Happy Happy Happy (and a Giveaway Part 2)

Hi everyone!

It's our last week of the term at CAS-ual Fridays, and there are some changes to the design team (you can check it out on the site HERE). We're saying goodbye to AJ and Pamela--they're such fantastic designers and nice people. :)

We have one last challenge of the term:

So, the challenge is to make a feminine CAS card with kraft and text. I have to admit, I kind of forget about the text part, so we'll just say my sentiment is the text. Okay?

Here's what I came up with:

I used my new WPlus9 Sweets & Treats and stamped the cupcake on the platter. I fussy cut the entire image and colored it with Copics. The sentiment is my version of the text (wink, wink).

As an afterthought, I added the Lawn Fawn twine. My teammate Wida always keeps the tails of her bows long, and it looks very cool.

Here's a close-up:

I hope you'll play along with this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge! You can link up your projects HERE.

On Monday, I talked about a giveaway as a thank you to my blog followers/readers. I have two giveaways, and here is the photo of the second one:

You can comment on any of the posts this week, and I'll draw two names from all of the comments. You can comment through Sunday. Thank you again for all of your support!

Have a great weekend!


Supplies
Cardstock: (Kraft) WPlus9; (white) PTI
Clear stamps: (sentiment, cupcake, platter from Sweets & Treats set) WPlus9
Ink: (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko; (White) WPlus9
Cord: Lawn Fawn
Copics

Happy Harvest

Hi everyone! Even though it's very hot this week, we're seeing the early stages of fall--some of the Maples are turning, the days are noticeably shorter, there are mums on the porches...

I decided to make a fall-inspired card using my new Newton's Nook Designs stamps:

I stamped the background using the leaves from the Wagon of Wishes set. The sentiment is from the same set. I wanted to mix in some natural elements, so I used the wood flower from Crate and die-cut a banner from thin maple veneer. I stained the maple with Distress Ink to get the color I wanted.

See the cute little leaf on the ticket? It's from NND's Prehistoric Pals set. Here's a close-up:

My card is over on the Newton's Nook blog today. :)

Thanks for stopping by!


Supplies
Clear stamps: (leaves, sentiment from Wagon of Wishes; single leaf from Prehistoric Pals) Newton's Nook Designs
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Patterned paper: (yellow from Cool Summer) Carta Bella; (diamonds from Hey Girl) BasicGrey
Ink: (Honey) Fresh Ink; (Wild Plum Adirondack; Scattered Straw, Tea Dye Distress Inks) Ranger
Embellishments: (ticket) BasicGrey; (veneer flower from Acorn Acres) Crate Paper; (aqua enamel dot) My Mind's Eye; (green sequin) Kelly Purkey; (purple sequin) Hobby Lobby; (lace trim) Hobby Lobby
Dies: (Banner) PTI

2, 4, 6, 8... (& a Giveaway)

Hi everyone! I hope you had a good weekend. Normally I'm not overly excited about a Monday, but today I get to meet my dear blog friend Joscelyne. Woo hoo! I'm sure we'll take a picture or two, and I'll share one.

It's time for a new challenge at Paper Smooches SPARKS. Here's the uber-cool inspiration image:

I love that image! There were so many possibilities, but I focused on the colors in the image:

I wanted it to be a play on the "2-4-6-8-Who do we appreciate?" chant. ha ha Using the Paper Smooches Digits dies and stamps, I cut and stamped the numbers. Then, I used the Word Bubbles die and stamped the He Said, She Said speech bubble over it. I didn't realize it beforehand, but they dies aren't nested. It took me a few tries to realize the stamps don't fit in the bubble. I had to add a little ink to the top edge. ;)

I added the little fish from Briny Blue and made him say the "freakin' great" (from Slang Gang). I chuckle at that every time. Here's a close-up:

If you'd like to play along with this week's SPARKS challenge, you can link up your cards HERE.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects!

Wida

Jenny

Jocelyn <--You're here

Alice

Savannah

It's also been a while since I've done a giveaway. It means so much that you take the time to look at my blog. Sometimes it's hard to blog--it's a busy time, I don't like my card, I feel like my comments are lame, etc. But, the kindness and support mean everything to me. :)

As a thank you to my blog followers, I'm doing two giveaways this week. Just comment on any or all of the posts this week, and I'll draw two names from all of the comments (through next Sunday). Here's the first giveaway package (the second I'll share on Thursday):

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!


Supplies
Cardstock: (Nightshift Blue) My Favorite Things; (white) PTI
Clear stamps: (number from Digits; speech bubble from He Said, She Said; sentiment from Slang Gang; fish from Briny Blue) Paper Smooches
Ink: (Red Currant; Sky Blue; Pool) Fresh Ink; (yellow Brilliance; Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko; (Lavender) Color Box
Dies: (Word Bubbles; Digits) Paper Smooches
Copics

Say Cheese!

Hi everyone! Wow, it's been a week since I've blogged...it feels like forever. ha ha I was sick for several days early in the week...since no one else got it, I think it was food poisoning. Yuck! Thankfully, I'm almost back to normal now. Or at least normal for me. ;)

Newton's Nook has a sketch challenge and a chance to win free stamps. Woo hoo! Here's the sketch:

I stuck to the sketch (well....almost) and came up with this card:

I started off by resizing the digital TV image from One Little Bird and printing it twice--once on photo paper and once on cardstock for the center. I cut out the center and stamped the mouse and sentiment from Newton's Nook's Just Say Cheese set. I used cardstock for the center since photo paper and Copics don't mix well....

For the background, I layered five different types of washi. My teammate Alice does all kinds of cool things with layered washi, and I thought I would try it. I finished off the card by adding some enamel dots that looked like the buttons on the TV.

Here's a close-up:

You can play along with the Inky Paws sketch challenge by linking up your cards on the Newton's Nook blog. There's a free digi if you don't have any of the NND stamps. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!!


Supplies
Cardstock: (white) PTI
Other paper: (Premium Matte Photo Paper) OfficeMax
Clear stamps: (mouse, sentiment from Just Say Cheese) Newton's Nook Designs
Washi: (heart, airmail, star) Freckled Fawn; (orange stripe) Love My Tapes; (check) Chickydoddle
Digital element: (TV from Stay Tuned set) One Little Bird for The Lilypad
Twine: (yellow) Divine Twine
Copics

You Can Do Great Things

Hi everyone! Are you ready for the weekend? It's our last weekend before school starts on Monday. Both my kids are going to new schools (second grade and preschool). They both seem prepared for the idea (as much as a three-year-old can be prepared), but I'm nervous. ha ha

Anyway, it's time for a new CAS-ual Fridays challenge:

This week is a color challenge with any shade of aqua, green, and orange.

I kept pretty close to the original colors on this card:

I recolored four different watercolor images from the Watercolor Splatters set and then stamped the watercolor heart from the Valentine's Day Watercolor Brushes set. I added one of Robyn Meierotto's new sentiment stamps--she always has such great sentiments.

Here's a close-up:

I kept the card pretty simple so I can mail it in a regular envelope.

If you'd like to play along with this week's CAS-ual Friday challenge, you have two weeks. You can link up your projects HERE. The winner will receive a gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp:

SSS has some great sales going on during August, too. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!


Supplies
Cardstock: (polka dot embossed aqua) Bazzill
Other paper: (Premium Matte Photo Paper) OfficeMax
Digital stamps: (heart from Valentine's Day Watercolor Brushes) Just Jaimee for SugarHill Co.; (sentiment from Word Art Encouragements) Robyn Meierotto for Pixels & Co.
Digital elements: (watercolor elements from Watercolor Splatters) Celeste Knight for Pixels & Co.

Wagon of Wishes

Hi everyone! It's the second day of the Newton's Nook Designs' August release.

Today, we're sharing projects using the Wagon of Wishes stamp set. You can see the full reveal of the stamps on the Newton's Nook blog.

I used both the Wagon of Wishes and the Prehistoric Pals sets (shown here) on my card today:

I guess I liked that dinosaur so much, I couldn't stop using him! I masked his hands and stamped the wagon handle over him to make it look like he's pulling the wagon. For the wagon image, I stamped the wagon, masked it, and stamped the apple image over it. You don't need to mask the wagon, but frankly, I didn't trust my early-morning stamping. ;)

I colored all of the images with Inktense pencils and used a little bit of water for blending. The sentiment is also from the Wagon of Wishes set. Here's a close-up:

The stamps will be available for sale at midnight tonight (12:00am on Friday). You will be able to purchase the stamps on the store HERE.

Now, for the giveaway! The Wagon of Wishes set will be given away to two lucky winners! Here's how to win: 
1. Comment on Newton's Nook Design blog: http://www.newtonsnookblog.com. One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments on the August release posts.

2. Comment on the Design Team and Guest Design Team members' blogs (see list below). One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the August release blog hop. You have until Thursday, August 15th at 9 pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the NND blog post this Friday.


Be sure to check out all of the Design Team's blogs. We also have the amazing Elena Roussakis joining us today (yeah!):

Tessa Wise

Jocelyn Olson

Samantha Mann

Emily Leiphart

Jennifer Ingle

Elena Roussakis (Guest Designer)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!


Supplies
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Patterned paper: (dark woodgrain from About a Boy) Echo Park
Clear stamps: (dinosaur from Prehistoric Pals; wagon, applies, and sentiment from Wagon of Wishes) Newton's Nook Designs
Ink: (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko; (Chocolate Chip) Stampin' Up; (White) WPlus9; (Antique Linen Distress Ink) Ranger
Die: (Jumbo Fishtail Banner) My Favorite Things
Twine: (Red solid) Divine Twine
Pencils: (Inktense) Derwent

Prehistoric Pals

Hi everyone! It's release week for Newton's Nook Designs' August stamps.

We're sharing two stamp sets this week, and the stamps will be available for sale on Friday. You can check out the full stamp reveal on the Newton's Nook blog.

I'm actually using both of the new sets today, although I'm featuring the Prehistoric Pals set on this birthday card:

Hee hee. That dinosaur cracks me up every time! I colored and fussy cut the dinosaur and snipped between his hands to hold the present. The present is from the set I'll be featuring tomorrow. ;)

The "BIG wishes" is from the Prehistoric Pals set. I masked off the sentiment and added the word "birthday" from the Winged Wishes set. Here's a close-up:

Giveaway alert! Would you like to win Prehistoric Pals? This set will be given away to two lucky winners! Here's how to win: 
1. Comment on Newton's Nook Design blog: http://www.newtonsnookblog.com. One winner will be randomly chosen from the comments on the August release posts.

2. Comment on the Design Team and Guest Design Team members' blogs (see list below). One winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the August release blog hop. You have until Thursday, August 15th at 9 pm CST to comment  -- winners will be announced on the NND blog post this Friday.


Be sure to check out all of the Design Team's blogs. They're so fab:

Tessa Wise

Jocelyn Olson

Samantha Mann

Emily Leiphart

Jennifer Ingle

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!!


Supplies
Cardstock: (True Black, white) PTI; (blue) Bazzill
Clear stamps: (dinosaur, "BIG wishes" from Prehistoric Pals; present from Wagon of Wishes; "birthday" from Winged Wishes) Newton's Nook Designs
Ink: (Taken with Teal) Stampin' Up; (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko
Dies: (Die-namics Skyline die) My Favorite Things; (Auto Parts die) Memory Box
Copics

I'm Impressed

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! We had a pretty quiet weekend, but I did start a blog make-over. It's still in transition. :)

This week is Designer Drafts at Paper Smooches SPARKS. Here is the sketch for this week's challenge:

I love that the sketch is pretty open, and yet, I still managed to deviate a little. I went with a literal interpretation of the balloon for my card:

There was a lot of Paper Smooches on this card. I started with the using the Borders 1 Dies to make the hill and stamped a sentiment from Squeaky Clean. For the tree, I paper pieced a tree from Spring Groves and colored the trunk.

For the basket, I used a laundry basket from the Squeaky Clean set, masked it, and stamped the squirrel from Spring Groves over it. I fussy cut the image and placed it in front of the balloon from the Hullabaloo set. Here's a close-up:

When I was making this card, I thought I had a Paper Smooches acorn, but I didn't. I improvised with the button instead, and now I kind of like it.

If you'd like to play along with this week's SPARKS challenge, you can link up your projects HERE.

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT's projects (I'm sure they're awesome because they're really fab card makers):

Wida

Jenny

Jocelyn

Alice

Savannah

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!


Supplies
Cardstock: (white) PTI; (Paver) My Favorite Things
Patterned paper: (orange houndstooth from About a Boy) Echo Park; (green block from Acorn Avenue) Crate Paper
Clear stamps: (basket, sentiment from Squeaky Clean; tree, squirrel from Spring Groves; balloon, string from Hullabaloo) Paper Smooches 
Dies: (Borders 1 Dies) Paper Smooches
Copics

Camping Party

Hi everyone! I hope you had a fabulous week! Any weekend plans?

Today I'm up on the Newton's Nook Designs blog. I'm sharing a birthday party invitation using two of their stamp sets:

I stamped and fussy cut the raccoon from Campfire Tails (love him; love the set) and paired it with the "birthday" and party banner from the Winged Wishes set. I wanted to make the invitation mass-producible, so I kept the coloring very minimal. Here's a close-up:

I added angle washi tape again (like I did here). It was a fast way to give the card base a little pizazz.

The invitation matches the party favor box I made during the Newton's Nook July release. One more item, and I'll have an ensemble. :)

I'm entering the invitation in the Birthday Party Invitation Challenge in the Moxie Fab World. The Birthday Creations challenges end on Monday, so there's still time to enter.

Thanks for stopping by!


Supplies:
Cardstock: (Kraft, Ripe Avocado) PTI
Patterned paper: (woodgrain from S'more Love) Cosmo Cricket
Clear stamps: (raccoon from Campfire Tails; sentiment and banner from Winged Wishes) Newton's Nook Designs
Ink: (Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko
Color: (markers) Copic; (colored pencils) Derwent
Embellishments: (washi tape) Bella Blvd. 
Die: (polaroid die) My Favorite Things

Love Machine

Hi everyone! I'm blogging on vacation at my mom's house in Maine. We went hiking up a mountain and I kayaked in a bay today...it's been great.

This week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge is:

Easy peasy, right? Use buttons on your clean and simple projects. I had an inspiration image from THIS pin on Pinterest that I've been wanting to try. Here's my take on the robots:

I raided my scrap pile--these papers are from the Kate & Co. collection. I added a sentiment from Paper Smooches' Squeaky Clean set and then did some stitching. I love how the blue looks like a huge mouth. ha ha

Then, I made a second one in some awesome plaid paper:

It's a little imperfect, and that's okay. :) I hope you can join in this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. The winner will receive a gift certificate to Ellen Hutson.

You can link up your projects HERE.

Just a reminder, it's Anything Goes week Paper Smooches SPARKS. If you use Paper Smooches, too, be sure to link up.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!


Supplies
Cardstock: (Rustic White) PTI; (green) Avery Elle; (Night) Paper Source
Patterned paper: (Kate & Co.) My Mind's Eye
Stamps: (sentiment from Squeaky Clean) Paper Smooches
Ink: (Gumball Green) Stampin' Up
Buttons: (red, Whipped Cream) My Favorite Things