CAS(E) this Sketch: Panda Love

Yay! CAS(E) this Sketch is back after a holiday break!!!  And here's a chance to use your feather stamps and dies!!

Or, in my case, use pandas!!


I probably should have used feathers - I have plenty of them!  But this is a new Mama Elephant set that landed on my desk during the holidays and has been calling my name since it got here.  I kind of forced these little pandas into working for this sketch just so they could see some ink.  These aren't even my favorite pandas in the set so I'm sure you will be seeing more pandas soon!
Head on over to CAS(E) this Sketch and check out all of the design team cards - then play along!  I look forward to seeing what you create.

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Pandamonium
• Paper: black, white, Carta Bella Hello Again 6x6
• Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores button, Hemptique 10-lb. black twine, misc heart gem

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: When Hearts Collide

I'll let you in on my deep, dark secret - I don't often make Valentine's cards.  I was catching up on all of your blog posts yesterday and many were saying that you loved making Valentines - it made me feel a little guilty about not creating more in this season of love.  But I only give cards to two little nieces and to my three men/boys (and those have to be snarky or "scientific" like yesterday's card.)

Consequently, I don't buy many Valentine or heart stamp sets.  But I have to tell you that this new release set by Fresh Squeezed Stamps would have ended up in my collection even if I weren't on the design team.  It's a great collection of hearts - different shapes, different patterns and different sizes.  I've only used one heart on my sample card, so be sure you head over to the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog to see the fun variety of hearts.


The second reason to head over to the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog is to enter the raffle to win this set! The sets that I previewed yesterday and today will be on sale at  Fresh Squeezed Stamps on Friday, January 10th.

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps When Hearts Collide
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Project Life Midnight Edition dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, My Favorite Things Bubblegum, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
• Accessories: Prima Anna Marie Sugardot Stickers (enamel hearts), MME Ginger "Relax" twine

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: Love Signs

This is my second post today. Curtain Call is just a short scroll away!

It is the first day of this month's new release at Fresh Squeezed Stamps and the focus today is on "Love Signs".  Check out the Fresh Squeezed blog for all of the design team cards.  This set has a wide variety of love stamps - everything from a cross-stitch to woodgrain to a checklist to the scientific diagram that I used on my card.  It's a great to set to serve many "love" needs!

I live in a household of men and boys...and worse yet, they are all intrigued by science and math.  My (brand-new) 18-year old understands derivatives in calculus - I mean he can actually visualize the geometric form that the derivative defines (it scares me that I know that much!)  He also comprehends physics - it's a simpler class for him than his web design class.   My husband is a geologist and makes us stop at road cuts in barren areas of the state so he can study the layers.  All three of my men/boys can sing the periodic table elements song..."antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium..."  I don't think there's a day when The Big Bang Theory isn't on a television somewhere in my house!!

After all of that build-up, could there possibly be a Valentine more perfect for my men??

Definitely be sure to check out the Fresh Squeezed blog.  Can you say "giveaways"?|  And come back tomorrow for a preview of another set being released this week.

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Love Signs (new this week) and Background Check
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: Hero Arts Neon in Sunshine and Red
• Accessories: Hemptique 10-lb black twine, Prima Anna Marie Sugardot Stickers (the enamel hearts)

Curtain Call: Smitten Reminder

I just wanted to remind you that there are just a few days left on the challenge at Curtain Call: Smitten!

The sponsor, Linnie Blooms, is offering a gift certificate to the winner of the challenge and also kindly provided the Curtain Call design team with sets of Faber-Castell Gelatos.  I showed you a card with Gelatos on my original Curtain Call post.  Today I wanted to move away from the mitten/smitten theme and use the inspiration of the bold colors and just do a wash of color with Gelatos.  I followed this tutorial to get this look, although she clearly had more Gelatos than I do because she created a beautiful ombre tone-on-tone wash.  

The challenge closes on January 10th - I hope you play along!  Remember...using Gelatos is not a requirement of the challenge - just be inspired in any way by the mittens or colors or knit or "Smitten"!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Vertical Greetings
• Paper: white and a smooth watercolor paper
• Ink: Memento Black
• Accessories: Faber-Castell Tropical Gelatos, Hemptique 10-lb. black twine, misc enamel dots

Catered Crop: Best of 2013

The Catered Crop challenge for the month of January is to come up with your Favorite Crafty Creations of 2013.  Even If you have already done your list - you can still link up.  It's open all month - what a great way to find everybody's "best of" in one place!

This is most definitely a challenge!!  Doing a "best of" post is very, very hard.  I must lack confidence because I can love a card when I first post it - but when I look back I can see the things that I would have done differently.  On the other hand, looking back reminded me of the amazing teams on which I served and the guest spots that I was honored to do.  It was truly an exciting year for me.

But a new year also requires that one think ahead and I have realized that I need to make some changes.  Most likely nothing that any of you will notice, but a big change for me.  I have decided to stick with a couple of my very favorite design teams - and not accept any new teams in 2014.  I do love the thrill and honor of being on a team or being a guest - and I enjoy sharing products and challenges that I love with each of you.  However, there are many reasons for my change.

• Showcasing products or challenges is stressful because I always want to show them at their very best.  I had so much going on the last three months of last year, every single card that I made had to be good and mojo levels just don't work that way!!
• I realized that many of my favorite stamps and products have been ignored because of design team requirements.   I miss using some of my older toys and stamps from other companies for which I didn't officially design.
• Most importantly, I'm in the last stretch of my second college degree.  Classes are getting tougher.  And I need to figure out how to do a resumé that glosses over the fact that I've been home for the last 15 years (or manages to show how hard it is to be home!)  And then, of course, a job search.   

I might be posting a little bit less - but probably not much.  Being surrounded my men and boys, and having a career based in numbers - making cards is a necessary outlet in my life!  I'm a much better person after some time at my craft desk.

Now on to the real point of the post...instead of looking month by month I decided to narrow it down by products and challenges that I like or that I was involved with during the year.  So without further ado...

Blog Post: Sparkle and Shine, Merry and Bright

Main Product: Neat and Tangled
The bokeh stamps on this one give it a glow that make this card my favorite of the year!

Blog Post: Winter Peace with the Lawnscaping Winter Blog Hop

Main Product: Lawn Fawn

I have a number of Lawn Fawn cards on my blog - their stamps are just plain FUN to work with!

Blog Post: Fresh Squeezed Stamps: #HOLIDAYFUN Main Product: Fresh Squeezed Stamps The colors on this card just make me happy. But I also think that I embraced about every current trend on this one card - woodgrain, word bubbles, an ampersand and sequins!

Blog Post: AEI{heart}U with Avery Elle: Oh Happy Day Main Product: Avery Elle I love the colors - I love the layout - and the little birdie and flowers make me oh-so-happy!!


Blog Post: Warm and Fuzzy Hugs Main Product: Paper Smooches It's hard to go wrong with Paper Smooches!


Blog Post: My Favorite Things Stamps Day 6: Text and To the Point Main Product: My Favorite Things I love these bold masculine stamps and this combination of colors!


Blog Post: CAS(E) this Sketch: Give Thanks Main Product: Reverse Confetti I've been part of the CAS(E) this Sketch challenge since October 2012.  Even if you don't play (but I hope you do), it's a great challenge to bookmark just for the incredible variety of CAS sketches.

Blog Post: Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Welcome Home Main Product: Papertrey Ink I've been part of the design team for the re-opening of the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge and currently serve as the Stage Manager!  Be sure to check it out!


Blog Post: Catered Crop: Canning Jar Recipe Swap Main Product: Paper Smooches I have served on the Catered Crop design team since April. It's a very fun challenge with a wide variety of challenges.  This one was for the canning jar challenge - others on the design team actually decorated mason jars!


Blog Post: Newton's Nook Designs September Release: Boo Crew Main Product: Newton's Nook Designs I noticed Newton's Nook because of their charming cat designs (I am owned by two cats!) but this mummy bear had to be the cutest Halloween stamp of the year!


Blog Post: Less Is More: White Christmas Main Product: Clearly Besotted Stamps I love all white cards so I had to include one of them in this year-end review! Plus Clearly Besotted Stamps was a recent discovery for me and I LOVE them!


Blog Post: Fab Friday and Rockwell's Colors: Hang In There Main Product: Mama Elephant This card makes me smile every time that I see it - these stamps are SO darn cute!  PLUS - Mama Elephant just came out with coordinating dies which, of course, I purchased immediately, so I will be doing more with this stamp set soon!


