AAA Cards Game 18 - Play

Last week's stencilling got such a great response, thank you to everyone who entered and made it so difficult to choose a winner.

This week we're back to the oh so popular watercolouring and hoping you'll join us and PLAY along.

 

I've seen so many of you stamping, embossing and then watecolouring I decided it was time I had a play with this technique. So I started by stamping this beautiful sketchy butterfly and then heat embossed it in white.

Next I applied a colour wash in three colours using an acrylic block as a paint palette.  I also flicked some splatters all over the card.  And then went away and left it all to dry - getting better at this!

 When I came back I intended to just stamp a sentiment, but wanted some of the detail of the stamp to pop a bit more.  So I added some more ink - easy to get the colours flowing again on the acrylic block by adding a little water.  I'm really loving this stamp and the watercolours work so well with it.

 

I finished off the card with a sentiment and a trio of sprinkle dots and then matted it all onto matching melon mambo card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampendous, sketched butterfly; Uniko Stusio, Sentiment from Flower Power #2

Inks: SU, melon mambo, daffodil delight, tempting turquoise

Embossing: Stampendous, white

Embellishmsnts: doodlebug sprinkles, bumblebee assortment

So now it's your turn.  Have fun PLAYing with water colours!

Thanks for your time spent looking at my blog.

Jane

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More Unscripted Sketches Introductions

Did you catch the first round of Designer Team introductions at Unscripted Sketches last Saturday?  If not follow this link - invested interest here as I featured last week!  Today you learn about the rest of the team and hopefully will also have time to visit their blogs and leave a little love to these talented ladies.

The challenges start next Saturday so to celebrate my involvement with Unscripted Sketches I'm sharing a whole Project Life page I made this week.

And a few close ups too.  A simple card made from three pieces of paper, some twine and a button.

I'm always happy to stick bits straight onto my photos as I can always print them again if it goes wrong.

At least one card had to have a stamp - Uniko Studio, of course! And I added three banners with tiny brads, a die cut heart and a die cut stamp sentiment.  Never be frightened to cut down papers to get the effect you want.

So are you ready to go? All the DT will be using the sketches to produce Project Life cards, but if this is not your thing no worries, just use the sketch to produce whatever you most enjoy - after all we are UNSCRIPTED!

Here's the deal - Flip the sketch, rotate it… create a project life card, a scrapbook page, a card or anything your imagination comes up with! There is no right or wrong way, as long as you are using the Unscripted Sketch as the inspiration and basis of your creation!


Thanks so much for looking at my blog today.  Only one more week to wait and then you can join in the fun!
Jane
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Thursday Thoughts

Back to card making today and this one is for Less is More.

This week they have a sketch and as you would expect it's very CAS and super easy to work with.

 

I decided to break open my new stamp set from Stampin Up and use their new 'in colours' for this season.  Loving the grungy feel of this stamp set and those dusky matt looking colours.

Of course it's not necessary to use every stamp from a set, but apart from the sentiment that's exactly what I did.  Enough you would have thought, but I added a tag and sentiment from Clearly Besotted before attaching the matted main image. 

Just had to go with a 3D butterfly and hoping that's not too many layers, but I think the card still looks CAS.

Supplies:

Stamps: SU, Kinda Eclectic; Clearly Besotted, Journal It & In The Frame

Inks: SU, blackberry bliss, lost lagoon, mossy meadow, hello honey,tangelo twist

Punch: SU, butterfly

Thanks for dropping by today, your visit is greatly appreciated.

Jane

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Wednesday Words

Another day, another scrapbook page!

I've had this layout from Let's Get Sketchy in mind for several days and just needed to find a moment to print out the photo - such a fun image!

  

Be sure to check out the fabulous pages from the DT here. Such a doozy of a sketch and I really enjoyed interpreting it and creating my page.

I used up loads of scrap pieces of paper for the strips and banner, stamped the camera and film roll images and sentiment and then got incredibly messy flicking ink splodges all over the page. I used  a distress re-inker blobbed onto an acrylic block and dipped a paintbrush into it.  It worked really well, but took for ever to dry and being impatient I added the alphas and got even more ink on my fingers - lesson learnt!

Supplies:

Papers: scraps from Little Yellow bicycle, Collage Press, October Afternoon, American Crafts & others

Alphas: Fancy Pants Designs, red large alpha; Bella Blvd, Sophisticates; Websters, storytellers

Stamps: Uniko Studio, Strike A Pose!

Ink: Memento, nautical blue; Ranger distress, chipped sapphire

Die: Xcut, spiro circle

Punch: ek success, scallop edger

Embellishments: Scrap 365, wooden shapes stars; Simple Stories, diy burlap stickers

Thanks for coming by and spending some time looking today.

Jane

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Tuesday Talk

At last I've found a few moments to scrap! The grandchildren have gone home and left me with so many photos to sort through and print. There will be some enjoyable afternoons at my my craft table to look forward to now.

Today's page is for the challenge at The Memory Nest and is the first traditional page I've made in a while. With so many photos I'm planning to have several Project Life pages interspersed with some traditional pages in my 2014 album.

 

I'm loving these photos of the three boys resting a while after a dose of shopping - you know what men are like, 5 minutes in a shop and they think it should all be done!

I also love the traditional deckchairs they're sitting in and remembering the banter between them to get the seat set just right without the whole thing collapsing.

A closer look at my journalling.

Supplies:
Papers: Bazzill Basics plain cardstock; AC, chap, October Afternoon, Make it Merry
Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Journal It; Uniko studio, Strike a Pose
Inks: Memento, Paris dusk
Die: Clearly Besotted, Journal It
Punch: Martha Stewart, daisy; Woodware, circle
Alphas: Bella Blvd, sophisticates; Websters, storytellers
Embellishments: Scrap 365, wooden shapes 

So happy you found time to visit my blog.

Jane
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Monday Moments

Bank holiday Monday here in the UK and of course the weather is .........WET!

My card for today uses the layout from CAS(E) this Sketch and the colours from CAS Colours & Sketches.

    

When I saw this understated sketch I knew how I wanted it to look immediately and just forged straight ahead and made this card.

I just love this new stamp set from Uniko Studio with its giant wish sentiment. But I only realised when I saved the photo to my computer that I've used it two weeks running for CAS Colours & Sketches. Oh well, you can't have too much of a good thing!

Suplies:

Stamps: Uniko Studio, Big & Bold Wish

Inks: SU, pistachio pudding, baked brown sugar; Memento, dandelion

Die: Lil'inker stitched mats rectangles

Embellishments: sequins

Thanks for spending some time looking at my blog today, your visit is much appreciated.

Jane

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AAA Cards Game 17

I have to start this post with a massive thank you to all of you who entered the challenge last week and CASEd my card.  It was so exciting to see all the different interpretations and ideas that my card sparked - just loved clicking on the blog and seeing new entries each day!

This week we're asking you to CREATE using a stencil.

I decided to do a double take on this theme and created both the background and the image using a stencil.

Once all the stencilling was complete I trimmed the whole thing down, matted it onto pink cardstock and then onto a card base.  I finished off with a sentiment outlined by a trio of sprinkle dots.

Supplies:

Stamps: Clearly Besotted, sentiment from Sweet Rose

Stencils: The Crafter's Workshop, mini birds of a feather; Memory Box, wave

Inks: Adirondack, watermelon, red pepper; SU, daffodil delight; Memento, tuxedo black

Embellishment: doodlebug sprinkles, cupcake asst.

So now it's over to you. Have fun CREATING with a stencil! 

Thanks for your time spent looking at my blog today.

Jane

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Unscripted Sketches Introductions

Unscripted Sketches is back! But with a twist - it's now all about Project Life cards and with some new team members. And guess what? Well if you follow my blog you'll already know, but it makes me excited to announce it all over again - I'm part of this new team!

 

Last week the Design Team photos and names were up on the blog here, but this week and next week there will be more detailed introductions of each member. Click here for this week's post. Then the challenges are due to begin on 6th September.

So here's the sketch that I had to use as part of my application to become a member of the Design Team.

And this was my interpretation:

I'm so delighted that Unscripted Sketches is back - it was always a very favourite challenge blog for me.  Hope you'll be playing along in September - some stunning sketches and samples in the pipeline!

Thanks for looking today.  Enjoy your weekend.

Jane
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Saturday slot

A quick post today to share a card I made for three challenges.

The layout is from Freshly Made Sketches, the colours from Color Throwdown and the theme from Uniko Studio - special occasions.

 

 

  

I decided to make a new baby card - well new babies - with Beverley from Uniko Studio in mind.  This will definitely be a special occasion for her with double the joy as her sentiment says!

 

Don't you just love those tiny onesies?

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko Studio, Sweet Baby, Classic alphabet, Background builders Chevrons

Inks: SU, pear pizzazz, Memento, nautical blue, lulu lavender

Well that's all for now.  Hoping to have another post later today with news about Unscripted Sketches.

Thanks for looking.

Jane

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Friday Focus

Hey! Welcome to a bank holiday weekend Friday morning on my blog!  Well today is not strictly a bank holiday, but we're almost there.

