*AAA Cards #151*

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to another Challenge with the AAA Cards team!!  This challenge is a one corner card with the optional twist of using the posted colour palette.  Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations and our Guest Designer is Sandie!

I saw these colours and immediate thought "Halloween", which is strange because I don't do Halloween cards!  You need to use at least two of the colours from the photo in your card and I love that each member of the design team interpreted it differently!

I stamped the pumpkins from the Essentials by Ellen Got Candy stamp set with Gina K Amalgam ink and coloured them with my Copic markers.  I cut them out with the matching dies and glued to them to the front of a top fold card.  I stamped a few of the stars with Catherine Pooler inks and stamped and embossed the sentiment on black cardstock with VersaMark ink and white embossing powder.  I cut it out with the Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banners die and adhered it to the front of the card.  I then stamped the spider with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink and cut it out, then attached it to the card with small foam dots.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  white from my stash; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Essentials by Ellen Got Candy
*Inks:  Versafine Claire Nocturne; Gina K Amalgam; VersaMark; Catherine Pooler Real Red and Limoncello; Copic Markers
*Dies:  Essentials by Ellen Got Candy; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banners
*Tools:  Heat Tool; Big Shot
*Etc:  foam dots; white embossing powder

Be sure to head over to the AAA Cards Blog to see what the rest of the design team has created ... and link your creation for your chance to become a Guest Designer on an upcoming challenge!

*Congratulations On Your New Home*

When my friend asked me to make a card to congratulate a family on their new home, I really wanted to use an image of a house or houses in a row... but the only stamp I had was so obviously Christmas/Winter that I could do it!

So instead I decided to play with my Foil Quill pen and my Silhouette!

I found a clip art image on the internet and used the trace tool in the Silhouette software and then foiled it in gold on white cardstock.  I cut it out with the MFT Stitched Rectangles and created a black mat with my Perfect Layers tool.  I put it all on to a white card and then used the Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner to cut out the white embossed Lawn Fawn sentiment and adhered it to the front of the card with foam tape.

It's awfully simple, but I am pleased with it!  I hope my friend is too!

*A Little More (Di)Stressed*

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!! I hope you are all having a good week so far. Calgary got another dump of snow yesterday (we had a huge snowstorm about 10 days ago and all of that snow had melted) so I am looking out my window at a whole lot of white. The nice thing about Calgary is that even though we get snow (sometimes way too early), we can almost count on the sun to come out again and melt what's on the ground.

In trying to figure out what to share on the blog today, I was feeling a little stumped. I just didn't know what I wanted to do. I was in a bit of a creative slump. I was sitting at my desk for quite a while before I decided to grab one of my cast off ideas from the Distress Ink Blog Hop last weekend and create with that. While I didn't love how this piece turned out a week ago, I decided to see what I could come up with.

I created this piece as a full 4.25 X 5.5" panel and it was just too much for my liking... thus why I didn't use it for the blog hop. For this card, I trimmed it down quite a bit to fill only a portion of the card.

I started by inking a white piece of cardstock with three colours of Distress Oxide ink (Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick). I set the panel aside to dry for a while before placing the Picket Fence Studios Sunburst stencil over top of the piece and smearing on some Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste. I once again set it aside to dry. I like how the glimmer paste changes the colours of the background.

To create the card I simply matted the trimmed down sunburst panel with black cardstock and placed on the side of card. I stamped the sentiment from Lawn Fawn Simply Sentiments in Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink.


A super simple card, but I find that the oxide blended background and the glimmer paste really give it a pop!

*Thanks For All You've Done*

Another of the thank you cards that my friend asked me to make for her.... 

I started out blending Catherine Pooler inks on white cardstock and setting it aside to dry for a bit before cutting out the word "thanks".  I love this black and white striped paper from MFT to add a little interest to cards.  I stamped and embossed the rest of the sentiment from a Stampendous set on black cardstock with white embossing powder.  I set it all off with a purple layer using my Perfect Layers Tool.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  from my stash
*Images:  Stampendous Big Words Thanks
*Ink:  Versamark; Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red, Orange Twist, Tiara, Lime Rickey, Something Borrowed, Flirty Fuschia
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks
*Paper:  My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes
*Tools:  Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blender Brushes; heat tool; Perfect Layers Tool; Big Shot
*Etc:  White embossing powder;  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*Silhouette Thanks*

A month or so ago my friend Bonnie and I purchased a grab bag envelope of stamps and dies from Ardyth when she was clearing out some of her stash.  Bonnie and I sat down over lunch one day and split the contents of the envelope... and I was thrilled to get this Simon Says Stamp Circle of Leaves die!

I love how clean and simple this card turned out with a little bling and a pop of colour with the die cut sentiment!  I put the top panel on to the front of the card using foam tape.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  unknown as the green was a scrap
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks; Simon Says Stamp Circle of Leaves
*Etc:  assorted bling; foam tape

*Let's Get (Di)Stressed Blog Hop*

Welcome to the October Scrap'n Stamp Blog Hop... this month we are playing with the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks and we hope you'll play along as well.  Share your work with us on the Scrap'n Stamp Challenge Facebook page!

I know that the big thing about the distress inks is that they react with water...  but since that was what I figured everyone else would be doing, I decided to try to figure out another way to use them.  Let me tell you, there were a LOT of attempts before I found something I liked!

I was asked by a friend to make a set of cards for her... three thank you cards and a congratulations on your new home card... so I killed two birds with one stone with this card LOL!

I started out by using the Picket Fence Studio Sunburst Stencil on some white cardstock using the Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone.  I set it aside to dry for several hours while I worked on some of the other cards my friend asked me to make.  I wanted to make sure it was good and dry before I did the next step.  I just LOVE this Glimmer Paste!

I repositioned the stencil on my card and grabbed my Distress Oxide inks in three shades of orange and red and coloured over the Glimmer Paste with the Tim Holtz Blending Tools.  I went over it all once, set it aside to dry and then went over it all again.  I find the the Distress Oxide inks dry lighter in colour than they look when they are fresh.

I trimmed down the stencilled panel after the inks were dry and created a 1/16" black mat around it.  I then adhered it to the front of a side fold card.

And then it went through several changes over the next few days while I figured out how to finish it off.  I stamped the Lawn Fawn sentiment in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and cut it out with the banner die.  I had the little scrap of MFT paper sitting on my desk from a previous project and added it behind the sentiment for a little "something-something".

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; white from my stash
*Ink:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne; Distress Oxide Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Fired Brick
*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Sentiments
*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner
*Tools:  Perfect Layers Tool; Nuvo Glimmer Paste Moonstone; Picket Fence Studio Sunburst Stencil

I hope you'll HOP along with the rest of the Design Team.... and be sure to leave comments at all of the stops along the way!  We will be choosing one person to win a $50 gift certificate from Scrap'n Stamp!!  WAIT, there's more!!!  Order from today until midnight on October 6th and get 10% off all things OXIDE (yes, even the *new* sprays!) with the coupon code OXIDE10 (not valid with any other coupon, sale or promotion.  Valid on in stock items only)

Tara

Kia
Deborah

Nancy F
Susan

Laurie

Sandi

Nancy E
Chala

*CASology #353*

Welcome to another challenge with the CASology Crew!!!  This time we are playing with feathers!  Our sponsor this week is Uniko.. check out their stuff!

I was looking for a good reason to play with a new die set I had bought....  and this was it!

Once again, I used some scraps that were on my stamp desk to create this card.  I had the leftover Alcohol Pearl ink glitter cardstock from the dragonfly card I created a few weeks ago sitting on my desk and I decided to use it to cut out the feathers.  I cut out as many as I could, not yet sure of what I would do as a card design.  And then I decided to use them all LOL!

I laid all of the feathers out, face up, along a straight line and then picked them up with Peel 'n Stick plastic wrap.  I added glue to the backs of each feather and then flipped it over on to the front of a white card. 

I will admit that when I bought this die set and got it delivered, I was surprised at how small the feathers were.  I wasn't sure I'd ever use the set.  But I really like how this turned out.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  white from the local print shop; Silver Sparkle Alcohol Ink Cardstock
*Ink:  Alcohol Pearl Inks Tranquil & Intrigue; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Poppy Stamps Dies Tiny Feathers
*Images:  Altenew Weekend Doodles

*AAACards #150*

Happy Sunday everyone... time for another challenge over at the AAACards Blog!  I think my favourite thing about this challenge blog is that they rotate through a grouping of main ideas but that there is an optional twist with each challenge as well.  For this challenge, you are encouraged to make a one layer card (no embellishments, no die cuts) with the optional theme of Fall.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Winnie & Walter.

I received these Gina K skeleton leaves stamps a few weeks ago and was excited to ink them up.

I don't do a lot of stamp layering, but this card needed more than just one leaf so I masked off the maple leaf so that the other leaf would look as though it was behind it.  I coloured the leaves using Distress Inks, water and a paintbrush.  I added some sparkle to the leaves with the new Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen.

Items Used:
*Carstock:  white from the local print shop
*Images:  Gina K; Simon Says Stap
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple
*Etc:  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen; paint brush

We look forward to seeing your fall interpretations of a one layer card!  Enter your card on the AAA Cards Website for your chance to be like Joy and be featured as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

*MFT Impact Alphabet*

Let me tell you how much I LOVE this MFT Impact Alphabet die set. When it was released a few months ago, I ordered it as soon as I could. It's a great size for card making in my opinion, and the letters are a great shape. I've been having fun with them and am always looking for new ideas too.

Today I am sharing a super clean and simple card using this great die set. This card so easily could have been a one layer card, however I always like the little pop of colour you get with a 1/16" reveal under the top layer

I started out by cutting out the letter B from some My Favorite Things patterned paper. I put it on the top layer of my card using foam adhesive to add a little dimension. I used two word stamps from the Lawn Fawn Happy Happy Happy stamp set and set them up in my stamp positioner so that I could get them stamped where I wanted them instead of trying desperately to get them both straight. I am in love with the Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink for sentiments! I then matted it all on a purple piece of cardstock before layering it all on to a white card. I added a couple of clear gems to finish off the card.


I'd love to see what *you* create with the MFT Impact Alphabet!!

*Rainbow of Happy*

I am so sorry for the lack of posts over the last week.  On my days off last week I was fighting a cold bug and the aches in my body just wouldn't let me sit at my desk to create.  I was able to find some time today and thankfully a little creativity flowed as well... so I can share a card with you today.

Sadly, the photo doesn't look as good they have been looking lately... it's almost washed out.  I hope I can figure out what I did differently so I can go back to having better looking photos.

Once again, I was cardstock that was on my desk to create... so you've seen these colours together before. 

I started by cutting out the happy word in multiple colours and I did my best to lay them out straight... but something happened with that red one and it bugs me that it's wonky.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  assorted from my stash
*Images:  Avery Elle Sentimental Too
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Avery Elle Sentimental Too
*Tools:  Big Shot; Perfect Layers Tool

*Another Rainbow Birthday*

Today I am sharing another card that uses scraps that I had left on my craft desk.  The original card I made can be seen here....  and the second card I made can be seen here.... and this is the third and final card using this rainbow!

I'm so happy I didn't waste any of this great circle rainbow I created....

Items Used
*Cardstock:  assorted cardstock from my stash; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Neenah Solar White
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Happy Happy Happy
*Ink:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles; Hello Bluebird Happy Birthday Words
*Tools:  Big Shot; Perfect Layers Tool

*CASology #352*

Welcome to another challenge with the CASology Team!  For the next two weeks, we are looking for your cards using your favourite dragonfly images and dies!  Please share your creations with us at the CASology Blog for your chance to become a guest designer for an upcoming challenge!

I love dragonflies... I think they are so very beautiful... and it certainly doesn't hurt that they eat mosquitoes!!!

I started with an alcohol ink background on the Silver Sparkle Alcohol Ink Paper.  Once it was dry, I cut out this beautiful dragonfly from Stampin' Up!  I stamped the sentiment on the bottom right side of the piece and then flicked Lawn Fawn Liquid Stardust mixed with water across the front of the white panel.  I let it try and then used my Perfect Layers Tool to create a 1/16 black mat before putting it on to a white card.  I then added the dragonfly die cut, adhering only the main part of the body and curving up the tail and wings to create a little dimension

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Neenah Solar White; Alcohol Ink Silver Sparkle
*Images:  Stampin' Up Lovely Friends
*Dies:  Stampin' Up Detailed Dragonfly Thinlets
*Ink:  Alcohol Pearls in Tranquil and Intrigue; VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Layers Tool
*Etc:  Lawn Fawn Liquid Stardust

Please go have a look at what the rest of the design team has created using the DRAGONFLY cue.

Deidre Payne

Jacquie Southas

Janet Ribet 

Jen Wills

Joyce Mehrberg

Karen Haman

Melissa Chipperfield

Milka Gubo

Nancy Elrick  -- you are here

Sue Symens

*AAA #149*

Welcome to another challenge with AAA Cards.... as always, we love to play with Clean and Simple cards... the more plain, unaltered space, the better!

For this challenge, we will be choosing one person who plays along with us to win a £15 gift certificate from Funky Fossil Designs!!  That person will also be invited to be a guest designer with us at a later date.

Our guest designer for this challenge is JOY... please go have a look at her blog!

I decided to do both the prompt and the optional twist for this challenge... so up to one third (using up to one third of the card) and an inlaid die.

I love this Simon Says Stamp Sensational Snowflake Collage die.  I cut out out the bottom of a white panel that was cut to fit the front of my card.  I then cut it out again using a dark blue shimmer cardstock.  I adhered the white cut out piece on to the front of my card and then placed the background cut out blue pieces in to the holes that were left on the white card.  I added the word JOY from the Poppy Stamps Art Deco Celebrate Christmas set, stamped in VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink.  I wanted to add some gems to the centres of the snowflakes but decided that it would be too much for such a clean and simple design.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  dark blue shimmer; Neenah Solar White
*Stamps:  Poppy Stamps Art Deco Celebrate Christmas
*Inks:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Sensational Snowflake Collage
*Tools:  Big Shot

*Colour Drops*

I love playing with the GinaK Wreath Builder in my Misti... but never know what to do with the finished product as I hardly ever make a square card.  So this time, I decided to play and just go ahead and make a square card.  I don't know what I have against square cards... but I hardly ever make them.

This card is pretty straight forward... I used a rainbow of ink colours from Catherine Pooler and the MFT Color Drops stamp set in my Misti with the GinaK Wreath Builder.  I used a piece of pink cardstock and the Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banner die to cut out a white embossed sentiment.  I also added a pop of pink as a layer using my Perfect Layers Tool.  While I love the Clean and Simple look, I also love having that pop of colour using a 1/16" matte behind my main panel.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White; unknown pink
*Images:  MFT Color Drops; MFT Essential Sentiments
*Inks:  Catherine Pooler Be Mine, Rockin' Red, Orange Twist, Tiara, Lime Rickey, All That Jazz, Suede Shoes, Grape Crush; VersaMark
*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners
*Tools:  GinaK Wreath Builder; Big Shot; Misti; Perfect Layers Tool; heat tool
*Etc:  white embossing powder