the.amanda.sewell

Good afternoon and happy Tuesday!  Things have been   I N S A N E  lately at my house, but I did manage to get a few minutes to play with this awesome sketch by our new sketch designer this month Teri Anderson !  She has some awesome sketches that I just know you are gonna LOVE to play with - just wait and see this month (every Tuesday as usual!)  I also incorporated the color challenge colors from Splitcoast (Barely Banana, Garden Green, Close to Cocoa). With my card today, I wanted to play a bit with texture.  I used some woven fabric I had because I thought it worked with the cat tails/bull rushes, whatever ya wanna call 'em!  What do you think?  I also added the extra circle (which holds the sentiment) which was not in the original sketch!  Now it is your turn - GO PLAY with the sketch, and then post it in a gallery (like splitcoaststampers) and use the keywords SSD027 and I will come find it!!  Show us your fabby work -- we want t...

I am having so much fun playing with this set -- the tropical nature of the set, lends itself to bright summery fun colors and it has been serving to cheer me up lately!  The card says "Happy Birthday" on the inside (also from the same set, in the same font).  Layout was from this weeks sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers .   Stamps :   Tropical Birthday (Skipping Stones Design)   Paper :  Check Him Out - Just Dreamy (My Minds Eye), Green Polka Dots - Penny Lane (My Minds Eye), Pumpkin Pie (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Taken With Teal (SU!)   Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories:  Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), teal paper flowers (Prima Marketing, Inc.), Painterly Petals Hydrangeas (Prima Marketing, Inc.), white candy dots (Pebbles Inc.), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 circle punch (SU!), red grosgrain ribbon (SU!), Spots & Dots cuttlebug ...

I love Thursday! It is pizza day at my house, and that means I don't have to cook dinner so I can usually fit in a little crafting/stamping time. Of course, today I am going to try and fit in just a little bit more touch up ceiling painting time, and organizing time so I can show you my office either later tonight or tomorrow . . . I have been trying to create some Valentines/Love cards with non traditional valentine looks . . . like no massive reds and pinks. I love the way this one turned out! I created this card based on this awesome sketch HERE ! Stamps : Magnolia, Kiss Kiss (9-8217B - A Muse Artstamps) Paper : Suede Brown Light (Prism Papers), Textured Pink (Hobby Lobby), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Meadowsweet Vines (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby) Ink : Tuxedo Black Memento ink (ME-900 - Tsukineko) Accessories : Paper Frill (scalloped) - (Doodlebug Design Inc.), classic hearts - nestabilities (Spellbinders), copic ciao markers (Imagination International I...

Happy Wednesday!! We've made it halfway through another week! I decided to stamp one more sample with the Skipping Stones Design set " Buns 'n Crunches " -- This time, I made some yummy cookies. Here is the sketch by Amber Hight : and here is my card: Stamps : Buns 'n Crunches (Skipping Stones Design) Paper : Tawny Medium (Prism Papers), Baby Blue Medium (Prism Papers), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Blue Mini Dots (Express Yourself...Creatively! - Colorbok) Ink : Rich Cocoa Memento (ME-800 Tsukineko) Accessories : Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), brown satin ribbon (Michaels Stores Inc.), Corner punch (Paper Shapers - EK Success)

Such a simple, clean and awesome sketch ! I am such a sucker for sketches!!! I found this sketch over at Card Positioning Systems blog. I was lucky enough to win an awesome prize from them a couple weeks ago (thank you Gina K Designs & Tami for drawing me!), so stay tuned for some fun using that new stamp set in the coming weeks . . . This week I have been playing with Skipping Stones "Healing Wings" acrylic stamp set! As soon as I got to see it, I knew it was a must have for me! I love the butterflies, and I adore all the beautiful sentiments in the set! And now, I am headed to go stalk my FedEx guy . . . he is supposed to be bringing me my new Stor in Style file drawers (my birthday present) and I am anxious to get busy on putting them together and getting my office/stamp studio all cleaned up! See you tomorrow for the Skipping Stones Design Tuesday sketch! Stamps : Healing Wings (Skipping Stones Design) Paper : Forever Family - Gladys Pauline (Dream Street ...

This sketch was a lot of fun for me. I decided almost right away to turn it on its side -- and it worked out perfectly like that with the image I had! Hope you like my Magnolia valentine . . . more to come soon as I have been playing in my studio again since we have had some INSANELY rainy and stormy weather here in the past couple days! Stamps : Magnolia, be mine (3-8222B - A Muse Artstamps) Paper : Perfect Plum (SU!), Emma's Garden (Fancy-Free Collection - Fancy Pants Designs), Crabapple Light (P027-E -Prism Papers), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Tuxedo Black Memento (ME-900 - Tsukineko), Perfect Plum Classic (SU!) Accessories : Pink Paper flowers (Prima Marketing), sponge, long scalloped rectangles- nestabilities (Spellbinders), Classic Hearts - Nestabilities (Spellbinders), pale plum buttons (SU!), pale pink with white dots organdy (Michaels Stores Inc.), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Inkssentials Glossy Accents (Ranger), pop dots.

CHALLENGES GALORE to make this card --I am a sucker for sketches, and fell in love with this simple and clean and easy one over at Card Positioning Systems blog . (CPS148) I just knew I had to try it. Then the color challenge (CC252) intrigued me -- strange colors (Bermuda Bay (or taken with teal), handsome hunter, and certainly celery with a *pop* of pink somewhere). Oh and can't forget Monday there was an awesome Technique Lovers Challenge on SCS (TLC254 - it was quilting on a card), so I threw that in too . . . and this is the crazy finished project I came up with! I like it. What do you think???? Stamps : Funny Bras - Volume 1 (Skipping Stones Design) Paper : Taken With Teal (SU!), Handsome Hunter (SU!), Certainly Celery (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Certainly Celery Designer Series Paper (SU!), Graceful Circles - Penny Lane (My Minds Eye) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : 3D Glue Dots (Therm o Web), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), Pale pink...

If you are following me on facebook, you will know that last night I was coloring this Tilda to use today. Well, this morning I got some time to stamp (M had to go to a Precinct Committee Training Meeting and then a baptism after mowing the lawn so he was clearly too busy to care what I was up to). I created this card in a square format like the sketch, which was weird for me because I usually don't really like squares. It measures 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, which is the size that I happened to have envelopes to fit. I have really missed stamping and I am having a lot of time rediscovering my hobby. Hope you like what I came up with! Stamps : Tilda with Basket (Magnolia), Thinking of You (Hero Arts) Paper : Summer Sun (SU!), Wild Wasabi (Retired SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Sunflowers (Pinecone Press Papers) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Paper Flowers (Prima Marketing), Copic Ciao Markers (Imagination International Inc.), Clear embossing powder (SU!),...

Sorry I have been MIA lately, but as you may or may not have heard, I am pregnant again. Yep, #4 is on his/her way. I am about 8 weeks along, and have been experiencing lots and lots of nausea. We are expecting the new one to arrive around Feb 18th or so . . . crossing my fingers he/she does not come early because I SO don't want to send my birthday anywhere near a hospital. I know what you are thinking -- "But, you just had a baby" and "Don't you know you can prevent those?" and "You must be out of your mind!" Al of those are true, but M and I had a hard time getting pregnant with #3 and we did not want a huge gap in between because we were not able to get pregnant again, or worse, not have another baby, so we decided to just go for it, and SURPRISE, we managed to get pregnant on the first possible month. Figures eh? Anyway, we are really excited about it. We always wanted 4 kids and this will be our last one. That said, in my spare moments lately...

HAPPY SATURDAY!!! Another day, another sneak peek. This new Riley is PERFECT for all things soccer. I colored his uniform in the colors that my daughter happened to have this year as her jersey color -- yep, BRIGHT ORANGE! You could see them a mile away, such a funny memory! I was talking to my kids and they have both decided that they want to play soccer again in the fall. FUN FUN! This stamp will be available MONDAY night after the release party on Splitcoast! Stamps : Soccer Riley (Hanna Stamps), Tiny Talk (SU!) Paper : Black Canvas Textured (Diecuts With a View), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Soccer Collection - Dizzy Soccer Balls (Adornit - Carolee's Creations), Classic Orange (Prism) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Whisper White Craft Ink (SU!) Accessories: plain and scalloped nestabilites (Spellbinders), Orange twill tape (Jody's shares), clear embossing powder (SU!), black gingham ribbon (SU!), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International In...

I made this card for Sandra's challenge (HSC65) in the Hanna Stamps forum today on SCS. Her challenge: Since its April I thought we’d have a challenge with a play on the old saying ‘April Showers Bring May Flowers’! Create a card or project using polka dots (the ‘rain’) and flowers . Who doesn’t love polka dots!?! You can use prima flowers or flower designer paper or even a flower card using polka dot paper! Just use them both! Polka dots and flowers happen to be two of my favorite stamping things. I love how polka dots can work with both masculine and feminine cards as well as cards for children, it all just depends on size, shape, etc. I know Valentines Day is past . . . but this card is a Valentine . . . apparently I am feeling loving right now. *blushes* Layout for this card came from the CARD POSITIONING SYSTEMS blog . Hope you are having a wonderful day! I will try and get back on here a little later to show you the card I made for my color challenge I issued ...

Here is my card for today's color challenge on SCS. The colors were bordering blue, pink pirouette, so saffron and chocolate chip. Layout is from the Mojo Monday blog (MOJO82). My favorite part of this card is the kiss behind the sentiment (I used Sweet Celebrations for this). Hope you like my card. Off to get some grocery shopping done so my family does not starve! Stamps : Paper Dolls Hanna (Hanna Stamps), Kiss Me sentiment (Rubber Soul), Sweet Celebrations Hanna (Hanna Stamps) Paper : Bordering Blue (SU!), So Saffron (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Two Scoops (Basic Grey) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Pretty in Pink (SU!) Accessories : Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Sewing machine (Singer), brown thread (Sulky), clear embossing powder (SU!), Sweet and Sassy Cinderella Paper flowers (Prima Marketing), brown flocked brads (The Paper Studio), bordering blue ribbon (Ribbon FX - Hobby Lobby).

Do you have this cute set yet??? I sure hope so!!! If not, head over to Hanna Stamps and get your order in right away! Tell 'em Manda sent you!!! I had some fun playing with this set last night. While I was at my fave local scrap store (LSS), I found some fun papers with rock star themes. The inkspired me totally! I used the layout from Our Creative Corner for the first one I did. Her hair, guitar and boots all have crystal accents on them to make them plastic looking. Her skirt is colored with black spica pen. Stamps: Rock Star Hanna (Hanna Stamps), Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Jammin' - Moxxie Mix 'Em Ups (Moxxie), Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko) Accessories : Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), crystal gemstones (Swarovski), Scalloped and plain circle nestabilities (Spellbinders), clear embossing powder (SU!), Sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), Copic...

Here is my card using the color combination I posted yesterday. I had to save it until today because it is also my card for today's challenge in the Hanna Stamps Forum on SCS (HSC64)! It is my fellow DT member Di's BIRTHDAY and since she is in charge of today's challenge, she chose BIRTHDAY cards (who'da thunk?) I used the sketch from this week on SCS also (SC223) for the layout. I am excited about the response so far to the color challenge and hope more of you will participate. There is no time limit on when to have cards uploaded by, but to be included for blog candy, they must be done by the 1st Thursday of the following month (so for cards to qualify this month -- May 7th). I will then draw a name from all of the cards uploaded with the keyword ACI in the SCS gallery. Happy Stampin'!!! Stamps : Perfect Package (Hanna Stamps), Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Apricot Appeal (SU!), Certainly Celery (SU!), Cameo Coral (SU!), Solar White Classic Cr...

Sorry it took so long for me to post this one today -- my camera battery died and then I had to find the charger cord and if you saw the current state of my stamp studio, you would know why. *giggling* It always is messy, but after a release is the worst!!! Here is train Riley Moose -- released just last night after the release party. Hope you will hop on over to HANNA STAMPS and check out all the new stuff!! This one is perfect for all things little boy -- I mean, have you ever met a little by who does not have even just a tiny bit of interest in trains??? All aboard! I used the color challenge from today over at Splitcoast. The colors were so saffron, close to cocoa and bashful blue. My train was more bashful blue until I decided to put the waterfall stickles on it and it became a little less bashful, but I still really like it. Sketch came from Jen del Muro's blog -- it is her sketch for you to try from this weekend. I don't like square cards, so I changed the sk...

Who doesn't just LOVE Sophie Moose? She is so stinkin' cute and this stamp is no exception -- I think it is perfect for a birthday card, girls night out invite, or even for Mother's Day (that is coming up pretty darn quick kids, so get stampin'). I love her shoes. I admit it, I am a shoe girl. Sophie's look like Minnie Mouse shoes and that made me smile!!! I just love the random colors in this paper (soft sky, pink passion, and prism frosted amethyst) -- they would not be colors I would choose to put together on my own, but they totally work with this card. The layout is another creation using the Featured Stamper challenge. You can see the original card HERE . This Sophie will be available to purchase at Hanna Stamps on Monday after the release party. Stamps : Perfume Sophie (Hanna Stamps), Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Soft Sky (SU!), Frosted Amethyst (Prism), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), The Sweet Stack (DCWV) Ink : Onyx Black V...

This set is just darling and the timing could not have been better to get working with this one. I just found out one of my friends is expecting and I am SO excited for her. YAY! This set will be available to purchase at Hanna Stamps on Monday after the release party. I hope you will come to the release party at Splitcoaststampers in the Hanna Stamps forum , it is always fun - contests, prizes, and fun chatter. When I saw the flowers on this dress, I was reminded of this paper in the Sugared collection by Basic Grey. When I actually put them close together, I was so excited because they match so perfectly!! Layout is the Featured Stamper (FS113) on SCS for today, original card can be seen HERE . Be sure to go check out what the rest of the DT has been up to this month -- the links to their blogs are on the side bar on the right! Stamps : Mommy to Be (Hanna Stamps), Sentiment (Series 14, Katie & Co. - Studio G Clear Stamps - Hampton Art) Paper : Sugared (Basic Grey), Pret...

Not me!!! I made this card for Sketch Challenge 220 . I used Beate's tutorial on making texture with alcohol markers which is now available on SCS to create the dotted texture on the umbrella. I loved this set the moment I saw it. It was one of the sets that made me want to be on the design team for Hanna Stamps . . . and about a month ago I discovered that I did not own it yet. EEK! So I decided I needed to have it and promptly ordered it. Then I got busy doing other stuff and had yet to pull it out . . . well, today I managed to play with it finally. Hope you like what I came up with for this sketch! Stamps : Rainy Day (Hanna Stamps), Miss You (Amuse Artstamps) Paper : Yo Yo Yellow (SU), Baby Blue Dark (Prism Papers), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Flowers - PL-172 (Me & My Big Ideas) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Clear embossing powder (SU!), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), blue grosgrain with white dots (Dots Dashes & C...

I had one last card to show you from the Hanna Stamps bowling set . . . this one features a trophy for the world's best dad. When I saw this trophy, I immediately thought of this idea, but it seemed the least exciting to make, hence it is the last complete. Anyway, I used the sketch from the CCEE Stampers blog, which I just discovered this week. Stamps : Bowling Hanna (Hanna Stamps), Everyday Sentiments (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Not Quite Navy (SU!), Handsome Hunter (SU!), Night of Navy (SU), Blue Plaid (Keepsakes Designs) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : 1 3/8 and 1 1/4 inch circle punches (SU!), sewing machine, white thread, clear embossing powder (SU!), diamond stickles (Ranger), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Blue Sheer dots organdy - Dots, Dashes & Checks (Michaels Stores, Inc.), gold prismacolor pencil.

I created this little good luck Riley card with intentions to make it less traditional St. Paddy's day looking. I think I succeeded. I just love coloring this guy and I love the way the diamond stickles look when I put them over top of my copic colored/prismacolor gold pencil colored horse shoe. I figure this card could be sent on St. Patricks Day, or even for another occasion where good luck wishes are in order. I recently discovered the Card Patterns - Weekly Blog Sketch blog here on blogspot, and I am such a sucker for sketches, I used their sketch this week for the layout. Stamps : Goodluck Riley (Hanna Stamps), St. Patty's sentiment - Studio G Clear Stamps - Series 26 (Hampton Arts) Paper : Waild Wasabi (SU!), Sultry Paper Pad (Basic Grey), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Inkssentials White Gel Pen (Ranger), Jewel brads (SU!), sewing machine, white thread, clear embossing powder (SU!), diamond stickles (Ranger), copic...