A CASE for Creativity

This card began as an attempt to get back my creative muse, which had been hiding for a few days. The card I CASEd was a cute and simple design from Kristina Werner, suggested by Cathy Zielske, Masked Ink Blending and Zig Clean Color Markers. 

I set up my supplies as close to hers as possible, given the fact that I didn't own the same stamp set. I did, however, have a brand new pad of Bristol Smooth paper and a brand new set of Zig Clean Color Markers, so I felt ready.

Now, I've done masking before, but in small doses and using masks I've cut from regular paper and lightly held onto as I laid color over them. This time I was excited to use another new product in my stash, Scor-Pal Scor-Tape sheets, which I was sure I'd used for masking once. Not so. The product is wonderful for making die cuts that will hold glitter or embossing powder (which, I remembered too late, was what I'd used it for), but as a mask, well, it actually pulled the cardstock off with it. Since I was set up to make four cards for my four youngest grandchildren, I trashed that one and moved on to the next card. Even though I didn't use it for this project, I've included the link for the Scor-Pal sheets below.

Using the release paper from the Scor-Pal cutout worked fine as long as I held it down securely with one hand. A little awkward and messy; sturdier paper would have worked better and kept me within the lines (but that's what the sand eraser is for!). I'm going to try out a new product for masking that I'll review in a future post.

I wasn't entirely thrilled with how these cards were mounted. In the end, I used my Cupid's Heart Border die to embellish the bottom of each card. Didn't take a picture of the final result because I was in such a rush to get these mailed, but it did help to balance out the layouts. It also created some fun heart confetti that I sneaked into each envelope for the delight of the grandchildren (and possible consternation of the parents; but they'll get over it). Stamps used in these cards include

The next day I tried again. This time I had in mind an entry into CASual Friday's Hearts, Hearts, and More Hearts Challenge, along with creating a card to send my sister for Simonsaysstamp's Send a Card to a Friend Day. The result was this little penguin holding a heart bouquet.

I masked the heart once again with the release paper cut from Altenew's Halftone Hearts Nesting Dies. I sponged in Distress Oxides in Seedless Preserves and Picked Raspberry (I so wanted to write "I Love Lucy" on the unembellished heart!) and stamped the sentiment from the Lia Griffith-Hero Arts Party Time set in versamark and white embossing powder. The hearts were cut from some pink cardstock I've had in my stash forever. I adhered most of them with a dot of Ranger Multi Medium Matte and popped two of them with foam dots.

The penguin got his pink belly with a little watercolor marker in Light Pink. I added the balloon strings with a brush marker and the wayward heart from Pretty Pink Posh. To finish, I put a little Wink of Stella on the hearts, which you can't see here. It's subtle. I think the dry-ish cardstock absorbed most of it!

Lessons learned? Oh, put your balloon strings on before you adhere the balloons; have a mono sand eraser handy when you're masking with material that doesn't stay put; be careful getting Wink of Stella too close to a heart you've colored with Distress Oxides (it re-blended pretty well, though). Those kinds of things. Ultimately, I feel like I'm taking those baby steps back to creativity!

Thanks for looking!

Supplies (affiliate links used at no cost to you):