Snowy Bird

Hi everyone.  Today is the last challenge of the year for Addicted to CAS.  Thanks to all who joined in and helped to make our challenges so successful.  We had a lot of fun this past year and enjoyed all the cards that were entered.

Today's challenge is being run by the very talented Karen B (Serendipity Dragonfly).  She chose the code word which is perfect for this time of year ...

This challenge is being sponsored by

Prize:  5 free digis

(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

I punched my bird from watercolor paper and randomly sponged with four shades of blue ink.  I then misted with water until the inks started to run into each other.  Once dry, I sponged on a little more dark blue ink along the edges and added a dot for the eye.

The bird is sitting on a partial snowflake border die-cut that has been covered with dazzling diamonds (hopefully you can see the glitter!).  This is mounted over the small circle aperture that is lined with white woodgrain.  I stamped the sentiment in dark blue.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Peace (Anita's)
Paper:  white, watercolor
Ink:  Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Frosty border (Memory Box), 2-part bird punch (SU!), woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix), dazzling diamonds, sponges, water mister, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I hope you'll join us for this final challenge of the year at ATCAS.  Check out the details for the ATCAS - code word:  Snowflakes challenge and see all the fabulous cards by the rest of the Design Team.  We are taking a break and will be back with the next exciting challenge on Jan. 4, 2014!


ETA:  I'm entering this into the latest challenge at Keep It Simple #28 (thanks Christine!!) :) .. where the word for the challenge is "snow".

Paper Inspiration

Hi everyone.  I was asked to be a Guest Hostess for SCS Inspiration Challenge (IC418) (thanks Audrie!) ... and for this challenge, we head to Hollander's.  There are many, many beautiful papers on this site that are inspirational ... I had a hard time narrowing it down!  I settled on this gorgeous paper:

This is called Pepal Leaves - Kiwi and is found under the Silkscreen & Other Prints section - Indian Floral prints.  It's hard to see from this small photo, so click here and hover your cursor over the picture to see a close-up view.  There are teal, yellow and gold leaves on green paper.  I love this color combination!!

So that was my inspiration.  I randomly sponged Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry ink onto Whisper white card stock.  I then splattered the sponging with water, and once dry, splattered again with gold ink (the gold is hard to see in the photo).  I die-cut the leaf from SU's gold card stock, glued it to a leaf of white card stock to give it some thickness, and popped it up over the rectangular cut-out on my card front.  A simple sentiment stamped in metallic gold finishes the card.

Here's a close-up:

Stamps:  Bitty Birthday (SU!)
Paper:  Whisper White, Gold (SU!)
Ink:  Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry (SU!), Metallic Gold (Color Box)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Meadow Leaf die (Poppy Stamps), Rectangle Nestie (Spellbinders), sponge daubers, glue dots, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I hope you'll check out the site and be inspired to join us for this challenge. :)

Chalkboard Christmas

Hi everyone.  Time for the latest challenge at Merry Monday (#86).  Today Lesley is challenging us to use a technique ...

I used a lot of features from the inspiration photo.  My sign is done on woodgrain designer paper, and I've added lots of greenery and pine cones, similar to the mantel in the picture.

I've never done the chalkboard technique before, so I checked out the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers and gave it a try.  Basically, I stamped my sentiment, heat embossed in white and then rubbed white ink around the words and also randomly on the rest of my panel.

I layered lots of pine sprigs and made two pine cones from card stock.  Then I added some bits of "snow" to finish off my card.

Stamps:  Merry Little Christmas (SU!)
Paper:  White: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Well Worn DP (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Whisper White (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Wreath Strip die (Cheery Lynn), Scalloped circle punch, sponge, white embossing powder, heat tool, Sparkle Texture Effect (Martha Stewart), adhesives, glue, and dimensionals

I hope you'll join in the challenge at Merry Monday.  Drop by Lesley's blog (Always Playing with Paper) to see all the details and check out the fabulous cards by the rest of the design team.

Christmas Packages

Hi everyone.  Here's a CAS card I made a while back, but didn't get a chance to share with you.  It's a quick and easy card using embossing folders to create patterns on the different packages.  I wrapped each one with some twine and added a simple sentiment.

Stamps:  Snowman Sayings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Snowflakes embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Stripes embossing folder  ... and Adorning Accents embossing strip (Sizzix for SU!), Maraschino twine (The Twinery), Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, adhesives and dimensionals

Today is the start of a video-advent-calendar by my friend (and fellow Design Team member at Addicted to CAS) Christine (Das Kartenchaos).  Christine is a very talented card maker and I always look forward to seeing her cards.  Not only is she sharing a fabulous card everyday with us ... she also includes lots of great tips that will make your card making easier.

There are also fabulous sponsors, great prizes and lots of inspiration for your Christmas cards.  Click here to check it out!!