a2z Scrapbooking - December 29th post

I love the Christmas season. It's the one time of year that I "reach out" to friends and family and actually send handmade Christmas cards. I love receiving Christmas cards from friends and family, all over North America. To get snow here in Vancouver during the Christmas season - magical! Although, it's "officially" after Christmas, I have one last Christmas card for a2z Scrapbooking

I started by thinking that I would create a one-layer card. I masked off a strip near the bottom of the card with post-it tape. I stamped using Hero Arts Color Layering Holly and Hero Arts Pine and Pale Tomato inks. I carefully removed the post-it tape and didn't like the uneven "edges" of the stamping. So, on to plan B, where I stamped the sentiment and matted with gold cardstock to cover the uneven edges.  

Hope you had a Merry Christmas.

Thanks for visiting
sue

STAMPlorations CAS - December Reminder Post

Hi! Here with another card for the current challenge at STAMPlorations CAS




Here's my card

I used the recently released STAMPlorations Typografia Christmas - Merry Little Christmas by heat embossing with gold embossing powder on red cardstock. I matted the red panel with gold. To complete the card, I wrapped some gold cord around the card and finished with a bow.

I felt that the stamp was so spectacular on its own that it didn't need anything extra. What do you think?

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #48

Yikes - just a few days until the big guy arrives! So much to do. At least, my Christmas cards are done. Here's another Christmas card for the The Merry Christmas Challenge #48, where the challenge is

Anything Goes + Christmas

 

I started with Tim Holtz' Holiday Knit Layering Stencil and Fired Brick distress ink, applied with an ink dauber to make the background. The sentiment uses Simon Says STAMP's Peace on Earth stamp set, die cut into a circle. I matted the background panel on the same green cardstock as the circle for the sentiment. I felt that the card was a bit "blah", so I added three rhinestones for more sparkle.

We'd love for you to join us.

Merry Christmas to you and your family
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #243

Are you ready for Christmas? I still have so much to do. Every year, I think that I'll start sooner. However, I'm always scrambling. When will I learn?

We have a new sketch for the current challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge



Here's my card

I started with Catherine Pooler's Peppermint Stick Background stamp, inked with Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink for the background panel. The candy canes are from Catherine Pooler's Candy Cane Lane stamp set, also stamped with the Pale Tomato ink. The sentiment is from Hero Arts CM179 Winter Silhouettes stamp set, inked with Hero Arts Charcoal ink. I added some green behind the banner to make the sentiment "pop".

We'd love to see what you create with this week's sketch.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - December 14th blog post

WOW! Can't believe that it's almost Christmas. There is so much to do - yikes, I'd better get moving!

I have another Christmas card for the blog at a2z Scrapbooking

I have to say that the MISTI definitely it easier to stamp this card. Being able to line up the stamps using the MISTI, made this card do-able. If I was using an acrylic block and had to line up the images, I wouldn't have chosen such a pattern of repeat stamping because I know, I would have messed it up. I used Hero Arts CM186 Color Layering Joy Message for this card. I stamped the outline JOY using Hero Arts Field Greens ink. For contract, I used Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink for the solid JOY and the little berries. The card is pretty much a one-layer card, except for the strip of glittery silver cardstock for a bit of sparkle.

Thanks for visiting

sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl - WINNERS!

Congratulations to the two winners who commented on my blog during my week as a {Growing in Unity} Girl.

Sharon Foulk1 December 2017 at 11:35

Angie M30 November 2017 at 16:13


Please contact me at snagata@telus.net with your mailing information, so I can have Unity Stamps send out your grab bag.

Happy Stampin'
sue

STAMPlorations CAS - December Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at STAMPlorations CAS




Here's my card

I started by using STAMPlorations In Bloom: Radiant Roses stamp set with Versamark and gold embossing powder on vellum which I heat set. I added colour with Copics on the reverse side. I also added the sentiment, which was gold embossed from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp set. To adhere the vellum to the card base, I used small glue dots in the corners and covered them with faux pearls to complete the card.

We'd love to see what you create keeping to our theme of CAS (Clean and Simple) with the optional color twist of gold. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #46

I hope your Christmas "to do" list includes making some Christmas cards because we'd love for you to join us at The Merry Christmas Challenge where our challenge is always

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card. I hope that it inspires you to create something too.

I started by stamping the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP Peace on Earth stamp set in the center of the card panel. I embellished around the sentiment with Christmas symbols, using Catherine Pooler's Candy Cane Lane stamp set and Hero Arts Pale Tomato and Field Greens inks. I matted on grey cardstock (because I couldn't match the green or red- LOL!). 

Thanks for visiting

sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #241

It's time for a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge




Isn't this a sketch with multiple possibilities? As Christmas is approaching, I thought about creating a Christmas card. Here's my card

I used gold embossing powder and snowflake stamps from CASual Fridays Snowy Sayings and Catherine Pooler's Bring on the Snowflakes stamp sets. Also, I gold embossed the sentiment on a strip of white cardstock, which I matted with gold cardstock. I die cut a snowflake using the Simon Says STAMP Maryanne Snowflake die. I finished the card by adding a rhinestone in the centre of the snowflake.

We'd love for you to join us. What will you create with this week's sketch?

Thanks for visiting
sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl ~ Day 5

SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Company, this week. I can't believe that my week is already over. This is the last of my five cards for this week, as a {Growing in Unity} Girl.

Here's my card for today.

I was inspired by the upcoming Christmas season and the super cute Unity Stamp's Small Stuff Christmas {itty bitty} stamp set. I thought of Charlie Brown and his Christmas card when I saw this stamp. I inked the stamp with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and spritzed the stamp a couple of times with water for a watercolour effect. I matted the stamped panel with some kraft cardstock and added the sentiment to the cardbase. Doesn't this card remind you of simpler times when we didn't need miles of flashing lights programmed to music but rather a single ornament? It's a chance to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Unity Stamps will be giving out grabs bags of 25 stamps to two random people who comment on my {Growing in Unity} posts, this week. 

Thanks for visiting and a huge thank you to Unity Stamps for the opportunity.
sue

House of Cards - December Blog Hop

Whoa - how did it get to be December already. Wasn't it just summer? Yikes - I have so much to do before Christmas. This is CRA-ZEE!

The challenge this month at House of Cards is this photo of a decorated Christmas tree. We'd  love for you to show us how you're inspired by this beautiful Christmas tree.

We have prizes - thanks to our generous sponsors

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

Digistamps4Joy

Prize: $10 gift card!

Imagine That Digistamp

Prize: $10 gift card!

Beccy's Place

Prize: Choice of one digi stamp set!

Here's my card

I started with the Stitched Season's Greetings Digital Stamp Set from MHK Desings, which is one of our blog hop sponsors. I was inspired by the shimmer and sparkle of the Christmas ornaments and the red and silver colours on the photo. I printed the sprig of holly onto 100 lb cardstock. I added the colour and shimmer using Gansai Tambi Pearl Colors watercolours and a water brush. 

I printed the sentiment onto cardstock and used a silver pen for additional shimmer. The sentiment banner and card panel were matted with silver cardstock. 

For the blog hop, you should have arrived from Shirley. Next stop on the blog hop is Susan. For the entire blog hop list, check the House of Cards blog.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Thanks for visiting
sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl ~ Day 4

SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Company, this week. This is the fourth of five cards for this week, as a {Growing in Unity} Girl.

Here's my card for today.

I started by masking off a 2" panel near the top of my card with post-it tape. I added distress inks (twisted citron, cracked pistachio and peacock feathers) with ink blending tools. I carefully removed the post-it tape. I used Unity Stamps' A Little Party {Itty Bitty} and stamped the teapot and cups and sentiment on the inked panel. It's a clean and simple, one-layer card for today.

Unity Stamps will be giving out grabs bags of 25 stamps to two random people who comment on my {Growing in Unity} posts, this week. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - November 29th

So grateful to be part of a blog hop at STAMPlorations where we are highlighting eight stencils designed by Sanna Lippert.



Here are my cards

For my first card, I used the ARTplorations Flowers 1 stencil with distress inks (seedless preserves, mustard seed and twisted citron) applied with ink daubers. For the sentiment, I used STAMPlorations Happy Birthday stamp set.

For the second card, I used the ARTplorations Leaves 2 stencil with distress inks (mowed lawn, cracked pistachio, peacock feathers) again applied with ink daubers. I used STAMPlorations Say It Big: Congrats stamp, stamped on a scrap of white cardstock and matted with green and turquoise cardstock. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl ~ Day 3

SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Company, this week. This is the third of five cards for this week, as a {Growing in Unity} Girl.

Here's my card for today.

I started with Unity Stamps' Hello My Pretty Friend {Itty Bitty}. Can you hear a cackling witch? I can - she's saying "Hello, my pretty little friend".  I stamped the legs and shoes and added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I had just completed Monday's card here and was still in the mood for some crazy colour combinations. Then, I had to figure out what would "hide" the rest of the witch. I decided on a brick wall. For this, I used dark red cardstock and Darice's Brick Pattern embossing folder. 

Unity Stamps will be giving out grabs bags of 25 stamps to two random people who comment on my {Growing in Unity} posts, this week. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - November 29th post

Hi! I have another Christmas card posted at a2z Scrapbooking. Here's the card

I really love the Hero Arts CM181 Bird Words stamp set. I just am challenged to find ways to use it. I love the messages on the little birds. I used the "joy" bird, stamped in red on a "box" with the "to the world" message from Hero Arts CM186 Color Layering Joy Message stamp set. I added some mini faux pearls for a bit of shine. So there you have it, a clean and simple Christmas card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl ~ Day 2

SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Company, this week. This is my second of five cards for this week, as a {Growing in Unity} Girl.

Here's my card for today.
SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Compa

I started with Unity Stamps' Hippo Birthday {Itty Bitty}. I mean, really, who can resist this super cute hippo? I couldn't. So I stamped one and added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I fussy cut the hippo out. I looked at him and he seemed lonely, so I made him a friend. For the background, I inked up a card panel with distress ink (salty ocean and peeled paint) with the green towards the bottom for grass and the blue towards the top for the sky. I placed the two hippos on the card panel - I popped one up with dimensionals. I added the sentiment to the top of the card. 


Unity Stamps will be giving out grabs bags of 25 stamps to two random people who comment on my {Growing in Unity} posts, this week. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

{Growing in Unity} Girl ~ Day 1

SO super excited to be a {Growing in Unity} Girl on Facebook for the Unity Stamp Company. It was serendipity. I just happened to sign into Facebook and lo and behold, they were looking for a replacement {Growing in Unity} Girl for this week. It was open to the first person who posted "Yes" on the thread. Look who was first - ME! I was kind of bummed because they recently had a 24 hour sign-up for 2018 {Growing in Unity} Girls. Unfortunately, I was travelling and didn't have access to the internet (what???) during that time. However, this totally made up for it! I'll have five cards for you this week, as one of two {Growing in Unity} Girls.

Here's my card for today.

I started with Unity Stamps' Matching Socks {Itty Bitty}. It's one of my favorite stamp sets. I have friends who purposefully wear non-matching socks. I think of them every time, I use this stamp set. I coloured the images in with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Of course, I picked non-matching colours - LOL! I matted the stamped panel with some colourful patterned paper. I added the sentiment from the same stamp set, stamped directly on the card base.

Unity Stamps will be giving out grabs bags of 25 stamps to two random people who comment on my {Growing in Unity} posts, this week. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #44

It's time for the Holly & Ivy team to post their cards at The Merry Christmas Challenge, where the challenge is always 

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card

For my card, I masked off a 1.5" strip with post-it tape. I used The Ton's Holiday Flourish stamp set and Hero Arts Pale Tomato and Field Greens inks. I carefully removed the post-it tape. I felt that the masked area needed some definition, so I used a fine black marker and a ruler to mark the edges of the 1.5" strip. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Peace on Earth stamp set. I matted the panel on some dark grey cardstock to make the panel pop.

We'd love for you to join us at The Merry Christmas challenge by creating a Christmas-inspired project.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #239

There's a new challenge over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge





Here's my card

I love having a sketch to inspire me. I rotated the sketch 90 degrees. For this card, I started by stamping a variety of flowers using Hero Arts CL862 Color Layering Graphic Flowers in a variety of colours. I trimmed the panel to a 2" strip. Using Stampin' Up's Scallop Edge Border punch and some grey cardstock, I added some detail to the 2" panel. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep It Simple: Thank You stamp set.

We'd love for you to join us.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #242

How can anyone not be inspired by a creation by the super-talented Ardyth who is this week's Muse at Muse Card Club with this card?




I was inspired by:

• the black and white design
• the Christmas tree
• the scripty sentiment
• the use of sequins

Here's my card

I started with Sizzix's Triplits - Christmas trees dies. I taped the various parts of the tree (except the trunk) together and die cut a card panel of black cardstock. I carefully placed the trunk and taped it in place and die cut it. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Deco Tree dies. I adhered the black die-cut cardstock to a white card base. I added a few clear sequins to complete my card.

Thanks for visiting

sue

STAMPlorations CAS Reminder Post

Back with another card for the STAMPlorations CAS Monthly challenge





Here's my card

I made an autumnal card in preparation for American Thanksgiving. I started by inking up a 96 lb bristol panel with distress ink (brushed corduroy, ground espresso) with ink blending tools. I used ARTplorations Autumn Falling stencil by spritzing it with water and then applied the wet side to the inked panel. I let the water "lift" some of the distress ink and carefully lifted the stencil. With some paper towel, I lifted some extra water. I found that the leaves were difficult to see. So, I used a Stampin' Up Early Espresso marker to outline the leaves on the stencil to make them more apparent. For the sentiment, I used gold embossing powder and STAMPlorations  Heartfelt Rose on vellum.

Thanks for visiting
sue

3rd Annual STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop

So excited and grateful to be part of the 3rd Annual Giving Thanks Blog Hop at STAMPlorations. 



Here are my cards using new Typografia Thankful collection

For the first card, I started with the Heartfelt Rose stamp set stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink on watercolour paper. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a water brush. Then, I stamped the Gratitude is the Blossom stamp from the Typografia Thankful collection. I matted the watercolour panel onto a piece of bright green cardstock.
"
For the second card, I stamped the Something to be Thankful for stamp from the Typografia Thankful collection in the centre of a cardstock panel. I then stamped flowers from the Frames and Flowers stamp set using Hero Arts Butter Bar, Orange Soda, Pale Tomato and Field Greens ink. I then matted the panel onto a piece of gray cardstock.

You should have arrived from Debbie Owens ~ Cupcake Inspiration. The next stop on the blog hop is Stephanie Severin. The full blog hop list can be found at Giving Thanks Blog Hop.


There are lots of prizes! Check out the Giving Thanks Blog Hop for details. 

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking - November 14th post

Today, it's my turn at a2z Scrapbooking and I have a Christmas card.

It's a clean and simple card. I used Hero Arts CM179 Winter Silhouettes stamp set. I love the trees of this stamp set, which I stamped with Hero Arts Field Greens Mid-tone Shadow ink and added Nuvo drops (White Blizzard) for a bit of sparkle on some branches. I chose the silhouetted skater as it reminded me of skating as a child. I added some distress ink (tumbled glass) to give the card a bit of a frosty look. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #42

It's Holly & Ivy's team to post cards at The Merry Christmas Challenge. Our challenge is always

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card

I started with Technique Tuesday's Holly stamp set. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (light green, wine red) and a water brush. The sentiment from the same stamp set is stamped with Hero Arts Ultra Pink ink. I matted the panel with a bright green.

We'd love to see what you create. Christmas is coming fast ...

Thanks for visiting

sue

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #237

There's a new challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge






Here's my card

I started with Altenew's Bamboo Rose which I coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and fussy cut. For the background border, I used STAMPlorations Shutter stencil with Hickory Smoke distress ink. The sentiment is from SIMON SAYS STAMP Lots of Thanks stamp set using Hero Arts Charcoal Shadow Ink.

We'd love to see what you create with this week's sketch.

Thanks for visiting
sue

STAMPlorations CAS - November Challenge

Hi! It's time for a new monthly challenge at STAMPlorations CAS. This month the challenge is




Here's my card

I started with ARTplorations Leaf Prints stencil. I coloured a few leaves with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (Dark Oatmeal, Mustard, Light Brown, Brown). I fussy cut the leaves. For the background, I used ARTplorations Shutters stencil with distress ink (ground espresso) applied with an ink blending tool. For the sentiment, the stamp is from STAMPlorations Fond Expressions 2 stamp set, inked with Stampin' Up's Early Espresso ink.

We'd love to see what you create. Join us at STAMPlorations CAS.

Check out the online store at STAMPlorations and use my code STAMPGIRLSUE for 20% off your purchase.

Thanks for visiting
sue

House of Cards - November Challenge

November 1st - already? Time sure flies by when you're having fun. It's time for a new challenge at House of Cards


Holiday &/or Colors




Here's my card

I was inspired by the hot beverages on the photo inspiration and incorporated a holiday (Christmas) theme as well as incorporating some of the colours of this month's challenge onto my card. I used Paper Smooches' Cozy Coffee die to die cut the coffee cup from three different cardstocks - 2 shades of gray and a Christmas print. For the background, I used Tim Holtz' Layering Mini Stencil Collection Set 3, distress ink (pumice stone) and an ink blending tool for the splats and coffee rings. The sentiment is from Your Next Stamp's Hot Cocoa Phoebe stamped with Hero Arts Cup O' Joe shadow ink. 

We'd love to see what you create for our November challenge.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #239

Lately, I've been finding that work is getting in my way. So, I've decided that life is too short and it's time to retire. Hoping then, I'll have time for crafting. I haven't had time to play along with the gang at Muse Card Club. I check in every week, am inspired but never seem to find time to create the card. This week, it's different - I found some time to craft.

Here's the great Muse card by Stephanie Lanzalotto

Here's my card

I was inspired by:

- general layout/card sketch

- colours

- gold embossed graphic flowers

I started by inking up the background panel with distress inks (ripe persimmon, mustard seed, twisted citron, seedless preserves, tea dye). I then stamped the oak leaf from Newton's Nook Beautiful Leaves stamp set with Versamark and heat embossed the gold embossing powder. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set. The sentiment and mat were die cut using Spellbinders Label 1 dies. Finished the card with some black and white baker's twine, tied in a bow.

Thanks for visiting

sue

a2z Scrapbooking - October 29th post

I'm up at the a2z Scrapbooking Blog with a card. Surprise! It's not a Christmas card. This month's challenge is 



Here's my card

So, I thought I'd make a card using "watercolor" as my inspiration. I started by making the background panel using distress inks (salty ocean, peacock feathers) added to 96 lb bristol with a water brush. I stamped the turtle using Hero Arts CM165 Color Layering Sea Turtle, distress inks (twisted citron, mowed lawn, forest moss) and my MISTI, spritzing each inked up stamp with water before stamping. I fussy cut the turtle. I added the seaweed with Hero Arts Field Greens ink using both first and second generation stamping. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Best Fishes stamp set.

We'd love for you to join us ... there are a few days left.

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Merry Christmas Challenge #40

It's the Holly & Ivy's team to post their cards this week for the challenge at The Merry Christmas Challenge where the challenge is always

Anything Goes + Christmas

Here's my card

I went for non-traditional Christmas colours for this card. I used Neat & Tangled's Merry & Bright Ornament stamp on 96 lb bristol. I added colour with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (blue gray, purple, yellow green). I matted the panel with a lime green to make the card "pop".

A clean and simple card for today. We'd love for you to join us. It's less than 9 weeks to Christmas - a good time to get started on you Christmas cards.

Thanks for visiting
sue