Bamboo: Is it Androgynous?

When it is used on a card, is it androgynous?  I am thinking so, but I mostly use this stamp for masculine cards.  I really like the whole set that it comes from with great leaves!!!  Of course, it's a Unity set.  It lends itself really nicely to the CAS style of stamping. 

I made this card for last week's Limelight Sketch challenge with a product focus of string.  It was Mandy's 50th challenge, woohoo.  I wonder how many of those challenges I have actually played in?  Not like I would actually count, but I play often.

I think I mentioned last week that I was low in masculine cards, so I went that direction again.  I left the sentiment off so that the card could be used for many occasions.  (Plus, I didn't immediately see a great spot for the sentiment and I was working with a self-imposed deadline.  Kids will do that to you, they want to eat dinner and stuff like that!)

Enough jibber-jabber, have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Joy=Gratitude (Unity); Paper: Kraft, Early Espresso, River Rock; Ink: River Rock, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Versamark; Accessories: clear ep, brads, embroidery floss, stampin' dimensionals; Techniques: embossing.

Crazy Colors for Tuesday

The Color Challenge on SCS today include Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay and Dusty Durango.  I can't exactly remember which colors are retiring next month from Stampin' Up!, but I hope it includes Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango.  They are not my favorite.  I chose to CASE a card today, as part of a Stamp 2 Spend challenge, and to make the color challenge easier on me :)

The crafter in the spotlight for this challenge is Kurtis Amundson.  I recognize him mostly from his work for Gina K. Designs.  I chose this card and changed just the bare minimum to make it a case and not an exact copy.  Although, some might make a good argument otherwise. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Back2Basics (Stamps of Life); Paper: Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, Basic Black; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: clear ep, white ep, heat tool, 1 1/4" square punch, stampin' dimensionals.

CAS Monday, June 28th

Today's clean and simple challenge on SCS is a color challenge.  The colors are any similar to Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Pumpkin Pie.  Here is my SUPER-ULTRA SIMPLE card.  Yep, one piece of paper, two rub-ons and a corner rounder!

Of course, I had to make two of these cards because I messed up the stitching!  Even with a rub-on.  I think my Mom is the only person who doesn't goof up stitching.  And...even then, I know that isn't true because I hear about it when she has to rip out a bunch of stitches!

Thanks for stopping by!  If you play along, let me know so that I can see what you create.  Have a great day!

Details - Paper: Whisper White; Accessories: Love & Happiness rub-ons, JoAnn's rub-ons, corner rounder.

How About Some Layers

I'm sure that you may be getting tired of CAS, so here is a card I made for the Verve Release Week challenges.  This sketch comes way back from February's Viva La Verve challenges.  I opted for manly as my mother-in-law recently hit me up for some cards and was specifically looking for masculine birthday cards.  I barely had any choices for her.  Whoops, time to get busy!

I think stars are great on masculine cards and I also added some faux stitching on this one.  No ribbon, no flowers, no sparkle, VERY manly!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Birthday Wishes (Verve); Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Parisian Breeze dsp; Ink: Chocolate chip; Accessories: Large star punch, small star punch, self-adhesive metal stars, silver gel pen, stampin' dimensionals, square punch (for notches in banner); Techniques: faux stitching.

Verve Release Week Champion!!!

That sounds great, doesn't it?  Okay, you all know that all that means is that I finished all five challenges.  The real magic happens at the party Friday when the winners are announced!  I am a little bummed about that whole thing.  I don't think I will be able to be at the party.  We are heading out for the weekend to a "Cousin's Pool Party".  That will be fun too, but I will miss the Verve party, boo!

Anyway, for this card, I used one of Amber's fabulous sketches.  It's from week 2 of May's Viva La Verve.  I have never created a long card before.  I'm not really even sure of the measurements on this one because I cut it  down after I was finished to adjust my white spaces.  Crazy, huh?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Feel The Sun (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, I Wish dp; Ink: Olive Olive, Basic Brown, Groovy Guava; Accessories: Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, crystal effects, studio 18 rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, aquapainter, glue dots, paper snips.

Playing with some Verve

It's time again to play with some Verve!  It's Verve's release week and that means Julee has offered up some sketches and ultimately, some prizes!  She's so generous like that.  There are 5 challenges to pick from...and you can do them all for a 6 chances at a prize.  Click here to see what I am talking about!

I used Amber's sketch from week three of March's Viva La Verve.  I also made this card with my SCS friend, Traci S.  in mind.  She is getting a card give-away blog off the ground and needed some cards to get her started.  I made this one and will cook up another one and then mail them off to her. Good luck Traci!  I will be checking in to see how it goes for you!  I'm sure it will do amazing!

Anyway, it's a busy day at home.  My daughter is home, we have sunshine and work to do in the garden, design team work and swimming lessons tonight. Whew!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Details - Stamps: Notes of Prayer (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, BG Wisteria; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: gold ep, heat tool, M's self-adhesive pearls, ticket corner punch, stampin' dimensionals.

A present for you

Here is another CAS card I made for yesterday's challenge based on Diane's card.  This was my first attempt and I wanted to do a pretty straight case of her card.  My focal image ended up lower than I wanted it to, but I still like it.  The dp and the gifts matching was a happy accident.  After I noticed the similarities, I purposefully colored them to match.  Then I noticed the string on the package and added the embroidery floss to match.  Then I colored my string in the image all matchy-matchy.  I recently read somewhere (I forget where) about using a tiny little punch on the edge of the card to create a notch for the floss.  Boy, did that work like magic!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Details - Stamps: Happy Moments; Paper: Very Vanilla, Taken With Teal, OA Ducks in a Row; Ink: Basic Gray, Melon Mambo; Accessories: WCC, blender pen, corner rounder, MM embroidery floss, stampin' dimensionals.

CAS Monday, June 21st

This week's CAS challenge is a sketch challenge and we are honoring my design team mate Diane.  My card is based on Diane's Water Theme card that she made as part of the CAS Summer Design Team application!  It's super cute! 

I changed this card up a bit. I used the three little layers under the focal image, but kept them all the same length and width.  I added some background stamping and eliminated the piercing.  I was really pleased with the result.  I hope you will find time to play this week.  Link me up if you do!

Happy Monday, the longest day of the year!

Details - Stamps: The Artist In You (Unity); Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla; Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: sponge dauber, J's self-adhesive twill, stampin' dimensionals.

Part 3 of Sweet Pea's Party

It's time to say thanks!  So this is the card I made for my daughter to send as thank you cards for the thoughtful gifts she received.  I'm late in getting them out, but I say, "Better late than never".

These were super simple!  I die cute the circle with my Nesties, stamped the chips, sponged the edges, scored a line on the back circle and put the two together with some scor-tape!  Super easy and great to do while watching television.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all had a restful weekend and a Happy Father's Day!

Details - Stamps: You Warm My Heart (Stamps & Smiles); Paper: Creamy Caramel; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: sponge dauber, Nestabilities.

Foxgloves For You

This card was absolutely heaven to make. So easy and so gratifying!  Of course, I made it for a couple challenges. The first challenge was the VSN challenge called April Showers Bring May Flowers and the task was to use flowers on your card.  I just strategically cut up my dp!  That was therapeutic in and of itself.  Normally, I hoard all the beautiful pieces.  Why, I'm not sure because I love this card.  The second challenge involved here was a Stamp 2 Spend challenge to create a card in my own style.  My style is hard to describe. I made a card that I liked. I used beautiful designer paper, clean lines, a bow and a girly-scripty sentiment.


Thanks for stopping by!
 
Details - Stamps: Fresh Cuts; Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, BS Wisteria; Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: M's black satin ribbon , glue dot.

VSN Flowers

I didn't have anything new that I had created today, as today was filled with doctor appointments, Father's Day shopping and grocery shopping.  So I decided to share this bright and cheery flower pot card that I made during VSN.  This card is perfect for the sunshine that finally arrived here in Washington.  Hooray! 

One of my co-workers liked this card so much that she took it for herself.  She posted it on her refrigerator just to look at.  How flattering is that?  She's a great gal like that.

Anyway, this was for a VSN challenge to make a flower pot card and add texture to your flowers without using designer paper.  I clear embossed an old background stamp on the pink and yellow flowers and them die cut them. I particularly like how the Canvas background stamp looks on the Rust card stock.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Canvas, Special Day; Paper: Really Rust, Mellow Moss, So Saffron, Regal Rose; Ink: Really Rust, Versamark; Accessories: Clear ep, heat tool, wide saffron grosgrain, glue dot, stampin' dimensionals, soft subtle brads, scallop edge punch, Birds and Blooms sizzlit dies, Leaves sizzlit.

A sweet-heart

I made this card for last Sunday's Featured Stamper challenge on SCS.  The featured stamper was LeAnne Pugliese and I chose this card of hers.  It just jumped out at me.  I'm not sure that I have ever chosen to case a CAS card or not, but there aren't usually a lot of elements to change.  I managed however and here is what I came up with. 

Just a quick post today!  It's the first day of my summer break and it's raining, WAH! 

Oh well, more time in my craft room!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Happy Hearts, Well-Scripted; Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery dsp; Ink: Regal Rose.Accessories: white grosgrain ribbon, corner rounder, stampin' dimensionals.

Christmas in June

I hope you are not too tired of seeing CAS cards!  Here is my last  one for the CAS challenge based on the theme "things that fly".  Again, I was trying to be clever when I chose Santa's sleigh and this reindeer.  There are only two layers on this card and it's pretty monochromatic, so I tried to dress it up a bit.  I doodled in my own pen lines and left them imperfect for interest.  I distressed the edges of my focal image to help it stand out even more after I popped it up.  Finally, I traced over the curly lines in the image with my Sakura Clear Star gel pen to give it a little more oomph!  It might be hard to see in the photo, but it may show up a bit better if you click on it and enlarge it :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Sleigh Ride (Unity); Paper: Very Vanilla; Ink: Stazon Timber Brown, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: WCC, blender pen, Sakura Clear Star gel pen, MM edge distresser, Chit Chat rub-ons, stampin' dimensionals.

Flying High

Here is another card from yesterday's CAS challenge, things that fly.  I cut this little airplane out of a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper and popped it up on top of another airplane in a crazy busy part of the design.  See all the airplane trails crossing each other.  I tried to be cute and have my airplane pointing to my sentiment.  I'm not sure how many people noticed that, though.  Other then that, it's pretty simple.  An easy on the eye patterned paper with a thin border and rounded corners.

I used a sketch from the clean and simple stamping blog.  This is Fall To Layout 94.  This is one of my favorite sketch blogs.  If you haven't checked it out, I would highly recommend it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Cosmo Cricket The Boyfriend; Accessories: Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, corner rounder, stampin' dimensionals, Chit Chat rub-ons.

Another CAS Monday

Yep, that's right!  Be prepared for about 3 months worth of CAS Mondays.  This sketch from Limelight papercrafts really through me.  I stared at it and stared at it and I finally turned it over.  Then it came to me.  I put the scallops on the opposite side and added a length of ribbon. Sooo much better than what I had hope for.  Of course, this card is for the Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS too.  This week's challenge is a "things that fly" theme challenge.  In my head I guessed that there would be a lot of birds and butterflies and boy, was I right!

I had this little butterfly from my Beautiful Wings embosslit in my discarded punch jar.  That was handy!  I just wrapped some wire around it and called it good.

Two more days of school left and then I will be up for some serious craftiness and (sigh) house cleaning.

Thanks for stopping by.

Details - Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve); Paper: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black, Memory Box Gossamer; Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: Scallop edge punch, Wide black organdy, MM black wire, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, scor-tape, Beautiful Wings embosslits.

Haven't We Seen This Sketch Before?

I know, I know!  But I love it!  Isn't that the best excuse for using the same sketch over and over again?  Of course, this is the same fabulous sketch by Jessica Witty from Paper Craft's Go To Sketches that you have seen here and here :)

This card got its start through a VSN challenge a couple weeks ago.  I had no idea I would love this color combination so much, but I do!  Crafter were challenged to put together kraft, so saffron and cameo coral.  I used to cringe when I heard Cameo Coral, but in months gone by I really have enjoyed it! 

There isn't much to this card but a circle punch, the modern label punch, hemp twine, self-adhesive rhinestones, a couple Sharpies, a rub-on and some dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron dsp, Patterns Pack, Ginger Blossom dsp, Walk in the Park dsp; Accessories: 1" circle punch, modern label punch, Chit Chat rub-ons, hemp twine, M's self-adhesive rhinestones, red sharpie, tangerine sharpie, stampin' dimensionals.

Another Clean Quote

This is another card from my first design team assignment.  The rest of the competitors who did not receive a permanent place on the summer design team were offered a chance to earn another guest designer spot via two challenge.  I incorporated both into this card.  The challenge were fireworks themed.  The first was to use a bit of bright color on your card and the second was to make it sparkle. 

As much as I want to play in my craft room all day today, the weather is finally decent!  So that means I must help my hubby in the garden today and let Sweet Pea get oodles of fresh air and sunshine today!  I'll hit the craft room tonight after my girl goes to bed as my hubby is playing a rock show tonight :)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is fabulous!

Details - Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve); Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo; Ink: Basic Black, Melon Mambo; Accessories: Sakura Clear Star gel pen, M's self-adhesive rhinestone, Swiss Dots ef, stampin' dimensionals.

You So Sexy!

That was the title I wanted to give this card on SCS, but alas, I didn't know if I would get edited for the word sexy.  Better safe than sorry!

Anyway, last weekend, one of my girlfriends asked me if I could make a fun, sexy card for her SIL's bachelorette.  Now, I know the bachelorette (we are just acquaintances) and I wanted to make sure it was nice.  I hunted up this bra card on SCS and found a cool template offered up by StampOwl. 

I had originally planned to do this in black, but my girlfriend dropped by my work (her sons school) this morning and told me that the lingerie she bought for her SIL was a light pink.  So....I opted for light pink with black accents. 

If you haven't ever seen one of these cards, you are in for a treat.   Here is the back of the card:

Too cute, huh?  My girlfriend was thrilled when she picked it up today.  Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

Details - Stamps: French Filigree; Paper: Blush Blossom, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black; Ink: Versamark; Accessories: clear ep, heat tool, scallop edge punch, spring flower punch, M's self-adhesive rhinestones, pink Sharpie.

Another CAS Moment

I just love this little quote!  I think it is totally adorable on its little notebook paper background.  I love that it is square and has the cute doodle-y hearts everywhere.  I love to color in the letter and cut out the holes and distress the edges!!!  Too much fun!

I made this card as part of my first design team assignment, to use a quote, saying or verse as the focal point of my card.  This summer is going to be fabulous with all the CAS I get to make and share with the crafty folks at SCS!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Hodge Podge of Happiness (Unity), The Art of Life; Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant; Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Versamark; Accessories: MM edge distresser, metallic red heart, red satin ribbon, scallop edge punch, corner rounder, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals.

Dusty Vases

I made this card as part of the last VSN.  The challenge for this card was to find a long unused flower stamp and break it out.  I pulled out Vases in Vogue and put it to use.  My card really took off when I pulled out this pearlized paper by SEI.  That is what got me thinking about the liquid pearls.  Then I dotted all my flowers and the three little bits on the vase.  I was having so much fun. 

I borrowed a sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Vases in Vogue, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, SEI Mimosa; Ink: Basic Brown, Groovy Guava; Accessories: Pink Taffeta, mini glue dot, stampin' dimensionals, scalloped scissors, opal liquid peals.

Flock and Florals

It might be kind of hard to see in this picture, but if you could run your finger over the top of my focal image you would feel some fuzziness!  Half of Limelight's challenge from last week was to use something fuzzy or fluffy with the provided sketch. 

I combined this sketch with a VSN challenge to create a card with gray, blue and white.  I didn't have a sentiment in mind, but was inspired by an Eddie Bauer t-shirt I have at home.  It's a simple design of dark green, light green and white branches overlapping.  And, the light green branch in fuzzy.  I know I really need to post a picture for it to be real for you folks. Sorry, I'll get on that!  Until then, take care!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: The Artist in You (Unity); Paper: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Going Gray, SEI Winter Song; Ink: Going Gray, Soft Sky, Versamark; Accessories: MS glue pad, White Fun Flock, scallop edge punch, sponge dauber, scor-pal, scor-tape, stampin' dimensionals, basic gray taffeta ribbon.

Happy CAS Monday

This is my first design team card for the Clean and Simple challenge on SCS.  Today's challenge is called "Quotes, Verse & Sayings" and the task at hand is to make a card with the greeting as the focal part of our card.  I just wasn't sure what to do , so I made a few samples.  This happened to be the first one that I loaded and the one that Jen (MissBoo) linked to my new in the challenge thread :)

I built the card from the patterned paper up. I chose the Sahara Sand base to work with the paper.  I stamped my sentiment on Vanilla and matted it with black.  The I chose the black grosgrain ribbon to help transition the layers and tied it off with linen thread!

Thanks for stopping by.  If you get a chance to play, link me up your card so I can check it out!

Details - Stamps: Full of Life; Paper: Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, BoBunny Gift of Love; Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: Black grograin ribbon, linen thread, scor-tape, stampin' dimensionals, corner rounder.

A Bit of Foreshadowing

Here is the last card I made for the CAS Summer DT challenges.  The theme was to make a card that was water-inspired.   I went with a shadow stamp, some cute, glossy fish and some stitched seaweed.  I unknowingly titled my SCS card very appropriately.  You see, I called it Fish, Fish, I Got My Wish!  If you read yesterday's post, you know I made the actual design team.  So today as I post this, I am thinking of all the things I can do for samples for tomorrow's CAS challenge.  I have to get cracking!  I have samples to make, cards to comment on and well wishes/congratulations to respond to! 

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Very Punny, Shadow Stamps Special Edition (HA); Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal; Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black; Accessories: WC pencils, needle and thread, Crystal Effects, Waterfall Stickles, stampin' dimensionals; Techniques: CAS, stitching.

Every Cloud....

has a silver lining.  That was the sentiment I had in mind when I made this card.  I tried hard to not get my hopes up when I applied for the CAS Summer DT on SCS.  I kept telling myself after each round that "you have made it further than ever before, and THAT is progress".   So this card was made for the application process and the challenge taken on was to make a CAS card with a moving part.  This is a spinner card with a cloud that lazily spins across the front!  It was fun to make and it was my first time making one.

Now for the big news........last night was the reveal of the CAS Summer Design Team and I was accepted as part of the regular team!  I am so very excited and nervous!  My first assignment in for the challenge on Monday.  Really, the timing couldn't be better for me.  I have 8 days of school left and then I am on summer break.  That means I won't really have to juggle my employment with my design team assignments!

Woohoo, thanks for stopping by!

Details - Paper: Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava, CC Earth Love; Ink: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Earth Love rub-ons, Silver thread, needle, stampin' dimensionals, word window punch, pennies; Techniques: CAS, faux stitching, stitching.

A Baby Animal Challenge

I made this card for a VSN challenge called Critters.  The challenge was to create a baby card featuring a baby animal and a little green.  Your envelope also had to feature the cute little baby animal as well.

I used a sketch from Paper Craft's Go To Sketch, by the lovely Jessica Witty.  I love that magazine and I use it all the time!

I also incorporated a Ways to Use It challenge to use paint.  I watercolored and counted that as painting, both on the envelope and on the card!

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Goody-Goody Gumdrops, Congrats; Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White, OA Ducks in a Row; Ink: Old Olive, StazOn Jet Black; Accessories: WCC, blender pen, eyelet lace border punch, olive embroidery thread, CE, self-adhesive rhinestones; Techniques: watercoloring.

Dad in Red, White and Blue

Yup, another CAS card.  This card was made for the weekly CAS challenge that took place on Memorial Day.  The task was to create a card for a hero (serviceman/woman or hero at home).  I chose to make a card for my daughter to give her father for Father's Day.  My husband is surely my daughter's hero.  I could not have asked for a better father for my little girl.  I used the most recent Fall To Layout from the clean and simple stamping blog for this card.

Thanks for stopping by!

Details - Stamps: Dad of All Kinds (Unity); Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Ballet Blue, Pawsitively Prints dsp; Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Ballet Blue, white gel pen; Accessories: Nestabilities, M's self-adhesive rhinestone heart, With Love embossing borders, stampin' dimensionals; Techniques: CAS, embossing.