Addicted to CAS #33

This week at Addicted to CAS the very talented Harriet is our host and she had chosen this cue word:

We are sponsored by Stamp Art Designs. The winner will receive 5 digis of their choice form this fabulous store.

And we are very happy to have Karen as our Guest Designer this week. Karen's cards are always amazing and we are so pleased she is so supportive of our challenge.

I don't have any baby images and was a little stuck but then saw the 'paint' challenge at CASology. I decided to use some stamps that remind me of the marks left behind from paint tins-pretty pink paint in this case. Mum and Dad must have just painted their new baby girl's bedroom!!

All the stamps are from Fresh Squeezed Stamps and I have just added my mix of enamel dots, sequins and gems...my new obsession!!

I will also enter this into the Baby Challenge at Fairy tale Challenge blog

Our DT have some adorable creations to inspire you so please do visit our blog here and then get stamping!

Addicted to CAS #32

It is time for our next challenge at Addicted to CAS. This week our host is the very creative Deepti and she has chosen this code word:

At first I wanted to use my coffee cup images but couldn't seem to get out of my head this card that I made last month. As much as I tried to think of a different design I just seemed to want to re-create the same card. I decided to change track and looked through some really old wooden stamps that I was given when I first started crafting and found one I thought was quite amusing and created a very CAS card using this stamp coloured with my copics...now I said it was super CAS, even for me!

This is me after a night of too much wine and in need of my coffee!!

I thought it would make a good get well card and might cheer up a poorly person so added this sentiment from Fresh Squeezed Stamps. My poorly person here is grounded using a stitching stamp from the Patchwork Frenzy set at STAMPlorations

This week at Addicted to CAS we are being sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps, you can check out their store here.

Our DT this week have made some fab coffee themed projects to inspire you and you can see these here

Now, go and pour some coffee and get crafting! x

Addicted to Stamps and More #81

It is time for our 'Anything Goes' challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. We know you all love this challenge as you can do whatever you feel like!

Dawn is joining us this week as our Guest Designer. She makes some fabulous cards and if you don't know her blog already, please do pop over and take a look here. We are sponsored by Smart Art Designs this week and you could win 5 free digis!

I was at first unsure what to do this week but off I went looking for some challenges to inspire me. I found one that did just that and I created this:

It was the Fusion Card Challenge that helped kick my mojo into gear. I saw the sketch and knew I wanted to use my cityscape stamp from Fresh Squeezed Stamps. I was unsure it would look right at the top of the page and originally was going to flip the sketch. However I tried it and like it like this. I have stamped a second layer just in the centre to represent the larger part of the sketch. I loved the red, white and pink colours in the picture so used these colours-the gems are a mix of pink and red. So I used both the sketch and the picture to inspire this card.

Our DT have created a bunch of wonderful projects to inspire you this week. So pop to our blog and check them out here.

Here is the inspiration from fusion that inspired my card:

Time for Time Out's 3rd Sneak Peek!

Happy Monday my friends,

It time for our 3rd sneak peek at Time Out Challenges. Want to know what we have in store for you??? Well all you have to do is click here and Nonni will tell you all about it!!

Before I go I have a card for you. This card is a little bit different for me and I have to say I am not too sure I like it! But I tried a few things I don't do very often and decided to share it with you!

I based the layout on the sketch at STAMPlorations. It is hard to see in the photo but I have scored the card under the jars. IRL this shows nicely but I couldn't get a good photo of it-sorry! Here I have paper pieced, masked, fussy cut and coloured...goodness, did Sandie really do this!! I guess it is kinda cute and is growing on me.

The jar stamps and hearts on a stick are from Fresh Squeezed Stamps

News Flash for all my British crafting chuns........have you seen Make The Day Special online store has re-opened?? Check it out, you can get a lot of US stamps here for UK postage-naturally I have already ordered!

STOP.......don't forget to leave me and go straight to Time Out Challenges to see sneak preview 3!!

