CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Christmas in July Release!

Happy Sunday everyone. It is steaming hot outside and to cool you down, I am giving you a sneak peek to some new winters stamps from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. These particular stamps will be available in the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps store TONIGHT. They were previously released in a limited quantity for Catherine Pooler's Stamp of Approval box but now they are available for everyone!!

For my first card, I used all of the products above and some patterned paper for a festive creation.

I started off by trimming a piece of patterned paper from Fancy Pants "Wish Season" collection into a 4" by 5 1/4" piece. I then cut a piece of pink paper, also from "Wish Season" into four strips and notched the end with scissors to create banners. I adhered the banners, overlapping them a bit, onto the front of the wood patterned paper. Next I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment in silver from the "Snowy Sayings" stamp set onto the pink banners.

I stamped and embossed snowflakes from "Bringing on the Snowflakes" set onto vellum. I then die cut the snowflake parts out with the "Funky Flakes Fri-Dies." I tied silver DMC floss around the patterned paper, tied a bow and then adhered the vellum snowflake over the bow. I added a rhinestone in the middle of the snowflake for a bit of shine. Next I adhered the patterned paper card front over an A2 top folding card using foam adhesive. 

I then used "Walnut Stain," "Picket Fence" and "Tumbled Glass" Distress Stain over the front of the card. I added random rhinestones and some vellum left over from die cutting the snowflake over the banners for a bit of whimsy. 

I decided that I wanted to create a second card since I had so much making the first card. Instead of using primarily patterned paper, I decided to make the stamps my focal point.

I stamped the small snowflakes from "Snowy Sayings" onto a white A2 top folding card base with Hero Arts "Soft Pink" and "Tide Pool" dye ink. I then stamped the sentiment in Ranger Archival "Black" ink from the same set.

I added a scrap of pink from Fancy Pants "Wish Season" collection at the bottom and American Crafts glitter tape in blue. I then adhered random sequins in blue and white to complete the card.

Remember, these stamp sets and the die set will be available tonight in the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Store. Want a deal? Use the code nora2016 to get 15% off your total stamp order!!!

I thank you for stopping by. Be sure to check out the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog for links to the other designers blogs. There projects are fantastic!! Have a fabulous day!!

New Home Card

Happy July 4th!! I hope everyone is enjoying their day. We are just chilling here at my house, with Chris working on getting up more trim around the windows.

I am stamping away, attempting to get some images to color in for the 30 Day Color Challenge. Who will be joining me?

I also wanted to pop in and show you a "Happy New Home" card I created but never posted. I used Sunny Studios "Backyard Bugs" set for my adorable mushroom images

I colored these in with Copic markers and enhanced with some Nuvo drops.

The little ladybug I covered in crystal effects ti give it some shine!! The sentiment is from an old Stampin Up! set.

I created the background blending Distress Inks. I then layered everything over heart patterned paper.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today. Have a Happy Holiday!!

My Favorite Things Sketch #287

Hello everyone!! It has been a beautiful weekend weather wise here. Sunshine in the low to mid 80's and NO HUMIDITY!! I will take that any day. It is the humidity that kills me every time.

Chris and I walked to breakfast this morning it was so nice. Our usual place was closed for vacation, unbeknownst to use, so we went to a hole in the wall that I don't remember ever being there. Apparently we had eaten there when we first moved to this town nineteen years ago and after today, I know why we didn't go back. Not only was the food not great but for a hole in the wall, it was expensive!!! I cannot figure out how it stays in business. Anyway, we will NOT be going there again!

Today I am posting two cards that I created for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #287. Again, I am playing with the MESS ON MY DESK. (I really, really need to clean it up but am waiting until the carts I want are in at IKEA in the color I need them to be.)

My first card I used patterned paper that was left over from my SJ Kit Club Kit that I die cut using My Favorite Things "BluePrints Die-namics #13".

I then die cut a sentiment block out of white card stock using MFT's "Cross Stitch Rectangle Stax" and stamped a sentiment from a retired set.

The blooms are from MFT "Fall Florals," which is one of my favorite floral stamp sets right now.

The second card I created I like a lot better then the first.

I die cut some Fancy Pants Chevron Paper with one of the MFT "Blueprints #13" dies and adhered it to a top folding, white A2 card base. I then placed a banner that I had die cut from a piece of MFT  "Dots and Stripes Fresh" paper over the chevron.

On the circle, which was a scrap on my desk, I blended "Spun Sugar" Distress Ink and then misted Heidi Swap "Primrose" Color Shine and "Picket Fence" Distress Stain on top. I adhered it onto the card front with foam adhesive.

I then layered images from MFT's "Sweet Succulents"set that I had stamped, die cut and colored in with Copic markers.

I used "Clear" Wink of Stella over all the succulents and a bit of "Icicle" Stickles over the flower. The sentiment, also from "Sweet Succulents" was stamped on piece of white scrap and adhered with foam adhesive.

That is all from me today. I hope you have a FABULOUS rest of the day. I thank you for taking the time to stop by.

P.S. As I am writing this, my husband is outside working on putting trim around our windows. He is swearing, which he rarely does, so that is not good!!!

Freshly Made Sketches #243, As You See It Challenge #138 and SJ Card Kit "Extras"

Hello everyone! Was able to get into my craft room today after a very long week.

My stepmother lost her mother this week. It was very sad all around, though a blessing as well. My stepmother is a fabulous person and I just hated to see the pain she was going through. I cannot say that she was not prepared as her mother was 93 and had been ill but I don't think that you ever are fully prepared for a death, especially your mother.

On top of that, I have been searching for a dress to wear to a wedding next week. Nothing I try on is doing it for me. Hate shopping but I have been more then I like to this week!!

So today I am showing you a card that I created for "Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #243" and "As You See It Challenge #138," which was to use the colors red and white. I have played with the "Freshly Made Sketch Challenge" before but this is a first for me to enter the "As You See It Challenge."

This is the card I created for both challenges:

I had a picture in my head of how I wanted this card to come out but could not execute it. I knew when I saw the red and white challenge that I wanted to use my My Favorite Things "Etched Flower" stamp and heat emboss it with my American Crafts Zing embossing powder in "Rouge." 

My first three tries at doing this were not so hot-even though I did all the correct steps. It was MADDENING!! I finally switched the ink I was using from Versamark to Hero Arts Pigment Ink in "Unicorn White." It made all the difference! I then die cut my panel using an Avery Elle "Wonky Stitched" die and adhered it to my card using foam adhesive.

I die cut a leaf out of vellum using PaperTrey Ink's "Turning a New Leaf" die and a butterfly out of patterned paper using Memory Box's "Pippi Butterfly." I then adhered them to my card front.

I embossed a sentiment from My Favorite Things "About Sympathy" stamp set in white on a strip of "Red Hot" card stock. I then adhered it to my card front  using foam adhesive to finish it off.

I really like how it came out but am not happy that it took me so long to do. I am not a huge fan of heat embossing so just doing that technique stressed me out! Who wants to stress when they are supposed to be having fun?

Again, I am entering this card into "Freshly Made Sketches # 243", as well as "As You See It #138."

 

On another note, I created three cards out of extras that I had left over from my card kits. I was supposed to blog them on Thursday but could not due to searching for that dang dress and the wake. Better late then never I guess!!

The first two are very similar. Everything came in the kits with the exception of the teal card stock. 

I wanted to jazz up the card front a bit so I used my Martha Stewart mini scorer to score some lines on this card.

My second card I did some die cutting for the oval and on the sentiment, and layered everything in a cluster.

This card is my favorite. I did some ink blending behind the deer, as well as some stenciling. I then blended the same ink on the sentiment block.

I had colored the deer with Copics and layerd that over the sentiment.

My last step was to adhere the sun, which was a die cut scrap that I already had in my stash.

That is all for today. Hope you have a fabulous night!!

Stamping Smiles Design Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #13

Happy July 1st!! I am here today to bring you my card for Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #13. I am going to admit, this challenge badge is one of my favorites!!

I used the top row across for my card-felt, shimmer and a quote sentiment. I also used colors that are more muted then I usually do, as well as got a bit messy. I had so much FUN!!

I started off this card by blending Distress Ink in "Peeled Paint" and "Walnut Stain" on a white A2, top folding card base. I manly chose to keep the color in the top left hand corner and blend the ink out from there.

Next, I used "Walnut Ink" mist and sprayed, as well as flicked the mist onto the card front.

While the card front dried, I die cut the flower out of My Favorite Things felt using their "Gerbera Daisy" die. The leaves I die cut out of green card stock using Paper Smooches "Foliage 3" Wise Die.

