Sweet Rainbows

My three-year-old son is into singing the colors of the rainbow song so red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple are often stuck in my head.  As you can see here, those colors were swirling in my mind when I created this card!  Lol!  I embossed the grid pattern stamp with white embossing powder and used Distress ink pads and stains to make the rainbow colored stripes.  Then I spritzed it with some water to help the colors blend better as well as add watermarks for a more textured look.  I inked up this cute monkey and tried to mirror the colors of the lollipop to the background.  It was really fun to do and I'm happy with the results.  Ben Franklin recently had a card contest and I entered this in the Dandelion Designs category.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Graph Background, Dandelion Designs So Sweet
Distress Ink/Stains: Fired Brick, Orange Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Dusty Concord
Copics, Spellbinders Labels Four

Sister Stamps Release Day #9 - Blog Candy Winners!

Hey There!  Hope you're having a nice holiday weekend!  It's release day #9 for Sister Stamps so get these adorable images today!  You can find a list of retailers on the sidebar of Sister Stamps official blog.  I have blog candy winners to announce and I apologize for this late post.  I took off to teach class this morning and completely forgot to put this up. So here we go!

The winners are:
BFF's:  EVA
Buddies: COLLEEN

If you are a winner, please contact Jenny at sisterstampsllc@gmail.com.  Thank you to all who played along and a shout out to guest designer Cindy for her wonderful creations!  A big mahalo to Jenny for taking me along for the ride - I love creating with your stamps!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend and happy crafting!

Sister Stamps Release #9 -BFF's

Welcome to the second day of Sister Stamps release #9!  Today I'm featuring this adorable "BFF's" stamp and what a cute image this is!  I used SU's petal cone die and created this birthday hat favor from acetate and filled it with peanut M&M's.  I saw this idea HERE and decided to give it a whirl.  A dear friend's birthday is coming up and I think I'll use this as a topper on her present!  Another idea would be to use them as favors to decorate a table...very festive!

If you'd like to win this stamp, just FOLLOW THIS BLOG and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced tomorrow, September 1 so come back and check if you're a winner.  The stamps for this release will be available for purchase on September 1 and you can find retail locations on the Sister Stamps blog.

Our guest designer this month is Cindy so please stop by show her some love.  And of course, don't forget Sister Stamp's official blog, too.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Sister Stamps BFF's

DP:  Various Doodlebug

Punch: SU Word Window

Copics, Stickles, Acetate

Sister Stamps Release #9 - Buddies

Hello there!  It's Sister Stamps release time again and we have a couple new cuties for you this month!  Today, I'm featuring "buddies" - how joyful are these two boys playing leap frog? I had fun creating this card and this scene came to be as I imagined kids playing carefree in the country.

I laid down the background colors using SU inks and sponges.  Then I stamped a grass image with PTI kraft ink and some wild flowers with black archival ink.  I masked a circle to represent the moon coming up as the sun was setting. I felt the scene needed to be grounded so I punched out some grass and laid it at the bottom of the card.  This sentiment perfectly coordinates with the image and balances out the scene.  I really like the way the background turned out and will definitely be using this technique more.

If you love this image and would like to win this stamp, just FOLLOW THIS BLOG and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on September 1 so come back and check to see if you're a winner.  The stamps for this release will be available for purchase on September 1 and you can find retail locations on Sister Stamps blog.

We welcome guest designer Cindy this month so make sure to check her out HERE and also stop by the official Sister Stamps blog for more fun!  I have another project to share with you so I hope to see you back here tomorrow!

Supplies:
Stamps: Sister Stamps Buddies, PTI Larger Than Life, PTI Botanical Silhouettes, Hero Arts  Friends
Inks: SU Bashful Blue, SU Yoyo Yellow, SU Only Orange, PTI Kraft, Archival Black, Memento Black
Punch: MS Grass
Copics

Beautiful Background

I've been playing around with different ink colors and different size stamps to come up with some fun backgrounds.  You'd be amazed at what you can create with different combinations of colors and stamps.  I don't often use the little stamps that come with different stamp sets but I got to play with them here.  I used a vellum strip for my sentiment to give the illusion that it's floating on the background.  Give it try...once you get started, you won't want to stop!  The possibilities are endless!

Happy 1st Birthday

I dusted off this Verve set called "To the Moon" and made a card for a 1st birthday party.  The adorable animals in this set are what attracted me to it and I still enjoy coloring and creating with them. Pure cuteness!  Have a great week!

Woo Hooo!

Here's a fun simple card that was totally inspired by this new woodgrain paper I purchased.  I know there's a lot of woodgrain paper out there, but I love this one because of how weathered and textured it looks (TPC Studios "The Great Outdoors - Firewood").  And what better way to use it than with this cute owl from Paper Smooches.  Woo Hooo!

Feline Friends

I stumbled upon this card I created a long time ago, but never posted.  I still love this Soft Pencil digi so I decided to share it even though it's been awhile.  I don't use multiple sentiments like this very often, so this inspired some new ideas.  Who knew looking back at something I'd created awhile ago would spark new ideas and creativity!

Smooches to You!

My son is back in school and we've transitioned from our summer schedule to the routine of his school schedule.  I was sad to say goodbye to another summer, but I look forward to the upcoming fall and winter holidays.  I taught a class on Saturday, came home and decided to create some simple cards with minimal coloring.  I wanted to try out my Memory Box window die so I paired it up with this cute cow from Paper Smooches!  Fun!

It's Sister Stamps Release Day!

It's release day and Miyoko, Takeo and Mariko are now available!  To find a retail location check out the sidebar of Sister Stamps blog.

Have you had fun with our blog hop?  The girls did an outstanding job!  I'm blown away by the types of projects they came up with and the amount of projects they created.  Amazing!

I have one more thing to share for this release and I used SU's Fancy Favor die.  I was inspired by a post from the talented Heather Klump where she finds a way to use this die with a bit of a twist.  This box turns out to be a nice size for treats and I'm loving how you can use two coordinating papers.  For this, I used Echo Park's "Happy Days."

Thank you to all who joined in on the birthday festivities and played along.  And now for the winners of my blog candy:

Miyoko:  ParknSlide - "Adorable---this stamp is a MUST HAVE."
Takeo:  m - "I love this stamp and I love the coaster idea. I'm going to make some with my niece this weekend! Thanks for the idea!"
Mariko:  Shar - "Oh my gosh!!!! Oh my gosh Cookies with the image!!! Can I say AWESOME!!! I would never to think to take this to a cookie!!! Great Card and beautiful Ideas."


Congrats to the winners!  To claim your prize, please contact Jenny at sisterstampsllc@gmail.com by JULY 10.

 CLICK HERE to hop over to the next blog and see what Mama has in store for you! 

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Sister Stamps Release #8 - Meet Mariko

Welcome to day 3 of Sister Stamps release!  I have a couple projects to share with you today and I introduce you to Mariko! Jenny was so sweet to name this stamp after me and not only am I tickled pink, but I am truly honored.  Thank you Jenny!  I admire you for following a dream and starting this stamp company a year ago.  It has been my absolute pleasure to participate in all the releases and to be on this journey with you!

And now onto my projects.  For my first card, I made a collage using scraps of coordinating papers on Sticky Back Canvas.  I used a sponge brush and Decoupage glue to adhere the papers to the canvas.  Once all the pieces were randomly laid down, I put a nice coat over the entire collage. I let it dry, trimmed the edges and stamped Tim Holtz's Urban Tapestry images on the collage with black Archival ink. I added some embellishments and popped up the image. Sticky Back Canvas is a fairly new medium to me and it's been fun experimenting with it.

The second card I created is a birthday card for Sister Stamps.  Here I colored Mariko with Copics and used alphabet and number stickers.

For the inside of the card, I used Papertrey Ink's Movers & Shakers  "happy" die.

And to top off this birthday celebration, I ordered some photo cookies using the Mariko image. I colored the image, took a photo of it and emailed it to Kelli's Photo Cookies.  They did the rest and I received the cookies within 4-5 days.  There are a few companies that make photo cookies but I like the colored sugar borders that Kelli does.  So fun!

Here's a close-up

If you'd like to win this stamp and some other goodies I'm throwing in, FOLLOW THIS BLOG and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on July 1 so come back and check to see if you've won.  The stamps for this release will be available for purchase on July 1 and you can find retail locations on Sister Stamps blog.

To hop on over to the next blog, CLICK HERE to see what Mama has been up to!  I'll  have more projects for you tomorrow and I'll also announce the blog candy winners - See ya tomorrow!

Sister Stamps Release #8 - Meet Takeo

Welcome to day 2 of Sister Stamps release!  The blog hop has been tons of fun and overflowing with inspiration and creativity and I hope you're enjoying it.

Today I'm introducing you to Takeo!  This image is special to me because it is named after my son.  When Jenny showed me some of the boy images and asked which one was most like my son, I said without hestitation, the boy with the balloons.  He loves balloons!  I'm so grateful to Jenny for all the wonderful things she said about Takeo on her blog and for thinking to name a stamp after him.  Takeo loves his Aunty Jenny, Uncle Paul and Akemi and has fun whenever we get together.

For my project, I decided to try a tile coaster.  I was nicely surprised at how simple and fun they are to make.  I used a 4-1/4" square tile from Home Depot (.16 - .52 each).  I cut and colored the paper pieces and glued them down using a sponge brush and Decoupage (you could also use Mod Podge).  Then I put a thin layer of Decoupage over everything.  I was careful to go over the colored image (Copics) with care to avoid smearing.  After it dried, I sprayed Rust-o-Leum Clear Gloss over the tile to seal it.  I sprayed one coat and let it dry. Then a second coat and let it dry.  I've actually put cold drinks on this tile and so far, it's been waterproof.  I kept the design simple with no bulky embellishments or foam dots so it could actually be used as a coaster.  It's withstood water but I don't know how it would handle heat. These would make great favors or gifts and they're simple and inexpensive.  I'm excited to try more!

If you'd like to win this stamp and some other goodies I'm throwing in, FOLLOW THIS BLOG and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on July 1 so come back and check to see if you've won.  The stamps for this release will be available for purchase on July 1 and you can find retail locations on Sister Stamps blog.

To hop on over to the next blog, CLICK HERE to see what Mama has in store for you!  Her Mariko oval box from yesterday was awesome!  I'll be back tomorrow with another preview and another chance to win a stamp.

Happy Birthday Sister Stamps - Release 8 Miyoko

Welcome to Sister Stamp's release #8!  If you're following the Blog Hop I hope you enjoy what all the girls have in store for you over the next four days.

Happy 1st Birthday to Sister Stamps and thank you to Jenny and Denise for sharing their creativity with all of us for the past year. 

The first image I’m introducing to you is Miyoko.  She’s quickly become one of my favorites and I created this little tote inspired by Inking Idaho.  I adjusted the measurements to make them bigger and to fill them with travel Kleenex, candies and other goodies. My son ends his summer program in a few weeks so I made six of these for his teachers.

I love mixing vintage-like papers, lace and twine with these Asian images.  So sweet and pretty.  I cut the floral doily using PTI’s parisian lace die.  It was slightly smaller than a 4” lace doily so when I put them together a perfect scalloped lace border was created around the floral doily.  I punched out a 2.5” DP circle and stamped the sentiment.  The edges of the floral doily and circle are distressed with Distress Vintage Photo.  To pull everything together and close the tote, I used some of my favorite Baker's Twine.

If you'd like to win this stamp and some other goodies I'm throwing in, FOLLOW THIS BLOG and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on July 1 so come back and check to see if you've won.  The stamps for this release will be available for purchase on July 1 and you can find retail locations on Sister Stamps blog.

To hop on over to the next blog, CLICK HERE to see what the uber talented Mama has created!  I'll be back tomorrow with another preview and another chance to win a stamp.

