Happy Christmas

I'm playing at AAA Cards today, where the Challenge #144 is Maxi White Space with an optional twist of Christmas In July. What a fun challenge!

I love this little rockin' reindeer - a wood mounted rubber stamp from Memory Box that I have had for ages. He comes out of my stash from time to time, and I thought he'd be the perfect star of my card. I gave him a red rhinestone nose, so though his name is Blitzen, he's a bit Rudolph-y. LOL! I used a sentiment from SSS Tiny Words Christmas to help keep the white space maximized.

I am also playing at:

Addicted To Stamps And More #348 - Holiday

MLCCB #12 - July Anything Christmas Goes

Shopping Our Stash #399 - The Dreaded One Layer Card

Magical Birthday

Woo Hoo! I am posting as Guest Designer for CASology today where the cue card is: COLOR. What an honor it is to be designing with this rock star DT!!! I'm so pleased and grateful for this opportunity.

I wanted to come up with something way out of the box for my creation, but the cue kept my mind going back to magical, wonderful, hopeful rainbows. In the end I chose a pinwheel image from Altenew's Be Strong Stamp Set to create my card. I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 7 times (R-O-Y-G-B-I-V) colored them with Copics, covered them with clear Wink Of Stella, and cut them out with the matching die. Only six pinwheels fit across my card, so blue/indigo are combined :) . I was tempted to put a jewel in the center of each pinwheel but in the interest of keeping my design CAS, I resisted the urge. I wanted to add a little interest to the card base, so split it using Paper Smooches Borders 1 die and a piece of polka dot vellum from PTI. I adhered the pinwheels over the opening and added a sentiment is from MFT's Rainbow Of Happiness.

Please head on over to the CASology Challenge Blog and see what the incredibly talented Design Team of Rock Stars has created for your inspiration. I hope you are inspired to get colorful and play.

I'm also playing at:

AAA Birthday Challenge #1 - AG

AAA CAS Game #140 - Up To One Third + Optional Twist Of Bright Colors.

Seize The Birthday #165 - Anything Goes 

A Grateful Heart

Time for a new challenge at Time Out. Challenge #128 is a Home Sweet Home challenge - take your inspiration from the festive picture above.

Our wonderful sponsor is STAMPlorations. Challenge winner will receive a $25 gift voucher to the STAMPlorations store.

Our fabulous Guest Designer is Coni of Which Craft? If you want to see some great cards, fantastic coloring and loads of creativity and inspiration, visit her blog!

To create my card, I used 3 shades of red Distress Oxide Inks on acetate, applied in layers to watercolor paper. I then stamped Stamplorations SAY IT BIG Heart, Die cut the panel with a Lawn Fawn Scalloped Rectangle Stackables die and adhered it to a white card base.

Please head over to the Time Out Challenge Blog and see what my wonderful teammates have created for your inspiration. Join us in the gallery for a chance to win. Happy crafting!

I'm also playing at:

AAA #132 - Up To One Third (without twist)

Happy 3rd Birthday AAA Cards!

It's birthday time over at AAA Cards! AAA Cards Challenge is celebrating their thrid birthday in a big way with many awesome sponsors, great prizes adn many ways to win. AAA Cards is near and dear to my heart. When it was first started by Victoria L three years ago, she invited me to be on the Design Team. It was a wonderful opportunity, and it really helped me to broaden my cardmaking skills, particularly in the CAS genre. Since then I have met so many amazing crafters all over the world and I am grateful to have started out my Design Team journey there. I wish the current Design Team a wonderful birthday celebration. Please head over to the AAA Cards Challenge Blog and check out the wonderful inspiration the Design Team and the special guests have created for you. 

Find out about all the ways to win the wonderful prizes from the sponsors. Create a Birthday Card, Link up, and join in the celebration by playing AAA Cards Game #91. Happy Birthday AAA Cards! Celebrate good times!

I'm also playing at:

Seize The Birthday with Optional Topping of "Something Sweet".

Easter Joy

There is a new CAS game up at AAA Cards Challenge Blog with a theme of "Shiny Spring" - a Spring inspired card with the optional twist of the addition of a shiny element.

Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring the challenge with a $20 gift certificate from the Happy Little Stampers Store, for the winner!

Trina Pham of My Crafting Closet is Guest Designer for this challenge. Trina has a wonderful style, and her coloring is awesome! You will surely be inspired by her creations when you check out her blog.

Here is my take:

I love Verve's retired Easter Joy set. It comes out every year at this time - I never grow tired of it. I embossed it in gold (my shiny twist) and colored it with Zigs.

Please check out Challenge #87 on the AAA Cards Challenge blog, see what Trina and the DT has created to enliven your imagination. Create a spring-themed card, link up, and play! Don't forget that AAA Challenges are all cards, and all CAS! for the AAA definition of CAS, click HERE.

I'm also playing at:

Fusion Card Challenge - Easter

The centerpiece in the photo really reminded me of the image I used on my card.

Supplies Used

Stamps - Verve Easter Joy (retired)

Ink - VersaMark, Ranger Archival Jet Black

Paper - Tim Holtz Watercoloe Distress Cardstock, Neenah Solar White

Accessories - Ranger Queen's Gold Embossing Powder, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches die, water brush

Happy Birthday

Time for a new game at AAA Cards Clean & Simple Challenge Blog. For Game #86, We'd like to see diecuts as the main focus on your cards.

Our Guest Designer is  Judy from judyscardcorner.blogspot.co.uk/ Judy is a wonderful and talented designer and you are sure to be inspired by her work. Treat yourself to a visit to her blog and you will see what I mean.

Our wonderful sponsor is Stamplorations. Check out the AAA Challenge Blog for deatilas.

Here is my take using sponsor stamps and dies:

I'm also playing at:

STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge

STAMPlorations March Theme - Stamps & Spring

The Flower Challenge - Anything Goes

Seize The Birthday Anything Goes

Please head on over to the AAA Cards Challenge Blog and see what the design team has create for your inspiration. Then get out your dies and start creating. Link up and play with us at AAA Cards.

Oscar Red Carpet Fashion Inspiration

Challenge #85 is up at AAA Cards Challenge Blog - Create a CAS card inspired by Oscars Red Carpet fashions, male or female, from any year. That's 89 years worth of fashion inspiration! How fun is that??? It's easy to find Oscar fashion inspiration online. Google "Academy Awards Fashion", or do the same on Pinterest. I created a Pinterest Board to which I pinned many fashion pics that I thought would translate well into cards. If you'd like to check out my Oscar Fashion Pinterest Board, I am Stephanie Lanzalotto on Pinterest, and the board is "Oscars".  

Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring the challenge Winner will receive a $15.00 credit to the 

Happy Little Stampers Store. 

Hazel from hazelspaperdesigns joins the AAA Design Team as Guest Designer. Hazel is a CAS ROCK STAR!!! You can't help but be incredibly inspired when you visit her blog.

Now for my take on the challenge. When I saw Nicole Kidman's awesome gown at this year's Oscars, I knew it was THE one. 

Here it is:

Photo Credit: Pret-a-Reporter Powered by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

Here is my take:

Those gorgeous medallions immediately made me think of PTI's Mehndi Medallion Mini Stamp Set. I stamped the images with VersaMark on SU Blush Blossom card stock and embossed them in silver. It took me a while to choose a sentiment, but it looks like Nicole is enjoying this moment in her beautiful gown, doesn't it? I die cut the word "enjoy" from SU Early Espresso card stock using PTI Wet Paint Cuts Die Collection and inlaid it on the Blush Panel Blossom. "This moment" is embossed with SSS Rose Gold EP on MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX and popped up.

I had so much fun with this, and I hope that you do to. Please head on over to the AAA Cards Challenge Blog and see how the Design Team was inspired by Oscar Fashion. Then see how Oscar Fashion inspires you, create a card, and play with us!

Also playing at:

Addicted To Stamps And More #231

Anything Goes

Aloha

Game #84 is up at AAA Clean & Simple Card Challenge, the theme is Watercolor.

Uniko is sponsoring the challenge. Challenge winner will receive their choice of an in-stock stamp set.

Michelle Bala of My Passion For Crafting is Guest Designer. Michelle's work is delightful. You really should treat yourself to a stroll through her gorgeous blog.

Here is my take (using Uniko Paradise and Paradise Leaves stamps):

I inked up this wonderful Toucan with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink and colored it with Zigs. I used my MISTI to make sure I got full coverage with the ink. At first I thought those lighter spots were not getting the ink so I stamped it many times. Suddenly it dawned on me that those spots are supposed to be there! I painted them with a little dark gray and I love the effect. I wanted my bird to be perched  on something, so I dug out the wonderful Memory Box branch, and added some leaves and a sentiment. I think tropical is a good way to go in February.

Please head on over to the AAA Challenge Blog and see when the Design Team has created for your inspiration, take out your water coloring supplies and play! Remember to keep it Clean & Simple!

I'm playing at:

Use Your Favorite Tool - It's MISTI, hands down!

Love You Always

Game #83 at AAA Cards CAS Challenge Blog has begun, and Love is in the air, The theme is LOVE, but there is an extra option for this challenge. In addition to the love theme you might like to shape up your card. It could be long and thin, a rounded square, circular, heart-shaped or any other shape you can imagine, just make sure to keep it LOVE themed and CAS.

Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring the challenge, and offers a $15.00 Gift Certificate to the Happy Little Stampers Store.

Guest Designer

Sharon - frommycraftdesk.blogspot.co.uk/

Treat yourself to a stroll through her blog. She has a unique and wonderful style that is sure to inspire you!

This is my take on the challenge:

I was on Pinterest looking for some ideas for shaping my card, I ran across THIS card by Michele Kovac and my wheels started turning. For my card, I went with the same shape as Michele's, but with a CAS design using SSS Love stamp set and dies. "Love" was cut from a water colored scrap in my bits box. I used Dreamweaver Metallic Gold Embossing Paste with SSS Falling hearts Stencil to embellish. The scalloped edging was done with MFT's Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges. 

Please head on over to the AAA Challenge Blog and see what the designers have created to inspire. Create a love-themed project of your own and share it in the AAA Challenge #83 gallery. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

I'm also playing along with the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - The Color Of Love

Creative With Stamps #11 - Valentine

Paper Players #330 - Valentine

Warm Winter Greetings

Game #82 is up at AAA Cards Challenge Blog with a theme of "Winter Chill". Our wonderful and generous sponsor is Stamplorations:

Challenge first place winner will receive Stamplorations Framed Cardinal Stamp and the Warm Winter Wishes CUTplorations die. All players will receive a 10% discount at the Stamplorations store. Get the details on the AAA Challenge Blog.

Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Katrina from Katrina's Craftworks. You will be delighted as you stroll through her blog and experience her wonderful work.

Here is my take:

This is really different than my usual. The white space is blue space. Eeeeek! It's hard to see that the die cut in the top right corner is cut from white glitter paper, as is the word "winter". The words "warm" and "greetings" are embossed in silver. As is so often the case, the picture doesn't do it justice. I'm still not sure about how I feel about this one, but I do feel good that I tried something different.

Please head on over to the AAA Challenge Blog and see what the DT has conjured up for your inspiration, Create a Winter Chill inspired card of your own, link up and play with us. Thanks for stopping by today!

Hello

It's time for the first Challenge of 2017 over at The AAA Cards Challenge Blog where the theme is HELLO.

The challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers. Kylie Purtell, owner of Happy Little Stampers makes an appearance on the AAA Blog as Guest Designer for Game #81!

Valentyna of flourishtina.com is Guest Designer for this challenge. Treat yourself to a stroll through her blog for some wonderful inspiration.

Here is my take:

While my new purchases continue to roll in, I have promised myself to continue to dig into my stash and break out things I have never used. This wonderful little image from PTI is one of them. I love this little telephone stamp and die set (HEART-2-HEART #4) that has been sitting, waiting patiently to come out of its packaging for years. I used 3 shades of orange-hued ink on the phone and gave it a little ombre look. I embossed the wonky circle in the card base and popped up the phone and sentiment banner with foam tape.

Please head on over to the AAA Cards Challenge Blog and see what my awesome teammates have created for your inspiration. What's your take on HELLO as we begin a new year? I can't wait to see what you come up with.

I am also playing along at:

Less Is More #310 - Colour challenge. Use an OMBRE technique with your chosen colour

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Start Afresh. Use something fresh out of the packaging, i.e. something never used before.

CAS on Sunday Challenge #99 - Black and White, with one color of your choice.