*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... I'm here today, participating in a brand new Instagram Hop!  It's called the Scraps Only Instagram Hop.  We will be hopping on the 5th day of each month, sharing cards using only scraps (or items from my bin of extras) following a common theme.

For our first ever hop, our common theme is Pattern Paper.

I found a leftover few pieces of pattern paper and used them to cut some squares to create this fun birthday card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versavine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite Nursery Rhyme.  I'm not sure that the one I chose is a Nursery Rhyme as such, but it was a huge favourite to me as a child.  It's a poem called "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" by Eugene Field...  I will share the poem at the end of this post.

For my card, I started with a black cardstock panel and and wave stencil made from a piece of cardstock and a wave die.  I then did some ink blending with some Distress Oxide Ink.  I masked it off and created my night sky with some gold paint and some die cut stars.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean Distress Oxide; Kuretake Watercolours

*Dies:  Unknown; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

And now for the poem...

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
   Sailed off in a wooden shoe,—
Sailed on a river of crystal light
   Into a sea of dew.
“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
   The old moon asked the three.
“We have come to fish for the herring-fish
   That live in this beautiful sea;
   Nets of silver and gold have we,”
            Said Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
   As they rocked in the wooden shoe;
And the wind that sped them all night long
   Ruffled the waves of dew;
The little stars were the herring-fish
   That lived in the beautiful sea.
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish,—
   Never afraid are we!”
   So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
   To the stars in the twinkling foam,—
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
   Bringing the fishermen home:
’Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed
   As if it could not be;
And some folk thought ’twas a dream they’d dreamed
   Of sailing that beautiful sea;
   But I shall name you the fishermen three:
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
   And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
   Is a wee one's trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
   Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
   As you rock in the misty sea
   Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:—
            Wynken,
            Blynken,
            And Nod.

*Addicted to CAS #307*

 This week totally got away from me thanks to buying a new car and trying to sell an old (20 year old) junker... plus training a new person at work and a banquet last night.  I am SO late posting my design team card for Addicted to CAS!!!  

But I am here now... and I hope that it was worth the wait!

I always think I make a lot of birthday cards... but when I look at my bin of created cards, there aren't that many there.  Maybe it's because it's the type of card I send most often?

I was inspired by my friend Jane for the card I'm sharing today....  I used this left over piece of patterned paper to create a super clean and simple card for a good friend...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

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

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

*Challenges:  ATCAS #307

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are building our stash of cards we'd send to someone who was sick. I like to try to make at least two cards for this hop each month and thankfully I was able to do that this time.

For my first card, I chose some deep colours to highlight a pretty white flower...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black Bumblebee

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Squares; Prism Studio Stitched Nesting Squares; Spellbinders Floral Spray
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For card number two, I reached in to my bin of extras and grabbed some of these beautiful die cut washi tape pieces.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everying

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

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

*CAS on Friday #333*

 The current challenge at CAS on Friday is "animals"... I have a few animal stamps and dies in my stash but was excited to play with this new die set I purchased a few weeks ago.

To create my card, I created myself a stencil by cutting the die out of a panel of cardstock.  I used a small blending brush and brushed black ink lightly from the edges of the stencil.  I did a few passes this way until I achieved the look I was going for.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT New Best Friend

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Paw Print; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #333

*TIme Out Challenges #312*

Happy Thursday, creative friends.  It's the end of April and I am looking forward to warmer weather and sunny days.  We spent April with warm days that melted all of the snow and then a big dump of snow... lather, rinse and repeat for about 6 weeks.  

Time Out Challenges has a photo inspiration challenge for you to play along with this week...

I was inspired by the silhouette idea and I couldn't wait' to play with this gorgeous new die I bought from Love From Lizi a few weeks ago.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Time Holtz Distress Oxide Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot, Prize Ribbon

*Dies:  Love From LIzi Wild Bloom Dragonflies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out Challenges #312

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

The current Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop has us playing with "moments that matter".  I was inspired by a Christmas Card I saw a few days ago but I created a birthday card instead.  My card didn't turn out quite as I had hoped... I think my papers are just a little too busy for the design.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthdays

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Birthday Bash Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the Birthday Bash Instagram Hop.  Our theme for this month is playful/interactive.  I wasn't going to play along as I don't really make interactive cards.  But then, one day last week, I knew I wanted to put a little extra effort in to a card for a good friend.  This isn't completely interactive, but it is a fun fold, which I think is "playful".

I will admit I got frustrated with the directions as there was a step missing... but after wasting some time and some cardstock, I managed to make this fun card for my friend.  Thanks to Patty Bennett for the card directions!

This is how it will look when she pulls it out of the envelope...

And this is how it opens...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*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

*CAS Colours & Sketches #584*

There's a fun and spring like colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches...  I can't wait to see what you do with these colours!

