*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #695*

 Hello friends... there's a brand new sketch today at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...

This is such a versatile sketch... I can't wait to see what everyone creates using it!  I chose to keep my card clean and simple with a basic black and white theme.  My centre panel is embossed for a little interest.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Scallop Circles; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Peonies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #695

*Happy Birthday Julie*

 Today we are celebrating Julie with an Instagram Hop!  Be sure to head on over to her account to wish her a happy birthday!

Some of her favourite things are shaker cards, the colour pink, dogs and sunflowers... I focussed on the colour pink!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Bubble Bath

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; MFT Stitched Rectangles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy Birthday Kelly*

 This week is busy with birthdays on Instagram... today we are celebrating Kelly!  Some of the things she listed as "favourites" were the colour yellow, pattern paper and polkadots.  I created a fun frame using some bright yellow pattern paper and put it on top of a black and white polka dot background.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  MFT All Smiles

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners; MFT Double the Smiles; Prism Studio Sew Many Rectangles

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 Hello my friends...  this month on the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of Thanks. We are each challenge to make 3 cards using the same theme... and each of us chooses something from our stash (or our stash of techniques) to highlight in all three of the cards we've made.

This month, I chose to use the same leaf die set on all three cards... each a little different.

For my first card, I layered some pattern paper behind my front panel and put the die cut leaves back in to the holes I cut them out of.  I used some foam adhesive to pop up the sentiment in the centre of the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed

*Stamps:  Hunky Dory Crafts

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Foliage Shaker

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my second card, I cut out two of the leaves and coloured the cut out bits with three colours of Copics.  I layered the one leave up with foam adhesive and finished it off with a die cut sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Foliage Shaker; MFT Something for Everything

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My last card uses three different mirror metallic cardstocks... I popped all the pieces out of each of the leaves and moved the inside colour to a different outside.  Gotta love paper piecing!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; gold, silver and rose gold mirror

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Verasafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Foliage Shaker; MFT Something for Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #31*

Hello friends... it's time for a new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful.  I just love this inspiration piece... So many beautiful colours

I see a little hit of purple along the left hand side and some beautiful shades of blue and aqua. I took four colours of cardstock and cut them in to 3/4" wide strips.  I put them through an embossing folder and then put them on a panel with foam adhesive. 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape, Brocade Blue, Blueberry Bushel, Coastal Cabana

*Stamps:  Hunkydory Crafts
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hunkydory Crafts

*Embossing:  Daisy Swirl

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #31

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a group of online friends sharing a little sunshine on Instagram with the cards we make.  We make cards that we would send to someone having a bad day or needing a pick me up.  My card today uses some soft greenery and a big beautiful butterfly

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Certainly Celery

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora; Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*{BYSHC} #72 Take 2*

 I'm here today to share with you my second and final card using the August Sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

First, here's the sketch...

My first card was SUPER clean and simple...  this card is totally not LOL!  But it does use my favourite Christmas themed pattern paper!  It's a little too busy for my personal taste, but I do still like it.  Maybe I should have done the die cut word in black?

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Dies:  Hero Arts Joy Stamp n Cut

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #72

*Happy Birthday Angy*

 Another Instagram Birthday to celebrate today... this time for Angy!  Angy didn't have any guidelines for what she liked to see on cards, so I just made a card using some happy colours!  I was inspired by my friend Sandi MacIver for this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, Magenta Madness

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; Waffle Flower Nesting Circle Dies

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy Birthday Naira*

 Today we are celebrating Naira with an Instagram Hop!  I hope you'll go visit her and give her some birthday love!

I created a clean and simple card with a little texture and a sweet butterfly to help her celebrate...

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; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today with my card for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop.  Our theme this month is EMBOSSING.  I know that adding an embossing folder to a clean and simple card might confuse some... a true clean and simple card does not have an all over embossed background.  Instead, I'm encouraging people to figure out a way to use a small and effective amount of embossing on their card!

I used some scraps for my card... a leftover piece of embossed black cardstock and a scrap strip of pattern paper.  I added a pop of colour with this beautiful butterfly!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*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:  Altenew Deck Planks
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we are choosing between balloons and kites.  I don't think I have anything kite themed in my stash, so I went with balloons.

