Krafty Chicks challenge #751 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 3; as always the theme is 'CAS' (clean and simple) and Diane is our hostess.  Everyone interprets CAS very differently but as long as there is some 'white' space and not too many embellishments you're all good.  We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

I wanted to make a thank you card for our kitchen fitter and feel that most men prefer clean and simple cards (in my family they do anyway) so this was perfect timing for me.  I went with a large sentiment over some card strips for a bold card.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my card:

A close up look at the sentiment:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the large thank you sentiment from black shimmer card 4 x times and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I cut 7 strips of coloured card in rainbow order and adhered them to some thin copy paper using double sided tape so that they could be attached to my card panel in one piece.  I cut my white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and added the rainbow strips with double sided tape into the centre.  I added the large sentiment die cut with a mix of liquid glue (to the middle section) and some thin foam squares (to the top and bottom) so that it would all be on the same level.  I used a die to cut the tiny circles from the same black card and added them with liquid glue.  I didn't add anything else as I liked it the way it was.  For the inside I cut another white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and another rainbow of strips and adhered them to the bottom with double sided tape.  I stamped the simple sentiment in the upper centre with black ink and finished off with a few more die cut circles.  The panel was added to the card base with double sided tape.  A bright and cheerful card but perfectly CAS I think.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Alphabet challenge - T for thank you 

Colorful Options challenge - yellow, purple, green or rainbow inspired

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG optional twist clean and simple

Daisy Chain challenge - no design paper

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - all things bright and beautiful

Moving Along with the Times challenge - thank you 

My Time To Craft challenge - use a sentiment 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - clean and simple

The Male Room challenge - clean and simple

Word Power challenge - make the sentiment the focus of your creation

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. 

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments. 

Love and hugs,

card ingredients:

Lawn Fawn - giant thanks so much die

Gina K Designs - lots of dots die set

Clearly Besotted - sugar and spice clear stamp (for inside sentiment) - retired

All card from my scraps bin 

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Krafty Chicks challenge #747 - CAS

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge. This week we are on Week 3 and as always the theme is 'CAS (clean and simple)' and Diane is our hostess. We want you to see all your clean and simple creations this week and even though I've made another Christmas card you are free to make whatever you like.  We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

Don't be fooled into thinking clean and simple is easy; this card was attempt 3!!  The trouble with stamping in darker colours is that it is very noticeable when you smudge the ink or get a finger print somewhere you don't want to.  The first attempt I managed to smudge the ink in a spot that couldn't be easily disguised and the second attempt I managed to mess up stamping my sentiment (even with the Misti) so I was having a bad day.  I eventually managed to get a good panel without any mess up's but I was starting to get frazzled lol!  Thankfully I really like the finished card; I hope you do too. 

Here is my card:

A closer look at the snowflakes:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting my white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and choose my colours of dark blue and grey.  I used two different stamp sets and stamped the largest snowflake in the bottom left and top right corners in grey ink and added the smaller snowflakes either side of it using the blue ink.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I debated adding any embellishments but liked it as it was so left it.  I have run out of foam tape (shock horror) so used some scrap white card to add some dimension to my panel before adding it to the case base with double sided tape.   For the inside I stamped the 3 snowflakes along the bottom of the panel and added a sentiment in the centre with black ink.  The panel was adhered with double sided tape.  A true SIP card this time and almost one layer.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas

As You Like It challenge - anything Christmassy 

Aud Sentiments challenge - non traditional colours and/or winter + sentiment

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional theme happy holidays

Crafters Cafe challenge - ATG optional monochrome

Crafty Gals Corner challenge - ATG optional make it merry

Fab 'n' Funky challenge - anything but square

Little Red Wagon challenge - merry Christmas 

Peace On Earth Christmas challenge - Anything Christmas themed

Pearly Sparkles challenge - Christmas

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - Anything CAS goes

Sweet Stampin' challenge - Christmas creations

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori.

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.

Love and hugs,

card ingredients:

Simon Says Stamp/Gina K Designs - sparkling season stamptember set from 2022

Gina K Designs - blizzard clear stamp

Gina K Designs - ink pads - soft stone and blue denim

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - currently not available

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

Fall Friends IG Card Making Hop - Week 6

Hello again friends; I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday. I'm back with my card for Week 6 of the 'Fall Friends' IG card hop organised by my lovely friend Kelly. For Week 5 Traci is our hostess and she has chosen 'non-traditional fall leaves/no fall colours'.

I decided to choose the non-traditional fall leaves but it fits the no fall colours brief too but if you don't want to use leaves then that's perfectly fine too.  I was originally going to do pinks/purples but then thought that black, grey and white would look really different so that is what I ended up doing.  I hope you like it.   I apologise for the photos but it was really dark and dreary here today; my card looks so much better in real life.  

Here is my card:

A close up look at the leaves:

I also decorated the inside:

I began by die cutting the leaves; I cut 3 of the larger black leaves and 2 each of the grey and white leaves.  I adhered them together with liquid glue so that I would have some dimension on my card.  I wanted a subtle background so went for ink smooshing some ink just into the bottom left corner of my panel; I also added some splatters with the same ink.  

Side note: I've been watching a YouTube channel called NB Cards and she shows how to make your own ink smoosher so that you can have more control over where your ink goes; honestly it is a game changer for me - the main reason I don't do more smooshing is that it seems to go everywhere and I can't get the 'pattern' I want but this little tool changes all that.  It is simply a food storage bag (I used one from Ikea) some bunched up kitchen roll inside and then tie the top of the bag (I used an elastic band to close mine) and tape the sides so that it resembles a ball shape.  You can also use different size bags to make larger and smaller ones.  You simply dip this into your ink and tap lightly onto your paper.  Honestly give it a go, it's awesome.  Here's a link to her video if you want to see it.  

Anyway back to the card.  Once the panel was dry I added it to a black mat layer cut to 4" x 5 1/4" with double sided tape.  I then adhered the leaves with liquid glue in an arrangement in the corner.  I stamped a sentiment in black ink and used the large sentiment strip die to cut it out.  I added this over the leaves with foam squares.  I added the panel to my card base with foam tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as I liked it as it was.  For the inside I ink smooshed another white panel and adhered it to a black mat layer with double sided tape.  I cut another 3 leaves and added them with liquid glue.  I didn't add a sentiment as I thought I could add one later.  I adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  I am really happy with my card and I think the monochrome colour scheme really looks lovely.  I hope you like it too.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

AAA Cards challenge - sketch (I rotated it)

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - any occasion

Aud Sentiments challenge - embossing and/or fall + sentiment

Craft Rocket challenge - autumn and/or halloween

Creative Inspirations challenge - the season of autumn

Creative Moments challenge - monochrome

Daisy Chain challenge - autumn and/or halloween

Halloween & Other Occasions challenge - thanksgiving/fall

Incy Wincy Designs challenge - autumn and/or more than one fold

Just Us Girls challenge - leaves

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - anything CAS goes option black/purple

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - orange/black/purple - use one, two or all three colours

Unicorn challenge - autumn and/or halloween

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; use the hashtag #fallfriendscardhop2024 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.  

I'll be back tomorrow with my card for the Krafty Chicks challenge so I hope you will pop back and check it out.  Until then enjoy the rest of your day and thank you so much for stopping by.  

Love and hugs, 

 

Card ingredients:

Gina K Designs - autumn leaves

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiment dies

Gina K Designs - stormy sky ink pad

LDRS Creative - the magic of fall clear stamp - retired

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - currently not available but they have 240gsm in stock here

Hobbycraft - A4 black card

Versafine - onyx black ink pad

AAA Birthday challenge #59 Geometric

Hello friends and welcome to March!  This year definitely needs to slow down as I can't believe we are at the start of the third month already.  On a positive note at least spring is getting a little closer *yay*.  I'm here today to share my card for this month's AAA Birthday challenge.  Our hostess this month is Vicki and she has chosen 'geometric'.  Our lovely guest for this month is Karen Rogers so pop over and leave her some love.  

