Shades of Gray Birthday

It must be a gray thing, because currently I am repainting our coral bathroom (it looks like a Mexican restaurant) to a shade of gray. I love that gray is the new go-to neutral. Although I still love me some Crumb Cake. 

I was inspired today to make this sweet little birthday card by Cas(e) This Sketch #66

Cas-ual Friday #129 Challenge: Shades of Gray

and again The Friday Mash-up #149: Flowers

Here's the result. 

I love the simple femininity of this card without being overly girly. I used the Sale-a-Bration set Petal Parade in Crisp Cantaloupe, So Saffron, and Calypso Coral. I stamped on a grid card from my Project Life kit and bordered in in Smokey Slate. I wrapped the image in the Silver Twine from Stampin' Up's Occasions catalog. I used a PTI die cut for the "birthday" sentiment and actually cut it from a gray and white houndstooth card from Project Life again. I used my chalk pen to create the lines. I am over the moon about the card. I can't wait to find a lucky recipient. 

Monochromatic Watercolor

I guess painting and watercolor are all the rage in paper crafting right now. How did I miss that? Well this week I decided to jump on the bandwagon and do a little watercolor painting of my own. I just bought some watercolor paper and might I add that this made the process a bit easier and less watery. 

I was inspired this week by Cas-ology #84 Challenge: Paint

 Friday Mash-up #144 Challenge: Monochromatic and Flowers

and Freshly Made Sketch #125

and I ended up with this...

I used Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party to make a watercolor ombre effect and then I embossed the large dahlia in white from the Regarding Dahlias stamp set. I punched out the corner instead of adding a shape and added my sentiment in Bermuda Bay ink. I'm loving sequins right now so I added some silver ones for a bit of bling. 

Happy weekend and thoughts of spring!

Super Simple Thinking of You

I am all about cards that take no time at all to create. I am a big fan of CAS cards: clean and simple, so today's fits right up my ally. 

I used the color combo from Color Throwdown #281 (which I must admit I was very nervous about)

and My Favorite Things #165 Sketch

to make this little beauty. 

I punch out a partial circle and backed it with some Tangerine colored paper from the Retro Fresh DSP. I stole a hexagon from the Afternoon Tea DSP and plopped a black button on top. Last, but not least, I cut out a Black flag and embossed my sentiment in white embossing powder. Keeping the rest of the card white and open makes these colors less intimidating and gives the card the punch it needs. 

Best Wishes...Foxy!

Back again today with a combination of amazing challenges. Owen is down for a nap which means Mama gets to make some cards. 

Pals Paper Arts #191 provided the color palette (which I must admit, I was a bit scared about)

Fusion Card Challenge #4 gave me the beautiful layout

and CAS-ual Fridays #128 provided a bit of extra inspiration to finish my design off. 

In the end I feel like this very clean card with pops of Pumpkin and Gumball Green are just what the winter doctor orders. I have always been in love with Fox & Friends so the sweet fox was a perfect addition. The wood grain embossing adds an element of depth without going too crazy. The little slide button also adds a touch of metal for the eye to look at. I'm in love!

Go BOLD or Go Home

All this snow is making me want to brighten things up a bit. That's why Cas-ology's BOLD challenge

Dynamic Duos Challenge #90 with Black and Daffodil Delight

and Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #123 

made perfect sense together this week. 

I used my banner punch to make many sizes of arrows in Black, Daffodil, and a piece of Afternoon Tea DSP. I just hodge podged them together is two simple arrows and the focal point was complete. 

I used PTI's Simple Sketches set for the sentiment and a bit of black and white twine woven through a shiny silver button finishes off the card. 

Hoping sun and warmth are just around the corner! 

Hugs & Kisses

As I said in a previous post, I'm not really into Valentine's Day, but I am really into Cas-ology's AND Challenge. It was the perfect challenge to showcase some sweetness without having to go all Valentine's Day on it. 

I joined this idea with Retro Sketches Challenge #101

and Cas-ual Fridays Challenge #127 Over the Edge for a fun little card. 

I am in love with this Sweet Sorbet DSP and the little wooden accent pieces add a bit of whimsy. 

Hope you had a great weekend. 

 

You & Me

I made a card inspired by Pals Paper Arts Color Combo Challenge #190 this week

and Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #122 provided a simple and clean layout

and Cas-ology's AND challenge. 

Although I contemplated for a while whether this really qualified as a CAS card, I decided that it did because why shouldn't it?

Countless Sayings 2 provided the quaint "You & Me" phrase while many of the items to make this card came directly from the Sale-a-Bration catalog which I got for free when spending $50. I used the Dots embossing folder to make the background. I also used the Petals Parade stamp set to create my own little gray DSP. I'm a big fan of sequins right now and I picked these up from Archiver's when they were 30% off. 

Look Who's 5: Birthday Card for Austin

Austin is my oldest nephew and a favorite. He is so snuggly and caring. He is also really good to Owen. I love him so. This March he will be turning 5...I can't believe it! I remember holding that little munchkin in my arms on the day he was born. It's hard to believe that he is growing so old so quickly. 

I found this sweet color palette from My Favorite Things and I knew needed to be for an Austin card. He is so bright and happy. I used Kraft, Daffodil, and Coastal Cabana. 

I love everything about this card, EXCEPT my handwriting on it. I usually love my handwriting, but something about this doesn't look quite finished, so it will have to do until I find the perfect stamped sentiment. My Austin deserves the best after all!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Little Bit of Love

Valentine's Day is coming soon and I actually not that big of a fan. For the most part I would rather my husband and love ones save their money on candy, stuffed animals, or flowers because I think love should be celebrated everyday, not just of February 14th! (Stepping off my soap box...)

I will say though that I liked playing with Colour Q's Valentine colors in Challenge #226 

and Fusion Challenge #3 gave me a super clean card layout with made love be the focus on this card.

I used my new Geometrical stamp set and triangle punch and just a bit of twine so pull this card together. 

I liked it so much, I changed the colors and sentiment for a fun, gender neutral birthday card. 

Simple Thank You

The more and more I craft, the more I notice that I like to keep it simple. Maybe this is why I am drawn to so many CAS challenges. 

I made this card based off of the the sketch from Retro Sketches Challenge #99, but unfortunately missed the deadline to upload and connect with them. No worries though. 

The other inspiration came from CAS-ology's Purple Challenge. 

Now purple is my husband'd favorite color, but not really my cup of tea. Although I did find this pretty piece of Wisteria DSP from the Afternoon Tea collection and a pretty punched out "thank you" from PTI in Eggplant and you have a pretty and simple card ready for giving.