CAS Stencil May 2020 - Layered Stenciling

Hello friends.  Playing along with the CAS Stencil challenge today and they are looking for LAYERED STENCILING this month.

I used a new stencil from Altenew called Tranquil Wings and it's already a 2 part (layered) stencil, but I also added a 3rd stencil from Color Box Art Screens called Rounded.  Take a look:

I actually started with the Rounded stencil first to make my background and used a blending brush and Mustard Seed Distress Ink and a VERY light hand so the circles would be very light colored.  Next I used the outline stencil of the butterfly's body with Sweet Mango ink...this layer was very visable until I added the next layer with Tangerine Twist ink.  Here's a closer up:

As I said it's hard to see all 3 layers but trust me...there's definitely 3 layers of ink on this card!  I used one of my Lil Inkers Stitched Circle dies to die cut my off center circle on the top layer of my card and then added the stenciled layer under it, and then attached both to a top folding white card base.  My sentiment is from an older PTI set called Choose Joy and it is still one of my all time favorite stamp sets!

You can check out all the beautiful inspiration from the DT and then play along right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th.

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

CAS Stencil Feb. 2020 - FOIL

Hello friends.  The CAS Stencil Challenge is looking for FOILING on your cards this month.

I have never had much luck with foiling and had even invested in a laminator, but have just never had any success with it.  So when I saw this month's challenge, I was like "oh crap...I have to try again"!!  And so try I did, and after 2 bad attempts, I came up with a card I actually like...

I used SSS's Super Heart Border die and made a stencil with it, and then used deco foil's Transfer Gel through the stencil.  After it had dried, I used a piece of red foil and ran it through the laminator.  When I first pulled off the foil, I thought I had ruined my 3rd try also, as there are little pieces of the red foil missing on all the hearts...grrrrr!  But the more I looked at it, I thought it gave it kind of a distressed look and it grew on me!

I added a few score lines and my sentiment from PTI's Heart Squared stamp set, and then added a red layer and adhered to a white card base.  Very CAS and just perfect for my hubby for Valentine's Day (along with some dark chocolate of course!!).

I persevered and can finally say I've made a card with foiling on it!  You can play along with this challenge too right HERE...it's only open till the 24th though, so you'll have to get a move on!  :0)

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

CAS Christmas & CAS Stencil Jan. 2020

Hello friends.  I'm playing along with both the CAS Christmas Challenge and the CAS Stencil Challenge today and even have a Twofer for you today!  They are looking for a TAG on your card at CAS Christmas and CAS Stencil wants you to use a NEW (to you) stencil on your card.  Well I have a tag on both cards and my stencil just arrived in the mail on Monday, so I think that qualifies as NEW!!

Here's my first card:

I used my stencil first (SugarPea Designs - Geo Snowflake) with a few different Gina K inks and blender brush and had enough to cut out 2 tags (hence two cards!).  Next I totally CASE'd Bonnie Klass by dry embossing the background of my card with SU!'s Winter Wonder snowflake folder and then added my stenciled tag on top of the embossed snowflake.  I blinged it up even a bit more by adding a die cut snowflake from PTI's Silver White Winters to the top of the tag.  Here's a closer up:

That silver glitter paper really sparkles, doesn't it?!  I added some seam binding ribbon that I dyed to match along with some silver cording, a few clear gems, and my sentiment from Gina K's Festive Flower.

My 2nd card is VERY similar, except that I used a busier embossing folder (from Darice) and it just didn't seem as CAS to me as the first one.

Besides the embossing folder, there's a few other differences in this card, but it's still basically the same.  I used a different die cut shape for the tag (SugarPea Designs Santa Tag) and used a larger snowflake die from PTI's Silver White Winters along with silver mirror cardstock.

I switched up my sentiment too by embossing on a black banner using SSS's Tiny Words: Christmas.  I really like how both turned out and am excited to have 2 more cards to add to my Christmas stash for this next Christmas!

You can play along with the CAS Christmas Challenge and the CAS Stencil Challenge till the 24th of this month, so check out all the fabulous inspiration from both teams and play along!

 

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

CAS Stencil Nov. 2019 - MONOPRINTS

Hello friends.  It's all about MONOPRINTS at the CAS Stencil Challenge this month.

This is one of my favorite techniques to do with a stencil, and since I have a new stencil from FUNKY FOSSILL DESIGNS, I had to have a play with it!

 

I apologize for my lighting, but IRL the colors are much brighter!  I used the Leafy Mandala stencil as a snowflake and used Ocean Mist and Applemint inks from Gina K to ink up the stencil before misting with water and then pressing into my cardstock.  Once it was dry, I attached a white frame (PTI's Pierced Feature Frames) and adhered both to a white card base.  Lastly I stamped my sentiment from SSS/Gina K Festive Flower stamp set and was done.

I was inspired to make this card from a ink blended card that Gina K did, and I shamelessly CASE'd her card, just using a different stencil and sentiment...

Once I made this card, I got to thinking how cool it would look as a monoprint too, and that's how my STENCILED MONOPRINT card evolved!

Make sure you check out all the BEAUTIFUL cards from the DT and then play along right HERE...this challenge is open till the 24th.

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

CAS Stencil Oct. 2019 - Patterned Paper

Hello friends.  There's a FUN challenge over at CAS Stencil where Loll is challenging us to stencil over PATTERNED PAPER!

Last year I got rid of stacks and stacks of patterned paper because I just wasn't using it!  But guess what??  I still have lots and LOTS of patterned paper left!  How is it that I got rid of SO much but still have SO much left?!  I think it breeds when I'm not looking!  Haha!!  But anyway, I used a piece of dotted Soft Stone (PTI's Bitty Big Pattern Paper Collection) and a stencil from ARTplorations called Barley to come up with these 2 cards...

I used a blender brush and some Walnut Stain Distress Ink to stencil over the dotted PP and I love how it turned out!  I framed the piece with PTI's Pierced Feature Frames die (I know, I know, I use these dies ALL the time, but I just can't help myself...I love them!!) and then added to a white card base.  I added a simple die cut sentiment from The Greetery's Bountiful Wreath set to finish off my simple card.

Because I still had a strip of the stenciled piece left, I made a 2nd card...just added a thin strip of Soft Suede cardstock next to the Patterned and stenciled paper, and then stamped my sentiment (also from The Greetery's Bountiful Wreath set.).

Two very CAS cards and I love how both of them turned out!  I always thought stenciling over PP would be too busy, but I'm hooked now and think I need to make some more!  Seriously, give it a try...I think you'll be hooked too!!

This challenge is open till the 24th and you can check out all the wonderful inspiration from the DT and then play along right HERE.

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

CAS Stencil Challenge

Hello friends.  This month's challenge over at CAS Stencil is all about using different baby wipe techniques.

I used a new to me stencil from SSS's Stamptember celebration called Floral.  Because I used a smaller piece of the design I made with the stencil, I thought I'd take a photo of the actual stencil and a piece of what it actually looks like when it's inked up so you have a better idea what it really looks like.

Isn't that such a pretty stencil?!  Love the delicate lines of it!!  Because I used DOX inks for my actual card and the baby wipe, the lines on stenciled piece are not quite as fine as they are pictured above, but I still like how my card came out...

I blended Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, & Seedless Preserves DOX inks over a piece of white cardstock and when dry, I placed the stencil over top and then gently pounced more than rubbed a baby wipe over the stencil.  When it was dry, I used The Greetery's Crimped Frame Dies to die cut my rectangle, and then sprayed quite liberally with Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz.

In this photo you can see the sparkle a bit at the top.  I mounted my stenciled piece to a piece of black cardstock and then adhered to a white card base.  Next I added 2 Elizabeth Craft Designs Dandelion Fluff die cuts and then finished with my sentiment (PTI - Boutique Borders: Sympathy Set).  The colors are rather muted on this card, but I think it's perfect for a sympathy card.

You have until the 24th to play along with the CAS Stencil Challenge, so check out all the beautiful examples using baby wipes from the DT and then give it a try...FUN!!  

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

CAS Stencil

Hello friends.  Playing along with this month's CAS Stencil Challenge where they are asking us to use SPRAYS with our stencils.

I mixed up some Lindy's Magicals Autumn Maple Crimson with water and created my background with a new Catherine Pooler stencil from her Unsinkable Collection (Shell Parade) to come up with this:

I think I probably added too much water when I was mixing up my spray because the color came out so much lighter than I expected, but I have to admit that I'm really liking this soft pink color!  There is a very subtle sheen to the background too because of the Lindy's Magicals, but I just could not get the camera to pick it up!  IRL the shimmer is so pretty!  I used the PTI Pierced Feature Frame dies to die cut the white frame and the inner stenciled rectangle, and then added my sentiment from CP's Vitamin Sea stamp set.  The sand dollar and sea plant die cuts are both from Gina Marie Design dies.

I finished off my card with a simple piece of white crochet thread and called it good!  :0)

Lots of beautiful examples from the DT and even videos to watch if you've never used sprays with stencils before over at the CAS Stencil site right HERE.  This challenge is open till Aug. 24th.

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

CAS Stencil June 2019 - Perfect Pearls/Pearl-Ex

Hello friends.  Decided to be brave and play along with this month's CAS Stencil challenge after reading Ros's post...if she could do it, so could I!!  It did take some searching to find my Perfect Pearl pots, but I persevered!!  I have a package of 12 different colors and I think I used the gold once many years ago, and the rest have been unopened!

I started with a piece of black cardstock and a SSS stencil (Bouquet of Roses) and came up with this very simple card:

I used my versamark pad through my stencil onto the black cardstock, and then applied the Perfect Pearls with a small damp paintbrush.  After removing the stencil I used a tissue to remove the extra powder and buff the cardstock just a bit, and low and behold, there was the pearlized shine!  Here's a closer up where you can see it a bit better:

I framed my piece with PTI's Pierced Feature Frames dies and adhered both to a white card base.  My "hello" sentiment is from Gina K and I die cut it with SU!'s Circle Framelit dies.  Very simple, but now that I've gotten the hang of using these, I'll have to try something on a bigger scale next time!  :0)

Lots of BEAUTIFUL cards from the DT and in the gallery, so check it out and then play along right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th.

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

The Greetery and CAS Stencil Challenge

Hello friends.  I recently spent an afternoon playing with one of my new stamp sets from The Greetery called Fleur Impressions and stamped oodles and oodles of different color combinations and then had fun making some cards with some of them.  This month's challenge over at CAS Stencil is looking for stenciling over a colored background, so I incorporated some of the flowers with a stencil for one of my cards for the challenge.

I apologize in advance for the poor lighting on my photos's, but Spring and sunshine just don't seem to want to come to Michigan this year...grrrrrr!

I started by blending Lemon Tart ink onto the card base and then stenciled over the blending with a Penny Black stencil (Petite Blossoms) with the same Lemon Tart ink.  It's very subtle, but I love the monochromatic look of the yellow on yellow!  Then I simply added the white die cut terrarium, a few of the flower images from Fleur Impressions and the sentiment from Sentiment Suite: Thinking Of You (The Greetery).

These next 4 cards are just playing with the different color combinations of the same florals, along with sentiments from Comforting Commands (The Greetery).  My background on this card uses Berry Sorbet ink and one of Picket Fences Life Changing Blending Brushes (I LOVE THESE!!!) and then I embossed over the blending with MFT's All Lined Up background stamp with white embossing powder.

Once again I blended my background first with Tumbled Glass DI and then die cut it using PTI's Scalloped Stackers: Medium Die before mounting to a white card base.  I added even more flowers and finished with a double stacked banner using one of the sentiments from the Sentiment Suite: Thinking Of You (The Greetery) and a small piece of crochet thread.

I love the vividness of the bright orange flowers against a black card base and center, with a white Pierced Feature Frame (PTI) to ground against all the black.  The sentiment is embossed in gold (Comforting Commands - The Greetery) and I finished off the card with some gold cording, a few gold sequins, and a black die cut butterfly from SSS (Stitching Butterflies).  Here's a closer up of the butterfly:

And my last card...

I started by blending another Lemon Tart piece that I die cut into an oval (Gina Marie Designs Dies) and inset into a white layer and then attached both to a white card base.  I love purples, greens, and yellows together...definitely makes me think Spring, even though it isn't quite here yet!  The sentiment on this card is also from the Comforting Commands (The Greetery) set, and then I finished off with some white crochet thread and a few light purple enamel dots.

If you stuck with me through this loooooooong post, thank you!  And if you would like to see some BEAUTIFUL inspiration using stenciling over colored backgrounds, check out the CAS Stencil Challenge right HERE...this challenge is open till the 24th.

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

CAS Stencil April 2019

Hello friends.  The challenge this month at CAS Stencil is to use embossing pastes or gels along with your stencils...messy but oh so FUN!!

I had just gotten a new jar of Viva Glitter Paste, so it was a great time to try it out for this challenge.  Here's what I came up with:

I started by blending my background first with Gina K's Applemint ink, and then used a Penny Black stencil (Petite Blossoms) and the same ink color to create the leafy background.  Without removing my stencil I added the Glitter Paste and then quickly removed it to let it dry.  Here's a closer up so you can see the sparkle better:

This card has some serious sparkle going on and it's even prettier IRL!!  I made this card into a sympathy card with a PTI sentiment and a Poppystamps die cut (Massa Leaf Background).

This really is a FUN way to use stencils and I even made another one using a sunburst stencil, but haven't had time to make it into a card yet.  Check out all the FABULOUS inspiration from the DT, and they also have links to several videos if you've never used pastes or gels with your stencils...you can find it all right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th.

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

CAS Stencil March 2019 - Ghosting

Hello friends.  Playing along with this month's challenge over at CAS Stencil where they are looking for cards using stenciling and the GHOSTING Technique.  You can find lot's of inspiration and video links on their site right HERE.

Here's what I came up with:

I do my ghosting technique a little differently, but it has always worked for me.  I start by blending a background...for this card I used Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean DI's.  Next I take my stencil (I used a Gina Marie Designs stencil for this card) and quite liberally spritz it with water and then lay it over my background piece.  I add a piece of paper towel over the stencil and then press a bit with my hands, and then set some heavy books on top of it all for about 15 - 30 minutes.  When I lift it all off I have a GORGEOUS background where the water has lifted the color from the DI's.  Here's a closer up so you can see the design better:

I matted my ghosted piece behind a die cut window (MFT's Peek-A-Boo Rectangle Die) and added to a white card base.  I used an AliExpress die cut and inserted it into the bottom of the window opening and added some small pop dots behind each of the 3 flowers for some dimension.  My sentiment is from MFT's Pretty Poppies.

Ghosting is one of my favorite techniques to use with stencils...it is SO much fun to see the design when you pull the stencil off!  Check out all the GORGEOUS inspiration from the DT and then play along right HERE.  This challenge is open till the 24th.   

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