Congrats...to a Stamping Friend

I needed to make a card today for a stamping friend who is retiring from her day job!  Yay, Bonnie!

I thought the bright and cheerful colors that LeAnne chose at The Paper Players challenge would make a great card for such an occasion.

Again, I wanted to use some of my new stuff.  So, I thought the new Sale-A-Bration set Banner Blast would be a good choice.  (I ended up using it inside the card.)  I used the coordinating punch, too.  After playing around, I came up with something totally off the wall.  I punch some strips that I could weave some paper through.  Very clean and simple, not usually my best work, but I think I like it.  I had to resist the urge to do more, though!

The background paper is another pattern from the Fresh Prints stack in the new Occasions catalog.

The sentiment is a retired Sale-A-Bration set, Congrats.  I didn't have any other retirement sentiments and I've always liked this one...it had lots of different "congrats" sentiments.

I had to show you inside...and my boo boo.  I practiced the banner across the sentiment, then when I stamped it, I didn't follow my plan!  I messed up the order.  Not a huge deal, but I think it's easier to read the sample.  The Pear Pizzazz is harder to read through.

On another note, I was fortunate enough to get some recognition for last weeks Paper Players card HERE.  LeAnne chose my card:

I am super excited about this, and I will be adding it to my sidebar soon!  It needs an overhaul...badly!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I really do appreciate you stopping by!

Show CASE - Little Leaves by Nina

Hello, hello!  I am so excited.  I feel I'm on the verge of some serious stamping time.  My son's baseball games the last two days have been rained out.  These rainy days at home have allowed me to do some house cleaning.  It feels so good to get things back in order.  My crafting room was messy WAY beyond my comfort zone!  Even though it's not totally picked up it's good enough to have a little fun time.  I want to do some challenges this week.  So after my daughter's golf tomorrow, I plan to be playing with my stamps!

Until then, how about a Show CASE?

When free time is in short supply, a card CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) can be the perfect way to have a little fun!.  Show CASE is my personal attempt to have that time for stamping, without of the pressure to create something totally original.  I want to pay tribute to the many talented stampers out in the blogosphere that are so inspiring to me.  I hope you enjoy seeing my "take" on their creation. 

Today card is from Nina @ Deesigns by Nina Dee.

My changes:
Congrats stamp set
Cardstock (Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso & Cajun Craze)

I really wanted to use some of the new colors!

One thing about CASEing a card, you have to guess on measurements.  This card is larger than an A2 because I couldn't make it work in that size.

If you'd like to check out Nina's card, it is HERE.

Congrats - Curtain Call #32

I have a confession to make.  This week I took the easy route.  When I saw this week's colors for the Curtain Call I was excited because these are pretty colors that I would never put together myself.  

Well, the week got away from me and next thing I know, it's Saturday and I haven't made my card.  We had made plans for a fire with my parents that evening, so time was tight.  Additionally, I needed a card to give to my dad, to celebrate his retirement.  The result?  This week's card.

I let the designer papers and the decorative stitching do the bulk of the work.  I used my stars die for the second time in a month!  I've come to the conclusion  I need some stars stamps...I like using stars and other than the die, I have none!

I wasn't going to mention it, but you see I used Real Red, instead of Rose Red?  Chalk that one up to bad eyesight!  I just totally misread it!  I just discovered my faux pas this morning!  Oooops!

I also want to mention, I will be posting lots of cards this week!  It's no secret I have been starved for stamping time.  I am missing that stamping time terribly! I need some fun!  For years I have kept a card folder on my computer consisting of great looking cards from other bloggers.  I recently looked at that folder and there were 140 files in it!  So, about two weeks ago I started casing those cards.  I am having a blast making them!  I'm going to share these cards with you....giving all the credit back to the original artist (I keep pretty good track of these things!)  Once I get started I hope you'll leave me some feedback.  I was a little leery of starting this series...to CASE on such a grand scale.  Then, I thought of my stamping friends that, like me, simply haven't had the time to stamp...these cards have been so fun, easy and stress-free to make!

In the meantime, how about checking out the rest of the Curtain Call Crew?

Amy White @ Devlinwhite Designs
Andrea Roose @ Andrea Scrap - und Stampel-Blog
Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) @ Random Acts of Creativity
Julie Smith @ Paper and Such
Lea Lawson @ Lea's Cupcakes & Sunshine
Marisa Ritzen @ Rosemary Reflections
Melissa Hubert@ My Paper Obsession
Sue Kohler@ My Inner Reflection

And our leader, of course....Stacey @ Stacey's Stamping Stage

Please join us and post your creation over at Stacey's using Mr. Linky.