*Simple Love*

It feels like forever ago that I made these wedding cards for my friend to give to the couples she performs marriages for...  and I guess it was like 3 months ago! LOL!  Time flies, my friends!

Anyway, these were done using my Glimmer Hot Foil system and some plain white cardstock.  So simple.  They don't look like much in the photos (some things are so hard to photograph!) but I thought they packed a punch!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Hot Foil:  Pinkfresh Studio Simplest Gesture

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #547*

There's a new clean and simple sketch at CAS Colours and Sketches for you to play with for the next two weeks.  It is a super simple sketch and I can't wait to see what others come up with!

This sketch is very similar to a Christmas card I made a handful of years ago... I will admit that I was lazy on this one... I had some extra strips from my AAA Colourful card on my desk, so I used them!

Card Info

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Dress Blues, Glam; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*AAA Colourful #9*

 It's time for a new moodboard challenge at AAA Colourful... this month we are working with some deep dark and rich tones!

My first thought when I saw these colours was Hallowe'en, and I just couldn't bring myself to make another Hallwe'en card.  So I started just thinking about the colours and decided to do something with some stripes instead.  I smooshed ink on to white cardstock and cut the strips and then played around with a few different layouts before I settled on my card for today...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Blac

*Stamps:  Gina K Crazy Daisy
*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Mandarin Spice, Glam, Dress Blues, Glitz; Versafine Clair Nocturne

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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #9

*Just Add Ink #723*

 It's a holiday here in Canada today (Thanksgiving Weekend), so I am in my craft room trying to be creative.  I wanted to play along with the challenge at Just Add Ink where you have to choose two of three things to put on your card...  As you can see from the graphic below, it was trees, ink blending and circle.  I went for trees on a circle... and another Christmas card!

Card Info

*Paper:  unknown gold sparkle

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

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Sizzix Tree Pattern

*Challenges:  Just Add Ink #723

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #599*

 WOW!  Atlantic Hearts is at 599 weekly sketches!  That's truly amazing!  This has been a great team to be designing for as the sketches are all top notch!  So far there has only been one that I've had to work with that I struggled with.

When I saw the sketch for this week, I had an idea in my head almost right away... but then I wondered if it was too soon to start making Christmas cards for other challenges...  I decided it was not!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stapin' Up! Evening Evergreen, Cherry Cobbler; Spellbinder gold mirror

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; Waffle Flower Nestic Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #599

*Freshly Made Sketches #657*

 I am in love with the sketch this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  It could be used in so many fun ways!  As soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do... it was just a matter of choosing an embossing folder or patterned paper (or both).  I went with a classic white, gold and black and made a Christmas card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold sparkle

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Bottlebrust Trees; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Gina K Holiday Flora

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #657

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 I've joined in the fun with a brand new Instagram Hop where, each month, we make a card with a prompt word...  each month these have a theme of "my favourite..."  for October, it's "my favourite fall drink". 

OK, let's be honest, I drink the same things, day in and day out, no matter the weather.  I don't drink a lot of hot drinks as I don't find them refreshing.  I like diet pop.  Sometimes water.  Sometimes a little booze.  Once in a while, on a chilly day, I will pull out a tea or a hot chocolate.  But that's pretty seldom.

For my card today, I decided to do a hot chocolate... and it could be a winter wishes or a Christmas card... what do you think?

Card Info

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings; Lawn Fawn Thanks a Latte

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Addicted to CAS #269*

It's time for another clean and simple challenge with the team at Addicted to CAS!  This time, we are looking for cards with a "wood" theme!

I have just a little bit of this wood themed patterned paper left in my stash and decided to make some little houses out of it.  This is a fun die set with different shaped houses in it.  These almost look like cabins with the weathered wood look.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! In Good Taste

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT My Neighbourhood, Stitched Rectangles

*Sharing Sunshine Instagram Hop*

After the success of the week-long Suicide Prevention Instagram Hop last month, it was decided that we would continue on with a monthly "sharing sunshine" hop... each month, a group of us will get together to share cards that are meant to be encouraging.  Sometimes people just need to hear that they matter to you!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Pinkfresh Studio Circle Florals

*Ink:  Gina K Tomato Soup, Sweet Corn, Blue Lagoon, Fresh Asparagus; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern; Pinkfresh Studio Circle Florals

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; blending buddies

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #748

*{BYSHC} Sketch #50 Take 2*

I look at the October sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaking and I see so many possibilities, including something super clean and simple! I love seeing what other people see when they work on these sketches!  

I did keep this card relatively simple by doing just an embossed background and a fun snowflake border.

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Frosyville Border; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Christmas

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC} #50: 

*CAS on Friday #294*

We have a Hallowe'en challenge for you over at CAS on Friday!  I chose to go super clean and simple but added a few Hallowe'en coloured gems for a little more fun.  I don't make a lot of Hallowe'en cards... I really like them, but I don't send them to anyone!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Essentials by Ellen Got Candy; Studio Katia Meowy Hallowe'en

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Essentials by Ellen Got Candy

*Embellishments:  assorted from my stash

*Tools:  Perfects Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday ##294

*TIme Out Challenges #274*

There's a new photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges...  one of our team members took this photo while on vacation and we all thought it would be a great challenge prompt!

I agreed, until I went to make a card!  Honestly, all I could see was the black and white of the chalk board... so I went with a black and white card.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Challenges:  Time Out #274

*An Oldie*

Way back in July, I had a scrap of paper sitting on my desk and a brand new stamp set just screaming at me to play with it...  so I put this card together.  And it's taken me this long to share it with you LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry

*Dies:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies

*Stencils:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Freshly Made Sketches #656*

 I saw the sketch at Freshly Made this week and while I really liked it, I didn't think I'd have any time to play along.  I had a lot of things I needed to get done this weekend.  But then I saw another entry come across the Instagram feed and I knew I wanted to play along.

My card didn't turn out quite the way I had hoped, but I still like it.  I don't know what I wanted different, but it just doesn't have the "feel" of what I had in my head

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown blue shimmer; Lawn Fawn Iridescent

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflack Backdrop; Picket Fence Studio Winter Snowflakes; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #626

*{BYSHC} Sketch #50*

 It's a new month which means there is a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  This is a super quick and easy sketch to play with...

I had an idea in my head for this sketch, but I just didn't have the brain power to make it work.  I saw that sentiment band and saw Santa's belt... I hope someone has the same idea and makes it work!

Instead I pulled out my favourite patterned paper to create my first card this month...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC #50

*CAS Colours & Sketches #546*

It's the start of a new month which means it's time for a new host over at CAS Colours & Sketches.  I pulled out these colours to start creating and I was at a loss!  In my head, these colours shouldn't work together!

But I was inspired by a card I saw on Instagram... and I put her idea together with the colours and what supplies I have on hand to come up wtih a card that I really like!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wheat

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Trick or Treat; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; white gel pen

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Trick or Treat, The Ton Easy Expressions, Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CC&S #546

*Atlantic Hearts #597*

 We get an extra sketch from Atlantic Hearts this month...  

My first thought was to pull out some coordinating patterned papers... but then I had an idea to make it look a little more clean and simple.  It's not clean and simple because I used an embossing folder, but it's a lot less busy than had I used two different patterned papers.  I love trying to make these sketches a little closer to clean and simple!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Floating Balloons

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #597

*Freshly Made Sketches #655*

 When I saw the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week, I had an idea in my head almost immediately.  I finally had some time in my creative space today and I came up with this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic

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

*Dies:  Memory Box Frostyville Border; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamps Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #655

*Rediscovery Instagram Hop*

 It's the last Saturday of the month which means it is time for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  We have the theme of "teacher" and the technique of "ink smooshing" to choose from with this challenge.  

Since I have no use for teacher based cards, I chose to just use the technique.  The supplies from my stash that I used are a stamp that hasn't seen ink for quite a while, some colours from my stash of ink and an acrylic block that I never use (as I always stamp with my Misti).  I smooshed two colours of ink on to my acrylic block and then sprayed it with water.  I then then stamped the acrylic block on to my front panel.  Once it was dry, I stamped the images on top of it.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything; Pinkfresh Studio Beautiful Blooms

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Sauna, Mandarin Spice

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Addicted to CAS #268*

I think it's interesting that so many challenge blogs end up with the same or similar themes around the same time.  Sometimes it's a holiday (brace yourself, Halloween cards are coming) but sometimes I wonder why several of my design teams have a similar theme around the same time.  I just posted a masculine card a few days ago, and here we are again today with a masculine theme at Addicted to CAS.

I had fun with some super small scraps of cardstock for this card.  I cut them with a strip die so that they'd be the same width and then I placed them on my cardstock, doing my best to keep them lined up straight.  I stamped the sentiment right on that front panel after gluing down the strips.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Grey, Smoky Slate, Night of Navy

*Stamps:  Simon Say Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #268

*{BYSHC} Sketch #49 Take 2*

I'm back with my second card for the September sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

My first card, posted at the start of the month, was pretty darn clean and simple.  By some standards, so is this one.  However, a true clean and simple card would have a fully embossed front panel like my card does.  I also chose to use a 1/16" border around my piece, which I didn't do with my first card.  And of course, I used my favourite Christmas paper pack!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tiding of Christmas

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Embossing:  Sizzix Christmas Tree Pattern

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC} #48

*CAS on Friday #293*

 CAS on Friday has a new challenge that starts today... we want to see your clean and simple cards that feature leaves.

I decided to keep my card SUPER clean and simple.  I even eliminated my signature matted layer!  I used some of that wonderful foiled Pinkfresh Studio Washi tape for my leaves.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil

*Stamps:  Gina K Fancy Greetings Mini

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #293