Get Well Soon

My supply of get well cards is running low, so I made a few of these CAS ones today. I don't know about where you are, but here we've had many cases of the flu and stomach viruses going around. Just one more reason why spring can't come soon enough.

My rainbow of  flowers from Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend is surrounded by the frame from the Hero Arts Stitched Frame set. I've added a rhinestone to each flower and the sentiment is from my new go to set,  Keep in Touch, Too, from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

I would like to enter this into these challenges:

     The Card Concept #29 - Get Well Soon

     Fusion Card Challenge - Bowties and Other Things

I was inspired by the bright colors in The Card Concept's photo inspiration, and am using the sketch from Fusion.

Thanks very much for all the lovely comments left on my posts. I so appreciate all of you who come to visit. Stay well!

                                                                         Pam

Out with February

Can you believe that the first two months of the year have gone by? I sure hope March brings us some better weather. We are long overdue.

Since it's the last day of February, I need to share my Graphic 45 Time to Flourish calendar page for this month. (Yes, I just finished it 3 days ago. In my defense, I finished March, too.) I'm using the cut aparts page from the 8x8 paper pad for this project. Core-dinations Graphic 45 Signature Series Lights card stock was used for the base, and I used the Martha Stewart Lace Heart edge punch to make a frame for the title. 

The 4x6 ephemera card was adhered to the base of my layout. Several of the pieces from the cut aparts sheet were added. I love the postoids. They are my favorite pieces. I distressed all the pieces in Vintage Photo distress ink and used foam to adhere some of them. I also bend and curl the edges of the pieces to give them more of a distressed look.  The calendar piece was computer generated. I added some pearls and used a clear Wink of Stella brush to add some shine to the flowers.

I would like to enter this into the Craft Hoarders Anonymous February Challenge - How Do I Love Thee? 

On to March -

For my March page, I've used the same basic formula as I did for January and February, with the March cut aparts from the collection. I did add some ribbon from the Really Reasonable Ribbon February Collection. 

Isn't this ribbon gorgeous? I love the beautiful colors this month. I will be entering this into the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #112 - Purple and Green with Ribbon Theme

Hopefully, I'll find some time to make the rest of my calendar soon. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. 

                                                                 Pam

Thanks so Much

This is my second post for today. To see my Hello Spring card for the Less is More and CAS-ology challenges click here.

Please excuse the inferior photo. It's evening so the lighting is very poor. I wanted to add this card I just finished to a couple of challenges that are closing shortly.

This is my first attempt at masking stamped images. I used the flower and leaf images from an older Hero Arts stamp set, Stitched Frame. Using Post-It masking tape, I made a mask of the flower. The images were stamped onto Tim Holtz watercolor paper on the smooth side, with Hero Arts Butter Bar ink for the flowers and Hero Arts Green Hills ink for the leaves. Then I smooshed some of each color onto my craft mat, and used a water brush to color the images. 

I added Bisque Liquid Pearls to the center of each flower. The centers are actually many tiny dots, but I wasn't able to keep the liquid pearl dots small enough. In hindsight I should have used something else for the centers, but I was trying to keep the look of the dots. I then added a cascade of gold sequins, and the sentiment was added to an order I received from Verve Stamps. I adhered the watercolor panel to a Hero Arts Foliage note card. 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

     A Blog Named Hero Challenge Time - Masking

     Addicted to CAS Challenge #57 - Code Word Mask

     Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - No Rules

     Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks again for visiting. Have a fabulous weekend.

                                                                Pam

Hello Spring

Don't we all wish it was spring? After the coldest and snowiest February in central New York history, we are all wishing that here.

I'm sharing my first card for spring today. The floral butterfly was found in my butterfly stamp stash and inked with A-muse Studio Bubble Gum ink. The black frame was die cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares and adhered to a 4x4 inch square card.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

     Less is More Week 212 - Wings

     CAS-ology Week 135 - Mini

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

                                                                  Pam

Another Love Challenge

Today's card is one I made that I never shared with my Valentine card posts.

This was a quick CAS card that I was very happy with. The Impression Obsession Heart of Hearts die is gorgeous and makes the whole card. I simply die cut a piece of Neenah CS and added it to a red card base. The sentiment is included in the Elegant Valentine set from C.C. Designs.

I am entering this into the House of Cards February Challenge: Love. This card isn't necessarily only for Valentine's Day. Think anniversary, birthday, support, congratulations and encouragement. Just change up the inside sentiment to whatever fits the occasion.

Thanks for stopping in and enjoy! We're almost to the weekend.

                                                           Pam

Thinking of You Tag

This is my second post for today. For my Lawn Fawn 'Hippo Birdie to You' card  scroll down or click here.

I made a tag for the current Tag You're It Challenge that I am just squeaking in on time.

The tag is watercolor paper die cut with the Stitched Duo 1 die from Pretty Pink Posh. I used the smallest flower from CAS-ual Fridays Loving Thoughts stamp set and distress markers to watercolor. Again, I colored directly onto the stamp with the distress marker, misted with water and stamped the image on the watercolor paper. I used Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers and Chipped Sapphire markers to make a rainbow of my mini blooms. A simple sentiment was added, as well as black twine.

I am entering this into Tag You're It Challenge #15. Our challenge was to create a tag inspired by this card by Donna Mikasa.

I was inspired by the colors and small images in Donna's card.

Thanks for visiting. I so appreciate all of your kind comments. Thank you!

                                                                   Pam

       

Hippo Birdie to You

Today I have a cute birthday card to share. I'm using Lawn Fawn's Year Four stamp set.

I just love this adorable set. It includes the hippo, birdie, party hat, balloon, music note and the sweet sentiment. The cake is from another Lawn Fawn set, Bake Me a Cake. I stamped the images and then colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers. Notice the balloon? I used the new Cracked Pistachio that was released last month. Love it! I used my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush on the balloon,party hat, cake stand and the icing on the cake to add some sparkle.

The pattern paper is also from Lawn Fawn, the Let's Polka 6x6 paper pad. Once again, I die cut all the panels with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles. Love them! The pink heart paper was adhered directly onto the card base, while the stamped panel was added with foam tape. 

I stamped the sentiment onto a hand cut banner. The sweet sequins are Let's Polka Lawn Ornaments  from Lawn Fawn.

I'm entering this into: 

     Lawnscaping Challenge 100 - Birthday Celebration

     Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments. Have a wonderful day.

                                                          Pam

Oz Twisted Easel Card

It seems like forever since I've made a twisted easel card. I found another challenge (I'm hooked on all the inspiration!) called Shopping Our Stash. The theme for the current challenge is 'The Big Screen' and I immediately knew what I wanted to make.

Everyone who knows me knows one of my all-time favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. Also, everyone knows that I love everything by Graphic 45. A few years ago, Graphic 45 created a paper collection called The Magic of Oz, that has since been discontinued. Not to worry, I hoard my Graphic 45 and still have some in my stash. (I usually buy two pads - one to use and one to keep.)

So, I made a twisted easel card of Oz for this challenge. My easel card measures  5 1/4 X 10 1/2 inches and is scored in half at 5 1/4 inches. The top half is scored diagonally towards the front. That is what creates the twisted easel base. I cut one of my favorite of the signature pieces that includes Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion to a 5 1/4 inch square. I distressed all the edges with my Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and then ink distressed with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. Some of the poppies from another sheet were fussy cut and popped up with foam on my panel. This panel was then adhered to the top of the easel.

I chose the heart patterned sheet from the collection for my bottom panel. A piece of lace from my stash, topped with some May Arts 1/4 inch green silk ribbon, was added to the panel. I made a multi-loop bow with the same ribbon and adhered it with glue dots. A poppy chipboard piece from the collection was added on top of the bow. I applied Mushroom Alchohol Ink and glitter to a resin flower from my stash and added it to the chipboard poppy. Another chipboard piece with a quote from the movie was added below the lace.

I did add some sparkle to parts of the papers with Wink of Stella glitter brush markers. The red was added to Dorothy's ruby slippers, her hair bow and the bows on the Cowardly Lion. I added clear to Dorothy's wand and the chipboard poppy.

I'm entering this into the Shopping Our Stash #189 - The Big Screen

                            and    Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - No Rules

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by.

                                                           Pam

Happy Easter

Yes, I made my first Easter card of the year. I found a new to me sketch challenge,Freshly Made Sketches, that I wanted to play in. I was so taken with DT member Rita Wright's inspiration card found here, that I cased it. (I love all things St. Patrick's Day.) Thanks Rita!

 My white panels were die cut with Mama Elephant's Landscape Trio dies. You know I love my stitched dies. I adhered them to a piece of purple card stock. Before adding the panel to my card base, I added a piece of May Arts ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon. I subscribe to their Monthly Ribbon Club and love the ribbons in every monthly package.. Look at the February selection! Gorgeous!

