*So Grateful*

 I am always so grateful that you come to see my cards... I love being able to share my creativity with people who also enjoy being creative.  Thank you so much for visiting me here... and to those who leave comments, thank you for that!  

My card today I made following a sketch challenge with the Paper Craft Crew...  but I missed the deadline so I put it in my bin of cards to share.  I do that sometimes... miss deadlines for posting cards to challenges.

This card is not at all clean and simple, but I felt the need to showcase this gorgeous paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Fresh Freesia

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Hues of Happiness

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips; Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  ScorBuddy

*Rediscovery Instagram Hop*

 I joined a new Instagram Hop group this month...  this one encourages us to use items in our stash (maybe something that hasn't been used in a while) to create a card following a common theme and technique.  For the month of July, our theme is Summer and the technique is Stencils.

I went to my bin of stencils and pulled out anything that was kind of summery... and landed on this one layered stencil from MFT.  I had to have it, I bought it and I used it once.  And then, I pulled out some Gina K ink cubes from the summer collection (which I had to have and then hardly used) and started stencilling.  To add one more item from my stash, I used one of the foiled sentiments from a package I bought a long time ago!

I hope I did OK following the parameters on my first card with this group!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise

*Ink:  Gina K Passionate Pink, Wild Dandelion, Lipstick, Turquoise Sea, Grass Green

*Stencils:  MFT Flower Fusion

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments

*Etc:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*One More Christmas Card*

I think this will be my last Christmas Card in July for this year... maybe LOL!  At least it's the last one I've finished for now.

I was inspired by a card I saw in the Build Your Stash Christmas in July Linky Party... a card by Jenni at Wish I  Was Scrappin'.  I hope you'll go leave her some love for her fabulous card!  It's a fun way to use some smaller pieces of patterned paper.  I cut the papers in to 1/2" strips and glued them down on to a piece of printer paper, leaving a little gap of white between each strip.  Once dry, I turned the page and cut 1/2" strips that included all of the strips I'd glued down.  I then arranged them on a white panel to create this fun, quilted look.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips; Wafle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July; Color Hues #97

   

*More Christmas in July*

I was inspired to play a little more with my Christmas supplies this past weekend while avoiding the extreme heat outside.  I am so thankful for air conditioning!  

I truly do LOVE making Christmas cards, and up until a few years ago I left all of my favourite supplies alone for about 10 months of the year.  It has been so much fun making a few each month instead!

Card Information

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Christmas Blessings

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

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Embossing:  Gina K Holiday Flora

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Just Add Ink #711; The Color Hues Challenge #91; BYSHC Christmas in July

  

*Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop -- Kids*

 I'm participating in the monthly Birthday Bounce Instagram Hop... each month we each create one birthday card following the monthly theme.  This month, our theme is kids.

I will admit that I took an idea I saw on Pinterest and created my card using that idea... I like how it turned out!  It's simple and eye catching, which I think would be great for a kid!

I wish I'd had some googlie eyes for on these cuties, but instead I used two different sizes of office supply circle punches to create the eyes.  I had some fun with their placement.  And yes, I used a Christmas set to create my hats!  I cut the trunks of the trees off and then added the star as the pompom!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point

*Paper:  MFT (I don't remember the pack name); unknown gold sparkle

*Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #587*

I am always impressed with the sketches at Atlantic Hearts...  they all work out so beautifully!  I hope you'll find some time to play along with us!

I love playing with all of the Spellbinders bloom dies I have... and for this card I decided to go with some very bright colours.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms, Floral Spray; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #587; AAA Birthday

*{BYSHC} Christmas In July Linky Party*

I decided to play along with the Christmas in July Linky Party at Build Your Stash...  ya, I'm a designer too, but I had another idea in my head that I wanted to play with!  You all know how much I love making Christmas cards!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Kasiercraft Yuletide

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffler Flower A2 Layers Dies; Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July; Addicted to Stamps and More, Pretty Paper Challenge; Word Power #7

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop -- Get Well Soon*

 I'm participating in a hop over on Instagram... each month, a group of us create three cards using a common element following a predetermined theme.  Our theme for July is "get well soon".  We can chose anything we want to carry through the three cards we create...  colours, papers, stamps sets, technique... just one thing (or more if you want) that is the same between all three cards.

For my cards, I not only used the same floral stamp as my focal point, I used the same ink colours and the same sentiment stamp and die.

I just love these large florals from Altenew... but they don't always go with with my clean and simple style.  Today I decided to share three cards that are not clean and simple... some will say one of them is, but as the self-proclaimed queen of clean and simple, I will have to disagree.

So... on to the cards....

I love the look of colours when they just pop out on black...  I stamped, stencilled and cut this flower out, added black Copic marker along the white edges and chapped the piece in half.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Honey Bee Best of Everything

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

*Dies:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias, Honey Bee Best of Everything
*Etc:  Kuretake Starry Colors

My second card is my least favourite... I like the idea but I don't love the placement of the sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Honey Bee Best of Everything

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

*Dies:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias, Honey Bee Best of Everything
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My third card is my absolute favourite in this trio...  I used the same colours but did a lighter ink blending with them.  And I really like the brick embossing folder.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Honey Bee Best of Everything

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

*Dies:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias, Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick and Mortar
*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals

*Addicted to CAS #263*

It's a Nature themed challenge at Addicted to CAS.  There are so many ways you could interpret the challenge word!

I decided that a nature challenge was a good reason to use up some more of my foiled butterflies.  I added a scrap of black and white striped paper to add a little more dimension and decided to play with a mini slimline again.  I seem to be making a lot more mini slimline cards lately!  They are definitely harder to keep truly clean and simple since there is a lot less space to play with.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy 100lb

*Paper:  MFT Black and White Stripes

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Foil Plate:  Pinkfresh Studio Small Butterflies, solid plate
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Small Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #263

*Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party*

 Today marks the start of the Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers Chistmas in July Linky Party!  What is that?  Well, share your newly created Christmas (and winter holiday) cards on the {BYSHC} Blog and you'll be entered in to the draw to win some WONDERFUL prizes!!!  There is no sketch, no theme, no parameters... just newly made Christmas or winter holiday cards!  It's really just that easy!!

Just look at this list of sponsors!!!

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co

Not 2 Shabby

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Lawn Fawn

Twiddler's Nook

Therm O Web

RAM Stamps

Gina K Designs

Waffle Flower

Colorado Craft Company

Newton's Nook Designs

A Colorful Life Designs

Jaded Blossom

Paink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

I used a little Lawn Fawn and some adhesives from Therm O Web for my card... 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Iridescent, unknown silver sparkle

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Lawn Fawn Stitched Snowflake Backdrop, Impression Obsession Snowflakes; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Challenges:  {BYSHC} Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party; Addicted to Stamps and More

*CAS on Friday #288*

It's a circles themed challenge at CAS on Friday... I had a lot of ideas float through my head for this challenge but I decided to play with some patterned paper that I just got.  Sometimes it's tough to make the first cut in a beautiful patterned paper, so I was excited to cut in to this paper within 24 hours of getting it!  That's got to be a record for me!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthay

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #288; Pretty Paper Challenge

*Time Out Challenges #268*

 The challenge prompt at Time Out is "On Vacation"... and there are so many ways that you could be inspired by that!  

I decided to go tropical with my vacation themed card...  the colours and the flowers.  I wish I had a "wish you were here" stamp!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Tropical Chic; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Satmpin' Up! Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Granny Aple Green, Mango Melody

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Stampin' Up! Tropical dies; MFT Something for Everything

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out #268

*Freshly Made Sketches #645*

 My work week starts at noon on Wednesdays...  sometimes I have time to be creative, sometimes I have mojo... and very seldom, I have both before I head off to work.  Today was one of those days that I had both!  And then, my card came together so easily!!!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:   The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Wahsi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #645

*CAS Colours & Sketches #541*

It's time for the monthly sketch challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches...

I love a pretty frame on a card so I created a black frame by using two rectangle dies together.  I once again used some ink blending on white cardstock flowers instead of cutting the pieces out of coloured cardstock.  I like how subtle the colours are when you do it this way.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Scattered Straw, Kitsch Flamingo, Twisted Citron

*Dies: Spellbinders Floral Spray, Be Bold Blooms; MFT Stitched rectangles; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embellishments:  black Kaiser Pearl

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #541

*Freshly Made Sketches #644*

 I'm here, just under the wire, to share a card I made using the latest sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.  I decided to play with a new paper pack I ordered... I love all this colour!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Etc:  Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  FMS#644Z; Pretty Paper Challenge

*AAA Colourful #6*

The new colourboard challenge at AAA Colourful screams "warm summer evening" to me...  I took the colourboard rather literally with my creation... but go see what the other design team members did because some of them thought outside the box!!

My colours aren't quite as deep and rich as the colour inspiration, but the feeling is the same...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Paper Trey Ink Signature Greetings

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Tiara, Rockin' Red, Orange Twist; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; Paper ROse Studio Little Etched Butterflies

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #6

*As Beautiful as You*

When you use the big stamps from Pinkfresh (with the stencils and dies with this card), you end up with a lot of pieces that need to be used.  I add all of those pieces in to my bin of extras and then challenge myself to use them up.  Something has to be in that bin for a VERY long time before I throw it out.

Sometimes those extras are just easier to use...  for my card today, I used several pieces from the Vines and Roses stamp to create my floral spray.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black and White Stripes
*Images:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines and Roses

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's A Girl, Pucker Up, Lime Rickey, Martini, Pixie Dust, Flirty Fuschia

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines and Roses

*Stencils:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines and Roses Layering Stencils

*Challenge:  Inkspirational #320

*{BYSHC} Sketch #47 Take 2*

I'm back with my second card for the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers sketch for July.   Here is the sketch, complete with all of the measurements you need to play along!

I wanted to do something more clean and simple for my second card, but I did not succeed... But I do like the lighter colour on the larger patterned piece.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen; Spellbinders gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply gold gems

*Chalenges:  Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers #47

*The Best of Everything*

I know that I've been using a lot of sentiment stamp and die sets over and over and over again... but that's because I LOVE that they have the matching dies!  I am that person who wants to layer sentiments over top of things and it just works so much better to do it with a die than just a stamp!

For this card, I blended some in through a fun stencil and then stamped my huge floral over top of it.  I like the effect.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Honey Bee Best of Everything; Altenew Bouquet of Love

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

*Stencil:  Paper Rose Big Drops

*Tools: Perfect Layers

*Enjoy Your Special Day*

 In an attempt to use up some of my foiled butterflies, I created this card... I added a foiled sentiment from Pink Fresh to finish it off.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy

*Foil Plates:  Pinkfresh Studio Small Butterflies, solid plate

*Foil:  Spellbinders Aura

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Loops

*Etc: Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments; foam tape

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #585*

 There is another beautiful sketch at Atlantic Hearts and I can't wait to see how everyone interprets the sketch!!  I love this one!

I really have been enjoying mini slimline cards lately... and I hope that my design follows the sketch closely enough.  My sentiment just didn't look right where it was supposed to be!  I cut all of these flowers out of white cardstock and added a hint of colour to all of the pieces using ink blending.  I like how they turned out.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Over Coffee, Green Tea, Pink Champagne, Shea Butter

Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #585

*Addicted to CAS #262*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... and it's a summer themed challenge!  There are so many ways you could go with this one and I can't wait to see what everyone dreams up!

My card came about in an interesting way.  I used some glittery watercolour paints on this piece of black cardstock and when it dried, I use this die on the panel.  I forgot that the panel cuts a silhouette out of the cardstock and it wasn't going to work for the idea I had in my head for the CAS on Friday challenge.  So I put it all aside and tried something different for my card that I posted yesterday.

I sat down at my craft desk later that day to do something else, had an idea and had no time to execute it.  So I quickly laid it out in a way that would remind me what I was thinking and went off to work.  I don't get to create too much during my work week as my days are long, but as soon as I got home from work on Saturday, I put this card together.  I used the failed panel to place the cut outs to create this beautiful summer night (complete with dragonflies and northern lights) card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

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

*Dies:  Memory Box Dancing Dragonfly Collage; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Etc:  Iulie Watercolrs Christmas Fuchsia, Colbat, Leaf

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #262

*CAS on Friday #287*

 It's a watercolour challenge at CAS on Friday... and my original idea didn't work out (at least not for this card) so I moved on to another idea.  I did more of a "dry brush" style of watercolour to create a background with some inks... I hope it looks enough like watercolour to meet the challenge.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Lil Ink Fresh Cut Flowers; LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Altenew Limeade, Lime, Fresh Leaf; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #287

*Time Out #267*

Since it's Independence Day in the US, the challenge at Time Out Challenges is "seeing stars".  Of course you can do a patriotic card, but anything with stars will do.

As I am a Canadian, I didn't have any inspiration for a patriotic card... instead I used stars, some shades of blue glitter paper and a sweet "welcome baby" theme.  The larger star on the right is cut out of a front panel with the light blue paper on the folded card front (the panel is placed on top with foam adhesive).  I then added a star to the left and one little one in a slightly darker colour on top of the biggest one.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! shimmer

*Images:  Taylored  Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Revolution Nesting Stars; MFT Stitched Rectangles; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #267

*CAS Colours & Sketches #540*

How on earth are we already in to July?!?!  It was a holiday weekend here in Canada and in Calgary we had sunshine and rain, warmth and not so warm.  As is normal for us, I guess.  At least it didn't snow LOL!

It's time for a colour challenge with CAS Colours & Sketches... you must use only these three colours plus neutrals for your creation.  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

I will admit that I am not a fan of the 2024-2026 In Color colours from Stampin' Up! that were recently released.  They just feel juvenile to me.  Not sophisticated in any way.  But I persevered and created a card I am mostly happy with...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Petunia Pop, Summer Splash, Pretty in Pink

*Images:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray; MFT Something for Everything, Stitched Rectangles

*Embellishments:  from my stash

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #540