AAA Cards Challenge #128 - On The Move

There's a new challenge starting today at AAA Cards and the theme is On The Move.

The sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers and the prize is the Smile stamp set - that really would make you smile!  Here's my DT card using HLS stamps that may just still be available to purchase at 60% off in the closing down sale:

I masked off a strip at the bottom of my card and applied a mix of blue distress inks. I then stamped the dandelion - my moving element and the words - also connected to movement.

Supplies:
Stamps: HLS, Dandelion Wishes, Mixed Media Fun
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black; Ranger distress, mermaid lagoon, cracked pistachio, blueprint sketch

So how would you interpret the On The Move theme? Well if you need a little more inspiration pop on over to the AAA Cards blog and check out all the DT cards and also our wonderful Guest Designer Kim's fun card.

Huge thanks for dropping by my blog today, it's been fabulous to have you visit.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #127 - Kindness

There's a brand new challenge starting at AAA Cards today and it's a really super them - KINDNESS.

STAMPlorations is kindly sponsoring this new challenge and I've used some STAMPlorations goodies for my card.

I love the simplicity of this flower and just added some small touches of colour to add to its beauty.

Supplies:
Stamps: STAMPlorations, Big Dreamer, fond Expressions 2
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Pens: Copic, E000, BV000, YG03

All the rest of the AAA Cards DT have also made KINDNESS CAS cards to inspire you to play along. Check them all out HERE.

Huge thanks for kindly popping in to my blog today, I'm really very grateful. :))

And keep crafting!

A Tribute to Melissa Lane

Today I'm joining in with the tribute to a team mate at AAA Cards.

Melissa Lane

I'm going to keep this short as there's no way to describe how sad all of the AAA Cards team feel about Melissa's life ending far too soon.

Melissa loved butterflies and her favourite colour was red so my card reflects this.

If you would like to make a card in Melissa's memory Shery from STAMPlorations has a link up. She has also kindly offered to box up any cards sent to her and forward them to Melissa's family. Find the details on the STAMPloration blog - HERE.

Rest in peace Melissa.

AAA Cards Challenge #126 - Moonlight

Today a new challenge begins at AAA Cards and the theme is Moonlight.

The sponsor for this challenge is Uniko and I've used Uniko stamps for my card.

I started by inking the sky using a circle mask for the moon and a strip masked off at the bottom to keep some empty white space. Once the masks were removed I stamped the star wave across the moon and added a sentiment and small star beneath the skyline.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Reach For The Stars, Background Builders Seeing Stars
Inks: Versafine, onyx black; Ranger distress, chipped sapphire, wilted violet, dusty concord
Pen: Sakura gelly roll, clear star

The rest of the AAA Cards DT have made beautiful moonlight cards to inspire you - HERE. And we've the mega talented Trina P joining us as our Guest Designer - you'll be bowled over by her card!

Thanks for looking today and i hope you'll join in and play along.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #125 - Inspired by a TV Show

There is a fabulous new challenge starting at AAA Cards today - Inspired by a TV Show. How fun is that!

Wondering if you can guess how I was inspired?

Need a clue? Well think dark brooding good looks and endless shots of riding horses along the Cornish coastline. Does that help?

You must have guessed now! And don't you think the Visible Image horse with all that grungy sea spray splatters is just perfect?

Supplies:
Stamps: Visible Image, Stay Wild; STAMPlorations, Art Marks
Inks: SU, smoky slate; Versafine, onyx black; Dina Wakley, Scibble Sticks
Stencil: Heffy Doodle, Bubble Waves

If you enjoyed guessing my TV Show how about hopping over to the AAA Cards blog to check out how the rest of the DT and Guest Designers Shery from STAMPlorations and Alex from alexsyberia have been inspired.

Thanks for looking today, it's been great to have your company for a while. Oh and by the way the show is Poldark.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #124 - Imagine

I'm so pleased you dropped by today as I'm sharing my card for the new challenge that's started at AAA Cards.

When I was thinking about this theme I obviously had the John Lennon song whirling round my head and a card wishing for peace was my first thought. But at the time I was creating my card we were in the middle of a heat wave and the idea of imagining myself somewhere snowy was just so appealing. and that's what I went with.

Well now it's September it is a little chilly outside and looking at this card makes me remember how much I struggled with the heat this summer and reminds me to be grateful for cooler weather and not complain! Also the whole idea of an igloo decorated with Christmas lights is just so much fun to imagine.

Winnie & Walter are our sponsors for this challenge and the stamps I used were from their lovely Seasons Tweetings set. We also have the wonderful Izzy from izzyscrap Guest Designing with us - you won't want to miss her beautiful card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Winnie & Walter, Seasons Tweetings
Inks:  SU, smoky slate; Memento, tuxedo black
Pens: Copic, W1, W3, B00, R29, Y18, YG17; Wink of Stella clear

If you're still needing a little more inspiration about how to tackle this theme be sure to head on over to AAA Cards and check out how the rest of the DT have interpreted it.

Huge thanks for visiting today, I always love to have your company.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #123 - Sketch

The first Sunday in September and time for a new challenge over at AAA Cards. This fortnight it's a sketch to help you play CAS.

Happy Little Stampers is our sponsor for this challenge and I've used stamps from their Let It snow set for my card:

Once I'd die cut the circular aperture I then inked up the space behind it in cool icy colours. I then stamped and heat embossed the snowflake using sparkly white embossing powder.

I added a sentiment from the same set and I was done. Lots of lovely empty, non-patterned, non-textured white space to keep my card CAS.

Supplies:
Stamps: HLS, Let It Snow
Inks: Ranger distress, lucky clover, cracked pistachio, mermaid lagoon, blueprint sketch; Versafine, clear + WOW! sparkling snow embossing powder
Die: MFT Die-namics, inside/out stitched circles

The thing I love about a sketch is that every card looks different even though it started from the same place. Do pop over to the AAA Cards blog to check out how the rest of the DT have used it and then get busy creating your own CAS masterpiece.

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

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #122 - Use A Stencil

It's time for a new challenge at AAA Cards today. And the ask for the next fortnight is to use a stencil.

As the sponsor is STAMPlorations I chose one of their stencils to use on my DT card.

The feather stencil is the perfect size for my card and even with the fabulous encouragement quote stamp there is still plenty of empty white space. 

Supplies:
Stamps: STAMPlorations, Noteworthy 2
Inks: Ranger distress, shaded lilac; Memento, tuxedo black; SU, smoky slate
Stencil: ARTplorations, Feathers & arrows

So how will you use a stencil and still keep your card CAS? Well my tips are to choose a stencil that's not too large or intricate or if it's a larger stencil just use part of it or place it going off the edge of your card. And although the 'white space' can be coloured,  patterns, heavily textured or embossing should be kept to an absolute minimum - preferably not used at all!

If you're still unsure about what makes a card CAS hop on over to AAA Cars and see what the rest of the DT have created. Bound to spark your creativity and help you stay CAS.

Thanks so much for looking today, i hope I've helped you on your CAS creative journey.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #121 - Friendship

We've a lovely new challenge theme for the new AAA Cards Challenge that starts today - Friendship.

The sponsor for this challenge is CAS-ual Fridays and I used a couple of their stamps sets for my card.

I love this friendship quote and paired it up with the simple flowers from another set. I added just the tiniest bit of colour to the flower heads trying to keep my card very simple and subtle.

Supplies:
Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays, Big Treble, Truth Is
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black
Pens: copic, E000, RV63

Now you must have friends you like to send cards to, so why not get creating and join in the fun at AAA Cards. We've Sandie from London Days joining us as a GD and of course all the DT have also made friendly cards to help your imagination get fired up. Find them all HERE.

I'm going to say thank you now to all my blogland friends who come visiting, I really appreciate it!

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #120 - Over The Rainbow

AAA Cards has the most beautiful theme for their new challenge starting today - Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Not that there's been much opportunity for rainbows here recently, but even more reason to get them onto a card!

I've used STAMPloration goodies on my card as they're our sponsor for this challenge. I started by making a rainbow of colours using copic pens on a piece of scrap card. Then I die cut the gorgeous - rainbows are gorgeous after all - and popped it over the so that all the colours peeped through the aperture.

