CAS Watercolour May Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the last CAS Watercolour challenge.  Things are changing with the CAS Challenges.  Starting next month, CAS Mix Up will include Watercolour and Stencil challenges.  More details will be in June's CAS Mix Up post.  We hope you'll come play along!

This month's challenge is hosted by Jenny (My Paper Epiphany).  She wants us to watercolour a Night Sky.

We are so happy to have Tina (treebug) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Tina!

I started with a piece of white mixed media paper.  I sprayed with water and dropped in three colours of Lindy's magical powders (just a little of each).  Once they had spread a bit, I dried my panel with my heat tool and then smooshed over top with Black Soot distress ink.  Dried the panel again and added just a touch of the magical powders and water to bring back a little of the colour.

I die-cut a panel of black card stock with the lake loon scene and mounted my sky panel at the back.  I used Hickory Smoke DOX ink to stamp the sentiment.  It's subtle, but does match the sky quite well. :)

Close-up ...

I hope you'll join us for our final challenge here at the CAS Watercolour Challenge blog.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps: Noveau Flowers - sentiment (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's); Black Soot Distress ink (Tim Holtz); Hickory Smoke DOX ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:water mister, Lake Loon die (Gina Marie Designs)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour May Challenge - Night Sky

CAS Christmas October Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the October challenge for CAS Christmas.  Luckily I've been making Christmas cards all year and my stash is almost big enough.

This month's challenge is hosted by Susan (Cardmaker's Garrett) and she chose ...

I had some fun making this card.  I used four different die-cuts along with some smooshing, watercolouring and stamping part of a sentiment.  Also used coloured card base again, which I really like with this scene.

The background blue is smooshed and was sitting in my stash, just waiting for the right card.  I used a large line of tree die, splashing with two shades of green distress inks.  The line was cut in half, so I have another to make a second card.  The snow was a die-cut from Susan that had the word "winter" attached to it.  The shape was just right, so I cut off the letters.  All the parts were glued together and then splattered with diluted white acrylic paint for some falling snow.

I also used a small wreath die that had a tiny deer, cutting it off to add just in front of the trees ... it was just the perfect size.  The last was the die-cut square with MERRY attached.  LOVE it!  I masked a sentiment stamp to just use "Christmas" and heat embossed in white.  All these dies and sentiment were NBUS until today. :)

Close-up ...

We are excited to have Lyn (Lyn's Paper Petunia) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge post to see Lyn's and our Designers fabulous Winter Scene cards.  Then come play along!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Island Indigo (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Line of Trees die (AliExpress); Deer from wreath die (AliExpress), Merry Frame die (Poppy Stamps); white embossing powder, heat tool, white acrylic.

Challenges:
CAS Christmas October Challenge - Winter Scene

May Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for May's Rudolph Days run by the wonderful Maureen (Scraps of Life with Scrappimo!)  While at the retreat, I was thrilled to meet Maureen in person.  Actually, all of us at the retreat were so happy to spend an afternoon with Maureen.  She is as sweet as you would expect from her blog posts!

Here's a group photo ...

l to r:  Bonnie, Susan, Christine, Darnell, Maureen - hiding in the back :),

Trina, Nancy, me

On to the card.  I just love this sweet stamp that was gifted to me by my adorable and sweet friend, Bonnie!  Thanks Bonnie!!

I stamped it in black and heat embossed in clear before using my zigs to colour.  I added some crystal glaze to the heart-shaped balloons and stamped the sentiment in a matching green, adding a silver star at the top.

I decided afterwards to stencil falling snow ... so had to be careful not to get any on the image.  It worked! :)

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll play along with Rudolph Days.  It's an "Anything Goes Christmas" challenge that runs from the 25th to end of month.  Come join the fun!

Stamps:  Love to my Heart (Unity Stamp); Christmas sentiments (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Silver foil (SU!)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Zigs (Kuretake), Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Crystal glaze (Nuvo), Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp), White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife

Challenges:
May Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

November Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Rudolph Days.  This is the last challenge of the year.  Thanks to Maureen for running this fun challenge.  I managed to play along each month this year!!

Today's card was an experiment that turned out pretty well.  The background sky was a piece I had in my stash.  Did it ages ago using coated card stock (a gift from my sweet friend, Christine) smooshed with distress inks and Inka Gold (blue sapphire).  Art mediums react differently on the coated card, so it's always interesting to see what happens.  This one is turned out really well and I used the piece to create two cards with this design.

I die-cut the lime green foil using the Evergreen Window Die from Memory Box.  As you can tell by the name, this normally creates a window, but I wanted to try to use it differently.  I die-cut the foil and then fussy cut around the edge to create a thin frame.  Then I layered it with the backing and popped it up foam and then on to the card base.  The stamped sentiment finishes the card.

I used the cast-offs from the die-cut foil piece above, inlaying them into white card stock cut with the same die.  Might be weird to have white trees and a green sky, but I think it looks pretty!  Always great to be able to get an extra card using leftover bits and pieces.

I hope you'll check out the Rudolph Days November Challenge and join us!

Stamps:  Christmas (Gina Marie Designs)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Coated Card stock
Ink:  Distress Inks for smooshing; Salty Ocean for sentiment
Accessories & Tools:  Evergreen Window die (Memory Box),  Lime Green Foil (Thermoweb)

Challenges:
Rudolph Days November Challenge

CAS Mix Up November Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of November, which means a new challenge for CAS Mix Up.  This month's challenge is being hosted by Bonnie (Stamping with Klass), and she chose ...

I do use embossing folders for dry embossing quite often, but every once in a while I will use them for making prints.  Very easy to do.  For the card above, I used a brick embossing folder from Tim Holtz.  I opened the embossing folder and on the inside, with raised design (usually the inside top), I sprinkled just a little Brushos (turquoise and dark brown).  I spritzed with water until the crystals started to dissolve.  I laid a piece of mixed media paper on top of the wet Brushos and embossing folder, closed the folder and pressed with my hands to transfer the design.  This gives a very artsy design with a subtle look of the bricks.

I mounted the piece onto my card base, topped with a black piece of card stock which has been die-cut with Loon Lake.  A Happy Birthday sentiment is heat embossed in copper.

Here's a close-up ...

I still had a bit of wet ink on my embossing folder, so I took a second print with a new piece of mixed media paper.  The design is softer, but very interesting.  I used a stencil, sponging in brown over top to add a partial clock face.  A simple sentiment was stamped in the same brown ink to finish the card.

Here's the close-up ...

There are lots of ways to use an embossing folder.  I hope you'll try a few out and come join the challenge.  We excited to have Cornelia (Stempel Spass) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the lovely embossing folder cards from our talented Designers and Guest Designer, Cornelia.

Just a quick reminder that my Twelve Tags of Christmas starts on Nov. 5th.  I hope you'll play along.

Card 1:
Stamps:  Many Everyday Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series);White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Dark Brown; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Brick embossing folder (Tim Holtz), Loon Lake die (Gina Marie Designs), water mister, copper embossing powder, heat tool

Card 2:
Stamps:  A Little Sentiment (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series);White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Dark Brown; Distress Ink:  Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Brick embossing folder (Tim Holtz), water mister, Clockwise stencil (Tim Holtz), sponges

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Embossing Folder

Alcohol Ink Twofer

Hi everyone.  Today I'm here with two colourful cards.  These smooshed alcohol ink backgrounds were made a while ago and have been in my stash.  They made quick cards by adding a beautiful flower background die-cut over top (I had to buy this gorgeous die-cut because of my friend Marcia ... she is really good at enabling me to buy more things!). :)

I glued down the white die-cut card fronts over top of the alcohol ink panels and then popped them up on foam over the card base.  I added a white heat embossed black sentiment banner for each card to finish.

Here's a close-up of the cards.  This first one was sent to my dear friend Mary for her birthday last month.

... and, my favourite colours ...

Stamps:  Everyday sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:  Yupo; White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Alcohol inks:  Ranger and Pinata
Accessories & Tools:  Blending solution, Flower Burst Tria Background die (Gina Marie Designs), white embossing powder, heat tool

Making a Splash

Hi everyone.  One more card for the CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird.

Another quick and fun card to make.  I used two flamingo die-cuts that I received as a gift from a sweet friend!  I die-cut them from mixed media paper and watercoloured with a mix of spun sugar and picked raspberry distress inks.

For the background, I used another piece of mixed media paper, adding water to the card front first with a wet paint brush, then dropping in distress inks (peacock feathers, broken china).  Once the watercoloured puddle was finished, I used the same paint to splatter a few splashes of water, protecting the rest of my card front with some paper towels.  Once dry, I added clear wink of stella over the puddle to give it some shine.

The sentiment is computer generated (cartoon inkstrokes font).  The flamingos were popped up on top and I rounded the top right corner to finish.

Here's a close-up ...

The challenge is open for three more days.  Come join us!

Stamps:  sentiment computer generated
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush, clear wink of stella, Flamingo dies (Gina Marie Designs), black pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird

CAS Watercolour March Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the CAS Watercolour March Challenge.  This month we are celebrating SPRING!  I can't wait for it to be officially here in a few weeks.  It has been one snowy winter here and I'll be happy when it's over. :)

Today's card started with an experiment.  I have seen many cards done with Brushos, spray starch and cling wrap and wanted to try that technique.  Haven't been able to find spray starch, so I decided to try the technique, just leaving the starch part out. :)

I sprinkled Brushos onto my mixed media paper, spritzed with lots of water until the colours were flowing, and then placed a piece of cling wrap over top, scrunching it up to create lots of creases.  Left it to dry for about an hour, and when I pulled off the cling wrap I got the background you see above, behind the trees.  LOVE IT! Experiments are fun! :)

I also used a NBUS die that I bought from Gina Marie Designs called "tree frame". A white heat embossed vellum sentiment banner was used so the beautiful colours of Spring in the background would show through.

We are excited to have Heather (bits and pieces) as our Guest Designer this month. Please check out the challenge to see the gorgeous Spring-inspired cards by our talented Design Team, along with Heather's gorgeous card.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!

Entering this card into these challenges:
AAA Cards #84 - Watercolour
Inkspirational #129 - Connect (trees are connected)

Stamps:  Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum; Neenah 110 lb. card stock (die-cut tree frame)
Ink:  Brushos (turquoise, lime green, leaf green); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Tree Frame die (Gina Marie Designs), water mister, cling wrap, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Spring
AAA Cards #84 - Watercolour
Inkspirational #129 - Connect

Love Always

Hi everyone.  Today is a reminder that there's just over a week left to play in the CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Love.  Create a CAS card that has some sort of watercolouring or watercolour look, and join us.  You can use watercolour paints, distress inks, dye inks, brushos, gelatos, etc.

I recently bought a few dies from a new-to-me company "Gina Marie Designs", including the heart used above.  My sweet friend Marcia has several of their beautiful dies, which she used to send me some die-cuts.  I really like their designs so had to buy some for myself. :)  I found I need to run them through my big shot several times adding paper shims to get a clean cut. It could very well be my Big Shot that is the problem as it's getting really old.  In the end, with a little extra elbow grease, I'm really happy with the designs I bought.

The heart above was die-cut from watercolour paper and smooshed with concentrated liquid watercolours.  I dried the first layer of smooshing and then used a paintbrush to add more of the red and purple watercolours to deepen the colours on the heart.  Once dry, I coated it (twice) with Wink of Stella to give it lots of shine (which doesn't show in the photo).

The card front was die-cut with the same heart and inlayed with the watercoloured heart.  A white heat embossed black banner sentiment was added to finish the card.

I hope you'll check out our reminder post ... lots of inspiration from our talented Design Team and our special Guest Designer Michelle.  Check it out HERE.

I'm also playing along with a few challenges.  Lots of challenges out there with Hearts/Love as the theme. :)

Challenges:
AAA Cards #83 - Shape your Love
CASology #236 - Romance
Inkspirational #128 - Photo Inspiration

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Fond Expressions 7 (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  ?? die (Gina Marie Designs), Red and Purple Liquid Watercolour Concentrate (Dick Blick), Wink of Stella, White embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Love
AAA Cards #83 - Shape your Love
CASology #236 - Romance
Inkspirational #128 - Photo Inspiration

Lake Loon

Hi everyone.   We are in the middle of a snow storm.  It's been snowing steady the past two days and there's at least 8" accumulated.  I love looking out at the snow falling ... it's so peaceful and beautiful with everything covered in white.  I'm lucky that I don't have to be out in it.  Snow days means more time for me in the studio. :)

Today I made the card above.  Very simple card using a background coloured piece that I had in my stash.  This background was made from leftover ink, sopped up with a paper towel, and then transferred onto watercolour paper.  I love the way the quilted design of the paper towel adds so much interest to the colours. :)  I've used left over paper towels to make another background for a card HERE, if you want to take a look.

I simply die-cut the loon for my card front, popped it over the coloured background and stamped a simple sentiment.  The lake loon die is a NBUS item from my stash, so I'm heading over to join in the fun at Darnell's NBUS #10 challenge that closes tomorrow.  I didn't use the optional theme this time. :)

Stamps:  Thinking of You (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Lake Loon die (Gina Marie Designs), inky paper towels, water mister, brayer

Challenges:
Darnell's NBUS #10