*Quick Birthday*

This was a super quick card to put together... and could easily be made for almost any occasion by simply changing out the sentiment.  The paper I used is about 11 or 12 years old by Imaginesce.... something I bought way back when I worked at the Scrapbook Pantry.  I don't have a lot of it left and I still love it as much as the day I bought it.  It's a great black and white paper (the other side is the opposite, white on black) and it's perfect on it's own or to add a little colour to.  I grabbed a couple of Copics and coloured up little pieces of the paper so that it remained mostly black and white.

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb

*Patterned Paper:  Imaginisce

*Images:  My Favorite Things All Smiles

*Ink:  Copics; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*AAA#173*

Welcome to another challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your cards that are clean a simple, follow the sketch below and you can use the optional twist of "at the movies".  Link up your creations for your chance to win a prize from CASual Fridays Stamps and to be featured as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

I was thankful I had not yet returned a borrowed stamp set to my friend Bonnie as it worked out perfectly for the optional twist...  although I feel like I'm missing a sentiment.  I stamped the popcorn bucket from the Catherine Pooler Book and Film stamp set and cut it out with my Brother Scan 'n Cut, gave it a quick colour with some makers and used foam adhesive to pop it up over the movie reel.

A very quick and easy, clean and simple card!

*Another Year*

I am happy to report that as of about 430 this afternoon (630 eastern), I will be done chemo!  I went in on Tuesday for my 2 hour infusion and I come home with a bottle of another drug that infuses in to my system over 46 hours.  I wear it in a little fanny pack like bag and it's hooked up to a port in my chest for those 2 days.  It's not pretty, but it is necessary.  I am SO happy be done with round #12!!!  In all honesty, the time from my first treatment (early December) to now has truly flown by most of the time... but on the days I feel particularly crappy, it feels like forever.  I will have a few crappy days coming up (in fact today I'm already feeling pretty tired), but after that I will just continue to feel a little better every single day.

I was playing around and thought I'd try a Copic coloured card that is a little more muted than what I usually do.  I used a grey ink to stamp the flowers and then chose more pastel shades of ink to colour the image.  I love how it turned out....

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  AlteNew Weekend Doodles; Tonic Studios Summer Flowers; Copics
*Ink:  Lawn Fawn River Rock; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals

*CAS#368*

It's Tuesday and time for another fun challenge with the team at CASology!!!  Let's see what you can do with the theme of "plant".  Our themes are wide open for interpretation so get creative!  Link up your card for a chance to win a prize from Stamplorations!!!

I have a lot of flower stamps, but not much for "plant" stamps.... but then I saw this image on a MFT set and thought "someone had to plant those!"

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Lawn Fawn Sugarplum
*Images:  MFT You Gnome Me
*Ink:  GinaK Amalgam, Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Gems

*Rainbow Happy Birthday*

Just a quick post from me today... not much to say LOL!  Truth be told, I schedule blog posts in advance and I usually spend a good chunk of time in a day or two writing blog posts and at some point, I run out of things to chit chat about.

So we'll just get to the card today (and maybe for a few days to follow as well LOL!)

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up Basic Black
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Over The Rainbow
*Images:  Stamping Village Happy Birthday
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Etc:  Lawn Fawn Liquid Stardust

*Sending Big Hugs*

Another super simple card to throw together. I am going to be so sad when I run out of these Bridal Department flowers that I bought at Michael's many many years ago.... they are just perfect with the shimmer they have and they take ink so beautifully!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  Avery Elle So Kind
*Ink:  Copics; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Etc:  self adhesive pearls

*CASology #361*

The CASology team is back with a new cue card!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your take on the word "sweetheart".  Be sure to link it up at the CASology blog for your chance to be a guest designer on an upcoming challenge!

As I said on Sunday, I don't usually make Valentine's Day cards.  In fact, we could probably count on one hand how many Valentine's I've made in 22 years of card making!  I couldn't resist the new Lawn Fawn Stud Puffin stamp set when I was at my local stamp store so I threw in some heart dies to round out my purchase... and I'm really glad I did!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Patterned Paper:  silver glitter; MFT Black & White Stripes
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Stud Puffin
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red; Copics
*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts
*Tools:  Gemini; Brother Scan 'n Cut; Perfect Layers

*CASology #359*

And we're back!  After a little break for the holidays, the CASology team is back with another challenge.  For the next two weeks, we want to see your take on the cue "repeat".  And honestly, this is an open ended challenge, as long as your card is clean and simple.  You can repeat an image, you can repeat a challenge, you can do whatever the word "repeat" speaks to you! 

We'd love to see your interpretations of this challenge so be sure to load them up on the CASology Blog.  As always,  you could be chosen to be a guest designer on a future challenge!

For this challenge, our Guest Designer is Claire!

I decided to go with a repeating image for my card... I think it's fun that you'll see some different interpretations of this challenge from each of the members of the design team. 

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White
*Patterned Paper:  MFT Dots & Stripes Bright
*Images:  MFT New Best Friend
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers Tool; Stampin' Up! Stampartus

*AAA #156*

Welcome to the first challenge of 2020 with the AAA Cards crew!  Our sponsor for challenge #156 is Crafty Stampers! 

Joining us as a guest designer for this challenge is Arlene!

As you can see from the cue card below, we are playing with a sketch for the next two weeks with the optional twist of Winter Birthday.  Be sure to head to the AAA Cards blog to share your creation with us for your chance to win.  If you don't have a blog, you can also link to cards in other ways (like Instagram and Flickr).

I stuck with the square shape for this card... kind of wish I would have gone with a regular sized card instead.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! Feels Like Frost
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Yeti or Not
*Ink:  GinaK Amalgam; Catherine Pooler Suede Shoes; Copics
*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut
*Embellishments:  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

I hope you'll play along with us!

*Sending Cozy Christmas Wishes*

Happy Friday the 13th Everyone!

I saw this image a few times in my online surfing and when I saw it at one of my local stamp shops, I had to buy it.  And then I froze!  It's not completely my style.  I have a few more ideas in my head for this stamp and I hope to get to them at some point.

But for today, something pretty straightforward.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler
*Images:  Pink Fresh Studio Cozy Christmas Wishes
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Misti
*Embellishments:  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*Merry Christmas Trees*

I had a different idea in my head for this card... I tried to make it so much more clean and simple by stamping the trees in different colours and leaving them as clean lines... but once I stamped the greeting, the trees were lost.  So instead of starting over, I decided I'd try colouring the trees... if it didn't work out, it wouldn't be a big deal. 

But I'm glad it worked out.

Items Used:

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

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas; Avery Elle Merry Merry

*Ink:  Copics; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Misti; Perfect Layers

*Happiest of Holidays*

I was at a crop at the end of November and spent some time creating some Christmas cards.  This was one time I wished I had bought matching dies for a stamp set.  I bought this MFT stamp set knowing that I could use my Brother Scan 'n Cut to cut out the images, but I didn't take the machine with me to the crop... so I ended up cutting out this image by hand.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  My Favorite Things Santa's Elves
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Patterned Paper:  Michaels
*Etc:  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*CASology #357*

It's time for another challenge over at the CASology Blog!  For the next two weeks, we are playing with gingerbread cards!  We'd love to see your creations linked to the post... and you have a chance to become a guest designer on an upcoming challenge!

I love this set from Lawn Fawn...  so many fun and cute images to use!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Patterned Paper:  Michael's glitter paper
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate
*Embellishments:  Stardust Stickles; red bling
*Etc:  Foam tape

*AAA #154*

It's time for another fun challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  For the next two weeks, we are challenging to you create a "card in minutes" with a twist of using ink blending.  For a card in minutes, we understand that the first time you make the card it might take more than a few minutes... but it should be a card you could recreate in only minutes.  Be sure to link up your creation for your chance to win a great prize from our sponsor this week as well as to be featured as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

Our sponsor for this week is Uniko... and you could win your choice an in stock stamp set!!  Head over to the AAA Cards blog to see what the design team has created as well as to see what our Guest Designer Angie dreamed up!

I had a lot of ideas in my head for this challenge but ended up grabbing a new stamp and die set from Pretty Pink Posh.

I started by ink blending green ink on to white cardstock, allowing there to be imperfections in the amount of colour.  I stamped the wreath image on top of the colour blended cardstock with black ink using my Misti so that I could stamp it a few times to get it nice and dark over the ink blended background.  I then coloured a few of the leaves and the flowers with Copic markers.  I also added some sparkle to the other leaves using the Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen.  I then lined up the die and cut out the wreath.  The red banner is embossed with the greeting and placed directly on to a white card and I used foam tape to adhere the wreath to the front of the card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar Crest White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler
*Images:  Pretty Pink Posh Winter Wreath
*Ink:  VersaMark; GinaK Amalgam; Catherine Pooler Spruce; Copic markers
*Dies:  Pretty Pink Posh Winter Wreath
*Tools:  Misti; Big Shot; Heat Tool; Life Changing Blender Brushes
*Etc:  white embossing powder; Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen; Foam Tape

*Merry & Bright*

I have had this big Merry & Bright stamp in my stash for a few years now and honestly, I can't remember if I've ever inked it up before.  I wasn't even sure that the company that made it was still in business... but I googled them and they still pop up.

I feel like this card isn't quite right.... missing something?  Has too much?  I'm not sure what it is but it just doesn't feel right to me.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White;
*Paper:  Unknown
*Images:  Stampin' Up! Making Spirits Bright; Blue Fern Studio Holiday Greetings
*Inks:  Catherine Pooler Grass Skirt, Limoncello, Rockin' Red; Gina K Amalgam
*Tools:  Perfect Layers Tools; Misti
*Etc:  Copic Markers; white gel pen

*Be Jolly*

I really love this Ho Ho Holidays set from Lawn Fawn.  Some great little sentiments as well a perfect little Santa. 

I also fell in love with a colour combination... I pulled the cardstock from my stash several days ago and I just kept staring at it, wondering what I wanted to do with it.  I knew I wanted to play with it but nothing was coming to my mind.  And then I saw sketch #403 at Freshly Made Sketches and I decided to try it.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Call Me Clover, Real Red, Pool Party
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Ho Ho Holidays
*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banner
*Tools:  Brother Scan n Cut; Perfect Layers; Big Shot
*Etc:  Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*I Made a Scene*

Ok, a scene may be stretching it... but for this clean and simple girl, this is a lot of detail!  I saw a few cards in the last few weeks that used grey, red and white for Christmas cards so I thought I'd try my hand.  I'm not sure why the photo is so dark...  the mat is red but it doesn't look like it here. Also the tree is stamped on grey with red ink and clear embossed...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Basic Grey
*Images:  Stampin' Up Festival of Trees; Lawn Fawn Ho Ho Holidays
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red, Blackjack; VersaMark; Stampin' Up! White; Gina K Amalgam
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste Moonstone; Clear Embossing Powder
*Dies:  unknown
*Tools:  Big Shot; Brother Scan n Cut; Heat Tool; Perfect Layers; Stampin' Up! tree punch; Life Changing Blender Brushes
*Etc:  MFT Snowfall Stencil; Copics; Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

*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!

*Lawn Fawn Flippin' Awesome*

With the new Lawn Fawn release, I found myself completely drawn to the Flippin' Awesome die. Honestly, I don't know why. I have made waterfall cards in the past with the use of a die (just good old math, a ruler and a scoring tool). I don't do a lot of interactive cards. But here I was, wanting that die set.

So I bought it. I tell you, I have no will power.

This is the very first card I made with the Flippin' Awesome set... there are things I can improve on, but still, I am happy with the results.

Lawn Fawn Flippin' Awesome dies with MFT Picture Perfect stamps

I started out by stamping out three images from the My Favorite Things Picture Perfect stamp set with Gina K Amalgam ink. I then coloured them with my Copics, doing the best I could to create some different shades.

I used the square die from the Flippin' Awesome set to cut out my three coloured panels and then got started on the waterfall mechanism.

If you head to YouTube and search for Lawn Fawn Flippin' Awesome you will find some great videos that will how you how easy it is to put this waterfall mechanism together on a card.

I used the scallop die from the Lawn Fawn Flippin' Awesome Add On die set to cut out the MFT Over the Rainbow patterned paper and also the little decorative pull tab. To finish off the card I used some sentiment stamps from the Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate and the MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2 sets with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink.

I have a lot of ideas swimming around in my head about other images to use with this die set... with the Add On set I also have the tools to make this a gift card holder... I can see using that at Christmas!


I'd love to see what you create with this fun new set!

*Left Over Pieces*

When I created my rainbow owl card the other day, I had some left over pieces... in fact, I still have left over pieces.  I had these circles sitting on my desk and I was playing with them while watching TV and thought that they looked kind of cool together like this... so I glued them together and started to think about what I wanted to do.

I guess I was still feeling inspired by that unicorn rainbow card I had seen so I grabbed my Gerda Steiner stamps and inked up one of those cute unicorns.  I coloured him up with my Copics (no shading) and cut him out using the matching dies.  I put glue on the back of his head and pop dots on his body since the circles made a pretty deep layer.  I added the cheeky sentiment and called it done.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  assorted from my stash; Neenah Solar White
*Stamps:  Gerda Steiner Moody Unicorns
*Ink:  Copics; GinaK Amalgam; VersaFine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT stitched circles
*Tools:  Big Shot
*Etc:  GinaK Connect Glue; Stampin' Up! Dimensionals