Twofer

Hi friends,
 After my CAS card casualties (from my last post), I decided to get help for my problem. I admitted to having a problem (creating CAS cards) - the first step, so the next step was to do something about it. So as they say, "Those who can't... take a class from those who can!" I signed up for a CAS class online :) Hopefully, that will help some.
Since I had my Maggies out as well as my Prisma pencils, I decided to make another card.
Here it is:

 and a closer peek:

 I played along with this week's sketch at the Sweet Stop:

Of course as soon as I saw this sketch, I thought ---> envelope. So I had to do that too *Ü*

It's 1/2" deep since I can't keep it CAS! ;) I made the envelope from pink vellum as are the Royal roses (MFT).
ETA: I usually create my eveloboxes on the Crafter's Companion board or the Martha Stewart Score board. Here are the measurements for an A2 size at 1/2" depth:
Paper: 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Score: 2 5/8" & 3 1/8" & on the opposite side
turn & score remaining 2 sides: 3 1/4" & 3 3/4"

Well, that's it for now.
Thanks for peeking today :)
Tootles!

CAS...???

Hi ya friends,
Hope you're weathering the weather in your neck of the woods. It's been rainy here in Socal but it's finally looking like we're gonna catch a break. I know... I know, it rains for two days in Southern California & we're taking out the tire chains! Ha!

Anyhoo, as a crafter, I sometimes try to do things that take me out of my comfort zone. My biggest discomfort zone is ---> CAS cards. Yes, I call that my Kraft Kryptonite. But I was really drawn to a CAS sketch & thought I'd give it a go.
So here's my card:

 Oh! & here's the sketch: CAS Colours & Sketches

 I triiiiiieeeeed, but somehow I had to add a little more of this & a little more of that.... sigh...ugh.
It's not that I don't like how it came out, but I wouldn't call this a CAS...exactly...but I did stick to the sketch pretty much *Ü*

Here's a closer peek at them:

They're colored with Prisma pencils & Gamsol. They are 2 separate images but I nestled them together. That's Edwin with Tie & Tilda with Big Ribbon--->luv!

Here's a peek at the innies:

I tried to keep that CAS too *Ü*

So I felt like this card was an epic fail, & I heard the voice of wisdom speak to me..."Try again you must" ---> Star Wars was on tv ;) so as Yoda instructed, try again I did.

Here's take 2:

Better??? I made a heart pocket I added to the heart Nestie die cut.

In the pocket I tucked in:

a few lip smooches I stamped onto vellum hearts. No, those are not mine... they come from stamps *Ü*

And did you see that preeetty bloom?!?!

I luv how soft & romantic it looks. It's the Mini-hybrid Heirloom Rose from MFT. I almost didn't get it cuz I need another flower die as much as... well...I need yet another flower die, but I'm SO glad I did cuz it's beautiful, especially out of pink vellum. Ahhh...happy sigh...

Here's a peek at the innies:

That's pretty CAS, right?

So if you've made it through this far, I thank you! I used my newest, favorest paper called In Bloom from MME. The colors are pure luxe, I tell ya! Soft pinks, peaches, grays, saffron---> I *heart* it!

While I don't think I've come close to capturing the CAS style, I do think I have a managed to make a couple of sweet cards, eh?

I'm going to play along with the following challenges & hope to have better luck with those:
Marvelous Magnolia: Tilda & Edwin on the same card
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Anything Goes
Dutch Magnolia Lovers: Bingo: Distress, Die, Embossing
Magnolia-licious Highlites: Love
The Pink Elephant: Hearts

Oh, if you want to know how to make this super easy heart pocket, I have a video tute I created a while back on this post ---> HERE. (Scroll down to the bottom for the tute.)

Thanks so much for peeking!
Gotta Go!

Rock the Bump!

Hi friends,
The pregnancy parade continues, as I have a card I made for a teacher at my school who is expecting her first baby *Ü*!
Here it is:

 This stamp is an oldie but goodie called She's Having a Baby from MFT. I luv this stamp cuz it's easy to color & paper piece. (I did have to mask the frame & baby things that are all around the image.) I added a few pearls with my Viva pen. I colored her with my Prisma pencils & Gamsol.

Here's a peek of the innies:

I added 2 embossed buttons Ü. The sentiments come from a different stamp called Baby Bump (also from MFT). It has several witty pregnancy ones! 

I used this week's sketch:

Thanks again for popping in!
Gotta Go!

The 411 
Stamps: She's Having a Baby, Baby Bump- MFT
Paper: Howdy Doody- MME, CU cs
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Creamy Brown
Tools: Oval Nesties, MS embossed button punch
Other: ribbon, button, twine, Viva Decor Pen

Oh Baby!

Hi ya friends,
Spring has sprung with some of my friends. Many are planning for babies, waiting on arrivals, & just boarding the 9 month voyage to motherhood! While my baby days are way in my rear view mirror, my friends are just getting started! It's not that I started super early, but they're in their 30's so it's about time! Well, the great news for me is that means I get to make some of my fav things to make- baby cards *Ü* One that I have to share today that's going to a friend who is having her first baby boy!
Here's my card:

  I HAD to use a sweet baby Edwin, of course! He's colored with Prisma pencils and Gamsol. I love coloring baby images with my Prismas cuz it gives it a soft, angelic look, don't ya think?! I used my fav baby papers from Graphic 45---> happy sigh... and then made a little garland of sorts with MS punches- a little sheep, teddy bear, bow, button, elephant, heart, & safety pin. I also used the Beaded Circles Nesties because it reminded me of baby beads Ü. The strip going across are embossed buttons.

Here's a closer look at this cutie:

I used Stardust Stickles on the stars though it's hard to tell...

I recently came across a new (to me) Magnolia challenge blog called Marvelous Magnolia & I was so tickled cuz so many Magnolia blogs have closed :( so I'm playing along with their current challenge: New Beginnings.

I also used this sketch from Sunday Sketch & Stamp:

I'll also be playing along in the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge: Anything Goes
Created with Love: Anything Goes
Dutch Magnolia Lovers: Bingo: Distress+Die+ Embossing
Totally Papercrafts: Embossing

Thanks for stopping by today!
Gotta go!

sweetness

Hello friends,
I wish I could tell you I've been a busy little crafter, but I didn't spend my weekend crafting. I offer an excuse a reason: my cable company offered free Showtime for the weekend, so I had to catch up with my favorite serial killer---> Dexter! I don't have Showtime this year (in my attempt to save some $$$) so this was the first season I didn't watch & I really missed it :( Anyhoo, that's what I did for 13 hours on Saturday! and man, was it a good season! Thanks cable gods!

 I have a card to share today that I made for one of my students. For Christmas, she gave me a cocoa set from Starbucks---> so sweet *Ü*
Here's the card I made:

 I embossed the white panel with the peppermint swirls EF. The papers are from the Springtime collection from Echo Park (from last year). I have been dying to make those little lollypops ever since I saw them at a LSS. They were so fun & easy to make! Just punch out a circle, run it through your Xyron sticker maker & roll the twine around & around to cover the circle. Then, coat it with Glossy Accents for that plastic wrapped look. I added a toothpick (cut in half) for the stick. Easy peasy!

Here's a peek of the innies:

 I punched a few candy swirls (MS punch) to embellish. Both sentiments come from Signature Greetings from PTI.

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch, but not in time for the challenge :(

But I'm right on time for the following challenges:
Corrosive Challenge: Out with the old
Allsorts: Dies / Punches
Card Makin Mamas: Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend: Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey: Anything Goes

Well, that's it for now. Hope you have a great week!
Tootles!


The 411
Stamps: Signature Greetings- PTI
Ink: Raspberry Fizz
Paper: Springtime- EP, Bazzill cs
Tools: Circle Nesties, Peppermint swirls MS punch, Viva Decor pens

Tags of 2013- January

Hello friends,
I'm back to share my tag for:

 Yaaaay!
I was so excited to see his new tag & even more excited that I actually HAD most of the supplies he used! (for once!) With T!m's tags, I usually have to make my own version because I usually don't have everything he uses. So I had fun "being like T!m."

