Guest Designer for Just Us Girls - Challenge #600

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited to be Guest Designing at Just Us Girls for the month of August.  Thanks to the team inviting me and special shoutout to Vicki for providing all the details!

This week's challenge is #600 - 6 of Anything.

Prizes!!  Check out the challenge blog!

I started with a new-to-me stencil, Painted Flowers Wreath (Simon Says Stamp).  It has six flowers and six large leaves. :)  I sponged on colour and then removed stencil and lightly sponged a soft brown ink over top of the wreath, leaving the rest of the card white.  In the middle of the wreath, I stamped Sending Hugs (Impression Obsession) in black ink, heat embossed in clear.  I finished with adding just a few dots of white from my Posca pen.

The inside has stenciling off the edge with more soft brown sponging overtop.  Finished the card with a sentiment on the inside, Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn).

Inside view ...

I hope you'll come join us for this very fun challenge.  Check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from the talented Design Team and see what's available for prizes!

  

What 6 things will you add to your card?? :)  See you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Simply Sentiment (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Antique Linen (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Painted Flowers Wreath Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), blending brushes, painters tape for masking, water mister, clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #600 - 6 of Anything

Christmas trees

Hi everyone.  Today I have a quick post with a CAS Christmas card.  I used a piece of smooshed Lindy magicals from my stash for the background.  Tore a piece of white card to create my snowhill, and used two trees (also from my stash) that I had made with alcohol inks on acetate; diecutting from Fir Trees (Impression Obsession).  To finish, I stamped a sentiment from Love Bug Christmas (Unity) using Peacock Feathers distress ink that matches the colour of the sky pretty well.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card over to a few Christmas challenges.

Rudolph Days - Anything Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #33 - Anything Christmas Goes

Product Links

Fir Trees (Impression Obsession)

Love Bug Christmas (Unity)

Stamps:  Love Bug Christmas sentiment (Unity)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Alcohol Inks:  2 shades of green (Ranger); Magicals (Lindy's); Peacock Feather Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Water mister, Fir Tree dies (Impression Obesssion), acetate   

Challenges:

Rudolph Days - Anything Goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #33 - Anything Christmas Goes

April CAS Challenge Reminders

I have made two cards for reminders for the CAS Challenges.  First up, CAS Mix Up and CAS Watercolour.

I'm the host.                                    Susan is the host.

  

I do love this bleaching technique.  I have used bleach (but water will also work but most likely won't remove all the colour) for my reminder card this time on Tan Mixed Media paper that was gifted to me by my friend, Christine.

I stamped my peonies in versamark and heat embossed with princess gold embossing powder.  Bleached the image and it came out very white.  Thought about leaving it like that, but decided I wanted to try to add distress inks over the bleached areas to see how this tan mixed media paper worked.  It worked well!  I used some watercolour pencils to add darker shading.  Definitely need more practice with pencils!

Peonies are spring flowers ... at least in my garden.  I have the early ones that are bright pink (almost red) and are shorter than the other varieties that bloom in summer.

I sent this card to my sweet friend Hideko for her birthday two days ago.  So happy it arrived in time!  Hope you had a wonderful birthday Hideko! xx

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Next card is for CAS Christmas  challenge ...

Bonnie is host.

  

Very CAS card using a scribble star image that is coated with gilding flakes.  The sentiment "making spirits bright" is part of the jingle bells song.  I'm going to be humming that tune for a few days, I'm sure. :)

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I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all the CAS challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up & CAS Watercolour Reminder - Birthday Peonies for Hideko
Stamps: Perfect Peonies (Clearly Besotted); Noveau Flowers sentiment (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Tan Mixed Media (gift from friend); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, watercolour pencils


CAS Christmas - Making Spirits Bright
Stamps:  Scribble Star (Rubber-Art Stamps); Full of Merriment (Penny Black
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Bleaching
CAS Watercolour - Spring Flowers
CAS Christmas April - Christmas Song

August Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  Time for the August Rudolph Days Challenge that runs each month from the 25th to end of month.  I've been playing along each month, building my stash of Christmas cards. :)

Before I get to the details of how I made this, I want to apologize for not getting around blogland to visit and comment, and I don't see it getting much better in the near future.  A couple of days after bringing Jessie home, a renovation was started on my house.  Not the best timing, but happy it is happening!  My house is now a construction zone which takes up time and is very challenging with a puppy!  Today the contractors are not here ... and Jessie was tired and needed a nap.  My chance to get a card made. :)

On to the card ... quick and easy (or clean and simple). :)  Won this Square framed Joy die from Memory Box and this is the first time using it.  I LOVE IT!  So simple, yet elegant.  I cut four and layered them together with glue to create a thick die-cut.  Added three glitter snowflakes to create a white-on-white card.  Happy with the results.

Close-up ...

Not easy to photograph an all white card with glitter, but did my best.  This would be a good design to make several for my stash and for donating.

