Clean and Simple Kitty Christmas

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing a card made with the Gerda Steiner Designs Deck the Halls stamp set. I wanted to really focus on this cute little kitty so I created a clean and simple card. Check out the video for more:

When working on a clean and simple card simple it can be beneficial to keep the color story minimal. This is why I opted for a neutral color cat. I'm a big fan of adding sparkle on Christmas cards so here I added gems, glitter, and glossy accents. I love that I was able to sneak in some gem destashing into such a stamp heavy design. 

Check out Gerda Steiner's amazing selection of Christmas stamps and then share your creations over on the Facebook group. 

Comparing Purple Distress Inks and The Hop to Stop

Hello crafty friends! Today I am here with a card set and video for Becca Dawn's Hop to Stop which is aiming to raise awareness for domestic violence. Please follow the link to learn more and find out how you can participate. The rules of the hop ask you to create a purple card and since I got the Wilted Violet Distress Ink in my October DT package from Tupelo Designs LLC I decided to incorporate the hop into my video. Check out more about the ink comparison and a card tutorial in the video. 

Newton's Nook is a sponsor for this hop and Tupelo Designs LLC carries many of their sets so it was a perfect combo. Of course there is a lot of purple inspiration on this hop and so if it makes you fall in love with purple, I'm hoping this look at the whole range of purple Distress Inks will help you figure out which are for you. Unsurprisingly I consider them all must haves!

Also the check out the Facebook page for the hop so you can find out how to donate your cards. 

Making a Scene with Create a Smile Stamps and Hero Arts Ombre Inks

Hello crafty friends! Today I have some cards for the Create a Smile guest design team call. I love Create a Smile's fun unique stamps and the Poppin Over set really called to me because I adore critters and these ones are so cute. That little waving bear makes me smile every time. Check out the video for more on how I made these cards.

I love my Hero Arts Ombre Inks but I don't always use them in the way they are intended. Because there are three distinct pads I find myself using them separately as much as together. I couldn't pick the critter I liked best so I decided to make a whole set and it was a great excuse to play with a range of the Ombre Inks as well. If you love Create a Smile stamps as much as me please check out their Guest DT call. You can even use the free digital stamps to enter.

Challenges:

Create A Smile Stamp Nov Guest DT Call

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Virginia's View: All Things Colored

Custom Masked Background for a Coffee Loving Squirrel

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm here with a card for the Fall Coffee Lovers blog hop. I know there lots to see on the hop so I won't add too much detail. Please click the link to learn more about the hop or watch my video for more about my card. 

As mentioned in the video the stamps are from Gerda Steiner Designs and called Happy Fall and Snowman Friends stamp sets. Gerda Steiner Designs is sponsoring the hop. I love making my own backgrounds but for this card I didn't want to fill the whole background so I used some masking to fill just a small space.

Challenges:

Fall Coffee Lovers Hop

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes

Painting with Coffee featuring Newton Loves Coffee

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm here with a card for the Fall Coffee Lovers blog hop. I know there lots to see on the hop so I won't add too much detail. Please click the link to learn more about the hop or watch my video for more about my card. 

As discussed in the video the stamps are from Newton's Nook. I used Winsor Newton markers to color Newton. The Molotow masking pen is really easy to use and fast drying. It is a bit pricey but worth it to someone who loves to watercolor.

Challenges:

Fall Coffee Lovers Hop

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: No Patterned Paper

Masking a Fall Scene and Coloring with Inktense Pencils featuring Create a Smile and Lawn Fawn

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm here with a card for the Fall Coffee Lovers blog hop. I know there lots to see on the hop so I won't add too much detail. Please click the link to learn more about the hop or watch my video for more about my card. 

As discussed in the video the stamps are from Create a Smile and Lawn Fawn. I used Inktense pencils to color the scene. I love the look of dimension that masking creates but there is none of the bulk and I know this card will get through the mail to it's recipient with no problem. Hope she likes it!

Challenges:

Fall Coffee Lovers Hop

September Gallery Share for Create a Smile

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: No Patterned Paper

Newton's Nook and Simon Says Stamp Stamptember Exclusive

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing the Newton's Nook Designs Simon Says Stamp Stamptember Exclusive set. This set is perfect for fall and features most of the popular Newton characters including Newton himself. Today I created two very similar cards to show off two of the images in the set. For more on these cards check out my video below.

