For January, the theme for the White on White Instagram Hop is Winter... so of course I had to play with some snowflakes! This could be a Christmas card or simply a card you send someone during the winter months... even a birthday card.
Last week, a good friend asked me to make a 50th Anniversary card for her. I happened to be in my craft room when she made the request so I started working on it right away... I am really in love with white on white cards lately so that's where I started. Since the 50th Anniversary is the Golden Anniversary, I chose to add some gold to it as well.
This morning I am sharing a card that was inspired by a talented creator on Instagram for the CASE It Instagram Hop. I feel in love with her card (that you'll see below) and knew in an instant I'd be playing with it.
First, here's Milla's card...
Isn't it gorgeous?! I love how rich her colours are! And I love how the rest of the floral spray are in black and white on the front of the card. Such a great interpretation of the spotlight technique.
My card didn't turn out as gorgeous as hers... but I tried to do something similar without copying directly. I did the spotlight technique but with a smaller floral image. Instead of a rectangular highlight, I went with a circular one. I kept my sentiment offset, but went to the other side of the card for it. I hope you can see how my card was inspired by hers...
It's time for the first challenge of 2026 with the team at Addicted to CAS...
I struggled with this theme! I was crafting with my friends Heidi and Bonnie and they will confirm that I almost decided to skip this challenge. I didn't want to go with a drinking glass because I find them difficult to work with and get looking the way I want them to. And then I had my AH-HA moment! I have Pair Eyewear, those glasses with the removeable toppers. For a while, I thought I was going to make my own toppers (and I did make a few) so I purchased a cut file to be used with my Silhouette. I pulled out the Silhouette, resized the cut file and cut myself a pair of glasses!!! I added some Glossy Accents to the frames and some funky flowers and a sentiment that really worked!
It's the second Friday of the month which means it's time for the Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop! Each month, a group of us share cards in Instagram meant to be sent to brighten someones days. We never know what others are going through, so we want to send a little sunshine each month in case someone else needs it in their life.
I am trying to make more clean and simple cards again this year... last year I made some, but many of my cards were way more busy than my usual style. I will still be making all styles of cards as I like to create whatever makes my heart happy, but if I can create something that is clean and simple, I'm going to do that.
I kept this card super clean and simple, utilizing only one corner of my card front. I added some interest to the white squares by sending them through my Big Shot with an embossing folder. The sprig is popped up on foam adhesive.
Happy Friday! It's time for the first clean and simple challenge at CAS on Friday! We are playing with the prompt of SNOWMAN for this challenge!
You all know that I LOVE snowflakes and snowmen. I pulled out all of my snowman stamps and dies and narrowed it down to a few different things. This die set from Spellbinders won out because I haven't used it yet!
This month, the creators playing along with the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop are working with the theme of BLUES. Think the colour, the music genre, the winter blues...
I decided to play with the colour and chose some smokey blues to create my card today.
For the entire month of January, the This or That Instagram Hop is challenging us with a theme of NEW or OLD. For my card today, I dug in to my stash of forgotten and unused wood mounted stamps. This stamp is super old... I'm surprised it still stamps!
Welcome to a brand new year of challenges with Time Out Challenges! We are welcoming Jaydee to our team with our first challenge of 2026! She's a fabulous card maker that I've been following for a while.
Our challenge this week is sponsored by Gina K Designs!
What a fun prompt for a new year! I just wish my card would have photographed better! I decided to dig in to my stash of items that I inherited when my Mom passed away. She LOVED the Glitter Ritz glitters and I took all of it home with me! I don't pull it out very often because it's so messy, but it sure is pretty!
I took a piece of pattern paper (also really old from my stash) and covered the panel in double sided adhesive before sprinkling a clear glitter all over the top. I burned it down to make sure it really stuck on there. Believe me when I say, this panel really sparkles!!
I joined a new cardmaking Instagram hop... this one is called Card Clubhouse. We will be hopping every second week, playing with a different common theme. Our theme for this week is Warm Welcome! We are using new supplies, tools or techniques to make a card to make someone feel welcomed or at home.
I went a little off the rails with my card... my stamp set is new but I went with a literal "warm" as the stamp I chose to use was warm hats (or toques up here in Canada)
It's time to share my card for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop. We have no themes or rules, other than our cards must be a mini slimline... I just LOVE playing with this size!
I went super simple with just stamping and colouring...
Welcome to the first challenge of 2026 at CAS Colours & Sketches! I am your host for this month so I hope you like what I've come up with!
This week, we have a colour challenge...
I was inspired by a card I saw by alaskastamper on Instagram to play with these colours. They made a fabulous Christmas card with these colours so it was a challenge to come up with something else. I decided that they made a great masculine colour pallette.
Good morning! There is a fantastic new sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week... I hope you'll play along!
I have been finding it tough to get back in to the swing of every day card making... I used some items from my die cut stash to create my card today, making the sketch in to something that is relatively clean and simple.
Good morning... this morning I am sharing a card that highlights my favourite silhouette stamp for the My Favorite Instagram Hop. I had a few things to choose from, but I decided to go with this super old wood mounted stamp from my stash! I stamped it on a white panel and added a little ink blending with a splatter stencil.
I feel like I have no idea what day it is any more. I don't usually struggle this much over Christmas, but this year I have been lost in terms of the days of the week. I managed to get these cards up on Instagram in time for the hop yesterday but I wasn't able to post here on my blog.
I just can't keep it all straight all of a sudden!
Anyway... this month we are making 1-4 cards to build up our stash of cards to send to family. I chose to do some cards for Mom... one for Mother's Day and one for a birthday.
This one is super clean a nd simple... and I love that mixed font sentiment stamp!
I had some fun with this second card with some pattern paper and an embossing folder.
I'm back with a second post today... this time for the This or That Instagram Hop. For the month of January, just to make things a little easier, we are hopping with the same theme all month. Our two choices are Old or New.
I chose to play with an old die set in my stash, that I bought probably 2 years ago and then never used! So while it's old, it's brand spakin' new!
Happy New Year, my creative friends! It's January 1st and if time doesn't slow down a little bit, it will be Christmas 2026 in the blink of an eye LOL!
Since it's a new month, there's a new sketch to inspire you to create some Christmas cards over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers. This is such a wonderful sketch! You could make it as busy or simple as you want to do... and it's the perfect way to use up some scraps!
First, the sketch!
I chose to use some slim scraps of this gorgeous pattern paper. To make the strips the same size, I used the Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips dies to cut them. I also added a piece of the pattern paper die cut with a circle die for the focal point before adding a simple die cut sentiment.
What a wonderfully creative year I have had! Thanks for multiple blog based challenges that I design for as well as a multitude of Instagram Hops I've participated in, this year I made a whopping 411 cards! That is a record for me... one I'm not sure I even want to try to beat! Some of been duds, but there have been so many creations I've just loved! I hope you have enjoyed seeing them as well.
Today is the last of the cards for 2025... and it's for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop.
I started with a scrap of rainbow striped pattern paper that I matted with a 1/16" black layer. I die cut this beautiful snowflake from Simon Says Stamp and centred it on the panel. I then cut the word "peace" out of both black and holographic cardstocks and decided that it looked best using the black as a bit of an off-set shadow to the holographic.
I feel so bad! I forgot to share this card with you last week! This was my card for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop. Each month, we play with items from our stash that we haven't had out in a while. Our theme for December was Christmas.
For my card, I played with mostly the backsides of the papers from my most favourite paper pack. These are the ones that get the least amount of use, just because I don't love them as much. I cut various sizes of strips and placed them on a cardstock panel and then cut it with a stitched rectangle die. I added a pop of mirror gold and some more pattern paper to create the focal point.
Today, I am excited to be celebrating Kim's birthday on Instagram! We are doing a hop of birthday cards to help her celebrate her birthday! Go check out her Instagram and give her a follow... she's a talented card maker and I'm happy to call her my friend!
She told us what her favourite colours are so I thought I'd use them in my card. I really like how these colours pop on the black cardstock!
