Happy Anniversary

Hi everyone,

My husband and I celebrated our 28th anniversary this Monday.

We had a getaway and had a fun celebration over dinner. Here's a card I made for him.💗

I made the front panel using a part of the negative Stencil Monoprint.

(Positive)                                      (Negative)

I sponged the dark brown card base with blue and black distress oxide inks to give the card base a little nuance. I liked the abstract shapes of the monoprint images.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Paper: Basic Black, Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!), Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore - 140 lb.)

Ink: Distress Oxide Ink (Blueprint Sketch, Black Soot - Ranger)

Paint: Brusho (Prussian Blue, Dark Brown)

Others: Stencil (Prim Pattern - ArtPlorations), Glimmer Hot Foil (Gold - Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Plate (Mini Everyday Sentiments - Spellbinders), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas September 2022 Reminder - Holiday Cheer

Hi everyone,

This is the reminder for the Sparkle and/or Shine challenge at CAS Christmas!

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Glimmer foiled the frame on the front panel.

2. Added Aqua ink to clear glitter paste, and stenciled the top half of the wreath with the paste.

3. Added Light Green ink to clear glitter paste, and stenciled the bottom half of the wreath with the paste.

4. Glimmer foiled the sentiment and die-cut it. Die-cut two more pieces to stack them together for dimension.

5. Glued the die-cut to the front panel, and adhered the entire panel to the card base.

The challenge gallery is full of gorgeous sparkly and shiny cards. We still have a week before the link closes on September 24th, and I hope you play along with us! 

Paper: Basic White (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding (Re-inker: Stampin' Up!)

Others: Glimmer Hot Plate (Framed Details - Spellbinders, Perfect Sentiment Holiday - Pinkfresh Studio), Glimmer Hot Foil (Aura - Spellbinders), Dies (Perfect Sentiment Holiday - Pinkfresh Studio), Stencil (Christmas Wreath - Simon Says Stamp), Glimmer Paste (Moonstone - Novo), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Sending Love

Hi everyone,

Hilary is hosting CAS Mix Up Challenge this month, and she wants us to use Gesso and a stencil for the card.

I haven't used my Gesso for a long time and this was a good opportunity to take it out to use it! I used a beautiful stencil a sweet friend gifted me.

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Stenciled the dahlia with Gesso on a piece of mixed media paper.

2. When the Gesso dried, sprinkled Brusho over the stenciled paper and spritzed it with water.

3. Cleaned off the Brusho from the stenciled flower with damp paper towel.

4. Put back the stencil on the panel and stenciled with Gesso again.

    😱 I used too much Gesso, and it bled under the stencil...

5. Die-cut the panel and the outside thin frame from the stenciled panel.

6. Die-cut 3 white thin frames and stacked them for dimension.

7. Hot foiled the sentiment on a piece of white card stock.

8. Put everything together and glued it onto the card base.

Because of the seepage of Gesso, my Dahlia became a little abstract, but I kind of like it. 

This is the first time for me to use the Dahlia stencil, so I'm entering the card in NBUS Challenge #42.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Paper: Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140lb.), Basic White (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Brusho (Yellow, Orange, Chrimson, Sea Green, Black)

Others: Gesso (Liquitex), Stencil (Peeking Dahlias - ArtPlorations), Dies (Essential Rectagles - Ellen Hutson), Glimmer Hot Foil (Essopress Bean - Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil Plate (Everyday Sentimets II - Spellbinders), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas September 2022

Hi everyone,

I'm excited to host this month's challenge at CAS Christmas!

I chose Sparkle and/or Shine as the prompt. ✨✨✨  You can make any clean and simple Christmas card with sparkle/shine element(s).

We're happy to have a wonderful Guest Designer, JoAnn (Crafty Nana's Blog). Welcome, JoAnn!