I will admit that when I first saw these colours, I was very intimidated.  I had no idea what to do with them!  But then I pulled the cardstock from my stash and saw just how wonderfully the colours went together (I didn't think so from the graphic).  I will use this colour combo again, I'm sure!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo, Pumpkin Pie
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Rectangle Nesting Dies; Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #584

*Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 This month, the participants in the Embossing Folder Instagram Hop are playing with the theme of Bloom Where You Are Planted.  I thought it was the perfect reason to pull out this lovely product suite from Altenew.  I have the stamp set, layering stencils, die and embossing folder and this is the first time I've used all of them at once!

I started by stamping the floral image and stencilling my colours on to it.  I then cut it out and embossed it.  I also embossed the entire image on to a front panel so that I'd have the frame as well.  I layered my coloured and embossed image on top of the simple embossed image and added a simple sentiment.

Card Info

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You; Altenew The Perfect Gift

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne:  Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry

*Stencils:  Altenew The Perfect Gift
*Dies:  Altenew The Perfect Gift

*Embossing:  Altenew The Perfect Gift

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #679*

 I really enjoy the sketches at Atlantic Hearts!  Sometimes I make them busy and layered like crazy and sometimes I enjoy making them more in my usual style.  I am in LOVE with how my card turned out for this challenge.

First, here is the sketch...

And here's how I interpreted the sketch...  I kept it pretty simple with an embossed layer instead of a patterned paper layer.  And I couldn't resist pulling out this wonderful Pinkfresh Washi to create my focal point.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Embossing:  Altenew Ribbon Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch #679

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week, my crafty friends and I are playing with our favourite baby card for the My Favorite Instagram Hop.  I don't have a lot of baby themed stuff, but I do have this wonderful die of a cute little onesie...  I paired it with some pretty pattern paper and a big star to create a sweet card for a new baby.  

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastel

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini; Revolution Nesting Stars

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Rediscover Your Supplies*

 Each month, a group of us make the promise to use items from our stash to create a card following a common theme for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  We are trying to use the things we've already bought rather than purchasing something new and shiney!

This month, our theme is "sympathy".  I enjoy making sympathy cards... not the reason for needing them, but the style of them.  To me, a sympathy card should be understated with calming colours.  Sympathy cards are perfect for my clean and simple style!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Sage Shadow

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Prism Studio Essential Greenery
*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I forgot I had signed up for this hop... so I had to put something together kind of last minute (well, last minute for me).  I usually work at least 10-14 days ahead on my design team requirements and with a week of no-mojo last week, I ended up behind (for me).  And then I saw my name on the hop list on Tuesday and I panicked!

So... here is my card for the This or That Instagram Hop... we had to choose between Lambs or Bunnies.  I have *nothing* in my stash that is lamb related (other than white cardstock LOL) so I went with bunny.  I have some bunny stuff but honestly, I'm kind of over it all at the moment.  So instead, I cut two sizes of of a daisy die (one in pink and one in white) and cut out two "ears" from the petals.  Lots of stitched layers to add some interest to this super simple card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bubble Bath

*Stamps:  Moonstone Elegant Sentiments Special Thoughts
*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Circles and Rectangles; A Jillian Vance Design Daisies

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today sharing my card for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop.  We are a group of rainbow colour lovers that post a happy rainbow coloured card each month.

Have you ever made a card and just not liked it?  And then you have another idea and it works out perfectly?  This is my card today.  I had thought about sharing the one I didn't like as well as the one I liked a lot, but instead of glued my piece on top of the old card and made the decision that no one would ever see the other one.

How it started was me using the stencils for the stamp I used and using rainbow colours, one per stencil layer.  And it looked terrible!  So instead I did some ink blending on a piece of cardstock and stamped on top of it instead.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Altenew Gracious Peonies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean
*Dies:  Altenew Gracious Peonies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

Another month is another Pattern Paper Party Instagram Hop...  we are meant to make a card using our stash of pattern papers.  I cheated.  I used a piece of brand new paper that I bought just a week ago.  Simply Stated is a Canadian company with some of the most fun things I've seen in a while!  Much of it isn't my style (in that I wouldn't know what to do with it) but when I saw this package of paper there was no doubt I was going to buy it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Simply Stated Dreamy Florals

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

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia
*Etc:  foam adhesive
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 For the month of April, the theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Non-Traditional Colours.  I had some extra of these stamped and die cut trees in my bin of extras.  I popped the middle one up on foam adhesive to add a little more dimension to the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! So Saffron, Highland Heather, Pool Party

*Stamps:  SSS Warmest Wishes, Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #306*

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

I don't have much for postage related items in my crafty stash, but I did recently purchase some Waffle Flower postage themed items.  I played with some soft colours with the stencil and used one of the "stamp" die cuts to create my card.  To add a little extra interest, I used an embossing folder on a white strip.  I used a lot of newer stuff (to me) on this card... always good to use the new stuff you buy instead of ignoring it!

Card Info

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Shaded Lilac, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocent
*Stencils:  Waffle Flower Collage Peony Stencil

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Postage Collage

*Embossing:  Altenew Ribbon Waves

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #306; Addicted to Stamps & More #515