*{BYSHC} #72 Take 2*

 I'm here today to share with you my second and final card using the August Sketch at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers.

First, here's the sketch...

My first card was SUPER clean and simple...  this card is totally not LOL!  But it does use my favourite Christmas themed pattern paper!  It's a little too busy for my personal taste, but I do still like it.  Maybe I should have done the die cut word in black?

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler; gold mirror

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Dies:  Hero Arts Joy Stamp n Cut

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers #72

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I was playing catch up this past week, trying to get on top of my design team duties.  On my days off I had one great day of creating and then a couple of days of sitting at my desk with no motivation.  So instead of multiple cards for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, I only have one.  Our theme this month is "sympathy"

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Cclair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Fern & Flora

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 I almost didn't participate in the Build Your Stash for Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop this month...  the theme is "baby" and I don't have a lot of variety in my stash for baby cards (nor a reason to be sending them at this point in my life)... I was digging through my stash and changed my mind when I cam across this sentiment stamp set that I don't think I've ever inked up before...  I usually try to make at least two cards for this hop, but this month you get only one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up Bubble Bath, Balmy Blue

*Stamps:  Honeybee Stamps Hooray

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Art Impressions Baby Mini DIes

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are building our stash of cards we'd send to someone who was sick. I like to try to make at least two cards for this hop each month and thankfully I was able to do that this time.

For my first card, I chose some deep colours to highlight a pretty white flower...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black Bumblebee

*Stamps:  Honey Bee Best of Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Squares; Prism Studio Stitched Nesting Squares; Spellbinders Floral Spray
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For card number two, I reached in to my bin of extras and grabbed some of these beautiful die cut washi tape pieces.

Card Info

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everying

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi:  Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Pinkfresh Studio Vines & Roses

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop, we are making "gifts"...  I chose to do a couple of gift card holders, trying to bust through a little of my stash of patterned paper.

For my first card, I created a postcard style card, in that the main card doesn't open.  Instead, the small part on the front opens (when you untie the ribbon) and you'll find a small pocket inside where you'd put the gift card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  MFT Party Time
*Stamps:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Sweet Birthday Sentiments

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  ribbon from my stash

My second card also doesn't open like a regular card.  Instead, the floral centre panel flips up to expose a pocket where you'd put the gift card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Flirty Flamingo; Daffodil Delight

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Flower & Field

*Stamps:  The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  The Ton Easy Expressions; Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month we are building up our stash of appreciation style cards for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop.  Some of my friends did some cards to thanks the nurses or teachers or fire fighters in their lives.  I don't have a need for anything like that, so I went with a simple thank you card.  I used the exact same things on these two cards... even the same layout.  I love double sided pattern paper!

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Pattern Party

*Stamps:  Hunkydory Elegant Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Prism Studios Essential Greenery

*Challenges: Simply Clean and Simple February 2026

*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

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month, we are playing with gift card holders or gift tags for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop.  I had some scraps left over from some other recent cards and decided to make a couple of Christmas gift tags.  I don't tend to make a lot of tags any more... maybe this is the year that will change.

Card Info

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Modern Christmas

*Stamps: Poppy Stamps Art Deco Christmas

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Gold

*Embossing:  Stampin' Up!

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Falling for the Holidays Linky Party*

 I'm here this morning with another Christmas card for the BYSHCardmarkers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party.  I love these little gnomes from PhotoPlay... so cute and easy to colour!

Card Info

*Paper:  DCWV December 25th

*Stamps:  Photo Play Gnome for the Holidays; Simon Says Stamp Clean Line Christmas

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

*Dies:  Photo Play Gnome for the Holidays; Simon Stays Stamp Clean Line Christmas

*Challenges:  BYSHCardmakers Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Each month, I play along with a group on Instagram as we try to build up our stash of cards.  Each month we have a theme to work with and we are encouraged to make at least 2 cards that fit that theme.  For October, we are playing with "get well soon"... 

I decided to play with a super huge floral, cut it in half and get two for the price of one...  I made one small change to one of the cards by adding the 1/16" black mat around it... which one do you prefer?

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  Altenew Gracious Peonies; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Jelly Bean Green, Grass Green, Wild Lilac, Lovely Lavender

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop*

 I'm playing along with the Build Your Stash Everyday Occasions Instagram Hop today... but I kinda forgot what I was doing and I only made one card following the "new home" theme.

Card Info

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

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT My Neighbourhood
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 The Build Your Stash Instagram Hop has us building up our stash of cards following a common theme each month.  This month, we are making thank you cards.  There are no rules, no other themes... just make 1 or more cards to help build up our stash so that we have cards on hand when we need them.

I got ambitious this month and instead of my customary 2 cards, I made 3!

