Friday, March 21, 2014

Merry Monday #100: Seasons Greetings


Hello, friends!  Luckily I have finally recovered from a nasty bout of pharyngitis (lost voice, fever, sore throat, swollen glands...yuck!) that curbed my creative mojo for a while there.  It couldn't have come at a worse time...my two oldest kids had their 8th grade musical and I missed two of the three shows after months of helping with preparations and rehearsals!  They did a GREAT job but I was so bummed to have to miss it!  However, I'm almost done my antibiotics and am feeling human again...and ready to make a card!

What better way to do that than to play along with the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #100!  Check out this cool sketch and these FUN colors!


While I like the sketch, I tend not to do well with multiple layers on my cards...I feel like I never quite do them "right."  The colors and the photo, however, really appealed to me and I had an idea pretty quickly.  The wrapping paper reminded me of some patterned papers I have in my stash.  I went the "clean and simple" route and could see making this style of Christmas card in bulk!



I love this glitter paper from DCWV...adds so much sparkle with no effort!



Be sure to check out the fun and eclectic cards by the Merry Monday Design Team...they really went all out this week!

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Judy




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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

CASology #87: BLUSH

Hello, friends!  Today's CASology cue may make you blush...get ready! 

 
We are sponsored by Cathy at "Stamps and Scrapbooks" and I invite you to check out the details at the CASology blog.  Thanks for sponsoring us this week, Cathy!

 For this particular cue, I actually went to look up the dictionary definition of "blush."  Here is what I found:
 
blush:
1. a reddening of the face as a sign of embarrassment or shame.
2. a wine with a slight pink tint made in the manner of white wine but from red grape varieties.

 
When you see my card, you'll know which definition inspired me!


For my card I used two free digi images printed directly to card stock.  The sentiment is designed by Hannelie from desert diva.  Have you seen her awesome free digi sentiments?  Check out her blog HERE for a whole bunch of inspiration.  The image is from Dearie Dolls Digis.  Be sure to check out the sweet images there, too...Mary Ellen Smith is such a talented artist!  You can download her images in black and white or  in color...I chose the color version because their blushing cheeks were perfectly shaded!  Thank you, Hannelie and Mary Ellen, for sharing your talents with us so freely!

So, what makes this card fit the "CAS" bill?  Let's review.  One layer, no embellishments, no multi-layers, no clutter, lots of white space.  This is my favorite type of card because there is no hassle to mail it!  (No bulk. No bulges. One stamp.)

Need more inspiration for the cue this week?  Let me share a photo I found online that I thought might also be inspiring...

blushing
(Isn't this a pretty arrangement of blush wine?)


OK, now off you go!  Remember our new deadlines...you have until Monday at noon (central time) to upload your entries.  Go check out the creative cards by our Design Team and our wonderful Guest Designer, Jeanne!


Gillian Ross
Kimberly Wiener
Guest Designer: Jeanne
 
Thank you for stopping by...you know I appreciate your visits!
Judy
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Happy Birthday, Anita!

Hello, friends!  I'm here today as part of a "birthday card party" for the amazing Anita from My Papercraft World...well, it's actually "happy birthday plus one month!"  (Her special day was February 18th.)  The idea for the party was hatched by Bev from Happy Dance, and Darnell from djkardkreations offered to host it since she has "one of those inLinkz doohickeys."  So here we go!


If you haven't "met" Anita in blogland (or you haven't been to visit her in southwest France where she resides), then you REALLY must take a minute to visit her blog.  She writes with such wit and creativity...it's not unusual for her to make up a story about the characters in her cards...and her cards are always AMAZING!  I have been a blog fan and follower of Anita's for a long time, so I was thrilled to be able to participate in this "happy-birthday-plus-one-month" blog hop in her honor!


My card uses some "classic" Hero Arts stamps because I think Anita is classic in so many ways! 

All stamps by Hero Arts


Be sure to check out ALL the cards for Anita HERE, and you can even link up a card for her yourself if you are so inclined! 

Anita, thank you for all the kind and supportive comments you have left for me on my blog over the past few years.  I wish you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead filled with health, happiness, and lots of crafty goodness!

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy
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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Merry Monday #99: Merry!

Hello, friends!  Home from work sick today, but managed to make a card while I wait for my doctor's appointment to roll around. 

I wanted to play along with the current challenge at Merry Monday Challenge #99 to make a Christmas card using chocolate brown, green, gold and white or cream.


I pulled together some of my favorite Christmas patterned papers and a die cut sentiment using gold glitter sticky-back foam.  A few gems finished it off!  (It is a very sparkly card, just hard to photograph!)




See how it sparkles when it is turned in just the right angle?



Just a quick post...off to the doctor!
I appreciate your stopping by to visit today...take good care!
Judy
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Tuesday, March 11, 2014

CASology #86: ROOTS

Hello, friends!  Well, the carnival is past and now it's time for new cue this week at CASology!


This week we are sponsored by Stamplorations.  Be sure to stop by the CASology blog for all the details!

I must be honest...this week's cue had me stumped!  After thinking of a few literal interpretations, it hit me...and I thought of "Root Canal!" 

I know, I know, but hear me out...this idea came to me following a recent dentist visit with three of my four kids...and they walked out of there needing four fillings!  I have teeth on my mind, what can I say?   (Teeth do have roots, after all!)

This card will likely go in the lunch box of my little darling who has three of the four said fillings.  Yikes.

 All stamps by Sweet Stamp Shop: "Sweet Tooth"


I added Glossy Accents to the white tooth and popped it up for some dimension and interest.  It is still a CAS design with lots of blue "white space" and few embellishments.



So, what does the cue bring to mind for you?  (I do hope it's something a little more pleasant than root canals!) 

Breaking News!  In order to give participants more time to play along, we are extending the deadline for entries to Mondays at noon (Central Time). Due to this extension, we will be announcing our winners and honorable mentions on Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. (Central Time), one hour before a new challenge begins. Challenges will begin at the same time as usual, 8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Tuesdays. 

So, that means you should be sure to link up your card by noon on Monday...and that gives you all weekend to make cards for the challenge!  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!


Gillian Ross
Kimberly Wiener
Guest Designer: Claire
 
Thanks, as always, for stopping by!
Judy
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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

CASology #85: CARNIVAL

Hello, friends!  It's that time again...a new cue word for the week at CASology!  Put away your paint, it's time for a carnival!



I was once again challenged by the cue this week...no carnival-themed stamps in my stash.  However, I did remember the August 2012 freebie from The Alley Way Stamps (a fun circus tent image) and so I went about printing it multiple times onto some of my favorite patterned papers and did some paper-piecing!  The end result?



Here are the steps I followed in case you are interested.  First, I printed the image multiple times onto patterned papers:


I also printed it onto a section of white card stock and die cut a rectangle (using my Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles), leaving enough space to add my sentiment (from Simon Says Stamp).

Next, I cut out the different sections of the tents and pieced them back together again, mixing up the papers in fun combinations.  Here are two extra tents I have for future cards along with the card I made today:











If you need more resources for free digi images, check out this fun blog by Mary Ellen Smith called Free Dearie Dolls Digi Stamps and look in her July 2013 archives...there are several circus images there ...and they are so cute!

So, what does CARNIVAL bring to mind for you?  I can't wait to see!  Check out our amazing guest designer as well as the Design Team to get inspired, and then get to it!  Link up your creation by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and have fun!


Gillian Ross
Kimberly Wiener
Guest Designer: Jasleen

As always, thank you for stopping by...I do appreciate your visits!
Judy
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Sunday, March 2, 2014

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: Floral Thank You



Hello friends!  I wanted to share a simple one-layer card I made for the current One Layer Simplicity Challenge #3: Just Add Water.

I simply inked up my floral stamp with Marvy Uchida LePlume markers, spritzed with water, then stamped.  I added the sentiment, then spritzed the entire card with Perfect Pearls Mist to correspond to the "watery" feel of the card.  A few gold stickler were added to the floral centers, keeping embellishments to a minimum but adding subtle interest.


Sentiment by Hero Arts, flower image by Studio G


Thank you for stopping by...I appreciate your visit!
Judy
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