Starting the year off with the first CAS Mix Up challenge, we have a great line up of challenges for you this year and hope you'll play along to learn some new techniques, or get a refresher on some older techniques! :)
First, I'm sad to say good-bye to my dear friend, Nancy from the CAS Mix Up Design Team. Thankfully she isn't going far. Nancy will be one of the Designers on our newest CAS Challenge - Stencils! Nancy's wonderful designs will be missed at CAS Mix Up, but I know we will be treated to amazing creations from her designs at CAS Stencil!
For this month, Nancy wanted to finish by hosting her last CMU challenge. She has chosen the following ...
I started by making a sponged background with deep pink and orange inks (my favourite colours!). This combination makes me happy! :) Heat set with my heat tool. Then I secured my colourful background to my work surface, placed a circle stencil over top, and sponged white pigment ink using the various sizes of circles, and overlapping some to create depth. If the white circles were too white, I just rubbed lightly with paper towel to remove some of the colour. Easy peasy technique, but makes a lovely background for the pretty flower spray die-cut. The die-cut was heat embossed with Liquid Platinum embossing powders three times to create a very thick and smooth embellishment that looks like a piece of jewelry. I added a stamped, heat embossed sentiment with the same embossing powder.
Voila, easy and fun card using sponging, stenciling, die-cutting, heat embossing, and stamping ... all packed into a simple CAS design.
Here's a close-up ..
Stamps: Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper: White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink: Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: sponges (large and small), Circle stencil (My Favorite Things), Cherry Blossom die (Penny Black), Liquid Platinum embossing Powder (Hero Arts), heat tool
Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Bokeh
Such a beautiful card Loll and I can understand why those colours make you happy. The technique looks so pretty and what a fabulous 3D effect and a perfect example of the Bokeh technique and effect x. Love the die cut flower and branch and the triple heat embossing looks stunning x. Happy New Year to you Loll x
ReplyDeleteYour card is a gorgeous example of Clean and Simple Mixed Media, Loll. I LOVE your color combination for your saturated sponged background. So pretty with the Bokeh technique that added creative depth. Adding your layered heat embossed die cut flowers really makes for a beautiful card design. See you on the 4th for your new CAS Stencil Card Challenge:-) We do have so much creative fun. Hugs, Nancy
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Loll, the gold embossed flower is perfect for your bokeh background. Great challenge this month, I'm going to have to pull out my stencil :)
ReplyDeleteSo pretty, Loll! Bokeh is such a dreamy technique. They remind me of fireflies off in the distance. Your card is just lovely. The colors and the golden branch work perfectly together. What a perfect way to start off 2019. Blessings to you this New Year. Bev
ReplyDeleteHello Loll. Let it be the most wonderful year in your life so far. A lot of health, happiness, joy and love for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your many years of friendship and support. You are an extraordinary woman. Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring cards. They are for me the determinant of elegance and good taste. And this card is exactly like that. In addition, it gives me such an amazing feeling of dreamy ...
Thak You for all,
BożenA xoxo
Beautiful card Loll, never tried this technique but it looks so effective, gorgeous colours too, Happy New Year, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteA simply gorgeous card Loll, pretty colours toned down with the Bokeh effect and set off beautifully with the silver embossed die cut sprig
ReplyDeleteStunning Loll, must try join in do love Bokeh. But no guarantee with seive brains! Every blessing for 2019, good health and wellness in God’s keeping,
ReplyDeleteHugs Shaz in Oz.x
Beautifully done Loll!!!! TFS!
ReplyDeletePaper Hugs,
Jan
Beautiful card Loll, I am so loving the bokeh effect and want to try it sometime. Maybe now is the time. Those colors are beautiful together and are happy colors for sure! Loving the gold flowers too, so pretty-they look like they were dipped in gold, and I guess they kinda were! lol Nancy picks a good challenge for this month! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteI am always fascinated by your smooth sponging with distress inks without getting any harsh lines. Gorgeous gradient for the use of the bokeh technique, Loll. Love the enameled die cut too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to start the new year by using your favorite color combo in your lovely card! It makes us happy too. The ink blending is so beautiful and the Bokeh effects are wonderful. You used a quite big circle in the right bottom corner and it balances the whole layout. The muted liquid platinum prevents the pretty ink colors of the background and the flower spray from looking "too" pretty. I love the Elegantly CAS Loll-ness of the card.
ReplyDeleteHideko xx
beautiful card Loll, its funny I have never tried this technique, must do it. Love the colours you used.
ReplyDeleteThose colors are so bright and cheery, Loll. Even the bokeh can't stop their vibrancy. Happy New Year, my friend. You're off to a good start with this new challenge.
ReplyDeleteYour liquid platinum stems look beautiful against your lovely Bokeh background Loll! love the pink and orange colors - such a fun technique that I have never tried - I think I'll give it a go this week!! xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful bokeh effect in your favourite colours! Fabulous triple heat embossing on the flower die cut! A great start to the New Year!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful color palette and I love the effects of the Bokeh technique, Loll! Great idea to triple heat emboss the Cherry Blossoms with Liquid Platinum, too...a really elegant card and perfect inspiration for us to play along!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Your colors are scrumptious and LOVE that technique! And 3 layers of ep??? Yikes -- great results!
ReplyDeleteThe depth of your bokeh background is brilliant, Loll ... the platinum embossed branch is gorgeous against those yummy vibrant colours! Bonne Année, Bonne Santé! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bokeh background. It shows off that golden leafy branch beautifully! Happy New Year! Hope it is filled with crafty goodness for you!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card with the bokeh technique, Loll! I would love to try this technique some time. Lovely color and the pretty branch is a perfect addition to your stunning card!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colours Loll - and the Platinum EP is some that I have - unused and lonely - but no more!! Will use it soon as I can as it's a fab colour!
ReplyDelete(Thanks for having me this month! x)
Amazing and beautiful. You know, on certain days here, we get that mix of orange and pink in our skies ...even though my hubby says it impossible ;) That branch die is sublime, especially with that Platinum EP (another thing on my list). It definitely made me smile. Happy New Year dear friend, you have a busy, creative, successful year ahead. Thanks for this amazing community! xxx
ReplyDeleteOf course it had to be in pink and purple! Beautiful card and background, Loll. Your embossed flower diecut is a standout... what a clever idea and great way to add dimension. xx
ReplyDeleteI love it, Loll! That is one of my favourite combos too. The bokeh looks great x
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy New Year. Hugs xx
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I wish you a very Happy New Year ! Absolutely gorgeous, Loll ! Love the colour combo and your Bokeh is just stunning. The platinum embossed branch is just striking on top of it ! Thanks so much for sharing and for inspiring ! xx
ReplyDeleteI love these colors too, Loll, and they are so pretty with the white Bokeh circles! The branch of flowers does look like jewelry and is beautiful on the bright background!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card Lol, and it made me smile just looking at it. Love the triple embossing on the die cut
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
This is so bright and beautiful Loll and I love the cherry blossom branch which you have triple embossed which really makes it stand out against the pink and orange bokeh background, and the heat embossed sentiment goes perfectly. x
ReplyDeleteWonderful design Loll, love the Bokeh colours and your embossed spray of flowers. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love the colours you've used, they look great with the Bokeh effect. Perfect backdrop for that pretty die cut too xx
ReplyDelete