On the Blog with CAS-Fridays Stamps

Happy June!! It is weird to write that as May went by so FAST. I am not complaining though. I am looking forward to some time off this summer!

Today I am on the blog over at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps with a festive card just in time for those hot summer nights.

I tried my hand at coloring with pencils on kraft cardstock. Hop on over to MY POST to see how I created this card. 

That is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

Thank You Card

 Happy Sunday!! I hope you all are having a fabulous day. It has been cloudy and gray all weekend so it pretty much has been a wash. I have been getting a bunch of chores done like wash and cleaning. Fun times!!

I did get some time in my craft room this weekend but the inspiration did not come all that easy. However, I was able to complete one card for some challenges.

I used WPlus9 stamps to create my card with the Inspired By Challenge IB176 as my inspiration. I chose to use the sketch for my design and was inspired by the colors in the photo. 

I used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink for the circle. I originally masked it off on my card front but I got ink all over my hands and had to cut out the circle instead.

I added the birdhouse and flower vase from WPlus9's The Little Things stamp set and paired it with the lilacs from Spring Blessings. The yellow cardinal (Did you know that there was such thing?) is from the Winter Greenery stamps set. 

I stamped the sentiment in gray but it got kind of thready. I used a sand eraser to get most of it off by I could not get it all.

I really love how this card came out!!! I am also going to enter this into this weeks Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.

That is all form me tonight. I did create some graduation cards but need to take photos of them and have not done so yet. I have so much to do but so little time to do it!! 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS night!

Happy Retirement and an Adventure

 Happy Sunday!! I hope you are all having a great day. It has been extra hot for a May day today. It is presently overcast and I hope it will rain. We need it so badly!!

Today I am popping in to share a few photos. I created two retirement cards. 

I created these using this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #486 as inspiration. However I flipped it and took a little liberty.

I used the Rolling Clouds Die by Taylored Expressions for the top BUT it blended in too much on my cards because I stenciled over it and then added it to a stenciled background.

On this card, I added a black strip at the bottom where I heat embossed a sentiment from Paper Trey Ink. 

The little scooter from the Enjoy the Ride is from Spellbinders. I added some balloons behind the back of the scooter from My Favorite Things.

I cut these balloons out and added some black jute as the ties.

On my second card, I had to move the sentiment to cover mistake. A glob of glue from my finger got on the cloud die cut. I could not get it off with any of the methods I know of so I had to adhere the sentiment over the top and add a black strip at the bottom to ground the scooter.

I colored in the balloons with light pink Copic's instead of dark pink. 

I am sending these out to some of the members of my union. I am the secretary and in charge of the correspondence.

On another note, I went on a little adventure with a friend yesterday. I rarely have time to do things like this so it was so fun. We went to an open house at an artist community. I did not take photos, though I wish I did. We also went to an antique warehouse. I did take some fun photos there. I love going in to these places to browse. It always reminds me of my childhood.

Did you remember pantyhose coming in this packaging? My mother used to buy these and then would give the eggs to us to play with.

What about colorful Fiestaware? I have newer stuff but I like some of the colors of these. The light green and the fun pink are dishes I would love to have.

These pins remind me of my mother. I always ache when I see pins like this. My mother had a bunch of these and I don't remember where they went. I wish I had them now because I would wear them.

Last but not least, there were a ton of vintage pocket books. Someone must have been selling their collection. They were A LOT of money!!! I just think they are exquisite.

Well, that is all from me today. I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by. I hope you have a great week!!!

A Card for You to Brighten Your Day from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

 Happy Saturday everyone!! I hope that you are all having a fabulous day!!! Today I am popping in with a sneak peek of the card I created for the CAS-ual Fridays Blog.

I used only ONE stamp/die set for this card!! I NEVER do that!! In fact, this is extremely hard for me to do because I think mixing my stamp sets together for a card is fun. 

Pop on over to THIS post to see how I created this with a step-by-step tutorial.

That is all from me today!! I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a GREAT day!!

A New Post for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

 Happy Wednesday!! I have been MIA as of late due to exhaustion from my job. I have 19 more days of school until we break for summer but who is counting!!! This has been a long year and I will be happy to see it end. I have been in school since August and I do not have much patience left in me to prod the students to complete their assignments. They are over this year too. 

Today I am over at the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog with a simple birthday card. Use the link to see how I created my card. Below is a sneak peek:

I received a new free stamp set from Altenew today. I was so excited as my day was a little rough.

It is always fun to get a little envelope filled with something in the mail!!! I am hoping that I can use this set tonight to create a card.

On another note, I was able to go to the nursery this past weekend and got a bunch of different annuls and a couple perennials to plant in my gardens. 

I spent Mother's Day afternoon planting them in various places. I have to admit that I do not have a green thumb but I try!! I did not take any after photos as I didn't use gloves and my hands were a MESS. Am I the only one who likes the feel of getting dirt on their hands from gardening?

I still have to plant my veggies but need to figure out a plan because my dogs LOVE to dig in my veggie garden. 

Well, that is all from me today. Perhaps I will post again later this week as I have been making cards but just not posting on my blog. Do not forget to hop on over to my post on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog. I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!

A CAS-ual Fridays Post to Brighten Your Day

 Happy Sunday everyone!! 

I cannot believe we are in MAY!! I have to admit that I want this month to go fast as work has been really tough. I am ready for summer vacation!!

Today I am on the CAS-ual Fridays Blog with a bright and cheery card. 

Hop on over to my post to see what products I used and how I created this!!!

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

A Few Mother's Day Cards

 Happy Hump Day everyone!! This week is dragging and it does not feel like a Wednesday to me but a Thursday. The weeks are so slow but the weekends go by so quickly. I am just about to relax and bam, I am back at work. I know I am not the only one who feels this way!

Today I am here with a few Mother's Day cards. I actually do not enjoy making these as my mother has been deceased for over 25 years. This holiday just makes me sad. However, I figured that I could bring it to work and someone would take them. 

My first one is just a remake of an old card. I added a stamped Mom from Taylored Expressions.

I know, I know, it is a bit bright but I LOVE the pattern papers I used and I was able to match the green of the rick rack with some of my green ink.

All of this is from my stash. I am finding stuff I forgot I had as I have cleaned my room out. Still have a TON more to do!! 

This Mother's Day card was created using scrap paper, cardstock and the Antique Rose Layering Die from Altenew. 

I am not one to buy little pads of cardstock but I bought Floral Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad from Scrapbook.com and used it for this card. It was perfect!! I didn't have to dig through my scraps to get the perfect shades that matched up.

I liked the first card so much that I created a second Mother's Day set using the same rose die. I am trying to use up my pre-made die cuts so I added the "wood" frame behind the rose.

I think I like this one better than the first!! I am entering this card into this weeks Card Concept Challenge #154. I was inspired by the pink roses in the bouquet and all the lovely greenery. 

Well, that is all from me today. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a FABULOUS day!!!

Day 4 of the April 2021 CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Release: Introducing Flowery Background

Happy Monday!! I hope you are all having a good morning. 

Today is the last day of the April 2021 CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release. I created two cards using the new Flowery Background stamp. 

On my first card, I heat embossed the new background stamp and used the ink smooshing technique to get some color onto my card front.

I used both Distress and Distress Oxide in green and pink on watercolor paper to get the effect I wanted. Once it was dry, I die cut it twice using a rectangle die. I then adhered it to a pink, top folding, A2 card base. 

I off set both panels so that the pink of the card base was peeking out between the two rectangles.

I stamped the sentiment using the new Big Thanks Duo set. I first used a pink dye ink, then re-stamped the "thanks" with WOW! Clear Embossing Ink, and heat embossed it with TWO layers of WOW! Clear Embossing Powder. 

To give the sentiment some pop, I adhered it using foam adhesive.

On my second card, I kept it simple.

I stamped the Flowery Background with black ink onto a piece of white cardstock and splashed pink Distress Stain across the front. Once the panel dried, I cut it down and adhered it to a white, top folding, A2 card base. 

I added an embossed sentiment and some leaves from the new Flower Duo set. 

My last step was to use some Glossy Accents over some of the areas on the leaves.

All the new stamps and dies are available now in the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Shop under the NEW section. Be sure to use my code, NORASENTME, to get an extra 15% off your total order!!!

While supplies last, with a $25 order (or more!!), you will receive a Hello Freebie stamp set-no code needed!!!

I want to thank you for taking the time to stop by. Please hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog to see some amazing creations created with the Flowery Background stamp!!!

Have a FABULOUS day!!