Unity Guest: Most Wonderful Time

Hey everyone!

Happy Monday!! I am on the Unity Blog again today with my very LAST Guest Design post! WOW, it feels crazy saying that. These past two months have just FLOWN by because I've been having such a fantastic time, but at the same time the wonderful ladies at Unity made me feel like a part of the Unity family SO quickly, it also feels like I've been with them forever! I can't tell you guys how totally BLESSED I have been to have this opportunity and truly how much FUN it has been to be behind the scenes at Unity just hanging out and chatting with the girls. You couldn't find a sweeter group of ladies. Seriously.

I could go on forever, BUT for your sake I won't ;)

For today's card I am getting into the holiday spirit with Unity!! Today is the LAST day of the current SALE at Unity and I wanted to feature just TWO of the awesome holiday stamps included in the sale, Merry & Bright and Most Wonderful Time. I decided to make a shaker card because I LOVE them! Check it out:

DON'T forget to check out this week's SALE before it's gone! Click HERE to shop now!

I have had the MOST awesome time guest designing!!!

I really hope you all have enjoyed having me around :) And I REALLY hope you aren't sick of me just yet ;)

Big bloggy hugs <3

Triple Sweet Thursday: Fusion Card Challenge

Hey everyone!

Happy Thursday!! I'm on the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog again with another Triple Sweet Thursday - 3 Cards, 3 Ways, 1 Challenge! Once again I'll be spotlighting ONE challenge and rocking it THREE ways to get you inspired!

This week's featured challenge:

Fusion Card Challenge

About the Challenge:

Fusion Card Challenge offers a new challenge every other week in which you are provided with BOTH an inspiration image AND a card sketch. You use JUST the image, JUST the sketch, or BOTH. Once the entry period has ended all of the entries are opened up to voting. The entry that receives the most votes is declared the Zen Master and 3 Honorable Mentions are also chosen.

Why I Love This Challenge:

OPTIONS. This challenge is basically TWO challenges in one: and inspiring image AND a sketch, PLUS the added option of combining the two. I LOVE options when it comes to challenges, the more inspiration the better, and Fusion Card Challenge really delivers. Another thing I love is that this challenge offers the chance for our peers to VOTE. Most challenges seem to be random or judged by a design team, Fusion is more of a people's choice. And don't we all just LOVE to have a say and get a VOTE these days?

The Current Challenge:

I just LOVED this funky inspiration photo (which just happened to include my two favorite colors: teal and green!), and who doesn't love a classic sketch with banners??

3 Cards - 3 Ways - ONE Challenge

Way 1 : Inspiration Photo ONLY

For this first card I decided to pull inspiration from the photo ONLY. I chose to use the colors mostly, but I also pulled from some of the shapes on the cups which is what pulled me to use the trees from the Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude stamp set. The "Fall in Love" sentiment is also from this set.

Way 2 : Sketch ONLY

For this next card I decided to focus on the sketch ONLY. I turned the sketch on it's side and used the bullseye from the Sweet Stamp Shop Wheely Like You stamp set as my circle. In place of two of the banners I used arrows (one from Wheely Like You and the other from Made By #2). The sentiment is also from Wheely Like You. Instead of using a patterned paper I decided to create a similar effect with watercolor.

Way 3 : Inspiration Photo AND Sketch

For this final card I decided to combine the inspiration photo AND the sketch. All of the stamps you see here are from the Sweet Stamp Shop Chalkboard Sign set. Once again I turned the sketch on it's side. I stamped the hearts in the colors I pulled from the inspiration photo. In place of the main circle I used my "I Love You" sentiment, and in place of the banners I used arrows.

Don't you just LOVE the OPTIONS??

SSS Used in These Projects:

Wheely Like You

Fall Gratitude

Chalkboard Sign

Made By #2

I'm looking for MORE challenges to feature right here on the SSS blog! What is YOUR favorite challenge to play along with? Leave me a comment and let me know!

If you were to enter this Fusion challenge which route would you take? Inspiration photo, sketch, or both??

Have you checked out the SSS Pinterest and Flickr pages?

There's TONS more fantastic inspiration on those pages so be sure to click and check them out!!

And before I go I just want to say that Sweet Stamp Shop has some REALLY exciting things around the corner, so be on the lookout for the next release, I know you're going to LOVE it!

Big bloggy hugs <3

Unity Guest: Taking the Plunge

Hey everyone!

It's MONDAY again so I'm on the Unity Blog today with another Guest Designer post :D Can you BELIEVE I only have ONE Monday left as a guest designer after this?? These past two months have FLOWN by because I have been having so so SO much fun!! Have you gotten sick of me yet? I sure hope not ;)

So for today's card I thought it would be FUN to go back to the very FIRST Unity stamp set I EVER used: AH Crap!

Seriously guys, I am so in love with this set!

You can check out my FIRST ever Unity card HERE.

And check out the engagement card I created with it today:

Don't you just LOVE "Congrats on taking the plunge" for an engagement card for a fun couple with a good sense of humor?? I do!

I also have a BONUS card for you today because I got to help out the Unity team a little EXTRA by showing off the Kit of the Month!!

Check it out:

And here's what I created:

You can grab this adorable kit and get signed up for the Kit of the Month HERE!

That way you will have awesome kits just like this one shipped right to your door every single month!!

Alright sweet friends, that's all for me today!

Big bloggy hugs <3

Triple Sweet Thursday - Seize the Birthday

Hey everyone!

Happy Thursday!! I'm on the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog again today with another Triple Sweet Thursday post for you where I will be spotlighting another challenge and rocking it three different ways to get you inspired!

Today's featured challenge:

Seize the Birthday

About the Challenge:

Seize the birthday is a bi-monthly challenge (every two weeks) that is an anything goes birthday challenge with a TWIST. With every challenge you have the option of anything goes as long as it is birthday themed. BUT, they also offer a "topping" that is an optional inspiration word for those of you who, well, want to be challenged. You may enter up to 3 cards per challenge. Entries are judged and after each challenge a "Take the Cake" winner and three "Birthday Honours" are chosen.

Why I Love This Challenge:

First and foremost: ANYTHING GOES. Who doesn't love a good old fashioned anything goes challenge?! The only catch: it must be birthday. So if you made a birthday card this week, ENTER IT! But what's even better than an anything goes challenge? An anything goes challenge with an OPTIONAL INSPIRATION. I love how Seize the Birthday offers an optional "topping" for you to use as inspiration, but you don't HAVE to, so everyone can play along! Maybe one week you just aren't feeling the "topping," no biggie, just make a birthday card! Maybe the next week you are really looking to be challenged, no worries there either, they've got you covered!

The Current Challenge:

HERE is the current challenge at Seize the Birthday.

The "topping" for this challenge: Monochromatic.

3 Cards - 3 Ways - ONE Challenge

Way 1 : CAS

For this first card I wanted to stick to my favorite technique: CAS. Which seems like it would lend itself PERFECTLY to a monochromatic color palette, don't ya think? Check it out:

For this one I used a paint brush and a little water color paint to splatter the background. Next I stamped my "Happy Birthday!" sentiment from the Sweet Stamp Shop Easily Distracted stamp set. Finally I added some enamel dots and sequins and ta-da!

Way 2 : Water Color

For my next card I turned to my favorite trend: water color! Yet another style I felt would lend PERFECTLY to the monochromatic "topping"!

I stamped and embossed the adorable little cupcake from the Sweet Stamp Shop Easily Distracted stamp set (again, I know, I am just in LOVE with this new set!!). Then I did a wash of pink water colors. Once that dried I stamped my "Cupcake?!" and "Happy Birthday!" sentiments also from the Sweet Stamp Shop Easily Distracted stamp set.

Way 3 : Stamped Background

Another fun way to showcase a monochromatic color palette is to create your own stamped background.

For this one I pulled out the fun arrow from the Sweet Stamp Shop Made By 2 stamp set and the same "Happy Birthday!" sentiment from the Sweet Stamp Shop Easily Distracted stamp set. I have to apologize because one of my "orange" inks came out quite a bit yellower than I expected. BUT the awesome thing about Seize the Birthday is that even if my card does not qualify as monochromatic, it still qualifies for anything goes!

TIP: If you aren't comfortable stamping your own backgrounds just yet I recommend stamping out your background on a larger piece of paper first, giving yourself space for trial and error. THEN cut out the card bas from an area of the pattern you created that you like. This way you can choose where the edges of the pattern are, rather than risking your pattern not coming out even on your pre-cut card base.

This "topping" was pretty FUN, no?! If you play along with Seize the Birthday I'd LOVE to see your entry! Be sure to leave me a comment with a link so I can leave you some love!!

SSS Used in These Projects:

Easily Distracted

Made by #2

I'm looking for MORE challenges to feature right here on the SSS blog! What is YOUR favorite challenge to play along with? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Have you checked out the SSS Pinterest and Flickr pages?
There's TONS more fantastic inspiration on those pages so be sure to click and check them out!!

Alright sweet friends, that's all for me today!

I'll see you again next week for another Triple Sweet Thurday!!

Big bloggy hugs <3

Alyssa

Unity Hop - Hunting Season

Hey everyone!

Happy Thursday!! It's that time again, UNITY HOP TIME!! As always they have some AWESOME new releases and and AWESOME sale! You should have arrived here from Thienly's blog. If not be sure to pop on over to the Unity Blog to start from the top. Here is the line up in case you get lost:

Eryn

Jen E.

Karen

Laurel

Lisa H.

Shemaine

Thienly

You're here --> Alyssa <-- You're here

Ok sweet friends, today I am showing off the NEW releases at Unity!

It's HUNTING season so Unity has some SUPER fun new hunting themed sets, check out what I created:

FUN, no?!

And of COURSE there is a SALE!

Check out all the awesome stuff happening this weekend:

AND there is an awesome GIVEAWAY!

Don’t forget to leave a comment on all the participating blogs. We'll be giving away a fabulous Unity PRIZE to comments left on each of the blogs!!!

Alright sweet friends, as always I am the caboose to this train.

Be sure to stop by the Unity Blog if you haven't already.

And click HERE to get shopping!

Big bloggy hugs <3

Make-It Monday: Unity Guest - Keep Calm

Hey everyone!

I'm on the Unity Blog again today with another guest designer post!! Today is MONDAY, which means BACK to work or school for many of us so I wanted to share a FUN card that I think all of us could use on a Monday ;)

Check it out:

After work happy hour anyone? Lol!

I stamped and heat embossed the beer glass and then I water colored it. The foam is also heat embossed with white powder. I colored the sentiment to match with my copics.  I splattered the background with water color, added some sequins and a few dots of glossy accents and ta-da!

You can grab this awesome mug and sentiment HERE! And even BETTER, it's on SALE right now!

Speaking of sale, today is the LAST day to cash in on the current deals at Unity!

Check out all the FUN happening until TONIGHT:

Alright sweet friends, that's all for me today!

I'll see you again on Thursday for another amazing HOP!!

Big bloggy hugs <3

SSS September Release

Hey everyone!

Happy Tuesday!! Today is SUPER fun because it is Sweet Stamp Shop's September RELEASE DAY!!!

SSS is releasing THREE awesome new sets, and today I will be showing off TWO of them. Also, stay tuned because they are having a SALE and I have a coupon code for you! Alright, are you ready to see the new sets? Let's go!

First up is the ADORABLE new set, Easily Distracted!

How CUTE is that?!

And check out what I created:

I thought this one would be SO perfect for an engagement card! The diamond was embossed in white and then I watercolored. Once it dried I added my sentiments. The "ooo" was stamped using the SSS Alpha Tabs set.

For this one I once again used white embossing and watercolors. I stamped my sentiment on a separate piece of paper and popped it up. Is this not the perfect card for ANY of us crafters? Lol!

Up next, we have the super adorable Made By #2

This set is perfect for ALL paper crafters who gift their cards/projects!

I used these cuties to stamp the backs of my cards. Check it out:

Aren't they FUN??

Be sure to stop by the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog to check out all THREE amazing releases and to see TONS of inspiration from the Design Team!!

AND, as I promised, there is a SALE! Just enter the code NRS25 to get 25% off of the new releases from now until Thursday at Noon PST!

Click HERE to shop shop shop!!

Alright sweet friends, that's all for today!

Big bloggy hugs <3

Unity Guest Designer: Water Color Card Set

Hey everyone!

Happy Monday!! I'm on the Unity Blog today with another guest design post :D Are you sick of me yet? I sure hope not because I am LOVING being here!! Today is a GREAT Monday because I am starting a NEW job! It is at the same school I was already working (I'm a teacher for those of you who don't know me :)), and will be in addition to my current position. So now I have the awesome opportunity to work with Kindergarteners, First grader, AND Middle schoolers! How awesome is that? I just LOVE teaching, and the more kids I can work with the BETTER. So today, as well as my usual guest designer project, I will also be sharing some STUDENT projects with you! That's right, my awesome middle schoolers have been rocking UNITY!

So first up, I will share my guest design projects for this week!

This week I am showing off the Here's My Thought sentiment kit. I LOVE this kit, it is SO versatile!

I don't know about you but I am CRAZY for water color right now, so I made this sweet little set of cards using white embossing powder and water colors. Check it out:

Aren't they fun? And SO simple. That's what I love about this sentiment kit, it have EVERYTHING, and the sentiments are BOLD, so they can hold their own on a card!

Now, I just wanted to share some of my students' work with you!

On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays after school I work with the Middle Schoolers teaching arts and crafts classes. On Thursdays I teach Card Making! And of course, I bring UNITY for them to play with! Last week was only the second week, so the girls learned to STAMP for the VERY FIRST time!

Check out some of their awesome work:

Aren't they amazing?! LOVE!

Alright sweet friends, that's all for me today!

I'll see you again next week with some more Unity inspiration :)

Big bloggy hugs <3