STAMPTEMBER with Simon Says Stamp Featuring Newton's Nook Designs

Newton's Nook Designs' September Release ~ Fall-ing For You

Welcome back for Day 3 of Newton's Nook Design's September Release!   Today Jen has ceated a set sure to delight everyone who loves my favorite season - Autumn.  Introducing 'Fall-ing for You':

I can TOTALLY see folks using this list on Project Life Pocket Pages and in scrapbooking apple picking trips, pictures of people raking up leaving (or jumping in the piles), selfies of sharing pumpkin spiced beverages with friends...  It is also great for a card to tell that special someone how much you love them, which is what I did in my card here:

Those tiny little leaves were a challenge to cut out I tell you, LOL!  had a lot of fun with punches on this card too.  Hope my hubby likes it.  

Would you like to win a 'Fall-ing for You' stamp set?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and the Designs Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, September 15th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 16th.  

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter: 

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Jess Gerstner
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Naki Rager
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka

Jess Gerstner is the next stop on the hop; I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see (she always does!).  Thanks so much for stopping by, hope to see you again tomorrow for the final day of September sneak peeks!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs' June Release ~ Flower Garden

Welcome back for the second day of Newton's Nook Designs' June Release!  Today Jen is revealing another pretty floral set that coordinates perfectly with the Garden Window Die Set debuted yesterday -- introducing 'Flower Garden':

Aren't her illustrations incredible?!!  Look at that pansy!  Being a fan of the autumn months (and weather) I decided to give the sunflower a little love with a fall color palette:

I added a little texture with some cool jute ribbon and added some bronze microbeads by Martha Stewart to the center of the sunflower - not sure they show up in the photo, but they look (and feel) cool!  Of course, they are a pain to work with and I gave up trying to get the access back in the bottle from the paper plate I was using, and of course, some still ended up on my craft table anyway, sigh...

Would you like to win a 'Flower Garden' stamp set?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and the Designs Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You  have until Thursday, June 16th at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, June 17th.  

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Lydia Evans
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Jess Gerstner
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Nina-Marie Trapani
Kimberly Rendino
Yukari Yoshioka

Jess Gerstner is next on our hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see - enjoy!  And thanks so much for stopping by!  Until tomorrow...

~ Crafty Math Chick

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge with Newton's Nook Designs

Hello!  A cool announcement - Jennifer of Newton's Nook Designs is sponsoring this week's Cupcake Inspirations Challenge, so I certainly hope you will play along for a chance to some NND crafty goodness!  Here is the cool inspiration pic:

To me the cupcake tops reminded me of heat embossing, so I used NND's Falling Into Autumn set:

To create this card:

I decided to keep this one simple & elegant.  I never seem to have enough 'thank you' cards in my stash, so I was inspired to use 'grateful' as my sentiment.  I embossed the pretty silhouette oak leaf image using Tangerine Tango embossing powder with Versamark (which seems to work MUCH better than the embossing pad I was previously using on projects!) on Chocolate Chip paper and created a simple scalloped punched border to frame the panel before adhering it to a Close to Cocoa (MISS this color!) card base.  

Hope you will play along with us!  And just a heads up - keep your eyes open for sneak peeks of NEW NND sets coming up Monday!!  Happy weekend!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Decorated Glass Magnets with Newton's Nook Designs

Welcome!  Today it's my turn to make a creation for the Newton's Nook Designs blog and I decided to share a tutorial with you on how to make some decorated glass magnets using NND's Falling Into Autumn stamp set

along with its own little homemade box.  I should note that I first got the idea for these magnets from my friend Emily almost two years ago, but I created the box on my own from measuring the dimensions of the glass stones I used for the project.  Here is a list of the supplies you will need:

• Newton's Nook Designs 'Falling Into Autumn' stamp set,
• large glass gems (they sell them for $1 at Dollar Tree - I try to find the clear ones that are not iridescent so the images show through more clearly),
• Glossy Accents or some other kind of glue that dries clear,
• round magnets - I used 5/8" diameter magnets and they held just fine, 3/4" would work great as well,
• 1 1/4" circle punch (and a 1" circle punch if you choose to mat them as I did), 
• stylus or bone folder (something to score with),
• inks in colors of choice (I selected Dandelion, Ladybug, Potter's Clay and Rich Cocoa by Memento)
• 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" piece of paper for the box, 
• patterned papers for side panels if desired (front, back, bottom and top are 4 1/4" x 1 1/4" mats and 4" x 1" DP; sides are 1 1/4" square mats & 1" square DPs), and 
• scissors.

