CAS Mix Up June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new month ... and the start of a new CAS Mix Up challenge.  This month is being hosted by our amazing design team member, Viv (Viv's Visuals).

Viv would like us to use the prompt "Flight" for this watercolour challenge.  I've been trying to use some of my stash to make cards lately.  I have a LOT of backgrounds, along with bits and pieces to use up.  The background for this card is one of them.  I made this when I did a video on Rubber Band Embossing - see my video HERE.  The background is white heat embossing on the rubber band design.  I used magicals to watercolour in top.  Love these colours!

Added a simple silhouette die-cut butterfly (Moonlight Butterfly - Memory Box - retired) and white heat embossed sentiment to finish the card (Sunny Sentiments - Amy R Stamps - out of business).

Close-up ...

We are excited to have Joyce (Cards-by-the-sea) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Joyce!

Please check out the challenge blog to see all the beautiful watercoloured flight cards from our wonderful Designers and lovely Guest Designer, Joyce.  I know you'll be inspired. 

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Sunny Sentiments (Amy R Stamps - out of business)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Versamark; Magicals (Lindy's)
Accessories:   Brayer, rubber bands, white embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water mister

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Flight

CAS Mix Up April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.  April we are looking for Layered Stamping with Heat Embossing.  This month's host is Susan (Cat's Inkcorporated) and she has provided several video tutorials on the challenge blog to explain this fun technique.

We are thrilled to have BozenA (ArtCardBox) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see BozenA's beautiful layered stamping with heat embossing card ... and the amazing cards from our Designers.

I used a NBUS SU! stamp set that I've had for a little while.  I had tried this a few times with Altenew layered stamps and just couldn't get things lined up properly.  I found this a bit easier to work with, but you'll see it isn't perfectly lined up either. :)

I decided I needed a bit of help, so I placed my outline image in my misted and stamped with antique linen distress ink.  I then lined up my image in a second Misti that I have (or I could have used the stamp on blocks) with the leaves stamp, stamped with versamark and heat embossed the lime green.  Repeated with the red flowers.  And then finally, placed my card front back in my first Misti with my outline stamp.  Used Versamark and silver embossing powder to create the outline.  Each layer I added lots of anti static powder so that the embossing powders stayed where they should be.

I fussy-cut the image and placed it over a simple lined background that I made with my brayer and a few rubber bands with tan ink.  Very subtle, but adds a little something.  Popped up a thick white frame over top, and also popped up my flowers on top.  A simple sentiment heat embossed in red finishes the design.  Happy with how this turned out.

Here's a close-up ...

Come join us!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Gift of Love (SU!); Simple Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, Lime embossing powder (Ranger); Red embossing powder (WOW); Silver embossing powder (Ranger), Frame die (AliExpress), heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Layered Stamping with Heat Embossing

Christmas Joy

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a reminder card for CAS Christmas January Challenge, hosted by Christine.

I had a piece of silver heat embossed rubber band design in my stash.  Smooshed it with blue magicals and die-cut from a NBUS die that I bought from AliExpress.  I also die-cut a second "JOY" from silver foil card stock, along with small layering poinsettias.  Glued the two "JOY" die-cuts together with the silver foil in the background, off-setting it slightly from the top layer of blue.  I popped it up on foam and added a layered poinsettia.  Three small glitter balls were added to the center of the poinsettia to finish.  QACAS (quick and clean and simple) card that was fun and easy to make.

Here's a close-up ...

... and an even closer look ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our Guest Designer, Kaj (Kajcyika Crafts), and our wonderful Designers.  Then come play along.  There's still a week left before the challenge closes on January 24th at midnight (PST).

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); Silver Foil card stock (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark, Lindy's Magicals
Accessories & Tools:  silver embossing powder, rubber bands, brayer, heat tool, water mister, JOY die (AliExpress), Poinsettia Parade die (Simon Says Stamp), mini silver glitter balls

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January Challenge - Blue and Silver

Three Colourful Star Cards

Hi everyone.  Sharing a few more star cards before December's CAS Christmas challenge closes on the Dec. 15th.

Lots of sparkle and shimmer for this card. :)  I started with the rubber band technique over gold foil card stock.  This is where you wrap a few rubber bands around the barrel of a brayer, load with versamark ink, and lightly roll over card stock.  The ink transfers from the rubber bands to create a lovely design.  Then the design is heated with embossing powder.  I used gold glitter embossing powder for the card above.  I cut the piece into 1 1/4" squares and mounted on my card front.

I used a piece of leftover alcohol ink with gold foil accents to die-cut the large stitched star.  It's popped up on foam to give it some dimension.

To finish, I stamped the sentiment in gold ink and heat embossed with the same gold glitter that was used for the background.

Here's a close-up ...

Since I had all my supplies out, I made two more cards using the same papers, but changing up the designs slightly ...

Stamps:  Merriment (Penny Black)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Gold Foil (SU!); Yupo
Ink:  Alcohol Inks; Versamark; Gold Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  blending solution, gold foil, Stitched Star die (AliExpress), rubber bands, brayer, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Christmas December Challenge - Stars

Bits and Pieces

Hi everyone.  Sharing a card I made with bits and pieces from my leftovers ... along with a sweet little die-cut flower that I got from my dear friend, Joanna ... a long, long time ago. :)  Isn't it sweet??!!  And it fits perfectly in the little scalloped square.  I watercoloured the flower and for the background, used some leftovers from our rubber band technique we did a few months ago.  Just done with rubber bands around a brayer and inked with versamark and then heat embossed in silver.  I stamped and silver heat embossed the sentiment to match.

Here's a close-up ...

 ... and I "winked" the flower and leaves with Clear Stella, which didn't show up on the photos above.  Here's a super close-up so you can see just a little of the sparkle.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Watercolour for flower die-cut (gift); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters (Tim Holta); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Scalloped square frame - "do not open ..." die (Penny Black), Silver embossing powder, heat tool

Hello There

Hi everyone.  I have something special to share with you today.  A sweet card maker, Ishani (Quillish), contacted me a few weeks back and said she wanted to learn more techniques and thought CASEing my cards would help her do that.  She is starting a series of posts, CASEing cards of mine with new-to-her techniques.  I'm so honoured.  Thanks you so much Ishani!

The series is starting today and I asked if I could participate in the first post.  Today Ishani and I are both CASEing the card below, which is a recent card done with the rubber band technique.

CASEing this card

Here's a close-up of my CASE of the card above.

I used one of the left over samples of rubber band technique with white embossing from making my video.  I simply sprinkled on some Tibetan Poppy Teal Magical powder (Lindy's), misted with lots of water and then tilted the panel to let the colours flow.  I managed to keep some deep colours in the center with lighter towards the edges.  Love how it turned out.

A bird on a branch is die-cut from black card stock, a thin (1/16") black frame added to the panel and it is popped up on foam for dimension.  The card is finished with a black stamped sentiment.

The colours from the Magicals are beautiful.  No only the colours, but the shimmer that comes along with the Magicals.  I managed to capture some of it in a closeup ... see below.

Thank you for stopping by to see my card today.  If you have time, please stop by to see Ishani's CASE of my card by clicking HERE.

I'm adding this card to these two galleries:  CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique and CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird.



Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series);  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark; Tibetan Poppy Teal (Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, white embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, bird on a branch die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
CAS Watercolour April Challenge - Bird

Rubber Band Ornaments

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for the CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique, hosted by Julia.

The card above only took a few minutes to make, so I ended up making three to build my Christmas card stash.  I used pieces of acetate with alcohol inks that I had in my stash, added a backing of computer paper.  Used a brayer, covered with elastic bands, loading it with Versamark ink and running it lightly over top of my acetate.  Then sprinkled on embossing powder (gold for the card above), and heat to melt the powder.  Die-cut my ornament and popped it up on my card front with a heat embossed sentiment and some gold cording.

This is such a fun and easy technique.  I hope you'll give it a try.

Here's close-ups of the three cards (all the same design, but different colours) ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the reminder post with new cards from our Designers and wonderful Guest Designer, Hideko.  Then come play along.

I'm adding this to the CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament.

Stamps:
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Alcohol inks; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  acetate sheet, gold and silver embossing powders, heat tool, Ornament die (Elizabeth Craft Dies), gold cording, silver cording

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
CAS Christmas April Challenge - Ornament

Rubber Band Technique cards from Video

CAS Mix Up April Challenge - click HERE.

Hi everyone.  Earlier I posted a video on the Rubber Band Technique.  Click HERE to watch it on YouTube.

I made the video for the CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique.  

