I don't often combine challenges but today's time in my studio turned into the perfect opportunity to combine CAS Christmas, and CAS Mix Up for August 2022! It also gave me some time to play with my new inks from SU - thanks to a very sweet friend!
I reached for my much loved, annually used Altenew set: Holiday Bow. The Pine Bough is a two-step session which is great because I could use CP sandcastle ink for the 'branch' after stamping the needles with Evening Evergreen, then again with Versamark, and clear heat embossing it all - that's the magic of Emboss Resist! All the watery ink that I've added is resisted by the heat embossed images. Here's a closeup for reference.
I used that gorgeous Soft Succulent to loosely watercolor the background. Here's the end result:
That pretty little duo of bells and the sentiment are Wplus9's Silver Bells set
What could be easier than using the same supplies for another card? This one is heading to CAS Christmas where PINE is the chosen theme by Trina! Thanks, Trina! This time I stamped them with the Soft Succulent ink!
Another sentiment from Silver Bells and I'm revisiting those sweet little stitching dies from MFT -
I remember when nearly every one of my cards had it!
Okay, I'd better get these delivered to their galleries - the boss just came home early!
=] Michele
Michele, both are fabulously perfect for the respective challenges and so festive as well. Love the torn vellum. I will have to case that.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I just love these! Those pine branches are beautifully enhanced with that pretty little bell, and the Soft Succulent ones are beautiful as well with that big bow! Love that background too...you're so clever!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are absolutely BEAUTIFUL Michele!! I think I'm a bit more in love with the 1st card just because of the contrast of dark and light colors, but they both are truly lovely, lovely cards!! Glad you're having fun with the new inks!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteI love that pine branch too, Michele, and it looks good no matter the green ink used. That bow is fabulous and what a beautiful CAS card with the little bit of stitching.
ReplyDeleteI'm diggin' your new ink colors and the two versions of pine you created with them! FABulous cards. So happy one made it into our CAS Christmas gallery!
ReplyDeleteTwo great cards Michelle, love the pop of colour on the first with the pine branches, your second is so wonderfully CAS. Thanks for joining us at CAS Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you joined us, Michele at CAS Mix Up Emboss Resist Challenge this month. Love your beautiful heat embossed pine branches and Christmas bells. Loved your 2nd card using some of the same products..always a plus to get an extra card from your stamping session:-) Beautiful die cover plate for your background on the 2nd card. TFS my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy
ReplyDeleteSome pretty new colors to add to your stash and they sure helped you to create a couple of wonderfully pretty and festive cards, Michele! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous pine cards Michele!! LOVE the gorgeous background stamping on your first and the lovely finish with the bells and torn vellum sentiment. Your second card is so pretty with the embossed background and that sweet bow! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up and CAS Christmas! xx
ReplyDeleteOf course you HAD to play with those lovely new ink colors! Love the watercolor wash and cute bells and bow on your first card, and the simplicity with stitches on your second. It's good to see the older stuff come out to play!
ReplyDeleteTwo lovely designs using your favorite pines set and your new ink colors Michele! the two shades of green are so pretty with the Sandcastle - so creative making it look like a package with the XXXX embossings - thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Christmas! xx
ReplyDeleteLove those new colours of your, they go really well together. Two great cards, love those little stitches too xx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous! Both versions!! I have a few of those sets that come out year after year. It's funny that with all the new stuff, some sets will always be favorites!
ReplyDeleteTwo pretty pine bough cards, Michele! Love these ink colors and how the Soft Succulent gives a lovely wash for the background! The sweet bells and vellum behind the sentiment offer inspiring details! Love the simple branches with the pretty bow! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!
ReplyDeleteWow, wonderful cards, Michele! I love the pine boughs and depth of the little bow, for the second one! Sue
ReplyDeleteTwo terrific twofers to cover both of the CAS challenges this month. That is such a pretty pine / bow stamp. Fab colour choices. Thank you for joining in at CAS Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYou combined the CAS challenges perfectly, Michele! I love both cards! You made a wonderful pine bough panel using the emboss resist technique. The Soft Succulent watercolord background and the hand-torn vellum sentiment strip are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI love the soft organic colors of the bow and pine boughs! And how ingenious you are to use the cross-stitching die this way! Thanks so much for the inspiration and sharing these beauties at the CAS Challenges!
Hideko xx
Two really gorgeous cards, Michele! I love the torn vellum on the first one and how you created the illusion of a gift box on the second card! You are so clever, my friend! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CAS Christmas! We always enjoy seeing your creations in the gallery ~ xx
ReplyDeleteOh these are lovely, the Sand Castle color is wonder with the greens!
ReplyDeleteBoth of your cards are so wonderful, Michele. What a wonderful example of the Emboss Resist technique in the first one. The inks are beautiful and I love the tan for the bells and bow, and I love the torn vellum. Your second and fabulous CAS card is designed so beautifully with that awesome detail of the stitching.
ReplyDeleteTwo beautiful cards using the pine bough theme! Love them both but especially the CAS one with its stitched die cut lines behind to add lots of texture and interest. Thanks so much for joining us at CAS Christmas!
ReplyDeleteTwo lovely cards with this great technique. I too love the 2nd card with pretty bow and 2 pine branches. Love how you used that stitching die too. TFS
ReplyDeleteYou've created 2 beauties! The emboss resist card is so gorgeous and I love the bow and vellum under the sentiment. Thanks for joining us at CAS Mix Up:)
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