Inkspirational #47

The first Saturday of the New Year and that must mean it is time for a new challenge at Inkspirational plus we are very excited as here at Inkspirational we are a celebrating our first Anniversary! And this week we have this colour challenge for you:

At first I struggled with this. I was stuck on chocolate brown and yellow and couldn't think of any ideas for this. I decided to not think about this challenge for a bit and then, you guessed it, an idea popped into my head! Kraft is brown! I can usually think of an idea using Kraft and here is what I came up with:

This coffee cup is a Fresh Squeezed Stamp and I did a bit of paper piecing with some yellow DSP scrap card I found. I cut a slit in the lid and added a tooth pick to be my stirrer. I thought I should point out it is a stirrer as hubby wanted to know why someone would use a straw to drink a Latte!! And there was me thinking it was obvious!!

Our DT have some great takes on this colour scheme so please pop to our blog here before you join in the fun!

I will also enter this into:
Keep It Simple-Anything goes

Happy Christmas Hubby!

A very happy Sunday my crafting friends,

Today I am sharing the second Christmas card I have made for my Hubby. I have already given him one (yet to be posted) but he seemed to not like it quite as much as I hoped. He appeared to think it wasn't CAS enough-I have trained him well! So I decided to make him another very CAS card to give to him on Christmas day with his pressies.
This card was inspired by the super sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch and the photo at Fusion. I loved all the white with the pops of red in this photo and that is was I used when making this. I entered this challenge before but went the other way around-mainly red with pops of white!

The lip stamp is from Fresh Squeezed Stamps, I fussy cut it and used glossy accents to add some shimmer. I am hoping that this will be CAS enough for Hubby!

I will also enter this into the following challenges:

Less is More-a previous challenge-week 9, a touch of red

Crazy for CAS-anything goes

Sweet Stamping Challenge-white and one other colour

Make My Monday-CAS Christmas card

      

Enjoy the rest of your day x

Addicted to Stamps and More #72

Its time for the 'Make your Mark' challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. This means you can use any kind of marker on your project-copics, promarkers, water colour paints or pencils etc........whatever marker you want to use.
As most of you know I find colouring a challenge but I also find it very relaxing. So I am beginning to look forward to this challenge. I learn something new every time this week comes around.

This week I used my copics and followed this tutorial by fellow DT member and dear friend Nonni. I followed this tutorial very closely but used a different trio of copics in pinkish colours. And, as this week we are being sponsored by Fresh Squeezed Stamps (you know how much I love their stamps!), I have used all FSS on my card. This is what I came up with:

(hover over the image and click on the pin)

I followed Nonni's tutorial to colour my umbrella and then masked it off to stamp the cloud and lightening. I kept the design very CAS as I wanted to show off my colouring (I hope I am not hearing any giggling!!).

This card was left for hubby recently when I went into hospital (this is a very pre-scheduled post-as I am hoping I have been in hospital for the 2 weeks and am safely back at home now!)

Our DT have made some wonderful projects using markers, so take a peek here then get those markers out and join in the fun. You could win a Fresh Squeezed Stamp of your choice!

Inkspirational #43

Happy Saturday crafting chums,

At Inkspirational this week we have a 'White on White' challenge. And we are very pleased that for this challenge we have the super talented Pia joining us as our Guest Designer. Pia has supported Inkspirational right from the start and entered nearly all our challenges and won quite a few! I really love her cards and am amazed at how she can adapt to so many different card making styles from vintage to CAS. I urge you to pop by her blog and prepare to be blown away! Pia will be with us for a few challenges then the top pick of this challenge will have the chance to be our Guest Designer for our Christmas challenge on the 21st December!

And here is my CAS white on white card for you:

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

I think for White on White cards you need lots of texture and for my CAS style I thought a good way to do this would be to die cut some white felt I found in my stash. My much loved PTI linen impression plate seemed ideal to add a little more subtle texture. I had to play around with sentiments and finally opted for this one from Fresh Squeezed Stamps. 

We are still running our prize draw to win all these fabulous goodies-every time you enter you will be added to the draw!

Our DT have some great White on white projects to inspire you-take a look here.

Happy Stamping x

Addicted to Stamps and More #68

Its time for our colour challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. This week we have these colours for you:

You don't need to use the exact colours just get as close as you can to this mix. When looking at my card I see that my take on 'celery' is probably too green, I think when I made this I had the thought of real celery in my head!

Here is my take on the sketch using 'Autumn Flowers' Clearly Besotted Stamps'

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

This week we have a $20 gift voucher from Nicecrane Designs for our top pick and before you leave take a peek here to see what the DT have created to inspire you to get inky!

I am entering this into the 'Autumn Colour' challenge at Clearly Besotted Stamps-just sneaking in on the last day x

CAS(E) this Sketch for CAS-ual Fridays!

Happy Friday Eve my crafting friends,

Today I am sharing a card with you that I made for the challenge this week at CAS(E) this Sketch and the 'in stitches' challenge at CAS-ual Fridays.

I decided to make a small 4" by 4" card and used my Weather Through stamp set from Fresh Squeezed Stamps.

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

I have had this embossed die cut cloud in my stash for nearly a year, so was very happy to finally put it to good use.

Here is CAS(E) this Sketch layout

Have a fun day x

Inkspirational Challenge #40

Its time for our new challenge at Inkspirational. We have a colour challenge with a couple of twists for you this week!

First off, here are the colours:

Twist 1

You can use all of these colours or just 2! And remember you can also use neutrals along with these colours.

Twist 2

From our next challenge we are going fortnightly. This challenge will close at midnight (GMT) on Friday 11th October and challenge 41 will start at 6am (GMT) Saturday 12th and run for 2 weeks.

We also have some more changes happening at Inkspirational. But before I tell you about them here is my card using these colours. I used all three (to be honest, I forgot I could use just 2!)

(hover over the image and click on the red button to pin it to your Pinterest board)

I masked off the cityscape so I had just a small section of the whole stamp and then heat embossed it with the gorgeous raspberry colour.

O.K now for our other changes.........we are very sad to be losing Mynnette, Ellen and Ruth however we are super excited to be welcoming the very talented Nonni to our DT. Nonni is a fabulous crafter and an expert in colouring using copics and most of all, she is a very dear friend! I am so pleased she is now on our DT!

So before you get inky and join in the fun here at Inkspirational take a look here at what our DT have created to inspire you.

As I have just got back hols I have seen Fresh Squeezed Stamps is turning one this week and having a Birthday bash. I had to enter as most of you know I love their stamps and as this card uses my favourite set I am entering it into the fun!

Have fun x

Addicted to CAS #22 Get Well

Happy Saturday my crafting friends,

Today it is my time to host the CAS challenge at Addicted to CAS. I have chosen 'Get Well' as our code this week:

All you need to do is make a CAS project inspired by 'Get Well'

I decided to make a bookmark to match this card I made a few weeks ago. I thought this would make an ideal gift for someone who was ill and could not do much except read and drink lots of fluid (that's tea not wine!!)

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

I have masked the Fresh Squeezed Stamps cup and saucer to make this pile of cups and coloured with promarkers. I decided to add my own little CAS design to the cups. I fussy cut the teabag holder out to make the tag for my bookmark.

And here it is with the card:

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

This was my first go at making a bookmark but I enjoyed making it. I think it makes for a sweet little gift. Unfortunately with ereaders these days there are not so many people who you could send this too. However there are still quite a few of my family who prefer 'real books'. Therefore, I do have scope to make a few more!

Our DT have come up with some great projects this week. Pop over to our blog here and take a peek.

This week we are very lucky to have The Paper Nest Dolls as our sponsor.

I am looking forward to hosting the challenge this fortnight and am very excited to be choosing the winners. I can't wait to visit your blogs. 

Have fun my CAS friends!!

Anniversary Number 8!

Today is my 8th Wedding Anniversary. 8 years ago today I married my adorable hubby, Callum, at sunset on the gorgeous Greek Island of Santorini, surrounded by our closest family and friends. We did have plans to celebrate over the weekend but Callum was poorly so our celebrations have been postponed until next weekend.

I do have a little stash of cards that are for Callum but today I had an idea for a new one that was inspired by the sketch this week at CAS(E) this Sketch!.

