Happy Birthday, Tracey!

Hello, friends!  I am so happy to be stopping by today in order to share a birthday card for the amazingly talented and extra super sweet Tracey McNeely on the occasion of her birthday!

Be sure to check out Joyce's blog, "Cards-by-the-Sea" where a Birthday "Linky Party" has been arranged in honor of Tracey.  You can link up a card there, too, if you so desire!

I am lucky enough to be on the CASology Design Team with Tracey, and she has been nothing less than kind, supportive and inspirational to me since we first "met" online!  She even sends me the sweetest e-mails related to comments I leave at her blog posts...isn't that just going the extra mile?  That's the kind of lady she is...no wonder so many people admire and love her! 

Personally, I have dubbed her "Queen of the Stitched Rectangle Die" because she does such amazing work with those things! (She is the reason I bought mine, thank you very much!)

So, of course, I HAD to use layers of stitched rectangles on her birthday card!

All stamps by Hero Arts

Tracey, I wish you all the best, today on your birthday, and every day of the year.  Thank you for being such an inspirational woman, not just in card-making but in all aspects of life.  I'm so happy to have found you in our "blogging world!"  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

   :)
 Judy

A Sweet Chance to Win!

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a quick announcement...there is some exciting news over at the Sweet Stamp Shop that I just had to share! 

Nicole, owner and primary designer for the Sweet Stamp Shop has brought on a new friend and stamp designer, Alyssa Bennett!  (Check out the post at the Sweet Stamp Shop for the full story...so sweet!) 

Just wait until you see how adorable her designs are...you will NEED to add these stamps to your stash, for sure! 

But wait, there's more! 

There is still a chance to WIN one of her debut stamp sets...be sure to check out the post HERE at the Sweet Stamp Shop!

Thanks for stopping by,
Judy

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