Sweet Sunday Phone

How awesome is that telephone die cut?  It was a gift from the fabulous Jenny of Crafting in the Country. She sent me some X-Cut dies and also a bunch of die cuts including this phone in red and black.  As you can see I did a little mixing and matching and thought the black phone was more fun with a red centre!  And look at all that patterned paper!  I love it!  Fun and funky methinks.  :)  Not only did I used patterned paper but I also followed the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  Patterned paper and a sketch on one card??  What is this world coming to!  I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.


Cardbase:  Handy Hippo
Patterned Paper:  (Circa 1934) Cosmo Cricket

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Just Saying Hi) Hero Arts
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Die:  (Nesties Large Labels) Spellbinders

Rainbow Bunnies

This card was inspired by the latest picture over at Paper Smooches Sparks and also by the current Virginia's View Challenge at Lily Pad Cards.  Love those bunnies in the Sparks picture with their colourful ears and that rainbow of buttons at VV is just yummy!  I'm also going to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.  These Paper Smooches bunnies make me giggle with their big ol' teeth and I decided to create a little army of the happy critters with rainbow coloured ears.  I tried matching their feet to their ears but that was a bit too much so I stuck with just the ears.  The sentiment is from Lil' Inker and I thought it went perfectly!  Hope YOUR day is all sunshine and rainbows too!  :)

Cardstock:  (Kraft, white) Gina K, (Green) Craft supply
Stamps:  (Bunny from A Little Lovin') Paper Smooches, (Bit of Burlap) Market Street Stamps, (Sentiment from Rainbow & Cloud Sentiments) Lil' Inker
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger
Copic:  R46, YR04, Y15, G05, B29, V09

Pastel Butterflies

A big thanks to Jenny for reminding me to post this today.  I was all set to put it up tomorrow which would have been a day late for the CAS-ual Fridays Bold and the Beautiful challenge to use black and pastels.  It would, however, have been a day early for the Less Is More Take Three Challenges challenge.  Clearly my mind was somewhere in between... The LIM challenges I used are:

Week 5 - Pastel Colours

Week 15 - Embossing

Week 16 - Butterflies

Week 55 - Punches/Dies   
I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge. 

Cardstock:  (Black) Pacon, (Textured White) Bazzill, (Smooth White) Gina K
Stamps:  (Butterflies from {...with her own wings}, Sentiment from Oct 2011 KOM - Faith, Hope, Love...Live By It) Unity
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Die:  (Alpha-Blocks) PTI

Lime Rickey Trees

Hello!  Just popping in with an entry for CASE Study. We have another fabulous creation from Laura Bassen to CASE.  I was inspired by the patterned paper strip on the side and the simple image. Ummm... so pretty much the whole layout I guess!  :) I busted out more oldie goldies for this card.  The trees are from Unity's August 2009 KOM and the paper is Basic Grey's Lime Rickey.  Whoop whoop for using the stash!


Thanks for the tips yesterday on dealing with spicy foods.  Unfortunately, since I never recovered from the bad milk incident I suffered as a child, I will let my mouth burn before I down a glass! However, Therese's suggestion of a bit of sugar on the tongue is one I am definitely willing to work with!  :)

Cardstock:  (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper:  (Catawha Flip & Tutti Fruitti from Lime Rickey Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps:  (Image from August 2009 KOM - Following My Heart) Unity, (Sentiment from On My Couch) PTI
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Garden Green) Stampin' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Copic:  E47

Funky Foliage Birthday

I pulled out some of my older, neglected stamps for this card.  The petal is a tree shape from WPlus9's Funky Foliage and the centre is from their Funky Flowers set.  The sentiment is from the Mixed Greetings collection at Woodware USA.  I used the colours from the Play Date Cafe and I'm going to enter it in Lily Pad's Flower Challenge.


On a completely random note I got this email a while back about what to do if you burn yourself.  It said instead of putting ice or cold water on it put flour on it.  I thought it sounded a bit bizarre but the other day I accidentally grabbed the edge of the oven rack and for whatever reason decided to plunge my hand into my flour canister instead of under the tap and you know what?  It worked!  The pain didn't last long and it's healing up really quickly.  I'm comparing this incident to the time I grabbed my flat irons and spent the evening with a handful of ice and in a lot of pain.  Wonder if putting flour on your tongue would help after eating something too spicy...      


