guest designing at addicted to cas

You all know I'm all over the board when it comes to card styles. But the style that really knocks my socks off tends to be CAS. Or ultra-CAS. As the lady said:

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 

― Clare Boothe Luce

When I'm creating it's rare that an ultra-CAS sock-knocker-offer comes along, yielding that sophistication. Too often I need to get my own touch of humor or bold color into a design. Like on my card that won the "Harvest" challenge over at Addicted to CAS. But I keep trying ;) Today I've gone with bold color and CAS as I join the lovely and oh-so-talented designers at Addicted to CAS for this fortnight's fun challenge.

One of my favorite watercoloring mediums is still Distress Inks. Their properties and fabulous vivid tones never let me down. So I went back to an oldie but goodie technique. Smooshing. Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmelade and Seedless Preserves (how can you now love 'em with those namese?) tapped onto an acrylic block, spritzed with water and pressed onto cardstock.

Then I simply die cut a Spellbinders label 4 shape from the watercolored cardstock, stamped a nice and tall Inkadinkado image  partially onto it and also onto my cardbase (yes, a MISTI would be handy here I suppose). Adhered the die cut to the cardbase, aligning the image. Then I added a sentiment from Papertrey for frazzled kitty to stand on and voila!

Easy to recreate. Easy to mass produce. How about turning this design into a Christmas card? You could even add a touch of gold watercolor to the smooshing to make it festive.

I hope you've enjoyed my card and look forward to your CAS Watercolor projects in the ATCAS gallery!

BTW, have you heard? Loll and Bonnie are starting up a new challenge - CAS Watercolor. Check it out here. I think it's definitely time for you to pull out some watercolors and white cardstock ;)

MMCC #28

New month, new challenge over at the Mixed Media Card Challenge. This month's theme:

I must admit this card's been in my stash. Kinda forever. But there's something fun about it I thought you might enjoy. It's a way to use up some of your scraps.

I dry embossed a black panel with a Sizzix embossing plate. I stamped a CHF sentiment (before Kim Hughes started Paper Smooches she designed for CHF). And I die die cut and offset-layered the you from a Sizzix Bigz die.

I spent oodles of time punching those little confetti pieces, but saved some time by using some spray adhesive along the bottom of the card (masked the top) and dumping on the confetti. I only used glue to place the individual pieces at the top.

Technique - dry embossing, die cutting
Texture and dimension - dry embossing, textured CS

Black and purple? Why not make a mixed media Halloween card and join us over at the MMCC this month?

altenew september challenge

Squeak. Squeak.

Squeaking in with an entry for the Altenew September Challenge. This is the inspiration. I went with the colors.

A girlfriend (who loves to read) is having a birthday today and I thought I'd make some bookmarks for her. Pulled out Papertrey's Half and Half die and cut three strips of Neenah white CS. Also cut PP strips to adhere to the reverse. Forgot to photograph the cuteness.

Stamped the first with Altenew Watercolor Wonders using SSS blues and Altenew reds and yellows. Then I stamped one with Winter Cardinal using Altenew reds. And the last was stamped with Aha Arts and Studio Calico (both designed by Ashley Goldberg I believe). All sentiments were heat embossed to give the bookmarks a little finger pleasure ;) Here's the set.

I'm taking these to the Altenew Ultimate Challenge blog hop too. Such fun to honor all those great challenges.

And I'm hooking up at Simon Says Stamp Wednedsday where it's Anything Goes this week.

Thanks for visiting. Have a fabulous weekend. It's gonna be grape harvest time for me!

first concord and 9th creation and giveaway reminder

A few Concord and 9th goodies came home with me this summer. Not really "celebration" related, which is the theme of the first challenge over at Where Creativity Meets C9. But I needed a fall birthday card for my neighbor to go with the Yankee Candle (Autumn Wreath "flavor" for those of you interested) I brought back as her present. So I improvised.

Recognize this stamp set? Did a little stamp surgery on Painted Thank You and heat embossed the "you" with glittery bronze embossing powder. I think that's pretty celebratory! The inside sentiment reads "have an amazing birthday". I stamped two feathers from Grateful, then filled in around them with little flowers and leaves using Distress Inks (Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmelade, Forest Moss and Fired Brick) which I spritzed with water before stamping.

A little Tumbled Glass added to the feathers and then splattered onto the panel finished things off. Oh and a couple Doodlebug enamel dots and a strip of Pebbles PP!

I'm playing at:
Mod Squad - Falling Leaves
Cards in Envy - Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday September - Red, Orange, Yellow and or Brown
Where Creativity Meets C9 - #1

Last but not least - I've got a giveaway happening in honor of my 1000th post over here if you're interested. There's still time to leave a comment ;)

spotlight on galaxy backgrounds

You've probably seen lots of galaxies being created around blogland lately. I'm adding my galaxy in today's Spotlight post over at STAMPlorations if you care to see how I made mine ;)

STAMPlorations inspiration #97

Back in the fashion mode today. Check out this photo from the ASOS catalog which inspired today's card for our STAMPlorations Inspiration post.

Couldn't resist pulling out STAMPlorations City Girl and a previously sprayed and splattered piece of cardstock and giving the model two different fashion looks. With some masking and Artsy Tribal Doodles I was able to give the B/W image stamped on the cardbase a Marimekko look. Then I stamped her onto the sprayed piece, trimmed a strip of it and adhered it over half of her. Strips of PP and washi in fabric-y looks finished up my design. I heat embossed the sentiment.

Hope you enjoyed. Check out the rest of the DTs lovely creations here and remember to leave a comment to be in the running for a GC. BTW, I have a giveaway to celebrate my 1000th post here if you're interested.

I'm playing at:
Cherrylana designs - #23

AAA challenge - #74

Addicted to CAS - #97 (since my theme is fashion there would be lots of stitching involved ;)

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - August

pti september blog hop

It's that time of the month again! Papertrey Ink's blog hop time, that is. And I must admit when I first saw this photo I wasn't all that enthused. But it really grew on me. Really.  "modern nature" meets cinammon sticks!

And since it's coffee time of year, you know, the Fall Coffee Lovers Blog Hop time courtesy of the lovely Amy T., please meet "modern nature" meets coffee.

Dies and stamps from Papertrey. Laurel Wreath die from Essentials by Ellen. Sentiment from STAMPlorations. PP from Fancy Pants. Basta.

Seems to me that coffee goes best with Fall :) Already made my first batch of this Pumpkin Spice Latte syrup! Enjoy the hop. I know I will.