AEI♥U

I'll admit it, I'm an Avery Elle addict.  I totally blame it on their awesome modern take on stamps and the amazing design team who "talk" me into new products every month.  How's a girl to resist?  I love their awesome AEI♥U challenge and I've been trying to participate each month but I'm having a tough time fitting it all in!  I've been SO focused on CAS(E) this Sketch that I just haven't had the time for challenges like I used to.  Well, this month's AEI♥U is a sketch so you know I just HAD to make time to play along.  I got so inspired I made two cards!!  So, I'll show one here and you'll have to check me out on Flickr to see the other!  ;)  Here's my first card and the sketch:

 

I used my FAV floral stamp set, Petals and Stems, some papers I had on my desk, and elements from my Studio Calico card kit including a sheet of wood veneer which was awesome to stamp on!  Hope you like my card.  Here's a peak at card number 2:

Thanks for checkin' me out and have a great weekend!

CTS #34

Good morning and happy summer!!  Sorry I have been sort of absent from the blog this week.  My mojo is not with me.  Apparently, it has taken a vacation and I don't blame it.  Oh well!  I'm sure it will be back with me soon.  Anyway, we have an awesome sketch this week at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Karolyn has really come up with an awesome one and I know you'll love it!  Here it is:

 

I had sort of a weird time making this card.  I tried a bunch of different things and pushed elements around for what felt like hours.  I finally came up with this:

Stamps:  Sketched Shapes (PTI)

Die/Cut:  Sketched Shapes (PTI)

Ink:  Burano (Amuse)

Paper:  Coral Necklace (Clear & Simple), Solar White (Neenah), Pattern Paper (Studio Calico Card Kit)

Misc:  3D Foam Shapes (Scrapbook Adhesives), Tag, Love Clip (Studio Calico  Card Kit), Foam Thiickers (American Crafts), Glossy Accents (Ranger) 

I've never used those little metal clips before and really wondered what to do with them when they came in my Studio Calico card kit.  I'm kind of liking them now and can't wait to play with a few more.  Hope you like it and will join us this week at CAS(E) this Sketch!

CTS #33

Hope you guys are having a great week!  Even if you weren't, I'm here to turn that around with a new sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!  Today's sketch is from Jackie and it's AWESOME!  See what I mean:

 I had tons of fun with this one and I hope you will too.  Check it out:

Paper:  Polkadot Paper (Studio Calico Card Kit)

Misc:  Hello Tag (Studio Calico Card Kit), Darling Dear Hearts (Studio Calico), Glossy Accents

As you can see, I turned the sketch on it's side.  I had a tough time getting a good photo of this one.  It could be because I do most of my crafting late at night so I'm without any natural light but it also seemed like these colors were just tough to photograph.  Who knows!  I hope you'll come and join us this week at CAS(E) this Sketch. 

Sympathy

Well, I made this card last week and little did I know, I actually made it for myself.  My buddy, Colfax, didn't make it.  He passed away on Saturday night.  We always considered him our "first born" and it is so hard to imagine him not around.  I'm trying really hard to not focus on how much I miss him but on how much love we shared.  I have always had cats but he was THE cat.  I'm so used to to turning to him for comfort when I'm sad and it's hard not having his soft fur to cry into at the moment.   I know it will get easier and slowly the sadness will be replaced by the fondness of my memories but that's hard to realize right now.  Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts.  I really appreciate it.  So now, for my sweet Colfax, a card.

Colfax (The Fuzz) Relaxing In The Chair

A Down Day

Today is a pretty depressing day.  The weather is gray and my kitty is at the vet trying not to enter into complete kidney failure.  My fuzz is my like my first born so I'm pretty devastated at the moment but I made a couple of Father's Day cards and I wanted to share them.  Please keep my sweet Colfax in your thoughts and prayers.  I'm not ready to part with him even if he is 13.  Thanks.

Here's my sweet boy:

CTS #32

Another awesome week is in store for you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  We got to play with an amazing sketch by N@ Ali and I've got to say that it's going to blow you away!  Check it out:

I had tons of fun with this one and I know you will too.  Ready to see my creation?  Are you sure?  I warn you, it's another Rag Doll.  I know, I know!  I just can't help it.  ;)

Stamps:  Rag Doll Jake:  Cool (Clear & Simple Stamps), Vintage Notepad (Market Street Stamps)

Die/Cut:  Rag Doll Jake

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Momento), Versamark

Paper:  Hmmm....Not Sure

Misc:  3D Foam Shapes (Scrapbook Adhesives), Copic Markers, Word Bubble (Studio Calico  Card Kit)

You can't actually expect me to resist that face can you?  Throw a word bubble in and I'm sold.  ;)  I hope you like my card this week and will come play along. We are finishing up our week away at Lake Red Rock.  It's relaxing but I'm ready to get back to my crafty space.  ;)

CTS #31

Are you ready for another sketch?  I sure needed one to brighten up another gloomy day but it does look like sunshine is finally just around the corner for us.  Tonight is out last night of Vacation Bible School and while it's been a blast, my allergies got the best of me and took away my voice a couple nights ago.  It's been a challenge to teach all the children when they get to my station but we've made it work and had fun along the way!  Are you ready for the sketch?  Here it is:

An odd thing happened when I went to make my card...I had no idea what to do.  You would think that since I designed the sketch, I would have some idea in mind for a card but I didn't.  I tried several things and finally settled on the one below.  I'm still not sure I'm really in love with it but it works.  ;)

Stamp:  A Million And One By Ali Edwards (Technique Tuesday)

Ink: French Roast (Amuse)

Dies:  Numbers (Clear & Simple), Circle Punch (Fiskars)

Paper:  Eggshell (Hero Arts), Central High Card Kit (Studio Calico) *Not Sure

Misc:  3D Foam Shapes (Scrapbook Adhesives), Glitter Tape (American Crafts)

 

We are heading out on a relaxing cabin trip tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to a little downtime and hopefully my voice will come back!  I hope you'll play along this week at CAS(E) this Sketch!  It's our first week with our longer challenge submission timeline.  Hopefully, that will give us even more amazing cards to look at!  Have a great day.

Dad

Good morning!  Guess what?  It's raining again.  :(  I guess I should look on the bright side and take the time to catch up on laundry and maybe get into my craft space a little.  I just wanted to share a card I made a couple days ago.  I've been working really hard on some Father's Day cards in the little snippets of time I actually get to work on cards at all.  I always think that once we are on summer break, I will have all sorts of time on my hands and it never really works that way.  Ha ha! 

I'm really happy with how this card turned out especially since it was made with random things that  I  just found lying on my desk.  To say my desk needs some cleaning would be an understatement!  You should see it!  Maybe I'll work on that today.  Hmmm...

I also wanted to share the other sort of crafty thing I have going this week.  It's Vacation Bible School time and we have a castle theme this year.  This is the front of the church and the main decoration that my friends Jill, Rachel, and I worked on to liven things up.  I think it turned out super awesome!  I'm in charge of Imagination Station which is sort of a craft/experiment station.  It's tons of fun and I think the adults are having more fun than the kids.  ;) 

I hope you all have a great week!  I'll be working with the Lords and Ladies of Badger!  Ha ha!

Finally, I See the Sun!

Could it be?  Is that actually the sun peeking up over the horizon?  It seems like ages since I last saw it.  My yard is squashy, my chickens are damp, and we need some serious drying time.  Here's hoping today doesn't bring any little showers.  To celebrate the sunny day, I made a fun little card.  Hope you like it!

Stamps:  Gradation (Impression Obsession)

Ink:  Versamark

Paper:  Enchanted Evening, Cork Sheet (PTI), Powder (Hero Arts)

Misc:  Wooden Sentiment, Dot Mask (Studio Calico Card Kit), , Shine Spray (Mr. Huey's),  Bubbles & Crab Sticker (Random Things In My Stash)

I found this cute crabby guy while cleaning out my basket of random embellishments.  He was too cute to not make a card with.  It was a ton of fun to make this little card and I hope you enjoy it!  On a side note, remember the picture I shared of my little peepers when my husband picked them up at the post office?  Well, here they are now:

 

 

 

Have a great weekend!