*Oh Happy Day*

While my sister was here after Christmas we did a day of shopping at a few of the local stamp stores... and I bought the GinaK Mandala Maker stamp set to play with in my GinaK wreath builder template.  I played with some Catherine Pooler inks to create this cute 4 1/4" square card.

*Spatter Thanks*

I had an idea to use a MFT stamp set to create a fun spatter look along the side of the card... and then the only word stamp I had with me at the crop that would fit in this layout was the Simon Says Stamp thanks.  I challenged myself to use some of spa collection colours from Catherine Pooler... the muted tones are not always my "go to"

*Rainbow Celebrate*

This past weekend, my friend Bonnie and I spent almost 12 hours at a crop with a group we found on Facebook.  It was a great day... good space, big tables for each person and a fun group of people.  They get together once a month and you can be guaranteed we'll go again.

For those that have followed my blog for a while, you know that I do NOT do well crafting away from home.  In about 10 hours of sitting at my table at the crop I made a total of 9 cards.  Not a bad day of creating, but certainly not as prolific as some people could be.  I have a tough time figuring out what I should pack.

This card uses the Gina K wreath builder template as well as one of the stamp sets, some Catherine Pooler inks and Stampin' Up! cardstock and die.  I also added some sparkle to the word celebrate with a clear glitter pen.

Please be patient with me as I get used to using my new light box... finding the right angles and stuff is tough, but I'm working on it!

*2019 Christmas Cards #2*

Another Christmas card for you today... I love that with this challenge I can pull out all of my favourite stamps and dies and play!  By the end of the challenge I won't have enough cards to mail out, but I'll have a darn good start!  I will still be able to spend weeks on end, focused on making Christmas cards (which are truly my favourite cards to make).

The letter B on the ABC Christmas Challenge was for Berries so I used the Gina K Wreath Builder template with some Gina K stamps and some Catherine Pooler inks.  I felt like I wanted to add more but decided that if I did anything more it would be too much for my clean and simple taste.

*Sending Hugs*

I was playing in my craft space to create a card for the first challenge of 2019 on the AAA Cards Clean & Simple Challenges blog.  Challenge #131 was a sketch challenge and you could add in the extra challenge of using pastel colours.

I have been dying for a die that does these fishtail banners but haven't been able to find what I want.... so right after Christmas when designs in the Silhouette Studio were half price, I bought a few things, including this great fishtail banner.  I can size it however I want, cut as many as I want... and I am in love LOL!

I used Stampin' Up! cardstocks, a die by A Jillian Vance Design, a stamp by Lawn Fawn and one lone sequin from Brutus Monroe.

*2019 Christmas Cards #1*

You are *not* seeing things....  yes, this is a Christmas Card! I found a "new to me" blog, the ABC Christmas Challenge, and I've decided to play along.  At least, that is my plan here in January LOL!

For the month of January, they are doing two letters... both A and B.

This is my entry for A -- Anything Goes.  Of course I chose a snowflake!

I used some new Stampin' Up! dies I got just as I finished up my Christmas cards for 2018 and did it as an inlay on the card front which is layered on some blue glitter paper.  I used another blue glitter snowflake on the centre of the big snowflake and added a sentiment from Catherine Pooler Design stamped in Encore Ultimate Metallic blue ink and embossed with blue pearl embossing powder.  I pulled out my Perfect Layers tool to create that perfect 1/16th" border around the front panel.

My very sweet hubby has made me a light box for taking my photos in... I need to work on the lighting a bit as I realize you can't really see the sparkle on this card.  I have a new light arriving later this week so hopefully that will help.  I like how the photos look a little more professional without all the craft table mess in the background LOL!

*Thank You Card Series - 4*

This is the last of the Thank You cards that I needed... I used a stamp from Simon Says Stamp, some retired Designer Paper from Stampin' Up and some silver embossing powder... and don't forget my Perfect Layers Tool!  I love the look of a 1/16th" border around the front layer of my card.

*Thank You Card Series - 3*

Card #3 in the Christmas Card Thank You Series...  I used an MFT die, a stamp set from Simon Says Stamp and some patterned paper from MFT.  Quick and easy.  I used a grey card base instead of white... I think I like it.

*Thank You Card Series - 2*

Another in my Thank You Card Series from earlier in the month...  I used a Lawn Fawn stamp set in my Stampin' Up! Stamparatus, stamped in multiple colours of Catherine Pooler ink.  I love that with the Stamparatus I can move the hinged door to do multiple stamping like this.  You will also see I once again used my Perfect Layers Tools to create that perfect 1/16" border around the stamped layer.  I don't even know if you can buy these rulers any more, but they are my most used crafting tool (after paper trimmer, Scor Pal and ATG tape runner!)

*Thank You Card Series - 1*

My sister left on January 2nd and I had the day off... so after having lunch and dropping her off at the airport, I decided to head to my craft room to create some Thank You cards for a few people.  I had fun playing with the Gina K Wreath Builder stencil (the standard sized ones) and the images from the Mini Wreath Builder stamp set that was available as a free gift with purchase from Simon Says Stamp in December.  I used a Simon Says Stamp sentiment stamp and Catherine Pooler inks.

*The First Card of 2019*

My sister arrived in Calgary on the 26th of December and stayed for a week... we spent quite a bit of time playing in my craft room.  On January 1st we both wanted to create but I will admit, I could only put together this one simple card.  A die from A Jillian Vance Design with a sentiment from Lawn Fawn.  Super clean and simple.  Super eash.

*Last Card of 2018... in 2019*

This is the last of the cards I created in 2018....  after this, you'll be seeing cards created in 2019!

This card uses a Bokeh stamp from Stampin' Up! in the centre of the front panel and then a sentiment stamp from Penny Black.

*You Are So Awesome*

I am going to try to add a little more information about the cards I'm sharing with you on the blog, rather than just a photo of the creation.  

I wanted to play with my foils and GinaK toner sheets so I did a page of these shiny red dots... but of course I needed to keep it clean and simple.  Black, white and red, a stamp from Lawn Fawn and done!

*Foiled Circles Smile*