CAS

Ocean Scene

Hello there. I have a card for you today which is CAS – different to my recent cards:

I saw the theme for the current challenge at CASology – Ocean – and knew I had a layering stamp set somewhere, by someone, and it took me a few minutes to remember this was from The Ton – a golf course layering stamp set.

I had forgotten how to stamp and layer this, so I turned to YouTube – and found an amazing video from June 2018 – link HERE – where Effie from The Ton used the waves stamp several times, the technique for not getting any lines whilst mixing and merging the stamps – and basically you ended up with a beach scene. Just keep stamping the waves bottom layer again and again, in different places – and the effect produces a deeper and longer waves layer…..as above……

The initial stamps create the layer you see above with the darker waves, and the waves below that are just using the base stamp over and over again – varying the placement.

My first few attempts I got a few lines where I didn’t wipe the edges enough – but if you check the video out – it really is quite simple once you get the hang of it (she says – laughing – tongue in cheek!!)

Once I had the ocean stamped, I then used the current from the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches, die cut a circle – and placed as you see.

I also added some muted grey clouds from that same stamp set – two layer clouds, but in the lightest grey inks from Altenew.

Combining a theme, colours, and sketches really helps me to create a more balanced card. trying to put together colours fazes me sometimes – so many colours – so much choice, and where to stamp and put my die-cuts? That’s why I like to combine challenges.

Sometimes I start with a them, sometimes with the colours, but the sketch challenges certainly help me with the layout.

I shall also be entering this challenge into the current Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge – where the theme is CAS.

Sparkly deer

Hi there. I have a quick posting for a card today, to enter the current challenge at CAS Christmas Cards:

I took this very intricate deer from X-cut, and cut it out of glitter card from Crafters Companion, after sticking some double-sided sticky sheet on the back of it. I knew the deer was intricate, and didn’t want to glue it, as I generally get some glue leaking around the edges.

I used the Crafters Companion Gemini Junior to cut it – and that took several passes through the machine – which is very unusual. I even used the metal plate too…….

The blue/green rectangle is Distress Oxides, which I blended through an aperture I masked off. The sentiment is from a Concord and 9th stamp set. I thought the sentiment was suitable for a peaceful looking deer.

So – a quick posting, as I was at the computer buying the newest Catherine Pooler release…………which will take 2-3 weeks to get to me!! I am sure you will know when I have it, as there will definitely be some cards made very soon after receiving it…….. :)

CAS Wild Ferns

I seem to have lost my posting about this card, but have found it via a challenge link. Hopefully it works now……….and it hasn’t posted twice!! :(

Hi again. I have a simple card to share today. I have spent the past couple of days playing with some intricate techniques and cards – see previous post – so today I wanted to go a little more clean……….

I actually made another with out the sequins, and matted and layered slightly differently:

The idea behind these cards, was for a couple of guys at work who have just been through some exams, and I wanted to give them a card which is not my usual more feminine style – obviously – so these are what I came up with. A clean and simple – yet effective – card.

Who says a guy can’t have sequins on a card? Not me……….

I used the Altenew ‘Wild Ferns’ stamp set and went with a simple stamped image using three of the Altenew green inks.

This layout is one I have used for a previous challenge where the idea was to use just one third, or just the top part of the card. I find going back to previous challenge sketch layouts gives me an idea about my design.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Male Room – Male and green

The Card Concept – Photo Inspiration

Addicted to CAS – green

Stitched Blooms

Hi there. I created another card yesterday, and waited for today to try and get some natural light to take the photo – there is plenty of light – but outside is sooooo windy that I daren’t take the card out for the photo.

Here it is anyway:

I used the newly purchased – and restocked at Seven Hills Crafts – MFT ‘Stitched Blooms‘. I have been waiting for these to come back in, and when I received the email to say there were in stock – off I went to order them (and some other stuff) :) :) and I’m not disappointed in them.

I die cut the whole lot out of white card stock, then coloured with my Copics. The colours used were for entry into the current Color Throwdown Challenge – orange, light blue, brown – and the layout is for the current MFT Sketch Challenge.

A clean and simple card, which actually took a lot of preparation – die-cutting, colouring, sticking the flowers together……and yet it looks so simple……I am sure to be crafting over the weekend, so I will catch you at some point, I’m sure.

Hello Spring…..

Hi there everyone. So – in the midst of snow flurries and windy/icy conditions yesterday – I made a card for Spring. I know – but that’s how my mind works……..! Maybe it was wishful thinking…….

Here is my card:

I have been ‘trying’ to sort out my stamps and dies – putting them in pockets, sorting alphabetically by company (O.C.D. much!) and came across this stamp set I have never used. I don’t have the matching dies for this set, so I started by trying to create a one-layer-card…….then realised Copic colouring just doesn’t work with one-layer-cards – too much seepage through the card. So – I matted it onto a card base.

I stamped the images as you see, then masked the bottom of them to stamp the little floral/grass arrangement repeatedly across the bottom. The Copic colouring I kept to the same colours, to kinda join the image together. I did a little shading, but with these images, a solid block of colour works quite well, I think.

One thing about the middle little bunny – I didn’t realise until colouring her that the stamped image has a sad kind of look, so I took an Artliner pen and drew a smile………….but I think I added a moustache instead……what do you think?

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches – sketch

Addicted to Stamps Challenge – anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – create a scene

AAA Cards – sentiment + 3 = sentiment + stamped image/colouring pens/one matted layer

A second jump for joy..!

A very quick posting today, to add a card put together for a couple of challenges:

Looking through some of the challenges I enter, and am inspired by, I came across the colours for the MFT colour Challenge – Teal, Wisteria, Cream, Apple, and the the theme for the current challenge at CASology – ‘Bounce’.

I know I used this little sheep yesterday, but having just received the Neat and Tangled ‘Jump For Joy‘ stamp and die set from Seven Hills Crafts – this little trampoline was just begging to be used! So – instead of the little images in that stamp set, I coloured my little sheep with the wisteria shades of Copics……..just because I could………used the other challenge colours as you see………and there we have it.

A bouncing sheep – trampolining – but not looking quite sure that they are enjoying it……. I just realised the look on it’s face…….I may have to change that to a grin – just a little.

I hope to catch you again very soon – :)

Jump For Joy

Hi there. Another card to share with you today, based on the current colours at Color Throwdown – coral red, blue, green, Kraft:

I used the MFT ‘Over The Moon For You’ stamp and die set, stamping the images and colouring in the challenge colours – with an added grey neutral for the sheep.

The Distress Oxide blue background using the ink blending technique – not too dark, just a hint of the sky. The green hillock was a piece of card coloured using the emerald green Copic, then die cut from the matching die set.

The coral red component was for colouring the little flowers, and Kraft for the fence and background card.

No sunshine here today to take the picture, but at least it was day-light!

I shall also be entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, with the theme of ‘anything goes’.

Have a good one, and I’ll see you again soon. :) Lynda

Find Beauty in the Simple Things

Hello again. Another session in my craft room today. I have one card I am still working on, and this card:

We’ve had some sun here in the UK for the past few days – quite warm during those sunny spells – and I managed to take a photo where I prefer to – in the sun in the back garden.

This card is using a stamp set from Uniko – currently having free world-wide shipping on orders over £30!! Wow!! (I believe that ends at 8am GMT 25/02/19) Seeing that offer, gave me the idea to use one of Bev’s stamps for this card.

The colour scheme is for the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches – Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron and Daffodil Delight; the layout is for the current challenge at AAA Cards – CAS one corner with optional twist of ‘music‘ – obviously not following the optional twist – and Addicted to Stamps and More, who are looking for a CAS card.

Now – back to try and finish my other card, currently drying following some water-colouring…………. :)

CASology Bouquet

Hello everyone. I have a card for you today that is for the Guest Designer position this week at CASology: (little jumpy dance!)

The cue word is ‘BOUQUET’, and let me tell you – I actually struggling with a stamp set and design for this card………..

I hunted through my stash and took out several stamps to consider, but as you can see – I finally settled on Altenew ‘Celebrations‘ stamp set and this little bouquet image, along with a sentiment from the same stamp set.

I stamped it on a separate piece of card first and tried several variations of colour with my Copics, then decided on this layout, and these colours. The stamp itself is quite sketchy – so I went that way with the colouring too – no shading, and not quite filling in the leaves and flowers.

It ended up being a one layer card – very, very unusual for me – but I am really pleased with how this looks.

I hope you can play along this week, and I look forward to seeing what you can create. :)

Colour Layering Trimmings

Hello everyone. I am pleased and excited to announce that here is the first post as fully-fledged Design team member at ABC Christmas Challenge.

The current challenge is the start of the New Year, and the start of the alphabet. Goodness – there are some amazing themes coming up – I hope you can play along. I have discovered an amazing and friendly team, I have learnt how to use blogger – a little, anyway – and I’ve discovered that I’m going to be making Christmas cards all year long. All. Year. Long.

All those will be posted here, and will all be posted on Instagram. Please say hello when you see our cards.

The first challenge is ‘A’ and ‘B’, of course. The theme being anything goes, and/or berries. Now, I hunted everywhere for berry stamps or dies, and couldn’t find anything with berries that I really wanted to use. What I did find, was this unused, yet been with me for ages, Hero Arts Colour Layering Trimmings stamp and dies.

Here is the card – anything goes (Christmas):

I stamped the layers of the leaves on a white piece of card, then added to a green and white card base – then stamped some more, die cut them, and added to the edge for dimension.

I wanted to give the impression of a Christmas Tree hanging over the edge of the card.

I hope you are able to come and join the fun, and I look forward to seeing your makes – and I even get to comment officially now – yay!

I shall also be entering this card into the following challenges:

AAA cards – three of something – (three added branches)

Clean and Simple on Friday – CAS Christmas card

The Alphabet Challenge blog – ‘T’ for Trees