Pack Your Bags…

Posted by Jen | CAS, Market Street Stamps, cards, just because | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

**just realized that I forgot to announce the winner of the COMFORT FOOD set from my January 14th post** **And the {random} winner is #27…VALARIE FLORER** Val, email me {link under my pic} your info and I will get this out to you ASAP.

It’s release day at Market Street Stamps and there is a whole lotta new cuteness on the shelves! The travel theme sets were tons of fun to work with as I had my CHA trip for inspiration. For those of you going, I can’t wait to see everyone! For those of you not going, I know how you feel {I think}. My stomach has turned every time CHA rolled around the past few years! I would even step back from the computer for a few days because I felt like I was a 5 year old looking into Disneyland from across the street…not a fun feeling!

I am so thankful and delighted that I get to go again and with that in mind, I made this card using the new BON VOYAGE and TRAVELSCAPES sets {along with Vintage Notepad for the background}…

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Skyline and embellishment…

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Detail of images…

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Sentiment flag…

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Well, I guess I better go start packing my bags! All of the new stamps are available at Market Street Stamps. I will be working the MSS booth for a little on Monday, so be sure to swing by and say “Hello!”

Perk Up!…

Posted by Jen | CAS, Verve, cards, just because | Saturday, January 21, 2012

* * * Scroll Down for SFYTT Post Below * * *

While browsing through blogs and such the other day, I came across THIS set of cards from Val Stangle. Needless to say, I fell in LOVE with them. Simple style in a dynamic card…not to mention pretty cute, too! Val’s cards were definitely my inspiration for this Verve clean and simple creation using BETTER WITH YOU

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I paper pieced the cup snuggies and used a combination of the coffee splat, steam and sentiment on the main image panel…

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Detail shot of the pattern paper panels {say that 3x fast!}…

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There are lots of fun sentiments in the BETTER WITH YOU set and since this card is so sweet and simple, I am thinking that a card gift set might be in order for a coffee lover!

I hope you are having a great weekend. I’m keeping this short and sweet so I can have some family time!! See ya’ll Monday!

Fun Friday with Your Next Stamp…

Posted by Jen | Tutorials, Your Next Stamp, cards, just because | Friday, January 20, 2012

It’s FUN FRIDAY with Your Next Stamp! Each Friday some of the design team members will be sharing both their creations and a tip or two about a technique or their creative process.

First, let me start off with my card using the darling APPLE CUTIE

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Detail shots…

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I used an older Mojo Monday sketch for this card…

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I often get asked, “Where do you begin when creating?” Truth be told, there are lots {and LOTS} of places I start. I think that if I always started at the same place my work would get boring. Sometimes I start with an image, or an inspiration piece. Other times I have papers that I want to work or continue to work with. More often than not, I have a color scheme or sketch in my head. While I could go on and on about each of these, I am going to stick to one that I know pretty well…starting with a sketch.

I am always looking for a great sketch {also known as a layout}. I feel that it can really make or break a card {along with paper choice, but we’ll leave that for another day}. So, first find a sketch that you like and you feel that you can work with. An elaborate sketch can both trigger and hinder the creative mind, so be sure that you think that the sketch is “do-able.”
If you already have an image in mind, double check that the image will play nice with your main image panel. If not, you might just need to re-think either your sketch or image selection. For instance, a tall skinny image would not have worked well on the sketch above. I’m not saying that it couldn’t have been done, but I probably would not have liked the outcome.
The key to working with a sketch is the ability to make it your own. If a sketch shows a star as embellishment, don’t feel that is what you have to use. Think about what works for you and your card. Add ribbon, layers {note that I did not say ‘panels’} and other embellishments as you see fit, as long as it works with the parameters of the sketch.
You may have to make the sketch “work for you.” Making it work does not translate into making it look nothing like the original sketch {hopefully you know what I mean by this}. On my card, you can see that the 3 small round panels on the left side are slightly different from how they are shown on the sketch. I could have made them smaller on my card, but I did not like the way that it looked, so I altered it slightly to “make it work” for me.

Hopefully these tidbits about working with a sketch have helped. You can find sketches on lots of sites, like HERE on the first Saturday {and EVERY}of the month. Yep, shameless plug and I am ok with it ;)

Just Purrr-fect…

Posted by Jen | Lil' Inker, cards, just because | Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Happy Wednesday stampy friends! All week the Lil’ Inker design team is hopping to show the new stamps and dies that just arrived in the store. If you didn’t start at Laura’s blog, or come from Jen Carter’s blog, take a U-turn and don’t miss a thing!

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Along with the fun new Flags and Tags stamp and die set, Lil’ Inker has released two more 2 Cute Ink designs. I paired the Cutie Cat with a cut down version of the large flag for a sweet and simple card…

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Detail of the fancy lil’ feline {colored with Toner and Cool Gray Copics}…

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In addition to this 2 Cute Ink set, there is also a bee that will buzz his {her?} way right into your heart. I’ll be back tomorrow to show you what I did with that set. For now, keep on hop, hop, hopping along to Alicia’s blog for some more cuteness.

Wait, don’t go yet! A couple more things…

Don’t forget to leave comments this week as 1 lucky winner is going to receive this month’s 2 Cute Ink sets and someone will receive a $10 store credit.

AND…On Friday, there will be a few more super sweet Valentine Bonus Goodies in the Lil’ Inker store. I got mine in the mail Tuesday…oh my cuteness…that’s all I am allowed to say!

Your Next Stamp HOP…

Posted by Jen | CAS, Your Next Stamp, blog hopping, cards, just because | Wednesday, January 11, 2012

More new stamps to start off the new year!

Today YOUR NEXT STAMP is releasing new images from design team member and illustrator, Jenny Suchin. Jenny kicked off the hop on her blog and you should have come here from Amy’s blog. If you missed a hop stop, take a U turn so you don’t miss out on any of the cuteness along the way!

Thanks for the lift…

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Detail shot…

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All of the new releases are available now at YOUR NEXT STAMP.

I’m keeping this short and sweet as I go to play nurse to Nicolas who is on the mend, but still coughing up a storm due to pneumonia. My poor lil’ man!

Leave a little love {a comment} on each stop along the way for a chance to win one of these new sets and then, keep on hopping along to…

Diana’s blog

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