AAA CAS Cards Challenge #76

Morning friends, it's time to announce a new challenge for the next 2 weeks over at AAA Cards and our theme for this one is MASCULINE.
I've two cards to share with you today and first up it's one for  my Dad's birthday! He loves watercolouring so I decided this cute Easel die from Paper Smooches would work a treat here.

Other items used are:

Neat & Tangled Punchinella Die, Paper Smooches daddy yo

and 'Happy Birthday' sentiment from Avery Elle.

Next up ... it's always handy to have a couple of baby cards in the box!  

This one uses the Petite Baby Shower set from Clearly Besotted with a 

heat-embossed sentiment from Mama Elephant: Just Hatched.

So here's a little photo inspiration for you and don't forget to pop along and

 visit my fellow teamies who have created some spectacular masculine makes!

The links to their blogs are on the main AAA Cards blog HERE plus we have 

one of our previous winners joining us as a Guest Designer for this challenge.

I do hope you'll pop along to visit Joyce's blog (Cards by The Sea) and leave her some love and friendly comments!

Our lucky winner for this challenge will receive a prize from our generous sponsors; Stampendous so I hope you'll join us. Thanks as always for calling by and I'll catch up with you again soon.

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #75

Hi friends, are you ready for a new challenge over at 
AAA CAS Cards Challenge
I hope so ... we've got a super simple and pretty photo inspirabion below for your get your teeth into and please keep your design Clean and Simple.

Recipe: Neat & Tangled - Heart of Gold Die (got to be my favourite die)! Coloured using Zig Clear Brush pens. Sentiment and banner die by WPlus9
I was inspired by all the pretty colours in the photo inspiration and the  multi-triangle shapes in this die reminded me of the shapes of the 'sails' in the image.

As always my teamies have worked their masking magic and you can find links to their blogs HERE plus we are joined by another of our previous winners and a super talented crafter too; it's 
Katerina of Make a Wish
I do hope you'll stop by her blog and leave some love! Our sponsor for this one is Happy Little Stampers and if you want to be in  with a shout of a $20 gift certificate to spend in their online store then  please link your entries up by 22nd October! 
As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I can't wait to see how you are inspired by the photo image. 

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #74

Hi friends, are you ready for a new challenge over at  AAA CAS Cards Challenge I hope so ... this one's all about masking so have some fun but please keep it Clean and Simple. I've got two cards for you today using masking ... 

This one uses the Birthday Butterfly set by Happy Little Stampers and having

created a masked frame around the central section of the card I heat embossed 

the butterflies and sentiment with (my new favourite EP) Ranger Liquid Platinum!

I masked the butterflies as I went along then coloured them with promarkers.

I'd like to pop this one in at Anything Goes with Happy Little Stamps

I just love this Birthday Butterfly set and it's my go-to set for these 

gorgeous winged creatures!

Next up using the same masked frame I've used a Multi Facetted stencil

by My Favorite Things then inked through with Distress Inks in 

Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio and Twisted Citron.

A quick flick and spritz of water mixed with Perfect Pearls because I just

can't resist doing that!!!! The sentiment is by Neat & Tangled: Everyday Circles

plus the 'birthday' greeting from Avery Elle: Sentimental. The cirular panel is popped 

up on 3d foam for dimension and to finish a few sequins.

As always my teamies have worked their masking magic and you can find links to their blogs HERE plus we are joined by another of our previous winners and a super talented crafter too Rahmat of Cards and Cooking Corner I'm sure you'll have come across Rahmat in blogland but please pop along and leave her some love ... I'm sure she'd appreciate it. Our sponsor for this one is Stampendous and if you want to be in  with a shout of a prize then please link your entries up by 8th October!  Thanks so much for calling by today and I hope you have fun with the challenge!

AAA Cards CAS Challenge #73

Hi there, it's time to announce our latest challenge over at  AAA Cards CAS Challenge Our theme for this one is 'Upcycling' so you've got 2 weeks to root around in all those boxes of 'schtuff' that you daren't throw away ('cos it might be useful sometime within the next 50 years!) I hope you have some fun with this one and I'm excited to see how you play it! Ok so my 'upcycled' item is my background panel which was originally a tissue box! How easy is that! I love geometrics on cards, especially for the guys and couldn't resist hanging on to this for just the right occasion! It's teamed with a circular sentiment from Neat and Tangled with a 'birthday' greeting by Winnie & Walter. Sorry it's so faint in the photo. To finish a  couple of matching Doodlebug sprinkles. Please remember to keep your design Clean and Simple and if you need more inspiration then please check out my fellow teamies creations HERE We've also got a Guest Designer and one of our previous winners Angie of Cimbacreativefun I'm sure she'd love a friendly visit or two! Our sponsor for this one is Happy Little Stampers and if you'd like to be in with a shout of $20 gift certificate to spend in their online store then please link up your entries by 24th September

AAA Cards Challenge #72

Morning friends and I'm here again with details of the latest challenge over at AAA Cards. Our theme for this one is to use a New To You Technique 
For me I'm kind of hooked on Brushos following my attendance at the super duper Happy Little Stampers weekend retreat in Swindon. I can't believe it's a whole month since! Kylie (of HLS) was an excellent  teacher and a star player with the Brushos so she shared some of her stunning tips and tricks with them and one I've not tried previously is  to use laundry starch instead of water to activate the colours!
WOW! The vivid colours and spectacular patterns they create just  encourages me to make more and more background panels!!!! So here we go 

To maintain the clean and simple look I've hidden some of my Brusho

'master piece' behind a die from Sizzix but not before I'd die-cut the 

dragonfly by Clearly Besotted from the same piece! The sentiment

is also Clearly Besotted from their Brushed Greetings II set.

I can't wait to see how you play with this challenge and I'm hoping to 

learn lots of new techniques over the next fortnight! As always my

teamies have made some spectacular cards and if you head over to the

main AAA Cards blog there's links to their blogs 

We are also joined by Alexandra of Made by Alexandra who is our

Guest Designer for this challenge and a previous winner of our challenge.

Please head over to her blog and give her a friendly welcome!

Our sponsor for this one is Stampendous so our lucky winner will 

be in line for a prize - hope you feel inspired to play along!

Thanks as always for stopping by and I'll catch up with you again soon.

AAA Cards Challenge #71

Hi there crafters it's time to introduce the latest challenge from AAA Cards
This time we'd like to see some BLENDING on your cards but please keep the design CLEAN and SIMPLE.
In the end I've made 3 for this challenge and having made my second one first ... if  that makes sense, I decided I'd rather go bold, fun and funky and slightly WILD!
... and as that's the theme at this week's Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge I'd like to slot it in there too!

This one uses that funny silly stamp set from The Alley Way Stamps called

Face-It! I started out by inking my panel with various 'rainbow-type' coloured

Distress Inks before heat embossing my images. For added detail I dry-embossed

the card base using a 'next level' embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers.

The inky panel is die-cut using a frame die from WPlus9 Sunshine layers then

to finish a sentiment from Mama Elephant, Up, Up and Away.

Here's the first card I made!

A couple of challenges ago we had our 'Stash Favourites' and I used this same die by Neat and Tangled. Here I've created a mask with it,  adhered it to my card then blended distress inks in Spun Sugar and  Worn lipstick to create an ombre look to my card. I couldn't resist a quick spritz of Perfect Pearls and water although it's not obvious in the photo. 
The sentiments are from Avery Elle: Sentimental with the elephant from Clearly Besotted Baby Shower stamp and die set.
My cousin and his wife are about to welcome a little girl to  their home ... in fact at the time of 'typing' she could well be putting in an appearance so this card will be heading over to them ASAP!

 Last but not least and because I love getting inky ...

First of all I masked off a strip approx 3cm wide on my card base then

inked the 'un-masked' area with Distress Inks in: Cracked Pistachio, 

Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers and Blueprint Sketch.

My favourite little addition with inky blending, spritzing, flicking and 

drizzling water and perfect pearls onto the area, although this isn't watercolour

card therefore not too much of a dowsing! I mounted 2 pieces of white card stock

on Fun Foam before adding my die-cut elements which are both by Clearly Besotted. 

There's loads more inspiration from my fellow teamies so I do hope

you'll want to play along with this one and have some fun.
We're also joined by a super talented Guest Designer for this challenge and I do  hope you'll call in at Michelle's blog, Passionate Crafter and leave some love!

Our sponsor is Happy Little Stampers
with our lucky winner receiving a $20 gift certificate to spend in store.

Thanks as always for stopping by and catch up with you soon.

AAA Cards Challenge #70

Hi there friends it's time for a new challenge at  AAA Cards and for this fortnight we'd like to see you use some STITCHING on  your creations. There's no need to drag the sewing machine out from the back of a cupboard unless you want to as there's lots of stitched dies out there or even needle and thread 'by hand' Here's mine using a 'homespun' die from My Favourite Things,  a layered lily flower head from Altenew with a sentiment from Clearly Besotted Brushed Greetings II. To finish a few sparkly sequins from Neat and Tangled plus Pretty Pink Posh.

Here's a little photo inspiration and there's some superb ideas

from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE PLUS we have

2 very special and talented Guest Designers joining us for this one.

First up and owner of our generous Sponsor, Uniko it's Bev and Eunji of 

Follow Your Dreams and winner of our recent watercolour challenge.

I do hope you'll pop along to their individual blogs and leave them some love.

As already mentioned our sponsor for this one is Uniko

with our lucky winner receiving a £10 gift certificate to spend in store.

Thanks as always for stopping by and I'll be back soon.

AAA Cards Challenge #69

Hi friends it's time for a new challenge over at  AAA Cards and we'd like you to use one Stash Favourite on your card and explain  what it is in your description. Tough I know to stick with one! I love dies and try to use them where I can. Here I've used 2 but my favourite stash item is the Neat & Tangled Heart of Gold die Other items are Distress inks to add a few splatters for interest, WPlus9 stacking hearts dies, Lawn Fawn: Happy Wedding stamp set; coloured with Promarkers and some Pretty Pink Posh sequins to finish. I hope you feel inspired to play along and our sponsor for this challenge  is Stampendous. There's plenty more inspiration by my fellow teamies  over on the main blog PLUS our guest designer for this challenge is the incredible  Ksenija from Sweet Kobylkin Please pop along to her blog and check out her fantastic designs. Thanks as always for calling by and I do hope you have some fun.

AAA Cards Challenge #68

Morning friends I'm here with the latest challenge information for
AAA Cards Challenge
We're looking for tags on your projects this time but please remember to keep your design's Clean and Simple! 

Our sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers so I had

to use one of their sets as they are so fantastic and versatile to use with

other items from my stash. Here I've used the Doodled Flowers set

and coloured the centres with Promarkers and Glossy Accents.

My tag is die-cut using a Paper Smooches Stitched Tag die, with an

inlaid 'Wishing' die from Simon Says Stamp. The heat-embossed sentiment 

is made up of the 'You' from Uniko: Simply Said and 

'Happiness Wherever you go' from Mama Elephant: Up, Up and Away. 

To finish a little ribbon and metallic twine from my stash.

I'd like to enter my card over at Anything Goes with HLS stamps as well as 

the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp: Wednesday challenge

Here's a little photo inspiration for you 

plus there's loads more super designs courtesy of my fellow teamies.

 PLUS and I'm so excited to announce our AMAZINGLY talented guest designer 

Hannelie from desert diva

I'll be stunned if you haven't come across her blog as she enters

loads of challenges, is on loads of design teams and she produces

loads and loads of fantastic, CAS and elegant cards.

Do stop by and leave some love on her blog too!

Here's the link to our Sponsor, Happy Little Stampers

Our lucky winner receiving a $20 gift certificate to spend in the store.

I hope you feel inspired to play along and thanks as always for 

stopping by my blog today. Have a fun and crafty day!

AAA Cards Challenge #67

Hello there friends, are you ready for another new challenge from AAA Cards CAS Challenge This one's a really fun idea especially if like me you go overboard on cute little critters! I just can't resist those sets even if I've few people to send them to these days!!! So we'd like to see you use Googlie Eyes! Here's my card which has already gone to my daughter's boyfriend to  wish him luck with the A'Levels that they've been sitting this month!

I've used the Little Fella set from Paper Smooches along with a Frame die also 

from Paper Smooches. The 'Good Luck' is from Uniko: Simply Said and the 

'gritty spray' is from Stampin' Up: Need for Speed. The image is coloured with 

Promarkers and the grid stencil is My Favourite Things - Oh and Googlie Eyes 

from my stash of them!!!

I'd like to link this card up at Timeout Challenges where it's

'Masculine with optional twist of mixed media'

Not being a specialist in mixed media I'm not sure whether my

stencilling, googlie eyes and foam mounted frame qualify for the 

optional twist but it's certainly a masculine card!

I was having so much fun with this set from Paper Smooches that I couldn't

resist making another card too ...

this time with a watercolour background using Zig Clear Brush pens

and a splattering of white paint using the Gansai Tambi watercolours.

The sentiment 'Hey Dude' is from the Paper Smooches set and the 

'Happy Birthday' is from Uniko: Simply Said

I'd like to add this one to the CASology challenge where it's 

a masculine theme for this week and here in the UK it's Father's day 

so very best wishes to any Dad's out there who may be reading my blog!

