*boy oh boy!* - sneak peek!

When I sat down to make this card, I really wanted to create something with a simple and natural feel to it. The new Tweets set was just made for this style! I took the branch, nest, and bird images and created a background using creamy carmel ink to stamp the images and sponge the edges. I stamped another nest and colored it in with copic markers. It became the focal point. I tied a bow with linen thread, and it worked perfectly for the simple, natural style I was going for. Then I added the "boy oh boy!" sentiment to turn it into a baby card. You could easily swap out the "boy oh boy!" sentiment for the "new nest" sentiment, and give this card to someone who has just moved into a new home. The new sets are available tomorrow... and you're gonna want 'em all!
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Images by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard, papers and sentiment by A Muse. Creamy carmel ink, sanding block, and circle punch by Stampin' Up. Brilliance pearlescent chocolate pigment ink. Copic markers. Marvy scalloped circle punch. Pop dots.

*home sweet home* - sneak peek!

I'm a little late getting my sneak peek posted for today. I had some errands to run this morning which took me way longer than I expected... so I'm happy to finally be home... for a few minutes anyway... until I have to leave again to pick up my boys from school.

I found a package of small kraft bags at WalMart this weekend and thought it would be fun to decorate one for a housewarming gift. I adore these little birds! They've just moved into a new birdhouse, and they've been out collecting flowers for the table and a few twigs for their bed. Aren't they a cute couple?
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Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. A Muse papers. Stampin' Up linen thread, scalloped punch, circle punches, and sanding block. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen. Heidi Swapp edge distressor. Scalloped deco scissors. Pop dots.

*think summer* - sneak peek!

I live in Muscatine, a small town that's right along the Mississippi River. There's a farming community on the south end of town that we locals call "the Island". The soil there is sandy, and the farmers are known for growing some of the very best watermelon and canteloupe in the country! Every summer we look forward to weekly trips to Taylor's Market for sweet corn and melons. The same family has a row of greenhouses on their farm, and every year I buy all of my annuals there ... petunias, geraniums, zinnias, gerber daisies... you name it, they grow it! I made this card with all of those things in mind. I have a little birdhouse in my backyard that's painted up like a watermelon. I tried to re-create that look on this cute little birdhouse from the new Tweet Houses set. And you couldn't celebrate summer without a cottage-y bouquet of hand-picked flowers and a sweet little bird carrying a daisy bloom back to her nest. The new release includes quite a few smaller images, and creating a simple panel like the one on this card is a fun way of using them.
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Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. A Muse notecard and papers. Stampin' Up linen thread and sanding block. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen.

*weekend retweet* - another sneak peek!

Who couldn't use a *weekend retweet*? For this little bird, it includes a stay at the fabulous and ever-so-ritzy Blue Birdhouse Inn and a refreshing dip in the sparkling waters of the nearby Crystal Water Birdbath and Pool. These luxury accomodations are the perfect get-away for the weary bird who could use a little rest and relaxation. A quaint wrought iron fence encloses the property for those birds concerned about privacy. Only the best birdseed is on the menu. Space is limited, so make your reservations soon!

Beth has really outdone herself (again!) with the new Tweets and Tweet Houses sets. There are lots of fun new coordinating images... and for this design, I pulled out my Fences set from the last release to cozy up this backyard scene. I love the new branch. It's the perfect "hang out" for any of the new birdhouses, and it's the perfect perch for any little bird who needs to rest up a bit.

My favorite part of this card is the *weekend retweet* sign. I curved the sentiment so it would follow the shape of the scalloped oval punch, and then I took the little flower from the new Mama Mouse and More set (it's actually part of a sentiment) and added it right in the middle. What bird wouldn't want to come to this backyard for a *weekend retweet*?

If you've got an extra minute, check out yesterday's sneak peek over at The Saltbox Sampler. ;)
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Images and sentiment by The Saltbox Studio. Notecard, papers, and ribbon by A Muse. Marvy scalloped oval punch. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers, multiliner pen, and spica glitter pens. Decorative scissors. Pop dots.

*meet Mama Mouse* - sneak peek!

Is she not the cutest mouse ever?!? She's part of the new Saltbox Studio set called "Mama Mouse and More". For this card, she's carrying her little baby mouse, but there are lots of other images in the set that would fit nicely into her hand as well. The set also comes with a bunch of little images that are perfect for creating a border, your own background paper, or a little postage stamp like the one I made with the little baby bonnet and baby sentiment.

Be sure to check the other designers' blogs and The Saltbox Sampler for more sneak peeks!
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Mama Mouse and More by The Saltbox Studio. Flowers and vines background stamp, notecard, papers, and ribbon by A Muse. Colorbox chestnut roan ink. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers and multiliner pen. Fiskars mini scalloped scissors. Postage stamp decorative scissors. Stampin' Up sanding block. Pop dots.

*Saltbox sneak peeks start tomorrow!*

For me, one of the hardest things about being a designer is keeping all the new stamps a secret until I have the official OK to start sharing them. All of us girls on The Saltbox Studio Design Team are so excited about the upcoming release, that Beth has given us the go-ahead to start sneak peeks a day early! That's tomorrow! Beth has already shared a few snippets of the new stamps at The Saltbox Sampler, but starting tomorrow you'll be able to see what we designers have been busy creating with them! Be sure to stop back. I'll be sharing a card using my favorite new set.

*it's today!*

The latest release is now available from A Muse... and you can see it all here.

Today's card doesn't feature any of the new images, but *party chick* is back again, this time celebrating spring with one of her friends. It's not very spring-y here, so I'm hoping these two chicks are on their way to Iowa and bringing spring with them!
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A Muse images, sentiment, notecard, papers, and ribbon. Brilliance graphite black pigment ink. Copic markers. Pop dots.