*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I've really been having fun with the This or That prompts this month.  This week, our choice is big or small.

Now, as the self proclaimed Queen of Clean and Simple (LOL), I was for sure thinking of going with small... but I don't know if you've noticed but I've been doing a lot less clean and simple lately.  I was looking at my stash and there was nothing calling my name, screaming at me to use it to make my card for this prompt.

So I turned to one of the largest stamps in my stash (and it's corresponding layering stencils and die) and created this card for you instead.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Gracious Peonies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Twisted Citron, Wilted Violet

*Dies:  Altenew Gracious Peonies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #280*

 There's a new challenge at Time Out Challenges...  and it was a struggle for me!  But first, let's see what the challenge is.

See?  What on earth does that challenge graphic mean? This is one of our new challenges that we've put in to rotation... it's an "inspired by" challenge.  Each of these challenges will be "inspired by your favourite..." and for this challenge, it's your favourite things to do in January.

Well, I live in Western Canada where the temperature in January can be a little above freezing to way below freezing.  The periods of darkness at this time of year are long, and even when the sun shines, it might be cold outside.  I am not an outdoorsy person by any stretch... and while I have hobbies and things I enjoy doing, I don't have things in my stash that reflect those things in my life.

My card, I think, truly represents what I like to do in the winter... watch the snow fall (it is pretty afterall) and stay warm!

I embraced the white on white for my card today.... used a cableknit embossing folder to show that warmth.  I cut the snowflake 3 times out of white cardstock to really make it pop up against that textured background.

Card Info

*stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Embossing:  Sizzix Cableknit

*Challenges:  Time Out #280

*AAA Colourful #12*

 There's a beautiful new colourboard challenge over at AAA Colourful... I can't wait to see what you create this month!

This colourboard is very much a Valentine's theme, but since I don't give out Valentines cards to anyone, I decided to play with the colours to make a birthday card instead.  I was inspired by a card by Verena Shapiro on Instagram.  I cut some different sized strips of cardstock and then adhered them to a white panel.  I played around with the placement and then trimmed it up.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Sweet Sorbet, Melon Mambo, Polished Pink, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; A Jillian Vance Design Daisy

*CASE It Hop*

 Today's the day for the monthly CASE It Hop on Instagram.  Our little group has grown by a few members this month!  Each month, we each find inspiration from another creator on Instagram and we make a card inspired by that creation.  We don't want to copy it completely, but we want to use their idea to make something of our own.

First, the card I was inspired by... this is a card by Jean Doeringsfeld.  I loved that rainbow strip on the smaller card!

I decided to play with some patterned paper for my rainbow strip.... I took some patterned paper that had squares of rainbow colours and I cut each one out and adhered the little scraps to a piece of printer paper.  I then trimmed it down to be the size I wanted.  Instead of hearts, I used some white flowers as my focal point, using a bit of red on the centre of one of the flowers much like her little XO on the one heart.

See, I was inspired by her card, but I didn't outright copy it!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls

*Addicted to CAS #274*

 It's time for another fun challenge at Addicted to CAS...

There are so many things you could do with this prompt... I chose to make a card featuring the colour blue!  I received a set of blue Hero Arts Inks as a door prize from a crop in the fall that I had never opened, so that's what I used for my card today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Island Indigo

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions; unknown 

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Hero Arts Summer Sky, Aquatic, Deep Ocean, Indigo

*Dies:  unknown

*Embellishments:  HoneyBee

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #274

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 I am part of a group of creators who post cards of encouragement once a month on Instagram.  This is an off-shoot of the group who got together to share cards during Suicide Prevention Week in 2024.  We hope to spread a little sunshine, one card at a time.

I hope that my card today, will one day put a smile on someone's face...

Card Info

*Cardstock  Stampin Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*{BYSHC} Sketch #53*

 I am playing along with the monthly sketches at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers again this year... a great way to get a jump on your Christmas cards.  And for me, it's a great way to keep giving love to my favourite supplies on a regular basis.

For my card today, I chose to use my favourite patterned paper package again.  Did you know that I've purchased about 3 of these packages from people selling on Facebook Marketplace?  I might never run out at this rate LOL!  Funny thing is, I am still not tired of these patterns!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler;' Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:   Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Mix

*Challenges:  BYSHC #53

*CAS on Friday #300*

 It's a Winter themed challenge over at CAS on Friday.... and I think I managed to make a winter card that could be a Christmas card, a card of hello or even a birthday card...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics; white gel pen

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; unknown stitched border

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #300

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Thursday again, which means it's time for another This or That Instagram Hop.  This week we had to choose between circles and squares.  I honestly thought I was going to go for circles...  but then had this idea for some squares.  I'm glad I switched it up!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black and White Stripes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 I joined the White on White Instagram Hop, a brand new monthly hop where we make white on white cards (we can use a hint of another colour) following a theme.  For January, our theme is winter snow and ice.  I chose to make a snowflake themed card, using lots of texture (which is, to me, the key to making white on white cards).

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsessions Snowflakes; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Simon Says Snowflake Visiions

*Embellishments:  ribbon from my stash

*Another Instagram Hop*

 I joined another Instagram hop... but this time it was under duress LOL!  The host of it called me out in a public chat for not joining LOL!  So here I am, bowing to peer pressure to join the Just for Giggles monthly Instagram Hop.  There is no theme... just a group of us getting together each month to post a card that hopefully brings at least a few laughs!

I was going to pull out the big guns for my first card and use some swear words, but I decided on this card instead... I have a friend who proved what a hot mess she is over the holidays, but I love her anyways LOL!

Now, my card is a really quick card that I threw together yesterday afternoon.  I had made another card on the weekend, but when I went to schedule my post, I realized just how much I hated the card LOL!  So I cut it apart and used part of it for this card.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Hero Arts Snarky Mix & Match

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies.

*CAS Colours & Sketches #551*

 A new year means some changes over at CAS Colours & Sketches.  After many years, Patricia has stepped down from being the moderator of the challenge and Rachel has taken over. Not much should change for you as a player...  still going to see us with a new challenge every two weeks, alternating between colours and sketches.

Today we have a colour challenge, with colours chosen by Rachel.  I struggled with a design for today because the colours feel very "fall" to me"...  They could also be super retro if you think back to kitchens and decor in the 60s and 70s.

It took me quite a while to come up with an idea, but when I did, I ended up quite happy with my creation!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

*Stamps:  Honeybee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; Honeybee Best of Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  CC&S #551

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #611*

 There is a beautiful new sketch to play with at Atlantic Hearts... and they are still looking for some new design team members!  Click HERE to find out more about the design team call!

I love all of the Atlantic Heart sketches.  They are beautiful and well thought out sketches and I find that many of them can be me to be somewhat clean and simple or as ornate as your heart desires.

Here is todays sketch:

I chose to do my card somewhat clean and simple.  In the true sense of clean and simple, my embossed background does not make this a clean and simple design... but to most card makers, it will be considered clean and simple.

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; The Ton Easy Expressions; Stampin' Up! Layering Ovals

*Washi: Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #611

*My Favourite Hop - Snowflake Birthday*

 Happy Sunday friends!  I hope that the first few days of 2025 have treated you all kindly.  I've been at work for a few days and Calgary has been back to some colder temperatures.  We aren't 30 below, but it's not warm out LOL!

It's time for the first of many My Favourite Instagram Hops!  This is a weekly hop on Instagram that I hope to participate in more often than I don't.  It's a great way to look at my stash a little differently as I follow the "my favourite" theme each week.

Our challenge for this week is to make a birthday card using our favourite snowflake stamp, stencil or die.  Now, I am not sure that what I used is my favourite, but I sure do want it to be!  I used the Taylored Expressions Create in Quads Snowflake stencils, which I've used a few other times.  But to be honest, I never quite get the look I want.  I *want* these stencils to be my favourite and maybe with some more practice, they will be.

I did manage a non-Christmas look by choosing my favourite Tim Holtz Distress inks to use with my stencil... and of course added a little of my favourite embellishment (sparkle) to finish it all off...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Picked Raspeberr, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean

*Stencil:  Taylored Expressions Creating in Quads Snowflakes

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Yup, I've joined in the fun of a new Instagram Hop....  Build Your Stash is a monthly hop where we "build our stash" of everyday cards.  Each month we will create 1-4 cards following a specific theme to help us build up our stash of cards we might end up needing.  The cards can be the same or different designs... and some months I will make more than other months.  (don't confuse this with the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers sketches I do each month!)

This is our first month, and our theme is engagement or wedding.  Honestly, I made my card and thought "done"... but then re-read that we could make 1-4 cards so I went back and made a second LOL!  You know me - I don't often make multiples of the same card unless I have to.

My first card I went with a simple wedding card.  In my head, the black circle is the masculine to the white heart's feminine.  I was going to add some colour, but decided I loved it, just as it was.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My second card is once again, very simple and only two colours... but this time I used a pop of red mirror cardstock as my other colour.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown red mirror

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Score Pal

*This or That Instagram Hop*

I decided to join in the fun of the This or That Instagram Hop again, starting a fresh new year.  This is a weekly hop where we have to choose between "this" or "that".  I probably won't play every single week, but I hope to play more than I don't.

For our first challenge of 2025, we had to choose between winter sports and summer sports.  Let's be clear here... I prefer *everything* about summer, but I couldn't find anything in my stash that I wanted to play with.  Instead, I dug out this fun set of skating giraffes to create a fun card for today.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Giraffes on Ice

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nested Circles; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Time Out Challenges #279*

Happy New Year, my creative friends!  I hope that the holiday season treated all of you well and that you are all fresh and ready for whatever the New Year brings.  I spent a little time away from my creative space in the last 10 days or so, enjoying some time without deadlines.  But I am back today with my first design team card for 2025.

Time Out Challenges has a "Beginnings" themed challenge as our first challenge of 2025.  You can interpret this theme in any way you want...

I have been busy working in a crochet blanket for a little guy that showed up about 6 weeks early.  I finished in the last days before Christmas and needed a card to give with the gift.  A new baby is a pretty epic "beginning".  The little guy was in the NICU for several weeks, but got to go home with his Mom and Dad on December 30th... a great way for them to both finish off 2024 and to start 2025.

As this was the first card I was making after a little break from creating, it was a tough go.  I tried a few different things before settling on this design...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Altenew Bundle of Joy

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini Dies; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; MFT stitched rectangles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Twilight Sparkle Strip

*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #279

*{BYSHC} Sketch #52 - Take 2*

 Good morning... I am here to share with you, my last card for the BYSHCmakers December Sketch.This month we've had a wonderful slimline sketch to play with... and I love slimlines!

I tried a few different things with my second card, but I struggled to find something I liked... until I came up with this one...  the patterned paper is a deep rich sort of olive green, sort of graphite colour with some gold accents.  I just love it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Goold

*Paper:  Die Cuts With A View Dec 25th

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Bottlebrush Trees

*Embossing:  Gina K Christmas Flora

*Challenges:  BYSHC #52

*Merry Christmas*

 While I found a little time in the last few days to create, I didn't find a lot of drive to actually create.  I think that means that my binge of making Christmas Cards has run it's course for 2024.

Good timing since I have one Christmas Card to share with you today...  oh wait, there is another Christmas card coming on Friday.

This is a sincere wish, from me to you, for a wonderful Christmas filled with whatever it is that brings you joy.  I am spending today with my little family of four... we will open stockings together in my bedroom when the boys are up (they are adults who still live at home), have a little snack of home made donuts and banana bread and will then unwrap the presents that are under the tree.  My brother in law will join us this afternoon and we'll play some cards and other games, eat junk food and finish the afternoon off with the big turkey dinner.  It is a small celebration for us, but it doesn't mean it's not special.  Time with my husband and sons is always precious.  Five years ago I wasn't sure how many more Christmas' I'd have, so I am thankful for each and every one.

A super simple card for you for today...  sending you wishes of peace and joy.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Evening Evergreen

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Verdant Ornaments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  SImply Clean and Simple

*2024 Spellbinders Advent Hop - Day 24*

 And here we are... December 24th.  It was a tough hop for me... trying to create for every day using items I didn't get to choose for myself.  Will I buy this Advent Calendar again?  Probably not.  I've done it two years in a row and honestly, not enough in either are things I want to keep in my craft space.  At least by participating in the hop this year, I used more of the items at least once.  I would much rather spend the money I spent on the advent calendar on stuff I know I'll use.  That being said, this is a great value if you are building your stash or if you aren't as set in your ways as I am LOL!

I did manage to create a card for today... it's nothing special, but I did get something done.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa, Early Espresso, Basic Black

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar

*Tools:  Perfect Layers