A CASual Red, White and Blue Dahlia

This is my second post today.

I have been wanting to play along with the Technique Tuesday Dahlia Fold challenge all month so since we are getting down to the last few days - I had to try something.  Technique Tuesday has a nice video tutorial on this technique.  They also later posted a slight variation that makes gorgeous flower buds - find it here.

I also had a pad of paper out full of reds and blues so also decided to play along with the CASual Friday red, white and blue challenge.

BIG NEWS: The downloadable Copic charts for color matches to Stampin' Up and

Papertrey Ink have been updated for the brand new Stampin' Up colors and the

most recent Papertrey Ink colors.  The link to these charts is on my side bar to the right!!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Framed Out 1
• Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle Just Because 6x6 pad, Stampin' Up Night of Navy
• Ink: Stampin' Up Night of Navy
• Accessories: 1 1/2" circle punch, Quickutz embossing folder, October Afternoon buttons

Peace on Earth (with Dimension!)

I was looking at all of the current challenges that I wanted to play this week while life was a little easier without running the kids to schools and practices, etc.  (Plus, my husband cooks Thanksgiving dinner so I am free and easy!!)  There are so many, I decided to combine three in this card!


I started with the technique challenge at Technique Tuesday: 3D Punched Elements.  They have a nice picture tutorial of how to put these together!  For my tree, I used two different blues and then covered every other panel with glitter - just trying to give the tree some shadow an dimension!  (If you ever have group cardmaking events with kids and teens - this is a great technique to use - check it out here!)
I was going to do a traditional green tree, but the Winter Blues challenge at CAS-ual Fridays called my name.  I'm glad it did, because the blues led me to the beautiful sentiment and the soft background paper.

In keeping it very clean and simple, I went with the current sketch at iSpy Sketches. 

• Stamps: Verve Star of Wonder
• Paper: Stampin' Up Silver Shimmer, Bashful Blue, Bliss Blue (retired), Going Gray (retired), Bo Bunny Powder Mountain
• Ink: Stampin' Up Brocade Blue (retired)
• Accessories: WPlus9 Pretty Patches Tree die, Bo Bunny Powder Mountain gems, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter (applied with spray adhesive)

CASology: A Bargello Leaf

This week's cue word at CASology is "leaf".  I absolutely love leaves and no matter how many leaf stamps I own, I always manage to buy more!

But...did I use a leaf stamp on my card...NO!

Because I also was enthralled by a technique challenge on the Technique Tuesday blog - bargello.  Mynette gives easy instructions for creating a wonderful pattern.  I created the pattern as she described and then die cut my leaf.  Love it!!


One word of advice if you try this.  Do not ignore her instructions about using a strong adhesive and getting every little part of the paper - especially if you are going to die cut.  I thought I did well, but I did spent way too much time with a tweezer re-adhering those tiny pieces at the tips of the leaves.  If you adhere well at the beginning this truly is a simple card!

• Stamps: Verve Amazing Wishes
• Paper: Simple Stories Harvest Lane 6x6 pad, Papertrey Ink Terracotta Tile
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocoalte
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Terracotta Tile button, Cane Print Impression Plate, Spellbinders Leaf die, misc twine