Jessie's slept the whole time I was making my card, so that was a bonus! :)

* * * * *

Ozzy and Jessie (and Jeremy)

Went for a doggie playday at my mom's the other day.  My nephew just adopted a sweet Springer Spaniel pup, named Ozzy.  This is their second time together playing.  They took a break to cuddle with Jer.  Aren't they adorable together??

Violeta (Jer's dog - my granddoggie) was there too ... she's so pretty!

Violeta

Paper:  White card stock (Neenah); Iridescent glitter paper (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Joy Journal Frame die (Memory Box), Small Snowflakes dies (Impression Obsession), small pearl

Challenges:
August Rudolph Days - Anything Goes Christmas

Rain and Rainbow

Hi everyone.  We're already half way through May and I'm here with a reminder card for the CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Baby Wipe, which is hosted by the beautiful Bonnie.

I wanted to try something different and had an idea for creating a rainbow with the baby wipe ... and it worked.  It did take me a few tries to get the look I wanted.

Here's how I did it ...  I folded a baby wipe several times until I ended up with a small rectangle with the fold on the short side (about 2 " wide).  Re-inkers were placed one drop in a line, on a palette, with all the colours of the rainbow.  The drops should be just about touching and in this order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple).  I dipped the folded edge of the baby wipe into the reinkers and then swiped across my paper, making sure red was at the top.  It took several tries for me to work out how to get the best image.  I found using mixed media paper worked the best.  I did keep a few of my rejects and used one for the rainbow bike on this card! :)

I've had this wonderful sentiment for a while, so this was the perfect opportunity to use it.  It's stamped in black ink and clear heat embossed so it stands out well against the colours.  It makes a lovely encouragement card.

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the CAS Mix Up challenge blog to see the beautiful and unique baby wipe CAS cards by our Designers and Guest Designer, Berry.  I know you'll be inspired to play along!  See you in the gallery!

Stamps:  After the Rain (Impression Obsession)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Re-inkers:  Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz);  Violet Liquid Concentrate Watercolour (Blick Art Materials); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Baby Wipe, Pipette for Violet Watercolour, clear embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up May Challenge - Baby Wipe

Holly Wreath

Hi everyone.  Time for the reminder for CAS Christmas Challenge.  This month is being hosted by the very talented Nance.  She wants us to include a wreath on our CAS Christmas cards.

I got this small holly die from Impression Obsession a while ago and it's been waiting patiently for me to use it (NBUS again Dolly!!).

I die-cut it from patterned paper several times.  I used a stylus and mat to shape my holly leaves, and then glued them around a ring die-cut from card stock using two sizes of circle dies.  I used my small (1/16") hole punch to punch out some extra berries from red card stock and glued them on.  A simple sentiment was stamped in red to finish the card.  A QCAS card (quick, clean, and simple). :)

Here's a close-up ...

Check out the reminder post on the challenge blog to see the new, beautiful wreath cards from our Designers and Guest Designer, Birgit.  Then come join us.  We'd love to see you in the gallery!!  There's still a week left to play!

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Festive & Frosty DSP (Penny Black); Real red (SU!)
Ink:  Barn Door (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Patchwork Holly die (Impression Obsession), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinder), 1/16" hole punch

Challenges:
CAS Christmas September Challenge - Wreath

Peace on Earth

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for the June CAS Christmas Challenge - Masculine.  This month's challenge is being hosted by Christine.

I started by using a new embossing folder that I bought recently of birch trees.  I pressed two shades of light blue distress inks onto the inside of the folder, spritzed with a little water and laid a piece of mixed media paper on top.  I closed the folder and ran it through the Big Shot.  This is the background I ended up with.  Love the soft colours of the cold winter's day.

I tore two pieces of heavy white card stock to create my snow hills and adhered them to the background.  The deer was die-cut from a medium brown and the sentiment was stamped in the same colour of brown ink.

Quick and easy card.  So easy, I made four. :)  I made two large backgrounds and then cut them in half to make two cards of two slightly different designs.

Here's a close-up ...

... and here's the second design.

Please check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our talented Designers, and special Guest Designer, Bobby.  There's still one week left to play before the challenge closes on June 24th at midnight (PDST).

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Soft Suede (retired from SU!); White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Soft Suede (retired from SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Woodland embossing folder (SU!), Deer Trio die (Impression Obsession), sponge, water mister

Challenges:
CAS Christmas June Challenge - Masculine

February Rudolph Days

Hi everyone.  First I want to apologize for being absent with commenting.  Every once in a while I get super busy and the next thing I know, I'm so far behind on my reader's list that there's no chance for me to catch up.  I regret missing all the wonderful cards posted over the past week by the talented people I follow ... I hope to keep up better in the future!

Today I'm playing along with Rudolph Days.  This monthly challenge runs from the 25th to the end of the month.  Maureen (scrappymo!) is the host and every challenge is Anything Goes Christmas.  It's a great way to build your Christmas card stash throughout the year.

I had a small scrap of paper towel transfer leftover so I used it for the background.  I used just the deers cut from a die (AliExpress), along with a tree die (Impression Obsession) and snow hill die (My Favorite Things).  The sentiment is stamped in Wilted Violet distress ink and I also sponged around the outside edge of the background with the same purple ink.  I do love these blues and purples together.  And the design from the quilted paper towel really shows well on this piece to add some interest and visual texture.

Here's a close-up ...

Come play along!

Stamps:  Snowman Sayings - retired (Amy R)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Wilted Violet Distress Ink (Tim Holtz
Accessories & Tools:  Paper towel, Reindeer die (AliExpress), Fir Tree die (Impression Obsession), Snowdrift die (MFT)

Challenges:
February Rudolph Days

Merry Monday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the Merry Monday Challenge ... tag + texture + bling + die-cuts.  Whew ... all that and I still managed to keep it CAS. :)

I used another "throw-away" piece of foil that I use to protect my work table when working with alcohol inks.  I just loved the colours left over on the foil, so used it to make this bright and shiny tag background.  I mounted the foil onto a piece of card stock, adhering with glue.  Once dry, it was dry embossed with a snowflakes folder to add lots of texture.

A simple white die-cut of snow hill and trees was added on top, and the sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in silver.  The silver adds bling (along with the shine from the foil).

A dotty stamp was used to add interest on the card base, again heat embossed in silver.  The main panel was popped up for added dimension.

Stamps:  Festive Snippets (Penny Black); Gorgeous Grunge (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Aluminum Foil; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Alcohol inks from Ranger; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflakes embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Tree Line die (Impression Obsession), silver embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
Merry Monday Challenge #257 - Tag (+texture+bling+die-cuts)

Sparkling Holiday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Christmas card.  I was hoping to make multiples of Christmas card designs, but I only had a small piece of this blue acrylic paint smooshed background, so this will be a one-of card. :)

I die-cut the tree border and added a bit of clear glitter glue around the tree branches.  I also used the clear glitter glue to stencil the falling snow onto a piece of acetate.  It's a clear gel, so it works for the CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels.  I love how the falling snow sparkles on the piece of acetate.  I attached the background (blue panel) to my card base and attached the acetate with fallling snow to the inside of my card front frame.  I popped up the frame to add a bit of distance between the acetate and the snowy scene.  A simple sentiment stamped in soft gray finishes the card.

I hope you'll come join us.  Use whatever you have on hand to create a CAS Embossing Paste / Gel card ... embossing paste, gel medium, glitter glue.  If you don't have any of those, check out the CAS Mix Up challenge where there's a recipe to make your own paste with simple household items.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo (blue panel)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Three shades of blue acrylic paint (smooshed onto Yupo), Fir Tree Border die (Impression Obsession), Dazzling Details glitter glue (SU! - retired), acetate, Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Embossing Pastes / Gels

Quick CAS Christmas cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing four QACAS (as Darnell would say) cards ... quick and clean and simple. :)  Alcohol Ink backgrounds with white die-cuts --- simple.

Again with the alcohol inks backgrounds ... hope you aren't sick of seeing these. :) As I mentioned before, I found smooshing with AIs on yupo paper to work best for me.

For the background above, I used three colours of AI (botanical and mermaid from Ranger; sapphire from Pinata).  Love the colours together.

And two more cards made from one panel that I cut in half.  Mix of red and green AIs with gold fixative.  Where the red and green mixed together, I got dark brown, which I love.

The last card below uses two shades of green, along with gold fixative.  I used a 4 1/2" x 6" piece of Yupo, smooshed, and then cut the piece into four equal panels ... making four QACAS cards (all the same). Sentiment is heat embossed in gold.  This time I used gold foil paper for the candle die-cut.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Merriest (Avery Elle); Big Scripty Greetings (Simon Says)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Alcohol Inks:  Botanical, Mermaid, Pesto, Poppyfield (Ranger); Sapphire, Rich Gold (Pinata); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Country Landscape die (Memory Box), Deer Trio (Impression Obsession), Tree Line die (Impression Obsession), Glowing Candles die (Memory Box)

Splash Watercolouring & AIs

Hi everyone.  Making more Christmas cards as the big day is fast approaching.

Today's card is CAS (I do love CAS).  I die-cut the tree from some watercolour paper, and then used the "Splash Watercolouring" technique to add colour.  Click HERE to see my video on this fun and easy technique.  I changed it up a bit from the video, using my large acrylic block instead of my mat for adding colour.  I found I had a little more control as to where the colour would go ... as much control as you can have when watercolouring, that is. :)

I made a second exactly the same to donate.  Easy and quick card.

I decided to use the same layout and design, but this time, used one of my alcohol inks on yupo paper die-cuts.  I love the look of combining the traditional Christmas colours.  As you know, red and green are opposites on the colour wheel, so the colours did mix a bit and created a few dark brown spots ... but I like it.  A happy accident that just adds to the artsy look of the tree.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit.

Stamps:  Merriest (Avery Elle); Christmas Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); Yupo
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Alcohol Inks:  Poppyfield, Botanical (Ranger); Gold Fixative (Pinata)
Accessories & Tools:  Fir Trees die (Impression Obsession), water mister, gold embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool