Calling All Sistahs August Reminder

It's the 17th of the month and that means it is time for my Encouragement Squad Sistahs and I to remind you to do your self check and schedule your mammogram.  We do that by making pretty cards and sharing them HERE.

Today's card is a message of hope.  Instead of pink for breast cancer, I did Purple for a friend whose mom is facing pancreatic cancer. For the background I repeatedly stamped "hope", then stenciled.  The flower was left over from THIS CARD because the card needed a little something.  The finishing touch was some iridescent sequins.

Stamps: Hope Ribbon, Pretty Posies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Ink: Wisteria Wonder (Stampin' Up) Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz Distress) Versamark
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Blueprints 24 (My Favorite Things) Hope Fri-Die, Posies Fri-Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Harleen Stencil (Winnie & Walter) Iridescent Purple Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh) White Embossing Powder (SU)

VersaMark Ink Pad

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, 4mm cupped, Iridescent Lavender Moon

Pretty Pink Posh Jewels, Pansy Purple

My Favorite Things Die-Namics, A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 2

My Favorite Things Die-Namics, A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Opaque Bright White

More CAS14 Inspiration

Did I tell you I was super inspired by the current Encouragement Challenge?  Here is yet another card I made with the inspiration photo in mind.

This card was created from a background that didn't turn out exactly as I planned.  That sometimes happens when you white emboss on white paper.  The flowers were not well placed.  I toyed with a couple of ways to salvage the piece and landed with a bold sentiment piece.  The background adds lovely color and interest to the card. 

There is still a couple of days to join CAS14 challenge.  Add your card HERE for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

Stamps: Bomb Diggity, Pretty Posies, Calm & Loving (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz) Basic Black(SU)
Accessories: Merlot, Violet, Ultramarine Blue (Ken Oliver Color Burst) Calypso Embossing Powder, White Superfine Embossing Powder (WOW) Wonky Stitched Rectangles (My Favorite Things) 

Hello Fri-Yay

Did I mention I was super inspired by the colors in the CAS14 inspiration photo?  I used color burst in a small box to make several backgrounds that turned into 4 or 5 cards.  Don't you love when inspiration strikes like that?  You can see my first card HERE and my reminder card HERE.

Today's card is actually my favorite of the entire set.  I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!!!

For this card I did several things.  I should have made a video to show you how it was made, but I'll try to explain the highlights.  First stamped and masked and stamped some more.  I wanted the flowers to overlap.   I also stamped a few extra flowers and die cut them out of leftover pieces from my other cards.  ;) To color these flowers I used my Zig markers to add bits of color, then spritzed heavily with water to blend. 

Once everything was dry, I masked the flowers again and placed the panel into a shallow box to color burst the background.  Not sure if I added water to the background first or added color burst, then water, but either way I used highly saturated amounts of both.  :)  This panel was left overnight to dry and then I cut it down to about 3.5"

To finish off the card I added a thin black diagonal stripe stamp to one side of the card, die cut the hello sentiment out of white and black cardstock and layered them together.  Finishing touches including embossing the "girlfriend" sentiment as well as popping up a couple of additional flowers.

If you are inspired by the photo, I encourage you to add your encouragement card to our challenge. Clicky

Don't forget to use the coupon code when shopping at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  ;) 

Stamps: Girlfriend, Pretty Posies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Diagonal Stripes (My Favorite Things)

Ink: 025, 036, 032, 080 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers) Versamark

Paper: Watercolor (Tim Holtz Distress) White (CPD)

Accessories: Color Burst-Violet (Ken Oliver) Hello Die (CPD) Posies Fri-Dies(CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) White Superfine Embossing Powder (WOW)

Colourcraft Brusho Crystal Colour Watercolors Set of 12 (850007)

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Opaque Bright White

VersaMark Ink Pad

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

My Favorite Things Cling Stamps, Diagonal Stripes Background

My Favorite Things Die-Namics, Hello

CAS14 Encouragement Card

We could all use some encouragement from time to time.  That is why the Encouragement Squad was formed.  We bring you new challenges every month with an inspiration photo, so you can make cards to brighten the day of others in your life.

The photo made me think of paint stain, which made me think of color burst, so I went to the craft room and came out with 4 CARDS!!!  It's been a long time since my creative mojo has flown like that.  You can see the first card in yesterday's reminder post.

For this card I stamped the flowers with Versamark in and sprinkled with white embossing powder, then heat set it to melt the powder.  Next I spritzed the watercolor paper with water and sprinkled on some color burst in colors matching the inspiration photo.  I spritzed more water on the areas that needed it.  I then added some concentrated color to the background and used a paint brush to spread it.

Once the panel dried I die cut out the center, so I could make 2 cards from the one piece.  I used the center panel for this card and matted it with black cardstock. To finish the card I embossed the sentiment on vellum and popped the panel up with 3-M tape.

Come back soon to see the other 2 cards I created.  In the meantime, I hope you will visit the challenge blog to see what the rest of the Encouragement Squad has created.  Add your own encouragement card to be eligible to win a $25 gift card to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

Stamps: Pretty Posies, Powerful Words (CASual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Basic Black, Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' Up) Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper (Ranger)
Accessories: Merlot, Violet, Ultramarine Color Burst (Ken Oliver) White Embossing Powder (WOW) Wonky Stitched Rectangle (My Favorite Things) 

Colourcraft Brusho Crystal Colour Watercolors Set of 12 (850007)

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Opaque Bright White

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX

VersaMark Ink Pad

Bazzill 40 lb. Vellum, 25 pk

Essentials By Ellen Cardstock, Ebony Black 100 lb, 25pk

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

New Masterclass- Cards With Sass

There is a new masterclass over at StampNation brought to you by CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  Guess who one of the guest teachers is?  If you guessed me, you get a gold star! 

This is going to be such a fun class!  Every tutorial shows you different ways to add Sass to your cards using stamps and dies from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  My card uses just a dash of sass to turn a classy card into something you would give to your bestie!   Here's a sneak peek of my card.  Hop on over to StampNation to see the full card.  

Not yet a member?  Click HERE to learn more and sign up today!

To play along with the Calling All Sistahs Encouragement challenge, visit us here? http://callingallsistahs.blogspot.com

Stamps: Pretty Posies; Tag, You're It (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: All That Jazz, Fiesta Blue, Flirty Fuchsia, Lime Rickey, Midnight, Orange Twist, Tiki Torch, Tutti Frutti (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper: Bright White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories: Merry Label Dies, Posies Fri-Dies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Mod Flowers Stencil (CPD) 

Smile, You Are Terrific!

How is that for a post title?  It's so true.  YOU ARE TERRIFIC!!!   Thank you for being a part of my creative journey.  As most of you know, Michele Gross of CASual Fridays Stamps, asked me to be the Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop Coordinator.  We are getting ready for our first blog hop together on May 17th.  (more deets later in the post)  As a perk of being on her team, Michele sent me the new CASual Fridays Stamps release!!!  Woot-Woot!  I had to make a card with a bit of pink in it.  *smiles*

And a video too! *smiles* again

Direct youtube link for high def: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Ko1ySrac8

If you want to see more of the new release you must check out the CASual Fridays blog posts last week and see what the amazing design team has been up to!  Prepare to have your socks knocked off!!!

As I mention above, our first open blog hop is fast upon us.  Did you know that there is a Facebook group just for the the Calling All Sistahs campaign? There is, and we are inviting you to join & share what you have been making with the stamps and dies from the Calling All Sistahs line. Even if you aren't a card maker, you can join this group to see what people have been creating using the Calling All Sistahs line, and to be encouraged to do your monthly checks.

If you would like your card included in the blog hop, please send me an email with your name and blog address to sistahoodhop@outlook .com  The blog hop will be held on the 17th of the month, and you must use at least 1 stamp or die from the Calling All Sistahs by CAS-ual Fridays Stamps line.  Each participant will be entered to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the cas-ual fridays store.  :)

If you can't join the hop, don't worry.  We have something for you too!  Just come back here on the 17th and I'll let you know how you can win something too.

Want to learn more about the blog hop?  Check out Michele's post for all the details on how to join in the fun and help us spread the word to do our monthly breast self-exams + yearly mammograms.

Stamps: Pretty Posies, Tin Roof (CASual Fridays Stamps)

Ink: Black Dye Ink (Hero Arts-Hero Hues) 003, 025, 202, 033, 040, 041, 042, 080, 081, 082 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah) Bristol (Stathmore)
Accessories: Posies Fri-Dies, Smiling Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps) Wink of Stella (Zig) Glossy Accents

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 033, Persian Green

Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 10pc-8.5" x 11"

Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 20pc-5.5" x 5.5"

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 040, Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 041, Light Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 025, Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 026, Light Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 202, Peach Pink

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 082, Purple

Hero Arts Water Mist Bottle

Tim Holtz Tonic Retractable Craft Pick

Ranger Accents, Mini Glossy Accents

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

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

Strathmore Bristol Pad 9x12

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 080, Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 081, Light Violet

Hero Arts India Ink, Black

Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Mid-Tone Mint Julep