For my first card, I used a strip of patterned paper and some black accents.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Full of Life

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Thanks
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my second card, I cut some thin strips of cardstock from some various shades of blue cardstock.  I layered a black sentiment die on top.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Spellbinders Celestial, Cascade, Malibu, Breeze, Windy

*Dies:  Essential by Ellen Positive Word

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

For my final card, I shifted gears and created a more colourful mini slimline card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Roccocco Rose, Daffodil Delight, Pebbled Path

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Stamps:  Pinkfresh Studio You're The Best

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms; Pinkfresh Studio You're The Best

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*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

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 The theme this month for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop is sympathy cards.  These are the cards we never want to send, but they are always good to have on hand.  I will admit that I sort of enjoy making sympathy cards.  Sympathy cards lean in to my card making style... clean and simple with muted colours.

With this hop, we make at least one card following the monthly theme... I try hard to always make two.  This month is no exception.

For my first card, I tried an idea I saw where you stamp a floral image and leave it without colouring... then add a pop of colour with something else.  I used a Pinkfresh Studio washi tape butterfly for my pop of colour.

Card Info

*Stamps:  Toni Studios Botanical Burst; MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Washi Tape:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Dies:  Pinkfresh Studio Fluttering Butterflies

*Etc:  foam adhesive

For my second card, I used no colour at all.  I bought this new embossing folder and decided to leave it as the highlight of my card.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black
*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Something for Everything

*Embossing:  Lisa Horton Bold Daisy Background

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Spring Into Christmas 2025 {BYSHC} Linky Party Take 2*

 Usually the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers Linky Parties catch me somewhat off guard... this time I decided to make a different card for each day of the hop!  (and to tell the truth, I made an extra one!).

For today's card, I chose a super simple design with some sparkly snowflakes (I LOVE this iridescent cardstock) and a large sentiment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Lawn Fawn Iridescent

*Stamps:  Kaisercraft Yuletide

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Picket Fence Studio Winter Snowflakes; unknown dotted rectangle

*Challenges:  BYSH Cardmakers Spring Into Christmas Holiday Linky Party

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

Each month, I participate in an Instagram Hop where we create 1-4 cards using a common theme to help build up our stash of cards to send.  To be honest, I don't need to build up my stash as I've been making way more cards than I send lately... but it's a fun way to create and I'm enjoying it.

This month, our theme is Anniversary.  I really like a classy looking anniversary card and I tend towards black, white and red for these cards.

For my first card, some simple embossed lines, a couple of hearts and a congratulatory sentiment...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Unknown stitched hearts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Scor Buddy

For my second card, I used an alphabet die set as well as a heart...  kept it so simple

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black; Cherry Cobbler

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles, Impact Alphabet; unknown heart

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 This month, our theme for the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop is baby cards...  I actually needed a baby card recently so it was good to make a couple for my stash.

For my first card, I used some more pastel rainbow colours to cut some letters... I love how it turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! So Saffron, Pool Party, Petal Pink, Pear Pizzazz Smokey Slate

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet, Stitched Rectangles; Picket Fence Studio Hello

For my second card, I went super clean and simple.  I cut out a cut onesie die, a fun curved stitched line and manipulated a stamp to follow that curve.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Lemon Lolly
*Stamps:  MFT Essential Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Stitched Rectangles; Art Impressions Baby Mini Dies

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Each month, the Build Your Stash Instagram Hop encourages us to make one or more cards following a common theme... to help us each build up our stash of those cards we may not make as often.

For March, our theme is Graduation.

I made two cards... not bad for someone who doesn't think she'll need a graduation card this year.  One of the cards will be tossed after 2025, but the other is timeless.

For my first card, I kept a simple black and gold colour theme with a simple message of congratulations.  Some of the stars are popped up on foam adhesive, the others are adhered directly to my front panel.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  We R Memory Keepers Revolution Stars

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Etc:  foam adhesive

For my second card, I created a pretty embossed background and added some white numbers on top of it to represent the graduation year.  A quick gold die cut to finish it off...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown gold foil

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet; Pretty Pink Post Congrats Script

*Embossing:  Spellbinders Leafy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Build Your Stash Instagram Hop*

 Yup, I've joined in the fun of a new Instagram Hop....  Build Your Stash is a monthly hop where we "build our stash" of everyday cards.  Each month we will create 1-4 cards following a specific theme to help us build up our stash of cards we might end up needing.  The cards can be the same or different designs... and some months I will make more than other months.  (don't confuse this with the Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers sketches I do each month!)

This is our first month, and our theme is engagement or wedding.  Honestly, I made my card and thought "done"... but then re-read that we could make 1-4 cards so I went back and made a second LOL!  You know me - I don't often make multiples of the same card unless I have to.

My first card I went with a simple wedding card.  In my head, the black circle is the masculine to the white heart's feminine.  I was going to add some colour, but decided I loved it, just as it was.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Stamps:  MFT Something for Everything

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Nesting Circles; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

My second card is once again, very simple and only two colours... but this time I used a pop of red mirror cardstock as my other colour.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown red mirror

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet; Hero Arts Infinity Hearts

*Tools:  Score Pal