Thursday, March 31, 2011

Out With The Old Sale

Don't forget that you still have a few more days to take advantage of this month's Out With The Old sale!
You can check out these stamp sets on the TSG website, happy shopping :)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Happy Birthday card

I'm having such a hard time believing that it is Wednesday already! I've been going nonstop for the last two days and they passed in a blur. I made this card for a great friend of mine for the 25th anniversary of her 25th birthday ;)

I used a combination of stamps from the set of Wrapped In Joy as well as Just For You. I punched a circle through the front of the card to reveal part of the colored image underneath. All images were colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS.




Monday, March 28, 2011

Hunny Bunnies

I made this sweet one layer bunny card for this week's TSG challenge which is to put down the markers. That's right, no markers allowed! Since I don't really use markers, this wasn't much of a challenge for me lol!



Stamps: Hunny Bunnies
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky
Paper: White
Accessories: masks made from Post Its for bunny and basket, sponges, Post its, Prismacolor pencils, OMS

Recipe:
* Create card base from white cardstock
* Stamp bunny, mask, stamp basket, mask (both images will be masked at this point)
* Add another Post It across the card so that it lines up just above the bottom of the basket. Sponge towards the bottom of card in Crumb Cake ink.
* Remove Post it and place it on the opposite side, sponging Soft Sky ink towards the top of the card.
* Remove all masks.
* Stamp egg in the bunny's paws
* Color images with pencils, blend with OMS

Saturday, March 26, 2011

It's release day!

Wahoo, release day is here!! All week long the Trendsetters have been giving you sneak peeks of the four brand new stamp sets that will be released tonight. Join us right HERE in the TSG forum for the April release party! Anybody is welcome and we love to meet new people :) The official chat doesn't begin until 6:00 PM Pacific Time (9 PM Eastern) but feel free to stop in at any time during the day to say hello.
Poppies: $18.00 $15.30
Spring Fever: $24.00 $20.40
Chem. 101: $7.00 $5.95
Sweet Pea: $7.00 $5.95
(sale starts tonight at 8:00 PM pacific time)

Friday, March 25, 2011

You still have time to play along!!

That's right, you have until Saturday 4 PM Pacific Time (7 PM Eastern) to complete the Blog Hop Challenges for your chance to win one of the new FOUR brand new stamp sets that will be released Saturday evening!
Already completed the hops? Check out the links below to browse through inspirational card ideas as well as some fun tips and tricks sheets while you wait to shop for the new stamp sets ;)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

My Little Friend Sneak Peeks

Today is such a fun hop because we are debuting a new stamp set that was illustrated by Torico. If you made your way here from Iwona's blog you are on the right track but if not, you may want to head on over to the TSG Blog for all the details about this hop and to find out how you can win the set that we are showing off today :)

My Little Friend is a 6x8 stamp set that includes a total of 31 stamps and will sell for $24.
Ok, so I'm pretty darn excited about the sneak peeks today! Recently, I've had quite a few people tell me that TSG needs a gnome set so I talked to Torico and boy does she deliver!! This set is fabulously cute and you can bet that I slipped a few sassy sayings in there too ;)

Stamps: My Little Friend (to be released Saturday evening 3/26/11)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Poppy Parade, Black, White, DP by K&Co.
Accessories: SU border punch, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS, SU word window punch, dimensionals

Recipe:
* Create card base, adhere red DP layer.
* Stamp image onto white cardstock, color, blend with OMS, mat on white and adhere scalloped borders to top and bottom edge. Adhere to card base


Now hop along to Jessie's blog to see what fun stuff she has to share with you today :)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Technology Bytes / Tulip Sneak Peek

Welcome back for day two of our new release sneak peeks! If you arrived here from Iwona's Blog you are on the right track. If not, you may want to head on over to the TSG Blog for all of the details about this hop as well as to find out how you can win the sets being shown off today!!

I've had people tell me that they have been missing my 'sassy' style of stamp sets but with everything that has been going on in our lives recently, I just have not had the time to do any illustrating. But luckily I was bitten by the illustrating bug and decided to finish working on a stamp set idea that I have had written down in my 'idea sketch book' for a long time.

Technology Bytes has 3 images (desktop computer, laptop, cell phone) and a TON of sentiments that will crack you up!! There are probably some in there that aren't for the feint of heart though ;)
Technology Bytes is a 4x8 stamp set that includes a total of 20 stamps and will sell for $18.

For my sample card I used this sentiment that is way too true!
Stamps: Technology Bytes (to be released Saturday evening 3/26/11)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Pink Pirouette, white, Early Espresso, scraps from my scrap bin
Accessories: SU border punch, corner rounder, rhinestones, dimensionals, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS

Recipe:
*Create card base, round bottom corners
*Cut first layer from light pink DP, round corners, adhere to card base
*Stamp sentiment onto white cardstock (making sure to leave room for image), mat with darker pink DP, add border punched strips behind that layer and adhere all to cardbase.
*Stamp image onto separate piece of cardstock, color, blend, cut out and adhere to card using dimensionals
******************************
One of my all time mini TSG stamp sets has got to be the beautiful Sweet Pea that Chris illustrated last year! I have had so much fun creating with it that I knew that it was time to have another similar set for those of you that love it just as much :)

One of the things that makes Sweet Pea such a favorite of mine is the that you can layer the flowers to give your card wonderful depth and I'm happy to say that this gorgeous new Tulip is the same!

Tulip is a 3x4 stamp set that includes a total of 8 stamps and will sell for $7.
For my card I did lots of layering and used lots of itty bitty dimensionals and got just the look I was going for :) I tried a new technique for the image frame (that I picked up from the fabulous Jodi) where you draw a line around the panel to give it some added visual appeal.
Stamps: Tulip (to be released this Saturday evening 3/26/11)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Momento Toffee
Paper: Black, White, CTMH (thanks Corinna!!), scraps from my scrap bin
Accessories: Ribbon, SU Scallop border punch, dimensionals, Copic multiliner, dimensionals, SU word window punch, SU punch, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS, rhinestones, red Copic marker, sewing machine, Nestabilities, sponge

Recipe:
*Create card base from black cardstock
*Cut black DP layer, stitch with sewing machine, mat in white and adhere to card base
*Cut red strip of DP, stitch edges, mat in white
*Cut yellow strip of DP, stitch edges, add scalloped black cardstock to top, adhere horizontally to vertical red layer. Wrap ribbon around the front and adhere entire thing to card base. Add bow towards bottom.
*Stamp sentiment on white, mat in black DP, add rhinestones (clear rhinestones that were colored with a red Copic marker to match) to edges and adhere to card base using dimensionals.
*Die cut oval with Nestabilities, stamp image & sentiment.
*Place die back on top of oval, lightly sponge Toffee ink close to edges, use Copic Multiliner to draw frame using the Nestability as a guide. Make sure to avoid drawing lines to close to image/sentiment.
*Color image with Prismacolors, Blend with OMS. If you would like, you can stamp the image onto a separate piece of cardstock multiple times, color, cut and layer on top of original Tulip for more depth.

The next stop on this hop is Jessie!! Thanks for stopping by :)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Out Of This World Sneak Peeks!

Welcome to our first day of sneak peeks! Today we are featuring a new set illustrated by Melyssa Connolly that is literally out of this world ;)

Did you make your way here from Iwona's blog? If so great! If not, you may want to head on over to the TSG Blog for all of the details about this Blog Hop Challenge as well as find out how you can win the set being shown today :)
Out of This World is a 4x8 stamp set that includes a total of 19 stamps and will sell for $18.

This adorable set is so much fun to play with and just happened to be perfect for the kind of card that I needed to make for today. You see, today is TSG_lover's (AKA Matt, AKA my husband) birthday!

Stamps: Out Of This World (To be released this Saturday 3/26/11
Paper: Early Espresso, White, My Mind's Eye DP
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, OMS, Corner Rounder, Cuttlebug embossing folder, sanding block, Sewing machine, dimensionals, scallop Nestabilities.

Recipe:
*Create cardbase out of Early Espresso cardstock.
*Cut DP, emboss with Cuttlebug folder, using sanding block to bring out detail, round corners, stitch and mat with white cardstock before adhering to cardbase.
*Stamp images onto white cardstock, color with Prismacolor pencils, blend with OMS, cut adhere to DP layer (earth was adhered using dimensionals)
*Stamp sentiment, die cut with scallop Nestabilities, sponge adhere to DP, cut off excess

Thanks for stopping by! The next stop on our hop is the fabulous Jessie :)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Release week is here :D

That's right release week is here once again and we will be starting it off with this fun and easy challenge- TSG99 Stand out from the background. The challenge is to create a one layer card that has a scene stamped in the same color as the cardbase. Then you are to stamp the main image onto a seperate piece of paper, color, cut out and adhere to the card base. You can find out all of the details about this challenge (and how you can win a TSG gift certificate simply by playing along) here on the TSG blog!

For my card, I used the super cute set Under The Weather illustrated by Melyssa Connoly that was released last month. All of the images in this set are so much fun to color!!

Paper: Crumb cake, white
Ink: Momento tuxedo black, Crumb cake
Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, OMS, dimensionals, scallop corner punch

Recipe:
*Create cardbase, stamp scene in Crumb cake, stamp sentiment in Momento, scallop corners
*Stamp main image onto white cardstock, color, blend with OMS, cut out and adhere to card base using dimensionals.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Happy Friday!

Join us tonight right here in the TSG forum for our Friday Night Chat. The chat will officially begin 7PM Pacific time (10PM Eastern) but feel free to stop in at any time during the day to say hello. Everyone is welcome and we love to meet new people!




Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Dance

Happy Hump Day! My day started out pretty busy with getting the girls up and ready for school, packing lunches, dropping Chloe off at her school then taking Kylie in to get blood drawn for a new blood test before dropping her off at her school. Kylie's last blood test results didn't come back as well as we had hoped so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one turns out better and not worse!

Here is a pretty card to brighten your day :) I don't know what it is about these colors but I just love them together.
Stamps: Dance
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, DP by My Mind's Eye
Ink: Early Espresso, Momento Tuxedo Black, Pear Pizazz
Accessories: Adhesive pearls, sewing machine, Prismacolor pencils, OMS, scallop corner punch, Early espresso marker

Recipe:
* Create cardbase from Early Espresso cardstock as well as the DP layer, use scallop corner punch on top corners. Stitch DP layer before adhering to cardbase.
* Create sentiment layer by cutting a strip of VV cardstock, stamp sentiment lightly in Pear Pizazz, use EE marker to color only part of the sentiment and stamp on edge of layer. Stitch and mat in EE cardstock before adhering to cardbase.
* Stamp flowers onto separate piece of cardstock, color with Prismacolor pencils, blend with OMS, cut out and adhere to card using dimensionals. Adhere pearls to center of flowers.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Sentimental

Whew, we made it through Monday and now it's all down hill from there ;)
Here is a simple yet pretty card that I recently made, enjoy!

Stamps: Sentimental
Paper: Early Espresso, white, DP by My Mind's Eye
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Ribbon, Sewing Machine, Rhinestones, Corner rounder

Recipe:
*Create cardbase from Early Espresso as well as layers in white and DP, round corners on the right side, stitch DP, adhere both layers to the cardbase.
* Cut white stip layer, stamp sentiment repeadedly in Early Espresso, stitch along the top and bottom, mat in Early Espresso.
* Gather ribbon and run through the sewing machine creating a lightly pleated ribbon. Adhere around the sentiment layer. Adhere thin ribbon on top, wrap around the sentiment layer as well. Adhere sentiment layer to cardbase.
* Glue rhinestones along the thin ribbon.

Monday, March 14, 2011

TSG98- Sketch by Danielle

Hello everyone and happy Monday! This week we have a great sketch brought to us by our featured Trendsetter, Danielle. I had a lot of fun with this and I'm a little relieved that she took it easy on us ;)
Stamps: ROFL Taglines
Paper: My Minds Eye, White, Early Espre
Ink: Early Espresso, Momento Toffee, Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Die Cuts, Dimensionals, Rhinestone, Glue Pen, Sponge, Corner Rounder, Diamond Glaze, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS

Recipe:
* Create cardbase out of early espresso cardstock and layer out of traffic sign DP, round bottom corners, stitch DP and adhere to cardbase.
* Create strip out of reverse side of traffic sign DP, stitch, mat in early espresso cardstock and adhere to cardbase.
* Create image panel, stamp car, mask, sponge background, stamp sentiment, stitch, mat in early espresso, adhere to cardbase using dimensionals.

* Stamp 'ex' sentiment on scrap cardstock, round top corners and adhere to back of image panel
* Stamp car onto white cardstock, color with Prismacolor pencils, blend with OMS, add glaze and let dry. Adhere to image panel with dimensionals.
* Die cut flowers from DP, adhere to image panel using dimensionals, glue rhinestones to center.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Wonderful Winter Wishes

Happy Saturday everyone! Just wanted to pop in and share another card that I made awhile back using the Wonderful Winter Wishes stamp set. I completely cased the amazing Jodi Collins and THIS card! I looooove how this card turned out even though I used a monochromatic color scheme.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso
Paper: DCWV, Early Espresso, White
Accessories: Dimensionals, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS, Rhinestones, SU Scallop border punch, Sewing Machine

Recipe:
* Create cardbase and larger layer, stamp snowflakes to side, stitch
* Create medium layer, scallop edge, stitch, stamp sentiment adhere to card base using dimensionals
* Stamp image onto white cardstock, color with Prismacolor pencils, blend with OMS, stamp snowflake, add rhinestone to center, stitch, adhere to medium layer using dimensionals

Friday, March 11, 2011

Come chat with us tonight!

Happy Friday everyone! Join us tonight right HERE in the TSG Forum for our Friday Night Chat. Everyone is welcome and we love meeting new people :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

ROFL Taglines / Ribbon Carousels

Can you guys believe that it is Thursday already?! The last couple of weeks have been flying by and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a slow down in the near future. Between the recent TSG release, Matt breaking his ankle, Kylie's medical appointments along with the regular day to day stuff- I feel like my head is spinning lol!

This card was made a couple of months ago but I haven't gotten around to sharing it with you guys yet. Since this week's TSG challenge is to use Kraft cardstock somewhere on your card, what better time than now to show it off! I love these shoes from the ROFL Taglines stamp set because they are so much fun to color and/or paper piece! I chose to do both for this particular card ;)
Supplies:
Stamps- ROFL Taglines
Paper- Scraps from my 'scrap bag', Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, White
Ink- Momento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake
Accessories- Corner Rounder, Sewing Machine, Nestabilities, Dimensionals, Ribbon, Rhinestones, Copic Marker, Ribbon

Recipe:
*Create card base as well as early espresso, white and crumb cake layers. Round corners.
*Cut strips of scrap designer paper and adhere to crumb cake layer by stitching with a sewing machine. Trim excess designer paper.
*Adhere stitched layer to white cardstock layer, then early espresso layer, then adhere to cardbase using dimensionals.
*Die cut scallop Nestability shape in white cardstock, leave die on paper and sponge inside with crumb cake. Remove die and stamp image and sentiment.
*Stamp shoes onto seperate piece of designer paper, color in spots with copic marker, cut out insides of shoes using a craft knife and paper piece onto the sentiment/image layer.
*Color inside of shoes with Copic markers, adhere ribbon to back with red line sticky tape, glue rhinestone to the front and adhere entire panel to cardbase using dimensionals.

**********************


Oh my goodness, is this not the most beautiful ribbon holder evah?? Our Trendsetter friend Corinna has been working on the design of this bad boy for over two years and is so excited to finally be able to share them with the world! I actually have two of these in my craft room and love them. Not only is it an awesome way to contain all of your ribbon but it looks so pretty too lol! And at only 6.85" square and 13.5" tall it doesn't take up a lot of space in your craft area which is always a plus. You can check out the website HERE for more info :)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Lovin' that new baby smell!

My best friend Dani came over to hang out yesterday along with two of my favorite little people :) We live about 40 minutes away from each other so we aren't able to get together everyday like we would prefer but I guess we are doing pretty good at 2-3 times a week is still pretty good lol.

I have been meaning to take some 'real' pictures of the boys for a few weeks now but it's been hard for me to put them down to pick up the camera ;) I finally managed to build up the strength to do it today and we got some pretty darn cute pictures of my handsome nephews! Since they are preemies they are still pretty small but at two months are almost at 7 lbs. And believe me, they still have that new baby smell too :D

I promise to be back tomorrow with some inky goodness!