A new Stamp Set and a new Illustrator

Good Morning! Are you ready to hop some more??? Today's featured set is called "Heartfelt Friends" and it is illustrated by a brand new stamp artist. I'm pretty sure you'll agree with me that her images are fun and very easy to work with!

This set includes 6 images that will make you smile just looking at them. I can't decide on a favorite and I've been trying for a while now.

This first card uses a red Bazzill cardstock base, Imaginisce paper from the Loves Me line, some Bazzill Bling embossed with a cuttlebug folder, my cute hippo image colored with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and then highlighted with an Inkssentials white pen and the heart painted with Royal Red Shimmerz. I airbrushed the background of the image with my Copic airbrush system. Then I added the glitter heart by Scrapworks and Dew Drops :)

This second card is a gatefold card. I hadn't made one for a while, so decided to with this fun frog! Again Bazzill card base. The patterned paper is from Cloud9Design. I used my nesties to cut the image and the matting. I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and painted it with key lime and royal red Shimmerz......I think I'm starting to use Shimmerz as often as I use Dew Drops! I tied the gatefold card with celery grosgrain ribbon. Oh, the Be Mine stamp is not in this set, it's from one of the Michaels $1 sets.

This third card, I made for the SCS Sketch Challenge. I used a Bazzill cardstock base and "Love is in the Air" patterned paper by Imaginisce. I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx Black and colored it with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits. Then I painted the flamingos with Bubblegum Shimmerz (you can see the sparkle in the closeup picture). I inked around the image and did some doodling and then matted in with Bazzill. Then I added the sparkle hearts by Scrapworks.

See the Shimmerz??? :)

I hope you enjoyed seeing these cards made with the featured stamp set "Heartfelt Friends". Remember our blog hop....visit each of the dt member's blog and leave a comment for them. Then go to the 2RedBananas blog and leave a comment answering the question. We are having so much fun doing this and we hope you are having fun hopping!

Our quote for the day: "Love is an irresistable desire to be irresistably desired." - Robert Frost


Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

the Value of Joy

Good Morning! So are you enjoying all this blog hopping that we're doing this week? I sure hope so! Today's featured set is Jami Bova's third set to be released this month. It's call "The Value of Joy" and is such a SWEET set! I just LOVE it!

For this card, I used one of the two sentiments that come with the set. To see the other sentiment you'll have to start your blog hopping ;). I had alot of fun with this set because I used Shimmerz and Blingz on both of my cards. Great image for that :)

For this first card, I started with a cream cardstock background and then layered some Webster's Pages papers, first the brown is "Bountiful" from the Inspired collection, then the blue is "Peacefulness" again from the Inspired collection. Then a layer of Bazzill Bling and then another layer of the "bountiful" paper, then my image. Since I put so many layers on the image, I chose to stamp the sentiment directly on the "Peacefulness" paper and use it that way. I colored with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and added bubblegum shimmerz to the flowers. I also used the brown wrinkled ribbon to tie the sentiment on.

This second card is made with softer colors again. I started with a periwinkle cardstock base and then layered Webster's Pages "Secret Garden" paper from the reflections of nature collection. I colored the image with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and then added both Shimmerz and Blingz to this one. You can see these better in the close up picture. I sponged Antique Linen distress ink around all the pieces. The corners are punched from an EKSuccess corner punch and are Bazzill bling and then you know I had to add some dew drops since the first cards doesn't have any :)

In this picture, you can see the Shimmerz and the Blingz really well. The Shimmerz is Lilac colored and is on the flowers. The Blingz is December Sky and is on the puppy's bandana. The difference between the Shimmerz and the Blingz is that the Blingz is a little chunkier, you get bits of shimmer instead of a really smooth shimmer. It's FUN!

Now to the blog hopping. If you've been hopping with us all week, you know one thing you have to do is visit all the dt member's blogs and see what they did with the featured set today. Then leave them a comment. After that, go to the 2RedBananas blog and answer our question of the day in a comment. Then you will be eligible to win the blog candy for today, which is a set of "the Value of Joy" stamps!!!! So get hoppin'!

Our quote for the day: "Beauty is whatever gives joy." - Hugh Nibley

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy hopping around with us today!

A little Snowman Love

Good Morning!! Are you ready for a little Snowman Love???? This is the set we are featuring on the 2RedBananas blog today. I know you're saying what do Snowmen and Love have to do with each other especially in February right??? Well, in Iowa, we still have about 8 to 10" of snow on the ground and will have much more before winter is over, plus snowmen are just fun! I love to look outside at them while sitting inside drinking my coffee :) So, I decided that a stamp set that has elements of Snowmen and Valentine's Day would be FUN! And so, here it is :)

My first card uses Imaginisce paper from the Loves Me line. I rounded all the corners, something I don't often do, but always like!
I stamped the snowman images in Memento black ink and colored with Copics. The arms I stamped on brown cardstock and the heart on red and then cut them out. The "Be Mine" sentiment is separate from the heart, there are other sentiments you can use to put inside the heart. I pop-dotted the heart and wrapped the arms around the snowman, you can see this better in the close-up picture.

You can see in this picture what I did to the blue background much better. I used the glue pad and stamped the trio of hearts and then glittered them with blue water colored glitter. ( I didn't clean the extra glitter off as well as I thought, sorry about that). I also glittered the outside of the snowman with a quickie glue pen and regular colored glitter.

Then I tied the heart ribbon onto the card. My favorite thing about this set is how the snowman can hold the little heart with sentiments in it. You could also have him hold other things, like punched out stars etc.

For this card, I made the snowman the same way except I left his arms out and put mittens on them. I also painted him with Angel Wings Shimmerz (you can see that better in the close up picture).

Here you can also see the sparkle of the ink that I used for the background snowflakes. It's Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance and it's my favorite ink for snowflakes.

No glitter needed :) Oh and I also added dew drops to this one, did you notice the card above doesn't have dew drops on it.......gasp!!!!

The dt has rocked this set as well, so be sure to visit their blogs and leave a comment.

Jami

Maraya

Teresa

Wendy

2RedBananas blog

Then go to the 2RedBananas blog and we have a question for you there. Have fun hopping!

Our quote of the day: "In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the BEST THING to hold on to in this world in EACH OTHER. " - Linda Ellerbee

Thanks so much for stopping by and stop by again tomorrow for some more blog hoppin'!!

Peeks at Come Home Soon

Good Morning!! Are you ready for another round of blog hopping??? We are having so much fun reading all your comments about the things you like to use in your creations, we're going to do it again!

This stamp set "Come Home Soon" is the 2nd to be released by Jami Bova! She is sooooo talented! The way she thinks through her images so they will be easy to work with and yet she keeps all the detail, WOW!! She amazes me!! This set has the large image and then the circle with "Land of the Free Because of the Brave" written in small print on the perimeter. Then Jami has designed little images to fit inside the circle, very cool!

Okay, for my card I stamped the image in Versafine Onyx black and colored it with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits. The ribbon looks kind of purple in this picture, but it's not, it's navy blue and looks navy blue in real life :)

I stamped the support ribbon in black onto yellow cardstock and cut it out. I adhered it onto the circle and then punched the circle out with my 1 1/2" circle punch (Jami's so smart to make it fit like that :) I matted it on the same dp that I used for my card background and then pop-dotted it over the corner of the image.

This is an awesome set with so many possibilities. I can't wait for you to see all the different ways the dt has used this set. You also have a chance to win this set! Be sure to go to the 2RedBananas blog to get all the details.

Also be sure to check out all of the dt's blogs, cause you know that will be part of the blog hop :)

Jami, Wendy, Maraya, Teresa

The chance to win the set will be open until 9:00am EST tomorrow, January 28, when we will randomly choose a winner and the next blog hop will begin. We hope you're having fun with these blog hops, we sure are!

Our quote of the day: "A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child." - Abraham Lincoln

Have fun on the hop and we'll see you again tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!

January Journaling Spots :)

Good Morning!! Are you up for some more blog hopping today? We have more blog candy at the end :)

Today, we are introducing you to the January Journaling Spots. There are two sets, one with snowflakes and one with a mitten and sentiment. My first layout, which is an 8X8 so you can get an idea of how big the stamps are uses both of the images in the January Journaling Spots2. I love how the journaling spots are an embellishment to your page as well as just being a place to write! You can decorate the mitten in many ways, all I did was stamp it on blue cardstock and used a Twinklette pen to put some green glittered ink on the stripes and around the edge. It was so easy and doesn't take away from the pictures, which is always my goal when scrapbooking.



Recipe:
Paper - October Afternoon - Night Light "Katie", green bazzill and blue cardstock
Ribbon - May Arts Solid Iridescent - sage
Embellishments: Dew Drops - Water, Marvy scalloped punch, paper piercer, pop-dots
Ink: Versafine - Onyx black

This one uses the January Journaling Spot set. It comes with snowflakes and a "January" stamp. We get LOTS of snow here, so I got to use one of my pictures to write about how I love to watch the snow falling from the sky. I never would have thought to use orange on a snow layout, but I really like it. I'm going to have to think outside the box a little more often :) This one also uses one of the new May Arts ribbons - the Burlap/Woven string in Natural.

