Tuesday, September 29, 2015

CASology #166 - Science


Welcome to Week 166 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:


I was pleased with myself when I came up with this super clean and simple card - that is, until I had to photograph it.  Black card base and gold heart?  What was I thinking???  After multiple attempts and lots of bad words this was the best picture I could come up with and it's really not that great.  *Sigh*  It' will have to do though.  

I went with the Periodic Table of Elements for my science card with retired stamps courtesy of Sweet Stamp Shop.  The heart is popped up and the gold is quite shiny but you would never know it!  Hopefully you will have better success with your photos and I can't wait to see your designs.  Be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration from the design team and then play along!



And this week's guest designer:


Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Basic Black, Brushed Gold) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Chemistry) Sweet Stamp Shop
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow
Die:  (Heart) Papertrey Ink

Monday, September 28, 2015

Lions & Birdies & Clouds… Oh My!


I didn't make it into the Craft Cave over the weekend but I had some time in there today and I got a few cards made.  First up is for the ColourQ challenge using new (to me) WPlus9 supplies.  I've been wanting these dies and stamps for ages and finally managed to catch them while they were back in stock.  The ColourQ colours were just calling out to be used with this set!  


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Summer Starfruit, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up, (Rust) Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  (Dots & Stripes Metropolitan 6x6) Echo Park
Stamps:  (All from Sending Sunshine) WPlus9
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Cloud Border, Sunshine Layers) WPlus9
Gems:  Recollections


Next is a card for the Fusion challenge.  I used the sketch and took it very literally!  The inspiration photo made me think of this particular Glitz 6x6 paper pad although you wouldn't know it by looking at the papers I ended up using!  This little Memory Box bird is one of my favourites and definitely gets a lot of use.


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  (77 6x6) Glitz
Stamps:  (Sentiment from CL342) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Perched Reed Bird) Memory Box, (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Designs
Gems:  Recollections


Finally is a card that started with the Sketch for You to Try at Reverse Confetti.  Clearly I was in a real patterned paper mood today between this card and the last one.  Definitely not my usual CAS style.  This card also made me think of the new photo inspiration over at The Challenge.  Bright colours, patterns, a banner and a birthday?  Perfect!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper:  (The Citrus Matstack) DCWV
Stamps:  (All from Leaping Lions) Reverse Confetti
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Desings
Gems:  (Ladybug assortment) Doodlebug
Other:  (Corner Chomper) We R Memory Keepers

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

CASology #165


Welcome to Week 165 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:


My card this week was inspired by the design over at RetroSketches.  I used a partial circle die cut and the butterfly has lots of little circles on it's wings.  To keep the design from getting too busy I left the image uncolored and just outlined it to make it pop a little.  This cue card has lots of room for interoperation so I hope to see plenty of you playing along.  Be sure to check out the gorgeous creations from the design team and then get to work!  

Gillian Ross - Taking a break

And this week's guest designer:


Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Butterfly from Bejeweled, Sentiment from Ori Kami) Altenew
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow
Die:  (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Designs
Marker:  (Crisp Cantaloupe) Stampin' Up
Gems:  Recollections

Monday, September 21, 2015

Doodle Bud



After a fairly nice weekend (I think - we spent most of it inside) the humidity kicked up into super high gear today.  When I opened the front door it was like being smothered with a wet blanket.  Blech.  I am really ready for some fall weather but it's usually the end of October before we start to feel that!

I've got one more card from this weekend to share - this one using the ColourQ colours.  I love the design on that bag (although I need another tote bag like I need a hole in my head)!  I christened my new WPlus9 Doodle Buds stamps here and added lots of gems and a few white dots for interest.    

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Lucky Limeade, Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flower from Doodle Buds) WPlus9, (Sentiment from You Said It Sister) Freshly Squeezed Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Punch:  (1/16" hole punch) McGill
Gems:  Recollections

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Butterflies & Gators


The kitchen is looking gorgeous and we painted the living room today - yes, I was allowed to help this time!  I love the new paint colours although it makes me want to redo everything else too.  Crossing fingers for lottery win...

I've got two more cards to share that I made yesterday.  First up is a card inspired by Michele's gorgeous card over at Muse.  How virtuous I felt using a piece of patterned paper - especially one from a 12x12 paper pack!  :)  I let that beautiful paper do most of the work and just added a layered butterfly die cut and a sentiment.  Nice and easy.



Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Sera Sera collection) K & Co.
Stamps:  (Sentiment from More Stories) Avery Elle
Inks:  (Delicata Golden Glitz) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Butterfly) Papertrey Ink
Glitter:  (Sunflower Yellow Ice) Queen & Co


My second card marks the first time I've used any Reverse Confetti products.  This adorable alligator is what finally put me over the edge and forced me to place an order.  :)  I used the design at Freshly Made Sketches and paper pieced the 'gator and the cake with Fancy Pants papers.




Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Melon Mambo, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (MEology 6x6) Fancy Pants
Stamps:  (All from Later Alligator) Reverse Confetti
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Stitches Rectangle) Lil Inker

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Back to the Craft Cave


Hi there.  It feels like it's been ages since I've been here.  I was down and out for most of the week with a sinus infection.  Note to self:  Next time you think you might have a sinus infection do not wait until the earache sets in before going to the doctor.  Not fun…  

Today is the first day I've been in the Craft Cave since last Wednesday.  Luis was painting the kitchen (my offer to help was declined) so I had a good chunk of time to get crafty.  My first card is for the PS Sparks Picture Perfect challenge.  I embossed some borders from Tri-balation and then played with the smooshing watercolor technique.  The sentiment circle was made by layering the same colour three times while drying between each layer.  I think I like that part better than the background!




Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Ranger, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Triangles from Tri-balation, Sentiment from Word Salad) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow
Punches:  (1 1/4" circle) EK Success, (2" & 2 1/2" circles) Marvy Uchida
Paint:  (Watercolours) Loew Cornell
Gems:  Recollections















Next up is a card using the colour combo at The Challenge and the Anything Goes theme at Seize the Birthday.  I ran this Lil Inker die through my Cuttlebug with 5 different colours and then pieced it all together and layered a vellum sentiment on top.  I wanted to do this with glitter paper but my DCWV glitter paper really doesn't cut very well - I think because of the coated paper on the back side of it.  I tried it with a metal shim but still had to go over most of the cut lines with my craft knife and that just got too messy.  If anyone has any suggestions or tips for die cutting that stuff I'd love to hear them!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Blushing Bride, Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Basic Black) Stampin' Up, (Vellum) Strathmore
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Birthday Bash) Altenew
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger
Dies:  (Faceted Cover Up) Lil Inker Designs
Gems:  Recollections















My final card uses the inspiration photo at The Card Concept and the Die Crazy theme at the Simon Says Wednesday challenge.  I think the inspiration is pretty obvious (flowers, colours) and I'd put my card into the Clean and Simple category for the Card Concept.  The vases and flowers are all die cuts.  

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Smokey Slate, Basic Grey, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Birthday Greetings) Altenew
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Die-namics Flower Trio) My Favourite Things, (Mega Gracious Vases) Papertrey Ink
Punches:  (1/4" & 5/16" hole punches) McGill
Glitter:  (Yellow Stickles) Ranger




Thursday, September 10, 2015

Apples & Glasses


I didn't play around with watercoloring yesterday like I hoped but I did manage to get a few cards made in and around supervising the guys who were here to service the windows and storm shutters.  

This card is based on the design at CAS(E) This Sketch.  I paper pieced the Paper Smooches apple with Echo Park papers, embossed the sentiment and that was it.  Super quick and easy!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  This & That Graceful 6x6) Echo Park
Stamps:  (All from Falling For You) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow








This second card was a nightmare to photograph - black cardstock is so tricky to capture.  I made it for the current Curtain Call challenge.  The glasses are die cut from pink DCWV glitter paper - I love that stuff!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Basic Black) Stampin' Up, (Pink glitter) DCWV
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Incognito) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow
Dies:  (Glasses) Paper Smooches
Gems:  Recollections



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Fintastic Birthday


I had some time to spend in the Craft Cave yesterday and decided to practice my watercolouring a bit more.  I kept it pretty simple - my main goal is to get colour onto the paper without it pilling or just generally looking a mess.  I embossed the Hero Arts background with white ep and then used Peacock Feathers Distress Ink to watercolour the sea.  I'm pretty pleased with how this one came out and am finally feeling like I'm making a bit of progress.  I'm hoping to eventually get brave enough to try no line watercolouring but for now I'm just happy with a decent wash!  I'm going to enter this at the Time Out Make Your Mark challenge, the Addicted to Stamps Anything Goes challenge and the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes challenge.  I'm hoping to get some more play time today and maybe have something else to share later.  Have a good day!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Watercolour) Tim Holtz, (Tangelo Twist, So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Fish & Fintastic from Briny Blue) Paper Smooches, (Have A from Critters in the Sea, Birthday from Critters Down Under) Lawn Fawn, (Background) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Peacock Feathers Distress Ink) Ranger
Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger
Gems:  Recollections

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

CASology #163


Welcome to Week 163 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:


This week's cue word immediately made me think of this Paper Smooches moon.  I love his happy face and knew that he would be the star of the show on my card.  Be sure to go and check out the gorgeousness from the rest of the design team and then play along with us!


Gillian Ross - Taking a break

And this week's guest designer:


Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Hello Honey, Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Cosmos) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Die:  (Speech Bubble Border) Lawn Fawn