I assembled the card by adhering the green leaf die cuts in the upper left hand corner. I then glued the yellow daisy over the top, adding the brown die cut middle. I stamped the sentiment by Altenew from "Beautiful Quotes" in brown ink onto the card front.

To finish the card off, I spritzed it with Shimmer spray and used clear Wink of Stella in the middle of the daisy and on the leaves.

I absolutely LOVE how this card came out and will be making a few more of these in different colors to have on hand. Hope on over to Stamping Smiles Designs Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge Blog and join us. I cannot wait to see what you create!!

Supplies:
Ink-Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain Distress Ink by Ranger, Stampin Up! Close to Cocoa
Paper-Green Bazzill, PaperTrey Ink-white, Brown Bazzill
Stamps-Beautiful Quotes by Altenew
Dies-My Favorite Things Gerbera Daisy, Paper Smooches Foliage 3 Wise Die
Other-Big Shot, Walnut Stain, Ink Blending tool, My Favorite Things Felt, Shimmer Spray, Scotch, Ranger Multi Matte, Clear Wink of Stella

CAS(E) this Sketch #178, MFT Sketch Challenge and a Park Day

Happy Tuesday everyone!! We have been a little busy at our household. I am feeling so much better after surgery. It was not as bad as I thought it would be, thank goodness!!

Charlotte and I had a FABULOUS day together today. She had an MD appointment today so I got her up early and we went to breakfast. After the doctors, we took the dog to the park, walked around and took some photos. It was so much FUN!!! Please note that that this post is picture heavy!!

Zack gave us a hard time when we were trying to take photos of him. We bribed him with cut up carrots but he still wanted to pee on everything rather then get treats!!

Now that she is a teen, Charlotte RARELY lets me take her photo so I had to get in what I could!! If you have a teen age daughter or were one, I am sure you can relate. I know I still hate to have my photo taken.

Now for the real reason I wanted to post!! First, I am sharing a card I created for CAS(E) this Sketch #178. I have been "trying" to clean off my desk by using images that I have colored and die cut and are just sitting there. Does anyone else do this? I am so bad!! So here is the card I created:

Isn't this Mama Elephant bunny cute? I love this set!! Here is the sketch that I used as inspiration for this card:

I decided to use a technique that Dawn Woleslagle, owner of WPlus9 showcased here. Definitely click on the link because it was a FUN technique and was very addicting!!

To start off the card, I blended the green from the "Melon Medley" Kaleidacolor ink pad and "Salty Ocean" Distress Ink on a white card base. I then "stamped" both ink pads separately on an acrylic block, misted water on top and flicked the watered down ink on the card base with a paint brush. I also misted water over the top of the colors too. When the panel dried, I adhered it to a top folding A2 card base.

I then adhered the stump image from Mama Elephant's "Pix's Favorite" set that I had colored in with Copic markers and die cut with the coordinating die. I adhered the rabbit from the same set over the stump with foam adhesive. I added the flower, which was a scrap on my desk and is from Sunny Studios "Backyard Bugs" set. The stamped sentiment was the last addition to the card. 

I LOVE how this came out and you will be seeing some other cards that I created using this fun technique at a future date. 

For the second card today, I used an MFT Card Sketch. I meant to post this yesterday but just was not feeling up to it so I missed the deadline. I am a day late and a dollar short on so much these days!!

Here is the card that I created using the sketch:

I started off the card by masking off a section on white card stock and blending Hero Arts "Soft Pink" dye ink and "Picked Raspberry" Distress Ink. I then misted water, Prima Color Bloom "Chrome" Spray, and "Picked Raspberry" Distress Spray over the front. When everything dried, I adhered the panel over a "Raspberry Fizz" A2 card base.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from My Favorite Thing's "Sweet Succulents" stamp set with PaperTrey Ink's "Smokey Shadow" dye ink. A pinked circle and a pierced circle in white were then adhered to the card. The pierced circle was adhered with foam adhesive to give it a bit of dimension  

Images from My Favorite Thing's "Sweet Succulents" set that I had colored in using Copic Markers and die cut using the coordinating dies were then adhered over the circles. A scrap of patterned paper from Basic Grey was adhered below the pink section. My last touches were to adhere sequins in colors that matched the card, as well as using a bit of Diamond Stickles on the cactus flower. 

Like my bunny card, this was a lot of fun to create. I used up images and scraps that were on my desk, as well as got messy!!

That is all for tonight. Please excuse the length of this post. Thank you for stopping by!!