*AAA#185*

A brand new clean and simple challenge with AAACards starts today... and we've got a new idea for you!  We're calling this one, the inchie.  EVERYTHING you put on this clean and simple card must fit within one inch.  As always we have an optional twist as well... this time it's to keep your card black and white.  You up for the challenge?  If yes, link up your cards HERE for your chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!  Our guest designer for Game #185 is Hannelie.  Be sure to check out her fabulous blog!

I had a few ideas for my card... but this is what I settled on...

In designing this card, I realized I have very few stamps that fit in a one inch area!  I cut my black cardstock to 3/4" square, embossed the little snail in white and then stamped the Wish Big right under the black square.  I love the contrast of the Wish Big sentiment with such a little image.

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
• Images:  My Favorite Things Bitty Birthday Wishes, You Gnome Me
• Ink:  Versamark; Versafine Clair Nocturne
• Etc:  white embossing powder
• Tools:  embossing tool

*AAA Cards #184*

It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the group at AAACards!  I hope you're all having as much fun with our bi-weekly prompts as we are!  As always, share your cards with us HERE for your chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

For Game #184, we want to see your cards using the sketch below....  with the optional twist of using watercolour in your clean and simple creation.

I did use watercolours for my card.... but it's just not all that obvious!  I created a watercolour panel on watercolour paper and then cut my flowers and leaves out of it.  In person you can see the shades, but in the photo it's just not so obvious.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  watercolour paper; Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  My Favorite Things Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Zig Watercolour Markers

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Stitched Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Big Shot

*AAACards #183*

 Hello Crafty Friends.... it's time for another clean and simple challenge with the team at AAACards!  You know we love to see your clean and simple card!  Be sure to visit the blog and share your clean and simple cards with us!  

Our guest designer for game #183 is Chrissie... please go leave her some love on her blog!

I sort of created a scene with my card....  if you stretch it just a bit LOL!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Pixie Dust, Serenade, Pucker Up; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Stencils:  Echo Park Firework Show

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes

*Etc:  Purple Tape

*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Prism Gems

Wondering about that hot pink layer?  I swiped my Catherine Pooler ink pad along my cardstock to create a custom colour that matched!

Now it's your turn!  Create a clean and simple card that uses only one corner with the option of creating a scene and share it with us on the AAACards blog!  You could win a spot as a Guest Designer in an upcoming challenge!

*AAACards #182*

It's time for another challenge with the clean and simple team at AAACards.  For the next two weeks, we want to see your one layer cards with the option of silhouette.  Our guest designer is is Monika... please go have a look at her fabulous blog!  For your chance to be a guest designer on an upcoming challenge, be sure to share your clean and simple one layer card with us before February 6th!  Head on over to the blog to see what the rest of the design team came up with!

I had a different idea in my head for this card but while I was getting my supplies out, I had this idea.  I cut a card front sized panel and then used an oval die to cut out an oval and then used that as a mask on the front of my card before using Distress Inks to create the colourful oval.  I removed the mask and then used my Misti to stamp on top of the oval... I wanted to have a way of stamping a second time if my ink wasn't quite dark enough.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb

*Images:  Lil' Inker Fresh Cut Flowers; Gina K Crazy Daisy

*Ink:  Distress Ink in Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Layered Ovals

*Tools:  Big Shot; Tim Holtz blending tools

*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Prism Gems

*AAA#181*

 Welcome to the first AAACards clean and simple challenge for 2021!  The design team is all refreshed from a few weeks off and ready to inspire you with our clean and simple designs!  I hope you'll join along with us, share your clean and simple card using the prompt below for your chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

As you can see from the graphic, we are looking for a clean and simple card that uses up to 1/3 of your card front with the optional twist of Summer in January!  SmylinStef is joining us as a guest designer for this challenge.

What says "summer" more than popsicles?!  I used a great two step stamping set from Simon Says Stamp to create my card...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp So Cool

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Samba, Tiki Torch, Lime Rickey, Fiesta Blue, Over Coffee, Black Jack

*Tools:  Misti; Perfect Layers

*Etc:  white Gelly Roll pen; Nuvo Shimmer Pen

Be sure to head on over to the blog to see what the rest of the design team has come up with and to link up your creation too!

*AAACards #180*

Happy Sunday all!!  Here we are, just a few weeks before Christmas.  I still have a lot of Christmas cards to share with you... I hope you don't mind!  For the first time ever, all the Christmas cards I am sending out this year are individual designs.  I'm pretty excited by that!

For the month of December, there is only this one challenge with the team from AAACards.  We know that December is a busy time for so many of us so we are doing just one challenge.  For the next few weeks, we encourage you to share your clean and simple cards that are "made in minutes" with the optional theme of Christmas.  We know that the first design of a card never takes just minutes... we want a card that once it's designed would only take you minutes to recreate it.

Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations and our guest designer is Dena.

Be sure to link up your creation for your chance to win a prize from STAMPlorations and to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge.

I absolutely fell in love with this card when I was finished it.  If I was going to make multiples of a card, this would be the one.  The hardest part would be the die cutting but since I used three different snowflakes, I could cut all three at once, cutting my die cut time in half.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; silver and blue glitter

*Images:  Poppy Stamps Art Deco Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Impression Obsession Snowflakes

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Misti

*Embellishments:  ribbon from my stash

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*AAACards #179*

We are almost at the end of the year for challenges with AAACards.  There is only one more left after this one before we start up again in 2021.  This is a great clean and simple challenge and I hope you'll play along!  Link up your cards HERE for your chance to win a prize from Uniko as well as become a guest designer for an upcoming challenge.

Our guest designer for challenge #179 is Neeti... be sure to check out her creation as well as the creations of the rest of the Design Team!

I absolutely fell in love with the die I used on the card I'm sharing today.  I just *had* to have it when I had a quick stop in to Scrapendipity here in Calgary.  They have exciting news in the form of a new, second location, opening in the next few weeks!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; blue foil

*Images:  Blue Fern Studios Holiday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Crafters Companion Bearing Gifts

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*AAACards #178*

I am back with another challenge with the design team at AAA Cards!  I love the clean and simple inspiration from the design team and everyone who plays along with us!  For the current challenge we have a credit to Funky Fossil Designs up for grab... for your chance to win, please share your Clean and Simple Card following the challenge!

As you can see from the graphics above, Challenge #178 is a sketch challenge with the optional twist of Primary Colours.  I strayed away from the optional twist for my card... and I made my card a rectangle instead of a square.  Check out how the rest of the Design Team interpreted the sketch... I love how everyone does it a little differently!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; silver mirror cardstock

*Paper:  assorted glitter paper from my stash

*Images:  Hero Arts Off Beat Holiday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obesssion

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*AAACards #177*

 Hi crafty friends!  It's Sunday and time for a new two week challenge with the team at AAACards!  

As you can see from the graphic, for challenge #177 we want to see your clean and simple cards with a LOT of white space with the optional twist of stars.  Our guest designer for this challenge is Sue and our sponsor is Uniko.

I had an idea in my head for this card but I'm afraid I covered a bit too much of my "white space" to be truly "maxi white space".  I tried some different ideas but nothing else grabbed me like this card did.

Yes, this is still a lot of white space, but I'm sure not sure it's quite "maxi white space".  I challenge you to do better than I have LOL!

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; gold glitter paper; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
• Images:  Simon Says Stamp Believe
• Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
• Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Believe; We R Memory Keepers Nesting Stars
• Tools:  Gemini Jr

We want to see your creations using the prompt above... share your card on the AAACards blog for your chance to win a prize from Uniko as well as become a guest designer on an upcoming challenge!  You can link to your blog, Instagram or a Flickr account!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

*AAACards #176*

It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your creations using only one corner of your card with the optional twist of Cosy (or Cozy).  Our Sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations and our guest designer is Angie! 

Here in Calgary, by this time in October, we've usually had a killing frost and some snow but (knock on wood) we've had a wonderful September and October so far.  My idea of Cozy is flannel... and flannel to me is plaid.  But could I find the plaid patterned paper I KNEW I had?  Nope!  I had to use a piece that doesn't quite scream cozy to me (and yesterday, I found the paper I had wanted to use.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb

*Patterned Paper:  PhotoPlay Gnome For The Holidays

*Images:  MFT Polar Penguins

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Tools: Brother Scan 'n Cut

Be sure to head over to the AAACards blog to see what the rest of the design team has come up with... and link up your creation for your chance to win a prize from STAMPlorations and to be a guest designer on an upcoming challenge!

*AAA#175*

 Happy Sunday Everyone!  It's time for another clean and simple challenge with AAACards!  Our guest designer (chosen from all of the entries from a previous challenge is Stephanie!  Up for grabs for challenge #175 is a prize of a credit at your favourite online store as well as a chance to be a guest designer on an upcoming challenge.  Please follow the link to AAACards to share your clean and simple creations with the rest of the design team!

I am not a coffee drinker... I wish I was.  It sounds like such a grown up thing to do.  The same goes for wine.  My tastebuds are still that of an 11 year child, sadly.  But I do like playing along with the optional twist more often than not, so I grabbed some stamps that I hadn't inked up yet and went to play!  This card went together very quickly.... one layer for the AAA Challenge is nothing extra on the card... no die cuts (perhaps an inlaid die), no embellishments.... so you have paper, stamps and ink (with a little Stickles for interest)

I figured I could use this as a winter birthday card.... 

I look forward to seeing what you create!

*AAACards #174*

 Welcome to another two week challenge with the team from AAA Cards!  We are a group of crafters who love clean and simple cards.  Every two weeks, we have a new clean and simple card challenge with an optional twist... and we love for you to play along!  

For challenge #174, we are being sponsored by Crafty Scrappers...  Link up your card for your chance to not only win a prize from them but to also be considered for a chance to be a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Maria!

I am really happy with how my card turned out...  

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb
• Images:  Trinity Stamps Nutty Squirrel
• Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics
• Tools:  Misi
• Embellishments:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen
• Etc:  foam tape

*AAA#173*

Welcome to another challenge with the team at AAA Cards!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your cards that are clean a simple, follow the sketch below and you can use the optional twist of "at the movies".  Link up your creations for your chance to win a prize from CASual Fridays Stamps and to be featured as a guest designer in an upcoming challenge!

I was thankful I had not yet returned a borrowed stamp set to my friend Bonnie as it worked out perfectly for the optional twist...  although I feel like I'm missing a sentiment.  I stamped the popcorn bucket from the Catherine Pooler Book and Film stamp set and cut it out with my Brother Scan 'n Cut, gave it a quick colour with some makers and used foam adhesive to pop it up over the movie reel.

A very quick and easy, clean and simple card!

*AAA#172*

 Happy Sunday!  It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the team from AAACards!  Our sponsor for this challenge is Joy Clair... you could win $25 to spend on stamps or digital images!  Our guest designer is Coni... please be sure to check out her blog!  I also invite you to visit the AAACards blog to see what the rest of the design team came up with!

I had to borrow some stamps from my good friend Bonnie for this challenge.  I have a few other hobbies but not one stamp to go with them!

Since it's a one layer card, I couldn't colour with my Copics since they would have bled through to the inside of the card, so I decided to play with coloured pencils (we call them pencil crayons in Canada).  I haven't coloured with them in ages!!!  I did a little blending on some pieces but I left the books a little grainy looking.

One thing I did that I am glad I thought of, was I left the stamp in my Misti while I coloured this image... I then went back and stamped it again to make the black lines really pop, especially in those spots where the coloured pencils went over the stamped lines.

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake
• Images:  Catherine Pooler Book & Film; Paper Rose Gnomies
• Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
• Etc:  coloured pencils
• Tools:  Misti

We look forward to seeing what you create!  Link up your creation (from a blog, Flicker or even Instagram) for your chance to win the prize from Joy Clair and to be a guest designer for an upoming challenge!

*AAA#171*

Happy Sunday everyone!  And welcome to another fun challenge with the team at AAACards!

Our sponsor for challenge #171 is Stamplorations!  If you play along and post a link to your card at AAACards, you'll have a chance to win a prize from them!

As always, the optional twist is optional....  but I (personally) like to try to follow it.  This one challenged me as I really don't have any stamps that are a beachy theme.  Instead, I found one that I thought looked a little like a beach umbrella, stole some sand from my hubby who was filling the cracks in the brick patio in the back yard and voila!  A beach card!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb
*Images:  Catherine Pooler Party Fans; MFT Rain or Shine
*Ink: Catherine Pooler Something Borrowed; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Etc:  Sookwang double-sided tape; play sand

*AAA#170*

It's time for another challenge at AAACards!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your cards with Maxi White Space (and by white space, we mean clean space... no texture, no stamping etc) with the optional twist of flowers.  If you link up your card on the AAACards blog, you could win a prize from Craftyscrappers!  The team LOVES to see what everyone else comes up with so please play along!

I enjoyed this challenge... I love florals and I love maxi white space...and I got some new stamps just in time to play!  I hope you like it as much as I do!

This is one of the three-step stamp sets from Altenew, but I only used two of the steps to ensure I had a lot of white space on this card.  And you know, I really love the look!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Images:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Dusty Rose, Sweet Corn
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer

*AAA#169*

It's time for a Christmas in July theme with the AAA Cards team!  For the next two weeks, we want to see your clean and simple cards (lots of empty space!) that you can make in minutes (after the initial design is done, the card should be quick to reproduce) with the optional theme of Christmas.  I LOVE making Christmas cards so of course I took on both themes!

For this challenge, our sponsor is Time For Tea Designs.  Link up your card on the AAACards website for your chance to win a $15 credit to their store!

My card came together very quickly... definitely a made in minutes card!

I started out cutting the patterned paper strips to 3/4" in width but I decided they were too big... so I trimmed off a 1/4" from each.  I then adhered the large strips to the top left of the card.  I then stamped the sentiment thinking that would be the end of the card.... but I felt like it was missing something.  So I added those 1/4" strips to the bottom right corner, mimicking ribbon on a Christmas present.  I like how it turned out.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb

*Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up! (retired)

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*AAA#167*

Happy Sunday Everyone!  I hope you've all had a good weekend so far!  

It's time for another challenge with the gang over at AAACards.  This week our sponsor is Stamplorations.  Our winner will get a $15 gift certificate for the Stamplorations store so make sure you link up your clean and simple creation on the AAACards blog!

For this challenge, we want to see your one layer cards... this means there is only the card base that you've stamped on... not even any die cuts!  Our optional twist is the graphic below...

Now, as much as I love butterflies, I will admit I only have one stamp of a butterfly and I don't really like it.  So I used the colours of the butterfly as my inspiration instead....

I really like how the card turned out...  clean, simple, a beautiful message.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb

*Images:  Hero Arts To Seize or Not to Seize; MFT Distressed Patterns

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Orange Twist, Limoncello; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Tiny Iridescent Bubbles

Please be sure to head to the AAACards blog to see what the rest of the design team has come up with for this challenge... and link up to your creation for your chance to win that prize from Stamplorations!