Kinda CAS

I have new stuff!!! EVERYONE  gets excited about new stuff and I was lucky that I could start playing straight away with my card for the challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week we have a colour challenge

 ...and I got my new stamps inky.

It took me a while to realise that I NEEDED this stamp set and my first card was a case of chucking it altogether to see what came out. I added foam pads to the leaves to get some dimension into my cars and a couple of gems to lift the colours. If you are wondering why the Lost Lagoon looks so pale it is because I stamped off first to get a lighter shade of blue.

You can see the blackberry bliss mat and the raised leaf in this photo. The sentiment is from Whacky Wishes- I dont use these very often but I think they go well with these stamps

I am going to enter a couple of challenges this week. Firstly, Addicted To Stamps and More have a CAS challenge on and ShowCASe your Style want to see birthday cards.

( Oops, missed the deadline on that last one, never mind!)

Two Birdy Cards

Hello.  I have two cards to share with you today.
The first one I am entering in a few challenges but it started out being inspired by this sketch from Make My Monday

 This is such a CAS sketch -I loved it instantly and I think I'll be using it again! This is what I did with it

I was intrigued by the theme from this week's challenge at Less Is More, which is Friends, not usually a subject for my cards but I thought of a friend that I really out to make contact with. I used the three little bird images from an SU set called Flock Together., even the name of this set puts me in mind of friendship.I had to make a sentiment as I didn't have one suitable and I used a a mask to get the two little red birds together, but other than that it was quite straight forward.. I am also entering my card into the challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More #5 for a CAS card.
As you will notice from the title of this post there are two bird cards.  Here's the second one - it's for The Merry Monday Challenge, where they want Christmas cards with birds.  If you're expecting a robin take another look!

This time I used another SU set, Nature Walk,and a little freebie hollysprig stamp. So, I can also enter this card in the Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge, where you need to use something recycled or free.  I triple time stamped this card and it's actually a case from my friend Jacqueline's Craft Club blog, you can look at her card here.

I've even decorated the inside this time.
Wow, that was a marathon post! Hope you like my cards.
February Update - just found out my 3 little birds card was chosen for top 3 at the Make My Monday , Challenge - which makes this Monday a little bit special!

Christmas Stripes and Baubles

I had such a lot of fun making this card! I used the bingo card challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More - not done this before and there is almost too much choice but it is interesting looking at the possible combinations.  I chose to go across the middle - Black, Stripes and free and using Mica powder was my free choice.

I started with making the stripes, using double sided tape of various widths and ultra fine glitter, I built up the stripes for the background. I cut out the baubles from black cardstock and used mica powder to add the colour and sentiment, stamping the sentiment over the top of two of the baubles.   It's from SU new set Sassy Salutations. Using mica powder was a new-to-me technique which I learned at our craft club meeting last week - I'm hooked, I love that shimmery blingy effect and it's so simple.  I added some gold thread to the baubles and positioned them off centre for a CAS contemporary Christmas card

Glitter Bird

The Glitter Bird was created as my interpretation of a photo inspiration challenge for a DT call.  A new challenge blog called Inkspirational will be starting in 2013 and there are 4 challenges to enter if you would like to be considered. You can find them here and it's open until the end of November so you still have lots of time if you want to be considered.
Here's the photo -Isn't he cute?

The glitter bird is a die cut, which I have slightly altered and the branches are from the Two step bird punch from Stampin' Up. The red berries and the frosty feel of the photograph are also there in the silver heat embossed edging and the use of glitter card.  I used a dark grey card stock and the silver edge made me think of night time so I am also entering this card in this week's challenge at casology.  I just found a new challenge blog at The Cupboard Trilogy Challenge, where there are three challenges on the same theme each month - a card, a scrapbook layout and anything goes.  I loved the DTs inspirations so much I wanted to enter and as the theme is anything that flies, I think my glitter bird will be OK. Please think about having a look at their blog too!
Ooops, nearly forgot to show you my card! ...

Finally, I added a little red bow, and as it goes over the edge of the card, I will also enter in the cas-ual Fridays Challenge.

Pedal through the flowers

Last one for today as I think I'm going down with the flu or something :( This one is for the challenge at Addicted To Stamps and More where the theme is Spring, in honour of our crafty friends in the Southen hemisphere.  It was lovely, making a card filled with flowers and spring colours.

I used Pedal Presents and my promarkers. I have also used lots of small scraps of my most favourite spring like DSPs to make a patchwork piece and  by die cutting an aperture I made it into a frame. I masked off the top of the card and brushed Lucky Limeade at the bottom and then reversed the mask and brushed Pool Party to make the sky. The sentiment is from my much used set Happiest Birthday Wishes. 
Going to climb into bed now, with a hot water bottle and some painkillers...no spring in me I'm afraid!

Bicycle Birthday

Here's a card I made as a challenge... a challenge against the clock! When I went over to the Addicted To Stamps Challenge Blog I had 48 minutes to create and upload my card! ( I had already thought about the design so it wasn't too bad!) This is the first time I've been able to play with my new hostess stamp set from SU - Pedal presents and I wanted a birthday card for my son so I gave it a go. I don't think rushing is my forte, in my haste I have loaded the wrong picture onto the challenge blog and I'm not sure how to correct that and I'm only doing this write up after I posted.  Oh well, if I've missed the challenge at least I have a card for Oscar!