CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #37–Laura’s Sketch!

Wow, wow, wow!!  That’s all I can say about both the incredible number of entries from last week’s challenge, as well as the amazing projects that you all submitted.  Oh my goodness!!  I had such a hard time narrowing down my votes.  I so hope that this week’s challenge inspires you as much as last week’s challenge did.  It’s one of my faves – a sketch!!  I love a good card sketch because it takes so much of the guessing out of my designing.  And it’s a great jumping off point for “interpretation,” if you know what I mean.  *wink* *wink*  Hehehe

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps, the purveyor of both clear and digital stamps.  They’ve got some pretty cute stuff, so you really should check out their store!  Sweet n’ Sassy Stamps has provided this week’s TGIF Club Winner with a wonderful prize, but you’ll have to hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to see what it is.  Oh come on, you didn’t think I was actually going to tell you, did you?!  LOL  Thank you Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps!!

I pretty much stuck to the sketch this time (shocker!  LOL).  The focal image is from one of my favorite stamp companies – W Plus 9 Design.  I was inspired to use The Birds & The Bees stamp set because of a set of cards that I saw on Val Stangle’s blog the other day.  I’ve had this stamp set for ages and had never inked it up before this challenge. It’s a crime, right?!  Please forgive the dark photo – I am really STRUGGLING with my lighting and new light tent.  The card base is actually Smokey Shadow, which is a dark gray – but it looks black.  Ugh!  If any of you have a fool proof solution to dark photos (I use Adobe Photoshop 7.0 to edit my photos), I’d love any and all advice you might have to offer.

STAMPS:  The Birds & The Bees (W Plus 9 Design), Polka Dot Basics II and Label Basics (PTI)
INK:  Fresh Snow (PTI), Slate & Fuchsia (Fresh Ink)
PAPER:  Smokey Shadow (PTI), Smokey (Bazzill Paper Basics), White (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  Angled Label Die (PTI), Rainbows & Clouds (Lil Inker Designs), Gray Satin Ribbon (Midori), Hibiscus Burst Button (PTI)

 

I so hope you’ll play along with us again this week.  As you read this, I’m packing my suitcase for an adventure that I still can’t believe I’ll be participating in.  I’ll be joining my sweet friend, Kim Hughes (the brilliant mind behind Paper Smooches Stamps), at the CHA in Anaheim, CA on Saturday morning.  I’ll be working in the Paper Smooches booth, and I can’t even tell you how thrilled and excited I am to do this.  Attending this conference has been a dream of mine ever since I started stamping, and this weekend, my dream will come true, thanks to Kim.  If you’re going to be there, please stop by the Paper Smooches booth (#2609 in the New Exhibitors Section) and say hello!  I’d love to meet you!!  In the meantime, I’ll be returning home on Wednesday, so things will be pretty quiet around my little blog until then . . . but know that when I get back, I’ll definitely be sharing my pics with you!!

Moxie Fab Challenge–The Map to Your Heart!

 

Hey!

Popping in really quick with a card that I made for the Moxie Fab World - Map to Your Heart challenge!  We were to use maps in our design.  I had this idea in my head, and thought that I could execute it using an old Road Atlas that I was just sure we had in our car.  Yeah . . . apparently it went to the car dealership when we traded that car in for our new car.  Bummer!!  So, off to Barnes & Noble I went, straight to the travel section.  Oh, they have some delicious maps there, but all of them really looked the same.  Kinda boring, really.  That is, until I came across a map of the Caribbean.  Oh my goodness – the colors were vibrant and fun, and just exactly what I had in mind for my project.

 

I used the Swallow Dies from A Muse Studio to die cut several birds, all in different colors.  I used a new Life Style Crafts embossing folder for a little bit of a whimsical sky, and the sentiment is from the Up, Up & Away set from Papertrey Ink.

STAMPS:  Up, Up & Away (PTI)
INK:  Onyx Black VersaFine (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  Spring Rain CS (PTI)
ACCESSORIES:  Swallows Dies (A Muse Studio), Dainty Embossing Folder (Life Style Crafts)

 

Thanks, Cath, for another super fun challenge!!  There’s still a bit of time to play along if you’ve got some spare time on your hands – the deadline is Monday at midnight (EDT).  That’s it for me today.  I’ve got a huge pile of TO DO’S on my plate today.  I hope I can cross a number of them off by the end of the day.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #36–Penguin Suit!!

 

Hello Sweet Stamping Friends!!

It’s Friday – YAY!!  That means it’s time for another CAS-ual Fridays Challenge!  Can I get a WOOT!  WOOT!!  This week’s challenge is another goody – create a CLEAN AND SIMPLE project using ONLY black and white!!  No other color – nada, zilch, nuttin’ honey!!  LOL

We have another wonderful sponsor this week – Cindy Coutts, who is a Stampin’ Up! consultant, as well as an amazing stamper and designer.  Cindy has very generously offered up a yummy prize for this week’s TGIF Club winner, but you’ll have to hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to find out what it is (and I assure you, you’re going to want it!!  Just sayin’ . . . .)

I had a BLAST with this challenge, mostly because I love color, but it’s so nice when the color decisions are made for me.  LOL  I actually used one of my  most fave-a-lave A Muse Studio stamp sets called Let’s Chat.  I stamped the “blah blah blah” stamp in VersaMark and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I die cut the frame using two different die cuts.  That adorable telephone was stamped again in VersaMark and heat embossed with black embossing powder (I think I got a little embossing happy for this project . . . hehehe).  The rest is pretty self-explanatory, right?!

STAMPS:  Let’s Chat (A Muse Studio)
INK:  Onyx Black VersaFine and VersaMark (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  Raven CS (Bazzill Paper Basics), Ultra Smooth Solar White CS (Neenah)
ACCESSORIES:  White and Black Embossing Powder (ZING/American Crafts), Baker’s Twine (The Twinery), Self-Adhesive Rhinestones and Stampin’ Dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!), Mat Stack 4 and Rectangle Label Dies (PTI)

 

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with for this week’s challenge!!  Reviewing your submissions is my most favorite part of my job as a Girl Friday – seriously, you all blow me away with your creativity!!  So, what are you waiting for – get busy!!  LOL

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I have a very busy and full weekend planned.  There are some stamps in my craft room that are calling my name, some challenge samples to make, as well as some submissions for the current Paper Crafts publication call that are due soon.  How about you – any fun plans for the weekend?  Whatever they are, I hope you have a great one!

Friends . . . and a Very Late Thank You!

Hola Sweet Bloggin’ Peeps!!

 

This is somewhat a non-crafty post, so if you’re not interested in non-crafty stuff, I will totally understand if you click over to the next blog in your reader.  Otherwise, grab a cuppa and sit a spell.

 

Actually this won’t be super deep.  I’ve just been sitting her in my sweet little crafting space (that is slowly but surely coming together as my most favorite place in the whole wide world – I’ll share pics when it’s totally done!) thinking about my life and how blessed I am to have an awesome family and incredible friends.  Most days I know that I don’t deserve such blessings, but I want the people in my life to know how very much I adore each and every one of them.  Yeah, I suck at articulating my feelings – I wish I could think of something profound to write here . . . maybe draw a tear or two.  Yep, can’t do it.  Bottom line is – I love and adore my family and friends and know that I don’t deserve them.  Thank you all for tolerating me and my lameness.

So, I also have a very late thank you (Emily Post would roll over in her grave at how late this thank you is) to share with one of my sweet blogging friends who sent me THE most beautiful Christmas card, along with some delicious ribbon and embellishments.  Isn’t that card just gorgeous?!  This is from my friend Piali – a woman who has been so kind and generous with her comments and messages to me.  She is always saying the sweetest things about my projects. And what’s so amazing is that I know she’s just as generous with her kind comments to just about everyone she knows.  I don’t know how she does it – she’s a busy mom, wife, and also does double time taking care of her sick mom.  Oh, and did I mention that she lives in INDIA?!!  Yeah, she sent me this beautiful card and wonderful embellishments from INDIA!!!  Uh huh . . . I’m such a blessed girl to have such amazing friends, right?!  One more thing – she has a wonderful blog where she shares all of her cards, so you really need to pop in and say hello.  Piali, please know that I will never forget your kindness this past holiday season, and your friendship means the world to me.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the beautiful card and delicious crafty goodies.  I’m so thankful to know you and to have you as a friend!!

 

Well, that’s it for me today, folks.  I have some challenge projects that I hope to get done in the next couple of days, so I’ll be back to share those, as well as a new CAS-ual Fridays Challenge project to share on Friday (Thursday, for you west coast peeps!!)  If you’re still here, thanks for indulging me and my blah, blah, blah.  I so appreciate you all!

Homework–Clean & Simple Card Making!!

 

Happy Monday Friends!

Popping in quickly to share a card that I made for the first lesson of the Clean & Simple Card Making Class.  Yes, I am behind in my assignments . . . I was always one of THOSE students.  Some things never change – LOL!!  This first lesson provided three simple sketches.  They also provided some great tips!  I think this is going to be a fun little class . . . as long as I can make time to actually do the lessons.

STAMPS:  Giddy Bugs (Paper Smooches)
INK:  Onyx Black VersaFine (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  Cherry Cheesecake, Raven and Lily White CS (Bazzill)
ACCESSORIES:  Bugabee Bugs Dies (Taylored Expressions), Stampin’ Dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!)

 

Hope you had a wonderful weekend – I know I did!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

CFC35–Highs & Lows!!

 

Hola Peeps!!

It’s time for another fabulous CAS-ual Fridays Challenge – this week challenge is to create a CLEAN & SIMPLE project and include SCALLOPS in your design!  Loves me some scallops, don’t you?!!

Our phenomenal sponsor this week is Annabelle Stamps, an Australian online stamp store.  And boy do they have some deliciousness in their store – I noticed some twine that MUST belong to me, and some stamps that are A-MAZING!!  Annabelle Stamps has also provided a prize to this week’s TGIF Winner, but you’ll have to hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to find out what it is . . . a girl’s gotta have some secrets, right?! *wink*  Thanks, Annabelle Stamps, for being our sponsor this week!!

 

This was such a fun challenge for me . . . I love scallops!!  But I decided to create scallops in an unconventional way.  I recently became the proud new owner of a delicious new heart border die from Memory Box.  Oh my goodness – it’s a die cut and embosser all rolled into one, and it cuts like BUTTAH!!  So I got a little die cut happy . . . LOL.  I die cut out several heart strips out of different cardstocks and designer papers and adhered them to a card base.  Then I die cut a scalloped label and stamped the sentiment right smack dab in the middle of the label (heat embossed it with some EP from Michael’s.)  I tied my fave-a-lave baker’s twine around the scalloped hearts for interest and voila!!

PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Love You More (W Plus 9 Designs)
INK:  Versamark (Tsukineko)
PAPER:  Razzleberry and Black Licorice CS (French Poptone), Lily White Criss Cross (Bazzill Basics Paper), Happy Days and Dots & Stripes – Candy Shoppe Collection (Echo Park Paper Co.)
ACCESSORIES:  Pink Sorbet Baker’s Twine (The Twinery), Scalloped Frame Die (PTI), Heart Chain Border Die (Memory Box), Fuchsia Embossing Powder (Recollections – Michael’s), Black Embossing Powder (ZING/American Crafts)

 

Well, that’s it for me today kids.  I hope you’ll play along with our fun little challenge this week.  I’ve got a fun day of lunch and shopping with my friend planned for today, and movies with my mother-in-law on Sunday.  I also hope to slide a bit of stamping into the mix of my weekend.  How about you – any special plans for your weekend?  I’d love to hear all about them!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Clear & Simple Stamps iPhone App Sneak Peek!!

 

Hi Peeps!

 

Just had to share that a project I recently submitted to Clear & Simple Stamps is being featured via their iPhone App (which can be purchased HERE.)  I got an iPhone after Christmas and have been having a blast with it.  And how exciting that I can now view some bonus projects from Clear & Simple Stamps on my phone – so cool, right?!

 

Here’s my sneak peek project:

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

CFC34–Chip Off the Ol’ Block–Guest Designer Contest!!

 

Well hello, people!!

 

Did you think I fell off the face of the earth?!!  I’ve so enjoyed the creative break from stamping and the CAS-ual Fridays challenges.  I missed my teammates, and all of you, but it was kind of nice to have that little break.  We had the most wonderful time in Seattle visiting our family for the holidays – our time there was much too short!  I so hope that you, too, enjoyed the holiday season!

So are you as ready to get back into the swing of CAS-ual Fridays as I am?!  Oh My Gosh – this week’s challenge is not only going to be a fun one, it also provides the possibility of one of you being chosen as next month’s CAS-ual Fridays Guest Designer – how fun is that?!  THE CHALLENGE:  Create a CLEAN & SIMPLE card design and include CHIPBOARD in your design.

 

Our amazing sponsor this week is SimonSaysStamp.com, the purveyor of one of the largest stash of stamps and stamping supplies known to man!  SimonSaysStamp.com has provided a wonderful prize for this week’s TGIF Winner, but you’ll have to hop over to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to find out what it is.  BONUS ALERT:  This week’s TGIF Winner will also become the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Guest Designer for a week in the month of February.  So exciting, right?!!  Thank you, SimonSaysStamp.com for being our sponsor this week!!

 

I’ll be honest – I am NOT a fan of chipboard.  Ironically, I have an enormous stash of it, but just can’t bring myself to use it in my designing.  But I have to tell you that I appreciated this challenge because it FORCED me to get that stuff out and use it.  And I have to say I’m pretty stinkin’ happy with what I created.  I adhered some designer paper to the flowers and sanded the edges to give it a clean finish.  The vines were created using a PTI die.  I so love white one white . . . it makes me happy!

 

There ya have it!!  Hop on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to see what the other brilliant Girl Fridays have cooked up for your inspiration.  That’s it for me today.  I’m headed to the west valley to pick up a crafty friend for a two-day crafting binge – BE STILL MY HEART!!  How about you?  Any fun crafty plans this weekend?!!  Have a great weekend – thanks so much for stopping by today!