Remembered and Forgot...

UPDATE: I found the video regarding lining up layered stamp set! I have been looking for this video for weeks. Anyway here you go; click here for her video....

 Hello Everyone,

I wanted to start by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hopefully, you are all starting the year in good spirits and good health. We are doing well here in our little pod.

I am also so excited to be the guest designer for CASology this next fortnight. Memories could mean Happy Birthday, Sympathy, New Year, or memories of 2020. Considering the last year I wanted it to be lighthearted and fun. So here is my card for today, enjoy!

I think I heard somewhere that fish have a memory of eight seconds. You know, like Dory from Finding Nemo. Forgetting someone's birthday is a common occurrence for me. When I remember it goes in my memory bank where it quickly fades into mist or what I fondly call 'The Land of Good Intentions'.

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Week 381- Cue: Memories

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My host, Melissa asked me to create a 'design defined' statement for my card. I had to really think of why my design worked as a CAS card. Together we came up with this: Overlap a sentiment with other elements to create a focal point & preserve white space. I thought it would be an easy exercise but it was not easy at all. Then I realized by creating a minimalist scene of a fish environment it created a frame for the sentiment to live. I think it worked very effectively.

This betta fish is a layering stamp set from Hero Arts. At first for me, layered stamp sets were a disaster! They would ultimately work but not without a lot of trial and error. Then I saw a YouTube video from Jennifer McGuire on how to layer stamps using the original image from the packaging! Use the preprinted image on the packaging to line up the image then place the corresponding stamp on top of that image until it visually 'clicks' into place. Close the door on your stamp positioner and stamp. This technique was a game-changer for me!!! I am now digging up all my layered stamps with new vigor. 

Well, that is all for me!! I want to thank CASology again for this amazing opportunity to be their guest designer for this challenge. I also want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to join me at TheGrandStampede. If you are new to my blog, please consider following me to get all my postings. 

I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. More importantly, please stay safe and healthy!!

All the best,

Wheat

 Hello All,

For today I will be playing along with CASology. Their challenge this month is an interesting one, wheat. Well, it just so happens I got some inspiration on Pinterest- more about that later. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

These stamps are from an old PTI set called 'Mighty Oak'. The diversity of this set is what makes it one of my favs. This design is graphic, clean, and simple. Even though the stamp set depicts an oak tree I thought this would be another way to use the stamps. Well, I had some inspiration from Pinterest (of course) click here for the link.

I added a dark brown cardstock scrap at the bottom of the card to
visually ground the wheat on the card.

The sentiment is also an oldie but goodie from Gina K. Designs. The stamp had detail below the sentiment. I wasn't too crazy about the frill so I cut it off for a cleaner simpler look.

Challenges Entered:

CASology: Week #379- Wheat

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. Lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. I hope you all have a fantastic day and please stay safe and healthy. 

Thyme Well Spent

 Hello,

Today I will be playing along with The Color Throwdown and CASology. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

I do enjoy the pun for this card and positive messaging.

Challenges Entered:

The Color Throwdown: ctd614

CASology: Week 375- Spice

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. Lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. I hope you all have a fantastic day and please stay safe and healthy. 

Keep Swimming!

Hello Everyone!

Let's try this a sixth time! You know what they say, 'sixth time's a charm'. UGH! For those of you who aren't aware I have tried numerous times to write this paragraph but Blogger isn't saving my work. So I put the paragraph in another program and saved it as a picture.  

Anyway, for today I will be playing along with Watercooler Wednesday, Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge, and yes, CASology. I will playfully plead my case later in this post. So, here is my card for today, enjoy! 

This a water die I got a couple of months ago. It comes with four dies which I layered to create the pool. I am going to bring my argument that indeed this is a CAS card. Why? Well, let's look at your guidelines. I will paste them here

1. One main image- The main image is the pool with the girl. I think it could count as one image because the subject goes together.
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered- YES! Lots of open space with one simple sentiment.
3. Limited layers & embellishments- Okay this is where it gets sticky. It does have layers but they are concentrated into one image, the pool does have a monochromatic color scheme and the outer layer is also the center of the pool thus eliminating a layer. 
4. Quick & easy to recreate: 10-15 minutes to create. Easy peasy. 

Mind you I do this in good fun and humor. Please don't take offense but I think I have made my case. Or should I say CAS? 

Simple sentiment for a simple card. It makes for a fantastic encouragement card. 

The center of the pool and the edging are both a very dark blue. It is hard to see in photos but in real life I promise it is blue 😉. The jumping girl is a die from Hero Arts July 2019 kit. Remember 2019?

Challenges Entered:

CASology: Week 371- Pool

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge: TTTC075

I am using Water, Blue, Pool

  

When I was pregnant with my daughter I used always say this to her in my head. I always get a giggle when I see this stamp while my daughter, now 14, just rolls her eyes! heheee..

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. Lots of good crafting vibes headed your way. I hope you all have a fantastic day and please stay safe and healthy. 

Age of Aquarius

Hello All,

For today I will be playing with CASology and The Paper Players. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

A very simple card created using watercolor paper and watercolor paint. I presoaked the paper and dabbed blue color which spread all around the wet area. Painted the edges of color with water and dabbed away the excess color.

I heat embossed the Aquarius star pattern using Ranger silver powder. I then added sparkly stars that consist of three different size gems. Because not all stars are the same size.

The sentiment comes from two stamp sets. The 'Aquarius' is from the same stamp as the image.
I separately placed the 'Aquarius' under the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment. Seemed fitting.

 Challenges Entered:
The Paper Players: CAS Sparkle!- PP487
CASology: Week #366- Zodiac

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way.

All the best,

Skyline

Hello All,

For today I am entering challenges from CASology. The technique I used for my card is called the faux bleaching technique or lifting technique. Here is my card for today. Enjoy!

This card took me about fifteen minutes to create. It looks so pretty and was very unexpectedly surprised with its turnout. I think it will take me longer to explain it then it was to create it.  The faux bleaching technique. I'll explain...

I used heavyweight watercolor paper to stamp and white heat emboss the skyline. I then sponged in a horizontal direction an ombre pattern with Faded Jeans Distress Ink all over the paper. I then took my paintbrush and colored the city with water. I let it sit for a few seconds, placed a dry cloth over the water to soak it up and along with it came some of the DI. The pale pink color is the residue color from the Faded Jeans ink.

I thought I would end up with a white-ish blue leftover but ended up with pale pink. I thought it looked gorgeous. Very simple technique and the results were fabulous. Maybe I should add one more adjective. Lovely!

Challenges Entered:
CASology: Week 363- Skyline

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way.

All the best,

Crystal

Hello Everyone,

Last-minute Joe here submitting at the last second for CASology. For today I am also playing along with CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

I used metallic paints for the soft color on the crystals. The ground gradually trailing off into white space. I this stamp set is from Stamplorations. I love this set and I do use it frequently.

The sentiment was stamped using Memento Desert Sand ink. The perfect color to complement the sparkly ground color and border.

Above: I wanted to show the soft color palette that this metallic watercolor creates. I used a mixture of light blue and green along with purple mixed with white. Below: I really dulled down the brightness to show you the luster wonderfulness of this watercolor paint. I sparkles and shines like a genuine crystal. Even the ground likes to sparkle and shine. Oh wait is that my sentiment. Why, why yes it is.

Challenges Entered:

CASology: Week 360- Crystal

CAS Colours & Sketches: Challenge #355

 

 Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way.

All the best,

Feather Weight

Hello All,

For today I am entering challenges from CASology, Color Throwdown, and CAS Colours & Sketches. I have had this die cut for quite a while and wanted to use it for just the right challenges. Well, here we are. My card for today. Enjoy!

Lots of white space and some colors highlight the dimension of the feather.

This beautiful feather goes so nicely with CAS Colours & Sketches.
I used colors only in the boxes provided by the sketch requirements.

An illustration of using layers as a form of defining space.

 Challenges Entered:

CASology: Week 353- Feather

Color Throwdown: ctd564

CAS Colours & Sketches: Challenge #342- Sketch

   

I thought about this design long and hard. My dilemma, is this considered CAS or not? But, the more I thought about it the more I thought, yes, it is CAS. So, let's push the limits. Here is my argument... The design is mostly white space with splashes of color and it can be recreated lickity-split. My thought, of course, were the layers. The layers are part of the CAS design by using shadow and texture to define space and not exemplifying the layers. If anything I think all the white makes it look cohesive and as one, hence CAS design. It is a simple clean design where the layers are used with CAS in mind. 

Thank you so much for stopping by and I do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way.

Mopping Up the Table...

Hello Everyone,

For today I will be playing along with Color My Heart Color Challenge, AAA Cards, CASology and CAS(E) this Sketch. Here is my card for today, enjoy!

Look at all the color. I just love it! The captivating swirl came from wiping up the floor at Michaels. After every event employees have to clean but that doesn't mean you can't still be creative.  Tons of paint all over the table and thought I would mop it up with some black cardstock. Beautiful.

I colored the word 'thanks' using Copic Ciao markers. I meant to match the colors below to the swirly acrylic paint details.

Color My Heart Color Challenge: Color Dare #341
CAS(E) this Sketch: CTS#321
CASology: Week 343- Color
AAA Cards: CAS Game #140- Up to 1/3 + optional twist bright colours

  

Thank you so much for stopping by and do appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to spend time with me. I hope you all have a fantastic day and lots of good crafting vibes headed your way.