I Cheated. Totally, dude.

Today's new release from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is AWESOME! It is a super fabulous die that coordinates with the beautiful Truth Is stamp set, which happens to be one of my personal favorites in the CAS-ual Fridays line! Naturally, I didn't use that stamp set. At all. HA! For reals, though, you guys, as SOON as I saw the dies, this idea popped into my head and I HAD to make it happen. Cupcakes. It had to be cupcakes.



Ack! Isn't that fun? Yes, they are supposed to be super pretty flowers, and they are...and you will see them used that way over on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog, but I just HAD to do something totally fun with them! These are SUPER versatile dies...trust me... go check out the inspiration! *wink* *wink*



Also, remember you can get a 15% off discount if you order today! Be sure to check out the other new releases, as well!!!

Have a Happy!

Small Business Saturday and CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

It is Small Business Saturday and not only do we have a brand new Fri-Die release for you today, we have a great special, too! If you order today you will receive 15% off! WHAT?! Yup. New stuff, special deals, AND GIVEAWAYS!!! You really need to check out the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog. For reals, though.

This new dies set is called Bubble Boxes. Michele actually created it when she came across the need for a gift card holder. Of course, me and the other Girl Fridays like to use things outside of the box ... hee-heee... see what I did there? So we have LOTS of super fun ideas for you using this awesome die set today!



I was loving yesterdays release so much I used it with todays release, too. Seriously. Those snowflakes. I love them. Lots. Like... super lots. For reals, though.



The patterned paper is from the BoBunny Candy Cane Lane collection, which may, very well, be my favorite holiday paper pack this year. I just LOVE it!!!

Now head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog for tons of inspiration and to read more about the new releases and the specials this weekend!!!

Have a Happy!

A Gold Dipped Christmas

It is time for a new CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release and I am SO excited about this one, you guys! We have some incredible dies coming at you along with SUPER FUN sales because, well... Black Friday, Cyber Monday, you know.... SALE SEASON!!!!

Today we are releasing these amazing snowflake dies. The set is called Flurry and I love it. Lots. And lots. For reals, though.



And... now it's a gold dipped snowflake, so that pretty much makes it AMAZEBALLS. Yup. Totes.



AND... this die set will be 15% off all weekend long! No coupon codes needed! We just like you, that's all. Be sure to keep an eye on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog all weekend for inspiration, sales, new releases, and giveaways! WHOA! You GUYS! That's LOTS of fun stuff! Don't miss out. K? K. I'll see you folks tomorrow.

Have a Happy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to pop in with a quick card to let you all know that I am thankful for YOU today! Thanks for your support, thanks for reading, for laughing at my dumb jokes, and for making me feel awesome about my work. You guys are seriously awesome and I appreciate you. So... thanks!



Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! I hope it is awesome!

Supplies:

Stamp: Stampendous!
Die: Spellbinders
Markers: Chameleon
Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh

Because Narwhals Like Christmas, Too!

It is ANYTHING GOES week over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog! The design team is using Lawn Fawn goodies this week! You don't have to use them to enter, but if you have them we would love to see you rock them! I simply HAD to pull out this super cute Narwhal stamp from the Critters in the Arctic set for a fun holiday card.



I used a fabulous pierced rectangle die from Spellbinders to frame him. He is embossed in white, colored with Spectrum Noir pens, and then I inked around him like crazy after masking the image. This card seriously just makes me smile. It is just totally a fun one!



And now it's your turn! Link your card up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog for a chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Woot! Woot! You have to admit, that would be a fun little holiday extra for you! Give it a shot! We can't WAIT to see what you create!

Have a Happy!

Another Fabulous Year of Being AWESOME!

Just a reminder... I need your votes for the Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking World Card Making Day Contest Honorable Mention! My card is the floral birthday card! Thank you so much to those who have already voted! You guys ROCK!!!

Today I am sharing a simple, but totally fun card. Date stamps. Somehow I feel like many of us end up with them somehow and then we tend to forget to use them. Or not have any clue HOW to effectively use them. I was definitely in this group, anyway. I received this super cute date stamp from the Shimelle Collection. It's adorable. Seriously. BUT, seeing as I don't scrapbook very often, AND, even when I did, I generally didn't use date stamps, I wasn't sure what to do with it. So, naturally, I took it out of the package and stared at it. Because that always works. HA!

And then I remembered THIS awesome sentiment from Altenew. Yup. Combined with my date stamp, we had LIFT OFF! I changed the dates, including the year, on the date stamp with each use to get all kinds of dates on my card. They go backwards, they go forwards, they basically go all over the place! And that works SO AWESOMELY WELL with the sentiment and I LOVE that. (And yes, awesomely is a word... spell check told me so. No...for reals, though..I was kind of surprised by that, so I thought I should share. Awesomely. It's a word.)

So, in conclusion...

• Date stamps are actually kind of awesome.
• Awesomely is totally a word.
• You actually CAN, awesomely, get ideas by staring at supplies you have no clue how to use.

Don't forget to vote. Awesomely. For reals, though.

The end.

Have a Happy!

A CAS-ual Christmas Card

Before we begin today, I need YOUR vote! I am one of the five Honorable Mention finalists for the World Card Making Contest at Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking magazine! I need your vote on my floral birthday card to win the BIG PRIZE! Thank you!!! You guys rock! GO HERE to VOTE!

I am up over on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamp blog today with this card using a couple of the brand new, and totally GORGEOUS stamp sets!


I stamped the boughs from Pinecones first and then stamped and embossed the Wheat Wreath over that in gold. Because gold. I stamped the poem inside the wreath, using a little masking to make it work and then created a sentiment banner to layer over the wreath. Finally, a burlap string bow finishes if off!



I love how these two stamp sets played SO beautifully together! Such a pretty outcome! Be sure to head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog for even more inspiration!!!

Have a Happy!

I Need Your Votes!

Friends, this card won one of five Honorable Mention spots in the Paper Crafts and Scrapbooking World Card Making Day contest, but I need your votes to win the prize! One of the five gets the prize package! Please go HERE to vote! I'd love your vote if you love my card! Thanks for being AWESOME!!!!

Have a Happy!

Paper Piecing Really is Fun

I have a secret. I really love fussy cutting. No... for reals, though. I mean, I am ALL about the dies. (Go ahead...take a moment to turn 'All About the Bass' into All About the Dies in your head...I'll grant you that moment....   Done? K. Good. Fussy cutting....), but sometimes it is just plain FUN to do some good old fashioned machine-free fussy cutting. And that, my friends, is what I had in mind when I created this card.



I used the amazing sThis Awesome House stamp set from Winnie and Walter along with a bunch of different Crate Paper papers to bring this all together. I love how the patterns all come together and create this adorable little house! I also made sure to keep the colors neutral so this card could easily be used for anyone!



I placed bits of vellum behind each of the window panes to give them a more glass like look and to prevent the house pattern from showing through. I also used a gold Wink of Stella to add some gold in some areas and Copics to add the grey toned stones. The background was created by first layering the patterned papers and then cutting them with the Spellbinders Pierced Rectangle dies to get that great pierced and embossed border. I love how that finishes it off so fabulously and gives definition to the patterned paper edges.

And that's all for today, folks!

Have a Happy!

Let's Celebrate!

So, I love this sketch from the current Retro Sketches Challenge. But I sorta reversed it. Because that's what I do. This is why I can't use sketches. I have an inability to follow them. HA! BUT...I have been dying to play with this awesome new Glass Effects Die from Spellbinders®! Seriously, you guys. I really love this die! I combined it with the gorgeous Snowflake Bliss Die Set for my graphic Christmas card.



I used some pretty flocked papers as the background to add both warmth and texture. The gold adds a festive shimmer while keeping the entire design classic in nature. I kind of love how this one came together. These dies, you guys!!!! For REALS! I seriously love them. Amazeballs, I tell ya! Amaze.balls.



You GUYS! These colors, and that soft, flocked texture just make me happy. It's like a hug. A hug on a card. *sigh* So, that's my card for today! I hope it feels like a hug to you, too. A shiny happy hug. Well, now that just sounds kind of weird, but whatevs. K. Moving on....

I am also linking this up to the ShowCASe your style challenge!

Have a Happy!

Supplies:

Dies: Spellbinders® Glass Effects Die Set, Snowflake Bliss Die Set
Specialty Papers: DCWV Flocked Papers, DCWV Glitzy Papers
Cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White
String: May Arts Irridescent White String
Label: Cosmo Cricket Punch Me Stickers

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are Giving THANKS with the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Team this week! That's right, the brand new challenge is to create a Thank you or a Thanksgiving themed project. The design team is using Simon Says Stamp exclusives this week. You don't have to use them to enter, but we would LOVE to see how you rock them if you've got them!



I have been absolutely LOVING these gorgeous new dies from Spellbinders and thought these tassels would be a fun thing to play with for a Thanksgiving card. I decided to cut several of them and turn them into a sort of floral medallion thingy. I kind of love that floral medallion thingy. For reals, though. It's kinda sorta awesome. I stamped the sentiment using the Simon Says Stamp Essential Greetings set, overlapping the words to create a unique look. This is super easy to do and offers a fun new way to play with your sentiment stamps.



Now it's YOUR turn! Create something AWESOME inspired by the Thank You/Thanksgiving theme and link it on up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog. For reals, you guys... you could win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp store. Just enter. Do it, dude.

You can find my complete supply list below. 

Have a Happy!

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Essential Greetings

Dies: Spellbinders® Victorian Tassels Die Set

Cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White

Enamel Dot: Studio Calico Gold Enamel Dots

String: May Arts Gold Metallic String

Ink: Momento Rich Cocoa, VersaMark Clear

Embossing Powder: Stampendous Detail Gold

Tool: Spellbinders Tool 'N One (P.S. If you don't own one of these yet, it's pretty much a TAKE MY MONEY kind of tool Seriously. I use it every time I craft now. I can't live without this thing. For reals. I wouldn't lie about something so very important. HA!)

Wishing You Joy

Wow! So, I apologize for the few days I took off. I was in Phoenix at the Spellbinders Design Team Retreat and it was AMAZEBALLS, you guys. For reals. I can't even BEGIN to tell you just how amazing this trip was! I am so inspired to start creating!!!

I know several of you have been waiting for me to announce some winners! I have two to announce, so let's get right to it!

The winner of the Winnie and Walter $30 Gift Certificate is....  DEEPTI! Congratulations, Deepti! I will pass your name and email address on to Winnie & Walter so they can send you your prize!

The winner of the copy of Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs is.... Kelly Latevola! Congratulations, Kelly! I will be emailing you for your mailing address so I can send this out to you!

Whew! That was fun! Now onto another card that was inspired by the Online Card Classes Holiday Card Workshop.



One lesson focused entirely on one layer cards. This is generally a weakness of mine. While I do CAS, I usually have some layering of some kind on my cards, so I was excited to take this challenge. I loved the partial die cutting that Jennifer showcased, so I went ahead and tried it for this fun card! I used a Spellbinders® circle die along with a great matching stamp and die from Avery Elle to create my window. I inked inside the window and then heat embossed the sentiment.



I used a scalloped circle die from Spellbinders to create a mask to do the inking on the inside of the card. I love how this adds just a touch more style to the inside. I am kind of loving this whole partial die cutting thing, so... I am fairly certain you will be seeing more of it around here. Because it's awesome. For reals, though.

I am just getting all caught up and back into the swing of things, so I am hoping to have a full week of posts for you this week. Thanks for stopping by! And as always...

Have A Happy!!!

Supplies:
Spellbinders Pierced Circle Die
Avery Elle Simply Tags: Christmas Dies
Avery Elle Simply Tags: Christmas Stamp set
Ranger Distress Ink
Stampendous White Embossing Powder

It's time for a new Challenge! (I know...I just said that in banner form, but now I've said it in word form, too, so it is REALLY time. For reals, though. No.. really....it's time.)

This week we are SEEING STARS! That's right! The challenge is all about STARS this week! The Design Team is using Studio Calico products and if you have some we'd LOVE to see you rock them, but they are not required to enter.



I created a fun little starry city scene using both glittered chipboard star stickers and star sequins from Studio Calico. I used dies and an embossing folder from Spellbinders® along with them to create my scene.

Now it's your turn! Create a fabulous project featuring STARS in some way and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog for your chance to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!

You can find a complete supply list below.

Have a Happy!!!

Supplies

Dies: Spellbinders® Row Houses, Spellbinders® Pierced Rectangles, Spellbinders ® Matting Basics A,  Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banner Dies, Memory Box Urban Lowercase Alphabet Dies
Embossing Folder: Spellbinders® Bricks and Bark
Star Sequins and Star Stickers: Studio Calico
Ink: Wedding Dress Momento Luxe, VersaMark - Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: Stampendous!

Glad Tidings and Watercolor

I have another card inspired by the Online Card Classes Holiday Card Workshop to share with you today! The Day 3 focus was watercolor and I decided to do a simple card (due to limited time) using the color blending techniques Kristina shared. I stamped and embossed a small, torn strip of watercolor paper with this awesome deer stamp from Bossy Joscie. I then watercolored over the image with various red tones.



I mounted the watercolored piece on a white panel with some silver metallic string behind it. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp Inside Holiday Greetings stamp set. Except I used it on the outside. Because I'm rebellious like that. For reals, though.



I kept this design simple and I kind of love it. This one would actually be really easy to do in multiples, which is always a plus for holiday cards. I am not usually a torn paper fan, but watercolor paper just tears SO beautifully and I love how it looks when you paint over the torn edge. It just adds so much texture! LOVE!

Have a Happy!

An Autumn Birthday

Hello, folks! I have a pretty card using some GORGEOUS new dies from Spellbinders on the Spellbinders blog today! I'd love for you to stop by to check it out!




Head on over and leave some love! Thanks!

25 Days of Christmas TAGS {GIVEAWAY!}

I am excited to be participating in the 25 Days of Christmas Tags hosted by Tracey over at In My Creative Opinion! The CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Ink Squad is playing along today, so we have lots of inspiration using CAS-ual Fridays Stamps! Woot! Woot! This is a pretty fun and TOTALLY inspiring blog hop! Today is Day FIVE, so be sure to head over there to see the previous days and follow along throughout this month for TONS of holiday tag inspiration!



I used the Bubble Labels Dies to create the snowmen shaped tags. I just chopped off one bubble and voila! Snowpeople. I wanted the arms to look like sticks, so after some consideration, I decided to use portions of the Casual Trees Fri-Dies for those. Umm... yes. I do love them. Lots. For reals, though. I stamped the bottom with a few snowflakes from the Must Love Snowflakes stamp set in pastel tones to add a bit of interest to the tags. I kind of love these little guys. They are just SO FUN!

AND...we not only have inspiration for you, but we have PRIZES, as well! Some super amazing companies are sponsoring the hop! We are talking Reverse Confetti, Clearly Besotted, CAS-ual Fridays Stamps (obviously), Neat and Tangled, Paper Smooches, and Lawn Fawn! WHAT?! Yup. Totally, you guys!

Leave a comment here for a chance to win and head over to In My Creative Opinion for more information and more opportunities to WIN!

Have a Happy!

A Bit of Ornamental Joy

***Don't forget to enter this fabulous BOOK GIVEAWAY! Trust me... it's a super fun read!***

Today I have another card inspired by the Online Card Classes Holiday Card Workshop. I seriously love these classes! They just motivate me to PLAY and THAT, my friends, is an awesome thing! No pressure, no deadline, no requirements... just PLAY WITH ALL OF THE THINGS!!!!

Whoa. Got a little excited there. Okay. I've got it together now. Moving on....

So, anyway, today's card was inspired by the embedded ornament card that Jennifer McGuire created for the class. I loved the idea of an ornament that could be pulled from the card. My execution didn't work as well as I had hoped, but I think if I create a second one I can correct some of the issues. Another option with this card would be to use a bit of magnet tape on the back of the pull-out piece and create a magnet instead of an ornament, which would be great for cards for all occasions!



I inked both the die cut circle ornament (layered three times to give it some Ooomph!) and the background piece individually. I then stamped and embossed the wisemen and the star from the Blessed Christmas set from Paper Smooches onto the ornament. On the background, I used the Sci-Fi Star Creative Screenings stencil from Winnie & Walter with some pearlescent embossing paste to create a shimmering, starry background.



The sentiment is from the Winnie & Walter The Big, The Bold, and the Merry Cutaways set. Which I love. With all of my heart. And all of my soul. And all of my inner most being. (Wait..that might be your soul... hmmm... I suppose that's a philosophical discussion for later....) I cut it twice, so it is on the ornament and on the vellum, leaving the card looking halfway decent even after the ornament is removed. But only half way. HA!



Here you can see a bit what the ornament looks like outside of the card. I like this idea and I want to play with it a bit more. It is certainly a fun way to include a small gift with your card AND encourage people to keep your art.

I am also entering this card in the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes Challenge.

Have a Happy!