September CAS Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters, hosted by our lovely Lisa!!  The challenge runs Sept. 1 - 30.

First time using an older Penny Black image that I recently bought.  Stamped the image in black and heat embossed in clear before watercolouring with distress reinkers.

To finish, I fussy-cut the image and used my clear Wink of Stella to add some shimmer to the Santa cuff and pompom.  I die-cut two small holly leaves and berries, watercoloured and added them to the hat.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  

The image is popped onto my panel with two torn snowhills at the bottom and a background of Falling Snow (SSS) dry embossing.  Simple sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink.  The panel is popped up on top of my white card base. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #90 - first time using this adorable Penny Black stamp

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70

 

Please check out the challenge blog to see the wonderful cards from our Designers and Guest Designers, Lynne and Pat!  We'd love for you to join us at CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Santa's Hat (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black ink:  Obsidian (Altenew); Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Hickory Smoke, Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Flesh watercolour pen (Zig)
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Falling Snow embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Red Chalk, White Posca pen, Holly & Berries die (unknown)

Challenges:

CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters

NBUS Challenge #90

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70

The Littlest Birds ...

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a sweet die I picked up from Temu Canada.  I seem to be on a bird kick these days. :)  There are lots of layers and pieces in this die set, which I cut from mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.

I cut an oval aperture from my card front and placed a background of embossed leaf sprigs (Spellbinders Leafy 3D Embossing Folder) to add a bit of texture.

The die-cut pieces are adhered together with glue and then placed over the aperture, with pop-dots added to create depth.

The card is finished with a simple sentiment (Stampendous - Spring Sentiments - closed), stamped in gathered twigs.  The whole card front is popped up on foam for even more dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this adorable bird die set :)

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Black Soot, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Bird on a Branch die (Temu Canada), Watercolour Brushes, Oval Die

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Guest Designing at SCS Fan Club Christmas - June

Hi everyone.  Today I'm excited to be Guest Designing at Splitcoast Stampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge - SCSCCJUN26. :)  I used a new-to-me mistletoe die, cutting twice before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.  I used some Sparkle acrylic paint for the berries.

I used the Geometric Embossing Folder (Penny Black) and cut the panel down to size before layering the mistletoe sprigs over top.  I added pop-dots so the mistletoe had lots of texture and dimension.

The whole panel was popped up over top of my card base, which had been stamped with the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) in red DOX ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Christmas Card Challenge - CCC26MAY - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink (TH)
Accessories:  Mistletoe die (Temu), watercolour paint brushes, Geometric Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Sparkle acrylic paint (Lumiere)

Challenges:

SCS Fan Club Christmas Challenge (SCSCCJUN26)

SCS Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Evergreen Christmas

Hi everyone.  I was hoping to have this card done before the end of April, but life got in the way.  I'm playing along with SCS April Christmas Challenge - E is for Evergreen.  Thankfully there is no time limit on SCS challenges. :)

I'm hoping that the "Evergreen" element doesn't actually have to be green. :)  I created a mixed media background with watercoloured tissue paper, sponged colour, dry embossing, and brayering.  I love this combination that I used on a card last year.  I made good use of my time by creating three similar card fronts.  I split two of the card fronts to make four equal panels, and used the third card front to create strips for the inside of my cards. :)  

For the four focal panels, I added mostly the same elements ... evergreen dies cut from matte gold foil card stock and gold embossed white sentiment strips.  These all tie in with the gold metallic paint I brayered to highlight the dry embossed design (Pepperberry Embossing Folder - Simon Says Stamp), overtop of a watercoloured tissue paper mounted background.

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - I used inks to W/C tissue paper, and sponge over top

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68 - AG Christmas

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The other three cards ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MFT - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Matte Gold cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Tissue paper, water mister, Pepperberry Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,

Gold Metallic Paint (Lumiere), Holly Branches dies (Penny Black), Inspired die (Reindeer) - Penny Black,  Holly & Berries die (Birch Press Designs); Mistletoe die (unknown)

Challenges:

SCS April Christmas Challenge - Evergreen (CCC26APR)

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #68

Spring Magic

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses my favourite Altenew stamp (Nature's Magic).  Love this set of flowers and was going to use the matching stencils but ... they somehow got lost in our last move and I hadn't noticed until yesterday.  So I watercoloured the flowers and leaves with distress inks, used the matching die to cut them out and popped them up in a wooden crate (Honey Bee) overtop of dry embossed leaves (Layered Leaves Folder - SU!).  I finished by stamping the sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black) onto a strip of white card stock, adhered over the bottom of the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

Color Hues #131 - Coral and Green

Seize the Birthday #324 - Make a Spring Garden

Cut it Up #354 - Colors of Spring

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   watercolour paint brushes, Nature's Magic dies, Wooden Crate die (Honey Bee), Layered Leaves EF (SU!)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

Color Hues #131 - Coral and Green

Seize the Birthday #324 - Make a Spring Garden

Cut it Up #354 - Colors of Spring

Festive Friends

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses a new-to-me die, Festive Friends (Spellbinders).  I took advantage of the large piece that is the bear's sweater, embossing  it with Cross-Stitch EF (Taylored Expressions) and highlighting the stitching with Savaged Patina distress ink. I cut the bear, his sweater, and the string of lights (background) from coloured card stock.  I only used white for the sentiment (cut three times and stacked) and the lights (coloured with Posca pens and coated with Nuvo Crystal Glaze).  

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - the bear's sweater is dry embossed

NBUS Challenge #84 - first time using this die set from Spellbinders, and the sentiment die

Christmas Kickstart #108 - Out of the Woods --- this bear is definitely Out of the Woods and not in his own element, fighting with a string of lights ... hope this is OK.

AAA Card Challenge #310 - Anything CAS Goes with Optional Zoo or Animals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Baked Brown Sugar, Granny Apple, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Sky Blue cardstocks (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Festive Friends dies (Spellbinders), merry die (Temu), sponges, Posca acrylic paint pens, red chalk 

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #84

Christmas Kickstart #108 - Out of the Woods

AAA Card Challenge #310 - Anything CAS Goes with Optional Zoo or Animals

Pretty Bird

Hi everyone.  Today's CAS (clean and simple) card is looking forward to Spring. :)  I love this new-to-me die, Pretty Bird Etched Die set (Spellbinders), surrounded with leafy greenery.  The background is dry embossed using the Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  The bird on a swing is popped up on top, coloured with distress inks and markers.  I added some extra leafy vines in bright green (Ascending die - Penny Black).  The background is sponged in more green ink and then main image was popped up over the background.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas January Challenge - Use New Crafty Item

Simply CAS January Challenge - Optional:  Use Something New

Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Granny Apple Green card stock (SU!)

Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Arteza Markers
Accessories:   Pretty Bird Etched die set (Spellbinders); Vine & Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), brown twine, sponges

Challenges:

Die Cut Divas January Challenge - Use New Crafty Item

Simply CAS January Challenge - Optional:  Use Something New

Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Pink Christmas card. :)  As many of you know, pink is my favourite colour, so I just had to play along at Christmas Kickstart. :)  I'm a bit late to the party ... just haven't found my mojo yet after taking a long break from card making.  Today's card is a CASE of one I saw on-line.  Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out who made it as the watermark was missing.  I LOVED the design and copied it exactly, with one exception of switching out the original blue sky for pink. :)  Sometimes when I have trouble being creative, it helps to CASE a card to get me back on track.

One other thing, is it me ?? ... or have you noticed over the past few years, that many of the new thin die sets are full of teeny, tiny pieces.  This was a challenge to make because of the size of ... the windows, the door, the roof, the lamp posts.  But it all came together and I'm so happy with how it turned out.  There's also lots of dies within the set, so you can choose what to use in your winter scene (or use them all!). :)  I placed the finished snow globe onto a card base dry embossed with beautiful snowflakes.

Close-up ...

As mentioned above, I'm sending this card to the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106.  Thanks to Jo and her wonderful Guest elf Chris, for this fun challenge!  And because this is the first time using this sweet snowglobe die set, I'm sending this card to NBUS Challenge #82.

Edited to Add:  I meant to add another challenge - If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #212 - Cabin in Winter.  Mine is not a cabin, but a house ... hope that's OK.  

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spun Sugar, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Simon's Snow Globe Etched Dies (Spellbinders), Filigree Snowflakes Folder (Simon Says Stamp), sponges

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #106

NBUS Challenge #82

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #212 - Cabin in Winter

Winter Birthday

Hi everyone.  I'm back to card making with today's card.  I started off by sponging a background using three DI inks (Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon) onto white cardstock.  It was then dry embossed with the Snowflake Oval Frame Folder from Simon Says Stamp and white pigment ink was tapped over top.

I topped the card front with a silver foil die-cut group of trees;  then added a simple Winter Birthday sentiment in more of the Peacock Feathers ink.

Close-up ...

The close-up shows the shine from the silver foil trees. :)  Sorry about the photos ... looks like my camera is on its' last legs. 

Today's card was made following two challenge:

Seize the Birthday #318 - Blizzard of Snowflakes 

Double D 10 Year Birthday 2026 - Anything Birthday Goes

   

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Festive snippets (Penny Black); Birthday sentiment (unknown)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.) - card base;  Silver foil card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon (Tim Holtz); White Unicorn ink (Hero Arts)
Accessories:   Snowflake Oval Frame embossing folder (SSS); Christmas Grove die (Temu Canada)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #318 - Blizzard of Snowflakes - Make your own Snowflake Background

Double D 10 Year Birthday 2026 - Anything Birthday Goes

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone - Happy New Year!!

I'm starting the year by sharing a few cards I made and sent out for Christmas, but didn't have time to post late last year.  These were all made with backgrounds I had in my stash.  Most times I will make multiple backgrounds when trying out a new technique.  I keep them handy to create cards later on.

For details about other supplies I've used on these cards, check out the Card Recipe at the bottom of this post.

Above is made with a brushos background ... the two cards below are made from a recent technique from Group of Cardmakers - Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing.  Long name :) ... but a grouping of fairly simple techniques that together, create lovely backgrounds.

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Sending the above card to Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related.  Closes Jan. 3, 2026.

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Card above is stenciled using Sticky powder and gold mica powders.  Again, made from my stash of technique samples. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Shine Upon You (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos:  shades of green and blue; Mowed Lawn distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Evergreen Window die - retired (Memory Box)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MTF out of business); Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Blue Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light light blue, dark blue, purple), sponges, Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,Citrine metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Stitched Rectangle and Square Frames (AliExpress)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Jolly Snippets (Penny Blck)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Layered Poinsettia Stencil (Tim Holtz), Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, gold mica powder (Arteza), brush, Rectangle Frame (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related