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!

School box

First of all, let me say that this is NOT a Halloween project! This is a back-to-school project, but guess who's school colors are orange and black! Yep, I have so many orange and black clothes, it's almost not fun! So, when I decided to use the new LSS Teacher's Helper for a gift project for some student helpers, I had to use the ole school colors. By the way, this set is awesome for teacher gifts or student rewards and IT-IS-ON-SALE! You can shop Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for the next three days and grab a bag of bargains. Everything, and I mean everything, in the LSS MyGrafico shop is 30% off through August 28, so be sure to stop by and see for yourself all the great goodies.
Both the great little pencil topper and the pencil box are SVG files I cut with my Cricut and Sure Cuts Alot software. If you don't have these, the set also comes with a PDF file so you can print these out and hand cut them, too. There are also some bonus digital stamps that make this set extra special!
You will want to see all the great projects created with Lindsay's sale items, so be sure to go through all the design team blogs including our newest team member Laurel. Leave some special love on her blog to welcome her to the creative team. Also, Lindsay has a freebie for you today, so don't forget to stop there and grab that little goodie.
And whatever you do, don't miss out on the sale!

Cheers!

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

This week's technique on Stamptv was to use water-based markers to add specific colors to a stamp. So, the copics got a rest this weekend. I used these butterflies from a Stampin Up set. After inking the stamp, I used a Stampin Write marker to add a little dash of color to the center of the butterflies. That's it! Super easy technique. I used the Stampin Up butterfly punch to punch them out and an EK Success punch for my leaf which I colored with a sponge and some inks. I used one of the new Sizzix Tim Holtz embossing folders on the background paper to get some distressing and added more distressing to the edges with my Distrezz-it-all.
Mom created this stunning card using the stamp and marker technique.

I love those brads added to the center of the flowers. What pretty colors and background papers, too. This is really a great technique for creating something special very quickly. It was kind of nice to let the copics sit on the shelf for the day. Though, I'm sure they'll be back in action before the week is over. Have a great day!
Cheers!

A Witchy Brew For You

Talk about a fast and super easy project, this one is all that and more! I recycled a pretty bottle and just poured in some grape soda. You could certainly add some other kind of beverage to this but the grape soda was fast and easy to acquire. I created a "label" for my witch's brew by tracing along the bottle's indentation and cutting out some Basic Grey Eerie paper. Then, using a scrap of the same paper, I printed out this label from the LSS Vintage Halloween set. This set is designed to match with your Spellbinders Labels Nestabilities. You don't have to use the Spellbinder's dies as it is very easy to cut out the label by hand. But I did create a mat for my label with one of the Labels Two  dies. The only thing I did to this image was add some stickles for a little shimmer.
More Basic Grey paper and a paper crimper created the band around the bottle. I added a flower that I custom-colored with my copics. I tied a bow around the top and added the circular label also printed from the LSS Vintage Halloween set and cut and matted using the Spellbinders Classic Circles Nestabilities dies. I really love this set, but I don't have all the Spellbinders Labels dies used and even though I don't "NEED" them for these images, this set sure makes me "WANT" them!
So, how's that for a fast, easy Halloween project. This set would make awesome labels for bottles of soda pop at a Halloween party! And, you are in luck because today only, there is a 40% off sale at LSS, so be sure to head over there and grab this set up! It is only $2.70, no tax and no shipping and you can have it instantly! Can't beat that with a stick (even a witch's broomstick!) Also, don't forget to check out the design team this week where I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration and great ideas, and stop by Lindsay's blog for inspiration and a freebie!
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!