happy 70th birthday, susan!

Hi everyone,

Today is Susan's birthday! She is my friend and my teamie on the CAS Christmas Design Team. 

Enjoy your special day, Susan! I made this card for you, wishing you hope and light for the coming year. I hope you like the card.

[How I made the card]

1. Stamped the circles with Distress Inks on a piece of watercolor paper. Once the ink dried, I lightly watercolored the circles with the ink.

2. Die-cut the rectangular panel from the watercolor paper, die-cut the same rectangle from a piece of white cardstock, and glued the rectangles together to add dimension.

3. Stamped the sentiment and clear heat-embossed it.

4. Glued the frame and the panel onto the card base.

5. Brushed the circles with Aqua Shimmer and coated them with Glossy Accents for shine.

6. Added a few sequins to the panel.

Loll is having a birthday linky party for Susan, so I'm joining the party. 😊

Stamp: Halftone Circles, Birthday Builder (Altenew)
Paper: Distress Watercolor Cardstock (Ranger), Whisper Whited (Stampin' Up!), 
Ink: Distress Ink (Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio), Distress Oxide Ink (Ground Espresso), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Dies (Nested Rectangle - Hero Arts), Embossing Powder (Clear - Hero Arts), Sequins (Marshmallow 4mm, Pink Blush 4 mm - Pretty Pink Posh), Aqua Shimmer (Glitter Gloss - Nuvo), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas November Challenge - hold on to your baubles!

Hi everyone,

How's your holiday card making going? Some of you might have already sent out international cards.

Trina's challenge this month is using Non-traditional Colours in your card.

Here's my card:

The shine of the copper is pretty and the color looks like rose gold.

[How I made the card]
1. Stamped the baubles on a piece of white card stock.
2. Heat-embossed the sentiment.
3. Die-cut the frame.
4. Die-cut the confetti and glued it onto the front panel.
5. Glued the front panel to the card base.

This is the last challenge of CAS Christmas for the year. I hope you join us for this final stretch of 2020 holiday cards! Our challenge closes on November 24th.

Stamp: Fat Pants (Ellen Hutson)
Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Gold Mirror (Altenew)
Ink: Citrus Burst, Maple Yellow, Sunkissed, Orange Cream, Pink Diamond, Pinkalicious (Altenew), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die (Hemstitch Rectangles - Spellbinders, Balloon Shaker Window and Frame [for confetti] - My Favorite Things), Embossing Powder (Copper - Ranger), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas November Challenge - merry christmas

Hi everyone,

Are you ready for making "more" Christmas cards?
This month's challenge, hosted by our very talented Designer, Trina, is perfect for helping you do last-minute Christmas cards. She chose Non-traditional Colours as the theme.
We have Vicky (Crafting Clare's Paper Moments) as Guest Designer. Welcome, Vicky!

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]
1. Die-cut trees and the thin frame.
2. Stamped the sentiment (*1) and clear heat-embossed it.
3. Glued the trees and the frame on to the card front.

*1. I wanted to heat-emboss the sentiment, so I used Distress Oxide Ink instead of using dye ink. Hickory Smoke is the closest color to Sahara Sand.

Please check out the challenge site for inspiring sample cards made by our Designers and Vicky, and join this fun challenge!

Stamp: Bitty Holiday Wishes (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Peekaboo Peach, So Saffron, Pistachio Pudding, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!), Grapesicle (My Favorite Thinkgs)
Ink: Distress Oxide Ink (Hickory Smoke), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Dies (Winter Trees - My Favorite Things, Essential Rectangles - Ellen Hutson), Embossing Powder (Clear - Hero Arts), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas October Challenge - merry christmas

Hi everyone,

This is a reminder for CAS Christmas Challenge, and Christine, our host, picked Christmas Birds for the theme for this month. 

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]
1. Die-cut the bird's body, wing, beak, legs, and a branch. 
    I did a little surgery on the bird's body shape so that it would look like a cardinal.

2. Stamped the sentiment on the front panel and glued on the bird and the branch.
3. Stenciled falling snow with glimmer paste.
4. Adhered the front panel to the card base.

Please check out the challenge blog to see the wonderful sample cards made by our Designers. The link is open until October 24th.

I hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamp: Modern Christmas (Ellen Hutson)
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso - Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink (Tsukineko - Silver)
Accessories: Dies (Birds of Feather - My Favorite Things, Garden Greens - Sizzix), Stencil (Falling Snow - Simon Says Stamp), Nuvo Glimmer Paste (Moonstone), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas October Challenge - christmas greetings

Hi everyone,

It's time for another new challenge at CAS Christmas!
Our talented Designer, Christine, wants you to make a clean and simple card with Christmas Birds. We're happy to have Anita (Stampin with Anita) as Guest Designer this month!

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]
1. Made a salted background with watercolor paint on watercolor paper. 

2. Cut a rectangle and die-cut a sentiment strip from the background.

3. Die-cut 2 doves and a thin brushed gold window frame.

4. Heat-embossed the sentiment on the strip.

5. Dry embossed the card base to add subtle texture.

6. Glued the birds to the sky and the window with the frame to the card base.

7. Raised the sentiment strip with foam tape.

8. Glued the gold strings to the bird beaks and the sentiment strip.

I hope you join us with Christmas birds. The challenge closes on October 24th.
Please join the fun!

Stamp: Festive Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper: Canson Watercolor Paper (140 lb), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Gold Paper (gift from a friend)

Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Accessories: Gansai Tambi (Kuretake), Dies (Christmas Deer Tree & Dove Stamp & Die - Art-C, Essential Rectnagles - Ellen Hutson, Planks - Sizzix), Subtle 3D Embossing Folder (Stampin' Up!), Embossing Powder (Gold - Hero Arts), Gold Metallic Thread (Stampin' Up!), Connect Glue (Gina K), Foam Tape (3M)

happy 75th birthday, nancy!

Hi everyone,

Today we're celebrating a special day for my dear friend, Nancy Littrell, and I'm joining her birthday linky party Loll is hosting. Thank you so much, Loll, for organizing this fun party to celebrate Nancy's birthday!

I made this card earlier this month, and I hope she received it in time.

[How I made the card]
1. Sprayed Distress Oxide Spray (Lucky Clover and Salty Ocean) on a piece of vellum.
2. Dry embossed the sprayed vellum.

3. Gold heat-embossed the sentiment on the vellum.
4. Die-cut the window frame and adhered the vellum from behind with double-sided tape.

5. Glued some sequins on the vellum.
6. Popped up the window frame on the card base with foam tape.

Nancy, I hope you are having a wonderful day, and celebrating with your sister Margie. Have many many more happy years! Love and hugs.. 😊💕

Stamp: Bitty Birthday Wishes (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Translucent Vellum (My Favorite Things). Whisper White, Pool Party (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Distress Oxide Spray (Lucky Clover, Salty Ocean - Ranger), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Embossing Folder (Beaded Garland - Sizzix), Dies (Double Pierced Rectangle Die - Avery Elle), Embossing Powder (Gold - Hero Arts), Sequins (Sparkling Clear Mix - Pretty Pink Posh, Satin Gold - Altenew), Double-sided Tape, Foam Tape (3M), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up September Challenge - thanks, friend

Hi everyone,

Joanna, CAS Mix Up Designer, is challenging us with Embossing with Dies this month. It's always fun to stretch your supplies, isn't it?

Here's my card:

Embossing with Dies, Stamping, Die-cutting

[How I made the card]
1. Made impressions of the flowers using dies and embossing mat.
2. The impressions looked very subtle, so I colored the flowers with light blue ink (Tumbled Glass) by masking the flowers with die-cut negatives.
3. Die cut flowers and colored with Distress Oxide Inks, and placed them over the embossed flowers. I stacked the gray die-cut flowers three times to add some dimension.
4. Die-cut the thin frame and glued it on the card base.
5. Stamped the sentiment.

I liked the subtle dimensional interest created by the embossed marks and the stacked die-cuts.

Thank you for visiting me today!

Stamp: Bitty Thanks & Gratitude (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Distress Oxide Ink (Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shatters, Weathered Wood), Distress Ink (Weathered Wood)
Accessories: Dies (Flower - Gift from a friend, Essential Rectangles - Ellen Hutson), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas September Challenge - be merry

Hi everyone,

We're already half way through September. I'm here with a reminder card for the CAS Christmas September Challenge. The challenge of this month is ...

And here's my Christmas tree card:

[How I made the card]
1. Sprayed Pixi (light-tack adhesive) on the back of the tree stencil, and placed it on a piece of mixed media paper.
2. Sprinkled Brusho over the stencil, and spritzed water.
3. Blotted excess water with paper towel and removed the stencil.
4. Die-cut the stenciled paper with a frame die and heat-embossed the sentiment.
5. Adhered the front panel on to the card base.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the wonderful cards from our Designers, Guest Designer, and the participants. The challenge closes on September 24th. Looking forward to seeing your card in the gallery!

Stamp: Snow Globe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore - 140 lb.), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Brusho (Yellow, Sea Green, Turquoise), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Stencil (Christmas Trees - ARTplorations), Dies (Simple Stackers - Penny Black), Embossing Glitter (Metallic Gold Sparkle - Wow!) Foam Tape (3M)

CAS Christmas September Challenge - merry christmas

Hello everyone,

It's only 3 months till December. Have you started preparing Christmas cards?

Colleen is hosting this month's challenge, and she chose Christmas Tree as the theme. I'm sure you have one or two Christmas tree stamps and/or dies. I hope you check out our challenge site and get some inspiration from the cards our Design Team and our Guest Designer, Steph (My Paper Corner), made.

Here's my card. I used the foiling technique for this card.

[How I made this card]
1. Inked the stamp with the Foil Transfer Gel using a piece of sponge and stamped on the white card base.
2. Placed an emerald watercolor foil sheet (*1) over top and ran it through my laminator.

3. Gold heat-embossed the star-like snowflake at the top of the tree and the sentiment below the tree. 
4. Die-cut the image, using a frame die. Die-cut the same frame three times from red card stock (*2) and glued the frames together. 
5. Dry-embossed the card base to give it some texture and glued the front panel onto it.

(*1) I love the watercolor foil sheet. It has different colors on one sheet as you can see in the close-up below.

(*2) I wanted to add a little bit of red somewhere, so I decide to stack the frames together under the tree panel so that the color peeks out.

See you in the gallery! You have until September 24th.

Stamp: Snow Swirled (Stampin' Up!), Snow Globe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Deco Foil Transfer Gel, Deco Foil (Emerald Watercolor), Embossing Powder (Hero Arts), Dies (Elegant Rectangle STAX - My Favorite Things), Embossing Folder (Bricked - Tim Holtz), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - have a great day

Hi everyone,

It seems that this summer is flying by. I haven't had a chance to go to the beach, but Loll chose "Beach" as the theme for the CAS Mix Up Challenge this month. I can at least get a beach-y feeling by playing along with the challenge. 😊

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]
1. Painted a beach scene with Gansai Tambi paints on watercolor paper.
2. Die-cut the thin frame and shells. Lightly colored the shells.
3. Heat-embossed the sentiment.
4. Glued the panel, the frame, and the shells onto the card base.

I think the silver paint worked well for the fizz.

You can enjoy a lot of gorgeous beach scenes at the challenge site and the gallery.

Thank you for visiting me today!

Stamp: Friends (Hero Arts)
Paper: Watercolor Paper (Arches Cold Press - 140 lb), Naturals White, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!)
Ink/Paint: VersaMark (Tsukineko), Gansai Tambi (#31, 46, 57, 63, 64, 66, 44, 95 - Kuretake)
Accessories: Dies (Essential Rectangles - Ellen Hutson, Beach Scene Builder - My Favorite Things), Embossing Powder (Early Espresso - Stampin' Up!)

