*World Cardmaking Instagram Hop*

 Happy World Cardmaking Day, creative friends!!  A day dedicated to my favourite hobby!  I love it!  A group of Instagram Friends and I have gotten together to celebrate this day by sharing some beautiful cards...

I decided to create a card that is based off of a few ideas I saw on my friend Toni's Instagram page... Toni passed away suddenly a few weeks ago and I sort of thought that this hop would be an excellent way for me to send a nod her way as a thank you to her for sharing her creativity with everyone.

I was inspired by one of her cards that had a rainbow theme as well as one that had a wonderful radiating embossed background.  I combined the two to create this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Picked Raspberry, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Dotted Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS Challenge #318*

 It's kind of an oxymoron that the team is playing with a "happy" challenge after recently finding out that one of our creative friends has passed away.  I'm on a few design teams with Toni and have admired her work for a lot of years...  she will be missed.

I'm sure that Toni would want for us to continue creating and sharing, so that's what we'll do.  Today I am sharing the card I made for the current challenge at Addicted to CAS.

I think I've made a card similar to this before... but it was truly the first idea that popped in to my head (and let me tell you, my creativity has been struggling lately).

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #318

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Every month (or at least most months), I play along with an Instagram Hop where we are challenged to dig in to our stash to create 1 or more cards following a common theme.  This month, our theme was wedding, engagement or anniversary.

I decided to make a couple of anniversary cards...

My first card, I used these cute puffins and did a simple colouring on them...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Stud Puffins; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Real Red; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

For my second card, I did some ink blending on my card front and then added a die cut panel on top of it.  I used only three colours of Distress Ink and was sure to overlap my colours to get my rainbow.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Picked Raspberry, Scattered Straw, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Floral Sparkle

*CAS on Friday Challenge #344*

The team at CAS on Friday is playing with a "shades of grey" theme for this weeks challenge.  Since I had so many ideas in my head for the splatter card I did the other day, I decided to play with the idea again.  Instead of multiple shades of ink, I used only black ink and did off stamping to get the different shades of grey.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Distressed Patterns; unknown sentiment

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #344

*This or That Instagram Hop*

I'm here to share my card for the This or That Instagram Hop... we had to choose between reality and fantasy this week.  I mixed it up a little more and added a little fantasy to my reality!

Who wouldn't love a garden full of rainbow flowers?  So I ink blended over some hot foil to create my heart of rainbow flowers!  I found it kind of got lost on the white paper so I added a black banner behind it to help it pop a little more

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Ink:  whatever was left on my ink blending brushes
*Foil Plate:  This Calls for Confetti Heart Bloom

*Foil:  Spellbinders black

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate; Stampin' Up! Banners; This Calls for Confetti Heart Bloom
*Etc:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer

*{BYSHC} Sketch #74*

 Happy October, creative friends!  I'm here to kick of the month at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers and the brand new sketch for the month.

I thought that this was a perfect sketch to use my favourite Christmas themed patterned paper...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps: Tonic Studio Candy Cane Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC #74

*One Layer Instagram Hop*

 Hello my friends... I'm here with my card for the One Layer Instagram Hop.  For the month of October, we are playing with the theme of splatter.  I had a few ideas go through my head including using some of the ink splatter stamps and stencils I have... but I decided to go super old school and do some actual ink splattering using some reinkers and a fan brush.  I started out by stamping my greeting and then masked it off before starting with the ink splatter.

*CAS Colours & Sketches #595*

 How is it already the end of September?!  I am still not ready for summer to be over (and yet, here we are).  Sigh...

Anyway... it's time for a fun new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches!

When I saw this sketch by Rachel, All I could think of was snowflakes... so I went with it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stardust Shimmer in two shades of blue (so old in my stash!!!)

*Stamps:  Gina K Holiday Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*Challenges:  CC&S #595

*Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... I'm here with a "fall splendor" themed card for the September Embossing Folder Instagram Hop.  I maybe should have done something other than green for a fall card, but I liked how the green and gold embossed panel looked together.  I took panels of each colour and cut them in half diagonally and then embossed them to ensure I had a seamless transition between the two colours...

Car Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gumball Green, Basic Black; Spellbinders gold foil
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #701*

 Hello friends... I'm here today to share my design team card using the current sketch at Atlantic Hearts.

I took some liberties with the sketch... I had an idea to cut up a piece of pattern paper into a bunch of little squares but I KNEW I'd hate putting that back together.  Instead I embossed some grid lines on to a panel with my Score Buddy and then decorated my card front.  I like that it gave me a more clean and simple look to this sketch.

Card Info

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Circles; Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Tools:  Score Buddy
*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #701

*{BYSHC} Sketch #73 Take 2*

Good morning creative friends...  time to share my second (and final card) using the September sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  Christmas will be here before we know it... are your cards ready?

I was totally in love with my first card...  this one, not so much.  I'm trying to get more brave and use up different pattern papers in my stash.  I am so inspired by Crystal and the gorgeous cards she makes with pattern paper... I just don't have the same eye as she does.

This paper is SUPER old in my stash...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn holographic

*Paper:  Doodlebug Frosty Friends
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Hero Arts Snowflake Cluster; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Challenges:  Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers #73

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

It's the time of the month where I'm playing along with some Instagram friends and all of the colours of the rainbow.  We try to use the colours of the rainbow on a somewhat clean and simple card.

I took inspiration from a card I saw on Pinterest (see it HERE)... but instead of it being monochromatic, I chose to use the colours of the rainbow for my elements.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Bumblebee, Shaded Spruce, Night of Navy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  VersafineClair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower NextingCircles; Spellbinders Floral Spray; MFT Something for Everything

*Embellishments;  Picket Fence Day & Night Gems

*Happy Birthday Parmi*

 Today, I am celebrating my friend Parmi's birthday, together with some other Instagram friends...  Please go wish her a happy birthday!

I set out to make a simple black and white card... In fact I had it all put together.  But then I felt like it needed something more.  And I was able to finesse this rainbow floral wreath behind the layered circle.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles; Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamps Kaleidoscope

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 This month, my friends and I are playing with a monochromatic theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop... I bought this embossing folder a few months ago and had to see what it looked like so I embossed it almost as soon as I brought it home.  And then it sat on my desk.  Until now!

I left the embossed panel completely plain and added a simple stamped and die cut sentiment to it...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Star Flakes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Star Flakes
*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Winter Flowers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 I am trying so hard to get better at mixing patterns...  it's been so hard for me lately!  Even using papers from the same package! I had to do it with this card for the PatternPaper Instagram Hop (where our challenge is "layers)... and I hope I did OK!

Card Info
*Paper:  Unity Love Notes
*Stamps: Uniko Birthday Wishes
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Happy Birthday Heather*

 Some online friends and I are celebrating our friend Heather's birthday today!  I hope you'll go over and give her some birthday love!

I chose to play with this fabulous foil plate from Alex Syberia.  I foiled it in black this time and chose to use some different colours with the stencil.  One of these days I'll be brave and colour it with Copics!

Card Info
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac, Kitsch Flamingo, Scattered Straw

*Hot Foil Plate:  Alex Syberia Lovely Peony

*Foil:  Spellbinders Black

*Embossing:  Altenew Deck Planks

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Addicted to CAS #317*

 It's a circles themed challenge at Addicted to CAS!  How will you use circles in your clean and simple design?

I chose to do some ink blending in my favourite colours... I kept the ink blending rather light to keep it from being too overwhelming.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, Shaded Lilac

*Stencils:  Paper Rose Studio Bubbles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  ATCAS #317

*CAS on Friday #343*

 It's a fall themed challenge at CAS on Friday.  I started out doing some ink blending on a piece of cardstock and then I cut a bunch of leaves out of it.  They got lost on the white cardstock so I added a black strip of paper behind them to make them pop.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Candied Apple; Catherine Poler Hot Tub, Stone Blue, Shea Butter

*Dies:  Hero Arts Fall Pattern

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #343

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between Scarecrows and Woodland Creatures.  I was going to do woodland creatures until I saw this fun scarecrow in my stash...  I stamped it up, coloured it with Copics and die cut it out.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn You Crow Girl; MFT Something for Everything

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

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Time Out Challenges #322*

 It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges...

The colours of fall here in Calgary are kind of boring.  Our trees turn yellow and orange and not much else.  We already have trees that are turning yellow and it's only the middle of September!  Fall is short here!

I chose to do some ink blending in yellows and oranges to create a simple card for the challenge...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Gina K Crazy Daisy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Mustard Seed and Festive Berries
*Stencil:  Gina K Mandala Brust

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #322

*CAS Colours & Sketches #594*

 Hello friends... it's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. I hope you'll play along with us with this challenge!

Let's start with the colours you need to use...

These colours made me dream of spring (I am NOT a fall loving girlie)...  so I went with some beautiful flowers.  I will admit that I saw a card very similar to this on Pinterest so it's not totally my idea

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Pine, Highland Heather, Bubble Bath

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stiched Blooms
*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #594

*AAA Colourful #32*

 It's time for a fabulous new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful.  Let's have a look at the gorgeous photo...

There are some wonderful colours in there!  I chose some inks that came sort of close to these colours and did some ink blending with a multi-layer stencil.  My colours feel a little too light.... I should have deepened the ink blending I guess...

Card Info
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron
*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday; Gina K Fancy Florals
*Stencils:  Gina K Fancy Florals
*Embossing Folder:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar
*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #32