*{BYSHC} Sketch #73*

 It's September and time for a new sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.  I love seeing how everyone interprets these sketches every month...

I had just gotten this new stamp and die set in the mail and I couldn't wait to play with it!  I love how crisp this snowflake stamped up!  I LOVE how this card turned out... not quite as thrilled with my second card that you'll see in a few weeks.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  American Crafts
*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Wishes; Simon Says Stamp Christmas Star Flakes

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #73

*{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

*Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop*

 I am combing the Rainbow Connection Instagram Hop with a card for the BYSHCardmakers Linky Party today...  What's better that some rainbow snowflakes?!  I cut the snowflakes out of pattern paper and am in love with how they turned out.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Paper:  Paper Rose Studio Rainbow Twirl 2.0

*Stamps:  Lawn Fawn Simply Winter Sentiments

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Impression Obsession Small Snowflakes, Snowflakes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party*

 I'm back with another Christmas card to share with you today... have you been playing along with the Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party??!!  There are so many fabulous prizes to be won!

For today, it's all pattern paper and a little gold cord...

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Pattern Paper Instagram Hop*

 I am in love with the simplicity of the card I'm sharing today, a card I made following the Christmas in July theme for the Pattern Paper Instagram Hop... I used some simple embossed lines, a simple die and some pretty pattern papers... 

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Catherine Pooler Jolly Trees; Penguin Palace Magical Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Scor-Buddy
*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*Crushing Christmas Intagram Hop*

 This month for the Crushing Christmas Instagram Hop, we are playing with the theme of silver and gold.  I'm not one to mix my metals so I chose to play with some silver mirrored cardstock and some snowflakes.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  silver mirror

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Memory Box Telluride Snowflake; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party

*Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #691*

 This is a fun new sketch at Atlantic Hearts that starts today...

I struggled quite a bit with getting the sizes of the the rectangles "just right" so I cheated a bit by using a full panel of pattern paper and dividing it with strips of red cardstock.  I kinda like how this one turned out...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips, Simple Strips Backer; MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July ; Atlantic Hearts Sketch #691

*Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party*

 I'm sharing another card for the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Christmas in July Linky Party... I have had a blast making a bunch of Christmas cards in the last few days!

Today I pulled out some pretty paper...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter; gold foil

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocture

*Dies:  unknown star; The Ton Easy Expressions Christmas

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenge:  BYSHCardmakers Christmas in July

*{BYSHC} Sketch #71 Take 2*

 It's already the middle of July and we are in the midst of the Christmas in July Holiday Linky Party... and I'm sharing my second design team card using Sketch #71 at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers.

First, the sketch...

Most months I try to make one of my cards somewhat more fresh and clean (I can't call them clean and simple) by using less pattern paper... but since I'm trying to use more pattern paper out of my stash, I decided this sketch deserved two cards that use up some of those papers that keep getting ignored for my favourites.

Card Info

*Paper:  Carta Bella Merry & Bright

*Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

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

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Sketch #71; BYSHCardmakers Linky Party

*{BYSHC} Sketch #71

 Happy July everyone, and a Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!  

I am here with my first design team card using the July sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers...  I look forward to seeing how this sketch inspires your holiday card making...

I have been trying to use some more of the pattern papers that I tend to ignore, inspired by our very own Crystal Minkler who uses pattern paper so effectively!  I wonder though, if the buffalo plaid was too bold of a choice for this sketch...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Echo Park My Favorite Christmas

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #71

*{BYSHC} Sketch #70 Take 2*

 I'm back today with my second card using this fun sketch from Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers...

For this card, I used some patterned paper in my stash as well as some kraft coloured cardstock... Such a quick and easy card to put together since everything but the solid coloured cardstocks and the stamped sentiment came from the same package of pattern paper!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Real Red

*Paper:  Echo Park My Favorite Christmas

*Stamps:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Christmas Wishes
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #70

*{BYSHC} Sketch #70*

Happy June, my friends!  Today is my hubby's and mine 35th wedding anniversary!  It feels like we've been married forever while also feeling like it was all just a few years ago!  Crazy!

I'm here today with my first card using the fabulous June sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers!

I was going to do a fully white on white card for my first card, but I felt like the snowflake got lost... so instead, I cut the snowflake out of some silver holographic cardstock to let it shine!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic
*Stamps;  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies: Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments; Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake

*Embossing;  Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions

*Challenges: BYSHCardmakers #70

*{BYSHC} Sketch #69 Take 2*

Hello Creative Friends... I'm here today with my second and final card following the current sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

I was in a creative slump when I sat down to make these cards... but I'm so glad I pushed through it because I ended up liking both of them quite a bit!  This one is definitely a little more elegant that my first one, using this gorgous paper with gold foil accents!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown brushed gold; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #69

*{BYSHC} Sketch #69*

There is a wonderful new sketch over on the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers blog... we are encouraging you to use our sketches to help build up your stash of Holiday cards so that you don't feel like you're in a mad rush to get them done later in the year!

I had fun with the sketch this month...  todays card is a lot more playful than the one you'll see later this month.  I had fun with a brand new die I purchased and some paper that has been sitting in my stash for quite a while.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bubble Bath, Seaside Spray

*Paper  Simple Stories Winter Wonder

*Stamps:  Gina K Holiday Wreath Builder

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Winter Mitten Dies; Waffle Flower Nesting Circles, Additional Nesting Circles
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #69; Addicted to Stamps & More #517

*{BYSHC} Sketch #70 *

 It's June, which means there's a great new sketch over at Bulid Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers!!!  First, let's look at the sketch!

For my first card, I chose to do a white on white card with a punch of silver holographic paper for my focal point.  I added some texture to my largest layer and a simple stamped (and die cut) sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Holographic
*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Marie Snowflake

*Embossing:  Simon Says Stamps Snowflake Visions

*challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #70

*BYSHCardmakers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party*

 OK, I promise... this is my last card for the Build Your Stash Holiday Linky Party.  I had so much fun playing with my Christmas stash this past week!  Although, I just purchased this embossing folder and I couldn't wait to use it!

Card Info
*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi; unknown brushed gold

*Stamps:  MFT Chrsitmas Wishes
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Winter Blooms
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*BYSHCardmakers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party*

Another Christmas card for you today...  playing along with the BYSHCardmakers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party. I saw an idea for using an embossing folder on kraft coloured cardstock and decided to do it for this card.  I highlighted the raised areas with a white pigment ink. In person it almost looks like chalk.  I love the look of deep red, black and kraft together, so the rest of the card came together pretty easily.  I used a rectangle die to cut out the centre piece and framed it in black before putting on my card front with foam adhesive.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Hero Arts Unicorn

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Rectangles; Stampin' Up! Playful Alphabet; Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Notched Corner Pointsettia

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*BYSHCardmakers Linky Party*

 We are about half way through the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party and I'm not done sharing Christmas cards with you!  I hope you've been inspired to make a few and that you've linked them up to our party for your chance to win one of the wonderful prizes from our sponsors.  

For today, I reached in to my bin of extras.  I had an idea of embossed panels on my card front and then I didn't know what I wanted to do next.  Enter, the bin of extras.  All of these extra pieces were in there from the fall when I was going full-tilt on making Christmas cards.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Evening Evergreen, Certainly Celery;  gold mirror

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Joyful; Lisa Horton Christmas Floral Builder

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Christmas Floral Builder; Gina K Holiday Flora

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Linky Party

*Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop*

 This week, the challenge for the Card Clubhouse Instagram Hop was to play with the posted sketch... I decided to combine the sketch with the BYSHCardmakers Spring Into Christmas Linky Party and am SO happy with how this card turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Evening Evergreen

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Stamps:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Noctune

*Dies:  Alex Syberia Christmas Sentiments
*Embossing:  Stampin Up! Soft Waves
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Linky Party

*BYSHCardmakers Linky Party

I was inspired by a card I found on Pinterest for my creation today.  I loved the look of the plaid with the wood grain embossed layer.  I couldn't help but add some gold accents in to finish it off and give it a little more of a pop!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Handsome Hunter; unknown gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Peaceful Patterns

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Tidings & Trimmings; Spellbinders Christmas Blooms; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday
*Embossing:  Altenew Deck Planks

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Linky Party