Let's Hop!

Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends!!  I'm so excited about the new stamps available in the Sweet & Sassy Stamps shop this month!  I can't wait to share the projects I've been working on along with my whole team!  Hop along to the blogs linked below for all sorts of paper crafting inspiration! Just leave a little comment love on each stop along the way for a chance to win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop.  

Sweet'n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin

Monika Davis

Sheri Gilson

Stephanie Serrano

Using Mer-mazing, I created these two sweet cards, recently featured right here on my blog:

Today, I'm also sharing a brand new card featuring Life & Lemons--such a versatile set!!

Just a simple masking technique and some stenciling!  Perfect for cards, bible pages, scrap booking--you name it!!

Be sure to check out all of the inspiration on the rest of the blogs!  When you shop, please use my affiliate link, at no extra charge to you!

TTFN, Jane

Let's Shell-ebrate!

Hey Friends!  Today, I'm sharing my favorite project so far this month from the Sweet N Sassy Stamps June Release.  It features the Mer-mazing stamp set, which I am totally in love with!  It's also my birthday and, since I'm grateful to have one, I thought I'd celebrate with you by sharing a tutorial for this fun, 3D easel card!

Supplies:  Mer-mazing stamp set, circle dies, scallop die, embossing folder (optional), ink, coloring tools, adhesive, dimensional tape, card stock.

Fold card stock in half and position the scallop die to cut through both pieces of card stock.  Allow for the fold to remain in tact, creating a card base.  

Cut one additional scallop circle.

To decorate your card base, you can layer various circle die cuts and stylize with an embossing folder.

Create the easel card front by scoring the scallop card front in the middle and folding the card top as shown.

Place adhesive on the lower half portion of the card front.

Adhere the single scallop circle to the card front as shown.

Add layers and texture to create interest.

Stamp and color images from Mer-mazing.  

Trim and adhere images to the card front.

On the inside of the card, add your sentiment using dimensional tape.

This side view shows how to use your raised image as an easel stopper.

Enjoy and have fun!!  This little clammy card is super easy to recreate with supplies you likely have in your stash.  You can order Mer-mazing using my affiliate link (already linked in this post for you) at no additional cost to you!

  
As always, the Sweet N Sassy Stamp of the Month is fantastic and yours FREE with qualifying purchase--be sure to check it out!!

Thanks for stopping by and shell-ebrating with me--TTFN, Jane

Fin-tastic!

Nothing says summer like the last day of school and mermaid themed art!  I'm helping to usher in summer today, sharing this little cutie from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps! 

I wanted to try the ink/paint smooshing technique, Janelle (one of my team members) featured in her facebook video HERE.  I also wanted to play along in the Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps VIP group June challenge:  Summer/Beach Cards.

Using this technique, I created my "watery" background full of different Ranger distress inks (salty ocean, broken china, peacock feathers and mermaid lagoon).  It became the perfect backdrop for this cute little Mer-mazing girl and the June challenge theme.

Why not play along? 

Use coupon code PABOUND to save 15% off in the SNSS store June 6-11th!  Please use my affiliate links at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your support! 

Have a great day!
TTFN, Jane

The Rainbow Connection

Hey Friends!  I'm playing along with the Sweet N Sassy Stamps VIP challenge for May!  I'm sneaking in during the last days of the challenge, because that's just how I roll!

I have my own rendition of the popular rainbow wash card above....I've seen this concept in a lot of places featuring many different companies.  For my card, I used a rainbow assortment of Ranger distress inks to create my colorful background.  Stamps from Go God's Way and God Is Bigger make this a simple and fun card!

For my second card, I created a rainbow panel using various Ranger Distress Oxide inks.  Maybe you've already gathered that the distress inks are some of my favorite. I generally do most of my water coloring with distress inks.  They have good color saturation and are easy to work with.  The oxide version is more chalky and blends beautifully with the other colors.  The ink's reactivity with water is the other point of high interest. You can see the water marks in my skyline created with a misting of water. 

I completed my card using Landscape Silhouettes and a sentiment from Keep In Touch, Too.

Thanks for stopping by!  

TTFN, Jane

Verse Mapping: Proverbs 22:6

Happy Sweet Sunday, Friends!  I'm taking a few moments out of an already fun holiday weekend to share a new creative love of mine--verse mapping!  Nothing can pull me in quicker that an opportunity to combine stamping with God's Word!  I've been learning about this form of study and process for digging deeper into God's Word in a facebook group called Sacra Via. It has truly transformed the way I study and therefore, I wanted to share it with you!

