Inky Paws #13 Sketch Challenge

Today is the first day of the new Inky Paws challenge over at the Newton's Nook Designs blog and it's an awesome sketch. For my card I used Wild Child and a touch of Sweetheart Tails. I created the background paper with the leaves from Wild Child and the XOXO from Sweetheart Tails. I tried to use several shades of brown but they dried all looking pretty similar. I stamped the cats on orange paper so I could easily turn them into tigers. I can't wait to see some other takes on this sketch and remember there is a $10 prize up for grabs. Two prizes if there is over 15 participants!

Sister Act Card Challenge #72

I have a new card today for Sister Act Card Challenges. I love these challenges because it's a simple anything goes card only challenge that gives people a platform to share their work. So please feel free to join us a link up a card anytime. I would love to check out your work. This week we are being sponsored by Digital Delights. This card was made by stamping Penny Black Sweetness on vellum and heat embossing. I then colored the image with Copic markers. The sentiment is a die from Little Yellow Bicycle and the ribbon was saved from packaging.

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenges

Loads of Happiness

Today I have a video showing how to mask over Copic coloring on a digital image. The image I'm using is Two Kids with a Cart from Gerda Steiner Designs. This card is very similar to another one I made recently but I wanted to offer a video explaining how to get the effect.

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox: Autumn

Sugar Pea Designs: Anything Goes

Happy Halloween

I've started a Halloween video series over at my Jess Crafts YouTube channel. Today's card is quick and simple but I like the fun effect of the eyeball washi tape in the window die from Memory Box. Check out the video for more info.

This card was actually a long time coming as I bought the tape but did not have a window die to use it with even though I knew I wanted to try this effect. Fortunately I was able to eventually borrow the die from my mom although I could see lots of other fun ideas with it and so I might buy my own.

Challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge: To Die For

XOXO

When I thought I would only have a little bit of time to craft this weekend I decided to make a card with a sticker sheet and coordinating paper from Echo Park's Summer Days collection. I simply layered up some stickers to create a quick scene and then stamped the sentiment in Staz-On so it wouldn't smear.

Challenges:

Sunday Stamps: Color Challenge

Creative Blogger Hop

I was invited by the awesome Jen Evers of Koala T Crafts to participate in the 

Creative Bloggers Hop! The Creative Blogger Hop is a continuous Hop every Monday with a host of

inspirational bloggers taking part every week. 

The creative blogger selected answers some questions related to their style and creative process. 

They may share how they get their creative mojo or share some little tip with you! 

What Am I Working On At The Moment?

I'm working with a lot of Fall/Halloween products for my design teams. In fact, I have a Halloween series going on at my YouTube channel.

How Does My Work Differ From Others In My Genre? 

If I had to describe my style I would say cute, colorful, and technique-y. I would describe it as cute because of the images I use which is why I love the Newton's Nook and Gerda Steiner Designs teams I am on. I would say it's colorful because no color of the rainbow is off limits and I use a lot of coloring mediums. Lastly I would say technique-y because even though I don't do a lot of crazy tricks I do like to add a little something extra to my colored images and experiment with different ideas.

Why Do I Craft What I Do? 

I craft as a way to relax and unwind. When life gets hectic it's nice to work on something as simple as a card. Even if I mess up it's just a card so it's always fun. I also really love getting to know people as part of this community. My Jess Crafts You Tube channel has been particularly fun because I can share the things I've learned with others.

How Does My Creative Process Work? 

It varies a lot. Sometimes I start with a product I want to use and then I try to think of a fun technique to go with it. Other times I start with a challenge from a challenge blog and I try to take an interesting approach to it. 

Sister Act Challenge #71

I have a new card today for Sister Act Card Challenges. I love these challenges because it's a simple anything goes card only challenge that gives people a platform to share their work. So please feel free to join us a link up a card anytime. I would love to check out your work. This week we are being sponsored by Deasy Designs. We had the opportunity to work with the Magic Carnival set. 

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenges: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

Newton's Nook August Release Day 2

Today I have a simple but fun mini card set to focus on the awesome and super useful Simply Sentimental set from Newton's Nook Designs. As you'll see in the video you can make a card for almost any occasion with these sentiments and so it's a great addition to any collection. Be sure to keep reading after the video for more information on how to win. Also feel free to follow my video to YouTube where you can subscribe to get more ideas for using Newton's Nook stamps and other crafty products. 

Would you like to win “Simply Sentimental”?This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Tuesday, August 19th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Wednesday, August 20th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Brooke

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Shellye McDaniel

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Tessa Wise

Chitra Nair (Guest Designer)

Newton's Nook August Release Day 1

Hello all! I'm so excited for the latest Newton's Nook Design release because the new sets are awesome. How cute are these little critters from Hanging Around?! To create the background I turned the cloud upside down and stamped the back so it would be a solid cloud and embossed it. After I had the embossed clouds I use Distress Stain in Salty Ocean to color the background and the embossed clouds resisted the stain. Then I colored three of the adorable animals from the set with my Inktense Pencils and fussy cut them.While this card did take quite, awhile with all the embossing and fussy cutting, I think it will be perfect for a friend going through a tough time. I love that this encouragement sentiment is general enough to work for many encouragement occasions. See the stamp set below and read to see how you can win it!

Would you like to win “Hanging Around”?This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Tuesday, August 19th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Wednesday, August 20th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Brooke

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Shellye McDaniel

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Tessa Wise

Chitra Nair (Guest Designer)

I Miss You

Today I have a new adorable image from Gerda Steiner Designs. The stamp called A Big Load is fun to color and surprisingly easy to fussy cut. The biggest key is to simply cut right through where his mitten meets to wagon handle, but when you glue it down, line those back up so it looks seamless. I adore Gerda's whimsical creations and I am so excited that she now has rubber stamps! I hope to share a video of the rubber stamps soon. I'll show you how to mount them, but I also want to do some watercoloring. I love watercolor but I can't do it with digital images so rubber will be awesome!

Challenges:

Marker Pop: Anything Goes

Pumpkin Spice Challenge: Children

Stretch Your Stamps 2: Day 9 and 10

I've been enjoying the videos and lessons from Stretch Your Stamps 2. Today I am going to have several posts so that I can share the cards to my gallery. Of course I won't get to every technique shown in the class before it is over but I want to make sure I add at least one card to each gallery. This card with for Days 9 and 10 where several ideas for using floral stamps were shown but the techniques can be applied to many kinds of stamps. The technique I am using is creating custom alphabet embellishments by stamping and then diecutting. I stamp the clock from the set to create custom patterned paper then cut the letters out. It's a small detail that adds interest but keeps the card simple enough to be masculine. I was particularly happy with this card as this stamp set has been in my stash for several months but this is the first time I am using it and I created multiples with different sentiments to make sure the set was nice and inky.

Challenges:

Shopping Our Stash: Back in the Day

Stretch Your Stamps 2: Day 1 and 2

I've been enjoying the videos and lessons from Stretch Your Stamps 2. Today I am going to have several posts so that I can share the cards to my gallery. Of course I won't get to every technique shown in the class before it is over but I want to make sure I add at least one card to each gallery. This card with for Days 1 and 2 where several ideas for using background stamps are shown including an emboss resist technique where you watercolor over the embossed background stamp. I die cut the word sentiment out of a paper done with the same technique.

Stretch Your Stamps 2: Day 3 and 4

I've been enjoying the videos and lessons from Stretch Your Stamps 2. Today I am going to have several posts so that I can share the cards to my gallery. Of course I won't get to every technique shown in the class before it is over but I want to make sure I add at least one card to each gallery. This card with for Days 3 and 4 where several ideas for using alphabet stamps are shown including stamping part of your sentiment on a die cut element. So for this 'Love You" sentiment I stamped the 'you' on hearts. 

Card Collab with Danielle of Girl Racer Scrap

Today I have a card collaboration video with Danielle from Girl Racer Scrap. Danielle is super talented and a fellow DT member with Newton's Nook Designs. Check out Danielle's Girl Racer Photo You Tube channel. We decided that we would use the same sketch and stamp set as part of the collaboration. The sketch is Sketch 235 from Operation Write Home and the stamp set is Newton's Nook Designs Wild Child. I'm excited to see how different the cards are despite the same parameters. Check out my video below where I will link you to Danielle's video as well. 

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge #70

I have a new card today for Sister Act Card Challenges. I love these challenges because it's a simple anything goes card only challenge that gives people a platform to share their work. So please feel free to join us a link up a card anytime. I would love to check out your work. This week we are being sponsored by Whoopsidaisy. They let us choose from a few images and this little girl image from Sheet 285 is adorable. 

Challenges:
Sister Act: Anything Goes

You Made My Day

Today I have a card and video using a homemade stencil I cut with Lawn Fawn A Birdie Told Me dies. I used a plastic binder divider as stencil material and with all the back to school sales now if the perfect time to pick up a pack so make your own stencils with your dies. I found that it works best with dies that have simple lines but you can experiment with adding shims and such to see what results you can get. Watch the video for more info.

Challenges:

Cute Card Thursday: Clean and Simple

2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps: Animals

You're Boo-tastic with a Video

Today I have a video that shows you two ways to use one stencil and with just one inking. Check out my video to learn more. 

The digital stamps used in my video are Fangtastic from my Jess Crafts Shop on Etsy and Cute Ghost with Pumpkin from Gerda Steiner Designs. I am gearing up to start school soon and so I will probably post a little less frequently and may not get to play in some of my favorite challenges but I will still be here a few times a week offering card and video inspiration. 

Challenges:

The Pink Elephant: Stencils

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Make it Sparkle (Sequins and Shimmer Spray)

Inkspirational: Use Markers or Pencils

You are Monstrously Awesome

I have really enjoyed drawing and coloring these little monster digital stamps. I've just added the blue monster, Suplerb, to my Jess Crafts Shop. As with all my digital stamps, Suplerb is just $1, and includes sentiments. 

Challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches: Sketch 148

The Squirrel and the Fox: Anything Goes

Card Collab with Jen Evers

Today I'm sharing my YouTube card collaboration I did with Jen Evers. We sent each other some supplies and then made videos of putting a card together with the supplies.

I actually made two cards and you can watch my video to see the card making process.

Sister Act Card Challenge #69

I have a new card today for Sister Act Card Challenges. I love these challenges because it's a simple anything goes card only challenge that gives people a platform to share their work. So please feel free to join us a link up a card anytime. I would love to check out your work. This week we are being sponsored by Stitchy Bear. They let us choose from a few images and this Apple Jack image is adorable. 

Challenges:

Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More: Make Your Mark

The Crafter's Cafe: Lots of Layers