Recipe:
Paper: Webster's Pages - Parlor Collection - "Southern Comfort", Bazzill - orange, regular blue and brown cardstock.
Ink: Versafine - Vintage Sepia
Embellishments - one of the NEW ribbons - May Arts Burlap/Woven String - Natural, Dew Drops - Flame

Okay, for all of you blog hoppers, you need to know my answer to the question. My favorite ribbon is textured ribbons. I love texture, whether it's sheer with sparkles, or grosgrain, or this burlap, or the new suede leaves, I just love what texture adds to my projects :) Leave a comment here, so you can be entered into the blog candy drawing, and if you want to tell us what your favorite ribbon is, we'd LOVE to know!

Be sure to hop to the other DT member's blogs to see what they have done with this set and to get their answer to the question, and make sure to comment on their blogs too. Then hop back to the 2RedBananas blog to leave your comment there.

Our quote for the day: "Dreams are the touchstones of our character." - Henry David Thoreau

Thanks so much for hopping along with us again today!!!

It's time to Hop around to see the Sneak Peeks :)

Good Morning!! I'm so excited to be sharing the Sneak Peeks of the very first 2RedBananas exclusive stamps which will be released on Monday, February 2nd. We have a really fun week in store for you so get ready to do some hopping and some answering and hopefully even some winning!!!!

Before I tell you about my cards, I want to let you know how our blog hop is going to run. You want to start at the 2RedBananas blog. From there you will go to our dt blogs in this order:

- 2RedBananas blog
- Jeanette
- Maraya
- Teresa
- Wendy
- Jami

In the post on each of the dt's blog there will be a question for you to answer, nothing hard, just some fun things to know. Be sure to answer the question in the comments for that dt member's blog. Then you hop to the next blog and do the same thing. You will get to see some really cool projects made with our first stamp set. You will end on Jami Bova's blog and see the blog candy that she will be giving away. It will be fun and very easy! And you may win some blog candy!!! :)

I'm so excited to have Jami Bova illustrating stamps for 2RedBananas. Her talent is AMAZING as you will see in the coming months with all her fabulous images! The first one we are featuring is "the Gift". If you follow Jami's blog, you know she said this set is her form of "doodling", this is fine art to me :) This set has 5 images and 2 sentiments that can be used for many occasions! It's awesome!

For this card, I started with an ivory cardstock base and added dp from Webster's Pages called Secret Garden. I stamped the images in Versafine Vintage Sepia and colored with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits.

As you can see better in this picture, I added lilac shimmerz to the wrap. You can also see the shimmer of the Bazzill Bling in this picture. I used a border punch on the Bling and then put it all together. Oh, I used the lilac shimmerz in the heart of the sentiment too. That is pop dotted over the ribbon. I really love this stamp set!!!

I wanted to make this card a little different, so I made it a matchbook card. The front panel tucks into the bottom bordered flap. I kept this one really simple. I stamped the images on kraft and colored with prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits, this time making the wrap white and using Angel Wings Shimmerz. I matted the kraft on white and added ribbon and dew drops. I stapled the bottom flap up so the front panel just tucks into it.

I'm so excited about sharing these stamps with you. Be sure to go to the 2RedBananas blog so you can start at the beginning of the blog hop and play along with us.

We will be doing sneak peeks every day this week and the stamp sets will be released on Monday, February 2nd.

My question for you to answer is

What is your favorite embellishment?

I would have to say that mine is dew drops, I seem to put them on everything :) Be sure to leave you answer in the comments.

Then hop on over to Maraya's blog.

Our quote for the day: "Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them" - Leo Tolstoy

Thanks so much for stopping by and go have fun hopping around with the 2RedBananas dt!

Be Mine :)

Good Morning! I hope everyone is keeping warm! Still snow here :)

Sorry that I haven't been posting as often recently, but hopefully next week, you'll think it was worth the wait! Most of the things I've been making recently are for the "Week of Peeks" for 2RedBananas. It starts on January 26th on the 2RedBananas blog.

This card was made for one of the SCS challenges, but it's WAY past the day they posted it, so I'm just going to post mine here. We were to do a faux mosaic by using tacky tape and using embossing powder as the 'grout'. I did that and used black 'grout' then cut a heart with one of my quickutz dies and stamped "Be Mine" in the center and then added the primas and the stickles for the centers of the flowers. It was pretty fast once I got the background finished. Definitely a fun technique!

Our quote for the day: "I may be a beginner at some things, but I've got a black belt in shopping!" - Phyllis Nefler, Troop Beverly Hills

Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping by!