CAS Christmas August Challenge - happy holidays

Hi everyone,

We have reached the middle of the month, so it's time for a reminder for CAS Christmas Challenge!

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ...

[How I made this card]
1. Made a tissue paper background, watching Loll's tutorial video.
    The tissue paper I used happened to have some pattern and it worked well for me.

2. Stamped a "partridge in a pear tree" image, colored it with pencils, and Scan'n Cut. Put a little red glitter drop as an accent.
3. Die-cut a window in the front panel.
4. Heat-embossed the sentiment with red glitter embossing powder.
5. Adhered the bird to the card front, and raised the front panel on the card base with foam tape.

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the wonderful cards from our Designers, and participants! Our challenge closes on August 24th. 

Stamp: Everyday is Christmas (SugarPea Designs), Snow Globe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Whisper White, Tissue Paper
Ink: Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon - Ranger), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namices Stitched Peek-a-Boo Window (My Favorite Things), Embossing Powder (Red Glitz - Wow!), Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Stickles (Christmas Red - Ranger), Foam Tape (3M), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas August Challenge - time for joy

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the start of the CAS Christmas August Challenge!
This month is hosted by our talented Designer, Susan, and she chose "Twelve Days of Christmas" as the theme.
We are excited to have Meg (Bits and Pieces) Guest Designing for us this month. Welcome Meg!

Here's my card:
𝅘𝅥𝅮 On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves, and ...

[How I made the card]
1. Die-cut mistletoe and doves, and partially die-cut a red panel.
I googled "turtledove" and they looked thinner than my die-cut doves, so I trimmed them as below.

2. Made a frame impression on the card front using a die and an embossing pad.
3. Gold heat-embossed the sentiment.
4. Glued the mistletoe and turtledoves on the red panel, and glued the panel on to the card front.

The link on the challenge site is open until August 24th. I hope you play along with us and take this opportunity to add a Christmas card to your stash.

Stamp: Festive Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Gumball Green, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Dies (Stitched Mod Rectangle STAX - My Favorite Things, Garden Greens - Sizzix, Christmas Deer Tree & Dove Stamp & Die - Momenta Art-C), Embossing Powder (Gold - Hero Arts), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up July Challenge - i am grateful for you

Hi everyone,

This month's CAS Mix Up is hosted by my dear friend, Nancy, and she chose Stencil Tracing as the theme.

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]
1. Sprayed the back of the stencil with Pixi Spray and placed it over a piece of watercolor paper.
2. Sprinkled with Brushos and spritzed with water
3. Die-cut a rectangle in the center and a frame around the center panel.
4. Traced only the stenciled image on the frame with a fine black pen.
5. Stamped the sentiment in navy blue.
6. Raised the center panel by layering a piece of navy blue card stock under it.
7. Used navy blue card stock to matte the stenciled panel, and adhered the panel on to the card base.

I was originally planning to leave the image on the frame uncolored (and just trace the stencil), but when I actually did it, the peony looked too abstract to look like a flower without the help of color. So I colored the traced part after all. That's why the shade of the colors is a little different from that of the center panel. 😉


I've had this peony stencil for a long time, but this is the first time to use it. So I'll send this to NBUS Challenge #16.

Thank you for visiting me today!

Stamp: Bitty Thanks & Gratitude (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Watercolor (Arches cold press - 140 l.b), Whisper White, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Brusho (Ultramarine, Sea Green), Distress Oxide Ink (Blueprint Sketch), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Stencil (Peony Number One - ARTplorations), Dies (Nested Frame Cuts Rectangle - Hero Arts), Embossing Powder (Clear - Hero Arts), Pigma Micron 005 (Sakura), Sheer Shimmer Spritz (Tsukineko - Sparkel), Connect Glue (Gina K)