CTS #319

Good morning you guys. Spring is really actually truly here! Can you even believe it. I'm always a little hesitant to trust the weather here in Iowa but my farm boys have planted two fields so I'm going with spring is here. Ha ha! I've been doing the typical running for the men and I have to admit that I enjoy the busy of planting season. Luckily, I had time to squeeze in a little card making time for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.  I hope you will like my card:

I went with a simple black card base for this card and layered on some patterned papers and gold papers cut with the Lil' Inker Designs Deco Edge Border Dies. I love the layered look and I think it captures the sketch perfectly. I finished is off with a sentiment from the Hello Word Die Set but in gold for some extra shine. Here's a closer look:

Thanks so much for checking out my card and I hope to see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch! Have a great day!

CTS #280

It's another warm morning here in Iowa and it is going to be a pretty toasty day too.  I think I will have to take these boys to the splash pad or something like that to get them outside and cool.  I think I could handle it too.  I hope you guys are having a great summer or I guess winter depending on where you are.  :)  I still find it super amazing to think about how that works.  Another thing I find super amazing is all of the wonderful cards you guys create for our CAS(E) this Sketch challenges.  They seem to just get better and better!  I hope you are enjoying the challenge and I hope you'll join us this week.  Here's what I created:

As I have been saying, I've been in a pretty simple CAS mood lately and this card is now exception.  I started with a simple white card base and stamped a banner of pattern using the Lil' Inker Designs Unstoppable Stamps.  This set is absolutely the best for making fun patterns.  They sentiments are pretty amazing too.  So, I stamped my pattern in a navy ink and then decided to bright things up with a yellow "hello" using three cuts of the Hello Word Die layered on top of each other for just a little dimension.  Simple and clean!  Here's another look:

 
Thanks so much for checking in with me again today.  I hope you will join us at CAS(E) this Sketch!  Have a great day!!

Lil' Inker Designs June Release Day #2

It's day two of the Lil' Inker Designs New Release Hop and I get to share even more fun goodies with you today!  I'm sure you've already been eyeing all the awesome new items, lucky for you, you can get it all right now in the Lil' Inker Store.  Hopefully, you checked out all of Caly's blog amazing creations before hopping here.  If not, make sure you check it out and if you get lost along the hop you can always find your spot by going to the Lil' Inker Blog.  For now, I'm ready to show off some more fun stuff!

My first project for you today is a tag created using the new Baby Word Tags Dies, Little One Stamps, and Perky Posies Dies XL.

I started this tag by stamping this sentiment from the Little One Stamps repeatedly to create a background paper which I cut using the Love Tags Die Set.  I added a fun flower to my tag using the Perky Posies Dies XL.  If you loved Perky Posies Die Set this new set is a must have!  SO FUN!  I thought a little enamel dot would be super fun in the center of my flower so I tossed one on.  Next, I cut a Baby Word Tags Dies from some rose gold metallic paper and strung both tags on one fun crimpy yellow ribbon.  Here's a closer look:

My next card uses the Perky Posies Dies XL paired with some previously released items.

I knew I wanted to use this kraft and black patterned paper that I found in my stash so I decided to make a little panel across a card with it.  I cut it with a rectangle from Stitched Mats: Long & Skinny Rectangles and layered it on a black piece of card stock also cut with Stitched Mats: Long & Skinny Rectangles.  I added this to a kraft card front that I added some texture to using the Quilted Stitched Basket Weave Die.  Next, I arranged some cute flowers cut using the Perky Posies Dies XL around my striped strip.  I finished the card off with the Hello Word Die which I cut from a scrap piece of paper that I had stenciled some embossing paste onto.  I just loved the extra texture.  Here's a closer peek:

My final card for today uses the Cat Hugs Stamps and Cat Hugs Dies.

I decided to keep this card simple in the coloring department.  So, I kept my cats stamped with Cat Hugs Stamps white with just some gray shading here and there.  I did however decide to mask two stamped layer of cats together.  I created a mask for the top row of cats by cutting a line of post it's with the Cat Hugs Dies.  I masked off my top row and then offset the next stamp just a bit to create a tall stack of cats.  I trimmed this image out and added it to my striped background after cutting out the arms with the Cat Hugs Dies.  I colored some bits and pieces and then cut out some of the adorable presents stamped with the Cat Hugs Stamps to let my cute cats hold.  I wanted a banner for my sentiment but didn't want to block all my cats.  That is when I remember that the perfect sized banner was in the Easter Parade Stamps.  I stamped my banner and sentiment and cut it out to add to my waiting orange kitty's hands!  Here's a closer look:
 

Thanks so much for checking out my creations and don't forget about our giveaway!

You'll want to leave comments along the way because Laura is giving away the ENTIRE NEW RELEASE to a lucky commenter during the new release hop.  The winner could be you.  I hope you are enjoying our new release!  We love sharing these awesome products with you!  Be sure to keep hopping, here's the list:

Laura/Shop

 Amy Kolling

Caly Person

Chrissy Larson <---Yup, that's me!!!

 Heather Hoffman

Jen Carter

 Jessica Frost Ballas

Karen Baker

Kimberly Rendino

Lisa Henke

Don't forget you can check out the new release right now in the Lil' Inker Store and you can get all the goodies I used today.  Here's what I used:

    

    

    

    

CTS #195

Good morning everyone!  I hope you are having a great week so far.  I had a wonderful weekend packed with crafting, shopping, and amazing times with some amazing ladies!  I wouldn't trade our time at the Craft House for the world.  Every time I get to attend a Stamping Away weekend, I leave with a big smile on my face that just won't go away.  There is nothing like hanging out with so many fun and talented women to get your crafty mojo going.  I feel so lucky to get to attend and so thankful that Amy and Laurie put so much of their time and effort into ensuring we have a great time.  Just look at all these happy faces (and Jill's happy forehead, he he).

What a great time!  You can have a great time this week by playing along with our sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here's my take on the sketch:

I started my card this week by choosing patterned papers to layer.  I loved this floral with the polkadot but to ensure you see the separation of top and bottom as well as you do in the sketch, I also added a vellum layer.  I cut the floral paper with the Fringe Scalloped Border Builder Die Set and the vellum with a similar shaped Dual Dotted Border Builder Die before layering them on the polkadot paper.  Next, I stamped and cut some flowers using  Fresh Cut Flowers and the Fresh Cut Flowers Dies.  I arranged these on the card front along with a yellow Hello Word Die cut.  A touch of white with my gel pen and some pearls finish the card off nicely.  I hope you like it!

Thanks so much for checking out my card this week and I hope to see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch!  It's a fun challenge and I just know you'll love it!  Here's what I used for my card today:

CTS #130

Good morning, you guys!  We have had another fun and busy week.  I picked one boy up at camp yesterday and he had a blast.  I was SO relieved because he's never successfully spent the night anywhere before but was desperate to go to bible camp.  Turns out, he survived just fine.  Ha ha!  He had a great time and keeps sharing new stories of his adventures.  With a crew like this, how could you not have a blast? 

I'm getting boy #1 ready to go to STEM camp this Sunday.  He's just itching to get his hands on some robots.  Ha ha!  I think we have officially reached the ages where I must embrace my role as chauffeur.  ;)  Good thing I have such handsome clients. 

I guess I should get to the point of this post and share my CAS(E) this Sketch challenge with you guys.  Ha ha!  I must say, this sketch is one of my favorites that we have done.  Make sure you check the sketch out at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here's my take:

I had a ton of fun with patterns on this card.  I started off with a base of this fun green take on a chevron pattern.  I cut a cork polka dot patterned paper with a die from Lil' Inker Designs Border Builders to layer over the top.  Next I cut my Hello Word Die from the Dip Dyed Ombr̩e Paper Pad.  I knew it needed a little something more so I took some adorable flowers cut using the Perky Posies Die Set and various pattern papers and arranged them with enamel dots around my hello.  Super cute!

I hope you enjoyed my take on the challenge this week and I can't wait to see what you create.  I'll see you over at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here are the products I used today:

 

CTS #108

Woo hoo!!  I'm going to have a fully functional computer back in my possession this afternoon.  My eldest is rejoicing right along with me since I'm TOTALLY cramping his Minecrafting style.  ;)  Nothing like having to share your computer with your mom.  Ew!

Everyone in the house is on the mend, thank goodness.  I swear the coughing fits hung on forever.  My littlest just seemed SO poor coughing and hacking.  I hate feeling helpless when my boys don't feel well.  I swear there is nothing worse.  Luckily, grandma sent him a little gift to make him feel all better.  I think he likes it.  What do you think?

That giraffe, or "raff" as Micah calls them, is as big as he is!  Ha ha!  He drags him all over the house though.  It must be love.  ;)  You know what else is love?  The feeling I have for the next sketch.  Man, I'm rocking these transitions lately.  Ha ha.

This week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch is totally fun and really open to interpretation.  I think you'll be blown away by all the interesting takes the design team came up with so be sure to check out everyone's cards on the CAS(E) this Sketch blog.  You won't regret it!  Here's my take and the sketch.

I hope you like my take.  I decided to use the Lil' Inker Designs Lollipop & Pencil Treat Holder Die in a bit of a different way today.  I cut it out of some fun floral paper and used the holes for a ribbon.  I layered this on some black cardstock that I had spruced up with the Quilted Swirl Stitch Pattern Die.  To finish off the card, I cut out the Hello Word Die in both black cardstock and fuchsia glitter paper.  I layered these two and stuck them to my floral panel.  I love how it all came together and I love how versatile the Lollipop & Pencil Treat Holder Die is.  Can't beat that!

I hope you enjoyed my card today and will check out the rest of the team and play along with us at CAS(E) this Sketch.  Here's a look at the fun products I used on my card today.  See you again soon!