CC&S Challenge 185 Colours: Shades Of Blue

It's Liz's turn to host at CAS Colours and Sketches this week (I hadn't realised that it was her debut!) and she has chosen a trio of blues for us to work with including one of the new SU colours. I love all shades of blue so absolutely no problem coming up with ideas this week!

I also wanted to try out the technique of pattern stamping as seen in one of Jennifer McGuire's videos HERE recently. I didn't have any tiny stamps that were suitable for colouring in so I just had to go and buy the same cute little set that Jennifer uses - what a shame! I do have some small stamps, mostly from Card-io but they are almost all silhouette stamps which I couldn't have used to achieve the same effect. I have only partially stamped the cardstock to keep it CAS but will definitely try some all over designs too. I have used three shades of Promarkers to colour in with. I included the aperture with the sentiment adhered to the inside of the card but by design, thanks to Jennifer, and not to cover up any mistakes!

I enjoyed playing so much that I made three quite similar cards in one afternoon, unusual for me, using different embossing powders and colour combinations (will show the others after they have been given to their intended recipients!)

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Just For You (Lia Griffith for Hero Arts)
Marker Pens: Denim Blue, Sky Blue & Indigo Blue (Promarkers)
Ink Pad: Smokey Gray (VersaFine)
Snippets: Clear EP, Computer-generated sentiment

Do visit some of the other DT blogs if you have time, especially Liz. I remember how nerve-racking my first challenge was! I'm taking a short break from CC&S for the next two weeks for a family holiday but I'll be back before you know it!

Have fun!
Stef x

CC&S 179 Sketch: Pretty Peony

I loved making my card for CAS Colours and Sketches this week. Bev has designed us a great sketch and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it so I didn't waste any time faffing around trying to decide!

This lovely peony stamp was stamped and embossed in white. The BG is coloured with three blended Distress Inks. The flower was then watercoloured by removing the ink with water and a paintbrush, giving a bleached effect. A few splatters of water were then added to work together with the stamped image. What really makes it come alive is the next part. I used three different Promarker blues to shade around the flower edges and a light grey to add highlights to the petals. The sentiment is also stamped and embossed in white (it shows up better in real life!) and a few gems and sequins added to finish. Finally I attached two loops of coordinating ribbon to the top left hand edge before adhering it to a card blank.

Supplies Used:
Flower Stamp: Dinkie Peony (IndigoBlu)
Sentiment Stamp: Free with a Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine (Clearly Besotted)
Ink Pads: Tumbled Glass, Broken China & Salty Ocean (TH Distress)
Markers: Azure, Sky Blue, Arctic Blue & Cool Grey 4 (Letraset Promarkers)
Snippets: Watercolour paper, Sequins, Gems & Grosgrain ribbon

Please try and find some time to join us this week. Can't you tell I loads of fun doing this! Do visit some of the other DT blogs for even more inspiration.

Thanks for visiting!
Stef x

CC&S 171 Sketch: ... And Just A Few More

I have fallen in love with this set so much that I have used it once more for Louise's last choice for CAS Colours and Sketches this month, a sketch. When I first saw the sketch I'll be honest and say that I thought it would be a tricky one. But when I was tidying my new stamp set away I suddenly noticed my design was staring me in the face!

The image has been stamped onto white cardstock, coloured with Promarkers and finished with some glossy accents and a few pearls once again. The sentiment is another one from the same set. I mounted it onto a coloured card blank and rounded all the corners, job done! And to think I was struggling with it at first!

I think I quite like the idea of taking one stamp set and finding different ways to use it for all our challenges in the same month. I will definitely look at doing that again. It removes some of the time wasted in trying to decide what to do!

Supplies Used:

Stamp Set: Decorative Roses (Creative Stamping 30)

Inkpads: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (VersaFine)

Promarkers: Orchid, Amethyst, Leaf Green, Forest Green (Letraset)

Snippets: Glossy Accents & Adhesive Pearls

I do hope that Louise doesn't think I've strayed too far from her sketch. Can you take some time out to join us over the bank holiday weekend here in the UK? We'd love to see your artwork amongst our entries. I'm spending the weekend narrowboating with some Guiding friends. Must be daft as it's hailing outside right now. Will have to remember to pack lots of layers!

Thanks for visiting.

Stef x

CC&S 170 Colours: More Decorative Roses

As my 'Decorative Rose' stamp set was still on my desk from last week I thought I would have a go at using it with Louise's colour choices for CAS Colours and Sketches this week. It's been a while since I did some straight forward stamping and used Promarkers to colour in, so I thought I would give that a go this week.

I have only used two different pens to do the colouring but have gone over parts of the design several times to get the darker colour. To finish, I used 'Glossy Accents' on the flowers, again something which I'm a bit out of practice at using. It didn't go on as perfectly as it should have, but well enough! I finished by matting and layering onto a coloured card blank with a top fold, again, something I've not used in a while!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Decorative Roses (with Creative Stamping, Issue 30)
Ink pad: Espresso Truffle (Memento)
Promarkers: Rose Pink & Sky Blue (Letraset)
Snippets: Brown textured cardstock, Glossy Accents (Ranger)

So, a bit of nostalgia from me this week. What will you be able to come up with? Sorry that I've not been commenting a lot on the entries in the last couple of weeks. Hope to put that right this week.

Stef x