*Awesome*

I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by...  make it stop, or at least slow it down a bit!  I am not looking forward to cooler weather and shorter daylight hours.

I saw a card that used a coverplate die as a portion of a card front and decided to play with what I had on hand to make my own.  I did some ink blending and die cutting and stamping for this card.  I kinda like it and I hope you do too!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; GinaK Turquoise Sea, Wild Lilac

*Dies:  unknown 

*Tools:  Misit; Perfect Layers; Life Changing Blending Brushes

*Lookin' Good*

I love the sentiment on the front of this card... it starts out with a beautiful complement, only to end with some snarkiness LOL!  That's kinda the way I roll...

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 100lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2
*Ink:  VersaFine Clair Nocturne; Picked Raspberry Distress Ink
*Dies:  Unknown coverplate
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Life Changing Blender Brushes
*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Best Wishes*

I wasn't sure about leaving the floral image of this card uncoloured... but I think I like the overall feel of this card.  It's something a little different for me.

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  Altenew Flower Vine
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Pixie Dust
*Stencil:  Wile Whisper Circlet
*Tools:  Life Changing Blender Brushes
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals
*Etc:  Purple Tape; foam tape

*So Lucky*

Back in the spring I had a few people ask me to make Mother's Day cards for them...  this is one of them. 

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Catherine Pooler Doodle Garden; MFT All About Mom
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Pixie Dust, All That Jazz; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT All About Mom; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Backer
*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes; Perfect Layers; Misti

*Shaped Stencil*

I love it when a card turns out how you envisioned it would....  this is a card that turned out almost perfectly.  I cut a heart shape out of a piece of paper to use as a mask with a stencil to create this wonderful card.

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Highland Heather
*Images:  Tonic Studio Summer Flowers
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's A Girl, Flirty Fuchsia
*Stencil:  Gina K Mandala Burst
*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals

*Love & Hugs*

I'm happy it's the weekend...  I know I've only worked 2 days this week, but I am tired.  I will get used to it, I know... but for today, I am tired.  I've got nothing planned until I have to head back to work on Tuesday morning.  I truly love my job and am so happy to be back, sitting at the desk, greeting patients, laughing with my co-workers and feeling like I'm contributing to something other than the divot on a couch.  I am missing my wide open crafty time and this is working only half my regular schedule!  I'm going to have to be more focused on days I don't work if I want to create!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Images:  Tonic Studios Botanical Burst

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Something Borrowed, Grass Skirt

*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Circlet

*Tools:  Life Changing Blender Brushes; Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Lawn Fawn Liquid Stardust

*Sparkle Floral Background*

I mentioned a few days ago that my style is clean and simple... nothing too over the top, lots of blank space on the card front, just clean and simple.  I also admitted that sometimes I stray from that style.... and the card for today shows that (I think).  It's not a lot of layers or a lot of work, but there isn't much plain blank space...

Items Used
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Stampendous Big Words Happy

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler It's a Boy, Pixie Dust; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Create A Smile Birthday

*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Fanciful Blossom

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Life Changing Blending Brushes

*Etc:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste

*Canada, EH Blog Hop*

The design team at Scrap 'n Stamp Canada decided to change things up a little bit for our hop this month... we usually start on the first Friday of the month but since this is a Canada themed blog hop for Canada Day, we decided to start the hop a few days early on Canada Day!  

We hope you'll play along with us for the next two weeks.  Please visit each of the blogs on the hop (listed below) and leave a comment on each for your chance to win a prize pack from Scrap 'n Stamp.  And this month we have a treat for you... comment on posts from the design team on Facebook and on Instagram for more chances to win!  We will award a prize pack to each of the three places to comment!

As you know, my style is pretty clean and simple... I do stray from it from time to time, but for the most part, you're going to see a lot of empty space on my cards.  I used to struggle with cards like this and now I struggle with cards with more going on.  Funny how your talents and tastes change over the years.

So here you have my clean and simple take on a Canada themed card!  Lots of Red and White and of course, the maple leaf!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 100lb; Lawn Fawn Chili Pepper

*Images:  Gina K Skeleton Leaves; MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  VersaMark; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Red Velvet

*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes

*Etc:  white embossing powder

Have fun checking out what the rest of the design team has created.... and don't forget to leave those comments!  (having trouble with leaving comments on any blogs that are blogspot.com?  Check out my post here!!)

Tara

Laurie

Nancy

Susan

Kia

Deborah

Chala

*Faceted Rainbow*

I love a good rainbow... in the sky or on a card!  Although I feel I do a rainbow theme far too often.  I hope you aren't sick of them!

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape; Vellum

*Images:  Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Faceted; Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler It's A Girl, Bellini, Limoncello, Mint to Be, It's a Boy, Pixie Dust; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Circle die, Beaded Circle die

*Tools:  Heat Tool; Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr; Life Changing Blender Brushes

*Etc:  white embossing powder

*Blended Florals*

This big daisy stamp caught my eye and I had to have it.  I have a thing for Gerber Daisies.  I saw an idea like this while I was surfing one day and wanted to try it.  I think next time I'll use something other than the green with the blue as most flowers aren't green in colour.  All that said, but I really do like the effect of this card.

Items Used

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

*Images:  Paper Rose Daisy Bouquet; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Blue Raspberry, Grass Green

*Dies: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals; Lawn Fawn Liquid Stardust

*Tools:  Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blender Brushes

*Pastel Balloons*

When I saw the Neat & Tangled Balloon Duo Stencil, I knew I had to have it.  And now that I have had it for a few months, I realize I need to play with it more.  I have a friend who hates balloons.... she hates the sound they make when they pop, which leads her to hate the balloon itself.  She also hates the sound of fireworks.  But I digress... I love balloons... they are uplifting (no pun intended) to me... they signify a celebration!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Highland Heather
*Images:  Studio Katia It's Your Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne:  Catherine Pooler Pink Champagne, Sweet Sixteen, Mint To Be, It's a Boy; light grey marker (for balloon strings)
*Stencils:  Neat & Tangled Balloon Duo
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Life Changing Blending Brushes; Purple Tape
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer; Studio Katia Sequins

*Sending Sunny Thoughts*

Usually when I create a card, I start with the design and then HOPE I can find either an image or a sentiment that goes with the card design.  It doesn't always work out for me (and I wish I hadn't downsized X set from my stash).  Thankfully I still have a lot of options to work with.... I grab out everything I think will work and since they are clear stamps I can put the stamp on top of the area I want it and figure out how it fits.  Sometimes is a sentiment set, sometimes it's a set with a bunch of images and sentiments... and sometimes an image is what is needed instead.  It's a lot of trial and error but I am thankful that most of my stamps are clear so I can play this game :-)

This card started with the stencilled background... first with ink and then covered with Nuvo Glimmer Paste (which I LOVE!).

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White; Stampin' Up! Highland Heather
*Images:  Gina K Crazy Daisy
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's A Boy, It's A Girl, Mint To Be, Limoncello
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles
*Stencil:  Gina K Mega Flower
*Embellishments:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste; Stampin' Up! Enamel Dots
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr; Life Changing Blending Brushes

*Happy Mother's Day*

My Mom passed almost 10 years ago, but I still have a mother in law that I can make Mother's Day cards for...  So I put this one together for us to sign and send off to her...  There will be some other Mother's Day themed cards coming at some point as with Covid-19 I had several people ask if I could make cards for them to give to their moms... and of course I said YES!

To start, I took a heart die and made myself a mask for ink blending.  I then grabbed the new Fanciful Blossom stencil from Wild Whisper and blended a few colours through it.  I cut out the word "mom" and stamped on the rest of the sentiment before added a purple border and putting it all on a white card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape
*Images:  MFT All About Mom
*Ink:  Gina K Wild Dandelion, Blue Raspberry, Lipstick; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Mom; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts
*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes; We R Memory Keepers Layers Guide
*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Fanciful Blossom
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Shimmer Pen

*AAA#165*

It's time for another fun challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  As always, we are looking for your clean and simple cards following the cue card below.  Link up your card with the challenge for your chance to win a gift certificate from Uniko Stamps (once they are up and running again).  This challenge, our guest designer is Helen!

I got a new (to me) Stampin' Up! stamp set and just couldn't wait to ink it up for this card....  I managed to do the up to one third as well as the optional twist of a repeating image.  I look at this card and the colours just scream SUMMER to me!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  Stampin' Up! Tropical Chic;  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler It's A Boy, All That Jazz; Gina K Passionate Pink, Wild Dandelion
*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tropical
*Tools:  Life Changing Blending Brushes; Gemini Jr
*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Gems

*Smile... It's Your Birthday*

Happy Thursday everyone (at least I think it's Thursday).  Every day kinda feels the same these days.  Our family is doing pretty well with everything... we are homebodies at the best of times so life isn't a lot different except no one is heading off to the office (everyone who works is working from home).  I do share my craft space with my hubby's new home office so I get to hear some really boring conversations about computers....

Another rainbow card for you today... I sure do love making rainbow coloured cards!  This one uses Gina K inks to create the rainbow on a retired Stampin' Up! silver embossed patterned paper.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Berry Burst
*Paper:  Stampin' Up!
*Images:  MFT All Smiles
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Turquoise Sea, Blue Raspberry, Grass Green, Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink, Wild Dandelion
*Dies:  MFT Double the Smiles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr; Life Changing Blending Brushes

*Stamps Stencils & Dies Oh My!*

It's the first Friday of the month so it's time for another blog hop with the team at Scrap 'n Stamp Canada!!

For this month, we decided to play with some of the new Wendy Vecchi stuff that's in the store.  I used a great set that came with stamps, dies and a stencil... and I used all three!  I'm impressed that I was able to keep it still a little clean and simple.... my favourite style!

As always, leave a message on each of the blogs in the hop before May 14th for your chance to win a $50 shopping spree from Scrap 'n Stamp!  As an added bonus, all of the Wendy Vecchi sets will be 20% off until May 7th!!!

I took a piece of white cardstock and stencilled the + images on to it, being careful to keep the colour light.  I stamped the floral image in River Rock ink, knowing I didn't want a stark black.  I then coloured it with a couple of Copics and die cut the image.  I added the sentiment to the bottom before trimming down the front layer to 4 X 5.25" and placing it on a red card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Lawnfawn Rainbow Cardstock
*Images, Stencil and Die:  Wendy Vecchi A Million Thanks
*Ink:  Lawn Fawn River Rock; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Grass Green; Copics
*Tools:  Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blending Brushes

Be sure to visit the other design team members and leave comments on their hop cards too!

Tara

Nancy (you are here!)

Laurie

Deborah

Kia

Chala

Susan

*AAA#164*

I hope that everyone who is self-isolating and practicing physical distancing has been able to find some time to get creative in the last several weeks!  I know I have!  I've made more than 130 cards already in 2020!  That's more different designs than I have made some years, let alone in 4 months!  I am loving all this creative time... it will be hard to go back to work after chemo treatments and when my office can open again with the Covid-19.

It is time for another challenge with AAA Cards!!!  I love that this challenge is two weeks long and gives you a basic challenge with a twist if you choose to encorporate it in to your card.

For this two week period, our sponsor is CASual Friday....  we hope you'll play along and link up your creations on the AAACards Blog!

I was going to skip the optional part of the challenge this time around because I didn't think I had anything that worked.... but I dug through my stamps and found this great MFT dinosaur set and thought to myself "why not?".  Does anyone remember that show "Dinosaurs" from the early 1990s?  "Not the Mama!!".

I did a little ink blending to create more of a background for my Dino-daddy.... and then layered that on top of a white card.

Items Used:
*Images:  MFT You're Rawr-some
*Ink:  Gina K Grass Green, Blue Raspberry; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Tools:  Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Blending Brushes

I look forward to seeing YOUR creations!

*Happy Birthday Mom*

My Mom would have been 81 today.... but she passed away in September 2010.  She is the reason I craft at all.  She crafted and created all my life.... sewing, cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, petit point, paper tole, ceramic painting.... and then in November 1996 she showed me her latest craft (and I honestly thought... Oh God, not another craft).  She had been to a craft fair and someone was selling stamping stuff.  She showed me this thing called heat embossing and I was hooked...  she had already hooked me on cross stitch, but I soon lost interest in that as my paper crafting obsession grew.  When she was sick (she had cancer and was giving 4-6 months to live), I spent a lot of time travelling back and forth from Calgary to Regina to spend time with Mom and to eventually help care for her.  In the early months after diagnosis, I had her teach me how to read a crochet pattern... I could do the stitches but I couldn't figure out the language in the patterns.  It's another craft I still do to this day.

I think about my Mom every single day (my Dad as well)... I miss them both so much.  On their special days, I like to do something special to mark the day.... so today I will be buying myself some flowers to enjoy to celebrate Mom on her birthday.

This card is SO not my Mom's style.... she was all about the intricate and time consuming creations...  but she would have loved to have received any card in the mail from me or any of her crafty friends.

Are you playing along with the word a day prompts from Scrap 'n Stamp?  Be sure to share your creations on the Challenge page!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up Basic Black
*Images: Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer; Studio Katia Halftone Dots Circle
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler It's a Boy, Pixie Dust, Grape Crush, Suede Shoes
*Tools:  Big Shot; Life Changing Blender Brushes
*Etc:  Nuvo Glimmer Pen; foam tape

*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

*CASology #364*

It's time for another challenge with the team at CASology!!  Our sponsor for this challenge is Stamplorations... check them out!

I will admit I struggled a bit with this prompt....  I don't have much for coffee and team stamps and dies and what I did have, was not talking to me.  So I had to think outside of the box a little.... and I went with a play on words in a pastel rainbow... adding a little cup to the image to tie it all in.

Items Used:
*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Sentiments; Echo Park Happy Winter
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's A Girl, Tiki Torch, Limoncello, Garden Party, It's A Boy, Sweet Sixteen
*Dies:  Echo Park Happy Winter; Lawn Fawn Oliver's Stitched ABCs
*Tools:  Big Shot; Life Changing Blending Brushes.

We encourage you to make a clean and simple card using the TEA theme over the next two weeks and post it to the In Links tool on the CASology Blog....  we'd love to see what you create!