It's a SWEET day! {Sweet Stamp Shop}

 It's another release day at Sweet Stamp Shop! Today I have another furry friend to introduce you to. Her (at least I've decided it's a her) name is Kitty Cat. In real life cats make me sneeze, so therefore we aren't really friends. . . .but this inky little kitty is cute as can be! 

I have been having a great time with a big stack of Colorbox Cats Eye ink (hahaha. . .cats eye ink to stamp a cat.) The inks come in so many colors, and they are so bright and fresh. I used a lot of colors on this card, and a lot of the cute little stamps that come along with Kitty Cat. I think she has everything she needs! 

If you head on over to the Sweet Stamp Shop blog, you'll see all of the new stamp sets being released, plus so SO many great projects from the design team! You'll see the card below, plus one other card I created with the kitty! 

If you like what you see, be sure to follow Sweet Stamp Shop on Facebook, and Pinterest too! And while you're at it, you can find ME on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. . .click on my links on the sidebar! I'd love to connect with you! Thanks so much for stopping by!  xoxo

Hello hello hello {Technique Tuesday}

Hello hello hello. . .
and goodbye!
Popping in for seriously ONE minute. Have you ever done a ONE MINUTE blog post? Yeah, I'm not sure I have either, but I have six thousand things to do, and I've been neglectful of you dear blog readers. :)  So here I am to say a quick HELLO HELLO HELLO!

I have a card I made using Technique Tuesday stamps, and some beautiful bold Colorbox Cats Eye pigment inks.

Okay. Quick. Quick. Quick.

Thanks for stopping by for my one minute blog post! I'll do my best to be back soon with a 5-10 minute blog post! 

Bye bye bye!!!!

xoxo

Too much? Says who? {Sweet Stamp Shop}

Hey there!

You want to meet my new friend?

Meet Doggy Dog.

He loves to be stamped on patterned paper.

He also loves to be colored with markers.

(And he really loves a bowl full of dog biscuits.)

Doggy Dog is brand new at the Sweet Stamp Shop today. He's part of a 2x6 inch stamp set and he's a serious bargain at only $7.95! (And Sweet stamps are HIGH quality, made in the USA. You'll only see me sharing the BEST of clear stamps on my blog - I am VERY particular about quality!)

I'll admit, I am NOT an animal person. I have never owned a pet, and dogs aren't really my deal - but THIS guy, oh my, he's a ton of fun! Plus, if you remember the Too Hip hippo with his amazing hats from February's release, all those great accessories fit on Doggy Dog too! See?

But wait. . . .there's MORE! There are four stamp sets being released today. Check out the Upper Outline Alpha. 

A crafter can never have too many alphabet stamps. And outline sets are great because you can stamp it on any color or pattern you want. Here's a card I created for one of our family's little friends, who had a birthday this week. I stamped the letters in Colorbox pigment inks - the colors are so delicious! 

Okay. . .enough taunting you. I'll stop rambling on, so you can head over to the Sweet Stamp Shop blog to check out all the stamp sets, plus SO SO many sweet samples to show off the goods! Hurry! Go! Go! 

crazy4daisies {The Stamps of Life}

Okay friends, how funky and fun are these flowers? I created today's card using a new stamp set called crazy4daisies, from The Stamps of Life.  There's an outline stamp, plus solid shapes that coordinate, allowing you to create any color (or colors) of flower you want.  I used my Stephanie Barnard Clearsnap inks, and inked up each flower petal in a bright color. Because this card is totally flat, it's perfect for mailing. I am always happy to have a cute fun card, that doesn't look like it's lacking anything, just because it's FLAT.

Here's a quick storage idea: I store my "flat cards" in a separate bin from my bulky ones. That way, if I'm pulling a card to mail, vs. pulling a card to hand deliver, I know just what to grab. In fact, I keep my cards-to-mail downstairs near the postage stamps and envelopes. The bulky cards are stored upstairs with giftwrap and bags.

Another fairly flat card, definitely mailable. On this card I stamped the crazy daisies onto patterned paper, trimmed them, and layered it. 

There are all kinds of cute samples in the TSOL gallery, so please go check them out! You can find these stamps, plus all the inks I used in The Stamps of Life shop.  And hey - did you know you can find tons of TSOL inspiration on The Stamps of Life Pinterest board? 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Doing anything fun in this fine, new month of March? I'd love to know what you're up to! xoxo

Blog hopping with Clearsnap

It's a blog-hopping kind of a day today! (Actually my whole week is blog-hopping, but more on that later!) Today the designers from The Stamps of Life and Clearsnap are hosting a blog hop to share some great inspiration with you! 

I have a little card featuring TSOL's fabulous phone4you stamp set.  I love this stamp set. I ADORE this stamp set.  The sentiments are terrific, and I love the fonts they are in!  And this telephone is oh-so-cute!!!!!!

I stamped the telephone on We R Memory Keepers Washi Adhesive Sheets, using Clearsnap's Wicked Black Archival ink. I trimmed the phone, and adhered it to cardstock. I used Stephanie Barnard's Colorbox Guava ink to stamp the sentiment onto a sticker from SRM Stickers, and adhered that to my card.  (The curly border at the bottom is also from SRM Stickers.) 

If you're just starting here, head over to the Clearsnap blog, and visit all the great blogs on today's hop.  Leave comments for a chance to win Stephanie Barnard’s line of ColorBox inkpads, Stephanie Barnard Sprays, and Stephanie’s new SCREENS!

Clearsnap Blog: http://blog.clearsnap.com/

Jeanne Streiff http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Tami Sanders http://tamisanders.com/

Lorie Souther http://www.thinkinspot.com/

Suzanne Austin http://whatsinalousyananut.blogspot.com/

Kim Howard http://basementstamper.blogspot.com/

Judy Rozema http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com/

Becki Adams http://beckiadams.com/

Beverly Sizemore http://bevscreativepath.blogspot.com/

Emily Niehaus http://emmielouwho.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.com/blog

Laura Williams http://www.lauralooloo.blogspot.com/ <
Steph Ackerman http://stephaniescraps.blogspot.com/

Anna Wight http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com/

Kelli Hull http://stampingwithadream.blogspot.com/

Adrienne Ford http://bry-and-i.blogspot.com/

Tiffany Johnson http://iheartartblog.com/

Lydia Fiedler http://www.understandblue.blogspot.com/

Meihsia Liu http://meihsia.blogspot.com/

Debbie Cole http://debbiecole.com/blog/

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

And join me tomorrow. . . for I'll be participating in ANOTHER fun blog hop, all week long! :)

xoxo

{TSOL} A little more bubblegum love!

Just in case you didn't get enough bubbly fun a few days ago, I have a few more cards that I created using The Stamps of Life's new stamp sets, called bubblegum4me, and moregum4me, plus the coordinating background stamp, gum4backgrounds.

I love the way this gumball machine turned out, paper-pieced with polka dotted paper! (from My Mind's Eye)

And here's that background stamp I told you about! I embossed this entire thing so it has a fabulous sheen and texture in real life.  (awesome pigment inks and embossing powders from Clearsnap - the Donna Salazar Collection. LOVE these colors!) I wish I could have captured it in this photo - I promise, it is FABULOUS in real life! :)

On this card, I paired the bubblegum machine with some sweet little hearts, and a Valentine sentiment.  I added details with a silver pen, and glitter tape from Close To My Heart.

I've been doing some work on my little old blog this week.  Let me know if anything isn't working properly, or if you have any suggestions! Just trying to do some spring cleaning around here!! I got the fabulous little buttons on my sidebar, for Facebook, Instagram etc. .. for free from Her New Leaf. She has a variety of great colors, and lots of blogging resources!

I'll be back in a day or two with some great new household coupons to give away, thanks to Purex Insiders. . .they're very tropical, to help us gear up for Spring Break! Wooohoo! ;)

xoxo

three fun cards from TSOL

New stamps were released today at The Stamps of Life, and I went a little crazy with this one. .. .it's called framefive2stamp, and it coordinates with Stephanie's Framelit dies from Sizzix. I don't have the dies (ahh hem - YET) but I had TOO MUCH FUN with this stamp set.  Somehow I started stamping backgrounds with it, and then I just couldn't stop!  The colors and patterns were coming together so nicely, and I am just really happy with how these first two cards turned out.   

Then I paired one of the frame stamps with some other well-loved TSOL stamps, to create this little HELLO card.   I think it could be a Valentine. . . .or not! 

Be sure to check out all the new releases (three stamp sets, and some new Sizzix goodies!) at The Stamps of Life website. You'll find lots of samples in the gallery - I am always inspired by the other designers there! :)

xoxo

Sweet n Sassy blessings

It's my day! I'm on the Sweet 'n Sassy blog today, with my third project. Will you join me???? 

(I'll tell you all about some of my favorite products that I used on this card!)

Wishing YOU a season of blessings as you prepare (if you live in the US) to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. 

xoxo

Spring Blog Hopping with Clearsnap and The Stamps of Life

Happy blog hopping day!!!! Today I am participating in a hop with two of my favorite companies! The {Stamps} of Life, and Clearsnap. Be sure to comment along the way, because prizes will be given out randomly among the comments!  You might just win a stamp set of your choice, from TSOL, or fabulous Stephanie Barnard Colorbox inks from Clearsnap!

On this card, I went back to the very first stamp set that Stephanie created for The Stamps of Life.  It's called Back2Basics, and it is great on its own, but also a great accompaniment to so many other of Stephanie's stamp sets!

I used Colorbox's Mermaid Dye Ink, as well as Orchid Pastel and Lime Pastel Chalk Inks.  I also used some beautiful Bazzill Card Shoppe cardstock in Robin's Egg.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll go visit all the other participants to find some more inspiration!  Happy hopping! xoxo

Clearsnap – http://clearsnap.blogspot.com

The Stamps of Life http://stephaniebarnard.blogspot.com/

Jeanne Streiff - http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/category/inks/clearsnap/
Sabrina Alery – http://sabrinaalery.blogspot.com

Deb Felts -http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Stamps%20of%20Life
Steph Ackerman - http://stephaniescraps.blogspot.com
Lydia Fiedler - http://www.understandblue.blogspot.com/
Mary Dawn Quirindongo - http://mypinkmexico.blogspot.com/
Kim Howard - http://basementstamper.blogspot.com/
Daniela Dobson - http://danieladobson.blogspot.com/
Tami Mayberry –  http://tamimayberry.blogspot.com/search/label/clearsnap
Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.com
Laura Williams –  http://www.lauralooloo.blogspot.com/ (That's me!!!!) 
Kim Pargeter – http://stampinriley.blogspot.com/
Vicki Garrett – http://summerthymestudio.blogspot.com/

Joana Studer- http://joanastamps.blogspot.com/

Emily Niehaus -http://emmielouwho.blogspot.com/

Beverly Sizemore - http://bevscreativepath.blogspot.com/

moremums2love (The {Stamps} of Life)

One of the special release sets from The {Stamps} of Life this month, coordinates with mums2stamp. . . .and it's called moremums2love.  (And i LOVE it!)

I used stamps from both of these sets on the cards I'd like to share today.  On this first card, I used a sponge dauber and applied Tangerine and Banana ink (both from Stephanie Barnards's Colorbox inks by Clearsnap.) I love the way the colors blended together so beautifully! This fabulous orange ribbon is from The Ribbon Retreat, in their vintage rayon ribbon, which is really similar to seam-binding. Easy to use, and looks great on cards!

On this card I created a happy little heart flower, just a little too late for Valentine's Day! 

 And on this last card, I used second-generation stamping (basically you stamp on scratch paper before stamping onto the card to create the lighter color) and added a FUN POP of color with the green ribbon and leafy stem.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to stop by the TSOL gallery to see LOTS of samples using these stamp sets, plus so much more!

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

CPS ketchup

No, not THAT kind of ketchup. . . .CATCHUP.  I just wanted to get your attention!
I have a few CPS cards that I haven't posted here yet. . . .so here they are, for your daily procrastination from whatever you (and I) should be doing.

 This first card was last week's. . .I think.  Our sponsor was EAD Designs.  They make the MOST FABULOUS rub-ons and stickers.  I used stickers on this card. (Aren't they COOL!?!)  They are really thin, and smooth, and you can hardly tell they are stickers at all! LOVE THEM.  Check out EAD Designs HERE!

 I have LOVED this sock stamp since the day I saw it! Unity Stamp Co sponsored us a few weeks ago, and we could choose two of their Itty Bitties.  I chose this one, as well as the stamps in the card below.  Tons of fun, and I loved the way this bright crazy colors came together.  Visit Unity Stamp Co HERE!

I also used Unity Stamps here, along with jewels from Want2Scrap.  These are from their Nestabling collection - they fit about a million sizes of Nestability dies, but as you can see, they are terrific even if you don't have dies to use.  Check out Want2Scrap HERE!

All cardstock I used was from Discount Cardstock, and the ink is Clearsnap's Stephanie Barnard Collection.  (Those ink pads are so juicy and fabulous!!!!)

Have a BEAUTIFUL week!!!!! I've decided to break my rule, and get out our little bucket of Fall decorations before October 1st.  So THAT is what I am off to do!!!! xoxoxo

a little more BOO for you!

Okay, so the days are just WHIZZING by.  Seriously, how does this HAPPEN!? I looked at my blog, and thought - NO, it was not MONDAY that I blogged.  It was like - um, YESTERDAY.  But clearly, it was not.  So here I am, finally back again with a few more projects from the new TSOL Halloween stamps!

I gotta make this snappy, because I need to head out the door to get mr. first grader from school, in like, TWO MINUTES.  (Why do I finally get motivated to blog, when I DON'T have time to!?)

First up, a super simple treat bag - seriously, you could whip this up in like three minutes. Finish it off with some rockin' twine from The Twinery, and away you go!

 I am SO in love with embossing lately, ever since I got the Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inx. . .clear embossing powder, and these inks are a DREAM to use!!!! I used the black on both of these cards, and it gives it such a sharp crisp look.

Okay - did I do it? Did I blog in TWO MINUTES!? (It's sort of a sad excuse of a blog post, but lots of pictures will hopefully make up for my quick little ramblings!)
Have a FABULOUS weekend. . . .I sure plan to!!!!
(Especially since I just cleaned almost my WHOLE house today. . .which should last all of like ONE hour, if I'm lucky! ha!)
xoxo

Making up for lost time!

Echo, echo, echo. 

Me + blogging = nonexistent lately! 

Not sure why, but TODAY I have NEW goodies to share with you! The special release stamps from TSOL this month are FUN FUN FUN!!!! These two projects feature the new Halloween set.  It's a solid set, which I LOVE, because I am not the biggest, or best colorer (is that a word?) No fancy markers in this house (although, I'm pining for the ShinHan Touch Twin Markers!!!)

Okay, so anyway, a quick easy card. . .featuring Stephanie Barnard's new Colorbox ink from Clearsnap! (LOVE IT!!!)

On the treat can, I didn't have much luck stamping RIGHT ON the can (although the stars are stamped directly on it) but I stamped the pumpkin on orange cardstock, and adhered it to the can, which was WAY easier!!! I used Clearsnap Mix'd Media Inxs and embossed it.  LOVE the way this ink embosses!

The can is filled with candy corn (just don't tell anyone that it's LAST YEARS candy corn, and it went immediately in the garbage after I took this picture!) ha! It will be filled with NEW candy corn when I try to sell it at my church's craft fair next month!!!!

SO there you have it, head on over the The {Stamps} of Life to check out the amazing samples in the gallery, and to see the full sets for sale!!!!!  And then head over to the ShinHan Touch Twin marker blog, for info about their new CHALLENGES. . .you (I mean I) could win some MARKERS!!!! On second though, DON'T go. . .it gives ME a better chance of winning! {giggle giggle!}

call me!

Good morning, good morning! 

Today's card is all about trying something NEW, and realizing that something different (and maybe a little scary) can turn out to be a FABULOUS thing!  

You see, I am a die-hard Close To My Heart ink fan.  It's pretty much the only ink I have ever owned and ever used. . . .and I DO still love it.

But we have had a super generous sponsor at the CPS blog this week - Clearsnap.  And they sent each of us a WHOLE SET of brand new ink, released at CHA, the Donna Salazar signature line of  Mix'd Media Inx.  They are pigment ink.  And I must say. . .

I am TERRIFIED of pigment ink.  

It's sticky.

And it takes freakin' FOREVER to dry.

And it smears.

And it stresses me out.

BUT,  .. . 

I made an awesome discovery, when I took the time to READ THE PACKAGE. (duh!)

You can EMBOSS with it.

SO, I pulled out my fun little collection of colors (the black and peridot are my fave so far!) 

And then I grabbed my ultra fine clear embossing powder (from CTMH)

and I got busy making this FUN CARD! I think the embossing is what really makes it.

The black becomes SO bold and dark when you add that pop of embossing to it.  

PERFECTION.

So I have been an embossing fool this week, making LOTS of cards with my new pigment inks, and clear embossing powder!

(card goodies: Unity Stamps (phone, sentiment), The Stamps of Life (circle stamp for background) Discount Cardstock, CTMH ribbon, Want2Scrap jewels)