AAA Cards Game #39 - 1st Birthday Extravaganza Party

 

Well how exciting is this? AAA Cards is 1 year old! And just like all babies this first year has seen amazing growth and many milestones reached. So of course we're going to celebrate in style and share our success with all our friends and followers with loads of superb prizes and a spectacular blog hop.

The challenge this month is so simple - make us a birthday card to help us celebrate! Mega prizes for the winners!

The image I've used is from Digi Stamp Boutique, the balloon stamp from Uniko Studio and the die cut rectangle and sentiment from Lawn Fawn - three of our blog sponsors.

My card was definitely made with another first birthday in mind - my youngest grandson will be having his first at the end of the year. So I went with a mix of sugared almond colours, a fun image and a wobbly balloon.

The photo below shows the mechanism behind the balloon which not only makes the balloon pop up when removed from the envelope but also makes it wobble whenever the card is touched - such fun!! This was inspired by the wonderful Jennifer McGuire here.

And here's a teeny tiny video to show how it wobbles.

Supplies:
Stamps: Digi Stamp Boutique, Birthday Billy; Uniko Studio, Balloon Bash
Inks: Memento, summer sky
Colours: Promarkers, mint green, pink carnation, arctic blue, cool grey 1
Die: Lawn Fawn, large stitched square stackables, Happy Birthday border;
Other: Action Wobble Springs

Now off you go round all the DT blogs! Here's the running order:

Victoria Lavender

Jane Taylor  * me

Linda Beeson

Vicki Dutcher 

Stephanie Lanzalotto 

Jill Vickers 

Jenny Colacicco 

Sarah Platt 

Kimberly Wiener 

Justine Hovey

Visit all the DT blogs and leave comments to increase your chances of winning. There's prizes for lucky commentators on the AAA Cards blog and facebook page too. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy!

And keep crafting!

Friday Focus

A scrapbook page to share today using the most amazing sketch from Let's Get Sketchy.

In fact I loved the sketch so much I just copied it!

I started by spritzing the kraft cardstock with some white paint and then added some stamped stripes once the paint had dried. The photo stack and scattered stars, sequins and candi dots were popped on top.

I love how the photo is placed right on the edge of the paper and I love this photo of my husband and new grandson interacting. A lot of love about this page!

Supplies:
Papers: AC, kraft cardstock; scraps from my stash
Stamps: Uniko Studio, Strike A Pose; SU, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU, crushed curry, night of navy; Mister Huey's color mists, opaque white
Dies: Xcut, stars; Lawn Fawn, hearts
Stickers: Simple Stories, I Am; ep, Little Boy
Embellishments: Scrap 365, wooden heart; sequins from my stash; candi dots

Thanks for visiting today, I appreciate you spending some time here.

And keep crafting! 

CAS Colours & Sketches #123

The first CAS Colours & Sketches challenge for May and Stef's first stint as hostess. She's chosen a super subtle combo of colours to get everyone in the mood to craft.

And I decided to go super simple with these gorgeous colours.

I stamped the background stripes and then used my go to die to cut a stitched rectangle. The flowers and vase were stamped, die cut, popped onto foam pads and placed before adhering to work out where to stamp the stems.

A simple sentiment and pearls in the flower centres and I was done.

Supplies:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted, A Little Something; SU, Gorgeous Grunge
Inks: SU, tangerine tango, soft suede, sahara sand
Die: Lil'inker, stitched mats rectangles
Embellishments: Hobby House pearls, chocolate heaven

How will you create with these colours? Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, always a pleasure to visit your blogs.  Here's the link back to CAS Colours & Sketches to check out the rest of the DT inspirational cards.

Thanks for your time today. And keep crafting!

The Memory Nest - Make It Monday 39

Unbelievable, but already we're into May's first Make It Monday challenge at The Memory Nest!

I love this sketch and knew exactly which photos I wanted to use. I've been so taken by the triangular cowboy style bibs that are available right now. They're almost as much a fashion statement as an essential item. And imagine my delight when I discovered it's also fashionable for greyhounds to wear these bandanas too. A scrapbook page was already halfway in the making!

I took the colours from the photos and had fun mixing and matching papers from my stash. The date stamp has a banner of triangles, so that was just perfect.

I added some stickers to the photos and a small line of chevrons from Say Cheese to the top of one and the bottom of the other pieces of red card.

And a few wooden embellishments to finish off the page.

Supplies:
Papers:Jillibean Soup, Neopolitan Bean Bisque; Simple Stories, Say Cheese
Alphas: Simple Stories, Destinations; Jenni Bowlin, Black Banner Stickers
Stickers: Simple Stories, Say Chees II; Jillibean Soup, Neopolitan Bean Bisque; Simple Stories, I {HEART} SUMMER
Embellishments: Scrap 365 wooden shapes, mini hearts & chevrons, arrows & pointers
Date stamp: AC, Dear Lizzy

I'm so pleased you dropped by my blog today, your time is appreciated. Pop on over to The Memory Nest to see what the rest of the DT has created and be inspired to play along. Remember if scrapbooking is not your style cards are very welcome too.

And keep crafting!

Sunday Slot

I was still feeling the urge to get inky yesterday, so out came those inkylicious dusters and a couple of ink pads again. And as it's colour week at Less is More I selected two colours from opposite sides of the spectrum as required.

 

I'm hoping it's obvious which two I went for!

And it seemed time I inked up another visible image stamp. I love their splodgy stamps and inspirational quotes and am gradually building up my stash.

I inked all over the background in pear tart before putting a stencil down and going over in lilac posies - shame the photos don't do justice to the green. I then matted and layered the die cut rectangle onto the two colours in turn.

Supplies:
Stamps: Visible Image, Angel Are Near
Inks: Memento, lilac posies, pear tart, tuxedo black
Stencil: Artplorations, bubbles
Die: Lil'inker, stitched mats rectangles

Thanks for dropping by today, hope your weekend is going well. If you're in the UK make the most of the May Day Holiday to keep crafting!

Saturday Slot

Well I'm delighted to tell you that my blue ombre balloon card got an honourable mention over at CASology. Always a lovely surprise to see one of my cards pop up unexpectedly. Here's my badge:

So of course I'm entering the current challenge which has a cue word of 'flight'.

And I really wanted to get a bit inky so I created a background of colour using my inkilicious ink dusters and several ink pads. On top of this I stamped the new Simon Says Stamp falling stars - looks fabulous I can see this becoming a favourite.

Next I added a dragon in full flight and a one word sentiment. I glitzed up the dragon with some sparkly Wink of Stella before matting the whole thing on a black card base.

This is one for my craft room shelf, it never does any harm to be reminded to believe in yourself!

Supplies:
Stanps: Lavinia, large dragon & believe; Simon Says Stamp, falling starrs
Inks: Kaleidacolor, creole spice; SU, crushed curry; Versafine, onyx black; Ranger distress, dusty concord, chipped sapphire
Embellishments: Wink of Stella, clear

Thanks for dropping by my blog today, your visit is much appreciated. And keep crafting!

Friday Focus

The beginning of another month already! And I seem to have missed just about all the scrapbook sketch challenges at Let's Get Sketchy in April. Well at least I've got one done in time for their last one.

I needed to turn the sketch to suit the photo I wanted to use, but then stuck pretty true to the layout.

This is a photo of my mum I've always been really fond of and often talked about with those that can actually remember about it. She was always a bit of a lover of all things theatrical and loved to pose around on her uncle's boat. And she certainly has got this pose off to a tee, bit of a looker my mum!

And as always when I get the opportunity to scrap something feminine out come the flower dies and punches. I was also very brave and wrote my journalling in white straight onto the page.

Supplies:
Papers: Simple Stories, Say Cheese & Say Cheese II
Alphas: Lawn Fawn, Louie's ABC; Simple Stories, Say Cheese
Dies: Marainne, flowers & buttons; Spellbinders, cogs
Punch: Martha Stewart, daisy

Also today it's time to share my three things that made me smile through April. Of course there were many more, but these have stood out.

1.  My pedometer steps. I was wondering if I would get anywhere near the required 10,000 per day, so I was delighted to discover that I actually do more. All that walking backwards and forwards to my Dad's obviously has health benefits for me too!

2. All the lovely sunny days and brilliant blue skies we've had recently certainly put a big smile on my face and has brought out the tree blossom beautifully. Still very chilly though, but a bit of bright sunshine never fails to lift the spirits. 

3. A new crafty venture for me has been to join in with Pocket Letter Pen Pals. On the left of the photo are two wallets I've received and the one on the right is one all ready to be posted off to New Zealand. I love this idea of swapping worldwide, but I'm learning to be careful with the weight of my letters as the postage can be a killer. Here's a link to the website in case you want to find out more.

Well that's me wrapped up for today. Hope you've got lots of crafty plans for May and thanks so much for dropping by my blog.

And keep crafting!