OLW126, LIM - Welcome Baby David

This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is being hosted by Susan. And it's tough. Use colours you don't usually use. Well that's handy, because Less is More is having a Kraft and Kreme week and those really are colours I don't usually use!

This card is for a new baby that was adopted by a young couple at our church. He arrived last week - he's adorable! We're all so happy for the new parents who have longed for and waited for this little miracle for so long.

I used MFT's Monogram alphabet and some chopped up sentiments from Clear and Simple Stamps Baby Sentiments set.

Liebster Award

Yesterday, my friend Bethany awarded MASKerade a Leibster award. Thanks Bethany! You should go check out this seriously talented girl - she has a wonderful habit of entering challenges several times, with fun and original ideas!

ABOUT THE AWARD
This award was designed to be a blog award in the pay it forward fashion. Once you've been nominated, you award it to blogs that you like that have fewer than 200 followers, to encourage new visitors to visit these new blogs. 

RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE
Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog. Post the award onto your blog.Give the award to five bloggers who you appreciate that have fewer than 200 followers. Leave a comment on their blog letting them know that you have given them this awesome award!

PAY IT FORWARD
As a member of several design teams, I have the privilege of 'discovering' new bloggers as they enter challenges - sometimes for the very first time. Here are five blogs that I think you should check out:

 Shelly

 Poorvi

 Kristie

Kathie

Brenda

And an honourable mention to my  favourite new blogger and faithful CASology entrant, Evie, who is 8. Being a full time student, she probably will not have time to hunt down 5 other blogs, but you should go check out her very creative work!

CTS14 - Happy Birthday

Time for CAS(E) This Sketch challenge #14!

I turned the sketch on its side and used some old Stampin' Up! stamps for the flowers and stems and a Taylored Expressions sentiment. To add some dimension to the flowers, I shaded the edges of the petals with a slightly darker copic marker after I stamped them.  I cut yellow circles for the flower centres, sponging the edges with a darker shade of yellow and then mounting them slightly offset on a black circle the same size.

Now it's your turn to show us your fabulous creation based on this sketch!

MUSE3 - Happy Birthday

This card is for this week's Muse Challenge. This week our Muse is Laurie Willison's beautiful card here:

I focused on the bright citrus-y colours, the horizontal band, the neutral card base and the pearls (which I coloured with Copics - it worked really well!).

Have you played along with Muse yet? It's really interesting. You don't have to do anything to be a member other than play along. You just get inspiration from the Muse of the Week, link up your card, and then you comment on at least 3 other entrants and finally (and this is the really fun part) you get to vote on your top 3 - right on the blog itself, it's easy as pie! That way, the winners are actually chosen by the participants. Cool, right? I hope you'll play along!

CASology 30 - Fairy Tale

Today's CASology Cue Card is Fairytale!

Did you get it? Or are you thinking that I've gone right over the edge on this one? Again. OK, I'll put you out of your misery. It's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (each represented by 3 dots of a rainbow colour). I can't explain where this idea came from - it just hit me (very hard on the head!) and I had to do it.

I used a new MFT snowflake die, shimmery blue and white cardstock and various colours.

Now, it's time for a Fairytale ending - and you get to create it! Don't forget to link up your card before the deadline (4:00 pm CST on Sunday).

(By the way, we investigated (in the name of cue card authenticity) and Fairy Tale (two words) is a noun. Fairytale (one word) is the adjective (as in fairytale ending. So now you know! lol!)

Here are links to the blogs of the other Design Team members - go see how this week's Cue Card inspired them!

Tracey McNeely
 Rosemary Dennis
Melissa Chipperfield
Meghan McMillan
Maureen Merritt
Judy Marino 
Jen Wills

and this week's Guest Designer: Darnell

CFC88 - Love Letters

For this week's CAS-ual Friday challenge, to use letters creatively.

After I saw some of the amazingly creative entries, I had almost decided not to play along this week. But then I had a brainstorm - the crosses are the 't' from Stampin' Up's Contempo Alphabet, stamped in Early Espresso.

I used a large circle mask to create the hill, a small circle mask to create the sun and a Michael's sentiment.

I love this new Lemongrass cardstock I got from Avery Elle - it's a wonderfully fresh yellowy green - perfect for Easter and spring!

ETA - this card was chosen as a CFC Favourite! So exciting!

FS313 - With Sympathy

This week's Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper is Janette Olen (blessingsx3)

I chose this card of Janette's to case:

I did not sign up for this online card class that everyone who's anyone seems to be taking, but I have watched the posted 'homework' enthusiastically. One technique that really caught my eye was the colouring on kraft cardstock. I love how the colours pop on it!

I used a Ditto image and Papertrey sentiment, embossed in white and then coloured with 3 shades of green markers.