Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #500 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils

 Challenge #500 on the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge Blog is to use die cuts and/or stencils.  Well Pinkfresh has done it again!  They have created a layering stencil with accompanying dies to give all of those delicious flowers, and another stencil/die combination to create the brown paper wrap.  

I participated in their most recent weekend of technique classes and this card was taught by the talented Carissa Wiley.  It was a fun class and there was LOTS of colors for the ink blending with those stencils, Carissa really emphasized just creating light and dark areas.  This was my first try.  I have two more in production!  I love that the paper wrap die has slits in it so you can tuck your stems behind.  I have lots more playing to do!  I just need to find some time!

I hope you will join the ATS&M Die Cuts and/or Stencils challenge.  Can't wait to see you in the gallery!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #499 - Any Occasion

 Challenge #499 on the Addicted to Stamps & More Blog has an "Any Occasion" theme. 

My main image is a sweet American Art Stamp rubber stamp from artist, Karen Stolper.  It's one of the few stamps I still have on a wooden block in my collection.  I have always loved the whimsy of this girl and she was a perfect compliment for the colorful background I created after watching Altenew's You Tube video about layering inks on colored cardstock. The bold sentiment die from Cathy Zielske's collection at SSS was just the right size and font to add to the card.  Hope you have the chance to play along with the ATS&M challenge!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy

Dragonfly Dreams August Challenge - Lots of Layers!

 The first Sunday in August means a new challenge rolls out on the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge Blog!  This month's challenge is "Lots of Layers!"  My card has four layers. I almost went for a 5th behind the flowers, but decided the background would be lost and I wanted it to play into the card design.

I tried a technique I saw on the Altenew blog with a 3D embossing folder and colored cardstock. I ran a piece of orange through my machine and then swiped white pigment ink across the raised part of the image.  After letting the white ink throughly dry, I came back in with other inks and a blender brush to create a colored image. I cut the orange panel out with an old Reverse Confetti die in my stash and mounted it on a dark teal background.  This gorgeous vase has been sitting on my desk for over a year - just waiting to be colored and it was the perfect image for the background.  I pulled in the yellow, orange and some of the darker blues from the background into the bouquet.  I finished it with a white die cut frame from Taylored Expressions, popped on a birthday sentiment and a few yellow-gold sequins.

I hope you find time this month to join the Dragonfly Dreams "Layers" Challenge.  I am looking forward to the gallery! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

In kindness, Cathy