What is your favorite Summer Treat??

   If you are like many people, I'll bet it's something nice and refreshing, and if you are like me, then you'll be screaming for Ice Cream.   It's not something we keep in our home, as I would be too tempted to want to eat a dish every night and goodness knows, that is not something I need.   But, I admit that every so often I truly do crave a rich and gooey Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae and that is one of those very special treats, I love to have a few times each Summer.   We have a little local Ice Cream shop that is open seasonally and that's the place we love to visit a few times each year.   A true indulgence for me and a treat I crave form time to time, especially on a hot summer night?  Hum...could it be one of those nights...time will tell, but as I am typing this it sure should fabulous.  

   Luckily,  I also happen to love popsicles and we do keep those on hand throughout the year, but more so during the hot Summer.   I will even have one as an afternoon snack or something even for lunch, if I'm too hot to eat anything else.  We actually buy the Fruit Bars, which are really yummy, low calorie and fairly healthy.   My favorites are the Acai Blueberry and the Tangerine Fruit Bars from Edy's.    They are made with All Natural Fruit, and thankfully only 60 calories, far less than pretty much any ice cream, making it a much better choice for me!  

   If you are wondering WHY I'm asking, it's because of the fun new CAS Challenge being hosted over at The Outlawz..  Come to find out, back in 1984, former President Ronald Reagan,named July as National Ice Cream Month and based on that little tidbit, the Design Team, decided that the challenge for this week is to create something which show cases you favorite summer treat.    I did not have any Brownie Sundae images...my absolute FAVE, so I decided I wanted to create my card using some fun image from the Silhouette store.  I found a few that I loved and have not added to my Library.  My favorite is a cute Ice Cream Cone, by Echo Park and it's exactly what I used on my card.   I also used the color tools in my Silhouette Cameo Software to make this into a Print N' Cut, so that it would be all colored once I cut it.   A feature I absolutely LOVE, because you can take any die cut and add color or even patterns of color, which you first print on your printer, and then cut out that exact design on your Cameo!   I love the feature so much that my next printer will be one that can print in a 12" format, so that I can use a full 12" mat for each Print and Cut.

   Once I had my shapes all colored and cut, I took the cone piece and ran it through my brand new Cuttlebug in an embossing folder that reminded me of the look of an Sugar Cone, my favorite.  I popped up my second scoop with pop dots and did the same the cherry, on top!   I then added Crystal Accents to the cherry and Stickles to the edges of my Ice Cream.   Once I had it all done I simply placed it on a little black and white polka dotted strip and added it to a plain white card-base.  I found the sentiment in my stash, printed it in black, punched it with a circle punch and then punched a matching scalloped circle background.

  I really love how it came out and this is exactly WHY I love my Cameo so much.  I can use it to make all kinds of fun cards and I love the wonderful selection of images and cut files they sell in the store!!

  My next two cards were also very fun and easy to make, as they are based on this week's Sketch from the Star's and Stamp Blog.   If you are know me, you'll know I LOVE to create card for Operation Write Home and I try to take part in every Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I also love the sketches and find them easy to follow.  Today's was a new favorite and I love it so much I actually have already created two new cards for my batch.

   This is a copy of Sketch # 129, which I am sharing here, to help inspire YOU!  Every one is not only welcome to play in the challenges, but OWH can ALWAYS use new cards and always has a need for card makers who want to donate cards for our Troops service overseas!

 And this is the first card I created using the sketch!  This card was created entirely with digital background papers that I purchased today, during the sale at Shery K. Designs.  All I did was choose the colors and sizes I wanted and added the papers as "images" in a Word Document.  I also created my Sentiment in the same Word File and have it saved, so that I could create the identical card, over and over!   While I don't use digital papers on every card, I've grown to LOVE them and have purchased several sets from Shery's Store.  She has a fantastic collection and has great prices too!!   They are also awesome for paper-piecing and that's why I first started buying them.  It's my all time favorite digi paper store and I buy about 99% all my digi papers here!  I love it!!   The set I used for this card is called Blue and Green and you can find it HERE in the store!   Be sure to hurry on over today or tomorrow as the SALE is fabulous !!

Click HERE to SHOP!!

      And my second card was created a bunch of scraps, left over from my Hello Summer Pack by Echo Park, a favorite this summer for me!!

   I had a lot of fun creating ALL three cards today!  I am also equally excited to be heading back to "Stretch Your Stamps" class tomorrow and can't wait to see what we will be working on next.  I am having a great time in class and so happy I took it.

    If I am not posting a lot, you'll know it's because creating....and will do updates when I have time.  I'm also excited to see what the girls have in store for us at "The Great Mojo Comeback Challenge" and the next new challenge at CASology!!  I'm loving CAS more and more and need to find even more ways to learn how to create that wonderful style of cards!

   Have a fabulous Sunday and as always....hope you have lots of time to create!