Tuesday 30 September 2014

CASology 115 - Chocolate


This week's CASology Cue Card is Chocolate!



I decided to use only a chocolatey colour for my card (I guess the cake might be chocolate, too!). I used a Stampin' Up birthday set and left the image un-coloured. This results in a card that has a very airy feel because the white space 'shows through'!

I have started something new for popping up my image panel. I find that my foam tape 'shows' through (a bit like joists sometimes showing through a white ceiling). So I figured I would open my ever-expanding white scrap drawer and just layer the front panel with 2 or 3 squares of cardstock slightly smaller than the top panel. It really isn't much heavier than it would have been if I'd used the foam tape, but the look is better (in my humble opinion!) and it's using up scraps!

And now it's your turn - I can't wait to see your sweet creations!


Sunday 28 September 2014

i {heart} papers GD post 10/CS210 - Happy Birthday to You!


Here's my card for the current CASE Study challenge, where we are inspired by this pretty Christmas card by Debby Hughes:



I flipped the layout upside down and changed it to a birthday card, swapping out the gold for some yellow and black. After stamping and colouring the balloons, I used a Versamark pen and embossed them in clear for some shine.

Supplies (all from i {heart} papers)
Avery Elle Handwritten Notes
Winnie & Walter Big Bang Confetti
Paper Smooches Metropolis
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Wow Clear Embossing Powder



Saturday 27 September 2014

Muse 86 - Merry Christmas


Here's my card for this week's Muse Challenge, where Guest Muse Anita Bowden has inspired us with this beauty:


I focused on the colours and layout but changed the season. I chose a big Stampin Up Festive Flurries snowflake to provide the 'circle of colour', stamped it in Smoky Slate and filled in some of the circles with Stampin Up candy dots in Old Olive and Baja Breeze. I loved the idea of the combined script/block sentiment and used a Papertrey Merry and Gina K Christmas.

I hope you'll get a chance to play along - the deadline is Monday morning at 8 am. At that time you can vote (even if you didn't link up a card!) for your 3 favourites until Tuesday morning at 8. The voting results will be posted on Tuesday at noon. Hope to see you there!

Friday 26 September 2014

FFC41 - Merry Christmas

Link up to Bev's birthday party here.


I'm back with my card for the next Festive Friday challenge. I've noticed that the number of entries for each challenge is increasing proportionately to the proximity of Christmas! Coincidence? I think not! :-)

Here's our inspiration for this challenge:


I focused on the colours and the wreath. I used the new Stampin' Up Wondrous Wreath that everyone seems to have (and why not - it's graphic and classic and so versatile!) I used a red copic tip to create my little berries.  I used silver embossing for my Kaisercraft sentiment to represent the skate blades.

Now it's your turn. In addition to our regular DT members, we've got a Guest Designer for this challenge and you're going to love her interpretation!

This challenge will run until midnight on Wednesday October 8.


Tuesday 23 September 2014

CASology #114 - Flutter


This week's CASology Cue Card is Flutter!



Go ahead, look it up (I did - I always look up the CASology word to see if there are fun and unexpected meanings!) - you'll find more there than you think! There's wings, and hearts and sleeves and horses (a small bet is a 'flutter'!)

I decided to go with a very soft and serene card using a Creatiate feather and a PTI sentiment. By positioning the stamped images on the card from top left to bottom right, and by turning the feather slightly, movement is created as they 'flutter' to the ground.

I used soft stone and white cardstock and soft stone and granite ink.

Now it's your turn - before you go, make sure to check out the blogs of the rest of the DT for more inspiration!



Monday 22 September 2014

i {heart} papers GD post #9/OLS#9 - Hip to be Square

Looking for Bev's birthday party? Link up here.


It's last call for this month's One-Layer Simplicity Challenge, where I'm hosting "Hip to be Square". The deadline is midnight on Wednesday, September 24.

Making this card, I was reminded of two things about stamping:

1) All you need is ink and paper to make a really fun and festive card;

2) Add grey to any colour combination and it will look very 'in'.

