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A very warm welcome to my teeny, tiny part of the huge world of blogging. This is where I share my passion for making hand made greeting cards. So - why "Always with a Heart"? Well this is for two reasons. Firstly, it is because every card I produce carries a heart on it somewhere. This can be big and bold or small and almost hidden - the fun sometimes is just trying to find it! Secondly it is because I put my heart into everything I produce. I hope that any visitors enjoy seeing what I post. If you drop by then please leave me a comment so that I know you called. It would be nice to know that you have found my heart in what I do.

Wednesday 8 April 2020

CAS MIX UP

Hi Everyone

Another day full of sunshine .. .. and isolation!  It is now starting to feel like "the norm" which I suppose isn't a bad thing.  At least it is getting us all into good habits.  

I can remember the first time I gave someone a "wide berth".. .. ..  it felt really weird and a little bit rude and I thought the other person might think I was being "over the top".  But she didn't and just smiled and said "good evening".

Now though almost everyone (when you actually meet someone) is automatically keeping their distance and they are actually saying "thank you" if you moved for them.  Likewise I no longer feel silly wearing latex gloves when I go out food shopping and I am washing my hands what feels like constantly .. .. .. .. which means I am getting through rather a lot of hand cream too!  I don't want any of those silly bits of rough skin forming or they will snag my ribbons!!!

Anyway, I am trying slowly to enter all of the CAS challenges this month.  Something I always intend to do but it never happens .. .. mainly because of all the wedding work.  But as things are nice and quiet on that front I am hoping this month will be the first time I manage it.  

So today I had a try at the CAS Mix Up Card Challenge where the theme this month is "bleaching" (no not our hands .. .. our artwork) and this is what I came up with using:

Bleaching, Stamping, Ink Blending, Heat Embossing, Die Cutting & Sewing




This used:

Image:  Funstamps "FQ14" Butterfly
Distress Oxide Ink Pads: Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans and Broken China
Onyx Black Versafine Ink Pad 
Clear Embossing Powder
Bleach and Fine Paintbrush
Go Kreate Die Set:  Frilly Square #3
My Trusty Sewing Machine

I really enjoyed this technique and will definitely be trying it again.  It was certainly easier bleaching Distress Inks than trying to bleach plain coloured card .. .. which is what I have tended to do in the past.

If you don't fancy messing about with bleach then you can always use plain water and a paintbrush to remove some of the distress ink, using tissue to dab the water and ink away.  This will remove the colour but not leave a pure white finish .. .. which is what I wanted.

Thank you ladies for a great challenge.

No sentiment for this card.  I am trying to get a stack together without any so that I can add what feels appropriate at a later date.

Stay safe everyone and I will catch you again soon.


11 comments:

Susan Joyce said...

Julie love your card, your butterfly really pops and I like that you left some colour on it and didn't bleach it all. Thanks for sharing at CAS Mix Up this month.

Aquarius said...

What a mix of techniques on this lovely card and a great end result

meg said...

your butterfly makes a big statement against the gorgeous background a beautiful card

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautifully butterfly card Jules and a lovely technique your butterfly really pops off the page.
You’re right about it feeling ‘normal’ now....being in total isolation I am missing my daily walks
Enjoy the sunshine

Anne

Crafting Queen said...

Beautiful card, love the technique and colours.

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A beautiful card Jules. I know what you mean about avoiding people, hubby and I try to go for a daily walk in the early afternoon and sometimes where we would automatically change sides of the road we are now looking to see if anyone else is over there and walking towards us. It doesn't feel right but everyone is doing the same thing.

Keep safe and well
Sue xx

cotnob said...

A beautiful card Jules, a gorgeous butterfly and stunning colour combination.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Carole said...

Stunning colours and technique Jules..that bleach really does give a white effect on distress inks.xx

Kathleen said...

Super job with the background and a lovely choice of colours.

Kath x

Sarah said...

What a lovely butterfly, perfect spaces for the bleaching technique. Love the colours of the beautifuly blended background too. I think social distancing has made people a bit friendlier actually because we are all in the same boat and naively hope that when this dreadful time is over that the human race will be a little bit kinder all round xx

Loll said...

Gorgeous ink blended background Jules! Work perfect for bleaching technique. Your butterfly really stands out with the black stamping and the bleached areas. So beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!