Free as a Bird CAS Card

September 2020 has five Tuesdays so CAS Colours & Sketches this week has a special challenge for you - Timeless Tuesday!  YoonYoung has picked an older sketch and retired Stampin' Up! colors for the challenge.

 Here is the challenge:

I think this is the first time that I haven't had one of the colors.  I couldn't believe it, but I do not own Baja Breeze in any form of ink.  I substituted Balmy Blue; it's not quite as gray but it is pretty much the same value as Baja Breeze, which is a bit lighter than Marina Mist

This is a super simple card to make.  On a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch piece of Whisper White Thick cardstock, In I lightly outlined in pencil where I was going to cut my rectangle.  Then I stamped the bird and lower branches.

I colored it using Stampin' Write markers, acrylic blocks and a Blender Pen. This is one of my favorite techniques for light watercoloring and probably the only time I use my markers!  But it works beautifully.  For this challenge I added two neutral browns for shading and the branches - Crumb Cake and Soft Suede

After I colored the bird and lower branches, I stamped the sentiment and cut the rectangle.  I removed the rectangle, stamped the upper branches and colored those.

The panel is attached to an A2 card base. I popped up the rectangle with the bird using three rectangles of Balmy Blue underneath.  I couldn't resist adding a touch of sparkle so there is one clear Elegant Faceted Gem.

Coloring using a blender pen and markers or watercolor pencils is a great way to venture into coloring.  It's not expensive and the results can be very impressive.  You don't get the seamless, blended look of alcohol markers, but you do get the lovely look of watercolor!

I'll be offering a beginning coloring class in November using the markers and acrylic block technique.  For more information click here!

 

Coming October 1!

 Check back Thursday for more information!

 

Place ANY order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
Products used today: Substitute Pear Pizzazz for the Gumball Green and Night of Navy for the Marina Mist. You could substitute other colors, but with these only two sets of markers are needed!

• Stamps:  Free as a Bird  
  
• Paper: Whisper White Thick, Balmy Blue, 
  
• Ink: Stazon,  Memento Tuxedo Black
  
• Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Dies, Blender Pens, Balmy Blue & Pear Pizzazz in the Stampin' Write Markers - Subtles Set, Night of Navy & Soft Suede & Crumb Cake in the Stampin' Write Markers - Neutrals Set, Elegant Faceted Gems
  

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Celebrate Sunflowers and You

A funny thing happened on the way to creating this card.  It's for this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers and I had my card all planned out.  Only it wasn't this card!

The colors this week are Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and White.  However, until Saturday morning (when I decided to double check the colors), I thought they were Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green and White.  So much for my well thought out cardinal card!

I've been wanting to try out the Celebrate Sunflowers stamp and die set.  I've seen similar cards on Pinterest that use them and don't use traditional sunflower colors so I thought I'd give it a try.

I used watercolor paper and stamped the image in the corner using the Rich Razzleberry ink.  I then went in with water and a brush and created a wash.  It left just a hint of the flower.  I used my heat tool to dry the paper to damp, then I stamped the flower again.  You can see how it bled in the background.  I did not use my Stamp-a-ratus since I did not really want it in the exact same place. Where the image was too crisp, I went in with my brush to soften it.

I used the Old Olive and water to create a soft, mottled green and cut my greenery from that.

This card was fairly simple to create and is one where you just let the color flow.  Too much control and it ruins the look!

Coming October 1!

 Check back Thursday for more information!

Place ANY order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
Products used today:

• Stamp and Die Bundle: Celebrate Sunflowers   
  
• Paper: Whisper White, Watercolor, Vellum, 
  
• Ink: Rich Razzleberry,  Old Olive
  
• Accessories: Gold Metallic Trim, Gilded Gems, Heat Tool
  

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Mixed Media Halloween Card

My card today is for this week's TicTacToe Challenge. I'm not certain I love this card - it certainly is a departure for me - but it fits the criteria of the challenge.  And I wanted to do something different and try out a few new "toys."

I used the middle column: Mixed Media, Splatter, Orange

I just bought some Tim Holtz Resist Spray.  It's a super cool spray that goes on white and dries clear (I guess it's clear - I sprayed it on white so I really couldn't tell - LOL!)  Then I created a wash using Smoky Slate and Basic Gray ink. The splatters resist your wash.

My second media is a Metallic Silver Distress Crayon which I smeared in various places and then used some water to move around.  You can see the metallic in this photo.

I added some orange splatters, washi tape and a few stamps.

This was one of those cards where I sat down and played with materials to see what popped up.  I had a vague plan to use the gears and the postage stamp as I thought they would contribute to a "steampunk" Halloween card.  I'm not sure that happened, but I kind of like the result.

If nothing else, I enjoyed trying out the new materials and will have a better idea how to use them in the future!

Place ANY order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps:  Festive Post, Ghoulish Goodies 
  
• Paper: Watercolor, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Silver Foil,
  
• Ink: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie  Memento Tuxedo Black
  
• Accessories: Rectangular Postage Stamp Punch, Halloween Magic Dies (substitute for retired bat punch), Sponge Daubers
• The Postage Stamp Punch is really a useful punch and can be purchased as bundle all occasion set. I used it last month on a note card. Click here to see that card!)

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Follow Your Art and Why I Keep Stamps FOREVER

I love the sketch today at CAS Colours and Sketches.  I varied it just a bit by altering the height of my pencils.

Here is the posted sketch:

The stamp set I used is retired but one that I will keep forever - there are just too many artists in my family and friends!  I know I'll always use it and that sentiment is one of my favorites.

I stamped the images in Stazon, colored with Watercolor Pencils and a blender pen and die cut them out.  Super simple.  The stitched background is also from a retired die.

I must be a hoarder because while I love getting the new things to play with, I can't part with the old.  On the other hand when my husband says at the last minute "I need a thank you card and my client loves coffee (or golf or cats)" it's easy for me to come up with a personalized card because I have so many stamps!

BIG NEWS!

Stampin' Up! is having a 24 Hour Stamp Sale on September 23, 2020!  (From 12:00 am MT to 11:50pm MT.)

Select stamps will be on sale for 15% off including the Whiskey Business set I featured last week!   Order Whiskey Business and use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to both cards!

Place ANY order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
 Products used today:

• Paper: Whisper White Thick, Basic Gray
  
• Ink: Stazon Black 
  
• Accessories: Watercolor Pencils Assortment One, Blender Pens, Banners Pick a Punch, White Embossing Powder 
  

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Poinsettia Petals

When I saw Chris' colors - Flirty Flamingo, Terracotta Tile and Soft Suede - for this week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers I initially wondered what I would do.  Then I had an AHA moment.  I'd make a Christmas card!  And a little secret - this one is super easy thanks to laser-cut specialty paper!

This card uses the Poinsettia Petals dies.  I've used the stamp set before and it is quite lovely, but the dies...they are wonderful! 

They make beautiful stand alone flowers, leaves and greenery.  Those embossed petals are gorgeous.  I used sponge daubers to just touch the petal centers and edges with the Flirty Flamingo and Terracotta Tile inks, then lightly sponged some Soft Suede ink over the embossed background for a bit of antiquing.  The berry sprigs are cut from Soft Suede cardstock.

One of the things that makes it so special is the use of the die cut from the Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty Paper.  It adds that WOW factor with no work.  The gold greenery is all ONE DIE cut.  It looks like you spent time arranging the greenery, but it's one easy layer.

I also added my favorite embellishments from this year's catalog - the Gold Hoops.  They add just enough shine with a very up-to-the-minute appeal.  The "gold" pearl in the center is a Beaded Pearl from the Holiday Catalog colored with a Soft Suede Stampin' Blends marker.

I'm thinking that this will be my Christmas card for the year - it is that easy to recreate in multiples.  For variety I'll just vary the colors!  Perhaps some Night of Navy, Shaded Spruce or Merry Merlot in the background instead of the Terracotta Tile for a bit more traditional card.

BIG NEWS!

Stampin' Up! is having a 24 Hour Stamp Sale on September 23, 2020!  (From 12:00 am MT to 11:50pm MT.)