Baby Tags - His & Hers

I wanted to play with PTI's "Hanging Out" set and this is what came together.  Everything about this set is adoable and it just makes my heart smile. The coordinating die makes it simple to pop up some of the cute little outfits! I'll probably use some of the tags for gifts and convert a couple into cards.

Teacher Gifts

I'm back in the land of blogging at last!  It's been hectic around here since school ended and summer began.  I've definitley been crafting but just haven't had the extra time to post what I've been up to.  This is a project I did back in May for my son's teachers.  I tried chalkboard vinyl for the first time and really liked using it.  I kept this project simple by decorating jelly jars and filling them with peanut M&M's.

I'll be back again tomorrow with more projects from my craft room!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mother's Day

I watched Betsy Veldman's Make it Monday video and it inspired me to finally ink up my PTI Rosie Posie set.  I absolutely love it and it coordinates nicely with the Turning a New Leaf set.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!  It really is one of the hardest jobs on this planet so I hope you are recognized and appreciated for all you do!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Emily's Turning 3!

Our neighbor's daughter Emily had her third birthday party today so I whipped up this card this morning.  Yes, last minute! I know kids care more about the gift than the packaging so I kept it simple.  This old alphabet set from Hero Arts is one of my favorites for kids and I paired it up with a number card from Sassafras.

More Checkbook Covers

Here are the last three checkbook covers I finished using girls from Sister Stamps and sentiments from Little Paper Shop.   This features Miyono.

This features Sister Stamp's Kiyomi

This features Sister Stamp's Miyako

Here's my second checkbook cover and this time I used  Sister Stamp's Kiyomi.  I paired her up with another great quote stamp from Little Paper Shop which I got right before they went out of business. I also tried SU's Naturals Ivory cardstock for the first time and used it for the background here. I LOVE this paper!  It has a rich texture and a touch of flecks that give it classy presence.

Yoshimi Checkbook Cover

I recently made a handful of checkbook covers using Sister Stamps and here's the first one.  They were actually 2-year pocket calendars someone gave me but I think I will convert them to checkbook covers since most people use electronic calendars.  What I like about these plastic covers is they are a little wider than the plain checkbook vinyl covers.  There's more room to work with and it's easier to create a layout.  I looked them up on Amazon and they're only .99 each.  The background is a funky washi that was also given to me.  I wasn't too sure about it at first, but ended up really liking how it turned out.  I used Sister Stamps' Yoshimi and a sentiment from Little Paper Shop.

Oh, Fun Confetti!

I tried one of these confetti cards I'm seeing more and more of and they are addicting!  It just adds a bit of dimension to your project and it's lots of fun to do.  You can use glassine bags or tiny ziploc bags to hold your confetti.

Hope you're having a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Sister Stamps Release 7 Winners - Yoshi Birthday Card

I apologize profusely for this late post.  I had internet problems and could not get to my blog.  So without further delay, here are the winners for Sister Stamps Release 7:

Yoshi:  MADELEEN
Kenichi: LEANNE
Katsura: MIMI

Thank you to all who played along.  Congratulations to the winners and please contact Jenny at sisterstampsllc@gmail.com by April 16 to claim your prize.  If you are interested in purchasing any Sister Stamps, go to the Sister Stamps blog and check out their sidebar for retail locations.


For todays' birthday card I'm featuring the adorable Yoshi.  I used a Lawn Fawn banner and part of a PTI sentiment.  The gift border punch is becoming a "go to" punch more and more and it can really make a card festive.  The papers are from the new Konichiwa paper pack.  


Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Happy Easter!

Just dropping in to wish you a Happy Easter!

Sister Stamps Release #7 - It's Katsura

It's Sister Stamps Release Day!  Yippee!  I hope you've enjoyed all the samples of our first all boy release.  To purchase any of these stamps, go to the sidebar of Sister Stamps blog for a list of retail locations.  Today I'm featuring Katsura and his boy's day fish.  In Japan, May 5 celebrates Boy's Day which is also known as kodomo no hi or Children's Day.  The most visible symbol of this day is the fish kite also known as koinobori.  These kites symbolize a courageous fish swimming against the current and leaping out of the water as it swims.  The koi is a metaphor of parents' hopes for their children, particularly their sons.

