Birthday Gift Bags with Sweet Stamps

Hello everyone, I have some fun gift bags for you today for Sweet Stamps :)

I created these bags using the Framed Handwritten Words stamp set, Flower Tops Piccolos and Shades dye ink in the following colors:
Latte, Amaryllis, Forget me not, Envy, Fortune Teller, Valentine, Royal, Duchess Rose, Burgundy, and Dandelion.

You can find all of these products in the Sweet Stamps online shop :)  Don't forget to come and join in the monthly challenge!

Matching Bookmarks with Sweet Stamps

I created these bookmarks for my inspiration for Sweet Stamps, but really, I wanted to celebrate mine and my daughter's love of reading.  Often we read each others books and share collections lol.  I love that she loves to read.  So I created these bookmarks, one for each of us!

I used the following Sweet Stamps products which are linked to the Sweet Stamps online store:

Wild Roses Clear Stamp Set
French Writing Background Stamp
Locket Lady stamp
Checker Flowers 6x6 stencil
Forget Me Not Shades Dye ink
Medieval Medals embossing powder

Come back soon for more fun and inspiration for Sweet Stamps (every Thursday!)

One Sheet Wonder with Sweet Stamps :)

Hello everyone, I had fun making this project with Sweet Stamps for you.  I created my own designer paper and then created 14 cards all from the same sheet :)  I'm sure you've heard of one-sheet wonder projects before, and you can find templates all over the internet.  I created my cards using a template I found on Pinterest, there are so many to choose from!

I created 14 cards with this project, but I'm only showing you 6 here...lol...you'll have to visit the Sweet Stamp blog to see the other 8!

I created the background paper, by stenciling, stamping, masking, sponging and embossing on a white 12 x 12 sheet of card stock.

The Sweet Stamps products used in this project include:

ASM-008 Moroccan Tile ATC Stencil
AS66-008 Checker Flowers 6x6 Stencil
Shades Dye Ink Duchess Rose
Shades Dye Ink Latte
Shades Dye Ink Amaryllis
Shades Dye Ink Beach
SS4406 Framed Handwritten Words Clear Stamp Set
1019H Apple Blossom Branch Rubber Stamp
AF1 French Script Artsy Fartsy Rubber Stamp
1004G Spring Blooms Rubber Stamp

I forgot to take a picture of the paper I created before I cut it up ahahaha, so check back again next Thursday and I'll make another sheet and post a picture for you :)

All of the linked products can be found in the Sweet Stamps online shop, and don't forget to come and join in the fun with the two challenges every month!  The next one starts on Sunday, and the theme is Anything but a Card!

Scripted Butterflies with Sweet Stamps LLC

Surprise!  It's Sweet Stamps inspiration time again, and this time, it's not watercolor!  Shocked, you are, I know, lol.

This is a fun technique card I created using the Framed Handwritten Words SS4406 stamp set, the AF1 French Script Artsy Fartsy stamp, the SC012b Flutterby #2 Sweet Cuts die, Shades Dye Ink in Amaryllis and Sweet Stamps Glastique.

Such a fun card to make :)  I dye cut the solid butterfly image from a scrap piece of paper, taking care to place them exactly where I wanted them.  Then I used the negative space as a stencil and colored the butterflies on my white card front piece with Shades Dye Ink in Amaryllis.  Then I masked off around the butterflies and stamped the French Script stamp inside the butterfly shapes.  Then I coated the shapes with Glastique to give them that wonderful glossy finish.  I cut the butterfly again from matching paper, and added Glastique to the solid image and glued the filigree image to the top.  I added some sequins and adhesive pearls, and voila!  A fun butterfly card :)

You can find all of the supplies I used on this card in the Sweet Stamps online shop, and come and join us for the two monthly challenges over on the Sweet Stamps blog, show us your fun creative side!

Watercolor Trees with Sweet Stamps LLC

Hello everyone, it's challenge time over at the Sweet Stamps Blog!  And, yes, I have continued my watercolor theme for the month, and created this card using  the  Tree #1 stamp from Sweet Stamps and my Shades Dye Ink to watercolor the trees :)

I stamped the trees three times, and I didn't bother to mask them because I knew the overlapping wouldn't be seen through the color.  I used Shades Dye Ink in Tank, Palm Grove, Duchess Rose and French Roast to create the greenerie on the trees, alternating between colors and layers to create shadows and depth.  Then I used French Roast and Brownie to create the tree trunks.  The ground was created using Palm Grove and Tank, and for the sky I had to break out my Cotman watercolors as I don't have a good Shades Dye Ink in Blue yet ;)  The sentiment is from the Framed Handwritten Words stamp set SS4406.

I will confess, lol, I created this card, and the next couple of cards all at the same time.  As I've mentioned before, the drying time between layers of watercolors can be tedious, so why not create more than one at a time?