Above is T!m's tag & here's mine:

I didn't have the pointing stamp, so I used a ticket stamp instead. But hey, lookie here:

It DOES have a pointing finger on it so I guess it counts, right Ü

Well, some habits are hard to break, so I had to make a version "If I didn't have T!m things" but keeping with the same techniques & layout.

Here's Version 2:

 I decided to go wintery & instead of gears, add snowflakes. I used the same techniques for the background but used different colors. I also used the filmstrip & added snow cap paint to remove some of the dark patina. The foliage that holds the sentiment also got a coat of snow cap paint as did the mini-clip that holds the ticket & post card oval.

Here's a peek at the sentiment:

 It got a coat of crackle accents to give it the look of frost or ice. This is a sentiment from T!m's line & it happens to be one of my favorites Ü

Here are my January tags of 2013!

I hope I'm better about completing T!m's tags in 2013 than I was in 2012 (since I only got 3 months done :(  It's fun!

Thanks so much for peeking!
Have a goodie!

The Best Things in Life

Hi there friends,
As the 7 dwarfs sang, "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go!" I'm singing the same tune cuz I'm back to work tomorrow. Since we had 2 lovely weeks off for Winter break, I know I'm going to arrive to see sleepy heads still half asleep, grumbling, & whining---> then, the students arrive! Hehehe kidding Ü

Well, I know it's been a little quiet on the western front, but I've been working on organizing "Studio K", a.k.a my craft room. I get many peeps asking to see how I organize my little craft space, so maybe that might be happening... sometime... in the near future...just sayin'...

But for today, I have a card to share.
Here it is:

I used my old favorite paper- Moonrise by SEI and my new favorite embossing folder from the Cuttlebug Decorative Tile set- this 4 pack of folders is a winner! The beautiful sentiment comes from the Vertical Greetings II from MFT which I heat embossed in gold. I added a Rolled Rose to the seam binding bow.

Here's another peek at it:

I used this week's MFT sketch:

 I'll be playing along in the following challenges:
Crazy 4 Challenges: Ribbons & Bows
Crafty Catz: Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend: Anything Goes
Crafty Creations: Anything Goes

Now, I've gotta get ready for tomorrow...
Gotta go!

Tilda with Many Hearts

Hi friends,
It's been so great having so much extra crafty time during Winter break. I sure will miss it :( so I thought I'd get a jump start on my Valentine cards.
Here's the first:

 I feel like it's been forever since I inked up a Maggie! She's Tilda with Many Hearts colored with Copics. I paper pieced her dress & her little UGGs  Ü  All those hearts she's carrying were Stickled in different shades of pinks & reds.
Here's a closer peek at that:

Here's a quick peek of the innies:

I used this week's awesome sketch at The Sweet Stop:

Tilda is going to play nicely with others in the following challenges:
Divas by Design: Anything Goes
MDUC: Anything Goes
Magnolia-licious Highlites: Jan Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for peeking today!
Have a goodie!

 The 411 
Stamps: Tilda with Many Hearts, Short & Sweet -SU
Paper: Crazy Love- BoBunny, Close to Cocoa, Pink, Cream
Tools: lace heart border punch- MS, copics, Stickles, Ribbon Banners dies, Conversation Hearts CBEF

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year blog friends!
I meant to post this much earlier today, but I woke up late. Hmmm... wonder why? ;)
Here's my new card for the new year:

 I used this cutie New Year's Anya that the good peeps at the Greeting Farm gave as a freebie a couple of years ago. She's colored with Copics. Her dress has a lovely coat of gold Stickles for high sparkle :) I decided to go metallic & use gold, bronze, & silver only.  I used T!m's Weathered clock in the background & the gold panel is embossed with the pocket watches EF.

I played along with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch:

I'll also be playing along in the following challenges:
ABC Challenge: E is for Embossing
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
JUGS: New Year's Sparkle

Thanks for ringing in the new year here. Hope you had a great night!
Time to go!