AAA Cards ... Use only one third ...

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge at AAA Cards ...

This is my take on the challenge:

A simple panel of dots and circles stamped with distress ink. 

I used:

Simon Says Stamp - Lots of Dots

Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon

UNIKO - Simply Said

If you are looking for more inspiration why not check out the other designers by visiting AAA Cards.  I hope you will join in.

Enjoy!

AAA Cards ... Ombre ...

Sunday morning and time for a new challenge at AAA Cards ... I hope you are ready to be inspired to join in.

My design involves ink blending, die cutting and a stamped sentiment:

I ink blended a panel of card before die cutting the bubbles - I used the 'waste' from the middle of the die and adhered them to a rectangle.  This was then adhered using foam tape to add some dimension.  Added the white heat embossed sentiment and added the panel to the card base.

I used:

Sizzix - Bright Bubbles die

STAMPlorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles

UNIKO Simply Said stamp set

Distress Inks - Squeezed lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple.

I hope you will pop across to AAA Cards and join in with the challenge.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year ...

Good Afternoon!  Happy New Year to you all ... I hope you are all set for the challenges of a new year ... have you made any resolutions?  I always make resolutions - I don't know why as I seldom make it to the end of January before I've broken at least one of them!!  This year one of my resolutions is to keep my resolutions!!!!

One of my resolutions is to do something creative everyday ... so I'm off to a good start as I've spent time today creating a card.

I stamped and heat embossed the two roses before water colouring with Zig markers and then added the sentiment - it was only when I finished that I realised that I had created a one layer card!!

I used:

UNIKO - Pure Florals: Rose; Festive Sentiments; Simply Said

Versfine Onyx Black Ink

WOW Clear Embossing Powder

I am entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #360 & #361

Inkspirational #151

Penny Black and More December Challenge - CAS 

Enjoy!

AAA Cards Celebrate ...

It is time, once again, for a new challenge over at AAA Cards ... I hope you are all ready with your supplies to join in for some fun!  The theme this time is:

I have taken the approach of a generic "Celebrate" card .. but you can decide your own take on the theme - any type of celebration is welcome for the challenge.

A simple card with just some stamping and heat embossing.  I thought the detail and beauty of the stamp needed to be showcased through simplicity.

I used:

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Wow Clear embossing powder

UNIKO Simply Said Stamp set

IndigoBlu Colour Me - Dahlia

I hope you will drop by the challenge and check out the design team's inspiring cards - we are joined by a guest designer for this challenge Ros (ros-mikeysmom.blogspot.co.uk).  Why not join in too ... you could win a gift certificate from Happy Little Stampers with a built in excuse to 'buy more stuff'!!

Enjoy!

Snowflakes ...

I can't believe that it is Sunday evening already ... back to work tomorrow after a week's holiday!  I was lucky enough to spend part of the week in Edinburgh visiting my son, always a treat ... I've also made time to get creative!

This is today's creation ... 

Once again I'm having trouble with my photography ... this definitely looks better in real life!  
The inspiration for my card came from this week's challenge at "Less is More" where the theme is layered stamping.  I have a number of floral stamps designed for layered stamping but I never have much success with them so instead I decided that snowflake stamps were the way to go besides I need more Christmas cards!.  I began by stamping a snowflake background stamp and then layered on some individual snowflakes.  I then stamped and heat embossed the sentiment over the top.

I used:
UNIKO - Stunning Snowflakes
            - Background Blocks: Falling Snow
            - Festive Sentiments
Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch

Challenge details:


Enjoy!

ATSM Clean and Simple ...

It is time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More - this week is one of my favourite - Clean and Simple (CAS).

I'm obsessed with creating Christmas cards at the moment as I am way behind!  I'm still looking for a design that is stylish but quick to make ... this is my most recent design:

I die cut the tree, stamped and heat embossed the design before colouring with distress ink. I wrapped the tree in some fine gold thread, stamped the sentiment and that was it.

I hope you will be drop by the challenge and check out the design teams inspiring projects. I look forward to seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Taking Flight ...

Good evening ... I've been on a bit of a roll today ... I've spent most of the day crafting (well in between ironing and cooking dinner!).  I'm delighted that I have another card to share with you inspired by this week's challenge at "Less is More".  This is my second card primarily using a die.

I die cut the dragonflies four times before sticking them together - I find this is the easiest way to add dimension with intricate dies.  I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of cream card and then cut it into a fishtail banner.

The challenge details:

Enjoy!

Christmas robin ...

I have been on a mission recently to design a Christmas card that I like and is quick to make ... I like this card but it certainly was not quick to make!

I love the effect of paper piecing but it can be very time consuming,  This die is a Sue Wilson die from her Festive Collection ... it cuts beautifully.  I used kraft card for the frame and then various pattern papers for the detail.  I then adhered the finished panel to the card using a piece of fun foam to add dimension.

I'm entering this week's challenge at "Less is More" - the theme is 'Take Flight' - although my Robin is sitting on a branch I just know that he is about to take off!!



Enjoy!

ATSM Time for CAS ...

It is time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More - this week the challenge is CAS (Clean and Simple):

This is my card to delight and inspire you to pop along and join in with the challenge and remember the rest of the design team have created some amazing designs to inspire.  So pop along have a look and then get out your crafty supplies and join in with the fun.

I used:

STAMPlorations - Crazy Double Stitched Rectangle dies and Flutter Zen I layering dies

Stampin Up - Not Quite Navy ink

I hope you like what you see and are inspired to pop along and join in.

Enjoy!

AAA Cards Summer Fun ...

Morning ... Sunday morning and the start of a new week and a new challenge at AAA Cards ... I hope your are all set for some fun this summer because that is just what we are looking for:

This challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and you are in with a chance to win a gift certificate ... as the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it ... so get creating!  

For me summer just isn't summer without a trip to the seaside (often in the rain!) so I took a selection of images to create this:

I stamped the images with versafine onyx black ink and coloured them using Zig markers before adhering them to the card base using foam adhesive.  Added the sentiment and called it done!

I do hope that you will join in the challenge and I look forward to seeing your cards in the gallery.

Enjoy!

ASTM Holiday Challenge ...

Are you getting ahead with you Christmas cards? What about Halloween? or Thanksgiving? If you haven't made a start yet and need a reason then why not join this week's challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More as it is all about holidays!

As I'm still trying to get ahead with my Christmas cards that is the holiday I'm celebrating ... I know it is only June but we are half way to Christmas!!

A very CAS design - a stamped image coloured with markers and a die cut sentiment.  I would like to say that it was quick to make (something I always look for in a Christmas card) but it seemed to take ages!

I used:

Sheena Douglas - Christmas Visitors Stamp Set

Creative Expressions - Happy Christmas Die

Lawn Cuts - Stitched Rectangles

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Markers.

I hope you'll find the time to join in with the challenge.

Enjoy!

AAA All About the Words ...

Good Morning ... it's time for a new challenge at AAA Cards ... are you ready to play?!  As the title of my post implies we are focusing on words for this challenge.

I have to confess that I don't always include a sentiment on my cards ... very often because I don't think about it until it's too late or I just don't know where to put it!!  Clearly for this challenge I had to think about the words first!!

The panel was created using a Gel printing plate and a selection of acrylic paints.  I stamped the quote using versafine onyx black ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder to intensify the blackness and add a little shine.  I doodled a frame around the panel to add some more interest.

I used:
Kaisercraft - Pretty Little Things
WOW Clear Embossing Powder
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
CUTplorations Stitched Rectangle

I hope you are inspired and will join in with the challenge.

Enjoy!

Fancy a cuppa? ...

Good evening! I don't have any profound thoughts or exciting news to share so I'll get straight down to business.  This is the evidence of a couple of hours creating:

I stamped and masked the cups and mugs before water colouring using distress inks.  I then fussy cut the spaces between the cups to add further interest. I created and stamped the sentiment and then adhered the panel on to a card base using foam adhesive to add dimension.  

I used:
STAMPlorations - Coffee Petites Stamp Set
Lawn Fawn - Milo's ABC
Distress Inks - Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean and Wilted Violet.

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #334 Sketch




Coffee Loving Cardmakers - 2017 Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop


STAMPlorations June CAS Challenge



Enjoy!

First Post for AAA Cards ...

How exciting is this ... I've joined the design team at AAA Cards!  I'm delighted and honoured to join such an amazing team of designers ... now all I need to do is design and inspire you all to join in with the challenge!

Today's challenge is:

I chose to use heat embossing as a resist and then smooshed the panel with distress inks.

I adhered the panel to a white matt using fun foam to add some dimension and then added some splatters to the card base before adding the focal point.  Close up you can see how the heat embossing resists the distress inks.

I also added a piece of vellum for the heat embossed sentiment.

I used:
UNIKO - Doodle Flowers Background Block
            - Simply Said
Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin and Ripe Persimmon
WOW - White embossing powder
Lawn Cuts - Stitched Rectangle

Why not pop along and join in with the challenge ... remember it is a CAS challenge, the following explains what we mean by CAS.

Enjoy!

Flowers and Friends ...

 I'm never quite sure why time asses so quickly when you are on holiday ... it is Thursday already and I haven't managed to do half the things I planned to do during my week off!! However, I have managed to spend time crafting ... perhaps I should have been doing the housework but there is always tomorrow!!! 

This is the card I've created today:

I seem to have on going problems taking photographs ... today the problem seems to be too much light!! 

I used:
UNIKO - Pure Florals: Lily and Originally Organic
Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon and Twisted Citron
WOW Gold Embossing Powder
Lawn Cuts - Stitched Rectangles
Wink of Stella

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT #84 Inspired by words:

"Flowers and Friends make Life a Garden"

"Less is More" #330 Gold embossing and wink of stella on the buds


Enjoy!