*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

*Clean and Simple Instagram Hop*

 This month, the theme for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop is "celebration"... I chose to do a birthday card.

I started with some fun ink splatter stamps and stamped them in my favourite colour combination.  I stamped the greeting directly on top of the ink splatters and added a little bling to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Distressed Patterns; Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Bermuda Bay, Granny Apple Green; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges: Simply Clean and Simple

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between sweet and sour.  I chose to make a sweet card using this fun popsicle paper and a sweet sentiment...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Unity Here's The Scoop

*Stamps: Gina K You Give Me Butterflies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Love From Lizi Nesting Stitched Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #317*

 It's time for a new challenge at Time Out Challenges... this time sponsored by one of our design team members!  How generous!

I am really wanting to colour more... to allow myself the time to play with the markers.  I was watching a Cathy Zielske video the other day and she made me realize that I don't need to be an artist to colour...  I'm a crafter and my colouring doesn't need to be perfect.  So instead of worrying about shading and blending really well, I've decided to just have fun!  

To that end, I pulled out this cute stamp of a girl with her umbrella and had some fun!  I stamped her with Memento ink (ink my Misti), coloured her and then stamped over her again with my favourite Versafine Clair as I find it gives a much more crisp outline.  I paired her with a little rainbow striped pattern paper.

Card Info

*Paper:  Unity Yay It's Today
*Stamps:  MFT Rain Or Shine
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics

*Challenges:  Time Out #317; All About #7

*White on White Instagram Hop*

We are playing with a celebration theme for the White on White Instagram Hop this month... I chose to play with an idea that Sandi MacIver shared recently with an embossed panel that you cut in to strip and then adhere the strips to the card front alternating each strip either raised or adhered directly to your panel.  Please pop over to see her fabulous creations!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Dotted Circles

*CAS Colours & Sketches #589*

 Happy Tuesday, creative friends!  It's time for a new challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!  For this challenge, it's a sketch!

I had some fun with some bits and pieces in my bin of extras to make this card... I find it a lot of fun to use up these pieces that a lot of others might throw out.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape, Old Olive

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Embossing:  Altenew Deck PLanks

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Challenges:  CC&S #589
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #689*

 It's time for a new sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...

I fell in love with this sketch as soon as I saw it... I'm not sure if it was intended to be a full sized or a mini slimline, but I love the mini slimline so that's what I went with!  I just happened to have some extra cut up pieces from the Waffle Flower Postage set so I decided to use them...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

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

*Stencils:  Waffle FLower Postage Collage Peony Stencil
*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Waffle Flower Postage Collage

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #689

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 I had to play with the theme of "where you're from" for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop today... I didn't feel super inspired to make a red and white card so instead I went with a Calgary Stampede themed birthday card... anyone who knows me is probably surprised as I am not a country girl, I am not interested in Stampede... but it's probably what the city I live in is best known for.

I started with a Spellbinders alphabet and cut out the iconic Stampede "yahoo" and then used a wood grain embossing folder on them.  Super simple!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pecan Pie

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Big Day Birthday

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Alpha; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Embossing;  Alten New Deck Planks

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Scraps Only Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a group of friends on Instagram where you do a hop that focusses on using up the scraps and extras that we have hanging around, waiting for a rainy day.  Our theme for this month is Red, White & Blue... and since I'm not a patriotic American (but instead, a proud Canadian), I didn't do a patriotic themed card...  These are some of the pieces of the Pinkfresh Washi that I've cut and that get ignored in my bin of extras...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic BLack

*Stamps:  Gina K Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies, Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses, Fluttering Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I almost didn't participate in the Build Your Stash for Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop this month...  the theme is "baby" and I don't have a lot of variety in my stash for baby cards (nor a reason to be sending them at this point in my life)... I was digging through my stash and changed my mind when I cam across this sentiment stamp set that I don't think I've ever inked up before...  I usually try to make at least two cards for this hop, but this month you get only one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Bubble Bath, Balmy Blue

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Hooray

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini DIes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between sandcastle and snowman...

Was there even a choice here?  Of course I had to play with the snowman theme!

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Only Orange

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Filled With Joy; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Tools:  Perfect Layers