*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Happy Canada Day, friends!  I'm going to enjoy a quiet day off today...no big celebrations for us.

I'm here with my card for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop... no theme, just a mini slimline card.  I have had this paper for a few months and while I LOVE it, it does not work with my usual clean and simple style.  I honestly don't know what else to do with it but let it shine on a card front like this... but I *had* to buy it!

Card Info

*Paper:  Simply Stated Dreamy Floral

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Iridescent Clear Drops

*{BYSHC} Sketch #71

 Happy July everyone, and a Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!  

I am here with my first design team card using the July sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...  I look forward to seeing how this sketch inspires your holiday card making...

I have been trying to use some more of the pattern papers that I tend to ignore, inspired by our very own Crystal Minkler who uses pattern paper so effectively!  I wonder though, if the buffalo plaid was too bold of a choice for this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Echo Park My Favorite Christmas

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #71

*One Layer Instagram Hop*

 I'm here with my card for the Just One Layer Instagram Hop...  we are challenged each month to make a card that is just one layer following a common theme.  This month, our theme is stencil.

I grabbed this fabulous ink splatter stencil and created a rainbow through a portion of the stencil directly on the front of my card.  I then stamped my sentiment right on top.

Card Info
*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday Stamps
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean
*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Paint Splatter

*Pride Hop*

 Today I am happily participating in the Pride Hop on Instagram... a group of us are playing with the theme of inclusion and tolerance for members of the Pride Community as we celebrate the end of Pride Month.

I revisited my idea from a few months ago but created a line of interconnected rainbow hearts.  I cut each heart to allow the interlocking element and hid the cut line with a gem on each heart.

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  MFT All Smiles

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Tall Type Alha

*Happy Birthday Amanda*

 Today I'm participating in a Birthday Hop on Instagram for my creative friend Amanda... I hope you'll head over to Instagram to leave her some birthday love!

Once again I wanted to cut in to some of that new paper I bought from Unity... and I chose to do a mini slimline card using an old sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla; vellus

*Paper:  Unity Oh Hey! It's Your Day!

*Stamps:  Waffle FLower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Circles;  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop*

 We're playing with a "celebration" theme for the Rediscover Your Supplies Instagram Hop.  For this hop, we try to dig in to our stash to create cards following the common theme.  We are trying to use what's in our stash instead of buying something new (not that I'm not buying new still LOL)

I had an idea for this card and honestly, it took a few turns before I ended up with this... and I'm kind of glad it did!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Butterflies

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Buterflies; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Addicted to CAS #311*

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

I tossed around a lot of ideas but then got a delivery of some brand new patterned papers and I really wanted to cut in to them!  I chose five different patterns and cut some strips to create this fun patterned card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper;  Unity Love Notes

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stiched Rectangle Nested Dies; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Challenges:  ATCAS #311

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week, our choices for the This or That Instagram Hop was Trees or Toadstools.  I had some fun doing some fussy cutting of these toadstools from a piece of pattern paper...

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Time Out Challenges #316*

 There's a photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges this week... First, let's look at the inspiration photo

I was inspired by the blue and white stripes of the pillow on the blue chair.  I took strips of white and navy cardstock and adhered them to a piece of printer paper.  I then cut it out with a stitched rectangle die and added it to a larger piece of navy cardstock.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies: Pinkfresh Fluttering Butterflies, Slim Strips; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Challenges:  Time Out #316

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 Good morning friends... it's time for the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop!  Each month we play with rainbow colours and try to make our cards somewhat clean and simple.

I chose to make a card suitable for someone losing a pet.  I cut the outline of the paw print and then used some Tim Holtz inks to ink blend my rainbow.  I then cut the inside pieces out.  I adhered the outline to the front of my card panel and then added the inner pieces with foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

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

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Paw Print

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #337*

 We have a Christmas in July (well it's June) challenge at CAS on Friday!  You all know how much I LOVE making Christmas cards!

