CAS Watercolour June Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of the CAS Watercolour June Challenge.  This month, the very talented Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) is our host.

I love being at the ocean or looking out at the ocean.  I find it very peaceful and calming.   Hubby and I always spend our vacations doing just that. :)

Today I'm sharing a card that doesn't have a lot of stamping.  I started by splash watercolouring the sand.  See my video HERE for instructions on this technique.  I used smooshing for the sky and acetate smooshing for the water.   A water stamp and reed stamp from Stampscapes added a bit of interest and birds were hand drawn with a black pen.  I used my white gel pen to add a few highlights to the waves (we call those white caps here). :)  The sentiment was stamped several times using the misti in the same colour of ink as the sand, producing a dark brown sentiment.

Here's a close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Robyn (Waterlily Cards by Robyn) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the watercoloured Ocean cards from Robyn and our talented Designers.  Then come play along.  The challenge is open until June 24th.

Stamps: Reeds - Large, Water Pattern - Small (Stampscapes
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Brushed Corduroy, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, post-it notes for masking, black pen, white gel pen

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour June Challenge - Ocean

CAS Mix Up June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the beginning of June, which means time for a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.  This month it is hosted by me and I chose ...

I started by die-cutting one of my favourite leaf dies out of black.  I pressed it into my versamark pad and dipped it into my container of Gold Tinsel embossing powder.  I didn't cover the whole sprig, but most of it.  I placed the leaf on a hot plate to melt the embossing powder, but I could have easily just used my heat tool. :)  Once it had cooled a little, but was still warm, I pressed on a few gilding flakes.  I wanted to seal in the flakes, so placed the leaf back on my hot plate (again, a heat tool would work as well).  Sprinkled over top to cover the whole sprig with UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel).  It melted, sealed everything and gave some dimension to the leaves.  So pretty!

I placed it over a background piece that I had repeat stamped a leaf image in Versamark.  I sprinkled a little pearl coloured Perfect Pearls over top and used a soft brush to brush it over the background.  It sticks to the Versamark to create a very soft and subtle background.  The panel was popped up on the card front, and a gold heat embossed black sentiment banner was popped up on top, catching the end of the leaf sprig to hold it in place.  A few more small pieces of pop dots were added to a couple of the leaves to secure it all.

Here's a close-up ...

... and a closer look ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration cards from our talented Designers and our Guest Designer, Jane (Purplejet Loves Crafts).  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Artistic Fern small (Hero Arts); Sentiment - Bloom of Hope (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Perfect Pearls (pearl), brush, Little Leaves die (Sizzix for SU!), Gold tinsel embossing powder, heat tool, Red Blaze Gilding Flakes (Cosmic Shimmer), UTEE, gold embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Layered Embossing Powder

Another Retreat Card

Hi everyone.  Sharing more pieces from my recent craft retreat.  This is colouring with pencil crayons (not watercolour pencils).  Susan led a session layering colours on our images with pencil crayons and then blending using a paper stump dipped in gamsol.  Oh my goodness ... I LOVE this technique.  It's so fun!  Thank you so much for teaching us this technique Susan!!

I used one of my favourite stamps from Simon Says Stamp, colouring the flowers in oranges and reds on watercolour paper.  I added a few details with a white gel pen and stamped a sentiment to finish.  Also rounded both top corners for something different. :)

Here's a close-up ...

I am also sharing photographs from our retreat if you are interested in taking a look.  I have added a tab at the top of my blog "2018 Retreat" or you can click HERE. 

My son-in-law Alex came over for a couple of hours one day during the retreat and took photos of us working on stenciling projects.  Thanks Alex ... your pictures are wonderful!  xx

Stamps:  Bouquet of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  pencil crayons, gamsol, paper stump, white gel pen, corner rounder

Embedded Brushos Technique

Hi everyone.

Before I tell you about today's card, wanted to mention that for the past couple of weeks I haven't been receiving all the comments that are made on my blog posts.  I don't know if it's a problem with blogger for with gmail.  In the meantime, I'm checking my posts regularly and thanks to all that leave me comments.  I appreciate the time you take ... you are all so encouraging!  Thank you!


Made the background for the above card at the retreat using a technique that I led (we all took turns leading techniques).  Before we talk about the one above, I need to start at the beginning since the card is made with the third (and final) pull of the colours, which is always the lightest version.

Click HERE to see the video that inspired this card (first 6:50 min)  Brenda in IN --- you should definitely give this a try! :)

I will explain how it was done.  First, picked out an embossing folder ... the one I used is script.  Opened the folder up and placed a small panel of hot press watercolour paper inside.  Sprinkled with Brushos (I believe I used leaf green, lime, turquolise, ultra marine blue --- just a little of the ultra marine).  Next, I closed the top of the embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  At this point everything is still dry.

The embossing folder dry embossed the hot press watercolour paper, embedding the Brushos into the paper.  I removed the w/c paper and spritzed with water.  By embedding the Brushos, they don't move as much once water is added.

I found there was still ink left inside my embossing folder, so I placed a second clean piece of hot press watercolour paper, spritzed the inside top of the folder, closed the lid and ran it through the Big Shot.  It picked up the left-over colour and dry embossed the panel at the same time.  Still had left over wet ink inside my folder so placed a third panel of clean hot press watercolour inside and pressed down on the lid, just using my hands as pressure (embossing folder stamping technique).  That have me the print I used on the card's background above.  Some of the girls only got one impression, some two ... but I was lucky enough to get three. :)

Once the other two panels were dry, I used a brayer to ink lightly over both panels to highlight the dry embossed areas.  Here's a photo of the two other pieces that I will make into cards in the future.
                             First pull                                            Second pull

Sorry for the long winded message.  Hope you'll give this fun and easy technique a try.

To finish off the card at the top of the post, I placed a small tulip stencil over top of my muted background and sponged with peacock feathers distress ink.  I then added a layer of glass bead gel over top.  The tulips are very sparkly! :)

Stamps:  Everyday Sentiments (AliExpress - Current link:  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/English-words-Transparent-Clear-Silicone-Stamps-for-DIY-Scrapbooking-Card-Making-Kids-Christmas-Fun-Decoration-Supplies/32851757043.html?spm=2114.13010708.0.0.3efd4c4d1JJmOc)
Paper:   Watercolour paper (Arches Hot Press 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Brushos:  Leaf Green, Lime, Turquoise, a litttle Ultra Marine); Peacock Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Script embossing folder (Sizzix for Stampin' Up!); water mister, brayer,  acetate sheet, cut file for tulips from Silhouette America, Silhouette Cameo cutting machine, sponge, Glass Bead Gel (Goldent), palette knife