Monday, July 30, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #63: Color Challenge



It's CAS-ual Fridays time!

If you love color challenges, this is the week for you! 
Create a CAS card using the above color palette: lime, aqua, and navy! 
(Colors can vary per monitor, so just somewhere in those color ranges!)

I dug into my scrap basket and pulled out all the random lime, aqua, and navy scraps I could find. Then I ran them through the Big Shot with my hexagon die, fun and easy! 
Come play with us and you might be the lucky winner of the $20 gift certificate 
from this week's sponsor: Stop and Scrap!



Be sure and check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Girl Fridays, 
plus all the great entires already submitted at CAS-ual Fridays #63
Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

You Are Special




Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a great weekend! I can't believe how fast it's gone by! Eeeek!

I thought these colors from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #142 were so beautiful, I had to play along! They were tricky for me, maybe because I became fixated on using that October Afternoon journaling card with the pencil! hehe! Because I have 5,782 cards (most boxed up and going to Operation Write Home), I've decided my new thing is that I can only make cards that I have a planned use and/or recipient for! What do you think? Good plan?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: October Afternoon Report Card.
Cardstock: SU So Saffron, Very Vanilla, and retired DSP; October Afternoon Cakewalk patterned paper & journaling card.
Ink: SU Brilliant Blue.
Accessories: Big Shot, Argyle Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Extra Large Oval Punch, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, October Afternoon Mini Market letter stickers.





Saturday, July 28, 2012

Perfectly Preserved: You're Fantastic




Happy Saturday! Just finished the first week back to work and didn't stamp one night, egads! I did read books, however, so maybe that's the deal...I'll have to choose reading or stamping?! haha!

I loved these fun colors from the Colour Q#147 challenge and paired them with the CASology #3 Fruit challenge. Luckily I had that darling Perfectly Preserved jar set to work with! *smile* 

Now, should I go try to stamp some more or start a new book. Hmmmmmm...

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Perfect Preserved, Perfect Words (retired)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss.
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Early Espresso.
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfectly Preserved Framelits dies, Washi tape.



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Perfectly Penned: Thank You




Happy Wednesday! My 3rd day back to work, preparing training for In Service, but I'm kind of enjoying it. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone! 

I've been in need of some thank you cards so I whipped this up for a couple dear to me. I used the Unscripted Sketch #168. A few more layers and details than my normal, hmmm. I was staring at my plain cotton twill ribbon and was struck with the idea that it needed chevrons, so through the Big Shot it went. Very cool. Definitely need to try with more embossing folders and maybe inked up embossing folders? I've always been afraid of (too lazy for) the mess, but it may be worth it.



Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!






Monday, July 23, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #62: Back In Black



It's CAS-ual Fridays time! Come join us for this week's 
CAS-ual Fridays #62: Back In Black...make a CAS card with a black card base!

You might be the lucky winner of a $20 gift certificate from 
Lil Inker Designs, this week's sponsor! 



When I checked out their website, I couldn't help myself and ordered 
the darling Rainbows and Clouds Die Set. SO cute! 

I wanted to use it in a different way, if possible.
I saw a smiley face.
Because I'm a teacher?! Hmmm.
DH saw only the letter "U".
I bent back the edges.
Sent a pic to a friend, she agreed, smiley face.
She's a teacher too. Hmmm.
What do you think?!

I hope you'll come play along with this week's challenge. The black card bases are fun! 
Check out all the great inspiration from the Girl Fridays and the submissions so far!
I can't wait to see your fantastic take on the challenge!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Finished size: 6 1/2" x 3 1/4"
Stamps: SU Tiny Talk (retired).
Cardstock: SU Basic Black and Real Red polka dot DSP.
Ink: Versamark.
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (SU Holiday Mini catalog), and Lil Inker Designs Rainbow and Clouds Die Set.



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Cakewalk Thank You




Happy Sunday! It's been way too long since I played along with Jen's fabulous Sketch For You To Try, so that's where I've been playing this afternoon! I used some yummy new Cakewalk by October Afternoon that I picked up at The Crafty Scrapper last week. Sweet!


Hope you are staying cool wherever you are! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!




Recipe
Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, October Afternoon Cakewalk patterned paper.
Accessories: Big Shot, SU Argyle Embossing Folder, Clear & Simple Stamps Lower Case Alphabet Die, Cappuccino baker's thread from The Twinery, die cut sticker and button from October Afternoon's Cakewalk.http://iheart2stamp.com/2012/07/07/july-sketch-for-you-to-try-2/

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Owl Occasions: happy birthday




Eeeek! Another owl card! I promise something different tomorrow! :)

This is the first card I made with Owl Occasions when I met friends for a day of papercrafting at The Crafty Scrapper earlier this week. I used the Clean and Simple FTL #199 sketch for this, always a great place to go to get your mojo moving!

Hope you're having a great weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Owl Occasions.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake.
Ink: Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Staz-on On Brown.
Accessories: Raspberry Ripple Dahlia.



Friday, July 20, 2012

Owl Occasions: Party




More cute owls! I spent yesterday crafting with some friends at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie and this is one of the cards I whipped up. Well, mostly whipped up. I had to wait until I got home to add the black ribbon and complete the final assembly! You know how it's hard to pack EVERYTHING you own and might need when you stamp away from home, right?!


The other day I posted this card that I had thought I was making for the Colour Q #146 challenge, but I had forgotten the Kraft. So, I tried again! hehe!


Enjoy your Friday and hold your loved ones close. I think we're all reeling from the shooting in Colorado, so hard to understand. Thoughts and prayers with those families.


Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!




Recipe
Stamps: Owl Occasions (Holiday Mini Catalog).
Ink: Memento Black, Real Red.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Summer Smooches & Orchard Harvest (Holiday Mini Catalog) DSP.
Accessories: 5/8" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Owl Occasions: Thank You





Cute little guy, right?! 

I'm pretty sure I didn't need another owl set, but here he is anyway! 
He'll be available in the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalog available August 1. 
He comes with a cute Christmas cap and stockings too! :)


I used the Freshly Made Sketches #44 for this one, fell together pretty quickly, 
although I just noticed I didn't put the sentiment in the right place! Doh! Am I disqualified?! *wink*

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Owl Occasions, Itty Bitty Banners.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, Orchard Harvest DSP (Holiday Mini catalog).
Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Staz-On Timber Brown.
Accessories: Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Holiday Mini catalog), Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, Delicate Doilies Sizzlits, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals.



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Perfectly Preserved: Just For You



Happy Wednesday! How is the week going by so fast?! This is my last week of summer vacation, but I'm trying not to think about it, shhhhh. I agreed to go back three weeks early to help with In Service prep since the Teacher Trainer is having her baby girl any day now! Let's just say they made me an offer I couldn't refuse! *wink*

Here's a little card I started last night and finished this morning. I was playing along with Retro Sketches #40 and I *thought* the Colour Q #146 challenge, but I just noticed that I forgot the Kraft color, argh! So I could go back and add some Kraft, or just Let It Be. I guess you see what I am choosing! 

The exciting news...I'm using the new Perfectly Preserved set from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalog that is available for purchase August 1. You can't tell why I'm excited from this card, but it's because this set has a mason jar and matching die! Yay! So clearly I need to go play with it some more! *smile* 

Oh, and the hexagon background thingy...in case you missed the last time I used it here, I created it online for free from this website. The piece on this card is actually a scrap leftover from that last card, so see, it pays off to leave things lying on your desk for 8 weeks! 


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Perfectly Preserved.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP (Holiday Mini).
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Pear Pizazz.
Accessories: Pear Pizazz Ribbon, Whisper White button, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals, white perle cotton.

Monday, July 16, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #61: Let's Strip!




It's CAS-ual Fridays time! 

Come join us for this week's CAS-ual Fridays #61: Let's Strip! 
Create a CAS card using strips of paper or color!

I used Smash tape, love how it comes with little strips already pieced together for you! 

If you play, you might win a $25 gift certificate from this week's sponsor, Freckled Fawn, where you can get some of your own fancy washi tape! *smile*


When I was trying to decide which sentiment to put on this card, I sought dh's advice, to see what he thought of the "whoa!" sentiment with a custom message inside. He said yeah, like "Whoa! This card is really busy!" hahaha! So now I hope it still qualifies for a CAS card! 

The second funny thing about this card...I gave it to my friend Robyn at her birthday celebration Sunday night. When she goes to photograph it and put it on Facebook, I'm like, "Stop! What are you doing?! You can't put a picture on Facebook, this is my CAS-ual Fridays card for Tuesday at midnight EST!" Is that tacky, or what?! She couldn't even photograph her own card! 

I hope you'll come play along with us at CAS-ual Fridays this week! 
Check out all the fabulous samples from the other Girl Fridays on the blog and Facebook!
You have until Thursday noon EST.
Can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Whoa! from Scarlet Lime kit.
Ink: Memento Black.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black.
Accessories: Section SMASH tape.



Play Date Cafe #140: You're Amazing




Happy Monday! 

Popping in to share this card for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #140! Aren't these colors fabby?! I wouldn't mind an island beach house like that pic on the bottom!

I better skedaddle, need to get a few household chores done before my new Stampin' Up! order arrives, hehe! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: You're Amazing.
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White, World Spectacular dsp.
Ink: Island Indigo.
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents framelits, Island Indigo Twine, Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, 2-Way Glue Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals.


Sunday, July 15, 2012

Shine



Happy Sunday! Here's a little sunshine for you, although we need rain more! 

I started this project for CAS-ual Fridays Let's Strip challenge this week, but I got stuck and gave up. (You'll see the card I made instead Tuesday at 12 am EST.) So I had lots of different abandoned parts, etc. Sometimes you have to wait about 3 days, pick the parts back up, and voila, it all falls together. Funny how that happens.

While checking out this fabulous card from Tenia, I learned about two more challenge sites so I'm playing along with them: CASology Cue Card Sun Challenge and Papercraft Star Hot, Hot, Hot challenge. Popular themes this week, huh? I think the heat is getting to all of us! *smile*




Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Unity.
Ink: Memento Black.
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, scraps of patterned paper.
Accessories: Big Shot, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White and Basic Gray designer buttons, black/white twine, white perle cotton, PTI dies, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Embellish Challenge: Tea Party



Happy Saturday! What's everyone up to so far?!

So far I've accomplished making breakfast and this one little not-too-exciting card, and now I feel in need of a nap, hehe! I used the Embellish Tea Party Color Trends Challenge, more great colors from them! Remember a few weeks ago when I was looking for a telephone for their last challenge? Well, while looking for a teacup, of course, I came across lots of different phone stickers, die cuts, etc, ugh! It never fails! 

I ended up going to Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio (MDS) to find this Tiny Teacup image. Yes, I used MDS. That is a first. I didn't use it too creatively, mind you, since I only picked the teacup, resized it, assigned the color pink, and printed it, but still, I used it!! I actually bought the teacup file for $1.95. I wish I had bought this one when it was a stamp last year. 

Okay, signing off for now. Stay cool and enjoy your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Digital Tiny  Teacup.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White.
Accessories: Washi tape, October Afternoon die cut oval sticker, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text saying sticker, SU Linen Thread & Chocolate Chip button.



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Clean & Simple FTL198: Happy Birthday Friend



Happy Thursday and almost Friday!

Here's the last card I made during my stamp-a-thon last Sunday with Cindy. This was the first challenge we tried and we used the Clean and Simple FTL#198. You can't go wrong with a sketch from the Clean and Simple blog to jump start your creativity! You can see Cindy's adorable card here, she used the new Reason to Smile set!

I proposed like 40 minutes for this challenge, and I used the Blue Ribbon set and started out trying a 5 1/4" square card. It wasn't working, ugh, so I dug through my kraft cardstock scrap file and found a 4 1/4" square card that had some stitching and a bench image using the Have a Seat stamp set. I ripped that image off, and no, it wasn't a clean tear, some white cardstock remained. That forced me to crumple up my new Baja Breeze patterned paper piece and adhere it "loosely" so you couldn't tell there was old cardstock remnants below, lol! Anyway, I went a little over on time for our challenge, but I like how it came together finally. Do you ever do that, recycle old rejected cards or card parts? That would be a fun bloggy link up party!

