CTS #57

Wow!  Another week has just flown by.  We have had ridiculously cold weather this past week and I've been trying to manage my hens and my boys.  My boys want to go out in the snow but it's just too cold and my hens want nothing to do with going out but that is where their water and food is.  I'm looking forward to 20's today and hopefully, everyone can be happy and  I can get a little breather!  ;) 

This week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge is a sketch sure to warm you up.  Joni created this super fun sketch and I know I've been having fun with it.  Check it out:

I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with the sketch because SO many ideas were floating around in my head.  Ornaments, balloons, disco balls, the list just went on and on.  I finally decided on doing a card for a friend who just had a baby girl.  Once I knew what I was doing, the card just came together.

I hope you enjoy my card and will come join us at CAS(E) this Sketch this week!  Don't forget to check back on Monday for my 2nd take on this week's sketch.  See you then!

Sweet Stamp Shop: Sketches 2 Ways

Hi everyone and happy Monday!  Today's my day on the Sweet Stamp Blog, go check it out!  It will explain how my new series, Sketches 2 Ways will work.  I hope you guys are going to enjoy it!  Here's a peek at the cards I'm featuring on the blog using the current CAS(E) this Sketch.  Hope to see you there!

Naptime Videos!

Happy Saturday!  Are you ready for something new?  Well, I decided to try my hand at videos.  You'll have to bear with me...I'm new to this.  I only have a GoPro camera at the moment so you'll get sort of a fish eye look but I think you can still get the gist of videos.  I decided to call them Naptime Videos because that is the only time I get a chance to craft in this house.  Three boys keep me hopping most of the time so naptime, quiet time, or bedtime are really the only opportunities I have to get inky during the day.  It's also the only time the house is quiet enough to even attempt to make a video.  Ha ha!

First up, a little how-to on making my watercolor card using Elegant Flowers from Sweet Stamp Shop.  Enjoy!

 

I hope you liked my first ever video!  I'm having fun playing around with the ins and outs of it all.  Next up is a card with a sentiment that I came up with driving my middle boy to gymnastics one night.  I just knew it needed to be on a card using the sweetest little iron I ever saw in the Press It Wash It set from Sweet Stamp Shop.

To make this card, I built a sentiment strip in Silhouette Studio for both the front and inside of the card.  Below, you will find a video about how I did that using a stamped image of the iron and scanning it to make a jpg image to be traced in Silhouette Studio.  This is a handy way of creating a "die" for stamp sets that do not have dies  I do want to say that if digital images of the stamp set are available (svgs, etc) they are much easier to work with and much more versatile.  For example, if you have the Yummy Love stamp set, Alyssa offers an svg set on her website that would make this whole process even easier plus give you SO many other options.  I know many other stamp companies that offer or sell digital die cut files to accompany their stamp sets and they are always worth having!  Anyway, check out my little work around and how to take it a step further by turning the die cut into a print & cut sentiment strip.  I'm still working on my screen capturing ability so please excuse the fact that I didn't get the WHOLE screen in. 

 
After the Silhouette cut my strips, it was a simple matter of layering to make this super cute card.  Thanks so much for checking out my blog!  I hope to see you on Monday when I share a new series I'm working on with Sweet Stamp Shop and CAS(E) this Sketch!  Have a great weekend!

A Super SWEET Post!

I have two awesome posts on the blog this morning.  I hope you'll enjoy them both but if you are looking for the CAS(E) this Sketch post, it's here.

Guess what I get to play with for the next 3 months?  Adorable creations from the Sweet Stamp Shop!  I am beyond excited to be joining the design team and working with such amazing talent.  Nicole and Alyssa create such amazing stamps and flair that I'm overwhelmed with cuteness and inspiration.  I can think of far worse things to be overwhelmed with.  ;)  If you haven't checked out the new releases for this month, get your booty over to the blog and see the awesome in action.  You won't be disappointed but be warned...the Design Team really did a number with these stamps so you may just be tempted to buy them all.  Don't say I didn't warn you.  Ha ha! 

Lucky for you, Nicole is AWESOME and is offering 20% off all the new release stamps when you use coupon code DNR20.  Does it get better than that?

Hopefully, you have already checked out the cards I created for the release on the main blog because I have some other awesome creations to share with you today.  I'm telling you, I went a little crazy with these sets and made a TON of cards.  How could I not?  First up, a couple cards I created using the adorable Cookie Sprinkles set.

First up, a pretty traditional use of the stamp set because I couldn't resist making more adorable cookies!  ;)  Some coloring, embossing, and a little bling gives you a super cute little card that could be just perfect paired with batch of cookies as a thank you gift! 

My next card uses the set in a bit of a different way to create a more graphic card.  Cute and graphic...how versatile is this set?  Crazy!  I used some gold ink and the circle shape to make a fun background while masking a rectangle for the sentiment.  This card totally shines with "thanks" and would be awesome with a different kind of thank you gift...maybe some wine???  ;)

Now for another set that I am totally in love with...Elegant Sentiments.  If a name ever fit a stamp set, this is it and did you know that it's Nicole's handwriting?  WOW!  Well, I have two more cards to share with you for this set.

For my first card, I combined the two above stamp sets to make an artsy card (yup...cutesy, graphic, artsy, all with a cookie set!).  The flowy script of the lettering in this set made me a bit of a water-coloring fool.  I used some watercolor pencils to color in the circles for this card and my water pen to move it around.  A bit of black embossing on the "happy" and this card really pops! 

My next card uses a different method of water color to highlight this gorgeous set.  I used gelatos to create a rectangle around the sentiment while highlighting the curves of the word.  I then used a water brush to spread the gelatos into the shapes I had created and shade for a lovely watercolor look.  I thought it needed a little more of a watercolor pop so I splattered some black ink with my water brush.  I LOVE how it turned out. 

The next set I got to obsess over is Press It - Wash It.  How fun is this set?

The ideas were spinning around and around in my head like they were in a washing machine.  Ha ha!  So my first card just had to use that adorable washing machine image.  To make sure you could see the cleaning happening, I cut a piece of patterned paper in a wave shape and used glossy accents to make sure it was in the bubble window.  SO FUN!

My next card needed a bit of techy involvement.  I used my Silhouette software to create a print and cut shape that would allow me to stamp the cute little iron onto my sentiment strips but make it look like it was ironing the strips.  Check my blog out on Saturday to see how I did it.  

Finally, my card for the gorgeous floral set of the bunch, Elegant Flowers.  I'm super happy with how I achieved this watercolor look on each bloom.  They each have their own look but it all comes together.  I'll show you how I did it on Saturday also.  Can't wait!

So there you have it, my admittedly overzealous first release with Sweet Stamp Shop.  How could I help myself?  The stamps are amazing.  Lucky you, they can be yours and you can use a coupon (DNR20) to boot!

Don't forget to check back on Saturday for a couple how-to's on the cards above and then check the Sweet Blog on Monday for my new series using CAS(E) this Sketch sketches with Sweet Stamp Shop goodies.  You are going to love it!  Also, go ahead and LIKE Sweet Stamp Shop on Facebook to get all the latest on new releases and sneak peaks.  Have a super sweet day!

CTS #56

Good morning!  I hope you all had a nice little break and had lots of fun with our extended challenge.  It is so fun to see what you guys create and it's amazing that one sketch can do so much.

We had a lovely time in upstate NY visiting my family.  The boys wore poor grandpa and grandma out but they loved every minute of it.  I did a little (translation - A TON) shopping while we were out there since we only have a Hobby Lobby locally.  It was SO nice being able to check out Michael's, Joann's, and AC Moore.

Another highlight of my trip was getting to stop by and meet a design team member.  It was such a joy to meet Michelle and her family.  We had a wonderful time but didn't have nearly enough time to talk about crafty stuff.  That will have to come on another trip!  Thanks for everything, Michelle!

This week's sketch is one of my own.  I was having fun with triangles and playing with offsetting images on cards when I came up with this sketch.  I hope you can find a ton of inspiration from it!  Here you go:

For my card, I used a rough interpretation of the sketch and created a Christmas card that I totally LOVE!  I'm still trying to weed my way through the tons and tons of patterned paper I collected while scrapbooking and, luckily, I had some that worked perfectly for this card.   2 sheets down, 1,000's more to go!  ;)

 Have fun and I'll see you back here on Monday for an extra special Take Two on the sketch.  So, get over to CAS(E) this Sketch and get creating! 

CTS #55

Good morning! I'm sitting at my computer across from my mom, enjoying a cup of coffee, and just "being" in NY with my family. It is SO nice to get to chit chat in person, even if we do a pretty bang up job over Skype each morning. :) My boys have been having a blast with grandma and grandpa. It's SO fun to see them all together and join in when hilarity ensues. Many fun times and fun memories!

I'm super excited to bring you today's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge. The sketch is absolutely fab and the design team really knocked it out of the park. This challenge is extra long due to the US Thanksgiving holiday and I hope to see even more amazing cards than normal!  My mom and I are planning to get crafty a little today and you can guarantee I'll be playing with this sketch again!  Check it out:

I did a little masking for the sketch this week.  I created my sentiment rectangle by outlining the space with post it notes and then stamping my Hero Arts Be Jolly background stamp in Versamark.  This left behind the perfect shape for my card.  A little holly from Lil' Inker Designs and a sentiment from Lawn Fawn and you have a super cute Christmas card...if I do say so myself.  ;)

I hope you will come join us for our two-week challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch.  We'd LOVE to have you!  Have a great day!

CTS #54

Hello and welcome to another awesome week of sketchy goodness!  This week's sketch was one of my favorites and I had a blast working with it.  Thanks, N@ Ali!!  Check it out:

As soon as I saw this sketch I knew I was going to be using Clear & Simple Stamps Toppers dies and Toppers Fillers stamp set.  It was just a matter of how.  I liked the idea of having a flap on the card, so I folded the shape along the score line and stamped the fun chevron print for a background.  I used the limited edition Joy stamps and die to finish the flap off on the inside and outside.  A little glitter tape, bling, and sequins and you have a super fun Christmas card.  What do you think?

Today is a busy day for our family.  It's the annual Norwegian Supper at our church...off da!  ;)  My husband is the potato maestro and will be slaving over the hot stove to get the potatoes out to hungry diners.  I usually help in the prep for the supper by making lefse, krumkake, and spritz cookies.  It truly is an amazing event but you can keep the Lutefisk and just pass me the meatballs!  ;)

We are finishing up our packing today because tomorrow we leave for NY to visit my parents and family for Thanksgiving.  I'm actually looking forward to the drive...yes, I'm weird.  The boys are SO excited to see grandma and grandpa.  It's going to be a blast!

Hope you are inspired to come play along with us at CAS(E) this Sketch.  We'd love to have you!