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!

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