Happy Sunday!!

It is Sunday here and I have spent most of the day in my craft room. I actually got around to photographing some cards I created last weekend. Photo editing is NOT my favorite thing!!!

I have OFFICIALLY put myself on a no buy challenge as I have been spending way too much money again on things I do not really need. I have so much that I have never even touched that it is ridiculous that I buy more. Anyone else like this?

I have been doing Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge at The Daily Marker but have yet to upload any of my stuff. I am slowly going through my stamp sets that I haven't used to make sure they see some ink.

 Here are two birthday cards that I made last weekend. One was using My Favorite Things Soda Pop dies, the Bottle Cap dies and matching stamps. I made a TON of smooshed bottles in different colors so you will be seeing more cards from this collection in the future!!

The sentiment strip on the bottom was done by masking and then ink blending. I really love the way it came out!!

I am planning on making a set of these cards to give to someone as I think they are too fun.

My second card I made to send to my friend for her birthday. It is the same design as the card here but I did it in different colors.

I like the original card a lot better as the colors are more me. I created this card to go with a bunch of cards I made for my friend in this color scheme though.

I used Ranger Distress Specialty Paper for the white background. While it took the distress ink nicely, it did not do well with the Distress Sprays. I will not be using it again if I am going to use the sprays on my card.

On another note, I think age is frying my brain lately. We missed my niece's birthday party last night because I put it in my calendar for NEXT weekend. I was sick so we didn't go when I realized my mistake but I feel really bad. I am such a DORK!!

I thank you for stopping by my blog today. Have a great night!!

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25 Days of Christmas Tags With CAS-ual Fridays

Hello Everyone!! This is my second post for the day. If you want to see my Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge post, please go here.

Today I am so excited to be joining the 25 Days of Christmas Tags over at Tracey McNeely's blog. I LOVE browsing through all the fun tags every year and this year I get to join in with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!!!

For my tag, I chose to use CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Christmas Sparkle" and "Holly Jolly Borders" stamp sets to make my tag. 

My inspiration? The peppermint sticks under the tag!!

To start, I stamped a diagonal border with red dye ink onto white card stock with the "Holly Jolly Borders" set. I then die cut the tag with the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Ornament Tag" Fri-Die.

Next I die cut a white circle with the large ornament tag and stamped the "no peeking" sentiment in green ink using the "Christmas Sparkle" stamp set. I adhered the striped circle onto some acetate and used a scrap of foam from packaging to give the tag the dimension needed for the different colored sequins that I included in the shaker part of the tag. I didn't use a ton of sequins as I wanted the sentiment to be seen.

I added a little ornament topper, also die cut using the "Ornament Tag" Fri-die.  My last step was to tie bits and pieces of ribbon, twine and fibers to make a little embellishment at the  top of the tag. 

I want to thank Tracey McNeely for doing this fabulous series and letting CAS-ual Fridays Stamps contribute!!

Thank you for stopping by today!! I hope my tag inspires you to make some of your own!!

Supplies:

Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Christmas Sparkle" and "Holly Jolly Border" set

Dies-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Ornament Tag" Fri-dies

Paper-Recollections White, Stampin Up! Red, PaperTrey Ink "Clear"

Ink-WPlus9 "Gala Red" and PaperTrey Ink "New Leaf"

Other-Sizzix Big Shot, Cartwright Sequins, Ribbon and Fiber

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Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #21

Happy Tuesday!! I hope everyone has recovered from their sugar high last night. I don't care if I see another piece of candy for a while. Well, except for maybe the Blow Pops. I am a bit addicted to them!!

It is the first of the month so the that means another challenge at Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge.

I chose to use the last row down-CAS, Builder Stamps, and Pearls/Gemstones.

Let me start by saying I have a love/hate relationship with the builder stamps I own. I LOVE how others use them but I am just not that great at it. First, you have to get the right color combination for the stamps to look good. I have a TON of ink, but I rarely have time to "experiment" with the colors. Second, some stamps are harder to use then others. The first stamp set that I did some playing with I just kept messing up. It was infuriating!!

So I wound up pulling my PaperTrey Ink "The Sweet Life" stamp set out and using that for my CAS card.

I started off using my MISTI and stamping my roses in three ink colors-Hero Arts "Red Royal," My Favorite Things "Wild Cherry," and Hero Arts "Pale Tomato." I then stamped the leaves using the same PaperTrey Ink set with Simon Says Stamps "Jelly Bean" and My Favorite Things "Sour Apple" ink.

I then die cut the stamped images with the matching dies. I mounted the images over a white panel that I had cut using the Mama Elephant "Peek-a-Frame" die, that was stamped with the sentiment using the PaperTrey Ink "Words of Comfort" stamp set and a strip of Lawn Fawn patterned paper.

I used a bit of "Clear" Wink of Stella over the roses and then added some gems around the central image.

Since these roses came out so well, I did a few more to make some other cards later.

I hope this inspires you to come on over an play with us this time for Challenge #21. I cannot wait to see what you come up with!!

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Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Inspiration

Happy Friday everyone!! I hope you all had a FABULOUS week!!

Today it is my turn for a little inspiration for Challenge #20 over at the Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Blog. Here is a bit of a sneak peek.

Please come on over and play with us this time. I always LOVE to see the different projects that  people create!!

Some CAS-ual Friday Stamps Inspiration with the new "Be" Stamp Set

Happy Hump day!! One day closer to the weekend. I know it is bad to wish your life away but we have been so busy during the week that I do enjoy the weekends.

Today I have a card that I created with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps new "Be" stamp set, "Linked" Fri-dies and some ink smooshing.

I started off by using Distress ink in "Twisted Citron," "Cracked Pistachio," and "Peeled Paint" to do a little ink smooshing on a 4" by 5 1/4" piece of white card stock. I did each color separately, letting each layer of ink dry naturally before application of the next color. I think you get a better effect when you do this.

While the last layer of ink was drying, I used CAS-ual Fridays "Linked" Fri-dies to die cut three borders out of card stock scraps that were similar to the ink colors. I adhered the borders to the front of the dried card front, snipping of the pieces that were hanging off the edge.

Next I stamped the sentiment from the CAS-ua Fridays "Be" stamp set (one of my new favorite sentiment stamp sets!!) in "Granite" ink, just below the die cut borders. I adhered the decorated panel to a coordinating green, top folding, A2 sized card base.

What would a card be without a little sparkle? My last step was to adhere clear sequins in different sizes onto the card front. I used a bit of "Diamond" Stickles in the middle of each for some additional shine.

I adore how this card came out and like that this particular sentiment is center stage. Who doesn't want to be badass every day?

If you want the stamps or dies you see on my card, be sure to use my code nora2016 to get 15% off your shopping spree at the CAS-ual Friday Stamps Store.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have an absolutely FABULOUS Day!!

Supplies:
Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Be" 
Dies-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Linked" Fri-dies
Ink-Hero Arts "Granite," Ranger Distress ink in "Twisted Citron," "Cracked Pistachio," and "Peeled Paint"
Other-Sizzix Big Shot, Recollections White Card stock, Bazzill "Green Tea," Stampin Up! "Gable Green" (retired), Ranger Multi Matte Adhesive, "Diamond" Stickles