I started this on Mother's Day.  It's a brand new art journal and I couldn't think of a verse more dear to a parental heart than Proverbs 22:6  "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

The first part of the study involves looking at a specific scripture using a variety of translations.  I generally read from the ESV, but also like to look at other translations which can add to the richness of a particular verse.  Some of my other favorite translations are the New King James Version (NKJV), The Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) and The Message Bible (MSG).  Another fan favorite is the New International Version (NIV).  I use a few apps, including the Blue Letter Bible app, to look up translations, commentaries, cross references and word definitions.

I particularly like the OJB since I have a strong desire to know the Hebrew language.  We lose something in the translation from Hebrew to English.  I find it fascinating and enriching to look at the full meaning of the Hebrew words. 

The next steps is to look at cross references--other places in God's Word where the same notion or words are used.

The framework looks at the foundation of the verse--the book, it's author, the context and culture in which the writing first occurred.  The final step leads to application of the verse in my own life; what I learned and it's purpose.  

From a purely creative viewpoint, this form of study makes a great case for hoarding alphabets and beautiful images!  In this two page layout, I've used the following stamp sets from Sweet N Sassy Stamps:  Shake it Off Caps, Shake it Off Lowercase, Skinny Caps, Cold Coffee Alpha, Teeny Alpha, Happy Day, Fantastic Flowers, Seek Him, All in All and Surrounded In Prayer.  Rather than linking to each individual set, you can see the whole store HERE using my affiliate link.

Have a great rest of your weekend--TTFN, Jane

Awesome Unicorn

Happy Thursday, Friends!  Today, I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a very special little lady!  I've just started binge watching Once Upon a Time with my youngest daughter and.....I am all abut the fairy tale, right now!! 

One of the things I love most about Sweet N Sassy Stamps is the incredible versatility of each set.  I can use them in my Bible and on a card for a 10 year old....and a 50 year old and all the year olds between and after!

This card features images from Be Unique and Mighty Fortress.  Super fun and a little sparkly with some sequin embellishments.  Both images are colored with copic markers and tucked in some cloud like die cuts. 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a awesome day--Jane

The Brokenhearted

Hello, Friends!! Today, I am sharing several projects featuring Peony Cluster, a new release from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps--the Stamp of the Month (free with purchase!).  I'm also sharing my heart and a prayer journal I'm working in.  I'm glad that you've stopped by today!!

How grateful I am that the Lord is near to me when I am brokenhearted!  My heart breaks over a lot of things.  Sometimes, it's things in my own life and other times, it is broken over the children I serve in my day job or other stories in the world around me.

His Word, in Psalm 34, reminds us that He is near to us all the time, especially in our brokenness; when our spirit is crushed, when we feel cut off, when we are in pieces, and when we are hurt or torn--both in body and in spirit.  The word used in this verse--"near"-- is the Hebrew word qarowb (ka.rove').  It is used to describe place, time and relationship.  How awesome that we see very clearly that we are never alone?  Never.  He is close by.  He is right now!  We can have a personal relationship with the One who is Creator of all!!  He loves you deeply, wholly, eternally, personally!  Rest in that oh, weary souls!

I created my card (above) using alcohol based markers and sponging some distress inks for an overall shabby look.  The new Peony Cluster set, from Sweet N Sassy Stamps, is a versatile set that is really perfect for any occassion--birthday, anniversary, encouragement, sympathy--it's gorgeous and fun to color!

That said, I'm not really a flower person--I mean, I like them, I just  don't know anything about them. I have no idea what color actual peonies are.  This gives me great freedom.  I can color them however I wish!

I picked up this super cool prayer journal at a thrift store for a few dollars. I can't tell you what a treasure I have found this to be!! It's called The Weekly Prayer Project:  A Challenge to Journal, Pray, Reflect and Connect with God--that last part always gets me.  It was absolutely spotless....but not for long!

I used a variety of stamp sets and inks.  It rather evolved as I went along.  Stamp sets used:  Peony Cluster, Jesus & Coffee, God Is Bigger, and Sunshine Girl Alphabet.  So much wisdom in all of God's Word (obviously!) but I am continually struck and grateful when He places, in front of me, the exact Word I need in the most unexpected and ordinary ways.  When you look, you will see God's hand in everything!

Be Blessed!  Jane