Three Cards w/Stamps from Brutus Monroe

Hello crafty friends,

It's a good feeling when you use stamps (any product really) that has been sitting around unused and therefore unloved for a while.  I got these three stamps a while ago and they just sat waiting for me to play with them and I finally did.  Here are the cards I made with them in no order, because I can't pick a favorite... I love them all

Card 1, does not have a sentiment on the front, so I could use it for anything really, but this card will be going out soon to a special couple as a belated (I'm always late) anniversary card.  I used Taylored Expressions Birch Tree Background die and the Brutus Monroe Owl Love You stamp

Card 2, is fun and I think totally male card.  I know several guys in my family who would love to get this card.  So if you want dibs on it, you better speak up.  This card obviously started with the super CUTE dog wearing headphones stamp from Brutus Monroe Rockstar Pets stamp set (there's a super COOL cat in the set also).  I colored them w/my zig watercolor brush pens, using a clear wink of stella to move the watercolor around for lots of sparkle.  I also used the Die-Versions Birthday die, which is no longer available.  The spatters on the background are from a water down black wink of stella and in person they look grey instead of black, which is kind of cool and edgy.

Card 3, is going to a true Chicago lover.  I have someone in mind, even though I'm not sure when her bday is :)  Really how cool are the Brutus Monroe city globes!  This one is called City Sidewalks - Chicago.  I colored it by with an ink blender and distressed inks... super easy and fast.   The curvy  birthday die is from Serendipity Stamps and goes so well w/the globe.

Well, those are my three cards.  Thanks for stopping bye to check them out... do you have a favorite, leave me a comment telling which is your favorite and I'll pick one random comment to win their favorite, which I'll custom make for them. 

Penguin LOVE

Hello crafty friends,

I LOVE penguins.  I wish I could have one as a pet, but I'm against having wild animals as pets.  So instead I buy lots of cute penguins products and this stamp set from Your Next Stamp is definitely CUTE.

Thanks for stopping bye today.  Until next time... take care.

Scrapy Land - Challenge 113

Welcome to Scrapy Land Challenge #113...

I have a box card to show off today.   There are several good box card dies in the market.  I used a Spellbinders one that's not currently available, but these other two are (Lawn Fawn Scalloped Box Card and Pink & Main Box Card)

I also used the Frantic Stamper Contemporary Floral Border and Frantic Stamper Stitched Grassy Hill Edgers.   The floral border I cut into sections for my card flaps.  The grass die I placed in the middle sections.   If you need balloon dies, I have this Poppystamps one on my wishlist.

Thanks for stopping bye.... I hope you'll join us for this challenge.  The winners... one selected randomly and one selected by the Design Team will both receive a $10 gift certificate to Scrapy Land.  Until next time... take care.

Inspiration Squad - may2018 Challenge 200

Happy Friday crafty friends... welcome to CAS-ual Friday's Challenge #200!   For this challenge, we are celebrating the 8th birthday of the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge blog.  Michele has a great new stamp set called Celebrate that is yours for FREE with a qualifying $40 minimum purchase. 

I made three cards using the new Celebrate stamp set... of this first card, I stamped the words on my card panel in gray ink.  Next I did some ink blending with my Distress Oxide Inks.  To finish my card I added a white glitter paper die cut jack from the Jumping Jacks Fri Die set.

For my second card... I created a shaker element using the Jumping Jacks Fri Die.  Some pattern paper and Celebrate sentiment from the Celebrate stamp set.

My third project was  a quick and simple tag using the Happy and the B-Day stamps from the Celebrate stamp set, the jacks from the Jumping Jacks Fri Die and some Distress Ink purple.

What are your playing for? 10 winning entries will be highlighted on this blog each Thursday before a new challenge is set to go live the next day.  In addition, Michele has generously offered up a $25 gift certificate to the overall winner at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. And if that weren't enough, if the chosen winner has used CAS-ual Fridays stamps and/or dies as the main focus in the card, that gift certificate will increase to $50.

Thanks for stopping bye today. Until next time take care.

Michele's 50th Birthday Hop

Hello craft friends,

Today we celebrate Michele Gross (owner of CAS-ual Fridays) turning 50th over at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  As someone who's a few years into her 50s, I welcome her to this decade, which is not a bad one at all.  Since my thoughts were on decades, I decided to have some fun and create five decade specific birthday cards.  So, this post contains cards for a 10 year old, a 20 year old, etc. 

My card for a 10 year old, has one of the bunnies from the Somebunny stamp set holding a yellow balloon.  "its your birthday" from the Whole Sheband stamp set is stamped on a tag several times with a fishtail banner full of stars from the Fun-Fetti die set die cut into it and backed with yellow card stock. 

My card for a 20 year old, has a border of die cut purple flowers from the Pretty Posies stamp and die sets.  On a purple fishtail banner, a stamped number 20 from the Flower-Case Alphabet stamp set and the "its your birthday" from the Whole Sheband stamp set.

My card for a 30 year old was fun to make.  I started by stamping lots of 30s using the Flower-Case Alphabet stamp set on my card front.  Since the "its your birthday" from the Whole Sheband stamp set was on my desk has working so well for me, I used it again, stamping it across all the 30s (in black ink, so they would stand out from the red stamped 30s.  Next I added several die cuts of the smallest flower from the Pretty Posies stamp and die set.

My card for a 40 year old, well... I'm honestly not sure about this one.  I was trying to create a window box card w/layers, but I added everything except the kitchen sink to this card and it's just not working for me.  I used the following stamp and die sets for this one...  Somebunny, Flower-Case Alphabet, Little Birdies, Pretty Posies, and the new CELEBRATE.

For my happy 50th card,  I stepped outside my normal style and created a more grungy card.  Hand drew boxes around the sentiments from the Whole Sheband stamp set.  Used die cut balloons from the Somebunny stamp set to "pull" those wishes up into the sky.

HAPPY 50th Birthday Michele!  I'm looking forward to celebrating with you, the CAS-ual Fridays crew and all our wonderful crafty friends who will be joining us in the blog hop.

Your next hop is to Penny Ward blog.
A list of all the Designers Blogs can be found back at the start... CAS-ual Fridays Stamps

There are quite a few stops along the way, but make sure to comment on each because Michele is giving away 5 prizes and we don't know which blog she will select from.

Commenting ends at 11:59pm April 23rd

If you found something you just couldn't live without.....

Click on this coupon code from me to you:

Happy Birthday To You

Hello craft friends,

Do you struggle making birthday cards for the men in your lives?  I do.  My husband isn't into home repairs (he does them, but it's not his thing), he's not into hunting (thankfully) or fishing.  He's into sports (Chicago teams), but I'm not into sports at ALL, so I never venture into that arena (get it? LOL).  Therefore, I struggle coming up with ideas for his cards... and I will share a secret with just you... there have been years when he didn't get a card from me (YES, it's true).   But not this year... I'm ready with a good card for him this year... now I just have to put it somewhere I will remember come August.

Yes, my hubby likes cards (poker, blackjack, etc.), so when I recently found this poker chip die I knew I needed to get it and pair it w/my old and still unused Tim Holtz poker card embossing folders... and in true Tim Holtz fashion, I distressed my three playing cards by inking the embossing folders before embossing the card stock.  I added a Lawn Fawn "happy birthday border" die cut along the top arch of my wood pattern paper element.

Thanks for stopping bye.  Until next time... take care.

I'm entering the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday with runs 4/4 to 4/11 8am
Simon Says Monday Challenge - A Trio of Something, with runs 4/2 to 4/9 8am.

Birthday Boxes

Hello crafty friends,

I made this card for a friend's birthday...  I filled the boxes with stuff she likes, because I couldn't decided on what stamps to use (flowers, cat, balloons, cupcakes, etc.), so I used them all 

The flowers are by Altenew, the balloons animals by Clearly Besotted, the cupcakes by Papertrey Ink, the candle by Penny Black, the cat by Simon Says and the boxes by Neat and Tangled. 

I'm going to submit this card to the Simon Says Monday "Inside the Box" Challenge, which starts today and runs for six days.   Wish me luck :)

For the Dog Lovers

Hello crafty friends,

I have a fun boy/guy card to share with you today. This card obviously started with the CUTE dog wearing headphones stamp from Brutus Monroe Rockstar Pets stamp set (there's a super COOL cat in the set also).  I colored them w/my zig watercolor brush pens, using a clear wink of stella to move the watercolor around for lots of sparkle.  I also used the Die-Versions Birthday die, which is no longer available (I think).  The spatters on the background are from a water down black wink of stella and in person they look more grey than black, which is kind of cool and edgy.

Thanks for stopping bye... wish me luck in the following challenge (s):
2 Crafty Critter Crazies: Challenge #12, which runs until 3/25
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge (Anything Goes 4 kids or Boys), which runs until 4/6
Cute Card Thursday: Challenge 521 Celebrate, which runs until 3/21
Cardz 4 Guys: Challenge #190 things with tails, which runs until 3/27
Time Out Challenge #105 our 4th Birthday, which runs until 3/28

Scrapy Land's Challenge #85

Hello crafty friends,

Welcome to the start of a new Scrapy Land challenge... number 85:

This is a very simple but bold card.  I used Cheery Lynn Designs Exotic Butterfly as the star of my card.  I die cut her from blue glitter card stock.  I also die cut the Happy Birthday from this Die-Versions Corner Concepts die from the same blue glitter card stock.  My card background was a piece of striped pattern paper that I glued onto the card base on an angle.  I opted not to add any sequin or nuvo drops, because I wanted the butterfly to the focal point.

Thanks for stopping bye.... please join us for this challenge.  The winners... one selected randomly and one selected by the Design Team will both receive a $10 gift certificate to Scrapy Land.  Until next time... take care.



I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:
TIME OUT Challenge #104 BOLD, which runs 3/1 to 3/14
Classic Design Team Open Challenge #23, which runs 3/1 to 3/27
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes, which runs until 3/7
Always Happy Birthday, which runs 3/1 to 3/30

Inspiration Squad - mar2018 Challenge 194

Hello crafty friends,

Happy Friday... and welcome to CAS-ual Friday's Challenge #194.  This challenge's inspiration starting point is rainbows.

So get out your color pencils, markers and/or inks and show us your Beautiful Rainbow masterpieces.   Here's the one I made for you:

I used one of the pretty mermaids from the Mermaids stamp set and several colors of distress inks to create my rainbow theme card background.  Once my background panel was dry, I took the smile die from the Smiling die set and die cut the word from the center of my stamped panel.  I kept all the little pieces from inside the letters (the L and E in this case), so that I could insert them back in place later.  Die cut three more smiles from other pieces of white card stock and glued them all together to create a dimensional element.  Next I stamped the "it's your birthday" stamp from the Whole Shebang stamp set under the dimensional smile element.  As a finished touch and for a little sparkle, i glued a few sequins from the Sistahood Sparkle set, which is currently on sale for only $1.99!

Thank you for stopping bye today.  I look forward to seeing your heart theme submissions to this month's challenge. 


I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:
TIME OUT Challenge #104 BOLD, which runs 3/1 to 3/14
Classic Design Team Open Challenge #23, which runs 3/1 to 3/27
Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes, which runs until 3/7

Scrapy Land's Challenge #84

Hello crafty friends,

My friend reminded me of a super cute Frantic Stamper kitten die I got from Scrapy Land last year and still haven't used, so I dusted it off and created this card for Scrapy Land's Challenge #84:

I just couldn't die cut one kitty... we have 3 cats at home, so my card needed 3 die cut kitties.

I first die cut my pattern paper panel and using three sizes of circle dies from this set, I die cut three circles into my pattern paper card front.   I used the Die-Versions Happy and Birthday dies for my card front sentiments.  The Happy is not currently available, but the store has several other small Happy dies or you can use one of several combined Happy Birthday dies.   Another variation would be to use three Happy on the front and a bigger Birthday on the card's inside.  I LOVE this Happy Birthday combo set with this idea.

I consider this a very simple and quick to make card.  Thanks for stopping bye.... please join us for this challenge.  The winners... one selected randomly and one selected by the Design Team will both receive a $10 gift certificate to Scrapy Land.

Until next time... take care.

Inspiration Squad - Feb2018 Challenge 193

Hello crafty friends,

Happy Friday... and welcome to CAS-ual Friday's Challenge #193.  This challenge uses this sketch as our inspiration starting point.

What do you think?  I would love to see how you interpret this sketch.  I made these cards for the challenge. 

For card #1 I used the HB2U set from the Whole Shebang stamp set, stamping it in black three times.  next I added a die cut Friend in red to the center of the panel, right over the middle HB2U.  I finished the card by stamping in red a flower background with the Full On Floral stamp.

For card #2, I turned the sketch sideways and used the ballerinas from the Tutu stamp set... stamping thee ballerinas across the card's front panel.  Now for those you are very observant, you will noticed that the ballerina on the left is not in the stamp set.   It's actually the same stamp as on the right.  I used one of those mirror stamps to reverse the direction of the ballerina stamp.  I will be honest and let you know that I tried it several times before getting an OK (not great, not good, just OK) result.  I was also stamping on watercolor paper, so maybe that caused some of my problems.

I finished the panel by water coloring it, adding a sentiment banner and mounting it onto a black card stock that I have previously stamped flowers from the Pretty Posies stamp set.  I finished that card by mounting my finished panel and adding a few drops of white Nuvo.

Thank you for stopping bye today.  I look forward to seeing your heart theme submissions to this month's challenge. 

Inspiration Squad - Jan2018 Challenge 190

Hello and HAPPY 2018 crafty friends!

This is my first post as a team member of CAS-ual Friday's Challege Blog Inspiration Squad.  The theme for challenge #190 is "All That Glitters" and since I'm not a fan of lose glitter (too messy for me) I used a clear Wink of Stella instead of water to dilute the watercolors of my Zig watercolor brush pens.

I painted the flowers (Truth Is) on both of these cards by coloring the insides of the flowers w/my Zig brush and using the clear Wink of Stella to dilute and spread the watercolor to the flowers tips...  making the tips lighter.  I had to use purple, because it's just my happy go to color.

On this card... I water-colored the background using the same technique... my Zig brush around the flowers and using the clear Wink of Stella diluted and spread the watercolor out and away from the flowers.  I added two fussy cut fish tail banners... a white glitter card stock one under a vellum stamped "it's your birthday" from the Whole Shebang stamp set.  As a finishing touch I added a few Nuvo drops.  Sadly my pictures don't show how sparkly this card turned out.

On this card... the flowers were painted the same way, but for the background a took the Aquamarine Spectrum Noir Sparkle brush pen and making sure the brush was nice as juicy, I tapped it to created spatters as my background.  I incorporated more teal and glitter onto the card by using a die cut "thanks" from the Smiling die.

Here's a final look at the cards and the Cas-ual Friday supplies I used:

Thank you for stopping bye today. I look forward to seeing your glittery submissions to this month's challenge.   

Scrapy Land Challenge #71

Hello crafty friends,

Scrapy Land's Challenge #71... no theme this time, just use any SL die brand they sell.  I created this quick birthday card.

I started by die cutting my card front panel with a scallop rectangle die.  Here's a great set of them.  Next I die cut the small cluster of circles using the Memory Box Stitched Bubbles die, which is currently not available, but here's another set that would work just as well.  Next i die cut the happy birthday circle and put it aside while i worked on the back of the card panel.  I covered all the openings with clear plastic and using form tape created separate sections to house my sequins.  Once the shaker element was done, I mounted it on the card, glued the happy birthday circle onto the clear plastic and inserted two tiny cats.  At this point the card was done, but I just couldn't leave the card front white, so i stamped hot pink stars all over the card front :)

Thanks for stopping bye today.  Please join us for this challenge.  You have until 8/12 to submit your projects.  The winners... one selected randomly and one selected by the Design Team will both receive a $10 gift certificate to Scrapy Land.  Until next time... take care.

Scrapy Land Challenge #70

Hello crafty friends,

Scrapy Land's Challenge #70 theme is... birthday/celebrations, using SL die brands.  Birthday cards are something every can use and probably the most made card category.   I created these two guys cards:

This first card was completely inspired by this old (very very old) sheet of pattern paper i found in my brown stash.

