*CAS Instagram Hop*

 I'm here today with my card for the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop.  Our theme this month is EMBOSSING.  I know that adding an embossing folder to a clean and simple card might confuse some... a true clean and simple card does not have an all over embossed background.  Instead, I'm encouraging people to figure out a way to use a small and effective amount of embossing on their card!

I used some scraps for my card... a leftover piece of embossed black cardstock and a scrap strip of pattern paper.  I added a pop of colour with this beautiful butterfly!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*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:  Altenew Deck Planks
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week on the This or That Instagram Hop, we are choosing between balloons and kites.  I don't think I have anything kite themed in my stash, so I went with balloons.

I chose to do a super clean and simple card with one fun balloon die and a sweet birthday sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Grey Granite, Granny Apple Green

*Stamps:  Picket Fence Studio Fancy Sentiments

*Dies:   Lawn Fawn Party Balloons

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the monthly CASE It Instagram Hop.  Each month, a group of us each find a card that inspires us on Instagram and we use that card (each our own choice) to create something inspired by the card.  It can be a direct copy or we can take elements and be inspired to create something more unique.

My card today was inspired by my online friend Sandy... please go check out her Instagram profile and share some love on her creations!

Here is Sandy's card...

I LOVE a raised frame, especially when it's done in white  I changed things up by making my frame a stitched circle and instead of in blended leaves, I did some pretty washi flowers.  I kept the idea of stamping my sentiment inside of the frame.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Hunkydory

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; MFT Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  All About Challenges #8

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I was playing catch up this past week, trying to get on top of my design team duties.  On my days off I had one great day of creating and then a couple of days of sitting at my desk with no motivation.  So instead of multiple cards for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, I only have one.  Our theme this month is "sympathy"

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Cclair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS on Friday #340*

 The new challenge at CAS on Friday is to make a clean and simple get well soon card... I got this new stamp last week and couldn't wait to play with it... and when I was finished, I realized my card isn't all that clean and simple!  But I loved it and decided to go with it anyway...  and look!  I coloured!

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything; Concord & 9th Flower Field

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

*Challenges:  CAS on Friady #340

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between "young" and "old"....  I'm not honestly sure which I chose for this fun card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! shimmer paper

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes
*Stamps:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alpha

*Time Out Challenges #319*

 It's time for a new Pick 2 Challenge at Time Out Challenges....  I can't wait to see what you all choose to play with!

I went overboard and chose FOUR instead of two...  CAS, Floral, Stitching and Birthday!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Summer Sun

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everythign
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; unknown stitched squares; Love From Lizi Stitched Nesting Rectangles

*Embellishments:  Pinkfresh Studio Iridescent Clear Drops

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #319

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 We are playing with a fun idea for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop... it's a back to school/teacher theme with a twist.  For this Hop, we are playing with something card making that we think we could teach a class in.  Since I didn't need a card for a teacher, I appreciated the clarification of the theme.

I decided that I had two things to teach others... first, a clean and simple card and second, the art of using the extras in your stash!  Everything in this card was made using my bin of extras!

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends...  it's time for the monthly Mini Slimline Instagram Hop!  No rules, no theme... just sharing a mini slimline card each month!

My card started out being for a different hop...  The one layer hop had a shimmer and shine theme so I started playing, completely forgetting about the idea of a one layer card.  As soon as I noticed my error, I put this card aside to make something else. 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Essential Sentiments
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alpha; Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners

*CAS Colours & Sketches #591*

 There is a fabulous new sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches that starts today...  

I had some fun playing with the gorgeous Pinkfresh Studio printed washi tape and matching dies to create the focal point for my card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Vines & Roses; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  CC&S #591

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #693*

 I'm here today with my design team card for this weeks sketch at Atlantic Hearts!

I had an idea pop in to my head almost immediately for this sketch, but then I saw that one of my fellow DT members did something really close to that same idea so I wanted to pivot... I don't love what I did as it's out of my wheelhouse...

Card Info

*Paper:  Unity Beer Me

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*{BYSHC} Sketch #72

 How on earth is it August already??!!!??  Why do the summer months fly by so fast and winter seems to last forever?

Anyway, there's a fabulous new sketch for you to use to get going on your Christmas cards over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

When I saw this sketch, I immediately had this idea ..,. and while it's not exactly the sketch, I think it's pretty darn close.  I LOVE how clean and simple this is!  This die was just absolutely perfect for this sketch!

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Birch Press Drifting Snowflake

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #72; Addicted to Stamps & More; Just Add Ink

*One Layer Instagram Hop*

 Hello friends... it's time for the One Layer Instagram Hop... this month, our theme is Shimmer.  I started out with masking off four panels on my card front and doing some ink blending.  I splattered some Wink of Stella on the panel and when it was dry, stamped my focal image and sentiment before removing the masking.  I wish my masking tape had been a little thinner to create a thinner grid between the rectangles (if that makes sense).

Card Info

*Stamps:  Gina K You Give Me Butterflies
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean, Mustard See

*Etc:  Wink of Stella; Scrapbook.com Mint Tape

*Challenges:  All About Challenge #7

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 This week for the This or That Instagram Hop, we had to choose between clean and simple or mixed media.  Honestly, I don't even know where to start with a mixed media card so I went with a clean and simple design.

I'm sure that no one is surprised.

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Nesting Ovals; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; Waffle Flower Sweet Lattice Sentiments

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  All About Challenge #7

*Embossing Folder Instagram Hop*

 Just a quick post from me today as I've spent the weekend sick... I'm healing but still not 100%

This is my card for the monthly Embossing Folder hop in Instagram... we were playing with "partial embossing"  Instead of doing just a part of panel, I did a small panel instead using up a scrap of an embossed piece that's been sitting on my desk.

*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; Addicted to Stamps & More

   

*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