Smitten Birdies

Hello, all!  I really feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things in the Craft Cave now. It always takes me a while to get going again after a break and I spent a lot of time reorganizing the room.  Luis built me an extension for my desk, I took out some excess furniture and I did some purging.  The whole room feels brighter and more open now - much less cavelike!  :)  

I also did quite a bit of pondering about crafting and crafty blogging over the last few months.  Although I love both I was letting them take over my life.  This year my goal is to improve my time management skills (which shouldn't be that hard as I have zero to start with!).  I want crafting and blogging to be an important part of my life but not my whole life.  I am also really going to focus on using the supplies that I have.  I talked about it a bit last year and was inspired by Darnell's NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) campaign but this year "Use What You Have" is going to be my motto.  Really, the Craft Cave has more supplies than some stores I've been to so there is absolutely no need to buy more stuff.  Of course I'll want all the new fabulous goodies that I see out there but I need to be realistic and a little more financially responsible!


So with this card I've started off my Use What You Have (UWYH) with a bang.  Remember the Love Me Do collection from My Mind's Eye?  It's been collecting dust in the Craft Cave for a few years now from back when I used to buy 12 x 12 papers and collections.  I broke it out for this card for the current RetroSketches challenge.  The branch and birds are second hand WPlus9 stamps I bought last year and hadn't touched yet.  The only newish items are the Mama Elephant sentiment and the Simon Says Stamp hearts but this is the first time I've used either of them.  Off to a good start and let's hope I can keep it up!

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Papers:  (Rock & Roll Heart, Forever In Plaid & Love is in the Air from Love Me Do collection) My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  (Branch from Love Birds) WPlus9, (Sentiment from Smitten) Mama Elephant

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Birds from Love Birds) WPlus9, (Hearts from Holiday Shapes) Simon Says Stamp

Gems:  Recollections

CASology #77

Welcome to Week 77 of CASology!  Here's the cue word for this week:

It feels so good to get back into the Craft Cave and start crafting again!  I missed it during my little hiatus but life took over and I had to step back and get things sorted.  Luis and I finished up a number of long standing projects around the house and spent some much needed time just being together.  I also made several trips to Boston during November and December to spend time with my mom while she underwent radiation treatment (there are no radiation facilities in Bermuda).  Thankfully the treatments finished up in time for us to come home on Christmas Eve.  I couldn't have asked for a better gift!  

Now, onto the challenge which this week is to be inspired by the word Bubbly.  I thought of champagne and bubbly personalities and a gaggle of speech bubbles (which would make a bubbly card right?) but then I saw this uninked Avery Elle stamp and found my inspiration! When it comes to bubbly drinks I'm pretty picky - Coke, Pepsi, Sprite or Ginger Ale is pretty much it for me.  Sparkling water and other soda flavors just don't appeal.  I had some fun with the colors of these bubbly drinks though and broke out my new Hero Arts inks.  Lots of NBUS here, Darnell!  

Your turn now.  I can't wait to see your bubbly inspired cards!  Before you play along be sure to check out the gorgeous creations from the rest of the DT and also give a big welcome to our newest members Joyce and May!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

Joyce Mehrberg

May Sukyong Park

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 12 January.

Supplies Used

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Bottles from The Man) Avery Elle, (Sentiment from Soda-Lighted) Fresh Squeezed Stamps

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Fresh Peach, Orange Soda, Butter Bar, Green Hills, Pool) Hero Arts

Gems:  Recollections

CASology #72

Welcome to Week 72 of CASology!  Here's the cue word for this week:

'Tis the season to go shopping!  All the Bermudians are making their annual pilgrimages to New York, New Jersey, Boston and Atlanta to do their Christmas shopping.  It always amazes me that the planes can get off the ground at this time of year - Bermudians know how to shop!  LOL!  

My initial thoughts for this challenge went along the same line as Ardyth but once I saw her clever card I decided to try a different idea.  These days pretty much all shopping involves a bar code and Mama Elephant has a super cute one in their Smitten set.  I decided I wanted to go with a really bold background colour and let the black sentiment really pop off of it.  It took a lot of fiddling before I finally decided on sentiment and gem placement but I'm pretty happy with the final result!  And now I want to see the results of your creative wheels turning!  Check out the gorgeous designs from the rest of the DT and then get crackin'!

    

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis 

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

And this week's guest designer:

Lisa

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 1 December.

And while I've got you I want to show off the new washi tape shelf Luis made for me!  I love it!  The shelves are slightly tilted back so the tape stays in place and I've still got room for more!  :D

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Black) Gina K, (Strawberry Slush) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Bar code from Smitten) Mama Elephant, ("are" from Sparkle & Shine) Neat & Tangled

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (You from Wonderful Words) Papertrey Ink

Gems:  Recollections

CAS(E) This Sketch #55

Welcome to Week 55 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  Take a look at this week's sketch by Karolyn Loncon:

I took a bit of liberty with this sketch in that I spread out my arrows a bit more that the flowers but I think the bones of the sketch are still pretty clear.  

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the US this week's challenge will be a 2-weeker so you have plenty of time to come up with something fantastic - or maybe even several somethings fantastic!  :D  The challenge will close at 9am ET on Thursday, 5 December. Can't wait to see your creations!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (25 Days of Christmas 6x6) Simple Stories

Stamp:  (Sentiment from Get Merry) Hero Arts

Ink:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Dies:  (Arrow from Snapshot Fun) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Stitched Resctangle) Lil' Inker

Punches:  (1" & 1 1/2" circle punches) EK Success

CASology #71

Welcome to Week 71 of CASology!  Here's the cue word for this week:

Although it's getting to be the jingle bell time of year right now I needed a wedding card so I took a little break from the Christmas theme and turned to wedding bells!  These little Lawn Fawn bells are so sweet and perfect for a CAS design.  Initially I tried to paper piece them but that ribbon confounded me so finally I broke out the Copics and had a little colouring session.  The ladies of the DT have created their usual array of gorgeous inspiration so check them out and then play along!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis 

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

And this week's guest designer:

Anita

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 24 November.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Bells & sentiment from Happily Ever After) Lawn Fawn

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Gems:  (Lilac assortment) Doodlebug

Markers:  Copic

CASology #68

Welcome to Week 68 of CASology!  Here's the cue word for this week:

I've seen several variations of the "eyes in the dark" design and wanted to give it a try.  This week's cue word gave me the perfect opportunity.  To make the eyes I stamped different leaves from Paper Smooches Leafy Greens, cut them, attached them and then covered them with Glossy Accents.  Super easy!  The design would probably make a cute tag too huh? Okay now it's your turn.  Check out the fabulous DT designs and then play along!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Melissa Chipperfield

Rosemary Dennis 

Tracey McNeely

Judy Marino

Maureen Merritt

Meghan McMillan

Gillian Ross

Kimberley Wiener

And this week's guest designers:

Kristie

Link your creations to the CASology blog and remember submissions are due by 4pm CST on Sunday, 3 November.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Crushed Curry, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Leaves from Leafy Greens) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

CAS(E) This Sketch #51

Welcome to Week 51 of CAS(E) This Sketch!  Take a look at this week's sketch by N@ Ali:

This was a last minute creation for me as I really struggled with this sketch.  In the end I got pretty liberal with it.  I moved the images to the bottom of the card and I imagined the plane and sentiment banner as one piece.  Lots of NBUS happening here - I got to use some ancient Scenic Route alpha stickers and ink up that PTI Santa for the first time.  I also used some sequins I found during a clean out session.  They've been in a drawer for about 5 years - for once I could have been ahead of a trend and I missed my chance!  LOL!  :D

Now it's time for you to skedaddle over to the CAS(E) This Sketch page and check out the gorgeousness from the DT and then play along!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Basic Grey, Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Santa from Tremendous Treats: Christmas) Papertrey Ink
Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Stickers:  Scenic Route

Markers:  (R29, YR00, 100) Copic