*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 I was so excited to finally put some ink on to more than the sentiments in this gorgeous stamp set... I have a lot of snowflake dies but not a lot of stamps.  This card is for the Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop.  Each month, I join a group of online friends and we share cards to help brighten someone's day. 

I stamped this snowflake in black and then embossed it with clear embossing powder as my first thought was to colour it with Copics... but then I realized that I had bought the matching stencils for this stamp set so I do some ink blending instead!  I used only one image, starting with the top piece and layering it over the edge of my panel.  I added the other portion of the snowflake to the other side of the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Wild Lilac, Powder Blue

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Chrsitmas Star Flakes

*Etc:  Wow! Clear Embossing Powder

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #347*

 The theme for the challenge at CAS on Friday is "STARS"....  so I had some fun with a few different dies and some gorgeous gold mirror cardstock.

The swirl die actually has an ornament attached to it, so I cut off the ornament and attached a star instead...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Bazzill gold mirror

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Star Flakes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love from Lizi Stitched Rectangles; Birch Press Laskett Ornament; American Crafts Nesting Stars

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #347

*Clean and Simple Instagram Hop*

Hello friends... I am here today with my card for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop!  It's a hop that I run and it's been so fun watching my creative friends explore the clean and simple style.  I love that they are learning that it's not as easy as it looks!

Our theme for the month is COLD

I started my card with a panel cut a little smaller than my card and I scored some diagonal lines along the left edge of the card.  To cover the imperfections of where those lines ended, I adhered some pretty ribbon along the ends of the the score lines.  I finished it off with a die cut sentiment in a shimmery blue cardstock.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stardream Sapphire

*Dies:  Stamplorations Let It Snow

*Embellishments:  super old ribbon from my stash

*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Welp... it finally happened... I said "yes" to participating in a hop because I thought I had my card done and then I realized the card I had finished was for a different hop.  Thankfully I had Wednesday off for Remembrance Day so I was able to throw together a card.  Our choices this week for the This or That Instagram Hop are Quilt or Comforter.

I grabbed some more scraps of patterned paper and created a different quilt pattern than the card I shared a few days ago...  for this card, I started with the die cut, stamped and layered diamond in the centre of my card.  I then started playing with the strips of pattern paper to create this design.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  unknown (but it's retired Stampin' Up!)

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips; Waffle Flower Nesting Squares

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #326*

 I am winding down my participation as a Design Team Member for Time Out Challenges... I have a few challenges left to go, but I find myself struggling more and more to participate.  I think maybe I'm just feeling a little burnt out?

Anyway.... I am here with my card for the current challenge...

I decided to do a winter themed thank you card for my creation for the challenge....  and I love how it turned out!

Card Info

*Stamps: The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impressions Obsession Snowflakes

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #326

*CASE Me A Christmas Card Instagram Hop*

 I am so excited that Michelle invited me to join in the fun of her annual CASE Me A Christmas Card series!!!  I nearly fell out of my chair when I received the message from her a few months ago!!  Of course I said YES!!!  I love a good CASE!!  Please head over to Michelle's Instagram page for more information!

I was tasked with finding a card by Kimberly to CASE...  let me show you that card first!  I just LOVE it!

What drew me to Kimberly's card to start with was that fabulous partially die cut "falala"...  there are some new dies on the market that do all the hard work for you, but I don't have them!  I was so close to CASEing this card almost exactly as is, but then I had another idea!

Instead of snow and snowmen and the cooler colours, I chose to do a Christmas themed pattern paper.  I have a MERRY word and shadow die set that I used for my card, being careful to only partially cut the shadow in to the white layer.  I had to trim it with scissors a little as it wasn't the same size as my front panel.  I layered the pattern paper behind the front panel and matted it with some beautiful red cardstock.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Merry & Bright

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Stampendous Christmas Bright

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

There are prizes to be won with the CASE Me A Christmas Card events.... check out all of these fabulous sponsors!

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #707*

 It's time for a fabulous new sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts.  As you are well aware, I am DEEP in to making Christmas cards at this time of the year, so of course, that's what I went with!

First... here's the sketch.

And here is my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stardream Sapphire Glitter; unknown silver sparkle

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Glitz Snowflake (one layer only)

*Embellishemtns:  Pinkfresh Studion Iridescent Clear Drops
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #707

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week for the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we were challenged with the prompt of My Favourite Quit Design.  To be fair, I don't have a favourite quilt design... and I don't even know if this *is* a quilt design... but it felt like a quilt idea to me...

I started with the stamped sentiment on a 1" wide strip of white cardstock and I attached it to a white layer on an angle.  I then added 1/2" strips of patterned paper in the pattern shown and trimmed off all of the excess.  I then did a red 1/16" mat layer before adding it to my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Picket Fence Studio Fancy Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 My bin of extras was a wonderful treasure trove of items to play with for the Scraps Only Instagram Hop...  the only thing that didn't come from the bin (other than the card base) was the black panel.  These two fabulous snowflakes were cut sometime last year and were left overs from other projects.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black;  Spellbinders Windy; Lawn Fawn Holographic

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsessions Snowflakes; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embellishments:  Nuvo Shimmer

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Today I am sharing my card for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop.  I've been having fun playing with this large embossing folder that I received last Christmas.  It's an open frame with a bunch of pointsettias around it.  It's been fun figuring out different ways to use.

For this card, I put my white cardstock in to the top portion of the folder only, creating a partial panel that is flat for stamping.  I added some gold gems and a simple sentiments to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Notched Corner Pointsettia

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week for the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite image or die of a leaf.  I'm deep in to my Christas stash so I decided to play with this fabulous wreath for my card. 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Spellbinders Gold Foil
*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Cozy Wreath; MFT Filled with Joy

*{BYSHC} Sketch #75*

 Happy November, my friends!!  I hope you had a fabulous Halloween and that you're reading to face the holiday season that's coming!!!  I don't know where this fall has gone already... time sure goes by fast, the older I get!

It's time for a fabulous new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

I stared at this sketch for a long time before I came up with an idea.  The first thing that came to my head was a striped element along the right hand side.  Then came the idea of the embossed panel... and the rest just came together... but it took forever!

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Embossing:  Gina K Flora & Fauna

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #75

*CAS on Friday #346*

 Happy Friday, creative friends!  It's time for a new challenge at CAS on Friday.  Our challenge #346 is to use an embossed background. 

Now, I struggled with this because in my view of a true clean and simple card, an embossed background is a no-no.  I almost skipped this challenge...  but I had these scraps in my bin of extras and while I didn't emboss the entire background, I do have an embossed background!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold glitter;  Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Iconic Christmas; MFT Christmas Wishes

*Embossing:  Gina K Christmas Flora

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #346

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 The choices this week for the This or That Instagram Hop were Halloween of Christmas... this was a no brainer for me!  Yes, I have a little Halloween themed product but I don't send Halloween cards, so of course I went with Christmas!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tidings & Trimmings; Hero Arts Nesting Tags; MFT Christmas Wishes

*Etc:  gold cord

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Every month, I play along with some friends on Instagram and we do a hop that focuses on the colours of the rainbow.  We also try to keep our creations clean and simple, but that doesn't happen nearly as often LOL

I managed to follow both directives with my card for today!  I did some simple ink blending on a panel that I then put behind my front panel with the die cut tree window.  I added a simple stamped and die cut sentiment and then put that panel on my card front with foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Tree Window; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*etc:  foam adhesive

*CAS Colours & Sketches #597*

 I'm here today to share my design team card for the latest sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches!  First, here's the sketch...

I had an idea for this card as soon as I saw the sketch, but I had to change it up a bit.  My first thought was to cut five circles in to the white panel, but I struggled to get them lined up and straight.  So instead, I cut the circles out of the blue shimmer cardstock and put them on top of the white panel.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Shimmer cardstock

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Impression Obsession Small SnowflakeSet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #597

Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 Good morning... how is it the last week of October already?  My Christmas cards are in full swing but I haven't gotten past the idea of thinking about Christmas shopping.  Every year I plan to be different with the shopping and every year it seems to get later!  GAH!

I'm here with you this morning to share my creation for the Embossing Folder Instagram Hop...  this month our theme is "pattern party".  I chose to play with some 1" squares and two different embossing folders.  I cut the squares before embossing and then placed them where I wanted them in the embossing folder.  I used a little tape to keep the squares in place, but that sort of backfired on me for one of them (and you can see a tape mark across it if you look closely enough.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves; Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #705*

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

... and I chose to go Christmas for mine!  I used a simple pattern paper to cut some very simple trees as my focal point.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Iconic Christmas

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Stampin' Up! Scallop Border Punch

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #705

*AAAChristmas Cards Challenge #1*

 I am so excited to have joined the design team for a brand new Christmas themed monthly challenge!  I love Christmas cards, I love challenges... and I love sharing my creations with others!  I hope you'll play along with us at AAA Christmas!

Each month, on the 25th, we will have a new challenge for you that will run for a full month.  Lots of time to play along!!

For our first challenge, we are keeping it traditional.

I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do for this theme.  Isn't it silly to be excited about a new challenge and then freeze because you can't think of what to do?!  I then pulled out some traditional items from my stash and this is the card I came up with.  Traditional red and green with a touch of gold, a very traditional looking sentiment and some gold embossing to finish it off.

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes

*Ink:  Versamark
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Gold 

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tasteful Labels

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  AAA Christmas #1

*One Final Card for the Linky Party*

 I'm so sad that the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Falling for the Holiday Linky Party is almost over!  You have until the end of the day to share your creations!  It's been so much fun seeing the cards that everyone else is creating for the upcoming winter holidays.

I found a card similar to this on Pinterest and decided to make one for myself.  I used the negative piece from cutting a small white snowflake for the front panel of my card... and then cut the snowflake again in silver cardstock and put the inside pieces in as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown silver mirror
*Paper:  DCWV Dec 25th

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party