A clever trick for creating Eclipse cards ......

Happy weekend!

I hope you're all well, and enjoying this gorgeous summer weather.  

It's been a lazy couple of weeks for me since my last post.  I'm still not fully mobile after my fall but, things are improving, slowly, day by day ...... just keep taking the meds! 

It's nice to see so many of you are as pleased as I am that the CAS Mix Up Challenge is back.  

There's still plenty of time to play along if you haven't done so already.

It's a Mixed Media Challenge for July, and the prompt is ..... Eclipse

I love this technique, and here's a really clever little trick that I came across on Facebook, from Jenn's Crafty Makes. 

I just had to give this a go.  Not only is it a quick and easy way of doing the Eclipse technique, it's also a great way of using up some of those off cuts of cardstock we all end up with.

You do need a stamping platform though, it really makes this so easy.

I started by stamping the large floral image onto a piece of white card using my MISTI.  

Once you've done this, just set the stamping platform to one side.  DON'T MOVE THE STAMP and DON'T MOVE THE CARD YOU'VE STAMPED ON TO.

Then, you need to cut some strips of white cardstock.  You can decide on how many you need to cover your image.  I went for nine strips in total, about 0.5cm wide and 11cm long, long enough to cover the stamped image.   

I actually layered two strips together, to give a bit of dimension, you could do three if you like.

Next, carefully attach the white strips onto your stamped image, trying not to move your card.  

If you do happen to move it, just make sure you put it back in the right place before the next stage.

You can see I slightly offset the strips just to give a bit more interest.

Make sure your card is in position, ink your stamp and then stamp over the top of the strips of card 

How easy is that ......... I love it!

A simple sentiment underneath and a bit of mat and layering and the card is done.

If you want to add a pop of colour, use a die cut sentiment .......

I used the same stamped image but this time, I trimmed the strips down a little.  I started in the middle with the longest one and then trimmed one each side a little shorter as I covered the image, it just gives a slightly different look

If you're not into stamping but you like the eclipse idea, then why not use some patterned paper and a simple sentiment die.

This is simply a sheet of paper from the Spellbinders 6x6 Beautifully Imperfect collection ...... I love this daisy!

I die cut my sentiment from the paper, and twice from black cardstock.

I then inlaid one of the black die cuts back into the paper, layered the second one on top, and finished with the paper one.

I added the stamped 'birthday' part of my sentiment ...... remember that you must include some stamping on your project for the Mixed Media Challenge.  And I finished off with a few gold splatters.

Thanks for popping by, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

We've got the family coming round tomorrow for a BBQ, and to watch the World Cup Final.  Not the teams we would have liked to be in the final but, it is what it is.  

Come on Spain!!!  is all I'm saying.

Cheerio until next time.

Products used ......

Cards1 and 2
Stamps ........ Floral image from 'My Condolences' Unity Stamps; Happy Birthday from Happy Birthday Sentiments - Pink Fresh Studio                                                                                            

Inks ......... Versafine Clair -Nocturne (my go to black ink); Delicata Golden Glitz ink; Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink
Dies ........  Winnie & Walter 'happy' die'

Other ....... MISTI stamping platform

Card 3

Inks ......... Versafine Clair -Nocturne
Dies ........  Winnie & Walter happy die

Designer Paper ...... Beautifully Imperfect 6x6 patterned papers - Spellbinders

Other ....... Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink - Gold (for the splatter)

CAS Mix Up is back!!!

Happy Friday .........

It's the weekend again.  

I mentioned a couple of days ago that something was happening in July.  Guess what, in case you haven't already heard .......... CAS Mix Up Challenge is back ..... yeah!!!

Can you believe it's been nearly 4 years since the last challenge, and I'm so happy that its back.  I do love a good Blog Challenge.  

I'm just a little bit excited too as Loll has asked me to be part of the DT again.  Thank you so much Loll, its a pleasure to be part of such a fabulous team.

Things are pretty much the same as they were with the challenge.

Each month will be a CAS Challenge, with a repeating three types of cardmaking ......

Mixed Media

Stenciling

Watercolouring

The challenge goes live on the 3rd of each month and runs until the end of the month, so plenty of time to play along and get your entries in.

There's a simple set of guidelines ......

and a monthly prompt to follow.

Loll is getting things started with a Mixed Media Challenge.

and the prompt is ........ ECLIPSE

I love this technique, and there's a few different ways to achive this look. 

For my first DT inspiration card I've used die cuts letters to 'eclipse' part of the sentiment.  I've cut the letters directly from my stamped image, once it had been coloured, and also cut them twice from plain white cardstock.  

I then inlayed one of the white die cuts back into my stamped image, remembering to use the bits from the coloured layer to inlay into the letters B, D and A to keep the bottom layer of the image complete.  I followed with another white layer on top, and then finished off with the coloured ones so that everything blends back in with the original image ...... I hope that all makes sense!

 

I love the dimension that this technique gives.

Some simple stamping completes the sentiment ......

and a little bit of gold splatter adds the finishing touch.

Here's another idea using the Eclipse technique .......  

This one is very CAS, and I've used my sentiment as the 'Eclipse' again.

I stamped and heat embossed the smiley face.  Coloured it using brush markers, and then die cut the word smile from the stamped image and twice again from white cardstock.

I inlaid one of the white die cuts into the smiley face, layered on the second one, and finished with the coloured one.

I stamped the sentiment underneath, and added a few gold splatters.  

Is it just me or, does it look like the face has ears, and a little tuft of hair on the top of his head .......... it made me smile anyway.

If you need more ideas, inspiration, or if this technique is new to you, then check out the 

CAS Mix Up Blog. 

 

There you'll find more inspiration from the Design Team, and our Guest Designer this month Michele (I Card Everyone).  You'll also find some useful links to videos showcasing the Eclipse technique, with lots of great tips on creating this look.

The challenge is open until the end of the month, so there's lots of time to play along.

I look forward to seeing you in the gallery.

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Card 1
Stamps ........ Floral Garden (Simon Says Stamp), Happy Happy Happy (Lawn Fawn)

Inks ......... Versafine Clair -Nocturne (my go to black ink)
Dies ........  Tall Alpha Die (Altenew)

Other ....... ZIG Watercolour Brush Pens, Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink - Gold

Card 2

Stamps ........ Keep Smiling -Visible Image, sentiment from an old Penny Black clear stamp set

Inks ......... Versafine Clair -Nocturne
Dies ........  Smile die 

Other ....... WOW Clear Embossing Powder, ZIG Watercolour Brush Pens, Winsor & Newton Drawing Ink - Gold