We Click

Hi there! Popping in with a card for a couple of challenges.  This week at Paper Smooches Sparks we were given this fun camera picture as inspiration.  I liked the splash of red in the picture and it reminded me of the colour splash challenge at The Play Date Cafe. Love it when two challenges work together so well!  I used the camera image from Perpetual Bliss and the Instant Camera Frame die from Sweet Stamp Shop to create my "photo" of cameras in love.  LOL!  :)  I wanted a big, bold sentiment so I went for some Scenic Route alpha stockers instead of a stamp.  That's all for me today.  Have a lovely evening!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Camera from Perpetual Bliss) Paper Smooches, (Candy Stripe) Market Street Stamps

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Cherry Cobbler) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Die:  (Instant Camera Frame) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Heart Prints) PTI

Stickers:  Scenic Route

Markers:  (C-7, C-5, C-3, W-1) Copic, (Cherry Cobbler) Stampin' Write

CAS(E) This Sketch! Challenge #7

Hi there and welcome to the latest CAS(E) This Sketch! challenge!  This week's sketch was designed by challenge creator Jackie Rockwell:

Initially I was a bit stumped by the stripes at the bottom but once I decided I was going to use a candy cane on the card then I had the idea to make red and white stripes.  I layered together 3 Papertrey Ink Half and Half tags to make my stripes and then popped up and Glossy Accented the candy cane image.  What do you see when you look at this sketch?  Be sure to check out the gorgeous inspiration by the design team over on the CAS(E) This Sketch! page and then get creating!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Riding Hood Red, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Candy cane from Sweet Home) Neat & Tangled, (Sentiment from Tags - Christmas) Elzybells

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Die:  (Half & Half die) PTI

Punch:  (Threading Water) Fiskars

Gems:  (Lily White assortment) Doodlebug

Candy Cane Madness & Heat Tool Drama

Hi there!  Popping in with an entry for the latest challenge at Jay Gee's Nook.  The photo inspiration collages are always gorgeous although I don't play along as often as I'd like.  This time I was inspired by the middle picture on the right side - love that candy cane inspired comforter!  I pulled out a few different stamp companies for this one - the noteblock is Purple Onion Designs, the candy cane is Neat and Tangled and the bow is Papertrey Ink.  

This is one of the last cards I made before my heat gun died.  :( For 5 years I've had an EK Success Colourizer and I loved it!  It had two heat settings and was super quick to melt embossing powder.  I noticed it was starting to slow down a bit recently though so I tried to order a new one.  Unfortunately they don't seem to make them anymore so I ordered a Ranger heat tool.  I'm glad I did as it was here and ready to use when the Colourizer died but I'm not impressed with it.  It takes forever to melt the powder and it seems to only work when placed at one very specific angle to the paper.  It's really put me off heat embossing now as it takes so long.  :(  Any recommendations on other brands?

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  Anna Griffin

Stamps:  (Christmas Noteblock) Purple Onion Designs, (Candy cane from Sweet Home) Neat & Tangled, (Bow from Bells & Boughs) PTI

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Punch:  (1/8" hole punch) McGill

Copics:  R46, G07

Peaceful Bells

***This is my second post for the day.  For my Moxie Fab post please scroll down or click here!***

It's feast or famine around here - minimal posts for a few weeks and then two posts in one day!  Always the way isn't it?  Anyway I haven't played along with ColourQ in a while and the colours this week are really fun - I always love Cajun Craze!  I don't think I've used the bells from this Papertrey Ink Bells and Boughs set before but I thought they'd be fun with these colours.  So fun that I ended up making two cards!  Can't decide which one I like best.  What do you think?

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Bells from Bells & Boughs) PTI, (Sentiment from Very Merry Christmas) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Soft Suede) Stampin' Up!

Punch:  (1/8" hole punch) McGill

Gems:  (Fabrications 'Linen' collection) Teresa Collins

Twine:  (Cappuccino) The Twinery

Other:  (Black Enamel Accents) Ranger  

CASology #18

Welcome to Week 18 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:

This cue definitely gave me pause.  I didn't want to use an image of an orange as I did that back in week 3.  Halloween has passed so that was out.  I thought maybe I could do something with die cuts and orange patterned paper but then I stumbled on this starfish image from Market Street Stamps and the little lightbulb went off in my head!  I love the "Aww shucks" look on that starfish's face!  So cute!  I'm really excited to see what everyone comes up with this week and I'm sure I'll have more than a few "Why didn't I think of that?" moments.  Before you start though check out the creations by the rest of the DT:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis

Tracey McNeely

And this week's guest designer:

Jean

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by noon CST Sunday, 11 November.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Starfish from Sea Animals) Market Street Stamps, (Sentiment from Star Prints) PTI

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Gem:  (Fabrications 'Linen' collection) Teresa Collins

Copic: YR68

Wait For The Sunshine

The last few weeks have completely gotten away from me and I feel like I've hardly spent any time in the Craft Cave.  I finally got in there for a bit today and made a last minute card for this week's ColourQ challenge.  I'm too late for Halloween so I went for cheery and used my Die-namics umbrella die.  I can see this getting a lot more use in the future!  Have a lovely evening!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Die-Namics Umbrella) My Favourite Things

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko

Die:  (Die-Namics Umbrella) My Favourite Things

Impression Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) PTI

Gems:  (Bumblebee assortment) Doodlebug

Christmas Candle

My mojo and I have not been getting along at all this week.  I've been working on some Christmas cards for a client but when it comes to challenges my brain has completely frozen over.  I finally managed to make a card for the CAS-ual Fridays Over the Edge challenge and I'm squeaking it in with about half an hour to spare.  I'm hoping this has loosened up my brain a bit and maybe I can get some other challenge cards made this afternoon.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Image) Woodware, (Sentiment) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko

Die:  (Double Ended Banners) PTI

Gems:  (Bumblebee assortment) Doodlebug

CASology #16

Welcome to Week 16 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:

Since we just had the Zoo challenge recently I decided to steer away from wild animal images.  Well, almost!  I couldn't resist putting the leopard print on the hearts and going with a punny sentiment.  :)  So what comes into your mind when you think wild?  Check out what the rest of the DT has come up with:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis

Tracey McNeely

Also this week's guest designer:

Vicky

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 28 October.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Riding Hood Red) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Arrow from Hit the Mark) Market Street Stamps, (Leopard print from March '11 KOM - Just You) Unity, (Sentiment from Alphadots & Simply Said) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Riding Hood Red) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Heart Prints collection) PTI

Heart Monitor

This week CAS-ual Fridays wants us to put our hearts into our cards - or should I say onto our cards!  I've got a ton of heart images in my stash but it took a while to decide which one to use.  I finally settled on this heart and sentiment from Paper Smooches' Healthy Vibes set.  I stamped and embossed in onto red cardstock and then covered it with Glossy Accents.  I also added some chevrons behind it to mimic the "monitor" in the heart.  

We had a brush with Hurricane Rafael last night.  It passed by about 100 miles to our east and was only a Category 1.  It was pretty windy and we got some good rain out of it but thankfully that was about it.  It certainly made for a good night of snuggling up on the sofa with my boys!  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Heart & sentiment from Healthy Vibes) Paper Smooches, (Chevrons from Background Basics: Chevrons) PTI
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Sahara Sand) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger) 

Gem:  (Ladybug assortment) Doodlebug

Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Rock Star

I am a sucker for pretty much anything with a star on it so when I saw the latest Embellish challenge I was all over it! Fun, bold colours and stars.  You really can't go wrong with that.  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Mat Stack 4 Collection) PTI, (Sentiment from Great Big Greetings) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Mat Stack 4, Seeing Stars) PTI

Gems:  (Blue Jean assortment) Doodlebug

CASology #14

Welcome to Week 14 of CASology!  Here's the cue card for this week:

Pretty appropriate as it's autumn in the northern hemisphere.  Not here though.  So far October has been hotter and more humid that September.  Weird.  Anyway I decided to cast my mind back to my college days on Long Island where we actually had autumn and the leaves changed colour.  I fussy cut and coloured some leaves from PTI's In Bloom and used one of the fabulous over-sized sentiments from Market Street Stamps' Great Big Greetings. I was actually inspired by this card by Stephanie Washburn.  I love how the leaves pop off the white background.  So how does the cue card inspire you?  I can't wait to see what you come up with this week but before you get started have a look at the gorgeous creations by the rest of our super talented design team:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis

Tracey McNeely

Also this week's guest designer:

Bridget

Link up your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by Sunday, 14 October at noon CST.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Cajun Craze) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Leaves from In Bloom) PTI, (Sentiment from Great Big Greetings) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Copics:  E08, YG63, YG91, YG95, G85

Golf Birthday

This week's Just Us Girls challenge to use numbers on a card came along at the perfect time as I was asked to do a special order card for a 30th birthday. The recipient is a guy and he likes golf so I had to work that into the design.  I was a little unsure at first about how to create the texture on the golf ball but the PTI polka dots impression plate was the perfect solution.  Love it when things actually come out the way I imagine them!  :)

  


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Kraft) PTI,  (Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Night of Navy) SU
Stamps:  (Argyle) Market Street Stamps, (Candle from Birthday Messages) Hero Arts, (Letters from Smitty's ABCs) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Night of Navy) SU, (Distress Vintage Photo) Ranger
Dies:  (Block Alphabet, By The Numbers) PTI
Impression Plate:  (Polka Dots) PTI
Punch:  (1 1/2" circle) EK Success

Counting My Blessings

Every morning, whether I'm going to have crafty time that day or not, I check the latest challenges and print out the sketches/colour combos/etc provided.  On the back I write the date the challenge ends and then I pin them up in chronological order on the bulletin board over my desk in the Craft Cave.  Today I sat down and realised that the Skipping Stones Design sketch challenge ends today so I'd better get on with something if I wanted to enter.   I pondered it a bit and decided it might work with this week's Play Date Cafe colours.  I thought of this SSD wreath (which has never seen ink) and got to work.  I was pretty pleased with my card when I finished, took my photos and trotted down to the computer to write up my post.  I went over to the SSD blog to get the correct link for the challenge and found this:

Look familiar?  Kim Kesti provided the sketch this week and this was her sample.  Doh! How embarrassing!  So has it been in the back of my mind since I looked at the challenge last week??  Clearly it snuck in there subconsciously and my design is now really a CASE so I wanted to give proper recognition to Kim.  

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Kraft) PTI,  (Bravo Burgundy) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Image & sentiment from Everyday Blessings) Skipping Stones Design
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Bravo Burgundy) Stampin' Up
Impression Plate:  (Linen & canvas) PTI

Twine:  (Honeydew) The Twinery

Copics:  (YR16, YG03, R59)

Best Friends Forever

Hi there!  I've got a bright and cheery card today for the Embellish challenge.  I really pushed myself to go out of my comfort zone here.  I find that I tend to be very literal when it comes to colours (leaves are always green, the sun is always yellow, etc).  Red and yellow together make me think of ketchup and mustard and therefore, burgers and hot dogs! LOL!  However, I managed to steer away from the food images and I'm pleased with where I ended up.  I used some Basic Grey and Doodlebug patterned papers for the flower and frame along with one of the awesome sentiments from Market Street Stamps' Great Big Greetings.  I really had fun with this in the end and am definitely going to try and relax a bit more in the colour department in the future. 

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill (Daffoldil Delight, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Polka Dots from June Bug collection) Basic Grey, (Stripes) Doodlebug
Stamp:  (Sentiment from Great Big Greetings) Market Street Stamps
Inks:  (Poppy Parade, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Beautiful Blooms II #1, Turning a New Leaf) PTI, (Nestabilities Large Labels) Spellbinders

Button:  (Obscure collection) Basic Grey

Fall Fun

Although it's almost October it sure doesn't feel like autumn here.  It's still humid and the jeans and sweaters won't be making an appearance any time soon!  It's autumn at CAS-ual Fridays though where this week we're celebrating Fall Fun.  For this card I used a leaf image and dotted square from Market Street Stamps' Nuts About Nature and some scraps of Basic Grey patterned paper.  The sentiment if from PTI's Mat Stack 3 - love it's simplicity.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Rustic Cream) PTI, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Ambrosia & Kioshi collections) Basic GreyStamps: (Leaves & square from Nuts About Nature) Market Street Stamps, (Sentiment from Mat Stack 3) PTI
Inks:  (Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Punch:  (1 1/4" square) EK Success