It's a Mini Challenge at Caseology

Hi Friends,

Card styles change as much as clothing styles do I think. We are either going with big bold images, or with small. But in the end, it really is a matter of personal taste in both arenas, don't you think?
Personally, I had my mini-skirt days and having a decent pair of gams, I rocked them back in the 60s. Now, I live in a different 60s era so to speak, having been blessed with 65 years on this earth. So happily, I joined in here Casology no. 135 Mini, since I will never wear a mini-skirt again.

Both of these sweet little images are from OHDeerMe kits by Freckled Fawn & Hero Arts. I actually thought I'd be using them to dress up pages in my Erin Condren Planner, but I just never seem to have time to play with it. So, why not use them here I thought.

The card base is Geo. Pacific white cs and the the die for the mat is from WPlus9. The inks used are Memento  and I paper-pieced the cup with some paper from my stash. The right side edge of the good stuff image is a bit splotchy and no amount of photo editing (with my limited skills) would fix it. It doesn't look nearly as bad IRL.

I have someone in mind for this card, so it won't be collecting dust.

If you own some wee/mini/tiny stamps, why not head on over to Casology and play along.

Blessings,
Erica

I Think I'm Gonna Post Everyday...well almost

Hi Friends,

I have just received the most amazing crafty product on the current market. It's called a MISTI. It's a tool that allows you to place any stamp (unmounted) onto it in order to achieve perfect placement onto your card. Tale a look at my card

.

I'll bet you're thinking that it took me forever and a few tries before I was able to get this just right.
This card was completed in 10 minutes and half the time was me staring at sentiments and changing my mind. I saw this product demonstrated by Jennifer McGuire on her blog
I went to the store she suggested in her recipe for the card, but they were out-of-stock. I was determined to have one. Amazon didn't even have it and they have everything, right?! I finally tracked it down here My Sweet Petunia  This is the inventor's website. You may consider it a bit pricy at more than $50.00, And you do need to order at least one of the magnets, but this is a tool that will pay for itself quickly.

So my card is a plain white Georgia Pacific white cs base and lots of different Memento dye inks to stamp the images. The clock is the same one I used for my LIM post yesterday (CTMH clock).
The sentiment, a lovely day is from Freckled Fawn (it came in a monthly subscription kit) and the birthday sentiment is from Stampendous set Birthday Wishes. All of the images were clear stamps. That's what I felt most comfortable stamping with to start out with this tool. However, I moved on to rubber stamps later. As long as the stamp is unmounted, you can use this tool. There is a video at the link that is a clear explanation of how to use MISTI.

I was so excited with my results, that I did a challenge search and managed to find two challenge blogs to submit to,  Eureka Stamps. for their 129th challenge which is birthday cards. And,
Lawnscaping is celebrating their 100th challenge. What fun, huh?

And now you have it. I've enabled you and you will be seeing lots more of my cards.
Now go plot  plan how to get one of these into your hands and on your craft desk.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More No. 212, "Take Wing"

Hi Friends,

I found a moment and some inspiration this weekend, deciding to try a Less Is More challenge.
It's all about wings. Now these are actually not wings, but palm fronds. As I've said, I was truly inspired to use them as wings with a clock. The wing die is a die from www.mariannedesign.nl and is part of their Creatibles design. I picked it up from a convention to give them a go having never heard of the line. They are a blue color and cut well. The clock is from a long-ago retired Close To My Heart set. The sentiment is from an Inkadinkado set that's quite old also. The card base is A2, Recollections heavy weight base white. I cut the clock out with a circle dye and bumped it up a bit with pop dots.

I hope you will get to participate in a challenge or two this week. Or just become inspired by the world around you.

Blessings,
Erica

Entering a Challenge (or Not)

Hi Friends,

I made two sets of cards to give away to some church friends who gave me a thank you card for serving. Let me say, that the thought behind their cards was beautiful, but the cards themselves needed help. It became obvious they could use a few snail mail cards. So I got to work. Both were touched, thankful and assured me they would definitely use them. That's all the thanks I need.

While I did not take photos of the boxes I used to contain them, I did take photos of my faves and those I'll be making more of. This one is one of them. I used the color wash effect using my Peerless water colors that I've had for many years. They were in desperate need of some love. I mounted the sentiment/water color panel on a dry embossed panel, then onto an SU marina mist base. This is an A2 sized card.

I'm also entering it into a challenge that I just recently found.
Well, gosh...scratch that. I just checked the challenge rules out and my card doesn't quite make it. No reason why you can't enjoy it though, then try one for yourself.

You may see it over on the design team that I belong to, Simply Create Too. We've got an Anything Goes challenge this time and it will certainly fit.

Blessings,
Erica

Get Creative Challenges no. 8, Use Red, White & Pink

Hi Friends,

Our weather is so lovely this week and I'm squeezing in lots of walking trying to get to to the "required fit" number of 10,000 steps. It ain't easy for me. Our family's 9 mo. old 125 lb. Great Dane is great (pun intended) incentive.

Get Creative 

The team at Get Creative Challenges is in the Valentine's Day mode with rules asking for the typical "love" colors. We've all been gifted with a digi from our sponsor,  Lacy Sunshine. Since I love frogs, I picked this one. In AZ, we have several hot-air balloon shows yearly. Have you ever been near one of these babies? Roaring fires start them and they're huge and colorful. I've tried to achieve that in my coloring. I usually use copics, but I have about three lonely sets of various brand color pencils, so I picked my Faber Castell Aquarelle set and smoothed the color with the gamsol technique. It's not as vibrant as copics, but I'm pleased with the affect.

Other items I used are papers from My Mind's Eye, sentiment from Lawn Fawn's Birthday Tags and the banners are from a set by Heidi Swapp. I used a red wink of stella pen on the bow's heart, but photos don't show this sparkly coloring. I used the "out of the box" technique to cut so that the balloon would be outside of the circle. It was done with a Spellbinder's circle die. I absolutely love this technique. A little bling in the corner and my challenge card is done.

I'm getting lots of practice with this challenge team on how to use digitals for stamping and it's a good thing. I've truly run out of room for stamps...even photopolymer/clear ones/unmounted, etc. I love that the size of the image can be changed to suit your card size or just some design ideas you may have in your head. The challenge winner will get a few images of their very own to play with.

Won't you join us. Our challenge runs for 12 more days.

Blessings, Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge No. 78, Valentine's Day/Hearts

I know, I know, it's been forever. I'm just glad I didn't make a New Year's resolution to be more consistent in blog posting as I surely would have blown it with only one post in January.

At Simply Create Too, we've been given the easy peasy challenge to use hearts. My dear Valentine is no longer with me to celebrate but I have many fond memories to cherish so I'm not at all sad on this day and wish a Happy Valentine's Day to those who have someone to share with. And we do have to remember your Valentine can be anyone who holds a special place in your heart.

Here's my card.

I have used mostly Stampin' Up products...the bird punch and leaf branch are long retired. Paper is real red and whisper white. I used a CB embossing folder to add dimension and Spellbinder hearts dies. The sentiment is from Stampendous. Easy Peasy card for an easy peasy challenge. Everybody has a heart somewhere in their stash, right. Come play with us. You still have a week to go.

Blessings,
Erica