Sunshine & Rainbows

Ah, Friday, so good to see you again!  And to celebrate I have a bright and cheerful card.  This week at Colour Me…! we can use up to 5 colours of our choice.  I've used 5 colours here including 4 of the current Stampin' Up In Colours - Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, So Saffron, Pistachio Pudding, and Coastal Cabana.  Despite the fact that I have the cute Lil' Inkers rainbow die, this rainbow was actually created from an off cut (from this card) that's been sitting on my desk for ages.  It pays not to throw those scraps away!  I hope you're having a lovely day and that you weekend is all sunshine and rainbows!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, So Saffron, Pistachio Pudding, and Coastal Cabana) Stampin' Up

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Rainbow & Cloud Sentiments) Lil' Inker
Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Stitched circles, Small Sun) Lil' Inker

Embossing Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) Papertrey Ink
Gems:  Recollections  

CAS(E) This Sketch #62

Welcome to Week 62 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  Take a look at this week's sketch designed by Chrissy Larson:

This sketch gave me the perfect opportunity to break out the Tech Talk set from CAS-ual Fridays - NBUS alert!!!  I love when a sketch speaks that clearly to me.  No fussing and faffing about - I can just get down to work.  What does this sketch say to you?  Check out the gorgeous designs by the rest of the design team and then show us your stuff!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Snippets 6x6) Studio Calico
Stamps:  (Computer keys from Tech Talk) Cas-ual Fridays
Inks:  (Butter Bar, Soft Granite) Hero Arts
Gems:  Recollections

Hearts Banner

More love and more pink today!  I'm playing along with Seize the Sketch and the banner made me think of these Purple Onion Designs hearts.  I love their sweet and doodley feel.  In fact all the Stephanie Ackerman designs at POD are super cute!  I used some Echo Park paper and felt very virtuous about dipping into my stash.  (Cue halo, spotlight and choir!)  Now I just need to keep up the trend…

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Love Story 6x6) Echo Park

Stamps:  (Hearts) Purple Onion Designs, (Sentiment from SMitten) Mama Elephant

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Punch:  (corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Gems:  Recollections

CASology #80

Welcome to Week 80 of CASology!  Here's the cue word for this week:

I know a lot of people found last week's cue word to be a bit of a head scratcher but this week's leaves the possibilities wide open.  Just remember to keep it CAS!  Check out the rest of the purpliciouness created by the DT gals and then get to work!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

Joyce Mehrberg

May Sukyong Park

And this week's guest designer:

Toni

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 2 February.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Perfect Plum, Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Flower from In Bloom) Papertrey Ink, (Sentiment from Heartsong 2) Skipping Stones Designs

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Perfect Plum) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Die:  (Nesties Labels One) Spellbinders

Marker:  (V95) Copic

Gems:  Recollections

Love Love Love

Good morning, all!  Another Monday has arrived and I'm joining you to share a card for the   first Mama Elephant Challenge of the year.  It's a photo inspiration challenge this time and boy is there a lot of pink and sparkles going on here! I focused on the pinks for my card and added sparkle in the form of Stickles and a few gems.  This was a tricky one to photograph what with the glitter and the embossing.  Not my best picture but it will have to do.  Hope your week is off to a good start!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Primrose Petals) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Balloons from Up and Away, Sentiment from Smitten) Mama Elephant

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Die:  (Nesties Long Classic Rectangles Large) Spellbinders

Punch:  (1/16" punch) McGill

Embroidery Floss:  (Black) Janlynn

Markers:  (R85, R32, R20, RV34, RV23, RV21) Copic

Stickles:  (Cotton Candy, Fruit Punch, Pink, Magenta, Star Dust) Ranger

Gems:  Recollections

CAS-ual Sympathy

Popping in quickly this morning with an entry for the CAS-ual Fridays colour block challenge.  I christened a new (to me) CAS-ual Fridays  vine stamp and paired it with another Avery Elle sentiment.  I can't stop using these!  (Sorry, Lynn!). I even braved embossing on vellum.  Love the effect.  I was always afraid I'd burn the vellum but miraculously there were no Craft Cave fires to attend to!  LOL!  Hope you're all having a lovely weekend and are staying warm or cool depending on your hemisphere!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Rustic Cream) Papertrey Ink, (Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green, Garden Green) Stampin' Up

Vellum:  Strathmore

Stamps:  (Leaves from Casual Elegance) CAS-ual Fridays, (Sentiment from Oh Happy Day) Avery Elle

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Cup o' Joe) Hero Arts

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Gems:  Recollections

Fusion Blooms

How pretty is this week's Fusion picture?  I love the yellow and grey against that light woodgrain and took that as my main inspiration (I wasn't really feeling the sketch this week).  I've been looking for a reason to use my new Sweet Stamp Shop Elegant Bloom flowers and this was the perfect opportunity! I love that Papertrey Ink tag and don't use it enough so I broke it out and gave it some love.  I know there's no turquoise in the picture but I'm going a little rogue - that paper just called out to me as I flipped through the pad.  Can't wait to go and see the rest of the entries - it's always a gorgeous gallery!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Yellow from Essentials 6x6) Authentique, (Herringbone, woodgrain & turquoise from Dolled Up 6x6, Grey from Indie Chic Saffron 6x6) My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  (Flowers from Elegant Blooms) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Sentiment from Sentiment Sampler) Market Street Stamps

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Dies:  (Tag Sale #3) Papertrey Ink, (Tilted Banners) Simon Says Stamp

SMOOches

Good moooorning!  Tee hee!  Sorry - couldn't resist!  :D Chubby Chums was one of the very first sets released by Paper Smooches and it's still one of my favourites.  All the animals in the set are adorable and I especially love the slightly stunned expression on this cow's face. Maybe he's nervous about giving this love letter to his sweetheart.  ;) 

With this card I'm playing along with Curtain Call's Love Letter challenge and the Lovey Dovey challenge at CAS on Sunday.  Hopefully those big pleading eyes will sway the hearts of the judges!  LOL!  Have a wonderful day!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Cow & sentiment from Chubby Chums) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Real Red) Stampin' Up

Die:  (Envelope) WPlus9

Markers:  (E29, E33, RV10) Copic

Gems:  Recollections

Brie Mine

Time for some more punny goodness - this time of the Valentine's sort!  :D  I'm still having fun with this cheesy stamp set from Newton's Nook.  On this card the the little mouse is declaring his love!  Tee hee!  I'm going to enter this into two challenges - the Paper Players One-Layer Valentine challenge and the CAS on Sunday Lovey Dovey challenge.  (Sorry for the awful photo - I waited way too late at night to take it!).

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K.

Stamps:  (All from Just Say Cheese) Newton's Nook

Ink:  (Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Markers:  (R20, R29, E50, C-3, C-5) Copic

CAS(E) This Sketch #61

Welcome to Week 61 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  Take a look at this week's sketch by Julie Day:

I went pretty literal with this one and used a new (to me) CASual Fridays stamp.  I am also really loving these Avery Elle sentiments.  That font is so fun!  How will you interpret the sketch?  Will you go literal or will it send you off in a wild direction?  Either way I can't wait to see!  Before you start though be sure and check out the fabulous creations by the rest of the design team - you won't be disappointed!  

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Strawberry Slush, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Trees from Calm & Gentle) Cas-ual Fridays, (Sentiment from Oh Happy Day) Avery Elle

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar) Stampin' Up, (Green Hills) Hero Arts

Dies:  (Stitched Squares) Lil' Inker Designs, (Nesties Classic Squares Large) Spellbinders

Embossing Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) Papertrey Ink

Glitter:  (Fruit Punch Stickles) Ranger

Gems:  Recollections

Oh Crap!

I'm so sorry but I just couldn't resist making this card.  This was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Ink Splash stamp from Neat & Tangled.  (My apologies, Danielle!)  My first attempt only used white ink for the… um… "accident" but it didn't look quite right so I did some experimenting with adding some brown and grey and thought this looked a bit more realistic!  :D  What did we do before we had Google to show us what everything looks like?  (Although given the joy the seagulls seem to be taking in decorating our dock I wouldn't have had to look far for true inspiration.  But I digress…) I am gleefully entering this in the One-Layer challenge at Little Tangles and also the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge:  Restocking the Shelves.  I always need birthday cards but what I need even more than that are belated birthday cards and this fits the bill perfectly with the right sentiment on the inside.  ;)

ETA:  Tracey pointed out the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is Let's Have a Laugh which would fit perfectly with my card so I'm going to enter it over there.  Thanks, Tracey!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Ink Splash) Neat & Tangled, (Sentiment from Alpha Tabs) Sweet Stamp Shop
Inks:  (Real Red) Stampin' Up, (Memento London Fog, Memento Rich Cocoa) Tsukineko, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink

Retro Duos

Hi there! I've got a two for one challenge card this evening. I used the colours from Dynamic Duos and the sketch from RetroSketches.  I found these colours a little tricky so I broke them up with quite a bit of white.  I used a Sweet Stamp Shop stamp for the embossed hearts in the background and an Avery Elle sentiment stamp.  I was inspired by the scored lines on Laurie's card and added some to give my white panels a little more texture and interest.  Hope you've all had a lovely day!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pink Pirouette, Pool Party) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Hearts from Drops Background) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Sentiment from Oh Happy Day) Avery Elle

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Die:  (Heart Prints) Papertrey Ink

Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Gems:  (Cupcake assortment) Doodlebug

CASology #79

Welcome to Week 79 of CASology!  Take a look at this week's cue word:

I am really interested to see what everyone does with the cue word this week.  There are lots of ways to interpret it:  contrasting colours, the contrast of light and dark, etc.  The CASology team have created two cards for this week - a CAS card and a not CAS card - a CASology contrast!  Here's my not CAS card:

As you can see I used the same layout and basic design but this card has a lot more going on than the first card.  There are several layers, a number of different patterned papers and lots of gems.  It is very busy and decidedly not CAS!  The first card has plenty of white space, a repeated image and only one colour - all very CAS elements.  Now it's your turn to show us some contrast.  Check out the gorgeous designs by the rest of the DT and then play along!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

Joyce Mehrberg

May Sukyong Park

And this week's guest designer:

~amy~

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 26 January.

Supplies Used:

CAS Card

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Strawberry Slush) Stampin' Up

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Oh Happy Day) Avery Elle

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Flower Trio) My Favourite Things

Gems:  Recollections

Non-CAS Card

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (My Girl 6x6) American Crafts

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Oh Happy Day) Avery Elle

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Flower Trio) My Favourite Things

Punches:  (1/8" & 1/4" hole punches) McGill

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Gratitude Bear

Hi there!  A regular client of mine recently asked me to make some thank you cards as a gift for her friend who is expecting a baby boy.  She figures it's something the new mum will need but have no time to go shopping for.  :)  She said they could all be the same design but I'm going to try and make a few different ones.  My first design was inspired by this week's CAS(E) Study challenge - another gorgeous design by Donna Mikasa. I stamped and embossed the Hero Arts teddy bear onto the card base.  Then I used the negative of one of Papertrey Ink's Half and Half dies and sponged it with Tumbled Glass and Peacock Feather Distress Inks. Finally I added a sentiment, some gems and voila! Because the this is the first time I used the teddy bear stamp (and the sentiment stamp) I'm going to enter this into the New Year, New Stash challenge at A Blog Named Hero.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamp:  (Bear from New Baby) Hero Arts, (Sentiment from Many Thanks) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up, (Tubled Glass, Peacock Feather Distress Inks) Ranger

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Die:  (Half and Half collection) Papertrey Ink

Gems:  Recollections

Layered Bloom

Hello to a new week! I'm playing along with another new (to me) challenge today. I've always been a fan of colour challenges and when I saw the graphic for Colour Me…! on a few blogs I decided to check it out.  The soft colour palette made me think of flowers so I pulled out these Paper Smooches flower and leaf dies.  I love the vellum leaves Deepti used here and wanted to try something similar.  The sentiment is by Hero Arts and that and the dies are all NBUS!  I'm also going to enter this card in the PS Sparks Anything Goes challenge.  Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up

Vellum:  (Yellow) Strathmore

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Hip Hip Hooray) Hero Arts

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Big Bloom, Loopy Leaf) Paper Smooches

Punches:  (1/16", 1/8", 1/4" hole punches) McGill, (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Marker:  (Pink Pirouette) Stampin' Up

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Fan-Freakin-Tastic

Hello, Bloggie Friends!  I hope you've been having a FANtastic weekend!  I've got a card here for the current ColourQ challenge.  I love this fun Spin Me set from Sweet Stamp Shop - more puny sentiments!  I thought the colors would make a good masculine card and you can never have too many birthday cards can you?  Off to take Atticus for a swim now.  He's standing in the doorway with one of my water shoes in his mouth!  Nothing like a big hint huh??

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Pure Poppy, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Letters & birthday from Alpa Tabs, Fan & sentiment from Spin Me) Sweet Stamp Shop

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies: (Double Ended Banner) Papertrey Ink

Punch:  (5/16" hole punch) McGill

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Big Cheese

Good morning, Saturday, I'm so happy to see you! I'm starting out the weekend with a card for the current Muse challenge.  Our inspiration card is provided by the always fabulous Therese Calvird. Her designs are gorgeous and she's especially awesome in the coloring department as you can see from her sweet cupcakes here.  As well as her coloring I was inspired by the masked row of images. I'm usually too lazy to do much masking as it does take a bit of effort but I wanted to give it a go this time.  Instead of a sweet image though I went for savory!  I broke out my Newton's Nook stamps for the first time here.  Despite the fact that I'm really not a big fan of cheese I had to have this set for all the puns it had.  Love me a puny sentiment!  I actually had to Google different cheese to figure out how to colour them though - that's how much of a cheese fan that I am not!  LOL!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Just Say Cheese) Newton's Nook
Inks:  (VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow!
Markers:  (Y21, Y17, E50, C-1) Copic

The Card Concept

There's a new card challenge in town!  The Card Concept offers a challenge (this week it's a colour challenge) and asks you to make a card using one of the 6 design styles explained here.  Most of my designs tend to be Clean and Simple (CAS) although I occasionally veer off into Clean and Layered or Clean and Graphic.  I would say this card is CAS (although it wouldn't take much more to push it into the Clean and Layered category I don't think).  The flower image is from The Craft's Meow and the sentiment is from Market Street Stamps.  Unfortunately both these companies have closed up shop.  So sad when good companies say goodbye.  :(

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Flower from Flower Garden) The Craft's Meow, (Sentiment from Simple Salutations) Market Street Stamps

Ink:  (Regal Rose, Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Wavy border from Borders 1) Paper Smooches, (Tilted Banners) Simon Says Stamp

Punch:  (1/8" hole punch) McGill

Other: (Glossy Accents) Ranger