a beachy keen layout!

hello there!
today i played along again with the latest inky paws challenge going on over at the newton's nook blog! :)

i just LOVE the challenge this time! i have SOOOOOOOOOO many woodgrain papers. woodgrain is pretty much my favorite think ever! lol!! :)

anyway, this time, i decided to make a layout! :)

yep! we went to the beach, and one boy jumped and played in the water (even though it was FREEZING) and one boy was wearing a hoodie and rain boots! to each his own, right?! :)

it's not easy to tell upon first glance, but i actually used 4 different newton's nook stamps on this page!! that's how versatile their stamps are!

the arrows are from the new around the house stamp set! the 'love u' sentiment is from love grows, the shovel and 'sand' are from the frozen friends stamp set, and the duck and clouds are from spring showers!! :)

the duck actually is my favroite part! i just HAD to use him...he's wearing rain boots! ha ha! i paper pieced him, and even mirrored one of his wings so that i could remove the umbrella from the image! easy, peasy!! :)

so that's it!
hope it got you inspired to play along with the inky paws challenge!
enjoy!

a sweet farewell

hello again!
today is my very last post over on the sweet stamp shop blog! 
sniff sniff

i've had such an incredible time on the sweet stamp shop team, i can't put it into words! 
6 months have FLOWN by, but alas, it's time for new adventures, and new sweet talent over there!

anyway, i have 2 cards to share, both of which were inspired by THIS card, i found on the sweet stamp shop pinterest board! 

here's my first card:

swoon! i love the soft colors! and the stitching over the sequin - i've been dying to try that out for ages, and i'm glad i finally did it! i am in LOVE with the look! 

i lightly added some gold perfect pearls over the stamped sentiment to really make it pop! and the background was created with a stencil, some distress inks, and selective inking! pretty easy actually! :)

my 2nd card is a total 180! ha!

i used distress paints to create my FUN and FUNKY background, and then stitched three lines down the side. i added some grey and black sequins, and then colored in the sentiment with some copics to add a little bit more umph! :) 

both cards used the outline lower alpha stamp set, and both cards were inspired by Beatles songs!
Love Me Do and All You Need is Love. he he he!

so those are my cards! 
hope they inspired you to get crafty! 
thanks again for the sweet stamp shop for being so amazing! it's been wonderful!
enjoy!

brush strokes and peacock feathers

me again! :)
and i'm on the butterfly reflections ink blog again today! 
two times in one week - it's a crafty miracle! lol! :)

anyway, i'm sharing another super fun card that i created using lots of MUST HAVE swag from the shop!

here's a sneak peek at my card:

yes! :) now, to see the full card in all it's brush stroke-y glory (ha!) head over to the butterfly reflections ink blog!
enjoy!

me and you, always

hello there!

guess what? i'm on the butterfly reflections ink blog today! :)

yippee!

i'm sharing a super pretty card that i created with products from the amazing shop! 

here's a sneak peak of what i made with the products i used:

oh yeah! 

you're intrigued, i can tell! 

if so, head over to the butterfly reflections ink blog and check out the full card! :)

enjoy and happy shopping! 

inky paws challenge #10 - texture

yahoo!
today is the start of a brand new inky paws challenge! and this is a GREAT one! :)

that's right, texture! 
i can't WAIT to see what everyone comes up with! 

i think my card is so FUN! 

i used a white-washed wood (patterned paper) woodgrain for my background! LOVE it! 
the image and sentiment are from the newly released Around the House stamp set! SO versatile!! 

i colored the lame with some copics, and i really wanted the lamp shade to POP! 
then i used some vellum, which has a texutred pattern on it, and colored it yellow with some distress inks to make the 'light' from the lamp! :)

so that's my card! 
now it's YOUR turn to get inky and enter a card/layout/pocket-style layout/WHATEVER(!) for your chance to win some newton's nook!
there are even some freebies if you don't have any stamps yet! you can find them here.

enjoy!
i can't wait to see what you make! :)

rawr means i love you

hello! 

i have a fun card to share today! and it was 100% inspired by the awesome runway inspired challenge photo!!

i saw the photo, and i just KNEW that i was going to find a way to play along! :) i LOVE it!!

and here's my card! :)

i used the sweet little lion image from the cosmic stars stamp set from mama elephant!
i colored him with copics and then popped him up over some crumpled vellum! 

the sentiment was made with the AMAZING sketchy letters set! i stamped them in some tattered rose distress ink, and then cut them out. easy!

the grey patterened paper panel reminded me of the fibers in a sweater! and so, i popped it up over a strip of washi! just a few enamel aqua dots finished off the card!

what do you think? do you see the inpsiration? 
thanks for stopping by!
enjoy!

watercoloring some sweet!

**this is my 2nd post of the day - to see my newton's nook card, please scroll down, or click here!**

well hello sweets!

today i am sharing some cards on the sweet stamp shop blog inspired by another pin i found on the sweet stamp shop pinterest board!! yes, the card is nothing short of fabulous! i promise you that! check out the inspiration card here!!

i just love how the watercoloring goes outside the lines, and the bright colors, and the added sequins! it's so lovely!! 

i was so inspired i created 2 cards!! 
my first card is my favorite! i love the background pattern of the cute as can be little bunnies from press it wash it! 

all of the outlines were stamped in staz-on ink , and then i just added some watercolor (in browns! lol! not usually what i think of when i think of watercoloring!) loosly around each image! i also splattered just a tiny bit of brown on some places, too.

the sentiment was stamped onto a vellum banner, and a few enamel dots, and washi tape strips later, the card is done! i LOVE it!! 

the next card i created uses the same stamp set, but this time i created more a 'scene'. 

the coloring was done in the same way though - very messy and not in the lines. i also added some very light pink splatters to the card, and a few pink enamel dots! 

so those are my cards! LOVE them!
hope they made you smile, and maybe giggle a bit! 
head over to the sweet stamp shop blog to see the rest of my post there, and to stay up to date on the latest happenings in the sweet world! it's going to be a big summer for them!
enjoy!

ah-ha! a gneius idea!

well hello there everyone! :)

today i'm on the newton's nook blog and i have a really fun card! well, i think so! ha ha! :)

i used the new set - around the house, as well as an older set, sea-son's greetings! i think that's one of my all time favorite stamp sets! it's totally NOT just for christmas! :)

i colored the little crab, but didn't include the present or santa sat! see? instant everyday set! :) the lightbulb was also colored with copics, and both images were popped up for dimension! :)

i used some thickers for the sentiment, and that background? i created it with distress stains! my first time ever using the stain! i'm hooked! first i colored all over the cardstock, and then i sprayed it and let the color run and flow together! 

once that was dry, i just added a few extra 'swishes' with the stain dabber and it was done! i like it! i'm totally excited to play some more! :)

hope you're excited to use newton's nook too! leave me a comment below if you have a card with newton's nook stamps - i'd LOVE to swing by and leave you some love!

enjoy!

dream and be happy

hello there!!
today i'm on the butterfly reflections ink blog and i'm sharing a super pretty and dreamy card!!

here's a sneak peek:

check it out and let me know what you think! :)
i used a lot of NEW products from the shop and LOOOOVE how the card turned out! :)

enjoy!

lawnscaping challenge - distress it!

good morning - it's my favorite day of the week - monday!!
and today is a brand new challenge over at the lawnscaping blog!!


this challenge is a FUN one, and i KNOW it's one of my favorites! use distress products or create with a distressed look!! 

oh yeah! 
distress-town, here i come! :)

first, i painted on a thick layer of gesso onto my cardbase. before it was dry, i stamped the impression of the US map from wish you were here, to give it some texture! then once it was drive, i added some streaks of distress paints! (peacock feathers, tumbled glass, and shabby shutters - my favorite color combo!)

then after the distress paint had dried, i used some SUPER FINE sandpaper to rub away some of the color around the 'impressed' US MAP. i stamped the sentiment in delicata golden glitz ink and then swooshed (brushed?) on some gold perfect pearls to really make the gold POP! i also added some splatters of the gold perfect pearls, as well as to the tiny, little wood veneer heart is south carolina! :)

i really wish i could take a better photo of this card! in person, the gold is stunning against the greens and blues! i love it! 

well, that's it!

for even more inspiration (if you can stand it!), check out the lawnscaping facebook page! we're dedicated to keeping your creative juices flowing! :)

this week we're sponsored by lawn fawn! so get your card making on, and you could win a stamp set of your choice! :)

washi tape fun!

hello again! it's me! 
i am just sharing a couple cards i made for the Gallery Idol competition!

I have to say, i'm completly intimidated to play along, but i had a few ideas, and i thought, why not? i LOVE washi tape, i LOVE making cards, i LOVE competitions...let's do this! :)

so my first card is really fun! at least i think so! :)

i used washi tape to 'hold' the two pieces of patterned paper together! then i used my sewing machine to stitch on top of the washi! 

those darling little elephants from lawn fawn's love you tons set are just TOO cute! i colored them with copics and then added some white dots for an extra umph of adorable! lol! i created the sentiment with harold's abcs! 

my next card is a little more CAS! 

i covered some washi on a few white strips of cardstock, then i used a punch to cut the wave shapes! i also added a tiny bit of distressing to the top edges of the waves so they stand out a little bit! 

then i added some super fun, and whimsical star washi to the top at a slant! that little boat and sentiment from float my boat are totally highlighted by the colors of the washi waves and stars! (at least i think so!) 
:D

so those are my two entries! 
i'm not holding my breath though, have you checked out the gallery entries...um, they're stunning!!!!!! wow! but i sure LOVE my cards, and had so much fun creating them!

enjoy!

sweet stamp shop may release #2!

**this is my 2nd post of the day! to see the newton's nook may release, click here, or scroll down!**

hello again, lovelies!!

today, the sweet stamp shop is having another may release!!
and it's full or adorableness!! brace yourselves!

the stamp set i worked with is balloons, and it's PERFECT!

see? perfect balloons!

i loved it so much i made three cards withit!

for my first card, i just HAD to make the octopus hanging from the balloons!! i don't know why, ha ha! it just came to me!

i love it!!
silly octopus! i colored all of the images with copics and popped them up!

i even distressed the edges of the cloud patterned paper for a more vintage feel! and the sentiment is from the alpha tabs stamp set!

my next card is pretty and subtle! :)

i stamped the hearts in the wet cement hero arts ink for a light grey look, directly onto the cardstock.
then i used the block image of the heart balloon to fill in the color, slightly offset, with tattered rose distress ink. i even tried to add a little bit of shading with the pink to just the bottom of the balloons! :)

the sentiment was stitched using the elegant sentiments stamp set! so FUN! i also added the word 'anniversary' from the just the basics stamp set! perfect match!

after a little distressing to the edges of the papers, that was it!

and lastly, i used the elegant sentiments stamp set again with the balloons (they just work so well together!) and just the filled in circle balloon image!

i stamped the balloon image three times each in yellow, pink and orange distress inks. i thought the colors were way to bright, for what i was looking for this time, so i sprayed the card with water, and WOAH!! yes! love it!

i LOVE that the colors blend into each other!
and the grey sentiment is bold enough to stand out over the colors, but doesn't take over the card. so pretty!

so that's my take on the sweet stamp shop may release!
head over to the sweet stamp shop blog for a discount code and see the rest of the cards and sets being released!!

enjoy!

Newton's Nook Designs May Release - Winston's BBQ

yahoo! for another day of newton's nook may release!! 

today's set is called Winston's BBQ, and it's another PERFECT set for everyday, and even masculine, cards! it's perfect for tags, layouts, cards, anything! and the best news is, all of the sets will be available for purchase may 16th here! :)

i LOVE the images in this set!
winston with a chef hat?! enough said!
for my first card, i created my own background!

i used the hamburger image and stamped it over and over in the old paper distress ink!

i colored the grill with copics and popped it up over the background, and i LOVE how much it pops against that monochromatic background! 

and then...giggle...i had a little fun with the ketchup/beer bottle!

for some reason, i thought of this sentiment, and it just wasn't going to leave my head until i made it! ha ha!!

the little beer bottle is popped up and i just used some brown paint to make the watercolor/spilt beer! ha ha!
oops! 

Would you like to win Winston's BBQ? This set will be given away to Two lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, May 15th at 9pm Central Daylight Time to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, May 16th

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia
Christine Drogt
Samantha Mann (that's me!)
Larissa Heskett
Crafty Math-Chick
Danielle Pandeline

Valerie Ward
Tessa Wise

Kelly Santi  - Guest Designer

Tricia Traxler - Guest Designer

thanks so much for visiting, and don't forget to comment for your chance to win! :)

enjoy!

wishing you

**this is my 2nd post of the day! to see day 1 of newton's nook May release, click here or scroll down!**

hello there!
i'm over on the butterfly reflections ink blog today!!

i have a super happy-looking, encouragement card up there!

i used LOTS of goodies from the shop for my card! 
here's a sneak peak!!

now head over and see the whole card! :)
thank you - and enjoy!

Newton's Nook May Release - Around the House

i'm so excited for this month's release from newton's nook!! it's AMAZING!! i can't wait for you to see everything!

today's set is called Around the House, and i just think it's PERFECT for everyday, and even masculine, cards! it's perfect for tags, layouts, cards, anything! and the best news is, all of the sets will be available for purchase may 16th here! :)

i LOVE the images in this set!
there's a little tape dispenser and lightbulb...oh yeah, this is great!
my first card is really fun!

i colored the hammer, then popped it up for dimension over a watercolor background! 
for the background, i heat embossed the nails and hearts for some resist against the watercolor! 

and i think that sentiment is so FUN! perfect for a congratualtions card!!

my next card is pretty easy to recreate! and it's perfect to send someone a little extra love, if they need it!

i heat embossed the wood frame (LOVE THAT FRAME) and then paper pieced newton from the newton's antics set! i love that he's hanging on! 


Would you like to win Around the House? This set will be given away to Two lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, May 15th at 9pm Central Daylight Time to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, May 16th

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia
Christine Drogt
Samantha Mann (that's me!)
Larissa Heskett
Crafty Math-Chick
Danielle Pandeline

Valerie Ward
Tessa Wise

Kelly Santi  - Guest Designer

Tricia Traxler - Guest Designer

thanks so much for visiting, and don't forget to comment for your chance to win! :)

enjoy!