*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of birthday.  Each month, a group of us chooses at least ONE thing from our stash and we make three different cards following a common theme.  We are trying to show you different ways to use your supplies.  Sometimes I have chosen the same colour combination, the same stamps or dies, the same pattern paper, the same technique.

Today I have used the same stamps and dies for all three cards...

My first card is a mini slimline (because you know I love them!).  I chose to stamp the image on some colourful pattern paper and put them on my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Baby Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my second card, I went a lot more clean and simple, using just the smaller postage pieces that I coloured with Copics.  I layered the sentiment over the focal point to keep things more clean and simple.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

Finally, another mini slimline card for you.  This time I added some more coloured images but I put them on to an embossed background.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Birthday Mail; Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Floating Balloons

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #302*

 It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS...

I have a few different things I could have played with for this challenge, but none of them were speaking to me the day I wanted to work on this challenge card.  I decided to go for a super simple card with just a little pop of colour.  To create the sun rays, I simply used my Scor Pal to emboss some lines.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Summer Sun
*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #302

*Pattern Paper Party Instagram Hop*

 I'm playing along with the Pattern Paper Party Instagram Hop today... There is an optional theme each month and this month that optional theme was pinks and reds.  I searched through my stash and wasn't inspired by anything that was those colours, so I just took this fabulous piece of paper and cut it down.  

I love this card!

Card Info

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Etc:  WOW clear embossing powder

*CAS on Friday #328*

 It's time for a new challenge at CAS on Friday... we are playing with the theme of "CUTE" for this challenge.  I chose to use these adorable little hatching dinosaurs to make a card suitable for someone having twins.  I had fun colouring them up with my Copics.  I did a little ink blending around the sides of the one layer to soften it all up a little bit.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Clearly Besotted Hot Stuff

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Clearly Besotted Hot Stuff; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #328

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Good morning... I'm here with my card for the This or That Instagram Hop.  This week are are playing with the options of HOT or COLD.

I chose to use some cold colours for my card... blues with an icy tone to them.  I put them on a black background to really make them POP!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Misty Moonlight, Boho Blue, Seaside Spray

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

*Washi Tape:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies, Slim Strips; The Ton Easy Exprssions

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Time Out Challenges 307*

 Challenge #307 at Time Out Challenges is one of our annual favourites...  Running Stitch Designs creates an inspiration piece for us to use for the challenge and then it's the prize for the winner of this challenge.

First, let's look at the inspiration piece...

You can find inspiration any where... the concept of a bag, the colours, the patterns....  I chose to play with some pastel stripes and dots for my card today...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Lighter Than Air

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Designs Daisy;  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Time Out #307

*Freshly Made Sketches #724*

 Just a fly by from me before I head off to start my work week... I had a little time this morning while I watched the end of the Canadian Olympic Men's Hockey Team win their quarter final game and I was intrigued with the new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

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

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #724

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 For this challenge for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop, we are making cards where the sentiment or a word is the focal point of the card.  I chose to do a simple friendship card to send to someone who needs a little lift.

I started with an embossing panel that I matted in black and added to my card front.  I cut the word "friend" out of black cardstock three times and layered it up to give it dimension.  I added a little thin foam adhesive to the bottom of the stamped portion of the sentiment and layered it on top of the die cut word.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Friend

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Bold Daisy Background

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #579*

 There's a fabulous new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches, this time designed by Amanda.  

I took my idea from a few days ago and played with it again, this time using some layering stamps.  Instead of using all three layers of this stamp, I only used two.  I love the hint of colour on the petals.  By using my Misti and rotating my cardstock, I only had to place each stamp once.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Purple Delight

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #579; All About #2

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #669*

 I'm playing with another wonderful sketch from Atlantic Hearts... as soon as I saw the sketch, I knew what paper I wanted to use!  I love how versatile some of this Christmas paper is. 

First, the sketch...

And now my card...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #669

*AAA Colourful #25*

 We have a wonderful new colourboard challenge to inspire you this month at AAA Colourful...

I saw this and immediately thought "rainbow".  So I found some rainbow patterned paper in my stash and made a super simple birthday card (this is what happens when my mojo has left the building)

Card Info

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday; A Jillian Vance Design Daisies

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio pearl

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #25

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by a very talented creator that I follow on Instagram as part of the CASE It Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us find a card on Instagram that we like and we use it to inspire a creation of our own.  Sometimes it's more or less a copy of that card using the supplies we have on hand, and sometimes we use the elements of the card to create something of our own.

First, let me show you the card by Michele that I loved...

The first thing that drew me to this card was that beautiful flower.  It was layered up and full and such wonderful colours!  I loved that the three embossed strips almost looked like a fence.  To create my card, I took the colours Michele used but reversed them, making the blue the star of the show with the orange an accent.  I flipped the design to a portrait layout and I omitted the pattern paper layer.  I kept the three embossed strips (raised up on foam adhesive) and kept the idea of an overlapped sentiment, but I overlapped the flower instead of just the strips.

I hope you can see the inspiration from Michele's card but can also see my own style in the creation.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Celestial, Cosmic Sky, Terracotta

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Arctic Breeze Pearls

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us gather on Instagram to share some sunshine with our cards...  we try to create cards with an uplifting message to hopefully help someone who might need to see it that day.

I had every intention of making this a colourful card.  I started by using my Misti to stamp one flower in the one corner of my panel, turned the panel 180 degrees and stamped it again.  I cleaned everything up and went to start colouring when I realized I hadn't used Copic friendly ink...so I went with it and created a black and white card instead!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Hennah Elements; LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges: All About #2

*{BYSHC} Sketch #66 Take 2*

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

I had some fun with this card, using some of this fabulous paper I got this past fall.  This card is not at all clean and simple with the all over pattern and the colours are completely untraditional!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Chrsitmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

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

*Challenges:  BYSHC #66

*Clean and Simple Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of LOVE... it can be love in the traditional sense (Valentine's, wedding, anniversary) or even something you love (crafts, foods, pets)... anything clean and simple with a LOVE theme.

I chose to go with a more traditional theme of love...  I cut my letters with a large alphabet die set and then popped them in to an embossing folder to help make them stand out.  I added a scrap strip of pattern paper behind the letters to add a little something without being too busy.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we are playing with Lightning Bolts or Hearts... I have no lightning bolts in my stash so I went with hearts (even though I am totally tired of playing with hearts!).  I used just the outlines of that great two piece heart die I have, cut one out of white and one out of black.  I layered a colourful piece of pattern paper behind them and added my sentiment right on top to keep things tight and clean and simple

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Concord & 9th Tall Type Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 This month for the White on White Instagram Hop,we are playing with the theme of Romance...  I chose a beautiful Altenew embossing folder to play with... and then added a simple sentiment.  I suppose I could have done more, but I love how it turned out!

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias

*Try A Sketch on Tuesday #688*

 I don't know how I missed this fabulous sketch challenge blog... but I did!  An online friend of mine recently joined this design team and that's how I found the challenge.  I loved the sketch this week and knew I wanted to play along.  I don't always have time to play along with other challenges just because I'm so busy with all of the other commitments I've made for my creating.  I'm happy I had a little time to play with this one!

I played with a few different ideas before landing on this card...  I thought that the loopy embossing folder felt like the pattern a butterfly would make while in flight... and I added some looped gold thread for one of the elements of the sketch.  Since I stamped on pattern paper (and it felt a little flimsy), I cut out an extra butterfly out of cardstock and layered them together to give the focal point a little more stability and to make it pop off of the page a little more.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Gina K Designs You Give Me Butterflies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Gina K Designs You Give Me Butterflies

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Loops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  gold cord

*Challenges:  Try A Sketch on Tuesday #688

*Paper Crafters United Against Racism Instagram Hop*

 Today I am joining many of my papercrafting friends in an Anti-Racism Instagram Hop.  I saw the opportunity and with the state of the world right now, I jumped in with both feet to participate.  But then it came time to create my card and I froze.  I'm an white woman in Canada who has never experienced racism first hand.  Sure, I've heard comments and seen stuff directed at others, but I've never had to live that life for myself.  

I finally came up with a card idea and then I started to panic about what to say in my post about the hop.  How can I know what to say?  How can I know what to tell others.  But then I realized, my silence wouldn't help anyone...  but just showing up and letting others know that I stand for humanity might just make a small difference in the world.

I love my neighbours and the people in my world... no matter where they came here from, what languange they speak at home, what colour their skin might be.  I accept others as I expect them to accept me.  I am a safe spot if someone needs it.  And I hope that by standing up and declaring these things that I can help make a difference.  Racism is never OK...

So... on to my card.  I am in love with the shape of this double heart that's part of an alphabet die set from Concord & 9th.  I dug through my stash and found several shades of cream and brown and cut the heart(s) out of all of those shades.  I glued the outside of the hearts directly on to my card, overlapping them slightly... and then used foam adhesive for the insides of the hearts, also overlapping them.  I hope it conveys the idea of love and holding hands with our neighbours and friends...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Close to Cocoa, Crumb Cake, Pecan Pie, Sahara Sand

*Stamps:  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Tall Type Alphabet; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #809

My Favorite Instagram Hop*

 This week on the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite Valentine's or Love Themed products.

Let me tell you, I am so sick of red, pink and hearts right now!  I don't send Valentine's to people and now I have a huge stash thanks to all of the design team work I've done in the last few weeks.  I am close to being done with the love themed cards.

I'm not against love... I'm just tired of making these cards LOL!

Anyway... I grabbed a background I foiled at Christmas and didn't use to create my card today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lovely Lipstick

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Dies:  Hero Arts Infinity Hearts; Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet

*Hot Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Plaid Tidings

*Foil:  Spellbinders Gold

*Addicted to CAS #301*

 Good morning, clean and simple friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS!

I wasn't not feeling too creative when I sat down to make this card...  I was tired of making Valentine's themed cards and the code word "pink" just screamed at me to make another one.  Instead, I found this extra piece from some cards in the last few weeks and thought "it's pink" so I played with it.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Postage Collage; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Stencil:  Waffle Flower Peony Postage Collage

*Challenges:  ATCAS #301