Pink and Gold

Hi everyone.  It's the start of our Happy Little Stampers December Mixed Media Challenge ... and it's an easy one! :)

I LOVE pink ... I'm sure it's not a surprise to any of you who visit me regularly. :) And I love it in combination with orange and gold.  So, I used all three of those colours on the card above.  I used a watercoloured background I had in my stash (I tend to make lots of backgrounds at a time so they are handy once I'm ready to create a card).  This one has a sprayed pink and orange background on mixed media paper.  The colours mixed and created this beautiful pinky-coral colour.  The colours are very strong because I sprayed this a few times, drying in-between the layers.

I wanted to add some gold, so I spread just a little Inka Gold wax paste on my craft mat, spritzed with water and "flicked" my panel into the gold.  By flicking it quickly (flick is not the best word, but I couldn't think of anything else ... hmmm ... maybe snap??) :) ... I ended up with almost a splattered gold all over my panel.  Love this look.   I added more Inka Gold, just in the lower right corner, using a harlequin stencil and sponging on a thin layer of paste.

Next I stamped my butterfly twice in Delicata Gold ink --- once on white card stock and once on vellum.  I fussy-cut both butterflies and then layered them with the vellum on top.  This added dimension ... and the vellum layer gives an airy feel. :)

Last, I stamped a simple sentiment in black.  It didn't stamp really clean on top of the gold Inka Gold, so I should have embossed it in black, but by the time I figure that out, it was too late and the ink had dried.  I'm always learning! :)

I hope you'll join us for this easy "Anything Goes" mixed media challenge.  Come play along! :)

As always, I really appreciate you coming by for a visit.

Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card sbase and butterfly (Neenah); Mixed Media for pain panel (Strathmore); Vellum
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Orange and Magenta Watercolour sprays made from w/c concentrate (Dick Blick), Inka Gold, water mister, Harlequin Stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, sponge

Challenges:

HLS December Mixed Media Challenge - Anything Goes

Joy to the World

Hi everyone.  It's the last ATCAS Challenge for the year.  Didn't 2015 go by fast??!! :)  Thanks to all our wonderful participants for a year filled with amazingly creative entries.

I have really enjoyed my three years on the Design Team for ATCAS.  I've worked with talented designers and have made some wonderful friends along the way.  I am stepping down and this will be my last Design Team card for ATCAS.  I will miss working with this fantastic group of designers.

On to the challenge.  This one is hosted by the talented Sarah G (Funky Fossil Designs) and she has chosen this fun code word ...

This challenge is sponsored by

This is a very simple CAS card.  I used a piece of leftover smooshed inka gold from a previous project to die-cut the letters.  Then I cut out the letters again in white three times, gluing them together to create thick die-cuts with the smooshed layer on top. I die-cut two of the small snowflakes from dazzling diamonds glimmer paper (this paper is SOOOO pretty!).  I layered one glimmer snowflake on top of the other, offsetting it.  I only glued the top snowflake in the middle so that I could pull the ends of the snowflake forwards to create some depth.  Then I simply stamped the sentiment in soft gray and glued everything down to my card front.  Quick and easy CAS card. :)

I hope you'll click HERE to check out the challenge and see the beautiful "JOY" cards from the rest of the Design Team.  And I hope you'll play along. :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Big Christmas Wishes (Amy R)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore) for smooshing; Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax paste (Jade, Steel Blue, Platinum), water mister, High Rise Alphabet (My Favorite Things), Snowflake (Impresssion Obsession)

Challenges:

ATCAS #78 - Joy

Starry, Starry Night

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers December Christmas challenge ...

This challenge is sponsored by

I started by making my tree.  I used the Faux Mother of Pearl technique, using gold resist for a different look.  Click HERE to see my video tutorial for Faux Mother of Pearl on YouTube.

I sponged two shades of green distress inks and die-cut the stitched tree.  Then I tore two pieces of white card stock for my snow banks ... love the look.

I used Delicata Gold ink to stamp the starry background and sentiment.  LOVE this gold ink ... it's such a beautiful colour and it really shines even though it's not embossed.

Simple, easy and quick CAS card that was fun to make.

This month we're happy to have the very creative Doni (Lime Green Giggles) as our Guest Designer.  Welcome to the team Doni!!

Click HERE to see Doni's Star card, along with the cards from the rest of our very talented Design Team.  And come join in the challenge with your "star" Christmas card.

This will be my last Design Team card for this challenge.  I'm stepping down at the end of the year from both the Christmas and Sketch challenges at HLS.  I have really enjoyed my time on these teams.  I will be continuing to run the HLS CAS Challenge, and will be a member of the HLS Mixed Media team for next year. :)

I'm entering this card into ATS&M #173 - Holiday ... and my second entry into Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes.

Thanks so much for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Stars (Big Bold Birthday from Happy Little Stampers); Sentiment (Mixed Christmas Sentiments from Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Delicata Gold (Tsukineko); Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax, water mister, saran wrap, sponges, Holly Jolly Tree die (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:

HLS December Christmas Challenge - Star
ATS&M #173 - Holiday
Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes

Smooshed Inka Gold Christmas

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the last Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge for the year. I've had so much fun with the HLS CAS challenges this year and I hope you have too.  Can't wait for you to see what's in store for 2016 --- I think you're going to love our challenges.  Thanks again to everyone who has entered cards.  We are thrilled with the response we've had every month.

Here's the newest challenge ...

Our sponsor is

Winning entry receives a HLS stamp set.

I have MANY favourite techniques ... but decided that smooshing is my most favourite right now, especially smooshing with Inka Gold wax paste. :)  I LOVE the colours, shimmer and shine of this amazing product.  And smooshing is one of the easiest and most beautiful techniques ... at least I think so.  Here's a link to my YouTube video on inka gold smooshing.

I used mixed media paper for this, but you can also use watercolour paper or regular card stock --- each of the papers has their own unique look.  Not only did I smoosh a panel of mixed media paper, but I smooshed it a couple of times, drying after each time. :)  It built up beautiful layers of colour.  I die-cut (another favourite technique of mine) a simple plain ornament, but then put it through my big shot with a flourish embossing folder.  LOVE the raised design on my smooshed paper.  I wanted the ornament to be the star of the card, so I only added a simple silver embossed sentiment and silver cord bow.  I didn't think anything else was needed.  This is a very quick and easy CAS card or QCAS as Darnell would say. :)

I'm also excited to announce that TaeEun (rainbow in november) is our Guest Designer for our CAS Challenge this month.  Welcome TaeEun.  We're so happy to have you on the team!

Please click HERE to check out TaeEun's CAS card, along with the rest of the cards from our very talented and inspiring designers.  And come make a CAS card with your favourite technique and link up to the challenge.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

I'm going to share this card at Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes,  and AAA Cards #53 - Anything Goes.  Also sharing at Fusion (Blue Christmas) ... and since I used a snippet for my ornament, I'm stopping by the Playhouse for Week #205. :)

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Inka Gold wax paste (Jade, Steel Blue, Platinum), water mister, Ornament Set 2 die (Elizabeth Craft Designs, Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), silver embossing powder, heat tool, silver cording

Challenges:

HLS December CAS Challenge
Sparkle Christmas #52 - Anything Goes
AAA Cards #53 - Anything Goes
Fusion (Blue Christmas)
Snippets Playhouse - Week 205