A Two-fer....

Woo-hoo!  I managed to combine two challenges!! That almost never happens for me!  The current challenge a CAS-ual Friday is:

And the current challenge at Addicted to CAS is:

I actually made two different cards and I really LOVE both of them!  Without further ado.....

For this first card I wanted to create a "snow globe" effect, so I cut a Kraft panel for slightly smaller than the card base and masked off a circle with the negative of the circle.  I stamped snowflakes (some very old ones and I don't know who makes them) and embossed them in white.  Then I sponged some blue over the embossed snowflakes (still with the mask on).  Then to tone it down just a bit, I sponged some white over parts of the blue.  The sentiment is from PTI and is half of one of the sentiments in that collection. (I cut the sentiment in half).  I curved the sentiment on my Fiskars stamping press and stamped it in clear embossing ink and used white detail power for the heat embossing.  Then to dress it up just a touch, I added some clear "gems" randomly.  The finished panel was pop-dotted on a Kraft card base.

I actually used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (#61) for this card.  I made the snow panel by embossing white snowflakes, then sponging on several different colors of blue DI.  Then I went back and stamped on more snowflakes with two different color distress inks.  The sentiment (Paper Smooches) was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white. The white panel behind the embossed snowflakes was embossed with the snow embossing folder.  I joined the two pieces (embossed blue and the solid blue with the sentiment) with a piece of sparkly white cord.  Popped the white snow panel on a white card base...and done!

Thanks so much for stopping in!  I appreciate your visit and your wonderful comments.  Until next time...

Hugs!

LIM94 - Metal

Thanks to everyone for the get well wishes. I am feeling somewhat better today.  It turned out that I had an upper respiratory infection and once I got some good antibiotics (a shot and a z-pac), things started getting better.   There were several times last week that my temperature got to 102.7...and I really didn't function well at all!  Guess I'm back to "normal", although some might question that! LOL!

I truly apologize for not getting around to visit you all last week...I hope this week I can do MUCH better!

Mandi popped in to the challenge this week to say hi...~ waving hi to Mandi ~  I know she's enjoying her new business, but sure hope she's back again soon.  Thankfully, we still have Chrissie (and Jen) holding things together for us!  This week's challenge at Less is More is to create a card with "hardware" on it.  Luckily, this includes a variety of things such as brads, charms, eyelets, clips, staples, and probably lots of other things.  I've made four cards this week...and can't say that any of them have that "WOW" factor...but they're okay.

This was the first card I made.  The three wise men are a stamp that I've had forever, and I'm not sure who makes it.  I stamped the wise men in archival black ink and then highlighted the image with some clear star pen (difficult to see, but it definitely add a bit of sparkle).  The sentiment is from a PTI Christmas set.  I tore a piece of dark blue paper to fit over the wise men and then pierced the top left corner to add a silver brad star.  The rays from the star are made with silver stickles.  I pop dotted the blue piece.  Very quick and super simple.

This was the second card I made...not too sure about it. It's a good card for a masculine birthday, though.  I cut a piece of brown card stock and embossed it with a PTI wood grain embossing template.  I used the MFT chevron die to cut the bottom off, then cut a chevron from a piece of black card stock. I popped the brown top piece and the brown bottom piece, but the black is adhered to the card base.  I added two metal "screws" to the top corners of the brown piece.  I found these screws in my stash and I think they're perfect for a "guy" card...I'd just forgotten how difficult they are to attach.  They're eyelets...not brads, and getting the back to flatten out is a tad difficult!  Sentiment is from PTI.

Another super quick and easy card.  I embossed the white panel using a partial embossing technique that I posted last year on my blog. To emphasis the oval, I used a stylus and a mouse pad and just traced around the oval with the stylus.  The sentiment is one of PTI's large sentiments from last year and is stamped in SU real red.  The holly leaves are a QK die, and the berries are three red brads.  I also added a small red piece of bling between the words love and joy.  I also added tiny red strips to the edges of the white embossed panel.  I used pop dots to attach it to the card base.

And, last but not least, is my Santa Claus....I bought this stamp this year mostly because I love Santa stamps!  It's a rather large stamp.  I'd stamped it a week or so ago and colored it, but then didn't do anything with it.  Today, I trimmed it down as much as I could and still have all the image, then used the ticket "chomper" on the corners.  I popped it off the red card base, then added a gold brad in each corner.  No sentiment...but I think it's self-explanatory!

