Cool challenges

We have had some really hot weather for the last few weeks in Pennsylvania, but there has been a reprieve in the last few days. I am taking advantage of the cooler morning to stamp, since my studio doesn't have AC. 

Speaking of cool, who doesn't like a cool treat, but how about some cool challenges?  Today's card was inspired by three challenges.

It is always fun to be able to combine challenges. Three is the most I generally can combine. I find it amazing that some people can create one card that meets 10 or more challenges.

So here is my creation inspired by cool treats. I really went back in time with this card. I pulled out an old Lizzie Anne set- they made images kinda like AMuse. The set is Sweets and Treats. I can't even find it on the net to show you. It is my go to set for ice cream stamps.

CAS(E) this Sketch always has a fun CAS sketch and combined with Curtain Call and Inkspirational 

this card practically stamped itself!

I added some sticles to make the jimmies stand out.

OK, there is a question for you. Jimmies or sprinkles, which one are you?

Please check out these fun challenges and join in the fun and show your creativity!

Yay for the red, white and blue!!

 

If you are living in the States, you will be celebrating our country's independence. My birthday is on the 2nd, so I plan a 3 day celebration that goes right into July 4th. When I was a kid I always told people I was born on the 4th. I wanted to be a little firecracker. Well all I can say I may not have been born on the 4th but I am still a firecracker!!

I took this weekend off from all things school and decided to do what ever I wanted which is stamping!! My hubby and bestie both got me lots of new stamping stuff including all of the Altenew inks, which are fabulous. For my card today I used Altenew's ruby red and sapphire inks.

It has been a month since I last blogged!!! Yikes, where does the time go?!!? I decided to check out some of my fav challenges to inspire me. Several were hosting red, white and blue challenges and since it is the 4th, I decide to join in with a patriotic card.

I am entering this card at CAS-ual Friday and Curtain Call for their red, white and blue challenges.

CASology's theme is the word "row". I went rather expected with my card. No surprises.

A new challenge for me is Cards in Envy. They want cards that can be sent through the mail!! Love that idea. Today's challenge is "stripes"

Sometimes the most simple card takes awhile, today's card was no exception. Getting the rows of stripes straight and not smudged and then adding the stars evenly. It took 4 tries.

So check back again this week, I hope to share other cards I have been working on over this holiday weekend.

Bon Voyage!

I just got back from walking 3 miles around my neighborhood. I was walking with a friend and we spent the entire time talking about stamping. The time flew by and before I knew it we were done. But wouldn't have been fun if I was in Italy walking around Rome or walking the country side of Tuscany? That got me thinking about trips and traveling. Naturally a bon voyage card began formulating in my mind.

Happy Little Stampers has a CAS challenge asking us to use die-cuts or punches. They are also having a DT call for all their sites- HLS CAS, HLS sketch, and new HLS Christmas challenges which I applying for.  I had so much fun with this month's sketch challenge. (See my entry here.) Naturally, I had to join in on the CAS challenge, especially since I am basically CAS chick at heart!

I used Papertrey Ink's Fly Away set and the matching die set. Haven't matching die sets just changed the course of stamping? No more fussy cutting!! Love those matching dies!! What about you? Do you always buy the matching dies when you buy the stamp sets like me?

My gals over at Just Us Girls have a word week and the word is twine. I love to play along my good buddies when I can and "twine" fit in perfect with my card concept as you can see.

Curtain Call must have been reading my mind when they chose a travel theme for this weeks challenge!

I love it when challenges work together like they did today!

Well that's it for today, I have to get outside and enjoy the sunshine even if it isn't Italy, it is still a beautiful Sunday in the neighborhood>

Thanks bunches

I have a million reasons to be thankful a bunch of them!! Today is is the most glorious spring day thus far this year. I am looking out my studio window and the daffodils are blooming their hearts out! I am done school till June and I have a free day to stamp. What could be better.

I needed a thank you card. For some reason I have a million birthday cards stock piled, not so many thank yous. Since I had to make a card, I decided to check into some challenges to give me inspiration. 

Much to my surprise ShowCASe Your Style was looking for thank you cards! Perfect!

Happy Little Stampers,  a new to me challenge site was looking for the use of stencils in your project. I used a very old and the first stencil I ever purchased, way back when.... even before they were trending.

Curtain Call had a photo inspiration using a bouquet of flowers. 

And AAA cards had the word "springtime" as your inspiration.

I got very busy and created this fun tag thank you card. I die cut the tag and sponged inspiration colors through the stencil. To create a more dramatic effect I outlined the stenciled image with a sharpie. This is one of my favorite tricks to use with stencils.

Check out all of these great challenges and I am sure your creative juices will begin to flow!

Serendipity

Serendipty- a "happy accident" a "fortunate mistake". That is this card. I was going for a card using this Spellbinders labels 25 die, but it just wasn't working out, so I put the card base off to side. 

A few days later, I came came back to it and just stared at it for awhile and it came to me, that it reminded me of a grave stone.  I trimmed off the bottom and sponged in the back ground color and the rest is history. I used a bunch of stamps and dies. The base grave stone lets your imagination run wild.

I am entering this at the the Curtain Call. They are looking for a spooky scene.

At CAS on Sunday they are looking for shaped cards. It isn't my most CAS card, but it definitely has a shape!

At the Friday Mashup they are looking for cards with either torn paper or fussy cutting. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to fussy cut. I find it very zen to just sit and cut things out. I must be crazy huh?

I hope you enjoyed World Card Making Day yesterday like I did!