"Nine Circles" CAS

Well girls - today is a JUGS 3D/Template challenge and I've been enjoying time with my DD who has been home from Afghanistan. I did not get a JUGS 3D or template project done for today's challenge BUT I have a patriotic card I created a while ago and never posted so I'm going to substitute that for you today. Please pop over to Just Us Girls to see this week's challenge.

A while back a friend shared a simple card with me. (I have no idea who first created the simple layout - if it was you please let me know so I can give you credit!) My mojo popped in with a couple of changes to it - it's still clean and simple but I loved how quickly it comes together.  I call it Nine Circles because that's the basis for it. I made several (see below.)

I created this simple "nine circles" card for one of our staff members who recently got her US Citizenship. I made it before I dashed off for work. Now THAT'S what I call a fast and easy (FAE instead of CAS?!?) card!! I started out by dry embossing my white CS with a square nestie. I then stamped 9 circles using the open circle stamp from PTI's Polka Dot Basics set. I just "eyeballed" them for alignment so they may not be perfectly aligned. I then added rhinestones or silver beads etc. into the center of each circle. On two of the cards I purposely used a larger pearl to offset the balanced layout.  I then stamped a sentiment from Signature Greetings (PTI) and mounted my white CS to a colored base and I was done.

Here's my patriotic card complete with matching envelope. I stamped the same flag image on the inside of the card.

Here are three more basic "nine circle" thank you cards. I really like the way they turned out. Hope you enjoy them as well.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be MIA for a few weeks since I have a lot of intense commitments coming up BUT also some vacation time. I will miss my faithful followers but will come back with more ideas I hope!

Hug the ones you love!

MTME - For the Birds

Hi all. Welcome to MARCH - does that mean that winter is ALMOST over??!  Well, it's time for the group post from the My Time Made Easy team and we're all showing you ideas made with one of the newest stamps set called Singing Silhouette.


I started out by making a set of four cards using the stamp set. Each one is different so it's makes a nice variety of cards. I kept the design CAS so I could easily reproduce these in quantity. I kept to the same color palette too. I matted each with a nestie rectangle and then did some simple Scor-Pal scoring above and below the rectangles.

I then needed a cute way to package up these cards. I chose the Tote-All package. It's roomie enough for a set of cards and cute as a button to boot! I stamped the flap with some of the same stamps. I added two buttons and some twine for closure but you could also use velcro or magnets.

Following is a picture of each card with its matching envelope.

And finally just a quick pic of the inside of the template so you can see how the cards just tuck in neatly.

Ok - scoot on over to the DT and see what lusciousness they have created for you. Thanks SO much for stopping by to see what I had on tap for ya.

♥♥♥♥♥
My Time Made Easy Design Team:

Lauren Meader (owner)
Kristin Eberline
Catherine Doucette

Katie Shawger Cotton

Lisa Kind
Tangii Crain
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Monique Hansen
AND our guest this month --> Kathryn Berthiaume! 

Supplies from My Time Made Easy LLC:

Pretty Packaging Templates:   Tote-All

Pretty Impressions © Stamps: Singing Silhouette

Hugs n Smiles,

Another CAS Hostess Gift Set

Here is my CAS hostess gift set #2 - it's based on the same sketch as this post but uses different colors and I used a different set of flowers for this one - but same overall idea. I also added a variety of scoring to these cards and I packaged them up in a clear box instead of making a template.

Stamps are from Sensational Stems by My Time Made Easy - I LOVE this stamp set - it's SO versatile!!! Colors are Summer Sunrise, Hawaiian Shores and TerraCotta Tile. I didn't do this for anybody's color challenge - I just pulled colors together that I liked. I made 8 cards but only photographed 4 of them as a group.

Here's a close up showing one of the scoring patterns I used.

Matching envelope - just makes the set so much more complete don't you think?

Here's the set all boxed up in a clear card box (from Gina K I think). 

Add a fun bow and tag and you're done!

My primas weren't the exact colors I wanted so Copics to the rescue - I also colored one of the strips on my ribbon that didn't quite match my color scheme :-)

That's all for today - have a blessed Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with laughter, joy, hugs and turkey :-)

Hug the ones you love,

CAS Hostess Gift

Before I get started, please stop over at Catherine Doucette's blog for a chance to win a fabulous stamp set! You're going to love it!!

Here's a look at a quick clean and simple card set I made as a hostess gift for the upcoming holidays. We have several parties to attend and I like to have sets of gift cards on hand to take with us. This one was inspired by the Clean and Simple FTL114 sketch and the Color Cue from WPlus9 (sorry I didn't have any WP9 stamps to use for this).

I used plum, creamy caramel and ruby red inks on white CS. The images are from the Sensational Stems stamp set by MTME and So Sentimental also by MTME. Quick to mass produce - fun to make and with matching envelopes makes for some quick holiday thank you notes for a fabulous hostess.

I packaged these up with the Slip Cover template from My Time Made Easy. I LOVE this template for card sets - it's super easy to assemble and so versatile.

Here's Slip cover with the top off.

And here's the whole set of cards.

I'll be back soon with another set but that's all for now. Thanks for stopping by. I'm grateful to all of my faithful and loyal followers! 

Hug the ones you love and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Christmas Cards - Made Easy!

Greetings fellow stampers. Today is the official group post for the My Time Made Easy release day. That means that everything is now officially on sale through the store and it means that the Design Team has all come out to share some fun and easy ideas for Christmas cards. Since everyone is busy, our assignment this month was to showcase cards for you that are easy to duplicate. Instead of a set of matching cards I chose to make four different cards so you can see the diversity of styles you can create with this month's new stamps.

First up ... Featuring stamps from the beautiful new Dashing Through the Snow stamp set is my card I call A Sleigh Full of Wishes...

Stamped in a rich burgundy ink and embellished with silver balls, this little sleigh full of goodies is fast and easy to make. The BG is lightly embossed then the burgundy layered sleigh is adhered on top. A little scoring above and below the silver balls adds a little bit of dimension without being complicated or time consuming.

My second card features a classic CAS layout with snowflakes in threes...

Snowflake embossing with my CB on the main card - dotted swiss embossing on the blue layered strip. The main images were stamped on white CS then I did some simple scoring and a little paper piercing. Popped up this layer with dimensionals.  I finished off the card with a few rhinestones for a bit of bling. You could easily whip up a whole set of these in different colors if you wanted to make a quick set of cards as a gift.

A little bit of whimsy with the reindeer for my third card.

I created a simple winter scene with the reindeer and the snow hill stamps. Added some "heart shaped" snowflakes and a simple sentiment for this one. More simple scoring on the main CS layer for texture, an interesting corner punch and flat shiny red embellies for fun. A tiny red rhinestone nose lets you know that this is one special reindeer indeed!

My final card uses stamps from the new Secret Santa stamp set.

Classic red, white and black for this one.  CB embossing, rounded corners, accent strip of black CS. The Santa hat is coated with Polar White Flower Soft for a realistic look and feel. The big bold word Believe and a simple Santa Hat image lead you to the simple inside which says...

That's all for now folks. Four ideas, any one of which can be created in minutes and easily mass produced. I hope you are inspired to design and make your holiday cards. Be sure to drop me a line when you do so I can take a peek at what you do to make Christmas Cards - EASY!!

Be SURE to stop and visit the rest of the team. Each of the gals will have more card ideas to share with you.

♥♥♥♥♥
My Time Made Easy Design Team:

Lauren Meader (owner)
Kristin Bueter
Catherine Doucette

Katie Shawger Cotton

Tracey Cuccia
Pam Imholz   <-- That's me

Tammy Hershberger
Lisa Kind
Tangii Crain
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Monique Hansen

 
Supplies from My Time Made Easy LLC:

Pretty Impressions © Stamps: Dashing Through the Snow, Secret Santa

Have a great week!

Three Circles

Today I share a clean and simple card layout from a friend (thanks Hanne!!!)  I was able to make several of these in a short amount of time. I've been so busy with work and other things in my personal life that when I do have time to stamp it's typically either for JUGS or for My Time Made Easy.  I have not had a chance to do any creating just for me, just because. SO these cards were just because - no challenge to be entered, no contest to be trying for, no design team requirements - just me making what I want! (Mind you I'm not complaining about JUGS or MTME - I love them both - just don't get a lot of time to create for creation's sake right now.)

SO here's the basic card - simple layout - one or two layers of matting for color accent, scor pal scoring a couple of lines for texture and interest. The rest is stamping, punching, embellishing. I also wanted cards without bulky embellishments for mailing purposes. All of these cards are featuring stamps from PTI's anniversary set. I love the simple designs and the fact that I can punch them out quickly and easily. No copics or complex coloring - just stamp n' punch.

Card #1 - stamped in New Leaf and Terracotta Tile.  Gold ball embellies.

Card #2 - stamped in New Leaf ink - punched then added flat red "berries" and a few silver balls.

Card #3 - stamped in New Leaf - stamped a 2nd time in Plum Pudding - cut out the purple butterflies and flowers and mounted right over the green ones so it looks like two step coloring. Two flat backed pearls for flower centers.

Here's the whole set - total time about 30 minutes. YAY ! I think these would make cute card sets to use as gifts too.

Thanks for looking and for stopping by. I am blessed by those of you who willingly follow my blog - I hope I bring you some sort of inspiration. I know YOU are inspirations to me!

Hugs n smiles,

My Time Made Easy - Release Day - Cards galore!

(I have two posts today - If you are looking for the Just Us Girls post please click here.)

It's May 1 and that means it's time for another My Time Made Easy release. Oh boy - you're going to love what's available from Lauren this month! Today we bring you a card extravaganza! Each DT gal was to make one or several cards for today.  I made a set of four CAS cards using a brand new stamp set called Sensational Stems. I chose to use the build a lady-bug stamps to make this little set of CAS cards although there are loads of flowers to choose from as well!

These were so fun to whip up. I stuck to a simple color scheme and just changed my layouts.  Here are close ups of each card - do you have a favorite?

I added a sentiment to each card - this one is from the new coordinating Sensational Sentiments. Don't you love that retro-pansy flower!? I love how it makes the "T" in thank! A little scoring with my Scor-Bug on this one.

Different layout - sentiment from Sensational Sentiments. Scoring with Scor Pal. I am totally loving these little lady bugs.

Sentiment from You've Got Mail - textured background. Light inking of edges of the popped up panel.

Last one:

Changed from white BG to red - the white panel is popped up on dimensionals. Beautifully textured red CS from Couture Cardstock meant nothing I needed to add to the background. Border punched the edge. Notice the envelopes? I added a lady bug to each envie. I also decorated the inside of each one - this is what I did for this one:

Now - here's how I packaged up the cards - I used a simple clear box with a red and white ribbon and a little tag. NOW the tag... read on.... more fabulousness with the tags...

First here's a close up of the tag:

OK - For the tag I used another new stamp set coming out this month called Paper Pattern Pieces. Several shapes are included so you can make cute little tags like this! You are going to LOVE this set. SO many uses. Woo Hoo!

I'm sorry the post was so long. Hope you enjoy these little lady bug cards. Oh - I almost forgot - the lady bug pieces can also be turned the other direction and used to create a tulip instead! Now that's versatility!

Be sure to stop by the entire team to see what cards they have created for your enjoyment and inspiration today. Thanks for stopping by!

♥♥♥♥♥

My Time Made Easy Design Team:

Lauren Meader (owner)

Mona Pendelton

Katie Shawger Cotton

Tracey Cuccia
Stephanie Kraft
Geny Cassady
Lesa Rapp
Dawn Easton
and
Kristin Bueter (our digi paper designer)

The Details:

Pretty Impressions © Stamps:Sensational Stems, Sensational Sentiments, You've Got Mail. Paper Pattern Pieces

Have a great weekend! Hugs n smiles.

Clean and Simple Challenge

This week's StampTV Sketch Challenge from Kurtis was to create a clean and simple (CAS) card. This was a really hard challenge for me since I typically use lots of layers, and accessories etc. BUT, I did make two - one is a CAS birthday card and I kept it to just the one layer and a sentiment. I used the cupcake from Gina K's Sweetest Blessings set, colored the cupcakes with copics, added some glitter and crystal effects and I was done.

The other one is a 4.25 x 4.25 square card and I did add one layer of BG paper to it. No other "bling" or accessories were needed. There is an additional sentiment on the inside. Great little $5.00 add on set of images from Papertrey called With Sympathy Loss of Pet. Thanks for looking! Have a great week.