Monday Funday: The Card Concept

Today I'm playing along with another fun challenge, The Card Concept! I saw the inspiration photo and I just couldn't help but play along. How cute is this:

 I just love this summery picture and I had a set with bees that I have been dying to use!! Here's my card:

I started my card by stamping my bee skep and then masking it so I could add the blue distress ink halo. Then I colored in my skep and started stamping bees all around. I just love these little guys!! I stamped my sentiment and then it still felt like it needed something so I filled in with some hearts. It almost felt like a wreath! Here's another look:

Thanks so much for checking out my take on this awesome challenge and I hope to see you over at The Card Concept. Have a great day!

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

SugarPea Designs Hey Honey Shop at: Other	Neenah Solar White 25 pk Shop at: SC	Momento Tuxedo Ink Shop at: SC	Distress Oxide Tumbled Glass Shop at: SC
Pinkfresh Studio Rise and Shine Ink Cubes Shop at: SC	Bone Folder Shop at: SC	Copic Markers Shop at: SC	Mini Score Board Shop at: SC
Xacto 12 Inch Laser Paper Trimmer Shop at: SC	Ink Blending Tool w/ Domed Foam Shop at: SC

Monday Funday: Simon Says Stamp

 Happy Monday and I hope you all had an amazing weekend. It was chilly here but I got some spring cleaning done and I'm calling that a success. I also got to have a little fun this week with the Simon Wednesday Challenge. I have played along with challenge a few times here or there but I had no idea they have been going strong for 12 years. That is absolutely amazing! I'm always in need of birthday cards so this theme was right up my alley. Here's what I created:

I have to admit, I sort of floundered around while creating this card. I really had no real direction other than knowing I wanted to use the Healing Hugs stamp set. I bought it awhile ago and I just love the flowers so I embossed them in white on a black card base before coloring them in with colored pencils. I had no idea what color to color the dots so I went with a purplish magenta color and now I'm not so sure if I like that decision since I also used it for the sentiment cut out. I added the die cut with some foam tape and for the life of me, I'm not sure why I didn't pop of the centers of the letters with foam also. Who knows. I finished it all off with a little ha ha sentiment to make sure it reads as a birthday card. Here's a closer look:

Not my favorite card that I have made but I don't hate it either. It's just ho hum but I hope you liked it and come play over at Simon Wednesday Challenge. I'd love to see your creation also

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

Simon Says Stamps Healing Hugs Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamps It's Your Day Die Shop at: SSS	CZ Design Clean Line Everyday Shop at: SSS	Lawn Fawn Black Licorice Cardstock Pack Shop at: SC
Neenah Solar White 25 pk Shop at: SC	Scrapbook.com Brights Cardstock Shop at: SC	Momento Tuxedo Ink Shop at: SC	Inktense Pencils Shop at: SC
Ranger Ink White Super Fine Embossing Powder Shop at: SC	Scrapbook Adhesives Foam Squares Shop at: SC	Scotch ATG Adhesive gun Shop at: SC | EH	Sizzix Big Shot Shop at: SC | EH
Bone Folder Shop at: SC | EH	Mini Score Board Shop at: SC | EH	Xacto 12 Inch Laser Paper Trimmer Shop at: SC | EH	Ranger Anti Static Pouch Shop at: SC
Marvy Embossing Heat Tool Shop at: SC	Sakura White Gel Pen Shop at: SC

CTS #252

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!

I'm just getting things all wrapped up for Christmas and I actually feel like I'm ahead of the game this year.  I'm still in denial the Christmas is rapidly approaching.  I swear it still feels like October to me.

This past weekend was the church Christmas Program and with that behind me, I can relax.  I stress about it every year and every year, it goes smoothly.  Luckily, this year, there were only a few minor glitches (technology...what a love/hate relationship).  It is done and now I can have some fun.  Speaking of fun, have you see the new sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch?  It's an interesting one and I think I may have stumped a few designers.  Ha ha ha.

I will admit that while I loved the sketch, it took me a moment to come up with something.  I think the best part of a challenge sketch is the amazing things that come from the struggle.  The design team has some AMAZING creations this week and you simply have to check them out.  While you are here, here's my take:

I had a blast creating another fun shaker card with some fun elements from Queen & Co.  I added a strips of fun paper and a sentiment from the Pretty Presents Kit, a totally fun kit!  Then I started creating this adorable shaker piece with the super cute candle from the Shaped Shaker Birthday Set and some of the fun fillers in the Pretty Presents Kit.  I love how easy these awesome kits make creating shakers and I love how you can fill both the candle and the flame.  I usually avoid shaker cards at all cost but with these, you'll be seeing more from me!  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking in with me today and I hope you have an amazing holiday no matter what you are doing!  See you over at CAS(E) this Sketch.

CTS #251

Good morning and welcome to another awesome week of sketch fun!  I hope you will all be able to join us over at CAS(E) this Sketch for this super fun challenge.  You won't want to miss what the team has created!  Here's my card for the week:

I went for a super simple card this week.  Just a fun striped background, a black rectangle, and some fun elements from Queen & Co.  I added a strip of fun paper and a sentiment from the Pretty Presents Kit, a totally fun kit!  Then I started creating this adorable shaker piece with the super cute hat from the Shaped Shaker Birthday Set and some of the fun fillers in the Pretty Presents Kit along with sequins.  I love how easy these awesome kits make creating shakers.  I usually avoid shaker cards at all cost but with these, you'll be seeing more from me!  Here's a closer look:

 
Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you'll join us over at CAS(E) this Sketch this week for some fun and inspiration.  See you there!

CAS(E) this Sketch #239

Hi, everyone!!  How's your week going?  Things are ramping up here again.  School is in full swing, cross country, gymnastics, confirmation, drum lessons, bowling...you name it, we are running to it.  The crazy thing is, I feel more sane when the school year starts then when we can supposedly just chill in the summer.  The school year is predictable for me and the summer always gets busier than I expect it to be.  Crazy how that works.  I hope you are all settling into a routine and having a great week!

This week's sketch was a fun one.  It was really fun to work with some layers and I just love everything the team created.  Here's my card:

I had fun combining some scraps of papers I had on my desk with this awesome bear from WPlus9's Friends For All Seasons: Fall set.  I just love coloring this cute guy in with copics and those balloosn are just so adorable!  A simple piece of vellum with my sentiment stamped on it finishes this simple card off.  Here's another view:

I hope you liked me card and will come join us at CAS(E) this Sketch!  We'd love to have you!

CTS #238

Good morning, you guys!  I hope you are having an awesome week.  We just got back from Family Camp and we had a blast.  Now I'm trying to get all the laundry we created done.  A mom's work never ends!  I'm taking a break from my mountain of laundry to share my take on this week's CAS(E) this Sketch.  I hope you enjoy it and will come play along this week.  It's a fun sketch and the team has really created some magical cards!  Here's my take:

Talk about extremely easy!  I saw the sketch and I immediately thought of the Whole Lotta' Happy set from WPlus9.  I stamped the stars from the set in a random pattern in dark green.  Then I finished it off with a sentiment stamped in Navy.  Super simple!  Here's a closer look:

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

Happy Birthday - Little Tangles Challenge

Oh my goodness, there are so many fun challenges to take part in and so much inspiration to be had.  I have been so busy with CAS(E) this Sketch that I haven't had much time to get out and explore.  So, I'm making it my mission to find some new challenges to inspire me to make cards for more than just what I "have" to make.  If you have a challenge you love, let me know about it in the comments so I can check them out. 

Now, I love Neat and Tangled and the fun stamps they create.  I've been slowly adding to my collection as they come out with more and more that I must have so I was super excited to find the Little Tangles challenge.  It worked out really well that it's Neat and Tangled's birthday and the challenge for Little Tangles is birthday themed because I ALWAYS need birthday cards.  So, I got to work creating this fun card:

I knew I wanted to make a fun modern card with the Scandinavian Prints set so I got started with this fun black and white background paper.  Next, I created my own patterned paper using the Scandinavian Prints and stamping various combos in different colors.  I just love the combos available with this set.  I cut my paper with a circle die and layered it over a strip of teal glitter tape.  Next, I cut the Celebrate die in two colors and layered them before adding them to my focal point circle.  I stamped the rest of sentiment on a piece of vellum that I wrapped around the circle and then finished it all off with some enamel dots. 

Thanks so much for checking out my card today and keep the challenge ideas coming!!  I'd love to try some more.

Happy Mail with Right At Home

Good morning and I hope you are getting ready for an awesome week.  We have the Iowa State Fair starting this week and we always enjoy our trip down to explore the fair.  This year we are going to go down for the concert opening night and spend the night so we can hang out at the fair the next day.  I'm excited and am ready to get down there now.

I actually had so me time to create this week and I had some fun with some new to me products!  I have always loved Right at Home Stamps and took advantage of the awesome sale Nicole had a little while ago.  Here's one of the cards I created with my loot!

I started by stamping a yellow piece of cardstock with the Watercolor Background Stamp with a similar color ink to create a fun tone on tone background for my card.  Then, before I knew it, I got layering this patterned paper with this solid and I had a fun angled card front ready for stamping.  I stamped my sentiment from Simple Sentiments as a border along my yellow edge and then added some teal glitter tape and thin piece of black cardstock with foam tape to add another fun layer for these adorable flowers from Happy Mail.  I scattered my flowers and created dimension by layering and adding foam tape.  I loved how it looked but wanted a little more black so I got to work with my copic multi-liner.  I added dots around the top side of my tape and around my flowers.  I loved the finished look!  Here's a closer peek:

 
Thanks so much for checking out my card today!  I hope you have a fun day and I'll see you tomorrow with a new card!

CTS #218

Good morning!  It's a little slow going around the Larson house this week.  Things are starting to get busy and this may be out last week to relax for a bit.  Believe me, we are taking full advantage of it.  :)  The boys and I are taking walks and enjoy the lovely spring weather.  We hope you are having a nice week also and will have some time to get crafty with us over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  The sketch is super fun this week and the design team continues to wow!  Here's my take on the sketch:

I used some paper and elements from the April Clique Kit on my card and black piece of cardstock cut with the Stitched Mats: Long & Skinny Rectangles.  A bit of layering and some enamel dots was all it took to make this a fun little birthday card.  It may not be super CAS but I still love it!  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking in with me today and I hope to see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch this week!  Have a great day!

CTS #217

Good morning!  It's another awesome spring day in Iowa today.  Well, it's raining but rain brings good things, right?  This bug I have is still holding on and I can't hear out of one ear.  I can't wait until it clears but it will probably feel weird since it has been plugged for so long.  The boys are busy, as always, and are getting excited for Easter.  The men are busy in the machine shed gearing up for planting and I'm busy keeping them fed and coffeed.  :)  The life of a farmer's wife.  It's always a fun time and I'm excited to see the tractors rolling again.

This week's sketch gave me a good roll.  Crazy thing is...I designed it.  I think I made 4 cards before I was happy with the outcome.  Donna mentioned seeing troll hair and I couldn't get that out of my head.  It made me chuckle every time I sat down to work on a card.  Ha ha ha!  Thanks, Donna!  :)  I did come up with something that I loved in the end and all the other cards weren't total losses either so I'm chalking this up as a success.  Here's my take on this week's sketch:

I had some fun with some Concord and 9th stamps that I have been dying to use.  I layered these cute popsicles from the Sweet & Cool stamp set in pinks, mints, and navy on a stone colored card base.  I outlined two popscicles with a shimmery pen for a little extra fun as well as adding some enamel dots around the awesome sentiment also found in the Sweet & Cool stamp set.  LOVE IT!  Here's a closer look:

I hope you have a great day and will come join us at CAS(E) this Sketch for a little stretching of the imagination.  :)  Have a great day!!

More Color Blocking

I know!  I just can't get enough.  I'm having a blast using the  and it's really helping me burn through some extra patterned paper I've been meaning to use.  Today's card is another super simple combo of Lil' Inker Designs products that creates a serious impact.  I just love it!  Here's my card:

I chose these awesome papers from Simple Stories called Say Cheese.  I used the same technique to cut the papers as Monday's card.  I layered them before passing them through my die cut machine to be cut with the Color Blocking Die.  This one cut created three card fronts with different combos of the papers.  Talk about easy!  I chose another coordinating paper to be cut with Boxed Up Birthday Greeting Die and added it to the center of my card.  I was going to make it a shaker but ended up liking the clean look of the papers better.  Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking out my card today!  Don't forget to check out the sale going on at Lil' Inker Designs today and tomorrow!  The sale includes everything except the latest release and for 15% off, I'm sure you can find some great deals!  Make sure you use the code NOSNOW17 and have fun shopping!  I hope you are having a great week.  It's finally warming back up again here.  Here's what I used for my card today: