CAS-ual Father's Day

I created this quick Father's Day card that I plan to tuck in a package to mail to my dad who lives out of state. I used Karen Giron's sketch for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, plus it fits for Flourishes' 10 Minute Creations Challenge that's going on in preparation for their new release next week. I'm a huge fan of their images, so can't wait to see what's in store for us!  I'm also playing along with the CAS-ual Fridays team in their "Sweet Spot" challenge to use polka dots.

The card is 4 1/4" square and paper is from Lily Bee Designs' "Handmade" pad.  I like Versafine Onyx Black ink when I'm stamping silhouette images - gets the best coverage IMO! 

 Thanks for stopping by...hope you have a fabulous day! 

Color Throwdown 195

It's time for another Color Throwdown Challenge and Broni has chosen a soft, summery palette for us this week...so beautiful!

I was happy to discover that Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane and Life's Portrait DP pack had all of these colors in one of their designs.  I used Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #54 for the layout.

Here's what else I used:
STAMPS: Rescue Remedies by Waltzingmouse Stamps
PAPER: Webster's Pages, Vintage Cream, True Black
INK: Versafine Onyx Black
ACCESSORIES: Labels Four Nesties, Fancy Tags die by SB, Tiny satin roses found at a discount warehouse, Baker's twine, Distressing tool.

We hope you will play along with us and if you don't have the exact colors...no worries...you can choose a similar color.  For more inspiration, you'll want to see what the design team and our talented June guest designer, Anna Wight,  have created by checking out the Color Throwdown blog HERE!  Wecome Anna!  Remember, if you post to an online gallery, please use the keyword CTD195. 

CASEing Becky

I wanted to honor Queen for the Day, BeckyTE, by casing one of her fabulous cards! I've long been an admirer of her work and am thrilled that the spotlight is on her this week! I chose this card of hers and chose the gingham with twine border elements to use in my card.  My card also uses the fabulous summery color palette that Julia chose for this week's Color Challenge on SCS: Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery and Pool Party with the dessert option of using twine in a creative way.  Well, I wasn't too creative with it, but I did add it in a basic, simple way.  Yesterday's CAS Challenge on SCS was to use letters, so I went with Verve's You and I set for the sentiment.  The flowers are from a set by PTI called "Life" and I love that you can mix and match and create all kinds of "bouquets" to suit your taste!  I colored the tall goldenrod image using Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed distress markers.  I used Pool Party and Certainly Celery inks with the other images.  The picket fence border is a Martha Stewart punch.

PAPER: "Handmade" pad by Lily Bee Design.

Mojo Monday

It's the first Monday of the month, so that means it's contest time over on the Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge blog! Work has been getting in the way of stamping time lately, but I couldn't resist this great sketch and decided housework could wait - lol!

 I love the colors in this K&Co pad and decided to give them some love.  Crumb cake seam binding, some lace from Flourishes, a pair of punched hearts and leaves to go with the tiny satin rose complete this card.

STAMPS: You and I by Verve
PAPER: Julianne DP by K&Co, Vintage Cream (PTI)
INK: Early Espresso, Antique Linen (to sponge distressed edges)
ACCESSORIES: I Heart U die by Verve, Postage Nesties, Square Nesties, Heart punch by SU, Lace by Flourishes, Seam binding by SU, Frond punch by MS. Flag die by 'Lil Inker Designs (edges trimmed by 1/8"), Distressing tool.

Saturday Sketch Challenge

I needed another graduation card, so Chupa's Saturday Sketch Challenge was perfect to git 'er done! I was thrilled to find out at church that a girl who had dropped out of high school had actually turned her priorities around and completed her needed credits with online courses and got to walk the stage at graduation ceremonies after all!  Her grandfather happens to be our pastor and we're all wanting to celebrate after hearing the good news!  I know Mandy loves green, so that made my color choice easy.  The numbers are Die-Namics from My Favorite Things.  Stamps, flower and leaves dies are all from Verve.

STAMPS: Bloom & Grow (leaves), Sunny Days (flower), Big Wish (sentiment)
PAPER: Victoria Gardens DP by Echo Park, scraps of green (? Certainly Celery, ? Old Olive)

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!  It's been a glorious weekend and I hate to see it come to an end!  I got to spend some time with my daughter yesterday in neighboring Nelson County...known for its many wineries and rural, scenic countryside.  We had a great time shopping at the farmers' market then had a delicious lunch at Wild Wolfe Brewing Company's restaurant and had a gorgeous view while dining on the patio!  Just had to share some pictures with you!

 My daughter strikes a pose at the Farmers' Market...

Cally Mae the cow greeted us at the market entrance...

Wild Wolf Brewing Company - restaurant in the renovated schoolhouse.  Surrounding tobacco sheds are being renovated into great little gift shops!

Our view to the right of our patio table...

Our view to the left...

Pinwheel Scrapling

**Please scroll down for my Raise the Bar post** 

I haven't played in the Friday Mashup Challenge for a long time, so when I saw their challenge to use scraps to create a scrapling, I knew I wanted to play!  I already had these papers on my desk from a previous card, so I went with the blues and yellows from the Buttercup pad by Lily Bee Design.  I wanted the pinwheel to be the focal point and added a hand crocheted flower (made by my mother) and a filigree brad to the center.  The sentiment flag and the pinwheel die are all from 'Lil Inker Designs.  I also made this for Wendy's Free 4 All Challenge over on SCS - to create a congratulations card for a graduate without using a cap or diploma image.

I'm heading off to work shortly...looking forward to a weekend off!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Summer!

With the onset of the summer season, the bartenders at Raise the Bar will be slowing up the challenges a wee bit.  We will only be doing ONE challenge each month in June, July, and August - all of which will be sponsored by a fabulous company!  This means you have the whole month to play along with us!  Today is our first challenge with the theme: Hello Summer! 

I fell in love with this adorable digi by Sassy Cheryl called Precious Callie.  Picking a posy for your pocket...romping through the grass playing with your ladybug friends...ahhh, the joys of summer!  I sponged the edges with Summer Sun ink then colored the image with Copics and added polka dots to her top using a white opaque gel pen.  What else did I use?

STAMPS: Tiny Tags (PTI)-sentiment; Precious Callie digi by Sassy Cheryl
PAPER: Summer Sun, X-Press It Blending Card, Buttercup DP by Lily Bee Design
ACCESSORIES: Enchanted Evening satin ribbon by PTI, Prima, Tiny tag die by PTI, Labels Ten Nesties, Crystal Effects (added to the lady bugs).
COPICS: Hair - E97, E99, E47
                Skin - E000, E00, E21, R20
                T-shirt - C00, C0
                Top/shorts - B91, B93, B95
                Grass - YG11, YG13, YG63
                Shoes - C5, C7, C8

You'll want to check out what the other bartenders - Joni, Thanh, Julie and Peggy - have created by visiting the Raise the Bar blog HERE.  Hope you'll join us when we'll be back again on July 6th and August 3rd!