CASE on a CASual Card ~

Hi there!  I’m bopping in real quick with a card I made today for the current CASual Fridays challenge

Umm, use your markers on a CAS card.  I think I can handle that! I chose to CASE my friend Laurie’s card – yes, I get to call her my friend because I’ve met her for the reals in person!  She’s super sweet and encouraging, and oh.so.talented!  Laurie is the Queen of amazing clean and simple cards.  I’m learning to make a CAS card and usually, for me, that means CASEing someone.  Anywho…here you go!

The background is created with Copics – starting from the bottom E18, E19, E08, YR18, YR15, YR12, Y38, Y35 and Y32.  I chose to make it a thank you card as well because I want to send this to Allyson over at Laughadaisy.  I was lucky enough to win these dies from her. 
Okay, I’m off to watch TV with the fam-damily!  Have a super night! 

Alyssa

Papertrey Ink January Blog Hop ~

Hey all!  Thought I’d bop in here real quick with a card I made for the PTI blog hop this month.  The theme is

I tried my hand at the chalkboard technique that is all the rage right now.  This is my third try at a card today, so while it’s not perfect, I’m stopping now because my family wants to eat.  :0)  I used the super fun Boy Basics: Rock On for a sweet guitar.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a spectacular weekend whatever you’re doing!

 

Alyssa

Lil’ Inker Designs Release Hop Day 3 ~

Hi there!  Welcome back to the final day of the Lil’ Inker Designs January release hop!  Hopefully you’ve arrived here from Alicia’s blog…if not, hop on back to Laura’s blog to get started off right.
Today I have another card using the Sugar Kissed Cottage line of stamps.  This set is Eat Dessert First - it includes a sweet image of friends talking over their milkshakes and 4 sentiments.  These designs always make me think of the 50’s and all their pastel colors.  I rummaged around in my patterned paper stash to come up with a fresh take and some colors that are really hot right now in design world.  Mint green and coral!

The papers are Cosmo Cricket Clementine.  I’ve seen this layout using flags of different papers as a background and really love how it keeps the design more CAS.  The stitched flag is stamped with one of the sentiments included in the set and flanked with a melon berry button and a teal spritzed wood veneer heart.  I almost never use these wood embellishments on cards because they’re so expensive and I figure someone will just throw this away (eventually).  Eh, whatever!  The gal I have in mind for this card is worth it!  lol  A close up and the entire set…
                      
Thank you for your wonderful comments this week!  I truly appreciate each and every one.  Hop on your way over to Amy Kolling for some more amazing-ness! 

Alyssa

Lil’ Inker Design Release Hop Day 2 ~

Welcome back to the second day of the Lil’ Inker Designs January release!  I’m sure you’ve been filled with eye candy galore, but I thought I’d sneak in another little card on you today.  You should’ve arrived here from Alicia Thelin’s blog, if not, you can start over at the Lil’ Inker Designs blog.

This is a fun new group of stamps in the Sugar Kissed Cottage line called Snarky Lady I.

Isn’t she fun?  A sweet, vintage lady with snarky sentiments…gotta love that.  Most of my friends live by this little gem!  lol  I used some older papers from Cosmo Cricket called Circa 1934 – which is probably about from when this little lady hails.  Here’s a detail shot of the coloring and the embossed sentiment, as well as the full set

                            

It’s time for you to continue on to Amy Kolling.  Don’t forget to leave comments along the hop for your chance at two $10 gift certificates to the Lil’ Inker Designs store.  Have a super day!

Alyssa

Lil’ Inker Designs Release Hop Day 1 ~

Hi there!  Lil’ Inker Designs is having a new release this month with tons of fun stamps and dies!  Have you stopped by from Alicia’s blog?  I sure hope so!  If not, bop back to Laura’s blog to get started on the full hop.  Make sure you leave comments with all the designers along the way – there will be two randomly selected comments to win a gift certificate to the Lil’ Inker Designs store!

I’m so excited to show you this new little cutie in the 2 Cute Ink line.  His name is Bunny Star.  He’s small and sweet with 4 sentiments.  I was inspired by the Moxie Fab World Itty Bitty Card Challenge for this first little one.  I thought of a lunch box note for my little to find one day because this set comes with a couple encouraging school sentiments.

This star is about 3 inches across.  I cut a base from a light weight white cardstock and cut the point of the star over the fold.  The glitter star was cut whole and glued to the top.  He’s colored in warm greys, and his arm and the star are cut out and colored again.  Lots of fussy cutting here for a lunch box note…may have to rethink this one!  lol

             

The base of the arm is glued straight down with a foam piece in the center of the star.  The inside is finished off with the “A+” sentiment and Star Student.  Sweet and cute!

This next card is for Z’s friend from pre-school, Jackson.  His birthday party is next weekend, so I thought this was a perfect use for this set.  I gave myself a little giggle by naming the photo Jackson 5.  Hahahaha

I used an embossing folder on vellum and highlighted his new age with a marker.  This time he is colored in cool grays and accented with a bunch of turquoise dots to help him stand out on the white.  Lots of glittery stars because at this age it’s still ok to use glitter for boys…I know, I’ve checked out their artwork at school.  I didn’t leave myself enough room to put happy birthday on the front, so I finished it out on the inside.

  *Have a Superstar Birthday*

Here’s a shot at the full set

All righty, it’s the wonderful Amy Kolling’s turn now!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  :o) lyss

Coming soon ~

Lots of fun goodies and eye candy coming your way soon!

Winter Thank You ~

Hi there!  I’m bopping in really quickly with a card that’s been a brewin’ in the old noggin for a couple of days.  I even bought special paper for it and then thought I wouldn't have time for the challenge to make it.  As I was getting ready for work today, it began to snow.  I put the dogs out to run off a little steam before they got cooped up for the day.  When I came downstairs 15 minutes later, the snow had accumulated to about 1.5” and blizzard-like.  I couldn't see fully across the street.  I called in to work asking if they really needed me or not.  Yay!  They said no!  So I got to play again in the cave :o)  Of course it stopped about an hour later, and we only got about 4", but it looked really bad at the time!  I feel a little guilty...

Anyway, it all started with this inspiration pic from the Cloud 9 challenge blog

I pulled out my new Simple Snowflake die from Wplus9 Designs and went to town.

It’s layered over a couple of lotus dies from Spellbinders with a black and kraft Lil Inker Designs snowflake layered on top.  While it didn’t turn out exactly as I’d envisioned, I kind of like it.  And I get to mark another Xmas thank you card off the list!  Here’s a little shot of the dimension with all the flakes.

     Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hope  you have a fabulous weekend!  lyss

Challenges:
Cloud 9: January 2013
Papertake Weekly: Something new

Shimmery Thank You ~

Hi there!  Hope you all are doing great!  We’ve been a little down, first with the stomach flu and then with a head cold this past week…ugh!  We also have company, so I haven’t been able to rush to my craft cave and play.  Hubby took the nephew (said company) to the shooting range this morning and the little is back at preschool, so I jumped at the chance at a little alone time.     I’ve had this card in my head for almost a week now!  It all started with the CASual Fridays challenge of a thank you card and Papertake Weekly New challenge – use a ‘new’ theme or use something new.  Simon Says Stamp also had a new themed challenge when the idea was born, but I missed the cut off on that one.  Their new challenge is Black, White and a Splash of Color, so we’ll just go with that for this card. 

This peacock feather stamp was gifted to me last Christmas, but I’ve never used it, so I guess you could consider that new??  If not, the make up I used to color it is!  Ha!  The feather is stamped in VersaMark.  I used some Q-tips in different eye shadows to achieve the look, which is super shimmery in real life.  I tried to capture a picture, but it just wasn’t happenin’!  Being the Virgo that I am, I absolutely had to be as true to real life as possible, so I used a real feather for inspiration.  The sentiment is clear embossed with black VersaFine.  Easy peasy!  Hope you like!  Thanks for stopping by!  lyss

Picking Favorites ~

Hey there!  Been a bit quiet here, I know.  I keep saying it over and over.  I may have to take a true bloggy break this year because I just don’t know the direction I want to go with my crafty life.  But since I don’t have an answer, we’ll just not talk about it   I figured I should pop on here and wish everyone a happy 2013!  So strange how fast these years pass.  I’ve seen lots of people picking their words to focus on for the year or posting non-resolution type resolutions.  My goals for this year will continue from last:

1. Keep working out with the hubster.  This old body ain’t getting any younger, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep the pounds off.  We enjoy working out together, and I feel better when we wake up and get to it.

2. Get more than one crafty creation published in a single publication.  I’ve been lucky enough to be published a few times and even get the cover once.  (I’d love that cover spot again! lol)  I really, really want to have 2+ in one magazine.  This will involve me submitting to more than just Paper Crafts Magazine this year.  Seems I’ve hit a bit of a dry spell with them anyway.

3. Work on my time management.  I waste way too much time!!  I put off dusting or meal prep or making a card even by playing just one more game (I’m horribly addicted to time sucking computer games) or clearing out my Google reader.  I run around in a frenzy after I finally get down to the wire.  So if you have any tips, they are welcome here!!

I think those are manageable – gotta keep it simple!  One of my favorite posts of the end of the year/new year/whenever I get around to it is the top “insert number here.”  I usually try to pick one from each month, but I just decided to pick my faves since my posting was so very sporadic. 

Love this sweet little Tickled Pink stamp!  Original post here

The first time I added light shading to a solid stamped image – love it!  Original post here

Mom’s Birthday card.  Had fun doodling a border around the image.  Original post here

My favorite Kraftin’ Kimmie girl, Drucilla, she’s still hanging in my craft cave, so I guess I really am stuck with her!  Original post here

Keeping life simple, I made this card for my dad and dad-on-law.  Original post here

Dad’s day for my mom to give my dad.  Loved this one so much I CASEd myself and made a birthday card for my dad-in-law with a different sentiment and more fall colored leaves.  Original post here

Love these monarchs!  Fun and easy to color.  Original post here

I love this card!  I think the only thing I’d do differently is to make the focal mat smaller.  Original post here

8x8 scrap page for my little man.  I was totally intimidated with coloring camo and was super happy with how it turned out.  Original post here

Last, but not least is a card I never put on here.  It was my last acceptance for publication this year.  This card came out of my head exactly how I envisioned it – love when that happens!

Published in Paper Crafts Magazine Holiday Cards & More, Volume 7

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me!  Here’s to a new year and lots of crafty fun! :o) lyss