Thursday 18 March 2021

Got there in the end ..........

Happy Thursday .......

I hope you're enjoying your week.  I've been catching up with all the boring stuff like ....... housework (boring!), paperwork (even more boring!!), washing and ironing (why are there so many clothes ..... we haven't been anywhere!!! I'm sure I've washed the whole of Lauren's wardrobe this week!)  I've even started cleaning out the kitchen cupboards ..... what's that all about!?

I am playing along with a couple of Blog Challenges today though.  
First up ........ I've got another Christmas card for this month's CAS Christmas Challenge.

The challenge is to use Kraft, Red and White ......



I've used a Julie Hickey stamp set, heat embossed with white powder and then coloured using a red Distress Re-inker ...... using the ink straight from the bottle, with a fine paintbrush.  I love the depth of colour from the re-inker .........


I coloured in the leaves using a white pencil and then I stamped the pretty poinsettia again, onto a separate piece of kraft card, heat embossed and coloured it in the same way, and then fussy cut before attaching it using a foam pad to add a touch of dimension. 


I stamped my sentiment top and bottom ......


And finished with a few white paint splatters .......


It's their 3rd birthday this month at CAS Christmas so ........ Happy Birthday to you!

This next challenge caught my eye on Facebook.  It showed up on my timeline via a FB friend and I thought I'd join in.


It's been a while since I made anything this small ...... and you'd be surprised at how long it took me (and how many attempts!!!) In the end I went with this one, I think it was the third attempt ....... you don't get much more Clean and Simple!


It's a little 6x4 inch card and the stamp I used is from a lovely set by Tracy Easson.  I think it's called Just a Girl and her Forever Friend

I stamped the tiny image with black ink, directly onto my card blank. 


I was going to leave it at that and go with the optional twist of Black & White but, I felt it needed more. It was just a little too CAS even for me!  So ..... I added in the colour using an old Stampin Up! stamp and Distress inks ....... now I'm happy!

CAS, even something so small, can turn out to be the hardest cards to make.  This was my first attempt .... same stamped image, but I felt it need more.   By the time I'd added more  it was bigger than the required one inch!


Second try ....... something different this time but ..... broke the rules again!  By the time I'd added the word Art and the splatters,  it was bigger than one inch on the front ..... arggghhhh!!


I got there in the end though, just in time too as the challenge ends on the 20th!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time ......




Products used:
CAS Christmas

Stamps: Christmas Joy (Julie Hickey Designs)
Inks: Versamark ink; Versafine ink - Satin Red; Distress Re-Inker - Festive Berries
Others: White Embossing Powder (WOW!); White Polychromos Pencil (Faber Castel); White Fresco Finish Chalk paint (splatters) (PaperArtsy)

AAA Card Challenge
Card 1
Stamps: Just a Girl & her Forever Friend (Tracy Easson Illustrations); Playful Backgrounds (Stampin Up!)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean

Card 2 
Stamps: Just a Girl & her Forever Friend (Tracy Easson Illustrations); Sarah's Choice (IndigoBlu)
Inks: 
Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Distress Inks - Mustard Seed, Festive Berries

Card 3
Stamps: Hey, Chick (Stampin Up!)
Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Other: Small Circle Die

14 comments:

HilaryJane said...

Wonderful selection of cards, getting such vibrant ink colour on your first card is a good reason to invest in re-inkers. Love all 3 of your extra CAS CAS cards too, even if they don't quite match the rules xx

Loll said...

That JOY card is amazing Linda. I LOVE how using the red re-inker straight gives a bright and bold red on kraft paper. I love the white penciled leaves and everything outlined with white embossing. The added red poinsettia is so sweet.

I love your CAS cards. An inch is hard to work with, but I guess that's why it's a challenge. :) You did amazing work and even though two are over the inch requirement, they are fabulous CAS designs. Great work as always, my friend! xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous Christmas card Linda, the depth of red looks amazing on the kraft.
Love the 'inch' cards - don't know if I could keep anything that small - love the last one - cute!
Avril xx

Jane said...

Well worth all the effort as you've made a stunning example of an inchie. I went through a similar process as I couldn't believe how tiny an inchie actually is. Thanks for playing at AAA Cards, hope to see you join in with future challenges too. Stay safe and keep crafting!

Viv said...

Loving the Christmas card Linda.
Your 'inchies' (yes even the inchie and a bit ones) are brilliant. x

Mac Mable said...

I know exactly what you mean about the inchie's Linda...Lol x. What a stunning Christmas card, great design and fabulous colour combination x.

Cathy said...

Great inchie cards Linda, I love the richness of the red from the reinkers too and that is such a pretty stamp, gorgeous take on red white and kraft, Cathy x

Cardsbymaaike said...

Great cards, love all the inchie ones. Thank you for playing at AAA Cards.

Francesca said...

Perfect one inchie cards, love all card! Thank you for playing at AAA Cards!

Bonnie said...

Love, love, love the Christmas card, Linda! What wonderful depth in the red coloring and the white leaves are a wonderful contrast! Your inchies are adorable, even if they're a little bigger. Especially love the fun chick peeking out!

Christine Alexander said...

Love your Joy card, the red lettering really pops on the kraft.
love those inchies, awesome cards :)

Barb Ghig said...

Fabulous collection of cards, Linda! I love that you chose white EP on your Christmas card...it contrasts beautifully with the bold red on the alphas and Poinsettia! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at CAS Christmas!

Julia Aston said...

Using the red re-inker really gave you a wonderful red inside your white embossing Linda - such fun tiny images on your other cards! xx

Vicky Hayes said...

Good gracious Linda, step away from the housework! Haven't you got any crafting to do?!! I love all your fun inchie cards and that Christmas card is such a showstopper! Vicky x