Snowman on a Swing

Hi everyone.  Sorry I haven't been around much lately.  We have had an amazing amount of entries on the last HLS CAS challenge, and I've been visiting all the entrants and enjoying the creativity.  Plus we also had a DT call, so I've been spending some quality time poking through the blogs of the applicants.  So much fun!!  Just means less time right now for creating, so it's been over a week since I posted a card.  Time flies when you're having fun! :)

Speaking of time ... it's now time for the new sketch challenge at Happy Little Stampers. :)

I went in a different direction than the icons on the sketch :)  ... but I hope you can see that I kept the two tall elements, with the curved detail in the middle.  The sun is replaced with all the falling snow. :)

I used a digital image, printed it twice, fussy cutting one and colouring it with copics. I then coated it with Clear Wink of Stella so it sparkles ... can't see it in the photo above, so I'm including a close up below that shows it a little. :)

I paper pieced the fussy-cut snowman on top of the printed card front, after I glued down twine for the swing and added glossy accents to the light bulbs.    Dazzling Details clear glitter glue was added to the falling snow for a little more sparkle. :)

I hope you'll join us for our sketch challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  The challenge is open until the end of June ... lots of time to play along. :)

Stamps:  Snowman Christmas Lights Swing (Dearie Dolls); Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!); Copics
Accessories & Tools: glossy accents, clear glitter glue, clear wink of stella

Challenges:

HLS June Sketch Challenge

Through the Garden Gate

Hi everyone. This is my final reminder of the Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - Die-cuts / Punches.  I've used both on my card above. :)

I had so much fun making this card!!  I combined an arched window die-cut with a picket fence die-cut to create this pretty arbour.  I wanted to have a spray of flowers tumbling over the fence.  I think it turned out pretty well. :)

There are four die-cut leaf sprigs at the back of the arbour, some with their tips poking through the fence boards and some coming over the top.

I punched small hydrangea flowers, shaded and shaped them and added them to the leafy sprigs.  By turning the flowers in different directions and making some of them more closed than the others (buds), it looks more realistic.

I hope I've inspired you to play along with our challenge at HLS.  Add a die-cut or punch to your CAS card, and then link up to the challenge. :)  There's still a few days left to join in.

I'm going to join in the fun at the Playground again this week, as I used lots of little snippets for my greenery and blooms. :)

There's also a DT call over at the Happy Little Stamper's blog.  Three calls in fact ... one for the Sketch challenge, and one for the CAS challenge ... and one for the new Christmas challenge that will be starting at HLS in July.  We hope to see lots of entries for these fun Design Teams ... come join in!  The calls close at the end of the month. :)


I hope you've enjoyed seeing all the lovely CAS die-cut cards in the gallery ... and ones done by Bonnie, Kylie and me.  Thanks again to Bonnie for being our Guest Designer this month!!  Looking forward to our next CAS Challenge which will be posted June 3  at 6am (AEST) ... that's 1pm June 2 my time (PDST). :)

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Ink:  Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), Picket Fence die (Memory Box), Olive Branch die (C.C. Designs), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), sponges, stylus and mat

Challenges:

HLS CAS Challenge - Die-cuts
Snippets Playground - Week #178 & #179

Doggie in the Window

Hi everyone.  Time for the new Addicted to CAS Challenge.  This challenge is being hosted by the very talented Joanna (Harty by Heart).  Here's the fun word she choose ...

This challenge is sponsored by

I used our Sponsor's fun images to create a one layer card front.  I always add an extra layer to my cards, but the card front itself is one layer.  A little sponging over a stencil for the brick ... the rest is stamped and then coloured with Copics.

I stamped an extra dog, fussy-cut his head and feet, and popped them up for added dimension ...

Fun and easy card to make.  I love this little doggie in the window and had that song running through my head all day! :)

Monika is joining as our Guest Designer this month ... click HERE to see her sweet "Animal" card, along with the cards from the rest of our wonderful Design Team.

I hope you'll join in us!  Our challenge runs for two weeks, so there's lots of time to play along.

Stamps:  Your View (Create A Smile)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Smoky Slate (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Brick Stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo, sponge, post-it notes for masking

Challenges:

ATCAS #64 - Animal

Birch Tree Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with the Merry Monday #159 - Non-Evergreen Tree(s) Challenge.

I used a birch tree die that I've had a long time, but never used before.  There are quite a few NBUS items in my stash.  :)

I sponged the sky with three colours of distress inks.  Then I sprayed the card front with shimmer mist.  Once dry, I added some embossing paste through a falling snow stencil, and sprinkled a mix of white and glitter embossing powders over top.  Once the paste was dry, I heat embossed.

Added a few snowdrifts at the bottom, and the birch trees which I coloured with some diluted soft gray ink.  The little birds were added to finish the design.  I wanted the sentiment to match the colours of the sky, but because they were blended, I tried out a few inks and found that if I inked the sentiment in Bermuda Bay and then tapped it onto Marina Mist, the colour seemed to match! :)  Always good to try new things. :)

I'm also going to add this to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge where they want stenciling added to the entries.

Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Distress Inks: Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz); Bermuda Bay, Marina Mist, Smoky Slate, Island Indigo (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Sponges, Falling Snow Stencil (Simon Says), embossing paste (Dreamweaver), white embossing powder, ice glitter embossing powder (SU!), heat tool, birch tree dies (Impression Obsession), Snowdrift dies (My Favorite Things), shimmer mist

Challenges:

Merry Monday #159
Simon Says Wednesday - Stencil It!