As always we've got plenty more inspiration over on the main AAA Cards

blog HERE plus a super guest designer and one of our previous winners;

Patti of Stationery Styles. She's got some fantastic designs on her blog so

 I hope you'll pop along and leave her some love.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Stampendous

I hope you'll play along with this one and have some fun! Thanks as always for calling by and I'll be back soon.

AAA Cards - 2nd Birthday Prize Winners!

Hey there friends I've no card today ... well not yet anyway but this is  a special post to announce my prize winner and feedback after the
2nd Birthday Blog Hop at AAA Cards you may even have spotted this photo around blogland  So let's get to it .... My question was:  What's your go-to ink for stamping and why? and I was overwhelmed and thrilled by all your responses and it really helped  my own research and confirmed my suspicions - read on if you'd like to know more! First up let's have our winner who was chosen using the good old fashioned 'names in a hat' (box) technique drawn by my son! 60 Comments, 60 Names and 60 seconds later ... Dee Earnshaw (http://www.inlinkz.com/displayurl.php?id=28829593) who said "My go to inks would be Tim Holtz distress inks - they are perfect for a whole range of  different techniques from water coloring to sponging. LOVE THEM:)" Congratulations Dee! Please contact Jane at AAA Cards by email: aaacardchallenge@gmail.com  for details on how to claim my prize which is a £10 gift certificate from Buddly Crafts!

If you'd like to know more about my inky research here goes... First up I'll tell you my own thoughts and experience For black I always reach for Memento Tuxedo Black and  Versafine Onyx or Ranger Archival Black when watercolouring. (I'm a messy crafter so the Versafine smudges easily but is always crisp) For Colours I've got most of the Memento dewdrops - for  cheap and cheerful colours plus easy storage and since owning a Misti they've come into their own as they repeat stamp brilliantly. For techniques and watercolouring I LOVE Distress inks and again cheap and cheerful mini cubes work for me. My latest addiction though is the Altenew inks! Especially for  layered stamped images. Cheap and cheerful in the cubes again and what's more the Jet Black has now become my all time favourite black although as their inks blend I'm thinking it won't be good for watercolours. So what did you crafty experts think.... In first place for both colours and particularly Tuxedo black it's the good old Memento  Dew Drops, followed closely by Versafine Onyx Black then Archival black by Ranger. The next most popular inks were Distress Inks and Versamark being the only embossing ink mentioned. Altenew got 3 votes but they are relatively new with the following inks listed by number of votes ranging from 5 down to 1 Stampin' Up, PTI, Simon Says Stamp, Stazon, MFT Hybrid, Versamagic,  Ranger Dye Inks & Hero Arts Shadow Inks. (I have some of both of these last ones and my main issue is they  stain my stamps terribly and I'm a bit fussy about keeping them clean!) I hope you enjoyed the research and it proves useful and thanks to everyone who played along in the challenge and blog hop. Catch up with you all again soon and thanks for visiting me today.

AAA Cards Challenge #66

Hello there crafty friends I'm here with the latest challenge details for AAA Cards For the next 2 weeks our theme is 'Watercolour' so go with whatever technique you like here as long as it's of a watercolour variety!
I've got 2 cards for you this time and both use water colour as a  background statement rather than watercolouring an image

This card was inspired by a Make it Monday You Tube video HERE

using Zig Clear Brush pens and water to create a striped background.

Once the water colours dried I added a heat embossed sentiment

from Mama Elephant: Make a Wish and some sequins from Doodlebug

 I've gone super grungy and messy today using my Gansai Tambi watercolours  which contain such rich pigment and even have shine when dried.  Having merged the colours along the top of my panel I allowed them to dribble down  the watercolour card with a little assistance to keep them 'neatish'! The sentiment is from  Clearly Besotted: Say it in Style and I've added the watercolour panel on fun foam  for added dimension with a few sequins from Doodlebug for some bling.

Here's a little photo inspiration for you 
and there's plenty more superb designs with watercolour from my fellow teamies over on the AAA Cards blog HERE
... plus - drum roll please as we are joined by a super talented guest designer for this challenge: Tracey McNeely of In My Creative Opinion I'm sure you'll all have come across Tracey in blogland and please  pop across to her blog to leave her some love. 

Our sponsor for this challenge is   with our lucky winner in line for a $20 Gift certificate to spend in the store http://happylittlestampers.weebly.com/

Ok that's all from me but I'm excited to see what you come up with for this one. I love watercolour techniques and I'm looking forward to gaining some  new ideas from you talented folks. Have fun and catch up again soon.

Thanks for calling by!