CAS Challenges March Reminder

Welcome to a reminder post for both CAS Mix Up and CAS Christmas. 

First up, CAS Mix Up ... hosted by our wonderfully talented Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  Bonnie wants us to use die-cuts to make prints on our cards.  Such a fun technique.  Thanks for the great challenge Bonnie!

Bonnie is our host.

I die-cut the Magical Butterfly (Alexadra Renke - retired) twice and watercoloured both the same.  I used one to make the prints in the background, spritzing the watercoloured die-cut, turning it over and pressing it lightly only my main card panel.  I then die-cut a border using the Hemstitch Frames from Spellbinders.  I popped up the panel onto my card base and added the second die-cut butterfly and also stamped the sentiment Many Everyday Messages from Hero Arts.

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

I'm hosting this month!

Today's card was inspired by a card I saw a couple of years ago, made by Janet (Swanlady Impressions).  I just loved this beautiful poinsettia image that Janet used and how she added brown sponging ove top of the flowers to tie it into the kraft paper on her card.  I immediately bought that image from Magenta (Berry and Blossom).  Then the stamp got filed away and I forgot about it until this challenge.  I dug it out and used the same brown sponging as Janet, but changed up the design.  I really love how this turned out.  Thanks for the inspiration Janet!!

Poinsettias are stamped multiple times and heat embossed in Princess Gold embossing powder.  Flowers are watercoloured in a mix of distress inks Fired Brick and Festive Berries.  I used Gathered Twigs ink to sponge over the flower before adding a piece of kraft paper at the top, along with an 1/8" thin satin red ribbon.  To finish, I stamped the sentiment (Christmas Sentiments - Penny Black), heat embossing in white and also rounded the top corners.

Close-up ...

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

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 both challenges close on 24th at midnight PST.  Come join us!

Card #1 - 
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.);  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Magical Butterfly (Alexandra Renke), water mister, Hemstitch Rectangles (Spellbinders)

Card #2 - Poinsettia Peace
Stamps:  Berry & Blossom (Magenta); Christmas Moments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Kraft
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Princess Gold embossing powde (Ranger), heat tool; waterbrush, sponge, white embossing powder (Ranger), 1/8" red satin ribbon, Corner Rounder

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Print Making with Dies
CAS Christmas March Challenge - Kraft, Red, and White