Blog Post: Something Wonderful with Twine Main Product: The Alley Way Stamps This card was particularly notable to me because it was my first card with sequins.  I saw how beautifully they filled up spaces and now it's a rare card of mine that doesn't include a sequin!

Blog Post: Happy Birthday Main Product: Stampin' Up I had to include a Stampin' Up card on my list; after all, how many of us got our start after a Stampin' Up party!  Stampin' Up products continue to find their way into my stash and I particularly loved this flower that matched all of their scallop circle punches.


Blog Post: Thank You Secret Santa! Main Product: a fun stash of supplies from a Secret Santa exchange that we did as part of the Curtain Call design team This card made it on my list for two reason.  (1) the card that was furthest from my comfort zone that I actually really like! and (2) my last blog post in 2013!



If you have done your own "best of" list - be sure to head over to Catered Crop and link it up.  It really will be fun to see all of them in one place.
If you haven't done it - set some time aside and browse your own blog.  It's not an easy exercise but it is fun to remember everything your have created!!
Happy New Year to each of you!!

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: Hang In There!

I love the holidays - I really do - but I also let out a big "whew" when it is over.  It was a huge relief to make this non-holiday card. I actually made it before Christmas and the "hang in there" sentiment seemed particularly meaningful as I was entering the final stretch of baking, wrapping, rehearsing, etc. But obviously this card could be used for so much more than survival of the holidays - everybody needs a "hang in there" boost once in awhile!

The stamps come from one of my favorite all-purpose sets from Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  It's called String Me Along and is full of a variety of sweet and unique images.  I've already used the Chinese lanterns and the high-top tennies (seriously!!!) but really wanted to use this cheerful little jar and lightning bug.

I picked the brightest paper that I could find - and the furthest from traditional holiday colors that I could find!!  I figured it had enough going on, so I went very simple for my layout!

I hope you all survived (and enjoyed) your holidays; that you have let out a big "whew"; and that you are looking forward to a new year!

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps String Me Along
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise, Studio Calico Printshop 6x6 dsp
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics
• Accessories: Hemptique Kraft 10-lb. twine, clear sequins, glitter pen (on light and bug)

Curtain Call: Smitten

Happy New Year!!! 

It's time for a new challenge at Curtain Call and we have this fun inspiration graphic that we have called "Smitten".

There's so much inspiration in this one - mittens, wonderful colors, the title of "Smitten" - it's going to be fun.

The sponsor for this challenge is Linnie Blooms and the LEAD (or winner) of this challenge will receive a gift certificate.

Linnie Blooms graciously provided the design team with Faber-Castell Gelatos.  I chose the Tropical set - others got the 50's Diner.  I had never worked with Gelatos and I am generally not a technique person.  However, I have to admit that Gelatos were easier to use than I expected and they gave really fun results.  I did a card with a simple color-wash that is ultra easy - but I am saving this card for the Curtain Call reminder post on January 7th.  

I did something slightly different for today because I really wanted to focus on the mittens and love theme.  I never put away my winter stamps after Christmas.  In Colorado, Valentine's Day is typically much colder and much snowier than is Christmas.  (In fact, March is Colorado's snowiest month!)  So it makes total sense to me to include mittens on my Valentine's cards!

This idea came about as I was looking at the Dot Dabber that comes with the set of Gelatos.  I knew that if I did these small mittens, there really wouldn't be room for a wash of color so I made some dark smudges of color on my paper (I used a smooth watercolor paper).

Then I spritzed it, the I pounced around with the Dot Dabber to make it look a little fuzzy - like a colorful knitted mitten!!!
If you like Gelatos - here's a link to a number of tutorials.  You can also search on Pinterest to get a number of other ideas.  I also like this blog post which shows how easy it is to get a wash of color.
I hope you play along!  Remember...the Gelatos are not a required part of the challenge...so take your inspiration from the challenge graphic and HAVE FUN!

• Stamps: Avery Elle Lots of Love (sentiment), Stampin' Up Make a Mitten (the cuff and pattern)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, smooth watercolor paper
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Faber-Castell Gelatos Tropical set, Stampin' Up Mitten Punch, Hemptique white 10 lb. twine, Wow! Super Fine White Embossing Powder, Neat and Tangled Pretty Pretty Pink Satin sequins