*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #665*

 We have another gorgeous sketch for you over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...

I am making a conscious effort lately to try to keep my cards following sketches a little closer to clean and simple as often as possible.  It can be difficult, but I like the challenge.

For my card today, I added a white embossed panel with some deep and rich floral elements... I don't love the greenery I added but I couldn't find anything else in my stash that did any better.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

*Stamps:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; The Ton Easy Expressions
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin Up! Rich Razzleberry

*Dies:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; the Ton Easy Expressions; Stampin' Up! Tropical Thinlets

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #665

*Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop*

I had a lot of fun creating my Love and Hugs themed cards for the Create It 3-Ways Instagram Hop.  I started with a heart die from an alphabet set I have and added in a pretty pastel rainbow.  All three of my cards use these same elements (plus the same sentiment stamp and die), but I created three different cards...

First, a photo of all three cards...  The items used in all three cards are The Concord & 9th Tall Type Alphabet, MFT Something for Everything and Stampin' Up! cardstocks in Petal Pink, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party and Highland Heather

And now lets get a closer look at each of them.

I made this mini slimline card first with just the items I listed above.  I love this card so much!  I love that this one heart die cuts both the insides and the outsides to create an outline heart.

I then moved on to this second card, using the insides of the hearts from the mini slimline.  I added the MFT Stitched Rectangle layer for a little more interest.

And then finally this last card, using both the inside and the outside cuts from the heart die, placed on top of a layer embossed with the Stampin' Up! Soft Waves embossing folder.  This time I used some foam adhesive to pop up the centres of the hearts.

Do you have a favourite?

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For January, we are playing with the same theme every week for the This or That Instagram Hop.  We have to choose between OLD and NEW.

I started out playing with the idea of NEW, grabbing a new stamp set I got before Christmas... but then I added some super old pattern paper and glitter paper and now it's both an OLD and a NEW card LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown glitter

*Paper:  MFT Birthday Brights

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie Birthday Bash Sentiments

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Cummerbund, Pucker Up

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*AAA Colourful #24*

 I can't believe we've been doing these fabulous AAA Colourful Colourboard Challenges for two years already!  Where has the time gone?

I'm not sure I was quite ready to play with shades of pink... but I couldn't not participate this month!

First here's the colourboard...

I chose to do some ink blending in shades of pink for my card... and added a white silhouette on top...

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Memory Box Kensignton Border

*Tools:  Scor Buddy

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #24

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 For January, the theme for the White on White Instagram Hop is Winter... so of course I had to play with some snowflakes!  This could be a Christmas card or simply a card you send someone during the winter months... even a birthday card.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Gina K Doodled Snowflakes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Alphabet; Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  AAA Birthday

*50th Anniversary*

 Last week, a good friend asked me to make a 50th Anniversary card for her.  I happened to be in my craft room when she made the request so I started working on it right away...  I am really in love with white on white cards lately so that's where I started.  Since the 50th Anniversary is the Golden Anniversary, I chose to add some gold to it as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbeinders gold foil

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet, Splendid Stems; Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; MFT Something for Everything
*Tools:  Perfect Layers; ScorBuddy

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 This morning I am sharing a card that was inspired by a talented creator on Instagram for the CASE It Instagram Hop.  I feel in love with her card (that you'll see below) and knew in an instant I'd be playing with it.  

First, here's Milla's card...

Isn't it gorgeous?!  I love how rich her colours are!  And I love how the rest of the floral spray are in black and white on the front of the card.  Such a great interpretation of the spotlight technique.

My card didn't turn out as gorgeous as hers... but I tried to do something similar without copying directly.  I did the spotlight technique but with a smaller floral image.  Instead of a rectangular highlight, I went with a circular one. I kept my sentiment offset, but went to the other side of the card for it.  I hope you can see how my card was inspired by hers...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Limeade, Lime

*Stencil:  Altenew Graceful Gardenias

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nessting Circles, Additional Circles; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps & More

*Addicted to CAS Challenge #299*

 It's time for the first challenge of 2026 with the team at Addicted to CAS...

I struggled with this theme!  I was crafting with my friends Heidi and Bonnie and they will confirm that I almost decided to skip this challenge.  I didn't want to go with a drinking glass because I find them difficult to work with and get looking the way I want them to.  And then I had my AH-HA moment!  I have Pair Eyewear, those glasses with the removeable toppers.  For a while, I thought I was going to make my own toppers (and I did make a few) so I purchased a cut file to be used with my Silhouette.  I pulled out the Silhouette, resized the cut file and cut myself a pair of glasses!!!  I added some Glossy Accents to the frames and some funky flowers and a sentiment that really worked!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embellishments:  HAI Supply flowers and black pearls; Glossy Accents

*Tools:  Perfect Layers: Silhouette

*Challenges:  ATCAS #299; Addicted to Stamps & More

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

It's the second Friday of the month which means it's time for the Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop!  Each month, a group of us share cards in Instagram meant to be sent to brighten someones days.  We never know what others are going through, so we want to send a little sunshine each month in case someone else needs it in their life.

I am trying to make more clean and simple cards again this year...  last year I made some, but many of my cards were way more busy than my usual style.  I will still be making all styles of cards as I like to create whatever makes my heart happy, but if I can create something that is clean and simple, I'm going to do that.

I kept this card super clean and simple, utilizing only one corner of my card front.  I added some interest to the white squares by sending them through my Big Shot with an embossing folder.  The sprig is popped up on foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Brocade Blue

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Squares; Spellbinders Petite Blooms; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Etc:  foam adhesivde

*CAS on Friday #325*

 Happy Friday!  It's time for the first clean and simple challenge at CAS on Friday!  We are playing with the prompt of SNOWMAN for this challenge!

You all know that I LOVE snowflakes and snowmen.  I pulled out all of my snowman stamps and dies and narrowed it down to a few different things.  This die set from Spellbinders won out because I haven't used it yet!

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Frosty Family Add-On

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Copics

*Dies:  Spellbinders Frankie Goes to the North Pole; unknown stitched border

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #325

*Clean and Simple Instagram Hop*

 This month, the creators playing along with the Clean and Simple Instagram Hop are working with the theme of BLUES.  Think the colour, the music genre, the winter blues... 

I decided to play with the colour and chose some smokey blues to create my card today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Secret Seas

*Stamps:  unknown stripes; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Stone Blue, Cover Blue

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps and More

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For the entire month of January, the This or That Instagram Hop is challenging us with a theme of NEW or OLD.  For my card today, I dug in to my stash of forgotten and unused wood mounted stamps.  This stamp is super old... I'm surprised it still stamps!

Card Info

*Stamps:  Great Impressions; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Time Out Challenges #304*

 Welcome to a brand new year of challenges with Time Out Challenges!  We are welcoming Jaydee to our team with our first challenge of 2026!  She's a fabulous card maker that I've been following for a while.

Our challenge this week is sponsored by Gina K Designs!

What a fun prompt for a new year!  I just wish my card would have photographed better!  I decided to dig in to my stash of items that I inherited when my Mom passed away.  She LOVED the Glitter Ritz glitters and I took all of it home with me!  I don't pull it out very often because it's so messy, but it sure is pretty!

I took a piece of pattern paper (also really old from my stash) and covered the panel in double sided adhesive before sprinkling a clear glitter all over the top.  I burned it down to make sure it really stuck on there.  Believe me when I say, this panel really sparkles!!

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 I joined a new cardmaking Instagram hop... this one is called Card Clubhouse.  We will be hopping every second week, playing with a different common theme.  Our theme for this week is Warm Welcome!  We are using new supplies, tools or techniques to make a card to make someone feel welcomed or at home.

I went a little off the rails with my card... my stamp set is new but I went with a literal "warm" as the stamp I chose to use was warm hats (or toques up here in Canada)

Card Info

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Warm Winter Wishes; MFT Polar Penguins

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

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Embellishments:  Twinkle Stickles

*Challenges:  AAA Birthday

*Mini Slimline Instagram Hop*

 It's time to share my card for the Mini Slimline Instagram Hop.  We have no themes or rules, other than our cards must be a mini slimline... I just LOVE playing with this size!

I went super simple with just stamping and colouring...

Card Info

*Stamps:  Julie Hickie Floral Happiness

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

*CAS Colours & Sketches #576*

 Welcome to the first challenge of 2026 at CAS Colours & Sketches!  I am your host for this month so I hope you like what I've come up with!

This week, we have a colour challenge...

I was inspired by a card I saw by alaskastamper on Instagram to play with these colours.  They made a fabulous Christmas card with these colours so it was a challenge to come up with something else.  I decided that they made a great masculine colour pallette.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Secret Sea, Old Olive; Bazzill gold mirror

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles, Cheers

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #576

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #663*

 Good morning!  There is a fantastic new sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week... I hope you'll play along!

I have been finding it tough to get back in to the swing of every day card making... I used some items from my die cut stash to create my card today, making the sketch in to something that is relatively clean and simple.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  LDRS My Wish For You

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Brick & Mortar

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #663

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 Good morning... this morning I am sharing a card that highlights my favourite silhouette stamp for the My Favorite Instagram Hop.  I had a few things to choose from, but I decided to go with this super old wood mounted stamp from my stash!  I stamped it on a white panel and added a little ink blending with a splatter stencil.  

Card Info

*Stamps:  Penny Black Fantasy; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Peeled Paint Stormy Sky

*Stencil:  Lawn Fawn Paint Splatter

*Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop*

 I feel like I have no idea what day it is any more.  I don't usually struggle this much over Christmas, but this year I have been lost in terms of the days of the week.  I managed to get these cards up on Instagram in time for the hop yesterday but I wasn't able to post here on my blog.  

I just can't keep it all straight all of a sudden!

Anyway... this month we are making 1-4 cards to build up our stash of cards to send to family.  I chose to do some cards for Mom... one for Mother's Day and one for a birthday.

This one is super clean a nd simple...  and I love that mixed font sentiment stamp!

Card Info

*Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Purely Pomegranate, Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Concord & 9th Tall Type Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

I had some fun with this second card with some pattern paper and an embossing folder.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pool Party, Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT All About Mom

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet;  Stampin' Up! Around the Bend

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*This or That Instagram Hop*

I'm back with a second post today... this time for the This or That Instagram Hop.  For the month of January, just to make things a little easier, we are hopping with the same theme all month.  Our two choices are Old or New.

I chose to play with an old die set in my stash, that I bought probably 2 years ago and then never used!  So while it's old, it's brand spakin' new!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Uniko Wonderful Day

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Around the Corner; Waffler Flower Nesting circles; MFT Stitched Circles

*Happy 2026!*

 Happy New Year, my creative friends!  It's January 1st and if time doesn't slow down a little bit, it will be Christmas 2026 in the blink of an eye LOL!

Since it's a new month, there's a new sketch to inspire you to create some Christmas cards over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  This is such a wonderful sketch!  You could make it as busy or simple as you want to do... and it's the perfect way to use up some scraps!

First, the sketch!

I chose to use some slim scraps of this gorgeous pattern paper.  To make the strips the same size, I used the Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips dies to cut them.  I also added a piece of the pattern paper die cut with a circle die for the focal point before adding a simple die cut sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #65