papermonkey.org {make time for playtime}

Sweet 'n Sassy New Release

Hi & hello!

I am so bummed that family circumstances have prevented me from stamping lately. I still wanted to give a shout out to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Penguin & Snowman Blog Hop to celebrate their new mini winter release. Christmas comes fast and SnS has such a cute way to prepare for it :) The ladies have made the sweetest cards, I do hope you will check them out :) Start the hop at Belinda Chang's blog.

I *think* I will be back soon. I hate to even say it because then some other catastrophe hits and I do not want to tempt fate; family must come first at times like these. I thank you for all your emails and even phone calls.  Right in the middle of hurricane Danny I got a call by none other than Deb Felts. I sure needed her rays of sunshine - thank you Deb!

But I have been crafty and I hope to share soon :)

Suzy

Circled Borders

Hi & hello!
Welcome to my stop on the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop! My sweet 'n simple card uses the new set Beautiful Borders, which was designed by DT member Tami Mayberry. I simply stamped the circle border in Ancient Page Chocolate ink, then die cut a bunch of circle and scallops with my Nestabilities. A  couple of K&Co. Flatback jewels add a bit of sparkle to the circles. The circle cut cardstock in the center is a Bazzill Edger cut to fit, I like how it mimics the stamps.

Be sure to check out all five of our new stamp sets here. While you are there  also check out the Christmas in July Stamp special. All Christmas sets are 15% off, and you get the fantastic Holiday Greetings sentiment set free when you spend $25 or more. There is so much more to the special, check out the link for all the details and freebies being offered.

While I am sad to see Design Team members Faith, Cindy, Deb, Laurie and Sarah departing, I look forward to seeing our new team members. They are amazing women who inspire in both artistic talent and kindness. They will be missed on the team but you can bet I will be following their blogs :)

Hope you Canadians had a BBQ-riffic Canada Day, and that you Americans out there have the happiest Fourth of July!

Your next stop on the hop is Korin.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Small Miracles

Hi & hello!
Today's card is for the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team Round Up. This is a special month because we are releasing five beautiful sets tonight during our Forum Release Party, including this lovely butterfly set, In His Time, drawn by our very own DT member Chris Dickinson. Her sets are always my favorite - they are feminine, detailed without being fussy, and oh so  fun and easy to color.

I colored the butterfly with Copic markers, then cut him out. Butterfly cutting is usually such a pain but this little fellow was so agreeable - no tiny bits to cut except for the antennae which were thick enough to not cause a problem.

I traced some of his markings with Crystal Stickles. The paper is all Basic Grey's Urban Prairie.

Goldenberry Dewdrop pearls were added to the side of the Urban Prairie Cardstock Sticker that I stamped the sentiment on.  The big green button is a vintage button from my stash.

To make the paper flower I cut up the scallops of Nestabilities into petals after embossing with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The leaves are also a die cut: Little Leaf by Stampin' Up!

I added a patch of Distress Crackle Paint in Picket Fence in the corner for some texture as the card was looking a bit too scrappy.

Be sure to check out the Sweet 'n Sassy blog to see the beautiful new sets used by the other DT members today, and to join us for our Release Party tonight! The fun begins at 8PM EST in the Sweet 'n Sassy Forum, we hope to see you there!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Sneak Peek: In His Time

Hi & Hello!
Today's card took me about 5 minutes to make but looks quite elegant I think (hope). It was created for the SCS Color Challenge. Talk about throwing us for a loop today- we were to create a white card with only one layer. This is one layer for me, girls. Humph this was hard!

The beautiful butterfly used is a sneak peek of a new Sweet 'n Sassy Stamp set In His Time that is will be released on the 15th.

I stamped the main image onto 120 lb. Classic Solar White Neenah cardstock, then stamped the same image onto 80lb Classic Solar White Neenah cardstock. The 80lb cardstock is better to color Copics with as it doesn't soak up as much ink, and is easier to cut detailed butterflies with.

I left the base image uncolored as I think it makes a pretty statement that works well with the sentiment. I like the one pop of color.

The colored butterfly is attached to the base layer with a foam dot. I added Stickles in Waterfall and Crystal for some sparkle.

The Satin ribbon is by Stampin' Up!; the two copper crystals are by K&Co.

For another sneak peek of this gorgeous set you can check out the BasicGrey website (!) If you do not want to hunt the card it will be posted on my blog on the 15th along with the recipe  :)

Speaking of recipes, I have been typing away on my Lettuce Wraps post but it is a lengthy recipe. It takes a lot of chopping and doing this and that, but the results are so yummy it's worth it. Look for that as soon as I can get done typing it lol.

Happy creating! Thanks for stoppin' by!

Flowers & Chocolate for a Sweet Stop

Hi & Hello! I hope this Wednesday finds you with lots of free time for creating :) Get ready for another crazy day of posting at the Paper Monkey! I will be posting my first card for Angels Landing today, as well as my secret letter for the Embellish-Online.com Blog Hop & Contest.

Today's card was created for the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog. I just adore the sketches being posted here, they are not too fussy and allow for so much creativity and inspiration.

After stamping the Sweet 'n Sassy Doodle Flowers images several times with Memento Ink, I cut them, reserving some for popping up with foam dots, and die cutting the others with Square Nestabilities.

Next I colored the flowers with the Copic Markers you see above. It is a very simple design as I wanted the colors and the textures of the Bazzill Basics cardstocks (Truffle, Rich Cocoa & Passionate) to be the focus. 

Passionate cardstock was punched with the Fiskars Threading Water Punch.

There you have it. Sweet 'n Sassy 'n simple :)

See you in a bit with another post :) Thanks for stoppin' by!

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to my stop on your Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop! Today's card is yet another shaped card (see my post below for a clear acetate shaped card). And yep, it is a  birthday card! Is it just me or is this birthday and baby season? Wonder what could be up with that. I have my guesses about winter and the need to keep warm and well, I will keep the rest to myself lol.

The circle card is die cut with Spellbinders Circle die cuts and uses the cute Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps set Birthday Fun. I colored the background, cake and balloons with the Copic Markers you see above.

I know it is a shocker that I added no glitter but with the addition of the American Craft Rockabye Foam Letters in Leaf I figured glitter would tip the scales over the WHOA! TOO MUCH SISTER!! limit.

The cake and balloons are propped up on Dimensional Foam Dots for extra 3D effect.

If you look closely you can see that I like to color the underside of the image as well. The foam dots are so thick that you can see most of what is underneath. Sometimes I color the foam dot too. Your next stop on the Hop will be Sandy's blog.

Stamp Out Alzheimers

Sweet 'n Sassy is so proud to take part in the Stamp Out Alzheimers event. Jen Tapler, from Jen Tapler Designs & Susanna Boyd, from Paper Craft Planet & Card of the Week are hosting a 7 day stamping and scrapbooking event starting May 25th to help raise money and awareness for Alzheimer's Disease. The site, Stampin' Out Alzheimer's, will feature challenges, contests, classes and more - with prizes donated from over 40 generous sponsors.

For a very small donation of $5, you can join this important cause. At the end of this event, 100% of the funds raised will be donated directly to the Alzheimer's Association to help with their efforts to provide and enhance care and support for all those affected by this heartbreaking disease.

Alzheimer's has hit home for us as a family as well as SO many others and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps wants to do our part. We will be hosting a sketch challenge starting the first day of the event. Particpants of the challenge will have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to our store. We have designed a digi set specifically for this event which will be available as a free download on the 26th via the Stampin' Out Alzheimer's website. We have also donated a fun stamp set to be given away sometime throughout the week.

Please consider joining us for this fast-paced, fun-filled event while reaching out and making a difference for a very worthy cause! You can donate and spread the word using the widget on the left.

Thanks so much for stoppin by, have a fabulous weekend!

Oh Hoppy Day

Hi and hello!
Happy Friday! Hope your weekend is off to a fantastic start. Thank you so much for your well wishes I am feeling much better :) Today's card was created for the SCS Limited Supplies challenge. The challenge seems like it was just made for me: create a circular card. I am so obsessed with shaped cards lately.

Today's card uses the Dahlia Nestabilities because I thought the shape kind of looks like a lily pad. Directions on how I create a folding card using the Nestabilities die cuts can be seen here. 

I stamped the super cute Sweet 'n Sassy set Pond Pals with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, then colored the frog and the dragonfly's wings with Copic Markers. Not sure if the picture picks it up, but I shaded the right side of the frog a darker green (New Leaf all over, then the darker Meadow Green).

 The dragonfly is cut out and attached with a dimensional foam dot. Sparkle was added with Waterfall Stickles glitter glue - this is one of my favorite colors, a sheer, holographic blue.  The green Dewdrops from the Water collection embellish the Bazzill cardstock.

Thanks so much for stoppin' by! It is so wonderful to know how many friends I have across the miles - bless you all :)

Have a fantastic weekend!

Do Ya Dig?

Sweet 'n Sassy's May Round Up is here and it fits today's LSC Challenge over at SCS perfectly!

For May’s Round Up I wanted a super simple, fun card that is good for any occasion. I cut Core’dinations cardstock with Nestabilities shapes and colored in the Summer Fun beach ball and bucket images with Copics. The sentiment, stamped with Memento ink, is from the Summer Sentiments set. There, you have it, fun in the sun in mere moments.

Check out all the spring and summer inspiration on the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog. Please note the SnS website itself is temporarily down, but will be up and running ASAP!

Happy Summer!

Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team Call

Do you love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps as much as I do? You're in luck - Korin is looking for stampers to join her for the next Design Team term!

Being on the SnS team has been such a fabulous experience. Korin is incredibly kind and generous, the stamps are a dream to work with, and the ladies on the team are really amazing. A pure joy to work with overall, I highly recommend applying.

Read all about how to apply over at SCS in this post. Good luck if you do apply :)

Suzy

Three Scoops at the Sweet Stop

Hi and hello!
This week's sketch over at The Sweet Stop involves lots and lots of layers, so I thought I would layer on the ice cream as well :) I used lots of Nestabilities die cuts to do all the cut work for me.

I stamped the ice cream cone from Summer Fun three times then cut out the scoops and made myself a calorie free triple scoop.

The Neapolitan colors of Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry are courtesy of Copic markers.

The sentiment, stamped in Ancient Page Chocolate ink, is from the Summer Sentiments. Both sets are now 15% off, as well as all spring and summer stamps.

The bright, happy colored paper is Sassafras Lass' Cris Cross (the blue checked) from the Serendipity collection. The polka dot is Intertwined from the Fawned collection;  the swirly strip comes from the same sheet. The hot pink textured cardstock is by Bazzill.

I  used chocolate, vanilla and strawberry Dew Drops in the upper right corner to balance the design a bit.

We at Sweet 'n Sassy would LOVE for you to stop by the new Sweet Stop challenge blog and take a look at what the design team has created for your inspiration - every Saturday is a new challenge. We would love it even more if you joined in and played - if you do not have any SnS stamps that is just fine with us! This is all about fun.

I hope to post another card to day - now every time I say this I jinx myself. Crossin' fingers. Thanks for stoppin' by!

Suzy

Sweet 'n Sassy Goes Psychadelic on the CPS Highway

 

Hi and hello!
Today Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is sponsoring the sketch over at Card Positioning Systems. I do admit I took some liberty with the sketch but I think the spirit remains intact. I just had to adjust placement to not cover this fabulous Full Bloom paper from the new Sasafrass Lass Anthem collection.

I had this idea about taking the path less traveled, with the arrows telling the little RV to head out one way, and it deciding to head another. 

I outlined the RV from the Sweet 'n Sassy Set Holiday Road in wild shades of red, orange and yellow Copic markers, then blended with the yellow for a glowing, funky RV that Jerry Garcia would be proud to ride in lol.

I cut the wheels out and put them on thicker Dimensional pop dots than the rest of the RV. The red scallop circle is a Nestabilities die cut.

 The little "road strip" is the bottom of the Full Bloom paper that I cut and placed, adding Cuttlebug arrow die cuts and the Not All Who Wander are Lost sentiment (also from Holiday Road).

The very bottom of the Full Bloom paper has this fabulous diamond edging that I am saving for another card. What a great pattern, just love it.

Holiday Road and all other spring and summer sets are on sale right now at Sweet 'n Sassy so be sure to take your little stampin' vacay and visit the store :) We hope you play in the sketch challenge over at CPS this week - one lucky entry will win 3 free Sweet 'n Sassy stamps from the Digi line!

Thanks for stoppin' by! Have a fantastic and creative day!

Let Your Dreams Soar

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog Hop! This month we are all excited for summer and showing it with some great summer stamps.  For my card I used Summer Sentiments, the perfect summer sentiment set that you can actually use all year round :) and the kite from Summer Fun, which is stamped twice using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then colored with Copics.

The kite itself is cut out and glittered up with Stickles in Fruit Punch. For the tail, I used small dovetailed snippets of Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon.

Yes it is a shaped card again - I love the smaller size, the fun shape, and the ease of using a die cut (Nestabilities Circles and Scallop Circles). The paper is Core'dinations yellow and purple two toned cardstock that I sanded with my nail file. The pealized pink that is sandwiched in between is Bazzill Bling.

Unfortunately no matter what I tried I could not get the picture to really show the clouds I created onto the white cardstock using a scallop die cut scrap and VersaMagic Aquatic Splash chalk ink. If you double click the image to enlarge it maybe you can see them a bit.

This card can be created in minutes. All in all an easy, breezy card for summer!

Sweet 'n Sassy is kicking off summer with a great sale on all their spring and summer sets, and as you hop around the design team member's blogs you can see cards made with sets that are 15% off from May 1-31.

If you are hopping along with us your next stop will be Chris' blog. Say hi for me :)

If you are in a cold spot right now like I am, remember that summer is a state of mind. Yep, keep telling myself that!

Thanks for stopping by, happy creating!

Coffee, Squared

Hi everyone,

I'm back after a 2 day migraine bender. I would take Benadryl, feel better, then come to the kitchen table to do some crafting and get the headache again. Only took me two days to discover that I was allergic to the beautiful Easter Lily plant on the table- no flies on me! As a result, I will have a few things to share today. Let's start with a coffee card! Today is the debut of the monthly Design Team Round Up on the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog. This little 4 square number, which uses the Warm Up Stamp Set, is my contribution.

I began with a base of Bazzill Scallop Edge cardstock, and added matting of Navy and Green (the navy is Bazzill textured, the green is Stampin' Up!'s Wild Wasabi). The patterned paper is BasicGrey's Marrakech. I used Nestabilities squares to create four little coffee scenes.

The cups are stamped twice, colored with Copic markers, and popped up on dimensional foam  dots. The polka dots were applied with Liquid Pearls in Gold.

What I like about this stamp set is that it comes with lots of accessories to stamp and mix and match. The little steam swirl on top of the cups is it's own stamp.

I used the coffee beans to create a background on two of the squares (using Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa).

I cut out a couple of the beans so they peek out of the square. The orange silk ribbon is by Martha Stewart. I won it during CHA at the EK Success booth playing a challenge game - we had to create with a partner using whatever was in the bag, then we won the goods. CHA was so fun :)

Back to the card at hand: The coffee bag is popped  up on foam dimensionals as well. I created a pattern for the burlap bag using different shades of brown and a Colorless Blender held down for a few seconds to create a pattern. 

The beans peeking out from the bag are covered with Copper Stickles for some glitz.

There you have it, a girlfriend card that can be sent for any reason (my favorite kind!).

Korin, the owner of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, has a little treat for those placing an order: You get $5 off any order of $30 or more if you code word SPRING during checkout. The offer expires April 30th.

Hope I don't jinx myself by saying this, but I will be back soon with a Magnolia card, an Odd Bird Planet card, as well as the winner of the Stampavie girlfriend card I made (plus a couple other goodies).

Thanks for stopping by!

Warm Up With Some Tea For Two (SCS Label Maker Challenge)

Hi and hello~
Today's card was created for the Splitcoast Stampers Ways to Use It Challenge, which was to use labels on your card.  I have been hoarding this fabulous patterned paper, so the card should feel very special indeed that I decided to use my treasure on it :)

The teapot image, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Warm Up set, was stamped twice onto white cardstock.  I love this set because it has stamps for coffee, tea and cocoa.

The base was die cut with a circle Nestabilities, while the top image was colored with the Copics you see above and cut out. I cut out the teacups as well and used differing heights of dimensionals to create my little scene.

I used BasicGrey's Marrakech patterned paper on a white card base for a clean yet colorful look. I think/hope the use of white counteracts the busy-ness of the paper. A few squares from the patterned paper were used to create a tablecloth for the teapot. 

Sale Alert: Marrakech is on sale at Embellish-Online.com; save another 20% when you use the saving code word GLITTER in the voucher box.

The Around the Block Label Maker was used to spell out Tea for Two; I cut up it and added it around my image. I think there may be a couple left on clearance at Embellish-Online.com too - last I checked those were 70% off.

The little white scallops along the sides is Doodlebug's Paper Frills trim.

If you are a Sweet 'n Sassy fan be sure to play in my Sketch Challenge to win a new Be Blessed Stamp Set! The deadline to enter your card is tomorrow. The sketch can be seen on this post. If you want to play and do not have a SnS stamp that is absolutely fine! The winner will be drawn randomly, all you need to do is follow the sketch and upload it to the SnS Gallery.

I will leave you with a picture of last night's dinner. I made General Tsao's Chicken at home.  It was the most amazing dinner, and quite authentic tasting, meaning it tasted just like the restaurants in California. Allan really raved over it.

What was nice is that the flavor comes from vinegar and orange rather than a lot of salt, which we need to keep an eye on. Kind of a sweet and sour flavor.

There are really no good Chinese places to eat at in Newfoundland, so this new found recipe is a treasure.

EDIT: I will post the recipe tomorrow :)

Well that's it for today. I am off to start dinner - any ideas?

Happy creating!

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog Hop & Release Party (Prize Alert!)

Hello and welcome to the party! It may be April Fool's Day, but we are full of treats, no tricks! Sweet 'n Sassy is doing things a bit differently for this release. To celebrate the release of four new stamp sets, Sweet 'n Sassy will be having four challenges, each with a prize of the new set being featured. You will see each of the four challenges posted on DT member blogs during your blog hop from April first through the third.

I am hosting the sketch challenge, and you guessed it, the winner will receive this super sweet Be Blessed set used to make today's card. This is a stamp set with a cause - more on that below.

Sketch Challenge: I made a deceptively simple sketch for you - feel free to flip the sketch, add layers, foam dots for dimension, wrap ribbon around the bottom half, add a sentiment - so many possibilities!

To enter just make a card following the sketch (a sketch is a layout/design/pattern for a card), and upload it to the Sweet n' Sassy Gallery. There is no need for a keyword.

If you do not have a scallop punch feel free to use circles adhered together, ribbon, or anything that gives one side a special look.

Card Details: For my card, I used my very favorite set from the new releases, Be Blessed. This is a very special stamp set modeled after the real Baby Be Blessed handmade dolls.  For every set purchased, Korin will make a $2 donation to Give a Blessing, a charity that supports a different child or family in need each month.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Linen background stamp (retired) and Memento Desert Sand ink, a very light tan, to stamp over my little rag doll to give her a fabric texture.

The doll image itself is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with the Copic Markers you see above (except for the Jade Green which snuck in from another project I was working on at the same time - oops).

I die cut the rectangular Nestabilities frame, then chalked it with blue Shimmers Pearlescent Chalk by Pebbles Ink, then, keeping the paper in the die, I sponged Creamy Caramel Ink by Stampin' Up! into the detail area.

The base of the card is Stampin' Up!'s Close to Cocoa Textured Cardstock (gosh I just love this color and I'm out of it now I think *sob*). Patterned paper is Stampin' Up!'s new textured paper, Parisian Breeze. I punched a few flowers from the paper with my Boho Blossoms punch and added Prima flowers and K&Co. Self Adhesive Pearls.

Your next stop on the Blog Hop will be to visit Lorie. The fabulous Chris has a fun and different challenge for you today too, with another stamp set to win!

Keep an eye out for the other challenges on April 2nd and 3rd; play along to win by uploading your challenge card to the Sweet 'n Sassy Gallery by April 10th :) The winner will be announced soon after from a random draw of entries.

Also be sure to join us for the Release Party on April 3rd from 9-11 pm EST for some chatting and silliness.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Little Lamb & Cutting Tips

Hi and hello!
Today's card was created for the April Magnolia-Licious Sketch Challenge. Each month, a different member of the Design Team creates a fun sketch to play with.

I took a bit of creative license and flipped the sentiment because I was dying to use my new Easter stamps; it is a very basic sketch that allows you to add your personality and loads of layers, or to keep it simple if oyu would rather do that.

 

I colored the images with the Copic markers you see above (Hellebore Flowers from the Winter 2008 Collection, Bible, and Tilda with Lamb).

The base of the card is Stampin' Up!'s Close to Cocoa and a warm pink textured cardstock by Bazzill. 

I created a background using Autumn Leaves  Flourishes V.1 clear stamps with VersaMagic Pink Grapefruit and Sahara Sand chalk inks, traced with a bit of Stickles. The colors may not be traditional Easter colors, but again, I couldn't help myself, I am on a pink and brown kick.

The sentiment is from the Easter Lily set by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps; it is die cut with a Sizzlet that I got from Stampin' Up!, and Nestabilities Ovals.

I added the tiniest bit of white flocking powder around the edge of the lamb for a soft, fuzzy look that still allows the color work to be seen.

The flower on the Bible is propped up three images high for punch, and centered with a flatback pearl. I spent the most time coloring the top layer, but did color the edges of each image under so that no white would peak through. I used a lot of foam dots in different heights.

The Hellebore Flowers have a bit of Liquid Applique applied in the centers. I cut the scissors right through the petals, then shaped them. They are so gorgeous, and come in the set of two. These flowers are from the Winter 2008 collection but are so perfect for spring.

Cutting Tips

Recently on the Magnolia-Licious group we were asked how we cut our images out to get a smooth look without lines showing.

I cut through the images themselves at times in order to get into tiny spaces, then piece them back together like puzzle pieces.

In this photo you can see cutting right between the hair and her shoulder to get at the tiny little spaces by her cheeks. I didn't need to tape my cut work to fix the image here, but sometimes you do. If you cut neatly it will fit right back and look seamless.

When you cut, be sure to cut in an even, single motion, moving the paper rather than your scissors for a seamless cut.

Finally, I run my marker along the edge of the cuts, matching the color of the marker to the color of the area colored (ie Skin White along the face, a pink along the dress). If you used many colors, go with the medium color.

If you play in the sketch challenge, be sure to mail a picture of your card to Diana Crick at Diana Crick ladydian(at)shaw.ca so that she can post it in the Magnolia-Licious gallery! Also, if you haven't joined yet be sure to join up for the Magnolia-Licious Group at Yahoo - members get special perks like free shipping in the US and Canada, a discount code, and free treats with every order. This month's discount code is being revealed to members today.

Thanks for stopping by - have a fantastic and creative day!

Stained Glass Window Card

Hello friends. Hope you are having a wonderful day of rest. Today's card, created for the Sweet 'n Sassy Design Team Round Up, is a perfect card for a Sunday. I wanted the cross, from the new set Elegant Blessings, to be the focus. I really love this set because it is so versatile - it can be used for inspiration, celebration, or consolation. I made this card last week when I was feeling down and it really comforted me. Usually receiving a card is comforting, but making one? Who knew!

Card Details
To create a faux stained glass window you need Staz-On ink, acetate and markers. I used Copic markers but I am sure any kind would do.

I stamped the image onto a sheet of acetate with Staz-On, cut it out with a Nestabilities oval die cut, then colored the reverse side of the image with Staz-On.

Note: Copics are not perfect with acetate - a lot of colors were not vibrant enough, and the ink does tend to pool. But it is possible for small areas like this with vibrant colors like reds, greens, oranges and yellows. You just need to lightly hold the nib to the acetate and let the ink flow rather than using pressure across the surface of the acetate.

I created an A2 (4.25x5.5) card base of textured white cardstock, then centered an oval die cut in the front upper center (the oval is one size smaller than the oval used for the acetate). Next I edged the oval with Gold Leafing Pen (Krylon 18 Karat Gold).

The sentiment was embossed with Gold Detail embossing powder. I taped the acetate to the back of the front part of the card using Scor-Tape, which is a fabulous clear double sided super sticky tape.

To hide the taped area and make the inside of the card pretty I added an oval scallop of gold vellum.

There you have it - almost instant comfort. The card took mere minutes but has an elegance that looks like it took a lot longer. I hope you like it :)

Be sure to check out what the other Sweet 'n Sassy ladies have created for you today on the SnS Blog. You will also see a great new look - Korin has updated the logo and the blog's design.

Thank you for stopping by! See you tomorrow :)

I'd Pick You

Hi and hello! Okay I must admit, even on the Suzy busy scale, today's card is off the charts :) But I like it. It is so happy and bright. This card uses Tami Mayberry's sketch for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps over at PaperCraftPlanet. It is a very different design for me - but that is why it is so fun to work with sketches. They get you out of your comfort zone and challenge you. Grab a cup of something, get comfy, and get to work: it is the crafter's equivalent of a Sunday crossword puzzle.

Here are the deets: I used red pre-made Bazzill scallop edge cardstock for the base, and pulled my colors (Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango) from the October Afternoon Detour patterned papers. I wanted to mix the plaid with the flowers and just kept my fingers crossed that it would not all be a BOO for the eyes.

I colored the images, from the new Sweet 'n Sassy I'd Pick You set, with the Copics you see above. I stamped twice and propped up the image with pop dots, and shaped the image with Sticky Dots so that the animals were curved toward each other.

Since I was feasting on patterns, why not die cuts? I used floral, Oversized Rectangles, and regular Rectangles die cuts. The scallop felt trim is from Martha Stewart; I added strips of patterned paper to it with Scor-Tape. The silk flowers are from the Paper Company; while the orange button is BasicGray Ambrosia. It is hard to see but there is also a sheer blue plastic leaf on the side of the flower;  that is Heidi Swapp. Yep, busy busy.

Your turn! Come along and play - we would love to have you join in the fun. If you do, please post a comment in this thread  on PCP and use the keyword SNSPCPSC7 when uploading to an online gallery so we can find you!  One last bit of news: Sweet 'n Sassy has a new gallery for you to upload your work to! You will find tons of inspiration and love there.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend! I am off to make Lettuce Wraps for dinner - cutting back on the sodium but here is the recipe if you would like to check it out.

Sweet 'n Sassy Digital Stamps & Exciting News

Sweet 'n Sassy has added digital stamps to the store! Are you like me and have been dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age? Digital stamps, which are files that contain black and white images that you save to your computer then print onto cardstock, are actually very easy, fun and affordable. All you need is a printer and some cardstock. The digi stamps come with super easy instructions; even if you are clueless you will still feel like a computer whiz.  You can have new stamps in minutes for great prices, and they are yours to print off anytime, forever.  Look for new digi stamps to be added weekly.

Sweet 'n Sassy is also welcoming Tami Mayberry aboard as a stamp designer! She has drawn some of the digital stamps in the digi line, they are just adorable. Tami is the Queen of CPS ( a great resource for card sketches) and has been published just about everywhere. It is so exciting to have her as part of the team.

One last bit of SnS news: This week we are sponsoring the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog, and it's all about the glitter baby! We would love to see you join along in the fun :)

Be back in a bit with today's card. Thanks for stopping by!

Suzy

Easter Blessings

The March Blog Hop is on! Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps new releases are just hours away. The Design Team has a few sneak peeks to show you what to look forward to. Mine is the elegant set Easter Lily, which is actually very versatile - wait until you see the beautiful sentiments!

I wanted to keep my card very simple and elegant- I simply embossed the lily with silver EP, cut it out, shaped it and put it on pop dots. I shaded it with Copic markers in blue, and colored only the leaves.

Want to hop aboard the blog hop train? The next stop is Korin's blog.  Join us tonight at 9pm EST in the SnS forum for the official release party with challenges, more sneak peeks, and lots of surpises!

See you tonight and thank you so much for stopping by!
Suzy