Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Trasks!  I pray you all enjoy the blessings of the season, and have a chance to reflect on the birth of our Savior!

Polar Pete warms my Heart

We are enjoying some wonderful family time with each other, and I've even been able to sneak away and make a few things.  We are tackling a lot of 'to-do list' stuff. . .feels so good.  In between that, I did end up getting my latest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit.  I made this card and a gift for my husband that I'll have to show you after Christmas ;)

I'm just in love with Polar Pete. . .one of the latest from Taylor's petite line of stamps.  Isn't he just the cutest?!  I colored my little snowflake button with Copic marker B04 & my airbrush.  I used the sketch from Mojo Monday.  I am also using the Anything Goes challenge from Bearly Mine :)

Stamps:  Polar Pete

Paper:  December TE KI Kit

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Circle & Pennant Nestabilities, foam tape, Copics & airbrush, accessories from Dec TE KI Kit

Thanks for stopping in!  I'm off to tackle more 'to-do' things :D

Sunday Blog Hop Winner!

We have a winner for our Sunday Blog Hop!

Our winner is:

From Shell's blog, is Bonnie Raduse and her blog Stamping in the Light. Congratulations Bonnie!

Please contact Cassie at cassandratrask@yahoo.com to claim your $25 gift code for digital images!

Have a wonderful day!

Nice List Polar Bear

I believe I may have actually finished all of my Christmas cards.  I could be wrong, but time will tell ;)  I ended up making this card using the SPARKS challenge for Paper Smooches.  I used my new Chubby Chum Pals set along with one of the sayings from my Santa Paws set.  The little stitches are from Folkal Point.

I also made it for the iCopic blog challenge, which was last minute Christmas.  Since this is pretty much my last Christmas project (at least I think it is, haha), I thought it would work perfectly for the iCopic challenge. One of the things I love about Copics is the ability to transform things with them.  I colored the toothpick with E57, and I colored a white pom pom with R27. . .good stuff I tell ya!

 Stamps:  Chubby Chum Pals, Santa Paws, & FOLKal Points

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, buttercream, Authentique Holiday Wonder

Copics:  E50, E53, E57, YG63, YG67, R27 (for the nose)

Accessories:  toothpick, Pennant Nestabilities, foam tape, notebook paper punch, white puff 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you're getting all of those last minute crafty things done that you need to!

White as Snow CDS Blog Hop

Hello friends, and welcome to the monthly Clear Dollar Stamps Blog Hop!  This month the theme is 

White as Snow

You should have made your way here from Shell's blog.  If you just happened here you'll want to start at the beginning, which is Lori's blog!  I interpreted the challenge as using mostly white on my project and decided to make an ornament.  I used a sentiment called 'Jesus is the best gift of all', and I used the Our Savior's Birth set from the Clear Dollar Stamps store.

Stamps:  Jesus is the best gift of all, Our Savior's Birth

Ink:  CDS Hot Cocoa, CDS Fresh Papaya, SU Crumb Cake, SU River Rock

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, CDS silver, chipboard

Accessories:  Labels 17 Nestabilities, E50 Copic & airbrush, Victoria & Tiny Mosaics embossing folders, foam tape, baker's twine

I hope you're commenting along the way, because you have a chance to win $25 towards CDS digital images!  That's A LOT of images!  When you're done here, you'll want to make your way to the lovely Lisa's blog!

OCL -- A Handmade Christmas

I've been working on a few request projects for a client, but found some time in the wee hours of the night last night to participate in the latest Our Craft Lounge challenge.  The challenge is A Handmade Holiday.  I needed some tags for my little nephews gifts, so I made a few quick ones.  Here is one of them using a retiring set called Hoppy Holidays.

Here's a close up of my coloring.  I meant to add some Red Sparkly Fluff, and still may, but I was pretty tired after I got this all colored up :)

Stamps:  Hoppy Holiday

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White

Copics:  YG03, YG05, YG09, B02, B06, R24, R37, R59, E41, E42, E43, Y02

Accessories:  baker's twine, hole punch

OCL is having an awesome Christmas sale going on only until tomorrow.  If you buy one Christmas set you can get the second set at 50% off!  Just use the code 13daychristmas at checkout!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #42 -- Birthday!

 

Happy Friday everyone!  My second post of the day. . .late no less, but still here ;)  Between dentist appointments and getting all of the kids tests in for school before break, it's been a busy one!

I'm here with the latest and last challenge for the Clearly Inspired Challenges for 2011.  I can't believe we are here already!  This one is an easy one too!  With all of the self-induced craziness that comes with Christmas, I thought that doing a Birthday theme would be good.  That, and my nephew's birthday is 2 days after Christmas.  SNAP. . .2 birds, 1 stone!  Best. . .aunt. . .ever!

I used 2 different Clear Dollar Stamps sets on this one.  It uses Calendar Tags & Designer Label Celebrations to go along with the Designer Labels Die.

Stamps:  Calendar Tags, Designer Label Celebrations

Ink:  CDS Fresh Papaya, CDS Deap Sea

Paper:  CDS Still Waters, CDS Vanilla, CDS Fresh Papaya, BG Life of the Party

Accessories:  CDS Designer Label Die, sponge, yellow, blue, & brown markers, CDS Still Waters ribbon, window punch, TE Star Trio Die, stapler

So come on over to Clearly iStamp and check out the challenge!  If you play along you could win, and if you use CDS images you could find yourself featured on the CDS Facebook Fan page!

Here's a few Bucks. . .

I needed a quick card to hold a little Christmas money, and Paper Smooches has their latest SPARKS inspiration challenge going on.  You put the 2 together, and I came up with this nifty little card :)

It uses the Paper Smooches set called Santa Paws.  Normally I tend to be a bit more detailed, but I needed it quickly.  So here ya go!

 Stamps:  Santa Paws

Ink:  CDS Hot Cocoa, Rocket Red & Pearlescent Thyme Pigment ink

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, MME 12 Days of Christmas

Accessories:  circle & label punch, red organdy ribbon, red marker

Thanks for stopping in, and be sure to check out the SPARKS challenge to see how you're inspired :D

It's in the Bag!

Half way through the week. . .c'mon Friday!  I don't usually wish time away, but I really do just want to get to vacation.  My husband will have 2 weeks off, and since we home school. . .we get 2 weeks off!  I could use it ;)

I have another Christmas card to show, since I'm still cranking those out.  This one was made for a couple of different challenges.  I used the color challenge from Splitcoaststampers of Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, and Always Artichoke, and I use the Papertake Weekly Challenge; 'I'm dreaming of a (your fave color) Christmas'.  Mine just happens to be Kraft lately. . .always reaching for it.

I used an awesome set from Taylored Expressions called It's In the Bag with it's coordinating Shopping Bag and Labels Die.  I also pulled out my Tiny Topper Die as well.

Stamps:  It's in the Bag

Ink:  SU Riding Hood Red

Paper:  CDS Worn Parchment, Authentique Holiday Wonder

Accessories:  TE Shopping Bag & Labels Die, TE Tiny Toppers Die, ribbon from TE Holiday Wonder Project Pantry Kit, Red Viva Pearl Pen

Pics of dies used:

Thanks for stopping in today!

Clear Dollar Stamps Tuesday Tutorial

Are you still working on Christmas gifts?  Sadly, I am, so I thought I would share with you a fairly quick and super easy gift card tutorial that I shared over at Clearly iStamp.  Go check it out. . .you'll be so happy to have this little baby in your arsenal!

Working on Christmas cards. . .

Yes, I'm still having to work on Christmas cards, because yes, I am behind.  Being the good crafters that the rest of you are, I'm sure you're all done and working on cards for next year ;)

I was inspired the by the Squirrel and The Fox challenge of Christmas, and made this little CAS card.  It uses a couple of Paper Smooches sets: Promenade and Pretty Phrases.

Stamps:  Pretty Phrases, Promenade

Ink:  CDS Spring Leaf, CDS Cherry Go Round, CDS Tropical Mist

Paper:  MME 12 Days of Christmas, TE Buttercream, green

Accessories:  MFT Ticket Punch border, Kiwi Viva Pearl Pens, sponge, red baker's twine, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in!

Getting into the Kissmoose Spirit!

Yay for Fridays!  I made a card the other day that followed this same basic layout, and it was so easy that I made another one.  I love me some CAS, and being in need of a few more Christmas cards, I made this little guy.  I'm using it for the ABC Christmas Challenge, and I'm entering it into the Paper Smooches Guest Designer Challenge.  

I used my Chubby Chum Pals set from Paper Smooches.

Stamps:  Chubby Chum Pals

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  unknown blue, MME 12 Days of Christmas, CDS Cottonball White

Accessories:  Copics, red twine, foam tape, red dew drops, corner rounder

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

PS SPARKS: My Odd Bird

I really need to get crackin' on my Christmas cards, but instead I have another entry for the Paper Smooches SPARKS inspiration challenge to show you today!  I used a couple of the new sets to make this fun card. . .Word Salad & Chubby Chum Pals.  I was inspired by the dark blue and the yellow when looking at this picture.  I really just wanted those 2 pops of color to be my main colors.  

 Stamps:  Word Salad & Chubby Chum Pals

Ink:  yellow & blue (Memento Brilliance), CDS Tropical Mist

Paper:  CDS Cottonball White, CDS Still Waters

Accessories:  blue baker's twine, paper piercer, googlie eyes, sponge

Thanks for stopping in today!

MFT Weekly Sketch #49

On Black Friday the only shopping I did was mostly for myself.  Selfish, I know, but let's be honest. . .no one really knows what I want, and they aren't interested enough in the details to ask in about specifics.  It doesn't bother me really. I'm sure in their eyes it's a bit too difficult to figure out.  I take the guess work out of it for them ;)  

I digress, so onto my project.  I received some  MFT goodies last week in the mail from their Black Friday specials. . .good stuff I tell ya!  I ordered this adorable little lamb stamp called PI Precious Little Lamb Upon a Star.  At the time I ordered it, I didn't realize how good it would be to practice up on the new things I learned from the Intermediate Copic Certification Class.  

I used the newest MFT Weekly Sketch, and flipped it on it's side.  

I'm working on making my shadows and shading more dramatic when the situation calls for it.  A star shining down seemed like the perfect situation.  Of course, I needed a little airbrushing because, frankly. . .I'm addicted ;)

Stamps:  PI Precious Little Lamb Upon a Star

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, CDS Hot Cocoa

Paper:  TE buttercream, EP Times & Seasons

Copics:  E41, E43, E44, E47, YG03, YG91, YG95, B91, B95, B97, R27, R59, E44, E50, E53, E57, Y21, Y26 & airbrush

Accessories:  Labels Nestabilities, Copic Mask-It, brown twill ribbon, brown buttons, sponge

Thanks for stopping by today!  I would love to hear your constructive criticism :)

PS SPARKS Challenge

Some new Paper Smooches goodies showed up on my door yesterday, and I actually blame my bff, Christi, for this last purchase.  She's created some great stuff with this Santa Paws set, and so naturally I fell in love and 'needed' it.  

As usual the challenge over at the PS SPARKS blog is an inspiration. . .and a beautiful one at that.

I wanted to use my new set along with the inspiration, so I took the blues and the white from the above inspiration and came up with this:

Stamps:  Santa Paws

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  MME 12 Days of Christmas, CDS Cottonball White, blue from TE Card Kit

Copics:  BG10, BG13, BG15, YR00, E11, E50, C1

Accessories:  blue Baker's Twine, foam tape, blue dew drops, corner rounder

I framed up the background paper with the white, and added just a touch of the darker blue.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  Why don't you try your hand at the challenge?

Clearly Inspired Challenge #41 -- Christmas

Hey there, and happy Friday!  I'm a little late with my post, because I spent yesterday into this morning in Atlanta.  Why was I there you ask?!  To get my Intermediate Copic Certification!  What a class!

Today's challenge over at Clearly iStamp for the Clearly Inspired Challenge is to create a Christmas card.  I used one of the October releases, Antique Ornaments with my MME 12 Days of Christmas.  I love how this card turned out with the colors and the Red Viva Pearl Pen.

Stamps:  Antique Ornaments

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  CDS Spruce Needle, buttercream, MME 12 Days of Christmas

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, Red Viva Pearl Pen, Labels 8 Nestabilities, ticket punch, foam tape, gold cord, CDS Cherry Go Round Ribbon

Head on over to the Clearly iStamp and play along for a chance to win from Clear Dollar Stamps!