In the video I mention a small tip for coloring fall leaves. When you want the look of random colors consider that the artist has already tried to make the leaf shapes random and so if you follow their lead and color all the same shape the same colors you will get a great mix.

Newton's Nook Designs September Release Pick a Pumpkin Stamp and Die

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing the Newton's Nook Designs September Release. The third and final stamp set of the release is called Pick a Pumpkin and comes with dies. I love how this set can be perfect for Halloween with the addition of the jack of lantern face or great for Thanksgiving with that Thanks pumpkin sentiment. Gotta love a stamp set that works for several occasions. Check put my video for more on how I made this card and then keep reading to find out how to win this set!

Would you like to win “Pick a Pumpkin”?
This prize will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog 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 Thursday September 24th at 9PM CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday September 25th.

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

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Nina-Marie Trapani

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Simon Hurley - Guest Designer

Newton's Nook Designs September Release Touchdown Tails

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing the Newton's Nook Designs September Release. The second stamp set of the release is called Touchdown Tails. I am not a football fan myself but I know several people who are and I'm happy to have a set that will make masculine birthday cards easier. Of course not ever football fan is a man but I know many struggle with what to use on cards for guys. I think you coudl easily change up this card to suit any set of team colors. I know some Raiders fans so I went with grey, black, and white. Check put my video for more on how I made this card and then keep reading to find out how to win this set!

Would you like to win “Touchdown Tails”?
This prize will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog 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 Thursday September 24th at 9PM CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday September 25th.

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

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Nina-Marie Trapani

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Simon Hurley - Guest Designer

Lawnscaping FIT Blog Hop: Yellow

Hello crafty friends! Welcome to the August Lawnscaping Facebook Inspiration Team Blog Hop sponsored by Ink Road. You should have arrived from Lenny but there is a list at the bottom of the post to help you stay on track. This month we are featuring the color yellow! Check out my video for more on how I made this card.

Ink Road is providing a $25 gift certificate to a random commenter so be sure to follow along to all the blogs and gather some inspiration and a chance to win. The Lawn Fawn products on today's card were Critters in the Savannah, Stitched Hillside Borders, Hearts Dies and Small Stitched Rectangles. Next up on the hop is Suzanne.

Lawnscaping blog

Marina

Heidi
Lenny
Jess <-- You Are Here
Suzanne
Kim
Kate

Lexa

Angel

Creating a Artsy Look with Distress Products and Newton's Nook Beautiful Blossoms

Hello crafty friends! Today I have a card over on the Newton's Nook blog. I did some Distress Ink smooshing and then embossed the flowers from Beautiful Blossoms. I finished it off with some Distress Stain splatters. You can check out a video tutorial for more information.

I have heard that the splatter technique can harm your Distress stains so a fun cheap alternative is bingo markers. I have a video comparing Distress Stains and Bingo Markers and showing more techniques. You can find bingo markers at your dollar store or online.

Using Felt to Add Texture to the Sheep from How Are Ewe

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing a card using the awesome How Are Ewe stamp set. I wanted to give this sheep some texture so I stamped him on some felt. For more on how I made the felt work check out the video below.

I just adore Gerda's critters and love seeing how people add texture and dimension to them. Since I'm always up for a new idea: What is your favorite way to give critters texture and make them look more realistic?

Using Color to Spotlight an Image featuring Newton's Nook Designs

Hello crafty friends! Today I have a bonus project for Newton's Nook Designs. I'm highlighting the older Love Ala Carte set. As a design team member I receive many stamps in exchange for my work, but this set was released before I was on the team and is such a must have I had to purchase it. The sentiments are just so punny! Check out the video for more on this card.

In case you don't have time for the video here's the summary. I had the idea of using the adorable"Hey there hottie" sentiment but wanted to add some impact to the pepper so I chose to highlight one pepper in red and leave the others green. I also added a bit of glossy accents with a precision tip for some shine to the red pepper. The coloring was done with Inktense Pencils on Distress Watercolor Cardstock.

Before I go I just wanted to mention that I will be continuing on with Newton's Nook Designs through the end of the year. I have already seen some of the upcoming release and Newton fans are going to be so excited! Be sure to save your pennies because there are some must haves in the future and with Newton's Nook Birthday coming soon you know there will be lots of inspiration!

Paper Piecing with Wplus9 sponsored by Right at Home Shop

Today's post and video were sponsored by 

Recently Nicole from Right at Home Shop contacted me and asked if I would like to do a video about her shop. She sells products from some of my favorite companies like Lawn Fawn, Wplus9, Mama Elephant, and Ranger. I had been eyeing the Happy Mail set from Wplus9 so we decided I could center my video around that set. 

As you heard in the video there is a giveaway as well! So be sure to follow the video link to YouTube to comment for your chance to win the Wish You Were Here Too stamp and die from Lawn Fawn. Be sure to visit the shop to check out the awesome selection!

Challenges: 

Inkspirational: Wild

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Favorite Product: Stamps Favorite Technique: Masking

Newton's Nook Designs June Release Fetching Friendship

Hello crafty friends! Today is the second and final day of the Newton's Nook Designs June Release. I know all the dog lovers out there are going to be super excited for this one. For my tag I experimented with some no line watercolor using Inktense Pencils. Check out my video for more on how I made this tag and keep reading to learn how you can win!

Would you like to win “Fetching Friendship”?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog 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 Wednesday 17th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, June 15th. 

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

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Vera Yates - Guest Designer

Newton's Nook Designs June Release In Slow Motion

Hello crafty friends! Today is the first day of the Newton's Nook Designs June Release. I adore today's stamp set because it is perfect for people like me who love to send handmade cards. I know I will be using this set to decorate envelopes, but today I wanted to show you it on a card. Check out my video for more on how I made this card and keep reading to learn how you can win!

Would you like to win “In Slow Motion”?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog 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 Wednesday 17th at 9pm CDT to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Thursday, June 15th. 

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

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Vera Yates - Guest Designer

Paper Piecing a Coffee Loving Duck for the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Hello crafty friends! I have my next card for the Summer Coffee Lovers blog hop today. My Style Stamps has the fabulous Coffee Lovers set but as you know critters are more my style and I wanted to bring in the summer theme of the hop so I decided to make the duck from Waddle You Up To holding the small coffee cup from Better Together Two. Check out the video for more on how I made this all come together. It's a short (under 5 minutes) video so you can get back of the hop.

The paper collection I used is Let's Polka 6x6 pad from Lawn Fawn. Be sure to join along with the hop to win great prizes from fabulous sponsors like Newton's Nook and Gerda Steiner Designs!

Summer Coffee Lovers Hop featuring Create a Smile Stamps

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing a card for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Since I saw the Coffee First stamp set from Create a Smile I wanted to use the tiny coffee cups with a critter so I paired it with the octopus from Underwater Love. Check out the video for more on how I made this card.

I did some water coloring with Koi watercolor and Distress Markers on Distress Watercolor Cardstock. I can't wait to see some of the fabulous cards on this hop and be sure to join us with your coffee card before June 12th.

Creating a Custom Monogram Background with Gerda Steiner Designs Playful Kitten

Hello crafty friends! Today I am sharing how to create a custom monogram background on a card. I created my own cardstock stencil by drawing a block J and cutting it out then stamping through it with a small stamp. Check out the video for more.

The stamp set featured on the card is Playful Kittens from Gerda Steiner Designs. To easily get the ombre look for the J I used the Hero Arts Pink to Red Ombre Ink Pad.

Challenges:

Marker Pop: Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamp: Make Your Mark

Newton's Nook Designs May Release: Years of Cheers

Hello crafty friends! Today I have a project featuring Newton's Nook May Release. Today's post is part of a release blog hop where you can enter to win the new stamp set so be sure to read on for details. This wine tag features Years of Cheers which is a great set for celebrations. For more on how to create project and to get the dimensions check out my video below.

 Would you like to win “Years of Cheers”?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog 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 Thursday May 14th at 9pm CDT to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday May 15th.

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

Newton's Nook Designs

Taheerah Atchia

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Moyer

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Jenn Shurkus - Guest Designer