Serendipity Stamps New Release

Good Morning!

Welcome to the Serendipity Stamps new release blog hop. The Design Team is sharing samples using some new products being released by Serendipity Stamps.

Today we are sharing some new fall and Christmas stamps. If you are following along with the hop, you should have arrived here from Vickie's blog.

One random commenter will win the complete set of the new release images we're sharing today. Deadline for comments is 12 pm EST Sunday, August 4th - winners will be announced on the Serendipity Stamps Blog on Monday August 5th.

Call me crazy, but I absolutely loved using this Pumpkins & Sunflowers stamp. Fall is my most favorite time of the year, and it feels like its just on the doorstep. (As an aside, I feel like I'm going to burst thinking of being in our new house for fall. Bonfires, the light on the pond, the trees!)

As another aside, my light tent is packed away. We're working au naturale here. I combined this fall image with some complimentary patterned paper. I adore this image and love how this one turned out.

The next image I am sharing with you is called Snowman With Birds.

I used Copics again to color this image. The sentiment on front is also a new one... Just Wanted to Say.

And I followed up with a finishing sentiment on this inside: Warmest Wishes. You could easily use a number of different sentiments to complete the phrase.

That is it for me today - I don't want to keep you, my sweet friend Jeanne will be your next stop along the hop. Have a great day!

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Recipe
Fall Card
STAMPS: Pumpkins & Sunflowers - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Kraft, Oatmeal - Wplus9; Tangerine Tango, Soft Sky - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Mischevious - My Mind's Eye
INK: Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Copic Markers; Pinking Blade; Sewing Machine

Just Wanted to Say Card
STAMPS: Snowman With Birds, Just Wanted to Say, Warmest Wishes - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: White - Wplus9; Pistachio Pudding - SU!; Pure Poppy - PTI
PATTERNED PAPER: Peppermint - Crate Paper
INK: Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko; Handsome Hunter - SU!
OTHER: Circle Die - Spellbinders; Snowflakes Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Copic Markers; Star Dust Stickles - Ranger

Waltzingmouse Stamps Pajama Party

Hey there!

Today Waltzingmouse Stamps is kicking off a fun new challenge - a pajama party! It is a night to get together, play along with some challenges, chat on the WMS forum, and be inspired! You can read all about the details here on the WMS blog.

Four challenges will be posting tonight and will remain open for at least 24 hours for you to link your creations. Winners will be chosen for the challenges, along with the chance to join in as a guest design team member for a future release! That is good stuff, people!

Claire has shared three of the challenges, and the final is a sketch challenge. I'm here tonight to share the card I created for the sketch.

What a versatile and fun sketch!

The card that I created uses the just released You're a Doll set.

I started with a pink card base, layering the oatmeal cardstock on top. I slit the oatmeal cardstock on an angle to create my little window, adhering it to my card base and trimming off the excess. I stamped and trimmed the flowers and added them with dimensional adhesive. The sentiment is from the Folk Art Label 25 set.

I hope you'll join us for this kickoff event, the challenges are really going to be fun! I hope to squeeze in some time tonight getting inky, too! Head back to the WMS blog to get all the details and link up your creations!

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Recipe
STAMPS: You're a Doll, Folk Art Label 25 - WMS
CARDSTOCK: Pink Pirouette - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Rhinestones - Recollections

Dare to Get Dirty with Verve

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday, the Dare to Get Dirty 2013 challenges began over at Splitcoaststampers. As a sponsoring member company, Verve Stamps is in on all the action! There are multiple challenges each day (July 27th through August 2nd) along with fabulous prizes. You can find all the details you need here.

Here is a little Verve goodness I made for one of today's challenges. Be sure to head over to SCS to find out all the details!

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Great Friend, Sunny Days - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Going Gray, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate - SU!
OTHER: Rounded Scallop Frame, Leafy Sprigs Die Set - Verve Stamps; Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft; Rhinestones - Recollections; Labels 11 - Spellbinders

Play Date Cafe Challenge #192

Hello there!

Wow, this month is just flying by. It is already the last Thursday of July! I'll be honest, I'm a little anxious for August to get here so we can close on our new house, but I do realize that time is zipping by far too quickly.

But Thursday means that it is time for the The Play Date Cafe Challenge! It is time for a color splash this week and we're splashing with neon yellow! Ooh!

Just like in the good old 80s, neon is trending again! Maybe you have some of the fun neon ink or cardstock that is available that would be just perfect for this week's challenge. I don't :) but this is what I came up with.

I rifled through my patterned paper stash and found this printed transparency from the now defunct Hambly Screen Prints. Bingo. Just the right pop of yellow to pull off neon :)

I added a block of the transparency to my card then stamped a sentiment on a little banner. I went back and added the black cardstock behind the transparency to help tone down all that white. This was the hardest card to photo - all white on white.

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge! You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, July 30th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from the PDCC prize vault!

I can't wait to see what you create!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Strictly Sentiments 2 - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: White, Black - Wplus9; Yellow Bicycle Transparency - Hambly Screen Prints
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Banner Trio Die - Wplus9

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #16

Hi there!

It is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge this week is to incorporate fabric - but not ribbon - into your project.

I used the Garden Glove Cling Set on my card.

I sifted through some fabric scraps from other projects, and came across this green print. It was just what I was looking for to add to my garden glove.

I stamped the glove directly onto my fabric and cut it out. The bouquet above was stamped onto cardstock, colored with colored pencils and then trimmed. I stamped the glove onto a die cut oval, then added the fabric and followed up with the flowers on top.

What a fun touch of texture that little bit of fabric adds!

Stop over to the Challenge Blog for all the details and to see the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Pauline Pollington

Vickie Zimmer

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge. If you're in the mood for a little shopping, this week's sale is 40% off your highest priced item. The code is "40fromhigh713" good through 7/31.

Thanks for stopping by, take care!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Garden Glove Cling Set - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9
INK: Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Oval Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Green fabric; Colored pencils

Play Date Cafe Challenge #191

Hello there!

Welcome to Thursday, and this week's Play Date Cafe color challenge.

This week we have a ripe, summery color story of Cream, Melon, and Cantaloupe.

This week the PDCC Design Team was lucky enough to get the chance to try out some of Mona Pendleton's new products from My Favorite Things. I used the MPD Distressed Background Blocks on my card.

I started by stamping the distressed chicken wire background onto a square of cream cardstock with Versamark ink and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. After it cooled, I added some Antique Linen Distress Ink over top. It is a very subtle design (maybe a little too subtle than what I had hoped) but it adds some great texture.

My banner 'leaves' were stamped with the distressed dots and my rolled roses with the distressed checkerboard. The little sentiment came from the Just My Type set.

I love these distressed backgrounds! I haven't done much with mixed media, but I do sure love me some hand-stamped backgrounds!

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge! You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, July 23rd to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from our fabulous challenge sponsor, Mona Pendleton Designs for My Favorite Things!

Thank you for sponsoring us this week, Mona and MFT! I am looking forward to checking out the new products you introduce!

I can't wait to see what you create!

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Recipe
STAMPS: MPD Distressed Background Blocks, Just My Type - My Favorite Things
CARDSTOCK: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz - SU!; Vintage Cream - PTI
INK: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko
OTHER: Die-namics Rolled Rose, Die-namics Mini Rolled Roses - MFT; Clear Detail Embossing Powder - Stewart Superior; Pearl Badge Buttons - CTMH; Pearl Flowers - Making Memories

Go Confidently

Hello there!

How is your summer coming along? Hard to believe we're practically mid-July already.

I know I've been a little sparse recently.. that's the road we're on right now, you know? I always pop in on Thursdays for The Play Date Cafe Challenge, but other than that I am just not creating as much right now.

See?

Its good news, but totally frightening. We've had our home inspection, found that the 100+ year old house we fell in love with has some 100+ year old house problems. So we're digesting and trusting that things will work out in the end.

In the meantime, I am poring over design and DIY blogs and pinning every bit of inspiration I find in the hopes that I can put it to good use.

But just in case you thought I don't have anything else to share, here's a little card I put together. Combining Wplus9's Borders & Backgrounds 1 with a sentiment from Verve's Words of Wisdom seemed like a perfect match.

Good advice, don't you think?

I added a little strip of silver cardstock along with a smattering of sequins to add a pop of sparkle. I don't think I will ever get tired of this ikat pattern.

Thanks for stopping by to see me today - hope your week is fabulous!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Borders & Backgrounds 1 - Wplus9; Words of Wisdom - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Pale Plum - SU!; Silver
INK: Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry - SU!; Onyx Black Versafine - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Sequins - Darice

Play Date Cafe Challenge #190

Hello there!

Welcome to Thursday, and this week's Play Date Cafe color challenge.

This week Jax has put together a sweet and beee-autiful color story. Swoon over Burnt Umber, Honey, and Butter.

So sunny and happy. Are you a yellow-lover? I am, it is a cheery color! Here is what I created:

I combined some pretty patterned paper with a Verve's Sweet Scallop Die (on sale!) and the Smile Plain Jane. A textured background and a vintage button help to round it out. I love these shades of yellow and cream together - it does make me smile! :)

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge! You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, July 16th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from our fabulous challenge sponsor, Simon Says Stamp!

Thank you for sponsoring us this week, Simon Says Stamp!

I can't wait to see what you create!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Smile Plain Jane - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - PTI; More Mustard, So Saffron - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: Farmhouse - October Afternoon
INK: More Mustard - SU!; Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
OTHER: Sweet Scallop Die - Verve Stamps; Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Butter Cream Twine - The Twinery; Script Embossing Folder - Provo Craft; Vintage button

Serendipity Stamps Challenge #15

Hi there!

It is time once again for a new challenge on the Serendipity Stamps Challenge Blog. The challenge this week is to use postage stamps as inspiration. We used these gorgeous USPS Vintage Seed Packet postage stamps for inspiration for this week's creations.

They are almost too pretty to use! There is so much to be inspired by - I took inspiration from the colors and from the tiny little snapshots of a flower on each one. Here is the card that I created:

I started by using a die to cut six 'postage stamps' from cardstock. Then I picked some of Serendipity's flower stamps (I used the Pansy Corner, English Rose, Sweet Pea, and Hollyhock stamps). I inked them up and stamped just a portion onto the postage stamps. Then I used Copic markers to color them.

Here is a close up of those little stamps.  Aren't they pretty?

Stop over to the Challenge Blog for all the details and to see the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

Jeanne Jachna

Jenny Gropp

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

Pauline Pollington

Vickie Zimmer

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge. If you're in the mood for a little shopping, this week's sale is free shipping on US orders $20 and up. The special ends 7/31. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by, take care!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Pansy Corner (343H), English Rose (762L), Sweet Pea (1215H), Hollyhock (1214L) - Serendipity Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Vintage Cream - PTI; Sahara Sand - SU!
PATTERNED PAPER: For the Record - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Postage Stamp Dies - Spellbinders; Button, Twine - PTI

July Verve Diva Inspirations Hop

Hello!

Welcome to the July Verve Diva Inspirations Hop!

This is a regular feature on the 5th of the month and is a chance to breathe some new life into some much-loved Verve stamps and dies. Leaving a comment enters you into a drawing to win a $30 gift certificate to Verve Stamps! You are on the right track if you've arrived here from Amy's blog. The hop is kicking off on the Verve blog, so be sure to head there to get all the details!

Strong Anchor is one of those sets that has been keeping a permanent spot on my desk. I love the nautical theme, and the sentiments in this set have been really meaningful to me. Since we're in full blown summer and just celebrated the 4th, my card is a little red, white and blue nautical goodness.

I started by adding strips of red and white cardstock to my card base. I die cut an oval and stamped my sentiment. The anchors are from the Nautical Die Set, which I totally recommend as a companion to Strong Anchor! I punched a hole in the top of each anchor and threaded some twine through them. Its fun to add this ropey look to your nautical cards.

That will do it for me today.. sweetie Betty Wright is your next stop along the hop!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Strong Anchor - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Cupid's Bow, Oatmeal - Wplus9; Night of Navy, Marina Mist - SU!
INK: Night of Navy - SU!
OTHER: Nautical Die Set - Verve Stamps; Oval Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Rustic Cream Twine - PTI

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #189

Hello there and Happy July 4th!

I hope you are having a great week! It is time once again for me to share this week's Play Date Cafe color challenge.

This week's color story is burgundy, terra cotta, and icy blue. It feels a little patriotic!

Here is the card that I created for this week.

I used the Fresh Cut Florals set from Wplus9 for my card. I started by cutting a circle from the light blue cardstock. I stamped the sentiment on the layer below and then framed my flower blooms around it. The Fresh Cut Florals Die make layering these flowers so easy!

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge! You can link up your creation over at The Play Date Cafe Blog. You have through Tuesday, July 9th to play along. While you're there, you can check out the Cup of the Week prize from this week's challenge sponsor, The Memory Nest!

I can't wait to see what you create! I hope you'll join us!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Fresh Cut Florals - Wplus9
CARDSTOCK: Oatmeal - Wplus9; Bashful Blue - SU!
INK: Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist - SU!; Coffee Archival Ink - Ranger
OTHER: Fresh Cut Florals Die - Wplus9; Swiss Dots Embossing Folder - Provo Craft; Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders

Mojo Monday 300 Celebration!!

Good morning and happy Monday!

Are you a Mojo Monday fan? This week the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge is celebrating its 300th sketch! Wow!

Julee has put together an amazing celebration and is offering 30 prizes for challenge participants! I couldn't resist joining in the festivities to help celebrate and playing along with such a fantastic challenge. Here is the 300th sketch!

And here is the card that I created:

Isn't it happy? I combined the Surely Goodness and Bloom & Grow sets from Verve for my card. I actually started with the patterned paper for this one and built the rest of the card around that. I love it when one little element can be so inspiring - and of course, the sketch really got my mojo going! ;)

Won't you play along with the Mojo Monday 300th sketch? You can link your card up to the Mojo Monday linky entry form and you’ll be in the drawing for some fabulous papercrafting goodies! For all the details, a list of prizes from over 20 different companies, and some fabulous samples using the Mojo 300 sketch head on over to the Mojo Monday blog.

AND, on top of all of that, Verve is having a special discount during the celebration!

Enter gift code 300MOJO to save 20% off your order at Verve Stamps. The gift code is valid July 1- 7, 2013. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Have a great day!

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Recipe
STAMPS: Surely Goodness, Bloom & Grow - Verve Stamps
CARDSTOCK: Pool Party - SU!; Oatmeal - Wplus9
PATTERNED PAPER: For the Record 2 - Echo Park Paper Co.
INK: Pool Party, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight - SU!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger; Slate - Amuse|Studio
OTHER: Die Cut Lace Tags - EK Success; Pearl Badge Buttons - Close to my Heart