*CAS on Friday #326*

 This week for the CAS on Friday Challenge, we are playing with the theme of MONOCHROME.

Monochrome can be any colour as long as you only use shades of that one colour.  I've been fascinated by shades of grey in card making lately so I chose to do that for my card today...  I used two shades of grey ink using them at different intensities  for the different layers of my stenciled image and finished it off with black highlights.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Visible Image Best Birthday Ever

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Twilight, Black Jack

*Stencil:  Recollections Spatter

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday #326

*This or That Instagram Hop*

 For the month of January, we are playing with the choice of OLD or NEW for the This or That Instagram Hop.  I tried something that is new to me for my card today.

I've wanted to play with intentional doodling for a while but have almost felt too intimidated to try it.  I did a few doodles in a sketch book I bought and I hated what I did.  Last week I was making a purchase on Amazon and found a couple of "bold and easy" zendoodle template books by Rokia Love and I bought them on an impulse.  I was hoping that they would be printed on heavy paper and was a little disappointed to learn that they were just regular paper.  I found a pattern I liked and slipped a piece of cardstock behind it since I'd be using alcohol inks... and then had the idea to use my laser printer to photocopy it.  I can't print on cardstock so I just did it on pattern paper.  If it didn't work, I'd go somewhere to get it printed on 100 lb cardstock.

And to my surprise, it coloured up pretty well!! 

I chose three colours of Copic (plus black), a black Micron pen and a white gel pen and I started to play.  Is it as good as the work I've been watching on Instagram?  Nope.  But Did I like what I created enough to cut a panel and use it on a card?  Yup!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Hunky Dory

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Micron Pen; Gelly Roll white gel pen; Copics

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Pattern:  Zendoodle Templates by Rokia Love

*Time Out Challenges #305*

 Welcome to our new challenge with Time Out Challenges.  We are sponsored by Top Flight Stamps for this challenge.

I don't do a lot of techniques in my cards... so I don't know that I have a favourite.  I went with a clean and simple card instead... something I love to make.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Challenges:  Time Out #305

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 Good morning, friends.  This week on the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop, we created and are sharing cards inspired by New Goals and Fresh Dreams...  one of my goals this year is to send more of the cards I create so I had fun with this cute snail pattern paper...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Snail Mail

*Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Snailed It

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 Today is the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop... Our theme is "chilly".  I didn't want to make a Christmas card even though that is where all of my thoughts went at first.  Instead I created a friendship card with a chilly (and warm) theme.

Card Info

*Paper:  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie It's Penguining To Look A Lot Like Christmas; MFT Festive Friends

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

*Dies:  unknown snowflake

*Tools:  Brother Scan 'n Cut

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop*

 How are we already more than halfway through the month of January!?  I'm still struggling to type 2026 at work (in fact, last week I typed 2027 a few times!)  

This is our first Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop of 2026.  Our theme this month is Pattern Paper.  I chose to highlight one of my favourite pattern paper packs for my card today along with a beautiful big sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*CAS Colours & Sketches #577*

 It's time for a new challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches...  and this time it's a sketch, designed by me!

I was inspired by a colour combination I saw online for my stripes... and then I lost my mojo.  I threw an element and a sentiment on to the card but I'm not sure it's what I had envisioned for this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  MFT Sno Cone, Berrylicious, Blue Raspberry, Grapesicle, Grape Jelly

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

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses; The Ton Easy Expressions

*Challenges:  CAS Colours & Sketches #577

*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