*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 I had to play with the theme of "where you're from" for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop today... I didn't feel super inspired to make a red and white card so instead I went with a Calgary Stampede themed birthday card... anyone who knows me is probably surprised as I am not a country girl, I am not interested in Stampede... but it's probably what the city I live in is best known for.

I started with a Spellbinders alphabet and cut out the iconic Stampede "yahoo" and then used a wood grain embossing folder on them.  Super simple!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pecan Pie

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Alpha; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Embossing;  Alten New Deck Planks

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a group of friends on Instagram where you do a hop that focusses on using up the scraps and extras that we have hanging around, waiting for a rainy day.  Our theme for this month is Red, White & Blue... and since I'm not a patriotic American (but instead, a proud Canadian), I didn't do a patriotic themed card...  These are some of the pieces of the Pinkfresh Washi that I've cut and that get ignored in my bin of extras...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic BLack

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies, Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I almost didn't participate in the Build Your Stash for Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop this month...  the theme is "baby" and I don't have a lot of variety in my stash for baby cards (nor a reason to be sending them at this point in my life)... I was digging through my stash and changed my mind when I cam across this sentiment stamp set that I don't think I've ever inked up before...  I usually try to make at least two cards for this hop, but this month you get only one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Bubble Bath, Balmy Blue

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Hooray

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini DIes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between sandcastle and snowman...

Was there even a choice here?  Of course I had to play with the snowman theme!

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Only Orange

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Filled With Joy; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Spellbinders Instagram Hop*

 Today, I'm sharing my card for the Spellbinders Instagram Hop... this is a group of creative friends who all love Spellbinders products.  It's beena tough hop for me as I don't have a lot of Spellbinders products in my stash (but I LOVE them!)

Today I played with a die set that I don't think I've used before...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  assorted Spellbinders scraps; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Spellbinders Petite Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Happy Canada Day, friends!  I'm going to enjoy a quiet day off today...no big celebrations for us.

I'm here with my card for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop... no theme, just a mini slimline card.  I have had this paper for a few months and while I LOVE it, it does not work with my usual clean and simple style.  I honestly don't know what else to do with it but let it shine on a card front like this... but I *had* to buy it!

Card Info

*Paper:  Simply Stated Dreamy Floral

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Iridescent Clear Drops

*{BYSHC} Sketch #71

 Happy July everyone, and a Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!  

I am here with my first design team card using the July sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...  I look forward to seeing how this sketch inspires your holiday card making...

I have been trying to use some more of the pattern papers that I tend to ignore, inspired by our very own Crystal Minkler who uses pattern paper so effectively!  I wonder though, if the buffalo plaid was too bold of a choice for this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Echo Park My Favorite Christmas

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #71

*One Layer Instagram Hop*

 I'm here with my card for the Just One Layer Instagram Hop...  we are challenged each month to make a card that is just one layer following a common theme.  This month, our theme is stencil.

I grabbed this fabulous ink splatter stencil and created a rainbow through a portion of the stencil directly on the front of my card.  I then stamped my sentiment right on top.

Card Info
*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday Stamps
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean
*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Paint Splatter

*Pride Hop*

 Today I am happily participating in the Pride Hop on Instagram... a group of us are playing with the theme of inclusion and tolerance for members of the Pride Community as we celebrate the end of Pride Month.

I revisited my idea from a few months ago but created a line of interconnected rainbow hearts.  I cut each heart to allow the interlocking element and hid the cut line with a gem on each heart.

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  MFT All Smiles

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Tall Type Alha

*Happy Birthday Amanda*

 Today I'm participating in a Birthday Hop on Instagram for my creative friend Amanda... I hope you'll head over to Instagram to leave her some birthday love!

Once again I wanted to cut in to some of that new paper I bought from Unity... and I chose to do a mini slimline card using an old sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla; vellus

*Paper:  Unity Oh Hey! It's Your Day!

*Stamps:  Waffle FLower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Circles;  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 We're playing with a "celebration" theme for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  For this hop, we try to dig in to our stash to create cards following the common theme.  We are trying to use what's in our stash instead of buying something new (not that I'm not buying new still LOL)

I had an idea for this card and honestly, it took a few turns before I ended up with this... and I'm kind of glad it did!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Butterflies

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Buterflies; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Addicted to CAS #311*

 Good morning friends... it's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS...

I tossed around a lot of ideas but then got a delivery of some brand new patterned papers and I really wanted to cut in to them!  I chose five different patterns and cut some strips to create this fun patterned card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper;  Unity Love Notes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stiched Rectangle Nested Dies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Challenges:  ATCAS #311

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week, our choices for the This or That Instagram Hop was Trees or Toadstools.  I had some fun doing some fussy cutting of these toadstools from a piece of pattern paper...

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Time Out Challenges #316*

 There's a photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges this week... First, let's look at the inspiration photo

I was inspired by the blue and white stripes of the pillow on the blue chair.  I took strips of white and navy cardstock and adhered them to a piece of printer paper.  I then cut it out with a stitched rectangle die and added it to a larger piece of navy cardstock.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies: Pinkfresh Fluttering Butterflies, Slim Strips; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Time Out #316

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Good morning friends... it's time for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop!  Each month we play with rainbow colours and try to make our cards somewhat clean and simple.

I chose to make a card suitable for someone losing a pet.  I cut the outline of the paw print and then used some Tim Holtz inks to ink blend my rainbow.  I then cut the inside pieces out.  I adhered the outline to the front of my card panel and then added the inner pieces with foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne:  Tim Holtz Distress Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Paw Print

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #337*

 We have a Christmas in July (well it's June) challenge at CAS on Friday!  You all know how much I LOVE making Christmas cards!

I kept this card super simple, using a couple of scraps of pattern paper as well as a little bling to create my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Gumball Green; unknown gold sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Merry Mail

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Holly Berries

*Embellishments;  Unknown

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #337

*CAS Colours & Sketches #588*

 Happy Tuesday, friends! It's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Aren't these colours fabulous?!  I saw them an immediately thought of flowers.  I used some of the pieces of a die set I've never touch before...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Blackberry Bliss, Gorgeous Grape, Garden Green
*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #588

*Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Embossing Folder Instagram Hop we are playing with the theme of Summer Bliss.  I went with the lush greenery of summer... everything in bloom, the grass is green... so many shades of green in your view!  We've got a lot of green here in Calgary right now because we had a very wet spring...  but flowers are behind because it's been cool and cloudy too!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gumball Green; vellum

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron

*Dies:  Prism Studio Essential Greenery; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments, Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #687*

 Good morning, creative friends...  it's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts!  I love trying to make these sketches a little closer to my clean and simple style when I can... and I am IN LOVE with the card I created today!

First, here's the sketch!

I love the overlapped framed squares on this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

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

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies: Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch #687

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... this week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are creating birthday cards featuring an animal.  I chose to play with this ignored pattern paper in my stash...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bermuda bay

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Snail Mail
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Circles; unknown stitched border

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

Each month, I play along with some creative friends, busting down our stash of pattern paper for the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop. This month, our optional theme is chevrons.  I remembered seeing this fun folding technique so I went looking for directions to create the pieces to create the rhombus shapes that I then put together to create the chevron.  Thanks to Patty Stamps for the great tutorial!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Pine

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Moonlit Florals
*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 This month, our theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Snazzy Snowmen.  Of course I had to play!  I LOVE snowmen!!  I chose to play with a foiled snowflake that I had in my bin of extras as well as this adorable little snowman.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Little Snowmen; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes
*Foil:  Spellbinders Iridescent

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #29*

 A brand new colourboard challenge starts today at AAA Colourful.  Some really pretty colours to inspire you!

I chose to play with the pink, green, blue and teal that I see in this image to create my card.  But I struggled a bit to put things together.  I hope it came out OK...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray, Bermuda Bay, Magenta Madness, Garden Green

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Fanciful Feathers; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #29