CASE Study week #2

So last night I was browsing blogs and realized I hadn't gotten to create a card for the second week of the Case Study Anniversary celebration and I instantly thought.... its 11pm, by the time I wake and do it tomorrow, it will be too late, so it ain't happening'.  Boo-Hoo! 

Then I thought... why admit defeat?! I want to play! 

So I decided if I created out of my ENORMOUS stash of painted/diecut/stamped things that just sit there most of the time, it would pull together in no time flat.  Well, it pulled together... fairly quickly, but not as fast as I thought it would! So much for my theory!

Here is my card... it is by no means ground breaking but it was a fast fly by my pants kind of a card, so I don't think it turned out too shabby. What do you think:

I was inspired by Maureen's card here.  Her's was so nice and soft and lovely. Again, I seem to have forgotten about the soft and lovely part for my card ;)

I had a bright pink panel that was watercolored with distress inks that I ran through the Cuttlebug with a Taylored Expressions cutting plate and then made it into a circle with a Spellbinders die cut. I had the other pink and white circles cut from a crazy card long ago. I die cut the vellum banner. Sponged a scrap piece of white for behind the banner and added sequins, and this card was born.

Now as for my photography, well there is just no excuse. Plain and simple. Gotta run this morning and have only a bit of time left to post so no fancy-smancy stuff today. Just my camera, my arm and some light from the window. So do with it what you will!

Thanks for stopping in today. Head on over to CASE Study for their anniversary celebration. Lots of fun to be had!!

xoxo
k

Case Study 4th Anniversary Challenge + SSS Kids Challenge

Hey everybody. Today is a double bang post. I feel like there are so many things to participate in, i can't decide which one to do first. Then as I'm checking things out online, my list gets even longer and then I usually got to bed and forget altogether what I wanted to do until the last minute and then its a mad dash and double posts!

Today I wanted to share with you my challenge card for the first week of the Case Study Anniversary. I was inspired by Laura Bassen and HER CARD from the blog hop (seriously, who's not?) I love when she does her sponging with inks. It seems too fun not to join in. I actually made two cards. the first one was SO messy, I cannot in good conscience show it to you. I used some Tim Holtz Specialty paper and that stuff is so slick, it does not take much ink to make your mark. And in fact, I made my mark ALL OVER the card, so while it still got made, its the kind you send to your mother because you know she will love it regardless ; )

Ok, but the other card I made is here:

I found some new stencils at the art store! Can I get an AW-YeaH! This one is by Plaid. I LOVE it! I used three shades of Distress Inks and blended them all up nice and smooth. This Tim Holtz Specialty paper is really cool and takes that ink like buddah. So smooth like.  I die cut my hello using a technique I saw over at Damask Love (I think.. sorry Amber!) A quick little thing to help spread your die cut from end to end. Inside I added some Wink Of Stella to help the hello shimmer.

And just because I'm in the mood, here is my first card I made. Very similar to Laura's card, except for super messy! I only show it to you so you can be sure that I am NOT a perfect crafter and not afraid to show it. I can be sloppy and distracted, and it's just not pretty.

Ok, next challenge is the Kids Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp. I asked my older boys if they wanted to participate and they both quickly said 'No'! So I roped my little 4 year old into it. He LOVES art. He loves to paint and colour and especially cut. He will cut up the whole house if I don't watch him. So today I tried to suppress my inner 'control freak' and let him hang around the office. Which he does anyway, but this time I didn't try to stop him from tearing through things. I will be honest, it was difficult for me to create while he was in there. I just couldn't concentrate! But it was fun to share space with this little guy. He's just so pleasant all the time. 

I had to help him stamp, because it was his first time! He showed me where to put all the 'guys'. He said the "super hero (i.e. vampire) goes at the top." He really liked it. My favourite was when he said "Lets do a bats, cause bats is awesome." Then while he was colouring he said, "Do I have to colour all this?" "Why?" to which I told him, "Because we get prizes if we win"!! Ok.. that's not the only reason I roped him into this, is it? 

Actually this picture is why I did it.... Cause look at that mug! He was so excited to take pictures and wanted to show his team spirit. Can you see his hand? That was from him painting his entire arm today at a friends house. I told you he LOVEs art....all over his body!  So this is his card! My cute little guy with the crazy red curls and sweet smile. I love him so...

Ok, that's all for me today. I must go to bed. I have an early morning bus ride to take big boys to school. Can't wait until my husband gets back into town so he can start doing it again! I'm definitely ready for a break (I'm such a whiner.. I have only done it a handful of times, but riding a bus for an hour at 6:30 in the am, just plain stinks!)

Thanks for stopping in today.

xoxo

k

CASE Study #202

This is the last week with muse Shari Carroll over at CASE Study. Her work is always so intricate and stunning. And this weeks piece is no different. Just look at it... It's so amazing and great inspiration!:

Here is my take on it:

I absolutely adore the vibrancy of the red flower against the craft background on Shari's card. Her colouring is amazing! I decided to emboss the flowers from Altenew's Henna Elements in white and colour in my flowers with coloured pencils. I used red and then added in some orange for the outside petals and small flowers and some pink for the inside petals (on the large flower).

I did a little stamping with Versamark on the kraft background to add some detail and made up a sentiment banner with a notched edge backed with some white card stock. I am IN LOVE with these sentiment die cuts by Little B. They are just perfect for everything and I can't stop using them, as I'm sure you've noticed ; )

That's all for today. I'm excited to see what they have in store for the CASE Study anniversary starting next week. Woot! I love a party!

Thanks for stopping in.
xoxo
k

CASE Study Challenge #199

Hey there peeps! I have been battling a fever all weekend and when today came I was determined not to let it get in the way! Because of course, my mojo has been struggling for the last little bit and there is no better way to get it going again than with a challenge. So I joined in CASE Study just in time.

This weeks muse is Shari Carroll. And as you know, she is amazing. She has all the knowledge, the techniques and the talent! She really got me working. Thank you Shari! 

Here is the inspiration:

Here is my card. I did keep it simple because I had limited brain power but I did feel pretty good about it since it came together fast. I had a little guy at my heels begging for food and a chance to paint. Needless to say I had to get this thing going fast!

This is what I did. I painted some text print with some Kaiser Craft paint and then die cut them into circles. I added some Paper Wings Productions stamps (Sacred Geometry) to the circles. I stamped and fussy cut my sentiment and die cut 2 butterflies one out of painted text print and one out of vellum. I glued the butterflies slightly skewed and added some Basic Grey enamel dots. Before I laid everything down I did a quick water-colour wash in white on my kraft card base. I wanted a little something on the bottom and this worked out well. Nice and simple.

And here is a close up:

Cardstock base is from Simon Says Stamp. Butterfly die cut is Papertrey Ink. What else have I missed?? Oh yes... a thank you! Thank you to you friend for your sweet visit. I have has so many of you stop in and comment and I am behind in hopping around to everyone else. I hope to get some tylenol, some hot water and my computer and hop by to say hello to you! Thanks so much for your visit!

Until next time.

k