StampNation Weekend Challenge: By the Sea

This weekend’s StampNation Challenge is taking us “By the Sea!” For this challenge, create a project inspired by the ocean, the beach, seaside vegetation, ocean animals, or anything connected to water. You could even incorporate water into your creative process by watercoloring with inks!

For my card, I created a playful underwater birthday scene featuring the adorable sailor otter from the “Ahoy Matey” stamp set. I surrounded him with colourful fish, coral, seaweed, bubbles, and other fun treasures from beneath the waves.

 

The “Under the Sea Cover Plate Die” was used to create the fabulous ocean frame. Behind it, I blended Blue Raspberry, Boardwalk, Mardi Gras, and Uptown inks to make my own vibrant, ocean-inspired background. I love how all those beautiful blues and aquas bring the underwater scene to life!

I also added some pretty "Party Blues" enamel dots for a few darker ocean bubbles! Everything image and piece of the scene was colored using Copic Markers.

Now it’s your turn to dive into your crafty supplies and create something inspired by the sea. We cannot wait to see your “By the Sea” projects in the StampNation gallery!

~ Ally ~ 

Start Every Day with a Splash!

Hello, crafty friends!

I'm back today with another card featuring one of the beautiful new SN Gals, and this time it's the stunning SN Gal Oceanne from Sweet November Stamps! Isn't she gorgeous? I just love her flowing hair and graceful pose—it makes her the perfect centerpiece for a tall, slimline-style design.

To create her underwater world, I paired Oceanne with the seafloor image from the Mermee #3 stamp set. The detailed coral and ocean floor make such a fun backdrop while still allowing our lovely mermaid to shine.

Everything was colored with Copic Markers, but one of my favorite parts of this card is how I created the background. I colored all of the corals and the seafloor first, then used my Copic Airbrush System to softly spray shades of blue over the entire scene. This ties everything together beautifully and gives the illusion that all of the elements are sitting beneath the water's surface.

Once the background was complete, I popped Oceanne up on foam adhesive to give her a little extra dimension. I love how she almost looks like she's floating through the ocean! I finished the card with the sentiment, "Start every day with a splash!", which perfectly captures the fun, carefree feel of this design.

This was such a fun scene to create, and I can't wait to color up Oceanne again in even more underwater adventures!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy crafting! 💙🧜‍♀️

~ Ally ~ 

Hang Loose Birthday Vibes with the New "Give Me a Sign" Collection!

There's a brand-new crew of cuties arriving at Sweet November Stamps this Saturday, and they're bringing all the personality! The new "Give Me a Sign" digital collection features six adorable little friends, each showing off a fun, expressive gesture that's perfect for celebrating friendships, birthdays, encouragement, and so much more.

For today's card, I couldn't resist using "Shaka Brah." That huge smile and classic shaka hand sign instantly made me think of my nephew, so this became his 11th birthday card!

To create a tropical backdrop worthy of his laid-back vibe, I masked off the image before stamping the palm fronds from the "Aloha Wees" clear stamp set all around him. The leafy frame really helps draw your eye to that happy face while adding fun island vibes. Everything was colored with Copic Markers, and I finished the scene with a warm sunny glow behind him. The bright blue patterned paper ties everything together and keeps the card feeling cheerful and full of summer energy.

Whether you're making birthday cards, sending a little encouragement, or just sharing a smile, the "Give Me a Sign" collection is packed with personality and so much fun to color.

The entire "Give Me a Sign" crew is now available to download from the Sweet November Stamps shop. I can't wait to see which expressive little friend becomes your favorite!

Happy crafting! 💙🌴

~ Ally ~ 

Sweet Summer Birthday Wishes | Craft Roulette Episode #324

Hello crafty friends!

Today I’m sharing a sweet birthday easel card that I created for Craft Roulette Episode #324! This week's parameters were such a fun combination:

• Project: Easel Card
• Colors: Craft Store Colors
• Element: Table
• Random: Add a Bug(s) or Insect(s)

For my card, I reached for the adorable Summer Celebrations: Popsicle digital stamp collection from Sweet November Stamps. I used the sweet little girl enjoying her popsicle along with the picnic table image to create a cheerful summertime scene. To satisfy the "bug or insect" parameter, I added the cute butterfly from Flight of the Fairies: Audrey & Hugo, fluttering overhead and bringing a little extra whimsy to the design.

Everything was colored with Copic Markers, one of my favorite ways to bring these darling images to life. After coloring, I carefully masked all of the images and used my Copic Airbrush System to create a soft sky and grassy background. The gentle airbrushed layers help keep the focus on the sweet image while adding depth and a sunny summer feel to the scene.

For the easel card design, I kept the layout clean and simple so the image could take center stage. A soft patterned lavender mat frames the scene beautifully, while a few sparkling embellishments add just the right amount of birthday shine.

I love how perfectly this card fit all four Craft Roulette parameters while still feeling light, playful, and full of summer charm. The little girl enjoying a cool popsicle on a warm day makes me smile every time I look at it!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this card inspires you to pull out your favorite summer-themed images and create something fun for your next crafty challenge.

Happy crafting! 💜

~ Ally ~