August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the August CAS Christmas Challenge, hosted by the talented Julia.  She has chosen the challenge ...

For today's card, I made a night sky background using Brushos Powdered Inks on mixed media card.

Once dry, I added black die-cut Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer, along with a row of houses.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink to finish the design.  Easy and fun card to make. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I used Powdered Inks

NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using the row of houses die

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 - second entry

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Hero Arts)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Purple, Violet
Accessories:   Row of Houses die & Santa Sleigh (both from Spellbinders - Simon's Snow Globe Etched die set)

Challenges:

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #89

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Winter Storm

Hi everyone.  I had fun playing with Brushos yesterday.  It's been a while.  I forgot how messy they can be. :)  Next time I will definitely wear protective gloves. :)

But, you can't deny, that the colours are so amazing.  I used just Black Brushos over top of the Aspen Tree Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) on mixed media paper.  I spritzed with lots of water, quickly removed the stencil and let the water sit for a few seconds before carefully blotting with a paper towel.  I LOVE the gorgeous mix of colours you get.  Very simple card to make too!!  I added two snowhills by tearing my white card stock for the bottom; splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow, and added a simple sentiment.  Done! :)

Close-up ...

I made this specifically for the January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter.  Thanks for the great challenge Darlene & Diane!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (retired - MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Brushos; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   water mister, Aspen Tree stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Deer Trio die (IO)

Challenges:

January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter. 

Autumn Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card was made at the same time as the Stencil Monoprint card I posted a couple of days ago ...

I used brushos on mixed media paper with the Joyful Sunflower stencil to create 1) a positive print --- my card for today; then 2) flipping the wet stencil over onto a second piece of mixed media paper to create the negative (background) print for the stencil monoprint recently posted for Group of Seven.

I'm really happy with both cards. :)  I haven't done many prints with stencils recently and Group of Seven inspired me to get inky. :)  

The top card uses the print, along with a small black sentiment banner with Happy Birthday heat embossed in copper.  Simple, quick, and easy card to make, celebrating fall's colours.  

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Sharing at the following challenges:

1) Darnell's Sept. Challenge - Stencils

2) Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

3) Seize the Birthday #292 - Anything Birthday Goes

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Message - retired (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:  Joyful Sunflower (The Crafter's Workshop); water mister, Copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

IDEAS  Sept. Challenge - Stencils

Beautiful Bloosoms Challenge - Sept. - Mood Board #21

Seize the Birthday #292

Watercolour Foliage

Hi everyone.   I made this card a while ago, but just getting around to posting.  This is done with the stencil monoprint technique and watercolouring.

I started with the Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp), sprinkling orange and terracotta Brushos over top of the stencil, spritzing with a fine mist of water before turning it over and pressing it down over top of a piece of hot press watercolour paper.  I kept pressing with a paper towel to mop up any moisture that popped out from under the stencil.  I ended up with a lovely background with the leaf design fairly clear of colour (stencil monoprint).

Once dry, I used Mowed Lawn distress ink to watercolour my leaves and stems.  I went over them a few times on the w/c paper and it didn't pill - yay!  Once the leaves were dry, I used my white Posca pen to outline the image and add some veins to the leaves.  I cropped the image, added a thin white frame and popped it up over my card front with a sentiment (Happy Snippets - Penny Black) stamped underneath.  I used Carved Pumpkin distress ink and stamped the sentiment over and over (3 times) and then added a final stamping with Ripe Persimmon distress ink.  I thnk the colour ended up looking like it was done with the same colours as the background. :)

Close-up ...

Edited to add:  I've included a link to a wonderful video by Lee-Anne Cross on how to do stencil monoprints.  Thanks for the prompt from Diane to include a link! :)

I'm sending this card over to February Stencil Fun Challenge - didn't use the optional theme this month.

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Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos:  Orange, Terracotta; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Carved Pumpkin, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Leaves Stencil (Simon Says Stamp); water mister, paint brushes, white Posca pen

Challenges:

February Stencil Fun Challenge

Penguining Christmas

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by two challenges to create this card.  

The first is Christmas Craft Creations August Challenge - Winter Activities.

... and Peace on Earth Challenge #22.  I love the mood board and focussed on the penguin in the top right image. :)

I started with a background from my stash of Brushos smooshed onto mixed media paper.  I cut my panel to size and then added two strips of torn white card stock for my snowhills.  I used my new Penguin Pals stamps and dies (Sunny Studio) to stamp and watercolour my penguin, floating ice and North Pole sign.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

For finishing touches, I used my white pen to add "waves" in the water and also stripes on the penguins scarf and toque.  Clear Wink of Stella adds sparkle to the floating ice, penguin hat (cuff and pompom).  

Close-up ...

This is the first time using this stamp and die set, so I'm sending my card over to NBUS Challenge #41.

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Stamps:  Penguin Pals (Sunny Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Brushos; Distress Inks:  Wilted Violet, Black Soot, Spiced Marmalade, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, watercolour brushes, Clear Wink of Stella, White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations August Challenge - Winter Activities.

Peace on Earth Challenge #22

NBUS Challenge #41

Happy Birthday Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Seize the Birthday Challenge #243 - Purple, Blue, and Green.  The challenge is being run by my sweet friend, Colleen.  I LOVE this colour combo and I'm so happy I had a chance to play along. :)

I started with a piece of watercolour paper, sprinkled with three colours of Brushos (Violet, Turquoise, Leaf Green) and spritzed with lots of water.  I love the deep, saturated colours you get from Brushos.  Once the panel was dry, I cut it to size and then splattered with diluted silver re-inker.  I die-cut a row of flowers in white card stock and secured it over top of my Brushos panel.  I stamped the sentiment (Stampendous Brushed Wishes - retired) using Silver Delicata ink.  I die-cut the flowers (Memory Box Painted Flower Stems - retired) a second time so I could layer another flower head on top, which gives the flowers more depth ... this was to cover up a stray brushos that ended up on one of my original row of flowers. :)  I finished by glued silver half-pearls to the centers of my flowers.

Close-up ...

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Stamps:  Brushed Wishes - retired (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Arches)
Ink:   Brushos:  Violet, Turquoise, Leaf Green; Silver Delicata (Tsukinecko)
Accessories:   water mister, Painted Flower Stems die - retired (Memory Box); paint brush for splattering, silver half pearls (Studio Katia)

Challenges:
Seize the Birthday #243 - Purple, Blue, and Green

July CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Christmas challenge for July.  This month's challenge is hosted by the mega-talented Barb (Barb's Studio Creations).  So happy to have Barb back at CAS Christmas after being off for a while.  Welcome back BARB!

I started with a background I made last year during a Zoom call with my crafty friends.  We did "night skies" on watercolour paper with brushos.  Click HERE to see the first card I made using one of these backgrounds..  I simply stamped my new-to-me Christmas Night (Lavinia) stamp in black ink and heat embossed with clear to make it stand out more against the dark sky colours.  I tore a piece of white card stock, added crystal glaze along the torn edge and then sprinkled with glitter.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Gina Marie Designs) in black ink, clear heat embossed and then popped the whole panel up on my card base.

Close-up ...

You can see the texture of the cold press watercolour paper that's been black heat embossed.  With having the background already in my stash, this made for a very quick and easy card. :)

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards by our wonderful Designers.  I know you'll be inspired to play along.

Remember to keep your card design CAS following the rules on our challenge sidebar.  Thank you!

I'm sending this over to NBUS #40 Challenge.  The santa and sleigh image is inked for the first time with this card ...

I used snippets for the background and for the snow, so I'm sending my card over to the Snippets Playground Challenge #431.

* * * * *

Photos by Alejandro Garcia

Jessie and Violeta on Canada Day

 
Aren't they adorable??!!

You'd never know that Jessie had a run in with a skunk the week before and

is still a bit hard to sit close to. :)

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Christmas Night (Lavinia); Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   White acrylic paint for splattering, splatter brush, clear embossing powder, heat tool, crystal glaze (Nuvo), glitter (SU!)

Challenges:
CAS Christmas July Challenge - Santa

NBUS #40 Challenge

Snippets Playground #431

Glass Bead Snowflake

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Christmas card with some added sparkle.  The background is from a piece in my stash of a stentil monoprint.  I used brushos in blue and purple (2 colours) sprinkled over a piece of watercolour paper and spritzed with lots of water.

Once dry, I placed a homemade snowflake stencil, cut with my Silhouette Cameo.  I pounced over the stencil with versamark and then sprinkled with white embossing powder, heating to set.  I wanted the snowflake to stand out more, so I washed off the stencil and lined it up over my embossed snowflakes, adding a layer of glass bead gel.  The bead gel dries clear and gives a lovely sparkle to the snowflake.

I added a simple heat embossed sentiment banner to finish the card.

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I'm sending this card over to two challenges.

First, Christmas Craft Creations challenge where they are looking for 2 colours on a Christmas card.

And, also sending this to Rudolph Days Challenge where anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

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Thank you.

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. Cold Press)
Ink:  Brushos, Versamark 
Accessories:   water mister, snowflake stencil cut from acetate on silhouette cameo, white embossing powder, Glass Bead gel (Golden), palette knife, 

Challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations Challenge - May - 2 Colours

Rudolph Days Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

September Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  I'm entering this card into September's Rudolph Days over at Maureen's blog.  I've been playing along all year and it has helped me build my stash of Christmas cards.

The above card was an experiment.  It didn't turn out exactly as I had hoped, but it's pretty.

I received a few pieces of this gorgeous dry embossed image from my sweet friend, Bonnie.  This was ages ago.  I forgot I had them and came across them the other day.

I lightly ran my versamark over top, hoping to catch the highlights of the design, and then heat embossed in white.  It's a bit tricky using a stamp pad for this.  I should have tried my brayer - it might have worked better.

I cut a strip off one side and then smooshed with brushos.  I found that the colour seeped into the raised design as it wasn't heat embossed well enough to resist.  I ended up going over the design with a white gel pen.  It took a while. :)

Attached the two pieces of the snowflake to my card front and added a simple white heat embossed black banner for some contrast.

Close-up ...

Stamps:  Snowglobe sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media; Black (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, Brushos, heat tool

Challenges:
September's Rudolph Days

Bleached Brushos

Hi everyone.  Sharing one of my many cards that I've finished at the retreat so far.  This technique was led by Susan (Cardmaker's Garret).  Such a fun and easy technique with great results.  We were all thrilled to learn this and we all vowed to use it again and again!

Smooshed the brushos for background and let air dry.  Stamped the image in permanent black in and then used a cheap, small paint brush to remove colour from the flowers using bleach.  Don't use a good brush because the bleach could damage it.  Finished the card with a black card base and frame with white heat embossed sentiment.

It's been a whirlwind week with very fun and crazy days filled with crafting, laughing and lot of good food.  The people attending aren't bad either. LOL!!

We are staying at a huge house in Crescent Beach BC that we got for a song and a dance.  Turns out it's a bit run down with lots of little quirks, but it just made things even more fun.

Joining me this year are Susan, Christine, Nancy, Dolly, Trina, Bonnie, Linda, and Colleen.  Most I have "known" on-line for years, but first time meeting Bonnie, Linda and Colleen.

It's been a fantastic time!!!

Hope to share more cards soon, but might have to wait until I'm back home.  We have a couple more days before the retreat is over and we're excited to welcome Maureen (Scrappymo!) for lunch and a visit tomorrow!

Stamps:  First blush (Penny Black); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Blick Cold Press); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos, Archival Black; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, small cheap paint brush, bleach, white embossing powder, heat tool