Friday, October 15, 2021

More Botanicals for CAS Mix Up

Hi there.  I'm so glad you stopped by!

Have you tried using nature on your cards yet?
There's a lovely gallery of examples at CAS Mix Up.
Here's two more.


For these cards, I plucked the end of a branch from my arborvitae,
put it between two pieces of watercolor paper and put it through my big shot.

That yielded two pressed pieces and I thought a pretty cardinal would work nice on one.
The cardinal has been cut from Real Red card stock and I've sponged Cherry Cobbler ink
along the edges of both pieces.  His "mask" and beak were colored with markers. 

I decided to add some watercolor to the other one.


And it became a lovely Christmas tree for this alcohol inked ornament that had some
foil rubbed on the sticky places.


Now you can see that foil.


My mixed media are Botanical Prints, Watercoloring, Stamping, Die Cutting and
 Alcohol Ink with Foiling

There's still time to find some of nature's bounty and use it on a card.
There are tutorial links at the challenge site and some awesome inspiration
from our Design Team.

The CAS Mix Up Challenge ends on the 24th.




Card Recipe (card 1)
Stamps:  Season's Wishes (PB)
Ink:   Christmas Pine (GKD), Cherry Cobbler (SU)
Paper:  Watercolor (Arches cold press), Neenah Natural, Christmas Pine (GKD), Primitive Cream (MFT) 
Other:  Arborvitae, Small Cardinal Set Die (Dee's Distinctively), Holiday Greens Mini Die (TH), Subtle EF (SU)

Card Recipe (card 2)
Stamps:  Scribbly Christmas (TH)
Ink:   Rustic Wilderness (DI for watercolor, DOX for sentiment)
Paper:   Watercolor (Arches cold press), Primitive Cream (MFT), Yupo
Other: Arborvitae, Alcohol Ink, Deco Foil, Classic Ornament Die (MB)

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28 comments:

Nstiz said...

Two fantastic cards Bonnie and thanks for describing your process. I never got such good prints when I tried this. Love that you colored one and left one neutral, a perfect background. That cardinal is awesome and so is your alcohol ink ornament. I need to play with that again since it's been a while.

HilaryJane said...

Two really special cards but I think I am going to choose the first one as my favourite. That red cardinal looks so amazing on your botanical print. Just fabulous xx

I Card Everyone said...

I so enjoyed this technique, but haven't ventured out into nature too far, Bonnie! LOve these prints with your Arborvitae! How cool are you to add color to the reverse print!? Loving the addition of red as an ornament, or a bird!
Hey I've got two lovely Cedars - see you soon!
[had three young male Cardinals in my Flowering Crab this morning!]
=]

Susan said...

Your leaf prints turned out so well! Two great card designs using them - both the cardinal and the ornament make perfect focal images against the leaves.

Cat Craig said...

Great cards, this technique is something you have mastered nicely.

conil said...

Clearly, I need to plant an arborvitae...it makes such a beautiful impression. Both the colored version and the cardinal are so beautiful. The added benefit of this pressing method is you get two cards out of it. Of course, your talent of adding all the details makes your Christmas cards just gorgeous.

Pat said...

This pressing technique has yielded two wonderful prints and love them both Bonnie, and the bright red Cardinak on the first, and the AI bauble with the added bit of foiling both look super to embellish them. x

Lisa Elton said...

I haven't tried this, but it looks like I need to! Wow, these are fantastic!

Colleen said...

Oh how I wish I lived closer to you, do you think any of your magic and talent would rub off? Me either, but maybe with your directions I could create beauties like you have shown us here! amazing cards, Bonnie!

Ros Crawford said...

Super result and a two super Christmas cards my friend!

Viv said...

Great results Bonnie - two fantastic cards!

Bobby said...

Your botanical print came out wonderfully, Bonnie. Adding watercolor was a great idea. I'm planning on doing some more today.

Brenda in IN said...

Your botanical cards are so pretty, Bonnie. I love the natural look, but the green is also stunning. The pops of red on both cards look so festive.

Marcia Hill said...

These are both SO pretty Bonnie!! I love the more subtle color in the first card and then the pop of color with the Cardinal...BEAUTIFUL! I love the green you added to the 2nd card too, and how pretty it looks with that red and gold foiled ornament hanging from the branch! Lovely, lovely cards my friend! I finally did my nature walk this week (to the front yard!) and made some prints of my own and turned a few into cards...hope to get them edited today and on my blog next week! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! Hugs. :0)

TK said...

While both are beautiful, I love that you changed up the second by adding w/c to the mix -- it gives a whole new feel!

Leslie Miller said...

Absolutely beautiful times two! You got a great impression from your arborvitae -- more than I would have expected -- and it worked perfectly for your Christmas cards. Whether to perch a cardinal or to hang an ornament, the sprig is such a lovely backdrop. I have sure enjoyed this challenge, Bonnie. Thank you!

Christine Alexander said...

OMG so beautiful, the perfect branch for your cardinal and ornament. I'll be looking through my garden for more plants to press. this was such a fun technique at the retreat ♥

Loll said...

Two beautiful prints, Bonnie! LOVE the Christmas cards you've created with them. This has been a really fun challenge and so many have tried this technique for the first time. Great challenge, my friend! xx

Mac Mable said...

Two fabulous results and two amazing cards Bonnie. Love the delicate print behind the cardinal and love the addition of colour on the second. Tons of inspiration, thank you x.

Papercraft Boutique said...

Your Arborvitae prints are so beautiful, Bonnie! The red cardinal looks awesome on the leaf. The sponged shade makes him look 3D. The AI bauble with shiny gold foiling pops on the green colored leaf. Wonderful twofer print cards!
Hideko xx

BożenA said...

Two lovely Christmas cards, Bonnie. You managed to get two beautiful reflections of cypress sprigs and the idea of arranging them is just brilliant. Great inspiration, Bonnie.
hugs,
BożenA

Barb Ghig said...

Both cards turned out beautifully, Bonnie! I love the 'organic' feel of your first card and how you added bold red with the lovely cardinal...WOW! Flipping the image and adding color and a rich red ornament for your 2nd card was genius! You did such an amazing job on this challenge, my friend! Barb xx

Conniecrafter said...

you achieved such great results with these pieces, I love your bird with the first one and that ornament is gorgeous on the second one with your coloring of the branches!

Susan Joyce said...

Two great prints Bonnie, I like the first one which has a more natural feel and your ornament is lovely for the second card.

Chrissie said...

This is fabulous Bonnie, your prints are so clear and I love your cardinal... it reminds me of the time I was living in VA where it is the state bird! I loved to see them in the yard... particularly in the snow!
Great card!
Chrissie

Jo said...

Yup, this has got to be the best technique which you master so beautifully. Both cards come alive with your magic touch. You've inspired me xxx

Linda said...

Two stunning cards. Your leaf prints look amazing, the colour is so pretty but I do love how you've added the watercolour ..... very arty!
The splash of red from the cardinal and the bauble really pops.
Thank you for hosting such a fun challenge xx

My Paper Epiphany said...

Wow Bonnie! Your cards are so creative and beautiful! What a fun challenge:)