Simon Says Stamps - Spring 2014 Release is here!!

Hi Crafty Friends!!  It's that time!!  The new Spring products for Simon Says Stamp are now available!!  I've made many cards using the following new stamps, dies and stencils:

*Birthday Balloons Stamp Set - 14 piece set

*Balloons Die Set - 5 Steel Craft Dies

*Happy Birthday Die - 2 Steel Craft Dies
*Love Languages Stamp Set - 11 piece set
*Love Languages Die Set - 3 Steel Craft Dies
*Harlequin Stencil

My first creation uses the Harlequin Stencil, Happy Birthday Die and lots of fabulous Distress Inks.

I taped the Harlequin stencil down on top of some heavy duty watercolor paper using Washi tape.  I then sponged the rainbow effect and lightly spritzed it with some water with Perfect Pearls mixed in.  There is a very light sparkly effect when you catch the card in real life in just the right light.  I then used the new Happy Birthday die - cut 5 times out of black cardstock and stacked on top of each other - adhered with Glossy Accents.  (A fabulous trick I learned from the amazing Jennifer McGuire!)  The pop up effect it has is nothing short of awesome!!  I took some white sewing thread, bunched it together and played with it until it was 'just right'!  I adhered everything down with Glossy Accents.

As a last touch on this card, I added a sprinkling of black sequins for some fun sparkle!

My next creation was my husband's Valentine's Day card:

Here I've used the new Love Languages Stamp Set and matching Dies (the American Sign Language symbol for "I Love You" and the tiny heart).  I used a sketch from My Favorite Things and a mix of papers to create this eclectic melange.

I, once again, used black sewing thread behind my main panels as an added element of fun!  A sprinkling of gold sequins and voila!  

Next I switched gears and used some fun embossing paste and the Harlequin stencil to create this texture filled card:

I taped the stencil down onto heavy watercolor paper using Washi Tape.  I then used Martha Stewart textured embossing paste and coated the stencil with a palette knife carefully scraping off any excess.

I let this dry overnight and then sponged the entire panel with Hero Arts Pale Tomato ink.  I love how the paper took the ink differently than the embossing paste - such a cool effect!!  I used a small birthday sentiment from the new Birthday Balloons set in Hero Arts Navy Ink.  The cardbase is navy as well - there's something so warm about Navy and Coral tones together.  I added some Studio Calico wooden stars and some gold sequins as a finishing touch.  

Moving on I kept with the same coral and navy theme this time using the Birthday Balloons dies and Birthday Balloons stamp set to create a simple but fun birthday card.  

I cut the largest of 5 different balloons both out of the navy background and the coral glitter paper. I then stamped my sentiment in Unicorn White pigment ink and heat set using white embossing powder.  I did the same with the white stars - also in the stamp set and added the Studio Calico wood veneer stars on top.  

I finished off the balloon with some gold cording and sequins.  

Next up is a super simple card that I made for my 11 month old boy for Valentine's Day!  I kept it simple and sweet.  I had this graphic paper from a paper pack (it's old so I can't remember where it's from) but it worked perfectly for this sentiment from the Love Languages Stamp set.

I inked the round, heart image in Unicorn White ink directly onto the paper and heat set it with white embossing powder.  I then filled in the small heart with Rock Candy Distress Stickles.  I added the sentiment and colored in the heart with my Red Lipstick Copic Marker.  I added a few sequins as a final touch.  

I then shifted gears and lightened the vibe a bit with this simple and clean creation:

I cut two balloons of different shapes from the Balloons Die Set and mounted them using 3-D foam adhesive.  I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Birthday Balloons Stamp Set onto the larger balloon using Hero Arts Black Ink.  I added teal bakers twine and some iridescent sequins.  I also added the itty bitty dots that are punched out of the center of the sequins for some added sparkle.  Both the twine and sequins are adhered with Glossy Accents.

I think the effect of the bright and sparkly balloons on the simple white background is just super fun!

Next up is a card that focuses on the the Love Languages Die set.  

