Rose Garden

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the March Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  Kylie has come up with another awesome, CAS sketch ... which can be used for ANY style of card (doesn't have to be CAS).  I hope you'll come and play along! :)

Here's the sketch ...

I pretty much copied the sketch :)  Love this fun image from Bugaboo called Two Roses ... I know ... there are three :)  I copied the image twice and then masked off the fourth rose to just have the three.  Turned out really well.  The above card is the second version I made. :)  Unfortunately, I thought the sentiment was at the bottom on the sketch ... where was my head at??!! :)  So I have a second version that is basically the same except for sentiment placement. :)

I printed the digital image onto my card front, coloured it with Copics, used clear Wink of Stella over all the black lines (including the sentiment) to add a bit of sparkle.  I cut out the card front with my stitched rectangle mat and then added the Paper Smooches sentiment.  It was a fun and easy card to make --- twice! :)  I hope you'll come and play along with our Sketch Challenge.

And, if you also enter your card into the same challenge located on the Happy Little Stampers Forum, your name is automatically entered for a random, monthly draw prize.

And I'm joining in at Challenge #18 - Birthday at Uniko Studios.  Thanks Sandie!! :)

Stamps:  Two Roses (Bugaboo Stamps); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Copics:  R29, R39, G43, YG67, Clear Wink of Stella, Stitched Mat die (Lil' Inkers)

Challenges:

HLS March Sketch
Uniko - Challenge #18 - Birthdays

Distressed Sunflower

Hi everyone.  Time for the next challenge at Addicted to CAS.  This time, the code word has been chosen by Kylie (Kylie's Addicted to Stamps).  And she chose this fun word ...

This challenge is sponsored by

There are several ways in which to interpret this word.  I used sponging and tearing to distress my text background ... and more brown sponging on the sunflower and leaves to tone down the colours and make them seem more aged.  Looking forward to seeing how you interpret the word.

We have the very talented Ellen Parker (In a World of Craft) joining us as Guest Designer this month.  Check out the link to the challenge HERE to see her beautiful Distress card, and the cards from the rest of our very talented group of designers.

I hope you'll play along and join in the fun ... see you in the gallery! :)

And, I'm adding this to the current Birthday Challenge at Uniko Studios! :)

Stamps:  Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss, Early Espresso; Modern Medley DSP (SU!)
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Burlap Ribbon, Distressing Tool (Making Memories), sponges, Sunflower die (C.C. Designs); Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), stylus and mat for shaping

Challenges:

ATCAS #58 - Distress
Uniko Studios Challenge #18 - Birthday

Christmas Phrases Tree

Couldn't resist making one more CAS Christmas card for this week's Merry Monday Challenge (#147 - Stars!).

And I'm going to add this to the new ATS&M Challenge #133 - Holiday and Rudolph Days - February 2015.  Perfect timing!! :)

The Phrases tree is cut with my Silhouette Cameo from white card stock.  I then coated it with Inka Gold Beeswax paste.  In hindsight, I could have cut it from gold foil ... or sprayed it with gold paint --- it would have been easier.  But I still had fun playing with the beeswax.  Still experimenting on what surface is best.  Definitely wood is a good choice.  And I have used it through a stencil on card stock too.  But for the intricate cut of this image, it's not the best.

Anyways, the background is heat embossed.  I used a scrunched up piece of cling wrap, pounced some versamark clear ink on my craft mat and spritzed just a little water, and then pounced it randomly onto my card front.  Then I heat embossed with gold glitter embossing powder.  Love the look! :)

This card also works well for the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing.  I have been obsessed making embossed card this month! :)  There's less than two days left to play before it closes.

Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Die-cut from Silhouette Cameo (Christmas Phrases tree cut file), Inka Gold Beeswax paste, cling wrap, gold glitter embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:

Merry Monday #147 - Stars!
ATS&M #133 - Holiday
Rudolph Days - Feb. 2015
HLS Feb. CAS Challenge - Embossing

Starry Christmas

Hi everyone.  Today I had a chance to play in the studio again - YAY!  My friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) is hosting this week's Merry Monday Challenge #147 - Stars! and I wanted to play along.

I've had this fun multi-star stamp for ages and not inked it up yet :) ... I think it makes a pretty starry background for my glittery trees.  I tore two layers of white card stock for snowbanks, and heat embossed the sentiment (and the stars) in gold.

This card also works for both the February CAS Challenge and the February Sketch Challenge at Happy Little Stampers ...

Stamps:  Big Bang Confetti (Winnie & Walter), Christmas Greetings (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Green Glitter and Bronze Glitter card stock (unknown)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, Tree dies (Hero Arts)

Challenge:

Merry Monday #147 - Stars
HLS Feb. CAS Challenge - Embossing
HLS Feb. Sketch Challenge

Rubber Band Embossing

Hi everyone.  Back with my last reminder for the February CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  There's still a few days left to enter ...

This time I used heat embossing again ... with an older technique that I haven't used for a while ... Rubber Band Embossing --- it's a variation of the Emboss Resist technique.  I learned it a few years ago following this video from StampTV.  The video is a bit long (just over 10 minutes), but lots of things are covered off and there are some great tips and tricks along the way. :)  Definitely worth watching if you want to give this a try.

Basically, you wrap rubber bands (we call them elastic bands in Canada) :) ... around a brayer, ink with Versamark and roll over your paper to create a pattern; then cover with embossing powder and heat set.  You can create custom designed paper for your backgrounds or for die-cutting embellishments.  Simple, but so pretty.  After I heat embossed, I sponged distress inks randomly --- love these colours.  I added a few die-cut leaf sprigs in white and a simple gold embossed sentiment banner to finish.  This card was sent to my friend Karen in Tasmania --- happy belated birthday, my friend!! :)

I made a second card using this same technique with gold foil card stock and gold glitter embossing powder ... no sponging on this version.  It is really elegant and I thought it would be perfect for a Christmas card.

I punched two ornaments from the rubber band embossed gold card stock, added shaped and layered poinsettias and pine springs at the top of each (both coated with glitter glue for added sparkle), and mounted them onto my card front with gold cording.  A gold embossed sentiment finishes the card.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge at Happy Little Stampers Blog.  There's a link set up for anyone wanting to share their CAS Embossed cards ... but there's only a few days left, so pull out your embossing powder, embossing folder, or embossing paste ... make a CAS (clean and simple) card and join in the fun!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing all the lovely CAS embossed cards in the gallery ... and ones done by Kathy, Kylie and me.  Looking forward to our next CAS Challenge which will be posted Mar. 3  at 6am (AEST) ... that's noon Mar. 2 my time (PST). :)


Edited to Add:  I'm entering my first card into Challenge #18 - Birthday at Uniko Studios.  Thanks to Sandie for letting me know!

Birthday Wishes card:
Stamps:  Sweet Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spice Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, Elastic Bands, Gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), heat tool, sponges, Little Leaves die (Sizzix)

Christmas card:
Stamps:  Beautiful Season (SU!)
Paper:  White, Gold Foil, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, Glitter Gold embossing powder (unknown), heat tool, Ornament punch (SU!), gold cording, Mini Petals punch (McGill), stylus and mat for shaping poinsettias, Wreath Strip die (Cheery Lynn), red glitter glue and green glitter glue (studio g), gold stickles

____________________

I've got a couple more cards to share with you from my time on the Dirty Dozen Design Team at Splitcoaststampers.com.  These haven't been posted here before and they both have embossing of some form, so thought I'd share them with you today :)

More rubber band embossing

Dry embossing

Love
Paper:  White (Neenah); Cherry Cobbler, Gold Foil (SU!)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Heart dies (Simon Says), Love die (Paper Smooches), elastic bands, rubber brayer, gold glitter embossing powder, heat tool

Folded Christmas Tree
Stamps:  Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Be of Good Cheer DSP, Brushed Gold (SU!)
Ink:  Real Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Circle Nestability (Spellbinders), Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Star die (C.C. Designs), Dazzling Details (SU!)

Watercoloured Tiger Lily

Before we get to the card details, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you that sent me comments, emails and cards with well wishes.  I really am humbled by your generous support during my recovery from surgery.  Thank you all so much! I'm truly blessed!

____________________

Crazy title for a challenge, right?? :)  That's the challenge that sparked this card - AAA Game 33 - use orange on your card.

I LOVE orange, especially the shades of orange in Distress Inks.  So that means I needed to watercolour --- again! :)  This time I stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear.  Then I watercoloured with distress inks.  After the flower was dry, I just randomly added lots of water to the background and dropped in bits of orange and green DIs.  Something new for me to try and pretty happy how it turned out.  The sentiment is also stamped in black and clear embossed.

I wanted to post this today, so I took pictures before the card was completely dry ... you can see there's some warping. :)  Once it's dry, I'm going to weight it down to flatten it out and it will look better. :)

I'll add this to the growing gallery at Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing.  And also, I used my water brushes to "Make My Mark" at ATS&M Challenge #132.

Stamps:  Tiger Lily (Penny Black); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Rusty Hinge, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  clear embossing powder, heat tool, waterbrushes

Challenges:

AAA #33
HLS February CAS - Embossing
ATS&M #132 - Make Your Mark

Wintery Wonderland

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for the latest Muse Challenge - #105 - Marion Vagg.  I have the same die-cut that Marion used, so it inspired me to make the card above.

Marion's card

I stamped the background snowflakes in Versamark and then heat embossed in Irridescent embossing powder.  I love the sparkle and glitter of this embossing powder.  I then sponged over top with a soft blue ink (emboss resist technique). More blue sponged along the top of the snowbanks, then coated with Dazzling Details (clear glitter glue) to give them some sparkle.  The sentiment is stamped in the same soft blue and then coated with clear Wink of Stella ... so it has a bit of sparkle too. :)

This is also a reminder about the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing, which runs until the end of the month.

And I'm going to add this to the Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Add a little Texture.  There's definitely texture with the embossed background, layered snow scene and adding sparkle. :)

Wintery Wonderland
Stamps:  Snowflake Background (Hero Arts), Christmas Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Bashful Blue (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Modern Landscape die (Memory Box), Snow Drifts dies (My Favorite Things), Rectangle Die (Spellbinders), Ice Embossing Powder (SU!), sponge, Dazzling Details (SU!)

____________________

I realized that I still have several cards I haven't shared from the time I was on the Dirty Dozen Design Team at Splitcoaststampers.  I'll include a few of the embossed cards to show different ways in which to add embossing to CAS cards. :)

Heat embossing

Embossing Paste

Dry Embossing

Flowery Oval
Stamps:  Whimsical Words, Fifth Avenue Floral (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Ink:  Versamark; Smoky Slate, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz (SU!)
Accessories & Tools: Labels Ten Nestability (Spellbinders), white embossing powder, heat tool, Little Leaves Die (Sizzix)

Two Hearts
Stamps:  Love and Laughter (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Triangle stencil (cut with my silhouette cameo), embossing paste, palette knife, Heart dies (Simon Says), copper metal sheet .005 thickness (K&S Precision Metals), butane torch, Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Watercoloured Butterfly
Stamps:  You (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Kaleidoscope and Moonlight Butterfly Dies (Memory Box), 1 1/4" square punch, Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), water mister, aqua painter



Challenges:
Muse #105
HLS February CAS - Embossing
Simon Says Wednesday - Add a Little Texture

Glass Bead Embossing Gel

Hi everyone.  We are already into week three of the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge - Embossing.  Lots of amazing entries already for the challenge ... I've had such a wonderful time checking them all out! :)

I made this for my Mom's birthday which was a week ago.  Even though I am still recovering from surgery, I wanted to make something special just for her.  I hobbled and rolled myself around my studio and came up with this card ... she really liked it. :)

I sponged Mustard Seed Distress Ink for the background, and added glass bead embossing gel over my Textured Mesh Stencil.  Love how it turned out.  Very subtle design ... just having a bit of sparkle added in the mesh design.

I sponged more card stock with light orange and then die-cut two sets of the poppies from it, plus another die-cut of poppies in green (base).  I cut the stems off the orange die-cuts, leaving just the blooms and then sponged two more shades of orange to give them some texture and depth.  I used my blender pen to add some strokes of rust on the poppies to add interest and used my stylus and mat to shape the blooms and layer them as well.

I then added a simple white frame and stamped the sentiment in brown.

I hope you'll be inspired to play along with us at the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Embossing Challenge.  Just remember to keep your card CAS (definition is listed in the posting for the challenge), and add some embossing of some type to your card.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

There is also a sketch challenge going on at Happy Little Stampers.  I'm going to add this card to that challenge as well since it's similar to the sketch :)

I'll be back next week with a final reminder card for the challenge.  See you soon!

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Garden Green (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz); Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Prim Poppy die (Memory Box), sponges, Texture Mesh Stencil (Memory Box), glass bead gel (Golden), palette knife, stylus and mat for shaping poppies, Rectangle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders)

My Love

Hi everyone.  Back with another reminder that the February CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers is now into the start of the second week.  And also at HLS, we have our February Sketch Challenge.  Today, my card uses both.  :)

As you can see from my card above, I pretty much CASED the sketch :)  I had a lot of fun making this card, because I got to experiment with a few new products that I recently bought.

First, I randomly stamped a floral swirl four times for the background in Versamark and then sprinkled with Shabby White Frantage (white, chunky embossing powder mixed with gold glitter).  I had to buy this after my friend Susan brought some over for me to play with.  It's fun, glittery and I love the texture it gives the background.  Be warned, the glitter is really fine, so if you try heating it from the top, it will fly everywhere ... ask me how I know this! :)

Instead, you heat from underneath to get it started and then finish the heating on top once it's started to melt.  Very cool product!

Now for the hearts.  I die-cut them from balsa wood and used my new Red Inka Gold wax to cover.  I love the satin finish from this product ... so pretty.  I just used my finger to spread the wax paste over the hearts.  Once dry, I buffed them up with a paper towel.  Love this product ... but you need to be OK with getting inky fingers :)

This card was lots of fun to make, but difficult to photograph.  The shimmer and shine just doesn't show up so I'm including a close up below that I hope shows it better.

I hope you'll come and play along with our either our CAS challenge or Sketch challenge ... or both! :)

And, if you also enter your card into the same challenge located on the Happy Little Stampers Forum, your name is automatically entered for a random draw prize.

I'll be back next week with another reminder card, using a different way to Emboss. See you soon!

Oh, and I'm entering this into the STAMPlorations challenge - Stamps and Hearts! :)

And it works for the February's Mixed Media Card Challenge - Love.

Stamps:  Distressed Floral Swirls (STAMPlorations); Forever (Fiskars)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Frantage Shabby White (Stampendous), Gold embossing powder (Hero Arts), balsa wood, Large Hearts die set (Simon Says), Red wax paste (Inka Gold)


Challenges:
HLS February CAS Challenge - Embossing
HLS February Sketch Challenge
STAMPlorations - Stamps and Hearts
Mixed Media Card Challenge - February - Love

Guest Designer at STAMPlorations

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited today to be the guest designer for STAMPlorations February Challenge - Stamps & Hearts!

I used the smallest flourish from the Distressed Floral Swirls stamp set to create a backdrop for my red foil heart.  I drew a heart shape onto my card front in light pencil and then used my versamark stamp pad to add in the flourishes, along the penciled lines.  I coated it with gold embossing powder and heat set --- so shiny!  :) I finished the card with a sentiment from the Rosebuds set.

Thank you to Shery and the wonderful Design Team for choosing my card as one of the their top picks for December and allowing me to be a Guest Designer for this month's challenge.  It's was lots of fun!  :)

I hope you'll join in this month's fun challenge at STAMPlorations and post your "Stamps & Hearts" cards!

This is also for the February CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers ... where the challenge is embossing! :)

Stamps:  Distressed Floral Swirls (STAMPlorations); Rosebuds (The Bees Knees)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder (Hero Arts); heat tool, red foil, heart punch

HLS February CAS Challenge - Embossing

Hi everyone.  At Happy Little Stampers, it the start of February's CAS Challenge ...

My card above uses the easiest technique ... dry embossing.  I used a fun embossing folder that I bought well before Christmas, but this is my first time using it.  I simply ran it through my Big Shot with some white card stock.  Love the soft, subtle and random design on this folder.

I used a new die-cut for my stitched tag and added a few other die-cuts to create a fun little scene.  :)  I really wanted to use a sentiment "You brighten my day", but I didn't have one ... looks like I need to go shopping! :)

I hope you'll play along with our fun challenge.  Be sure to keep your card CAS, use some sort of embossing and add to our link at Happy Little Stampers blog.

This month we are so excited to have Kathy K (Purple Princess Diaries) as our Guest Designer.  She has used many different types on her sample card.  I hope you'll check out her amazing card, and join in the challenge.

There are links to some fun and interesting embossing tutorials on HLS Blog as well ... so check it out if you have a chance.

And if you also add your card at the challenge of at Happy Little Stampers Forum, you are automatically entered for a randomly-drawn prize at the end of February. Wow great is that??!! :)

I'll be back in a week with a reminder card using a different embossing technique. :)

Stamps:  You (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (card base); Subtles DSP; So Saffron (SU!)
Ink:  So Saffron, Pool Party (SU!
Accessories & Tools:  One Point Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Stitched Tag die ... and Stitched Sun die (Lil' Inkers); Puffy Cloud dies (Memory Box), You die (Simon Says), sponges, Caribbean twine (The Twinery)