CASology: Reindeer in White

OK - I JUST posted an all white card.  But I had this cute little reindeer punch and I had all the white paper and snowflake folders on my desk - so I had to do another one!

This is for CASology:

And retrosketches:

I am also going to submit to the Simon Says...Emboss It challenge.

• Stamps: Memory Box
• Paper: white and glitter white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Going Gray
• Accessories: Cuttleubug snowflake border (done around each edge) and snow folder, Quickutz tree die (very old!), Fiskars reindeer punch (brand new!), Spellbinders flag die

CASology Joy in White

Did you miss me?  You didn't even know that I was gone, did you?  I have been away for four days babysitting those charming nieces that I mentioned last week.  (For the first time ever, I got cards made in advance and scheduled posts for while I was away!)

But now that I am back, I am hurrying to get a card made for CASology because I haven't missed a week yet.  (I'm going to have to miss one at some point because I don't craft well with the stress of HAVING to do something!!  However, this week is NOT the week that I am missing because I love the challenge - ALL white!)

I got some new dies (turns out my nieces' house is just a few miles from an Archivers!) and wanted to include them on a wintery white card.  They are quite big and I was struggling with how to do it.  I went browsing challenges and, as usual, a challenge came to my rescue...the sketch at Pals Paper Arts!

(I apologize for the shadows on this picture - I have never figured out how to show embossing without keeping shadows)

I did add some glimmer spray to the letters to make them stand out a bit more...

I am also going to submit to the Simon Says...Emboss It challenge.

• Stamps: none!
• Paper: white
• Ink: none!
• Accessories: Cuttlebug snow folder and snow border folder, Lifestyle Crafts stripe folder and JOY dies, Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist, Stampin' Up sizzlit snowflake strip, crochet thread, Making Memories shimmer white brads

Less Is More: Thank You

This week's challenge at Less Is More is to create a thank you or a congratulations card.  They say it is to thank us for our support and to congratulate us for our fabulous entries.  It should be a thank you to Chrissie and Mandi for inspiring us each week and a congratulations for creating such a wildly successful blog!

I used a double-embossing technique on this card that I think adds enormous interest.  In this case, I first embossed with a polka dot folder and then embossed again with this Cuttlebug flower folder.  I have done a number of these in the past.  This post is all about embossing folder fun - towards the bottom half are four other cards with the double-embossing technique.

This card also is the start of a project that I have had in my head for some time. 

First, you should know that I really don't have a creative bone in my body.  But I read blogs and study other cards to come up with ideas and then I try to put them all together into my work.  One of the things that fascinates me is the way people layer punches and dies.  A unique layering of punches can add so much - particularly to a clean and simple card.  I often get stuck in a rut of punching an oval and a scalloped oval and calling it done. 

I have collected a number of layered punch ideas over the years and I have wanted to put them together in a reference document (instead of the slips of papers and post-it notes that are cluttering my files!).  Since I added a layered punch to my card, I finally started this document!!  My most recent notes came from viewing the cards in my friend's craft room so these all come from her.  I have many more to add.

I would LOVE your help.  If you have created or seen a particurly nice layered punch or die idea (preferably using Stampin' Up product) - let me know.  Link to it in your comments or send me an e-mail.  I will add it to this document and will certainly credit you.  In a month or so - I will convert this to an on-line document and link it in my sidebar, then we can all have these idea easily at hand!

Thank you!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Days of Gratitude (sentiment)
• Ink: Stampin' Up Old Olive
• Paper: Stampin' Up Peach Parfait CS and dsp, Pear Pizzazz CS, Very Vanilla CS
• Accessories: Stampin' Up gems (colored with copics), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Everyday Greetings Combo folders, Stampin' Up Punches: Designer Label, 1" Circle and Modern Label

Sympathy in Three Squares

 This week's Less Is More challenge is simply to use 3 squares.  You HAVE to click over to this challenge to see all of the participants.  This is only a three week old blog, yet they get 100s of participants, and you will be amazed at how fun, unique and creative all of the cards are!

Then, I looked at today's SplitCoast Stampers Featured Stamper gallery.  Corie has created great cards - and many, many of her cards use three squares!!

So I definitely knew what I was doing this morning!  And, I continue to work on sympathy cards for our church so all three are sympathy.

First, is my original card for the Less Is More challenge:

The embossed square is from a Cuttlebug four-pack.  There were many of these four packs in their very first release but they have become increasingly difficult to find.  If you can find them - they make great CAS cards.  There are fancy squares, cute squares, fancy circles, cute circles, themed postage stamps - and many others.

There is a trick to using these smaller Cuttlebug folders, or for that matter, border embossing folders.  If you have tried, you know that you often get a line on your paper at the edge of the folder - it's very unattractive.  Both edges of the folder can leave that line, but the edge of the folder that is the last part through the Cuttlebug is by far the worst.  So...place your folder, roll into the Cuttlebug just until the folder disappears into the roller and then back it back out.  Do NOT go all the way through.  9 times out of 10 you will get a nice embossed image WITHOUT the annoying edge-of-folder lines.

Edited to Add: Chrissie, from the Less Is More challenge, e-mailed me with another great idea for using small Cuttlebug folders.  She said she makes a stack of cardstock that is the same depth as the "B" plate of your cuttlebug and is slightly smaller than the embossing folder.  I tried it right away and it works very well.  Here are the steps:

Place your small folder on the paper.

For my Cuttlebug, a perfect stack is
11 squares of Stampin' Up cardstock
with tape between each one. 
The squares are 1 3/4" square to fit
within the edges of the folder.

Do NOT top with the regular
"B" plate - just keep your finger
pressed on it as you roll it
into your Cuttlebug.

Now I'm going to pull out all of my border embossing folders and make stacks for them.  Just 11 rectangle cuts of cardstock sized to fit inside the edges of the border.  Isn't this great??  Thanks to Chrissie!



Here are the cards that I CASEd from the featured stamper:

Corie's original card was a bright and cheerful birthday card
that I will definitely be CASeing EXACTLY!

Corie's original card uses bright and cheerful
paper and no stamps at all!

Gray and Vanilla Squares:

• Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Heartfelt Sentiments and mini cross
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Antique Brads, Cuttlebug Formal Squares 4-pack (I see them online at http://www.joann.com/ and at my favorite embossing folder site, http://www.cropstop.com/.)
• Challenges: Less Is More

Parisian Breeze Butterflies:

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Simple Little Things (an anniversary set - so not available, sorry!)
• Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze dsp
• Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, misc corner punch
• Challenges: SplitCoast Featured Stamper

Guava and Chocolate Sympathy:

• Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Heartfelt Sentiments
• Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate
• Paper: Stampin' Up Chocolate, Guava, K&Co Classic K Bailey dsp
• Accessories: misc pearls colored with copic, SU Old Olive satin, Antique brads
• Challenges:  SplitCoast Featured Stamper

Friday Focus: Texture Folders

I LOVE texture!  It is very, very rare that there is a card that can't be made slightly more interesting with the addition of texture.  So Cuttlebug folders and folder from the myriad of other companies that now make folders are my very favorite things to add to my stash!

There is so much you can do with your folders - here are just a few!

Emboss on die cuts
Folders: Stampin' Up corner flowers and
polka dots, Cuttlebug border folder

Stamps: Verve,  Ink: SU Always Artichoke, Paper: SU Artichoke, Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Accessories: SU Birds and Blooms Sizzlits, Challenges: clean&simple sketch challenge and Stamping 411 Color Challenge.

Emboss on vellum
Folders: Cuttlebug

Stamps: SU Well-Scripted, Ink: SU Razzleberry, Paper: SU Razzleberry, vellum, Accessories: SU Razzleberry ribbon, butterfly sizzlit

Make it the star!!
This dove stands alone!
Folder: Cuttlebug 3x3 Dove





Make it all about the embossing!
Folders: Cuttlebug European Exclusive snowflakes,
Cuttlebug cut and emboss snowflake, and
Crafts Too Christmas Greetings

All about the embossing!
I posted this card yesterday so you can
find all the details there!





Use part of the folder
Folder: Cuttlebug

Stamps: Verve, Ink: black, Paper: Paper Trey Smokey Shadow, SU Going Gray and Real Red, Accessories: Martha Stewart Stamp Sticklers, SU White Taffeta, Brayer, Challenges: Pals Paper Arts Inspiration Challenge and i{heart}2stamp sketch challenge.

Use it in an unexpected way
Folder: Cuttlebug

Do you recognize the folder in the above card? 

I simply put the sentiment on the owl!

Stamps: CDStamps Cross, AMuse sentiment, Ink: SU Bordering Blue, Paper: Paper Trey Soft Stone, SU Bordering Blue, black, Accessories: Creative Impressions brads

Emboss on DP
Folder: Tim Holtz

Stamps: SU Elegant Greetings, Ink: SU Old Olive, Paper: SU Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Daffodil, Paper Trey Blueberry, Challenges: Our Creative Corner

Cut up your folders!
This was actually a folder with words
on the right side - I cut the words
off so that I just have a heart border.
Folder: Sizzix

Create quick, simple and elegant cards
Folder: Cuttlebug European Exclusive Wen's Window

Stamps: Paper Inspirations, Ink: SU Bordering Blue

Emboss with TWO folders
First emboss the diamond folder,
then emboss the flower folder.
Folders: Cuttlebug

  I really enjoy the look of "double-embossing" - so here are a few more examples!

Folder: SU Lattice, Cuttlebug

Folders: Cuttlebug

Folders: Cuttlebug dots and European
Exclusive: Jules Jewels



Try other brands!
Folder: Quickutz

Folder: Sizzix



Folder: Indentz UK Funky Tree,
Cuttlebug "Thanks"

Accessories: Stampin' Up Butterfly Sizzlit, SU Celery ribbon, Challenges: One Layer Wednesday Bare Branches

--------------------------------



Now...after you have made it through all my card attempts, I have the best gifts of all for you - two fantastic links:

1) The best shopping source for the European Exclusives and the other unique brands is: http://www.cropstop.com/.  Besides looking under Cuttlebug and Sizzix, be sure to look under Craft Concepts, Crafts Too, Cuttlebug Exclusives, Indentz and Quickutz.

