Seahorse Sympathy

I'm so glad I got a bit of time to craft today because I love the current inspiration photo over at The Challenge - those pillows are gorgeous!  I love the colours and this gave me the perfect opportunity to ink up a NBUS Avery Elle stamp set - The Reef.  I embossed the seahorses in white and use some MFT dies to cut them out.  They're mounted flat while the sentiment is popped up and the gems add a little more dimension.  That's it for today.  Got a busy few days coming up but hopefully I'll get in some crafty time on Sunday.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Lucky Limeade, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Seahorse from The Reef) Avery Elle, (Sentiment from Casual Comfort) CAS-ual Fridays

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) wow

Dies:  (Inside & Out Stitched Round Rectangles) My Favourite Things

Gems:  Recollections

Patterned Butterflies

Hi there!  Hope you're all enjoying your weekend.  I got a bit of crafty time today and I really wanted to play along with the sketch over at The Challenge as they are taking a summer break after this.  I stuck very closely to the sketch and made use of some patterned papers and a few dies - no stamping in sight.  I actually made two cards but the one below veered off from the sketch a bit by using a full circle instead of a half circle.  I love my CAS designs but every once in a while I get a patterned paper bug and I just have to go with it!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Night of Navy, Early Espresso) Stampin' Up

Patterned Paper: (Dolled Up 6x6, Indie Chic 6x6) My Mind's Eye

Dies:  (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Designs, (Butterfly) Papertrey Ink, (Many Thanks) Essentials by Ellen

Gems:  Doodlebug

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

Flowers & Pandas

Hello again!  It's been a looooong time since I've posted this many days in a row.  I'm really enjoying the extra time in the Craft Cave and just wish I could have it all the time.  If only I'd had one of those 3 winning lottery tickets...  Ah well, one can but dream!

I have two cards to share today.  First up is the colour challenge over at The Challenge.  I made a similar card for a CASology challenge but this one is a lot brighter and with a more relaxed font.  I Copic coloured the WPlus9 flower and popped it up on foam tape.  The Lawn Fawn letters were cut 3 times and stacked for added dimension.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Textured White) Bazzill, (Smooth white) Papertrey Ink, (Night of Navy) Stamping' Up

Stamps:  (Flower from Doodle Buds) WPlus9

Inks:  (Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Louie's ABCs) Lawn Fawn

Markers:  (YR16, YR68, BG15, BG23) Copic

Gem: Doodlebug

Next is a card for the One Layer Simplicity "The sky's the limit" challenge and also for the AAA Cards glitter challenge.  I stamped the ballon in pink ink and then covered it with pink glitter (although it looks rather red here...) and I masked the string to make it a bit shorter.  I stamped the sentiment in blue ink since I didn't have a blue sky.  :)

That's it for me today but I'll see you tomorrow with more cards!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink

Stamps:  (Panda from Pandamonium, Balloon from Party Kit) Mama Elephant, (Sentiment from Rainbow & Cloud Sentiments) Lil' Inker Designs

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Melon Mambo, Not Quite Navy) Stampin' Up

Glitter:  (Tourmaline) Martha Stewart

Gems:  Recollections

Merry & Pink

Good morning!  I've got a card for three challenges today.  I used the inspiration photo from Just Us Girls to create a pink and silver Christmas card and since these are non-traditional Christmas colours I'm entering this over at The Challenge.  I'm also playing along with the Holiday challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.  I love this Neat and Tangled set so much - the ornaments are so yummy!  Short and sweet today and hopefully I'll be back again soon!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Ornamet & sentiment from Merry & Bright) Neat & Tangled

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow, (Silver) Ranger

Die:  (Bow) Avery Elle

Gems:  Recollections

Lions & Birdies & Clouds… Oh My!

I didn't make it into the Craft Cave over the weekend but I had some time in there today and I got a few cards made.  First up is for the ColourQ challenge using new (to me) WPlus9 supplies.  I've been wanting these dies and stamps for ages and finally managed to catch them while they were back in stock.  The ColourQ colours were just calling out to be used with this set!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Summer Starfruit, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up, (Rust) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (Dots & Stripes Metropolitan 6x6) Echo Park

Stamps:  (All from Sending Sunshine) WPlus9

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Cloud Border, Sunshine Layers) WPlus9

Gems:  Recollections

Next is a card for the Fusion challenge.  I used the sketch and took it very literally!  The inspiration photo made me think of this particular Glitz 6x6 paper pad although you wouldn't know it by looking at the papers I ended up using!  This little Memory Box bird is one of my favourites and definitely gets a lot of use.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill

Patterned Paper:  (77 6x6) Glitz

Stamps:  (Sentiment from CL342) Hero Arts

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Perched Reed Bird) Memory Box, (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Designs

Gems:  Recollections

Finally is a card that started with the Sketch for You to Try at Reverse Confetti.  Clearly I was in a real patterned paper mood today between this card and the last one.  Definitely not my usual CAS style.  This card also made me think of the new photo inspiration over at The Challenge.  Bright colours, patterns, a banner and a birthday?  Perfect!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink

Patterned Paper:  (The Citrus Matstack) DCWV

Stamps:  (All from Leaping Lions) Reverse Confetti

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Stitched Circles) Lil' Inker Desings

Gems:  (Ladybug assortment) Doodlebug

Other:  (Corner Chomper) We R Memory Keepers

Back to the Craft Cave

Hi there.  It feels like it's been ages since I've been here.  I was down and out for most of the week with a sinus infection.  Note to self:  Next time you think you might have a sinus infection do not wait until the earache sets in before going to the doctor.  Not fun…  

Today is the first day I've been in the Craft Cave since last Wednesday.  Luis was painting the kitchen (my offer to help was declined) so I had a good chunk of time to get crafty.  My first card is for the PS Sparks Picture Perfect challenge.  I embossed some borders from Tri-balation and then played with the smooshing watercolor technique.  The sentiment circle was made by layering the same colour three times while drying between each layer.  I think I like that part better than the background!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Ranger, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Triangles from Tri-balation, Sentiment from Word Salad) Paper Smooches

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Punches:  (1 1/4" circle) EK Success, (2" & 2 1/2" circles) Marvy Uchida

Paint:  (Watercolours) Loew Cornell

Gems:  Recollections

Next up is a card using the colour combo at The Challenge and the Anything Goes theme at Seize the Birthday.  I ran this Lil Inker die through my Cuttlebug with 5 different colours and then pieced it all together and layered a vellum sentiment on top.  I wanted to do this with glitter paper but my DCWV glitter paper really doesn't cut very well - I think because of the coated paper on the back side of it.  I tried it with a metal shim but still had to go over most of the cut lines with my craft knife and that just got too messy.  If anyone has any suggestions or tips for die cutting that stuff I'd love to hear them!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Blushing Bride, Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Basic Black) Stampin' Up, (Vellum) Strathmore

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Birthday Bash) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Clear) Ranger

Dies:  (Faceted Cover Up) Lil Inker Designs

Gems:  Recollections

My final card uses the inspiration photo at The Card Concept and the Die Crazy theme at the Simon Says Wednesday challenge.  I think the inspiration is pretty obvious (flowers, colours) and I'd put my card into the Clean and Simple category for the Card Concept.  The vases and flowers are all die cuts.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Bazzill, (Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Smokey Slate, Basic Grey, Basic Black) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Sentiment from Birthday Greetings) Altenew

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Die-namics Flower Trio) My Favourite Things, (Mega Gracious Vases) Papertrey Ink

Punches:  (1/4" & 5/16" hole punches) McGill

Glitter:  (Yellow Stickles) Ranger

'Tis the SEAson...

… for nautical challenges!  :)  I've got two ocean/nautical themed cards to share today.  I created the first card after seeing the inspiration photo at Addicted to Stamps and More.  I love the watercolour wash on the wall and I decided it was finally time to try the ink "smooshing" technique that I keep seeing everywhere.  I used Peacock Feathers Distress Ink here (I LOVE that colour!) and after the "smooshing" I flicked some ink on top of it.  It was pretty fun and is definitely a technique I want to play around with some more.  I'm also going to enter this in the Addicted to CAS Splash challenge and the Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes challenge.  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Watercolour) Ranger, (White) Papertrey Ink, (Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Fish from Fishy) Sweet Stamp Shop, (Sentiment from Hooked on You) WPlus9

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Peacock Feathers Distress) Ranger

Die:  Mama Elephant

Markers:  (YR04, YR68, B63) Copic

This next card is one that I made for the latest CASology challenge and decided not to use but I want to enter it over at The Challenge for their nautical theme.  These stamps and the fish above are all NBUS Sweet Stamp Shop images.  They have lots of really cute mini sets that you should check out if you haven't before.  I paper pieced this one (yes, even that tiny skull and crossbones!) and made the banner blue to represent the sea.  Time to dash back to work now.  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) PaperTrey Ink, (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Ship & sentiment from Ahoy) Sweet Stamp Shop

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Fathers and Feathers

Hi there!  I've got two cards to share today.  First up is a card for The Paper Players' masculine challenge.  I finally broke down and ordered some Taylored Expressions stamps and dies and I love them!  I actually opened them up and used them right away which I almost never do.  Usually I ponder new acquisitions for ages and wonder why I thought I'd be able to actually do justice to them.  


This design came together really quickly.  I used Stampin' Up's brushed gold and silver cardstock for the tools and they look so cool - just the slightest bit of shimmer to them.

Supplies Used:

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

Stamps:  (Sentiment from All the Fixings) Taylored Expressions

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (All the Fixings) Taylored Expressions

Next up is a card for two challenges.  I took the colours from The Challenge and paired them with Fanciful Feathers for WPlus9's Throwback Thursday Challenge.  I remember when this stamp set came out - I saw those feathers all over the place and I HAD to have them.  I couldn't tell you the last time I inked them up though.  I need to take part in this kind of challenge more often!


Okay, that's it for me.  Back to work for now but tomorrow is Friday. Whoop whoop!  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White, Kraft) Papertrey Ink

Stamps:  (Feathers & sentiment from Fanciful Feathers) WPlus9

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Calypso Coral, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake) Stampin' Up

Gem:  Recollections

A Quartet of Cards

Hi there!  I had a productive couple of hours in the Craft Cave today.  I made some special order cards and also managed to play along with some challenges.  First up is this card that I made using the Paper Smooches Sparks sketch.  The spaceship and sentiment are from the PS Space Cadet set.  To make the moonscape I used some splatter stamps from Stampin' Up' Gorgeous Grunge.  I love how it turned out!  I'm also going to enter this in the Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes challenge and the Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes challenge.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Smokey Slate) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Rocket & sentiment from Space Cadet) Paper Smooches, (Splatters from Gorgeous Grunge) Stampin' Up

Inks:  (VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko

Dies:  (Nestabilities Standard Circles Large) Spellbinders, (Stars) Mama Elephant

Gems:  Recollections

Markers: (Y08, Y17, YR26, B39, C3, C5) Copic

Next up I'm playing along with The Challenge's theme of celebrating teachers.  I think all of the sets I used here are either retired or from companies that are no longer in existence.  The apple is Unity, the sentiment is Sweet Stamp Shop and the background is Market Street Stamps.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink, (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive) Stampin' Up

Stamps:  (Apple) Unity, (Sentimetn from School's Out) Sweet Stamp Shop, (ABC Background) Market Street Stamps

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Soft Granite) Hero Arts

My third card was inspired by the Joan Bardee's Muse card.  I liked the sketchy look of the birthday cake and it made me think of this Hero Arts cake that I've had forever and has never seen ink.  The sentiment is also from an old Hero Arts set so because of this I decided to join the a2z Scrapbooking Supplies Anything Goes challenge (using Hero Arts).  

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (White) Papertrey Ink

Stamps:  (Cake from CL139, Sentiment from CL340) Hero Arts, (Circle from Beautiful Blooms II) Papertrey Ink

Inks:  (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Bubble Gum, Butter Bar) Hero Arts, (Tempting Turquoise) Stampin' Up

Gems:  Recollections

My final card is a special order card that I'm entering in the Seize the Birthday Anything Goes challenge.  The skyline is cut from DCWV glitter paper.  I love that stuff especially for blingy, girlie cards!  It may be the first time I actually get through an entire paper pad at the rate I'm going.  :)

So that's it for today.  I have a couple more special order cards to finish tomorrow and hopefully will sneak in a few more challenge cards as well if the mojo sticks around.  Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  (Daffodil Delight, Smokey Slate, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up, (Pink glitter) DCWV

Stamps:  (Birthday from Say What, Party from Good Times) Mama Elephant

Inks:  (VersaMark) Tsukineko

Embossing Powder:  (Opaque Bright White Super Fine) Wow

Dies:  (Super 2) Paper Smooches, (double Ended Banners) Papertrey Ink

Gems:  Recollections