*AAACards #207*

It's time for a clean and simple no layers challenge with AAACards!  We also have the added twist of Big Sentiment.

We used to call this a one layer card but we found that many people added a layer to their card instead of just using their card base and no added layers.  To make it a little more obvious to others who aren't as comfortable with clean and simple cards, we changed the title of the challenge to no layers.  So all you have is the card... no extras.  In fact, we challenge you to not even use die cuts!  Submit your card to the challenge HERE for your chance to be chosen as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge

As you can see from my card, I did some stencilling and stamping.... a big bold image on top of the more subtle stencilling adds a little visual interest without being overwhelming.

Card Info

*Images:  MFT All Smiles

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean

*Stencils:  Paper Artsy

*Tools:  Taylored Expressions blending brushes; Misti

*Challenges:  AAACards #207

*Addicted to CAS #212*

It feels like *forever* since there was an Addicted to CAS Challenge... it was all the way back last year LOL!  But seriously, it feels like it's been a while!  But we are back after a little break for the holidays with a new clean and simple challenge.  

As you can see from the graphic below, the challenge for the next two weeks is triangles.  

I had a few things pop in to my head but since I don't have any triangle stamps I couldn't do them.  I struggled with an idea I could actually pull off and then remembered this Celebratory Banner die that I got as a free gift with purchase a few years ago... pennants are triangles!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue

*Paper:  Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Remix

*Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Celebratory Banner

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #212

*Birthday Circles*

I saw a recent challenge on Freshly Made Sketches and took inspiration from Karen Johnson and the card she created for the challenge.  I switched the orientation of the sketch and did circles instead of squares... 

Card Info

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Biggest Wish

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet; Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Tools: Taylored Expressions blending brushes

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #517

*Black & White Plaid*

Another case of this card looked WAY better in my head than it does when it came to fruition.  I had big dreams for this card.  And while I liked it quite a bit when I finished it, the more I look at it, the more I realize I'm not in love with it.  

Maybe I'm missing a pop of colour?  Maybe it's too masculine or not masculine enough?  Maybe the plaid was the wrong choice?

I don't know what it is, but...

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes; Concord & 9th Plaid Background

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! ribbon

*Tools:  Misti

*Stencilled Front*

This is *not* a clean and simple card... anything but LOL!  I had some fun playing with a Stamplorations stencil, trying to actually colour block colour.  My stencil lifted in one area... can you tell where?

Card Info

*Images:  Uniko Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red, Lime Rickey, Flirty Fuchsia; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Taylored Expressions blending brushes; perfect layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #453

Good morning crafty friends... it's time for a colour challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches and Joanne has chosen some spring inspired colours for us to play with.

For our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up colour names for reference, but you are welcome to use any other companies' products as long as you match the challenge colours as closely as possible. 

I don't have any of my Stampin' Up! ink pads any more so I struggle with the colour challenges... to make it easy, I played with paper on this one instead.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight

*Images:  Uniko Birthday Wishes

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles; MFT Stitched Circles; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #453

I hope you'll play along with us...  link your creation HERE!

*Not Christmas*

A Facebook group I'm on for a local Calgary stamp store has a challenge this week to take some traditionally Christmas items and create a "not Christmas" card with the stamp set.  So I grabbed this great snowman stamp set by My Favorite Things to create a Brrrrthday card!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Highland Heather

*Images:  My Favorite Things Festive Friends, Polar Penguins

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

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Festive Friends; Lawn Fawn Party Balloons

*Etc:  white gel pen; purple bakers twine; foam adhesive

*Tools: Perfect Layers

*Bright Birthday*

Back when patterned paper on cards was a new trend (we're talking decades ago), I bucked the trend saying I could make my own backgrounds with inks and stamps...  But you know what?  I was never any good at that.  I am so happy that there are so many wonderful patterned papers out there that work so well on cards.  I mostly buy 6X6 pads because the designs on that paper is sized so that it works on the front of a card, but sometimes there are 12X12 papers that I just have to have.  This paper is from a pack from Stampin' Up that falls in to the 12X12 "I have to have it" category.  I love how striking the floral images are on the black background of the paper.

And using these patterned papers leads me to using cardstock colours I don't pull out too often...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Flirty Flamingo

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! Flower & Field

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Biggest Wish

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Layering Ovals, Playful Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Awesome Patterned Birthday*

I saw a card like this somewhere in my internet travels and I liked the layout, so I played with it a bit to create a card of my own.  I'm not sure my patterned were the correct choice...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tasteful Lables

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Striped Strips*

I love the idea of this card... but the more I look at it, the more I wonder if I should have used the diagonal strips for all three of the banners instead of three different patterns.

What do I love about this card?  I love the stark black and white.  Classic.  Clean and Simple.  I love the different sized black matts.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Strips

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Handsomely Suited

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenge #205*

The team at Time Out Challenges is playing with a prompt of In Love for the current challenge!  We look forward to seeing your cards linked up HERE.  Share you creations with us for your chance to not only be chosen to be a guest designer with us in an upcoming challenge but to also win a $15 gift card from Alex Syberia!

I love the look of black and white with red, but it didn't feel right for a "love" card... so I switched the black to a dark grey instead.  I really like how it turned out.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Basic Grey

*Stamps:  MFT Essential Sentiments

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Black Jack

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Embossing Folder:  Stampin' Up!

I hope you'll play along with us!

*Dark Stripes*

Sometimes, when I create a card for a guy, I find myself thinking about my Dad.  He passed away suddenly in 2006 and I miss him all the time.  This card made me think of some of the suits and ties he wore to work... something about the dark grey and dark blue stripes.

Card Information

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Basic Grey, Night of Navy

*Dies:  Photoplay Mom & Dad;  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #452*

It's time for a sketch challenge with the team at CAS Colours and Sketches...  I hope you'll play along with us!

I chose to rotate the sketch to a tall card.  I used a stencil and some inks and glimmer paste to add a strip of interest down the centre of my card before adding a die cut sentiment to the front.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Ink:  Tim Holts Twisted Citron and Salty Ocean

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate

*Stencils:  Paper Rose Big Drops

*Embellishments  Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone

*Tools:  Taylored Expressions blending brushes

*One for Dad*

Happy Monday crafty friends.... I am beyond excited that our two week cold snap has broken thanks to some incoming warmer air from the west... instead of daily highs near -20 to -25 C, it is currently above freezing at +8C.  What a difference that makes!

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I struggle with masculine cards...  I gravitate to feminine colours and flowers and and find it hard to switch it up to create for the guys.  So when I was asked to do some Father's Day cards for a friend, I struggled.

It's plain... pretty clean and simple... but I think it works...

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Wood Textures

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Mom & Dad Icons

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Stampin' Up! punch; Perfect Layers