OCL -- Cute Critters

I've been working like mad on all of my Christmas cards, so I thought I would take a break from them.  I needed a card for my nephew's birthday, so I used the Our Craft Lounge Challenge of Cute Critters.  The set I used is the darling Drake the Dragon!  I had to have him, since that was my high school mascot.  Silly, I know, but ahhhh memories!

Stamps:  Drake the Dragon

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  buttercream, CDS Worn Parchment, EP Dots & Stripes

Accessories:  Copics, Cream Viva Pearl Pen, CDS Sweet Pea & Turquoise Gem ribbons, SU Melon Mambo ribbon, corner chomper, foam tape

Thanks for stopping by!

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

I had a bit of time over the holiday to make a card for the SPARKS challenge over at Paper Smooches.  It's always an inspiration piece, and I took the colors and ran with those:  light blue, kiwi green, tan, white, and gray.  I used the darling new set that Kim has revamped (it was originally a Cornish Heritage Farms set).  It's called Forest Whimsy.  Eeeee, it's so darn cute!

As you can see from a closer look at his flowing beard, I used some White Liquid Pearls.  After painted up his beard, I swirled it around a bit using a paper piercing tool.  I love the look!

Stamps:  Forest Whimsy

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, CDS Cottonball White, EP Summer Fun dp

Accessories:  Copics, White Liquid Pearls, White Liquid Applique, Frest Cut Grass Die-namics (MFT), teal buttons, Green Baker's Twine, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in today!

OCL Artist of the Month Week #4

After a long and fun weekend with my family, it's now back to reality for a few more days.  At least I get to start the week with a fun, yet final Our Craft Lounge post as their Artist of the Month.  You can read my final post on the OCL blog.

I used Tweet Winter Wishes for my final card as a 'Thank You' to the sweet ladies over at OCL for having me as the Artist of the Month for November.

I used lots of yummy Sugar Sparkly Fluff all around for snow on this CAS card.

Stamps:  Tweet Winter Wishes

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black 

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, Bo Bunny Blitzen

Accessories:  Copics, airbrush, Sugar Sparkly Fluff, blue striped ribbon from CDS

Thanks for stopping in today.  Be sure to keep checking back with the OCL blog.  They will be showing off some new releases soon!

Snowballing into Christmas

Thanksgiving is over, but it was a fantastic 4 day weekend with the hubs.  We enjoyed great food, and played lots of games as a family. . .it's what we do.  We are heading into the Christmas season full swing now, and I'm pretty excited.  My Christmas present comes early, as I'm taking the Intermediate Certification Course for Copic this coming Thursday in Atlanta!  I can hardly wait!

In the mean time, I have been crafting, but there is little I can show you right now.  This fun card was made just for that. . .fun!  How can you resist Kim's adorable Paper Smooches images when they look like this?!  I used the Swanky Snowdudes from the PS collection.  It comes with 4 different snowmen, some great sentiments, and lots of wonderful face parts.  Hehe, just makes me giggle.

This card fits the Daring Cardmakers challenge to use facial hair fro Movember Madness, and the Mark's Finest Make it Masculine challenge.

Stamps:  Swanky Snowdudes

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Baja Breeze

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, blue dp

Accessories:  Copics, sponge, MFT RicRac Die-namics, orange button, twine, window punch

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Celebrating Katie's Life

As most of you know, Katie Renz passed away on November 7th after her battle with gastric cancer.  She was a very integral part of the 'family' over at Clear Dollar Stamps.  She was our Design Team Coordinator, and wore many hats at CDS.  She was also the brains behind the Tuesday Tutorials that happen every Tuesday on the Clearly iStamp blog.

I 'met' Katie back in May of 2009, when I joined the Clear Dollar Stamps team.  She was always so encouraging and always took time to answer questions and comment on my posts.  We collaborated on color challenges and shared ideas.  She had a great impact on me and my crafting, and for that I am thankful.  She was my friend, and I am blessed to have known her.

Because we at CDS wanted to show our love to her, we all decided to do a blog hop to honor her life. The hop starts back at Lori's Blog, and then leads you here. Some of us decided to CASE her cards, while others decided to make birthday cards for her boys and husband.  Because I loved her style so much, I went the CASE route.

Katie's card is on the left, and mine is on the right.  I kept her sketch, but changed the colors and the stamp set.  She used the Spring Critters and I used Moose Friends.

On this one, I used the same set and the same layout.  I used the same papers I did as above, because Katie was so good at taking a group of paper and making a bunch of different cards to show off the versatility of the paper.  She was always so inspiring.  Hers is the top and mine is the bottom.  We both used Lamppost Wishes.

I'm not sure I did her cards justice, but she was always so inspiring to me.  

Sadly, Katie left behind a husband and 3 young boys.  If you are wanting a way to donate to help the family there is a forum you can join in order to find ways to help.  

Operation Renz Family

You can register and login to see the different ways that you can help.

The next stop in our Celebration of Katie's Life Hop is Christi.  Thanks for coming by, and thanks for thinking of my friend.

Week #3 of the OCL Artist of the Month

I'm at it again for week #3 of being Artist of the Month over at Our Craft Lounge!  I'm still so darn tickled that I was asked, and it has been so much fun to get to high light some of the great stamps from Our Craft Lounge.

For my 3rd week, I used the Sea-sons Greetings set along with some Rockin' Pink Sparkly Fluff.  I love to use nontraditional colors for Christmas.  To find out more about my card you can go to the OCL Blog.

Stamps:  Sea-sons Greetings

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  MME 12 Days of Christmas, buttercream

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, Rockin' Pink Sparkly Fluff, pink ribbon, Long Rectangle Nestabilities, foam tape

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out the OCL Blog for lots of inspiration and for their weekly challenge.  There are going to be some new releases soon too :D

CDS Sunday Blog Hop - Thankful!

 

Happy Sunday!  It's the 3rd Sunday of the month so we are hopping from blog to blog over at Clear Dollar Stamps.  You should have made your way here from Deanne's blog.  If you happened upon my blog, why don't you start at the beginning. . .Lori's blog!

This month our theme was to make a 'Thankful' card.  When I sit and think of all I have to be thankful for, I get overwhelmed.  God is so good.  I'm so thankful for my family, my friends, and this wonderful craft!  For my card I used a newer release called Windowbox Wishes.

Stamps:  Windowbox Wishes

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa, CDS Ripe Olive

Paper:  unknown pink, OA Fly a Kite, buttercream

Copics:  R20, R22, YG03, YG05, Y17

Accessories:  dimensionals, CDS Cherry Go Round ribbon, red buttons, oval punch, sponge, corner chomper

I hope you're leaving comments along the way, because one lucky commentor will win a gift code for $25 worth of digital images!  After you're done commenting here, head over to Sara's blog for more thankfulness :D

Clearly Inspired Challenge #40

I can't believe that Clear Dollar Stamps has hit #40 over at the Clearly Inspired Challenges!  What better way to celebrate than with some Flowers?!  Yup, that's the new challenge over at Clearly iStamp for the CIC. . .

Flowers

I pulled out a couple of new (to me) sets from Clear Dollar Stamps.  I took advantage of the amazing sale that Lori has going on over at CDS, which is 40% off of all regular priced and clearance stamps.  It's only good through tomorrow, so you better get shopping!

I used an October release sentiment called Window from Heaven, and an older set called Tree-mendous Wishes.  Seriously. . .get over there and shop!  

Stamps:  Window from Heaven, Tree-mendous Wishes

Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, CDS Tropical Mist, CDS Red Velvet Cake, CDS Wild Ginger, CDS Ripe Olive

Paper:  unknown green, buttercream, CP Farmhouse

Accessories:  Pumpkin Mum Trip, fabric brad, brads, CDS Blooming Bouquet Die, sponge

Thanks for stopping in, and come join us over at Clearly iStamp for a chance to win!

November TE Blast from the Past Blog Hop

Welcome to the November Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop!  This month the theme was  Thankful, and of course the always optional sketch by the talented Sankari.  

I opted to the use the sketch and one of my favorite older sets from TE. . .Branching Out (which is on sale right now!).  Looking through some of the gorgeous papers that I am blessed to have, I thought the September Key Ingredient Kit paper was perfect!  I combined the papers in it with an older chunk of leaf ribbon I had.