Here's my simple card:

[How I made the card]

1. Die-cut the stag, the tree, and the star from double-sided adhesive backed white cardstock.

2. Adhered the die-cuts onto a piece of light blue glitter paper.

3. Stamped stripes in red on a piece of white cardstock and trimmed it to a little bigger than the glitter panel.

4. Glued the glitter panel onto the striped panel.

5. Glued the entire panel onto the card base.

[Close-up]

It's easy to make a Christmas card with sparkle/shine, but I know it's difficult to take a photo of your sparkling/shining beautiful card. It's just that we all have to be very imaginative when we look at pictures of cards on the challenge blog and gallery. 😊

Please check out our challenge blog for more inspirations. Looking forward to seeing your card in the gallery!

Stamp: Diagonal Stripes (My Favorite Things)

Paper: Basic White (Stampin' Up!), Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad (Memory Box)

Ink: Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Others: Dies (Abstract Holiday Frames - Simon Says Stamp), Double-sided Adhesive Sheet (Stick It), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas August 2022 Reminder - Merriest Christmas

Hi everyone,

It's time for a reminder for CAS Christmas Challenge!

The theme for August is:

And here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Die-cut the pinecones, berries and greenery from watercolor paper.

2. Painted the die-cuts with watercolor paints, and layered some parts.

3. Brushed the watercolored parts with Wink of Stella.

4. Glimmer foiled the sentiment and die-cut it. 

5. Die-cut the sentiment shadow twice and glued the pieces to the back of the sentiment for dimension.

6. Lightly spattered Perfect Pearls on the card base.

7. Die-cut the frame and glued it to the card base.

8. Adhered the pinecones, berries, greenery, and the sentiment to the card base.

Sparkles from Wink of Stella, Perfect Pearls, and hot foil are prettier in real life.✨✨✨

Please check out our challenge blog for more inspirations. I hope you'll join this fun challenge and share your card with us here. You have until August 24th.

Paper: Watercolor paper (Hot Pressed - Arches), Basic White (Stampin' Up!)

Others: Dies (Holiday Brushstroke #2 - Sizzix, Stitched Loops - Penny Black, Perfect Sentiment Holiday - Pinkfresh Studio), Watercolor (Gansaitambi - Kuretake), Glimmer Hot Plate (Perfect Sentiment Holiday - Pinkfresh Studio), Glimmer Hot Foil (Gold - Spellbinders), Perfect Pearls (Blue Hydrangea - Ranger), Wink of Stella (Gloss Clear - Kuretake), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up August Challenge - Sending Lots of Love

Hi everyone,

My dear friend, Nancy (scandinancycreates), is hosting the CAS Mix Up Challenge this month.

Her challenge theme is:

I made this card, inspired by Nancy's beautiful Hydrangea card. 

Garbera Daisy is one of my favorite flowers (especially dark pink ones). My Mondo Daisy stamp is pretty big, so I thought it would be comparable to Nancy's Mondo Hydrangea. 😊 I CASE-d her layout, and used the same sentiment stamp too.

[How I made the card]

1. White heat-embossed the Gerbera Daisy on a piece of tan mixed media paper.

2. Watercolored with re-inkers over the heat-embossed image.

3. White heat-embossed the sentiment.

4. Die-cut the front panel.

5. Popped up the front panel on the card base with foam tape.

It's a very simple card, but I like how it turned out.

Thanks for visiting!

Stamp: Mondo Daisy (Ellen Hutson), Leaf Canopy (Altenew)

Paper: Mixed Media Paper (Toned Tan - Strathmore)

Ink: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (Stampin' Up!), VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Others: Embossing Powder (White - Hero Arts), Die (Crimped Frame - The Greetery), Foam Tape (3M)

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CAS Christmas August 2022 - Merry Christmas

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the start of the CAS Christmas August Challenge!

Our very talented Designer, Trina (Phamtastic Design), is our host this month, and she chose "Pine" as the theme. We are lucky to have two wonderful Guest Designers, Elizabeth (Paper Sweetness), and Lucie (LucieG Cards). Welcome,  Elizabeth and Lucie!

Here's my card:

I made the pinecones and bauble blueish to pay homage to Trina. Her favorite color is blue. 

