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Friday 26 February 2016

CAS Crocuses

Hi there all.  I  got out some Chocolate Baroque stamps called Spring Bird Crocus which I bought last year to use for Springtime cards and as the last couple of days have been lovely and bright, if rather cold, it does begin to seem a bit more Springlike, and as there is a family birthday coming up I decided to use the Crocuses.

 
I also decided to do the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge which has asked that we use our embossing folders to stamp with.  This entails inking up the front piece of the folder and spritzing a little with water, and then with the folder layed flat placing the piece of card over it and rubbing it to transfer the ink to the card.  I used a Cuttlebug folder called Divine Swirl which sadly doesn't seem to be available now, and two colours of Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn and just inked the central part of the folder so that the pattern faded out and didn't entirely cover the snippet of white card.

I then stamped the Crocus image on to another snippet of white card using Versafine Smokey Gray ink and coloured with Distress Inks using a water brush.  I used Mustard Seed on the flowers and for the shadows I added a bit of Seedless Preserves, and then Mowed Lawn for the leaves and for the stems and outer leaf casings I added a little Walnut Stain.  I then created a little background with some Tumbled Glass and Walnut Stain to ground the plant.

I finished by rounding the corners on the topper and used a My Favourite Things Basic Stitch Lines die which puts a decorative pattern on the edge of a piece of card.  In this case I chose the pierced design.  It is a bit fiddly but you can repeat the pattern round the edge of a square or rectangle by lining it up a little in from the edge and making sure you place the other end of the die over the edge of the plates on your die cutting machine so that the pattern doesn't go right to the edge of the card, and then repeating this round all four sides.  I placed the pattern a little farther in from the edge than I would have liked so I trimmed a little from each of the edges.  

I then added a sentiment using the Versafine Smokey Gray ink.  I put the card together and adhered the background layer and then gave the topper some dimension by raising it up on foam tape.

Thank you for looking at my blog today.

Pat  x

I also wish to enter the following challenges:

Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Week 217 where we use up our snippets of paper and card etc.
Casology - Distress.  I used Distress Inks so this is my take on the challenge.
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.           
Simon Says Work it Wednesday Challenge - February.


Stamplorations CAS Card Challenge - February.




So delighted to be chosen as one of the favourites of the Happy Little Stampers February CAS Challenge.



17 comments:

Sarn said...

OOOH! Fab use of an inked up embossing folder Pat. Lovely crocus too. A very lovely Spring card.
Thanks for skipping along to the Snippets Playground with it.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Barb said...

A beautiful fresh looking card Pat. Really lovely colours. I've not tried this technique before but I will today. Barbxx

Flo Langley said...

Gorgeous card Pat and great technique with the folder. Snow forecast here today. Stay warm.
Hugs Flo xx

Liz said...

The inked background is just gorgeous. I think this embossing folder was the first one I ever bought, it's a shame if it's been discontinued. Beautiful card - I love the image. xx

lostinpaper said...

What a beautiful card, your colouring is amazing!

Jean said...

A gorgeous card Pat, the swirly background looks lovely with the colourful crocuses. super colouring too.
Jean x

Loll said...

This is really beautiful Pat. Great job with the embossing folder stamping ... makes a gorgeous background for those pretty crocuses. xx

Jingle said...

This is very pretty! Thanks so much for joining us for Anything Goes on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog!

Pink Unicorn said...

What a gorgeous card, I love the embossing folder stamping and the spring colours. Thank you for playing along with the STAMPlorations CAS Challenge. We hope to see you back again soon! Karola, DT, InvisiblePinkCards
P.S. Please note that we ask you to display our challenge badge to be eligible to win our prize!

Pat said...

Sorry I forgot but I have now added it so hope I can still be entered.

Hannelie said...

Pat this is a beautiful card! Love that flower!
Thanks so much for sharing with us at CASology!

Toni said...

So soft and pretty--your coloring rocks! Thanks for sharing!

Toni
HLS DT

maria's knutselplezier said...

This is a gorgious card dear Pat, great colours , beautiful background, and such beautiful flowers!!!

Have fun!!
Maria

Linda said...

This is just gorgeous. I love the inky background. Thank you for playing along with the HLS CAS Challenge. Linda xx

Petra Swart said...

WOW, your bg really looks great, Pat!!!! I have to try that technique some time!!! The colours you have worked with are beautiful!!!! Your flowers are stunning and I love the small sentiment!!!! So beautiful!!!!
Hugz

Bonnie said...

Our crocus have been blooming, Pat and these are every bit as pretty! Love the stenciled background with them!

Heather T said...

I really like your background; its so soft and pretty and co-ordinates perfectly with your gorgeous colouring.