Stamps:  Branching Out

Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa

Paper:  TE September KI Kit

Accessories:  Copics, sponge, leaf ribbon, MFT Large Scallop Die-namics

I'm really glad you stopped by today!  You'll definitely want to check out the rest of the hoppers' creations to see how they interpreted the challenge.  Be sure to sign up for next month's hop. . .you don't want to miss the fun :D

OCL Featured Artist Week 2

We are into the second week of me being the Artist of the Month for Our Craft Lounge.  I'm still as giddy about it as day one, hehe.  

For my project this week, I made some gift tags using the Jolly Ornaments set.  As soon as I laid eyes on this set, I knew what I wanted to do with it.  Gift tags were the perfect option, although my mind has been reeling with all of the different things I can do with it.  I used some new Authentique-Wonder paper with a couple of my Nestabilities.

These six tags were such a breeze to make, and of course they were fun too!  Now I really feel like I'm getting things squared away for Christmas having a few more tags ready to go :)

Stamps:  Jolly Ornaments

Ink:  SU Crumb Cake, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  buttercream, Authentique-Wonder

Copics:  R46 & YG95 with the airbrush

Accessories:  Tags & Labels 4 Nestabilities, dimensionals, red organdy ribbon, sponge, slit punch

It's an honor to be featured over at the OCL blog, and I have a couple more projects to show you over the month.

Taylored Expressions Sketch 150

It's time once again for another Taylored Expressions Sketch!  All week long over on the TE Facebook page, they have been celebrating the fact that we are on TESC150 by showing off some of their favorite sketches.  Now it's time to show you TESC150. . .

The Taylored Expressions Sketches always get my creative juices flowing, and this one was no exception!  I decided to ink up one of my newer sets called Woodland Winter.  I love all of the adorable images that the set has.  It even has a fantastic tree with which you can buy a coordinating Trim the Tree die to match!  LOVE it!

Stamps:  Woodland Winter

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, TE buttercream, EP Season's Greetings

Copics:  E31, E33, BG10, BG13, R46, R59, YG03, YG63, YG67

Accessories:  Circle cutter, Pennant Nestabilities, MFT Stamp Edge Die-namics, sponge, dimensionals, Sugar Sparkly Fluff, Maya Road Heart stick pin, black pen

We play along over at Splitcoaststampers, and we'd love to have you play as well!  Here are the details:

1. Create a card using the sketch as inspiration. Feel free to switch up the shape or size of your card. As long as your project follows the general sketch, you’re good to go! You may play as many times as you want. Each upload will be entered into our weekly drawing, so the more you create - the better chance you have of winning the PRIZE!

2. Upload your project to Splitcoaststampers before 8pm PST on Thursday, November 24th using keywordTESC150. Feel free to come back to this thread and link your creation, however, make sure you’ve uploaded it using the correct keyword as that’s how we’ll choose the winner.

3. You’re not required to use TE Stamps on your project, but I love it when you do! And if you use TE stamps in your project this week, your name will be entered into the prize drawing twice!

Now check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has to inspire you:

Cassie Trask (me)

Lisa Hjulberg

Lori Craig

Margie Cortina

Monika Davis

Rachel Sztonyk

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

With the Holidays coming up, this will be the last Taylored Expressions Sketch until after the New Year, so be sure to play along now for your chance to win one of 3 new stamp sets  (Thankful, Love Grows Here, and Labels of Love II) for 3 random winners!  Thanks for stopping by!  I'd love to see what you do with this sketch :D

Clearly iStamp Tutorial

Head over to Clearly iStamp to see how this card and those little flowers were made!

I'm so excited!

A couple of months ago, I got an email from Kendra over at Our Craft Lounge.  She was asking if I'd be willing to be the November Artist of the Month for OCL.  My reaction was. . .(squeal) YES!  I'm so excited to have such a great honor :D  Over the next few weeks, I get to show you a few things that I've worked on, and you can see them over at the Our Craft Lounge Blog.

My first card of the month uses a great set called Tweet Winter.  I love snowmen, and this little guy comes with some little birdie friends.  I stuck with my usual CAS style.

Stamps:  Tweet Winter

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  EP Seasons Greetings, buttercream

Copics:  E81, E87, BG10, YR14, R59, BG96, & airbrush

Accessories:  circle punch, sponge, Circle Nestabilities, twine

Every Monday I'll have something new to show, so be sure to head to the OCL Blog :D

Swanky Snow Dudes

Good Sunday morning all!  I just have a quick card to show you this morning.  Thanks to the extra hour, I've got a bit of time, haha.  Over at Paper Smooches, Kim isn't looking for a guest designer this month but she did want to see some Christmas cards.  I made this little card, because the idea has been stuck in my head since I got these 2 sets.  It uses Swanky Snow Dudes and Hang Ups.  I drew the lines between the lights.

Stamps:  Swanky Snow Dudes & Hang Ups

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, CDS Raging River

Accessories:  Copics, Scallop Square & Square Nestabilities, black pen

Now I really should get ready for church ;)

A few more HYCCT

I decided to treat myself a the other day, and ended up getting a few things I wanted from My Favorite Things.  In turn, I made my last few things for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.

This first one was made with the new PI Holiday Hugs Snowman.  I just fell in LOVE with that adorable image.  I made this one for the the 'Looking in On You' challenge, which was to make a window card with some pink.  I covered the panes with some glossy glaze.

 Stamps:  PI Holiday Hugs Snowman

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black & CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, Authentique-Uncommon

Accessories:  Copics, glossy glaze, sponge

My next card was made for the 'Big or Small Save Them All' challenge, which was to use 2 different sized geometric shapes.  It uses another new stamp from MFT called ALM Knit Happens.  LOVE it :D

 Stamps:  ALM Knit Happens

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  buttercream, MME 12 Days of Christmas

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, red buttons, black pen, Circle Nestabilities, Apple Green Sparkly Fluff from OCL

My final card for the day was made for the 'Find Your Happy Place' challenge, which was to make a card with your happy place on it.  Normally my happy place would be a beach, but lately I've been so busy that bedtime is my happy place, lol.  I used the ALM Dream Big set from MFT.

Stamps:  ALM Dream Big

Ink:  Memento tuxedo Black

Paper:  buttercream, Authentique-Uncommon

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, Circle Nestabilities, Gold Sparkly Fluff from OCL

Thanks for stopping in & enjoy your weekend :D

Clearly Inspired Challenge #39

It's the first Friday of the month, which means it's challenge time over at Clearly iStamp!  Today's challenge is one of my favorite types. . .a Color Challenge!

Those are the Clear Dollar Stamps colors, but you can come as close as possible if you don't have those exact ones.  As a matter of fact, I didn't use the Cottonball White. . .I was a bad girl and used a cream :}

I used a new release from Clear Dollar Stamps called Little Bethlehem.  One of the things about stamping that I love is the coloring.  I'm sure Bethlehem's structures were not red, but in my little creative world they can be.

Stamps:  Little Bethlehem

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Red Velvet Cake, Authentique-Wonder, buttercream

Copics:  R46, R59, T5, T7, YG63, YG67, E41, E42, E43, E44

Accessories:  red button, gold cord, Luscious Lime Smooch

Head on over to Clearly iStamp and check out the challenge. . .there are always prizes to be won!

More Hope You Can Cling To

I have a couple more to take pictures of, but I am 7 away from completing all 33 Hope You Can Cling To challenges from Splitcoaststampers.  I love setting goals like that, and Splitcoast is very good at providing lots of inspiration for them!

I made this card for the 'Paint Your Heart Out' challenge, which was to use paint.  I used watercolors and Perfect Pearls to paint my leaves.  I simply love the look of those Perfect Pearls.  This stamp is from Clear Dollar Stamps and is called Leaf Hellos.

 Stamps:  Leaf Hellos

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, CDS Cottonball White, CDS Heavy watercolor

Accessories:  Tombows & aquabrush, Perfect Pearls, black embossing powder, CDS Worn Parchment ribbon, dimensionals

This next one was for the 'Costume Party' which was to create a card using a different style than your normal.  I would have to say that this is a bit more shabby feel.  Although, I am no good at describing styles since my primary style is CAS.  I used the Gel-a-tins set called Chocolate Bliss.

Stamps:  Chocolate Bliss

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  buttercream, MME Lush, CDS Mud Pie

Accessories:  Xmas Red Stickles, brown twill, circle punch, Labels 14 Nestabilities, Large Scallop Die-namics

Thanks for stopping in!

A bunch of HYCCT cards

Here are a bunch of cards made for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges over at Splitcoaststampers.  This afternoon a mailed a bunch of cards off to the Cancer Center, and it felt so wonderful to do that.  My daughter loved the idea so much, that she added a couple of her cards to the mix as well.  I sure hope all of the cards brighten someone's day :)

This first one was made for the 'Boo Bees' challenge, which was to include bees on your card.  I used a set from Clear Dollar Stamps called Home Sweet Hive.

 Stamps:  Home Sweet Hive

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Fresh Papaya

Paper:  EP Country Drive, CDS Cottonball White, CDS Night Eclipse

Accessories:  BG70 copic & airbrush, Octagon, Scalloped Octagon, & Ribbon Tags Nestabilities, black twine

This next card was made for the 'Hang in There' challenge, which was to make a card with a image hanging onto something.  It uses two sets from Paper Smooches:  Spiffy Scooters & Falling For You.

Stamps:  Spiffy Scooters & Falling For You

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  EP For the Record, buttercream

Accessories:  Copics & sponges, MFT Wave Die-namics

This next one is for the 'Colors of Hope' challenge, which was to use the colors green, yellow, and brown.  I used the MFT stamp A'la Mode Miss You A Latte.

 Stamps:  Miss You A Latte

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  BG Origins, CDS Worn Parchment, CDS Cottonball White

Accessories:  Copics, dimenisonals, gold Spica pen, green mosaic tiles (CDS), Circle, Tags, & Labels 2 Nestabilities, sponge

 This next one was made for the 'Treat Yourself' challenge, which was to use pink treats.  I used this new one from Taylored Expressions called Build a Treat Borders. . .I LOVE IT!  So easy and adorable!

 Stamps:  Build a Treat Borders, Banner Day 1

Ink:  Memento Angel Pink, SU Crumb Cake, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  MME Lime Twist, CDS Worn Parchment, CDS Cottonball White, unknown blue

Accessories:  Sparkle Fibers (CDS), TE Banner Day 1 Die, TE Build a Treat Borders Dies, dimensionals

My final card for today (with hopes of getting the rest done in a couple of days) was made for the 'Words of Encouragement' challenge.  It uses the New Beginnings set from Taylored Expressions.

Stamps:  New Beginnings

Ink:  CDS Fresh Papaya, CDS Hot Cocoa, CDS Tropical Mist

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, Crate Paper Farmhouse, CDS Red Velvet Cake, CDS Fresh Papaya

Accessories:  TE Frame it Up 1 Die, CDS Red Velvet Cake ribbon, teal buttons

Whew!  I have exactly 11 more to make to complete them all.  I'm not sure I can do it, but I will certainly try.  Thanks for checking out my post today :)

Game On

I'm still working on a few challenges from the Hope You Can Cling To challenges from Splitcoaststampers.  Today's card fits the 'Real Men Wear Pink' challenge, and it also fits the Simon Says Challenge of buttons.

I used one of my favorite sets from My Favorite Things called Who's That Geek Guy?.  I bought this set, because I truly am married to one. . .and I love it!

Stamps:  Who's That Geek Guy?

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  MME Lime Twist, Flamingo Pink, buttercream

Copics:  R20, R22, E000, E00, E42, E43, E44

Accessories:  brown button, pink twine, white gel pen

Thanks for stopping in!  I hope to have more to show tomorrow :)

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

My primary focus, other than some obligations that I have, has been to take my spare crafting time and make cards for the Splitcoaststampers Hope You Can Cling To challenges.  I broke a way for one other challenge to make a card for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.

I chose to be inspired by the colors within the inspiration photo.  Using the Fruitastic set, I made this fun and simple card.

 Stamps:  Fruitastic

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  MME Gertie, buttercream

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, sponge, white gell pen, brown buttons

Thanks for stopping in today!  I have more HYCCT cards to share later :)