Snow Buddies

I got a chance to color for today's card and am very happy that I could.  I love to color with either markers or pencils as I find it very relaxing.  Unfortunately, when I usually need to relax the most is when I have the least time to color!

This card is for this week's sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches:

When choosing my colors I decided to limit the colors to three plus neutrals.  I guess I've been doing color challenges for too long - I need to limit my colors or I start to feel overwhelmed!  Actually, picking a limited palette at the start is one way to speed up the design process.  I used a combination of Stampin' Blends! and Copic markers to color the main image.

The background was created using a sponge dauber and Pool Party ink.  I heat embossed the snowflakes using iridescent glitter embossing powder.

Stamps: My Favorite Things Snow Buddies
Markers: Stampin' Blends Flirty Flamingo, Pool Party, Purple Posy; various Copic markers

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Christmas Rose

Time for another color challenge.  I have a more elegant card than I usually post but I do like to change things up a bit.  I'd say many of my cards use more "cute" stamps but I also love florals.  While I vowed to stop buying so many floral stamps, I couldn't resist this one.  It's a limited edition at Stampin' Up! that's only available while supplies last, and I knew if I didn't get it I'd kick myself later.

The colors this week at CAS Colours & Sketches are:

While these are not traditional Christmas colors I felt they weren't so far off that I couldn't use them for a holiday card.  And the pinks were perfect for this stamp.

I heat embossed the image (and the sentiment) in gold then watercolored it using the ink pads and reinkers.  I did add a neutral - Soft Suede - for the pinecones and a light wash behind the floral spray.  I had to be careful not to go overboard as this is a clean and simple challenge.

The sentiment is from a Christmas set that is in the SU Annual Catalog and is one of my favorites.  I used it quite a bit on my holiday cards last year and suspect I'll be using it some more.

I hope you find time to join us for the challenge this week!

Stamps and dies:  Stampin' Up! Christmas Rose Bundle; also available individually - Christmas Rose Stamp Set and Roses die; sentiment: Stampin' Up! Merry Christmas to All
Ink: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
Paper: Watercolor, Whisper White Thick, Gold Foil
Accessories: Aqua Painters

Thanks for visiting today!  If you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I would love to help you with your card making needs!

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Sketch Challenge Tuesday

Today's card is for the sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

This is the posted sketch:

 

We were asked to keep the angular shape in our card.  Since this is not a simple rectangle on its side but actual cut angles, there are two ways to accomplish this.  First is by use of a die and the second is by manual cutting.  To get odd angles like this, simply draw a cross with the intersection at the exact middle of each line then cut from point to point.

Very straightforward.  Or find a die and use that!

For this sweet little hedgehog I used an embossing folder and partially embossed the backgorund so I could glue down my sentiment.  I added some snowflakes and covered them in Wink of Stella although you can't see it in the photos.

A fun quick card for those who don't like to stamp - it's all die cuts!

Dies used: Cottage Cutz Holiday Hedgehog and Happy Holidays; Tonic Studios Diamonds
Inks: Distress Oxides
Paper: Whisper White and an unknown scrap of blue
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Softly Falling embossing folder

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Color Challenge Tuesday

For today's color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches I made a birthday card.  An old friend has a birthday soon and I wanted something delicate and pretty to give her as that fits her - she is both delicate and pretty!  The inside reads "Hope your day brings just what it should...happiness, health & everything good."

The colors this week are Highland Heather, Mango Melody and Poppy Parade.

These colors were challenging for me to work with; I think because I'm not a big fan of Mango Melody.  I find it very bright and almost overpowering.

So for this card I created a watercolor wash with the Mango Melody and the Poppy Parade on a large sheet of mixed media paper.  That toned down the Mango quite a bit.  I cut my butterflies from this sheet and then sponge the edges with the Poppy Parade to add more contrast.

For my background I used the Highland Heather both full strength and sometimes stamping off once.

I finished the card by adding a few rhinestones.  The stamp sets I used are very versatile.  The butterflies are part of a larger die that can be snipped into smaller butterflies.  And the sentiment set has lovely sentiments appropriate for many occasions.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Beauty Abounds, Special Celebrations
Dies: Stampin' up! Butterfly Beauty
Ink: Highland Heather, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Rhinestones

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Ho Ho Ombre - Aligning Tips for a CAS Card

Happy Friday!  If you follow this blog then you probably know that my favorite style of card is Clean and Simple.  When I saw the Ho Ho Friends die from Cottage Cutz I loved its bold, graphic style and knew it would be perfect for this style of card.

To start I chose three reds that were a progression in color and intensity to create an ombre effect. 

I die cut one set of letters from each red, along with the green holly leaves and the reindeer out of Crumb Cake and black.

Next I added shading to the deer using Distress Oxide inks in Vintage Photo and Tattered Rose.  I purchased inexpensive cosmetic sponges in bulk and these work great for coloring small spaces.

I assembled my reindeer.

For the card base I used an A2 base of white and cut one white panel and three green panels using the largest of the Nested Wacky Stitched Rectangle dies.  I'll use the green ones under the white panel to give dimension and color.

Next is the part that took a bit of concentration.  Clean and simple cards should be pretty precise or they can look off, but a bit of planning is all that is needed.

The key to a card like this is to work from the middle out.  I made very light pencil marks at the halfway point on each long side of the white panel and also at the halfway point on the long sides of the middle red "H".  I erased these later.

I applied snail adhesive to the back side of my "H".  Using a piece of backing saved from an adhesive sheet, I placed it from tick mark to tick mark.  The backing to these adhesive sheets are handy to have around as they are non-stick.  I was able to position the top of my "H", line up the mid points, then slip the backing out from underneath and burnish down the letter, being assured the position was correct.

I glued down the middle "O" leaving the top unglued so I could slip the lightest "O" under it.  The rest went very quickly.  I simply aligned the other letters.

To finish the card I stacked the three green panels underneath and added  my reindeer and holly with berries.

I chose the reindeer to peek out of my card, but this set also comes with Santa, a snowman and penguin.  All wonderful choices for an adorable CAS card!

Dies:  Cottage Cutz Ho Ho Friends and Nested Wacky Stitched Rectangle set
Ink: Distress Oxide Vinatage Photo and Tattered Rose
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Black, Poppy Parade, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Call Me Clover

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