Cardstock:  (Smooth White) Gina K, (Textured White) Bazzill, (More Mustard, Marina Mist) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Petal from Funky Foliage, Circle from Funky Flowers) WPlus9, (Sentiment from Mixed Greetings) Woodware USA
Inks:  (Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up
Punch:  (Corner Rounder) Marvy Uchida
Impression Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) PTI
Gem:  Doodlebug

Simple Elegance

Just popping in with an entry for this week's Tuesday Trigger, Simple Elegance, over at the Moxie Fab World.  The flowers caught my eye right away but I also liked the dark floor and the patterned rug which is what inspired the strip of patterned paper.  I'm also going to enter this at the Lily Pad Simon Says Stamp Presents A Flower Challenge.  


Well, he's still sniffly but guess who's out painting again this morning?  Luis is a man on a mission!  I did manage to get him to chill out a bit last night though.  We took the hounds for a stroll and then I stuffed him full of fajitas and Advil Cold & Sinus.  After that, he had no choice but to retire to the sofa.  :)  And with Atticus sitting on his lap (yes, all 95lbs of Atticus) he really had no choice but to stay there!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  (Flour Sack from Nook & Pantry Collection) Basic Grey
Stamps:  (Flower from Flower Fusion 11,  Stem from Flower Fusion 8, Sentiment from Mat Stack 2 Collection) PTI
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Sahara Sand) Stampin' Up

Hot Air Balloon Wishes

Good day, all!  Hope you've been having a lovely Saturday.  I've been busy in the Craft Cave this afternoon while Luis (despite coming home with a fever last night and crashing on the sofa for the whole evening) has been outside painting the house! He's really not very good about chilling out.  Hopefully I can get him to relax a bit this evening...  I'm going to try and bribe him with some fajitas.  :)


Today I made a little card using the colours from ColourQ and the sketch from Skipping Stones Design.  I was going to put some gems on the card but instead I used some scraps, a hole punch and some Glossy Accents to make little dew drop type thingys (you can see the shine on the bottom ones).  Okay, off to walk the hounds.  Have a good evening!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Pale Blue) Bazzill, (Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Wisteria Wonder) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Balloon from Uplifting) Skipping Stones Design, (Sentiment from Birthday Messages) Hero Arts

Inks:  (Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up

Die:  (Double Edged Banners) PTI

Punches:  (1/4" hole punch) McGill, (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchid

Impression Plate:  (Linen & Canvas) PTI

Other:  Glossy Accents 

Sparks Celebration

**This is my second post for today.  For my CAS-ual Fridays post please scroll down or click here.**

Another birthday card for the order put in by my co-worker.  This card is also for the current Paper Smooches Sparks challenge.  I was inspired by the kraft background to start with.  I also like the white flowers with the coloured outlines.  I didn't want that much white on the card though so I flipped the idea and made coloured flowers with white outlines instead.  Lovely spring colours and I guess this card could really be used for a number of occasions - those Pretty Phrases sentiments are so handy that way!

Cardstock:  (So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Flower from Friendly Flowers, Sentiment from Pretty Phrases) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Gems:  Doodlebug

Celebratory Balloons

How cute is this chevron card base?  A pack of them was included in the goodies I recently won from Flashback Friday (you have 2 more days to play along with the latest challenge by the way) and my card is inspired by the  one that Amy sent along with the prize package.  (You can see Amy's card here.)  I needed an entry for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge to use a pattern, an image and a sentiment and I also need some birthday cards for a co-worker so this card ticks all the boxes. 


It's another glorious day today - bright sunshine and a cool breeze.  However, if it doesn't rain soon we're going to be in trouble.  The grass is already turning brown and we're seeing more and more water trucks on the roads.  We're generally careful with water here but we're going to have to buckle down even more at the moment.  Time for a rain dance I think!

Heartfelt Flowers

Another gorgeous CAS creation at CASE Study this week courtesy of Laura Bassen.  How cute is that row of houses?  Total rainbow yumminess!  I went with a pretty direct CASE and stuck with the layout, colours and twine.  If it works, it works!  :)  I used 3 PTI dies for this - Beautiful Blooms II #2, Flower Fusion Stem and Heart Prints.  I wanted those beautiful blooms dies for ages and I think this is the first time I've gotten around to using them since I bought them!  For shame...

