Tuesday, October 30, 2012

CASology #17


Welcome to Week 17 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:



We're super excited this week to welcome our sponsor - Neat and Tangled!  Neat and Tangled is a relatively new stamp company created by Danielle Walls.  Her designs are so sweet and therefore perfect for this week's cue word!  I chose to use the peppermints and sentiment from Home Sweet Home.  A little bit of tone on tone stamping in the background, a lot of Glossy Accents on the peppermints and my card was done!  I can't wait to see all the sweet goodness that you guys come up with for us to drool over this week! Before you start though check out the rest of the gals:





And this week's guest designer:


Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 4 November at noon CST.


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Home Sweet Home) Neat and Tangled
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger
Gems:  (Lily White assortment) Doodlebug
Copic:  R29
Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Saturday, October 27, 2012

RetroSketches #35


Happy Saturday!  I'm back with the latest challenge from RetroSketches and this week the sketch is based on one of my cards (originally seen here).  I was in a patterned paper kind of mood when I worked on this and broke out some old Cosmo Cricket paper - the Everafter collection.  This is an older Hero Arts stamp set too but then I'm usually a bit behind on the trends!  :)  I can't wait to see how the sketch inspires you!  Happy crafting!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Everafter collection) Cosmo Cricket
Stamps:  (All from Sew Artsy) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Christmas Candle


My mojo and I have not been getting along at all this week.  I've been working on some Christmas cards for a client but when it comes to challenges my brain has completely frozen over.  I finally managed to make a card for the CAS-ual Fridays Over the Edge challenge and I'm squeaking it in with about half an hour to spare.  I'm hoping this has loosened up my brain a bit and maybe I can get some other challenge cards made this afternoon.


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Image) Woodware, (Sentiment) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko
Die:  (Double Ended Banners) PTI
Gems:  (Bumblebee assortment) Doodlebug

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

CASology #16


Welcome to Week 16 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:



Since we just had the Zoo challenge recently I decided to steer away from wild animal images.  Well, almost!  I couldn't resist putting the leopard print on the hearts and going with a punny sentiment.  :)  So what comes into your mind when you think wild?  Check out what the rest of the DT has come up with:




Also this week's guest designer:

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 28 October.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Riding Hood Red) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Arrow from Hit the Mark) Market Street Stamps, (Leopard print from March '11 KOM - Just You) Unity, (Sentiment from Alphadots & Simply Said) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Riding Hood Red) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Heart Prints collection) PTI

Monday, October 22, 2012

When Love Is Deep


I was really disappointed that I missed out on the first CAS(E) this Sketch challenge so I was determined to get a card made for it this week.  They have a killer design team over there and they're all ladies whose work I avidly follow.  :)  I've got all sorts of new things going on with this card.  The Cherry Blossoms and sentiment are from Sweet Stamp Shop and the pink "smudge" is from The Craft's Meow's Typically Teen set. The pink I used is Garnet Twinkling H2O.  I've had a box full of H2Os for well over a year now and this is the first time I've busted them out.  I really  like the bit of shine you get from them.

I also want to mention some awesome customer service.  A few weeks ago I decided to order some stamps from The Craft's Meow.  I filled up my cart, went to check out and realised there was no shipping option for Bermuda.  I do have a way of ordering things through the US but it adds on a lot of money so I emailed TCM and asked if they might at some point consider adding Bermuda as a shipping destination.  Less than 12 hours later (on a Sunday no less!) I had a response saying that Bermuda had been added and I could put my order in.  Now that is impressive.  On top of that the stamps arrived quickly and are really great quality.  I'm excited to really get playing with them!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Stamps:  (Branch & sentiment from Cherry Blossoms) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Smudge from Typically Teen) The Craft's Meow
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger
Paint: (Garnet Twinkling H2O) LuminArte

Saturday, October 20, 2012

RetroSketches #34




I can't believe it's Saturday again already!  And Saturday means time for RetroSkecthes!  This week's sketch is based on this gorgeous card by Laurie.  Funnily enough it's a card I put into my CASE file when she first blogged it last December.  :)  For my card I used some new (to me) My Cute Stamps images from their Ahoy set.  Are you ready to play along?  Check out the rest of the DT designs and then get inky!





Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Riding Hood Red, Midnight Muse, Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up
Stamp:  (All from Ahoy collection) My Cute Stamps
Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Riding Hood Red) Stampin' Up

Friday, October 19, 2012

Discovering New Oceans




I'm finally getting around to playing along with one of the challenges over at the Sweet Stamp Shop.  This time we have a sketch challenge and thankfully it's a pretty straightforward one without too many layers.  :)  I used the starfish & sentiment from Dream Ocean and the dots on the flags are from the Sweet Tooth set.  Right, off to take the car in for servicing and then hopefully some crafty time!  Have a good Friday!

  

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Starfish & sentiment from Dream Ocean,  Dots from Sweet Tooth) Sweet Stamp Shop
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up
Gems:  (Bumblebee assortment) Doodlebug

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Bundle of Boy Joy


It's Subtly Yours week at Dynamic Duos and we are to use Pool Party and Soft Suede on our creations.  I immediately thought "baby boy" when I saw these colours and so pulled out Baby Basics from Market Street Stamps (designed by Julie Day).  I paper pieced this cute little teddy and made a border for him to sit on using the "Boy" blocks and a Fiskars punch.  I thought it needed a little something else so I gave my bear a little banner to wave as well.  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pool Party, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Baby Basics) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Soft Suede) Stampin' Up
Punch:  (Threading Water) Fiskars

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Heart Monitor


This week CAS-ual Fridays wants us to put our hearts into our cards - or should I say onto our cards!  I've got a ton of heart images in my stash but it took a while to decide which one to use.  I finally settled on this heart and sentiment from Paper Smooches' Healthy Vibes set.  I stamped and embossed in onto red cardstock and then covered it with Glossy Accents.  I also added some chevrons behind it to mimic the "monitor" in the heart.  

We had a brush with Hurricane Rafael last night.  It passed by about 100 miles to our east and was only a Category 1.  It was pretty windy and we got some good rain out of it but thankfully that was about it.  It certainly made for a good night of snuggling up on the sofa with my boys!  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Heart & sentiment from Healthy Vibes) Paper Smooches, (Chevrons from Background Basics: Chevrons) PTI
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Sahara Sand) Stampin' Up
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger) 
Gem:  (Ladybug assortment) Doodlebug
Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida
Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CASology #15



Welcome to Week 15 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:


This was a complete nightmare to photograph with all that black embossing!  I used my Distress Inks to create the moon and embossed the creepy tree on it and then embossed the sentiment strip.  I tried embossing the sentiment strip in white and then on a yellow strip but those things seemed to take away from the impact of the moon so I kept it simple and just embossed the sentiment in black.  Your turn now!  Check out the rest of the design team's creations and then get creating!



Also this week's guest designer:

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 21 October at noon CST.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  Purple Onion Designs
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks) Ranger
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger) 
Punch:  (@ 1/2" circle) Marvy Uchida

Saturday, October 13, 2012

RetroSketches #33



Happy Saturday, everyone!  I'm back again this week as an October Headliner at RetroSketches!  This week's sketch is based on this adorable card by Kasia.  I decided to flip the sketch upside down and create a little garden with this dotty Doodlebug paper.  The sentiment is from Neat and Tangled.  Hope you'll play along with us this week!




Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Doodlebug Design
Stamp:  (Sentiment from Fresh Blooms) Neat and Tangled
Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Die:  (Die-namiccs Fresh Cut Grass) MFT
Punch:  (Flowers) Woodware Craft Collection
Gems:  (Ladybug & Beetle Black assortments) Doodlebug Design

Friday, October 12, 2012

Cup o' Sunshine


Hi there!  Happily, I got a little time in the Craft Cave this morning and managed to make a card for two challenges. I started off playing along with the Runway Inspired challenge.  I wanted to have a dominant yellow feature on the card. Initially I wasn't sure exactly what that feature would be but I started playing around with the Here Comes the Sun background stamp by Market Street Stamps.  I was dithering on where to go with it and thought morning sun = tea or coffee and the Paper Players challenge this week is to use a cup or cups.  So I grabbed the MSS Daily Grind set and paper pieced the mug.  The steam is from Paper Smooches' Hot Concoctions and the sentiment is Lawn Fawn's Sunny Skies set.  It's a totally different card than I thought I was going to make but I really like it!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Mug from Daily Grind, Here Comes the Sun) Market Street Stamps, (Steam from Hot Concoctions) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from Sunny Skies) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Rock Star






I am a sucker for pretty much anything with a star on it so when I saw the latest Embellish challenge I was all over it! Fun, bold colours and stars.  You really can't go wrong with that.  :)






Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Mat Stack 4 Collection) PTI, (Sentiment from Great Big Greetings) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Mat Stack 4, Seeing Stars) PTI
Gems:  (Blue Jean assortment) Doodlebug

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Shine Brightly


Thanks to the recent sale at Simon Says Stamp I got a few sets of Lawn Fawn stamps that have been on my wish list for ages including the set I used today - Lunar Lights.  This card is for the current Lawnscaping challenge to use texture on your card. I found some mulberry paper that I bought about 5 years ago and thought it would make great paper lanterns.  It was actually pretty easy to stamp on too.  I was worried that the rough, crinkly texture would make for an uneven image but they stamped beautifully!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Other Paper:  (Mulberry PAper) The Stamp Pad CoStamps:  (Lamps & sentiment from Lunar Lights) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Daffodil Delight) Stampin' Up
Twine:  (Charcoal) The Twinery

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

CASology #14


Welcome to Week 14 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:


Pretty appropriate as it's autumn in the northern hemisphere.  Not here though.  So far October has been hotter and more humid that September.  Weird.  Anyway I decided to cast my mind back to my college days on Long Island where we actually had autumn and the leaves changed colour.  I fussy cut and coloured some leaves from PTI's In Bloom and used one of the fabulous over-sized sentiments from Market Street Stamps' Great Big Greetings. I was actually inspired by this card by Stephanie Washburn.  I love how the leaves pop off the white background.  So how does the cue card inspire you?  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week but before you get started have a look at the gorgeous creations by the rest of our super talented design team:



Also this week's guest designer:

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 14 October at noon CST.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Cajun Craze) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Leaves from In Bloom) PTI, (Sentiment from Great Big Greetings) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Copics:  E08, YG63, YG91, YG95, G85

Monday, October 8, 2012

I Believe In Pink


Both my mom and grandmother survived breast cancer so Breast Cancer Awareness Month hits pretty close to home for me.  This week CAS-ual Fridays is asking us to celebrate the women in our lives and the colour combo at ColourQ is perfect for the card I imagined.  The stamp is from Unity's October 2011 Kit of the Month - Faith, Hope, Love... Live By It.  The kit is full of inspiring images and sentiments that are perfect for celebrating the fabulous women in our lives.


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Pacon, (Melon Mambo, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (October 2011 KOM - Faith, Hope, Love... Live By It) Unity
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko
Punch:  (Corner Rounder) Marvy Uchida
Gems:  (Cupcake assortment) Doodlebug

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Block Party!


I really had hoped to spend a ton of time in the Craft Cave this weekend given that yesterday was World Card Making Day.  Sadly, I only got a few hours in and most of it was spent on a special order.  (More on that later).  I did, however, find time for a card for the Market Street Stamps Block Party.  I used the solid triangle from Nuts About Nature to create a rainbow pattern and added a simple sentiment from the same set.  This is a really versatile set that will definitely be seeing a lot more use from me.  


And here's that special order I mentioned.  I originally made this card last November for a CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  A friend liked it and asked me to make a set for her to use this year.  Hence, most of today was spent fussy cutting about 10 zillion trees!  I'll be dreaming of paper trees tonight...


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Stamps:  (Triangle & sentiment from Nuts About Nature) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up
Gems:  Doodlebug

Saturday, October 6, 2012

RetroSketches #32


Happy World Card Making Day!  Have you all been finding time to get your craft on?  Hopefully I'll be spending most of the day working on some special orders I have and maybe squeeze in a challenge or two.  For now though I'm excited to announce that I'm a co-Headliner at RetroSketches for the month of October!  I know, I know - I always profess to have a sketch allergy but I figured this would be a good challenge for myself.  Not to mention the fact that the RetroSketches team consists of three super talented ladies who I'm proud to play along with:



I used a paint sample for the orange bars and the image and sentiment are Paper Smooches.  What do you see in this sketch?  Can't wait to see your creations!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Kraft) PTI,  (Island Indigo) SU
Stamps:  (Chair & sentiment from Vogue Abode) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Twine:  (Mandarin) The Twinery
Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Golf Birthday



This week's Just Us Girls challenge to use numbers on a card came along at the perfect time as I was asked to do a special order card for a 30th birthday. The recipient is a guy and he likes golf so I had to work that into the design.  I was a little unsure at first about how to create the texture on the golf ball but the PTI polka dots impression plate was the perfect solution.  Love it when things actually come out the way I imagine them!  :)

  


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Kraft) PTI,  (Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Night of Navy) SU
Stamps:  (Argyle) Market Street Stamps, (Candle from Birthday Messages) Hero Arts, (Letters from Smitty's ABCs) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Night of Navy) SU, (Distress Vintage Photo) Ranger
Dies:  (Block Alphabet, By The Numbers) PTI

Impression Plate:  (Polka Dots) PTI
Punch:  (1 1/2" circle) EK Success

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

CASology #13


Welcome to Week 13 of CASology!  Here's our cue card for this week:


After struggling last week because I hardly had any shoe images, this week I suffered from an abundance of choice in the zoo department!  I finally settled an on elephant from My Cute Stamps.  I first paper pieced him with pattered grey paper but it was way too busy so I went for solids and ended up with a colour blocked look which is clean and crisp.  How many critters do you have in your stamp zoo?  Can't wait to see them!  But first go and check out the rest of the DT and their fabulous creations:



Also this week's guest designer:


Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 7 October at noon CST.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Rose Red, So Saffron, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Elephant and hat from Circus Animals) My Cute Stamps, (Present from Birthday Sayings, Sentiment from Elephants) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko