the.amanda.sewell

As promised, here is another card from the Bra set (Skipping Stones Design). I am kind of stuck on the black and white with a color POP theme with these . . . Does that ever happen to you as a stamper -- you find something is just working well for you, so you go with it? Inside of card reads: They help you hold it together even when things are falling apart." Stamps : Funny Bras - Volume 1 (Skipping Stones Design) Paper : Black Tie Optional - Kitsch'n Floral (Imaginisce), Textured Black (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), Bashful Blue (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Bashful Blue Classic (SU!), Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko) Accessories: Rhinestones (KaiserScrapbook - Papertrey Ink), Black with white dot organdy ribbon (Dots, Dashes & Checks - Michaels Stores Inc.), Scalloped and Plain circle nestabilities dies (Spellbinders), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), sewing machine (Singer), black thread (Sulky)

THE CHALLENGE: August is the month that Papertrey celebrates all things autumn! What better way to get inspired for the upcoming season change than each other! Our challenge to you is to create a project inspired by any aspect of fall. How about texture like fabrics, burlap, courduroy or stitching. Then there is color with hues found in autumn leaves, fall berries and other late season delectables. Patterns or motifs such as leaves, pumpkins, wheat and more. Try to use these attributes in fun and interesting ways that may be a little out of your normal comfort zone. We look forward to seeing what you come up with! I have been a closet Papertrey Ink junkie for a long time . . . but I decided that this month I would take my purchases and put them to use for my first ever blog hop with Papertrey. Stamps : Vintage Picnic (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Retro Mod Squad - Vintage Collection (Core'dinations), Sugared (Basic Grey), Recess (Basic Grey), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Onyx...

I am absolutely in LOVE with this Basic Grey lemonade paper that you can pick up at Embellish-Online . I love that yesterday's card and the one I have for you today look SO different but came from the exact same paper pad. HELLO -- can we say versatile???? Awesome!!! Sketch is Mojo Monday 98 (Mojo98) Stamps : Pink Passion, Bashful Blue, Solar White (Neenah), Basic Grey - Lemonade Ink : Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Versafine (Onyx Black) Accessories: Large Pink Fabric Brads (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), white button brads (Making Memories), sewing machine, white thread, white rick rack

Okay, so my real excuse for making this card was because I saw this most adorable apple paper by Carolee's Creations (Adornit) at the "Paper Vineyard" (which I just found the location of and plan to shop at more often). I could not resist, even though I had NO idea what I would use it for. Anyway, I bought it, and then I was coloring in my apples in a basket (part of a new Papertrey Ink set I bought called "Vintage Picnic") and noticed how well they would go together. So really, this card was a no brainer, throw together card! I can't believe the summer is almost over. My kids head back to school August 10th. That seems SO early to me. I remember being free on summer vacation till the first week of September. Oh well, I am sure I will use this at some point this fall. This was such an easy sketch to work with, so if you haven't played with it yet, head on over to Julie's MOJO MONDAY blog and play. Happy Stamping! Stamps : Vintage Picnic (Papertrey In...

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).

Tonight's the night! Can you believe it? The new release is TODAY! Woohoo! Hope you have been saving your pennies so you can buy some of the new stamps. Today's sneak peek is the 4x8 set being released called Hospital. Perfect for get well cards, or even thank you notes for after you have been at the hospital to thank the awesome Drs. and nurses who cared for you. Layout is the MOJO MONDAY sketch (Mojo81) . I love how the Papertrey sentiment matches the font almost perfectly with the eye chart (be a healthy stamper). Hope to see you at the release party tonight -9 pm (EST) - I promise there will be lots of fun chatter, prizes, contests, more chatter, and I promise you will feel welcome! Plus, lots of the design team gals will drop in and they are bunches of fun! (Go visit their blogs on the sidebar to see more awesome sneak peeks). Stamps : Hospital (Hanna Stamps), Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper : Close to Cocoa (SU!), Ruby Red (SU!), Creamy Caramel (SU!), ...

It's been one of those days. I seriously feel like I am SO not productive at all the last few days. Anyway, here is a quick card I whipped up for the Mojo Monday challenge (MOJO77). I have neglected this guy and the guilt was just too much and I had to use him today. The color challenge, on SCS, was the perfect colors for a red hot motorcycle (Rose Red, Always Artichoke and Basic Black), which besides black is pretty much the only color to own right? Here is Mr. Riley, cruisin' down a strip of Arizona highway . . . born to be wild! Hope you like him!!! Stamps : Motorcycle Riley (Hanna Stamps), Karen Foster Design Snap Stamps (Tiny Casual) Paper : Rose Red (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Always Artichoke (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Cuttlebug machine (Provocraft), Spots & Dots embossing folder (Provocraft), Clear embossing powder (SU!), black dotted organdy ribbon...

I am responsible for today's Friday challenge on Hanna Stamps, and I decided since Easter is coming, my challenge to you is to create and Easter card/project and use eyelets on your card/project. I love eyelets and they seem to come and go in popularity, but I have so many so might as well use them right? Of course, my eyelet experience would not be complete without my silent setter (Provocraft) . If you don't have one of these, go check them out -- I am not affiliated with that company in any way, but trust me, you need one of these!!! For the record though on this project, I used "quicklets" from eyeletoutlet.com that can be set using a ball point pen. Check those out too!!! Pretty cool stuff. Feel free to link your card/project in the comments here on my blog, and if you are uploading to Splitcoast, please use the keywords HSFC59. Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Happy Friday and Happy Stamping!!! Here is another sample I created about a ...

This weekend while we were out, I made a pit stop at Michaels. I was only in there for about 20 minutes (which is speedy for me) and I spent less than $10 (proud of that). One of the things I picked up (for only $1) was this sentiment stamp that I used on this card here . . . it says 'hippity hop, hippity hop' but on this card I only used half the stamp. I thought it would be perfect with this little easter basket toting bunny from Hanna Stamps. ( Spring Time ) The challenge on Our Creative Corner this weekend was to use a tag on your card or project. The layout for this card came from the Mojo Monday blog (Mojo75 ). Stamps : Spring Time (Hanna Stamps) , Hippity Hop (Studio G - Hampton Art) Paper : Tempting Turquoise (SU!), Pretty in Pink (SU!), Lavendar Lace (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Embossed Green Dots - Nana's Kids Print (Die Cuts With a View) Ink : Onyx Blaxk Versafine Accessories : 1 3/8 circle punch (SU!), scalloped circle nestabilities, pretty in...

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Don't you just hate how fast the weekend swooshes by. I know I do. I am still playing catch up with the sets from last months (January) Hanna Stamps release. This set, Backyard Dwellers, is all different kinds of bugs and has many different applications. This time I used some of the bugs popped up on pop dots to create a get well card. This layout is from the Mojo Monday blog (Mojo74). Check back in the next couple days for a few more ideas with this set. I am having fun creating with it! Stamps : Backyard Dwellers (Hanna Stamps), Feel Better sentiment (Elzybells Art Stamps) Paper : True Thyme (SU! Retired), Intense Amethyst (Prism Papers), Very Vanilla (SU!), Ivory Floral (The Gifted Line - Paper Adventures: Anw Crestwood) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Dimensional Dots, Pink Polka dot grograin ribbon, sewing machine, white thread, pink brad, diamond stickles, 1 1/4 circle punch (SU!), clear embossing powder, copic ...

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

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . . The limited supply challenge today was to use your favorite things on a card. Easy peasy right? Try narrowing it down to just a few to fit on a card *sigh* I decided to make a baby card using B is for Baby (Hanna Stamps). I had this awesome sentiment that I bought from Elzybells not super long ago that I thought would work perfectly with the images in the baby set. I also used the Mojo Monday sketch on Poetic Artistry for the layout. Favorites used: Hanna Stamps, Elzybells, Barely Banana, Pink, button brads, stitching on cards, copic markers, and most importantly -- BABIES! I did some copic marker blending to get the colors right -- for an example -- I used Y11 (Pale Yellow) and then went over that with E00 (Skin White) to get a good SU! barely banana color, and I did the same on the pink, used RV02 (Sugared Almond Pink) and then went over it with R20 (Blush) to get a color close to SU! Pretty in Pink. Have you tried blending yo...

Sorry I am so late in getting this post up today. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had a Dr. appt. this morning and everything is going well -- I am 34 weeks along now which is exciting and scary as heck at the same time! I will be brief because I need to get this up and then head to take E to ballet and then I will be back for the release party !!! This card is a square card inkspired by the mojo Monday sketch on Poetic Artistry . I have had ideas for this sketch floating around in my head all week, but in the end, it came out being a baby thank you card (with only 6 weeks left, I know I will use this one for sure). Stamps : B is for Baby (Hanna Stamps), Much Appreciated (SU!) Paper : Night of Navy (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Old Olive (SU!), Blue Stripe (DieCuts With a View) Ink : Onyx Black Versafine Accessories : Sewing Machine, White thread, navy buttons, star red line double sided adhesive stars (Jody's shares), clear emboss...

