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Monday, March 31, 2014

12 Kits of Occasions: March with Kelly


Can you believe it is the last day of March?  Time for our March edition of the 12 Kits of Occasions.  Our monthly card kit was hosted by Kelly Schirmer of Gingham Girl and it is all about Spring and Easter.  We have another fabulous kit to work with...Kelly outdid herself this month.  Check out all the ingredients grouped together in a beautiful photo courtesy of Kara.

If this doesn't get you inspired to make some Easter/Springtime cards, I don't know what will!  I made four cards with my kit this month.

This is my favorite.  I love the cute little punched bunnies Kelly sent us and thought they looked so cute peeking out from behind some of the Easter eggs.


My second card uses the cute Easter basket with lots of colored eggs decked out with Diamond Glaze for lots of dimension.

 Kelly must have been stamping eggs for days...I used some of mine in a cute patterned paper envelope and that sweet wooden butterfly button.


 My last card makes use of the cute tulip image and some of the patterned paper we received in our kit.  Even the sentiment was pre-stamped...such a quick card to put together.

Want to see more from the 12 Kits of Occasions group?  Head on over to the 12 Kits of Occasions blog so that you can go around and see what the rest of the team has done with this month's kit.  You will notice we have a nice new look to our blog this month...thanks to Tracey who updated the blog with a fresh new design!  Thanks Tracey!

All the supplies are listed on the 12 Kits of Occasions blog under the tab Monthly Kit Supplies 2014 here.
Thank you Kelly for a very fun kit...I have all my family's Easter cards all done and ready to mail with time to spare!

Friday, March 28, 2014

CASology #88: Lucky


I am playing along with CASology #88 today...the cue word this week is LUCKY.  Who couldn't use a little luck now and then...I know I sure could!  So what is lucky to me?  How about something to help me as I rush all over town running errands and trying to jam every where I have to go throughout my day?  Wouldn't it be nice to ALWAYS have green traffic lights?  No need to stop and wait, just keep on driving?  Would that be lucky or what?  That's what my card is about today...a perpetual green stoplight.
That cute stop sign is from Neat and Tangled (Stop and Go).  I hand drew the pole for my stop light so it could be mounted and placed along side the curvy road I cut with my Silhouette.  I punched a few glittery "green light" circles so you never need to stop for this particular light...hopefully everyone is going to go one way or else there will be a big old mess!  The sun is from Lil Inker and I typed on my own sentiment.  (Every time I hear that Feelin' Lucky question I always think of Clint Eastwood and Dirty Harry...remember that one?)

Here's hoping that everyone feels a little bit "lucky" today!

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Fusion Card Challenge #7

Welcome to another Fusion Card Challenge...have you seen the winners for Challenge #6?  We had so many fabulous cards submitted again...it was so difficult to choose a favorite!  Check out the winners here.
Now...on to Challenge #7!  What do you think of the inspirational photo and sketch?
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Here's how to play along:

PROCEDURES:
1. Play with just the sketch challenge.
2. Play with just the inspiration photo challenge.
3. Or you can create FUSION by combining BOTH challenges into one card.
4. Use the challenge graphic and link back to Fusion in your post.
5. Please read the other considerations on the Our Rules Page before playing along.

I based my card on the sketch this week...I loved that oval in front of the two rectangles in the sketch.  I've been waiting all year to use my Waltzingmouse  A Good Egg stamps...last year I got them too late for Easter, so it was like using a brand new stamp set!
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I used a couple of notebook dies and stamped a bright pattern with a few of the stamps from A Good Egg.  For the oval portion, I used one of the cute Easter Eggs and matching cut files that go along with the set.  I also used a cut file to cut out that sweet bunny and banner.  I wanted to bring out more of the green color so I added a small vine die cut from Poppy Stamps.  I clipped all the elements onto each other with a mini clothes pin.   This was such a fun card to make.

So...what will it be for you this week?  The Sketch, the photo or a combination of both?  You have until Monday April 7th at noon PST to submit your card...can't wait to see what you come up with!

Check out what the rest of the Fusion Design Team have made with this week's challenge:



Thursday, March 20, 2014

CASology#87: Blush (The First I love You)


First thing Tuesday morning, I always check to see what the new cue word for the CASology challenge is for the coming week.  When I saw this week's word: BLUSH...I thought I was going to have a tough time coming up with something.  At first all I could think of was the color Sweet Blush, but there were already examples of that in the gallery and I wanted to come up with something a little different for my card.   I'm not sure how different this is, but here's my take on the cue word BLUSH...The First I Love You!
I know I should, but I honestly don't remember where we were or when it happened the first time my husband said "I love you" to me, but I am sure that I must have blushed just a little when he said it to me all those years ago.  I used some stamps that are from Fresh Squeezed Stamps, one of my favorite companies that are unfortunately no longer in business.  Those cute little "potty people" and the speech bubble are from Breath of Fresh Flair.  I used some Paper Smooches stamps(Sweet Hearts) for the I heart You sentiment and the cute arrow with the heart inside.  The larger sentiment stamped on the Lil Inker Instant Camera Die is brand new from My Favorite Things Stamps (Magical Memories).  
So...what does "blush" mean to you?  I am really looking forward  to seeing what makes everyone blush!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Card Concept #6: Make a Birthday Card


Time for another Card Concept challenge...and this one is going to be something everyone will want to play along with...make a birthday card.  We all could use a few birthday cards to add to our stash...and we have a very pretty inspiration picture to give you a little head start on your birthday cards.
Isn't that a gorgeous cake?  It looks so pretty with the beautiful flowers as decorations and also is displayed on a beautiful white cake stand.  That cake and cake stand was my inspiration...and I created a fun little birthday card as seen through an open window.
Have you ever seen the cute cards made by Kitty Carracciolo of KittieKraft?  I am sure you have...I'm a big fan.  She must spend hours and hours creating realistic card scenes.  I remembered a card made by Kitty where she used strips of card stock to mimic siding on the outside of a house.  You can see Kitty's card here.   First I made my cake and then built my scene around it.  I even added a cute gray cat just like one of mine staring out the window.  All of the card ingredients are listed below...but I especially love that cake and cake stand from Memory Box.  

I'm sure that you will be needing a birthday card one day soon, here's a little more inspiration from the Design Team at Card Concept Challenge:
All you have to do is make a card using one of the six card styles listed above and link it to the Card Concept Challenge blog by Monday, March 31st.  I hope to see your card in our gallery very soon!

Clean & Simple
Clean & Graphic
Shabby Chic
Classy & Elegant
Lee Ann Barrett
Lesley Croghan, Guest Designer

I am also entering this card into the Anything Goes category over at the Seize the Birthday Challenge.  There's always a ton of birthday inspiration there...check it out here!



Thursday, March 13, 2014

Fusion Card Challenge #6

Welcome to Fusion Card Challenge #6.   We have had so many people playing with our challenge...it is almost impossible to choose a favorite, much less a winner!  Have you seen if your card was a winner for Challenge #5?  Here's a link to find out...I sure hope you see your card there!
Today's challenge is going to have you thinking GREEN.  Check out the sketch and photo we have for you to work with this week:

What do you see?  Those green flowers stamped in the pretty pattern...or do you see the square frame of the sketch?  Even better...do you see a combination of both, because that is all you have to do to play the Fusion Card Challenge.  Make a card based on either the sketch, the photo, or fuse them together and make a combination of elements of both.  Easy, right?  Here's what I came up with:

I went graphic this week and fused both the sketch and the green color from the inspiration photo.  Who couldn't use a little good luck card to give them some encouragement when they need it the most?  This card was made using a cut file from the Silhouette Store (Checkerboard Edge Shadow 2).  I added one of the newest dies from Serendipity Stamps (Shamrock Die) as my focal point.  Isn't that the greatest detail on the shamrock die?  The sentiments are from Lil Inker (Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments), just right to let someone know you are thinking of them and wishing them well.  
Time for you to check out the rest of the cards made by the Fusion Design Team and then you can get going on your own card based on this week's sketch or photo.   You have two weeks to play...the challenge ends on Tuesday, March 25th at noon PST.   I can't wait to see what you come up with!





Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Seize the Sketch #15

Very quick post today...just wanted to share a card I made for Seize the Sketch #15.   I saw the sketch and had an idea I wanted to try.  Unfortunately, I started it right before I had to get ready for work and so now I am rushing to get it up and posted while the clock is ticking away.  Here's the sketch:
I thought it was a very versatile sketch...almost any stamps or dies could work with it, but I chose to go with all Lil Inker stamps and dies.  It's almost St. Patrick's Day and I had all of my green inks out on my desk, so I decided to make my own shamrock.  It shouldn't be too hard with all the Lil Inker dies I have collected.  Here's what I came up with:
I used several Lil Inker sets today.  First, that shamrock...they are hearts from Of the Heart dies.  Perfect little shamrock, don't you think?  The little stem is a piece punched out from the Fanfare Scalloped Border die.  It has just the right size and curve of a stem.  The background of my circle element is from Circles and Diamonds Stitched Pattern die and the sentiment is from the Darling Diamonds stamp set.  I added some scattered sequins and I think this is a cute card to leave out for my daughter on St. Patrick's Day.  What do you think?

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Hang In There

I am playing along with two challenges today...the first is a just for fun sketch challenge by 
Lesley Croghan of Always Playing with Paper.  It's a cute sketch and we can make anything we want, any stamps or dies we want as long as we base our card on the sketch.  I combined the sketch with some Paper Smooches stamps I just received and made an Anything Goes card for the 

Here's Lesley's sketch:
Since I wanted to use my new stamps from Paper Smooches (Hang-Ups), I was determined to come up with some way to use those stamps with this sketch.  Here is what I came up with:
The three branches represent the three stripes in the sketch and I added the cute squirrel hanging from the middle branch.  It's not obvious in the picture, but his eyes have glossy accents on them and are very dimensional.  I punched a few flags using a new Stampin Up punch, layered the whole thing on some Lil Inker Stitched Mat rectangles, added some copic coloring and that was it.  If you would like to play along with Lesley's challenge...here's the link.  There is still a few days left for you to play along.


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Card Concept #5: Colors



It's time for the latest edition of the Card Concept Challenge...we had 172 entries for Challenge #4 and some very beautiful winners you can view HERE.  I hope your card is among them, but what a difficult time it was to choose!  It is obvious everyone loves flowers!  Today though, for Challenge #5 we have a color challenge for you.  
Not only are the colors rich and decadent...but so are the yummy cake pops in the inspiration photo.  What will you see this week?  Will you focus on the round shapes, the swirls or the layers created by the white sticks?  What card style will you be making?  Here are the six Card Concept card styles our design team highlights every challenge:

Clean and Simple
Clean and Layered
Clean and Graphic
Shabby and Vintage
Freestyle Collage
Classy and Elegant

Want to know more about each style?  They are all described HERE at the Card Concept Blog.
Here is the card I created this week representing the Classy and Elegant card style:
I was inspired by the circular shape of the yummy cake pops and the decadent rich chocolate and green colors of the inspiration photo.  I used some digital patterned paper for the base and the swirliest and most delicate die I own (Quinn Flourish) to represent the beautiful swirls on the cake pops.  To make it classy and elegant I added lots of rhinestone bling and even a dangly gem embellishment I have had for quite a while now...finally had the right card to use it on.

You have lots of time to play along with our challenge...it closes on Tuesday, March 18th at noon PST.  If you would like a little more inspiration...please go see what the other Card Concept Design Team have created using this week's delicious color pallette.

We also have a guest designer this month:

Lesley Croghan, the genius behind this fabulous Card Concept Challenge.  Please stop by her blog and let her know how much you love this challenge!

Clean & Simple
Clean & Graphic
Shabby Chic