Celebrating Dad

Hey crafty friends!  We have had a wonderful few weeks off with my husband around, but he headed back to work this morning, so I suppose I should get back at it too :)  I wanted to show you the card I made him for Father's Day.  Taylored Expressions released some great stuff for dads back in May, so I paired up some 'new to me' goodies from TE with an older Paper Smooches Set called Word Up.  I used an embossing folder called Brick and two Little Bits dies:  Grill and Sun & Clouds.  I used Distress Inks rubbed along the images to add the dimension.

I was pretty pleased with how easy this card was using a basic sketch, and using the dies made it come together quite quickly.  Thanks for stopping in today.  We have a busy week of baseball, but I'm going to make the effort to get creative.  I can feel my need for it, so I better get my fix :)

Have a great week!

We have a 15 year old now!

Hey everyone!  It's been a while since I last posted, but it's not from lack of creating.  We've been busy, and with no formal obligations to blog, I've been out of the loop.  I've been creating in my art journals, painting with my PanPastels, and generally just making whatever I want.  It's been liberating and fun!  

Last month my son turned 15. . .wow, it's been a bit hard to swallow but it's only because the older he gets, the closer he gets to leaving the nest.  He's my goofy kid, so I had to make a goofy card for him.  When I first got this squirrel in one of the kits from Studio Calico (which I no longer receive), I thought 'what the heck am I going to do with this?!'  It turned out to be the perfect focal point for my son's card.  As you can see I didn't do much stamping.  The sentiment is actually from a Simon Says stamp called Big Birthday Wishes.

He loved the card, and I'm pretty fond of it too.  Over the next couple of days I'll show you what I made for Father's Day, and hopefully I'll get a chance to create some stuff just for fun and show you that.  My husband has been home after graduating from a recent military college (about to start his second Masters), we've had some wonderful visitors, and I spent some time with my sister after she had her third baby.  As you can see, we've been keeping busy.  

Thanks for stopping in!

DLP Week 16 -- A Lot on My Plate

Hey everyone!  It's been fairly quiet on my blog over the last couple of weeks.  I've definitely been creating, but I haven't taken a lot of pictures ;)  The spread I'm showing you today is from the Documented Life Project week 16.  It was all about Gelli Plates.  Since the previous week was about acrylic paints, I had already done a spread using torn up Gelli Plate pages, so I wanted to do something a bit different.  My original thought was to cover the back with different Gelli Plate stamps, but that failed miserably!  Thank goodness for Gesso!  I tried again, but this time I went super simple and just used the red and yellow on my Gelli Plate and stamped that all over the background.  After that, it was 'now what?'.  

I really wanted to try another face, but this time I went much more whimsical.  I really, really like how she turned out.  I have lots of work to do on coloring faces, but otherwise, I'm super happy with how she turned out.  The journal prompt for the week was 'a lot on my plate', so I wrote all of the things that I have on my plate onto strands of her hair.

I'm going to link this to Kim Dellow's blog for the Show Your Face party!

Thanks for stopping in!  If you didn't see a previous post of mine, I have a LOT of stamps and various stuff for sale.  Just go to my 'Stamps for Sale' at the top of my blog, and check it out.  There are some great deals!  I'm hoping to buy something special for my husband with the proceeds :)

Stamps & Stuff for Sale!

Hey y'all!  I have updated my Stamps for Sale Page at the top my blog, so be sure to check it out!  There are over 90+ stamps & various items for sale!!!

Documented Life Project Weeks 13-15

Happy Monday, friends!  I wanted to update you on my Documented Life Project.  It's my weekly art journal using prompts from the talented ladies over at Art 5 Academy.   Every Saturday, those lovely ladies offer up a journal prompt and show us what they've created, and it's free to join in.  Who doesn't love a free challenge?

I'm doing these a bit out of order, because my picture for week 13 is pretty bad/fuzzy, but I'm IN LOVE with my week 14 page!  Week 14s challenge was watercolor with the prompt being 'it's water under the bridge'.  I started out by gessoing the pages, then using my Dylusions sprays I put dots of color on the pages and then blew those around with a straw.  I drew in the bridge with a Stabilo pencil, and finished it off with by writing in the prompt.  I LOVE how it turned out, and it was fun.

Here is week 13.  I'm keeping the picture small, because the quality is pretty bad.  The challenge was to create your own element, so I made the boat out of washi tape.  The background was colored with my PanPastels over book text as the river banks.

Week 15 had me stumped for several days.  The challenge was acrylic paints.  I started out by putting tearing some under paper into tears, since the prompt was 'cry me a river'.  I tried doing some drips of acrylic paint, but it was just too much, so I toned it down with gesso.  I used a baby wipe to clean up the tear drops.  After tearing up more under paper, I made a river.  The edges needed something, so I used some modeling paste and smeared it over the edges and used a glaze.  The Stabilo pencil rounded it all out, and I ended up being pretty happy with the end result.

One of these days, I will film my process.  Thanks for stopping in!

Color Throwdown #338 -- Thanks

Good Morning!  I'm super excited to get to share my card this morning, because it was made for the Color Throwdown #338 as their Guest Star Stamper!  As soon as I saw the swatch of colors, I couldn't wait to get stamping.  I'm trying to be a bit better about using stamps that haven't seen too much light, so I pulled out some older Taylored Expressions goodies.  This set is called Light as a Feather Stamp & Die combo.  The 'Thanks' die is from TE as well and was a freebie with an order.

The feathers were stamped with Versamark onto the Kraft cardstock, and then Zing! embossing powders were used.  I used a white gel pen to make a few dots, and then used some Kraft cardstock panels to finish up the base.  I think I kind of love how this card turned out.

Some come play along!  You know you want to, and you could end up being a future Guest Star Stamper!

Hello Friend!

Hey there, friends!  I had a bit of time to play last night, so I took the opportunity to branch out to a new (to me) color challenge.  Over at Just Add Ink, they are challenging participants to use the colors Blackberry Bliss, Smoky Slate, and Melon Mambo.  I don't actually have the first 2 colors so I had to improvise there.  I used some silver cardstock I have along with some Rich Razzleberry from SU!.  

My stamped sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions set called Let's Chat, and the dies are from TE as well:  Little Bits Bicycle and Little Bits Sun & Clouds.  My designer papers are from random companies from my stash.  

I'll definitely have to participate in this one again.  Thanks for stopping in this morning!

Color Throwdown #337: Thank You

 Good Monday morning, crafty peeps!  I'm coming in just under the wire by posting my card for the Color Throwdown #337.  I've had the card done for several days, but just kept forgetting to get some pictures.  I used some new goodies from Papertrey Ink:  You've Been Framed: Hexagon with the matching die.  I can see using that die for a lot of different cards, and it will be great for making multiples.

Stamps:  You've Been Framed: Hexagon

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Lucky Limeade, SU Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  Studio Calico dp, Kraft, TE Sugar Cube, SU Pumpkin Pie

Accessories:  PTI You've Been Framed: Hexagon die, B93 Copic, foam tape

There is lots going on today, so I need to get a move on.  Have a great day, and thanks for stopping in!

Ombre Stamping

Hey crafty peeps!  I wanted to pop on quickly to show you what I create for the Papertey Ink Make it Monday challenge.  The challenge was ombre stamping.  I have to say, I have a lot of stamp pads, but not a lot of them go well for this type of challenge!  That was shocking for me.  Maybe I tend to buy vastly different colors, so they don't seamlessly blend.  I suppose I should remedy that ;)

I used a couple of different sets from PTI called Half & Half (with the matching die) as well as Harvest Berries.  The inks I used were distress inks:  Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, & Victorian Velvet.  They aren't perfect, but you get the idea.  Looking at the sentiment I picked, maybe colors of the sun would have worked better.  Again, I didn't have a lot of options.

Thanks for stopping in!

Spring is In the Air!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  I'm sort of supremely obsessed with this stamp set right now.  Well, to be fair, I've been obsessed with it since I first laid eyes on it.  I use it every chance I can get!  It's from Papertrey Ink and it's called The Sweet Life.  I don't have the matching die, because every time I'm ready to buy it, they are out of it, lol.  The sentiment is from Signature Greetings II.

My card was inspired by the Simon Says Stamp challenge April Showers and/or Spring Flowers.  The papers are called Seredipity, and I've been reaching for it a lot as well.  The papers are beautiful and seem to fit the mood I'm in when I'm crafting.  I did use my Wink Of Stella to bring a bit more life to the flower as well.

Thank you so much for stopping in.  I would love to hear what you think :)

Happy Birthday!

Happy Monday, friends!  Today is actually my birthday, but my card is for my sweet nephew.  He's an April baby and a middle child like me ;)  I didn't make this card for any particular challenge, I was just inspired by this card by Laura Bassen, and wanted to make one like it.  My card uses a couple of Paper Smooches sets; Zoo Crew & Sentiment Sampler.  I haven't bought a new PS stamp in quite some time. . .I should really remedy that!

A little disclosure. . . the sentiment was an accident, and I don't think it was a happy one.  I originally stamped it in black and put what I thought was clear embossing powder on it.  In my haste, it turned out to be WHITE embossing powder, lol.  I tried to fix it and make it look 3D, but I'm not sure it worked.  Thankfully my nephew is young, so he won't mind.

I'm trying something a little different with my pictures.  Every time we move, I have the hardest time trying to find the best spot to take pictures.  As much as I enjoy new scenery, I do envy those that have a designated picture spot that NEVER changes.  Mine seems to change frequently as I try to figure out the best spot in each house.

All right, I need to run.  The kids have a dentist appointment and it's a bit rainy (happy birthday to me!)  Thanks for stopping in!

Color Throwdown #336 -- Smiles

It's Good Friday!  I just wanted to quickly share with you a card I made for the Color Throwdown #336.  The images are from a set that is no longer available from Papertrey Ink, called Natural Beauties.  I don't remember the name of the stencil I used, but I love the subtle look you can get from distress inks and a stencil.  The flowers were stamped using Stampin' Up! colors: Pumpkin Pie & Dusty Durango.

Thanks for stopping in!  Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Deconstructed Sketch 195 -- Thanks

My final post of the day is for the Deconstructed Sketch #195.  Jen's sketches are always awesome, and since I had time to play I pulled up the sketch.  The challenge actually starts today, but she gives you a preview of the sketch on the Facebook page the night before.

I used Papertrey Ink set that hasn't seen a lot of light in the past called Trendy Tree Tops along with the matching Die.  It's such a darling set, which why I bought it, right?!  The only stamping I did on this card are the sentiment and the little birdie.  The papers are from the American Crafts Serendipity line.  Come play along if you can!

All right, I'm off to get some lasagnas made.  Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Double Partial Die Cutting -- Grateful

Happy Thursday, friends!  There is a lot to do today, because we are having a couple of families over for dinner tonight, but I wanted to get a couple of cards posted because I had the best time creating last night.  

My first card of the day was made for the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge.  I used the Counting My Blessings die and stamp set along with the Heart-2-Heart #6 die and stamp set.  It was a fun technique trying to get the die to cooperate by not moving and cutting correctly, but it eventually worked.  My take on the Double Partial Die Cutting was at first it was a bit difficult, but like most things 'practice makes perfect' ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Documented Life Project Weeks 10-12

Hey Crafty friends!  I hope y'all are having a wonderful Wednesday!  Productive day for me. . .coffee with a friend, homeschool (naturally), grocery shopping, and now posting.  I have a couple of new projects to show you from the Documented Life Project 2015.  I've done a great job (so far) with keeping up with the challenges, so I'm going to show you weeks 10-12.

Week 10s challenge was Doodles and Marks as a Layer Element.  I doodled some rain/snow all over the background and covered it in gel medium.  I love the look it gave when I wiped off the distress paint with a baby wipe.  That was a rough week for me, so this picture says it all, and the prompt was a perfect one.

Week 11s challenge was doodling a border, with the prompt being Madonna's song Borderline. . .once again perfect.  I ended up using some underpaper, because I just had nothing.  Once I doodled the border, I just went with the face. . .it's basically part of the background, which is how I was feeling that week.

