CASEing Linda

Hi everyone.  Today I'm CASEing my friend Linda (Lin's Craft Corner).  I was just blown away with this GORGEOUS card that she made.  I have never done a whole card front with emboss resist ... I just love how it turned out.

I recently got another stamp set from AliExpress.  Here's the link.  The set of 17 stamps was only $2.75 US.  Great deal.  You just have to be patient as some of the orders take months to arrive. :)

The images were randomly stamped in Versamark, then heat embossed in white. Four colours of DOX inks were sponged over top.  I misted with water to create a little bit of texture.

The die-cut "happy" was gifted to me by my dear friend, Barb.  It was adhered just above the white embossed black banner.  The finishing touch was to add three raindrops for some shine.

Fun card to make.  Thanks so much Linda for the awesome inspiration!!

Stamps:  Happy for You (AliExpress); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Oxides:  Peeled Paint, Fossilzed Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, water mister, Happy die (Winnie & Walter), raindrops

Peace on Earth

Hi everyone.  First I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and cards.  You helped to make my birthday a special one!!

Today I'm playing along with Rudolph Days, a Christmas card challenge that runs every month from the 25th to the end of the month.  I decided to combine it with the sketch challenge at Less Is More.  As soon as I saw the sketch, I thought Christmas card. :)

  

I used a piece of smooshed alcohol inks that I had in my stash for the background colour.  I die-cut the curves, placed them over the AI piece and then added a sparkly die-cut snowflake and a few clear sequins.  The sentiment is stamped in soft gray. Easy, peasy CAS design.  I will be making more of these! :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo
Ink:  Smoky slate (SU!); Alcohol Inks (Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  blending solution in a mister, Curved dies (AliExpress), Stitched snowflake die (Lil' Inkers), sequins

Challenges:
June Rudolph Days
Less Is More #334 - sketch

Framed Flowers

I recently received my latest order from STAMPlorations which included a few framed stamps.  I made two quick cards with them a couple of days ago.   The images are stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in gold.  Then I used Zigs to loosely add watercolour to the flowers and background.  These cards were fun to make and didn't take very long at all.  I love how they turned out.  Both are already in the mail to friends to let them know I'm thinking of them. :)

Here's the second ...

Yesterday the family got together to celebrate early for my upcoming birthday.  It was such a fun time to have everyone together.  My DDIL and DS wanted to do some gardening for me as part of my gift.  It has been a few years since I've been able to garden, so it was very sweet of them to do this on what had to be, the hottest day of the year.  Nikki worked so hard, then took a break while we enjoyed a meal together.  Then she was right back outside.  This time she took along my two sons and a friend to help.  They finished up the whole front yard, including packing away the yard waste and watering the garden when they were finished.  I really appreciated all the hard work ... the yard looks AWESOME!

Alex had his camera and managed to get some beautiful shots of my grandchildren, and some of my mom too.  I'll share below.

Parker

G-Nana (grand nana) with Parker and Cooper

G-Nana with Violeta

And here's a picture I took of Cooper getting a big hug from Tio (uncle) Alex. :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Framed Cherry Blossoms; Framed Dahlias (STAMPlorations); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed media for image panels (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs (lemon yellow for backgrounds); Cherry Blossoms (light pink, pink, wine red, pale green, light green); Dahlias (purple)
Accessories & Tools:  gold embossing powder, heat tool, water brush

Summer Sky

Hi everyone.  Sorry I have not been around much lately, but I've been working on a new project that I hope to share with you soon! :)

I did get another CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer card done before it closed. :)  I love my new Distress Oxides inks and have had fun playing with them. They are different than any other ink I've used before.  If you haven't tried them yet, why not pick up a couple or three colours and give them a try.

I created a watercoloured background by smooshing several layers of Distress Oxide inks, drying between each layer.  You can still see the different colours underneath those layers ... very cool!  I used a simple white die-cut flower that I HAD to buy after my dear friend Bonnie sent me a couple of samples cut from her die. :)  We do enable each other.    A simple thank you banner completes the card.

I hope you'll come play along with us if you haven't yet.  The challenge closes at end of day June 24th, so there still time to play along.

I'm also entering this card into The Flower Challenge #9 - Anything Goes.

Stamps:  Painted Butterflies - sentiment (Altenew)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Basic Gray (SU!)
Ink: Distress Oxide Inks:  Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Floral Stem Collage die (Poppy Stamps), white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer
The Flower Challenge #9 - Anything Goes

You're Sweet!

Hi everyone.  Today is a reminder for the CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer.  What would summer be without ice cream??!! :)

I pressed both Worn Lipstick and Squeezed Lemonade onto my craft mat and spritzed with a little water.  Then I used a #8 round paint brush to pick up the colours one at a time and slosh some on to my card front (mixed media paper).

I then die-cut the ice cream and waffle cone from more mixed media paper and sloshed more paint to to them.  I layered the ice cream cone with foam and then popped up just the ice cream (top) for even more dimension.

A simple sentiment finishes the card.

I hope you'll come join us at CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer if you haven't already.  Check out the challenge to see the reminder cards from our Design Team and wonderful Guest Designers, LeAnne and Ksenija.  I know you'll be inspired!

There's still just over a week left to play before the challenge closes at midnight (PST) June 24th.  Hope to see you there!

Stamps:  Handwritten Greetings (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress inks:  Worn Lipstick, Squeezed Lemonade, Antique Linen (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  #8 round paint brush, water mister, Sweet Treats die set (C.C. Designs - retired)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer

Happy Birthday

Hi everyone.  I'm sharing a reminder card for the CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels that I'm hosting.

I made this card for Jer to give a dear friend for her birthday.  He asked me to make something "artsy". :)

I had played with alcohol inks about a week ago, trying a combination of yellow, orange and purple.  LOVE how these colours look together.  I used just a small corner of the piece I made, so you'll be seeing this combination again.

I wanted to add some texture behind the coloured panel, so I used white embossing paste through a small dot stencil.  Happy with how it turned out.  It gives lots of texture, but the white-on-white keeps the design CAS.

I used a white die-cut flower sprig, cut down to fit the small panel, and then added a little bit of drama with a black sentiment border.  Fun card to make!

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from the rest of our Design Team and our wonderful Guest Designer, Marianne.

There's still lots of time to play along.

Since  used Embossing Paste for the background, I'm joining the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Yupo (alcohol ink panel); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Sunlight Yellow, Wild?? (Ranger); ? orange (Pinata); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Small dot stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), white embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Flower Frolic die (Penny Black??), white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss it

Sparkling Holiday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Christmas card.  I was hoping to make multiples of Christmas card designs, but I only had a small piece of this blue acrylic paint, smooshed background, so this will be a one-of card. :)

I die-cut the tree border and added a bit of clear glitter glue around the tree branches.  I also used the clear glitter glue to stencil the falling snow onto a piece of acetate.  It's a clear gel, so it works for the CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels.  I love how the falling snow sparkles on the piece of acetate.  I attached the background (blue panel) to my card base and attached the acetate with fallling snow to the inside of my card front frame.  I popped up the frame to add a bit of distance between the acetate and the snowy scene.  A simple sentiment stamped in soft gray finishes the card.

I hope you'll come join us.  Use whatever you have on hand to create a CAS Embossing Paste / Gel card ... embossing paste, gel medium, glitter glue.  If you don't have any of those, check out the CAS Mix Up challenge where there's a recipe to make your own paste with simple household items.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo (blue panel)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Three shades of blue acrylic paint (smooshed onto Yupo), Fir Tree Border die (Impression Obsession), Dazzling Details glitter glue (SU! - retired), acetate, Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels

Big Hugs

Hi everyone.  I love these bright and cheerful summer flowers. 

I got this stamp set from AliExpress.  It's a huge reseller in China, similar to Amazon. They resell for other manufacturers in China.  It takes a while to get anything delivered (estimate is 30-60 days for most orders, but can take longer). It's a long time to wait to receive your order, but the prices are surprising.  The card above uses only one stamp from a set of nine.  The charges are all in US $$ ... I paid $3.03 for the set.  Here's a link to the set on AliExpress.

I stamped a cluster of flowers three times (repeat stamping) in Versamark and heat embossed in liquid platinum, changing the angle of the stamped flower cluster each time I stamped.  I used my zigs to watercolour and then added a heat embossed sentiment to match.  Rounded the top right corner and the card was done. :)  Since I included repeat stamping, I'm adding this to the gallery at CAS On Sunday Challenge #109 - Use a Repetition Image.

These look like summer flowers with the bright colours so I'm heading over to add this card to the CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer as well. Come join us!

Stamps:  Flowers (AliExpress), Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brushes, corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge
CAS on Sunday #109

Parker's 1st Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a couple of cards I made from my youngest grandson's 1st birthday.  There was a fun birthday party yesterday at Parker's house. Lots of fun, kids, games, good company, and delicious food.

For the card, I saw this idea on Pinterest and would like to give credit to whomever designed it, but couldn't find out where it originated.   So whoever you are ... thanks for the fantastic design! :)

Isn't this caterpillar adorable??  It was a fun card to make.  I cut out six - 1" circles from different colours of card stock and one - 1 1/2".  I cut the same from foam and glued them to the back to add dimension.  I sponged just around the outside of each circle to add some interest and then glued it onto my sentiment-stamped card front.  I drew in the legs and antennas with a fine tip black marker.  The googly eyes finished the card.

I'm adding this to the current challenge at Just Us Girls (#396 - Die-cuts).

The one below I made for Jer and Alex to give to Parker.

Stamped the owl in archival black and watercoloured with my zigs.  Fussy-cut the owl and placed it on my card front which had been sponged with gray, using a post-it note for masking.  The balloon was cut with my Cameo, watercoloured with the same colours of zigs, pressed into my versamark pad, and heat embossed with iridescent embossing powder.  I added glossy accents for the eyes of the owl and on the balloon to create some dimension and shine.  Used some twine to connect the balloon to the owl and popped both up on my card front.

I'm sharing the owl card with Paper Player #347 - Birthday - hosted by Jaydee. Haven't played along for so long.  Thanks to LeAnne for letting me know about the challenge! :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Caterpillar card:
Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), goggly eyes, fine tip black marker

Owl card:
Stamps:  Chubby Chums (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs; Black Archival (Ranger); Smoky Slate (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Post-it note, sponge, Balloon cut file, Silhouette Cameo,  Ice Embossing Powder (SU!), heat tool, Denim Twine (The Twinery), glossy accents

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #396 - Die-cuts
Paper Players #347 - Birthday

CAS Watercolour June Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the CAS Watercolour June Challenge.

What could be more summery than a day at the beach??!! :)  I created the sand and sea by smooshing with acetate.  I do love this technique as I can control a bit of where the ink goes.  I used just two colours of Distress Inks for my background (Brushed Corduroy and Broken China).  I stenciled a flock of birds and stamped my sentiment in black.  Easy and fun card to make. :)

We are thrilled to have LeAnne (weeinklings) and Ksenija (Sweet Kobylkin) as are guest designers this month.  Welcome LeAnne and Ksenija!

And we are also excited to announce our new Design Team Member, Christine (It's a Card Day's Night).  Christine is bringing her own unique style to our team and we know you will be inspired.   Not only does Christine love to watercolour, but she also loves to try new techniques.  She has been card making for many years, but has only recently started a blog.  I hope you'll take a few minutes to drop by her blog and say hello.  Welcome Christine!

Stamps:  Feel the Sand (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Broken China; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, acetate, Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Summer

CAS Mix Up June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the beginning of June and another start of a new challenge.  This time I'm hosting CAS Mix Up and the challenge is ...

I do love playing with all kinds of embossing pastes and gels.  These add so much wonderful dimension, either through a stencil, or on their own randomly over a card front.  The card for today uses my favourite, Glass Bead Gel made by Golden.  The gel is packed full of teeny, tiny glass beads and when dry, add sparkle like nothing else.

I started my card by using Clarity brushes to add colour over the large flower stencil. I love how the flower head has three lovely colours that just blend so beautifully.  I stamped my sentiment (a gift from a sweet friend) and called it done.

But as I kept looking at it sitting on my desk, I decided it would be perfect to have a coating of glass bead gel.  I placed the clean stencil back over top, lining it up perfectly.  Taped it down and used my palette knife to add the gel.  With this gel, you need to make the coating thick in order to accommodate the depth of the glass beads.  The sparkle is so pretty.  Here's a close-up ...

The camera doesn't catch the all the sparkle, but you can get a good idea of how pretty it is and the texture it adds.  I also added some splatters for even more interest.

We are so excited to have Marianne (Marianne's cards 'n stuff) as our Guest Designer this month.  Marianne won the CAS Mix Up April Inlaid Diecutting challenge with this beautiful card.  Welcome Marianne!

I hope you'll come join us for this fun challenge.  Don't have embossing paste in your supplies??  Not to worry, we have included links on the challenge blog on how to make your own.  And while you're there make sure to check out the beautiful cards from our wonderful  Design Team and Guest Designer, Marianne.

I'm playing along with a few challenges:
AAA Cards #91 --- they are celebrating their third birthday - congrats!
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
Time Out #84 - Flowers and Friends make life a garden - second entry
Less Is More #330 - Shimmer

  

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clarity Brushes, Large Lovely Flower stencil (Studio 490 - Wendy Vecchi), Glass Bead Gel (Golden), palette knife

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing pastes/gels
AAA Cards #91 - 3rd birthday bash
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
Time Out #84 - Flowers & Friends
Less Is More #330 - Shimmer