A Jar full of wishes...

Good morning!

I have a bright 'spring-y' card to share that I made with The Craft's Meow Jar of Sunshine stamp set along with it's coordinating Spellbinder Homespun die set.  I die cut the jar from vellum, stamped the image in stazon and then added the Copic colored flower images.

Have a great day!

Jessica

TCM: Folk Art Blooms and Jar of Sunshine

Good morning!

Welcome to day 3 of The Craft's Meow August release previews!  Today's stamp sets are from one of my favorite illustrators - Nina Brackett and they are lovely, as are all things she designs.  I am so in love with the first stamp set called Folk Art Blooms.  

I stamped the flowers with a variety of Hero Arts shadow inks and then added some shading with coordinating Copic colors.  To soften everything I added some light brown chalk ink.

Nina's second new stamp set is a super sweet set called Jar of Sunshine.  The jar image coordinates with her Spellbinder Homespun die set.  I love this little jar image and the sentiments she included as well as all the embellishments for the mason jar image.  I die cut the jars with vellum and then stamped the images with black Stazon ink.  I added the lemon wedge and straw to my jar for a cup of lemonade!

My last card for today pairs the two stamp sets we are featuring today.  I die cut the jar image in vellum and stamped with Stazon ink again. Then, I die cut the jar a second time with some red polka dot patterned paper and added it behind the jar.  I added a ruffle trim from the coordinating Spellbinder set.  

I added my favorite flower image from the Folk Art Blooms and stamped in red ink and added some highlights with a dark red Copic, to make them look like red raspberries... so it could be a jar of red raspberry jam.  The leaves from the set were stamped in soft stone ink because I didn't want to add any other colors to the card - I was liking the reds, oranges, and grays.

To see all the other designer's projects with today's stamp sets, please hop over to The Craft's Meow store blog for all the photos and links.  Be sure to leave a comment there for your chance to win one the sets for yourself!

See you tomorrow with more new TCM goodness!

Jessica

you're Sweet and the best.

Hi There!

I have two cards to share with you this morning that I made with a couple of stamps from The Craft's Meow: Valentine Wishes and a swirl from the Circle It stamp set.  

For my first card, I wanted to have lots of color on the sweet little girl image, so I used a variety of Copic markers and then as luck would have it, found this patterned paper from one of My Mind's Eye paper packs... whew!  I usually pick out the papers first before coloring, but this time I colored the image first.

I used some more papers from My Mind's Eye for my second card - adding a variety of textures with the die cut, ribbon, sewing, embossing, etc.  The doily matches the little girl's dress - it shows up more purple than it is in the photos.  After I embossed the card front, I rubbed some white craft ink over it to soften and highlight it a bit.  The sentiment die cut is cut from one of the papers included in the My Mind's Eye paper pack.

Have a great day and thank you for checking in on me!

Jessica

A Merry Little Christmas

Good morning!

I have another Christmas card to share with you today that I made for my stash... I need to get building that up for the holidays!  This one uses stamps and papers from October Afternoon.  I don't think the stamp set is available for purchase any more... bummer!  The dies are from My Favorite things (border) and PaperTrey Ink (doily).  Lots of stickles over the Christmas tree and snowman added just the shine and sparkle I was looking for.

Have a great day!
Jessica

SNSS Fall Frenzy Blog Hop event!

Hello stamping friends!!  We are so excited about Fall arriving

soon that we've decided to celebrate the season with a 

Fall Frenzy Blog Hop & Virtual Stamp Day!

The Design Divas have created some fabulous eye candy for you featuring our wonderful selection of Fall stamps so we hope you'll hop along with us today!

Be sure not to miss a single stop along the way because we'll be drawing one lucky commenter from a random DT blog to win a $25 credit to the store!!

Here's the list of blog participating in today's hop: 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog

Monika Davis

Jessica Fick (you are here!)

Cathy McCauley

Mary Faus

Kim Singdahlsen

Bridget Finlay

Dina Kowal

Jennifer Ingle

Kim Schofield

Ceal Pritchett

Giovana Smith

Jennie Harper

Korin Sutherland

When you're done hopping be sure to join us for a fun day of challenges over in our Splitcoaststampers forum.  We're giving away some fun prizes, too, so don't miss it! We look forward to seeing your fabulous Fall creations!

My first card today was made using the beautiful Harvest Blessings stamp set - I love this cornucopia image included in the set along with the pretty script sentiments.  I stamped the image on cream Neenah card stock and colored with a variety of Copic markers.  I kept the layout very simple since the fruits and veggies are really centerstage.

My next card uses the sweet Sunny Squirrel stamp set - isn't she sweet holding that large sunflower?  Once again, I used Neenah cream card stock and copics to color the image - although you can see that I paper pieced the sunflower.  After I finished colored Sunny, I went over his tail and belly with a white colored pencil a bit to add some texture and shading.  That patterned paper in the background is a bit too busy for my liking right now as I look at it on the computer screen, but in person it's not quite as 'loud' as it looks!  lol!

Next up on the hop today is the amazingly talented Cathy!

I hope you get a chance to spend some time checking out the Virtual Stamp Day challenges that Korin and the other designers have been working.on for us today.  It's always fun to stamp with a theme/challenge in mind, I think!

Happy Hopping and stamping!
Jessica

Elegant Anniversary wishes

Good morning!

I haven't had the chance to do a lot of stamping this summer, but now that fall is here and school has begun I'm hoping my schedule will allow it more often.  I was extremely busy preparing for school this summer that is was so hard for me to switch focus and stamp.  I have a one track mind and it's not easy for me to stop a project until I'm finished with it!  lol!  At any rate, while looking through my computer recently I found this card that I can't remember if I shared here on my blog or not.  If I did - sorry!  But, it's one of my favorites, so I don't think you'll mind.

I made it using stamps from Layers of Color which has since ceased from business as Laura and Nina are now designing for Penny Black and The Craft's Meow (Nina) so they aren't available for purchase at this time, so no links to my products used today.  I used some Spellbinder Label dies to make this shaped anniversary card for my parents.  I don't do that often but should since it's such a unique look.

I colored the image with Copics and added some shading with Tim Holtz's distress inks.  Seam binding ribbon and pearls seemed the perfect accents for this anniversary card.

Have a great day!  Thanks for checking in on me!
Jessica

Congratulations!

Good morning!

While looking through cards to share with you today, I came across this older card that I never shared here with you on my blog.  Unfortunately, the images aren't available any longer since they are from Layers of Color but I still thought I'd share it.  I stamped the beautiful flower image in versamark and embossed with white embossing powder on light purple paper and then colored the image with Copics.  I love that technique and need to use it more often!

Purple isn't a normal color for me to use but I love this sweet Lily Bee Designs patterned paper with it's soft shades of blues and purples.  A bit of stitching, seam binding ribbon, and lace finished the card off.

Have an enjoyable rest of your day!
Jessica

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps July Release Hop!

Welcome!

Today the designers from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps are joining together to celebrate our July Release!  If you arrived on my blog from Cathy's blog, you are on track for today's hop.  And the best news - all the new stamps (along with a bundle of all the new products) are available for purchase right now HERE!  We'd also like to invite you to join our special Virtual stamp Day over on Splitcoast that will be filled with release challenges, chatter, and lots of samples from this release!  

Buckle up - I've got lots of cards to share with you for today's hop! My first card uses the newest in our Cookie the Mouse collection: Cheerleader Cookie and one of our new decorative plaque dies!  She is pretty sweet all paper pieced, don't you think?  I used Korin's sketch for this week over on SCS for my card:

Card Details
Stamps: Cheerleader Cookie (SNSS)
Ink: Versafine black
Card stock: MME patterned; PTI white
Other: Spellbinder circle & blossom dies; SNSS plaque die; Copic markers; Basic Grey buttons; PeaPod & flax twinery twine; sewing machine

My next card uses the new Words of Jesus stamp set.  Korin has included some beautiful Bible verse in this set - it's now one of my favorite sets.  I stamped it on a rectangle spellbinder die and layered it on one of the new SNSS plaque dies.  I don't know if you can see it, but I stamped one of the images from the new Decorative Frame Toppers.

Card Details
Stamps: Words of Jesus; Decorative Frame Toppers (SNSS)
Ink: Versafine; yellow versacraft ink
Card stock: October Afternoon patterned; PTI solid
Other: Lil Inker designs bow die; doily; PTI impression plate; pearl glimmer mist; rectangle nestability die; SNSS plaque die; recollections rose

This next card uses the new Dream Big stamp set along with one of our new decorative plaque dies.  I'm hostessing one of the challenges going on over at SCS today for our big release party event.  My challenge is to use a die cut with patterned paper - easy, right?  I choose a deep, red patterned paper for my die cut and paper pieced the flowers to help them pop out a bit from the paper.  Look for my challenge post to be up at 4pm EST today over on SCS here.

Card Details
Stamps: Dream Big (SNSS)
Ink: Versafine
Card stock: MME patterned; SU solid
Other: sewing machine; SNSS plaque die; black rhinestones; mandarin orange twinery twine

My last card is for Cathy's sketch challenge that will be revealed a bit later today in the SCS forum.  It uses the new Sheltering Cherry Blossom stamp set.

Card Details
Stamps: Sheltering Cherry Blossom (SNSS)
Ink: Versafine; versacraft
Card stock: MME; SU solid
Other: SNSS decorative plaque; copics; yellow stickles; PTI cloud dies; felt; caribbean twinery twine; MFT fishtail banner & cloud border dies; black rhinestones 

If you made it through all those photos, you deserve a round of applause! lol!  Now, on to the rest of the hop - the links are all below, but if you are going in order, please hop right over to Giovana's blog.  Be sure to leave comments along the way for your chance to win the entire release.  All details for today's events and prizes can be found on the SNSS blog.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Bridget Finlay

Taylor Usry

Jennie Harper

Kim Singdahlsen

Cathy McCauley

Jessica Fick (you are here!)

Giovana Smith

Mary Faus

Kim Schofield

Dina Kowal

Monika Davis

Korin Sutherland 

Happy Hopping - we hope to see over on SCS for today's special event!
Jessica

TCM June Release blog hop!

Welcome to the big The Craft's Meow June release blog hop!

Today, all the new stamp sets are available for purchase right HERE!  To celebrate, we are having a big blog hop with all the designers showing off some more projects with the new stamp sets and how well they work together.  If you arrived on my blog from Jen's blog you're right on track for today's event!  If not, please consider starting at TCM's company blog for all the links.  You'll want to hop along with us and leave comments as you go so you can win the entire release!  (all details on that fun tidbit are included on TCM's blog!)

My first card uses three of the new stamp sets: Stitched Flowers, Lovely Labels 14, and God's Blessings.  I kept layering and adding little embellishments until it finally felt finished to me!

Card Details
Stamps: Lovely Labels 14; Stitched flowers; God's Blessings (TCM)
Ink: Versafine black
Card stock: Cosmo Cricket patterned
Other: Sewing machine; MFT Fishtail banner dies; Spellbinder label 14 dies; Copic markers; Seam binding ribbon; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; recollection flower; wild orchid flower; button; SU cording; copper nailheads

My next card shows three stamp sets too: Stitched Flowers, Stitched Sentiments, and Lovely Labels 14.

Card Details
Stamps: Lovely Labels 14: Stitched flowers; Stitched Sentiments (TCM)
Ink: Versafine black
Card stock: Cosmo Cricket patterned
Other: Sewing machine; copic markers; silk ribbon; button; lace; Spellbinder label 14 die

Next up on today's hop is Gayatri, one of our guest designer's for this month!

Here's the entire blog hop link list for your reference:

The Craft's Meow Blog
Amy Tsuruta
Amy Wanford 
Ivana Camdzic
Larissa Heskett
Iwona Palamountain
Jackie Rockwell 
Jean Martin 
Jen Cuthbertson
Jessica Fick *you are here!*
Gayatri Murali
Elizabeta Kushner 
Julie Ranae

Karen Baker
Lindsay Amrhein

Nina Brackett

Happy hopping!
Jessica

TCM Preview day 3: Lovely Labels 14

Welcome to day 3 of The Craft's Meow previews for June's new release!  All the stamp sets we've been showing the past couple of days will be available for purchase Thursday, June 21.  Today, we are showing the Lovely Labels 14 stamp set illustrated by our newest illustrator Elizabeta Kushner.  It coordinates with Spellbinder Labels 14 beautifully as the title suggests!

My first card uses one of the smaller label images along with the pretty butterfly and the 'love' sentiment Elizabeta included in her set.  This is a huge stamp set - and I know you're going to love her debut set as much as I do when you see it!

Card Details
Stamps: Lovely Labels 14 (TCM)
Ink: versafine black
Card stock: PTI; Cosmo Cricket patterned
Other: Sewing machine; wild orchid flower; silk ribbon; lace; Copic marker; Spellbinder label 14 die

My next card was a fun one to make - I made it for a friend who celebrated her birthday yesterday!  I stamped the flowers Elizabeta includes in the Lovely Labels 14 stamp set along with the Happy Birthday sentiment.  It's a bit of a scrappy card with some fun patterns and textures included to make it special for my friend!

Card Details
Stamps: Lovely Labels 14 (TCM)
Ink: Versafine; PTI
Paper: SU patterned paper; PTI
Other: PTI notebook & heart border dies; doily; Want 2 Scrap pearls; Seam binding ribbon; Recollections white ceramic rose

To view the rest of the designers' projects for today's stamp set, please visit The Craft's Meow blog and be sure to leave your comment on the post for your chance to win today's stamp sets! 

Happy Hopping!
Jessica

Exquisite Embellishments blog hop event!

Good morning!

I'm honored (and a bit excited!) to join in a special blog hop event showcasing a brand new idea book called Exquisite Embellishments available now through Annie's Attic that I am thrilled to have 2 projects of my own in the book!  Keri Sereika has worked her magic once again and brought together an amazing group of designers for her 2nd book and I was floored when she included me in the group!  What a thrill!

If you've arrived on my blog from the amazing Melissa's blog, you are right on track for today's hop.  If not, please take a moment and start at Keri's blog and stop by each designer's blogs to not only be inspired but also to leave comments along the way so you can be entered to win a copy of Exquisite Embellishments for yourself!  I just receive my copy in the mail yesterday and I have to say that Keri has outdone herself with choosing the projects to be included.  I love all the tutorials she included on how to make your own embellishments like the ones shown in the projects in the book!

Here's one of my cards in the book using Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Peace of God stamp set along with some patterned papers from Echo Park, Copic markers and Xpress it paper from Copic, dies from Spellbinder and flower die from My Favorite Things:

Next on the hop is my friend Tami!  The entire list of designers is below for your reference.  Please remember to leave a comment on the blogs you visit as Keri will choose 3 lucky people to win the Exquisite Embellishment book for free!  Comments are welcome from today until Monday, May 8 and then on Tuesday, Keri will announce the winners on her blog post.

Good luck and happy hopping!

• Keri Lee
• Linda
• Sherry
• Lori
• Heidi
• Kandis
• Nina
• Sharon
• Melissa
• Jessica (you are here!)
• Tami
• Teresa
• Jing Jing

Fruity for You!

Good morning!

Isn't today's card fun? I used The Craft's Meow Fruity for You stamp set and 'paired' it with this bright fruity patterned paper from DCWV Sweet stack (8" x 8").  I used Memento markers and ink pads for the stamps and then embossed them with some glittery clear embossing powder to mimic the glittered paper.  Since the patterned paper was so bright, I opted to layer the images and sentiments on a couple of white Spellbinder oval dies.  Another fun card to add to my stash to give my hubby or my kids!  Gotta love that!

Have a great day!
Jessica

Card Details
Stamps: Fruity for You (TCM)
Ink: Memento; Versamark
Card stock: DCWV Sweet stack; SU
Other: Glittery embossing powder; May Arts silk ribbon; Spellbinder Petite oval dies

You are Treasured

Good morning!

The sentiment on my card today is a favorite of mine - it's something I say to my own kids and my students at school often because I want all children AND adults to know the truth that we are all God's treasures.  What a thought that is, isn't it?  It comes from the new Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Treasured stamp set.  Those cute little birds on the tree branch from One of a Kind are pretty sweet too, aren't they?

Card Details
Stamps: One of a Kind; Treasured (SNSS)
Ink: Memento; Versafine
Card stock: PTI white: DCWV Linen Closet mat stack
Other: Spellbinder classic & petite oval dies; copics; SU ribbon; lace; wild orchid flowers

Have a great day!
Jessica

The Joy of the Lord

Good morning!

This morning I have a sweet 'humming bird' card to share with you today that I created using Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Joyful Heart.  I am not very savvy with coloring realistic animals, so I did a quick google search for humming birds and found this image online:

(photo credit)

As you can see, my coloring isn't the best - but it's a start and at least you can see some of my thought processes for this gorgeous bird image.  I stamped the image and sentiment (one of my favorite verses!) on a Spellbinder Labels 7 die cut.

Card Details
Stamps: Joyful Heart (SNSS)
Ink: Memento
Card stock: PTI white; SU solid; DCWV Linen Closet mat stack
Other: lace; SU ribbon; Spellbinder label 7 die; Copics; Wild Orchid flower; pearls





Have a wonderful rest of your day!
Jessica

You and Me together

Happy Sunday!

I have another 'lovey dovey' card to share with you today... lol!  This one is made with The Craft's Meow Happiness is.... stamp set.  I do love this rose all paper pieced in red with just a touch of a warm grey Copic marker on the edges for a bit of shading.  It's hard to tell in this photo, but it's popped up a bit with three layers of flower petals for some added dimension to the card.

Have a wonderful day!
Jessica

Card Details
Stamps: Happiness Is... (TCM)
Ink: Versafine; Tim Holtz distress
Card stock: Crate Paper patterned; Bazzill solid
Other: Sewing machine; Copic marker; Spellbinder tag die; dauber; Crate Paper brad and sticker; jute