Callin' All Sistahs - December Edition

It's that time of the month ...

Calling All Sistahs is a campaign started by Michele Gross of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps after her discovery of breast cancer.   The idea behind it is to remind our sistahs to do their monthly self exams and annual mammograms.  Michele designed the Calling All Sistahs collection during her cancer treatment and is now donating 50% of her profits from that line to National Breast Cancer Foundation.  This is an important reminder for all my sistahs.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the US and 1 in 9 women in Canada will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Look around, do you see 8 (or 9) women? Think about it, on average, one of them will develop breast cancer. It's up to us to do something to do what we can to reduce that incidence. Annual mammograms and monthly self exams are one way for us to take an active role. This is your monthly reminder.

Michele is being super generous by offering to three random winners, selected from those leaving comments on the various stops of the blog hop, $15 gift certificates to CASual Fridays Stamps.  Only the comments left before 12:00am (EDT) on the 19th of December will be considered for the great prize.

We'd love to have you join us on this important Blog Hop. The Calling All Sistahs' Blog Hop will require the use of any CASual Fridays product, no longer restricted to the Calling All Sistahs' product line. Won't you join us and help us to spread the word?

Here's my card

I thought that I'd make a word cluster cards because I love all the sentiments on CAS-ual Fridays' Calling All Sistahs stamp set. Since this month's theme was "Make Time", I stamped these words in a contrasting gray. I didn't have a sentiment that would work, so I used the "Make" from Altenew's Simple Flowers stamp set (the sentiment is actually You make me happy) and the "Time" from Paper Smooches' Birthday Sampler stamp set (the sentiment is actually Party Time).

Next stop on the blog hop is Lydia Evans

Here's the complete blog hop list

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps 

Penny Ward
Jeanne Jachna
Lori Kobular
Kelly Griglione
Sandi Pressley
Kimberly Rendino
Ceal Pritchett
Lisa Lahiff

Sue Nagata
Lydia Evans
Nora Noll
Shona Chambers
Vicki Dutcher
Heather North

Thanks for joining us and make time to check yourself.

sue

a2z Scrapbooking

It's the 14th of the December and that means that I'm up at a2z Scrapbooking.

Here's my card

I had purchased this Hero Arts CL943 Color Layering Bouquet stamp set. I wasn't sure how to line the various layer stamps up. Well, lucky me, there is a nice diagram on the backside of the stamp package. I used my MISTI to help me line up the different layers. Fortunately for me, Hero Arts put together some of their shadow inks into ink cube collections to help me with my ink color choices. For this card, I used Hero Arts Lucy's Floral Favorite Ink Cubes AF355. I trimmed the panel and added 1/4" stripes.

Thanks for visiting
sue

House of Cards Holiday Blog Hop and DT call

It's the beginning of another month. That means that it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards. Actually, it's a design team blog hop in addition to a photo inspiration challenge, which runs December 1st to 15th.

 Here's the blog hop order

House of Cards

Mynn 

 Cohenna

   Donna 

 Em

   Heather 

 Jane 

 Judy 

Karen 

 Katarina 

 Katy 

  Leslie 

 Linda 

Merethe

Michele 

Paula 

Rocky 

Rosi 

 Ruza

Shawna 

 Shirley 

  Sue N. <<this is me

  Susan 

 Tina 

 Toni

Here's my card

I was inspired by the red wreath, the lime green colour and a big bow. The stamp is H217S from one of our sponsors, Great Impressions. I stamped the image with versamark on vellum, used gold embossing powder and heat set. I positioned the sentiment, which is also a Great Impressions stamp, B73S and also used gold embossing powder and heat set it. I coloured the back side of the vellum with copics.

I'm always looking for ways to adhere the vellum that doesn't result in "splotches" of adhesive which can be seen through the vellum. I hid the adhesive behind pearl embellishments on the corners.

Next on the blog hop is Susan

Thanks for visiting
sue

AAA Cards: CAS Game #78

Joining the current challenge at AAA Cards



Here's my card

I created a 2 7/8" circle mask using a circle die. Then, I covered it with Wendy Vecchi's Stampers Anonymous - intersection Circles stencil. I added colour randomly with distress inks (twisted citron, peacock feathers and faded jeans) with ink daubers. The sentiment is die cut from Simon Says STAMP Thanks die. I completed the card with a few sequins for a bit of shine and added a blue mat.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse: ChristmasVisions 72

I'm really getting into the Christmas spirit. Loving the Christmas lights and all the great inspiration here at Muse: ChristmasVisions

This week's Muse is Cornelia Wenokor  Here is her beautiful Christmas tag



Here's my tag

I was inspired by:
- the two tags
- one dark tag with small silver embossed images
- the top tag being vellum, with a stacked sentiment and small image at top

I started with a blue piece of cardstock and white heat embossed ornaments from Catherine Pooler's Holiday Magic Collection Bright Baubles stamp set by Neat & Tangled. I then heat embossed with silver embossing powder, the holly from The Alley Way's Mistletoe Kisses stamp set and the sentiment from Simon Says STAMP Peace on Earth stamp set. I used Stampin' Up's Ornate Tag Topper Punch to create the tags. Finished it off with a bit of silver cord.

Thanks for visiting
sue

a2z Scrapbooking

It's my turn to post my card over at a2z Scrapbooking

Actually it's four mini cards, perfect for sneaking into a child's or a special friend's lunch or bag. Imagine their delight when they find it. It's a great way to let someone special know that you love them, support them and care about them.

I made them using Hero Arts CL939 Lunch Box Notes stamp set, some of Hero Arts mini ink cube sets and some scrap patterned paper.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown: November Stash

Starting to really get into the Christmas spirit and joining the group at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown definitely helps.

Here is this week's challenge




Here's my card

I used Simon Says STAMP's Maryanne Snowflake and Kate Snowflake dies to cut out snowflakes on the front panel. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Lots of Joy stamp set, which I inked with Versamark, sprinkled a bit of Stampin' Up's Dazzling Diamonds glitter and silver embossing powder. Here's a close-up.

I matted the panel with a piece of silver glitter paper an now I have bits of glitter everywhere!

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #193

Love the current Muse card at Muse Challenge. It's this beauty by Jenni Murray.




For my card, I was inspired by:
- the sheep/lamb
- the grass and multi-coloured flowers
- the "pun-ny" sentiment
- the general sketch

Now, I think that I should mention that my sister loves lambs/sheep. She has since she was little. So whenever I find a lamb/sheep inspired stamp set, I purchase it with her in mind.

Here's my card

For the grass, I used Technique Tuesday's Wildflowers stamp set. The flowers were die cuts using Paper Smooches Flowers dies. The lamb/sheep and sentiment are from Poppystamps Ewe are the Best stamp set.  I added small rhinestones to add a bit of bling and sparkle.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown: November Theme Challenge

Here's the current challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown



Here's my card

Father Christmas is from My Favorite Things Christmas Cuteness stamp set. I colored the image in with Copic markers. The sentiment is from The Alley Way's Making Holidays Bright stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse: Christmas Visions 71

Just over a month until Santa visits. Can't wait! Hope I made his "good" list.

Over at Muse: Christmas Visions, the current challenge is to use one of the posted tags as inspiration, while making a Christmas or winter-themed tag incorporating vellum. I was inspired by Natasha's tag. Muse: Christmas Visions sponsored 25 Days of Christmas Tags on November 16th.



I love the effect of heat embossing on vellum and colouring with copics on the reverse side. I was also inspired by a single word sentiment in script.  Here's my tag

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #192

Found some time to play over at Muse Card Club where this week's Muse is Tracey McNeely. Her card is beautiful



I didn't know what to do. I don't own any feather stamps. Then I went to my local scrapbook store, and found The Crafters Workshop Mini Fancy Feathers stencil. Here's my card

I was inspired by the:
- orange/yellow background feather
- gold outline/vein feather
- scripty "happy"
- gold strip on right
- general sketch

Using a pencil, I outlined the feather on scrap paper and then cut it out to use as a mask for mustard seed and spiced marmalade distress inks, applied with daubers. Using a gold sparkle gel pen, I traced around the stencil to mimic the veining of the feather. Here's a close-up.

The happy is a die cut from Memory Box - Paintbrush Happy and the "for you" is from Simon Says STAMP Happy stamp set. A gold strip completes this card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Calling All Sistahs - November Edition

It's that time of the month ...

Calling All Sistahs is a campaign started by Michele Gross of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps after her discovery of breast cancer.   The idea behind it is to remind our sistahs to do their monthly self exams and annual mammograms.  Michele designed the Calling All Sistahs collection during her cancer treatment and is now donating 50% of her profits from that line to National Breast Cancer Foundation.  This is an important reminder for all my sistahs.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the US and 1 in 9 women in Canada will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Look around, do you see 8 (or 9) women? Think about it, on average, one of them will develop breast cancer. It's up to us to do something to do what we can to reduce that incidence. Annual mammograms and monthly self exams are one way for us to take an active role. This is your monthly reminder.

Michele is being super generous by offering to three random winners, selected from those leaving comments on the various stops of the blog hop, $15 gift certificates to CASual Fridays Stamps.  Only the comments left before 12:00am (EDT) on the 19th of November will be considered for the great prize.

We'd love to have you join us on this important Blog Hop. So, next month, the Calling All Sistahs' Blog Hop will require the use of any CASual Fridays product, no longer restricted to the Calling All Sistahs' product line. Won't you join us and help us to spread the word?

Here's my card

I was inspired by this card by Joanna Harty

 

I started with a piece of kraft cardstock. I chose the large bloom from the CAS-ual Fridays Mon Ami stamp set. I used versamark, white embossing powder and my heat tool to start the card. I coloured the image with prismacolor coloured pencils. The sentiment, from CAS-ual Fridays' Calling All Sistahs stamp set was also white heat embossed. Using an ink blending tool and picked raspberry distress ink, colour was added to the edges of the kraft cardstock. 

Next on the blog hop is Vicki Dutcher.  

Here's all those taking part in this month's blog hop. 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps 
Jeanne Jachna
Kara Stainbrook 
Kelly Griglione
Kimberly Rendino
Laurel Beard
Lisa Lahiff
Lori Kobular
Lori McAree
Nora Noll
Penny Ward
Sandi Pressley
Shona Chambers
Sue Nagata
Vicki Dutcher
Heather North

Thanks for visiting
sue

Time Out Challenges #69

Finished my card with just a bit of time before the deadline at Time Out Challenges where the theme is

'Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart'


Here's my card

I started by inking up some cardstock using distress inks (hickory smoke, spun sugar and fired brick) from left to right with ink blending tools. I then used Simon Says STAMP's Heart of Roses die.  The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Thanks stamp set. The background panel was embossed using docrafts Small Polka Hearts embossing folder. A 0.75" strip of pink paper and a small bow completes the card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas) Card Throwdown

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I'm inspired to create more Christmas cards. There is a sketch challenge this week, over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.




Here's my card

The small Christmas images and sentiment are from The Alley Way's Mistletoe Kisses stamp set. I coloured the images with copics.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Card Challenge #190

Joining in at Muse, where the Muse card was created by Estelle TBT.

 


I'll be honest. I was going to skip this week because I really didn't know what to do. I kept coming back to stare at Estelle's card.

I was inspired by:
- the woodgrain background
- the triple die cut - grey, pink, dark red
- bow
- single word sentiment
- basic sketch/layout of card

This is what I came up with

I started by inking up a piece of cardstock with distress inks (hickory smoke, spun sugar, fired brick) and ink blending tools. I then used the Simon Says STAMP Heart of Roses die to die cut the heart.  So instead of having 3 die cuts, I used all three colours for my die cut. For the background, I used an embossing folder to create the woodgrain.  I moved the bow to the top of the heart. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Thanks stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Sunday Stamps SSC 138 Two Sides

Loving the sketch for the current challenge at Sunday Stamps




Here's my card

There were so many possibilities floating through my head. I settle on this one - a one layer card and I rotated the sketch.

I masked an area 1.5" wide on the long side of the card. I added colour with distress inks (peacock feathers and twisted citron) and ink blending tools. The image is a Unity Stamp - Flowers from Neverland. The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Keep It Simple - Thank You stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Less is More: Time to Celebrate LIM Week 300

They're celebrating over at Less is More because it's their 300th week challenge. The theme is, what else

Celebrations and Festivals

Here's my card

I wanted to do something a bit different. I have a stamp set that I bought quite some time ago and didn't think to save the packaging. So I have no idea who made this stamp set. I love it, though. I used the koinobori (which is a carp-shaped windsock celebrating Children's Day in Japan). I stamped the koinobori three times and added color with Copics. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' Salutations stamp set. I found a strip of striped paper to complete the card.

Thanks for visiting
sue

The Paper Players: PP319

Participating in the challenge at The Paper Players. I think that this type of challenge is one of my favorites, because there is so much choice. It's a tic-tac-toe challenge.




Here's my card

I chose the top row - red, glitter and snowflakes. I started with some glitter cardstock and die cut the snowflake with Simon Says STAMP Kate Snowflake. I used a Cuttlebug swirl embossing folder for the background to the snowflake. I added a red mat for the embossed panel and tied a bit of bakers twine around this panel. The sentiment is from Catherine Pooler's Holiday Magic Stamp of Approval's Holiday Flourishes stamp set by The Ton, which was heat embossed with silver embossing powder. Here's a close-up

I'm thinking that this is a contender for my Christmas card this year.

Thanks for visiting
sue

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown

I'm finally starting to get into the Christmas spirit and I'm looking for "my" Christmas card to send to family and friends.

The current challenge at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown is




Here's the sketch I chose - Sketch #14 - February 2013



Here's my card

I started with the cute penguins from Penny Black's Let's Chill cling stamps. I stamped them once with a colour (green, pink, blue) where I fussy cut the toques, ear muffs, scarves and once in black. The snowflake is from Catherine Pooler's Holiday Magic Stamp of Approval box - Funky Flakes Fri-Dies from CAS-ual Fridays. I used a silver glitter paper to add a bit of sparkle to the card. Here's a close-up of the sparkle

Thanks for visiting
sue

Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge

The current challenge at Simon Says STAMP Wednesday Challenge is

Anything Goes

This week they are showcasing Lawn Fawn Products 

Here's my card

I was inspired by this card by Kim



I started by stamping flowers and leaves from Lawn Fawn's Flutter stamp set. I then stamped circles from Simon Says STAMP Lots of Dots stamp set with a variety of bright colour inks. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Flower Friend stamp set. I set the panel on a piece of bright pink cardstock.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Essentials by Ellen October Pin-Sights Challenge

There is a great challenge at Essentials by Ellen: the Classroom. It's a pin-sights challenge and here's the great photo inspiration




Here's my card

I was inspired by the beautiful shades of orange of the photo inspiration. I started by heat setting gold embossing powder with Ellen Hutson's Mondo Magnolia stamp on vellum. I added colours with copics (a few shades of orange) on the opposite side of the vellum. I stamped the sentiment on a similar colour of cardstock and made a gold thread nest under the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting
sue

House of Cards November Challenge

WOW - how is it possible that it's already November? Well, since the Trick-or-Treaters were here last night, it must be true. Ready for another great challenge at House of Cards?

Here's this month's challenge

 NOVEMBER 2016

Lots of Layers and/or Colors

Here's my card

I focused on the wood plank door and the pink, brown and gray colours.

I used Stampin Up's Hardwood stamp set with Stampin Up's Early Espresso ink on kraft cardstock. I cut some of the "planks" to create the cross pieces. The little fellow looking through the window is from Unity Stamps meow, purr, baa stamp set. Isn't he cute? I coloured him in with Copics.  The sentiment is die cut from MFT Die-Namics Happy Hellos.

Thanks for visiting
sue

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge - Sketch 304

Finally, made my way back to MFT blog to work on a card for their sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch





Here's my card

I started with MFT LJD Peaceful Wildflowers and my MISTI. I used two shades of distress inks on each of the flowers. I have learned that the small cubes are easier to work with. I decided to place a dark purple panel, die cut with MFT Die-Namics Zig Zag Stitched Oval Stax. The sentiment is from MFT On the Line stamp set and was heat set with silver embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Freshly Made Sketches #260

Joining in with the gang at Freshly Made Sketches this week. Here is their sketch



Here's my card

I rotated the card 90 degrees. I started with Stampin' Up's Holiday Lineup stamp set. I coloured the hats, scarves and noses of the snow people with copics. They sure make me smile! The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Peace on Earth stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue

Muse Challenge #189

Found some time to play in my craft space and made a card for this week's challenge at Muse Card Club. This week's Muse card is this fun creation by Lucille K





OK, I'll be honest. I looked at the fun card and thought I guess that I won't play along this week. I don't have a doughnut stamp or die; I don't have a cupcake stamp or die. Then it hit me, it didn't have to be a doughnut - that's just the starting point, right? So I looked past the doughnut (anyone else craving a Krispy Kreme now?) and looked at the sketch/layout. Since, we're less than two months to Christmas, I thought I'd try to make a Christmas card. Here's my card

I was inspired by
- the general sketch/layout
- the multi-colour, repeated pattern of the vertical panel

I used Stampin' Up's Lots of Joy stamp set with SU's Real Red ink. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Holiday Hellos stamp set.

Thanks for visiting
sue