Hello my friends … long time no see … at least here on my blog! I’ve been about in blogland, but have had a big card making project going on and haven’t been posting. So, you’re wondering … why am I here now? Well … a short while ago, I had a email inviting me to join Addicted to CAS as their Guest Designer for April … wow … excited … thrilled … honoured … and just a little squeaky (after all, you’ve seen the amazingness that is the ATCAS DT!). So I’m here tonight with my first card … our Code Word is ‘Far Away’, the super talented Michelle is our host and StampArt Designs is our sponsor …
I’ve developed a fondness for turquoise/aqua and gold … so that’s where I started. I took a strip of vellum and sponged it on the reverse with three different Distress Inks to create some graduated colour. Once the strip was dry, the Clearly Besotted dandelion seeds were stamped in Versamark and gold embossed. Gold thread was wrapped around the vellum and the strip was adhered to a white card panel. I cut out a tag, gold embossed the Clearly Besotted sentiment, popped the gold thread through the hole, tied a bow and adhered the tag to the panel with foam dots. A few gold sequins were tucked in around the sentiment and I popped the finished panel up on a white card base.
So, what does ‘Far Away’ mean to you? To me it was reaching for dreams, no matter how far away they seem … to you it could mean someone you’re missing … or a far flung destination you’ve visited … or one you’d like to visit … or anywhere else your creativity takes you. Check out the DT’s cards for some fabulous inspiration! I do hope you’ll let your imagination run wild and play along (the link’s on the badge above) … there’s a whole two weeks to let those ideas come tumbling out!
I’m expecting to be back to normal (ha!) service over the next few days and am looking forward to seeing you out and about in the blogosphere. Until then, thanks so much for coming by, your visits and comments are always a joy! Anita 🙂
My Papercraft World 
Hi Anita. Love the graduated shades of turquoise on your vellum strip … and mixed with the gold embossing, makes for a gorgeous card. Love the tag with gold cording and gold sequin accents. Stunning card! Thanks so much for joining us at a guest designer this month! Loll xx
Congrats! Welcome back! Beautiful, truly lovely.
Hi Anita, have missed your posts and creations!!! How exciting to be a Guest Designer although I’m not surprised, your cards are pretty amazing! Must be such a great feeling being recognised for something your not only good at but also something that you love. I LOVE this card. I have never been into gold myself, always gone with silver, platinum etc but have had my mind changed over the past few months with the designs I have seen. And yours is just fantastic! Turquoise/aqua is my most favourite colour (its known as Mummy’s Blue in our house), so to team it with gold and white is an absolute winner. Love the graduated colour, didn’t know you could do that with vellum. So many things to learn!! Blimey, sorry for this long comment, just so nice to see you back.
First things first….CONGRATS on your guest designer gig….those gals over at Addicted sure know talent when they see it!
And WOW…what an incredible display of above mentioned talent! Stunning, elegant, flawless embossing, beautiful choice of colors, gorgeous design…and the bit of fine gold thread…absolute PERFECTION!
You’re back…so now I’m smiling all over my face and my heart XX OO
Congratulations on being asked to guest design! Your card is stunning, a perfect inspiration for the challenge, love it. Cx
Hi, Anita and congrats at being GD!!! And welcome back – nice to have you around again!!!
Your card is stunning – loving the aqua and gold combination!! How clever to interpret the ‘Far Away’ code word with dreams!!! The sweet little bow is so cute and perfect and I love the sequins!! This is really beautiful!!
Congratulations on the Guest Designer gig, Anita! Well-deserved! Your dreamy card is absolutely, well, dreamy!! Thank you for the inspiration! Hugs, Darnell
We’re absolutely delighted that you could join us happy band of girls at ATCAS Anita and your gorgeous card just shows why you were asked! Love that you’ve coloured the back of vellum and stamped the CB dandelion seeds and gold embossed them on the front. Everything works so well.
Hugs.
Karen x
Congrats on your GD gig, your card is incredible and perfect for this inspiration!
Oh I just LOVE this! You have now given me a love for turquoise and gold! 🙂 They look so nice together. Your design and layout is fabulous!So glad to have you joining us at ATCAS as GD!
Congratulations Anita on your Guest Designer spot – very well deserved:) I love your beautiful card and this colour scheme looks amazing – hugs xx
Hi Anita, congrats on your GD spot. Your card is gorgeous, love the aqua and gold embossing, just lovely 🙂
Welcome as GD – beautiful panel with the turquoise and gold!
this is a serious jaw-dropper, anita!! LOVE the turquoise and gold combo… so striking!!
So pleased to have you join us Anita and with this beauty! I do love the Gold and turquoise and cool way to use vellum x
Huge congrats on your GD spot, Anita – well deserved! And a wonderful card for your first assignment – love the coloured and embossed vellum panel. And thank you for my gorgeous thank you card 🙂
Congratulations on being chosen guest designer. I am so happy for you. Your card is drop dead gorgeous. I love what you did with the vellum coloring, and I am now enamored with turquoise and gold, just like you.
Anita…a big congrats to you for being the guest designer for Addicted to CAS…and your card is amazing. I love your sweet flowers and that sentiment is just perfect. I also wanted to thank you for the gorgeous birthday card, it is just as stunning in person as it was on your blog. You are so sweet!
Congrats, Anita!!!! Well, now you’ve inspired me to head over and play along; haven’t played with that challenge yet!! This is a lovely card to get the ball rolling. And boy that turquoise– you are telling me. CANNOT get enough!!! My card that is going up right now features “candy necklace” by Bazzill and it is delicious– the color, that is!! Good to see you back and look forward to the rest of your work for the month!!
Congrats on your Guest DT spot at ATCAS! Gorgeous card, Anita! I love the color combo, and how you created the gradation of color on your vellum panel! Love your gold dandelion seeds, too…so pretty!
Congratulations on your Guest DT spot! Your card is gorgeous! To use Distress Inks to color a strip of vellum is brilliant! Love the look of it! Also of those tucked in sequins!
Congrats to your GDT spot! Gorgeous card – that sponged strip of vellum is so pretty!
Welcome Anita – it’s a pleasure to have you join us as GD this month. Your card is fabulous – the gold embossing on turquoise inked vellum is awesome – love the little bow and tag too!
Sylvia xx
Wow Anita, this card is simply gorgeous! I am loving your color combo too-very elegant looking together. Love how you did the ink on the velum and love the “ombre” effect. So striking! Congrats on the guest designer gig too!! Hugs
Oh how wonderful! Congratulations on being GD for April at Addicted to CAS!!!!! Very cool. But not at all surprising…your work is so lovely it’s just obvious why they’d want you! And speaking of lovely, your card is just that. Gorgeous gradient, and sweet embossing. You’ve captured ‘far away’ perfectly. LOVE this card! (btw…thanks for letting me know about Colour Me…I did a little edit) Have a great week dear friend. : )
Applauding and cheering to see you back, and SUPER CONGRATS on your guest designer role! With talent like yours, little wonder you received an invitation from the ATCAS gals; you’re an A++++addition, and in the realms of inspiration – look no further than this stunning aqua/gold, jaw-dropping, breath-taken away card you’ve shared. Colours, layout, gold embossing and thread…swoon-inducing, my dear friend!! Elegant, exquisite and so “you” – love this!! Your birthday card is still sitting on my table; it needs to be ‘in person seen’ by my mom this Easter weekend, then it’ll be on its way to you!! Apologies for the delay (I’ll blame mom *grin*). Looking forward to your next dazzling delight- soont!! Hugs~c
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This is gorgeous, I loved your thought process behind the code word 🙂 and of course an amazing execution! I am so so so glad to have you guest design for us 🙂
I’m not sure which I’m more excited about … seeing you back in action, or hearing your news about being Guest Designer! Both equally deserving of celebration : ) Really love your interpretation of the code word! And, of course, your card is stunning with those colors. Yay!!
So wonderful to have you with us at ATCAS Anita. I adore this fabulous card the gorgeous blues and the sensational embossing. Always a pleasure to come visit.
Marie
Congrats on being GD at ATCas :0)
You’re right those colours are luxurious together and I’m amazed that the panel is vellum…never thought of sponging ink onto vellum!!!
Jenny x
Congrats on your GD spot Anita, your card is stunning, love the turquoise and gold together, Cathy x
Gorgeous Anita!!!
Yay! Huge congrats to you! What a lovely card to start off your DT term. I’m super curious about this big project you are working on, too. Hope to hear more about that soon.
Dear Anita – your package arrived today – gorgeous paper – just fabulous! And the wonderful card – I love it! So nice and that sublte sparkle is so pretty. I’m sorry for the virtual thank you – this deserves a card, but it will have to wait, since I am leaving for vacation tomorrow. You’ll hear from me, I promise. Have a very Happy Easter! Hugs, Cornelia
Beautiful card, I love the combination of turquoise and gold! Never tried to sponge on vellum, what a great idea!
Karin x
This is SO gorgeous, love the beautiful turquoise with the gold embossing! I’m seeing gold used everywhere these days and I MUST give a try! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
This is a gorgeous card. The turquoise and gold is a beautiful colour combination. Congratulations on your CD gig. Well deserved.
Gorgeous card, Anita! I love the linen cardstock and gold embossing! Beautiful layout, too.
Anita, what a gorgeous card to kick of your guest designer spot. it truly is beautiful.
Hugs
Jaydee
I’ve been walking around with aqua and gold in my head for ages! Now THIS IS FABULOUS!