That's all for me...now I need to get busy checking out all of your wonderful creations! Thanks so much for stopping in...and for your sweet comments!! Until next time...

Hugs!

CAS-ology - Thanks

Once again, I'm squeaking in just in time!  I don't know why I can't seem to get my cards posted sooner!  Maybe if I could shake this upper respiratory infection, I'd get a lot more done! Anyway, on to my card for this week's CASology challenge.

The cue word this week is "Thanks"...how appropriate is that for this week of Thanksgiving.  Here's my card for the challenge:

To make this card, I made the white front panel using my Cameo to cut out the word Thanks, and still leave it attached to the card panel.  Took me a while...but now that I know what to do, the possibilities are endless!  The "ever so much" is part of a "thanks" sentiment from Paper Smooches.  I (gasp!) cut the stamp apart rather than try to ink parts of it.  It get a little easier each time I cut apart a stamp!  The butterfly is from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (as was the butterfly die", and is stamped in HA pool blue. I then ran the butterfly through the Xyron and got it sticky and coated it with glamour dust.  The butterfly "trail" is a stamp from PTI Happy Trails collection.  I popped the white "thanks" panel on a piece of dark blue cut slightly larger, then layered it all on a white card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to visit and leave a comment! Until next time...

Hugs!

CAS(E) this Sketch 5

We have a great sketch to work with this week at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here's the sketch:

I'm still in a Christmas card making mode, so my card is another Christmas card.  I had the perfect stamp for this layout.  Here's my take on the sketch:

I turned the sketch sideways and made a very narrow "mantle" to hang my stockings.  The stockings are a Flourishes image and there's also a svg cut file to go with the images.  Works like a charm when you use the Fiskars stamp press to stamp the image.  I stamped in Memento black onto the shape cut with the Cameo.  I colored the image with Copics, then added a little puff paint to the top of the stockings. The sentiment is from PTI.  

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate your visit and your comments! Until next time...

Hugs!

CAS-ual Fridays - #78 - all torn up!

Boy, I'm really on a roll today!  I think this might be my 5th post of the day!  Guess if I didn't wait to take photos of all my cards at the same time, I might be posting on different days! LOL!

The challenge at CAS-ual Fridays this week is to: Create a Clean And Simple project that has something torn on it. Tear that card stock, designer paper or even felt. Get creative and tear it up :)

So, that's exactly what I did! I've made another couple of Christmas cards to add to my stash...Here's my take on the challenge:

This first card is super simple...I made a red card base and embossed the sentiment in white detail embossing powder.  I cut a smaller piece of white card stock and tore off one end then scored double lines around the un-torn edges.  Added a red velvet ribbon across the top of the white, then adhered the white torn panel with pop dots.

I really love how this card turned out.  I've had this mistletoe stamp for a couple of years, and I don't believe I've ever inked it up!  It's a Flourishes stamp...and I do love all their stamps!  The sentiment is also from the same Flourishes set.  I made a white card base, cut two rectangles slightly narrower than the card, then tore one edge off each rectangle.  I stamped the mistletoe in black memento ink, then colored it with Copics.  I adhered the top of the "ribbon" on the mistletoe to the top edge of the red torn piece, then added a ribbon bow on top.  The mistletoe is pop-dotted off the card.  The sentiment was stamped in Versamark, then I embossed it with a red tinsel embossing powder that I've had for several years but don't remember ever using before...it really has a sparkly look to it once I heat embossed it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I always enjoy reading your comments and I do appreciate you taking the time to stop in and visit!  Until next time....

Hugs!

LIM93 - Houses....and more Houses

Since Mandi is still working hard at her new business, we have a new face hosting the Less is More challenge this week along with our very own, Chrissie.  Welcome, Jen.  Be sure to go by Jen's blog to check out all of her beautiful work! (Make sure you visit Chrissie's blog too...as she usually has another card or two there that are definitely worth taking a peek at!  This week's challenge at Less is More is to create a one layer card with the theme of houses.  I quickly dug through all my stamps and found as many houses as I could...sadly..not too many, so I had to put my thinking cap on.  Here's what I finally came up with...

I can't decide if I have a favorite this week, although I did like the way this first one turned out.  The little houses are from a Maya Road stamp set that I've had for years, and probably haven't inked up!  I stamped each house in black, then drew a line to ground them.  I left spaces between some of the houses so that I could add some trees.  I drew the tress with a black marker, then added leaves by dotting with my DI markers.  I even added a few leaves on the ground.  I tried to use my water brush to blend the leaf colors a bit, but I think it would probably work better if I'd been using watercolor paper.  The sentiment was just handwritten with a black pen.  Oh...I decided not to color the houses...just some lighting in the windows and a couple of red doors.

I seem to have several light house stamps, so I used a couple of them on these next two cards.  This image is from Flourishes. I stamped it in black and colored with Copics.  Sentiment is from PTI.

This image is from GinaK Designs and I don't believe I'd inked up the light house previously, although I have used the birds before.  Sentiment is from PTI.  Super quick and simple one layer card. Colored with Copics.

After I'd already taken photos of the first three cards, I decided at the last minute to make another card with this "cutesy" stamp set.  I had to have this stamp set from Lawn Fawn, although I don't know why now...but each of the images on this card is a separate stamp, so I had to do a lot of masking.  I used bright happy colors of Copics to color the images.  You can't really see it too well on here, but I also added some sparkle with the Sakura clear star pen.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I apologize for not getting around to everyone last week to peek at your beautiful cards, but I felt so bad it took all I could do to get my cards posted.  I do appreciate the well wishes from those of you who left me comments last week.  I'm feeling somewhat better now, although I still don't think I'm completely over the bronchitis yet...still got a few more days on the antibiotics.  Again...thanks for all your wonderful comments....until next time...

Hugs!

Freshly Made Sketches #60

Here's the sketch for this week's challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.

I might have taken a few liberties with the sketch, since my poinsettia isn't exactly a "circle"...but here's my interpretation of the sketch.

I used some scraps for the two strips.  It's difficult to see, but I used an embossing plate that looks like grosgrain ribbon (MFT Die-namics) for the green piece, then layered the red hounds tooth paper on top of that.  The poinsettia is an image from Flourishes.  It also has a svg cut file you can purchase to cut out the shape of the stamp...then stamp the image.  Too Cool!  I use my Fiskars stamping press to center the image exactly where I want it before pressing down.  I do love my stamping press!  The image was colored with colored pencils...then I decided it wasn't "bright" enough for me, so I colored it again with Copics...what a difference that made!  Sentiment is from PTI.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the time to stop in and leave a comment! Until next time....

Hugs!

OLW113 - Dark red, yellow/gold, bright green

I managed to get a card done for this week's OLW challenge from Susan. I made a card for last week's challenge from Ardyth to make a one layer card inspired by a song...but, never got around to posting it!

Anyway...of to Susan's challenge to use all these "bright" colors!  At first, I was stumped, but then I remembered this image I got from DRS Designs a year or so ago....and it was perfect for the challenge!

I stamped the image and the sentiment in Memento black.  Both the sentiment and the image are from DRS designs.  I colored the image with Copics, and then for a little added punch...I coated each of the ornaments with glossy accents.  That really gave them some good dimension while keeping it all one layer!  

I thought I'd share the card I made for last week too.  Not too creative...but I wasn't feeling all that well when I made it....

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate the time you take to visit and the comments you leave for me! Until next time...

Hugs!

CASology - Orange (you loving this challenge blog!)

I didn't play along with last week's challenge...just felt too bad most of the week, but this week, I'm going to manage to squeak in just in time!  This week's challenge at CASology, is to create a clean and simple card using orange.  Just in case you haven't tried it...using orange is much more difficult than you might think.  Here's my take on this week's "orange" challenge.

First I stamped my trees (SU) in black.  Then I masked off my BIG orange sunset and the ground, using the negative part of the circle and sponged in several different orange distress inks.  I removed the circle mask and sponged in some oranges, pinks, blue, and purple in streaks for the sky.  Then I masked off the sky (and sun) and sponged black ink for the ground.  I trimmed the scene down and matted it on orange card stock.  I used a SU embossing folder for the white background, and then added tiny strips of orange to the edges before adhering it to my card base.  The sentiment is stamped in white and is from PTI.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I always appreciate you taking the time to visit and leave a comment!  Until next time...

Hugs!

LIM92 - In the Pink

Quick post for me today.  Been running fever of 101+ for about a week now...feeling icky...but did manage to get a couple of cards made for this week's Less is More challenge...how's that for dedication!  The challenge this week is to use the color "Pink"...ugg!  I tried...but pink is definitely not my favorite color!

I think perhaps this first one is my favorite.

Flowers made from vellum...embossed in white and cut out.

Just made the front panel of this card about 3.25 in wide by cutting off 1/2 inch from each edge at the fold.

Totally CASED this one from a card I saw on Pinterest.  Cut out the numbers with the Cameo.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.  Sorry I'm not very chatty today...still trying to shake this fever...Until next time...

Hugs!

(but I won't breathe on you because you sure don't want whatever it is I have!)

Zendala Dare 29

This week's challenge from Erin at The Bright Owl blog is to create a zendala using the following template:

Here's my take on this template...

The actual tile size is approximately 6 x 6.  I love how this one turned out.

This next one I just thought I'd share.  I generally tangle at night while watching television (I love to multi-task).  I had no idea where this was headed when I started, but it's different...and I kinda like it!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Your comments are always appreciated! Until next time...

Hugs!

LIM91 - Sketch Challenge

The Less is More Challenge for this week is hosted again by Chrissie.  I'm sure Mandi must be exhausted trying to get everything just right with the new wedding business!  Chrissie has given us a great sketch to work with this week and as usual, I have more than the one card to share with you. 

This week's sketch consists of band down the card which in turn is sub-divided into three sections. We can add a sentiment or the sketch can be rotated if that orientation. Here's the sketch we're working with this week: 

 

And here's my take(s) on the sketch:

This is the first card I made for this week's challenge.  I stamped my image (not sure, but I think it might be an Inkadinkado stamp set) in black archival ink. The image is actually much larger than this, so I had to cut off parts of the side of the image after stamping it on the white card stock.  I sponged the sky with three colors of DI (stormy skies, spiced marmalade, and spun sugar), then I colored parts of the image with Copics.  After getting everything colored, I cut the image in three equal pieces and layered it directly to the card base.  The sentiment is from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps.

Looks like I had my mind on boats, and sailing this week! This is my second card and for this card I tried something I've been meaning to try for a while.  After stamping my image (Sweet 'n Sassy stamps), I trimmed some off each side of the stamped image.  I masked off the moon, and sponged ink for the sky.  I cut the image into three equal pieces and then coated each of the pieces in distress crackle paint - clear rock candy.  In hindsight, I should have painted the crackle paint on the colored image before cutting it apart.  Painting each of these small pieces was a pain...and when they dried they curly up into tubes, so I had to get the to straighten out.  I hope you can see the crackly finish on the image...it's really cool and kind of feels like leather. The sentiment is from PTI and is stamped in black.

Not through with the boating/water images yet!  I recently picked up this stamp from Hobby Art.  I ordered it, so I wasn't aware that it was such a small stamp...but it was perfect for this sketch.  I stamped it three times across a piece of white card stock, then cut it into three section after coloring.  I sponged the sky with DI, but the water and boats were colored with Copics.  I layered the pieces onto a matching piece of card stock, then adhered it to the card base.  The sentiment is from PTI.

And last but not least, another Christmas card for my stash.  Very simple.  Cut three green rectangles in two different shades of green and layered them.  Cute the poinsettia with a Spellbinder die and hand cut the leaves.  I did score and fold the leaves a bit to give them some dimension.  I added three pieces of yellow/gold bling to the centers of the poinsettias.  The sentiment is from Flourishes and was stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.

That's all for me today.  Thanks so much for stopping by! I do appreciate your visits and your comments! Until next time...

Hugs!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 76

I've never played along with the CAS-ual Friday challenge.  This week's challenge is to create a clean and simple (CAS) card using Kraft.  One of my favorite color combinations is Kraft and white, so I whipped up this card in about 10 minutes....can't get much more CAS than this!

I cut a Kraft panel slightly smaller than the 5.50 x 4.25 inch card base and backed it with a piece of white card stock. I cut a 1/4 inch strip of dark brown to go across the card, then adhered two leaf stems cut with the MB meadow leaf die.  I looped a jute string around the panel and tied my button on with it.  The sentiment is from PTI.  Super simple...and very quick and easy!  I think this card would be perfect for a guy (and that's a difficult card for me usually!)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate your visit and your comments!  Until next time...

Hugs!