Monday, September 03, 2018

CAS Christmas September Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Christmas September Challenge.  I hope that you've been playing along with us this year and now have a good start to your Christmas cards for this year. :)

This month, the challenge is being hosted by the creative talents of Nance (Soul Stampin').  As you can probably guess from my card above, the theme this month is Wreath. :)


I don't have a lot of wreath images so I had to make the sacrifice and go shopping. :)  I found this sweet stamp set from Avery Elle.  It has lots of little bits and bobs that I can use for dressing up the wreath, but for it's first time being inked, I have left it fairly plain, just adding a bow at the bottom.

As you know that I have a love / frustrated relationship with red ink, you're probably not surprised that I had to fussy-cut the wreath.  Thankfully only had to cut the outside as the inside didn't seem to have any red ink running amok! :)

I had to use my SU! real red ink for the berries.  I LOVE the bright, yet deep colour.  For the leaves, I used two shades of green distress inks (Crushed Olive / Forest Green).  These are colours that I don't use very much.  I'm so happy how they work together and hopefully I'll be using them more often.

The wreath is watercoloured in the inks above, fussy cut around the outside.  A sentiment (same stamp set) was stamped in black in the middle and the wreath was popped up on the card base for a little dimension.  Stamped the bow on a scrap piece of mixed media card, watercoloured and fussy-cut, gluing it flat on the bottom of the wreath.

Super simple, easy peasy to do ... I love this CAS Christmas Wreath design.

Here's a close-up ...
I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the gorgeous Wreath cards from our Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer Birgit (Rapport fran ett skrivood )  Then come play along!

Stamps:  Festive Wreath (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Onyx; Distress Inks: Crushed Olive, Forest Green (Tim Holtz); Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
CAS Christmas September Challenge - Wreath

34 comments:

Barb Ghig said...

Beautiful watercoloring on your wreath, Loll! I love the rich red and shades of green and how you fussy cut and popped it up on your base to add dimension! CAS Christmas is one of my favorite challenges, and I can't wait to play along...thanks for your inspiration!

Nance said...

I love this festive whimsical wreath, Loll! It's beautiful! Have a wonderful week! XX

Colleen said...

Isn't it amazing how many unique wreaths there are? I am loving your wreath Loll, love that you kept it simple with little embellishments! Your color choices really gives it lots of dimension. Have a good week, Loll, Heart Hugs, Col

Papercraft Boutique said...

Oh what a sacrifice to go shopping, Loll! Ha ha ha~ ;-P
This is so bright and fun! You made beautiful shades with red using only Real Red. Great fussy-cutting (whether you had to do or not), as always! Hideko xx

Julia Aston said...

What a beautiful wreath Loll - do we really need a reason to go craft shopping??!! Wonderful dark red and green on this - nicely colored (even if it did run and your had to fussy cut??!! Julia xx

Nstiz said...

I got such a good giggle out of your description and feel your pain about the red ink. White gel pen is my best friend. It sure did turn out beautiful in spite of the frustration of smudges. Also got a smile out of having to shop for a stamp too. This card is so clean looking and I love it.

nancy littrell said...

I love how your sweet pretty wreath pops with the all white background and your choice of traditional red and green inks. TFS my friend. Hugs..

Because of your awesome CAS Christmas Challenge I am thrilled to have almost 40 cards and I only need 50 cards. Soon I will be start on my tags:-) Such fun.

Bonnie said...

I know what you mean about that red ink, Loll! You gotta love it and hate the way it runs! Looks like you managed just fine and by fussy cutting (and a fantastic job of it) you've added extra dimension! Beautifully CAS, my friend!

Brenda said...

Oh Loll, I am totally crushing on this wreath card! That wreath stamp is so cute! Reds are challenging, glad I'm not alone with that. lol I love the greens you used and hope that you use them again in the future as they are so pretty together. Now, I gotta put on my thinking cap because I so want to play along in this one! Hugs, Brenda

Susan said...

Great job fussy cutting the wreath (that darn red ink!) - love it popped up for some dimension! It's such a pretty stamp - look forward to seeing it "dressed up" with its bits and bobs on a future card.

Darnell said...

I love it, too, Lolly! The simplicity really appeals to me and I love the colors you used! That sweet bow and sediment are perfect!! Hugs, Dolly

Trina P. said...

Beautiful Loll! Great job fussy cutting... I would have never known had you not mention it and I actually saw it IRL! Your reds always look great to me... you are your worst critic! xx

kiwimeskreations said...

What a wonderful wreath Loll - love the subtle variations of colour, only seen when looking at the close-up. A beautiful card
Blessings
Maxine

Karen Dunbrook said...

I just love the crisp, clean look of your wonderful card Loll...so pretty.
xx Karen

Jeanne said...

Beautiful wreath! I like the simplicity. :)

Viv said...

Gorgeous CAS card as ever Loll.
Back in blogland after the mammoth month so am playing catch up a little and hope you will forgive me for not commenting on everything you have done whilst I have been absent. xx

Linda said...

Beautiful, traditional red and green wreath, Loll. Your watercoloring is fantastic. Hope you are having a great week.

Kara Lynne said...

That is a wonderful wreath, Loll! Those colors are gorgeous, I will have to remember your green combination as those are colors I don't use often either.

Greta said...

Wreaths are one of my favorite images & this one is a beauty! Totally love this card, Loll!

My Paper Epiphany said...

I love this ‘modern traditional’ wreath and the colouring is perfect!

Marcia Hill said...

This turned out SO pretty Loll and I love that you kept it so simple so that the wreath really shines! And I hear you about red and the bleeding...drives me nuts too! But the fussy cutting around the edges worked beautifully...your card is absolutely GORGEOUS!! :0)

Christine Alexander said...

Loll, love your CAS wreath, your fussy cutting always amazes me.

Linda said...

Love this! The wreath is just adorable, I love the simplicity. Great colouring too xx

Brenda in IN said...

I think that is wonderful that you were able to sacrifice and get this beautiful wreath stamp. We should all be able to do that for the economy of the stamp stores and I'm right there with you! I'm all for keeping the stores in business. This is a beautiful stamp and you made a gorgeous wreath with it. I love the red bow.

Leslie Miller said...

Holy cow, that's some amazing fussy cutting! I can hardly tell. Such a cute and cheerful wreath. It fills the card with simple perfection. I do have quite a few wreaths and surely I'll have time to play this month.

Pat said...

That wreath is so so pretty Loll, and the strong red looks great for the berries and pretty bow, and the two shades of green give lots of depth to the foliage. x

JoAnn said...

Beautiful wreath. Your watercoloring looks great with those pretty colors. I hope to play along this month.

MaryH said...

Gosh, it's just terrible when you have to make sacrifices of this nature! But it was worthwhile, cause this is just a real pretty wreath. Red is a difficult bleeding color, it seems, no matter what medium I use. (I like Xpress copic paper with reds for that very reason. It was the 1st paper I ever managed to use red and not make a mess). This is a lovely card, and you did a fab job on the wreath colors too. I'm so glad you made the sacrifice! (I like calling it by that term. Makes me feel less guilty!) Hugs & TFS

Anita in France said...

Bold and vibrant, Loll ... and so pretty against all that yummy white! Hugs, Anita :)

Mac Mable said...

So pretty and so classy. Yey to having to go shopping and yey to the red colour behaving x

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Fabulous colors on your wreath, Loll - just love the green combo and the rich reds!! Fantastic fussy cutting on the wreath - don't think I'd have the patience for all those little crevices! Looks amazing!!

swldebbie said...

This is such simple elegance. Really love the colors.

BożenA said...

Intense colors look so great on a white background card. Such a beautiful Christmas card, Loll!

Jo said...

Wow, love that RED ;-)
This wreath has a simple elegance and the fussy cutting to add dimension gives honour to this richly coloured beauty. So crisp and fabulous, love it! xxx