Tag, You're It!

This is a quick 3 challenges in 1 card! 

Tag, You're It #28 Challenge 

CAS 339 on SCS - Tag it 

Technique Lover's Challenge - use a digi 

I smooshed some Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade distress inks on a panel - die cut using a stitched rectangle die by Lil' Inker Designs.  Digi image is from A Day For Daisies and sentiment is a word die from PTI's Wet Paint die set. 

The tag die is from MFT's Rounded Banner STAX Die-Namics...topped off with some narrow Early Espresso ribbon (SU).  Thanks so much for stopping by...

CAS White on White

 

I have to admit...not using any color nearly made me twitch! :-)  I decided to go outside my box with this card and played along with 3 different challenges:
SCS CAS Challenge - Use sentiment as the focal point.
SCS Technique Lover's Challenge - Use only white (no color!).
Freshly Made Sketches #168

I embossed a lot and added a vellum panel that's hard to see in the photo.  I did shadow the love sentiment with some gold cardstock as it simply "got lost" when I didn't.  I tweaked the sketch a wee bit and added the sentiment over the tilted panels instead of below.

What did I use?
Base embossing folder by Cuttlebug; Frame embossing folder by SU; Tipsy Heart die by Sizzix; Dotted Swiss embossing folder by Cuttlebug; Love word die by PTI.
Thanks so much for stopping by...

CAS Spirelli

Are you scared yet? :-)  I made this quick CAS creation for the CAS Halloween challenge on SCS and the Technique Lover's Challenge to use the spirelli technique.  They might kick me out of the gallery, but I used what I call a minimalist spirelli version!  Not sure of the name of this corner punch, but it allows you to wind thread or twine around the edges to form a frame.  The criss-crossing on the back of the panel probably looks more like the spirelli technique should look - lol!  Using one of my fave go to layouts, I layered a couple of MFT's primitive pumpkins and some SU Sizzlets little leaves.  The horizontal grunge lines were embossed in gold which doesn't show up well in the photo.

STAMPS: Tape It (SU), Gorgeous Grunge (SU), Primitive Pumpkins (MFT).
INK: Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark

Warm Winter Wishes

It's snowing in the CAS gallery on SCS and thankfully, it's NOT snowing outdoors in VA! In fact, the sun is out this morning.  Well, I just realized this was the CAS challenge for LAST week instead of today. :-(  It pays to note the dates versus the challenge ranking in the list! Oh, well...I have another Christmas card for next year's stash.  It is also for Judy's Technique Lovers Challenge to use REAL sewing on a card.  I stitched across the banners and tried something new that I've seen in blog land - leaving the thread "tails" hanging.  I'm not sure that's my style, but thought I'd give it a go - lol!

STAMPS: Warm Winter Wishes (Flourishes)
PAPER: Little Yellow Bicycle, Silver glitter CS by SU, Neenah solar white
INK: Blue Bayou (SU)
ACCESSORIES: Stitched rectangle die by Lil Inker Designs, Fishtail Flags Die-Namics by MFT, Snow Flurry Bigz die by SU, Rhinestone embellishment by SU.

Fill It Up

Joan's Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS is to take a single small stamp and "fill up" the background with it. I combined this with the CAS Challenge which is to use Midnight Muse, Smoky Slate and Melon Mambo colors. The tiny butterfly stamp is from PTI's "Places, Please" set.  I used a square stitched die and a small stitched circle die - both by Lil' Inker Designs.  Some ribbon (SU) and a butterfly (Cheery Lynn Designs' Exotic Butterfly die) complete the card.  The layout (slightly tweaked into a square version) is from Just Us Girls which happens to be from their sketch challenge last week (I slightly missed the deadline!).  This is one of those generic cards that will get an inside sentiment added as the occasion arises. Thanks for stopping by...

Freestyle Grunge

Joan has a really fun Technique Lovers' Challenge over on SCS today: freestyle design! It's simply choosing a variety of elements and textures and putting them together into a design that looks pleasing to the eye. One of my fave new SU sets from the new catalog is this Gorgeous Grunge set!  I love the fine lines and splatter stamps which add such a cool effect to a background.  I had a leftover open frame in my stash (using a Verve die) then started layering with a crocheted doily, some text leaves, primas, stick pins and ticket (which has a sentiment stamped from Verve's Small Phrases set).  I adhered most of the items using Tombow Multi glue and glue dots.  The stitched rectangle panel was popped using foam tape. The sentiment stamped on the ticket is from Verve's Small Phrases set.

I had a great lunch date with my daughter today!  Weather was perfect to eat at a fun local restaurant, The Purple Foot, that has an outdoor patio with fountains and gorgeous landscaping!  They have a wonderful wine (which explains the name of the restaurant) and gift shop, too, and we had to check that out.  Didn't buy anything (yet) but there are a few things I've mentally put on my Christmas list for a certain daughter - lol!  We had a lot of fun reading their menu with the greatest pita puns!  I ordered quiche and salad which was so yummy!  Check them out below...aren't they clever?!

After lunch I stopped at Michael's (that coupon was burning a hole in my pocket!).  Bought some acrylic paints so I can play with my new Gelli printing plate I bought last week.  I'll be posting some cards soon...or so I hope!

Thanks for stopping by...

You're Swell

Good Monday morning! You'll need to scroll on down for my mojo card...but here's another post that's all about a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers! The CAS challenge is in honor of a CAS alumnus - Harriet Skelly - and we are to CASE one of her gallery cards.  Judy has a fun Technique Lovers Challenge which is to allow a window or frame on the card front to peek into a scene or image on the inner part of the card.  I was inspired by Harriet's card HERE and used a kraft panel from my leftover stash with a border that I had stamped using Pacific Point and white pigment inks.  I adhered a sun ray die with a popped sun to the inside of the card.  The lighthouse was stamped on X-Press It Blending Card, colored with Copics and fussy cut.

STAMPS: Happy Harbor (Reverse Confetti), Whole Lotta Dots (Reverse Confetti)
PAPER: Night of Navy, Kraft, Daffodil Delight
INK: Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Unicorn white pigment ink by Memories
ACCESSORIES: Sun ray Die-Namics by MFT, Stitched circle die by Lil' Inker Designs, Corner chomper.

Thanks for stopping by...I'm going to enjoy having an extra day off work today!  Nothing big on the agenda, though need to get the oil changed in my van, so may have to get that done and pry myself out of my craft room.

Popped Sentiment

I combined the SCS Technique Lover's Challenge (to pop up a portion of your sentiment) with the CAS Challenge to use these colors: hot pink, kraft, celery green, white.  It's not exactly a one layer card - lol - but hope all the white space will qualify it as CAS. 

STAMPS: Ruby Rose (PTI), Hearts a Flutter (SU)
PAPER: True Friends 6x6 pad by Carta Bella, Neenah Solar White
INK: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Ruby Rose dies (PTI), Jute twine, Button, Hearts a Flutter framelits die (SU).

Trendy Feathers

Good morning again! I'm back with a second post for the day with a card for two challenges on Splitcoaststampers: Technique Lover's Challenge (string it up) and CAS Challenge (get trendy with feathers). I started by sponging Soft Sky ink using a Dylusions dotted flowers stencil (obviously I only used the dotted portion) then added the sentiment.  I added the doily BG and then adhered 3 different die cut feathers (QuicKutz "Feathers" die).  I wanted a little pop of black, so I added jute twine to a PTI vintage button. 

STAMPS: Stamping Simply side by side sentiments by Maile Belles (PTI)
PAPERS: Text-Style Green Boutique DP (PTI), Aqua Mist (PTI), White (PTI)

Lil' Inker Designs Challenge

 Laura has a fun challenge hop over on the Lil' Inker Designs blog...check it out HERE! 

 We were to be inspired by this photo...a fabulous summertime collage with sunshiney colors and clouds...just perfect to get out my fave cloud dies (love those stitched details!).  Because of the faux stitching, I'm also entering this into the TLC gallery of SCS to use crazy stitching on a card.

I had a little creative spurt and decided to try a scallop design by cutting the die shape from the Flags and Tags Stamp set in half.  Thought it turned out to be a fun and funky border! :-)  My all-time, most used Lil' Inker Designs die is the sentiment flag!  Had to tuck in a small sentiment of thanks using it.  After some cooler, rainy weather over the weekend, I was ready for a sunny days challenge!  So, I'm lifting my glass of lemonade with a toast for more sunny days! Cheers!

STAMPS: Triple Treat Flower by SU, Sentiment is unknown

PAPER: Family Ties by Pebbles, White by PTI, Green (?) scrap from my scrap pile.

INK: Old Olive (to sponge leaves), Daffodil Delight, Versafine Onyx Black.

Bokeh Effect

I was having stamping withdrawal after a hectic week of a second cataract surgery, a followup visit, hair appointment, getting ready for company over the weekend, working, etc. It simply didn't allow me any stamping time, so after I got home from work Sunday night...I had a chance to wind down and create a card!  I've been itching to ink up one of the new Reverse Confetti sets that arrived on my doorstep last Friday!  Jen del Muro has started up a new stamp company - Reverse Confetti - and I just couldn't resist some of her new designs!  A big plus is SUPER FAST shipping...here in 3 days after I submitted the order!  I'm using the latest Retro Sketch and combined it with a really fun Technique Lover's Challenge by Joan Ervin on SCS - to create a bokeh effect!  For some explanation and sample photos, check out Betsy Veldman's post HERE.

I stamped off 3 times using 3 different ink colors for the BG: Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay and Certainly Celery.  I used an aquapainter to add a little celery ink to the large feather, then fussy cut the image.  Some random bling and a couple of tiny pennants finished it off.  Thanks for stopping by...always love to hear from you!

STAMPS: Reverse Confetti
PAPER: Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Pool Party, White
INK: Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise
ACCESSORIES: Corner chomper, Adhesive rhinestones, Pennant Trim die by Verve.

Inspired by Quote

Today's CAS Challenge on SCS has a fabulous inspiration quote:  "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."  I also combined this with Judy's Technique Lover's Challenge to use washi tape and with Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge.  I'm needing some thank you cards, so this fell together so quickly!  I dry embossed with a scallop border from SU and with a Dotted Swiss EF by Cuttlebug.  The musical washi tape is by Tim Holtz and the striped tape is by Recollections.  Papers are Aqua Mist and Vintage Cream by PTI and the butterfly die is by Cheery Lynn Designs.  I attached it using small glue dots to the body then allowed the rest of the intricate die to curl up a bit for dimension.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting...

Love is in the Air

Took a quick peek on SCS and both the Technique Lover's Challenge (to dry emboss and sand on patterned paper) and the CAS Challenge (use the theme "Love is in the Air") were posted and I just couldn't resist a quick card  before going to bed!  It's also for the Retrosketches Challenge.  The patterned paper is from a 12x12" 29th Street Market sheet called Elegant Print/Poised Purple.  I wanted to use a paper with a white core so it would show up when I sanded the Victoria embossed pattern.

STAMPS: Flags and Tags by Lil Inker Designs
INK: Rich Razzleberry, Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Dies by Lil Inker Designs, Victoria EF, Rhinestones, Two of Hearts die by Cheery Lynn Designs.

Good night all!

More Valentines!

 A co-worker asked me to create 4 cards for her grandchildren, so this is a start on that order.  The first card uses Karen Giron's layout for her Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I paper pieced the dress and colored with Copics...accenting with a couple of mini rolled roses.  Papers are from the "Love Me" 6x6 pad by MME...with a heart border from glittery CS from Michael's.  The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo black on X-Press It Blending Card - the only paper I like to use with Copics!

STAMPS: Love You With All My Heart by MFT
ACCESSORIES: Button, Mini rolled roses Die-Namics by MFT, Small leaf filled flourish Die-Namics by MFT, Heart border die by PTI, Lil Inker Designs flag die, Rhinestones
COPICS: Hair-Y23, Y26
                Skin-E000, E21, E04
                Heart-R21, R22, R24
                Shoes-W4, W6

My second card was made for Judy's fun Technique Lovers' Challenge to "play with patterns".  I used two different patterns of DP and added the 3rd pattern by crimping the heart and sponging with Frost White Color Box ink for a striped look.

STAMPS: Blue Ribbon by SU, You and I by Verve
PAPER: Champs pad by Me & My Big Ideas
INK: Basic Gray, Real Red, Color Box Frost White
ACCESSORIES: Crimper, I Heart U die by Verve, Heart die by SU, Triple heart punch by SU.

That's all for now...appreciate your comments!

CAS Poppies

Burning the midnight oil here after seeing both the CAS challenge (to CASE one of mamaxsix's cards - I chose this card) and the Technique Lover's Challenge (play with balance) were posted early.  Joan is asking us to pair up a large stamped image with a small one to create a balanced look, so hope I got that accomplished.  I love this big ole BG stamp and thought it would be sweet to add the sentiment via a tiny tag.  I colored with Copics and die cut the shape using the Rounded Banner STAX Die-Namics by MFT.  The textured coral/orange CS is by Bazzill and was in my scrap pile, so do not have a clue what it's name might be.  Thanks for stopping by...

CAS Thoughts

I created this card for the SCS CAS Challenge to use a sketch and the Technique Lover's Challenge to use dies as a focal point.  I sprayed Dylusions "Vibrant Turquoise" ink on the BG stamp and used Verve's Pennant Trim die and the Chloe Stem die by Memory Box - cut from Early Espresso CS - to be the focal point.  Sentiment is from SU's Whimsical Words set.

 As we look at today's holiday to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr., I'm reminded of these memorable words...

CASEing Lynn

I created this card for 3 different challenges on Splitcoaststampers:
Featured Stamper - this week it's Lynn (allee's) who has a fabulous gallery and is such a great inspiration with her many challenge cards!
CAS - Color Challenge: Ruby red, Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip
Technique Lover's Challenge - Let the inside of the card show.

I cased this rose card to honor Lynn and die cut the roses and some of the leaves using PTI's matching dies to the Rosy Posy stamp set.  Sentiment inside and out is from Verve's Doodled Occasions set.  Paper is Lost & Found Two pad by MME.  I cut below the chocolate chip border (cut using Verve's Flourished Trim die) to let the inside DP show through to the front. 

Yikes!  It's almost 1 AM and I need to get to bed!  Good night all!

Chalkboard Technique

So ironic that I had a blog update in my inbox with a link to Betsy Veldman's Chalkboard Technique for PTI's Make it Monday challenge and then I checked out the Technique Lover's Challenge on SCS and saw Joan had posted the same technique. I've been wanting to try this for some time, so this was definitely a sign that I had to play - lol! This sentiment from Verve's "Learning to Sail" set was perfect for the main focal panel!  I white embossed on black CS then sponged Colorbox "Frost White" pigment ink along the edges and brushed some ink on the "storms" word.  A nautical charm added to the baker's twine finished off the card which uses Jen Shults' fabulous layout for her current Deconstructed Sketch Challenge!

PAPER: Nottinghill by 7 Gypsies
ACCESSORIES: Black/white bakers twine, Catch A Wave Die-Namics by MFT, Corner Chomper