I started by using a pencil to mark an outline of the square I wanted.  Then I carefully tore the paper following the pencil mark as much as possible.  the bottom and left sides were the hardest, because the horse and rider element was near the bottom left of the pattern paper's edges.  Next I die cut the Happy Birthday from the same paper and cut the die cut apart, so their was more space between the two words and I could fit them better into the top right corner of the horse and rider element.  I was going to call it done, but it felt like something was missing... so I looked though my bin of guy theme stamps (doesn't everyone have such a bin... LOL).  I couldn't believe it when I found the small horse and rider stamp by Stampendous.  Don't ask me where or when I got it, because I have no idea.  I would sign up for a stamp shoppers anonymous meeting, but none of them are anywhere near a craft store, so I wouldn't have anything to do during breaks :)   enough about my problem... back to this card.  I stamped and tore the smaller element and added brown and white bakers twine around the bottom of my card.  

My second card, was the one I sat down to make before finding the above mentioned pattern paper and setting off in the above mentioned course of action.    

I started by die cutting the Party Lights oval onto the front of my card and also into another section of the above pattern paper (it was a 12x12 sheet) that I first die cut w/a Stitched Rectangle die.   I didn't think to die cut both the pattern paper and the card front w/the Party Lights oval together, so in order to get the placement correct... I placed the pattern paper die cut panel inside my card, positioning it in the center and using a pencil marked some of the points of the oval.  

Next, I created a see thru shaker element.  I covered both side with clear plastic, added some sequences and the top card front panel.  I added a Birthday banner die cut.  On the inside of the card I added a gold Stitched Oval die cut.   To finish the inside of this card... I made add three die cut happys in the center of the gold oval and write my sentiment/greetings around the oval.
  

Thanks for stopping bye today.  Please join us for this challenge.  You have until 8/3 to submit your projects.  The winners... one selected randomly and one selected by the Design Team will both receive a $10 gift certificate to Scrapy Land.  Until next time... take care.  

Dogs

Hello crafty friends,

If you know me, you know I love cats and wish I could have a house full of them.  But since I have a very dog loving extended family, I've been stocking up on some dogs stamps.  Both my nephew and my brother have April birthdays and they are dog people.   So I made them these cards:

I used dogs from the Tim Holtz Crazy dogs stamp set.  For the card on the right, I stamped my dog and scanned him so I could make him bigger.  This was for my personal use, so i believe no rules/rights were broken :)

 
While working on these dogs, I posted the above photo on social media and my sister-in-laws both like them... one of them even asked me to save some of the dogs for her birthday card.  How cute is that?  Well, I had extra dogs and I really didn't want to wait until either of their birthdays, which are both in September... so I made and send them each a dog tag.

The tag on the left went to my SIL with two dogs, a cat and a turtle.  The card on the right went to my SIL w/one cheese and butter (funny story) loving dog.

Thanks for stopping bye.  Unit next time... take care.

Fishbowl Card

Hello crafty friends,

I recently made this card while playing w/my fish and fishbowl stamps I picked up at SSAT a few weeks ago:

I started by stamping the fishbowl onto the pattern paper (a blue water looking one) that i wanted for my fishbowl's background.  Next I cut out all my fishbowl elements to make the fishbowl into a shaker element using my Scan&Cut2.

As you can see in this photo, I cut the fishbowl's background pattern paper, the fishbowl's front trim and the clear plastic I would need to make the fishbowl into a shaker element.  I also cut the fish :)

Using my Scan&Cut2, I scan the stamped fishbowl into Scan&Cut Canvas on my computer.  I tweaked the image, by giving it cut lines on the inside, so I could make the fishbowl trim piece.

Of course, I had to add a peeking cat stamped image behind my fishbowl.  Thanks for stopping bye.  Until next time, take care.

Watercolor Backgrounds

Hello crafty friends,

I made watercolor cards this weekend.  A manly version, which I made for my Uncle-In-Law who turned 70th on Saturday.  Knowing he wouldn't want the big birthday number as the focus, I kept the design cleaner.

I enjoyed making the card so much I made a girly version.  Can you say Margaritas with salty rims :)

They both came out so cool... love them both.   Here's a look of the inside of both cards:

I also made this hostess card for my Cousin-In-Law and her Hubby to thank them for having us over.

Thanks for stopping bye today.  Until next time, take care.