Silhouette Nativity

I have been looking for a Nativity die, and just got this - now I realize I am not sure how best to use it.  Your suggestions/references/links are most welcome.  I embossed the bg. with snowflakes and distressed stripes.  I cut the die in black, then used a small piece of shimmery old gold to back the rays at the top. I used a circle die the right size, and cut a half circle.  I then trimmed a bit so it would not show behind the frame of the stable, leaving enough of the gold to back the star.   Alternatively, I could die cut the star and place it in the opening - and have no gold behind the rays.  Hubby suggested cutting the rays in gold, but that is too much delicate cutting and gluing for me!  The base mat is a deep red, almost burgundy and the ribbon is metallic gold.
Sketch:  Sketch Saturday
Shimmer     Simon Says Stamp Monday
Silhouette CAS:    Happy Little Stampers
Die cut:   Clean and Simple on Sunday
Christmas:     Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge 
                        Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge2.

Eureka Challenge #182 - CAS

Here is my design team card for Eureka Stamps challenge #182, which is open through Sunday, March 6.
I will be the first to admit that CAS cards are not my first choice - I really like CAS cards done by others, but struggle with my own - I tend to want to fill up all that space, or add embellishments.  However, this cute Digi by Eureka Stamps - Cool Cat with Shades - worked well for me.  I edged the image layer with a bit of ColorBox Marigold ink.  (Tip - I did not tear the edges of that layer.  I did use my trimmer with a very dull blade I keep for that purpose - it is dull enough to give what I call a controlled ragged edge!)  The ink was applied directly from the mini ink pad, to add a hint of color and some dimension.  Another tip - the sentiment is also a digi by Eureka.  I printed it separately, hand cut it in a bubble shape, and photo copied it unto the cool cat image.  This process left a look of an edge around the sentiment - which I enhanced a bit using a grey chalk pencil.  It looks like a layer but is not.  I used a metallic pen to draw the line to "attach" the bubble, and also to add some specks to the background.  The cat was colored by mixing orange and beige chalk pencils. Thanks for looking.
CAS #182:  Eureka Stamps
CHALLENGES ENTERED:         
Animal:      Mod Squad Challenge
                    The Paper Shelter
                    Wags n Whiskers
                    Fan-tastic Tuesday
Cats:           Show us your Pussies 
CAS:           Clean and Simple on Sunday
Cute:           Aud Sentiments Challengeblog
Any:            Crafting-with-Friends
                     Crafty Gals Corner
                     Creative Fingers Challenge
                     Lil Patch of Crafty Friends
                      Our Crafty Corner
                     Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday     

Practicing CAS

I still struggle with CAS cards, and will readily admit that this is an attempt for me to improve in that style.  I wanted to see if I could use my Cuttlebug embossing frame and I think it works.  My computer skills (especially relating to graphics) are also lacking - I have not been able to figure out if I have a program that will allow me to reposition the digital image.  I printed this in a 4x6 layout and it is satisfactory.   I edged the layer with ColorBox Marigold ink.  The image itself is colored with chalk pencils and glittery metallic markers.  For the larger leaves I colored first with a regular green marker, and over colored with the glittery marker - this looks nice and sparkly IRL.
CHALLENGES:
A Day for Daisies image; use wood:    A Day for Daisies
One layer wonder:                                Clean and Simple on Sunday
No DP:                                                    Crafty Catz  
CASing Anita:                                       Stamplorations     
Inspiration colors, shape):                    Pinspirationa Cchallenges
Nature's Wonders:                                 Craftin Desert Divas
 CAS:                                                       Hiding in my Craftroom

Thank you, Kevin

This card is a thank you for the technology instructor at our local library.  I have taken many classes and also received answers to a number of questions - all at no charge to library patrons.  We are enclosing a small gift card for him.
I do not do well with CAS, but I saw the following CAS challenges and decided to try.  (The black mat is only for  contrast for the photo.)  I left the cream base totally plain - gasp!!!  The image is from my file - unfortunately I neglected to add much of a label, but I think it might be clip art.  The Cuttlebug sentiment, chalking and twine complete the look.  The chalk, twine and the die have been in my supplies for a long time.
Sketch:  http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/challenge-52-sketch-and-happy-2nd.html
Thanks:  http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.ca/
               http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/
              http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/
              http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
             http://cardsbydorothy.blogspot.com/2014/11/thank-you-kevin.html
Any:   http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/
           http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
           http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.ca/
Fall colors:  http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2014/11/november-challenge-1-fall-colors.html
CAS with twine:   http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/

White on white - sympathy

This is a favorite Cuttlebug embossing folder - I often color with something like chalk, but left this white - perfect for a sympathy card.  This is actually my sentiment stamp, but I am not at home and forgot to note the name.  I layered white on white - the black is not part of the card.
Sympathy:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic: http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/
White on white:  http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/
Any: http://hobbycutzchallenges.blogspot.com/
Embossing (1 0f 5):  http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

CAS pastel

CAS cards are the most difficult for me.  I forced myself to keep this clean!  The strip is a CB border die, and I added bits of the negative to highlight the sentiment - I got a bit of ink in the wrong spot!  The sentiment is a 7 Gypsies library stamp - this has a dozen sentiments and is my go-to stamp for small sentiments.
Sketch:   http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/
CAS in pastel:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
CAS with a sentiment:  http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

Thank You #2 - and casing myself

I seldom make duplicate cards, but this is sort of a case of one I did a while back - but changed the color and embellishments.  The stamp is SU (Designer Greetings).  I used two chip board pieces from a Basic Grey collection - not sure the swirl is a flower stem but that is my interpretation!
CAS with Basic Grey:  http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
CAS Thank you:  http://cleanandsimpleonsunday.blogspot.com/
Monochromatic:  http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.co.uk/