Country Charm & Christmas Cheer - SMD Sept. Release

  Hello friends! Today is SweetMissDaisy Designs September Release Day, and this month's release has a wonderful mix of fall and winter designs. The release features the Barns stamp set with two different barn images, Tree Farm, with a pretty winter tree farm scene, and the darling Love Grows snowman stamp set. It's a perfect collection for creating both cozy country cards and adding to your Christmas card stash!

Today I'm sharing three handmade cards featuring these new designs.

A Quiet Place to Breathe

First up is one of the beautiful barn images from the Barns stamp set. I wanted to give this card a soft, peaceful country feel, so I selected papers from the Boho Gardens paper pack. The colors worked beautifully with many of the colors in the Art Nudge #826D prompt.

I colored the barn scene in soft greens, pinkish brown, and yellow to keep everything gentle and warm. I finished the card with the sentiment "a quiet place to breathe" and added a few gems for a little sparkle.

I love how this card feels like a peaceful little escape to the country!

Fresh-Cut Christmas Wishes

For my next card, I'm featuring the beautiful winter scene from the Tree Farm stamp set.

I started with a gray card base and created a simple red "ribbon" by cutting a strip of red cardstock and adding a die-cut bow. I placed the ribbon vertically across a piece of white cardstock for a classic Christmas package-inspired design.

For the focal point, I die-cut ovals from gray, red, and white cardstock and layered them together to frame the tree farm scene. I colored the barn and the sign in deep red, giving them an eye-catching pop of color against the winter landscape.

Below the scene, I stamped the sentiment "fresh-cut Christmas wishes."

This design has such a traditional Christmas feel, and I think it would be especially fun for anyone who loves a fresh-cut Christmas tree!

Trimmed with Love

My last card features the darling Love Grows snowman stamp set.

For this one, I selected deep blue-green papers from the Lavender Field paper pack. I love using patterned papers that aren't necessarily intended for Christmas cards and discovering how beautifully they can work with a winter design. The deep colors give this card a cozy, slightly unexpected Christmas look.

I stamped the adorable snowman onto a tag and colored his scarf, hat, and gloves in shades of pinkish maroon. The set also includes a heart, so I stamped three little hearts and sprinkled them around the sentiment "trimmed with love" and toward the upper right side of the tag.

I'll be adding this card to the Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge.

All three of the stamp sets featured today are available now in the

SweetMissDaisy Designs Etsy shop!

Card making is such a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something meaningful and handmade. Whether you're in a pastoral mood, looking for peaceful country inspiration, or ready to add to your Christmas card stash, I hope today's cards inspire you to spend some pleasant moments creating.

For more country-style card inspiration, you might also enjoy 

Garden Girl

 Golden Wreath

 Rooster with Sunflowers.

Happy creating!

Angie

All is Bright Cardinal Christmas Card

 Hello friends! Today I’m sharing a pretty cardinal nestled among holly leaves card made for this month’s Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge and this week’s Sketch Challenge. I love when one card can work for two challenges, and this sketch gave me a fun opportunity to change up how I used my stamps!

For the sketch, I chose a beautiful stamp featuring leafy branches. Instead of stamping the leaves directly onto the cardstock, I stamped the image onto a tag and then angled the tag to follow the design of the sketch. I love how simply changing the shape and placement of the stamped image gives the card a completely distinct look.

Rather than creating the leafy border shown in the sketch, I used pretty patterned paper for that element. I added the sentiment in the same general position as the sketch, keeping the layout recognizable while putting my spin on the design.

The stamp set I used is an older Heartfelt Creations set a dear friend gave me when she was moving out of me. She gifted me papers along with so many wonderful stamps and dies from Heartfelt Creations. It was such a treat to finally put one of those treasures to work!

I especially love using something that is new to me, even when the supplies themselves are older. There are so many wonderful treasures hiding in our craft rooms, and sometimes all it takes is a challenge or sketch to give us the perfect reason to pull them out and create something new.

Card making is such a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something fun and handmade to someone special. Whether you’re getting an early start on your Christmas projects or simply looking for an excuse to color an elegant image, I hope today’s card inspires you to spend some happy time creating!

If you’re looking for more winter designs featuring cardinals, you might also enjoy 

A Touch of Music

 Cardinals by the Window

 Birds and Birdhouses

Happy Stamping!

Angie

Too Cute To Spook in Pink

Hello, crafty friends! Today I’m sharing a too-cute-to-spook Halloween card featuring the sweetest little ghost—and some very unexpected Halloween colors.

I’m celebrating this week’s Featured Stamper Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, honoring the talented Tisa. Tisa has created a stunning collection of cards, and I chose to CASE a few elements from one of her designs while putting my own spin on the rest. I used similar colors and made a large circle the focal point of my card, but everything else is different. It’s always fun to see how a few design elements can inspire an entirely new card!

For my card, I started with a piece of fuchsia patterned paper from the Monster Brights Paper Pack by SweetMissDaisy Designs and cut it to 2 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. I die-cut a partial circle along the edge of the patterned paper to create a fun peek-through opening.

Next, I die-cut a sweet scalloped circle and stamped the adorable ghost from the Fab-boo-lous Stamp Set by SweetMissDaisy Designs. This little ghost is all dressed up for Halloween with a pink ribbon and a lollipop! I colored her with soft pink cheeks and pink shading, which makes her look even sweeter.

I layered the scalloped circle over the partial circle opening and popped it up with foam adhesive for added dimension. Then I stamped the “Too Cute to Spook” sentiment, trimmed it out, and popped it up as well.

I love how this card turns traditional Halloween colors upside down! Instead of the usual orange, black, and purple, the bright fuchsia and pretty pink give this little ghost a fun and unexpected look. And really, could she be any cuter? I think not! 👻💗

If you’d like to make this card yourself, you’ll find the stamps and papers I used in the SweetMissDaisy Designs Shop.

Card making is such a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something fun and handmade. Whether you’re getting an early start on your fall and Halloween projects or simply looking for an excuse to color an adorable ghost, I hope today’s card inspires you to spend some happy time creating!

And if you’re looking for more cute ghostly inspiration, you might also enjoy A Trio of Fab-boo-Lous Ghosts and Scarecrows and Spooks.

Happy stamping!

Angie

Halloween Fun Meets Christmas Cheer | SMD Designs August Release

 Hello friends!

It's release day at SweetMissDaisy Designs, and there is so much to share! This month's release includes two delightfully spooky stamp sets created in partnership with Serendipity Stamps, one fantastic SweetMissDaisy Designs original, and—because Christmas cardmakers never really take a season off—a charming skating snowman!

Let's take a look at today's projects.

Fab-boo-lous Ghosts

First up is the adorable Fab-boo-lous stamp set featuring six "too cute to spook" ghosts! These little ghosts are perfect for cards, but they would also make fabulous treat toppers, tags, gift card holders, party favors, and more.

For my card, I selected three of the sweet ghosts and paired them with two of the fun sentiments. The tiny spider comes from the Open If You Dare stamp set—I love mixing sets to create even more possibilities!

The purple patterned paper from the new Monster Brights paper pack makes the perfect playful Halloween background. I selected two different photos from this week's Splitcoaststampers Inspiration Challenge for this cheerful Halloween design.

---

Haunted Halloween

Next up is a wonderfully creepy haunted house!

The haunted house image comes from the Haunted stamp set. I began with a 3¼" x 5½" piece of bright chartreuse patterned paper from the Monster Brights paper pack centered on my card base.

One of my favorite elements is the crescent moon "fence" in the background. The die is actually retired and originally created to make a rosette, but I discovered it makes an amazing spooky fence! It's always fun to stretch your supplies and find new uses for older dies.

I stamped the haunted house onto a 3⅛" x 3½" panel and colored it simply with touches of chartreuse on the moon, sky, and ground. Sometimes a limited color palette creates just the right eerie mood.

---

Hey Pumpkin!

How can you resist this lovable little ghost?

The sweet image from the Hey Pumpkin stamp set features an adorable ghost proudly holding a smiling jack-o'-lantern. I combined papers from both the Monster Brights and Monster Prints collections to create lots of playful Halloween color and pattern.

Soft blue-green shadows give the ghost a gentle glow, while bright orange enamel dots and a "Happy Halloween" sentiment complete the card with a fun pop of color.

---

Skating By

Last—but certainly not least—is the monthly snowman release!

