Addicted to CAS: Sunshine & Rainbows

I am so loving the many rainbow cards I'm seeing on blogs and Instagram - I think we are all trying to do our part to brighten somebody's day with a card and rainbows are perfect for that!  Addicted to CAS has a rainbow challenge right now and I got the Taylored Expressions Over the Rainbow kit before it was sold out (the components are going to be sold separately soon) - so I'm definitely playing with rainbows. I posted a rainbow card yesterday doing using the stencil from the kit - today I'm using the rainbow dies and one of the arched sentiments.


I'm not going to have a lot of cardmaking time this weekend which usually would make me sad.  But my oldest son came home for the weekend - my youngest has been home with college shut-downs.  So we are all here. It's supposed to be a cloudy, stormy day and it's not like much is open - but my family loves games! So my oldest brought Catan to teach us, but I'm sure there will also be classics like Sorry, Sequence, and Scrabble and a deck of cards will probably come out too.  It's going to be a great weekend!
Sending sunshine and rainbows to all of you!
SUPPLY LIST
Taylored Expressions Somewhere Over the Rainbow Kit
Other stamps: TE Star Fall Background
Other dies: TE Build a Scene-Rolling Clouds
Cardstock: TE Confetti Cake, Grape Jelly, Lemon Meringue, Candy Corn, Watermelon
Ink: TE Sugar Cube, Oreo, Sprinkles
Other: Heat & Stick Powder, Glitter

Poppystamps: Winged Things

The challenge this month at Poppystamps is Winged Things.  I made an angel card yesterday (and felt quite proud of myself for for thinking of the angel with a wing challenge) but I also have a charming little hummingbird die in my stash from Poppystamps that I have not used yet.  Nor have I used the flower on this card and I have a brand new paper pad from Memory Box - so this was a card that had to happen!


I love these two dies - they are both so graceful. I have no idea whether hummingbirds like this type of flower - but it's art, not science!!  I do hear hummingbirds outside of my windows right now, but I don't have a specific place they congregate so I haven't really seen them yet. Have any of you watched hummingbirds?  They are actually fairly nasty creatures. You should see them go after each - they are tough little things.  But they are so beautiful and absolutely amazing!

I've just noticed my card totally matches their logo - I love being matchy-matchy!!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Poppystamps Birthday Blowout
Dies: Poppystamps Meadow Flower, Little Hummingbirds, My Creative Time Stitched Decorative Banners
Paper: Memory Box Garden Folly, Stampin' Up So Saffron, Taylored Expressions Lime Zest
Ink: Stampin' Up So Saffron, Taylored Expressions Lime Zest
Other: Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream gems

The Paper Players: Shine Bright

I don't normally order kits.  I usually like part of them and not other parts so kits aren't always worth it for me.  But the instant I saw the Somewhere Over the Rainbow kit by Taylored Expressions and especially the inspiration from their design team, I had it ordered and on my way to me before it was gone. (FYI - it is gone now, but Taylor has announced they will soon be selling the individual parts.)  For today's card I used the stencils, the stamps and the die cut clouds.  I have another card I'll post in the next few days when I know that the recipient has received it that includes the dies and a different set of stamps.


Besides the fabulous stamps and dies, the kit includes colorful envelopes (I mailed this card in bright orange) and envelope seals that coordinate with the rainbow.  This one went to my niece who is an early teen.  She will love the bright colors starting with the envelope and seal, the funky little patterns on the rainbow and I used a sprinkling of bling just for her.
I was inspired by the sketch at The Paper Players. The smaller inside panel made me think of letting the rainbow go off the edge. Thank you to TPP for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST Taylored Expressions Somewhere Over the Rainbow kit (sold out, but the components will eventually be sold individually)
Other dies: TE Mini Strips - Assymetrical
Cardstock: TE Oreo and Lemon Meringue
Ink: TE Oreo, Guava, Candy Corn, Lemon Meringue, Lime Zest, Salt Water Taffy (edges of the clous)
Other: TE Diagonal Stripe embossing folder, Pretty Pink Posh Marigold and Sparkling Clear Gems

CtS and Poppystamps: Hallelujah

I pulled this sweet angel out to play along with the challenge at Poppystamps: Winged Things.  I thought it was a unique take on something with wings!  But the challenge is getting close to being over and I hadn't done anything yet.  As I was sipping my first coffee this morning, I realized that the sketch challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch worked beautifully for it - but it ended in an hour.  I don't usually do cards in an hour - even the simplest cards. In fact, I sometimes spend an hour on the photo!!  But it can be good for me to work quickly and not stress.  Are there things I would do differently on this card given a few more hours!?  Yes.  But I have a lovely angel and another Christmas card made!  Now the challenge closes in three minutes - so no more words!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Memory Box Bold Christmas Greetings
Dies: Poppystamps Pinpoint Angel, Memory Box Bold Christmas Greetings die set, Altenew Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Petal Pink, Memory Box Fairy Sugar Glitter Paper Pad
Other: Pretty Pink Posh Black Gems

Freshly Made Sketches: A Cheerful Hello

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Cécile and here’s what I did with it!

This card was another happy accident.  First, I had all the colors still out my desk from last week's FMS card - colors that made me really happy to work with!  Then, I was flipping through my stamp index (the backgrounds and accents folder...yes, I'm obsessively organized) and I saw this old WPlus9 set that had variable height elements just like the sketch.  And finally, I had recently purchased this fabulous alphabet and die set from The Stamp Market and each rectangle was exactly the same width as the columns of triangles.

Cécile always gives us the most creative sketches.  I might scratch my head for a minute when I first see them, but I always adore the unique look of my card when I'm done. I think the Freshly Made Sketches design team outdid themselves with this one - be sure to check it out. Then I hope you play along with us this week!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Stamp Market Alpha Cuts, WPlus9 Just Geometrics: Triangles
Dies: The Stamp Market Alpha Cuts
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Coastal Cabana
Ink: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Taylored Expressions Lime Zest (my SU Granny Apple Green ink pad comes up really dark!)
Other: Studio Katia Ice Sparkle Crystals

CAS Colours & Sketches: Varied Vases

It's the fourth week of the month so this week's challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches is a sketch.

I was inspired by the three shapes - although I used them in a different kind of a direction.  I added a vase, with a heart and a little mat or shadow - the three elements in the sketch.  I strayed from the sketch a bit when I added the big bouquet of flowers but the Varied Vases stamp set and punch was one of my retirement purchases from Stampin' Up and I just had to use them!

This is my last week as a guest with CAS Colours & Sketches and it's been an honor. Thank you to the entire team for letting me play along.  I may not be a guest of the team in the feature but I will definitely be playing along!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Varied Vases
Dies: Stampin' Up Stitched Labels Framelits (the heart) and Vase Punch, MFT Oval Shadows
Cardstock: Flirty Flamingo, Gray Granite, Balmy Blue
Ink: White, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight

Less is More with Christmas Throwdown Silhouettes

First I saw the challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Silhouettes.  I have collected so many different Christian silhouettes from Taylored Expressions - I love them all so had to play along.  I had a silhouette cut in a traditional black, then I started seeing white and cream cards in my feed - that's the current challenge at Less is More.  That wouldn't be a go-to combo for me, but the elegance of the design team cards and the gallery inspired me.


These border dies made it such an easy card.  The only extra step that I took was embossing the bottom strip hoping it would look like sand.  Otherwise, it was cut and adhere!  It was a truly awful card to photograph.  To see the dimension, I needed light - but light made my gems look dark.  In regular light those gems are exactly the color of the Buttercream cardstock (which is amusing given that even though they are from an entirely different company, they are also called Buttercream!)

Thanks to both challenges for the inspiration!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips - Christmas
Dies: Taylored Expressions Follow the Star, Build a Scene - Snow Drifts
Cardstock: White and TE Buttercream
Other: TE Fine Detail Gold Embossing Powder, Stampin' Up Subtles Embossing Folder, Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Hello

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Brum and here’s what I did with it.

This is the simplest card but it made me happy to make!  I looked at a variety of frames but when I saw this speech bubble - I knew it was it.  Then I was thinking of sentiment and when I remembered this "hello" with the long tail to follow the sketch, I got a little giddy.  Finally I toyed briefly with a little critter or something in the bottom right, but a bright and cheerful rainbow of color called my name!  And when I had gems that matched some of the colors...wow...this was a card that was meant to be!!!  Don't get me wrong - it's no work of art - but I had a wonderful time making it and I definitely hope it brightens a friend's day.  (Although the friend I was thinking of while I was working on it reads my blog - you might see it in your mailbox friend!)
In many areas, life is easing a bit - but some are still totally locked down.  A cheerful hello or hugs or thinking of you card is a wonderful surprise in friends' and family's mailboxes.  Or the local nursing home. Or first responders.  There are so many needs and we have a great hobby to add a bright moment in someone's day.
I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.
SUPPLY LIST:
Dies: Paper Smooches Hello Words, My Favorite Things Speech Bubble Frame
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Flirty Flamingo, Powder Pink, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Coastal Cabana, Highland Heather
Other: Taylored Expressions Bead Board

CAS Colours & Sketches: Tropical Birthday

This is my third week as the May guest at CAS Colours & Sketches and I am so enjoying it. I love the mix of challenges between colors and sketches.  The third week of each month is colors.  I used the colors for this tropical scene.

My boss's birthday is next week.  Given everything that's going on (and has gone on over the last few years in my little department), I decided an "escape and relax" theme would be good for her.  I also just ordered the Colorful Seasons set as it was retiring, although I'd had the dies from the beginning because there were many great stand-alone dies (see the card I made for the colors two weeks ago!)  When I saw the stamps were retiring, I decided I needed it for a variety of reasons but mostly for that little drink stamp - I needed it for the arm of the chair!!

Normally I would have gone for extremely bright tropical colors for this scene, but my boss is not a frilly and bright kind of person.  So as I was thinking through the colors and my need for this birthday card, I liked the idea of the richer Curry and Cherry Cobbler on the card.  It's still tropical but toned down. I like the richness of it.

Thank you to the inspiration from CAS Colours & Sketches.  I hope you will all play along with us this week!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Colorful Seasons, Watercolor Wishes (sentiment)
Dies: Stampin' Up Seasonal Layers
Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana
Other: Taylored Expressions Stencil, Stampin' Up Glitter Enamel Dots (the old set that goes back to Dapper Denim, but also includes Crushed Curry)

The Paper Players: Beautiful Bouquet

For reasons I cannot explain, I waited until Stampin' Up's Beautiful Bouquet and the dies were retiring to get them.  They have been at the top of my wishlist for the last few years, but there were always other things to get.  When I saw the cheerful colors at The Paper Players, I figured this would be a good time to try them for the first time.  They are wonderful!!

This card is going out to my Stampin' Up "dealer" - our husbands use that particular word and always with a hint of annoyance!!  I had just received my massive order of retiring products when she called and said she had new catalogs.  We spent an hour and a half  yesterday going page-by-page!  She also brought presents - two of which are the punch and wooden elements I used on this card.  The bouquet and the embossing folder were in my recent order.


Thanks to The Paper Players for this color combination!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Beautiful Bouquet
Dies: Stampin' Up Bouquet Framelit Dies, Darling Label Punch
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Crumb Cake
Ink: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Tip Top Taupe
Other: Stampin' Up Brick & Mortar Embossing Folder, Frames Elements

Freshly Made Sketches: Dainty Blossoms

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by me!! Here’s what I did with it!


The sketch actually only includes the stripe pattern at the bottom so it's wide open for your own creativity!

The flower is from a large set by Pinkfresh Studio called Dainty Blossoms. I picked a flower with lots of detail since it's the star of the show on this card. I did initially plan on a black flower silhouette with the sentiment strip being black - it looked good, more dramatic than this one. But I am so feeling the need for light and fresh so I switched everything to white and added another colorful stripe.  The bitty butterflies have a colorful sequin in the middle to bring up a little of the color.

Have fun with the sketch! I hope to see you playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Messages for Everyday
Dies: Pinkfresh Studio Dainty Blossoms, Memory Box Butterflies
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Over the Rainbow, Taylored Expressions Confetti Cake

CAS Colours & Sketches: Eat Cake

It's my second week of being the May guest at CAS Colours & Sketches. The second week of a month is sketch week. Here's what I did with it...


And here it is...

The cupcake die was a recent purchase for me (mostly because I got a freebie die at another company that said "happy birthday cupcake" so of course I needed a good cupcake die!)  I like the layered frosting and it's a great size.  I used two patterned papers to create it (which is a lot for me!) so instead of paper behind it, I embossed the stripe. As I was browsing my cardstock stash I found this golden brown paper which I'd never used.  I was surprised by that because I think it's the perfect baked cupcake color!  I added some texture to the cake with a subtle embossing folder.  

It was quick and easy and just perfect for a friend's upcoming birthday.  I hope to see you playing along this week with CAS Colours & Sketches!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday
Dies: Honey Bee Stamps Cupcake Builder, The Greetery Sentiment Suite Basics Die
Paper: Honey Bee Stamps Sweet on You, Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Honey Nut, Aqua Mist and Bright Buttercup
Other: Stampin' Up Delicate Designs Embossing Folder (old!), Subtle Embossing Folder (on cake), Pretty Pink Posh Buttercream gems

Freshly Made Sketches: Hey

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Linda Callahan and here’s what I did with it!

I already knew I was out of cards for my oldest son who elected to stay in his college apartment and is feeling extremely isolated (and he's an introvert - that's extreme isolation!)  I usually tend to "stay within the lines" but I was organizing my word dies and this big "hey" caught my eye so I figured I'd go outside the lines of that center rectangle. Then it just took some masculine patterns and embellishments and the card is already on the way to my lonely son!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week.  Check out the rest of the design team at Freshly Made Sketches - there is an amazing variety of cards using this same sketch!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: The Stamp Market Hey, Simon Says Frame
Paper: Honey Bee Sweet On You, Stampin' Up Mint Macaron, Taylored Expressions Blue Corn

CAS Colours & Sketches May Guest!

I am thrilled to be the guest for the month of May at CAS Colours & Sketches.  It's a fun challenge to play along with because some weeks are colors, some are sketches and if there's a fifth week in a month they have a double challenge!  The first week is colors and here they are...

It's a trio of Stampin' Up in-colors! (You don't have to use Stampin' Up colors, the names are just given for reference.)  I do have all the Stampin' Up colors - and I do mean all - going back to the beginning of time!  So I pulled out my cardstock and matching sequins and created a trio of butterflies.


I had just browsed the Stampin' Up retirement list (and had ordered patterned paper and the faceted dots in the above colors which showed up late yesterday - too late for this card). I also ordered the stamp set that went with the Seasonal Layers dies so they were in my head. Thank goodness because I think this branch was a great backdrop for the sweet little butterflies.  I tend to use white backgrounds but I thought these colors popped beautifully on Crumb Cake and that allowed me to use a fresh white branch.
I hope to see you playing along with us this week.  A big thank you to the team at CAS Colours & Sketches for letting me part of their group this month!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Watercolor Wishes, Butterfly Gala
Dies: Stampin' Up Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, Butterfly Duet Punch
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Purple Posy, Terracotta Tile, Pretty Peacock, Crumb Cake
Other: Stampin' Up Woven Threads Sequin Assortment

Christmas Kickstart: Winter Wonderland

I have purchased all the scene builders from Stamp' Up - Snow Front, Water Front and My Meadow - but haven't used any of them.  The current challenge at Christmas Kickstart is Winter Wonderland and it seemed like the perfect time to challenge myself with Snow Front!


I've been loving all of the slimline cards that I've been seeing.  I have a number of the dies on order to add stitching etc. but mail order is understandably slow right now. Even without them, I thought the Snow Front set would work well on a slimline card and would help with the perspective of the large trees vs. the far away mountains. 
This took quite a few attempts.  Fingerprints and smudges became a problem as my stamps and fingers got inkier and inkier.  Then I had one looking good, but I dropped the house! I love all of the cards I have seen from other crafters for these sets, but I can't say they are my favorite sets.  I don't like the "stress" when I get down to the last few images and have to hope and pray nothing will go wrong!  But I do thank Christmas Kickstart for letting Snow Front get inky!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Stampin' Up Snow Front, Greetings of the Season
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Seaside Spray, Soft Suede
Ink: Stampin' Up Seaside Spray, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Real Red