*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 It's the end of the month and time for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop.  We post cards on the last Wednesday of each month that show off the colours of the rainbow, trying to keep the card as clean and simple as possible.

After I had cut all of my elements and was trying to put this idea together, I realized that I'm pretty sure I've made a card just like this before.  This is not the first time this has happened and I'm sure it won't be the last time LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Bumblebee, Shaded Spruce, Night of Navy, Blackberry Bliss, Rich Razzleberry

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop*

 It's time for the monthly Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop... this month we are playing with the theme of candles.  You should click that link and go through the Hop to see all of the fun creations!

I had one little scrap of this candle pattern paper left in my stash... I knew I was saving it for something LOL!  Lots of colour, but also lots of white space on my card for today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lavender Lace

*Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights

*Stamps:  MFT Big Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop we playing with our favourite thing about fall.  I will admit, I don't like much about fall.  I like the colours in the leaves (although here in Calgary we don't get a lot of colours) and I like wearing hoodies.

Since I don't have a hoodie stamp or die, I played with some colourful leaves...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie Mango Melody

*Stamps:  Visible Image Best Birthday Every

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms, Floral Spray

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Simply Clean and Simple

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 Every month, a group of us play with a common theme and we each make three cards using that common theme... the twist is that we need to use at least one common element from our stash in each of our three cards.  We call this the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop.

For this month, we are playing with Congratulations cards.  I saw a colour combination I loved online the other day and decided to play with that colour combination and made all three cards using the exact same materials.  I made each one a little more clean and simple than the one before.

For this first card, I did the floating strips technique where I adhered my paper strips to a piece of acetate and then used foam adhesive behind the  acetate to give it all some dimension (which you really can't see in this photo)

My second card uses those same strips, but just a few of them in the centre of the card... less of the card front is covered so it is more clean and simple.

And then finally, my last card is much more clean and simple.  I used a wave die to cut my front panel and I adhered small pieces of the the colourful strips behind the two panels I created.  I think this one is my favourite...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeaid, Poppy Parade

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Slim Strips; Pretty Pink Post Congrats Script; unknown wave

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 The Pattern Paper Instagram Hop is playing with an autumn theme this month.  I chose a few different papers with a silver accent in them.  Two of them I did some ink blending over to make them more fall like as the colours weren't quite what I wanted.  I thought that the kraft card base made it look more moody and fall.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Thoughtful Designs, Silver & Gold, Full of Life

*Stamps:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Dies:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Honey Bee Stamps Best of Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #292*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... this time we are playing with the code word LEAVES

I had some of these stamped and die cut leaves in my bin of extras and I chose to play with them today...  I was going to put them directly on to my card front but it felt like it needed more... so I added these stitched rectangles under them to add a little oomph!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Trinity Stamps Autumn Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; MFT Stiched Rectangls

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #292

*CAS on Friday #318*

 It's time for a fun sketch challenge at CAS on Friday...  This is a super simple sketch to work with and I hope you'll play along with us!

I had a lot of ideas in my head and finally decided to play with a little patterned paper for my design.  I enjoy trying to incorporate patterned paper in to my clean and simple designs.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Hues of Happiness

*Stamps:  Gina K Crazy Daisy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #318

*Welcome Little One*

 My friend Michelle Park has a fabulous online store where she sells digital art as well as printed cardstock.  Think pattern paper, but printed on cardstock.  Check out her website HERE!

She sent me a few things from her store so I could try them out.

First, let me tell you how much I love that this is printed cardstock!  It has a wonderful smooth finish, is thick and sturdy (so you could use it as a card base).  This would hold up to die cutting VERY well.  I can't wait to see what other designs she comes up with!

Today I made a cute little baby card using two pieces of the printed cardstock she sent, a printed and die cut little fox and a printed sentiment.

Thanks for the fun items to play with Michelle!  I plan to create some more with the other items you sent!

*CAS Colours & Sketches #569*

 Before we get to the challenge this week, I wanted to let you know that CAS Colours & Sketches is looking for new design team members!  This is a great team if you enjoy making clean and simple cards.  Your duties will inclue making a card every two weeks following either the sketch or colour combination provided.  You will also be responsible for hosting one moth where you will come up with the challenges for that month as well as write up blog posts for those challenges.  If you're interested, enter our challenge this week and add the letters (DT) after your name so that we know that you are interested!

I am hosting the challenges this month at CAS Colours & Sketches... I find the colour combinations the most difficult to come up with... especially in the fall when I know I should be trying to lean towards the warm and spicy colours.  SO I chose a colour combination that would force me out of my comfort zone...

I didn't have any of these colours in ink, so I had to go with a die cut card for you today.  I really like how these three colours workd together.  The Secret Sea sort of grounds everything and the Pecan Pie and Mossy Meadow add warmth.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Mossy Meadow, Secret Sea, Pecan Pie

*Stamps:  Trinity Stamps Autumn Sentiments; Studio Katia Meowy Halloween

*Inks:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfrsh Studio Slim Strips; Studio Katia Meowy Halloween; Spellbinders Be Bold BLooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CC&S #569

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #647*

 It's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts... while you only see my cards once every two weeks, this is a weekly challenge with new and fabulous sketches every week!

First... the sketch for this week...

I kept my card somewhat clean and simple for this sketch... the added layers take me out of the running for a truly clean and simple card (as per clean and simple design rules) but there is plenty of white space to make it very close to being clean and simple.  I used some gold accents on this card to highlight the gold in the washi tape I used.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzill gold mirror

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; The Ton Easy Expressions; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  gold cord; foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #647; Simply Clean and Simple

*AAA Colourful #20*

 There's a new colourboard challenge that starts today at AAA Colourful... you have a full month to play along with these fun colours!

Of course, these colours scream Hallowe'en to most of us... and while I wanted to resist the urge, I went with it...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Lavender Lace, Basic Black

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Meowy Halloween

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Poppy Stamps Squeaker Ghosts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #20

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite embellishment.  To be honest, I don't use a lot of embellishments.  I use a few here and there, but not often.  When I do love, is sparkly things... so I made a card using a rainbow of sparkly strips of cardstock that I placed on a black layer so that they'd really pop...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; assorted glitter

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

It's time for the September CASE It Instagram Hop... each month, a group of us each choose a card on Instagram that inspires us and we use that creation to make something of our own.  I was inspired by my friend Crystal Minkler with this fun Christmas card.  I have these papers and I was so tempted to completely just copy this card...

But I didn't!  I used my black and whited striped paper and struggled a bit to get the alternating diagonals like Crystal did... and I almost gave up because I hated wasting this paper!  I turned the card on it's side and used a big white and black flower making my card a non-Christmas design.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Sending Hugs*

 Today is the last day of the Suicide Prevention Week hop on Instagram... one last card to share to hopefully help someone see a little something beautiful in their day...  If you or someone you love is struggling, I encourage you to talk to someone...

No card info for you today as everything came from my bin of extras...

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us gathers on Instagram to share uplifting cards... it started after the first annual Suicide Prevention Hop a few years ago and we continue spreading words of encouragement to others each month.  I try to make my cards colourful.. in hopes of bringing a little light in to what might a tough day for someone else.

Today I played with two of my favourite things... strips and rainbows.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape

*Paper:  unknown

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sunshine Vibes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*{BYSHC} Sketch #61*

 I'm here today with my first of two cards following the September sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  First, the sketch...

I am really very happy with how this card turned out... I left it fairly clean and simple with some snowflakes and sparkle...

Card Info

*Paper:  unknown glitter

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Build Your Stash #61

*Time Out Challenges #297*

There's a great new challenge that starts today at Time Out Challenges... you get to make a card that depicts your favourite season.

I absolutely love all things Christmas when it comes to card making, but I decided to go with my favourite weather season for this card... and for me, it's spring.  It's the promise of longer days, more sunshine, warm nights, blue skies and lots of pretty flowers...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Squares; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply flowers; Spellbinders Opal Gems

*Challenges:  Time Out #297

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 This month's theme for the White on White Instagram Hop is Back to School.  I don't have little kids, I don't need a back to school card... but I had an idea in my head and I went with it.

And you know what, I am so glad I did!

I used some basic shape dies as well as a stitched alphabet to create a card suitable for a teacher.

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Revolution Nesting Stars; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Nesting Squares; Lawn Fawn Oliver's Stitched Alphabet; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Another Amazing Creation*

 I'm back again today with another card for the Suicide Prevention Hop on Instagram.  This is a weeklong event, based on the US Suicide Prevention Week... and while I'm Canadian, I wanted to participate in this hop to share some kindness and encouragement to anyone who might need it.

For my card today, I started with a coverplate die cut in white cardstock.  To add a little colour, I added a strip of patterned paper and then put my sentiment on top of it.