CASology #68: BLACK

Hello, friends!  We're back with another cue at CASology, just in time for Halloween!

I know Halloween is not celebrated globally, but we are gearing up for the big day in my parts...and I love it!  My card is a clean and simple example of how "white space" doesn't necessarily have to be white!

Materials Used:

Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop ghost, Hero Arts sentiment

Inks:  black dye ink, Copic markers, white embossing powder

Other: Martha Stewart fence punch, patterned paper

Obviously this cue can be used for any holiday, any reason...I can't wait to see how it inspires YOU!

Be sure to link up your card by 4:00 p.m. CDT on Sunday.  While you're at it, check out the amazing creations by our Guest Designer and Design Team members, too...you are sure to be delighted!

Melissa Chipperfield
Rosemary Dennis
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely

Maureen Merritt

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills
Guest Designer: Kristie

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Sweet Stamp Shop: Designer Spotlight #4

Hello, friends!  I am thrilled to be up at the Sweet Stamp Shop today with my fourth installment of "Designer Spotlight."  Please be sure to check out the full details HERE!

This time around I have the honor of spotlighting a very well-know card artist...Karolyn Loncon of My Paper Therapy!  You must check out her blog because once you do you will fall in love with her work and immediately sign on to follow her (like I did)!  Check out this recent feature at Paper Crafter's Library where you can learn a bit more about her and see her awesome work.  This marvelously inspiring lady is on the current design team for Paper Smooches (and has even designed some of their stamps and dies), and has an amazing list of accomplishments.  Karolyn has many wins at the various Moxie Fab World challenges and has been on a variety of design teams.  She has also been published multiple times in a variety of card magazines...and if you happen to read Paper Crafts Magazine you likely saw her adorable red typewriter card on the cover of the November/December issue!  To top it all off, she was named in Paper Crafts Magazine Stamping Royalty in 2011 and Paper Crafts Magazine Gallery Idol Top 10 in 2013. Yes, it's true.  Amazing!

Karolyn shared an amazing card -- and an interview -- today at the Sweet Stamp Shop and I encourage you to go check it out! 

In the meantime, I couldn't help but CASE one of her awesome creations using my own stash of Sweet Stamp Shop stamps. 

Have you ever seen this cute card by Karolyn?

It totally reminded me of the "Happy Hour" set from the October release at the Sweet Stamp Shop.  Here is my shameless CASE of Karolyn's card using my stash:

Yes, I changed the colors up a bit, but I stuck with the general card layout and the polka dots...perfect for a bubbly glass!

While I was at it I made another card, this time without floss but with some dry embossing:

Of course I had to add ultra fine glitter to both cards...see?

And here they are together!

Isn't Karolyn amazing?  I'm so thrilled that she allowed me to spotlight her today at the Sweet Stamp Shop ... do go check out the full post to see her awesome work and hear what she had to say in our interview!  Check in to Karolyn's blog HERE, too...you won't be disappointed!

And, as always, thank you to my wonderful followers.  (Welcome to my newest followers, too...so glad to have you!)  So glad you stopped by today!
Judy

CASology #67: COUNTRY

Hello, friends!  Another Tuesday, another cue word at CASology!  I have been enjoying the beautiful entries for the many fall-themed cues at CASology in the past few weeks, and this week could lead you down that path, too! 

It could actually lead you in many different directions...that's the beauty of a cue word...just take it and run with it!

This week we are sponsored by 7 Kids College Fund...be sure to check out all the details at the CASology blog!

OK, so here's how this went for me.  I had so many thoughts for this cue I had a very hard time actually making a card!  I adore the "country" style of decorating, and I wanted to go with a French country or folk art country style design.  But then my mind went to patriotic thoughts, and I wanted to make a card for Any Hero at Operation Write Home.  Then I thought of country music.  Then I thought of the rural country landscape and farms and cows and sheep.  Goodness, so many options!

I finally made two cards, both using country-style design elements (e.g., gingham, cream/blue, berry wreaths, floral dry embossing, lacy border punch, country hearts, jute, raffia, etc.).

(All stamps by Papertrey Ink and Studio G)

I look forward to seeing what COUNTRY means to you.  Be sure to upload your projects by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday to play along!  While you're at it, check out the awesome cards this week by our Design Team and two fabulous Guest Designers, too!

Melissa Chipperfield
Rosemary Dennis
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely

Maureen Merritt

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills
Guest Designers: Hannelie and Lori

Thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate your visits!

Judy

Sweet Stamp Shop - October Stamp Release and Coupon

Hello, friends!  I am so excited to be here today to celebrate the October Stamp Release at the Sweet Stamp Shop!

Here are the two stamp sets I got to play with for the release...and they are quickly becoming personal favorites the more I play with them!

First up: Happy Hour!

Check out my glittery, sparkly cards!
(Used lots of distress inks and masking on this one-layer card.)

I love these glasses and they lend themselves to lots of sparkle, too!  Mmmm...bubbly!

What better card base for a glittery glass of bubbly than a glittery card?!

Finally, a CAS card for a Happy New Year...

Next up: Speedy Greetings!

Lots of paper-piecing going on in these cards...and lots of fun making them!

(Sometimes adding little accents like white gel pen dots and red Stickles on a nose can make all the difference!)

This one had no paper-piecing, just coloring (and some flair!)!

Wow, that's a lot of cards in one post, right?  I was just so excited to share -- I had to do it all at once!  

Be sure to check out the entire October Stamp Release at the Sweet Stamp Shop.  There is a coupon available for 25% off the new stamps!  Use coupon code OR25, good through Friday.  

As always, thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate your visits!

Judy

CASology #66: PUMPKIN

Hello, friends!  Tuesday is quickly becoming my favorite day of the week...I do love a new CASology cue! This week we have a fun one...I'm predicting TONS of entries!

I love almost everything about pumpkins...picking, carving, decorating...just not eating!  I know, I know, what's wrong with me, right?  I just don't like pumpkin pie or soup or anything else made with them.  (Sorry!)

That said, I admit that I REALLY like to paper-piece stamped images of pumpkins.  (There are tons of digital freebie images of pumpkins out there if you are in need of an image!)  I recently scored an Inkadinkado stamp set on clearance at the local craft store and have enjoyed playing with it for the past few challenges!  I've enjoyed it so much that I made two cards with it this week!

Version one - a white card base:

(See the score lines better in this one?)

Version two - a kraft card base with dry embossing all over the card:

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Inkadinkado "Autumn Foliage," Studio G "Happy Halloween"

Inks: Hero Arts Grass chalk ink, orange dye ink, Walnut Stain distress ink

Other: Basic Grey "Picadilly" paper, orange and green rhinestones, Sizzix "Flowers" embossing folder

I am also linking these cards up at the Shabby Tea Room for their Week #188 Fall challenge theme (to use a fall theme, stamped sentiment, and pumpkins).   

I can't wait to see your PUMPKIN cards!  Be sure to check out the Design Team cards and upload your entries by 4:00 p.m. (CDT) on Sunday!

Melissa Chipperfield
Rosemary Dennis
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely

Maureen Merritt

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Judy

UWYH #19 - Boo!

Hello, friends!  I'm back with a card for the current Use What You Have Challenge #19 at the Sweet Stamp Shop.  (I believe this will be my final Halloween card, I have a good stash now for all my little nieces and nephews!)

My stash includes a large jar of buttons that never gets smaller, alphabet stickers which seem to be multiplying in my drawer, and the paper scraps that never seem to diminish, no matter how many times I use them!

And here is the card I made using my paper scraps (I even paper-pieced the witch's dress):

Materials Used:

Stamps: image by Sweet Stamp Shop

Inks: black die ink, Copic markers

Other:  Nestabilities "Reverse Wonky Rectangle" die, Cuttlebug "D'vine Swirl" embossing folder, 

glitter alphabet stickers, patterned paper scraps, button, twine 

Hope you get a chance to play along, there are prizes to be won (and you don't need to use Sweet Stamp Shop stamps if you don't have any)!

Have a great day,
Judy

Sweet Stamp Shop: Designer Spotlight #3

Hello, friends!  Welcome back to my third edition of "Designer Spotlight" at the Sweet Stamp Shop...be sure to check out the full post HERE!

This time around I am lucky enough to be putting the spotlight on the ultra-talented, super-versatile Kim Singdahlsen from Joyful Creations with Kim!  Yes, she is currently on three (yes, count them, THREE) design teams and has been on many more in recent years!  She has also had Guest Designer spots at about every challenge blog out there in the universe!  And I haven't even started on her list of challenge wins...I mean, how much time do you have?  This could take hours!

So, needless to say, I was THRILLED when Kim agreed to let me spotlight her over at the Sweet Stamp Shop.  Nicole sent her two stamp sets to play with and Kim, of course, worked wonders with them.  She also provided some valuable insights to questions I posed about card-making.  Do check it out over there!


In the meantime, I CASEd one of Kim's awesome cards using some of my Sweet Stamp Shop stamp sets.  Here is her card using a sketch from a recent CAS(E) This Sketch challenge:

And here is my take on her card:

Here are the Sweet Stamp Shop sets I used for my card:

 Fall Gratitude

Kiss Me

THANK YOU so much, Kim, for letting me spotlight you as a designer today AND for letting me CASE your awesome card!  You are an inspiration to us all!

Be sure to stop by Kim's blog HERE to check out the amazing work she shared for the Sweet Stamp Shop, and, of course, stop by the Sweet Stamp Shop blog to see the full "Designer Spotlight" post and Kim's wonderful work!

Thanks for stopping by...I do appreciate your visits!

Judy



CASology #65: CRISP

Hello, friends!  It's Tuesday, which means another wonderful cue word at CASology!  (What a great week we had last week with our cue...I have a feeling this is going to be another awesome week!)

We are sponsored by Uniko Studio this week...be sure to check out the details at the CASology blog!

OK, it's definitely fall here on the east coast of the USA, and the leaves are crunching under foot as I walk my kids to school each cool morning.  The air is crisp, the leaves are dry, and there lies the inspiration for my card this week.  (Trust me, my mind also went to FOOD but I stuck with my first thought!)

I inked my leaf stamp with multiple distress inks, then spritzed with water before stamping and fussy cutting.  The raffia bow adds another crisp touch of fall.  

For added interest, I spritzed the entire kraft panel with "Heirloom Gold" Perfect Pearls Mist...doesn't that add so much to the "crisp" feeling of the card?  The light has to hit it just right in order to see it...

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Inkadinkado "Autumn Foliage," Rubber Stampede "Liquid Amber"

Inks: Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw

Other: Perfect Pearls "Heirloom Gold" Mist, Li'l Inkers stitched rectangle dies, raffia bow 

I can't wait to see what CRISP brings to mind for you!  Be sure to check out the inspiring cards by our Design Team and Guest Designer this week...and link up your cards by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Melissa Chipperfield
Rosemary Dennis
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely

Maureen Merritt

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills
Guest Designer: Valerie

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Judy

Shabby Tea Room Week #187: Happy Halloween

Hello, friends!  I am stopping by today with another Halloween card.  I recently discovered a new challenge at The Shabby Tea Room and so I followed their sketch so I could play along for the first time.  Yay!

I loosely interpreted that oval...I made it a ghost instead, hope that's OK!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: ghost by Sweet Stamp Shop, sentiment by Studio G

Inks:  Versamark (and white embossing powder), Copic markers on the ghost

Other:  patterned paper, pop dots (under the ghost)

Be sure to check out the Week #187: 'Sketch This' Challenge at the Shabby Tea Room, there are some super cards by the DT as inspiration.  So glad I found it!

Edited to add:  Ooops!  I forgot to add one of my strips of card stock in my haste to post!  Here is an updated picture, sorry for the poor quality (evening lights are bad!)

Have a great day,
Judy

UWYH #18 - Halloween Mummy

Hello, friends!  I am so happy to be able to share another Halloween card today for the "Use What You Have Challenge #18" at the Sweet Stamp Shop...I need quite a stash of these for all my little nieces and nephews (so, you guessed it, you'll be seeing a few more Halloween cards in the days to come!).

My stash this week consists of too many Halloween stamps -- why do I have so many for a once-a-year holiday?  (Mainly because they are so cute!)

I just added the Sweet Stamp Shop stamps to my stash recently, so I had to play with them a bit.   The other stamps shown are a Hero Arts set I won from Simon Says Stamp (a mix of Halloween and Christmas stamps all in one).  This time around I used the mummy and the haunted house image together and came up with this:

I cut out a cloud shape from heavy card stock and used Weathered Wood distress ink to make that ominous sky...I love that eerie look!  But then there is that cute mummy popped up, looking so cute...do you think he'll have the courage to trick-or-treat up the hill at that house?  It looks like they are home, the lights are on!

So, do you have some stash that's ready to be used?  You can play along at the Sweet Stamp Shop's Challenge even if you don't have any of their stamps.  Check it out...there are prizes to be won and it is very fun!

Thanks for stopping by...and a big WELCOME to all the new followers that have recently signed on, I'm so flattered and thrilled to have you!

Judy