And yes, I am just learning to paint with watercolor, and although I am thoroughly enjoying the journey, there are lessons to be learned with every venture.  Here are my lessons this week.  Don't create muddy colors :P  Some colors when you put them close together or on top of each other, create a color that closely resembles mud, hence the brownish trees, lol.  Try as I might to change them back to green again, it wasn't happening, lol,  Lesson learned.  Another lesson?  Sometimes Dye inks are not the best to watercolor with lol.  They are not as transparent as real watercolor paint, so they don't layer the same.  And your finished piece may not have the effect that you were hoping for.  Lesson learned , again, lol.

All in all, after I completed this piece, I came to realize that it is what it is, and I enjoyed the journey, so why not enjoy the finished product?  Everyone else seems to enjoy the outcome of this card, so why shouldn't I?  I will try not to be my worst critic any more, ya right...but I can try lol.

Next week, another watercolor card, with a different watercolor medium.  But in the meantime, why not come and join us on the Sweet Stamps blog for one of our monthly challenges?  This week the theme is Anything Goes!  Doesn't that just open up a whole realm of possibilities :)

An Elegant Blue Birthday with Sweet Stamps LLC

I have created an elegant blue Birthday card for you today for Sweet Stamp LLC.

I had great fun with this card, and there are a few techniques in here :)

I created this card using the following products from Sweet Stamps LLC:

Splish Splash Stencil
Elegant Leaves Sweet Cuts die
Framed Handwritten Words stamp set
Flourish Medallion Sweet Cuts die
Shades Dye Ink in Aquamarine and Montego Bay

I really like how this card turned out :)  An elegant but fun birthday card, suited to just about anybody :)

You can find all of these products in the Sweet Stamps online store, and I have linked all the products for you.  And don;t forget to come and join us for the two monthly challenges over on the Sweet Stamps blog, you never know, you may win a prize!

Sweet Stamps Anything but a Card Challenge :)

Hello everyone, I have a Happy Birthday ATC card to share with you today for the Sweet Stamps Anything but a Card challenge :)

I used the following supplies in this project, all of which can be found at sweetstamps.com!

sc009 Betty's Bloom Sweet Cuts die
sc006 Fancy Leaf Sweet Cuts die
LS4600 Banner Girl and Words stamp set
AF ATC Backgrounds #2 Artsy Fartsy
Shades Dye Ink in Palm Grove, Beach and Forest

I am a very logical person, and although I love the ATCs, I find there's not much practical use for them.  In that regard, I have created this ATC with a Happy Birthday sentiment so that it can be used as a tag or an add on for a card :)

Come back soon to see more Sweet Stamps inspiration, and don't forget to come and join in on the two monthly challenges found on the Sweet Stamps challenge blog!

Metals on Kraft Happy Birthday with Sweet Stamps!

HI!  I have a fun male-themed card for you today for Sweet Stamps LLC.  I have found that I do not make enough male-themed cards, so I have challenged myself to make at least one every month :)

I created this card with the Checker Flowers Stencil, the Elegant Leaves Sweet Cuts Die, Medieval Metals Fine Detail embossing powder, and the Framed Handwritten Words stamp set, as well as Shades Dye Ink in Brownie.

I even embossed the button!  And I love the elegant but masculine feel to this card.

You can find all the products that linked in the Sweet Stamps online store here.

Don't forge to come and join us for the two monthly challenges over on the Sweet Stamp challenge blog, you know you want to!

Sweet Summer Blooms with Sweet Stamps

Hello everyone, it is definitely chilly here and I am not ready to give up summer just yet, lol.  I will continue to play with flower images (while of course making Christmas cards too!) all through the winter, in the hopes that I can stay warm and cozy all winter long :P

This is a card I created for Sweet Stamps, using their Summer Blooms rubber stamp.

Created this card by stamping and heat embossing the image on hot press watercolor paper, using the Summer Blooms rubber stamp and Detail White embossing powder.  Then I water-colored the image using the Sweet Stamps Shades dye ink in Valentine, Royal, and Envy.  I added some die cuts from the Fancy Leaf die along with a paper rose from my stash.  You can find all of these products in the Sweet Stamps online shop, and much more as well!

I really enjoy using this medium to watercolor.  I find by putting some of the ink on an acrylic block, you have more control over the amount of ink you have on your brush.  I also find that for this technique in particular, a water brush (I like the Prima one ) also helps to control the amount of water, because this technique requires a fair bit of water to create, and the brush pen saves from having to dip your brush in water every time you move to a different part of the image.

I am really enjoying my Sweet Stamp stamps. (? lol)  There are so many floral image stamps (my favorite to play with) and I will get to water color so many of them!

Don't forget to come and join the TWO monthly challenges over at the Sweet Stamps blog; the Anything Goes challenge starts on every first Sunday of the month, and the Anything but a Card challenge starts on every third Sunday of the month :)