A card to share today and it's going into three challenges.  The layout is from a new to me challenge - sketchn'scrap, the colours are from Colour Q and the theme from The Male Room - STARS.

     

Stars had me reaching immediately for my Clearly Besotted Superstar stamps and dies. So I started by die cutting three stars onto a strip of card which I then used to lightly pencil the positions of where the stamps woud need to go.

Next I stamped the three stars and then the long blue horizontal line and sentiment. I used foam pads to raise the die cut strip over the stamped stars.

I really like how the stars look slotted into the apertures.

A final finishing touch was added with three sequins to outline the sentiment.

Supplies:

Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Superstar; Uniko Studio, Background builders Squared

Inks: SU, soft sky, rich razzleberry, old olive; Ranger distress, dusty concord

Die: Clearly Besotted, superstar

Embellishments: Sequins

Thanks for looking today!

Jane

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Wednesday Words

My first cards for Christmas to share today!

I'm not really a Christmas in August sort of person, but the theme at Less is More this week is ANIMAL and I've got this oh so cute Lawn Fawn Christmas stamp set that I''ve been desperate to use so I just went for it!

      ANIMAL

I actually made a couple of cards before I was completely happy with one to enter the challenge.

Here's the first, which I decided was a bit too fussy for Less is More, but I still quite like it and I know it will get used.

And of course it's well sparkled up.

And here's the one I'm entering for the challenge - much more CAS!

I still couldn't resist the sparkle though. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without glitter, sparkle and Stickles!

Supplies:
Card 1:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn, Winter Sparrow
Inks: SU, mossy meadow, real red, pumpkin pie; Memento, tuxedo black
Dies: Spellbinders, Lacey circles & standard circles small
Embellishments: Stickles, Star Dust
Card 2:
As above +
Promarkers: poppy & burnt orange
Stamps: Uniko Studio, Stuning Snowflakes
Ink: SU, soft sky

So pleased you had time to visit my blog today, thank you!

Jane
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Tuesday Talk

A little late today, but I've made it!

The challenge at Time Out is to CASE With Your Own Twist.  I'm thinking these are my favourite sort of challenges as you get to see what a talented crafter has created and also to browse round their blog.

So this is the card made by Anita:

And here's what I came up with:

I picked up on the colours, the geometric lefthand strip and the large sentiment.  I'm liking the masculine feel of this card - always a bonus for me.

Supplies:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Geometric Style; Uniko studio, All Occasion Sentiments #2
Inks: SU, Pacific point, Bermuda bay
Die: Lil'inker stitched mats rectangles
Embellishments: doodlebug sprinkles, day to day asst

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jane
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AAA Cards Game 16 - INSPIRE

This week at AAA Cards we're hoping to inspire you with a card to CASE.  And it's my turn to design the card for you all to CASE - so EXciting!

I thought for quite a while about how to design my card. I wanted it to be something that is typical of me, but not too predictable. I know you're all expecting purple!

Then I had the lightbulb moment and plumped for my favourite circle stack in another go to colour choice - red, mustard and aqua.

The stack was mounted onto a mustard die cut rectangle and then onto the base card. I'm totally in love with the font on this Clearly Besotted sentiment.

And here's my card:

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted, Say It In Style
Ink: Memento, tuxedo black
Dies: Lil'inker, stitched mats rectangles; Spellbinders, classic scalloped circles small
Punch: Woodware circles; Martha Stewart, butterfly
Embellishmants: button & twine from my stash

I hope you like my card and are INSPIRED to create your own version.  I always enjoy looking at all your blogs to see how you've interpreted the challenge, but this week is going to be really special for me! Can't Wait!

Thanks for looking today.

Jane
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Saturday Slot

Well would you believe it?  CAS Colours & Sketches have picked my card as a winner again! So thrilled and proud!

        

This week it's a sketch and I've combined it with the colours from ColourQ.

   

I've gone for a graphic heavy card using the brand new stamps from Uniko Studio and punched a notebook edge on the top of the rectangle. I used a graphic washi tape for the horizontal strip and mounted the card onto pads before adhering to the card base.

I finished the card off by adding some stamped sequins, which I sparkled up with Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents.

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko Studio, Big & Bold Wish & A Gift For You

Inks: SU, pumpkin pie, Bermuda Bay, old olive; Memento, rich cocoa

Punch: ek, notebook edger

Embellishments: Wink of Stella; Glossy Accents

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today, your visit is much appreciated.

Jane

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PS Check this out! Thrilled to be part of a new design team and the announcement has just gone live!