the.amanda.sewell

Ahh, now there we are, back in the correct season!  Finally!  I used some old Magnolia stamps (I'm not even sure they are available and the names listed below I made up) to create this card!  It features SC224 (Splitcoaststampers).  I did not realize that there was a whole gallery of all the sketches.  It is AMAZING!  Like a sketch goldmine, if you love sketches as much as I do, you have to go check it out.  At the site, use keyword:   " SCSketches " <-- or click that link and it will take you right there!   Hopefully this weekend we are headed to do some apple picking and it will really start to feel like fall here . . . it is hard with the hot desert temperatures.  I also would like to take an adventure up to Sedona to see all the pretty leaves changing colors . . . I love the fall! Stamps:   Fall Leaves Tilda (Magnolia), Autumn Wishes (Magnolia)  Paper:   Edamame (K & Co.), Solar White Classic Cr...

It's completely normal to make a valentine in September right? I just saw this paper at Hobby Lobby and totally loved it and had to make it into something.  I will just put this card away in my stash for later . . . yeah . . .It's probably because I listen to too much cheesy lovey music. I bought the Owl City - The Midsummer Station the other day and the lyrics make me smile *nothing wrong with love* Layout is  SC374 (Splitcoaststampers)  I added the ribbon on the diagonal because I decided to put the sentiment on the inside, and I thought it needed something.  I think it turned out cute! Stamps:  Heart Tilda (Magnolia), Love Notes (Gina K)   Paper :  Grey (Prism), Solar White classic crest (Neenah), Tiny Polka - Pink Tonal (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), Smitten Love (Me & My Big Ideas)   Ink :  Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)   Accessories :  Oval nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scalloped Oval nestabilities (Spell...

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...

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.

Happy Thursday . . . we've almost made it to another weekend. Today is also the last day of swimming lessons for my kids this summer -- SWEET ! I am not entirely sure that either of them will pass this level, but I know they have learned and are getting better. Okay, on to my card of the day. Today I have another Magnolia image for you . . . I colored this one awhile back too, and just now finally got time to make her into a card. I totally choked on the layout of this one. (aka, pretty boring) I was tired! I loved the colors together though, so fresh and happy. As usual I got carried away with the sewing. I briefly considered sewing quilt style across the pale dotted lines in the background paper, but I decided better of that. Thank goodness. Stamps : Tilda with Cupcake (Magnolia), Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink) - for the sentiment Paper : Creamy Caramel (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Sweet Matstack (Die Cuts With a View) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), C...

I spent all morning at home in my PJ's waiting for the electrician to show up and he doesn't come. Um, hello - can we say ANNOYING? Oh well, I did manage to have some time to stamp. I worked on the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers today and this is what I came up with. I am having fun rediscovering how relaxing coloring is and learning more about my copic markers. Oooh, and some of these Magnolia images I had not even played with yet. I even made some sponge painted clouds. Hope you like! Stamps : Cupcake Tilda (Magnolia), Just Because - Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Playful Blue Collection (Martha Stewart Create), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Soft Sky (SU-Retired) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko) Accessories : Wicker White Acrylic Paint (Plaid), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), paper flowers (Prima), yellow ribbon (Walmart), green button brads (Making Memories), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), sponge

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!),...

Happy Friday everyone!! This week has gone super fast!!! I decided that I wanted to do the sketch challenge ( SC216 ) this week and use some of the images I had colored while I was recovering, and this is the card I came up with. I know, a little late on the Valentine but the sentiment just made sense so I went with it. Anyway, off to get dressed, run some errands and play the day away with the kids! Stamps : Tilda with hearts (Magnolia), Be Mine sentiment (Amuse) Paper : Brocade Blue (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Amy Butler Belle Mat Pad (K& Company) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Copic ciao markers, chocolate chip Stampin' Write marker (SU!), sheer brown dotted organdy ribbon, circle punches (SU!), brown brads (Doodlebug Designs Inc.), sewing machine, brown thread, clear embossing powder, cuttlebug machine, Birds and Swirls Embossing folder, nestabilities (scalloped and plain circles), 3D Zots glue dots

I love new stamps . . . I know Easter is still quite a ways away, but this bunny just begged to be colored and it matched so well with the paper that I just had to make a card. I used the Mojo Monday sketch ( MOJO70 ) on the new Mojo Monday blog (Go Julee!) -- to make this fun Easter card. The close up image shows some of the glitter on the wings of Tilda. Hope you like her! Stamps : Bunny Tilda (Magnolia), Everyday Sentiments (Hanna Stamps) Paper : The Sweet Glitter Matstack (Die Cuts With a View), Close to Cocoa (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Frosted Teal (Prism Papers) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine, Orchid Opulence Classic Ink (SU!) Accessories : Wide Satin Ribbon (Jodys shares), Pink and Purple paper flowers (Prima), green brads, white gel pen (Sakura), oval punch (SU!), sponges, sewing machine, white thread, Scalloped and plain circles - nestabilities, dimensional dots, Stardust Pen (Sakura), copic ciao markers

I made these note cards to send to my cousin in Canada. Just out of the blue I felt like doing this in the past week and then imagine my surprise when today's limited supply challenge basically asked to do exactly what I had done. Here is what the challenge was: ***** Remember how long it took to collect enough stamps and colors to actually feel like you could make something unique over and over? Let's help our new stamping friends and show them that just a few stamps and colors can create very different looks. Here's what you'll need... along with the directions. STAMPS 3-4 stamps CARDSTOCK & INK white or vanilla one piece of designer paper (If it's double sided, you can use both prints!) 1-2 additional solid colors of cardstock TOOLS & EMBELLISHMENTS *any* DIRECTIONS: Make 2-4 cards using the SAME stamps, designer paper, and color scheme. Things that can change to make each card unique are layouts, tools and accessories. The ...

I had to do one more today. Why? Because 1 ) It is the weekend and I never get time to play because DH and the kids keep me hopping and doing fun stuff, and 2 ) Kraftie Kimmie has a contest on her blog to win a Tilda, and I had to make an entry!!! I had lots of fun with this one. The color combination came from Scraptitude and I found the paper in my collection of 12x12's to match it - kind of. Since it did not match perfectly, I used some of my prismas to gently color over the flowers that were not quite right in colors that matched. (I know, that is scarily AR and yes, I am getting help for it *giggles*) The other cool thing I did on this card is I took a Heidi Swapp ghost flower mini and embossed it in clear and dipped it in some of my Art Institute glitter (green - although it looks kind of gold in the close up). Then I punched a hole in it using my cropodile (which went through it so easily) and added the small prima flower on top and a brad. I think it is a really cut...

All week I have been wanting to get some stamping time in, but my body would not let me and I would crash shortly after putting the kids to bed each day. Well, last night I made myself stay up. I ate a brownie with frozen yogurt and caramel sauce (OMGosh so yummy) and watched Greys Anatomy (a NEW one which was SO good). Then I went in my office and milled around and blog hopped for about ten minutes trying to figure out what to do and then I remembered all the tabs I had left open on my computer with challenges that I wanted to do . . . I started stamping. My Magnolia stamps have been calling my name! I only managed to finish one card - but it turned out pretty! It was for CC148 which was wild wasabi, barely banana and blue bayou (or bordering blue). These colors just screamed Easter to me, so I went with it, even though it is still quite a ways away. I blame it on my local JoAnn's store who not only had Valentine stuff out when I was in there yesterday, but also all sorts ...

I know Valentines Day is a long way away still . . . but I was playing with my magnolia stamps and I still have not shared these cards with you yet, so I thought I would. I am super excited about how they turned out! I hope you like them! This first card is a blowing kisses one. I just loved this stamp. I paired it with my purely pomegranate (SU!) paper and stamped it with my new polka dot background stamp (also SU!) I thought the black would help to set things off. The image was watercolored and when it was dry I used my white gel pen to put dots on her dress and shoes and on a couple of the hearts, and her pony tail holders. Sentiment is by Amuse. This second stamp I just had to have. I love the heart and I thought it could be used for thinking of you cards and sending love cards, and of course, Valentines. I used Night of Navy with Purely Pomegranate (SU!) and I also used my new Posy background stamp (SU!) which is totally pretty in the navy color. I had this stitched ribbo...

Happy Monday! It seems the weeks are just flying by. I am getting so excited and overwhelmed by all I have to do for the move. I need to go pick up more boxes today and get crackin' on the packing! (I'm such a dork!) Anyway, I thought I would share a card with you that I made when I still had a stamp space. This is a combination of my two favorites -- Magnolia and Penny Black! The colors in this card were completely inkspired by the American Crafts ribbon. I have been using my ribbon a lot lately as inkspiration. Image was watercolored in. I got a little too wet on her face by accident, and it started to pill a bit, but it turned out okay, you can't see it! YAY! Scallops were made using my slit punch. It is so easy to do -- I am sure you have seen how. If not, let me know and I will show you one my site. Sentiment is by Penny Black and I thought it just went perfectly with this image. Oh and you might notice something a little different about this image -- sh...

I admit it, I am totally and completely smitten with these gorgeous stamps from Magnolia. I want more. I am trying to save up some funds to get more. I am also in the middle of some transition in my life. My BIL is moving in with us for awhile and we are about 60 days away from closing on our new house. Not to mention, showing and attempting to sell the house we are in currently. It is absolutely nuts. I am going to have to step away from stamping for a bit in order to get everything packed up in time to move and to get brother in law settled in, but I promise to still blog as I have some cards that I have made that I have not shared with you yet, and some recipes too. The spiders in the background were created using some awesome acrylic stamps from Papertrey Ink. This was my first time ordering from them, and I was both impressed and excited about the quality of their stamps, the crisp images they leave and the service I got from them. The image was colored using prismacolor ...

NOTE: Blogger was acting up and would not allow me to post pictures (so I am posting today - Thursday) -- I hope you enjoy it just the same . . . This card was for SC137 on splitcoast. I loved the layout. The only real extra I did is add a circle with a sentiment. Image is by Magnolia. I got the ribbon from one of Jody's ribbon shares (texasjodylynn). Paper is KI Memories. I did a poor job of watercoloring this image in . . . maybe next time it will be more perfect. In lieu of dinner since it will be something on the go for us tonight because we are leaving for the trip tomorrow and I still have not packed . . . caramels! So I had never tried this recipe before, and never made caramels before, but DANG these are yum! They cooked up a little harder than I imagined (I think that is because I cooked them a tad long), but they are melt in your mouth delicious. I poured my mixture over a bed of pecans and toffee bits and it was AMAZING!!! DH was so addicted he could not stop eating...

I recently discovered the most adorable stamp images ever. I am in love *swooning*. After much trial in ordering on their website, they have made things much easier and more friendly to an English speaking audience, so I invite you to check them out. They also have a great blog with ideas and kits and design team links (P.S. If they ever want a new member they can choose me! I love love love their stuff). Just wait, you won't be able to get enough either!!! This is the first card I have ever made with their stuff. Sentiment is by Hero Arts. I used my watercolor wonder crayons to color the girl in. I colored a few more images today, so expect more Magnolia images and cards! You can find their site at: http://www.dreamcottage.nu/english1/index.html?lmd=39279.464653 Or, you can find the link to their blog in my list of sites to check out! Hope you will fall in love too!