August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the August CAS Christmas Challenge, hosted by the talented Julia.  She has chosen the challenge ...

For today's card, I made a night sky background using Brushos Powdered Inks on mixed media card.

Once dry, I added black die-cut Santa, Sleigh and Reindeer, along with a row of houses.  The sentiment is stamped in black ink to finish the design.  Easy and fun card to make. :)

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - I used Powdered Inks

NBUS Challenge #89 - first time using the row of houses die

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69 - second entry

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Christmas Sentiments (Hero Arts)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Pigment (Obsidian - Altenew); Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine, Purple, Violet
Accessories:   Row of Houses die & Santa Sleigh (both from Spellbinders - Simon's Snow Globe Etched die set)

Challenges:

August CAS Christmas Challenge - Santa's Sleigh

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

NBUS Challenge #89

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #69

SCS CCC26 AUG - SCS Christmas Challenge

Addicted to Stamps Challege #522 - Christmas

Acrylic Block Stamping - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are playing with an older technique (Acrylic Block Stamping), with a twist.

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to videos on the blog, along with more card samples from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

For the card above, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (powdered inks) with my smallest block to create a CAS card.  I sprinkled Magical powdered inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water, flipped it over onto my mixed media paper card front.  Once dry, I doodled the border using a .05 black fine point marker.  Next time I will use something a little thicker. :)  I stamped one of the images from the Floral Silhouette stamp set (Penny Black) in Black pigment ink, and stamped the sentiment (Banner Sentiments - Penny Black).  I cut my focal panel down and popped it up over top of my card base.

Close-up ...

* * * * *

For the next card, I used a medium-sized block and distress inks (mowed lawn, broken china) to create a soft coloured background, pressing the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzing with water, flipping over and stamping onto my mixed media card front.  I doodled a border using a 1.0 black fine point marker.  I then stamped one of the birds from Free as a Bird Stamp set (Jane Doodles) and sentiment in black pigment ink.  I stamped the bird image separately onto mixed media paper and watercoloured withmore distress inks.  I fussy-cut and adhered over top of my stamped image.  The panel was trimmed and popped it up on foam for added dimension.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

* * * * *

Two more quick cards using this technique, both using Lindy's Magicals for the backgrounds.  You are not limited by the size of your acrylic blocks.  You can cut out your acrylic block backgrounds to whatever size fits your image to use as a stand-alone panel ... or place behind a frame.  This is a quick way of creating watercolour backgrounds with easy clean-up.

The card above is from a large block stamping.  I cut it out and stamped my silhouette image (Meadow - Inkadinkado - available at Amazon) and a simple sentiment (Special Sentiments - Penny Black).  Popped the panel up on my card front and it was done.

* * * * *

The card above is from another block stamping, adding it behind my frame (Double Stitched Square Frame - AliExpress).  Simple silhouette die-cut (Little Leaves - Stampin' Up!), shaped with a stylus, was added over top of the background.  I left off the sentiment for now and will add once I decide what to use this card for. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Floral Silhouette (Penny Black); Banner Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals; Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Small Acrylic Block, water mister, Fine black marker (.05)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Free as a Bird (Jane's Doodles)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz); Obsidian black ink (Altenew)  
Accessories:  Medium Acrylic Block, water mister, watercolour brushes, Fine black marker (1.0)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Meadow (Inkadinkado); Special Sentiments (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals (Lindy's Stamp Gang); Obsidian Pigment (black - Altenew)
Accessories:  Large Acrylic block, water mister

Card #4:

Stamps:  n/a

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cardstock (SU!)
Ink:  Magicals - Powders (Lindy's Stamp Gang)
Accessories:  Small acrylic block, water mister, Little Leaves die (SU!); Double Stitched Square Frame (AliExpress), stylus and foam pad for shaping leaves

Challenges:

Group of Cardmakers - Acrylic Block Stamping

SCS - CAS9042 - Things that Walk 

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone - Happy New Year!!

I'm starting the year by sharing a few cards I made and sent out for Christmas, but didn't have time to post late last year.  These were all made with backgrounds I had in my stash.  Most times I will make multiple backgrounds when trying out a new technique.  I keep them handy to create cards later on.

For details about other supplies I've used on these cards, check out the Card Recipe at the bottom of this post.

Above is made with a brushos background ... the two cards below are made from a recent technique from Group of Cardmakers - Textured Tissue Paper with Dry Embossing.  Long name :) ... but a grouping of fairly simple techniques that together, create lovely backgrounds.

* * * * *

Sending the above card to Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related.  Closes Jan. 3, 2026.

