WCMD 2012

This year for World Card Making Day, i was helping some of my best friends move. I didn't get much time to craft, but i was able to squeeze in a little time to make a card for them! It was really fun to get out some stamps, and my prismacolors and color in a beautiful image! Unity Stamp Co. has some of the most amazing stamps out there, and i just knew the first time i saw this stamp that it would definitely end up being one of my all time favorites!!

I realized how rusty i was when it comes to shading and coloring with colored pencils! Which means that it has been way too long! And even though my coloring is far from perfect, i was really happy with how it came out and it just inspires me to want to color more often! Especially with the holidays coming!

The Stamps are from the Unity Stamp Co. KOTM-March 2012 (from head to soul), colored with prismacolor colored pencils, Inks used are Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Antique Linen, Memento-Tuxedo, and Archival Ink-Black. The Papers are MME, and the bow is seam binding ribbon.

Giveaway Alert!!

Erin over at My Scrap Cabin is having a giveaway for September!! Here is the awesome giveaway that she has put together:


For your chance to win this, go and follow her blog and enter the giveaway here:
http://erinblegen.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ErinsScrapCabin+%28Erin%27s+Scrap+Cabin%29

Good Luck Everyone!!

MIA

I've been pretty much MIA for the entire summer and its about time i start back up again! I've been trying to get caught up on some long overdue scrapbooking as well as trying to get ahead in card making for the holidays and many birthdays for family and friends!

I discovered Project Life this summer and have been one of the many people not so patiently waiting for them to restock their items!! I have had my eye on their Clementine kit, but it is still out of stock. (they are saying right now it should be in stock sometime Mid-September!!) So while i wait for that i decided to go ahead and order the only kit they currently have in stock which is the Cherry Kit. I went back and got pictures from when my husband and i first started dating up until the most recent ones we have taken!! I found so many pictures that i dont even remember! I am using the Cherry Kit to do the album from the first years we are together. My hope is that i can use the Cherry Kit for those years and then once i get the Clementine Kit i will do that for the picutres starting in 2012.  I really love the simplicity of the Project Life system and the way that it has already got me to start getting my pictures out of boxes and off my computer and into albums! The great thing is that you can do as much or as little as you want to the pages with the pics and pieces of the Core Kit and it looks fabulous no matter what you do! I will post some pictures as i start really getting that album together!

I will leave you with a few cards that i have recently made and hopefully next time you hear from me it wont be as long of a time period for me being MIA!

Liebster Blog Award!

I received the Liebster Blog Award from Tracy at Owl Be Craftin'. Thank you so much Tracy, I am honored that you chose me! Here is some information about the award:

The origins of the Liebster Blog Award are unclear but "the word translates from German as "darling" or "beloved". It's given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in order to generate some traffic for them.

Here are the guidelines for the Liebster Blog Award
1. Acknowledge the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

2.Give this award to 5 other bloggers, who must have less than 200 followers, and let them know through a comment on their blog.

3. Post the award on your blog

4. Best of all- bask in the glory, have fun, and share the love!

Now, I get to pass this award on to 5 blogs that I think are amazing!  The following blogs i have chosen are ones that i think have great content, ideas, and inspiration. Whether it relates to scrapbooking, cardmaking, other papercrafting products, or cooking...these blogs inspire me!! Please visit  their blogs, look around and leave them some love.

 

1. Tracie at Tiny Might's Tales

 

2. Grannie Jannie at Jannies Booth 99

 

3. Kelly at Kelster Jean

 

4. Hope at Hope's World

 

5. Heather at Heather's Crafty Heart

 

 

 

 

Cards

I haven't had much of a chance to play lately but i did manage to make a few cards that i needed. The first one i made for my MIL for a Baby Shower that she was going to.

Ingredients:

PP-?? from the scrap pile

Thread-?? Gma's kit

Stamp-Studio G

Pearl-Michaels $1.50 bin

Ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink-Black Soot

Die Cuts-Shapes: Cricut New Arrival Cartridge

Die Cuts-Patterns/Color Gray: Cricut Imagine More Cartridge

The Second card i made for my sisters birthday. She turned 20 today! She is no longer a teenager, so i wanted something that kind of symbolized that shift from being a child to being an adult. I know that technically they consider you an adult at the age of 18, but for me you are really an adult when you are no longer a teen! I decided i would use butterflies to kind of represent that change.

And a close up of the butterflies:

Ingredients:

Scalloped Circle Die and Polka Dot Stamp- Memory Box

Ink-Colorbox Chalk in Blue Lagoon

Green and Pink Cardstock-Bazzill

Kraft Cardstock-The Paper Studio

Pearls-Michaels $1.50 bin

Butterflies Cut with: Sizzix Big Shot, and Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Movers and Shapers Butterfly Set

Thread- ?? Gmas Kit

Engagement Card!

My friends recently got engaged and i knew i wanted to get them a card out pretty quick. I spent forever trying to figure this out last night and was having no luck! I think this version of the card is my 3rd. I had to walk away for a few hours and come back to it. That doesn't happen very often...but needless to say i was very frustrated until i was finished! LOL And somehow all of my engagement cards seem to be black, white, silver and pink. Not sure how this happens every time. The design is always different and yet the colors are the same. Its a mystery.

Recipe:

PP-? Scraps from my stash

Black Embossed Cardstock-Bazzill

Pink Cardstock-Bazzill

White Cardstock-The Paper Studio

Thread-? Gmas kit again

Twine-Doodlebug

Tag-? from the stash, embossed with Midnight Black powder from Stampendous i believe, and Ranger Embossing Ink. Not sure the name of the stamp used.

Love Stamp-Studio G and Tsukineko Memento Ink in Rose Bud

Ring Die Cut-Cricut Sweethearts Cart Cut at 3", Bazzill Cardstock

Valentines Cards

Hattie and Mom, The following contains spoilers on your V-Day cards...If you want it to be a surprise, then you better exit now!

I typically do not give or make many Valentine's Day cards. Its never really been something that we do. However this year i wanted to make a few. Im really trying to expand my knowledge and skill base and therefore every holiday/major event is an opportunity! I was inspired by the Tuesday Trigger on The Moxie Fab World site! The colors were just so pretty and they immediately reminded me of V-Day! Plus the little pearl candies were the perfect texture i was looking to add to my cards! I chose to do this by embossing with the Swiss Dots folder from Cuttlebug.  Here is the awesome trigger:

Go here to play along as well!

 So here are the few that i made this weekend inspired by Moxie Fab (plus the green apple one for my husband):

The 3 Pink ones are for the women and the green apples one is for my husband. All of these cards were made using scraps from stash as well as things from various tosses on the Club CK MB.

This card is for my mother in law Cathie. The PP really reminded me of her! And also she gave me the ribbon because she spoils me!! I really loved the look of this and decided for the other two girl cards i was making that i wanted to make them all similar and just change a few things each to personalize each one. I Cut the Hearts on my Cricut Imagine, Embossed a few with my Big Shot, and pleated the ribbon using a technique that my friend Hattie taught me. It makes it very simple. You simply cut a strip of cardstock (or use one from your scrap pile!) then apply some adhesive. (I like to use my ATG, or as Hattie calls it my Big Girl Panties!) then you begin at one end pleating it until you get to the end or your desired length! Then i used my sewing machine to actually stitch it to the card front. This way i was sure that it wont move on me plus i liked how it really pulled those pleats in tighter so they weren't so loose and sticking out so much!

The Recipe:

PP-? It was from a Toss on CK

Cardstock-Kraft: The Paper Studio, Pink and Brown: Bazzill

Ribbon-American Crafts

Twine-Martha Stewart

Thread-Unknown and probably about a million years old and the company out of business! (from my gma's sewing kit!)

