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. :)

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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

Guest Designing at Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114

Hi everyone.  I'm excited to be Guest Designing for Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 - Reindeer Games.  Thanks for the lovely invite Jo!! :)  Get out your reindeer stamps, dies, or stencils and play along. :) 

 

I started with a really fun image from Whipper Snapper (All Tangled Up Reindeer).  I stamped and heat embossed the image in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I watercoloured with distress inks and then decided to fussy-cut him.  Not sure why, because in the end, I put a piece of white cardstock behind him. :)

I used some older SU! patterned paper, gingham in old olive, as the background adding a sentiment strip of white at the bottom, stamped with Penny Black Christmas Sentiments stamp.  For the finishing touch, the panel was popped up for added dimension over the gingham card front, and I added crystal glaze (nuvo) over the lights for some shine and a little clear wink of stella on the Santa hat cuff and pompom for a little sparkle. :)

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This guy makes me smile and I hope he will bring a smile to the recipient as well.  Thanks again to Jo for inviting me to Guest Design at Christmas Kickstart #114 - Reindeer Games.  I hope you'll play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  All Tangled Up Reindeer (Whipper Snapper); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Old Olive Gingham patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black pigment (Obsian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Black Soot
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #114 - Reindeer Games

Mini Watercolour Landscapes

Hi everyone.  There is a watercolour challenge posted every Wednesday at SCS (Splitcoast Stampers), which usually includes a video to follow.  I've started following along when I have time, watercolouring as best I can.  This usually means several attempts in the garbage, but I'm stubborn, so I just keep trying.  So far I've watercolour and posted two cards; tree following a challenge; birthday cake following a video from YouTube.  It's been a fun challenge for me. :)

This week at SCS, the video is Miniature Landscapes (click HERE to see the video), and the artist demonstrated four different scenes.  I started with the intention of making all four, but in the end, I have three to share.  The first card was the easiest of the bunch for me ... sand, sky, and a few clouds. :)  It turned out OK, so I made it into a card. :)

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* * * * *

The following two have a little more to them, but they are all basic landscapes, each with something different.

The next one is the grassy knoll with trees off in the distance, and a beautiful sky on a sunny day. :)  I added a sympathy sentiment as I was in need of a card for a dear friend.

The last one is another water scene.  This time more focus is on the sky and water with a small patch of sand at the bottom of the image.  There's a few different techniques for each of these simple landscapes, but I'm hoping with more practise, I will improve and build on them.

I'm sending these cards to:

SCS Watercolor Wednesday Challenge - WCW326 - Easy Miniature Landscapes

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Relax (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Kuretake W/C Paints;  Rusty Hinge distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes

Cards 2 & 3:

Stamps:  Retired Clearly Besotted stamp set; Retired Amy R stamp set

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Liquid Concentrate W/C (Blick Art Materials); Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew)
Accessories:   Watercolour Paint brushes

Challenges:

SCS Watercolour Wednesdays - WCW326 - Easy Landscapes

Birthday card for Alejandro

Hi everyone.  My son-in-law's birthday was just a few days ago and today I'm sharing the card I made for him.  I used the Sip Sip Ole (Spellbinder's) die set.  I pretty much CASED one of the cards on the site ... just changing it up slightly.  It was so fun to create this card. :)

I started by lightly sponging part of my background in distress inks in soft greens (Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn).  I die-cut the Margarita glass from vellum lined with acetate to give a frosted look, with the acetate giving it strength.  I sponged more colour for the inside of the glass  and added the "salt rim" with acetate covered in large glitter.  The rest of the pieces were die-cut from mixed media paper and watercoloured (or sponged) with more distress inks.  

The drink was layered on top of my background.  I typed the sentiments on my computer (Century Gothic and Autography fonts), printed and cut out to finish the card.  It reads ...

                                        Card Front:                                               Inside Card:

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using this die-set

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  sentiment printed from my computer

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum, Acetate
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Sip Sip Ole die set (Spellbinders), watercolour brushes, sponges, chunky glitter

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #89

Warmth of Friendship

Hi everyone.  Today's card is all about friendship at Christmas time. :)  I love this sweet image Warmth of Friendship by Penny Black.  I stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Then watercoloured with distress inks and added a light blue wash to the background.  Easy and fun card to make. :)  I added a small sentiment at the bottom and splattered some falling snow to finish.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #113 - A Friend is for Life and not just Christmas

Rudolph Days August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using this stamp

SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26AUG

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Warmth of Friendship (Penny Black); Snowglobe Sayings (MFT - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Candied Apple, Salty Ocean, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white acrylic paint

Techniques:  stamping, heat embossing, watercolouring, splattering

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart #113 - A Friend is for Life and not just Christmas

Rudolph Days August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #89

SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26AUG

Birthday Cosmos

Hi everyone.  I made this card with three challenges in mind.  First, Inkspirational Challenge #374 - Word Prompt - Garden.  The second challenge is for Darnell's IDEAS calendar.  This week is embossing.  The image on my card is heat embossed. :)

And the third challenge from last week at Splitcoast Stampers, CAS911 - Gems.  I rarely use gems on my cards, and I had to wade through the box of lots of pearls and sequins to find this little tiny package of gems from Pretty Pink Posh that wasn't even opened yet.  I'm never sure of the placement, but hopefully they look OK. :)

I stamped the Cosmos in black ink, heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper and then watercoloured with my Zig markers.  Very fun and relaxing.  I used a new-to-me sentiment from Hero Arts - Togetherness Flower stamp set for the sentiment banner at the bottom.  I covered the card front with a piece of Pear Pizzazz card stock and popped up the panel for some dimension.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #374 - Word Prompt - Garden

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I used heat embossing 

SCS CAS911 Challenge - Gems

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Cosmos (Stampendous); Togetherness Flower (Hero Arts - Sentiment)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian - Altenew); Zig Markers
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, gems (Pretty Pink Posh)

Challenges:

Inkspirational Challenge #374 - Word Prompt - Garden

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I used heat embossing 

SCS CAS911 Challenge - Gems

Christmas cards ...

Hi everyone.   Just a reminder of the CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.

Smooshed a piece of mixed media paper and once dry, stamped my image in black pigment ink and heat embossed in clear.  Watercoloured using distress inks.

Two strips of torn white paper are added to the bottom for snowhills and a simple sentiment is stamped in black ink.  Splattered diluted white paint for falling snow.

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Sending this card to the follow challenges:

CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

Edited to add - entering below:

Christmas Kickstart #113 - A Friend is for Life and not just Christmas

* * * * *

This is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.

I used this beautiful background paper from Honey Bee, stenciling overtop with the Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee).  I started with layers of distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) and let it dry thoroughly before stenciling overtop with Versamark and sprinkling with White embossing powder.  I heat set and also stamped and heat set the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) as well.  To finish, I trimmed the panel down to size, allowing more white space on my card front.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

This card only took me about 10 minutes to make and I love how it turned out.  I have more of these papers, so made more of the same design, just swapping out the background paper and changing ink colours.  Great way to build my Christmas card stash! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1: (Sleigh)

Stamps:  Santa and his Reindeer (Stamping Bella); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white acrylic paint

Card #2: (Tree)

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper - Team Tie Dye (Honey Bee)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee), sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree

SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  We are a small group now with several people moving on.  We decided that this will be our last post at Group of Cardmakers.  We appreciate those that have followed us, left wonderful comments, and shared their talents by playing along.

For out final technique this month at Group of Cardmakers,  we are playing with adding dimension to die-cuts.  There are several ways to do this ... layering, sponging edges, shaping, etc.

Group of Cardmakers - Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Design Element

I started with a new-to-me die (Garden Cosmos Layering dies - Altenew), a gift from a very good friend ... thanks B!  I cut all the pieces from cold press w/c paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers and distress inks.  I found it a challenge to put the pieces all together, but in the end it all worked.  I LOVE how my flowers turned out, even though I took creative license with the colour as Cosmos do not grow in a deep purple, but rather a pinky purple tone. :)

To create the card I started with the background.  I smooshed both Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade distress inks with lots of water and smooshed my cold press w/c paper card front.  I used these colours for the centers of the flowers as well ... tying this together.  I watercoloured all the flower petals with wilted violet distress re-inker ... that's how the colour is so intense.  LOVE IT! :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink to add sponging around each petal, giving the flower visual depth.  After they were dry, I also shaped each petal using a stylus with my sponge mat ... adding even more depth.  For the stems / greenery, the pieces were watercolour with Mowed Lawn distress ink and sponged with Rustic Wilderness ink.  It's always good to have a variety of shades of green.

The flowers were assembled and then attached to the greenery.  I only used half the flowers from the set, so you will see another card with purple cosmos in the future.

The finishing touch is adding the stamped sentiment (SU - retired stamp - Endless Birthday Wishes), Villaneous Potion ink on white card.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Inks / Dies / Sponging / Smooshing

NBUS Challenge #88 - first time using this Cosmos Die set

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls

   

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Ink:  Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Garden Cosmos Layering Dies (Altenew); watercolour brushes, stylus, foam mat

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #88

Simply Clean and Simple July Challenge - Birthday

AAA Birthday Challenge #87 - For the Girls