Celebrate!

Hello!

I hope everyone had a great long weekend!  Most of us here in Ontario enjoyed Family Day weekend and our friends south of the border hopefully enjoyed a great President's Day!  Our family enjoyed a morning at home.  Trevor took the boys outside to play while I got some cleaning done.  In the afternoon we went to our church skate!  Jacob (who is just learning to skate) did amazing!  We were so proud of him!  

Okay, I had a few minutes in my craft room this weekend!  The sad thing is that a good chunk of that time was spent cleaning my disastrous craft room!  It looks so much better though!

I wanted to make a card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  I have a slight shortage of birthday cards so I wanted to stock up!  I know this card doesn't exactly fit the requirements.  I added some silver glimmer paper in there as well!  I tried to stick to just black, white and the melon mambo BUT the card lacked something so I added in the glimmer!

I love the new Secret Garden Stamp set! You may see a lot of that lately!!!  I used the die to cut out the big flower then hand cut the other two layers!  I used black embossing powder to make the flower stand out a little more.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Silver Glimmer
Stamps: Secret Garden, Topsy Turvy
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Other: Black Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestone, Two-Step Bird Punch, Secret Garden Framelits Dies, Lacy Brocade Textured Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow!!!

Jen!

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge

 Hello!
The weekend is here!  I had a great day today (Saturday)! My husband let me sleep in a tad which was wonderful.  The boys went out to the flying field this afternoon and left me in a quiet house!  It was lovely....absolutely lovely!  I created a special wall hanging this afternoon for my neighbour Owen who LOVES Halloween.  I can't say I'm a big Halloween fan myself however he and his brother have drawn pumpkins all over the driveway and the anticipation in their house is building for October 31st!  I'll have some pictures for you tomorrow!

Today's card is for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  I love Black and White cards!  I decided to add is some red to this one!  I love red!  I wanted to use the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the coordinating Blossom Punch.  I should have used the Delicate Doily Embossing folder or the Vintage Wallpaper but I chose the Fancy Fan instead!  I cut a flower out of the black before I adhered the red flower on.  I also embossed the flower in clear embossing powder!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Itty Bitty Banners

Ink: Versamark, Basic Black

Other: Real Red Satin Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, 3/4" Circle Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Banners Framelites, Dimensionals, Blossom Punch

Here's a picture of my little sweetheart before he headed off to his first full day of school.  Hard to believe it.  He did awesome!  He said he had a great day and came home absolutely exhausted!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day!

Jen

CAS-ual Friday's and Lego!

Hello!
How is your week starting out?  We had an errand day today which usually doesn't go over too well with two little boys.  Tonight though we opted for cheap entertainment and went to the GO-Train station (our local commuter train into Toronto) to watch the trains.  I have two little boys who LOVE trains on my hands so they were in train heaven!

Today's card is for this week's CAS-ual Friday's Challenge.  This week's challenge to create a clean and simple square card.  I'm not too sure my card is too clean and simple but it was really simple to make!  This is for a friend of mine how's precious little boy is turning 4 in September!  He loves all things Lego (oh and Cars too!).  I wanted to stick with a "4" theme on the card hence the 4 Lego blocks (that has 4 knobs on them)!  

These blocks are 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" and I used a 3/4" punch to create the circles.  The mini block inside the card is a 3/4" square with mini 1/4" circles on it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Basic Black
Other: 3/4" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, Timeless Type Sizzlit, Bitty Banners Framelits, Dimensionals


These pictures are from the fun fly on Sunday.  This is my husband's new crop duster (air tractor). Nothing runs like a Deere you know!  Caleb likes to "help" his dad fly...he's too cute!  I'm so glad he likes to be with his dad!  The air tractor looks great with smoke!

Thanks for stopping by!  We'll see you tomorrow with the Freshly Made Sketches card for the week!

Have a great day!
Jen

CAS-ual Fridays Back is Black!

Hello!
So sorry I've been MIA much of this past week!  We packed up Thursday and headed out Friday morning to visit my parents!  The boys are in Grannie and Papa heaven!  Mommy is now the least of their concerns and they only listen to Papa!!!  They have played monster trucks, driven RC monster trucks, had many water gun fights, played trains and read stories...little boy heaven!

So, I'm trying to get ready for a workshop I'm having on Tuesday night.  So far it's not going so well.  I decided to tackle the CAS-ual Fridays challenge this week to see if I could help the Mojo along...needless to say it's not helping so far!

This week's challenge is to create a Clean and Simple Card using black as the card base.  I knew right away I wanted to do a Christmas card using the new Ornament Keepsakes stamps from SU!  I couldn't resist.  The coordinating dies make these stamps SOOOOO easy peasy!  The new Holiday Catalogue is jam packed with so many wonderful goodies!

I added some rhinestones and then backed my sentiment in silver glimmer paper to add a little sparkle.

I may have brought almost all of my card making supplies on the airplane with me BUT I realized now I did forget many things that I could have used!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black. Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Petite Pairs
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Basic Rhinestones, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll try and have another card for you tomorrow...hopefully I'll have my workshop cards done too!!!

Jen

Clean and Simple Maple Leaf

Hello!
I hope you all had a great day!  It was hot here today...very hot.  42+ degrees C (or about 108 F) with the humidity.   The boys played outside a bit this morning but by this afternoon it was WAY too hot!  We did however go to see Madagascar 3 with them late afternoon.  Caleb loved it...Jacob got bored!  Go figure!

Okay, another sneak peek at some new Holiday Catalogue goodies.  Unfortunately my picture does not do the new Champagne glimmer paper justice.  It's just beautiful and more coppery to me than champagne but none the less!  I also love the new buttons...The metallic colour is so perfect for fall!  It's also hard to tell from this picture but the leaf is embossed with the new Early Espresso Embossing Powder! Oh and don't forget my favourite...the new Woodgrain Textured Embossing Folder.

This week's CAS-ual Friday's challenge card is to create a Clean and Simple card using "Text".  I think my maple leaf qualifies perfectly!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer
Stamps: Wonderfall, Falling Leaves (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark
Other: Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back tomorrow with another Holiday Sneak Peek card!

Jen

CAS-ual Friday's Bling

Hello!
I hope you've enjoyed your weekend!  We had a nice, quiet relaxing weekend!  I think those are my favourite kind!   I managed to get a few cards done this afternoon while my dearest husband took our two monkeys swimming!

So, if you haven't read, heard etc....I have been picked to join the Freshly Made Sketches Design Team!!! I am so incredibly excited and honoured!  I can't wait to get working with Lesley and her fabulous Clean Team!  Check out their blog on Wednesday for my first contribution!!!

Today's card is my submission for the CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  This week's challenge was to create a clean and simple card that used gemstones, glitter or anything that sparkles.  I saw the challenge and thought to myself - this one's going to be easy!  I started creating my first card for one of my best friend's...it turned out disastrous and will be the highlight of tomorrow's blog post!  After that it took me a while to come up with another one.  Oh the joys of card making!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Forever
Ink: Basic Black. Versamark
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones, Blossom Punch

CAS Dad

Hello!
It's almost the middle of the week!  I think at this point I realize I'll survive the week!!  My oldest son has started his vision therapy and it's been very hard on Mommy and on him.  The new exercises really strain his eye muscles and since we do them first thing in the morning he tends to have sore eye muscles and a headache for the rest of the day.  Today was the first day that he said his eyes didn't hurt!  I think we're making some progress.  Almost 1 week done...9 months to go.  Ugh.  Seems daunting right now but we've seen the progress he's made over the last year so we know it's working and worth the pain!

Okay...enough of us!  Today's card is my submission for the CAS-ual Friday's challenge.  It didn't turn out quite as I had envisioned.  That seems to be happening a lot these days!!!

The challenge this week was to create a masculine card using DSP (designer series paper).   The challenge also requires that the card be CAS - clean and simple.

I have "borrowed" my mom's Timeless Type alphabet die set from my mom!  She's the best mom in the world and willingly lends me her stuff whenever I want!  They don't get any better!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
DSP: Nautical Expedition
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Other: Button, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Timeless type Sizzlets dies

Out of This World

Hello!
I hope you had a great day!  We were back to the grind today.  My youngest and I ran around and did some errands.  He's not a big fan of shopping so let's just say I faced some resistance!

I tackled the CAS-ual Fridays challenge yesterday.  The challenge was pretty simple.  A clean and simple (CAS) card using punches or dies.  I am in need of Father's Day cards still so I decided I would use the challenge to get another card made!

I used the Loved Ones stamp set from Stampin' Up! and some silver embossing powder to create the DAD.  I cut it out afterwards so it would fit better on the punched out shape.

The other stamp set used (rocket and sentiment) is non-SU.

I think this card might be perfect for my boys to give their dad!  It's not an airplane but it does fly!!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Basic Black. Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Loved Ones, Boys Basics - Out of this World (non-SU)
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Other: Silver Embossing Powder, Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Glitter, Black Pearl, Decorative Label Punch, Rocket Ship die, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jen

CAS Flowers

Hello!
Hope your week has started off well! We had a great weekend and we are enjoying a good start to the week.

This is my card for this week's CAS-ual Friday's challenge. This week's challenge was to create a clean and simple card using flowers - it's spring you know! How could I not use my Field Flowers stamp set?!

This card was created for a very special customer who needs a 50th birthday card for her aunt who loves flowers and purple! I hope she likes it!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Stamps: Field Flowers, Petite Pairs
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade
Other: Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Curly Label Punch

CAS-ual Baby

 Hello!
I hope your week has started out well!  I wasn't too impressed with the weather we had here in Southern Ontario - including some snow!  Thankfully it did not stay on the ground!   Looking forward to warmer weather towards the end of the week!

I had a friend deliver her baby last week at 29 weeks gestation.  Her little princess is a mere 1.9 lbs and has started the biggest fight of her life.  Her mom had an emergency c-section (due to pre-eclampsia) and is recovering but they are struggling to accept this new normal.  We have been praying for this dear family and their new little bundle!

I wanted to make a special card for them to let them know that we are thinking of them and praying for them but also congratulating them on this special arrival!

I used the CAS-ual Fridays sketch this week to come up with the idea for the card.  I had seen the cute dresses a few different places and thought they would be cute for the card!  They are made using the Owl belly from the 2-step Owl Builder Punch.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum
Stamps: Baby Bundle
Ink: Basic Black
Other: Basic Pearls, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon

CAS-ual Fridays Birthday

Hello!
I love CAS (Clean and Simple) cards...they totally fit my personality...which is kind of sad!  I found the CAS-ual Friday's sketch a little bit of a stretch for me this week since I had to use opposite colours!  It is fun to stretch the imagination!

The goal of CAS cards is to have a fair bit of "white" space...that being said the "white" space doesn't necessarily have to be white...I tend to prefer white for whatever reason!!!

Anyhow,  I wanted to use my Mixed Bunch stamp set again...I love this set and find I can use it for so much and get so many different cards out of it.  I also used my Melon Embossing Powder on this card to add a little extra something!



Thanks for stopping by!  Hopefully I'll have a Mojo Monday card for you tomorrow!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Curly Cute
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Other: Melon Embossing Power, Brights Button, Floss, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals