used with my Cricut), (3) the SCS Sketch challenge, and (4) the Shabby Tea Room Design Team search inspiration piece. All of the influences combined with my love of all things tea related produced this card.
I wanted to created a monochromatic china pattern for my tea cup and I liked the pattern so much, I decided to create background paper that matched. I really liked Sweet n Sassy's Birthday Month digis, but I am lovin' them as clear stamps. I'm definitely going to collect all twelve!
The paper flower was created with some cardstock and a flower punch. You can find the instructions I used here. After it dried, I spritzed it with Smooch Spritz in vanilla. I added a heart-shaped paper doily behind the tea cup.
I just love how pretty it all is. I think I'll try another one with a different color. I love black and pink, but for some reason I feel like I use it too much. However, when I look back at my older posts or projects, I don't see too much of it! Anywhoo, you should do what you like when crafting. That's what it's all about!
Happy Crafting!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Pixie Pink and Certainly Celery, PTI White
Stamps: SNS June Rose, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)
Tools: Cricut, SCAL, My Time Made Easy A Spot of Tea cut file, SU Modern Label, Word Window, flower punch, Martha Stewart Lace Doily border punch
Embellishments: Heart-shaped doily (Walmart)

Sweet n Sassy Clear Stamp Blog Hop

WooHoo! It's finally here...Sweet n Sassy clear stamp release!! If you didn't preorder these fabulous new stamps, today's the day to get your order in! I'm showing off the beautiful April Daisy set. Also releasing this month is the June Rose set and more birthday flowers will be available in upcoming releases. There are six sets of clear stamps being released this month. Be sure to keep "hopping" around to see all the stamps being used by the design team, then head over to Sweet n Sassy to these for yourself!
Here's a closer look at the daisies:

 Aren't these scrumptious! They definitely needed to goon a beautiful basket! I envisioned my basket full of Hershey's kisses or some other small chocolate treat, but I couldn't find anything like that anywhere in my house....now where did all the chocolate go???(wink!)
Okay, make sure you leave a comment on my blog telling how cool the new clear stamps are and then stop at each of the design team blogs and leave comments with each for a chance to win some great stamps. I don't have the prize here, but keep hopping and you'll find them. Don't forget to end up at Sweet n Sassy Blog and the store. Then, join us tonight on SNR for a release party featuring chat, challenges, and prizes!

• Ceal Pritchett
• Darsie Bruno
• Janette Olen
• Kim Schofield
• Korin Sutherland
• Leah Cornelius
• Lisa Jurecek
• Lorie Souther
• Nancy Brown
• Nicole Anderson
• Tricia Traxler 

Happy Crafting!

Sweet Rose

I have never had much luck growing roses. I love them and love gardens that are full of them, but I have to stick with cactus and succulents because they require so little care. But determined to give it one more try and sucked in by spring plant selections at the nurseries, my husband I bought a rose to plant near our kitchen window. In a few weeks it will be no where near as beautiful as the one in this Sweet n Sassy June Rose Clear stamp collection, but at least we will have the memories!
Don't forget on June 1st, Sweet n Sassy will be bringing back clear stamps! We will be celebrating and showcasing these great stamp sets in a blog hop so be sure to stop back by and visit all the design team blogs! It's getting closer!
Project Recipe

Paper: PTI Aqua Mist and Ripe Avocado, DCWV Cafe Mediterranean PP

Stamps: Sweet n Sassy June Rose, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Long Rectangles Nestabilities dies, Martha Stewart Garden Trellis border punch, copic markers

Embellishments: Making Memories Wedding brads

Poppin Up Poppies

I wanted to create this shabby chic look with my new Sweet n Sassy Poppies and Greetings Clear Stamp Set. I looked all over my house for cardboard! Can you believe it? Any other day I would have had cardboard all over the house wondering how I was going to get rid of it all, but the one day I have an idea for using cardboard and I had to scrounge it out of my used book box. But I do love how this turned out!
I added a little gesso to the corner of my cardboard before layering other distressed papers on top. I inked the cardboard too with some Walnut distress ink. I stamped my poppies (aren't they gorgeous?) with Momento Tuxedo black ink so I could color them with my copics. Then, I added a little chalking around the image before cutting it out with my Spellbinders Nestabilities Label die. The crochet ribbon on the edge of a scrap of paper almost give the paper the look of fabric.
I see this as becoming the cover of a mini album. That's why I added the Thinking of You sentiment which is part of the Poppies and Greetings stamp set. To see more of this set, be sure to check out the SNS design team's creations throughout the week and then be sure to join us June 1st for a blog hop!
Project Recipe

Paper: cardboard, Prima Breathe and Sasha Paper Collection, Neenah Classic Solar Crest CS, SU Old Olive CS

Stamps: SNS Poppies & Greetings Clear Stamp Set

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Label 4 Nestabilities, copic markers, Heidi Swapp Distressing Tool

Embellishments: Offray Crochet Ribbon, Cream Tulle, Prima Calypso buttons, SU hardware

Monday with Mom 8

After a two-week break, Mom and I are back at it. This week's challenge from Stamptv was to create images beyond the border with nestabilites. The idea was to stamp an image and cut it out with Spellbinders nestabilities but to have part of the image outside of the border of the die.
I used one on the new clear stamp sets from Sweet n Sassy. If you haven't heard the news yet, Sweet n Sassy is adding clear stamps to the store. June 1st six new sets will be released! There will be a blog hop on that day and a release party. Don't miss all the fun!

I used the Everyday Miracles set to stamp my butterfly with Momento ink in Rich Cocoa and the sentiment in SU Taken with Teal. The paper is from the SU Sweet Pea DSP. I colored the butterfly with my copics and added stickles to part of the image.
I used the My Time Made Easy Trendy Tool Tote Template and my SCAL software and Cricut to create this gift holder. I've been making a lot of these lately and there are more to come. I'm trying to create gifts for some of the office personnel at our school before the school year ends.
Mom created a card for a friend of ours who recently lost her mother. She used the same technique with the nestabilities. Isn't her image gorgeous! I love how this turned out!

Be sure to come back throughout the week as I will continue to give you peeks of the new clear stamps from SNS! Happy Crafting!

Book Buddies

If you missed the Sweet N Sassy SNR Digi Day 17 on Thursday, I was the hostess! The challenge is still up and if you participate before midnight Wednesday, you receive a 25% off coupon from Sweet N Sassy! The challenge is to use lace, anything that looks like lace.
I was inspired by the SNS digi stamp Lizzy Reading to Sassy. Since I am studying to be a librarian this image was just so appropriate for me, although I hope to be reading to kids not cats. I have a dear friend that is going through the whole MLS program with me and we have come running to each other regularly to whine, cry, and collaborate! But, this weekend marks the end of our semester, and I wanted to give her a little something to show her how much I appreciate her help, advise, and friendship. I found a paper mache' book at Hobby Lobby that I thought would make the perfect gift box. See what you think!

In case you can't see that it's book-shaped, look at it from this angle:

Okay, now take a look at the inside with a little gift card nesting inside. The sentiment on the inside cover is SNS True Friend.

Now that I'm a librarian, I may need to make some more of these to give as gifts! I just painted the book box with gold for the "pages" and black for the cover using acrylic paints. The paper for the book cover is Basic Grey Origins. On the inside, I printed the digi sentiment directly on the patterned paper. I colored Lizzy and Sassy with my copic markers and added some chalk around the image. The lace is from Walmart. It has holes for threading ribbon through it and I used PTI Lemon Tart Satin ribbon. I also used the PTI ribbon to create a book ribbon which I attached to the top of the "book". Then, I created some eyelet "lace" with my SU eyelet border punch. The bookplate hardware is also from SU, but I colored it with my copic airbrush system. The sentiment is SU Oval All.
I've still got to find the real goodies that I'm going to put inside, but I can't wait to give it to her!

Monday With Mom 6

This is very late getting out today. Let  me catch you up on what's going on with me right now because I'm sure you don't have enough problems of your own and you've just been dying to read someone's whining and complaining (note the sarcasm)! I've mentioned this before but in case you are not keeping a running tally of everything that goes on in my life here it goes again (please feel free to fall asleep at this point in the story): I'm working on my master's in library science in addition to holding down my full-time job as a middle school teacher. One of our classes has involved an excessive amount of reading. Now, mind you, I love to read and ordinarily being assigned to read so many books would not bother me in the least, especially since these happen to be generally really good reads. The problem is that I've had to write about each of those books. I like writing on my blog because I can be sarcastic and silly, but I'm so drained from all this formal writing. I spend every spare minute these days mainly trying to write something. My craft room is a disaster, but husband has had to live off takeout, and my poor students have enjoyed second-rate teaching at best. I've got two weeks left in these courses and then I'm grabbing my life back, at least for a little while before the next semester begins.
Okay, wake up now. I'm through whining and I have some pretties to show you! For this Monday with Mom we decided to use our embossing folders and add a little extra dimension with chalking or sponging. Here's a look at mine. No images except for a great sentiment stamp from SNS called True Friend .

Now, take a look at what Mom did with her cuttlebug and some awesome coloring on the image!

Just beautiful, huh! Guess she hasn't been reading and writing essays! Guess that's just my excuse! Look things are going to be kinda quiet around here for a while, but I'm thinking about all my online friends and blogging buddies and cannot wait to get back to "Life as I knew it" (by the way that's almost the title of one of the books I've recently read)! Be patient with me my dear friends!

Let the Sun Shine

If you joined SNS yesterday at the PCP or SNR Digi Day, you got to see some great rainy day projects. But, today the sun is gonna shine! I live in sunny South Texas, so when I saw one of the newest sets released by Sweet N Sassy called Sunshine, I immediately started envisioning warm, sunny days on the lake or at the beach. It may not quite be here yet, but summer is definitely shimmering on my horizon!

Sunshine features four fabulous sentiment in addition to the sun image. I thought the "You shine like the sun" sentiment  and a basket of summer fun goodies would be the perfect way to reward a hardworking student as the school year comes to an end. I placed the sentiment inside the sun image, printed it out, colored it with copics and stickles, and then cut the sun out so I could "pop" it out on the front of my basket. Cute, simple and quick gift giving. Be sure to head over to SNS to see this set and all the newest images. Make a little sunshine yourself today!
Project Recipe

Paper: American Crafts Candy Corn PP, PTI Lemon Tart CS, DCWV Spring Glitter Stack, Neenah Classic Solar Crest White CS

Stamps: SNS Sunshine

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Circles Nestabilities dies,  copic markers, Ranger Stickles