Red, White & Blue Rah-Rahs!!

Hi & Happy Tuesday to Ya! Today is Try It Out Tuesday for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design so check out all the details below!


This week is "Try It Out Tuesday" #25 and I challenged the DT to make a creation using Red, White & Blue since July 4th is just around the corner! Do you have some awesome plans to celebrate the 4th? We'll still be in Hilton Head Island whooping it up until the 5th, hee hee! I used one of the cutie-patooties "Julia" from Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD-Series 2! I decided to have her cheer on the "4th" very patrioctically! The dp is from Melissa Frances "Lil' Man" and I used my Stampin Up star punches for the accents & topped some off with glitterdots! The sentiment is from PTI's "Mega Mixed Messages". The entire card got a nice big spritz of Baby's Breath Shimmerz Spritz!

To make her lil' pom-poms pop more I added some fun Sparkle Fluff in blue & red--so fuzzy soft & very sparkly IRL! Such a fun & easy product to use--check it out HERE! Now make sure & hop over to Susana's store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see the rest of the DT's red,white & blue creations!!

hugz,

Suzanne

RELEASE DAY!!

Happy, happy Friday to you all!! This has been like the longest week of my life, LOL--or so it seems! Only 7 more days until we leave for Hilton Head Island for 2 weeks---woohoo--I cannot wait! But I've got sooo much to get done before we leave--work projects, lotsa errands, and 5th grade graduation events for my son! Tomorrow my son sings at the Frederick Key's game (minor league baseball) with his chorus so that should be lots of fun & on Sunday I have my next Copics class. If you're around the area & would like to take a Copics Class with me, my next class will be July 26th (1-4:30)--email me if you're interested--you'll learn alot & have a good time I promise!!

**If you haven't entered for my 200,000 Blog Hits BLOG CANDY, you still have until tonight at midnight to do so right HERE! Winner will be announced on tomorrow's blog post!!
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Want this badge?"

So today is RELEASE DAY for Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD-series 2--YAY! All stamps are now available at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design! Anki did a wonderful job on these images--they're all fabulous! Today I've used "Emilia" so sweet with flowers in her hair & her lil' basket ready for a picnic. I created a fun stair-step card for her using Basic Grey's "Wisteria" dp--I wanted it to look like she was in a field of wildflowers! The sentiment is from a Heidi Grace set (from AC Moore)--love it! The whole card was spritzed with Shimmerz Spritz (baby's breath). The DT (on sidebar) has more projects using these sweet stamps on their blogs today, so hop around to see them all! So don't delay...hurry & get your own Anki's Sweethearts to play with!


My second cards for ya today are some fun beachy notecards I made using Lockhart Stamp Co.'s "IB Sand Bucket"-available at Susana's store! I just love these colors together, so peaceful & beachy (my rec room is painted in these soothing colors)! I embossed the baby blue panel--so pretty; image is colored w/ Copics & popped w/ dimensionals. Then I spritzed the entire card with my fave Baby's Breath Shimmerz Spritz (a must-have)--nice and shimmery! I made 4 of these notecards using sentiments from PTI's "Mega Mixed Messages"--2 thankyou's, 1 hello, & 1 birthday! If you love these they are available for sale (I have 2 sets for sale) in my Etsy shop, link on sidebar! I just love 'em, might have to make me some too--LOL!

Alrighty, I'm outta here--I have lots to do! I'll see you all back here tomorrow! Oh and thanks for all the uplifting & funny stories you've left me--I've had some great laughs, LOL!

hugz,

Suzanne

Double Time!!

Welcome back friends & Happy Thursday! I have to tell you all a BIG secret...shhhh....now promise not to tell okay? I have taken my hubby's toolbox and I am building an ARK!!! LMBO-- No lie, we here in VA need an ark to survive this summer I do believe. We've had over 6 inches of rain in a matter of days & more storms & rain on its way. I have NEVER seen soooo much rain & flooding in my entire life--hideous people, just hideous I tell ya...hmpfffff!! I'm gonna float away in my ark to somewhere sunny 300 days a year--so if you happen to live there you will see me floating by real soon, 'kay!!! LOL! Floating on.....both projects today use the SCS Sketch so it's Double Time!!

**If you haven't entered my 200,000 BLOG HITS BLOG CANDY, you have until tomorrow nite at midnite (EST) to do so right HERE!**

**If you entered to win my Patriotic Tilda project & your name is...........

Kelly L of Wishin' I Was Stampin'

Then you have won my Tilda project, so email me your addy so I can get it out to you before the floods come forth in my house, hee hee! Congratulations & thanks everyone for entering & leaving me so many sweet comments--makes me so very happy!! The Magnolia-licious DT will have another blog hop coming in July for you too!
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So today I have another fun sneak peek of the NEW Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD that will be available to buy at Susana's store tomorrow!! You can enter to win a whole set & a signed print over on the store blog "Follow Your Heart"--but the deadline is 11 pm(EST) tonight to enter, so hurry on over there!!

Today I've used "Soccer Isac" for my card and the SCS sketch #232--love this sketch which is why I used it twice (giggle). I colored him up with Copics to match this fun dp from DCWV's "Grade School Stack" and added some diamond glaze to his soccer ball for shine. The back panel was embossed w/ my Cuttlebug folder, I added some fun glitterdots and the sentiment is from Gina K's "Kindred Greetings for Kids". Susana has also come out with a set of Susanaments (sentiments) for Anki's new stamps that match up well too, and those will be available tomorrow also. Don't forget to hop around the DT blogs today to see some more sneakie peekies (list on sidebar) and stop by the store blog to enter for the yummy blog candy!

Second card today uses the same sketch but this time I used a new stamp from the "Graduation Collection" available at Magnolia-licious. Isn't this "Graduation Tilda" so cute in her cap & gown--they have "Graduation Edwin" too which I'll be making a card with next week to give to my son for his 5th grade graduation! I embossed my shimmery silver cs from PTI--such a fun look! The dp is from DCWV "Alphabet Stack"--I love the shimmer in the letters and so much fun to use for a graduation card! After coloring Tilda with Copics I added some Pixie Dust Shimmerz to her cap & gown--gotta have some bling on graduation day ya know. I also added some blue to her gown & in the cardstock so it wasn't all b&w--break up the colors a bit. That is a metal plaque that say's "Congrats" that I put on cs & added stars to the side--fun!

Hope you liked both of my projects today & don't forget to stop back by tomorrow for the Anki's Sweetheart release & another sneakie peekie of the new Whiff of Joy stamps "Women's Delight"!


hugz,

Suzanne

New Sweetheart Release!!

Hi friends & Happy Wednesday--halfway thru the week we are!! Glad you all liked my grumpy "Poncho" pictures yesterday--that cat is such a lil' diva I tell ya. When he's unhappy with me for whatever reason he follows me around the house screeching--especially when we leave for vacations, oh boy--he is not happy. Sits in my suitcase screeching & then screeches more at me when I get home, hee hee--I love him to bitz though!! Guess he's gonna be really mad cuz come next Saturday we're leaving for the beach for 2 weeks, LOL--luckily I have a good friend/neighbor who comes everyday and checks on them & feeds them. Whoever said cats like to be left at home never met my 5 cats--they hate it, they're all pretty social which I like!! Anywho, I've got some sneakie peekies for ya today so make sure and scroll all the way to the bottom!

**If you haven't entered for my 200,000 Hits BLOG CANDY you have until Friday, June 12th to do so right HERE!**

So first up is the new "Anki's Sweethearts for SCACD-Series 2" sneak peek for ya. These new stamps will be available at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design on Friday, June 12th! The entire DT (on my sidebar) has sneak peeks of the stamps today & tomorrow so make sure & hop around to see all of them (we all used a different stamp). There is also some YUMMY BLOG CANDY up at the store blog HERE if you'd like to enter!

I used "Cathrine" for my sneak today and isn't she a cutie with her lil' kitty friends--speaks right to my heart! I paired her up with this soft & lovely dp from Melissa Frances--love the colors, so pretty. She's colored with Copics and then I put a nice coat of Shimmerz (pixie dust) on top of her dress, stickles on the flowers and then my fave' Kaiser pearls. The fun ball trim was given to me by my friend Katharina (WOJ) for my birthday & I loved it paired with this image--kinda like the ball of yarn the kitty is chasing! I also spritzed the whole card with my fave "Baby's Breath" Shimmerz Spritz. Now make sure and hop around the DT blogs to see their fabulous sneakie peekies! Lots of fab & cute stamps to be seen!

Second sneak peek for you today are some more fabulous stamps from the new Whiff of Joy "Women's Delight Collection" by Elisabeth Bell--all of the images are fantastically beautiful I tell ya! (these stamps will be available for purchase on June 14th) I stamped the beautiful swing and colored with copics & cut out w/ my oval nestabilities, then after coloring Willow the Bride with Copics, I cut her out & popped her up on the swing with dimensionals. Her dress got a nice coat of Shimmerz (pixie dust) and the veil was done with diamond Stickles--so she's nice & shimmery & beautiful! The sentiment is from Whiff of Joy too--lots of good sentiments to use. The dp is some of my fave from Anna Griffin & roses are Prima. Whatcha' think? Now don't forget to hop around the DT blogs to see their ultimately beautiful creations with these stamps--their blogs HERE.

See ya back here tomorrow--
hugz,

Suzanne

Stamping Crazy!!

Hello Stamping Friends! I'll keep my monologue here kinda short for you today since I have lots to share with you! Fun projects today and some new video tutorials too! Thank you all for your wonderful support, encouragement and kind comments concerning my videos--I hope that they are helpful to you all!

Today is "Try It Out Tuesday" over at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design store blog, Follow Your Heart! Today I challenged the DT to make a 2+2 card---2 layers not including base and 2 embellishments. And no I did not cheat, hee hee--my image, sentiment & ribbon are all attached to one layer!! This cutie-patootie stamp is from Anki's Sweethearts called "Isac with Skateboard"--so cute! I'm always on the lookout for cute boy stamps! My second layer is this fun Basic Grey dp from their "Cupcake" stack, twill ribbon is from PTI and sentiment is from Gina K. I also embossed my red layer for some more texture. Make sure and stop by the Store blog today to see the rest of the DT's fun creations!

My next project I'm just giddy with excitement about, hee hee! I absolutely love how this all turned out & was conceived in my head (when I should have been sleeping) last week. It all started with these little tea towels I had picked up at the Target $1 Spot--I got some white ones and pink ones to play with and knew I wanted to try and stamp on them!

Appropriately enough, I used the Lockhart stamp "Teapot" for my projects which include a decorative tea towel, notecard and tea box (of my own design). The lovely dp is new from Stampin' Up!

I stamped my tea towel with my Lockhart stamp using Memento Black Ink & then colored it in with Copics--yes I colored on fabric with Copics!! Love it! I was even able to shade on the fabric--how cool is that! I then heat set it with my heat gun---you could wash this a few times before the ink fades, but is mostly decorative!

For my notecard I stamped the same image, colored with Copics and then added Diamond Glaze to my teapot & cup. The lil' cupcakes/muffins have a topping of Liquid Pearls in pink for dimension--so cute! The pearls are actually Bella Baubles in Oyster!

The above picture and the one at the top shows my lil' accordian Tea Box that I created and made a template for a few months ago. (NOTE: if you make/use my Tea Box please give credit where credit is due and do not use it for submissions or publications please!) You can find my tutorial for this HERE and it's also on my sidebar under Tutorials/Templates. Super easy to make and it holds 4 tea bags inside--so such a cute gift presentation. I used a pearl brad to attach my Bazzill flowers to the top---it also sticks to my small Basic Grey magnet on the front for closure.

I hope you enjoyed my projects today--leave me a comment (I love 'em) and let me know how you liked them all!

Here are 3 more links to some Video Tutorials I've made for you (also linked in my sidebar):

Copic Coloring Tutorial--coloring Lockhart flowers (Delphinium & Peony):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRX2q3-52s0

Flower Soft Tutorial--how to incorporate it into your stamped images :

Find Flower Soft products HERE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oigb1ayGU5M

Copic Coloring Tutorial--coloring of Lockhart Apples in Chintz (realistic images):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTCjhF-Z9lg

Let me know how you like them all! Have a great Tuesday!

hugz,

Suzanne

Smooches to Ya!!

Hi & Happy Tuesday! I have to tell you that for a few days, I actually enjoyed not having my laptop attached to my hip, LOl! It was kind of a breather for me and I got some spring cleaning done, watched a TV show from beginning to end & even read a whole book--WOW! But yesterday after getting my laptop back I was all set to catch up and get back to business, ya know! Well the universe had other plans for me I guess---my email wasn't working and it just turned into an all day nightmare and I didn't get much done at all, ARGGHHHHH! But I think I fixed it and so I'm off and running (so to speak).....


I pulled out a new Lockhart image that I recieved from my friend Susana--this is "Cottage Flowers" and you can get it at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design. This sketch is actually one that I created for the "Fans of Karen Lockhart" site on PaperCraft Planet for the month of March. Create a card using this sketch and make it monochromatic, upload it at PCP and you could win a prize at the end of the month--details HERE!! I love monochromatic cards--so very elegant! This dp, ribbon & cs is all from Paper Trey Ink.

And I'm happy to announce that Susana is now carrying the single pots of Flower Soft--yahooo! I colored my image with Copics first and then added my flower soft in "lavender" and "summer mix". The great thing about the single colors is that you can create your own "mixes" so keep that in mind! I keep all my colors in small plastic (tupperware-like) containers--its easier to use that way instead of trying to smoosh it back into the pot! I have a tutorial on my sidebar on how to use it if you're interested in checking it out! And if you're worried about mailing it, don't be---it dries hard & doesn't rub off :o) And those are Bella Baubles in Merlot in the corners--love them, because they come in lots of different shapes and color variations in one bottle!

This close-up shows the flower soft, the Diamond Glaze on the jar and also a *NEW* product called "SMOOCH" (at Susana's Custom Art) which I used lightly on the leaves in green apple. This is a fun metallic paint that comes in cool nailpolish like bottles. I got to use this at CHA & LOVED it! You can use it on everything---the end of the cap has a pointed sponge tip which makes it super easy to apply to your stamped images! Make sure and check out all the fun colors HERE!

Second card today is for the "Try It Out Tuesday" Challenge for Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart! I challenged the DT to a sketch challenge (my favorite) again---you can see the sketch over on the store blog! I used one of the "Anki's Sweetheart" stamps "Young Julia with Purse"--isn't she just a cutie-pie--she's my fave out of them all! I paired her up with a Whiff of Joy background stamp that you can find here. I colored her with Copics, cut her out & popped her up on dimensionals---I also paper pieced her lil' shirt! The dp is by K&Company--

The white beads are new Metallic Dew Drops---they come in multiple colors and I just love them! The sentiment is from PTI's "Around & About Sentiments" set--I cut it out with my scalloped nestabilities and then punched the center out too so I could add some more of the dp to the middle of my circle!

I used Flower Soft again in "shamrock green" for the grass and the same Apple Green Smooch on some of the leaves. Of course there is some Diamond Stickles too--on her purse, hairbands & some of the flowers!

Make sure and stop by the store blog, Follow Your Heart to see the DT's take on my sketch challenge---fab projects for you to see! And if you haven't gotten some Flower Soft, head over to Susana's to check it out!

And help me welcome Aud Nordheim as a permanent member of Susana's DT! She wowed us with all her beautiful projects & promotion of the store during her Guest DT spot, so we just had to keep her on!

Also, if you haven't entered for a chance at becoming a Guest Designer for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design, you only have until March 12th to do so!! You can see all the details HERE.

hugz,

Suzanne

Spring Chicks!!

Hello & a Happy Tuesday to ya all! Can I just say one more time how sick I am of the cold, the wind & the gray? I am so anxious to see some green on the trees, feel some warm air and see the pretty spring flowers--makes me feel so much more productive and creative when its actually pretty outside, how 'bout you? Anyway, I made a springy card to share with you today!

Today is "Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #7" for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design store blog, Follow Your Heart! This week's challenge was to include 3 embellishments on your card from the store. I used this cutie-patootie image from Anki's Sweethearts called "Young Catherine & Friends" that you can also get at Susana's store! For my layout I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #75 which I loved! The dp is from "Daisy Bucket" I believe but not sure since they were in my scrap pile (see me using what I have, lol)!

I cheated a bit on the embellies but I did use more than 3 and the 3 from Susana's store are the Scrappers Floss bow, the daisy flower and the Shimmerz on her shirt & chicks. Those buttons are new from PTI--a whole bag for $5 of different sized buttons! The sentiment is hard to see here but its from PTI's "Spring Tag Collection" and it says "Happiness is Knowing You"--perfect!

Just a close up of my image with Shimmerz on it--I used "golden wheat" Shimmerz here. Such a fun way to add sparkle to your images! Please stop by the store blog to see what the rest of the DT has created and feel free to join in on the challenge too!
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I also wanted to let you know about the NEW Copic Bundles that Susana is carrying in her store that were put together by me personally. Each bundle has a few Sketch Copics in it that work together to get you started with Copics or to add to your collection. They come in Skin Tones, Blonde Hair 2, Brunette Hair 1, Basic Blue Jeans, The Reds, and Landscape.

The beauty of these is that for under $30 you can get a set of Copics that work together, blend well and are easy to add more to. I know most people don't have $100+ to buy a set of Copics & if you do, most of the colors do not work together well and you end up having to buy more---frustrating for sure!

I did Copic tutorials for each bundle to show you how to use them and some tips & tricks to mastering coloring with the Copics! There will be more bundles added in the future and some more tutorials to go along with them! You can find the tutorials here on my blog in my sidebar under "Copic Bundle Tutorials" and the store blog! I will also have video tutorials within the next week so you can actually watch me "in action", lol!

Hope you have a great Tuesday!
hugz,
Suzanne

Spring Fling!!

Happy Tuesday friends!! Oh, how I wish I could say "Happy Spring" to ya too, lol! Looks like we've got a few more weeks of winter unfortunately & its supposed to be yucky and snowy here tomorrow! Dumb groundhog and his horrible predictions (giggle)!! To cheer ya up (if you're in a winter hating mood like myself) I've got a couple of spring projects for you today!

I also wanted to let you in on some news of mine too---I have been guest designing for Heather Rolin of H&M Stamps for a couple of months & I'm honored & thrilled to say that she has asked me to remain on the DT for the next 6 mos---Wahooooo! So thank you Heather for asking me and if you haven't checked out her stamps--whatcha' waitin' for!! LOL! She has a few new sets coming out next month so stay tuned for those too. I'll have some projects tomorrow using some of her fun sets that are in the store right now!!

My first project today is for "Try It Out Tuesday" challenge #6 over on Susana's Custom Art & Card Design store blog "Follow Your Heart"! This week's challenge was to use any of the new "Anki's Sweetheart" stamps to make anything BUT a card! And lucky me that yesterday's Technique Challenge #208 on SCS was a round-top box template---yay! Such a fun and easy project to do---just print out the template right onto your cs and cut out, a bit of scor-tape and its assembled! The dp is from DCWV new "Whimsey" stack (fabby spring papers) and all the cs is from PTI.

I chose the "Catherine with Butterfly" stamp for my project because she just looks so carefree & spring-like to me! The sentiment is from Verve Stamps "Fairy Tales" and then I stamped over it with their flower stamp from "Beautiful You". The circles including the background one were all made with my circle nestabilities and my hole punch. I punched 2 butterflies out of vellum with my MS butterfly punch and attached them---so pretty and delicate looking! I think this would make a wonderful Easter or spring treat box---mine is filled with those yummy strawberry Whoppers (oh so good) and tied off with ribbon from PTI!!

Make sure and head over to the store blog HERE, to see what the rest of the DT has come up with for their projects! And we'd love to have you join in too! Also visit the store's PaperCraft Planet site to join in on our sketch challenge contest we have running--all details can be seen HERE!

My second project uses stamps from Whiff of Joy's new Spring stamp kit which has been shipped out to everyone (so if you ordered it, it will be their very soon)! All of these stamps will be available for individual purchase at the end of this week at the Whiff of Joy site in case you're dying for some of these adorable Elisabeth Bell cuties! (I have not recieved my Medieval stamps yet, but hopefully this week & then I'll have some projects up w/ them too)



I used 3 of the new stamps (girl, tree stump and butterfly) on this card---the sentiment is from the "Party Animal" sentiment set. Isn't she just so adorable dressed up in her spring best--I love that their are a couple of images in this set that you can "sit" on things including this stump. All the papers are from Basic Grey's "Lily Kate" paired up with PTI's spring rain cs! I sponged my sky/cloud bg and popped the girl and butterfly up w/ dimensionals. The corner brackets are a Spellbinders die and the pearls are by KaiserKraft.


Check out the rest of the WOJ DT's blogs (on my sidebar) today for more peeks at the Spring Stamp Kit--they've got some beautiful projects up!



See ya tomorrow & hugz,
Suzanne

News!News!News!!

TGIFriday everyone--yay!!! I'm ready for the 3 day weekend--kids & hubby have off on Monday for President's Day! Riley had a wonderful birthday and got lots of fun presents including a NEW XBox 360 that he's been begging for (cuz' the Wii we have wasn't enough I guess, lol) and some military games to go with it. Thank you to everyone who wished him a happy birthday---he read them all (was a little embarassed) but I knew he loved it!! He's going lasertagging with friends tomorrow and having a sleepover so the fun continues (and on Valentine's Day no less), LOL!

Okay, onto the news of the day! We've been having sneaky-peeky's of a new illustrator's stamps over at Susana's Custom Art & Card Design store site on PaperCraft Planet all week and today is the day we get to announce who the illustrator is--YAY!

Introducing "Anki's Sweethearts" for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design (exclusively)

Isn't she just a cutie-pie? Our fellow DT sistah, Anki Bargman is the new Illustrator of these wonderful new stamps called "Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design"! She's a talented lady cuz' these stamps are CUUUUTE! They are available today at Susana's store (at 8 am PST) and you can see the entire collection right HERE! And stop by the DT's blogs today to see their creations too--we all used a different stamp on our projects today (blog links on sidebar)! And stop by Anki's blog and leave her some love--I know she's been anxious about this release!!

I used multiple colors of cs to echo the fun striped Cosmo Cricket dp for a beachy feel on my card. This stamp is called "Felicia" and I love her & her lil' crab friend! She's colored with Copics and I added diamond stickles to her shell headband and sand. There's also some Diamond Glaze on her crab friend so his shell is nice & shiny :o) The sentiment is from a PTI set and that lil starfish charm comes in a package of 6 ocean charms that you can get HERE. I tied it on with some more scrapper's floss & twirled the edges. Just a cute, fun friend's card to send!

Make sure and check out the rest of these wonderful stamps--you will love them all for sure!

hugz,

Suzanne