Hearts Cut with my Imagine (preloaded image)

Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder on the hearts

This one is for my Mom. She is always buying things that are pink and pleated or frilly! (Not my thing...but she loves them!) So that is what i chose for hers. Same techniques and steps as above.

Recipe:

PP-? From a toss on Club CK

Cardstock-Kraft: The Paper Studio, Pink and Brown: Bazzill

Ribbon-American Crafts

Twine-Martha Stewart

Thread-Unknown and probably about a million years old and the company out of business! (from my gma's sewing kit!)

Hearts Cut with my Imagine (preloaded image)

Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder on the hearts

 

This card is for my wonderful friend Hattie! I really wanted to keep hers simple and not over do it. Pretty much the same as above. Although this ribbon was naturally kind of pleated/wavy so i didn't need to do anything to it. I also did not stitch this ribbon to the card. They ATG was enough adhesive to hold it securely in place. I did however stitch around the outside of the card before placing the hearts on the card. I wanted a simple frame to help add a little texture and a little focus. And i Really liked how the pink sort of popped with the silvery white and brown.

Recipe:

PP-? From my Scrap Pile

Cardstock-Kraft: The Paper Studio, Pink and Brown: Bazzill

Ribbon-American Crafts

Twine-Martha Stewart

Thread-Unknown and probably about a million years old and the company out of business! (from my gma's sewing kit!)

Hearts Cut with my Imagine (preloaded image)

Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder on the hearts

This last card is for my husband. Neither of us are really into V-Day or celebrating. Our V-Day tradition is going to Steak N' Shake for dinner. We are pretty low key about that kind of thing. Normally we dont even get each other anything. Which i am ok with because having each other is enough! But i did want to make him a card and tell him all the reasons that i love him...or at least as many as i could fit inside! Our favorite color is green and this just seemed to fit both of us! I was able to use a ton of scraps from my scrap pile! And just a few extras to really keep this from being to girly or anything that he wouldn't like lol! (Notice there is NO glitter in sight!)

Recipe:

PP-Mostly Scraps from my pile, But some is from Echo Park (For the Record Collection) and Cricut Imagine-Ancestry Cart.

Cardstock-Kraft & White: The Paper Studio, Brown: Unknown (from a toss on CK)

Twine-Martha Stewart

Tiny White Brads- The Paper Studio

Stamps-Unity Stamp Co. -To the Core!

Mists- Smooch Spritz Cherry Ice and Silver Foil

Ink- Tim Holtz Distress Inks-Walnut Stain and Peeled Paint

Wow! That was a long post! Think i got everything!

Today I am thankful for the sun! It is nice and bright today! Which makes it easier to be motivated!

I am also thankful that even though my team lost yesterday (The Patriots!!) i was able to have a great evening with friends!

And as always i am thankful for my wonderful husband!

Giveaway Alert!

Amanda at Love Joy Paper is having a giveaway right now with a ton of stuff she has from her stash! There are tons of great looking stuff from the picture! Go HERE to check it out!

Goals!

Hey everyone...seems like i haven't been posting as much as i wanted but im getting there! This year i have a few goals that ive been trying to stick with. I already told you about my first one. That was the Thanks Living one. Well this one is again having to do with scrapbooking and papercrafting! My other big goal this year is to really push myself and enter as many challenges as i can! Now im not talking on a grand scale or anything yet. But i am talking about the ones on ClubCK (you know that fabulous place i told you about before!) So for this one i really wanted to enter the January Scraplift Challenge. The idea is to take one of their featured LO's and use it as the inspiration for your own LO. I chose to do one that i loved the moment i saw it! I really can't quite pin down what about it i loved so much besides to say that i loved everything about it!!

Brown Eyed Girl's CheM-LaB LO

Here is my take on it and the LO i entered into the January Scraplift Challenge on ClubCK:

These are some of my favorite photos from my best friend's wedding this past summer! I made a book for him and his wife, but im just now getting around to scrapping them for myself! I thought these pictures were the perfect ones for this LO! I also stuck with the colors blue and yellow (which was hard for me!!) but these were their wedding colors and i really wanted to keep with that.

 

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!

 

As promised from my first post...here are a few things that i have been thankful for the last few days!

 

I am Thankful for time to be crafty and get some things done that i have been needing to work on!

 

I am Thankful for time with family playing games and visiting and just having a great time together!

 

I am Thankful for my husband who is always there to give me his honest opinion (not just what he thinks i want to hear!) and to help me when i need it! He is a wonderful photographer and artist and he is always willing to listen to my ideas and concerns and tell me what he thinks! I am so lucky to have him!!

 

What are you Thankful for this week?

Another Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I just found this awesome giveaway that i thought you all might want to know about!

My Grafico is giving away a fabulous Tim Holtz prize package! If you are anything like me then you love Tim Holtz products! They are all so fabulous...who wouldn't love to win this! Here are the details!

Go Here! To check it out!



Every month, we give a fabulous prize package away to one lucky winner. We have been promoting these giveaways on our facebook page, and will now be holding them here on our Party Blog! Last month’s giveaway was a Silhouette Cameo machine prize package, and this month we have a prize package with products from Tim Holtz, including:

• District Market Butterfies Tote
• Tim Holtz products from the idea-ology collection, including:
• Crowded Attic Salvage Stickers Booklet
• Traveler Tissue Tape
• Hinge Clips
• Fractured Dolls
• Long Fasteners
• Plaquettes
• Hitch Fasteners
• Composer Tissue Paper

PLUS SCAL3 SOFTWARE from Craft Edge.
If you cannot wait for the SCAL3, here is a deal to get it 50% off


Enter to WIN this fun Tim Holtz prize by following these simple directions:
For one (1) entry:

• Post a link to this giveaway on your blog or facebook page
• Comment below and let us know where you posted the link(s)

** GET additional entries:

• Tell your blog readers or facebook fans to visit our blog and post a comment letting us know who sent them…you will earn 1 entry for every 10 people who say YOU sent them!
• LIKE us on facebook for another entry

PLEASE NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY! Entries will be received until we draw a winner on February 1st, 2012
Good Luck to all and thank you so much for being a part of mygrafico!

If you decide to enter... Please follow the above step and let them know in your comment that I (Casey @ caseroo7.blogspot.com) sent you! Thanks and Good Luck!

Give-A-Way!!

Tracy at Owl Be Craftin' just had her 100th post and is offering a great giveaway! You can see more about her giveaway and her blog by going here.

First Post!

I have been thinking about blogging for awhile. Not that I necessarily have anything important to say! But I thought this would be a nice way to stay in touch with people that I dont always see or talk to. Like most things in my life, im sure this will be completely random! I am hoping to start with at least one post a week. We will see how it goes!

For this first post I really wanted to talk about something I have recently decided to do. I am a member of ClubCK and one of the new challenges this year is called Thanks Living. It is a year long challenge (more of a life changer really!) to change the way we think of things. It is about being thankful all year long instead of only on certain holidays. It is about being thankful for even the smallest things rather than just the huge ones we so often take for granted. But it is also a way for us to learn new things and put them into action. I am very much looking forward to sticking with this all year round and becoming more positive in my life about all the wonderful things that i have to be thankful for. I am hoping that each time i have a new post on this blog that i will remember to post a few things that i am thankful for and maybe get the few people who might read this to think of things that they are thankful for as well!

For this first month's challenge, i created a layout with a photo of my husband and I from my best friends wedding this summer. On the LO i have written a few of my Thanks Living Journal Entries. I am so thankful for my husband and all the wonderful things about him. The ones listed on the LO are only a few of the many wonderful things about him.

I really wanted the focal points of this LO to be the Title, Picture and the Journaling. Because of that i wanted to keep the LO fairly simple. A few different papers and design elements without too much embellishing. I embossed thankful on the top for the title to give a little bit of texture and interest and to showcase the true point of this LO.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a look!