StampNation's 6th Birthday Bash

Wow!  From reading the comments on my blog hop post yesterday, you all seem to really love the new ink.  What's not to love right?  In case you missed it you can still clicky and leave a comment until 6pm EST on Thursday for your chance to win one of the gift certificates Catherine is giving away. 

One thing I might have forgotten to mention yesterday is that today is the kick off day for StampNation's 6th birthday.  We will have 8 days worth of challenges and videos to inspire you.  Each challenge was created using the names of the 8 new ink colors released yesterday, but you don't need to use them in order to participate.  And, sistah, you are going to want to participate.  Check out the line-up of sponsors we have.  I wish I could win these prizes myself!!!

I joined StampNation 5 years ago for their first birthday and it has taken my stamping to places I never dreamed it could go. Happy Birthday StampNation!!!

I can't let you go without a little sneaky peek at some of the awesomeness created by the design team.

I'm up for day one with this adorable gift tag.  (If I do say so myself)

Stamps: Peppermint Stick, Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs) Young at Heart (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) 
Ink: Party Dress (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper: Bright White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up) Tag Buddies Fri Dies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Ribbon-Bag-Tissue Paper (Heather gift wrap supply closet)

I'll be sharing the other 2 projects I made with you later this week and next.  Plus, I have a full card and video to share with YOU on my blog at the end of the celebration.  Can you guess which colors I'll be using?

Stamp of Approval Lovely Notes is Coming

Have you heard the news?  The newest Stamp of Approval collection from Catherine Pooler is being released next week.  For the past few days Catherine has been sneak peeking items from the collection on her blog and today she showed the last item.  That means I can now share what I have been making with all of you!  Are you ready for some cards with lots of sneak peeks on them?

I liked this design so much, I made 3 cards.  First up I made a card for a family member who has a birthday next week.  Can you spot the SOA stamps I used on all 3 cards?

Stamps: Lovely Notes, Wonderful Wreath (Catherine Pooler Designs for Stamp of Approval Lovely Notes) Young at Heart (Casual Fridays Stamps)

Ink: Black (Staz-On) Cotton Candy, Ripe Raspberry (Color Box for My Favorite Things) Mint Julep (Hero Arts Mid Tone Shadow Ink) Wilted Violet (Distress)

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Interlocking Die (Penny Black) Wonky Stitch Circle Stax (My Favorite Things)

Please don't ask me why I didn't use the birthday stamp set that is in the collection.  In all honesty this box is so packed with goodies I forgot there was a birthday set in it.  Don't worry though, I'll share a card using the birthday stamp during tomorrow's blog hop.  ;) 

Stamps: Lovely Notes, Lovely Lattice, Wonderful Wreath (Catherine Pooler Designs for Stamp of Approval Lovely Notes) 

Ink: Black (Staz-On) Cotton Candy, Ripe Raspberry (Color Box for My Favorite Things) Mint Julep (Hero Arts Mid Tone Shadow Ink) Wilted Violet (Distress)

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Wonky Stitch Circle Stax (My Favorite Things)

My second card was made for a friend that has been such a blessing in my life.  I wanted to use SOA exclusively on this card, and remembered the Lovely Lattice background stamp that is included in the collection.  Isn't it pretty?  I wanted to see how the tone-on-tone would look using this stamp, but now I want to try this technique again and stamp it in black.  hmmm.... the ideas for these stamps just keep coming.  :)

Stamps: Lovely Notes, Wonderful Wreath (Catherine Pooler Designs for Stamp of Approval Lovely Notes) 

Ink: Black (Staz-On) Cotton Candy, Ripe Raspberry (Color Box for My Favorite Things) Mint Julep (Hero Arts Mid Tone Shadow Ink) Wilted Violet (Distress)

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Interlocking Die (Penny Black) Wonky Stitch Circle Stax (My Favorite Things)

 My last card is a combo of the first and second.  This one is for my mom.  She has been going through a difficult time with such grace & compassion.  I wanted to let her know how much I admire her.  <3  

So those are my cards.  Did you spot the new stamps that are in the Lovely Notes collection?  Come back tomorrow for blog hop, more new goodies, and a chance to win one of these boxes for yourself!  In the meantime check out Catherine's blog if you just can't wait for the hop to see the new lovelies.

p.s.  If you want to be the first to know when this lovely collection goes on sale, be sure to sign up for the wait list.  ;)  cpstampofapproval.com

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Wonky Stitched Circle Stax

Penny Black Dies, Interlocking

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Kit #15

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Mid-tone Mint Julep

Stazon Solvent Ink Pad, Jet Black

Altenew Crisp Dye Ink Pad, Cotton Candy

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 Pk

Masculine Cards for Dads

A couple of weeks ago I went searching for some masculine stamp sets for Father's Day, birthday and graduation cards.  Do you know what I found?  Not much, and what I did find that I liked was sold out.  hmf.  What's a girl to do?  Take my own advice and use what I have with a masculine color scheme to create cards to send to our dads and grads.  On Monday I shared one of those cards.  It was the simplest to make.  Today I am stepping up my game a bit with some sponging.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up) You & I (Clearly Besotted) 

Ink: Twisted Citron, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio (Distress)

Paper: Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Black Twine (Pretty Pink Posh) Interlocking Die (Penny Black) Mini Ink Blending Tool (Ranger) Tag Buddies Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps)

Of course I filmed a video for you.  ;) 

Direct link to youtube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5cGQo5XBQE

I couldn't stop at just one card.  I had use the negative dies to make this card.

