so tweet.....

Getting back into the school groove. I spent the morning with homework and tweeted myself to playing along with the sketch challenge over at Inky Paws! I have to say I am really enjoying these particular challenges lately. 

The team over at Inky Paws manages to create sketches that appeal to my CAS creativity. Not always easy with a sketch.

Today's card uses Newton's Toucan Party set.  This has been one of my "go to" sets. 

I put a nice big googly eye on my toucan to add a bit of whimsey. Everyone needs whimsey!! 

Head over to Inky Paws and see what the DT and others came up with.  

CAS-Friday's "Girlfriend" release at Laura's Loft

Hi everyone! Today is the big reveal at CAS-ual Friday for their "Girlfriend" collection in their SOA (stamp of approval) box! We are SOOOO EXCITED be part of the release at Laura's Loft.

We are celebrating by having a blog hop featuring the various stamps and dies in this awesome collection.

Here is the collection- AWESOME huh?

You should have come to me from Emma's blog

 If you stumbled upon me be sure to go back and check out her creations!

My card today uses the "curtis background" stamp and the "love ya" fri-die. I stamped the curtis background using ruby red, coral berry and frosty pink inks in the Altenew ink set called Red Cosmos that I was able to buy at Laura's Loft.

Well if that wasn't enough inspiration please continue onto Kim's blog.

If you lose your way along the way, here is a list of all hoppers!

Laura- http://www.lauralscott.com/cas-ual-fridays-new-release 
Deana-http://www.designcreativelybling.com/2016/01/cas-ual-fridays-new-release.html
Jasmine- http://journeywithjasmine.blogspot.com/2016/01/cas-ual-fridays-new-release-blog-hop.html
Emma- http://heartofcraft.blogspot.com/2016/01/cas-ual-fridays-with-lauras-loft.html
Sue T.- http://thecre8tivestudio.blogspot.com/2016/01/cas-fridays-girlfriend-release-at.html
Kim - http://angeldreamcrafts.blogspot.com/2016/01/lauras-loft-dt-casual-friday-new.html
Linda G- http://dabblesbylinda.blogspot.com/2016/01/cas-ual-fridays-new-release.html
Lisa - http://royalpumpkinart.blogspot.com/2016/01/cas-ual-fridays-with-lauras-loft.html

After checking out everyone's creations, head on over to Laura's Loft and be one of the first to check out the entire collection and treat yourself and treat your girlfriend!! 

Bon Voyage!

I just got back from walking 3 miles around my neighborhood. I was walking with a friend and we spent the entire time talking about stamping. The time flew by and before I knew it we were done. But wouldn't have been fun if I was in Italy walking around Rome or walking the country side of Tuscany? That got me thinking about trips and traveling. Naturally a bon voyage card began formulating in my mind.

Happy Little Stampers has a CAS challenge asking us to use die-cuts or punches. They are also having a DT call for all their sites- HLS CAS, HLS sketch, and new HLS Christmas challenges which I applying for.  I had so much fun with this month's sketch challenge. (See my entry here.) Naturally, I had to join in on the CAS challenge, especially since I am basically CAS chick at heart!

I used Papertrey Ink's Fly Away set and the matching die set. Haven't matching die sets just changed the course of stamping? No more fussy cutting!! Love those matching dies!! What about you? Do you always buy the matching dies when you buy the stamp sets like me?

My gals over at Just Us Girls have a word week and the word is twine. I love to play along my good buddies when I can and "twine" fit in perfect with my card concept as you can see.

Curtain Call must have been reading my mind when they chose a travel theme for this weeks challenge!

I love it when challenges work together like they did today!

Well that's it for today, I have to get outside and enjoy the sunshine even if it isn't Italy, it is still a beautiful Sunday in the neighborhood>

Time to celebrate!

I know it is only June, but July will be here before you know it and I have several male birthdays to plan for in July. Usually I am scrambling at the last minute to make a card. That is NOT the best time to create! Nancy at Just Us Girls has a sketch challenge this week that is the perfect inspiration for a male card.

Since I have been trying to enter other challenges, I decided to make the same card using the challenge colors over at The Card Concept under the clean and layered category. The twine I used on this card is hand made. I show how here on this blog posting.  I never buy twine any more, I make my own!!

So, head on over to Just Us Girls the other designers take on the sketch. Be sure to show us your creations!

Stamps used: Make A Wish

                     Casual Fridays: Bold Wishes

Basket of blooms

Yesterday, I was able to spend the afternoon with my best buddy, Patricia. We did our craft store run. We hit JoAnnes, A.C. Moore and Michaels with all our coupons. JoAnnes had something I wasn't familar with. ek tools has a selection of textured sheets for punches. I had to have the natural texture sheets, which were a variety of natural woven sheets. 

Well low and behold Addicted to CAS was having a challenge using texture. I knew I had to use my texture sheets! Impression Obsession has a basket die that was perfect to use. I die cut the basket from the woven sheets and filled it with die cut flowers and leaves from Paper Smooches Reflections stamp set. I added more texture by embossing the base card and adding a twine bow.