Here I created a shadow box card.  I enjoy making these cards because they're really simple and yet they give your card a 3D effect. I ran some BoBunny navy cardstock through an embossing folder and it created a neat distressed look as if I had sanded it.  It love how it turned out to resemble Japanese katsuri fabric. I backed the circle window with acetate and then was able to adhere the image with pop dots. I used a washi paper for the background and added some stickers to personalize the card.

If you'd like to win this stamp, just follow this blog and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on Monday, April 9 so be sure to check back to see if you've won.  

Check out the official Sister Stamps blog and special guest designer Kris's blog, too.  Have a great weekend!

Sister Stamps Release #7 - Introducing Kenichi!

Welcome to day two of Sister Stamps' release #7!  Today, my card features Kenichi and his cute puppy friend.  This image makes me think of a neighborhood boy who rides his bike everyday afternoon while his dog runs along side of him on a leash.  They're such cute pals and the boy is such a responsible dog owner.  If you watch Dog Whisperer, you'll know what I mean when I say Ceasar Milan would be proud.

For today's card, I clear embossed a Hero Arts background stamp and used Distress inks. I roughed up the edges with a paper distresser and found the perfect sentiment from Little Paper Shop which says "simple pleasures are life's greatest treasures".

For a chance to win this stamp, just follow this blog and post a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on Monday, April 9 so be sure to check back to see if you've won.  The stamps from this release will be available for purchase on April 7.  See the sidebar of Sister Stamps blog for retail stores.

For more wonderful inspiration, check out the official Sister Stamps blog and special guest designer Kris's blog, too.  Stop by again tomorrow for the last day of release #7 and another chance to win!

Sister Stamps Release #7 - Here's Yoshi!

Sister Stamps' Release #7 is here and there's three days of new images and blog candy!  Today I'm featuring Yoshi!  I love this "all occasions" guy who is so playful and full of joy.  As I thought about this card, I imagined my son's excitement when celebrating someone's birthday and how he throws his hands up in the air to say happy birthday! I think most of the excitement really comes from the thought of eating birthday cake!

In designing this card, I chose a neutral washi paper for the background and created a tree using Memory Box's woodland branch die.  The hill was done free hand and I used a MS grass punch behind it.  Snipping the bottom edges of the grass made it bend easily and conform to the shape of the hill.  I played around with the flowers on the tree and my first instinct was to make them pink, but it looked too busy with the other colors.  So I experimented with a brushed gold paper and I love how it blends with the background.  I wanted to flowers to be there, but subtle.  And to balance out the card, I added a couple lanterns hanging from the tree. 

If you'd like to win this stamp, all you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment on THIS post.  Winners will be announced on Monday, April 9.  Be sure to check back to see if you're a winner.  The stamps from release #7 will be available for purchase on April 7.  See the sidebar of Sister Stamps blog for retail stores.

There's more fun coming up tomorrow with another Sister Stamps release and blog candy. Also check out the official Sister Stamps blog and welcome this month's talented guest designer, Kris.  

Sweet Daba!

Here's a card I whipped up today inspired by a tag Jenny made for last month's Sister Stamps release.  This bunny (Daba) is the cutest little thing and it's easy to use because it takes minimal coloring.  I'm also loving the Hero Arts/Basic Grey Tapestry Script Background stamp.  You've seen me use it on a couple projects and I'll probably be using it on many more.  We're looking forward to lots of Easter activities in this household this weekend.  Hope you've got some fun things planned, too!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the beginning of Sister Stamps new release!

Easter's On It's Way!

Easter is such a fun time of year and I love all the cute images and papers that come with it.  For this card, I inked up Easter Anya and used some of my new Doodlebug papers. I think this year's spring collection is exceptionally adorable!  Been also playing around with some new Copic colors for hair and it's been fun to try more redish tones.  

More Easter cuteness and Sister Stamps coming up this week so be sure to check back!  Have a great Monday!

Sew Sweet

I am up at the crack of dawn to check out the last day of deals on mycraftchannel.com.  I don't need another darn thing, but a good deal always draws me in.

Here's another card I created using more adhesive chipboard.  Background stamp is from Hero Arts and DP from Cosmo Cricket.  Quick and simple!

Sister Stamps new release starts on Thursday, 4/5 with more fun and freebies - don't miss out!

Dress Up Thank You

Here's another card I whipped up using some adhesive chipboard I found recently.  I'm on a roll using things I've had stashed away.  Might as well use what you have while you like them because something new will always strike your fancy!

A Sweet Thank You

I recently went through my craft supplies to get rid of some things that are just taking up space and collecting dust.  I found a few things that I decided to get crafting with and not hoard anymore.  :)  Here's one of the cards I came up with using some Cosmo Cricket paper and adhesive chipboard that I love!

Stamp Highlighting with Flowers

I tried stamp highlighting with this Hero Arts image and it was fun to do.  Just used a white Uniball Signo pen to add the highlights.  

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Butterfly Flowers, Lawn Fawn
Dies: Spellbinders Heart Circles, Spellbinders Hearts
Copics, Uniball Signo White Pen

Happy Birthday Kris!

It's Krista Palakiko's birthday today and a few of us are throwing her a surprise birthday blog hop. If you've come here from Jenny's blog then you are on the right path, but if you just popped in you might want to hop on over to the beginning at the Lollipop Crafts Blog. Why?  Well one lucky hopper will win a SURPRISE PRIZE.  All you need to do is hop along to each friend’s blog, leave some love, then head back to the Lollipop Crafts Blog and let them know you completed the hop.  Who knows maybe along the way some of Kris' friends might be giving away RAKS of their own, so make sure you stop and give some love to everyone.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, March 18th.  And your next stop is Karen.  If you need to get back to the master list head back to the Lollipop Crafts Blog. 


For my birthday card, I inked up Penny Black's Betsy Bluebell with her festive balloons!  She's sure ready to celebrate Kris' special day!  I used Martha Stewart's Gifts punch for the background along with some Imaginisce DP.  

Happy Birthday Kris!  I hope you are surprised and all the best wishes to you!

Liebster Blog Award!

I was so surprised to receive the Liebster Blog Award!  This award gives bloggers with less than 200 followers recognition for their talents.  I started my blog a couple years ago simply to share a hobby I love and journal what I've created.

Thank you to the talented and creative Kris for passing this award to me. I always appreciate your sweet comments and I am grateful for this very unexpected award!

As a recipient of the Liebster, I get to pay it forward (yippee!) and give this award to 5 very inspiring and talented individuals.  I admire their creativity and unique style - check out their blogs and see for yourself!

1. Cathy Fongjoyo
2. Connie Collins
3. Tanya Bell
4. Nerina
5. Angeline

For those receiving this award, here are the rules:

• Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog by linking back to their blog.
• Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
• Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed.
• Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

Thanks again to Kris and congrats to the five recipients!

Sister Stamps Blog Candy Winners - Bunny Friends Card

The new Sister Stamps are available today!  Yippee!  I created this card with Daba and did some reverse stamping to give him a friend by using the bunny from the Akemi stamp.  I LOVE how they work together!  To learn how to do reverse stamping, check out this video here.

Thanks to all who shared in our excitement of Sister Stamps Release #6.  The new stamps are available today and see Sister Stamps blog for retails locations.

The winners of my blog candy are:

AKEMI:  Nadine

MASA:  Eva

DABA:  Dena

Congratulations to the winners!  Please contact Jenny at sisterstampsllc@gmail.com by March 8. 

Supplies:

Stamps:  Sister Stamps Daba & Akemi, Hero Arts CL351

DP & Stickers: Sassafras Mix & Mend