[How I made the card]

1. Made Alcohol Ink backgrounds and die-cut pinecones, a bauble, and a pine bough.

2. Die-cut ornament's caps and hangers from silver foil paper.

3. Glimmer foiled the dotted frame on the front panel.

4. Glued the pinecones, ornaments, and pine bough onto the front panel.

5. Heat-embossed the sentiment.

6. Adhered the entire panel to the card base.

There are more inspirations on the challenge site. I hope you play along with us and add a Christmas card to your stash!

Stamp: Snow Globe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)

Paper: Basic White (Stampin' Up!), Alcohol Ink Cardstock (Gloss - Ranger), Foil Mirror Paper (Silver - Recollections)

Ink: Alcohol Ink (Indigo, Turquoise, Stream, Purple Twilight, Patina, Mermaid), VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Others: Dies (Fall Foliage - Spellbinders, Christmas Icons - Impression Obsession, Stitched Ornaments - Lawn Fawn), Glimmer Hot Plate (Essential Glimmer Rectangles - Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil (Silver - Spellbinders), Embossing Powder (Silver - Hero Arts), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas July 2022 Reminder - Ho Ho Ho

Hi everyone,

It's time for a reminder post for our CAS Christmas Challenge. Barb's fun challenge is Santa: 

My card this time is without Santa Clause but with his voice and his hat.

You can see all kinds of Santa cards in the challenge site. I hope you get inspired and make a Santa card. If you do so, please share your card with us here. The link is open until July 24th.

Paper: Basic White, Real Red (Stampin' Up!), Matte Mirror Card (Winter Blue - Crafter's Companion)
Others: Embossing Folder (Waffled Diamonds 3D - Altenew), Dies (Deer Head with Santa Clause Hat - Alexandra Renke, Simple Alpha - Altenew), Thin 3D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesive), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas July 2022 - Holiday Cheer

Hi everyone,

My Christmas card making keeps going on even though it's in the middle of summer and really hot where I live.

Our talented Designer, Barb (Barb's Studio Creations), is hosting this month's challenge, and her prompt is the most popular guy at Christmas time, Santa!

And here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Glimmer foiled the frame on the front panel with light blue foil.

2. Die-cut Santa, the sentiment banner, and the sentiment twice for each and glued them together for dimension.

3. Sponged the shadow with light blue ink on the front panel.

4. Glued Santa, the sentiment banner, and the sentiment to the front panel.

5. Spritzed shimmer spray over the front panel.

6. Adhered the entire panel to the card base.

You'll find more inspirations at the challenge site. Join this fun challenge, and you may get a special gift from your Santa this year! 😉

Paper: Basic White, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Distress Oxide (Tumbled Glass - Ranger)
Others: Glimmer Hot Plate (Scalloped Rectangle), Glimmer Hot Foil (Skybright), Dies (Santa Clause with Gift Bag - Alexandra Renke, Season of Cheer - Concord & 9th), Sheer Shimmer Spray (Sparkle - Tsukineko), Connect Glue (Gina K)

Happy Birthday Loll!

Hi everyone,

Today is my sweet friend Loll's birthday. She loves a warm color combo, so I made this card for her, using alcohol inks on a piece of clear acetate sheet.

Loll is so kind and generous, and I feel so lucky to be on one of her CAS Challenge teams.

Loll, I hope this card was delivered to you in time and you enjoy your special day!

If you have a moment, stop by Loll's blog (Stamping with Loll) and leave her birthday wishes. 

Thanks for visiting!

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!), Acetate Sheet (Grafix), Foil Mirror Paper (Silver - Recollections)

Ink: Alcohol Ink (Raspberry, Watermelon, Sunshine Yellow, Citrus - Ranger), 

Others: Blending Solution (Ranger), Glimmer Hot Plate (Mini Everyday Sentiments - Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil (Prism - Spellbinders), Dies (Essential Rectangles - Ellen Hutson), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Thank you

Hi everyone,

When I saw the CAS Mix Up Challenge this month, I thought it would be a great opportunity to use the stencils I've wanted to use for almost a year.

Loll chose Pastes/Gels for the stencil challenge.

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Masked a few of the sea creatures I didn't want to color, and colored the rest of them using the stencil and Distress Inks. I blended inks with blending blushes. 

