Yikes!! Another hop?

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps May Release Hop! There's another fabulous release in the SNSS shop that we've been stamping with and we're so excited to share our projects with you! Hop along and leave a little comment love for the designers linked below and you might just be a lucky winner! One lucky comment from all the comments along the hop will win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop. Winner will be announced on the SNSS blog, Wednesday, May 20.

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog
Julee Tilman
Ceal
Pritchett
Diane
Zechman
Esther Asbury
Jane Bosi
Karen Decknick
Lee Ann Barrett
Lucinde
van Ballegooijen
Lyn Tomlin
Sheri Gilson

I know I say this a lot, but--you guys!!! This is my favorite release!! For my first project, I used My Father's House and the Typewriter Block alphabet to create a 6 x 6 canvas.  It's been a while since I made something other than a card and it sure felt good!

I started with some bible pages, modged to the canvas and some inks to create a shabby chic base.  The church images from this set just make my whole heart happy!

I dry brushed some brown paint onto water color paper, then stamped each of the church buildings as a way of adding extra texture to the project. 

This set works well for cards too!

For this card, I used the same water color paper with dry brushed paint for my church.  The background also features Psalm 23 Background and a sentiment from Begin Again.

And, last but not least, inspired by the song that I still cannot get out of my head!  Church (Take Me Back) by Cochren & Co.

Oh, I wanna go to Church!!

I pray you are well---and, now, it's time to see what Karen has in store for you!! TTFN, Jane

C’mon Get Hoppy! SNSS April Inspiration Hop!

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps April Release Hop! There's another fabulous release in the SNSS shop that we've been stamping with and we're so excited to share our projects with you! Hop along and leave a little comment love for the designers linked below and you might just be a lucky winner! One lucky comment from all the comments along the hop will win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop. Winner will be announced on the SNSS blog, Wednesday, April 23.

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman
Ceal Pritchett
Diane Zechman
Esther Asbury
Jane Bosi
Karen Decknick
Lee Ann Barrett
Lucinde van Ballegooijen
Lyn Tomlin
Sheri Gilson

My reading plan had me in Deuteronomy on Easter Sunday and I was immediately struck by words I've read so many times before:  "yet the Lord set His heart in love..." Deut 10:15.  Y'all.  He SET His heart in love!!  He loves us so fully that His heart is set (to determine or fix definitely) on us.  What a beautiful word picture we are given!  

Before the world went upside down, I found a great deal on a vintage typewriter.  I wanted it for projects exactly like this one!  After stamping the paper image from Your Story a couple times, I was able to add the verse with my typewriter before completing the faithdex card.

On the front, pictured above, I used other elements from Your Story, hearts from Forever and Always and the beautiful floral image from Country Gardens.  I love that little clip--don't you?

The back of the card is simply finished with the rest of the verse and a simple heart.

Your next stop is Karen's blog--I'm sure she's going to WOW you!  Be sure to leave a comment at each stop for your chance to win some SNSS goodness!

TTFN, Jane 

Quarter Panel 3D Card Tutorial--Sweet N Sassy Stamps Stamp-a-thon

The team at Sweet N Sassy Stamps is hosting a stamp-a-thon for our VIP's this weekend to celebrate Korin's birthday!! And, to provide some encouragement and fun in our stamping community.  Why not come and play along?  You'll find our group by searching Facebook for Sweet N Sassy Stamps VIP group or just click on the link and join!!
🥳

Play along and you could win 1 of 5 $10 gift codes to the Sweet N Sassy Stamps store. To enter, upload your creations in our stamp-a-thon album which can be found under the announcements. (Here is the link, also:https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2960770237322890&type=3.)

You will receive one entry per project. You do not have to use Sweet N Sassy Stamps products to join the fun, but we sure would love it if you did. 😁🥰 You may combine challenges but you will only receive one entry per project.

The deadline to enter for the giveaway is Saturday, April 11th. Winners will be chosen and announced, in the VIP group, by Monday, April 13th. This is open to international players, as well.

My challenge is the Quarter Panel 3D card that became popular this year. This is not my original idea. I am, however, sharing the tutorial I filmed and wrote for all of you!!

You will need three pieces of cardstock for basic foundation of the card: the base measures 4.25" x 5.5", the pop out piece measures 2" x 4.5" and the sentiment strip measures 1" x 6.5".

Additional items you'll need: adhesive, stamps, additional card stock, patterned paper or other embellishments.

Score the base card stock in half (along the 5.5" side) at 2 3/4"

Score the pop out piece along the 4.5" side at .5", 2 1/4" and 4"

Score the sentiment piece along the 6.5" side at .5" and 6".

Decorate all three pieces as desired. I'm using images from the April SNSS release, Your Story and Country Garden, as well as an older set, Be Encouraged.  Place adhesive on the end flaps of both the pop out piece and sentiment piece.

The next step is to adhere the pop out piece to the base.  I've zoomed in so you can see how the scored lines in the middle of each piece line up exactly.  Expose the adhesive on each flap, line up the scores and adhere so that the pop out piece is flat to the base.

When you fold the base in half, the dimensional piece naturally pops right out!

In a similar way, add your sentiment piece.

Make any necessary adjustments--see how my Thinking of You, originally ended up being too low?  I solved that by adding a different sentiment piece and one of the cool embellishment clips from Your Story.

I'm wishing the happiest of birthdays to Korin and hope you all are having a blast hanging out and crafting with us!

Thinking of you--Jane

Creative Distractions!!

It's seems like a great time to have an inspiration filled distraction!! Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps March Release Hop! There's another fabulous release in the SNSS shop that we've been stamping with and we're so excited to share our projects with you! Hop along and leave a little comment love for the designers linked below and you might just be a lucky winner! One lucky comment from all the comments along the hop will win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop. Winner will be announced on the SNSS blog, Wednesday, March 25.  Below is the hop list.  If you haven't started at the very beginning, I recommend you go there now :)

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog
Julee Tilman
Ceal Pritchett
Diane Zechman
Esther Asbury
Jane Bosi
Karen Decknick
Lee Ann Barrett
Lucinde van Ballegooijen
Lyn Tomlin
Sheri Gilson

I've grown super fond of these quarter cardstock dimensional cards.  Life has been a little.....involved lately, but this project is a quick one that's ready to mail out in no time.  Plus it's fun for the receiver to set it up on display with it's extra dimension.

This release also includes dies--which are my favorite!  While I do like to fussy cut from time to time, I really love the finished look of a die cut. I was thrilled to see dies for one of my favorite sets, Fill Me Up!

I created a tone on tone back ground using several sentiments from Fill Me Up and heart images from Forever & Always.   My coffee cup embellishments were super easy to create using the newly available Fill Me Up dies.  The new release set, Messy Alphabet, was the perfect way to finish things off.

Enjoy the rest of hop.  Be kind and wash your hands!!

Peace, Jane

Blog Hopping--It's good to be back!!

After what seems like forever away from one of the joys of my life, I'm getting back to the creative table and joining my Sisters in this month's Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps February Release Hop! There's another fabulous release in the SNSS shop that we've been stamping with and we're so excited to share our projects with you! Hop along and leave a little comment love for the designers linked below and you might just be a lucky winner! One lucky comment from all the comments along the hop will win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop. Winner will be announced on the SNSS blog, Wednesday, February 19.

Here's the official line up.  If you experience any breaks or problems, you can just return here and get back on track!  I don't want you to miss any of the inspiration!

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog
Julee Tilman
Ceal Pritchett
Diane Zechman
Esther Asbury
Jane Bosi
Karen Decknick
Lee Ann Barrett
Lucinde van Ballegooijen
Lyn Tomlin
Sheri Gilson

My project is a #faithdex card featuring the brand new Loop da Loop Alphabet along with some other oldies and goodies!  (Typewriter Block Alpha, He is Risen, and Trust in the Lord).

The backside features text from Galatians 4 and more Typewriter Blocks Alphabet

Enjoy the rest of the hop!!!  TTFN--Jane

WOTY--Serve

I've been preparing for a pretty big surgery for the last year--one exact year from the day of my first surgery--January 8th.  As I celebrate the healing my Great God has given--one cancer free year!, I'm taking the next steps toward full restoration.  I would be so grateful for your prayers.

I would never begin to pretend the last year has been easy, but it has been good in so many ways.  My word for last year was surrender.  Believe me, I've practiced surrender over and over, every day.  I continue to practice. :)

I got my word for this year pretty clearly a few weeks ago.  If I were in charge, I think it would have been something else.  This selfish heart only wants to sit at the feet of Jesus and be filled.  Yet, I know He has a purpose and call over my life that is not self focused.  It is active and real and starts with His command to "love one another".

My word for this year is "serve".  I'm wanting to figure out what this means.  In what ways will I be pushed beyond what is comfortable in the service of others?  I'm perplexed.  In the aftermath of my surgery, I will be dependent on others.  How will He have me serve?  I can't seem to wrap my head around any of it, but my heart is open and I know the One who has called me so, I will follow.

I always photograph the back of my faithdex card before joining it to the front.  I like the thickness and durability of the doubled up card stock. And, I like recording both sides together--it feels complete.  My verse from 1 Peter is from the Complete Jewish Bible:  "as each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God's many-sided-grace."

Many-sided-grace.  Amen.

I chose a simple design for the front.  I apologize for my photography!  In real life, the card and colors are more vibrant--I just can's seem to capture it correctly on film.  Please check out my instagram @stampymom5

For some reason, the colors seem more realistic in that platform.

I've used many sets from Sweet N Sassy Stamps:  Itty Bitty Blossoms, All Your Heart, Bitty Minnie Alphabet and Faith Wordfetti.  To make my florals, I created some colorful backgrounds using my gelli plate, then stamped the images and trimmed them.  I do still love me some fussy cutting!

What's your word of the year?  Feel free to share in the comments along with any prayer requests you may have--In Him, Jane

Hope

You may have seen my finished faithdex card when I shared it on Instagram (you can follow me @stampymom5) on Christmas Day.  Today, I thought I would share the rest of the story.  I've thought about starting a regular creative feature where I show you how I resurrected some project after a major mess up or goof! I certainly seem to have a lot of them!   I'm telling you, Sisters (and Brothers?) I painstakingly water colored this faithdex card.  And, I loved it!  The florals from Happy Irises at Sweet N Sassy Stamps are fun to color!  It was going to be fabulous.  I was proud of it.  I couldn't wait to share it.  Kind of like me trying to go my own way sometimes...you know?  Just one last step--add the sentiment from The Future set (also from Sweet N Sassy Stamps).




I may have CRIED. OUT. LOUD.

This is not an optical illusion or fuzzy computer screen--this is the real deal.  I was just about to start over, when that little creative voice whispered--fix it.  I surrendered to the process and found myself better than where I started. 

Just like in real life, the Word came to my rescue.  I pulled a page from a thrift store bible straight out of the sermon my pastor had preached that day--about Hope.  This little project was a great reminder to me of how God works with our broken pieces.  Battered and torn though we may be, He uses it all for His glory.  And, Hope came down so we could be restored.

I will hope in the character of God.  His plan, His provision, His love, His will.  Let it be.

I finished the backside of this card with more iris images and Sweet N Sassy Stamps from Typewriter Block Alphabet and Trust In The Lord.

Did you notice the sentiment?

It is better to Hope in the God who controls all things

that to despair in the things that are out of our control.

Let us Hope.

In Him, Jane