AAA Birthday Challenge #44 - Embossing

 Hello!

It's time for the final AAA Birthday challenge of 2022 - who would have thought!

I used a very old embossing folder as the starting point for my card and chose grey card stock as I planned for it to be a masculine card.

Well that changed then! I just love the look of the die cut feminine florals against the industrial background look of the embossing.

All the die cuts are from Funky Fossil - Doodled Blooms and Happy Birthday - as are the clear gems too.

Be sure to pop over to check out the gorgeous makes from the AAA Birthday DT and guest designer Izzy - HERE. You'll be inspired for sure. 

Thanks for looking today. Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

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AAA Birthday Challenge #43 - Monochrome

 Hello!

Time for the November challenge at AAA Birthday.

Although I've gone with the usual shades of black for my card monochrome for this challenge can be shades of any one colour.

The little elephant holding the balloon is so adorable and I've grounded him on a strip of washi tape.

There is a load more inspiration for this challenge over on the AAA Birthday blog - HERE. And our guest designer Katrina has created a beautiful autumn themed birthday card.

Thanks for looking. Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #42 - A Favourite Technique

 Hello!

It's time for the next challenge at AAA Birthday.

I have quite a few favourite techniques, but for this card I plumped for using washi with dies.

So the first thing I did was to cover a piece of card with washi strips. I like the effect when the washi is stuck diagonally.

Next I die cut the happy birthday and floral elements from the washi covered card.

To finish it all off I added one of the washi tapes to card and used it as a mat.

So what's your favourite technique? I hope you'll share it and join in with this fun challenge.

Go check out the fabulous inspiration from the AAA Birthday DT and our wonderful Guest Designer Asa - HERE.

Thanks for looking today. Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #41 - Moodboard

 Hello!

So as we sweep into September there's a new challenge at AAA Birthday with a beautiful moodboard to inspire.

The idea is to pick and choose whatever catches your eye from the images. Plenty to look at in this board!

For my card I used the colours of the wool, the wall and the flowers from the moodboard as my starting point.

I stamped the flowers using a very old, but much loved Stampin' Up stamp set called Blooms & Wishes.

I then placed the Cobblestones stencil from Funky Fossil over and lightly inked it up to frame the flowers.

The final element was the greeting from Uniko's Birthday Sentiments.

How will you be inspired by the moodboard? Be sure to go take a look at what the rest of the AAA Birthday DT have created - HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I really appreciate you taking the time.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #40 - Anything Birthday Goes

 Hello!

It's time for the August challenge at AAA Birthday. And it's a really easy one at this busy vacation time of year.

Couldn't be any simpler!

I made this fun and vibrant card for my grandson's 18th birthday.

 The zip is a stencil from Funky Fossil, Zip It, and I used some texture paste to add dimension. I then cut round the top curve of the zip and placed some of the awesome Urban Vibes paper behind it.

The guy is from the Zip It Gang stamp set and I popped him onto a piece of folded card so that he wobbles.

I also used the same stencil and stamp set to add the greeting to the inside of the card.

You'll really want to pop over to the AAA Birthday blog to see what the rest of the DT and guest designer Nance have been up to with this free rein theme. Find it HERE.

Thanks so much for your time today, it's been fun to have you visit my blog.

Stay safe & keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #39 - Where In The world

 Hello!

It's time for the July Challenge at AAA Birthday.

Your card can be inspired by where you live or somewhere specific like London, New York etc where you'd like to spend your birthday or just a general place you'd like to spend your birthday like snowy, hot, on a cruise, a picnic in the countryside, on a mountain ..... 

So for my card I went with the UK as we've recently celebrated the 70th Jubilee of the queen.

The image is a digi from Jen Hadfield and perfectly illustrates the UK with the British bulldog and Union Jack flag.

The greeting is from Uniko and I coloured it up in the red, white and blue of the flag.

It's going to be such a fun challenge - a bit like a virtual tour of the world I'm thinking. Go see where the AAA Birthday DT and guest designer Sarah R have visited with their birthday cards - HERE.

Thanks for stopping by at my destination today!

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #38 - Flowers

 Hello!

It's time for the June challenge at AAA Birthday.

A super popular and really easy theme again this month - Flowers.

And whenever I think of flower cards I nearly always reach for my Uniko stamps.

I used the glorious Uniko Pure Florals Gerbera stamp set and its matching stencil too. In fact I started with the stencil in three complimentary shades and then stamped the outline image from the stamp set straight on top. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Uniko, Pure Florals Gerbera, Birthday Sentiments

Stencil: Uniko, Pure Florals Gerbera

Inks: memento, tuxedo black, new sprout, bamboo leaves, lulu lavender

Now I'm sure you have flower stamps in your crafty stash, so why not get creating and link up a card at AAA Birthday? There are loads of awesome cards designed by the DT and Guest Designer Libeeti to inspire you and flood your brain with ideas. Find them all HERE.

Many thanks for spending some time looking at my blog today, I love having some company!

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #37 - Let's Party!

 Hello!

Time for the May birthday card challenge at AAA Birthday.

I've used one of the wonderfully quirky Rock Chicks from Funky Fossil as my focal image and generated a sentiment on the computer for her to stand on.

She's all glammed up in pinks and I love how she's clutching that all important birthday cake.

Supplies:

Stamps: Funky Fossil, Rock Chick; Sentiment computer generated, font Impact

Ink: Memento, tuxedo black

Pens: Copic, R39, R83, R85, B0000, BG13, BG15, RV04, RV09; Sakura white gel

Do pop over to AAA Birthday's blog to check out what the rest of the DT and our guest Meghan have created to inspire you - HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today, it's been fun to have your company.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #36 - Critters

 Oh my how this year is speeding by, can't believe it's time for the April challenge at AAA Birthday already!

This is such a popular theme for cards and one I love too!

Well I couldn't resist this cheeky caterpillar from Funky Fossil's Bugs and Blooms. The flowers are also from this set and the bee from Bees Knees.

Supplies:

Stamps: Funky Fossil, Bugs & Blooms, Bees Knees, sentiment from Hogs & Kisses

Ink: Memento, tuxedo black

Pens: Copic,  YG01, YG06, YG09, YG17, YG23, R59, R83, R85, RV52, V04, YR68

The rest of the AAA Birthday DT have some spectacular inspiration for you, do go check it all out HERE.

Thanks so much for dropping by today, it's always lovely to have your company.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #35 - Under The Sea

 Hello!

I'm here today to tell you all about the March challenge at AAA Birthday.

My card design was inspired by an awesome card viewed on Instagram by my long time internet friend Asa - HERE. And the Weird Fish from Funky Fossil was such a no brainer choice for me.

I started my card by creating the inky background and using a ruler to draw in the lines. Then I over stamped the splatter and circles and added in a greeting. The fish I stamped, coloured and hand cut and placed on top.

Supplies:

Stamps: Funky Fossil, Weird Fish & Majestic Blooms; SU, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink: Ranger distress oxide, salvaged patina, prize ribbon; Versafine Clair, nocturne; Memento, tuxedo black

Pens: Copic, YG06, B04

The AAA Birthday DT and guest designers Arlene and Claire have really rocked this theme. The range of styles and creativity is off the charts. go take a look - HERE.

Huge thanks for stopping by my blog today, I really appreciate you taking the time.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #34 - Pattern

Hello!

Here we are a week into February already!

Must be time for a new challenge at AAA Birthday then.

Do you love the paisley print from the challenge graphic? Well that's just one way the pattern theme could be interpreted. I went a completely different route with my card.

I chose a couple of sheets of patterned paper from Funky Fossil and then die cut the Big Birthday Wishes from T4TD.

Supplies:

Papers: Funky Fossil, Monochrome Magic

Die: T4TD, Big Birthday Wishes Sentiment

Pop on over to the AAA Birthday blog to see even more ways to use pattern on your birthday cards. We have two guests this month - Izzy and Marieke - and along with the AAA Birthday DT they've just about got pattern covered.

Huge thanks for stopping by today, I really love it when you do.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #33 - Two Favourite Colours

Happy New Year everyone!

Time for a new re-vamped look for AAA Birthday and the first challenge of the year.

Well no surprises about one of my colours, but although initially I thought about adding pink to the purple I went with another favourite combo - purple + turquoise.

The stamp and die cut greeting are from Time For Tea Design and I used some washi from my stash too. in fact it was the spotty washi that reminded me of how much I like purple + turquoise.

Supplies:

Stamps: T4TD, Birthday Bear + matching dies

Die: T4TD, Big Birthday Wishes Sentiment

Inks: Memento, tuxedo black, grape jelly

Pens: Copic, V15, V17, B0000, B00, B02, B04; Sakura black & white glaze

Washi: from my stash

As both AAA Birthday and AAA Cards have had a new look for 2022 there is a bit of a combined micro hop going on with a couple of prizes to be won. Check it all out, along with the rest of the AAA Birthday DT and Guest Designer Francesca's cards HERE.

Huge thanks for dropping by my blog today. I really appreciate you taking the time.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #32 - An Easel Card

The December challenge has just started at AAA Birthday. 

Christmas cards and remember those who have December birthdays.

I love how an easel card looks when it's standing and also how easily it folds flat for easy posting.

I created a little scene using T4TD Dog Gone Mutts stamps and matching dies.

I coloured up each dog differently and added them to the die cut hill and patterned paper sky.

I created a stopper for my easel and stamped some of the smaller elements onto it. I also added some footprints, a ball and music notes.

Supplies:

Stamps: T4TD, Dog Gone Mutts + dies

Ink: Memento, tuxedo black

Papers: T4TD, Brighter Days

Dies: T4TD, Landscape Edge Set

Pens: Copic, E00, E11, E21, E23, E35, E37, E50, E53, E55, E57, C0, C1, C3, C5, C7, R20, B02, B04, YG17; Sakura black & white glaze

The AAA Birthday DT and Guest Designer Jenny have created some amazing and fun easel cards to inspire you. find them all on the AAA Birthday blog - HERE.

Thanks for looking, I really appreciate you taking the time.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Jane

x

AAA Birthday Challenge #31 - Animals

Hey!

It's the 1st November so that means a new challenge at AAA Birthday.

How easy is that theme? Sure it's going to be mega popular!

I used the adorable mice from T4TD's Hello Cupcake and Birthday Bear plus their matching dies for my card.

This is such an easy card to create. I simply inked up a background with three colours of distress oxide ink and then stamped, coloured and die cut the images.

Supplies:

Stamps: T4TD, Hello Cupcake + dies, Birthday Bear + dies

Inks: Memento, tuxedo black; Ranger distress oxide, dried marigold, worn lipstick, seedless preserves

Pens: Copic, N1, N3, N5, R11, R21, R32, YR82, E21, E23, G07, V05, V06, RV55, RV63; Sakura white & black glaze

Animals is such a popular thing to have on a birthday card and the DT and our awesome guest Kailash have crafted up a storm of inspiration. Go see HERE.

Thanks so much for looking today, I always love to have your company.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

AAA Birthday Challenge #29 - Not A Card

The new challenge for September at AAA Birthday is a bit different. For a change it's asking for anything birthday related that's not a card.

My take on this theme is an exploding box.

I used lots of beautiful papers and ephemera from Cocoa Vanilla, Pinkfresh Studio and AC Amy Tangerine. Love them! The lilac tones might just have something to do with that!

There is plenty of room to tuck a little chocolate gift inside and if it was gifted to me I'd probably add birthday photos to it after the event.

Supplies:

Papers: Pinkfresh Studio, Just A Little Lovely; Cocoa Vanilla, Midnight & Bohemian Dream; American Crafts, Amy Tangerine Stay Sweet

What will you create for this challenge? Tags and bags and boxes and book marks are a few ideas that spring to mind. Go check out what the AAA Birthday DT and the fabulous guest designer Marieke have created to inspire you - HERE.

Huge thanks for stopping by my blog today, I really appreciate it.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

AAA Birthday Challenge #28 - Photo Inspiration

I'm really excited to tell you about the August challenge at AAA Birthday.

It's being sponsored by Varada Sharma and there's the chance to win a $10 spend on her digis for one randomly drawn winner.

How amazing is that?

Varada has also kindly gifted the AAA Birthday DT with some of her digis so that you can see how fantastic they are.

I've used Daisies & Bleeding Hearts and Celebration for the main focal images on my card.

I arranged the digis using photoshop and then printed it out a second time and die cut it into a stitched circle. I just coloured that part of the image using the colours from the photo inspiration.

Supplies:

Stamps: Varada Sharma digis, Daisies & Bleeding Hearts, Celebration, sentiment from Bird House

Dies: MFT Die-namic, double stitched circles; T4TD, Sentient die from Be Kind Be You

Pens: Copic, YG63, G85, Y06, R21, R22, R35, BG01, B02

Be sure to pop over to AAA Birthday to see how our Guest Designer Rachelle and the rest of the DT have been inspired by the photo. And many of the DT have also showcased Varada Sharma's beautiful digis too.

Huge thanks for dropping by today, I always love it when you do.

Stay safe and keep crafting!