Make ART Journal Layout

I have a photo tutorial posted over on the eclectic Paperie blog today...hop on over and check out all of the details!

Sweet 'n Sassy Release Blog Hop & Challenge

Mr. Fix It

Congrats Grad

Camping Fun

For My Father Sentiments and Camping Fun images

Fridays are always special at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and this Friday is no exception…welcome to the April 2015 Release Blog Hop & Challenge!  Now that you have had a chance to see our new masculine release for this month, it's time to see what the Design Divas have done with the new stamp and die sets.  Grab a beverage and sit back and relax as you hop along to each of the DT Blogs and check out all of the fabulous masculine cards!

Blog Hop Giveaway!

What would a Blog Hop be without a giveaway, right?  One random commenter from one of the DT blogs will be selected to win a $10 Gift Code to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  You have until Thursday, April 23rd at midnight EST to leave your comments.  The winner will be posted on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog on Friday, April 24th!

The stamp and die sets the Design Team will be using for the Hop today are now available as a Pre-Order at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!  

Here they are:

The DT blog links can be found in the Linky Tool below!

Now onto the challenge! 

"Make it Masculine"

Here's a sample to inspire you…  

Just a few guidelines to remember as you play:

            

- You don't have to use a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps image to enter (although we sure love when you do!)

- Please create a NEW card (no back linking)

- We ask that you enter your card in no more than 3 challenges
 - You'll have until Thursday, April 23rd at midnight EST to enter

- We'll draw 1 winner from this week's challenge to receive a $10 credit to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!  

If there are 25 participants, (not including the DT), we'll draw 2 winners!

- Please use code SNSApril2015RC when uploading to Splitcoaststampers or other galleries 

To enter simply share a link to your creation below!

Thanks for joining us today!  Be sure to join us again on Friday, April 24th to see if you've won and check out our new May Sweet Perks Bundles!

HAPPY HOPPING!!  

Sweet 'n Sassy Release Day

Hello, sweet friends!  Welcome to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 

April 2015 Release Day!  Let's face it…we all need help with those masculine cards for the special men in our lives!   Our Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release this month is full of new stamp sets and dies that will make those masculine cards a snap!  Not only that, but  our new Retirement and Graduation sets will also fill a void in our stamping collections!

Introducing our April 2015 Release

Camping Fun: $15

• Stamp set includes 7 images and 6 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 4" x 6"
• Camp site image measures approximately 3 1/2" x 2 1/4"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

For My Father: $15

• Stamp set includes 15 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 6" x 4"
• The DAD sentiment measures approximately 1 1/2" x 1/2"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

Retirement Sentiments: $15

• Stamp set includes 12 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 6" x 4"
• The Happy Retirement sentiment measures approximately 3" x 3/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

Hole in One: $11

• Stamp set includes 1 image and 12 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 4" x 4"
• Golf image measures approximately 1 5/8" x 1 7/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

Mr. Fix-It: $11

• Stamp set includes 1 image and 13 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 4" x 4"
• Golf image measures approximately 1 5/8" x 1 7/8"
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

That's not all…the new items released for the April Sweet Perks Bundles are now available separately at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!

Super Dad: $9

• Stamp set includes 2 images and 11 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 3" x 4"
• Super Dad image measures approximately 2 7/8" x 2 7/8"
• Coordinating die set includes 2 dies
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

Congrats Grad: $9

• Stamp set includes 2 images and 6 sentiments
• Stamp sets measures 3" x 4"
• Diploma image measures approximately 2 1/4" x 1 1/4"
• Coordinating die set includes 2 dies
• Designed by Korin Sutherland

Finally, we have one die set now available that coordinates with one of our popular stamp sets…Buggin' Ya.  

Now what are you waiting for…head on over to the Sweet 'n Sassy Store to grab a few of your favorite masculine sets! 

Thanks for joining us today!  Be sure to join us again on Friday, April 17th for our April 2015 Release Blog Hop & Challenge!

Sharing on eclectic Paperie Blog

I've been posting some projects on the store blog and today I'm sharing this Finnabair inspired project.  Hop on over to the eclectic Paperie blog and check out all of the details!

Life Book Lesson #13

A short and sweet post today...sharing the next Life Book lesson.  Last week's lesson was on creating a field journal, or creating a project based on something found in nature.  Since it's still freezing here in New England (will it ever get warm?), I decided to grab some shells that I had on a shelf at home and draw them, while dreaming of warmer days.  I kept this entire project pretty simple as I really liked the final look of the watercolors (oh, how I love working with watercolors!), and opted to just added a quote (from Ali Edwards).  This project did make me want to create an entire journal dedicated to watercoloring...maybe something to start this summer...

Sweet 'n Sassy Guest Post

 

I'm hanging with the Sweet 'n Sassy team today...Head on over to the blog to check out the details on today's card...

Life Book Lesson 13

 

It's time for another Life Book project!  And this one is by far one of my favorites!!  The lesson was taught by Juliette Crane.  I have a feeling that she's going to quickly become another one of my favorite mixed media artists.  Her work is all flowy and free form and she has a way to making drawing very accessible to those of us who are "drawing challenged."  For example, all of her animal drawings start out the exact same way...a circle and a rectangle.  Yeah, I think I can get behind those directions!

The other thing I loved about her work was how much she painted with her hands.  Finger painting is for me!  I'm will absolutely never be a fine artist...I simply don't have those natural talents nor the time to develop them, but give me some paint and no real rules?  Now that makes me happy!

This painting started with a background that I randomly covered with four different colors of paint.  (I used Dina Wakley's paint...love 'em!)  I then used the same four colors and started adding more paint with my finger tips...I just globbed and smooshed paint all over (oh, and I did add a bit of tissue paper first).  Then I added some darker blue around the edges, a touch of white, and the yellow for the moon.

 

The owl and branch was drawn with a Stabilo pencil and then I added paint (using my fingers and a palette knife).  I did need to go over the lines of my drawing a few more times and then I would activate the pencil with a water brush.  Just check out all of that gorgeous texture on the owl...it's dreamy!  I added a tiny bit of text stamping and then hand stamped by verse.  Unlike last week's lesson, which took me almost two weeks to complete, this project was finished in one evening.  I may go back and add a few more details (I'm always afraid of doing too much so I need to "sit" with this for a few days), but I just loved Juliette's style and I am definitely going to create more whimsical creatures...I can hardly wait!