Saturday, February 15, 2020

CAS February Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  We have reached the middle of the challenges, so time for a reminder for all four (CAS Mix Up, CAS Watercolour, CAS Christmas, and CAS Stencil).  I hope you'll come play along in any (or all)!

I used a lily of the valley circle die to cut a stencil from thin card stock.  The stencil was placed over a background of Lindy's magicals and white embossing paste was added to the stencil.  Once dry, the image was mounted to a white card base and topped with a card front which had a small circle aperture, along with a debossed larger circle around it (hard to see in photo).  A delicate sentiment was stamped to match the delicate image.  For my CAS Mix Up card there is Stencil from die-cut, smooshing, embossing paste, debossing and stamping.

TIP:  when using embossing paste over an ink coloured background, some of the colour will soak through the paste.  Use white acrylic paint (or in my case white gouache) to paint over top of the dried paste to make it bright white.

Thanks to Joanna ... I now look at my dies in a whole new way!

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Isn't this cat the cutest??!!  I stamped with permanent black ink onto mixed media paper, watercoloured with different inks and fussy-cut. Added white paint dots to the large heart, covered with sparkle and then coated with crystal glaze.  I used a small stitched rectangle for the background, adding different-sized (and intensity of colour) dots to create a bokeh background.  White pigment ink was also used to add a few very light coloured dots.  Sentiment is stamped in black and the stitched panel is popped up on foam as well as the cat bing popped up for added dimension.

Thanks Marcia for a very fun challenge!

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I used a sweet wreath from Avery Elle.  Stamped in permanent black ink and watercoloured with distress and SU! inks.  Added a little sparkle to the berries before adding the die-cut sentiment, which is two layers thick and coated with sparkled and then glaze.  I dabbed off most of the glaze with a paper towel to leave a shiny, but textured surface.

Thanks to Lin for this very fun challenge ... our gallery is filled with JOY!

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I started with a piece of lightly smooshed magicals in my stash ... leftover ink from another project.  I added transfer gel through the Barley Stencil (STAMPlorations) and foiled in copper.  I mounted my panel onto a card base and added a card front with a loop frame.  The sentiment is stamped in Vintage distress ink.

I struggled with this challenge for some reason.  I've used foil before, so not sure what I was doing wrong.  My first attemps were for large areas of foil, which may have been the problem.  But in the end, I was happy with both my launch and reminder cards.  Patience was needed. :)

Thanks to Barb for this challenge.  I learned a lot about what not to do. :)  But when it turns out, there's nothing like foil --- so beautiful!

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!






CAS Mix Up Reminder - Lily Thanks
Stamps:  Sentiment - Peony Stems & Blossoms (Poppy Stamps)
Paper:  Mixd Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Prima Donna Purple, Tiffany Bue, Sassy Sapphire (Lindy's);
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder); Lily of the Valley Sprigs Circle (Memory Box), Pixie Spray, White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); White Gouache (Arteza)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - With Love
Stamps:  so loved (Penny Black), sentiment - it's your day (Penny Black)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink: Obsidian (Altenew); Real Red (SU!); Zig (light gray); Candied Apple distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush, White Paint Pen (?); Glitter Pen (Spectrum Noir clear), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo); Circle stencil (MFT), sponges, chalk, Stitched die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Christmas Reminder - Love, Peace and Joy
Stamps:  Festive Wreath (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Peeled Paint distress ink (TH); Real Red ink (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush; Peace, joy and love die (Penny Black); Sparkle Pen (Spectrum Noir), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)


CAS Stencil Reminder - Copper Foiled Oats
Stamps:  Sentiment - Thank You (Lil' Inkers)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals (autumn maple); Vintage Photo distress ink (TH)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Barley stencil (STAMPlorations); Transfer Gel (Decofoil); Copper Foil sheet (Decofoil), Laminator, Stitched Loops Frame die (Penny Black)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up February - Stencil from Die-cuts 
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red & Black
CAS Christmas February Challenge - Joy
CAS Stencil February Challenge - Foil


32 comments:

Brenda in IN said...

These are four wonderful reminders of the challenges. I love the lily of the valley card. They are such a great smelling flower and I don't see them anymore. The foil is just beautiful.

HilaryJane said...

Four amazing cards Loll. I think your foiled stencil card is just beautiful and you lovely lily of the valley made a perfect stencil. Thanks for the tip to get the paste white again xx

Leslie Miller said...

Wow, look at all those beautiful CAS cards and challenges! I'm struggling to get one card made, sheesh.

Julia Aston said...

Four wonderful designs Loll - the purple is so pretty behind your delicate stenciled lily of the valley (one of my favorite flowers with it's wonderful smell in the spring/early summer.) Love the bokah red circles behind your sweet Valentine holding fat cat (look at his claws grabbing it!!) The popped up black die cut sentiment is so pretty layered over your red berry and greenery wreath and finally - that dotted frame is so beautiful around your foiled barley! I agree, foiling can be iffy - one time it works and one time it doesn't - but it does give great results and I too, was happy to learn how to do it! xx

Barb Ghig said...

As always, your cards are absolutely beautiful, Loll! I love the blend of Magicals behind your Peonies and the adorable heart-carrying cat with all thos fun circles in the background! Your wreath is so pretty and I really love the sentiment on your Christmas card...yet, I must admit that my fave is your copper foiled barley sprigs tucked inside your beautiful loop frame on the last card...WOW! You never cease to amaze me with your talent, my friend! Thanks so much for all the eye candy today ~ Barb xx

Liz said...

Wonderful selection of cards, Loll. Every one is a stunner! xx

Bonnie said...

The lily of the valley is so dainty and the white is a wonderful contrast with the soft purple background! Love the kitty with his big heart and red bokeh background! Your wreath is so colorful and what a fantastic sentiment die! Finally I love, love, love the foiled barley and that gorgeous frame that lets the background color peek through! Four gorgeous cards, my friend!

Pat said...

Four brilliant cards Loll and your use of techniques and the colours and the pretty stamps and dies you have used are just gorgeous, and looking at them all I could not pick a favourite as they are all beautiful. x

Ina G said...

You really do CAS perfectly here with your first card - and my favourite colour.
Swooning over your cute cat. Stunning card in red and black.
Beautiful CAS Christmas card and super sentiment.
Love your foil card especially with that die.

Robyn Oliver said...

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, brilliant - love all your cards Loll - I so love your style; your layered card fronts with the added frame details add so much depth. Fab use of the lily of the valley stencil, super cute kitten - love the Bokeh background, gorgeous sentiment die layered over that lovely wreath and your foiled 'barley' in copper on that lovely soft background....whoopie four gorgeous card, hugs Robyn

Julie B said...

What a fab set of cards Loll, you are so inspiring!
Must admit that the foiling was tricky for me too but I persevered and was fair chuffed with the end result.
Have been admiring your beautiful state whist watching Micheal Portillo on his trans Canadian railway journey these last two weekends. :)

Viv said...

WOW WOW WOW WOW
Four wows for four wow cards Loll!
xx

Ros Crawford said...

OMG!! They are all stunners but that kitty card has my heart! I love the BG you did with it too!

I Card Everyone said...

What a harmonious quartet of cards, Loll! You had me at grey cat! xx
=]

Anita in France said...

Such gorgeous inspiration, Loll ... delicate lily of the valley, such a sweet kitty against the bokeh background, lovely festive wreath, and delicious shimmer on that foiled wheat! All fabulous! Hugs, Anita :)

Marcia Hill said...

Loving ALL your cards Loll, but that cat card has my heart and I'm not even really a cat lover! He is so dang cute and I just LOVE the bokeh background too...cute, CUTE card! And thank you for the beautiful birthday card and die I received in the mail this week..."happy mail" is always the best...just like stamping friends! Thank you, thank you!! Hugs. :0)

Papercraft Boutique said...

All four cards are fabulous, Loll! The dainty lily of valley looks so lovely, especially against my favorite lavender color! The debossed circle frame is subtle and effective. Thanks for the tip about embossing paste!
The gray cat IS the cutest! The big heart he's holding must look sparkly and shiny in real life. The red bokeh background is pretty!
Adding texture to the glazed sentiment with paper towel is so clever! It adds so much interest to the sweet wreath card.
The copper foiled barley looks amazing against the smooshed magical background. Love the choice of the frame die (stitched loop)! The frame design goes well with the barley image.
Hideko xx

Linda said...

Four amazing cards .... full of inspiration.
Love the cat with the heart, such a fun design. Your stenciled lily of the valley is beautiful. The festive wreath looks fab .... I really should make some Christmas cards. And the foiling on the wheat looks amazing. Great showcase of reminders, for some fab challenges xx

Jo said...

Wow, you are one busy lady. There is one constant in all of these cards, they are all beautiful. The first for CAS Mix has so much depth, from the framing to the thick layer of embossing paste over this lily sprig die cut stencil. Love it when you stay in a monochromatic theme, you succeed so well.
I also love this raccoon bubbling with love, a cutie pie.
The wreath creates the perfect background for this special word die.
And finally, that last card is sublime, the copper foiling accents that magical background. I must add, you find the best frames out there on the market and this one is truly amazing. xx

TK said...

Beautiful cards, Loll! Love them all but the kitty and the foiled one are speaking to me -- a real pleasure to look at!

Christine Alexander said...

four gorgeous cards Loll, it's so difficult to pick just one but if I had to it would be your foiled card. Love the frame and the stencil you foiled. Can't wait to see some of these IRL :)

Bobby said...

I see you took a cue from me and posted all of the CAS challenges in one spot, Loll. ;) They are all so wonderful. The soft background with the lily of the valley, the bright bokeh background on the valentine and the smooshy one with the foil show off the images beautifully. Can you tell I'm a background girl?

Brenda said...

Wow Loll, what stunning cards you have made for all the challenges! I'm in love with them all. The first one is so pretty with the light purple background. Love the embossing paste, I really need to remember to use mine own from time to time. I can definitely see your embossed circle too. Yes, that cat is totally adorable! Love that cute grin he has while holding that heart, he is looking very proud of himself. lol Love the bokeh too on this card. Your Christmas "joy" card is so pretty with that wreath. Loving that "peace, love, joy" die, how fun it that one?!! Then there is the foil card, oh my word, that background is stunning with the gold wheat on top of it. I have a wheat die, but it doesn't have the wheat heads like that! Love this wheat or barely stencil!! Hugs, Brenda

Nstiz said...

Four gorgeous cards! Love the lily of the valley enhanced with white gouche and that kitty is just adorable with the heart. I’m SO impressed with the incredible job you did with foiling. I failed miserably at that one until I got a Minc. Your Christmas wreath is just beautiful with its rich contrast. My have you been productive!!! What a fabulous collection for your stash!

nancy littrell said...

Loved all your CAS designs for the Mix Up, Watercolour, Christmas and Stencil Challenges, Loll. I especially loved your CAS Stencil Challenge card with the stenciled wheat copper foiled over the Magicals background. Pretty die cut frame and sentiment too. TFS my friend. Hugs..Nancy

Karen Dunbrook said...

All so wonderful mf....thanks so much for your helpful little tips along the way.
I just wish I had more time to play along with all the challenges; they always look so great.
xx Karen

Sue said...

A set of amazing cards, Loll. I think my favourite is the Joy Christmas card with the beautiful wreath and the lovely bold sentiment. Am hoping to join in with more cards x

Mac Mable said...

What a pretty lily of the valley card and thank you for the tip about using gouache or acrylic paint over the paste x. Such an adorable second card and loving the expression on the cats face x. A real eye catching Joy Christmas card with the prettiest of wreaths x. I love how the copper foil turned out on your last card Loll and so glad you persevered, as it is a stunner x.
Thank you for the tons of inspiration Loll in this fabulous post x.

Trina P. said...

These are AWESOME, Loll! I really love the first Lily of the Valley card. Thanks for the tip about colouring over the dry paste.

Vicky Hayes said...

Just WOW! I always learn so much from you Loll. Also, the expression on that cat's face is priceless! Vicky x

Cathy said...

4 wonderful cards Loll, such a creative variety! Love your foiled one, that decorative frame layer is so pretty and sets the pink and copper oats off beautifully, Cathy x

BożenA said...

The first card is so cute, Loll. I love your sense of colors, sentiment in the same color as the theme color in the card is always perfect elegance. Thank you for another valuable advice :-)
The second card is a sweet and perfect CAS. I also love this kitten. It looks stunning on your red bokeh background.
The third card is the perfect berries, they are so beautifully colored that they look so realistic. Wonderful Christmas colors have almost become your hallmark. Beautiful Christmas card, Loll.
Your foliation on the next card is perfect. It kept all the small details in excellent condition. A wonderful card with beautiful background.
Hugs,
BożenA