Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #35 - Burlap and/or Lace!

Hello!!   It's almost the weekend!!   My weekend is booked - football scrimmages & lacrosse tryouts are taking up what is left of our precious summer weekends before the kids go back to school in September.   But speaking of September.....I'm all about the autumn cards lately, and THAT makes me happy! 

This month's Inky Paws challenge is to use burlap and/or lace on your creation.  I couldn't wait to use Beautiful Leaves again- I stamped and die cut several of the leaves and colored them in with Copic markers.   I die cut another leaf from burlap and then punched holes in the top of all of them and threaded them with gold/cream twine and tied them in a bow at the top of a brown panel I'd die cut with a decorative edge.   The sentiment was heat embossed with gold .  I adhered the panel with foam tape to a kraft card base that I'd stamped with the leaf images from Beautiful Leaves.   

I hope you get a chance to play along with our challenge!   I can't wait to see what you create!!  Have fun getting crafty!

Whimsy Stamps Product Spotlight Guest - Autumn Blessings

Hello!   I'm guesting over on the Whimsy Stamps blog today, sharing a couple of cards I've created using the new Autumn Blessings stamps and dies.  I am SOOOO ready for fall!

My first card showcases the pumpkins from the stamp set - I used a rock-n-roll technique to ink them with a bit of shading.   Aren't the font choices for these sentiments gorgeous?!  

My next card uses just the smaller stamps from the Autumn Blessings stamp set to create a background.   The sentiment was stamped on a matching piece of cardstock with several of the maple leaves stamped in Versamark for a subtle addition.   

I hope you've enjoyed my cards - are you ready for fall yet, or wanting to hang onto summer for a bit longer?   Personally, I can taste the pumpkin spice lattes and smell the leaves in the air, lol!   

Stop by again tomorrow for Newton's Nook Designs' latest Inky Paws Challenge!!

Whimsy Stamps Product Spotlight - Bold Banners

Happy Friday, everyone!   This month I'm guesting with Whimsy Stamps and today I'm focusing on their new Bold Banners stamp set and Bold Banners dies!

 I wanted to use the banner dies as a design element for my entire card, so I cut a variety of banners out from different patterned and solid papers.   I adhered them across a black piece of cardstock leaving just enough of a gap between them to create a diamond-like space.   I added some clear rhinestones to the "diamond" areas.   I stamped the sentiment with Versafine black ink onto one of the banners, taping off the ends so that it only extended between the stitched lines.   I then added clear embossing powder over the top and heat embossed.   I adhered the sentiment banner on foam tape for some added dimension.

I hope you've enjoyed my card!!   I'll be back again next week spotlighting another new stamp set from Whimsy Stamps.   Have a FABULOUS weekend!!

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Hedgehog Hollow!

We've reached day four of our August release, and today we have one last stamp set to share with you  - Hedgehog Hollow!

These li'l hedgehogs are just the cutest!!   I couldn't resist coloring the hedgehog on the mushroom and his ladybug friend.     I created my own background paper by stamping the ladybug, mushrooms, acorn and heart images and coloring them in with Copics as well.    

I added a double stitched frame to the center of my background paper, stamped the sentiment, and adhered my fussy cut hedgehog with foam tape.   Simple and sweet!

So which products caught your eye this month?   Tomorrow everything will be available for purchase at the NND store!  Woo-hoo!

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to win the “Hedgehog Hollow” Stamp Set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, August 18th at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, August 19th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Naki Rager

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Newton Dreams of New York + Dies!

Oh my goodness, you guys!   Check this out....Newton Dreams of New York!   Being a New Yorker, you know I just LOOOVE this set!   And it has coordinating dies too!  Yay!

I wanted to create a 'Big Apple' shaker card, so I used my Scan-n-Cut to cut an apple shape.   I cut the inside of the shape out with a PenBlade and used this as the frame for my shaker.   I stamped the skyscrapers directly on the acetate with Staz-On ink and then created my night sky by blending Distress Ink and stamping the stars from the Newton Dreams of New York stamp set right onto the night sky.   I like the illusion of dimension having the buildings stamped right on the acetate gives.  I filled my shaker with sequins from Simon Says Stamp & Pretty Pink Posh, and closed it up with foam  tape. 

