PATTERN

 Since seeing that Sue had selected the codeword "Pattern" for our next Addicted to CAS Challenge #190 I've been mulling around ideas in my brain as to how I might use this beautiful arabesque-patterned paper that I bought about a year ago. As a full sheet it's WAY too busy for a CAS approach - rows of hexagons with at least a dozen different arabesque style designs in an overall pattern. So I decided to use just one of the pattern designs behind a circle cut-out. As I worked with it the card took on a bit of a surprise to me as I thought it might be fun to use another patterned paper die-cut to contrast with the blue/tan/white arabesque circle. The real challenge was to do this in a CAS manner.

Look at how beautiful this paper from Ella & Viv Paper Company is:

Tunisia EAV-1003

After I cut the circle die in the white cardstock I sent it back through my Big Shot with a vinyl pad to make a plate mark for a more finished look. The sentiment is from PTI's "Winter Hills", stamped with their "Blueberry Sky" dye ink. The die-cut hollyhocks are an old favorite of mine from Impression Obsession (DIE169-R). I cut one of the dies from PTI's dotted paper (I think it's Fine Linen) and also used it for the lining of the envelope. The second die was cut from white cardstock and layered under the patterned ones as a sort of shadow.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what each of you might come up with in response to the "Pattern" prompt! Please join us!

Addicted to CAS: Challenge #190 - Pattern

 

ADDICTED TO CAS - SNOW

So here we are already at the second challenge of 2021! Ceal has selected a code word that is very appropriate in many areas in the northern hemisphere. My local weather is wet and cold but we have snow on all of the mountains surrounding our valley. I'm looking forward to seeing what all of you come up with.

My choice was to keep my card pretty much colorless and just play with texture and dimension by layering dies and embossing. I have a very strong preference to square cards, although here in the US they're quite expensive to mail. 

The snow embossing folder is from Darice. The evergreen tree dies are Tim Holtz #660978 for Sizzix Thinlits. The snowline is what's left when you die-cut one of Lawn Fawn's stitched wavy dies and use the plain edge without the stitching. I glued an additional 2 layers behind the snowline to give it dimension and 3 layers of cardstock on the tree in the foreground. I would also like to give a shout-out to a wonderful product a friend gifted me with - Artist-tac, permanent dry adhesive sheets that are really useful when attaching detailed dies to a card (I will tell you that I'm not being paid to advertise for this product).

The sentiment is from PTI's "Winter Hills" stamped with their "Stormy Sea" ink. The envelope is lined with some old paper scrap I've had laying around for years.

Now it's your turn - have fun!

                                                          

WANTING TO TRAVEL AGAIN, BUT ALAS...

Wouldn't it be wonderful if in 2021 we can begin to travel again? I think this card came out of a bit of wishful thinking.

But, you know how some cards just come so easily? An idea comes, you go straight to your supplies and the card is finished without incident. That's not how this one came about. I started with the intent of jumping off from the challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch!, remembering that I had a couple of sheets of a very old paper that looked like tire tracks (similar to the pattern on the diagonal band of sketch #402 by Chrissy Larson). I have to admit that diagonals are not my favorite layout for cards, so maybe that was the problem. I persisted, going through piece of paper after piece of paper, giving up more than once, and completely over-working the concept.  Well, here's the final result and it took longer than just about any card I've made and my craft room is a total train wreck!

The sentiment is from Simple Stories 'Simple Vintage Great Escape', stamped with PTI Dark Chocolate. The tiny tag is from PTI. The papers are all from my stash of scraps.

CAS(E) this Sketch!: CAS(E) this Sketch #402

 

Addicted to CAS

My big news for the beginning of 2021 is that I've been invited to participate as a Design Team member for Addicted to CAS! This is my first ever design team assignment and I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am. I've been following and participating with this challenge blog off and on since about July 2015. I was so impressed by the design abilities of that team that I considered them to be the "rock stars" of the card making community. To now be on this team 5-1/2 years later is a HUGE privilege for me!

Having said all of that, here is my first card as a member of the Design Team:

This challenge of January 2, 2021 is #188 "Emboss (Dry or Heat)" hosted by Barb. I decided to try my hand at using both methods of embossing on the same card. (This card layout is similar to one I produced last February.) The dry method was achieved by using a postage stamp die I have and running it through my Big Shot with a rubber mat. The heat embossing is done with VersaMark watermark and ZING! "Rouge" embossing powder for the lips and white embossing powder by Stampendous for the 'XOXO' (PTI "Heart Prints"). The tiny red heart is die-cut from red card stock using a die from one of MFT's collections. The sentiment is from Impression Obsession, stamped in Memento Die Ink "Tuxedo Black". I'm thinking I may use this design for this year's Valentine's Day card.

Here's a close-up:   

It's now your turn!

Addicted to CAS: Challenge #188 - Emboss