Spread the Love Blog Hop

Welcome to the Spread the Love Blog Hop, featuring the heart warming Operation Smile stamp set. The current Operation Smile set is called True Love, an utterly adorable set of 9 images. You might be arriving here from NINA'S BLOG. You'll find 17 fabulous projects on this hop!

I started my project with a base of Sorbet cardstock embossed with a heart embossing folder. I sanded the cardstock to bring out the hearts. I added heavily sanded Sapphire cardstock and a panel of burlap I got from the Rustic Home Fundamentals. I wrapped this panel in copper twine before adhering it to my card. I drew inspiration from sketch 148 over at RetroSketches and this week's Color Throwdown Challenge.

I colored the sweet little boy using my Shin Han alcohol markers, and added some shimmer brush to the balloon images. Can you even with his sweet little face and that awesomesauce sentiment?

I kid you not when I say that True Love is one of my absolute favorite stamp sets in this new Idea Book. That sentiment alone is enough reason to add this one to your stash, and with every True Love purchase, you are literally helping to change the life of a child.  Next up on the hop is JEAN'S BLOG. Be sure to hop all the way around and Spread the Love to all our crafty friends!

Count Your Blessings Card

I feel like my photography skills have failed my card for this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge.

It has so much sparkle and shine in real life. I took a bazillion pics, from all kinds of angles. I need a crash course in how to photograph glitter people. I was inspired in my color choices by this week's ColourQ challenge. I grabbed some of the new basics kraft dot, and some Cocoa textured cardstock to make the Lagoon and Sunset colors pop! This stamp set is called With You.

I sanded the cardstock, then painted on some Folk Art gold extreme glitter paste, which I then sprinkled with some chunky gold glitter. Can you see that sparkle? The ribbon is a subtle gold shimmer too, but my sad photography skills could get shimmery ribbon or some of the glitter but not both, and nothing like the real life bling. Does anyone know how to do this better? Am I lighting it too much? Not enough? Perhaps I needed to add MORE glitter! Probably not... 

In any case, check out the sketch over at Atlantic Hearts, and I hope you'll play along too!

October SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the October SOTM Blog Hop! This month we have over 30 talented consultants sharing their creations with October's Stamp of the Month, Yuletide Joy, a festive set of 7 images. you might be arriving here from MICHELLE'S BLOG. Let's hop!

I wanted to make a simple and easy to mass produce holiday card using this set. I cut some strips from the City Sidewalks papers. I embossed white daisy cardstock at the top of the card using the new Snowflakes embossing folder. Then I added a banner stamped with one of the sweetly fonted sentiments from the October SOTM.

I topped off my card with a Sea Glass glitter paper snowflake, cut with the new Snowflakes Thin Cuts die set. I added a navy button tied with baker's twine to complete my quick and easy holiday card!

Next up on the hop is KATHY'S BLOG. Be sure to hop all the way around to catch all the holiday goodness - and remember to grab your October SOTM before it's gone!

Hello Fall Card

So all those banners I combined in the Mojo Monday sketch? Found them in this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

I used up some more of my (retired) Sangria Paper, combined with more Enchantment Fundamentals. I stitch outlined everything by hand with a black journaling pen, which is why I added the black washi tape and sentiment. 

I wanted a little more shine, so I added some Rose Gold foil tape to play off the copper twine in the brown flower button. The leaves came from the SOTM, and that HELLO is my favorite thin cuts die. 

Only two more days until our first Crafty Card Buffet!

Gratitude Doily Card

So out of the entire Stamp of the Month set this month, I think this Gratitude sentiment image is my absolute favorite. 

I combined some of the new Enchantment Fundamentals with some Sangria retired paper. I love how the patterns in the new fundamentals can support and extend whats already in my paper stash! I was working off the sweet new RetroSketches sketch.

I topped off the design with slate sequins topped with some rounded clear gems. I love the look of white doilies against bold colors! 

Crafty Card Buffet kicks on on Sunday!