{2.28.2013} post no. 1 – for you

Let’s CAS(E) this SKETCH!

CTS is a challenge blog to inspire you to create a clean and simple card based on a fun sketch.
Here is my inspiration for this week’s challenge and brand new sketch.

FUN!
That is what I think of this sketch.
I moved the center of the sketch down to the bottom right corner.  I have a tendency to do that.  I like my elements to be in the corner for some reason.  It makes my eyes happy to have them there.

To create the 3 little boxes I used washi tape.  Fun, right?
I laid it out on my craft mat and then used an X-acto knife to cut it in perfect sections.
Then, I used my favorite butterfly from Flap Happy with the cute for you saying from Paper Smooches.

Make sure you hop over to the CTS blog for challenge rules and a blog full of inspiration.
The design team girls are so talented and have the most fabulous cards to share.

InLinkz.com

{1.24.2013} grrrrr… case this sketch

Let’s CAS(E) this SKETCH!

CTS is a challenge blog to inspire you to create a clean and simple card based on a fun sketch.
Here is my inspiration for this week’s challenge and brand new sketch.

Hee hee… doesn’t he just cheer you up?

Make sure you hop over to the CTS blog for challenge rules and a blog full of inspiration.
The design team girls are so talented and have the most fabulous cards to share.

InLinkz.com

{1.17.2013} CAS(E) this Sketch!

Let’s CAS(E) this SKETCH!

CTS is a challenge blog to inspire you to create a clean and simple card based on a fun sketch.
Here is my inspiration for this week’s challenge and brand new sketch.

I can’t stay away from this butterfly set by Paper Smooches.  It is so cute and whimsical.  I wanted to feature those butterflies so I made two of them part of the 4 diamonds in the sketch.  The patterned paper was threatening to take my card out of the clean and simple realm, so I opted for an embossed background for the half panel in the sketch.

There really are only two layers.  By alternating which circles are popped up, it creates a lot of movement and interest without adding bulk.  A fabulous little illusion.

That is all from me today, hope you’ll join us in this week’s challenge.

Hop over to the CTS blog for challenge rules and a blog full of inspiration.
The design team girls are so talented and have the most fabulous cards to share.

InLinkz.com

{1.13.2012} Paper Smooches sneak peek — NEW cool stuff

Eeeek.

There is only one thing I love more than Paper Smooches stamps…
NEW Paper Smooches stamps and NOW matching dies.  Eeek.

Paper Smooches is showing off their CHA release during the entire month of January.  37 designers are participating along with the PS DT, so there will be a ton for projects to inspire you this month.  Paper Smooches is known for their fun and whimsical hand-drawn stamps.  They decided that it was time to broaden their product line to include DIES and wood mount stamps!

I have a project to share using NEW PS product that releases on February 1, 2013 at www.papersmoochesstamps.com along with many retail stores around the globe.
You will find a new blog link (or two) to follow every day in January at the PS Blog.

I was thinking about how AMAZING the new Paper Smooches dies are while creating this card.  I have a feeling that influenced my sentiment choice (a mix from the Word Salad set).  Ha.  Don’t you just LOVE how perfect those dies work with the Streamers stamps.

In this case, I used the die on the patterned paper and then trimmed out the stamp by hand.  It created a fabulous matted effect.  You could easily just use the die to cut out the stamp image though.  Either way is uber cool.  I paired the Streamers banner with the Reflections stamp kit.  I just love how the leaves and flowers look when layered.  So dreamy.  The texture on cardstock also added an unexpected look to the stamped images.  Love it.

I finished it all off with some white gel pen work and some glitter glue.

 ***PRIZE ALERT ***

Paper Smooches is giving away $500. Worth of product!  Hidden on FIVE of the participating blogs is a prize package worth $100. each. The prize includes a variety of stamp sets, wood mounts and dies.  Comment on as many blogs as you can to increase your chances to be one of the five winners.
Deadline is January 30^th – winners will be announced on the PS Blog on January 31^st.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today.
And a great big THANK YOU to Paper Smooches for letting me share
the news about their NEW product lines.

I just LOVE this company… they are always full of fun surprises!!!

{12.25.2012} Merry Christmas

A Very Merry Christmas to You.

A very merry day to you all.
I’m celebrating today with my family.  Good times, gift giving and good food.
Sounds like a fabulous time to me.

I had a last minute Christmas card cram and here are a few from that day.
All with some of my favorite Paper Smooches stamps.

I went on a kraft frenzy!  I feel like I’ve found an old friend.  Ha.  I feel like I haven’t used kraft in forever so it was a ton of fun to do a set like this.  I think the hot chocolate mug is my fave.

I wish you all a wonderful and jolly Christmas.

card stock: kraft (The Paper Studio)
patterned paper: Christmas Cheer (Lily Bee Designs), Holly Jolly (Echo Park)
stamps: Hot Concoctions, Warm Hearts, Joyful Greetings (Paper Smooches)
ink: Chestnut Roan, Lavendar (Colorbox Chalk ink), black (Versafine)
embellishments: purple twine (Timeless Twine)
tools: Corner Chomper, ATG Glue Tape Gun, Tiny Attacher, Real Estate Sign punch (EK Sucess), scallop tag (Marvy Uchida)