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Friday, August 14, 2026

Christmas cards ...

Hi everyone.   Just a reminder of the CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.
Smooshed a piece of mixed media paper and once dry, stamped my image in black pigment ink and heat embossed in clear.  Watercoloured using distress inks.

Two strips of torn white paper are added to the bottom for snowhills and a simple sentiment is stamped in black ink.  Splattered diluted white paint for falling snow.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the follow challenges:
CAS Christmas August Challenge - Sleigh
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69
SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG

* * * * *
This is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper.  The challenge is open until Aug. 31.
I used this beautiful background paper from Honey Bee, stenciling overtop with the Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee).  I started with layers of distress Inks (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness) and let it dry thoroughly before stenciling overtop with Versamark and sprinkling with White embossing powder.  I heat set and also stamped and heat set the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black) as well.  To finish, I trimmed the panel down to size, allowing more white space on my card front.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree
SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG



This card only took me about 10 minutes to make and I love how it turned out.  I have more of these papers, so made more of the same design, just swapping out the background paper and changing ink colours.  Great way to build my Christmas card stash! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1: (Sleigh)
Stamps:  Santa and his Reindeer (Stamping Bella); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:   Black (Obsidian - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, white acrylic paint

Card #2: (Tree)
Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper - Team Tie Dye (Honey Bee)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:   Farmhouse Tree Stencil (Honey Bee), sponges, White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 3 - Embossing - I heat embossed the white snow on the tree
SCS Christmas Challenge - August - CCC26AUG


at 9 comments:

Saturday, August 08, 2026

Stenciled Gladiolus

Hi everyone.  Made a quick and easy CAS card for a couple of challenges. :)

Started with one of my favourite stamp sets from Altenew - Nature's Magic.  Stamped and die-cut the gladiolus and used the matching stencil and some detail brushes to sponge colour.

Used a rectangle die (center of a frame I had cut for another project), stenciling over top with Wander and Find (Carta Bella) in Shabby Shutters distress ink.  I finished by stamping a small sentiment in black ink.

Popped up the panel, added the gladiolus on top (popping up the top few flowers), adding it onto my white card base.  Added a few small details with my white acrylic paint pen to finish.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
AAA Birthday:  Game #88 - Flower - the happy birthday sentiment is on the inside
Just Us Girls - Die Week - Anything Goes - used gladiolus die, rectangle frame die
Splitcoaststampers - CAS910 - BFF


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Obsidian Pigment - Altenew); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Altenew:  Nature's Magic matching die and stencils, details sponges, Wander and Find stencil (Carta Bella), white acrylic pen (Posca)

Challenges:
at 24 comments:

Monday, August 03, 2026

August CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month's challenge at CAS Mix Up - Stenciling over Patterned Paper has Viv as our Host!  This is a great way to use your stencils in a new way ... and to use up some of your patterned paper that we all have in abundance. :)

I used an older piece of patterned paper (Sweather Weather - Stampin' Up!).  Stenciled using the Dreamweaver - Hibiscus Pair stencil, using distress inks.

I finished the card by tracing an outline through the stencil with a fine-tip black marker and adding a simple sentiment.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 1 - Inks - used Distress inks to stencil the flowers

I hope you'll check out the CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Stenciling over Patterned Paper.  We'd love if you made a CAS card using this technique and then link up to the party at the bottom of the challenge post.  Hope to see you in the Gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous - closed)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Sweater Weather Patterened Paper (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Hibiscus Pair stencil (Dreamweaver), detailed sponges, .2 Fine-line Black marker

Challenges:

at 20 comments:

Saturday, August 01, 2026

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the August CAS Christmas Challenge, hosted by the talented Julia.  She has chosen the challenge ...


For today's card, I made a night sky background using Brushos Powdered Inks on mixed media card.

Once dry, I added black die-cut Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer, along with a row of houses.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink to finish the design.  Easy and fun card to make. :)

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I used Powdered Inks
NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using the row of houses die
SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Purple, Violet
Accessories:   Row of Houses die & Santa Sleigh (both from Spellbinders - Simon's Snow Globe Etched die set)

Challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes
SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

at 21 comments:

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Adding Dimension to Die-cuts - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  We are a small group now with several people moving on.  We decided that this will be our last post at Group of Cardmakers.  We appreciate those that have followed us, left wonderful comments, and shared their talents by playing along.

For out final technique this month at Group of Cardmakers,  we are playing with adding dimension to die-cuts.  There are several ways to do this ... layering, sponging edges, shaping, etc.


I started with a new-to-me die (Garden Cosmos Layering dies - Altenew), a gift from a very good friend ... thanks B!  I cut all the pieces from cold press w/c paper and watercoloured using distress re-inkers and distress inks.  I found it a challenge to put the pieces all together, but in the end it all worked.  I LOVE how my flowers turned out, even though I took creative license with the colour as Cosmos do not grow in a deep purple, but rather a pinky purple tone. :)

To create the card I started with the background.  I smooshed both Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade distress inks with lots of water and smooshed my cold press w/c paper card front.  I used these colours for the centers of the flowers as well ... tying this together.  I watercoloured all the flower petals with wilted violet distress re-inker ... that's how the colour is so intense.  LOVE IT! :)  I used Villaneous Potion distress ink to add sponging around each petal, giving the flower visual depth.  After they were dry, I also shaped each petal using a stylus with my sponge mat ... adding even more depth.  For the stems / greenery, the pieces were watercolour with Mowed Lawn distress ink and sponged with Rustic Wilderness ink.  It's always good to have a variety of shades of green.

The flowers were assembled and then attached to the greenery.  I only used half the flowers from the set, so you will see another card with purple cosmos in the future.

The finishing touch is adding the stamped sentiment (SU - retired stamp - Endless Birthday Wishes), Villaneous Potion ink on white card.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Darnell's IDEAS Calendar - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Inks / Dies / Sponging / Smooshing
NBUS Challenge #88 - first time using this Cosmos Die set

   

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Distress Ink:  Villaneous Potion (Tim Holtz); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Garden Cosmos Layering Dies (Altenew); watercolour brushes, stylus, foam mat

Challenges:

at 26 comments:

Sunday, July 26, 2026

CAS Mini Christmas Tree

Hi everyone.  I made this quick and easy CAS card yesterday.  I used a new-to-me die of a mini Christmas tree.  I really like the simplicity and used earth tones for my colours.  I love that little burlap sack. :)

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
SCS Christmas Challenge - SCSCCJUL26 - link to gallery, can't find challenge page

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Jolly Snippets (Penny black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.); Baked Brown Sugar Cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Baked Brown Sugar (SU!); Distress Reinkers:  Peeled Paint, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Mini Christmas Tree die (Temu), Watercolour Paint Brushes, Burlap, Cream twine

Challenges:
at 12 comments:

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Another Eclipse card

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that this month at CAS Mix Up Challenge, the challenge is ...


For the card above, I tried the Optical Illusion variation of this technique.  I followed the video by Natasha Foote on the challenge blog, using two of the same patterned papers to create a card with partially layered strips.  This was quick and easy to create something a little different.

Close-up ...


Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Spring Sentiments (Stampendous - closed)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper (unknown)
Ink:   Gathered Twigs DOX ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   n/a

Challenges:


at 21 comments:

Monday, July 20, 2026

Another Snowman card ...

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another Christmas card for CAS Christmas July Challenge - Snowman, hosted by Linda.  Such a fun challenge!! :)


This time I'm using the no-line watercolouring technique.  I stamped the image in soft gray onto cold press watercolour paper.  I used distress re-inkers to watercolour.  It's basically painting an image free-hand with a little help from the stamp. :)

I kept it CAS by adding a simple sentiment and a few splatters of falling snow.  That was all that was needed.

Close-up ...
Sending this card to the following challenges:
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69
SCS CCC26JUL - Fan Club Christmas Challenge for July

  

I hope you'll come play along.  It's always great to build your stash of Christmas cards throughout the year so when the crunch is on, you have them all ready to write and mail. :)  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Bundled Up (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140lb.)
Ink:  Distress Ink:  Lost Shadow; Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Red, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Paint Brushes

Challenges:
Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69
SCS CCC26JUL - Fan Club Christmas Challenge for July


at 28 comments: