Love to Scrap! Rubber Stamped Cards

The Challenge

Today is the start of Love to Scrap's Challenge #7: Rockin' Rubbah! The point is to use rubber stamps on any type of project. I made two cards using some Sweet Stamp Shop stamps. 

Card #1: Nerds in Love

I combined two set of stamps, a bookworm set with a chemistry set, since I thought they matched so well together. I stamped, colored and cut out two bookworms. The female one had little heart shapes at the end of her antenna. 

I replicated that shape on the card by using some May Arts wired cording. The cording will retain the shape created, so I twisted the ends into little hearts. 

I stamped some of the splatter images in different colors and circle punched them. For some dimension, I popped a few of them up with foam adhesive. I combined the stamps with Jillibean Soup's Atomic Soup collection, a must have for nerd lovers.

I'm entering this in:

ABC Challenge: O for Open

Lacy Sunshine: #9 Anything Goes

Card Makin Mamas: Rubber Stamps

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Sister Act CArd Challenge: #9 Anything Goes

Card #2: Monochromatic 

I wanted to try my hand at the monochromatic look and this is my first attempt. My natural inclination is  to scrap something bright and colorful. I chose brown as my color and went looking around for things in this color family from my stash.

I stamped my sentiment onto a piece of cork which gave a very clear impression. The cork wasn't specifically a scrapbooking supply, but just a plain sheet of cork used on disposable coffee cups.  I picked up a free book from a yard sale for the purpose of scrapbooking. I tore out a page and stamped some apple wedges on the book page and paper pieced it with my apple. The teacher in me was cringing at destroying a book, but it would have otherwise been thrown out. I added some seeds with a copper Pearl Pen.

I'm entering this in:

Sparkles Monthly Challenges: #44 Monochromatic

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings!: #73 Masculine with Ribbon

This challenge runs until June 16 and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations. Please join us and link up your rubber stamped creation or just drop by Love to Scrap! to see all the other projects from the design team.

Thanks so much for crawlin' by,

Sweet Stamp Hop: Another November Release Hop

The Hop

I'm so glad you came for a visit, would you like to join me for a spot of tea?

Welcome to day three of Sweet Stamp Shop's November new release hop. Today's hop features a tea themed stamp set entitled Afternoon Delight. If you came from Emily's blog, you are in the right place. Here is the blog hop order: 

Sweet Stamp Shop Blog

Emily 

Michelle (←you are here)

Misty (←go here next)

Nicole

The Reveal

I made a card featuring the little tea bag stamps. I added some twine and stapled on a tea label to the stamp. I intertwined the string to make a heart shape. 

Former Projects

I also wanted to share with you one of my favorite layouts entitled, "Two a Tea," that I had previously made for Paper Made Bakery which features this set. 

Are those little tea bags just the cutest?

I also made a card featuring the teapot in the set. I cut out the teapots and used the negative space as a window for a patchwork quilt look. 

I hope you are inspired by all the Design Team's projects in today's hop. 

Be sure to check out Misty's creations next. 

Thank you so much for your kind words,

Paper Made Bakery: Countdown to Christmas

Hello scrappy friends, happy Thursday! It is time for my weekly sneak peek with Paper Made Bakery. This month's Christmas Treats kit is just so fun to work with and it perfect for those homemade gifts.

I made this as a present for my nephew. Can you guess what this is? To see the whole project with further details, please see today's post on Paper Made Bakery's blog.

Thanks so much for hoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: November Release Blog Hop

The Hop
Welcome to Sweet Stamp Shop's November new release hop. There is a new hop each day (Tu. - Th.) this week featuring a different set of stamps. Today's hop is a health themed set entitled Get Fit. If you came from Kelly's blog, you are in the right place. Here is the blog order. 

Sweet Stamp Shop Blog

Emily 

Misty

Kelly 

Michelle (←you are here)

Kim (←go here next)

Jamie

Nicole

The Reveal #1

I utilized the "get fit" theme by making a healthy snack pack for a friend who is on a Paleo diet. I purchased some snacks, placed it in a cellophane bag and make a topper using some of the cute stamps. 

I used some mini alphas for the title. 

For the embellishments, I stamped some of the images, colored them in with Copics and added some Glossy Accents for a shiny glow. 

The Reveal #2

For my second project, I decided to use the set in an unintended way. I took the scale stamp and converted it into a mini-frame on this back to school card. 

I hope you enjoy seeing all the new creations prepared by the design team!

Your next stop is Kim's blog.  

Thanks so much for hoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: October Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

The Hop
Welcome to Sweet Stamp Shop's October new release hop. There is a different hop each day (Tu. - Th.) this week featuring a different set of stamps. Today's hop is featuring a nerdy bookworm set entitled Geek Chic. Here is the blog hop order:

Sweet Stamp Shop
Emily
Misty
Kari
Michelle (←you are here)
Kelly (←go here next)
Nicole 

The Reveal #1

I altered an empty DVD case into an Amazon gift card holder. I give out Amazon gift cards at Christmas to a few people, especially to a couple that registered for their wedding there. Since the theme of the stamp set is book related, I wanted to pair it with Amazon which is still kind of a book store. 

First I printed out a sentiment on the spine and the front of the case, plus I added the Amazon smiley logo. 

Then, on top of the printed cardstock, I added patterned papers plus the stamped and colored images. Aren't the bookworms so adorable? 

I decided to enter this in a sketch challenge going on at Pamela's World of Scrap. This is based on the card sketch below. You can join in the fun here. Entering challenges is a great way to utilize all your sweet stamps. 

The Reveal #2

I saw some cute bookmark ideas on Pinterest and thought that would be a perfect match for this stamp set. 

Here is the tutorial I used for the corner bookmark (girl worm). I added some twine so it would extend out of the bottom of the book. Here is a tutorial for the top loading bookmark (boy worm). Both bookmarks are really easy to make and would make a great gift, especially paired with a new book. 

Aren't they just too cute when peeking over the top of a closed book? It kind of reminds me of Kilroy was here. 

Don't forget all three new release sets are available for purchase starting today and are on sale for only $10.00. If you want a chance to win a new set, please leave a comment or see all the guidelines for more ways to win. 

Your next stop is Kelly's blog.

Thanks so much for hoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: Tag You're It!

Hello friends, today I have two tags up on Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. I made two masculine sports themed tags with two specific recipients in mind. Here is a sneak peek at one of them.

Sporty Gift Tag

I wonder who this one is for? I used the stamp set Sports Fever. You can easily adapt the set to fit any sport and change the colors to match any team.

To see both tags in their entirety, please stop by today's post on Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. If you would like to participate in their card sketch challenge, you have until midnight, October 19th to upload your card. You might just win a sweet stamp set for yourself. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

A Sweet Challenge

Hello sweet friends! Did you know Sweet Stamp Stop hosts bi-monthly stamping challenges on their blog? It is a great way to utilize your stamp stash and qualify to wins some cute stamp sets. The challenge that begins today is a sketch challenge. Just make a card based on the following sketch and load your picture onto their Flickr group. Read about all the challenge details in today's post on Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. Here is my take on the sketch.

Birthday Boy Card

Sweet Stamp Shop Sketch Challenge

I hope you'll visit Sweet Stamp Shop's Blog and play along or just take a peek at all the DT's creations. Remember you don't have to use Sweet Stamp Shop Stamps in order to play along. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: 3 Uses for 1 Stamp

Hello friends, today I have three projects up on Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. I chose one stamp and used it in three different capacities - on a card, layout and altered item. I wanted to show the versatility of using just one stamp. Here is a sneak peek at one of my projects.

I used the stamp set entitled Lil' Sweet Peps and focused on the camera stamp. 

To see all three projects, please stop by today's post on Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. There are also many great projects from the entire design team throughout the month. Sweet Stamp Shop's October release and blog hop and giveaway will occur the week of October 22, so please remember to join us then.

Thanks for stoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: Smash Book

The Event

This week Sweet Stamp Shop is hosting a cross promotion with Epiphany Crafts. The design team is showcasing projects featuring product from both companies. There is also a great giveaway, so be sure to visit Sweet Stamp Shop's blog everyday this week to get some design inspiration and to enter the giveaway worth over $60. 

The Reveal

Today I'm up with a double paged layout in my Smash Book. It is the larger, 11 x 13.5" album, and this is actually the first time I've worked with this album. Since it has more of a casual air, I thought it would be a great place to document my vacation and hold all the memorabilia I accumulated on the trip.

The Details

For the focal point of my layout, I wanted to create an aquarium scene which incorporated my SSS stamps and Epiphany tool. To start, I stamped images from Sweet Stamp Shop's Under the Sea collection onto a strip of white cardstock. I stamped the sea creatures in gray and the seaweed in green, coated them with clear glitter embossing powder and heated it. I wanted a raised outline so it would be easier to color in the images. 

I used Copics to color in the images. I wanted more of a precise coloring job with gradual shading. Here are the colors I used on the seahorses. 

For my water background, I wanted more of an imprecise coloring with random swirls of color. I picked a light, medium and dark blue ink pad and stamped them on my craft sheet. I sprayed the stamped ink with some water. I picked up the colors with a water brush and painted on my background.  This technique yielded a rich blend of colors and added depth to the water.

I also wanted to point out, that when I was stamping, I stamped some popcorn images from the Watchin' TV collection with a clear ink and embossed it in white to create air bubbles, which I colored in with Copics. The popcorn stamp is a long, straight strip of popcorn, so I cut out three of the smaller ones, and stamped them in a curvy pattern instead to simulate movement in the water. 

As a finishing touch, I punched out three flowers using Epiphany's Flower 25 Shape Tool. I covered two of them with Bubble Caps, so there is a glossy dimension to them. I thought the flowers looked like starfish and was the perfect addition to the aquarium. 

Here is the look at the finished page.

I wanted to tie it in to my companion page which holds my photos, journaling and title. One way was to use the same materials. I extended the background orange paper  and washi strips to both sides. Another way was to repeat a pattern. I brought the look of the vertical air bubbles to this side, by interspersing round Epiphany Bubble Caps throughout my journaling and title. 

The Prep

Prior to going on my trip this summer, I participated in the SoCal Shop Hop, so I had a chance to visit some local scrapbooking stores. I picked out my papers beforehand. I figured a blue/orange color scheme would match my eventual photos, so I picked up this summer collection from Echo Park. I also went to a local thrift store and saw this necklace that was in the same color scheme. I pulled off a few charms and added it to my layout. I forgot how much I paid, but I remember thinking it was less than a pack of scrapbooking stickers so I purchased it. So just be on the lookout, you can use lots of things around you for scrapbooking. 

At the end of my tour at Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm, visitors could briefly hold a seahorse. This was the scrappy moment of the trip, but there were some background distractions I wanted to minimize. I masked the foreground and blurred the background, then cropped the photo to let the focus stay on the seahorse. You can read a tutorial on this Photoshop process here. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing my seahorse layout. Remember to visit today's post at Sweet Stamp Shop or any day this week, to enter the giveaway for some sweet stamps and Epiphany tools. 

Thanks so much for stoppin' by, 

Sweet Stamp Shop: Halloween Wall Hanging

The Reveal

This week Sweet Stamp Shop is hosting a cross promotion with Canvas Corp. The design team made projects all week long featuring product from both companies. 

Today I'm up with a Halloween wall hanging I made for my nephew. I really love Canvas Corp's mini clothespins and triangular gift tags. I made that into a mini Halloween banner which is draped onto the exterior of the frame. The photos are recessed so there is some dimension when you see this live. To learn more about this project, or to see all the other projects, please visit Sweet Stamp Shop's blog. 

Isaiah's Halloween Wall Hanging

My favorite part of this project is the translucent ghost. I stamped it onto tissue paper and added a bit of Copics coloring on the eyes and shoe. When placed on the patterned paper, you can read the background words through its body.

Translucent Ghost

The Supplies
Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop (Ghost, Mummy, Haunted House)
Cardstock: Canvas Corp
Patterned Paper: Canvas Corp
Tissue Paper: Canvas Corp
Gift Tag: Canvas Corp
Clothespins: Canvas Corp
Hemp Rope: Canvas Corp
Ink: Stampin' Up
Markers: Copics
Jewel: Forever in Time
Frame: Target Home
Other: Screws

I'm also entering this in CutCardStock's fall themed challenge.

The Inspiration
The Halloween project is a companion piece to another wall hanging I had previously made for my niece. Now they each have a framed design to hang in their own room.

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: Dream Ocean Card

The Hop
Welcome to Sweet Stamp Shop's September release hop. There is a different hop each day (Mon. - Wed.) this week featuring a different set of stamps. Today's hop is featuring their underwater themed Dream Ocean set. Here is the blog hop order:

Sweet Stamp Shop
Emily
Kari
Stephanie
Michelle (←you are here)
Kim (←go here next)
Nicole 

The Reveal

I wanted to create an underwater view from the porthole of a submarine. I used a gray piece of patterned paper with the setiment stamped in gray for the foreground and bright colors to draw your eye to the background outside the windows. 

Dream Ocean Card

The Details

I started with a white cardstock card base. I stamped a craft pad with three colors of ink, sprayed over the ink with some water and dragged the card through the water droplets. You end up with a swirled colored design. I thought this technique which I saw on Kristina Werner's blog would be perfect to achieve an underwater look. 

While the background was drying, I stamped three hexagons from Pattern Craze onto my foreground paper. I cut out the centers with an untility knife. I also stamped on the sentiment from Ocean Dream. 

When the background was dry, I stamped some seaweed from Under the Sea. I placed the images so they could be seen through each window. 

I stamped, colored and cut out some sea creatures from Dream Ocean and Under the Sea. I adhered them to the background, popping up one creature from each pair for some dimension. 

I adhered the forground piece over the top. I added some glitter glue to the sea creatures and Glossy Accents to the exposed background for a wet watery look. 

I hope you have fun playing with your stamps and combining sets. I know I did with this card. 

Your next stop is Kim's blog. 

Thanks so much for hoppin' by,

Sweet Stamp Shop: Petaloo & Core'dinations Event

Sweet Stamp Shop is teaming up with Petaloo and Core'dinations this week for a fun promo. The design team is showcasing back to school projects using product from all three companies. So stop by every day this week to see all the inspiring projects! 

There will be a giveaway of a $50 prize package featuring product from all three companies to one lucky participant who leaves a comment on any of posts this week. Here is a sneak peek at my project which is on today's post along with fellow designer, Kari's project and a tutorial by the owner and illustrator of Sweet Stamp Shop, Nicole. 

If you like the stamps, there is a sweet coupon in their newsletter which you can sign up for on Facebook.

Thanks so much for stoppin' by,