May CAS Challenge Reminders

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the reminder post for all four CAS Challenges.  It's been a fun month with lots of new things to try.  Starting with CAS Mix Up, Linda wanted us to use Gesso as a resist.

Linda is our host.

I have to say that Gesso intimidated me and I've had it a long time and not used it very often (just basecoats).  But this is a great way to use it.  Pulled a background from my stash that I made the other day using leftover magicals.  It was very soft and pretty.  Placed my bird stencil (NBUS) over top and sponged with gesso.  It dries really quickly!.  Then I sprinkled more of the same four colours of magicals and spritzed with water.  I let it sit for a few second and then blotted with a paper towel.  I repeated one more time until I was happy with the vibrancy of the colours.  Once dry, I placed a leaf stencil (gift from friend), over top, masking off where it overlapped with the bird.  I sponged two shades of green distress ink.  To finish I stamped a very simple sentiment at the top right with blue and added a stitched frame in white.  I'm feeling a lot more confident using Gesso now!

Thanks so much for this great challenge Linda!

------------------------------------------------

Jenny is our host.

CAS Watercolour Reminder.  Created the background by smooshing some distress inks.  Added falling snow by splattering diluted white acrylic paint.  Die-cut the front panel and then stamped my image in matching ink.

Fantastic challenge Jenny!!  I had lots of fun creating night skies for my DT cards!

------------------------------------------------

I'm your host.

CAS Christmas Reminder.  Have had this stamp for a couple of years and not used it yet. :)  Placed the image in my Misti and coloured up the stems with brown ink and stamped a couple of times until I was happy with the depth of colour.  Repeated the same for the berries, adding bright red and burgundy shading.  Used diluted white acrylic paint and my stylus to add dots to some of the berries.  Framed the panel in black and added a black sentiment banner with white heat embossed sentiment.  Had to include the close-up photo so you could see the shimmer from the Wink of Stella on the berries.

Close-up ...

Since this is a NBUS stamp, I'm sending this card over to the NBUS #14 Challenge gallery.

------------------------------------------------

Hilary is our host.

CAS Stencil Reminder.  I started with a card panel from my stash.  I already had a stencil monoprint of chicken wire done with liquid watercolours in orange and yellow (subtle shades of those colours).  I added a flourish stencil over top and sponged with brown.  I topped that with a mini circle stencil, sponged with rust.  I used a double frame die-cut.  I adhered a watercoloured leafy sprig die-cut in bright oranges and brown to the panel, then adhereed to my card front.  A simple sentiment was stamped with the same colour as the sponged flourish stenciling.

Another fun challenge this month --- thanks Hilary!

------------------------------------------------

I hope you'll check out the challenge blogs to see the amazing cards from our Designers, Guest Designers, and participants.  If you haven't had time to play along, there's over a week left before all four challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

CAS Mix Up Reminder - Bird and Branch
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  Mixed Medi paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Magicals:  Hydrangea Blue, Hag's Wart Orange, Cana lily burnt orange, Drop Dead Gorgeous Green (Lindy's); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Broken China (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Some Birds stencil (STAMPlorations), Lovely Leaves (Studio 490), water mister, sponge dauber, Stitched Rectangle die (Lil' Inkers)

CAS Watercolour Reminder - Winter Night Sky
Stamps:  Holiday Bouquet - sentiment (Avery Elle)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Cracked Pistachio, Chipped Sapphire (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Evergreen Window die (Memory Box)

CAS Christmas Reminder - More Berries
Stamps:  Merry Berry (Winnie & Walter); Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Bravo Burgundy (Stampin' Up!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white acrylic paint, stylus, Clear Wink of Stella, white embossing powder, heat tool

CAS Stencil Reminder - Layered Stenciling
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Liquid Watercolours:  Orange, Yellow (Blick Art Materials); Distress Inks:  Vintage Photo, Rusty Hinge (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Chicken Wire stencil (TCW), Flourish Layering stencil (Tim Holtz), Mini Tiny Circles (TCW); Hemstitch Rectangles dies (Spellbinders)


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up - Gesso Resist
CAS Watercolour - Night Sky
CAS Christmas - Winter Berries
CAS Stencil - Layered Stenciling

Flower Jars

Hi everyone.  Sharing a CAS card using a NBUS stamp that I've had for a while.  I'm heading over to the NBUS #14 gallery to share it there as well.

I thought this was such a sweet image ... HAD TO HAVE IT!  It's been sitting for a few months, but today is the day! :)  And I used my watercolour paints (not distress inks), which is not the norm for me.  These are very small images, so I had to use small brushes to watercolour.  Not perfect, but happy with the outcome.  Stamped a simple sentiment in black and popped up the image panel for some dimension.

Close-up ... don't look too close! :)

Hope this brightens your day!

Stamps:  Flower Jars (Stampendous); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Versafine);Tansai Gambi paints; Black (Obsian - Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brushes

Challenges:
NBUS #14

Twofer Challenge #27

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Twofer Challenge #27 - Flowers.  You all know how much I LOVE flowers, so I couldn't miss this! :)

I used a stamp that I've had for AGES, but don't believe I've ever used on a card before.  So I'll be sending this first card to NBUS Challenge #14.

I stamped my hydrangea on a post-it note and fussy-cut to create a mask.  I stamped my first image in the center (bottom) of a piece of mixed media; topped that image with my post-it mask, and then stamped on either side of the center image to have the flowers go all along the bottom of my card.

I watercoloured the hydrangeas with distress inks, stamped a simple sentiment, and added a little bit of white with my gel pen to finish the card.

Close-up:

For my second card, I stamped the same hydrangea image onto mixed media paper and again watercoloured with distress inks.  I cut a stitched square aperture in my card front, adding the watercoloured image to the background.  A simple sentiment finishes the card.

I hope you'll join in the fun at Twofer, creating two different designs using the same stamp, die or stencil.  And if you use something new (or old but unused), come add your card to the NBUS gallery!

Stamps:Floral Bouquet (Avery Elle); Special sentiments (Penny Black); Where your Heart is (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Black permanent (Versafine); Distress Inks:  Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: paint brushes, white gel pen, Stitched Square die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
Twofer Challenge #27 - Flowers
NBUS Challenge #14

Happy Mother's Day

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a Mother's Day card I made using a Layered Stencil that I've had for a long time but never used. :)  I do have a LOT of those in my studio! :)  Entering this card into NBUS #14 (never-before-used-schtuff).

I sponged two colours of distress inks for both the flower and leaves.  I removed the stencil and decided that I wanted more of a watercolour look, so pulled out my paint brushes and got to work.  Stamped with a beautiful sentiment from Penny Black to finish the card.

I will miss seeing my Mom on Mother's Day.  Believe this is the first time I won't be seeing her on her special day.

Stamps:  Gratitude (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Obsidian ink (Altenew)
Accessories & Tools:  Dahlia layering stencils (Altenew), sponges, paint brushes

Challenges:
NBUS #14