CFC88: Love Letters

It's CAS-ual Fridays time!

Come play along with us this week for CFC88: Love Letters...

create a CAS card using alphabet stamps, dies, stickers, etc! Cool, huh?! 

I use alpha stickers a lot in my cards, but then I kind of hand brain freeze on this challenge and struggled! Go figure! I ended up using some old alpha stickers from Making Memories that I've always loved along with a sentiment stamp from the Loving Thoughts stamp set. I love how the clear stamps can be mounted curved on the block so I could curl it around the chipboard heart (from my January Jenni Bowlin kit). I cut away the kraft cardstock to the right of the heart, then lined the inside of the card with some chevrons to jazz it up for a change. 

Ready to play?! You might win the $25 gift certificate from Ellen Hutson, this week's sponsor!

I can't wait to see your take on this week's challenge! 

p.s. Feel like being a Girl Friday?! 

Don't forget Michele is having a Design Team call through February 3rd! 

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

What's Up, Birthday Girl!

Happy Sunday! Hope you are enjoying your weekend! I'm fighting some kind of bug and a fever, so kind of uggghhhy here, but there's a big week ahead (STAAR benchmarking and Math Night!) so no time for this! 

There are also a lot of important birthdays coming up this week, so I thought I'd better get started on some cards! I saw the Neat & Tangled challenge this week was "All About Buttons" so I thought I'd start with that. I scrunched up some more tissue paper and sewed it down to make a crepe paper look. I know, when I get on something, it's hard to stop! lol! I used the Neat & Tangled stamp set "Just Hello" and some October Afternoon letter stickers. More pink! *wink*

Okay, gotta face some laundry now, sigh. At least there's Downton Abbey in a little while! 

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

CAS-ual Fridays #87: Make Your Mark

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! 

Come join us for CFC#87: Make Your Mark...create a CAS project using markers!

I think it's long been established on my blog that I'm not much at "coloring" on my cards...which is odd now that I think about it because I always loved to color in coloring books...so this challenge scared me a little bit! I had been wanting to use the CAS-ual Fridays Rad set to make an ultra-girly card since it's kind of perceived to be a "guy" card, ya know?

So, I mounted all those different stamps on one block, stamped them in Versamark, then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Finally, I colored in the outline stamps with different colored pastel markers. What do you think?

It's a whole lot of pink, right?! A little card history...it started out as a one-layer pink card. I found my body physically rejecting all that pink, so I cut out the sentiment part and decided to mount it on white, or maybe kraft, cardstock. Then I heard chickens calling, "Bwawck! Bwawck!"so I embraced the pink and slapped it on there! ha! On the plus side, I do know some cool chicks I could send this too! 

Are you ready? Head over to CAS-ual Fridays now to check out the cards from the other Girl Fridays. There's such a range of creativity on how they used the markers, you'll love it! Then go and upload your fabulous creation so you might win a prize from this week's sponsor, Crafter's Companion!

I can't wait to see what your gorgeous creations!

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

Happy Birthday...tissue style

Happy Wednesday! I'm loving a short week! Were you lucky enough to have one too?

I took advantage of my holiday by stamping up this little card! I stamped the vine from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Casual Elegance set onto a piece of torn tissue paper. Next, I stitched up the center on the "stem" and then gathered it loosely, kind of pulling and scrunching as I went and attached it with a few mini glue dots.

You might remember I stitched on some tissue paper here, but Laura is the one who got me thinking about stamping on tissue paper when she shared this post here, because she's been inspired by Rahel Menig here. Wow, she is crazy talented with a light wispy look involving stitching, loose threads, tissue paper. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

Let me know if you try stamping on tissue paper, would love to see it! 

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


Recipe
Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Casaul Elegance
Cardstock: SU Whisper White, So Saffron, & Summer Smooches patterned paper.
Ink: SU Lucky Limeade, Memento Black
Accessories: tissue paper, SU Decorative Label Punch, resin flower from Pick Your Plum, sewing machine, white thread.

CAS-ual Fridays #86: Long & Short...take 2!

Happy Tuesday, but feels like Monday!

Thought I would sneak back in with one more card, the first card I made actually, 

for the CFC#86: Long & Short challenge! 

I used the CAS-ual Fridays stamp set Rad for this one, and it measures 6 1/2" x 3 1/4". 

You still have time to join the challenge for a chance

 to win a rockin' prize from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

It's now 9:30 pm, and yes, I'm going to bed. Hehe! I told you it feels like a Monday! 

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

Here's a Little Pie...

Happy Sunday!

Here's a nerdy little guy card I made. Get it? I kept looking at Amy Tangerine's pie graph paper thinking I had to do something different with it. I stamped "Dude" from the CAS-ual Fridays "Rad" set and the rest of the sentiment came from Microsoft Word and my printer. I keep trying the splatters but I'm far from mastering them. Let's just say a fair amount of card stock has been sacrificed. ha! They don't go where I want them to or I have a hard time pushing lightly enough to just get a few drops so then it's too hard and a massive spray comes out. Tips?!

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

Recipe
Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Rad
Cardstock: SU Whisper White, Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go paper pad
Ink: Staz-on Brown, computer printer, Mr. Huey's Classic Tan Color Mist
Accessories: 1 3/4" circle punch, SU retired metal clip.

CAS-ual Fridays #86: Long & Short

It's CAS-ual Fridays time!

We're back with a new challenge and the reveal of the new Januaury stamps!

This week CFC86: Long & Short...Create a CAS card with one short side and one long side (like 3x6, 4x8, etc.). Sound fun? I make a lot of cards 3 1/4" x 6 1/4", they are always some of my faves! 

For my card I used the new CAS-ual Fridays Stamps set Casual Elegance. It has some beautiful, stylistic leaf and floral stamps, plus awesome sentiments! I filled in my images with Stickles, oooh, sparkly! I had some tissue paper on my desk that came in the mail with a package (from Paper Issues, Cassie wraps them so nicely!) so I ripped a section off, kind of wadded/pleated it up, and stitched it down. Voila! I've been seeing the hanging threads lately and I LOVE it! 

Are you ready to come play along?! 

You might win the prize from this week's sponsor, CAS-ual Fridays Stamps! 

Plus, you might find some EXCITING announcements from Michele over at the blog as well as more awesome cards from the Girl Fridays, so check it out now! 

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

CAS-ual Fridays Sneak Peek: Loving Thoughts

Wheeee, I'm so excited to show you a sneak peek of a new CAS-ual Fridays Stamps set called Loving Thoughts! It includes beautiful flowers and sentiments, you are going to LOVE it! 

For my card, I stamped the large flower image with Versamark on four different shades of cardstock and embossed it with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder. I cut out different levels of the flower, scrunched them up, layered them, and then sewed them together.

Head over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps to see what the other Girl Fridays have come up with and maybe Michele will even have a giveaway! *wink*

Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Loving Thoughts from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

Cardstock: SU Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Ruby Red, Coral, Pink Pirouette.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: SU Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder & Twine, button; Heat Tool, 2" Circle Punch.

CAS-ual Fridays #85: Round of Applause

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! 

Come join us for Challenge #85: Round of Applause...create a CAS card that celebrates an accomplishment and features at least one circle! Easy and fun! 

Next Monday starts the sneak peeks for the new CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release, so the Girl Fridays are giving a pre-sneak peek with our challenge cards this week. My husband would never believe this card is for him since I'm a little on the bossy side! hehe! Aren't all teachers?! I think I might add a little mini ticket piece with "not" on it for him! 

You'll want to play along with us this week because our sponsor is CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, and what's better than winning those for a prize?! 

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

Happy Birthday...variety

Happy Wednesday! How is your week going?! After a great Christmas vacation, it was nice to see my sweet students on Tuesday! What I find I'm really missing, though, is sleeping 10 hours a night! hehe! 

Monday was a teacher work day and one of the teachers asked me to make a birthday card for her daughter-in-law, so I got right on it Monday night. (Good thing, too, because I've been too tired and had too much work to do since! haha!) She requested girly and pink, so I dug through my stash, and it was really fun to visit some products I haven't used in a long time. I made the above two cards first and personally love their vintage, romantic feel, but then wondered if I should make something a little more youthful since the recipient is in her 20s. I got out my black embossing powder and the retired Stampin' Up! set Grand Soiree and came up with this:

Which one do you think she'll go for?! I'll find out tomorrow!

Take care and thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

CAS-ual Fridays #84: Thank You

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! 

This week we have CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #84: Thank You!

If you're like me, it's perfect timing since I'm writing holiday thank you notes anyway! *wink*

I needed thank you cards for some of my students who brought me Christmas gifts, so I came up with this card using the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps set Big Thanks. I wanted it to look sort of schoolish and sort of holidayish, so I used the October Afternoon Merry & Bright paper for my star and some school Washi tape, both from Paper Issues at Etsy. I tried to use the cool star technique that Kelly showed from Amber, but as usual, I got lazy and just popped it on with some foam dots! 

Are you ready to play along?! This week you could win a guest designer spot at CAS-ual Fridays AND a $25 gift certificate from Ellen Hutson's fabulous online store!

Can't wait to see what you create!

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

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Big Thanks.

Cardstock: SU Whisper White, October Afternoon Merry & Bright paper.

Ink: Memento Black.

Accessories: It's Elementary My Dear Washi Chalkboard Tape, SU Star punch.

Sweet Baby

Happy Thursday! Hope you all had a great and safe New Year! After three days in the house, I ventured out today for coffee and more library books. Ahhh, winter vacation is sweet! *smile*

Between reading and puzzling, I did make a card yesterday for Freshly Made Sketches #67 challenge. Isn't that a great "go-to" sketch? Easy and quick, could be simple or pile it on! I finally got around to using my retired Stampin' Up! Nursery Times set. I bought it when it retired (very rare for me!) because I liked the vintage feel, even though I'm not much of a "colorer." Speaking of Stampin' Up!, have you seen their new Spring mini catalog that is available today?! Oh my, so much goodness! I'm trying to wait until Sell-A-Bration starts, I think the 22nd?, so I can get some free stuff, but it's NOT easy!

Well, the sun is finally shining today, so maybe I'll head back into the stamp room and try to get crafty! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hug and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: SU Nursery Times & Itty Bitty Banners.

Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, Pink Paislee London Market, My Mind's Eye Love Me, Basic Grey Basics Manilla.

Ink: Staz-On Brown.

Accessories: SU Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Pure Color Pencils (retired), Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Delicate Doilies Sizzlits, Circles #2 Originals Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch; Canvas Home Basics mini clothespins.

Happy New Year 2013!

Happy New Year 2013!

A secret...I actually saved this card as "happynewyear2012"! Oops! Am I the only one who has trouble making the change?!

I used the awesome Retro Sketches #44 for the CAS layout on this one. The pink glitter and pink star wand really match better in real life, so I'll blame it on the lighting! *smile*

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Countdown.

Cardstock: SU Pool Party and Whisper White.

Ink: SU Pool Party & Lucky Limeade; Versamark.

Accessories: SU Heat & Stick Powder & glitter; "star wand" from a friend (Thanks, Valerie!).