CAS19 Tutu and Twirl

It's time for our final Calling All Sistahs Encouragment Challenge #CAS19.  We've had a blast sharing encouragement with all of you and being inspired by your lovely works of heart.  All good things must come to an end, but before they do we have one last inspiration photo to challenge you to create an encouragement card.

As soon as I saw this inspiration photo I knew I was going to use one of my pretty ballerina stamps from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  This card came together very easily.  I started by sponging a pink background for my ballerina with some make-up brushes. (thank you Dana Joy of Got Joy Creations for the idea!) I stamped my ballerina and her encouraging sentiment in gray.  One of my favorite things to do with a clean and simple card is to die cut the main panel.  For this card I layered it with another white panel die cut with a scallop rectangle die.  My ballerina needed a little bling, so I added a few pink rhinestones to finish her off.

Now head on over to the Calling All Sistahs blog to see what the rest of the Encouragement Squad has created before adding your own creation to the challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift code to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. 

Stamps: Tutu (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Ink: Black Jack (Catherine Pooler) Spun Sugar Distress, Picked Raspberry Distress & Oxide (Tim Holtz)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah)
Accessories: Blueprints 20 (My Favorite Things) Make-up Brushes

Tutu

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Black Jack

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7)

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Pretty Pink Posh Jewels, Watermelon

Pretty Pink Posh Jewels, Pink Blush

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frames

Calling All Sistahs November Reminder

It's the 17th of the month and that means it is time for the Encouragement Squad at Calling All Sistahs to remind you to do your breast self-exams and get those mammograms scheduled if it is time.  Early detection is key to long term survival.  

A few weeks ago a friend reached out to me to tell me she found out she has breast cancer.  Her double mastectomy is scheduled in 2 days.  Thanks to this mission to remind with Calling All Sistahs cards, I have plenty of cards on hand to send her every week or 2 to encourage her along her battle.

Before we go see what the rest of the Encouragement Squad has created and read Michele's message for you, I want to remind you to use the coupon code cas-comfort when shopping.  Remember, Michele donates 50% of her profits from the sales of her Calling All Sistahs line of stamps & dies to breast cancer research & awareness programs.

Clicky to head on over to the Calling All Sistahs blog to be encouraged.

Stamps: Dream Then Do (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Black Jack (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper: Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz) Smoky Slate (Stampin' UP)
Accessories: Deep Pink No37, Gold No90 Watercolor Pans(Gansai Tambi) Hope Fri-Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Pink Satin Ribbon (SU) Wonky Stitched Rectangle Dies (My Favorite Things)

p.s.  Use code SAVEONBLING18 to save 25% on items in the Embellisment category at Ellen Hutson today!

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Single Color, Gold

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Single Color, Deep Pink (37)

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 12

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Black Jack

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7)

Glue Dots, 3/8" (4029)

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze

It Will Be Ok CAS18

Back when I used to scrapbook I LOVED using sketches.  That carried on to my cardmaking.  My favorite challenges have always been sketches.  So, you can guess my excitement when I discovered the Calling All Sistahs Encouragement Challenge is a sketch!  Check it out.

Imagine my surprise when I ended up with a Fall card instead of pink and glitter like I had planned.  I guess Fall is in the air.  If you check out the rest of the Encouragement Squad inspiration, you will quickly notice my card is not like the others. 

I started with a tag for this card by stamping the acorn, and coloring it with a blender pen.  Then making a mask for the acorn out of a post-it-note and stamping the leaves around it.  The little scallops needed something and I was going to use a marker to make dots, then I remembered the Candy Dots from Stampin' Up I have.   They are likely retired, so it was tempting to hoard them, but it was time they got used so I added one to each of the little scallops.  Then I was faced with what to do with the background to match the sketch.  I thought about pulling out one of my woodgrain embossing folders.  I also considered just putting down a strip of ribbon to mimic the line in the sketch.  In the end I remembered I have woodgrain paper so I pulled that out.  Then the jute ribbon on the wall caught my eye and I tried laying it on the paper.  Instant perfection.  

Now the top of my tag looked too plain.  I didn't have any ribbon to match the colors of my leaves and the brown ribbon faded into the background.  So, I tried a little scrap of red ribbon and bam! my card was complete.  Here is a little bit of my inspiration for this card.

Driving up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park last weekend.  Gorgeous and sunny Autumn day. 

Drive around the Hood Canal on our way to Port Angeles, WA. It was raining so I had difficulty getting good pictures, but we so enjoyed the driving!

Head on over to CAS18 to see what my talented Sistahs have created and be inspired to add your own ENCOURAGEMENT card to the challenge!  Don't forget to use our coupon code when shopping.

Stamps: Autumn Blessings, Breathe (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, So Saffron (Stampin' Up) Lime Rickey, Sauna (Catherine Pooler)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Woodgrain DSP (SU)
Accessories: Blender Pen, Jute Ribbon, Neutral Candy Dots (SU) Scallop Tag Fri-Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)

Black & White CAS17

One of the most striking color combinations can be black and white with shades of gray.  These types of card tend to turn out either elegant or masculine when I am creating them.  I also enjoy adding just a splash of color, but for today's card I stuck to the challenge colors.

CAS17

For my card I started by "painting" the background with gray ink and white shimmer paint.  I then dried it before stamping the full on floral on the background.  First I inked the sentiment in Basic Grey ink, but it wasn't dark enough so I switched to black.  This is where the MISTI comes in super handy!

The finishing touches were to cut my panel down 1/8", add a 1/4" sliver of dark silvery glitter cardstock and mount it on a gray card base.  Simple, yet impactful.   You probably can't see the shimmer in the picture, but when you turn the card in the light it picks up the sparkle from the little bit of paint I used.

Now, please head on over to the Calling All Sistahs blog to check out what the incredibly talented Encouragement Squad has created to inspire you.  Then be sure to add your card to linky party for a chance to win a $25 gift code to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps store!

Don't forget to use the code above when shopping the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps store.  You'll also want to check out the retiring stamps section.  Some of them have already sold out!

Stamps: Full On Floral, Supercalifragilistic (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Gray (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Basic Gray (Stampin' Up)  (DCWD) Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Silver Watercolor pan (Gansai Tambi)

Lawn Fawn Clear Acrylic Block, 1.75 round

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7)

My Sweet Petunia Creative Corners

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 12

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Single Color, Silver

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Starry Colors, 6 Color Set

Kuretake Gansai Tambi Pearl Colors, 6 Color Set

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock, 8-1/2 x 11

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Midnight

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Black Jack

Catherine Pooler Reinker, Black Jack

Twilight, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad

Twilight, Catherine Pooler Reinker