CAS Stencil January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the first challenge of the year at CAS Stencil.  Not only is it our first challenge (hosted by the amazingly talented Nancy - scandinancy creates), but it's also our first anniversary.  Have to say that the past year went by WAY too fast! :)

We hope you'll join us to celebrate our first birthday at CAS Stencil!

... and the challenge this month is ...

Nancy would like you to use a new (or unused stencil) from your stash to create your CAS Stencil card.  Use any techniques or products you want and have fun!

For my card above, I used a new-to-me stencil from Simon Says Stamp called Tumbling Leaves.  I first saw this stencil on a stunning card designed by Cat (Cat Luvs Paper ), click HERE to see Cat's card.  I then HAD to buy this stencil.  :)  Used magical powders to create a stencil monoprint ... my favourite stencil technique.

We are thrilled to have Arlene (Sundaystamper Papercrafts) as our Guest Designer this month.  Thank you Arlene!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing CAS stenciled cards from our talented Designers and Guest Designer.  I know you'll be inspired.  Come join us in celebrating our 1st birthday!

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White (Neenah 110 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Lindy's Magical Powders:  Autumn Maple Crimson, Red Hot Poker Orange; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Tumbling Leaves stencil (Simon Says Stamp), water mister, Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Stencil January 2020 Challenge - Use a New Stencil

CAS Christmas January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the first CAS Christmas challenge of the year.  I know it doesn't feel like time to make Christmas cards ... but if you play along all month with us, think of the cards you'll have finished and ready to go for late in the year. :)

We're starting off the new year with a challenge hosted by our wonderfully, talented Christine!

Such a fun and easy challenge.  Make sure to include a tag on your card ... or perhaps make your card tag shaped.  Just make sure it is a card, since this is a card challenge.

We are excited to have Jane (Onions & Paper) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Jane!

Here's a close-up of my tag card ...

The background silver with royal blue glitter snowflakes was made with a stencil following Jennifer McGuire's video found HERE.  Of course, Jennifer knows how to do this without making a mess.  I had my two dear friends (Susan and Christine) to play with this technique and my room was covered in glitter. :)  I'm still working to clean it up. :)  But the background design is just gorgeous and I will definitely do this technique again.  The holly and berries are die-cut from Tonic Mirror paper which is so shiny and beautiful.

Check out our challenge blog to see the rest of the Designers and Guest Designer's tag cards.  Then come join us!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sayings (MFT)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb.); Mirror paper:  Green, Red (Tonic)
Ink:  Silver Delicata (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Snowflake Stencil (Paper Artsy); Double-sided sheets, Silver Glitter, Royal Blue glitter, bone folder, swiffer, Pinpoint Mainstreet Tag dies (Poppy Stamps), Holly & Berry die (C.C. Designs), thin red ribbon

Challenges:
CAS Christmas January 2020 Challenge - Tag

CAS Watercolour January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to our first challenge of 2020!  This month's challenge is being hosted by the very talented and sweet, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  She has picked ...

Here's a sampling of cool colors

Perfect challenge for this time of year.  The above card is a birthday card for my dear friend, Karen (Snippets), who celebrated her birthday yesterday!

Happy Birthday Karen!!

About the card ... I stamped the woodland stream in weathered wood, keeping my stamp and card front in my misti.  I used a waterbrush to soften the lines of the stamping and give it more of a watercoloured look.  I then stamped again to bring back some of the details.  Added lots of powder from my embossing budy and stamped in Versamark, embossing in clear.  I then watercoloured the stream, hill tops and sky in shades of blue distress inks (salty ocean, faded jeans, chipped sapphire).  Die-cut the image with a circle die, popping it up over top of a dry embossed snowfall background (gift from friend).  Finished the card with a black sentiment banner heat embossed in white.  Inside the card is "happy birthday".  This could have been a Christmas card as well, if I changed the birthday sentiment.

Close-up ...

We are excited to have Chrissie (Simply One of a Kind) as our very first Guest Designer of 2020.  Welcome Chrissie!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful "Cool Colours" watercoloured cards from Chrissie and our talented Designers.  Come play along!

Stamps:  Woodland Stream (Inkylicious); Sentiment - Merry Up (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White base (Neenah 110 lb.);  Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Weathered Wood, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, embossing buddy, clear embossing powder, heat tool, circle nestability (spellbinders), white embossing powder

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour January 2020 - Cool Colours

CAS Mix Up January 2020 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Happy New Year!!  Welcome to the start of the CAS Mix Up Challenge.  We have lots of fun challenges set up this year and we hope you'll play along!

We are starting the year off with a bang!  Hideko (Papercraft Boutique) is hosting this month and she has chosen ...

I have to admit that I was a bit worried as I've tried this technique before and failed.  But I watched the videos and it really is simple.  Who knew??!! :)

Stamped my peonies onto mixed media paper with permanent black ink and watercoloured using distress inks.  Temporary taped my matching die over top and then positioned the edge of my top cutting plate where I wanted the cut to be.  Easy, peasy!  I backed the image with some a beautiful soft green card stock and white heat embossed the sentiment.  For my CAS card design I have stamping, watercolouring, partial die-cutting, and heat embossing.

Here's a close-up ...

Thank you Hideko ... I'm so happy I have tried this technique again and I love the look!

We are excited to have Tristan (Tinstar Designs) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the cards from the rest of our amazing Designers and Tristan!  Then come play along.  Challenge is open until the January 24th PST.

* * * * *

Jessie in the rain at

Deas Island Park

Stamps:  Perfect Peonies (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Wasabi card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Versafine Black; Distress Inks:  Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Matching die (Clearly Besotted), water brush, white embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January 2020 Challenge - Partial Die-cutting