I then stamped the 'simply' and a hand cut sketchy butterfly - they're gorgeous too - and i was done.

Supplies:
Stamps: STAMPlorations, Winged Things, BOLD SENTIMENTS Gorgeous
Ink: Memento, tuxedo black
Dies: CUTplorations, Gorgeous; Lil'inker, stitched mats rectangles
Pens: Copic: R29, YR04, Y13, YG13, B28, BV13, V15, C1, C3

Shery from STAMPlorations has joined in with this challenge and we have a wonderful Guest Designer - Karen - who's card will definitely inspire you also playing along. And of course all the talented AAA Cards DT have also made some gorgeous rainbow themed cards to whet your appetite. I know you're going to love this theme!

Thanks so much for dropping by my blog today, you know I love to have you visit!

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #119 - Christmas in July

Oh my does Christmas sound appealing at the moment! We're sweltering here in the UK so the idea of a bit of coolness seems very good.

AAA Cards new challenge is all about Christmas in July and a great chance to get your stash of card on the go.

The sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers and I've used their newish Let It Snow stamp set. Ahh the coolness of snow.......

I stamped using black ink and then heat embossed the snowflakes and greeting with sparkly hologram powder - can never have too much sparkle on Christmas cards!

I kept my card CAS by only using one layer - well technically two layers - and leaving plenty of empty white space.

Supplies:
Stamps: HLS, Let It Snow
Inks: Versafine, onyx black; Versamark, clear + Funstamps hologram embossing powder
Die: MFT Dienamics, double stitched rectangles

If you hop on over to AAA Cards blog you'll find lots of fabulous DT inspiration to get you in the mood for creating Christmas cards. We've the always awesome Maria from White Mood joining in as a Guest Designer as well as the wonderful Kylie from Happy Little Stampers - just go check out her amazingly colourful card using her own products! Find it all HERE.

Thanks for looking today, it's been so good to have your company.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #118 - Use a Frame

For the next fortnight the theme for AAA Cards has been chosen by DT Ksenija and she would like to see a frame on your CAS cards. She has a wonderful post about frames and staying CAS on her blog - HERE.

And since this Concord & 9th stamp and die was out on my desk from yesterday I decided to use it along with some goodies from our sponsor STAMPlorations.

I started by die cutting the frame and then used it to place the string and nail stamp. I then masked off the frame area and used a STAMPloration stencil and distress inks to create the picture background. I added an uplifting STAMPloration sentiment and the paint splatters from Precious Remembrance shop.

To finish off I used a Copic pen to add some shadow to the frame.

Supplies:
Stamps: STAMPlorations, Noteworthy; PRS, Positive thoughts
Inks:Memento, tuxedo black; Ranger distress, picked raspberry, wilted violet
Stencil: ARTplorations, Happy Flowers
Die: Concord & 9th, Furry Friends
Pens: Copic, C1, C5


I have to say you will be blown away by the AAA Cards DT cards and of course our fabulous Guest Designer Natasha too! Find them all HERE.

Thanks for your time today, it's always more fun when I have some company.

And keep crafting!

AAA Cards Challenge #117 - Geometrics

We have such a fun theme for the new challenge at AAA Cards - I'm sure you're going to love it!

As Uniko are sponsoring this challenge and they have such a great range of geometric stamps it was an obvious choice for me.

I started by stamping a strip from Background Builders Squared. I then popped a Uniko stencil over the top and inked through in candied apple. Then I moved the stencil and inked through in wild honey. Both these inks were distress oxide and look gorgeous and creamy.

I finished off my card by stamping a greeting on a scrap of card which I then trimmed down leaving a white border all around.

Supplies:
Stamps:Uniko, Background Builders Squared, Simply Said Blocks
Inks: Versafine, onyx black; Ranger distress oxide, wild honey, candied apple:
Stencil: Uniko, Scattered Polka dots

The rest of the AAA Cards DT have created stunning sample cards to inspire you and we also have a wonderful Guest Designer Carol from CarolG Creates (CreationsNZ to help you on your creative journey. Check them all our HERE.

Enormous thanks for dropping by today, visitors to my blog make my day!

And keep crafting!

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