Serendipity Stamps November Blog Hop #2!

Hi there fellow crafters! I hope you are all having a wonderful week leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday! It’s such a fun time of the year!

I’ve been busy making all sorts of holiday cards and have a quick and easy one for you today, but I first want to remind you that today is the first day of Serendipity Stamp’s second November BLOG HOP!!

Serendipity showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design Team’s blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 gift certificate to Serendipity Stamps! Also please note that the stamp and die of the month are Covered Bridge and Sympathy, respectively…both are half off for the month of November!

I also wanted to let you know that Serendipity Stamps is discontinuing many of their wood mounted stamps so they are having a SALE! Be sure to check the Bargain Basement for over 150 items!

Here’s a list of all the designers participating in the blog hop today…

Mary's Blog (Serendipity Stamp's owner)

Julie Warner

Beth Chiu (that's me!)

Vicki Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

I can’t wait to share this card with you today because it is super easy but it looks like you spent a lot of time making it! I used Serendipity Stamp’s Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for my sentiment…

To create this card, I started with a 4.25” x 11” red cardstock piece and and scored it using my Scor-Buddy at 2” and 5.5”. I then cut a 4.25” x 5.5” rectangle from some gorgeous Alexandra Renke Christmas patterned paper (using a rectangle die) and trimmed it into two pieces (one at 2” x 4.25” and one at 5.5” x 4.25”). I adhered these to the top and bottom of my card, making sure that the patterns lined up.

Next, I stamped my sentiment using Distress Oxide Ink in Bundled Sage. I embossed this using clear embossing powder. I die cut this using a circle die and added a scalloped frame from red cardstock around my sentiment.

I added this to the front of my card, leaving half of the circle hanging over the front flap as a tab.

I finished the inside of my card using more Renke paper, and as a final touch I added a Tim Holtz snowflake charm with a bit of jute twine and a white Nuvo drop. 

 See what I mean? Simple but gorgeous…and just think how many different combinations you can make using different patterned papers and different colored inks. This sentiment would look gorgeous in any color!

That’s it for today…as always, thank you so much for visiting my blog today. I am thankful for each and every one of you! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Serendipity Stamps September Blog Hop #2!

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well and having fun creating those fall cards! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays so I’ve been having lots of fun creating cards for family and friends. I have a fun Halloween card for you today, but first I wanted to let you know that today is the first day of the Serendipity Stamps September Blog Hop #2!

Serendipity showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design Team’s blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 gift certificate to Serendipity Stamps! Also please note that the stamp and die of the month are Pumpkins on a Fence and Creepy Wreath, respectively…both are half off for the month of September!

Here’s a list of all the designers participating in the blog hop today…

Mary's Blog (Serendipity Stamp's owner)

Julie Warner

Beth Chiu (that's me!)

Vicki Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

In other great news…Serendipity Stamps will be holding a SALE along with this week’s blog hop! Buy three items and the fourth one is free!

Today’s card features the die of the month...Creepy Wreath…this is a fabulous die that can be used to create a Halloween wreath, but it could also be used to create Christmas wreaths or any other kind of wreath!

I first created my background by inking Distress Inks in Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves onto a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock using my ink blending tool. I then die cut the Creepy Wreath twice, once from black cardstock and once from Bristol Smooth cardstock. I inked the Bristol Smooth one using the same Distress Inks.

I used a scalloped rectangle die to cut my inked panel and then layered this onto black cardstock. Once this was finished, I layered my two wreath dies together and adhered them to a small circle frame cut from black cardstock. This was then mounted onto my inked panel using foam tape to pop it up from the background.

I decorated my creepy wreath using the adorable owl from the Halloween Pops Cling Set and the extra dies included in the Creepy Wreath die set. I colored the owl using YG17, YG23, YG03, V17 V15, V12, and Y06. I used glitter papers for the ghosts and skull, and then added lots of sequins in spooky colors to bling it up a bit!

For my sentiment, I used the Creepy stamp. I stamped the image, colored it in ombre fashion using Copic markers in YG17, YG23, and YG03. I added a bit of grey with T0 and T1 on the spider webs. I then fussy cut this out and added it to the front of my card.

To complete the front of this card, I mounted my panel onto an A2 sized lime green glittery cardstock and then mounted the entire thing onto a black A2 sized card.

For the inside of my card, I stamped the Witching You sentiment and colored the pumpkin in with Copics in V15, V12, and Y6. I adhered an inked strip from my previous Distress Ink blending to the bottom of the panel and mounted this with more black and lime green glitter cardstock.

That’s all the spookiness for today! As always, thank you for visiting and have a spook-tacular week!!

Serendipity Stamps August Blog Hop #2!!

It’s Serendipity Stamp's Blog Hop time everyone!! Serendipity showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design Team’s blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 gift certificate to Serendipity Stamps! Also please note that the stamp and die of the month are Acorns and Sweetgum and Sympathy, respectively…both are half off for the month of August!

Here’s a list of all the designers participating in the blog hop today…

Mary's Blog (Serendipity Stamp's owner)

Julie Warner

Beth Chiu (that's me!)

Vicki Zimmer

Marybeth Lopez

Miriam Napier

 For today’s card I decided to create a Fall card using Serendipity’s Leaves Reverse Die and the All Those Golden sentiment.

I first created a background for my card using Distress Oxide Inks in the following Fall colors…

I blended them onto Bristol Smooth paper using my ink blending tool.

I sprinkled water onto my background and dried it with my heat tool, added more bands of color, and added more water. I didn’t blot the ink up with a paper towel in this case…I simply added the water and dried it with my heat tool.

This was the result…

I love how these inks oxidize and change colors when water is added!

I then used a stitched rectangle die to cut out an A2 sized panel to create the front of my card.

 Next, I  stamped All Those Golden onto cream colored cardstock and cut it out using a tag die. I mounted the tag onto my background using foam tape. I made a small bow from green burlap twine and added that with a button to the tag.

Next, I made another background using the same Distress Oxide Inks and cut out some leaves using the Leaves Reverse Die. I added these to the background and tag, popping some up with foam tape for dimension. I also tucked some of the smaller leaves under the twine.

 I added some sequins and tiny beads to the background and tag to finish off the front of my card and adhered this to an A2 sized cream card.

 For the inside of my card, I glued a strip from my leftover Distress Oxide background onto cream cardstock and cut these out using a smaller stitched rectangle die.  I mounted this onto an olive green mat. I then added one of my leftover leaves as a final touch.

I hope you enjoyed my Fall card today and are inspired to create one of your own! Thanks for visiting and have a fantastic week!!

Serendipity Stamps March Blog Hop #1!

Happy March everyone!!

I hope this post finds you well. It seems like everyone I know is either suffering from a cold or just getting over one, so I'm excited that Spring is just around the corner and we'll hopefully be past all of that for a while! Here in Atlanta the daffodils and the cherry trees are already in full bloom...our clue that Spring isn't far behind!

Before I share my card, please remember that today is the first day of Serendipity Stamp's first BLOG HOP for the month of March!

Serendipity Stamps showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design  Team's blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 Serendipity Stamps gift certificate.....the more blogs you comment on, the more likely you are to win!

Here's a list of all the designers participating in the blog hop today...please welcome the talented Bonnie Klass who is our guest designer this month!

Bonnie Klass - guest designer
Marybeth Lopez 
Mary's Blog (Serendipity Stamps owner)  
Julie Warner 
Beth Chiu (that's me!)
Vickie Zimmer

I couldn't resist playing with the brand new Friends stamp set this week! The images are so beautiful and I just adore the font.

 I first created the background using Distress Oxide inks in Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose on Bristol Smooth watercolor paper. I then stamped my image using Versamark ink and embossed it using gold embossing powder. I really like the combination of the pinky-peach colors with the gold metallic powder. 

I cut my image out using a scalloped square die and mounted this onto some gold glittery paper, and then onto a paler pink cardstock. Finally, I used a square foam sheet between this and my background to pop up the image and give the card a bit of dimension. I added some bling with iridescent pink and peach sequins.

I used the hearts stamp from the same set to stamp the inside of my card with the Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide ink.

Thanks guys for visiting with me today! It means so much to me!!


Serendipity Stamps October Blog Hop#1

Happy October, Friends! I'm so excited we're nearing the holidays...so many wonderful stamps and dies to play with! Holiday cards are so much fun to make and Halloween is definitely one of my favorite holidays!

Before I share my spooky card with you, I want to let you know that today begins the first Serendipity Stamps BLOG HOP for the month of October! 

Serendipity Stamps showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design  Team's blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 Serendipity Stamps gift certificate.....the more blogs you comment on, the more likely you are to win!

You have until Sunday,  October 8 at midnight to enter. Be sure to check back on the Serendipity Stamps blog on Monday to see if you're a winner!  

Here's a list of all the design team members participating in the hop...
Carol Mayne

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

Miriam Napier

Marybeth Lopez

Beth Chiu (that's me!)

