Stretching your stamps Unity style

Good morning.  The last of my guest design posts is over on the Unity Stamps blog today (sniff, sniff).  I'd like to thank Angela and the Unity team for allowing me to share my designs with you this month and for providing me with some amazing stamps to work with!

Speaking of amazing stamps, how about these new Susan Weckesser banners?  I had some scraps of Christmas papers sitting on my desk and thought to myself that they would make super cute little Christmas trees....so voila!  I love figuring out new ways to use my stamps.

Hop on over to the Unity blog for some more details on how I made this AND rumour has it there is a blog hop going on.....just comment over there for your chance to win some of the new CHA stamps :)

Supplies:

Stamps:  Susan Weckesser Celebration of Simple banner set from Unity Stamp Co.

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers:  Recollections

Accessories:  Stickles, button, Devine Twine, MFT Dienamics scalloped die

Your Next Stamp Christmas in July Fun Friday!

Good morning!  It's time for another YNS Fun Friday and as I mentioned this month's theme is Christmas in July.  You can see more wonderful creations from the design team over on the blog and in the Splitcoaststampers forum.

Today I have a Christmas treat pouch that I created using an up-cycled paper bag and some cute stamps from Your Next Stamp.  I wanted to show you how you can use a stamp that might not necessarily be for Christmas and use it for that purpose.  To Christmas-ize the Basket Animals set, I just coloured the balloons in the image red and green and then added some snowflake stamps to the middle.

On the actual striped paper bag I added some patterned paper and a To: From: tag.  The basket animal is a removable tag that I created using an Avery mailing tag.

I hope you enjoyed my post today.  Watch my blog on Fridays in August where the theme will be birthdays!
Supplies:
Stamps:  Basket Animals set (balloon basket and animals) from Your Next Stamp, Fancy Frame set from Your Next Stamp, Holiday Snowglobe set (snowflakes and To: From: stamps) from Your Next Stamp
Ink:  Adirondack Red Pepper, Memento Tuxedo Black
Papers:  Recollections
Accessories:  baker's twine from The Twinery, Maya Road pom pom trim, Viva Decor white pearl paint, Copic markers, button, Fiskars border punch, Avery mailing tag, striped bag from Ribbon Carousel

Hip Hop and SMAK Thursday

Hello Unity friends!  Time for another Hip Hop Thursday and today I have a layout for you that I created with the July 2012 SMAK kit.  You'll also see I used the totally awesome polairoid frame from the May 2012 Kit of the Month....I'm obsessed with that thing LOL!  For a full list of today's hop participants, check out the Unity blog.

This is my first ever SMAK kit and I'm in LOVE. The stamps are HUGE and just perfect for 12 x 12 layouts like this.  I was even able to create my own shapes (e.g. the banners) using some of the stamps from the kit.  (My photo is a bit on the bright side...that's what happens when you try to take photos at light with artificial light----sigh).

I heat embossed that pretty medallion with some puffy WOW! Embossing Powder and then cut them out and used them as an anchor for the layout.  I then used the dotted flag stamps to make strips for my title and also trimmed them to make my own banners.  I wanted to keep my layout as masculine as possible so I kept the embellishments to a minimum and just used a bit of twine.

Here are a few close up shots......

Supplies:
Stamps:  July 2012 SMAK Kit (medallion, banners) from Unity Stamp Co., May 2012 Kit of the Month (Polariod Frame from Unity Stamp Co.
Ink:  Versafine Grey, Versamark for heat embossing
WOW! Embossing Powder:  Suzy West By the Bay Skyline Grey (Puff) from WOW!
Papers:  My Mind's Eye
Accessories:  Baker's Twine from the Twinery, American Crafts vinyl Thickers, Carolee's Creations mini letter stickers

Mixed Media Monday

Good morning!  I have a mixed media card featuring some of the new CHA Susan Weckesser stamps posted over on the Unity Stamp Co's blog today.  Be sure to pop over for more details on how I created this card.  It was so much fun to get inky and messy for the background....definitely something I'll be trying out again!!  

Supplies:

Stamps: Susan Weckesser Little Haven (house) stamp from Unity Stamp Co., Susan Weckesser In Circle Me backgrounder from Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: Versafine Black, Ranger Distress Inks (Broken China, Tumbled Glass), brown distress ink
Spray Inks: Mr. Huey white, Mr. Huey Manila, Mr. Huey Light Tan, Adirondack Espresso Brown
Papers: My Mind's Eye, Bazzill cardstock
Accessories: Twill ribbon, Making Memories decorative pins, SRM stickers, The Twinery twine, Viva Decor Pearl paint pen, Stickles, cloud die (YNS), scalloped edge die (MFT), white felt

A few cards with WOW!

Hello! It’s that time of the month for the Powder Puff Girls to share their WOW! projects with you.  Hop on over to the WOW! Blog for links to my team’s projects.

I created two cards today using some metal Spellbinder’s templates with my WOW! Embossing Powders.  I used some tape to secure the metal template to the top of my paper and then daubed on my Versamark ink before heat embossing.  The card designs are simple to showcase the wonderful patterns of the templates. I just love finding new uses for my craft supplies!

Thanks for stopping by!

And here's a look at the both of them together:

Supplies:

WOW! Embossing Powders:  Suzy West Candy Counter collection:  Cotton Candy (blue) and Bubblegum (pink)

Ink:  Versamark for heat embossing, Distress Ink

Paper:  Georgia Pacific white, Authentique Fresh line, Heidi Grace Designs

Accessories:  Spellbinders metal embossing templates, ribbon, scalloped edge punch, buttons, doily scrap

Hipping and Hopping with some Unity Stamp CHA releases!

Hello Unity Friends!  It's Hip Hop Thursday and it's a special day today....the design team is showcasing some of the new CHA release stamps which are now available on the Unity website!!  I got super lucky to be picked as the guest designer this month as I got to play with a bunch of the awesome new releases (yippee!!).

Today I have a layout to share with you that I created using one of the new Authentique stamp releases (All Day Pass to the beach).  I just LOVE the large ticket stamps in the set and of course the sentiment is perfect for beach photos too.  The papers on my layout are from the matching "Fresh" line from Authentique which just happen to match my daughter's teal bathing suit perfectly LOL!

For the background of the layout I pieced together some rectangular doilies that I found at a local party store (SCORE!!) and then layered four 5" x 5" pieces of paper into the center and stitched them all around the edges.  I created my own photo strip with some wallet size pictures that I made look vintage using Photoshop.  The main photo was matted onto some scalloped cardstock.

As you can see I stamped the tickets onto some ledger paper and cut them out.  I added them collage style alongside my photo strip and added some gliittered sea shell die cuts.  I also stamped out the beach sentiment and added it like a tag to the right of my photo.

Hop on back to the Unity Stamp blog to see all the rest of today's participants and don't forget to check out all the new releases on the Unity website.

Oh and here are a few special offers for you this week:

Supplies:
Stamps:  Authentique "All Day Pass to the Beach" (tickets, beach sentiment) set from Unity Stamp Co.
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Papers:  Authentique Fresh Collection (6 x 6" pad), Bazzill cardstock, Coredinations cardstock
Accessories:  Cuttlebug seashell dies, lace doilies (party supply store), K and Co. glitter chipboard letters, Kaisercraft mini letter stickers, baker's Twine (the Twinery), Offray ribbon, Cosmo Cricket Number stickers, Stickles

I bagged up a little something for you...

Good morning!  It's been a crazy week at home and I totally forgot to share this gift bag set I created for my guest design post on the Unity Stamp Co. blog on Monday.  You can get more details on how I created this (with the July Kit of the Month stamps) and a few more close-ups over on the blog post.

And a little close up of the tag.

Supplies:
Stamps:  July 2012 Kit of the Month (bag and sentiment) from Unity Stamp Co., July 2011 Kit of the Month (flowers)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink
Papers:  My Mind's Eye, kraft cardstock, white cardstock
Accessories:  Kraft gift bag, Maya Road trim, Baker's Twine (the Twinery), Twill ribbon

It's YNS Christmas in July Fun Friday!

Welcome to another Your Next Stamp Fun Friday.  We’re switching things up a bit and sharing projects with a different theme each month.  This month theme is Christmas in July…. it's never too soon to get started on those holiday cards/projects.  Be sure to stop by the YNS blog and the Splitcoaststampers forum to see all the other design team creations.

Today I have two quick and easy card to show you that I created using the new Fun Flower Scallop stamp and die set and the Holiday Snowglobe stamps. 

