CASology 5-Year Anniversary Blog Hop!
Today is the day! It’s finally here! It’s CASology’s 5-year anniversary celebration and I hope you’ll hop along with us because there is a ton of inspiration and some rather fabulous prizes up for grabs for those who do! Just remember, the deadline is next Monday, July 31, at NOON (CDT) for hopping and being eligible for the prizes! You must leave comments at all stops to be eligible to win! For more hop details, including a list of prizes and the full hop list, head on over to the CASology blog!
You should have arrived here from the CASology blog! I’m the second stop on the hop!
I happen to love hot air balloons and had to dig around in my stash for the balloon stamp set I just knew I had, but since I tend to be a bit of an “acquire it and forget about it for a while” kind of gal, it took a bit more digging than it probably should have. Now, had I had my creative stash neatly documented and categorized like those wonderfully organized individuals we all see on Pinterest, I may have spared myself some frustration. Good thing I’m not a quitter! I actually found it! Once I had it in hand, I wanted to make a thank you themed card because I feel I owe a lot of people a thank you during this milestone celebration!
I’ve been loving the Distress Oxide Inks for blending the last little while, so pulled those out to create a pretty skyline on the main panel. Once dry, I dressed it up a bit by die cutting it with a stitched rectangle die and spritzed it lightly with some Gold Color Shine spray to add a little shimmer. The skyline silhouette and simple sentiment were stamped in black ink. Three small silver star sequins were added as embellishments. The assembled main panel was then popped up on the card base using foam adhesive for dimension.
I won’t keep you any longer, so head on to the next stop on the hop, Altenew!
Have fun and good luck!
301 Comments
Love your distressed background! Beautiful card.
Thank you, Donna! 🙂
I love this idea of the balloon sailing over the city skyline! Creative and beautiful!
Take care!
Michele
Thank you so much, Michele! 🙂
Great card. I really like your background. Makes me want to get out my Distress Oxides and give them another try.
Those inks are very addictive, aren’t they?! 😉 Thank you for your comment!
What a great use of colours for the balloon! And glad to see another kind of balloon!
Haha! Hot air balloons are so fun! Thank you for stopping by, Gerrina! 🙂
I really love the black items on your wonderful coloured background!
Thank you, Marlieke! 🙂
Beautiful card !
Thanks, Carol!
Love the distressed background. The cityscape is quite lovely
Thank you, Natasha!
I love hot air balloons also and your card inspires me to make some, especially with that beautiful blended background!
Thank you, Sharon! Have fun! 🙂
Great card. Love the blended background.
Thank you, Trina!
stunning!!
Thanks, Susan! 🙂
I love your beautiful card! I love the balloon floating over the city and the beautiful night sky.
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
Beautiful color blending!
Thank you!
I love this card with the balloon over the city skyline!
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
I am always drawn to city scapes so love this card.
Thank you! Me too… 🙂
This is awesome! I have yet to play with my inks!
Thank you! Once you get started, you won’t be able to stop! They’re wonderful! 🙂
Love the Cityscape!
Thanks!
Melissa, your card is simply adorable! I so wish I had the Oxides, they look amazingly fun to play with!
Thank you, Teresa! They are very fun to play with! I hadn’t used distress inks much until I tried these!
LOVE the distress oxide blending! Such pretty colors!
Thank you, Linzi!
Love the colors and cityscape of this card!
Thank you!
What a pretty card!
Thank you, Katie!
I love how your background came out! Such a beautiful backdrop with city skyline and cheerful hot air balloon!
Thank you, Vinita!
Nothing like a calm and tranquil float from the busy city! Nice work.
Thank you, Colleen!
Great ink work and love the skyline! The splash of colour with the hot air balloon is perfect!
Thank you, Doris!
Love the background and the cute hot air balloon flying over the city. Great card! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Lisa! 🙂
Beautiful card! It was worth the hunt for the supplies!
Thank you, Janice! 🙂
I’d love to be floating in your beautiful balloon, gazing down at the lovely skyline, surrounded by the stunning night sky! Gorgeous!
~carol
Thank you, Carol! 🙂
Awesome card. Love the sponged background and the great design:)
Thank you, Dee! 🙂
Super sky, love the colours and blending. Thanks for all the inspiration you give us and running this fan challenge
Thank you so much, Sandie! 🙂
I have several hot air balloon dies and I always seem to run out of ideas on how to use them. Beautiful card and definitely an inspiration
Thank you, Rebecca!
So beautiful, Melissa! Love me some hot air balloons!
Thank you, Kristie!
Cute card…love that hot air balloon with the skyline. Enjoying this fun blog hop!
Woo Hoo to Casology for the the big 5 years!
Thank you, Beverly!
Beautiful card. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
Terrific card – love that background and will definitely try that technique. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you, Aggie! 🙂
Love the sky line! Cute card!
Thank you!
Love the hombre look with the purple/blue hues. Congrats on this milestone.
Thank you, Marilyn! 🙂
Beautiful card! I really love that background – such gorgeous colours!
Thank you, Charlotte!
Your card is great and the best thing about your post is I am an acquire it and forget it for a while person (and not an organized person – aka Pinterest!) but you have given me inspiration. Fabulous colors. Love the cityscape – it gives great dimension!
Thank you, Nancy! I’m so glad I’m not alone! 😉
Love these ballon. Very pretty card and unique..
Thank you! 🙂
Lovely scane!Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you!
lovely card!!
Thank you!
Love the background colours! I really need to get myself a hot air balloon stamp set – every time I see a card that uses one I want one! Great card 🙂
Thank you, Clare! Yes, you do need one! 😉
This is perfect for my 40 something family members who are all urban dwellers.
City scapes are some of my favorite things! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I always love a night sky and the city scene makes even prettier, lovely card.
Thank you!
Very pretty background. I need to branch out and get some oxides – such fun.
Thank you, Marsha! Oxides are a game changer… 😉
Beautiful card! I love the background.
Thank you, Laurie!
up up and away
🙂
Love the hot air balloon floating above the city and that sky!!!
Thank you, Monica!
Now that’s a balloon to be proud of…probably as proud as you are for CASology. You’ve made it the challenge to be at…don’t know how you manage it on a weekly basis. We’ll just call you superchallengehost.
Haha! Thanks, Coni! It’s part of my weekly routine anymore! I have a wonderful support team… 😉
I so wish I could blend inks like this – maybe I should invest in some oxides……..?!
Oxides make a big difference! 🙂
I love the balloons over the city,and the background is so wonderful
Thank you, Karen!
Feel like I’m floating over the city! Fun card.
Thanks, Arlene! 🙂
I love the use of those oxide inks. Such a beautiful background on the card.
Thank you, Nylene!
Great colors ! I agree with you, Distress Oxide is fabulous for blending, it’s my new favorite ink..
Thank you, Isabelle! Yes, Distress Oxide ink is wonderful stuff!!!
Congratulations! Thank you for all the wonderful challenges and kind comments over the years!
Thank you, Elizabeth! Thank YOU for playing along with us! 🙂
Such a pretty card! I love the cityscape and the blended background is so pretty.
Thank you, Joy!
Love that background Distress Oxides really rock!
Thank you! Yes, they do!!!
I love your card – that combo of distress oxides is stunning. Have to say i love those inks!
Thank you, Meg! 🙂
I am laughing at the challenge of finding goodies in your stash. I am in the process of organizing myself! Glad you did find it because your card is fabulous!
Thank you, Krystal! I was kicking myself, but it’s really nothing new…haha! 🙂
What a great card – love tha background
Thank you!
Love your card & the gorgeous oxide background!
Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful colors/blending and an amazing card! You’ve inspired a bit of experimenting with my new-to-me Distress Oxide inks!
Thank you, Michelle! Glad I could inspire! Hope you share what you create!!! 🙂
Oooo, clever twist on the balloon theme and such an amazing blended background! I love the vision of you scrabbling through your stamps to find the one you wanted, made me smile.
Thank you, Jane! 🙂
Wonderful card! Love the color and design. 🙂
Thank you, Natalie! 🙂
Melissa, you did it–5 years! CASology is obviously one of the best challenges going and I am so honored that you invited me to come back and play along for the anniversary! Your card is just CAS excellence, the sky is gorgeous and yes DI are so much fun to play with!
Thanks, Tracey! You’re a gem!!! 🙂
Your card is adorable! Love the design & pretty BG colors.
Thank you so much, Becca!
Beautiful card and colors!
Thank you! 🙂
Melissa, your designs are always awe-inspiring! I love Distress Oxides and how you’ve used them here. Beautiful!
Aww thanks, Kathy! 🙂
Great card, love your background!
Thank you, Janet!
I love that your elements are monochromatic and then placed on that beautiful background. So glad you did a hot air balloon. Lovely card.
Thank you, Tracy! 🙂
Beautiful card!
Thank you!
What a gorgeous card! I love everything about it.
Thank you! 🙂
So beautiful, love the ombre distressed background!
Thank you, Cindy! 🙂
Love, love, love the blending with the oxide inks. Your card just puts a smile on my face!
Thank you, Tamra! 🙂
Pretty card!! I am so wanting to try the Distress Oxide inks! Love the background.
Thank you! Distress Oxide inks are so worth it!
Hey there! So happy to be included in this happy occasion! So glad to call you all my friends.
I may not be frequent, but I’m always around! Wonderful fun Balloon card!
Aww thanks, Kimberly! So happy to hear from you! Miss you! Hugs!!!
Oooo – That sky!! I’m so glad you found your set, so you could share this beautiful card!!
Thanks, Tricia! I’m not going to lose sight of it again…haha! 🙂
Love seeing the balloons drifting along in the sky. Your card is awesome.
Thank you, Sandy! 🙂
Fabulous card…love your wonderful city scape!
Thank you, Kim! 🙂
This is so pretty, Melissa! Love your background!
Thank you, Shelly! 🙂
I love your ink blending! Congrats on 5 years!!
Thank you, Kevin! 🙂
So great!!!
Thank you!
Congrats on your 5th Anniversary at CASology, Melissa! It’s my all-time favorite challenge, and I wish you many more years of success with the challenge blog!
Love your ink blending on your background…it works perfectly with your city scape and fun hot air balloon! You always know how to inspire me…Thank You!!!
Thank you so much, Barb! I truly appreciate your love for CASology! 🙂
Look at you getting all inky and doing a brilliant job of it, Melissa! Your blended skyline is perfect for that little lost hot air balloon! So glad you found it!! Thank you very much for all you have done and do to keep your fun challenge going for all of us!! Hugs, Darnell
Thank you so much, Darnell! You are an inspiration yourself!!! Thank you for your support over the years too! 🙂
Wonderful thank you card. Glad you found your balloon stamp. Some things I have organized yet sometimes I still have a hard time finding something I know I have.
I hear you! Me too! Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
Love how the black pops against your beautiful background.
Thank you!
I love that your balloon is flying at night. I bet it’s gorgeous looking out onto the city with all its lights.
wonderful balloon card – love the beautifully inked background with the black!!
Beautiful Card! Such a great idea.
Wow what a beautiful card!
Thank you, Tasha! 🙂
Awesome night balloon scene! Great hop, Great prizes!
Awesome night balloon scene! Great hop, Great prizes!
Awesome night balloon scene! Great hop, Great prizes!
Fabulous card! The background blending is immaculate!
OMG . . . a hot air balloon over the big city. I love the scene you created. Beautiful job.
What a gorgeous background….I saw it earlier today and just now have some time to comment!! Happy 5th bday to CASology!!!!! So fun!
beautiful bg!
Wonderful card, love the background.
Great card!! I also seem to follow the “acquire it and forget about it for a while” school of thought! 🙂 Sadly, I have way too many craft supplies that I have not pulled out to use yet.
Glad you found the set you were looking for so you could make this delightful card! Love the background.
Gorgeous skyline scene with the hot air balloon! I love the pretty gradient of colors on the background-very cool!
What a wonderful card!
Love love this card of yours. Great job!
The skyline with coordinating balloon against that background is stunning.
How clever you are to put a modern skyline with a hot air ballon – I have very similar stamps but would not have thought to put them together.
Fabulous card, love your blending and fun design.
Such an elegant card!
Wow! I love your baloons a lot! And the background is just gorgeous!
Thank you so much for sharing and congrats!
I love the background and the single star. Definitely keeping to the theme of clean and simple.
Nice
Super inked background. 🙂
Beautiful background!
Very stylish! I wish I could fly like that!
Such a pretty background..
Melissa! big congrats on 5 years…that’s so wonderful!
I’m such a fan of your CAS designs and you’re constantly inspiring me. THIS card is beautiful!
What a pretty city scene! Great use of a balloon.
Love the new Distress Oxide Inks. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
cool card big blog hop!!! happy anniversary!!!
Beautiful cityscape. Love the inked background!
Love the skyline with the balloon!
Wow ! Astonishing background ! I still don’t give a shot to Distress Oxides but this is very appealing… Love from France, Marjorie
So interesting and has a visually calming effect.
Always love hot air balloons! Love the black & white with your gorgeous background!
Love your city background. The balloon flying over is the perfect addition!
Beautiful card. Love the colors.
♥ Monica
My personal Blog – Taylormadecards4u
I love the look of the black skyline and B&W balloon against that beautiful background! Wonderful card.
The background is fab and who wouldn’t want a balloon ride on a stary night like this, happy birthday casology how time flies oops sorry no pun intended.
What a beautiful colour blending. Love your card.
Thank you for the inspiration!
Love that blended background! Beautiful job!
Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for creating “CASology,” and for all your hard work associated with a challenge. You know it’s one of my favorite challenges, and I like to play as often as I can. So, “thank you” for the enjoyment you’ve given us these last five years. Here’s to many, many more!! I can just picture you floating in that sweet balloon, shouting down thank-you’s across the globe. Beautiful twilight sky behind your city scape, too. Thanks, Melissa. : )
Wow!!! Awesome background! beautiful!
Love the balloons and I love Distress inks as well. Super cute!
I really love your Background miss Melissa
so adorable and feel in a dreamland
love your card always sweety
hugs
Monika
Beautiful Card!!!
Beautiful Card!!!
What a fun background. Love the black buildings with the colorful balloon. Fabulous design!
I shading in the sky is fantastic. Love the skyline of buildings.
Hot air balloons are so fun – I’m afraid of heights but
really enjoyed my ride.
thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on this amazing milestone & here is to many more! Loving your card, the background is stunning and the perfect backdrop to your scene. Thanks so much for the wonderful inspiration. Hugs Bev x
I love the city scene every time I see it made with another idea!
Melissa, such a fabulous background for your silhouette images.
Such a nice card. Not the usual. The black ink against the Oxide colors is fabulous!
Your background is dreamy! Don’t you just love the new Distress Oxide inks?!
Such a beautiful card! Love your evening sky against the skyline!
Verynice color combo onthis!
Beautiful card!. I am becoming a Distress Ink addict and seeing your background didn’t help matters lol.
Great elegant design!
Love your card. Beautiful background.
Love your beautifully blended sky–gorgeous card, Melissa!
This is gorgeous! I just got all the distress inks and can’t wait to play with them! Thanks for the inspiration!
I love the black on the beatiful background!
Oh, duh! Balloon, as in, hot air balloon! Clever!
Lovely night scene!
This card is perfect for celebrate 5th years anniversary. So beautiful and love your message.
Thank you too.
Fabulous card Melissa! Loving the inked sky and I must get some of that gold spray!
wonderful card!
hugs
Wow, love this. Awesome background!
Greetings from Switzerland, Nicole
Love the background. Such a pretty card.
Fabulous card with a beautiful backdrop!
I love the blended background with the cityscape. So beautiful!
What is the trick to blending so you don’t see the shape of the tool. I have tried a couple times but it never looks smooth. Thanks
Hi, Jennifer! I usually do lots and lots of tight little circles when blending! If you are a visual person, check out Jennifer McGuire’s wonderful YouTube channel! She has a video on Distress Oxide inks, I do believe! Hope that helps! 🙂
I love the gradient background!
What a gorgeous card!! Love that oxide background!
A beautiful scene and I love the background. xx
A gorgeous background, and I love the silhouetted buildings, too!
Congratulations on 5 years! Love your challenges! Absolutely love your card… can’t go wrong with those oxide inks!
I love the black skyline silhouette with your gorgeous blended background!!!
What a fabulous coloured background Melissa and l love the silhouette buildings and hot air balloon over the top. x
Great card
Melissa, love the subtle colors of your card. . .a balloon ride at dusk. Lovely. Thanks.
That inking is just gorgeous! Beautiful!
Love your background!
Love the simplicity of this card but with a WOW factor!
Super cute! I still have to play around with those oxide inks. Thanks for the inspiration.
It’s stunning with the silhouette against that wonderful background!!
wow! love your card and the blended background is stunning
We must be twins. I suffer from ” where did I put that stamp set or die” myself. Right now I’m looking for my picket fence die I used a few days ago. I also find products I forgot I had while looking for something else. BTW I like your card.
Great card and love the blended background.
I have distress inks and I love them, but the oxides are calling my name! Love your blended background with them.
Lovely design, the background is wonderful, thanks for sharing and congrats in the milestone!
Love your background and balloon 🙂
Love the night sky background! Beautiful and warm!
I love how you did the background on this card! It’s so different, at least different from anything I have ever done. Thanks for showing us your pretty card and for giving us the chance to win something. Congrats on your 5th anniversary and many, many more!
I like your style! The colour blending is lovely.
love the background of this card
Congragts on 5 years of CASology! Happy to see you kept digging (I know how frustrating it can be to know you own something but have no idea where you ‘stored’ it), because your card turned out great. Also love your background. I’m anxiously waiting for my second batch of DOIs to arrive.
??????
Awesome cards! Big congrats on your 5 years at CASology!
Beautiful background!
Fabulous card!!! I know the feeling about hunting stamp sets….and I’m new to card making, but I just keep buying and buying and buying….instead of using using using!! Gotta get some kind of organization system going….lol!! Anyway Fabulous card!! Thanks for shRing!
Love the simple single layered card love the background
Gorgeous card, love the background.
Beautiful sky and wonderful skyline.
What a beautiful card.. Lovely blending..I am encouraged to try this colour combination!
Such a pretty background!
I also struggle to find things
I know I have!
I had the same trouble with finding my stamp! : ) Love this beautiful background and scene!! Happy 5th anniversary, CASology!
Many Many congratulations on your 5th year anniversary. So glad you persevered and found that gorgeous balloon stamp. Great blending of colours on the background and such an atmospheric card. Thank you so much for all your inspiration from yourself and your wonderful team x
Lovely card. Great inspiration for the balloon sets I know I have somewhere… 😉
GORGEOUS card Melissa!!! Love it! :o) Congratulations on 5th challenge anniversary. LOVE CASology!! :o) xx
What a pretty card with your distressed background. I hope to be able to play along.
Congrats on the Casology 5 year anniversary! Love your card – and I have spent many hours searching for a ‘missing’ stamp… wish I could get more organised!
Beautiful card, love your background!
Beautiful card !
Love oxides also
I am finally getting to the beginning of the hop! This is an amazing card. Love that background you created. Thank you for everything you have done to bring CASology to this point. I am so lucky to be part of this team.
Beautiful card – I love the background, so striking!!
Your card is really lovely — fabulous background!
Love that sweet little balloon!
Great card, I’ve been wanting to do a city scape for awhile!
Gorgeous card Melissa!! Love it!! :o) Happy 5th CASology anniversary! Love love love CASology challenges. :o) xx
Oh, this is such a clever take on the balloon them! klLove that beautiful sky background with the hot air balloon flying away!
Wow Melissa! Love your gorgeous background! Think I need to get these distress oxide inks once and for all. Thanks for all you do at CASology! I’m honored to be a part of your team! xo
Wow Melissa! Just perfect for this very special hop! Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone, and thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a part of it.
Love the background and the way the balloon draws you eyes up the card. Happy 5th Anniversary CASology. Hugz
Totally awesome!!! Love the bg!! Congratulations on your 5th anniversary!! I’m so happy and honored to be a part of your lovely team!!! Hugs Anna