September's CAS Mix Up Challenge ........

Happy Thursday ........

Well, we're in September!!  It's going to be a busy month I think.  There's two birthday's coming up.  We're going away in the motorhome in a couple of weeks (finger's crossed!), so I need to start getting things ready for the trip.  And, it's been quite the emotional day today.  Schools are back, and our eldest grandson, Alex, has started his final year at secondary school (where has that time gone!) and, for the youngest one, Arthur, it's his first day at Infant School (he's growing up too fast!!!)

But, that's not why I'm here ........... a new month means a new Blog Challenge.

Welcome to September's CAS Mix Up Challenge. 

Bobby is our Host this month, and the challenge is a Watercolour Challenge.

Watercolouring Sunflowers to be exact.

Sunflowers, for me, are happy flowers.  They always make me smile.

I don't know about you but I'm always a little nervous when it comes to watercolouring.  I love the look of watercoloured images but it's not always easy to create.  As they say ........ practice makes perfect!

One easy way of achieving the watercoloured look is to use stamps, and water reactive inks.

I've used one of the stamps from an old Stampin Up! set ...... Painted Harvest.  (I'm not sure if its still available or not.  I haven't bought from Stampin Up! for a long time!)

There's two layers to the flower, the base layer I used Mustard Seed Distress Ink, then the second layer I used Fossilised Amber, then Wild Honey over the top

I inked my stamp using the ink pad, then before stamping I spritzed the stamp with water, not too much just enough to react with the ink.

You can repeat the stamping process until you're happy with the depth of colour.

I used Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain to colour the centre, applied with a paint brush.

I stamped my sentiment underneath using a brown Versafine Clair (I think it was Acorn), and I finished off with a few splatters using the Distress colours.

I also decided to have a go at painting my own sunflower ...... what do think?

(I can't take full credit as the idea came from Pinterest)

This time I used my Altenew Watercolour Paints, and a small brush ......

It's not perfect but, it's a start ..... maybe next time I'll go for the full flower!!!

I masked off the edges of my card, painted the sunflower, then doodled the frame around the edge using a black fine liner.

A tiny simple sentiment, a bit of sparkle and some gold splatters to finish it all off

Check out the CAS Mix Up Blog for more Design Team inspiration for this months challenge.

You'll also find some links on there to some great videos using this technique.

We also have a fabulous Guest Designer this month.  Barbara is joining us from My Creative Room so be sure to pop by and say hello there too.

Remember, follow the simple challenge guidelines (you can find these on the Blog), use the monthly prompt, and keep your cards CAS (Clean and Simple) .......

I look forward to seeing you in the gallery!

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

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used:

Inks ........  Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain; Versafine Clair - Acorn; 

Stamps ....... Painted Harvest - Stampin Up!; Siunshine Wishes - Inkylicious; Tiny sentiment from Soul Whispers stamp set by Tracy Easson
Other ......  Watercolour card, Altenew Watercolour Paints, Small Heart gemstone, Black Finer Liner, Gold Ink for splatters

More Stenciling for CAS Mix Up ........

Happy Monday ........

I hope you had a lovely weekend.  We had family and friends round for a BBQ which was nice, and hubby did all the cooking, well most of it, which was even better!

I've got a little reminder for this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge for you today.  There's still 2 weeks left to get your entries in if you want to play along.

It's a Stencil challenge this month, and the added prompt is ........ Stenciling over Patterned Paper 

Patterned paper is not something that I use a lot of really, but this challenge has been fun.

I've rummaged through my bits boxes and found a few paper pieces and here are the results.

First up ...... a touch of pink

The paper is from the Mixed Media Compendium Paper Pad from Funky Fossil.  I love all the different shades of pink, and the grungy look with the little touches of blue on there.

I've used an old Sweet Poppy stencil over the top. I think it was called Cornflowers, but I couldn't find it on the website so I assume its been retired ..... sorry!

I used black Versafine Clair ink and applied it through the stencil using a sponge, building up the depth of colour gradually.

I added my sentiment using a die cut, coloured blue to bring out the blue already in the paper, and then heat embossed the word friend underneath.

To finish off the card I added a doodled frame around the edge using a black fine liner pen.

Next up, another piece of patterend paper from the same paper pad, just a different colour.  This has more of an Autumnal feel I think

Another Sweet Poppy Stencil used over the top (one of my all time favourites this one) ..... Wildflowers

(this must be retired too as it's not on the website)

I used Distress Oxide Inks this time, a mix of Unchartered Mariner and Villianous Potion.  I used a sponge to apply the inks again, and built up the depth of colour gradually.  

Applying the ink gradually means that you get a cleaner image, not as much risk of the ink bleeding under the stencil.  Takes a bit more time but, I think its worth it.

The sentiment was simply stamped in black and then die cut.

One type of paper I do like to use is book pages, I love text.  And, it makes a great background for stenciling over.

If you do use book pages, just be careful.  Give it a quick glance over first, to make sure there's nothing 'naughty' on there!

In fact, JOFY gave a great tip during one of her recent workshops ........ she likes to use foreign language books, they're not as easy to read, which I thought was a great idea.  Guess what I'm looking for next!!

Not sure where this page came from, but I think it's ok .......

This is a real CAS card.  A circle cut from an old book page, pretty flowers stenciled over the top, then I attached it onto a larger die cut circle (black card), and added a white die cut frame over the top.

A simple sentiment stamped underneath to finish it off.  I used my MISTI for the sentiment and shaped it to follow the edge of the circle.

If you are playing along with this months challenge, please remember to follow the simple guidelines, and keep your cards CAS (Clean and Simple).

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

It's going to be a quiet one here, well as quiet as it can be.  The Manx Grand Prix started yesterday so it's motorbikes again.  The weather's not playing nice though.  We had rain yesterday (Sunday), so the racing had to be called off ....... not good!

Cheerio until next time .......

Products used

Card 1

Inks ...... Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark Embossing ink, Tumbled Glass DOX (for the die cut)

Stencils ....... Cornflowers - Sweet Poppy (retired I think)

Others ...... Patterned paper; WOW Gold Superfine Embossing Powder, Small 'hello' cutting die, Black Fine Liner pen

Card 2

Inks ...... DOX Unchartered Mariner; Villianous Potion, Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Stencils ....... Sweet Poppy - Wildflowers

Stamps ....... Opposites Attract stamps and matching dies;

Others ...... Patterned paper; 

Card 3

Inks ....... DOX  - Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Rustic Wilderness; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Stencil .......  Imagination Crafts - Butterflyy & Daisy

Other ..... Old Book page; Circle Dies; Stitched Circle Frame Die; Sentiment from my stash

CAS Mix Up Challenge ........

Happy Monday .......

It's the start of a new week, at the beginning of a new month, so that means there's a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.   

This month our Challenge Host is Viv,  and it's a Stencil Challenge with the added prompt  

Stencilling over Patterned Paper.

We've all got piles of patterned papers.  Some we love and can't bring ourselves to use (I've got lots of those)  Some that are nice but we're not quite sure what to do with them (got quite a few of those too).  And then, there's those that are not really our favourites (yep! got some of those too!) 

Well, here's a great way of using all those patterned papers ....... why not stencil over the top of them.

Add a little more detail and interest to those plain-ish sort of papers.  

Cover over a design or colour that you're not quite happy with.  Or, simply stencil a pretty focal point on a nice background paper.  The hardest decision will be which paper to use.

I've got a couple of ideas for you here.

First up, one of my favourite leaf stencils ...... Natures Treasures II from Uniko.  

I've used it here over a lovely paper from 49 and Market.  Beautiful mix of shades and colours with a pretty leaf detail here and there.  I simply added a bit more interest to the edges.

I used the stencil with Distress and Distress Oxide inks first (Peacock Feathers), and then I added another leaf over the top which I heat embossed in gold.

A bit of ink around the edge, a simple sentiment, and a touch of gold splatter finishes it all off.

For the second card I've used another pretty background paper, which I think is from the Spellbinders Beautifully Imperfect Collection.  Quite delicate colours with a little bit of detail, it just needed a bold focal point .........

The Tim Holtz Roses stencil did the job perfectly I think.  Simply stenciled onto the paper using black Versafine Clair ink

I heat embossed my sentiment using WOW's Platinum Embossing Powder,

and finished of with some tiny gemstones for a touch of sparkle.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how you stencil over patterned papers.

Check out the CAS Mix Up Challenge Blog for more inspiration from the Design Team, and you'll also find some great videos on there with more tips and techniques.

You have until the end of the month to get your entries in ...... happy stencilling!

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

Cheerio until next time ....

Products used

Card 1

Inks ...... Distress and Distress Oxide ink (Peacock Feathers); Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark Embossing ink

Stencils ....... Natures Treasures II - Uniko

Others ...... Patterned paper; WOW Gold Superfine Embossing Powder, Gold ink for splatter

Card 2

Inks ...... Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark Embossing ink

Stencils ....... Tim Holtz Roses

Others ...... Patterned paper; WOW Platinum Superfine Embossing Powder; Small clear gemstones

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

The CAS Mix Up challenge ..........

Happy Monday! .........

Welcome to a new week .... and a busy one at that!

Time for a quick reminder about this months CAS Mix Up Challenge.

It's a Mixed Media challenge this month which means you need to include some stamping on your card,  you must follow the challenge theme which for August is ........ Emboss Resist, and you must also include one other Mixed Media element ......... you can find a list of ideas for that on the CAS Mix Up Blog

 

The theme this month was chosen by our host Nancy, and is a really fun technique to try.

If you're not familiar with it and haven't tried this before, then check out the links on the CAS mix Up Blog post ..... there's a few different ways you can do this.

For this card I started by masking off the bottom section of my card front.  I then stamped the pretty floral design across the top using Versafine ink.  I then sprinkled on some white embossing powder and heat set. 

With the bottom part of my card still covered,  I blended Uncharted Mariner Distress Ink over the top of the heat embossing ....... I think this is my new favourite shade of blue!

Once I was happy with the colour, I gently buffed over the top of the embossing with a paper towel to remove any excess the ink from the design.  The embossing powder had resisted the Distress ink so the white  came through nice and bright again.

For a little bit of added interest I splattered the card with a little bit of clean water.  I let it sit for a few seconds to react with the Distress Ink then I mopped up the excess with a paper towel, leaving this pretty speckled look ...... I never get tired of doing this.  It's such a simple technique that works so well, every time.

I added part of my sentiment stamped and die cut on the top, finishing it off with some stamping underneath and a few little gemstones for a touch of added sparkle!

Here's another one I did using the same Emboss Resist technique, only this time I used watercolour paints over the top 

I heat embossed the flower first, then blended the watercolour paints over the top

The embossing did take on a little bit of the colour from the paints so it's not quite as white as I would have liked but, it still looks pretty

To keep it CAS I added a sentiment strip over the bottom edge and a few pretty gemstones

I do hope you give this technique a go. 

Happy stamping! 

Well the weather forecast here for yesterday was spot on ........ the heatwave definitely broke last night!  

At around 4am we had the most spectacular thunderstorm that lasted for the best part of an hour ..... and Lauren slept through it all!  Alex on the other hand ended up in our room!  

The lightening woke me up first before the huge crash of thunder, right over the top of us ..... boy was it loud, and scary!!  

And the rain ........ the gutters on the house just couldn't handle the amount of water coming down and there was literally a waterfall coming off the roof!  

We did get up to check around the house ..... and the van!  Thankfully no damage was done, apart from a couple of mains switches had tripped off, which meant some of the house was in darkness but, other than that everything was OK ..... thank goodness.  And things are a little cooler today which is great, I've still lots to do before we go away.

  

We're off in the van again on Wednesday, for our longest trip so far.  We're away for 17 nights this time,  starting with a music festival ...... should be fun!   

It's not just a pleasure trip though, it's business too.  Turns out that hubby needs to work for some of the time, including a day, or possibly more, in London.  Fingers crossed it stays nice and cool for that!

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

Cheerio until next time .........   

Supplies

Card 1

Stamps: Vines & Roses (Tim Holtz - CMS298); Opposites Attract (The Greetery) for the sentiment

Inks: Versamark ink; Distress Ink - Uncharted Mariner; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Other: White Embossing Powder (WOW!); Oppostie Attracts Die (The Greetery); Self- adhesvie gemstones

Card 2

Stamps: Be Happy stamp set (Julie Hickey Designs)

Inks: Versamark ink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Other: White Embossing Powder (WOW!); Altenew Watercolour Paints; Self-adhesive gemstones

Emboss Resist for CAS Mix Up!

Happy Monday! .....

Well, July was a bit of a whirlwind month ......... welcome to August!

A new month, means we have a new CAS Mix Up Challenge.  

It's Mixed Media month, and the lovely Nancy is our host.  The theme she's chosen for August is ......

Emboss Resist ......... one of my favourite techniques.

If you're not familiar with this, or you need some inspiration, then check out the CAS Mix Up Blog.  On there you'll find lots of ideas from the Design team and links to some really great videos on different ways of doing this really fun technique.

Emboss Resist will work with lots of different mediums ....... ink pads, spray inks, pigment powders such as Brushos, paints, watercolour markers, but one of my favourite things to use is Distress Inks.  Because they react so well with water, the embossing resists the ink colour really easily.  

There's so many different ways of using Distress inks too ..... straight from the ink pad, blended with brushes for example or, as I've done for my inspiration piece ....... acetate smooshing!

 

I stamped the pretty floral bouquet onto a piece of white cardstock using Versamark ink, and then heat embossed in white.

 

Hmmm ........ white embossing on white cardstock?  Not an easy thing to see but, with the emboss resist technique all will be revealed in the end! 

I then swiped my Distress ink pads onto a craft sheet ...... Picked Raspberry and Salty Ocean .......

and spritzed the ink with a little water.

I used a piece of acetate to pick up the colour and then laid it onto my cardstock, over the top of the embossed image, pressing lightly with my fingertips to move the ink around a little, making sure that the whole of the embossed image was covered

I repeated this for both colours of ink, building up the depth of colour gradually. 

You can see I wasn't careful about keeping clean edges, I wanted more of the random, splattered look.  

I also overlapped the two colours to give some shading here and there 

Once I was happy with the colour, I moppped up any excess ink with a paper towel and then gently buffed over the embossed image to remove any residue left from the inks.  

Because the embossing resisted the Distress Ink, the original stamped image showed through nice and clear.

To finish off, I die cut the sentiment three times, from white cardstock.  I layered them together, heat embossing the top layer with a navy embossing powder and off setting this slightly to give that white shadow

So, my elements used for this challenge are ..... 1. the theme ...... Emboss Resist  2.  Rubber stamping and 3. Acetate Smooshing, or it could be die cutting,  I suppose.

The challenge is open until the 24th of the month, so lots of time to play along.

Check out the CAS Mix Up Blog for more Emboss Resist inspiration from the Design Team and also, pop by say hello to our fabulous Guest Designer this month ....... Brenda (Inkspired to Stamp) is joining us for this challenge. 

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great week!

July was a busy month for me but, August looks even busier.

We're off out this evening for a birthday dinner ..... our favourite restaurant is 4 today!

Then I've got my big brother and family coming over for a few days on Wednesday, so we'll be off out again then.   

When he goes home I have a crafty day with the girls planned, we haven't had a get together in such a long time.  There's also lots going on with Alex and his pals (school holidays are so much fun!)  And then, we're off again in the van on the 17th, and we don't get back until 3rd September!!!  So, that's August done ......... like I said, a busy month!  I'd better get a move on!

Cheerio until next time .......

Supplies

Stamps: scented message wood mounted rubber stamp (Penny Black)

Inks: Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean; Versamark ink

Other: Bright White,  Pea Coat embossing powders (WOW!); thanks thin metal die from my stash (not sure of the brand)