CAS(E) this Sketch! Hello and Have Faith

This is my second post today.  The Alley Way

Stamps blog hop is just a short scroll away!

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I predict lots and lots of people will play along because everybody love pennants and flags!

I went for a bright and cheerful "hello" simply because it was a good chance to use a variety of papers from a fun pad of paper!  This is a lot of patterns for me, but backed with all of that white - it still feels CAS.


I have two cards for you today.  I actually started in an entirely different direction and was quite happy with the result, then I realized that I had used the same soft patterns last week.  (Not that anybody but me would notice!)  I did want you to see this though, mainly because of this wonderful sentiment.

Be sure to play along this week - it's a great sketch and, obviously, you can go in lots of directions!

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!!

Hello

• Stamps: none
• Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo, Pebbles Seen & Noted
• Ink: none
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Happy Hellos and Fishtail Dies, Papertrey Ink Aida Cloth Impression plate, corner rounder, May Arts twine

Know that He will

• Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Be Encouraged
• Paper: Stampin' Up Blushing Bride and Sahara Sand, My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing Lavender
• Ink: Memento Black
• Accessories: My Mind's Eye The Sweetest Thing lavender Cutie Pie buttons, misc gems, pearls and enamel dots

Cloud9 with WPlus9: Just a Note

It's time for the monthly Cloud9 challenge to use WPlus9 products and an inspiration photo.


I almost did not play along this month - it's a very flowery photo and I'm not typically a flowery person. But I do love these Blanket Stitched Blooms from WPlus9 - they have a rustic look that makes me happy!

• Stamps: WPlus9 Blanket Stitched Blooms
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist, My Mind's Eye Lavender 6x6
• Ink: Stampin' Up Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Rose Romance, Lucky Limeade, Memento Gray Flannel, Versamark
• Accessories: WPlus9 Blanket Stitched Blooms die, Martha Stewart Tag Doily, MFT Fishtail Dies, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist and Sweet Blush buttons, white embossing powder

CAS(E) this Sketch: Treasure Friendship

It's time for a new sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!  It's a nice, clean and very wide-open sketch for your interpretation - I look forward to seeing the variety of entries!!

I had this ribbon sitting on my desk.  I've been in a serious purge mood but I just  could not decide about this ribbon.  I love the colors - but I never use wide ribbon - so why keep it??!!  Then I glanced at this sketch and realized that I could use wide ribbon!!



It's the perfect funky floral for that sentiment!
Check out all of the fun design team inspiration at CAS(E) this Sketch! then give it a try.  I love looking each day to see what others have done!

• Stamps: Verve Treasured Words
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: black
• Accessories: ribbon from Hobby Lobby, Stampin' Up Dahlia Assortment, Doodlebug twine

Catered Crop: Make an Impression

The current challenge at Catered Crop is to make an impression...with embossing!!

I was all over that one - I have a large drawer of embossing folders and new ones just keep finding their way into my house!  As I was paging through them, I realized I wanted to do more than just an embossing folder (because I do that all the time) - either lots of folders on one card, or a different technique - then I froze a little because I'm not one to come up with my own ideas. So I spent some time organizing my desk and saw a scrap of paper that had diagonal stripes with a few going a different way - the light bulb came on!  Did I get enough shadow on the card so you can see the strip that changes direction!!??  (I have the worst time photographing embossing on a card - if I get the shadow off of it so it's a nice white card, the embossing "disappears".)


If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to head over to Catered Crop.  I love the Pinterest board that's included with each challenge - so many great ideas.  There's over a week left on this challenge - so you still have time!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words: Hello
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise, Limeade ice, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Hello die, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, misc sequins

Day 1: Online Class Pattern Play

This is my second post for today!

I decided to enroll in the Online Card Class: Pattern Play to learn more about the use of patterned paper.

I don't use patterned paper too much, let along mixing various patterns.  But somehow, those cute papers and 6x6 pads just keep jumping in my shopping cart.  I decided that I was either going to have to start using them - or they were going to have to stop accumulating in my stash.

Today's class had a variety of tips about the basic of mixing patterns - size of patterns, boldness of patterns, ways to set apart the patterns and the use of a striped strip.  My card for today tries to use a little bit of everything that I learned. (There were a number of techniques for setting patterns apart - I used a white mat.)  I most definitely did not get overly creative with this card - I used papers from one pad instead of trying to mix and match my own and, although there are variations in size and boldness, the patterns are still pretty basic!!  Even so - this is quite a bit of pattern for me!!

One of the things that I always love about these classes are all the other tidbits that you pick up when you watch the videos.  Kristina loves twine bows.  I like twine too - but usually I have to have some kraft on the card so it's all matchy-matchy.  I loved her twine - so tucked it on mine - such a nice contrast!    Jennifer talked about bending acrylic stamps - the stem on my card is actually a straight stamp that I bent.  I always watch very carefully for the basic supplies and the techniques that they use.  Did you know there are clear pop dots?  How cool is that?My sketch comes from Freshly Made Sketches.

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Flower Friend
• Paper: Lawn Fawn Bright Side 6x6 pad, Papertrey Plum Pudding
• Ink: Papertrey Plum Pudding, Stampin' Up Gumball Green and Vintage Violet (really old!)
• Accessories: Stampin' Up twine, Martha Stewart Bright Large Gemstones

One Layer Spots and Stripes

It was the easiest of cards...

It was the hardest of cards...

I am SO not comfortable with one-layer cards and it's one layer week at Less is More.  I am definitely a clean and simple stamper but no matter how simple my card is, I feel like I have to have just one extra layer to frame it.  I virtually always have a standard sized color then a 4 x 5 1/4 white piece on top.  That's just a little bit of a frame...and it makes me happy.  I feel like it keeps the images from falling off the card!?

But I had a great stamps for spots and stripes which was the rest of this week's LIM challenge - so I took the challenge...


(I still want a bottom black layer to frame it!!)
I also used this week's unscripted sketch.

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Pillow Talk, Words to Live By
• Paper: Just white!!!
• Ink: Memento Blakc and copics
• Accessories: none!

CAS(E) this Sketch with a Bumble Bee!!

This is my second post today!

It's time for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch!  I went even more literal than usual this week with pretty much an exact use of the sketch.  I've convinced myself that it is actually more of a challenge to use the sketch exactly as is.  It is NOT a lack of creativity!!

My card came about because of that little bumble bee.  I just got this cute die by Elizabeth Craft Designs.  It also comes with wing piece that has the wings back more so you could add a number of them to a card and they would all look different.

My colors came from Dynamic Duos - just PERFECT for my bumble bee!

I hope to see you at CAS(E) this Sketch this week - even though I took the sketch literally - this sketch allows for a whole lot of variety.  Just check out the design team cards to see what I mean!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Simple Sentiments
• Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Green CS and dsp, Daffodil Delight CS and dsp
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up scallop border punch, Elizabeth Craft Designs bee die

A Fab Friday Mood Board Monday!!

There isn't even a hint of creativity in this card - not a hint!!  I saw the WPlus9 Monday Mood Board and sorta thought I wouldn't play along because it's all lacy and I don't have WPlus9's lace sets.  But I re-read it this morning and it talks about pink and metal.  I had just cleaned out my embellishment box and come across big metal butterflies.  Then I remembered the sketch at Fab Friday...ding...ding...ding!  The sketch has a big butterfly.  So I took the sketch 100% literally and added a big butterfly.  So...not an ounce of creativity.  (But I like it anyway!)


I LOVE this sentiment - the saying AND the fonts!!Here's WPlus9 Monday Mood Board:

Here's the sketch from Fab Friday:

• Stamps: WPlus9 Quite Like You
• Paper: Stampin' Blushing Bride CS and dsp
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Graphic 45 Metal Butterflies, Martha Stewart adhesive die cut doilies, PSX Detail Platinum embossing powder, My Favorite Things fishtail dies, Papertrey Ink Sweet Blush button, Timeless Twine Bubblegum Pink

Sneak Peek: Pillow Talk from TAWS

The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) is coming out with a fun border set on March 1st.  There are three borders and each is entirely different.  I went for an elegant look with this border.  And as an added bonus - the sentiment comes from another new March 1 set - Words to Live By!

Here's a close-up so you can see the sparkle!!You will have to check the other sneak peeks of this set on the TAWS blog because each is very different.  And while you are at - look back two days to see the other sneak peek sets - THEN come back tomorrow for a blog hop with all of the sets!!I used the colors from Sunday Stamps.

And the layout from The Paper Players.

And I'm adding it to the Simon Says Stamp challenge.  Did you know that they carry TAWS now!?

There's great prizes from TAWS too.  Here's the official word...It's that time again - SNEAK PEEK TIME!!! And with sneak peeks come giveaways!!! We'll be giving one new set away each day of Sneak Peeks and for our hop on Thursday we'll give away ALL THREE to a lucky duck!  

All the comments posted today will go into a random drawing and one of you will win the new March set - Pillow Talk!  You can have up to 2 entries....

1. One for leaving a comment on this post
2. One for sharing on Facebook

Please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH! Commenting closes at 9:30 pm TAWS time!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Pillow Talk, Words to Live By
• Paper: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight CS and dsp, Basic Black
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: Stamp 'n Stuff Starry Night embossing powder, Martha Stewart fine crystal glitter (on butterfly), Memory Box dies - Moonlight Butterfly (the solid base) and Kaleidoscope Butterfly (the open top wing)

My Last Week with retrosketches

Sad face...it's my last week as a guest at retrosketches.  What a thrill it has been!!  You should have seen the grin on my face all last week as I saw the sketch that was created from my card popping up on your blogs!!

This week is week #52 at retrosketches - an entire year!!  I play along regularly and I was even there on week 1 with this card.  I am thrilled to be here one year later!  In celebration of one year, the sketch this week is to play along with any of the past sketches.  They are all gathered together on the side bar of their blog.  Not surprisingly, I had a tough time narrowing it down, but finally did it just be flipping through my box of stamps/dies that had not yet been used and then finding a sketch that worked!

I used sketch #4.

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Heart-2-Heart #6, Framed Out #1 (sentiment)
• Paper: Simple Stories dsp, misc coordinating cardstock
• Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Versamark
• Accessories: The Twinery Caribbean twine, white embossing powder

BE Re-Inspired with The Alley Way Stamps

It's the beginning of the second week for The Alley Way Stamps BE Inspired challenge and it's my job to remind you and to re-inspire you!!

The picture is full of neutrals with an intense flash of green and a few other fun colors!  I focused mainly on the colors - but the freebie stamp set with purchase this month includes a little fence - so with the fence in the background - I had to use it!!

I hope you play along.  If you don't yet own any stamps by The Alley Way Stamps (available at the link or now at Simon Says Stamp - they do have digital freebies for you here!

I particularly like this week's sketch at Crazy 4 Challenges as I thought that angled panel would work perfectly with the fun TAWS stamps!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Tweet Spot (free with $40 purchase), Background Check (on the green flag) and Doodle Frames ("hello")
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Wausau Paper Astrobrights Glow (the green)
• Ink: Memento black, Copics, Versamark (on the green)
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Hibiscus ribbon, Stampin' Up embossing folders, My Favorite Things fishtail flag die

CAS(E) this Sketch with Fun Angles!!

This week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! is a little bit different with a unique angle.

I used the sketch exactly as is but so many of the design team found that they were making it upright that they actually did the sketch that way too.

I had this diagonally striped embossing folder on my desk and decided it worked perfectly for an angled panel.  I just got the You die and stamp set from Simon Says Stamp and I thought that the embossed panels looked a little like a spotlight - so a little glitter and a gem and I have a special friend card!

I hope you have fun with this sketch.  I found it to be just a little harder than the others - so I really look forward to seeing what you come up with!

• Stamps: Simon Says Stamp You
• Paper: black, white, Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp You die, May Arts ribbon, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter (on "you")
• Challenges: Besides CAS(E) this Sketch, I have to thank CAS-ual Fridays because I was feeling a little lost on this sketch until the idea of black and white plus 1!

Ikat with Avery Elle

I have to admit that have not been 100% sold on the look of ikat that is popping up on so many cards right now, but there is a set at Avery Elle that is quite nice.  One of the three long stamps is clearly ikat - the other two you could build up into a pattern or just use as a jagged chevron or dots.  I got the set because of the various uses and I knew it would come in handy for a fun card - and it has!!!

This card is playing along with the Avery Elle AEIOU challenge.

• Stamps: Avery Elle Ikat and Hello
• Paper: Papertrey Kraft and Raspberry Fizz
• Ink: Papertrey Kraft, Raspberry Fizz and Summer Sunrise
• Accessories: Trendy Twine Krazy for Kraft, Papertrey Summer Sunrise button

You Are Wonderful

I tell you every week that I love the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch! but this week's sketch has to be at the top of the list.  There is so much wonderful open space - with a lot of interest in one corner.

I moved the sentiment into the little frame, but other than I am completely true to this sketch.

I love the Polaroid type frames that are out now - either in stamps or in dies.  They are such a wonderful frame to sentiments and for old folks like me, they bring back such warm memories!! If you haven't played along with CAS(E) this Sketch! this is the week to try it!!  It's one of the best CAS challenges out there - I love the CAS definition that is on their blog.  It has often helped me decide whether I am taking a card a step too far.

The acronym CAS stands for Clean and Simple.1. Usually only one layer but can include a simple layer or two.2. A lot of open space sometimes called "white space" can include subtle color, texture or pattern.4. Usually no embellishments but can include something minimal. (1 or 2 embellishments)3. Only one focal point. Embellishments should only support not dominate your card.(Exception to this rule is that you've made the focal point an embellishment and not an image.)5. Minimal color palette. (up to 3 colors in general)6. Simple, uncluttered, quick and easy to create.

Speaking of wonderful (but not in the pink flower and bling way), I want to share a truly special story.  This wrestling meet involved my son's wrestling team.  Noah is on his team.  We all watched in awe as this played out on the mat.  There are a couple of things that you have to know that are not entirely clear in this video.  The hero of the story is a young gentleman from Texas.  He has moved here to attend a wrestling charter school - these kids are SERIOUS and highly competitive.  Yet he did this simple thing for Noah.  (The final score of the meet was something like 90-13, and 6 of our 13 points were from Noah's pin.)  And the video doesn't tell you that he was coaching Noah also - that's what first got all of our attention.  He was telling Noah to grab his leg and to go for it!  My son has a very brief appearance in the video - you can see him running in the background just before the kid from Texas has a close-up - but you really need to know what you are looking for to see him!  

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Framed Out #12
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Hibiscus Burst
• Ink: Memento black
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Framed Out #12 die, Timeless Twine Tickled Pink, Studio Calico Opaque Gems, Stampin' Up flower punch

Your Friendship Warms My Heart

I have a set from Flourishes that I loved when I bought it years ago and it has never seen ink.  (Of course, I could say that about the majority of my stamps!!)  But this one is particularly nice.  So when two challenges came up - "hearts" and "markers" - I knew what I had to ink up...


There is a little bit of sparkle on each flower.

I picked the colors because I had just gotten a package from Timeless Twine.  I had ordered when I saw seen this yellow/gray twine (Cape Code) on their design team's blog.  Just so that it didn't get put away and never used (as did the stamps!) I wanted to use it right away.
The sentiment is a fun set from Inky Antics that I just picked up when I treated myself to an Archiver's trip yesterday.  I had taken my son to take his home-school finals (finals have to be proctored at an official center).  I took my own homework and planned to spend a long two hours sitting in the car taking notes on Accounting 101.  But...it was cold...and I realized there was Archivers about 20 minutes away.  Hmmm....tough choice!!??  I'm not buying many stamps lately - mostly I like new papers, dies and embellishments.  However, this Inky Antics set - Simple Sentiments - is all innie/outies and they are just a little unique.  The innie for this stamp says "you add sunshine to my life".  I really like one that has an outie "sending a hug" and an innie "you can return it whenever you want".
I am playing along with Addicted to CAS.

And with CAS-ual Fridays.

• Stamps: Flourishes Hearts & Flowers, Inky Antics Simple Sentiments
• Paper: white
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Timeless Twine Cape Cod, Crafts-Too embossing, Stickles

The Alley Way Stamps Sneak Peek: Petal Pushers

It's the most wonderful time of the month - - - tomorrow is the new release blog hop for the December stamps at The Alley Way Stamps.  If you have been following their blog, the last two days have been sneak peeks of a Doodle Frames (fun!!) and Love Knots (a very sweet background!).  This is the last day of sneak peeks and we are previewing Petal Pushers.  This set is full of fun, cute and funky flower building elements, but I went a different direction.  I needed a sweet and gentle friendship card for a sick friend, so I used subdued colors and the branch with buds and made a "Best Buds" card!!


I added some Stickles to the buds to make them look soft and dewy.

The flower pot is stamped in Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, then I took a slightly darker Copic marker and lightly sketched in some highlights.
If you check out The Alley Way Stamps blog you will see other fun cards with this set!  Be sure to come back tomorrow for our full hop!
I used the sketch from i {heart} sketches:

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Petal Pushers (soon to be released!)
• Paper: All paper from the Oct 2012 kit from Simon Says Stamp.
• Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap, Copics
• Accessories: Spellbinders Narrow Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, Stampin' Up Scalloped Border Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta and Stickles

Papertrey Blog Hop: Cover Art

This is my second post today!

This month's Papertrey Ink blog hop challenged us to be inspired by Cover Art and gave us a few samples that we could use.

I loved the grays and pinks of Great Expectations and also the small strip of pink - so I came up with this very simple card.  I also uses a button from the new set Button Up which came in my mail yesterday!!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #3, Button Up
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Raspberry Fizz
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Soft Stone
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Button Up die and Double Ended Banner Die, Smokey Shadow button, misc glitter (on button die), twine and gems

Little Tangles Neat & Tangled

Neat & Tangled stamps has a new challenge blog: Little Tangles  (LOVE the name!!)  Their first challenge is to "Say Hello".  Since the first set that I purchased from them was Just Hello - I really had no choice but to play along!

If you don't have any Neat & Tangled stamps, the challenge blog includes free digis!!!

I LOVE great customer service.  A good experience will bring me back over and over and this company does it well!  Just this week I got a package from them with a stamp set that I already owned.  When I emailed, Danielle nicely reminded me that the original stamp set had a flaw and this was a replacement - the flaw was in the girl elf.  I had already used her - do you see a flaw in this sweet elf??

Details here.

But apparently there is a flaw and this company went above and beyond and sent me a whole new set (plus a freebie stamp!)  I will definitely be shopping at Neat & Tangled!!

I used this week's sketch from Technostamper:

• Stamps: Neat & Tangled Just Hello, Little Tangles (the curly stripes on the yellow panel - and just a bit of them by the phone)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Raspberry Ripple, Buckaroo Blue (VERY old!), Papertrey Ink Summer Sunshine CS and dsp (this is a very odd combination of colors, but I originally had some patterned paper on it and was matching the paper - later I decided I liked this clean look better!)
• Ink: Memento Black
• Accessories: misc black twine, one teeny gem on the phone dial

Technostamper is a fun challenge that allows me to put the linky code on my blog so you can see what others are doing with the sketch - you can even link yours here!