*It's MY Birthday Instagram Hop*

 I am one of those people who loves their birthday...  getting older is a part of life.  I don't love that I'm closer to 60 than I am to 50, but I'm happy to be alive to celebrate another birthday.  I took the day off work, have spent some time reading and crafting... got my free breakfast at Denny's and am looking forward to dinner and cake with my family this evening.  Let's be honest, the best part of my birthday is the cake! LOL!

Anyway, I am hosting a birthday hop on Instagram this afternoon... I hope you'll go have a look at all of the cards my online friends made to celebrate my birthday!

I used some of my favourite things for this card today... some pretty flowers, black and white stripes, all items from my bin of extras and a clean and simple card!  LOL I should have made it a mini slimline too! LOL

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party; MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Exprssions; Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Happy Birthday Kelley!*

 Another Instagram Birthday Hop to share with you today... this time, for my friend Kelley!  She and I are birthday neighbours as my birthday is tomorrow!

I did a super cute mini slimline for Kelley with a piece of rainbow pattern paper that I honestly fine overwhelming in anything but small amounts.  I think it was perfect for this card!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #339*

 Happy Friday, my friends!  So hard to believe we're nearing the end of July already!  It feels like summer just started but I can already tell that the sun is spending less time with us!  

It's time for a new challenge at CAS on Friday.  For challenge #339, we are playing with FLOWERS.  I decided to incorporate this challenge with my final card for the Christmas in July Linky Party so my flower is a pointsettia.  I am SO thrilled with how this clean and simple card turned out.  I added just a little sparkle with some glitter paper that I think made all the difference...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen; unknown gold glitter

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Winter Greenery

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Etc:  gold cord; gold flat backed gem

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #339; BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we got to choose between ice skates or roller skates.  Since I've been busy making some Christmas cards this week, I chose ice skates.  I have this cute set of stamps that has giraffes on skates.  I got to pull out my Copics for a little simple colouring again too!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Giraffes on Ice; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

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

*Etc:  Stampin' Up! Wonderful Snowflakes

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Time Out Challenges #318*

 I took a little break from the Christmas cards to make my design team card for the new challenge at Time Out Challenges...

As soon as I saw this challenge prompt, I knew I wanted to play with some gorgeous paper in my stash and some fabulous new leaf dies I just got.  I cut a panel of the paper and then cut it in to three equal pieces.  I put the middle piece on the card using foam adhesive and then put the other two directly on the card front with regular adhesive.  I added some die cut leaves and a simple pop of colour with the sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Berry Burst, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive

*Paper;  Stampin' Up! Moonlit Florals
*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles
*Etc:  foam adhesives

*Challenges:  Time Out #318

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 I am combing the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop with a card for the BYSHCardmakers Linky Party today...  What's better that some rainbow snowflakes?!  I cut the snowflakes out of pattern paper and am in love with how they turned out.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Winter Sentiments

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes, Snowflakes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

We're playing with anything to do with letters home this week for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop... so I chose to play with a postage die and a stencil I haven't opened before.  I used only 3 colours but layered them up to create a rainbow of colours!  In the past when I've used this die, I've cut the pieces apart... this time I decided to use it as a full panel.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Celebrate You; Waffle Flower Postage Collage
*Stencil:  Waffle Flower Collage Colouring Stencil

*Ink:  Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Mustard See

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party*

 I'm back with another Christmas card to share with you today... have you been playing along with the Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party??!!  There are so many fabulous prizes to be won!

For today, it's all pattern paper and a little gold cord...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 I am in love with the simplicity of the card I'm sharing today, a card I made following the Christmas in July theme for the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop... I used some simple embossed lines, a simple die and some pretty pattern papers... 

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Scor-Buddy
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Crushing Christmas Intagram Hop*

 This month for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of silver and gold.  I'm not one to mix my metals so I chose to play with some silver mirrored cardstock and some snowflakes.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  silver mirror

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Telluride Snowflake; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #691*

 This is a fun new sketch at Atlantic Hearts that starts today...

I struggled quite a bit with getting the sizes of the the rectangles "just right" so I cheated a bit by using a full panel of pattern paper and dividing it with strips of red cardstock.  I kinda like how this one turned out...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer; MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July ; Atlantic Hearts Sketch #691

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party*

 I'm sharing another card for the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party... I have had a blast making a bunch of Christmas cards in the last few days!

Today I pulled out some pretty paper...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter; gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocture

*Dies:  unknown star; The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenge:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Create It 3-Way Instagram Hop

 This month for the Create It 3-Way Instagram Hop, our theme is "thinking of you"... each of us plays with at least one common item from our stash to create three cards following the theme.  I chose to play with the same stamp set, the same die set and the same pattern paper...

Here are the up close photos of each of the cards I created... going from clean and simple to less clean and simple...

First, the clean and simple version...

This second one has an fully embossed background which takes away from it being truly clean and simple (although there are many who would still classify it as clean and simple.

And finally, a mini slimline that isn't at all clean and simple...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin Up! Full of Life

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Floral Squares; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*{BYSHC} Sketch #71 Take 2*

 It's already the middle of July and we are in the midst of the Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party... and I'm sharing my second design team card using Sketch #71 at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers.

First, the sketch...

Most months I try to make one of my cards somewhat more fresh and clean (I can't call them clean and simple) by using less pattern paper... but since I'm trying to use more pattern paper out of my stash, I decided this sketch deserved two cards that use up some of those papers that keep getting ignored for my favourites.

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #71; BYSHCardmakers Linky Party

*Happy Birthday Geeta*

 Today I am joining some of my Instagram friends in wishing our friend Geeta a very happy birthday!  Head on over to Instagram to see all of the fun cards we've put together for Geeta.  And be sure to go wish her a Happy Birthday!

Geeta wanted a colourful card and I had a few new things in my stash that I wanted to play with.  I had this excess piece from a card a few days ago using these fun pattern papers on black cardstock.  I paired it with this fun new die I have in my stash.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Unity Love Notes
*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Floral Squares; Waffle Flower Nesting Swaures; The Ton Easy Expressions Birthday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party*

 WOW!  That title is a mouthful!  But it's worth every word because today marks the start of the fabulous Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party!  Yup, that's right!  One full week of lots of holiday card inspiration.  And for every card you upload, you have a chance to win one of the wonderful draw prizes from one our fabulous sponsors!!!

It was fun to focus on Christmas cards for a few weeks to prepare for this party... I hope you'll have fun digging in to your Christmas stash too!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Handsome Hunter

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas; unknown gold sparkle

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Ink:  Verasfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Sizzix Christmas Tree Pattern

*Challenges:  Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 Happy Thursday, creative friends!  This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had the choices of glitter or foil.  I really do love both (especially glitter paper) but I had this brand new hot foil plate in my possession that needed to be played with!  I am IN LOVE with how it turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Colour Copy; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Carved Pumpkin

*Hot Foil Plate:  Alex Syberia Lush Peony Bouquet

*Foil"  Spellbinders gold

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #30*

 There's a wonderful new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful that starts today... what a beautiful photo Jane chose for us to be inspired by...

These colours are not ones I use very often...  but wow they look good together!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Boho Blue, Midnight Muse, Night of Navy, Golden Glow, Cajun Craze

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Little Etched Butterflies;  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colours #30

*Happy Birthday Dalis!*

 Today, I'm participating in a birthday hop for my Instgram friend Dalis... please go give her some birthday love!!

I purchased a bunch of new pattern paper a few weeks ago and decided that a bright and happy birthday card was going to be perfect for Dalis!  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  Unity Yay, It's Today!

*Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Cheerful, Glamorous (I overlapped them to get the orange)

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today to share my creation for the CASE It Instagram Hop... each month several of my online friends and I choose a card that inspires us on Instagram and we use it to create something of our own.  Sometimes we copy the card outright, sometimes we each use elements to inspire something of our own.

This month I was inspired by my friend VonMarie...  this is her card.

I loved the distressed strips of colour and the big beautiful mostly white flower.  I changed it up a little bit by using some different shades of colour in a smaller aspect and instead of a flower, I used a big butterfly.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Hunky Dory Sparkling Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Alora Layered Butterfly

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #312*

The challenge at Addicted to CAS this week is UP!  How will you interpret the code word?

I chose to do a rainbow with some clouds... I cut the rainbow pieces out of white cardstock and added some colour to them with my Copics.  I adhered them to a panel and then cut it with a stitched rectangle die so that there is only half of a rainbow.  I added some die cut clouds to cover the edges of the rainbow

Card Info

*Stamps:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*DIes:  Stampin' Up! Sunshine Vibes; MFT Stiched Rectangles, Treetop

*Challenges:  ATCAS #312

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a hop on Instagram where we share cards intending to spread a little sunshine in the world.  For my card today, I played with this fabulous This Calls For Confetti hot foil plate and stencil...  It's SO gorgeous!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Hammermill Premium Colour Copy Cover

*Foil Plates, Stencil and Dies:  This Calls For Confetti Heart Bloom

*Foil: Spellbinders gold

*Ink:  Tim Holtz Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mowed Lawn

*CAS on Friday Challenge #338*

There's a fabulous new challenge at CAS on Friday that starts today... and it's totally up my alley!  The challenge is to use dies only with the only stamping allowed on our sentiment.  I think most of my cards are like this!

I cut some flowers in bright colours as well as a fun stem and layered it all together in the middle of my card front.   I layered the stamped and die cut sentiment across the middle of it, keeping everything together in a tight design

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade

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

*Dies:  Prism Studio Essential Greenery; Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #338; Simply Clean and Simple