For the focal piece I used Hero Arts Grape Juice ink on a stamp from my stash. I think it's one that I picked up at Michaels a few years ago for a dollar. The image was then die cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circles. Yes, I have the stitched circles and squares, too. You know I love my stitched dies. (Oh, I alraedy said that, didn't I? That's okay, it's worth repeating.) I used foam squares to adhere the circle to my card. 

Finally I added a cascade of sequins to my card. The yellow flowers are from Lawn Fawn and the gorgeous purle ones I added to the flowers are from Pretty Pink Posh. I adore Paulina and all of her products.

So that's my card for Freshly Made Sketches #174. Here is the sketch photo -

Thanks for visiting. I love reading your sweet comments. You are all very kind. I hope you have a wonderful week. After our mid-winter break last week, we go back to school tomoorow. At least we are supposed to. There are record cold wind chill temps forecast (again!) and at least one local school is already on a 2 hour delay. When, oh when, is spring coming?!?

                                                                Pam

love you - One Layer Card

Today I have a one layer card to share. It should have been quick to make, but I made four attempts before I was happy with it.

For my card I masked off the sides to make a frame, and used a Tim Holtz Hearts Layering Stencil as a mask to ink my card. The inks are distress inks, which makes blending them easy. I inked over the stencil from the top with my lightest color, Tumbled Glass . Then I inked from the bottom with Broken China, blendng into the Tumbled Glass. Last I used my darkest color, Salty Ocean, from the bottom, blending into the Broken Glass. 

After removing the stencil and mask from the sides, I had these beautifully blended ombre colored hearts. (after four trys - I believe I need more masking practice!) Distress Inks blend so easily. I love them for all kinds of techniques. 

The sentiment is from the The Big, The Bold and You stamp set from winnie & walter. I love their The Big, The Bold series. You can customize just about any sentiment you want with them. They have die cuts for the large words, also.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

     One Layer Simplicity Challenge 13 - blend

     Addicted to Cas Challenge #57 - mask

     Muse Challenge #105  - Muse card inspiration below:

My inspiration from the Muse card by Marion Vagg (Made Marion) was her blue and white color combo and blended blue inks. 

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate all of your kind comments. Enjoy!

                                                                                 Pam

Get Well Soon - CSSC #1

I recently discovered a fabulous blog by Leslie Hanna, The Crooked Stamper. I love her work, her blog and her voice. What a sense of humor! Leslie has started a brand new challenge, the Crooked Stamper Sketch Challenge, or CSSC. (Yes, seriously.) So, of course, I had to play along. We all need to support each other in our work. Here's my card -

This is Leslie's sketch ( the very first one - so exciting!) and the card she made a few months ago that she based her sketch on.

I used Avery Elle's Thanks a Bunch stamp set. The set has lots of small stamps to add to the main bouquet. I used Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Spiced Marmalade  Distress Markers to color my flowers right on the stamp. After a quick mist with water onto the inked stamp, I stamped onto watercolor paper. I love this watercolor technique. So pretty and forgiving! Then I used the same technique with Peeled Paint and the brand new Cracked Pistachio to add the leaves to the bouquet. I love Cracked Pistachio, it's such a beautiful color. The buds were then added with Picked Raspberry. 

The watercolor panel was die cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles (yes, again!). I die cut pink card stock to make a stitched frame around my panel with the same die set. Another piece of watercolor paper was embossed with a Sizzix Dots embossing folder and added to the pink card base.

The sentiment and tag are from the same stamp set, I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink to stamp the sentiment and tag, and then cut the tag out. The tag was then adhered to the card with a foam square.

I am also entering this card into the current challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #132 - Make Your Mark.

Please be sure to go and check out Leslie's first challenge and her blog. I promise you will love them.

As always, thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. They make my day!

                                                                               Pam 

   

Orange Happy Birthday

Happy Friday morning! It has finally stopped snowing here, although it is -3 degrees. Spring cannot come soon enough for me.

I'm sharing a quick CAS birthday card this morning. This card came together in just a few minutes. The birthday die is from Memory Box. I adhered it to some orange pinstripe paper from A-muse Studio . My balloon is the smallest die from Simon Says Die and Stamp Balloon Sentiments. Love the balloon dies in this set. 