When I’m creating holiday cards to mass produce I try to keep them simple and mail-able (e.g. not too lumpy and bumpy).  As you can see, I used the exact same design for my cards but just switched up the orientation which makes it really easy to create a lot of the same card with the same products but at least you get a bit of variety for your stash. 

 The snowman card is the “easy” version which I created in less than 5 minutes.  I stamped the snowman image onto some white cardstock, coloured and punched out with a 2" circle punch before adhering to the Fun Flower Scallop stamp (the 2" punch fits exactly in the center of the scallop stamp!).  I embossed my background with a snowflake motif embossing folder and matted onto some green paper for the card base.  I added some fishtail die cuts to the card base before attaching my scalloped image and then finished it off with a baker's twine bow and a sentiment tag.

The Santa card is my more “advanced” version (but still quick) if you have a bit more time to create.  The card was created exactly the same way as the snowman card above but I spent a few more minutes adding some sparkle with Stickles and hand cutting out the Santa and adhering to patterned paper circle.  I also used the exact same card base but flipped it to slightly change the look. 

Hope you enjoyed these quick cards and I'll be back in two weeks with some other fun YNS Christmas in July projects for you!

Supplies:

Stamps and dies:  Fun Flower Scallop stamp and die set from Your Next Stamp, Holiday Snowglobe Set (Snowman and Santa) from Your Next Stamp

Ink:  Adirondack Red Pepper, Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers:  Provocraft, Georgia Pacific white cardstock, Neenah Cardstock

Accessories:  Devine Twine, Making Memories Christmas tags, Copic Markers, Stickles, Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Dienamics Fish Tail Dies from MFT

Sending comfort by the bowl-full

Good morning!  It was my turn to post yesterday for Guest Designer Monday over on the Unity Stamp Co. blog.  Here's the card I created using this week's fun Stamp of the Week.  You can see more details over on the Unity blog :) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps:  Sending Comfort (Stamp of the Week) from Unity Stamp Co.
Papers:  My Mind's Eye
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Spellbinder's dies, Glossy Accents, Copic Markers, Offray ribbon, orange button, Fiskars scalloped border punch

Serving up smiles for the Your Next Stamp July release hop

Hello and welcome to the Your Next Stamp July New Release Blog Hop!  We are so excited about our hop this month, because we are introducing a new artist to the YNS family-Ann Ellis! We just know you are going to love her fun, contemporary style!  We also have a few new Ellie stamps and a new Fhiona too! Plus some fabulous new dies that coordinate with some existing YNS stamps – Window Play and a selection of dies that go with the popular Mini Fhiona stamps!  All the new stamps and dies are available to purchase today in the YNS Store!

You should have arrived from Dana's blog, but if not, there is a complete hop list at the bottom of my post. The hop will run from today, July 6th at 6AM until Tuesday, July 10th at 11:59PM EST.

We have 4 special prizes hidden amongst the blogs, so make sure you leave comments for your chance to win!!! Each winner will receive one of the new Ann Ellis Stamp Sets!

And now onto my project:

Meet Tennis Ellie.  With a blog address like mine you know I just *had* to get my hands on this cutie!  Since we're in the last week of Wimbledon, I thought Ellie might want to wear her Wimbledon whites for this special occasion.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Tennis Ellie set from Your Next Stamp
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Papers:  My Mind's Eye
Accessories:  Copic Markers, Spellbinder's die, Offray ribbon, button, baker's twine from The Twinery

Karen is also offering some awesome hop specials and bundles in the YNS Store, so make sure you check those out!

We also want to remind you about your new forum on Splitcoaststampers! You can check that out HERE. You can also find us on Facebook and Pinterest.  Did you know that YNS Challenges are back? ou can find a new challenge every Thursday on the YNS Blog and in the SCS Forum.

Now it’s time to hop on over to Thanh’s fabulous blog!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Remember to leave me a comment be for you go!
Happy hopping!

Blog hop list:
Veronica Zalis- http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/
Susan Liles- http://www.susiestampalot.com/
Jen del Muro- http://iheart2stamp.com/
Peggy Toole- http://cardcrazy.wordpress.com/
Dana Joy- http://gotjoycreations.blogspot.com/
Jen Roach- http://www.tennisgirl27.blogspot.com/
Thanh Vo – July Guest Designer- http://yummycreations.blogspot.ca/
Amy Rohl- http://inkaboutme.blogspot.com/
Kerri Michaud- http://www.cardsbykerri.blogspot.com/
Diana Genario- http://doodledeedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jenny Peterson- http://mylittlestampinspot.blogspot.com/
Karen Dedman- http://www.yournextstamp.blogspot.com/

Sending blessings on Unity Hip Hop Thursday

Hello friends and welcome to the last stop on the Unity Stamps Thursday Hip Hop.  Today I have a card for you using the Phyllis Harris Every Breath set.   I love this image and the two sentiments that come with it and I've been wanting to ink it up for while so here you go!