The challenge is open until April 24th.  Come join us!!


In the video, I showed several different cards that I made with this fun and easy technique.  In this post, I'm sharing the details of how I made the cards and the products I used.

* * * * *

Happy Birthday Flowers card:

Wrapped two elastic (rubber) bands around my acrylic block.  Pressed the block into my Versamark pad and lightly stamped onto my mixed media card front.  Trick is to press lightly enough to transfer the ink from the elastic bands, without transferring any residual ink that sits on the block.  Sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat set.  Sponged green and blue inks randomly over the heat embossed area.

Die-cut the blooms from watercolour paper and used distress inks to watercolour.  Die-cue the window from the card front and place on top to align the blooms.  Attached blooms to the back of the window card front and popped it up over the background.  This gives some space between the flowers and the background.  Stamped the sentiment in Peacock Feathers to match.

Stamps:  Sentiment - Bloom with Hope (Stampin' Up!)

Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series), Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. hot press), White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)

Accessories & Tools:  Rubber bands, medium size acrylic stamping block, white embossing powder, heat tool, Peek-a-boo window die (AliExpress), Shall we Dance die (Penny Black), sponge

Forever Grateful card:
Wrapped two elastic (rubber) bands around my acrylic block.  Pressed the block into my Versamark pad and lightly stamped onto my mixed media card front.  Trick is to press lightly enough to transfer the ink from the elastic bands, without transferring any residual ink that sits on the block.  Sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat set.  Sponged green and blue inks randomly over the heat embossed area.  Spritzed with a little water and used a water brush to move the colours around.  Made sure the card front was dry before adding the black die-cut leaves and white heat embossed black sentiment banner.

Stamps:  Sentiment - Wild Hibiscus (Altenew)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 series); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, sponges, rubber bands, medium size acrylic stamping block, white embossing powder, heat tool, Little Leaves die (Sizzix)

Happy Birthday Leaf card:
Wrapped two elastic bands around the barrel of a brayer and snapped it into the handle.  Rolled the brayer across a Versamark pad several times to make sure the ink was on the elastic bands all around the roller.  Rolled the brayer in one direction across a piece of mixed media.  Reloaded the brayer and continued to roll across the paper until the whole sheet was inked (one direction only).  Sprinkled with silver embossing powder and heat set.

Pressed some green and blue inks onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and "splashed" the embossed card, using the Splash Watercolour Technique, click on link to see video tutorial.  Let dry and die-cut the leaf.

Adhered the leaf to my black card base, popping up the top leaves and gluing the bottom of the stem and two bottom leaves flat onto the card.  Stamped the sentiment and heat embossed in silver.

Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, silver embossing powder, heat tool, lively die (penny black)

Hello Framed Fern card:
Wrapped two elastic bands around my brayer and loaded with Versamark ink.  Lightly rolled over my Mixed Media card stock in one direction, re-inking after each swipe.  Heat embossed in silver.

Used the Splash Watercolouring technique to add green and a little blue to the background of the rubber band embossed piece.  When dry, die-cut the framed fern.  Die-cut a second framed fern in white and then inlaid the design with the splashed background.

Stamped gorgeous grunge several times behind where I wanted my panel to go, as well as stamping the sentiment and then heat embossed everything in silver.  Popped the panel over top to finish.

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge (SU!), Sentiment - Bouquet of Thanks (SU!)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Brayer, rubber bands, silver embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, Framed Fern die (Penny Black)

Hello Palm Tree card:
Wrapped two elastic bands around brayer, loaded with Versamark ink and rolled diagonally over a piece of mixed media paper, re-inking the elastic bands after every swipe.  Repeated with rolling diagonally in the opposite direction.  Poured white embossing powder over top, tapped off excess and heat embossed.

Die-cut palm tree from black card stock.  Cut main panel to size that looked good with the tree die, sponged over top of the white embossed lines randomly with yellow, orange and pink.  Popped the panel over top of the card base and glued the trees on top.  Stamped sentiment in black.

Stamps:  Sentiment - Where Your Heart is (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black cards stock (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, Palm tree die (AliExpress)

But first, coffee card:
Started with the same background as the Hello Palm Tree card.  Brayered versamark on mixed media paper with rubber bands diagonally in both directions.  Heat embossed in white.

This time used the Splash Watercolour Technique to add the same colours to the background ... yellow, orange and pink.  Once dry, die-cut the coffee cup, sponging around the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Glued to a embossed soft suede card stock background that had been trimmed to size.  Popped the panel up on the card base.  Added a sentiment stamped in soft suede ink.

Stamps:  All You Need is Coffee (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); Soft Suede card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry), Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, white embossing powder, heat tool, Coffee Cup die (CUTplorations), embossing folder (Sizzix for SU!), sponge

Wishing You card:

Started by heat embossing my flowers in gold and watercolouring with zigs.  Used only a portion of the image, cutting off the rest to use later.

Die-cut the partial circle from green cardstock.  Wrapped two elastic bands around my brayer, rolled it over a green ink pad (matches card stock) and then lightly rolled over the green card stock  Gives a lovely tone-on-tone design.  Stamped the sentiment in white pigment ink and heat embossed.

Popped the partial circle over top of the card base. Popped the flower up over top of the partial circle.

Stamps:  Kind Soul (WPlus9), Watching Bloom (Memory Box)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); Gumball Green (retired) card stock (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Gumball Green (SU!), Zigs (Kuretake); White Pigment Ink (Hero Arts)
Accessories & Tools:  Gold Embossing powder, heat tool, waterbrush, brayer, rubber bands, Kind Soul matching die (WPlus9), partial circle die (AliExpress), white embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique

CAS Mix Up April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Mix Up April Challenge.  This month's challenge is being hosted by the very talented Julia (Create with Me).

Julia wants us to try the Rubber Band Technique.  This  technique has been around for several years. It's s fun and easy way to create some interest for a background or die-cuts.

I have created a video on two different ways to do the Rubber Band Technique.  I hope you'll have time to watch the video.  If you like what you see, please give me a thumbs up!  Thank you!

In the video I show a couple of ways to do this technique ... with an acrylic block or with a brayer.  I used a brayer on the Happy Birthday card at the top of this post.  I wrapped with three thin elastic bands, inked up with Versamark  and rolled over a piece of black card stock that has been wiped with an anti-static powder tool.  I sprinkled "Garden Patina" embossing powder from Ranger and heat embossed.  Love this bright turquoise colour.  The bands leave a wonderful, random design that adds interest and dimension.

I sponged a piece of card stock with Peacock Feather's distress ink, die-cut the little leaves  and added them over top of the embossing.  I popped up the black panel, and popped up the leaves on my sprig (hard to see in the photo but there's lots of dimension).

I stamped a simple sentiment in black to finish my card.

Here's the close-up ...

I hope you'll come play along with our Rubber Band Challenge --- it's so fun and easy to do.  Descriptions of my other cards from the video are in the post below.

We are thrilled to have Hideko (Papercraft Boutique) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the cards make by the rest of the CMU Designers and our GD, Hideko.  Then come play along!

I'm entering the card above in the Just Us Girls Challenge #434 - CAS.

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, Dark Patina embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), sponge

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
Just Us Girls Challenge #434 - CAS

Merry Monday Guest Designer

Hi everyone.  Sharing another scheduled post with you today.

I'm so excited to be Guest Designer at Merry Monday! :)  It's one of my favourite challenges and helps to keep my stash of Christmas cards growing all year long.

The challenge this week is ...

I was inspired to use this layout after seeing this AMAZING CARD by my friend Nonni!  Thank you for the inspiration Nonni!! :)  I LOVE this CAS design.

For my card above, the background is done with the rubber band embossing technique.  Simply wrap elastic bands around a brayer, ink up with versamark and roll over your card stock.  I used black card stock for my background, rolling in both directions so I have cross over lines.  Then I heat embossed with Gold Tinsel embossing powder from Ranger.  I also used the same embossing powder for the sentiment, stamping first in black and then heat embossing over top with Gold Tinsel EP.  I love how it gives the sentiment a two tone look.  A two-layer die-cut poinsettia in gold foil paper was added (shaped for more dimension), along with some gold seed beads added with glossy accents to the center.

Quick, easy and fun card to make.  Make sure to check out the Merry Monday Challenge #212 - Gold Black and White to see the cards from the very talented design team.  And come play along!  It's never too early to start making Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Season's Gifts (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!); Gold Foil (SU!)
Ink:  Versarmark; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, elastic bands, Gold Tinsel embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps), gold seed beads, glossy accents

Challenges:
Merry Monday #212