*Time Out Challenges Guest Designer*

I am super excited to be playing along with the Design Team at Time Out Challenges as their guest designer!  This is a "new to me" challenge blog and I hope to be able to play along with their challenges some more!

For this challenge, you need to use the photo above as inspiration for your card.  I decided to play with an alcohol ink background sheet I had created several weeks ago and was sitting on my desk waiting for *something*.  I took my inspiration from the hearts.

I cut a variety of hearts out of this paper and then played around to see what I liked best.  Many of the other hearts ended up on another card.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Memory Box glitter; Yupo

*Ink:  Alcohol Inks (sorry, I didn't keep track of what I used!)

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp big thanks; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Big Shot; air blowers; Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive;  craft foam (I cut out the thanks in craft foam and black cardstock and raised up part of the word to make it level with the heart that was adhered with foam adhesive)

*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!

*Joy To The World*

Another quickie card, using up some more of that wonderful Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  I also use a snowflake from Simon Says Stamp and a stamp from Gina K.

*Joy on Grey*

This card looks even better than I imagined it might... I had no idea how much I'd love using grey in a Christmas card!  The silver, white and red are the perfect highlights on this card!

Items Used:
*Cardstock;  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Grey; silver sparkle

*Dies:  My Favorite Things Filled With Joy; Simon Says Stamp Holly & Pine Frame

*Embellishments:  Christmas Red Stickles

*Believe In The Magic*

I love the font that Simon Says Stamp used for this "believe" die... it's just so pretty!  I cut it out twice for this card, once in white and once in black.  I then offset them to create a bit of a shadow behind the white die.  I added it all to an embossed panel.  I love how deep of an impression this Darice embossing folder makes.

Items Used:

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

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Believe in the Season

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Believe

*Etc:  Darice embossing folder; Lawn Fawn Glitter Pen

EDIT:  I'm excited to announce that I was the winner for a recent Time Out Challenge with this card!!!  

*Be Merry*

I am so glad I thought to try cutting out snowflakes on this hologram cardstock...  they end up looking so beautiful!!  I'll need to buy more hologram cardstock...

Items Used: 

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White; hologram

*Images:  MFT Festive Friends

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake

*Etc:  Darice Embossing Folder

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Peace*

Happy Monday, friends... I spent part of my weekend first getting envelopes stamped, addressed and stamped (postage, that is) and stamping the interiors of all of my Christmas cards.  Over the next week or so I'll spend a little time each day writing some Christmas card and getting them in the mail.  I might even find a little more time to create a few more Christmas cards... I always like to have a few extra on hand for those "just in case" moments.

The card I'm sharing today is another quick and easy card using that great winter scene patterned paper from Stampin' Up!

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray; silver sparkle
• Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up!
• Images: Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas
• Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
• Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas
• Tools:  Perfect Layers

 

*Merry Little Christmas Lights*

I love Christmas lights... and it's been wonderful seeing that more people have had them up early this year.  I could sit in the dark by my Christmas tree watching the lights forever if I could.  I was so excited when My Favorite Things came out with the Christmas lights stamps and dies last year... and since then I've purchased several different sizes and types of lights.  For this card, I stamped the "string" and added die cut red and green lights.. then added a little white gel pen to create some dimension on each of the lights.  I took a thin greeting stamp and curved it along the door of my Misti to sort of follow the shape of the string of lights.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Red Red, Wild Wasabi

*Images:  MFT Party Lights; Simon Says Stamp Slim Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Party Lights

*Tools:  Misti; Perfect Layers; Gemini Jr

*Embellishments:  white gel pen; Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen

*Christmas Buable*

I fell in love with the Birch Press ornament dies that came out this year...  I ended up buying the basic set plus two other decorative sets....  I need more time in a day to play!  Although I can't complain as I am on track to have all of my Christmas cards individual designs this year... for the first time ever!  I sure hope I can pull it off!

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

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Ornament Basics, Marisol Ornament Layer A

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Another Gnome*

I'm back with another Gnome....  when you cut the image you can basically create two different gnomes by cutting it out of two different patterned papers and mixing and matching.  It some ways it would be nice if the pieces were all separate, but they're not so you get a second card.

This card did not come together easily for me.  I really didn't know what I wanted to do.  I suck at making scenes, as this card shows.  I don't have one of those fun "hill" dies so I used part of a large heart die to create a snowy bank for my gnome.  Honestly, other than the gnome, nothing turned out quite right with this card.

Items Used:

*Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette

*Patterned Paper:  Brutus Monroe Sweater Weather; unknown

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas; MFT Christmas Cheer

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Li'l Gnome; Revolution nested heart; Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Etc:  Christmas Red Stickles; foam tape

*Merry Christmas Gnome*

I just *had* to order this Simon Says Stamp gnome die last year.... but came after I was done my Christmas cards.  So I guess I am pretty late to the game as it was used by a lot of people last year.  I had it tucked away and almost forgot I owned it... and then stumbled across it when looking for something else the other day.  I'm not sure this was the right paper to use, but I had to play...

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Smoky Slate

*Patterned Paper:  Brutus Monroe Sweater Weather

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Li'l Gnome

*Tools:  Gemini Jr

*Merry & Bright Snowflake*

I can't believe how fast the days are going by....  we are way more than half way through November already!  I'm on track with making Christmas cards I think, but I am way behind on shopping.  Not that I buy a lot...  a buy a few things for a few special people and my little family of four each draws a name and we each buy for one person in the family.  I need to get busy on some stocking ideas for my guys, though.  It's a lot hard with trying to avoid going out.

This card started out as a white on white card... but then I decided to throw in the red for a little "boom"...

Items Used:

• Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb
• Images:  MFT Merry & Bright
• Ink:  Gina K Cherry Red
• Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake; MFT Phrase Builder
• Stencils:  MFT Snowfall
• Etc:  Brutus Monroe Alabaster Glitter Glaze

*Sparkly Holiday Wishes*

I don't know what it is about light blue and white at Christmas... but wow, do I like the combination.  I don't use it a lot for anything non-Christmas or non-winter.  And then you add some silver to it and wow!  But make that silver glitter and BOOM!

You'll notice I have a sparkly silver layer as a mat behind the front panel.  I am NOT stupid enough to waste that much glitter paper behind a front panel like this.  I cut a piece of silver a little bigger than I wanted it, used a smaller rectangle die to cut out the centre and adhered the white panel to the frame that was remaining and trimmed it up with my Perfect Layers.  You want to leave about 1/2" to 3/4" when you cut out the rectangle to create the frame to ensure you don't rip anything with your tape runner or your Perfect Layers.

Items Used

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; silver glitter; Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue
• Images:  MFT Merry & Bright
• Ink: Versamark
• Dies:  SSS Marie Snowflake, Lea Snowflake; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Backer
• Etc:  detail white embossing powder; foam tape
• Tools:  Gemini Jr; Perfect Layers, heat tool

*CASology#378*

 It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the team at CASology!  We are a group of clean and simple card lovers who love to see how others interpret our bi-weekly challenges.  Play along with this challenge for your chance to win a prize from Stamplorations and to be a guest designer on an upcoming challenge!

I have exactly one item to use that follows the cue of Stag...  and thankfully, I love it....

You'll recognize the colour combination from a card I posted yesterday...  I had the colours fresh in my mind, I guess!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray; silver mirror

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Holly & Pine; Penny Black Reindeer Leaps

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!

*CAS#375*

Good morning all... and welcome to another challenge with the team at CASology!  We are a group of clean and simple card loving people who love to see what other people come up with using our bi-weekly themes.  For this challenge, our sponsor is Your Next Stamp.  Link up your clean and simple creation for your chance to win a prize from Your Next Stamp and to have a chance to be a guest designer on a future challenge!

The theme for the next two weeks is SPICE.  I had a couple of ideas in my head thanks to my sister and my good friend, however I decided to go this way based on what I had in my stash.

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cinnamon Cider
• Images:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter; Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas
• Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
• Dies:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Winter
• Tools:  Gemini Jr; coloured pencils
• Embellishments:  Green and Christmas Red Stickles
• Etc:  foam tape

*Sweet Birthday Wishes*

I love the card I am sharing with you today.  I can't explain what it is about this card, but looking at it makes me happy.  

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover 100lb

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Summer Flowers; Gina K Where Flowers Bloom; MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Copics

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles 2; Simon Says Stamp Summer Flowers; Gina K Where Flowers Bloom

*Etc:  Nuvo Shimmer Pen

*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

*Big Blue Happy*

How's that for a blog title for you?!  Geesh, I hate naming blog posts (but you know that already).

Here we are, getting late in to June already.  I don't know about you, but even with all that's going on and being at home more often than anything else in the last 3+ months, I find that time is flying by.  It seems that the older I get, the faster time is going.  I hope it slows down sometime...  I mean I blinked and suddenly I've been married for 29 years, have kids who are 25 and 23 and will be turning 50 next month.  How??? LOL

This Nuvo Glimmer paste is a product I truly love.  Often I buy these new items, use it a few times and then never look at it again until it's dried up and needs to be thrown out.  But this shimmer paste?  I am on my second jar and thinking I should order another.  I love how versatile it is and how much awesome sparkle you get when you use it!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Blueberry Bushel; velum

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Ink: Versafine Claire Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Circlet

*Embellishments:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste

*Big Blue Happy Birthday*

Hello all....  I hope you are having a good day so far.  It's hard to believe it's been a month since I stopped chemo.  Some of the side effects are gone, some are getting better and some are still as bad as they were a month ago.  A big one is that my tastebuds are slowly returning to normal and I am able to taste more of each food I eat.  For a while there, there wasn't much I wanted to eat because so much of it had no taste.  

I created this card for a magazine design call... but since I never heard back from them, I'm guessing it wasn't chosen for publication.  They wanted to see cards using blue, the Pantone colour of the year.  It's so strange for me to have white as a mat layer and blue as my card base!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up Blueberry Bushel

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Catherine Pooler Doodle Garden Background

*Ink:  Versamark; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Tools:  Heat Tool; Perfect Layers; Misti

*Embellishments:  White embossing powder