The Skating By stamp set features a bundled-up snowman happily gliding across the ice. I colored his cozy winter clothes in cheerful shades of yellow, red, and green for a classic Christmas look.

The background comes from the Worn Dots paper pack, and I finished the card with lots of die-cut snowflakes to create a magical winter wonderland scene.

This card is skating into three Splitcoaststampers challenges:

• F4A858 – Countdown to Cool
• CCC26AUG – Enchanting or Magical Cards
• SCSCCAUG26 – Fan Club Christmas Challenge

All the stamp sets featured today are available now in the SweetMissDaisy Designs Etsy shop!

Card making is such a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something meaningful and handmade. Whether you're getting an early start on Halloween projects or adding to your Christmas card stash, I hope today's cards inspire you to spend some happy time creating.

If you're looking for even more Halloween inspiration featuring SweetMissDaisy Designs, be sure to check out these projects:

• Scarecrows and Spooks 
• Pumpkin Trick or Treater
• Autumn Leaves Scarecrow 

Happy stamping!

Angie

Build Your Christmas Card Stash with a Classic Santa

 Hello Friends!

It's August 1st, which means it's time for a brand-new Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge! If you've been making a few Christmas cards each month, you're well on your way to having a beautiful handmade stash ready for the holidays.

Today I'm featuring the very handsome Santa from the Santa stamp set by SweetMissDaisy Designs. I paired him with beautiful patterned papers from the Rustic Winter Paper Pack for a classic Christmas look full of cozy holiday charm.

Process

I began by creating the background with the Stitched Triangles Die from Scrapbook.com. The stitched geometric pattern adds wonderful texture and interest while allowing the festive patterned paper to shine.

Next, I stamped the handsome Santa onto a large postage-style die-cut and colored him before layering him over the triangle background. To finish the design, I added the sentiment, "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas," creating a timeless holiday card that's easy to mail and fun to recreate.

If you'd like to make this card yourself, you'll find the stamps and papers I used in the SweetMissDaisy Designs Shop.

Be sure to stop by on Saturday for the exciting August SweetMissDaisy Designs Release! There are more adorable products on the way, and I can't wait to share them with you.

One of my favorite things about this layout is how versatile it is. Simply swap in your favorite holiday stamps, patterned papers, or coloring medium to create a completely different look. Handmade cards are such a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something heartfelt to friends and family.

I hope today's project inspires you to get started on your winter card stash if you haven't already. December arrives much faster than we expect!

If you're looking for even more Santa inspiration, be sure to check out my previous projects:

• Two Festive Santas
• Elegant Santa

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy stamping!

Angie

Supplies

• SweetMissDaisy Designs Have Yourself a Merry Christmas stamp set
• SweetMissDaisy Designs Rustic Winter Paper Pack
• Scrapbook.com Stitched Triangles Die
• Large Postage Stamp Die
• Coloring Medium of Choice

Countdown to Cool: Handmade Snowman Card

 Hello friends!

This week at Splitcoaststampers, our Free 4 All Challenge is Countdown to Cool! With temperatures soaring across the globe, I enjoy cooling down by making winter cards! There's something wonderfully refreshing about coloring cheerful snowmen, die-cutting snowflakes, and creating icy winter scenes while the summer sun is blazing outside.

Today I'm featuring the adorable Send You a Blizzard stamp set from SweetMissDaisy Designs. This charming snowman is holding a Christmas tree in one hand while catching a snowflake with the other, and he couldn't be any sweeter!

Process

I began by cutting a 2¾" x 5½" panel from the dark snowflake patterned paper in the Rustic Winter Paper Pack. To add a pop of festive color, I die-cut a contrasting red vertical border and layered it alongside the patterned paper.

Next, I stamped the adorable snowman onto a large postage stamp die-cut panel and colored him with alcohol markers. The snowy background and festive colors really make him stand out against the darker patterned paper.

To finish the card, I added the sentiment, "Hope Your Season Sparkles and Shines." It's the perfect finishing touch for this cheerful winter design.

If you'd like to recreate this look, you can find the stamps and papers I used in the SweetMissDaisy Designs shop. Of course, this design is easy to adapt using your favorite snowman stamps, patterned papers, and coloring techniques.

Creating winter cards during the hottest months of the year is a fun way to beat the heat while building your Christmas card stash before the holiday rush arrives!

Do you enjoy making winter cards in the middle of summer? I'd love to hear about your favorite way to stay creative during these hot months, so be sure to leave me a comment!

If you'd like to see this same adorable snowman in a different color palette, be sure to check out my Merry & Bright Snowman card. It's another cozy winter design featuring this sweet snowman and his little tree, but with a completely different look!

For even more snowman inspiration see:

 Two versions of Decorate the Tree 

Snowman Star Angel

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you this Saturday for the August SweetMissDaisy Designs Release!  

Sunnyside Up - Handmade SweetMissDaisy Designs Card

Hello! I have a cute, sunny card to share today! I'm playing along with the #SSSIGChallenge from @simonsayschallenge, where the theme is Cute Critters, and I'm also joining the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

Today's card features the adorable beach-going chicken from the Just Sand stamp set by SweetMissDaisy Designs. While browsing today's inspiration site at Splitcoaststampers, I found the perfect photo titled "Chick Magnet." LOL! Who knew beach-going chicks could make such a fun art theme?

Process

I began by cutting a 3¼ x 5½-inch piece of star-patterned paper from the Stars & Stripes Paper Pack by SweetMissDaisy Designs. I layered it onto a piece of red cardstock measuring 3½ x 5½ inches.

Next, I cut a 3¼ x 4½-inch panel of white cardstock for my focal image. I stamped the darling beach-going chicken from the Just Sand stamp set and colored her with alcohol markers. She is so cute with her beach umbrella, beach blanket, and little sand bucket! After coloring, I layered the image onto the card front using foam adhesive for a little extra dimension.

To finish the card, I added the cheerful "Sunny Side Up" sentiment and a few enamel dots for the perfect finishing touch.

If you'd like to recreate this look, you can find the stamps and papers I used over at the SweetMissDaisy Designs Shop. You can easily adapt this handmade card design using your favorite stamps, patterned papers, and coloring techniques. Card making is a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something meaningful and handmade.

I hope this project inspires you to create your own handmade cute critter cards!

More Cute Summer Inspiration with SweetMissDaisy Designs

If you enjoyed today's project, you might also like these summertime cards from my blog:

• Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
• Beachside Critters
• Pawsitively Sunny Summer

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy stamping!

Merry & Bright Snowman Christmas Card

 Hello everyone!

I'm still having so much fun creating with the new SweetMissDaisy Designs release! Today I'm featuring the darling Send You a Blizzard stamp set for my Christmas card. I'm also joining the July Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge, which is always a wonderful excuse to add another handmade Christmas card to my holiday stash.

Process

I began with a top-folding A2 card base before selecting a 3¼" x 5½" piece of Rustic Winter patterned paper from SweetMissDaisy Designs for the background. The beautiful dark green plaid with hints of deep maroon immediately inspired my color palette for the entire card.

To coordinate with the paper, I die-cut an Oval Tab from deep maroon cardstock. I then stamped the adorable snowman from the Send You a Blizzard stamp set onto a 4" x 3¼" piece of white cardstock.

One of my favorite details is the little Christmas tree decorated with shimmering golden stars. They add such a festive touch! I colored the snowman's hat, scarf, and gloves in rich shades of maroon to coordinate with the patterned paper and oval tab, tying everything together beautifully.

To finish the design, I tucked three delicate die-cut snowflakes beneath the image panel for extra texture and dimension. The sentiment, "Hope Your Days Are Merry and Bright," is popped up with foam adhesive to create a cheerful focal point.

If you'd like to recreate this card, you'll find the Send You a Blizzard stamp set, Rustic Winter patterned paper, and many more coordinating products in the SweetMissDaisy Designs Shop.

More SweetMissDaisy Designs Snowman Inspiration

If you enjoy creating snowman cards as much as I do, be sure to check out some of my previous projects:

• Snowman in Lavender
• Snowman in Pink
• Colorful Snowman with Cardinals

These ideas are simple to adapt using your favorite stamp sets, patterned papers, and coloring techniques. Handmade Christmas cards are a wonderful way to share creativity while sending something meaningful from the heart.

I hope today's card inspires you to keep building your Christmas card stash during these hot summer months. Spending a little time creating winter scenes is a fun way to cool off while getting ahead on holiday cards!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy stamping!

Angie