CASology #127: LIGHT

Hello, friends!  Christmas is quickly approaching, and so we have a two-week challenge at CASology lined up; our sponsor for this challenge is Add a Little Dazzle -- the wonderful company that supplies us with all of our metallic paper needs!  Here is our new cue card to wrap up 2014...

I can't help but think of all the religious connotations surrounding the word LIGHT.  In many religious traditions, the word "light" is used to depict goodness, divinity, and the removal of darkness/evil.  In the first book of the Old Testament, the book of Genesis notes, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."  God is light, in God there is no darkness.  This is the inspiration for my Christmas card today.

I made a mask by punching a circle onto card stock and using it to add distress inks around the stamped image.  I added a little Wink of Stella to the star for some sparkle.  This one-layer card would be easy to mass produce!

There are SO many ways to go with this cue, and you have two weeks to do it!  Be sure to link up your LIGHT card by noon on Monday, January 5th (Central time).  Check out the various ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...you'll see how many ways you can take this cue!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Shona

Thanks for visiting...and Merry Christmas for all who are celebrating!

Judy

Quick Christmas Tag Cards

Hello, friends!  Just stopping in before heading to work to share a set of Christmas tag cards I made using the new "Joy" stamp set by Precious Remembrance Shop.  I had to make a few simple gifts for my daughter to give to her dance team teachers, and these cards were the perfect fit!

Here they are before adding to the jars of candy (recycled Starbucks Frappuccino jars):

Here they are attached using ribbons and twine:

Sorry for the quick post...'tis the season!
Have a great day,
Judy

CASology #126: SNOW

Hello, friends! Welcome to a new cue card at CASology...get out your shovels and your boots and mittens, because SNOW has arrived!

While I have many snowmen stamps that I adore, I felt the urge to play with my Spellbinders snowflake embossing folder and dies this time around.  I used some non-traditional colors for a "snow" card, but I wanted to play with this silver glitter paper and I like how it looks with kraft!  The sentiment is a favorite by Hero Arts.

When you catch this gorgeous silver paper in the right light, it just sparkles away!

What does SNOW bring to mind for you?  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday (Central time). Check out the DT and Guest Designer cards for more inspiration!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Laura

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Candy Winner!

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by to announce the winner of my Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop candy drawing!

Believe it or not, out of the 53 comments I received, Random.Org's True Random Number generator picked #1!  Congratulations, Vicki Dutcher!  (I've e-mailed you!)

         Vicki DutcherDecember 10, 2014 at 1:14 PM

         These all are fabulous! Love your paper piecing for sure!

Thanks to all who left comments on my blog...I do appreciate all of your visits and comments.  I hope you had as much fun on this hop as I did!

Have a great day,
Judy

Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop & Blog Candy!

Hello, friends!  I'm so excited that Amy Tsuruta of Tsuruta Designs organized a holiday edition of the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!  I'm all in, let me tell ya!  There are lots of amazing sponsors, so be sure to check it out!

For my three cards today, I used one of my favorite holiday mug stamp sets from Purple Onion Designs called Cups of Joy.  I LOVE this stamp!  In each case, I paired the cups with a Hero Arts sentiment...I think they go perfectly together.

For my first card, I stamped the cups onto several different pieces of coordinating patterned paper and paper-pieced the cups.  A bit tedious, but I love the result!

For my second card, I made a one-layer card and colored the cups with Copics.  Some Glossy Accents finish the heart and candy canes, and the red metallic gems make perfect berries.

Here they are together!

One additional card to add...I used the same stamp but didn't bother paper-piecing it, I just let the patterned paper do the work.  I have to say, I like it!

To add to the fun, many participants are offering up some blog candy...and so am I!  I'm offering up a package of assorted embellishments including enamel dots, gems, pearls, sequins and ribbons.  I may throw in some other goodies, too!  Be sure to leave me a comment (and include your contact info if necessary) so you can be included in the drawing; the winner will be announced on December 20th.

Be sure to check out the blog hop line-up for lots of holiday coffee inspiration!  The holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop runs through Sunday, December 14th.

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #125: SILVER

Hello, friends!  It's time for a new cue card at CASology and I think you are all going to like it!  This week we are sponsored by STAMPlorations...be sure to check out the CASology blog for details.

I wanted to make a classic, simple Christmas card using red and green...and a touch of silver.  I die cut the ampersand from metallic silver paper from Add A Little Dazzle and paired it with a silver chord around the top of the card.  (I had a hard time getting a good photo of the silver metallic ampersand...has that ever happened to you?)

Supplies Used:

Papertrey Ink "Grand Ampersand" stamp and die set

Cuttlebug "Rebecca" embossing folder

Add A Little Dazzle silver metalic paper 

Be sure to link up your SILVER card by noon on Monday (Central time). We all hope you play along...be sure to come visit the design team and guest designer, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Ren

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

CASology #124: OLD

Hello, friends!  Welcome back to a new week at CASology!  This week our sponsor is Melon Door Lighthouse; they have such cute digital designs, be sure to check out their website and all the details at the CASology blog, too!

Before you begin to make your card this week, I have a little bit of advice for you.  Do NOT ask your pre-teen daughter what she thinks of when she hears the word "OLD."  She may stare at you until you realize she is implying that YOU are old.  (I won't make that mistake again.  Saucy little girl!)

When I think of "old," I think of old times, traditions, memories.

I colored this poinsettia stamp with LePlume markers, then spritzed with water and stamped.  Once dry, I added some ultra fine glitter to the flower petals.  Very subtle, but pretty in the right light.

I love these Hero Arts stamps, even they are old!

Be sure to link up your OLD-inspired card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the unique ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Maureen

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

The Card Concept #24: Snowman

Hello, friends!  I'm back again to play along with the current challenge at The Card Concept to make a snowman card/tag.  The Card Concept Design Team also paired up with Tracey McNeely's "25 Days of Christmas Tags" and shared a TON of amazing snowman cards and tags.  Wow!

This time around I decided to just go with a snowman card using a free digi by Jane's Doodles and a sentiment and background stamp by Hero Arts.  Love this DCWV glitter paper...isn't the lilac color pretty? I think this fits the "Clean and Layered" style.

That's it for me today...thanks for stopping by!
Judy

The Card Concept #24 - Snowman (Tag)

Hello, friends!  Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating today!

Today I'm playing along with the current challenge at The Card Concept to make a snowman card/tag.  The Card Concept Design Team paired up with Tracey McNeely's "25 Days of Christmas Tags" and shared a TON of amazing inspirational tags...be sure to check them out!

I don't have any tag dies (gasp!) so I attempted to make my own using a Spellbinders die.  After I made it, I decided to make it a "tag card."  Isn't this snowman digi image by Birdie Brown (Torico) adorable?  It was colored with Copic markers and paired with an old Hero Arts sentiment.  I believe this follows the "Clean and Simple" style.

I have a feeling there will be plenty of entries in this challenge...snowmen are very popular this item of year!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Judy

Caring Hearts Card Drive & SSS Wednesday Challenge

Hello, friends!  I sent in my set of cards for the Caring Hearts Card Drive and figured I share some pictures before I forget.  You might be interested in reading Vera's post HERE so you can find out how wonderfully it is all going!  This is the last week to be able to send in cards...and remember, there are lots of prizes up for grabs!

In my mind, the biggest reward is knowing your cards bring happiness to those in need of a smile.  :)

I'm going to enter these two cards in the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Anything Goes."

And...

It is raining/sleeting/snowing here and we are all now home from school and work as we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend.  Ahhh...I love being home with my family!

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you know how much I appreciate your visits!
Judy

CASology #123: EAT

Hello, friends!  I hope you're hungry, because it's time for our next cue card at CASology!

Our sponsor this week is Add A Little Dazzle, so be sure to check out all the details at the CASology blog.

When I think of the word EAT, I can't help but think of this awesome stamp I have in my stash for Thanksgiving cards (by Inkadinkado).  This funny image makes me smile every time I see it!  I'll be giving this card to my husband's aunt and uncle who are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this coming Thursday.  I know we'll be having turkey, but this poor fella has to make one last plea!  I can't blame him, after all.

What does EAT bring to mind for you?  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday (Central time). You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest Designer interpreted the cue this week...but beware, you might get hungry!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Conil

I am linking this card to the final "Say Yes" Recipe Swap at Catered Crop.  I'm sad to see it end, but I appreciate all of Linda's hard work...it was fun while it lasted!

I'm also linking this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog where the theme is "Thanks/Thanksgiving."  (I did stamp a "Happy Thanksgiving" sentiment on the inside of the card!)

To all my friends in the U.S., I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday!
Thanks for visiting,

Judy

CASology #122: FLAG

Hello, friends!  Wow, what a fun, festive week we had at CASology last week!  Now it's time for our next cue card!

I took a break from making holiday cards in order to make a CAS "Any Hero" thank you card to send in with my donation of cards to Operation Write Home.  With Thanksgiving quickly approaching here in the U.S., I thought it would be fitting.

The heart flag and sentiment are from a retired Sweet Stamp Shop set.  I fussy cut the heart flag and popped it up for some dimension, adding ultra fine glitter to the stars and stripes.  After doing so, I remembered that glitter is a NO-NO at OWH...oops!  I'll likely make another one with no glitter and save this card for a family friend who is currently serving overseas but will be home in a few months.

I'm sure you will all take this cue in many different directions...I can't wait to see where it takes you!  Be sure to link up your FLAG card by noon on Monday (Central time).  Check out the inspiring cards at our Design Team and Guest Designer blogs, too!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Gillian Ross
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino --> that's me!
Kimberly Wiener

May Sukyong Park
Meghan McMillan
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Anita

As always, thanks for visiting!

Judy

Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #6

Hello, friends!

I'm stopping by today with a card I made while playing with my "early-Christmas-present-to-myself" stamp and die set from Simon Says Stamp called Reason for the Season.  I am so thrilled to have a nice stamp set that depicts the true meaning of Christmas.  Just beautiful!

I'm also thrilled to be able to play along in the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #6 in which the theme is die cutting.  So glad that my stamp and die set arrived when it did!  I have been meaning to play along with this challenge for some time now...and Barb does such a wonderful job moderating them each week!  Be sure to check it out HERE for all the rules.

I stamped a heavy piece of kraft-colored cardboard with a Hero Arts woodgrain background stamp, then die cut the manger.  I popped up the outline section so it would add some depth to the scene, although it is hard to tell in my photos.  I also added some raffia as hay/straw.  Even with all that, the card is still relatively flat for mailing purposes.

I adore this stamp and die set.  It reminds me of the Willow Tree figurines like this one:

Thanks for stopping by today, I do appreciate your visits!
Judy

Word Art Wednesday #158 & Catered Crop Gratitude Attitude

Hello, friends!  This is my second post for the day.  I'm happy to be able to play along once again with both the Catered Crop "Gratitude Attitude" Recipe Swap and the new Word Art Wednesday #158 "Anything Goes." 

 

I used the current word art file provided by Word Art Wednesday because it is such a beautiful verse and expresses a beautiful attitude of gratitude.  

That's it for me tonight...have to post before the Link-Up closes!
Thanks, as always, for stopping by!
Judy

The Card Concept: Two Krafty Santas

Hello, friends!  I'm stopping by today with two cards I made for the current The Card Concept Challenge #23: A Krafty Christmas.  Who could resist after seeing THIS?

I made a decision this year regarding my Christmas crafty wish list.  Usually I made a long wish list and order items for my husband to give me for Christmas.  Then, it happens every year...I am overwhelmed with the new haul of goodies I receive on Christmas and I can't do anything with them!  Ugh!  I definitely do better in small increments.  SO...I ordered a few Christmas stamp sets that I want for Christmas, but I already got them and have used them.  (I will give them back to my DH to wrap up for me if he must, but honestly this worked out so much better for me!)

Some people might like to be surprised, but not this Capricorn.  I have control issues, I admit it.  Surprises are not for me. :)

One of the sets I HAD to have before Christmas was this cute set (by Torico/Birdie Brown) at My Favorite Things called Jingle All the Way.  Those Santas are so FUN!  I made two "Clean and Layered" cards using the kraft theme and my fun new stamps:

I love using ultra fine glitter on Santa's furry hat:

I also used a glitter gel pen but it isn't as sparkly:

I hope to make many cards with this fun stamp set.
I appreciate your visit...thanks for stopping by!
Judy  

Two Tags...into Two Cards!

Hello, friends!  In my last post I shared two tags I made for the current CASology challenge where the cue card is "FESTIVE."  Well, I mentioned that I don't have any tag-shaped dies, mainly because I don't really use tags that often. So, I decided to take my two tags and make them into cards!

I must admit, I adore this Santa image from Jane's Doodles.

Here they are together...they went from this:

to this:

Just figured I'd share...I'll likely be sending these off in my package of cards for the Caring Hearts Card Drive.  Cards are due soon!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy