*Foiled with Tulips*

 I'm not honestly sure about this card... it looks better in person than it does in this photo, but I'm still not sure about it.  I had these white tulips cut out from a different project and had originally thought I'd blend ink on them.  I had them laid out on a white piece of paper and I kind of liked how they looked so I went with it.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Dies:  Crafty Meraki Tulips; MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Let Your Sentiments Shine

*Etc:  Spellbinders Rainbow Foil

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #224*

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the team at Time Out had originally had our challenge today as a Breast Cancer challenge... as a colon cancer survivor (x2), I respectfully asked if we could change it to a cancer awareness challenge... everyone knows about and talks about breast cancer, but no one talks about colon cancer (and many other cancers).  It's SO important to me that we talk about all forms of cancer, that we not be embarrassed about talking about our health, our bodies and the changes we are experiencing.  I shudder to think about where I'd be today had I not mentioned my symptoms to my doctor... as embarrassing as it was to talk about bodily functions.

Anyway....  we would love to see your cancer awareness cards for the next two weeks... those cards you'd send if your friend or your Mom or your brother was diagnosed with cancer... those cards meant to brighten the day, even if for a minute. 

Having been the recipient of many of these cards, I can tell you that they were bright marks in some very dark moments.  It was so nice to get the mail and see a card there for me... it meant I was on the mind of a friend... that I wasn't alone... that there could still be sunshine.  This sentiment was the perfect one in my mind...  Do you know someone who's recently had a cancer diagnosis?  Send them a card.  Don't know what to say?  A simple "you're in my heart" or "you're in my thoughts" or "A little sunshine in card form" always hit the spot with me... leave out the religion unless you know your friend is religious.  Put in humour if you know that's the type of person they are.  But don't stress over it... it truly is the thought that counts!

Card Info

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Washi Tape:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Etc:  Pink Fresh Studio Foiled Sentiments

*Challenges:  Time Out #224

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers*

I am very excited to announce that I have joined the design team at the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers blog!!  This is an awesome sketch challenge blog that has a new sketch each month, encouraging you to create Christmas cards each month.  I will be sharing two cards each month with the monthly sketch.  I hope you'll check them out and join in the fun!

This is the sketch for October...  I LOVE that they include measurements!!!

I honestly had planned on putting something on top of my top layer... but this embossed pine cone and for limb was too perfect on it's own.  I just couldn't cover it up!

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Embossing Folder:  Lisa Horton Crafts Slimline Pinecones

*Challenges:  Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #490*

 Hello again, crafty friends!  It's time for a new colour challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches.  I can't wait to see how you all create with the colours below!

I've said it before... I struggled with these three colours.  This was a new level of struggle for me.  If I wasn't on the design team, I probably would have passed it up.  I just could not do anything that I liked with these colours.  I tossed several ideas.  This was the best of what I came up with and while it's OK, it's definitely not my most favourite card.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created because there are some beauties on the CC&S Blog!!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Shaded Spruce

*Images:  Altenew Sincere Greetings; Stampin' Up! Sweet Songbirds

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Punch:  Stampin' Up! bird

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #490

*CASology #408*

It is with some sadness that I am here with the final challenge at CASology... after many years of wonderful clean and simple challenges, Melissa has decided it is time to retire the CASology Challenge.  I think it would be an awesome send off to have a lot of cards submitted for this final challenge... an awesome tribute to a great challenge and to a great team of inspiring CAS creators.  I sure hope you'll share your CAS card with the cue of cozy on the CASology Blog!

I chose to create my favourite type of card for this challenge...  a Christmas Card... with cozy wishes...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn holographic silver

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Warmest Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Lydia Snowflake; Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Challenges:  CASology #408

Thanks for so many wonderful challenges CASology!  I will miss you!

*Gold and Black Wishes*

 I am loving my new Glimmer Foil Machine and I just know I'm going to use it a lot during my Christmas card making season (which I think will begin very shortly!).  The plate I used for this card is supposed to go across the card to create "lights" but I liked how it gave a neat background to play with going vertically instead.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Foil Plates:  Spellbinders Glimmer String Lights Background; Pink Fresh Studio solid foil plate

*Foil:  Spellbinders gold

*AAACards #225*

It's a 1 of 9 rectangles challenge at AAACards with the optional twist of gnomes... We'd love to see your cards where you use only one of the 9 rectangles found if you divide a rectangular card in 9ths.  Be sure to keep it clean and simple and share it with us HERE!

You KNEW I'd have to use the optional twist!  I used a non-Christmas gnome stamp set but added a tiny holiday wish to it to make it a Christmas card.

Card Info

*Images:  MFT Hanging With My Gnomies; Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics, Tim Holtz Salty Ocean

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  AAACards #225

*Addicted to CAS #230*

There's a new challenge at Addicted to CAS that starts today.  The code word is Autumn.  Play along with us by sharing you clean and simple cards HERE!

I had fun doing a little ink blending on a piece of cardstock and then stamping and cutting out these fun leaves.  I don't use a lot of brown in my cards but an autumn theme and these colours called for some brown.  I like the red undertone of this cardstock.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cinnamon Cider

*Images:  Right At Home Fall Leaves

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Glitz, Flame, Mandarin Spice, Cranberry Fizz

*Dies:  Right At Home Fall Leaves; Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #230

*Rainbow Striped Corners*

How on earth is it the end of September already?  I'm still struggling to write the word September at work and now, tomorrow, I have to write October?!  We've had a great month here weatherwise and so far haven't seen any snow fly (we often get the first snow in September).  We actually hit 28C (82F) earlier this week which is unheard of at this time of year!  I worry that winter will be a lot less kind than fall has been so far!

I finally found a bit of mojo the other day and was able to create some cards!  I am off work today and am hoping that Mr Mojo is at my craft desk waiting for me again!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights

*Images:  MFT Essential Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamps Big Happy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Free Form Frame*

Another card from the bin of extras....  

I used a die as a guide to draw a rectangle on my card front with pencil... and then went over it a few times with a thin black marker, not even trying to make straight lines.  Once it had set for a bit I erased the pencil lines and then added in the hash marks and dots.  I stamped my sentiment and added to my ink blended butterfly.

To create a little dimension, I added glue along the back of the butterfly body and foam adhesive to the wings.  I held the body portion against the cardstock until it dried to ensure it had a good stick.

*A Quick Thanks*

 When I did a stencilled background a while back I did an entire card front size and since I only used a portion of it, I had some more to play with for another card.  I pulled out the leftover piece on a day I didn't have a lot of ideas in my head and this is what resulted.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Glitz, Over Coffee, Martini

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks

*Stencil:  Gina K A Little Hello

*CAS Colours & Sketches #489*

I absolutely love the sketch this week at CAS Colours & Sketches!  My card went together pretty quickly once I decided on what elements I wanted to use.  I hope you'll play along with us!

My card uses a few pieces from my bin of extras that I kept overlooking.  I had used just two of the layering stencils and these two pieces had very little colour on them... so I grabbed my Copics and gave them a bit more colour before adding them to my card. This could be a great sketch for Christmas as well (jingle bells, snowflakes, mittens).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Ink:  Versafine Claire; Copics

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Additional Circles; Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Let Your Sentiments Shine

*Foil:  Spellbinder black

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #489

*So Very Happy*

I took a few days off from blogging...  I don't have a lot of non-design team cards to share and honestly haven't been feeling very creative lately.  I am in my creative space for a while today and after I post this card I hope to have a little mojo flowing to create some stuff to share with you.  I'm struggling to find my own ideas and am not feeling inspired by any of the cards I've pinned and saved to try to put my own spin on them.  Colour combos and sketches aren't inspiring me much either.

I know it will come back... I just hate that it's gone!

This card was super simple...  some of the Stampin' Up! In Color  sparkle paper cut with my Pink Fresh Studio strip dies, the MFT stitched rectangle die and a pre-foiled sentiment from Pink Fresh Studio.

If you see my Mojo anywhere, please send it home....

*Less is More #474*

 October 1st is World Cardmaking Day and here at Less is More, we are celebrating a little early with a friendship themed challenge!  We think making a card for a friend is a great way to celebrate World Cardmaking Day!  We hope you'll play along!

I've got a couple of very good friends who are always there for me... to listen, to provide support, to make me laugh, to distract me, to do social things with... so I thought I'd make a card that I could give to one of them.  I don't have a lot of close friends but I am very lucky to have two very good friends that I know are always in my corner (and I am always in theirs too!)

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; gold mirror

*Images:  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Friend; Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons; Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Etc:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral Washi Tape

*Challenges:  Less Is More #474

*Simple Wreath*

This card is a mix of some extras fro my bin and some other things I cut especially for this card.  I knew I wanted a wreath like card so I cut the knotted circle and then dug through my bin of extras for some flowers and leaves that might work.  I then foiled my sentiment and cut it out to finish off the card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black and others from my stash

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms; Memory Box Knotted Circle Wreaths; Spellbinders Yana's Sentiments;  Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Foil Plate:  Spellbinders Yana's Sentiments Foil Plate and Dies

*Foil:  Spellbinders Copper