Festive and Floral with Die~Namites

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the last day of June, and for those in the U.S., the week of 4th of July celebrations.  Today I am sharing a card made with a brand new Die~Namites Die. I thought I would try something a little different this time; I impressed my image into my paper instead of die cutting it out.  This allowed me to treat the die as both a die and a stamp.

I fell in love with the color combo at Colour Q and thought it would perfect for the week of July 4th.  These colors remind me of summers gone by.  My mother always planted geraniums and that is what these flowers remind me of.  Add to that gingham, cool summer blues, and scallops, and my mind thinks of my childhood.

The sketch at Freshly made Sketches is really versatile; I had no trouble incorporating my impressed die image into the sketch~ 

I used the new Flowers and Leaves Die from Die~Namites.  To impress the die cut onto cs, place the cs onto a rubber mat, then place the die, cutting edge down, on top of the paper.  This was then sandwiched between cutting plates and run through the Big Shot.  I them trimmed my image down to size and used the 'outside the box' technique, fussy cutting around some of the leaves.

Once I had my image, I colored the leaves with Copic Markes, E40 through E44.  The flower heads were die cut out of Real Red cardstock and pieced onto the impressed flower heads.  A second red flower head, as well as smaller pink flower centers, were die cut out and layered onto the flowers.  The flower centers are made with one of my all time fave SU colors, Blush Blossom and embellished with pearls and glitter.  The Paper Players Challenge this week is Tic Tac Toe- I choose my tic tac toe elements to be- any shade of pink (blush blossom), pearls, and embossing.

The background image was made with the faux watercoloring technique.  I inked both Bashful Blue and Island Indigo onto my gingham stamp and then spritzed the stamp with water before stamping to give it that faux watercolor look.

I am also entering this in Simon Says Stamp W is for White Monday Challenge, as I transformed white CS into a watercolored background and white cardstock into an embossed image.  

That's it for me today!  Hope your week is full of red, white, and blue (for my U.S. friends!).

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-

Stamps- Our Daily Bread Designs Gingham background, sentiment is Our Craft Lounge
Paper- Neenah Solar White, Real Red, Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue, vellum
Ink- Bashful Blue, Island Indigo
Other- Die~Namites Flowers and Leaves Die, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Scallop Edge die, SU button, Martha Stewart Chunky Glitter, Corner Chomper, pearls, Hemptique twine

So What's Up with New Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps?

Hello Friends!

Welcome to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps June 2014 Release. The DT has been having a lot of fun with these sets as you will see as you hop along to each of their blogs.

It wouldn't be a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release without fun prizes and a challenge so here are the details!  You have two ways to win~

~One random commenter from one of the DT blogs will be selected to win a $10 Gift Code to be used at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store.  You have until Thursday, July 3rd at midnight EST to leave your comments.  The winner will be posted on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Friday, July 4th!
~ Participate in the "Anything Goes" Friday Feature Challenge.  Details are below.

 Now, on to the Release!
First up…

The What's Up Stamp Set also has a matching Die Set.  

And next...

My first Birthday card uses both of the new release stamp sets.  I hope this card is bright enough for you, LOL!
 I framed my sentiment ( which is from Birthday Word Art) with the right angle arrow stamp and then made a banner using a smaller stamp.  Then I punched small scalloped circles in red and added white and black circles to them as flower centers; the flowers were used to embellish the yellow banners.  Bright enamel dots embellish the arrows and mimic the polka dot patterned paper.
This card is being entered in Simon Says Stamp  Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes and the Seize the Birthday Anything Goes Challenge.  

Again I used both new stamp sets.  I created a background using that fantastic line of numbers, stamping them in white craft ink.  My banner is embellished with an arrow from the What's Up Stamp Set ( and die cut out with a matching die)  as well as an image (hand) from the Keep In Touch Stamp Set along with the matching die.  My punched circles are layered on a hexagon die cut using the Shape Dies.  I finished off the banner with that classic sentiment, 'You're How Old?".

Before I let you go, don't forget about our release day challenge and chance to win a $20 store gift code!

Our challenge is "Anything Goes!"  Just add your card to the gallery using the linky tool below.  To be eligible for the prize, we ask that you create a new card (no back linking, please) and enter your card in no more than 3 challenges.  

Just a few guidelines to remember as you play:

         

- You don't have to use a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps image to enter (although we sure love when you do!)
 - You'll have until Thursday, July 3rd at midnight EST to enter
- We'll draw 1 winner from this week's challenge to receive a $20 credit to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!
If there are 50 participants, (not including the DT), we'll draw 2 winners!
- Please use code SNSJRC14 when uploading to Splitcoaststampers or other galleries

To enter simply share a link to your creation below.

Thanks for joining us today!  Be sure to check back again on Friday, July 4th to see if you've  won and to check out the next Friday Feature & Challenge!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used~
Card 1
Stamps- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Word Art and What's Up
Paper- Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Neenah Solar White, SU dp
Ink- Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Versafine Black
Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps What's Up Matching Dies, enamel dots, SU Pool Party Baker's Twine, small circle punches, zig zag scissors

Card 2
Stamps- Birthday Word Art, What's Up, Keep In Touch
Paper- Neenah Solar White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade
Ink- Crushed Curry, Versafine Black, PTI Snow Craft Ink
Other- What's Up, Shape and Keep In Touch Matching Dies, Hemptique Twine, dimensionals, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax Die~Namics, Circle punches

Citrus Summer Fun

Hi Everyone!

We are celebrating summer over on the CutCardStock Blog and are sharing fun ways to decorate for your backyard parties.

I love the trendy drinking straw embellies that are popping up everywhere, so I made citrus slices to adorn my straws.

These were super easy to make; all you need is your CutCardStock, circle dies, liquid adhesive, a hole punch and glitter.

For my citrus slices, I used Orange Fizz, Lemon Drop, and Sour Apple cardstock from the Poptones Sample Pack. 

Complete instructions on how to make these little cuties is on the CutCardstock Blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Our Daily Bread designs, Gingham Background
Paper- CutCardStock Pop Tones Sample Pack, Basis Sample Pack, Curious Metallic Cryogen White
Other- MFT Circle Stax Die-Namics, Martha Stewart Course Glitter, Tombow Mono Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Hole Punch

All Things Baby with The Card Concept!

Hi Everyone!
Hope you are enjoying your summer!
 Lesley has some adorable inspiration for us at The Card Concept this week.

 It's all things BABY this week!  Aren't these cookies adorable?! I spotted the buggy and knew right away what image I was going to use.  And as usual, I am designing in the Classy and Elegant style.  My layers, textures, traditional image and bling all lend themselves to that style.

The border punch also lends elegance to the card- I am not sure what you call them-flourishes?  A type of leaf or flower?  Well, whatever they are, I think they are very elegant!   :)

 My stamps are from a retired Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps set; the buggy was colored with Copics, fussy cut out, and popped up on dimensionals on my layered ovals. I added a Die~Namites Spring Blossoms Die Cut behind it, then layered up dp from Webster's Pages and a dry embossed background panel, and added that "whatever you call it" border, following this sketch from Jen at The Deconstructed Sketch.

Check out The Card Concept Blog for all of the amazing inspiration shared in all of the designing styles by our awesome team! I hope you will play with us this week!

I peek at our summer vacation~

 Southern Utah

Have a Blessed Day!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Crafty Secrets
Paper-SU Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Neenah Solar White, dp Webster's Pages
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Soft Suede
Other- SU Oval Framelits, MFT Fishtail Flag Staz Die-Namics, Die~Namites Spring Blossoms Die, Verve Vintage Oval Die, SU embossing folder, pearls, dimensionals , Copics

Golden Anniversary in a Sketch

Hi Everyone!
Happy Tuesday to you all!  Today is a new sketch day at Seize the Sketch.

I hope you can join us this week as we share our creations, using this sketch, by me!~

I was inspired by this photo at Fusion Card Challenge (isn't it a beauty?!)~

I started by heat embossing my butterfly on vellum with gold ep and die cutting it out.  I made my die-cut trellis oval using a Spellbinders lattice die.  I rimmed the oval with gold just as the plates are in the inspiration photo. 
I used an Add A Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheet for my foliage die cut, which is actually cut using the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps tree branch die from the Love Birds Die Set.  3 white flowers with tiny yellow gold bling centers embellish the foliage.
I finished off my card with a sentiment stamped and die cut out with another Spellbinders die.

There is so much more amazing inspiration on the Seize the Sketch blog; why not check it out and then play along with us!

A peek at our summer vacation~

 Zion

Have a Blessed Day!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps- Majestic Monarchs, Love Birds (sentiment)
Paper- Neenah Solar White, vellum, SU Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Ink- Versamark, Early Espresso
Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Love Birds Dies and Majestic Monarch Dies, Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles, Grand Ovals and Basic Lattice Dies, Add A Little Dazzle Metal Craft Sheet, bling, dimensionals

Sweet 'n Sassy Sneak Peek!

Hey There!
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is releasing two new stamp sets with matching dies for one this week.  You are going to love them, especially for your CAS cards!  Here is a peek of what is coming!

I used this week's Fusion AND (CAS)E This Sketch's sketch.  You still have a little time to join in the fun as they join forces for this sketch challenge! 

 

Both new sets are represented here- What's Up and Birthday Word Art.  I also used an image from the Keep in Touch Set, along with its coordinating die.  So bottom line, there is nothing fancy here!  Just stamped and die cut images.  :) And a great sketch for them!

Thanks so much for stopping by, you are appreciated!

Have a blessed day!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies Used-
Stamps- Keep in Touch, Birthday Word Art and What's Up by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
Paper -Neenah Solar White, SU Basic Black, Poppy Parade and Crushed Curry
Ink- SU Crushed Curry, Versafine Black and PTI white
Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Keep in Touch matching Dies, What's Up matching Dies, MFT Fish Tail Flag Stax Die-Namics, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Shapes Dies, circle punches, Hemptique Twine, dimensionals

A Die~Namite MetaMorphosis

Hello Everyone!

I feel like I have been gone forever; I was vacationing in the Southwest with my son ( who kindly agreed to accompany his mom!).  Now I get to enjoy relaxing at home the rest of my summer and get back to crafting!
Today I am sharing a card with a really special-to-me message-

Yes, so often I feel like the caterpillar, with nothing to live for.  But the end is just the beginning in the Master's grand plans! How grateful I am for that!
For this card, I used 4 Die~Namites Dies.  The first is Butterfly Frenzy, which has mutliple fluttering butterflies, but they are perfect individually for putting together little vignettes.  My two toned butterfly is lightly painted with Luminartes Silks Ice Paint for shimmer.  The antennae are coated with Crystal Effects.

My background oval is made with another brand new die, the Shady Tree Die.  Yes, I used tree dies on this card!  I cut two white trees out, removed much of the trunk and then adhered them inside the white oval, one right side up and one up side down. 

 

I made my floral spray with the new, Small Ivy Die and a new-to-me die, the Knobby Branch Die.  Oh boy, these are both great background fillers for floral sprays.  

I have used some fantastic cardstock for the back panel- I just love this stuff from CutCardStock.  It is super heavy and has this wonderful woodgrain embossing to it.  It is called Nature Gmund Savanna- yes, it really is called that!  Funny name, fabulous cardstock!
The sentiment is from sweet ' Sassy Stamps set, Majestic Monarchs.

Products used- Stamps-snss Majestic Monarchs/ Paper- CutCardStock Nature Gmund Savanna; SU vellum, Soft Suede, Bahama Breeze, Pool Party, River Rock, Whisper White, Crumb Cake/ Other-Die~Namites Dies Butterfly Frenzy, Small Ivy, Knobby Branch, Shady Tree; MFT Fishtail Flag Stax Die-Namics, SU Oval Framelits, SU woodgrain ef, SU vintage brad

Lastly, I thought I would share a couple of photos from our Southwest vacation-

Yes, one of our stops was the Grand Canyon.  Thanks for letting me bore you!

Thanks so much for visiting; everyone one of you is truly appreciated. 
Have a blessed day! 

Lee Ann  :)

Another Sketch, Lots of Possibilities!

Hi Everyone!

Just a short post today, sharing with you the newest sketch from Seize the Sketch, this one from Lori.  I was initially intimidated, but this is really a fun sketch and full of possibilities!  Hope you can play along!

I was trying to clean up my work area when I made this card and determined that I was going to use scraps that were laying on my desk.  It took me a while to settle on something- I ended up going with a Christmas card and used the 2 die cut and heat embossed sprigs of holly, stamped and die cut ornament, embossed Crumb Cake panel of cs and piece of vellum.  I consider that a successful use of scraps!  :)
There is lots more amazing inspiration from the Design Team on the blog.  Come on over and check it out!


Hope you are having a fabulous summer!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-
Stamps- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas Silhouettes and Christmas Joy; SU Ornament Keepsakes
Paper- SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Naturals Ivory, dsp and vellum
Ink- Versamark, Lucky Limeade
Other- Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas Silhouettes dies, SU Ornament Keepsakes dies, silver and Early Espresso ep, MFT Circle Stax Die-Namics, SU Argyle ef, dimensionals, silver cording

Hey Pop!

Hi Friends!

Today's card is for Dad, or should I say Pop!  I used a cute digi card from Whimsie Doodles and some great cardstock from CutCardStock. 

All Abuzz!

Hi All!!

Have you seen the newest dies over at Die~Namites yet?  Oh, I had so much fun playing, especially since I like paper piecing.

 I just adore the bees in this sweet new die, Buzzing Around. 

 I used the new sketch that is up on the Die~Namites blog and also did the Dare, 

which is to use vellum.

 My bees were paper pieced and the pieces colored yellow and black with Copics,  I fussy cut vellum wings and adhered then on the back side of the body of the bee wings.  I am not one to use much glitter, but these wings just called out for it!  A pearl, colored with a Copic, fills in nicely for a bee head! 

The bee 'trails' where also die cut out of vellum.  They are just so stinkin' cute! 

My flowers were cut twice and the top flower was glitzed up with my Wink of Stella pen.  I punched two circles for the flower centers. 

My leaves were added; I used the newest, awesome Die~Namites Die,  Small Ivy. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

Lee Ann  :)

Supplies used-
Stamps-Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Buggin' Ya
Paper- Neenah Solar White, SU Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade, Crushed Curry, Naturals Ivory, Basic Black, vellum
Ink- Versafine Black
Other- Die~Namites Buzzin' Around and Small Ivy dies, SU Honeycomb ef, pearls, Copics, dimensionals, SU paper doily, circle punches, Martha Stewart glitter, scalloped edge die