I love the look of geometric designs and they are perfect for masculine cards.  I needed a card for my brother-in-law so it was the perfect challenge for me.  Here is my card:

a closer look:

plus I decorated the inside:

I began by cutting my white panel to 4" x 5 1/4".  I took some triangle dies and cut 1 large one from red card, 2 medium cut from red and black card and 1 tiny one cut from black card.  I took a strip of black and white striped patterned paper and adhered it to the left side of my panel with double sided tape.  I added the larger red triangle with liquid glue overlapping the paper and placed the medium black triangle over top with foam squares.  I then added the red medium triangle to the bottom left, again overlapping the paper, and added the tiny black triangle with a foam square.  The sentiment was stamped towards to the right side between my triangle clusters.  No embellishments as I thought it looked cool as it was.  For the inside I added a very thin piece of the patterned paper to the bottom of my panel and added a medium red and tiny black triangle just above in the bottom left with liquid glue.  I stamped a sentiment in black ink in the centre.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

AAA Cards challenge - anything CAS goes optional twist birthday

Addicted to CAS challenge - geometric

Cut It Up challenge - dots and/or stripes

Double D challenge - patterned paper

Incy Wincy Designs challenge - birthday and/or funny, humorous

Pearly Sparkles challenge - celebrate

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - anything CAS optional green

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenge - dots and/or stripes

Tic Tac Toe challenge - CAS, free, favourite colour (red and black together for male cards)

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their personal blogs.   

I hope you will be able to join in with our challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed.  I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thank you so much for stopping by.

Love and hugs, 

card ingredients:*

Lil' Inker - stitched triangle dies

Clearly Besotted Stamps - happy birthday all

Clearly Besotted Stamps - mini calligraphy

Clearly Besotted Stamps - tag along (for inside greeting)

MFT Stamps - black and white stripes 6x6 paper pad

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm smooth white card

* most of what I used is retired but I bet you have something similar in your stash if you're inspired to create something similar.  

Krafty Chicks challenge #703 - CAS

Hello again friends; I hope you're doing ok and having a good week so far.  I'm sharing my card for this week's Krafty Chicks challenge and we are on Week 3 which is 'CAS' (clean and simple).  Our hostess this week is Diane and our guest designer is Helen.  

I'm enjoying creating CAS style cards at the moment and suprising myself as I always liked the look of them but felt too intimidated to try them.  I needed a masculine birthday card and always feel men prefer less fussy cards so this was the perfect challenge.  Here is my card:

A close up look:

I also decorated the inside:

I don't make horizontal cards very often as I prefer portrait style but I thought my design suited this orientation better.  I used graphic style stamps and a limited colour palette to maintain the clean and simple feel.  I began by cutting my card panel 4" x 5 1/4".  I stamped the 3 larger circles in black ink and then using smaller circles used an array of blue and yellow inks to make a slightly curved design.  Most of the stamps were from the same stamp set but I did grab some random small stamps from other stamp sets in my stash.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and nestled it under the curve of my stamping.  The panel was then adhered to my card base with foam tape.  No embellishments or anything else added and I'm really happy with the result.  For the inside I again cut the same size white panel and used the stamps to create a border on the left hand side.  I stamped my sentiment in black ink and then added the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Creative Moments challenge - CAS

Simply Clean and Simple challenge - ATG CAS option pink

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG option no patterned paper

Time Out challenge - birthday theme (Happy 10th Birthday Time Out) - 5 challenges max

Unicorn challenge - dots and/or stripes

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'CAS' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky.  Please leave some love for my fellow chicks Leanne, Diane, Lori and our guest designer Helen who is joining us again for February.  

Thank you stopping by and leaving me such lovely comments; I appreciate you all.  

Love and hugs, 

card ingredients:

Uniko Stamps - background builders: round in circles

Uniko Stamps - wonderful day (for sentiments)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - wild dandelion, sweet corn, honey mustard, blue raspberry, blue denim, in the navy

Versafine - onyx black ink

additional dots from:

Gina K Designs - playful penguins, fluttering fall layering stencil bundle

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm smooth white card

2024 Crafty Kickoff IG Card Hop - Week 3

Hello friends and happy Hump Day.  I hope you've all had a great week so far.  I'm back to share my card for this week's Crafty Kickoff IG Card Hop, which has been organised by my lovely friend Kelly. Each Wednesday we will shared a themed card and this week's theme is a colour challenge:

What a fun colour palette to work with.  Even though the image is of a winter scene you don't have to make a winter card or even include a bird, just be inspired by the colours.  Here is my card:

A close up look for you:

I decorated the inside:

I was inspired to use the red, orange and green colours from the graphic and went very geometric and clean and simple on my card.  I began by cutting a white card panel 3 3/4" x 5" and stamped the images randomly in the upper centre of my panel using the 3 colours I had chosen.  I've had this stamp set for years but this is the first time I've used it and I love it, so will definitely be pulling it out again.  I then simply stamped a black sentiment within the triangle pattern. I attached the card panel onto my card base with foam tape for some dimension as there was no other bulk on my card. For the inside I cut the same size card panel, stamped my sentiment in black ink and added 3 triangles, one in each of the colours, in the bottom left.  This panel was added to my card blank with double sided tape.   I think this was the fastest card I have ever made (once I'd faffed about thinking where to place my triangles).  I love the colours together and I think it would be a great card for anyone.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

AAA Cards challenge - Anything CAS goes optional twist Valentine

Allsorts challenge - anything but square

Crafty Catz challenge - ATG option make me smile

NBUS challenge - first time using this very old stamp set

Seize the Birthday challenge - no topping this time

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

I would love it if you would pop over to Instagram and see the amazing work by all the other crafters taking part in the hop.  Please use the hashtag #2024CraftyKickoffIGCardHop to find the hop and also so that we can find your creation if you are inspired to take part.  

I've got lots of cards to share with you tomorrow so please pop by and check them out.  As always I appreciate the comments you leave and thank you so much for stopping by. 

Love and hugs, 

card ingredients:

Altenew - Sohcahtoa stamp set (retired)

Gina K Designs - birthday cheer (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - jelly bean green, red hot, sweet mango

Versafine - onyx black ink (for sentiments)

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm smooth white card (for card base and panels)

AAA Birthday challenge - DT card

Hello friends and happy 1st January.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Santa brought you everything you asked for.  We had a lovely Christmas dinner with my sister's family and my mother but apart from that it was a quiet time at home with my grown up sons.  Not too much fuss this year as they are older but it was lovely to spend time with them.   Well after all the build up it came and went super fast again this year and we are into a brand new year....have you made any resolutions?  I haven't, except for trying to be a better blogger (same as always) and make more cards.  We'll see how that goes!  

Anyway enough waffling I'm here to share my first card of 2024 and my DT card for this month's AAA Birthday challenge.  This month is Kati's choice and she went for rainbows or rainbow colours.  

I needed a card in a hurry and was in the middle of a last minute Christmas card panic making session so my card is super CAS but I think it turned out ok.  Here is my card:

I didn't have time to decorate the inside this time as I needed to catch the post, so no photo sorry!

I began by cutting a white panel 3 3/4" x 5" and stamped 3 flowers, equally spaced apart.  I then stamped the 2 small butterflies on either side.  I coloured them all with Promarkers in rainbow colours and added some white highlights with a gel pen.  To finish off I stamped a simple happy birthday sentiment below the flowers in black ink.  I matted the white panel onto a black panel using double sided tape and then this was adhered to the card blank again with double sided tape.  A very CAS card with no dimension at all - I must have been feeling ill lol!  Like I say not my usual style but I ended up liking it a lot.  

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their blogs.   Our guest designer for this month is Janet so please pop over and check out her gorgeous card too.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments challenge - make your own background and/or birthday + sentiment

Crafters Cafe challenge - feminine

Dream Valley challenge - ATG

Pearly Sparkles challenge - CAS

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - party time

Stamping Sensations challenge - favourite colours (I love rainbow colour schemes)

I hope you will be able to join in with our challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed.  I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Enjoy the rest of your day and thank you so much for stopping by.  

Love and hugs, 

card ingredients:

Gina K Designs - Hello sunshine mini (can't find it on the site)

Gina K Designs - So many sentiments

Promarkers

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm smooth white card

Hobbycraft - A4 luxury black card