Halfway through the Week

I just said goodbye to one batch of houseguests, and my next batch arrives tomorrow.  One of those things about living in San Diego--the guest room is never vacant for long.  I managed to squeeze a bit of crafting in during the past week by setting up a large table in the downstairs hallway, bringing down a bunch of supplies, and helping my MIL and SIL make cards, envelopes and gift bags.  A bit frustrating, as I am not a natural teacher, but anything to get a little crafting time.

I used my first set of stamps and dies ever from Clearly Besotted to make this very fun ice cream birthday card using the sketch from this week's CAS(E) this Sketch.  I am also entering this card at Virginia's View Challenge #5.

A pair of one layer cards for this month's One-Layer Simplicity Challenge--using this very fun surfboard set I first saw on Susan's blog.  I'm not 100% convinced that these cards work--it's a little difficult to read the sentiments on top of the right surfboard, but I'm going with them anyway.

I made this next card just for fun--I was trying to get some stamping done in between requests for help.  I have seen something like this design done with this stamp before, but cannot remember where--if it was you, please let me know so I can give you credit.  The sentiment is Mama Elephant and the images are poppies from Verve Poppy Birthday.  The card needed a little something, so I put some color coordinated sequins on.  I'm entering it into Seize the Birthday without toppings.

My last card was inspired by this very cool birthday card I saw at Darnell's birthday party by Sharon's Creative Essence.  Sharon used embossing but I was lazy and used die cuts to achieve my black and white look.  This card was supposed to be my first entry at The Cutting Room, a new challenge using die cuts, but I missed the deadline to post.  I will definitely try to enter that challenge again, as I really do love my die cuts.  I used the 'rock and roll' inking technique on my sentiment--Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise and Orange Zest, and then used little spongers to ink the edges of my card base to match.  I am entering this card at Virginia's View Challenge #5.

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CASology Week 103: Glow

Happy Tuesday.  It's time for a new challenge at CASology, where our cue word this week is GLOW.  Most of the time, I try to go with the first idea that pops into my head, and that was the case this week.  I immediately thought of this cute Waltzingmouse Little Lantern set I received as a gift from a sweet friend and had never inked up.  I was thinking of the warm glow of a lantern, set outside to welcome someone home.  I think I am already planning for the day that my oldest daughter comes home from her summer adventures.

Here is a reminder of the CAS guidelines:

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.  I thought that by putting the strip of yellow paper on the left side of the card, I was reinforcing the glow of the lantern.  What do you thnk?

Now, it is your turn.  What do you think of when you see the word GLOW?  Have some fun with the cue word GLOW, and then please link up your creation on the CASology blog by Monday at noon (CST). 

Check out the beautiful designs from the CASology Design Team members and see how they were inspired by GLOW.  

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

May Park

Meghan McMillan

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely 

 

Guest Designers:  Quen and Lindsey 

 

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Two One Layer Cards

I am playing along with this month's One Layer Simplicity Challenge #7:  Wave the Flag.  My first entry is so super simple and CAS, and I really like how it came out, although it is nothing like what I had envisioned in my head when I started out.  But, after trial and error, playing around with different stamps and placement, I ended up with something that is very simple, and I could probably make 50 more just like it in an hour.  Kind of the definition of CAS, right?  I think this card would be perfect for Operation Write Home.

Stamps are PTI Boy Basics Simple Circles and Square Prints, sentiment is from Desktop Design and inks are SU Night of Navy and Real Red.  I am also entering this card at Simon Says Monday:  W is for White.  Lots of white space on this card.

Here is another one layer card that also fits the criteria of One Layer Simplicity--I used this week's Make it Monday #170:  Masking with Die Cuts to duplicate the card I made for Darnell's birthday yesterday.

I like this one OK, but I don't think it quite has the punch of the original (card on right)

That's it for me today. 

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Happy Birthday to Darnell

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DARNELL

Yes, I know I am yelling, but I wanted to make sure Darnell could hear me!  Today is sweet Darnell's birthday.  I am pretty sure everyone knows Darnell, but if not, rush over here and be prepare to be amused, astounded, and refreshed.  Darnell is one of the funniest and warmest women I have encountered in blog land, and I am so pleased to be able to call her friend.  Always an encouraging word, always warm and welcoming on her blog--she is just such a treasure.

I was running low on mojo when I needed to make Darnell's birthday card, so I cased the fabulous Laura Bassen to come up with this birthday card for Darnell.  Color selection is courtesy of ColourQ #248.    

Bev was kind enough to invite me to the fabulous on line birthday party she is holding over on her blog Happy Dance.  Pop on over and check out the festivities.  Ardyth is hosting the linky party on here on her blog--the party will be going on for quite a while, so there is plenty of time for you to link up a card for Darnell, too.

I have one more card to share today, and it uses the sketch at this week's CAS(E) this Sketch #82.  I recently got Cat's Meow mini set, and could not wait to paper piece a little scene using Echo Park Hello Summer papers.

I am also entering both cards at Virginia's View Challenge #5 Die Cut and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: W is for White--both of my cards have ample white space.

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CASology Week 102: Float

Happy Tuesday.  It's time for another challenge at CASology.   This week our cue word is FLOAT.  Fun word, right?  My first thought was root beer float, but I do not have a stamp for that.  Darn.  Now I want to eat/drink a root beer float.  Anyway, moving right along...my second thought was to pull out one of my nautical stamp sets and look for a life preserver--something that floats and would help you to float, too.

It should be pretty obvious why this card is CAS--but just to review:

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.  I have to tell you that those sequins you see are actually die cut sequins out of card stock and then coated with Glossy Accents.

Now, it is your turn.  What do you think of when you see the word FLOAT?  Have some fun with the cue word FLOAT, and then please link up your creation on the CASology blog by Monday 7/7 at noon (CST). 

Check out the beautiful designs from the CASology Design Team members and see how they were inspired by FLOAT.  

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

May Park

Meghan McMillan

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely 

 

 Thanks for Visiting

The 12 Kits of Occasions: June 2014

It's the end of June, and that means it is time for our big 12 Kits of Occasions reveal.  Our hostess this month was Marybeth, and she put together the most beautiful and elegant kit centered around love--anniversaries, weddings, and just plain love.  

I had such fun with this kit.  I was a bit short on time this month, so I was especially excited to receive the kit with the self-assembling cards.  Every month, we each hope to have that kit, and I am happy to say that I have been the recipient more than once.  Here is a photo collage Kara created showing the contents of the kit.

I was able to make 9 cards before I ran out of time, and I still have lots of left overs.  I will get right to the photos, starting with my favorite card. 

 

This card cracks me up!

Well, that's it for me.  I cannot wait to see what everyone else has done with Marybeth's kit.   If you would like to see the supplies list for this kit, please click here.

Joyce (that's me)

Jeanne

 

Renee

Tracey

Sharron

Marybeth

Cathy

Kim

Kara

Kelly

Jessica

   

and our guest designer:  Lindsey

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PTI June 2014 Blog Hop

I am popping in with a very quick card for this month's PTI Blog Hop.  I am out of town this week, but still wanted to participate, so I scheduled this post before I left on my trip.  

I used a sketch and a color scheme for my inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be around to visit you when I am back next week.

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CASology Week 101: Wood

Wasn't last week fun, with all the 100 challenge festivities?  I really enjoyed learning all about my fellow DT members, and of course the contests and give aways were fun, too.  Now, it's back to business--a new challenge at CASology because it is Tuesday.  This week our cue word is WOOD.  Lots of ways you could go with this one--I think I could have made 10 cards--using some of my trees or maybe some of those fabulous wood veneer embellishments I have been hoarding.  I even have some balsa wood I got at Michaels that works well with my Big Shot.

Don't worry, I don't have 10 cards here to show you today.  Just one, and it is a scheduled post, as I will be somewhere in New England visiting colleges with my daughter when this post goes live.  I incorporated wood into my card in three ways--the stamped images are from Altenew Faux Veneer, I used a wood grain impression plate on my top layer, and I also used a little wood embellishment.

Now, it is your turn.  What do you think of when you see the word WOOD?  Have some fun with the cue word WOOD, and then please link up your creation on the CASology blog by Monday 6/30 at noon (CST). 

Check out the beautiful designs from the CASology Design Team members and see how they were inspired by WOOD.  

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

May Park

Meghan McMillan

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely

 

 

Thanks for Visiting