NEW Stamp Release and Project Tuesday - S'mores in a Jar

Hello blogging friends and thanks for stopping by!! I am SO excited to announce my next stamp release details. Samples will begin next Monday, October 5th – Friday – October 9th. We will have a blog hop that will kick off Friday night at 8 pm central. During release week, there will be some fun challenges along with games and giveaways - I hope you won’t miss it!!

My sample for today is a fun one!! Our September host Lisa Cook, over at Project Tuesday, has challenged us to create a S’mores in a Jar. We warmly invite you to play along, please use your favorite stamps and supplies.

After following the directions to fill my jar, it was time to decorate the outside of it. I created both the top label and tag on the computer. I then used my Martha Stewart Halloween fence punch and glued it around the bottom of my jar. A giant pumpkin was added using my pumpkin Nestabilities from Cut at Home. Cuppy was colored in using my Copics and cut out. I then replaced little Cuppy with a pumpkin and decorated it. Below you will find the directions for the s'mores in a jar.


Here are the directions: Reduce 1 sleeve of graham crackers to crumbs and layer the bottom of the 1 qt. jar. Place marshmallow peeps on top of the graham cracker crumbs. Carefully spoon 1/3 c. brown sugar into center of the peeps - pressing down to keep it snug. Layer the rest of the open space with 1 ½ c. of M&M’s. To finish, decorate the lid and add your tag with baking directions (see below).

Baking Directions: Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the peeps into bits with kitchen sheers or cut up with a knife. Return the peep bits to the mixture and mix well. Melt ½ c. butter, add 1 t. vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars. *Option: Leave the peeps whole; combine remaining ingredients and place the peeps on top; then bake as directed.

For more fun samples using this project idea, please stop by the Stamps and Smiles – Project Tuesday page, The Design Team have some really cute samples to help inspired you!!
See you Thursday with a fun giveaway along with our weekly sketch challenge! Enjoy your week!

Our Creative Corner - Monochromatic

Hello and thanks for stopping!! Today’s sample is for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Our September host, Dana Grothaus, has challenged the OCC to create monochromatic cards.

You can incorporate as many colors of one shade onto your card. You may also use neutrals (white, cream, kraft, and black). We warmly invite you to play along, please use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my design, I found a Christmas image by Thomas Kinkade and edited it in Photoshop. I started by opening a NEW file and sized it to 5.5 x 4.25. I dragged the Christmas image over the the NEW file layer and changed the Hue & Saturation to a rich brown.

After finding the right color, I printed it onto white cardstock and cut out the image. I then used my Topnote die and created the image layer for my card. Elmer's glue was added to all of the areas of snow and sprinkled with glitter.

Pictured below you will find another fun sample I created using this same technique. If you are inspired by this idea, please link your card to this post, I would LOVE to see it!

Have a wonderful weekend & don't forget to stop by the OCC to see the other fun samples by the Design Team!

Special Announcement & Sketch Challenge

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by! I have a special announcement to share with all of you… I am getting ready for my next stamp release, please continue to follow the Stamps and Smiles blog and subscribe so you won’t miss a thing!

During our release week, we will have some fun challenges, games, samples and giveaways – more details will soon follow!!

Today’s project is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC34" over at Stamps and Smiles. We warmly invite you to play along, please use your favorite stamps and supplies! Since I have been crazy busy with my next stamp release, my post will be short & sweet!

I created my project using the NEW pumpkin dies by Nestabilities. I create a quick box by cutting a 8 x 8 square and scoring it at 2" on all 4 sides. After scoring it on all 4 sides I lined up the corners and scored it to the inner seam on each corner. I added some adhesive and glued each flap to the inside of the box. The outside was decorated with the largest pumpkin die along with the stamp set by Stamps and Smiles called Cuppy Love.

Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog for more fun samples using this sketch. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag each week, please have your card uploaded the night before at 6 pm central time.

Enjoy your week!

Project Tuesday - Box in a Bag

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for stopping by!! Today's project is for this week's challenge over at Stamps and Smiles - Project Tuesday. This week our September host, Lisa Cook, has challenged us to create a Box in a Bag. We warmly invite you to play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

My project only took me a few minutes to create. I grabbed for my Halloween paper by My Mind's Eye and quickly created the box for the base and then wrapped a piece of designer paper around it. This was the first time making this project and it won't be my last. This is one of those projects you can mass produce for teachers, parties, ect... My project is filled with lollipops, what are you going to fill in yours?!?!

Thanks for stopping by... but before I go, I would like to announce the winner for last weeks Project Tuesday giveaway. Congratulations to Karen Wilson, please email me your addy so I can get your goodies out to you.

See you Thursday with a fun announcement and my weekly sketch challenge over at Stamps and Smiles!

Our Creative Corner - Color Challenge

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by! For all those that have been emailing me about my next stamp release, I am so excited to announce it's at the end of this month!! Dad had some issues with his hands, after some tests it confirmed he had carpal tunnel and surgery was needed. Now that he all healed, we are off to do another fun release!! The SAS Design Team & I will be showing you some sneak peeks this coming week, all of the details will follow!

Today’s project is for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. This week our September host, Dana Grothaus, has created a Color Challenge. The colors include: Light Pink, Hot Pink, Brown & White. We warmly invite you to play along , please use your favorite stamps and supplies.

After a wonderful response on my Project on Tuesday, I got 4 orders to create this adorable Birthday calendar. I used one of my favorite stamp sets from Stamps and Smiles called Happy Birthday Cupcake.

This project template can be printed onto white cardstock and cut to size. Follow my quick instructions and you too can create this adorable project. I want to thank Cat for sharing this template with us, her fun sample can be found here.

We would LOVE it if you played along with us over at Our Creative Corner. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able!! If you upload to Splitcoast, please include OCCC in the keywords.

Have a wonderful weekend & don't forget to stop by the OCC to see the other fun samples by the Design Team!

Hugs & Smiles,

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC33

Hello & thanks for stopping by! Today’s card is for this week’s sketch challenge "SASSC33" over at Stamps and Smiles. We warmly invite you to play along, use your favorite stamps and supplies!

I have been crazy busy with my next stamp release but I did sneak in a little stamping!! For my sample today, I used more of this adorable paper by My Mind’s Eye along with the NEW pumpkin Nestabilities. Carl the Cupcake & Cuppy were stamped in Memento ink and colored in using my Copics.

Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog for more fun samples using this sketch. There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag each week, please have your card uploaded the night before at 6 pm central time.

Enjoy your week!

Project Tuesday - Birthday Book & Giveaway

Happy Tuesday everyone and thanks for stopping by!! Today's sample is for this week's challenge over at Stamps and Smiles - Project Tuesday. This week our September host, Lisa Cook, has challenged us to create a Birthday book. All you need is this template along with your favorite stamps and supplies!! We warmly invite you to play along each week, this book makes a wonderful gift and only took me a half an hour to create! Below you will find easy step-by step instructions.

I first started by printing the calendar template onto white cardstock and cut each of the pieces to 5.25 ". I then scored each piece at 4.25 and glued it all together creating a book.

Once I had all of the pieces of glued together, I took a piece of designer paper and cut it to 5.5 x 9 and scored it on both ends at 4.25.
I used my Scor-pal to score the designer paper. I then added adhesive to the designer paper and wrapped it around my Birthday book.

Once you have your book together, you can decorated it. I decorated mine using a favorite set by Stamps and Smiles called Happy Birthday Cupcake.

Here is a close - up. Cuppy was stamped in Memento ink and colored in using my Copics. Chunky glitter was added to Cuppy's whip and balloon.

Most of our projects only take a 1/2 to create, grab your favorite stamps and supplies and join us each week. Last week we created a Flower Pot Box. Please stop by the Stamps and Smiles Project Tuesday page for more fun samples and inspiration!!

How about a giveaway? Leave me a comment and tell me what you favorite Birthday game is and you will be entered to win my Birthday book. I will announce the winner on Saturday, September 19th.

Have a fun week!!

Our Creative Corner - Think Fall

Hello and thanks for stopping!! Today’s samples are for this week’s challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Our September host, Dana Grothaus, has challenged the OCC to create a card/project using fall as our inspiration.

Since 3 of my kids are in school now, I need to create something quick for my kids homeroom teachers! From the cards to the card holder, these double pocket bags are really fun to make and can be mass produced very easily! Here is a wonderful tutorial from Jenn Diercks. Here are some other fun samples that I have created in the past: Christmas Tag Holder & Stamps and Smiles - Project Tuesday.

My second project/card was created from another wonderful tutorial by Hero Arts. These gift card holders are really easy to make and LOTS of fun!
Here is a quick peek inside the gift card holder:


Here is another fun sample using this same idea: Christmas gift card holder



Note: I did not create this video nor do I take credit for it - I am sharing this video from the Hero Arts Blog.

Don't' forget to stop by the OCC to check out the other wonderful samples by the Design Team. We warmly invite you to play along. This is no time limit on our challenges, feel free to participate whenever you are able. To play along, upload your creation to your blog or gallery, then leave a comment linking to your project so we can check it out. If you upload to SCS, remember to use keyword: OCCC

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps and Smiles Project & Sketch Challenge SASSC32

Hello and thanks for stopping by!! I have two samples to share with you today. My first is for this week's Sketch Challenge "SASSC32" over at Stamps and Smiles. Every Thursday a NEW sketch challenge along with samples are posted. We warmly invite you to play along - feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies.

For my sketch, I created a tote bag. As I make my Halloween cards, I can add them to my bag and use the cards as I need them! The two front panels are pockets with pull-out tags. I embossed them using the web embossing folder by Cuttlebug.

The bottom of the tote bag was created using some of the NEW Martha Stewart Halloween punches. To finish my design, I added Cuppy along with her treat bag. Cuppy was stamped in Memento ink and colored in using my Copics. Chunky glitter was added to the whip.

For more fun samples using this sketch layout, please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog, The Fresh Batch have some really fun samples to help inspired you!!