I recently added a weekly challenges guide to the sidebar of my blog. There are so many blogs out there with so many challenges on them -- it is easy to be inspired by color, sketches and much more. I hope you will take some time to tackle some of the challenges that are out there (everyday there is one on SCS waiting for you). Is it Autumn where you are yet? Unfortunately for me, it is still 87 degrees outside here in the Phoenix area -- which is INSANE! I cannot wait for the cool crisp air and the colors of Autumn. I have been playing with Autumn colors recently trying to get in the mood. Maybe I can inspire mother nature to drop Autumn on us here in the hot desert. This card was created using the Mojo Monday sketch (#53) on Poetic Artistry . Julee always has the most amazing sketch ideas, and I am such a sucker for a sketch challenge. I wanted to use all the cute little images in the Jump For Joy set by Hanna Stamps -- they all just SCREAM Autumn and made a lovely background ...

I snuck in a little stamping time yesterday before the ultrasound, and managed to play around with my copics some more (I think my coloring is really starting to improve) and some new stamps that I picked up at JoAnn's the other day in their $1 clear stamps section. I thought they were awesome because they came with a sentiment and an image that went with them. This is a just because card for a friend. This would be super cute to give with a cello bag with some cookies in it, topped with the matching two scoops paper. The layout is from Poetic Artistry Mojo50 sketch, and sorry it is a little more yellow than it is in real life, I will try to rephotograph sometime. Stamps : $1 Bin - JoAnn's Paper : SU Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy, Neenah Solar White, Basic Grey - Two Scoops Ink : Onxy Black Versafine Accessories: White Polka Dot Satin Ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool, White Gelly Roll Pen, Sewing machine, white thread, copic markers, colorless ...

I made this card to accompany my check to Jody (if Jody is reading this, I apologize that you saw it before you got it) for sticky stuff purchases I made. If you have not gotten in on one of these, you need to! Head on over to Confessions of a Ribbon Addict and get yourself some sticky stuff for cheap. She always has some sort of share going on. Todays card was a combination of the Mojo Monday sketch posted on Poetic Artistry and the color challenge posted on Splitcoaststampers. I added photo corners in each corner to add a little more of the almost amethyst into the design. The colors are a little light in this photo, but it is wild wasabi, so saffron and almost amethyst. I also accidentally changed the sketch a little bit because I did the bottom strip across the whole card, rather than just in a rectangle at the bottom (I noticed after I had sewn it down of course), so hopefully you can all just let that slide and forgive me on that one. Sophie's face is popped up as well...

It's getting warmer here and it has been awhile since I have posted a recipe for you to try -- so I thought I would do that today . . . I have been trying to cook the same things on the same days of the week in order to save more money for stamps, etc. SO, I have kind of let what's for dinner Wednesdays go to the wind . . . but I think I am going to start doing " What's For Dinner Weekends" and post a weekend recipe for you to try. I often have the most time to play and experiment with food on the weekend, and I bet it is the same for you! Let me know what you think of this new idea. This recipe came off the back of a shells box and claims to be the " Best Ever Pasta Salad. " I will let you decide: INGREDIENTS : 1 16 oz. pkg of medium shells 2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 lb provolone cheese, cubed 1/2 lb salami, cubed 1/4 lb sliced pepperoni, cut in halves 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces 1 c. ...

Today is the day! The new order from the new stampin' up! catalog full of new stamps and accessories arrives today. I am such a nerd, I called UPS to find out an ETA -- and they said 1:00 pm, so that gives me a couple hours to finish up the laundry and put it all away and get a shower in because after that -- I will be stamping the day away. I find that when you lose your stamping mojo, the best way to get it back is to stamp, stamp, stamp. I did a lot of stamping in the past couple days and things are starting to be cute again. I am so thankful for the challenges on SCS because they have totally helped me to be inkspired again. Here are some of the cards from yesterday. This first one is an alcohol inked background. The butterfly is by Rhonna Farrer (Autumn Leaves) and I watercolored it in and then put stickles and glittery gems on it. The prima flower with the star just seemed to match well. Sentiment is stamped using, yup, you guess it - Karen Foster Snap Stamps in Tiny ...