I kept this card super simple, using a couple of scraps of pattern paper as well as a little bling to create my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Real Red, Gumball Green; unknown gold sparkle

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Prints

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Merry Mail

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Holly Berries

*Embellishments;  Unknown

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #337

*CAS Colours & Sketches #588*

 Happy Tuesday, friends! It's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Aren't these colours fabulous?!  I saw them an immediately thought of flowers.  I used some of the pieces of a die set I've never touch before...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Blackberry Bliss, Gorgeous Grape, Garden Green
*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #588

*Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Embossing Folder Instagram Hop we are playing with the theme of Summer Bliss.  I went with the lush greenery of summer... everything in bloom, the grass is green... so many shades of green in your view!  We've got a lot of green here in Calgary right now because we had a very wet spring...  but flowers are behind because it's been cool and cloudy too!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gumball Green; vellum

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron

*Dies:  Prism Studio Essential Greenery; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments, Nesting Circles

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #687*

 Good morning, creative friends...  it's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts!  I love trying to make these sketches a little closer to my clean and simple style when I can... and I am IN LOVE with the card I created today!

First, here's the sketch!

I love the overlapped framed squares on this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*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
*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch #687

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... this week on the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are creating birthday cards featuring an animal.  I chose to play with this ignored pattern paper in my stash...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bermuda bay

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Snail Mail
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Love From Lizi Stitched Circles; unknown stitched border

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

Each month, I play along with some creative friends, busting down our stash of pattern paper for the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop. This month, our optional theme is chevrons.  I remembered seeing this fun folding technique so I went looking for directions to create the pieces to create the rhombus shapes that I then put together to create the chevron.  Thanks to Patty Stamps for the great tutorial!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Pine

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Moonlit Florals
*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 This month, our theme for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop is Snazzy Snowmen.  Of course I had to play!  I LOVE snowmen!!  I chose to play with a foiled snowflake that I had in my bin of extras as well as this adorable little snowman.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Little Snowmen; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics
*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Snowflakes
*Foil:  Spellbinders Iridescent

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #29*

 A brand new colourboard challenge starts today at AAA Colourful.  Some really pretty colours to inspire you!

I chose to play with the pink, green, blue and teal that I see in this image to create my card.  But I struggled a bit to put things together.  I hope it came out OK...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Seaside Spray, Bermuda Bay, Magenta Madness, Garden Green

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Fanciful Feathers; Honeybee Stamps Best of Everything
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #29

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 This week for the My Favourite Instagram Hop, we are playing with our favourite tree themed items.  I will admit that this is not my favourite tree themed item from my stash, but the ideas I had for my favourite tree stamp weren't working out for me.  Instead I pulled out this stencil to create a simple sympathy card.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Grey

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Twilight, Black Jack, Midnight

*Stencil:  Artplorations Slimline Trees

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 I'm here with my card for the CASE It Instagram Hop... each month I create a card that is inspired by another Instagram card creator.  This month, I chose a card by @joanbardee

Let me show you her card first...

This is such a gorgeous card!  I love that she did a rainbow of flowers, kept it clean and simple and used some dimension to make it all pop!  I did something very simlar with different stamps and some different sizes of layers.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Altenew Flower Vie; Uniko Birthday Wishes

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

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Addicted to CAS #310*

 There's a great new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS... for challenge #310, we are playing with FRAMES!

I love a thin gold frame on my cards... I put it directly on the front of my card and added a die cut printed washi piece and some (gasp) bling!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold mirror

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

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Essentials by Ellen Essential Circles
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #310

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month I play along with a group of creative friends on Instagram where we create and share cards of encouragement...  a card we could send to someone who might be going through something tough.

This month, I chose to play with a black and white card and I really like how it turned out!  I even used some bling again!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals (yes, the leftover piece from my card from yesterday!); Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*{BYSHC} Sketch #70 Take 2*

 I'm back today with my second card using this fun sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

For this card, I used some patterned paper in my stash as well as some kraft coloured cardstock... Such a quick and easy card to put together since everything but the solid coloured cardstocks and the stamped sentiment came from the same package of pattern paper!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Real Red

*Paper:  Echo Park My Favorite Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #70