*Try A Sketch on Tuesday #692*

  This has been a wonderfully creative weekend for me.  My office doesn't close for long weekends as our usual office hours are Tuesday through Saturday.  Easter is the only guaranteed long weekend that we take off.  I'm lucky enough to have 5 days off in a row as I go back to work on Wednesday.

It's been so fun spending some time in my creative space, working on some design team obligations as well as playing with some other challenges!

Today I played along with the latest sketch at Try A Sketch on Tuesday.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  TSOT #692

*Freshly Made Sketches Take 2*

 I finished off the card I shared yesterday using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and I wasn't thrilled with it... so I decided to play with the sketch again.  I'm also playing along with the April challenge at All About Paper Craft Challenges!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown brushed bold; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Studio Daisy Bouquet; Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies: Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Waffle Flower Nesting Squares

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  FMS #730; All About 

*Freshly Made Sketches #730*

 With a few extra days off this week, I was able to play along with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  When I saw the sketch, this black and white card popped in to my head...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Embellishments:  Soft Pearls

*Challenges:  FMS #730

*Addicted to CAS #305*

 We have a wonderful new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS...

I don't have a lot of family themed stamps or dies...  but I was able to make a card for someone's Mom (since mine has passed).  I started with a stencil and three colours of Distress Oxide Ink and did a little partial blending.  I stamped this gorgeous butterfly on top of it and finished it off with the simple sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Paper Rose Studio Cleo Floral Butterfly; MFT All About Mom

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry

*Stencil:  Paper Rose Studio Big Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  ATCAS #305; Addicted to Stamps & More #514

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are making "gifts"...  I chose to do a couple of gift card holders, trying to bust through a little of my stash of patterned paper.

For my first card, I created a postcard style card, in that the main card doesn't open.  Instead, the small part on the front opens (when you untie the ribbon) and you'll find a small pocket inside where you'd put the gift card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  MFT Party Time
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  ribbon from my stash

My second card also doesn't open like a regular card.  Instead, the floral centre panel flips up to expose a pocket where you'd put the gift card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Flirty Flamingo; Daffodil Delight

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Flower & Field

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*CAS on Friday #331*

 The challenge at CAS on Friday is Botanical.... I paired these pretty Washi Tape leaves with a wood grain embossed black strip to create this simple card

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

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

*Embossing:  Altenew Deck Planks

*Etc:  foam adhesives

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #331

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I had a tough choice for the This or That Instagram Hop this week... until I couldn't find the die I thought I had for the other choice.  Our choices were Ladybug or Butterfly... and for the life of me, I couldn't find my ladybug die!

So butterflies it is!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Uniko Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #310*

 There's a fun new challenge at Time Out Challenges that starts today...

Honestly, I was going to skip this challenge.  I don't have much for food or drink stamps and dies... I was looking for something else in my stash and came across this stamp set with this line of fun frozen treats.  I was NOT in the mood to colour them, so I paired the stamp with a scrap of pattern paper that reminded me of a beach towel... so quick and easy!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Sunkissed

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp So Cool
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #310

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends...  I'm back with my card for the current Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop... our theme for this week is "humour".  I have some funny sentiments but not a lot to go with them.  For my card today I didn't have either a cake stamp or die nor candles.  So I improvised!

I used pattern paper and cut some strips about the size of candles.  I used a black marker to create the wicks and my Copics to create the flames.  And my sentiment didn't have a die so I <gasp> fussy cut it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Birthday Bash Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Such a quick mini slimline card for you today, made for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop.  I used a scrap of pattern paper that is like 15+ years old.  I cut the front of my card a little smaller to create a little interest... 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Imganisce Chatty Cake Chatty Cake

*Stamps:  Catherine Pooler Yay Gifts!

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*{BYSHC} Sketch #68*

 Happy April, creative friends!  A new months means there's a new sketch to inspire your Christmas Cards at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers!

I cheated a bit with my first card...  I saw this patterned paper in my stash and I thought it fit the sketch absolutely perfectly!  And honestly, I wasn't sure what I'd ever use it for!  I added some navy blue element to the card and a simple stamped and die cut sentiment to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Paper:  Siple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Laying Ovals:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCMakers #68

*CAS Colours & Sketches #582*

 There's a fun new colour challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches... I can't wait to see what you create with it!

I will admit that I was creating this card while in a bit of an emotional slump... which meant I was also struggling creatively.  When I struggle with a colour challenge, I usually end up doing something of a more graphic nature, which is what you are getting today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Summer Splash, Shy Shamrock

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Dies:  Spellbinders Colorblock Mini Diamonds; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Just One Layer Instagram Hop*

 As a girl who loves her die cuts, a just one layer card is difficult for me.  Others may not agree, but in my line of thinking, a one layer card means there is nothing raised up from your card front... so that leaves stamps and inks and not much else.  So why on earth did I join this Just One Layer Instagram Hop?  LOL!

For this month, our common theme is Masking... so I used some ripped low tack tape to mask off an area where I did some pretty ink blending... and added a huge floral image on top of it.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Altenew Bouquet of Love; MFT Something for Everything.

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #675*

I just LOVE this sketch over at Atlantic Hearts!!  There are so many thing you could do with the panel at the top.  

My first thought was to use some paper scraps to create my card, but then I had the idea of the brick work pattern put on a diagonal.  All of the flowers were from my bin of extras... some Stampin' Up!, some Spellbinders... all bright and happy!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  assorted Stampin' Up! and Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  assorted Spellbinders and Stampin' Up!

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Embellishments:  gems from my stash

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*My Favorite Instagram Hop*

This week for the My Favorite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite spring flowers... and I totally missed the part that it's supposed to be an Easter card LOL!

I love a lot of spring flowers... but I chose to play with daisies for my card today.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Bold Daisy Background
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 "Hello Spring" is the theme this month for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  I dug in to my stash for a few things... the pattern paper is super old, I don't often use this colour of cardstock and I used some edge dies that I haven't used in a while.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pool Party

*Paper:  Stampin Up! Flower & Field

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies;  unknown stitched border; The Ton Easy Expressions

*{BYSHC} Sketch #67 Take 2*

The end of March!  Already?!  I'm back with my second and final card using the current sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

I chose to use some more masculine looking apers for today with some plaid and a wonderful reindeer die!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Dies:  Penny Black Reindeer Leaps; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #67

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between dragons and unicorns.  I honestly forgot about the baby dragons stamp set I had so I defaulted to this fabulous unicorn set instead

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Lighter Than Air

*Stamps: Gerda Steiner Moody Unicorns; The Ton Easy Expressions

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

*Dies  Gerda Steiner Moody Unicorns; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Every month, a group of us play together on Instagram, sharing relatively clean and simple cards using the colours of the rainbow.

For today, I used three colours of Distress Ink through a stencil to create my rainbow.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean

*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Pait Splatter

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles