Monday, April 29, 2013

CASE Study DT challenge...

Well I had a little time to stamp Friday evening and a little time tonight so.... I thought I'd "give it a go" for the CASE Study DT challenge.

The challenge is to pick a MUSE ..... push yourself "out of your box" and create a card. I have lots of MUSEs (i.e. blogs I visit and drool over their cards) so, this was a bit difficult for me (to pick someone). I started with Jean Martin at Stampin' Scrapper because she uses stamps to make her own patterned paper (I, on the other hand, have this love affair with patterned paper and always reach for it before thinking that I could make my own.) When I made this card I didn't have a specific card in mind, just her style.




I stamped several images from WPlus9s Lacey Layers in sage shadow, crumbcake, and basic gray (don't ask how many times I had to do this until I had a background I liked!!) Added a WPlus9 Written on Ribbon sentiment and cut with the coordinating die. Some stitching, seam binding, and twine (all elements Jean uses) with shiny silver pearls to finish.

These two cards illustrate her backgrounds...

Pretty cool. There are many, many more... visit her blog.

After I made this card, I wondered if this was really enough "out of the box" so, I picked another blogger I check out frequently, Debbie Hughes at limedoodle. CAS queen... the hands started sweating!!  This time I specifically chose a card to CASE.

This one...


Gorgeous, huh...

This is what I created....



I sponged distress inks onto a white panel, stamped a Unity Silhouette... Happy to be Me and then added the sentiment (only inking the portion I wanted to use). This was adhered to a white card base using Jodys' dots for dimension.

The challenge is open through tomorrow night if you want to join in. See link above. Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Verve April week 2--Surely Goodness!!

Happy Happy Thursday!! Thursday can be a happy day in itself but, in my world tomorrow's Friday and that makes it even better!! Yikes... I was so worn out this morning I could hardly get my butt out of bed- ever have those days?

Posting a card for the Verve weekly sketch challenge- this is week 2 (I have week 3 done- only two more to go.)  This sketch had me a little frazzled but, I am going to live with this CAS card I created.

 
I originally made this the week after the sketch came out and used Color Throwdown colors but, it was a "wild" week and never had a chance to post. The flowers and sentiment are from Verve's Surely Goodness set. Flowers die cut with Verve's Goodness Flowers die. The background panel was stamped with versamark using Verve's Bountiful Backgrounds. Clear embossed the sentiment to make it stand out a little.
 
 
Here's the sketch....



Looking forward to Friday and stamping/resting/cleaning/laundry this WE!! What am I thinking... who looks forward to cleaning and laundry (you get to a point where it's good- yes, don't ask- I've been that busy!)

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

WMS CASEchallenge--"wee baby"

Allrighty then.... not sure these pics will work-- had a heck of a time with my lighting (artificial) but, here's the second card I made for the Waltzingmouse Flower Show CASE challenge. Details here.

 
 
I CASEd Anne-Elise's card.... blog post here.

 
 
Here's what I created...



Still playing with my new goodies last night!! I used another new set from Claire's latest release...Nordic Baby. After making the card, I wanted needed to white emboss the "Baby" sentiment (what can I say...) so I made up a little gift bag and added a bunch of ribbon with a clothespin. This would be a fun set to use for my next baby girl shower. NO... that wouldn't be me, maybe a coworker or one of my girls friends!

Here's a closer look at the card...

I CASEd the use of gorgeous SB dies, colors, bling (I used pearls), for texture I used cheesecloth instead of crochet, and embossed vellum (Anne-Elise's signature element- IMHO at least).

You NEED to join in-- one random winner will received 5, yes, 5 Waltzingmouse sets and no, I don't believe you have to use WMS.... you have until the 30th to link up....here's the link again for all the details.

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

WMS CASE--- jolly well done!!

 
Waltzingmouse Stamps is having a Flower Show blog hop. Claire invited 12 guest designers to showcase her gorgeous flower images. Post here. They are all fabulous creations--make sure and take a peek... and join in the fun!!



In Claire's own words.... "We invited you to pick your favourite creation from the blogs of any of the
ladies listed above in our hop. We want you to CASE your chosen card/project. In the stamping world, to CASE something means to copy and share everything - so what we want you to do is pick your favourite card from the Flower show entries and make your own version of it!"

For my first card I cased one of JJBolton's cards.... original post here. My new goodies from WMS arrived last night (Thanks Lynn!!) and of course, I had to play a little!! My first card is CAS but, I was smiling (grinning from ear to ear) as I stamped each image.

 Love this set and I haven't even touched the "surface of it". So many fabulous images (versatile too) and sentiments!! So what did I case... I know you'll be wondering when you see JJ's card! I case'd the use of two colors and a CAS design... only I went masculine and didn't emboss.
 
JJs gorgeous card...


Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!! I'll post my other "girly" card in a minute--- having a heck of  time with pics. Hope you're having a great week!!

Almost forgot.... you NEED to join in-- one random winner will received 5, yes, 5 Waltzingmouse sets and no, I don't believe you have to use WMS.... you have until the 30th to link up....here's the link again for all the details.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

you TICKLE my fancy


Happy Mail came to my house in the form of a couple new sets from Clearly Besotted Stamps. I have been looking for a feather set and I just adore this one. Thought it would be perfect for this week's Color Throwdown and inspiration pic. Used Jen's Deconstructed Sketch.



I stamped and colored the peacock feather and then did a little fussy cutting. Added some bling to the centers as well as the two tabs.

Here's the colors...

The sketch...
I took a "little liberty" with the sketch -- instead of the dots/image across the bottom- I used a sentiment and added my bow below the oval rather than above.
 
 
Thanks for stopping by and appreciate all the kind words!!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Verve week 1

Viva la Verve week One!! I finally had some time to play and play I DID!! It's a bright one (didya' notice) and I turned the square into an A2 size.


Spring is here in my "neck of the woods"  OKAY I don't live in the woods right now but, I have          before! The gorgeous sentiment is from Verve's Beautiful PJ (Plain Jane) and was stamped onto a       Verve Classy Label die. Added a flag banner and seam binding/twine/button combo-- pearls to finish.

Amber's sketch


Fun papers... fun sketch! Thought about using this for the Verve Diva Dare- Charmaine/bright colors are good but, I can't CASE Marisa without a flower or butterfly!!

Good Lord- so happy I have a new coordinator starting next week--- eeegads I am tired of doing it all but, I am doing a "titch" of cleaning up... dang it! Worked this afternoon cleaning up some things (files, filing, packing up for storage-- legal documents--ya' know needs a little attention and needs to be done-- started this post a few days ago... let's change that to worked a few afternoons...it's about done though..35 legal size storage boxes packed, on the spreadsheet, labeled and gone... along with doing my "regular" job....feels good though! Back's aching a bit, LOL!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Wonderful!!

It's the 17th of the month and ya' know that's time for....



Yes, that's right...yippee!! This month is all about Spring Flowers--- details here.  And while you are there scroll down and see all the information/DT links for the new WMS stamps being released tomorrow!! They're keepers (or needs)!!

Here's my card--



I used Camellia which is a new to me set (don't ask why I didn't get it when it was first released- I just don't know what I was thinking!! These blooms/leaves are gorgeous and there are several variations in the set along with some fabulous sentiments!! Don't you just love the 'stamped off" look of the sentiment above. The bottom was stamped using the largest image from WMS Woodgrain set.

Making this quick as I know there will be many on the hop to visit!! Appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave lovely comments!! 

Monday, April 15, 2013

Beautiful!!

Color Q colors and Retro sketch... working my brain cells on the CAS side (normally I'm a pile it on/lots of layers kinda' girl... well I did squeeze in some layers!!


But, that's a lot of white space in my world!! Had a blast using Verve's Banner Bundle dies and a little pink ric rac.. buttons and twine always make me happy... so it's all good!! Flowers are from Verve's Surely Goodness and sentiment is from Verve's So Fluttery.

The colors

And sketch


Ahh... it's tax day here in the States... one of our fav days!! Honestly, it's okay--just no refund at my house in years.... always getting out the checkbook!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Sunday, April 14, 2013

WPlus9 MMB

Good Sunday evening!! Had a chance to piddle a little with some new WPlus9 stamps and played off of the WPlus9 Monday Mood Board.

Threw in the Quilt Patterns... I was thinking a trellis when I did it. Used a darker and lighter gray... yes, it's not a color in the mood board but, I just wanted to!! Went with the pinks/greens/ with pop of orange (flower centers)... The idea in my mind didn't execute as well (I think that sounds like my idea/mind was fine and "something" else got in the way...sounds good to me!!) Love the new Blanket Stitched Blooms and dies. Might have to work on my two step stamping!

One of the things I LOVE about Dawn's dies is the stamp images aren't tight on the die. There's a little edge to them... a little space.




Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

OMG... had a wonderful Sunday with my Lauren (my oldest)r and Malia (daughter's neighbor)... went swimsuit shopping for me (don't ask!) and had lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.. yummy!!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Cloud9 Blog Hop- Guestie

Thrilled to be guesting for the Cloud9 Blog Hop. Suzanne from The Card Yard chose a fabulous inspiration photo this month {well, they're always fabulous!} from  Coffee Rings and Southern Things-- right up this southern belle's heart. Well, I made two cards... and here's why... the scoop... the truth...

This is my first card...

 
Okay... I loved it...'cause I love these images -Very Vintage Greetings-Damask Delight- Woodgrain Additions---and it's all frilly and girly. This time I added the colors to the flowers using a blender pen rather than water coloring. Also, a little glitter o the center of the flowers.. doesn't show up in the pic well. Doily, seam binding bow with a Webster's Pages sparkler.
 
But, the stamps are the same ones I used for the last blog hop {can't help that some days/weeks I am a "frou frou" kinda girl- at least for cards!}
 
SO... I thought I should make another one... prove to myself I can do something different and use different stamps, LOL!!
 
So, here's number two with a different flavor...

 
This card uses a couple different sets. I stamped the frame from {Bitty Buddy Valentines}and die cut with the Rounded Stackers die, masked to add the sun from A Pocketful (there's a hint of yellow in the inspiration pic} Added some waves for my whale which was stamped and fussy cut... have you ever placed an order and thought you purchased all the corresponding dies... please tell me you've done this!! Well, I messed up and had to do the fussy cutting-- love Dawn's dies-- work perfectly every time!! Sentiment is from Bitty Buddy Valentines, added a flag tag, button, and twine. Thinking this set is so versatile and way beyond just Valentine's--birthday, encouragement, thinking of you etc. etc.
 
And, here's the inspiration pic... gorgeous huh!!



Loved guesting and thanks for letting me join in!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Monday, April 8, 2013

HA.... posting more than once in a week--- Bloom in Adversity!!

Seriously never thought about it until I started to post BUT, {dontcha' hate the buts...} I have had a little "adversity" to being able to stamp/blog recently {work, work, work!!} When I get down to limited time- I want to play/stamp- lately haven't been able to post/play/stamp as well so, I'm pretty proud of myself -- {how silly is that}--playing and posting more than once this week!!

 
MFT's Hybrid Rose die has been calling my name. Used both the large and small and some papers
from Authentique Remembrance {Mona-- Cupcakes Creations helped me get over my "purple hump"-- this may not be perfect but, thanks girl!} Love the WPlus9 white ink. Added a little stitching and used MFT's weekly sketch {made an A2 size instead of square}.
 
 
 MFT's Hybrid Rose die- love it!! Used both the large and small Hybrid Rose die-namic with papers from Authentique Remembrance {Mona-- Cupcakes Creations helped me get over my "purple hump"-- this may not be perfect but, thanks girl!} Love the WPlus9 white ink. Added a little stitching and used MFT's weekly sketch {made an A2 size instead of square}.


Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Tomorrow is my "Guest" day at the Cloud9 blog.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

My Little Chickadee- CQC183

Good Saturday afternoon!! It's gorgeous here, the sun is shining and it's supposed to get in the high 60's today. The birds are chirping and the squirrels are playing.

Had a chance to play a little last night so, I got out my new Waltzingmouse set A Good Egg that hasn't seen any love yet.



 I started out trying last week's RetroSketch but, I just couldn't get it to work for me- tried stamping/cutting the image and tried stamping/scoring the image- nada wasn't working. I did use the CQC colors of soft suede, daffodil delight, calypso coral, and blushing bride.

Just a simple straightforward card.

The colors...

The sketch that I couldn't get to work.

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!

Monday, April 1, 2013

April 1- Ugly Card Day!!

Suzanne Dahlberg at The Card Yard decided to have a little fun on April Fools Day!! Today we are posting an ugly card... one of those that when you look back... you say "What WAS I thinking?" Well, to be honest I really have a bunch of those, LOL!! Now, this all about you posting your own ugly card/s. She's set up a linky on her blog so go the link above to add yours!!

I'm posting two lovelies for your viewing pleasure, LOL!! You can see my mad coloring skills on these... hope I've improved a little since then!! Still have a ways to go in the coloring department!! These were originally posted on SCS as I didn't have a blog at the time. You can also see my fantastic pic taking skills- the one below isn't even straight!!



Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Love when you do and appreciate all the kind words!!