Ironically, I created my square out of circles. I wanted to create a fun bouncy frame (similar to Bev's birthday card here) and looked around for a colour combination. I stamped the sentiment across the card and then used a 2 1/2" mask in the centre, to create my frame. I stamped in yellow, green and aqua starting with the largest dots first, then filling in with the next size. I took my mask off and added a few more dots on the inside of the frame, so I would get a kind of random feel. Then I took a look at it and decided to add some grey - not only did it fill the frame in nicely, but I do think it changed the feeling of the card slightly - here's what it looked like before the grey:


What do you think?

Supplies used (all from i {heart} papers)


Sunday 21 September 2014

Merry Monday 126 - The Words Have It

Link up to Bev's birthday party here.


Here's my card for the current Merry Monday challenge - The Words Have It (make your sentiment the focus of your card).

This will be one of the designs for my Church Christmas project, so it has to be easy to duplicate. I whipped up 28 of these on Friday evening.

I used a Stampabilities sentiment (can't find a link, but I probably got it at Hobby Lobby), Market Street Stamps (no longer with us) manger, Paper Smooches shadow and Gina K Star.

To add a bit of interest, I edged the panel with Tumbled Glass ink and then smeared Stickles for texture and sparkle.

Saturday 20 September 2014

Muse 85 - Celebrate



Link up to Bev's party here.



Here's my card for this week's Muse where we have been inspired by Marion's gorgeous summer flowers:


I focused on the colours but decided to try something other than flowers. I used a DeNami Designs Fireworks stamp and added a simple Winnie&Walter sentiment.

I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us - the deadline is Monday at 8. At that time you can vote until Tuesday at 8 (even if you didn't link up a card). Results will be posted at noon on Tuesday.


Friday 19 September 2014

FFC40 - Mid-challenge Inspiration


Here's my mid-challenge card for the current Festive Friday challenge, where our inspiration photo is this lovely shimmery pink scene:



I focused on the shimmer and colours - I used my Frantic Stamper tree dies and a beautifully ornate sentiment from Waltzingmouse, embossed in silver on vellum. To attach the vellum, I used a trick I learned from a Jennifer McGuire video - I put glue behind the elements that were glued to or embossed on the vellum. This resulted in some warping, as you can see, but it has since settled down.

The deadline for this challenge is Wednesday September 24 at midnight - see you then!

Wednesday 17 September 2014

The Card Concept #19 - Thanks!

Link up to Bev's birthday party here. 


The leaves haven't starting turning here yet, but they will (my favourite time of year!!). We have a gorgeous fall inspiration for you for Card Concept #19!




To make my Clean & Graphic card, I used my favourite Inkadinkado thanks and a graphic leaf from Paper Smooches "Gently Seasoned". I love the stained glass look of it - especially when you leave one of the spaces white.

On another note, this will be my last post for the Card Concept - as you know I have lots of DT commitments and am also busy with two growing kids and their (and my) activities, so after giving it a lot of thought, I knew that I needed to cut back.

It's been such an honour to work with such talented ladies and I want to say a special thank you to Lesley, who asked me to be on the DT as well as to Tracey, who is the DT co-ordinator and to wish the whole Card Concept team all the very best!

Now it's your turn - I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Our Rules
  1. Use the Challenge to create a card.
  2. Choose one of the design team "styles" to create your card. Click HERE for the different styles summary.
  3. Explain in your post which style you used.
  4. Link up your blog post here, not your whole blog.
  5. Comment on the card ahead of you and behind you in the linky. Everyone loves comments!

This challenge will end on Monday, September 29 at 3 pm EDT.

    Tuesday 16 September 2014

    CASology 113 - Grass

    Looking for Bev's birthday party? Click HERE.


    This week's CASology Cue Card is Grass



    Although my grass is a small element, it's noticeable because it's the only pop of colour on an otherwise black and white card. I love how the size of the little white pompom I used for the ball gives some perspective - because it looks 'big' in comparison to the A Muse golfer, it's like he's further away and the ball is popping off the card. Yes, I totally planned that! ;-)

    I created my little 'hill' of grass with a swipe of a Copic marker. You can see that by resting the marker on the panel for a second before moving it to the left, I got different shades of green and different thickness of the line. Experiment to see what effects you can come up with!

    Anyway, now it's your turn. Don't forget to get some more inspiration by popping by the blogs of the rest of the DT:



    i {heart} papers GD Post #8 - Happy (Birthday) Dances, Bev!


    Today is a very, very special day. It's a day that we'll all be Happy Dancing because today is Bev's birthday! Darnell is hosting the party and I'm hosting the link - it will be open for two weeks so that you can come to the party too!

    When I was looking for inspiration for this card, I went no further than the Happy Dancer herself. In fact, my card was influenced by no fewer than FOUR of her cards!

    Happy Dance
    this one for colour, dots and curve (May 2012 - can't figure out how to link it)

    Happy Dance
    add in some yellow (and more dots)

    double-stamp the sentiment for dimension

    Happy Dance
    and celebrate like CRAZY with more dots!

    As for supplies - I used the following from i {heart} papers:
    MFT Stamps - Celebrate Big
    Winnie&Walter - Big Bang Confetti
    Avery Elle Ink - Lemongrass, Mimosa, Raspberry
    Memento Ink - Paris Dusk
    White Cardstock

    Last year I was lucky enough to meet Bev in person. And as sweet as you think she is, she's even better in real life! Selfless, kind, talented - AMAZING!



    Bev, I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are and that many wonderful things are coming your way this year!




    Monday 15 September 2014

    ATCAS47 - Oriental


    I was listening to the music for our church's kids' Christmas pageant on Sunday (I'm the piano player) and parts of We Three Kings are featured. I had an 'aha' moment with the "Kings from Orient" and the current Addicted to CAS challenge "Oriental" (at least I thought I did - see below) and rushed upstairs to make this one-layer card.



    I used a Stampin' Up Wisemen/Bethlehem/Star stamp and embossed the star with Egyptian Gold ep (gold with glitter in it for extra sparkle). I finished it off with a Gina K sentiment.

    Now I've been back to the ATCAS gallery and see that I'm not the first one to come up with this interpretation - in fact I commented on Sarah's card because it was also entered at CASology's Three challenge this week, but I hadn't consciously put together that she was using it for Orient as well. Anyway, our cards are different (go check out her awesome sponging!) and this will end up as one of the designs for my church Christmas project.


    Sunday 14 September 2014

    CASE Study 208/ABNH51 - Thanks so much!


    Here's a card I managed to make for two challenges, CASE Study, where our inspiration is this fun card from Debby


     and A Blog Named Hero, where the challenge is to use letter stamps (I used Hero Arts Typewriter Alphabet (CL492)).



    I used PTI Super Stripes stamped in Soft Stone ink to represent the boards, a red PTI thanks die cut for the apples, and the HA Typewriter alpha for the rest of the sentiment.  Three tiny kraft hearts (Impression Obsession) for the colour and texture of the burlap.

    Saturday 13 September 2014

    Muse 84 - Thank You


    Here's my card for this week's Muse challenge, where Therese provided us with this super-cool mosaic butterfly.




    I focused on the triangles, the colours and the butterfly. I used my Hero Arts triangle cutting plate and my tan embossing mat to emboss triangles on the top half of my white panel.  I used MFT butterfly dies, a Technique Tuesday sentiment and finished off with some enamel dots.

    I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us - the deadline is Monday at 8 am EDT. At that time you can vote (even if you didn't link up) until Tuesday morning at 8. Results of the voting will be posted at noon on Tuesday.

    Friday 12 September 2014

    FFC40 - Merry Christmas


    We have got a 'pretty in pink' inspiration for you for the new Festive Friday Challenge!




    So shimmery and feminine and so many little details! I started with Papertrey's shimmery pink cardstock and added a Smoky Slate panel with an inlaid Lil Inkers die. I embossed a Clearly Besotted sentiment in white and added some pearl ornaments to my little tree.

    This challenge runs until midnight on Wednesday, September 24 (which is 3 months before Christmas Eve!!). Hope to see you playing along!

    Tuesday 9 September 2014

    CASology 112 - Three


    This week's CASology Cue Card is Three!



    Let's see how many threes I have here. Three stamps, three colours (plus white), three words, three images (from Stampin' Up's Wishing You set).

    To create the glitter 'frame', I simply used a strip of 2" double-sided tape down the centre of the card. I placed the cut out images on it (very carefully - you don't get two chances with this super-sticky stuff!) and then sprinkled glitter on the exposed adhesive.

    Now it's your turn - check out all the inspiration from the rest of the DT:

    Saturday 6 September 2014

    Muse 83 - Merci Beaucoup!


    Here's my take on this week's Muse, where DT member Vicki Dutcher gave us this card as our inspiration:


    I focused on the colours (pink black white) and the vellum. I got all excited about the watercolouring and decided I would try my hand at it. I inked up the Papertrey Dot Spot stamp with Pixie Pink, rock'n'rolled it in Pink Passion and then spritzed it with water before stamping it. I thought it would be all smooshy and artsy, but now I think it just looks like it was badly stamped! lol!

    Oh well, I stamped my Impression Obsession sentiment in black over top and not quite straight so that my square panel would be skewed a bit when the sentiment was placed straight on the card. I added a layer of vellum and some sequins.

    I hope you'll get a chance to play along with us - the deadline is on Monday morning at 8 am EDT. At that point, you can vote until Tuesday morning at 8 and then the voting results will be posted on Tuesday at noon. Remember, you're the ones who choose the winners for this challenge - even if you didn't link up, you can vote! 

    Friday 5 September 2014

    FFC39 - Joy to the World


    Some mid-challenge inspiration for FFC39.


    I went pretty literal with this one - grey ribbed (Cuttlebug ef) background, Martha Stewart wreath (from a punch) and a Cheery Lynn die cut sentiment. I smeared a bit of gold Stickles on the wreath for some sparkle.

    Don't forget the deadline for this challenge is Wednesday, September 10 at midnight - hope to see you there!

    Thursday 4 September 2014

    i {heart} papers GD Post 7/CASology 111 - Under



    Here's my latest Guest DT creation for i {heart} papers. I had a lot of fun with some colours I don't use very often and a couple of stamp sets that, even though they come from different companies, work really well together.

    This fun, bubbly background that I created carries on UNDER (CASology 111) the white popped-up circular panel. And UNDER the card (if it's lying down on the table) is a surprise - I stamped the background on the back too! No reason for the party to stop at the border of the front of the card!




    Supplies:
    Avery Elle: Brushed
    Winnie & Walter: Big Bang Confetti
    Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black, Dandelion, Lilac Posies
    Hero Arts Ink: Pale Tomato
    LawnFawn: Circle dies
    Dimensional dots
    White Cardstock


    Wednesday 3 September 2014

    RIC67 - Happy Birthday!


    This is my take on the current Runway Inspired challenge.


    Don't you love it when you see an inspiration, you know exactly what you're going to do and then it works out perfectly? So do I. Unfortunately, that's not what happened this time. ;-)

    The first two happened - I knew exactly what I wanted to do and after two attempts I could see that it just wasn't going to work. Actually the card was probably fine, but it didn't feel like 'me'. I started searching through my stamps and found this Penny Black butterfly that I just had to have when I saw Heather T play with it - of course I can't find the exact one on her blog now, but she's made quite a few amazing cards with it!  All of a sudden I knew what I was going to do again. And this time I'm really happy with it.

    I think it captures the inspiration so well, although maybe not in an obvious way?  What do you think?

    Tuesday 2 September 2014

    CASology 111 - Under


    This week's CASology Cue Card is Under!



    I incorporated the cue card in two ways on my card. 1) the 'you' is under the 'thank' (Stampin' Up "Hey You"), 2) the whole sentiment is under vellum.

    I cut the vellum in a circle, to provide a bit of a subtle frame around the sentiment. The trick with vellum is to attach it to your card. Most adhesives show through the vellum, so alternative methods must be used. I chose an old (OLD) heart brad as my method. I love how the vellum softens the look of the black sentiment.

    Now it's your turn. Drop by the rest of the team to see even more inspiration!


    Monday 1 September 2014

    OLS9 - Hip to be Square


    I'm the hostess for September's One-Layer Simplicity Challenge and it's a fun one (if I do say so myself!)

    It's called Hip to be Square and all you have to do is make a one-layer card that uses at least one square in some way.

    I love to make square cards, so that's one. I stamped a Papertrey square stamp 4 times (five), making another square (six in total). To offset all those straight lines, I chose a curvy 'handwritten'  Ali Edwards sentiment that was big and bold. I centred it over the colourful square and stamped it in black, to ensure that the sentiment takes centre stage over the pattern.

    This challenge will run until midnight on September 24. Hope to see you there!