Floral Intervention!

I just may be in need of an intervention! Step away from the floral stamps!! Here are attempts #2 and #3 for CAS(E) this Sketch #90. I am still not 100% happy and think that I am in a bit of creative slump. You know..... stamps, paper scraps, snippets of cards scattered here and there, and none of your mediocre ideas coming together. That's when the stamping counselor should step in and I should retreat to read a book, weed the garden, hang some sheets on the line, cook a real dinner, etc. You get the idea! Anyway.......

CAS(E) this Sketch #90!

Apparently, I still have polka dots and lots o' pink on the brain! Here's a beautiful sketch from Chrissy that is way more that just versatile! I could've gone in a million directions with this one.... I was ping- ponging from one idea to another (and trying really hard to keep it simple!).  Big surprise that the flowers won out! 

Please enjoy all that the CAS(E) this Sketch DT has to offer - there are some inspirational beauties to be taken in!!

We hope that you'll join in and create your own masterpiece!

PTI Stamp-a-faire Timed Challenge

I'm just barely squeakin' this one in for the PTI Stamp-a-faire Morning Timer Challenge! I wasn't able to join in the festivities this past weekend, but the Morning Timer Challenge provided five fabulous color palettes and five amazing sketches. Lots of inspiration (for weeks to come) and many really great creations ....... wow, take a peak!

August 2014 PTI Blog Hop-Take Two!!

Here I am again.... and staying true to the Rasberry Fizz/white/gold color scheme this time! I love the little gold bow accents in the inspiration photo, so stamped a bit of gold embossed/polka dot card stock, die cut three little bows, and added the cute little sentiment from Topiary Trio. No time for the matching envelope as I am getting this finished just under the wire (running out of daylight!). You still have time to join in over at the PTI August hop. Quick!!

  

August 2014 PTI Blog Hop!

I'm playing along at PTI's August Blog Hop because who can resist that Kate Spade inspiration photo? Not I! My card is embossed-though not gold. And those are certainly not polka dots..... but close enough I hope?? I love the embossed card stock (bought at Buffalo Stamps' annual garage sale for a steal!) and wanted to use this as my bg, along with a monogram stamp purchased long ago at Paper Source in Chicago and some Rasberry Fizz cs. Oh, and got to use that great envelope maker (which needs to be returned to my MIL asap!). Lots of beautiful creations over at the hop, so I'm headed back for more ideas!

CAS(E) this Sketch #89

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. Hope that you're enjoying some lovely end of summer weather too! 

Here's a beautiful CAS sketch from Leigh! I used an amazing Studio Calico set (thanks Lindsay!!), which I happen to be quite enamored with!! Loving the designers of these stamps, 1canoe2 Letterpress, and hope that they'll do more for SC! This card is almost all stamping (and could be a one layer card if you stamped really carefully!) and lots of color! 
Happy Thursday. Hope that you'll join in at CAS(E) this Sketch #89!!

CAS(E) this Sketch #88

Hi all! Welcome back to CAS(E) this Sketch #88! We've been on mini hiatus as the last challenge was a two week CTS/Tag, You're It two-fer.  And apparently many of you were duly inspired..117 entries! Wow, just phenomenal creativity! 

Anyway, here is an incredible/versatile sketch from the multi talented Donna Mikasa! The DT has created some amazing projects and we hope that you'll be inspired to do the same! I went super simple here.... hardly any stamping. But these colors make me happy! Wishing you a wonderful thirsty Thursday and a relaxing weekend!

Papertrey Ink - MIM # 175

I'm joining in at Papertrey Ink's MIM!

The challenge is to create shaped borders using non-border dies. Danielle has created such a beautiful card and makes this technique look like a piece of cake! For me, not so much.... figuring out which dies might work, keeping dies square, trying to stamp accurately once I'd spent a bit of time lining up the perfect cut, photographing a card with a trimmed away front, etc. Phew. Yes, definitely a fun and creative exercise!

Kinda, Sorta.....

Happy Saturday! Well, we've been to the public market, planted some new herbs, made a batch of pickles, and picked up some stuff purchased on Craigslist. Time for a nap OR more coffee?? 

Anyway, I have a random card - one that might qualify for the current CAS(E) this Sketch/Tag, You're It challenge. Diagonal stripes... check. A tag..... check. I've attempted a new to me technique in using a stencil and Distress inks (thinking that I need a bit more practice!). And yes, perhaps I'm just a bit obsessed with those PTI word dies!