*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

Each month, I participate in an Instagram Hop where we create 1-4 cards using a common theme to help build up our stash of cards to send.  To be honest, I don't need to build up my stash as I've been making way more cards than I send lately... but it's a fun way to create and I'm enjoying it.

This month, our theme is Anniversary.  I really like a classy looking anniversary card and I tend towards black, white and red for these cards.

For my first card, some simple embossed lines, a couple of hearts and a congratulatory sentiment...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Unknown stitched hearts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Scor Buddy

For my second card, I used an alphabet die set as well as a heart...  kept it so simple

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Cherry Cobbler

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles, Impact Alphabet; unknown heart

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Spring Into Christmas 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party*

It's time for the {BYSHC} Spring Into Christmas Holiday Linky Party!!!  We want to help encourage you to make a bunch of Christmas cards this week, to build up your stash so that you don't feel the pinch in the fall!  We have a TONNE of great prizes to be won... how do you win?  Simply create and share (new creations only) Christmas cards at the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers website... the more you enter, the more chances you'll have to win!  You'll get an entry for every card you share with us (no back linking please!)

Just look at these amazing sponsors... 

*Tawny Owl Paperie

*Club Scrap (new sponsor!)

*Lawn Fawn

*Thermo O Web

*Taylored Expressions

*Twiddler's Nook

*Not 2 Shabby

*Unity

*Angie Blom Digital Designs

*Jaded Blossom

*A Colorful Life Designs

*Gina K Designs

*Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

*Pink & Main

*RAM Stamps

*Newton's Nook Designs

*Gina Marie Designs

And now on to my card... I can't believe I used such a LARGE piece of gold glitter paper for this card!  But I am SO glad that I did!  I love how this card turned out!

Card Info

*Paper:  Unknown glitter; DCWV Dec 25th; Spellbinders gold foil

*Dies:  We R Memory Keepers Nesting Stars; Hero Arts Joy

*Challenges:  BYSH Spring Into Christmas Linky Party

*CAS on Friday #308*

 The current challenge at CAS on Friday is to use black and white plus only one other colour.  I had some fun with this, and even managed to make a Christmas card using black and white with a pop of red!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Gina K Holiday Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; Prism Studios Stitched Nesting Squares

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  black pearl

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #308

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us each posts a rainbow colour themed card to our instagram page...  we don't use rainbow images or dies, but the idea of the rainbow instead.  These always end up being such pretty and happy cards!

For this month, I took a piece of black and white patterned paper and coloured the white stripes with a rainbow of Copic markers.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

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

*Dies:  unknown butterfly; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #559*

 We have another fun colour challenge for you at CAS Colours & Sketches...

To me, the colours look nautical and masculine... the day I was creating, I wasn't feeling super creative so I went simple with my card.  I cut some super skinny strips of these three colours and made a "barber pole" style element for my card.  It almost looks like a tie to me!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Shy Shamrock

*Paper:  silver sparkle

*Stamps:  Uniko Birthday Wishes

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #559

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #627*

 We have a wonderful new sketch for you at Atlantic Hearts...

I decided to play with a stencil instead of a stamped or die cut image for my card today...  I hope you can see the sketch in my creation...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Stencils:  Gina Ki Mandala Burst

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Spellbinders Opal Gems

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #627

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are creating sympathy cards with our favourite floral image.  I cheated a little bit as this isn't my favourite floral image that I have in my stash, but it is my favourite flower.  I had this piece left in my bin of extras from a card I shared a few weeks ago (it's a huge floral) and it seemed to be perfect for today...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Tranquil Tide

*Stamps:  Altenew Gracious Peonies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Hot Tub, Bay Breeze

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Altenew Gracious Peonies

*Stencil:  Altenew Gracious Peonies

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Rediscovery Instagram Hop*

 This month on the Rediscovery Instagram Hop we are using our stash (not buying new) to create cards with the theme of spring flowers. We are trying to rediscover what we already have.  

I created a card with a bunch of blue flowers that I tried to make look like forget me nots... and I love a raised white stitched frame on a card... it adds a great element without being too busy.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Boho Blue, Daffodil Delight

*Stamps:  Altenew Celebrate Today
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocture; white gel pen

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*{BYSHC} Sketch #56 Take 2*

I'm back with my second and final card following the April sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers. 

Once again I turned to a package of patterned paper and chose some different patterns from the same package as I know that they should go together.  I liked the idea of the candycane stripes on either side and then chose a couple of other fun patterns for the two strips in the middle.  I added some traditional Christmas colours to finish it all off.  And that "Joy" stamp?  It honestly felt like it was meant for the centre of this diecut!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Garden Green; Spellbinders gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Poppy Stamps Art Deco Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Holiday Gift Tags; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSH} #56

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For the final This or That Instagram Hop of April, our choices were Sea or Sky...  I chose to go with sky.

I bought a new rainbow stamp and die set and was a little disappointed that once again, it's one die for all of the pieces.  I know that keeps the cost down, but I think I could have so much more fun with separate dies (if you know of a good rainbow die set that is multiple dies, please leave me a comment!)

I chose some beautiful rainbow paper to make my rainbow... 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Saffron

*Paper: Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Over The Rainbow

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #287*

 There's a new photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges this week...

With our photo challenges, we want to know what inspired you in the photo.... I'm sure you might be scratching your head if you look at my card without knowing what I saw when I looked at the inspiration photo.  I was inspired by that swag of flowers along the edge of the booth....  lots of green with a few pink flowers.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Blush

*Stamps:  Hero Arts With Sympathy; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  WOW clear embossing powder

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #287

*Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop*

 This month, we are playing with Fun Fold cards with the Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop.  I don't do a lot of fun fold cards and I thought I found a new one to play with... and then, I was scrolling through the photos on my phone and discovered that I made a card using this layout a while back as a Christmas card.  Whoops!  

I guess that just means I really like the fun fold of this one!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Hues of Happiness

*Stamps:  Gina K Fancy Greetings Mini

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 This month, the theme for the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop is "celebrate".  Each month, we create three cards using at least one common element following the theme.  Our hope is that we can show you how you can stretch the supplies that you already own!

For this month, I not only used the same package of patterned paper (one that I will be sad to use up!) but I also used the same word die for all three of my cards.

My first card is my favourite...  I did this one first and I knew exactly what I wanted when I started creating.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Party Time

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My second card was an idea I saw online...  some wonderful stripes and a stamped image that you don't colour.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Party Time

*Stamps:  Catherine Pooler Yay Gifts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate; Catherine Pooler Yay Gifts

And my third card started with an idea from my friend Bonnie, who I was crafting with on the day I was creating these cards.  It was her idea to use the negative of one of my other word die cuts to create a card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  MFT Party Time

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate; Lawn Fawn Party Balloons

*Addicted to CAS #281*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... and this time I am the host!  I chose the code word "star" for this challenge!

I'm sure I had an idea when I chose this word for my challenge... but when it came time to create, I had no idea what I wanted to do LOL!  I had some of this beautiful rainbow pattern paper on my desk so I decided to play with it.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Dies:  We R Memory Keepers Nesting Stars; Pretty Pink Posh Congrats Scripe

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #281

*CAS on Friday #307*

 The current challenge at CAS on Friday is to use a stencil... I find that that can be challenging while keeping a card clean and simple... I played with some soft ink colours and a fun daisy stencil.  To keep it more clean and simple, I overlapped by sentiment with my stencilling.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Stampendous Big Words Happy
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Martini, Glitz

*Stencil:  A Colourful Life Designs Daisies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Crystal Stickles
*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #307

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week with the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between bunnies and chicks.  Honestly I've had enough of making cards with bunnies on them this month, so I went with chicks...

I took a little creative leeway with my card... I know that chicks aren't rainbow coloured, but aren't they cute as a rainbow?

Card Info

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Etc:  WOW clear embossing powder

*CAS Colours & Sketches #558*

Happy Tuesday, creative friends!  We have a new sketch for you to play with at CAS Colours & Sketches.  

I decided to play with a Christmas card for my card following this sketch... partly because I had this fabulous thin strip of sparkly candy cane striped paper sitting on my desk LOL!  I added a little embossing and a sentiment to create my card for today.

Card Info

*Paper;  Unknown

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #558

*AAA Colourful #15*

It's time for a new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful.  We have some gorgeous shades of blues and greens with a touch of a purply-pink for you to play with this month!

I was inspired by the image as well as the colours for my card.  I used this gorgeous layering stencil and then used the excess blue ink on the brush to just soften the background just a bit instead of being a stark white behind the stencilling.  I also decided to layer the stencilled panel and added a mat and foam adhesive to make the top panel pop a little more.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Birthay
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Be Bine, Suede Shoes, Mardi Grash

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles

*Stencil:  MFT Flower Fusion

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #15

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Atlantic Hearts #625*

 It's time for a wonderful new sketch at Atlantic Hearts...

I went for a simple card today (but not clean and simple)... and decided to make the colours suitable for a sympathy card as I don't have any in my stash.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Studio Daisy Bouquet; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Daisy Bouquet; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Etc: WOW clear embossing powder

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #625

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 The prompt for the My Favorite Instagram Hop is favourite place to visit....  I chose the beach!  I hope you can see the beach in this card... I can...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Catherine Pooler Hook, Line and Sinker