Rock on & Santa's Sweets

Hi everyone.  Here's another adorable image from Penny Black's Christmas release, Rock on. This image is so cute ... I smiled the whole time I was watercolouring him. :) 

I stamped him in black pigment ink, heat set and then watercoloured the image with distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut out the image (Rock on cut out).  To finish the bear, red chalk was added to his cheers with a white dot.

Next I stamped Christmas Story (Penny Black) onto a piece of white card stock and heat embossed in white.  I used the circle stencil from Penny Black's Background Basics, to sponge lightly with Evergreen Bough ink.  This shows off the stamped background.  I used a white paint pen to add a stitching on the circle.

The image was popped over top to give it some added dimension, and a red sentiment banner with white embossed sentiment (from the same stamp set as the bear) was added.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1) Rudolph Days October Challenge

2) Peace on Earth Challenge #74

 

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Second card for today, this time using Penny Black's Santa's Sweets.  

I stamped the image in black pigment ink, heat set with my heat gun and then watercoloured with distress inks.  I used the matching die (Santa's Sweets Cut Out) to cut out the image.

I used a piece of removable tape to mask a horizon line and sponged a little Lost Shadow distress ink below the line for a shadow under the chair.  I adhered the image over top and stamped a sentiment (Bright & Light in black ink to finish the card. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to Simply Clean and Simple October Challenge where anything CAS goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Rock On (Penny Black

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment ink (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Lumberjack Plaid, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Unchartered Mariner (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Rock On cut out (Penny Black), Background Basics (Penny Black), white embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, sponge, Red chalk, White paint pen (Posca)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Santa's Sweets; Bright & Light (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black pigment (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Lumberjack Red, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz); Zigs:  Flesh
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Santa's Sweets Cut Out, Tape for masking, sponge

Challenges:

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Peace on Earth Challenge #74

Simply Clean & Simple October Challenge - Anything CAS

Celebrating Fall

Hi everyone.  I LOVE Fall ... the colours, the crisp air ... it's magical.  And I love making fall cards.  I'm back with another Fall Birthday card using a beautiful leaf stencil.  

I started by randomly sponging the background with Distress inks:  Mustard Seed, Cracking Campfire, Gathered Twigs.  I dried my card panel and then placed the Tumbling Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp) overtop.  I pressed down over the stencil with my Versamark pad and then removed the stencil, sprinkling with clear embossing powder and heat set.  I wiped the panel down to make sure there was no anti-static powder left and then sponged over the whole thing with Gathered Twigs ink.  I used a dry paper towel to wipe off any excess ink that remained on top of the heat embossing (emboss resist technique).  For the last step, I splattered the panel with yellow gold Fintec watercolour paint.

I mounted the panel onto my card base, which had the top corners rounded.  Stamped the sentiment (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU!) at the top with Crackling Campfire ink.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to the following Challenges:

1) Seize the Birthday #292 - Use the word Celebrate

2) Darnell's IDEAS Oct. Challenge - Inks / Colour Mediums

3) Stencil Fun Challenge Sept. - Anything Stenciling Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Crackling Campfire, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories:  sponges, Tumbling Leaves Stencil (SSS), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Fintec Yellow Gold Watercolour Paint 

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #292 - Celebrate

IDEAS Oct. Challenge - Inks

Stencil Fun Challenge Sept.

Another Batik Card

Hi everyone.  Sharing one more card for the August CAS Mix Up Challenge - Emboss Resist.  This card uses the same technique of Faux Batik that I used on my DT cards for the launch of this challenge on Aug. 1st.  And I used the same background image stamp (Plant Background - The Stampin' Place - retired) that I used on my DT cards for the reminder post on Aug. 15.  The difference was sponging distress inks (Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean) over the white embossed image.

Once I finished sponging, I wiped down my card panel with a paper towel to remove any ink that would have stuck to the embossed image.  This made the colours even brighter.  I added a popped up frame over the panel and stamped Happy Birthday (Endless Birthday Wishes - SU! - retired) in more of the Salty Ocean distress ink.

Close-up ...

The challenge is still open for a couple of days.  Come play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Plant Background (The Stampin' Place - retired); Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress inks:  Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, Rectangle frame (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
August CAS Mix Up Challenge - Emboss Resist

August CAS Mix Up Reminder - Emboss Resist

Hi everyone.  We are half way through the month, so time for a reminder for our current challenge - Emboss Resist, hosted by the lovely and talented Nancy.

Today I'm sharing an emboss resist card using a background stamp which is white embossed and smooshed with Magical powders (Lindy's).  I stamped the Plant Background (The Stampin' Place - retired) in white pigment ink, then sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat set.  I sprinkled three colours of Lindy's Magicals onto my work mat and smooshed the embossed card front through the wet colours.  I let it dry and then lightly wiped with a damp paper towel to remove any ink that was sitting on top of the white embossing.

I ended up making two cards with this one piece and I'll include both in this post, although they are pretty much the same.  I cut the panels down and framed each card using rectangle die-cuts (retired).  The sentiments are both from Endless Birthday Wishes (SU! - long retired), stamped a couple of times with Salty Ocean distress ink.  Simple and CAS cards with Emboss Resist. :)

Close-up ...

... and second card ...

I hope you'll join us for this fun and easy technique.  Check out the challenge blog for more inspiration from our talented Design Team.  Hope to see you in the gallery!!

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Plant Background - retired (The Stampin' Place - closed); Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Magicals (Lindy's); Salty Ocean distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   White embossing powder, heat tool, Rectangle dies - retired (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up August Reminder - Emboss Resist

Have a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas!

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the current challenge at Peace on Earth - #21.  I was inspired to join in after seeing the beautiful DT card made by my friend Susan.  Thanks Susan!

LOVE all the gorgeous images in blue, silver and white that are part of the mood board for the challenge ...

I've made two blue Christmas cards today.  The first one (above), started with a stencil (Layering Poinsettia - Tim Holtz), sponged with two shades of blue distress ink (Broken China, Chipped Sapphire).  I used a small sponge dauber to added colour to the poinsettias, and then a very small round brush to add colour to the holly leaves.  This helped to keep the colours separated.  Once finished, I used a permanent silver pen (Pilot) to outline both the poinsettias and holly leaves.  I die-cut a top piece using a curved and stitched die (Stitched Borders die - Pretty Pink Posh).  The sentiment (Season's Gifts - Penny Black) is stamped and heat embossed in silver.

Close-up ...

On to the second card ... very CAS (clean and simple) design ...

For this card, I used a NBUS (never-before-used-schtuff) stamp set from AliExpress of poinsettias.  I heat embossed the flowers in white before watercolouring in two shades of blue distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Broken China) ... this is Emboss Resist technique.

I added a thin white frame (Fine Frames Square Dies - Altenew) to my card base and then added the fussy-cut poinsettia's on top, layering them to create dimension.  I finished my CAS design with a die-cut Joy (also AliExpress) from blue watercoloured paper.

Close-up ...

I'm also sending this over to NBUS Challenge #41 (second entry). :)

And, I'm also sending this to CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Emboss Resist.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Season's Gifts (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Delicata Silver ink (Tsukeneko)
Accessories:  Layering Poinsettia stencil (Tim Holtz); sponges, silver pen (Pilot), Stitched Borders die (Pretty Pink Posh), silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Card #2:

Stamps:  Poinsettias (AliExpress)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   White Pigment ink (Unicorn by Hero Arts); Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool; w/c paint brushes, Joy die (AliExpress); Fine Frames Square (Altenew)

Challenges:
Peace on Earth #21 - Anything Christmas Goes

NBUS Challenge #41

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Emboss Resist

Happy Birthday Dragonfly

Hi everyone.  My dear friend Christine (It's a Card Day's Night) is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday sweet friend!!

I wanted to make a mixed media card for Christine as that is her style.  And I made sure to include lots of blue, her favourite colour.  :)

I started by smooshing Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet.  I then stamped the Libellule Origami (or Origami Dragonfly in English) from Carabelle Studio (retired).  I stamped it in black and heat embossed with clear.  I masked the dragonfly before stamping the Different Dreams background (Unity Stamp Co.) in Versamark.  I heat embossed the background in clear as well.  After removing the dragonfly mask, I pressed more salty ocean and wilted violet inks into my mat with a spritz of water, and smooshed again to make the colours deeper.  Once dry, I watercoloured the dragonfly in the same two colours of ink.

I cut the panel down and added a white embossed sentiment (Simply Sentiments from Lawn Fawn) on a black card stock strip at the bottom.  The panel is popped up for added dimension.

Close-up ...

I'm so pleased with this card and I hope Christine likes it too!  If you have a time, please drop by Christine's blog to wish her a Happy Birthday!

I'm sending this over to the Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 ... no topping for me this time. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Libellule Origami - retired (Carabelle Studio); Different Dreams (Unity Stamp Co.); Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet; Black (Memento), White Pigment (Hero Arts Unicorn), Versamark
Accessories:   water mister, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge #244 - Anything Birthday Goes

August CAS Mix Up Challenge - Emboss Resist

Hi everyone.  This month's CAS Mix Up Challenge is all about Emboss Resist.  Nancy is hosting and she has found some wonderful video tutorials of different ways to do this fun and easy technique.  I followed this video.

I started out with a technique that's been around for a long time, but I have never tried - Batik.  Using a kraft card front, I stamped Full Bloom (Penny Black) in Versamark ink randomly in different directions to fill the page, heat embossing in clear as I went along.  The next step is to make several folds in all different directions.  The embossing powder cracks a bit when folding, but that is part of the technique.  It exposes the fold lines down to the card base that are highlighted once colour is sponged on top.  So cool.

I love the look of the exposed lines which create the Batik look (example of Balik artwork below).

Vintage Batik Artwork example

I sponged the panel with a mix of distress inks (Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, and Crackling Campfire).  Then cut the panel up to create two cards.  I made the first with a popped up panel on white card base, adding a black banner with die-cut sentiment (Penny Black's Heartfelt).  I made the second on a kraft card base (below).  It was a smaller panel so I added the Full Bloom image stamped in Versamark and heat embossed at the bottom to balance.  The sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink.

Second card using same Batik panel ...

We are so happy to have Brenda (Inkspired to Stamp) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Brenda!!

There are several different ways to create emboss resist.  Check out the challenge blog to see the inspiring cards made by our Guest Designer and Design Team.  And take a look at the video tutorials on ways to create emboss resist.  Remember to keep your card CAS (clean and simple).  I hope to see your card(s) in the gallery!

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Thank you.

Stamps:  Full Bloom and Banner Sentiments (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Kraft card stock (Carta Bella); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, smile die (Penny Black)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Emboss Resist

STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge - part 2

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a second card for the STAMPlorations October Stencil Challenge.

Trying out another stencil technique using emboss resist.  I started by stamping Christmas Story (Penny Black) for the background, heat embossing in white.  I placed The Merry Tree stencil (ARTplorations) over top and sponged with two shades of green for the top of the tree (Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness distress inks).  The bottom of the tree is sponged with Candied Apple and Aged Mahogany distress inks.  After the ink dried I took a dry paper towel and buffed over top to remove any ink that was on the white embossing.

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark onto black card stock and heat embossed in white.  Cut the sentiment banner to size and adhered to the front of my card.

Close-up ...

I had a great time playing along with the challenge and hope to do it again next month!

I'm also entering this into Rudolph Days October Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Christmas Story (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:  The Merry Tree stencil (ARTplorations), white embossing powder, sponges   

Challenges:
STAMPlorations October Stencil Challenge

Rudolph Days October Challenge

Delicate Maple Branch

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Watercolour October challenge - Maple Leaf, hosted by me.

I love this time of year with the leaves changing into the gorgeous autumnal colours.

I've had this piece in my stash for a LONG time  I came across it the other day and thought it was perfect for this challenge.  I (basically) followed a tutorial from Splitcoaststampers called "Joseph's coat". 

I smooshed my panel of watercolour paper in beautiful autumn colours.  Since it was long ago, I know I was using Stampin' Up! inks ... most likely Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie.  Once finished, I stamped the maple branch in Versamark and heat embossed in clear.  This is where my memory is a little short on details.  I know that I sponged over top with a deep brown.  Not sure of the colour of ink.  Then wiped off the excess ink that was resisted by the heat embossing, exposing the gorgeous oranges and reds.  I cut the panel down, popped it up on foam for dimension and added a sentiment in Rusty Hinge distress ink.

Simple technique, but very effective!  Most people were using black for the background for more of a contrast, but the brown looked perfect with the colours of the leaves.

Close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the reminder post on the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from our Designers, and this month's Guest Designer, Ros!

Stamps: Nature's Gift (Penny Black); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R) - retired
Paper:  Watercolour paper for main panel (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie (SU!); Versamark; Rusty Hinge distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponge

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour October Challenge - Maple Leaf

CAS Mix Up December Challenge

Hi everyone. Welcome to the last challenge in 2018 for CAS Mix Up.  This year has flown by, but it has been so much fun!!  Thanks to everyone who played along with us this year.  It's been awesome!

NOTE:  December challenge will run Dec. 1 - 15

Thank you!

I love this grid background stamp for the emboss resist technique.  I embossed the grid in white and then sprinkled two colours of magicals over top (autumn crimson maple, ramblin' rose).  The watery ink pools in the squares to create variations of colour.

I added a white frame with silver stamped sentiment and beautiful die-cut flowers that were gifted to me by a sweet friend.  Sequins add a little sparkle to finish the design.

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the challenge blog to see the Emboss Resist CAS cards from our Designers, and special Guest Designer, BozenA (Art Card Box).  Then come play along.

We are also saying good-bye to Julia from the CAS Mix Up Team.   Thank you Julia, for all your hard work and inspirational cards you've provided since being one of the first DT at CMU!

Thankfully, Julia isn't going far!!  She will be part of the newest CAS Challenge (see announcement below).


Stamps: Grid (Simon Says Stamp) Fond Expressions2 (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Lindy's Magicals, water mister, flower die-cuts (gift from a friend), Rectangle frame die (Spellbinders), sequins

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up December Challenge - Emboss Resist

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I'm excited to announce the launch of a new challenge!

CAS Stencil Card Challenge

 I'm thrilled to have a very talented group of Designers joining me.

Check out the new challenge HERE.

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