Mary's Blog (the owner)

Patti Kehl

Today's card features Serendipity Stamp's Graveyard stamp, Boo die, and the Creepy Wreath die.

To create this spooky scene, I first stamped the image in Memento's Tuxedo Black ink onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper. I find this paper to be wonderful for blending distress inks, but other types of cardstock work well, too.

I then created my grass and sky by blending Distress Oxide inks in Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, and Wilted Violet. (I masked my tombstones with masking paper before blending the ink over them.)

After my inks were blended, I removed the masks and  colored the gravestones with Copic markers in cool grey tones. I then stamped the gravestones image again on Copic X-Press it paper and colored them with Copic markers, again in cool greys. I cut the individual gravestones out with scissors and placed them above the tombstones on the colored panel using foam tape. I love the look of popping up parts of my images with foam tape...it gives such great dimension!

I cut the finished image out using a frame die and popped the outside frame up with foam tape. Finally, I  added some finishing touches...the Serendipity Stamps Boo die, the bats from the Creepy Wreath die, a button from my stash and a bow made from jute twine.

I hope you all have a SPOOKTACULAR month! Good luck on the blog hop and thanks for visiting!!

SERENDIPITY STAMPS JULY BLOG HOP #2!!

Hi everyone! Ready to blog hop?

Serendipity Stamps showcases a new set of stamps every two weeks. Just comment on the Design  Team's blogs listed below to enter to win a $20 Serendipity Stamps gift certificate.....the more blogs you comment on, the more likely you'll be to win!

You have until Sunday, July 23 at midnight to enter. Be sure to check back on the Serendipity Stamps blog on Monday to see if you're a winner.  Go0d luck!

Beth Chiu (that's me!)

Patti Kehl

Carol Mayne

Julie Warner

Vickie Zimmer

Miriam Napier

Marybeth Lopez

I have two cards to share with you today. The first features the gorgeous Goldfinch stamp. I couldn't wait to play with this image...we have so enjoyed watching the throngs of g0ldfinch visiting our bird feeder this summer!

To create this card, I first stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with the Copic markers shown below. I also used BG 0000 and BG 000 on the background.

I then cut out the image using an oval die and placed a black paper doily behind it. I placed foam sheeting behind the goldfinch oval and mounted it on yellow cardstock. A black and white ribbon was placed between the layers and at the top of the oval. A touch of green jute ribbon was added at the top as well. This was then placed on a purple mat and adhered to my black A2 card.  Finally, I placed little jewels and the Serendipity Stamps Thanks die on the front.

My second card used the awesome SS And I Think to Myself die.

This little 4x4 card was so easy to make! I created the background using Distress Oxide Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, and Peacock Feathers.  I then stamped the sentiment using Versafine Onyx Black ink, cut it out using a circle die, added a scalloped circle frame in black, and popped it up using foam sheeting. I added this onto a square frame and added some black jute ribbon and sequins. Super fun and easy!!

Thanks everyone for visiting my very first post as a member of the Serendipity Stamps Design Team! I am proud and honored to be joining this group of amazing artists!

Have an awesome week everybody!!

A Big 'My Favorite Things' Thank You!

Hello friends! I just had to share this easy card I made using My Favorite Thing's new 'Big Thanks' die. It's such a great size...I just love it!

I created the background for this card by first embossing MFT's Wavy Coloring Book stamp with Ranger's white embossing powder. I then colored over my embossed image using Distress Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Broken China, and Faded Jeans, being careful to wipe over the image with a lint-free cloth as I colored so that the inks didn't stain the embossed image. I cut out the rectangle frame using MFT's Stitched Rectangle Frames die and popped the inner rectangle up using foam sheeting. I placed the entire image over a navy card and added a few Doodlebug Design Sprinkles for fun. 

Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #50...Newton Dreams of Italy

When I saw the gorgeous summery colors of this challenge, I knew I had to make a card using them. This adorable set where Newton visits Italy is one of my favorites. I can just envision Newton riding all over Italy on his purple scooter and seeing all the sights! 

I made this card using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Hillside Pop-Up Die and created the orange sky using Distress Oxide Ink in Spiced Marmalade. I then created the tree background using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Tree Borders. I colored all the kitties from Newton's Nook's 'Newton Dreams of Italy' using Copic Markers and cut them out with the corresponding dies. The purple plaid paper is from Lawn Fawn's Perfectly Plaid Rainbow paper pack. I stamped my sentiment and cut it out using MFT's Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips. A few sequins were added and voila!