Geometric Birthday

Today's card is for 3 different challenges.  I started out by looking at the design from CAS(E) This Sketch.  I wanted to use the chevron pattern and when I saw the current Runway Inspired photo I thought it would work well with this and so used the colours from the model's shirt (although looking at the shirt more closely now I should have used Bermuda Bay for my blue instead of Island Indigo).  Since each of the pieces that make up the chevrons are actually parallelograms I am also going to enter this in the Geometric Patterns challenge at Virginia's View.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Basic Grey, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Halftone Hello) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Chevron Cover Plate) Lil' Inker Designs, (Happy) Mama Elephant

Other:  (Glossy Accents) Ranger

Runway Banner

Hi there and happy Friday! I'm popping in with a card for two challenges.  I combined the inspiration photo at Runway Inspired Challenge with the Addicted to CAS's Banners challenge.
I took inspiration from the colours and stripes of the dress and made a funky banner paired with a simple sentiment.  This would be a good masculine birthday card if you changed up the colours.  Okay that's it for me.  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Crisp Cantaloupe,Basic Black, Brushed Silver) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Birthday from Halftone Hello) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Happy) Mama Elephant, (Flag Tags) Paper Smooches

Gems:  Recollections

2 Birthdays

Hello and happy Friday!  I've got 2 cards to share today.  I haven't played along with the Runway Inspired Challenge in ages but I finally managed to join in this week.  I think my inspiration is pretty clear.  ;)  I wanted to let the stripes be the stars of the show so I kept the sentiment simple.








Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Poppy Parade, Smokey Slate, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Halftone Hello) Altenew

Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Happy) Mama Elephant, (Stitched Stripes) Lil' Inker Designs

Gems:  Recollections

Card number 2 is for the current RetroSketches challenge. It's a great sketch for using up some patterned paper scraps.  I was inspired by Tracey's card where she let her patterned paper shine. That's it for me today.  I'm off to do the food shopping and then get this house cleaned up!  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Hello Honey) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Party Day 6x6) Crate Paper

Stamps:  (Flags from To The Point) Avery Elle, (Sentiment from You Said It, Sister) Fresh Squeezed Stamps

Inks: (VersaFine) Tsukineko

Thread:  Janlynn

Gems:  Recollections

Retro Runway

Hi there!  I've got a card for two challenges today - RetroSketches and Runway Inspired.  I love the simplicity and versatility of this sketch and I have a feeling I'll be using it again.  I took my colours and patterns from the Runway outfit.  I love how the bright flowers pop against the black and white suit.  I used my PTI houndstooth stamp for the first time and was surprised at how easy it was to line up.  I had avoided using it for ages because I didn't think I'd be able to make it look seamless.  Guess I should have tried sooner instead of letting it collect dust.  And speaking of dusty things, that's a velvet brad in the middle of the flower which I'm sure has been in the Craft Cave for at least 7 years! Whoop whoop for using stash!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Concord Crush, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Lakeside 6x6) Pebbles

Stamps:  (Background Basics: Houndstooth) Papertrey Ink, (Sentiment from Cake & Candles) Avery Elle

Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Bermuda Bay) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Big Bloom) Paper Smooches

Brad:  Crate Paper 

Luck, Peace & Happiness

I don't play along with the Runway Inspired Challenge very often.  I always plan to and I add the closing date to my challenge list and print out the photo to keep on my desk but then I freeze up.  I'm a little intimidated by the amazing design team and after looking at their cards it's like those are the only designs that will come into my head.  Once in a while though I get clobbered by an idea immediately.  The pattern on this skirt made me think of this Studio Calico paper and the dog (a chow, I think) sent me searching for my Ori Kami stamps.  This card came together really quickly after that which is so exciting!  I love when that happens!  Yay for cooperating mojo!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Smokey Slate, Brushed Gold)  Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper:  (Darling Dear 6x6) Studio Calico

Stamps:  (Bird and sentiment from Ori Kami) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Gems:  Recollections

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

Runway Love

Hello there, strangers!  I have a card here for the latest Runway Inspired challenge.  I realised once I had finished that there's no stamping on this card at all which is pretty unusual for me.  I was inspired by the colours and also the texture on the skirt and ended up using an embossing plate and a few dies plus some shiny paper.  I'm also going to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge.
   
It feels good to be back in the Craft Cave and catching up with everyone in Blogland.  I had to spend a few weeks in Boston with my mom for medical reasons.  It was tough to be gone for two weeks (I sure missed my boys!) but I'm grateful we had the option to go to such a first rate hospital.  Mom is doing as well as can be expected at the moment but there's still a long road of treatments ahead. Thankfully some of the treatments can be done here so we'll be home for a while. Thanks to those of you who touched base with me to see where I'd disappeared to.  It really did help to lift my spirits.  :)  Another uplifting moment came the night before my mom's surgery. There was a pretty wild thunderstorm and then the most gorgeous double rainbow appeared.  It was too close to our apartment for me to get a full picture of it but I got a few partials.  We took it as a good omen and it definitely was as the results from the surgery were more positive than initially expected.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Pink, Lilac) Bazzill, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Frame from Simply Jane) Papertrey Ink, (Love Word) Paper Smooches

Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug

Gems:  Recollections

Retro Runway Hello

Hi there!  Sorry it's been a bit quiet on the blog this week but I've been down and out with the flu.  It's been almost a week of sleeping, reading and watching The OC (don't judge me...).  Atticus has been a very good nurse and made sure I was pinned down to the sofa for the majority of the time.  Now if I could just teach him to fetch me water and tissues...

Anyway I'm finally feeling a bit better today and made a card for a couple of challenges - the Runway Inspired Challenge and RetroSketches.  The background in the RIC photo reminded me of this Out of Print paper collection from Basic Grey.  The yellow flower was stamped using both sides of the stamp to give it that yellow glow.  I finished it off with some Enamel Accents in the middle.  That's all for now.  Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Wild WasabiSahara Sand)  Stampin' Up

Patterned paper:  (Out of Print 6x6) Basic Grey

Stamps:  (Flower from Luscious Patterned Flowers, Text from Dictionary Greeting, Sentiment from Live Life) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (So Saffron, Daffodil Delight) Stampin' Up

Punch:  (Corner rounder) Marvy Uchida

Gems:  (Mini pearls) Doodlebug

Twine:  (Pink Sorbet) The Twinery

Other:  (Black Enamel Accents) Ranger

Ribbon Rock

Hi there!  Today was a public holiday in Bermuda where most people fly kites (see this post for the background on that).  Unfortunately there was a wild north wind which was not at all conducive to kite flying and I only saw two all day.  Normally everywhere you look in the sky you can see them so it was a bit of a bummer.  After taking Atti for a quick swim I hightailed it to the Craft Cave and got some cards done.  I wanted to play along with the latest Runway Inspired Challenge before it was too late.  I was inspired by the glittery question mark and the pink, satin skirt.  I've had these glittery K & Co letters for years and the satin ribbon I laid behind the die cut letters has been kicking around for a while too so I feel good about making use of some neglected stash. I'm also going to play along with Simon Says Stamps' Anything Goes challenge.  

Tomorrow I'm hoping for a big chunk of time in the Craft Cave since Luis and our neighbour will be busy in the yard.  Some of the plants in the hedge that divides our properties have died off so they're going to be pulling them out and replanting.  I did offer my assistance but I'm guessing they'll be happier without me getting in the way.  I'll just bring them a beer now and then and call my job done!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Basic Black)  Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Block Alphabet) Papertrey Ink

Chipboard: (Glittered Twinkle Type) K & Co

Gems:  Michaels

Ribbon:  Craft supply

Kate Spade Birthday

Hello hello!  Back again with another card for the Runway Inspired Challenge.  I really love the latest inspiration outfit!  I masked my block of stripes using a stripe from Papertrey's Faux Ribbon (which has turned out to be a really handy set).  Then I added some Die-namics and Memory Box butterflies and Doodlebug gems.  Fun pops of colour for a fun birthday card! I'm hoping to get lots of time in the Craft Cave this weekend. What are you hoping to do?  



Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight)  Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Stripe from Faux Ribbon) Papertrey Ink, (Sentiment from Scootin' By) Sweet Stamp Shop

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Melon Mambo) Stampin' Up

Dies:  (Die-Namics Butterflies) My Favourite Things, (Butterfly Delights) Memory Box

Gems:  (Mini Pearls) Doodlebug

Cup o' Sunshine

Hi there!  Happily, I got a little time in the Craft Cave this morning and managed to make a card for two challenges. I started off playing along with the Runway Inspired challenge.  I wanted to have a dominant yellow feature on the card. Initially I wasn't sure exactly what that feature would be but I started playing around with the Here Comes the Sun background stamp by Market Street Stamps.  I was dithering on where to go with it and thought morning sun = tea or coffee and the Paper Players challenge this week is to use a cup or cups.  So I grabbed the MSS Daily Grind set and paper pieced the mug.  The steam is from Paper Smooches' Hot Concoctions and the sentiment is Lawn Fawn's Sunny Skies set.  It's a totally different card than I thought I was going to make but I really like it!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Mug from Daily Grind, Here Comes the Sun) Market Street Stamps, (Steam from Hot Concoctions) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from Sunny Skies) Lawn Fawn
Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black)  Tsukineko, (Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie) Stampin' Up

BCBG Friend

I went a little crazy with the pattern on my card for the latest Runway Inspired Challenge.  I zeroed in on the little vertical stripes along the bottom of the dress and used strips of card to make similar stripes.  I originally intended to just use one strip like on the dress but then I started playing around with the strips and kind of dug this fun pattern.  So I used all of them! The matted panel is inspired by the shoes and I thought it needed a very simple sentiment to finish it off - this Paper Smooches one fit the bill perfectly! 


Linking this up at Simon Says Stamp too!


Supplies Used
Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, So Saffron) Stampin' Up
Stamps:  (Friend from Sentiment Sampler) Paper Smooches
Ink:  (Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Dies:  (Mat Stack 2 & Layerz Mat Stack 2) PTI
Twine:  (Pink Sorbet) The Twinery
Eyelets:  We R Memory Keepers

It's Not Easy Being Queen

Popping in super quick before I jet off to work for the afternoon.  I'm playing along with Unity's Friends With Flair blog hop and the Runway Inspired Challenge.  These dress forms from Unity's latest KOM made me think of fashion and models which made me think of Runway Inspired.  So I pulled a few colours from the RIC dress and came up with this simple one layer card.  It'll be added to the stack for the big special order I'm working on.  :)


I'm excited to report that the octopus has returned!  I'd really given up hope of seeing him again but there his was yesterday in his little cave under the steps by the dock.  Now if I can just keep Luis from eating him... 


Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Stamps:  (Images & sentiment from May '12 KOM - Love In An Instant) Unity

Ink:  (Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade) Stampin' Up

Gems:  (Tangerine, Limeade & Blue Jean assortments) Doodlebug

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

Rainbow Chick

I've really been enjoying Jen Rzasa's Runway Inspired Challenge despite the fact that I am so completely fashion challenged - jeans and a sweatshirt all the way for me thank you!  I love seeing everyone's interpretation of the pictures and it's forcing me to examine things more closely and with a more open mind.  Always a good thing.  Anyway this week is this totally cool chick in a fabulous rainbow dress so where did my brain go?  To a rainbow feathered bird of course!  I've had the feathers kicking around for a while so I was pleased to put them to use along with a few more scraps of patterned paper and some more Purple Onion Designs stamps.  :)  


Cardstock:  (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper:  (Quince and Smoke from the Ambrosia collection) Basic Grey
Stamps:  (Curly Bird, sentiment from Flower Framed Doodle) Purple Onion Designs
Ink:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Copics:  R29, BV23

Celebrate with Stripes

There are so many awesome cards at the Runway Inspired Challenge this week. Go check them out if you have a chance.  I've had an idea floating around in my head for it and thankfully I squeezed in some crafty time this morning.  Obviously I was inspired by the black and white stripes but what also caught my eye was the model on the very edge of the picture.  I liked the idea of bookending something with stripes and thought of this Unity bracket stamp that I have.  The stamp actually has polka dots inside the brackets which I didn't want so I stamped them on the back side of my striped paper and cut them out.  Now, this might be a stretch, but I'm also going to join in with Unity's Friends with Flair blog hop with this card - I did use a Unity stamp even if I only used it's shape.  :)  This card also fits in with Simon Says Stamp's Spots &/Or Stripes challenge.  Off to work now.  Have a wonderful day!
Supplies Used:
Cardstock:  (Black, White) Pacon

Patterned Paper:  Doodlebug Designs
Stamp:  (Bracket) Unity
Stickers:  Scenic Route