CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: March Sneak Peek #3

Are you stoked?! I'm stoked! 

It's Sneak Peek #3 for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and this new set, Wait For It, is uber fun!!

The font is so cool with a retro feel...a disco feel to me...such good times! hehe!

For my first card above, I started out embossing in silver the long line with circles stamp from the Woot Woot stamp set. I also embossed the "I am" and "For" and "You" from two different stamsp and cut them apart. I love how easy it is to customize your sentiments this way! The kicker, though, was when I wanted to glitter up "stoked" in silver and I had NO silver glitter! What?! Yes, it's true. How could that be! I rummaged around and found some vintage glass glitter, but I really wanted a brighter silver here. Looks like I have some shopping to do! :)

I love the sentiment on this second card! I can definitely see making some of these for crafty friends and hard-working students! I used a Heidi Swapp star mask and glimmer mist spray along with some crystal stars, which ties in with the sentiment but really lets it stand out. 

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks this week! 

Head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog and check out the awesome cards from the rest of the designers! You'll want to leave a comment on all the sneak peeks, too, because Michele is going to draw one lucky person to win the entire March release! Woot! Woot!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Hugs and happy stamping!

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: March Sneak Peek #2

Welcome back for Sneak Peek #2 for the March release at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

Michele has created a beautiful new stamp set called Casual Comfort 

and a coordinating Fri-Dies called Casual Trees. 

Another lovely set with so many possibilities!

For the card above, I used one of the Casual Trees Fri-Dies (two come in the set) with cork. I loved the natural feel of it mixed with the watercoloring, which is not my strongest talent, but I'm trying to learn. I stamped the coordinating stamp in pale pink ink to kind of fade in with the watercoloring. That wooden banner fit the sentiment perfectly, but I debated on it. Does it seem too "festive"?

For my next card, I used the second die in the Casual Trees Fri-Dies to create a stencil and then filled it with modeling paste. (See this post for explanation and a picture.) I *planned* on coloring the paste with chalks or ink, but I chickened out. lol! I will go back and try it, though, because I am curious to see if I can do it. I wanted this card to show the versatility of Casual Comfort. I love all the sentiments Michele includes with the stamp sets; she makes it so easy to personalize and build your own greeting. 

Be sure and head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog now to check out the rest of the cards from the design team. You won't believe how many different looks were created with this set!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

I hope to see you tomorrow for Sneak Peek #3 of the March release! 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: March Sneak Peek #1

Are you ready for a sneak peek of a new March release at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps?!

I'm super excited to share with you some cards from the new Clover stamp set!

You are going to love the wonderful sentiments in this stamp set!

Maybe because I'm so ready for spring, I played with some color this month. 

On the card above, I embossed the sentiment in black on some pretty patterned paper, 

then embossed the shamrocks in green and fussy cut them. A great blessing for anytime!

On my second card, I used the row of shamrock stamps to stamp right onto the twill tape. I embossed the sentiment in green, added a pretty flower and shamrock, and done! 

A pretty card to send to a special friend!

You'll want to head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog and check out the amazing cards from the rest of the design team! The different looks and styles will truly inspire you!

Stop back by tomorrow for another sneak peek! 

Hugs and happy stamping!

STS#14: Happy Birthday to You!

 

When I saw Amy's super cute card, I had to play along with Seize the Sketch #14  . I used some of my recent Studio Calico kit papers, the Countless Sayings 2 Stampin' Up! photo polymer stamp embossed in black, and a Lawn Fawn bubble die. Happy card!

Unfortunately, my computer was moving at the speed of a turtle, and I didn't make the deadline to get it uploaded for the challenge! Doh! hehe!

Stay safe and warm...it looks like more winter is coming. Yesterday it was 81 degrees in Dallas and right now it is 27 degrees. That is confusing! lol! 

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

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: Fun with Modeling Paste!

Happy Thursday! 

I'm up today on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog, and I thought I would have some fun with modeling paste! Have you tried this new trend yet? This is only my 2nd attempt, but here goes!

For these cards, I made my own stencils with some of the awesome CFS Fri-Dies! 

I tried one with white cardstock first, and it worked, but for the next attempts, I used chipboard.

The card above uses the funky die from the Funky Round Tags Fri-Dies. I made a "stencil" with the die on a scrap piece of chipboard, then laid it over the cardbase, keeping it in place with some washi tape. I mixed the modeling paste with a few drops of Bermuda Bay reinker and applied it with a palette knife. 

To finish the card off, I used a previously rejected piece of white cardstock that I had also used the die on. I placed it around the raised modeling paste and trimmed off the excess at the top and the side. It's hard to see how 3-dimensional it had looked, but I really liked it. The "Squeal" sentiment is from the CFS Exclamations stamp set. I LOVE this stamp set because it is so versatile! I can find a lot of occasions for squealing! haha! Later I can add a sentiment inside for Happy Birthday, Congratulations, etc.

For the card above, I used the CFS Heart Board Fri-Dies. See, it doesn't have to be just for "looooovvveee" stuff! I used the arrow die and made a stencil out of chipboard again and tinted the modeling paste gray this time. I embossed in black the "Oh My Gawsh" sentiment from Exclamations and the "I Missed It!" sentiment from Tech Talk. Please forgive the bad photo, below, but I snapped it in case you wanted to see what the "chipboard stencil" looked like. The good thing about it, it's disposable...easy cleanup! 

I hope you enjoyed these cards today! Like I said, I'm a novice with this technique, but there are some great videos on You Tube showing more details and instructions. I will definitely be experimenting more, like in 9 days, when my spring break starts! :)

Hugs and happy stamping!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin

Happy Wednesday and Happy Paper Pumpkin Day! 

I actually left work on time Monday at 4:00, so after walking with dh and dog, then eating dinner, I sat down at 6:00 and decided to play with my March Paper Pumpkin kit from Stampin' Up! I actually used EVERY single item in the kit, which is definitely a first for me! 

Below is my first card, the most simple one. I shortened one of the flag pieces and added some of my twine to the button. I guess I'm old school, but a naked button really bothers me!

The 2nd card I made is the same, I just used a different SU sentiment stamp 

(from Really Good Greetings). It kind of felt like cheating, but I got it done quickly! :)

The 3rd card, below, I got a little more creative and added a doily and used 

the green circle sticker from the kit. I was out of flags at this point, ha!

The sentiment was also mine from SU Teeny Tiny Wishes.

This last card, below, I started Tuesday night and finished tonight. 

See, as the week goes on, my energy and ability wanes! 

I had three circle stickers left and decided they WERE going on this card! lol! 

The sentiment stamp came with the kit, and I embossed it in white.

 I used some shimmer spray stuff from SU too, but I think it's retired now. 

I also added two of my own buttons and twine. 

All in all, I'm pleased that I was able to use an entire kit for the first time, but I wasn't overly wowed with the kit's contents. I'll give it another month or two and see how it goes. I am really bad about giving up kits, because I worry I'll regret not getting something super cute!

I hope you enjoyed my March Paper Pumpkin kit cards!

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

CTS #64: hi

Happy Sunday! I played along with CAS(E) this Sketch #64 and gave my first try at playing with modeling paste and a stencil, yay! It was pretty fun, I think I just have to be a little more patient, not one of my strong suits. I sprayed mine with Gold Heidi Swapp mist. What do you use to to color yours with? Do you color it when dry or while still wet? 

I was super excited to get my Stampin' Up! Angled Tag Topper punch. I see a lot of tags in my future! I used some paper and the "Hi" from a Studio Calico kit. The modeling paste I bought at Michael's with a 40% off coupon (they thought I was crazy when I asked about embossing pastes, so I'll have to look online), and I watched some videos from Jennifer McGuire about using pastes, but that was 2 weeks ago and a little fuzzy now. Ha!

On a Valentine note, I made these little treats shown below for my students at school. I always debate how much "effort" to put into their treats, because I know they're going to toss the cute, homemade packaging and eat the treats! lol! I found these created by Erin of Strawberry Mommycakes for iheartnaptime.com, printed them out and voila, super easy! The kids loved them, too! Of course, I had to model how to use them so the kids would know! This selfie is after my dismissal duty station and it was a very windy day! *smile*

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

365 Days a Year

Wishing you love 365 days a year! 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: The Blue Challenge

Have the winter blues got you down?! 

Then what better time to play along with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blue Challenge!

(You can still play, even if you don't have the winter blues! hehe!)

The rules: Use at least 1 CAS-ual Fridays Stamps set or Fri-Dies and the color blue to make a new project! It can be clean and simple or a layered lola, whatever style you want!

The challenge prize: The winner will be a guest designer in one of our upcoming releases! They'll receive a brand new, top secret stamp set and have their project featured on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog during sneak peek week! Cool, huh?! 

For my card, I used the new Cupid's Arrow stamp set, the Heart Board Fri-Dies and the Rad stamp set. I masked the "Totally" stamp behind the heart. Head over to the blog to see all the wonderful blue and bluish creations the rest of the design team shared! I can't wait to check out your project too! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Love You

Happy Sunday! Hope you're staying warm and safe. Looks like winter is not over yet.

Here's a super quick clean and simple card I made using the Stampin' Up! photopolymer set Countless Sayings 1. I love the big "love" sentiments! I embossed it with Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, kind of hard to see in the photo, but it does make the red pop. 

I'm linking up with this awesome Fusion challenge and City Crafter Love Story challenge.

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

Recipe

All products from Stampin' Up! (some retired)

Stamps: SU Countless Sayings 1.

Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, red glitter paper.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: SU Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, 3 Heart Punch, circle tag, crop-a-dile, heat tool.