Some orange and white twine from my stash was tied onto the ballon after I had applied Ranger Multi Matte Medium to the twine. This allows you to place the twine in any shape and it will stay that way. I use my multi matte medium a lot; it holds everything in place. Then I added a foam dot to the balloon and placed it on my card.

I am entering this into these challenges:

     AAA Cards: Game #33 - Orange U Glad UR CAS

     CASology: Week 134 - monochrome

Have a wonderful day. I think I'll just stay in my nice warm apartment and work on some more projects. Thanks for stopping by. I always love reading your thoughts.

                                                             Pam

You're Sweet - Thanks

Another very cold and snowy day here. It's probably a good thing that we have mid-winter break this week. If not, I think we would have used up all of our snow days by now. Hopefully, it will get back to normal soon. I feel as if I've been hibernating all week. What better to do than make cards?

Here's one that I made today using some bright, cheery colors. The papers are all from Doodlebug's Take Note 6X6 paper pad. I added two strips of the paper onto a panel trimmed slightly smaller than my pink card base. 

The white panel was die cut with one of my Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles dies. I seem to be using them on everything, don't I? That was then mounted onto the pink card, also.

The stamps are from the Classroom Cupids set by SugarPea Designs. The bottom layer of the donut was stamped with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I used Bubblegum ink by A-muse for the top layer of the donut. The sprinkles were colored with various colors of Wink of Stella pens. Once dry, I went over the whole donut with my Clear Wink of Stella pen to give it some sparkle. The 'you're sweet' sentiment is from the same stamp set. I added the 'thanks' from this Thanks stamp and die set by Simon Says Stamp.

I am entering this into the following challenges -

     SugarPea Designs SugarSketch Challenge #20

     Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Donut Delight

Thanks for visiting. I need to go grab a hot cup of coffee. 

                                                             Pam

Love You to the Moon & Back

Another CAS card today. I'm trying to squeek it into the current ShowCASe Your Style challenge.

I used a piece of Lawn Fawn's Hello Sunshine 6x6 paper pad again. They've discontinued this beautiful paper, and I've been hoarding it. I only used half of this sweet piece with the moon and stars, so I still have a bit left. 

The Neenah white card was die cut with Landscape Trio Creative Cuts from Mama Elephant. Yes, another stitched die that I love. I  love everything Mama Elephant makes. Their products are fabulous. My sentiment is To the bitty Moon, an itty-bitty stamp by Unity, stamped with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.

Here's the sketch for ShowCASe Your Style Challenge #8 -

My niece just announced to our family that she's having a baby in September. I'm thinking I may be sending this to her to congratulate her. (Of course, I foresee a lot of work for this aunt in the near future; baby shower, invitations, decorations, etc. Maybe I should I think I really need to start planning now.)

Thanks for stopping by. Your comments make my day. Enjoy yours!

                                                                    Pam

Birthday Falling Hearts

Wow! It's -10 degrees outside. Again! It's been frigid here in CNY for days. I guess I'll just have to stay inside and play some more.

I made this yesterday and I think it will fit in nicely with a couple of challenges. While cleaning off my table of Valentine supplies, I came across a leftover panel I had embossed with the Falling Hearts Stencil from Simon Says Stamp.  Some Barn Door Distress Ink was mixed with my Wendy Vecchi white embossing paste, and spread over the stencil onto a piece of Neenah card stock. While the paste was still wet, I added some iridescent glitter. It turned so sparkly as it dried. I then cut the panel with the largest of the Stitched Rectangles from Simon Says Stamp.

Next I used the Stitched Duo 3 die cut from Pretty Pink Posh to cut my label. I so love all my stitched dies. This die cuts four windows, through which you can see the sparkly falling hearts. I used a brand new stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps designed by fabulously talented Gloria Stengel (of Scraps of Life, Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog, Graphic 45 and several design teams).  Keep in Touch, Too is the new set and it is a card maker's dream set. There are so many sentiments in fabulous fonts; you'll definitely find a sentiment for every occasion.

I punched a hole in the tag and added some A-muse ribbon. The pieces were adhered with foam tape to a top-folding Neenah card base,

I'm entering this into these challenges:

     Time Out Challenge #24 - CASEing Kylie (Addicted to Stamps)

This is Kylie's gorgeous card we are CASEing for The Time Out Challenge:

     Seize the Birthday:Toppings - Hearts and/or Arrows

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a wonderful day. 

                                                            Pam

You Are So Loved

It's our mid-winter break, so today I played with watercolor. It seems like forever since I had my water brush out.

For this card I used the Loving Thoughts stamp set from CAS-ual Fridays. Both the bold graphic flower and the sentiment are from the set. Before watercoloring the flower, I heat embossed it in white onto a card base made from watercolor paper. Then I smooshed some Picked Raspberry Distress Ink on my craft mat, and used my watercolor brush to add the color inside the embossed flower. I love that color! 

The sentiment is inked in Versafine Onyz Black Ink. Then I again loaded my waterbrush with the Picked Raspberry ink and tapped some ink onto my card. Don't those little dots look fabulous? They're so fun, I always find it hard to stop adding them.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

     CAS-ual Fridays CFC136 - Must Love Watercolor

     CAS(E) this Sketch!: #110

     Less is More - One Layer & the theme is Love

     Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment. I love hearing from you. 

                                                           Pam

Shaker Heart Card

Today I'm sharing a shaker card I made. I think shakers are so much fun, don't you?

The top panel of my card was dry embossed with the Simon Says Stamp Falling Heart Stencil. I have used that stencil so many times. I love those sweet little hearts. Then I die cut the panel using Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle Dies, another favorite. A die from  Spellbinders Classic Heart Dies was used to cut out the  heart shape. For my sentiment, I used a stamp from DeNami Design stamped with Versafine Onyz Black Ink. This is by far my favorite black ink for stamping sentiments. The detail is so amazing and crisp.

I adhered a piece of acetate behind the heart and added foam tape all around it. The foam tape keeps the sequins inside. I saw Jennifer McGuire use fun foam for this here and in several other of her videos. I need to try that trick. That lady is a genius! (and my biggest enabler!)

Of course, my sequins are from Pretty Pink Posh. I just love all of Paulina's gorgeous sequins. She has so many beautiful colors, sizes and shapes of sequins. After adding the sequins, I adhered a Neenah card base to the panel. Then, of course, I had to start shaking my card. So much fun!

I am entering this into Virginia's View Challenge #12 - Shaker Cards.

Now I'm going to put all the Valentine's Day supplies away. Time to focus on catching up on some other projects. I went shopping yesterday - new Graphic 45, Tim Holtz Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink, Wendy Vecchi & Ranger products in the house! Plus one of our local Michaels is moving to a new location. My crafting buddy and I stumbled upon their 90% off everything clearance sale. What a haul we walked out with. Time to play!

I hope you enjoy your day. As always, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I always love reading your thoughts.

                                                                 Pam

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I hope you are enjoying your day. Today I have a shaped card to share.

This was made with Spellbinders Labels Forty and Labels Forty Decorative Elements. The base was made by using two of the largest size of Labels Forty die cut from Neenah card stock. I scored one piece about one-half inch down which allowed the card to bend and open when the pieces were adhered together. The next layer was cut from pink card with the largest of the Decorative Element dies and adhered on the base. The remaining layers were cut from the smaller dies and added with foam tape. 

The sentiment is from C.C. Designs Elegant Valentine stamp set. I love the sweet sentiments in the fun fonts in this set. I used some pearls from my stash to embellish. The small flowers are from I Am Roses and the larger one is from Prima. 

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:

     Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #131 - Anything Goes

     Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Red & Pink

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. They make my day! Have a wonderful day.

                                                                Pam

I Love You

Today I have another embossed card to share.

I love the Mosaic Heart stencil from Simon Say Stamp.  Versamark was used to ink over the stencil that I taped to Neenah card stock. After removing the stencil, I  added Simon Says Stamp Clear Embossing Powder, and heat set it with my heat gun. I love the shine from that clear embossing powder. 

The next step was to ink over the embossed image. For this I used three Distress Inks, going from the lightest color in the middle to the darkest around the edges. I used some blues, Tumbled Glass in the center, then Broken China, and a touch of Salty Ocean around the edge. 

The sentiment is from a new set by SugarPea Designs called Happy Mail. Such sweet designs in this cute set. I embossed it in white and then again added Broken China Distress Ink. The sentiment was then die cut with the wavy banner die from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I added a clear heart rhinestone from my stash and used foam tape to pop it onto my panel. The panel was adhered to a Neenah card base.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

     Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge #12 - So Sparkle
     AAA Cards: Game 32 - Love
     Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing
     CASology Week 133 - Love

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. I so appreciate everyone's thoughts. 

                                                                        Pam