Happy Birthday, Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps!

Oh my gosh, you guys!!!  I'm so STOKED!!  Today is the start of Sweet 'N Sassy Stamp's BIRTHDAY MONTH!!  And, what a party it is going to be!!  It's not just any birthday either.....we are celebrating 10 years of stampy goodness with surprises, prizes and goodness befitting a milestone birthday!

Today, I'm sharing a birthday card that I recently made for one of my most favorite people--my son!  We are long past the cutesy animal, gamer and other "kiddie" images I've used in the past for the man/child who is now 19 grand years old!  I can scarcely comprehend how the years have flown so fast!

The dilemma, I think that faces many stampers--man cards!!  I generally find masculine cards are driven more by the colors than any other specific design element.  While floral stamp sets are prevalent, how many "guy" image sets do you actually own?  Thus, color.

I started using SNSS's Borders and Backgrounds (retired) to create a resist image.  Using a nonstick sheet, I created a color palette directly on the surface using a variety of distress inks.  The sentiment comes from the So Happy set--a free with purchase set at Sweet 'N Sassy this month only!  Be sure to check out the website for details and follow along on Facebook and IG!  You are NOT going to want to miss this!  Be sure to visit the Creative Team's blog also for tons of information and inspiration!

Get ready for some birthday fun!!
Be Awesome, Jane

Happiest of Birthdays...

Happy Wednesday, Friends!!  I've finally had some time to play with my Stampin' Up! goodies!!  I've been known to ask..."how many floral sets can one person own?"  The answer is not as clear as a girl would think--I'm drawn over and over to the beautiful floral sets I find in the SU! catalog!  This one is called Birthday Blooms and can be found in the SU! catalog on page 12.

I used a few other SU! goodies to complete this shabby chic card.  First, I stamped the Dictionary Background stamp on a piece of kraft card stock.   Next, I applied a thin layer of gesso.  When that was dried, I added several layers of water colored inks and some texture with images from the Timeless Texture stamp set.

I stamped the floral image with black ink and then used distress markers to color/water color the floral piece.  I attached the Banner Framelit  that I stamped my sentiment on with mini staples---I just love that little stapler!  I'm waiting for colored staples (hint, hint, SU!) to go with it.

I'm trying to challenge myself to use things I haven't inked up in a while--old and new.  Stay tuned to see how I meet the challenge! 

TTFN--Be Awesome!  Jane

Imagination Trumps Knowledge.......

 Happy Monday.......here we are again!!  I've got some fun new images from I Brake For Stamps to share today!  I wanted to break from holiday cards and make something arty this weekend.  I'm loving these new Stamp Release Sheets from I Brake For Stamps!  They are so much fun to play with and they all work well together!

There's a lot going on with this card and I am completely in love with it!  I wanted to create a background with a mixed media feel to it.  I started by creating a resist using the checker board strip stamp from the Einstein Half Sheet.  I added multiple layers of color using distress inks and my nonstick kraft sheet.  Then,  I layered several other images from Einstein Half Sheet, Binoculars and Golf Half Sheet and Wood Background Half Sheet.  I used white pigment ink, black ink and some distress ink.  I almost didn't want to cover it up!

I chose the main image from Binoculars and Golf Half sheet and popped it up on dimensional tape when adding it to the project.  To finish things off, I added the cute little tag found on the Einstein half sheet with a portion of the "Keep Calm" sentiment from the Wood Background Half Sheet (I'm sorry if I'm confusing you, but you really do need them all!!)

My second card features images from Glass and Eye Chart Sheet and Einstein Half Sheet.  The cracked glass image is embossed and colored with three different blue distress inks.  Great images for masculine cards!

You can get artsy too---be sure to use my coupon code:  SAVE10JANE when you visit the IBFS store!

Go ahead....be artsy...be awesome!  TTFN, Jane

Flowers Are For Monday

Happy Flowery Monday, Friends!  Thanks for stopping by to check out my I Brake For Stamps Monday share!!  I really had to force myself to stay on schedule......Sweet Ms. Della sent me some new goodies last week and I actually had some time to play right away...I can barely contain my love.  It's so hard for me to wait and share later.  It's part of the reason that I don't often work ahead......that and I am totally a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl and often run out of time....LOL!

For this card, I used an old scrap booking template to create the different areas, but you could use post it notes to achieve a similar look.  For color, I used Distress Inks due to their unique ability to react with water. The top of each cone flower is lighter due to removing ink with a water brush.  It's a little trick you have to complete in a timely fashion, of course, but it gives nice contrast like you see above.  Also, I used a water drop technique over the whole piece to give this one layer card an extra bit of interest.

All stamp images are from my favorite flower sheet at I Brake For Stamps, Floral Sheet 148B. I just love those cone flowers!  The accompanying sentiments are great too!  This sheet would be perfect for a mixed media canvas, too......hmmmmm.........{insert lightbulb}

LOL!  If you want to beat me to it, you can grab this sheet and more PLUS save with my coupon code SAVE10JANE.  That's all for me.....I've got some chores and children stamping to do!  ;)

Have a great day.....be awesome!  TTFN, Jane

Too Much Wonderful!

Happy Monday!!!  The sun shines, the temperatures are warming.....these good things are wonderful!!

Thank you for stopping by for my I Brake For Stamps Monday share!  Today, bister meets distress ink and BOOM!  I love how this project turned out!  Do you ever make something and are just in love with it??

I can easily admit that this is a complete CASE!  I'm a pinterest addict, I admit it. I frequently see things that inspire me or make me WOW!  Sometimes, I pin them other times, I store it in my noodle.  When I saw the original card, I thought three things: 1) I have that die! 2) Bister would create a fabulous version and 3) I'm gonna CASE that! 

For this project, I used specialty paper such as the Stampinback Paper found in the IBFS store.  I cut the die twice.  Once from the specialty paper and once from coordinating cardstock.  My background includes yellow bister---which I notice takes on a much more earthy tone when overwatered ;)  I've also used Barn Door distress ink that I watered down and dropped onto the surface with a pipette. You'll see lighter pinkish splots (it's a word!)--these were larger droplets of color that I blotted with a towel to create a more subtle coloring.

Working with the yellow bister on the die cut, I sprinkled the powder randomly on different leaves and then spritz with water.  After allowing the piece to dry, I added the distress inks direct to the paper.  I did not spritz with water because I wanted the two inks to remain separate and vibrant.

To finish things off, I added Wonderful in black ink so it pops right off the page!  When  you shop IBFS, please say a warm hello to sweet Ms. Della!  Let her know I sent you and save a little $ with my coupon code  SAVE10JANE!

Have a great day and don't forget to be awesome!
TTFN, Jane

Color Me Monday...

Welcome to my Monday-I Brake For Stamps share!  Today, I have a colorful thank you card to share.  I've had this particular sheet of stamps for awhile.....it's a sheet full of vintage and kitchy images.  You can see it here, in the I Brake For Stamps Store.  See what I mean?  Kitchy....paintbrushes, mustaches, body builders, Chatty Cathy....It's such a great sheet with amazing random images. 

I have to admit, though, the paint brushes had me stumped for a bit.....somewhere, recently, I saw a project that was colorful and inspiring--it stuck with me :) 

I began with some watercolor paper, archival black ink, and a bunch of distress inks.  After stamping the brush image multiple times, I added blocks of distress ink color with my aqua brush.  I always forget how much fun water coloring is.   I like the look of it and really should spend more time with this coloring medium.  I've been stuck in the marker box (because I just adore my alcohol ink markers!) for quite awhile...new year, new me?   LOL!!

I added the sentiment and then a few sequins--yes, they are my new obsession!  I'll let you in on a little secret......I smudged some ink in the flourish of the "T"---the sequin is just hiding my oops!  I'm a survivor and a true believer in reinventing my mistakes.  It works in ALL areas of my life ;)

Make sure to stop over and say "Hi Dee Ho" to my sweet friend, Bo Bella, over at I Brake For Stamps headquarters!  You can save a cool 10%  at checkout with my coupon code, SAVE10JANE--have fun!

TTFN, Jane