First, select the images you want to use and the colors you like best and stamp them.  Since these glass gems had diameters of 1 1/2" I needed to make sure the images were smaller than that:

Since the images I selected were on the small side, I punched them out using a 1" circle punch and then punched mats for them in coordinating colors using a 1 1/4" circle punch:

I also did a set with the images embossed in bright colors on a dark background to see how they'd look for comparison:

Next I applied a dollop of Glossy Accents to the center of the flat side of each glass gem about the size of a dime, maybe a little smaller:

Then I applied my stamped circles face down into the glue:

Apply another dollop of Glossy Accents to the centers of the paper circles just slightly smaller than the diameter of the magnets (the glue will spread as the magnet is pressed into the glue):

Gently press the magnets into the glue.  

Set them aside to dry a bit while you create the box.  Take a 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" peice of cardstock.  On one side, score at 1/2", 2", 3 1/2" and 5".  Rotate the cardstock 90 degrees and score 1" in from each side (left & right).  Position the square so that the thin 1/2" scored section is at the top (that will be the little flap that fits inside the top to close it) and remove the top two sections on both the left & right sides.  Cut in 1" along the score lines as indicated in the picture below: 

Attach strong adhesive to the three flaps on the left & right sides:

 Fold & adhere:

Now decorate the holder any way you like!  I stamped images from 'Falling Into Autumn' on the 4" x 1"  white strips for the top, front & back (didn't see the point in decorating the bottom of the box, LOL!) and 1" squares for the left & right sides, and matted them with 4 1/4" x 1 1/4" strips & 1 1/4' squares of Yoyo Yellow cardstock:

Adhere to the box and you're done - TA DA!  

Here is a close up of the magnet on my fridge:

Thanks so much for taking the time to view my tutorial.  I hope you are inspired to give these a try yourself sometime - they are an inexpensive & easy way to make lots of personalized gifts for friends, neighbors, teachers - anyone!  Enjoy!  Have a great day!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs ~ Inky Paws Challenge #14

Hello everyone!  It's time for a new Inky Paws Challenge from Newton's Nook Designs!  This time Jennifer decided upon a color challenge:

I used Wagon of Wishes and Winged Wishes to create this card using these colors:

I wanted to just reach out and cuddle the little kitty in the inspiration picture, so I made sure to color the kitten on my card in grey hues with my Copic markers.  I thought it would look pretty if the pretty little birdies were holding up a sentiment banner over him.  The green gingham patterned paper is from the 'Pumpkin Patch' stack by American Crafts and I paired it with some DCWV glittered yellow paper and Stampin' Up!'s Pumpkin Pie which was punched with a cool pumpkin border punch by EK Success that I found for an amazing price at Marshalls last year.  The maple leaves bling is by the paper Studio from Hobby Lobby.

Additional Challenge:

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: anything goes (did you know Simon Says Stamp sells Newton's Nook Designs images too?  Pretty cool huh?)

Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my card.  Make sure to stop by the Newton's Nook Designs' blog and see more inspirational samples from my talented teammates.  I hope you will play along with us!  If you do, you have a chance to win a gift certificate to Newton's Nook Designs - isn't that awesome?!!   Newton's Nook Designs images are required but Jen generously provided some freebies on the blog that you can print out so you can play along too, so please -- join us!  I can't wait to see what you create!

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs September Release: Final Day

Welcome back for the 4th and final day of Newton's Nook Designs' September Release.  Hasn't this release been TERRIFIC?!!  Jennifer saved a cute foodie set for the last day of reveals that mademy mouth water the first time I saw it called 'Apple Delights':

At first you might think it is just a set for fall, but it is really quite versatile and can be used to make cards and projects for Valentines Day, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, back to school, teacher appreciation gifts, little love notes - so many fun possibilities!

Since I LOVE spiced hot apple cider so much I decided to make a packet holder.  I have seen some cute tea bag holders around, but the apple cider packets are larger than the tea bags, so I played around with the design until I found one I liked.  Here is what it looks like closed:

Here is a close up of the front of the packet with the cute mug of apple cider:

And here are some shots of the inside, so you can see how the packets are tucked inside:

And a close up of the sentiment (made my own homemade patterned paper using the solid apple silhouette stamp in the set):

I thought this would be so cute to tuck into my neighbors' mailboxes for a little fall pick-me-up when the weather is just beginning to get that ever so slight chill in the air.  What do you think?

I made a short video showing off this project in a video HERE.

This set also inspired me to make caramel apples for the very first time:

(I admit I am a bit of an 'apple snob' - Cortlands are my favorite but I can't find any around here (they are AWESOME for eating AND for pies!  Do YOU have a favorite kind of apple?  If so, what is it?), but the commissary had these BIG BEAUTIFUL Granny smiths apples and the Macintosh are starting to harvest as well so I grabbed some of those too).  Here is a close up of the tag I colored with Copic markers and adorned with Glossy Accents on the caramel, a homemade enamel dot, some Pretty Post sequins and some star 'Celebrate It' sequins from Michaels:

 Making caramel apples was a lot easier than I expected, and FUN too, and the apples taste GREAT!!  I just followed the directions on the packet (note - allow a little time to unwrap all those caramels and if you are going to add toppings have them right there, because that caramel hardens surprisingly fast!  I was able to dunk a few into chopped walnuts pretty quickly, but when I went to sprinkle some fall sprinkles on the tops of a few after merely setting them down they bounced right off!  Oh, and the package only covers five apples, so if you want more than that, buy more apples!  LOL!!)  I want to go and make some more now!  LOL!  Thanks for the cool inspiration Jen!  I wonder how difficult candy apples are to make... Hmmm...

Would you like to win 'Apple Delights'?
This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, September 18th at 9 pm Central Daylight Time to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 19th.

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Kimberly Rendino (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Shellye is next on our hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy!

Apple Cider Packet - Challenges Entered:

• Die Cut Divas Challenge - Something New plus a die cut (Apple Delights is a brand new set and I used Nestabilities Ovals & Scalloped Oval dies),
• Cuttlebug Mania Challenge: Anything die cut (I used Nestabilities Ovals & Scalloped Oval dies in my Cuttlebug), and
• Allsorts Challenge Week 276: Sugar & Spice (the cider is both spiced & sweet).

Caramel Apple & Tag - Challenges Entered:

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Tag It, 
• Mod Squad Challenge: Sweet Tooth (speaking of teeth, be careful eating these, LOL!), 
• Die Cut Divas Challenge - Something New plus a die cut (Apple Delights is a brand new set and my Mama Elephant Embellished Tag die was also a recent purchase), and 
• Cuttlebug Mania Challenge: Anything die cut (I used my new Embellished Tag die by Mama Elephant in my Cuttlebug). 

~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs September Release: Day 2

Welcome back for Day 2 of reveals for Newton's Nook Designs' September Release!  Today we are showing off 'Falling into Autumn' which has autumn leaves in a variety of shapes & sizes in beautiful silhouette: 

Autumn is my favorite season, SO many BEAUTIFUL colors, and I love the look of heat embossing, so, since I have a ton of embossing powders in lots of different colors I decided to create the following card using a bunch of them (Zing's Rouge & Mustard, Stampin' up!'s Tangerine Tango & Gold Glory) and show off lots of the fun leaf shapes:

I personally love how the vibrant colors pop against the dark chocolate background!  Nice and postage friendly too!

Would you like to win 'Falling Into Autumn'?
This set will be given away to TWO lucky winners!!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and Design Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, September 18th at 9 pm Central Daylight Time to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, September 19th.

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Lydia Brooke
Larissa Heskett
Samantha Mann
Crafty Math-Chick
Shellye McDaniel
Jess Moyer
Stephanie Muzzulin
Danielle Pandeline
Tessa Wise
Kimberly Rendino (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Shellye is next on our hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Enjoy!

Additional Challenges:

• WOW Embossing Powder September Challenge: My favorite (autumn is my favorite season),
• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: rock a technique (I chose 'heat embossing' - did you know that Simon Says Stamp carries NND images too?)
• The Pink Elephant Challenge 268: embossing, 
• Oldie but a Goodie Challenge: Autumn & something at least 6 months old from your stash (the set may be new but I have had these embossing powders for a loooong time in additional to the cardstock that I used)
• Mema's Craft Challenge: fall theme or colors,
• Krafty Hands Challenge Blog: autumn colors, 
• Eclectic Paperie ePlay September Challenge: Fall. 

~ Crafty Math Chick

Dare to Get Dirty Challenge Cards - Post 10

Welcome back Friends & Followers!  I DID IT!  I finished ALL 42 DTGD Challenges before the deadline - WOO HOO!  Never done this before, it feels GREAT and I have a nice collection of cards for my stash as well - SWEET!  Enough babbling - let's get to the cards!  The first one combined 2 challenges and uses images from Holiday Baskets by Melanie Muenchinger of Gina K. Designs:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution if necessary).  The background was created using the polished stone technique for Stamp TV's Chat & Challenge to use the polished stone technique - never done it before, it calls for metallic reinkers, which I do not own, so I used Yoyo Yellow, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie instead.  Since they had a fall feel to them I combined them with some sunflowers stamped on summer sun cardstock and cut out by hand (ouch) and popped up above the basket which is embossed with Brownie EP by Zing! directly onto the glossy cardstock base.  I added some Cinnamon Stickles to the centers of the sunflowers for some extra sparkle and pizzazz.  In addition, I have entered this card in the following additional challenges:

• All That Stickles Challenge - Anything Goes with Stickles (I used cinnamon stickles in the sunflower centers - doesn't it look pretty?  I love this color!), 
• Paper Playtime Challenge - use lots of yellow, 
• Stamp and Create's August Challenge - glitter (Stickles glitter glue counts, right?), and
• Sweet Pea Stampers Challenge - embossing (the basket is heat embossed).  

My second, and final DTGD creation, doesn't have any stamping or embossing at all - just adhesive - check it out:

The 'joy' is die cut from WPlus9 Designs' 'Season Sentiments' die set which was run through my Xyron (do you have one of these things?  If not - you gotta get one!  They have three sizes for every crafter and you can use a half off coupon from Michaels the next time they come around - Easy way to apply loose glitter without messy glues!) on both sides - one side I sprinkled red glitter over, the other was peeled off and adhered to the card.  Then I attached a snowflake rhinestone cluster to the center of the 'o'.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy right?  I am entering this card into the following additional challenges as well:

• Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - 'Spread a little joy and love' (my sentiment was 'joy'),
• Glitter & Sparkle Challenge - add some red, and
• The Paper Girls Challenge - Glitter, Glitter, Glitter.

Thanks so much for sharing my DTGD journey with me and joining in the celebration that I finished them all!  WOO HOO!  
~ Crafty Math Chick

SNSDC74 ~ Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Tic Tac Toe!

Hello Friends & Followers!  Welcome to another Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge!  This week, we have a Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge for you:

I opted for the left to right increasing diagonal of 'Embossing - die cuts/punches - button' and incorporated SNSS Sweet Stop Sketch 178:

To create this card using the cute Rhubarb Scarecrow digi:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  Man I have missed coloring with my Copic markers!!  The base of this card is Ruby Red, a strip of Really Rust is embossed using Provocraft's 'Forest Branches' CB EF and the DP is from DCWV's Harvest Festival mat stack (which has copper foil accents in it - very pretty!  Not sure it shows up well in the picture though...).  I REALLY like that ribbon - it has tiny chocolate brown sequins on it and gold thread.  The sentiment is from SNSS' 'Fall Time Cocoa set,' stamped on Summer Sun cardstock and matted with more Ruby Red punched from a Marvy Uchida scalloped rectangle punch.  
     Hope you will join us and play along with our Hip to be Square Challenge - you don't need to use a SNSS digi, any digi will do, but we spotlight one person who uses SNSS digis on their card or project every week, and it could be YOU!
     Happy Friday my friends!  Have a good weekend!
~ Crafty Math Chick
PS - This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challenge:

• Milk 'n Coffee Challenge - Welcome Fall, and
• Marker Pop Challenge 8 - Oldies but Goodies (use your oldest markers - my oldest markers are in the E5X family - E55, E57, E59 - I also used E53 and E51 but those are newer than the higher numbers in the family.

SNSDC72 ~ New Release Blog Hop (with scoring)

Hello Friends, Followers and Hoppers!  So glad you could stop by!  It is time for another Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge, but today we are very excited to add something MORE!

The Sweet `n Sassy Digi Challenge ladies are bringing you a Fun Blog Hop for our September Digi Release!!

While you're hopping, be sure to leave some love on each of the blog hop posts…One of the ladies below is a mystery blogger and she will be picking a random winner from the comments on her blog post!! (it could eve be ME - you never know...)  The winning prize will be the whole September Digi Release!! (The winner will be announced here on Friday, September 28th.)

Before we get to the challenge for this week how about we share those new digis....

Pumpkin Kitty $3.00

Autumn Collage $3.00

Happy Flowers  $3.00

4 Petaled Flowers $4.00

And now for today's challenge:  Add "Scoring"for your creation!

Just a few things to keep in mind as you play....

Please remember to use digital images ONLY for the challenge.

~You don't have to use SNS digi images to play along but we sure do love when you do!

~Please share a link to your creation using the Linky feature at the end of this post. If the link feature is down, please add a link with your comment.

~When uploading to online galleries, please use keyword SNSDC72.

Every card you enter into our challenges throughout September, you will get one entry to be eligible for winning 3 digis of your choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store.  Every week, we spotlight one participant who uses SNSS digi images for their card or project.  (We strongly think those of you who love to use our digital images should be recognized a little more.)  ;)

Here is the card I made for today's hop, I used Pumpkin Kitty, who I colored with my COPICS (WOOT!  WOOT!!  They are finally unpacked - Yeah!) with some DCWV Harvest Time papers, some copper ribbon from  Michaels and some pumpkin shaped bling by The Paper Studio to create this little number:

(Please click on the photo for clearer resolution).  The sketch is Sketch 283 by Card Positioning Systems.Can you see the scoring I added to create a frame around the edge?  A little bit of scoring is an easy way to add some class to a card!

Now, here is the blog hop list to see September Digi Release-Scoring Challenge creations...

Cynthia Olheiser (Guest DT)
Sarah Miller (Guest DT)
Ceal Pritchett
Cyndi Bundy
Makiko Jones
Melinda Gleissner
Crafty Math Chick (<-- ME!!)
Patricia Hays
Stephanie Wright
Wendy Jordan

Have fun hopping along - and a fabulous weekend too!

• This card also fulfills the requirements of the following additional challanges:
• Card Positioning Systems - Sketch 283, 
• Stamp and Create September Challenge - Anything Goes,
• Marker Pop Challenge 7 - Color something, 
• Crazy 4 Challenges 154: Anything Goes with a fall twist,
• Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 157 - fall/harvest (and SNSS is sponsoring - so check them out too!),
• Digi Makeover Challenge 54 - Welcome Fall with a digi image, 
• Sassy Studio's Dare to Be Sassy Challenge 43 - fall colors, 
• Paper Shelter Challenge 82 - fall image with fall colors, 
• Southern Girls Challenge 53 - Bling Bling, 
• Papertake Weekly - a Hazy Shade of Autumn, 
• Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge 56 - Autumn colors with ribbon, and
• Corrosive Challenge 158 - Animal Companions. 

~Crafty Math Chick