Saturday, October 03, 2026

October CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hi everyone.  The challenge at CAS Mix Up this month is Blackout Embossing (also known by other names).  It's a combination of dry embossing, colouring, and direct to stamp inking.


To create my card above, I dry embossed with Layered Leaves Embossing folder (SU!) with a piece of Cold Press Watercolour paper (Arches).  I smooshed the debossed side with Liquid Concentrate Watercolours (Blick Art Materials) randomly with three colours (yellow, orange, pink).

Once my panel was dry, it was placed inside the same folder, lining up the images.  You can feel by pressing lightly that they fit back into position.  Ran it through my embossing machine to redefine the embossing that might be lost when watercolouring.  

I used a Walnut Stain Distress Oxide pad to swipe over the raised areas.  The colour looks more gray/brown to me and I love how it works with the colours of the leaves.  I believe using black ink would have made the colours pop even more.  Next time ... :)

Out of a single card front, I was able to get three CAS cards ... the one above, and two more below. :)
 
Sending this card to the following challenges:
NBUS Challenge #91 - first time using my Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink 


I hope you'll come join us for this fun technique.  Hope to see you in the CAS Mix Up gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Heartfelt (Penny Black); Cosmos (Technique Tuesday); Heartfelt (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C  (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Liquid Concentrate Watercolours (Blick Art Materials); Walnut Stain Distress Oxide Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Layered Leaves Embossing folder (SU!), water mister
Techniques:  Dry Embossing, Smooshing, Direct to Paper Inking

Thursday, October 01, 2026

October CAS Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month the CAS Christmas Challenge is hosted by Colleen.  And she has chosen Poinsettia. :)


This card is the made with the Penny Black 3D Poinsettia embossing folder.  I ran it through my embossing machine with a piece of cold press watercolour paper.  Watercoloured the Poinsettia with Distress Reinkers and die cut using the matching die.  It's such a large image that I split it into two and made two cards.  It's a great way to build your stash of Christmas cards. :) 

I used a snowflake embossing folder for the background panel, popping it up on my card front and adding a sentiment banner (Penny Black - Christmas Sentiments).

Close-up ... 
Sending the above card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I watercoloured an embossed image
CCC26OCT - SCS Christmas Challenge
Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press W/C paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Reinkers:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Distress Oxide Inks:  Candied Apple (for stamping sentiment)
Accessories:   3D Poinsettia embossing folder (Penny Black), 3D Poinsettia cut out (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)
Techniques:  Dry Embossing, watercolouring, die-cutting


Guest Designing at AAA Birthday Cards

Hi everyone.  I'm thrilled to be Guest Designing at AAA Birthday Card Challenge:  Game #90 - Big and Bold.  Thanks so much Jane and team!
  
 

I do love this time of year.  Fall cards are fun to make. :)

For today's card I started with a background I had in my stash (smooshed liquid concentrate watercolours in Pink and Orange - Blick Art Materials).  I used a large stamp overtop, Crackle Background (Simon Says Stamp), stamping in Vintage Photo Distress ink.  To add the last layer, I used the Peeking Sunflower stencil from STAMPlorations.  I pressed my versamark ink pad over the stencil, sprinkled with Fired Brick Distress Glaze, and then heat set.  You can still see the stamped design in the background, even with the glaze heat embossed over top.  It's awesome!  To finish, I added "on your birthday" sentiment on the inside. :)

Close-up ...
I hope you'll join us for at AAA Birthday Cards Challenge:  Game #90 - Big & Bold.  The challenge is open all month, so there's lots of time to play along.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Crackle Background (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Pink and Orange Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Blick Art Materials); Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Peeking Sunflower sencil (STAMPlorations), Fired Brick Distress Glaze (Tim Holtz), heat tool

Challenges:

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Poinsettia and Vellum

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses an older stamp from Avery Elle (Holiday Bouquet).  I love this stamp set and have it used many times over the years.  

Heat embossed image in silver and then watercoloured using distress reinkers.  Added some shading using pencils that I got recently.  I'm not very good with pencils and need lots of practice.  The shading was a bit streaky for my liking, so I added another layer of watercolour over top.  It did tone it down a little. :)

Dry embossed vellum using the Pepperberry embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp).  Tapped my white pigment ink pad over the embossing to highlight the design and taped it to the back of the frame I created using a rectangle die (Nestibilities).  Assembled and stamped the sentiment (from the same stamp set) in Candied Apple Distress Oxide Ink.  Done. :)

Playing along with a few different challenges listed below photo.  Wanted to give a special shout out to Di, Sarn and Dudley!  Happy to be back at Snippets Playground with this card.  :)

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - the Vellum background is embossed
Snippets Playground Challenge #542 - used snippets of mixed media paper for the poinsettia and holly, as well as snippet of vellum for the embossed design in the aperture. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet (Avery Elle)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Thick Vellum (Oplymio - Amazon)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  Silver Embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Holiday Bouquet matching die (comes with set); Rectange die (Nestabilities) 

Challenges: