Day 4 of the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Holiday Release: Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

Happy Halloween!!

It is day 4 of the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps holiday release. I am showcasing two cards that I created, one with the new Merry Christmas Fri-Die set and the other with the new Happy Hanukkah Fri-Die. It seems strange to showcase Christmas and Hanukkah stamps on Halloween but it is fun to be different!!

I started off my first card by randomly stamping gray stars from the Star of David stamp set across the front of a top-folded, white, A2 card.

Using the Happy Hanukkah Fri-Die set, I die cut three blue "happy" sentiments and adhered them down the middle of the card front.

Next I die cut "Hanukkah" in silver using the same Fri-Die set. I adhered this underneath the "happy" sentiments.

My last step was to adhere clear rhinestones randomly across the card front.

I started off my second card by using the Funky Flakes Fri-Dies set and embossing them into a white piece of cardstock. I adhered this over a white, A2 card front at an angle.

I then used the snowflakes from the new Dashing stamp set and randomly stamped them across a piece of aqua card stock. I adhered this over the embossed card panel.

Next I used the new Merry Christmas Fri-die to die cut the Christmas sentiment. I adhered both to the aqua stamped panel. I used Diamond Stickles to cover the sentiment to give it some shine.

I die cut a few Funky Flakes from white and aqua cardstock and adhered them to the left of the sentiment. I then added some bits from the white snowflake around the sentiment and covered them with Diamond Stickles.

Another easy card to create in bulk for the holidays!!!

Be sure to stop by the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to see some other fabulous creations the design team made using these new sentiment Fri-Dies.

All new products are now in the NEW section of the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Store. Use my code NORASENTME to get 15% off your entire purchase!!

I thank you for stopping by and with you all a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Supplies:

 

A CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Christmas Card

Happy Monday everyone!! I hope you all had a GREAT weekend!!

Today I am on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog with a Christmas card I created using two products that are retiring. Here is a sneak peek of my card.

When the Modern Petals stamp set and Noel Fri-Dies are sold out, they are GONE!!!

Hop on over to the CAS-ual Friday Stamps to find out how I created this modern colored Christmas card.

Supplies:

(all linked supplies are affiliate links and are used with no extra cost to you.)

Stamps- CAS-ual Fridays Stamps *Modern Petals
Dies- CAS-ual Fridays Stamps *Noel Fri-dies
Paper-*Neenah Solar White
Ink-MFT Poppy, Simon Says Stamp Sunkist and Versamark Ink
Other-Ranger Distress Spray-*Picket Fences and *Candied Apple, *Diamond Stickles, *Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Pretty Pink Posh Clear Sequins, *Wagner Heat Tool, *MISTI, *Ranger Ink Tim Holtz Mini Round Ink Blending Tool, *Hero Arts Clear Embossing Powder

Just Add Ink Challenge #390

Happy Friday!! It feels like winter today-the temp being 9 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. We are also getting some snow tonight as well and it is the perfect time to be holed up getting Christmas cards ready to mail. (I am a little behind this year! 😓)

Today I am sharing a card I created last night for the Just Add Ink Challenge #390. I have been doing everything to avoid getting my Christmas cards written out!!

The sketch below is what inspired my card.

My whole card was designed around the poinsettia that I had die cut a couple nights before. I had NEVER used this die and decided it was about time that I did!

The paper I used was something I have had for over a year too. I have SO MANY 6" by 6" pads of Christmas paper and have been hoarding for no reason. It was about time that I cut into it.

The sentiment is a sticker that I actually bought this year and fit perfect with the colors in the paper. That NEVER happens and was so happy that I didn't have to stamp or emboss anything!!

Well that is all from me today. Stay warm!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies: 

(Affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you.)

Paper-PaperTrey Ink-Rustic White and Pure Poppy card stock, "Festive" 6" by 6" paper by Authentique 
Dies-Sizzix Thinlits Die (Pillow Box and Poinsettia)
Other-Pretty Pink Posh, Big Shot, Nuvo Crystal Drops English Mustard, Pink Fresh December Days Stickers, Foam Adhesive, Ranger Multi Matte Adhesive, Scotch Dot Adhesive, Sizzix Big Shot

First Post of the New Year and Some Cards

Happy New Year everyone!! I know I am four days too late but I think that is still okay to say, right?

You can hear echoes on my blog over the past month. The holidays kicked my butt and if that didn't take up my time, Charlotte wound up being sick right before Christmas and stayed out of school for a couple days.

Our Christmas was wonderful and we spent time with some of my family. Is it weird that I want to share this with you? I should have posted last week and it might be more relevant!!

Char in front of our tree before we unwrapped our presents. I didn't even gussy up my daughter and my husbands present as I usually do. I only did it for friends as I just didn't have the energy. I think I am going to wrap as I go along next year. Anyone do this?

Me and Charlotte at my sister's house. Trying to just be and not bother if the "perfect" photo is taken of me or not. One of my good friend's lost their mother last week and it just hit home having the photos is more important then looking perfect!

My nephews and niece with Charlotte.

I bought the game "Shut Your Mouth" and we had so much fun playing it with the family on Christmas day. Nothing but laughs!! I even have my Dad on video and it is something I will cherish!!

Charlotte and my niece. Cannot believe how grown up they are!!

Now for some cards!! To be honest, I have NOT been creating in a prolific way as of late. Me and my mojo had not been meeting up at the same time. When I wanted to create something, I didn't have the time. When I had the time, my mojo was no where to be found. I did do A LOT of shopping but THAT is a whole different post!

Anyway, on Monday I created a couple cards for some sketch challenges but as I always do, I never photographed them in time to submit. I decided to post them anyway.

I created this card using Freshly Made Sketches #268 as my inspiration.

I know, I know, it is a Christmas card BUT in my defense, I only created about five holiday cards this Christmas and decided I was not going to wait to the last minute to make Christmas cards in 2017. I used up ALL of the photo cards I ordered that I send out to close family/friends this year and resorted to having to send out some pre-made cards to a few people and was horrified! I also wanted to use this stamp set from Hero Arts called "Kelly's Noel." I bought it in November 2015 and NEVER INKED IT UP!!

Another thing I decided to start doing is to use patterned paper more on my cards. I have a ton but for some unknown reason in my head, I hoard it!! This paper is "Merry Little Christmas" from My Mind's Eye that I "think" I bought last year? I only have about ten 6" by 6" pads full of Christmas paper so who knows!!

I love the pink and green together. I think this kind of Christmas card is good because it is simple enough to be able to do in assembly line style and rather flat so it mails well.

For my next card, I used a sketch #157 from "Match the Sketch" Challenge Blog.

I used the Simon Says Stamp "Time for Wine" stamp set and dies that has been sitting on my desk for months.

I decided to experiment with my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers for these fun images. I then covered many of them with Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Marker and Glossy Accents. The Glossy Accents made the color run a bit but I think it looks kind of cool.

I used some Heidi Swapp patterned paper that I have been saving for the background. I like the black with the purple. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches "Free Spirits" stamp set. I needed something small enough to fit on the end of the flag and this was perfect.

I adhered one wine glass and the leaf with foam adhesive and the rest of the stamped images with Ranger Multi-Matte. The sequins were my last touch. I actually was only going to use three BUT I got a black smudge on the white banner where the big sequin is to the right. The addition of yet another sequin covered the boo boo right up!!

I love how this card came out and will share another card I created with this same set tomorrow.

Well, that is all from me tonight. I thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog. As always, your visits are appreciated.

Have a FABULOUS night!!

Card #1:
Stamps-"Kelly's Noel" by Hero Arts
Inks-"Soft Green," "Green Hills," "Bubble Gum" and "Red Royal" by Hero Arts
Dies-My Favorite Things "Pierced Square Stax" and "Blueprints #13"
Paper-Paper Trey Ink "Sweet Blush" card stock, Neenah Solar White card stock, My Mind's Eye "Merry Little Christmas" 6" by 6" paper pad
Other-Big Shot, Glossy Accents, Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Pen, sequins

Card #2:
Stamps-"Time for Wine" by Simon Says Stamps, "Free Spirits" by Paper Smooches
Dies-"Time for Wine" by Simon Says Stamps, "Fishtail Flags" by My Favorite Things
Paper-Neenah Solar White card stock, "Favorite Things" 6" by 6" paper from Heidi Swapp
Ink-Ranger Archival Black, Paper Trey Ink Smokey Shadow
Other-Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Ranger Multi-Matte, Big Shot, sequins, Crystal Spectrum Noir

Inspiration with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

Happy Thursday!! I hope everyone is doing well. Today it is my turn with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps for a bit of inspiration. To be honest, it was nice to sit down and create something. I have not felt like doing this in a while. I have had ideas in my head but then just cannot get my butt into the craft room to implement them.

The card below is one of the ideas that has been percolating.

I decided to mix two CAS-ual Fridays Stamp sets, "Love Notes," an oldie but goodie, and "Mistletoe and Holly," a recently released Christmas set. I try to do this as much as I can so I can stretch my stamps a bit. The "Love Notes" set was originally a Valentine release but I thought it would be fabulous to use for Christmas.

First I stamped the music from "Love Notes" with gold ink onto white card stock and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.

Next I stamped the sentiment from "Mistletoe and Holly" in clear ink and heat embossed with silver embossing powder.

I then liberally splashed the front with mist spray in gold, cherry and citron mist.

When the card front was dry, I die cut the card front and layered onto a card pink card that I had adhered a gold striped piece of patterned paper.

The last step was to adhere metallic sequins in gold, pink and green over the hearts on the end of the notes. I did not really have to do this but I wanted the notes to stand out a bit more and look more festive then they did. The mist kind of made them blend in too much to the background.

I hope this inspires you to look at your stamps to mix and match them for different occasions.

Want to do a little shopping for yourself for Christmas? Use my code nora2016 over at the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Store for a 15% discount. Stamps make GREAT stocking stuffers!!

Have a FABULOUS Thursday!!

Supplies:

Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Love Notes" and "Mistletoe and Holly"

Paper-Neenah Solar White, Teresa Collins (gold striped) and PaperTrey Ink "Raspberry Fizz"

Ink-Versamark and Delicata Gold Pigment Ink

Mist-Heidi Swapp "Gold," "Wild Cherry" and "Citron"

Embossing Powder-Ranger "Gold Tinsel" and Crystal Creations "Shimmering Silver"

Other-Sequins, Ranger Multi Matte Adhesive, Scotch Dot Adhesive, Big Shot

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Inspiration

Happy Saturday everyone!! I cannot believe that this Thursday is already THANKSGIVING!! So crazy!!!

Today I am here to show you a card I created using CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Mistletoe and Holly" stamp set.

I had this idea in my head to stamp the main mistletoe image in Versarmark ink onto white Bristol paper in a continuous pattern and heat emboss with white embossing powder. I then used my Zig's to do a little watercoloring.

At first, I was going to stay in the lines but it looked too plain so I got a bit messy. I also used the markers to splatter paint over the front of the card using a brush to brush technique with my paintbrush and the Zig's.

I did some masking for the sentiment. I did not have a good green ink pad to match the mistletoe so I used the same green Zig marker I painted with by it brushing right on the sentiment stamp and then stamping. It stamped better then I thought it would!!

I added glossy accents over the berries to give them a bit of shine.

To jazz it up, I adhered a strip of plaid pattern paper to the bottom of the panel and tied some red twine around the card so it overlapped both the white and the patterned paper. I mounted the card front using foam adhesive onto an A2, top folding card.

The couldn't let a card go without adding some sequins, could I? My las step was to add a few in red, white and green to match the accents and it was complete.

Want to go shopping? If you use my code nora2016 at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Store, you can get 15% off your order!!

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today!! Have a FABULOUS weekend!!

Supplies:

Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Mistletoe ald Holly"

Paper-Little Yellow Bicycle (plaid), Recollections (kraft) and Strathmore Bristol Board

Other-Wagner Heat gun, Ranger "Fine White" embossing powder, Zig "Clean Color" markers, Memento "Tuxedo Black" dye ink, Multi-matte adhesive, Glossy Accents, Adhesive foam

CAS-ual Fridays Inspiration

Happy Hump Day!!

It is my turn for inspiration over at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog. I am sharing a card that I created using CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Bring On the Snowflakes" stamp set with "Snowy Sayings." I decided to go with a "Christmas in July" theme.

I wanted to do something extremely simple because most people make Christmas cards in bulk and like easy designs. I decided to add some small elements like sequins and silver thread to jazz it up a bit, to make the card seem like it took longer to make then it did.

I started off by stamping the snowflakes from both CAS-ual Fridays stamp sets randomly with two different green inks and a gray dye ink onto a white card stock base measuring 4 1/4" by 5 1/2."

I then stamped the sentiment from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Snowy Sayings" with black archival ink. I trimmed the panel 1/8" on the top and on the the right side and wrapped silver thread along the top before adhering it to a gray card stock base.

My last step was to adhere sequins in different sizes in green, silver and clear to the middle of random snowflakes. Totally easy but I think the effect is so pretty!! This card would be really easy to make in stages, as well as in bulk. You could have all your home made holiday cards done in no time!

I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a wonderful day!!

Toodles!

Supplies:

Stamps-CAS-ual Friday Stamps-"Bring On the Snowflakes" and "Snowy Sayings"

Paper-White-Hobby Lobby, Gray-Stamping Up!

Inks-Hero Arts "Green Hills," Simon Says Stamp! "Green Leaf," WPlus9 "Silver Lining" and Ranger Archival "Jet Black"

Other-DMC Silver thread, Sequins