July CAS Christmas Challenge - Snowman

Hi everyone.  July's CAS Christmas Challenge is Snowman, hosted by Linda.  I used this sweet snowman and penguin image from Unity (Love to My Heart), a gift from a dear friend. :)

I stamped in black ink onto mixed media paper and heat embossed in clear before adding touches of watercolouring with distress inks.  A super fun and quick card to make!  The sentiment (Inside Greetings - Holiday from Sunny Studio) is also stamped in black and heat embossed in clear to finish the card. :)

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Christmas Challenge (CCC26JUL) - Enjoyment

Please click HERE to see the wonderful cards by our Designers.  Come join us and play along.  The challenge is open until July 31.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Love to my Heart (Unity); Inside Greetings - Holiday (Sunny Studio)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment Ink (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

CAS Christmas July Challenge - Snowman

SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26JUL - Enjoyment

Acrylic Block Stamping - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with an older technique (Acrylic Block Stamping), with a twist.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

For the card above, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (powdered inks) with my smallest block to create a CAS card.  I sprinkled Magical powdered inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water, flipped it over onto my mixed media paper card front.  Once dry, I doodled the border using a .05 black fine point marker.  Next time I will use something a little thicker. :)  I stamped one of the images from the Floral Silhouette stamp set (Penny Black) in Black pigment ink, and stamped the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black).  I cut my focal panel down and popped it up over top of my card base.

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For the next card, I used a medium-sized block and distress inks (mowed lawn, broken china) to create a soft coloured background, pressing the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzing with water, flipping over and stamping onto my mixed media card front.  I doodled a border using a 1.0 black fine point marker.  I then stamped one of the birds from Free as a Bird Stamp set (Jane Doodles) and sentiment in black pigment ink.  I stamped the bird image separately onto mixed media paper and watercoloured withmore distress inks.  I fussy-cut and adhered over top of my stamped image.  The panel was trimmed and popped it up on foam for added dimension.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

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Two more quick cards using this technique, both using Lindy's Magicals for the backgrounds.  You are not limited by the size of your acrylic blocks.  You can cut out your acrylic block backgrounds to whatever size fits your image to use as a stand-alone panel ... or place behind a frame.  This is a quick way of creating watercolour backgrounds with easy clean-up.

The card above is from a large block stamping.  I cut it out and stamped my silhouette image (Meadow - Inkadinkado - available at Amazon) and a simple sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped the panel up on my card front and it was done.

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The card above is from another block stamping, adding it behind my frame (Double Stitched Square Frame - AliExpress).  Simple silhouette die-cut (Little Leaves - Stampin' Up!), shaped with a stylus, was added over top of the background.  I left off the sentiment for now and will add once I decide what to use this card for. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Floral Silhouette (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals; Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Small Acrylic Block, water mister, Fine black marker (.05)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Free as a Bird (Jane's Doodles)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Medium Acrylic Block, water mister, watercolour brushes, Fine black marker (1.0)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang); Obsidian Pigment (black - Altenew)
Accessories:  Large Acrylic block, water mister

Card #4:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Magicals - Powders (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
Accessories:  Small acrylic block, water mister, Little Leaves die (SU!); Double Stitched Square Frame (AliExpress), stylus and foam pad for shaping leaves

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

Up Goes the Tree

Hi everyone.  A while back I saw this amazing card made by my good friend, Darnell (aka Dolly).  I LOVE this wonderful stamp set (Up Goes the Tree - Penny Black) and Dolly's colouring.  I had to get it.  It took a while to arrive, but I finally have the stamp set with matching die and went right to work making a card.  Thanks for the inspiration, sweet friend!

I stamped the image in Toffee Crunch Ink (Momento) and used distress re-inkers to watercolour.  I stamped an extra poinsettia (separate stamp than the tree) and watercoloured.  The set has matching dies (Up Goes the Tree Cut Out - Penny Black) so I bought those as well. :)  I die-cut the separate poinsettia and then popped it on top of the main image, adding dimension to the tree.  

The beautiful tree fills an A2 card front.  To finish, I simply stamped a sentiment (Believe - Penny Black) in more of the Toffee Crunch ink. :)

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Rudolph Days June Challenge

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June - Anything Penny Black Goes

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this beautiful stamp

SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26JUN - Enormous ... this tree fills my card front :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Up Goes the Tree (Penny Black); Believe (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Toffee Crunch (Memento); Distress re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles, Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Matching die - Up Goes the Tree Cut Out (Penny Black), White acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Rudolph Days June Challenge

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - June

NBUS Challenge #87

SCS Christmas Challenge - CCC26JUN - Enormous

The Littlest Birds ...

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a sweet die I picked up from Temu Canada.  I seem to be on a bird kick these days. :)  There are lots of layers and pieces in this die set, which I cut from mixed media paper before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.

I cut an oval aperture from my card front and placed a background of embossed leaf sprigs (Spellbinders Leafy 3D Embossing Folder) to add a bit of texture.

The die-cut pieces are adhered together with glue and then placed over the aperture, with pop-dots added to create depth.

The card is finished with a simple sentiment (Stampendous - Spring Sentiments - closed), stamped in gathered twigs.  The whole card front is popped up on foam for even more dimension.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this adorable bird die set :)

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Candied Apple, Black Soot, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Bird on a Branch die (Temu Canada), Watercolour Brushes, Oval Die

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing

NBUS Challenge #87

Die cut Divas June Challenge - Anything Goes

Reminder June CAS Christmas Challenge - Bird

Hi everyone.  I made a second card for this month's CAS Christmas Challenge - Bird.  The challenge is open until the end of the month.

For today's card I used a die-cut (Bird Ornament - Penny Black), cut from mixed media paper and watercoloured with distress re-inkers.  Once the watercolouring was done, a second die was cut from white card stock and layered together to give some strength and dimension.  Brown twine was added for the hanger, along with tiny pop dots to the back of the ornament for added dimension.  Sentiment (Festive Snippets - Penny Black) was stamped on the card front and ornament adhered before the front card panel was popped up with more foam from the card base.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

CAS Christmas June Challenge - Bird

SCSCCJUN26 - Splitcoast Fan Club June Christmas Challenge 

CCC26JUN - Splitcoast Stampers June Christmas Challenge - Enormous or Anything Goes

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Excited to announce the re-start of the CAS Mix Up Challenge!!

First challenge starts on July 3rd.  Hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Reinkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Distress ink:  Brushed Corduroy
Accessories:   Bird Ornament die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Brown Twine, White acrylic paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

CAS Christmas June Challenge - Bird

SCSCCJUN26 - Splitcoast Fan Club June Christmas Challenge 

CCC26JUN - Splitcoast Stampers June Christmas Challenge

Snow Day!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for the Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 - Snow Day!  I've been so busy with setting up the CAS Challenges lately, that I haven't been able to play along as much as I would like to.  Thankfully, I had time today and, of course, who could resist having a snow play day! :)

The image is Fun Flurries (Penny Black).  This is the first time using this particular stamp from the set, although I have used the other.  I stamped in black ink and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.  I added slight waves of soft blue ink in the sky (little hard to see in the photos), and tore a strip of paper for the snow hill.  I sponged more of the same blue ink along the torn edge and added some glitter for sparkle.  Clear Wink of Stella was also added to the bear's hat cuff and pompom, adding a little more sparkle as well.  The image is cut out using the matching die (Fun Flurries Cut Out - Penny Black).  Add the sentiment from Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs) to finish the card.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 - Snow Day!

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using this stamp

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 2 - Dies

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fun Flurries (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew); Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Fun Flurries Cut Out (die), watercolour paint brushes, detail sponge, Clear Embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo), glitter, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #111 - Snow Day!

NBUS Challenge #87

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 2 - Dies

Saltwater Coneflowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by a few challenges.  First up, Just Us Girls is looking for stenciling this week ... first time using this beautiful stencil from STAMPlorations, which was a gift from a friend, long ago.  I don't know why I waited so long to use it.  It's so pretty, especially as a background, softly sponged with Saltwater Taffy distress ink.

I used a new-to-me die set, which included a vase, with two leafy stems and two coneflowers.  This time I used the darker version of the background colour to watercolour the petals (Abandoned Coral), Shabby Shutters for watercolouring the stem & leaves ... and also the vase.  The center of the coneflowers is done with Gathered Twigs distress ink.  I LOVE pink and brown together.  

The final step was to stamp the sentiment in more Gathered Twigs (DOX inks this time). :)

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Just Us Girls #825 - Anything Goes with Stenciling

Cut it Up #357 - Friendship

NBUS Challenge #87 - first time using the background stencil and the die

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - second entry

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide Ink (TH)
Accessories:   Burst Stencil (STAMPlorations), sponge brush, Coneflowers & Vase die (Temu Canada)

Challenges:

Just Us Girls #825 - Anything Goes with Stenciling

Cut it Up #357 - Friendship

NBUS Challenge #87

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - second entry

June CAS Christmas Challenge - Bird

Hi everyone.  Today is the re-launch of CAS Christmas Challenge and we are very excited! :)  We have a fun challenge for you ...

I'm hosting this month.  I went through my Christmas stamps looking for bird images ... there is  A LOT! :)  The image above is my favourite Christmas bird stamp that I've had for several years.  It's called Snow Bird (Stampendous).  It was so sad when Stampendous closed.  I will always keep this image and use it every year. :)

The image was stamped in black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Distress inks were used to watercolour and add a faint outline around the image.  A simple sentiment (Shine Upon You - Penny Black) was added to finish the card.

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Sending this to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - used distress inks to watercolour image

The CAS Christmas June Challenge runs for the whole month.  Our hope is you'll join us and build your stash of Christmas cards throughout the remainder of this year ... and beyond.  Please check out the lovely cards made by our Guest Designer, Bobby, as well as the CAS Christmas Designers!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snow Bird (Stampendous - retired); Shine Upon You (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black:  Obsidian (Altenew); Distress Inks:  Black Soot, Gathered Twigs, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Salvaged Patina (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, white acrylic Posca pen, white acrylic paint (diluted) for splattered snow 

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks

June CAS Christmas Challenge

Guest Designing at SCS Fan Club Christmas - June

Hi everyone.  Today I'm excited to be Guest Designing at Splitcoast Stampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge - SCSCCJUN26. :)  I used a new-to-me mistletoe die, cutting twice before watercolouring with distress re-inkers.  I used some Sparkle acrylic paint for the berries.

I used the Geometric Embossing Folder (Penny Black) and cut the panel down to size before layering the mistletoe sprigs over top.  I added pop-dots so the mistletoe had lots of texture and dimension.

The whole panel was popped up over top of my card base, which had been stamped with the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) in red DOX ink.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Christmas Card Challenge - CCC26MAY - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz); Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink (TH)
Accessories:  Mistletoe die (Temu), watercolour paint brushes, Geometric Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Sparkle acrylic paint (Lumiere)

Challenges:

SCS Fan Club Christmas Challenge (SCSCCJUN26)

SCS Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Direct to Paper Inking - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are using the direct to paper inking technique.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Direct to Paper Inking

This technique is easy to do.  You just press your ink pad onto your paper and drag to cover as much area as possible.  It will take several swipes to get full coverage, but your colours on ink will be very strong and saturated.  This technique can be used in a variety of ways.

For my first card above I masked off the sides with removable tape (3M), then dragged my Mowed Lawn distress ink pad over approx. 1/3 of the bottom section of the exposed card.  I repeated a few times until the colours were fairly solid.  I flipped my card around and added Salvage Patina ink to the middle section, swiped a few times with the ink pad to get solid coverage.  One more time, with Salty Ocean ink pad distress ink pad to cover the remainder of the open card.

Once dry, I removed the tape and stamped two images from Meadow (Inkadinkado), and the sentiment A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired).  I mounted my card front onto the base and the card was done!  Easy, peasy. :)

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While the stamp sets out for the first card, I used them again for the second card.  I created a small focal panel, swiping three colours of distress ink pads to create a sunset.  Next time I will try it with Distress Oxide inks ... I think it would give a smoother finish.

 A flower garden silhouette (Inkadinkado - Meadow), and simple sentiment (Clearly Besotted - retired) are stamped in black ink.  The panel is popped up over top of the card base for dimension.

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - WT1106 - Thank a caregiver

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salvaged Patina, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew)
Accessories:   Removable tape (3M)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   Black card stock (SU!); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  n/a

Challenges:

SCS Ways to Use It Challenge - WT1106 - Thank a caregiver