CAS Mix Up and CAS Christmas August 2022

 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

CAS Christmas July 2022

 

How can we have July without at least one Christmas card in July??  Thanks to 

CAS Christmas July 2022, we get to see Santa, too!

I finally purchased this Spellbinder Santa set after years of admiring

him at my friend's blogs!

I have another rule about Christmas - there must be PINK!

So, I chose to paint these big stripes with a watered-down CP It's a Girl ink!

[also sponged on his little nose and cheeks!]

Sentiment from The Stamp Market's Tis the Season stamps/dies

Happy weekend, everyone!

=] Michele

CAS Christmas June 2022 - Second helpings!

 

Whilst putting away all my supplies from the prior June 2022 CAS Christmas card I made, I stumbled across another wreath!  One that might get overlooked unless you're quite observant...

Tucked inside the package were a few more of the sentiments I wrote for this set - still seems like a good one since they're obviously hauling home a tree, so I'll include it on my card after using an Altenew sentiment die to cut it out.  The Penny Black image* was stamped and Copic colored.  A bit of fussy cutting and Bob's your Uncle.  oh.  that snowy embossing folder isn't labeled at all - sorry.

This one also has a paw-fectly cute furry friend for the gals at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge: 

Thanks to both challenges for getting me started on my 2022 stash!

=] Michele

*Penny Black: Triumphant

A few cards - two CAS Challenges! and Take 2 for Altenew!

Hello my friends - happy weekend-eve!  I've delivered my Christmas card contribution to my friends at Bring Smiles to Seniors - though I fell far short of a very lofty goal, it was nice to know my little stack of 160 will join the 20,000 cards collected this year just in Michigan!!  That surely brings ME a smile!

Now I have a few spare moments to just PLAY!!  The CAS Challenges always spark my creative juices, so yesterday my thinking cap was donned, and I got busy!  First up, for CAS Christmas - a sweet little Penny Black hedgy joy ... host Barb really has chosen a sweet theme for their 2021 finale: Critters!  

Tom snuck in while I was adding the finishing touches - he thinks this one's for him!

Have I mentioned that he has taken on Astrophotography as a hobby?  Amazing!

Of course, the sentiment is tucked inside - which I didn't share with him, either!

Looks like Mr. Hedgy is about to make someone's Christmas wish come true!

Edited to add this wonderful news:

Thank you, to the entire CAS Christmas team!

Ms. Loll has us Monoprinting again for CAS Mix Up!  OH it's my favorite of all the wonderful techniques she's taught us over the life of her CAS challenges!  my little 'hitchhikers' [Meadow and Willow Dragonflies -Memory Box c. 2012] had so much fun taking part in this challenge...

A wee little Hi from Pinkfresh Studios

The stencil I used is Altenew's Feathery stencil - and if I've learned anything from these CAS ladies it's NEVER waste ink... so I did a bit of creative mopping up...

more words from Pinkfresh, a gorgeous new stamp from Wplus9 Vintage Ephemera

gold heat embossed.  a bit of subtle texture from SU subtle texture, of course!

Last but not least - here is that Take 2 I mentioned for Altenew's Inspiration Challenge November 2021... water color paint from Altenew - loved the colors so much I repeated them on my CAS monoprint.  

Bird of Paradise and my well-loved Swirling dots coverplate.

Happy weekend, everyone!  Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

CAS Christmas May 2021

 Have you ever made a card in your head so many times, you thought 

you'd actually made it??  

That's exactly what happened to me this month!  

Christine, I LOve your theme!  and this Winter Greenery set from Wplus9 is perfect, in my humble opinion!  

I'd better make this a quick post - I'm just going to make that 

CAS Christmas Foliage & Berries deadline!  EEK!

My card measures 8.5 x 3.75"

Back to the regularly scheduled Monday duties!  Thanks for stopping by!

=]  Michele

Wplus9 Winter Greenery stamps and dies

Catherine Pooler inks 

PinkFresh Studio Braided Circles dies and edges

CAS Christmas Card Challenge

I have a few little friends who also wanted to play with the ladies at CAS Christmas Card Challenge It is their 3rd birthday so it's bound to be a celebration no one will want to miss!  Here is their March 2021 theme...

and here are my friends...

Waffle Flower Crafts - nesting postage dies for these two panels.

Colorado Craft Company - Christmas Presents stamps & dies

and Wonderful Time for their sentiment!  I love how these sets play

well together!   That wee little Cardinal has had no trouble tying his brown paper packages in string!  Or is he untying them?  

I have a new little set of stamps in my arsenal that I'll share soon - wink - they are up and awaaaaaaaay too cute!  In the meantime, hope your week got off to a great start!  

=]  Michele 

Thank you SO very much, CAS Christmas team! xo

CAS Christmas November and The Flower Challenge #50

 

I'm coming in quite late in the game ... and really not sure if my card will qualify!  But, I did have fun recently with a new die for the 2020 Season, and promised to share my creations using my Altenew Poinsettia die and patterned paper.  Maybe it was a die you purchased this year, as well?  It seems to be 'out of stock' everywhere I shop!

CAS Christmas November 2020 is asking for Non-traditional Colours ... I can't imagine my Poinsettia being more non-traditional!  See if you agree...

In real life this piece of Altenew paper from their Sweet Moments paper pack features shades of grey-green, and navy... makes me happy, I'll tell ya.  

The Flower Challenge #50 is asking for florals with a sentiment - I think this one works for that one!

Same Sweet Moments paper collection this one in red, with grey and navy!

Happy Monday!
=]  Michele

CAS Christmas: September 2020 Christmas tree!

Okay... let me start by saying thank you, for stopping by, and for putting up with me for a test ... no you won't be graded.

As you read this, I am about to write my very first post using the New Blogger - so far so good!  I'm sharing a card made for the September CAS Christmas Challenge - now, here comes the difficult part:  linking this text with the challenge post!  aha!  it worked!

and so did pasting their graphic!!  Yay!

I sifted through my [three] containers of Christmas sets and was thrilled to find so many Christmas tree options ... don't think that means I won't be tempted to buy more!  Today, I'm using a Penny Black cling stamp called Christmas Glow.  Here are all the supplies I needed to complete my card:  [this is where I insert a photo - fingers crossed] 

Voila!!!  it arrived perfectly!

I stamped my tree on a 5x7" piece of Tim Holtz

water color card stock, using the inks above.

Then, because I felt it needed a little something, I 

whacked off the left edge, die cut the oval, then added back the slice I'd removed - after slicing off a wee bit more.

Okay, I'm getting there... but something else was off.

aha!  It needed a nice red container, instead of the 

navy I'd originally used.  It was easy, stamped it on a scrap, then fussy cut it, and glued it over the top!

I do wish my camera could have captured the sparkle of the 

Diamond Stickles I applied to the lights ... 

Well.  it seems I have conquered my fears ... even though, now that I look at it,  I may have failed miserably on the CAS part of the challenge!  lol how many times have I done that?  

Thanks for the support I've been given by a few blogging friends who nipped that new blogger in the bud from the get-go!  one final test ... getting my card to the CAS Christmas gallery!  oh boy... here goes nothing...

=]  Michele