A NEW Challenge at ATCAS

And I am the hostess!  I have chosen this as my code word for the next two weeks.

We have a guest designer with us this week, Nancy Littrell. Make sure you visit the Addicted to CAS blog and link over to her beautiful card to congratulate her and give her some love!  I am in love with her card that she has made for the challenge.  I spy lots of Stampin' Up! on there and you all know that is my favorite! :) 

When I originally chose this code word, I was thinking of the new year, but when I went to make my card, it didn't feel right since we are a few weeks into the new year by now. So I instead decided to make a card for a new mother.  Of all of the women that I know that are pregnant right now, NONE of them are finding out if they are having a boy or a girl. I have been making gender neutral cards and scrapbooks for weeks now, and frankly, it's driving me a little nuts!  So would someone who is reading this please get pregnant and find out the gender to help my sanity? :)  I was inspired by this adorable tag that Mindy Backes made. I just love her work!  Zoo Babies has quickly become my go-to baby set. I am working on a scrapbook for one of my friends right now, and it has taken over the entire book!  Here is the most recent card that I made for the challenge:

The colors that I chose look so blah on my computer screen...hopefully they look better on yours. They looked really good on my camera and in person, so I don't know what the deal is.  The card base is Smoky Slate with Smoky Slate Gorgeous Grunge splotches and streaks stamped on it.

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Happy Day, Zoo Babies

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Soft Sky

I decided to go ahead and do a stepped up version as well. It was actually my CAS card to begin with, but then I just started adding to it and it became not as simple.  In my opinion it's still pretty CAS, but I know some people are really picky about their "white space" being solid and not patterned. :) This is the one that will be accompanying the scrapbook that I made for my friend when we visit her at the hospital. The first card will be a better choice to send in the mail to a long-distance friend.

I just love the Watercolor Notecards that are in the Occasions Catalog, but I don't really make or give notecards so I cut them in half so I get double the use on a standard-sized card.  The animals are stamped on Whisper White and fussy cut out.  I just loved the button that Mindy used on her card, so I had to copy that as well!  I cannot wait to be able to deliver this card!

Stamp Sets: Happy Day, Zoo Babies
Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Soft Sky
Tools: Adorning Accents Edgelits
Accessories: Subtles Collection Buttons, White Baker's Twine