I kept my design pretty simple for this card so I could showcase this fabulous stamp. I coloured the image with my Copics and paper pieced her dress.  It's a bit hard to tell form the photo but I used some blue chalks to create my background.  It's a really quick way to create a sky background without having to use a ton of marker ink.

Completely unrelated to the creation of my card ----- but I've been playing around a bit with the backgrounds in my photo studio tent.  For this card I chose a yellow/off white tone to photograph against and I like the contrast a whole lot better than just the white background.  I'll definitely be trying out some more coloured backgrounds on my cards that have lots of white.

Thanks so much for stopping by and now I'll sent you back to the Unity Blog.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Phyllis Harris Every Breath set from Unity Stamp Co.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers:  My Mind's Eye, Neenah cardstock

Accessories:  Offray ribbon, Copic markers, Fiskars scalloped edge punch

Your Next Stamps welcomes Ann Ellis designs!

Good morning!  Today I have a true "stampy" card to share with you using one of the new July release stamp sets from Your Next Stamp (available July 6th) .  Karen has new stamp artist (Ann Ellis) and a bunch of fun new summer themed stamps coming your way this month.

To create my card I made my own sunflower patterned paper by stamping the flower in two tones of yellow ink (rotating the stamp a bit) and then added a brown center.  I then stamped a bunch of green leaves.  I stamped each leaf twice to give different tones of the same green.  Finally I added some orange dots throughout the stamped panel.

And here's a look at how I added some glossy accents to the dots and center of the flowers to add a bit of shine:

Supplies:

Stamps: Ann Ellis Sunflower set from Your Next Stamp (available July 6th)

Ink: Ranger Distress Inks - Vintage Photo (brown), Peeled Paint (green), Mustard Seed (yellow), Wild Honey (orange), Squeezed Lemonade (yellow)

Papers: Neenah white cardstock, Lily Bee Designs, Bazzill cardstock

Accessories:  May Arts twine, wood button, Dienamics scalloped border die, glossy accents

Challenges:  Moxie Fab Stamp It! Cards week Hello challenge

WOW! Christmas ornament Wednesday

Hello!  I have an altered Christmas ornament posted over on the WOW! Blog.  So pop on over for the details on how I created this quick and easy gift idea.

Speaking of Christmas, WOW! is releasing some cute Christmas stamps for CHA.  And at only $10 retail they're a great value:

Supplies:

WOW! Stamps: Brocade backgrounder

WOW! Embossing Powder: Suzy West Cable Car Red (SW-WH01)

Ink: Versamark ink (for embossing)

Accessories: white ruffle trim (fabric store), Recollections green pom pom trim, Making Memories snowflake die cut, K and Company die cut sentiment, Offray ribbon, wood circle ornament (Michaels), baker's twine from The Twinery

Guest designing for Unity Stamp Co. this month!

Good morning!  It's a new month and guess what?  I'm guest designing for Unity Stamp Co. this month (whooo hooo!!).  I'll have lots of fun projects to share with you all month long.  First up is a Halloween layout (yes, wrong season I know but I'm a totally random scrapper).  You can see all of the details over on the Unity blog today.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Samantha Walker Halloween Traditions Set (spiderwebs on tails, journal box, pumpkins, trick or treat sentiment) from Unity Stamp Co., May 2012 Kit of the Month (polariod frames) from Unity Stamp Co., Simple Stories Year.o.graphy (Oct. word) from Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: Staz On Jet Black, Ranger Wild Honey Distress Ink
Papers: Fancy Pants Trick or Treat Papers (Flying bats and RIP sheets)
Accessories: Making Memories little alphabet letter stickers, Dienamics Fishtail dies, Stickles (orange and crystal), American Crafts Thickers (vinyl), Offray ribbon, Lifestyle crafts spider web die, Micheals rhinestone "Halloween" sticker, Prima flower, baker's twine from The Twinery