Purple, Pandas, & Pears...Oh My!

It's another SWEET Monday and I have a bit of fun for you today.  For this week's Sketches 2 Ways, I debated using the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch or giving you another peek at an upcoming sketch.  Duh!  I decided you guys are way too special to not get especially sweet treatment so, the sketch I'm using will be up on the CTS blog this Thursday which gives you an extra 3 days to play with it.  Woo hoo!

I had WAY too much fun with the combo of Sweet stamps and the awesome sketch this week.  Yup, I actually ended up with 4 cards from one sketch and had to ask my fellow designers to help me pick the two that I would feature here.  Don't worry, you'll get to see the other 2 also...just check out my blog today and on Thursday.  First up, the sketch!

Can you see why I had so much fun?  Well it all started with Alyssa's Yummy Love stamp set.  How am I supposed to resist smiling fruits and veggies?  Impossible.  

I had some cards lying around from a certain pocket scrapbooking company that I knew would be perfect with these stamps.  So, I did a little misting on my green card base to give the card some sparkle (shine mist).  While that was drying, I stamped and colored these adorable pears.  I decided yellow was the way to go because that is the color of the pretty pears on our trees out front (when they aren't covered in snow...ugh) and I liked how it picked up the yellow on the delicious card.  I die cut a heart to cover a mess up that I had where I tried to add a little shadow to the pear.  It just didn't look that great.  Thanks goodness for dies to cover up an oops.  I thought I was finished when I stamped the sentiment but I was feeling the need to fill the white void under the pears.  A little green washi was all it took.  What do you think?  I think the washi really helps tie the card to the sketch.

 My second card is inspired by my littlest dude.  His 4th birthday is coming up and he's a purple-a-holic.  So, I broke out our new number set, Numbers - Symbols, and everyone's favorite panda, Panda Face. 

 I did a little masking, embossing, and inking on this card.  WHOA!  First, I masked off a rectangle to make a little focal background for my card.  Next up, I embossed my 4's all over my background shape with white embossing powder.  Using some neon purple (yup, NEON purple) ink and a make-up sponge, I blended in a cool background that I knew my little dude would just adore.  I love how the embossed 4's really stand out.  I applied a little strip of glitter paper to represent the line from the sketch.  Finally, I stamped my sentiment on a little square of paper that I knew would make a perfect sign for my panda to hold with the hands that I cut after stamping 2 cute panda images on another white paper (one for the panda and one for just his hands).  A few foam squares for dimension and there you have it.  So, do you think my purple lover will like his birthday card?

He might just give me a face like this:

I just love that little goofball.  I hope you enjoyed my cards today and I'd love for you to come visit me at my blog for another awesome card made with more Sweet Stamp Shop goodies (you might find another surprise there also).  How awesome is that?  We'd love it if you come visit us on Facebook and LIKE us!  You won't want to miss out on the deals and peeks shared there...I guarantee it!  Just tell them Chrissy sent you.  ;)  Thanks and have a wonderful week!

-Chrissy Pin It

Video Game Inspired

Hi, everyone!  Welcome to the first installment of Sketches 2 Ways with me, Chrissy!  In this series we are going to be taking a sketch from my challenge blog, CAS(E) this Sketch (CTS) and use it in two different ways.  The first will be a very literal or simple take on the sketch while the second take will involve a little more pizazz.  Hopefully, I can make you see just how versatile a sketch can be and we can play with some fun Sweet Stamp Shop stamps and other cool gadgets, gizmos, or products along the way.  You may even get a peek at CTS sketches before they go live on the challenge blog.  Let's have some fun!

For our first go round I thought I'd start with our current challenge and a sketch that I designed while the boys were playing some crazy Wii game.  I actually was inspired by their crazy game and it ended up being a pretty fun sketch to work with.

For my first card, I went pretty literal.  I changed up the triangle a bit and tossed a cute bear from Panda Face in the mix but you can still see the sketch VERY clearly.

You don't have to be all innovative with a sketch to make a cute card.  You just have to figure out how it actually inspires you.  I like to flip through my stamps after looking at a sketch and most of the time, a particular set jumps out at me and the card just comes together. 

For some reason when I looked at this sketch again, I also saw a martini glass which I knew would work perfectly with the new Elegant Sentiments stamp set and the Happy Hour stamp set.

For my martini glass, I knew I would turn to my Silhouette Cameo.  To see a video of just how I created this card, you can check out my YouTube channel but here's the quick and dirty (get it...martini...dirty).  ;)  I cut the martini glass out of the black paper, embossed the amazing "Cheers" sentiment in white, then I felt we needed more bubbles which I got from the Happy Hour set, I embossed these with white also.  I then attached the black layer to a layer of vellum, positioned the pink on the card base, and then attached the vellum/black layer to the card base.  Finally, I finished it all off with some bling! 

We'd love for you to share you own take on the sketch on the Sweet Stamp Shop Flickr group and while you're at it, submit it for the CTS challenge.  Don't forget to check out Sweet Stamp Shop on Facebook and while you are at it, sign up for the newsletter (bottom of the page) to make sure you are getting all the info and all the best deals!  I hope you enjoyed my double take on the sketch and I hope to see you again next time!  Have a wonderful day! Pin It

November New Release

Jumping up and down pumping hands in the air - it's finally here! We're so excited to be introducing Alyssa of Alyssa Lea Designs as our new illustrator (squeal!!) --- If I didn't say so already, if you think her stamps are sweet... x100... that's how sweet she is. 

Ok, enough of that - are you ready to see the new release and get in on the sale (that's only good for today and tomorrow!) 

Ready for the Sale?! 

20% off all the new release stamps for today and tomorrow only! 

Use coupon code: NRN20

**good on the new release stamps *in stock* stamps. 

www.sweetstampshop.com

We were lucky enough to welcome several guest designers on the blog today - and so, we'll organize this release post just a teenie tiny bit different ... we'll show off the new releases then showcase each designer and their amazing creations. Grab a cup of coffee - we've got quite the line up! 

Without any further yappin' here's the new stuff - 

Monogram Alpha 

Monogram It 

Super Panda Face 

Yummy, Love. 

And we've even brought in some matching flair - cause you guys are loving that! (hooray! We love it too!!) 

You can find the matching flair in our 'new release' section of the website (yep, that's new!) HERE. 

Ready to see what our amazing design team (and guest designers) created for your viewing pleasure... 

We'll start with our design team - 

Dana did such a lovely job - look at those candles! They're awesome! Be sure to stop by her blog for a closer look... HERE. 

We love Judy's bright and cheery cards... just perfect for the holiday season. She really used her crafty genius when she was creating these projects - can't wait for you to go look a little closer... HERE. 

Not only does Danni work super hard behind the scenes as our design team coordinator - she's also amazing us with her design chops! LOVE these creations and she's done such an amazing job showing them off! Love her! Check out more on her blog HERE. 

Kristen can always be counted on for clean and simple - and amazing cards! This release is no exception! Take a moment to visit her blog and you won't regret it! HERE

 Jessica has been with us the longest (about as long as Danni!) and we've LOVED having her - she is so creative with the stamp sets and we're always so surprised with all the unique ways she uses the stamp sets - be sure to check out more on her blog - HERE. 

Michelle did such a great job showing off how to use these stamp sets in project life - and she made the cutest cards. Swoon - we love Michelle - visit her at her blog HERE. 

Tyra - WOW. She had so many amazing cards I couldn't even show them all here... you'll have to go straight over to her blog to check them out! She's so great at a clean and simple style - but, she's not afraid of glitter either - LOVE that! Head over to her blog HERE. 

Alyssa and I invited some of our friends to guest design with us this month and we're super excited to show you what they have up their sleeve. 

Emily Branch - of Emily Branch Designs stopped by this month and let us borrow her crafty genius brain for the month of November. She did not disappoint! Please take a moment and visit her on her blog HERE - you'll love Emily and her blog! Promise! 

Jennifer Rzasa did a fabulous job highlighting Alyssa's new stamp line - we love how she colors and her cards just make you think, AWEEE CUTE! -- Be sure to stop by Jennifer's blog HERE. 

You probably recognize this talented lady creative work, Ms. Thienly Azim! Isn't her fun use of stamps just so darn creative - we think so too! Head right over to her blog and hit 'follow' you'll love everything she posts! HERE. 

Wida Miller also took some time out of her busy schedule to craft with Alyssa's new stamps - and boy did she! We're so thankful that she got her hot little hands on these stamps - she did such an amazing job! Be sure to stop by her blog! HERE. 

We even got Lisa Arana to play along too! Awe! She used some of the new flair! It looks perfect! Hooray! Take a moment and say hello to Lisa on her blog HERE. 

Are you loving the new release?! Now's the time we send you over to the shop - www.sweetstampshop.com ... remember the coupon code is only good until tomorrow - so if you're eyeing something - you'll wanna pop it in your cart while the sale is on! 

Also, Alyssa has the matching SVG's and she has a bonus Digi set for sale on her blog - SO CUTE! (and a great way for you to support the artist herself!) Be sure to check it out HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by today! We think our customers are just the SWEETEST! 

Happy Stamping - 

Happy Shopping - 

Happy SALE! 

The Sweet Family

P.S. 

Because we think you guys are pretty darn cool and would love to get a teenie tiny peek at what's coming up in December.... we'll share a little something ... (mark those calendars - it's hitting the selves the first week of December!) 

Pin It

A Stamp Of Approval - Moxie Fab Farewell!

You should be coming to this post via one of my most favorite crafty ladies - DoBea Alberts

You've been hopping along and you've reached blog #198. Lol - Oh my goodness. What a blessing right? I'm sure by this point you've heard so many amazing, heart warming, loving - stories of Cath and the evolution of Moxie Fab. We're such a small community, with such a big heart... aren't we?! 

So, here I am putting in my Sweet two cents. (If you know me, you know how good I am at that!) 

Cath - Moxie Fab - we'll miss you! I first 'met' you just being a stalker of the 'fab' blog - long before I started my own stamp line - then I was lucky enough (and crazy enough) to start my own line of products about 3 years ago - and we were lucky enough to have the 'Moxie Fab Stamp Of Approval' - Let me tell you, this was huge for my little business. I just started and I didn't have a huge line - or a huge audience - and she was so gracious and lovely to me. In business, we don't get a lot of opportunities 'handed' to us - and Cath with Moxie Fab approaching me - felt like more than just a stamp of approval on my stamps - it felt like, someone important in the industry stamping my *crazy* idea of starting a business. (I know it didn't mean that - but, at the time - it was really awesome to think that) I don't know that I'd be here, in this moment, with out people like Cath and Moxie Fab. --- So, thank you little lady! 

Ok, that's my story  - I'm sticking' to it.

AND, because I'm the owner of this little sweet establishment - and I get to make cool executive decisions... I'm going to show off some cards I made for Ms. Cath using some never before seen SWEET sets... YEP. 

This kinda felt like it deserved something EPIC! So, here ya go - a peek at stamps coming in November - and a sweet 'see you soon' to a fab blogger and fun little lady! 

That little flair is apart of a pack - in stock at the shop - 'Card Greetings' --- LOVE that set, and have reached for those little flair pieces more often than I thought I would. :) 

Aren't those so much fun?! 

We've got a SAD SAD Panda Face going on in the Sweet Shop - saying farewell to our favorite Moxie Fab queen! But, we know - all good things - well, they do eventually end... and we want Cath to know what a huge part she played in the paper craft industry and how greatly she'll be missed. 

Before I send you off to the next lady - take a moment and visit Sweet Stamp Shop's Facebook page - we love new friends and fans! <3 ALSO, if you'd like - we have an event page for our November release so you can take part in all the PANDA fun! <3 Check that out HERE. 

Now we're sending you off to the next crafty blog - HERE

Pin It