HLS May CAS Challenge - Diecuts

Hi everyone.  Time for the May CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.  This time we are looking for CAS cards which feature die-cuts or punches.

Today I'm sharing a card made with mostly die-cuts.  I die-cut the branch and leaves, adding dimension to them with some sponging and shaping.

I've done a short video tutorial on how I add depth and dimension to die-cut leaves by sponging ink and using my stylus and mat.  Click on the video link below ... or click HERE to watch it on YouTube.  Please give it a thumbs up if you found it informative ... thank you! :)

Click on PLAY button below to watch video tutorial:
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I fussy-cut two small baby birds (coloured with Copics), and have them peeking out of their nest perched on the tree branch.  The nest is made with a grapevine wreath die-cut.  I cut it up into sections and layered it on top of each other to get the general shape of the nest.  I added a few strokes of dark brown from my marker to give the nest some colour, and then glued little bits of flower soft on top (white flower soft dyed with brown re-inker), to give it even more texture.  Fun and easy to do.

This month I'm excited to welcome Bonnie (Stamping with Klass) as our Guest Designer.  Bonnie loves to make CAS cards and is an avid supporter of HLS.  She is so talented, and I have learned a lot from following her blog.  I hope you'll take some time to look around Bonnie's blog ... you'll be glad you did! :)

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  Make sure to have die-cuts or punches on your CAS card, and then add your link to the challenge.   I'll be back throughout the month, highlighting different ways to use die-cuts and punches on your cards.

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! :)

This is also a reminder for the current challenge at Mixed Media Card Challenge - Wings.  And I'm entering it into Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes, CAS-ology #144 - Flight, and ATS&M - #142 Make Your Mark.

Stamps:  Spring Groves; Sentiment Sampler (both from Paper Smooches)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Old Olive, Soft Suede (SU!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Soft Suede, Early Espresso (SU!); Copics: Y21, BG49, BG57
Accessories & Tools:  Tender Leaves dies; Twigs and Berries dies; Grapevine Wreath die (all from Memory Box), sponges, blender pen, stylus and mat, flower soft

Challenges:

HLS May CAS Challenge - Die-cuts / Punches
Mixed Media Card Challenge - Wings
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes
CAS-ology #144 - Flight
ATS&M - #142 - Make Your Mark