Christmas Craft Creations*

Happy Wednesday, Crafty Friends!  I'm here with my design team card for Christmas Craft Creations.  The current theme is "metallics" and there is still time to play along!  Gold and silver are perfect for Christmas, don't you think?

I mixed my gold and silver with some sparkle and shine to make it all a little more special.  I could see this card done in other colours as well, like maybe shades of blue with silver, or red and green with a Chrsitmas tree or ornament instead of the snowflake.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Lawn Fawn Holographic; unknown glitter

*Images:  MFT Giraffes on Ice

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Snowflakes; Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Christmas Craft Creations September; Paper Craft Crew #533

*Bats About You*

I don't know why, but when I saw the sketch at Atlantic Hearts this morning, I was inspired to make a Hallowe'en card.  I don't have a clue who I'll send it to, but I have a Hallowe'en card in my stash now LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up Basic Black, Only Orange, Gorgeous Grape

*Images:  Waffle Flower Trick or Treat

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Cave Bat

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #544

*Addicted to CAS #247*

It's time for a new clean and simple challenge at Addicted to CAS.  I hope you'll play along with us!

My card isn't as clean and simple as it could be...  I didn't have any stamps with a mask on them so I decided to go with the masking technique.  I started out cutting out the word birthday on some Post It Tape.  I put that on to a white panel and then did ink blending through a splatter stencil.  I then removed the stencil and did more ink blending with the same colour over top of the entire panel which added some colour to the white panel and darkened the splats of ink.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  unknown birthday die

*Stencils:  Lawn Fawn Paint Splatter

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #247

*Two Challenges Before Work*

I have a different work week than most people... and I love it!  My work week starts at 12:30 on Wednesdays and ends at 2pm on Saturday.  I get some time off with my family and some time off where I can get appointments etc done.  It works for me.

Sometimes I end up with things I have to do on Wednesdays before I head off to work... but today was not one of those days!  I saw the new challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and Color Throwdown and decided to combine them.  And my mojo cooperated!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Coastal Cabana

*Images:  unknown swishes; Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Sauna, Mandarin Spice Dress Blues

*Dies:  Paper Rose Studio Little Etched Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #604; Color Throwdown #761

*CAS Colours & Sketches #521*

 Happy Tuesday, crafty friends!  It's time for a new sketch challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches... 

I am trying to create with some more fall colours since summer is mostly behind us... Fall colours just aren't what I tend to reach for.

Card Info

*Images:  Honey Bee Inside Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Mandarin Spice, Glitz Rouge; GinaK Jelly Bean

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips; A Jillian Vance Design Daisy

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Clear Drops

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #521

*Create It 3 Ways Thinking of You*

It's time for another Create it 3 Ways instagram hop... check out my Instagram HERE so you can see all of the great creations!

What is Create it 3 Ways?  We have a monthly theme (this month it's Thinking of You) and we are challenged to make 3 cards using something the same...  technique, fold, layout, colours, stamp set, dies...  but there has to be something the same between all three cards.

As you can see from my photo below, I made an alcohol ink panel and used it on all three of my cards.  I also used the same sentiment on all three cards.

For this card, I cut a small strip of the alcohol ink panel and layered it on top of some Cherry Cobbler cardstock that I embossed with the Simon Says Stamp Kaleidoscope folder.  I added some black flowers from my bin of extras (Lawn Fawn Magin Iris Floral Wreath Add-On) and a die cut sentiment from The Ton (Easy Expressions).

For this card, I cut a Waffle Flower circle out of the panel and then cut the Simon Says Stamp Circle of Leaves die from that circle.  A quick black matte and the sentiment and this card was done.

And finally, I used the majority of the alcohol ink panel on my card front.  I added some black mats, the sentiment and some black floral elements (Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms) to finish it off.

*Less is More #492*

We are back with an alphabet theme challenge at Less is More!  This is an easy one.  C is for Celebrate! What do you celebrate??

I decided to play with my favourite word die and some pretty paper to create my card.  I layered the cut out patterned paper on to two layers of cardstock to give it some dimension.  I really like this slightly muted rainbow paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Taken With Teal

*Paper: MFT Party Time

*Images:  Honey Bee Inside Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #492

*CAS on Friday Guest Designer*

 I am thrilled to be joining the team at CAS on Friday as a Guest Designer this week.  I am relatively new to their challenges and enjoy playing along when I can find the time.  

The theme for this week is "sunshine"...  I was inspired by a card I saw on Instagram by Hannelie.  I used similar colours and a similar layout but changed the sizes for my sun and the rays and did a stamped sentiment instead of a die cut one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Yoyo Yellow, Summer Sun

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Dies:  MFT Rain or Shine; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Pink Fresh Studio Simple Strips

*Embellishments:  Sprinkled Sugar Stickles

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #266

*Time Out Challenges #247*

It's time for a photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges... you can be inspired by any part of the photo, but we ask that you share with us how your creations was inspired by our photo.  It can be layout, colours, theme...  whatever makes your heart react to this photo!

I was inspired by the fall colours, the trees in the background and the feeling of being on an adventure....  I started out doing some ink blending to create my front panel.  I added the trees by working with a stencil and a grey ink on top of my background.

Items Used

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Pink Fresh Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Twilight; Gina K Jelly Bean, Hot Red, Sweet Corn, Sweet Mango

*Stencils:  Artplorations Trees

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #247

*Addicted to CAS #246*

 We have a fun challenge for you over at Addicted to CAS...  it's a mushroom challenge!  You can use actual mushroom images or the colours of mushroom... or even a saying about mushrooms!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

My first thought was using a card that highlighted mushroom colours... but honestly, it felt too boring for me.  Instead I embraced some fall colours and did some masked off ink blending along with some stamps I found in some gnome stamp sets I own.  I added a little more interest with a white gel pen and a black Micron pen.

Card Info

*Images:  MF Hanging With my Gnomies; Pink Fresh Studio Beautiful Blooms

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Sweet Corn, Jelly Bean Green, Sweet Mango

*Etc:  black Micron pen; white Gelly Roll pen; scrapbook.com Mint Tape

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #246

*{BYSHC} Sketch #37*

We have another great sketch for you over at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers... we want to help you build your stash of holiday cards.  I love these sketches because they can be clean and simple or they can be super intricate... you get to decide!

This card leans a little more to the clean and simple that I truly love... it's still pretty busy by my clean and simple standards, but a lot less busy than it could be.  I love using patterned paper on my Christmas cards and I've been waiting for an excuse to cut in to this great ho ho ho paper!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Gumball Green

*Paper:  Photoplay Gnome for the Holidays

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Circles

*Embossing Folder:  Gina K Holiday Flora

*Tools:  Corner Chomper; Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC}#37; Peace on Earth #47

*Enjoy Your Special Day*

My days off keep getting away from me... I sit at my craft table but I find other things to do instead of creating.  It doesn't help that often on my days off I am running to appointments for myself or for my one son so there isn't any real time to create.  I seem to do better on those days that I don't have other things today.  I feel pressure to create sometimes which isn't helpful either.  

I did have a few good creative days in the last bit... and this was one of the non-design team cards that I created with some new stamps I bought...

I really prefer my Versafine Clair ink pad to all of my other blank inks...  it's so crisp and clean and the details are perfect.  Of course, that ink doesn't work if I want to use my Copics to colour.  Instead of being less pleased with using Memento or Gina K Amalgam when I'm going to colour, I've started embossing my Versafine Clair in clear embossing powder.  It keeps the crispness of the ink I love.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Julie Hickey Designs Floral Happiness; Honey Bee Inside Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  clear embossing powder

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Tiny Iridescent Bubbles

*Challenges:  Triple B

*CAS Colours & Sketches #520*

Rachel is hosting the current month at CAS Colours & Sketches and she has chosen colours that just scream summer to me... she's a girl after my own heart!  I am NOT ready for fall yet!!

While these colours feel summery to me (I see a beach cabana when I see these colours)I didn't know what I wanted to do with them.  I decided to cut some strips of the colours and to play around with them... and this is what I came up with.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lolly, Starry Sky

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips; Spellbinders Yana's Layered Script Sentiments

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #520

*Less is More #491*

It's time for an anything goes challenge at Less is More... just remember to keep it clean and simple!

I know it's September but I am not yet ready to get rid of my capris, my sandals, nor my summery colours.  I decided to add some sparkle to my card for today by using some great Stampin' Up! glitter paper in some gorgeous summery colours.  I layered them on to a piece of paper cut smaller than my front panel, then placed the negative piece over top to allow the pretty colours to shine through.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! In Color 2022-23 glitter paper

*Images: The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Design Daisy; The Ton Easy Expressions; Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #491

*TIme Out Challenges #246*

It's an inspired by words challenge over at Time Out Challenges... "the best time to play a tree was 20 years ago.  The second best time is now".  How will you be inspired by those words?

I went with the obvious... and did a card with a tree on it.  I tried to mark the passage of time with a fall sunset in my card as well... and I am in love with the ink blending combination that I did!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Penny Black Fantasy; MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Abandoned Coral, Mustard See

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles (cut in to printer paper to create a mask)

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Time Out #246