Skipping Stones January Stamp & Share Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Skipping Stones January Stamp & Share Challenge!  We have an Anything Goes challenge this month so there's no reason not to join in - you can create anything at all and Skipping Stones Design stamps are not required to play along (but if you have some we'd love to see you use them). 

For my card I used the Dogs Vol. 1 stamp set - definitely one of my favourites!  I covered my card base with paper from Authentique and die cut a rectangle from the same paper pad.  My hydrant and sentiment are stamped and embossed and I watercolored the hydrant.

I hope you'll find some time to play along with us especially as one lucky person will win a Skipping Stones Design stamp set of their choice!  Be sure to check out the rest of the gorgeous inspiration from the Design Team and then get crafting!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper:  (Carefree 6x6) Authentique

Stamps:  (Hydrant & sentiment from Dogs Volume 1) Skipping Stones Design

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (Dashed rectangle) Avery Elle

Gems:  Recollections

Birthday 'Gator

Hi there!  I managed to grab some time to make a card today for three challenges.  I started out with the Reverse Confetti Sketch For You To Try.  I'd been intimidated by all the layers but I finally picked out some Glitz patterned paper and went for it.  I paper pieced the adorable alligator and his balloons and gift and then spent forever deciding which papers to use for which layer.  I'm happy with how it turned to so I guess it was worth the time!  :)  I'm also going to enter it in the Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes challenge and The Male Room challenge to make cards for babies and boys.  I think it's a fun card for a little lad!  That's it for me today.  Have a good evening!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Finnley 6x6) Glitz

Stamps:  (Alligator from Later Alligator, Sentiment, gift & balloons from Monkey Business) Reverse Confetti

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko,

Dies:  (Stitched Circle) Lil Inker

Gems:  Recollections

CASology #182

Welcome to Week 182 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:

Everywhere you look in Bogland it's reds and pinks and love themes.  How is it almost Valentine's Day already?? It'll be Christmas any minute now...  

Anyway I ADORE a good pun which is how my card came about.  My husband adores his landscaping equipment so I thought this card would be perfect for him.  :)  Can't wait to see what you all adore.  Be sure and check out all the fabulous inspiration from the design team and then play along with us!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne

Hannelie Bester 

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

And this week's guest designer:

Jenny

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

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Old Olive, Smokey Slate, Basic Black) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Funny Man) Tailored Expressions

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko,

Dies:  (Lawnmower) Tailored Expressions, (Grassy border) Lawn Fawn

Flowers & Balloons

Good morning!  I have two cards to share today for seven challenges.  This first card was inspired by the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, the colours at The Colour Throwdown, the Hello challenge at Little Tangles and the paper piecing challenge at CAS on Sunday.  I paper pieced the flowers from an early Neat & Tangled set, added some gems and arranged them on a die cut panel.  I curled the edges of all the flowers and added a second layer on foam tape for the pink flower.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Kraft) Papertrey Ink, (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (My Girl 6x6) American Crafts

Stamps:  (All from Fresh Blooms) Neat & Tangled

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Crumb Cake) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Finished Frames) Avery Elle

Gem:  (Pink, clear) Recollections, (Turquoise) Doodlebug

This next card uses the sketch from Just Add Ink, the colours from ColourQ and the CAS challenge at Seize the Birthday.  I love those Lil' Inker balloons and use them quite often - yes I actually have some non-NBUS stuff in my stash!  :)  If you used different colours this would make a great guy card.  That's all for now.  I'll see you tomorrow for CASology!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, So Saffron, Crumb Cake) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Bold Wishes) CASual Fridays

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Balloons) Lil' Inker Designs, (Finished Frames) Avery Elle

Glitter:  (Clear Wink of Stella) Zig

Gem:  Recollections

Flowers & Kitties

I broke my posting streak when I missed out on yesterday but before that I had a 12 day run which is definitely a record for me.  I got a little time in the Craft Cave this afternoon and have two cards to share for three challenges.  First up is my card for the current Muse challenge.  I stuck very close to Tracey's card in terms of colour and matting and also using a swirly stem for the flowers.  I used dusted off some DCWV cardstock for this one and I had forgotten how much I love the texture of it.  I also pulled out some old Hero Arts flourishes to use for the stem.  Someone used these recently and I commented that it was one of the earliest stamp sets that I bought.  Can't remember who it was but thank you for reminding me to look for the set!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Salmon, Orange, Yellow) DCWV

Stamps:  (Fantastic Flourishes) Hero Arts, (Sentiment from Smitten) Mama Elephant

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Green Hills) Hero Arts

Dies:  (Beautiful Blooms II) Papertrey Ink, (Scalloped rectangle, Stitched rectangle) Mama Elephant

Gem:  Recollections

Next is a card inspired by the photo at Curtain Call.  (I like the little kitty cat cap in the top right corner). I paper pieced some NBUS Avery Elle stamps and popped them up on a bright background.  Sweet and simple!  I'm also going to enter it in the Create with Critters challenge over at the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.  That's it for tonight.  Dinner is almost ready - Luis is cooking for us!  Whoop whoop!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Pink polka dots) Pebbles, (Yellow from Snippets 6x6, Grey from Story Time Boy 6x6) Studio Calico

Stamps:  (All from Furry Friends) Avery Elle

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (Stitched Rectangle) Mama Elephant

Glitter:  (Yellow Stickles) Ranger

Gem:  Recollections

Roses & Coffee

Hello and happy Friday!  I have two cards to share before I jet off to work.  First up is for the photo inspiration at The Challenge.  I was inspired by the rose, the muted colours and the lace.  Yes, I actually used lace!  I have a silly amount of ribbon for someone who almost never uses it so I was thrilled to bits to use this scrap of Hero Arts lace for this card.  :)  The stamps are all Altenew - I thought their Vintage Rose set was perfect for this challenge - and I used Distress Inks for the stamping.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White, Rustic White) Papertrey Ink, (Basic Black) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Flowers & leaves from Vintage Roses, Sentiment from Halftone Hello) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Pumice Stone, Antique Linen, Old Paper, Frayed Burlap) Ranger

Lace:  Hero Arts

Gem:  Recollections

I swore to myself that this year I would play along with Merry Monday every week so that I would be on top of my Christmas cards and I've already missed the first two challenges.  *Sigh*  Hopefully I'll do better from now on.  The theme this week is Warm Beverages and what could make for a happier holiday than a stack of caramel lattes??  Yum yum!  My card was inspired by the memory of a red solo cup card that I saw a few years ago when it won a CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  I actually managed to find it too!  Funny the things that hang around in my brain... 

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Daffodil Delight, Gumballl Green) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Mug from Warm Hearts) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from SSC114) Stampendous

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Die:  (Stitched Stars) Lil' Inker Designs

Markers:  (R27, E43) Copic

Honey, I Love You

I've just got one card to share today for the current RetroSketches challenge.  Another Valentine card to add to my ever growing stash.  I don't think I've ever been so prepared for a card giving occasion before!  This one uses Reverse Confetti stamps, Sweet Stamp Shop and Mama Elephant dies and some Simple Stories paper.  It came together really quickly which doesn't happen very often.  The bee is fussy cut and popped up and he and the heart both have a lick of clear Wink of Stella on them.  That's it for now.  See you tomorrow with two more cards!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red, Basic Black) Stamping' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Snap Life 6x6) Simple Stories

Stamps:  (Bee & sentiment from The Buzz) Reverse Confetti

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Nesting Hexagons) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Heart) Mama Elephant

Glitter:  (Clear Wink of Stella) Zig

Markers:  (Y17, 100) Copic

Blues, Butterflies and Birds

Hello hello!  I've got two cards to share today for 4 challenges.  Both the Friday Mash-Up and Just Us Girls had colour challenges this week and they both involved white and shades of blue so I am playing along with both of them.  I smooshed Night of Navy ink onto my watercolor paper and die cut it.  The Altenew butterfly was embossed onto vellum, fussy cut, attached and surrounded with gems.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Tim Holtz Watercolor) Ranger, (Night of Navy, Marina Mist) Stamping' Up, (Vellum)

Stamps:  (Butterfly from Bejeweled, Sentiment from Ori Kami) Altenew

Inks:  (VarsaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Night of Navy) Stamping' Up

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Dashed rectangle) Avery Elle, (Flag Tags) Paper Smooches

Gems:  Recollections

My second card uses the sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch and the CAS Valentine theme from the Paper Players.  I'm pretty sure those little Mama Elephant birdies are NBUS but I have no idea why because they are so cute!  I coloured them with Copics and popped them behind the cloud border with a little heart between them for good measure.

Tragically I am headed back to work today.  It's been lovely to enjoy so much crafty time but it's time to get back to earning some money (and also to see all the kitties).  Hope you all have a wonderful day!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Textured White) Bazzill,  (Real Red, Bashful Blue Stamping' Up

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

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Cloud border, Heart) Mama Elephant

Markers:  (R02, Y17, E21, E33) Copic

Gems:  Recollections

CASology #181

Welcome to Week 181 of CASology!  Take a look at the cue word for this week:

I may have gone too far outside the box on this one.  Maybe I've watched too many episodes of "ER" or maybe I spent too much time in rehearsals for Wit (a heartbreaker of a play if you've never seen it) but when I saw the world clear I immediately imagined a flurry of doctors and nurses working furiously to save a patient and the inevitable appearance of the paddles and the shouts of, "Clear!"   And thus my card and the beating heart sentiment.  What comes to mind for you when you see the word clear?  Be sure to check out all the gorgeous cards from the rest of the design team and then play along!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne

Hannelie Bester 

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

And this week's guest designer:

Natalia

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

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red, Basic Black) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Love Notes) CASual Fridays

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

Dies:  (Heart) Papertrey Ink, (Borders 1) Paper Smooches

Gems:  Recollections

Flowers and Pilates

Welcome to Day 8 in a row of posting!  I was in and out of the Craft Cave yesterday in between doing other odds and ends around the house.  I really couldn't sit at my desk for too long because I was starting to seize up - I took my second ever Pilates class on Saturday and as Sunday wore on I was getting more and more sore.  I guess that means it was a good workout.  It's something I've wanted to try for ages and have just never gotten around to.  Lately though my lower back has been bugging me and I know it's because I have zero core strength so I bit the bullet and took advantage of a two classes for the price of one intro deal and tried it out.  It's hard work and my core is even worse than I thought but I feel good at the end of it so I'm going to stick with it.

   Now on to the reason you're really here.  I have two flower cards to share today.  This first one is for the current Colour Throwdown challenge.  I used an NBUS Altenew stamp set and fussy cut and popped up the flower and leaves for a little dimension.  I didn't want the white band across the bottom of the card to be too thick so I trimmed out the top of the sentiment which I really like the look of.  A scattering of gems around the sentiment and I was done!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Smokey Slate) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Flower & sentiment from Layered Lily) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Smokey Slate) Stamping' Up

Gems:  Recollections

Next up is a card for the Fusion challenge.  I used the pink flowers from the photo inspiration and the sketch (which I turned 90 degrees to the left).  I'm shaking my head now that I look at it though because the original plan had been to use some yellow chevron paper on the side and clearly somewhere along the way I got distracted by those pretty grey stripes!  Guess I'll just have to make another one...

That's it for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with the latest CASology challenge.  See you then!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Tim Holtz Watercolor) Ranger, (Basic Black) Stamping' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Let's Polka 6x6) Lawn Fawn

Stamps:  (Flower & leaves from Freestyle Florals) Mama Elephant, (Sentiment from Wonderful Words) CASual Fridays

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana) Stamping' Up

Gems:  Recollections