Tuesday, March 01, 2016

CAS Mix Up March Challenge


Hi everyone.  Today is so exciting!  Bonnie and I are launching our very first challenge at CAS Mix Up.  We hope you'll come check out the challenge and play along.

CAS Mix Up is all about CAS (clean and simple) design combined with mixed media techniques and products.  I do love techniques!! :)





The challenge has three parts to it.  For March, each entry must have stamping, watercolouring, plus a third item which is your choice (technique or product). There's a suggestions list over on the challenge blog to help you decide on a third item. Check out the right hand sidebar for the list and the rules for the challenge.

For today's card, I started with the soft, watercoloured background using the acetate smooshing technique.  I used subtle colours so that they didn't compete with my flowery branch, instead just providing a bit of interest for the background.  You can use watercolour paper for this technique, but for today's card I have smooshed onto regular white card stock.

I die-cut a long, leafy branch (which I split into two branches) from soft green card stock and then sponged green around the edges of the leaves to give them dimension.  Several blooms were punched from soft pink card stock, and then sponged around the edges with a darker pink.  For even more added dimension, I used my stylus and mat to shape the leaves and the flowers.  I pinched a few of the blooms to create "buds" and left some open, adding more interest.  The flower branches were arranged over the background so that the ends tucked underneath the sentiment banner.  Lots of fun to make.

My card has stamping (sentiment), watercolouring (background) and my third choice was die-cuts.  See, it's easy to play along. :)

I'm also excited to announce that my good friend Susan (Cardmaker's Garret) is our Featured Designer this month.  Welcome Susan!!  I hope you'll find some time to visit her blog and leave some love.

And please drop over to Bonnie's blog (Stamping with Klass) as well to see her beautiful CAS Mix Up card.

I hope you'll come play along with our challenge.  The link is open until March 24th so there's lots of time to enter.

Thanks for stopping by!







Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink (SU!)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  piece of acetate, water mister, Lavish Branch die (Memory Box), Hydrangea Punch (Martha Stewart), sponges, stylus and mat

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Watercolouring

35 comments:

sandie said...

Looks fab Loll x

Viv said...

Stunning Loll! x

Ksenija @Sweet Kobylkin said...

Beautiful card, Loll! Congrats on a new challenge :)

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Thanks for the very detailed explanation Loll! That is a great help! I'm not scared of MM CAS now, thanks to you! Good luck to you both in this new venture and look forward to joining you! Have a great month my friend! Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Julia Aston said...

Love your card Loll - the die cut stem and tiny blooms add such dimension to your design - and that smooched background is softly beautiful! Julia xx

Marcia Hill said...

What a beautiful card to start out this new challenge with Loll! It may be CAS but it sure packs a punch...absolutely lovely!! :0)

Cathy said...

Beutiful card Loll, love the soft colours, fantastic start to your new venture with Bonnie, Cathy x

Stacy Sheldon said...

oooh cool :) Okay I am "thinking"

Lee-Anne said...

Absolutely adore that soft, dreamy background, Loll! And I love how those sweet little pink flowers just pop! Beautiful!!! Congrats on the new challenge!

Nstiz said...

Your soft smooshed watercolor background is so perfect with this! Your beautifully formed blossoms and branches stole the show though, Loll. Love the added sponging and the buds you formed! Just a gorgeous card!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Gorgeous! Congrats on the new challenge! Hopefully I find the time to join in~

Betty said...

beautiful card as always, Loll - can't wait to get started!

Susanne Vargas said...

Fantastic card! You take the fear away from Mixed Media with your wonderful sample!

Pink Unicorn said...

Gorgeous card and such a fun challenge! I can't wait to play along

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautiful card Loll a lovely CAS card

Anne

Anonymous said...

Nice Loll.......Love how you met this challenge!

Brenda said...

Your card is stunning Loll! I love the soft colors on this one, reminds me of spring, which we are all ready for even if some of us didn't have a bad winter. lol Hugs, Brenda

Susan said...

A beautiful card, Loll! Love the colours and the way the branches tuck under the sentiment. I always forget about using the acetate to create a background - must do that again. I'm so glad you and Bonnie are doing this new challenge, and so thrilled to be your first Featured Designer.

MaryH said...

So very pretty for your debut CAS Mixup card. Love the soft spring feel of the flowery branch, and it looks grand with the smooshed background. Cheers to this first challenge, and hope I can play along. I think this will be a fun and very popular challenge! TFS & Hugs

Bonnie said...

I am so excited to be on this journey with you, Loll! You have inspired me and taught me so much during our friendship and I look forward to more. You know I love your shaped leaves and flowers against the smooshed background. A gorgeous card, my dear friend!

swldebbie said...

So excited for you and Bonnie - lovely samples - and from Susan as well. Time to get out of my comfort zone and think of something to try. :)

Mac Mable said...

Such a beautiful card. The colours and the layout so very delicate. CAS and mixed media...just so perfect x

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Loll!! I love that foliage sprig and those little flowers are just so darling! So pretty on the soft blue sky background! hugs :)

TK said...

This is so beautiful! That backdrop to your leaves and flowers really captured my heart!

Anita in France said...

How beautiful, Loll ... lovely soft, subtle smooshing ... and the most amazing detailing on that wonderful floral sprig! Congratulations on the debut of CAS Mix Up! Hugs, Anita :)

Ingrid said...

LOVE this - of course - I love everything you create! Great color choices and I just love that technique - one of my favs. So excited to be playing around with you two this month on your challenge. Congratulations on your first one! :)

BożenA said...

I love the delicacy of your card. I always wonder how is it possible that with such precision you create your images? It is simply a master hand ...
hugs,
BozenA

Donna said...

Pretty... Delicate... Yummy colour palette... A real winner, Loll :)

Barb Ghig said...

Congrats to you, Loll! Your card is absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to play along each month!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous, fresh and lots of white space. Those blossoms are so dainty.

Hugs

Karen xxx

Notes by Nina said...

Beautiful card Loll, I love the pretty colours and fabulous detail of the leaves and flowers. Love the new challenge!

Benzi said...

An awesome technique, Loll, and a beautiful card. Love the little buds.

Being Mrs Miles said...

Hi Loll,

Thanks for your visit to my blog too!

Love your card - you have a gift to do SIMPLE - something I struggle with. I love the soft backdrop to your pretty die-cut florals. The sentiment being presented right with your bouquet is almost like you're HANDING it to someone special.

Pat said...

This is so elegant and pretty Loll and the delicate smooshed background is perfect. x

Dana M said...

Gorgeous card Loll! You created so much depth and amazing how the leaves come right off the card.