CTS #322

Good morning! I hope you all are having a great week. I'm waiting to hear if my husband will be able to get in the field this morning before more rain is predicted tomorrow. Here's hoping. I know he is getting anxious to get everything in a planted. I'm just anxious to share this week's CAS(E) this Sketch with you! Here's the sketch:

Here's what I created for the sketch:

I broke out this awesome yellow heart patterned paper again. I just love it and since the grads school colors are red and yellow, it worked out perfectly! I made a shaker card filled with sprinkles, hearts, and images from Pretty Pink Posh's Congrats Grad set. For the shaker frame I used rectangles from WPlus9 and finished it off with a congrats from Papertrey Ink. Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking out my card today and I hope you'll join us over at CAS(E) this Sketch!

CTS #314

Good morning and happy spring!!  It is finally feeling like spring weather is on it's way and I can't wait.  I am ready to get the garden beds going and see the farmers out in the fields working.  As busy as life gets during spring planting, I can't help but love being a part of it.  It's always a fun time.  Another fun time...the new CAS(E) this Sketch challenge this week.  You won't want to miss it!  Here's my take:

I kept this card SUPER CAS!  I used an older Papertrey Ink set and I will run down and get the name of it to update this post in a bit.  I stamped them in green and then used Winnie & Walter's The Big, the Bold, and the Happy stamp set stamped in black.  I used a stone cardstock after trying various other shades.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and it makes a great masculine birthday card. 

Thanks so much for checking out my card!  I hope you'll join us this week at CAS(E) this Sketch!

CTS #310

Good morning!!!  I swear to look out my window, I would think I'm visiting my parents in upstate New York.  We have SO much snow.  Luckily, we are also having the temps they would have rather then our normal Iowa temps of right around zero.  I have issues with having snow and it being too cold to enjoy.  Luckily, that hasn't been the case this year and the boys are LOVING it.  We went sledding down in the pasture and it was snow (he he he) much fun!  I thought I'd share a couple shots I got of boys zooming by me!

These are from last week before we got this most recent snow so I can only imagine what it would be like to try to hike out to our little hill now!  Ha ha ha.  Now, I'm sure you didn't stop by to hear me chat about snow...you are interested in this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge, right?  Well, here's my card:

I needed some sympathy cards and decided to work on them for this sketch because it is so simple and open ended.  Got to love that!  I grabbed some fun dotted patterned paper and then cut my two rectangles from a light pink patterned paper.  After attaching these, I stamped a portion of my sentiment on the large rectangle and got to work die cutting.  I cut tons of flower and layered them with leaves and enamel dots to form a base for my sentiment die cut.  I cut the "Blessed" in navy and layered two cuts for a little extra pop.  I stuck everything in place and that's about it.  Simple but I still think perfect for the sketch and to let someone know I care.  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking out my card today!  See you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!!

Some of the product links included are affiliate links. You can use them at no cost to you with a big thanks from me!

Perky Posies Shop at: LID	Inspired: Blessed Die Shop at: Other	Inspired: Blessed Mini Stamp Set Shop at: Other	Creekside Paper Pack Shop at: SC
Neenah Solar White 110lb Cardstock Shop at: SC	Echo Park Alice In Wonderland Enamel Dots Shop at: SC	Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares (Black) Shop at: SC	Scotch ATG Adhesive Gun Shop at: SC
Sizzix Big Shot Shop at: SC

CTS #305

Hello everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my take on this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge!  The boys and I have been running around making sure everything is ready for some yucky weather we are supposed to be expecting tomorrow.  Most of the snow we had is gone so I guess it's time for some more.  I could live without the dropping temp and the wind but I guess it is a good excuse to get some card making in and relax with my boys.

I hope you are having a great week and are ready to play along with us.  I love this sketch and I couldn't wait to get creating.  Here's my take:

I just can't help but pull out this awesome set from Papertry Ink over and over.  It is so simple and perfect.  It's the Sending You Comfort Stamp Set and it is perfect for so many things.  Today, I used it for a sympathy card.  I started with a kraft card base and stamped the solid leaves with Navy ink.  Next, I stamped and embossed the lined leaves with some rose gold embossing.  To finish it off, I stamped a sentiment on a strip of kraft and layered it with a bit of navy card stock.  Here's a closer peek:

I hope you enjoyed my take on this week's sketch and that I'll see your creations over at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Have a great weekend!!!

CTS #301

Good morning!!  I seriously think I may be losing my mind this morning.  Ha ha!  I am having the hardest time organizing my thoughts and keeping on task.  I'm going to blame it on the upcoming Sunday School program at church and not enough coffee in my cup.  How's that?  I'm going to try to get myself together and get this post done because I'm excited to share this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge with you guys.  It's a great sketch this week and I really hope you'll join us.  Here's my take:

I used some of the new items I received from Papertrey Ink to create my card for this week's sketch.  I started by stamping the polka dot pattern from the Warm & Fuzzy stamp set on the corners.  Then I added some glitter tape and a bit of gold paper before popping up a strip of kraft to cover the seam.  With the corners done, I went to work on the center image.  I cut the swirly image from the Shape Shifters: Square 3 Die from black cardstock and then cut it out with my trimmer adding vellum behind the cut to show through.  Then I stamped some mittens on kraft with the Warm & Fuzzy set before fussy cutting them and adding them to my square along with a sentiment strip cut from white and a sticker from my favorite Christmas paper this year.  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my card!  I'll see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch.

Some of the product links included are affiliate links. You can use them at no cost to you with a big thanks from me!

KaiserCraft First Noel Paper Pack Shop at: SC	KaiserCraft First Noel Sticker Sheet Shop at: SC	Tonic Studios Polished Gold Cardstock Shop at: SC	Lawn Fawn Black Licorice Cardstock Shop at: SC
Lawn Fawn Kraft Paper Shop at: SC	American Crafts Glitter Tape Shop at: SC	Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares (Black) Shop at: SC	Scotch ATG Adhesive Gun Shop at: SC
Sizzix Big Shot Shop at: SC

CTS #291

Good morning!  I hope you are all having an amazing week.  Things are going well here and I'm loving all the cooler weather.  The corn is all out around our house and it seems weird to be able to see so far again.  The chickens are loving cleaning up after the combine.  Ha ha!  It is hilarious to watch the chases that ensue when one finds an ear with some kernels left on it.  They run all over the yard.  It is a hoot to watch.  Another fun way to spend the day is with a good sketch and we have one for you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  Just check it out:

Just wait until you see what the team came up with.  I just wish I would have thought of them.  My card for you today uses a set from Papertrey Ink called The Sweet Life.

I stamped the rose image on kraft paper using Catherine Pooler Inks.  I was pleasantly surprised with how nice and vibrant they looked stamped on kraft.  I layered them and then added a sentiment.  It looked a little plain to me so I took a little creative license with the sketch and added a border at the bottom of my card.  I just love a little black and white on cards to help make them pop.  Here's a closer look:

 
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today and I hope your week is outstanding!  See you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!

CTS #284

Good morning!!  I got a little crazy over on the CAS(E) this Sketch blog and set the post to go a little early (a whole day early!) so, I hope those of you that saw it got a heads start on this week's challenge.  Ha ha!  I had a blast with this sketch and I love the cards the team created.  Don't forget to go check them out.  Here's my card:

I dug deep in my stash this week for some Papertrey Ink stamps that haven't seen an ink pad in awhile!  My color scheme came from the fun striped background paper I found while searching for inspiration.  Then, I trimmed a piece of stone cardstock down and rounded the edges for my focal point.  I used pigment ink to get the color to pop on the gray and stamped my flowers and leaves from the Ruby Rose Stamp Set.  I stamped and cut out one flower with the dies and added enamel dots and pearls for some added interest.  I finished the panel off with a sentiment in black and popped it on the card front with some foam tape.  Super easy.  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my card.  I'll see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!

CTS #212

Good morning!  I hope you guys are all having a great week so far.  I have successfully tuned my house chicken Rosie back into a flock mate of her 9 best chicken pals.  I will say, it seems weird not being able to talk to her all day long but she seems to be doing well outside again.  She's not 100% her old self but I'm sure she's happier digging for and eating bugs rather than listening to me prattle on about what I'm cooking or cleaning.  Although, after listening to all the boys' school lessons, I'm pretty sure she is now a chicken who knows stuff. 

One thing I know for sure, you are going to have a blast with this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  The sketch is awesome and I will totally be using it again.  Here's my card for this week:

I started with a stone card base and stamped various shapes from Papertrey Ink's Sketched Shapes along the bottom and side.  The sentiment is from Phrases & Praises.  This made a great masculine card for any occasion and a super quick card for mass producing with a stamp press.  The shapes line up a little differently with repeat stamping because my card bases don't always get cut and folded exactly the same size but I still like the overall look. 

Thanks for checking out my take on this week's sketch and I hope to see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  Have a great Thursday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone is feeling especially loved today but I really REALLY hope that you feel that same love all year.  I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by loads of love and I'm so very thankful.  My hubby surprised us all with WAY too many donuts that he drove WAY too far to get WAY too early this morning.  He must love us WAY too much.  ;)  The three boys were in sugar heaven and I can't say I was too disappointed to have a bismark with my coffee.  He's pretty much the best husband ever!

The card I'm sharing today isn't exactly a Valentine's Day card but it has hearts so that works, right?  Ha ha!   

I had a ton of fun with the Bubble Talk set from PTI and the die set as well.  Layers and layers of fun speech bubbles in fun grays and black with just a touch of red to make the hearts pop.  You could totally turn this into a Valentine but I think it makes a pretty sweet birthday card too!  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking in with me on this day of hearts, flowers, and chocolates!  Have an amazing day and I'll see you back here Thursday for some sketchy fun!  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

CTS #202

Morning!  It's another awesome Thursday and I get to share my take on this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  This is a longer than normal challenge to run through the holidays so you have plenty of time to play along!

First things first, I have a winner for the CTS #200 drawing on my blog.  My little guy wanted to help pick so we wrote all the names on slips of paper and let him draw the winner and that winner is"

Tenia!!!  Congrats and I'll be bugging you for your address so I can mail my fun little prize off to you.  Thanks so much to all of you for making our 200th sketch such a fun celebration!

I'm just getting things all wrapped up for Christmas (although I haven't sent a single Christmas card yet).  I'm still in denial the Christmas is rapidly approaching.  We haven't even gone to see Christmas lights yet!  I'm sure we can work that in soon.

This weekend is the church Christmas Program and I know I can relax once it is all done.  I stress about it every year and every year, it goes smoothly.  Luckily, this year, I've had it fairly easy and I'm excited to see how it goes.

Enough of my babbling!  You are here to see a card and a card you will get.  Here's my take on Sketch #202:

Ok, ok, so this may not be totally CAS but it's Christmas!  You have to have bling!  I started with a simple white card base and stamped Neat and Tangled's Falling Flakes in black to create my background.  Next, I stamped, gold embossed, and cut the Splits: Merry & Bright Die from Papertrey Ink.  I stamped the Merry & Bright (from Splits: Merry & Bright Stamp Set) sentiment in black after embossing the gold.  I popped this up at the base of the card with some foam tape and then added a smattering of sequins.  While it may not look too CAS, it certainly was simple to make.

I hope you enjoyed my card today and will come join us at CAS(E) this Sketch.  I'm in need of some birthday cards so, I might just be making some more using this sketch during this long challenge!  See you soon!

Birthday Balloons

Hi everyone!  I finally had some time to create this week and I've been working hard on birthday cards.

The boys are busy enjoying this awesome weather.  They think 60's are perfect for water balloon fights.  I beg to differ but if they are having fun, I'm good with it.  Ha ha!  I did drag out my hammock though and it was perfect to lounge in between running from errand to errand.  I hope you all are taking some time to relax and enjoy.

Speaking of relaxing, part of the way I relax is by making cards.  So, here's what I came up with:

I started my card with a paper from Papertrey Ink's Black & White All Over paper pack.  I really love these stripes and need to order another pack.  :)  Oh darn!  Next I added a strip of black cardstock because I was using the CTS #169 sketch as inspiration but I flipped it.  Next, I cut the Text Block: Party Time out of a bright green cardstock and layered it on a piece of black to make it really pop.  Super simple but I think it is really eye catching!

Thanks for checking out my blog this morning!  I hope you have a great day.