CFC55: Put A Bling On It

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge is always a test for me. I look at the design teams amazing examples for inspiration and I see the clean and simple concept. There's a wow factor that the DT's create with just a few elements. I'll keep studying their art and practice restraint until I get it right.

This weeks sponsor is  "Simon Says Stamp.com" with a chance to win a $25.00 shopping spree and the winner will also earn a guest spot with the Girl Fridays for the July Challenge! Wouldn't that be fun?

  


Here's my clean and simple card  with some bling. OMG ...did I get carried away with bling? 






Let's try again....this time my butterfly is covered in glitter not rhinestones. It has sparkle and I believe the simplicity is the ruling factor. So this is my lesson. More is not always better. So maybe you too can understand why this tests my control. Lessons - learning - growing keeps me involved.

 I really liked the stamped images so I made one in blue too! I added some sparkle with a gel pen and the satin ribbon along with the butterflies stamped and hand cut for dimension. I am trying not to add too many elements



Back in March we lost our beloved dog "Beau". We actually received 2 sympathy cards and I found that very thoughtful and heartwarming. There is a deeper understanding from pet owners about the loss. We still miss Beau every day. So I knew I wanted to make a sympathy card to share just in case. This is clean and simple too! But I would have added a dog bone charm if I had one.





"Better keep yourself clean and bright: you are the window through which you must see the world." ~ George Bernard Shaw

Be well thanks for visiting. Carole 

Mojo Monday 244-Contest

MoJoMonday is a challenge usually just for fun...but the first Monday of each month there are prizes for the top picks. The winners will get to choose a Verve Stamp set of their choice. This weeks sketch is by Julee.

Shades of green Hello

It's really fun when you see a sketch and it just comes together. You know what colors and elements you want to use. So I gathered some ivory card stock some scraps of green paper and ribbon. I used Gina K's stamp set "botanicals" for the focal image, and cut half circles for the scalloped edge. I used "peeled paint" Distress Ink for the stamp and all the edges. When I looked back at the sketch I saw the scalloped circle, but I like the square as it was. There are no dimensions given for the sketch so it's all a guessing game on what will fit. I added the butterfly and sentiment to complete the card.

Thanks in green

I had all the supplies handy so I decided to try again this time using a scalloped circle on top of the square.  The reward is that I now have 2 cards complete, similar yet different, and so easy. The second one is closer to the sketch.



I've been busy making birthday cards for family member, some specialty cards and a few get well cards, so I haven't had time to enter any challenges. I really do enjoy following a sketch and I love looking at all the entries to see other versions. I get more visitors and wonderful feed back from contestants so even if I don't win the prize I feel like a winner.

“The secret of creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”~ Albert Einstein

Be well and thanks for visiting. Carole

MoJo Monday

Wow!!! 161 Entries at this time. A very popular blog challenge. I really like the sketch so I'll play along. I have this fabulous navy blue suede like paper to work with, some quality white card stock that embosses so well... so let's put it all together. 

As always it starts with measurements. My card has 5-3/4" strips embossed and placed 1/4" below the 5 1/2" top fold card and evenly placed 1/2" from edge to edge. A 2.75" white square embossed with Swiss dots is placed over a rectangle, embellished with butterflies added and then a blue and white bow, topped with the sentiment-"Thank You" It's the quality of the paper that makes this card extraordinary. The butterflies are printed on photo paper, edges inked in black and stickles added for some sparkle.

I will also enter this card for a trendy navy blue and white card in "The Cure for the Winter Blues" Challenge at Moxie Fab World. When I start a card I'm never sure where I'm going ...it kind of revels itself as I continue. There are so many possibilities for the focal image, I'm sometimes overwhelmed and sometimes it just develops naturally. 

                                                                                                                                                                     

My next card is for Easter. I want to create a collection of Easter Cards to feature in a Craft Show scheduled on March 31st at a local school. The Optimists Club is sponsoring this craft fair at Daniel Boone's Middle School in Douglasville, PA  

This is the first of many cards I plan on creating for the show. I love this little image of a chick hatching. I used watercolor pencils to color the harlequin embossed water color paper with the soft colors of Easter. I added the delightful ribbon embellishments I won from Barbara's World of Whimcees. So stop back soon to view the continuing collection I plan on creating for this craft show. It will be my first public showing. Wish me well.

So do stop back soon...

I have 3 chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, and three for company.

Henry David Thoreau 

Be well Carole