Calling All Sistahs with CAS-ual Fridays

 

Calling All Sistahs!
1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

On August 17th, 2015  an Awesome friend of ours became 1 in 8

Calling All Sistahs was started by Michele Gross, owner of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps, shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is her hope to create awareness for breast cancer beyond just the month of October by reminding you to do your self breast exams on the 17th of each month, and encouraging us all to remind all the great women in our lives to do the same. You can read more about her story HERE .
The Calling All Sistahs Collection was created by Michele with the specific intent of donating 50% of her profits from this collection to Breast Cancer Research and Awareness programs in honor of all who have been affected by breast cancer.
We at Laura's Loft are thrilled to be one of the first stores in the country to offer this special collection of stamps and dies. It's important to us to be able to remind all of our sistahs to check yourself and we are proud to continue Michele's effort by donating 50% of our own profits from this collection to breast cancer research in VA.
Join us here on the blog on the 17th of each month for CAS-ual Fridays projects dedicated to the fight against Breast Cancer and in support of our sistahs suffering through it along with a personal reminder to get yourself checked. 

 ***This is your reminder to do your breast self-exam!***
And remind your sistahs too! 
If you're not exactly sure how to do a self exam, you can click here  to get the information you need, and then follow up with your doctor at your next appointment.



For More information on Breast Cancer Awareness just click here.
Please do your self exams!
We'll be back next month to remind you again :)

 I wanted to demonstrate the incredible courage I've witnessed in so many of our sistah's fighting this disease in my project, so I kept the rest of the design simple so that the focus could be on the sentiment.  I stamped the ribbon from the CAS-ual Fridays Hope Ribbon set in VersaMark and heat embossed it in Verdigris.  Using Picked Raspberry Distress Marker, I outlined the ribbon and pulled it out using a paintbrush and water.  If you don't have the marker, you can do the same technique using the ink pads.  Just swipe some ink an a non-porous surface and pick it up with the paintbrush.  Stamp the sentiment from the Calling All Sistahs set in black Archival using the MISTI; I stamped it twice so that it would be boldly black.  Run the panel through the Big Shot with Avery Elles Wonky Stitches die, then add Cracked Pistachio around the perimeter with a blending tool.  Adhere the stamped panel to a 4.25 by 5.5 inch panel of white glitter cardstock and adhere to a cardbase.  I added purple watercolor to the hearts in the ribbon as a final touch to finish off the card.

Emma is the next stop on the hop.  If you get lost, just click here to head back to the beginning.  Don't forget to comment on each and every stop on the hop to increase your chances of winning one of five prizes!  Michele is has a generous 3 gift cards to the CAS-ual Fridays shop to give away and Laura has a generous 2 gift cards to Laura's Loft to give away.  So be sure to leave some love along the hop as Michele and Laura will pick random winners from the blog comments on February 20, 2016.

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you to Michele for the opportunity to participate in support of such an important cause as Breast Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Research.

Much love,
Jasmine

Bold Besties

This card was inspired by one of my best friends who enjoys vivid color and bold images.  She's has had a rough go of it lately, so I thought she could use something to make her smile.  This card is quite easy to make and it comes together quickly.  Let's see how it's done.

Supplies:
Ranger Glossy Cardstock
Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Inks
Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution
Neenah Solar White 110 lb cardstock
Doodlebug Velvet cardstock in black
DCWV Foiled Vellum cardstock
DCWV Foiled cardstock in Gold
Delicata Golden Glitz ink
Ranger Archival Black ink
Tim Holtz Sizzix Scribbles and Splat Heart die
CAS-ual Fridays friend die
WOW Gold embossing powder
Small heart die
Altenew Lace Up stamp set
Viva Decor Ferro Metal Effect in Blackberry
Tim Holtz Speckled Stencil
Stick-It Adhesive Sheets
Scor-Tape 1/4" and 1/2"

Step 1.  Let's make our background.  These alcohol ink backgrounds are so easy and dry almost instantly.  Here's the tutorial from Tims blog.  I tend to make several of these at a time.

Step 2.  I wanted to add some texture to the background.  I laid down my stencil so that the texture would go from the top right corner toward the middle.  The Ferro is a thick texture paste and is quite pretty.  I spread an even layer over the stencil using a palette knife.  Wash your stencil and knife right away as this paste will ruin them if it dries on.

Step 3.  Add Stick-It adhesive sheets to each cardstock and trim excess.  Die cut friend from the foiled vellum.  My vellum has a tiny gold heart pattern on it.  Die cut the heart from the black velvet cardstock and punch out all the tiny negative pieces.  Die cut hearts from gold foil cardstock.

Step 4.  Once the paste is dry, stamp the hearts from the set in gold ink and emboss with gold embossing powder.  Stamp the sentiment in black.

Step 5.  Add 1/2" Scor-tape to the back of the inked panel.  Remove one strip of backing and lining up properly, attach to the cardbase.  Remove the rest of the backing strips.  Add black heart, friend and gold hearts where desired, removing the backing paper and pressing down.  Our card is complete!

How easy was that!?! Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me for a bit.  I hope you had fun and learned something new!

Much love,
Jasmine