*CASology #365*

It's time for a high flying challenge with the team from CASology!!!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your cards with the theme of "KITE"... you can interpret this any way you'd like to, as long as you keep the card Clean and Simple!

I have absolutely NO kite images in my stash.... and wasn't at home to be able to play with my Silhouette, so I decided to cut my own kites out of patterned paper (just to be clear, I made this at a crop at the beginning of March, before social isolation or social distancing became words in our vocabulary).  I think they turned out OK!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  unknown yellow; Neenah Solar White 100lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Over the Rainbow
*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer
*Etc: Stampin' Up! white twine
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Big Shot; Scissors

*Dance Like No One Is Watching*

We are starting week 3 of self isolation.  I have only been out of the house for bloodwork and chemo in the last 16 days.  I'm doing OK with it all as I know this is what I need to do to stay as healthy as I can.  I miss friends, I miss hugs, I miss running to Starbucks "just because".  I haven't even been to a grocery store.  I get to go out on Friday for pre-chemo bloodwork... whatever will I wear??  LOL

I have spent a lot of time in my craft room....  some days crafting up a storm, some days just poking around on my computer thinking I should create.  I've even spend time on Zoom in my craft room, having crafty afternoons with some great friends.  Today I am in the craft room but I'm not sure I even want to create.  I just kinda feel blah today.  I think it's the weather, the end of my crappy days after a chemo treatment and missing connections with people. 

What I do know is that I need to mix up my rainbows....  or stop doing them for a while.  I've done a lot of cards with rainbows on them lately.  And here is another one LOL!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Lovely Lipstick
*Images:  Picket Fence Studios Good Vibes:  MFT Distressed Patterns
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne:  Catherine Pooler Samba, Orange Twist, Limoncello, Grass Skirt, Fiesta Blue, Flirty Fuschia
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA#162*

It's time for another Clean and Simple challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  For this challenge we want to see a clean and simple card that can be recreated in minutes (we know that the original design will take longer) with the optional twist of using a stencil.  Remember that with AAA Cards challenges, we like to see a LOT of empty space on your cards! 

Be sure to share your creations with us on the AAA Cards Blog for your chance to be a guest designer and to win a lovely prize from Funky Fossil Designs.  Be sure to also check out the creation from our Guest Designer Sandie!

My card could be thrown together in minutes... minus the drying time for the Glimmer Paste I used. 

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Neenah Solar White 100lb
*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocture
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer
*Stencil:  Gina K Mega Flower Stencil
*Etc:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone
*Tools:  Big Shot

*Birthday Candles*

This card took *way* too long to put together.  I had an idea in my head to use my Silhouette to cut candles out of some of that great My Favourite Things patterned paper.  It took forever for me to get them sized to what I thought I wanted, and then I had a heck of a time getting my Silhouette to cut through the patterned paper (turns out something happened to the blade and it wasn't sticking out of the casing no matter what setting I had it at).  I changed my blade and then my paper wasn't sticking to the mat.  I swear I spent more than an hour just working on these darn candles!!!

But I had an idea in my head and I wanted to do it... I don't have candle dies and the candle stamps I had I didn't like.  So I stuck with it... and in the end, I wish the candles had been a little bigger.

I really need to play with my Silhouette more... learn more.... get better with it.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight; gold glitter paper
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights
*Dies:  MFT Celebrate
*Tools:  Silhouette; Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers
*Etc:  Silhouette cut file

*MFT Picture Perfect*

I love this stamp set, but I have to admit, I don't love colouring....  I find colouring stressful.  I worry I'm doing it all wrong.  I have the basic ideas on how to shade but I have no idea if I'm doing it right.  I took Copic training at CHA (now Creatavation) many years ago but still came away feeling mostly lost.  I really should just try it more often....  let myself play.

And I guess that is what I did at a recent crop with my friend Bonnie.  I knew I wanted to play with this great sloth, so I stamped it up and started colouring with my Copics.

Is there something in your craft stash that scares you like colouring scares me?  I'd love to hear about it!

I started out stamping the image on a smaller white panel because we all know that Copic markers bleed through even the best cardstock.  I took my time colouring this little guy, trying my best to get some different shades in there.  I used my Perfect Layers tools to create that great 1/8" border around my main image with that lovely black and white striped cardstock (man I love that stuff!) and then put it all on to a white card base.  Lots of white space keeps this card with a larger image still rather clean and simple (which I think you know is my style by now!)

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Images:  MFT Picture Perfect
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers Tool

*Gold Roses Sympathy*

No one wants to have to send a sympathy card, but it's good to have a few in your stash for that moment you need to send one... it's easier to make when you're not feeling the loss.  For this card, I cut frames of the patterned paper and the black cardstock....  and the black frame is popped up with foam tape.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! (retired)
*Images:  Avery Elle Loads of Wishes
*Ink:  VersaMark
*Dies:  Waffle Flower A2 Layers
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Heat Tool
*Etc:  white embossing powder

*Best Day Ever Cupcake*

I love this patterned paper from My Favorite Things.... I just love me a good fun rainbow in different patterns!  I'm trying to use more patterned paper in my cards, to use up some of the wonderful things I have in my stash instead of saving it because I love it.   It's so silly to save a craft item because you love it... use it, share it, enjoy it... and then go buy something else that you love!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; purple glitter
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Over the Rainbow
*Images:  Picket Fence Studio Cupcake Love; Studio Katia It's Your Birthday
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Cupcake Love
*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Two Tone Flower*

Today is Round 9 of 12 of chemo treatments... will be heading over to the cancer centre in a bit to start the process.  I'm honestly getting tired of this routine, but am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I will be so happy to start feeling more energetic again.  Right now a 10 minute slow walk exhausts me.

It's been a long week for me as I haven't really been out of the house other than for a walk on the days it's been nice.  I had to go out to get blood work done last Friday, but otherwise, I've been at home.  It's a crazy world we're living in right now, but I am trying to make the best of it.  Friends and I (and my sister) have been getting together the last few days to craft.... using the Zoom app.  It's been great to "be with" other people while maintaining our social distance from each other.  We craft, talk, laugh...  it's been great!

This card was super simple to put together... but I really like it

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 100lb; Stampin' Up! Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac
*Images:  The Stamping Village Happy Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Designa Daisy and Open Daisy
*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  black pearl

*Best Wishes*

I loved the Eastern Medallion die set and Eastern Beauty stamp set from Stampin' Up! when I saw them and I *had* to have them..... and honestly, they have sat in my stash doing nothing for a couple of years now.  I've never put the effort in to figuring them out.  Sad, eh?

I'm glad I finally grabbed them and played a little bit....

If you zoom in on the photo, you'll see that I started with an embossed grid on the front white panel... I simply scored my cardstock with my Scor-Pal to get the look.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Avery Elle So Kind
*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Lime Rickey
*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Eastern Medallion
*Tools:  Scor Pal; Gemini Jr; Life Changing Blender Brushes; Perfect Layers

*Birthday Unicorn*

First off, my apologies on the photography of this card.... I didn't realize our washed out it looked until after I had sent it off.  I took a few photos on the day I took this photo and they turned out OK... not sure what happened with this one.  It's just way too bright.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights
*Images:  Gerda Steiner Moody Unicorns
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy 40th*

Once again I used a CASe This Sketch (#161) sketch to create a card.  My co-worked turned 40 in February so I decided to make her a card.  I bought these MFT Pumped Up Numbers because I liked the size of them... I didn't realize until they arrived they (and their alphabet counterparts, which I also bought) are balloons....  I'll have to play with them to see if I can trim off the little part that makes it obvious it's a balloon.

I'm not sure that I love how this card turned out.... I wonder if I should have added a layer.  Or something.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Island Indigo; silver sparkle
*Images:  Hero Arts Essential Messages
*Ink:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Pumped Up Messages; Simon Says Stamp Big Happy
*Tools:  Gemini Jr
*Embellishments:  unknown enamel sparkle dots

*Celebrate with Patterns*

As I promised myself, I am trying to use some more of my patterned paper.... but truth be told, this is a brand new 6X6 pack LOL!  I really should use up my stash before buying new, but...

For this card I used the CASe this Sketch #175... I have a bunch of card sketches saved on Pinterest but I find I don't go there as often as I go to my card board on Pinterest.... so I've been trying to find sketches there I want to try to switch things up.

To ensure that my strips of patterned paper are the same size, I used a die to cut each of them.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up Melon Mambo
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights
*Dies:  MFT Celebrate; Waffle FLower A2 Layers Die (rectangle)
*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer

*More Patterned Paper*

Another quick and easy card for you, using more of that party paper from Stampin' Up!  I fell in love with this paper when I saw it (it's now retired), but once I got it, I didn't know what to do with it!  I'm glad I'm finally playing with the package of paper... it's out of my comfort zone, but that's a good thing!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Party
*Dies:  MFT Celebrate
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer; Studio Katia Iridescent Bubbles

*Happiest of Birthdays*

This was such an easy card to throw together.... I borrowed a stamp set from Bonnie and was pleased that this sentiment fit perfectly in the balloon.  But then again, of course it did... the stamp set was designed to go with the patterned paper.  I have a lot of 6X6 patterned paper so I'm trying to use it more often...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Party
*Images:  Stampin' Up! Picture Perfect Birthday
*Ink:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  faceted gems