I chose to do a super clean and simple card with one fun balloon die and a sweet birthday sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Grey Granite, Granny Apple Green

*Stamps:  Picket Fence Studio Fancy Sentiments

*Dies:   Lawn Fawn Party Balloons

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the monthly CASE It Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us each find a card that inspires us on Instagram and we use that card (each our own choice) to create something inspired by the card.  It can be a direct copy or we can take elements and be inspired to create something more unique.

My card today was inspired by my online friend Sandy... please go check out her Instagram profile and share some love on her creations!

Here is Sandy's card...

I LOVE a raised frame, especially when it's done in white  I changed things up by making my frame a stitched circle and instead of in blended leaves, I did some pretty washi flowers.  I kept the idea of stamping my sentiment inside of the frame.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Hunkydory

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; MFT Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  All About Challenges #8

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I was playing catch up this past week, trying to get on top of my design team duties.  On my days off I had one great day of creating and then a couple of days of sitting at my desk with no motivation.  So instead of multiple cards for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, I only have one.  Our theme this month is "sympathy"

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Cclair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #340*

 The new challenge at CAS on Friday is to make a clean and simple get well soon card... I got this new stamp last week and couldn't wait to play with it... and when I was finished, I realized my card isn't all that clean and simple!  But I loved it and decided to go with it anyway...  and look!  I coloured!

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything; Concord & 9th Flower Field

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Challenges:  CAS on Friady #340

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between "young" and "old"....  I'm not honestly sure which I chose for this fun card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! shimmer paper

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alpha

*Time Out Challenges #319*

 It's time for a new Pick 2 Challenge at Time Out Challenges....  I can't wait to see what you all choose to play with!

I went overboard and chose FOUR instead of two...  CAS, Floral, Stitching and Birthday!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Summer Sun

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everythign
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; unknown stitched squares; Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Rectangles

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #319

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 We are playing with a fun idea for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop... it's a back to school/teacher theme with a twist.  For this Hop, we are playing with something card making that we think we could teach a class in.  Since I didn't need a card for a teacher, I appreciated the clarification of the theme.

I decided that I had two things to teach others... first, a clean and simple card and second, the art of using the extras in your stash!  Everything in this card was made using my bin of extras!

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends...  it's time for the monthly Mini Slimline Instagram Hop!  No rules, no theme... just sharing a mini slimline card each month!

My card started out being for a different hop...  The one layer hop had a shimmer and shine theme so I started playing, completely forgetting about the idea of a one layer card.  As soon as I noticed my error, I put this card aside to make something else. 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Essential Sentiments
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alpha; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners

*CAS Colours & Sketches #591*

 There is a fabulous new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches that starts today...  

I had some fun playing with the gorgeous Pinkfresh Studio printed washi tape and matching dies to create the focal point for my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  CC&S #591

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #693*

 I'm here today with my design team card for this weeks sketch at Atlantic Hearts!

I had an idea pop in to my head almost immediately for this sketch, but then I saw that one of my fellow DT members did something really close to that same idea so I wanted to pivot... I don't love what I did as it's out of my wheelhouse...

Card Info

*Paper:  Unity Beer Me

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*{BYSHC} Sketch #72

 How on earth is it August already??!!!??  Why do the summer months fly by so fast and winter seems to last forever?

Anyway, there's a fabulous new sketch for you to use to get going on your Christmas cards over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

When I saw this sketch, I immediately had this idea ..,. and while it's not exactly the sketch, I think it's pretty darn close.  I LOVE how clean and simple this is!  This die was just absolutely perfect for this sketch!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; silver mirror

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Drifting Snowflake

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #72; Addicted to Stamps & More; Just Add Ink

*One Layer Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the One Layer Instagram Hop... this month, our theme is Shimmer.  I started out with masking off four panels on my card front and doing some ink blending.  I splattered some Wink of Stella on the panel and when it was dry, stamped my focal image and sentiment before removing the masking.  I wish my masking tape had been a little thinner to create a thinner grid between the rectangles (if that makes sense).

Card Info

*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean, Mustard See

*Etc:  Wink of Stella; Scrapbook.com Mint Tape

*Challenges:  All About Challenge #7

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between clean and simple or mixed media.  Honestly, I don't even know where to start with a mixed media card so I went with a clean and simple design.

I'm sure that no one is surprised.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  All About Challenge #7