Less is More is hosting a challenge using dies, so what the hay- I am entering this there also!

What a fun card for two fun challenges!

Back in the House- House of Cards that is!

Welcome back to the great challenges at House of Cards- the FIRST challenge blog to incorporate various stamping styles in their challenges. We are welcoming back some of the original team such as me :) and a big welcome to the new designers that have joined us.

HOC has gone to a biweekly format with each challenge featuring two styles for you to use. For our first challenge of the year we are wetting your creative juices with a sketch.

Clean and simple can sometimes be difficult when you are working from a sketch, so I might have taken a liberty hear with mine. I think it is important when participating in a challenge to try and stay within the parameters of the challenge- sketch, color, etc. That is why it is a challenge. OK just my two cents- feel free to tell me to get lost. :)

This card is for all the great friends I have met through the various challenge teams I am on and have participated in.

Please join us over at HOC and join us in the sketch challenge featuring CAS or classic and elegant styles!

Vintage Christmas sketch

Boy, did I escape from my CAS look with this card! I went totally vintage- something I am not real good at. See this post for more of an explanation. It wasn't that hard though, these great vintage papers from Authentique made it easy. I worked my card around them.

Here is the challenge sketch from Just Us Girls that I was was working from. Fun huh?

I used a stamp from Picture show, they have these whimsical vintage images. I wish I could give you a link, but they never went the online route and only did stamp shows. Unfortunately the last convention i was at they weren't there. Makes me think they went out of business. 

I asked my at home art critic, Mr. George what he thought- immediately he said to busy. He is a real proponent of CAS and can not go outside of his critic beliefs.

My sweet girl Pinkie loved it though.

Please join us at JUGS and show me your take on this great sketch!

Send in the clowns, a circus holiday

How does a photo inspiration challenge jump start your creativity? 

As I was adding my card to the Just Us Girls blog, I got a chance to see what my fellow team members came up with. I was so amazed with their creativity. They really think outside the box! Me? I tend to take these challenges to literally. I can't help it, it is just way my mind thinks.

I liked the results of my card this week, but does have a somewhat "circus holiday" feel. Well, I know a few clowns, I can send this too!! :) Only kidding!

Let me know the photo inspires you. Is it the colors? the patters? the layout? or the images? I can't wait to see what you all come up for this great photo challenge at JUGS

Crossover card...

Last week's technique challenge at Just Us Girls really inspired me, especially after I saw all the cool cards everyone made! I had fun continuing to play with the technique and incorporated this weeks color challenge and last week's challenge. I love this week's color challenge- reds and browns- great holiday colors!

I had such fun with this technique that I made it with red, gold and white.

And I made it in kraft and turquoise.

Which one do you like? Please join us at Just Us Girls this week for this great color challenge!

Exciting News and Happy World Card Making Day!

First off Happy World Card Making Day everyone!! Isn't it great that card makers have their own special day! I hope you all get to spend some time creating today. This is such a big day at my house. I even get flowers from my husband! 

Now the exciting news! I have been invited to join the Just Us Girls Challenge Blog design team!! Every Saturday they have a different challenge. Here is the monthly schedule:

 Week 1: Sketch

        Week 2: Technique

Week 3: Color

                  Week 4: Photo Inspiration

        Week 5: Wild Card

This week is a sketch challenge. I took a few liberties with the sketch. I hope I don't get booted off the team for bucking the system right from the start. There is a reason for my madness, that I hope will put me back in my teams good graces.

It seems a wee birdie told me it is Just Us Girls (JUGS for those in the know:)) 4th birthday. So for my first challenge card, I knew it had to be a birthday card and I had to have 4 macaroons. One for each year! Am I forgiven girls? 

I used a great set from Avery Elle called Bonjour. Oh the possibilities!

This card features some tips and techniques that i find myself using over and over again. Have you ever pulled a sentiment from your stash, to find it does't fit the space you have? If you have acrylic stamps, do what I do. Just carefully cut up the sentiments into individual words and rearrange them to fit your card. I have been doing this for years. it makes your sentiments much more versatile.

Here is the original saying. (sorry for bad photo.)

Here it is cut up. as you can see from my card, I made the saying into one line.

My technique is making your own baker's twine. How often do you make a card and you don't have any twine to match your card? This used to happen to me all the time. I adapted this technique to make my own from this video.

  

I start with plain baker's twine and a piece of chipboard 3 inches wide. The length doesn't matter.  I put a notch at the beginning and the end to hold the twine and I wrap it around the chip board.

Next using any kind of permanent marker, color diagonal stripes over the twine. put on several layers of 

color, make sure you cover both sides of the chipboard.

Unwrap the twine and you have your own custom baker's twine.

Please join us at JUGS to celebrate their birthday and World Card Making Day! Our sponsor this week is A Walk Down Memory Lane. they will be offering a $15.00 gift certificate.