* * * * *

Card above is stenciled using Sticky powder and gold mica powders.  Again, made from my stash of technique samples. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Shine Upon You (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Cold Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.)
Ink:   Brushos:  shades of green and blue; Mowed Lawn distress ink (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Evergreen Window die - retired (Memory Box)

Card #2:

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MTF out of business); Merry Up (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Blue Metallic paper (Tonic)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Broken China, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Tissue paper (watercolour with light light blue, dark blue, purple), sponges, Vine Canopy embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), Brayer,Citrine metallic acrylic paint (Lumiere), Stitched Rectangle and Square Frames (AliExpress)

Card #3:

Stamps:  Jolly Snippets (Penny Blck)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Layered Poinsettia Stencil (Tim Holtz), Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, gold mica powder (Arteza), brush, Rectangle Frame (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Stencil Fun December challenge - Winter related

Stenciling with Mica Powders - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Cardmakers, we are stenciling with mica powders.  I have a few different kinds in my studio - Perfect Pearls, Pearl-Ex, Arteza.  I've used the Arteza Mica Powders for all of today's cards. :)  This was a lovely gift from my dear friend, Barb.  Such beautiful colours!!

Please check out the details for this month's technique and link to video on the blog, along with more card samples from Pat, Susan, and Guest Designer Robyn.

Group of Cardmakers - November

Arteza Mica Powders have no binding agent.  Which means you have to add some sort of adhesive to get them to stick to card stock.  For this first card I added Versamark ink through my stencil and then sprinkled with Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger).  I heat set the image (it melts really fast), which leaves the stenciled images sticky so the mica powders can adhere.  To make clean-up easier, I cleaned the stencil after adding the versamark ink and then added it back over top of the image, lining it up carefully.  I used a medium brush to add my Mica Powders (Lettuce Green, Tangerine Orange, Royal Orange, Caramel Brown).  I removed the stencil and tapped my card front onto a scrap piece of paper to catch the excess powders.  Then I heat set again (just for a few minutes) to reactivate the gluey embossing powder so it traps the mica powders.

To finish, I used a small piece of dry swiffer cloth to wipe off the excess powder in the background.  A torn vellum sentiment banner stamped with versamark and heat embossed with copper embossing powder is added over top.  I wrapped around the excess vellum and taped to the back of my card front before adhering to the base. :)

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to Stencil Fun November Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes

* * * * *

Next, I made a set of cards using the same stencil on black card stock.  One uses the Essential Glue Pad (Tsukineko), pressed over top of my stencil.  The second using Versamark ink followed by Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger).  Both versions turned out really well and both images are set and don't rub off.  I outlined them using a silver metallic pen (Pilot) and added a simple sentiment banner to finish.  You'll see below the texture of the images is different.  The first is flat, the second has texture.  Both are very shimmery from the Mica Powders, but it doesn't show in the photos.

Using Glue Pad - no texture

 

                

Using Versamark and Sticky Powder - texture

Sending the above card to Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (Crafter's Workshop); Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, Arteze Mica Powders, medium brush, swiffer cloth, Copper embossing powder (Ranger)

Card #2 & #3:

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Essential Glue Pad; Versamark
Accessories:   Berry Branch - TM 48  stencil (Magenta), Sticky Embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool, Arteze Mica Powders, medium brush, swiffer cloth, Silver embossing powder

Challenges:

Stencil Fun November Challenge - Anything Stenciling Goes

Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes

Lovely Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Mixed Media card.  I started by using a background that's been in my stash for a long time.  The background is coloured using blue powdered inks.  Once dry, I placed a flourish stencil over top and used glitter paste to fill in the design.  It's so pretty in real life ... but glitter is almost impossible to photograph.

I added a die-cut Iris, that is watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A simple rectangle frame was popped up over top with the sentiment stamped in purple ink.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Powdered Inks, Flourish stencil, Glitter Paste, Palette knife, Iris die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Winter Storm

Hi everyone.  I had fun playing with Brushos yesterday.  It's been a while.  I forgot how messy they can be. :)  Next time I will definitely wear protective gloves. :)

But, you can't deny, that the colours are so amazing.  I used just Black Brushos over top of the Aspen Tree Stencil (The Crafter's Workshop) on mixed media paper.  I spritzed with lots of water, quickly removed the stencil and let the water sit for a few seconds before carefully blotting with a paper towel.  I LOVE the gorgeous mix of colours you get.  Very simple card to make too!!  I added two snowhills by tearing my white card stock for the bottom; splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow, and added a simple sentiment.  Done! :)

Close-up ...

I made this specifically for the January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter.  Thanks for the great challenge Darlene & Diane!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (retired - MFT)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Black Brushos; Black (Memento)
Accessories:   water mister, Aspen Tree stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), white acrylic paint, splatter brush, Deer Trio die (IO)

Challenges:

January Stencil Fun challenge - Hello and/or Winter. 

IDEAS Sept. - Inks / Colour Mediums

Hi everyone.  It's Monday and time for IDEAS Challenge.  Today is "I - Inks/Colour Mediums".

I haven't used my powdered inks for a LONG time, but have been inspired by a few friends that have used theirs' recently.  I started by creating a sky background using Lindy's Magicals.  These little pots of powder are so amazing with the colours bursting when sprayed with a little water.  Most of the ones I have include a Mica powder that adds shimmer as well ... so pretty!  You can see the shimmer in the close-up photo below.

I was inspired by a card by Rowena ... thank you for the inspiration!!  I used a new-to-me die (Little Town Border - Lawn Fawn) to die-cut the houses on the hill.  I watercoloured them with distress re-inkers to get very vibrant colours (Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn, Salvaged Patina, Picked Raspberry).  I also watercoloured a scrap piece of mixed media paper with Mustard Seed and cut it into small pieces to add behind each house, popped up to create depth.  I splattered white "snow" and stamped a sentiment (Merry Messages - Lawn Fawn) to finish the card.  

Close-up ...

Sending the card to the following challenges:

1) NBUS Challenge #66 - first time using the border die!

2) Peace on Earth #71

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Merry Messages (Lawn Fawn

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Re-inkers:  Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn, Salvaged Patina, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Black ink (Versafine Clair)
Accessories:   Magicals:  Hydrangea Blue, Tea Pot Purple (Lindy's), Little Town Border die (Lawn Fawn), water mister, diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Sept. - Inks

NBUS Challenge #66 

Peace on Earth #71

Smooshing with Cling Wrap - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month Group of Seven Cardmakers is Smooshing with Cling Wrap.  This is an older technique that most of us have tried.  But fast forward several years and there are so many new products on the market that would work with this easy technique that gives amazing results.  I hope you'll give it a try using a variety of substraits and mediums from your stash.  :)

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique with different substraits and mediums ...

• The card used made the most difference.  Mixed media paper, coated card stock or Bristol worked the best for me, giving me the most "cells" that really make this technique special.  Watercolour paper came in next with mixed results.  Regular card stock gave the least amount of "cells" and is better suited for just smooshing, in my opinion.

• When smooshing with powdered inks, the easiest way to get the card wet with colour is to let the misted powdered inks sit on your work mat for a couple of minutes so the crystals start to dissolve before smooshing with card and then adding cling wrap.  Brushos and Bister powdered inks gave me the most beautiful backgrounds.  Powdered inks with mica powders (shine) like Magicals and Perfect Pearls, usually let the shine ingredient show in the creases, which in most cases, resulted in a subtler look which is so pretty!  Everyone will have different results depending on their method of adding water and how much water ... so experiment to find what works best for you! :)  

For the card above, I used Bister powders (powdered inks with walnut stain).  Because of the walnut stain added to the colours, they all have a warmth about them.  I used Bister Blue, Bister Green, and Bister Dark Brown for my card above.  I sprinkled them onto my work mat, misted with water and let the crystals activate before smooshing with mixed media paper.  I flipped the card over and placed a piece of cling wrap over the wet ink, scrunching up the cling wrap to create lots of creases.  I left it to dry for a couple of hours before removing the cling wrap and then left the card to completely dry before finishing.

I stamped with a silhouette stamp I received from Maureen through the Rudolph Days Challenge --- isn't it fabulous??!!  I stamped in Black Memento ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom before splattering with white acrylic paint for snow.  LOVE IT!

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to the Rudolph Days November challenge.  Thanks again Maureen!

... and here's more cards I made using this awesome technique.  Again I used mixed media card with Bisters (Red, Yellow, Natural).  I LOVE the natural colours of these powders.  I got two cards from the one panel. :)

I'm sending the above card to Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items (food, flowers, or leaves).  

I hope you'll check out the Group of Seven Cardmaker's blog to see the other beautiful cards from our group.  Come join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Card #1:

Stamps:  Stamp #391 (Studio Light Essentials)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Bister Powders:  Bister Blue, Bister Green, Bister Dark Brown; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, cling wrap, clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, diluted white and black acrylic paint, splatter brush

Card #2 & #3:

Stamps:  Birthday Blowout (Poppy Stamps - retired); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted - retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Bister Powders:  Bister Red, Bister Yellow, Bister Natural; Versamark; Black (Memento) 
Accessories:   Water mister, Cling Wrap, Freida Curve Die (Poppy Stamps), Black acrylic paint (diluted), Flower Frolic die (Penny Black), diluted black acrylic paint, splatter brush

 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - November - Smooshing with Cling Wrap

Rudolph Days November Challenge

Seize the Birthday Challenge #274 - Fall Items