*With Sympathy*

You know... I really hate coming up with blog post titles....  I've always found it difficult.  I usually end up with something from the sentiment on the card being the post title, but it doesn't always work out.  And I'm wondering if, in all these years, I have duplicated post titles.  I probably have, more than once.  Then again, does it really matter?

Anyway....  when I put this card together it just looked like it should be a sympathy card.... and it's always good to have one or two on hand in case you're not in the mood to create one when you need one.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 100lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Granny Apple Green
*Imagess:  Stampin' Up! Warmest Regards
*Ink:  VersaMark
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Circle of Leaves
*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers Tool; Cut-Align; heat tool
*Etc:  white embossing powder

*Black White and Gold*

I love the elegant simplicity of this card....  a simple gold embossed floral image with some black accents.  Quick and easy to throw together.... and I think it looks so classy!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Tonic Studios Botanical Burst; MFT Essential Sentiments
*Ink:  Versamark
*Tools:  My Sweet Petunia Cut Align; Perfect Layers
*Etc:  Gold embossing powder; white embossing powder

*Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays*

I saw an idea somewhere where the person who created the card used a second cut of the same die offset to show off a little colour... so I decided to try it too.  I did it with a beautiful shade of blue mirror cardstock...  I need to find more of this paper!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  silver glitter; blue mirror
*Images:  Lawn Fawn Ho Ho Holidays
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Snowflake Window
*Tools:  Big Shot; My Sweet Petunia Cut Alighn

*AAA Challenge #146*

Welcome to the AAA Challenge #146... this time around, our sponsor is Stamplorations!  You can see from the image below that our theme is Made in Minutes with the optional twist of summer.  Made in Minutes cards may be something that you took some time to design, but you should be able to recreate the card in just a few minutes... one of those designs you can go to and throw it together when you're in a jam!  Remember that here at AAA Cards, we are looking for lots of white space in your cards.... and by white space we mean space (of any colour honestly) that is free of pattern in any way, shape or form (free of pattern, embellishments, embossing).  Play along with us and post your card to the AAA Challenge blog for your chance to be chosen!  Also, be sure to check out our guest designer for this month.... Bobbi has a great card for this challenge!

I love love love Clean and Simple cards... in fact I think I struggle with cards with more on them than a few points of interest.

The most difficult part of this card was creating the sentiment strip... otherwise it went together pretty fast.  I cut out a circle frame using two MFT Stitched circles and adhered it to the front of the card.  I stamped the owl from an MFT set with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and did a quick (ie, not shaded) colouring of it with my Copics.  I used my Scan n Cut to cut out the owl (in fact, I cut out multiple as I wanted to play with colour combinations).  I stamped the MFT sentiment on to black cardstock and embossed it with white ink and trimmed it down with my Cut-Align tool and my Xacto knife, then used scissors to create a flag on each end.  I adhered the sentiment banner along the bottom of the circle frame and then used Pop Dots to adhere the owl to the side of the card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  white from the print shop, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (110), black Stampin' Up!
*Stamps:  MFT I'm Owl Yours
*Dies:  MFT stitched circles
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic, Copics
*Tools:  white embossing powder, heat tool, big Shot, Cut-Align