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

My first attempt followed the sketch exactly but it just didn't look right to me. So I moved the whole thing down to the bottom and off set the 'u'. To me, this looked much better, so I stuck with it. I have to say, I love making CAS cards, but I was a little bit wary of all this white space. However, the more I looked at the card, the more I liked it, just as it is now! I firstly heat embossed the 'u' onto the card but decided that more dimension was needed so heat embossed another 'u' and fussy cut this out, mounting it on foam pads. 

Luckily hubby is a fan of my CAS cards (these days, when buying cards for me, he hunts the shops for the most CAS card he can find!) 

Thanks for popping by and enjoy the rest of your day xx

Addicted to CAS #21

Its time for our new challenge at Addicted to CAS and this week our hostess is the super talented Harriet. And her code word today is Music

Remember with this challenge we want to see Clean and Simple creations-lots of lovely white space! 

I had quite a few ideas for this code word but when I saw this card on the Fresh Squeezed Stamp Blog by Erin I was inspired to use my cassette tape stamp. I really had wanted to use this stamp as my hubby is transferring music from his old cassette tapes onto his mac so he can master them and burn off c.ds. He used to be in a band and this was the only way to tape music back then (yes we are old!!).

And here is my CAS music card:

(hover over the picture and click on on the pin to save to pinterest

This was fun to make and quite simple-stamping, masking and I used an impression plate for texture and popped it up on foam pads for dimension.

I used the sketch this week at Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge

This week we are being sponsored by Paper Nest who are awarding our winner with a $25 gift voucher for their store.

I would also like to enter this into a new challenge I came across A Creative Romance. The challenge this week is CAS.

Our DT this week have come up with a fabulous bunch of CAS creations for you. Check them out here then get creating and join in the fun x

Sketch from Atlantic Heart Challenge:

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #60

Its already Wednesday and that means it is time for our new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. This week we are having a 'photo with a twist' challenge. Which means you can create anything you want, if you use an image from our sponsor Nicecrane Design ,or you can be inspired by this photo:

I decided to go with the photo this week and came up with this:

(hover over the image and click on the pin to save to pinterest)

I am sorry the photo is a little dark but I wanted to show the embossing on this card stock and this seemed to be the only way to capture it.

So obviously I was inspired by the lighthouse and did try to make a card using a free digi image of a lighthouse but with not much success. Then I had a light bulb moment (I know, bad pun!) and used these Fresh Squeezed Stamps to make my card. I do love how it came out!

What inspires you in this photo? Or perhaps you want to use an image from Nicecrane Designs-we have a freebie on our blog here, where you can also see the wonderful creations our DT have come up with this week.

I am looking forward to visiting your blogs, now go and get inky my friends and have fun!

I will also enter this into the 'cards without flowers' challenge at ABC challenges

Inkspirational #34

Its time for my Weekend Warrior post at Inkspirational and this week we have this wonderfully romantic card by Marina for you to CASE.

I was inspired by the bold lettering and was going to go for a Love theme but as I started create another idea came into my head......I would make a card that I could use as a love card or for a number of other reasons-congratulations, Happy Anniversary etc. 

I did this by combining my Tech Talk CAS-ual Friday Stamps with a sentiment and heart from a Fresh Squeezed Stamp set. 

I stamped the heart directly onto the card base then stamped another one and covered it with glossy accents, fussy cut it and mounted it on a foam pad to give dimension.

This month Eclectic Anthology are our sponsors.

Before you get inky don't forget to take a look here at the fabulous projects our DT have come up with.

I am also going to enter this into the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments-anything but a Birthday card

Happy Campers Crafts Collective-use a stamp

Have fun x

Addicted to Stamps and More #59

Happy Wednesday and today it is our CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. That means we want to see clean and simple designs. This week we have a little twist as well-if you use an image by our fabulous sponsor Nicecrane Designs your project doesn't have to be CAS, you add lots of layers, ribbons, bells, whatever you fancy!

Although my card has some colouring, heat embossing and paper piecing, I have still gone CAS.

I have heat embossed the sentiment, paper pieced the teabag and coloured the teacup. All of the stamps are from Fresh Squeezed Stamps.

This week our winner will receive a $20 gift voucher from Nicecrane Designs. Check out the store here.

Our DT have some wonderful projects for you today so please do take a peek at our blog to be inspired. Then it is your turn to get creating and join in the fun!

I am also going to link this up to Jackie's Pantone Colour African Violet challenge (you can win a new custom designed blog header) and the CAS challenge at Artistic Inspirations.

Tech Talk!

Today I have been playing with a new stamp set that my cousin Lynn gave me as a pressie when she recently came to visit me here in London. Lynn is one of the fab DT Girl Fridays for Cas-ual Friday Stamps and this tech talk stamp set from Cas-ual Fridays is one Lynn knew I wanted. What a lovely surprise for me!!

So today I have had fun playing with this to make this card:

I had been wanting to make a card for the challenge this week at OLW, to be inspired by pinterest-like we really need another excuse to spend hours on pinterest!! And yesterday I was browsing for some inspiration to make a 'new home' card and came across this picture:

This got me thinking about my new stamp set and then today I saw the colours of this weeks Cas-ual Fridays challenge-orange, aqua and green-and decided to use my orange and blue heat embossing powders for this CAS one layer card. I went with a 'oops I'm sorry' card as I expect we all need these at some point. And as hubby is a techy I thought I would keep this in my stash for him!!

I made a second version of this card with a smiley face from a Fresh Squeezed Stamp set. I think I like the first one best....what about you??

I am also going to enter this into the 'new stamps' challenge at Alphabet Challenges

Do come back tomorrow to see my next card using the tech talk set and enjoy the rest of your Friday x

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #57

Wednesday means it is time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. And this week is 'Make your Mark' challenge. Your entry must include use of some kind of marker-promarkers, crayons, pencils, water paints etc.

I tried something different this week. I had a go at the defined watercolour technique. Check out this video here to learn more about this technique.  I had so much fun doing this and ended up covered in paint but happy!

I have used the 'watercolour wonder' stamp set from PTI and the sentiment stamp is from Fresh Squeezed Stamps.

I used a small travel set of watercolour stamps I was given as a gift and memento inks. I would urge you to give this a try, I felt really arty doing this...........we can all fool ourselves!!

This week as a prize to the winner our DT are offering the following 2 image sheets from the the fabulous Nicecrane Designs.


                       

If you are not aware of Nicecrane Designs please take a peek at the store here. And here is a note from the owner Ignacio:

I have been a Photoshop Instructor for more than 6 years ago,,,,,, and I love Graphic Design ,,,,,,,it is my passion,,, I love anything about Graphic Design, new techniques, software and tips and tricks. I am also  FAN of Japanese Culture , especially about Ukiyo-e and Washi craft,,,,,and I love Japanese Origami,,,,,,

Nice to meet people from different countries to share hobbies and practice my English.

And don't forget to pop over to our blog to check out here what how our DT have 'made their mark' to inspire you.

Now it is your turn to get inky x

Inkspirational Challenge #31

Hello again, I know, 2 posts in one day!!

I have named today 'Sunshine Saturday' as both my cards today feature the sun plus I am celebrating my first day as a a member of the DT at Addicted to CAS! Just scroll down to this my card for this challenge.

This post is for our 'Anything Goes' challenge at Inkspirational.  You still have until Tuesday 6pm CMT to play along and be in for a chance to win a $12 gift voucher from A Day for Daises.

Here is my sunshine card:

I had a lot of fun making this card. I used the 'Weather Through' stamp set from Fresh Squeezed Stamps and used a variety of different orange and yellow inks to stamp the sun rays. If you look closely you will see that 3 of the rays are actually heat embossed using the orange embossing powder I used on my card earlier today.

This card is sitting on our mantel piece and it really makes me smile when I walk in the room! I just love all the vibrant colours-perhaps I should just keep it and pull it out on those days when I need a reminder that all is not so bad!

I hope you join in the fun at Inkspirational and please do pop over to the blog to see what the rest of the DT have made this week to inspire you.

Happy stamping and enjoy 'Sunshine Saturday!!'