Thanks and Giving Card

The hardest card challenge for me is one where it calls for a one layer card.  :)  It doesn't stop me from giving it a go but I struggle.  ;)  There is a new AAA CAS Card Challenge up today and it is for one layer plus optional twist Autumn.  For this card, I used a stamp set by Neat and Tangled (Be Full).  I heat embossed the images with brown embossing powder on watercolor paper.  Next I used Gansai Tanbi watercolors and did a "wash" over the images.  Whew.....I did it!  :)  Maybe the next one layer card will be a tad easier....maybe.  ;)  I'm going to link this one up at:

AAA Clean and Simple Challenges

The Paper Players (row of fall, orange and leaves)

Mod Squad Challenges (A Time For Giving)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes)

Hope you have had a fun autumn weekend.  We went to a big arts and crafts festival yesterday which was fun but way too hot (97 degrees and humid).  I felt like I had melted when I got home.  :)  Thanks for dropping by and remember to stay crafty.....get those watercolors out and play!  :)

Leafy Truck Card

Busy week with no time spent in the "craft cave" but I can only stay out of there for so long.  ;)  This morning I found a little time for "card therapy" and here is the result.  Still trying to teach myself to do CAS cards and I may have gotten carried away with this one.  That has always been my problem doing CAS, I cannot stop myself from adding "just one more thing" to the card.  ;)  Oh well, I'll keep trying but in the mean time I had fun with this one.  My truck has been "into the woods" and gathered a bed full of beautiful leaves (or maybe it was getting them from our front yard.)  :)  I have to tell you about the leaf ribbon on this card.  I found it Wednesday at Hobby Lobby on clearance for twenty-four cents.  How's that for a bargain?  :)  I used an older stamp set (Little Pickup by Honey Bee Stamps) and embossing folder (Sizzix)  in my stash plus metallic leaves.  The "give thanks" die cut was done with my Silhouette Cameo (#227492 in the Design Store).  I added orange Stickles to the leaves in the truck, the wheels and leaf die cut.  This old truck will be driving by these challenges:

Case This Sketch (#341)

Mod Squad Challenge (A Time For Giving)

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge Blog (Trees or Leaves or Both)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes)

Little Red Wagon (Fall It)

Shopping Our Stash (Dream The Embossible Dream)

I did fall decorating outside even though it is still in the 90's and doesn't feel very "fallish."  :)  I hung wreaths on the doors, put out the fall door mats and put pumpkins by the front door.  I ordered a new scarecrow flag to hang on a metal flag pole (and it arrived today....yay).  Then I made a quick trip to Michael's to get scarecrows to tie around the columns of our house.  I had fun decorating but about melted doing it.  :)  Hope you have a fun weekend coming up.  We are going to a big outdoor craft festival and I'm looking forward to that even in this heat.  ;)  Thanks for dropping by and remember to stay crafty.....:)

Winter Deer Friend Card

Cut It Up has a "Into The Woods" challenge and I immediately thought of one of my favorite sets by Ellen Hutson. (The upper sentiment is by Sweet N Sassy stamps.) I knew it would be perfect with a Silhouette Cameo design I already owned (#100543 Birch Trees With Deer Family).  I wanted to keep it clean looking and only used three colors of cardstock (kraft, white and black). This deer family is going to link up at:

Cut It Up (Into The Woods) 

Christmas At Sweet Stampin' (Anything Goes Christmas)

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge (Anything Goes)

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday (Something Beginning With B -- I have Birch trees.)

Winter Wonderland (Use Your Favorite Embellishments -- Mine are Die Cuts)

Thank you for dropping by.  Hope you are having a fantastic day.  Remember to stay crafty!  :)

Inchies "Under The Sea" Card

I've had the busiest morning but still managed to hide out in my craft room long enough to make this card.  :)  I couldn't resist the CAS Mix Up challenge of "Inchies."  I had background paper I created a few days ago where I used foil transfer gel with a stencil.  After the gel dried, I put it through my heat laminator using turquoise foil.  The foiled circles reminded me of water bubbles and that's the idea I ran with.  In my stash I found small fish image stamps which wouldn't overpower the inchies.  I also dry embossed three white cardstock inchies with a circle pattern.  After stamping waves and a sentiment on a white cardstock panel, I arranged the inches with the stamped fussy cut fish.  This is definitely a CAS card!

CAS Mix Up Challenge (Inchies)

I had not made any inchies in a long time but these were such fun I might have to make more!  :)  Thanks for visiting and remember to stay crafty.  Get out your one inch square punch and make art!  :)

Ships and Dragonflies

I had a few minutes to hang out in the crafty cave and created two clean and simple cards.  The first one I stamped (Hampton Art/Graphic45) on watercolor paper with VersaFine Onyx Black.  Next I used Spectrum Noir Aqua markers with water and a brush to apply color.  The word die cut was done with my Silhouette Cameo (#29892 Ahoy Matey by Jennifer Wambach) and black cardstock.  I felt it still needed a "little" something and went through by stash of charms.  I thought the mermaid was a nice finishing touch.  :)  I'm linking this one up at:

Words 2 Craft By (Ahoy Matey)

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge (Masculine Anything Goes)

Addicted To Stamps and More (CAS)

Double D Challenges (Focus On The Sentiments)

Alphabet Challenge (M Is For Masculine)

I'm still seeing dragonflies and wanted to do one more card with them.  I stenciled a gray cardstock panel with gray ink and stamped a sentiment at the bottom.  The dragonfly die cuts were done with my Silhouette Cameo (#125537) and white cardstock.  I used a punch by EK Success to do the pink cardstock flower (embossed with a Sizzix polka dot embossing folder).  For a little bling, I used small pink self-adhesive rhinestones.  Easy peasy card but I was pleased with how it turned out.  :)  This one is joining:

Happy Little Stampers CAS Stampers (Pink and Gray)

CASology (Dragonfly)

AAA Birthday Card Challenges (Use A Stencil)

Mod Squad Challenge (Stenciled Background [Tag or Card])

I have started watching Outlander on Netflix.  I've never read the book but thought I would give the series a "lookie."  :)  Of course I think  I talk with a Scottish "brogue" now  ;)  Hope your day has been going well and thanks for visiting.  Remember to stay crafty and wear a kilt.  :)

Dragonfly Smiles Card

I couldn't resist doing another dragonfly card for CASology.  I have seen the most dragonflies this summer while hanging out at our pool.  One almost gave me a heart attack when it dive bombed into my hair.  :)  So since summer is winding down and fall is upon us, I thought I would pay tribute to these beautiful creatures.  I used the Crafter's Companion Foil Press to create the frame (Gemini Foilpress Papercraft Foil in Turquoise).  The shine in the foiled frame is not showing up well in my photo but pretty "in person."  I also used a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen on the stamped wings of the dragonflies.  The stamps are from my stash (dragonfly byHampton Art/Graphic 45 and sentiment by Altenew).  These dragonflies will be flying by:

CASology

Freshly Made Sketches (#403)

Addicted to Stamps and More

Use Your Stuff (Tags and Frames)

Thanks for dropping by.  Remember to stay crafty and if something dive bombs into your hair hopefully it is just a dragonfly (or tell yourself that anyway).  ;)

Cream To My Coffee Card

I can never pass up a change to make a coffee themed card so I knew I had to join the current Fusion Challenge.  This card is prettier in person because I never get good results when I photograph gold foil cardstock.  It has stamping with brown inks, die cuts (done with Silhouette Cameo) and a gold cup charm from my stash.  I was inspired by the sketch and the photo at the Fusion Card Challenge.

Fusion Card Challenge

Addicted to Stamps and More (CAS)

It has finally cooled down here after several days of 97+ temperatures.  When I took my morning walk, I enjoyed a cool breeze which was NICE!  :)  It might actually feel like fall at the high school football game tonight!  Thanks for stopping by and remember to stay crafty (and enjoy your coffee).  :)

Peace On Earth Card

I tried a new background making technique today with stencils which was fun.  I inked the stencils with Distress Oxide Ink pads and then lightly misted the stencils.  Next I placed my white cardstock panel on top of each stencil and pressed down.  I repeated this several times with different colors of Distress Oxide inks.  I used two different stencils too.  Fun technique with endless variations possible.  :)  I wanted to use this background for the current Jingle Belles challenge of "Peace On Earth."  I found the perfect die cut sentiment in my collection of Silhouette Design store designs. I didn't have a rubber stamp image of Earth but I found a free black and white clip art one.  I'm joining the following challenges:

Jingle Belles (Peace On Earth)

Mod Squad Challenge (Stenciled Background [Tag or Card])

Double D Challenge (Focus On Sentiment)

The weatherman tricked me into thinking today would be cooler but it is another 97 degree day here.  So I'm heading to the pool with my good book (This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger) for one more day of swimming.  I appreciate your visit and hope your day has been a peaceful one.  As always....stay crafty (use those ink pads with your stencils!)  ;)

Inlaid Die Cut Birthday Card

I'm late to the party trying the "inlaid die cut technique."  This is my first attempt but I don't think it will be my last.  It was fun!  ;)  I die cut the word "birthday" out of trimmed shiny gold foil cardstock.  ( I get it at Michael's.  You can see it here.  I love it!!!!)  Then I used a floral patterned paper which has gold metallic accents to do the inlaid part.  I used a daisy punch to add patterned paper flowers and also a small circle punch for the centers of the daisies.  The sentiment stamp is one by Sizzix.  Clean and simple but also fast and FUN!  :)  Thank you AAA Cards for getting me to try a new technique!  :)

AAA Cards (Up To One Third + Inlaid Die Twist)

Perfectly CAS (Challenge #1 Flowers)

Cardz 4 Guyz Challenge (Inspired By Beatles Song)

The song is "Birthday."

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge (Anything Goes With Patterned Paper)

Try It On Tuesday (Hot, Hot, Hot....I used hot colors.)

Stamping Sensations Challenge (Anything Goes With Flowers)

Hope your day is going well.  I am heading outside to relax and read.  I started my September Book of the Month selection (This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger) and all I want to do is read!  (Darn those household chores....my bunch expects clean clothes and hot meals.  Wink.)  Thanks for stopping by and may you find time to make cards AND read.  ;)

Nature's Dragonfly Cards

I look forward to each new CASology challenge because I can't wait to find out the word prompt.  :)  A new challenge went up today and the word is "dragonfly."  I know I have a few dragonfly stamps and even managed to find one of them this morning.  ;)  I ended up using it on the envelopes for these cards.  It was from a Graphic 45 Nature's Sketchbook set (an older set but I did see it on Ebay still if you want to see it.  I also found it here.) There are a couple of nice nature themed sentiments with the set.  After looking through my Silhouette Cameo designs of ones I owned, I found I had a beautiful dragonfly design.  Yay!  :)  It can be found in the Silhouette Design Store (#9270 Dragonfly and Butterfly by Sweet Afton).  I keep a little basket of backgrounds I have created from Color Bursts, watercolor backgrounds, ink pad and acetate backgrounds, etc., etc.  I found two which I thought would make pretty dragonflies.  I glued each to a white card panel and stamped the sentiment below the die cut.  I adhered a few sequins (and tiny jewels on one) and BAM....fast and easy!  Or maybe I should say clean and simple.  ;)  I keep trying to decide which is my favorite but keep changing my mind.....so I'll declare it a tie between the two.  ;)  These dragonflies will be flitting (because you know dragonflies "flit") about at:

CASology (Dragonflies)

Happy Little Stampers (Anything Goes With Die Cuts)

Kat's Scrappiness (Sequins and Sprinkles)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday (Bling It On)

I'm heading out to the pool.  This might be the last hot enough day for swimming in September.  It certainly is hot enough  (97 degree and heat index much higher).  AND if I'm lucky, I will see some dragonflies.  ;)  Thanks for visiting and remember to stay crafty!  :)

Did Someone Say Cake? Card

Today I'm sharing the card I did for our youngest daughter's birthday.  She likes cats (and cake) so I did this fun one for her.  I stenciled  (used Distress Oxide ink pads) a piece of white cardstock and die cut it with a Sizzix dotted rectangle (not sure it is still current).   I stamped the cat and cake on white cardstock with black ink and colored with alcohol markers.  I die cut green cardstock in a zig zag pattern (one of my older dies by Lifestyle Crafts) for the added background color.  After arranging the fussy cut stamped images and securing into place, I stamped the sentiment (Simon Says Stamp).   Sorry I don't remember who the cat or cake image is by.  Some green sequins, a twine bow and clear glaze (on the eyes, nose and cake) finished it.  I'm linking this "cake taster" at:

AAA Birthday Card Challenge (Use A Stencil)

Seize The Birthday (Anything Goes)

2 Crafty Critter Crazies (Anything Goes With A Critter)

I don't think September knows it is here with the HOT days (97 degrees again).  I'm thinking about telling it though.  ;)  I live in the South where the humidity is bad so I'm having to get up very early to walk and water plants outside.  So come on September I'm supposed to be enjoying cooler temperatures!  :)  Thanks for stopping by and as always.....stay crafty.

Autumn Greetings Card

It is a beautiful hot fall day here.  I managed to play a few minutes before our favorite football team played on TV.  All of us opted to watch it on TV instead of going to the game since it is SO hot.  :)  Making cards and football make for a pretty good Saturday.  :)   I wanted to make a card for the Inspired By Challenge because I fell in love with that beautiful photo of acorns.  First I used ink and an old credit card to create my blue background.  Then I watered down rust colored acrylic paint to splatter over the inked background.  While the splattered paint was drying, I cut the acorns and leaf with my Silhouette Cameo.  (You can find the designs at the Silhouette Design Store #69113 Fall Icons.)  I cut the designs from white cardstock so I

could color them with alcohol markers.  Then a quick stamped sentiment done with Distress Oxide ink in Faded Jeans (also the ink I used for credit card swiped background) in the lower right corner to finish.  I ended up doing four of these cards while I was "playing."  I'll be mailing them to friends for happy mail in the next few days.  I'm linking up my autumn card at:

Inspired By Challenge (Signs of Fall) 

Cute Card Thursday (Autumn)

Cardz 4 Galz (Welcome Autumn/Fall)

Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Hope you have a grand weekend and your football team wins (ours lost.....sniff, sniff).  :)  As always.....stay crafty.

Floral Birthday Jar Card

I've been playing in my craft cave where it is nice and cool (it is 97 degrees outside).  I needed to make a card for a friend's birthday coming up soon.  I stenciled a white card base with Twisted Citron Distress Oxide Ink.  Next I stamped all the flowers, leaves and mason jar on white cardstock with a black ink pad.  The flower and leaves are by Winnie and Walter while the mason jar plus butterfly is by Stampendous.  I colored  all of the stamped images with Copic markers.  I fussy cut all the stamped images and adhered to the stenciled card front.  I added glitter accents with Stickles by Ranger.  For the final touch, I die cut a sentiment from black fun foam.  This was a fun card to color and put together.  Hope my friend likes my flower arranging. ;)  These flowers are going to be blooming at:

The Flower Challenge (Anything Goes)

AAA Birthday (Use A Stencil)

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge (All About Occasions)

Inkspirational (Crop)

Stamping Sensations (Anything Goes With Flowers)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (Stamp It)

Better run.....a good book and the pool are calling my name.  Going to take advantage of this 97 degree day in September.  ;)  Thanks for stopping by and remember to stay crafty!  :)

Smile Birthday Card

I'm really getting into this CAS card making.  ;)  Several friends have September birthdays and I decided today was the time to get started making their cards.  (Of course it feeling like 103 degrees outside did not hurt my inclinations to make them either.)  ;)  I'll take air-conditioned card making any day over being outside in this heat.  This fun card was quick and easy as well as CAS.  After stamping my image and sentiments with black and red ink pads, I adhered a "smile" die cut.  (I found it at the Silhouette Design Store #37367.)  I added a twine bow on the giraffe because everyone know a giraffe needs a "bowtie."  ;)  These LOL animals are linking up at:

CASology (LOL)

Cute Card Thursday (Anything Goes)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Stamp It)

Thanks for visiting and remember to stay crafty.  :)

Rainbow Stenciled Birthday Card

I'm using a stencil I made with my Silhouette Cameo and blank 6 mil stencil material on this square birthday card (#69539).  I used Distress Oxide ink pads in five colors (Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Broken China, Pickled Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade).  The die cut sentiment was done the Silhouette Cameo too from black cardstock (#141830).  The stamp image is by Impression Obsession (#CL826).  I used a black Copic detail pen to make the outer black circle around the stenciled inked colors.  This one is going to one of my neighbors who has a birthday coming up.  :)  This "groovey" rainbow birthday card is linking up at:

AAA Birthday Card Challenges (Use A Stencil)

Time Out Challenges (Inspired By Words)

CAS Friday (Use A Die Cut Word(s)

Seize The Birthday (#173 Square Card)

As You Like It Challenge (Favorite Way To Add Text -- My new favorite way is with die cuts created using my Silhouette Cameo!!!)  :)

Little Red Wagon (Nice and Clean)

I had fun making this one in my COOL craft room.  Outside temperature feels like 103 degrees today!  Hubby and I are watching Mississippi State play football this afternoon in the comfort of our den but youngest daughter went to the game.  I can't say I envy her going in this heat!  :)  It might be football season but it doesn't feel it.  ;)  Thanks for stopping by and as always......stay crafty!

Season of Blessings Card

I tried my luck with cutting a stencil from 6 mil stencil material today using the Silhouette Cameo.  (You'll remember from a previous post this was new to me and I can proudly say I have figured it out!)  The secret to my success was getting the right blade.  My Cameo came with the Auto Blade and I needed the Ratchet blade to cut through the 6 mil stencil plastic.  I was inspired too by Michele Ferguson's card where she had used a stencil.  I went to the Silhouette Design Store and chose #69539 Circle Stencils to make my stencil.  I created my background using Tim Holtz Distress Crayons in Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Frayed Burlap and Pumice Stone.  Used water and a brush to spead the color around on the Strathmore watercolor panel.  Then I stenciled the design using Distress Oxide ink in Ground Expresso over the colored watercolor panel.  I used a baby wipe to remove some of the inked color from the stenciled part.  My stamped leaves and sentiment are by Sweet 'n Sassy (not sure they are still current though).  I used the sketch at Fusion for my card layout (turned the sketch).  I wanted the stenciled background to show up so I used vellum for the sketch panels.  Two of the stamped leaves ended up under the vellum too.  :)  I'm linking this one up at:

Inspired By (Fall Is Near)

Fusion Card Challenges (Autumn)

The Paper Funday Challenge 

That's it for me today.  Are you ready for a football weekend?  If you attend one around here, you will be melting.  :)  It is hot!  Thanks for stopping by and as always.....stay crafty!  :)

Metallic Sunshine Square Card

A friend sent me a new Gina K. Designs stamp set  (Lovely Words) in the mail.  It is a pretty set and I was happy to see the "you are my sunshine" sentiment.  I used to sing it to my girls when they were little.  :)  The new Freshly Made Sketches challenge was the perfect inspiration for this sentiment stamp.  I used the Foil Quill (medium tip) and hooked it up to my Silhouette Cameo to create the gold foiled circle.  (You can find the design at the Silhouette Design Store #287772 Sketch Offset Circles.)  I also used #5778 Beautiful Branch from the Silhouette Design Store for the metallic gold cardstock die cuts.  I used a metallic gold Sharpie to add detail work to the sun on the stamped sentiment image.  I have a confession to make about making CAS cards!  I have fallen in love!  :)  They are my new favorite style of card to make.  Shocking confession from someone who always RAN from them.  ;)  My sunshine card is going to link up at:

Freshly Made Sketches (FMS401)

Less Is More (#403 Metallics)

You would never know it was September where I live because of the heat currently.  I'm still getting to swim and hang out at the pool in the afternoons with a good book.  Going to enjoy it while I can because one of these mornings fall will arrive along with cooler weather.  :)  Thanks for stopping by and as always....stay crafty!  :)

Works of Labor :)

Happy Labor Day!  I got up early and headed to the craft cave to "labor" on cards.  Who am I kidding?  Making cards is not "labor" but since it is Labor Day, I felt I needed to say that.  (Wink.)  I tried a new technique (to me anyway) on my first card.  I put Distress Oxide inks on a glass mat and sprayed them with water.  Next I used an old credit card to pick up color and dab/slide on the card base to create the background border.  FUN!  The bird border was done with my Silhouette Cameo (#111826 Birds Borders) and cut three times (patterned paper, marigold yellow cardstock and black cardstock to layer).  The stamped sentiment is by Reverse Confetti (Toucan of Friendship).  Each bird has a yellow jewel for its "eye."  I am having the most fun making CAS cards.  These floral "groovy" birds are playing at:

AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes)

My second "labor of love" (it's Labor Day...get it....wink) was done with thecurrent CAS(E) This Sketch as my inspiration.  I was looking through papers in my craft room when I came across graph paper I had borrowed from my daughter when she was taking a math glass a few years ago.  I love using it on my cards.    The stamp set is another one by Reverse Confetti (Furever Friends).  I turned the circles on the sketch into balloons because what is a birthday with balloons.  :)  Just a little coloring with alcohol markers and clear glaze on the nose, bone, ball and birthday hat and BAM....finished!

CAS(E) This Sketch

I had a brain storm for the Fusion Card Challenge when I was making the above dog card.  The sentiment made me think of the current Fusion card sketch.  :)  I went to the the Silhouette Design Store and found a ball design I liked (#29791 Beach Ball by Hero Arts).  I cut it out in green, red, navy and orange cardstocks and backed with a white cardstock circle die cut.  Easy, fun and CAS!  :)

Fusion Card Challenge

Die Cut Divas (Free Fun Time)

Well, that's is my "labor" for today.  I'm heading out to the pool to spend the rest of the afternoon reading (The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware....good!) and splashing.  :)  Hubby is grilling our dinner tonight so I'm excused from kitchen duty.  ;)  Thanks for stopping to visit and as always......stay crafty.  :)

Metallic Foil Giraffe Birthday Card

The leopard strip on my card is metallic foil by Heidi Swapp which was put on toner paper (Thermo Web) and then run through a laminator.  It is bright, shiny and oh so pretty but unfortunately does not show up in my photo.  ;(  The stamp image is one by Graphic 45 (Hampton Art).  I cut the die cut from white fun foam for extra dimension.  This wild card birthday card is linking up at:

Freshly Made Sketches

Less Is More 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenges (Occasions)

Hope you are enjoying your long Labor Day weekend.....and as always, stay crafty.  :)