September CAS Christmas Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters, hosted by our lovely Lisa!!  The challenge runs Sept. 1 - 30.

First time using an older Penny Black image that I recently bought.  Stamped the image in black and heat embossed in clear before watercolouring with distress reinkers.

To finish, I fussy-cut the image and used my clear Wink of Stella to add some shimmer to the Santa cuff and pompom.  I die-cut two small holly leaves and berries, watercoloured and added them to the hat.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  

The image is popped onto my panel with two torn snowhills at the bottom and a background of Falling Snow (SSS) dry embossing.  Simple sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black) is stamped in Candied Apple Distress Oxide ink.  The panel is popped up on top of my white card base. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #90 - first time using this adorable Penny Black stamp

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70

 

Please check out the challenge blog to see the wonderful cards from our Designers and Guest Designers, Lynne and Pat!  We'd love for you to join us at CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Santa's Hat (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black ink:  Obsidian (Altenew); Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Hickory Smoke, Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Flesh watercolour pen (Zig)
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Falling Snow embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Red Chalk, White Posca pen, Holly & Berries die (unknown)

Challenges:

CAS Christmas September Challenge - Woodland Critters

NBUS Challenge #90

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #70

Flower Teddy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another fall card.  This time I was inspired by the We Love Stamping September Challenge ...

****Make it Cute****

or Anything Goes

I started with an adorable Penny Black bear, holding a bouquet of flowers.  I stamped the image in black ink and clear heat embossing before watercolouring and then fussy-cutting.  I set it aside.

Onto the background ...  I placed a honeycomb stencil over my card front, masking off the bottom.  I sponged first with Mustard Seed Distress Ink, followed by Wild Honey ink, fading to light as I worked my way up from the bottom.  I stamped the image again in black ink onto my sponged card front; then paper pieced in the image I fussy-cut on top.  I added a simple sentiment to finish the card.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Teddy (Penny Black); Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Honeycomb stencil (Penny Black), sponges, red chalk

Challenges:

We Love Stamping September Challenge - Make it Cute

Seize the Birthday #314 - CAS with a Stencil

Just Us Girls #794 - Stencil Week - Anything Goes

Christmas Love and Magic

Hi everyone.  Today I'm working on building my stash of Christmas cards for sending out to family and friends in December.

I'm starting with this new-to-me image of a sweet bear with a bouquet of holly (Love & Magic - Penny Black).  I stamped him in black ink and heat embossed with clear on mixed media paper before watercolouring using distress inks.  I fussy-cut him, added gloss to the holly; once dry, I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  He is then popped up overtop of the background panel, which is dry embossed with Allover Stitches EF (Penny Black) ... first time using this embossing folder. :)  I stamped the sentiment banner (Shine Upon You - Penny Black), adhering at the bottom of the panel before adding it to my card front.

I hope you like this quick and easy CAS design.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

2)  NBUS Challenge #75 - first time using this sweet image :)

3)  Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Shine Upon You (both from Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Lost Shadow (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Allover Stitches Embossing Folder (Penny Black), Watercolour brushes, crystal glaze (Nuvo), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 3 - EFs

NBUS Challenge #75

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - Christmas Critters

Penny Black - Thriving - Part 2

Hi everyone.  I'm back with Penny Black's Thriving Stamp set (30-811) again.  This is a second image I've used from the four that come with the set.  I love this sweet flower.  To me, it looks like a Gerbera Daisy, so I watercoloured it to look similar to a pot of Gerbera's I received as a gift last weekend.  Aren't they pretty??

I kept this very CAS, letting the flower be the star.  I stamped the image onto my card front, and again two more times on mixed media paper (which were heat embossed in clear).  I watercoloured both the flowers and leaves on the mixed media paper and fussy-cut them out.  I cut down through the petals of the flowers just a little ways towards the center so that I could shape the flower a little.  Did this with both flowers, then used my stylus and mat to add some shaping.  Glued the first set of flower head and leaves to my card front, pressing down firmly.  Then added the second flower head and leaves, slightly off center to give the flower lots of depth.

Added a small shadow of gray at the bottom of the flower and stamped the sentiment Smile (Happy Snippets 30-358) in black.  Popped up the card front on foam and adhered to my white card base.

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

To my New Email Subscribers

Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog through the new format.  

I have received so many wonderful messages of support.  You really made me feel special!

Thank you!!

Penny Black Product Links

Thriving (30-811)

Happy Snippets (30-358)

Stamps:  Thriving, Happy Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); paint brush

Penny Black - For You

Hi everyone.  Happy Valentine's Day!!  Hope you are all having a wonderful and relaxing day.  

Penny Black has a new release "Daydream" with went live yesterday.  This is the first image I'm playing with (...For You).  These mice are so adorable carrying the beautiful rose.  Smiled the whole time I was making this card! :)  I wanted to have the mice standing on something fun, so added a chain of hearts (heart image from Huggable) for them to run across.   Both cards are watercoloured with a mix of Distress Inks and Dye Inks.

Close-up ...

You can see the shimmer of clear Wink of Stella on the hearts to add a little sparkle. :)

Next card is super CAS.  I just used the rose from the same image above ...

This rose is so gorgeous, I wanted to show it all by itself.  I then fussy-cut and popped up on my card front that has a wonderful sentiment from one of the other new sets - Smiles.

I'm sending this card over to The Flower Challenge #53.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!!

Product Links

... For You (30-801)

Huggable (30-588)

Smiles (30-802)

Stamps:  For You (Penny Black); Smiles (Penny Black); Hearts (Huggable - Penny Black)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Granny Smith Apples, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, water brush, Clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #53 - Use your latest stamps and/or dies

Santa Making a Delivery

Hi everyone.  Today I've had fun with another of my new Stamping Bella stamps.  This is called "Sneaky Yeti" because originally where was a Yeti peeking out from behind the cottage.  I masked him out.  I wanted to focus more on Santa, even though it's a small part of the image. :)

I'm playing along with Christmas Craft Creations this month where they want to see Christmas Characters.

I started by stamped my image onto mixed media paper in permanent black ink.  Heat set to make sure the ink was dry before watercolouring with distress inks.  My main colours are Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, and Mowed Lawn.  Once I had finished watercolouring with those colours, I used the leftover ink to create a smooshed background for my card.  An easy way to tie the colours all together.

I finished watercolouring and then fussy-cut the image.  I stamped the sentiment in red before assembling the card.  The main panel is popped up for dimension, as well as the fussy-cut image.  To finish I splattered with diluted white gouache paint, and even though I masked off my sentiment, it managed to get underneath and blur the lettering a bit.  Grrr!  I'm just going with it! :)

I've added a few finished touches such as gray shadows on all the snow area, followed by clear wink of stella --- love the shimmer of the snow!  Also added crystal drops to the Christmas lights and the windows to make them shine.

Close-up ...

Since this is a new-to-me stamp, I'm entering this card into the NBUS #17 Challenge gallery.

This was so much fun to make!

* * * * *

Sharing a couple of Jessie photos :)

Jessie loves sticks! (photo by Alejandro Garcia)

Jessie's so dog-tired she didn't notice her head was on the floor :)

Products
Sneaky Yeti (Stamping Bella)
Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)
Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media paper (140 lb.) - Blick Art Materials

Stamps:  Sneaky Yeki (Stamping Bella); Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine); Distres Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, water brush, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Drops (Nuvo)

Challenges:
Christmas Craft Creatons July Challenge - Christmas Characters
NBUS #17

Penny Black - Layered Leaves and more ...

Hi everyone,  Today's cards use a few of the new stand-alone dies from the new release.  First, I'm sharing a CAS (clean and simple) masculine birthday card made with Layered Leaves die 51-633.

I die-cut the leaves from white card stock.  I used a watercoloured piece from my stash ... this has a bit of sparkle, so I'm pretty sure it is a mix of Lindy's magicals on watercolour paper.  I placed the die-cut leaves over the watercolour piece and traced with a pencil, then fussy-cut.  Adhered the white over top of the watercoloured background and then adhered to my card front.  I stamped a happy birthday sentiment (smile today! 30-461) in weathered wood distress ink.  It matched pretty well! :)

Close-up ...

My second card uses the beautiful die, Creative Curves 51-611.  This makes a lovely backdrop for any image.

The bright white card front and black die-cut panel create a lot of contrast in this design.  A pretty stamped butterfly (Wings and Vases 30-704), coloured with zigs and fussy-cut is all that's needed to complete this design, along with a simple black stamped sentiment, Good Wishes 30-541.

My third card uses the new Bench (51-621) die.

Created a very loose watercolour wash for the background from green and blue inks.  Stamped a leafy branch from the Country Charisma stamp set 30-690, watercolouring in two shades of green ink.  Popped up the die-cut bench, which was sponged in two shades of brown ink. Finished with a blue ink stamped sentiment, Good Wishes (30-541).

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Penny Black Products

Layered Leaves die 51-633
smile today! sentiment set 30-461

Creative Curves 51-611

Wing and Vases 30-704
Good Wishes 30-541

Bench die 51-621

Country Charisma 30-690

Good Wishes 30-541

Card #1:  Layered Leaves
Stamps:  smile today! (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches cold press 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's magicals
Accessories & Tools:  Layered Leaves die (Penny Black)

Card #2:  Butterfly Curves
Stamps:  Wings and Vases; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories & Tools:  Creative Curves die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Card #3:  Enjoy every moment
Stamps:  Country Charisma; Good Wishes (both Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Bench die (Penny Black), waterbrush

Twofer and Puppy Videos

Hi everyone.  Playing along with Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts.  Twofer is also celebrating it's 2nd Blogaversary and there's lots of prizes to be won.  Congrats to Darnell and my wonderful teammates for two years of amazing challenges!

  

I used a stencil to create my two heart cards above.  The first card I used magicals through the open hearts.  Love the shimmer in real life.  I then did a light pink wash for the background and added a die-cut sentiment - Love.  The main panel is popped up.

For the second card.  I again used magicals to create a colourful background.  I used the stencil to outline three hearts (different sizes) using a black marker.  I fussy-cut the hearts and added them to the card front, popping up the top (smallest) heart balloon.  I stamped and watercoloured the sweet bear and also fussy-cut, popping it up and drew in the strings of the balloons to wrap around the wrist.  A sentiment was stamped in black to create a fun birthday card.

There's still lots of time to play along.  Challenge closes midnight Jan. 24 (PST).  We'd love to see your cards in the gallery!

* * * * *

Four videos (taken by Alejandro) of Jessie playing with Violeta in the snow ...

Challenges:
Twofer Card Challenge #23 - Hearts

Autumn Leaves x 2

Hi everyone.  I'm going to take a break until January, so I will be posting cards that I made throughout the year that I couldn't fit into my post schedule.

Sharing two cards I made a while ago using the same stamp set.  The one above is coloured with Prismacolor pencils.

Stamped the leaf image a few times in soft brown on kraft paper for my main panel.  Stamped another leaf on a scrap of kraft and used my pencils to colours the leaves.  Fussy-cut leaf (it was a bit challenging) and adhered on top.  Stamped the sentiment in same ink as background leaves to pull it all together.

The second card ...

Started by adding white embossing paste through a tiny dot stencil for the background.  Stamped two leaves in kraft ink and heat embossed in clear.  Fussy-cut both leaves and smooshed in distress inks.  Cut a small strip of cork and stamped the sentiment on top.  Popped up the cork over the embossed background and tucked the stems of the leaves in behind.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Leaves (AliExpress); Sentiment (unknown)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb); Kraft (SU!)
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Prismacolour pencils, paper stump for blending

Wedgwood Blue

Hi everyone.  It's time for the reminder post for the CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper, hosted by me!

I dug through my many containers of patterned paper and came across an "old-fashioned" look of designer paper.  I love the soft blue and cream.  I wanted to have the look of "Wedgwood Blue" china which has a very dry look to it.  I used embossing paste, coloured with distress ink Stormy Sky.  I didn't have the re-inker, so smooshed the ink pad on my palette several times, mixing with the white paste until I got the colour I wanted.  Worked great.  I used my Stencil Pal to spread the paste evenly and you can easily scrape the leftovers off to use again later.  Once dry, I fussy-cut the heart and popped it up on my card front with a simple sentiment stamped below.

Everytime I mix up paste with colour I always end up with way too much (better than too little). :)  So this time I used it all up and ended up with three pretty cards.

Second card - using another stencil cut with my silhouette cameo.

For the last card I used a large piece of the designer paper so there isn't very much white space on my card, so it's not for the CAS challenge, but wanted to share with you.  I used the Layered Roses stencil from Tim Holtz.  Works perfectly with this old-fashioned looking patterned paper.

Please check out the reminder post to see new cards from our talented Designers, and this month's wonderful Guest Designer Gundi.

Challenge is still open for another six days.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Fond Expressions (STAMPlorations); Large Fancy Sentiments (Just Write Stamps)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper ?
Ink:  Black (Memento); Stormy Sky Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing paste (Dreamweaver); palette knife, stencil pal, Stencils: Layered Roses (Tim Holtz); Leafy Heart and Tulips - Silhouette America cut files, Silhouette Cameo, Acetate sheets

Challenges:
CAS Stencil October Challenge - Patterned Paper