Merry Monday #143: Joy to the World!

Hello, friends!  I'm so happy I was able to squeak in some crafty time today in order to play along with the current Merry Monday Challenge #143: {Carollers/Music}. 

This challenge is right up my alley since I LOVE to sing and I've been Christmas carolling, too (and I highly recommend it!)!   I also just happen to have the perfect stamp for such an occasion...the "Carolers" set by Clearly Wordsworth.

Here is my clean and simple Christmas card depicting one of my favorite Christmas carols!

 Here is the message on the inside of the card:

Be sure to check out the pool of entries and the Design Team cards this week at Merry Monday...you will definitely find a wide variety of inspiration there!

Before I go, I also wanted to share an updated photo.  A few of you have mentioned to me that you liked my new profile head shot.  (Thanks for that!)  My brother-in-law, a photographer, recently took my picture over the Christmas holidays and I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it! (I am my own toughest critic when it comes to photos.)  I realized my last profile picture was about five years old, so here is the updated version of "me."  

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Judy

CASology # 131: BIRTHDAY

Hello, friends!  Welcome back to another cue card at CASology.  This one promises to be a popular one!

This week we are sponsored by STAMPlorations...be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details!

Since I am always in need of birthday cards, I made two cards for the cue this week. Both are one-layer cards, easy to make and easy to mail.

My first card uses all WPlus9 stamps -- I just bought Strictly Sentiments 5 and I thought this sentiment went well with the retired "Mehndi Medallions" set for either a male or female.  A simple black line across the bottom of the card grounds the images and sentiment.  I couldn't help but add tiny gems that matched the inks I used!

My second card was totally inspired by Deanna of Kloset Kreations (see her card HERE).   I used some never before used Papertrey Ink flowers in my stash paired with a big birthday sentiment and a Cuttlebug border embossing folder.  A few dots of blue Stickles added some extra sparkle but no bulk.  An easy one-layer birthday card!

I know this cue is going to be a popular one this week...and I can't wait to see what clean and simple designs you come up with!  (More for me to Pin, my friends!)  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Sunday.  Check out the Design Team and Guest Designer's card this week, too -- you will be totally inspired!

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

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Hannelie

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

CASology, LIM, NBUS & Uniko Studio: Hello, Sweet Friend

Hello, sweet friends!  I'm really enjoying the cue card at CASology and the theme at Less Is More (Week 207) this week, as you can tell by my multiple cards of this theme!  And, since I used some "Never Before Used Schtuff," I'm also entering this in Darnell's NBUS Challenge #3.  I was also given the heads up by Sarah that Challenge #17 at Uniko Studio is "Love and Friendship," so I'm going to enter it there, too! (Thanks, Sarah!)

     

Today I used some new goodies including my Darice embossing folder and a new (to me) Papertrey Ink stamp and die set I purchased from a "crafters purge" group on Facebook.  Fun!  I think the polka dot patterned paper makes a really cute phone, don't you?

Be sure to check out all the fun at CASology and Less Is More...lots of clean and simple inspiration out there!  Lots of fun going on at the Uniko Studio challenge, too!  Of course, Darnell's NBUS Challenge is overflowing with awesome entries...and it's just about to close, so check it out!

Have a great day!
Judy

CASology #130: FRIEND

Hello, friends!  We are back with our next CASology cue card (and it seems to be a popular theme this week in blogland)!

This week we are sponsored by DeNami Designs, so be sure to check out the CASology blog for details!

I recently purchased a few goodies online from JoAnne's during a really good sale, and my goodies came just in time for this cue.  I bought a new Darice embossing folder (I have a thing for them, if you haven't guessed already) and I couldn't wait to use it to frame these cute chickadees by Technique Tuesday.  I like the way this simple friendship card turned out!

I added some subtle glitter accents around the embossed frame with a glitter pen...I love that effect.  Interest, no bulk.

I'm also going to link this card up to the current Less Is More Week 207 Theme: Friends challenge.  (Isn't it amazing that we both randomly picked the same theme this week?  Great minds think alike!)

I can't wait to see your FRIEND cards!  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...be sure to check out their blogs, too!

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

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park (taking a break this week)
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Ren

Thanks for visiting, friends!

Judy

Less Is More & NBUS: Happy Birthday, Friend

Hello, friends!  I'm stopping by today to share a card I made for the current Less Is More Week 207 Theme: FRIENDS challenge.  What a great theme!

I recently purchased some used crafty items through a group on Facebook and I couldn't wait to play with them.  One of my purchases was this cute set ("Party Pals") by Paper Smooches (I have the bunny as part of a different set, but I always wanted this pair).  My kids go to a lot of birthday parties, and I think this image is perfect for both boys and girls!

Sorry for the photo quality...I took this at night.  You can't see it well, but I added Glossy Accents to the eyes and the cat's nose for extra interest.

Edited to Add:  I took a better photo in the morning, what a difference with natural light!

Since I used a never-before-used (by me) stamp set, I'm also linking this up to Darnell's NBUS Challenge #3.  So fun!

I hope to make a few more cards for this challenge...I have many "friend" stamps and don't mind having a stash of cards on hand with that theme!

Just a quick post today...thank you for stopping by!
Judy

CASology #129: NBUS

Hello, friends!  Welcome back for a new cue card at CASology!  This week we are combining challenges with Darnell Knauss' NBUS ("Never Before Used Schtuff") Challenge.  How fun!  If you play along, be sure to link up your card to both challenges!

     

  

Well, as it happens every year, I received many crafty items for my birthday and Christmas (two days apart), so at this moment I have a LOT of "never before used schtuff" in my craft room!  I love Darnell's challenge because it feels good to break open some of these new toys and put them to good use!

I made several cards for this cue card, and they are a continuation of a set of cards I posted HERE.  This time around I used two new (to me) stamp sets from Precious Remembrance Shop and a set of $1.50 thank you notes from Michael's.

For my first card, I inked up the washi tape stamps (from the Border Tape #1 set) to make a symmetrical, evenly-balanced one layer card.  (Yes, I have a thing for symmetry.)

For my next card, I inked up the feather image and splatters (from the DIY set) and stamped them directly over the sentiment.

For my third card in the set, I simply stamped the arrows (from the DIY set) black ink and colored them in with Copics.  Easy peasy!

Here they are together:

I am also linking up these cards to Virginia's View Challenge #11: Clean Slate.  They are all one-layer cards with lots of white space and some layered stamping.  I do love this style!

I'm also playing along with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: "Something New."  These stamps are new to me!

Finally, I'm entering these cards into the Less Is More Week 206 "One Layer Challenge" with the theme of new beginnings.  I hope this is the beginning of many times I use these stamp sets!

Be sure to link up your card using some never before used schtuff  by noon on Monday (Central time). Be sure to tell us what you used that was new...and link up to both challenges!  You will also be inspired by the many ways our Design Team and Guest of Honor, Darnell herself, interpreted the cue this week!

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

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park (Taking a break this week)
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest of Honor: Darnell
Guest Designer: Ashwini

Thanks for visiting,

Judy

Virginia's View Challenge #11: Clean Slate Guest Designer!

Hello, friends!  I am so excited and honored to be stopping by today to let you know that I am a featured Guest Designer at Virginia's View Challenge #11: Clean Slate!

Needless to say, when Virginia reached out to me with an invitation to participate, I JUMPED at the chance!  She understands my love of one-layer, clean-and-simple cards, and I am so flattered that she invited me to play along for this month's challenge. Here is a little peek at my project, inspired by the photos above.

Be sure to visit Virginia's View Challenge blog today to see the full feature.  I hope you'll play along this month, too -- her challenges are always a lot of fun, and Virginia is an amazing lady all around!

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

CASology #128: DATE

Hello, friends!  Happy New Year!  Welcome back to another year filled with CASology Cue Cards!  As we begin this new year, we are very sad to say goodbye to the very talented and amazingly sweet Meghan McMillan...she has always been one of my favorite CAS designers and always will be!  Meghan, it has been a pleasure being a member of the CASology Design Team with you, and I wish you all the best!

We are also very excited to welcome two new Design Team Members...join me in welcoming Hazel Hodgkins and Kymona Tracey to the CASology Design Team!  Be sure to visit their blogs...if you haven't already, you will quickly realize how uber-talented they are!  We are all excited to have them join the team and I am certain they will inspire us with each new weekly cue.

Now let's get down to business, shall we?  The first cue of 2015 is....drum-roll please....

This week we are sponsored by Cindy B. Designs, so be sure to check out the CASology blog for all the details.

So many dates ran through my mind when I saw this cue.  I just passed my blogaversary on January 1st -- this is my fifth year blogging!  :)  I just celebrated my 45th birthday.  I will celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary this summer.  So many big dates this year!

Funny story.  My husband asked me out on our first date when we were seniors in high school and he took me out to lunch for my 18th birthday.  Two months later he gave me our first Valentine's Day card -- I still have it tucked away.  (I knew he was a keeper!)  Even after seven years of dating and then almost twenty years married, he is still a great date!  That's where I went with the cue card this week -- I made a Valentine's Day card for my husband, my best friend, and the best date a girl could ever ask for!  And, as an added bonus, I know he'll appreciate the humor behind it because he knows that I am afraid of bees! (Well, I prefer to say I'm "hyper-vigilant," not "afraid.")  

Supplies Used:

Square stitched dies by Simon Says Stamp

Image "Watering Can Bee" stamp by Rubber Stampede

Sentiment by Inkadinkado

Ultra-fine glitter (on wings)

Speaking of Valentine's Day:  If you are interested in making Valentine's Day cards for a great cause, check out THIS post.  I've participated in Winter's Cards from the Heart Card Drive for several years, and I'm always happy to do so!  Check out her blog for all the rules and details.



What does DATE bring to mind for you?  I can't wait to see!  Be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday (Central time). Check out the inspiring posts by our Design Team and our Guest Designer this week, too!

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

Kymona Tracey
May Sukyong Park
Melissa Chipperfield
Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Nonni

I know this was a wordy post, wasn't it?  Thanks for hangin' in there!
As always, thanks for visiting,

Judy