2) If you want to be completely stunned by all the spectacular cards that can be made with embossing folders, check out: http://www.heartprints.net/.  Sue has her cards grouped by brand of folder so be sure to look under each of the brands mentioned above!

A Texture "Tease"

I had to smile when I saw today's SplitCoast Stampers Free For All Challenge: Texturize Me!  I have wanted to do fairly regular "Friday Focus" features on my blog and my list of future possible posts including Cuttlebugging.  (Click on the "Friday Focus" label in the right column to see past posts on such things as shimmer paints.)  Here's today's "texturized" card:

Later today, I will have a lengthy post on "Cuttlebugging" - consider this post a "tease".  I will have new techniques, shopping sources for those off-brand folders and European Exclusives, and at least one source of amazing inspiration!!  Be sure to check back in!

• Stamps: Verve Amazing Grace single
• Ink: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Blushing Bride
• Accessories: Sizzix embossing folder (the leaves from the Fall set), Stampin' Up embossing folders (the folder on the base of the card and the polka dots), Stampin' Up butterfly sizzlit, nestie narrow oval and scalloped oval, Stampin' Up Crumb Cake Seam Binding, SU Bling colored with Copic E44 to match Crumb Cake
• Challenges: Mojo Monday 173
• 

CAS CASE of Biggan

I love the phrase "CAS CASE".  I actually took me quite awhile to figure out the acronyms!  CAS - Clean And Simple; CASE - Copy And Share with Everyone!  Now if somebody would explain TFS along with the dozens of other letters that typically follow that!  (FYI: TFS is Thanks For Sharing - it's all the other letters that I don't get!)

Today's Clean and Simple challenge at SplitCoast was to CASE a specific card by Biggan.  I have always admired her cards, so HAD to play along:

Birgit's gallery is just gorgeous.  One thing that I noticed right away is a lot of textured paper - even to stamp on.  That small touch makes each of her cards so interesting, so I had to try textured paper.

I also played along with the Pal's Paper Arts challenge which was "white" along with this inspiration piece:

• Stamps: none!
• Inks: none!
• Paper: Bazzill white textured, misc gold
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, EK Success leaf punch, Mark Richards gold nailheads

The Cuttlebug is actually an early product called Cut and Emboss.  The dove is difficult to find, but I did track it down at Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking.

----------------------------

Oh my gosh!  I got a blog award!!  Andrea at EnchantINK sent me this:

As part of the award, now I have to tell you eight things about myself.  My blog is only a month old so I haven't had to do this before, but I will tell you that I am nervous about it!  As I have read other people's blogs, their lists are always so funny and so creative.  I do NOT have funny and creative writing skills.  My life isn't particularly funny (it's wonderful, but fairly normal and basic) and I have such a small amount of creativity that I have to save it for my cards!!  But here goes nothing...

• My other creative outlet is music.  I play piano for church services.  I also dabble at organ, clarinet, recorder, penny whistle, hammered dulcimer and kantele.
• My living room is no longer for "living", it has become a music room.  The center is fully taken up with a piano and organ.  The outer edges are full of my instruments, plus my children's trumpet and saxophone plus a variety of other odd things such as an accordian.
• My children and I have fully converted my non-musical husband.  When my 6'2" 14-year old announced that he would rather be in marching band than play on the basketball team, my husband (a former hard-core athlete) said that he had come to realize musical groups were teams too!
• I am a recipe-follower.  I don't vary recipes by a smidge. If I don't have a certain spice, I don't make the recipe.  This definitely makes me wonder how I can be a cardmaker as I am clearly lacking a creative, adventurous spirit.
• My entire life is on my iPod Touch (not to mention a fair number of games).  My husband chastises my children for being on their iPods too much.  If only he knew about me!!  Having said that, a lot of my apps are essential(?) organizational apps and cookbooks (to find those recipes for which I have exactly the right ingredients!)  I even have a database app on which I have databases for such things as every Stampin' Up paper that I own sorted by color and every ribbon that I own that coordinates with the paper. 
• I follow 142 blogs.  I probably should narrow that down but everybody has their own style or focuses on different companies.  (More on this later!)
• I am a mathematician by training - an actuary!  I spent over 15 years in the actuarial profession before I realized that I really wanted to be a full time mom - and I have no regrets!
• I am fairly anal and obsessive!  Not a big surprise if you read the first 7 comments!

So...that's me!

Now I am supposed to pass this along, but here's my problem.  I do follow 142 blogs and should have plenty to choose from.  But I have followed these blogs on Google Reader which makes it an extra step to leave comments and, more importantly, to establish relationships.  I haven't left a lot of comments. Now that I have started my own blog, I realize how wonderful it feels to get comments and to get to know those that are leaving the comments.  So I am fully resolved to change my ways and to take time to share my joy at seeing everybody's cards.  For now, I am not going to pass along this award - the recipients would scratch their heads and wonder "who gave this to me"?  But if I ever get another award - watch out - I will have plenty of blog friends to share it with!