2. Placed the bubble stencil over the stenciled sea creatures, and added some clear glimmer paste through the stencil with a palette knife.

3. Die-cut the frame from the stenciled piece.

4. Die-cut another thin frame from a piece of white card stock and glued it to the back of the original thin frame for dimension. 

5. Put the die-cut pieces (the outer frame, the thin frame, and the main panel) back into their original positions and glued them onto the card base.

6. Glimmer foiled the sentiment on a piece of black cardstock, die-cut it, and adhered it to the front panel.

7. Glued the entire front panel onto the card base.

I used both stencils partially by masking unnecessary areas.

Look at the different shapes and sizes of the water bubbles. I love Alexandra Renke's unique designs!

Since these stencils were Never Before Used Schtuff, I'm entering the card in NBUS Challenge #39 too.

Thanks for stopping by!

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Basic Black (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Distress Ink (Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers - Ranger)

Others: Stencils (Underwater World, Bubbles - Alexandra Renke), Glimmer Paste (Moonstone - Nuvo), Dies (Essential Rectangles - Ellen Hutson), Glimmer Hot Plate (Mini Everyday Sentiments - Spellbinders), Glimmer Hot Foil (Aura - Spellbinders), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas June 2022 Reminder - Thinking of you at Christmas

Hi everyone, 

We're already halfway through June, and I'm here with a reminder card for the CAS Christmas June Challenge. The challenge for this month is...

And here's my card with my favorite bear:

[How I made the card]

1. Heat-embossed the wreath and the bear in dark brown.

2. Colored the wreath with Zig brush markers.

3. Gold heat-embossed the sentiment on the card base, and sponged the card base in light blue.

4. Popped up the wreath and the bear on the card base.

5. Added a shadow to ground the bear with a Zig marker, and highlighted the berries with a white gel pen.

You might have noticed that the bear looks like he is wearing a poinsettia Hawaiian skirt. Doesn't he look like he's Hula dancing behind the wreath? 😁

You have until June 24th. Looking forward to seeing your card in the gallery!

Stamp: Poinsettia Slimline (Pinkfresh Studio), Bear Wear 4 (Ellen Hutson)
Paper: Basic White (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko), Distress Oxide (Tumbled Glass - Ranger)
Others: Dies (Poinsettia Washi - Pinkfresh Studio), Bear Wear 4 (Ellen Hutson), Embossing Powder (Gold - Hero Arts), Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker, Gel Pen (Gelly Roll White - Sakura), Foam Tape (3M), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Christmas June 2022 - Noel

Hi everyone,

I'm excited tell you that CAS Christmas Challenge is back in action! 😊

Our talented Designer, Linda (Lin's Craft Corner), is the host for the challenge this month, and she chose Wreath as the theme. Our special Guest Designer is Sue (Sue's Card Craft). Welcome, Sue!

Here's my card:

[How I made the card]

1. Die-cut the sentiment twice from the the dark brown cardstock, and once from gold mirror foil cardstock. (*1) I stacked the die-cuts slightly offset so that you could see the brown shadow.

2. Glimmer foiled the poinsettia wreath, die-cut the parts, and arranged them on the letter O.

4. Glimmer foiled the frame on the card base.

3. Stenciled falling snow on a piece of white cardstock with embossing paste, and trimmed it to the size of the inside frame.

4. Glued the NOEL on the stenciled panel.

5. Adhered the entire front panel inside the frame.

(*1) I originally made the letters all dark brown, but the card needed a little more festive feeling, so I added gold mirror foil die-cuts over the letters except for the "O".

Check out our challenge site for more inspirations, and join this fun challenge.

You have until June 24th.

Paper: Basic White (Stampin' Up!). Woodgrain Bark, Gold Mirror (Altenew)
Others: Dies (Kelly Alpha Upper Case - Pinkfresh Studio, Christmas Organic Folliage - Spellbinders), Glimmer Foil Plate (Essential Duo Lines Rectangles, Christmas Organic Foliage - Spellbinders), Stencil (Falling Snow - Simon Says Stamp), Texture Paste (Opaque Matte - Ranger), Connect Glue (Gina K)