CAS Mix Up And More

Hello friends.  Playing along with this months challenge over at CAS Mix Up and they are looking for OMBRE inking on our cards.

I have been in a bit of a stamping funk lately because of health issues going on in my family and just hadn't been able to find my mojo!  That all changed though when I started seeing posts from everyone who went to Loll's crafting retreat!  So today I have 3 cards to share with you featuring some of those techniques they shared, including this first card that uses the Ombre technique that Lin shared (she was inspired by Kristina Werner's post HERE).

I masked off the left 2/3rds of my card front, and then blended using DOX inks in Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, & Carved Pumpkin to create my ombre effect.  Using the DOX inks makes such a smooth transition from color to color!  I left my mask in place and then used SSS's Outline Butterflies background stamp with versamark ink and white embossing powder...LOVE how this came out!!

I kept my card CAS and finished it off with a lovely die cut butterfly from Gina Marie Designs and an embossed sentiment strip in white on black (PTI - Keep It Simple: Thinking Of You)

Another technique shown at the retreat by Nancy was called "Cut Up Stamping" which she learned from a Jennifer McGuire post HERE.  I used the same ink blending technique with Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, & Seedless Preserves DOX inks and embossed with white using another SSS set called Sketched Flowers (LOVE this stamp set...mostly because of the font of the different sentiments!).  Then came the hard part of this technique...cutting a perfectly good panel!!  But after the first initial shock and stamping my sentiment (PTI - Keep It Simple: Birthday), I loved the look of the card!!  A few of Lucy Little Gems and some black & white baker's twine finished off this card.

My last card and probably my favorite, is a bleaching technique which Susan showed at the retreat.  I have actually done this technique before, but it's been SO long ago, that I had forgotten all about it!  So anyway, I did some more ink blending (can you tell I'm a little hooked on this?!) using Abandoned Coral and Seedless Preserves DOX inks and then stamped with black and embossed with clear my image using a SU! set called Happy Watercolor.  Then I used an old brush and some splashless bleach to paint and remove the color from the blossoms...absolutely LOVE this look!!  I matted my panel with some black cs and adhered to a white card base, and then stamped my sentiment which is also from the same Happy Watercolor stamp set.  I finished with a few clear sequins and a piece of black & white baker's twine.

If you've made it with me this far...CONGRATULATIONS!  I know this was a looooong post, but I was just so excited about using these techniques and just having FUN in my crafty space again!  There are SO many BEAUTIFUL cards from the DT and already in the gallery using the OMBRE technique, so check it all out right HERE and play along.  This challenge is open till the 24th.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!