Mother's Little Helper

YNS November New Release Blog Hop

Are you ready are you ready are you ready?! Lots of fun/new stamps, dies and Gumdrops are now available from Your Next Stamp! If you haven't finished shopping or can't decide what you want, never fear: we have a blog hop to show off all the new wares and to persuade you that you really need it ALL. :) 

If you've been hopping in order, you've stopped by via sweet SUE.  If you just happened to visit me, be sure to start at the beginning with the oh-so-awesome ANITA. Remember, if you want to win a $25 YNS Gift Certificate, your best odds come by leaving comments at every blog. None of us know which lucky designer is "it" -- only the POWERS THAT BE (I'm thinking mainly Karen) know from whose blog the winner will be randomly selected. I always think/hope I'm "it" and that one of my readers/commenters will be the lucky one. Let's think about that together and make it so, mmm-kay? Power of attraction, and all that jazz...

Enough jibber-jabber. On with the show!

My first project combines two of my life's great loves: dogs and wine! For me, it just doesn't get any better than the new SIT STAY DRINK stamp set and dies. Take a look at this here wine tag, and you'll see what I mean:

Because she's so distinctive with her brown eye-patch, I tend to make every dog stamp I encounter these days look like my sweet rescue girlie, Daisy. If only Daisy was so talented as to balance a glass of wine on her head, I'd never need to get up from the couch again!

Here's a close up of the wine-tag, where hopefully you can tell that I've heat embossed the clever sentiment:

I'm truly thinking I need to mass-produce about a dozen of these to hang on wine bottles for the holiday season ahead. You can never have too many wine tags when you need a quick-and-easy host/hostess gift.

Next up, I used the new SPRINKLES - KNIT HAPPENS stamps and dies to create an homage to that object of holiday humor: the ugly Christmas sweater. Take a look-see:

I actually kind of love this and I'm thinking I made need to get an album-sized shadow box and make a permanent Christmas decoration featuring dozens of variations on the Ugly Christmas Sweater. What do you think? The images on these sweaters were fussy cut from patterned paper in Doodlebug Designs' Santa Express 6"x 6" paper pad. I especially love the one that looks like Mark Darcy (from Bridget Jones' Diary)'s reindeer sweater. Makes me giggle!

I'd chatter more, but I know you're anxious to get along to the next stop on our hop -- our marvelous guest designer MARTHA. Don't forget to leave a comment here and everywhere for a chance to win the $25 YNS Gift Certificate. And, as always, Karen has generously extended an awesome discount for those who are ready to shop NOW (my kind of people!).

 

Pie, Stretch Pants & Penguins (YNS October New Release Blog Hop)

Are you ready for some cuteness?  Good, because it's time for the...

There are lots of new stamps and dies NOW available for purchase at the YNS online store.  I've got a couple of cards to show you, using the aforementioned new products. First up is a pie-liciously sweet little something, created with the new WADDLES SWEETIE PIE stamp set:

Don't those little pies make you hungry? So cute! And that sentiment just cracks me up -- love it!  Here's a look at all the great images that come in WADDLES SWEETIE PIE:

Next up, I have a 3.5" x 5" (index card sized) card, using the fun new SANTA'S HELPERS stamp set and PEEK-A-BOO WINDOWS die set:

From the look of those little guys in the foreground, something is going on with that bouncy-looking penguin in the window.  What could it be?

He/she really is Santa's helper! Looks like Santa needs to cut down on the milk and cookies, no? 

Make sure you visit and comment on all the participating designers via the linky list below.  As you are probably familiar, the more you comment, the greater your chances of winning the "hidden" $25 YNS store gift certificate.  The winner will be announced on the YNS Blog on October 18th.  And, as always, Karen has provided a very generous discount for those smart peeps who order within the next few days.

Thanks for hopping by, friends, and be sure to leave a comment. I really want one of my readers to win that $25 in YNS bucks! And of course, visit my wonderful YNS design teammates via the linky list to see all the lovelies they've created for your viewing pleasure.  Happy fall hopping!

 

YNS September New Release Blog Hop

You know, I've always said that Karen Dedman (owner of Your Next Stamp) is the one of the sweetest peopl in the stamping industry. Do you want further proof? She has scheduled this release EXCLUSIVELY to celebrate one Carter Burrage's 11th birthday!  Isn't that awesome of her?  And since I'm his mom, Karen thought I should be the first and only person on this blog hop to wish him a "Happy Birthday!" (She doesn't want any of the other participating designers to steal my thunder and make me look lame in front of my own kid.) So, Happy Birthday, Carter! I love you!

Moving right along... Have you been hopping in order and leaving comments everywhere you go so that you have the best chances of winning the $25 YNS Gift Certificate? Oh, good. That makes everything so much easier. Then I don't have to tell you that the hop starts at the oh-so-crafty KYMONA's blog, and that you should have came this way via the super-talented SUE. I can just go straight to the cards.

 First, I decided to shake it up with the frightfully delightful new TRICKY TONIC stamp set and coordinating dies. Take a look-see:

I don't know what it is about me, but every design team I'm on, I seem to get assigned the stamp sets with adult beverages. Isn't that weird? Do you think I have a reputation of some sort?

(I suppose the martini siggy might have something to do with it.  No matter, I LOVE adult beverage sets, and TRICKY TONIC is one of the most fab I've seen in a long time. Even if I wasn't on the DT, I'd be snapping this one up in a jiffy! If these drinks tasted as good as they look, I'd be on a bender until Halloween, for sure. Good thing they don't, as I have the aforementioned 11 year old. Plus, stamping and drinking don't mix. Everything just gets a little... sloppy. What's not sloppy? These fun images:

 Next up: I have a VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.  Are you paying attention?  Good.  Because you're hearing it here, first.  PICKLES are the new pineapples!  Don't believe me? Just take a look at this savory new stamp set, DILL-IGHTFUL, complete with coordinating dies:

I love this whole family, but I do believe the lil' gherkin is my favorite...

They're so cute, I just want to eat 'em up!

I'll add additional info about my cards and products used after the linky-list so that those of you who are anxious to keep hopping can do so.  Next stop on the hop is that oh-so-amazing and thoughtful gal I was talking about earlier, YNS's founder/owner/fearless leader -- KAREN!

 

TRICKY TONIC card:

• This card measure 5"x5".
• The shaker was made using YNS's Circle dies, and Halloween Mix sequins from Pretty Pink Posh. 
• The panels behind the drinks were made with the same YNS Circle dies, and the Circles Stitching Marks die set.
• I used Key Lime Translucent Art Glitter to create the "sugared" rim on the martini glass.
• The skeleton mug has a couple of 4 mm Silly Eyes from Pretty Pink Posh. 
• The black gumdrops are from YNS's brand new SPELLBOUND gumdrops.
• Patterned paper is from Doodlebug Design's Halloween Parade 6"x6" pad.

DILL-IGHTFUL card:

• This card measures 3.5" x 4.75" -- not a standard size, but large enough for a short little note. :)
• The image layer was created by using YNS's Stitched Rectangles die set.
• I sponged Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on the part of the background layer, then made a "floor" for the pickles to stand on with a piece of gingham washi tape from Doodlebug Designs.
• The pickles are popped up on foam boosters, as is the image layer.
• The pickles were colored in with Copic Markers, then "dotted" with a colorless blender to give them a bumpy looking texture.  I also highlighted some bumps with a Signo Opaque White pen.

Happy 6th Birthday to Your Next Stamp!

As promised in yesterday's post, there's a party going on and you're HERE!  Woo-hoo!  Ready to celebrate?  Of course you are!  Then let's get started...

First up, I've got a card featuring the new ZERO CALORIES stamp set and coordinating dies.  If you're like me, you end up sending as many or more belated birthday cards than timely greetings, therefore...

A fallen scoop of ice cream ranks right up there with an accidentally-let-go balloon as a sad and sorry sight, don't you think?  Look how happy Pinky's friends are, seemingly unaware that she has fallen victim to a dairy version of the Malachi Crunch:

Poor, poor Pinky.  May she melt in peace. (Whisper: other YNS products used on this card include the new BANNER DIE SET, Stitched Square Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, and the Fancy Frame Die.)

Next up, I've used the super-fun new CUTE ALPHA stamp set and coordinating CUTE ALPHA SQUARES die. Such possibilities with this set!  Think of all of the subversive things you could create with this!  But because this is a family friendly party, I've kept it clean and simple...

I know you're anxious to hop along and see what the other fabulous YNS Designers and guest designers have created for your viewing pleasure, but before you leave me, let me give you your goody bag and explain how you can be eligible for prizes, savings, and a free stamp set!

1.  PRIZES!  Three randomly selected lucky commenters will receive $50 YNS Gift Certificates, so be sure to say a sweet something at every stop on the hop to increase your chances of winning.

2.  SAVINGS!  I'll let this graphic do the 'splaining for me...

3. FREE STAMP SET!

Okay, friends -- keep the party going by conga-ing to all the blogs in the linky below.  Thanks for stopping by, and of course, HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY, YOUR NEXT STAMP!!!

Your Next Stamp's July New Release Blog Hop

Howdy, friends! Did you have a great 4th of July and/or Saturday? Did you see that there's a new Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Champion? It's true -- 23 year old Matt Stonie beat longtime champ Joey Chestnut, eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes, to Chestnut's 60 hot dogs. Now, in years past, Chestnut has downed 69 hot dogs, so don't count him out. There's always next year!

I have lots of things to say about competitive eating, but I'll save that for another post. In the meantime, it's time for Your Next Stamp's July New Release Blog Hop...

As always, there's tons and tons of fabulous goodness in this month's YNS release.  Exotic animals, flowers, and clowns, oh my!  If you've been hopping along in order, you've come here from one of our two BRAND SPANKIN' NEW design team member's blogs, the oh-so-cute-and-crafty KYMONA. (Sidebar: if you need to start the blog hop from scratch, head over to our July Guest Designer, Francine Vuillème's blog.)

First up, I'm showing you the new FLOWER SPLATTER BACKGROUND STAMP.  This is the fourth of YNS's background stamps, and it's just as fantastic as the others.  Take a look...

For my sample, I went back to my preppy roots with a pink and green color combo, and paired the flowered background with one of my favorite recent sets, Whatnot Sentiments Five. 

 

Could it be any easier to make a quick-but-classy card than by using these two sets? I think not.

Next up, YNS is sending in the clowns. But not the creepy, Stephen-King's-IT-type clowns; these are fun and there's also an anthropomorphic cupcake thrown in, for good measure.

This set is called CLOWNING AROUND, and here's what I made with it, also using YNS's Circles and Piercing Holes dies sets:

Is that little guy fun, or what?  He can definitely give Bozo or Krusty a run for their money! 

I would love to go on and on, but I know you've got many blogs to visit and comment on (so you can win $20 in YNS store bucks; the more comments you leave, the better your chances of winning!  One lucky commenter will win a gift certificate by commenting on the *mystery blog* on this hop; I hope that blog is mine, and that commenter is YOU!). I will therefore reluctantly bid you adieu and send you on your way to the lovely LAURA'S blog.

PS -- Assuming that you're like me, and you love what you see but don't have the patience to wait for the blog hop to be over to see if you've won, go ahead and shop-shop=shop at the YNS Store, as all the new release goodies are available NOW.  And use this coupon code to receive 20% off your order -- then you can buy 20% more stuff for the same price.  Sort of! ;)