Emergency birthday card - 10 min!

My son is going to the party of a 13 yr old school class mate tomorrow. He asked me to buy him a card today. Thought I'd chosen well - it cracked me up - but was told it was totally unsuitable!

So - emergency measures - a 10 minute CAS card using my all time favourite embossing folder for boys' birthday cards:

My son approves!

CASology Birthday Tweet

This week's CASology Challenge is NOT in my comfort zone!

My first thought was "I don't do hearts", followed by "I don't think I own any heart stamps or dies". However I was wrong - whilst on a mission hunting for a specific flower stamp, I found ... a HEART! The stamp was a freebie with my Craft Stamper magazine ages ago.

I printed the wording onto white Bazzill card using my computer, stamped the image onto Ranger Specialty Stamping Card and coloured it with Distress Markers - tumbled glass and abandoned coral (plus a bit of black soot where my image was incomplete). I then fussy-cut the image and adhered to the card. I tried it without bling, but had to colour two Couture Creations silver gems with a red alcohol marker. I don't tweet - hope I got the syntax right!

Something on my mind!

I was designing for a group I've been asked to share 6 cards with, at least one card using the Memory Box Poinsettia Ribbon die. Obviously the current "Less is More" Challenge is still on my mind - this is what happened!

In case you haven't looked at the earlier posts relation to the sketch used, here it is:

The doily is a Sizzix /Tim Holtz embossing folder and the wording is from Elizabeth Craft Dies.

Who else remembers this stamp?

More play - from Monday night's Social Capers - in response to "How do I make a shaker card?".

If anyone would like the deer stamp please let me know - it is one I go back to almost every Christmas.

When is a die NOT a die?

I was playing today with the Memory Box Poinsettia die. Instead of cutting with it I used it behind a paper layer and embossed it up into the paper using a latex mat.
I left the paper on the die for support then went over the ridges and gently into the hollows with a sponge dauber
and Distress Ink (bundled sage).
Next I used a dauber and Brilliance ink (Galaxy Gold)
to highlight the ridged edges and to gently sponge
 around the edges of the layer.

The gems are from Couture Creations.
The paper is Fab Scraps.

As usual my camera does not do justice to the finished card.
It seems to ignore all the glittery bits and deepen all the dark areas :(

More ...

Another card for the latest Less is More Challenge

The stamp and die used for my card were free with a magazine and are branded Hot Off The Press. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Distress Ink and Marker in the new wilted violet. I also got to have my first play with a Distress Spritzer - great fun!! The bling is from Couture Creations.





As before - this is the sketch for the challenge

Less is more

My 'boys' are away, giving me lots of play time. The new "Less is More" challenge has just popped up, and my new embossing folder is perfect for it. This has been a great buy - got it yesterday and have already done three different cards and techniques with it.

Sketch Time Week 247 is the challenge link and here is the sketch:

I've turned it sideways and here is my card:

I embossed plain white card in the Dreamweavers folder. Then I embossed the red patterned paper in the folder and trimmed it to the height I wanted, then dusted it with the Stop Static pad. Next I used a brayer to apply Versamark ink to the paper layer (keeping the layer on the folder for support). Then applied Seafoam White powder and heat embossed. The central white panel is edged with barn door Distress Marker.

Today's play time also produced the following, showcasing the two Memory Box dies that I've used (Jumbled Thanks and Happy Hibiscus):

New Embossing Folder

It followed me home, Mum - can I keep it?? I couldn't resist this Dreamweaver embossing folder yesterday - and I think it works for the latest CAS(E) this Sketch #146
The sketch is

To make the following card I inked into the recessed areas of the folder with Festive Berries and Crushed Olive Distress Markers before embossing. I did need to touch up the embossed card after with the same markers. I then went over the holly leaves with a Tim Holtz fine-tip water brush.

I highlighted the wording with a red Atyou Spica pen, and the berries with Christmas Red Stickles.

(I know what you're thinking - "Simple - yeah, right - NOT!"  The simple bit refers to the finished look of the card, not to the process!!!) Here is the finished result - and I wish my son's camera would show glitter better - the berries and words are sparkly!

Happy birthday to a star!

Lots of people ask where I get my ideas from. A good start is to play along with challenges.
This week's Cas(e) this Sketch! challenge #145 tempted me:

I could see this sketch working with the Taylored Expressions 'Think Happy Thoughts' stamps and die set to give the following card:

I sponged Kaleidacolor Berry Blaze inks onto each 'happy' and stamped the wording with Versamark ink onto silver foil-board then heat-embossed with Black Sparkle powder.
It LOOKS clean and simple - I won't tell you how long it took to get it right!

Masculine

I'm busy learning the basics of Clean and Simple cards. This week's Less is More challenge Week 246  is

MASCULINE

Here is my take on it. Trying out the rule-of-thirds - hoping that the number plate (HBD.2U) is noticed by being at one of the intersections of the 'imagined' thirds. Also hoping that the creamy paper counts as 'white space' - I'd love some feedback on design +'s and -'s please.

The die is Rusty Old Ute (Ultimate Crafts), the paper is Webster's Pages Beautiful Chic 'Watermarked'. Letters - Spellbinders.

CASology 'Silly'

I couldn't resist doing a card for the latest CASology challenge:

The card also works for the CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge this week:

Product used was a Penny Black stamp 1249F Reindeer Lights from 1998 (I've been addicted to cardmaking for quite a while!), plus Distress Markers - festive berries, tumbled glass, wild honey, antique linen, brushed corduroy, ripe persimmon, twisted citron - applied either from the nib end or using a Tim Holtz fine tip water brush.
The wording is computer printed and demonstrates my warped sense of humour!

Turquoise, Amethyst & Ruby fish for a 'Jewel Colours' Challenge

I have 20+ Make&Takes to prep, as well as next week's class of six sets of 4 cards for Concordia Craft group to do ... so I'm playing with a challenge!!

Week #244 Colour - Jewel Colours






Here is my card - Turquoise, Amethyst and Ruby fish :)

The Taylored Expressions 'Oh Carp' was stamped with Versamark ink and heat-embossed with Black Sparkle powder. Fish coloured with Distress inks (mermaid lagoon, wilted violet, festive berries) using a water brush. Crystal sequins coloured with an alcohol marker. Embossing folder Sizzix Waves and Bubbles. The fish are actually sparkly - Atyou Spica clear glitter pen.

CAS Christmas

I'm loving the CAS challenges at the moment - it gives me a chance to get my Christmas cards started!
This is for CAS(E) this sketch challenge #143

I have used a Memory Box die (Free Hand Merry Christmas)
for the wording and a selectively embossed parts of a
Cuttlebug snowflake border.
The ink is Distress Ink Tumbled Glass,
with a psychedelic embossing powder for the sparkle.
 My camera has a problem showing sparkle - the small clip to the right gives a better idea than the full card shown below.