Stamps: Young At Heart (CASual Fridays Stamps)

Ink: Twisted Citron, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio (Distress) Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Blue & Green Twine (Lawn Fawn) Interlocking Die (Penny Black) Mini Ink Blending Tool (Ranger) Tag Buddies Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps) Stitched Labels 1 (Pretty Pink Posh)

The first time I die cut my sponged piece with the interlocking die I had several spots that didn't die cut all the way through.  Did I throw it away?  Nope, I added a large stamped panel to the front of my card and nobody will ever know what it underneath.  ;)

Stamps: HB2U (Sugar Pea Designs for SOA)

Ink: Twisted Citron, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio (Distress) Tempting Turquoise (Stampin' Up)

Paper: Whisper White, Journal Tag (SU)
Accessories: Interlocking Die (Penny Black) Mini Ink Blending Tool (Ranger)

Even though I am calling these masculine cards, it uses a fresh fun color palette that could be sent to anyone.  Try changing the colors of sponging and sentiments to come up with unique cards you can call your own.  The interlocking die is the star of all these cards and I am finding it to be a very versatile cover up die.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know Ellen Hutson is have a SALE on now.  :)  Use code beattheheat when checking out for 15% off!!!  Help me shop be leaving a comment below telling me your favorite masculine stamp set.  I need to build my stash!!

Penny Black Dies, Interlocking

Clearly Besotted Clear Stamps, You & I

Pretty Pink Posh Dies, Stitched Labels 1

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Twisted Citron

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Peacock Feathers

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Tumbled Glass

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Salty Ocean

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Ranger Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foam, 1 Inch Round

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Clearly Besotted Clear Stamps, Mini Basic Banners

Masculine Monday ~ Birthday Brother

Confession Time 

I have a weakness for patterned paper.  If you were to look in my craft room it would be obvious immediately.  The only problem I have with this is that I rarely use patterened paper on my cards anymore and it is even more rare that I scrapbook these days.  This card doesn't put a dent in my stash, but it did get me looking through my patterned paper again, and that is a start.

The bonus is that using patterned paper meant this card for my brother came together super quick!  I cut a panel for the front of the card, then cut a 1"strip in contrasting paper.  Finally I cut a designer rectangle out of a 3rd piece of  paper. To add the finishing touch that gives it a more professional look I lightly sponged the edges of my sentiment panel and vertical strip.  This toned done the white edges from cutting.  My card was done, but it needed a little somethin' somethin' so I added a scattering of neutral candy dots.

When was the last time you pulled out your pretty paper and used it?  I challenge you to dig around your stash and use some patterned paper on a project this week.

Stamps: Young At Heart (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps for SOA)

Ink: Black (Hero Arts) Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up)

Paper: Sahara Sand (SU) Stationer's Desk (Prima)
Accessories: Candy Dots: Nuetrals, Sponge (SU)

Hero Arts India Ink, Black

Prima Marketing The Archivist, 6x6 Paper Pad

Hero Arts Silky Stamping Sponge

Brighter Days in Black or White

This week's challenge at StampNation had the design team in a tizzy.  Why?  I challenged everyone to choose between black & white.  They could use one color but not the other.  Many of us use white card bases and black ink.  It was a stretch to go without one of them, but the design team pushed through and came out with some amazing-ness to inspire you.  Here's a sneak peek of my card.

In the picture it looks like I broke the rules, but in reality I used a dark purple for my contrast.  :)  The funniest thing about this challenge is that I didn't mean for it to be difficult.  When I started stamping, I rarely used black ink and I used colorful cardstock for my base instead of white.  I thought it might be fun to go back to that.  Apparently it is hard to get out of a deep groove.  lol

I hope you will join in the challenge.  StampNation members can view the challenge here clicky.  If you are not a member and are interested in learning more CLICKY

Stamps: April Showers (Clearly Besotted) Young at Heart (CAS-ual Fridays for SOA) 
Ink: Dusty Concord, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves (Distress) Pacific Point, Perfect Plum (Stampin' Up) Versamark
Paper: Perfect Plum, Whisper White (SU) Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Birthday Journal Tag (Sugar Pea Designs for SOA) Metallic Platinum Sparkle Embossing Powder (WOW) Twinkle Dots (Queen & Co.) Purple & White Twine