September 11, 2020

Butterflies and Plaid

Amy Jasper As You See It Challenge 2 Comments

Butterflies and plaid are not images you often see together, but I thought I’d just go with it for today’s As You See It Challenge card.

I have to admit, my heart just wasn’t in it this time. I’ve been finding it difficult to get in my craft room lately – I’m fairly certain I’m experiencing the effects of stress. Having my 3 kids and my husband home all the time for the past six months has clouded my introverted brain and chipped away at what little executive functioning I had in the first place. There have been endless unknowns and uncertainties with the kids starting school this week and I’m trying so desperately to adapt to our new normals with the pandemic. But these “new normals” don’t FEEL normal and it just isn’t working for me.

I’m struggling, folks.

Once the kids are established in their new school routine, I’m hoping things will get easier. I’m not giving up, but I will be loosening my hold on the reins a bit and allowing life to run more wild. What that really means is that I have to be okay with not being okay. I have to be okay with missing deadlines or letting people down.

At least for now.

Who knows. Maybe I’ll feel differently tomorrow! That’s what it’s been like for me through all this. One day I’m ready to take it all on, the next day all I can do is binge-watch Gilmore Girls.

Feel free to ask me about my card in the comments. I’m happy to tell you more about the spritzing and sponging and masking I did to create the background effect (which didn’t quite turn out how I imagined it.)

I’m in love with the Plaid Tidings Designer Series Paper and was surprised that the Rococo Rose cardstock coordinated so prettily with that particular plaid pattern. I might try this card idea again and pull in more pinks and white.

Be sure to play along with this challenge by going to our As You See It Challenge page and sharing your amazing design with us. We love to see your beautiful creations!

August 28, 2020

A Cool Duo

Amy Jasper As You See It Challenge 2 Comments

What’s my favorite colour duo? That is a very tough question and the answer is completely dependent on my current mood. Lately, I’m keen to work with bright, happy colours – probably because I have the pandemic blues.

My card design today is based on the current As You See It challenge:

It came together quite by accident as I had no idea what I wanted to do with my favorite colour duo of the hour – Coastal Cabana and Granny Apple Green. I started with a simple colour wash background with the two colours. Then I had a creative surge and cut it all up!

I applied the strips to my Thick Whisper White card base, on which I had already created a border using my Simply Scored Tool and Stylus. Some of the strips are raised with Stampin’ Dimensionals, while some are adhered directly with Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

The Basic Black shape was cut using one of the Stitched So Sweetly dies and my die-cutting machine. The letters are cut from Coastal Cabana cardstock with the Playful Alphabet Dies.

I stamped the “birthday” from the Well Said stamp set in black ink on a piece of Granny Apple Green cardstock and flagged the ends before adding it to the black label.

Linen Thread. Polka Dot Tulle ribbon, and a few of the Artistry Blooms Sequins finished of the design quite nicely. I think my daughter is going to love this card for her 12th birthday this week!

What is your favorite colour duo? Make a card and show it off. We’d love for you to play along at the As You See It Challenge Blog.

If you like the products on this card, you can click on the shop button on my website and check out all the great stamping supplies that Stampin’ Up! has to offer.

August 14, 2020

Plaid Thank You

Amy Jasper As You See It Challenge, simple and cute 2020, colour challenge, So Sentimental 0 Comments

My card design today is actually rather fitting, considering what happened yesterday.

You may not know this, but for the past few years, I’ve been riding my bike (David now, I named my new bike David, LOL!) in the Great Cycle Challenge to raise funds in the fight against childhood cancer. The challenge is to ride your bike through the entire month with a riding goal that you set for yourself as a way to raise support for the cause. Yesterday was a very special day in the month, as we had a donor who was willing to match all of the donations received on that day (up to $1,000,000!!). As a whole, the Canadian Great Cycle Challenge riders raised $1,566,526 in that ONE day!!

It was such an emotional day for me as I watched donations come in from my friends and family and my Stampin’ Up! customers who stepped up to join me in the fight for the little lives battling cancer! I can’t even put into words how much my heart is warmed by the generosity and supportive messages. That one day allowed me to reach my personal fundraising goal and more! I can’t even count how many times I found myself wiping the tears from my cheeks as my heart swelled with gratitude.

The card I have to share with you today has the sentiment that says, “I can’t thank you enough”. This is my heart. This is my heart and so much more!

Before I show you the card design, let’s see the inspiration behind the card. It begins with a colour challenge from the As You See It Challenge Blog for which I am a designer.

Aren’t these great colours!

Here’s my card, which features the So Sentimental Bundle from Stampin’ Up!

I used patterned paper from the Plaid Tiding 6×6″ Designer Series Paper (LOOOOVE this paper!). The sentiment is stamped on Whisper White cardstock with Tuxedo Black Momento Ink. This is die-cut and layered on the Bermuda Bay die-cut piece of cardstock and Crushed Curry cardstock strip, which both had the Linen Thread wrapped around them.

I adhered the Cajun Craze cardstock and the yellow plaid patterned paper to my Thick Whisper White card base before using Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach the layers to the front of the card.

You can follow along with the creation of this card and two other sweet and simple cards by checking out the Facebook Live class at: https://www.facebook.com/inkingonthefly/videos/611332663082219/

As always, if you are in Canada, like I am, you can order any of the products you see on this blog post by going to my online store. Just click on the blue “shop” button on my page or click on the menu at the top of the page and choose the online store option.

Be sure to check out the challenge at the As You See It Challenge Blog as well! You can play along with us and share your final results. We love to see your take on the challenges.