CCNS Challenge #11: Outline Stickers

Hello friends!  I'm back again with two cards I made for the current Classy Cards 'n Such Challenge to make a card using outline stickers. 

I was lucky enough to win some lovely gold outline stickers from a previous challenge at this awesome blog, so I was thrilled to be able to play with them this week.

Here are the two cards I made...

For the first card, I used Gold Sunflowers Outline Stickers along with a border of gold butterflies found HERE; I colored inside the stickers with Copic markers.  I embossed the dots on the top half of the card using a Sizzix embossing folder, and the sentiment is from Hero Arts stamped in Latte chalk ink.  Here is a closer look:

The second card uses the same Gold Sunflowers along with a beautiful Daisy Flourish embossing folder also available in the Classy Cards 'n Such shop.  I colored again with Copics and stamped another sentiment from Hero Arts.  Here is my second card:

I'm glad I was able to play along with the current challenge...I encourage you to go check out the Classy Cards 'n Such blog and shop when you have a minute!

Have a great day,
Judy

CASology Cue Card #1: Sun!

Hello, friends!  Have you heard about the new blog called CASology?  I was so happy to hear about it through Rosemary's blog (she is one of the talented design team members) and I couldn't wait to check it out. 

If you know anything about me, then you know I LOVE clean and simple cards.  LOVE them.

So, they have their first challenge posted, and here is how it works.  Every Tuesday, a cue card will be posted containing a single word; this week the word is "SUN."  We are challenged to take that word and run with it, keeping the card design clean and simple. The deadline is Sunday of the same week and winners are announced on Monday.  Another cool thing: weekly winners will have the opportunity to be guest designers for upcoming challenges! 

So, I checked out the blog and was immediately inspired, particularly by the cards made by both Jen and Rosemary.  I immediately thought of my cheery little "Sunshine" stamp (Me & My Big Ideas) and a simple Studio G sentiment...together with a little Scattered Straw distress ink, Spellbinders wonky rectangles, gingham paper, and hand-drawn stitches, I was DONE!

I hope you get a chance to check out this new blog...they have some very talented ladies on the design team, and ANY challenge surrounding clean and simple designs is MY KIND OF PLACE! 

Have a great day!
Judy

90-Minute Scramble at Hero Arts

Hello, friends!  I was SO happy to be able to play along with the 90-Minute Scramble at the Hero Arts Flickr group today, hosted by Ger (Cards n Chocs).  She challenged us to make a card of encouragement with the optional theme of masking.  I did both, and I may go back and make a whole bunch of these since it was so quick and easy to do!

I first embossed the label in black, then added the sentiment with wet cement mid-tone ink.  Next, I masked the label and stamped the Classic Fabric Design background using wet cement again.  Finally, I rounded the corners, and done!  A quick and simple one-layer card...my favorite kind.

On a personal note, I am happy to report that I am officially done work for the summer, and the kids are done school.  However, we are still busier than I expected and I actually do have to work a bit this summer even though I am "off."  A good friend and co-worker recently retired and I am taking over some of her duties, which will require some summer hours.  In addition, even though the spring sports have ended, somehow the kids are now on tournament teams and attending sports camps of all sorts (baseball, soccer, field hockey, etc.).  I also help out with the digital yearbook pages for my kids' school yearbook, and my pages are due soon.  AGGHH!  Oh well, at least there is no homework! 

I'll leave you with pictures from our recent vacation Cooperstown, NY (where we visited the Baseball Hall of Fame) and then Niagara Fall, Canada.  We missed the guy crossing the Falls on a tight rope by one week...darn!

This is from Babe Ruth's locker...cool! 

See that boat heading for the Falls?  We went on that (the Maid of the Mist) and got very wet. 

Here are the Niagara Falls lit up at night.  Very cool!

 
Thanks for stopping by...I hope to visit you soon, too!
Judy

Paper-Pieced Baby Cards for Less Is More

Hello, friends!  I stole a few minutes today to make two cards for the current Less Is More Week 73 Recipe Challenge to use "Paper Piecing."  I love using up scraps of patterned paper for paper-piecing images, and the two baby cards I made were quick and easy.  (I actually have a stash of pre-cut paper-pieced images that I work on when I have some down time and pull out when I need a quick card.  I store them in the slots of a small 4x6 photo album!)

My first card is a clean and simple one-layer card using a paper-pieced, popped-up duck image from Sandylion.  The sentiment is Paper Smooches, while the wavy line is from Limited Edition Rubber Stamps.  I added a tiny black gem to the eye, and voila!

Side Note:  A finishing touch I always like to do when paper-piecing is to go over the edge of the image with the side of a black marker...see here?  It just makes it look more "finished."

My second one-layer CAS card on kraft uses a free digital sentiment from Kim Hughes along with a paper-pieced bunny from the same Sandylion set; the little flower gem is Hero Arts.

This image on this card is not popped up, but I added some shading with a grey Copic marker around the bottom and side edges for some dimension. 

I have missed playing at the Less Is More blog for the past few months...they always have such wonderful challenges and entries.  Chrissy and Mandi are such wonderful sources of inspiration, too.  Mandi's birthday cards and Chrissie's birds and balloons this week are perfect examples of paper-piecing at its finest...be sure to check them out!

Have a great day, everyone! 
Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Duck Tape or Duct Tape?

Hello friends!  While technically school and work have ended, I seem to be working harder and running more than ever!  WHEN, oh WHEN, will I get to play again?!?!  Sigh.

All I know is that, while I feverishly try to put away uniforms and school folders and supplies and chauffeur the kids to their respective practices and camps, I am surrounded by duct tape.  Or duck tape?  I guess it depends who you talk to! 

What am I talking about?  Here's a clue...and if you have children you may already know what I'm getting at here...

This shoe box holds my 12-year-old daughter's growing collection of "Duck Tape" brand duct tape!  She and my other children love to make various items out of this stuff...I have more wallets than I know what to do with!  My son has even covered his wiffel ball bat with the stuff.  (They search YouTube for instructional videos and off they go!  Even the local craft stores have whole aisles dedicated to this stuff now...who knew?)

So, of course, being the crafty mom that I am, I decided I needed a few rolls, especially when I saw pretty chevrons and paisley patterns!  (I may not have washi tape, but I now have designer duct tape!)

So, the next logical step was to make CARDS using this tape.  (But of course!) Here's what I came up with...more cards for my kids to give their friends at the ongoing summer birthday parties they keep getting invited to attend!  I used several Hero Arts favorites to pull them all together.

This card uses the pretty paisley tape, which I trimmed like a banner and then dry embossed the whole card front.

Next up, two cards using bright colors that compliment the chevron stripes...I love this tape the most!

I guess I'll need a shoe box for my duct tape collection.  (Never thought I'd blog those words...but then again, I never thought I'd blog, either!)

Well, that's it for today...maybe things will slow down in July and I can get back into regular blogging.  Let's hope!

Take good care,
Judy

How Many Birthday Cards?

Wow...I can't believe I'm back again with another card share!  We are in the home stretch of activities and school now, with most events finishing on Friday.  I can see the light!  (Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus ringing in the background?  I can!)

I was able to crank out a few much needed birthday cards the other day -- would you believe my kids had 4 birthday parties to go to this past weekend?  I need a second job to afford all these gifts!  Here are the quick cards I came up with...let me know if you need details, I'm happy to share!

It felt so good to get a little inky once again...I can't wait until summer vacation, my friends!
Until then, take good care!
Judy

A Quick Share

Hello, friends!  I'm stealing a few minutes from my hectic day to share two cards I was able to make quickly this past weekend.  I'm not entering them anywhere, not even sure what contests are even going on right now...just wanted to share.  I was playing with some goodies on my desk (embossing folders, pearls, butterflies) and came up with these two cards:

 All stamps are Hero Arts...my favorite!

I hope you are all doing well...I miss everyone (and your blogs) and hope to be back in a few weeks when school/work/sports/extracurriculars come to an end.  Wish me luck...we're in the home stretch now!

Until then, take good care!
Judy