A CASology Valentine

The count down is on. Valentine's Day projects are most likely beginning to settle into that last minute panic mode.  I have two elementary aged school children with classroom parties this Friday and do you think I've gotten anything made yet?!  Did you know I am probably one of the world's finest procrastinators?  Don't worry, they'll go to school with cute little gifts in hand!  I have plenty of time...three entire days!

CASology will provide plenty of inspiration this week if you're still in need of some!  With a cue word focusing entirely on valentine, you won't be disappointed!

I love clean & simple valentines!  This word made me think of Cupid and his arrows.  Having no image of that diaper clad lad, I went with a single arrow and a sentiment from Uniko Studio's All Occasion Sentiments #5 set.

The main panel is spritzed with pink Heidi Swapp Color Shine.  I stamped the sentiment in black and then added the glitter adorned arrow.  I added dimension by popping up the framed main panel on the card base.

Be sure and go say a quick hello to the design team members & this week's guest designer!  They work so hard each week to create inspiration!

Ardyth Percy-Robb
Deidre Payne
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
 Jen Wills
 Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
 Kymona Tracey
 Melissa Chipperfield (You are here.)

Sherrie Mannion

 Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer:  Lindsey

hen, don't forget to link up your own creation on the challenge blog by Monday at NOON (CST) for your chance to win a prize from Uniko Studio, our sponsor this week!

Have a terrific Tuesday! 

Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

 

Are you ready for a blog hop revolving around a warm beverage? Today is the day! The Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop has begun!  With 49 Super Sponsors on board, there are prizes galor!  In order to be eligible to win, you just need to link up a newly created winter/holiday themed coffee, cocoa or tea project to the main blog!

I've been wanting to ink up my new I Love Coffee set from Uniko Studio, so created a coffee card using kraft cardstock.

Uniko Studio (I Love Coffee)

I stamped and fussy cut the coffee cup, paper piecing the lid using a piece of Shimmery White cardstock (StampinUp!).  I stamped the beautiful flower in red ink before lightly brushing some white Wink of Stella marker over it.  This gave it a bit of a watercolor appearance.  The cup and entire layered main panel are popped up with foam dots for dimension.

I hope to see you over on the hop!  We're hopping through December 18th, so you have some time to get crafting!  All the hop details can be found HERE!

Have a fabulous Friday!

Guest Designer for Uniko Studio!

**This is my second post for today (gasp!), so if you're looking for the current CASology challenge post, please scroll down!**

I am excited to be guest designing over at Uniko Studio today after winning their 14th challenge (Clean & Simple) with this card!

The current challenge is a beautiful one and I would highly recommend playing along!  Just look at the gorgeous colors!  In addition, the challenge is to use texture (e.g. background paper, background stamp, embossing folder, etc.).  So fun!

 

I opted to use my woodgrain embossing folder for texture.

Using kraft cardstock as the base, I sponged grey and white on the middle panel before embossing it with the embossing folder, going for the weathered look.  I then stamped one of the beautiful Gerbera Daisies from the Pure Florals:  Gerbera set as well as two leaves.  These were cut out and popped up with foam dots.  I added a cluster of small, sparkly dots to the center of the daisy using clear Stickles.  I made a banner using a piece of kraft cardstock and a square punch.  The sentiment was stamped on top of this and then the banner was popped up with foam dots too.

I was in the mood for a summery image when I made this as, looking outdoors, the landscape is now pretty bare!  Nothing a bright Gerbera daisy can't help with!

It's off to wipe down the newly installed countertops in the materializing basement craft room and maybe (yes, maybe) start moving a few things into the cupboards so I can get an idea of what kind of organizing I'm going to be looking at.  I'm really trying not to be too premature with moving things as the tile floor is not installed yet nor are any doors or woodwork hung.  I figure I can still stamp on the countertops now while standing on a plywood floor, right?!  I think DH is beginning to realize I'm just a tad bit antsy at this point.  Do you blame me?!  He's such a good sport.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Clean & Simple Uniko Studio Challenge

Here I am posting Friday afternoon. It's been one of those weeks when life throws you a box of curve balls and you feel like you just want to crash on the couch, only, you can't.  Everyone needs you...five minutes ago!

Clean & Simple with color inspiration

I whipped up a clean and simple card late one evening while the house was calm and quiet.  I needed to do something crafty.  Remembering Uniko Studio's Challenge #14:  Clean & Simple, I played along with their All Occasions Sentiments #2 set.  These sets are some of my favorite sentiment sets with big, bold, beautiful fonts that work so well on CAS cards!

I used some shimmery watercolors as a background for the sentiment and then used a combination of sequins and gemstones as embellishments.  So simple, but that's how I like my cards!

I hope you've had a good week!  I'm off now to check on DS2.  He had a fever for almost three days and is now enduring hives.  The joys of viruses, I tell you!  Add to that a DH who has to put in long hours at work this week, a DS3 who decided to kiss the side of his nose with the edge of his bike handle bars (you know, the metal part) and a clingy DD and you get the idea...I'm ready for the weekend!  Life can only get better!

Enjoy yours!

Surprise Bridal Shower for Ren-Yi!

Today there is a surprise bridal shower going on over on the Uniko Studio's blog for one of their design team members! Ren-Yi is getting married this week and Bev thought it would be fun to throw a little shower for her! What fun!

I wanted to do something with chevrons, so pulled out some mini Heidi Swapp stencils & sprays (gold & teal) I have in my stash to create this card:

I combined Uniko Studio's All Occasions Sentiments #5 and A Gift for You sets to create this design.  The main panel was die cut using Lawn Fawn's Stitched Journaling Card die.

If you have some time, it would be great if you could join in the bridal shower fun!  Bev is leaving the linky open for two weeks to give everyone plenty of time!  I'm also joining in the current Special Occasions challenge over on the Uniko Studio blog!

I'm having fun doing all things zebra today.  It is DS3's birthday and his imaginary zebra is joining in the festivities too!  He's the first child to have an imaginary friend and it's a lot of fun to see what he comes up with sometimes!  This boy has a lovely sense of humor and provides our family with lots of laughter!

Have a wonderful Monday!

A Happy Muse

 

Well, what do you know?!  I found some creative time this morning!  Trying to give myself a little direction, I decided to visit some of the card challenges that I've neglected the last few months and, after going back and forth between them all (& discovering Dynamic Duos is shutting down), finally settled on Muse Challenge #70.  We're to use Vicki Dutcher's pretty card as inspiration:

What inspired me was that lovely green color, the clean lines and the big, happy sentiments.  Here's my take...CASified even more, of course:

Stamps:  Uniko Studio (All Occasion Sentiments #2)
Die:  Lawn Fawn (Stitched Party Banner)

I used a banner die from Lawn Fawn to frame a single, bold sentiment.  The colored stripe behind the banner is masked.  Sequins were my embellishment of choice and even though they look blue in this photo, they are actually a light turquoise just like the ink I used!  (I only had time to play with ink, not to perfect the photo!)

Life is definitely happening around here!  DD decided to be a grump this week.  Not sure if it's the beginning of another round of teething or just a developmental milestone coming on.  Time will tell!

One more day of school for the older two and then we head on into summer fun!  Ideas are beginning to be voiced and we're making tentative plans!  I'm looking forward to simply ditching the school routines for a few weeks!  I know we'll be ready to have them back by the end of the summer, but for now, strict schedules will become much more flexible!

Have a fabulous Friday!