Cardstock:  (White ) Gina K, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Think Big Favourites #12) PTI

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Punch:  (1/8"hole punch) McGill

Dies:  (Beautiful Blooms II #2, Flower Fusion Stem, Heart Prints) PTI
Twine:  (Charcoal) The Twinery 

Sunny Vibes

I had such good intentions of being a crafting machine over the weekend but between the glorious weather and a book that just had to be finished, I really didn't see much inside the Craft Cave. Thankfully I had some time today.  I got a few special orders done as well as this card for the March Paint The Town Challenge at Market Street Stamps.  I stamped the Here Comes the Sun background in VersaMark ink on So Saffron cardstock.  I stamped it again, fussy cut the rays and mounted them on top of the first one.  Then I punched a circle, stamped it with Bit of Burlap and layered it on top.  After that I stamped the tag and sentiment and attached it to one of the rays with twine and some dimensional adhesive. Not the best picture and I'm not sure if I love it but I'm trying to keep challenging myself with my small supply of MSS stamps.  

Cardstock:  (So Saffron, Night of Navy) Stampin' Up, (Vintage Cream) PTI

Stamps:  (Here Comes the Sun, Bit of Burlap, Tag from Make a Memory, Sentiment from Hippie Chic) Market Street Stamps

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black, VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Tempting Turquoise) Stampin' Up
Punch:  (1 1/2" circle) EK Success
Twine:  (Caribbean) The Twinery 

Runway Inspired Flower

I've missed the last couple of Runway Inspired Challenges so wanted to get back on board with it this week. I was inspired by the colours and pattern on the dress and it made me think of this paisley stamp.  I have no idea who made it or where it came from but it's been in the Craft Cave for a while now.  I stamped, embossed, coloured and fussy cut it 6 times (which took waaaaay longer than I expected) and used it to make a flower.  The centre is a button layered with punched circles to match the flower. Must dash now as I've got to be at work in less than an hour.  Hope you're all having a lovely day!

Cardstock:  (White) Gina K, (Pacific Point, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Paislyey shape) ?
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Copics:  R05, R59, B05

Dies:  (Block Alphabet) PTI

Punches:  (1/2" circle) Marvy Uchida, (5/16" & 1/8" hole punches) McGill

Button:  Craft supply

Embellish Is Back!

After a little hiatus the Embellish challenge is back and this time they've given us spring colours to go along with a spring theme.  And, of course, now that I'm looking at my card on screen next to the Embellish colours I see that my darker pink is waaaay off.  Hmmm...  It's going to have to do for now though as I am in my usual state of Thursday night knackeredness and am not going to be fixing it before the deadline.  Clearly I was having eye issues yesterday!!  Perhaps I'll put in a fresh pair of contact lenses before the next challenge...




Cardstock:  (Smooth White) Gina K, (Textured White) Bazzill, (Rose Red) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Easter Noteblock) Purple Onion Designs, (Bunny) ?
Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Copics:  RV42, Y21, B00

I'm A Lucky Girl

I haven't played along with the Lawnscaping Challenge in a while and promised myself I'd tackle their latest.  And, of course, it turned out to be a sketch challenge.  *Sigh*  They really want to challenge me don't they?  I had to keep my promise though and to help myself out I used the colours from The Paper Players (another challenge I've been neglecting).  I used stamps from my trusty Just A Note set.  (It's one of two LF image sets that I have.  All the rest are sentiment sets.  Must invest in some new LF stamps... )


Actually, I shouldn't have to invest in much of anything anytime soon after this week's bounty.  I have been a very lucky girl as it's been like Christmas at the post office!  Lots of goodies and wonderful cards:

My good friend Jenny from Crafting in the Country sent me the most awesome word bubble dies!  She also included a selection of die cut shapes for me to play with and, of course, there was a fabulous card.  :)  I love bird images and even though I have plenty of Lawn Fawn alphabet sets I still want the one Jenny used here!

Another adorable birdie and a rockin' chevron card!  I was lucky enough to win a whopper of a prize at Flashback Friday recently.  The challenge is the brainchild of the fabulous Amy Tsuruta and as well as the bounty of goodies I also get to be the latest guest designer - so get over there and check it out if you haven't already!

I also won goodies from Vanessa Menhorn as part of a recent Paper Crafts blog hop and they turned up as well.  How fun is this spiral card?  And I love the bold, yellow cardstock.