Okay, that's enough talk for today. I'm *steeling* myself up for a dreaded annual check-up this afternoon, I think you know what I'm talking about. Maybe I'll go out for *pancakes* when I'm done. Get it?! lol!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe
Stamps: Blue Ribbon and Family Reunion.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP. 
Ink: Midnight Muse.
Accessories: Scallop & 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Ticket Duo Punch, Calypso Coral brads, Corner Rounder, Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine & thread.


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

You're My Type: thank you





Happy Wednesday! Can't believe another week is slipping by...tick...tock...tick...tock!


During my virtual stamp-a-thon with Cindy last Sunday, we challenged ourselves with this fabulous Retro Sketch #19 and some yummy colors from Design Seeds. I do love the blues and grays! I took a little liberty with the colors and at the last minute I switched from Lucky Limeade to Gumball Green because I wanted to use that dahlia flower. You can see Cindy's card here using the same sketch/colors, but beware, it will blow you away with amazing details!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: You're My Type
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue Textured, Marina Mist Polka Dot Parade & Twitterpated DSP.
Ink: Memento Black.
Accessories: Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon & Dahlia flower, Whisper White & Basic Gray Designer Buttons, Spiral Punch (retired), white perle cotton, Stampin' Dimensionals.


Monday, July 9, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #60: Text Me



It's time for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #60: Text Me! Create a CAS project using text! Easy and fun, right?! For my card, I went to the Wordle website, you've probably heard of it, right? You can enter your own text or a URL and it creates a "word cloud" for you. You can change the font, direction, color, etc. It's really fun to play with! I made this card for a special bloggy friend, so I used the link to her blog (Do you see any clue words from her blog to figure out who she is?!) and then played around with the different fonts. I ended up liking this one because the shape looked like a dress, then that led to the idea to use the crown and "you rule" sentiment. If you play with Wordle and create something cool, please email me or leave your link in my comments, I'd love to see!

So what are you playing for this week?! Two awesome prizes: a Guest Designer Girl Friday spot for August AND a $25 Simon Says Stamp gift voucher! Yahoo!


Head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog to check out the awesome "texty" samples from the other Girl Fridays AND don't forget to like us on Facebook so you can see the awesome cards the Facebook Girl Fridays (like me!) put up each day! 




Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!




Recipe
Cardstock: Whisper White.
Accessories: Wordle website, Thickers letters, Jenni Bowlin kit gold crown.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Hi Winner




Happy Thursday! Hope everyone had a wonderful and peaceful July 4th! 

Here's a little card I whipped up for the Freshly Made Sketches #42! My sinus/head has been giving me fits, but I was determined to get a card done today! I just started sticking stuff down without a plan, unusual for me, but I like the way it turned out. Guess we need to break out of our normal patterns sometimes, huh?!

Now that that's done, back to my book, hehe! Last night I ventured outside my usual young adult paranormal addiction and started reading The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen. I daresay, it's quite delightful! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Take a Ticket Wheel.
Ink: Memento Black.
Cardstock: SU Whisper White & Pool Party, Amy Tan Sketchbook patterned paper.
Accessories: Washi Tape, Thickers, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type letter stickers, stapler, dimensionals.


Monday, July 2, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #59: Round and Round






It's CAS-ual Fridays time! I'm back with my card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #59: Round and Round...use 2 circles in your CAS creation!  I used the bike wheels as my 2 circles, and I know there's the polka dot paper, but we're not counting all those circles, okay?! hehe!

I know you'll want to play along to win this wonderful assortment of twine from this week's sponsor, The Twinery. It's a $32 value! The design team was so fortunate to get a sampling to work with, and I used Shore for the "spokes" in my wheels and Cantaloupe looped around the top piece. So yummy! 



If you're curious how made I those twine "spokes"...I came across a tutorial on Pinterest awhile back that showed how to make mini pom poms, you can see it here. (It's in French, but don't worry, the pictures are perfectly clear to understand!) I just followed that tutorial, but then I cut half of the pom pom off, behind the thread that was holding it together, so it would be flat on one side. I punched the center of the wheels out with a 1" punch, then popped the top piece up with Stampin' Dimensionals, so there's "room" for the half pom poms to be glued down inside the circles. Does that make sense? Let me know if you have questions, I can always add pictures!

Okay, get cracking on your 2 circles card and link it up over at CAS-ual Fridays so I can come check it out! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!