Tuesday, April 29, 2014

CASology #93


Welcome to Week 93 of CASology!  Take a look at this week's cue word:


Okay, I know this looks like a scary word at first (most of the design team were pretty scared of it I think!). Don't panic though - just go wherever it takes you.  You don't have to be totally literal and if you're not just let us know how the cue word led you to your final creation.  In my case the song Electric Slide came into my head immediately upon seeing this word.  I tried very hard to ignore it (and to forget how often we did the dance back in the day!) but it just wouldn't leave me alone.  I am a little short on dancing people stamps (especially Electric Slide dancing people stamps) so I had to get creative.  The sentiment is from Mama Elephant.  The people are from Altenew.  When they face each other they're high fiving.  So I put them back to back and I think they look like they're throwing some pretty cool shapes (translation:  they look like they're dancing!).  I overstamped the people with silver ink which gives them a feeling of movement and adds interest to the image overall.  Over to you now.  Check out the clever design team creations and then get to work!



And this week's guest designer:


Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Strawberry Slush) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (People from Figure Effects) Altenew, Sentiment from Good Times) Mama Elephant
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, Archival Brilliance Platinum Planet) Tsukineko

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Don't Be Blue


I've been pondering The Card Concept's umbrella challenge since it was first posted and finally came up with an idea for it with a little help from the Colour Me…! colours.  Originally I had a solid umbrella paper pieced with shades of blue but I kept looking at the negatives of the umbrella die cuts and thinking there had to be a way to use them.  After some delicate cutting and some playing around I came up with this! Kind of funky and fun.  And as for category - somewhere between CAS and CAG I think!


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Die-Namics Umbrella & Stamp Set) My Favourite Things
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Die-Namics Umbrella & Stamp Set) My Favourite Things
Gem:  Recollections

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Muse Flowers


Hello, Saturday!  Today's card is for two challenges.  I took my layout inspiration from Marion Vagg's card for the Muse challenge and I used the colours from the ColourQ challenge.  I love the bright and cheery colours on Marion's card - it's just so happy!  As well as her layout I was inspired by the embossed white outlines of the stamps so I did the same and then colored my images with colored pencils.  I'm pleased with how the flowers really pop off of the kraft.  I'm also pleased with how quickly I've used more of my new goodies.  I'm determined not to let them sit and collect dust!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (Elegant Eggplant) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flowers from Hennah Elements, (Sentiment from Magnolias for Her) Altenew
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger
Coloured Pencils:  Caran D'Ache
Gems:  Doodlebug

Friday, April 25, 2014

Nauticool


Another nautical card from me today. This one was inspired by the photo for the current Cure for the Monday Blues challenge.  I was inspired mostly by the colours - red dishes, cream walls and black and white striped bowl.  The combo just felt nautical to me so I went with it.  I used some birch wood paper for the circle and inlaid the die into it.  The stripes were cut from black cardstock and laid on the white card base.  I'm also going to enter this into the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes challenge.


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Basic Black) Stampin' Up, (Life Birch Wood Paper) Simon Says Stamp
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Wicked Nauticool) Paper Smooches 
Inks:  (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Anchor) Paper Smooches
Punch:  (3" circle) Marvy Uchida

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Feel Better, Little Critter

***This is my second post for the day.  For my AEIHeartU post please scroll down or 


I've got a two for one card for you now.  I used the sketch from RetroSketches for this card with a few adjustments.  I turned the sketch 90 degrees to the right and adhered the middle layer of paper slightly askew.  I did that to distract from the fact that I didn't centre the yellow pattern at all on the base of the card.  Having the second layer of the card set straight made that fact look way too obvious.  So I went for the distraction technique.  Which might have worked had I not just spilled the beans...  

I finally inked up this cute little guy from Mama Elephant.  (Not sure what he is though…  I thought he was a monkey but his has no tail. Although, thinking about it now, perhaps that's what the strange little curved stamp is that I couldn't identify in the set.  Maybe it's his tail and I didn't attach it!  Doh!  So maybe he's a money with a docked tail. Or maybe he's supposed to be something else without the tail.  Any help here would be appreciated!!)  

Anyway, the second challenge I'm entering is the PaperCrafts Connection Get Well Greetings challenge.  And speaking of PC Connection it's stopped showing up on Feedly.  Anyone else have this problem?


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Cream) Handy Hippo
Patterned Paper:  (This & That 6x6s) Echo Park
Stamps:  (Monkey & flower from Up & Away) Mama Elephant, ((Sentiment from You Said It Sister) Fresh Squeezed Stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Gem:  Doodlebug
Twine:  Darice
Buttons:  Craft supply

Graphic Hello



Hello and happy Friday!  I'm jumping in to play along with the current AEIHeatU colour challenge.  I know I haven't exactly reinvented the wheel with this design (I've seen it in a million forms) but I'd never played with my AE Rounded Diamonds dies and I thought they'd be cool with these colours.  I love how it turned out - simple and graphic! Hope you all have a lovely day!



Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Handy Hippo, (Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Oh Yeah) Avery Elle
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies:  (Rounded Diamonds) Avery Elle
Punch:  (1/16" hole punch) McGill
Gems:  Recollections

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Happy Balloons

***This is my second post for the day.  For my Dynamic Duos post please scroll down or click here.***


Hello again!  I just realized that the current CAS on Sunday challenge closes tomorrow and I haven't posted my card yet so here it is.  The challenge is to make a birthday card that uses die cuts.  I broke out some Avery Elle Fill in the Blank stamps and dies for my card and used happy rainbow colours for my balloons.  That's it from me!  Hope you all have a lovely evening!  

Celebrate New Goodies!



Hello hello!  I am celebrating today by playing with the new goodies my brother brought home for me!  I got stamps from Altenew, Lil' Inker Designs (and dies too!), Mama Elephant, Neat & Tangled and Sweet Stamp Shop.  It's like Christmas!  Here I inlaid some Lil' Inker dies and added a sentiment from Altenew.  I used the fun and bold colours from this week's Dynamic Duos challenge.  Enough chatting for now - off to play some more!





Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Brushed Gold) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Super Script) Altenew
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger
Dies:  (Cover Up die - Stitches & Stripes, Stitched stars) Lil' Inker Designs

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

CASology #92


Welcome to Week 92 of CASology!  Take a look at this week's cue word:


A nice easy cue word this week with so many options for interpretation!  I went punny for mine.  It was super easy to put together - a die cut, some quick paper piecing and a stamped sentiment.  Probably one of the quickest cards I've made.  :)  And now it's your turn.  Check out the rest of the gorgeous designs from the Design Team and then get to work!  



Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Chocolate Chip, Brushed Silver) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Trowel from Mother Knows Best, Sentiment from A Punny Valentine) Fresh Squeezed stamps
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Die:  (Wavy Line) Mama Elephant
Gems:  Recollections

Monday, April 21, 2014

Washi Wishes

***This is my second post for the day.  For my Colour Me post plea scroll down or 


Hi again!  My second card for the day is a two for one challenge card.  I used the palette from The Colour Throwdown and the theme of using washi tape on a CAS project from The Paper Players.  I did some simple paper piecing on the flower and used one of my go-to sentiments from Papertrey Ink. I love the Think Big Favourites collection!  I think they're my most used PTI stamps.  This washi tape is one of the first rolls I got and it's seen quite a bit of use.  Probably more than all my other was his put together! 


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Melon Mambo, Gumball Green, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flower from Pretty Momma) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from Think Big Favourites #7) Papertrey Ink
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Marker:  (Stampin' Write Melon Mambo) Stampin' Up
Gems:  Recollections
Washi Tape:  Crafty Basics

Quote Tag Thanks



Hello there!  I'm popping in with my first of two posts today.  This card is for the Colour Me challenge.  I had fun playing with dies on this card and combining different companies (Paper Smooches and My Favourite Things).  The leaves are seeing ink for the first time here (I know Lynn will be appalled!) but better late than never right?  I cut 3 of the "thanks" and layered them up.  I really like the dimension this creates and have been using the technique a lot lately.    Right, time to dash out and do a few errands and I'll be back later with another post!






Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Pistachio Pudding, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Leaves from Reflections) Paper Smooches
Inks:  (Pistachio Pudding) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Quote Tag) Paper Smooches, (Flower Trio & Leaf Trio) My Favourite Things
Punch:  (1/4" hole punch) McGill
Gems:  Doodlebug
Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger, (Wink of Stella) Zig

Sunday, April 20, 2014

You Anchor Me


The weekend is winding down and tomorrow it's back to regular life.  I'm super excited because my brother will be arriving for a visit!  Whoop whoop!  And he's bringing me lots of crafty goodies! Double whoop whoop!  For now though, here's a card for a few challenges.  I took inspiration from Therese's card over at Muse and it happened to work nicely with the current Poppy Sketches challenge.  And because I used some Paper Smooches goodies I'm joining the Anything Goes challenge at Paper Smooches Sparks.  Triple threat!  Hope you all have a lovely evening!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Island Indigo, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment and flags from Wicked Nauticool) Paper Smooches, (Line from Faux Ribbon) Papertrey Ink
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Real Red, Island Indigo, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Anchor) Paper Smooches, (Stitched Line) Mama Elephant, ((Polaroid frame) Lawn Fawn, (Heart from Holiday Shapes) Simon Says Stamp

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Elephant Wish



Hi there!  A quick post for a quick card.  I used the colours from the ColourQ challenge and the theme of masculine birthday cards from Time Out Challenges.  This colour palette is actually pretty good for masculine cards I think.  I broke out some NBUS in the form of these The Craft's Meow stamps and did some simple colour blocking.  I'm thinking now that perhaps it could use a scattering of black gems on it but I'll have to save that for next time! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!






Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey) Stmapin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Birthday Puns Solid) The Craft's Meow
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Basic Grey) Stampin' Up

Friday, April 18, 2014

Congrats Banners


It's Good Friday and it's a public holiday today!   A day of kite flying and eating hot cross buns and codfish cakes.  Yummers!  We're heading to the beach with some friends but before I go I wanted to share a card for the RetroSketches and Paper Smooches Sparks challenges.  The strings of banners in the photo made me think of the lines on the sketch so I thought these challenges would go together nicely.  Love when that happens!  Hope you all have a fabulous day!




Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Simply Said, Flags from Hang Ups) Paper Smooches, (Line from Faux Ribbon) Papertrey Ink
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Bubble Gum, Orange Soda, Butter Bar, Tide Pool) Hero Arts
Twine:  (Mandarin, Lemondrop, Caribbean) The Twinery
Gems:  Recollections

Thursday, April 17, 2014

CAS(E) This Sketch #73


Welcome to Week 73 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  This week we have an exciting twist on our sketch challenge. We've teamed up with the gals over at Runway Inspired Challenge so as well as the sketch we have a fabulous fashion photo for inspiration!


I really really struggled with this challenge.  Between the sketch and the photo there are a lot of different elements going on.  How was I going to keep my design CAS?  (This IS the CAS Case This Sketch challenge after all).  I'm not sure I entirely succeeded in my efforts but in the end I ran out of time and had to go with what I had.  I took a very liberal approach to the sketch.  The white panel on my card represents the sketch which I turned 90 degrees to the left.  The sentiment represents the dark half circle on the bottom and the flowers are… well, the flowers!  Then I "framed" the sketch on Island Indigo cardstock.  The colours were pulled from the model's shirt.  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone else's take on this challenge.  I know there will be lots of, "Why didn't I think of that?" moments but that's what I love about this bloggie world of ours - so much talent and inspiration!  

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White Watercolour) Mead, (Island Indigo) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flowers from Water Blooms) Mama Elephant, (Sentiment from Think Big Favourites #12) Papertrey Ink
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Markers:  (Stampin' Write Calypso Coral, Summr Starfruit, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo) Stampin' Up
Gems:  Recollections

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Friendly Flower


Hi there!  Life's been a tad busy lately so today was the first time I've gotten into the Craft Cave in a week.  I never quite realize how much I've missed it until I walk in there and get hit with that wonderful paper smell.  I love it!  (Yes, I am a big dork!).  Anyway this card is for the Paper Players colour challenge.  I pulled out some SNALTED (Severely Neglected And Left To Die) products - Papertrey's Polka Dot Basics II and some Flower Fusion sets.  It felt good to give some love to some old stamps especially when there will be new goodies arriving with my brother when he visits next week.  I went on a bit of a shopping bender but a controlled bender… well, controlled for me anyway.  I figure it's allowed since I'm saving money on shipping.  :)

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Always Avocado, Coastal Cabana) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Flower from Flower Fusion 1, Stem from Flower Fusion 8, Sentimnet from Flower Fusion 11, Polka Dot Basics II) Papertrey Ink
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Calypso Coral, Always Artichoke) Stampin' Up, (Fresh Snow) Papertrey Ink
Die:  (Notebook Basic) Paper Smooches, (Fresh Cut Grass) My Favourite Things
Gem:  Recollections

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

CASology #91


Welcome to Week 91 of CASology!  Take a look at this week's cue word:



This week's sponsor is Sweet Stamp Shop.  If you've never seen their stamps then you're missing out big time. They have some super quirky and unique designs - totally up my alley!  The stamps I used for today's card are from the Kiss Me set.  I decided to make a little love note to be passed along to someone special.  Just hope it doesn't get intercepted by the wrong person…  Yikes!
  

And now it's your turn show us how "Note" inspires you.  Check out the fabulous designs from the rest of the DT and then play along!





And this week's guest designer:

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember that the deadline for entries is Monday at noon (CST).

You may notice that Maureen's name is no longer on the DT list.  Sadly she has decided to step down from the team.  :(  I'll miss seeing her fabulous creations each week at CASology but she's got amazing things going on over at her place and I can't wait to see all the new goodness she has coming up!  


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (All from Kiss Me) Sweet Stamp Shop
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Pale Tomato) Hero Arts
Die:  (Notebook Basic) Paper Smooches

Friday, April 11, 2014

Jumping on the Bandwagon



Okay, so I know I'm waaaaay late for this bandwagon but I have never been very good at keeping up with trends.  And even when I do get my hands on trendy products it takes me ages to get around to using them.  Take the stencil and spray mists that I used here - I had to wipe the dust off of both of them before I started!  Ah well, better late than never.  And you know what? I just might try this again.  It was pretty fun and I'm pleased with the final result.  So pleased in fact that I'm going to enter it into the Virginia's View stencil challenge and the Moxie Fab stencil challenge.  Yee haw!  Now off to dust off some more stencils…




Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Smokey Slate, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Specialty Paper:  (Watercolour paper) Mead
Stamps:  (Sentiment from Always Here) Skipping Stones Designs
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black), Tsukineko
Die:  (Tilted Banners) Simon Says Stamp
Die Cuts:  (Paper Revelie Noir Butterflies) Making Memories
Stencil:  (Circle Graph Mask) Studio Calico
Mists:  (Mister Huey Boss Lady) Studio Calico, (Perfect Pearl Mist) Ranger
Gems:  (Cupcake assortment) Doodlebug

Thursday, April 10, 2014

CAS(E) This Sketch #72


Welcome to Week 72 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  Take a look at this week's sketch by Julie Day:


My initial thought for this sketch was quite similar to Donna's so I decided to go back to the drawing board and ponder the design a little further.  And, just as I was dropping off to sleep the other night, it came to me - a Rubik's Cube!!  (Does that ever happen to you?  I keep a notebook on my bedside table now because I seem to get a lot of ideas as I'm drifting off to sleep.  Good for card ideas but not good for my beauty sleep!)  Anyway, I thought the WPlus9 sentiment would compliment the Rubik's Cube perfectly and hopefully it will go to an appreciative child of the 80s!  :)  I can't wait to see where this sketch takes your creative minds so break out the crafty supplies and get to work!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Pacific Point, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Sentiment from So 80s) Wplus9
Inks:  (Real Red, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Punch:  (3/4" square) EK Success