I stamped and die cut several of the skyscrapers and positioned them across the front of my card, being sure to overlap the ones stamped on the shaker so it creates a seamless look....love that!   I really like the simple black and white buildings and then the POP of color from the shaker element! 

Okay....so I didn't use Newton.   I know, right?!?  I can't believe it either.    But it does show you the versatility of this stamp set....and I'm sure Newton will get a little love soon! ;)

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to win the “Newton Dreams of New York” Stamp Set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, August 18th at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, August 19th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Naki Rager

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Calling All Sistahs August Hop!

Hi there friends!!    It's the 17th of the month and you know what that means, right?   Time for a self-breast check!    The theme of our CAS-ual Fridays Calling All Sistahs hop this month is "Remind a Sistah", so I thought a nice (and pretty!) reminder would be a bookmark!

I used some pretty paper from Jillibean Soup  and cut it down to make a bookmark.   The edges were distressed with a sanding block,  and I added some Antique Linen Distress Ink to the edges.   I stamped the sentiment, from Calling All Sistahs, with Versamark ink onto a strip of vellum cardstock and heat embossed it with rose gold embossing powder.   I stitched the edges with a zig zag stitch for some interest, and then adhered it to my patterned paper by wrapping it around the edges and adhering to the back side.    I adhered this piece to a sturdy piece of cardboard so it can take some abuse, lol!  

I wanted the message to be visible as needed (i.e., that time of the month!), so I created a band to go around the sentiment using another pretty piece of patterned paper from Jillibean Soup.   I adhered the strip to itself loosely enough so that it can be slid on and off, and then tied a pretty twine ribbon around it as well.   

Hope you've enjoyed my project!   It's such a pretty reminder to do your monthly check!   Be sure to check out CAS-ual Fridays Calling All Sistahs collection of stamps and dies - a portion of all sales will be donated to breast cancer research and awareness programs!!!   Also, be sure to hop along and leave comments at all the stops - there will be three $15 prizes awarded to lucky commenters!!  Comment by midnight on August 19th to enter.  And if you'd like to do some shopping, feel free to use my code, KIMBERLY16, to save 15% off at the CAS-ual Fridays store!!    Your next stop is Lisa's blog - happy hopping, friends!!  

LINK LIST 

Casual Fridays Stamps 

Kara Stainbrook

Susan White

Nora Noll

Vicki Dutcher

Lori Kobular

Lydia Evans

Shona Chambers

Lisa Harrolle

             Kimberly Rendino  (you are here!)

Lisa Lahiff

Penny Ward

Jennifer Ingle

Joanna Harty

Claire Apostoloff

Diane Jaquay

Rahmat Gouse

Jeanne Jachna

Gwendolyn Estrada 

Archana Bhurke

Sue Nagata

Bonnie Sharp

Heather North

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Beautiful Leaves + Dies!

Welcome back to day two of Newton's Nook Designs' August  release week!  Today we have a gorgeous new set done in Jen's unique quilled style - Beautiful Leaves!  I love these sets!   Beautiful Flowers has been a longtime favorite of mine, and I can see this new set joining Beautiful Flowers right at the top of my list!! 

I did something a little different with my card - I die cut several of the leaves and then placed them on top of watercolor paper as a mask.   I sprinkled on some fall shades of Color Burst watercolor powders and spritzed them with water.   I let the watercolor dry and then lifted off the leaf masks to reveal this pretty piece!   

I didn't want to do too much more with it since it was gorgeous already, so I just heat embossed the sentiment from the Beautiful Leaves stamp set in the corner with gold embossing powder and then added a few gold pearls and some twine around the top of my card.   So elegant!

See you again tomorrow!

GIVEAWAY

 Would you like to win the “Beautiful Leaves” Stamp Set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, August 18th at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, August 19th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Crafty Math-Chick

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Naki Rager

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Newton's Nook Designs August Release - Raccoon Rascals!

Hi there, friends!!   It's time to start sharing the awesomeness of the August NND release with all of you!    First up is the ADORABLE Raccoon Rascals stamp set.

I stamped and colored my little rubbish-loving raccoon with Copics.  See his cute little eyes?   I didn't have google eyes in such a tiny size, so I created my own faux google eyes with Nuvo drops!

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to win the “Raccoon Rascals” Stamp Set?

This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner! 

Here's how to win: 

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team blogs (see list below)! The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blog release posts. Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning! You have until Thursday, August 18th at 9pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, August 19th. 

Check out all the awesome Design Team Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs

Lydia Evans

Larissa Heskett

Samantha Mann

Jess Gerstner

Stephanie Muzzulin

Danielle Pandeline

Naki Rager

Kimberly Rendino

Yukari Yoshioka

Let it Snow (well....maybe not yet!)

Hello everyone!   I've been a Christmas card making fool lately with all the yummy new goodies from CAS-ual Fridays.   It's a change from how I usually create my holiday cards (a week before Christmas, making a mess and stressing out in my craft room to get them DONE!), but I kind of like doing a few here and there - it'll be a lot less stress come December!

I've die cut a variety of the awesome Funky Flakes Fri-dies from glitter paper and adhered them to a grey panel.  I heat embossed some of the snowflakes from Snowy Sayings with white embossing powder as well.   The sentiment, from Snowflake Greetings, was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with navy blue embossing powder.   I adhered it on foam tape across the snowflake panel.   The panel was attached to a scalloped mat (Winnie & Walter Audrey cutaways) and to a blue card front.   Easy peasy!   

I hope you've enjoyed my card today - if you have a little extra time, why not create a holiday card or two while you're crafting?!   I think you'll be happy you did it come December!!   

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, friends!   And remember - if you'd like to shop over at the CAS-ual Fridays store, use code KIMBERLY16 to save 15%!!!!  

Golden Pineapple Thanks

Hi Friends!   I'm over on the Butterfly Reflections, Ink. blog this morning with a card featuring a lot of gold embossing and gorgeous stamps from Concord & 9th and Sunny Studio!   Check it out!

The Coolest!

I'm over on the Butterfly Reflections, Ink. blog this morning with this cutie!   Stop by and check out how this card came together!   

A Tiki-rific 40th Birthday Card!

Happy Tuesday, friends!   I've got a special card to share with you today - a card made for my husband's 40th Birthday this past weekend!  I've used the new Newton's Nook Designs stamp set Tiki Time and an older NND favorite, Years of Cheers!

I stamped the Tiki cups with several shades of brown ink and then stamped again (I used my MISTI) with Versamark and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.   The sentiment was put together using stamps from Years of Cheers, and the paper is from the Doodlebug Fun in the Sun  6x6 paper pad.  I stamped the super-cute "You're Tiki-rific" sentiment on the inside!

I hope you've enjoyed my tropical birthday card!   I know my husband did - along with the Jimmy Buffett concert tickets I gave him as a gift!!  Doesn't get much more tropical than that!   (Note - I'm still waiting on my Hawaiian vacation, lol!!)

Happy Tuesday!!

Distress Marker Spritzed Watercolor with CAS-ual Fridays!

 Hi friends!  I've got a card to share with you using two gorgeous CAS-ual Fridays stamp sets - Loving Thoughts and Lovely Greetings!

I started by coloring in the large flower from Loving Thoughts with several shades of Distress Markers and then spritzing the stamp with water before stamping down onto watercolor paper.   I love the mottled look you can get by stamping with this technique!!

I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from Lovely Greetings on a tag I die cut using the Tag Buddies Fri-Die.   A few Pretty Pink Posh sequins and a piece of pink ribbon finished off the card!

Hope you've enjoyed my card today - if you feel a shopping spree coming on, you can always use my coupon code, KIMBERLY16, when shopping at the CAS-ual Fridays Store to save 15%!!   

Have a great day!!