Love Mail at CASology

If you enjoy gathering up stacks of your pretty, handmade cards and making that trip to the post office,  then you're in luck. We're celebrating snail mail for our newest CASology challenge! 

I was super excited when I saw this challenge cue card because I knew exactly which stamp I was going to highlight! It's the Letters background stamp by Create A Smile stamps (that I was hoarding in my stash LOL). I only stamped it on one side of the card, then heated embossed in black. I triple die cut the "love" sentiment in a cherry red cardstock to give the card a little dimension. I loosely watercolored a few of the envelopes using Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.

A few little hearts from ?who knows what stamp set LOL and it's all done! This color combo really brought my little idea to life. What kind of envelope stamps or dies or even origami can you use to join us at the challenge blog? We love seeing your interpretations!

And don't forget to say hi to our Guest Designer -  Rahmat

I'm also playing along with the (sad to say) last CAS(E) this Sketch challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo Deidre

Staying DRY at CASology

 Hey crafty peeps! We're back at CASology with a new cue card for the next 2 weeks. And after the weather we've had here the last couple of days, this was right on time:

I used a repeating umbrella design, which required a little masking, and some simple ink blending. I added some darker yellow shading to the umbrellas using a colored pencil. Both the umbrella and the sentiment come from a stamp set from Create a Smile, titled Bad Day. To finish it off, I popped on a few clear dew drop embellies and yellow sequins and called it a day! Funny how the light caught that one sequin and made it look green :) CAS cards are supposed to be quick and easy, but that doesn't mean they can't have some pop!

Tip: When layering stamps using masking, remember that the images you stamp first will be in the foreground and fully visible at the end of your project. You can use that concept to create real depth to your cards.

Be sure to check in on the other DT members and how they used the cue card! There's some really fun ideas to get you going. And please be sure to link up a card you've made - we LOVE giving away PRIZES from our awesome sponsors!

Deepti Stephens

Deidre Payne
Jacquie Southas
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Karen Haman
Melissa Chipperfield
Milka Gubo
Nancy Elrick
Sandie Munroe
Sue Symens

Guest Designer: Jasleen

Sponsor:  STAMPlorations

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm also joining at Inspired by Challenges #IB145...Pumpkin Spice

xoxo Deidre

WISH a Little Wish with CASology

If you love happy thoughts and positive vibes, then CASology has you covered 

with this week's cue card: WISH.

So I'm totally in L-O-V-E with the Distress Oxide inks! They're creamy and blend so beautifully...and they stamp so cleanly. Seriously, get your hands on a couple of these movies.

I masked off my border and the largest butterfly stamp in the same set as the circles I used for the background to create plenty of white space. I was able to position my sentiment in the middle of the butterfly. I think kraft cardstock is great with pastels, so it's a mostly one-layer card 

with a few tiny rhinestones :)

There's more happy inspirations to see from the DT and guest designer. And our wonderful sponsor this week is Uniko Studios.

Deidre Payne (that’s me)

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Janet Ribet

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Rachel Bergfeld

Sherrie Mannion

Guest Designer: Anna

Sponsor: Uniko Studios

I'm also joining up at CAS(E) this Sketch! #229 and TIME OUT Challenge #87

Have an awesome day!

xoxo Deidre

Stamps: Prima Marketing Finnabair- Don't Forget to Fly; Create a Smile- Clear Bad Day
Inks: Distress Oxide- Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber, Faded Jeans; Hero Arts Soft Granite Shadow Ink

In the Blink of an Eye!

This week at CASology, don't blink- you might miss it!
Our cue card: FAST

There have been so many new changes in my life in the last month. When I saw the cue

card, that was my first thought- wow, where has the first half of 2016 gone?!

It peeled out of here in a hurry---so how great are these tire treads??

I can't wait to see what lies around the next turn :)

Don't hesitate to click on over to the other DT members' blog pages. They've

got some quick-witted and creative takes on the cue card too.

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (that’s me)

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Coni

Thanks so much and make it a great week...no matter how fast it flies by!

xoxo Deidre

Rain or Shine at CASology

If it's anything where you live, like it is here in VA, the signs of spring are right on track. We've had sunshine and rain, cool nights and warm days...and allergies and sinus issues kicking in full swing :) So how great that the cue card for CASology this week is: WEATHER!

Here's my card:

How funny is it that fellow DT member Kymona Tracey and I had the idea to use the exact same stamp set- it's from Create A Smile, titled "Bad Day"- and the same stamps from it LOL! 

I thought it would be awesome to go monochromatic with grays (I used Copics C1, C3, and C5) for the clouds, top umbrellas, and the furry guy, but bring in a splash of color to brighten the mood :)

It's hard to see in this photo, but I used my wink of stella clear pen for the rain drops.

Today's tip: 

If you want to make a large area glossy (like my rainbow umbrella), use a Versamark pen (it has a felt brush tip on one end and a bullet nib on the other) to color over your area, then heat set with detail clear embossing powder...rinse and repeat- well not really rinse, but you know what I mean :)

The DT has some great inspirations to brighten your day and get you going on your WEATHER cards! Blow on over to their blogs and don't forget the Guest Designer for the week!

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne

Hannelie Bester

Hazel Hodgkins

Jacquie Southas

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Judy Marino

Kymona Tracey

Melissa Chipperfield

Sherrie Mannion

Tracey McNeely

Guest Designer: Amelia (Stamped for the Occasion)

Have a great week and can't wait to see what you post in our gallery!

xoxo Deidre

Sunshine Wishes in Watercolor

I signed up for Watercolor for Cardmakers: Intermediate Techniques from Online Card Classes, logged in to every class and watched all the videos, read numerous comments and forum posts, and I'm still terrified. The only thing I've managed to do is swatch my 7 lonely tubes of Winsor & Newton watercolor paints and complete the glazing chart. I haven't even started on my stash of Distress Inks and Peerless Watercolors. 

That said, I love the Arches watercolor paper...pricey yes, but totally worth it! This card is inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week and made for a friend's grandfather that is battling pancreatic cancer....cancer sucks, by the way.

This was a great way to participate in Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge too! Thanks for stopping by have a happy Saturday!

xoxo Deidre

Big news!! And a huge thank you!

Whaaaatttt??! Less than a week into the new year, and a resolution 

(more of a wish actually) is already checked off my list.

Mind. Blown.

I'm super excited to announce that I'm joining the CASology Design Team! 

This host of amazingly talented card artists have inspired me with their

weekly contributions to the awesome CASology challenge blog...

where you should totally pop in and play along :)

I hope that I can create some sparks of creativity for all the players,

so let's get started!

This week's cue card is: SIMPLE

Talk about a CAS (clean & simple) card, huh? 

One layer, 3 colors, and all stamps from the same stamp set.

I love the combo of yellow, gray, and black. That pop of brightness...yum :)

The  stamp set is "Time to Say Thanks" from Create a Smile;

it's a great set with graphic floral images and sentiments.

So, from my whole heart,

danke, gracias, merci, and THANKS for stopping by,

supporting my crafting, and your kind comments!

Check out the other CASology Design Team member blogs and their inspirations:

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Deidre Payne (already here)
Hannelie Bester
Hazel Hodgkins
Jacquie Southas
Jen Wills
Joyce Mehrberg
Judy Marino
Kymona Tracey
Melissa Chipperfield
Sherrie Mannion
Tracey McNeely

Can't wait to see what you create!

And by the way, there's a great prize for this week's winner :)

Deidre :)