Not Quite My Usual Style....

Hello all you lovely people!  :-). Today I've got a card to share that's not quite my usual style.  While it's still CAS it's a bit more freestyle than I've ever done before.  I was playing around with my embossing folders when the birth of this card began.  I wanted to try inking my embossing folder before putting it through the press but rather than using just ink I thought to myself..."I wonder if using versamark ink, the folder and then embossing powder would work?".  So I tried it.  It works!  Now it wasn't a solid impression but that's okay.  I liked the way the embossing powder looked kind of incomplete.  Take a gander...

The colours of my card were inspired by this weeks CAS(E) Study challenge.

Wida's card is gorgeous!  I didn't follow her design layout but I included many of the lovely colors she had in her card.  And I've got a flower too.  Plus the sequins.  I'm growing very fond of my sequins.  My little stash from Neat and Tangled is growing rather small though.  I'm going to have to rectify that!  Anyway, I used a  glitter gold embossing powder (Stampendous) and a chevron embossing folder (Darice) for my background piece.  I added some little flags using DP (Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection by American Crafts) and green cardstock (all my cardstock is Recollections).  I stamped my sentiment (Fiskars) and embossed in white (Stampendous) on the green flag.  I added a chipboard flower (Dear Lizzy Neapolitan collection by American Crafts) and some sequins.  Despite all the elements it still feels CAS to me.

I'm also going to link this up to Addicted to CAS where the code word is TEXTURE.

On a different note, I had a good day on Tuesday.  I got my new stove/oven delivered!  It's so pretty!  Take a look...

Glass top, true convection, self cleaning and stainless steel.  Sigh.  LOL!  I also purchased an awesome craft storage unit from someone on Kijiji.  Its fantastic and I can't wait to reorganize!!  I've got a picture of that too.

Well, I think that's all for today.  I will have some more cards to share later.  Thanks for visiting!  :-)

Merry Monday - Christmas Flowers

Just wanted to share a card I made for the challenge going on over at a Merry Monday Christmas Challenge.  This is the inspiration/theme...

Lovely isn't it?  So, I broke out my jumbo poinsettia and my watercolour pencils and came up with this...

I used some paper with Christmas text on it (Recollections) I stamped my poinsettias and coloured it with watercolour pencils.  I matted it on metallic copper and then red cardstock.  I added the brown ribbon and bow then attached to my kraft card base.  I'm really loving my watercolour pencils.  So fun to play with.  :-)

I'm going to keep it short this time and wish you all a good evening.  Thanks for visiting!

Inkspirational Challenge - Bloom

It's a new challenge over at Inkspirational and this time it's a inspiration word.  BLOOM. It's the perfect time of year for this challenge with all the flowers finally in bloom.  My tulips are almost there.  They got a late start this year due to all the snow and cold weather.  Can't wait until they all open up!  Anyway, here's my card.....or should I say cards.

I made a cute trio of cards using some NBUS ( this means never before used schtuff, a term coined by my friend Darnell) stamps by Studio 112.  I picked them up on my last trip to Bangor, ME which was before Christmas last year.  They were an excellent find in the $1 bin.  Anyway, I stamped in black StazOn and then coloured them in with my Statdler watercolour pencils.  Added some water and they get that soft watercolour look.  I stamped my different sentiments (from trendy feathers set by STAMPlorations) in black and called it a day!  These are fairly small.  About 4 1/4" x 4 1/4".

So, please come on over and join in the fun at Inkspirational!  Check out what the DT has created and link up your lovely floral creations while you're there!

Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!

Have a Squirrely Christmas!

Good morning!  At least it is morning where I am.  :-). I'm once again waiting until the last moment to get my card in for Festive Friday.  It was a busy week and I didn't get a lot of time in my crafty spot.  :-). I did get a card done though.  Whew!  I've managed to participate in all the challenges so far I'd hate to miss one!  So its a rather fun inspiration picture this time.

Makes you a little hungry doesn't it?  :-). What I took from the picture is the colours and the candy cane image. Take a look...

(Again, sorry about the picture quality.  My phone camera is pathetic)

Isn't that squirrel kind of hilarious?!  It's a free digi from Paper Smooches.  They've got some great ones, not to mention their awesome stamps.  You should check them out.  :-). I printed the squirrel out , coloured him with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I coloured him grey since that's the colour of the squirrels around here.  I fussy cut him out and separated his fingers from the rest of his hands.  That kind of sounded wrong, didn't it?  Like something in a mafia movie.  LOL!  Anyway, I took a candy cane sticker and attached it to my card then used some glossy accents to adhere my squirrel to look like he was hanging from it.  In the actual digi he's hanging from a line the has the word "hi" in it.  I stamped the sentiment and *poof* I was done!  This card amuses me.  It also, makes me think of my blogger friend, Darnell.  She likes squirrels.  Hi Darnell!

Anyway, I'm going to link up to the following challenges as well:

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - "anything goes"
Addicted to Stamps and More - "anything goes"

Well, thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a fantastic day!

Coneflowers

So, I recently had to make a sympathy card which is really no fun to make.  However, I think it turned out really nice so I thought I would share it.

Once again I turned to my favourite coneflower and grass stamps by SU!.  First I sponged three different inks colours on my panel.  Blue Brocade, Ruby Red and Dusty Durango all by SU!.  Then I dropped some water droplets on the panel.  Such a cool effect!  Then I stamped my coneflowers and grass in black.  I matted my panel in black and attached it to my rusty orange card base.  I stamped the sentiment in black as well.  The sentiment is an old All Night Media stamp.  The orange looks brighter in the photo than it really is.  I have to apologize for the quality of my photos for the next while as my camera battery died and I'm forced to use the iPhone or worse, my phone.  It's takes okay photos but not great.  I refuse to buy a new battery here as it cost more than twice the amount than in the US.  We are taking a trip to Maine at the end of the month so I'll get it then.  :-).

I will be linking this up to The Paper Players current challenge which is clean and simple floral challenge.  Also, linking up to Paper Crafting Challenges where the theme is "my faves".  I've used my favourite stamp set (as I mentioned before).

Well, thanks for visiting and hope you all have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday Sandie!

Today a bunch of us here in blogland are celebrating the birthday of the talented and super nice Sandie of London Days!  Happy Birthday!  She's on quite a few design teams and makes just wonderful CAS cards.  Sandie, I hope you have a fabulous birthday and get lots of crafty goodies!  I'm looking forward to working with you on the Inkspirational DT too.  I've made a card for you today featuring that jumbo peony I so love.  Here it is...

I stamped it three times in three different colours (SU!- sage shadow, mellow moss and ballet blue). I lightly misted the stamp with water after inking it up to get a bit of a softer look.  Then I stamped my sentiment (Inkadinkado).  I layered it on a kraft base and added a lace border sticker.  Hope you like it, Sandie!

If you visit Nonni at Korttikarkuri-Runaway Cards, you'll find the link up for everyone who has made cards for Sandie and feel free to join in if you want to!

I'm going to link this up to Seize the Birthday challenge where it's always a birthday card and there is optional extra toppings of flowers.

Once again, I wish you all the best on your special day!  Thanks everyone for stopping by!  :-)

A Pocket a Full of Posies

Well, I'm scrambling to get this card posted as one of the challenges I'm linking it to is ending soon.  Sigh.  What else is new?!  LOL.  I have to say that this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge really spoke to me.  I thought of my idea immediately (it just took some time to get it done).  I just love this sketch!

Isn't it fab?!  So many possibilities!  But what I saw was a little pocket full of flowers.  I love the layout too which is one I don't think I've ever done before.  So take a look...

Don't you just love that denim pocket?  I didn't have any blue denim so I took a piece of the beige denim paper I had (DCWV - Tradewinds) made a pocket shape and use my Spectrum Noir markers to colour it.  Because it was beige it gives the blue denim a muted, worn look.  I stamped my sentiment (Scrappy Cat) in versamark ink and embossed in white.  Then I added some hand drawn stitches with my white gel pen.  I used my Slice to cut out some leaves and greenery.  I attached my pocket to my card base with some foam dots then arranged and attached my leaves and that.  Lastly, I adhered my pink roses.  They were a $1.50 bin find at Michaels.  I bought several colours too.  I thought they were quite pretty.  :-)

I'm going to play along with the following challenges as well:

Addicted to CAS - Code word is "Off The Edge".
Addicted to Stamps and More - it's an inspiration photo this time and the reason for the pink flowers.

CAS-ual Fridays - "three thirds". I've got my three roses.
Virginia's View Challenge- use stitching.  Once again I used faux stitching.  I'm just not that good at the real thing!  :-)

I think that's it for now.  Hope you all are having a lovely day and thanks for visiting!