One Door Closes...

Happy Wednesday! I guess I should make that Happy Halloween...although with a Thanksgiving card!

I whipped this card up quickly tonight using the FTL 213 from one of my favorite challenge blogs from way back, Clean & Simple. I used the Stampin' Up! set Perfectly Preserved, the one with the long-awaited mason jar! *smile*

I had to mark this day with a Stampin' Up! card because this is my last day as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, sigh. What a hard decision! I've been a demo for over 10 years now, and I don't make changes easily. Since I started teaching, I pretty much gave up the business end of it and only ordered for me and a few real and virtual friends (thank you!) occasionally. I've turned down creative opportunities in the past because of a conflict of interest with Stampin' Up, but after much soul searching, I decided it was time to let go and stamp freely. (My husband will seriously laugh at "stamp freely"...that's an oxymoron, right?! haha!) Anyway, I emailed my resignation a few weeks ago, went through a brief mourning period, and now have made peace with my decision. I'll always be a Stampin' Up! customer; in fact, I've already joined one of my downline's stamp clubs, so you'll still see lots of cards made with Stampin' Up! here. *smile*

If you're still reading...and coming here...thanks for sticking with me! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Perfectly Preserved
Ink: Early Espresso, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit.
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Orchard Harvest DSP.
Accessories: Decorative Label and Modern Label Punch, Linen Thread, Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine, Vintage Trinkets, foam dimensionals.

Friday Mashup #82: I'll Get You My Pretty!

Happy weekend! It's finally fall here, yay!!!

This is my last card as the October guest designer over at the Friday Mashup, kind of sad! I love their challenges! For the Friday Mashup #82:

1. Make a project with a "Witch".
2. Or Make a project using "Bleach".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with a "Witch using a Bleach Technique".

I decided to mash it up! I used a Tim Holtz witch stamp, isn't she scary fun?! I bleached out her face, then lightly colored her in with a green pure color pencil from Stampin' Up! (retired). I love how she turned out!

Head over the Friday Mashup now to see what the rest of the girls came up with and to join in on the witchy poo fun!

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

CAS-ual Fridays #76: Kraft On

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! Whoo! Hoo! I hope you'll come play along with this week's CFC #76 Kraft On: use kraft on your CAS creation! If you use kraft cardstock a lot, like me, you will love it, although I did choke a little bit at first! haha!

This week's sponsor is CAS-ual Fridays Stamps! Yay! The challenge winner will receive a CAS-ual Fridays gift certificate so they can choose the stamps of their choice from this release or next month's release! 

And the exciting part...CAS-ual Fridays Stamps opens for business officially today! Michele is so creative and she's worked so hard on this, I'm super excited for her!  

I used the Big Thanks stamp set for my card. You will love it, such a versatile collection of stamps! I love how you can curve the clear stamps on the block, too, so the "Thanks" sentiment fit on the little banner die cut. For my color inspiration, I used the picture below from the Mini Boden catalog. Yes, I get their catalog just for the color combinations, they are fabulous! If I had a child, I would be broke from wanting to buy the Mini Boden clothes!

Head on over now to the CAS-ual Fridays blog to check out the beautiful cards from the rest of the Girl Fridays! We are a little sad because four of the Girl Fridays...Karolyn, Julie, Stephanie, and Jenny...are saying farewell to the team, boo! hoo! But we'll all still be following them in the blog-o-sphere and maybe they'll still come by and play with us occasionally! 


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


Recipe
Stamps: Big Thanks
Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, and Summer Starfruit.
Ink: SU Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay.
Accessories: CM Circle Cutter, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Circles #2 Bigz Die, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Early Espresso Button & Baker's Twine.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: October Sneak Peek!

Ready for awesome new stamps?! Ready for a sneak peek?! 

I have one for the new Calm & Gentle stamp set from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

It's a great new set, and you'll especially love the sentiments!

Head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog and leave a comment 

for a chance to win this new set! 

In fact, leave a comment each day for all 5 new sneak peek sets for a chance to win them!

You have until Wednesday at 11:59 pm EST to leave comments on ALL 5 posts!

The winners will be drawn and announced this Thursday, 

then the stamps will be available for purchase on Friday!

If you play along with the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge blog (deadline Thursday @ noon), 

you'll have a chance to win the entire new release, all 5 sets!

I know that's a lot of exciting info, just follow the pink links above for more info!

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

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Calm & Gentle

Cardstock: SU Saraha Sand and Pink Pirouette.

Ink: SU Old Olive and Regal Rose.

Accessories: SU buttons, Jewelry Tag & 1 3/4 " Circle Punch, Crate and Barrel twine, Fiskars 1/16" hole punch, Big Shot & Circles #2 Originals Bigz Die, foam dimensionals.

The Best is Yet to Come

Happy Monday! I know, that's an oxymoron, right?! lol!

I had to squeak in a post this morning to link up to this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge #154! Have you been over there yet? It's their 3rd anniversary and there's a new look and all kinds of exciting things going on!

These colors were tricky, especially that bottom one. It looked more brown on my ipad when I was working with it. I love the tricky challenges, though, it truly makes it a challenge! The bottom paper and priority sticker are from October Afternoon's 9 to 5 collection, the purple polka dot is SU, and the sentiment is from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Go check out the sneak peeks and enter for a chance to win new stamps! *smile*

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

WTF: Wow That's Fantastic!

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a great weekend! I worked and ran a bunch of errands yesterday (including finding a black mask and feather boa so I can be a raven on Literacy Night...yeah, I know you're going to want to see pictures of that!) so I'd have a little time to play today! Yay! 

I haven't played along with the Embellish Challenge blog for awhile, and Ashley and Tina always has the best color combinations, so I joined this week's Paint Color Trends Challenge: use the challenge colors plus paint on your project. I also added a few chevrons for Just Add Ink's Chevron Challenge. I don't know about you, but I'm still loving the chevron trend!

I haven't played with paint much, except for splattering it on my cards a few time, lol, so I tried  stamping with it this time. I spread a thin layer of black paint in a butter dish lid, then dipped some stamps from the WTF set (it's not nearly as risque as it sounds, haha!) and it turned out pretty cool! Well, I liked the effect anyway! *smile*

Check out Michele's sneak peek blog post here for the WTF stamp set and leave a comment for a chance to win it! I brainstormed a whole list of my own WTF sayings earlier today, maybe I'll have to share those at a later date! Some of them require occasions that may never occur! haha!

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

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays WTF.

Cardstock: SU Whisper White, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Going Grey, and Summer Smooches DSP.

Ink: Jenni Bowlin black paint.

Accessories: Big Shot, Chevron Embossing Folder, Soft Suede Jumbo Button (retired) and Basic Grey button, Lucky Limeade ribbon, black and white twine.

CAS-ual Fridays #75 and BIG NEWS!

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! 

And not just the usual CAS-ual Fridays time, it's time for a HUGE announcement!

It's time to meet the little sister!! 

Yipppppeeeee!

This week's challenge: create a card with an element that extends beyond the card base.

Do you like my card?! Isn't that High 5 stamp the bomb?! 

It was provided to me by this week's sponsor! 

Head over to the CAS-ual Fridays blog now to find out more! 

After you check it out, be sure and come back to tell me how excited you are! hee!hee!

Can't wait to hear from you! Hugs and happy stamping!

The Friday Mashup #81

Happy Friday! Time for the Friday Mashup!

I'm back for my 3rd week as the October Guest Designer for the Friday Mashup #81:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with a "Christmas Ornament".
2. Or Make a project with some "Sparkle".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Christmas Project with some Sparkle".

I did the whole "mashup" for my card. I flicked some green paint around and topped it with Martha Stewart antique glitter. I dug out an old Stampin' Up! ornament stamp and covered it in the same glitter. Easy peasy! Well, except for the bad glitter spill, ugh! I'll be sparkly for days probably!

I hope you head over to the Friday Mashup and play along with us! 

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

CAS-ual Fridays #74: Put Your {Heart} Into It

It's CAS-ual Fridays time! You'll love the CFC74 Challenge: Put Your {Heart} Into It! Create a CAS project with a heart! 

Be sure and check out this week's sponsor, too, I Heart Papers! Check out the special discount and shipping offer:

I guess you've all been listening to Michele's secrets and hints over at the CAS-ual Fridays blog and on Facebook...big news coming this Friday when you get to meet the new little sister! You can still display this badge to help spread the word and link up here for a chance to win a special $75 prize from our sponsor!

Things are getting good! *smile*

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

Heart Full of Thanks for You

Happy Sunday evening! Hope you've had a great weekend!

Just a quick "heart" card share! This week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge is to create a CAS project with a "heart". This was one of my "possible" cards but didn't make the cut, hehe. I'll be back tomorrow night with the "official" one. *smile*

I tried to do some creating today, but schwooo, the creative mojo was nowhere to be found, ugh! But I did walk 2 miles, finish all the laundry, and enjoy the Sunday night special lineup...The Amazing Race, The Walking Dead, and Homeland. Booyaaah!

Hope you have a super week! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!