There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag each week, please have your card uploaded the night before at 6 pm central time.



My second sample is for this week's project Challenge over at Stamps and Smiles. Every Tuesday a NEW project challenge is posted along with fun samples. We hope you will stop by and play along, feel free to use your favorite stamps and supplies!! This week week we made a flower pot box.

For my design, I printed off the template onto white cardstock. I then layered the template onto my designer paper and traced it again. After the box was glued together, I added a small bag of candy corn. The paper is by My Mind's Eye from Cut At Home.

Thanks so much for stopping by, here is the recipe: Recipe ~ Stamps: Hello Spring - Stamps and Smiles Ink: Memento Paper: White, Pumpkin Pie, Retired paper – SU Accessories: Cuttlebug - Web, Martha Stewart Halloween Punches.

Enjoy your week!

OCC Challenge & Giveaway

Hello and thanks for stopping!! We have a BIG announcement over at Our Creative Corner. We have 6 NEW talented designers joining us each Saturday. They will be hosting some fresh ideas and challenges!! You will see a fun variety, from sketches to color combinations to project ideas - whatever the host designer can dream up! Don’t forget to subscribe to receive new challenges by email - that way you won't miss a thing!!

We also have some fun goodies to giveaway. Play along with us this week and you will be entered to win!! When you get a chance, stop by the OCC to check out the NEW designers and a chance to win!!

Our September host this month is Dana Grothaus. Dana thought it would be fitting to have a challenge using Stars & Stripes. Your card/project can be patriotic if you like, but it's not necessary. Just include both stars and stripes in your design.

For my project I started with a ton of scalloped circles that I created using my circle Nestabilities. I probable cut about 50 circles and glued them all together around a rolled piece of cardstock for the pumpkin stem. I created the pumpkin hat and decorated it with the stars. The legs were added using stripped Halloween designer paper from Stampin' Up!

To add some character to the pumpkin face, I used circle punches for the eyes and an oval Nesabilities for the mouth. **My lighting is a little off, so I will update the picture a little later today.

Remember there is never a time limit on our challenges - feel free to participate whenever you are able. To play along, upload your creation to your blog or gallery, then include a link to Mr. Linky form at the bottom of this post so we can check it out. If you upload to SCS, remember to use keyword: OCCC

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps and Smiles Sketch Challenge - SASSC31

Happy Thursday everyone and thanks for stopping by!! Today’s card is for this week’s sketch challenge “SASSC31”over at Stamps and Smiles. Every Thursday a NEW sketch is posted along with samples from The Fresh Batch. We warmly invite you to play along, use your favorite stamps and supplies!!

I got a little crazy with my card but had a lot of fun designing it. As you can see by my layout, I used some of my Halloween punches from Martha Stewart and my Halloween dies from Sizzix. To give the elements a little spooky glow, some were embossed and even sponged using white craft ink.

Since I have not used Carl the cupcake for a while, I inked him up and colored him in using my Copics. Don't you just LOVE his treat bag?!?! The bag was created using kraft cardstock, crumbled up and ink for some extra highlight. I added the handle using some twine. Because I forgot to add the glitter to Carl, I added it after I took the picture.

For more fun samples using this sketch, please stop by the Stamps and Smiles blog, The Fresh Batch have some really cute samples to help inspired you!!

There is no time limit on our challenge, so please play along whenever you are able! However to be eligible for the Stamps and Smiles goodie bag each week, please have your card uploaded the night before at 6 pm central time.

Enjoy your day! Hugs,

Project Tuesday - Gift/Card and Envelope

Hello & thanks for stopping by! Today’s project is for this week’s challenge over at Stamps and Smiles - Project Tuesday. This week we are making a gift/card & envelope.

For my design, I started with this template. After printing the template onto white cardstock, I cut it out and layered it on some double-sided designer paper. It was then traced and cut out again. I scored all of the lines and folded it together. The inside of the card holder was decorated with some additional cardstock - I left mine blank for the sentiment or message.

I then created a paper band to go around the card holder to keep it sealed. Cuppy was embossed using white embossing powder & cut out. To finish decorating the band, I added chunky glitter on Cuppy and some flourishes.

We hope you will stop by and play along, most of our projects only take a ½ an hour to create. Grab you favorite stamps and supplies and join us each week!! Last week we created a fun a treat box.

The last couple of months, the designers over at Project Tuesday, have been super busy creating fun & easy projects to inspired you. Please stop by to see their fun samples.

Before I go, I would like to thanks all those that visit & leave comments each week - you make me smile every day!! Here are the winners for the my OCC Halloween card & the custom watermark. Congratulations Pam from Stamping from the Heart , you won my Halloween card. Congratulations to Artful Whimsies you won the custom watermark. Please email me so I can get your goodies to both of you.

Recipe ~ Stamps: Cuppy Love – Stamps and Smiles Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa Prints, White, Regal Rose Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Sizzix Flourish – SU, Scallop Border – SU.

See you Thursday for our weekly sketch challenge! Enjoy your week!!