Curtain Call: A CAS-ual Christmas

This is my second post today.  It's just a short

scroll down for a Fresh Squeezed Anniversary!

It's time for a new inspiration challenge at Curtain Call!  Check out this gorgeous graphic:

photo credit:  myhomeideas.com

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is our fabulous sponsor and graciously gave each design team member one of their Christmas sets. And the Lead for this challenge will get to choose a CAS-ual Fridays stamp set of their choice! AND you can play along at the CAS-ual Fridays challenge also for another chance at winning!  

I had a very tough time narrowing down what I wanted to do for this challenge because I do have a growing collection of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  This is probably because CAS-ual Fridays headquarters is just 5 miles down the road from my house!!  (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)  I ended up making three different cards.  This first card is the card that I used for the Curtain Call blog.   I think it best represents the challenge graphic - warm and just a bit rustic.  The set is Merry Kiss-mas and includes mistletoe, holly and about every sentiment that you can think of that would be appropriate for mistletoe and holly!



My second card uses the set Snowflake Greetings.  I liked the blue furniture and fireplace in the photo (although I went for aqua just because it feels fresher) and I noticed the snowflakes on the trees in the inspiration photo.  This set has a number of traditional Christmas greetings with snowflakes as the "O"s. The colors on this card come from Festive Friday.

Then I have one other CAS-ual Fridays Christmas set that was feeling lonely - it's Christmas Carols.  I can't say there was any inspiration from the challenge - maybe the big gold balls. Mostly, I was just having fun and I kept making cards! This set has a coordinating die called the 4-Petal die and, in their brand new release, they have a set called Wallflower that uses the same die!  I adore the sentiments in this set!

I hope to see you each creating card(s) for our CAS-ual Christmas challenge.  Even though we focused on CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, you don't need them to enter - but you do stand a chance to win them!!  The challenge is open until November 25th.  Have fun!

Festive Friday with Avery Elle: 'Tis the Season

The challenge this week at Festive Friday is to create a holiday card with a wreath.  I have a gorgeous wreath from Avery Elle, so on my last day as a guest on their blog, I put these two together.


This wreath is so unique and so different from most wreaths - it is fun to work with.  It has an open and airy look so works perfectly with CAS cards, but I'm sure it could be fancied up too!!  I used it a few weeks ago on tags - one in pinks and one in kraft colors - so it can take on a lot of looks.

Thank you so much to Jamie at Avery Elle - I had a very enjoyable month working together.  I actually noticed Avery Elle with its very first release (bought it all!) and have liked everything that I have seen (and bought) since then!!  Stamps and sequins! They are definitely on my list of faves!

• Stamps: Avery Elle Winter Wreath
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Ripe Avocado
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Delicata Golden Glitz
• Accessories: Stampin' Up embossing folder, Spellbinders circle dies, MFT fishtail dies, misc ribbon

A Festive and Whimsical Sketch: Merry Penguins

I got an order from Mama Elephant and knew that I wanted to immediately use these penguins as part of the Festive Friday challenge to create a holiday project with a whimsical theme.  I love the Basic Grey 25th and Pine paper with its retro colors and feel, so I added a dash of that too.

I always struggle with penguins - they are supposed to be black!!!  But the colors of the paper led me in this grayish direction and I love how it turned out!
The stamp set comes with the penguins as separate stamps (and snowmen too!) and they can hold hands or there are multiple banners or chains of stars and hearts - lots of options.  The hearts in Mr. Penguin's hat is even an add-on.  
I had created the long panel then couldn't figure out what to do with it.  Seize the Sketch to the rescue with its simple flag!!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Polar Pals, Winter Wonderland (the snowflakes)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Real Red, My Favorite Things Primitive White, Basic Grey 25th and Pine
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Hero Arts Wet Cement
• Accessories: Michaels brand gold pearls, My Favorite Things Fishtails, unknown twine

Rockwell Designs and Festive Friday: Peace

I had THE most exciting cardmaking day yesterday.  First, I was named to the Addicted to CAS Wall of Fame along with six other cardmakers - a group that I am incredibly proud to be part of.  I'm sure you know them all, but definitely check them all out!

Then, I won a gift certificate to Paper Smooches!!  They liked the Back to School card that I did just two days ago!

And, finally, I will be guest designer in October at Avery Elle!!  I cannot tell you how long I have been trying for this one!!!

I cannot believe everything has come at once.  I definitely thank each and every one of these groups! And I thank Mr. Mojo for showing up the last few weeks.  I definitely have hot and dry spells and I was definitely feeling good about these projects.  This week...not so much...I had a whole day off after my final papers and before the next school semester started again yesterday (on a holiday!!)  and I got one card done - the "peace" card that follows.  I struggled all day and have so many things in my scrap bins.  From reading all of your blogs, I know mojo comes and goes for everybody.  

We cardmakers are a tough bunch, aren't we?  We stick it out in the tough times. We create cheerful birthday cards when we aren't cheerful.  We create sympathy cards for people we care for.  We survive when Mr. Mojo disappears!!  And it always all works out in the end.  I LOVE this hobby!!

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I got the Notched Star Banner from Papertrey Ink's last release.  It was a Halloween release, but I saw this as a perfect Christmas die!  I was inspired by two different challenges.  First, the "peace" challenge at Festive Friday was exactly the inspiration that I needed to use this new die.  Then, I am four colors behind at Jackie's Pantone Color Challenge.  I knew there was a deep blue that would work perfectly for a night sky.  Thankfully, it's OK to get behind with the color challenge, because all colors are open until September 22.

• Stamps: none!!
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Enchanted Evening, Stampin' Up Silver Glitter
• Ink: none!!
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Notched Star Banner die, Wonderful Words Holiday die, Quickutz star die, Stampin' Up Silver Cord