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Monday, February 21, 2011

A CAS Kind of Day and an Award!

CAS - which is Clean and Simple - can be a total misnomer.  CAS can be hard!  Just because you typically only use a stamp or two, and you don't have many layers or embellishments, the card is NOT simpler to create.  In fact, trying to arrange those one or two stamps in an interesting way can be very, very difficult.

This is my eleventh attempt at this card for Susan's One Layer Wednesday Challenge which was to do a Christmas card with green and red on white or cream:



I tried it horizontally then vertically.  I tried it with the snowflake partially off the panel, then totally centered.  I tried a variety of embossed snowflakes, snowflake edges and snowflake flurries all over.  I ended up plopping everything in the center - and then added few embossed lines to give it a frame!  Final result - simple.  Process of creation - long.

Now, for a total change of season...

I love it when two challenges come together for me.  Less is More calls for a card with a spring theme. The SplitCoast CAS challenge is to create your own background.  I have this new-to-me stamp from Rubbernecker and I immediately saw a spring sunrise:


This really was an easy card.  I simply stamped the garden image, then surrounded it with post-its before I sponged the sunrise colors.
FYI: Less is More is an amazing new challenge blog.  It is only the third challenge on this blog and they are already getting hundreds of entrants.  Part of the fun of this blog is their handy tips and hints each week - the first hint - use Legos to make a stamp positioner!?!  How creative!

Recipes for the cards are at the end of this post.

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I want to thank ALL of you who have been reading my blog and I want to apologize for not getting back to all of you who have commented.  Please remember that I am new at all of this.  I always read the comments then I move on to my next card and a new post.  But I just discovered that I can view all of the comments in one place and suddenly I realized that I have new blog friends who have been commenting on my blog since the beginning.

So I have had a wonderful day, viewing all of these wonderful blogs - - - and then checking out the blogs that those bloggers liked - - - and on and on - - - and I have so many new favorites!

I also have the great honor of being given the Stylish blogger award from Tamie at Paper Infusions and More.  Tamie has absolutely darling cards using fairies and little girls with ice cream cones and country kids having their first kiss - mixed in with some truly beautiful florals!  Be sure to check her out.

Here it is!


I have four things that I have to do:

1.Thank the person/persons that shared this award with me and link it back to their blog/blogs.
2.Share eight things about myself.
3.Pass this award onto eight other bloggers that I have recently discovered.
4.Leave a comment so they can pass along the recognition!

Thank you Tamie!!  You made my day! (Be sure to visit Tamie at her link above!)

Eight things about myself:

1. I met my husband downhill skiing - over 20 years ago.  Neither of us have downhill skiied since.

2. But we do many other forms of skiing - telemarking, backcountry, cross-country.  We are just too cheap and our knees are too old to spend any time on the downhill slopes!

3. We have a small condo in Frisco, CO - that's right in the middle of all of the major ski areas!  (But...we don't ski?!?)

4. My husband and son #2 (of 2) and his friends are at our condo this weekend - that's why I have all of this wonderful me-time to catch up on all of these blogs.

5. I would like to be at our condo but I play in our church's handbell choir (in fact if you check back in a few days, I will have a YouTube video of a performance from this morning!)

6. I have a fresh glass of red wine with me as I type - because, you know, it's good for you - and I don't have my family to take care of!

7. Actually, son #1 of 2 is home this weekend - but he's a teenager so last night, he was at a friend's house, today he has been occupied with old episodes of "24" and tomorrow he rehearses for the school musical (on President's Day when he SHOULD be off school).  He is an avid (and a very talented) saxophonist.

8. I should mention that son #2 is a brand new trumpeter!


Eight Great Bloggers:

Enough about me - let's move on to the best part of this award - my chance to share other blogs with you.  Isn't this just perfect timing?  I have spent the weekend finding new blogs and NOW I have an award that requires me to tell you about them!

Stampinglee Yours by Lee Conrey
     Lee's cards are exactly the style that I love.  Not cluttered, but full of unique and special touches!

Smudges in Time by Melissa
     Melissa has a quote - "Creative clutter is better than idle neatness" but her cards are anything but     cluttered.  They are wonderfully clean, simple and gorgeous!

A New Year... by Carole
     Check out her 2/13 post using the SU Bliss set.  A card with lots of white space and an amazing splash of golds and oranges.  She has SO many stunning cards!
 
Stamp4Fun by Selene
     Amongst all of her gorgeous cards, she had a sympathy card on 2/11 that I already CASEd and used.  Thanks Selene!!

     Kerin really doesn't need another award - she's already been "discovered" and is part of a number of stamping teams.  But I want each of my readers to find her.  (Plus, I love her dearly as she donated a large box of cards to our church card ministry!)

     Susan plays many of the same clean and simple challenges that I play - and she is a stand out in each of them!

Deborah's Gems by Deborah
     Deborah has an amazing variety of fun cards!  Just in the last few weeks she has posted a little quilted house, a very cheerful card using just patterned circles, and a submarine?!?  I am particularly embarassed by never having been to her blog before this weekend as she has very faithfully commented on my blog.  Thank you much Deborah!

H2 Designs by Helen
     Another cardmaker who can handle a wide variety of cards - from a big orange 18, to a skunk, to a sweet little tic-tac-toe game!  And another faithful commenter!

I hope all of my readers check out these blogs - they are fantastic!

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Blessings of the Season
  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Snowflakes, Stampassions sentiment (This is the first stamp in the Christmas section of my notebook of stamp images, which makes it at least a decade old!)
  • Ink: Kaleidacolor Fruitcake, Stampin' Up Forest Foliage (both long retired)
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Whisper White
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Gem

This Is the Day!
  • Stamps: Rubbernecker Wild Garden Border 1, Our Craft Lounge Prayers and Blessings sentiment
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Concord Crush, Yoyo Yellow, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant, PaperTrey Lemon Tart
  • Accessories: Nesties Circle and Scalloped Circle, Pearl Shimmer Spritz over entire card


25 comments:

  1. Hi Kim,
    Thanks so much for entering our CAS Spring challenge at "Less is More".
    Your card is beautiful.. so evocative of a Spring morning, I love the sponging and the images in silhouette!
    I hope you'll become a regular contributor to our challenges!
    Glad you like the tips too!
    Chrissie
    "Less s More"

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  2. What a lovely post Kim, lovely to hear about you and your family!
    Your card is wonderful! I love it

    Thank you for the heads up, we are absolutely blown away by the response in such a short time.1

    Much appreciate your visit and hope you will again and again
    mandi
    "Less is More"

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  3. Good morning Kim

    I adore the snowflake card for the OLW41 challenge - I was going to use that inkpad, but couldn't work out what to do with it!!

    Your spring scene for Less is More is just stunning! I love the sky - so soft and pretty.

    And there I was reading your post and came to my name!! Thank you so much for the award and your very kind comment! Very much appreciated!!

    Deborah xx

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  4. Beautiful card love the way you have done the background

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  5. Hi Kim, Both lovely cards but I love the background sponging on your LIM card ...... So pretty! You;re right CAS can be time consuming but it's great when we get it spot on!!!

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  6. Just love both your cards, your 2nd one is my favourite..

    Anne

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  7. Both your cards are beautiful. The colours used on your spring card, together with your beautiful stamped image, look really lovely.

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  8. Love both cards!
    The spring card is especially stunning, I love the pastel colours behind the silhuette image.
    I'm new to blogging too and have loved how friendly and encouraging everyone is!

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  9. Popped over from LIM, the garden card is gorgeous, as are your colour choices.

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  10. Kim, your card for the OLW challenge is perfect! Sorry it took so long to make it, but I have days like that too! LOL! I've never tried to use the multi colored ink pads..but I like the look.

    Your card for LIM...is AWESOME! I love the inked background...so pretty! I struggle with that type of sponged background, but yours looks just like a morning sunrise!

    Then...I see you've mentioned my blog in your post...Thank you so much. I saw that you came by my blog and I wanted to come back by here and give you a big hug and say thanks! I love getting comments...as I'm sure most of us do!

    I love that you give your cards to the church ministry. Maybe I could start something like that with my church. I've been donating my excess cards to Operation Write Home (cards for soldiers stationed overseas) and will probably continue to do that too.

    Again...Thanks so much for your comment...and I hope you keep playing in the challenges..I love your work!

    Hugs!
    Susan

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  11. Love this card. My hubby loves making these kinda cards too.

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  12. Thanks so much for your kind words over on my blog!

    Have a look over there, I too have a little award for you. :)

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  13. Kim, it is so wonderful that you had time (it doesn't matter when) to play and be excited about the award. thank you for your kind words, I will continue to watch you create and inspire me with your marvelous works of art.

    Don't you love how you can get to know people through these and acknowledge their wonderful work. I hope I continue to see you as you will continue to see me.

    Oh last but definetly not least...both of your cards are so amazing! Love the simplicity of them even thought they aren't. Stunning!!

    Have the most amazing week!!!

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  14. Kim, thank you so much for mentioning my little blog! I feel very small in the big blogging world and love getting to know people who enjoy cards and crafts as much as I do! Thanks for your comments on my blog too! It's encouraging when people take the time to leave a comment! :)

    I love both of your cards, especially the spring sunrise! I am so ready for spring! Your cards are an inspiration and I plan to be a regular visitor here! :)

    I'll try to hold up my end of the award you've so kindly passed along to me within the next day or two!

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  15. I'm such a big fan of yours Kim! I look forward to seeing your creations every week! I love both of these.. You have such wonderful sense of style.. On the whole I love the balance that all your cards have and your amazing color combinations! Thank you so much for mentioning me.. I'm so honored.

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  16. Hello, Kim! I just HAD TO file both these cards in my CASE file! LOVE BOTH!!! The snowflake card is amazing ... considering how many attempts you had at it ... I am glad you persisted! And ... love the sponging on the second! Congrats on the award, hunny! Well deserved! Hugs xxaxx

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  17. Two great cards, love them both.

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  18. Stunning cards, love them both!
    Diane x

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  19. Love both of the cards,simply stunning,and you are right they do take ages to make the simple ones :O)viv xx

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  20. Lovely cards, particularly loving the Red and Green Christmas card.
    Hope you enjoyed your weekend of craftiness
    Kathyk

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  21. Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful how you created the sunrise!!! I Love that!

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  22. Fabulous LiM card. Love your sunrise.
    Lynne xxx

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  23. awesome cards,love it

    Bianca

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  24. I totally feel your pain on how long it took to get to the OLW card! Sometimes, simple is much, much harder than layered! But your end result is simply smashing! And your LIM card makes me long for spring...and reminds me that the Lord has a reason for all seasons!

    Hugs,
    Susan

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Thank you for taking the time to comment on my card! I do get spam comments so your comment will be held until I read it and release it!