I stamped the Kraft background with a delightful background stamp from My Favorite Things.  I then coated a chipboard frame with Unicorn White Pigment Ink and heat set it using white embossing powder.  I stamped the main graphic image with Hero Arts Charcoal Ink and Hero Arts Butter Bar Ink - for the center heart.  I made my own Butter Bar cardstock by running my inkpad over some Neenah Solar White cardstock and cutting the hearts out using my Big Shot.

I added the subtle sentiment using Hero Arts Black Ink.  I used a mini clothespin, baker's twine and some raindrop like gems as accents.  A dab of Glossy Accents on the center heart and I was done!

And last, but certainly not least is a creation that is very Jennifer McGuire inspired!!  ;)  I inked the sentiment from the Birthday Balloons stamp set multiple times using Hero Arts ink.  I then used the Happy Birthday die to cut out of the middle of the panel.

I then cut five more layers and adhered them together using Glossy Accents.  

I then popped them into the negative space where I had cut the original out of and adhered the top layer onto - creating the consistent yet popped up look that is sure to make any recipient smile!  I added a tiny sprinkling of rainbow sequins as a last touch!

Thanks SO much for sticking around this long!!  This was a long post for sure but the new products are just so fun!!  

Thanks to Heidi, Malini and Stephanie at Simon Says Stamp for asking me to join them and for all of their help!!!  

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC164 - Decorative Creativity

Greetings Friends!!  I'm back for this week's round of My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge!

I do so enjoy the wide variety of sketches that the lovely designers at MFT provide! This week I found the sketch classic and clean.  I made this while I was away and I only had limited products with me so I improvised and think it came out fun!!  Let's check out the sketch:

And here is my interpretation:

I've used the Typewriter Text Background - stamped with Delicata Gold Ink and heat set with clear embossing powder, Fishtail Flag Stax and Layers, and the Die-namics Cute Cameras 2 for my focal point.  

I used a Tim Holtz rosette die for the background of my decorative cluster - complete with Washi tape for a little extra color.  The center of the rosette also uses the Die-namics Cute Cameras 2 for the glittery center and black edging.  I added a yellow twine bow around the cluster and a sprinkling of gold sequins.

Sometimes it's fun to use a decorative grouping rather than sentiments for a different twist on a sketch.

I hope you're keeping warm wherever you are!!  Thanks for coming by today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Simon Says Sneak Peek!!!

One of the best sayings ever!  This and many more will be released on Friday, February 21st at Simon Says Stamp!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

I Know You're Getting Excited!!

Can you tell I'm in LOVE with this stencil?!  And I know you will be too when it's released on Friday, February 21st at Simon Says Stamp!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Psst...Sneak Peek for Simon Says Stamp!!

Oh this might just be one of my VERY favorites of the upcoming Simon Says Stamp release!!  Don't forget...Friday, February 21st!!  Be there!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Simon Says Stamp Sneak Peek - Upcoming Release February 21st!

Hi Friends!!!  Popping in on this Valentine's evening with another sneak peek for the upcoming Simon Says Stamp release on Friday, February 21st!  There's something for everyone so you won't want to miss it!!

See you tomorrow for another peek!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Simon Says Stamp Sneak Peek!!

Hi Crafty Friends!!

I'm so excited as the wonderful Heidi from Simon Says Stamp asked me to participate in this month's upcoming release on February 21st!

I'm sneak peeking a couple of beautiful new products today that I know you'll love to get your hands on!!

So fun and so versatile!!

See you tomorrow for another peeky peeky!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Retro Sketches #101 - You Rock My World

Greetings Friends!!  Just popping in today with this week's edition of Retro Sketches!  Here's this week's sketch:

I'm always hesitant with wonky layers like this but that's what I love about sketches, they truly can push you outside of your comfort zone to try something new...LOVE!

I used this sketch to create a Valentine's Day card for my middle son.  He's 7 and just truly one of the lights of my life.  He takes hip hop class and ADORES music so I thought this sentiment was perfect for him.  The stamp set is MFT's Lovey Dovey Sentiments.  I inked it in Momento Luxe Pigment Ink in Love Letter and heat set it with clear embossing powder.

I used Crate Paper - Toy Box 6x6 papers and some glitter paper from Michael's to complete my layout.

I completed the top cluster with a Studio Calico Wood Veneer heart from Simon Says Stamp and the sentiment is from the Lovey Dovey Sentiments.  I added some sequins adhered with Glossy Accents and voila!!  I love how it came out!

Thanks for popping by today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge - MFTWSC162 - Happily Ever After

Greetings Friends!!  Thanks again for peeking in to check out my version of this week's MFT sketch club challenge!  Their sketches are always so easy to follow, super fun and trendy and can be done CAS or over the top.  The beauty of sketches is that they are a fabulous springboard to a great project!  Here is this week's sketch:

I've used this week's sketch to make a Valentine for my amazing 9 year old daughter.

As you can see, I stuck pretty much verbatim to the sketch.  Sometimes I do this, and other times I veer off wherever the creativity takes me.  I just bought a 6x6 paper pack from American Crafts - at Target of all places.  I used my Spellbinders circles to trim out the main panel.  I layered them and used my sewing machine to stitch a zig zag with white thread.  My focal image/sentiment comes from the Lovey-Dovey Sentiments stamp set.  It is an essential for Valentine's Day.  I stamped my image using Momento Luxe pigment ink in Love Letter, perfect, no?  ;)  I used clear embossing powder to heat set my image.

I cut my flags using the 'always on my desk and within immediate reach' Fishtail Flag STAX and Layers out of a mix of the papers - the gold sparkly one is an open stock sheet from Michael's.  Can you see the white paper in the background?  It's heavy duty watercolor paper that I used the Moroccan Tiles Stencil on with Spun Sugar Distress Stain.  It's very subtle but super pretty IRL.

I finished my project off with a sprinkling of gold sequins and some clear, flat bottomed pearls both of which were adhered with Glossy Accents.

I hope you have time to come by and get crafty with the fantastic crew at MFT!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

It's Always Fun to Trying Something New...

Greetings Friends!!  Isn't it always fun to try new things?  I try hard to instill this into my rather cautious children that new things are an adventure and we also learn so much when we're brave and venture out and try something new.  So today...with that theme in mind, I am trying two new challenges!!  I am entering both the Retro Sketches Challenge as well as the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge.  The Retro Sketch challenge is obviously a 'sketch' style challenge - and their 100th at that!  Here is the sketch:

  And the Curtain Call Challenge is an inspiration challenge based on this image:

Since we've just received about a foot of snow where I live, I found some time while my 10 month old was napping and my older two were having screen time to pull together this fun card.

I've used two stamp sets from MFT, the amazing Typewriter Text Background and the super versatile Chalkboard Greetings.  I stamped the background onto MFT's Snow Cone cardstock in Delicata Gold ink and heat set it with clear embossing powder.  It is a PERFECT stamp every time with MFT's amazing backgrounds.  I then chose some patterned papers from Lillybeedesign - This and That along with Basic Grey's - What's Up 6x6 tablets. I cut my background strips 1" wide and then tore one edge for a more ragged look.  I quickly sponged the edges of the strips with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I also added a quick dab of Rock Candy Stickles to the paper strips.  

As I mentioned, I used MFT's Chalkboard Greetings for my main panel.  I used my anti-static powder tool to prep my chocolate brown paper.  I then stamped my sentiment using Unicorn White Pigment Ink and heat set it using white embossing powder.  When it was dry, I smudged a bit of white ink on my fingers and rubbed it around on the background behind and around my sentiment to give it that authentic chalkboard look.  I used my Signo white gel pen to add some faux stitching around the edges. 

Since the entire look was rather simple, I added some "swirly thread" behind my main panel in lieu of it being tied around it.  I didn't want to interrupt the look of the sentiment by adding something on top of it.  I anchored the decorative thread with a few dabs of Glossy Accents followed by some gold sequins.  

I am thrilled with how this turned out and I'm so thankful to Retro Sketches and Curtain Call for inspiring me!!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith