Friday, May 15, 2020

May CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the reminder post for all four CAS Challenges.  It's been a fun month with lots of new things to try.  Starting with CAS Mix Up, Linda wanted us to use Gesso as a resist.

Linda is our host.

I have to say that Gesso intimidated me and I've had it a long time and not used it very often (just basecoats).  But this is a great way to use it.  Pulled a background from my stash that I made the other day using leftover magicals.  It was very soft and pretty.  Placed my bird stencil (NBUS) over top and sponged with gesso.  It dries really quickly!.  Then I sprinkled more of the same four colours of magicals and spritzed with water.  I let it sit for a few second and then blotted with a paper towel.  I repeated one more time until I was happy with the vibrancy of the colours.  Once dry, I placed a leaf stencil (gift from friend), over top, masking off where it overlapped with the bird.  I sponged two shades of green distress ink.  To finish I stamped a very simple sentiment at the top right with blue and added a stitched frame in white.  I'm feeling a lot more confident using Gesso now!

Thanks so much for this great challenge Linda!

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Jenny is our host.

CAS Watercolour Reminder.  Created the background by smooshing some distress inks.  Added falling snow by splattering diluted white acrylic paint.  Die-cut the front panel and then stamped my image in matching ink.

Fantastic challenge Jenny!!  I had lots of fun creating night skies for my DT cards!
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I'm your host.
CAS Christmas Reminder.  Have had this stamp for a couple of years and not used it yet. :)  Placed the image in my Misti and coloured up the stems with brown ink and stamped a couple of times until I was happy with the depth of colour.  Repeated the same for the berries, adding bright red and burgundy shading.  Used diluted white acrylic paint and my stylus to add dots to some of the berries.  Framed the panel in black and added a black sentiment banner with white heat embossed sentiment.  Had to include the close-up photo so you could see the shimmer from the Wink of Stella on the berries.

Close-up ...
Since this is a NBUS stamp, I'm sending this card over to the NBUS #14 Challenge gallery.


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Hilary is our host.

CAS Stencil Reminder.  I started with a card panel from my stash.  I already had a stencil monoprint of chicken wire done with liquid watercolours in orange and yellow (subtle shades of those colours).  I added a flourish stencil over top and sponged with brown.  I topped that with a mini circle stencil, sponged with rust.  I used a double frame die-cut.  I adhered a watercoloured leafy sprig die-cut in bright oranges and brown to the panel, then adhereed to my card front.  A simple sentiment was stamped with the same colour as the sponged flourish stenciling.

Another fun challenge this month --- thanks Hilary!
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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 - Bird and Branch
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Medi paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Hydrangea Blue, Hag's Wart Orange, Cana lily burnt orange, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations), Lovely Leaves (Studio 490), water mister, sponge dauber, Stitched Rectangle die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Winter Night Sky
Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet - sentiment (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistachio, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box)

CAS Christmas Reminder - More Berries
Stamps:  Merry Berry (Winnie & Walter); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white acrylic paint, stylus, Clear Wink of Stella, white embossing powder, heat tool

CAS Stencil Reminder - Layered Stenciling
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolours:  Orange, Yellow (Blick Art Materials); Distress Inks:  Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Chicken Wire stencil (TCW), Flourish Layering stencil (Tim Holtz), Mini Tiny Circles (TCW); Hemstitch Rectangles dies (Spellbinders)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Gesso Resist
CAS Watercolour - Night Sky
CAS Christmas - Winter Berries
CAS Stencil - Layered Stenciling

31 comments:

HilaryJane said...

I think these are 4 of your best cards Loll, but I think the stencil one is my favourite because you can make such cool backgrounds just by layering up the stencils and I love the colours you have chosen. The gesso resist is my second favourite, again because of the colour and the background. I think I am going to have to try that technique it looks so cool. I have a tiny bottle of clear gesso so I will have a think and a play xx

Linda said...

Four beautiful cards, Loll. Love the berries. So festive. Hope you are doing well.

Pat said...

Four fabulous cards Loll and love the gesso bird, looks amazing, then the watercoloured night sky looks perfect with the framed die cut white trees and surround, and the gorgeous red berries so prettily white spattered to make falling snow, and lastly the two different stencils work beautifully together over the top of the originally stencilled chicken wire and then the bright leaves and the die cut out frame finish it perfectly. x

Julie B said...

Four fab cards Loll, you and your team are really getting me to try new techniques. Its just what I need to distract me from the world outside!
Hope you are keeping well. :)

Liz said...

Four wonderful cards, Loll, beautiful design. I especially love the watercolour one. The gesso resist technique looks a fun one to try. xx

Jo said...

Wow you've been a busy lady, four beautiful cards. The CMU card is so very special. I love that BG and all the softness to pair up with that bird. Truly a special HELLO.
The tree scene has a glorious night sky, such a lovely CAS card.
The berries look so real, looks like a photo.
And the last one in the warm orange brown tones is gorgeous.
Bravo for such an amazing quartet. xx

Bobby said...

All your cards are wonderful, Loll, but those berries!! They look so three dimensional with the shading and highlights. I just keep staring at them.

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, my! So many beautiful and clever cards! I especially love how you created the backgrounds on your first and last cards. Wow!

Robyn Oliver said...

Wonderful cards Loll, but I must say that I've had your post open for ages.. I read the Mix Up blurb - really lovely card - and next thing I know I have out my Gesso and stamping away, then inking up backgrounds..haven't used this technique before and my try outs aren't anything to write home about but I did have a go and will put together a card. Your NBUS berries are fantastic and your night sky scene very cool and then all your layering of stencil fabulous and keeping every one CAS. Awesome inspiration, thanks and hugs Robyn

Trina P. said...

An amazing post oozing with inspirations, Loll. Your berries look incredible... great photography work in capturing the shimmer on them. Great challenge this month.

Tina Z. said...

I love all of your four stunning cards because I just love your design. Always perfect and with so many techniques.
Hugs xx

Ros Crawford said...

Terrific cards - I have to say I LOVE those berries!

Christine Alexander said...

four amazing cards Loll, love your background of your CAS Mix Up card; beautiful sky on your CAS Watercolour card; your berries are amazing on you CAS Christmas card and wow love the colours of your CAS Stencil card :)

Bonnie said...

Four fantastic cards, Loll! Love that resist bird with the bright leaves! A wonderful starry, night sky! The snowy trees are a wonderful contrast! Bright and pretty icy berries! My favorite it the stenciled card with all the layers topped with the pretty watercolor leaves!

Susan said...

These are four fabulous cards!! I love them all and would be hard pressed to choose a favourite, though I'm leaning towards the berries. Love the shimmer on them and the great contrast with the black border and sentiment strip. Your gesso resist turned out perfectly - I must definitely get a card made for that challenge as I want to try out the technique. On the last card, your layered stencils work perfectly together! And of course I love the blue and white one with the beautiful night sky!

nancy littrell said...

You just made my day, Loll with your 4 Gorgeous CAS Challenge cards. Such a treat to read your descriptions of all your cards and then your supply lists. I recently got the Hemstitch Frames die set and loved how you used it. I can't possibly pick a favorite...Loved them all. TFS my dear creative friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Marcia Hill said...

WOW!! Love all four cards Loll! Your gesso card is sooo cool and I'm loving all the soft colors you used behind the bird. Really wish I had some gesso to play with right now, but it's in my cart at SSS...I just know it won't get here in time to play with the challenge and the cornstarch and water didn't work so well as a substitute! Your night sky card is gorgeous and your berry card is STUNNING, and your stenciled card is an absolute delight with all the colorful autumn colors. Lovely, lovely cards my friend!! :0)

Brenda said...

Wow, all your cards are so beautiful Loll! I love your springy resist bird card, it so bright and cheery and certainly screams spring is here! The night sky card is stunning, loving how your night sky came out and loving those trees against the night sky-a perfect winter scene for Christmas. Your berry Christmas card just pops those berries right off the page! Love that stamp and how you colored it all up and added the beautiful sparkle and shine to those berries. They look like they have been sugared! Your last card is so fall looking with all those fall colors and leaves, I love the colors on this one! So warm looking and just so elegant! You sure can work magic with those stencils Loll! Hugs, Brenda

Susan Joyce said...

Four awesome cards Loll, perfect for the different challenges!

kiwimeskreations said...

What an amazing selection of cards Loll - your gesso card is stunning, the Christmas card is berry berry rich and gorgeous, and the layered stenciling ;eaves me going wow!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Mac Mable said...

The gesso card is artsy and striking Loll and what a fun technique. Gorgeous night sky Christmas card. Wow ...to the stunning Winter Berries card...great image and loving the sparkle. The colours on the layering of the stencils card are fabulous and love the die cut frame, the background and the sentiment stamped in the brown. A real treat to see four amazing cards with tons of inspiration, thank you Loll x.

Barb Ghig said...

Oh my goodness, what a stunning collection of cards, Loll! Your gesso resist is really beautiful...I can't wait to try this technique! As always, your details on each card make them so special and inspire me so much, my friend! xx

Papercraft Boutique said...

All four cards are fabulous, Loll!
The color tone of the gesso stenciled bird is perfect for the soft and pretty magical background.The bright green stenciled leaves adds contrast and bring the white bird forward.
Love the purplish navy sky with visual texture. The white tree die-cut beautifully pops. A wonderful CAS Christmas card.
The shimmery berries are so pretty! The shading is wonderful and the berries really look dimensional. Effective use of black too!
What an interesting and unique layered stenciling background! I love it! Lots of things are going on, but the color scheme is simple, so it has a sense of unity. The hemstitch frame is a great choice, echoing the chicken wire pattern. Thank you for your inspiration!
Hideko xx

My Paper Epiphany said...

Wow Loll! What a stunning collection of cards. I love them all:) The layered stencil card is so amazing!

Julia Aston said...

I'm going to start with the layered stencil card as that is the challenge I came here from - what a gorgeous panel of layered stencils with beautiful colors Loll! You didn't even need that lovely leaf layered over it - it could stand well all by itself with the sentiment under it! Your berry stamp is so pretty with all the berries and branches - your coloring is luscious and has such depth with great sparkle from the Wink of Stella. I can feel the chill of your snowy winter night sky over the pines. And your gessoed bird looks so pretty layered over the lovely mix of colors on your background. The stitched edge frame is perfect for it! xx

Anita in France said...

Four fabulous CAS cards, Loll ... each one so lovely! My favourites are the last two ... gorgeous star studded night sky ... and stunning berries, so contemporary! Hugs, Anita :)

Linda said...

WOW! What a stunning collection of cards. Love the gesso resist, the background colours really make that cute bird stand out. Two amazing Christmas cards .... love the berries. And your stenciled design is just beautiful, gorgeous colours xx

Greta said...

So many beautifully creative cards, Loll! The Gesso challenge caught my eye & I did finally start a card. Now to finish it & enter in time!

Brenda in IN said...

Wow, four fabulous cards, Loll. I love those berries with the white splatters. That stencil card really caught my eye. I like those colors together and the white framing is so cool. I tried the gesso and mine must be too old. When I went to wipe off the color, the gesso flaked right off. Bummer.

Karen Dunbrook said...

wow...super line up of wonderfully done cards...love seeing all of them
xx Karen

BożenA said...

Loll, amazing! Your diligence beats everything. I love all your cards, but the card with the night sky was the most important to me. Great !!
Hugs,
BożenA