casadia anyone? (CAS(E))

Friday was a good card karma day for me.  You too?

Having already created one card in the morning, I found Wida's email .  Do you know Wida from Beachorado?  Of course you do.  Do you know the CASADIA challenge she started?  CASADIA was started with one card  from Laura B. which was CASED.  Then that card was CASED.  And then that card was CASED.  And so on, and so on.  Cool idea, eh?

This is the card that got the ball rolling.  From Laura B.

Fast forward...this is Rose M.'s card which I got to CASE.

Now for my card.  My CASE?  Let me warn you it's CASE a la Aimes of Crafting Confessions, which basically means pick the elements that jump out and hit ya and make a CAS card with 'em.

Well, the huge "dearly" immediately morphed into "deer".  And that led to the rest of the card.  Polka dots -  - couldn't resist kissing those onto Bambi.  I broke the red/white trend but still went with a dramatic color combo of dark gray and gold, adding a touch of red with my sentiment.  And heart - I chose this sentiment because it contained the word "heart" - the focal point of Rose's card.

As for the design, I still had CASE This Sketch #2 on the brain after this card so I'm hooking up there again.

You should check out the entire chain of CASADIA cards here.  Better yet, play along.  I would love to see a few of my followers join the fun... Thanks Rose, for a great card to CASE and Wida for a great idea!  Meredith M. is up next.

p.s.  Apologies for my windy day photo including fingers.  But I couldn't resist using this one.  Did you see how the sun caught the bling on Bambi's bum?  Couldn't do that again if I tried :)

Supplies Grateful Heart:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS Neenah

Stamps: Sassafras, CHF, sentiment PTI

Ink: Versafine, Versamark, Jenny Bowlin

Tools:

Other: embossing powder, bling

creative liberty (CFC, CAS(E), SSSS)

Man oh man oh man.  When will I get the different challenge deadlines into my head?  Let me say right now that I am not a big fan of weekly challenges.  My brain doesn't work that fast!

May I take you on a recap of my creative process?   Major pressure with the heart challenge idea over at CASual Fridays.  Something so easy and near to my heart (ha ha ha) but how to make it new and different?   Along comes the second sketch challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch.  And much to my amazement, I was a FAVE in their first challenge, so THE PRESSURE IS ON TO PERFORM.  Know what I mean?!?

Add a rough night's sleep to the matter and I wake up with, IMHO, a great idea this morning.  Actually pulled this one off is less than 10 minutes.  (Maybe I will try the 10-Minute-Dash challenge one of these days...) A heart stamp and some fave Distress Inks.  Easy, once you have a plan.

But alas, the CASual Fridays heart challenge has ended.

Then to my amazement I see that the new CASual Fridays (who, by the way are now making stamps!!!) challenge is titled "Over the Edge".  Which is basically what the CAS(E) Sketch #2 is too.  How lucky am I?

Not.  Enter the "creative liberty" part.  Cuz, you see,  my artistic soul would not allow me to "chop off" part of my gorgeous (IMHO) stamped creation once I had stamped it.  Tried both variations (mentally) but just couldn't do it.  What do you think?  Is the goal to follow the challenge 100% or to make a card which makes your heart smile?

I'm smiling.  Hope you are too.


CASual Fridays CFC75 - Over the Edge

CAS(E) This Sketch #2

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Your Favorite cuz Distress Inks are one of my alltime favorite products.

Supplies celebrate:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS Neenah

Stamps: heart Fancy Pants, sentiment PTI

Ink: Distress Ink

Tools:

Other: 

batty for you (TAWS, RCC)

My BFF's little boy sent Flat Stanley to our house to see what life in Deutschland is like.  Here he is.

Figured I would make a card for his return to the US.  Wanted to replicate the "feel" of Stanley.  Can you say brightly colored?!?!?

Saw this inspiration photo at The Alley Way Stamps Challenge #13 and this freebie of theirs and had my idea.  Have you seen the Awesome Blossom set they have. So versatile and so my style.

So here's my card:

Printed the digital images onto kraft and colored paper.  Fussy cut.  And fussy cut.  And fussy cut.  Mixed up the colors of the bats a bit like those adorable little monsters in the inspiration photo and paper pieced them.  Some texture for the top of the card and a couple strips of kraft (stamped with zebra print that you can hardly see...) and PP also in honor of those little monsters.  I distress inked the edges of the card and bats and strips and swiped some Tea Dye across the dry embossing too.

I likey.  Thanks for stopping by.

Also playing over at The Ribbon Carousel #73 cuz this definitely has Halloween Spirit

Supplies Batty for you:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, kraft and colored ?, PP Basic Grey

Stamps: digi Alley Way Stamps, Rubbernecker

Ink: Distress

Tools: impression plate Sizzix

Other: 

bat on a wire (WMS)

Oh my!  It's getting closer.  Halloween.  And the Waltzingmouse October blog hop.  Here is my contribution:

Just got (finally) some square dies and couldn't resist creating a Polaroid feel for this scene.  Stamped the BG design.  Cut the frame and dry embossed it.  Stamped the stars with dye and pigment inks.  Stamped Miss Witch with Versamark and heat embossed.  Pigment ink dries slower than dye ink.  How do I know?  See those partially embossed stars...  But I decided I kinda liked 'em.

Here's another tip.  Don't punch the circle for your moon before you heat emboss.  Why not, you ask?  Cuz your paper may shrink and your moon won't fit into the negative space anymore.  Yeah, ask how I know.

Then I stamped the little bats and sentiment, tied on some baker's twine and adhered the frame.  Last touch was the "bat on a wire".  Stamped, applied glitter glue and fussy cut him.  Wound some wire around my paper piercer to curl it and attached the bat.  I love how he kinda flutters around!

Such a fun  Halloween set - so many cool images.  Thanks for coming by.

I'm also playing in the following challenges:
My Craft Spot #73 - Emboss it!
Ribbon Carousel #73 - Halloween Spirit
Polka Doodles Week 41 - Halloween

Supplies Happy Halloween:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, CS American Crafts and Ursus

Stamps: Waltzingmouse

Ink:Adirondack, Versamark, Versafine, Versacolor

Tools: impression plate Sizzix, die Sizzix,  punch EKS, paper piercer

Other: baker's twine, wire

loving sequins (CAS(E), SSS, I am Doe)

Quick post for a quick card.  Had the idea and it came together like I hoped.  And I used up some sequins from my stash.  How great is that!

Picked a great 6x6 pad and punched some 1" circles from it.  Adhered them to cardbase.  Masked them with 1 1/4 " circles and spritzed some Dylusions ink.  Placed sequins then stitched over them.  Stamped sentiment.

All came together cuz of this sketch from the 1st challenge at the new site, CAS(E) This Sketch.  If you love CAS you better check them out.  A great DT at work.

The idea with the sequins came from Shanna's layout over at I am Doe.  Just love it.

And why not one more entry over at Simon Says Stamp's Die and/or Punches challenge.

Have a great week.

Supplies congrats:

Paper: CS and PP American Crafts

Stamps: Paper Smooches

Ink: Dylusions spray ink, Versafine

Tools: punch EKS, sewing machine

Other: sequins

for mom (CPT, CASology)

Are you getting the feeling that triangles are the new hexagons?  Mom's turning 83 next week and this is her bday card (she and her PC aren't the best of friends so I consider myself "safe" presenting this :))

Took up two of the challenges at The Creative Paper Trade - the sketch and the triangles - although there is really only one triangle on my card.  But I think the stamped graphics imitate triangles too.

Also hooking up for the first time at CASology #14 where the inspiration word is "Leaf".  Love the leaf brad from Eyelet Outlet.

                                                     

And cuz Mom will get a chuckle out of it, this Inkadinkado sentiment graces the inside:

Happy Sunday to ya'll.

Supplies U:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette,  PP Basic Grey, woodgrain PP Ursus

Stamps: Hero Arts, Paper Smooches, sentiment Inkadinkado

Ink: Amuse Studio, Versamagic, Memento, Distress Ink

Tools: die MFT

Other: brad Eyelet Outlet, chipboard letter Making Memories

better than expected (CPT)

Just picked DS up from a friend's a couple towns over and it is peak season in the vineyards.  Harvest.  In our town they say "in den Herbst" (literally:  in the fall) and with it they mean harvesting the grapes.  Shows you how big a role the wine plays in our area.  I LOVE how there is still such a connection to the earth and Mother Nature.  Except, of course, when I get stuck behind a humongeous harvester on the road and he's only going 10 mph!

What I also LOVE, actually AM ENAMOURED WITH, is this bloom.

This is the prize over at The Creative Paper Trade for the current challenge #2.

You may recall my dilemma with the lavender colors, here.  Well this time I went to my fabric stash and it was easy peasy.  I love how this bloom turned out.

And the card.  Better than expected!  I used a freebie postcard digi from the site as well.  Check it here.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Supplies miss you:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette,  PP Ursus, digi papers Creative Paper Trade

Stamps: Paper Smooches

Ink: Versamagic, Versafine

Tools: scissors, needle & embroidery floss, sewing machine

Other: ribbon scrap, heart bead, felt