CAS Stencil March Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of March's CAS Stencil Challenge.  This month is being hosted by the super talented Viv (Viv's Visuals).  She wants us to use Heat Embossing through our stencils!  This is such a great technique and you can get lots of different designs by just changing up the colour of the embossing powder!

Our Guest Designer this month is Cat (Cat Luvs Paper).  Cat is so talented and we are excited to have her on our team this month!  Welcome Cat!

I have had the stencil used in the above card for a couple of years or more ... and I'm ashamed to say this is it's first outting! :) I heat embossed through a strip of the stencil in white and then dripped wet watercolours along the edge, using a water brush to spread.  I just love this colour combination as it definitely says Spring is here (or near!). :)  I added a simple silhouette daisy die-cut (shaped with my stylus and mat), and a black sentiment.

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After making the first card, I thought the stencil would make a great ocean scene.  So I made a second card with the same stencil, heat embossed in white again.  This time I did direct to paper with three of my distress inks (ombre) and used a water brush to move the colour.  I cut out the ocean along the top wave and adhered to my card front.  A cute die-cut Octopus (thanks Ros!) was watercoloured and tucked in-between the layers of card.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.

... and the close-up ...

Thanks for coming by for a visit!  I hope you'll join us for this very easy and fun challenge at CAS Stencil.

Daisy Silhouette:
Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.);  Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Evolution Stencil (STAMPlorations), White embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Bashful die (Penny Black)

Ocean Waves:
Stamps:  Ocean Wisdom (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Broken China, Tumbled Glass; Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Evolution stencil (STAMPlorations), white embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, water brush, Octopus (gift from a friend), Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil March Challenge - Heat Embossing

CAS Christmas March Challenge

Hi everyone.  We're on to March already!!  Time for a new challenge --- CAS Christmas March Challenge - Winter Flower.  This month's challenge is being hosted by our lovely Colleen (One Smile Lifts a Spirit).

We are so happy to have Linda (Scrappin', Stampin', & Singin') joining us as our Guest Designer this month.  YAY Linda!!

I've had this Penny Black stamp for a long time and I've only used it twice.  It's so pretty and delicate, and I thought the blooms would look lovely in red.  I inked the stamp with markers, spritzed with a little water and then stamped onto mixed media paper.  I love this technique!  It gives an instant watercolour look.  Sometimes I have to stamp a second time (maybe with more ink, maybe with more water, or maybe with neither or both).  Just depends on how the first pressing looks.

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I hope you'll come join us and keep up your stash of making Christmas cards throughout the year.

Stamps:  Full Bloom (Penny Black); Christmas Sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Real Red, Pear Pizzazz (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Water spritzer, water brush

Challenges:
CAS Christmas March Challenge - Winter Flowers

CAS Watercolour March Challenge

Hi everyone.  This month at CAS Watercolour we are celebrating all things Irish!  This fun challenge is being hosted by our wonderful, Julia (Create with Me).

We are excited to have Hannelie (Desert Diva) as our Guest Designer this month.  Welcome Hannelie!

I couldn't resist buying this adorable Irish bear image.  He is stamped in permanent black ink, watercoloured with inks, and fussy-cut.  The image was stamped a second time on the card front, along with the sentiment banner.  The fussy-cut bear was adhered on top of the image (sort of paper pieced).  So this is really a one layer card. :)

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Come join in the fun!  Create a CAS card with watercolouring as the main focal point and make sure it is something that ties into "Luck of the Irish".

Stamps: Irish Luck (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Permanent Black ink (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss, Brushed Corduroy, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz); Garden Green ink (SU!); Green zig
Accessories & Tools:  Water brush

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour March Challenge - Luck of the Irish

CAS Mix Up March Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the start of March's CAS Mix Up Challenge - Acrylic Paint.  This month is being hosted by the very talented, Jenny (My Paper Epiphany).

Our Guest Designer this month is Betty (created by bjk).  So happy to have you joining us this month Betty!  Welcome!

We're CELEBRATING this month!

It's our 4th Birthday!

Prizes

(must follow rules to be eligible for prizes)

$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for Challenge Winner.

$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for 

one random draw of all eligible entries

I started with a background from my stash.  I actually made this at one of the retreats almost two years ago. :)  It's a dirty pour with acrylics.  It's such a fun technique.  Messy, but so worth it.  I used the dirty pour for my ocean scene background.  I added a few die-cuts of reeds, coral, and fishes.

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I hope you'll help us celebrate our 4th birthday.  Create a CAS card using acrylic paint and add to our gallery.  Hope to see you there! :)

Stamps:  Ocean Wise sentiment (Stampendous)
Paper:  Canvas Paper (gift from Christine) ; White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Silver Delicata
Accessories & Tools:  Acrylic paints in blue, green, purple; shaped outline die (AliExpress), Fish, reeds, and coral die (Memory Box)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Acrylic Paint