Hugs and Notes

I've been playing around with my new Big Hugs stamp set and came up with a couple of cards.  I am entering this first card at Colour Me One because I used Colour Scheme #31 and Virginia's View Challenge #11:  Clean Slate because of all the white space.  I used Background Basics Super Stripes to create the plaid in my upper corner, and the Camouflage Die technique with my Hugs die.

I was just playing around with my Distress Inks and CASED this card from Laura Bassen.

My last card is for this week's Inkspirational Challenge #73:  Note.  I used NBUS--SU Holiday Home on this card, so I am entering over at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #3.  Lots of fussy cutting on this card, and I did all the coloring with Inktense Pencils (without water).  Not too sure about this card--my little village might be just a tad too busy.

That's it for me today.  Sort of guiltily looking forward to tomorrow when school starts back up...

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Seven Cards, Really?

Hello there.  I am popping in with a mid-week post with some cards for a few different challenges and 2 different card drives.

My first two cards are for the Anything Goes challenge over at Paper Smooches Sparks this week, and I am also sending them off to MD Anderson Cancer Center for the HYCCT challenge--this one is to create a sweetly romantic card.

I used the Lattice Frame die by WPlus9 and the Blossoming Buds stamps by Paper Smooches.  I love that the flowers are already arranged in this stamp set.  All I have to do is just color them in.


My next card is also for the HYCCT challenge--this one is to use music, birds or hearts.

While I had my Little Bitty Bird and LBB Additions stamps out, I decided to make another card for the same HYCCT challenge, but this time, I made it a one layer card featuring some bird houses.  I am entering this card into the One Layer Simplicity Challenge #11 Home, Sweet Home and CAS on Sunday #45 One Layer Wonder.  

As one thing leads to another...since I was now thinking of one layer cards, I made another card for the One Layer Simplicity Challenge #11 Home, Sweet Home.  This card uses a ghost stamping technique that I saw here on the Caring Hearts blog hop.  Of course, my card will also be sent along to the Caring Hearts card drive.   I am also playing along with Festive Friday , Colour Me #45 and  CAS on Sunday #45 One Layer Wonder.  

One more card for the  One Layer Simplicity Challenge #11 Home, Sweet Home challenge, CAS on Sunday #45 One Layer Wonder challenge and Caring Hearts, using the Winter Wishes stamps.

And, last for today is a card for this week's ColourQ cQc #266  and Caring Hearts.

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CASology Week 91: Note

It's time for another CASology challenge, and this week's cue word is NOTE.  Lots of different ways to go with this challenge.  Thank you note, love note, music note, how about a post it note?  I decided to make a little note card to send to a friend, and played off the concept of a musical note.

I've been having fun digging deep into my stamping past to come up with new cards using old sets, and this week is no exception.  I used the birds and branches from PTI Little Bitty Bird along with the musical notes and sentiment from Little Bitty Bird Additions.  I used a diagonal striped paper from Basic Grey Kneehighs at the bottom of my card, and die cut the birds using some tone on tone papers from that same pad.  I stamped a little song that the birds are singing to each other and filled in the leaves on the branches with just a bit of color using a Distress Ink marker--I was going for the 'less than perfectly colored/artistic look' on those leaves.  A bit of rustic jute twine, and my card is done.

Since CASology is a Clean And Simple challenge, I thought it would be helpful to review some things to keep in mind when creating a CAS design:

1.  One main image
2.  Lots of open space (uncluttered)
3.  Limited layers & embellishments
4.  Quick & easy to recreate

 

You can see that my card meets all 4 criteria above.

 

So, what do you think of when you see the word NOTE?

 

Check out the beautiful designs from the CASology Design Team members and see how they were inspired by NOTE.  Then, please play along and link your creation to the CASology blog by Monday 4/21 at noon (CST).  

Please note:  This is a scheduled post--I am writing it just before embarking on a week long trip with my oldest daughter to check out a few colleges on the east coast.  I am doing my best to keep both of us off-line, off the computer, and connected to each other.  So, I apologize in advance for not visiting any blogs to see what you have created.  I'll do my best to catch up when I return.  

Don't forget to keep your card Clean and Simple.

 

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg (that's me)

Judy Marino

Kimberly Wiener

Maureen Merritt

May Park

Meghan McMillan

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely
 

And our guest designer this week, Dena.

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4 Cards for Friday

I have a couple of cards to share today.  First up is a card for this week's CASology #47, where the key word is Wheels.  I am also submitting this card to A Blog Named Hero #25:  It's a Man's World,  and Simon Says...Masculine/Father's Day.

 

Next up is a card for this week's Make it Monday #119:  Flagged Borders and this week's CAS-ual Fridays CFC104:  Banners & Flags.  I used Dawn's layout once again, and the pink and orange version of the bead paper I used the other day.

My last two cards are for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch CTS #31.  I am also entering the first of these cards to A Blog Named Hero #25:  It's a Man's World,  and Simon Says...Masculine/Father's Day.  I really like how versatile this sketch is, and my two cards could not be more different.

Edited to add:  I am also submitting this to the current challenge at Die Cut Divas.

Supplies Used (PTI):
Let's Go For a Ride
Stamps:  Hero Arts Joy Ride, Beautiful Blooms II
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Simple Stories
Ink:  Scarlet Jewel, Versafine Black Onyx

Happy Birthday
Stamps:  Think Big Favorites
Paper:  White, Raspberry Fizz, Pink and Orange Bead
Ink:  Versafine Black Onyx
Other:  Dies:  Tag Sale, Double Ended Banner, Sketched Shapes

Thinking of You
Stamps:  Larger than Life, Asian Fusion, Background Basics Text Style
Paper:  Vintage Cream
Ink:  Fine Linen, Kraft, Versafine Vintage Sepia, Hero Arts Wet Cement
Other:  Rustic Twine, Larger than Life Die, Aida Impression Plate

Just a Note
Stamps:  Little Bitty Bird and Additions
Paper:  Vintage Cream, American Crafts
Ink:  Aqua Mist, Fine Linen, Versafine Onyx Black, SU Mellow Moss, Memento Angel Pink
Other:  Heart Border Die, Little Bitty Bird Die

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Blog Hop for Janelle

Today I am playing along with a very special blog hop for a very special gal.  Laurie and Dana have organized a blog hop to let Janelle know that we are thinking about her.  So, this post is dedicated to my friend, Janelle, to let her know that I am thinking about her and sending healing thoughts her way.  Of course, it features Little Bitty Bird, the guy we both love.  And, because I seem to be putting everything in pockets this week, he is perched in a tree that is nestled in a pocket.

Happy Hello

I also have a card for her husband, Ken, who has been such an incredible support for Janelle through this journey.  As Ken has become a blogger, too, I thought he should get his own card.  I am never happy to see the posts where Ken is writing, but I am so grateful that he is willing to carry the torch to let us know how things are going.

Just Thinking of You

Both of these cards are on their way to Janelle and Ken, and should arrive shortly after this blog hop, if I got the timing right.

If you would like to participate, please click here to get to Laurie's blog, Soapbox Creations, to link up your card for Janelle.  Or click here to leave some love on Janelle's blog.

Stay strong, Janelle.  We are all rooting for you.

Supplies Used (PTI):

Happy Hello

Stamps:  Little Bitty Bird, Sending You, WPlus9 A Pocketful: Valentine

Paper:  White, Raspberry Fizz Patterns

Other:  Edger Die, WPlus9 Pocket Die

Just Thinking of You

Stamps:  Framed Out

Paper:  White, Simply Chartreuse, Canyon Clay

Other:  Memory Box Piestra Tile Die

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Hi there

Today, we were challenged to use both butterflies and leaves in our project.  I used the butterfly from Happy Trails, and stamped the die cut butterflies with patterns from Bitty Background Blocks .  The leaves are from Little Bitty Bird as well as Turning a New Leaf.  The colors are off on my photo--the background is berry sorbet and the butterflies are sweet blush with berry sorbet ink.

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Happy Birthday

I believe that this will be my last card of the day.  Three posts in one day is probably a record for me.  But, I had a bit of time, the DT posts were so inspirational, and hey--who wouldn't want to try to win 5 free stamp sets.


I used Maile as my inspiration for this card.  Here are her Pinterest photo and card:

I loved how she mixed different patterned papers together for a happy and cheery card.  I pulled out my Lime Twist Life of the Party pack from my hoard, I mean stash, and just pulled a few random sheets out.  I was trying to keep my card flat, so used two bitty birds and a rhinestone as my 'rule of three' for the embellishments.

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Thank You Note

I made these cards a while ago, before I had a blog.  I thought I'd post them now, as one of them finally got used and sent.

I was inspired by this card.  I loved the play on words and the musical background, and, of course, Little Bitty Bird.

Here is another similar card I made, that I already posted on my now abandoned Splitcoaststampers Gallery.  When I have nothing new, I am going to post some of my favorites from over there.

Supplies Used (all Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise noted):
Stamps:  Little Bitty Bird, Alphabet Stamps and musical score from Michaels
Paper:  From my stash
Other:  Little Bitty Bird die, copics

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Get Well, Janelle

I recently learned that a dear, sweet PTI forum friend is in the hospital with a brain tumor.  You can get an update on Janelle's situation here on her blog "Show and Tell".  Her positive attitude is so inspiring.  I wanted to make Janelle a get well card, and I knew the card had to have Little Bitty Birds on it, since that is something that Janelle and I both love.   Her cards first caught my eye a while back because she always found such clever ways to use those birds, and I have CASED several of her cards.

Here is the card I made to send to Janelle:

And here is what the inside looks like:

My inspiration for this card came from several places.  The card design came from this super cute card by Debby at Limedoodle.  The inspiration for the color scheme came from this beautiful card Kara made.  While on Kara's blog, I discovered this website with all sorts of fabulous color inspirations.  I will definitely be returning to the ColorQ website often, since I think they are a great source of color combinations.  I am also going to submit this card to their ColorQ Challenge #96.  I am also submitting this card to the CASE Study Challenge #51, which I just learned about.  This challenge sounds right up my alley, as I love to CASE cards.

Please send healing thoughts, prayers, or whatever positive energy you can, out to our friend, Janelle.  She really appreciates all of our support. 

Supplied Used (all PTI, unless otherwise noted)
Stamps:  Little Bitty Bird, Simple Sentiments, Sending You, Polka Dot Basics, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler (Hugs)
Paper:  White, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Rain, Simply Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow
Other:  Sunshine Impression Plate, Friendship Jar Label Die, Little Bitty Bird Die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder


Thanks for looking.