Select stamps will be on sale for 15% off including the Whiskey Business set I featured last week!   Order Whiskey Business and use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to both cards!

Place ANY order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and YOU will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps: Poinsettia Petals Bundle
  
• Dies only: Poinsettia dies
  
• Paper: Whisper White Thick, Soft Suede, Terracotta Tile, Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty Paper,
• Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Terracotta Tile, Soft Suede, Soft Suede Stampin' Blends 
  
• Accessories: Beaded Pearls, Scripty 3-D Embossing Folder, Gold Hoops, Sponge Daubers 
  

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CAS Whiskey Business Cards

I have two clean and simple cards for you today using the Whiskey Business stamp set from Stampin' Up!  This set is fast becoming my go-to for guy cards.  The men in my family don't fish or hunt so many of the usual masculine stamp sets just don't fit.  However, they do like their scotch!

This card is for the color challenge this week at CAS Colours & Sketches.  Two of the colors - Mango Melody and Cinnamon Cider - are the perfect blend for the whiskey so the rest was easy! 

Here are the posted colors:

I got the inspiration for this card from an earlier one that I made for my brother-in-law.  I would have used that card but it did not have the Cherry Cobbler and I wanted a slightly different card so I made a banner for the sentiment using the Banners Pick A Punch  which allows you to create perfect banners in three widths!

Both cards use the In Good Taste Designer Paper which pairs perfectly with this set giving a whiskey barrel feel.  I also used Gold Foil paper and heat embossing on both.

The whiskey is created by first coloring with the Mango and then adding the Cinnamon Cider around the edges.  Since I used the "Straight Up" sentiment I left off the glass because it shows an "on the rocks" not "straight up" drink! 

 

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

Order Whiskey Business and use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to both cards!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps: Whiskey Business
  
• Punch: Banners Pick a Punch
  
• Paper: Whisper White Thick, In Good Taste DSP, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Gold Foil
  
• Ink: Memento, Versamark, Stampin' Blends Mango Melody, Stampin' Blends Cinnamon Cider
  
• Accessories: Gilded Gems, Gold Embossing Powder
  

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Beautiful Autumn Bundle Wreath

When the new Holiday Catalog at Stampin' Up! came out, this stamp and punch bundle (Beautiful Autumn) wasn't even on my radar.  I've had little punches before and rarely used them.  This set has changed my mind about small punches!  I love these!

This card is for the color challenge at Splitcoaststampers this week where the colors are Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler and Garden Green.

I started the card by watercoloring an A2 base using Garden Green and just a bit of Pumpkin Pie.  The splatters were created by using a resist spray.  The sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso.

The Beautiful Autumn leaves and acorn are just the perfect size to add to foliage on an A2 card.  Here I used the swirl die from the Painted Labels Dies and cut out the center using a layering circle die to make the base of my wreath.  I added solid foliage cut in Garden Green from the Sunflowers Dies and a gold hoop to further anchor my wreath base.

I used the "splat" technique to get a sheet of Cherry Cobbler and Pumpkin Pie watercolor paper that I could stamp with the leaves and cut out with the punches.  The acorn outlines are stamped on Whisper White Thick in Early Espresso ink and filled in with Soft Suede for the top and Soft Suede stamped off once on the bottom. I think they are so cute for autumn cards!

I'm usually not one for bows but I added one here using the ribbon from the Forever Greenery pack.  I like it's more rustic look and a wreath needs a bow.  Finally I added a few rhinestones in Pumpkin Pie from the Holiday Rhinestones Basic Jewels.

 

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps and Punch Bundle: Beautiful Autumn
  
• Dies: Painted Labels, Sunflowers, Layering Circles
  
• Paper: Watercolor, Whisper White, Garden Green
• Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
  
• Accessories: Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack, Holiday Rhinestones, Gold Hoops, Water Painter, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots
  

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Two Quick Cards Using Blender Pens to "Watercolor"

I have two very quick cards for you today!  They use only two colors - Old Olive and Poppy Parade - and Black.  The inspiration for these was the CAS Challenge this week at Splitcoaststampers.  Jenn gave the challenge to use only two colors, your favorite primary and favorite secondary color plus any neutrals.  To make these cards I used a favorite technique of mine which is "watercoloring" using blender pens.  It is great for small areas, and gives you a bit more control than traditional watercolor.

 Although I say I have no favorite color because picking one is like picking your favorite child, I also say green is the perfect color because it is nature's neutral.  Every single color has a shade of green that it looks great with!  Name one flower that doesn't look good with it's green leaves....or a blue sky that doesn't look great with green.  So picking green was easy.  For my primary, I tend to lean more towards pinks and reds so I picked red.

Card One - top

I stamped the row of poppies from Painted Poppies one right next to the other along the bottom of a top folding A2 card.  I used Whisper White Thick since I wanted to do light watercoloring.  You could also use Shimmery White, but I like the WW Thick for this.

I stamped the foliage with the splatter stamp in Old Olive, stamping off to get different shades.  Using my Poppy Parade marker I colored on an acrylic block and used that as my "palette" for watercoloring the flowers with a blender pen.  This method gives a very light watercolor that doesn't pill up the thick cardstock.  (You can also use the method below if you don't have markers.)

Final step was to stamp the sentiment from Band Together, a sentiment set I find incredibly useful!  If you follow my blog you'll notice I use it A LOT!

Card Two - bottom

Even easier!  Using an acrylic block and Old Olive, I stamped a square on an A2 card front.

I stamped my flowers on a separate piece of Whisper White Thick and colored using a blender pen and the ink from the Poppy Parade stamp pad. You can either squeeze the lid to the stamp pad to get ink onto it, or place a few drops of ink from a reinker onto the lid.

I then used the dies to cut out the poppies.  I started to fussy cut the flowers when I remembered I had dies for this set!  I had the vellum spray leftover from another project so I added it.  It is cut using Forever Flourishing dies, another set that is invaluable!

Both these cards are super quick to make.  In fact, if you take too long to do the "watercoloring" they lose that soft, loose appeal!

 

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog. 

 
Place a $100 order with me, use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to make all four cards of my cards from September 7 and 10 (two dog and two cat cards), along with suggestions on how to add variety!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits - and I will send you the PDF!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps and dies: Painted Poppies/Painted Labels Bundle,  
• Stamps: Band Together
• Dies: Forever Flourishing
  
• Paper: Whisper White Thick, Vellum
  
• Ink: Poppy Parade, Old Olive, Stazon Black
  
• Accessories: Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine, Brights Stampin' Writes Markers, Acrylic Block D, Blender Pens, 
  

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Using Non-Traditional Colors for Autumn

I'm the hostess this week at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge where the theme is masculine or fall cards.  As always you can choose your three elements to include on your card.

For my card I chose cat, pumpkin and  orange/rust.

A funny thing about this card.  It wasn't the first that I created.   It was what I originally intended but as often happens what you think and what ends up on paper are two different things. I really wanted a non-traditional color combo for this card.  But my original card was very traditional.

I think because I was also having to design a card for another challenge and I wanted this card to be similar, I combined the two idea and came up with a card that while beautiful, was NOT what I envisioned.  Some will like it better!  See below:

In fact, I love this card!  But I also felt challenged to design a card like I had originally thought in colors and a style that did not immediately say "fall".

The design on the second card pairs very well with my dog cards from Tuesday.  And today's card does as well.  

What I like is that many of the same elements on all cards can give you dramatically different looks.  The dog cards are very similar to one another.  These two cards have a different feel from each other, but the pumpkins, cat and leaves here are the same.

I have a PDF with instructions on the four cards.  There are a few elements that are essential to both cards - the punches, a foliage die and textured paper (either through embossing or pattern.)

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

Place a $100 order with me, use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to make all four cards (two dog and two cat cards), along with suggestions on how to add variety even without a die cutting machine!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits - and I will send you the PDF!

• Products: All Stampin' Up! 
• Punch: Cat Punch
• Dies: Autumn Essentials, Tasteful Labels, Painted Labels
• Stamps: Tasteful Touches, Forever Fern
• Paper: Whisper White Thick,  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Mint Macaron, Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper, Vellum
  
• Ink: Crumb Cake
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Gold Hoops Embellishments, Gilded Gems, In Good Taste Elements, Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder, Forever Gold Laser Cut Specialty Paper,  Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
• Other products used are adhesive and ink blending tools which can be varied depending on your preference.
• Several of these products come bundled together for great savings.  I used several products from these suites in today's and Thursday's cards: In Good Taste Suite Collection, Forever Greenery Suite Collection

For other ideas using the Forever Greenery bundle click here.

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Lovely You for Sketch Tuesday

Today is a new sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  YoonYoung gave us a pretty simple sketch which means it's not as simple to create a card as it looks!  

My card today features the Lovely You stamp set from the Annual Catalog at Stampin' Up.  I've used this set numerous times for the sentiments - in fact that is why I bought it.  I love the combo of the script and the sans serif fonts.  And the sentiments themselves I find incredibly useful and varied.

 
Today I finally used the floral images too.  Why did I wait so long?  This was super easy to create.  I lightly drew a line in pencil two inches from the bottom and began stamping my floral images.  I used three colors of ink and to get variation in tone I stamped off some of the images.

Then I cut a panel for the bottom two inches tall.  That covered up the bottom portion of the floral line to give it a sharp edge.  I wanted the two panels to have a little contrast so I ran my floral panel through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine using the Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder.  This gave just enough contrast and interest between the two panels.  I finished it by using ribbon and tying in a simple knot.

 
A CAS card that is easy to create in multiples and in any color combo that suits you.  Just pick three colors!

 
Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog. 

 
Place a $100 order with me, use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to make all four cards of my cards from September 7 and 10 (two dog and two cat cards), along with suggestions on how to add variety!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits - and I will send you the PDF!

 
 Products used today:

• Stamps: Lovely You
• Paper: Whisper White Thick
• Ink: Bumblebee, Pretty Peacock, Cinnamon Cider
• Accessories: Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder, Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine, Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon

 

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Masculine All Occasion Cards

I'm a bit out of order today, but these are cards inspired by my card that will be posted here on Thursday.  What I love about these cards is that while they are perfect masculine cards that can be used for any occasion, they really are great for any dog lover!  Think of the possibilities just by changing the paper across the bottom.

The bottom card is for a color challenge at Splitcoaststampers - Bumble Bee, Merry Merlot and Mossy Meadow.  The challenge also added the extra "dessert" to make it a masculine card.  As I was making my card for Thursday's Tic Tac Toe Challenge, this  card came to mind.  That's why I say these are out of order, they are inspired by a card I'll post later.  These cards start with the Dog Builder punch, my card Thursday features the cat punch.  Punches are a wonderful way to ad  "die cut" images to your cards quickly.

I started making the one with the chocolate lab and liked both lower panels - the wood and the check - so I made two cards.  Since I had the chocolate lab, I went with a yellow lab for the other.

After adding the panels on the bottom it was really a matter of adding the extras behind the dog.  I used a variety of dies and embellishments from the Annual and Seasonal catalogs.  I LOVE the Gold Hoops.  When I first saw these, I thought "what in the world would I do with those?"  But they add just the right amount of shine and look fantastic combined with any twine and greenery!

The sentiment is from Tasteful Touches, a stamp set with beautiful sentiments.  They are a combination of the sans serif font shown here and a lovely script that are good for any occasion.  My splatter uses a stamp from Forever Fern but can also be made by dotting with a Stampin' Blends marker or with ink and a paint brush.  Those methods are a bit more uncontrolled.

Many of the products used for these cards are also used on my cards on Thursday.

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

Place a $100 order with me, use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to make all four cards (two dog and two cat cards), along with suggestions on how to add variety even without a die cutting machine!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits - and I will send you the PDF!

• Products: All Stampin' Up! 
• Punch: Dog Builder
• Heart: I used an older retired punch but the Heart Punch Pack or Stitched Be Mine heart dies will work
• Dies: Autumn Essentials, Beautiful Boughs
• Stamps: Tasteful Touches, Forever Fern
• Paper: Whisper White Thick, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Old Olive,  In Good Taste Designer Series Paper, Heartwarming Hugs Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso, Merry Merlot
  
• Ink: Mossy Meadow, Bumblebee, Crumb Cake
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Gold Hoops Embellishments, Gilded Gems, In Good Taste Elements, Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
• Other products used are adhesive and ink blending tools which can be varied depending on your preference.
• Several of these products come bundled together for great savings.  I used several products from these suites in today's and Thursday's cards: In Good Taste Suite Collection, Forever Greenery Suite Collection

For other ideas using the Forever Greenery bundle click here.

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What is an Artist Anyway?

The answer is simple - we're just children!  Sometimes stubborn children!

This card was made for this year's Dare to Get Dirty challenge at Splitcoaststampers and for this week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  I used the diagonal - tilted, coloring, blue (or the column - stripes, banner, tilted - because I just realized that works too!).

The stamp I used is actually only a single crayon so I created my border by image masking.  Then I used Distress Crayons to color.  I've never used them before but they sure are fun! I thought using them was particularly appropriate given the sentiment.  They feel very close to the crayons we used as kids but a bit softer.  After I colored, I used an aqua painter to blend.  Since each crayon is monochromatic it was very easy.

I need to find an image where I can blend some colors together and see how that goes!  Most of the images I color are pretty fine and I'm not sure how these would work since they have a fairly large tip.  I'll make sure to post when I do find a good image.

Here is this week's challenge at Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

We hope you'll join us - it is tons of fun!

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Color My World
• Distress Crayons: Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Chipped Sapphire
• Sentiment Strips: Simon Says Stamp Artist Sentart Believe in You
• Paper: Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow

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Forever Fern CAS Color Challenge

The color challenge this week at CAS Colours & Sketches gave me a bit of fits for a while.  It is two greens, Old Olive and Mossy Meadow, and a gray, Gray Granite.  I knew that they could either look very elegant or very drab!  I tried a birthday card once using gray and it was the saddest thing you ever saw.  I thought about a sympathy card, but I really felt challenged to use these colors for a happy occasion.

These are what I came up with and I feel I was successful in making them elegant and suitable for male or female.  But why are there two cards?

 
At first, I made the one on the left.  It was already staring to get a bit much for a CAS card but I thought it might sneak by.  I used the Greenery Embossing Folder to emboss about a 1 inch strip of paper from World of Good Specialty paper and was going to leave it at that with a few sprigs and the sentiment.

 
Then this happened:

I didn't want to scrap the card, so I cut off the side, embossed a panel in white using the same embossing folder and glued my card front to that.  It definitely was no longer CAS, so I added some linen thread, a gem and made another card.

This card went very fast.  I already had the sprigs since I had stamped and die cut more than I needed for the other card.  I used the dot stamp from this set in Gray Granite for the background and the sentiment is in Mossy Meadow.

 
For the sentiments, I used two from Band Together stamp set.  I love the fonts in this set - they are simple and classic.

 
Forever Fern is one of my favorites from the new Annual Catalog.  It is incredibly versatile and can be used either on its own as here, or as background foliage for other stamps.  It is well worth the price.  
I know this will be one of my stamps I never get rid of.  I have a few retired sets like that.  They can be used so many different ways!

Place any order with me between now and September 30 and use Hostess code EZAMBBNF and I will send you a free copy of the new Holiday Mini catalog.

Place a $100 order with me, use Hostess Code EZAMBBNF and I will also send you a PDF of instructions to make all four card dog and cat cards in my September 7 and September 10 posts, along with suggestions on how to add variety!  If your order is $150 or more DO NOT use the code and you will receive the Hostess Benefits - and I will send you the PDF!

 

• Stamp and Die Bundle: Forever Fern
• Stamp: Band Together
• Inks: Gray Granite, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive
• Paper: World of Good Specialty Paper, Whisper White Thick, Vellum Cardstock
• Punches: Label Me Fancy, Tailored Tag (another - Keep Forever!)
• Accessories: Elegant Faceted Gems Linen Twine, Greenery Embossing folder

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