 Once again, the following week's challenge was simply perfect for my mood.  Week 12s challenge was to use doodling as a focal point. . .hence the flower.  I found this amazing quote, which was exactly what I was needing.  'Find what you were made to do, and life will come into focus'.  After the previous 2 weeks I had had, God was pointing me in the right direction (as He always does).

I do have Week 13 done, but I'll blog that one later.  Thanks for stopping in!  I think I'll go play now ;)

Taylored Expressions: Fancy Banner Gift Set

Hey all!  I have a quick post for you this morning.  I love to make matching sets to give as gifts, so the new Taylored Expressions Fancy Banner 1 with Coordinating die set is fantastic for gift sets.  I used some gold Shimmer paper along with the Dotted Lattice embossing folder.

Thanks for stopping in!

Here are the links to the products I used from the TE store:

Fancy Banner 1 with Coordinating Die	Embossing Folder - Dotted Lattice	Premium Cardstock - Metallic Neutrals	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Sprinkles
Premium Cardstock - Lollipop	Premium Cardstock - Granny Smith	Memento Tuxedo Black Full Pad	Copic Markers	Foam Tape - 1/16" Thick

InLinkz.com

Color Throwdown #335

Happy Saturday, everyone!  I'm up before the rest of the house, which is typical. . .I can't sleep in anymore.  The nice thing about is that I have some time to wake up and catch up on blog reading and coffee drinking ;)

I have a couple of cards to show this morning that follow the Color Throwdown color challenge.  The colors were muted red, light green, and light yellow.  I have no idea which manufacturer the cardstock is from, because I just grabbed it from my stash.  The white paper is used, however, is Confetti White from Papertrey Ink.  The image is from PTI as well, and it is called The Sweet Life, and the sentiment is from the Signature Greetings II set.  The background uses the Dotted Lattice embossing folder from Taylored Expressions.

I ended up loving the colors together so much that I made another card.  Coffee. . .I love a good coffee set. . .and some coffee ;)

The background uses a couple of different stencil that I have, with some ink blotted through them.  The image is another PTI image called Warm Happiness, and it uses the matching die as well.  I decided to throw on some burlap and staple the panel for interest and texture.

Thanks for stopping by!

PanPastel Poppies

Hey everyone!  I've been a crafting, artsy little bee lately.  With contracts up, and yes that made me sad, my super supportive husband encouraged me to take some classes.  I jumped full into the PanPastel Classes that Donna Downey offers online.  I have had the best time, and it has actually awakened something in me to try new things and be even bolder.  I'm still making cards.  In fact, I have  a couple to share with you, that I will post over the weekend.  

So, let me show you what I've made!  There are several classes to take, and I'm currently on the last class, PanPastel 203.  This first ones are introductions to PanPastels, and can I just say that I am VERY in love with my PanPastels now.  I've learned some great new techniques, and I don't want to stop creating. 

These pieces of art of from PanPastel 202 'Poppies'.  The final project was to be done on canvas, and once I did it I couldn't stop there.  I did three total pieces for the class.  This one is an 11 x 14 canvas.

I feel a bit vulnerable sharing these with you, as it is me to the core.  I drew them, I painted them, they are mine.  I know they aren't perfect, but sharing the art is part of the process for me.  

This piece measures 18 x 24, and was the first one I did for the assignment.  I don't even know what made me do it on a canvas that was so big. . .probably because it's all I had.  I will say that I seriously loved every bit of the process.

My husband has been so encouraging about hanging them up on our fairly empty walls.  It's encouraged me to purchase more canvas.

 This final piece measures the same as the red poppy.  It gave me the most challenge, but helped me grow.  I know I have a lot more to learn, but practice can only make one better, right?

I really do hope that I've inspired you to try some new things.  I don't think I consider myself an artist. . .it may take a few more canvases to get me thinking like that.  I do know that this art has been very healing.  I can't explain it, but I know that God has worked on me during this time.

Thanks for stopping in to see what I've made!  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me:  cassandratrask@yahoo.com