CAS-ual Friday

Can you believe how fast time flies? When I was a kid, a year seemed like forever. 

Seriously.

But an entire week has gone by and I've not posted any of the things I've been creating. *sigh*

Today at least I'm popping in with a new CAS-ual Friday challenge.

(and don't blame me if you start singing...*wink*)

You must use Kraft and twine on your project for this 2-week challenge!

I wrapped my aqua twine from The Twinery around simple punched squares of kraft and adhered them to a white mat on an orange base. Stamped the sentiment in two colors (I did the orange word first) and called it done!

clean. and. simple.

The sentiment is from a new set by Market Street Stamps (called It Takes Love) and they are also our sponsor this round!  Check out their challenge as well! 

Please join us for this two week long challenge and show us your kraft and twine!

All the DT girls received some fabulous Market Street Stamps to play with so be sure to check out the blog for lots of clever ideas.

Have a Blessed Yule, 

a Merry Christmas, 

a Happy Hanukkah, 

or whatever else it is you might  (or might not) celebrate!

*Mwah*

CAS-ual Friday (add an envelope)

This week's challenge at the CAS-ual Friday blog is to make a coordinating envelope to match your clean & simple card.

Here's my confession:

I have never made a coordinating envelope before.

*shock*

I know, I know...

I used to be really big into mail art and made many, many stamped envelopes and other mail-able art, but never did I make one to coordinate with my card before now! *chuckle*

I used some new Ippity stamps that I purchased from the lovely and talented Sherri Thompson in her Etsy shop. She is the generous sponsor this week of all the DT gals and also the prize!

This set is called The Simple Things.

I taped down a rectangle nestie, sponged ink inside, removed the nestie and stamped the long stem on top before adding the sentiment. Simple and quick. The envelope liner was made by stamping that same flower head multiple times in monochromatic pinks.

I hope you'll play along with us! 

Just link up your project and coordinating envelope on the CAS-ual Friday blog!

*mwah*

Gift Wrapping Blog Hop

Welcome to the Denami December Blog Hop!

If you are joining us today and are following the blog hop order, you should have arrived from Rochelle's amazing blog. For a list of all participants and more details, check out the Denami Blog.

This month's blog hop is all about the GIFT WRAPPING!

I love using stamps to personalize a package or to literally create my own gift wrapping. 

It's just one more way of creating the perfect gift for that special someone. *smile*

Denami has a great downloadable template to make a very similar box, or you can purchase a package of 10 of them all ready to go!

I used the Small Solid Holly Leaves and stamped them all over the box made from kraft cardstock before adding several of the tiny ruby red boutique buttons. The tag was made with the Scroll stamp.

 I just love using that Scroll for name tags!

I finished it off with a bow using an older piece of ribbon but you could substitute Denami's Red Glitter Ribbon instead for some true sparkle! 

Your next stop on the hop is Barbara, but be sure to leave a comment here before you go for a chance to win one of TWO $20 Denami gift certificates! If you comment on every blog in the hop your name will be in the running!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are having a fabulous day.

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday misting

I'm back with another new challenge for the CAS-ual Friday blog.

We were challenged to use a misting product or technique this week. I didn't get fancy, just a simple spritz of some glimmer mist, but you could easily make your own too! 

Other ideas:

1. Mask off part of your card, then spray. Remove mask to see results.

2. Dip a paintbrush or old toothbrush in some reinker and splatter by running a finger along the bristles or flicking it at the paper.

3.  Add fine water droplets to your background of distress inked paper.

4.  Utilize an airbrush system or marker misting tool.

5. Channel your inner child and spray ink or paint from a brush onto paper by blowing through a straw.

We were sponsored by Sweet Stamp Shop and got to work with a stamp set of our choice!

I chose Old School Rock and it's such a fun retro set, especially if you were of the 80s walkman/leg warmer persuasion as a teen! LOL (am I dating myself here?)

I hope you join us this week and give misting a try!

Thanks for stopping by,

Have a fabby weekend!

*mwah*

Christmas challenge

Hello blogging friends!

I'm popping in to share my card for the Denami Christmas Theme Challenge and I hope you'll play along with us.

I used the Pine Strand to stamp the backdrop on my Celery cardstock first, then used the Contempo Christmas sentiment on a die cut panel and added the Holly Leaves that I fussy cut on top!

I love this simple card and it would be great for reproducing en masse, don't you think?

Join us for this challenge because the winner gets a gift certificate to the Denami store!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

CAS-UAL Friday (tic tac toe)

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm in a super good mood today and have a fun time lined up for this evening so I'm a bit giddy! *chuckle*

I hope you all had a chance to play along with our last CAS-ual Friday challenge. The two week time frame was fun, right?

This week it's even better!

Choose your row of three and get creative!

I clearly chose the PINK, CHEVRONS, AQUA row, and I have to say that I love this simple and clean card that just happened to fall into place.  I love that chevron stamp from the You're The Man set at PCD, and the words are from For The Love Of Dots! 

We are sponsored this week by the Paper Temptress and she mailed each of us Girl Fridays a whole slew of paper. Only mine didn't arrive in time so I had to use my own *pout*

But check out what the store has anyway because I'm sure you'll find something!

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's clean and simple challenge!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Pine sprig ornaments

I'm popping in today to share some sweet ornaments I made using this week's Product Spotlight stamp from Denami...Small Pine Sprig.

This week only it's on sale and there are just so many ways you can use it!

The DT has lots of ideas to share with you on the Denami Blog.

I used a free template and stamped the pine sprig in white all over one of the grey birdhouse bases, and attached it to the front of the other after fussy cutting around it.

I also used it on the tags to add interest near the sentiment. Some ribbon and twine finished it off!

So grab your pine sprig stamp and be sure to check out the DT samples using it on the Denami Blog!

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT!

Denami is having a Black Friday sale for those of you with long wish lists! *grin*

EVERYTHING is 20% off!!!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday if you celebrate.

Thanks for stopping by,

*Mwah*

CAS-ual Friday! Sketch!

Good morning crafty friends!

I'm in a chipper mood and ready to get this day rolling!

This CAS-ual Friday challenge will last for TWO weeks so don't fret. 

You have extra time to enjoy the holiday coming up. Our challenge is a sketch by the super-duper Karen. *sigh* I do love a good sketch, and she doesn't disappoint!

I used the curly dove from Denami, and the sentiment from Trade Fish Designs (who happens to be our sponsor!). The earth was made by sponging distress ink onto my nestie circle and doodling with a white gel pen. Didn't turn out too badly!

Join us in the challenge, and remember you have TWO WEEKS to link up your project!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Anything but a card Blog hop!

Welcome to the Denami November Blog Hop!

You should have arrived from the lovely Glenda's blog, but if you want the whole list check out the Denami blog for details.

So you won't see any cards on this hop...but anything else goes! 

I went with pillow boxes because I love the size of the Denami downloadable ones. 

The pink pillow box uses the Small Heart Pair, the Harlequin Border (on the BG with Versamark), the Decorative Love sentiment and some Black grosgrain ribbon.

For the lavender one I used the Mini Butterfly trio, the Mini butterfly, and the Elegant Floral Leaf Sprig (in the BG with Versamark), before adding the sentiment and the purple buttons.

Your next stop on the hop is the incredibly talented Lisa!

Be sure to leave a comment here and at each stop along the way for a chance at winning one of TWO $20 gift certificates to the Denami store.

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

CAS-ual Fridays-Tag

Yes, today is Veterans' Day. And also 11/11/11.  

Not just a day off from work or school, but a day to remember all those that risked life and limb to fight for what they believed was right.

My dad was a WWII Marine. 

He lied about his age in order to enlist (he was 17). He survived all four campaign battles (Tinian, Roi Namur, Saipan and Iwo Jima), and eventually returned and raised 7 children. Along the way he found time to hike the entire Appalachian Trail 2 1/2 times. He died in November 2008, at age 84, and I miss him every day.

Hug a Veteran today!

So there's a new challenge at the CAS-ual Friday Blog...Create a tag!

I love making tags. They are smaller canvases and are perfect for the clean & simple style.

I made this one for a bag of gourmet candy drops using some really fun stamps from Purple Onion Designs!

(and they just happen to be our sponsor too! *wink*)

Believe it or not, Purple Onion Designs were some of the first stamps I ever owned after I got into stamping.

They used to come in my Self Addressed kits every month. Anyone out there remember those? LOL! I'm pretty sure I still have a few unopened kits somewhere! *shhhh*

So join us by making a clean & simple tag this week, either alone or on a project!

Thanks for stopping by today,

*mwah*

Snowy Mittens

I admit it.

I still wear mittens.

None of those silly finger-less gloves for me. I need my hands to be toasty warm, and mittens are where it's at! *grin*

This week's Product Spotlight at Denami is this adorable, easily personalized, large mitten.

It's so versatile! 

I used the large snowflake embossed with white e.p. to make it look fun, along with the sentiment and some of the unique PP from the Stella collection.

Here's what I did to "flip" the mitten: stamp with Versamark onto a sheet of acetate (I used a sheet that originally had clear stamps on it), emboss outline with white e.p, cut mitten shape out, including the center, flip over and glue embossed outline to my blue cardstock!

If you are in need of this fun stamp, I recommend getting it while it's on sale this week.

And stop by the Denami blog to see oodles of other mitten ideas from the DT!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

P.S. The Denami shopping cart is having some issues but I will update with links as soon as the trouble is fixed.

Sketch challenge

Poor Mondays...they have a bad reputation, do they not? *smile*

I had a really great weekend with my bestie. 

Good food, good wine, great conversation! What more could a girl ask for?!

And the darling girl gave me a "rainy day present" that she KNEW I wanted from my Pinerest wish list! Eeek!

Wanna see?

                                                                                                                 Source: uncommongoods.com via Dana on Pinterest

Yep. She bought me this most incredible umbrella. Only a bit different in design.

*swoon*

So about the sketch challenge...

Denami is sponsoring this perfectly CAS sketch!

You can see I flipped it a bit, and I used one of my favorite flower stamps, Large flower spray. 

I colored them in with a white gel pen and added the tiny dots beside the sentiment to finish it off.

Create a card using this sketch as inspiration and link it up to the Denami blog for a chance at winning a fabulous prize!

Thanks for stopping by today,

*mwah*

CAS-ual Fridays!

I haven't been so happy to see Friday in a long while. *happy sigh*

Some weeks are just better when they end, ya know? *smile*

Plus, my BFF is coming out for a visit and I'm so excited! Haven't seen her since July!

But it's time for a new CAS-ual Friday challenge and its a fun one.

Hang or extend a panel or image off the edge of your card!

Now, I occasionally make a card and really WANT to do this, but don't (so it will mail easier), but when it came time for this challenge, I was stumped! It was like a mental block or something.*chuckle*

Because it's been getting so cold and snowy here already, I was pining for spring and these colors and stamps (Verve) just called to me. I already miss the greens of summer...*sad face*

We are sponsored by Lil Inker Designs this week and I gotta say I love their stuff. Honestly. Clever and unique stamps and dies. 

Join us this week and extend something beyond the edge of your card!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Hi!

Coming at you today with a new CAS-ual Friday challenge!

I loved all the samples from last week's "color" theme...what a great turnout.

So this week is a bit different. We have a sketch for you!

And we are sponsored by the awesome LAWN FAWN again!

I used the Hello Friend set for the card above. 

Sometimes a simple sentiment is all you need on some pretty paper, right? *smile*

I hope you'll join is this week and submit your cards using this fun sketch by Laura to the CAS-ual Friday challenge!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*