*BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party Card #2*

 I've got another Christmas card for you today, entering in to the draw at the Build Your Stash Holiday Linky Party...  You can enter too!  Just create a new Christmas or Holiday card and click the link above to share it!  We'll be playing for a week... and then everyone that linked up at least one newly created card will get entered in to the draw to win one of more than 20 prizes!!!  See my post yesterday to see who all of our sponsors are!

For today, I once again used a stamp from our new sponsor, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.  I added a fun embossed background, a little patterned paper and a mound of snow.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Windy

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

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

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Dies:  unknown stitched border; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party

*BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party*

It honestly feels like we just finished up the Spring Into Christmas Holiday Linky Party, but here we are again with the Christmas in July event!  We have more prizes than ever for this event!  How do you win?  Just link up a Christmas Card to the linky tool on the BYSHC Blog.  Every Christmas or Holiday card you post gets you an entry in to the draw for prizes!

Take a look at this wonderful list of sponsors!!!

Tawny Owl Paperie

A Colorful Life Designs

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Club Scrap

Crafty Stamp Co. {NEW}

Creative Worship Stamps

Digi Doodle Studios {NEW}

Fresh & Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Gina Marie Designs

Jaded Blossom

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps {New}

Lawn Fawn

Markers, Ink & Paper - Cathy Preissing

Newton's Nook Designs

Not 2 Shabby

Pink & Main

RAM Stamps

Taylored Expressions

The Greeting Farm {NEW!}

Therm O Web

Twiddler's Nook

Unity Stamp Co.

I had a lot of fun playing with this cute penguin stamp from our NEW sponsor Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!  What could be more fun than a rainbow of penguins to wish you a Merry Christmas!  I stamped these cuties with Memento Ink, coloured them with Copics and then cut them with my Brother Scan 'n Cut.

Card Info

*Paper:  Doodlebug Designs
*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie It's Penguining to Look A Lot Like Christmasw
*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copics; Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Etc:  Therm O Web foam adhesive
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CraftyEngineer's Birthday Bash Hop*

My Instagram friend, Geeta, is celebrating her birthday and hosting an Instagram Hop to share some bright and colourful birthday cards!  I love bright and happy cards, so of course I wanted to help her celebrate!  Happy Birthday Geeta!!!

I used a piece of patterned paper to create this bright birthday card...  I love the colours in this striped paper (and wish I had 20 more sheets of it!).

Card Info

*Cardstock;  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Party Time

*Stamps:  Uniko Birthday Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet; unknown stitched border

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out #293*

There's a new challenge at Time Out Challenges... this time we are playing with the prompt of our favourite song.

I am turning 55 next week and I am in need of cards for all my friends who are turning the same age thsi year (I am still friends with people I met in elementary school... and one friend I've had for almost all of my 55 years!) and I need card to send to them this year.  To me, none of my old friends have ever aged.  One of my favourite songs is "Forever Young" by Alphaville.  It's a song from back in the mid-80s and I've loved it from the first time I heard it.  It's one of those ones that when my phone plays it, I have to turn up the volume and start it over.

For my card, I used a fun sentiment and some soft colours to make a pretty but cheeky card to send to one of those old friends...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders Fairy Tale, Fog

*Stamps:  MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings 2

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Linked Chain Circles, Stitched Chain Circles; Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; Floral Spray

*Embellishments: Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out Challenges #293

*Thank You MFT Instgram Hop!*

Today I am playing along with an Instagram Hop, celebrating all things My Favorite Things.  We are a group of papercrafting enthusiasts who have come together from many parts of the world to jointly say "thank you" to this wonderful company.  Thank you for bringing us many years of inspiring products and fun designs to enjoy!

For my card, I used a page from one of the first paper pads I bought from MFT, the flower dies from the first card kit I purchased and my favourite celebrate die as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

*Paper:  MFT Bundles of Blossoms Brights

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate, Stitched Blooms
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Kaiser Pearls

*AAA Colourful #18*

 What a wonderful summer image to inspire us for the latest AAA Colourful challenge that starts today!  Take a look!

I don't know what it is about brightly coloured straws, but they've always made me think of summer and pool parties and fun with friends in the sunshine!  I pulled out these colours and created a beautiful floral spray...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Sage Shadow, Garden Green, Melon Mambo, Mango Melody

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

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

*Dies:  Prism Studio Sew Many Rectangles; Spellbinders Be Bold Bloom; MFT Something for Everything

*Challenges:  AAA Colourful #18

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 I'm playing along with another week of the My Favourite Instagram Hop... this week our challenge was to make a card featuring our favourite sea creature.  I love dolphins, and have since I was a kid and watched the show "Flipper"... they seem so smart and if I could, I'd cuddle one.

I don't have a lot of water themed stuff, so I had to improvise...  I chose some water coloured cardstock and used a fun embossing folder on the strips to create the feeling of waves.  I cut the dolphin out of white cardstock and coloured up the majority of it with a grey Copic

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders Seaside, Breeze, Windy

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Noturne; Copics

*Dies:  Poppy Stamps Whittle Dolphin; MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Just Us Girls #783; Simply Clean and Simple

*CASE It Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I host a CASE It Instagram Hop... a group of us chooses a card we've seen on Instagram and we use it an inspiration for a card of our own.  Sometimes the inspiration card and our card are very very similar to each other... sometimes we just take some of the elements and make it our own.

For my card today, I am using inspiration from Denise Morgan....  I LOVED her card that she created for the Gina K Appreciation Day and while I was going to CASE that, I actually CASEd the INSIDE of her card instead of the outside!

Here's her gorgeous card...

And this is the inside of her card...

And finally, my card....  I used similar colours, a different stamp, placed the simple sentiment in a different spot... and instead of cutting off my design complete, I used the cut off pieces on the card front to add a little more flair.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Happy For You; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair; Copics

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Studio Happy for You

*Toos:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps & More #496

*Addicted to CAS #287*

 Christmas in July seems to be the common theme for my design teams this month!  Be prepared to see a lot of Christmas cards in the coming weeks LOL!  Not that I mind... I LOVE making Christmas cards!  We are looking for clean and simple Christmas cards at Addicted to CAS!

I saw a card similar to this on Pinterest recently.  I changed up a few things to make it my own style.  I love how it turned out.  It's fun to prove that you can use patterned paper and still make a clean and simple card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embellishments:  silver cold

*Etc:  foam adhesives

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #287; Inkspirational #345

*Sending Sunshine Instagram Hop*

 Each month, a group of us gather together on Instagram to post cards meant to encourage or lift someone up... we call it the Sending Sunshine Hop.  I played with some scraps of patterned paper to create my card for today...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Paper:  MFT Bundle of Blossoms Brights

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Slim Strips

*Embellishments:  Michael's Bridal Flowers; Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Freshly Made Sketches #694

*{BYSHC} Sketch #59*

 There's a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers... a great one for patterned papers or anything else you want to use!

I chose to keep my first card rather clean and simple... using a huge snowflake as my focal point.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic; unknown shimmer

*Stamps:  Mama Elephant Jingle Greetings
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Alice Snowflake; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  BYSHC #59

*CAS on Friday #313*

Good morning, creative friends!  I'm back with my card for the new challenge at CAS on Friday.  For this challenge, we are making clean and simple Christmas cards.  I could have made this one a layer card but I seem to be addicted to 1/16" borders on my cards LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Dies:  Hero Arts Joy

*Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Wonderful Snowflakes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #313

*White on White Instagram Hop*

 Today I'm sharing my July card for the White on White Instagram Hop... this month our theme is birthday.

I am loving having an excuse each month to play with white on white cards...  they are a challenge, but in a good way!  Remember, if you want to try white on white, layers and texture are your friends!  Otherwise it all just looks flat.  I used a vellum shadow layer under the sentiment to help it stand out just a bit... and layered up a couple of the "birthday" words to help with that as well.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Vellum

*Stamp:  Stampendous Big Words Happy

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Create a Smile Birthday

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Dotted Circles

*CAS Colours & Sketches #564*

 Happy Tuesday, creative friends!  It's time for a fun new sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!

I reached in to my bin of extras to create my card today.  These Pinkfresh Washi Tapes are fabulous since there are so many different images on the sheet that you then die cut out all together.  I tend to do several of them at once, so I don't know that they really qualify as "extras" LOL!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CC&S #564

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch #637*

 I'm back with my take for sketch #637 for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges...  I'm not honestly sure how I feel about that solid green layer...

First, the sketch.

And now my card...

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Floral Spray

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Soft Waves

*Embellishments:  iridescent ribbon; Kaiser Pearls

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Atlantic Hearts #637

*My Favourite Instagram Hop*

 It's Sunday, so it's time for the My Favourite Instagram Hop....  this week it's our favourite summer pastime.

I love to sit outside in the sun in the summer... but as I've gotten older I don't tolerate the sun or the heat as well as I used to.  It sucks.  But I still like to sit outside... and I enjoy watching butterflies and dragonflies flit about our yard.

Card Info

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Espressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies
*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up! Dotted Circles

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are creating retirement cards.  I have NOTHING in my stash for retirement cards (like no sentiments) so I turned to my laptop and my laser printer to create a few things to work with.

I ended up with two retirement cards...

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Flowers & Field

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tasteful Labels

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; vellum

*Stamps:  Altenew Gracious Peonies

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; tampin' Up! Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to Stamps and More #496

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 I took last month off from the This or That Instagram Hop as none of the choices appealed to me.  I promised myself that I would play a little more again this month.  This week, the choices are fire or fireworks.  To be honest, I didn't have either of those things in my stash, but I thought that this fun turnabout stamp could look like fireworks...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo

*Stamps:  Concord & 9th Bitty Burst Turnabout; MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin' Up! Bermuda Bay, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Time Out Challenges #292*

Happy Thursday creative friends!  It's time for a fun new challenge at Time Out Challenges!

A patient at work was talking about his birthday gift to his wife last week... for her 75th birthday she wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride.  He was telling me how amazing it was.  That was in my head when I got around to making this card... hot air balloons are a form of travel!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basicd Grey

*Paper:  Stampin' Up Lighter Than Air

*Stamps:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Hot Air Balloons

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out #292