Fall Colours

Hi everyone.  I'm back with another sunflower card to celebrate that fall is almost here.  And thank goodness for that.  We've had the worst summer on record for fires burning in B.C. with about 2M hectares of land distroyed and over 400 structures, many of those people's homes.  The cooler weather that we've had this week has helped a lot, but what we really need is rain.  But not too much rain ... with the current drought conditions, lots of rain will most likely cause excessive flooding.  We are so thankful to all the hard working firefighters and to those firefighters that have come from all over the world to help us.

On to the card.  I LOVE this stencil from Magenta and was happy to pull it out and make a card with it.  I was inspired by the mood board at Triple B September Challenge ... the flowers and the colours.

Triple B - Sepember Challenge

... and then I saw the mood board at Double D challenge - beautiful Fall Plaids.  A great combo for a card. :)  The plaid paper I found is long retired from SU! ... and it was a bit dull, so I sponged over top with Mustard Seed DI to brighten it up.

Double D Fall Plaids Challenge

... and one more challenge

September Stencil Fun Challenge - Fall

The stencil is done with Distress Inks as well:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Rusty Hinge, Gather Twigs, Walnut Stain, Mowed Lawn, and Rustic Wilderness.  I just kept adding layers of colours until I was happy with the look. :)

I thought it needed something more, so took the Textured Mesh stencil (retired - Memory Box) and sponged over top of the centers of the flowers.  The final step, stamp the sentiment in black ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder --- helps it to stand out more against the sunflower background.

Close-up ...

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Stamps:  Sending Hugs (Impression Obsession)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper (SU! retired)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Rusty Hinge, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Three Flowers Sunflower Stencil (Magenta), sponge brushes, Clear Embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

Triple B September Challenge

Double D Fall Plaids Challenge

September Stencil Fun! Challenge

May CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the reminder post for all four CAS Challenges.  It's been a fun month with lots of new things to try.  Starting with CAS Mix Up, Linda wanted us to use Gesso as a resist.

Linda is our host.

I have to say that Gesso intimidated me and I've had it a long time and not used it very often (just basecoats).  But this is a great way to use it.  Pulled a background from my stash that I made the other day using leftover magicals.  It was very soft and pretty.  Placed my bird stencil (NBUS) over top and sponged with gesso.  It dries really quickly!.  Then I sprinkled more of the same four colours of magicals and spritzed with water.  I let it sit for a few second and then blotted with a paper towel.  I repeated one more time until I was happy with the vibrancy of the colours.  Once dry, I placed a leaf stencil (gift from friend), over top, masking off where it overlapped with the bird.  I sponged two shades of green distress ink.  To finish I stamped a very simple sentiment at the top right with blue and added a stitched frame in white.  I'm feeling a lot more confident using Gesso now!

Thanks so much for this great challenge Linda!

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Jenny is our host.

CAS Watercolour Reminder.  Created the background by smooshing some distress inks.  Added falling snow by splattering diluted white acrylic paint.  Die-cut the front panel and then stamped my image in matching ink.

Fantastic challenge Jenny!!  I had lots of fun creating night skies for my DT cards!

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I'm your host.

CAS Christmas Reminder.  Have had this stamp for a couple of years and not used it yet. :)  Placed the image in my Misti and coloured up the stems with brown ink and stamped a couple of times until I was happy with the depth of colour.  Repeated the same for the berries, adding bright red and burgundy shading.  Used diluted white acrylic paint and my stylus to add dots to some of the berries.  Framed the panel in black and added a black sentiment banner with white heat embossed sentiment.  Had to include the close-up photo so you could see the shimmer from the Wink of Stella on the berries.

Close-up ...

Since this is a NBUS stamp, I'm sending this card over to the NBUS #14 Challenge gallery.

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Hilary is our host.

CAS Stencil Reminder.  I started with a card panel from my stash.  I already had a stencil monoprint of chicken wire done with liquid watercolours in orange and yellow (subtle shades of those colours).  I added a flourish stencil over top and sponged with brown.  I topped that with a mini circle stencil, sponged with rust.  I used a double frame die-cut.  I adhered a watercoloured leafy sprig die-cut in bright oranges and brown to the panel, then adhereed to my card front.  A simple sentiment was stamped with the same colour as the sponged flourish stenciling.

Another fun challenge this month --- thanks Hilary!

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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 four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Bird and Branch
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Medi paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Hydrangea Blue, Hag's Wart Orange, Cana lily burnt orange, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations), Lovely Leaves (Studio 490), water mister, sponge dauber, Stitched Rectangle die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Winter Night Sky
Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet - sentiment (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistachio, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box)

CAS Christmas Reminder - More Berries
Stamps:  Merry Berry (Winnie & Walter); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white acrylic paint, stylus, Clear Wink of Stella, white embossing powder, heat tool

CAS Stencil Reminder - Layered Stenciling
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolours:  Orange, Yellow (Blick Art Materials); Distress Inks:  Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Chicken Wire stencil (TCW), Flourish Layering stencil (Tim Holtz), Mini Tiny Circles (TCW); Hemstitch Rectangles dies (Spellbinders)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Gesso Resist
CAS Watercolour - Night Sky
CAS Christmas - Winter Berries
CAS Stencil - Layered Stenciling

Layered Daisies

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up October challenge, hosted by Julia.

This is a different way of layering stencils.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut three stencils, all with the same daisy design, but in different sizes.  I placed the stencil over my card front and used ink and my clarity brushes to add in a variety of colours and sizes. The lighter daisies give the illusion that they are in the background, giving this one layer card some depth.

The card front was run through the Big Shot with a stitched rectangle die to add some stitching lines around the edges.  I used a Distress marker (Brushed Corduroy) to add some dots to a few of the flowers.  A simple stamped sentiment finishes the card.

These fun, bright flowers make me happy. :)

Make sure to check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our DT and our Guest Designer Sue's.  And then come join us!

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Daisy stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, clarity brushes, Stitched Mat die (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Layering Stencils

Happy Birthday Layers

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another layered stencil card.  That's the challenge this month at CAS Mix Up, which is hosted by our wonderful Design Team member, Julia!  I've been having lots of fun playing with my stencils. :)

This time I believe I used four different stencils.  This is not the norm for me, but I really had fun with this.  For some reasons, I'm more comfortable making masculine cards with this technique. :)

I used my Distress Oxides this time and you can see the chalky finish.  I think they work great for this technique.  I started with a background of smooshed yellow and orange.  Then I started layering stencils.  First I used a gear stencil, which is the main (largest) stencil in Wilted Violet ink.  Next up the top left corner is small circle stencil with Spiced Marmalade ink and also a tiny bit at the bottom of the harlequin (diamonds) stencil done in Iced Spruce ink.  To finish it off, I added black through a small clock stencil just randomly.  I sponged the sentiment banner with Wilted Violet ink and then heat embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment in Black.

I hope you'll come join us if you haven't done so yet.  There are fantastic, inspirational cards from the Design Team, our Guest Designer Marcia, and from our participants.  Make sure to check out the gallery.

* * * * *

I will be hosting the fourth annual challenge

Twelve Tags of Christmas

(Mixed Media Christmas Tags)

Starts November 6th

Hope you'll join me!

Stamps:  Thanks Sentiments (Lil' Inkers)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, Clockwise stencil (Tim Holtz), Gear stencil (?), Harlequin stencil and Dot stencil (both cut with my Silhouette Cameo), Black embossing powder, heat tool.

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Layered Stencils

CAS Mix Up October Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Mix Up October challenge.  This one is being hosted by Julia (Create with Me).

Layered Stenciling tends to be pretty busy.  I made my panel and then cut it down to a smaller size so there would be lots of white space in the background.  Luckily I had still left it a little long, because I first heat embossed the sentiment in white and it didn't go well.  I had to cut off the bottom and ended up with this smaller panel. :) It worked out in the end.  Even with the sentiment in black, it's a little difficult to read it with all the pattern in-behind.

The main panel is done on watercolour paper.  First I smooshed together Broken China (Distress Oxide) with Twisted Citron (Distress Ink).  I placed the Clock stencil over top and sponged on Salty Ocean.  Next I took a piece of drywall tape and sponged on white distress paint over top in a couple of spots.  I used more drywall tape with Peacock Feathers ink to sponge a little background on the card base that is peeking out from under the main panel.

We are excited to have Sue (Sue's Card Craft) as our Guest Designer this month. Sue won August's Alcohol Ink challenge.  Make sure to check out the challenge blog to see Sue's card and the cards from the rest of the DT.  And then come join us!

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Distress Oxides:  Broken China; Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers; Distress Paint - Picket Fence (Tim Holtz);
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Clockwork Stencil (Tim Holtz), sponges, drywall tape

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up October Challenge - Layering Stencils