And last but not least, this is actually a card I made that was published in the February issue of Cards.  Because it used a Hero Arts background stamp I got a publication incentive from them and those free stamps also arrived this week!


Given all of that I probably won't win anything else for another year or so but I'll have plenty to work with in the meantime!

Lawnscaping Card

Cardstock:  (Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder) SU

Stamps:  (Phone & sentiment from Just My Type) Lawn Fawn, (Envelope pattern) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Pool Party) SU

Embossing Powder:  (Seafoam White) Ranger

Gems:  Doodlebug

Punch:  (Corner punch) Marvy Uchida

You Can't Turn Back The Clock

I've been wanting to use this sentiment for ages but was waiting or the perfect clock image to pair it with.  I finally found it in Unity's The Time Is Now set.  Conveniently,  CAS-ual Fridays then presented me with the perfect opportunity to ink them up.  For Sentimental Reasons is this week's challenge - use a sentiment as the card's focal point.  As per the challenge I kept it quite simple and am pleased to have another masculine card to add to my stash!  Now I'm off to go play ball with the hounds and soak up some of this gorgeous sunshine!


Cardstock:  (Night of Navy, Crumb Cake) SU

Stamps:  (Bit of Burlap) Market Street Stamps, (Clock from The Time Is Now) Unity, (Sentiment) Cloud 9
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Night of Navy, Crumb Cake) SU

Dies:  (Mega Mat Stack 3) PTI

Gem:  Doodlebug

St. Paddy's Day

Hello there!  Just popping in with a card for Paige's challenge on the Create blog to make a St. Patrick's Day card.  This is actually a CASE of my own card (first seen here).  I made a few changes including finally getting my hands on some Liquid Applique for the foam on the beer.  What fun stuff!  

Cardstock:  (Kraft) PTI, (White)  Bazzill Basics
Stamps:  (Beer from Cheers to You)  Stampin Up, (Letters from Smitty's ABCs) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (Memento Tuxedo Black)  Tsukineko, (Garden Green) Stampin' Up
Colouring Medium:  Copics
Letter Stickers:  Craft supply
Other:  Glossy Accents, Liquid Applique

You. Are. Old.

**This is my second post of the day.  For my Play Date Cafe/CASE Study card please scroll down or click here!**

I love this super cheeky sentiment stamp from Unity's February Kit of the Month.  I paired it with the car images from the same set and a background stamp from Skipping Stones Design's Grunge collection.  I used the colours from Just Add Ink and the sketch from the new Retro Sketches challenge.  I am also going to add this to the Cure for the Winter Blues challenge over at the Moxie Fab World.  Can't go wrong with a little giggle for curing the blues huh?  :)   


Cardstock:  (Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Pool Party) SU
Patterned Paper:  (Grid from Background) Scenic Route
Stamps:  (Cars & sentiment from Lucky To Have You) Unity, (Background from Grunge) Skipping Stones Designs
Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko, Early Espresso)) SU
Embroidery Floss:  (580) Janlyn

Yellow & Grey Wishes

I didn't make it into the Craft Cave yesterday (more on that later) but I managed to get a card sorted this morning.  I've used the yummy colours from the Play Date Cafe challenge and inspiration from CASE Study.  Laura Bassen is the muse this week and I love her CAS style.  I was inspired by the centered image and the layered die cuts.   

It was a gorgeous day yesterday so we ended up puttering around doing odds and ends around the house and yard.  We started with a swim for the boys:

Then we hung out in the yard playing ball, searching for lost balls in the bushes, replacing the lettering on our mailbox and pulling up a few weeds.  Our wild freesias are out in full force right now:

This is at the top of the driveway and their beautiful scent hits you as you pull into the yard. Love it!

Later we hung some pictures and then I did my taxes (blah!) while Luis made some soup. Finally an evening walk with the hounds, some BBQed tuna steaks and the day was at an end.  A lovely weekend overall, just too quick as always!

Cardstock:  (Basic Grey) SU

Patterned Paper:  (Grey from Sheer Simplicity Neutral) K & Co, (Yellow from Fresh Citrus Sarapapers) Hot Off The Press
Stamps:  (Image & sentiment from Wish You Were Here) Hero Arts
Inks:  (Basic Grey) SU

Dies:  (Mat Stack 5 & Layerz Mat Stack 5) PTI
Embroidery Floss:  Making Memories

Button:  Craft supply