Under the sea

 Today I was exploring whether I can make a sketch from a (non-CAS) challenge to work for CAS birthday card. I took color inspiration from another challenge and this is what I got:

I used watercolor to paint the lines, and my Creative Depot whimsical fish stamps. (I just love when stamps run in both directions!)

Entering it in the challenges that inspired me:

Cupcake Inspirations: #574 Color challenge 

Try Stamping on Tuesday: #TSOT616 Sketch

Less Is More: #448 Theme: Under the sea

also entering in:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes  

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Another *Inspired by...

 Today's card was inspired by strong, summery colors provided by one challenge, but also the verbal suggestion of red, white and blue of another. On top of that I attempted to keep is CAS*. 

The yellow background is a gelli print on tissue. The flowers and butterfly are stamped, fussy cut and arranged. II don't own many markers, so in order to get the shading I colored everything first with watercolor pencils, shading them in the process, then went over with one marker in the same color.

*CAS seems to be such a wide concept. Some challenges accept only one layer cards with plenty of white space, some are fine with layering as long as there is empty space (not necessarily white) - frankly, I am rather confused at times. The common theme seems to be 'one focal point', if I am not totally mistaken. How do you handle CAS?

Entering this into the challenges that inspired me today:

Daring Card Makers: July Elemental inspiration Challenge - Iwas inspired by the colors pink and orange, using a colorful background with already colorful images, gradation and flowers.  - Update - I was too late with my entry and could not enter the challenge!

Day of the Month Card Club: #53 National Simplicity Day

Simply Clean and Simple: CAS, optional: Roses are red, violets are blue - the challenge picture made me want to add a blue butterfly to the mix.

Triple B: July Challenge - blooms and a butterfly

The Flower Challenge: #82 CAS

Sweet Stamping: Flowers/ Blooming beautiful

Snippets for CAS

 Why is CAS - clean and simple - so hard to pull off??  When elements are reduced and the background noise is not there everything else has to sit.

I am in awe of this style and wanted to try my hand at it again. 

The vase is stamped directly onto the card base, the floral arrangement of golden twigs was actually a snippet of golden craft paper put to good use. It's a birthday card. I handwrote the text ("Armfuls of happiness").

Entering it into the challenges that inspired it:

We Love Stamping: June AG / or CAS - I was inspired by the CAS option

Crafty Chicks Challenge: #668 CAS

Addicted to Stamps: #448 Birthdays

Snippets Challenge: #456 

Craft Rocket Challenges: #104 Use dies

Clean white

There is something so elegant and exquisite in all white cards. Usually the text is a color, but today I did white on white.

I recently succumbed to 3D embossing folders, they offer many possibilities. You might see more of them soon. But today I placed the embossed area on a diagonal to leave room for a sentiment.

Nothing is very fancy, or very difficult, but I think the results are more than just a sum of their parts. I used matte and pearlescent card stock, and vellum - and of course there are also different shades of white that interplay.

Entering in:

Paperminutes: #797 White/Weiss - this was my initial inspiration

Freshly Made Sketches: #588 - I used this layout

CAS on Friday: #258 Embossing - this made me go with embossing

also entering in:

SimonSays Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes

 

Thank you for looking!

A greeting card for winter

 There is something very reassuring about the shape of snowflakes. And as many of you may already know, I like to take cues from challenges. Right now there are quite a number suggesting the use of snowflakes. I like making winter themed greeting cards.

I started with this sketch by CAS Colours and sketches. It intrigued me, because you have to follow the layout as well as colors.

I turned the sketch sideways, reaching from top to bottom instead of left to right. 

I used the colors, too.  The text says "Wishing you a magical winter".

I am entering this into these challenges:

CAS Colours ans Sketches: #498 Double

Perfectly CAS: #33 Snowflakes

Basteltraum: #119 Schneeflocken / Snowflakes 

CAS on Friday: #245 Greeting Card

Alphabet Challenge: R is for Reduce

Thank you for stopping by!

Make a wish

 A different kind of a birthday card this time. I tried to go with a restricted color palette of pebble, sand, some darker brown and black.

Again I was guided by several challenges to use watercolors, a wild animal, do stamping and make no layers. And moreover, this is a stamp purchased three years ago that I am using for the first time.

I am entering it into these nice challenges:

Bastel-Traum: #105 Wasserfarbe / Watercolours - the fish are painted with watercolors

Chocolate Baroque: AG / opt. celebrations - this is a birthday card

Daring Cardmakers: A walk on the wild side - some very wild salmon here!

AAA Cards: No layers / opt. twist 'Hugs' - I am entering without the twist

NBUS: #30 AG - both stamps are being used for the first time