A new challenge at ATSM! :)

Kylie has decided to replace our color challenges at Addicted to Stamps and More with a brand new challenge...

Challenge #73 - HOLIDAY

I was pretty excited about this challenge because holiday can pretty much mean anything!  I decided to use the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch for my card. 

I had to get out my Stamp-a-ma-jig for this one because I wanted my Santa to be standing right on the T of "Christmas." 

The Christmas bulbs were an idea my dear friend and downline Aimee Cretsinger had last year when the Holiday Ornament Framelits were first introduced.  I just love them!  I decided to give them a little glow and used my sponge daubers to add some Daffodil Delight ink to the cardstock.  

Stamp Sets: Sassy Salutations, Tag It

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Pacific Point, Real Red

Tools: Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Envelope Punch Board

Accessories: Silver Cord, Silver Glimmer Paper, Dimensionals 

Mail Me Monday

It's been a while since I've done one of these but I made the perfect mailable card today for the occasion! I used the inspiration from this gorgeous photo inspiration challenge at Stampin' Royalty:

   

I just loved the color blocking and the mosaics in this picture. OH! And the COLORS!  I think the whole thing is just amazing.

I inked up my clear blocks to do my background. This is one of my favorite techniques for making a quick and colorful background.  I once again chose to use Endless Wishes. It's amazing how many people I see wanting this stamp set now that it is no longer available!  In the future, if Stampin' Up! comes out with a photopolymer stamp set that you are in love with, order it immediately because they are only available until they sell out. We were lucky this time around because they did one reorder!

Stamp Sets: Endless Wishes, Mosaic Madness

Cardstock: Pistachio Pudding, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, Pistachio Pudding

Tools: Mosaic Punch, blocks

Accessories: Brights Candy Dots, Dimensionals 

Double the Fun

Stampin' Celebration has two challenges going on right now, so I decided to do one card using both of them! One of the challenges is a sketch and the other is a picture inspiration.

I knew right away that I wanted to use an owl, Crushed Curry, birchwood and chevron from the inspiration photo. 

I thought this sentiment from Happy Day was just perfect for the owl peeking out of the hole. He looks like he is just peeking out to say hello, don't you think? It's been a while since I've used this punch but he is oh so cute.  

Stamp Set: Happy Day

Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso

Tools: Chevron and Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Circles Collection Framelits, Decorative Label Punch

Accessories: Burlap Ribbon, Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit

Babies, babies EVERYWHERE!

Since I am past the point in my life where I am having babies, I have to admit it makes me a little jealous when I see everyone else having babies!  I have learned that yet another friend is pregnant.  Now, I know I'm not too old to have another baby, but Brett says three is plenty. I have to admit, it is so nice to be past the diaper changing and sleepless nights!  My kids are all very self sufficient and use the potty on their own, get themselves dressed, feed themselves...it IS pretty nice! lol Nonetheless, it is sad to think that that time of my life is over.  It IS fun to be able to make baby cards though and I decided to make another one for the challenges at Pals Paper Arts and colourQ.

Two of the couples are not finding out what they are having and I'm not sure about the third, so I thought these were great color choices that could go either way.

I just LOVE Zoo Babies and couldn't resist using it again for a baby card.  I think the animals look so cute in unexpected colors.  I loved ruffling the Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon. It is so easy to do. Just pull a strand from the center and push the rest of the ribbon in the opposite direction.  It's one of my favorite ribbon techniques!

Stamp Set: Zoo Babies

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Sweater Weather DSP, Pearls, Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, Dimensionals

Addicted to CAS...Pet!

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to Clean and Simple!

I used a simple sketch from Freshly Made Sketches for my card.

I looked through my stamp sets and found next to nothing that would work with this code word. I have Zoo Babies, but they aren't really pets. I was going to use one anyway because that is as close as I could get, but then I remembered the cute little iguana from Tag It and I decided that is closer to a pet. lol

I found the majority of this Tag a Bag Accessory Kit that we had used at Convention and thought it would make a fast little focal point for my card.  I had fun coloring the stamp in with my markers...I don't do that very often!  Since my tag was a little detailed, I decided I must leave the rest of my card fairly simple to fit with our CAS requirement. I stamped the polka dot stamp from one of the MPP kits (the one with the banners that were supposed to be a cake topper...I made mine into scrapbook titles though!) once on each end and then centered a piece of Tangerine Tango cardstock.

Stamp Set: Tag It, Party Pennants (MPP Kit Polka Dot Stamp)
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Tag a Bag Accessory Kit, Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals 

Dark and Dreary Day...Part Two

The second card I have to share today is a Christmas card. I used the "Let it Snow" challenge at SUO Challenges and the challenge at Less is More to use DSP in a CAS way.

I had seen someone else do these little triangle trees in green cardstock and I thought they were adorable. I thought they would look just as good in DSP and they do!  I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink to make them stand out a little. The chevron tree is on Dimensionals and then I wrapped the Baker's Twine around the whole panel.  I couldn't resist using the snowflakes and sentiment from Endless Wishes. I just love that set!  For my star, I cut one of the silver stars from my Noel MPP kit and inked it with Cherry Cobbler ink to fit my color scheme.

Stamps: Endless Wishes
Cardstock: Crumb Cake
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green
Accessories: Star from Noel MPP kit, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Season of Style DSP stack, Dimensionals

Dark and Dreary Day

Well today was one of those dark and rainy days where I woke up feeling sick and didn't feel like doing a thing. It didn't help that Easton has been sick for a few days and wanted me to snuggle with me. Not that I was opposed to that at all! :) Finally around 1:00 I decided if I wasn't going to be productive around the house, I might as well be productive in my stamping studio and I managed to do two cards in not very much time at all!  The first I have to share is a fall card. I used the color challenge at Create with Connie and Mary  and the Paper Players challenge.

I thought this would be a good time to make a thanksgiving card to show someone my appreciation for them!

I went to my cardstock files to see what I had (I am running low because all of the new Stampin' Up! goodies seem to pushing cardstock to the bottom of my list!) and I found this perfectly embossed Always Artichoke scrap!  I die cut it with the Label Framelit and then stamped a variety of "thanks" inside in Tangerine Tango and Always Artichoke. I finished it off with a fussy cut leaf from Gently Falling.

Stamp Sets: Itty Bitty Banners, Gently Falling, Oh Hello, Fabulous Phrases, Gifts of Kindness

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand

Ink: Always Artichoke, Tangerine Tango

Tools: Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Label Framelits

Accessories: Dimensionals

Elegant Christmas

The colors at Dynamic Duos this week are just perfect for an elegant Christmas card!

I had some leftover Silver Glimmer Paper with the negative "merry" from last Friday's Stamp Camp, and it worked perfect with this sketch from retro sketches:

I started by stamping my card base with the the now sold out Endless Wishes. I love this set and I'm so glad I got my hands on it in time!  For my background I stamped the snowflakes first in Black StazOn ink and then Silver Encore ink.

My StazOn ink pad is getting kind of dry, but I liked the way it wasn't quite full strength.  The "Christmas" is stamped on Vellum Cardstock and adhered at the top behind the "Merry." The smallest snowflakes are stamped in Silver Encore ink and then punched out with the 3/4" Circle Punch. I put a dot of Tombow multi glue in the center of each one to adhere them down and then put a rhinestone in each center for some additional bling.

Stamp Sets: Endless Wishes, More Merry Messages

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Silver Glimmer, Vellum 

Ink: Basic Black, Black StazOn, Silver Encore

Tools: Expressions Framelits, 3/4" Circle Punch

Accessories: Rhinestones

Happy Birthday, Anne Marie!

It's Anne Marie's birthday over at Dynamic Duos, so the design team over there has asked us to all join in and make her a birthday card!  Yay!  Happy birthday, Anne Marie!  I used the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! to get me started.

We were told that Anne Marie likes pink and bling, among a list of other things, but those are the things that I chose to go with.

I started by weaving some ribbon that I attached to a scrap of cardstock. I then die cut the front panel and adhered it over the woven ribbon with Dimensionals. I wrapped the edges with Sticky Strip and also die cut a Sticky Strip heart and covered those with Silver Glass Glitter. It looks much "blingier" in real life. :) I also added some rhinestones around my sentiment. They always end up looking like pearls in my picture! grrrr :)

Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake

Cardstock: Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White

Ink: Raspberry Ripple

Tools: Hearts Collection Framelits

Accessories: Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon, Silver Glass Glitter, Rhinestones, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Make Your Mark at ATSM

After seeing a few beautiful sunsets this past week, I decided I wanted to give my try at one for the Make Your Mark challenge this week at Addicted to Stamps and More!  

I used my aqua painter and the ink from the inside of my ink pads to color my strips of color for my sunset on watercolor paper.  I only had two small sheets left so luckily it looked okay on my first try! :) I then stamped my trees in Early Early Espresso and added leaves with a variety of different colors of markers. I also added some on the ground, which I then colored over with my aqua painter to blend them into the ground a little bit. The corner are little button brads and the border is Early Espresso Core'dinations embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and then sanded. The sentiment is from Blessings from Heaven and the card base is Very Vanilla.

Loving the November My Paper Pumpkin!

My November My Paper Pumpkin arrived yesterday and I just LOVE it! It is definitely my favorite one so far and I am glad I have stuck with it. I am in love with the cute strings of stitched stars and made sure to use them sparingly so I would have some left over for other projects. I used this simple sketch at Freshly Made Sketches for a quick holiday card:

The sentiment from the Noel kit also worked well for this sketch, as it is long and skinny.

I stamped the sentiment and then decided to add the stars in silver. It still looked a little empty so I hand cut a banner and used the negative to sponge in over the sentiment so it wasn't just hanging in space.  The stars just take a dab of Tombow Multi glue on the back of each one to secure them in place.  I don't have a sewing machine (nor do I hand sew!) so I just adore these and wish we would sell something similar!

Stamp Sets: Noel (November MPP)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Real Red, Silver Encore

Tools: Sponge

Accessories: Stitched Stars (November MPP) 

Falling back to Fall

I keep getting ahead of myself and seem to be doing a lot of Christmas cards. When I woke up Saturday morning, I felt the NEED to make a fall card. Like it was going to be too late soon, so I just HAD to make one. lol Never mind about my usual Fly Lady morning routine...I went straight to work on my card before it was too late. ;)  I used the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts and the sketch at Create with Connie and Mary.

This isn't really a traditional fall color combination, but I thought it would look nice anyway. :) 

I started by making my own DSP panel. I stamped Very Vanilla cardstock with the leaves, then added Off the Grid and Gorgeous Grunge splotches. It looked to clean though, so I wet the cardstock and wrinkled it up. I then opened it up and sponged Crumb Cake ink over it. Since this panel was so detailed, I wanted to keep the other panel simple and just embossed it with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and sponged it with Crumb Cake ink. I pierced holes in the top and bottom of the card and embossed part of my sentiment banner with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder for even more texture.  The banner and fussy cut leaf are both on Dimensionals as well. 

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid, Perfectly Penned

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla

Ink: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry

Tools: Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Sponge, Piercing tool and mat

Accessories: Dimensionals 

Sweet Simplicity

I just love being able to create a card in under ten minutes, don't you? I had my stamp room completely cleaned up and ready for tomorrow night's Stamp Camp, but I REALLY wanted to make a card.  I found the perfect challenge at Less Is More: One Layer Thank You Card.  I paired it with the color challenge at The Paper Players.

I knew that I would have to use some sponging and Gorgeous Grunge on my one layer card. Those are my specialties when making a quick card. :) 

I first sponged Crushed Curry and Tangerine Tango in a diagonal on my card.  I then added some elements from Gorgeous Grunge in all three colors and the sentiment in Chocolate Chip.  I then decided I wanted it to have a little bit more of a fall flare and added some leaf outlines over the top in a diagonal.  So easy but I am in LOVE with the results!  This Thank You stamp is just perfect for making a one layer card. I would love to see other sentiments in this large font!

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Gorgeous Grunge, Another Thank You 

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango

Tools: Sponge

Hello, Baby

I am SOOOO excited to finally have an excuse to make a baby card!  It has been a while and I now have TWO friends who are expecting.  Yay!!!  I just had to get Zoo Babies when it was on special a few weeks ago and decided to make my first baby card for our Anything Goes challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  Neither mother is going to find out if it is a boy or girl ahead of time, so I thought the colors and Hand Stamped Sentiments would work perfectly for a gender neutral card. I also used this fabulous sketch from retro sketches.

       

As soon as I saw this sketch, all I could see was doilies, and luckily I have a few left!  I am going to have to get another pack of those suckers...I am running low!

I sure have gotten my use out of the Season Of Style DSP stack. This Crumb Cake sheet is particularly versatile, I think.  I had fun coloring the little lion with the different colors. It's hard to see from my photo, but I did get the Blushing Bride in there for his ears and nose!  

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Zoo Babies

Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Ink: Blushing Bride, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Soft Sky

Tools: Perfect Pennants Bigz Die, Circles Collection Framelits

Accessories: Doily, Rhinestone, Subtles Candy Dots, Dimensionals, Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Ribbon

Christmas Star

Here is a sneak peek at one of the cards we will be making at Stamp Camp this Friday. I used the colors from the challenge at Create with Connie and Mary.

I just love this big single star stamp that Stampin' Up! introduced just in time for Christmas cards this year.

It looks so much better in person. My photo editor just does not do the Coastal Cabana justice!  Or perhaps it is the operator of the photo editor. lol  I thought the star looked great paired with the "Christmas wishes" sentiment. Each word is separate in the Photopolymer stamp set Endless Wishes so you can create your own greetings. I just LOVE the font of it too.

Stamp Sets: Christmas Star, Endless Wishes
Cardstock: Real Red, Smoky Slate, Whisper White
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Real Red
Tools: Petals-a-Plenty EF
Accessories: Rhinestones, Silver Elastic Cord

Forgetting Fall

I have been working on so many Christmas cards, scrapbook pages, etc. that I have almost completely forgotten about fall!  When I saw the colors at Stampin' Royalty though, I decided they would be perfect for a fall card.  I also used the sketch at Create with Connie and Mary.

I figure I have less than a month left for making fall cards, so I better make some while there is still time! :)

I started by making my own background DSP with the woodgrain stamp in the Truly Grateful stamp set and the splotches from Gorgeous Grunge. I then sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  I did a bit of fussy cutting on the wheat bundle as well as the sentiment since I don't have the coordinating punch yet. The sentiment is popped up on some Dimensionals and I added a few pearls to complete it.  

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Tags 4 You, Truly Grateful

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Raspberry Ripple, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit

Tools: Square Lattice EF, Sponge

Accessories: Pearls, Dimensionals 

ATCAS One Year Anniversary!

It's the one year anniversary at Addicted to CAS!  Congratulations on a fantastic year, Kylie!  I actually had to check back and see if I was on the design team from the beginning. I thought I was, but I can hardly believe that it has been a full year!  It really has flown by and I have loved being on the team.  The code word this week is quite fitting for the occasion:

I also used the layout from Freshly Made Sketches for my card.

Would you believe that I don't have a single stamp that simply says "Happy Anniversary" so I had to use a sentiment that I thought would be fitting for an anniversary card.

I am loving these tags from Chalk Talk.  I layered the sentiment over the tag with Dimensionals.  Gorgeous Grunge makes a really fast and simple background. I haven't used it for a week or so, and it was feeling neglected so I just had to use it. :) My parents anniversary is next week so I now have a card finished ahead of time for a change! 

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Yippee Skippee

Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Black StazOn

Tools: Chalk Talk Framelits

Accessories: Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Ribbon, Rhinestones

Chevrons, Chevrons Everywhere

I was really excited to see the challenge at The Friday Mashup! this week.  It is to create a card with chevrons and/or to use the sketch. I just so happen to love chevrons at the moment, especially since I recently purchased the Chevron Border Punch! Fun, fun, fun! :)

I also used the Favorite Sentiment challenge from SUO Challenges and the color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary. 

I decided to make a card for my bestie Steph.  This started out very plain so I added a few things to make it a bit more fun.

I added the little hearts from Map it Out to the Season of Style DSP. At first I had a complete row of chevrons at the bottom and then I decided to make it look like more of an arrow. Then I thought it needed a few more hearts to bring it all together. I looked through all of my punches and found this cute little heart on the Owl Builder Punch!  That strip is popped up on Dimensionals.  Can't wait to give this card to Steph tomorrow when she comes to craft with me. She is SUCH a good friend to me and I appreciate her so much!

Stamp Sets: Feel Goods, Map It Out

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Tools: Owl Builder Punch, Chevron Border Punch, Circle Framelits, Lattice Embossing Folder

Accessories: Season of Style DSP stack, Dimensionals

Addicted to Stamps...Holiday Ornaments

Today is another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  It's one of my favorites...a photo inspiration challenge!

 

I have been wanting to use Lyssa's Irregular Sunburst Technique on a card and thought it would look beautiful with the Winter Frost DSP stack.  

I couldn't find the perfect sentiment so I used my markers to just ink up the "Merry" from Merry Little Christmas and then the "Christmas." It actually worked pretty good!  I got a few light marks from the other words, so I fixed that by stamping off some snowflakes and stamping them on my tag.  

Stamp Set: Merry Little Christmas, Snow Day

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Brushed Silver, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Tools: Holiday Ornament Framelits, Circle Punch, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder

Accessories: Rhinestones, Winter Frost DSP stack, Dimensionals

Faux Frame

It's time for another challenge at Technique Time Tuesday!  This month the challenge is to use the Faux Frame technique on your project.  Dawn Olchefske has a wonderful tutorial here on her website. I had never tried this one before but it was super easy!

I have been seeing a lot of these excited snowmen in blog land and just had to try one myself!  I love the way he has his head thrown back in the air, like he is SO excited he can hardly contain himself. :) I made my banner using the photopolymer stamp set Designer Typeset. It's nice because it bends so I was able to form the pennants to fit the snowman's hands.

Make sure you stop by Technique Time Tuesday to check out the rest of the design team's beautiful cards and to link up your own faux frame creation. There's a great prize up for grabs for the winning project this month!

Stamp Sets: Designer Typeset, Snow Day
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Soft Sky, Tangerine Tango
Tools: Label Framelits, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Sponge
Accessories: Season of Style Paper Stack, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals