*Layers Layers Layers*

I had fun putting this card together for you today....  I am on the Scrap 'n Stamp Canada blog with this card, following along with the Random Acts of Cardness prompt for today.  That prompt word is LAYERS.  And I went a little nuts with the layers.  Including the mats under each layer, there are 8 layers plus the card front!  Using a 6X6 patterned paper pack from My Favorite Things made it super easy to choose the papers for my layers.

At the end of the post I have a little surprise for you too!  I did a VIDEO to demonstrate how to use the We R Memory Keepers Layers Guides that I LOVE!  Most people don't understand the concept of these tools and I LOVE them and use them on almost every card I made.  I hope the video explains things for you.

But first, the card I created...  it's so totally not my clean and simple style but I sure do love it!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White; Lawn Fawn Black Licorice

*Patterned Paper:  My Favorite Things Birthday Brights

*Images:  My Favorite Things All Smiles

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  My Favorite Things All Smiles

*Tools:  Big Shot; Layers Guides

*Etc:  foam adhesive; Be Creative Tape

And now, on to the video... please be kind as it's my first... and I have no idea how to edit a video (nor the time I think it would take to not only learn how but also to just do it) so this was all done in one take, mistakes and all LOL!  If you have any questions about the Layers Guides, let me know and I'll try to help!  These are truly the tool I reach for most on my craft desk!

In case you can't see the video (like it doesn't show up on my phone but shows up on my laptop), here is the link to YouTube...  

*CASology #382*

Happy Tuesday everyone... I hope that by now you are all able to write or type 2021 without mistakes.  I know that typing it is still difficult for me... but I haven't had an issue (yet) writing 2021 instead of 2020... but let me tell you how many times I've had to correct the month when writing something at work!  I'll probably just get used to writing January as we get ready to head in to February!

As it is Tuesday, it is time for another challenge with the team at CASology....  Please be sure to check out what Tracy, our Guest Designer did with this cue!  And of course, head to the CASology Page to see what the design team came up with!  Leave us some love on our blogs as we all love to get comments!

I had to stop and think about this one for a while...  it's funny how your brain sees a word but doesn't allow you to automatically see all the possibilities.  I had no idea what one could do for unite.  And then blam, it hit me as I was laying in bed before getting up a few days ago.  Unite = marriage!  I had this card planned in my head before I even got out of bed!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  The Stamp Barn (super old wood mounted stamp)

*Ink: Versamark

*Dies:  Spellbinders circles

*Etc:  Couture Creations Intrinsic embossing folder; gold detail embossing powder

*Tools:  Big Shot; heat tool

Head on over to the CASology Blog to see what the rest of the design team created using the UNITE prompt.... and be sure to link up your creation for a chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

*Birthday*

I think I am struggling with getting my non-Christmas mojo back.  I've made some cards but none of them (so far) have been cards I love.  They are OK, but they all looked different in my head than how they showed up in reality.  

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Berry Burst

*Patterned Paper:  My Favorite Things Birthday Brights

*Images:  Lawn Fawn Happy Happy Happy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  I didn't write it down LOL

*Etc:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals; craft foam

*Addicted to CAS #189*

It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the design team at Addicted to CAS!  Ceal has chosen the prompt for challenge #189.... and for the next two weeks, we want to see your cards using the prompt of SNOW...  

I couldn't decide if I wanted to go with snowflake or snowman so I honestly made two cards and am posting my favourite of the two today... the other will show up later in the month.

I decided to go *super* clean and simple with this card....  I'm not sure how I feel about it being a birthday card.  I might change out the sentiment and save it to send out next year as a Christmas card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; silver glitter paper

*Images:  My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession; My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangles; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiments Banners

*Tools:  Big Shot

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! snowflake bling

Be sure to link up your Clean and Simple SNOW card for your chance to be chosen to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!  And take some time to see what the rest of the design team has come up with...  we all have different ideas and styles!

*I Wrecked It*

Yup, I wrecked it.  This card started out with great promise with that great patterned paper cut on the diagonal with a black mat along the top edge....  and then I went and ruined it all by stamping on the cardstock.  I thought it would work out, but instead, as soon as I stamped it, I was disappointed.

See for yourself.

I'll admit it's not horrible, but it's not the look I had in my head.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Patterned Paper:  Catherine Pooler Poppin'

*Images:  Studio Katia Happy Birthday

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Catherine Pooler Aquatini, Garden Party, Party Dress, Limoncello

*Tools:  Stampin' Up! blender pen; Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Nuvo Shimmer Pen

*Back to Birthdays*

 It's time for me to build up my birthday card stash again... and to use up some of these wonderful patterned papers I have in my stash!  My sister and my friend Bonnie and I got together on Zoom last weekend and I managed to get a few cards done.  I always struggle with getting back in to the swing of non-Christmas cards...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green and Balmy Blue

*Patterned Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights

*Images:  Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler

*Ink:  Versamark

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet

*Etc:  white embossing powder; Nuvo Shimmer Pen

*Tools:  Big Shot

*AAA#181*

 Welcome to the first AAACards clean and simple challenge for 2021!  The design team is all refreshed from a few weeks off and ready to inspire you with our clean and simple designs!  I hope you'll join along with us, share your clean and simple card using the prompt below for your chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

As you can see from the graphic, we are looking for a clean and simple card that uses up to 1/3 of your card front with the optional twist of Summer in January!  SmylinStef is joining us as a guest designer for this challenge.

What says "summer" more than popsicles?!  I used a great two step stamping set from Simon Says Stamp to create my card...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp So Cool

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Samba, Tiki Torch, Lime Rickey, Fiesta Blue, Over Coffee, Black Jack

*Tools:  Misti; Perfect Layers

*Etc:  white Gelly Roll pen; Nuvo Shimmer Pen

Be sure to head on over to the blog to see what the rest of the design team has come up with and to link up your creation too!

*If You Don't Believe*

Well kids... we are finally at the end of the Christmas cards I created in 2020.  I had this embossed background sitting on my desk... I had created it for another card and then decided to not use it.  This card came together pretty quickly, without a plan in mind... and I think it might honestly make my top 10 favourite Christmas cards of 2020!  Sadly, I didn't get a record of what items I used on this card...  I believe it's a Darice embossing folder, Stampin' Up! Cherry cobbler paper and a stamp by Kraftin' Kimmie along with a piece of ribbon from my stash.

I hope you've enjoyed the Christmas cards I created this year as much as I enjoyed creating them all.  I have tucked my Christmas card making supplies in to a corner and will probably pull them out from time to time to see what else I can create... but I'll be back sometime in the fall with more Christmas card ideas.

Thanks for coming along on my 2020 stamping journey with me!

*Alcohol*

Happy Friday Crafters!  I'm on the Scrap 'n Stamp Canada blog today with one of my words for the Random Acts of Cardness.... and that word is ALCOHOL!  You could play with this any way you'd like (wine? beer?) but I chose alcohol inks!

I started out with a panel of Yupo paper and dropped some Alcohol Blending Solution on it.  I used three different colours of alcohol ink and an air blower to move the ink around, adding more ink and blending solution until I got it to where I was pleased with it.  I set it aside to dry for a little bit.  You know how alcohol inks tend to leave the paper a little sticky in some areas as it's drying?  Well, I took advantage of that and used some foil scraps (the kind that sticks, not the kind you need a heat foiling system for) and rubbed it along my panel... anywhere there was a sticky spot, foil stuck!  

I *really* wish you could emboss on Yupo paper but since it's kind of a plastic surface, it warps really badly... so instead I embossed my greeting on a piece of vellum and adhered it to the back of the Yupo layer and then put it all down on a white card using foam adhesive.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Yupo; Vellum

*Images:  Picket Fence Studio Good Vibes

*Ink:  Versamark; Alcohol Inks in Cobalt, Sailboat Blue, Glacier

*Tools:  heat tool; Air Blower

*Embellishments:  Gina K Silver Sequins foil

*Etc:  Alcohol Blending Solution; foam adhesive

*Joy To The World*

Another quickie card, using up some more of that wonderful Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  I also use a snowflake from Simon Says Stamp and a stamp from Gina K.

*Two Snowmen*

 I was inspired by a card I saw on Instagram by @icardink....  I made the one on the left first and both Bruce (my hubby) and my good friend Bonnie said I needed to have something behind the snowflakes.  They both prefer the card on the right, but I still prefer the card on the left!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Basic Grey, Cherry Cobbler; Pumpkin Pie; Holographic cardstock

*Dies:  Impression Obsession snowflakes; My Favorite Things Filled With Joy

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Etc:  white Gelly Roll pen

*CAS#381*

It's a New Year and time for the CASology Design Team to get back to work with our bi-weekly clean and simple challenges!  

Being a new year, and a time for reflection, our cue word for the next two weeks is Memories.  My favourite part of these challenges is that the words are open for interpretation however you see fit.. here's my story.

I honestly didn't know what to do with this prompt.  I don't have anything vintage, I don't scrapbook, I couldn't think of anything.... but one idea kept popping in to my head.  My Mom.  My Mom is the reason I make cards.  It's a long story that I've shared before that I'll summarize here... My Mom did almost every craft known to man over the years.  The only one I was interested in for a long time was cross stitch.  I went to visit in November of 1996 and she got me hooked on stamping ("here, try heat embossing!").  We would spend our time together (we lived about a 7 hour drive away from each other) making cards, sharing ideas and techniques.  She was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010 and given a short timeline so I had her teach me how to crochet (which I still enjoy).

My Mom was the Queen of Details... she LOVED any craft that was "finickey".... any one that took time.  While she started card making with stamping, she moved on to other ways to create cards.  One of those was stitching on cards.  She had books and books of patterns, patterns downloaded from the internet.  I did it for a while too (it's a lot like cross stitch), but I went a different direction (clean and simple) and left the card stitching behind.

But could I create a clean and simple card with stitching?

So I did a google search and found a pattern on CraftWithSarah.com and decided to give it a try...

I love that the first card I completed in 2021 has a piece of my Mom in it....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Gumball Green

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer

*tools:  pattern printed on copy paper; paper piercing tool (I use one for Pergamano); purple tape; Big Shot; needle

*etc:  DNC embroidery floss

Be sure to link up your creation using this prompt for your chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!  Just head on over to the blog to see what the rest of the design team has come up with and to share your creation with us!

*Quick and Easy Joyous Holiday*

 I swear, I'm almost done with the Christmas cards!  Another one created to use up some patterned paper.. not honestly sure how I feel about it  I feel like it's missing something.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Patterned Paper:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backers; Spellbinders cirlces

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Be Merry Gnome*

When I saw these Photoplay Christmas gnome stamps and dies, I just had to have them... and then I promptly ignored them until late in to my card making season.  I love the simplicity of this card....  and that gnome is just so stinkin' cute!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover 100lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Patterned Paper:  My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes

*Images:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays; My Favorite Things Festive Friends

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr

*Embellishments:  Frost Lace Stickles

Entered in to the challenge at Color Hues