CASology: Week 131: Birthday!! and Inkspirational Challenge #75

May I just say that, even though it is still in Winter, I think February birthday cards are the most wonderful to make!  Who isn't thinking of hearts, flowers, and love in February?

When I saw this week cue word "Friend" at CASology this week, I had a very sweet and special friend in mind:

The cover panel was created with Paper Smooches stamp sentiments, stamped with a VERY new and juicy Versamark, then embossed in white.  A fun little rolled rose found inside my little to-use-later box kept close by on my desk.

A little close-up to give another peek at that background... I love how it turned out =]

 

Inkspirational Challenge #75 is calling for ROSE - just discovered!  Pleased to submit this little number there as well!



 


 

Just for fun!

As much as I love making cards for entry into challenges here and there, yesterday I made two cards JUST FOR FUN!  Not that all cards made aren't fun you understand...

A week ago or so, our friend Darnell of djkardkreations announced the lucky winners of her NBUS #3 challenge. Sadly, I wasn't a winner - oh, but you're wrong.  Please read her blog-post here - the whole thing, start to finish and you'll see where the inspiration for my cards comes from.

Thanks, D for reminding me of one of my favorite childhood puzzle games!

Rebus one: "Tanks..."

"...of me... you are in my thoughts today, and in my heart always!"

 

Rebus two: I [heart] you!

 

 

I hope you enjoy solving the messages here.  As much fun as they were to make with my very ancient Stamping Up set!  I believe there are [four] more in the making for my grandkids' Valentines!  Think they'll like them?

 

Have a great weekend... thanks for stopping by this week - always so appreciated!

=]



CAS(E) this Sketch #108

The jitters might be easing up... just a few nerves still, but when I see these fabulous sketches?  Just like it has always been, I just want to play, play, play!!!  So let's go!

Here is our sketch this week, from Gayatri Murali [who doesn't want to CASE every one of her cards?]:

The first step, for me, is to copy/paste the sketch to a 4x6" scrap of paper and print it. Then I go down to the craft room and take a look at papers that might do for the stripe, panel, embellishment and sentiment. Since Donna, and Leigh, both told me I could do anything I want [and I'm still remembering being the baby of nine kids and constantly getting in trouble for the things my sibs said I could do!!] I really had fun with this one...

 

 

A really BIG bag of tricks went into the making of this card... seriously:

Pattern papers: MME Cut & Paste, phones; Kathy Davis Happiness love from GCDstudios.

Dies: MFT Die-namics Hybrid Camellia Flower - one section - for the bow tie, SSS Talk Bubbles 2.

Stamps:  BasicGrey Bitsy Stitches; and a brand new to me from Avery Elle: Happy Spring.

And yet another little leftover red heart!  I'm exhausted - to tired to link... let me know if you have any questions/I've forgotten any!

 

Thanks for stopping by!! I'll be excited to see your interpretation of CTS #108 sketch... be sure to check out what my fabulous teamies have shared - awesome!!! Can you believe we all get to play with these people?

 



January's Sketch for You to Try

 

Reverse Confetti kindly sends out a reminder when there are only a few days left to their challenges... thank goodness!  I totally forgot to post one of the cards I made for this month. Layering is my nemesis so "to try" is key here...practice helps!  I really love RC, and am picking up a few stamp sets when I can.

For SFYTT#20:

I was able to use several pieces and parts that were left over from other projects.. always a good thing.  The Confetti Cut - Circles 'n Scallops is the star here accented by sentiments from You Make me Smile and a strip of hearts from Love Note.   My newest embossing folder from Stampin' Up helped repeat the polka dot theme I had going and also gives just the right amount of lift to the panel... hmmm?  Have I shared my little dimensional layering trick?  Another day...

I do love an opportunity to use that cute little smooch punch whenever I can...that makes me smile.
=]

Runway Inspired Challenge #76

 

I nearly didn't try with this one... is that awful to admit?  Nothing came to me... dead end.  Then my little package of goodies arrived from I (heart) Papers... so sad they are leaving us, but happy to have found a few must haves! [Thank you, amy T!]

 

Enter Kelly Purkey's Second City 6x6!! Add a dose of Technique Tuesday's Ali Edwards Geo tag stamps, and a few hearts scattered around my desk from SSS, and what did I get?  My Runway Inspired Challenge with a whole new meaning! 

 



Inkspirational - thirds!!

I felt I needed to use a few actual card supplies before I left this challenge.  Inkspirational Challenge #74 is getting a third course this time!! I guess that would be dessert!

Though the snowy background does add light, I wish it were a bit sunny today.  These SSS stitched dies cut both the inner panel and stitch inside and out.  I back this with vellum to hold it in place.  What I achieve by doing this is a postal friendly card, and when held to the light, one can see through the stitch lines... an unplanned bonus, believe me.  Must mention the Verve dies... perfection in ombre colors.
=]

Time Out with Heart

Another little heart-love came out of my craft room yesterday.  Of course I had to wait for daylight to photograph... sadly it was pretty grey this morning.

Time Out's Valentine's with a Twist of Hearts - could there be a true one without? =]

 

Could I love this bunny more? NO! Purple Onion has truly stolen my heart! 

 

One of the first things my babies learned was how to do "this much." It only took me a moment to know that W&W would come to my rescue to create this sentiment. 

 

Also loving the SSS stitched dies. The die-cut YOU is Reverse Confetti and looooove you from Mama Elephant!

LOVE is in the air - everywhere!

No doubt about it, Valentine's are my favorite next to Christmas cards!  Seems there are LOVE challenges just about everywhere - The Card Concept #27 is no exception:

Love, love, love my new technique for making truly beautiful dimensional wood grain cardstock... the best thing? Any color is possible! This one was made using my Darice embossing folder, soft stone cardstock from PTI, and a combination of Hero Arts white  and charcoal pigment inks.[Please excuse my awful stitching.. can I justify a new sewing machine for card stitching?] 

Even though the challenge used stacked letters, I'm thinking this one is one of those "more than words" cards that isn't just for Valentine's Day.

Thanks for stopping by - it always makes me smile...
 =]

Inkspirational Second Helpings

Ombre - does everyone's voice drop an octave or two when they say this word? =/ [And why does blogger continue to take away my acute e?]  Graduated tones of color, from dark to light, or light to dark = gorgeous. 

I did raise Carol one chip card, right?  For c, and Inkspirational Challenge #74:

This one is all about Mr. B. with a little help from Simon, Paper Smooches, and MFT.

This may be a really good case of "when the chips are down." I'm certainly down with it... =]

Inkspirational: Challenge #74 - Ombré

 

I couldn't believe my [beginner's] luck when I received a top three for my first ever submission to the Inkspirational Challenge!! Thank you, very, very much!! I just loved those little bunnies, too.

Love the ombre look, and the inspirational cards from the DT, and GD Pia, are incredible... how could I not play along again?

For Inkspirational Challenge #74, I see Carol's chips, and raise her one "second helping" later:

Hello die from Mama Elephant; Sweet stamp from Technique Tuesday; fabulous Triangle Border from SSS; the teeny little heart die from Paper Smooches; and, of course, my man: Mr. Benjamin Moore!

Note to Pia: I WILL be using CASEing your fabulous design very soon!

CAS(E) this Sketch #107

Pleasure first, is my motto today!  [Though my card-making session for CTS#107 and N@ Ali's sketch could not be called business at all!]

I just want to take a moment to thank you all for your welcome, and all the congratulations sent my way last week. You couldn't know how honored, and humbled, I felt... Yes, it still feels like a dream!

Our sketch this week is a beauty, and so are the DT inspirations:

 

Since I'm the newbie, until I'm told I cannot, I decided to change the orientation of the card... I'm having one of those remembered "mom said" moments =/

I had a favorite die in mind when I saw the sketch that I wanted to play with again after so long.  Honestly, I don't have many flower dies! [Honest!!]

Here is my card - be prepared for second helpings... think Chrissy will mind?

 

I twice cut the SSS die, once from patterned paper from Heidi Swapp, and again from a scrap of Neenah white #110lb. card stock to replace it, offset just a bit for effect.  My sentiment is Technique Tuesday.

Hope you'll join us this week - I can't wait to see you all take this sketch and run with it!

Thanks N@ for the awesome sketch! Which makes the business of making a card a total pleasure! 

Less is More: Week 207: Friends

Less is More challenge this week is also Friend-ly themed... which segues nicely to my continuing love affair of accentuating the negative:

You may recognize it:

I do wish my little "kiss, kiss." embossing was easier for you to see... as it simply says it all!!  I never was a big fan of those little aristocratic air kisses - but I do love this little Technique Tuesday sentiment!

Kisses to all of my kissable friends!! 

Second helpings of Friends

As I get a tiny bit closer to the end of my life, I appreciate, even more, the concept of old friends, and new. The old Girl Scout song says one is silver, the other is gold.

 

There is also a new stamp set out there with a sentiment about friendship.  To paraphrase, it speaks of taking a long time to grow an old friend... love the thought and the set, but I don't always agree with the sentiment. 

 

I have friends in this fabulous community who I've only known briefly, who visit me, and I visit them almost daily... you are all golden to me.  

 

This card, while made for the CASology Week 130 challenge, is for each and every one of you, my darling family of new friends:

 

 

 

 

The final verse of the song:

 

Across the land Across the sea Friends forever
We will always be.

 

 

 

Reverse Confetti - SFYTT #20

 



"Dear Reverse Confetti:
I readily admit to struggling with layers, and patterned paper. Your fantastic sketch should make creating easier, right?  Not when one is very literal... like me.  I really need to free myself up and just let the juices flow... which is just what I did today while making a birthday card for my grandson, Samuel! VOILA!"

A computer generated sentiment, some stamping, die cutting.. bibity, bobity, boo!

When you start with a great base, it really is [almost] a no-brainer! This time my starting off point was the Reverse Confetti
Love Notes then adding a simple starry circle cut with Circles 'n Scallops.  Adding a few other goodies I'd never used before, like the ticket?  Where has that little die been hiding?  A very old, never used Cuttlebug Disney collection die.

Happy 9th birthday, Sam!

Get it?  Popcorn... pop in?  Sam will, and he'll think I'm brilliant!!

Love that kid!

CASology Week 130: Friend

Without getting really sappy again today, I love being given the opportunity to say thank you to all of you who have become so dear to me... you know who you are. I also hope this little card I made for CASology's Friend challenge conveys just how much joy each of you has brought to my life & my heart:

"Joy-full heart"

 

A few sweet ladies made this card possible, but it will be sent today to another who recently sent me a darling bit of happy mail, just when I needed it.

A big thanks to CASology for your huge inspiration with just one little word!

Fusion Challenge - Two Hearts

"...two hearts that beat as one..."  Yep. Still singing!

And who would not be singing after looking at the inspiration photo from Fusion's Two Hearts Challenge?  Who?

I tried something totally different this time as my supply of wood-grain paper is coming to an end.  I found a similar colored cardstock from American Crafts in my stash of papers, inked up a wood-grain embossing folder from Darice with a bit of Versamark + grey ink and ran it through my Cuttlebug... I am thrilled with the results. What do you think?

Inside sentiment:

"Hoping doesn't seem to make a difference. 

But you, and prayer, never fail to make me feel better! 

Thanks for being such a true friend."

 

Supplies:  Smokey Slate CS from PTI;  SSS, MFT, and Paper Smooches sentiment dies.

Curtain Call: Soft Scarf

I adore the look of this soft and snuggly scarf in our inspiration photo from Curtain Call:

 

My first thought was to recreate the texture of the knitted pattern - embossing to the rescue!!



I used the basic colors, and sections, then added texture with a Cuttlebug dots embossing folder, a new SSS die cut sentiment and cover plate; and a precious little metal "love" heart from my stash.  I'm happy when the pieces just fall into place!

Thanks for stopping by!



Another little challenge for Muse #100

I am having such a blast "singing" cards all week long!!  Here is another chance to win a little candy from little old me!!!

Name this tune:

Rules: first comment with the correct answer wins... BUT you must have submitted a card for the 100th Muse challenge to be eligible to guess!!!  Ready! Set... go!

The Runway Inspired Challenge: Ralph Lauren!!

 

Sheer gorgeousness, here!

 

The Runway Inspired Challenge caused me to rethink everything a few times.  Still not sure about my interpretation, but here goes!  I hope my photo shows the detail of the netting I've tried to capture on the background strip of bright fuchsia pink...

 

... here represented by the stamping with Versamark with a MFT background stamp. I love that tone-on-tone of watermark stamping. Another little bit of JOY from Jacquie.. this time black and stylish! Sequins for jewels - you get the picture, right? LOVE this yellow heart embossed with gold hounds-tooth!!  Valentine hearts are not required to be pink, so there!

 

Off it goes... down the runway...

 



Second helpings... there is a plate!?

Couldn't let this slip by.. another "scrap" in my stash that I made, but didn't use!  We all have them... and I'm happy I didn't put it in the round file!

For seconds at Cure for the Monday Blues #39:

My first attempt at second generation stamping [I think?]  A little Paper Smooches chalkboard heart; Smoke cardstock from SSS; and a spritz of Heidi gold.

"Love was made for me, and you!!" 

Yep, still singing!

=]

 

Cure for the Monday Blues #39

Another fabulous inspiration photo, this time from Cure for the Monday Blues #39:

 

I was drawn directly to the colors, I am such a lover of grey! I enjoyed my first attempt at making chalk-board-like cardstock, and a darling die-cut word from the one-and-only-darling, generous friend: Jacquie Southas!  I admired this card she submitted, and she immediately cut many of them [in three different colors!] and popped them into a sweet Christmas card. Here is what I made with two die cuts, stacked:

 

 

JOY indeed! Here is what I'd like you to know about this card... remember I didn't wrap any gifts this year?  I did use some to cover this card!!!  Yep... it's wrapping paper! I'm absolutely gaga for hounds-tooth - this paper went into my cart so fast the lady next to me nearly got light-sabre-d! Gild a tiny little heart, add some Reverse Confetti hearts, PTI ampersand, and W&W you + me stamps...voila!  My Joy of Jacquie card!!

 

Jacquie, I cannot thank you enough for being so generous, and so incredibly creative! You are definitely among those I consider my family of friends - I truly wouldn't dare do any of this without you...XOXO =]

 

 

I think I may be dreaming...if so, DON'T wake me!

I received an email with these words... honestly, I am not making this up...I totally did a cut/paste:

"...I have a little question to ask you, Michele!  First, I want to thank you for being an AMAZING guest designer with us for the challenge this week but I'd like to offer you a spot on our design team..."

 

Kur-thunk = my jaw hitting the floor! On the CAS(E) This Sketch design team?  Honestly, I am so excited and amazed to be joining this team of excellence, I haven't a clue how to express it. Well... I guess I'll just do what I most times do - make a card! =]

 

 

Chrissy's cool sketch brought me to my stash for a package of yet-to-be-used, die-cut paper I found years ago.  Tell me, could this be more perfect for the inspiration?:

 

A simple double layer of the die-cut

and a little SSS sentiment embossed in Hero Arts white.

 

I do hope you'll play along with CAS(E) This Sketch #106 the other team members have such wonderful inspiration for you!

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Chrissy for having faith in me. . . and to all those on this inspiring team - I will never be able to fill Lesley's fabulous shoes, but you can be sure that I will totally enjoy my time in the sand-box with all of you !!  

 

=]



 

 





The Card Concept 1st Anniversary, Ms. D, and CASology!

Since I'm celebrating... I can't help celebrate this special anniversary for The Card Concept ... take a looky-loo at this photo inspiration:

GAGA over those flowers!

 

I used the boxes, a rose, a pattern - but not the stripe - and aqua, as inspiration for The Card Concept!

 

Trying to use NBUS to add to the fab Ms. D's challenge... I wonder if some left-overs qualify? or sequins? Well I'll give it a whirl...

 

For Darnell's NBUS, and CASology NBUS who is celebrating Ms. D, and The Card Concept:

 

 

First, notice that I've used a left-over die cut negative from Mama Elephant; which then accentuates a water-colored panel I did during the online class last year; a little MFT rolled-rose I found in a box of leftover schtuff; a NBU SSS sentiment; and last-but-not-least?  a few Teresa Collins aqua sequins I picked up at Christmas-time in one of those gorgeous glass tubes! 

Wowsers... that is a whole bunch of schtuff!

 

 

 

 

I'm also celebrating a very gorgeous, sunny day in Michigan!!





Time Out Challenge #22

Well, hello, gorgeous!
I Love a great photo inspiration, but often get caught up in them a bit too literally...
after a few for the recycle bin, I've come up with this one, for Time Out...the fab Chrissie, of Less is More, is guesting this challenge! Wow, is her card brilliant!


I very much wanted that lovely couch represented, thus I used Primitive White cardstock from My Favorite Things as my base, die cut and reassembled with the SSS stitched dies; and all a-flutter with butterflies cut with a Martha Stewart punch [must think summer - it is 0 degrees here!]to represent the pillows.

Oh look!  I'm still quoting song lyrics!
Thanks for stopping by... hope you leave a note ... they do make me smile =]